pdouglas.thecodex-第67节

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an　who　had　e　with　Tom　Broadbent…had　him　in　her　crosshairs。　A　useless　old　hunting　rifle；　the　soldier　had　told　him。　Right。　She　had　placed　a　bullet　at　his　feet　at　350　yards。　To　think　that　she　now　had　him　in　her　sights　was　an　unpleasant　and　yet　oddly　thrilling　feeling。
　He　looked　at　the　bottle　tied　to　the　cable。　The　distance　from　where　he　was　standing　to　the　bottle　was　less　than　one　hundred　feet。　The　sharpshooter　was　shooting　from　more　than　three　hundred　yards。　The　bridge　was　swaying　in　the　updrafts。　It　would　be　a　difficult　shot；　hitting　a　target　moving　through　three　dimensions。　An　almost　impossible　shot；　in　fact。　In　ten　seconds　he　could　reach　the　bottle；　tear　it　off　the　cable；　and　drop　it　in　the　abyss。　If　he　then　turned　and　ran　back　toward　the　far　end　of　the　bridge；　he　would　be　a　moving　target　rapidly　going　out　of　range。　How　likely　would　it　be　that　she　could　hit　him？　He　would　be　running　fast　along　a　swaying　bridge…again　moving　in　three　spatial　dimensions　relative　to　her　firing　point。　She　would　not　be　able　to　draw　a　bead　on　him。　On　top　of　that　she　was　a　woman。　Obviously　she　could　shoot；　but　no　woman　could　shoot　that　well。
　Yes；　it　could　all　be　done　quickly；　before　the　Broadbents　escaped；　and　she　would　never　hit　him　or　the　canister。　Never。
　He　crouched　and　sprang　toward　the　can　of　white　gas。
　Almost　instantly　he　heard　the　snick！　of　a　bullet　in　front　of　him　and　then　the　report。　He　kept　going　and　reached　the　can　just　as　the　second　report　reached　his　ears。　Another　miss。　This　was　too　easy。　He　had　just　put　his　hand　on　the　can　when　he　heard　a　pop！　and　saw　a　brilliant　blossoming　of　light　erupt　in　front　of　him　with　a　whoosh；　followed　by　a　searing　heat。　He　staggered　back；　waving　his　arm；　surprised　to　see　blue　flames　crawling　all　over　him；　his　arms；　his　chest；　his　legs。　He　fell　and　rolled；　thrashing　around；　beating　at　his　arm；　but　he　was　like　a　blazing　Midas　and　everything　he　touched　seemed　to　turn　to　fire。　He　kicked；　shrieked；　rolled…and　then　suddenly　he　was　like　an　angel；　soaring　on　wings　of　air；　and　he　closed　his　eyes　and　allowed　the　long；　cool；　delicious　fall　to　happen。
　
　82
　
　Tom　turned　just　in　time　to　see　the　fiery　human　meteor　that　was　Hauser　streaking　into　the　bottomless　chasm；　flickering　dimly　and　silently　as　it　hurtled　down　through　layers　of　mist　before　disappearing；　leaving　nothing　behind　but　a　faint　trail　of　smoke。
　The　entire　midsection　of　the　bridge　where　Hauser　had　been　standing　was　on　fire。
　〃Get　off　the　bridge！〃　Tom　cried。　〃Run！〃
　They　ran　as　best　they　could；　supporting　their　father；　advancing　toward　the　four　soldiers；　who　quickly　retreated　to　terra　firma　but　remained　blocking　the　far　end　of　the　bridge。　The　soldiers　looked　confused；　uncertain；　guns　raised；　liable　to　do　anything。　Hauser's　last　order　had　been　to　let　the　Broadbents　pass…but　would　they？
　The　leader　of　the　group；　a　lieutenant；　raised　his　weapon　and　cried；　〃Halt！〃
　〃Let　us　pass！〃　Tom　cried　in　Spanish。　They　kept　ing。
　〃No。　Get　back。〃
　〃Hauser　ordered　you　to　let　us　pass！〃　Tom　could　feel　the　bridge　trembling。　The　burning　cable　was　going　to　go　at　any　second。
