pdouglas.thecodex-第37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！


Macaturi　River　glinting　in　scimitarlike　curves　through　the　rainforest　far　below。
　A　cough　sounded　from　the　forested　slopes　above　them。　It　sounded　like　a　human　cough；　only　deeper；　throatier。
　〃That；〃　said　Sally；　〃sounds　feline。〃
　〃Feline；　as　in　jaguar？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　They　moved　side　by　side　through　the　foliage；　palming　the　leaves　and　ferns　out　of　the　way。　The　mountain　slopes　were　curiously　silent。　Even　the　birds　had　stopped　chittering。　A　lizard　skittered　up　a　trunk。
　〃It　feels　strange　up　here；〃　said　Tom。　〃Unreal。〃
　〃It's　a　cloudforest；〃　said　Sally。　〃A　high…altitude　rainforest。〃　She　moved　ahead；　the　rifle　at　the　ready。　Tom　fell　behind　her。
　There　was　another　cough：　deep　and　booming。　It　was　now　the　only　sound　in　a　forest　that　had　bee　unnaturally　silent。
　〃That　sounded　closer；〃　said　Tom。
　〃Jaguars　are　a　lot　more　frightened　of　us　than　we　are　of　them；〃　said　Sally。
　They　clambered　across　a　slope　covered　with　giant　fallen　boulders；　squeezing　through　moss…covered　faces　of　rock；　and　came　out　facing　a　thick　stand　of　bamboo。　Sally　moved　around　it。　Clouds　were　already　pressing　down　on　them；　and　tendrils　of　mist　drifted　through　the　trees。　The　air　smelled　like　wet　moss。　The　view　below　them　had　vanished　into　whiteness。
　Sally　paused；　raised　the　gun；　waited。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Tom　whispered。
　〃Up　ahead。〃
　They　crept　forward。　In　front　of　them　was　a　second　cluster　of　giant　mossy　boulders；　rolled　and　piled　together；　forming　a　honeyb　of　dark　holes　and　crawlspaces。
　Tom　stood　behind　Sally；　waiting。　The　mists　were　rolling　in　fast；　reducing　the　trees　to　silhouettes。　The　fog　sucked　the　fantastical　green　from　the　landscape；　turning　it　a　dull　bluish　gray。
　〃There's　something　moving　in　those　rocks。〃　she　whispered。
　They　waited；　crouching。　Tom　could　feel　the　mists　collecting　around　him；　soaking　into　his　clothes。
　After　ten　long　minutes；　a　head　appeared　at　a　rock　opening　with　two　bright　black　eyes；　and　an　animal　that　looked　like　a　giant　guinea　pig　came　sniffing　out。
　The　shot　rang　out　instantly；　and　the　animal　squiffed　loudly　and　rolled　belly　up。
　Sally　rose；　unable　to　suppress　a　grin。
　〃Nice　shooting；〃　Tom　said。
　〃Thanks。〃
　Tom　unsheathed　his　machete　and　went　to　examine　the　animal。
　〃I'll　go　on　ahead。〃
　Tom　nodded　and　turned　over　the　animal　with　his　shoe。　It　was　some　kind　of　large　rodent；　with　yellow　incisors；　round　and　fat　and　heavily　furred。　He　slid　out　his　machete；　not　at　all　looking　forward　to　his　job。　He　sliced　it　open；　scraped　and　pulled　out　the　guts　and　internal　organs；　cut　off　the　paws　and　head；　and　skinned　it。　There　was　a　strong　smell　of　blood。　As　hungry　as　he　was　he　began　to　lose　his　appetite。　He　wasn't　squeamish…as　a　vet　he'd　seen　plenty　of　blood…but　he　didn't　like　being　part　of　the　killing　as　opposed　to　the　healing。
　He　heard　another　sound；　this　time　a　very　low　growl。　He　paused；　listening。　It　was　followed　by　a　dainty　series　of　coughs。　It　was　hard　to　tell　where　they　were　ing　from…somewhere　upslope；　in　the　rocks　above　them。　He　sought　out　Sally　with　his　eyes　and　located　her　about　twenty　yards　away；　below　the　rockslide；　a　slender　silhouette　moving　silently　in　the　mist。　She　faded　from　view。
