pdouglas.thecodex-第29节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃It　is　one　of　those　boys　from　Puerto　Lempira；〃　said　Don　Alfonso。　〃He　was　bitten　by　a　poisonous　snake　while　clearing　this　brush。　They　left　him　here。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　he　was　killed　by　a　snake？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃You　see　the　dead　piranhas？　Those　are　the　ones　who　ate　the　flesh　in　the　area　of　the　snakebite。　They　were　poisoned；　and　the　animals　that　eat　them　will　also　be　poisoned。〃
　Chori　pushed　the　body　away　with　the　pole；　and　they　paddled　on。
　〃This　is　not　a　good　place　to　die。　We　must　get　out　of　here　before　nightfall。　I　do　not　want　to　meet　that　Lempira　man's　ghost　in　a　dream　tonight；　asking　me　for　directions。〃
　Tom　did　not　answer。　The　sight　of　the　corpse　had　left　him　shaken。　He　tried　to　fight　down　a　sense　of　foreboding。　Vernon；　who　was　panicky　and　disorganized　to　begin　with；　would　be　a　basket　case。　God　knows；　he　might　even　be　dead；　too。
　〃Why　they　do　not　turn　around　and　leave　this　place；　I　cannot　say。　Perhaps　a　demon　has　gotten　in　the　dugout　with　them　and　is　whispering　lies　into　their　ears。〃
　They　continued　on；　making　slow　work　of　it。　The　swamp　was　endless；　the　boat　grazing　the　muddy　bottom　and　frequently　getting　stuck；　forcing　them　to　get　out　and　push。　Often　they　had　to　double　back　again　and　again；　following　tortuous　channels。　Toward　midafternoon；　Don　Alfonso　held　up　his　hand；　Chori　stopped　paddling；　and　they　listened。　Tom　could　hear　a　distant　voice；　distraught…someone　crying　hysterically　for　help。
　Tom　leapt　to　his　feet　and　cupped　his　hands。　〃Vernon！〃
　There　was　a　sudden　silence。
　〃Vernon！　It's　me；　Tom！〃
　There　was　a　burst　of　desperate　shouting　that　echoed　through　the　trees；　distorted　and　unintelligible。
　〃It's　him；〃　said　Tom。　〃Hurry。〃
　Chori　paddled　forward；　and　soon　Tom　could　see　the　vague　outlines　of　a　dugout　canoe　in　twilight　of　the　swamp。　A　person　was　in　the　bow；　screaming　and　gesturing。　It　was　Vernon。　He　was　hysterical；　but　at　least　he　was　standing。
　〃Faster！〃　Tom　cried。
　Chori　pushed　ahead。　They　reached　the　boat；　and　Tom　pulled　Vernon　into　their　own。
　Vernon　collapsed　into　his　brother's　arms。　〃Tell　me　I'm　not　dead；〃　he　cried。
　〃You're　okay；　you're　not　dead。　We're　here　now。〃
　Vernon　broke　down　sobbing。　Tom；　clasping　his　brother；　had　a　sudden　sense　of　déjà　vu；　the　memory　of　a　time　when　Vernon　came　home　one　day　after　school；　having　been　chased　by　a　gang　of　bullies。　He　threw　himself　into　Tom's　arms　the　same　way；　clutching　and　sobbing　hysterically；　his　skinny　body　shaking。　Tom　had　had　to　go　out　there　and　fight　them　himself…Tom；　the　younger　brother；　fighting　his　older　brother's　fights。
　〃It's　okay；〃　said　Tom。　〃It's　okay。　We're　here。　You're　safe。〃
　〃Thank　God。　Thank　God。　I　was　sure　the　end　had　e　。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　away　into　a　choke。
　Tom　helped　Vernon　sit。　He　was　shocked　at　his　brother's　appearance。　His　face　and　neck　were　swollen　with　bites　and　stings　and　smeared　with　blood　from　scratching。　His　clothes　were　indescribably　filthy；　his　hair　was　tangled　and　foul；　and　he　was　even　skinnier　than　usual。
　〃Are　you　okay？〃　Tom　asked。
