pdouglas.thecodex-第23节

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　〃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　sack　of　beans；　a　sack　of　loose　dry　corn；　and　an　indescribably　battered　aluminum　pot　and　lid。　The　original　handle　was　missing；　and　in　its　place　was　a　beautifully　carved　and　oiled　piece　of　hardwood。　〃One　dollar。〃
　〃We'll　take　them。〃
　The　man　laid　them　down　and　retreated；　while　the　next　one　stepped　forward；　holding　out　two　T…shirts；　two　pairs　of　dirty　shorts；　a　trucker's　hat；　and　a　brand…new　pair　of　Nikes。
　〃Here's　my　change　of　clothes；〃　said　Tom。　He　looked　at　the　shoes。　〃Just　my　size；　too。　Imagine　finding　a　brand…new　pair　of　Air　Jordans　down　here。〃
　〃They　make　them　here；〃　said　Sally。　〃Remember　the　sweatshop　scandals？〃
　〃Oh　yeah。〃
　The　procession　of　goods　continued：　plastic　tarps；　sacks　of　beans　and　rice；　dried　and　smoked　meats　that　Tom　decided　not　to　inquire　too　closely　about；　bananas；　a　fifty…five…gallon　drum　of　petrol；　a　box　of　salt。　Quite　a　few　had　arrived　with　cans　of　extra…strength　Raid；　the　insect　repellent　of　choice；　which　Tom　declined。
　Suddenly　a　hush　fell　over　the　crowd。　Tom　could　hear　the　faint　buzz　of　an　outboard　motor。　The　girl　spoke　rapidly。
　〃You　must　follow　me　into　the　forest。　Quickly。〃
　Instantly　the　crowd　had　dispersed；　and　the　village　fell　silent；　seemingly　empty。　The　girl　calmly　led　the　way　into　the　forest；　following　an　almost　invisible　trail。　A　twilight　mist　drifted　through　the　trees。　There　was　swamp　all　around　them；　but　the　trail　wound　this　way　and　that；　keeping　to　high　ground。　The　sounds　of　the　village　died　away；　and　they　were　wrapped　in　the　muffled　cloak　of　the　forest。　After　ten　minutes　of　walking；　the　girl　stopped。
　〃We　wait　here。〃
　〃How　long？〃
　〃Until　the　soldiers　leave。〃
　〃What　about　our　boat？〃　Sally　asked。　〃Won't　they　recognize　our　boat？〃
　〃We　already　hid　your　boat。〃
　〃That　was　a　good　idea。　Thank　you。〃
　〃You're　wele。〃　The　self…possessed　girl　turned　her　dark　eyes　back　down　the　trail　and　waited；　as　still　and　quiet　as　a　deer。
　〃Where　do　you　go　to　school？〃　Sally　asked；　after　a　moment。
　〃The　Baptist　school　down　the　river。〃
　〃A　missionary　school？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Are　you　a　Christian？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　said　the　girl；　turning　a　serious　face　to　Sally。　〃Aren't　you？〃
　Sally　blushed。　〃Well；　ah；　my　parents　were　Christians。〃
　〃That　is　good；〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃I　wouldn't　want　you　to　go　to　hell。〃
　〃Well　now；〃　said　Tom；　speaking　into　the　awkward　silence。　〃I'm　curious　to　know；　Marisol；　if　there　is　anyone　in　the　village　besides　Don　Alfonso　who　knows　the　way　across　the　Meambar　Swamp。〃
　She　shook　her　head　gravely。　〃He　is　the　only　one。〃
　〃Is　it　difficult　to　cross？〃
　〃Very。〃
　〃Why　is　he　so　anxious　to　take　us？〃
　She　simply　shook　her　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　He　has　dreams　and　visions；　and　this　was　one　of　them。〃
　〃He　really　did　dream　about　us　ing？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　When　the　first　white　man　came；　he　said　the　sons　would　soon　follow。　And　here　you　are。〃
