p&c.icelimit-第25章

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　McFarlane　watched　the　boat　slap　its　way　from　shore。　Beyond；　he　could　make　out　a　zinc…colored　wall　of　bad　weather　ing　toward　them。　McFarlane　hugged　himself　against　the　cold。　Although　he　knew　the　Rolvaag　was　less　than　a　mile　away；　he　nevertheless　wished　it　was　within　eyesight。　Nestor　was　right；　he　thought。　This　is　the　very　edge　of　the　world。　
　Well；　Sam；　we've　got　two　hours；〃　Lloyd　said　with　a　broad　grin。　〃Let's　make　the　best　of　it。〃　He　dug　into　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　small　camera。　〃Let's　get　Puppup　to　take　a　picture　of　our　first　landfall。〃　He　glanced　around。　〃Now　where　did　he　get　to？〃
　McFarlane　looked　around　the　small　beach。　Puppup　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　〃Puppup！〃　Lloyd　cried。
　〃Up　here；　guv！〃　came　a　faint　cry　from　above。　Looking　up；　McFarlane　made　out　his　silhouette　at　the　top　of　the　ledge；　framed　by　the　darkening　sky。　One　skinny　arm　was　waving；　the　other　pointing　at　a　nearby　ravine　that　bisected　the　cliff　face。
　〃How'd　he　get　up　there　so　fast？〃　McFarlane　asked。　〃He's　a　queer　little　fellow；　isn't　he？〃　Lloyd　shook　his　head。　〃I　hope　to　hell　he　remembers　the　way。〃
　They　walked　up　the　shingles　to　the　base　of　the　ledge。　Chunks　of　ice；　washed　ashore　by　storms；　littered　the　strand　The　air　smelled　sharply　of　moss　and　salt。　McFarlane　squinted　at　the　black　basalt　cliff。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　then　started　up　the　narrow　crevasse。　It　was　a　tougher　climb　than　it　looked：　the　ravine　was　slick　with　packed　snow；　and　the　last　fifteen　feet　was　a　treacherous　scramble　over　icy　boulders。　Beneath　him；　he　could　hear　Lloyd　puffing　as　he　followed。　But　he　kept　a　good　pace；　fit　for　a　man　of　sixty；　and　they　soon　found　themselves　clambering　onto　the　top　of　the　cliff。
　〃Good！〃　cried　Puppup；　bowing　and　applauding。　〃Very　good！〃
　McFarlane　bent　forward；　resting　his　palms　on　his　knees。　The　cold　air　seared　his　lungs；　while　the　rest　of　him　sweated　beneath　the　parka。　Beside　him；　he　could　hear　Lloyd　catching　his　breath。　Nothing　more　was　said　about　the　camera。
　Straightening　up；　McFarlane　saw　they　were　standing　on　a　rock…strewn　plain。　A　quarter　mile　beyond　lay　the　long　snowfield　that　stretched　back　into　the　center　of　the　island。　Clouds　now　covered　the　sky；　and　the　falling　snow　grew　heavier。
　Without　a　word；　Puppup　turned　and　set　off　at　a　brisk　pace。　Lloyd　and　McFarlane　scrambled　to　keep　up　as　they　climbed　the　steady　rise。　With　remarkable　speed；　the　snow　developed　into　a　flurry；　shutting　their　world　down　into　a　circle　of　white。　Puppup　was　barely　visible　twenty　feet　ahead；　a　bobbing　specter。　As　they　gained　altitude　the　wind　picked　up；　driving　the　snow　horizontally　across　McFarlane's　field　of　vision。　Now　he　was　glad　that　Glinn　had　insisted　on　the　subzero　boots　and　Arctic　parkas。
　They　crested　the　rise。　The　snow　flurries　swept　aside；　giving　McFarlane　a　glimpse　into　the　valley　beyond。　They　were　on　the　edge　of　a　saddle　overlooking　the　snowfield。　It　looked　much　larger　from　up　here：　a　great　blue…white　mass；　almost　glacial　in　its　irresistibility。　It　ran　down　the　center　of　the　valley；　surrounded　by　low　hills。　Beyond；　the　twin　volcanic　peaks　thrust　up　like　fangs。　McFarlane　could　see　another　snowsquall　boiling　up　toward　them　from　the　valley：　an　unrelieved　wall　of　white　that　swallowed　the　landscape　as　it　approached。
　〃Grand　view　up　here；　eh？〃　said　Puppup。
　Lloyd　nodded。　The　fringe　of　his　parka　was　dusted　with　snow；　and　his　goatee　was　flecked　with　ice。　〃I've　been　wondering　about　that　large　central　snowfield。　Does　it　have　a　name？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Puppup；　bobbing　his　head　several　times；　his　wispy　mustache　swaying　in　time。　〃They　call　it　the　Vomit　of　Hanuxa。〃
　〃How　picturesque。　And　those　two　peaks？〃
　〃The　Jaws　of　Hanuxa。〃
