pdouglas.thecodex-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ail　like　we're　Princess　Diana　or　something。　It　was　ridiculous。〃
　〃What　a　burden　for　you。〃
　〃It　wasn't　always　a　burden。　At　times　it　was　even　fun。　Father's　marriages　were　always　big　news；　a　time　for　head　shaking　and　tongue　clucking。　He　married　extremely　beautiful　women　no　one　had　ever　seen　before…no　models　or　actresses　for　him。　My　mother；　before　he　met　her；　was　a　dental　receptionist。　He　loved　the　attention。　Once　in　a　while；　just　for　fun；　he'd　take　a　swing　at　some　paparazzo　and　have　to　pay　damages。　He　was　proud　of　himself。　He　was　like　Onassis；　larger　than　life。〃
　〃What　happened　to　your　mother？〃
　〃She　died　when　I　was　four。　Some　rare　and　sudden　form　of　meningitis。　She　was　the　only　one　of　his　wives　he　didn't　divorce…didn't　have　enough　time；　I　guess。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃I　hardly　remember　her；　except；　well；　as　feelings。　Warm　and　loving；　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　still　don't　get　it。　How　could　your　father　do　this　to　his　sons？〃
　Tom　stared　down　at　the　map。　〃Everything　he　did　and　everything　he　owned　had　to　be　extraordinary。　That　applied　to　us；　too。　But　we　didn't　turn　out　like　he　wanted。　Running　off　and　burying　himself　with　his　money　was　his　last　gasp；　trying　to　force　us　to　do　something　that　would　ring　down　through　history。　Something　that　would　make　him　proud。〃　He　laughed　bitterly。　〃If　the　press　ever　got　wind　of　this；　it　would　be　incredible。　Gigantic。　A　half…billion…dollar　treasure；　buried　in　a　hidden　tomb　somewhere　in　Honduras。　The　whole　world　would　be　down　here　looking　for　it。〃
　〃It　must've　been　difficult　having　a　father　like　that。〃
　〃It　was。　I　don't　know　how　many　tennis　matches　I　played　when　he　left　early　because　he　didn't　want　to　see　me　lose。　He　was　a　ruthless　chess　player…but　if　he　realized　he　was　going　to　beat　one　of　us；　he'd　quit　the　game。　He　couldn't　bear　to　see　us　lose；　even　to　him。　When　the　grades　arrived　he　never　said　anything；　but　you　could　see　the　disappointment　in　his　eyes。　Anything　less　than　straight　A's　was　such　a　catastrophe　that　he　couldn't　bring　himself　to　talk　about　it。〃
　〃Did　you　ever　get　straight　A's？〃
　〃Once。　He　laid　his　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　gave　me　an　affectionate　squeeze。　That　was　all。　But　it　said　volumes。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　how　terrible。〃
　〃Each　of　us　found　a　refuge。　I　found　mine　first　in　fossil　collecting…I　wanted　to　be　a　paleontologist…and　then　in　animals。　They　didn't　judge　you。　They　didn't　ask　you　to　be　someone　else。　A　horse　accepts　you　for　what　you　are。〃
　Tom　fell　silent。　It　was　amazing　to　him　how　much　it　hurt　to　think　back　on　his　childhood；　even　now　at　thirty…three。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Sally；　〃I　didn't　mean　to　pry。〃
　Tom　waved　his　hand。　〃I　don't　mean　to　tear　him　down。　He　was　a　good　father　in　his　own　way。　Maybe　he　loved　us　too　much。〃
　〃Well；〃　said　Sally　after　a　moment；　standing　up。　〃At　the　moment；　we　need　to　find　ourselves　a　guide　to　take　us　up　the　Patuca　River；　and　I　have　no　idea　where　to　start。〃　She　picked　up　the　phone　book　and　began　leafing　through　it。　〃I've　never　done　this　sort　of　thing　before。　I　wonder　if　there's　a　listing　in　here　for　'Adventure　Travel'　or　something。〃
