pdouglas.thecodex-第58节

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ies　turning　around　and　around　forever；　disintegrating　into　dust。　He　shivered　and　tried　to　keep　from　looking　down；　but　in　order　to　place　his　feet　he　was　forced　to　look　into　a　dizzying　space　that　plunged　downward　into　columns　of　mist　that　disappeared　into　a　bottomless　dark。　They　were　almost　at　the　midpoint：　He　could　see　where　the　bridge　reached　the　lowest　point　of　its　curve　and　began　to　rise　back　up　to　meet　the　far　side　of　the　chasm。
　An　exceptionally　strong　gust　of　wind　billowed　up；　giving　the　bridge　a　sudden　shake。　Tom　tightened　his　grip；　almost　slipping　off。　He　heard　a　muffled　cry　and　saw；　ahead；　two　pieces　of　rotten　cord　drop　into　the　chasm；　spinning　wildly　in　the　updraft；　and　then　Philip　was　suddenly　dangling；　holding　on　to　the　cable　by　the　crook　of　one　elbow；　his　feet　twisting　and　milling　over　the　void。
　Oh　my　God；　thought　Tom。　He　hastened　forward；　almost　slipping　himself。　There　was　no　way　his　brother　was　going　to　be　able　to　hold　on　like　that　for　more　than　a　few　moments。　He　arrived　at　a　point　just　above　his　brother。　Philip　was　dangling　silently；　trying　to　throw　his　leg　up　and　over；　his　face　twisted；　unable　to　speak　with　terror。　The　others　had　disappeared　into　the　mists。
　Tom　crouched；　one　arm　wrapped　around　the　cable；　the　other　trying　to　hook　under　Philip's　arm。　His　own　feet　suddenly　shot　out　from　underneath　him；　and　he　momentarily　dangled　over　the　abyss　before　righting　himself。　He　felt　his　heart　pounding　in　his　chest；　his　vision　clouded　with　terror；　and　he　could　hardly　breathe。
　〃Tom；〃　his　brother　choked　out；　his　voice　as　high　as　a　child's。
　Tom　flattened　himself　on　the　cable　above　Philip。　〃Swing；〃　he　said　to　Philip；　keeping　his　own　voice　calm。　〃Help　me。　Swing　your　body　up。　I'll　grab　you。〃　He　reached　down　with　one　arm；　ready　to　snag　Philip's　belt。
　Philip　tried　to　swing　himself　back　up　and　snag　his　feet　on　the　cable　but　couldn't　get　a　purchase；　and　the　effort　caused　his　arm　to　slip。　He　let　out　a　short　cry。　Tom　could　see　Philip's　white　knuckles　clutching　the　cable；　his　hands　locked　together。　A　keening　sound　of　terror　escaped　his　lips。
　〃Try　it　again；〃　Tom　shouted。　〃Swing　your　body　up。　Up！〃
　Philip；　grimacing；　swung；　and　Tom　tried　to　grab　his　belt；　but　his　foot　slipped　again；　and　for　one　terrifying　moment　his　leg　dangled　in　space　and　he　was　holding　himself　on　by　one　rotten　cord。　He　hauled　himself　back　up；　trying　to　calm　his　pounding　heart。　A　piece　of　bamboo；　jarred　loose　by　the　activity；　fell　down；　down；　slowly　turning　around　and　around　until　it　vanished　from　sight。
　He's　got　about　five　seconds；　thought　Tom。　This　would　be　Philip's　last　chance。　〃Swing　up。　Give　it　all　you've　got；　even　if　you　have　to　let　go。　Get　ready。　One；　two；　three！〃
　Philip　swung；　and　this　time　Tom　let　go　with　one　arm；　holding　on　to　the　rotten　cord　with　the　other；　which　allowed　him　to　lean　out　far　enough　to　snag　Philip's　belt　with　his　hand。　For　a　minute　they　were　suspended；　the　two　of　them；　most　of　their　bined　weight　on　the　cord；　and　then　with　a　tremendous　heave　Tom　pulled　Philip　up　on　the　cable；　and　he　fell　upon　it；　hugging　it　like　a　life　ring。
