pdouglas.thecodex-第68节

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　〃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　less　than　the　plain；　unadorned　truth。
　〃Not　good。〃
　〃Go　on。〃
　Tom　couldn't　quite　bring　himself　to　say　it。
　〃That　bad？〃　said　his　father。
　Tom　nodded。
　〃But　what　about　these　antibiotics　this　medicine　man's　giving　me？　And　what　about　all　those　marvelous　remedies　in　that　codex　you　just　rescued？〃
　〃Father；　the　kind　of　infection　you　have；　sepsis；　can't　be　reached　by　any　antibiotic。　Nothing　short　of　major　surgery　will　fix　it；　and　now　it's　probably　too　late　even　for　that。　Drugs　can't　do　everything。〃
　There　was　a　silence。　Broadbent　turned　and　looked　up。　〃Damn；〃　he　said　at　last；　to　the　ceiling。
　〃You　took　that　bullet　for　us；〃　said　Philip。　〃You　saved　our　lives。〃
　〃Best　thing　I　ever　did。〃
　Tom　laid　his　hand　on　his　father's　arm。　It　was　like　a　hot　stick。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃So　how　long　do　I　have？〃
　〃Two　or　three　days。〃
　〃Christ。　That　short？〃
　Tom　nodded。
　He　lay　back　with　a　sigh。　〃The　cancer　would　have　gotten　me　in　a　few　months　anyway。　Although　it　would　have　been　damned　nice　having　those　months　with　my　sons。　Or　even　a　week。〃
　Borabay　came　over　and　laid　his　hand　on　his　father's　chest。　〃I　sorry；　Father。〃
　Broadbent　covered　the　hand　with　his。　〃I　sorry；　too。〃　He　turned　and　looked　at　his　sons。　〃And　I　can't　even　look　on　the　Lippi　Madonna　one　more　time。　When　I　was　in　that　tomb；　I　kept　thinking　about　how　if　I　could　only　look　on　that　Madonna　again；　everything　would　be　all　right。〃
　
　They　spent　the　night　in　the　hut　watching　over　their　dying　father。　He　was　restless；　but　the　antibiotics　were；　at　least　for　now；　holding　the　infection　at　bay。　When　dawn　broke　the　old　man　was　still　lucid。
　〃I　need　some　water；〃　he　said；　his　voice　hoarse。
　Tom　left　the　hut　with　a　jug；　heading　for　the　nearby　stream。　The　Tara　village　was　just　waking　up。　The　cooking　fires　were　being　lit；　and　the　beautiful　French　copper…　and　nickel…clad　pots　and　pans　and　tureens　were　making　their　appearance。　Smoke　spiraled　into　the　morning　sky。　Chickens　scratched　in　the　dirt　plaza；　and　mangy　dogs　prowled　about；　looking　for　scraps。　A　toddler　came　teetering　out　of　a　hut；　wearing　a　Harry　Potter　T…shirt；　and　took　a　pee。　Even　among　a　tribe　this　remote；　Tom　thought；　the　world　was　reaching　in。　How　long　would　it　be　before　the　White　City　yielded　up　its　treasures　and　its　secrets　to　the　world？
　As　Tom　walked　back　carrying　the　water；　he　heard　a　sharp　voice。　The　old　crone；　the　wife　of　Cah；　had　e　out　of　her　hut　and　was　gesturing　toward　him　with　a　crooked　hand。　〃Wakha！〃　she　said；　gesturing。
　Tom　paused　warily。
　Wakha！
　He　took　a　cautious　step　toward　her；　half　expecting　to　have　his　hair　yanked　or　his　balls　groped。
　Instead　the　woman　took　him　by　the　hand　and　pulled　him　toward　her　hut。
　Wakha！
　He　reluctantly　followed　her　bent　form　into　the　smoky　hut。
