cussler.blueandgold-第46节

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　With　bleary　eyes　and　stiff　joints　they　set　off　again。　The　sound　of　drums　spurred　them　on　and　made　them　set　aside　their　aches　and　pains。　The　ominous　drumming　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere　and　echoed　through　the　forest。
　
　The　canoes　glided　through　the　curtain　of　mist　rising　off　the　river。　The　smokescreen　hid　them　from　Chulo　eyes；　but　they　had　to　move　slowly　to　avoid　obstacles。　As　the　sun　rose　it　baked　the　mists　off　to　a　translucent　haze。　With　the　river　ahead　once　more　visible　they　paddled　furiously　until　the　sound　of　drums　faded。　They　kept　moving　for　another　hour；　not　daring　to　stop。　Before　long　they　began　to　hear　a　different　sound。　Gamay　cocked　her　ear。　〃Listen；〃　she　said。
　
　From　a　distance　came　a　low　roar；　as　if　a　train　were　speeding　through　the　forest。
　
　Francesca；　whose　serious　expression　had　not　changed　since　they　left　the　village；　ventured　a　slight　smile。　〃The　Hand　of　God　beckons。〃
　
　With　spirits　renewed；　they　forgot　they　were　tired　and　hungry　and　that　their　buttocks　were　numb　and　dug　their　paddles　in　once　more。　The　roar　grew　louder；　but　it　didn't　obliterate　another　sound；　a　quick　whirr　as　if　a　river　bird　had　taken　flight；　followed　by　a　solid　thunk。
　
　Paul　looked　down　in　disbelief。　A　three…foot…long　arrow　was　embedded　in　the　side　of　his　canoe。　A　few　inches　higher　and　it　would　have　pierced　his　rib　cage。　He　looked　toward　the　shore。　Flashes　of　blue…and…white…painted　bodies　could　be　seen　darting　between　the　trees。　The　ululating　war　cry　filled　the　air。
　
　〃We're　being　attacked！〃　Paul　yelled　unnecessarily。
　
　Spurred　by　the　arrows　chunking　into　the　water　around　them；　Gamay　and　Francesca　were　bent　low　over　their　paddles。　The　canoes　shot　forward　out　of　range。
　
　Their　pursuers　had　quickly　caught　up；　making　good　time　following　the　path　along　the　river。　At　one　point　the　trail　turned　in　land　to　cut　through　the　forest。　The　natives　had　to　fight　their　way　through　thick　growth　to　get　a　clear　shot　at　the　canoes。　They　made　several　attempts。　Each　time　the　canoes　passed　beyond　the　range　of　their　arrows。　Even　the　high…tech　weapons　Francesca　helped　forge　had　their　limitations。
　
　It　was　obvious　that　the　cat…and…mouse　game　soon　would　turn　in　favor　of　the　hunters。　The　paddlers　were　bone…weary。　They　were　missing　strokes　and　no　longer　paddled　in　a　unified　rhythm。　When　it　seemed　they　could　go　no　farther；　they　were　out　of　the　river　and　onto　the　lake。　They　paused　for　a　minute　to　reconnoiter　and　to　firm　up　their　plan。　They　would　cross　the　open　expanse　as　quickly　as　possible；　aiming　for　the　outlet　to　the　main　river。　The　impenetrable　forest　growth　along　the　river　would　protect　them　from　Chulo　arrows。
　
　Heartened　by　the　straightforward　scheme；　they　paddled　with　renewed　vigor；　staying　midway　between　the　shore　and　the　falls。　The　thunder　of　thousands　of　tons　of　water　plummeting　from　the　five　cascades　was　unimaginable。　The　canoeists　could　barely　see　each　other　in　the　fine　mist　that　was　thrown　up　at　the　base　of　the　falls。　Paul　vowed　to　tell　Gamay　that　he　had　changed　his　mind　about　building　a　hotel　there。　They　came　out　of　the　mist　cloud　into　the　open　lake。　Four　pairs　of　eyes　scanned　the　dense　forest　looking　for　the　outlet。
