p&c.thunderhead-第24章

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　〃We'll　call　it　Pete's　Ruin；　then。〃　
　Holroyd　flushed　deeply。　〃Really？〃　
　〃Sure；〃　said　Nora；　with　a　grin。　〃We're　the　Institute：　we　can　name　it　anything　we　want。〃　
　Holroyd　looked　at　her　a　long　moment；　eyes　gleaming。　Then　he　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it　briefly　between　his。　Nora　smiled　and　gently　withdrew　her　hand。　Maybe　that　wasn't　such　a　good　idea；　she　thought。　
　Sloane　came　from　the　back　of　the　ruin；　shouldering　her　rucksack。　
　〃Find　anything？〃　Nora　asked；　taking　a　swig　from　her　canteen　and　offering　it　around。　She　knew　that　most　rock　art　was　found　behind　cliff　dwellings。　
　Sloane　nodded。　〃A　dozen　or　so　pictographs。　Including　three　reversed　spirals。〃　
　Nora　looked　up　in　surprise　to　meet　the　woman's　glance。　
　Holroyd　caught　the　look。　〃What？〃　he　asked。　
　Nora　sighed。　〃It's　just　that；　in　Anasazi　iconography；　the　counterclockwise　direction　is　usually　associated　with　negative　supernatural　forces。　Clockwise　or　'sunwise'　was　considered　to　be　the　direction　of　travel　of　the　sun　across　the　sky。　Counterclockwise　was　therefore　considered　a　perversion　of　nature；　a　reversal　of　the　normal　balance。〃　
　〃A　perversion　of　nature？〃　Smithback　asked　with　sudden　interest。　
　〃Yes。　In　some　Indian　cultures　today；　the　reversed　spiral　is　still　associated　with　witchcraft　and　sorcery。〃　
　〃And　I　found　this；〃　Sloane　said；　lifting　one　hand。　In　it　she　held　a　small；　broken；　human　skull。　
　Nora　turned；　unprehending　at　first；　and　Sloane's　grin　widened　lazily。　
　〃Where　did　you　find　that？〃　Nora　asked　sharply。　
　Sloane's　smile　did　not　falter。　〃Back　there；　next　to　the　granary。〃　
　〃And　you　just　picked　it　up？〃　
　〃Why　not？〃　Sloane　asked；　her　eyes　narrowing。　The　slight　movement　reminded　Nora　of　a　cat　when　threatened。　
　〃For　one　thing；〃　Nora　snapped；　〃we　don't　disturb　human　remains　unless　it's　absolutely　critical　for　our　research。　And　you've　touched　it；　which　means　we　can't　do　bone　collagen　DNA　on　it。　Worst　of　all；　you　didn't　even　photograph　it　in　situ。〃　
　〃All　I　did　was　pick　it　up；〃　Sloane　said；　her　voice　suddenly　low。　
　〃I　thought　I　made　it　clear　we　were　to　discuss　these　things　first。〃　
　There　was　a　tense　silence。　Then　Nora　heard　a　scratching　sound　behind　her　and　she　glanced　at　Smithback。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃　she　demanded。　The　journalist　had　his　notebook　out　and　was　scribbling　away。　
　〃Taking　notes；〃　he　said　defensively；　pulling　the　notebook　toward　his　chest。　
　〃You're　writing　down　our　discussion？〃　Nora　cried。　
　〃Hey；　why　not？〃　Smithback　said。　〃I　mean；　the　human　drama's　as　much　a　part　of　this　expedition　as…〃　
　Holroyd　advanced　and　snatched　the　notebook　away。　〃This　was　a　private　conversation；〃　he　said；　ripping　out　the　page　and　handing　the　notebook　back。　
　〃That's　censorship；〃　Smithback　protested。　
　Suddenly　Nora　heard　a　low；　throaty　purr　that　swelled　into　a　mellifluous　laugh。　She　turned　to　see　Sloane　still　holding　up　the　skull；　looking　at　the　three　of　them；　amusement　glittering　in　her　amber　eyes。　
　Nora　took　a　breath　and　ignored　the　laugh。　Don't　lose　your　cool。　〃Now　that　it's　been　disturbed；〃　she　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　〃we'll　bring　it　back　for　Aragon　to　analyze。　Being　a　ZST　type；　he　may　object；　but　the　deed's　been　done。　Sloane；　I　don't　want　you　ever　doing　any　invasive　procedures　without　my　express　permission。　Is　that　understood？〃　
　〃Understood；〃　said　Sloane；　looking　suddenly　contrite　as　she　handed　the　skull　to　Nora。　〃I　wasn't　thinking。　The　excitement　of　the　moment；　I　guess。〃　
