p&c.thunderhead-第85节

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　On　the　other　hand；　if　they　could　just　reach　the　redoubt　at　the　top；　they　might　be　able　to　hold　the　skinwalker　off。　The　Anasazi　had　built　this　tower　for　a　single　purpose：　defense。　Sloane　had　a　gun。　And　they　might　even　find　a　cache　of　stones　at　the　top　that　could　be　lobbed　down　into　the　tower。　
　〃Go　on！〃　Sloane　whispered　urgently。　
　Nora　checked　her　flashlight。　Its　beam　was　growing　feeble。　But　she　had　no　choice：　they　could　not　make　the　climb　in　total　darkness。　Sliding　the　lit　flashlight　into　her　shirt　pocket；　she　reached　for　the　first　pole；　testing　its　sturdiness。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　she　placed　a　foot　in　the　first　notch。　Her　other　foot　went　on　the　first　small　stump　of　rock；　projecting　from　the　tower　wall　across　from　the　notch。　She　hoisted　herself　up；　spreadeagled　over　open　space。　She　climbed　as　fast　as　she　dared；　trying　not　to　think　of　the　swaying　of　the　pole　under　her　weight；　creaking　with　dry　rot　and　shedding　powdered　wood。　Sloane　followed　behind；　her　frantic　climbing　shaking　the　brittle　structure　still　further。　
　Reaching　the　first　platform；　Nora　stopped　to　catch　her　breath。　As　she　crouched；　gasping；　she　heard　a　faint　clatter　from　outside　the　tower：　the　sound　of　a　pole　ladder　being　thrust　up　against　adobe　walls。　
　Instantly；　Nora　leaped　for　the　second　pole；　Sloane　following。　She　scrambled　upward；　vaulting　up　the　swaying　pole；　listening　to　the　crackling　and　splitting　of　wood　beneath　her　feet。　This　ladder　felt　much　less　secure　than　the　first。　As　she　neared　the　top；　she　felt　its　supports　beginning　to　give　way。　She　threw　herself　onto　the　second　shelf；　gasping　and　crying。　
　Just　then；　she　heard　the　patter　of　footsteps　below。　A　dark　form　momentarily　blotted　out　the　dim　rectangle　of　light　at　the　entrance　to　the　tower。　Beside　her；　Sloane　cursed　under　her　breath。　
　For　an　instant；　Nora　found　herself　unable　to　move；　as　the　terror　of　the　encounter　in　the　abandoned　ranch　house　returned　to　her　in　full　force。　Then　she　was　shocked　back　to　the　present　by　the　deafening　blast　of　a　pistol　shot。　The　echoes　died　crazily　within　the　confines　of　the　tower。　Heart　in　her　mouth；　Nora　angled　the　flashlight　downward。　The　figure　was　swarming　up　the　first　ladder；　swift　and　sure。　Sloane　raised　her　weapon　again。　
　〃Save　your　bullets　for　the　top！〃　Nora　cried。　She　urged　Sloane　onto　the　third　and　final　ladder；　its　ancient　geometry　faint　in　the　beam　of　her　light。　
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃　Sloane　whispered。　
　But　Nora　simply　pushed　her　up　the　ladder　without　a　word。　It　was　time　to　take　a　desperate　chance。　
