inca.gold-第34部分

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his　relationship　with　the　man　in　the　Oval　Office　of　the　White　House　was　warm　and　friendly。
　　　　〃Making　any　progress？〃　he　asked　Yaeger。
　　　　〃Sorry；　Admiral。〃　Yaeger　spoke　without　turning　around。　〃I　didn't　see　you　e　in。　I　was　in　the　midst　of　collecting　data　on　the　water　currents　off　Ecuador。〃
　　　　〃Don't　stroke　me；　Hiram；〃　Sandecker　said；　with　the　look　of　a　ferret　on　a　hunt。　〃I　know　what　you're　up　to。〃
　　　　〃Sir？〃
　　　　〃You're　searching　for　a　stretch　of　coastline　where　a　tidal　wave　struck　in　1578。〃
　　　　〃A　tidal　wave？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　you　know；　a　big　wall　of　water　that　barreled　in　from　the　sea　and　carried　a　Spanish　galleon　over　a　beach　and　into　a　jungle。〃　The　admiral　puffed　out　a　cloud　of　noxious　smoke　and　went　on。　〃I　wasn't　aware　that　I　had　authorized　a　treasure　hunt　on　NUMA's　time　and　budget。〃
　　　　Yaeger　paused　and　swiveled　around　in　his　chair。　〃You　know？〃
　　　　〃The　word　is　knew。　Right　from　the　beginning。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　know　what　you　are；　Admiral？〃
　　　　〃A　canny　old　bastard　who　can　read　minds；〃　he　said　with　some　satisfaction。
　　　　〃Did　your　Ouija　board　also　tell　you　the　tidal　wave　and　the　galleon　are　little　more　than　folklore？〃
　　　　〃If　anyone　can　smell　fact　from　fiction；　it's　our　friend　Dirk　Pitt；〃　Sandecker　said　inflexibly。　〃Now　what　have　you　dug　up？〃
　　　　Yaeger　smiled　wanly　and　answered。　〃I　began　by　dipping　into　various　Geographic　Information　Systems　to　determine　a　logical　site　for　a　ship　to　remain　hidden　in　a　jungle　over　four　centuries　somewhere　between　Lima　and　Panama　City。　Thanks　to　global　positioning　satellites；　we　can　look　at　details　of　Central　and　South　America　that　were　never　mapped　before。　Maps　showing　tropical　rain　forests　that　grow　along　the　coastline　were　studied　first。　I　quickly　dismissed　Peru　because　its　coastal　regions　are　deserts　with　little　or　no　vegetation。　That　still　left　over　a　thousand　kilometers　of　forested　shore　along　northern　Ecuador　and　almost　all　of　Colombia。　Again；　I　was　able　to　eliminate　about　forty　percent　of　the　coastline　with　geology　too　steep　or　unfavorable　for　a　wave　with　enough　mass　and　momentum　to　carry　a　five…hundred…and…seventy…ton　ship　any　distance　overland。　Then　I　knocked　off　another　twenty　percent　for　open　grassland　areas　without　thick　trees　or　other　foliage　that　could　hide　the　remains　of　a　ship。〃
　　　　〃That　still　leaves　Pitt　with　a　search　area　four　hundred　kilometers　in　length。〃
　　　　〃Nature　can　drastically　alter　the　environment　in　five　hundred　years；〃　said　Yaeger。　〃By　starting　with　antique　maps　drawn　by　the　early　Spaniards；　and　examining　records　of　changes　that　occurred　in　the　geology　and　landscape；　I　was　able　to　decrease　the　length　of　the　search　grid　another　hundred　and　fifty　kilometers。〃
　　　　〃How　did　you　pare　the　modern　terrain　with　the　old？〃
　　　　〃With　three…dimensional　overlays；〃　replied　Yaeger。　〃By　either　reducing　or　increasing　the　scale　of　the　old　charts　to　match　the　latest　satellite　maps；　and　then　overlaying　one　upon　the　other；　any　variations　of　the　coastal　jungles　since　the　galleon　vanished　became　readily　apparent。　I　found　that　much　of　the　heavily　forested　coastal　jungles　had　been　cut　down　over　the　centuries　for　farmland。〃
　　　　〃Not　enough；〃　Sandecker　said　irritably；　〃not　nearly　enough。　You'll　have　to　whittle　the　grid　down　to　no　more　than　twenty　kilometers　if　you　want　to　give　Pitt　a　fighting　chance　of　finding　the　wreck。〃
　　　　〃Bear　with　me；　Admiral；〃　said　Yaeger　patiently。　〃The　next　step　was　to　conduct　a　search　through　historical　archives　for　recorded　tidal　waves　that　struck　the　Pacific　coastline　of　South　America　in　the　sixteenth　century。　Fortunately；　the　occasions　were　well　documented　by　the　Spanish　during　the　conquest。　I　found　four。　Two　in　Chile　in　1562　and　1575。　Peru　suffered　them　in　1570　and　again　in　1578；　the　year　Drake　captured　the　galleon。〃