　〃Makes　sense；〃　said　Lloyd。　〃Who　is　Hanuxa？〃
　〃A　Yaghan　Indian　legend；〃　Puppup　replied。　He　did　not　offer　more。
　McFarlane　looked　sharply　at　Puppup。　He　remembered　the　mention　of　the　Yaghan　legends　in　Masangkay's　journal。　He　wondered　if　this　was　the　legend　that　had　led　Masangkay　down　there。
　〃I'm　always　interested　in　old　legends；〃　he　said　casually。　〃Will　you　tell　us　about　it？〃
　Puppup　shrugged；　nodding　his　head　again　cheerfully。　〃I　don't　believe　any　of　those　old　superstitions；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　a　Christian。〃
　Once　again；　he　turned　suddenly　and　began　walking；　setting　a　rapid　pace　down　the　hillside　toward　the　snowfield。　McFarlane　almost　had　to　jog　to　keep　up。　He　could　hear　Lloyd　laboring　behind　him。
　The　snowfield　lay　in　a　deep　fold　of　the　land；　mounds　of　broken　boulders　and　debris　lining　its　edges。　As　they　came　up　to　it；　the　fresh　squall　fell　about　them。　McFarlane　bowed　under　the　wind。
　〃e　on；　you　lot！〃　cried　Puppup　out　of　the　storm。　They　walked　parallel　to　the　snowfield；　which　rose　steeply　above　them　like　the　flank　of　a　huge　beast。　Now　and　then；　Puppup　stopped　to　examine　it　more　closely。　〃Here；〃　he　said　at　last；　kicking　at　the　vertical　wall　to　make　a　toehold；　pulling　himself　up；　and　kicking　again。　Cautiously；　McFarlane　crawled　up　behind　him；　using　Puppup's　toeholds；　keeping　his　face　turned　away　from　the　wind。
　The　steep　sides　of　the　snowfield　gradually　leveled　out；　but　the　wind　swirled　around　them　ever　more　violently。　〃Tell　Puppup　to　slow　down！〃　Lloyd　shouted　from　behind。　But　if　anything；　Puppup　walked　faster。
　〃Hanuxa；〃　he　suddenly　began　in　his　strange；　singsong　accent；　〃was　the　son　of　Yekaijiz；　god　of　the　night　sky。　Yekaijiz　had　two　children：　Hanuxa　and　his　twin　brother；　Haraxa。　Haraxa　was　always　the　favorite　of　the　father。　The　apple　of　his　eye；　like。　As　time　went　on；　Hanuxa　grew　more　and　more　jealous　of　his　brother。　And　he　wanted　his　brother's　power　for　himself。〃
　〃Aha；　the　old　story　of　Cain　and　Abel；〃　Lloyd　said。
　The　snow　in　the　center　of　the　field　had　been　scoured　away；　leaving　blue　ice。　It　seemed　impossibly　strange　somehow；　McFarlane　thought；　to　be　trudging　through　the　center　of　this　nothingness；　this　child's　snow　globe　of　white；　toward　a　huge　mysterious　rock　and　the　grave　of　his　former　partner　…　while　listening　to　this　old　man　relate　the　legend　of　Isla　Desolacion。
　〃The　Yaghans　believe　that　blood　is　the　source　of　life　and　power；〃　Puppup　continued。　〃So　one　day；　Hanuxa　killed　his　brother。　Slit　Haraxa's　throat　and　drank　his　blood；　he　did。　And　his　own　skin　turned　the　color　of　blood；　and　he　got　the　power。　But　Yekaijiz；　the　father；　found　out。　He　imprisoned　Hanuxa　inside　the　island；　entombing　him　below　the　surface。　And　sometimes；　if　people　approach　too　close　to　the　island　after　dark；　on　windy　nights　when　the　surf　is　up；　they　can　see　flashes　of　light；　and　hear　howls　of　rage；　when　Hanuxa　tries　to　escape。〃
　〃Will　he　ever　escape？〃　Lloyd　asked。
　〃Dunno；　guv。　Bad　news　if　he　does。〃
　The　snowfield　began　to　slope　downward；　ending　at　last　in　a　six…foot　cornice。　One　at　a　time；　they　lowered　themselves　over　the　edge；　sliding　down　onto　harder　ground。　The　wind　was　gradually　abating　and　the　snow　falling　more　softly　now；　big　fat　flakes　that　spun　and　fluttered　to　earth　like　ash。　Even　so；　the　wind　kept　the　barren　plain　scoured　almost　clean。　A　few　hundred　yards　ahead；　McFarlane　could　see　a　large　boulder。　He　watched　as　Puppup　began　to　jog　toward　it。
　Lloyd　strode　over；　McFarlane　following　more　slowly。　A　wrinkled　piece　of　hide　lay　in　the　lee　of　the　boulder。　Nearby　was　a　scattering　of　animal　bones　and　two　skulls；　a　rotting　halter　still　wrapped　around　one　of　them。　A　frayed　halter　rope　was　tied　around　the　boulder。　There　were　some　scattered　tin　cans；　a　large　piece　of　canvas；　a　sodden　bedroll；　and　two　broken　packsaddles。　Something　was　underneath　the　canvas。　McFarlane　felt　a　sudden　chill。
