pdouglas.thecodex-第22节

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　Tom　hesitated；　nonplussed　by　the　unexpected　question。
　〃We're　trying　to　find　his　father；〃　said　Sally。　〃Maxwell　Broadbent。　He　came　through　here　about　a　month　ago　with　a　group　of　Indians　in　dugout　canoes。　They　probably　had　a　lot　of　boxes　with　them。〃
　The　old　man　looked　at　Tom；　squinting。　〃e　here；　boy。〃　He　reached　out　with　a　leathery　hand　and　grasped　Tom's　arm　in　a　viselike　grip；　drawing　him　closer。　He　peered　at　him；　his　eyes　magnified　grotesquely　by　the　glasses。
　Tom　felt　as　if　the　old　man　were　peering　right　into　his　soul。
　After　a　moment's　scrutiny；　he　released　him。　〃I　see　that　you　and　your　wife　are　hungry。　Marisol！〃　He　spoke　to　her　in　an　Indian　language。　The　girl　left。　He　turned　back　to　Tom。　〃So　that　was　your　father　who　came　through　here；　eh？　You　don't　look　crazy　to　me。　A　boy　with　a　crazy　father　is　usually　crazy；　too。〃
　〃My　mother　was　normal；〃　said　Tom。
　Don　Alfonso　laughed　uproariously　and　slapped　his　knee。　〃That　is　good。　You　are　a　joker；　too。　Yes；　they　stopped　here　to　buy　food。　The　white　man　was　like　a　bear；　and　his　voice　carried　half　a　mile。　I　told　him　he　was　crazy　to　go　on　into　the　Meambar　Swamp；　but　he　did　not　listen。　He　must　be　a　great　chief　from　America。　We　had　a　good　evening　together　with　many　laughs；　and　he　gave　me　this〃
　He　reached　over　to　where　some　burlap　sacks　were　folded　up；　fumbled　about　with　his　hands；　and　held　something　toward　them　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。　The　sun　struck　it；　and　it　glinted　the　color　of　pigeons　blood；　with　a　perfect　star　shining　in　it。　He　placed　it　in　Tom's　hand。
　〃A　star　ruby；〃　breathed　Tom。　It　was　one　of　the　gems　in　his　father's　collection；　worth　a　small；　perhaps　even　a　large；　fortune。　He　felt　a　sudden　rush　of　emotion：　It　was　so　like　his　father　to　make　an　extravagant　gift　to　someone　he　liked。　He　had　once　given　a　panhandler　five　thousand　dollars　because　the　man　amused　him　with　a　witty　remark。
　〃Yes。　A　ruby。　With　it　my　grandchildren　will　go　to　America。〃　He　carefully　squirreled　it　away　among　the　dirty　burlap　sacks。　〃Why　is　your　father　doing　this？　He　was　as　evasive　as　a　coati　when　I　tried　to　find　out。〃
　Tom　glanced　at　Sally。　How　could　he　possibly　explain　it？　〃We're　trying　to　find　my　father。　He's　。。。　sick。〃
　At　this　Don　Alfonso's　eyes　opened　wide。　He　removed　his　glasses；　wiped　them　with　a　filthy　rag；　and　put　them　back　on；　dirtier　than　before。　〃Sick？　Is　it　infectious？〃
　〃No。　As　you　say；　he's　just　a　little　loco；　that's　all。　It's　a　game　he　wanted　to　play　with　his　sons。〃
　Don　Alfonso　thought　for　a　while；　then　shook　his　head。　〃I　have　seen　the　yanquis　do　many　strange　things；　but　this　is　more　than　strange。　There　is　something　you're　not　telling　me。　If　I　am　to　help　you；　you　must　tell　me　all。〃
　Tom　sighed　and　glanced　at　Sally。　She　nodded。　〃He's　dying。　He　went　upriver　with　all　his　possessions　to　be　buried；　and　he　issued　a　challenge　to　us　that　if　we　wanted　our　inheritance；　we　would　have　to　find　his　tomb。〃
