p&c.thunderhead-第38部分

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　flaked　out　of　the　blackest　obsidian。　Nearby　was　a　stone　banco；　on　which　a　number　of　artifacts　had　been　carefully　arranged。　As　Nora's　eyes　roamed　the　dimness　with　growing　disbelief；　she　could　see　a　rotten　buckskin　bag　from　which　spilled　a　collection　of　mirage　stones；　some　cradleboards；　and　several　exquisite　bags　woven　from　apocynum　fiber　and　filled　with　red　ochre。　
　The　silence；　here　in　the　bowels　of　the　ruined　city；　was　absolute。　There's　more　in　this　one　room；　Nora　thought；　than　the　greatest　museums　have　in　their　entire　collections。　
　She　followed　the　beam　of　light　as　it　revealed　ever　more　remarkable　objects。　The　skull　of　a　grizzly　bear；　decorated　with　blue　and　red　stripes　of　paint；　bundles　of　sweetgrass　stuffed　into　its　eye　sockets。　The　rattles　of　a　rattlesnake　tied　to　the　end　of　a　painted　stick；　human　scalp　attached。　A　large　sheet　of　mica；　cut　into　the　outline　of　a　hideously　grinning　skull；　its　teeth　inlaid　with　blood…red　carnelians。　A　quartz　crystal　carved　in　the　shape　of　a　corn　beetle。　A　delicately　woven　basket；　its　outside　feathered　with　hundreds　of　tiny；　iridescent　hummingbird　breasts。　
　Instinctively；　she　sought　out　Sloane's　face　in　the　dim　light。　Sloane　looked　back；　amber　eyes　wild。　The　posure　that　had　returned　so　quickly　was　gone　again。　
　〃This　must　have　been　the　storage　room　for　the　family　who　occupied　these　roomblocks；〃　Sloane　finally　said；　voice　trembling。　〃Just　one　family。　There　could　be　dozens　of　other　rooms　like　this　in　this　city。　Maybe　hundreds。〃　
　〃I　believe　it；〃　Nora　replied。　〃But　what　I　can't　believe　is　the　wealth。　Even　in　Anasazi　days；　this　would　represent　an　inconceivable　fortune。〃　
　The　dust　raised　by　their　entry　drifted　in　layers　through　the　cool；　heavy　air；　scattering　the　yellow　light。　Nora　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　another；　trying　to　clear　her　mind。　
　〃Nora；〃　Sloane　murmured　at　last。　〃Do　you　realize　what　we've　found？〃　
　Nora　tore　her　eyes　away　from　the　clutter　of　dim　objects。　〃I'm　working　on　it；〃　she　said。　
　〃We've　just　made　one　of　the　greatest　archaeological　discoveries　of　all　time。〃　
　Nora　swallowed；　opened　her　mouth　to　reply。　But　no　sound　would　e；　and　in　the　end　she　simply　nodded。　
　
　
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　TWELVE　HOURS　LATER；　THE　CITY　OF　QUIVIRA　lay　in　shadow；　the　late　afternoon　sun　blazing　its　last　on　the　valley　cliffs　opposite　the　ruin。　Nora　rested　on　the　ancient　retaining　wall　below　what　they'd　e　to　call　the　Planetarium；　feeling　as　drained　as　she　had　ever　felt　in　her　life。　She　could　hear　the　excited　voices　of　the　rest　of　the　expedition　ringing　out　of　the　city；　distorted　and　magnified　by　the　vast　pregnant　hollow　of　rock　in　which　Quivira　stood。　She　glanced　down　at　the　rope　ladder　and　pulley　system；　rigged　by　Sloane　to　provide　quick　access　to　the　ruin。　Far　below；　in　the　grove　of　cottonwood　trees　where　they　had　made　their　camp；　she　could　see　the　smoke　of　Bonarotti's　campfire　and　the　gray　rectangle　that　was　his　folding　serving　table。　The　cook　had　promised　them　medallions　of　wild　javelina　with　coffee　barbecue　sauce　and…amazingly…two　bottles　of　Chateau　Pétrus　in　celebration。　It　had　been；　she　thought；　the　longest…and　greatest…day　of　her　life：　〃that　day　of　days；〃　as　Howard　Carter　had　described　it　when　he　first　entered　King　Tutankhamen's　tomb。　And　they　had　yet　to　enter　the　Great　Kiva。　That；　she　had　decreed；　would　be　delayed　until　they　had　made　a　rough　survey　and　recovered　some　sense　of　their　perspective。　
