p&c.thunderhead- 第67部分

　
　〃She　didn't　want　to　derail　the　expedition。　She　figured　she　needed　the　letter　to　find　the　valley；　and　that　if　she　got　out　of　town　fast　and　quietly；　whoever　or　whatever　it　was　would　be　left　behind。〃　
　Goddard　sighed。　
　〃But　that's　not　all。　A　few　days　ago；　our　neighbor；　Teresa　Gonzales；　was　murdered　in　the　ranch　house。　Maybe　you　heard　about　it。〃　
　〃I　recall　reading　something　about　that。〃　
　〃And　did　you　read　that　the　body　was　mutilated？〃　
　Goddard　shook　his　head。　
　Skip　slapped　Witches；　Skinwalkers；　and　Curanderas　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃Mutilated　in　just　the　way　described　in　this　study。　Fingers　and　toes　sliced　off；　the　whorl　of　hair　on　the　back　of　the　head　scalped　off。　A　disk　of　skull　cut　out　underneath。　According　to　this　book；　that's　where　the　life　force　enters　the　body。〃　He　paused。　〃Nora's　dog　disappeared　while　she　was　in　California。　After　reading　this　book；　I　searched　the　woods　behind　her　townhouse。　I　found　Thurber's　body。　His　paws　had　been　cut　off。　Front　and　back。〃　
　Goddard's　blue　eyes　flashed。　〃The　police　must　have　questioned　you　about　the　murder。　Did　you　tell　them　any　of　this？〃　
　〃No；〃　Skip　said；　hesitating。　〃Not　exactly。　Well；　how　do　you　think　they'd　react　to　a　story　about　Indian　witches？〃　He　put　the　book　aside。　〃But　that's　what　they　were。　They　wanted　that　letter。　And　they　were　willing　to　kill　for　it。〃　
　Goddard's　look　had　suddenly　gone　far　away。　〃Yes；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　understand　why　you've　e。　They're　interested　in　the　ruins　of　Quivira。〃　
　〃They　vanished　just　about　the　time　the　expedition　left；　maybe　a　day　or　two　later。　Anyway；　I　haven't　seen　or　heard　any　sign　of　them　since。　And　I've　been　keeping　a　close　eye　on　Nora's　apartment。　I'm　worried　they　may　have　followed　the　expedition。〃　
　Goddard's　drawn　face　went　gray。　〃Yesterday　we　lost　radio　contact。〃　
　A　feeling　of　dread　suddenly　gripped　Skip's　heart。　This　had　been　the　one　thing　he　didn't　want　to　hear。　〃Could　it　be　equipment　trouble？〃　
　〃I　don't　think　so。　The　system　had　redundant　backups。　And　according　to　your　sister；　that　imaging　technician；　Holroyd；　could　have　rigged　a　transmitter　out　of　tin　cans　and　string。〃　
　The　older　man　rose　and　walked　to　a　small　window　set　among　the　bookshelves；　gazing　out　toward　the　mountains；　hands　in　his　pockets。　A　quietness　began　to　gather　in　the　library；　punctuated　by　the　steady　ticking　of　an　old　grandfather　clock。　
　〃Dr。　Goddard；〃　Skip　blurted　suddenly；　unable　to　contain　himself　any　longer。　〃Please。　Nora's　the　only　family　I've　got　left。〃　
　For　a　moment；　Goddard　seemed　not　to　have　heard。　Then　he　turned；　and　in　his　face　Skip　could　see　a　sudden；　iron　resolve。　
　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　striding　to　a　telephone　on　a　nearby　desk。　〃And　the　only　family　I've　got　left　is　out　there　with　her。〃　
　
　
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　THAT　NIGHT；　A　SOFT　BUT　STEADY　RAIN　drummed　on　the　tents　of　the　Quivira　expedition；　but　when　morning　came　the　sky　was　a　clear；　clean；　washed　blue；　without　a　cloud　in　sight。　After　a　long　and　restless　night　during　which　she'd　split　the　guard　duty　with　Smithback；　Nora　was　grateful　to　step　out　into　the　cool　morning　world。　The　birds　filled　the　trees　with　their　calls；　and　the　leaves　dripped　with　water　that　caught　and　fractured　the　bright　rays　of　the　rising　sun。　
