inca.gold-第37部分

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　　　　〃This　is　fantastic。　But　where　are　the　crowds？　They　should　be　lined　up　outside。〃
　　　　〃The　owner　and　chef；　who　by　the　way　used　to　be　at　the　Ritz　in　London；　closes　his　kitchen　on　Mondays。〃
　　　　〃But　why　did　he　open　just　for　us？〃　Ragsdale　asked　in　awe。
　　　　〃I　recovered　his　collection　of　medieval　cooking　utensils　after　they　were　stolen　from　his　former　house　in　England　and　smuggled　into　Miami。〃
　　　　The　waitress　returned　and　thrust　a　bottle　in　front　of　Ragsdale's　face　so　he　could　read　the　label。　〃Here　you　go；　honey；　Chateau　Chantilly　1878。　You　got　good　taste；　but　are　you　man　enough　to　pay　eight　thousand　bucks　for　the　bottle？〃
　　　　Ragsdale　stared　at　the　dusty　bottle　and　faded　label　and　went　absolutely　numb　with　surprise。　〃No；　no；　a　good　California　cabernet　will　be　fine；〃　he　choked　out。
　　　　〃Tell　you　what；　honey。　How　about　a　nice　medium　weight　Bordeaux；　a　1988　vintage。　Say　around　thirty　bucks。〃
　　　　Ragsdale　nodded　in　dumb　assent。　〃I　don't　believe　this。〃
　　　　〃I　think　what　really　appeals　to　me　about　the　place；〃　said　Gaskill；　pausing　to　savor　a　bit　of　quail；　〃is　its　incongruity。　Who　would　ever　expect　to　find　gourmet　food　and　wine　like　this　in　a　diner？〃
　　　　〃It's　a　world　apart　all　right。〃
　　　　〃To　get　back　to　our　conversation；〃　said　Gaskill；　daintily　removing　a　bone　from　the　quail　with　his　massive　hands。　〃I　almost　laid　my　hands　on　another　of　the　Specter's　acquisitions。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　I　heard　about　your　blown　stakeout；〃　Ragsdale　muttered；　having　a　difficult　time　bringing　his　mind　back　on　track。　〃A　Peruvian　mummy　covered　in　gold；　wasn't　it？〃
　　　　〃The　Golden　Body　Suit　of　Tiapollo。〃
　　　　〃Where　did　you　go　wrong？〃
　　　　〃Bad　timing　more　than　anything。　While　we　were　keeping　an　eye　on　the　owner's　penthouse；　a　gang　of　thieves　acting　as　furniture　movers　snatched　the　mummy　from　an　apartment　on　a　lower　floor　where　it　was　hidden　along　with　a　huge　cache　of　other　art　and　artifacts；　all　with　shady　histories。〃
　　　　〃This　soup　is　outstanding；〃　Ragsdale　said；　trying　to　get　the　waitress's　attention。　〃I'd　better　take　another　look　at　the　menu　and　order　an　entree。　Have　you　made　up　a　catalogue　yet？〃
　　　　〃End　of　the　week。　I　suspect　there　may　be　between　thirty　and　forty　items　on　your　FBI　wish　list　of　stolen　art　in　my　suspect's　underground　collection。〃
　　　　The　waitress　wandered　over　with　the　wine　and　Ragsdale　ordered　seared　salmon　with　sweet　corn；　shiitake　mushrooms；　and　spinach。　〃Good　choice；　honey；〃　she　drawled　as　she　opened　the　bottle。
　　　　Ragsdale　shook　his　head　in　wonderment　before　turning　his　attention　back　to　Gaskill。　〃What's　the　name　of　the　collector　who　squirreled　away　the　hot　art？〃
　　　　〃His　name　is　Adolphus　Rummel；　a　wealthy　scrap　dealer　out　of　Chicago。　His　name　ring　a　bell？〃
　　　　〃No；　but　then　I've　never　met　a　big…time　underground　buyer　and　collector　who　held　open　house。　Any　chance　Rummel　will　talk？〃
　　　　〃No　way；〃　said　Gaskill　regretfully。　〃He's　already　hired　Jacob　Morganthaler　and　is　suing　to　get　his　confiscated　art　objects　back。〃
　　　　〃Jury…rig　Jake；〃　Ragsdale　said　disgustedly。　〃Friend　and　champion　of　indicted　black　market　art　dealers　and　collectors。〃
　　　　〃With　his　acquittal　record；　we　should　consider　ourselves　lucky　he　doesn't　defend　murderers　and　drug　dealers。〃
　　　　〃Any　leads　on　who　stole　the　golden　body　suit？〃
　　　　〃None。　A　clean　job。　If　I　didn't　know　better；　I'd　say　the　Specter　did　it。〃
　　　　Not　unless　he　came　back　from　the　dead。　He'd　have　to　be　well　over　ninety　years　old。〃
　　　　Gaskill　held　up　his　glass；　and　Ragsdale　poured　the　wine。　〃Suppose　he　had　a　son；　or　established　a　dynasty　who　carried　on　the　family　tradition？〃
　　　　〃That's　a　thought。　Except　that　no　calendars　with　circled　dates　have　been　left　at　art　robberies　for　over　fifty　years。〃
