inca.gold-第69节

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y　million　dollars。　A　tidy　sum　when　you　consider　the　IRS　is　shut　out　of　the　profits。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　so　he　isn't　the　nerdy　kid　I　knew　in　school。　How　close　do　the　Feds　think　Zolar　is　to　the　treasure？〃
　　　　〃They　think　he　has　better　directions　than　we　do。〃
　　　　〃I'm　willing　to　bet　my　Thanksgiving　turkey　we　find　the　site　first。〃
　　　　〃Either　way；　you'd　lose。〃
　　　　Giordino　turned　and　looked　at　him。　〃Care　to　let　your　old　buddy　in　on　the　rationale？〃
　　　　〃If　we　hit　the　jackpot　ahead　of　them；　we're　supposed　to　fade　into　the　landscape　and　let　them　scoop　up　the　loot。〃
　　　　〃Give　it　up？〃　Giordino　was　incredulous。
　　　　〃Those　are　the　orders；〃　said　Pitt；　resentment　written　in　his　eyes。
　　　　〃But　why？〃　demanded　Giordino。　〃What　great　wisdom　does　our　benevolent　government　see　in　making　criminals　rich？〃
　　　　〃So　Customs　and　the　FBI　can　trail　and　trap　them　into　an　indictment　and　eventual　conviction　for　some　pretty　heavy　crimes。〃
　　　　〃I　can't　say　this　sort　of　justice　appeals　to　me。　Will　the　taxpayers　be　notified　of　the　windfall？〃
　　　　〃Probably　not；　any　more　than　they　were　told　about　the　Spanish　gold　the　army　removed　from　Victorio　Peak　in　New　Mexico　after　it　was　discovered　by　a　group　of　civilians　in　the　nineteen　thirties。〃
　　　　〃We　live　in　a　sordid；　unrelenting　world；〃　Giordino　observed　poetically。
　　　　Pitt　motioned　toward　the　rising　sun。　〃e　around　on　an　approximate　heading　of　one…one…o　degrees。〃
　　　　Giordino　took　note　of　the　eastern　heading。　〃You　want　to　check　out　the　other　side　of　the　Gulf　on　the　first　run？〃
　　　　〃Only　four　islands　have　the　geological　features　similar　to　what　we're　looking　for。　But　you　know　I　like　launching　the　search　on　the　outer　perimeters　of　our　grid　and　then　working　back　toward　the　more　promising　targets。〃
　　　　Giordino　grinned。　〃Any　sane　man　would　begin　in　the　center。〃
　　　　〃Didn't　you　know？〃　Pitt　came　back。　〃The　village　idiot　has　all　the　fun。〃

　　　　It　had　been　a　long　four　days　of　searching。　Oxley　was　discouraged；　Sarason　oddly　placent；　while　Moore　was　baffled。　They　had　flown　over　every　island　in　the　Sea　of　Cortez　that　had　the　correct　geological　formations。　Several　displayed　features　on　their　peaks　that　suggested　man…made　rock　carvings。　But　low　altitude　reconnaissance　and　strenuous　climbs　up　steep　palisades　to　verify　the　rock　structures　up　close　revealed　configurations　that　appeared　as　sculpted　beasts　only　in　their　imaginations。
　　　　Moore　was　no　longer　the　arrogant　academic。　He　was　plainly　baffled。　The　rock　carving　had　to　exist　on　an　island　in　an　inland　sea。　The　pictographs　on　the　golden　mummy　suit　were　distinct；　and　there　was　no　mistaking　the　directions　in　his　translation。　For　a　man　so　cocksure　of　himself；　the　failure　was　maddening。
　　　　Moore　was　also　puzzled　by　Sarason's　sudden　change　in　attitude。　The　bastard；　Moore　mused；　no　longer　displayed　animosity　or　anger。　Those　strange　almost　colorless　eyes　always　seemed　to　be　in　a　constant　state　of　observation；　never　losing　their　intensity。　Moore　knew　whenever　he　gazed　into　them　that　he　was　facing　a　man　who　was　no　stranger　to　death。
