p&c.thunderhead-第19章

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16
　
　THE　NEXT　MORNING；　NORA　AWAKENED　TO　A　marvelous　smell。　She　stretched　luxuriously；　still　wrapped　within　a　wonderful；　receding　dream。　Then；　hearing　the　clatter　of　tins　and　the　murmur　of　conversation；　she　opened　her　eyes　and　jumped　out　of　her　bedroll。　It　was　six…thirty；　and　the　camp　had　already　gathered　around　a　pot　of　coffee　hanging　over　an　open　fire。　Only　Swire　and　Black　were　missing。　Bonarotti　was　busy　at　the　grill；　the　delicious　aroma　wafting　from　his　sizzling　fry　pan。　
　She　quickly　stowed　her　gear　and　washed　up；　embarrassed　at　oversleeping　on　the　first　morning。　Up　the　canyon　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　Swire；　brushing　down　the　horses　and　checking　their　feet。　
　〃Madame　Chairman！〃　Smithback　called　out　good…humoredly。　〃e　on　over　and　have　a　sip　of　this　ebony　nectar。　I　swear　it's　even　better　than　the　espresso　at　Café　Reggio。〃　
　Nora　joined　the　group　and　gratefully　accepted　a　tin　cup　from　Holroyd。　As　she　sipped；　Black　emerged　from　a　tent；　looking　frowsy　and　bedraggled。　Wordlessly；　he　stumbled　over　and　helped　himself　to　coffee；　then　squatted　on　a　nearby　rock；　hunched　over　his　tin。　
　〃It's　cold；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　barely　slept　a　wink。　Normally；　on　the　digs　I　investigate；　they　at　least　have　a　couple　of　RVs　parked　nearby。〃　He　looked　around　at　the　surrounding　cliffs。　
　〃Oh；　you　slept　fine；〃　Smithback　said。　〃I've　never　heard　such　a　cacophony　of　snores。〃　He　turned　to　Nora。　〃How　about　if　we　institute　co…op　camping　for　the　rest　of　the　trip？　I've　heard　all　about　the　'tent…creeping'　that　goes　on　around　expeditions　like　this。〃　He　cackled　salaciously。　〃Remember；　happiness　is　a　double　mummy　bag。〃　
　〃If　you　want　to　sleep　with　the　opposite　sex；　I'll　have　Swire　put　you　out　with　the　mares；〃　Nora　replied。　
　Black　barked　a　laugh。　
　〃Very　funny。〃　Coffee　in　hand；　Smithback　settled　on　a　fallen　log；　next　to　Black。　〃Aragon　tells　me　that　you're　an　expert　on　artifact　dating。　But　what　did　he　mean　when　he　said　you　were　a　Dumpster　diver？〃　
　〃Oh；　he　said　that；　did　he？〃　Black　gave　the　older　man　an　angry　glare。　
　Aragon　waved　his　hand。　〃It's　a　technical　term。〃　
　〃I'm　a　stratigrapher；〃　Black　said。　〃Often；　midden　heaps　provide　the　best　information　at　a　site。〃　
　〃Midden　heaps？〃　
　〃Trash　piles；〃　said　Black；　his　lips　pressing。　〃Ancient　garbage　dumps。　Usually　the　most　interesting　part　of　a　ruin。〃　
　〃Coprolite　expert；　too；〃　said　Aragon；　nodding　toward　Black。　
　〃Coprolite？〃　Smithback　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Isn't　that　fossilized　shit；　or　something？〃　
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Black　said　with　irritation。　〃But　we　work　with　anything　to　do　with　dating。　Human　hair；　pollen；　charcoal；　bone；　seeds；　you　name　it。　Feces　just　happens　to　be　especially　informative。　It　shows　what　people　were　eating；　what　kind　of　parasites　they　had…〃　
