cussler.blueandgold-第42章

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　〃The　water　wheel　is　as　good　as　anything　I've　seen　in　the　old　industrial　towns　in　New　England；〃　Paul　said；　stopping　in　front　of　a　hut　no　bigger　than　a　one…car　garage。　〃But　I　am　really　impressed　with　the　plumbing　in　these　public　modes。　Back　where　I　e　from　they　used　outhouses　right　into　the　twentieth　century。〃
　
　〃I'm　particularly　proud　of　the　public　water　closets；〃　she　said　as　they　continued　their　tour。　〃When　I　finally　admitted　to　myself　that　my　desalination　process　would　never　see　the　light　of　day；　I　turned　my　efforts　to　improving　the　life　of　these　wretched　savages。　They　lived　at　a　Stone　Age　level。　Their　hygiene　was　pitiful。　Mothers　routinely　died　in　childbirth。　The　infant　mortality　rate　was　incredible。　The　adults　were　the　targets　of　every　parasite　that　grows　in　the　rain　forest。　Their　traditional　medicinal　plants　were　simply　overwhelmed。　Diet　was　of　little　nutrition。　Producing　a　clean　and　reliable　water　flow　not　only　protected　the　people　from　their　usual　ailments；　but　it　allowed　them　to　grow　the　crops　that　would　keep　them　healthy。〃
　
　〃We　were　wondering　whether　your　talents　extended　to　surgery；〃　Gamay　said。　〃Tessa's　brother　had　a　peculiar　scar　on　his　body。〃
　
　She　clapped　her　hands　like　a　delighted　child。　〃Oh；　the　appendectomy！　He　would　have　died　if　I　hadn't　acted。　My　training　
　was　limited　to　first　aid。　I　had　the　Chulo　pharmacology　to　thank。　They　dip　their　blowgun　darts　in　the　sap　from　a　plant。　They　use　it　to　paralyze　game；　but　even　a　small　amount　can　incapacitate　a　human。　I　smeared　it　on　a　large　leaf　and　placed　it　on　the　skin。　It　functioned　as　a　local　anesthetic。　The　stitches　used　to　close　the　wound　were　made　with　fibers　from　another　plant　that　seems　to　resist　infection。　The　knife　had　an　obsidian　point；　sharper　than　a　scalpel。　Nothing　high…tech；　I'm　afraid。〃
　
　〃I　wish　I　could　say　the　same　for　those　weapons　your　guards　are　carrying；〃　Paul　said；　eyeing　the　steel　tips　of　the　short　throwing　spears　their　guards　carried。　Each　man　also　carried　a　bow　and　a　quiver　of　long…shafted　arrows。
　
　〃Those　bows　and　spear　tips　were　made　with　aluminum　from　the　plane。　The　shortened　bow　is　easier　to　carry　through　the　forest；　and　the　design　makes　the　arrow　fly　farther。〃
　
　〃If　Arnaud　and　his　men　were　still　alive　they　could　vouch　for　their　effectiveness；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃I'm　truly　sorry　about　those　men；　but　they　brought　their　fate　upon　themselves。　The　Chulo　are　a　paratively　small　tribe；　and　they've　always　preferred　flight　to　fight。　Oh；　they'll　shrink　a　head　or　eat　an　enemy；　but　they　rarely　go　out　and　catch　someone　in　a　raid。　They　just　want　to　be　left　alone。　The　white　man　drove　them　further　into　the　forest。　They　thought　they　were　safe　once　they　went　beyond　the　Great　Falls；　but　white　exploiters　continued　to　press　them。　They　would　have　been　destroyed　if　I　hadn't　helped　them　improve　their　defenses。〃
　
　〃I've　been　noticing　the　arrangement　of　the　village；〃　Gamay　said。　〃The　layout　reminds　me　of　the　architecture　I've　seen　in　old　walled　cities。〃
　
　〃Very　perceptive。　Anyone　who　got　past　the　stockade　fence　would　be　in　a　most　unfortable　position。　The　village　is　full　of　cul…de…sacs　and　blind　alleys　that　offer　prime　opportunities　for　ambush。〃
　
　〃What　if　the　intruders　were　ing　to　rescue　you？〃　Paul　said。　〃Wouldn't　these　preparations　be　self…defeating？〃
　
　〃I　gave　up　hope　of　rescue　a　long　time　ago。　My　father　would　have　made　sure　search　parties　scoured　the　forest。　He　must　have　bee　convinced　that　I　was　dead；　which　is　just　as　well。　Three　men　died　in　the　plane　crash；　and　the　tribal　chief　was　killed　be　cause　of　me。　I　wouldn't　want　to　be　responsible　for　additional　deaths。〃
　
　〃It's　ironic；〃　Gamay　mused。　〃The　more　you　do　for　these　people；　the　less　likely　they　are　to　release　you。〃
　
　〃True；　but　they　would　have　kept　me　captive　even　if　I　just　sat　around　making　goddess　sounds　and　getting　fat。　As　long　as　I　had　to　be　here；　it　would　have　been　sinful　not　to　use　my　talents　to　improve　their　lot。　When　white　men　finally　e；　I　hope　the　Chulo　will　use　their　knowledge　rather　than　their　arms　to　deal　with　civilization's　impact。　Unfortunately　in　the　meantime　I　have　little　control　of　the　tribe's　more　murderous　instincts。　Once　Arnaud　and　his　friends　showed　hostile　intent　they　were　doomed。　There　was　no　way　I　could　save　them。　In　your　case　it　was　easier。　You　were　so　helpless　in　the　forest；　they　never　saw　you　as　a　threat　until　now。〃
