cussler.blueandgold-第25章

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ound　and　stumbled　onto　a　footpath。　The　trail　was　overgrown　and　looked　as　if　it　hadn't　seen　any　recent　use。　Still；　they　proceeded　cautiously；　ready　to　dive　into　the　bushes　if　they　encountered　anyone。
　
　They　trekked　along　the　path　for　about　a　mile　until　they　came　to　a　place　where　mists　from　the　lake　rolled　into　the　forest　like　vapor　from　a　fog　machine。　The　leafy　growth　was　as　wet　as　if　it　had　been　pelted　by　a　rain　shower；　and　the　roar　of　the　falls　was　like　the　beating　of　a　thousand　kettledrums。　They　were　aware　that　the　same　noise　that　muffled　their　movement　could　drown　out　the　approach　of　a　marching　army。　'The　air　became　chilly　and　so　damp　that　they　put　their　hands　over　their　noses　so　they　wouldn't　gag。　The　visibility　was　only　a　few　feet；　and　they　kept　their　heads　low　so　their　eyes　could　pick　out　the　path。
　
　Then；　suddenly；　they　were　out　of　the　forest。　If　they　were　expecting　to　burst　out　on　a　beautiful　valley　like　wayfarers　in　Shangri…la；　they　were　disappointed。　The　forest　was　no　different　on　the　other　side　of　the　mists。　The　path　no　longer　led　along　the　lake　but　instead　veered　off　along　a　tributary　that　the　canoes　must　have　followed。
　
　After　a　few　minutes　Gamay　stopped　and　shook　her　head。　〃Notice　anything　strange　about　this　little　river？〃
　
　Paul　walked　over　to　the　edge　of　the　banking。　〃Yes；　it's　much　too　straight　to　be　natural。　It　looks　as　if　someone　has　taken　an　existing　stream　and　marsh　and　cleared　them　out　with　shovel　and　pick。〃
　
　〃My　thoughts　exactly。〃　Gamay　started　walking　again。　〃As　I　said；　the　Chulo　are　most　fascinating。〃
　
　They　plodded　ahead　for　several　hours。　They　had　fashioned　hats　from　palm　leaves　and　stopped　frequently　to　quench　their　thirst　from　the　river。　At　one　point　they　waited　out　a　shower。　They　became　more　tense　and　watchful　as　the　path　widened；　and　they　began　to　see　the　imprints　of　a　bare　foot　in　the　soft；　dark　earth。
　
　After　a　short　discussion；　they　decided　to　follow　the　river　for　a　while　longer；　then　hide　in　the　forest　until　dark。　They　were　dog　tired　and　needed　to　replenish　their　energy。　As　they　plodded　along　they　encountered　a　path　ing　in　from　the　forest　to　their　right。　It　was　made　of　thousands　of　flat　stones　and　reminded　Gamay　of　the　Maya　or　Inca　roads。　It　was　as　good　as　anything　she　had　seen　on　the　Appian　Way。　Their　curiosity　got　the　best　of　them；　and　they　followed　the　paved　path　for　five　more　minutes。　They　were　drawn　on　even　farther　by　a　gleam　through　the　trees。
　
　The　walkway　widened　into　a　perfectly　circular　clearing　about　fifty　feet　in　diameter　and　also　surfaced　entirely　with　stones。　In　the　center　of　the　clearing　was　a　large　object。
　
　〃I'll　be　damned；〃　they　said　in　unison。
　
　The　jet　plane　was　in　two　sections。　The　front　was　intact；　but　the　passenger　cabin　was　virtually　gone。　The　tail　section　was　in　fair　shape　and　had　been　moved　directly　behind　the　cockpit；　giving　the　aircraft　a　short；　stubby　look。　The　paint　was　old　and　faded　and　not　overgrown　by　vines　or　lichen　as　might　be　expected。
　
　They　peered　through　the　cracked　cockpit　windows；　expecting　to　see　skeletons。　The　seats　were　empty。　Directly　in　front　of　the　cockpit　was　a　shallow　pit　holding　the　blackened　ashes　of　fires　and　charred　bones　of　small　animals。　Carved　totems　as　tall　and　thick　as　a　man　ringed　the　stone　circle。　The　figures　adorning　each　post　were　different。　Carved　in　dark　wood　at　the　top　of　each　pole　was　a　winged　woman　with　her　hands　cupped　in　front　of　her。　It　was　the　same　figure　carved　onto　the　medallion　they　had　found　on　the　dead　Indian。
　
　〃It　looks　like　some　sort　of　shrine；〃　Gamay　whispered。　She　went　over　to　the　ash　pit。　〃This　must　be　where　they　burned　sacrifices。　Mostly　bones　from　small　animals。〃
　
