preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第6节

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　Twelve　niches；　three　bodies　to　a　niche　。　。　。　All　very　neat；　very　precise。　At　the　next　to　the　last　niche；　she　stopped。　Then　she　stepped　back　into　the　middle　of　the　tunnel；　trying　hard　not　to　think　about　the　implications　of　what　she　was　seeing；　keeping　her　mind　strictly　on　the　facts。　At　any　archaeological　site；　it　was　important　to　take　a　moment　to　stand　still；　to　be　quiet；　to　quell　the　intellect　and　simply　absorb　the　feel　of　the　place。　She　gazed　around；　trying　to　forget　about　the　ticking　clock；　to　blot　out　her　preconceptions。　A　basement　tunnel；　pre…1890；　carefully　walled…up　niches；　bodies　and　clothes　of　some　thirty…six　young　men　and　women。　What　was　it　built　for？　She　glanced　over　at　Pendergast。　He　was　still　at　the　far　end；　examining　the　bricked…up　wall；　prying　out　a　bit　of　mortar　with　a　knife。
　She　returned　to　the　alcove；　carefully　noting　the　position　of　each　bone；　each　article　of　clothing。　Two　sets　of　britches；　with　nothing　in　the　pockets。　A　dress：　filthy；　torn；　pathetic。　She　looked　at　it　more　closely。　A　girl's　dress；　small；　slender。　She　picked　up　the　brown　skull　nearby。　A　young　female；　a　teenager；　perhaps　sixteen　or　seventeen。　She　felt　a　wave　of　horror：　just　underneath　it　was　her　mass　of　hair；　long　golden　tresses；　still　tied　in　a　pink　lace　ribbon。　She　examined　the　skull：　same　poor　dental　hygiene。　Sixteen；　and　already　her　teeth　were　rotting。　The　ribbon　was　of　silk　and　a　much　finer　quality　than　the　dress；　it　must　have　been　her　prized　possession。　This　glimmering　of　humanity　stopped　her　dead　for　a　moment。
　As　she　felt　for　a　pocket；　something　crackled　under　her　fingers。　Paper。　She　fingered　the　dress；　realizing　that　the　piece　of　paper　wasn't　in　a　pocket　at　all；　but　sewn　into　the　lining。　She　began　to　pull　it　from　the　alcove。
　〃Anything　of　interest；　Dr。　Kelly？〃
　She　started　at　the　medical　examiner's　voice。　Van　Bronck。　His　tone　had　changed：　now　he　sounded　arrogant。　He　stood　over　her。
　She　glanced　around。　In　her　absorption；　she　had　not　heard　him　return。　Pendergast　was　by　the　entrance　to　the　barrow；　in　urgent　discussion　with　some　uniformed　figures　peering　down　from　above。
　〃If　you　call　this　sort　of　thing　interesting；〃　she　said。
　〃I　know　you're　not　with　the　ME's　office；　so　that　must　make　you　an　FBI　forensics　expert。〃
　Nora　colored。　〃I'm　not　a　medical　doctor。　I'm　an　archaeologist。〃
　Dr。　Van　Bronck's　eyebrows　shot　up　and　a　sardonic　smile　spread　over　his　face。　He　had　a　perfectly　formed　little　mouth　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　painted　on　by　a　Renaissance　artist。　It　glistened　as　it　articulated　the　precise　words。　〃Ah。　Not　a　medical　doctor。　I　believe　I　misunderstood　your　colleague。　Archaeology。　How　nice。〃
　She　had　not　had　an　hour；　she　had　not　even　had　half　an　hour。
　She　slid　the　dress　back　into　the　alcove；　shoving　it　into　a　dusty　crevice　in　the　back。　〃And　have　you　found　anything　of　interest；　Doctor？〃　she　asked　as　casually　as　she　could。
　〃I'd　send　you　my　report；〃　he　said。　〃But　then；　I　could　hardly　expect　you　to　understand　it。　All　that　professional　jargon；　you　know。〃　He　smiled；　and　now　the　smile　did　not　look　friendly　at　all。