　〃I've　a　better　idea。　We　need　to　find　the　local　watering　hole　for　foreign　journalists。　They're　the　savviest　travelers　in　the　world。〃
　〃Chalk　one　up　to　you。〃
　She　bent　over　and　pulled　out　a　pair　of　pants　and　tossed　them　at　him；　followed　by　a　shirt；　a　pair　of　socks；　and　a　pair　of　lightweight　hiking　shoes。　They　all　landed　in　a　pile　in　front　of　him。　〃Now　you　can　take　off　those　macho　cowboy　boots。〃
　Tom　scooped　up　his　clothes　and　went　into　his　room　and　put　them　on。　They　seemed　to　be　mostly　pockets。　When　he　emerged；　Sally　eyed　him　sideways　and　said；　〃After　a　few　days　in　the　jungle；　maybe　you　won't　look　quite　so　silly。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Tom　went　to　the　phone　and　called　the　front　desk。　The　journalists；　it　seemed；　hung　out　in　a　bar　called　Los　Charcos。
　
　Tom　was　surprised　to　find　Los　Charcos　not　the　cheap　dive　he　imagined　but　an　elegant；　wood…paneled　affair　off　the　lobby　of　a　fine　old　hotel。　It　was　air…conditioned　to　just　above　Arctic　conditions；　and　the　place　was　filled　with　the　aroma　of　fine　cigars。
　〃Let　me　do　the　talking；〃　Sally　said。　〃My　Spanish　is　better　than　yours。〃
　〃You're　better　looking；　too。〃
　Sally　frowned。　〃I　don't　find　gender　jokes　very　funny。〃
　They　took　seats　at　the　bar。
　〃Hola〃　said　Sally　cheerfully　to　the　bartender；　a　man　with　a　heavy…lidded　face。　〃I'm　looking　for　the　man　from　the　New　York　Times。〃
　〃Mr。　Sewell？　I　haven't　seen　him　since　the　hurricane；　se？orita。〃
　〃How　about　the　reporter　for　the　Wall　Street　Journal？〃
　〃We　have　no　Wall　Street　Journal　reporter　here。　We　are　but　a　poor　country。〃
　〃Well；　what　reporters　do　you　have？〃
　〃There　is　Roberto　Rodriguez　from　El　Diario。〃
　〃No；　no；　I'm　looking　for　an　American。　Someone　who　knows　the　country。〃
　〃Would　an　Englishman　suffice？〃
　〃Fine。〃
　〃Over　there；〃　he　murmured；　pointing　with　his　lips；　〃is　Derek　Dunn。　He　is　writing　a　book。〃
　〃What　about？〃
　〃Travel　and　adventure。〃
　〃Has　he　written　any　other　books？　Give　me　a　title。〃
　〃Slow　Water　was　his　last　book。〃
　Sally　dropped　a　twenty…dollar　bill　on　the　bar　and　headed　toward　Dunn。　Tom　followed。　This　is　going　to　be　good；　he　thought。　Dunn　was　sitting　by　himself　in　a　snug；　working　on　a　drink；　a　man　with　a　shock　of　blond　hair　over　a　beefy　red　face。　Sally　halted；　pointed；　and　exclaimed；　〃Say；　you're　Derek　Dunn；　aren't　you？〃
　〃I　have　been　known　to　answer　by　that　name；　yes；〃　he　said。　His　nose　and　cheeks　were　flushed　a　permanent　pink。
　〃Oh；　how　exciting！　Slow　Water　is　one　of　my　favorite　books！　I　loved　it！〃
　Dunn　rose；　exposing　a　robust　frame；　trim　and　fit；　dressed　in　worn　khaki　pants　and　a　simple　short…sleeved　cotton　shirt。　He　was　a　handsome　man　of　the　British　Empire　type。
　〃Thank　you　very　much　indeed；〃　he　said。　〃And　you　are？〃
　〃Sally　Colorado。〃　She　pumped　his　hand。
　She's　already　got　him　grinning　like　an　idiot；　thought　Tom。　He　felt　foolish　in　his　new　clothes　that　smelled　of　a　menswear　shop。　Dunn；　in　contrast；　looked　like　he　had　been　to　the　ends　of　the　earth　and　back。
　〃Won't　you　join　me　for　a　drink？〃
　〃It　would　be　an　honor；〃　cried　Sally。
　Dunn　guided　her　into　the　banquette　next　to　him。
