inca.gold-第62部分

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　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Shannon。
　　　　〃A　massive　gold　ring；　plain；　with　no　engravings。〃
　　　　〃An　encouraging　sign；〃　said　Pitt。　〃We　must　be　getting　close　to　the　main　vault。〃
　　　　Shannon's　breath　was　ing　in　short　pants　as　the　excitement　mounted。　She　hurried　off　ahead　of　the　men　through　another　portal　at　the　far　end　of　the　guardians'　living　quarters　that　led　into　a　cramped　tunnel　with　an　arched　ceiling；　similar　to　an　ancient　cistern　wide　enough　for　only　one　person　to　pass　through　at　a　time。　This　passageway　seemed　to　wind　down　through　the　mountain　for　an　eternity。
　　　　〃How　far　do　you　think　we've　e？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　〃My　feet　feel　like　ten　kilometers；〃　Shannon　answered；　suddenly　weary。
　　　　Pitt　had　paced　the　distance　they'd　traveled　down　the　stone　steps　since　leaving　the　crypts。　〃The　peak　of　Cerro　el　Capirote　is　only　five　hundred　meters　above　sea　level。　I'd　guess　we've　reached　the　desert　floor　and　dropped　twenty　or　thirty　meters　below　it。〃
　　　　〃Damn！〃　Shannon　gasped。　〃Something　fluttered　against　my　face。〃
　　　　〃Me　too；〃　said　Giordino　with　obvious　disgust。　〃I　think　I've　just　been　garnished　with　bat　vomit。〃
　　　　〃Be　happy　he　wasn't　of　the　vampire　variety；〃　joked　Pitt。
　　　　They　descended　along　the　tunnel　another　ten　minutes　when　Shannon　suddenly　stopped　arid　held　up　a　hand。　〃Listen！〃　she　manded。　〃I　hear　something。〃
　　　　After　a　few　moments；　Giordino　said；　〃Sounds　like　someone　left　a　tap　on。〃
　　　　〃A　rushing　stream　or　a　river；〃　Pitt　said　softly；　recalling　the　old　bartender's　words。
　　　　As　they　moved　closer；　the　sound　of　the　moving　water　increased　and　reverberated　within　the　confined　space。　The　air　had　cooled　considerably　and　smelled　pure　and　less　stifling。　They　rushed　forward；　anxiously　hoping　each　bend　in　the　passage　was　the　last。　And　then　the　walls　abruptly　spread　into　the　darkness　and　they　rushed　headlong　into　what　seemed　like　a　vast　cathedral　that　revealed　the　mountain　as　incredibly　hollow。
　　　　Shannon　screamed　a　full…fledged　shriek　that　echoed　through　the　chamber　as　if　intensified　by　huge　rock　concert　amplifiers。　She　clutched　the　first　body　that　was　handy；　in　this　case；　Pitt's。
　　　　Giordino；　not　one　to　scare　easily；　looked　as　if　he'd　seen　a　ghost。
　　　　Rodgers　stood　petrified；　his　outstretched　arm　frozen　like　an　iron　support；　holding　the　Coleman　lantern。　〃Oh；　good　God；〃　he　finally　gasped；　hypnotized　by　the　ghostly　apparition　that　rose　in　front　of　them　and　glistened　under　the　bright　light。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　　Pitt's　heart　pumped　a　good　five　liters　（a　gallon）　of　adrenaline　through　his　system；　but　he　remained　calm　and　clinically　surveyed　the　towering　figure　that　looked　like　a　monstrosity　out　of　a　science　fiction　horror　movie。
　　　　The　huge　specter　was　a　ghastly　sight。　Standing　straight；　the　apparition　towered　above　them；　its　grisly　features　displaying　grinning　teeth；　its　eye　sockets　wide　open。　Pitt　judged　the　horror　to　be　a　good　head　taller　than　him。　High　above　one　shoulder；　as　though　poised　in　the　act　of　bashing　out　an　intruder's　brains；　a　bony　hand　held　an　ornate　battle　club　with　a　notched　edge。　The　Coleman's　light　gleamed　off　the　gruesome　figure　that　looked　as　if　it　were　encased　in　yellowish　amber　or　fiberglass　resin。　Then　Pitt　determined　what　it　was。
　　　　The　last　guardian　of　Huascar's　treasure　had　been　frozen　for　all　time　into　a　stalagmite。
　　　　〃How　did　he　get　like　that？〃　Rodgers　asked　in　awe。
　　　　Pitt　pointed　to　the　roof　of　the　cavern。　〃Ground　water　dripping　from　the　limestone　ceiling　released　carbon　dioxide　that　splattered　on　the　guardian　and　eventually　covered　him　with　a　thick　coating　of　calcite　crystals。　In　time；　he　was　encased　like　a　scorpion　inside　a　cheap　gift　shop　acrylic　resin　paperweight。〃
