cussler.blueandgold-第23节

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　〃Why　didn't　Ramirez　himself　e　with　this　warning？〃
　
　〃He　hurt　his　ankle　and　couldn't　walk。　Besides；　we　wanted　to　see　more　of　the　rain　forest。〃
　
　〃Convenient。〃　The　Frenchman　hefted　the　Colt。　〃Is　this　part　of　your　scientific　equipment？〃
　
　〃No。　It　belongs　to　Dr。　Ramirez。　He　insisted　that　we　take　it　in　case　we　ran　into　trouble。　From　the　looks　of　things；　I'd　say　he　was　right。〃
　
　Victor　laughed。　〃Your　story　sounds　so　stupid　it　might　actually　be　plausible。〃　He　appraised　Gamay　as　only　a　Frenchman　could　look　at　a　woman。　〃Gamay；　an　unusual　name　with　French　roots。
　
　Gamay　recognized　lechery　where　Victor　saw　charm；　but　she　was　not　above　using　her　feminine　attributes　for　leverage。　〃The　Frenchmen　I　have　met　in　the　past　would　have　introduced　them　selves　by　now。〃
　
　〃Ah；　pardon　my　bad　manners。　It　must　be　my　association　with　people　like　this　cochon　here。〃　Dieter　flinched　as　Victor　waved　his　pistol　barrel　under　the　Dutchman's　nose。　〃My　name　is　Victor　Arnaud。　This　is　my　assistant；　Carlo；〃　he　said；　indicating　his　silent　panion。　〃We　are　employed　by　a　European　cartel　that　is　seeking　the　acquisition　of　rare　biological　substances　from　the　rain　forest。〃　〃You're　botanists；　then；　like　Dr。　Ramirez？〃
　
　〃No；〃　he　said　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃The　work　is　too　rigorous　at　this　point　for　botanists。　We　have　a　working　knowledge　of　biology；　but　we　are　the　advance　collection　team　who　will　bring　back　interesting　specimens　for　the　scientists　to　analyze。　They　will　e　later　when　we　have　paved　the　way。〃
　
　〃So　you're　looking　for　pharmaceuticals？〃　Paul　ventured。
　
　〃Perhaps；　as　a　by…product；〃　Arnaud　said。　〃It　is　no　secret　the　next　cure　for　cancer　may　be　growing　in　the　wondrous　biological　treasure　house　above　our　heads。〃　He　tapped　his　long　nose；　then　his　lips。　〃We　are　here　primarily　seeking　fragrances　for　perfumes　and　essences；　tastes　for　the　food　industry。　If　we　e　across　medicinal　extracts；　so　much　the　better。　We　have　the　permission　of　the　Venezuelan　government；　and　our　operation　is　entirely　legitimate。〃
　
　Paul　let　his　gaze　drift　over　the　ferocious…looking　painted　savages；　the　leveled　guns；　and　the　patently　terrified　Dieter。　He　didn't　believe　for　an　instant　that　these　jungle　thugs　were　doing　anything　legitimate。　He　didn't　want　to　set　Arnaud　off　by　being　too　inquisitive；　but　he　knew　it　would　seem　peculiar　if　he　didn't　show　curiosity。
　
　〃You'll　hardly　be　surprised　if　I　observe　that　you're　quite　heavily　armed　for　a　scientific　party；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃Of　course；〃　Arnaud　said；　taking　the　ment　in　stride。　〃Ramirez's　fears　were　not　without　foundation。　You　can　see　how　dangerous　the　forest　is。　You　yourself　have　seen　a　dead　man。〃　His　mouth　curved　in　an　ironic　smile。　〃You　must　wonder　what　our　relationship　is　with　this　wretched　creature；〃　he　said；　speaking　of　Dieter。　〃He　has　given　us　the　men　of　this　village　to　help　in　our　search　for　biological　specimens。　They　know　the　forest　better　than　anyone。　He　is　paid　handsomely；　I　might　add。〃　
　
　　Paul　grinned。　〃Looks　as　if　you're　about　to　fire　Mr。　von　Hoff　man　from　his　job。〃
