inca.gold-第59部分

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　　　　〃Whose　turn　is　it　to　cook　dinner？〃　Pitt　inquired；　ignoring　her。
　　　　Gunn　raised　a　hand。　〃My　night　in　the　galley。　Why　ask？〃
　　　　〃Because；　after　we've　all　enjoyed　a　good　meal　and　a　cocktail　or　two；　I'll　lay　out　Dirk's　master　plan。〃
　　　　〃Which　island　have　you　selected？〃　Shannon　asked　cynically。　〃Bali　Ha'i　or　Atlantis？〃
　　　　〃There　is　no　island；〃　Pitt　answered　mysteriously。　〃No　island　at　all。　The　treasure　that　never　was；　but　is；　sits　on　dry　land。〃


　　　　An　hour　and　a　half　later；　with　Giordino　standing　at　the　helm；　the　old　ferry　reversed　course　as　her　paddlewheels　drove　her　northward　back　toward　San　Felipe。　While　Gunn；　assisted　by　Rodgers；　prepared　dinner　in　the　ferry's　galley；　Loren　searched　for　Pitt　and　finally　found　him　sitting　on　a　folding　chair　down　in　the　engine　room；　chatting　with　the　chief　engineer　as　he　soaked　up　the　sounds；　smells；　and　motion　of　the　Alhambra's　monstrous　engines。　He　wore　the　expression　of　a　man　in　the　throes　of　undisguised　euphoria。　She　carried　a　small　bottle　of　blanco　tequila　and　a　glass　of　ice　as　she　crept　up　behind　him。
　　　　Gordo　Padilla　smoked　the　stub　of　a　cigar　while　wiping　a　clean　cloth　over　a　pair　of　brass　steam　gauges。　He　wore　scuffed　cowboy　boots；　a　T…shirt　covered　with　bright　illustrations　of　tropical　birds；　and　a　pair　of　pants　cut　off　at　the　knees。　His　sleek；　well…oiled　hair　was　as　thick　as　marsh　grass；　and　the　brown　eyes　in　his　round　face　wandered　over　the　engines　with　the　same　ardor　they　would　display　if　beholding　the　full…figured　body　of　a　model　in　a　bikini。
　　　　Most　ship's　engineers　are　thought　to　be　big　ebullient　men　with　hairy　chests　and　thick　forearms　illustrated　with　colorful　tattoos。　Padilla　was　devoid　of　body　hair　and　tattoos。　He　looked　like　an　ant　crawling　on　his　great　walking　beam　engines。　Diminutive；　his　height　and　weight　would　have　easily　qualified　him　to　ride　a　racehorse。
　　　　〃Rosa；　my　wife；〃　he　said　between　swallows　of　Tecate　beer；　〃she　thinks　I　love　these　engines　more　than　her。　I　tell　her　they　better　than　a　mistress。　Much　cheaper　and　I　never　have　to　sneak　around　alleys　to　see　them。〃
　　　　〃Women　have　never　understood　the　affection　a　man　can　have　for　a　machine；〃　Pitt　agreed。
　　　　〃Women　can't　feel　passionate　about　greasy　gears　and　pistons；〃　said　Loren；　slipping　a　hand　down　the　front　of　Pitt's　aloha　shirt；　〃because　they　don't　love　back。〃
　　　　〃Ah；　but　pretty　lady；〃　said　Padilla；　〃you　can't　imagine　the　satisfaction　we　feel　after　seducing　an　engine　into　running　smoothly。〃
　　　　Loren　laughed。　〃No；　and　I　don't　want　to。〃　She　looked　up　at　the　huge　A…frame　that　supported　the　walking　beams；　and　then　to　the　great　cylinders；　steam　condensers；　and　boilers。　〃But　I　must　admit；　it's　an　impressive　apparatus。〃
　　　　〃Apparatus？〃　Pitt　squeezed　her　around　the　waist。　〃In　light　of　modern　diesel　turbines；　walking　beam　engines　seem　antiquated。　But　when　you　look　back　on　the　engineering　and　manufacturing　techniques　that　were　state…of…the…art　during　their　era；　they　are　monuments　to　the　genius　of　our　forefathers。〃
　　　　She　passed　him　the　little　bottle　of　tequila　and　the　glass　of　ice。　〃Enough　of　this　masculine　crap　about　smelly　old　engines。　Swill　this　down。　Dinner　will　be　ready　in　ten　minutes。〃
　　　　〃You　have　no　respect　for　the　finer　things　in　life；〃　said　Pitt；　nuzzling　her　hand。
　　　　〃Make　your　choice。　The　engines　or　me？〃
　　　　He　looked　up　at　the　piston　rod　as　it　pumped　the　walking　beam　up　and　down。　〃I　can't　deny　having　an　obsession　with　the　stroke　of　an　engine。〃　He　smiled　slyly。　〃But　I　freely　confess　there's　a　lot　to　be　said　for　stroking　something　that's　soft　and　cuddly。〃
　　　　〃Now　there's　a　forting　thought　for　all　the　women　of　the　world。〃
　　　　Jesus　dropped　down　the　ladder　from　the　car　deck　and　said　something　in　Spanish　to　Padilla。　He　listened；　nodded；　and　looked　at　Pitt。　〃Jesus　says　the　lights　of　a　plane　have　been　circling　the　ferry　for　the　past　half　hour。〃