　〃Hauser　is　dead；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　〃I　am　now　in　charge。〃
　〃The　bridge　is　burning；　for　God's　sake！〃
　A　smile　crept　up　on　the　teniente's　face。　〃Yes。〃
　As　if　on　cue　the　whole　bridge　jerked；　and　Tom　and　his　father　and　brothers　were　thrown　to　their　knees。　One　of　the　cables　had　parted；　sending　a　shower　of　sparks　into　the　abyss；　while　the　bridge　whipsawed　under　the　sudden　release　of　tension。
　Tom　struggled　to　his　feet；　helping　his　brothers　raise　their　father。
　〃You　must　let　us　pass！〃
　The　soldier　answered　with　a　burst　of　fire　just　above　their　heads。　〃You　die　with　the　bridge。　That　is　my　order！　The　White　City　is　ours　now！〃
　Tom　turned；　smoke　and　flames　streamed　from　the　bridge's　midsection；　fed　by　the　updraft　from　below。　Tom　saw　a　second　cable　start　to　unravel；　spilling　burning　bits　of　fiber　into　the　air。
　〃Hang　on！〃　he　cried；　gripping　his　father。
　The　cable　parted　with　a　violent　lashing；　and　the　entire　deck　of　the　bridge　fell　away　like　a　curtain　dropping。　They　clung　to　the　two　remaining　cables；　struggling　to　hold　on　to　their　weakened　father。　The　bridge　was　whipsawing　back　and　forth　like　a　spring。
　〃Soldiers　or　no　soldiers；〃　said　Tom；　〃let's　get　the　hell　off　this　bridge。〃
　They　began　edging　along　the　two　remaining　cables；　their　feet　on　the　lower　one；　their　hands　on　the　upper　one；　helping　Broadbent　along。
　The　teniente　and　his　three　soldiers　advanced　two　steps。　〃Get　ready　to　fire！〃　They　dropped　to　a　stable　firing　position　and　took　aim。
　Tom　and　his　family　were　now　only　twenty…five　feet　from　land；　and　the　soldiers　would　be　firing　at　them　from　almost　point…blank　range。　He　knew　they　had　no　choice　but　to　keep　going　toward　the　men　who　were　about　to　kill　them。
　The　third　cable　parted　like　a　spring；　sending　a　recoil　through　the　bridge　that　almost　knocked　them　all　off。　The　wreckage　of　the　bridge　hung　from　the　single　remaining　cable；　swinging　back　and　forth。
　The　teniente　pointed　his　gun　at　them。　〃You　die　now；〃　he　said　in　English。
　There　was　a　hollow　thud；　but　it　was　not　from　his　gun。　A　surprised　look　came　into　the　teniente's　face；　and　it　was　as　if　he　were　bowing　down　before　them；　a　long　arrow　sticking　out　of　the　back　of　his　head。　This　struck　momentary　confusion　in　the　other　five　soldiers；　and　in　that　moment　a　bloodcurdling　yell　went　up　from　the　edge　of　the　forest；　followed　by　a　huge　shower　of　arrows。　Tara　warriors　poured　out　of　the　jungle　and　raced　across　the　flat　area；　leaping　and　shrieking；　firing　arrows　on　the　fly。　The　remaining　soldiers；　caught　by　surprise　on　the　flank；　out　in　the　open；　threw　down　their　guns　in　a　panic　to　flee　and　were　instantly　transformed　into　human　pincushions；　struck　with　dozens　of　arrows　simultaneously；　they　staggered　about　wildly　like　drunken　porcupines　before　falling　to　the　ground。
　A　moment　later　Tom　and　his　brothers　had　reached　land　just　as　the　final　cable　parted　in　a　great　cloud　of　sparks。　The　two　blazing　ends　of　the　bridge　swung　lazily　toward　the　canyon　walls　and　crashed　into　them　with　a　shudder　and　a　cascade　of　burning　debris。
　It　was　over。　The　bridge　was　gone。