　
　Gamay；　who　was　in　the　lead　canoe；　pointed　with　her　paddle　toward　the　shore。　〃I　see　it　over　there；　where　the　tree　line　is　bro　ken。　Oh；　hell…〃
　
　They　all　saw　the　source　of　Gamay's　agitation：　the　flicker　of　blue　and　white　as　three　canoes　had　e　out　of　the　river。
　
　〃It's　a　hunting　party；〃　Francesca　said；　squinting　against　the　sun's　reflection。　〃They've　been　away　and　won't　know　we're　escaping。　I'm　still　their　queen　as　far　as　they　know。　I'll　try　to　bluff　my　way。　Head　right　at　them。〃
　
　Gamay　and　Paul　put　their　misgivings　aside　and　kept　the　dugouts　pointed　toward　the　newers。　The　men　in　the　oning　canoes　showed　no　sign　of　hostility；　and　a　couple　of　them　even　waved。　There　was　shouting　from　shore。　Alaric　and　his　men　had　burst　from　the　forest。　They　were　calling　and　beckoning　to　the　hunting　party。　The　canoes　hesitated；　then；　as　the　yelling　grew　louder；　they　pointed　the　dugouts　toward　land。　The　craft　had　barely　touched　shore　when　the　hunters　were　ejected　and　the　chase　party　took　their　place。
　
　Their　prey　had　taken　advantage　of　the　slight　pause　and　paddled　madly　for　the　river；　but　their　pursuers　quickly　cut　down　the　angle。
　
　〃We　can't　make　it　to　the　river！〃　Gamay　yelled。　〃They'll　cut　us　off。〃
　
　〃Maybe　we　can　lose　them　in　the　mists；〃　Paul　replied。　
　
　　Gamay　spun　the　dugout　around　and　pointed　the　bow　toward　the　falls。　Paul　and　Tessa　were　right　behind。　The　water　became　choppy　as　they　neared　the　falls。　The　Indians　doggedly　kept　in　pursuit。　With　their　strength　and　skill　they　were　rapidly　closing　the　gap。　The　falls　loomed　closer　and　the　mists　enveloped　them；　but　it　became　apparent　that　they　would　be　pounded　to　pieces　by　the　falls　if　they　got　closer　to　the　torrents。
　
　Paul　shouted　over　the　roar。　〃Francesca；　we　need　help　from　your　bag　of　tricks。〃
　
　Francesca　shook　her　head。
　
　Tessa　picked　up　on　Paul's　frantic　plea。　〃I　have　something；〃　she　said。　She　handed　over　the　sack　that　had　rested　between　her　knees。　Paul　reached　into　the　bag；　and　his　fingers　closed　on　a　hard　object。　He　pulled　out　a　9mm　pistol。
　
　〃Where　did　this　e　from？〃　he　said　with　astonishment。
　
　〃It　was　Dieter's。〃
　
　Paul　looked　back　at　the　oning　canoes；　then　at　the　cascading　falls。　He　had　little　choice。　Regardless　of　Francesca's　wishes　that　her　former　subjects　not　be　hurt；　they　were　between　the　devil　and　the　deep　blue　sea。　Arrows　were　flying　in　their　direction。
　
　Paul　plunged　his　hand　into　the　bag　again；　looking　for　extra　rounds。　This　time　he　came　out　with　a　GlobalStar　satellite　phone。　Dieter　must　have　used　it　to　keep　in　touch　with　his　buyers。　He　stared　at　it　a　moment　before　the　significance　of　the　find　sank　in。　He　yelled　with　joy。
　
　Gamay　had　moved　closer　and　saw　the　phone。　〃Does　that　thing　work？〃
　
　He　pushed　the　ready　light；　and　the　phone　was　on。　〃I'll　be　damned。〃　Paul　handed　Gamay　the　phone。　〃Give　it　a　try。　I'll　see　if　I　can　scare　those　guys　off。〃
　
