cussler.blueandgold-第7章

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　〃A　fish　treat。〃　She　slapped　the　side　of　the　inflatable　several　times　with　a　paddle。　There　was　a　splash　where　the　lagoon　opened　into　the　river。　A　pinkish…gray　hump　with　a　long；　low　dorsal　fin　cut　a　V…shaped　ripple　in　their　direction。　It　circled　the　boat；　emitting　a　sneezing　sound　from　its　blowhole。　Gamay　scattered　fish　meal　pellets；　and　the　slim　beak　came　out　of　the　water　and　hungrily　snapped　them　down。　　　　
　〃We've　verified　those　apocryphal　stories　of　dolphins　ing　on　call。　I　can　imagine　them　helping　the　locals　with　their　fishing　as　we've　heard。〃　　　　
　〃You've　also　proven　that　Cyrano　has　done　a　good　job　of　training　you　to　give　him　a　snack。〃　　　　
　〃True；　but　these　creatures　are　supposed　to　be　unfinished　versions　of　the　saltwater　type；　so　it's　of　interest　to　me　that　their　brains　have　advanced　faster　than　their　physical　appearance。〃　　　　They　watched　the　circling　dolphin　with　amusement　for　a　few　minutes；　then；　aware　that　the　light　was　waning；　decided　to　head　back。　　　　
　While　Gamay　arranged　her　gear；　Paul　started　the　outboard　motor　and　headed　them　out　of　the　lagoon　onto　the　slow…moving　river。　The　inky　water　changed　to　a　strained…pea　green。　The　dolphin　kept　pace；　but　when　he　saw　there　would　be　no　more　treats；　he　peeled　off　like　a　fighter　plane。　Before　long　the　thick　jungle　along　the　river　gave　way　to　a　clearing。　A　handful　of　thatched　huts　were　grouped　around　a　white　stucco　house　with　a　red　tile　roof　and　arcade　facade　in　the　Spanish　colonial　style。　　　　
　They　tied　up　at　a　small　pier；　hauled　their　gear　from　the　boat；　and　walked　to　the　stucco　building；　trailing　a　chattering　gang　of　half　naked　Indian　children。　The　youngsters　were　shooed　away　by　the　housekeeper；　a　formidable　Spanish…Indian　woman　who　wielded　a　broom　like　a　battle…ax。　Paul　and　Gamay　went　inside。　A　silver…haired　man　in　his　sixties；　wearing　a　white　shirt　with　an　embroidered　front；　cotton　slacks；　and　handmade　sandals；　rose　from　his　desk　in　the　coolness　of　the　study　where　he　had　been　working　on　a　pile　of　papers。　He　strode　over　to　greet　them　with　obvious　pleasure。　　　　
　〃Senor　and　Senora　Trout。　Good　to　see　you。　Your　work　went　well；　I　trust。〃　　　
　　〃Very　well；　Dr。　Ramirez。　Thank　you；〃　Gamay　said。　〃I　had　the　chance　to　catalog　more　dolphin　behavior；　and　Paul　wrapped　up　his　puter　modeling　of　the　river。〃　　　　
　〃I　had　very　little　to　do　with　it；　actually；〃　Paul　said。　〃It　was　mostly　a　question　of　alerting　researchers　at　the　Amazon　Basin　project　of　Gamay's　work　here　and　asking　them　to　point　the　LandSat　satellite　in　this　direction。　I　can　finish　the　puter　modeling　when　we　get　home；　and　Gamay　will　use　it　as　part　of　her　habitat　analysis。〃　　　　
　〃I'll　be　very　sorry　to　see　you　go。　It　was　kind　of　the　National　Underwater　&　Marine　Agency　to　lend　its　experts　for　a　small　re　search　project。〃　　　　
　Gamay　said；　〃Without　these　rivers　and　the　flora　and　fauna　that　grow　here；　there　would　be　no　ocean　life。〃　　　　
　〃Thank　you；　Senora　Gamay。　As　a　way　of　appreciation　I　have　prepared　a　special　dinner　for　your　last　night　here。〃　　　　
　〃That's　very　nice　of　you；〃　Paul　said。　〃We'll　pack　early　so　we'll　be　ready　for　the　supply　boat。〃　　　　
　〃I　wouldn't　be　too　concerned；〃　he　said。　〃The　boat　is　always　late。〃　　　　
　〃Fine　with　us；〃　Paul　replied。　〃We'll　have　time　to　talk　some　more　about　your　work。〃
　　　　Ramirez　chuckled。　〃I　feel　like　a　troglodyte。　I　still　practice　my　science　of　botany　the　old　way；　cutting　plants；　preserving　and　paring　them；　and　writing　reports　nobody　reads。〃　He　beamed。　〃Our　little　river　creatures　have　never　had　better　friends　than　you。〃　　　　Gamay　said。　〃Perhaps　our　work　will　show　where　the　dolphins'　habitat　is　under　environmental　threat。　Then　something　can　be　done　about　it。〃　　　　
