inca.gold-第76节

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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　a　full　minute　but　no　one　appeared。　He　opened　the　entry　door　and　dropped　to　the　deck。　Then　he　stood　there　waiting　for　something　to　happen。
　　　　Finally；　a　man　stepped　from　behind　a　stairwell　and　approached；　ing　to　a　halt　about　5　meters　（16　feet）　from　the　chopper。　Even　without　the　phony　white　hair　and　beard；　Pitt　easily　recognized　the　man　who　had　impersonated　Dr。　Steven　Miller　in　Peru。　He　was　smiling　as　if　he'd　caught　a　record　fish。
　　　　〃A　little　off　your　beat；　aren't　you？〃　said　Pitt；　unruffled。
　　　　〃You　seem　to　be　my　never…ending　nemesis；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　　　　〃A　quality　that　thrills　me　no　end。　What　name　are　you　going　under　today？〃
　　　　〃Not　that　it's　of　use　to　you；　but　I　am　Cyrus　Samson。〃
　　　　〃I　can't　say　I'm　pleased　to　see　you　again。〃
　　　　Sarason　moved　closer；　peering　over　Pitt's　shoulder　at　the　interior　of　the　helicopter。　His　face　lost　the　gloating　smile　and　twisted　into　tense　concern。　〃You　are　alone？　Where　are　the　others？〃
　　　　〃What　others？〃　Pitt　asked　innocently。
　　　　〃Dr。　Kelsey；　Miles　Rodgers；　and　your　friend；　Albert　Giordino。〃
　　　　〃Since　you　have　the　passenger　list　memorized；　you　tell　me。〃
　　　　Please；　Mr。　Pitt；　you　would　do　well　not　to　toy　with　me；〃　Sarason　warned　him。
　　　　〃They　were　hungry；　so　I　dropped　them　off　at　a　seafood　restaurant　in　San　Felipe。〃
　　　　〃You're　lying。〃
　　　　Pitt　didn't　take　his　gaze　off　Sarason　to　scan　the　decks　of　the　ferry。　Guns　were　trained　on　him。　That　was　a　certainty　he　knew　without　question。　He　stood　his　ground　and　faced　Miller's　killer　as　if　he　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world。
　　　　〃So　sue　me；〃　Pitt　retorted；　and　laughed。
　　　　〃You're　hardly　in　a　position　to　be　contemptuous；〃　Sarason　said　coldly。　〃Perhaps　you　don't　realize　the　seriousness　of　your　situation。〃
　　　　〃I　think　I　do；〃　said　Pitt；　still　smiling。　〃You　want　Huascar's　treasure；　and　you'd　murder　half　the　good　citizens　of　Mexico　to　get　it。〃
　　　　〃Fortunately；　that　won't　be　necessary。　I　do　admit；　however；　two…thirds　of　a　billion　dollars　makes　an　enticing　incentive。〃
　　　　〃Aren't　you　interested　in　knowing　how　and　why　we　were