p&c.thunderhead-第35章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


；　but　Smithback　remained　behind；　talking　animatedly。　〃Unbelievable；〃　he　was　saying；　his　voice　loud　and　grating　in　the　ruin's　stillness。　〃Oh；　God；　what　a　find。　This　is　going　to　make　the　discovery　of　King　Tut's　tomb　look　like　a　。　。　。〃　He　stopped；　temporarily　speechless。　Nora　felt　inexplicably　annoyed　that　his　thoughts　would　coincide　with　her　own。　〃You　know；　I　did　some　work　in　the　New　York　Museum　of　Natural　History；〃　he　began　again；　〃and　their　collection　couldn't　begin　to　hold　a　candle　to　this　place。　There's　more　stuff　here　than　in　all　the　museums　in　the　world；　for　chrissakes。　When　my　agent　hears　about　this；　she's　going　to　get　such　a…〃　
　Nora's　sudden　glare　silenced　the　writer。　
　〃Sorry；　Madame　Chairman。〃　Smithback　settled　back；　looking　only　momentarily　put　out。　He　whipped　out　a　small　spiral…bound　notebook　from　a　back　pocket　and　began　jotting　notes。　
　Aragon；　Holroyd；　and　Black　joined　them　along　the　wall；　followed　by　Sloane。　〃This　is　the　discovery　of　the　century；〃　Black　boomed。　〃What　a　cap　to　a　career。〃　
　Holroyd　sat　down　by　the　retaining　wall；　slowly　and　unsteadily；　like　an　old　man。　Nora　could　see　his　face　was　dirty　and　streaked；　as　if　he　had　wept　at　the　sight。　
　〃How　are　you　doing；　Peter？〃　she　asked　quietly。　
　He　looked　at　her　with　a　weak　smile。　〃Ask　me　tomorrow。〃　
　Nora　turned　to　Aragon；　glancing　curiously　at　his　face；　wondering　if　the　magnitude　of　the　discovery　would　break　his　usual　dour　reserve。　What　she　saw　was　a　face　covered　with　a　sheen　of　sweat；　and　a　pair　of　eyes　that　had　grown　as　dark　and　glittery　as　the　obsidian　the　city　was　full　of。　
　He　looked　back　at　Nora。　And　then…for　the　first　time　since　she'd　met　him　at　the　fire　circle…he　smiled；　widely　and　genuinely；　white　teeth　huge　in　the　brown　face。　〃It's　fantastic；〃　he　said　as　he　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it。　〃Almost　beyond　belief。　We　all　have　a　lot　to　thank　you　for。　Perhaps　myself　more　than　the　rest。〃　There　was　a　curious　force　in　his　low；　vibrant　voice。　〃Over　the　years　I'd　e　to　believe；　as　much　as　I　believed　anything；　that　the　secrets　of　the　Anasazi　would　never　be　ours。　But　this　city　holds　the　key。　I　know　it。　And　I　feel　fortunate　to　be　part　of　it。〃　He　removed　his　knapsack；　placed　it　on　the　ground；　and　sat　down　next　to　her。　
　〃There's　something　I　must　tell　you；〃　he　said。　〃Perhaps　now　isn't　the　right　time；　but　it　will　only　bee　more　difficult　the　longer　we　are　here。〃　
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Yes？〃　
　〃You　know　my　belief　in　Zero　Site　Trauma。　I'm　not　as　zealous　as　some；　but　I　still　feel　it　would　be　a　terrible　crime　to　disturb　this　city；　to　remove　its　essence　and　squirrel　it　away　in　museum　storage　rooms。〃　
　Black　snorted。　〃Don't　tell　me　you're　a　sucker　for　that　bullshit。　Zero　Site　Trauma　is　a　passing　fad　of　political　correctness。　The　real　crime　would　be　to　leave　this　place　unexplored。　Think　of　all　we　can　learn。〃　
　Aragon　looked　at　him　steadily。　〃We　can　learn　everything　we　need　to　know　without　looting　the　city。〃　
　〃Since　when　is　a　disciplined　archaeological　excavation　called　looting？〃　Sloane　asked　mildly。　
　〃Today's　archaeology　is　tomorrow's　plundering；〃　Aragon　replied。　〃Look　what　Schliemann　did　to　the　site　of　Troy　a　hundred　years　ago；　in　the　name　of　science。　He　practically　bulldozed　the　place；　destroyed　it　for　future　generations。　And　that；　for　its　day；　was　a　disciplined　excavation。〃　
　〃Well；　you　can　tiptoe　around　all　you　want；　taking　pictures　and　touching　nothing；〃　said　Black；　raising　his　voice。　〃But　I　for　one　can't　wait　to　tuck　into　that　midden。〃　He　turned　toward　Smithback。　〃To　the　uneducated　mind；　all　these　treasures　are　amazing…but　nothing　tells　you　what　you　want　to　know　like　a　trash　mound。　You'd　do　well　to　remember　that　for　your　book。〃　
