pdouglas.thecodex-第18节

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　〃There's　the　local　hotrod；〃　said　Sally；　pointing。　〃That's　the　one　for　us。〃
　Tom　looked　around。　The　place　seemed　deserted。
　〃There's　somebody。〃　Sally　pointed　to　an　open…sided　bamboo　shed　fifty　yards　down　the　riverbank。　A　small　fire　smoked　next　to　a　pile　of　empty　tin　cans。　A　hammock　had　been　strung　between　two　trees　in　a　spot　of　shade　and　inside　the　hammock　a　man　slept。
　Sally　advanced。　〃Hola；〃　she　said。
　After　a　moment　the　man　opened　one　eye。　〃Si？〃
　〃We　want　to　talk　to　someone　about　renting　a　boat。〃　She　spoke　in　Spanish。
　With　a　flurry　of　grunts　and　mutterings　of　displeasure　he　sat　up　in　the　hammock；　scratched　his　head；　and　grinned。　〃I　speak　good　American。　We　talk　American。　Someday　I　go　to　America。〃
　〃That's　good。　We're　going　to　Pito　Solo；〃　said　Tom。
　He　nodded；　yawned；　scratched。　〃Okay。　I　take　you。〃
　〃We'd　like　to　rent　the　big　boat。　The　one　with　the　eighteen…horsepower　engine。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃That　stupid　boat。〃
　〃We　don't　care　if　the　boat　is　stupid；〃　said　Tom。　〃That's　the　one　we　want。〃
　〃I　take　you　in　my　boat。　That　stupid　boat　belong　to　army　mans。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃Got　candy？〃
　Sally　removed　a　bag　she　had　bought　earlier；　expressly　for　that　purpose。
　The　man's　face　lit　up　in　a　smile。　He　put　a　withered　hand　into　it；　sorted　through　the　candies；　selected　five　or　six；　unwrapped　them；　and　put　them　all　in　his　mouth　at　once。　They　formed　a　great　lump　in　his　cheek。　〃Bueno；〃　he　said　in　a　muffled　voice。
　〃We'd　like　to　leave　tomorrow　morning；〃　Tom　said。　〃How　long　is　the　journey？〃
　〃Three　days。〃
　〃Three　days？　I　thought　it　was　forty　or　fifty　miles。〃
　〃Water　going　down。　Maybe　get　stuck。　Have　to　pole。　Much　wading。　Cannot　use　engine。〃
　〃Wading？〃　Tom　asked。　〃What　about　that　toothpick　fish？〃
　The　man　looked　at　him　blankly。
　〃Don't　worry；　Tom；〃　Sally　said；　〃you　can　wear　tight　underwear。〃
　〃Ah；　si！　The　candiru！〃　The　man　laughed。　〃That　favorite　gringo　story。　Candiru。　I　swim　in　river　every　day　and　I　still　got　my　chuc…chic。　It　working　fine！〃　He　swayed　his　hips　licentiously；　winking　at　Sally。
　〃Spare　me；〃　said　Sally。
　〃So　this　fish　is　a　hoax？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃No；　it's　real！　But　you　got　piss　in　river　first。　Candiru　smell　piss　in　river；　swim　up；　and　chop！　If　you　no　piss　when　you　swim；　you　got　no　problem！〃
　〃Anyone　else　e　through　here　lately？　Any　gringos；　I　mean。〃
　〃Si。　We　very　busy。　Last　month；　white　man　e　with　many　boxes　and　Indians　from　the　mountains。〃
　〃What　Indians？〃　Tom　asked　excitedly。
　〃Naked　mountain　Indians。〃　He　spat。
　〃Where　did　he　get　his　boats？〃
　〃He　bring　many　new　dugouts　from　La　Ceiba。〃
　〃And　did　the　boats　return？〃
　The　man　smiled；　rubbed　his　fingers　together　in　the　universal　gesture；　and　held　out　his　hand。　Sally　put　a　five…dollar　bill　in　it。
　〃Boats　not　return。　Mans　go　upriver；　never　e　back。〃
　〃Anyone　else　e　through？〃
　〃Si。　Then　last　week　Jesus　Christ　came　through　with　drunken　guides　from　Puerto　Lempira。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ？〃　Sally　asked。
　〃Yes；　Jesus　Christ　with　long　hair；　beard；　robes；　and　sandals。〃
