inca.gold-第33节

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　　　　They　wasted　no　time　in　examining　the　body　but　moved　as　fast　as　their　hands　would　let　them；　pulling　the　body　bag　over　the　corpse　while　trying　not　to　stir　up　a　cloud　of　silt。　The　silt　did　not　cooperate；　billowing　up　in　a　dense　cloud；　cutting　off　all　visibility。　They　worked　blind；　carefully　zipping　up　the　bag；　making　sure　no　flesh　protruded　from　the　seam。　When　the　grisly　job　was　pleted；　Pitt　reported　to　Gunn。
　　　　〃We　have　the　body　contained　and　are　on　our　way　up。〃
　　　　〃Acknowledged；〃　Gunn　replied。　〃We　will　lower　a　sling　with　a　stretcher。〃
　　　　Pitt　grabbed　Giordino's　arm　through　the　silt　cloud；　signaling　for　a　mutual　ascent。　They　began　raising　the　remains　of　Doc　Miller　to　the　sunlight。　After　reaching　the　surface；　they　gently　eased　the　body　onto　the　stretcher　and　secured　it　with　buckled　straps。　Then　Pitt　advised　Gunn。
　　　　〃Ready　for　lift。〃
　　　　As　Pitt　watched　the　stretcher　rise　toward　the　rim　of　the　sinkhole；　he　sadly　wished　he　had　known　the　genuine　Steve　Miller　instead　of　the　imposter。　The　esteemed　anthropologist　had　been　murdered　without　knowing　why。　No　hint　was　given　by　the　scum　that　cut　his　throat。　He　never　knew　that　his　death　was　an　unnecessary　act　by　a　sociopathic　killer。　He　was　simply　a　cast…off　pawn　in　the　high…stakes　game　of　stolen　art　and　antiquities。
　　　　There　was　nothing　more　to　be　done。　Their　part　of　the　body　retrieval　operation　was　finished。　Pitt　and　Giordino　could　only　float　and　wait　for　the　winch　to　lower　the　cable　again。　Giordino　looked　over　at　Pitt　expectantly　and　removed　the　breathing　regulator　from　his　mouth。
　　　　We　still　have　plenty　of　air；　he　wrote　on　a　munications　board。　Why　not　poke　around　while　we're　waiting　for　the　next　elevator？
　　　　To　Pitt　the　suggestion　struck　a　harmonious　chord。　Unable　to　remove　his　head　mask　and　speak；　he　replied　on　his　own　munications　board；　Stay　close　to　me　and　grab　hold　if　struck　by　surge。　Then　he　gestured　downward。　Giordino　nodded　and　faithfully　swam　alongside　as　they　jackknifed　and　kicked　once　more　toward　the　floor　of　the　sinkhole。
　　　　The　puzzle　in　Pitt's　mind　was　the　lack　of　artifacts　in　the　silt。　Bones；　yes；　there　was　an　overabundance。　But　after　probing　the　sinkhole's　floor　for　half　an　hour；　they　found　no　sign　of　ancient　artifacts。　Nothing　except　the　armor　on　the　intact　skeleton　he　had　discovered　on　his　first　dive；　and　the　dive　gear　Pitt　had　cast　off　before　his　climb　out　of　the　well。　Two　minutes　was　all　it　took　to　relocate　the　site。　The　bony　hand　was　still　raised；　one　finger　pointing　in　the　direction　where　Miller　had　lain。
　　　　Pitt　slowly　drifted　around　the　armor…encased　Spaniard；　examining　every　detail；　occasionally　glancing　up　and　around　the　dim　reaches　of　the　sinkhole；　alert　to　any　disturbance　in　the　silt　that　signaled　the　approach　of　the　mysterious　surge。　He　felt　his　every　movement　was　followed　from　deep　within　the　empty　eye　sockets　of　the　skull。　The　teeth　seemed　frozen　in　a　mocking　grin；　taunting　and　baiting　him　at　the　same　time。　The　sunlight　from　above　filtered　through　the　slime　and　painted　the　bones　a　ghostly　shade　of　green。
