inca.gold-第16部分

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egiment　of　mercenaries　at　a　moment's　notice。　Once　they　spread　the　word　we　stole　a　helicopter　and　sent　the　pride　of　their　military　to　a　graveyard；　our　lives　won't　be　worth　the　spare　tire　inside　the　trunk　of　an　Edsel。　We'll　be　safer　on　board　an　American　ship　outside　their　offshore　limit　until　we　can　arrange　for　our　U。S。　Embassy　staff　to　make　a　full　report　to　honest　officials　in　the　Peruvian　government。〃
　　　　〃I　see　your　point；〃　agreed　Shannon。　〃But　don't　overlook　the　archaeology　students。　They　know　the　whole　story。　Their　parents　are　very　influential　and　will　see　that　a　true　account　of　their　abduction　and　the　pillaging　of　national　treasures　hits　the　news　media。〃
　　　　〃You're　assuming；　of　course；〃　Giordino　said　matter…of…factly；　〃that　a　Peruvian　posse　won't　cut　us　off　at　any　one　of　twenty　passes　between　here　and　the　sea。〃
　　　　〃On　the　contrary；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃I'm　counting　on　it。　Care　to　bet　the　other　assault　helicopter　isn't　chasing　our　tail　rotor　as　we　speak？〃
　　　　〃So　we　hug　the　ground　and　dodge　sheep　and　cows　until　we　cross　over　water；〃　acknowledged　Giordino。
　　　　〃Precisely。　Cuddling　with　low　clouds　won't　hurt　matters　either。〃
　　　　〃Forgetting　a　little　something；　aren't　you？〃　said　Shannon　wearily；　as　though　reminding　a　husband　who　neglected　to　carry　out　the　trash。　〃If　my　math　is　correct；　our　fuel　tanks　will　run　dry　twenty　kilometers　short　of　your　ship。　I　hope　you　aren't　proposing　we　swim　the　rest　of　the　way。〃
　　　　〃We　solve　that　insignificant　problem；〃　said　Pitt　calmly；　〃by　calling　up　the　ship　and　arranging　for　it　to　run　full　speed　on　a　converging　course。〃
　　　　〃Every　klick　helps；〃　said　Giordino；　〃but　we'll　still　be　cutting　it　a　mite　fine。〃
　　　　〃Survival　is　guaranteed；〃　Pitt　said　confidently。　〃This　aircraft　carries　life　vests　for　everyone　on　board　plus　two　life　rafts。　I　know　I　checked　when　I　walked　through　the　main　cabin。〃　He　paused；　turned；　and　looked　back。　Rodgers　was　checking　to　see　all　the　students　had　their　shoulder　harnesses　on　properly。
　　　　〃Our　pursuers　will　be　on　to　us　the　instant　you　make　contact　with　your　vessel；〃　Shannon　persisted　bleakly。　〃They'll　know　exactly　where　to　intercept　and　shoot　us　down。〃
　　　　〃Not；〃　Pitt　replied　loftily；　〃if　I　play　my　cards　right。〃

　　　　Setting　the　office　chair　to　almost　a　full　reclining　position；　munications　technician　Jim　Stucky　settled　in　fortably　and　began　reading　a　paperback　mystery　novel　by　Wick　Downing。　He　had　finally　gotten　used　to　the　thump　that　reverberated　throughout　the　hull　of　the　NUMA　oceanographic　ship；　Deep　Fathom；　every　time　the　sonar　unit　bounced　a　signal　off　the　seafloor　of　the　Peru　Basin。　Boredom　had　set　in　soon　after　the　vessel　began　endlessly　cruising　back　and　forth　charting　the　geology　2500　fathoms　below　the　ship's　keel。　Stucky　was　in　the　middle　of　the　chapter　where　a　woman's　body　is　found　floating　inside　a　waterbed　when　Pitt's　voice　crackled　over　the　speaker。