　　　　〃But　how　in　the　world　could　he　die　and　remain　in　an　upright　position？〃　queried　Shannon；　ing　out　of　her　initial　fright。
　　　　Pitt　ran　his　hand　lightly　over　the　crystallized　mantle。　〃We'll　never　know　unless　we　chisel　him　out　of　his　transparent　tomb。　It　seems　incredible；　but　knowing　he　was　dying　he　must　have　constructed　a　support　to　prop　him　in　a　standing　position　with　his　arm　raised；　and　then　he　took　his　life；　probably　by　poison。〃
　　　　〃These　guys　took　their　jobs　seriously；〃　muttered　Giordino。
　　　　As　if　drawn　by　some　mysterious　force；　Shannon　moved　within　a　few　centimeters　of　the　hideous　wonder　and　stared　up　into　the　distorted　face　beneath　the　crystals。　〃The　height；　the　blond　hair。　He　was　Chachapoya；　one　of　the　Cloud　People。〃
　　　　〃He's　a　long　way　from　home；〃　said　Pitt。　He　held　up　his　wrist　and　checked　the　time。　〃Two　and　a　half　hours　to　go　before　the　Coleman　runs　out　of　gas。　We'd　better　keep　moving。〃
　　　　Though　it　didn't　seem　possible；　the　immense　grotto　spread　into　the　distance　until　their　light　beams　barely　revealed　the　great　arched　ceiling；　far　larger　than　any　conceived　or　built　by　man。　Giant　stalactites　that　came　down　from　the　roof　met　and　joined　stalagmites　rising　from　the　floor；　merging　and　being　gigantic　columns。　Some　of　the　stalagmites　had　formed　in　the　shapes　of　strange　beasts　that　seemed　frozen　in　an　alien　landscape。　Crystals　gleamed　from　the　walls　like　glittering　teeth。　The　overpowering　beauty　and　grandeur　that　sparkled　and　glittered　under　the　rays　of　their　lights　made　it　seem　they　were　in　the　center　of　a　laser　light　show。
　　　　Then　the　formations　stopped　abruptly；　as　the　floor　of　the　cavern　ended　on　the　bank　of　a　river　over　30　meters　wide　（100　feet）。　Under　their　lights；　the　black；　forbidding　water　turned　a　dark　emerald　green。　Pitt　calculated　the　speed　of　the　current　at　a　rapid　nine　knots。　The　babbling　brook　sound　they　had　heard　further　back　in　the　passageway　they　now　saw　was　the　rush　of　water　around　the　rockbound　banks　of　along；　low　island　that　protruded　from　the　middle　of　the　river。
　　　　But　it　was　not　the　discovery　of　an　extraordinary　unknown　river　flowing　far　beneath　the　floor　of　the　desert　that　captivated　and　enthralled　them。　It　was　a　dazzling　sight　no　ordinary　imagination　could　ever　conceive。　There；　stacked　neatly　on　the　level　top　of　the　island；　rose　a　mountain　of　golden　artifacts。
　　　　The　effect　of　the　two　flashlights　and　the　Coleman　lantern　on　the　golden　hoard　left　the　explorers　speechless。　Overe；　they　could　only　stand　immobile　and　absorb　the　magnificent　spectacle。
　　　　Here　was　Huascar's　golden　chain　coiled　in　a　great　spiral　10　meters　（33　feet）　in　height。　Here　also　was　the　great　gold　disk　from　the　Temple　of　the　Sun；　beautifully　crafted　and　set　with　hundreds　of　precious　stones。　There　were　golden　plants；　water　lilies　and　corn；　and　solid　gold　sculptures　of　kings　and　gods；　women；　llamas；　and　dozens　upon　dozens　of　ceremonial　objects；　beautifully　formed　and　inlaid　with　huge　emeralds。　Here　also；　stacked　as　if　inside　a　moving　van；　were　tons　of　golden　statues；　furniture；　tables；　chairs；　and　beds；　all　handsomely　engraved。　The　centerpiece　was　a　huge　throne　made　from　solid　gold　inlaid　with　silver　flowers。
　　　　Nor　was　this　all。　Arranged　row　after　row；　standing　like　phantoms；　their　mummies　encased　in　golden　shells；　were　twelve　generations　of　Inca　royalty。　Beside　each　one　lay　his　armor　and　headdresses　and　exquisitely　woven　clothing。
　　　　〃In　my　wildest　dreams；〃　Shannon　murmured　softly；　〃I　never　envisioned　a　collection　this　vast。〃
　　　　Giordino　and　Rodgers　were　both　paralyzed　with　astonishment。　No　words　came　from　either　one　of　them。　They　could　only　gape。
　　　　〃Remarkable　they　could　transport　half　the　wealth　of　the　Americas　thousands　of　kilometers　across　an　ocean　on　balsa　and　reed　rafts；〃　said　Pitt　in　admiration。
