cussler.blueandgold-第37章

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　Chapter　25
　The　drums　had　been　beating　steadily　for　an　hour。　The　sound　was　cadenced　at　first；　ing　from　a　lone　drum　at　the　same　throbbing　tempo　as　a　human　heartbeat。　Then　other　drums　had　joined　in。　The　hollow　thumping　accelerated　in　pace；　and　a　monotonous　chanting　could　be　heard　in　the　background。　Francesca　paced　back　and　forth　in　the　throne　room　like　a　caged　lion；　her　hands　clasped　behind　her；　head　bent　low　in　thought。　The　Trouts　sat　next　to　the　throne；　waiting　patiently　for　Francesca　to　speak。　Tessa　had　pulled　her　vanishing　act　again。
　
　Something　caused　a　motion　at　the　entrance。　Seconds　later　Francesca's　two　handmaidens　rushed　into　the　throne　room；　threw　themselves　on　their　knees；　and　babbled　excitedly。　Calming　the　young　Indians　with　her　soft　voice；　Francesca　gently　lifted　them　to　their　feet　and　brushed　their　disheveled　hair　away　from　their　faces。　She　listened　to　the　women　speak　in　turn；　then　took　two　bracelets　made　of　airplane　parts　and　slipped　them　onto　their　wrists。　She　kissed　her　attendants　on　the　tops　of　their　heads　and　sent　them　on　their　way。
　
　Turning　to　the　Trouts；　Francesca　said；　〃Events　are　moving　faster　than　I　anticipated。　The　women　say　Alaric　has　talked　the　tribe　into　moving　against　us。〃
　
　Gamay　frowned。　〃I　thought　they　wouldn't　enter　your　palace。〃
　
　〃I've　always　said　Alaric　was　intelligent。　He　sent　my　servants
　to　tell　me　his　plans；　evidently　to　exert　psychological　pressure。　The　drums　are　his　work。〃　She　pointed　to　the　ceiling。　〃The　palace　walls　are　clay；　but　the　roof　is　made　of　dry　grass。　They　will　light　the　place　on　fire。　He　says　the　true　gods　will　rise　from　the　ashes。　If　we　run　outside　to　escape　the　flames　it　will　prove　that　we're　the　frauds　he　says　we　are；　and　they　will　cut　us　down。〃　〃Would　they　really　harm　their　queen？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　〃It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time　royalty　has　fallen　fatally　out　of　favor。　Have　you　forgotten　Mary　Queen　of　Scots　or　Anne　Boleyn？〃
　
　〃I　get　your　point；〃　Gamay　said。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　
　〃We　escape。　Are　you　ready？〃
　
　〃Since　all　we　have　are　the　clothes　on　our　backs；　we're　ready　when　you　are；〃　Paul　said。　〃But　how　are　we　going　to　get　past　that　unruly　crowd　out　there？〃
　
　〃I　still　have　a　few　white　goddess　tricks　up　my　sleeve。　Ah；　good；　Tessa　is　back。〃　The　Indian　woman　had　materialized　as　silently　as　a　shadow。　She　spoke　a　few　words　in　her　native　language　to　Francesca；　who　answered　with　a　nod。　Tessa　took　one　of　the　torches　flanking　the　throne。
　
　Francesca　said；　〃Dr。　Paul；　if　you　would　be　so　kind　as　to　help　Tessa。〃　Trout　went　over　and　hoisted　Tessa　up　by　the　waist。　She　was　as　light　as　a　feather。　Tessa　tucked　the　torch　in　at　an　angle　where　the　clay　met　the　thatch。　The　torch　had　only　to　burn　a　few　inches　before　the　flame　touched　the　ceiling。　They　repeated　the　procedure　with　another　torch　on　the　opposite　wall。
　
　〃I　don't　count　arson　among　my　talents；　but　this　crude　time　delay　will　create　a　distraction　when　we　need　it；〃　Francesca　said。　She　looked　around　the　throne　room。　〃Good…bye；〃　she　said　sadly　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃In　some　ways　I'll　miss　being　a　queen。〃　She　turned　to　Tessa；　and　they　talked　heatedly。　When　the　discussion　was　ended　Tessa　had　a　satisfied　look　on　her　face。　Francesca　sighed　heavily。　〃You　see　what's　happening？　My　subjects　are　al　ready　rebelling。　I　ordered　Tessa　to　stay；　but　she　wants　to　go　with　us。　We　don't　have　time　to　argue　further。　Follow　me。〃
　
　Francesca　led　the　way　along　the　dim　passageways　to　her　bed