　　　　〃NUMA　calling　Deep　Fathom。　You　awake；　Stucky？〃
　　　　Stucky　jerked　erect　and　pressed　the　transmit　button。　〃This　is　Deep　Fathom。　I　read　you；　NUMA。　Please　stand　by。〃　While　Pitt　waited；　Stucky　alerted　his　skipper　over　the　ship's　speaker　system。
　　　　Captain　Frank　Stewart　hurried　from　the　bridge　into　the　munications　cabin。　〃Did　I　hear　you　correctly？　You're　in　contact　with　Pitt　and　Giordino？〃
　　　　Stucky　nodded。　〃Pitt　is　standing　by。〃
　　　　Stewart　picked　up　the　microphone。　〃Dirk；　this　is　Frank　Stewart。〃
　　　　〃Good　to　hear　your　beer…soaked　voice　again；　Frank。〃
　　　　〃What　have　you　guys　been　up　to？　Admiral　Sandecker　has　been　erupting　like　a　volcano　the　past　twenty…four　hours；　demanding　to　know　your　status。〃
　　　　〃Believe　me；　Frank；　it　hasn't　been　a　good　day。〃
　　　　〃What　is　your　present　position？〃
　　　　〃Somewhere　over　the　Andes　in　an　antique　Peruvian　military　chopper。〃
　　　　〃What　happened　to　our　NUMA　helicopter？〃　Stewart　demanded。
　　　　〃The　Red　Baron　shot　it　down；〃　said　Pitt　hastily。　〃That's　not　important。　Listen　to　me　carefully。　We　took　bullet　strikes　in　our　fuel　tanks。　We　can't　stay　in　the　air　for　more　than　a　half　hour。　Please　meet　and　pick　us　up　in　the　town　square　of　Chiclayo。　You'll　find　it　on　your　charts　of　the　Peruvian　mainland。　Use　our　NUMA　backup　copter。〃
　　　　Stewart　looked　down　at　Stucky。　Both　men　exchanged　puzzled　glances。　Stewart　pressed　the　transmit　button　again。　〃Please　repeat。　I　don't　read　you　clearly。〃
　　　　〃We　are　required　to　land　in　Chiclayo　due　to　loss　of　fuel。　Rendezvous　with　us　in　the　survey　helicopter　and　transport　us　back　to　the　ship。　Besides　Giordino　and　me；　there　are　twelve　passengers。〃
　　　　Stewart　looked　dazed。　〃What　in　hell　is　going　on？　He　and　Giordino　flew　off　the　ship　with　our　only　bird。　And　now　they're　flying　a　military　aircraft　that's　been　shot　up　with　twelve　people　on　board。　What's　this　baloney　about　a　backup　chopper？〃
　　　　〃Stand　by；　Stewart　transmitted　to　Pitt。　Then　he　reached　out　and　picked　up　the　ship's　phone　and　buzzed　the　bridge。　〃Find　a　map　of　Peru　in　the　chart　room　and　bring　it　to　munications　right　away。〃
　　　　〃You　think　Pitt　has　fallen　off　his　pogo　stick？〃　asked　Stucky。
　　　　Not　in　a　thousand　years；〃　answered　Stewart。　〃Those　guys　are　in　trouble　and　Pitt's　laying　a　red　herring　to　mislead　eavesdroppers。〃　A　crewman　brought　the　map；　and　Stewart　stretched　it　flat　on　a　desk。　〃Their　rescue　mission　took　them　on　a　course　almost　due　east　of　here。　Chiclayo　is　a　good　seventy…five　kilometers　southwest　of　his　flight　path。〃
　　　　〃Now　that　we've　established　his　con　job；〃　said　Stucky；　〃what's　Pitt's　game　plan？〃
　　　　〃We'll　soon　find　out。〃　Stewart　picked　up　the　microphone　and　transmitted。　〃NUMA；　are　you　still　with　us？〃
　　　　〃Still　here；　pal；〃　came　Pitt's　imperturbable　voice。
