p&c.thunderhead-第23章
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〃Then prepare to be disappointed；〃 said Nora。 〃The Indians were only telling Coronado what they knew he wanted to hear in order to keep him moving on。〃
〃But listen；〃 Holroyd said； 〃it goes on： 'The slave warned the General not to approach the city。 The Rain and Sun Priests of Xochitl guard the city； he said； and call down the God of the Dust Devil on those who approach without their leave； and thereby destroy them。'〃
〃D…d…d…destroy them？〃 Smithback leered。
Nora shrugged。 〃Typical in these old reports。 A hard kernel of truth at the center； embellished to increase dramatic effect。〃
Hicks stepped out of the cabin； his stringy form framed in the battered pilothouse light。 〃Sonar's giving me shoaling water here；〃 he said。 〃The canyon bottom's ing up。 We'll probably be hitting the end of the lake 'round another bend or two。〃
Now everyone came to the front rail； peering eagerly into the gloom。 A searchlight snapped on above the pilothouse； illuminating the water ahead of them。 It had changed color again to a dirty chocolate。 The barge nosed its way past battered tree limbs； around dark curtains of stone that rose hundreds of feet。
They passed another sharp bend and dismay suddenly dragged at Nora's heart。 Blocking the far end of the canyon was a huge mass of floating debris： scarred tree trunks； branches； and stinking mats of rotting pine needles。 Some of the tree trunks were five feet in diameter； horribly gouged and ripped as if by supernatural force。 Beyond the tangle； Nora could make out the end of the lake： a wedge of sand at the mouth of a creek； deep crimson in the gloom。
Hicks threw the engine into neutral and came out of the pilothouse； puffing silently and staring down the beam of the searchlight。
〃Where did all those huge trees e from？〃 Nora asked。 〃I haven't seen a tree since we left Page。〃
〃Flash floods；〃 said Hicks； chewing on his corncob。 〃All that stuff gets washed down from the mountains； hundreds of miles sometimes。 When the wall of water hits the lake； it just dumps everything here。〃 He shook his head。 〃Never seen such a snarl。〃
〃Can you get through it？〃
〃Nope；〃 said Hicks。 〃Tear my propellers right up。〃
Shit。 〃How deep is the water？〃
〃Sonar says eight feet； with holes and channels down to fifteen。〃 He gave her a curious look。 〃Might be a good time to think about turning around；〃 he murmured。
Nora glanced at his placid face。 〃Now why would we want to do that？〃
Hicks shrugged。 〃It ain't no business of mine； but I wouldn't head into that backcountry for all the money in the world。〃
〃Thanks for the advice；〃 Nora said。 〃You have a life raft； right？〃
〃Yup； inflatable。 You sure can't load horses into it。〃
The expedition had gathered around； listening。 Nora heard Black mutter something about knowing horses were a bad idea。
〃We'll swim the horses in；〃 Nora said。 〃Then we'll bring the gear on the raft。〃
〃Now； hold on…〃 began Swire。
Nora turned to him。 〃All we need is a good horse to lead and the others will follow。 Roscoe； I'll bet you've got a good swimmer in that bunch。〃
〃Sure； Mestizo； but…〃
〃Good。 You swim him in yourself； and we'll push the others in afterward。 They can swim through one of those gaps between the logs。〃
Swire stared at the blockage before them； a crazy dark tangle in the ghostly illumination of the searchlight。 〃Those gaps are pretty small。 A horse could get snagged on brush； or maybe gut himself on an underwater limb。〃
〃Do you have another idea？〃
Swire looked out over the water。 〃Nope；〃 he said。 〃Guess I don't。〃
Hicks opened a large deck locker and； with the help of Holroyd； pulled a heavy； shapeless rubber mass out of its depths。 Swire led a large horse out of one of the trailers； then threw a saddle over his back。 Nora noticed he did not put on a halter or bridle。 Aragon and Bonarotti began to move the gear toward the raft； readying it for transport。 Black was standing near the trailers； watching the proceedings with a doubtful expression。 Swire handed him a quirt。
〃What's this for？〃 Black asked； holding it at arm's length。
