p&c.thunderhead-第16节

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。　Then　the　figure　moved　down　to　the　toes；　breaking　them　off　the　body　like　breadsticks　and　quickly　carving　off　the　toe　prints。　Small　showers　of　dust　rained　onto　the　cave　floor。　
　The　little　basket　filled　with　pieces　of　the　corpse　as　the　makeshift　candle　guttered。　The　figure　quickly　rewrapped　the　mummy　and　lifted　it　back　into　its　niche　in　the　wall　as　the　light　winked　out。　Picking　up　the　basket；　he　left　the　chamber　and　rolled　the　rock　back　into　place。　Gingerly；　he　pulled　a　buckskin　bag　from　the　pelt；　unwound　the　tight　knot　of　leather　that　sealed　it　shut；　and　teased　the　bag　open。　Holding　it　away　from　himself；　he　carefully　sprinkled　a　thin　trail　of　some　powdery　substance　along　the　base　of　the　rock。　Then　he　carefully　sealed　up　the　bag　and　rejoined　his　panion　at　the　cave　entrance。　Swiftly　and　silently；　they　descended　the　cliff　face　and　were　once　again　swallowed　up　in　the　darkness　of　the　great　lava　flow　of　El　Malpaís。　
　
　
12
　
　THE　HEADLIGHTS　OF　NORA'S　TRUCK　SWUNG　across　the　predawn　dark；　scissoring　through　clouds　of　dust　rising　from　the　corrals；　highlighting　the　wooden　gates　of　the　dude　ranch。　She　came　to　a　stop　in　a　rutted　parking　area　and　killed　the　motor。　Nearby；　she　could　see　two　dark…colored　vehicles；　a　pickup　and　a　van；　each　bearing　the　Institute's　seal。　Two　slant…load　horse　trailers　had　been　backed　up　to　nearby　horse　pens；　and　ranch　hands　were　loading　horses　into　them　under　electric　lights。　
　Nora　stepped　out　into　the　coolness　of　the　early　morning　air　and　looked　around。　The　sky　would　not　begin　to　lighten　for　another　half　hour　or　so；　but　already　Venus　was　rising；　a　sharp　fleck　of　light　against　the　velvet　sky。　The　Institute　vehicles　were　empty；　and　Nora　knew　everyone　must　already　be　at　the　fire　circle；　where　Goddard　planned　to　introduce　the　expedition　to　one　another　and　say　a　brief　farewell。　In　an　hour；　they　would　begin　the　long　drive　to　Page；　Arizona；　at　the　end　of　Lake　Powell。　It　was　time　she　met　the　others。　
　But　she　lingered　a　moment。　The　air　was　filled　with　the　sounds　of　her　childhood：　the　slap　of　latigo；　the　whistles　and　shouts　of　the　cowboys；　the　boom　of　prancing　hooves　in　the　trailers；　the　clang　of　stock　gates。　As　the　aroma　of　pi？on　smoke；　horses；　and　dust　drifted　near；　a　tight　knot　that　had　been　growing　within　her　began　to　relax。　Over　the　last　three　days　she　had　been　supremely　cautious；　supremely　vigilant；　and　yet　she　had　seen　nothing　more　to　alarm　her。　The　expedition　had　e　together　with　remarkable　speed　and　smoothness。　Not　a　word　had　leaked　out。　And　here；　away　from　Santa　Fe；　Nora　found　some　of　the　tension　that　had　kept　her　so　painfully　on　edge　begin　to　ebb。　The　mystery　of　who　had　mailed　her　father's　letter　was　never　far　from　her　thoughts。　But　at　least；　once　they　were　on　the　trail；　she　would　leave　her　strange　pursuers　far　behind。　