　〃That's　certainly　reassuring；〃　Paul　said。　He　looked　up　at　the　sun；　then　checked　his　watch。　〃They've　got　the　plane　positioned　so　that　it　acts　like　a　sundial。　It　reminds　me　of　the　layout　at　Stonehenge；　with　the　concentric　rings　that　acted　as　a　celestial　calendar。〃
　
　Gamay　put　her　hand　on　the　plane's　nose。　〃Does　this　blue　and…white　color　scheme　seem　familiar　to　you？〃
　
　〃What　do　you　know？　The　Chulo　national　colors。〃
　
　Gamay's　eyes　widened　as　she　looked　past　Paul；　who　had　his　back　to　the　forest。
　
　〃That's　not　the　only　thing　around　here　that's　blue　and　white。〃
　
　Paul　turned　and　saw　about　twenty　Chulo　Indians　emerge　from　the　trees；　their　faces　and　bodies　painted　the　colors　of　sky　and　bone。　He　cursed　himself　for　allowing　the　plane's　discovery　to　push　caution　aside。　As　silently　as　the　ghosts　they　were　reputed　to　be；　the　Indians　surrounded　them。　There　was　no　way　to　run。　Paul　and　Gamay　were　pletely　boxed　in。
　
　The　Indians　advanced　with　their　spears　held　high；　but　then　they　did　a　peculiar　thing。　They　opened　the　circle。　One　Indian　indicated　with　his　spear　that　they　were　to　go　through　the　opening。　The　Trouts　glanced　at　each　other　for　mutual　reassurance；　then；　with　the　silent　Indians　flanking　them　like　a　military　honor　guard；　they　marched　from　the　shrine　and　followed　the　path　along　the　river。
　
　The　path　widened　into　a　road　that　took　them　to　a　stockade　palisade。　They　made　their　way　toward　a　gate　wide　enough　to　drive　a　truck　through。　From　a　distance　they　had　seen　on　either　side　of　the　gate　tall　wooden　staffs　that　had　knobs　on　the　top　like　flagpoles。　As　they　neared　the　entrance　Gamay　squeezed　her　husband's　hand　even　tighter。
　
　〃Paul；　look；〃　she　said。
　
　He　followed　her　gaze。　〃Oh；　hell。〃
　
　The　knobs　were　in　fact　human　heads。　Their　faces　had　been　baked　brown　like　apples　in　the　sun；　and　the　birds　and　insects　had　been　making　inroads；　but　it　was　still　possible　to　pick　out　Dieter's　features。　He　wasn't　smiling。　Neither　was　Arnaud　or　his　taciturn　assistant；　Carlo。　The　fourth　head　belonged　to　their　Indian　henchman。　Trout　recognized　him　by　the　New　York　Yankees　baseball　cap。　
　
　　Then　they　were　through　the　gates；　past　the　grisly　decorations。　Behind　the　fence　were　several　dozen　long　thatched　huts　clustered　along　the　river。　No　women　or　children　were　visible。　Their　guards　had　lowered　their　spears　and　unstrung　their　arrows　and　were　using　the　presence　of　their　bodies　to　keep　the　Trouts　from　trying　anything　foolish。
　
　Paul　said；　〃Look　at　that　water　wheel。　We　have　them　like　that　in　New　England。〃
　
　Water　had　been　diverted　from　the　river　and　was　flowing　through　wooden　chutes　to　turn　a　wheel。　They　didn't　get　the　chance　for　a　closer　look。　Their　guards　directed　them　toward　a　structure　at　the　center　of　the　settlement。　It　was　four　times　bigger　than　any　of　the　surrounding　huts；　and　the　walls　were　made　of　putty…colored　clay　rather　than　saplings。　They　stopped　in　front　of　a　portal　that　looked　like　a　large；　gaping　mouth。　Hung　over　the　entrance　was　the　bladed　fan　from　a　jet　engine。　The　Indians　closed　ranks　behind　them；　put　their　weapons　aside；　and　kneeled　with　their　noses　touching　the　earth。
　
　〃Now　what？〃　Gamay　said　with　astonishment　at　the　sudden　submissiveness　of　the　fierce　Indians。
　
　〃I　wouldn't　advise　running　for　it。　We　wouldn't　get　ten　feet　before　they　nailed　us。　My　guess　is　they　want　us　to　go　in。　After　you；　madame。〃
　
　〃We'll　go　in　together。〃
　
　They　walked　hand…in…hand　through　the　doorway　into　the　dim　interior。　They　passed　through　two　smaller　rooms；　then　into　a　large　space。　At　the　far　end　of　the　hut；　visible　in　a　shaft　of　light　ing　through　a　hole　cut　in　the　roof；　was　a　seated　figure。　The　figure　raised　its　arm　and　beckoned　for　them　to　approach。　They　moved　ahead　slowly。　The　floor　was　made　of　wood；　not　dirt　like　the　huts　they　had　been　in　before。
　
