p&c.thunderhead-第17章

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　〃Then　prepare　to　be　disappointed；〃　said　Nora。　〃The　Indians　were　only　telling　Coronado　what　they　knew　he　wanted　to　hear　in　order　to　keep　him　moving　on。〃　
　〃But　listen；〃　Holroyd　said；　〃it　goes　on：　'The　slave　warned　the　General　not　to　approach　the　city。　The　Rain　and　Sun　Priests　of　Xochitl　guard　the　city；　he　said；　and　call　down　the　God　of　the　Dust　Devil　on　those　who　approach　without　their　leave；　and　thereby　destroy　them。'〃　
　〃D…d…d…destroy　them？〃　Smithback　leered。　
　Nora　shrugged。　〃Typical　in　these　old　reports。　A　hard　kernel　of　truth　at　the　center；　embellished　to　increase　dramatic　effect。〃　
　Hicks　stepped　out　of　the　cabin；　his　stringy　form　framed　in　the　battered　pilothouse　light。　〃Sonar's　giving　me　shoaling　water　here；〃　he　said。　〃The　canyon　bottom's　ing　up。　We'll　probably　be　hitting　the　end　of　the　lake　'round　another　bend　or　two。〃　
　Now　everyone　came　to　the　front　rail；　peering　eagerly　into　the　gloom。　A　searchlight　snapped　on　above　the　pilothouse；　illuminating　the　water　ahead　of　them。　It　had　changed　color　again　to　a　dirty　chocolate。　The　barge　nosed　its　way　past　battered　tree　limbs；　around　dark　curtains　of　stone　that　rose　hundreds　of　feet。　
　They　passed　another　sharp　bend　and　dismay　suddenly　dragged　at　Nora's　heart。　Blocking　the　far　end　of　the　canyon　was　a　huge　mass　of　floating　debris：　scarred　tree　trunks；　branches；　and　stinking　mats　of　rotting　pine　needles。　Some　of　the　tree　trunks　were　five　feet　in　diameter；　horribly　gouged　and　ripped　as　if　by　supernatural　force。　Beyond　the　tangle；　Nora　could　make　out　the　end　of　the　lake：　a　wedge　of　sand　at　the　mouth　of　a　creek；　deep　crimson　in　the　gloom。　
　Hicks　threw　the　engine　into　neutral　and　came　out　of　the　pilothouse；　puffing　silently　and　staring　down　the　beam　of　the　searchlight。　
　〃Where　did　all　those　huge　trees　e　from？〃　Nora　asked。　〃I　haven't　seen　a　tree　since　we　left　Page。〃　
　〃Flash　floods；〃　said　Hicks；　chewing　on　his　corncob。　〃All　that　stuff　gets　washed　down　from　the　mountains；　hundreds　of　miles　sometimes。　When　the　wall　of　water　hits　the　lake；　it　just　dumps　everything　here。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Never　seen　such　a　snarl。〃　
　〃Can　you　get　through　it？〃　
　〃Nope；〃　said　Hicks。　〃Tear　my　propellers　right　up。〃　
　Shit。　〃How　deep　is　the　water？〃　
　〃Sonar　says　eight　feet；　with　holes　and　channels　down　to　fifteen。〃　He　gave　her　a　curious　look。　〃Might　be　a　good　time　to　think　about　turning　around；〃　he　murmured。　
　Nora　glanced　at　his　placid　face。　〃Now　why　would　we　want　to　do　that？〃　
　Hicks　shrugged。　〃It　ain't　no　business　of　mine；　but　I　wouldn't　head　into　that　backcountry　for　all　the　money　in　the　world。〃　
　〃Thanks　for　the　advice；〃　Nora　said。　〃You　have　a　life　raft；　right？〃　
　〃Yup；　inflatable。　You　sure　can't　load　horses　into　it。〃　
　The　expedition　had　gathered　around；　listening。　Nora　heard　Black　mutter　something　about　knowing　horses　were　a　bad　idea。　
　〃We'll　swim　the　horses　in；〃　Nora　said。　〃Then　we'll　bring　the　gear　on　the　raft。〃　
　〃Now；　hold　on…〃　began　Swire。　
　Nora　turned　to　him。　〃All　we　need　is　a　good　horse　to　lead　and　the　others　will　follow。　Roscoe；　I'll　bet　you've　got　a　good　swimmer　in　that　bunch。〃　
　〃Sure；　Mestizo；　but…〃　
　〃Good。　You　swim　him　in　yourself；　and　we'll　push　the　others　in　afterward。　They　can　swim　through　one　of　those　gaps　between　the　logs。〃　
　Swire　stared　at　the　blockage　before　them；　a　crazy　dark　tangle　in　the　ghostly　illumination　of　the　searchlight。　〃Those　gaps　are　pretty　small。　A　horse　could　get　snagged　on　brush；　or　maybe　gut　himself　on　an　underwater　limb。〃　
　〃Do　you　have　another　idea？〃　
　Swire　looked　out　over　the　water。　〃Nope；〃　he　said。　〃Guess　I　don't。〃　