　　　　〃I　will　fly　the　spare　copter　to　Chiclayo　and　pick　up　you　and　your　passengers　myself。　Do　you　copy？〃
　　　　〃Much　appreciated；　skipper。　Always　happy　to　see　you　never　do　things　halfway。　Have　a　beer　waiting　when　I　arrive。〃
　　　　〃Will　do；〃　answered　Stewart。
　　　　〃And　put　on　some　speed　will　you？〃　said　Pitt。　〃I　need　a　bath　real　bad。　See　you　soon。〃
　　　　Stucky　stared　at　Stewart　and　laughed。　〃Since　when　did　you　learn　to　fly　a　helicopter？〃
　　　　Stewart　laughed　back。　〃Only　in　my　dreams。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　what　I　missed？〃
　　　　〃In　a　second。〃　Stewart　picked　up　the　ship's　phone　again　and　snapped　out　orders。　〃Pull　in　the　sonar's　sensor　and　set　a　new　course　on　zero…nine…zero　degrees。　Soon　as　the　sensor　is　secured；　give　me　full　speed。　And　no　excuses　from　the　chief　engineer　that　his　precious　engines　have　to　be　coddled。　I　want　every　revolution。〃　He　hung　up　the　phone　with　a　thoughtful　expression。　〃Where　were　we？　Oh　yes；　you　don't　know　the　score。〃
　　　　〃Is　it　some　sort　of　riddle？〃　Stucky　muttered。
　　　　〃Not　at　all。　Obvious　to　me。　Pitt　and　Giordino　don't　have　enough　fuel　to　reach　the　ship；　so　we're　going　to　put　on　all　speed　and　meet　them　approximately　halfway　between　here　and　the　shore；　hopefully　before　they're　forced　to　ditch　in　water　infested　with　sharks。〃

　　　　Giordino　whipped　along；　a　bare　10　meters　（33　feet）　above　the　tops　of　the　trees　at　only　144　kilometers　（90　miles）　an　hour。　The　twenty…year…old　helicopter　was　capable　of　flying　almost　another　100　kilometers　faster；　but　he　reduced　speed　to　conserve　what　little　fuel　he　had　left　after　passing　over　the　mountains。　Only　one　more　range　of　foothills　and　a　narrow　coastal　plain　separated　the　aircraft　from　the　sea。　Every　third　minute　he　glanced　warily　at　the　fuel　gauges。　The　needles　were　edging　unfortably　close　to　the　red。　His　eyes　returned　to　the　green　foliage　rushing　past　below。　The　forest　was　thick　and　the　clearings　were　scattered　with　large　boulders。　It　was　a　decidedly　unfriendly　place　to　force…land　a　helicopter。
　　　　Pitt　had　limped　back　into　the　cargo　partment　and　begun　passing　out　the　life　vests。　Shannon　followed；　firmly　took　the　vests　out　of　his　hands；　and　handed　them　to　Rodgers。
　　　　〃No；　you　don't；〃　she　said　firmly；　pushing　Pitt　into　a　canvas　seat　mounted　along　the　bulkhead　of　the　fuselage。　She　nodded　at　the　loosely　knotted；　blood…soaked　bandanna　around　his　leg。　〃You　sit　down　and　stay　put。〃
　　　　She　found　a　first　aid　kit　in　a　metal　locker　and　knelt　in　front　of　him。　Without　the　slightest　sign　of　nervous　stress；　she　cut　off　Pitt's　pant　leg；　cleaned　the　wound；　and　petently　sewed　the　eight　stitches　to　close　the　wound　before　wrapping　a　bandage　around　it。
　　　　〃Nice　job；〃　said　Pitt　admiringly。　〃You　missed　your　calling　as　an　angel　of　mercy。〃
　　　　〃You　were　lucky。〃　She　snapped　the　lid　on　the　first　aid　kit。　〃The　bullet　merely　sliced　the　skin。〃
