inca.gold-第63节

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　　　　〃Didn't　anybody　ever　tell　you　booze　and　rock　climbing　don't　mix？〃
　　　　Moore　ignored　him。　Then　suddenly；　the　exhaustion　washed　away　and　he　stiffened。　His　eyes　squinted　in　drunken　concentration。　He　brushed　Oxley　aside　and　stumbled　toward　a　rock　the　size　of　a　small　automobile　that　was　crudely　carved　in　the　shape　of　some　animal。　Like　a　drunk　who　had　witnessed　a　vision；　he　staggered　around　the　rock　sculpture；　his　hands　fluttering　over　the　rough；　uneven　surface。
　　　　〃A　dog；〃　he　gasped　between　labored　breaths；　〃it's　only　a　stupid　dog。〃
　　　　〃Wrong；〃　said　Samson。　〃A　coyote。　The　namesake　of　the　bay。　Superstitious　fishermen　carved　it　as　a　symbol　to　protect　their　crews　and　boats　when　they　go　to　sea。〃
　　　　〃Why　should　an　old　rock　carving　interest　you？〃　asked　Oxley。
　　　　〃As　an　anthropologist；　primitive　sculptures　can　be　a　great　source　of　knowledge。〃
　　　　Samson　was　watching　Moore；　and　for　once　his　eyes　were　no　longer　filled　with　distaste。　There　was　no　question　in　his　mind　that　the　drunken　professor　had　given　away　the　key　to　the　treasure's　location。
　　　　He　could　kill　Moore　now；　Samson　thought　icily。　Throw　the　little　man　over　the　edge　of　the　island's　west　palisade　into　the　surf　that　crashed　on　the　rocks　far　below。　And　who　would　care？　The　body　would　probably　drift　out　with　the　tide　and　bee　shark　food。　Any　investigation　by　local　Mexican　authorities　was　doubtful。
　　　　〃You　realize；　of　course；　that　we　no　longer　require　your　services；　don't　you；　Henry？〃　It　was　the　first　time　Sarason　had　uttered　Moore's　given　name；　and　there　was　an　unpleasant　familiarity　about　it。
　　　　Moore　shook　his　head　and　spoke　with　an　icy　posure　that　seemed　unnatural　under　the　circumstances。　〃You'll　never　do　it　without　me。〃
　　　　〃A　pathetic　bluff；〃　Samson　sneered。　〃Now　that　we　know　we're　searching　for　an　island　with　a　sculpture；　an　ancient　one　I　presume；　what　more　can　you　possibly　contribute　to　the　search？〃
　　　　Moore's　drunkenness　had　seemingly　melted　away；　and　he　abruptly　appeared　as　sober　as　a　judge。　〃A　rock　sculpture　is　only　the　first　of　several　benchmarks　the　Incas　erected。　They　all　have　to　be　interpreted。〃
　　　　Samson　smiled。　It　was　a　cold　and　evil　smile。　〃You　wouldn't　lie　to　me　now；　would　you；　Henry？　You　wouldn't　deceive　my　brother　and　me　into　thinking　Isla　Bargo　isn't　the　treasure　site　so　you　can　return　later　on　your　own　and　dig　it　up？　I　sincerely　hope　that　little　plot　isn't　running　through　your　mind。〃
　　　　Moore　glared　at　him；　simple　dislike　showing　where　there　should　have　been　fear。　〃Blow　off　the　top　of　the　island；〃　he　said　with　a　shrug；　〃and　see　what　it　gets　you。　Level　it　to　the　waterline。　You　won't　find　an　ounce　of　Huascar's　treasure；　not　in　a　thousand　years。　Not　without　someone　who　knows　the　secrets　of　the　markers。〃
　　　　〃He　may　be　right；〃　Oxley　said　quietly。　〃And　if　he's　lying；　we　can　return　and　excavate　on　our　own。　Either　way；　we　win。〃
　　　　Sarason　smiled　bleakly。　He　could　read　Henry　Moore's　thoughts。　The　anthropologist　was　playing　for　time；　waiting　and　scheming　to　use　the　ultimate　end　of　the　search　to　somehow　claim　the　riches　for　himself。　But　Samson　was　a　schemer　too　and　he　had　considered　every　option。　At　the　moment　he　could　see　no　avenue　open　for　Moore　to　make　a　miraculous　escape　with　tons　of　gold。　Certainly　not　unless　Moore　had　a　plan　that　he　had　not　yet　fathomed。