　　　　Moore　was　being　increasingly　uneasy。　The　balance　of　power　had　shifted。　His　edge　was　dulled　now　he　was　certain　that　Sarason　saw　beyond　his　credentials　as　an　insolent　schoolteacher。　If　he　had　recognized　the　killer　instinct　in　Sarason；　it　stood　to　reason　Sarason　had　identified　it　in　him　too。
　　　　But　there　was　a　small　measure　of　satisfaction。　Sarason　was　not　clairvoyant。　He　could　not　have　known；　nor　did　any　man　alive　know　except　the　President　of　the　United　States；　that　Professor　Henry　Moore；　respected　anthropologist；　and　his　equally　respected　archaeologist　wife；　Micki　were　experts　in　carrying　out　assassinations　of　foreign　terrorist　leaders。　With　their　academic　credentials　they　easily　traveled　in　and　out　of　foreign　countries　as　consultants　on　archaeological　projects。　Interestingly；　the　CIA　was　in　total　ignorance　of　their　actions。　Their　assignments　came　directly　from　an　obscure　agency　calling　itself　the　Foreign　Activities　Council　that　operated　out　of　a　small　basement　room　under　the　White　House。
　　　　Moore　shifted　restlessly　in　his　seat　and　studied　a　chart　of　the　Gulf。　Finally　he　said；　〃Something　is　very；　very　wrong。〃
　　　　Oxley　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Five　o'clock。　I　prefer　to　land　in　daylight。　We　might　as　well　call　it　a　day。〃
　　　　Sarason's　expressionless　gaze　rested　on　the　empty　horizon　ahead。　Untypically；　he　acted　relaxed　and　quiet。　He　offered　no　ment。
　　　　〃It's　got　to　be　here；　〃Moore　said；　examining　the　islands　he　had　crossed　out　on　his　chart　as　if　he　had　flunked　a　test。
　　　　〃I　have　an　unpleasant　feeling　we　might　have　flown　right　by　it；〃　said　Oxley。
　　　　Now　that　he　saw　Moore　in　a　different　light；　Sarason　viewed　him　with　the　respect　one　adversary　has　for　another。　He　also　realized　that　despite　his　slim　frame；　the　professor　was　strong　and　quick。　Struggling　up　the　rocky　walls　of　promising　islands；　gasping　from　aggravated　exhaustion　and　playing　drunk；　was　nothing　more　than　an　act。　On　two　occasions；　Moore　leaped　over　a　fissure　with　the　agility　of　a　mountain　goat。　On　another；　with　seemingly　little　effort；　he　cast　aside　a　boulder　blocking　his　path　that　easily　equaled　his　weight。
　　　　Sarason　said；　〃Perhaps　the　Inca　sculpture　we're　looking　for　was　destroyed。〃
　　　　In　the　rear　seat　of　the　seaplane　Moore　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I'd　have　recognized　the　pieces。〃
　　　　〃Suppose　it　was　moved？　It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time　an　ancient　sculpture　was　relocated　to　a　museum　for　display。〃
　　　　〃If　Mexican　archaeologists　had　taken　a　massive　rock　carving　and　set　it　up　for　exhibit；〃　said　Moore　doggedly；　〃I'd　have　known　about　it。〃
　　　　〃Then　how　do　you　explain　that　it　is　not　where　it　is　supposed　to　be？〃
　　　　〃I　can't；〃　Moore　admitted。　〃As　soon　as　we　land　back　at　the　hacienda；　I'll　review　my　notes。　There　must　be　a　seemingly　insignificant　clue　that　I　missed　in　my　translation　of　the　golden　suit。〃
　　　　〃I　trust　you　will　find　it　before　tomorrow　morning；〃　Sarason　said　dryly。
　　　　Oxley　fought　the　urge　to　doze　off。　He　had　been　at　the　controls　since　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　his　neck　was　stiff　with　weariness。　He　held　the　control　column　between　his　knees　and　poured　himself　a　cup　of　coffee　from　a　thermos。　He　took　a　swallow　and　made　a　face。　It　was　not　only　cold　but　tasted　as　strong　as　battery　acid。　Suddenly；　his　eye　caught　a　flash　of　green　from　under　a　cloud。　He　pointed　out　the　window　to　the　right　of　the　Baffin　flying　boat。