　〃I'm　not　finished　here；〃　she　said。　〃When　I　am；　I'd　be　glad　to　chat　further。〃　She　began　to　move　toward　the　last　alcove。
　〃You　can　continue　your　studies　after　I　remove　the　human　remains。〃
　〃You're　not　moving　anything　until　I've　had　a　chance　to　examine　it。〃
　〃Tell　that　to　them。〃　He　nodded　over　her　shoulder。　〃I　don't　know　where　you　got　the　impression　this　was　an　archaeological　site。　Fortunately；　that's　all　been　straightened　out。〃
　Nora　saw　a　group　of　policemen　sliding　into　the　barrow；　heavy　evidence　lockers　in　their　hands。　The　space　was　soon　filled　with　a　cacophony　of　curses；　grunts；　and　loud　voices。　Pendergast　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　Last　to　enter　were　Ed　Shenk　and　Captain　Custer。　Custer　saw　her　and　came　forward；　picking　his　way　gingerly　across　the　bricks；　followed　by　a　brace　of　lieutenants。
　〃Dr。　Kelly；　we've　gotten　orders　from　headquarters；〃　he　said；　his　voice　quick　and　high…pitched。　〃You　can　tell　your　boss　he's　sadly　confused。　This　is　an　unusual　crime　scene；　but　of　no　importance　to　present…day　law　enforcement；　particularly　the　FBI。　It's　over　a　hundred　years　old。〃
　And　there's　a　building　that　needs　to　be　built；　Nora　thought；　glancing　at　Shenk。
　〃I　don't　know　who　hired　you；　but　your　assignment's　over。　We're　taking　the　human　remains　down　to　the　ME's　office。　What　little　else　is　here　will　be　bagged　and　tagged。〃
　The　cops　were　dropping　the　evidence　lockers　onto　the　damp　floor；　and　the　chamber　resounded　with　hollow　thuds。　The　ME　began　removing　bones　from　the　alcoves　with　rubber…gloved　hands　and　placing　them　into　the　lockers；　tossing　the　clothing　and　other　personal　effects　aside。　Voices　mingled　with　the　rising　dust。　Flashlight　beams　stabbed　through　the　murk。　The　site　was　being　ruined　before　her　eyes。
　〃Can　my　men　escort　you　out；　miss？〃　said　Captain　Custer；　with　exaggerated　courtesy。
　〃I　can　find　my　own　way；〃　Nora　replied。
　The　sunlight　temporarily　blinded　her。　She　coughed；　breathed　in　the　fresh　air；　and　looked　around。　The　Rolls　was　still　parked　at　the　street。　And　there　was　Pendergast；　leaning　against　it；　waiting。
　She　marched　out　the　gate。　His　head　was　tilted　away　from　the　sun；　his　eyes　half　closed。　In　the　bright　afternoon　light；　his　skin　looked　as　pale　and　translucent　as　alabaster。
　〃That　police　captain　was　right；　wasn't　he？〃　she　said。　〃You've　got　no　jurisdiction　here。〃
　He　slowly　lowered　his　head；　a　troubled　look　on　his　face。　She　found　her　anger　evaporating。　He　removed　a　silk　handkerchief　from　his　pocket　and　dabbed　at　his　forehead。　Almost　as　she　watched；　his　face　reassumed　its　habitual　opaque　expression；　and　he　spoke。　〃Sometimes；　there's　no　time　to　go　through　proper　channels。　If　we'd　waited　until　tomorrow；　the　site　would　have　been　gone。　You　see　how　quickly　Moegen…Fairhaven　works。　If　this　site　were　declared　of　archaeological　value；　it　would　shut　them　down　for　weeks。　Which　of　course　they　could　not　allow　to　happen。〃
　〃But　it　is　of　archaeological　value！〃
　Pendergast　nodded。　〃Of　course　it　is。　But　the　battle　is　already　lost；　Dr。　Kelly。　As　I　knew　it　would　be。〃