　From　time　to　time；　during　the　course　of　the　day；　Nora　had　found　herself　searching　among　the　sandy　ruins　for　footprints；　inscriptions；　excavations…anything　that　would　prove　her　father　actually　reached　the　city。　But　the　rational　part　of　her　knew　that　the　constant　currents　of　wind　and　animal　tracks　would　have　long　ago　erased　any　marks　of　his　passing。　And　it　could　well　be　that　he；　like　Nora　herself；　had　been　so　overwhelmed　by　the　majesty　of　the　city　as　to　feel　any　modern　inscription　to　be　a　sacrilege。　
　The　group　emerged　from　the　ruin；　Sloane　bringing　up　the　rear。　Swire　and　Smithback　came　toward　Nora　and　the　rope　ladder。　Swire　simply　slumped　down；　flushed　beneath　his　leathery　tan；　but　Smithback　remained　behind；　talking　animatedly。　〃Unbelievable；〃　he　was　saying；　his　voice　loud　and　grating　in　the　ruin's　stillness。　〃Oh；　God；　what　a　find。　This　is　going　to　make　the　discovery　of　King　Tut's　tomb　look　like　a　。　。　。〃　He　stopped；　temporarily　speechless。　Nora　felt　inexplicably　annoyed　that　his　thoughts　would　coincide　with　her　own。　〃You　know；　I　did　some　work　in　the　New　York　Museum　of　Natural　History；〃　he　began　again；　〃and　their　collection　couldn't　begin　to　hold　a　candle　to　this　place。　There's　more　stuff　here　than　in　all　the　museums　in　the　world；　for　chrissakes。　When　my　agent　hears　about　this；　she's　going　to　get　such　a…〃　
　Nora's　sudden　glare　silenced　the　writer。　
　〃Sorry；　Madame　Chairman。〃　Smithback　settled　back；　looking　only　momentarily　put　out。　He　whipped　out　a　small　spiral…bound　notebook　from　a　back　pocket　and　began　jotting　notes。　
　Aragon；　Holroyd；　and　Black　joined　them　along　the　wall；　followed　by　Sloane。　〃This　is　the　discovery　of　the　century；〃　Black　boomed。　〃What　a　cap　to　a　career。〃　
　Holroyd　sat　down　by　the　retaining　wall；　slowly　and　unsteadily；　like　an　old　man。　Nora　could　see　his　face　was　dirty　and　streaked；　as　if　he　had　wept　at　the　sight。　
　〃How　are　you　doing；　Peter？〃　she　asked　quietly。　
　He　looked　at　her　with　a　weak　smile。　〃Ask　me　tomorrow。〃　
　Nora　turned　to　Aragon；　glancing　curiously　at　his　face；　wondering　if　the　magnitude　of　the　discovery　would　break　his　usual　dour　reserve。　What　she　saw　was　a　face　covered　with　a　sheen　of　sweat；　and　a　pair　of　eyes　that　had　grown　as　dark　and　glittery　as　the　obsidian　the　city　was　full　of。　
　He　looked　back　at　Nora。　And　then…for　the　first　time　since　she'd　met　him　at　the　fire　circle…he　smiled；　widely　and　genuinely；　white　teeth　huge　in　the　brown　face。　〃It's　fantastic；〃　he　said　as　he　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it。　〃Almost　beyond　belief。　We　all　have　a　lot　to　thank　you　for。　Perhaps　myself　more　than　the　rest。〃　There　was　a　curious　force　in　his　low；　vibrant　voice。　〃Over　the　years　I'd　e　to　believe；　as　much　as　I　believed　anything；　that　the　secrets　of　the　Anasazi　would　never　be　ours。　But　this　city　holds　the　key。　I　know　it。　And　I　feel　fortunate　to　be　part　of　it。〃　He　removed　his　knapsack；　placed　it　on　the　ground；　and　sat　down　next　to　her。　
　〃There's　something　I　must　tell　you；〃　he　said。　〃Perhaps　now　isn't　the　right　time；　but　it　will　only　bee　more　difficult　the　longer　we　are　here。〃　
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Yes？〃　
　〃You　know　my　belief　in　Zero　Site　Trauma。　I'm　not　as　zealous　as　some；　but　I　still　feel　it　would　be　a　terrible　crime　to　disturb　this　city；　to　remove　its　essence　and　squirrel　it　away　in　museum　storage　rooms。〃　
　Black　snorted。　〃Don't　tell　me　you're　a　sucker　for　that　bullshit。　Zero　Site　Trauma　is　a　passing　fad　of　political　correctness。　The　real　crime　would　be　to　leave　this　place　unexplored。　Think　of　all　we　can　learn。〃　