　Vernon　nodded。　〃Aside　from　being　eaten　alive　I'm　all　right。　Just　scared。〃　Vernon　wiped　his　face　with　a　filthy　sleeve　that　left　more　dirt　than　it　removed　and　choked　another　sob。
　Tom　took　a　moment　to　look　at　his　brother。　His　mental　state　worried　him　even　more　than　his　physical　state。　As　soon　as　they　got　back　to　camp；　he　would　send　Vernon　back　to　civilization　with　Pingo。
　〃Don　Alfonso；〃　Tom　said；　〃let's　turn　the　boat　around　and　get　out　of　here。〃
　〃But　the　Teacher；〃　Vernon　said。
　Tom　stopped。　〃The　Teacher？〃
　Vernon　nodded　toward　the　dugout。　〃Sick。〃
　Tom　leaned　over　and　peered　down。　There；　lying　in　a　sodden　sleeping　bag　in　the　bottom　of　the　canoe；　almost　hidden　among　the　mess　of　equipment　and　soggy　supplies；　was　the　swollen　face　of　a　man；　with　a　wild　head　of　white　hair　and　a　beard。　He　was　fully　conscious　and　stared　back　up　at　Tom　with　baleful　blue　eyes；　saying　nothing。
　〃Who's　this？〃
　〃My　Teacher　from　the　Ashram。〃
　〃What　the　hell　is　he　doing　here？〃
　〃We're　together。〃
　The　man　stared　up　at　Tom　fixedly。
　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃
　〃He's　got　a　fever。　He　stopped　speaking　two　days　ago。
　Tom　pulled　the　medicine　chest　out　of　their　supplies　and　stepped　into　the　other　dugout。　The　Teacher　followed　his　every　movement　with　his　eyes。　Tom　bent　over　and　felt　the　man's　forehead。　It　was　burning　hot；　a　temperature　of　at　least　104　degrees。　The　pulse　was　thready　and　fast。　He　listened　with　a　stethoscope：　The　lungs　sounded　clear；　the　heart　was　beating　normally；　albeit　very　fast。　Tom　injected　him　with　a　broad…spectrum　antibiotic　and　an　antimalarial。　Without　access　to　any　kind　of　diagnostic　tests；　it　was　the　best　he　could　do。
　〃What　kind　of　fever　does　he　have？〃　Vernon　asked。
　〃Impossible　to　know　without　a　blood　test。〃
　〃Is　he　going　to　die？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃　Tom　switched　into　Spanish。　〃Don　Alfonso；　do　you　have　any　idea　what　disease　this　man　has？〃
　Don　Alfonso　climbed　into　the　boat　and　bent　over　the　man。　He　tapped　his　chest；　looked　into　his　eyes；　felt　his　pulse；　examined　his　hands；　then　looked　up。　〃Yes；　I　know　well　this　disease。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃It's　called　death。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Vernon；　agitated。　〃Don't　say　that。　He's　not　dying。〃
　Tom　was　sorry　he　had　asked　for　Don　Alfonso's　opinion。　〃We'll　bring　him　back　to　camp　in　the　dugout。　Chori　can　pole　that　dugout；　and　I'll　pole　ours。〃　Tom　turned　to　Vernon。　〃We　found　one　dead　guide　back　there。　Where's　the　other？〃
　〃A　jaguar　dropped　down　on　him　at　night　and　dragged　him　up　into　a　tree。〃　Vernon　shuddered。　〃We　could　hear　his　screams　and　the　crunching　of　his　bones。　It　was　。。。〃　The　sentence　finished　in　a　choking　sound。　〃Tom；　get　me　out　of　here。〃
　〃I　will；〃　Tom　said。　〃We'll　send　you　and　your　Teacher　back　down　to　Brus　with　Pingo。〃
　They　arrived　back　at　the　camp　just　after　nightfall。　Vernon　put　up　one　of　their　tents；　and　they　carried　the　Teacher　up　from　the　boat　and　put　him　inside。　He　refused　all　food　and　remained　silent；　staring　at　them　in　the　most　unsettling　way。　Tom　wondered　if　the　man　was　still　sane。
