p&c.thunderhead-第51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！


　Aragon　followed　them　with　his　kit；　despair　on　his　face。　As　they　came　out　from　beneath　the　shadow　of　the　overhanging　rock　and　approached　the　rope　ladder；　Nora　felt　a　cold　drop　on　her　arm；　then　another。　It　was　beginning　to　rain。　
　Suddenly　Holroyd　gave　a　strangled　cough。　His　eyes　bulged　wider　still；　ringed　red　with　panic；　searching　aimlessly。　His　lips　trembled；　as　if　he　was　trying　to　force　speech　from　a　paralyzed　jaw。　His　limbs　seemed　to　stretch；　stiffening　even　further。　The　ropes　restraining　him　creaked　and　sighed。　
　Instantly；　Aragon　ordered　them　to　ease　the　stretcher　to　the　ground。　He　knelt　at　Holroyd's　chest；　fumbling　in　his　duffels　at　the　same　time。　Instruments　went　clattering　to　one　side　as　he　pulled　out　an　endotrachial　tube；　attached　to　a　black　rubber　bag。　
　Holroyd's　jaws　worked。　〃I　let　you　down；　Nora；〃　came　a　strangled　whisper。　
　Immediately；　Nora　took　his　hand　once　again。　〃Peter；　that's　not　true。　If　it　weren't　for　you；　none　of　us　would　have　found　Quivira。　You're　the　whole　reason　we're　here。〃　
　Peter　began　to　struggle　with　more　words；　but　Nora　gently　touched　his　lips。　〃Save　your　strength；〃　she　whispered。　
　〃I'm　going　to　have　to　tube　him；〃　Aragon　said；　gently　laying　Holroyd's　head　back　and　snaking　the　clear　plastic　down　into　his　lungs。　He　pressed　the　ambu　bag　into　Nora's　hands。　〃Squeeze　this　every　five　seconds；〃　he　said；　dropping　his　ear　to　Holroyd's　chest。　He　listened；　motionless；　for　a　long　moment。　Another　tremor　passed　through　Holroyd's　body；　and　his　eyes　rolled　up。　Aragon　straightened　up　and；　with　violent　heaves；　began　emergency　heart　massage。　
　As　if　in　a　dream；　Nora　sat　beside　Holroyd；　filling　his　lungs；　willing　him　to　breathe；　as　the　rain　picked　up；　trickling　down　her　face　and　arms。　There　were　no　sounds　except　for　the　patter　of　the　rain；　the　cracking　thumps　of　Aragon's　fists；　the　sigh　of　the　ambu　bag。　
　Then；　it　was　over。　Aragon　sat　back；　agonized　face　drenched　with　rain　and　sweat。　He　looked　briefly　up　at　the　sky；　unseeing；　and　let　his　face　sink　into　his　hands。　Holroyd　was　dead。　
　
　
39
　
　AN　HOUR　LATER；　THE　ENTIRE　EXPEDITION　had　gathered　around　the　campfire　in　silence。　Swire　joined　them；　wet　from　the　slot　canyon。　The　rain　had　ended；　but　the　afternoon　sky　was　smeared　with　metal…colored　clouds。　The　air　carried　the　mingled　scents　of　ozone　and　humidity。　
　Nora　glanced　at　each　haggard　face　in　turn。　Their　expressions　betrayed　the　same　emotions　she　felt：　numbness；　shock；　disbelief。　Her　own　feelings　were　augmented　by　an　overpowering　sense　of　guilt。　She'd　approached　Holroyd。　She'd　convinced　him　to　e　along。　And；　in　some　unconscious　way；　she　realized　she　had　manipulated　his　feelings　for　her　to　further　her　own　goal　of　finding　the　city。　Her　eyes　strayed　toward　the　sealed　tent　that　now　held　his　body。　Oh；　Peter；　she　thought。　Please　forgive　me。　
　Only　Bonarotti　continued　with　business　as　usual；　thumping　a　hard　salami　down　on　his　serving　table　and　setting　loaves　of　fresh　bread　beside　it。　Seeing　that　nobody　was　inclined　to　partake；　the　cook　flung　one　leg　over　the　other；　leaned　back；　and　lit　a　cigarette。　
　Nora　licked　her　lips。　〃Enrique；〃　she　began；　careful　to　keep　her　voice　even；　〃what　can　you　tell　us？〃　
　Aragon　looked　up；　his　black　eyes　unreadable。　〃Not　nearly　as　much　as　I　would　like。　I　didn't　expect　to　be　performing　any　postmortems　out　here；　and　my　diagnostic　tools　are　limited。　I've　cultured　him　up…blood；　sputum；　urine…and　I've　stained　and　sectioned　some　tissue。　I　took　some　exudate　from　the　skin　lesions。　But　so　far　the　results　are　inconclusive。〃　
　〃What　could　have　killed　him　so　fast？〃　Sloane　asked。　
　Aragon　turned　his　dark　eyes　to　her。　〃That's　what　makes　diagnosis　so　difficult。　In　his　last　minutes；　there　were　signs　of　cyanosis　and　acute　dyspnea。　That　would　indicate　pneumonia；　but　pneumonia　would　not　present　that　quickly。　Then　there　was　the　acute　paralysis　。　。　。〃　He　fell　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Without　access　to　a　laboratory；　I　can't　do　a　tap　or　a　gastric　wash；　let　alone　an　autopsy。〃　