　Taking　a　firm　hold　on　the　stone　shelf；　she　drew　her　leg　back　and　kicked　at　the　bracing　of　the　second　pole　as　hard　as　she　could。　She　felt　it　shudder　with　the　impact。　She　kicked　at　it　a　second　time；　then　a　third。　Below；　she　could　hear　a　desperate　scrabbling　as　the　figure　rode　the　shaking　structure。　Summoning　all　her　strength；　Nora　kicked　at　the　pole　once　again。　With　a　shriek　of　rending　wood；　the　pole　lurched　outward　about　six　inches；　whipsawing　itself　into　a　notch　of　rock。　Nora　heard　a　muffled　roar　from　below。　Chancing　another　look　down；　she　saw　the　skinwalker　lose　its　grip　and　begin　to　fall　away　toward　the　base　of　the　tower。　Then；　catlike；　it　lashed　out；　grasping　a　set　of　supports。　It　clung　there　for　a　moment；　swinging　in　and　out　of　the　dying　beam　of　Nora's　light。　Then；　with　careful　deliberation；　it　began　climbing　toward　her　again。　Nora　kicked　out　once　more；　trying　to　knock　the　pole　away　pletely；　but　it　was　now　jammed　fast。　
　She　leaped　for　the　third　pole　and　climbed；　arms　and　legs　protesting；　toward　the　third　shelf　and　the　hole　leading　to　the　redoubt　at　the　top　of　the　tower。　Moments　later　she　was　onto　the　ledge。　From　the　small　room　beyond；　Sloane　reached　out　a　hand　to　help　her　in。　
　Crouching　beneath　the　low　ceiling；　Nora　swept　her　flashlight　around　the　room。　It　was　tiny；　perhaps　four　by　six　feet。　Above　her　head；　a　small　ragged　hole　led　up　onto　the　roof　of　the　tower。　A　disarticulated　skeleton　lay　in　a　heap　against　one　wall。　Her　heart　sank　as　she　saw　there　were　no　stones；　no　weapons…nothing　they　could　use　to　defend　themselves　except　a　few　useless　bones。　
　But　they　still　had　the　gun。　
　Shielding　the　flashlight；　Nora　leaned　back　out　into　the　cool　dark　shaft　of　the　tower。　Two　bobbing　red　eyes　reflected　the　feeble　beam：　it　was　on　the　second　ladder　again；　and　ing　inexorably　closer。　
　She　shrank　back　into　the　redoubt　and　looked　at　Sloane。　A　pale　face　stared　back　at　her；　drawn　with　fear　and　tension。　Beneath　it；　the　necklace　of　micaceous　beads　gave　off　a　faint　golden　sheen。　Nora　cupped　her　hand　over　the　light。　A　part　of　her　could　not　fully　prehend　what　was　happening：　stuck　here；　with　the　woman　who　had　caused　the　death　of　her　friends；　while　a　creature　out　of　nightmare　was　climbing　toward　them。　She　shook　her　head；　trying　to　clear　it。　
　〃How　many　bullets？〃　she　whispered；　shining　the　veiled　light　toward　Sloane。　
　Mutely；　Sloane　held　up　three　fingers。　
　〃Listen；〃　Nora　went　on；　〃There's　no　time　left。　I'll　turn　off　the　light；　and　we'll　wait　here　in　the　opening。　When　it's　close；　I'll　aim　the　beam；　and　you　fire。　Okay？〃　
　Sloane　suppressed　a　cough；　nodded　urgently。　
　〃We'll　only　have　time　for　one　shot；　maybe　two。　Make　them　count。〃　
　She　snapped　off　her　light；　and　together　they　moved　toward　the　opening　of　the　redoubt。　As　Nora　inched　out　cautiously；　she　became　acutely　aware　of　every　sense：　the　cool　air　rolling　up　from　the　darkness　of　the　tower；　the　hard　metal　of　the　flashlight　in　her　hand；　the　smell　of　dust　and　decay　from　the　redoubt。　
　And　the　sound　of　scrabbling　claws　on　wood；　growing　closer；　ever　closer。　
　〃Get　ready；〃　she　whispered。　
　She　waited　a　moment；　then　another；　then　she　snapped　on　the　light。　
　And　there　it　was　below　her；　terrifyingly　close。　With　an　involuntary　cry；　she　took　in　the　petrifying　image：　musky　wolfskin；　feral　eyes；　tortured；　howling　mask。　
　〃Now！〃　she　cried；　even　as　the　roar　of　the　gun　drowned　out　her　voice。　
　In　the　faint　beam；　she　saw　the　skinwalker　jerk　to　one　side；　pelt　flying　wildly　about　him。　
