p&c.thunderhead-第34章

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　〃We　don't；〃　Nora　heard　herself　say。　
　Sloane　looked　at　her　a　moment。　Then　she　turned　and　began　to　move　toward　the　ruin。　Nora　followed　slowly。　
　As　they　walked　into　the　cool　darkness；　their　shadows　merged　with　the　shadows　of　the　stone。　A　group　of　swallows　burst　out　of　a　cluster　of　mud　nests　above　their　heads；　wheeling　out　into　the　sunlight；　dipping　and　crying　with　displeasure　at　the　intrusion。　
　They　walked　toward　a　broad　plaza　area　in　front　of　the　towers；　their　feet　sinking　into　soft　sand。　Glancing　down；　Nora　saw　there　was　almost　no　cultural　debris　on　the　surface：　many　inches　of　fine；　windblown　dust　had　covered　everything。　
　At　the　front　of　the　first　tower；　Nora　stopped　and　laid　her　hand　on　the　cool　masonry。　The　tower　had　been　built　straight　and　sure；　with　a　slight　inward　slope。　There　were　no　doors　in　its　face；　entry　must　have　been　gained　from　the　back。　A　few　notches　far　up　its　flank　looked　like　arrow　ports。　Peering　into　one　of　the　cracks　in　the　bottom　of　the　tower；　she　saw　the　masonry　was　at　least　ten　feet　thick。　The　towers　were　obviously　for　defense。　
　Sloane　walked　around　the　tower's　front；　Nora　following　in　her　wake。　It　was　odd；　she　thought；　how　they　were　instinctively　staying　together。　There　was　something　unsettling　about　the　place；　something　she　couldn't　immediately　put　into　words。　Perhaps　it　was　the　defensive　nature　of　the　site：　the　massive　walls；　the　lack　of　ground…floor　doors。　There　were　even　piles　of　round　rocks　stacked　on　some　of　the　frontline　roofs；　clearly　intended　as　weapons　to　be　dropped　on　the　heads　of　any　invaders。　Or　maybe　it　was　the　absolute　silence　of　the　city；　the　powdery　smell　of　the　dust；　the　faint　odor　of　corruption　that　unnerved　her。　
　She　glanced　at　Sloane。　The　woman　had　recovered　her　posure　and　was　scratching　in　her　sketchbook。　Her　calm　presence　was　reassuring。　
　She　turned　back　to　the　tower。　On　the　back　side；　at　the　second…story　level；　she　could　now　see　a　small　keyhole　doorway；　partly　collapsed。　It　was　accessible　from　a　flat　roof；　against　which　leaned　a　pole　ladder；　perfectly　preserved。　She　moved　to　the　ladder　and　carefully　climbed　to　the　roof。　Closing　her　sketchbook；　Sloane　followed。　A　moment　later；　they　ducked　beneath　the　doorway　and　were　staring　up　into　the　gloom　of　the　tower。　
　As　she　had　expected；　there　was　no　staircase　inside。　Instead；　running　up　the　center；　was　a　series　of　notched　poles；　resting　on　shelves。　Stones　projected　from　the　inner　walls；　providing　footholds。　Nora　had　seen　this　type　of　arrangement　before；　at　a　ruin　in　New　Mexico　called　Shaft　House。　In　order　to　ascend　the　tower；　one　had　to　climb　spraddle…legged；　one　foot　using　the　notches　in　the　poles；　and　the　other　foot　using　the　stones　fastened　into　the　wall。　It　was　a　deliberately　precarious　and　exposed　method　of　climbing；　keeping　all　four　of　the　climber's　limbs　occupied。　From　above；　defenders　could　knock　off　climbing　invaders　with　rocks　or　arrows。　At　the　very　top　of　the　tower；　the　last　pole　ladder　went　through　a　small　hole　into　a　tiny　room　beneath　the　roof：　the　last　redoubt　in　case　of　attack。　
　Nora　looked　at　the　huge　cracks　in　the　walls；　and　at　the　pole　ladders；　flimsy　and　brittle　with　dry　rot。　Even　when　first　built；　it　would　have　been　a　terrifying　climb；　now；　it　was　unthinkable。　She　nodded　to　Sloane；　and　they　ducked　back　through　the　door　and　climbed　down　to　the　stepped…back　facade　of　the　city　itself。　Any　exploration　of　the　towers　would　have　to　wait。　
　Walking　away　from　the　tower；　Nora　approached　the　foot　of　the　nearest　roomblock。　Over　the　centuries；　windblown　sand　had　drifted　up　against　the　front　of　the　houses。　In　places；　the　drifts　were　so　high　a　person　could　climb　to　the　flat　roofs　that　led　to　the　upper　stories；　and　from　there　into　the　second…floor　houses　themselves。　Beyond　the　roomblocks；　she　could　see　the　circular　form　of　the　Great　Kiva　and　the　stylized　blue　disk　incised　into　its　facade；　a　white　band　at　its　top。　
