pdouglas.thecodex-第24节

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　people　who　needed　their　drugs；　there　were　his　wife　and　children；　his　house；　his　own　two　million　stock　options　and　six　million　shares　。。。
　He　heard　a　loud　honk　on　the　line…evidently　a　laugh。　He　suddenly　felt　very　weak。　How　had　he　allowed　this　to　happen？　How　had　this　man　escaped　his　control？
　〃Don't　kill　anyone；〃　he　said；　swallowing　before　he　could　even　finish　the　sentence。　His　stomach　was　going　to　heave　at　any　moment。　There　was　a　legal　way　to　do　this；　the　sons　would　bring　out　the　Codex；　and　then　he'd　negotiate　with　them；　strike　a　deal　。。。　But　he　knew　it　wouldn't　happen；　not　with　Lampe　under　a　cloud　of　rumor　and　investigation；　with　a　collapsing　stock　price　。。。
　The　voice　suddenly　became　gentle。　〃Look；　I　know　it's　a　tough　decision。　If　you　really　feel　strongly　about　this；　I'll　turn　around　and　we'll　forget　all　about　the　Codex。　Really。〃
　Skiba　swallowed。　That　knot　in　his　throat　felt　like　it　was　going　to　choke　him。　His　three　towheaded　sons　smiled　at　him　from　the　silver　frames　on　his　desk。
　〃Just　say　the　word　and　we'll　head　back。　Call　it　a　day。〃
　〃There's　to　be　no　killing。〃
　〃Look；　no　decision　has　to　be　made　just　yet。　Why　don't　you　sleep　on　it？〃
　Skiba　staggered　to　his　feet。　He　tried　to　make　it　to　his　leather…covered　gold…tooled　Florentine　wastebasket　but　only　got　as　far　as　the　fireplace。　With　the　vomit　crackling　and　sizzling　in　the　fire；　he　came　back　to　the　phone；　picked　it　up　to　say　something；　then　changed　his　mind　and　slowly　placed　it　back　in　its　cradle　with　a　shaky　hand。　The　hand　snaked　out　toward　the　top　drawer　of　his　desk；　and　searched　out　the　cool　bottle　of　plastic。
　
　22
　
　Thirty　minutes　later；　Tom　saw　movement　in　the　forest；　and　an　old；　shawled　woman　came　tramping　down　the　trail。　Marisol　rushed　forward　with　a　sob；　and　they　spoke　rapidly　in　their　own　language。
　Marisol　turned　to　Tom　and　Sally　with　a　look　of　huge　relief。　〃It　is　as　I　said。　The　soldiers　just　shot　into　the　air　to　frighten　us。　Then　they　went　away。　We　convinced　them　that　you　had　not　e　to　the　village；　that　you　had　not　passed　by。　They　have　gone　back　downriver。〃
　As　they　approached　the　hut；　Tom　could　see　Don　Alfonso　standing　outside；　smoking　his　pipe；　looking　as　unconcerned　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　His　face　broke　into　a　big　smile　as　they　approached。　〃Chori！　Pingo！　Get　out　here！　e　out　and　meet　your　new　yanqui　bosses！　Chori　and　Pingo　do　not　speak　Spanish；　they　speak　only　Tawahka；　but　I　yell　at　them　in　Spanish　to　show　them　my　superiority；　and　you　must　yell　at　them；　too。〃
　Two　magnificent　specimens　of　manhood　bowed　out　of　the　door　of　the　hut；　naked　from　the　waist　up；　their　muscled　bodies　gleaming　with　oil。　The　one　named　Pingo　had　Western…style　tattoos　on　his　arms　and　Indian　tattoos　on　his　face　and　held　a　three…foot　machete　in　his　fist；　while　Chori　had　an　old　Springfield　rifle　slung　over　his　shoulder　and　carried　a　Pulaski…a　firefighter's　axe…in　one　hand。
　〃We　will　load　the　boat　now。　We　must　leave　the　village　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　Sally　glanced　at　Tom。　〃Looks　like　Don　Alfonso's　going　to　be　our　guide。〃
