p&c.thunderhead-第12章

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ankoweap　Indian　encampment　sixty　miles　to　the　north。〃　
　Then　she　handed　Goddard　a　sheet　of　paper：　a　U。S。G。S。　7。5…minute　topographic　map；　onto　which　Holroyd　had　overprinted　in　red　the　final　image　from　his　puter；　properly　scaled。　〃This　is　an　image　taken　from　last　week's　shuttle　overflight；　digitally　enhanced。　The　faint；　broken　black　line　across　it　is　the　ancient　Anasazi　road。〃　
　Goddard　took　the　sheet　into　his　thin　pale　hands。　〃Extraordinary；〃　he　murmured。　〃Last　week's　flight？〃　Again　he　looked　at　Nora；　a　curious　admiration　in　his　eyes。　
　〃The　dotted　line　shows　a　reconstruction　of　my　father's　route　through　this　country；　following　what　he　thought　to　be　that　road。　When　we　extrapolated　the　road　from　the　shuttle　radar　image　onto　this　map；　it　matched　my　father's　route。　The　road　seems　to　lead　northwestward　from　Betatakin　Ruin；　through　this　maze　of　canyons；　and　over　this　huge　ridge；　which　my　father　labeled　the　Devil's　Backbone。　It　then　appears　to　lead　into　a　narrow　slot　canyon；　ending　up　in　this　tiny；　hidden　canyon；　here。　It's　somewhere　in　this　canyon　that　we　hope　to　find　the　city。〃　
　Goddard　shook　his　head。　〃Amazing。　But　Nora；　all　the　ancient　Anasazi　roads　we　know　about；　Chaco　and　the　rest；　run　in　absolutely　straight　lines。　This　road　winds　around　like　a　broken　spring。〃　
　〃I　thought　of　that；　too；〃　Nora　said。　〃Everyone's　always　thought　Chaco　Canyon　was　the　center　of　Anasazi　culture；　the　fourteen　Great　Houses　of　Chaco　with　Pueblo　Bonito　at　their　hub。　But　look　at　this。〃　
　She　pulled　out　another　map；　showing　the　entire　Colorado　Plateau　and　San　Juan　Basin。　In　the　lower　right…hand　corner；　an　archaeological　site　diagram　of　Chaco　Canyon　had　been　overlaid；　showing　the　huge　ruin　at　Pueblo　Bonito　surrounded　by　a　circle　of　outlying　munities。　A　heavy　red　line　had　been　drawn　from　Pueblo　Bonito；　through　the　circle；　through　a　half　dozen　other　major　ruins；　and　running　arrow…straight　to　the　upper　left　hand　corner　of　the　map；　terminating　in　an　X。　
　〃That　X　marks　what　I　calculate　to　be　the　location　of　Quivira；〃　Nora　said　quietly。　〃All　these　years　we've　believed　that　Chaco　itself　was　the　destination　of　the　Anasazi　roads。　But　what　if　Chaco　wasn't　the　destination？　What　if；　instead；　it　was　the　collecting　point　for　a　ritual　journey　to　Quivira；　the　city　of　priests？〃　
　Goddard　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃This　is　fascinating。　There's　more　than　enough　evidence　here　to　justify　an　expedition。　Have　you　given　any　thought　to　how　you　might　get　in　there？　Helicopters；　for　example？〃　
　〃That　was　my　first　thought。　But　this　isn't　a　typical　remote　site。　Those　canyons　are　too　narrow　and　most　are　a　thousand　feet　deep。　There　are　high　winds；　beetling　rimrock；　and　no　flat　areas　to　land。　I've　studied　the　maps　carefully；　and　there's　no　place　within　fifty　miles　to　safely　land　a　helicopter。　Jeeps　are　obviously　out　of　the　question。　So　we'll　have　to　use　horses。　They're　cheap　and　can　pack　a　lot　of　gear。〃　
　Goddard　grunted　as　he　stared　at　the　map。　〃Sounds　good。　But　I'm　not　sure　I　see　a　route　in；　even　on　horseback。　All　these　canyons　box　up　at　their　sources。　Even　if　you　used　this　Indian　settlement　far　to　the　north　as　your　jumping…off　point；　it　would　be　one　hell　of　a　ride　just　to　get　to　the　village。　And　then；　waterless　country　for　the　next　sixty　miles。　Lake　Powell　blocks　access　to　the　south。〃　He　looked　up。　〃Unless　you　。　。　。〃　
　〃Exactly。　We'll　float　the　expedition　up　the　lake。　I've　already　called　the　Wahweap　Marina　in　Page；　and　they　have　a　seventy…foot　barge　that　will　do　the　job。　If　we　started　at　Wahweap；　floated　the　horses　up　to　the　head　of　Serpentine　Canyon；　and　rode　in　from　there；　we　could　be　at　Quivira　in　three　or　four　days。〃　
　Goddard　broke　into　a　smile。　〃Nora；　this　is　inspired。　Let's　make　it　happen。〃　