　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃In　Latin　America；　government　tends　to　move　slowly　unless　there　is　someone's　pocket　to　be　filled。　Worthwhile　projects　sink　into　the　morass。〃　　　　〃Sounds　like　home。　Our　bottomless　swamp　is　named　Washington；　D。C。〃　　　　
　They　were　laughing　at　their　shared　joke　when　the　house　keeper　herded　a　native　into　the　study。　He　was　short　and　muscular；　wore　a　loincloth；　and　had　large　copper　loops　in　his　ears。　His　jet…black　hair　was　cut　in　bangs；　and　his　eyebrows　had　been　shaved　off。　He　spoke　in　respectful　tones　to　the　doctor；　but　his　ex　cited　speech　and　darting　eyes　made　it　clear　something　had　set　him　off。　He　kept　pointing　toward　the　river。　Dr。　Ramirez　grabbed　a　broad…brimmed　Panama　hat　from　a　hook。
　
　〃There　is　apparently　a　dead　man　in　a　canoe；〃　he　said。　〃My　apologies；　but　as　the　only　government　representative　of　any　kind　within　a　hundred　miles；　I　must　investigate。〃
　
　〃May　we　e？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃Of　course。　I　am　hardly　a　Sherlock　Holmes　and　would　wele　other　trained　scientific　eyes。　You　may　find　this　of　inter　est。　This　gentleman　says　the　dead　man　is　a　ghost…spirit。〃　Noting　the　puzzled　reaction　of　his　guests；　he　said；　〃I'll　explain　later。〃
　
　They　hustled　from　the　house　and　walked　quickly　past　the　huts　to　the　edge　of　the　river。　The　men　of　the　village　were　gathered　silently　near　the　water。　Children　were　trying　to　peek　through　their　legs。　The　women　stayed　back。　The　gathering　parted　as　Dr。　Ramirez　approached。　Tied　up　to　the　dock　was　an　ornately　carved　dugout　canoe。　The　dugout　was　painted　white　except　for　the　bow；　which　was　blue；　and　a　blue　stripe　that　extended　from　the　front　to　the　back。
　
　The　body　of　a　young　Indian　man　lay　on　his　back　inside　the　canoe。　Like　the　village　Indians；　he　had　black　hair　cut　in　bangs　and　he　wore　only　a　loincloth。　The　resemblance　ended　there。　The　village　men　tattooed　their　bodies　or　dabbed　crimson　paint　on　their　high　cheekbones　to　protect　them　from　evil　spirits　who　supposedly　cannot　see　the　color　red。　The　dead　man's　nose　and　chin　were　painted　in　a　pale　blue　that　extended　down　his　arms。　The　rest　of　his　body　was　a　stark　white。　When　Dr。　Ramirez　leaned　into　the　canoe　his　shadow　startled　the　green…bottle　flies　clustered　on　the　dead　man's　chest；　and　they　buzzed　off　to　reveal　a　gaping　circular　hole。
　
　Paul　sucked　his　breath　in。　〃That　looks　like　a　gunshot　wound。〃
　
　〃I　think　you're　right；〃　Dr。　Ramirez　said；　a　serious　look　in　his　deep…set　eyes。　〃It　doesn't　resemble　any　spear　or　arrow　wound　I've　ever　seen。〃
　
　He　turned　to　the　villagers　and　after　a　few　minutes　of　conversation　translated　for　the　Trouts。
　
　〃They　say　they　were　out　fishing　when　the　canoe　came　floating　on　the　river。　They　recognized　it　from　the　color　as　a　ghost　spirit　boat　and　were　afraid。　It　appeared　to　be　empty　so　they　came　alongside。　They　saw　the　dead　man　in　the　canoe　and　thought　they　would　simply　let　the　boat　go　on　its　way。　Then　they　thought　better　of　it；　because　his　spirit　might　e　back　to　haunt　them　for　not　giving　him　a　decent　burial。　So　they　brought　him　here　and　made　him　my　problem。〃
　
　〃Why　would　they　be　afraid　of　this　。　。　。　ghost…spirit？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　The　doctor　tweaked　the　end　of　his　bushy　gray　mustache。　〃The　Chulo；　which　is　the　local　name　for　the　tribe　this　gentleman　belongs　to；　are　said　to　live　beyond　the　Great　Falls。　The　natives　say　they　are　ghosts　who　were　born　of　the　mists。　People　who　have　gone　into　their　territory　have　never　e　out。〃　He　gestured　to　ward　the　canoe。　〃As　you　can　see；　this　gentleman　is　flesh　and
　blood　like　the　rest　of　us。〃　He　reached　into　the　canoe　and　pulled　out　a　bag　made　of　flayed　animal　skin　that　was　lying　next　to　the　corpse。　The　village　natives　backed　away　as　if　he　were　brandishing　a　sack　full　of　black　plague。　He　spoke　in　Spanish　to　one　of　the　Indians；　who　became　more　animated　the　longer　they　talked。
　