　　　　Leniency　and　patience；　they　were　the　watchwords　for　now；　Samson　decided。　He　patted　Moore　on　the　back。　〃Forgive　my　frustration。　Let's　get　back　to　the　plane　and　call　it　a　day。　I　think　we　could　all　use　a　cool　bath；　a　tall　margarita；　and　a　good　supper。〃
　　　　〃Amen；〃　said　Oxley。　〃We'll　take　up　tomorrow　where　we　left　off　today。〃
　　　　〃I　knew　you'd　see　the　light；〃　said　Moore。　〃I'll　show　you　the　way。　All　you　boys　have　to　do　is　keep　the　faith。〃
　　　　When　they　arrived　back　at　the　aircraft；　Samson　entered　first。　On　a　hunch；　he　picked　up　Moore's　discarded　martini　shaker　and　shook　a　few　drops　onto　his　tongue。　Water；　not　gin。
　　　　Sarason　silently　cursed　himself。　He　had　not　picked　up　on　how　dangerous　Moore　was。　Why　would　Moore　act　the　role　of　a　drunk　if　not　to　lull　everyone　into　thinking　he　was　harmless？　He　slowly　began　to　prehend　that　Henry　Moore　was　not　entirely　what　he　seemed。　There　was　more　to　the　famous　and　respected　anthropologist　than　met　the　eye；　much　more。
　　　　As　a　man　who　could　kill　without　the　slightest　remorse；　Sarason　should　have　recognized　another　killer　when　he　saw　one。
　　　　Micki　Moore　stepped　out　of　the　blue…tiled　swimming　pool　below　the　hacienda　and　stretched　out　on　a　lounge　chair。　She　was　wearing　a　red　bikini　that　did　very　little　to　conceal　her　thin　form。　The　sun　was　warm　and　she　did　not　dry　herself；　preferring　to　let　the　water　drops　cling　to　her　body。　She　glanced　up　at　the　main　house　and　motioned　to　one　of　the　servants　to　bring　her　another　rum　collins。　She　acted　as　though　she　were　the　mistress　of　the　manor；　totally　disregarding　the　armed　guards　who　roamed　the　grounds。　Her　behavior　was　hardly　in　keeping　with　someone　who　was　being　held　hostage。
　　　　The　hacienda　was　built　around　the　pool　and　a　large　garden　filled　with　a　variety　of　tropical　plants。　All　major　rooms　had　balconies　with　dramatic　views　of　the　sea　and　the　town　of　Guaymas。　She　was　more　than　happy　to　relax　around　the　pool　or　in　her　skylit　bedroom　with　its　own　patio　and　Jacuzzi　while　the　men　flew　up　and　down　the　Gulf　in　search　of　the　treasure。　She　picked　up　her　watch　from　a　small　table。　Five　o'clock。　The　conniving　brothers　and　her　husband　would　be　returning　soon。　She　sighed　with　pleasure　at　the　thought　of　another　fabulous　dinner　of　local　dishes。
　　　　After　the　servant　girl　brought　the　rum　collins；　Micki　drank　it　down　to　the　ice　cubes　and　settled　back　for　a　brief　nap。　Just　before　she　drifted　off；　she　thought　she　heard　a　car　drive　up　the　road　from　town　and　stop　at　the　front　gate　of　the　hacienda。
　　　　When　she　awoke　a　short　time　later；　her　skin　felt　cool　and　she　sensed　that　the　sun　had　passed　behind　a　cloud。　But　then　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　was　startled　to　see　a　man　standing　over　her；　his　shadow　thrown　across　the　upper　half　of　her　body。
　　　　The　eyes　that　stared　at　her　looked　like　stagnant　black　pools。　There　was　no　life　to　them。　Even　his　face　seemed　incapable　of　expression。　The　stranger　appeared　emaciated；　as　if　he　been　sick　for　a　long　time。　Micki　shivered　as　though　an　icy　breeze　suddenly　swept　over　her。　She　thought　it　odd　that　he　took　no　notice　of　her　exposed　body；　but　gazed　directly　into　her　eyes。　She　felt　as　if　he　were　looking　inside　her。
