p&c.thunderhead-第4章

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　herself。　And　where　was　this　gap？　
　Her　finger　came　to　a　stop　amid　a　welter　of　canyons；　spread　over　almost　a　thousand　square　miles。　Frustration　welled　within　her。　The　directions　in　the　letter　were　so　vague；　he　could　have　gone　anywhere。　
　The　canyon　split；　and　split　again；　God　knows　how　many　times。　Two　days　I　went　up。　This　is　unbelievably　remote　canyon　country；　Liz；　and　when　you're　in　the　bottom　of　a　canyon　you　can't　see　any　landmarks　to　orient　yourself。　It's　almost　like　hiking　in　a　tunnel。　Despite　the　maddening　twists　and　turns；　it　somehow　had　the　feel　of　an　Anasazi　road　to　me。　But　only　when　I　reached　what　I　call　the　Devil's　Backbone；　and　the　slot　canyon　beyond；　was　I　sure。　
　She　turned　to　the　final　page。　
　You　see；　I've　found　the　city。　I　know　it。　There　is　a　damn　good　reason　why　it　remained　unknown；　when　you　see　how　fiendishly　they　hid　it。　The　slot　canyon　led　to　a　very　deep；　secret　canyon　beyond。　There's　a　hand…and…toe　trail　leading　up　the　rock　face　here　to　what　must　be　a　hidden　alcove　in　the　cliffs。　It's　weathered；　but　I　can　still　see　signs　of　use。　I've　seen　trails　like　this　below　cliff　dwellings　at　Mesa　Verde　and　Betatakin；　and　I'm　certain　this　one　also　leads　to　a　cliff　dwelling；　and　a　big　one。　I'd　try　the　trail　now；　but　it's　exceptionally　steep　and　growing　dark。　If　I　can　make　it　up　the　face　without　technical　climbing　gear；　I'll　try　to　reach　the　city　tomorrow。　
　I　have　enough　food　for　a　few　more　days；　and　there　is　water　here；　thank　God。　I　believe　I　must　be　the　first　human　being　in　this　canyon　in　eight　hundred　years。　
　It　is　all　yours　if　you　want　it。　The　divorce　can　be　reversed　and　the　clock　turned　back。　All　that　is　past。　I　just　want　my　family。　
　My　darling　Liz；　I　love　you　so　much。　Kiss　Nora　and　Skip　a　million　times　for　me。　
　　
　Pat　
　That　was　it。　
　Nora　carefully　slipped　the　letter　back　into　its　envelope。　It　took　longer　than　it　should　have；　and　she　realized　her　hands　were　shaking。　
　She　sat　back；　filled　with　conflicting　feelings。　She　had　always　known　her　father　was　a　pothunter　of　sorts；　but　it　shamed　her　that　he　would　consider　looting　such　an　extraordinary　ruin　for　his　own　private　gain。　
　And　yet　she　knew　her　father　wasn't　a　greedy　man。　He　had　little　interest　in　money。　What　he　loved　was　the　hunt。　And　he　had　loved　her　and　Skip；　more　than　anything　else　in　the　world。　She　was　sure　of　that；　despite　everything　her　mother　had　said。　
　She　gazed　once　again　over　the　expanse　of　maps。　If　the　ruin　was　really　as　important　as　he　made　out；　it　must　also　be　unknown。　Because　she　could　see　from　the　maps　that　nothing　remotely　like　it　had　been　marked。　The　closest　human　habitation　seemed　to　be　an　extremely　remote　Indian　village；　marked　NANKOWEAP；　that　was　at　least　several　days'　journey　away　at　the　far　edge　of　the　tangle　of　canyons。　According　to　the　map；　there　weren't　even　any　roads　to　the　village；　just　a　pack　trail。　
　The　archaeologist　in　her　felt　a　surge　of　excitement。　Finding　Quivira　would　be　a　way　to　vindicate　her　father's　life；　and　it　would　also　be　a　way　to　learn；　finally；　what　had　happened　to　him。　And；　she　thought　a　little　ruefully；　it　wouldn't　hurt　her　career；　either。　
　She　sat　up。　It　was　clearly　impossible　to　determine　where　he　had　gone　by　looking　at　the　maps。　If　she　wanted　to　find　Quivira；　and　perhaps　solve　the　mystery　of　her　father's　disappearance；　she　would　have　to　go　into　that　country　herself。　
　Smalls　looked　up　from　his　book　as　she　leaned　into　his　office。　〃I'm　done；　thank　you。〃　
　〃You're　wele；〃　he　replied。　〃Hey；　it's　lunchtime；　and　once　I　lock　up　I'm　going　to　grab　a　burrito。　Care　to　join　me？〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head。　〃Got　to　get　back　to　my　office；　thanks。　I've　got　a　lot　of　work　to　do　this　afternoon。〃　
　〃I'll　consider　that　a　raincheck；〃　Smalls　said。　