　And　there；　in　the　dim　light；　propped　up　against　a　post；　stood　the　Madonna　of　the　Crapes　by　Fra　Filippo　Lippi。　Tom　stared　at　the　Renaissance　masterpiece　and　took　an　uncertain　step　toward　it；　transfixed；　hardly　believing　it　could　be　real。　The　contrast　between　the　shabby　hut　and　the　painting　was　too　great。　Even　in　the　dark　it　fairly　glowed　with　internal　light；　the　golden…haired　Madonna；　barely　a　teenager；　holding　her　baby；　who　was　stuffing　a　grape　into　his　mouth　with　two　pink　fingers。　A　dove　floated　above　their　heads；　radiating　gold　leaf。
　He　turned　to　the　old　lady　in　astonishment。　She　was　looking　at　him　with　a　huge　grin　on　her　wrinkled　face；　her　pink　gums　gleaming。　She　went　over　to　the　painting；　picked　it　up；　and　thrust　it　in　his　arms。
　Wakha！
　She　gestured　for　him　to　take　it　to　his　father's　hut。　She　went　behind；　giving　him　little　pushes　with　her　hands。　〃Teh！　Teh！〃
　Tom　walked　into　the　damp　clearing　with　the　painting　cradled　in　his　arms。　Cah　must　have　kept　back　the　painting　for　himself。　It　was　a　miracle。　He　stepped　into　the　hut　and　held　the　painting　out。　Philip　glanced　over；　let　out　a　cry；　and　fell　back。　Broadbent　stared　at　it；　his　eyes　widening。　At　first　he　said　nothing；　and　then　he　lay　back　in　his　hammock；　a　look　of　fright　on　his　face。
　〃Damn　it；　Tom！　The　hallucinations　are　starting。〃
　〃No；　Father。〃　He　brought　the　painting　close。　〃It's　real。　Touch　it。〃
　〃No；　don't　touch　it！〃　cried　Philip。
　Broadbent　reached　out　a　trembling　hand　and　touched　the　painted　surface　anyway。
　〃Hello；〃　he　murmured。　He　turned　to　Tom。　〃I'm　not　dreaming。〃
　〃No；　you're　not　dreaming。〃
　〃Where　in　the　world　did　you　get　this？〃
　〃She　had　it。〃　He　turned　to　the　old　woman；　who　stood　in　the　doorway；　a　toothless　grin　on　her　face。　Borabay　began　asking　her　questions；　and　she　spoke　at　length。　Borabay　listened；　nodding。　Then　he　turned　to　his　father。
　〃She　say　her　husband　greedy；　keep　back　many　things　from　tomb。　Hide　them　in　cave　behind　village。〃
　〃What　things？〃　Broadbent　asked　sharply。
　They　spoke　some　more。
　〃She　not　know。　She　say　Cah　steal　almost　all　treasure　for　tomb。　He　fill　boxes　with　stones　instead。　He　say　he　not　want　to　put　white　man　treasure　in　Tara　tomb。〃
　〃Wouldn't　you　know　it；〃　said　Broadbent。　〃When　I　was　in　the　tomb；　there　were　some　crates　that　seemed　hollower　than　they　should　be；　almost　empty。　I　couldn't　get　them　open　in　the　dark。　That's　what　I　was　doing　in　the　tomb　just　before　Hauser　showed　up；　checking　to　see　if　I　could　solve　the　mystery。　That　damned　tricky　old　Cah。　I　should　have　known。　He　planned　this　whole　thing　from　the　start。　Christ；　he　was　as　greedy　as　I　was！〃
　Broadbent　cast　his　eyes　back　on　the　painting。　It　reflected　the　light　of　the　fire；　the　flickering　glow　playing　over　the　Virgins　young　face。　There　was　a　long　silence　as　he　looked　at　it。　Then　he　closed　his　eyes　and　said；　〃Bring　me　a　pen　and　paper。　Now　that　I　have　something　to　leave　you；　I'm　going　to　make　out　a　new　will。〃
　
　84
　
　They　brought　a　pen　and　a　roll　of　bark　paper　to　Maxwell　Broadbent。
　〃Shall　we　leave　you？〃　asked　Vernon。
　〃No。　I　need　you　here。　You　too；　Sally。　e。　Gather　around。〃
　They　came　and　stood　around　his　hammock。　Then　he　cleared　his　throat。　〃Well；　my　sons。　And…〃　he　looked　at　Sally；　〃my　future　daughter…in…law。　Here　we　are。〃
　He　paused。