　They　remained　there；　clutching　the　cables；　both　too　terrified　even　to　speak。　Tom　could　hear　Philip's　harsh　gasps。
　〃Philip？〃　he　finally　managed　to　say。　〃Are　you　okay？〃
　The　rasping　breaths　began　to　subside。
　〃You're　okay。〃　Tom　tried　to　make　it　a　statement。　〃It's　all　right。　It's　over。　You're　safe。〃
　There　was　another　gust　of　wind；　and　the　bridge　shook。　A　sound；　a　gurgle；　came　from　Philip；　and　his　whole　body　tightened　on　the　cable。
　A　minute　passed。　A　very　long　minute。
　〃We've　got　to　keep　moving；〃　Tom　said。　〃You've　got　to　stand　up。〃
　There　was　another　gust；　and　the　bridge　danced　and　shimmied。
　〃I　can't。〃
　Tom　understood　what　he　meant。　He　himself　had　a　powerful　urge　to　wrap　himself　around　the　main　cable　and　stay　there　forever。
　The　mists　were　thinning。　More　gusts　came　from　below；　very　strong　ones　this　time；　and　the　bridge　swayed。　It　wasn't　a　regular　motion　but　a　sway　with　a　twist　at　the　end；　a　snap；　as　it　were；　that　each　time　threatened　to　twitch　them　off　into　the　gloom　below。
　The　shaking　subsided。
　〃Stand　up；　Philip。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You've　got　to。　Now。〃　Time　was　the　one　thing　they　didn't　have。　The　mists　had　cleared。　The　klieg　light　was　shining　brightly。　All　the　soldiers　had　to　do　was　turn　and　look。　He　extended　his　hand。　〃Grab　my　hand　and　I'll　lift　you　up。〃
　Philip　raised　a　shaking　hand；　and　Tom　grasped　it　and　slowly　pulled　his　brother　up。　The　bridge　swayed；　and　Philip　clutched　at　the　vertical　cords。　There　was　another　series　of　gusts；　and　the　bridge　began　to　shudder　and　sway　in　that　awful　way　again。　Philip　moaned　in　terror。　Tom　himself　held　on　for　dear　life；　his　body　thrown　from　side　to　side。　Five　minutes　went　by　while　the　bridge　shuddered；　the　longest　five　minutes　of　his　life。　He　could　feel　his　arms　aching　from　the　effort。　Finally　the　shaking　subsided。
　〃Let　s　go。〃
　Philip　moved　one　foot；　gingerly　placed　it　ahead　on　the　cable；　then　another；　then　moved　his　hands；　sidestepping　along。　In　five　minutes　they　had　reached　the　far　side。　Borabay　and　Vernon　had　been　waiting　for　them　in　the　darkness；　and　together　they　plunged　into　the　cloudforest；　running　as　fast　as　they　could。
　
　64
　
　Borabay　led　the　way　through　the　forest；　and　his　three　brothers　followed；　moving　in　single　file。　Their　way　was　lit　by　that　strange　phosphorescence　Tom　had　seen　earlier；　every　rotting　stump　and　log　was　etched　in　faint　green　light；　shimmering　like　ghosts　in　the　forest。　It　no　longer　looked　beautiful…only　menacing。
　After　twenty　minutes　a　broken　stone　wall　loomed　ahead。　Borabay　stopped　and　crouched　down；　and　suddenly　there　was　a　flare　of　light　and　he　stood　up　holding　a　burning　bundle　of　reeds。　The　wall　leapt　into　view：　It　was　made　with　giant　limestone　blocks；　almost　obscured　by　a　heavy　mat　of　vines。　Tom　glimpsed　a　bas…relief…faces　in　profile；　a　row　of　hollow…eyed　skulls；　fantastical　jaguars；　birds　with　huge　talons　and　gaping　eyes。
　〃The　city　walls。〃
　They　walked　along　the　wall　for　a　moment　and　came　to　a　small　doorway　with　vines　hanging　down　across　it　like　a　beaded　curtain。　Pushing　the　vines　aside；　they　ducked　through。