　The　figure　sat　on　a　throne　made　of　what　looked　like　an　airplane　seat。　With　the　exception　of　two　tanned　and　shapely　legs；　most　of　the　body　was　hidden　behind　a　blue…and…white　oval　mask　that　could　have　e　out　of　a　nightmare。　It　was　painted　with　huge　eyes　and　a　wide　mouth　with　sharp…pointed　shark's　teeth。　
　The　Trouts　stood　nervously　in　front　of　the　bizarre　figure；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Then　two　hands　came　from　behind　the　mask　and　lifted　it　off。
　
　〃Whew；　this　thing　is　hot；〃　the　beautiful　woman　behind　the　ugly　mask　said　in　English。　She　set　the　mask　aside；　cocked　her　head　at　Paul；　then　at　Gamay。
　
　〃The　Drs。　Trout；　I　presume？〃
　
　Gamay　was　the　first　to　speak　through　their　astonishment。　〃How　do　you　know　our　names？〃
　
　〃We　white　goddesses　see　all　and　know　all。〃　She　laughed　when　she　saw　the　puzzlement　deepen　even　more。　〃I'm　a　poor　host；　teasing　my　guests。〃
　
　She　smiled　and　clapped　her　hands　lightly。　The　Trouts　were　in　for　another　surprise。　The　beaded　curtains　behind　the　throne　parted　with　a　rustle；　and　Dieter's　wife；　Tessa；　stepped　out。　
　
　Chapter　15
　The　law　office　of　Francis　Xavier　Hanley　was　on　the　twelfth　floor　of　a　blue　glass　tower　that　looked　out　onto　San　Diego　Harbor。　Austin　and　Zavala　stepped　from　the　elevator　into　the　office　lobby　and　gave　the　attractive　young　receptionist　their　names。　She　punched　a　button　on　her　inter　　and　after　a　murmured　conversation　smiled　brightly　and　told　them　to　go　right　in。　A　ruddy…faced　man　with　the　body　of　a　night　club　bouncer　gone　to　flab　greeted　them　at　the　door。　He　introduced　himself　as　Hanley　and　ushered　them　to　a　pair　of　Empire…style　chairs。　Settling　his　bulk　behind　a　large　mahogany　desk；　he　leaned　back　in　his　plush　swivel　chair；　tented　his　fingertips；　and　contemplated　the　two　men　like　a　wolf　drooling　over　a　pair　of　staked　goats。
　
　After　crossing　back　from　Tijuana；　Austin　had　called　Hanley's　office　and　asked　for　an　appointment。　He　spread　his　story　on　as　thick　as　peanut　butter；　saying　he　and　his　partner　〃had　made　a　few　mil〃　in　the　market　and　wanted　a　place　to　spend　it。　They　got　an　immediate　meeting。　The　predatory　gleam　in　the　lawyer's　pale　green　eyes　suggested　that　the　bait　had　done　its　job　well。　He　looked　from　one　man　to　the　other。　〃I　believe　in　getting　right　down　to　business；〃　he　purred。　〃You　said　on　the　phone　that　you're　interested　in　foreign　investment。〃
　
　〃We're　primarily　interested　in　Mexico；〃　Zavala　explained。
　
　The　attorney　wore　an　expensive　sharkskin　gray　suit　and　had　enough　gold　and　diamonds　on　his　fleshy　hands　to　sink　the　Titanic。　All　the　tailors　in　the　world　couldn't　hide　the　brawler's　body；　and　no　amount　of　jewelry　could　have　obscured　the　coarse　ness　ingrained　in　his　every　word　and　move。　The　NUMA　men　were　dressed　in　jeans；　T…shirts；　and　windbreakers。　It　was　a　studied　casualness。　In　California；　the　only　ones　who　look　like　millionaires　are　those　who　aren't。
　
　Hanley　took　in　Zavala's　Latin　American　looks。　〃You've　e　to　the　right　place；〃　he　said　expansively。　He　smiled　in　an　attempt　to　exert　charm；　but　the　V…shaped　mouth　in　the　fleshy　face　made　him　look　like　a　fat　vulture。　〃Did　you　have　a　specific　area　in　mind？〃
　
　〃We　like　tortillas；〃　Austin　said　with　a　straight　face。
　
　A　look　of　inprehension　appeared　on　Hanley's　florid　features。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said；　not　certain　he　had　heard　correctly。
　
　〃You　know；　tortillas；〃　Austin　said；　making　a　circular　motion　with　his　finger。　〃We　hear　it's　a　fast…growing　business。〃
　
　Recovering　nicely；　Hanley　replied；　〃And　so　it　is。　A　booming　sector　in　the　expanding　food　services　area。〃
　
　Austin　had　the　feeling　that　the　answer　would　have　been　the　same　had　they　told　Hanley　they　were　interested　in　making　mud　pies。　He　and　Zavala　had　decided　to　use　the　direct　approach　that　had　worked　so　we