　〃Again！〃　she　shouted；　fighting　to　keep　the　dwindling　pinpoint　of　light　on　the　twisting　figure。　There　was　another　blast；　superimposed　by　a　muffled　howl　from　below。　As　the　light　guttered　out　Nora　saw　the　figure　crumple　in　on　itself　and　fall　away；　swallowed　by　the　well　of　darkness。　
　She　dropped　the　useless　flashlight　into　the　gulf　and　listened。　But　there　was　nothing：　no　groan；　no　rasping　intake　of　breath。　The　faint　glowing　rectangle　of　doorway　far　below　them　betrayed　no　movement；　no　twisted　shadow。　
　〃e　on！〃　Sloane　said；　pulling　her　back　into　the　redoubt　and　urging　her　toward　the　hole　in　the　ceiling。　Grasping　the　adobe　framework；　Nora　pulled　herself　up　onto　the　roof。　She　backed　away　from　the　opening　as　Sloane　came　up　behind；　gasping　and　coughing。　
　Here；　far　above　the　ruins　of　Quivira；　it　was　cool；　with　a　faint　breeze。　The　dome　of　the　alcove　was　only　a　few　feet　above　her　head；　a　rough；　fractured　surface。　Nora　stood　motionless；　exhausted。　There　was　no　parapet　on　the　tower；　the　roof　ended　in　open　space。　Beyond　it；　the　city　lay　stretched　out　below　her　feet。　The　moon　was　struggling　to　show　itself　behind　an　expanse　of　fast…scudding　rainclouds；　and　there　was　the　whisper　of　rain。　The　pale　illumination；　waxing　and　waning；　gave　the　roomblocks；　towers；　and　plazas　a　fleeting　spectral　glow。　Moist　air　brushed　her　cheek；　stirred　her　hair。　She　heard　a　faint　flutter　of　wings；　a　low　wind　in　the　valley。　Somewhere　out　in　that　valley　lay　Smithback's　body。　
　She　turned　quickly　toward　Sloane。　The　woman　was　kneeling　at　the　opening　in　the　roof；　gun　drawn；　staring　intently　downward。　Nora　came　over；　and　together　they　waited　in　tense　silence。　But　no　sound　or　movement　came　from　the　darkness　below。　
　At　last；　Sloane　stood　and　backed　away。　〃It's　over；〃　she　said。　
　Nora　nodded　absently；　still　staring　into　the　dark　cavity；　her　thoughts　clouded；　her　mind　troubled。　
　For　what　seemed　several　minutes；　they　stood　motionless；　overwhelmed　by　the　furious　emotion　of　the　chase。　Then；　at　last；　Sloane　snugged　the　gun　into　her　belt。　
　〃So　what　now；　Nora？〃　she　asked　huskily。　
　Nora　looked　up　at　her；　slowly；　unprehending。　
　〃I　just　saved　your　life；〃　Sloane　went　on　slowly。　〃Isn't　that　going　to　count　for　something？〃　
　Nora　could　not　bring　herself　to　speak。　
　〃It's　true；〃　Sloane　said。　〃I　saw　that　storm。　So　did　Black。　But　I　didn't　lie　about　the　weather　report。　You　gave　me　no　choice。〃　There　was　a　sudden　flash　of　anger　in　the　almond　eyes。　〃You　were　willing　to　abandon　everything；　keep　the　glory　to　yourself…〃　A　sudden　racking　cough　cut　short　the　sentence。　Nora　could　see　Sloane　fighting　to　keep　her　voice　calm。　
　〃I'm　not　proud　of　what　I　did；〃　she　went　on。　〃But　it　had　to　be　done。　People　have　died　for　far　lesser　causes　than　this。　The　true　wrong　was　yours：　walking　away；　ready　to　deprive　the　world　of　the　most　glorious　pottery　ever　made　by　man。〃　
　〃Pottery；〃　Nora　repeated。　
　〃Yes。　The　Sun　Kiva　was　full…is　full…of　black…on…yellow　micaceous　pottery。　It's　the　mother　lode；　Nora。　You　didn't　know　it。　You　didn't　even　suspect　it。　But　I　knew。〃　
　〃I　knew　there　was　no　gold　in　that　kiva。〃　
　〃Of　course　there　wasn't。　Neither　one　of　us　ever　really　believed　that。　But　all　those　ancient　reports　weren't　totally　fabricated…not　really。　It　was　a　translational