p&c.thunderhead-第11章

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　Goddard　picked　up　a　bowl　and　poked　one　finger　through　the　hole　in　its　bottom。　〃This　pot　has　been　killed。〃　
　〃Killed？〃　
　〃Yes。　When　the　Mimbres　buried　a　pot　with　their　dead；　they　punched　a　hole　in　the　bottom　to　release　the　spirit　of　the　pot；　so　it　could　join　the　deceased　in　the　underworld。　Archaeologists　call　it　killing　the　pot。〃　He　replaced　the　bowl　on　the　table。　〃All　these　pots　have　been　killed。　So　you　see　they　must　have　e　from　graves；　no　matter　what　the　provenience　says。〃　
　〃You　mean　you're　going　to　turn　down　a　half…million…dollar　gift；　just　like　that？〃　the　woman　cried。　
　〃I'm　afraid　so。　I'll　have　them　carefully　crated　and　returned　to　you。〃　He　coughed　into　his　handkerchief。　〃I'm　very　sorry；　Lily。〃　
　〃I'm　sure　you　are。〃　The　woman　spun　around　and　left　the　office　abruptly；　leaving　a　faint　cloud　of　expensive　perfume　in　her　wake。　
　In　the　silence　that　followed；　Goddard　settled　onto　the　edge　of　the　table；　a　thoughtful　look　on　his　face。　〃You're　familiar　with　Mimbres　pottery？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Yes；〃　Nora　replied。　She　still　could　not　believe　he　had　turned　down　the　gift。　
　〃What　do　you　think？〃　
　〃Other　institutions　have　killed　Mimbres　pots　in　their　collections。〃　
　〃We　are　not　other　institutions；〃　Goddard　replied　in　his　soft　whisper。　〃These　pots　were　buried　by　people　who　respected　their　dead；　and　we　have　an　obligation　to　continue　that　respect。　I　doubt　Mrs。　Henigsbaugh　would　approve　of　us　digging　up　her　dear　departed　Harry。〃　He　settled　into　a　chair　behind　the　worktable。　〃I　had　a　visit　from　Dr。　Blakewood　the　other　day；　Nora。〃　
　She　stiffened。　This　was　it；　then。　
　〃He　mentioned　that　you　were　behind　in　your　projects；　and　that　he　felt　your　tenure　review　might　go　poorly。　Care　to　tell　me　about　it？〃　
　〃There's　nothing　to　tell；〃　Nora　said。　〃I'll　submit　my　resignation　whenever。〃　
　To　her　surprise；　Goddard　grinned　at　this。　〃Resignation？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　on　earth　would　you　want　to　resign？〃　
　She　cleared　her　throat。　〃There's　no　way；　in　six　months；　I'm　going　to　be　able　to　write　up　the　Rio　Puerco　and　Gallegos　Divide　projects；　and…〃　She　stopped。　
　〃And　what？〃　Goddard　asked。　
　〃Do　what　I　need　to　do；〃　she　finished。　〃So　I　might　as　well　resign　now；　and　save　you　the　trouble。〃　
　〃I　see。〃　Goddard's　glittering　eyes　never　left　hers。　〃Do　what　you　need　to　do；　you　say。　Might　that　be　searching　for　the　lost　city　of　Quivira？〃　
　Nora　looked　sharply　at　him；　and　once　again　the　chairman　grinned。　〃Oh；　yes。　Blakewood　mentioned　that；　too。〃　
　Nora　remained　silent。　
　〃He　also　mentioned　your　sudden　absence　from　the　Institute。　Did　it　have　something　to　do　with　this　idea　of　yours；　this　search　for　Quivira？〃　
　〃I　was　in　California。〃　
　〃I　should　have　thought　Quivira　was　somewhat　east　of　there。〃　
　Nora　sighed。　〃What　I　did　was　on　my　own　time。〃　
　〃Dr。　Blakewood　didn't　think　so。　Did　you　find　Quivira？〃　
　〃In　a　way；　yes。〃　
　There　was　a　silence　in　the　room。　Nora　looked　at　Goddard's　face。　The　grin　was　suddenly　gone。　
　〃Would　you　care　to　explain？〃　
　〃No；〃　said　Nora。　
　Goddard's　surprise　lasted　only　for　a　moment。　〃Why　not？〃　
　〃Because　this　is　my　project；〃　Nora　said　truculently。　
　〃I　see。〃　Goddard　eased　himself　off　the　table　and　leaned　toward　Nora。　〃The　Institute　might　be　able　to　help　you　and　your　project。　Now　tell　me：　what　did　you　find　in　California？〃　
　Nora　moved　in　her　chair；　considering。　〃I　have　some　radar　images　that　show　an　ancient　Anasazi　road　leading　to　what　I　believe　is　Quivira。〃　
　〃Do　you　indeed？〃　Goddard's　face　expressed　both　astonishment　and　something　else。　〃And　just　where　did　these　images　e　from？〃　
　〃I　have　a　contact　inside　the　Jet　Propulsion　Laboratory。　He　was　able　to　digitally　manipulate　radar　images　of　the　area；　canceling　out　the　modern　tracks　and　leaving　the　ancient　road。　It　leads　straight　into　the　heart　of　the　redrock　country　mentioned　in　the　early　Spanish　accounts。〃　