　〃There's　one　other　thing；〃　Nora　said；　replacing　the　maps　in　her　portfolio　without　looking　up。　〃My　brother　needs　a　job。　He'll　do　anything；　really；　and　I　know　with　the　right　supervision　he'd　be　great　at　sorting　and　cataloging　the　Rio　Puerco　and　Gallegos　Divide　material。〃　
　〃We　have　a　rule　against　nepotism…〃　Goddard　began；　then　stopped　as　Nora；　despite　herself；　began　to　smile。　The　old　man　looked　at　her　steadily；　and　for　a　moment　Nora　thought　he　would　erupt　in　anger。　But　then　his　face　cleared。　〃Nora；　you　are　your　father's　daughter；〃　he　said。　〃You　don't　trust　anybody；　and　you're　a　damn　good　negotiator。　Any　other　demands？　You'd　better　present　them　now；　or　forever　hold　your　peace。〃　
　〃No；　that　covers　it。〃　
　Silently；　Goddard　extended　his　hand。　
　
　
10
　
　THERE　WAS　AN　ABRUPT　HAMMERING　SOUND；　Nora　almost　dropped　the　artifact　in　her　hands　and　looked　up　from　her　desk　in　a　panic；　heart　galloping。　Skip's　scowling　face　was　framed　in　the　glass　window　of　her　office　door。　She　slumped　back　in　her　chair　and　breathed　out。　Skip　raised　one　hand；　and；　with　an　exaggerated　gesture；　pointed　downward　at　the　doorknob。　
　〃You　almost　gave　me　a　heart　attack；〃　she　said　as　she　let　him　in。　Her　fingers　still　trembled　as　she　closed　and　relocked　the　door。　〃Not　to　mention　the　loss　of　two　years　of　my　salary　if　I'd　dropped　that　Mogollon　pot。〃　
　〃Since　when　did　you　start　locking　your　office？〃　Skip　said；　slouching　into　the　only　chair　not　covered　with　books　and　tugging　a　large　satchel　onto　his　knees。　〃Look；　Nora；　there's　something…〃　
　〃First　things　first；〃　Nora　interrupted。　〃You　got　my　message？〃　Skip　nodded　and　passed　over　the　satchel。　Nora　unlooped　the　leather　straps　and　looked　inside。　Her　father's　old　Ruger　lay　at　the　bottom；　shoved　into　a　battered　holster。　
　〃What　do　you　want　it　for；　anyway？〃　Skip　asked。　〃Some　academic　rivalry　that　needs　settling？〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head。　〃Skip；　I　want　you　to　be　serious　for　a　minute。　The　Institute's　agreed　to　fund　an　expedition　to　Quivira。　I'll　be　leaving　in　a　couple　of　days。〃　
　Skip's　eyes　widened。　〃Fantastic！　You　don't　waste　any　time；　do　you？　When　do　we　go？〃　
　〃You　know　perfectly　well　you're　not　going；〃　said　Nora。　〃But　I've　arranged　a　job　for　you；　here　at　the　Institute。　You'll　start　work　next　Monday。〃　
　The　eyes　narrowed　again。　〃A　job？　I　don't　know　jack　shit　about　archaeology。〃　
　〃All　that　time　you　spent；　crawling　around　the　ranch　on　your　hands　and　knees　with　Dad；　looking　for　potsherds？　e　on。　Anyway；　it's　an　easy　assignment；　first…year　stuff。　My　associate　Sonya　Rowling　will　show　you　around；　get　you　started；　answer　questions；　keep　you　out　of　trouble。〃　
　〃She　cute？〃　
　〃She's　married。　Look；　I'll　be　gone　about　three　weeks。　If　you　don't　like　it　by　the　time　I　get　back；　you　can　quit。　But　it'll　keep　you　occupied　for　the　time　being。〃　And　maybe　keep　you　in　a　safe　place　during　the　day；　she　thought。　〃You　won't　mind　looking　after　my　place　while　I'm　gone？　And　you'll　leave　my　stuff　alone；　for　a　change？〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃You　use　my　shower；　you　steal　my　hairbrush　。　。　。　I　ought　to　start　charging　rent。〃　
　〃I　didn't　steal　your　hairbrush！〃　Skip　protested。　〃I　mean　sure；　I　used　it；　but　I　put　it　back。　I　know　how　neurotic　you　are　about　that　kind　of　thing。〃　
　〃Not　neurotic。　Just　neat。〃　She　glanced　over。　〃Speaking　of　looking　after　my　place；　where's　Thurber？　Didn't　you　bring　him？〃　
　A　funny　look　came　over　Skip。　〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　tell　you；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Thurber's　missing。〃　
　Nora　felt　the　air　leave　her　lungs　in　a　sudden　rush。　〃Missing？〃　she　repeated。　
　Skip　looked　down　abjectly。　
　〃What　happened？〃　