　〃That's　got　to　be　Vernon；〃　said　Tom；　with　a　smile。　〃Was　he　with　anyone　else？〃
　〃Yes。　He　with　St。　Peter。〃
　Tom　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Any　others？〃
　〃Si。　Then　e　two　gringos　with　twelve　soldiers　in　two　dugouts　also　from　La　Ceiba。〃
　〃What　did　the　gringos　look　like？〃
　〃One　very　tall；　smoke　pipe；　angry。　Other　one　shorter　with　four　gold　rings。〃
　〃Philip；〃　said　Tom。
　They　quickly　made　a　deal　for　a　boat　to　Pito　Solo；　and　Tom　gave　him　a　ten…dollar　advance。　〃We　leave　at　first　light　tomorrow。〃
　〃Bueno！　I　be　ready！〃
　As　they　came　back　from　the　river　to　the　cinderblock　barracks　that　passed　as　the　local　hotel；　they　were　surprised　to　see　a　jeep　parked　there　with　an　army　officer　and　two　soldiers。　Nearby　a　crowd　of　children；　jostling　and　whispering；　waited　for　something　to　happen。　The　landlady　stood　to　one　side；　her　hands　clasped；　her　face　pale　with　fright。
　〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　this；〃　said　Sally。
　The　officer　stepped　forward；　a　man　with　a　very　straight　back；　a　spotless　uniform；　and　little　polished　boots。　He　gave　a　crisp　bow。　〃Do　I　have　the　honor　of　greeting　Se？or　Tom　Broadbent　and　Se？orita　Sally　Colorado？　I　am　Lieutenant　Vespán。〃　He　took　their　hands；　one　at　a　time；　then　stepped　back。　The　wind　shifted；　and　Tom　suddenly　smelled　a　mixture　of　Old　Spice；　cigars；　and　rum。
　〃What's　the　problem？〃　said　Sally。
　The　man　smiled　broadly；　exposing　a　row　of　silver　teeth。　〃I　am　devastated　to　inform　you　that　you　are　under　arrest。〃
　
　17
　
　Tom　stared　at　the　diminutive　military　officer。　A　little　dog；　which　had　taken　a　dislike　to　one　of　the　soldiers；　crouched　in　front　of　him；　baring　his　teeth　and　yapping。　The　officer　kicked　it　away　with　a　dainty　boot；　and　the　soldiers　laughed。
　〃On　what　charge？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃We　will　discuss　that　back　in　San　Pedro　Sula。　Now；　if　you　will　please　e　with　me。〃
　There　was　an　awkward　silence。　Sally　said；　〃No。〃
　〃Se？orita；　let　us　not　make　difficulty。〃
　〃I'm　not　creating　any　difficulties。　I'm　just　not　going。　You　can't　force　me。〃
　〃Sally；〃　Tom　said；　〃may　I　point　out　these　men　have　guns？〃
　〃Good。　Let　them　shoot　me　and　then　explain　it　to　the　U。S。　government。〃　She　spread　her　arms　out　to　make　a　target。
　〃Se？orita；　I　pray　you。〃
　The　two　soldiers　with　him　shifted　nervously。
　〃Go　ahead；　make　my　day！〃
　The　officer　nodded　at　his　two　men；　and　they　set　their　guns　down；　briskly　stepped　forward；　and　seized　Sally。　She　yelled　and　struggled。
　Tom　took　a　step　forward。　〃Get　your　hands　off　her。〃
　The　two　men　hoisted　her　up　and　began　carrying　her；　struggling；　to　the　jeep。　Tom　took　a　swing　at　the　first　man　and　sent　him　flying。　Sally　wrenched　free　while　Tom　tackled　the　other　man。
　The　next　thing　Tom　knew　he　was　lying　on　his　back；　looking　up　into　the　hot　blue　sky。　The　officer　stood　over　him；　red　faced　and　angry。　Tom　could　feel　a　throbbing　sensation　at　the　base　of　his　skull　where　the　man　had　struck　him　with　the　butt　of　his　gun。
　The　soldiers　pulled　him　roughly　to　his　feet。　Sally　had　stopped　struggling　and　looked　pale。
　〃Macho　bastards；〃　she　said。　〃We're　going　to　report　your　assault　to　the　American　Embassy。〃