　　　　Pitt　stared　for　a　moment　at　the　giant　crank　that　turned　the　paddlewheels。　Then　he　gave　Loren　a　squeeze　and　said　briefly；　〃A　good　sign。〃
　　　　〃A　sign　of　what？〃　she　asked　curiously。
　　　　〃The　guys　on　the　other　side；〃　he　said　in　a　cheery　voice。　〃They've　failed　and　now　they　hope　to　follow　us　to　the　mother　lode。　That　gives　an　advantage　to　our　team。〃

　　　　After　a　hearty　dinner　on　one　of　the　thirty　tables　in　the　yawning；　unobstructed　passengers'　section　of　the　ferry；　the　table　was　cleared　and　Pitt　spread　out　a　nautical　chart　and　two　geological　land　survey　maps。　Pitt　spoke　to　them　distinctly　and　precisely；　laying　out　his　thoughts　so　clearly　they　might　have　been　their　own。
　　　　〃The　landscape　is　not　the　same。　There　have　been　great　changes　in　the　past　almost　five　hundred　years。〃　He　paused　and　pieced　together　the　three　maps；　depicting　an　uninterrupted　view　of　the　desert　terrain　from　the　upper　shore　of　the　Gulf　north　to　the　Coachella　Valley　of　California。
　　　　〃Thousands　of　years　ago　the　Sea　of　Cortez　used　to　stretch　over　the　present…day　Colorado　Desert　and　Imperial　Valley　above　the　Salton　Sea。　Through　the　centuries；　the　Colorado　River　flooded　and　carried　enormous　amounts　of　silt　into　the　sea；　eventually　forming　a　delta　and　diking　in　the　northern　area　of　the　sea。　This　buildup　of　silt　left　behind　a　large　body　of　water　that　was　later　known　as　Lake　Cahuilla；　named；　I　believe；　after　the　Indians　who　lived　on　its　banks。　As　you　travel　around　the　foothills　that　rim　the　basin；　you　can　still　see　the　ancient　waterline　and　find　seashells　scattered　throughout　the　desert。
　　　　〃When　did　it　dry　up？〃　asked　Shannon。
　　　　〃Between　1100　and　1200　A。D。〃
　　　　〃Then　where　did　the　Salton　Sea　e　from？〃
　　　　〃In　an　attempt　to　irrigate　the　desert；　a　canal　was　built　to　carry　water　from　the　Colorado　River。　In　1905；　after　unseasonably　heavy　rains　and　much　silting；　the　river　burst　the　banks　of　the　canal　and　water　poured　into　the　lowest　part　of　the　desert's　basin。　A　desperate　dam　operation　stopped　the　flow；　but　not　before　enough　water　had　flowed　through　to　form　the　Salton　Sea；　with　a　surface　eighty　meters　below　sea　level。　Actually；　it's　a　large　lake　that　will　eventually　go　the　way　of　Lake　Cahuilla；　despite　irrigation　drainage　that　has　temporarily　stabilized　its　present　size。〃
　　　　Gunn　produced　a　bottle　of　Mexican　brandy。　〃A　short　intermission　for　spirits　to　rejuvenate　the　bloodstream。〃　Lacking　the　proper　snifter　goblets；　he　poured　the　brandy　into　plastic　cups。　Then　he　raised　his。　〃A　toast　to　success。〃
　　　　〃Hear；　hear；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Amazing　how　a　good　meal　and　a　little　brandy　changes　one's　attitude。〃
　　　　〃We're　all　hoping　Dirk　has　discovered　a　new　solution；〃　said　Loren。
　　　　〃Interesting　to　see　if　he　makes　sense。〃　Shannon　made　an　impatient　gesture。　〃Let's　hear　where　all　this　is　going。〃
　　　　Pitt　said　nothing　but　leaned　over　the　maps　and　drew　a　circular　line　through　the　desert　with　a　red　felt…tip　pen。　〃This　is　approximately　where　the　Gulf　extended　in　the　late　fourteen　hundreds；　before　the　river's　silt　buildup　worked　south。〃
　　　　〃Less　than　a　kilometer　from　the　present　border　between　the　United　States　and　Mexico；〃　observed　Rodgers。
　　　　〃An　area　now　mostly　covered　by　wetlands　and　mudflats　known　as　the　Laguna　Salada。〃
　　　　〃How　does　this　swamp　fit　into　the　picture？〃　asked　Gunn。
　　　　Pitt's　face　glowed　like　a　corporate　executive　officer　about　to　announce　a　fat　dividend　to　his　stockholders。　〃The　island　where　the　Incas　and　the　Chachapoyas　buried　Huascar's　golden　chain　is　no　longer　an　island。〃
　　　　Then　he　sat　down　and　sipped　his　brandy；　allowing　the　revelation　to　penetrate　and　blossom。