　　　　〃Where　did　the　latter　strike？〃　Sandecker　asked。
　　　　〃The　only　account　es　from　the　log　of　a　Spanish　supply　ship　on　its　way　to　Callao。　It　passed　over　a　‘crazy　sea'　that　swept　inland　toward　Bahia　de　Caraquez　in　Ecuador。　Bahia；　of　course；　means　bay。〃
　　　　〃　‘Crazy　sea'　is　a　good　description　of　water　turmoil　above　an　earthquake　on　the　seafloor。　No　doubt　a　seismic　wave　generated　by　a　movement　of　the　fault　that　parallels　the　west　coast　of　the　entire　South　American　continent。〃
　　　　〃The　captain　also　noted　that　on　the　return　voyage；　a　village　that　sat　at　the　mouth　of　a　river　running　into　the　bay　had　vanished。〃
　　　　〃There　is　no　question　of　the　date？〃
　　　　〃Right　on　the　money。　The　tropical　rain　forest　to　the　east　appears　to　be　impenetrable。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　we　have　a　ballpark。　The　next　question　is；　what　was　the　wave　length？〃
　　　　〃A　tidal　wave；　or　tsunami；　can　have　a　length　of　two　hundred　kilometers　or　more；〃　said　Yaeger。
　　　　Sandecker　considered　this。　〃How　wide　is　the　Bay　of　Caraquez？〃
　　　　Yaeger　called　up　a　map　on　his　monitor。　〃The　entrance　is　narrow；　no　more　than　four　or　five　kilometers。〃
　　　　〃And　you　say　the　captain　of　the　supply　ship　logged　a　missing　village　by　a　river？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　that　was　his　description。〃
　　　　〃How　does　the　contour　of　the　bay　today　differ　from　that　period？〃
　　　　〃The　outer　bay　has　changed　very　little；〃　answered　Yaeger；　after　bringing　up　a　program　that　depicted　the　old　Spanish　charts　and　the　satellite　map　in　different　colors　as　he　overlaid　them　on　the　screen。　〃The　inner　bay　has　moved　about　a　kilometer　toward　the　sea　due　to　silt　buildup　from　the　Chone　River。〃
　　　　Sandecker　stared　at　the　screen　for　a　long　moment；　then　said　slowly；　〃Can　your　electronic　contraption　do　a　simulation　of　the　tidal　wave　sweeping　the　galleon　onto　shore？〃
　　　　Yaeger　nodded。　〃Yes；　but　there　are　a　number　of　factors　to　consider。〃
　　　　〃Such　as？〃
　　　　〃What　was　the　height　of　the　wave　and　how　fast　was　it　traveling。〃
　　　　〃It　would　have　to　be　at　least　thirty　meters　high　and　traveling　at　better　than　a　hundred　and　fifty　kilometers　an　hour　to　carry　a　five…hundred…and…seventy…ton　ship　so　far　into　the　jungle　that　she　has　never　been　found。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　let's　see　what　I　can　do　with　digital　imagery。〃
　　　　Yaeger　typed　a　series　of　mands　on　his　keyboard　and　sat　back；　staring　at　the　monitor　for　several　seconds；　examining　the　image　he　produced　on　the　screen。　Then　he　used　a　special　function　control　to　fine…tune　the　graphics　until　he　could　generate　a　realistic　and　dramatic　simulation　of　a　tidal　wave　crossing　an　imaginary　shoreline。　〃There　you　have　it；〃　he　announced。　〃Virtual　reality　configuration。〃
　　　　〃Now　generate　a　ship；〃　ordered　Sandecker。
　　　　Yaeger　was　not　an　expert　on　the　construction　of　sixteenth…century　galleons；　but　he　produced　a　respectable　image　of　one　rolling　slowly　on　the　waves　that　was　equal　to　a　projector　displaying　moving　graphics　at　sixty　frames　per　second。　The　galleon　appeared　so　realistic　any　unsuspecting　soul　who　walked　into　the　room　would　have　thought　they　were　watching　a　movie。
　　　　〃How　does　it　look；　Admiral？〃
　　　　〃Hard　to　believe　a　machine　can　create　something　so　lifelike；〃　said　Sandecker；　visibly　impressed。
　　　　〃You　should　see　the　latest　puter…generated　movies　featuring　the　long…gone　old　stars　with　the　new。　I've　watched　the　video　of　Arizona　Sunset　at　least　a　dozen　times。〃
　　　　〃Who　plays　the　leads？〃
　　　　〃Humphrey　Bogart；　Lionel　Barrymore；　Marilyn　Monroe；　Julia　Roberts；　and　Tom　Cruise。　It's　so　real；　you'd　swear　they　all　acted　together　on　the　set。〃
　　　　Sandecker　laid　his　hand　on　Yaeger's　shoulder。　〃Let's　see　if　you　can　make　a　reasonably　accurate　documentary。〃
