p&c.thunderhead-第7章

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；　and　slid　into　the　far　side　of　the　booth　with　a　cool　rustle　of　her　long　legs。　She　brushed　back　the　copper…colored　hair。　Her　skin　was　tan；　and　he　noticed　a　scattering　of　freckles　along　the　bridge　of　her　nose。　
　〃Hi；〃　she　said。　〃Are　you　Peter　Holroyd？〃　
　He　nodded。　And　experienced　a　moment　of　panic。　This　was　not　the　frowsy　scholar　he'd　expected：　this　woman　was　lovely。　
　〃I'm　Nora　Kelly。〃　She　extended　her　hand。　
　Holroyd　hesitated　a　moment。　Then　he　put　the　book　down　and　shook　the　proffered　hand。　The　fingers　were　cool　and　unexpectedly　strong。　
　〃Sorry　to　corner　you　like　this。　Thanks　for　meeting　with　me。〃　
　Holroyd　tried　a　smile。　〃Well；　your　story　was　interesting。　But　a　little　vague。　I'm　interested　in　hearing　more　about　this　lost　city　in　the　desert。〃　
　〃Well；　I'm　afraid　it　has　to　be　vague　for　the　time　being。　You　can　understand　the　need　for　secrecy。〃　
　〃Then　I'm　not　sure　what　I　can　do　for　you；〃　Holroyd　said。　〃It's　like　I　told　you　on　the　phone。　All　those　requests　have　to　go　through　my　boss。〃　He　hesitated。　〃I'm　just　here　to　learn　a　little　more。〃　
　〃Your　boss　would　be　Dr。　Watkins。　Yes；　I　talked　to　him；　too。　Real　nice　guy。　Modest；　too。　I　like　that　in　a　man。　Too　bad　he　couldn't　spare　me　more　than　nine　seconds。〃　
　Holroyd　began　to　laugh；　then　quickly　stifled　himself。　〃So　what's　your　position　at　the　Institute？〃　he　asked；　shifting　in　the　booth。　
　〃I'm　an　assistant　professor。〃　
　〃Assistant　professor；〃　Holroyd　repeated。　〃And　you're　the　one　in　charge　of　the　expedition？　Or　is　there　someone　else？〃　
　The　woman　gave　him　a　penetrating　look。　〃I'm　kind　of　at　the　same　level　you　are。　Fairly　low　down　on　the　totem　pole；　not　really　in　control　of　my　own　destiny。　This；〃　she　patted　her　portfolio；　〃could　change　all　that。〃　
　Holroyd　wasn't　sure　if　he　should　be　offended。　〃So　when　exactly　do　you　need　the　data？　It　might　speed　things　up　if　the　Institute's　president　contacted　my　boss　directly…he's　always　impressed　by　big　names。〃　He　mentally　kicked　himself　for　sounding　a　disparaging　note　about　his　boss。　You　never　knew　when　something　like　that　might　find　its　way　back；　and　Watkins　was　not　the　forgiving　type。　
　She　leaned　toward　him。　〃Mr。　Holroyd；　I've　got　a　confession　to　make。　I'm　not　working　right　now　with　the　plete　support　of　the　Institute。　The　fact　is；　they　won't　even　consider　an　expedition　to　find　this　city　until　I　bring　them　proof。　That's　why　I　need　your　help。〃　
　〃Why　are　you　so　interested　in　finding　this　city？〃　
　〃Because　it　could　be　the　greatest　archaeological　discovery　of　our　time。〃　
　〃And　how　do　you　know　that？〃　
　Al　appeared；　bearing　two　huge　slices　of　pizza　dense　with　anchovies。　He　slid　them　under　Holroyd's　nose。　A　salty　aroma　wafted　upward。　
　〃Not　on　the　portfolio！〃　the　woman　cried。　Taken　aback　by　the　sudden　tone　of　mand；　Al　scooped　the　slices　onto　a　neighboring　table；　apologizing　profusely　as　he　backed　away。　
　〃And　bring　me　an　iced　tea；　please！〃　she　called　after　him；　then　turned　back　to　Holroyd。　〃Look；　Peter…can　I　call　you　Peter？…I　didn't　drive　all　the　way　here　to　waste　your　time　on　some　dime…a…dozen　digsite。〃　She　drew　closer；　and　Holroyd　caught　a　faint　clean　scent　of　shampoo。　〃Ever　hear　of　Coronado；　the　Spanish　explorer？　He　came　into　the　Southwest　in　1540；　looking　for　the　Seven　Cities　of　Gold。　A　friar　had　gone　north　years　before；　looking　for　souls　to　save；　and　he　returned　with　a　huge；　drilled　emerald　crystal　and　stories　of　lost　cities。　But　when　Coronado　himself　came　northward；　he　found　only　the　mud　pueblos　of　the　Indian　tribes　of　New　Mexico；　none　of　whom　had　gold　or　wealth。　But　at　a　place　called　Cicuye；　the　Indians　told　him　about　a　city　of　priests；　called　Quivira；　where　they　ate　from　plates　of　gold　and　drank　from　golden　goblets。　Of　course；　this　drove　Coronado　and　his　men　into　a　frenzy。〃　