　
　〃And　for　good　reason。　Even　if　what　you　have　to　say　about　yourselves　is　true；　that　you　are　not　couriers；　this　does　not　change　the　fact　that　Dieter　here　tried　to　steal　from　us。　We　had　been　looking　for　an　extremely　valuable　plant　that　could　be　worth　mil　lions；　billions　possibly；　to　the　pharmaceutical；　food；　and　perfume　industry。　It's　quite　a　wonder。　We　were　going　to　take　samples　to　Europe　for　analysis。　The　natives　have　been　using　it　for　decades；　although　not　for　perfume；　unfortunately。〃
　
　〃You　seem　to　have　solved　your　problem；〃　Gamay　said。　〃You　have　both　Dieter　and　the　specimens。〃
　
　〃I　wish　it　were　as　simple　as　that；〃　Arnaud　said　with　an　edge　in　his　voice。　〃True；　we　have　this　pig；　but　our　valuable　plant　samples　seem　to　have　disappeared。〃
　
　〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　understand。〃
　
　〃We　had　heard　of　this　amazing　plant　from　the　natives；　but　none　of　them　was　able　to　locate　it。　We　had　gone　far　beyond　our　original　area　of　operations　into　uncharted　parts　of　the　forest　which　is　where　we　came　across　the　Indian　you　were　later　to　find　dead。　He　had　samples　of　the　plant　in　his　possession。　We　offered　to　pay　him　to　show　us　where　he　got　the　specimens；　but　he　re　fused。　We　made　him　our　guest　in　the　hopes　we　could　persuade　him　to　change　his　mind。〃
　
　Paul　remembered　the　welts　on　the　Indian's　body。　〃So　when　he　wouldn't　talk；　you　shot　him。〃
　
　〃Oh；　no；　nothing　so　simple　as　that。　In　fact　we　were　doing　our　best　to　keep　him　alive。　Dieter　was　in　charge　of　providing　hospitality　and　safeguarding　the　specimens。　He　got　drunk　one　night　and　let　him　escape。　The　poor　devil　was　shot　stealing　a　canoe。　We　assumed　he　got　away　with　the　specimens。　In　which　case　he　would　have　had　them　when　you　found　him。〃
　
　〃What　did　these　specimens　look　like？〃　Paul　asked。
　
　〃Quite　unimpressive；　really。　Small　tapered　leaves　with　red　veins　which　give　the　plant　its　local　name；　blood　leaf。〃
　
　〃We　examined　the　contents　of　the　Indian's　bag；〃　Paul　said。　
　〃There　was　a　medicinal　pouch　full　of　folk　medicine　herbs。　Nothing　like　you　described。〃
　
　〃So；〃　Arnaud　said。　He　turned　a　scornful　eye　back　to　Dieter。　〃You　said　the　Indian　left　with　the　plant　in　his　possession。　Who　is　telling　the　truth？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　what　they're　talking　about；〃　Dieter　countered。　〃The　Indian　took　his　bag　and　everything　in　it。〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Arnaud　said　quietly。　〃If　they　had　the　plant　specimens；　they　would　not　have　e　back　and　acted　so　stupidly。　I　think　you　have　what　we　want。〃　He　cocked　his　revolver。　〃And　if　you　don't　tell　me　where　it　is；　I　shall　kill　you。〃
　
　〃Then　you'd　never　find　it；　Arnaud；〃　the　Dutchman　said；　dredging　up　a　shred　of　defiance。　It　was　bad　timing。　Arnaud　was　clearly　in　no　mood　to　dally。
　
　〃True；　but　before　I　Killed　you　I'd　turn　you　over　to　my　painted　friends　here。　They　would　have　no　punction　against　skinning　you　like　a　monkey。〃
　
　Color　drained　from　Dieter's　florid　face。　〃I　did　not　mean　I　would　not　tell　you。　I　only　meant　there　must　be　room　to　negotiate。〃
　