　He　quartered　the　animal　and　wrapped　it　up　in　palm　leaves。　It　was　depressing　how　little　meat　there　actually　was。　It　seemed　hardly　worth　it。　Maybe；　he　thought；　Sally　would　bring　down　something　bigger；　like　a　deer。
　As　he　finished　wrapping　the　meat　he　heard　another　sound；　a　soft　and　gentle　purr；　so　close　that　he　flinched。　He　waited；　listening；　his　whole　body　tense。　Suddenly　a　bloodcurdling　scream　split　the　forest；　trailing　off　into　a　hungry　growl。　He　jumped　up；　machete　in　his　hand；　trying　to　identify　where　it　came　from；　but　the　tree　branches　and　rocks　were　all　bare。　The　jaguar　was　well　hidden。
　Tom　looked　downslope　to　where　Sally　had　vanished　into　the　mists。　He　didn't　like　the　fact　that　the　jaguar　hadn't　gone　away　after　the　rifle　shot。　Picking　up　his　machete；　he　left　the　chopped…up　rodent　and　headed　toward　where　Sally　had　disappeared。
　〃Sally？〃
　The　jaguar　screamed　again；　and　this　time　it　seemed　to　be　right　above　him。　He　instinctively　dropped　to　his　knees；　machete　drawn；　but　all　he　could　see　were　moss…draped　rocks　and　disembodied　tree　trunks。
　〃Sally！〃　he　called　out　more　loudly。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　Silence。
　He　began　to　run　down　the　slope；　his　heart　in　a　panic。　〃Sally！〃
　A　faint　voice　answered；　〃I'm　down　here。〃
　He　continued　downhill；　slipping　and　sliding　on　the　wet　leaves；　sending　pebbles　rolling　down　the　steep　slope。　The　mists　were　getting　thicker　by　the　minute。　He　heard　another　set　of　grunting　coughs；　behind　him；　very　humanlike　in　sound。　The　animal　was　pursuing　him。
　〃Sally！〃
　Sally　emerged　from　the　mists；　carrying　the　gun；　with　a　scowl　on　her　face。　〃Your　shouting　caused　me　to　miss　a　shot。〃
　He　pulled　up　short；　then　slid　the　machete　back　into　his　belt；　embarrassed。　〃I　was　worried；　that's　all。　I　don't　like　the　sound　of　that　jaguar。　It's　hunting　us。〃
　〃Jaguars　don't　hunt　people。〃
　〃You　heard　what　my　brother　said　about　what　happened　to　his　guide。〃
　〃Frankly；　I　don't　believe　it。〃　She　frowned。　〃We　might　as　well　go　back。　I'm　not　going　to　get　anything　more　in　this　fog　anyway。〃
　They　climbed　back　to　the　spot　where　the　body　of　the　rodent　had　been。　The　pieces　were　gone；　leaving　a　few　torn　and　bloody　palm　leaves　behind。
　Sally　laughed。　〃That's　all　he　was　doing…chasing　you　away　so　he　could　eat　our　dinner。〃
　Tom　colored　with　embarrassment。　〃I　wasn't　chased　away…I　came　looking　for　you。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　said　Sally；　〃I　probably　would　have　run；　too。〃
　Tom　noted　with　irritation　the　word　probably　but　said　nothing。　But　he　suppressed　a　tart　reply。　He　wasn't　going　to　let　her　bait　him　anymore。　They　started　back　toward　camp；　following　the　trail　they　had　e　in　on。　As　they　approached　the　first　rockpile；　the　jaguar　screamed　again；　the　sound　oddly　clear　and　crisp　in　the　foggy　forest。　Sally　stopped；　her　gun　raised。　They　waited。　Water　drops　were　collecting　and　falling　off　the　leaves；　filling　the　forest　with　a　soft　pattering　sound。
　〃He　wasn't　ahead　of　us　before；　Sally。〃