　　　　〃Why　do　I　feel　as　though　you've　acted　on　General　Hospital？〃
　　　　Shannon　smiled。　〃I　was　raised　on　a　farm　with　five　brothers　who　were　always　discovering　new　ways　to　injure　themselves。〃
　　　　〃What　turned　you　to　archaeology？〃
　　　　〃There　was　an　old　Indian　burial　mound　in　one　corner　of　our　wheat　field。　I　used　to　dig　around　it　for　arrowheads。　For　a　book　report　in　high　school；　I　found　a　text　on　the　excavation　of　the　Hopewell　Indian　culture　burial　mounds　in　southern　Ohio。　Inspired；　I　began　digging　into　the　site　on　our　farm。　After　finding　several　pieces　of　pottery　and　four　skeletons；　I　was　hooked。　Hardly　a　professional　dig；　mind　you。　I　learned　how　to　excavate　properly　in　college　and　became　fascinated　with　cultural　development　in　the　central　Andes；　and　made　up　my　mind　to　specialize　in　that　area。〃
　　　　Pitt　looked　at　her　silently　for　a　moment。　〃When　did　you　first　meet　Doc　Miller？〃
　　　　〃Only　briefly　about　six　years　ago　when　I　was　working　on　my　doctorate。　I　attended　a　lecture　he　gave　on　the　Inca　highway　network　that　ran　from　the　Colombian…Ecuador　border　almost　five　thousand　kilometers　to　central　Chile。　It　was　his　work　that　inspired　me　to　focus　my　studies　on　Andean　culture。　I've　been　ing　down　here　ever　since。〃
　　　　〃Then　you　didn't　really　know　him　very　well？〃　Pitt　questioned。　'
　　　　Shannon　shook　her　head。　〃Like　most　archaeologists；　we　concentrated　on　our　own　pet　projects。　We　corresponded　occasionally　and　exchanged　data。　About　six　months　ago；　I　invited　him　to　e　along　on　this　expedition　to　supervise　the　Peruvian　university　student　volunteers。　He　was　between　projects　and　accepted。　Then　he　kindly　offered　to　fly　down　from　the　States　five　weeks　early　to　begin　preparations；　arranging　permits　from　the　Peruvians；　setting　up　the　logistics　for　equipment　and　supplies；　that　sort　of　thing。　Juan　Chaco　and　he　worked　closely　together。〃
　　　　〃When　you　arrived；　did　you　notice　anything　different　about　him？〃
　　　　A　curious　look　appeared　in　Shannon's　eyes。　〃What　an　odd　question。〃
　　　　〃His　looks；　his　actions；〃　Pitt　persisted。
　　　　She　thought　a　moment。　〃Since　Phoenix；　he　had　grown　a　beard　and　lost　about　fifteen　pounds；　but　now　that　I　think　of　it；　he　rarely　removed　his　sunglasses。〃
　　　　〃Any　change　in　his　voice？〃
　　　　She　shrugged。　〃A　little　deeper　perhaps。　I　thought　he　had　a　cold。〃
　　　　〃Did　you　notice　whether　he　wore　a　ring？　One　with　a　large　amber　setting？〃
　　　　Her　eyes　narrowed。　〃A　sixty…million…year…old　piece　of　yellow　amber　with　the　fossil　of　a　primitive　ant　in　the　center？　Doc　was　proud　of　that　ring。　I　remember　him　wearing　it　during　the　Inca　road　survey；　but　it　wasn't　on　his　hand　at　the　sacred　well。　When　I　asked　him　why　it　was　missing；　he　said　the　ring　became　loose　on　his　finger　after　his　weight　loss　and　he　left　it　home　to　be　resized。　How　do　you　know　about　Doc's　ring？〃
　　　　Pitt　had　been　wearing　the　amber　ring　he　had　taken　from　the　corpse　at　the　bottom　of　the　sacred　well　with