　〃All　opportunity　for　negotiation　has　passed；　regretfully。　I'm　tired　of　this　affair。　I'm　tired　of　you。〃　He　raised　the　pistol　to　Dieter's　lips。　〃I'm　tired　of　your　lying　mouth。〃
　
　There　was　a　tremendous　boom；　and　the　lower　half　of　the　Dutchman's　face　disappeared　in　an　explosion　of　crimson　from　the　point…blank　shot。　The　monocle　popped　from　his　unbelieving　eye；　and　his　body　toppled　over　backward　like　a　tree　felled　by　a　chainsaw。
　
　The　Frenchman　turned　the　smoking　gun　on　Paul。　〃As　for　you；　I　don't　know　if　you　are　telling　the　truth　or　not。　My　instinct　tells　me　that　you　are。　It's　very　unfortunate　that　you　happened　to　visit　this　pig。　Nothing　personal；　but　I　can't　let　you　carry　away　news　of　what　has　been　going　on。〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　assure　you；　I　will　make　it　quick　for　your　beautiful　wife。〃
　
　Paul　was　light…years　ahead　of　the　Frenchman。　He'd　been
　shocked　by　Dieter's　summary　execution；　but　he　knew　immediately　what　Arnaud's　move　meant　for　Gamay　and　him。　No　wit　nesses。　Trout's　lanky　body　and　normally　languorous　movements　were　deceptive。　He　could　move　quickly　when　he　had　to。　He　tensed　his　arms；　ready　to　grab　Arnaud's　wrist　and　twist　him　to　the　ground。　He　knew　that　at　the　best　he　would　take　the　bullet；　but　Gamay　might　get　away　in　the　confusion。　At　the　worst；　they　would　both　be　killed。
　
　As　Arnaud's　finger　tightened　on　the　trigger　and　Trout　pre　pared　to　make　his　last…ditch　move；　there　was　a　sound；　half　grunt；　half　cough；　from　the　Indian　wearing　the　Yankees　baseball　cap。　He　had　dropped　the　shotgun；　and　now　he　looked　down　in　terror　at　the　brown　wooden　shaft　of　an　oversized　arrow　that　protruded　at　least　two　feet　from　the　front　of　his　chest。　Its　barbed　point　glistened　with　red。　He　made　a　motion　to　grab　onto　the　arrow；　but　the　tremendous　hemorrhaging　from　the　projectile　took　its　toll；　and　he　crumpled　to　the　ground　near　Dieter's　body。
　
　Another　Indian　cried　out。　〃Chulo！〃　A　giant　arrow　cut　him　down　as　soon　as　the　shout　left　his　lips。
　
　His　panions　took　up　the　horrified　chant。
　
　〃Chulo！　Chulo！〃
　
　There　was　a　strange　ululating　cry；　and　a　ghastly　blue…and　white　face　appeared　in　the　bushes。　Then　another；　and　within　seconds　the　masklike　faces　seemed　to　be　everywhere。　More　arrows　filled　the　air。　More　Indians　fell。　Torches　dropped　or　were　thrown　to　the　ground　in　panic。
　
　In　the　darkness　and　confusion　Paul's　long　arm　reached　over　and　grabbed　Gamay　by　the　wrist；　shocking　her　out　of　her　trance。　Ducking　low；　they　ran　toward　the　river　with　the　same　thought。　Get　to　the　boat。　In　their　frantic　haste　they　almost　bowled　over　the　slender　figure　who　stepped　out　of　the　shadows　and　stood　in　their　way。
　
　〃Stop！〃　she　said　firmly。
　
　It　was　Dieter's　wife；　Tessa。
　
　〃We're　going　to　the　boat；〃　Gamay　said。　〃e　with　us。〃　
　〃No；〃　she　said；　and　pointed　to　the　river。　〃Look！〃
　
　In　the　light　of　the　torches　they　carried；　dozens　of　blue…faced　men　could　be　seen　swarming　ashore　from　large　canoes。
　
　The　woman　tugged　at　Gamay's　arm。　〃This　way　is　safer。〃
　
　She　led　the　Trouts　out　of　the　clearing；　and　they　plunged　into　the　dark　forest。　Bushes　and　thorns　whipped　at　their　legs　and　faces。　The　ululation　grew　fainter。　They　could　have　been　at　the　cen