　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked。　〃Do　you　work　for　Mr。　Zolar？〃
　　　　He　did　not　reply　for　several　seconds。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　with　an　odd　voice　with　no　inflection。　〃My　name　is　Tupac　Amaru。〃
　　　　And　then　he　turned　and　walked　away。

　　　　Admiral　Sandecker　stood　in　front　of　his　desk　and　held　out　his　hand　as　Gaskill　and　Ragsdale　were　ushered　into　his　office。　He　gave　a　friendly　smile。　〃Gentlemen；　please　take　a　seat　and　get　fortable。〃
　　　　Gaskill　looked　down　at　the　little　man　who　stood　slightly　below　his　shoulders。　〃Thank　you　for　taking　the　time　to　see　us。〃
　　　　〃NUMA　has　worked　with　Customs　and　the　FBI　in　the　past。　Our　relations　were　always　based　on　cordial　cooperation。〃
　　　　〃I　hope　you　weren't　apprehensive　when　we　asked　to　meet　with　you；〃　said　Ragsdale。
　　　　〃Curious　is　more　like　it。　Would　you　like　some　coffee？〃
　　　　Gaskill　nodded。　〃Black　for　me；　thank　you。〃
　　　　〃Whatever　artificial　sweetener　that's　handy　in　mine；〃　said　Ragsdale。
　　　　Sandecker　spoke　into　his　inter；　and　then　looked　up　and　asked；　〃Well；　gentlemen；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　　　　Ragsdale　came　straight　to　the　point。　〃We'd　like　NUMA's　help　settling　a　thorny　problem　dealing　with　stolen　artifacts。〃
　　　　〃A　little　out　of　our　line；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃Our　field　is　ocean　science　and　engineering。〃
　　　　Gaskill　nodded。　〃We　understand；　but　it　has　e　to　Customs'　attention　that　someone　in　your　agency　has　smuggled　a　valuable　artifact　into　the　country　illegally。〃
　　　　〃That　someone　was　me；〃　Sandecker　shot　back　without　batting　an　eye。
　　　　Ragsdale　and　Gaskill　glanced　at　each　other　and　shifted　uneasily　in　their　chairs。　This　turn　of　events　was　not　what　they　had　expected。
　　　　〃Are　you　aware；　Admiral；　that　the　United　States　prohibits　the　importing　of　stolen　artifacts　under　a　United　Nations　convention　that　seeks　to　protect　antiquities　worldwide？〃
　　　　〃I　am。〃
　　　　〃And　are　you　also　aware；　sir；　that　officials　at　the　Ecuadorian　embassy　have　filed　a　protest？〃
　　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　instigated　the　protest。〃
　　　　Gaskill　sighed　and　visibly　relaxed。　〃I　had　a　feeling　in　my　bones　there　was　more　to　this　than　a　simple　smuggling。〃
　　　　〃I　think　Mr。　Gaskill　and　I　would　both　appreciate　an　explanation；〃　said　Ragsdale。
　　　　Sandecker　paused　as　his　private　secretary；　Julie　Wolff；　entered　with　a　tray　of　coffee　cups　and　set　them　on　the　edge　of　his　desk。　〃Excuse　me；　Admiral；　but　Rudi　Gunn　called　from　San　Felipe　to　report　that　he　and　Al　Giordino　have　landed　and　are　making　final　preparations　for　the　project。〃
　　　　〃What　is　Dirk's　status？〃
　　　　〃He's　driving　and　should　be　somewhere　in　Texas　about　now。〃
　　　　Sandecker　turned　back　to　the　government　agents　after　Julie　had　closed　the　door。　〃Sorry　for　the　interruption。　Where　were　we？〃
　　　　〃You　were　going　to　tell　us　why　you　smuggled　a　stolen　artifact　into　the　United　States；〃　said　Ragsdale；　his　face　serious。
　　　　The　admiral　ca