cussler.blueandgold-第21章

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isting　and　unbroken　ribbon　of　dark　green　water。　An　unyielding　wall　of　trees　hemmed　the　river　in　on　both　sides　and　separated　it　from　the　eternal　night　of　the　forest。　At　one　point　they　had　to　stop　because　the　river　was　blocked　by　debris。　They　weled　the　break　from　the　mind…numbing　drone　of　the　airplane　engine。　They　tied　lines　around　the　entangled　logs　and　branches　and　unclogged　the　bottleneck。　The　job　was　time…consuming；　and　it　was　late　after　noon　when　the　leafy　ramparts　gave　way　to　brief　glimpses　of　open　space　and　cultivated　fields　along　the　river's　edge。　Then　the　forest　opened　up　to　reveal　a　cluster　of　grass　huts。
　
　Paul　reduced　speed　and　aimed　the　airboat's　blunt　prow　between　several　dugout　canoes　drawn　up　on　the　muddy　banking。　With　a　quick　goose　on　the　throttle；　he　slid　the　boat　onto　the　shore　and　cut　the　engine。　He　removed　the　NUMA　baseball　cap　he　had　been　wearing　backward　on　his　head　and　used　it　to　fan　his　face。
　
　〃Where　is　everybody？〃
　
　The　unearthly　quiet　was　in　sharp　contrast　to　Dr。　Ramirez's　settlement　where　the　natives　bustled　about　their　business　throughout　the　day。　This　place　appeared　to　be　deserted。　The　only　signs　of　recent　human　habitation　were　tendrils　of　gray　smoke　that　rose　from　fire　holes。　
　
　　〃This　is　very　weird；〃　Gamay　said。　〃It's　as　if　the　plague　struck。〃
　
　Paul　opened　a　storage　box　and　pulled　out　a　backpack。　Dr。　Ramirez　had　insisted　that　the　Trouts　borrow　a　long…barreled　Colt　revolver。　Moving　slowly；　Paul　placed　the　rucksack　between　them；　reached　inside；　unclipped　the　holster；　and　felt　the　reassuring　hardness　of　the　grip。
　
　〃It's　not　the　plague　I'm　worrying　about；〃　Paul　said　quietly；　scanning　the　silent　huts。　〃I'm　thinking　about　that　dead　Indian　in　the　canoe。〃

　
　Gamay　had　seen　Paul　reach　into　the　bag　and　shared　his　concern。
　
　〃Once　we　leave　the　boat　it　might　be　tough　getting　back　to　it；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　wait　a　few　more　minutes　and　see　what　hap　pens。〃
　
　Paul　nodded。　〃Maybe　they're　taking　a　siesta。　Let's　wake　them　up。〃　He　cupped　his　hands　to　his　mouth　and　came　out　with　a　loud　〃Hallooo！〃　The　only　reply　was　the　echo　of　his　voice。　He　tried　again。　Nothing　stirred。
　
　Gamay　laughed。　〃They　would　have　to　be　sound　sleepers　not　to　hear　a　bellow　like　that。〃
　
　〃Spooky；〃　Paul　said　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃It's　too　damned　hot　sitting　out　here。　I'm　going　to　look　around。　Can　you　watch　my　back？〃
　
　〃I'll　keep　one　hand　on　the　cannon　Dr。　Ramirez　gave　us　and　the　other　on　the　ignition。　Don't　be　a　hero。〃
　
　〃You　know　me　better　than　that。　Any　problem　and　I'll　e　running。〃
　
　Trout　eased　his　lanky　form　out　of　the　seat　in　front　of　the　propeller　screen　and　onto　the　deck。　He　had　every　confidence　in　his　wife's　ability　to　cover　him。　As　a　girl　in　Racine；　she　had　been　taught　to　shoot　skeet　by　her　father　and　was　an　excellent　marks　man　with　any　kind　of　firearm。　Paul　contended　she　could　shoot　the　eye　out　of　a　sand　flea　in　mid…hop。　He　scanned　the　village　and　stepped　onto　the　banking；　only　to　freeze。　He　had　seen　movement　in　the　dark　doorway　of　the　largest　hut。　A　face　had　peered　around　the　corner　and　disappeared。　There　it　was　again。　Seconds　later　a　man　stepped　out　and　waved。　He　shouted　what　sounded　like　a　greeting　and　started　down　the　slope　toward　them。
　
　He　arrived　at　the　river's　edge　and　mopped　his　damp　face　with　a　sweat…stained　silk　handkerchief。　He　was　a　big　man；　and　the　high　flat　crown　of　a　wide…brimmed　straw　hat　added　to　his　height。　His　baggy　white　cotton　slacks　were　held　in　place　around　his　corpulent　belly　by　a　length　of　nylon　rope；　and　his　long　sleeved　white　shirt　was　buttoned　up　to　his　Adam's　apple。　The　sun　reflected　off　a　monocle　in　his　left　eye。
　
　〃Greetings；〃　he　said　with　a　slight　accent。　〃Wele　to　the　Paris　of　the　rain　forest。〃
　
　Paul　looked　past　the　man's　shoulder　at　the　sorry　collection　of　hovels。　〃Where's　the　Eiffel　Tower？〃　he　asked　casually。
　
　〃Hah…hah。　Eiffel　Tower。　Marvelous！　Look　there；　it's　not　far　from　the　Arc　de　Triomphe。〃
　
　After　the　long　river　journey　in　the　damp　heat　Paul　had　little　appetite　for　witty　repartee。　〃We're　looking　for　someone　called　the　Dutchman；〃　he　said。
