p&c.thunderhead-第57章

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d　see　the　torrential　rains　falling　hard　on　the　slickrock　of　the　Kaiparowits；　the　drops　coalescing　into　rivulets；　the　rivulets　into　streams；　the　streams　into　torrents…the　torrents　into　something　that　no　word　could　adequately　describe。　
　He　untied　a　small　bundle　from　one　of　his　saddle　strings…a　drilled　piece　of　turquoise　and　a　mirage　stone　tied　up　in　horsehair　around　a　small　buckskin　bag；　attached　to　an　eagle　feather。　He　opened　the　bag；　pinched　out　some　cornmeal　and　pollen；　and　sprinkled　it　about；　saving　the　last　for　his　horse's　poll。　He　brushed　first　himself；　then　his　horse's　face；　with　the　eagle　feather。　The　horse　was　prancing　now　in　growing　agitation；　eyes　rolling　toward　the　thunderhead。　The　leather　strings　of　the　saddle　slapped　restlessly　in　the　growing　wind。　
　Beiyoodzin　chanted　softly　in　his　language。　Then　he　repacked　his　medicine　kit；　dusted　the　pollen　from　his　fingers。　The　landscape　was　now　divided　sharply　between　brilliant　sunlight　and　a　spreading　black　stain。　A　chill；　electrically　charged　wind　eddied　around　him。　He　would　not；　of　course；　attempt　to　ride　into　the　second　valley；　the　valley　of　Quivira；　through　the　slot　canyon。　The　flood　would　be　ing　through　within　minutes。　That　meant　he　would　have　to　take　the　secret　Priest's　Trail　over　the　top：　the　long；　difficult　rimrock　trail　that　his　grandfather　had　told　him　of　in　broken　whispers　but　that　he　himself　had　never　seen。　He　thought　back；　trying　to　recall　his　grandfather's　directions　precisely。　It　would　be　necessary　to　do　so；　because　of　the　cleverness　with　which　the　trail　was　hidden：　it　had　been　designed　to　be　an　optical　illusion；　its　cliff　edge　cut　higher　than　the　edge　along　the　rockface；　rendering　it　practically　invisible　from　more　than　a　few　feet　away。　The　trail；　he　had　been　told；　started　up　the　cliffs　some　distance　from　the　slot　canyon；　crossed　the　wide　slickrock　plateau；　and　then　descended　into　the　canyon　at　the　far　end　of　the　valley　of　Quivira。　It　might　be　very　difficult　for　an　old　man。　Maybe；　after　all　these　years；　it　would　be　impossible。　But　he　had　no　choice；　the　imbalance　had　to　be　corrected；　the　natural　symmetry　had　to　be　restored。　
　He　started　quickly　down　into　the　valley。　
　
　
47
　
　NORA　PARTED　THE　CURTAIN　OF　WEEDS　AND　glanced　upward。　The　slot　canyon　snaked　ahead　of　her；　the　sunshine　striated　and　shadowy　in　the　reddish　half…light；　the　hollows　and　polished　ribs　of　stone　stretching　ahead　like　the　throat　of　some　great　beast。　She　eased　into　the　water　and　breaststroked　across　the　first　pool；　Smithback　following；　Aragon　bringing　up　the　rear。　The　water　felt　cool　after　the　dead；　oppressive　heat　of　the　valley；　and　she　tried　to　empty　her　mind　to　it；　concentrating　on　the　pure　physical　sensation；　refusing　for　the　moment　to　think　of　the　long　trip　that　lay　before　them。　
　They　traveled　in　silence　for　a　while；　going　from　pool　to　pool；　wading　along　the　shallows；　the　quiet　sounds　of　their　passage　whispering　off　the　confined　spaces　of　canyon。　Nora　hefted　the　drysack　from　one　shoulder　to　the　other。　Despite　everything；　she　felt　less　troubled　than　she　had　over　the　last　three　days。　It　had　been　her　great　fear　that　Black　and　Sloane　would　descend　the　ladder　with　reports　of　bad　weather　brewing。　It　would　have　been　credible；　given　the　recent　rains。　And　she　would　have　had　to　decide　whether　they　were　telling　the　truth　or　giving　a　phony　report　in　order　to　remain　at　Quivira。　But　the　report　of　good　weather…though　grudgingly　given…proved　they　were　resigned　to　leaving　the　city。　Now　all　that　remained　was　the　grueling　multiple　portages　out　through　the　slot　canyon　to　the　horses。　
　No；　that　was　not　quite　all；　her　mind　had　never　been　far　from　Holroyd's　remains；　waiting　for　them　a　quarter　mile　up　the　slot　canyon。　And　with　those　remains　came　the　message　that　the　skinwalkers　were　close；　perhaps　watching　them　right　now；　waiting　to　make　their　next　move。　