　Sloane　drifted　over　silently；　glancing　first　at　Nora；　then　the　sandpile。　Again；　Nora　realized　that　protocol　dictated　they　return　for　the　others；　establish　a　formal　pattern　of　discovery。　But　she　also　realized　that　nobody；　not　even　Richard　Wetherill；　had　found　an　Anasazi　city　like　this　one。　The　urge　to　explore　was　too　strong　to　resist。　
　They　scrambled　up　the　sandpile　to　the　first…story　roofs。　Ahead　of　them　lay　a　row　of　darkened；　keyhole　doorways。　As　Nora　glanced　around；　she　saw；　arrayed　along　the　edge　of　the　roof；　partly　buried　in　sand；　eight　gorgeous　St。　John's　Polychrome　pots　in　perfect　condition。　Three　of　them　still　had　their　sandstone　lids。　
　The　women　paused　at　the　nearest　doorway；　once　again　feeling　the　strange　hesitation。　〃Let's　go　inside；〃　Sloane　said　at　last。　
　Nora　ducked　through　the　doorway。　Gradually；　as　her　eyes　adjusted　to　the　dim　light；　she　could　see　the　room　was　not　empty。　On　the　far　side　was　a　firepit　with　a　stone　al。　Beside　it　were　two　corrugated　cooking　pots；　blackened　with　smoke。　One　had　broken　open；　spilling　tiny　Anasazi　corncobs　across　the　floor。　Packrats　had　built　a　nest　in　one　corner；　a　junk　heap　of　sticks　and　cactus　husks　thickly　laid　with　dung。　The　acrid　scent　of　their　urine　permeated　the　room。　As　Nora　stepped　forward；　she　saw；　hanging　on　a　peg　near　the　door；　a　pair　of　sandals　made　from　woven　yucca　fibers。　
　Sloane　switched　on　her　flashlight　and　played　its　beam　toward　a　dark　doorway　that　beckoned　on　the　far　wall。　Stepping　through；　Nora　saw　that　the　second　room　had　a　plicated　painted　design　running　like　a　border　around　the　plastered　walls。　〃It's　a　snake；〃　she　said。　〃A　stylized　rattlesnake。〃　
　〃Unbelievable。〃　Sloane　ran　the　beam　along　the　design。　〃As　if　it　was　painted　yesterday。〃　The　light　came　to　rest　in　a　niche　on　one　wall。　〃Look；　Nora；　there's　something　there。〃　
　Nora　stepped　over。　It　was　bundle　of　buckskin；　about　the　size　of　a　fist；　tightly　rolled　and　tied。　
　〃It's　a　medicine　bundle；〃　she　whispered。　〃A　mountain　soil　bundle；　from　the　look　of　it。〃　
　Sloane　stared　at　her。　〃Do　you　know　of　anyone　finding　an　intact　Anasazi　medicine　bundle？〃　she　asked。　
　〃No；〃　said　Nora。　〃I　think　this　is　the　first。〃　
　They　stood　in　the　room　for　a　few　moments；　breathing　in　the　ancient　air。　Then　Nora　found　her　eyes　drawn　to　a　third　doorway。　It　was　smaller　than　the　others；　and　appeared　to　lead　to　a　storage　room。　
　〃You　first；〃　Sloane　said。　
　Nora　dropped　to　her　hands　and　knees；　crawled　through　the　low　doorway；　and　stood　inside　a　stuffy　space。　Sloane　followed。　The　yellow　pool　of　light　moved　about；　stabbing　through　a　veil　of　dust　raised　by　their　entry。　Gradually；　objects　and　color　emerged　from　the　dimness；　and　Nora's　mind　began　to　make　sense　of　the　chaos。　
　Against　the　back　wall；　a　row　of　extraordinary　pots　was　arrayed：　smooth；　polished；　painted　with　fantastical　geometric　designs。　Sticking　out　of　the　mouth　of　one　pot　was　a　bundle　of　prayer　sticks；　carved；　feathered；　and　painted；　gleaming　with　color　even　in　the　dull　light。　Beside　them　was　a　long　stone　palette　shaped　like　a　huge　leaf；　on　which　had　been　placed　a　dozen　fetishes　of　different　animals　fashioned　from　semiprecious　stones；　each　with　an　arrowhead　tied　to　its　back　with　a　string　of　sinew。　Next　sat　a　bowl　filled　with　perfect；　tiny　bird　points；　all　flaked　out　of　the　blackest　obsidian。　Nearby　was　a　stone　banco；　on　which　a　number　of　artifacts　had　been　carefully　arranged。　As　Nora's　eyes　roamed　the　dimness　with　growing　disbelief；　she　could　see　a　rotten　buckskin　bag　from　which　spilled　a　collection　of　mirage　stones；　some　cradleboards；　and　several　exquisite　bags　woven　from　apocynum　fiber　and　filled　with　red　ochre。　