　Goddard　nodded；　his　face　curious　and　expectant。　〃This　is　extraordinary；〃　he　said。　〃Nora；　you're　a　woman　of　many　surprises。〃　
　Nora　said　nothing。　
　〃Of　course；　Dr。　Blakewood　had　reasons　to　say　what　he　did。　But　perhaps　he　spoke　a　little　precipitously。〃　He　placed　a　hand　lightly　on　her　shoulder。　〃What　if　we　make　this　search　for　Quivira　our　project？〃　
　Nora　paused。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　understand。〃　
　Goddard　withdrew　his　hand；　stood　up；　and　walked　slowly　around　the　room；　looking　away　from　her。　〃What　if　the　Institute　were　to　fund　this　expedition　of　yours；　roll　back　your　tenure　review？　How　would　that　sound？〃　
　Nora　gazed　at　the　man's　narrow　back；　absorbing　what　he　had　just　said。　〃That　would　sound　unlikely；　if　you　don't　mind　my　saying　so；〃　she　answered。　
　Goddard　began　to　laugh；　only　to　be　cut　short　by　a　series　of　coughs。　He　returned　to　the　worktable。　〃Blakewood　told　me　about　your　theories；　about　your　father's　letter。　Some　of　the　things　he　said　were　less　than　generous。　But　it　happens　that　I；　too；　have　long　wondered　about　Quivira。　No　less　than　three　early　Spanish　explorers　in　the　Southwest　heard　these　stories　about　a　fabulous　golden　city：　Cabeza　de　Vaca　in　the　1530s；　Fray　Marcos　in　1538；　and　Coronado　in　1540。　Their　stories　are　too　similar　to　be　fiction。　And　then　in　the　1770s；　and　again　in　the　1830s；　more　people　came　out　of　that　wilderness；　claiming　to　have　heard　of　a　lost　city。〃　He　looked　up　at　her。　〃There's　never　been　a　question　in　my　mind　that　Quivira　existed。　The　question　was　always　exactly　where。〃　
　He　circled　the　table　and　came　to　rest　on　its　corner　once　more。　〃I　knew　your　father；　Nora。　If　he　said　he　found　evidence　for　this　lost　city；　I'd　believe　him。〃　
　Nora　bit　her　lip　against　an　unexpected　well　of　emotion。　
　〃I　have　the　means　to　put　the　Institute　squarely　behind　your　expedition。　But　I　need　to　see　the　evidence　first。　The　letter　and　the　data。　If　what　you　say　is　true；　we'll　back　you。〃　
　Nora　placed　a　hand　on　her　portfolio。　She　could　hardly　believe　the　turnaround。　And　yet；　she　had　seen　too　many　young　archaeologists　lose　credit　to　their　older；　more　powerful　colleagues。　〃You　said　this　would　be　our　project。　I'd　still　like　to　keep　it　my　project；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　
　〃Well；　perhaps　I　do　mind。　If　I'm　going　to　fund　this　expedition…through　the　Institute；　of　course…I　would　like　control；　particularly　over　the　personnel。〃　
　〃Who　did　you　envision　leading　the　expedition？〃　she　asked。　
　There　was　the　slightest　of　pauses　while　Goddard　steadily　met　her　gaze。　〃You　would；　of　course。　Aaron　Black　would　go　along　as　the　geochronologist；　and　Enrique　Aragon　as　the　medical　doctor　and　paleopathologist。〃　
　Nora　sat　back；　surprised　at　the　rapidity　with　which　his　mind　worked。　Not　only　was　he　thinking　ahead　to　the　expedition；　but　he　was　already　peopling　it　with　the　best　scientists　in　their　fields。　〃If　you　can　get　them；〃　she　said。　
　〃Oh；　I'm　reasonably　sure　I　can　get　them。　I　know　them　both　very　well。　And　the　discovery　of　Quivira　would　be　a　watershed　in　southwestern　archaeology。　It's　the　kind　of　gamble　an　archaeologist　can't　resist。　And　since　I　can't　go　along　myself〃…he　waved　his　handkerchief　in　explanation…〃I'd　want　to　send　my　daughter　in　my　stead。　She　got　her　undergraduate　degree　from　Smith；　just　took　her　Ph。D。　at　Princeton　in　American　archaeology；　and　she's　anxious　to　do　some　fieldwork。　She's　young；　and　perhaps　a　little　impetuous；　but　she　has　one　of　the　finest　archaeological　minds　I've　ever　encountered。　And　she's　highly　skilled　at　field　photography。〃　
　Nora　frowned。　Smith；　she　thought　to　herself。　〃I'm　not　sure　that's　a　good　idea；〃　she　said。　〃It　might　muddy　the　chain　of　mand。　And　this　is　going　to　be　a　difficult　trip；　particularly　for　a　。　。　。〃　She　paused。　〃A　sorority　girl。〃　