　Skip　shook　his　head。　〃Don't　know。　It　was　the　second　night　you　were　gone。　He　was　fine　the　first　night；　or　as　fine　as　he　ever　gets。　When　I　came　in　the　second　night　and　called　for　him；　he　was　gone。　It　was　weird。　The　door　was　locked；　all　the　windows　were　shut。　But　there　was　this　funny　smell　in　the　air；　almost　like　flowers。　There　was　some　dog　barking　like　mad　outside；　but　it　didn't　sound　like　Thurber。　I　went　outside　anyway　and　looked　around。　He　must　have　jumped　the　fence　or　something。〃　He　sighed　deeply　and　looked　at　his　sister。　〃I'm　really　sorry；　Nora。　I　looked　all　over　for　him；　I　talked　to　the　neighbors；　I　called　the　pound　。　。　。〃　
　〃You　didn't　leave　a　door　open？〃　Nora　asked。　The　raw　anger　she'd　felt　the　night　before；　the　feeling　of　violation；　was　gone；　leaving　only　a　strange　and　terrible　fear　behind。　
　〃No；　I　swear　I　didn't。　Like　I　said；　everything　was　locked　up。〃　
　〃Skip；　I　want　you　to　listen　to　me；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃When　I　got　home　last　night；　I　could　tell　something　wasn't　right。　Somebody　had　been　in　the　apartment。　The　place　was　dirty。　My　hairbrush　was　missing。　There　was　a　strange　smell；　the　same　one　you　noticed。　And　then　I　heard　some　scratching；　and　went　outside…〃　She　stopped。　How　could　she　explain　it：　the　humped；　fur…covered　figure；　the　strange　lack　of　footprints；　the　feeling　of　utter　alienness　that　had　e　across　her　as　she　stood　in　the　dark；　flashlight　in　hand？　And　now　Thurber　。　。　。　
　Skip's　skeptical　look　changed　suddenly　to　concern。　〃Hey；　Nora；　you've　had　quite　a　week；〃　he　said。　〃First　that　thing　out　at　the　ranch；　then　this　expedition　ing　together　out　of　nowhere；　and　Thurber　disappearing。　Why　don't　you　go　home　and　rest　up？〃　
　Nora　looked　into　his　eyes。　
　〃What？〃　he　asked。　〃Are　you　afraid　to　go　home？〃　
　〃It　isn't　that；〃　she　replied。　〃I　had　the　locksmith　out　this　morning　to　install　a　second　lock。　It's　just　that　。　。　。〃　She　hesitated。　〃I　just　have　to　keep　a　low　profile　for　the　next　day　or　two。　I　can　take　care　of　myself。　Once　I'm　out　of　Santa　Fe；　there　won't　be　any　more　problems。　But；　Skip；　promise　me　you'll　be　very　careful　while　I'm　gone。　I'll　leave　Dad's　gun　in　the　bedside　table　drawer　in　my　apartment。　I　want　you　to　have　it　after　I　leave。　And　don't　go　by　the　old　place；　okay？〃　
　〃You　afraid　the　Creature　from　the　Black　Lagoon　will　get　me？〃　
　Nora　rose　quickly。　〃That's　not　funny；　and　you　know　it。〃　
　〃All　right；　all　right。　I　never　visit　that　broken…down　old　shack　anyway。　Besides；　after　what　happened；　I'll　bet　Teresa's　watching　that　place　like　a　hawk；　finger　on　the　trigger。〃　
　Nora　sighed。　〃Maybe　you're　right。〃　
　〃I　am　right。　You　wait　and　see。　Black　Lagoon；　zero。　Winchester；　one。〃　
　
　
11
　
　CALAVERAS　MESA　LAY　SLUMBERING　UNDER　the　midnight　sky；　a　shadowy　island　rising　out　of　an　ocean　of　broken　rock…the　vast　El　Malpaís　lava　flow　of　central　New　Mexico。　A　screen　of　clouds　had　moved　over　the　stars；　and　the　mesa　lay　still　underneath：　silent；　dark；　uninhabited。　The　nearest　settlement　was　Quemado；　fifty　miles　away。　
　Calaveras　Mesa　had　not　always　been　uninhabited。　In　the　fourteenth　century；　Anasazi　Indians　had　moved　into　its　south…facing　cliffs　and　hollowed　out　caves　in　the　soft　volcanic　tuff。　But　the　site　had　proved　uncongenial；　and　the　caves　had　been　abandoned　for　half　a　millennium。　In　this　distant　part　of　El　Malpaís；　there　were　no　roads　and　no　trails；　the　caves　remained　undisturbed　and　unexcavated。　
　Two　dark　forms　moved　among　the　silent　broken　rafts　and　blocks　of　frozen　lava　that　lapped　the　sides　of　the　mesa。　They　were　covered　with　thick　pelts　of　fur；　and　their　movements　had　the　bined　swiftness　and　caution　of　a　wolf。　Both　figures　wore　heavy　silver　jewelry：　concho　belts；　squash　blossom　necklaces；　turquoise　disks；　and　old　sand…cast　bow　guards。　Beneath　the　heavy　pelts；　naked　skin　was　daubed　with　thick　paint。　
　They　reached　the　talus　slope　below　the　caves　and　began　to　ascend；　picking　their　way　among　boulders　and　rockfalls。　At　the　bottom　of　the　cliff　itself　they　rapidly　ascended　a　hand…and…toe　trail　and　disappeared　int