　room。　The　two　woven　bags　on　the　bed　explained　Tessa's　temporary　absence。　She　had　been　packing　for　their　escape。　Francesca　removed　her　battered　aluminum　suitcase　from　the　wooden　chest。　It　had　been　rigged　with　a　strap　which　she　threw　over　her　shoulder。　Handing　one　bag　to　Paul　and　the　other　to　Gamay；　Francesca　said　that　the　containers　held　food　and　supplies　and　〃a　few　essentials。〃
　
　Gamay　looked　around　the　windowless　room。　〃Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃　The　sound　of　drums　was　muffled；　but　the　beating　was　more　frenetic。
　
　〃We　take　a　shower；　of　course；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　She　lit　a　small　clay　lamp　from　the　torch；　went　over　to　the　shower　stall；　and　pulled　up　the　polished　wooden　floor　to　reveal　a　rectangular　opening。
　
　〃There's　a　ladder。　It's　very　steep。　Be　careful。〃
　
　She　descended　first　so　the　others　could　climb　down　by　lamp　light。　They　were　crowded　together　in　a　small　space；　standing　on　the　gravel　drain　that　had　been　used　to　catch　water　from　the　shower。　A　passage　led　off　into　the　darkness。
　
　〃My　apologies　to　you；　Dr。　Paul。　I　wasn't　expecting　someone　as　tall。　We've　been　digging　this　tunnel　for　years；　carrying　the　dirt　out　in　small　amounts　and　secretly　disposing　of　it。　This　passage　way　runs　into　a　covered　trench　I　had　the　men　build　years　ago　for　future　waterworks。〃
　
　With　Paul　stooping　low　to　keep　from　bumping　his　head；　they　half　walked；　half　crawled　along　the　passageway。　The　floor　and　walls　had　been　smoothed；　and　evenly　spaced　beams　supported　the　ceiling。　Francesca　extinguished　the　light　because　of　the　smoke　in　the　tight　confines；　and　they　traveled　in　darkness。　After　about　fifty　feet　the　tunnel　angled　into　another；　slightly　bigger　passageway。
　
　〃This　is　the　water　works；〃　Francesca　said　in　hushed　tones。　〃We　must　be　silent。　The　tunnel　is　only　a　couple　of　feet　below　ground；　and　the　Chulo　have　sharp　ears。〃
　
　Using　a　primitive　fire　starter　similar　to　the　one　carried　by　Tessa's　half…brother；　Francesca　got　the　lamp　going　again　and　they　forged　ahead。　They　made　slow　progress；　but　after　about　fifteen　minutes　the　tunnel　came　to　an　end。　Francesca　motioned　for　Paul　to　squeeze　up　beside　her。　She　pulled　a　small　spade　from　her　bag　and　chopped　away　at　the　blank　dirt　wall　until　the　blade　hit　something　with　a　thud。
　
　〃I'll　need　your　strength　again；　Dr。　Paul。　Push　against　this　hatch。　I　don't　think　anyone　is　at　the　river；　but　be　cautious。〃
　
　She　backed　off　to　give　Paul　more　room。　He　put　his　shoulder　against　the　wood；　braced　himself；　and　shoved；　gradually　increasing　the　pressure　until　he　felt　the　wood　give。　He　pushed　harder。　The　circular　cover　opened　a　few　inches。　Paul　peered　through　the　narrow　space　with　one　eye　and　saw　water。　With　a　final　shove　he　popped　the　hatch　off。
　
　The　opening　was　in　the　side　of　a　grassy　embankment。　He　slithered　through　the　hole；　then　helped　the　others　climb　out。　Moving　from　the　cool；　dark　tunnel　into　the　hot　sunlight　was　a　shock；　and　they　blinked　their　eyes　like　moles。　Paul　replaced　the　hatch。　While　the　others　covered　the　opening　he　slid　on　his　stomach　to　the　top　of　the　bank　and　peered　over　the　edge。
　
　The　stockade　fence　and　its　grim　decorations　were　a　short　distance　away。　The　tunnel　had　passed　right　under　it。　A　tall；　billowing　plume　of　black　smoke　rose　from　beyond　the　fence。　What　sounded　like　a　flock　of　wild　birds　could　be　heard。　As　he　listened　the　bird　cries　became　human　voices。　He　slid　back　down。
　
　〃It　looks　like　they're　having　a　weenie　roast；〃　he　announced　with　a　grin。　Turning　to　Francesca；　he　added；　〃Don't　ever　tell　me　you　don't　have　a　talent　for　arson。〃
　
　Francesca　responded　by　motioning　for　the　others　to　follow　her　along　the　edge　of　the　river。　They　stayed　low；　hidden　by　the　embankment；　and　after　a　few　minutes　came　upon　a　dozen　dugout　canoes。　They　hauled　two　dugouts　aside。　Trout　thought　of　scuttling　the　others；　but　their　hulls　were　thick　and　not　easily　damaged。
　
　〃Anybody　got　a　power　saw？〃　he　said。　〃Even　a　hatchet　would　do。〃
　
