p&c.thunderhead-第48节

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。　。　。〃　He　paused。　〃Or　sacrifice。〃　
　At　that　moment　her　radio　crackled。　〃Nora；　this　is　Sloane。　Are　you　there？〃　
　Nora　pulled　her　radio　from　her　side。　〃I'm　with　Aragon。　What　is　it？〃　
　〃There's　something　you　need　to　see。　Both　of　you。〃　Through　the　microphone；　the　quiver　of　suppressed　excitement　in　Sloane's　voice　was　clear。　〃Meet　me　at　the　central　plaza。〃　
　A　few　minutes　later；　Sloane　was　leading　them　through　a　plicated　series　of　second…story　roomblocks　at　the　far　end　of　the　ruin。　〃We　were　doing　a　routine　survey；〃　she　was　saying；　〃and　then　Peter　found　a　large　cavity　in　one　of　the　floors　with　the　proton　magnetometer。〃　They　stepped　beneath　a　doorway　and　entered　a　large　room；　only　dimly　lit　by　the　portable　lantern。　Unlike　most　of　the　other　rooms　she　had　seen　at　the　ruin；　this　one　was　strangely　empty。　Holroyd　stood　in　a　far　corner；　tinkering　with　the　magnetometer：　a　flat　box　rolling　on　sliding　wheels；　the　long　handle　projecting　from　its　side　ending　in　an　LCD　screen。　
　But　Nora　wasn't　looking　at　Holroyd。　She　was　gazing　into　the　center　of　the　room；　where　a　section　of　floor　had　been　removed；　exposing　a　slab…lined　cyst。　The　enormous　flat　stone　that　had　covered　it　lay　tipped　up　carefully　against　one　wall。　
　〃Who　opened　this　grave？〃　she　heard　Aragon　ask　sharply。　
　Nora　stepped　forward；　anger　at　this　breach　of　authority　flooding　through　her。　Then　she　looked　down　and　stopped　short。　
　Within　the　cyst　was　a　double　burial。　But　it　was　no　ordinary　Anasazi　burial；　graced　perhaps　with　a　few　pots　and　a　turquoise　pendant。　The　two　pletely　disarticulated　skeletons　lay　in　the　center　of　the　grave；　the　broken　bones　of　each　arranged　in　a　circular　pattern　in　its　own　large　painted　bowl；　surmounted　by　their　broken　skulls。　Over　each　bowl　had　been　draped　cotton　mantles；　which　had　rotted　down　to　the　warp。　Enough　shreds　remained；　however；　to　see　that　they　had　once　been　extraordinarily　fine；　a　pattern　of　grinning　skulls　and　grimacing　faces。　The　scalps　of　both　individuals　had　been　laid　in　the　grave　on　top　of　their　skulls。　One　had　long　white　hair；　beautifully　braided　and　decorated　with　incised　turquoise　ornaments。　The　other　had　brown　hair；　also　braided；　with　two　huge　dishes　of　polished　abalone　fixed　to　the　ends　of　each　braid。　In　both　skulls；　the　front　teeth　had　been　drilled　and　inlaid　with　red　carnelian。　
　Nora　stared　in　astonishment。　The　bodies　were　surrounded　by　an　unheard…of　wealth　of　grave　goods：　pots　filled　with　salt；　turquoise；　quartz　crystals；　fetishes；　and　ground　pigments。　There　were　also　two　small　bowls；　carved　of　quartz；　filled　to　the　brim　with　some　kind　of　fine　reddish　powder…more　red　ochre；　perhaps。　Nora's　eyes　moved　over　the　cyst；　picking　out　bundles　of　arrows；　buffalo　robes；　soft　buckskins；　mummified　parrots　and　macaws；　elaborate　prayer　sticks。　The　entire　burial　was　covered　with　a　thick　layer　of　yellow　dust。　
　〃I　examined　that　dust　under　the　stereozoom；〃　said　Sloane。　〃It's　pollen；　from　at　least　fifteen　different　species　of　flowers。〃　
　Nora　stared　at　her　in　disbelief。　〃Why　pollen？〃　