　　　　Giordino　floated　nearby；　observing　Pitt　with　detached　curiosity。　He　had　no　clue　to　what　captivated　his　friend。　The　old　bones　held　little　fascination　for　Giordino。　The　remains　of　a　five…hundred…year…old　Spaniard　conjured　up　nothing　in　his　imagination；　except　possibly　the　eruption　that　would　occur　when　Shannon　Kelsey　discovered　that　her　precious　archaeological　site　had　been　disturbed　before　she　could　investigate　it。
　　　　No　such　thoughts　ran　through　Pitt's　mind。　He　was　beginning　to　sense　that　the　skeleton　did　not　belong　here。　He　rubbed　a　finger　lightly　over　the　breastplate。　A　thin　smudge　of　rust　came　away；　revealing　smooth；　unpitted；　uncorroded　metal　beneath。　The　leather　straps　that　held　the　armor　against　the　chest　were　incredibly　well　preserved。　And　so　were　the　fasteners　that　joined　the　straps。　They　had　the　appearance　of　metal　buckles　on　old　shoes　that　had　sat　inside　a　trunk　in　an　attic　for　one　or　two　generations。
　　　　He　swam　a　few　meters　away　from　the　skeleton　and　pulled　a　bone　out　of　the　silt；　a　tibia　by　the　shape　of　it。　He　returned　and　held　it　against　the　Spaniard's　protruding　forearm　and　hand。　The　bone　from　the　silt　was　much　rougher　and　pitted　as　well　as　more　deeply　stained　from　the　minerals　in　the　water。　The　bony　structure　of　the　skeleton　was　smooth　in　parison。　Next　he　studied　the　teeth；　which　were　in　remarkably　good　condition。　Pitt　found　caps　on　two　molars；　not　gold　but　silver。　Pitt　was　no　expert　on　sixteenth…century　dentistry；　but　he　knew　that　Europeans　didn't　even　begin　to　fill　cavities　and　cap　teeth　until　the　late　eighteenth　century。
　　　　〃Rudi？〃
　　　　〃I'm　listening；〃　answered　Gunn。
　　　　〃Please　send　down　a　line。　I　want　to　lift　something。〃
　　　　〃A　line　with　a　small　weight　attached　to　the　end　is　on　the　way。〃
　　　　〃Try　to　drop　it　where　you　see　our　bubbles。〃
　　　　〃Will　do。〃　There　was　a　pause；　and　then　Gunn's　voice　came　back　over　Pitt's　earphones　with　a　slight　edge　to　it。　〃Your　archaeologist　lady　is　raising　hell。　She　says　you　can't　touch　anything　down　there。〃
　　　　〃Pretend　she's　in　Moline；　Illinois；　and　drop　the　line。〃
　　　　Gunn　replied　nervously。　〃She's　making　a　terrible　scene　up　here。〃
　　　　Either　drop　the　line　or　throw　her　over　the　edge；〃　Pitt　snapped　obstinately。
　　　　〃Stand　by。〃
　　　　Moments　later　a　small　steel　hook　attached　to　a　nylon　line　materialized　through　the　green　void　and　landed　in　the　silt　two　meters　away。　Giordino　effortlessly　swam　over；　snagged　the　line　with　one　hand；　and　returned。　Then；　with　the　finesse　of　a　pickpocket　delicately　lifting　a　wallet；　Pitt　very　carefully　wrapped　the　loose　end　of　the　line　around　a　strap　holding　the　breastplate　to　the　skeleton　and　cinched　it　with　the　hook。　He　stared　at　Giordino　and　made　the　thumbs…up　gesture。　Giordino　nodded　and　was　mildly　surprised　when　Pitt　released　the　line；　allowing　it　to　slacken　and　leaving　the　skeleton　where　it　lay。
　　　　They　took　turns　being　lifted　out　of　the　sinkhole。　As　the　crane　raised　him　by　his　safety　line；　Pitt　looked　down　and　vowed　he　would　never　again　enter　that　odious　slough。　At　the　rim；　Gunn　was　there　to　help　swing　him　onto　firm　ground　and　remove　his　full　face　mask。
　　　　〃Thank　God；　you're　back；〃　he　said。　〃That　madwoman　threatened　to　shoot　off　my　testicles。〃