　
　Gamay's　ears　perked　up。　〃A　threat？〃
　
　〃Try　not　to　look　alarmed；〃　Francesca　said。　A　smile　played　on　her　lips；　but　her　eyes　were　deadly　serious。　〃They　don't　under　stand　what　we're　saying；　but　they　sense　things。〃　She　stopped　to　demonstrate　a　water　pipe　that　served　as　a　fire　hydrant；　then　resumed　her　casual　walk。　〃They're　worried。　They　think　you　are　flawed　gods。〃
　
　〃If　we're　so　insignificant；　why　are　they　concerned？〃　Gamay　
　
　　〃They're　afraid　you're　here　to　take　me　back　into　the　sky　where　I　came　from。〃
　
　〃They　told　you　that？〃
　
　〃They　don't　have　to。　I　know　these　people　intimately。　In　addition；　Tessa's　been　picking　up　whisperings。　They're　talking　about　burning　you。　The　smoke　from　your　bodies　will　take　you　back　into　the　sky。　Problem　solved。〃
　
　Paul　ventured　a　sidelong　glance　at　the　guards；　but　he　failed　to　detect　any　change　in　their　stony　expressions。　
　
　　〃I　can't　argue　with　their　logic；　but　that　solves　the　problem　for　them；　not　for　us；〃　he　said。
　
　〃I　agree。　It　makes　it　all　the　more　urgent　that　we　escape　as　soon　as　possible。　e　with　me。　We'll　be　able　to　talk　about　a　plan　without　the　palace　guard　peering　over　our　shoulders。〃
　
　They　had　arrived　at　the　white　stone　walkway　that　led　through　the　forest　to　the　shrine。　With　the　Trouts　following；　Francesca　walked　to　the　circular　clearing　with　the　plane　at　its　center　and　sat　down　on　a　polished　wooden　bench　facing　the　nose　of　the　Learjet。　The　Trouts　sat　cross…legged　on　the　tiled　ground。
　
　〃I　e　here　to　be　alone。　Only　the　priests　are　allowed　at　the　shrine　otherwise。　The　warriors　will　be　in　the　forest　watching　our　every　move；　but　we'll　be　able　to　talk　about　our　escape　plans。〃
　
　Gamay　glanced　toward　the　jungle　where　the　warriors　had　melted　out　of　sight。
　
　〃I　hope　you've　got　something　up　your　sleeve；　because　we　don't；〃　she　said。
　
　〃Your　original　instincts　were　on　the　mark。　Our　only　way　out　is　by　water。　Up　the　tributary　and　canal　t0　the　lake；　then　follow　the　main　river。　We　would　never　make　it　through　the　forest。　They　would　catch　us　in　an　instant；　or　we'd　bee　lost。〃
　
　〃I've　seen　your　boys　handle　a　canoe；〃　Paul　said。　〃We'd　need　a　substantial　jump　on　them。〃
　
　〃We　would　have　a　few　hours。　But　they　are　skilled　and　strong　paddlers。　They　would　be　getting　their　strength　just　as　we　were　tiring。〃
　
　〃What　would　they　do　if　they　caught　us？〃　Paul　asked。　〃Theoretically　speaking。〃
　
　〃No　theory　about　it；〃　Francesca　said。　〃They　would　kill　us。〃
　
　〃Even　you；　their　goddess？〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃Leaving　them　would　constitute　a　demotion　in　my　status；　I'm　afraid。　My　head　would　be　up　there　on　the　stockade　fence　along　with　yours。〃
　
　Paul　involuntarily　rubbed　his　neck。
　
　All　at　once　they　were　no　longer　alone。　An　Indian　had　stepped　
　into　the　clearing　followed　by　eight　armed　warriors。　He　was　taller　than　the　other　Chulo　by　a　few　inches；　and　unlike　the　flat　facial　features　typical　in　the　tribe；　his　profile　was　almost　Roman。　His　muscular　body　was　painted　red　rather　than　blue　and　white。　He　stepped　over　to　Francesca　and　spoke；　gesturing　from　time　to　time　at　the　Trouts。　Francesca　stood　like　a　rearing　cobra　and　cut　him　short　with　a　dagger…sharp　reply。　He　glared　at　her；　then　bowed　his　head　slightly。　His　panions　followed　suit。　They　backed　up　several　steps；　turned；　and　quickly　strode　away　from　the　shrine。　Francesca　watched　them　go；　her　eyes　blazing　with　heat。　〃This　is　not　good；〃　she　said。　〃Who　were　those　people？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃The　tall　man　is　the　son　of　the　chief　I　killed　in　the　plane　crash。　I　have　named　him　Alaric　after　the　Visigoth　king。　He's　quite　intelligent　and　a　natural　leader；　but　he　tends　to　be　a　bully。　He　would　like　to　depose　me　and　has　gathered　a　group　of　young　Turks　around　him。　The　fact　that　he　set　foot　on　the　forbidden　shrine　shows　that　he　has　bee　bolder。　He　is　obviously　exploiting　the　questions　raised　by