　〃The　entire　cyst　was　once　filled　with　hundreds　of　pounds　of　flowers。〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head　in　disbelief。　〃The　Anasazi　never　buried　their　dead　like　that。　And　I've　never　seen　inlaid　teeth　like　that　before。〃　
　Suddenly；　Aragon　knelt　by　the　grave。　At　first；　Nora　had　the　odd　notion　he　was　going　to　pray。　But　then　he　bent　down；　shining　a　flashlight　over　the　bones；　scrutinizing　them　from　a　very　close　distance。　As　he　probed　the　two　pots　of　bones　with　his　light；　Nora　noticed　that　many　of　the　bones　had　been　broken；　and　some　showed　signs　of　charring　at　their　ends。　Then　Nora　heard　a　sharp　intake　of　breath；　and　Aragon　quickly　straightened　up。　His　expression　had　suddenly　changed。　
　〃I　would　like　permission　to　temporarily　remove　several　bones　for　examination；〃　he　said；　his　voice　coldly　formal。　
　More　than　anything　else；　this　request；　ing　from　Aragon；　capped　Nora's　mystification。　〃After　we　photograph　and　document　everything；　of　course；〃　she　heard　herself　say。　
　〃Naturally。　And　I'd　like　to　take　a　sample　of　that　reddish　powder。〃　
　He　departed　wordlessly；　but　Nora　continued　to　stand　at　the　edge　of　the　cyst；　staring　down　into　the　dark　hole　in　the　floor。　Sloane　began　setting　up　the　4x5　camera　at　the　edge　of　the　gravesite；　while　Holroyd　powered　down　the　magnetometer。　Then　he　came　over　to　Nora。　
　〃Incredible；　isn't　it？〃　he　murmured　in　her　ear。　
　But　Nora　paid　no　attention　to　this；　or　to　the　excited　undercurrent　of　Sloane's　voice　in　the　background。　She　was　thinking　of　Aragon；　and　the　sudden　look　that　had　e　over　his　face。　She　felt　it　too：　there　was　something　odd；　even　wrong；　about　the　burial。　In　some　ways；　she　thought；　it　wasn't　like　a　burial　at　all。　True；　some　Pueblo　IV　cultures　cremated　their　dead；　and　others　dug　up　and　reburied　their　dead　in　pots。　But　this：　the　bones　broken　and　burned；　the　thick　flower　dust；　the　grave　goods　ranged　so　carefully。　
　〃I　wonder　what　Black　will　make　of　this　burial；〃　came　Sloane's　voice；　intruding　on　her　reverie。　
　I　don't　think　this　is　a　burial　at　all；　Nora　thought　to　herself。　I　think　it's　an　offering。　
　*　*　*
　As　they　stepped　out　onto　the　first…floor　roof；　its　farthest　edges　tipped　in　noontime　sun；　Nora　gently　laid　a　hand　on　Sloane's　arm。　
　〃I　thought　we　had　an　agreement；〃　she　said。　
　Sloane　turned　to　look　at　her。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　
　〃You　shouldn't　have　opened　that　grave　without　consulting　me　first。　That　was　a　major　violation　of　the　ground　rules　for　this　dig。〃　
　The　amber　color　of　Sloane's　eyes　seemed　to　deepen　as　she　listened　to　Nora。　〃And　you　don't　think　opening　the　burial　was　a　good　idea？〃　she　replied；　her　voice　suddenly　low；　an　almost　feline　susurrus。　
　〃No；　I　don't。　We　have　a　whole　city　to　survey　and　catalog；　and　burials　are　particularly　sensitive。　But　like　I　told　you　at　Pete's　Ruin；　that's　not　the　point。　This　isn't　how　a　professional　archaeologist　should　work；　simply　digging　up　what　interests　her。〃　
　〃You're　saying　I'm　not　a　professional？〃　Sloane　asked。　
　Nora　took　a　deep　breath。　〃You're　not　as　experienced　as　I　thought　you　were。〃　
　〃I　had　to　open　that　cyst；〃　said　Sloane　abruptly。　