　Nora　looked　from　one　member　of　the　group　to　the　other。　She'd　expected　this　discussion；　although　not　quite　so　soon。　〃There's　no　way；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃that　we　can　really　begin　to　excavate　this　city；　even　if　we　wanted　to。　All　we　can　hope　to　do　in　the　next　few　weeks　is　to　survey　and　inventory。〃　
　Black　began　to　protest；　and　she　raised　her　hand。　〃If　we　are　to　properly　date　and　analyze　the　city；　it's　necessary　to　be　a　little　invasive。　That's　Black's　job；　and　he'll　confine　any　site　disturbance　to　test　trenching　in　the　trash　mound。　No　part　of　the　city　itself　will　be　excavated；　and　no　artifacts　will　be　shifted　or　removed；　unless　absolutely　necessary；　and　with　my　express　permission。〃　
　〃Site　disturbance；〃　Black　echoed　sarcastically；　but　he　sat　back　with　a　satisfied　air。　
　〃We'll　have　to　bring　back　a　few　type　specimens　for　further　analysis　at　the　Institute；〃　she　went　on。　〃But　we　will　only　bring　back　inferior　artifacts　that　are　duplicated　elsewhere　in　the　city。　Long…term；　the　Institute　will　have　to　decide　what　to　do　with　the　site。　But　I　promise　you；　Enrique；　that　I'll　remend　they　leave　Quivira　untouched　and　intact。〃　She　glanced　pointedly　at　Sloane；　who　had　been　listening　intently。　〃Do　you　agree？〃　
　After　a　brief　pause；　Sloane　nodded。　
　Aragon　glanced　from　one　to　the　other。　〃Under　the　circumstances；　that　will　have　to　be　acceptable。〃　Then　he　smiled　again；　suddenly；　and　stood　up。　A　hush　fell　on　the　group。　
　〃Nora；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　the　congratulations　of　all　of　us。〃　
　Nora　felt　a　sudden　flush　of　pleasure　as　she　listened　to　the　chorus　of　clapping　punctuated　by　a　long　loud　whistle　from　Black。　Then　Smithback　too　was　on　his　feet；　hoisting　a　canteen。　
　〃And　I'd　like　to　propose　a　toast　to　Padraic　Kelly。　If　it　weren't　for　him；　we'd　never　be　here。〃　
　This　sudden　reference　to　her　father；　ing　from　a　source　as　unexpected　as　Smithback；　brought　a　sudden　welling　of　emotion　that　closed　Nora's　throat。　Her　father　had　never　been　far　from　her　thoughts　all　day。　But　in　the　end；　she　had　seen　no　trace　of　him；　and　she　felt　grateful　for　Smithback's　remembrance。　
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。　Smithback　took　a　drink　and　passed　the　canteen。　
　The　group　fell　silent。　Light　was　draining　fast　from　the　valley；　and　it　was　time　they　made　their　way　down　the　rope　ladder　to　supper。　And　yet　everyone　seemed　reluctant　to　leave　the　magical　place。　
　〃What　I　can't　figure　out　is　why　the　hell　they　left　all　that　stuff　behind；〃　Smithback　said。　〃It's　like　walking　away　from　Fort　Knox。〃　
　〃A　lot　of　Anasazi　sites　show　a　similar　abandonment；〃　Nora　replied。　〃These　people　were　on　foot；　they　had　no　beasts　of　burden。　It　made　more　sense　to　leave　your　goods　behind　and　make　fresh　ones　when　you　arrived　at　your　new　home。　When　the　Anasazi　moved；　they　usually　only　carried　their　most　sacred　items　and　turquoise。〃　
　〃But　it　looks　like　even　the　turquoise　was　left　behind　here。　I　mean；　the　place　is　full　of　it。〃　
　〃True；〃　Nora　said　after　a　moment。　〃This　was　not　a　typical　abandonment。　It's　like　they　left　everything。　That's　part　of　what　makes　this　site　unique。〃　
　〃The　sheer　wealth　of　the　city；　and　the　many　ceremonial　artifacts；　makes　me　think　it　must　have　been　a　religious　center　that　overshadowed　even　Chaco；〃　said　Aragon。　〃A　city　of　priests。〃　
　〃A　city　of　priests？〃　Black　repeated　skeptically。　〃Why　would　a　city　of　priests　be　located　way　out　here；　at　the　very　edge　of　the　Anasazi　realm？　What　I　found　more　interesting　was　the　amazingly　defensive　nature　of　the　place。　Even　the　site　itself；　hidden　so　perfectly　in　this　isolated　canyon…it's　damn　near　impregnable。　You'd　almost　think　these　people　were　paranoid。〃　
　〃I'd　be　paranoid　if　I　had　the　kind　of　wealth　they　had；〃　Sloane　murmured。　
　〃If　they　were　impregnable；　then　why　did　they　abandon　the　city？〃　Holroyd　asked。　