　
　The　man　removed　his　hat；　revealing　a　tonsured　mop　of　unruly　white　hair。　〃At　your　service。　But　I'm　not　Dutch。〃　He　laughed。　〃When　I　first　came　to　this　blighted　place　seven　years　ago　I　said　I　was　'Deutsch。'　I'm　German。　My　name　is　Dieter　von　Hoffman。〃
　
　〃I'm　Paul　Trout；　and　this　is　my　wife；　Gamay。〃
　
　Hoffman　focused　his　monocle　on　Gamay。　〃A　beautiful　name　for　a　lovely　woman；〃　he　said　gallantly。　〃We　don't　~et　many　white　women　out　here；　beautiful　or　otherwise。〃
　
　Gamay　asked　why　the　village　was　so　quiet。　Dieter's　fleshy　red　lips　drooped。　〃I　suggested　that　the　villagers　go　into　hiding。　It　never　hurts　to　be　cautious　with　strangers。　They　will　e　out　when　they　see　that　you　are　friendly。〃　The　empty　smile　again。　〃So；　what　brings　you　to　our　poor　village？〃
　
　〃Dr。　Ramirez　asked　us　to　e。　We're　with　NUMA；　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency；〃　Gamay　said。　〃We　were　doing　some　research　on　river　dolphins　and　staying　with　Dr。　Ramirez。　He　asked　if　we　couldn't　e　in　his　place。〃
　
　〃I　heard　through　the　jungle　telegraph　that　a　couple　of　scientists　from　the　United　States　were　in　the　neighborhood。　I　never　dreamed　you　would　honor　us　with　a　visit。　How　is　the　esteemed　Dr。　Ramirez　these　days？〃
　
　〃He　would　have　liked　to　e；　but　he　hurt　his　ankle　and　couldn't　travel。〃
　
　〃Too　bad。　It　would　be　nice　to　see　him。　Well；　it's　been　a　long　time　since　I　had　pany；　but　that's　no　excuse　for　being　a　poor　host。　Please　e　ashore。　You　must　be　very　hot　and　thirsty。〃
　
　Paul　and　Gamay　exchanged　glances　that　said；　Okay；　but　be　careful；　and　stepped　off　the　boat。　Gamay　slung　the　bag　with　the　gun　in　it　over　her　shoulder；　and　they　started　toward　the　cluster　of　huts　arranged　in　a　semicircle　at　the　top　of　a　rise。　Dieter　yelled　in　another　language；　and　each　hut　disgorged　a　load　of　Indian　men；　women；　and　children。　They　came　out　timidly　and　stood　at　silent　attention。　Dieter　gave　another　mand；　and　they　began　to　go　about　their　tasks。　Paul　and　Gamay　glanced　at　each　other　again。　Dieter　did　not　suggest　in　this　village；　he　manded。
　
　An　Indian　woman　in　her　twenties　came　out　of　the　largest　hut；　her　head　bowed。　Unlike　the　other　women；　who　were　dressed　only　in　loincloths；　she　had　a　red　sarong　of　machine…loomed　fabric　wrapped　around　her　shapely　body。　Dieter　growled　an　order；　and　she　disappeared　into　the　hut。
　
　A　thatched　roof　stood　in　front　of　the　hut　on　four　poles。　The　roof　shaded　a　rough…cut　wooden　table　and　stools　carved　from　stumps。　Dieter　gestured　toward　the　stools；　sat　in　one　himself；　and　removed　his　straw　hat。　He　mopped　his　sweating　head　with　his　handkerchief　and　snapped　an　order　at　the　open　door　of　the　hut。
　
　The　woman　came　out　carrying　a　tray　with　three　mugs　made　from　sections　of　hollowed　tree　limbs。　She　set　the　mugs　down　and　stood　respectfully　a　few　paces　away　with　her　head　still　lowered。
　
　Dieter　raised　his　mug。　〃Here's　to　meeting　new　friends。〃　There　was　a　distinct　clinking　as　he　swished　the　contents　of　his　mug。　〃That's　right；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　hearing　the　beautiful　sound　of　ice　cubes。　You　can　thank　the　wonders　of　modern　science　for　allowing　me　to　have　a　portable　gas…powered　ice　maker。　There　is　no　need　to　live　like　these　brown…skinned　Adams　and　Eves。〃　He　slurped　half　his　glass　down　in　a　single　gulp。
　
　Paul　and　Gamay　took　tentative　sips　and　found　the　drinks　cool；　refreshing；　and　strong。　Gamay　looked　around　the　settlement。　〃Dr。　Ramirez　said　that　you're　a　trader。　What　sort　of　goods　do　you　trade？〃
　
　〃I　realize　that　to　an　outsider　this　must　look　like　a　poor　place；　but　these　simple　people　are　capable　of　artistic　work　that　is　quite　sophisticated。　I　give　them　my　services　as　a　middleman　in　marketing　their　crafts　to　gift　shops　and　the　like。〃
　
　From　the　impoverished　appearance　of　the　village　the　middle　man　must　take　the　lion's　share　of　the　money；　Gamay　guessed。　She　made　a　show　of　looking　around。　〃We　also　understand　that　you　are　married。　Is　your　wife　away？〃
　
　Paul　hid　his　smile　behind　the　mug。　Gamay　was　very　much　aware　that　the　native　woman　was　Dieter's　wife　and　she　didn't　like　the　way　the　Dutchman　treated　her。
　
　Dieter　flushed；　then　called　the　woman　ov