cussler.blueandgold-第13节

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　〃I'm　somewhat　concerned。　One　of　the　village　men　came　to　me。　He　said　there　were　stirrings　of　trouble　in　the　forest。〃　〃What　kind　of　trouble？〃　Paul　asked。　〃He　didn't　know。　Only　that　it　had　to　do　with　the　murdered　Indian。〃
　
　〃In　what　way？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　〃I'm　not　sure　exactly。〃　He　paused。　〃Creatures　are　being　killed　in　this　forest　at　this　moment。　Insects；　animals；　and　birds　are　constantly　involved　in　a　violent　struggle　for　life。　Yet　out　of　this　bloody　chaos　there　is　an　equilibrium。〃　His　deep…set　eyes　seemed　to　grow　even　darker。　〃I　fear　that　the　killing　of　the　Indian　has　disturbed　this　balance。〃
　
　〃Maybe　the　Amazon　goddess　is　about　to　wreak　her　revenge；〃　Paul　said；　handing　the　medallion　back。
　
　Ramirez　swung　the　pendant　back　and　forth　on　its　thong　as　if　he　were　Svengali　using　it　as　a　hypnotic　device。　'~As　a　man　of　science；　I　must　deal　with　the　facts。　It　is　a　fact　that　someone　out　there　has　a　gun　and　has　no　hesitation　about　using　it。　Either　the　Indian　strayed　out　of　his　territory　or　someone　with　a　gun　invaded　it。〃
　
　〃Do　you　have　any　thoughts　on　who　this　person　might　be？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　〃Perhaps。　Do　you　know　anything　about　the　rubber　industry？〃
　
　Both　Trouts　shook　their　heads。
　
　〃A　hundred　years　ago　rubber　trees　grew　only　in　the　Amazon　jungle。　Then　a　British　scientist　stole　some　seeds　to　start　vast　rubber　plantations　in　the　east。　The　same　thing　is　happening　now。　The　shaman　who　acpanied　us　on　our　burial　detail　today　is　a　bit　of　a　fraud　when　it　es　to　chasing　out　evil　demons；　but　he　knows　the　medicinal　value　of　hundreds　of　rain　forest　plants。　People　e　here　and　say　they　are　scientists；　but　they　are　really　pi　rates　looking　for　herbs　that　have　medicinal　properties。　They　sell　the　patents　to　multinational　drug　panies。　Sometimes　they　work　directly　for　the　panies。　In　either　case　the　panies　make　fortunes　while　the　natives　who　have　harbored　the　knowledge　get　nothing。　Even　worse；　sometimes　men　e　in　and　take　the　medicinal　plants。〃
　
　〃You　think　one　of　these　'pirates'　tortured　and　shot　the　Indian？〃　Paul　asked。
　
　〃It's　possible。　When　millions　are　at　stake；　the　life　of　a　poor
　Indian　means　nothing。　Why　they　shot　him；　I　don't　know。　It's　possible　he　simply　saw　something　he　shouldn't　have。　These　plant　secrets　have　been　with　the　forest　inhabitants　for　generations。〃　〃Is　anybody　trying　to　stop　these　pirates？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃It　is　a　problem。　Sometimes　government　officials　are　in　collusion　with　the　drug　panies。　The　stakes　are　very　high。　The　governments　care　little　about　the　indigenous　people。　They　are　interested　only　in　how　to　sell　the　natives'　genetic　knowledge　of　plants　to　the　highest　bidder。〃
　
　〃So　the　piracy　goes　unchecked？〃
　
　〃Not　quite。　The　universities　are　sending　teams　of　true　scientists　to　track　down　the　pirates。　They　are　doing　research　on　plants　themselves；　but　at　the　same　time　they　talk　to　the　Indians　and　ask　if　there　have　been　strangers　asking　questions。　Our　neighbors　in　Brazil　have　tried　to　stop　the　theft　of　genetic　resources　in　the　court。　They　sued　a　scientist　for　cataloging　seeds　and　tree　bark　the　Indians　use　for　cures　and　charged　him　with　stealing　knowledge　from　indigenous　people。〃