　〃What　I　want　to　know；〃　Black　said；　〃was　whether　this　is　infectious。　Whether　others　might　have　been　exposed。〃　
　Aragon　sighed　and　stared　at　the　ground。　〃It's　hard　to　say。　But　so　far；　the　evidence　doesn't　point　in　that　direction。　Perhaps　the　crude　bloodwork　I've　done；　or　the　antibody　tests；　will　tell　us　more。　I've　got　test　cultures　growing　in　petri　dishes　on　the　off　chance　it　is　some　infectious　agent。　I　really　hate　to　speculate　。　。　。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　
　〃Enrique；　I　think　we　need　to　hear　your　speculations；〃　Nora　said　quietly。　
　〃Very　well。　If　you　asked　me　for　my　initial　impression…it　happened　so　fast；　I　would　say　it　looked　more　like　acute　poisoning　than　disease。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　Aragon　in　sudden　horror。　
　〃Poisoning？〃　Black　cried；　visibly　recoiling。　〃Who　could　have　wanted　to　poison　Peter？〃　
　〃It　may　not　be　one　of　us；〃　said　Sloane。　〃It　may　have　been　whoever　killed　our　horses　and　wrecked　our　munications　gear。〃　
　〃As　I　said；　it's　speculation　only。〃　Aragon　spread　his　hands。　He　looked　at　Bonarotti。　〃Did　Holroyd　eat　anything　that　the　others　didn't？〃　
　Bonarotti　shook　his　head。　
　〃And　the　water？〃　
　〃It　es　from　the　creek；〃　Bonarotti　replied。　〃I　run　it　through　a　filter。　We've　all　been　drinking　it。〃　
　Aragon　rubbed　his　face。　〃I　won't　have　test　results　for　several　hours。　I　suppose　we　have　to　assume　it　might　be　infectious。　As　a　precaution；　we　should　get　the　body　out　of　camp　as　soon　as　possible。〃　
　Silence　fell　in　the　canyon。　There　was　a　roll　of　distant　thunder　from　over　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau。　
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　Black　asked。　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃Isn't　it　obvious？　We　have　to　leave　here　as　quickly　as　possible。〃　
　〃No！〃　Sloane　burst　out。　
　Nora　turned　to　her　in　surprise。　
　〃We　can't　leave　Quivira；　just　like　that。　It's　too　important　a　site。　Whoever　destroyed　our　munications　gear　knows　that。　It's　obvious　they're　trying　to　drive　us　out　so　they　can　loot　the　city。　We'd　be　playing　into　their　hands。〃　
　〃That's　true；〃　said　Black。　
　〃A　man　has　just　died；〃　Nora　interrupted。　〃Possibly　of　an　infectious　disease；　possibly　even　by　murder。　Either　way；　we　have　no　choice。　We've　lost　all　contact　with　the　outside　world。　The　lives　of　the　expedition　members　are　my　first　responsibility。〃　
　〃This　is　the　greatest　find　in　modern　archaeology；〃　Sloane　said；　her　husky　voice　now　low　and　urgent。　〃There's　not　one　of　us　here　who　wasn't　willing　to　risk　his　life　to　make　this　discovery。　And　now　that　somebody　has　died；　are　we　going　to　just　roll　things　up　and　leave？　That　would　cheapen　Peter's　sacrifice。〃　
　Black；　who　paled　a　bit　during　this　speech；　still　managed　to　nod　his　support。　
　〃For　you；　and　me；　and　the　rest　of　the　scientific　team；　that　may　be　true；〃　Nora　said。　〃But　Peter　was　a　civilian。〃　
　〃He　knew　the　risks；〃　Sloane　said。　〃You　did　explain　them；　didn't　you？〃　She　looked　directly　at　Nora　as　she　spoke。　Though　she　said　nothing　more；　the　unspoken　ment　couldn't　have　been　clearer。　
　〃I　know　Peter's　presence　here　was　partly　my　doing；〃　Nora　replied；　fighting　to　keep　her　tone　even。　〃That's　something　I'll　have　to　live　with。　But　it　doesn't　change　anything。　The　fact　is；　we　still　have　Roscoe；　Luigi；　and　Bill　Smithback　with　us。　Now　that　we　know　the　dangers；　we　have　no　right　to　jeopardize　their　safety　any　further。〃　
　〃Hear；　hear；〃　Smithback　murmured。　
　〃I　think　they　should　make　their　own　decisions；〃　Sloane　said；　her　eyes　dark　in　the　stormy　light。　〃They're　not　just　paid　sherpas。　They　have　their　own　investment　in　this　expedition。〃　
