p&c.thunderhead-第21章

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　The　trick　would　be　identifying　which　of　the　endless　parade　of　side　canyons　they　were　passing　was　Hard　Twist。　Down　on　the　canyon　bottom；　every　bend　looked　the　same。　
　Holroyd　dug　into　his　saddlebag　and　pulled　out　the　GPS　unit；　a　laptop　into　which　he　had　downloaded　all　the　navigation　and　waypoint　data。　While　Nora　waited；　he　booted　the　puter；　then　began　to　tap　at　the　keyboard。　After　a　few　minutes　he　grimaced；　then　shook　his　head。　
　〃I　was　afraid　of　that；〃　he　said。　
　Nora　frowned。　〃Don't　tell　me　it　isn't　powerful　enough。〃　
　Holroyd　laughed　crookedly。　〃Powerful？　It　uses　a　twenty…four…channel　GPS　reader　with　an　infrared　remote。　It　can　plot　positions；　geocode　locations　automatically；　leave　breadcrumb　trails；　everything。〃　
　〃Then　what's　the　problem？　Broken　already？〃　
　〃Not　broken；　just　unable　to　get　a　fix。　It　has　to　locate　at　least　three　geostationary　satellites　simultaneously　to　get　a　reading。　With　these　high　canyon　walls；　it　can't　even　pick　up　one。　See？〃　
　He　turned　the　laptop　toward　Nora；　and　she　nudged　her　horse　closer。　A　high…resolution　overhead　map　of　the　Kaiparowits　canyon　system　filled　the　screen。　Atop　lay　smaller　windows　containing　magnified　charts　of　Lake　Powell；　real…time　passes；　and　data。　In　one　window；　she　could　see　a　series　of　messages：　
　NMEA　MODE　ENABLED
　ACQUIRING　SATELLITES　。　。　。
　SATELLITES　ACQUIRED　SO　FAR：　0
　3…D　FIX　UNAVAILABLE
　LAT/LONG：　N/A
　ELEVATION：　N/A
　EPHEMERIS　DATA　UNAVAILABLE
　RELOCATE　UNIT　AND　REINITIALIZE
　〃See　this？〃　Holroyd　pointed　to　a　small　window　on　the　screen　in　which　various　red　dots　orbited　in　circular　tracks。　〃Those　are　the　available　satellites。　Green　means　good　reception；　yellow　means　poor　reception；　and　red　means　no　reception。　They're　all　red。〃　
　〃Are　we　lost　already？〃　called　Black　from　behind；　a　note　somewhere　between　apprehension　and　satisfaction　in　his　voice。　Nora　ignored　him。　
　〃If　you　want　a　reading；〃　Holroyd　said　to　Nora；　〃you'll　have　to　go　up　top。〃　
　Nora　glanced　at　the　soaring　red　walls；　streaked　with　desert　varnish；　and　looked　back　at　Holroyd。　〃You　first。〃　
　Holroyd　grinned；　powered…down　the　laptop；　and　returned　it　to　his　saddlebag。　〃This　is　a　great　unit　when　it　works。　But　I　guess　way　out　here；　even　technology　has　its　limits。〃　
　〃Want　me　to　climb　up　and　take　the　reading？〃　Sloane　asked；　riding　forward　with　an　easy　smile。　
　Nora　looked　at　her　curiously。　
　〃I　brought　some　gear；〃　Sloane　said；　lifting　the　top　of　a　saddlebag　and　displaying　a　gear　sling　loaded　with　carabiners；　friends；　nuts；　and　pitons。　She　gave　the　rock　walls　a　calculating　look。　〃I　could　make　it　in　three　pitches；　maybe　two。　Doesn't　look　too　bad；　I　could　probably　free　climb　my　way　up。〃　
　〃Let's　save　that　for　when　we　really　need　it；〃　Nora　said。　〃I'd　rather　not　take　the　time　right　now。　Let's　do　things　the　old…fashioned　way　instead。　Dead　reckoning。〃　
　〃It's　your　gig；〃　Sloane　said　good…humoredly。　
　〃Dead　reckoning；〃　Smithback　murmured。　〃Never　did　like　the　sound　of　that。〃　
　〃We　may　not　have　satellites；〃　Nora　said。　〃But　we've　got　maps。〃　Spreading　Holroyd's　map　across　her　saddlehorn；　she　stared　at　it　closely；　estimating　their　approximate　speed　and　travel　time。　She　marked　a　dot　at　their　probable　position；　the　date　and　time　beside　it。　
　〃Done　a　lot　of　this　before？〃　Holroyd　asked　at　her　side。　
　Nora　nodded。　〃All　archaeologists　have　to　be　good　at　reading　maps。　It's　hell　finding　some　of　the　remoter　ruins。　And　what　makes　it　harder　is　this。〃　She　pointed　to　a　note　in　the　corner　of　the　map　that　read　WARNING：　DATA　NOT　FIELD…CHECKED。　〃Most　of　these　maps　are　created　from　stereogrammatic　images　taken　from　the　air。　Sometimes　what　you　see　from　a　plane　is　a　lot　different　from　what　you　see　on　foot。　As　you　can　see；　your　radar　image…which　is　absolutely　accurate…doesn't　always　correspond　to　what's　printed　on　the　map。〃　
