p&c.thunderhead-第34节

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aw　a　tumble　of　rocks　more　than　five　hundred　feet　beneath　her。　She　felt　a　surge　of　vertigo　and　hastily　stepped　across。　
　The　grade　gradually　lessened；　and　in　twenty　minutes　they　were　at　the　top。　A　dead　juniper；　its　branches　scorched　by　lightning；　marked　the　point　where　the　trail　topped　the　ridge。　The　ridge　itself　was　narrow；　perhaps　twenty　feet　across；　and　in　another　moment　Nora　had　walked　to　the　far　edge。　
　She　looked　down　the　other　side　into　a　deep；　lush　riddle　of　canyons　and　washes　that　merged　into　an　open　valley。　The　trail；　much　gentler　here；　switchbacked　down　into　the　gloom　below　them。　
　For　a　moment；　she　could　not　speak。　Slowly；　the　sun　was　invading　the　hidden　recesses　as　it　rose　toward　noon；　penetrating　the　deep　holes；　chasing　the　darkness　from　the　purple　rocks。　
　〃It's　so　green；〃　she　finally　said。　〃All　those　cottonwoods；　and　grass　for　the　horses。　Look；　there's　a　stream！〃　At　this；　she　felt　the　muscles　in　her　throat　constrict　voluntarily。　She'd　almost　forgotten　her　thirst　in　the　excitement。　
　Swire　didn't　reply。　
　From　their　vantage　point；　Nora　took　in　the　lay　of　the　landscape　ahead。　The　Devil's　Backbone　ran　diagonally　to　the　northeast；　disappearing　around　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau。　A　vast　plex　of　canyons　started　on　the　flanks　of　the　Kaiparowits　wilderness　and　spread　out　through　the　slickrock　country；　eventually　coalescing　into　the　valley　that　swept　down　in　front　of　them。　A　peaceful　stream　flowed　down　its　center；　belying　the　great　scarred　plain　to　either　side　that　told　of　innumerable　flash　floods。　Scattered　across　the　floodplain　were　boulders；　some　as　large　as　houses；　which　had　clearly　been　swept　down　from　the　higher　reaches　of　the　watershed。　Beyond；　the　valley　stepped　up　through　several　benchlands；　eventually　ending　in　sheer　redrock　cliffs；　pinnacles；　and　towers。　It　looked　to　Nora　as　if　the　valley　concentrated　the　entire　watershed　of　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau　in　one　hideous　floodplain。　
　At　the　far　end　of　the　green　valley；　at　the　point　where　it　joined　the　sheer　cliffs；　the　stream　passed　through　a　canebreak；　then　disappeared　into　a　narrow　canyon；　riven　through　a　sandstone　plateau。　Such　narrow　canyons…known　as　slot　canyons…were　mon　among　these　southwestern　wastes　but　practically　unheard　of　elsewhere。　They　were　thin　alleys；　sometimes　only　a　few　feet　across；　caused　by　the　action　of　water　against　sandstone　over　countless　years。　Despite　their　narrowness；　they　were　often　several　hundred　feet　deep；　and　could　go　on　for　miles　before　widening　into　more　conventional　canyons。　
　Nora　peered　at　the　entrance　to　this　one：　a　dark　slit；　slicing　into　the　far　end　of　the　great　plateau。　It　was　perhaps　ten　feet　wide　at　the　entrance。　That；　Nora　thought　with　a　rising　feeling　of　excitement；　must　be　the　slot　canyon　my　father　mentioned。　She　pulled　out　her　binoculars　and　looked　slowly　around。　She　could　make　out　many　south…facing　alcoves　among　the　cliffs　across　the　valley；　ideal　for　Anasazi　dwellings；　but　as　she　scanned　them　with　the　glasses　she　could　see　nothing。　They　were　all　empty。　She　examined　the　sheer　cliffs　leading　up　to　the　top　of　the　plateau；　but　if　there　was　a　way　over　and　into　the　hidden　canyon　beyond；　it　was　well　hidden。　
