p&c.thunderhead-第80节

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t　now。　
　Black　did　not　respond。　He　tried　to　steady　himself　with　outstretched　arms；　scattering　several　pots　in　the　process。　
　Sloane　stepped　forward　with　sudden　resolution；　grasping　one　of　his　hands。　〃Aaron；　listen。　I'm　going　down　to　the　medical　tent。　I'll　be　back　as　soon　as　I　can。〃　
　She　climbed　quickly　up　through　the　ragged　hole　and　out　of　the　kiva。　Then；　shaking　the　dust　from　her　legs；　she　half　walked；　half　ran；　out　of　the　cave；　through　the　Crawlspace　and　into　the　silent　city。　
　
　
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　KNEELING　BESIDE　SMITHBACK；　NORA　stuffed　a　flashlight　retrieved　from　the　drysacks　into　her　pocket　and　helped　the　journalist　swallow　a　small　cup　of　steaming　bouillon。　Just　outside　the　tent；　the　portable　propane　stove　ticked　and　sputtered　as　it　cooled。　Taking　the　empty　cup　from　his　hands；　she　helped　him　back　onto　the　sleeping　bag；　stretched　a　woolen　blanket　over　him；　and　made　sure　he　was　fortable。　She　had　replaced　his　soaked　shirt　and　pants　with　dry　ones；　and　his　shock　seemed　to　be　passing。　But　with　rain　still　drumming　on　the　tent；　moving　him　remained　pointless。　What　he　needed　most；　she　felt；　was　some　sleep。　She　glanced　at　the　field　wristwatch　that　had　been　strapped　around　the　head　tentpole。　It　was　after　nine　o'clock。　And　yet；　inexplicably；　nobody　had　returned　to　camp。　
　Her　mind　turned　back　to　the　flash　flood。　The　storm　that　produced　it　must　have　been　enormous；　awe…inspiring。　It　seemed　inexplicable　that　anyone　standing　atop　the　plateau　could　have　missed　it　。　。　。　
　She　rose　quickly。　Smithback　looked　up　at　her　with　a　weak　smile。　
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said。　
　〃You　get　some　sleep；〃　she　replied。　〃I'm　going　up　to　the　ruin。〃　
　He　nodded；　but　his　eyes　were　already　closing。　Grasping　the　flashlight；　she　slipped　out　of　the　tent　into　the　darkness。　Switching　it　on；　she　followed　the　cylinder　of　light　toward　the　base　of　the　rope　ladder。　Her　bruised　body　ached；　and　she　was　as　tired　as　she　ever　remembered　feeling。　A　part　of　her　half　anticipated；　half　dreaded；　what　she　might　find　in　the　ruined　city。　But　Smithback　had　been　cared　for；　and　leaving　the　valley　was　now　impossible。　As　expedition　leader；　she　had　no　choice　but　to　enter　Quivira；　to　learn　for　herself　exactly　what　was　going　on。　
　The　raindrops　flashed　through　the　yellow　beam　like　fitful　streaks　of　light。　As　she　approached　the　rock　face；　she　saw　a　dark　figure　climb　down　the　ladder　and　leap　lightly　to　the　sand。　The　silhouette；　the　graceful　movement；　was　unmistakable。　
　〃Is　that　you；　Roscoe？〃　Sloane's　voice　called　out。　
　〃No；〃　Nora　replied。　〃It's　me。〃　
　The　figure　froze。　Nora　stepped　forward　and　looked　into　Sloane's　face；　illuminated　in　the　glare　of　the　flashlight。　She　saw；　not　relief；　but　shock　and　confusion。　
　〃You；〃　breathed　Sloane。
　Nora　heard　consternation；　even　anger；　in　her　tone。　〃Just　what　is　going　on？〃　she　asked；　trying　to　keep　her　voice　under　control。　
　〃How　did　you…〃　Sloane　began。　
　〃I　asked　you　a　question。　What's　going　on？〃　Instinctively；　Nora　took　a　step　back。　Then；　for　the　first　time；　she　noticed　the　necklace　that　lay　around　Sloane's　neck：　large　beads；　obviously　prehistoric；　glittering　yellow…micaceous　yellow…in　the　glow　of　the　light。　
