cussler.blueandgold-第33章

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s。　Just　look　in　your　supermarket　if　you　don't　believe　me。　Enrico　used　his　government　connections；　sprinkled　the　bribes　around　to　get　a　piece　of　the　action。〃　He　pushed　the　files　across　the　desk。　〃I　can't　let　this　go　out　of　the　office；　but　you're　wele　to　read　it。〃
　
　Austin　thanked　him　and　took　the　file　into　a　small　conference　room。　He　and　Zavala　sat　on　opposite　sides　of　a　table。　Austin　gave　Joe　the　file　on　the　legal　businesses；　told　him　to　shout　if　he　saw　anything　interesting；　and　begin　to　skim　through　the　other　file。　He　wanted　a　measure　of　the　man　he　might　be　dealing　with。　The　more　he　read；　the　less　he　liked。　He　hadn't　thought　so　much　evil　could　be　poured　into　one　skin。　Enrico　was　responsible　for　hundreds　of　murders；　and　every　one　of　the　executions　had　its　own　grisly　touch。　He　was　glad　when　Zavala　gave　him　the　excuse　to　halt　his　reading。
　
　〃Got　it！〃　Joe　said。　He　rustled　a　couple　of　sheets　of　paper。　〃These　are　background　and　surveillance　reports　on　the　tortilla　factory。　He's　owned　it　a　couple　of　years。　The　FBI　went　down　to　take　a　peek。　Didn't　see　anything　suspicious。　Sounds　like　they　took　the　same　tour　we　did；　except　for　my　little　side　trip。　Report　says　it　seems　like　a　legitimate　operation。〃
　
　〃Nothing　about　the　underwater　facility？〃
　
　Zavala　frowned。　〃Nope。　Not　a　word。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　surprised。　The　installation　could　have　been　floated　in　at　night。〃
　
　〃Plausible。　How　about　your　file？　Did　you　learn　anything？〃
　
　〃Yeah；　that　he's　one　nasty　SOB。　We　still　have　to　talk　to　him。〃
　
　〃Gomez　says　it's　impossible。　Got　any　ideas？〃
　
　〃I　might　have。〃　He　handed　Zavala　a　piece　of　paper　from　his　file。　〃This　is　a　list　of　his　hobbies。　Wine；　women；　racehorses；　gambling；　the　usual　things。　Something　caught　my　eye。〃
　
　Zavala　saw　it　right　away。　〃He　collects　antique　firearms。　Sounds　like　someone　else　I　know。〃
　
　Austin　smiled。　He　was　a　serious　collector　of　dueling　pistols。　The　walls　of　the　old　Potomac　boathouse　where　he　made　his　home　were　covered　with　the　exquisitely　fashioned　instruments　of　death。　He　kept　the　most　valuable　pieces　in　a　vault　and　had　one　of　the　finest　collections　in　the　country。
　
　〃You　remember　the　new　pieces　I　bought　for　my　collection　the　day　before　our　race？　They're　a　fine　pair；　but　they　duplicate　a　brace　I　have。　I　was　planning　to　use　them　in　trade　with　another　collector。〃
　
　Chapter　14
　The　scene　was　so　awe　inspiring　in　its　terrible　beauty　that　Trout　almost　forgot　the　predicament　he　and　Gamay　were　in。　Paul　sat　on　a　rocky　ledge　about　twenty　feet　above　the　lake；　long　legs　dangling　down；　swiveling　his　head　back　and　forth　to　take　in　the　whole　panoramic　sweep。　He　had　to　strain　his　neck　to　see　the　tops　of　the　falls。　Multiple　rainbows　arced　over　the　five　cascades　as　the　sun　caught　the　droplets　of　water　in　the　twisting　vapor　cloud　that　rose　for　hundreds　of　feet。　The　roar　was　like　that　of　a　hundred　distant　loco　motives　at　full　steam。　Trout　wasn't　a　religious　man；　but　if　anything　was　the　Hand　of　God；　he　was　looking　at　it。
　
　A　groan　ended　his　reverie。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Gamay　said　with　a　yawn。　She　was　lying　nearby　in　the　shade　of　a　tree。
　
　〃Thinking　what　a　great　place　this　would　be　to　build　a　hotel。〃
　
　〃Ugh；〃　Gamay　said　with　a　scowl。　She　sat　up　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　her　face。　〃Make　sure　you　have　air　conditioning。〃
　
　It　had　rained　briefly　an　hour　before；　and　the　sun　returned　with　a　vengeance。　Their　perch　was　well　shaded　by　trees　and　bushes；　and　they　slept　for　a　time；　but　there　was　no　way　to　escape　the　suffocating　humidity。　Paul　was　the　first　to　awake。
　
　〃I'll　get　you　some　water；〃　Paul　said。　He　fashioned　a　palm　leaf　into　a　cup；　climbed　down　to　the　lake；　and　scooped　up　water　in　the　makeshift　container。　He　spilled　half　the　contents　bringing　it　to　Gamay；　who　was　trying　to　pick　blades　of　grass　from　her　ratty　looking　hair。　She　guzzled　the　water；　her　eyes　closed　in　bliss；　then　passed　what　was　left　to　Paul。
　
　〃Thanks；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　〃That　was　refreshing。　I　hope　you　won't　mind　if　I　take　a　dip　in　our　water　supply。〃　She　climbed　down　to　the　lake；　plunged　in；　and　swam　out　several　strokes。