　　　　Shannon　slowly　shook　her　head；　the　awed　look　in　her　eyes　turning　to　sadness。　〃Try　to　imagine；　if　you　can。　What　we　see　here　is　only　a　tiny　part　of　the　riches　belonging　to　the　last　of　the　magnificent　pre…Columbian　civilizations。　We　can　only　make　a　rough　assessment　of　the　enormous　number　of　objects　the　Spanish　took　and　melted　down　into　bullion。〃
　　　　Giordino's　face　beamed　almost　as　brightly　as　all　the　gold。　〃Warms　the　cockles　of　your　heart；　knowing　the　gluttonous　Spaniards　missed　the　cream　of　the　crop。〃
　　　　〃Any　chance　we　can　get　over　to　the　island　so　I　can　study　the　artifacts？〃　asked　Shannon。
　　　　〃And　I'll　need　to　get　close…ups；〃　added　Rodgers。
　　　　〃Not　unless　you　can　walk　across　thirty　meters　of　rushing　water；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　Pitt　scanned　the　cavern　by　sweeping　his　light　along　the　barren　floor。　〃Looks　like　the　Chachapoyas　and　the　Incas　took　their　bridge　with　them。　You'll　have　to　do　your　study　and　shoot　your　pictures　of　the　treasure　from　here。〃
　　　　〃I'll　use　my　telephoto　and　pray　my　flash　carries　that　far；〃　said　Rodgers　hopefully。
　　　　〃What　do　you　suppose　all　this　is　worth？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　〃You'd　have　to　weigh　it；〃　said　Pitt；　〃figure　in　the　current　market　price　of　gold；　and　then　triple　your　total　for　the　value　as　rare　artifacts。〃
　　　　〃I'm　certain　the　treasure　is　worth　double　what　the　experts　estimated；〃　said　Shannon。
　　　　Giordino　looked　at　her。　〃That　would　be　as　high　as　three　hundred　million　dollars？〃
　　　　Shannon　nodded。　〃Maybe　even　more。〃
　　　　〃It　isn't　worth　a　good　baseball　card；〃　remarked　Pitt；　〃until　it's　brought　to　the　surface。　Not　an　easy　job　to　barge　the　larger　pieces；　including　the　chain；　off　an　island　surrounded　by　a　rushing　flow　of　water；　and　then　haul　them　up　a　narrow　passageway　to　the　top　of　the　mountain。　From　there；　you'll　need　a　heavy　transport　helicopter　just　to　carry　the　golden　chain。〃
　　　　〃You're　talking　a　major　operation；〃　said　Rodgers。
　　　　Pitt　held　his　light　on　the　great　coiled　chain。　〃Nobody　said　it　was　going　to　be　easy。　Besides；　bringing　out　the　treasure　isn't　our　problem。〃
　　　　Shannon　gave　him　a　questioning　stare。　〃Oh；　no？　Then　who　do　you　expect　to　do　it？〃
　　　　Pitt　stared　back。　〃Have　you　forgotten？　We're　supposed　to　stand　aside　and　hand　it　over　to　our　old　pals　from　the　Solpemachaco。〃
　　　　The　repulsive　thought　had　slipped　her　mind　after　gazing　enthralled　at　the　wealth　of　golden　artifacts。　〃An　outrage；〃　Shannon　said　furiously；　her　self…esteem　blossoming　once　more；　〃a　damned　outrage。　The　archaeological　discovery　of　the　century；　and　I　can't　direct　the　recovery　program。〃
　　　　〃Why　don't　you　lodge　a　plaint？〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　She　glared　at　him；　puzzled。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　　　〃Let　the　petition　know　how　you　feel。〃
　　　　〃How？〃
　　　　〃Leave　them　a　message。〃
　　　　〃You're　crazy。〃
　　　　〃That　observation　has　been　cropping　up　quite　a　bit　lately；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　Pitt　took　the　rope　slung　over　Giordino's　shoulder　and　made　a　loop。　Then　he　twirled　the　rope　like　a　lariat　and　threw　the　loop　across　the　water；　smiling　triumphantly　as　it　settled　over　the　head　of　a　small　golden　monkey　on　a　pedestal。
　　　　〃Ah；　ha！〃　he　uttered　proudly。　〃Will　Rogers　had　nothing　on　me。〃

　　　　Pitt's　worst　fears　were　confirmed　when　he　hovered　the　helicopter　above　the　Alhambra。　No　one　stood　on　the　deck　to　greet　the　craft　and　its　passengers。　The　ferry　looked　deserted。　The　auto　deck　was　empty；　as　was　the　wheelhouse。　The　boat　was　not　riding　at　anchor；　nor　was　she　drifting。　Her　hull　was　resting　lightly　in　the　water　only　two　meters　above　the　silt　of　the　shallow　bottom。　To　all　appearances；　she　looked　like　a　ship　that　had　been　abandoned　by　her　crew。
　　　　The　sea　was　calm　and　there　was　no　pitch　or　roll。　Pitt　lowered　the　helicopter　onto　the　wood　deck　and　shut　down　the　engines　as　soon　as　the　tires　touched　down。　He　sat　there　as　the　sound　of　the　turbine　and　rotor　blades　slowly　died　into　a　morbid　silence。　He　waited