　
　〃A　difficult　charge　to　make　stick；〃　Paul　noted。
　
　〃Agreed。　Brazil　is　also　pushing　legislation　to　protect　bio　diversity；　so　we　are　making　progress；　but　not　much。　We　are　talking　about　taking　on　drug　panies　with　billions　of　dollars　in　re　sources。　It　is　not　an　even　match。〃
　
　A　thought　occurred　to　Gamay。　〃Has　your　university　been　involved？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　had　teams　from　time　to　time。　But　there　is　little　money　for　full…time　police　work。〃
　
　It　wasn't　the　answer　Gamay　was　looking　for；　but　she　didn't　persist。　〃I　wish　there　was　something　we　could　do。〃
　
　〃There　is；〃　Ramirez　said　with　a　broad　smile。　〃I　would　ask　a　favor。　Please　feel　under　no　obligation　to　grant　it。〃
　
　〃Try　us；〃　Paul　said　amiably。
　
　〃Very　well。　A　few　hours'　travel　from　here　there　is　another　settlement　on　the　river。　The　Dutchman　who　lives　there　has　no　radio。　They　may　have　heard　about　a　Chulo　being　killed。　In　any　event；　they　should　be　told；　in　case　there　are　repercussions。〃　He　stuck　his　leg　out。　The　ankle　was　heavily　wrapped　in　a　bandage。　〃I　can　barely　walk。　I　don't　think　there　is　a　break；　but　it　is　badly　sprained。　I　was　wondering　if　you　could　go　in　my　place。　You　could　make　a　quick　trip　of　it。〃　〃What　about　the　supply　boat？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　〃It　is　due　late　tomorrow　as　expected。　They　will　lay　over　for　the　night。　You　would　be　back　before　it　leaves。〃
　
　〃I　don't　see　why　we　can't　do　it；〃　Gamay　said；　stopping　short　as　she　caught　the　quizzical　look　in　her　husband's　eye。　〃If　it's　okay　with　Paul。〃
　
　〃Well…〃
　
　〃Ah；　I　apologize。　My　request　has　created　marital　discord。〃
　
　〃Oh；　no；〃　Paul　reassured　him。　〃It's　simply　my　New　England　caution。　Of　course　we'd　like　to　help　you。〃
　
　〃Splendid。　I　will　have　my　men　gather　supplies　for　you　and　fuel　my　boat。　It　will　be　faster　on　the　river　than　your　inflatable。　She　should　make　the　round　trip　in　the　same　day。〃
　
　〃I　thought　you　had　only　dugout　canoes　in　the　village；〃　Gamay　said。
　
　Ramirez　smiled。　〃They　serve　most　of　my　needs；　yes；　but　occasionally　more　efficient　transportation　is　desirable。〃
　
　She　shrugged。　〃Tell　us　more　about　the　man　you　call　the　Dutchman。〃
　
　〃Dieter　is　actually　German。　He's　a　trader；　married　to　a　native　woman。　He　es　here　occasionally；　but　mostly　he　sends　his　men　once　a　month　with　a　list；　and　we　relay　it　to　the　supply　boat。　He　is　an　unsavory　character　in　my　opinion；　but　that　is　no　reason　not　to　warn　him　of　possible　danger。〃　Ramirez　paused。　〃You　do　not　have　to　do　this。　These　things　are　really　none　of　your　affair；　and　you　are　scientists；　not　adventurers。　Especially　the　beautiful　Senora　Trout。〃
　
　〃I　think　we　can　handle　it；〃　Gamay　said；　looking　at　her　husband　with　amusement。
　
　She　was　not　speaking　with　bravado；　but　as　part　of　the　NUMA　Special　Assignments　Team　she　and　Paul　had　been　on　any　number　of　dangerous　assignments。　And　as　attractive　as　she　was；　Gamay　was　no　delicate　flower。　Back　in　Racine；　Wisconsin；　where　she　was　born；　she　had　been　a　tomboy　who　ran　with　a　pack　of　boys　and　later　moved　with　ease　among　men。