　　　　As　if　responding　to　a　drill　sergeant's　mand；　everyone　leaned　over　the　charts　and　studied　the　markings　Pitt　had　made　indicating　the　ancient　shoreline。　Shannon　pointed　to　a　small　snake　Pitt　had　drawn　that　coiled　around　a　high　rock　outcropping　halfway　between　the　marsh　and　the　foothills　of　the　Las　Tinajas　Mountains。
　　　　〃What　does　the　snake　signify？〃
　　　　〃A　kind　of　‘X　marks　the　spot；'　〃　answered　Pitt。
　　　　Gunn　closely　examined　the　geological　survey　map。　〃You've　designated　a　small　mountain　that；　according　to　the　contour　elevations；　tops　out　at　slightly　less　than　five　hundred　meters。〃
　　　　〃Or　about　sixteen　hundred　feet；〃　Giordino　tallied。
　　　　〃What　is　it　called？〃　Loren　wondered。
　　　　〃Cerro　el　Capirote；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃Capirote　in　English　means　a　tall；　pointed　ceremonial　hat；　or　what　we　used　to　call　a　dunce　cap。〃
　　　　〃So　you　think　this　high　pinnacle　in　the　middle　of　nowhere　is　our　treasure　site？〃　Rodgers　asked　Pitt。
　　　　〃If　you　study　the　maps　closely；　you'll　find　several　other　small　mounts　with　sharp　summits　rising　from　the　desert　floor　beside　the　swamp。　Any　one　of　them　matches　the　general　description。　But　I'm　laying　my　money　on　Cerro　el　Capirote。〃
　　　　〃What　brings　you　to　such　an　unpromising　decision？〃　Shannon　queried。
　　　　〃I　put　myself　in　the　Incas'　shoes；　or　sandals　as　it　were；　and　selected　the　best　spot　to　hide　what　was　at　the　time　the　world's　greatest　treasure。　If　I　were　General　Naymlap；　I'd　look　for　the　most　imposing　island　at　the　upper　end　of　a　sea　as　far　away　from　the　hated　Spanish　conquerors　as　I　could　find。　Cerro　el　Capirote　was　about　as　far　as　he　could　go　in　the　early　fifteen　hundreds；　and　its　height　makes　it　the　most　imposing。〃
　　　　The　mood　on　the　passenger　deck　of　the　ferry　was　definitely　on　the　upswing。　New　hope　had　been　injected　into　a　project　that　had　e　within　a　hair　of　being　written　off　as　a　failure。　Pitt's　unshakable　confidence　had　infected　everyone。　Even　Shannon　was　belting　down　the　brandy　and　grinning　like　a　Dodge　City　saloon　hostess。　It　was　as　if　all　doubt　had　been　thrown　overboard。　Suddenly；　they　all　took　finding　the　demon　perched　on　the　peak　of　Cerro　el　Capirote　for　granted。
　　　　If　they　had　the　slightest　hint　that　Pitt　had　reservations；　the　party　would　have　died　a　quick　death。　He　felt　secure　in　his　conclusions；　but　he　was　too　pragmatic　not　to　harbor　a　few　small　doubts。
　　　　And　then　there　was　the　dark　side　of　the　coin。　He　and　Giordino　had　not　mentioned　that　they　had　identified　Doc　Miller's　killer　as　one　of　the　other　searchers。　They　both　quietly　realized　that　the　Zolars　or　the　Solpemachaco；　whatever　devious　name　they　went　under　in　this　part　of　the　world；　were　not　aware　that　the　treasure　was　in　Pitt's　sights。
　　　　Pitt　began　to　picture　Tupac　Amaru　in　his　mind；　the　cold；　lifeless　eyes；　and　he　knew　the　hunt　was　about　to　bee　ugly　and　downright　dirty。

　　　　They　sailed　the　Alhambra　north　of　Punta　San　Felipe　and　heaved　to　when　her　paddlewheels　churned　up　a　wake　of　red　silt。　A　few　kilometers　ahead；　the　mouth　of　the　Colorado　River；　wide　and　shallow；　gaped　on　the　horizon。　Spread　on　either　side　of　the　murky；　salt…laden　water　were　barren　mudflats；　totally　devoid　of　vegetation。　Few　planets　in　the　universe　could　have　looked　as　wretched　and　dead。
　　　　Pitt　gazed　at　the　grim　landscape　through　the　windscreen　of　the　helicopter　as　he　adjusted　his　safety　harness。　Shannon　was　strapped　in　the　copilot's　seat　and　Giordino　and　Rodgers　sat　in　the　rear　passenger　section　of　the　cabin。　He　waved　at　Gunn；　who　replied　with　a　V　for　victory　sign；　and　Loren；　who　appropriately　blew　him　a　kiss。
　　　　His　hands　danced　over　the　cyclic　and　collective　pitch　sticks　as　the　rotors　turned；　gathering　speed　until　the　whole　fuselage　shuddered。　And　then　the　Alhambra　was　falling　away；　and　he　slipped　the　helicopter　sideways　across　the　water　like　a　leaf　blown　by　the　wind。　Once　safely　free　of　the　ferry；　he　gently　slipped　the　cyclic　f