inca.gold-第26部分

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　　　　Not　for　very　long；〃　added　Pitt。　〃He's　probably　already　on　to　you。〃
　　　　Gunn　waved　a　hand　indifferently。　〃You　two　are　on　safe　ground。　Better　me　than　some　poor　fool　unfamiliar　with　your　escapades。　Anyone　else　in　the　NUMA　bureaucracy　might　overestimate　your　abilities。〃
　　　　Giordino　made　a　surly　face。　〃And　we　call　him　a　friend？〃
　　　　〃What　can　NUMA　do　for　Customs　that's　so　special？〃　asked　Pitt。
　　　　Gunn　spread　a　sheaf　of　papers　on　the　table。　〃The　issue　is　plex　but　involves　the　plunder　of　ancient　art。〃
　　　　〃Isn't　that　a　little　out　of　our　line？　Our　business　is　underwater　exploration　and　research。〃
　　　　〃Destruction　for　the　purpose　of　looting　underwater　archaeological　sites　is　our　business；〃　Gunn　stated　earnestly。
　　　　〃Where　does　recovering　Dr。　Miller's　body　enter　the　picture？〃
　　　　〃Only　the　first　step　of　our　cooperation　with　Customs。　The　murder　of　a　world…renowned　anthropologist　is　the　bedrock　of　their　case。　They　suspect　the　killer　is　a　highlevel　member　of　an　international　looting　syndicate；　and　they　need　proof　for　an　indictment。　They　also　hope　to　use　the　killer　as　a　key　to　unlock　the　door　leading　to　the　masterminds　of　the　entire　theft　and　smuggling　operation。　As　for　the　sacred　well；　Customs　and　Peruvian　authorities　believe　a　vast　cache　of　artifacts　was　raised　from　the　bottom　and　has　already　been　shipped　to　black…market　receiving　stations　around　the　world。　Miller　discovered　the　theft　and　was　terminated　to　shut　him　up。　They　want　us；　you　and　Al　in　particular；　to　search　the　floor　of　the　well　for　evidence。〃
　　　　〃And　our　plan　to　explore　for　the　lost　galleon？〃
　　　　〃plete　the　job　on　the　well；　and　I'll　authorize　a　small　budget　out　of　NUMA　to　fund　your　search。　That's　all　I　can　promise。〃
　　　　〃And　if　the　admiral　shoots　you　down？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　Gunn　shrugged。　〃He's　my　boss　as　well　as　yours。　I'm　an　old　navy　man。　I　follow　orders。〃
　　　　〃I'm　old　air　force；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃I　question　them。〃
　　　　〃Worry　about　it　when　the　time　es；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Let's　get　the　sinkhole　probe　out　of　the　way。〃
　　　　Pitt　took　a　deep　breath　and　relaxed　in　his　chair。　〃Might　as　well　do　something　useful　while　Yaeger　and　Perlmutter　conduct　their　research。　They　should　have　some　solid　leads　by　the　time　we　stumble　out　of　the　jungle。〃
　　　　〃There　is　one　more　request　from　the　Customs　agents；〃　said　Gunn。
　　　　〃What　the　hell　else　do　they　have　on　their　want　list？〃　demanded　Pitt　roughly。　〃A　dive　orgy　for　souvenirs　thrown　off　cruise　ships　by　tourists　afraid　of　Customs　inspectors？〃
　　　　〃Nothing　so　mundane；〃　Gunn　explained　patiently。　〃They　also　insist　that　you　return　to　the　Pueblo　de　los　Muertos。〃
　　　　〃They　must　think　artifacts　sitting　in　the　rain　qualify　as　underwater　stolen　goods；〃　Giordino　said　with　acidic　humor。
　　　　〃The　Customs　people　are　in　dire　need　of　an　inventory。〃
　　　　〃Of　the　artifacts　in　the　temple？〃　Pitt　asked　incredulously。　〃Do　they　expect　an　indexed　catalogue？　There　must　be　close　to　a　thousand　items　stacked　inside　whatever　is　left　of　the　temple　after　the　mercenaries　finished　blowing　it　all　to　hell。　They　need　archaeologists　to　sort　through　the　hoard；　not　marine　engineers。〃
　　　　〃The　Peruvian　Investigative　Police　have　investigated　and　reported　that　most　of　the　artifacts　were　removed　from　the　temple　soon　after　you　escaped；〃　explained　Gunn。　〃International　Customs　agents　need　descriptions　so　they　can　identify　the　artifacts　should　they　begin　to　show　up　at　antique　auctions；　or　in　private　collections；　galleries；　and　museums　in　affluent　first　world　countries。　They　hope　that　a　return　trip　to　the　scene　of　the　crime　will　jog　your　memories。〃
　　　　〃Events　were　moving　too　fast　for　a　quick　tally。〃