　A　cowboy　in　a　battered　hat　strode　out　of　the　corral；　leading　a　horse　in　each　hand。　Nora　turned　to　look　at　him。　The　man　was　barely　five　feet　tall；　skinny；　barrel…chested　and　bandy…legged。　He　turned　and　shouted　to　some　hands　deeper　in　the　dusty　darkness；　bracketing　the　orders　with　four　letter　words。　That　must　be　Roscoe　Swire；　she　thought：　the　wrangler　Goddard　had　hired。　He　seemed　a　sure　enough　hand；　but　as　her　father　had　always　said；　he　ain't　a　cowboy　til　you　see　him　ride。　She　again　felt　a　momentary　annoyance　at　how　the　Institute's　chairman　had　taken　over　the　hiring　of　all　personnel；　even　the　wrangler。　But　Goddard　was　paying　the　bills。　
　She　pulled　her　saddle　out　of　the　back　of　her　truck　and　stepped　around。　〃Roscoe　Swire？〃　she　asked。　
　He　turned　and　removed　his　hat　in　a　gesture　that　managed　to　be　both　courtly　and　ironic。　〃At　your　service；〃　he　said　in　a　surprisingly　deep　voice。　He　had　a　great　overhanging　mustache；　droopy　lips；　and　large；　cow…sad　eyes。　But　there　was　a　certain　scrappiness；　even　truculence；　about　his　manner。　
　〃I'm　Nora　Kelly；〃　she　said；　shaking　the　small　hand。　It　was　so　rough　and　scabby；　it　was　like　grasping　a　burr。　
　〃So　you're　the　boss；〃　said　Swire　with　a　grin。　〃Pleased。〃　He　glanced　at　the　saddle。　〃What　you　got　there？〃　
　〃It's　my　own。　I　figured　you'd　want　to　load　it　with　the　rest　in　the　front　of　the　trailer。〃　
　He　slowly　placed　his　hat　back　on　his　head。　〃Looks　like　it's　been　drug　around　a　bit。〃　
　〃I've　had　it　since　I　was　sixteen。〃　
　Swire　broke　into　another　smile。　〃An　archaeologist　who　can　ride。〃　
　〃I　can　pack　a　set　of　panniers　and　throw　a　pretty　good　diamond　hitch；　too；〃　said　Nora。　
　At　this；　Swire　took　a　small　box　of　gingersnaps　out　of　his　pocket；　placed　one　underneath　his　mustache；　and　began　to　chew。　〃Well；　now；〃　he　said；　when　his　mouth　was　full；　〃you　ain't　shy　about　your　acplishments。〃　He　took　a　closer　look　at　her　gear。　〃Valle　Grande　Saddlery；　three…quarter…rigged　with　the　Cheyenne　roll。　You　ever　want　to　sell　this；　you　let　me　know。〃　
　Nora　laughed。　
　〃Look；　the　others　just　went　up　to　the　circle。　What　can　you　tell　me　about　them？　Buncha　New　Yorkers　on　vacation；　or　what？〃　
　Nora　found　herself　liking　Swire　and　his　sardonic　tone。　〃Most　of　them　I　haven't　met。　It's　a　mixed　group。　People　seem　to　think　all　archaeologists　are　like　Indiana　Jones；　but　I've　met　plenty　who　couldn't　ride　to　save　their　lives；　or　who'd　never　ventured　beyond　the　classroom　and　lab。　It　all　depends　on　what　kind　of　work　they've　done。　I　bet　there'll　be　a　couple　of　sore　butts　by　the　end　of　the　first　day。〃　She　thought　about　Sloane　Goddard；　the　sorority　girl；　and　wondered　how　she；　Holroyd；　and　the　rest　were　going　to　fare　on　horseback。　
　〃Good；〃　said　Swire。　〃If　they　ain't　sore；　they　ain't　having　fun。〃　He　pushed　another　gingersnap　into　his　mouth；　then　pointed。　〃It's　up　that　way。〃　
　The　fire　circle　lay　north　of　the　corrals；　hidden　in　a　stand　of　scrub　juniper　and　pi？on。　Nora　followed　the　trail；　quickly　spotting　the　flickering　fire　through　the　trees。　Huge　ponderosa　logs　were　arranged　in　broad　rings；　three　deep。　The　circle　lay　at　the　base　of　a　tall　bluff；　which　was　pockmarked　here　and　there　by　caves；　a　pendulous　overhang　across　its　top。　Light　from　the　fire　leaped　and　flickered；　painting　the　sandstone　bluff　lurid　colors　against　the　dark。　A　fire　circle　before　a　long　journey　was　an　old　Pueblo　custom；　Nora　knew；　and　after　witnessing　the　incident　with　the　Mimbres　pots；　she　wasn't　particularly　surprised　Goddard　had　suggested　it。　It　was　another　indication　of　his　respect　for　Indian　culture。　