　Don　Alfonso　nodded；　as　if　this　were　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world。　〃Yes；　yes；　this　is　something　we　Tawahka　Indians　once　did。　We　buried　ourselves　with　our　property；　and　it　always　made　our　sons　angry。　But　then　the　missionaries　came　and　explained　to　us　that　Jesus　would　give　us　new　things　in　heaven　so　we　didn't　need　to　bury　anything　with　the　dead。　So　we　stopped　doing　it。　But　I　believe　the　old　way　was　better。　And　I　am　not　sure　that　Jesus　has　all　these　new　things　for　people　when　they　die。　The　pictures　I　have　seen　of　him　show　a　poor　man　without　cooking　pots；　pigs；　chickens；　shoes；　or　even　a　wife。〃　Don　Alfonso　sniffed　loudly。　〃But　then；　perhaps　it　is　better　to　bury　yourself　with　your　possessions　than　letting　the　sons　fight　over　them。　Even　before　you　are　dead　they　are　fighting。　That　is　why　I　already　gave　everything　I　owned　to　my　sons　and　daughters　and　live　like　a　wretch。　This　is　the　respectable　thing　to　do。　Now　my　sons　have　nothing　to　fight　over；　and；　what　is　more　important；　they　do　not　wish　me　dead。〃
　He　finished　his　speech　and　put　his　pipe　back　in　his　mouth。
　〃Did　any　other　white　people　e　by？〃　Sally　asked。
　〃Ten　days　ago　two　dugouts　with　four　men；　two　mountain　Indians　and　two　white　men；　stopped。　I　thought　the　younger　one　might　be　Jesus　Christ；　but　at　the　missionary　school　they　said　he　was　only　a　type　of　person　called　a　hippie。　They　stayed　a　day；　and　they　went　on。　Then　a　week　ago　four　dugouts　with　army　soldiers　and　two　gringos　arrived。　They　hired　Don　Orlando　to　guide　them　and　left。　This　is　why　I　ask　myself：　Why　are　all　these　crazy　yanquis　suddenly　going　into　the　Meambar　Swamp？　Are　they　all　looking　for　your　father's　tomb？〃
　〃Yes。　They're　my　two　brothers。〃
　〃Why　are　you　not　cooperating？〃
　Tom　didn't　answer。
　Sally　spoke。　〃You　mentioned　mountain　Indians　with　the　first　white　man。　Do　you　know　where　they　e　from？〃
　〃They　are　naked　savage　Indians　from　the　highlands　who　paint　themselves　red　and　black。　They　are　not　Christians。　We　are　a　little　bit　Christian　here　in　Pito　Solo。　Not　much；　just　enough　to　get　by　when　the　missionaries　e　with　North　American　food　and　medicine。　Then　we　sing　and　clap　for　Jesus。　That　is　how　I　got　my　new　glasses。〃　He　removed　them　and　held　them　out　to　Tom　for　inspection。
　Tom　said；　〃Don　Alfonso；　we　need　a　guide　to　take　us　upriver；　and　we　need　supplies　and　equipment。　Can　you　help　us？〃
　Don　Alfonso　puffed　and　puffed；　then　nodded。　〃I　will　take　you。〃
　〃Oh　no；〃　Tom　said；　looking　at　the　feeble　old　man　with　alarm。　〃That　isn't　what　I　was　asking。　We　couldn't　take　you　away　from　the　village　where　you're　needed。〃
　〃Me？　Needed？　The　village　would　like　nothing　more　than　to　get　rid　of　old　Don　Alfonso！〃
　〃But　you're　their　chief。〃
　〃Chief？　Puah！〃
　〃It'll　be　a　long；　hard　journey；〃　said　Tom；　〃not　suitable　for　a　man　of　your　age。〃
　〃I　am　still　as　strong　as　a　tapir！　I'm　young　enough　to　marry　again。　In　fact；　I　need　a　sixteen…year…old　who　will　fit　right　in　that　empty　place　in　my　hammock　and　bounce　me　to　sleep　every　night　with　little　sighs　and　kisses…〃
　〃Don　Alfonso…〃
　〃I　need　a　sixteen…year…old　to　tease　me　and　poke　her　tongue　in　my　ear　to　wake　me　up　in　the　morning　so　I　get　up　with　the　birds。　Do　not　concern　yourselves　any　longer：　I；　Don　Alfonso　Boswas；　will　take　you　through　the　Meambar　Swamp。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Tom　as　firmly　as　he　could。　〃You　will　not。　We　need　a　younger　guide。〃