　〃Feces；〃　said　Smithback。　〃I'm　getting　the　picture。〃　
　〃Dr。　Black　is　the　country's　leading　geochronologist；〃　Nora　said　quickly。　
　But　Smithback　was　shaking　his　head。　〃And　what　a　business　to　be　in；〃　he　chortled。　〃Coprolites。　Oh；　God。　There　must　be　a　lot　of　openings　in　your　field。〃　
　Before　Black　could　answer；　Bonarotti　announced　breakfast　was　ready。　He　was　dressed；　as　the　day　before；　in　a　neatly　ironed　jacket　and　pressed　khaki　trousers。　Nora；　grateful　for　the　interruption；　wondered　how　he　could　have　kept　so　prim　while　everyone　else　was　already　verging　into　grubbiness。　The　wonderful　aroma　stanched　further　curiosity；　and　she　quickly　fell　in　line　behind　the　rest。　Bonarotti　slid　a　generous　slice　of　perfectly　cooked　omelette　onto　her　plate。　She　took　a　seat　and　dug　in　hungrily。　Perhaps　it　was　the　desert　air；　but　she'd　never　tasted　eggs　half　as　delicious。　
　〃Heaven；〃　Smithback　mumbled；　mouth　full。　
　〃It　has　a　slightly　unusual　flavor；　almost　musky；〃　Holroyd　said；　looking　at　the　forkful　in　front　of　him。　〃I've　never　tasted　anything　like　it　before。〃　
　〃Jimson　weed？〃　Swire　asked；　only　half　jokingly。　
　〃I　don't　taste　anything；〃　Black　said。　
　〃No；　I　know　what　you　mean；〃　Smithback　said。　〃It's　vaguely　familiar。〃　He　took　another　bite；　then　set　his　fork　down　with　a　clatter。　〃I　know。　At　Il　Mondo　Vecchio　on　Fifty…third　Street。　I　had　a　veal　dish　with　this　same　flavor。〃　He　looked　up。　〃Black　truffles？〃　
　Bonarotti's　normally　impassive　eyes　lit　up　at　this；　and　he　stared　at　Smithback　with　new　respect。　〃Not　quite；〃　he　replied。　The　cook　turned　to　his　curio　box；　opened　one　of　the　countless　drawers；　and　pulled　out　a　dusky…colored　lump；　about　the　size　of　a　tennis　ball。　It　was　flat　along　one　side　where　it　had　been　scraped　by　a　knife。　
　〃Angels　and　ministers　of　grace　defend　us；〃　Smithback　breathed。　〃A　white　truffle。　In　the　middle　of　the　desert。〃　
　〃Tuber　magantum　pico；〃　Bonarotti　said；　placing　it　carefully　back　in　the　drawer。　
　Smithback　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃You're　looking　at　about　a　thousand　dollars　worth　of　fungus　right　there。　If　we　don't　find　that　huge　stash　of　Indian　gold；　we　can　always　raid　the　Cabinet　of　Doctor　Bonarotti。〃　
　〃You　are　wele　to　try；　my　friend；〃　Bonarotti　said　impassively；　pulling　open　his　jacket　and　patting　a　monstrous　revolver　snugged　into　a　holster　around　his　waist。　
　There　was　a　nervous　laugh　all　around。　
　As　Nora　returned　to　her　breakfast；　she　thought　she　heard　a　noise：　distant　but　growing　louder。　Looking　around；　she　noticed　the　others　heard　it；　too。　The　sound　echoed　around　the　canyon　walls　and　she　realized　it　was　a　plane。　As　she　searched　the　empty　blue　sky；　the　noise　increased　dramatically　and　a　float　plane　cleared　the　sandstone　canyon　rim；　early　morning　sun　glinting　off　its　aluminum　skin　and　bulbous　pontoons。　From　upcanyon；　the　horses　eyed　it　nervously。　
