p&c.thunderhead-第53章

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Perhaps　of　great　archaeological　value。　He　glanced　up　and　down　the　Crawlspace。　He　was　alone；　Aragon　busy　elsewhere　on　Holroyd's　postmortem　analysis。　He　shone　his　light　into　the　hole　once　more；　probing　farther。　
　This　time；　something　glinted　back　at　him。　
　Black　withdrew　the　light；　sat　up；　and　remained　motionless　for　a　moment。　And　then　he　did　something　he　had　never　done　before。　He　picked　up　a　stray　bone　and　began　working　loose　the　small　rocks　around　the　rathole。　Carefully　at　first；　then　with　greater　and　greater　urgency；　he　scrabbled　with　the　rocks；　pulling　them　out。　Soon；　a　small　opening　in　the　back　of　the　cave　became　visible。　Thoughts　of　disfort；　disease；　and　poison　evaporated　from　his　mind；　replaced　by　a　new　thought：　a　consuming　desire　to　see　what　lay　on　the　far　side。　
　Dust　began　to　cake　on　his　sweaty　skin；　he　tied　a　bandanna　over　his　mouth　and　nose　and　continued。　The　bone　fell　apart　and　he　continued　working　with　his　hands。　In　five　minutes；　he　had　cleared　an　opening　large　enough　to　admit　his　bulk。　
　Breathing　deeply；　he　wiped　his　hands　on　the　seat　of　his　pants　and　plucked　the　bandanna　from　his　mouth。　Then　he　put　his　hands　on　either　side　of　the　opening　and　pulled　himself　through。　
　In　a　moment　he　was　on　the　far　side。　He　scrambled　to　his　feet；　panting　hard。　The　air　was　thick；　hot；　and　surprisingly　humid。　He　looked　around；　his　penlight　stabbing　through　skeins　of　dust。　
　Almost　immediately　he　saw　the　glint　again…the　unmistakable　glint　of　gold…and　for　a　moment　his　heart　stopped。　He　was　in　a　large　black　cavern。　There；　rising　in　front　of　him；　dominating　the　cavern；　was　another　Great　Kiva。　Incised　and　painted　on　its　side　was　a　huge　disk　that　winked　gold　in　his　light。　The　Great　Kiva　had　once　had　a　door　in　the　side；　also　blocked　with　loose　stones　and　half　buried　in　sand。　Behind　it　stood　an　exquisite　Anasazi　pueblo；　small　but　perfect；　its　two…storied　roomblocks　and　ladders　sealed　in　the　cave　and　untouched　for　more　than　seven　centuries。　
　He　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　approached　the　kiva；　touching　the　gold　disk　with　a　trembling　hand。　The　effect　of　gold　had　been　created　with　a　deep　yellow　pigment…Black　guessed　it　was　yellow　ochre　of　iron…mixed　with　crushed　flakes　of　mica。　The　whole　thing　had　then　been　polished；　creating　a　shimmering　surface　that　looked　remarkably　like　gold。　It　was　the　same　method　used　to　make　the　image　in　the　Rain　Kiva；　only　this　disk　was　ten　feet　in　diameter。　
　He　knew　then　that　he　had　found　the　Sun　Kiva。　
　
　
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　THE　DIRTY　SKY　OF　THE　AFTERNOON　HAD　lifted；　and　the　air　above　the　canyon　of　Quivira　was　suffused　with　the　last　golden　light　of　sunset。　Already；　the　gloom　of　night　was　gathering　in　the　bottom　of　the　canyon；　in　strange　juxtaposition　to　the　brilliant　narrow　strip　of　sky　above。　The　brief　rain　had　released　the　scents　of　the　desert：　wet　sand；　the　sweet　smell　of　cottonwoods；　mingled　with　the　fragrant　cedarwood　from　Bonarotti's　fire。　
　Nora；　struggling　to　close　one　of　the　drysacks；　noticed　none　of　the　beauty；　smelled　none　of　the　scents。　To　her；　still　numbed　by　the　events　of　the　day；　the　valley　was　anything　but　benign。　A　few　minutes　before；　Swire　and　Smithback　had　returned　from　their　grisly　errand；　and　they　now　rested　by　the　fire；　exhausted；　faces　blank。　
　With　an　effort；　she　heaved　the　drysack　alongside　the　growing　pile　of　equipment；　then　grabbed　an　empty　duffel　and　began　to　fill　it。　Much　of　the　evening　would　be　spent　packing　the　gear；　caching　some　of　it；　getting　the　rest　ready　for　the　long；　wet　trip　out　the　slot　canyon　to　the　horses。　Once　they　had　packed　and　gotten　away　from　the　valley　and　its　divisive　influences；　she　felt　sure；　they　would　be　able　to　function　as　a　team　once　again；　at　least；　long　enough　to　bring　the　details　of　their　remarkable　find　back　to　the　Institute。　
