p&c.thunderhead-第65节

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lroyd。　But　this　fear　was　quickly　dispelled　by　the　look　of　triumph　on　his　face。　
　〃Where's　Sloane？〃　he　boomed；　looking　around　animatedly。　He　cupped　his　hands　around　his　mouth。　〃Sloane！〃　The　valley　reverberated　with　his　shouts。　
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Nora　asked。　
　As　Black　turned　toward　her；　Nora　could　see　sweat　springing　from　the　mud　caked　to　his　brow；　running　in　dun…colored　rivulets　down　his　face。　〃I　found　it；〃　he　said。　
　〃Found　what？〃　
　〃The　Sun　Kiva。〃　
　Nora　straightened　up；　releasing　her　hold　on　the　duffel　and　letting　it　fall　back　into　the　sand。　〃You　found　what？〃　
　〃There　was　a　blocked　opening　behind　the　city。　Nobody　noticed　it　before。　But　I　did。　I　found　it。〃　Black's　chest　was　heaving；　and　he　could　barely　get　out　the　words。　〃Behind　the　Crawlspace　is　a　narrow　passageway　that　leads　into　another　cavern　behind　the　city。　And；　Nora；　there's　a　whole　secret　city　hidden　back　there。　Right　in　front　is　a　Great　Kiva；　a　sealed　kiva。　It's　like　nothing　we've　seen　before。〃　
　〃Let　me　get　this　straight；〃　Nora　said　slowly。　〃You　broke　through　a　wall？〃　
　Black　nodded；　his　smile　broadening。　
　Nora　felt　sudden　anger　course　through　her。　〃I　specifically　forbade　any　disturbance　like　that。　My　God；　Aaron；　all　you've　done　is　open　up　a　new　area　to　be　looted。　Have　you　forgotten　we're　about　to　leave？〃　
　〃But　we　can't　leave　now。　Not　after　this　discovery。〃　
　〃We　absolutely　are　leaving。　First　thing　in　the　morning。〃　
　Black　stood　rooted　in　place；　anger　and　disbelief　growing　in　his　face。　〃You　haven't　heard　what　I　said。　I　found　the　Sun　Kiva。　We　can't　leave　now。　The　gold　will　be　stolen。〃　
　Nora　looked　more　intently　at　his　face。　〃Gold？〃　she　repeated。　
　〃Christ；　Nora；　what　else　do　you　think　is　in　there？　Corn？　The　evidence　is　overwhelming。　I　just　found　the　Anasazi　Fort　Knox。〃　
　As　Nora　stared　at　him；　in　growing　consternation　and　disbelief；　she　saw　Sloane　e　up　through　the　twilight；　oversized　camera　under　one　arm。　
　〃Sloane！〃　Black　called　out。　〃I　found　it！〃　He　rushed　over　and　embraced　her。　Smiling；　she　disentangled　herself；　and　looked　from　him　to　Nora　with　a　quizzical　expression。　〃What's　this？〃　she　asked；　carefully　setting　down　the　camera。　
　〃Black　found　a　sealed　cave　behind　the　city；〃　Nora　replied。　〃He　says　the　Sun　Kiva　is　inside　it。〃　
　Sloane　looked　at　Black　quickly；　smile　vanishing　as　prehension　dawned。　
　〃It's　there；　Sloane；〃　he　said。　〃A　Great　Kiva；　sixty　feet　in　diameter；　with　a　sun　disk　painted　on　its　side。〃　
　A　powerful　play　of　emotions　ran　quickly　across　Sloane's　face。　〃What　kind　of　disk？〃　
　〃A　great　sun　in　yellow　pigment；　mixed　with　mica　and　polished。　It　looks　just　like　gold。　I　thought　it　was　gold　when　I　first　saw　it。〃　
　Sloane　suddenly　became　very　pale；　then　flushed　deeply。　〃Paint　mixed　with　mica？〃　
　〃Yes。　Crushed　biotite　mica；　which　has　a　golden　cast　to　it。　A　brilliant　imitation　of　the　real　thing。　Which　is　exactly　the　kind　of　symbolic　representation　you'd　find　on　the　outside　if　they　were　storing…〃　
　〃Take　me　to　it；〃　Sloane　said　urgently。　Black　grabbed　her　hand　and　they　turned　away。　
　〃Hold　on！〃　Nora　barked。　