　〃Too　bad　we　live　in　the　desert。〃　Nora　went　out　the　door　to　the　sound　of　harsh　laughter。　
　As　she　climbed　the　dark　stairs；　the　bandage　pulled　against　her　arm；　reminding　her　once　again　of　the　previous　evening's　attack。　She　knew　that；　logically；　she　should　report　it　to　the　police。　But　when　she　thought　of　the　investigation；　the　disbelief；　the　time　it　would　all　take；　she　couldn't　bring　herself　to　do　it。　Nothing；　nothing；　could　interfere　with　what　she　had　to　do　next。　
　
　
3
　
　MURRAY　BLAKEWOOD；　PRESIDENT　OF　the　Santa　Fe　Archaeological　Institute；　turned　his　shaggy　gray　head　toward　Nora。　As　usual；　his　face　bore　a　look　of　distant　courtesy；　hands　loosely　folded　on　the　rosewood　table；　eyes　steady　and　cool。　
　The　lighting　in　the　office　was　soft；　and　the　walls　were　lined　with　discreetly　lit　glass　cases；　filled　with　artifacts　from　the　museum's　collection。　Directly　behind　his　desk　was　a　seventeenth…century　gilded　Mexican　reredos；　and　on　the　far　wall　was　a　first…phase　Navajo　chief's　blanket；　woven　in　the　〃Eyedazzler〃　pattern…perhaps　one　of　only　two　of　its　kind　still　in　existence。　Normally；　Nora　could　hardly　tear　her　eyes　from　the　priceless　relics。　Today　she　didn't　spare　them　a　glance。　
　〃Here　is　a　map　of　the　area；〃　she　said；　pulling　a　30…by…60…minute　quadrangle　map　of　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau　from　her　oversized　portfolio　and　smoothing　it　in　front　of　Blakewood。　〃See；　I've　marked　the　existing　sites　along　here。〃　
　Blakewood　nodded；　and　Nora　took　a　deep　breath。　There　was　no　easy　way　to　do　this。　
　In　a　rush　she　said；　〃Coronado's　city　of　Quivira　is　right　here。　In　these　canyons　west　of　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau。〃　
　There　was　a　silence；　then　Blakewood　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　speaking　in　a　gently　ironic　tone。　〃There　were　a　couple　of　steps　missing　there；　Dr。　Kelly；　and　you　lost　me。〃　
　Nora　reached　into　her　portfolio　and　brought　out　a　photocopied　page。　〃Let　me　read　you　this　excerpt　from　one　of　the　Coronado　expedition　reports；　written　around　1540。〃　She　cleared　her　throat。　
　The　Cicuye　Indians　brought　forward　a　slave　to　show　the　General；　who　they　had　captured　in　a　distant　land。　The　General　questioned　the　slave　through　interpreters。　
　The　slave　told　him　about　a　distant　city；　called　Quivira。　It　is　a　holy　city；　he　said；　where　the　rain　priests　live；　who　guard　the　records　of　their　history　from　the　beginning　of　time。　He　said　it　was　a　city　of　great　wealth。　mon　table　service　was　generally　of　the　purest　smoothed　gold；　and　the　pitchers；　dishes　and　bowls　were　also　made　of　gold；　refined；　polished　and　decorated。　He　called　the　gold　〃acochis。〃　He　said　they　despised　all　other　materials。　
　The　General　questioned　this　man　as　to　where　the　city　lay。　He　replied　that　it　was　many　weeks'　travel；　through　the　deepest　canyons　and　over　the　highest　mountains。　There　were　vipers；　floods；　earthquakes　and　dust　storms　in　that　distant　country；　and　none　who　traveled　there　ever　returned。　Quivira　in　their　language　means　〃The　House　of　the　Bloody　Cliff。〃　
　She　returned　the　sheet　to　her　portfolio。　〃Elsewhere　in　the　report；　there's　a　reference　to　'ancient　ones。'　Clearly　that　would　be　the　Anasazi。　The　word　anasazi　means…〃　
　〃Ancient　enemies；〃　said　Blakewood　gently。　
　〃Right；〃　Nora　nodded。　〃Anyway；　'House　of　the　Bloody　Cliff'　would　imply　that　it's　some　kind　of　cliff　dwelling；　undoubtedly　in　the　redrock　canyon　country　of　southern　Utah。　Those　cliffs　shine　just　like　blood　when　it　rains。〃　She　tapped　the　map。　〃And　where　else　could　a　large　city　be　hidden　except　in　those　canyons？　Moreover；　this　area　is　famous　for　its　flash　floods；　which　e　up　out　of　nowhere　and　scour　the　whole　place　clean。　And　it　lies　over　the　Kaibab　Volcanic　Field；　which　creates　a　lot　of　low…level　seismic　activity。　Every　other　place　has　been　carefully　explored。　This　canyon　country　was　a　stronghold　of　the　Anasazi。　This　has　got　to　be　the　place；　Dr。　Blakewood。　And　I　have　this　other　narrative　that　says…〃　Nora　stopped　as　she　saw　Blakewood　beginning　to　frown。　