　A　harsh；　ragged　shout　from　the　direction　of　the　rope　ladder　intruded　on　her　thoughts。　She　looked　up　to　see　the　tall　figure　of　Aaron　Black　e　striding　through　the　gloaming；　his　face　gray　with　dirt；　his　clothing　streaked；　hair　wild。　For　a　terrifying　moment；　she　was　certain　he　had　caught　whatever　it　was　that　killed　Holroyd。　But　this　fear　was　quickly　dispelled　by　the　look　of　triumph　on　his　face。　
　〃Where's　Sloane？〃　he　boomed；　looking　around　animatedly。　He　cupped　his　hands　around　his　mouth。　〃Sloane！〃　The　valley　reverberated　with　his　shouts。　
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Nora　asked。　
　As　Black　turned　toward　her；　Nora　could　see　sweat　springing　from　the　mud　caked　to　his　brow；　running　in　dun…colored　rivulets　down　his　face。　〃I　found　it；〃　he　said。　
　〃Found　what？〃　
　〃The　Sun　Kiva。〃　
　Nora　straightened　up；　releasing　her　hold　on　the　duffel　and　letting　it　fall　back　into　the　sand。　〃You　found　what？〃　
　〃There　was　a　blocked　opening　behind　the　city。　Nobody　noticed　it　before。　But　I　did。　I　found　it。〃　Black's　chest　was　heaving；　and　he　could　barely　get　out　the　words。　〃Behind　the　Crawlspace　is　a　narrow　passageway　that　leads　into　another　cavern　behind　the　city。　And；　Nora；　there's　a　whole　secret　city　hidden　back　there。　Right　in　front　is　a　Great　Kiva；　a　sealed　kiva。　It's　like　nothing　we've　seen　before。〃　
　〃Let　me　get　this　straight；〃　Nora　said　slowly。　〃You　broke　through　a　wall？〃　
　Black　nodded；　his　smile　broadening。　
　Nora　felt　sudden　anger　course　through　her。　〃I　specifically　forbade　any　disturbance　like　that。　My　God；　Aaron；　all　you've　done　is　open　up　a　new　area　to　be　looted。　Have　you　forgotten　we're　about　to　leave？〃　
　〃But　we　can't　leave　now。　Not　after　this　discovery。〃　
　〃We　absolutely　are　leaving。　First　thing　in　the　morning。〃　
　Black　stood　rooted　in　place；　anger　and　disbelief　growing　in　his　face。　〃You　haven't　heard　what　I　said。　I　found　the　Sun　Kiva。　We　can't　leave　now。　The　gold　will　be　stolen。〃　
　Nora　looked　more　intently　at　his　face。　〃Gold？〃　she　repeated。　
　〃Christ；　Nora；　what　else　do　you　think　is　in　there？　Corn？　The　evidence　is　overwhelming。　I　just　found　the　Anasazi　Fort　Knox。〃　
　As　Nora　stared　at　him；　in　growing　consternation　and　disbelief；　she　saw　Sloane　e　up　through　the　twilight；　oversized　camera　under　one　arm。　
　〃Sloane！〃　Black　called　out。　〃I　found　it！〃　He　rushed　over　and　embraced　her。　Smiling；　she　disentangled　herself；　and　looked　from　him　to　Nora　with　a　quizzical　expression。　〃What's　this？〃　she　asked；　carefully　setting　down　the　camera。　
　〃Black　found　a　sealed　cave　behind　the　city；〃　Nora　replied。　〃He　says　the　Sun　Kiva　is　inside　it。〃　
　Sloane　looked　at　Black　quickly；　smile　vanishing　as　prehension　dawned。　
　〃It's　there；　Sloane；〃　he　said。　〃A　Great　Kiva；　sixty　feet　in　diameter；　with　a　sun　disk　painted　on　its　side。〃　
　A　powerful　play　of　emotions　ran　quickly　across　Sloane's　face。　〃What　kind　of　disk？〃　
　〃A　great　sun　in　yellow　pigment；　mixed　with　mica　and　polished。　It　looks　just　like　gold。　I　thought　it　was　gold　when　I　first　saw　it。〃　
　Sloane　suddenly　became　very　pale；　then　flushed　deeply。　〃Paint　mixed　with　mica？〃　
　〃Yes。　Crushed　biotite　mica；　which　has　a　golden　cast　to　it。　A　brilliant　imitation　of　the　real　thing。　Which　is　exactly　the　kind　of　symbolic　representation　you'd　find　on　the　outside　if　they　were　storing…〃　
　〃Take　me　to　it；〃　Sloane　said　urgently。　Black　grabbed　her　hand　and　they　turned　away。　
　〃Hold　on！〃　Nora　barked。　
　The　two　turned　to　look　at　her；　and　with　dismay　Nora　read　the　passion　in　their　faces。　〃Just　a　minute；〃　she　continued。　〃Aaron；　you're　acting　like　a　pothunter；　not　a　scientist。　You　should　never　have　broken　into　the　back　of　the　cave。　I'm　sorry；　but　we　can't　have　any　more　disturbance。〃　
　Sloane　looked　at　her；　saying　nothing；　but　Black's　face　grew　dark。　〃And　I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　loudly；　〃but　we're　going　up　there。〃　