　As　if　in　response；　a　large　yellow　excavator　fired　up；　its　motor　coughing　and　snarling。　Construction　workers　began　to　appear；　emerging　from　trailers　and　truck　cabs。　Already　the　blue　lockers　were　ing　out　of　the　hole　and　being　loaded　into　an　ambulance。　The　excavator　lurched　and　made　a　lumbering　move　toward　the　hole；　its　bucket　rising；　iron　teeth　dribbling　dirt。
　〃What　did　you　find？〃　Pendergast　asked。
　She　paused。　Should　she　tell　him　about　the　paper　in　the　dress？　It　was　probably　nothing；　and　besides；　it　was　gone。
　She　tore　the　hastily　scribbled　pages　from　the　pad　and　returned　it　to　him。　〃I'll　write　up　my　general　observations　for　you　this　evening；〃　she　said。　〃The　lumbar　vertebrae　of　the　victims　seem　to　have　been　deliberately　opened。　I　slipped　one　into　my　pocket。〃
　Pendergast　nodded。　〃There　were　numerous　shards　of　glass　embedded　in　the　dust。　I　took　a　few　for　analysis。〃
　〃Other　than　the　skeletons；　there　were　some　pennies　in　the　alcoves；　dated　1872；　1877；　and　1880。　A　few　articles　in　the　pockets。〃
　〃The　tenements　here　were　erected　in　1897；〃　murmured　Pendergast；　almost　to　himself；　his　voice　grave。　〃There's　our　terminus　ante　quem。　The　murders　took　place　before　1897　and　were　probably　clustered　around　the　dates　of　the　coins…that　is；　the　1870s。〃
　A　black　stretch　limousine　slid　up　behind　them；　its　tinted　windows　flaring　in　the　sun。　A　tall　man　in　an　elegant　charcoal　suit　got　out；　followed　by　several　others。　The　man　glanced　around　the　site；　his　gaze　quickly　zeroing　in　on　Pendergast。　He　had　a　long；　narrow　face；　eyes　spaced　wide　apart；　black　hair；　and　cheekbones　so　high　and　angular　they　could　have　been　fashioned　with　a　hatchet。
　〃And　there's　Mr。　Fairhaven　himself；　to　ensure　there　are　no　more　untoward　delays；〃　Pendergast　said。　〃I　think　this　is　our　cue　to　leave。〃
　He　opened　the　car　door　for　her；　then　climbed　in　himself。　〃Thank　you；　Dr。　Kelly；〃　he　said；　indicating　to　his　driver　to　start　the　car。　〃Tomorrow　we　will　meet　again。　In　a　more　official　capacity；　I　trust。〃
　As　they　eased　out　into　the　Lower　East　Side　traffic；　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃How　did　you　learn　about　this　site；　anyway？　It　was　just　uncovered　yesterday。〃
　〃I　have　contacts。　Most　helpful　in　my　line　of　work。〃
　〃I'll　bet。　Well；　speaking　of　contacts；　why　didn't　you　just　try　your　friend　the　police　missioner　again？　Surely　he　could　have　backed　you　up。〃
　The　Rolls　turned　smoothly　onto　East　River　Drive；　its　powerful　engine　purring。　〃missioner？〃　Pendergast　blinked　over　at　her。　〃I　don't　have　the　pleasure　of　his　acquaintance。〃
　〃Then　who　were　you　calling　back　there；　then？〃
　〃My　apartment。〃　And　he　smiled　ever　so　slightly。
　
　FIVE
　　
　WILLIAM　SMITHBACK　JR。　stood；　quite　self…consciously；　in　the　doorway　of　Café　des　Artistes。　His　new　suit　of　dark　blue　Italian　silk　rustled　as　he　scanned　the　dimly　lit　room。　He　tried　to　keep　his　normal　slouch　in　check；　his　back　ramrod　straight；　his　bearing　dignified；　aristocratic。　The　Armani　suit　had　cost　him　a　small　fortune；　but　as　he　stood　in　the　entryway　he　knew　it　had　been　worth　every　penny。　He　felt　sophisticated；　urbane；　a　bit　like　Tom　Wolfe…though　of　course　he　didn't　dare　try　the　full　rig；　white　hat　and　all。　The　paisley　silk　handkerchie