　Dropping　the　binoculars；　she　turned　and　looked　around　the　windswept　top　of　the　ridge。　An　overlook　like　this　was　a　perfect　place　for　her　father　to　have　carved　his　initials　and　a　date：　the　calling　card　of　remote　travelers　since　time　immemorial。　Yet　there　was　nothing。　Still；　from　the　top　of　the　ridge　it　seemed　likely　that　Holroyd　would　finally　get　his　GPS　reading。　
　Swire　had　settled　his　back　against　the　rock　and　was　rolling　a　smoke。　He　placed　it　in　his　mouth；　struck　a　match。　
　〃I　ain't　bringing　my　horses　up　that　trail；〃　he　said。　
　Nora　looked　at　him　quickly。　〃But　it's　the　only　way　up。〃　
　〃I　know　it；〃　Swire　said；　drawing　smoke　into　his　lungs。　
　〃So　what　are　you　suggesting？　That　we　turn　around？　Give　up？〃　
　Swire　nodded。　〃Yep；〃　he　said。　There　was　a　brief　pause。　〃And　it　ain't　a　suggestion。〃　
　In　an　instant；　Nora's　elation　fell　away。　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Roscoe；　this　isn't　an　impossible　trail。　We'll　unload　and　carry　everything　up　by　hand。　Then　we'll　guide　the　horses；　unroped；　giving　them　their　heads。　It　might　take　the　rest　of　the　day；　but　it　can　be　done。〃　
　Roscoe　shook　his　head。　〃We'll　kill　horses　on　that　trail；　no　matter　what　we　do。〃　
　Nora　knelt　beside　him。　〃You've　got　to　do　this；　Roscoe。　Everything　depends　on　it。　The　Institute　will　replace　any　horse　that　gets　hurt。〃　
　From　the　expression　on　his　face；　she　saw　she　had　said　the　wrong　thing。　〃You　know　enough　about　horses　to　know　you're　talking　through　your　hat；〃　he　replied。　〃I　ain't　saying　they　can't　do　it。　I'm　saying　the　risk　is　too　high。〃　A　truculent　note　had　crept　into　his　voice。　〃No　man　in　his　right　mind　would　bring　horses　up　that　trail。　And　if　you　want　my　opinion；　I　don't　think　we're　on　any　damn　trail；　Anasazi　or　otherwise。　Neither　does　anyone　else。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃So　you　all　think　I'm　lost？〃　
　Swire　nodded；　pulled　on　his　cigarette。　〃All　except　Holroyd。　But　that　boy　would　follow　you　into　a　live　volcano。〃　
　Nora　felt　her　face　flush。　〃Think　what　you　want；〃　she　said；　pointing　toward　the　sandstone　plateau。　〃But　that　slot　canyon　out　there　is　the　one　my　father　found。　It　has　to　be。　And　there's　no　other　way　in。　That　means　he　brought　two　horses　up　this　trail。〃　
　〃I　doubt　it。〃　
　Nora　rounded　on　him。　〃When　you　signed　on　to　this　trip；　you　knew　the　danger。　You　can't　back　out　now。　It　can　be　done；　and　we're　going　to　do　it；　with　you　or　without　you。〃　
　〃Nope；〃　he　said　again。　
　〃Then　you're　a　coward；〃　Nora　cried　angrily。　
　Swire's　eyes　widened　quickly；　then　narrowed。　He　stared　at　Nora　for　a　long；　silent　moment。　〃I　ain't　likely　to　forget　you　said　that；〃　he　said　at　last　in　a　low；　even　tone。　
　The　breeze　blew　across　the　fin　of　rock；　and　a　pair　of　ravens　rode　up　the　air　currents；　then　dipped　back　down　into　space。　Nora　slumped　against　the　rock；　resting　her　forehead　in　her　hands。　She　didn't　know　what　to　do　in　the　face　of　Swire's　flat　refusal。　They　couldn't　go　on　without　him；　and　the　horses　were　technically　his。　She　closed　her　eyes　against　a　growing　sense　of　failure；　terrible　and　final。　And　then　she　realized　something。　