　〃Reassuring；〃　she　heard　Black　mutter。　
　Replacing　the　map；　Nora　nudged　her　horse　forward　and　they　continued　up　the　canyon。　The　walls　broadened　and　the　stream　diminished；　in　some　places　even　disappearing　for　a　while；　leaving　only　a　damp　stretch　of　sand　to　mark　its　underground　course。　Each　time　they　passed　a　narrow　side　canyon；　Nora　would　stop　and　mark　it　on　the　map。　Sloane　rode　up　beside　her；　and　for　a　while　they　rode　together。　
　〃Airplane　pilot；〃　Nora　said；　〃expert　horsewoman；　archaeologist；　rock　climber…is　there　anything　you　don't　do？〃　
　Sloane　shifted　slightly　in　her　seat。　〃I　don't　do　windows；〃　she　said　with　a　laugh。　Then　her　face　became　more　serious。　〃I　guess　the　credit…or　the　blame…goes　to　my　father。　He's　a　man　with　exacting　standards。〃　
　〃He's　quite　a　remarkable　man；〃　Nora　replied；　hearing　a　slightly　acerbic　tone　creeping　into　Sloane's　voice。　
　Sloane　glanced　back　at　her。　〃Yes。〃　
　They　rounded　another　bend　and　the　canyon　suddenly　widened。　A　cluster　of　cottonwoods　grew　against　the　reddish　walls；　late　afternoon　sunlight　slanting　through　their　leaves。　Nora　glanced　at　her　watch：　just　after　four。　She　noted　with　satisfaction　a　broad　sandy　bench　where　they　could　camp；　high　enough　to　be　beyond　the　reach　of　any　unexpected　flash　flood。　And　along　the　banks　of　the　creek　were　abundant　new　grass　for　the　horses。　True　to　its　name；　Hard　Twist　canyon　veered　off　to　the　left；　making　such　a　sharp　turn　that　it　gave　the　illusion　of　dead…ending　in　a　wall　of　stone。　It　looked　ugly…choked　with　rocks；　dry　and　hot。　So　far　the　trip　had　been　an　easy　ride；　but　Nora　knew　that　could　not　last。　
　She　turned　her　horse　and　waited　while　the　others　straggled　up。　〃We'll　camp　here；〃　she　called　out。　
　The　group　gave　a　ragged　cheer。　Swire　helped　Black　off　his　horse；　and　the　scientist　limped　around　a　bit；　shaking　out　his　legs　and　plaining。　Holroyd　dismounted　by　himself；　only　to　fall　immediately　to　the　ground。　Nora　helped　him　to　a　tree　he　could　lean　against　until　he　got　his　legs　back。　
　〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　that　canyon；〃　Sloane　said；　ing　over　to　Nora。　〃What　if　I　scout　up　a　ways？〃　
　Nora　looked　at　the　younger　Goddard。　Her　dark　pageboy　had　been　tousled　by　the　wind；　but　the　disarray　only　enhanced　her　beauty；　and　the　golden　desert　light　made　her　amber　eyes　as　pale　as　a　cat's。　During　the　day　Nora　had　noticed　several　of　the　pany；　particularly　Black；　clandestinely　admiring　Sloane；　whose　tight　cotton　shirt；　unbuttoned　at　the　top　and　slightly　damp　with　perspiration；　left　little　to　the　imagination。　
　Nora　nodded。　〃Good　idea。　I'll　take　care　of　things　here　in　the　meantime。〃　
　After　assigning　the　camp　chores；　Nora　helped　Swire　unpack　and　unsaddle　the　horses。　They　lined　up　the　panniers；　saddles；　and　gear　on　the　sand；　taking　care　to　keep　the　high…tech　equipment；　in　its　waterproof　drysacks；　separate　from　the　rest。　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　Nora　noticed　Bonarotti；　armed　with　brush　hook；　digging　trowel；　buck　knife；　and　his　oversized　pistol；　marching　off　upcanyon　on　some　mysterious　errand；　khakis　still　miraculously　pressed　and　clean。　
　As　soon　as　the　horses　were　unpacked；　Swire　remounted　Mestizo。　During　the　ride；　he　had　talked　and　sung　to　the　horses　constantly；　making　up　verses　to　fit　the　small　events　of　the　day；　and　he　sang　another　as　Nora　watched　him　drive　the　sweaty　remuda　toward　the　creek：　
　O　my　poor　young　gelding　
　Do　you　see　yonder　mare？　
　Such　a　lovely　young　filly
　One　cannot　pare。　
　Too　bad　your　equipment　
　Is　in　disrepair。　
　Once　in　the　grass；　he　hobbled　several　of　the　lead　horses　and　tied　cowbells　around　their　necks；　then　unsaddled　Mestizo　and　staked　him　on　a　thirty…foot　rope。　At　last；　he　placed　himself　on　top　of　a　rock；　rolled　a　smoke；　pulled　out　a　greasy　little　notebook；　and　watched　the　horses　settle　down　to　their　evening　graze。　