　〃My　God；〃　said　Lloyd。　〃These　must　be　your　old　partner's　mules。　They　starved　to　death　right　here；　tied　to　this　rock。〃　He　began　to　reach　forward；　but　McFarlane　raised　a　gloved　hand　and　stayed　him。　Then；　he　slowly　approached　the　boulder　himself。　He　leaned　over　and　gently　grasped　the　edge　of　the　frozen　piece　of　canvas。　He　gave　it　a　shake　to　clear　it　of　snow；　then　tossed　it　aside。　But　it　did　not　uncover　Masangkay's　body；　only　a　welter　of　decaying　belongings。　He　could　see　old　packs　of　ramen　noodles　and　tin　cans　of　sardines。　The　tins　had　burst；　spewing　pieces　of　fish　across　the　frozen　surface。　Nestor　always　did　favor　sardines；　he　thought　with　a　pang。
　Suddenly；　an　old　memory　came　back。　It　was　five　years　earlier；　and　several　thousand　miles　to　the　north。　He　and　Nestor　had　been　crouched　in　a　deep　culvert　next　to　a　dirt　road；　their　packs　stuffed　to　bursting　with　the　Atacama　tektites。　Armored　trucks　passed　by　just　a　few　feet　away；　showering　the　culvert　with　pebbles。　And　yet　they　were　giddy　with　success；　slapping　each　other　and　chortling。　They　were　ravenous；　but　did　not　dare　light　a　fire　for　fear　of　being　discovered。　Masangkay　had　reached　into　his　pack　and；　pulling　out　a　tin　of　sardines；　offered　it　to　McFarlane。　〃Are　you　kidding？〃　McFarlane　had　whispered。　〃That　stuff　tastes　even　worse　than　it　smells。〃
　〃That's　why　I　like　it；〃　Masangkay　whispered　back。　〃Amoy　ek…ek　yung　kamay　mo！〃
　McFarlane　had　given　him　a　blank　look。　But　instead　of　explaining；　Masangkay　began　to　laugh：　softly　at　first；　and　then　more　and　more　violently。　Somehow；　in　the　supercharged　atmosphere　of　danger　and　tension；　his　laughter　was　irresistibly　infectious。　And　without　knowing　why；　McFarlane；　too；　dissolved　into　silent　convulsions　of　laughter；　clutching　the　precious　bags；　as　the　very　trucks　that　hunted　them　crossed　and　recrossed　overhead。
　Then　McFarlane　was　back　in　the　present；　crouching　in　the　snow；　the　frozen　tins　of　food　and　rags　of　clothing　scattered　around　his　feet。　A　queer　sensation　had　e　over　him。　It　seemed　like　such　a　pathetic　collection　of　trash。　This　was　a　horrible　place　to　die；　all　alone。　He　felt　a　tickling　at　the　corners　of　his　eyes。
　〃So　where's　the　meteorite？〃　he　heard　Lloyd　ask。
　〃The　what？〃　said　Puppup。
　〃The　hole；　man；　where's　the　hole　Masangkay　dug？〃
　Puppup　pointed　vaguely　into　the　swirling　snow。
　〃Damn　it；　take　me　there！〃
　McFarlane　looked　first　toward　Lloyd；　then　at　Puppup；　who　was　already　trotting　ahead。　He　rose　and　followed　them　through　the　falling　snow。
　Half　a　mile；　and　Puppup　stopped；　pointing。　McFarlane　took　a　few　steps　forward；　staring　at　the　scooped…out　depression。　Its　sides　were　slumped　in；　and　a　drift　of　snow　lay　at　its　bottom。　Somehow；　he　had　thought　the　hole　would　be　bigger。　He　felt　Lloyd　grip　his　arm；　squeezing　it　so　tightly　it　was　painful　even　through　the　layers　of　wool　and　down。
　〃Think　of　it；　Sam；〃　Lloyd　whispered。　〃It's　right　here。　Right　beneath　our　feet。〃　He　tore　his　eyes　away　from　the　hole　and　looked　at　McFarlane。　〃I　wish　to　hell　we　could　see　it。〃
　McFarlane　realized　that　he　should　be　feeling　something　other　than　a　profound　sadness　and　a　creeping；　eerie　silence。　Lloyd　slipped　off　his　pack；　unfastened　the　top；　and　pulled　out　a　thermos　and　three　plastic　cups。　〃Hot　chocolate？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　Lloyd　smiled　wistfully。　〃That　goddamned　Eli。　He　should　have　supplied　a　bottle　of　cognac。　Well；　at　least　it's　hot。〃　He　unscrewed　the　cap　and　poured　out　the　steaming　cups。　Lloyd　held　his　up；　and　McFarlane　and　Puppup　followed　suit。
　〃Here's　to　the　Desolation　meteorite。〃　Lloyd's　voice　sounded　small　and　muffled　in　the　silent　snowfall。
　〃Masangkay；〃　McFarlane　heard　himself　say；　after　a　brief　silence。
　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃The　Masangkay　meteorite。〃
　〃Sam；　that's　not　protocol。　You　always　name　the　meteorite　after　the　place　where　…　〃
　The　empty　feeling　insi