　The　tea　came；　and　she　cracked　the　plastic　seal　from　the　cap　and　took　a　sip。　〃Some　of　the　natives　told　him　Quivira　was　way　to　the　east；　in　present…day　Texas。　Others　said　it　was　in　Kansas。　So　Coronado　and　his　army　went　eastward。　But　when　he　got　to　Kansas；　the　Indians　said　Quivira　was　far　to　the　west；　in　the　country　of　the　Red　Stones。　Eventually；　Coronado　returned　to　Mexico；　a　broken　man；　convinced　he'd　been　chasing　a　chimera。〃　
　〃Interesting；〃　Holroyd　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　prove　anything。〃　
　〃Coronado　wasn't　the　only　one　to　hear　these　stories。　In　1776；　two　Spanish　friars；　Escalante　and　Dominguez；　traveled　westward　from　Santa　Fe；　trying　to　blaze　an　overland　route　to　California。　I've　got　their　report　here　somewhere。〃　She　dug　into　her　portfolio；　retrieved　a　creased　sheet　of　paper；　and　began　reading。　
　Our　Paiute　guides　took　us　through　difficult　country；　by　what　seemed　to　us　a　perverse　route；　northward　instead　of　westward。　When　we　remarked　upon　this；　the　response　was　that　the　Paiutes　never　traveled　through　the　country　to　the　west。　Asked　the　reason；　they　became　sullen　and　silent。　Halfway　through　our　journey；　near　the　Crossing　of　the　Fathers　on　the　Colorado　River；　half　of　them　deserted。　It　was　never　clear　from　the　rest　exactly　what　lay　to　the　west　that　caused　such　strong　emotion。　One　spoke　of　a　great　city；　destroyed　because　the　priests　there　had　enslaved　the　world；　and　tried　to　usurp　the　power　of　the　sun　itself。　Others　hinted　darkly　of　a　slumbering　evil　which　they　dared　not　awaken。　
　She　replaced　the　sheet　of　paper。　〃And　that's　not　all。　In　1824；　an　American　mountain　man　by　the　name　of　Josiah　Blake　was　captured　by　Ute　Indians。　In　those　days；　exceptionally　brave　captives　were　sometimes　offered　a　choice　between　death　or　joining　the　tribe。　Blake　naturally　joined　the　tribe。　He　later　married　a　Ute　woman。　Utes　are　nomadic；　and　at　certain　times　of　the　year　they　would　venture　deep　into　the　Utah　canyon　country。　Once；　in　a　particularly　remote　area　west　of　the　Escalante；　a　Ute　pointed　toward　the　setting　sun　and　mentioned　that　in　that　direction　lay　a　ruined　city　of　fabulous　wealth。　The　Utes　never　ventured　any　closer；　but　they　gave　Blake　an　engraved　turquoise　disk　that　had　supposedly　e　from　the　city。　When　he　finally　got　back　to　white　civilization　ten　years　later；　he　swore　that　one　day　he　would　find　this　lost　place。　Eventually；　he　went　back　to　look　for　it　and　was　never　seen　again。〃　
　She　took　another　sip　of　tea　and　placed　the　bottle　carefully　beside　the　portfolio。　〃Today；　people　assume　these　are　all　just　myths；　or　maybe　lies　told　by　the　Indians。　But　I　don't　think　it　was　either　a　myth　or　a　lie。　The　location　of　the　lost　city　is　too　consistent　across　all　of　the　stories。　I　believe　the　reason　nobody　has　ever　found　this　city　is　because　it　is　hidden　in　the　most　remote　section　of　the　lower　48。　Like　other　Anasazi　cities；　it　was　probably　built　high　up　on　a　cliff；　in　an　alcove　or　under　an　overhang。　Or　perhaps　it's　simply　been　buried　in　drifting　sand。　And　that's　where　you　e　in。　You've　got　what　I　need；　Peter。　A　radar　system　that　can　pinpoint　the　city。〃　
　Despite　himself；　Holroyd　found　himself　drawn　into　the　story　and　its　promise　of　adventure。　He　cleared　his　throat；　searching　for　a　note　of　reasonableness。　〃Excuse　me　for　saying　it；　but　this　is　rather　a　long　shot。　First　of　all；　if　the　city　is　hidden；　no　radar　could　see　it。〃　
　〃But　I　understand　your　Terrestrial　Imager　can　see　through　sand　as　well　as　clouds　and　darkness。〃　
　〃That's　correct。　But　not　rock。　If　it's　under　a　ledge；　forget　it。　Second…〃　
　〃But　I　don't　want　you　to　find　the　city　itself。　Just　the　road　leading　up　to　it。　Here；　look　at　this。〃　She　opened　her　portfolio　and　pulled　out　a　small　map　of　the　Southwest；　overlain　with　several　thin；　straight　lines。　〃A　thousand　years　ago；　the　Anasazi　built　this　mysterious　road　system；　connecting　their　large　cities。　These　are　the　roads　that　have　been　mapped。　Each　one　leads　to　or　from　a　major　city。　Your　radar　could　surely　see　those　roads　from　space。　Right？〃　