　
　Paul　was　thinking　of　joining　Gamay　after　he　had　quenched　his　thirst；　when　a　movement　near　the　river　outlet　caught　his　eye。　He　called　out　a　warning；　but　Gamay　couldn't　hear　him　because　of　the　rumble　of　the　falls。　He　climbed　down；　half　falling；　to　the　water's　edge　and　dove　in。　He　swam　out　to　Gamay；　who　was　peacefully　floating　on　her　back；　and　grabbed　her　by　her　T…shirt。
　
　Gamay　was　startled　at　first；　then　she　laughed。　〃Hey；　this　is　no　time　to　get　playful。〃
　
　〃Hush；〃　he　said。　〃Get　back　to　shore。　Hurry。〃
　
　The　urgency　in　his　voice　was　unmistakable。　Without　a　further　word　Gamay　swam　quickly　to　shore　with　Paul　right　behind　her。　She　started　to　climb　onto　the　ledge。　Paul　pulled　her　down　into　a　bush。　He　held　his　finger　to　his　lips　and　pointed　toward　the　lake。
　
　Gamay　squinted　through　the　leaves　and　tensed　as　the　sun　glinted　off　wet　paddles　and　she　saw　flashes　of　blue　and　white。　Chulo。　Paul　had　seen　the　four　canoes　emerge　from　the　river　into　the　lake。　They　would　have　run　right　into　Gamay。　The　canoes　were　moving　in　single　file。　Each　canoe　held　three　Indians。　Two　were　paddling；　and　the　other　was　riding　shotgun；　his　bow　resting　across　his　lap。　They　seemed　intent　on　where　they　were　going　and　unaware　that　they　were　being　watched。
　
　The　Indians　passed　within　a　few　yards　of　the　hiding　place；　so　close　the　beads　of　sweat　on　their　rippling　muscles　were　clearly　visible。　They　moved　silently　across　the　lake　until　foggy　tendrils　enveloped　them。　An　instant　later　they　disappeared　into　the　vapor　cloud。
　
　〃That　was　some　vanishing　act；〃　Paul　said；　puffing　his　cheeks　out。
　
　〃Now　we　know　why　they're　called　the　People　of　the　Mist；〃　Gamay　said。　
　
　　Using　his　six…foot…eight　height　to　good　advantage；　Paul　stood　cautiously　and　made　sure　there　were　no　stragglers。　〃All　clear；〃　he　said。　〃We'd　better　think　of　getting　out　of　here。　I　still　have　the　Swiss　Army　knife。　Maybe　we　could　fashion　a　raft　with　logs　and　vines　and　float　our　way　out。〃
　
　Gamay　was　staring　toward　the　mists。　〃I　have　a　better　idea。〃　She　paused。　〃It　may　be　a　little　risky。〃
　
　'A　little　risky？〃　Paul　chuckled。　〃Don't　forget　I'm　well　acquainted　with　the　way　your　mind　works。　You're　about　to　suggest　that　we　follow　those　guys　and　steal　a　canoe。〃
　
　〃Why　not？　Look；　this　is　their　home　turf；　so　they　won't　expect　it。　With　all　due　respect　for　your　talents　with　a　Swiss　Army　knife；　I　can't　see　us　fashioning　a　boat　that　will　carry　the　two　of　us　God　knows　how　many　miles　downriver　without　sinking　or　running　into　more　of　those　characters。　It　was　tough　enough　traveling　in　an　airboat。　They　can't　paddle　those　canoes　all　day。　They　must　pull　them　up　somewhere　on　shore。　We　just　find　them；　wait　until　dark；　and　slip　one　away。　They'll　never　even　miss　it；　I　bet。〃
　
　Amusement　crept　into　Paul's　large　hazel　eyes。　〃Do　I　detect　a　hint　of　scientific　curiosity　in　your　proposal？〃
　
　〃Okay；　I　admit　there's　more　here　than　simply　a　matter　of　survival。　Don't　tell　me　you　haven't　wondered　about　this　high…tech　tribe　and　the　talk　of　a　white　goddess。〃
　
　〃I　was　wondering　if　they　have　any　food；〃　Paul　said；　patting　his　stomach。　He　chewed　thoughtfully　on　a　blade　of　grass　〃Seriously；　we're　in　something　of　a　pickle　and　really　don't　have　many　choices。　We　don't　know　where　we　are　and　aren't　sure　how　to　get　out　of　here。　We　have　no　supplies。　As　you　pointed　out；　this　is　their　territory。　I　suggest　that　we　reconnoiter。　We're　strangers　in　a　strange　land。　We　go　slow；　and　if　the　situation　looks　too　dangerous；　we　get　out　in　a　hurry。　〃
　
　〃Agreed；〃　Gamay　said。　〃Now；　as　for　food；　I'm　fresh　out　of　granola　bars。　I've　been　watching　the　birds　eating　the　berries　on　that　bush。　I　don't　see　any　dead　birds；　so　they're　probably　not　poison。〃
　
　〃Berries　it　is；〃　Paul　said。　〃They　can't　be　that　bad。〃　
　
　　Trout　was　wrong。　The　berries　were　so　bitter　it　was　impossible　to　eat　even　one　without　puckering　up。　With　empty　stomachs；　the　Trouts　struck　off　along　the　shore　of　the　lake。　At　one　point　where　the　mud　looked　like　quicksand；　they　climbed　to　higher　ground　and　stumbled　onto　a　footpath。　The　trail　was　overgrown　and　looked　as　if　it　hadn't　seen　any　recen