　Nora　slipped　the　skull　into　a　sample　bag　and　tucked　it　in　her　pack。　It　seemed　to　her　there　had　been　something　challenging　in　the　way　Sloane　had　e　forward　holding　the　skull；　and　Nora　momentarily　wondered　if　it　hadn't　been　a　deliberate　provocation。　After　all；　it　was　clear　that　Sloane　was　well　versed　in　the　protocol　of　fieldwork。　But　then　she　told　herself　she　was　being　paranoid。　Nora　remembered　infelicitously　seizing　a　gorgeous　Folsom　point　she　once　uncovered　at　a　dig；　pulling　it　out　of　the　stratum；　and　then　seeing　the　horrified　looks　of　everyone　around　her。　
　〃What's　a　ZST？〃　the　unrepentant　Smithback　asked。　〃Some　kind　of　birth　control？〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head。　〃It　stands　for　Zero　Site　Trauma。　The　idea　that　an　archaeological　site　should　never　be　physically　disturbed。　People　like　Aragon　believe　any　intrusion；　no　matter　how　careful　or　subtle；　destroys　it　for　future　archaeologists　who　might　e　along　with　more　sophisticated　tools。　They　tend　to　work　with　artifacts　that　have　already　been　excavated　by　others。〃　
　〃ZST　groupies　consider　traditional　archaeologists　to　be　artifact　whores；　digging　for　relics　instead　of　reconstructing　cultures；〃　Sloane　added。　
　〃If　Aragon　feels　that　way；　why　did　he　e　along？〃　Holroyd　asked。　
　〃He's　not　a　total　purist。　I　suppose　that　on　a　project　as　potentially　important　as　this；　he's　willing　to　put　his　personal　feelings　aside　to　some　extent。　I　think　he　feels　that　if　anyone　is　going　to　touch　Quivira；　it　should　be　him。〃　Nora　looked　around。　〃What　do　you　make　of　these　walls？〃　she　asked　Sloane。　〃It's　not　soot；　it's　some　kind　of　thick　dried　substance；　like　paint。　But　I've　never　seen　an　Anasazi　room　painted　black　before。〃　
　〃Beats　me；〃　Sloane　replied。　She　removed　a　small　glass　tube　and　a　dentist's　pick　from　her　pack。　Then　she　glanced　with　a　quick　smile　at　Nora。　〃May　I　take　a　sample？〃　she　paused。　〃Madame　Chairman？〃　
　It's　not　funny　when　Smithback　calls　me　that；　Nora　thought。　And　it's　even　less　funny　ing　from　you。　But　she　nodded　wordlessly；　watching　as　Sloane　expertly　flaked　a　few　pieces　into　the　glass　test　tube　and　stoppered　it。　
　The　sun　was　now　low　in　the　sky；　painting　long　contrasting　stripes　along　the　ancient　walls。　〃Let's　get　back；〃　Nora　said。　As　they　turned　to　walk　out　on　the　ledge；　Nora　glanced　back　at　the　reverse　spirals　on　the　wall　behind　the　ruin。　She　shivered　briefly　in　spite　of　the　heat。　
　
　
19
　
　THEY　WERE　FORCED　TO　MAKE　A　DRY　CAMP　that　night。　The　horses　were　thirsty　and　off　their　feed；　and　by　sundown　the　expedition　had　made　serious　inroads　into　their　own　supplies　of　water。　Aragon　received　the　skull　with　the　wordless　disapproval　that　Nora　had　expected。　They　turned　in　early；　saddle　sore　and　weary；　and　slept　hard。　
　Shortly　after　starting　out　the　following　morning；　they　arrived　at　a　triple　intersection　of　narrow　canyons。　Despite　careful　examination；　Nora　and　Sloane　could　find　no　more　traces　of　the　ancient　road　here；　it　was　either　buried　or　had　washed　away。　The　GPS　laptop　was　still　not　functioning；　and　Holroyd's　map　was　of　little　help：　at　this　point　of　the　journey；　the　underlying　topographical　elevations　on　the　map　were　ludicrously　off。　The　radar　data　became　a　confusing　maze　of　color。　
　Nor　could　Nora　find　any　sign　that　her　father　had　ever　e　this　way。　In　the　tradition　of　Frank　Wetherill　and　the　other　early　explorers；　Nora　knew　her　father　sometimes　marked　his　trail　by　scratching　his　initials　and　a　date　into　the　rock。　Yet；　to　her　mounting　anxiety；　she　had　yet　to　see　any　graffiti　by　him　or　anyone　else；　save　the　occasional　petroglyphs　of　the　long…vanished　Anasazi。　
　For　the　rest　of　the　day；　the　group　toiled　up　through　a　warren　of　fractured　canyons；　moving　deeper　into　a　surreal　world　that　seemed　more　a　landscape　of　dream　than　anything　of　the　earth。　The　mute　stone　halls　spoke　of　eons　of　fury：　uplift　and　erosion；　floods；　earthquakes；　and　the　endless　scouring　of　the　wind。　At　every　turn；　Nora　realized　her　dead　reckoning　grew　more　difficult　and　prone　to　error。　Each　fall　of　the　horses'　hooves　took　them　farther　from　civilization；　from　the　fortable　and　the　known；　deeper　into　an　alien　landscape　of　mystery。　Cliff　dwellings　became　more　numerous；　tucked　slyly　into　the　canyon　walls；　remote　and　inaccessible。　Nora　had　the　irrational　feeling；　as　she　stopped　for　the　tenth　time　to　pore　over　the　map；　that　they　were　intruding　onto　forbidden　ground。　