　As　Nora　stared　at　the　necklace；　what　had　begun　as　a　smoldering　fear　burst　suddenly　into　fierce　conviction。　
　〃You　did　it；　didn't　you；〃　she　whispered。　〃You　broke　into　the　kiva。〃　
　〃I…〃　Sloane　faltered。　
　〃You　deliberately　entered　that　kiva；〃　Nora　said。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　the　Institute　will　say？　What　your　father　will　say？〃　
　But　Sloane　remained　silent。　She　seemed　stunned；　as　if　still　unable　to　prehend；　or　accept；　Nora's　presence。　She　looks　as　if　she's　seen　a　ghost；　Nora　thought。　
　And　then；　in　an　instant；　she　realized　that　was　precisely　it。　
　〃You　didn't　expect　to　see　me　alive；　did　you？〃　she　asked。　Her　voice　was　steady；　but　she　could　feel　herself　trembling　from　head　to　foot。　
　But　still；　Sloane　stood　rooted　to　the　spot。　
　〃The　weather　report；〃　Nora　said。　〃You　gave　me　a　false　weather　report。〃　
　At　this；　Sloane　suddenly　shook　her　head　vigorously。　〃No…〃　she　began。　
　〃Twenty　minutes　after　you　came　down　from　the　rim；　that　flash　flood　hit；〃　Nora　broke　in。　〃The　entire　Kaiparowits　drains　through　this　canyon。　There　was　a　gigantic　thunderhead　over　the　plateau；　there　had　to　be。　And　you　saw　it。〃　
　〃The　weather　report　out　of　Page　is　a　matter　of　public　record。　You　can　check　it　when　we　get　back　。　。　。〃　
　But　as　she　listened；　an　image　came　unbidden　to　Nora's　mind：　Aragon；　the　flood　shredding　him　to　pieces　as　it　pulled　him　along　the　pitiless　walls　of　the　slot　canyon。　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　think　I'll　do　that。　I　think　I'll　check　the　satellite　images　instead。　And　I　know　what　I'll　find：　a　monstrous　storm；　centered　directly　over　the　Kaiparowits　Plateau。〃　
　At　this；　Sloane's　face　went　dead　white。　Beads　of　rain　were　collecting　on　her　wide　cheekbones。　〃Nora；　listen。　It's　possible　I　never　looked　in　that　direction。　You've　got　to　believe　me。〃　
　〃Where's　Black？〃　Nora　asked　suddenly。　
　Sloane　stopped；　surprised　by　the　question。　〃Up　in　the　city；〃　she　said。　
　〃What　do　you　think　he'll　say　when　I　confront　him？　He　was　up　on　top　of　that　ridge　with　you。〃　
　Sloane's　eyebrows　contracted。　〃He's　not　well；　and…〃　
　〃And　Aragon　is　dead；〃　Nora　interrupted；　speaking　in　a　barely　controlled　fury。　〃Sloane；　you　were　going　to　break　into　that　kiva；　no　matter　what　the　cost。　And　that　cost　was　murder。〃　
　The　ugly　word　hung　in　the　heavy　air。　
　〃You're　going　to　prison；　Sloane；〃　Nora　said。　〃And　you'll　never　work　in　this　field　again。　I'm　going　to　make　sure　of　that　personally。〃　
　As　Nora　stared　at　Sloane；　she　saw　the　shock；　the　confusion；　in　her　eyes　start　to　turn　to　something　else。　
　〃You　can't　do　that；　Nora；〃　Sloane　replied。　〃You　can't。〃　Her　voice　was　suddenly　low；　urgent。　
　〃Watch　me。〃　
　There　was　a　flash　of　jagged　lightning；　followed　almost　instantly　by　a　great　peal　of　thunder。　In　that　instant；　Nora　glanced　downward；　shielding　her　eyes。　As　she　did；　she　saw　the　dull　glint　of　the　gunmetal　tucked　into　Sloane's　belt。　Looking　up　quickly　again；　she　saw　Sloane　watching　her。　The　woman　seemed　to　straighten　up；　draw　a　sudden　breath。　Her　jaw　set。　In　a　face　full　of　lingering　surprise；　Nora　thought　she　saw　a　resolution　begin　to　form。　