　The　two　turned　to　look　at　her；　and　with　dismay　Nora　read　the　passion　in　their　faces。　〃Just　a　minute；〃　she　continued。　〃Aaron；　you're　acting　like　a　pothunter；　not　a　scientist。　You　should　never　have　broken　into　the　back　of　the　cave。　I'm　sorry；　but　we　can't　have　any　more　disturbance。〃　
　Sloane　looked　at　her；　saying　nothing；　but　Black's　face　grew　dark。　〃And　I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　loudly；　〃but　we're　going　up　there。〃　
　Nora　looked　into　Black's　eyes；　saw　there　was　no　point　in　arguing　with　him；　and　turned　to　Sloane　instead。　〃For　good　or　ill；　everything　that　happens　here　is　going　into　the　final　report；〃　she　went　on　urgently。　〃Sloane；　consider　how　your　father　will　react　if　he　hears　we　busted　willy…nilly　into　that　kiva。　If　Black　is　right；　this　could　be　the　most　important　discovery　yet。　Even　more　reason　why　we　have　to　proceed　carefully。〃　
　At　the　mention　of　her　father；　the　sudden　hunger　seemed　to　leave　Sloane's　face。　She　tensed；　struggling　to　regain　her　posure。　
　〃Nora；　e　up　with　us；〃　she　said　with　a　quick　smile。　〃All　we'll　do　is　look。　What　harm　is　there　in　that？〃　
　〃Absolutely；〃　said　Black。　〃I've　touched　nothing。　Nothing　has　happened　here　that　can't　go　into　a　public　report。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　Smithback；　Swire；　and　Bonarotti　had　e　over　and　were　listening　intently。　Only　Aragon　was　missing。　She　glanced　at　her　watch：　almost　seven　o'clock。　She　thought　about　what　Black　had　said：　a　hidden　city；　the　Sun　Kiva。　What　was　it　Aragon　had　said　in　the　Rain　Kiva？　〃There's　a　piece　of　the　puzzle　still　missing。　I　thought　it　would　be　in　this　kiva。　But　now；　I　am　not　so　sure。〃　If　Aragon　were　here；　no　doubt　he'd　disapprove。　But　she　knew　Black's　find　could　mean　the　key　to　everything。　The　fact　that　it　might　be　looted　and　destroyed　after　they　were　gone　filled　her　with　a　helpless　anger。　Because　of　that；　they　had　an　obligation　to　document　the　inner　cave；　at　least　in　photographs。　Besides；　if　she　were　to　keep　the　group　together；　she　felt　she　had　no　choice　but　to　bend　just　a　little。　The　harm　had　been　done；　Black's　transgression　would　be　dealt　with　later；　and　not　by　her。　
　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃We'll　make　a　short　visit。　Only　long　enough　to　take　photographs　and　decide　how　best　to　reseal　the　cave。　No　more　violations　of　any　sort。　Am　I　understood？〃　She　turned　to　Sloane。　〃Bring　the　four…by…five　camera。　And　Aaron；　you　get　the　fluorescent　lamp。〃　
　*　*　*
　Ten　minutes　later；　a　small　group　stood　huddled　together　in　the　confines　of　the　inner　cave。　Nora　gazed　in　awe；　overwhelmed　despite　herself　by　the　richness　of　the　site；　by　the　perfect　little　gem　of　an　Anasazi　pueblo　hidden　behind　the　mysterious　kiva。　The　greenish　glare　of　the　lamp　threw　magic…lantern　patterns　on　the　irregular　walls。　It　was　a　small　pueblo；　no　more　than　thirty　rooms；　no　doubt　some　kind　of　sanctum　sanctorum　for　the　priests。　For　that　reason　alone；　it　would　be　exceedingly　interesting　to　study。　
　The　Sun　Kiva　itself　was　unadorned　except　for　the　great　polished　disk；　glinting　in　the　harsh　light。　Thick　ribbed　dust　lay　in　drifts　against　its　base　and　along　its　walls。　The　kiva　had　been　carefully　plastered　with　adobe；　and　she　saw　that　the　only　opening　in　its　side　had　been　blocked　with　rocks。　