　〃And　what　fine　sons　I　have。　Pity　it　took　me　so　long　to　realize　it。〃　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　don't　have　a　lot　of　wind　left；　and　my　head　feels　like　a　pumpkin；　so　I'll　keep　this　short。〃
　His　eyes；　still　clear；　traveled　around　the　room。　〃Congratulations。　You　did　it。　You　earned　your　inheritance；　and　you　saved　my　life。　You　showed　me　what　a　goddamn　fool　of　a　father　I've　been…〃
　〃Father…〃
　〃No　interruptions！　I　have　some　parting　advice。〃　He　wheezed。　〃Here　I　am　on　my　deathbed；　how　can　I　resist？〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Philip；　of　all　my　sons；　you're　the　one　most　like　me。　I've　seen；　in　these　past　years；　how　the　expectation　of　a　large　inheritance　has　cast　a　shadow　over　your　life。　You're　not　naturally　greedy；　but　when　you're　waiting　for　half　a　billion　dollars；　it　has　a　corrosive　effect。　I've　seen　you　living　beyond　your　means；　trying　to　play　the　rich；　sophisticated　connoisseur　in　your　New　York　circle。　You've　got　the　same　disease　I　had：　needing　to　own　beauty。　Forget　it。　That's　what　museums　are　for。　Live　a　simpler　life。　You　have　a　deep　appreciation　for　art；　and　that　should　be　its　own　reward；　not　the　recognition　and　fame。　And　I've　heard　you're　one　hell　of　a　teacher。〃
　Philip　nodded　curtly；　not　altogether　pleased。
　Broadbent　took　a　couple　of　ragged　breaths。　Then　he　turned　to　Vernon。　〃Vernon。　You're　a　seeker；　and　now　I　finally　see　just　how　important　that　choice　is　for　you。　Your　problem　is　that　you　get　taken　in。　You're　an　innocent。　There's　a　rule　of　thumb　here；　Vernon：　If　they　want　money；　the　religion's　bullshit。　It　doesn't　cost　anything　to　pray　in　a　church。〃
　Vernon　nodded。
　〃And　now　Tom。　Of　all　my　sons　you're　the　most　different　from　me。　I　never　really　understood　you。　You're　the　least　materialistic　of　my　sons。　You　rejected　me　a　long　time　ago；　perhaps　for　good　reasons。〃
　〃Father…〃
　〃Quiet！　Unlike　me；　you're　disciplined　in　the　way　you　live　your　life。　I　know　what　you　really　wanted　to　do　was　bee　a　paleontologist　and　hunt　dinosaur　fossils。　Like　a　fool；　I　pushed　you　into　medicine。　I　know　you're　a　good　vet；　although　I've　never　understood　why　you're　wasting　your　tremendous　talents　doctoring　grade　horses　on　the　Navajo　Indian　reservation。　What　I've　finally　understood　is　that　I　must　respect　and　honor　your　choices　in　life。　Dinosaurs；　horses；　whatever。　You　do　what　you　want　with　my　blessing。　What　I　have　also　e　to　see　is　your　integrity。　Integrity　was　something　I　never　really　had；　and　it　upset　me　to　see　it　so　strongly　in　one　of　my　sons。　I　don't　know　what　you　would　have　done　with　a　big　inheritance；　and　I　expect　you　don't　know；　either。　You　don't　need　the　money　and　you　don't　really　want　it。〃
　〃Yes；　Father。〃
　〃And　now；　Borabay　。。。　you　are　my　oldest　and　yet　most　recent　son。　I've　only　known　you　briefly；　but　in　a　strange　way　I　feel　I　know　you　best　of　all。　I've　scoped　you　out；　and　I　realize　you're　a　little　greedy　like　me。　You　can't　wait　to　cut　out　of　here　and　go　to　America　and　enjoy　the　good　life。　You　don't　really　fit　in　with　the　Tara。　Well；　that's　fine。　You'll　learn　fast。　You　have　an　advantage　here　because　you　had　a　good　mother　and　didn't　have　me　for　a　father；