　　　　〃They　could　have　branched　out　into　smuggling　and　forgeries　and　dropped　the　cornball　theatrics。　Today's　professionals　know　that　modern　investigative　technology　could　easily　b　enough　evidence　out　of　those　hokey　calendars　to　put　a　collar　on　them。〃
　　　　〃Maybe。〃　Ragsdale　paused　as　the　waitress　brought　his　salmon。　He　sniffed　the　aroma　and　gazed　in　delight　at　the　presentation。　〃I　hope　it　tastes　as　good　as　it　looks。〃
　　　　〃Guaranteed；　honey；〃　the　old　waitress　cackled；　〃or　your　money　back。〃
　　　　Ragsdale　drained　his　wine　and　poured　another　glass。　〃I　can　hear　your　mind　clicking　from　here。　Where　are　you　headed？〃
　　　　〃Whoever　mitted　the　robbery　didn't　do　it　to　gain　a　higher　price　from　another　black　market　collector；〃　Gaskill　replied。　〃I　did　some　research　on　the　golden　body　suit　encasing　the　mummy。　Reportedly；　it　was　covered　with　engraved　hieroglyphs；　illustrating　a　long　voyage　by　a　fleet　of　Inca　ships　carrying　a　vast　treasure；　including　a　huge　golden　chain。　I　believe　the　thieves　took　it　so　they　can　trace　a　path　to　the　mother　lode。〃
　　　　〃Does　the　suit　tell　what　happened　to　the　treasure？〃
　　　　〃Legend　says　it　was　buried　on　an　island　of　an　inland　sea。　How's　your　salmon？〃
　　　　〃The　best　I've　ever　eaten；〃　said　Ragsdale　happily。　〃And　believe　you　me；　that's　a　pliment。　So　where　do　you　go　from　here？〃
　　　　〃The　engravings　on　the　suit　have　to　be　translated。　The　Inca　did　not　have　a　method　of　writing　or　illustrating　events　like　the　Mayans；　but　photographs　of　the　suit　taken　before　its　earlier　theft　from　Spain　show　definite　indications　of　a　pictorial　graphic　system。　The　thieves　will　need　the　services　of　an　expert　to　decode　these　glyphs。　Interpretation　of　ancient　pictographs　is　not　exactly　an　overcrowded　field。〃
　　　　〃So　you're　going　to　chase　down　whoever　gets　the　job？〃
　　　　〃Hardly　a　major　effort。　There　are　only　five　leading　specialists。　Two　of　them　are　a　husband　and　wife　team　by　the　name　of　Moore。　They're　considered　the　best　in　the　field。〃
　　　　〃You've　done　your　homework。〃
　　　　Gaskill　shrugged。　〃The　greed　of　the　thieves　is　the　only　lead　I've　got。〃
　　　　〃If　you　require　the　services　of　the　bureau；〃　Ragsdale　said；　〃you　have　only　to　call　me。〃
　　　　〃I　appreciate　that；　Francis；　thank　you。〃
　　　　〃There's　one　other　thing。〃
　　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　　〃Can　you　introduce　me　to　the　chef？　I'd　like　an　inside　track　on　a　table　for　Saturday　night。〃

　　　　After　a　short　layover　at　the　Lima　airport　to　pick　up　the　EG&G　magnetometer　that　was　flown　in　from　the　Deep　Fathom　by　a　U。S。　Embassy　helicopter；　Pitt；　Giordino；　and　Gunn　boarded　a　mercial　flight　to　Quito；　the　capital　of　Ecuador。　It　was　after　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　they　landed　in　the　middle　of　a　thunderstorm。　As　soon　as　they　stepped　through　the　gate　they　were　met　by　a　representative　of　the　state　oil　pany；　who　was　acting　on　behalf　of　the　managing　director　Gunn　had　negotiated　with　for　a　helicopter。　He　quickly　herded　them　into　a　limousine　that　drove　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　field；　followed　by　a　small　van　carrying　their　luggage　and　electronic　equipment。　The　two…vehicle　convoy　stopped　in　front　of　a　fully　serviced　McDonnell　Douglas　Explorer　helicopter。　As　they　exited　the　limo；　Rudi　Gunn　turned　to　express　his　appreciation；　but　the　oil　pany　official　had　rolled　up　the　window　and　ordered　the　driver　to　move　on。
　　　　〃Makes　one　want　to　lead　a　clean　life；〃　Giordino　muttered　at　the　efficiency　of　it　all。
　　　　〃They　owed　us　bigger　than　I　thought；〃　said　Pitt；　ignoring　the　downpour　and　staring　blissfully　at　the　big；　red；　twin…engined　helicopter　with　no　tail　rotor。
　　　　〃Is　it　a　good　aircraft？〃　asked　Gunn　naively。
　　　　〃Only　the　finest　rotorcraft　in　the　sky　today；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃Stable；　reliable；　and　smooth　as　oil　on　water。　Costs　about　two　point　seven…five　million。　We　couldn't　have　asked　for　a　better　machine　to　conduct　a　search　and　survey　project　from　the　air。〃