　〃Why？〃　asked　Nora；　failing　to　keep　the　sarcasm　from　her　voice。　〃Were　you　looking　for　something？〃　
　Sloane　started　to　answer；　then　stopped　short。　She　moved　closer；　so　close　that　Nora　could　feel　the　heat　and　anger　radiating　from　her。　〃You；　Nora　Kelly；　are　a　control　freak。　You're　just　like　my　father。　You've　been　breathing　down　my　neck；　hoping　for　mistakes；　ever　since　I　first　flew　in。　I　did　nothing　wrong　in　opening　that　burial。　The　magnetometer　showed　a　cavity　and　all　I　did　was　lift　the　stone。　I　touched　nothing。　It　was　no　more　invasive　than　walking　through　a　doorway。〃　
　Nora　struggled　to　maintain　her　posure。　〃If　you　can't　abide　by　the　rules；〃　she　said　as　evenly　as　she　could；　〃I'll　place　you　under　Aragon；　where　you　can　learn　respect　for　the　integrity　of　an　archaeological　site。　And　obedience　to　the　expedition　director。〃　
　〃Director？〃　Sloane　sneered。　〃By　all　rights；　I　should　be　the　expedition　director。　Don't　forget　who's　paying　for　all　this。〃　
　〃I　haven't　forgotten；〃　Nora　said；　voice　steady　despite　the　heat　of　her　anger。　〃Just　one　more　example　of　your　father　not　trusting　you；　isn't　it？〃　
　For　a　moment；　Sloane　stood　before　her　speechlessly；　limbs　taut；　face　dark　under　the　deep　tan。　Then；　wordlessly；　she　pivoted　on　her　heel。　Nora　watched　her　descend　the　ladder　and　walk　deliberately　away；　erect　and　proud；　her　dark　hair　burned　violet　by　the　sun。　
　
　
30
　
　THE　GROUP　ASSEMBLED　IN　THE　EARLY　MORNING　silence　at　the　base　of　the　rope　ladder　leading　to　the　city。　Even　Swire　and　Bonarotti　were　on　hand。　The　swallows；　now　acclimated　to　the　human　intrusion；　no　longer　raised　their　usual　clamor　of　indignation。　An　unusually　subdued　Bill　Smithback　was　fumbling　with　a　cassette　recorder。　Beside　him　stood　Aragon；　face　gray　and　thoughtful。　Despite　his　preoccupation　with　the　bone…filled　crawlspace；　he　had　left　his　work　to　join　them。　This；　more　than　anything；　underscored　the　importance　of　what　they　were　about　to　undertake。　
　A　rough　preliminary　survey　of　the　city　had　been　pleted；　and　Holroyd　had　downloaded　the　location　coordinates　and　field　elevations　established　by　his　GPS　equipment　into　a　geographic　information　systems　database。　It　was　time　to　enter　the　Great　Kiva；　the　central　religious　structure　of　the　city。　For　much　of　the　previous　night；　Nora　had　lain　awake；　wondering　about　what　they　might　find。　In　the　end；　her　imagination　had　failed　her。　The　Great　Kiva　was　equivalent　to　the　cathedral　of　a　medieval　city：　the　center　of　its　religious　activity；　the　repository　of　the　most　sacred　items；　the　locus　of　social　life。　
　Black　was　resting　on　a　rock；　drumming　his　fingers　with　ill…disguised　anticipation。　And　chatting　with　him；　oversized　plant　in　his　hand；　was　Peter　Holroyd；　loyal　and　unplicated。　The　only　person　missing　was　Sloane；　whom　Nora　had　scarcely　seen　since　the　previous　day's　confrontation。　
　As　if　sensing　her　glance；　Holroyd　looked　her　way。　Then　he　stood　and　approached　her；　shaking　the　plant　he　was　holding。　〃Have　a　look　at　this；　Nora；〃　he　said。　
　She　took　the　plant：　an　oversized；　bushy　explosion　of　green　stalks；　with　a　tapered　root　at　one　end　and　a　creamy　flower　at　the　other。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。　
　〃Oh；　about　five　to