p&c.thunderhead-第14章

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iddle　fifties　who　radiated　an　unsettling；　even　caustic　intensity。　He　had　a　striking　face：　dark　olive　skin；　black　hair　bed　back；　veiled　eyes；　a　long；　hooked　nose。　〃I'm　Enrique　Aragon。〃　He　briefly　took　her　hand；　his　fingers　were　long；　sensitive；　almost　feminine。　He　spoke　with　a　precise；　dignified　voice；　in　the　faintest　of　Mexican　accents。　She　had　also　seen　him　many　times　at　conferences；　a　remote　and　private　figure。　He　was　widely　considered　to　be　the　country's　finest　physical　anthropologist；　winner　of　the　Hrdlicka　Medal；　but　he　was　also　a　medical　doctor…a　highly　convenient　bination；　which　had　undoubtedly　figured　in　Goddard's　choice。　It　amazed　her　again　that　Goddard　could　have　gotten　professionals　of　the　stature　of　Black　and　Aragon　at　such　short　notice。　And　it　struck　her　even　more　forcefully　that　she　would　be　directing　these　two　men；　very　much　her　superior　in　both　age　and　reputation。　Nora　shook　off　the　sudden　surge　of　doubt：　if　she　was　going　to　lead　this　expedition；　she　knew；　she　had　better　start　thinking　and　acting　like　a　leader；　not　an　assistant　professor　always　deferring　to　her　senior　colleagues。　
　〃We've　been　making　introductions；〃　Aragon　said　with　a　brief　smile。　〃This　is　Luigi　Bonarotti；　camp　manager　and　cook。〃　He　stepped　aside　and　indicated　another　figure　who　had　e　up　behind　him　to　meet　Nora。　
　A　man　with　dark　Sicilian　eyes　leaned　over　and　took　her　hand。　He　was　impeccably　dressed　in　pressed　khakis；　beautifully　groomed；　and　Nora　caught　the　faint　whiff　of　an　expensive　aftershave。　He　took　her　hand　and　half…bowed　with　a　kind　of　European　restraint。　
　〃Are　we　really　going　to　have　to　ride　horses　all　the　way　to　the　site？〃　Black　asked。　
　〃No；〃　Nora　said。　〃You'll　get　to　walk　some；　too。〃　
　Black's　face　tightened　with　displeasure。　〃I　should　have　thought　helicopters　would　make　more　sense。　I've　always　found　them　sufficient　for　my　work。〃　
　〃Not　in　this　country；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃And　where's　the　journalist　who's　going　to　be　documenting　all　this　for　posterity？　Shouldn't　he　be　here？　I've　been　looking　forward　to　meeting　him。〃　
　〃He's　joining　us　at　Wahweap　Marina；　along　with　Dr。　Goddard's　daughter。〃　
　The　others　began　to　range　themselves　around　the　fire　and　Nora　settled　down　on　a　log；　enjoying　the　warmth；　inhaling　the　scent　of　cedar　smoke；　listening　to　the　hiss　and　crackle　taunt　the　surrounding　darkness。　As　if　from　far　away；　she　heard　Black　still　muttering　about　having　to　ride　a　horse。　The　flames　capered　against　the　sandstone　bluff；　highlighting　the　black；　ragged　mouths　of　caves。　She　thought　she　saw　a　brief　glow　of　light　inside　one　of　the　caves；　but　it　vanished　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　Some　trick　of　the　eye；　perhaps。　For　some　reason；　she　found　herself　thinking　of　Plato's　parable　of　the　cave。　And　what　would　we　look　like；　she　thought；　to　those　dwellers　deep　inside；　gazing　at　shadows　on　the　wall？　
　She　realized　that　the　murmur　of　conversation　around　her　had　died　away。　Everyone　was　staring　at　the　fire；　absorbed　in　their　own　thoughts。　Nora　glanced　at　the　excited　Holroyd；　pleased　that　the　remote…sensing　specialist　wasn't　having　second　thoughts。　But　Holroyd　was　no　longer　staring　at　the　fire：　he　was　staring　beyond　it；　into　the　darkness　of　the　cliff　face。　
　Nora　noticed　Aragon　look　up；　then　Black。　Following　their　gaze；　she　again　saw　a　flash　of　light　inside　one　of　the　caves　beyond　the　fire；　fitful　but　unmistakable。　There　was　a　faint　clicking　noise；　and　more　yellow　flashes。　Then　a　lone　figure　resolved　itself；　gray　on　black；　against　the　darkness　of　the　cave。　As　it　stepped　forward　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　sandstone　bluff；　Nora　recognized　the　gaunt　features　of　Ernest　Goddard。　He　came　silently　toward　the　group；　his　white　hair　painted　crimson　by　the　fire；　staring　at　them　through　the　flames　and　smoke。　He　moved　something　within　his　hand；　and　the　flashes　returned　yet　again；　flickering　through　his　narrow　fingers。　