　〃A　lucky　guess；〃　said　Tom　in　English。
　A　distant　shot　echoed　through　the　forest；　then　another。　It　rolled　about　like　thunder；　curiously　distorted　by　the　jungle；　taking　a　long　time　to　fade　away。　The　effect　on　Marisol　was　terrible　to　see。　She　turned　white；　trembled；　and　swayed。　But　she　said　nothing　and　did　not　move。　Tom　was　horrified。　Had　somebody　been　shot？
　〃They　aren't　shooting　people？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　Tom　could　see　her　eyes　filling　with　tears。　But　she　betrayed　no　other　emotion。
　Sally　grabbed　Tom's　arm。　〃They　might　be　shooting　people　on　account　of　us。　We've　got　to　go　give　ourselves　up。〃
　〃No；〃　said　the　girl　sharply。　〃Maybe　they're　shooting　into　the　air。　We　can　do　nothing　except　wait。〃　A　single　tear　made　a　track　down　the　girl's　face。
　〃We　never　should　have　stopped　here；〃　said　Sally；　switching　into　English。　〃We　had　no　right　to　put　these　people　in　danger。　Tom；　we've　got　to　go　back　to　the　village　and　face　those　soldiers。〃
　〃You're　right。〃　Tom　turned　to　go。
　〃They　will　shoot　us　if　you　go　back；〃　the　girl　said。　〃With　soldiers；　we　are　powerless。〃
　〃They'll　never　get　away　with　this；〃　Sally　said；　her　voice　shaking。　〃I'll　report　this　to　the　American　Embassy。　Those　soldiers　will　be　punished。〃
　The　girl　said　nothing。　She　had　fallen　silent　and　was　standing　still　again；　like　a　deer；　just　barely　trembling。　Even　her　tears　had　stopped。
　
　21
　
　Lewis　Skiba　remained　alone　in　his　office。　It　was　still　early　in　the　afternoon；　but　he　had　sent　everyone　home　to　get　them　away　from　the　press。　He　had　unplugged　his　office　phone　and　shut　the　two　outer　doors　to　his　office。　Now；　while　the　pany　was　crumbling　around　him；　he　was　locked　in　a　cocoon　of　silence；　wrapped　in　a　golden　glow　of　his　own　making。
　The　Securities　and　Exchange　mission　hadn't　even　waited　until　the　close　of　trading　to　announce　the　investigation　into　accounting　irregularities　at　Lampe…Denison　Pharmaceuticals。　The　announcement　had　fallen　like　a　hammer　blow　on　the　stock；　and　now　Lampe　was　at　seven　and　a　quarter　and　ticking　down。　The　pany　was　like　a　dying　whale；　paralyzed；　wallowing；　surrounded　by　a　frenzied；　mindless　cluster　of　sharks…short　sellers…tearing　it　apart；　chunk　by　chunk。　It　was　a　primitive；　Darwinian　feeding　frenzy。　And　every　dollar　they　chewed　out　of　the　stock　price　ripped　a　hundred…million…dollar　hole　in　Lampe's　market　cap。　He　was　helpless。
　Lampe's　lawyers　had　done　their　duty　and　issued　the　usual　statement　that　the　allegations　had　〃no　merit〃　and　that　Lampe　was　eager　to　cooperate　and　clear　its　name。　Graff；　the　CFO；　had　played　his　part；　issuing　a　statement　that　Lampe　had　scrupulously　followed　generally　accepted　accounting　principals。　Lampe's　auditors　expressed　shock　and　dismay；　saying　that　they　had　relied　on　Lampe's　financial　declarations　and　avowals　and　that　if　there　were　any　irregularities　they　had　been　as　thoroughly　deceived　as　everyone　else。　All　the　stock　phrases　Skiba　had　heard　from　every　other　crooked　pany　and　their　legions　of　enablers　got　trotted　out。　It　was　all　as　stilted　and　programmed　as　a　Japanese　Kabuki　drama。　Everyone　had　followed　the　script　but　him。　Now　they　all　wanted　to　hear　from　him；　the　great　and　terrible　Skiba。　They　wanted　to　jerk　back　the　curtain。　Everyone　wanted　to　glimpse　the　charlatan　working　the　controls。