　　　　Giordino　laughed。　〃She　learned　that　from　Pitt。　Just　be　thankful　your　name　isn't　Amaru。〃
　　　　〃What。　。　。　what　was　that？〃
　　　　〃Another　story；〃　said　Pitt；　inhaling　the　humid　mountain　air　and　enjoying　every　second　of　it。
　　　　He　was　struggling　out　of　his　dive　suit　when　Shannon　stormed　up　to　him　like　a　wild　grizzly　who　had　her　cubs　stolen。　〃I　warned　you　not　to　disturb　any　artifacts；〃　she　said　firmly。
　　　　Pitt　looked　at　her　for　a　long　moment；　his　green　eyes　strangely　soft　and　understanding。　〃There　is　nothing　left　to　touch；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Somebody　beat　you　to　it。　Any　artifacts　that　were　in　your　sacred　pool　a　month　ago　are　gone。　Only　the　bones　of　animals　and　sacrificial　victims　are　left　scattered　on　the　bottom。〃
　　　　Her　face　turned　incredulous　and　the　hazel　eyes　flew　very　wide。　〃Are　you　certain？〃
　　　　〃Would　you　like　proof？〃
　　　　〃We　have　our　own　equipment。　I'll　dive　into　the　pool　and　see　for　myself。〃
　　　　〃Not　necessary；〃　he　advised。
　　　　She　turned　and　called　to　Miles　Rodgers。　〃Let's　get　suited　up。〃
　　　　〃You　begin　probing　around　in　the　silt　and　you　will　surely　die；〃　Pitt　said；　with　all　the　emotion　of　a　professor　lecturing　to　a　physics　class。
　　　　Maybe　Shannon　wasn't　listening　to　Pitt；　but　Rodgers　was。　〃I　think　we　had　better　listen　to　what　Dirk　is　saying。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　wish　to　sound　nasty；　but　he　lacks　the　necessary　credentials　to　make　a　case。〃
　　　　〃What　if　he's　right？〃　Rodgers　asked　innocently。
　　　　〃I've　waited　a　long　time　to　explore　and　survey　the　bottom　of　the　pool。　You　and　I　came　within　minutes　of　losing　our　lives　trying　to　unlock　its　secrets。　I　can't　believe　there　isn't　a　time　capsule　of　valuable　antiquities　down　there。〃
　　　　Pitt　took　the　line　leading　down　into　the　water　and　held　it　loosely　in　his　hand。　〃Here　is　the　verification。　Pull　on　this　line　and　I　guarantee　you'll　change　your　mind。〃
　　　　〃You　attached　the　other　end？〃　she　challenged　him。　〃To　what？〃
　　　　〃A　set　of　bones　masquerading　as　a　Spanish　conquistador。〃
　　　　〃You're　beyond　belief；〃　she　said　helplessly。
　　　　It　was　a　long　time　since　a　woman　had　stared　at　him　like　that。　〃Do　you　think　I'm　a　head　case？　Do　you　think　I　enjoy　this？　I　damn　well　don't　enjoy　spending　my　time　saving　your　backside。　Okay；　you　want　to　die　and　be　buried　in　a　thousand　bits　and　pieces；　enjoy　the　trip。〃
　　　　Uncertainty　crept　into　her　expression。　〃You're　not　making　sense。〃
　　　　〃Perhaps　a　little　demonstration　is　in　order。〃　Pitt　gently　pulled　in　the　line　until　it　became　taut。　Then　he　gave　it　a　hard　jerk。
　　　　For　a　moment　nothing　happened。　Then　a　rumbling　came　from　the　bottom　of　the　well；　swelling　in　volume；　sending　tremors　through　the　limestone　walls。　The　violence　of　the　explosion　was　electrifying。　The　underwater　blast　came　like　the　eruption　of　a　huge　depth　charge　as　a　seething　column　of　white　froth　and　green　slime　burst　out　of　the　sinkhole；　splattering　everyone　and　everything　standing　within　20　meters　（66　feet）　of　the　edge。　The　thunder　of　the　explosion　rolled　over　the　jungle　as　the　spray　fell　back　into　the　sinkhole；　leaving　a　heavy　mist　that　swirled　into　the　sky