　Francesca　reached　into　her　sack　and　came　out　with　a　covered　pot。　Using　a　flat　stone　from　the　riverbed；　she　smeared　the　blackish　yellow　contents　of　the　pot　onto　the　other　canoes。　She　lit　the　substance　on　fire。　The　wood　flared　into　smoldering　flames　where　she　had　daubed　the　unctuous　mess。
　
　〃Greek　fire；〃　she　said。　〃It's　a　bination　of　resin　from　local　trees。　It　will　burn　hotter　than　napalm。　If　someone　tries　to　put　it　out　with　water；　it　only　makes　the　fire　spread。〃
　
　The　Trouts　looked　on　with　wonder　as　the　flames　began　to　eat　through　the　hulls。　They　knew　the　sabotage　would　help；　but　once　the　natives　had　discovered　their　scuttled　craft；　they　could　race　along　the　well…maintained　pathway　that　bordered　the　river。
　
　They　paired　the　stronger　paddlers　with　weaker　ones。　Gamay　and　Francesca　got　in　one　craft。　Paul　and　Tessa　took　the　other。　They　shoved　off　into　the　river　and　paddled　for　their　lives。　After　an　hour　they　pulled　over　to　the　shore　for　a　drink　of　water　and　five　minutes　of　rest；　then　set　off　again。　The　paddles　raised　blisters　on　their　palms　as　they　pushed　the　canoes　against　the　river　current。　Francesca　passed　around　a　medicinal　ointment　from　her　amazing　bag；　and　it　numbed　the　pain　in　their　hands。　They　kept　on；　trying　to　put　as　many　miles　between　them　and　the　village　as　possible　before　daylight　failed。
　
　Darkness　came　all　too　soon。　Travel　on　the　river　became　difficult；　then　impossible。　The　canoes　became　tangled　in　thick　grass　or　ran　aground　on　sandbars。　They　were　quickly　exhausting　them　selves　and　getting　nowhere。　They　gave　up　and　paddled　closer　to　shore；　where　they　dined　on　jerky　and　dried　fruit。　They　tried　un　successfully　to　sleep；　but　the　dugouts　served　poorly　as　beds；　and　they　were　happy　to　see　the　gray　light　of　morning。
　
　With　bleary　eyes　and　stiff　joints　they　set　off　again。　The　sound　of　drums　spurred　them　on　and　made　them　set　aside　their　aches　and　pains。　The　ominous　drumming　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere　and　echoed　through　the　forest。
　
　The　canoes　glided　through　the　curtain　of　mist　rising　off　the　river。　The　smokescreen　hid　them　from　Chulo　eyes；　but　they　had　to　move　slowly　to　avoid　obstacles。　As　the　sun　rose　it　baked　the　mists　off　to　a　translucent　haze。　With　the　river　ahead　once　more　visible　they　paddled　furiously　until　the　sound　of　drums　faded。　They　kept　moving　for　another　hour；　not　daring　to　stop。　Before　long　they　began　to　hear　a　different　sound。　Gamay　cocked　her　ear。　〃Listen；〃　she　said。
　
　From　a　distance　came　a　low　roar；　as　if　a　train　were　speeding　through　the　forest。
　
　Francesca；　whose　serious　expression　had　not　changed　since　they　left　the　village；　ventured　a　slight　smile。　〃The　Hand　of　God　beckons。〃
　
　With　spirits　renewed；　they　forgot　they　were　tired　and　hungry　and　that　their　buttocks　were　numb　and　dug　their　paddles　in　once　more。　The　roar　grew　louder；　but　it　didn't　obliterate　another　sound；　a　quick　whirr　as　if　a　river　bird　had　taken　flight；　followed　by　a　solid　thunk。
　
　Paul　looked　down　in　disbelief。　A　three…foot…long　arrow　was　embedded　in　the　side　of　his　canoe。　A　few　inches　higher　and　it　would　have　pierced　his　rib　cage。　He　looked　toward　the　shore。　Flashes　of　blue…and…white…painted　bodies　could　be　seen　darting　between　the　trees。　The　ululating　war　cry　filled　the　air。
　
　〃We're　being　attacked！〃　Paul　yelled　unnecessarily。
　
　Spurred　by　the　arrows　chunking　into　the　water　around　them；　Gamay　and　Francesca　were　bent　low　over　their　paddles。　The　canoes　shot　forward　out　of　range。
　
　Their　pursuers　had　quickly　caught　up；　making　good　time　following　the　path　along　the　river。　At　one　point　the　trail　turned　in　land　to　cut　through　the　forest。　The　natives　had　to　fight　their　way　through　thick　growth　to　get　a　clear　shot　at　the　canoes。　They　made　several　attempts。　Each　time　the　canoes　passed　beyond　the　range　of　their　arrows。　Even　the　high…tech　weapons　Francesca　helped　forge　h