　〃Look　at　that　stonework；〃　said　Black。　〃It's　the　most　fortified　kiva　I've　ever　seen。〃　
　A　pole　ladder　was　leaning　against　one　side　of　the　kiva。　〃That　was　leaning　against　the　roomblocks；〃　Black　said　eagerly；　following　Nora's　glance。　〃I　brought　it　over　and　climbed　onto　the　roof。　There's　no　roof　opening。　It's　been　totally　sealed　shut。〃　His　voice　dropped　a　notch。　〃As　if　it's　hiding　something。〃　
　Sloane　broke　away　from　the　group　and　walked　up　to　the　sun　disk。　She　stroked　it　lightly；　almost　reverently；　with　her　fingers。　Then　she　glanced　back　at　Nora；　briskly　unpacked　her　camera　kit；　and　began　setting　up　the　first　shot。　
　The　group　stood　silently　while　Sloane　moved　about　the　cavern；　shooting　the　kiva　and　its　associated　roomblocks　from　a　variety　of　angles。　Soon　she　rejoined　them；　folded　up　her　tripod；　and　put　the　camera　body　back　in　its　case。　
　Even　the　loquacious　Smithback　had　remained　silent　and；　most　uncharacteristically；　taken　no　notes。　There　was　a　palpable　tension　in　the　air；　a　tension　quite　different；　Nora　realized；　than　any　she　had　felt　at　the　site　before。　
　〃Done？〃　she　asked。　Sloane　nodded。　
　〃Before　we　leave　tomorrow　morning；〃　Nora　went　on；　careful　to　keep　her　voice　neutral；　〃we'll　reblock　the　hole　as　best　we　can。　There's　not　much　to　bring　a　looter　back　behind　the　granaries。　If　we　hide　it　well；　they'll　miss　it。〃　
　〃Before　we　leave？〃　Black　repeated。　
　Nora　looked　at　him　and　nodded。　
　〃By　God；　not　until　we　open　this　kiva；〃　said　Black。　
　Nora　looked　at　his　face；　then　at　Sloane。　And　then　at　Swire；　and　Bonarotti；　and　Smithback。　〃We're　leaving　tomorrow；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃And　nobody's　opening　this　kiva。〃　
　〃If　we　don't　do　it　now；〃　Sloane　said；　her　voice　loud；　〃nothing　will　be　left　when　we　return。〃　
　There　was　a　tense　silence；　broken　by　Bonarotti。　〃I　would　also　like　to　see　this　kiva　full　of　gold；〃　he　said。　
　Nora　waited；　taking　measured　breaths；　thinking　about　what　she　was　going　to　say　and　how　she　was　going　to　say　it。　
　〃Sloane；〃　she　began　quietly。　〃Aaron。　This　expedition　is　facing　a　crisis。　One　person　has　died。　There　are　people　out　there　who　killed　our　horses；　and　who　may　try　to　kill　us。　To　open　and　document　this　kiva　properly　would　take　days。　We　don't　have　days。〃　She　paused。　〃I'm　the　leader　of　this　expedition。　It's　my　choice　to　make。　And　we're　leaving　tomorrow。〃　
　A　tense　silence　gathered　in　the　cave。　
　〃I　don't　accept　your　so…called　choice；〃　Sloane　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃Here　we　are；　on　the　verge　of　the　greatest　discovery；　and　what　is　your　answer？　Go　home。　You're　just　like　my　father。　You　have　to　control　everything。　Well；　this　is　my　career；　too。　This　is　my　discovery　as　much　as　it　is　yours。　If　we　leave　now；　this　kiva　will　be　looted。　And　you'll　have　thrown　away　perhaps　the　greatest　discovery　in　American　archaeology。〃　Nora　saw　that　she　was　shaking　in　anger。　〃I've　been　a　threat　to　you　from　the　beginning。　But　that's　your　problem；　not　mine。　And　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　do　this　to　my　career。〃　
　Nora　looked　hard　at　Sloane。　〃You　mention　your　father；〃　she　said　s