　　　　〃Don't　see　many　helicopters　in　this　part　of　the　Gulf；〃　he　said　casually。
　　　　Sarason　didn't　bother　to　look。　〃Must　be　a　Mexican　navy　patrol　plane。〃
　　　　〃No　doubt　looking　for　a　drunken　fisherman　with　a　broken　engine；〃　added　Moore。
　　　　Oxley　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　ever　recall　seeing　a　turquoise　military　aircraft。〃
　　　　Sarason　looked　up；　startled。　〃Turquoise？　Can　you　make　out　its　markings？〃
　　　　Oxley　lifted　the　binoculars　and　peered　through　the　windscreen。　〃American。〃
　　　　〃A　Drug　Enforcement　Agency　patrol　working　with　Mexican　authorities；　probably。〃
　　　　〃No；　it　belongs　to　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。　I　wonder　what　they're　doing　in　the　Gulf？〃
　　　　〃They　conduct　ocean　surveys　all　over　the　world；〃　said　Moore　unconcernedly。
　　　　Sarason　stiffened　as　though　he'd　been　shot。　〃Two　scum　from　NUMA　wrecked　our　operation　in　Peru。〃
　　　　〃Hardly　seems　likely　there's　a　connection；〃　said　Oxley。
　　　　〃What　operation　did　NUMA　wreck　in　Peru？〃　asked　Moore；　sniffing　the　air。
　　　　〃They　stepped　outside　their　jurisdiction；〃　answered　Sarason　vaguely。
　　　　〃I'd　like　to　hear　about　it　sometime。〃
　　　　〃Not　a　subject　that　concerns　you；〃　Sarason　said；　brushing　him　off。　〃How　many　people　in　the　craft？〃
　　　　〃Looks　like　a　model　that　seats　four；〃　replied　Oxley；　〃but　I　only　see　a　pilot　and　one　passenger。〃
　　　　〃Are　they　approaching　or　headed　away？〃
　　　　〃The　pilot　has　turned　onto　a　converging　course　that　will　cross　about　two　hundred　meters　above　us。〃
　　　　〃Can　you　ascend　and　turn　with　him？〃　asked　Sarason。　〃I　want　a　closer　look。〃
　　　　〃Since　aviation　authorities　can't　take　away　a　license　I　never　applied　for〃　Oxley　smiled　〃I'll　put　you　in　the　pilot's　lap。〃
　　　　〃Is　that　safe？〃　Moore　asked。
　　　　Oxley　grinned。　〃Depends　on　the　other　pilot。〃
　　　　Sarason　took　the　binoculars　and　peered　at　the　turquoise　helicopter。　This　was　a　different　model　from　the　one　that　had　landed　at　the　sacrificial　well。　That　one　had　a　shorter　fuselage　and　landing　skids。　This　one　had　retractable　landing　gear。　But　there　was　no　mistaking　the　color　scheme　and　markings。　He　told　himself　it　was　ridiculous　to　think　the　men　in　the　approaching　helicopter　could　possibly　be　the　same　ones　who　appeared　out　of　nowhere　in　the　Andes。
　　　　He　trained　the　binoculars　on　the　helicopter's　cockpit。　In　another　few　seconds　he　would　be　able　to　discern　the　faces　inside。　For　some　strange；　inexplicable　reason　his　calm　began　to　crack　and　he　felt　his　nerves　tighten。

　　　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　asked　Giordino。　〃Could　they　be　the　ones？〃
　　　　〃They　could　be。〃　Pitt　stared　through　a　pair　of　naval　glasses　at　the　amphibian　seaplane　flying　on　a　diagonal　course　below　the　helicopter。　〃After　watching　the　pilot　circle　Estanque　Island　for　fifteen　minutes　as　if　he　were　looking　for　something　on　the　peak；　I　think　it's　safe　to　say　we've　met　up　with　our　petition。〃
　　　　〃According　to　Sandecker；　they　launched　their　search　two　days　ahead　of　us；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Sin