　〃That　guy's　awfully　low；〃　said　Holroyd；　staring　upward。　
　〃He　ain't　just　low；〃　Swire　said。　〃He's　landing。〃　
　They　watched　as　the　plane　dipped；　its　wings　waggling　an　aviational　hello。　It　straightened　its　line；　then　touched　down；　sending　up　two　fins　of　water　in　a　flurry　of　spray。　The　engines　revved　as　the　plane　coasted　toward　the　tangle　of　logs。　Nora　nodded　to　Holroyd　to　take　the　raft　out　to　meet　them。　Inside　the　cockpit；　she　could　see　the　pilot　and　copilot；　checking　gauges；　making　notes　on　a　hanging　clipboard。　At　last　the　pilot　climbed　out；　waved；　and　swung　down　onto　one　of　the　pontoons。　
　Nora　heard　Smithback　whistle　softly　beside　her　as　the　pilot　took　off　a　pair　of　goggles　and　a　leather　helmet；　giving　her　short；　straight　black　hair　beneath　a　shake。　〃Fly　me；〃　he　said。　
　〃Stow　it；〃　she　snapped。　
　The　pilot　was　Sloane　Goddard。　
　Holroyd　had　reached　the　side　of　the　plane　by　now；　and　Goddard　began　swinging　duffels　into　the　raft　from　the　cargo　area　behind　the　plane's　seats。　Then　she　slammed　the　hatch　shut；　slid　down　into　the　raft；　and　gave　the　copilot　a　sign。　As　Holroyd　rowed　back　through　the　tangle　of　debris；　the　plane　turned　and　began　to　taxi　down　the　canyon；　where　it　revved　its　engines　and　began　its　takeoff。　Nora's　eyes　moved　from　the　vanishing　plane　back　to　the　rapidly　approaching　figure。　
　Sloane　Goddard　was　sitting　in　the　rear　of　the　raft；　talking　to　Holroyd。　She　wore　a　long　aviator's　leather　jacket；　jeans；　and　narrow　boots。　Her　hair　was　done　in　a　classic　short　pageboy；　almost　decadent　in　its　anachronism；　that　reminded　Nora　of　a　Fitzgerald…era　flapper　from　a　1920s　fashion　magazine。　The　almond…shaped；　brilliant　amber　eyes　and　sensuous　mouth　with　its　faint；　sardonic　curve　lent　an　exotic　touch　to　her　features。　She　looked　almost　Nora's　age；　perhaps　in　her　mid…　to　late　twenties。　Nora　realized；　quite　consciously；　that　she　was　looking　at　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　she　had　ever　seen。　
　As　the　raft　ground　to　a　halt　on　the　shore；　Sloane　leaped　nimbly　out　and　came　walking　briskly　into　camp。　This　wasn't　the　skinny　sorority　girl　Nora　had　imagined。　The　woman　approaching　her　had　a　voluptuous　figure；　yet　whose　movements　hinted　at　quick；　lithe　strength。　Her　skin　was　tan　and　glowed　with　health；　and　she　brushed　back　her　hair　with　a　gesture　that　was　both　innocent　and　seductive。　
　Still　grinning；　the　woman　walked　over　to　Nora；　slipped　off　her　glove；　and　extended　her　hand。　The　skin　was　soft；　the　grip　was　cool　and　strong。　
　〃Nora　Kelly；　I　presume？〃　she　said；　eyes　twinkling。　
　〃Yes；〃　Nora　exhaled。　〃And　you　must　be　Sloane　Goddard。　The　belated　Sloane　Goddard。〃　
　The　grin　widened。　〃Sorry　about　the　drama。　I'll　tell　you　about　it　later。　Right　now；　I'd　like　to　meet　the　rest　of　your　team。〃　
　Nora's　alarm　at　this　easy　tone　of　mand　abated　at　the　words　your　team。　〃Sure　thing；〃　she　said。　〃You've　met　Peter　Holroyd。〃　She　indicated　the　image　specialist；　who　was　now　bringing　up　the　last　of　the　woman's　gear；　then　turned　toward　Aragon。　〃And　this　is…〃　