　He　stood　for　a　long　moment；　holding　each　person　in　turn　in　his　gaze。　Then　he　slipped　whatever　was　in　his　hand　into　a　leather　bag　and　tossed　it　over　the　flames　to　Aragon；　closest　on　the　circle。　〃Rub　them　together；〃　he　said；　his　whispery　voice　barely　audible　above　the　crackle　of　the　campfire。　〃Then　pass　them　around。〃　
　When　Aragon　handed　her　the　bag；　Nora　reached　inside　and　felt　two　smooth；　hard　stones。　She　drew　them　out　and　held　them　to　the　firelight：　beautiful　specimens　of　quartz；　river…tumbled　by　the　look　of　them；　carved　with　the　ritual　spiral　design　that　signified　the　sipapu；　the　Anasazi　entrance　to　the　underworld。　
　In　that　instant；　she　recognized　them　for　what　they　were。　Pulling　them　out　of　the　glare　of　the　fire；　she　rubbed　them　together；　watching　the　miraculous　internal　sparks　light　up　the　hearts　of　the　stones；　flickering　fiercely　in　the　dark。　Watching　her；　Goddard　nodded。　
　〃Anasazi　lightning　stones；〃　he　said　in　his　quiet　voice。　
　〃Are　they　real？〃　asked　Holroyd；　taking　them　from　Nora　and　holding　them　to　the　firelight。　
　〃Of　course；〃　said　Goddard。　〃They　e　from　a　medicine　cache　found　in　the　great　kiva　at　Keet　Seel。　We　used　to　believe　the　Anasazi　used　them　in　rain　ceremonies　to　symbolize　the　generation　of　lightning。　But　we　aren't　sure　anymore。　The　carved　spiral　represents　the　sipapu。　But　then　again；　it　might　represent　a　water　spring。　Again；　nobody　knows　for　sure。〃　
　He　coughed　lightly。　〃And　that's　what　I'm　here　to　say　to　you。　Back　in　the　sixties；　we　thought　we　knew　everything　about　the　Anasazi。　I　remember　when　the　great　southwestern　archaeologist　Henry　Ash　urged　his　students　to　seek　other　venues。　'It's　a　sucked　orange；'　he　said。　
　〃But　now；　after　three　decades　of　mysterious　and　inexplicable　discoveries；　we　realize　that　we　know　next　to　nothing　about　the　Anasazi。　We　don't　understand　their　culture；　we　don't　understand　their　religion。　We　cannot　read　their　petroglyphs　and　pictographs。　We　do　not　know　what　languages　they　might　have　spoken。　We　do　not　know　why　they　covered　the　Southwest　with　lighthouses；　shrines；　roads；　and　signaling　stations。　We　do　not　know　why；　in　1150；　they　suddenly　abandoned　Chaco　Canyon；　burned　the　roads；　and　retreated　to　the　most　remote；　inaccessible　canyons　in　the　Southwest；　building　mighty　fortresses　in　the　cliff　faces。　What　had　happened？　Who　were　they　afraid　of？　A　century　later；　they　abandoned　even　those；　leaving　the　entire　Colorado　Plateau　and　San　Juan　Basin；　some　fifty　thousand　square　miles；　uninhabited。　Why？　The　fact　is；　the　more　we　discover；　the　more　intractable　these　questions　bee。　Some　archaeologists　now　believe　we　will　never　know　the　answers。〃　
　His　voice　had　dropped　even　further。　Despite　the　warmth　of　the　fire；　Nora　couldn't　help　shivering。　
　〃But　I　have　a　feeling；〃　he　whispered；　his　voice　weaker；　hoarser。　〃I　have　a　conviction　that　Quivira　will　contain　answers　to　these　mysteries。〃　
　He　glanced　at　each　of　them　again；　in　turn。　〃All　of　you　are　about　to　embark　on　the　adventure　of　a　lifetime。　You're　headed　for　a　site　that　may　prove　to　be　the　biggest　archaeological　discovery　of　the　decade；　perhaps　even　the　century。　But　let's　not　fool　ourselves。　Quivira　will　be　a　place　of　mystery　as　well　as　revelation。　It　may　well　pose　as　many　questions　as　it　answers。　And　it　will　challenge　you；　physically　and　mentally；　in　ways　you　cannot　yet　imagine。　There　will　be　moments　of　triumph；　moments　of　despair。　But　you　must　never　forget　that　you　are　representing　the　Santa　Fe　Archaeological　Institute。　And　what　the　Institute　represents　is　the　very　highest　standard　of　archaeological　research　and　ethical　conduct。〃　
