pdouglas.thecodex-第62节

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　He　had　always　taken　good　care　of　his　hands。　The　sun　glistened　off　the　array　of　heavy　gold　and　diamond　rings　on　his　fingers。　He　flexed　his　hands　five　times；　balling　and　opening　them；　and　then　shook　out　the　creases　in　his　khaki　pants；　rotated　his　ankles；　rolled　his　head　around　on　his　neck　five　times；　opened　his　arms　wide；　and　inhaled　again。　Exhaled。　Inhaled。　He　examined　his　crisp　white　shirt。　He　would　consider　this　op　successful　if；　at　the　end；　his　shirt　was　free　of　spots。　It　was　such　a　trial　keeping　one's　clothes　clean　in　the　jungle。
　Hauser　eased　the　Steyr　AUG　back　on　his　shoulder　and　headed　down　the　trail。
　
　70
　
　The　four　brothers　and　their　father　rested　in　the　shade　along　a　shelf　of　rock　to　the　side　of　the　tomb　door。　They　had　eaten　most　of　their　food；　and　Tom　passed　around　a　canteen　of　water。　There　was　so　much　Tom　had　wanted　to　say　to　his　father；　and　he　had　no　doubt　his　brothers　felt　the　same　way…and　yet；　after　the　initial　outburst　of　talk；　they　had　fallen　silent。　Somehow　it　was　enough　to　be　together。　The　canteen　made　the　rounds；　with　a　gurgle　as　each　one　drank；　and　ended　up　back　with　Tom。　He　screwed　the　top　on　and　shoved　it　back　in　his　small　rucksack。
　Finally　Maxwell　Broadbent　spoke。　〃So　Marcus　Hauser　is　out　there；　looking　to　rob　my　tomb。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃What　a　world。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Philip　again。
　〃It　was　my　fault；〃　said　Broadbent。　〃No　more　apologies。　Everything　is　my　fault。〃
　This　was　something　new；　Tom　thought：　Maxwell　Broadbent　admitting　he　was　wrong。　He　seemed　to　be　the　same　gruff　old　man；　but　he　had　changed。　Definitely；　he　had　changed。
　〃There's　only　one　thing　I　want　right　now；　and　that's　for　my　four　sons　to　get　out　of　here　alive。　I'm　going　to　be　a　drag　on　you。　You　leave　me　here　and　I'll　take　care　of　myself。　I'll　greet　that　man　Hauser　in　a　way　that　he'll　remember。〃
　〃What！〃　Philip　exclaimed。　〃After　all　we　did　to　rescue　you？〃　He　was　genuinely　outraged。
　〃e　now。　I'm　going　to　be　dead　in　a　month　or　two　anyway。　Leave　me　to　deal　with　Hauser　while　you　escape。〃
　Philip　rose　up；　furious。　〃Father；　we　didn't　e　all　this　way　to　abandon　you　to　Hauser。〃
　〃I'm　a　sorry　reason　to　risk　your　lives。〃
　〃Without　you；　we　no　go；〃　Borabay　said。　〃Wind　e　from　east；　bring　storm　tonight。　We　wait　here　till　dark；　then　go。　Get　across　bridge　during　storm。〃
　Broadbent　exhaled　and　wiped　his　face。
　Philip　cleared　his　throat。　〃Father？〃
　〃Yes；　son？〃
　〃I　don't　mean　to　bring　up　an　unwele　subject；　but　what　are　we　going　to　do　about　the　stuff　in　your　tomb？〃
　Tom　immediately　thought　of　the　Codex。　He　had　to　bring　it　out；　too…not　only　for　himself；　but　for　Sally　and　for　the　world。
　Broadbent　gazed　at　the　ground　for　a　moment　before　speaking。　〃I　hadn't　thought　about　that。　It　just　doesn't　seem　important　to　me　anymore。　But　I'm　glad　you　brought　it　up；　Philip。　I　suppose　we　should　take　the　Lippi　and　anything　else　that's　easy　to　carry。　At　least　we　can　keep　a　few　things　out　of　that　greedy　bastard's　hands。　It　kills　me　to　think　he's　going　to　get　most　of　the　stuff；　but　I　guess　it　can't　be　helped。〃