　〃I'll　have　what　you're　having；〃　she　said。
　〃Gin　and　tonic。〃　Dunn　waved　at　the　bartender　and　then　glanced　up　at　Tom。　〃You're　wele　to　sit；　too；　you　know。〃
　Tom　took　a　seat；　saying　nothing。　He　was　starting　to　lose　his　enthusiasm　for　this　idea。　He　did　not　like　the　red…faced　Mr。　Dunn；　who　was　looking　very　intently　at　Sally…and　not　just　at　her　face。
　The　bartender　came　over。　Dunn　spoke　in　Spanish。　〃Gin　and　tonic　for　me　and　the　lady。　And…？〃　He　glanced　at　Tom。
　〃Lemonade；〃　said　Tom　sourly。
　〃Y　una　limonada；〃　added　Dunn；　his　tone　conveying　exactly　what　he　thought　of　Tom's　choice　of　beverage。
　〃I'm　so　glad　to　have　run　into　you！〃　Sally　said。　〃What　a　coincidence！〃
　〃So　you　read　Slow　Water；〃　said　Dunn；　with　a　smile。
　〃One　of　the　best　travel　books　I've　ever　read。〃
　〃It　certainly　was；〃　said　Tom。
　〃You　read　it；　too？〃　Dunn　turned　to　him　with　an　expectant　look。
　Tom　noted　that　Dunn　had　already　polished　off　half　his　drink。
　〃I　certainly　did　read　it；〃　said　Tom。　〃I　especially　liked　the　part　where　you　fell　in　the　elephant　shit。　That　was　hilarious。〃
　Dunn　paused。　〃Elephant　shit？〃
　〃Wasn't　there　elephant　shit　in　your　book？〃
　〃There　are　no　elephants　in　Central　America。〃
　〃Oh。　I　must　be　mixing　it　up　with　another　book。　Beg　your　pardon。〃
　Tom　saw　Sally's　green　eyes　fixed　on　him。　He　couldn't　tell　if　she　was　angry　or　suppressing　a　laugh。
　Dunn　turned　in　his　chair；　placing　his　square　back　to　Tom；　devoting　his　attention　to　Sally。　〃You　might　be　interested　to　know　I'm　working　on　a　new　book。〃
　〃How　exciting！〃
　〃I'm　calling　it　Mosquitia　Nights。　It's　about　the　Mosquito　Coast。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　just　where　we're　going！〃　Sally　clapped　her　hands　in　excitement；　like　a　girl。　Tom　took　a　sip；　regretting　his　choice　of　drink。　He　was　going　to　need　something　a　little　stronger　to　get　through　this。　He　should　never　have　agreed　to　let　Sally　do　the　talking。
　〃There　are　more　than　five　thousand　square　miles　of　swamps　and　highland　rainforest　in　eastern　Honduras　that　remain　pletely　unexplored。　Parts　of　it　are　not　even　mapped　by　air。〃
　〃I　had　no　idea！〃
　Tom　shoved　the　lemonade　aside　and　looked　around　for　the　waiter。
　〃My　book　chronicles　a　journey　I　took　along　the　length　of　the　Mosquito　Coast；　through　the　maze　of　lagoons　that　mark　where　the　jungle　meets　the　sea。　I　was　the　first　white　man　to　make　the　trip。〃
　〃Incredible。　How　on　earth　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃Motorized　dugout。　The　only　mode　of　transportation　in　those　parts　besides　foot　travel。〃
　〃When　did　you　make　this　amazing　journey？〃
　〃About　eight　years　ago。〃
　〃Eight　years？〃
　〃I've　had　a　bit　of　publisher　trouble。　You　can't　rush　a　good　book；　you　know。〃　He　polished　off　the　drink　and　waved　his　hand　for　another　round。　〃It's　tough　country　down　there。〃
　〃Really？〃
　Dunn　seemed　to　take　this　as　his　cue。　He　leaned　back。　〃For　starters；　there　are　the　usual　mosquitoes；　chiggers；　ticks；　blackfly；　and　botfly。　They　don't　kill　you；　but　they　can　make　life　a　trifle　nasty。　I　had　a　botfly　bite　once；　on　my　forehead。　Felt　like　a　mosquito　at　first。　It　began　to　swell　and　turn　red。　Hurt　like　the　devil。　A　month　later　it　erupted；　and　inch…long　botfly　maggo