　Nora　looked　into　Black's　eyes；　saw　there　was　no　point　in　arguing　with　him；　and　turned　to　Sloane　instead。　〃For　good　or　ill；　everything　that　happens　here　is　going　into　the　final　report；〃　she　went　on　urgently。　〃Sloane；　consider　how　your　father　will　react　if　he　hears　we　busted　willy…nilly　into　that　kiva。　If　Black　is　right；　this　could　be　the　most　important　discovery　yet。　Even　more　reason　why　we　have　to　proceed　carefully。〃　
　At　the　mention　of　her　father；　the　sudden　hunger　seemed　to　leave　Sloane's　face。　She　tensed；　struggling　to　regain　her　posure。　
　〃Nora；　e　up　with　us；〃　she　said　with　a　quick　smile。　〃All　we'll　do　is　look。　What　harm　is　there　in　that？〃　
　〃Absolutely；〃　said　Black。　〃I've　touched　nothing。　Nothing　has　happened　here　that　can't　go　into　a　public　report。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　Smithback；　Swire；　and　Bonarotti　had　e　over　and　were　listening　intently。　Only　Aragon　was　missing。　She　glanced　at　her　watch：　almost　seven　o'clock。　She　thought　about　what　Black　had　said：　a　hidden　city；　the　Sun　Kiva。　What　was　it　Aragon　had　said　in　the　Rain　Kiva？　〃There's　a　piece　of　the　puzzle　still　missing。　I　thought　it　would　be　in　this　kiva。　But　now；　I　am　not　so　sure。〃　If　Aragon　were　here；　no　doubt　he'd　disapprove。　But　she　knew　Black's　find　could　mean　the　key　to　everything。　The　fact　that　it　might　be　looted　and　destroyed　after　they　were　gone　filled　her　with　a　helpless　anger。　Because　of　that；　they　had　an　obligation　to　document　the　inner　cave；　at　least　in　photographs。　Besides；　if　she　were　to　keep　the　group　together；　she　felt　she　had　no　choice　but　to　bend　just　a　little。　The　harm　had　been　done；　Black's　transgression　would　be　dealt　with　later；　and　not　by　her。　
　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃We'll　make　a　short　visit。　Only　long　enough　to　take　photographs　and　decide　how　best　to　reseal　the　cave。　No　more　violations　of　any　sort。　Am　I　understood？〃　She　turned　to　Sloane。　〃Bring　the　four…by…five　camera。　And　Aaron；　you　get　the　fluorescent　lamp。〃　
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　Ten　minutes　later；　a　small　group　stood　huddled　together　in　the　confines　of　the　inner　cave。　Nora　gazed　in　awe；　overwhelmed　despite　herself　by　the　richness　of　the　site；　by　the　perfect　little　gem　of　an　Anasazi　pueblo　hidden　behind　the　mysterious　kiva。　The　greenish　glare　of　the　lamp　threw　magic…lantern　patterns　on　the　irregular　walls。　It　was　a　small　pueblo；　no　more　than　thirty　rooms；　no　doubt　some　kind　of　sanctum　sanctorum　for　the　priests。　For　that　reason　alone；　it　would　be　exceedingly　interesting　to　study。　
　The　Sun　Kiva　itself　was　unadorned　except　for　the　great　polished　disk；　glinting　in　the　harsh　light。　Thick　ribbed　dust　lay　in　drifts　against　its　base　and　along　its　walls。　The　kiva　had　been　carefully　plastered　with　adobe；　and　she　saw　that　the　only　opening　in　its　side　had　been　blocked　with　rocks。　
　〃Look　at　that　stonework；〃　said　Black。　〃It's　the　most　fortified　kiva　I've　ever　seen。〃　
　A　pole　ladder　was　leaning　against　one　side　of　the　kiva。　〃That　was　leaning　against　the　roomblocks；〃　Black　said　eagerly；　following　Nora's　glance。　〃I　brought　it　over　and　climbed　onto　the　roof。　There's　no　roof　opening。　It's　been　totally　sealed　shut。〃　His　voice　dropped　a　notch。　〃As　if　it's　hiding　something。〃　
　Sloane　broke　away　from　the　group　and　walked　up　to　the　sun　disk。　She　stroked　it　lightly；　almost　reverently；　with　her　fingers。　Then　she　glanced　back　at　Nora；　briskly　unpacked　her　camera　kit；　and　began　setting　up　the　first　shot。　
　The　group　stood　silently　while　Sloane　moved　about　the　cavern；　shooting　the　kiva　and　its　associated　roomblocks　from　a　variety　of　angles。　Soon　she　rejoined　them；　folded　up　her　tripod；　and　put　the　camera　body　back　in　its　case。　
　Even　the　loquacious　Smithback　had　remained　silent　and；　most　uncharacteristically；　taken　no　notes。　There　was　a　palpable　tension　in