　　　　〃How　far　to　the　Bay　of　Caraquez？〃
　　　　〃About　two　hundred　and　ten　kilometers。　We　can　make　it　in　less　than　an　hour　with　this　machine。〃
　　　　〃I　hope　you　don't　plan　to　fly　over　strange　terrain　in　the　dark　during　a　tropical　storm；〃　Gunn　said　uneasily；　holding　a　newspaper　over　his　head　as　a　shield　against　the　rain。
　　　　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃No；　we'll　wait　for　first　light。〃
　　　　Giordino　nodded　toward　the　helicopter。　〃If　I　know　only　one　thing；　it's　not　to　take　a　shower　with　my　clothes　on。　I　remend　we　throw　our　baggage　and　electronic　gear　on　board　and　get　a　few　hours　sleep　before　dawn。〃
　　　　〃That's　the　best　idea　I've　heard　all　day；〃　Pitt　agreed　heartily。
　　　　Once　their　equipment　was　stowed；　Giordino　and　Gunn　reclined　the　backrests　of　two　passenger　seats　and　fell　asleep　within　minutes。　Pitt　sat　in　the　pilot's　seat　under　a　small　lamp　and　studied　the　data　accumulated　by　Perlmutter　and　Yaeger。　He　was　too　excited　to　be　tired；　certainly　not　on　the　eve　of　a　shipwreck　search。　Most　men　turn　from　Jekyll　to　Hyde　whenever　the　thought　of　a　treasure　hunt　floods　their　brain。　But　Pitt's　stimulant　was　not　greed　but　the　challenge　of　entering　the　unknown　to　pursue　a　trail　laid　down　by　adventurous　men　like　him；　who　lived　and　died　in　another　era；　men　who　left　a　mystery　for　later　generations　to　unravel。
　　　　What　kind　of　men　walked　the　decks　of　sixteenth…century　ships；　he　wondered。　Besides　the　lure　of　adventure　and　the　remote　prospect　of　riches；　what　possessed　them　to　sail　on　voyages　sometimes　lasting　three　or　more　years　on　ships　not　much　larger　than　a　modest　suburban；　two…story　house？　Out　of　sight　of　land　for　months　at　a　time；　their　teeth　falling　out　from　the　ravages　of　scurvy；　the　crews　were　decimated　by　malnutrition　and　disease。　Many　were　the　voyages　pleted　by　only　ship's　officers；　who　had　survived　on　more　abundant　rations　than　the　mon　seamen。　Of　the　eighty…eight　men　on　board　the　Golden　Hind　when　Drake　battled　through　the　Strait　of　Magellan　into　the　Pacific；　only　fifty…six　were　left　when　he　entered　Plymouth　Harbor。
　　　　Pitt　turned　his　attention　to　the　Nuestra　Senora　de　la　Concepcion。　Perlmutter　had　included　illustrations　and　cutaway　plans　of　atypical　Spanish　treasure　galleon　that　sailed　the　seas　during　the　sixteenth　and　seventeenth　centuries。　Pitt's　primary　interest　was　in　the　amount　of　iron　that　was　on　board　for　the　magnetometer　to　detect。　Perlmutter　was　certain　the　two　cannon　she　reportedly　carried　were　bronze　and　would　not　register　on　an　instrument　that　measures　the　intensity　of　the　magnetic　field　produced　by　an　iron　mass。
　　　　The　galleon　carried　four　anchors。　Their　shanks；　arms；　and　flukes　were　cast　from　iron；　but　their　stocks　were　wood　and　they　were　secured　to　hemp　lines；　not　chains。　If　she　had　been　riding　on　two　anchors；　the　force　of　the　wave；　suddenly　striking　the　ship　and　hurling　it　ashore；　would　have　probably　snapped　the　lines。　That　left　a　small　chance　her　two　spare　anchors　might　have　survived　intact　and　still　be　somewhere　in　the　wreckage。
　　　　He　totaled　up　the　rest　of　the　iron　that　might　have　been　on　board。　The　fittings；　ship's　hardware；　the　big　gudgeons　and　pintles　that　held　the　rudder　and　allowed　it　to　turn。　The　trusses　（iron　brackets　that　helped　support　the　yards　or　spars）；　any　shackles　or　grappling　irons。　The　cook's　kettle；　carpenter's　tools；　maybe　a　keg　of　nails；　small　firearms；　swords；　and　pikes。　Shot　for　the　cannon。
　　　　It　was　an　exercise　in　the　dark。　Pitt　was　hardly　an　authority　on　sixteenth…century　sailing　ships。　He　could　only　rely　on　Perlmutter's　best　guess　as　to　the　total　iron　mass　on　board　the　Concepcion。　The　best　estimate　ran　between　one　and　three　tons。　Enough；　Pitt　fervently　hoped；　for　the　magnetometer　to　detect　the　galleon's　anomaly　from　50　to　75　meters　in　the　air。
　　　　Anything　less；　and　they'd　stand　about　as　much　chance　of　locating　the　galleon　as