pdouglas.thecodex-第48节

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　He　stepped　to　the　fire；　small　and　dignified；　holding　a　seven…foot　blowgun　in　one　hand　and　a　dead　animal…species　unknown…in　the　other。
　〃Brother；　I　bring　meat；〃　Borabay　said　in　English　and　grinned。　Then　he　chucked　the　animal　to　the　ground　and　strode　over。　He　embraced　Tom　twice；　with　a　kiss　on　each　side　of　the　neck；　some　kind　of　ritualized　Indian　greeting。　Then　he　stepped　back　and　placed　a　hand　on　his　chest。　〃My　name　Borabay；　brother。〃
　〃I'm　Tom。〃
　〃Me；　Jane；〃　said　Sally。
　Borabay　turned。　〃Jane？　You　not　Sally？〃
　Sally　laughed。　〃That　was　a　little　joke。〃
　〃You；　me；　him；　we　brothers。〃　Borabay　concluded　by　giving　Tom　another　formal　set　of　embraces；　again　kissing　him　on　the　sides　of　the　neck。
　〃Thank　you　for　saving　our　lives；〃　Tom　said。　It　sounded　feeble　as　soon　as　he　had　said　it；　but　Borabay　seemed　pleased。
　〃Thankee。　Thankee。　You　eat　soup？〃
　〃Yes。　Delicious。〃
　〃Borabay　good　cook。　You　eat　more！〃
　〃Where　did　you　learn　English？〃
　〃My　mother　teach　me。〃
　〃You　speak　well。〃
　〃I　speak　bad。　But　I　learn　from　you　and　then　I　speak　gooder。〃
　〃Better；〃　said　Sally。
　〃Thankee。　I　go　to　America　someday　with　you；　brother。〃
　It　amazed　Tom　that　way　out　here；　as　far　removed　from　civilization　as　any　place　on　earth；　people　still　wanted　to　go　to　America。
　Borabay　glanced　at　Bugger；　who　was　in　his　usual　place　in　Tom's　pocket。
　〃This　monkey　cry　and　cry　when　you　sick。　What　his　name？〃
　〃Hairy　Bugger；〃　said　Tom。
　〃Why　you　not　eat　this　monkey　when　you　starve？〃
　〃Well；　I've　gotten　fond　of　him。〃　said　Tom。　〃He　wouldn't　have　been　more　than　a　mouthful　anyway。〃
　〃And　why　you　call　him　Hairy　Bugger？　What　is　Hairy　Bugger？〃
　〃Er；　that's　just　a　nickname　for　an　animal　with　hair。〃
　〃Good。　I　learn　new　word；　Hairy　Bugger。　I　want　learn　English。〃
　Sally　said；　〃I　want　to　learn　English。〃
　〃Thankee！　You　tell　me　when　I　mistake。〃　The　Indian　held　out　his　finger　to　the　monkey。　Bugger　grasped　it　in　a　tiny　paw　and　looked　up　at　him；　then　squeaked　and　ducked　down　into　Tom's　pocket。
　Borabay　laughed。　〃Hairy　Bugger　think　I　want　eat　him。　He　know　we　Tara　like　monkey。　Now　I　make　food。〃　He　went　back　to　where　he　had　dropped　his　game　and　collected　it　along　with　a　pot。　He　withdrew　a　ways　from　the　camp；　squatted　down　and　began　skinning　and　quartering　the　animal；　chucking　everything　into　the　pot　including　the　guts　and　bones。　Tom　joined　Sally　at　the　fire。
　〃I'm　still　a　little　disbobulated　here；〃　Tom　said。　〃What　happened？　Where　did　Borabay　e　from？〃
　〃I　don't　know　any　more　than　you。　Borabay　found　us　all　sick　and　dying　under　that　log。　He　cleared　the　area；　built　the　huts；　moved　us　in；　fed　us；　doctored　us。　He　collected　a　huge　number　of　herbs　and　even　some　weird　insects…you　can　see　them　all　tied　up　in　the　rafters　of　his　hut…and　he　used　those　to　make　medicines。　I　was　the　first　person　to　get　well。　That　was　two　days　ago；　and　I　helped　him　cook　and　care　for　the　rest　of　you。　The　fever　we　all　had；　this　bisi；　seems　to　be　short　but　intense。　It's　not　malaria；　thank　God；　and　Borabay　tells　me　it　has　no　lasting　effects　and　won't　recur。　If　you　don't　die　in　the　first　two　days　it's　over。　It　seems　that　bisi　is　what　killed　Don　Alfonso…he　says　that　old　people　are　more　susceptible。〃