　It　wasn't　going　to　work　that　way。　Not　as　long　as　he　was　still　breathing。　Let　them　jabber　and　haw；　he　would　remain　silent。　And　then；　when　the　Codex　arrived　and　their　stock　doubled；　tripled；　quadrupled　。。。
　He　checked　his　watch。　Two　minutes。
　
　Hauser's　voice　came　in　so　clear　over　the　satellite　connection　that　the　man　could　have　been　calling　from　next　door；　except　that　the　scrambler　made　him　quack　like　Donald　Duck。　Nevertheless　the　man's　bully…boy　bluster；　his　insolent　familiarity；　came　through。
　Hauser　said；　〃Lewis！　How're　you　doing？〃
　Skiba　allowed　a　frosty　moment　to　pass。　〃When　am　I　going　to　have　the　Codex？〃
　〃Skiba；　here's　the　situation。　The　middle　brother；　Vernon；　just　as　I　thought；　got　his　ass　lost　in　the　swamp；　and　he's　probably　done　for。　The　other　brother；　Tom…〃
　〃I　didn't　ask　about　the　brothers。　I　don't　care　about　the　brothers。　I　asked　about　the　Codex。〃
　〃You　should　care。　You　know　the　score。　Anyway；　as　I　was　saying；　Tom　managed　to　slip　past　some　soldiers　I'd　hired　to　stop　him。　They're　pursuing　him　upriver　and　may　yet　catch　him　before　he　goes　into　the　swamp；　but　he's　proving　a　lot　more　resourceful　than　I　anticipated。　If　he's　going　to　be　stopped；　the　last　place　to　do　it　is　at　the　far　end　of　the　swamp。　I　can't　risk　losing　track　of　him　and　the　girl　in　the　mountains　beyond。　You　follow？〃
　Skiba　turned　down　the　volume　on　the　arrogant；　quacking　voice。　He　didn't　believe　he　had　ever　hated　a　man　as　much　as　he　hated　Hauser　right　now。
　〃A　second　problem　is　the　oldest　son；　Philip。　At　some　point　I'm　going　to　have　to　deal　with　him。　I'll　need　him　for　a　while　longer；　but　when　he's　outlived　his　usefulness；　well；　we　can't　have　him　'popping　up'　（that　was　your　phrase；　or　was　it　mine？）　claiming　ownership　of　the　Codex。　Nor　can　Vernon　or　Tom。　And　that　goes　for　the　woman　Tom's　traveling　with；　Sally　Colorado。〃
　There　was　a　long　silence。
　〃You　do　understand　what　I'm　saying；　don't　you？〃
　Skiba　waited；　trying　to　control　himself。　These　conversations　were　a　colossal　waste　of　time。　Even　more；　they　were　dangerous。
　〃You　there；　Lewis？〃
　Skiba　said　angrily；　〃Why　don't　you　just　get　on　with　it？　Why　these　calls？　Your　job　is　to　deliver　the　Codex　to　me。　How　you　do　it　is　your　business；　Hauser。〃
　The　chuckle　swelled　to　a　laugh。　〃Oh；　that's　beautiful。　You're　not　going　to　get　away　so　easily。　You've　known　all　along　what　has　to　happen。　You've　been　hoping　that　I'd　take　care　of　it　on　my　own。　No　such　luck。　There　isn't　going　to　be　any　deniability　here；　no　selling　out　the　little　guy；　no　plea　bargaining。　When　the　time　es；　you're　going　to　tell　me　to　kill　them。　It's　the　only　way；　and　you　know　it。〃
　〃Stop　this　kind　of　talk　immediately。　There　will　be　no　killing。〃
　〃Oh；　Lewis；　Lewis　。。。〃
　Skiba　felt　sick。　He　felt　the　nausea　contracting　his　stomach　in　waves。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　the　stock　was　ticking　down　again。　The　SEC　hadn't　even　halted　trading；　had　hung　Lampe　out　to　twist　in　the　wind。　There　were　twenty　thousand　employees　depending　on　him；　millions　of　sick