　In　the　feeble　light　Borabay　reached　out；　grasped　Philip's　arm；　and　drew　him　toward　him。　〃Little　brother　Philip；　you　brave。〃
　〃No；　Borabay；　I'm　a　dreadful　coward　and　a　hindrance。〃
　Borabay　gave　him　an　affectionate　slap　on　the　arm。　〃Not　true。　I　scared　out　of　shit　there。〃
　〃Scared　shitless。〃
　〃Thankee。〃　Borabay　cupped　the　brand　and　blew　on　it；　brightening　the　flame。　His　face　glowed　in　the　light；　making　his　green　eyes　golden；　highlighting　his　Broadbent　chin　and　finely　formed　lips。　〃We　go　to　tombs　now。　We　go　find　Father。〃
　They　passed　through　the　doorway　into　a　ruined　courtyard。　A　staircase　mounted　up　the　side。　Borabay　flitted　across　the　courtyard　and　climbed　the　stairs；　and　the　others　followed。　He　turned　right；　walked　along　the　top　of　the　wall；　cupping　the　brand　to　obscure　the　light；　and　descended　a　staircase　on　the　other　side。　There　was　a　sudden　shriek　in　the　trees　above　and　a　motion；　the　treetops　thrashing　and　snapping。　Tom　jumped。
　〃Monkeys；〃　whispered　Borabay；　but　he　paused；　his　face　troubled。　Then　he　shook　his　head　and　they　went　on；　passing　through　a　jumble　of　toppled　columns　into　an　inner　courtyard。　The　courtyard　was　full　of　fallen　blocks　of　stone；　some　measuring　ten　feet　on　a　side；　that　had　once　formed　a　gigantic　head。　Tom　could　see　a　nose　here；　a　staring　eye　there；　an　ear　elsewhere；　poking　up　helter…skelter　from　the　riot　of　vegetation　and　snaking　tree　roots。　They　climbed　over　the　blocks　and　passed　through　a　doorway　framed　by　stone　jaguars　into　an　underground　passageway。　The　air　moving　through　the　corridor　smelled　cool　and　moldy。　The　brand　flickered。　The　flame　revealed　they　were　in　a　tunnel　of　stone；　the　walls　crusted　with　lime；　the　ceiling　bristling　with　stalactites。　Insects　rustled　and　skittered　across　the　damp　walls　seeking　refuge　from　the　light。　A　fat　viper　jerked　itself　into　an　S…coil　with　its　head　raised　in　striking　position。　It　hissed；　swaying　slightly；　its　slitted　eyes　reflecting　the　orange　flame。　They　gave　the　snake　a　wide　berth　and　went　on。　Through　cave…ins　in　the　stone　ceding　Tom　could　see　a　scattering　of　stars　though　the　swaying　treetops；　lashed　by　wind。　They　went　past　an　old　stone　altar　littered　with　bones；　out　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel；　and　across　a　platform　dotted　with　broken　statues；　heads　and　arms　and　legs　emerging　from　the　tangle　of　vines　like　a　crowd　of　monsters　drowning　in　a　sea　of　vines。
　Suddenly　they　came　to　the　edge　of　a　vast　precipice…the　far　side　of　the　plateau。　Beyond　stretched　a　sea　of　jagged　black　mountain　peaks；　faintly　backlit　by　starlight。　Borabay　paused　to　light　a　fresh　brand。　He　tossed　the　spent　torch　over　the　cliff；　where　it　flickered　and　disappeared　into　the　blackness　below。　He　led　them　along　a　trail　skirting　the　edge；　then　through　a　cleverly　hidden　gap　in　the　rock　that　seemed　to　lead　over　the　sheer　cliff。　But　as　they　came　through　the　gap　a　trail　appeared；　chiseled　into　the　cliff；　being　a　steep　staircase　cut　into　the　very　rock　of　the　mountain。　It　switchbacked　down　the　cliff　and　ended　at　a　terrace…a　stone　balcony　of　sorts…paved　with　smoothly　fitted　stones；　made　by　an　undercut　into　the　cliff；　which　rendered　it　invisible　from　above。