pdouglas.thecodex-第36节

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roup　of　Honduran　soldiers　could　have　screwed　up　such　a　straightforward　op。
　Or　could　they？　He　saw；　materializing　out　of　the　dark　body　of　the　river；　the　dugout；　but　with　three　instead　of　five　soldiers　in　it。　The　boat　docked　at　the　large　boulder　that　served　as　a　landing　stage。　Two　men　hopped　out；　firelit　forms　moving　against　the　darkness；　and　helped　a　third　man　out。　He　walked　stiffly；　and　Hauser　heard　a　groan　of　pain。　Three　men…and　he　had　sent　out　five。
　He　refitted　the　butt　plate；　slid　the　bolt　assembly　back　in；　and　reset　the　housing　latch　to　the　left；　working　by　feel；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　figures　moving　toward　the　fire。　The　men　approached　diffidently；　nervously；　one　soldier　supporting　his　wounded　colleague。　A　three…foot…long　arrow　had　passed　through　his　thigh；　the　feathered　end　sticking　out　the　back；　the　barbed　metal　point　out　the　front。　The　pantleg　had　been　torn　and　was　stiff　with　dried　blood。
　The　men　paused；　saying　nothing；　looking　mostly　at　the　ground；　shuffling　their　feet　in　shame。　Hauser　waited。　The　enormity　of　his　mistake…in　trusting　these　men　to　perform　the　simplest　of　ops…was　now　obvious。　He　went　back　to　reassembling　his　gun；　rotating　the　barrel　back　into　place　and　then　reseating　the　magazine；　sliding　it　into　the　stock　with　a　click。　Then　he　waited；　weapon　laid　across　his　knees；　an　icy　feeling　in　his　heart。
　The　silence　was　excruciating。　One　of　them　would　have　to　speak。
　〃Jefe…〃　the　lieutenant　began。
　He　waited　for　the　excuses。
　〃We　killed　two　of　them；　jefe；　and　burned　their　boats　and　supplies。　Their　bodies　are　in　the　canoe。〃
　Hauser　said；　after　a　pause；　〃Which　two？〃
　There　was　a　nervous　pause。　〃The　two　Tawahka　Indians。〃
　Hauser　remained　silent。　This　was　a　disaster。
　〃The　old　man　with　them　saw　the　trap　before　we　could　open　fire；〃　the　teniente　went　on。　〃They　turned　around。　We　chased　them　downstream；　but　they　managed　to　land　and　escape　into　the　jungle。　We　burned　their　boats　and　supplies。　Then；　as　we　pursued　them　into　the　jungle；　we　were　ambushed　by　one　of　the　Tawahka。　He　had　a　bow　and　arrow；　so　much　the　worse　for　us。　We　couldn't　locate　him　until　he　got　two　of　us　and　wounded　the　third；　and　then　we　killed　him。　You　know　how　these　jungle　Indians　are；　jefe；　silent　as　jaguars　。。。〃
　His　voice　trailed　off　miserably。　He　shifted　nervously；　and　the　man　with　the　arrow　through　his　thigh　let　escape　an　involuntary　groan。
　〃So　you　see；　jefe；　we　killed　two　and　drove　the　others　into　the　jungle　with　no　supplies；　no　food；　nothing；　where　they　will　surely　die…〃
　Hauser　rose。　〃Excuse　me；　Teniente；　this　man　needs　immediate　attention。〃
　〃Si；　se？or。〃
　With　the　rifle　in　one　hand；　Hauser　rose　and　put　his　free　arm　around　the　wounded　man；　easing　him　off　the　soldier　who　had　been　supporting　him。　He　leaned　over　and　said　gently；　〃e　with　me。　Let　me　take　care　of　you。〃
　The　teniente　waited　by　the　fire；　his　face　sagging。
　Hauser　supported　the　man　and　led　him　away　from　the　fire。　The　man　groaned；　limping。　His　skin　was　hot　and　dry；　he　had　a　fever。