　Gamay　punched　a　number　out　on　the　phone。　Seconds　later　a　familiar　deep　voice　answered。
　
　〃Kurt！〃　Gamay　yelled　into　the　phone。　〃It's　me。〃
　
　〃Gamay？　We've　been　worried　about　you。　Are　you　and　Paul　okay？〃　
　
　　She　glanced　at　the　oning　canoes　and　swallowed　hard。　〃We're　in　a　hell　of　a　mess；　and　that's　an　understatement。〃　She　had　to　shout　over　the　roar　of　the　falls。　〃Can't　talk；　I'm　calling　on　a　GlobalStar。　Can　you　get　a　fix　on　our　position？〃
　
　Crack！
　
　Paul　had　laid　a　shot　across　the　bow　of　Alaric's　canoe；　but　it　failed　to　slow　him　down。
　
　〃Was　that　a　gun？〃
　
　〃That　was　Paul　shooting。〃
　
　〃Hard　to　hear　you　with　that　background　noise。　Hold　on。〃
　
　The　seconds　ticked　by　like　years。　Gamay　had　no　illusions　about　her　call。　Even　with　a　position　fix　it　could　be　days　before　someone　came　to　their　aid。　At　least　Austin　would　know　what　happened　to　them。　Austin's　voice　came　back　on；　calm　and　reassuring。　〃We've　got　a　lock　on　you。〃
　
　〃Good。　Gotta　go！〃　Gamay　answered；　ducking　low　as　an　arrow　whizzed　past　like　an　angry　bee。
　
　With　Gamay　and　Paul　busy；　their　canoes　had　drifted　side　ways　to　the　waves。　They　dug　their　paddles　in　and　got　the　boats　around。　Both　dugouts　rocked　dangerously；　but　they　moved　closer　to　the　falls　where　the　mists　might　hide　them。
　
　The　Indians　hesitated；　then；　sensing　the　end　was　near；　began　their　strange　ululation。　The　archers　were　kneeling　in　the　bow。　They　could　stand　off　and　let　arrows　fly　at　their　helpless　targets。
　
　Paul　had　lost　all　patience。　He　raised　the　handgun　and　took　a　bead　on　Alaric。　If　he　killed　the　leader　the　others　might　run　for　it。　Francesca　yelled。　He　thought　she　was　trying　to　spoil　his　shot；　but　the　white　queen　was　pointing　toward　the　top　of　the　falls。
　
　What　looked　like　a　huge　insect　flew　over　the　crest　of　the　falls　and　descended　rapidly　through　the　rainbows　and　the　cloud　of　mist　until　it　was　a　hundred　feet　above　the　lake。　The　helicopter　hovered　for　an　instant；　then　swooped　low　and　buzzed　the　war　canoes。　The　archers　dropped　their　bows；　grabbed　their　paddles；　and　stroked　madly　for　shore。
　
　Paul　lowered　the　pistol　and　grinned　at　Gamay。　They　began　to　paddle　back　toward　the　quieter　waters　of　the　lake。　The　helicopter　circled　around　the　lake；　then　came　back　and　hovered　above　the　dugouts。　A　smiling　figure　with　a　bushy　silver　mustache　and　deep…set　eyes　leaned　out　a　side　door　and　waved。　It　was　Dr。　Ramirez。
　
　The　phone　rang。　It　was　Austin。　〃Gamay；　are　you　and　Paul　all　right？〃
　
　〃We're　fine；〃　she　said；　laughing　with　relief。　〃Thanks　for　sending　the　taxi。　But　you're　going　to　explain　how　you　pulled　this　one　off。　This　is　something；　even　for　the　great　Kurt　Austin。〃
　
　〃Tell　you　about　it　later。　See　you　tomorrow。　I　need　you　back　here。　Be　ready　to　work。〃
　
　A　ladder　was　being　lowered　out　of　the　chopper。
　
　Ramirez　signaled　for　Francesca　to　go　first。　She　hesitated；　then　grabbed　the　lower　rung　and；　as　befitting　a　white　goddess；　began　to　climb　into　the　sky　from　which　she　had　descended　ten　years　before。
　
　Chapter　26　
　Sandy　Wheeler　was　getting　into　her　Honda　Civic　when　the　strange　man　approached　and　asked　in　accented　English　how　to　get　to　th