　Nora　looked　from　Sloane　to　Black；　and　then　at　the　rest　of　the　expedition。　They　were　all　looking　back　at　her　silently。　She　realized；　with　a　kind　of　dull　surprise；　that　she　was　facing　a　critical　challenge　to　her　leadership。　A　small　voice　within　her　murmured　that　it　wasn't　fair：　not　now；　when　she　should　be　grieving　for　Peter　Holroyd。　She　struggled　to　think　rationally。　It　was　possible　that　she　could；　as　expedition　leader；　simply　order　everyone　to　leave。　But　there　seemed　to　be　a　new　dynamic　among　the　group　now；　in　the　wake　of　Holroyd's　death；　an　unpredictable　urgency　of　feeling。　This　was　no　democracy；　nor　should　it　be：　yet　she　felt　she　would　have　to　roll　the　dice　and　play　it　as　one。　
　〃Whatever　we　do；　we　do　as　a　group；〃　she　said。　〃We'll　take　a　vote　on　it。〃　
　She　turned　her　eyes　toward　Smithback。　
　〃I'm　with　Nora；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃The　risk　is　too　great。〃　
　Nora　looked　next　at　Aragon。　The　doctor　returned　her　gaze　briefly；　then　turned　toward　Sloane。　〃There　is　no　question　in　my　mind；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　to　leave。〃　
　Nora　glanced　at　Black。　He　was　sweating。　〃I'm　with　Sloane；〃　he　said　in　a　strained　voice。　
　Nora　turned　to　Swire。　〃Roscoe？〃　
　The　wrangler　glanced　up　at　the　sky。　〃As　far　as　I'm　concerned；〃　he　said　gruffly；　〃we　should　never　have　entered　this　goddamned　valley　in　the　first　place；　ruin　or　no　ruin。　And　now　the　rains　are　here；　and　that　slot　canyon's　our　only　exit。　It's　time　we　got　our　butts　out。〃　
　Nora　glanced　at　Bonarotti。　The　Italian　waved　his　hand　vacantly；　sending　cigarette　smoke　spiraling　through　the　air。　〃Whatever；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　go　along　with　whatever。〃　
　Nora　returned　her　gaze　to　Sloane。　〃I　count　four　against　two；　with　one　abstention。　There's　nothing　more　to　discuss。〃　Then　she　softened　her　tone。　〃Look；　we　won't　just　leave　willy…nilly。　We'll　take　the　rest　of　the　day　to　finish　up　the　most　pressing　work；　shut　down　the　dig；　and　take　a　series　of　documentary　photographs。　We'll　pack　a　small　selection　of　representative　artifacts。　Then　we'll　leave　first　thing　tomorrow。〃　
　〃The　rest　of　the　day？〃　Black　said。　〃To　close　this　site　properly　will　take　a　hell　of　a　lot　longer　than　that。〃　
　〃I'm　sorry。　We'll　do　the　best　we　can。　We'll　only　pack　up　the　essential　gear　for　the　trip　out…the　rest　we'll　cache；　to　save　time。〃　
　Nobody　spoke。　Her　face　an　unreadable　mask　of　emotions；　Sloane　continued　to　stare　at　Nora。　
　〃Let's　get　going；〃　Nora　said；　turning　away　wearily。　〃We've　got　a　lot　to　do　before　sunset。〃　
　
　
40
　
　SMITHBACK　KNELT　BY　THE　TENT　AND　GINGERLY　lifted　the　flap；　gazing　inside　with　a　mixture　of　pity　and　revulsion。　Aragon　had　wrapped　Peter　Holroyd's　body　in　two　layers　of　plastic　and　then　sealed　it　inside　the　expedition's　largest　drysack；　a　yellow　bag　with　black　stripes。　Despite　the　carefully　sealed　coverings；　the　tent　reeked　of　betadine；　alcohol；　and　something　worse。　Smithback　leaned　away；　breathing　through　his　mouth。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　can　do　this；〃　he　said。　
　〃Let's　just　get　it　over　with；〃　Swire　replied；　picking　up　a　pole　and　ducking　into　the　tent。　
　No　book　advance　is　worth　this；　Smithback　thought。　Reaching　into　his　pocket　for　his　red　bandanna；　he　tied　it　carefully　over　his　mouth。　Then　he　tugged　a　pair　of　work　gloves　over　the　rubber　gloves　Aragon　had　given　him；　picked　up　a　coil　of　rope；　and　followed　Swire　into　the　tent。　
　Wordlessly；　Swire　laid　the　pole　alongside　the　bagged　corpse。　Then；　as　quickly　as　possible；　the　two　men　lashed　it　to　the　pole；　winding　the　rope　around　and　around　until　it　was　secure。　Swire　tied　off　the　ends　with　half…hitches。　Then；　grasping　each　end；　they　hefted　the　body　out　of　the　tent。　
　Holroyd　had　a　slight　frame；　and　Smithback　raised　one　end　of　the　pole　onto　his　shoulder　with　relative　ease。　I'll　bet　he　weighs　one　fifty；　one　sixty；　max；　he　thought。　That　means　eighty　pounds　for　each　of　us。　Strange　how；　at　times　of　severe　stress；　the　mind　ten