　〃They　probably　overfarmed　the　valley　below；〃　Black　replied　with　a　shrug。　〃Simple　soil　exhaustion。　The　Anasazi　didn't　know　the　art　of　fertilization。〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head。　〃There's　no　way；　given　its　size；　that　the　farmland　in　the　valley　could　support　the　city　to　begin　with。　There　must　be　a　hundred　granaries　back　there。　They　had　to　have　been　importing　tons　of　food　from　someplace　else。　But　all　this　begs　the　question：　why　put　such　a　huge　city　here　in　the　first　place？　In　the　middle　of　nowhere；　at　the　end　of　a　circuitous　road；　at　the　end　of　a　narrow　slot　canyon？　During　the　rainy　season；　that　canyon　would　have　been　impassable　half　the　time。〃　
　〃As　I　said；〃　Aragon　replied。　〃A　city　of　priests；　at　the　end　of　a　difficult　ritual　journey。　Nothing　else　makes　sense。〃　
　〃Of　course；〃　Black　said　scornfully。　〃When　in　doubt；　blame　it　on　religion。　Besides；　the　Anasazi　were　egalitarian。　They　didn't　believe　in　a　social　hierarchy。　The　idea　of　them　having　a　priestly　city；　or　a　ruling　class；　is　absurd。〃　
　There　was　another　silence。　
　〃What　really　intrigues　me；〃　Smithback　said；　notebook　once　again　in　hand；　〃is　the　idea　of　gold　and　silver。〃　
　There　he　goes　again；　Nora　thought。　〃Like　I　told　you　on　the　barge；〃　she　said　a　little　more　loudly　than　she　intended；　〃the　Anasazi　had　no　precious　metals。〃　
　〃Just　a　minute；〃　Smithback　said；　folding　his　notebook　and　shoving　it　into　his　pants。　〃What　about　the　Coronado　reports　Holroyd　was　reading　aloud？　All　that　talk　of　plates　and　jugs　of　gold。　You　mean　that　was　just　bullshit？〃　
　Nora　laughed。　〃Not　to　put　too　fine　a　point　on　it；　yes。　The　Indians　were　just　telling　the　Spanish　what　they　wanted　to　hear。　The　idea　was　to　tell　the　Spanish　that　the　gold　was　somewhere　else；　far　away；　to　get　rid　of　them　as　quickly　as　possible。〃　
　〃Perhaps　something　was　lost　in　translation；〃　said　Aragon；　with　a　smile。　
　〃e　on；〃　Smithback　said。　〃Quivira　wasn't　made　up　by　the　Indians。　So　why　should　the　gold　be？〃　
　Holroyd　cleared　his　throat　a　little　tentatively。　〃According　to　that　book　I　was　reading；　Coronado　had　gold　samples　with　him。　When　he　tested　the　Indians　by　showing　them　samples　of　gold；　copper；　silver；　and　tin；　the　Indians　identified　the　precious　metals　from　the　base。　They　knew　what　they　were。〃　
　Smithback　folded　his　arms。　〃See？〃　
　Nora　rolled　her　eyes。　One　of　the　foundations　of　southwestern　archaeology　was　that　the　Anasazi　had　no　metals。　It　almost　wasn't　worth　arguing　the　point。　
　Black　suddenly　spoke　up。　〃All　over　the　Southwest；〃　he　said；　〃Anasazi　graves　have　been　found　containing　parrot　and　macaw　feathers　imported　from　the　Aztec　empires　and　their　Toltec　predecessors。　They've　also　found　New　Mexico　turquoise　in　Aztec　burials。　And　we　know　that　the　Anasazi　traded　extensively　with　the　Toltecs　and　Aztecs…slaves；　obsidian；　agate；　salt；　and　pottery。〃　
　〃What　are　you　getting　at？〃　Nora　asked。　
　〃Simply　that　with　all　this　trade　going　on；　it's　not　entirely　unreasonable　to　think　the　Anasazi　obtained　gold。〃　
　Nora　opened　her　mouth；　then　shut　it　again；　surprised　at　hearing　this　from　Black。　Holroyd；　Swire；　and　even　Sloane　were　listening　intently。　
　〃If　they　did　have　gold；〃　Nora　began；　trying　to　keep　patient；　〃then；　in　the　tens　of　thousands　of　Anasazi　sites　excavated　over　the　last　hundred　and　fifty　years；　we'd　have　found　some。　But　not　one　excavation　has　ever　turned　up　even　the　tiniest　speck　of　gold。　The　bottom　line　is；　if　the　Anasazi　had　gold；　then　where　is　it　all？〃　
　〃Maybe　right　here；〃　said　Smithback　quietly。　
　Nora　stared　at　him。　Then　she　began　to　laugh。　〃Bill；　put　a　cold　press　on　that　fevered　imagination　of　yours。　I　just　saw　a　dozen　rooms　full　of　incredible　stuff　today；　but　not　a　single　glimmer　of　gold。　If　we　do　find　gold　in　Quivira；　I'll　eat　that　ridiculous　hat　of　yours。　Okay？　Now　let's　get　down　and　see　what　miracle　Chef　Bonarotti　has　prepared　for　dinner。〃　
　
　
27
　
　NORA　GAZED　ANXIOUSLY　UP　AT　THE　FIGUR