　Ramirez　abruptly　ended　the　conversation　and　turned　to　the　Trouts。　〃They　are　afraid　of　him；〃　he　said；　and　indeed；　the　village　men　were　drifting　back　to　their　families。　〃If　you　would　be　so　kind；　we　will　haul　the　boat　onto　shore。　I　persuaded　them　to　dig　a　hole；　but　not　in　their　own　cemetery。　Over　there；　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　where　nobody　goes　anyhow。　The　shaman　has　assured　them　that　he　can　place　enough　totems　on　the　grave　to　keep　the　dead　man　from　wandering。〃　He　smiled。　〃Having　the　body　so　near　will　give　the　shaman　more　power。　When　something　goes　wrong　with　his　spells　he　can　always　say　the　dead　man's　spirit　has　returned。　We　will　send　the　boat　off　by　itself　down　the　river；　and　the　spirit　will　be　allowed　to　follow　it。〃
　
　Paul　eyed　the　canoe's　fine　workmanship。　〃Seems　a　shame　to　waste　such　a　beautiful　example　of　boat　building。　Anything　to　keep　the　peace。〃　He　grabbed　one　end　of　the　canoe。　With　the　three　people　pulling　and　pushing；　they　soon　had　it　up　on　the　shore　away　from　the　river。　Ramirez　covered　the　body　with　a　woven　blanket　from　the　canoe。　Then　he　retrieved　the　sack；　which　was　about　the　size　of　a　golf　bag　and　tied　with　thongs　at　the　open　end。
　
　〃Perhaps　this　will　tell　us　more　about　our　ghost；〃　he　said；　leading　the　way　back　to　the　house。　They　went　into　the　study　and　placed　the　bag　on　a　long　library　table。　He　untied　the　thongs；　opened　the　bag　gingerly；　and　peered　inside。　〃We　must　be　careful。　Some　of　the　tribes　use　poisoned　arrows　or　blowgun　darts。〃　He　lifted　the　bottom　of　the　sack；　and　several　smaller　bags　slid　out　onto　the　desk。　He　opened　one　and　extracted　a　shiny　metal　disk　that　he　handed　to　Gamay。　〃I　understand　you　studied　archaeology　before　you　became　a　biologist。　Perhaps　you　know　what　this　is。〃
　
　Gamay　furrowed　her　brow　as　she　examined　the　flat；　round　object。　〃A　mirror？　It　appears　that　vanity　is　not　confined　to　women。〃
　
　Paul　took　the　mirror　from　her　hand　and　turned　it　over　to　ex　amine　the　markings　on　the　back。　A　smile　crossed　his　face。　〃I　had　one　of　these　when　I　was　a　kid。　It's　a　signal　mirror。　Look；　these　are　dots　and　dashes。　This　isn't　like　any　Morse　code　I　know；　but　it's　not　bad。　See　these　little　stick　figures？　A　basic　code。　Guy　running　one　way　means　e；　facing　the　other　direction　is　go；　I'd　guess。　Here's　someone　lying　down。〃
　
　〃Stay　where　you　are；〃　Gamay　ventured。
　
　　〃My　guess；　too。　These　two　fellows　with　spears　might　mean　join　me　to　fight。　Little　guy　and　the　animal　could　stand　for　hunt。〃　He　chuckled。　'　Almost　as　good　as　a　cell　phone。〃
　
　　〃Better；〃　Gamay　said。　〃It　doesn't　use　batteries　or　cost　you　per　minute。〃
　
　　Paul　asked　Ramirez　if　he　could　open　another　bag；　and　the　Spaniard　gladly　assented。
　
　　〃Fishing　kit；〃　Trout　said。　〃Metal　hooks；　fiber　line。　Hey；〃　he　said；　examining　a　crude　pair　of　metal　pincers。　〃Bet　this　is　a　pair　of　pliers　for　pulling　hooks　out。〃
　
　　〃I've　got　you　beat；〃　Gamay　said；　emptying　another　bag　and　pulling　out　a　connected　pair　of　small　wooden　circles　with　dark　transparent　surfaces　filling　their　openings。　She　attached　the　apparatus　to　her　ears　with　fiber　hoops。　〃Sunglasses。〃
　
　　Not　to　be　outdone；　Ramirez　also　had　been　poking　through　bags。　He　held　a　gourd　about　six　inches　long；　unplugged　the　wooden　top；　and　sniffed。　〃Medicine　perhaps？　It　smells　like　alcohol。〃
　
　　Hanging　from　the　bottom　was　a　miniature　bowl　and　a　wooden　handle　with　a　flat　piece　of　stone　and　an　irregular　wheel　on　a　rotating　axis。　Paul　stared　thoughtfully　at　the　gourd；　then　took　it　from　the　other　man。　He　filled　the　dish　with　the　liquid；　brought　the　wooden　device　near；　and　flicked　the　wheel。　It　scraped　across　the　stone　and　emitted　sparks。　The　liquid　ignited　with　a　poof。
　
　　〃Voila；〃　he　said　with　obvious　satisfaction。　〃The　very　first　Bic　cigarette　lighter。　Handy　for　starting　a　campfire；　too。〃
　
　
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