　Hicks　opened　a　large　deck　locker　and；　with　the　help　of　Holroyd；　pulled　a　heavy；　shapeless　rubber　mass　out　of　its　depths。　Swire　led　a　large　horse　out　of　one　of　the　trailers；　then　threw　a　saddle　over　his　back。　Nora　noticed　he　did　not　put　on　a　halter　or　bridle。　Aragon　and　Bonarotti　began　to　move　the　gear　toward　the　raft；　readying　it　for　transport。　Black　was　standing　near　the　trailers；　watching　the　proceedings　with　a　doubtful　expression。　Swire　handed　him　a　quirt。　
　〃What's　this　for？〃　Black　asked；　holding　it　at　arm's　length。　
　〃I'm　going　to　swim　this　horse　in　to　shore　first；〃　Swire　replied。　〃Nora　will　lead　the　rest　out　one　by　one。　Your　job　is　to　make　them　jump　into　the　water　after　me。〃　
　〃Oh；　really？　And　just　how　do　I　do　that？〃　
　〃You　quirt　'em。〃　
　〃Quirt　them？〃　
　〃Whip　their　asses。　Don't　let　them　stop　to　think。〃　
　〃That's　insane。　I'll　be　kicked。〃　
　〃None　of　these　horses　are　kickers；　but　be　ready　to　dodge　anyway。　And　make　a　sound　like　this。〃　Swire　made　a　loud；　unpleasant　kissing　sound　with　his　lips。　
　〃Maybe　flowers　and　a　box　of　chocolates　would　be　easier；〃　Smithback　cracked。　
　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　horses；〃　Black　protested。　
　〃'Course　you　don't。　But　it　don't　take　a　professional　waddy　to　whack　a　horse's　ass。〃　
　〃Won't　it　hurt　the　horses？〃　
　〃It'll　sting　some；〃　Swire　replied。　〃But　we　don't　got　all　night　to　sweet…talk　'em。〃　
　Black　continued　to　stare　at　the　quirt　with　a　frown。　Watching　him；　Nora　wasn't　sure　what　the　scientist　was　more　upset　by：　quirting　the　horses　or　being　ordered　about　by　a　cowboy。　
　Swire　vaulted　into　the　saddle。　〃Keep　'em　ing　one　at　a　time；　but　let　the　water　clear　so　they　ain't　jumping　on　each　other's　backs。〃　
　He　turned　and　shoved　the　spurs　to　his　horse。　The　animal　obeyed　instantly　and　leaped　into　the　water；　momentarily　disappearing　and　then　surfacing　again；　blowing　hard；　nose　up　to　the　air。　Expertly　dismounting　in　midair；　Swire　had　landed　beside　the　horse；　hand　on　the　saddlehorn。　Now　he　began　urging　the　animal　forward　in　a　low　voice。　
　The　rest　of　the　horses　pranced　restlessly　in　the　trailers；　snorting　through　dilated　nostrils　and　rolling　their　eyes　with　apprehension。　
　〃Let's　go；〃　Nora　said；　easing　the　second　horse　forward。　It　stepped　toward　the　edge　of　the　barge；　then　balked。　〃Quirt　him！〃　she　cried　to　Black。　To　her　relief；　Black　stepped　forward　with　a　determined　look　and　smacked　the　horse　across　the　rump。　The　horse　paused；　then　leaped；　landing　with　another　roar　of　water　and　struggling　after　Swire's　horse。　
　Smithback　was　watching　the　proceedings　with　amusement。　〃Nicely　done！〃　he　cried。　〃e　on；　Aaron；　don't　tell　me　that's　the　first　time　you've　handled　a　whip。　I'm　sure　I've　seen　you　hanging　around　the　West　Village　leather　bars。〃　
　〃Smithback；　go　help　Holroyd　with　the　raft；〃　Nora　snapped。　
　〃Yassuh。〃　Smithback　turned　away。　
　One　at　a　time；　they　coaxed　the　rest　of　the　horses　into　the　water　until　they　formed　a　ragged；　struggling　line；　nose　to　tail；　threading　their　way　through　a　gap　in　the　tangle　of　trees　and　heading　for　the　beach。　Nora　locked　down　the　trailers；　then　turned　to　watch　Swire　clamber　out　of　the　water　at　the　far　end；　bedraggled　and　dripping　in　the　yellow　glow　of　the　searchlight。　Securing　his　horse；　he　waded　back　into　the　water　with　yips　and　shouts；　herding　the　rest　onto　dry　land。　Soon　he　had　gathered　them　into　a　disconsolate　mass　and　pushed　them　upcanyon；　clearing　the　landing　site。　
　Nora　watched　a　moment　longer；　then　turned　to　Black。　〃That　was　very　well　done；　Aaron。〃　
　The　geochronologist　blushed　with　pride。　
　Nora　looked　at　the　rest　of　the　group。　〃Let's　get　this　gear　offloaded。　Captain；　many　thanks　for　your　help。　We'll　make　sure　the　raft　is　well　hidden　while　we're　upcanyon。　See　you　in　a　couple　of　weeks。〃　
　〃Lest　I　see　you　first；〃　Hicks　replied　dryly　as　he　disappeared　into　the　pilothouse。　