　Tom　looked　ahead　and　saw　Sally　stand　up　out　of　the　brush　in　front　and　run　toward　them。　They　moved　toward　her；　helping　their　father　along；　aided　by　Tara　warriors。　In　a　few　moments　they　had　reached　her。　Tom　folded　her　in　his　arms　and　they　hugged；　while　Hairy　Bugger；　now　safe　in　Tom's　pocket　again；　squeaked　his　displeasure　at　being　squeezed　in　the　middle。
　Tom　looked　back。　The　two　pieces　of　bridge　were　hanging　over　the　chasm；　still　burning。　A　half　dozen　men　had　been　left　trapped　in　the　white　city。　They　stood　on　the　edge　of　the　precipice；　staring　at　the　dangling　wreckage。　The　mists　began　to　rise　and；　bit　by　bit；　the　silent；　stupefied　figures　vanished。
　
　83
　
　The　hut　was　warm　and　faintly　perfumed　with　smoke　and　medicinal　herbs。　Tom　entered；　followed　by　Vernon；　Philip；　and　Sally。　Maxwell　Broadbent　was　lying　in　a　hammock　with　his　eyes　closed。　Frogs　peeped　outside　in　the　peaceful　night。　A　young　Tara　medicine　man　was　grinding　herbs　in　one　corner　of　the　hut；　under　the　watchful　eye　of　Borabay。
　Tom　laid　a　hand　on　his　father's　forehead。　His　temperature　was　climbing。　The　gesture　caused　his　father　to　open　his　eyes。　His　face　was　drawn；　his　eyes　glittering　with　fever　and　the　light　of　the　fire。　The　old　man　mustered　a　smile。　〃As　soon　as　I　get　better；　Borabay's　going　to　show　me　how　to　go　spearfishing　the　Tara　way。〃
　Borabay　nodded。
　Broadbent's　restless　eyes　moved　over　the　pany；　seeking　reassurance。　〃Eh；　Tom？　What　do　you　say？〃
　Tom　tried　to　say　something　but　couldn't　quite　get　the　sounds　out。
　The　young　medicine　man　stood　up　and　offered　Broadbent　a　clay　mug　filled　with　some　murky　brown　liquid。
　〃Not　another　of　these；〃　Broadbent　muttered。　〃This　is　worse　than　the　cod　liver　oil　my　mother　used　to　force　down　my　throat　every　morning。〃
　〃Drink；　Father；〃　said　Borabay。　〃Good　for　you。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　Broadbent　asked。
　〃Medicine。〃
　〃I　know　that；　but　what　kind　of　medicine？　You　can't　expect　me　to　swallow　something　without　knowing　what　it　is。〃
　Maxwell　Broadbent　was　proving　a　difficult　patient。
　Sally　spoke。　〃It's　Una　de　gavilan；　Uncaria　tomentosa。　The　dried　root　is　an　antibiotic。〃
　〃I　suppose　it　can't　hurt。〃　Broadbent　took　the　mug；　swallowed。　〃We　seem　to　have　an　excess　of　doctoring　going　on　here。　Sally；　Tom；　Borabay；　and　now　this　young　witch　doctor。　You'd　think　I　had　something　serious。〃
　Tom　glanced　at　Sally。
　〃The　things　we're　going　to　do　together　when　I　get　better！〃　Broadbent　said。
　Tom　swallowed　again。　His　father；　seeing　his　disfort…nothing　ever　escaped　him…turned　to　him。　〃Well；　Tom？　You're　the　only　real　doctor　around　here。　What's　the　prognosis？〃
　Tom　tried　to　muster　a　smile。　His　father　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time　and　then　settled　back　with　a　sigh。　〃Who　am　I　kidding？〃
　There　was　a　long　silence。
　〃Tom？　I'm　already　dying　of　cancer。　You　can't　tell　me　anything　worse　than　that。〃
　〃Well；〃　Tom　began；　〃the　bullet　perforated　your　peritoneal　cavity。　You've　got　an　infection；　and　that's　why　you　have　a　fever。〃
　〃And　the　prognosis？〃
　Tom　swallowed　again。　His　three　brothers　and　Sally　were　all　looking　at　him　intently。　Tom　knew　his　father　would　settle　for　nothing　le