　　　　Yaeger　did　his　magic　on　the　puter；　and　the　two　men　watched；　fascinated；　as　the　monitor　displayed　a　sea　so　blue　and　distinct　it　was　like　looking　through　a　window　at　the　real　thing。　Then　slowly；　the　water　began　convulsing　into　a　wave　that　rolled　away　from　the　land；　stranding　the　galleon　on　the　seabed；　as　dry　as　if　it　were　a　toy　boat　on　the　blanket　of　a　boy's　bed。　Then　the　puter　visualized　the　wave　rushing　back　toward　shore；　rising　higher　and　higher；　then　cresting　and　engulfing　the　ship　under　a　rolling　mass　of　froth；　sand；　and　water；　hurling　it　toward　land　at　an　incredible　speed；　until　finally　the　ship　stopped　and　settled　as　the　wave　smoothed　out　and　died。
　　　　〃Five　kilometers；〃　murmured　Yaeger。　〃She　looks　to　be　approximately　five　kilometers　from　the　coast。〃
　　　　〃No　wonder　she　was　lost　and　forgotten；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃I　suggest　you　contact　Pitt　and　make　arrangements　to　fax　your　puter's　grid　coordinates。〃
　　　　Yaeger　gave　Sandecker　a　queer　look　indeed。　〃Are　you　authorizing　the　search；　Admiral？〃
　　　　Sandecker　feigned　a　look　of　surprise　as　he　rose　and　walked　toward　the　door。　Just　before　exiting；　he　turned　and　grinned　impishly。　〃I　can't　very　well　authorize　what　could　turn　out　to　be　a　wild　goose　chase；　now　can　I？〃
　　　　〃You　think　that's　what　we're　looking　at；　a　wild　goose　chase？〃
　　　　Sandecker　shrugged。　〃You've　done　your　magic。　If　the　ship　truly　rests　in　a　jungle　and　not　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　then　the　burden　falls　on　Pitt　and　Giordino　to　go　in　that　hell　on　earth　and　find　her。〃

　　　　Giordino　contemplated　the　dried　red　stain　on　the　stone　floor　of　the　temple。　〃No　sign　of　Amaru　in　the　rubble；〃　he　said　with　an　utter　lack　of　emotion。
　　　　〃I　wonder　how　far　he　got？〃　Miles　Rodgers　asked　no　one　in　particular。　He　and　Shannon　had　arrived　from　the　sacred　well　an　hour　before　noon　on　a　helicopter　piloted　by　Giordino。
　　　　〃His　mercenary　buddies　must　have　carried　him　off；〃　Pitt　surmised。
　　　　〃Knowing　a　sadist　like　Amaru　might　still　be　alive；〃　said　Rodgers；　〃is　enough　to　cause　nightmares。〃
　　　　Giordino　gave　a　mechanical　shrug。　〃Even　if　he　survived　the　rocket　attack；　he'd　have　died　from　loss　of　blood。〃
　　　　Pitt　turned　and　stared　at　Shannon；　who　was　directing　a　team　of　archaeologists　and　a　small　army　of　workers。　They　were　numbering　the　shattered　blocks　of　stone　from　the　temple　in　preparation　for　a　restoration　project。　She　seemed　to　have　discovered　something　in　the　debris　and　was　bending　down　for　a　closer　examination。　〃A　man　like　Amaru　doesn't　die　easily。　I　don't　think　we've　heard　the　last　of　him。〃
　　　　〃A　grim　prospect；〃　said　Rodgers；　〃made　worse　by　the　latest　news　from　Lima。〃
　　　　Pitt　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃I　didn't　know　we　received　CNN　this　deep　in　the　Andes。〃
　　　　〃We　do　now。　The　helicopter　that　landed　about　an　hour　ago　belonged　to　the　Peruvian　News　Bureau。　It　brought　in　a　team　of　television　reporters　and　a　mountain　of　equipment。　The　City　of　the　Dead　has　bee　international　news。〃
　　　　〃So　what　did　they　have　to　report？〃　pressed　Giordino。
　　　　〃The　military　and　police　have　admitted　their　failure　to　capture　the　army　renegade　mercenaries　who　flew　into　the　valley　to　slit　our　throats　and　remove　the　artifacts。　Nor　have　investigators　tracked　down　any　of　Amaru's　grave　looters。〃
　　　　Pitt　smiled　at　Rodgers。　〃Not　exactly　the　sort　of　report　that　will　look　good　on　their　resumes。〃
　　　　〃The　government　tried　to　save　face　by　handing　out　a　story　that　the　thieves　dumped　the　artifacts　over　the　mountains　and　are　now　hiding　out　in　the　Amazon　forests　of　Brazil。〃
　　　　〃Never　happened；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Otherwise　why　would　U。S。　Customs　insist　we　provide　them　with　an　inventory　of　the　artifacts？　They　know　better。　No；　the　loot　is　not　scattered　on　a　mountaintop。　If　I　read　the　brains　behind　the　Solpemachaco　correctly；　they're　not　the　kind　to　panic　and　run。　Their　informants　in　the　military　alerted　them　every　step　of　the　way；　from　the　minute　an　assault　force　was　assembled　and　launched　to　capture　them。　They　would　have　also　learned　the