　At　this　reminder　of　their　traveling　panion；　Tom　felt　a　stab　of　pain。
　〃I　know；〃　Sally　said。　〃I　miss　him；　too。〃
　〃I'll　never　forget　the　old　man　and　his　offbeat　wisdom。　It's　hard　to　believe　he's　gone。〃
　They　watched　Borabay　chopping　and　hacking　up　the　animal　and　tossing　the　chunks　into　a　pot。　He　was　singing　a　chantlike　tune　that　rose　and　fell　with　the　breeze。
　〃Has　he　said　anything　about　this　Hauser　fellow　and　what's　going　on　in　the　Sierra　Azul？〃
　〃No。　He　won't　talk　about　it。〃　She　looked　at　him　and　hesitated。　〃For　a　while　back　there　I　thought　we　were　all　finished。〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Do　you　remember　what　I　said？〃
　〃I　do。〃
　She　blushed　deeply。
　Tom　asked；　〃You　want　to　take　it　back？〃
　She　shook　her　head；　sending　her　blond　hair　aswirl；　then　gazed　at　him；　her　cheeks　flushed。　〃Never。〃
　Tom　smiled。　〃Good。〃　He　took　her　hand。　What　they　had　gone　through　had　deepened　her　beauty　somehow；　made　her　look　spiritual；　something　he　couldn't　quite　explain。　That　prickly；　defensive　edge　seemed　to　have　disappeared。　Getting　that　close　to　death　had　changed　them　all。
　Borabay　came　back　with　some　raw　tidbits　of　meat　wrapped　up　in　a　leaf。　〃Hairy　Bugger！〃　he　called　and　made　a　sucking　noise　with　his　teeth　that　sounded　uncannily　like　the　monkey。　Bugger　popped　his　head　out　of　Tom's　pocket。　Borabay　extended　his　hand；　and　Bugger；　after　fretting　and　squeaking　a　bit；　reached　out；　snatched　off　a　little　piece　of　meat；　and　crammed　it　into　his　mouth。　Then　he　snatched　another；　and　another；　stuffing　his　face　with　both　hands；　his　squeaks　of　pleasure　muffled　by　the　food。
　〃Hairy　Bugger　and　I　friend　now；〃　said　Borabay；　smiling。
　
　Vernon's　fever　broke　that　night。　He　woke　up　the　next　morning；　lucid　but　weak。　Borabay　fussed　around　him；　forcing　a　variety　of　herbal　tisanes　and　other　concoctions　down　his　throat。　They　spent　the　day　resting　in　camp　while　Borabay　went　out　collecting　food。　The　Indian　returned　in　the　afternoon　with　a　palm…leaf　sack；　from　which　he　unloaded　roots；　fruits；　nuts；　and　fresh　fish。　He　spent　the　rest　of　the　day　roasting　and　smoking　and　salting　the　food；　then　bundling　it　in　dry　grass　and　leaves。
　〃Are　we　going　somewhere？〃　Tom　asked　him。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Where？〃
　Borabay　said；　〃We　talkee　later。〃
　Philip　came　limping　out　of　the　hut；　his　feet　still　bandaged；　briar　pipe　in　his　mouth。　〃Glorious　afternoon；〃　he　said。　He　came　over　to　the　fire　and　sat　down。　As　he　poured　himself　a　cup　of　tea　Borabay　had　made；　he　said；　〃This　Indian　chap　should　be　put　on　the　cover　of　National　Geographic！〃
　Vernon　joined　them；　shakily　settling　down　on　the　log。
　〃Vernon；　eat！〃　Borabay　immediately　filled　up　a　bowl　with　stew　and　passed　it　over。　Vernon　took　it　with　trembling　hands；　mumbling　thanks。
　〃Wele　back　to　the　land　of　the　living；〃　said　Philip。
　Vernon　wiped　his　brow　and　said　nothing。　He　was　pale　and　thin。　He　placed　another　spoonful　of　stew　in　his　mouth。
　〃Well；　here　we　are；〃　said　Philip。　〃My　three　sons。〃
　There　was　a　sudden　edge　to　Philip's　voice　that　Tom　noted　with　unease。　A　piece　of　wood　popped　in　the　fire。