　As　she　emerged　from　her　tent；　her　boots　sunk　into　soft　wet　sand。　The　creek　had　risen；　she　could　see；　but　only　slightly…these　first　rains　had　been　soft　enough　to　soak　into　the　sand　without　running　off。　But　now　the　ground　was　saturated。　They　had　to　get　out　of　the　canyon　before　another　hard　rain；　if　they　didn't　want　to　be　trapped　by　rising　water　。　。　。　or；　God　forbid；　something　worse。　
　She　glanced　toward　the　row　of　packed　equipment；　arranged　the　night　before　for　transport　out　of　the　canyon。　They　were　only　taking　the　minimum　they　needed　to　get　back　to　Wahweap　Marina…food；　tents；　essential　equipment；　documentary　records。　The　rest　was　being　cached　in　an　empty　room　in　the　city。　
　Uncharacteristically；　Bonarotti　was　up　early；　tending　the　fire；　the　espresso　pot　just　signaling　its　pletion　with　a　brief　roar。　He　looked　up　as　Nora　came　over；　rubbing　the　sleep　out　of　her　eyes。　〃Caffé？〃　he　asked。　Nora　nodded　her　thanks　as　he　handed　her　a　steaming　cup。　
　〃Is　there　really　gold　in　that　kiva？〃　Bonarotti　asked　in　a　quiet　voice。　
　She　eased　herself　down　on　the　log　and　drank。　Then　she　shook　her　head。　〃No；　there　isn't。　The　Anasazi　didn't　have　any　gold。〃　
　〃How　can　you　be　so　sure？〃　
　Nora　sighed。　〃Trust　me。　In　a　century　and　a　half　of　excavations；　not　one　grain　of　gold　has　been　found。〃　
　〃But　what　about　Black？　What　he　said？〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head　again。　If　I　don't　get　them　out　of　there　today；　she　thought；　I'm　never　going　to　get　them　out。　〃All　I　can　tell　you　is；　Black's　wrong。〃　
　The　cook　refilled　her　cup；　then　turned　back　to　his　fire；　silent　and　dissatisfied。　As　she　sipped　her　coffee；　the　rest　of　the　camp　began　to　stir。　As　they　approached；　one　at　a　time；　it　was　clear　to　Nora　that　the　tension　of　the　previous　day　had　not　gone　away。　If　anything；　it　had　increased。　Black　took　a　seat　by　the　fire　and　hunched　over　his　coffee；　his　face　dark　and　inflamed。　Smithback　gave　Nora　a　tired　smile；　squeezed　her　shoulder；　then　retreated　to　a　rock　to　scratch　quietly　in　his　notebook。　Aragon　looked　distant　and　absorbed。　Sloane　was　the　last　to　appear。　When　she　did；　she　refused　to　meet　Nora's　eyes。　A　resolute　silence　gripped　the　camp。　Nobody　looked　like　they　had　slept。　
　Nora　realized　she　had　to　establish　a　momentum；　keep　things　moving　toward　departure；　not　allow　anyone　time　to　brood。　She　finished　her　cup；　swallowed；　cleared　her　throat。　〃This　is　how　it's　going　to　work；〃　she　said。　〃Enrique；　please　secure　the　medical　gear　we'll　need。　Luigi　will　pack　up　the　last　of　the　food。　Aaron；　I　want　you　to　climb　to　the　top　of　the　rim　and　get　a　weather　report。〃　
　〃But　the　sky　is　blue；〃　protested　Black；　with　a　distasteful　look　at　the　dangling　ladder。　
　〃Right　here；　it's　blue；〃　said　Nora。　〃But　the　rainy　season　has　started；　and　this　valley　drains　off　the　Kaiparowits。　If　it's　raining　there；　we　could　get　a　flash　flood　just　as　sure　as　if　it　were　raining　directly　on　top　of　us。　Nobody　goes　through　the　slot　canyon　until　we　get　the　weather　report。〃　