　〃No；〃　she　murmured。　
　Sloane　looked　back　at　her；　unblinking。　
　〃No；〃　Nora　repeated；　more　loudly；　backing　up　into　the　darkness。　
　Slowly；　tentatively；　Sloane's　hand　dropped　toward　the　gun。　
　In　a　sudden；　desperate　movement；　Nora　snapped　off　her　light　and　wheeled　away；　sprinting　into　the　close；　concealing　darkness。　
　The　camp　lay　a　hundred　yards　off…no　protection　there。　Sloane　stood　between　her　and　the　city。　And　the　flood　had　cut　her　off　from　the　other　side　of　the　valley。　In　the　direction　she　was　headed；　that　left　only　one　option。　
　Her　mind　worked　furiously　as　she　ran。　Sloane；　she　realized；　was　not　the　kind　of　person　who　could　bear　to　lose。　If　she　had　refused　to　even　leave　Quivira　without　opening　the　kiva；　was　it　possible　she　would　allow　Nora　to　take　her　back　to　civilization…in　shame　and　humiliation…to　face　life　in　ruin？　Why　did　I　provoke　her　like　that？　Nora　raged　at　herself。　How　could　I　have　been　so　stupid？　She　herself　had　demonstrated　to　Sloane　exactly　how　stark　her　choice　was。　Nora；　effectively；　had　signed　her　own　death　warrant。　
　She　dashed　as　quickly　as　she　dared　along　the　rocky　base　of　the　cliff；　making　for　the　landslide　at　the　far　end。　Fitful　tongues　of　lightning　guided　her　way。　Scrambling　up　the　talus　of　broken　boulders；　she　searched　for　a　hiding　place；　not　daring　to　use　her　flashlight　for　fear　of　betraying　her　position。　Halfway　up　the　slope　she　found　a　suitable　hole：　narrow；　but　still　large　enough　to　fit　a　human　body。　She　wedged　herself　as　far　inside　as　she　could　and　crouched　in　the　darkness；　gasping　for　breath；　trying　to　sort　things　out；　raging　with　frustration　and　despair。　
　She　glanced　around　her　hiding　place。　She　had　managed　to　crawl　fairly　deeply　into　the　landslide。　Still；　it　was　only　a　temporary　option：　it　would　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　Sloane　searched　her　out。　And　Sloane　had　the　spare　gun。　
　Her　thoughts　returned　to　Smithback；　lying　asleep　in　the　medical　tent；　and　her　hands　clenched　in　anger。　He　was　a　sitting　duck。　But　no：　there　was　no　reason　for　Sloane　to　enter　the　tent　and　find　him。　Even　if　she　did；　there　was　a　chance　she　would　not　kill　him。　Nora　had　to　cling　to　that　hope…at　least；　until　she　found　some　way　to　stop　Sloane。　
　There　had　to　be　a　way。　Bonarotti　and　Swire　were　out　there；　somewhere。　Unless　they　were　part　of　the　conspiracy；　too　。　。　。　she　shook　her　head；　refusing　to　let　herself　follow　that　line　of　speculation。　
　Perhaps　she　could　find　a　way　to　sneak　back　into　the　camp；　steal　away　with　Smithback。　But　that　would　mean　hours　of　cautious　waiting；　and　one　way　or　another　Sloane　would　certainly　act　before　then。　Nora　knew　she　couldn't　climb　up　to　the　rim　and　escape…not　with　Smithback　behind；　injured；　in　the　valley。　As　she　crouched　in　the　darkness　and　turned　over　her　options；　it　dawned　on　her；　with　a　desperate　kind　of　finality；　that　in　fact　there　were　no　options　at　all。　
　
　
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　BEIYOODZIN　MADE　HIS　WAY　ACROSS　THE　slickrock　plateau；　far　above　the　valley　of　Quivira。　The　heart　of　a　second；　smaller　storm　was　passing　overhead　now；　and　it　was　very