　〃When　we　get　out；　we'll　report　it　to　the　FBI；　Interpol…〃
　〃Hauser's　going　to　get　away　with　it；　Philip；　and　you　know　it。　Which　reminds　me。　There　was　something　odd　about　the　boxes　in　the　tomb；　something　that　I've　been　wondering　about。　As　much　as　I　hate　to　go　back　in　there；　there's　something　I've　got　to　check　out。〃
　〃I'll　help　you；〃　Philip　said；　springing　to　his　feet。
　〃No。　I　need　to　go　in　there　alone。　Borabay；　give　me　a　light。〃
　Borabay　lit　a　bundle　of　reeds　and　handed　it　to　his　father。
　The　old　man　disappeared　through　the　doorway；　and　Tom　could　see　the　yellow　halo　moving　about　in　the　tomb　among　the　crates　and　boxes。　Maxwell　Broadbent's　voice　boomed　out。　〃God　knows　why　all　this　bloody　crap　was　so　important　to　me　once。〃
　The　light　moved　deeper　into　the　darkness　and　vanished。
　Philip　stood　up　and　walked　a　tight　circle；　stretching　his　legs。　He　lit　his　pipe。　〃I　hate　to　think　of　Hauser　getting　his　hands　on　the　Lippi。〃
　A　voice；　cool　and　amused；　came　floating　toward　them：
　〃I　say；　did　someone　mention　my　name？〃
　
　71
　
　Hauser　spoke　softly；　soothingly；　his　weapon　leveled　and　ready　to　go　at　the　slightest　movement。　The　three　brothers　and　the　Indian；　sitting　on　the　far　side　of　the　open　tomb　door；　turned　their　heads　toward　him；　blank　terror　in　their　eyes。
　〃Do　not　dismode　yourselves　by　rising。　Do　not　move　at　all；　except　to　blink　your　eyes。〃　He　paused。　〃Philip；　so　good　to　see　you　recovered。　You've　e　a　long　way　from　the　effete　little　snit　that　walked　into　my　office　two　months　ago；　with　that　ridiculous　briar　pipe。〃
　Hauser　took　a　light　step　forward；　braced；　ready　to　mow　them　down　at　the　slightest　movement。　〃How　kind　of　you　to　guide　me　to　the　tomb。　And　you've　even　opened　the　door　for　me！　Very　considerate。　Now　listen　carefully。　If　you　follow　my　directions　no　one　will　be　hurt。〃
　Hauser　paused　to　examine　the　four　faces　in　front　of　him。　No　one　was　panicking；　and　no　one　was　gearing　up　to　play　the　hero。　These　were　sensible　people。　He　said；　as　softly　and　pleasantly　as　possible；　〃Someone　tell　the　Indian　he　needs　to　put　his　bow　and　arrows　down。　Slowly　and　smoothly…no　sudden　movements；　please。〃
　Borabay　took　off　his　quiver　and　bow　and　let　them　fall　in　front　of　him。
　〃So　the　Indian　understands　English。　Good。　And　now　I　will　ask　each　of　you　fellows　to　unsheath　and　drop　your　machetes　one　at　a　time。　You　first；　Philip。　Remain　seated。〃
　Philip　unsheathed　his　knife　and　dropped　it。
　〃Vernon？〃
　Vernon　did　the　same　and　then　Tom。
　〃Now；　Philip；　I　want　you　to　go　over　to　where　you　have　piled　your　packs；　get　them；　and　bring　them　to　me。　Easy　does　it。〃　He　made　a　little　gesture　with　the　muzzle　of　his　gun。
　Philip　collected　the　packs　and　placed　them　at　Hauser's　feet。
　〃Excellent！　Now　let's　empty　our　pockets。　Turn　the　pockets　inside　out　and　leave　them　that　way。　Drop　everything　on　the　ground　in　front　of　you。〃
　They　plied。　Hauser　was　surprised　to　see　that　they　had　not；　as　he　supposed；　been　loading　up　on　treasure　from　the　tomb。
　〃And　now　you'll　stand　up。　All　at　once；　in　unison；　in　slow　motion。　Good！　Now；　just　moving　your　legs　from　the　knees　down；　taking　small　steps；　keeping　your　arms　very　still；　you　will　move　back。　Keep　in　a　group　there；　that's　right。　One　step　at　a　time。〃