　Nora　turned　back；　surveying　the　camp　with　satisfaction。　The　heat　of　the　day　had　abated；　and　a　cool　breeze　rose　up　from　the　purling　stream。　Doves　called　back　and　forth　across　the　canyon；　and　the　faint　smell　of　juniper　smoke　drifted　past。　Crickets　trilled　in　the　gathering　twilight。　Nora　sat　down　on　a　tumbled　rock；　knowing　that　she　should　be　using　the　last　of　the　light　to　write　in　her　journal；　but　savoring　the　moment　instead。　Black　sat　by　the　juniperwood　fire；　massaging　his　knees；　while　the　others；　the　work　of　setting　up　camp　done；　were　gathering　around；　waiting　for　a　pot　of　coffee　to　boil。　
　There　was　the　sound　of　footsteps　crunching　on　sand　and　Bonarotti　came　swinging　back　down　the　canyon；　a　sack　thrown　over　his　back。　He　dropped　the　sack　on　the　cook　tarp　spread　out　by　the　fire。　He　slapped　a　grill　on　the　fire；　oiled　a　large　skillet；　tossed　in　some　minced　garlic　from　his　cabinet；　and　followed　this　with　rice　in　a　separate　pot　of　water。　Out　of　the　sack　tumbled　some　hideous；　unidentifiable　roots　and　bulbs；　bundles　of　herbs；　and　several　ears　of　prickly　pear　cactus。　As　he　worked；　Sloane　came　back　into　camp　from　her　reconnaissance；　clearly　tired　but　still　smiling；　and　sidled　over　to　watch　the　final　preparations。　Working　the　knives　with　terrifying　swiftness；　Bonarotti　diced　up　the　roots　and　threw　them　into　the　pot；　along　with　the　bulb　and　a　bundle　of　plants。　Then　he　singed　the　cactus　ears　on　the　grill；　skinned　and　julienned　them；　and　threw　them　into　the　sizzling　garlic。　He　gave　the　concoction　a　final　stir；　bined　it　with　the　rice；　and　removed　it　from　the　fire。　
　〃Risotto　with　prickly　pear；　sego　lily；　wild　potato；　bolitas；　and　romano　cheese；〃　he　announced　impassively。　
　There　was　a　silence。　
　〃What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　Sloane　cried。　〃Line　up　and　mangia　bene！〃　
　They　jumped　up；　grabbing　plates　from　the　kitchen　tarp。　The　cook　loaded　down　each　plate；　sprinkling　chopped　herbs　on　top。　They　settled　back　on　logs　by　the　fire。　
　〃Is　this　safe　to　eat？〃　Black　asked；　only　half　jokingly。　
　Sloane　laughed。　〃It　may　be　more　dangerous　for　you；　Doctor；　if　you　do　not　eat　it。〃　And　she　rolled　her　eyes　melodramatically　toward　Bonarotti's　revolver。　
　Black　gave　a　nervous　laugh　and　tasted　it。　Then　he　took　a　second　bite。　〃Why；　this　is　quite　good；〃　he　said；　filling　his　mouth。　
　〃Angels　and　ministers　of　grace　defend　us；〃　intoned　Smithback。　
　〃Damn　tasty　chuck；〃　mumbled　Swire。　
　Nora　took　a　bite；　and　found　her　mouth　filled　with　the　creamy　taste　of　arborio　rice　mingled　with　the　delicate　flavors　of　mushroom；　cheese；　savory　herbs；　and　some　indefinable　tangy　flavor　that　could　only　be　the　prickly　pear。　
　Bonarotti　accepted　the　praise　with　his　usual　lack　of　emotion。　The　canyon　fell　into　silence　while　the　serious　business　of　eating　began。　
　*　*　*
　Later；　as　the　expedition　made　ready　for　bed；　Nora　walked　off　to　check　on　the　horses。　She　found　Swire　in　his　usual　position；　notebook　open。　
　〃How　is　everything？〃　she　asked。　
　〃Mighty　fine〃　came　the　answer；　and　then　she　heard　a　rustle　as　Swire　removed　a　gingersnap　from　his　breast　pocket　and　inserted　it　into　his　face。　There　was　a　crunching　sound。　〃Want　one？〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head　and　sat　down　beside　him。　〃What　kind　of　a　notebook　are　you　keeping？〃　she　asked。　
　Swire　flicked　some　crumbs　off　his　mustache。　〃Just　some　poems；　is　all。　Cowboy　doggerel。　It's　a　sideline　of　mine。〃　
　〃Really？　May　I　see？〃　
　Swire　hesitated。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃they're　supposed　to　be　spoken；　not　read。　But　here；　help　yourself。〃　
　Nora　thumbed　through　the　battered　journal；　peering　closely　in　the　mixture　of　firelight　and　starlight。　There　were　bits　and　snatches　of　poems；　usually　no　more　than　ten　or　twelve　lines；　with　titles　like　〃Workin　up　a　Quit；〃　〃Ford　F…350；〃