p&c.icelimit-第28章
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After a pause； the official began to laugh … a low…throated； mirthless laugh。 He turned to Glinn。 〃Gold？〃 he said； a little more sharply than before。 〃Is that why you are here？ To steal gold from Chile？〃
McFarlane glanced at Glinn。 To his great dismay； he saw a look of guilt and naked fear writ large across Glinn's face； enough to arouse suspicion in even the dullest official。
〃We are here to mine iron ore；〃 Glinn said； in a singularly unconvincing way。
〃I must inform you that a gold mining bond will be much more expensive；〃 said the official。
〃But we are here to mine iron ore。〃
〃e； e；〃 said the official。 〃Let us speak frankly to each other and not create unnecessary trouble。 This story of iron。。。〃 He smiled knowingly。
There was a long； expectant silence。 Then Glinn broke it with another cough。 〃Under the circumstances； perhaps a royalty might be in order。 Provided that all paperwork is taken care of expeditiously。〃
The official waited。 Again Glinn opened the briefcase。 He removed the papers and placed them in his pocket。 Then he ran his hands across the base of the now…empty briefcase； as if searching for something。 There was a muffled click and a false bottom sprang loose。 A yellow radiance emerged； reflecting off the official's surprised face。
〃Madre de dios；〃 the man whispered。
〃This is for you … and your associates … now；〃 said Glinn。 〃On our disembarkation； when we clear customs … if all has gone well … you will receive twice that amount。 Of course； if false rumors of a gold strike on Isla Desolacion get back to Punta Arenas； or if we receive unwele visitors； we won't be able to plete our mining operation。 You will receive nothing more。〃 He sneezed unexpectedly； spraying the back of the case with saliva。
The official hastily shut it。 〃Yes； yes。 Everything will be taken care of。〃
The Chilean andante responded savagely。 〃Look at the lot of you； like dogs sniffing around a bitch in heat。〃
The two officials rose from the bench and approached him； murmuring urgently and gesturing toward the briefcase。 But the andante broke free。 〃I am ashamed to be in the same room。 You would sell your own mothers。〃
The customs official turned in his seat and stared behind him。 〃I think you had better return to your vessel； andante Vallenar；〃 he said icily。
The uniformed man glared at each person in the room in turn。 Then； erect and silent； he walked around the table and out the door； leaving it to bang in the wind。
〃What of him？〃 Glinn asked。
〃You must forgive andante Vallenar；〃 the official said； reaching into another drawer and pulling out some papers and an official stamp。 He inked the stamp； then quickly impressed the papers； seemingly anxious to have the visitors gone。 〃He is an idealist in a land of pragmatists。 But he is nothing。 There will be no rumors； no interruption of your work。 You have my word。〃 He handed the papers and the passports back across the desk。
Glinn took them and turned to go； then hesitated。 〃One other thing。 We have hired a man named John Puppup。 Do you have any idea where we might find him？〃
〃Puppup？〃 The official was clearly startled。 〃That old man？ Whatever for？〃
〃It was represented to us that he has an intimate knowledge of the Cape Horn islands。〃
〃I cannot imagine who told you such a thing。 Unfortunately for you； he received money from somewhere a few days ago。 And that means only one thing。 I would try El Picoroco first。 On Callejon Barranca。〃 The official rose； flashing his gilded smile。 〃I wish you luck finding iron on Isla Desolacion。〃
Puerto Williams；
11：45 A。M。
LEAVING THE customs office； they turned inland and began climbing the hill toward the Barrio de los Indios。 The graded dirt road quickly gave way to a mixture of snow and icy mud。 Wooden corduroys had been placed stairwise along the makeshift track to hold back erosion。 The small houses lining the path were a ragtag assortment made with unmatched lumber； surrounded by crude wooden fences。 A group of children followed the strangers； giggling and pointing。 A donkey carrying an enormous faggot of wood passed them on the way downhill； almost jostling McFarlane into a puddle。 He regained his balance with a backward curse。
〃Exactly how much of that little dog…and…pony show was planned？〃 he asked Glinn in a low tone。
〃All except for andante Vallenar。 And your little outburst。 Unscripted； but successful。〃
〃Successful？ Now they think we're illegally mining gold。 I would call it a disaster。〃
Glinn smiled indulgently。 〃It couldn't have gone better。 If they gave it some thought； they would never believe that an American pany would send an ore carrier to the ends of the earth to mine iron。 andante Vallenar's flare…up was well timed。 It saved me from having to plant the idea in their heads myself。〃
McFarlane shook his head。 〃Think of the rumors it will start。〃
〃There already are rumors。 The amount of gold we gave them will shut them up for life。 Now our good customs people are going to scotch those rumors and order the island out of bounds。 They're much more suited for the job than we are。 And they have excellent incentive to do it。〃
〃What about that andante？〃 asked Britton。 〃He didn't look like he was getting with the program。〃
〃Not everyone can be bribed。 Fortunately； he has no power or credibility。 The only naval officers who end up down here are the ones that have been convicted of crimes or disgraced in one way or another。 Those customs officials will be extremely anxious to keep him in line。 That will undoubtedly mean a payoff to the manding officer of the naval base。 We gave those officials more than enough to go around。〃 Glinn pursed his lips。 〃Still； we should learn a little more about this andante Vallenar。〃
They stepped over a runnel of soapy water as the grade lessened。 Glinn asked directions of a passerby； and they turned off into a narrow side street。 A dirty noon mist was settling on the village； and along with it came a hard freezing of the damp air。 A dead mastiff lay swollen in the gutter。 McFarlane breathed in the smell of fish and raw earth； noticed the flimsy wooden tienda advertising Fanta and local beers； and was irresistibly brought back five years in time。 After twice trying unsuccessfully to cross into Argentina； burdened by the Atacama tektites； he and Nestor Masangkay had ended up crossing into Bolivia near the town of Ancuaque： so unlike this town in appearance； and yet so like it in spirit。
Glinn came to a halt。 At the end of the alley before them was a sagging； red…shingled building。 A blue bulb blinked above a sign that read EL PICOROCO。 CERVEZA MAS FINA。 From an open door beneath； the faint throb of ranchera music spilled into the street。
〃I think I'm beginning to understand some of your methods；〃 said McFarlane。 〃What was that the customs man said about somebody sending Puppup money？ Was that you； by any chance？〃
Glinn inclined his head but did not speak。
〃I think I'll wait out here；〃 said Britton。
McFarlane followed Glinn past the door and into a dim space。 He saw a scuffed bar made out of deal； several wooden tables covered with bottle rings； and an English dartboard； its wire numbers blackened with tar and soot。 The smoke…laden air tasted as if it had hung there for years。 The bartender straightened up as they walked in； and the level of conversation dropped as the few patrons turned to stare at the newers。
Glinn sidled up the bar and ordered two beers。 The bartender brought them over； warm and dripping with foam。 〃We are looking for Senor Puppup；〃 said Glinn。
〃Puppup？〃 The bartender broke into a broad； scant…toothed grin。 〃He is in the back。〃
They followed the man through a beaded curtain； into a little snug with a private table and an empty bottle of Dewar's。 Stretched out on a bench along the wall was a skinny old man in indescribably dirty clothes。 A pair of wispy Fu Manchu…style mustaches drooped from his upper lip。 A thrumcap that looked like it had been sewn together from bits of old rags had slid from his head to the bench。 〃Sleeping or drunk？〃 asked Glinn。
The bartender roared with laughter。 〃Both。〃
〃When will he be sober？〃
The man leaned down； rummaged through Puppup's pockets； and pul