　As　they　shuffled　back　in　this　ridiculous　fashion；　Hauser　stepped　forward。　They　had　bunched　up；　instinctively；　as　people　did　when　in　danger…especially　family　members　herded　under　gunpoint。　He　had　seen　it　before；　and　it　made　everything　so　much　easier。
　〃Everything's　just　fine；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　anybody…all　I　want　is　Max's　grave　goods。　I'm　a　professional；　and　like　most　professionals　I　dislike　killing。〃　Right。　His　finger　caressed　the　smooth　plastic　curve　of　the　trigger；　found　its　place；　began　to　tighten　it　back　to　full　auto　position。　They　were　in　place。　There　was　nothing　they　could　do　now。　They　were　as　good　as　dead。
　〃Nobody's　going　to　get　hurt。〃　And　then　he　couldn't　help　adding：　〃Nobody's　going　to　feel　a　thing。〃　He　squeezed　for　real　now；　felt　that　imperceptible　give　in　the　trigger　that　he　knew　so　well；　that　millisecond　release　after　the　feeling　of　resistance；　and　simultaneously　Hauser　saw　a　swift　movement　in　his　peripheral　field　of　vision；　and　there　was　an　explosion　of　sparks　and　flame　and　he　fell；　firing　wildly　as　he　went；　the　bullets　ricocheting　off　the　stone　walls；　and　he　had　a　terrifying　glimpse　of　what　had　struck　him　before　he　hit　the　stone　ground。
　The　thing　had　e　straight　out　of　the　tomb；　half　naked；　face　white　as　a　vampire；　sunken…eyed；　stinking　of　deposition；　its　bony　limbs　as　gray　and　hollow　as　death；　holding　aloft　a　burning　brand　that　it　had　just　struck　him　with；　and　it　was　still　ing　at　him　with　a　shrieking　mouth　full　of　brown　teeth。
　Damned　if　it　wasn't　the　ghost　of　Maxwell　Broadbent　himself！
　
　72
　
　Hauser　rolled　when　he　hit　the　ground；　still　clutching　his　weapon。　He　twisted；　trying　to　get　back　into　firing　position；　but　it　was　too　late　and　the　ragged　specter　of　Maxwell　Broadbent　had　fallen　on　top　of　him；　roaring　and　stabbing　and　slashing　him　across　the　face　with　the　burning　brand；　there　were　showers　of　sparks；　and　he　smelled　burning　hair　as　he　tried　to　ward　off　the　blows　with　one　hand；　clutching　his　gun　with　the　other。　It　was　impossible　to　get　off　a　shot　while　the　attacker　was　trying　to　gouge　out　his　eyes　with　the　burning　brand。　He　managed　to　wrench　free；　and　then　fired　blindly；　from　on　his　back；　wildly　sweeping　the　muzzle　back　and　forth；　hoping　to　hit　something；　anything。　But　the　specter　seemed　to　have　vanished。
　He　stopped　firing　and　gingerly　sat　up。　His　face　and　right　eye　felt　like　they　were　on　fire。　He　yanked　the　canteen　out　of　his　pack　and　doused　his　face。
　Christ；　how　it　hurt！
　He　dabbed　the　water　off　his　face。　Hot　coals　and　sparks　from　the　brand　had　lodged　inside　his　nose；　under　one　eyelid；　in　his　hair　and　his　cheek。　The　monstrous　thing　that　had　e　out　of　the　tomb…could　it　really　have　been　a　ghost？　He　opened；　painfully；　his　right　eye。　As　he　gently　probed　around　it　with　his　fingertip；　he　realized　the　damage　was　all　to　the　eyebrow　and　lid。　The　cornea　was　intact；　and　he　hadn't　lost　his　vision。　He　poured　some　water　into　his　handkerchief；　wrung　it　out；　and　blotted　his　face。
　What　the　hell　happened？　Hauser；　who