　
　〃Well；　then；　we　have　an　agreement。　After　dessert　we　will　have　a　glass　of　brandy　and　retire　so　we　can　be　up　at　the　crack　of　dawn。〃
　
　A　short　while　later　the　Trouts　were　back　in　their　room　getting　ready　for　bed　when　Gamay　asked　Paul；　〃Why　were　you　hesitant　about　helping　Dr。　Ramirez？〃
　
　〃Couple　of　reasons。　Let's　start　with　the　fact　that　this　little　side　trip　has　nothing　to　do　with　our　NUMA　assignment。〃
　
　Paul　ducked　the　pillow　tossed　at　his　head。　〃Since　when　have　you　gone　by　the　NUMA　rule　book？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃Like　you；　whenever　it　has　been　convenient。　I've　stretched　the　rules　but　never　broken　them。〃
　
　〃Then　let's　just　stretch　them　a　little　by　saying　that　the　river　is　an　integral　part　of　the　ocean；　therefore　any　dead　person　found　on　it　should　be　investigated　by　NUMA's　Special　Assignments　Team。　Must　I　remind　you　that　the　team　was　formed　precisely　to　look　into　matters　nobody　else　would？〃
　
　〃Not　a　bad　sales　pitch；　but　don't　put　too　much　stock　in　your　powers　of　persuasion。　If　you　hadn't　suggested　looking　into　this　thing；　I　would　have。　On　similarly　flimsy　grounds；　I　might　add。　I　have　an　aversion　to　someone　getting　away　with　murder。〃
　
　〃So　do　I。　Do　you　have　any　idea　where　we　might　start？〃
　
　〃Already　handled　that。　Don't　let　my　taciturn　Cape　Cod　nature　deceive　you。〃
　
　〃Not　in　a　hundred　years；　my　dear。〃
　
　〃Back　to　your　original　question；　the　reason　I　hesitated　was　my　surprise。　This　is　the　first　time　Ramirez　mentioned　his　boat。　He's　given　us　the　impression　he　used　dugouts。　Remember　the　fuss　he　made　about　how　great　our　little　putt…putt　inflatable　was？　I　was　sniffing　around　one　day　and　found　a　shed　holding　an　air　boat。〃
　
　She　leaned　up　on　one　elbow。　〃An　airboat！　Why　didn't　he　say　something？〃　
　
　　〃I　think　it's　obvious。　He　didn't　want　anybody　to　know。　I　think　our　friend　Ramirez　is　more　plicated　than　he　appears。〃
　
　〃I　have　the　same　impression。　I　think　he　was　being　disingenuous　about　sending　us　scientific　geeks　off　on　a　potentially　dangerous　mission。　We've　told　him　enough　about　the　Special　Assignments　Team　for　him　to　know　what　we　do　when　we're　not　counting　river　dolphins。　I　think　he　wants　NUMA　brought　into　this　thing。〃
　
　〃Looks　like　we've　played　right　into　his　hands；　but　I'm　not　sure　why　he'd　be　so　Machiavellian。〃
　
　〃I've　got　an　idea；〃　Gamay　said。　〃He　was　talking　about　the　scientists　from　the　university　acting　as　bio　police。　He　is　a　scientist　from　a　university。　He　sort　of　side…slipped　the　implication。〃
　
　〃I　noticed。〃　Paul　stretched　out　on　the　bed　and　closed　his　eyes。　〃So　you　think　he's　actually　a　bio　cop　disguised　as　a　botanist？〃
　
　〃It　would　make　sense。〃　Gamay　paused　in　thought。　〃I　must　confess　that　the　real　reason　I　want　to　investigate　was　in　those　bags　we　found　with　the　Chulo。　I'm　intrigued　at　how　a　backward　Indian　got　all　those　high…tech　toys；　aren't　you？〃
　
　There　was　no　sound　from　the　other　side　of　the　bed　except　that　of　low　breathing。　Paul　was　exercising　his　famous　talent　for　dropping　off　to　sleep　on　mand。　Gamay　shook　her