　〃Maybe。〃　
　〃I　have　an　old　report…a　letter；　actually…that　states　there　is　a　similar　road　leading　into　this　warren　of　canyons。　I'm　certain　it　leads　to　the　lost　city　of　Quivira。　If　we　could　trace　that　road　on　a　satellite　image；　we'd　know　where　to　look。〃　
　Holroyd　spread　his　hands。　〃But　it's　not　that　simple。　There's　the　waiting　list。　I'm　sure　Watkins　must　have　told　you　about　that；　he　loves　to　talk　about　it。　There's　two　years'　worth　of　applications　for…〃　
　〃Yes；　he　told　me　all　about　that。　But　who　actually　decides　what　the　radar　examines？〃　
　〃Well；　the　imaging　applications　are　prioritized　by　urgency　and　date　of　receipt。　I　take　the　pending　jobs；　and…〃　
　〃You。〃　Nora　nodded　in　satisfaction。　
　Holroyd　fell　silent。　
　〃I'm　sorry。〃　Nora　said　suddenly。　〃Your　dinner's　getting　cold。〃　She　replaced　the　map　in　her　portfolio　as　Holroyd　gathered　up　the　congealing　slices　of　pizza。　〃So　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　to；　say；　push　one　of　the　applications　to　the　top　of　the　queue？〃　
　〃I　suppose。〃　Holroyd　sank　his　teeth　into　the　pizza；　barely　tasting　it。　
　〃See？　I　fill　out　an　application；　you　move　it　to　the　top　of　the　pile；　and　we　get　our　images。〃　
　Holroyd　swallowed　hard。　〃And　just　what　do　you　think　Dr。　Watkins；　or　the　boys　at　NASA；　would　think　of　my　ordering　an　orbit　change　for　the　space　shuttle　just　so　it　could　fly　over　your　area？　Why　should　I　help　you　with　this？　I'd　be　risking　my　ass…I　mean；　my　job。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃Because　I　think　you're　more　than　just　some　bean…counting　drone。　Because　I　think　you've　got　the　same　kind　of　fire　in　your　gut　that　I've　got。　To　find　something　that's　been　lost　for　centuries。〃　She　gestured　at　the　table。　〃Why　else　would　you　be　reading　these　books？　Each　one　of　them　is　about　discovering　the　unknown。　Finding　Quivira　would　be　like　discovering　those　cliff　dwellings　at　Mesa　Verde。　Only　greater。〃　
　Holroyd　hesitated。　
　〃I　can't；〃　he　said　after　a　moment；　in　a　very　quiet　voice。　〃You're　asking　for　the　impossible。〃　He　realized　with　a　thrill　of　fear　that；　for　an　instant；　he'd　actually　been　considering　how　he　could　help　her。　But　the　whole　idea　was　crazy。　This　woman　had　no　proof；　no　credentials；　nothing。　
　And　yet　he　found　himself　unaccountably　drawn　in　by　her；　by　her　passion　and　excitement。　He　had　been　to　Mesa　Verde　as　a　child。　The　memory　of　those　vast　silent　ruins　still　haunted　him。　He　looked　around；　trying　to　collect　his　thoughts。　He　glanced　at　Nora；　gazing　back　at　him　expectantly。　He'd　never　seen　hair　quite　that　color；　a　burnished　coppery　sheen；　almost　metallic。　Then　his　view　moved　back　to　the　little　image　on　the　television　screen　of　the　Republic　floating　in　space。　
　〃It's　not　impossible；〃　Nora　said　in　an　undertone。　〃You　give　me　the　application；　I　fill　it　out；　and　you　do　what　you　have　to　do。〃　
　But　Holroyd　was　still　staring　at　the　image：　the　shining　ivory　shuttle　drifting　through　space；　the　stars　hard　as　diamonds；　the　earth　endless　miles　below。　It　was　always　like　that。　The　excitement　of　discovery　that　he　had　longed　for　growing　up；　the　chance　to　explore　a　new　planet　or　fly　to　the　moon…all　those　dreams　had　withered　in　a　cubicle　at　JPL；　while　he　watched　someone　else's　adventure　unfold　on　a　dirty　monitor。　
　Then　he　realized　with　a　start　that　Nora　had　been　staring　at　him。　〃When　did　you　join　JPL？〃　she　asked；　abruptly　changing　the　subject。　
　〃Eight　years　ago；〃　he　said；　〃right　out　of　graduate　school。〃　
　〃Why？〃　
　He　stopped；　surprised　by　the　bluntness　of　the　question。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　always　wanted　to　be　part　of　the　exploration　of　space。〃　
　〃I　bet　you　grew　up　wanting　to　be　the　first　man　on