　He　fixed　Nora　with　his　gaze。　〃Nora　Kelly　has　been　with　the　Institute　only　five　years；　but　she　has　proven　herself　an　excellent　field　archaeologist。　She　is　in　charge；　and　I　have　put　my　plete　trust　in　her。　I　don't　want　anyone　to　forget　that。　When　my　daughter　joins　you　in　Page；　she　will　also　report　to　Dr。　Kelly；　there　can　be　no　confusion　of　mand。〃　
　He　took　a　step　away　from　the　fire；　back　toward　the　darkness　of　the　overhanging　bluff。　Nora　leaned　forward；　straining　to　hear；　as　his　whisper　mingled　with　the　muttering　fire。　
　〃There　are　some　who　do　not　believe　the　lost　city　of　Quivira　exists。　They　think　this　expedition　is　foolhardy；　that　I'm　throwing　my　money　away。　There　is　even　fear　this　will　prove　an　embarrassment　to　the　Institute。〃　
　He　paused。　〃But　the　city　is　there。　You　know　it；　and　I　know　it。　Now　go　and　find　it。〃　
　
　
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　THE　EXPEDITION　PASSED　THROUGH　PAGE；　ARIZONA；　at　two　o'clock　that　afternoon；　the　horse　trailers　followed　by　the　pickup　and　the　van；　threading　caravan…style　down　through　town　to　the　marina；　where　they　edged　into　the　gigantic　asphalt　parking　lot　facing　Lake　Powell。　Page　was　one　of　the　new　Western　boomtowns　that　had　sprung　up　like　a　rash　on　the　desert；　built　yesterday　and　already　shabby。　Its　trailer　parks　and　prefabs　sprawled　down　toward　the　lakeshore　through　a　barren　landscape　of　greasewood　and　saltbush。　Beyond　the　town　rose　the　three　surreal　smokestacks　of　the　coal…fired　Navajo　Generating　Station；　each　climbing　almost　a　quarter　mile　into　the　sky；　issuing　plumes　of　white　steam。　
　Beyond　the　town　lay　the　marina　and　Lake　Powell　itself；　a　green　sinuosity　worming　its　way　into　a　fantastical　wilderness　of　stone。　It　was　huge：　three　hundred　miles　long；　with　thousands　of　miles　of　shoreline。　The　lake　was　a　breathtaking　sight；　a　sharp　contrast　to　the　banality　of　Page。　To　the　east；　the　great　dome　of　Navajo　Mountain　rose　like　a　black　skullcap；　the　ravines　at　its　top　still　wedged　with　streaks　of　snow。　Farther　up　the　lake；　the　buttes；　mesas；　and　canyons　were　layered　one　against　the　other；　the　lake　itself　forming　a　pathway　into　an　infinity　of　sandstone　and　sky。　
　Staring　at　the　sight；　Nora　shook　her　head。　Thirty…five　years　before；　this　had　been　Glen　Canyon；　which　John　Wesley　Powell　had　called　the　most　beautiful　canyon　in　the　world。　Then　the　Glen　Canyon　dam　was　built；　and　the　waters　of　the　Colorado　River　slowly　rose　to　form　Lake　Powell。　The　once　silent　wilderness；　at　least　around　Page；　was　now　filled　with　the　roar　of　cigarette　boats　and　jetskis；　the　sounds　mingling　with　the　smell　of　exhaust　fumes；　cigarette　smoke；　and　gasoline。　The　place　had　the　surreal　air　of　a　settlement　perched　at　the　end　of　the　known　world。　
　Beside　her；　Swire　frowned　out　the　window。　They　had　talked　horses　most　of　the　trip；　and　Nora　had　e　to　respect　the　cowboy。　〃I　don't　know　how　these　horses　are　going　to　like　floating　on　a　barge；〃　he　said。　〃We　might　have　ourselves　a　surprise　swimming　party。〃　
　〃We'll　be　able　to　drive　the　trailers　right　onto　the　barge　and　unhook　them；〃　Nora　replied。　〃They　never　have　to　be　unloaded。〃　
　〃Until　the　far　side；　you　mean。〃　Swire　fingered　the　heavy　mustache　that　drooped　beneath　his　nose。　〃Don't　see　any　sign　of　that　Sloane　gal；　do　you？〃　
　Nora　shrugged。　Sloane　Goddard　was　supposed　to　fly　directly　into　Page　and　meet　them　at　the　marina；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　any　Seven　Sisters　sorority　types　among　the　fleshy；　beer…bellied　throngs　milling　around　the　docks。　Perhaps　she　was　waiting　in　the　air…conditioned　fastness　of　the　manager's　office。　
　The　two　trailers　pulled　up　on　the　vast　cement　apron　of　West　Boatramp。　The　van　and　the　pickup　came　up　behind　and　the　pany　emerged　into　the　sweltering　heat；　followed　by　the　four　Institute　employees　who　would　drive　the　vehicles　back　to　Santa　Fe。　
　Down　here　near　the　water；　Nora　could　see　Wahweap　Marina　in　all　its　glory。　Styrofoam　cups；　beer　cans；　plastic　bags；　and　floating　pi