　　　　Gunn　nodded　in　understanding。　〃But　certain　objects　must　have　stuck　in　your　mind；　especially　the　outstanding　pieces。　What　about　you；　Al？〃
　　　　〃I　was　busy　prowling　the　ruins　for　a　radio；〃　said　Giordino。　〃I　didn't　have　time　to　examine　the　stuff。〃
　　　　Pitt　held　his　hands　to　his　head　and　massaged　his　temples。　〃I　might　be　able　to　recall　fifteen　or　twenty　items　that　stood　out。〃
　　　　〃Can　you　sketch　them？〃
　　　　〃I'm　a　miserable　artist；　but　I　think　I　can　draw　reasonably　accurate　pictures。　No　need　to　visit　the　place　again。　I　can　just　as　well　illustrate　what　I　remember　while　lounging　by　a　swimming　pool　at　a　resort　hotel。〃
　　　　〃Sounds　sensible　to　me；〃　Giordino　said　cheerfully。
　　　　〃No；〃　Gunn　said；　〃it's　not　sensible。　Your　job　goes　much　deeper。　As　much　as　it　turns　my　stomach；　you　two　middle…aged　delinquents　are　Peruvian　national　heroes。　Not　only　are　you　in　demand　with　the　Customs　Service；　the　State　Department　wants　a　piece　of　you。〃
　　　　Giordino　stared　at　Pitt。　〃One　more　manifestation　of　Giordino's　list　of　laws。　Any　man　who　volunteers　for　a　rescue　mission　bees　a　victim。〃
　　　　〃What　does　the　State　Department　have　to　do　with　us　making　a　round　trip　to　the　temple？〃　Pitt　demanded。
　　　　〃Since　the　South　American　Free　Trade　Treaty；　the　petroleum　and　mining　industries　have　been　denationalized。　Several　American　panies　are　currently　pleting　negotiations　to　help　Peru　better　exploit　its　natural　resources。　The　country　desperately　needs　foreign　investment；　and　the　money　is　ready　to　pour　in。　The　catch　is　that　labor　unions　and　the　opposition　parties　of　the　legislature　are　against　foreign　involvement　in　their　economy。　By　saving　the　lives　of　sons　and　daughters　of　the　local　VIPs；　you　and　Al　indirectly　influenced　a　number　of　votes。〃
　　　　〃All　right；　so　we　give　a　speech　at　the　local　Elks　Club　and　accept　a　certificate　of　merit。〃
　　　　〃Fine　as　far　as　it　goes；〃　said　Gunn。　〃But　State　Department　experts　and　the　Congressional　mittee　on　Latin　American　Affairs　think　you　both　should　hang　around　and　make　the　dirty　Yankees　look　good　by　helping　to　halt　the　looting　of　Peru's　cultural　heritage。〃
　　　　〃In　other　words；　our　esteemed　government　wants　to　milk　our　benevolent　image　for　all　it's　worth；〃　said　Pitt　stonily。
　　　　〃Something　along　those　lines。〃
　　　　〃And　Sandecker　agreed　to　it。〃
　　　　〃Goes　without　saying；〃　Gunn　assured　him。　〃The　admiral　never　misses　a　chance　to　stroke　Congress　if　it　can　lead　to　more　funding　for　NUMA's　future　operations。〃
　　　　〃Who　is　going　in　with　us？〃
　　　　〃Dr。　Alberto　Ortiz　from　the　National　Institute　of　Culture　in　Chiclayo　will　supervise　the　archaeological　team。　He'll　be　assisted　by　Dr。　Kelsey。〃
　　　　〃Without　reliable　protection　we'll　be　asking　for　trouble。〃
　　　　〃The　Peruvians　have　assured　us　they　will　send　in　a　highly　trained　security　force　to　control　the　valley。〃
　　　　〃But　are　they　trustworthy？　I　don't　want　an　encore　by　an　army　of　rogue　mercenaries。〃
　　　　〃Nor　me；〃　Giordino　agreed　firmly。
　　　　Gunn　made　a　helpless　gesture。　〃I　can　only　pass　on　what　I　was　told。〃
　　　　〃We'll　need　better　equipment　than　what　we　took　in　on　our　last　trip。〃
　　　　〃Give　me　a　list　and　I'll　handle　the　logistics。〃
　　　　Pitt　turned　to　Giordino。　〃Do　you　get　the　distinct　impression　we've　been　had？〃
　　　　〃As　near　as　I　can　tell；〃　said　the　stocky　Italian；　〃this　makes　about　four　hundred　and　thirty…seven　times。〃
　　　　Pitt　did　not　look　forward　to　a　repeat　dive　in　the　sinkhole。　There　was　a　haunted　aura　about　it；　something　evil　in　its　depths。　The　yawning　cavity　gaped　in　his　mind　as　though　it　were　the　mouth　of　the　devil。　The　imagery　was　so　irrational　that　he　tried　to　erase　it　from　his　mind；　but　the　vision　would　not　go　away。　It　clung　like　the　vague　memory　of　a　repugnant　nightmare。