　The　silence；　here　in　the　bowels　of　the　ruined　city；　was　absolute。　There's　more　in　this　one　room；　Nora　thought；　than　the　greatest　museums　have　in　their　entire　collections。　
　She　followed　the　beam　of　light　as　it　revealed　ever　more　remarkable　objects。　The　skull　of　a　grizzly　bear；　decorated　with　blue　and　red　stripes　of　paint；　bundles　of　sweetgrass　stuffed　into　its　eye　sockets。　The　rattles　of　a　rattlesnake　tied　to　the　end　of　a　painted　stick；　human　scalp　attached。　A　large　sheet　of　mica；　cut　into　the　outline　of　a　hideously　grinning　skull；　its　teeth　inlaid　with　blood…red　carnelians。　A　quartz　crystal　carved　in　the　shape　of　a　corn　beetle。　A　delicately　woven　basket；　its　outside　feathered　with　hundreds　of　tiny；　iridescent　hummingbird　breasts。　
　Instinctively；　she　sought　out　Sloane's　face　in　the　dim　light。　Sloane　looked　back；　amber　eyes　wild。　The　posure　that　had　returned　so　quickly　was　gone　again。　
　〃This　must　have　been　the　storage　room　for　the　family　who　occupied　these　roomblocks；〃　Sloane　finally　said；　voice　trembling。　〃Just　one　family。　There　could　be　dozens　of　other　rooms　like　this　in　this　city。　Maybe　hundreds。〃　
　〃I　believe　it；〃　Nora　replied。　〃But　what　I　can't　believe　is　the　wealth。　Even　in　Anasazi　days；　this　would　represent　an　inconceivable　fortune。〃　
　The　dust　raised　by　their　entry　drifted　in　layers　through　the　cool；　heavy　air；　scattering　the　yellow　light。　Nora　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　another；　trying　to　clear　her　mind。　
　〃Nora；〃　Sloane　murmured　at　last。　〃Do　you　realize　what　we've　found？〃　
　Nora　tore　her　eyes　away　from　the　clutter　of　dim　objects。　〃I'm　working　on　it；〃　she　said。　
　〃We've　just　made　one　of　the　greatest　archaeological　discoveries　of　all　time。〃　
　Nora　swallowed；　opened　her　mouth　to　reply。　But　no　sound　would　e；　and　in　the　end　she　simply　nodded。　
　
　
26
　
　TWELVE　HOURS　LATER；　THE　CITY　OF　QUIVIRA　lay　in　shadow；　the　late　afternoon　sun　blazing　its　last　on　the　valley　cliffs　opposite　the　ruin。　Nora　rested　on　the　ancient　retaining　wall　below　what　they'd　e　to　call　the　Planetarium；　feeling　as　drained　as　she　had　ever　felt　in　her　life。　She　could　hear　the　excited　voices　of　the　rest　of　the　expedition　ringing　out　of　the　city；　distorted　and　magnified　by　the　vast　pregnant　hollow　of　rock　in　which　Quivira　stood。　She　glanced　down　at　the　rope　ladder　and　pulley　system；　rigged　by　Sloane　to　provide　quick　access　to　the　ruin。　Far　below；　in　the　grove　of　cottonwood　trees　where　they　had　made　their　camp；　she　could　see　the　smoke　of　Bonarotti's　campfire　and　the　gray　rectangle　that　was　his　folding　serving　table。　The　cook　had　promised　them　medallions　of　wild　javelina　with　coffee　barbecue　sauce　and…amazingly…two　bottles　of　Chateau　Pétrus　in　celebration。　It　had　been；　she　thought；　the　longest…and　greatest…day　of　her　life：　〃that　day　of　days；〃　as　Howard　Carter　had　described　it　when　he　first　entered　King　Tutankhamen's　tomb。　And　they　had　yet　to　enter　the　Great　Kiva。　That；　she　had　decreed；　would　be　delayed　until　they　had　made　a　rough　survey　and　recovered　some　sense　of　their　perspective。　
　From　time　to　time；　during　the　course　of　the　day；　Nora　had　found　herself　searching　among　the　sandy　ruins　for　footprints；　inscriptions；　excavations…anything　that　would　prove　her　father　actually　reached　the　city。　But　the　rational　part　of　her　knew　that　the　constant　currents　of　wind　and　animal　tracks　would　have　long　ago　erased　any　marks　of　his　passing。　And　it　could　well　be　that　he；　like　Nora　herself；　had　been　so　overwhelmed　by　the　majesty　of　the　city　as　to　feel　any　modern　inscription　to　be　a　sacrilege。　
　The　group　emerged　from　the　ruin；　Sloane　bringing　up　the　rear。　Swire　and　Smithback　came　toward　Nora　and　the　rope　ladder。　Swire　simply　slumped　down；　flushed　beneath　his　leathery　tan；　but　Smithback　remained　behind；　talking　animatedly。　〃Unbelievable；〃　he　was