　She　glanced　back　toward　Aragon：　the　man　had　made　it　clear　he　wanted　to　speak　to　her　about　something。　Aragon　looked　up；　read　the　question　in　her　eyes；　and　merely　shook　his　head。　〃When　we　reach　the　body；〃　was　his　only　reply。　
　Nora　swam　across　another　pool；　climbed　up　a　pourover；　and　squeezed　sideways　through　a　narrower　section。　Then　the　steep　walls　widened　a　little　around　her。　In　the　distance　ahead；　she　could　make　out　the　massive　cottonwood　trunk；　suspended　like　a　gigantic　spar；　wedged　across　the　walls　of　the　canyon。　Just　above　it；　in　deep　shadow；　was　the　narrow　ledge　that　led　to　the　space　where　Holroyd's　body　had　been　laid。　
　Nora's　eyes　fell　from　the　ledge；　to　the　jumble　of　rocks　below；　to　the　narrow　pool　that　stretched　the　eight　or　ten　feet　across　the　canyon's　bottom。　Her　gaze　came　to　rest　at　a　smear　of　yellow；　floating　at　the　near　end。　It　was　Holroyd's　body　bag。　Gingerly；　she　came　forward。　Now　she　could　see　a　long；　ragged　gash　in　one　side　of　the　bag。　And　there　was　Holroyd's　body；　lying　on　its　back　half　out　of　the　water。　He　looked　strangely　plump。　
　She　stopped　dead。　〃Oh；　God；〃　came　Smithback's　voice　by　her　shoulder。　Then：　〃Are　we　exposing　ourselves　to　some　kind　of　disease；　wading　about　in　this　water？〃　
　Aragon　heaved　himself　up　behind　them。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　believe　we　are。〃　But　there　was　no　consolation　in　his　face　as　he　spoke　these　words。　
　Nora　remained　still；　and　Smithback；　too；　hesitated　behind　her。　Aragon　gently　pushed　past　them　toward　the　body。　Nora　watched　as　the　doctor　pulled　it　onto　a　narrow　stone　shelf　beside　the　pool。　Reluctantly；　she　forced　herself　forward。　
　Then　she　stopped　again　with　a　sudden　gasp。　
　Holroyd's　deposing　body　was　swollen　inside　its　clothes；　a　grotesque　parody　of　obesity。　His　skin；　protruding　from　his　shirt　sleeves；　was　a　strange；　milky　bluish…white。　The　fingers　were　now　just　pink…edged　stubs；　having　been　cut　away　at　the　first　joints。　His　boots　lay　on　the　rocks；　slashed　and　torn；　and　his　feet；　that　same　pale　white　against　the　chocolate　rock；　were　missing　their　toes。　Nora　gazed　in　mingled　disgust；　horror；　and　outrage。　Even　worse　was　the　back　of　the　head：　a　large　circular　whorl　of　hair　been　scalped　off；　and　the　disk　of　skull　directly　beneath　drilled　out。　Brain　matter　bulged　from　the　hole。　
　Working　swiftly；　Aragon　donned　a　pair　of　plastic　gloves；　removed　a　scalpel　from　his　kit；　positioned　it　just　below　the　last　rib；　and　with　a　short　movement　opened　the　body。　Reaching　inside　with　a　long　narrow　set　of　forceps；　he　twisted　his　hand　sharply；　then　retracted　it。　On　the　end　of　the　scalpel　was　a　small　bit　of　pink　flesh　that　looked　to　Nora　like　lung　tissue。　Aragon　dropped　it　inside　a　test　tube　already　half　filled　with　a　clear　liquid。　Adding　two　drops　from　a　separate　vial；　he　stoppered　the　tube　and　swirled　it　around　in　his　hands。　Nora　watched　as　the　color　of　the　solution　turned　a　light　blue。　
　Aragon　nodded　to　himself；　carefully　placed　the　tube　inside　a　styrofoam　case；　and　repacked　his　instruments。　Then；　still　kneeling；　he　turned　toward　Nora。　One　gloved　hand　lay；　almost　protectively；　over　the　corpse's　chest。　
　〃Do　you　know　what　killed　him？〃　Nora　asked。　
　〃Without　more　precise　tools；　I　can't　be　a　hundred　percent　sure；〃　Aragon　replied　slowly。　〃But　one　answer　does　seem　to　fit。　All　the　crude　tests　I've　been　able　to　run　verify　it。〃　
　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Smithback　took　a　seat　on　a　rock　a　cautious　distance　from　the　body。　
　Aragon　glanced　at　the　writer；　then　back　to　Nora。　〃Before　I　go　into　that；　I　need　to　tell　you　some　things　I've　discovered　about　the　ruin。〃　
　〃About　the　ruin？〃　Smithback　asked。　〃What　does　that　have　to　do　with　his　death？〃　