　Around　eleven；　in　the　intense　silence　of　the　desert　night；　Nora　took　a　last　tour　of　the　somnolent　camp；　then　threw　her　bedroll　some　distance　from　the　others；　carefully　sculpting　the　sand　underneath　for　her　hips　and　shoulders。　To　minimize　the　panicky；　last…minute　adjustments　that　always　seemed　to　acpany　packtrips；　she　had　seen　to　it　that　the　gear　was　already　weighed　and　stowed　in　the　panniers；　ready　for　loading　in　the　morning。　The　horses　were　hobbled　some　distance　away；　contentedly　chewing　the　last　of　their　alfalfa。　The　rest　of　the　group　was　either　asleep　in　their　tents　or　quickly　nodding　off　in　their　sleeping　bags　by　the　dying　light　of　the　fire。　And　the　Landlocked　Laura　was　well　on　her　way　back　to　the　marina。　The　expedition　had　begun　in　earnest。　
　She　eased　into　the　bedroll；　breathing　easily。　So　far；　so　good。　Black　was　a　pain　in　the　ass；　but　his　expertise　outweighed　his　querulous　personality。　Smithback　was　an　annoying　surprise；　but　with　that　strong　back　and　arms　he'd　make　a　good　digger；　and　she'd　make　sure　he　was　well　occupied　with　the　shovel；　whether　he　liked　it　or　not。　Before　going　to　bed；　he　had　insisted　on　pressing　a　copy　of　his　book　into　her　hands；　she'd　dumped　it　unceremoniously　into　a　duffel。　
　On　the　other　hand；　Peter　Holroyd　was　proving　to　be　a　real　trouper。　She'd　caught　him　giving　her　several　furtive　glances　during　the　ride　up　Lake　Powell；　and　Nora　wondered　if　he　wasn't　a　little　bit　infatuated。　Perhaps　she'd　inadvertently　played　on　that　in　persuading　him　to　steal　the　data　from　JPL。　She　felt　a　momentary　twinge　of　guilt。　But　then　again；　she'd　kept　her　promise。　He　was　on　the　expedition。　The　boy's　probably　mistaking　gratitude　for　puppy　love；　she　thought；　moving　on。　Bonarotti　was　one　of　those　unflappable　people　who　never　seemed　put　out　by　anything；　as　well　as　being　a　fabulous　camp　cook。　And　Aragon　would　probably　open　up　once　they　got　away　from　his　hated　Lake　Powell。　
　She　stretched　out　fortably。　It　was　shaping　up　to　be　a　good　group。　Best　of　all；　there　was　no　Sloane　Goddard　to　deal　with。　Among　Black；　Aragon；　and　herself；　there　was　more　than　enough　expertise　to　go　around。　Dr。　Goddard　had　nothing　but　his　own　daughter's　tardiness　to　blame。　
　Starlight　glowed　faintly　from　the　distant　bluffs　and　turrets　of　Navajo　sandstone。　A　chill　had　crept　into　the　air：　in　the　high　desert；　night　came　on　fast　and　sure。　She　heard　a　low　murmuring；　the　drifting　smell　of　Bonarotti's　cigarette。　Into　the　silence　the　faint　calls　of　the　canyon　wrens　echoed　back　and　forth；　tinkling　like　bells；　mingling　with　the　faint　lapping　of　water　on　the　shoreline　just　below　the　camp。　Already　they　were　many　miles　from　the　nearest　outpost　of　humanity。　And　the　distant；　hidden　canyon　they　were　headed　to　was　much　farther　still。　
　At　the　thought　of　Quivira；　Nora　felt　the　weight　of　responsibility　return　again。　There　was　a　potential　for　failure　here；　too；　she　knew：　a　tremendous　potential。　They　might　not　find　the　city。　The　expedition　might　break　up　over　personality　conflicts。　Worst　of　all；　her　father's　Quivira　might　turn　out　to　be　some　ordinary　five…room　cliff　dwelling。　That　was　what　worried　her　the　most。　Goddard　might　forgive　her　for　leaving　without　his　daughter。　But　despite　all　the　fine　words；　he　and　the　Institute　would　not　forgive　her　if　she　returned　with　a　superb　site　report　on　a　tiny　Pueblo　III　cliff　dwelling。　And　God　only　knew　what　kind　of　withering　article　Smithback　might　write　if　he　felt　his　precious　time　had　been　wasted。　
　There　was　the　distant　yipping　of　a　coyote；　and　she　wrapped　the　bedroll　more　tightly　around　her。　Unbidden；　her　thoughts　returned　to　Santa　Fe；　to　that　night　in　the　deserted　ranch　house。　She'd　been　very　careful　to　keep　the　maps　and　radar　images　under　her　control　at　all　times。　She'd　impressed　everyone　with　the　need　for　discretion；　citing　pothunters　and　looters　as　her　concern。　And　then　into　the　midst　of　her　careful　plans　blundered　Smithback。　。　。　。