　She　looked　at　Sloane；　but　the　woman　hardly　registered　that　she　had　heard。　
　〃If　it's　clear；〃　Nora　continued；　〃we'll　make　the　final　preparations　to　leave。　Aaron；　after　you　get　the　weather　report；　I　want　you　to　seal　the　entrance　to　the　Sun　Kiva。　You　broke　into　it…you　leave　it　just　as　you　found　it。　Sloane；　you　and　Smithback　will　take　the　last　of　the　drysacks　up　to　the　caching　spot。　As　soon　as　Aaron　gets　the　weather　report；　I'll　take　a　load　out　through　the　canyon；　then　make　sure　the　site　is　secure。〃　
　She　looked　around。　〃Is　everyone　clear　on　their　duties？　I　want　us　out　of　here　in　two　hours。〃　
　Everyone　nodded　but　Sloane；　who　sat　with　a　dark；　unresponsive　look　on　her　face。　Nora　wondered　what　would　happen　if；　at　the　last　minute；　she　refused　to　go。　Nora　felt　sure　that　Black　wouldn't　stay　behind…deep　down；　he　was　too　much　of　a　coward…but　Sloane　was　another　matter。　We'll　cross　that　bridge　when　we　e　to　it；　Nora　thought。　
　Just　as　she　was　rising；　a　flash　of　color　caught　her　eye：　Swire；　emerging　from　the　mouth　of　the　slot　canyon　and　ing　down　the　valley。　Something　about　the　way　he　was　moving　toward　them　filled　her　with　dread。　Not　more　horses；　please。　
　Swire　sprinted　across　the　creek　and　into　camp。　〃Someone　got　Holroyd's　body；〃　he　said；　fighting　to　catch　his　breath。　
　〃Someone？〃　Aragon　asked　sharply。　〃Are　you　sure　it　wasn't　animals？〃　
　〃Unless　an　animal　can　scalp　a　man；　cut　off　his　toes　and　fingers；　and　drill　out　a　piece　of　his　skull。　He's　lying　up　there　in　the　creek；　not　far　from　where　we　put　him。〃　
　The　group　looked　at　one　another　in　horror。　Nora　glanced　at　Smithback　and　could　tell　from　his　expression　that　he；　too；　remembered　what　Beiyoodzin　had　said。　
　〃Peter　。　。　。〃　Nora's　voice　faltered。　She　swallowed。　〃Did　you　go　on　to　check　the　horses？〃　she　heard　herself　ask。　
　〃Horses　are　fine；〃　said　Swire。　
　〃Are　they　ready　to　take　us　out？〃　
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　
　〃Then　we　have　no　more　time　to　waste；〃　Nora　continued；　standing　up　and　placing　her　cup　on　the　serving　table。　〃I'll　take　that　load　out　through　the　slot　canyon；　and　pick　up　Peter's　body　on　the　way。　We're　just　going　to　have　to　pack　it　out　on　one　of　the　horses。　I'll　need　someone　to　give　me　a　hand。〃　
　〃I'll　help；〃　said　Smithback　quickly。　
　Nora　nodded　her　thanks。　
　〃I　will　go；　too；〃　said　Aragon。　〃I　would　like　to　examine　the　corpse。〃　
　Nora　glanced　at　him。　〃There　are　things　here　that　you　need　to　do…〃　The　sentence　went　unfinished　as　she　saw　the　significant　look　on　his　face。　She　turned　away。　〃Very　well。　We　could　use　a　third　hand　with　the　body。　And　listen；　all　of　you：　stay　in　pairs。　I　don't　want　anyone　going　anywhere　alone。　Sloane；　you'd　better　go　with　Aaron。〃　
　Nobody　moved；　and　she　glanced　around　at　the　faces。　The　tension　that　had　drawn　her　nerves　tight　as　a　bowstring…the　fear　and　revulsion　she　felt　at　the　thought　of　Peter's　body；　broken　and　violated　in　death…suddenly　coalesced　into　exasperation。　
　〃Damn　it！〃　she　cried　out。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　waiting　for？　Let's　move！〃　
　
　
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　SILENTLY；　AARON　BLACK　FOLLOWED　SLOANE　toward　the　rope　ladder。　Their　private　discussion　the　night　before　had　resolved　no