　〃You　still　think　he's　hunting　us？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Nonsense。　He　wouldn't　be　making　such　a　racket　if　he　were。　And　besides；　he　just　ate。〃　She　smirked　at　him。
　They　walked　cautiously　toward　the　rocks。　Empty；　but　with　a　lot　of　dark　holes　and　crevasses。
　〃Let's　play　it　safe　and　skirt　that　rockfall；〃　Tom　said。
　〃All　right。〃
　They　began　climbing　uphill；　to　go　around　it　from　above。　The　mists　were　getting　thicker。　Tom　felt　the　wetness　creeping　through　his　only　set　of　clothes。　He　stopped。　There　was　a　soft　rustling　sound。
　Sally　paused。
　〃Sally；　get　behind　me；〃　Tom　said。
　〃I've　got　the　gun。　I　should　be　in　front。〃
　〃Get　behind　me。〃
　〃For　heaven's　sake。〃　But　she　got　behind　him。
　He　drew　his　machete　and　moved　forward。　There　were　trees　all　around　them；　crooked　trees　with　low　branches　hung　with　moss。　The　mists　were　so　thick　he　could　not　see　their　upper　reaches。　Tom　realized　that　they　were　now　upwind　of　the　jaguar。　It　had　moved　around　them　so　that　it　could　scent　them；　even　if　it　could　not　see　them。
　〃Sally；　I　can　feel　it　hunting　us。〃
　〃It's　just　curious。〃
　Tom　froze。　There；　about　ten　yards　ahead；　was　the　jaguar；　suddenly　exposing　itself　fully　to　their　view。　It　was　standing　on　a　branch　above　their　path；　calmly　looking　at　them；　twitching　its　tail。　Its　magnificence　took　Tom's　breath　away。
　Sally　did　not　raise　her　gun　to　shoot；　and　Tom　understood　why。　It　was　impossible　to　contemplate　destroying　such　a　beautiful　animal。
　After　a　moment's　hesitation　the　jaguar　leapt　effortlessly　to　another　tree　branch　and　walked　along　it；　eyeing　them　the　whole　time；　its　muscles　rippling　under　its　golden　pelt；　moving　like　flowing　honey。
　〃Look　at　how　beautiful　it　is；〃　Sally　breathed。
　It　was　beautiful。　With　a　movement　of　incredible　lightness；　the　animal　leapt　to　another　branch；　this　one　closer　to　them。　There　it　stopped；　slowly　sinking　down　onto　its　haunches。　It　looked　at　them　boldly；　utterly　unafraid；　making　no　effort　to　hide；　motionless　except　for　the　faintest　twitching　of　the　tip　of　its　tail。　There　was　blood　on　its　muzzle。　The　look　in　its　eye；　Tom　thought；　was　contemptuous。
　〃It's　not　afraid；〃　said　Sally。
　〃That's　because　it's　never　seen　a　human　being　before。〃
　Tom　backed　up　slowly；　and　Sally　followed　suit。　The　jaguar　remained　in　its　perch　watching　them；　forever　watching　them；　until　it　disappeared　in　the　shifting　mists。
　When　they　got　back　to　camp；　Don　Alfonso　listened　to　their　story　about　the　jaguar；　his　brown　face　crinkling　with　concern。　〃We　must　be　very　careful；〃　he　said。　〃We　must　not　talk　about　this　animal　anymore。　Otherwise；　he　will　follow　us　to　hear　what　we　say。　He　is　proud　and　does　not　like　to　be　spoken　ill　of。〃
　〃I　thought　that　jaguars　don't　attack　humans；〃　Sally　said。
　Don　Alfonso　laughed　and　whacked　Sally's　knee。　〃That　is　a　good　joke。　When　he　looks　at　us；　what　do　you　think　he　sees？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃He　sees　a　weak；　stupid；　slow；　perpendicular　piece　of　meat　without　horns；　teeth；　or　claws。〃
　〃Why　didn't　he　attack？〃
　〃Like　all　cats；　he　likes　to　play　with　his　food。〃
　Sally　shuddered。
　〃Curandera；　it　is　not　pleasant　to　be　eaten　by　a　jaguar。　They　eat　the　tongue　first；　and　not　always　before　you　are　dead。　Next　time