　〃My　daughter　must　go　along；〃　said　Goddard　quietly。　〃And　she　is　no　'sorority　girl；'　as　you　shall　discover。〃　An　odd；　mirthless　smile　flashed　briefly　across　his　lips　before　disappearing。　
　Nora　looked　at　the　old　man；　realizing　the　point　was　nonnegotiable。　Quickly；　she　considered　her　options。　She　could　take　the　information　she　had；　sell　the　ranch；　and　head　into　the　desert　with　people　of　her　own　choosing；　gambling　that　she　could　find　Quivira　before　her　money　ran　out。　Or　she　could　take　her　data　to　another　institution；　where　it　would　probably　be　a　year　or　two　before　they　could　organize　and　fund　a　trip。　Or　she　could　share　her　discovery　with　a　sympathetic　backer　uniquely　qualified　to　outfit　a　professional　expedition；　leading　the　top　archaeologists　in　the　country。　The　price　of　admission　was　taking　the　backer's　daughter　along　for　the　ride。　No　contest　there；　she　thought。　
　〃All　right。〃　She　smiled。　〃But　I've　got　a　condition　of　my　own。　I　need　to　take　the　JPL　technician　who　assisted　me　along　as　a　remote　imaging　specialist。〃　
　〃I'm　sorry；　but　I'd　like　to　reserve　the　personnel　decisions。〃　
　〃It　was　the　price　of　getting　the　data。〃　
　There　was　a　silence。　〃Can　you　vouch　for　his　credentials？〃　
　〃Yes。　He's　young；　but　he's　got　a　lot　of　experience。〃　
　〃Very　well。〃　
　Nora　was　surprised　at　Goddard's　ability　to　take　a　challenge；　parry；　and　e　to　a　decision。　She　found　herself　beginning　to　like　him。　
　〃I　also　think　we　have　to　keep　this　confidential；〃　she　continued。　〃The　expedition　has　to　be　assembled　very　quickly　and　very　secretly。〃　
　Goddard　looked　at　her　speculatively。　〃May　I　ask　why？〃　
　〃Because　。　。　。〃　Nora　stopped。　Because　I　think　I'm　being　shadowed　by　mysterious　figures　who　will　stop　at　nothing　to　find　the　location　of　Quivira。　But　she　couldn't　say　that　to　Goddard；　he'd　think　her　crazy；　or　worse；　and　rescind　his　offer　in　an　instant。　Any　hint　of　a　problem　would　plicate；　maybe　even　wreck；　the　expedition。　〃Because　this　information　is　very　sensitive。　Think　what　would　happen　if　pothunters　learned　about　it　and　tried　to　loot　the　site　before　we　could　reach　it。　And　on　a　practical　matter；　we　have　to　move　fast。　The　flash　flood　season　will　be　on　us　soon。〃　
　After　a　moment；　Goddard　nodded　slowly。　〃That　makes　sense；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　like　to　include　a　journalist　on　the　expedition；　but　I'm　sure　his　discretion　can　be　relied　on。〃　
　〃A　journalist？〃　Nora　burst　out。　〃Why？〃　
　〃To　chronicle　what　may　be　the　most　important　find　in　twentieth…century　American　archaeology。　Imagine　the　story　the　world　would　have　lost　if　Howard　Carter　had　not　had　the　London　Times　covering　his　discovery。　I　actually　have　somebody　in　mind；　a　New　York　Times　reporter　with　several　books　to　his　credit；　including　an　excellent　profile　of　the　Boston　Aquarium。　I　think　he　can　be　relied　upon　not　only　to　be　a　good　digger　but　to　produce　a　highly　favorable…and　highly　visible…account　of　you　and　your　work。〃　He　glanced　at　Nora。　〃You　have　no　objection　to　ex　post　facto　publicity；　certainly？〃　
　Nora　hesitated。　This　was　all　happening　so　fast：　it　was　almost　as　if　Goddard　had　worked　it　all　out　before　even　talking　to　her。　As　she　thought　back　over　their　conversation；　she　realized　he　must　have。　It　occurred　to　her　that　there　might　be　a　reason　for　his　excitement　that　he　was　not　sharing　with　her。　
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　guess　not。〃　
　〃I　didn't　think　so。　Now　let's　see　what　you've　got。〃　
　Goddard　pushed　away　from　the　desk　as　Nora　reached　into　her　portfolio　and　removed　a　30…by…60…minute　U。S。G。S。　topo。　〃The　target　area　is　this　triangle　just　to　the　west　of　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau；　here。　As　you　can　see；　it　contains　dozens　of　canyon　systems　that　all　eventually　drain　into　Lake　Powell　and　the　Grand　Canyon；　to　the　south　and　east。　The　closest　human　settlement　is　a　small　Nankoweap