　　　　Two　days　later；　at　about　eight　in　the　morning；　preparations　were　pleted　for　the　dive　to　retrieve　Doc　Miller's　body　from　the　sacred　well。　As　Pitt　stared　down　at　the　surface　slime　of　the　sinkhole；　all　his　apprehension　evaporated。　The　loathsome　cavity　still　looked　as　menacing　as　when　he　had　first　encountered　it；　but　he　had　survived　its　deadly　surge；　climbed　its　sheer　walls。　Now　that　he　knew　its　hidden　secrets；　it　no　longer　held　any　threat。　The　first　hurried；　planned…on…the…spot　rescue　was　quickly　forgotten。　This　was　now　a　state…of…the…art　project。
　　　　True　to　his　word；　Gunn　had　chartered　two　helicopters　and　scrounged　the　necessary　gear　for　the　job。　One　whole　day　was　spent　ferrying　Dr。　Kelsey　and　Miles　Rodgers；　the　dive　crew；　and　their　equipment　to　the　site　and　reestablishing　the　destroyed　camp。　Gunn　was　not　known　for　running　sloppy　operations。　There　was　no　deadline；　and　he　took　the　time　to　plan　every　step　with　precision。　Nothing　was　left　to　chance。
　　　　A　fifty…man　contingent　from　Peru's　elite　special　security　unit　was　already　in　place　when　Gunn's　first　helicopter　landed。　To　the　taller　North　Americans　the　South　American　men　seemed　small　in　stature。　They　had　an　almost　gentle　look　on　their　faces；　but　they　were　a　tough　lot；　hardened　by　years　of　fighting　Shining　Path　guerrillas　in　the　heavily　forested　mountain　country　and　barren　coastal　deserts。　They　quickly　set　up　defenses　around　the　camp　and　sent　patrols　into　the　surrounding　jungle。
　　　　〃Wish　I　was　going　with　you；〃　said　Shannon　from　behind　Pitt。
　　　　He　turned　and　smiled。　〃I　can't　imagine　why。　Retrieving　a　human　body　that's　been　deposing　in　tropically　heated　soup　is　not　what　I　call　a　fun　experience。〃
　　　　〃Sorry；　I　didn't　mean　to　sound　cold…hearted。〃　There　was　little　expression　of　sorrow　in　her　eyes。　〃I　had　the　deepest　admiration　for　Doc。　But　the　archaeologist　in　me　wants　desperately　to　explore　the　bottom　of　the　sacred　pool。〃
　　　　〃Don't　get　your　hopes　up　of　finding　a　treasure　in　antiquities；〃　Pitt　consoled　her。　〃You'd　be　disappointed。　All　I　saw　was　an　acre　of　silt　with　an　old　Spaniard　growing　out　of　it。〃
　　　　〃At　least　allow　Miles　to　dive　with　you　and　make　a　photo　record。〃
　　　　〃Why　the　rush？〃
　　　　〃During　the　recovery；　you　and　Al　might　disturb　the　bottom　and　move　artifacts　from　their　original　positions。〃
　　　　Pitt　gazed　at　her　through　disbelieving　eyes。　〃You　consider　that　more　important　than　showing　respect　for　Doc　Miller？〃
　　　　〃Doc　is　dead；〃　she　said　matter…of…factly。　〃Archaeology　is　an　exacting　science　that　deals　with　dead　things。　Doc　taught　that　better　than　anyone。　The　slightest　disturbance　could　alter　significant　findings。〃
　　　　Pitt　began　to　see　a　side　of　Shannon　that　was　all　business。　〃After　Al　and　I　bring　up　Miller's　remains；　you　and　your　Miles　can　dive　and　retrieve　artifacts　to　your　heart's　content。　But　mind　you　don't　get　sucked　into　the　side　cavern　again。〃
　　　　〃Once　is　enough；〃　she　said　with　a　tight　smile。　Then　her　expression　turned　to　one　of　concern。　〃Be　careful　and　don't　take　chances。〃
　　　　Then　she　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　cheek；　turned　and　hurried　off　toward　her　tent。

　　　　Dropping　into　the　water　went　smoothly；　thanks　to　a　small　crane　and　a　motorized　winch　operated　under　the　watchful　eye　of　Rudi　Gunn。　When　Pitt　was　about　a　meter　above　the　water；　he　released　the　safety　catch　holding　him　on　the　end　of　the　cable　running　to　the　winch。　The　upper；　slime…laden　level　of　the　water　was　as　tepid　as　expected　but　he　did　not　recall　it　smelling　quite　so　pungent。　He　floated　lazily　on　his　back；　waiting　for　the　cable　to　return　topside　before　lowering　Giordino。
　　　　Pitt's　full　face　mask　was　connected　to　a　munications　and　safety　line　while　Giordino　dove　free　and　unencumbered；　relying　on　hand　signals　from　Pitt　for　instructions。　As　soon　as　his　diving　buddy　slid　into　the　muck　beside　him；　Pitt　motioned　downward；　and　they　rolled　forward　and　dove　into　the　depths　of　the　sinkhole。　They　stayed　close　to　avoid　being　separated　and　losing　sight　of　one　another　in　the　dismal　murk　before　reaching　the　incredibly　clear　water　4