　Shouting　and　gesticulating；　Don　Alfonso　directed　Chori　and　Pingo　as　they　carried　the　supplies　down　to　the　river's　edge。　Their　dugout　was　back；　looking　as　if　it　had　never　been　moved。　In　a　half　hour　everything　was　all　set；　the　supplies　loaded　in　a　great　heap　in　the　middle　of　the　dugout　and　tied　down　with　a　plastic　tarp。　Meanwhile　a　crowd　had　been　gathering　on　the　bank；　and　cooking　fires　were　lit。
　Sally　turned　to　Marisol。　〃You're　a　wonderful　girl；〃　she　said。　〃You　saved　our　lives。　You　could　do　anything　in　life　you　want；　do　you　know　that？〃
　The　girl　gazed　at　her　steadily。　〃I　only　want　one　thing。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃To　go　to　America。〃　The　girl　said　no　more　but　continued　looking　at　Sally　with　her　grave；　intelligent　face。
　〃I　hope　you　do　go　to　America；〃　said　Sally。
　The　girl　smiled　confidently　and　stood　up　straighter。　〃I　will。　Don　Alfonso　promised。　He　has　a　ruby。〃
　The　riverbank　was　now　crowded　with　people。　Their　departure　seemed　to　be　turning　into　a　festive　occasion。　A　group　of　women　was　cooking　a　munal　dinner　over　a　fire。　Children　were　running；　playing；　laughing；　and　chasing　chickens。　Finally；　when　it　seemed　that　the　whole　village　was　assembled；　Don　Alfonso　moved　through　the　crowd；　which　parted　for　him。　He　was　wearing　a　brand…new　pair　of　shorts　and　a　T…shirt　that　said　〃No　Fear。〃　His　face　was　wreathed　in　smiles　as　he　joined　them　on　the　bamboo　dock。
　〃Everyone　has　e　to　say　good…bye；〃　he　said　to　Tom。　〃You　see　how　I　am　a　beloved　personage　in　Pito　Solo。　I　am　their　special　Don　Alfonso　Boswas。　You　see　proof　here　that　you　chose　the　right　person　to　guide　you　across　the　Meambar　Swamp。〃
　Some　firecrackers　went　off　nearby；　and　there　was　a　squealing　of　laughter。　The　women　began　passing　out　food。　Don　Alfonso　took　Tom　and　Sally　by　the　hand。
　〃We　get　into　the　boat　now。〃
　Chori　and　Pingo；　still　stripped　to　the　waist；　had　already　taken　their　places；　one　in　the　bow　and　the　other　the　stern。　Don　Alfonso　helped　them　while　two　boys　stood　at　either　end　of　the　boat；　holding　the　lines；　ready　to　cast　off。　Then　Don　Alfonso　got　in　himself。　He　steadied　himself；　turned；　and　faced　the　crowd。　A　hush　fell：　Don　Alfonso　was　about　to　give　a　speech。　When　the　silence　was　absolute；　he　started；　speaking　in　a　most　formal　Spanish。
　〃My　friends　and　countrymen；　many　years　ago　it　was　prophesied　that　white　men　would　e　and　I　would　take　them　on　a　long　journey。　And　now　they　are　here。　We　are　setting　off　on　a　perilous　journey　across　the　Meambar　Swamp。　We　will　have　adventures　and　see　many　strange　and　wonderful　sights；　never　before　seen　by　man。
　〃You　may　ask　why　we　make　this　great　journey！　I　will　tell　you。　This　American　has　e　here　to　rescue　his　father；　who　lost　his　mind　and　abandoned　his　wife　and　family；　taking　with　him　all　their　possessions；　leaving　them　destitute。　His　poor　wife　has　been　weeping　tears　for　him　every　day　and　she　cannot　feed　her　family　or　protect　them　from　the　wild　animals。　Their　house　is　falling　down　and　the　thatch　has　rotted；　letting　in　the　rain。　No　one　will　marry　his　sisters　and　they　will　soon　be　forced　into　whoredom。　His　nephews　have　taken　to　drink。　This　young　man；　this　good　son；　has　e　to　cure　his　father　from　his　madness　and　bring　him　back　to　America；　where　he　can　live　to　a　respectable　old　age　and　die　in　his　hammock　and　not　bring　further　dishonor　and　starvation　to　his　family。　Then　his　sisters　will　find　husbands　and　his　nephews　and　nieces　will　take　care　of　his　milpas　and　he　will　be　able　to　play　dominoes　in　the　hot　afternoon　instead　of　working。〃