　〃You　cannot　avoid　it。　I　dreamed　you　would　e　and　that　I　would　go　with　you。　So　it　is　decided。　I　speak　English　and　Spanish；　but　I　prefer　Spanish。　English　frightens　me。　It　sounds　like　one　is　being　choked。〃
　Tom　glanced　at　Sally；　exasperated。　This　old　man　was　impossible。
　At　that　moment　Marisol　returned　with　her　mother。　They　were　each　carrying　wooden　trenchers　laid　with　palm　leaves；　on　which　were　piled　fresh　hot　tortillas；　fried　plantains；　roasted　meats　and　nuts；　and　fresh　fruit。
　Tom　had　never　been　so　hungry　in　his　life。　He　and　Sally　tucked　into　the　feast；　joined　by　Don　Alfonso；　while　the　girl　and　her　mother　watched　in　satisfied　silence。　All　conversation　ceased　while　they　ate。　When　he　and　Sally　had　finished；　the　woman　silently　took　their　plates　and　refilled　them；　and　then　refilled　them　a　third　time。
　When　the　meal　was　over；　Don　Alfoso　leaned　back　and　wiped　his　mouth。
　〃Now　look；〃　said　Tom　as　firmly　as　he　could。　〃Dream　or　no　dream；　you're　not　ing　with　us。　We　need　a　younger　man。
　〃Or　woman；〃　said　Sally。
　〃I　will　bring　two　young　men　with　me；　Chori　and　Pingo。　I'm　the　only　one　besides　Don　Orlando　who　knows　the　way　through　the　Meambar　Swamp。　Without　a　guide　you　will　die。〃
　〃I　must　decline　your　offer；　Don　Alfonso。〃
　〃You　don't　have　much　time。　The　soldiers　are　after　you。〃
　〃They　were　here？〃　Tom　asked；　alarmed。
　〃They　came　this　morning。　They　will　be　back。〃
　Tom　glanced　at　Sally　and　then　back　to　Don　Alfonso。　〃We　haven't　done　anything　wrong。　I'll　explain…〃
　〃You　do　not　need　to　explain。　The　soldiers　are　evil　men。　We　must　start　provisioning　immediately。　Marisol！〃
　〃Yes；　grandfather？〃
　〃We　will　need　tarpaulins；　matches；　petrol；　two…cycle　engine　oil；　tools；　a　frying　pan；　cooking　pot；　silverware；　and　water　canteens。〃　He　continued　to　reel　off　the　list　of　supplies　and　food。
　〃Do　you　have　medicine？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃We　have　much　North　American　medicine；　thanks　to　the　missionaries。　We　did　a　lot　of　clapping　for　Jesus　to　get　those　medicines。　Marisol；　tell　the　people　to　e　with　the　items　for　sale　at　fair　prices。〃
　Marisol　ran　off；　her　braids　flying；　and　in　less　than　ten　minutes　she　returned；　leading　a　file　of　old　men；　women；　and　children；　each　carrying　something。　Don　Alfoso　remained　in　the　hut；　aloof　from　the　lowly　business　of　buying　and　selling　while　Marisol　handled　the　crowd。
　〃Buy　what　you　want　and　tell　the　others　to　go　away；〃　Marisol　said。　〃They　will　tell　you　the　price。　Do　not　bargain；　it　is　not　our　way。　Just　say　yes　or　no。　The　prices　are　fair。〃
　She　spoke　sharply　to　the　ragged　line　of　people；　and　they　shuffled　together；　standing　up　straighter。
　〃She's　going　to　be　chief　of　this　village；〃　Tom　said　to　Sally　in　English；　looking　over　the　orderly　row　of　people。
　〃She　already　is。〃
　〃We　are　ready；〃　Marisol　said。　She　gestured　at　the　first　man　in　line。　He　stepped　forward　and　held　out　five　old　burlap　sacks。
　〃Four　hundred；〃　said　the　girl。
　〃Dollars？〃
　〃Lempiras。〃
　〃What's　that　in　dollars？〃　said　Tom。
　〃Two。〃
　〃We'll　take　them。〃
　The　next　person　stepped　forward　with　a　large　sac