　〃Everything。　I　believe　the　abandonment　of　Quivira…indeed；　perhaps　even　the　reason　for　its　very　existence…is　intimately　connected　with　Holroyd's　death。〃　He　wiped　his　face　with　the　sleeve　of　his　shirt。　〃No　doubt　you've　noticed　the　cracks　in　the　towers；　the　collapsed　third…story　rooms　of　the　city。〃　
　Nora　nodded。　
　〃And　you　must　have　noticed　the　great　rockfall　at　the　far　end　of　the　canyon。　While　you　were　off　searching　for　the　horse　killers；　I　talked　with　Black　about　this。　He　told　me　that　the　damage　to　the　city　was　done　by　a　mild　earthquake　that　struck　around　the　same　time　the　city　was　abandoned。　'The　dates　are　statistically　equal；'　he　said。　The　landslide；　according　to　Black；　also　occurred　at　the　same　time；　no　doubt　triggered　by　the　earthquake。〃　
　〃So　you　think　an　earthquake　killed　all　those　people？〃　Nora　asked。　
　〃No；　no。　It　was　just　a　temblor。　But　that　rockfall；　and　the　collapse　of　some　buildings；　was　enough　to　raise　a　large　cloud　of　dust　in　the　valley。〃　
　〃Very　interesting；〃　Smithback　said。　〃But　what　does　a　seven…century…old　dustcloud　have　to　do　with　Holroyd's　death？〃　
　Aragon　gave　a　wan　smile。　〃A　great　deal；　as　it　turns　out。　Because　the　dust　within　Quivira　is　riddled　with　Coccidioides　immitis。　It's　a　microscopic　fungal　spore　that　lives　in　soil。　It's　usually　associated　with　very　dry；　often　remote　desert　areas；　so　people　don't　e　into　contact　with　it　much。　Which　is　a　very　good　thing。　It's　the　cause　of　a　deadly　disease　known　as　coccidioidomycosis。　Or；　as　you　might　know　it；　valley　fever。〃　
　Nora　frowned。　〃Valley　fever？〃　
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Smithback　interjected。　〃Wasn't　that　the　disease　that　killed　a　bunch　of　people　in　California？〃　
　Aragon　nodded。　〃Valley　fever；　or　San　Joaquin　fever；　named　after　a　town　in　California。　There　was　an　earthquake　in　the　desert　near　San　Joaquin　many　years　ago。　That　quake　triggered　a　small　landslide　that　raised　a　cloud　of　dust；　which　rolled　over　the　town。　Hundreds　became　ill　and　twenty　died；　infected　with　coccidioidomycosis。　Scientists　came　to　call　this　type　of　deadly　dustcloud　a　'tectonic　fungal　cloud。'〃　He　frowned。　〃Only　the　fungus　here　in　Quivira　is　a　far　more　virulent　strain。　In　concentrated　form；　it　kills　in　hours　or　days；　not　weeks。　You　see；　to　get　sick　you　must　inhale　the　spores…either　through　dust；　or　through　。　。　。　other　means。　Mere　exposure　to　a　sick　person　is　not　enough。〃　
　He　wiped　his　face　again。　〃At　first；　Holroyd's　symptoms　were　baffling　to　me。　They　did　not　seem　to　be　from　any　infectious　agent　I　knew　of。　Certainly　he　died　too　quickly　for　any　of　the　more　likely　suspects。　And　then　I　remembered　that　rust…colored　powder　from　the　royal　burial。〃　
　He　looked　at　Nora。　〃I　told　you　about　my　discoveries　with　the　bones。　But　do　you　recall　those　two　pots；　full　of　reddish　dust？　You　thought　they　might　be　a　kind　of　red　ochre。　I　never　told　you　that　the　dust　turned　out　to　be　dried；　ground…up　human　flesh　and　bone。〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　us？〃　Nora　cried。　
　〃Let's　just　say　you　were　preoccupied　with　other　things。　And　I　wanted　to　understand　it　myself　before　I　dangled　yet　another　mystery　in　front　of　you。　In　any　case；　while　puzzling　over　Holroyd's　death；　I　remembered　that　reddish　dust。　And　then　I　realized　exactly　what　it　was。　It　is　a　substance　known　to　certain　southwestern　Indian　tribes　as　'corpse　powder。'〃　
　Nora　glanced　at　Smithback　and　saw　her　own　horror　reflected　in　his　eyes。　
　〃It's　used　by　witches　to　kill　their　intended　victims；〃　Aragon　continued。　〃Corpse　powder　is　still　known　among　some　Indian　groups　today。〃　
　〃I　know；〃　Nora　whispered。　She　could　almost　see　Beiyoodzin's　drawn　face　in　the　starlight；　telling　them　of　the　wolfskin　runners。　
　〃When　I　examined　this　powder　under　the　microscope；　I　found　it　absolutely　packed　with　Coccidioides　immitis。　It　is；　quite　literally；　corpse　powder　that　really　kills。〃　
　〃And　you　thin