　The　village　was　spellbound　at　the　speech。　Don　Alfonso；　Tom　thought；　certainly　knew　how　to　tell　a　good　story。
　〃Long　ago；　my　friends；　I　dreamed　a　dream　that　I　would　leave　you　in　this　way；　that　I　would　go　away　on　a　great　journey　to　the　end　of　the　earth。　I　am　now　one　hundred　and　twenty…one　years　of　age　and　finally　this　dream　has　e　to　pass。　There　are　not　many　men　who　could　do　this　thing　at　my　age。　I　still　have　much　blood　in　my　veins；　and　if　my　Rosita　were　still　alive　she　would　be　smiling　every　day。〃
　〃Good…bye；　my　friends；　your　beloved　Don　Alfonso　Boswas　is　departing　the　village　with　tears　of　sadness　in　his　eyes。　Remember　me　always　and　tell　my　story　to　your　children　and　tell　them　to　tell　their　children；　to　the　end　of　time。〃
　A　great　cheer　went　up。　Firecrackers　went　off；　and　all　the　dogs　began　barking。　Some　of　the　old　men　began　beating　sticks　together　in　a　plex　rhythm。　The　boat　was　pushed　out　into　the　current；　and　Chori　started　the　engine。　The　laden　boat　began　nosing　forward　in　the　water。　Don　Alfonso　continued　standing；　waving　and　blowing　kisses　to　the　wildly　cheering　crowd　until　long　after　the　boat　had　rounded　the　first　bend。
　〃I　feel　like　we　just　took　off　in　a　balloon　with　the　Wizard　of　Oz；〃　said　Sally。
　Don　Alfonso　finally　sat　down；　wiping　tears　from　his　eyes。　〃Ahee；　you　see　how　they　love　their　Don　Alfonso　Boswas。〃　He　snugged　himself　into　the　heap　of　supplies；　extracted　his　corncob　pipe；　packed　it　full　of　tobacco；　and　began　to　smoke；　a　pensive　expression　on　his　face。
　〃Are　you　really　one　hundred　and　twenty…one　years　old？〃　Tom　asked。
　Don　Alfonso　shrugged。　〃No　one　knows　how　old　they　really　are。〃
　〃I　know　how　old　I　am。〃
　〃You　have　counted　every　year　you　have　lived　since　birth？〃
　〃No；　but　others　counted　for　me。〃
　〃So　you　don't　really　know。〃
　〃I　do　know。　It's　listed　on　my　birth　certificate；　signed　by　the　doctor　who　delivered　me。〃
　〃Who　is　this　doctor　and　where　is　he　now？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea。〃
　〃And　you　actually　believe　some　useless　piece　of　paper；　signed　by　a　stranger？〃
　Tom　looked　at　the　old　man；　defeated　by　his　crazy　logic。　〃We　have　a　profession　for　people　like　you　in　America；〃　he　said。　〃We　call　them　lawyers。〃
　Don　Alfonso　laughed　loudly；　slapping　his　knee。　〃This　is　a　good　joke。　You　are　like　your　father；　Tomasito；　who　was　a　very　funny　man。〃　He　chuckled　for　a　while；　puffing　his　pipe。　Tom　took　out　their　map　of　Honduras　and　examined　it。
　Don　Alfonso　eyed　it　critically　and　then　snatched　it　out　of　his　hand。　He　examined　it　first　one　way；　then　another。　〃What　is　this？　North　America？〃
　〃No；　it's　southeastern　Honduras。　That's　the　Patuca　River；　and　there's　Brus。　The　village　of　Pito　Solo　should　be　here；　but　it's　not　marked。　Neither；　it　seems；　is　the　Meambar　Swamp。〃
　〃So　according　to　this　map；　we　do