　Aragon　looked　at　him　steadily。　〃We　can　learn　everything　we　need　to　know　without　looting　the　city。〃　
　〃Since　when　is　a　disciplined　archaeological　excavation　called　looting？〃　Sloane　asked　mildly。　
　〃Today's　archaeology　is　tomorrow's　plundering；〃　Aragon　replied。　〃Look　what　Schliemann　did　to　the　site　of　Troy　a　hundred　years　ago；　in　the　name　of　science。　He　practically　bulldozed　the　place；　destroyed　it　for　future　generations。　And　that；　for　its　day；　was　a　disciplined　excavation。〃　
　〃Well；　you　can　tiptoe　around　all　you　want；　taking　pictures　and　touching　nothing；〃　said　Black；　raising　his　voice。　〃But　I　for　one　can't　wait　to　tuck　into　that　midden。〃　He　turned　toward　Smithback。　〃To　the　uneducated　mind；　all　these　treasures　are　amazing…but　nothing　tells　you　what　you　want　to　know　like　a　trash　mound。　You'd　do　well　to　remember　that　for　your　book。〃　
　Nora　looked　from　one　member　of　the　group　to　the　other。　She'd　expected　this　discussion；　although　not　quite　so　soon。　〃There's　no　way；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃that　we　can　really　begin　to　excavate　this　city；　even　if　we　wanted　to。　All　we　can　hope　to　do　in　the　next　few　weeks　is　to　survey　and　inventory。〃　
　Black　began　to　protest；　and　she　raised　her　hand。　〃If　we　are　to　properly　date　and　analyze　the　city；　it's　necessary　to　be　a　little　invasive。　That's　Black's　job；　and　he'll　confine　any　site　disturbance　to　test　trenching　in　the　trash　mound。　No　part　of　the　city　itself　will　be　excavated；　and　no　artifacts　will　be　shifted　or　removed；　unless　absolutely　necessary；　and　with　my　express　permission。〃　
　〃Site　disturbance；〃　Black　echoed　sarcastically；　but　he　sat　back　with　a　satisfied　air。　
　〃We'll　have　to　bring　back　a　few　type　specimens　for　further　analysis　at　the　Institute；〃　she　went　on。　〃But　we　will　only　bring　back　inferior　artifacts　that　are　duplicated　elsewhere　in　the　city。　Long…term；　the　Institute　will　have　to　decide　what　to　do　with　the　site。　But　I　promise　you；　Enrique；　that　I'll　remend　they　leave　Quivira　untouched　and　intact。〃　She　glanced　pointedly　at　Sloane；　who　had　been　listening　intently。　〃Do　you　agree？〃　
　After　a　brief　pause；　Sloane　nodded。　
　Aragon　glanced　from　one　to　the　other。　〃Under　the　circumstances；　that　will　have　to　be　acceptable。〃　Then　he　smiled　again；　suddenly；　and　stood　up。　A　hush　fell　on　the　group。　
　〃Nora；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　the　congratulations　of　all　of　us。〃　
　Nora　felt　a　sudden　flush　of　pleasure　as　she　listened　to　the　chorus　of　clapping　punctuated　by　a　long　loud　whistle　from　Black。　Then　Smithback　too　was　on　his　feet；　hoisting　a　canteen。　
　〃And　I'd　like　to　propose　a　toast　to　Padraic　Kelly。　If　it　weren't　for　him；　we'd　never　be　here。〃　
　This　sudden　reference　to　her　father；　ing　from　a　source　as　unexpected　as　Smithback；　brought　a　sudden　welling　of　emotion　that　closed　Nora's　throat。　Her　father　had　never　been　far　from　her　thoughts　all　day。　But　in　the　end；　she　had　seen　no　trace　of　him；　and　she　felt　grateful　for　Smithback's　remembrance。　
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。　Smithback　took　a　drink　and　passed　the　canteen。　
　The　group　fell　silent。　Light　was　draining　fast　from　the　valley；　and　it　was　time　they　made　their　way　down　the　rope　ladder　to　supper。　And　yet　everyone　seemed　reluctant　to　leave　the　magical　place。　
　〃What　I　can't　figure　out　is　why　the　hell　they　left　all　that　stuff　behind；〃　Smithback　said。　〃It's　like　walking　away　from　Fort　Knox。〃　
　〃A　lot　of　Anasazi　sites　show　a　similar　abandonment；〃　Nora　replied