　The　colonel　shook　his　head　sadly；　as　if　at　the　folly　of　it　all。　〃Now；　may　we　please　go　peacefully？〃
　They　allowed　themselves　to　be　taken　to　the　jeep。　The　colonel　shoved　Tom　into　the　backseat　and　pushed　Sally　in　next　to　him。　Their　backpacks　and　bags　had　already　been　collected　from　the　hotel　and　were　piled　in　the　back。　The　jeep　started　down　the　road　to　the　airstrip。　There；　a　shabby　military　helicopter　was　sitting　on　the　grass。　A　metal　panel　on　the　side　of　the　helicopter　was　off；　and　a　man　with　a　wrench　was　fiddling　with　the　engine。　The　jeep　came　sliding　to　a　stop。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　the　colonel　asked　sharply　in　Spanish。
　〃I　am　sorry；　Teniente；　but　there　is　a　small　problem。〃
　〃What　problem？〃
　〃We　need　a　part。〃
　〃Can　you　fly　without　it？〃
　〃No；　Teniente。〃
　〃Mary　whore　of　Jesus！　How　many　times　does　this　helicopter　have　to　break　down？〃
　〃Shall　I　radio　for　them　to　send　a　plane　with　the　part？〃
　〃By　the　balls　of　Joseph！　Yes；　you　deficient；　radio　for　the　part！〃
　The　pilot　climbed　into　the　chopper；　radioed；　and　then　came　out。　〃It　will　be　ing　tomorrow　morning；　Teniente。　That　is　the　earliest。〃
　
　The　lieutenant　locked　them　in　a　wooden　shed　at　the　airstrip　and　put　the　two　soldiers　outside　to　guard　them。　After　the　door　clapped　shut；　Tom　sat　down　on　an　empty　fifty…five…gallon　drum　and　held　his　aching　head。
　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　Sally　asked。
　〃Like　my　head　is　a　brass　gong　that　was　just　rung。〃
　〃That　was　a　nasty　blow　he　gave　you。〃
　Tom　nodded。
　There　was　a　rattle；　and　the　door　was　flung　open　again。　The　lieutenant　stood　aside　while　one　of　the　soldiers　tossed　in　their　sleeping　bags　and　a　flashlight。　〃I　truly　regret　the　inconvenience。〃
　〃You'll　truly　regret　the　inconvenience　when　I　report　you；〃　Sally　said。
　The　lieutenant　ignored　this。　〃May　I　advise　you　not　to　do　anything　foolish。　It　would　be　disappointing　if　someone　were　shot。〃
　Sally　said；　〃You　wouldn't　dare　shoot　us；　you　tinhorn　Nazi。〃
　The　lieutenant's　teeth　glinted　silvery　yellow　in　the　feeble　light。　〃Accidents　have　been　known　to　occur；　especially　to　Americans　who　e　to　La　Mosquitia　unprepared　for　the　rigors　of　the　jungle。〃
　He　backed　out　of　the　door；　and　the　soldier　slammed　it。　Tom　could　hear　the　muffled　voice　of　the　lieutenant　telling　the　soldiers　that　if　they　fell　asleep　or　drank　on　the　job　he　would　personally　cut　their　testicles　off；　dry　them；　and　hang　them　up　as　door　knockers。
　〃Damn　Nazis；〃　said　Sally。　〃Thanks　for　defending　me　back　there。〃
　〃Didn't　do　much　good。〃
　〃Did　he　hit　you　hard？〃　She　looked　at　his　head。　〃That's　a　nasty　lump。〃
　〃I'm　fine。〃
　Sally　sat　down　next　to　him。　He　felt　the　warmth　of　her　presence。　He　looked　at　her　and　could　see　her　faint　profile；　just　outlined　in　the　semidarkness　of　the　shed。　She　looked　at　him。　They　were　so　close　that　he　could　feel　the　warmth　of　her　face　on　his；　see　the　curl　of　her　lip；　the　faint　dimple　on　her　cheek；　the　scattering　of　freckles　on　her　nose。　She　still　smelled　of　peppermint。　Without　even　thinking　of　what　he　was　doing；　he　leaned　forward；　his　lips　just　brushing　hers。　For　a　moment　there　was　stillness；　and　then　she　sharply　pulled　away。　〃That's　not　a　good　idea。〃
　What　the　hell　was　he　thinking？　To