　〃What　evidence　do　you　have？〃　he　asked。　
　〃This　is　my　evidence。〃　
　〃I　see。〃　Blakewood　let　out　a　sigh。　〃And　you　want　to　organize　an　expedition　to　explore　this　area；　funded　by　the　Institute。〃　
　〃That's　right。　I　would　be　happy　to　write　the　grants。〃　
　Blakewood　looked　at　her。　〃Dr。　Kelly；　this〃…he　gestured　to　the　map…〃is　not　evidence。　This　is　the　sheerest　kind　of　speculation。〃　
　〃But…〃　
　Blakewood　held　up　his　hand。　〃Let　me　finish。　The　area　you　describe　is　perhaps　a　thousand　square　miles。　Even　if　it　contained　a　large　ruin；　how　do　you　propose　to　find　it？〃　
　Nora　hesitated。　How　much　should　she　tell　him？　〃I　have　an　old　letter；〃　she　began；　〃that　describes　an　Anasazi　road　in　these　canyons。　I　believe　the　road　would　lead　to　the　ruin。〃　
　〃A　letter？〃　Blakewood's　eyebrows　elevated。　
　〃Yes。〃　
　〃Written　by　an　archaeologist？〃　
　〃Right　now；　I'd　rather　not　say。〃　
　A　shadow　of　irritation　crossed　Blakewood's　face。　〃Dr。　Kelly…Nora…let　me　point　out　a　few　practical　matters　here。　There's　not　enough　evidence；　even　with　this　mysterious　letter　of　yours；　to　justify　a　survey　permit；　let　alone　an　excavation。　And　as　you　pointed　out　yourself；　the　area's　known　for　extremely　severe　summer　thunderstorms　and　flash　floods。　Even　more　to　the　point；　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau　and　the　country　to　its　west　enpasses　the　most　plicated　canyon　system　on　the　planet。〃　
　The　perfect　place　to　hide　a　city；　Nora　thought　to　herself。　
　Blakewood　stared　at　her　briefly。　Then　he　cleared　his　throat。　〃Nora；　I'd　like　to　give　you　some　professional　advice。〃　
　Nora　swallowed。　This　wasn't　how　she　had　envisioned　the　conversation　developing。　
　〃Archaeology　today　isn't　like　it　was　a　hundred　years　ago。　All　the　spectacular　stuff　has　been　found。　Our　job　is　to　move　more　slowly；　assemble　the　little　details；　analyze。〃　He　leaned　toward　her。　〃You　always　seem　to　be　looking　for　the　fabulous　ruin；　the　oldest　this　or　biggest　that。　None　of　that　exists　anymore；　Nora；　even　around　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau。　There　have　been　archaeological　survey　parties　in　that　area　at　least　half　a　dozen　times　since　the　Wetherills　first　explored　those　canyons。〃　
　Listening；　Nora　struggled　to　keep　her　own　doubts　at　bay。　She　herself　knew　there　was　no　way　to　be　certain　whether　her　father　actually　reached　the　city。　But　there　was　no　mistaking　the　tone　of　certainty　in　his　letter；　or　the　high　flood　of　his　triumph。　And　there　was　something　else：　something　always　present　now　in　the　back　of　her　mind。　Somehow；　those　men…those　creatures…that　attacked　her　in　the　farmhouse　had　known　about　the　letter。　That　meant　they；　too；　had　reason　to　believe　in　Quivira。　
　〃There　are　many　lost　ruins　in　the　Southwest；〃　she　heard　herself　say；　〃buried　in　sand　or　hidden　under　cliffs。　Take　the　lost　city　of　Senecú。　That　was　a　huge　ruin　seen　by　the　Spanish　that　has　since　disappeared。〃　
　There　was　a　pause　as　Blakewood　tapped　a　pencil　on　the　desktop。　〃Nora；　there's　something　else　I've　been　meaning　to　discuss　with　you；〃　he　said；　the　look　of　irritation　more　plain　now。　〃You've　been　here；　what；　five　years？〃　
　〃Five　and　a　half；　Dr。　Blakewood。〃　
　〃When　you　were　hired　as　an　assistant　professor；　you　realized　what　the　tenure　process　involved；　correct？〃　
　〃Yes。〃　Nora　knew　what　was　ing。　
　〃You　will　be　up　for　review　in　six　months。　And　frankly；　I'm　not　sure　your　tenure　will　be　approved。〃　
　Nora　said　nothing。　
　〃As　I　recall；　your　work　in　graduate　school　was　brilliant。　That　is　why　we　brought　you　on　board。　But　once　you　were　hired；　it　took　you　three　years　to　finish　your　dissertation。〃　
　〃But　Dr。　Blakewood；　don't　you　remember　how　I　got　tied　up　at　the　Rio　Puerco　site…？〃　She　stopped　as　Blakewood　raised　his　hand