　Vernon　insisted　on　spending　the　night　with　him　in　the　tent。　The　next　morning；　as　the　sun　was　just　catching　the　treetops；　Vernon　roused　them　all　with　a　call　for　help。　Tom　was　the　first　to　arrive。　The　Teacher　was　sitting　up　in　his　sleeping　bag；　highly　agitated。　His　face　was　pale　and　dry；　and　his　eyes　glittered　like　chips　of　blue　porcelain；　darting　about　wildly；　focusing　on　nothing。　His　hands　were　grasping　at　the　air。
　All　at　once　he　spoke。　〃Vernon！〃　he　cried；　groping　about　with　his　hands。　〃Oh　my　God；　where　are　you；　Vernon？　Where　am　I？〃
　With　a　shock　Tom　realized　he　must　have　gone　blind。
　Vernon　grasped　his　hand　and　knelt。　〃I'm　here；　Teacher。　We're　in　the　tent。　We're　taking　you　back　to　America。　You're　going　to　be　fine。〃
　〃What　a　goddamn　fool　I　was！〃　the　Teacher　shouted；　his　mouth　twisting　with　the　effort　to　speak；　causing　spittle　to　fly。
　〃Teacher；　please。　Please　don't　excite　yourself。　We're　going　home；　back　to　Big　Sur；　back　to　the　Ashram　。。。〃
　〃I　had　everything！〃　the　Teacher　roared。　〃I　had　money。　I　had　teenage　girls　to　fuck。　I　had　a　house　by　the　sea。　I　was　surrounded　by　people　who　revered　me。　I　had　everything！〃　The　veins　were　popping　out　on　his　forehead。　Drool　ran　down　and　dangled　from　his　chin。　His　whole　frame　trembled　so　violently　that　Tom　fancied　he　could　hear　his　bones　rattling。　The　blind　eyes　roved　madly　in　his　head；　like　whirling　pinballs。
　〃We're　going　to　get　you　to　a　hospital；　Teacher。　Don't　talk；　everything's　going　to　be　all　right；　all　right　。。。〃
　〃So　what　did　I　do？　Ha！　It　wasn't　enough！　Like　a　fool　I　wanted　more！　I　wanted　a　hundred　million　dollars　more！　And　look　what　happened　to　me！〃　He　roared　out　these　last　words　and；　having　uttered　them；　fell　back　heavily；　his　body　making　the　sound　of　a　dead　fish　hitting　the　floor。　He　lay　there；　his　eyes　staring　wide　open；　but　the　glitter　was　gone。
　He　was　dead。
　
　Vernon　stared　in　horror；　unable　to　speak。　Tom　put　his　hand　on　his　brother's　shoulder　and　found　him　shaking。　It　had　been　an　ugly　death。
　Don　Alfonso　was　badly　shaken　as　well。　〃We　must　leave；〃　he　said。
　〃A　bad　spirit　came　and　took　that　man　away；　and　he　did　not　want　to　go。
　〃Prepare　one　of　the　boats　to　return；〃　Tom　said　to　Don　Alfonso。　〃Pingo　can　take　Vernon　back　to　Brus　while　we　go　on…if　you　don't　have　any　objections。〃
　Don　Alfonso　nodded。　〃It　is　better　this　way。　The　swamp　is　no　place　for　your　brother。〃　He　began　shouting　orders　to　Chori　and　Pingo；　who　rushed　about；　equally　terrified；　only　too　happy　to　be　leaving。
　〃I　can't　understand　it；〃　Vernon　said。　〃He　was　such　a　good　man。　How　could　he　die　like　that？〃
　Vernon　was　always　being　taken　in　by　swindlers；　Tom　thought…financial；　emotional；　and　spiritual。　But　now　wasn't　the　time　to　point　it　out。　He　said；　〃Sometimes　we　think　we　know　someone；　and　we　don't。〃
　〃I　spent　three　years　with　him。　I　knew　him。　It　must　have　been　the　fever。　He　was　delirious；　out　of　his　mind。　He　didn't　know　what　he　was　saying。〃
　〃Let's　bury　him　and　move　on。〃
　Vernon　went　to　work　on　digging　a　grave；　and　Tom　and　Sally　joined　in。　They　cleared　out　a　small　spot　behind　the　camp；　chopping　through　roots　with　Chori's　axe　and　digging　down　into　the　soil　underneath。　In　twenty　minutes　a　shallow　grave　had　been　hollowed　out　of　the　hard…clay　soil。　They　dragged　the　Teacher's　body