　〃Easy；〃　said　Hauser。　〃We'll　just　take　you　over　here　and　fix　you　up。〃　He　led　the　man　about　fifty　yards　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　camp…fire　and　eased　him　down　on　a　log。　The　man　staggered；　groaned；　but　with　Hauser's　help　was　able　to　sit　on　the　log。　Hauser　removed　the　man's　machete。
　〃Se？or；　before　you　cut　out　the　arrow；　give　me　whiskey。〃　The　man　whimpered；　terrified　of　pain。
　〃This　won't　take　but　a　second。〃　He　gave　the　man　a　gentle　pat　on　the　shoulder。　〃We'll　have　you　fixed　up　in　no　time。　I　promise　you；　the　operation　will　be　painless。〃
　〃No；　se？or；　please；　whiskey　first　。。。〃
　Hauser　bent　over　the　arrow　with　the　machete。　The　man　stiffened；　gritting　his　teeth；　staring　at　the　machete　in　terror　and　noticing　nothing　else。　Meanwhile；　Hauser　raised　the　muzzle　of　the　Steyr　AUG　to　within　an　inch　of　the　back　of　the　man's　head。　He　eased　the　trigger　back　to　full　auto　fire　and　squeezed　off　a　short　burst。　The　fire　struck　the　man　obliquely；　the　force　of　it　throwing　him　backward　off　the　log　where　he　landed；　sprawled　head　down；　unmoving。　All　was　then　silent。
　Hauser　returned　to　camp；　washed　his　hands；　and　reseated　himself　by　the　fire。　He　picked　up　the　half…smoked　Churchill　and　relit　it　with　a　burning　twig。　The　two　soldiers　were　not　looking　at　him；　but　some　of　the　others；　hearing　the　noise；　had　e　out　of　their　tents。　They　had　their　guns　and　were　looking　around；　confused　and　alarmed。
　〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　Hauser；　waving　them　away。　〃The　man　needed　surgery。　It　was　short；　painless；　and　successful。〃
　Hauser　removed　the　cigar；　knocked　back　a　slug　from　his　hip　flask；　and　reinserted　the　wet　tip　of　the　cigar　between　his　lips；　drawing　the　smoke　in。　He　felt　only　partly　refreshed。　It　wasn't　the　first　time　he　had　made　the　mistake　of　entrusting　a　simple　task　to　these　Honduran　soldiers　only　to　see　it　fail。　Unfortunately；　there　was　only　one　of　him　and　he　couldn't　do　everything。　It　was　always　the　same　problem…always。
　Hauser　turned　and　smiled　at　the　teniente。　〃I'm　a　very　good　surgeon；　Teniente；　should　you　ever　have　need　of　it。〃
　
　35
　
　They　spent　the　following　day　in　camp。　Don　Alfonso　cut　a　gigantic　stack　of　palm　fronds　and　sat　cross…legged　next　to　them　for　most　of　the　day；　pulling　them　into　fibrous　strips　and　weaving　palm…leaf　backpacks　and　more　hammocks。　Sally　hunted　and　brought　back　a　small　antelope；　which　Tom　dressed　and　smoked　over　the　fire。　Vernon　collected　fruits　and　manioc　root。　By　the　end　of　the　day　they　had　a　small　supply　of　food　for　their　journey。
　They　inventoried　their　supplies。　Between　them　they　had　several　boxes　of　waterproof　matches；　a　box　of　ammunition　with　thirty　rounds；　Tom's　daypack　containing　a　tiny　Svea　backpacking　stove　set　with　an　aluminum　pots…and…pans　set；　two　bottles　of　white　gas；　and　a　squeeze　bottle　of　insect　repellent。　Vernon　had　escaped　with　a　pair　of　binoculars　around　his　neck。　Don　Alfonso　had　a　pocketful　of　candy　bars；　three　pipes；　two　packs　of　pipe　tobacco；　a　small　whetstone；　and　a　roll　of　fishing　line　with　hooks；　all　of　which　had　been　in　his　greasy　leather　bag；　which　he　had　snatched　from　the　burning　dugout。　They　all　had　their　machetes；　which　they　had　been　carrying　tucked　in　their　belts　at　the　time　of　the　attack。