〃I'm going to swim this horse in to shore first；〃 Swire replied。 〃Nora will lead the rest out one by one。 Your job is to make them jump into the water after me。〃
〃Oh； really？ And just how do I do that？〃
〃You quirt 'em。〃
〃Quirt them？〃
〃Whip their asses。 Don't let them stop to think。〃
〃That's insane。 I'll be kicked。〃
〃None of these horses are kickers； but be ready to dodge anyway。 And make a sound like this。〃 Swire made a loud； unpleasant kissing sound with his lips。
〃Maybe flowers and a box of chocolates would be easier；〃 Smithback cracked。
〃I don't know anything about horses；〃 Black protested。
〃'Course you don't。 But it don't take a professional waddy to whack a horse's ass。〃
〃Won't it hurt the horses？〃
〃It'll sting some；〃 Swire replied。 〃But we don't got all night to sweet…talk 'em。〃
Black continued to stare at the quirt with a frown。 Watching him； Nora wasn't sure what the scientist was more upset by： quirting the horses or being ordered about by a cowboy。
Swire vaulted into the saddle。 〃Keep 'em ing one at a time； but let the water clear so they ain't jumping on each other's backs。〃
He turned and shoved the spurs to his horse。 The animal obeyed instantly and leaped into the water； momentarily disappearing and then surfacing again； blowing hard； nose up to the air。 Expertly dismounting in midair； Swire had landed beside the horse； hand on the saddlehorn。 Now he began urging the animal forward in a low voice。
The rest of the horses pranced restlessly in the trailers； snorting through dilated nostrils and rolling their eyes with apprehension。
〃Let's go；〃 Nora said； easing the second horse forward。 It stepped toward the edge of the barge； then balked。 〃Quirt him！〃 she cried to Black。 To her relief； Black stepped forward with a determined look and smacked the horse across the rump。 The horse paused； then leaped； landing with another roar of water and struggling after Swire's horse。
Smithback was watching the proceedings with amusement。 〃Nicely done！〃 he cried。 〃e on； Aaron； don't tell me that's the first time you've handled a whip。 I'm sure I've seen you hanging around the West Village leather bars。〃
〃Smithback； go help Holroyd with the raft；〃 Nora snapped。
〃Yassuh。〃 Smithback turned away。
One at a time； they coaxed the rest of the horses into the water until they formed a ragged； struggling line； nose to tail； threading their way through a gap in the tangle of trees and heading for the beach。 Nora locked down the trailers； then turned to watch Swire clamber out of the water at the far end； bedraggled and dripping in the yellow glow of the searchlight。 Securing his horse； he waded back into the water with yips and shouts； herding the rest onto dry land。 Soon he had gathered them into a disconsolate mass and pushed them upcanyon； clearing the landing site。
Nora watched a moment longer； then turned to Black。 〃That was very well done； Aaron。〃
The geochronologist blushed with pride。
Nora looked at the rest of the group。 〃Let's get this gear offloaded。 Captain； many thanks for your help。 We'll make sure the raft is well hidden while we're upcanyon。 See you in a couple of weeks。〃
〃Lest I see you first；〃 Hicks replied dryly as he disappeared into the pilothouse。
Around eleven； in the intense silence of the desert night； Nora took a last tour of the somnolent camp； then threw her bedroll some distance from the others； carefully sculpting the sand underneath for her hips and shoulders。 To minimize the panicky； last…minute adjustments that always seemed to acpany packtrips； she had seen to it that the gear was already weighed and stowed in the panniers； ready for loading in the morning。 The horses were hobbled some distance away； contentedly chewing the last of their alfalfa。 The rest of the group was either asleep in their tents or quickly nodding off in their sleeping bags by the dying light of the fire。 And the Landlocked Laura was well on her way back to the marina。 The expedition had begun in earnest。
She eased into the bedroll； breathing easily。 So far； so good。 Black was a pa