　She　stepped　into　the　firelight。　Several　figures　were　seated　on　the　ponderosa　logs；　murmuring　quietly。　They　turned　at　her　approach。　She　immediately　recognized　Aaron　Black；　the　imposing　geochronologist　from　the　University　of　Pennsylvania：　six…foot…five…inches　tall　or　more；　with　a　massive　head　and　hands。　He　held　his　head　erect；　chin　jutting　forward；　which　both　added　to　his　stature　and　gave　him　a　slightly　pompous　air。　
　But　the　look　belied　Black's　towering　reputation。　She　had　seen　him　at　numerous　archaeological　meetings；　where　he　always　seemed　to　be　giving　a　paper　debunking　some　other　archaeologist's　shaky　but　hopeful　dating　of　a　site；　a　man　of　intellectual　rigor　who　clearly　enjoyed　his　role　as　spoiler　of　his　colleagues'　theories。　But　he　was　the　acknowledged　master　of　archaeological　dating；　at　once　feared　and　sought　after。　It　was　said　that　he　had　never　been　proved　wrong；　and　his　arrogant　face　looked　it。　
　〃Dr。　Black；〃　Nora　said；　stepping　forward。　〃I'm　Nora　Kelly。〃　
　〃Oh；〃　Black　said；　standing　up　and　shaking　hands。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you。〃　He　looked　a　little　nonplussed。　Probably　doesn't　like　the　idea　of　having　a　young　woman　for　a　boss；　she　thought。　Gone　were　the　trademark　bow　tie　and　seersucker　jacket　of　his　archaeological　conferences；　replaced　by　a　brand…new　desert　outfit　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　lifted　straight　out　of　the　pages　of　Abercrombie　&　Fitch。　He's　going　to　be　one　of　the　sore　ones；　Nora　thought。　If　he　doesn't　get　his　ass　killed　first。　
　Holroyd　came　over　and　shook　her　hand；　gave　her　a　quick　awkward　hug；　and　then；　embarrassed；　stepped　back　in　confusion。　He　had　the　luminous　face　of　a　Boy　Scout　setting　out　on　his　first　camping　trip；　his　green　eyes　shining　hopefully。　
　〃Dr。　Kelly？〃　came　a　voice　from　the　darkness。　Another　figure　stepped　into　the　light　toward　her；　a　small；　dark　man　in　his　middle　fifties　who　radiated　an　unsettling；　even　caustic　intensity。　He　had　a　striking　face：　dark　olive　skin；　black　hair　bed　back；　veiled　eyes；　a　long；　hooked　nose。　〃I'm　Enrique　Aragon。〃　He　briefly　took　her　hand；　his　fingers　were　long；　sensitive；　almost　feminine。　He　spoke　with　a　precise；　dignified　voice；　in　the　faintest　of　Mexican　accents。　She　had　also　seen　him　many　times　at　conferences；　a　remote　and　private　figure。　He　was　widely　considered　to　be　the　country's　finest　physical　anthropologist；　winner　of　the　Hrdlicka　Medal；　but　he　was　also　a　medical　doctor…a　highly　convenient　bination；　which　had　undoubtedly　figured　in　Goddard's　choice。　It　amazed　her　again　that　Goddard　could　have　gotten　professionals　of　the　stature　of　Black　and　Aragon　at　such　short　notice。　And　it　struck　her　even　more　forcefully　that　she　would　be　directing　these　two　men；　very　much　her　superior　in　both　age　and　reputation。　Nora　shook　off　the　sudden　surge　of　doubt：　if　she　was　going　to　lead　this　expedition；　she　knew；　she　had　better　start　thinking　and　acting　like　a　leader；　not　an　assistant　professor　always　deferring　to　her　senior　colleagues。　
　〃We've