　〃And　what　a　mess　we　have　gotten　ourselves　into；〃　Philip　said。　〃Thanks　to　Dear　Old　Dad。〃　He　raised　his　cup　in　mock　salute。　〃Here's　a　toast　to　you；　Dear　Old　Dad。〃　He　tossed　his　tea　down。
　Tom　looked　more　closely　at　Philip。　He　had　recovered　amazingly　well。　His　eyes　were　finally　alive…alive　with　anger。
　Philip　looked　around。　〃What　now；　brothers　of　mine？〃
　Vernon　shrugged。　He　was　pale；　his　face　sunken；　gray　circles　under　his　eyes。　He　placed　another　spoonful　of　stew　in　his　mouth。
　〃Do　we　scurry　back　out；　tails　between　our　legs？　And　let　this　Hauser　fellow　help　himself　to　the　Lippi；　the　Braques；　the　Monet；　and　all　the　rest？〃　He　paused。　〃Or　do　we　head　on　up　into　the　Sierra　Azul　and　maybe　end　up　with　our　entrails　hanging　in　the　bushes？〃　He　relit　his　pipe。　〃Those　are　our　choices。〃
　No　one　answered　while　Philip　looked　around；　staring　at　each　one　in　turn。
　〃Well？〃　Philip　said。　〃I'm　asking　a　serious　question：　Are　we　going　to　let　that　corpulent　Cortez　waltz　in　here　and　steal　our　inheritance？〃
　Vernon　looked　up。　His　face　was　still　haggard　from　his　illness；　and　his　voice　was　weak。　〃Answer　the　question　yourself。　You're　the　one　who　brought　Hauser　up　here。〃
　Philip　turned　to　Vernon　with　a　cool　look。　〃I　should　think　the　time　for　recriminations　had　passed。〃
　〃As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　the　time　for　recriminations　has　just　begun。〃
　〃This　isn't　the　time　or　place；〃　said　Tom。
　Vernon　turned　to　Tom。　〃Philip　brought　that　psychopath　up　here；　and　he　needs　to　answer　for　it。〃
　〃I　was　acting　in　good　faith。　I　had　no　idea　this　man　Hauser　would　turn　out　to　be　a　monster。　And　I　did　answer　for　it；　Vernon。　Look　at　me。〃
　Vernon　shook　his　head。
　Philip　went　on。　〃The　real　culprit　here；　since　no　one　else　seems　inclined　to　admit　it；　is　Father。　Isn't　anyone　here　just　a　wee　bit　angry　at　what　Father's　done　to　us？　He　nearly　killed　us。〃
　Tom　said；　〃He　wanted　to　challenge　us。〃
　〃You're　not　defending　him；　I　hope。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　understand　him。〃
　〃I　understand　him　only　too　well。　This　Tomb　Raider　bullshit　is　just　one　more　challenge　in　a　long　list　of　them。　Remember　the　sports　tutors；　the　ski　instructors；　the　art　history　lessons　and　horseback　lessons　and　music　lessons　and　chess　lessons；　the　exhortations　and　speeches　and　threats？　Remember　report　card　day？　He　thinks　we're　fuckups；　Tom。　He's　always　thought　that。　And　maybe　it's　true。　Look　at　me：　thirty…seven　years　old　and　still　an　assistant　professor　at　Gobshite　Junior　College…and　you；　doctoring　Indian　horses　in　Hayseed；　Utah…and　Vernon　spending　the　prime　of　his　life　chanting　with　Swami　Woo…Woo。　We're　losers。〃　He　erupted　in　a　harsh　laugh。
　Borabay　rose　to　his　feet。　The　action　itself　was　simple；　but　it　was　done　with　such　slow　deliberation　that　it　silenced　them。　〃This　not　good　talk。〃
　〃This　doesn't　involve　you；　Borabay；〃　said　Philip。
　〃No　more　bad　talk。〃
　Philip　ignored　him；　speaking　to　Tom。　〃Father　could've　left　us　his　money　like　any　other　normal　person。　Or　he　could　have　given　it　away。　Fine。　I　could've　lived　with　that。　It　was　his　money。　But　no；　he　had　to　e　up　with　a　plan　to