　By　evening　they　were　so　exhausted　that　dinner　was　a　cold；　silent；　impromptu　affair。　The　lack　of　water　had　pelled　Nora　to　institute　severe　rationing。　Bonarotti；　forced　to　cook　with　no　water　and　dirty　dishes；　grew　sullen。　
　After　dinner；　the　group　gravitated　apathetically　toward　the　campfire。　Swire　joined　them　after　giving　the　horses　a　final　check。　
　He　sat　down　beside　Nora　and　spat。　〃e　morning；　these　horses　won't　have　had　decent　water　for　thirty…six　hours。　Don't　know　how　much　longer　they　can　last。〃　
　〃Frankly；　I　couldn't　give　a　damn　about　the　horses；〃　Black　said　from　across　the　fire。　〃I'm　wondering　when　we're　going　to　die　of　thirst。〃　
　Swire　turned　to　him；　his　face　flickering　in　the　light。　〃Maybe　you　don't　realize　it；　but　if　the　horses　die；　we　die。　It　ain't　any　more　plicated　than　that。〃　
　Nora　glanced　in　Black's　direction。　In　the　firelight　his　face　was　haggard；　a　look　of　incipient　panic　in　his　eyes。　
　〃Is　everything　all　right；　Aaron？〃　she　asked。　
　〃You　said　we　were　going　to　reach　Quivira　tomorrow；〃　he　said　huskily。　
　〃That　was　only　an　estimate。　It's　taking　longer　than　I　anticipated。〃　
　〃Bullshit。〃　Black　sniffed。　〃I've　been　watching　you　all　afternoon；　struggling　with　those　maps　and　trying　to　get　that　useless　GPS　unit　to　work。　I　think　we're　lost。〃　
　〃No；〃　Nora　replied。　〃I　don't　believe　we're　lost。〃　
　Black　leaned　back；　his　voice　growing　louder。　〃Is　that　supposed　to　be　encouraging？　And　where's　this　road？　We　saw　it　yesterday。　Maybe。　But　now　it's　vanished。〃　
　Nora　had　seen　this　kind　of　reaction　to　the　wilderness　before。　It　was　never　pleasant。　〃All　I　can　say　is　we'll　get　there；　probably　tomorrow；　certainly　by　the　next　day。〃　
　〃Probably！〃　he　repeated　derisively；　slapping　his　hands　on　his　knees。　〃Probably！〃　
　In　the　flickering　light；　Nora　looked　around　at　the　rest　of　the　group。　Everyone　was　filthy　from　the　lack　of　water　and　badly　scratched　from　heavy　brush。　Only　Sloane；　sifting　sand　thoughtfully　through　her　fingers；　and　Aragon；　wearing　his　usual　distant　expression；　appeared　unconcerned。　Holroyd　was　staring　into　the　campfire；　for　once　without　a　book　at　his　side。　Smithback's　hair　was　wilder　than　ever；　his　bony　knees　covered　with　dirt。　Earlier　in　the　afternoon　he　had　plained；　eloquently　and　at　great　length；　about　how　if　God　had　meant　man　to　ride　a　horse　he　would　have　put　a　Barcalounger　on　the　animal's　back。　Even　the　fact　that　the　apathetic　Beetlebum　had　stopped　trying　to　bite　him　had　been　little　fort。　
　It　was　a　desperate…looking　group；　and　it　was　hard　to　believe　that　the　change　had　taken　place　in　less　than　forty…eight　hours　of　difficult　travel。　Jesus；　Nora　thought；　if　they　look　like　that；　what　must　I　look　like？　
　〃I　understand　how　concerned　you　all　are；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃I'm　doing　the　best　I　can。　If　any　of　you　have　any　constructive　ideas；　I'd　like　to　hear　them。〃　
　〃The　answer　is　to　keep　going；〃　said　Aragon　with　a　quiet　vehemence。　〃And　to　stop　plaining。　Twentieth…century　humans　are　unused　to　any　real　physical　challenge。　The　people　who　lived　in　these　canyons　dealt　with　this　kind　of　thirst　and　heat　every　day；　without　plaint。〃　He　cast　his　dark；　sardonic　eyes　around　the　group。　
　〃Oh；　now　I　feel　better；〃　said　Black。　〃And　here　I　thought　I　was　suffering　from　thirst。〃　
　Aragon　turned　his　dark　eyes　on　Black。　〃You　are　suffering　more　from　an　undifferentiated　personality　disorder　than　from　thirst；　Dr。　Black。〃　
　Black　turned　to　look　at　him；　speechless　with　rage。　Then　he　stood　up　on　trembling　limbs　and　made　his　way　silently　toward　his　tent。　
　Nora　watched　him　w