　〃I'm　Aaron　Black；〃　Black　said　out　of　turn；　approaching　the　woman　with　an　extended　hand；　his　belly　sucked　in；　his　back　straight。　
　Sloane's　grin　widened。　〃Of　course　you　are。　The　famous　geochronologist。　Famous　and　feared。　I　remember　your　paper　demolishing　the　Chingadera　Cave　dating　at　the　last　SAA　meeting。　I　felt　sorry　for　that　poor　archaeologist；　Leblanc。　I　don't　think　he's　been　able　to　hold　his　head　up　since。〃　
　At　this　reference　to　the　destruction　of　another　scientist's　reputation；　Black　swelled　with　visible　pleasure。　
　Sloane　turned。　〃And　you　must　be　Enrique　Aragon。〃　
　Aragon　nodded；　face　still　inscrutable。　
　〃I've　heard　my　father　speak　very　highly　of　your　work。　Think　we'll　find　many　human　remains　in　the　city？〃　
　〃Unknown；〃　came　the　reply。　〃The　burial　grounds　for　Chaco　Canyon　have　never　been　found；　despite　a　century　of　searching。　On　the　other　hand；　Mummy　Cave　yielded　hundreds　of　burials。　Either　way；　I　will　be　analyzing　the　faunal　remains。〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Goddard　nodded。　
　Nora　looked　around；　intending　to　plete　the　introductions　and　get　underway　as　quickly　as　possible。　To　her　surprise；　Roscoe　Swire　had　abruptly　shuffled　off　and　was　busying　himself　with　the　horses。　
　〃Roscoe　Swire；　right？〃　Sloane　called　out；　following　Nora's　eyes。　〃My　father's　told　me　all　about　you；　but　I　don't　think　we've　ever　met。〃　
　〃No　reason　we　should　have；〃　came　the　gruff　answer。　〃I'm　just　a　cowboy　trying　to　keep　a　bunch　of　greenhorns　from　breaking　their　necks　out　here　in　slickrock　country。〃　
　Sloane　let　out　a　husky　laugh。　〃Well；　I　heard　that　you've　never　fallen　off　a　horse。〃　
　〃Any　cowboy　tells　you　that　is　a　liar；〃　said　Swire。　〃My　butt　and　the　ground　are　tolerably　well　acquainted；　thank　you。〃　
　Sloane's　eyes　twinkled。　〃Actually；　my　father　said　he　could　tell　you　were　a　real　cowboy；　because　when　you　showed　up　for　the　interview　you　had　real　horseshit　on　your　boots。〃　
　Swire　finally　grinned；　fishing　a　gingersnap　out　of　his　shirt。　〃Well；　now；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　accept　that　pliment。〃　
　Nora　waved　toward　the　writer。　〃And　this　is　Bill　Smithback。〃　
　Smithback　swept　an　exaggerated　bow；　cowlick　jiggling　frantically　atop　the　brown　mop　of　hair。　
　〃The　journalist；〃　said　Sloane；　and　Nora　thought　she　heard　a　brief　note　of　disapproval　in　Sloane's　voice　before　the　dazzling　smile　returned　full…proof。　〃My　father　mentioned　he'd　be　contacting　you。〃　Before　Smithback　could　reply；　Sloane　had　turned　toward　Bonarotti。　〃And　thank　God　you're　along；　Luigi。〃　
　The　cook　nodded　in　return；　saying　nothing。　
　〃How　about　breakfast？〃　she　asked。　
　He　turned　to　the　grill。　
　〃I'm　ravenous；〃　Sloane　added；　accepting　a　steaming　plate。　
　〃You've　met　Luigi　before？〃　Nora　asked；　sitting　down　beside　Sloane。　
　〃Yes；　last　year；　when　I　was　climbing　the　Cassin　R