　〃If　you　want　to　turn　around；〃　she　said　quietly；　glancing　over　at　Swire；　〃you'd　better　get　going。　The　last　water　I　remember　was　a　two…day　ride　back。〃　
　Swire's　face　showed　a　sudden；　curious　blankness。　Then　he　swore　softly；　as　he　realized　the　water　the　horses　so　desperately　needed　was　in　the　green　valley　that　lay　ahead；　below　their　feet。　
　He　shook　his　head　slowly；　and　spat。　Finally；　he　eyed　Nora。　〃Looks　like　you　get　your　wish；〃　he　said。　And　something　in　the　way　he　looked　at　her　made　Nora　shrink　back。　
　By　the　time　they　returned　to　camp；　it　was　noon。　A　palpable　air　of　anxiety　hung　over　the　group；　and　the　thirsty　horses；　tied　in　the　shade；　were　prancing　and　slinging　their　heads。　
　〃You　didn't　happen　to　pass　a　Starbucks；　did　you？〃　Smithback　asked　with　forced　joviality。　〃I　could　really　use　an　iced　latte。〃　
　Swire　brushed　his　way　past　them　and　stalked　off　to　where　the　horses　were　hobbled。　
　〃What's　with　him？〃　Smithback　asked。　
　〃We've　got　a　tough　stretch　of　trail　ahead；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃How　tough？〃　Black　blurted　out。　Once　again；　Nora　could　see　naked　fear　on　his　face。　
　〃Very　tough。〃　She　looked　around　at　the　dirty　faces。　The　fact　that　several　of　them　were　looking　to　her　for　guidance　and　reassurance　gave　her　another　twinge　of　self…doubt。　She　took　a　deep　breath。　
　〃The　good　news　is；　there's　water　on　the　far　side　of　the　ridge。　The　bad　news　is　that　we're　going　to　have　to　carry　the　gear　up　by　hand。　Then　Roscoe　and　I　will　bring　the　horses。〃　
　Black　groaned。　
　〃Take　no　more　than　thirty　pounds　at　a　time；〃　Nora　went　on。　〃Don't　try　to　rush　things。　It's　a　rough　trail；　even　on　foot。　We're　going　to　have　to　make　a　couple　of　trips　each。〃　
　Black　looked　like　he　was　about　to　say　something；　then　stopped。　Sloane　stood　abruptly；　walked　over　to　the　line　of　gear；　and　hefted　a　pannier　onto　her　shoulder。　Holroyd　followed；　walking　a　little　unsteadily；　then　Aragon　and　Smithback。　At　last；　Black　raised　himself　from　the　rocks；　passed　a　shaky　hand　over　his　eyes；　and　followed　them。　
　*　*　*
　Almost　three　hours　later；　Nora　stood　at　the　top　of　the　Devil's　Backbone　with　the　others；　breathing　heavily　and　sharing　the　last　of　the　water。　The　gear　had　been　brought　up　over　the　course　of　three　arduous　trips；　and　was　now　neatly　lined　up　to　one　side。　Black　was　a　wreck：　sitting　on　a　rock；　soaked　with　sweat；　his　hands　shaking；　the　rest　were　almost　as　exhausted。　The　sun　had　moved　westward　and　was　now　shining　directly　into　the　long　grove　of　cottonwoods　far　below　them；　turning　the　stream　into　a　twisted　thread　of　silver。　The　sight　seemed　inexpressibly　lush　and　beautiful　after　the　barren　wastes　behind　them。　Nora　ached　with　thirst。　
　She　turned　to　look　back　down　the　hogback　ridge　up　which　they　had　e。　The　hard　part；　bringing　the　horses　up；　was　still　before　her。　My　God；　she　thought。　Sixteen　of　them　。　。　。　The　ache　in　her　limbs　fell　away；　replaced　by　a　small　sickness　that　began　to　grow　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　
　〃Let　me　help　with　the　horses；〃　Sloane　said。　
　Nora　opened　her　mouth　to　answer；　but　Swire　interrupted。　〃No！〃　he　barked。　〃The　fewer　there　are　of　u