　The　next　morning　they　set　off。　Tom　cleared　the　trail　wielding　a　freshly　sharpened　machete；　while　Don　Alfonso　went　behind；　murmuring　which　way　he　was　to　go。　After　a　few　miles　of　bushwhacking　they　came　out　on　what　appeared　to　be　an　old　animal　trail　running　through　a　cool　forest　of　smooth…barked　trees。　The　light　was　dim；　and　there　was　almost　no　undergrowth。　A　hush　lay　over　the　forest。　It　was　like　walking　through　the　columned　interior　of　a　vast　green　cathedral。
　In　the　early　afternoon　the　trail　reached　the　base　of　a　mountain　range。　The　terrain　pitched　up　from　the　forest　floor；　being　a　tangled　slope　of　moss…covered　boulders。　The　trail　went　almost　straight　up。　Don　Alfonso　mounted　it　at　astonishing　speed；　and　Tom　and　the　others　struggled　to　follow；　surprised　at　the　old　man's　vigor。　As　they　gained　altitude　the　air　became　fresher。　The　stately　trees　of　the　jungle　gave　way　to　their　dwarfish；　twisted　cousins　of　the　mountains；　their　branches　hung　with　moss。　In　the　late　afternoon　they　came　out　on　a　flat　ridge；　which　ended　in　an　outcropping　of　leaf…shaped　rocks。　For　the　first　time　they　had　a　view　back　across　the　jungle　they　had　just　traversed。
　Tom　wiped　his　brow。　The　mountain　fell　away　from　them　in　one　fantastic　emerald　declivity；　plunging　three　thousand　feet　down　to　the　green　ocean　of　life　below。　Massive　cumulus　clouds　moved　above　their　heads。
　〃I　had　no　idea　we　were　so　high；〃　said　Sally。
　〃Thanks　to　the　Holy　Mother　we　have　journeyed　far；〃　said　Don　Alfonso；　his　voice　subdued；　setting　down　his　palm…leaf　backpack。　〃This　is　a　good　place　to　camp。〃　He　seated　himself　on　a　log；　lit　his　pipe；　and　began　to　give　orders。
　〃Sally；　you　and　Tom　go　hunting。　Vernon；　first　you　will　build　the　fire；　and　then　you　will　build　the　hut。　I　will　rest。〃
　He　leaned　back；　puffing　lazily；　his　eyes　half　closed。
　Sally　slung　the　gun　over　her　shoulder；　and　they　set　off；　following　what　appeared　to　be　an　animal　trail。　〃I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　thank　you　for　shooting　at　those　soldiers；〃　he　said。　〃You　probably　saved　our　lives。　You've　really　got　guts。〃
　〃You're　like　Don　Alfonso…you　seem　surprised　a　woman　might　be　handy　with　a　rifle。〃
　〃I　was　talking　about　your　presence　of　mind；　not　your　shooting…but　yes；　I　have　to　admit；　I　am　surprised。〃
　〃Allow　me　to　inform　you　that　it's　now　the　twenty…first　century；　and　women　are　doing　surprising　things。〃
　Tom　shook　his　head。　〃Is　everyone　in　New　Haven　so　prickly？〃
　She　turned　a　cool　pair　of　green　eyes　on　him。　〃Shall　we　get　on　with　the　hunting？　Your　chatter　is　scaring　the　game。〃
　Tom　suppressed　a　further　ment　and　instead　watched　her　slim　body　moving　through　the　jungle。　No；　she　was　nothing　like　Sarah。　Blunt；　prickly；　outspoken。　Sarah　was　smooth；　she　never　said　what　she　really　thought；　never　told　the　truth；　was　pleasant　even　to　people　she　couldn't　stand。　For　her；　it　was　always　so　much　more　fun　to　deceive。
　They　went　on；　their　footsteps　silent　in　the　wet；　springy　leaves。　The　forest　was　cool　and　deep。　Through　gaps　in　the　trees；　Tom　could　see　the　Macaturi　River　glinting　in　scimitarlike　curves　through　the　rainforest　far　below。
　A　cough　sounded