p&c.thunderhead-第13部分

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　〃Ernest；　how　delightful；〃　she　said。　
　〃Wonderful　to　see　you；　Lily；〃　Goddard　replied。　He　waved　a　spotted　hand　at　Nora。　〃This　is　Dr。　Nora　Kelly；　an　assistant　professor　here　at　the　Institute。〃　
　The　woman　glanced　from　Nora　to　the　worktable。　〃Ah；　very　good。　These　are　the　pots　I　told　you　about。〃　
　Goddard　nodded。　
　〃My　appraiser　says　they're　worth　five　hundred　thousand　if　they're　worth　a　penny。　Extremely　rare；　he　said；　and　in　perfect　condition。　Harry　collected　them；　you　know。　He　wanted　the　Institute　to　have　them　when　he　died。〃　
　〃They're　very　nice…〃　
　〃I　should　say　they　are！〃　the　woman　interrupted；　patting　her　impeccable　hair。　〃Now　about　their　display。　I　realize；　of　course；　that　the　Institute　doesn't　have　a　formal　museum　or　anything　of　that　sort。　But　in　light　of　the　value　of　these　pots；　obviously　you'll　want　to　create　something　special。　In　the　administration　building；　I　imagine。　I've　spoken　to　Simmons；　my　architect；　and　he's　drawn　up　plans　for　something　we're　calling　the　Henigsbaugh　Alcove…〃　
　〃Lily。〃　Goddard's　whispery　voice　assumed　a　very　subtle　edge　of　mand。　〃As　I　was　about　to　say；　we're　deeply　appreciative　of　your　late　husband's　bequest。　But　I'm　afraid　we　can't　accept　it。〃　
　There　was　a　silence。　
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　Mrs。　Henigsbaugh　asked；　her　voice　suddenly　cold。　
　Goddard　waved　his　handkerchief　at　the　worktable。　〃These　bowls　came　from　graves。　We　can't　take　them。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean；　from　graves？　Harry　bought　the　pots　from　reputable　dealers。　Didn't　you　get　the　papers　I　sent　along？　There's　nothing　about　graves　in　them。〃　
　〃The　papers　are　irrelevant。　Our　policy　is　not　to　accept　grave　goods。　Besides；〃　Goddard　added　more　gently；　〃these　are　very　beautiful；　it's　true；　and　we're　honored　by　the　gesture。　But　we　have　better　examples　in　the　collection。〃　
　Better　examples？　thought　Nora。　She　had　never　seen　finer　Mimbres　bowls；　not　even　in　the　Smithsonian。　
　But　Mrs。　Henigsbaugh　was　still　digesting　the　grosser　insult。　〃Grave　goods！　How　dare　you　insinuate　they　were　looted…〃　
　Goddard　picked　up　a　bowl　and　poked　one　finger　through　the　hole　in　its　bottom。　〃This　pot　has　been　killed。〃　
　〃Killed？〃　
　〃Yes。　When　the　Mimbres　buried　a　pot　with　their　dead；　they　punched　a　hole　in　the　bottom　to　release　the　spirit　of　the　pot；　so　it　could　join　the　deceased　in　the　underworld。　Archaeologists　call　it　killing　the　pot。〃　He　replaced　the　bowl　on　the　table。　〃All　these　pots　have　been　killed。　So　you　see　they　must　have　e　from　graves；　no　matter　what　the　provenience　says。〃　
　〃You　mean　you're　going　to　turn　down　a　half…million…dollar　gift；　just　like　that？〃　the　woman　cried。　
　〃I'm　afraid　so。　I'll　have　them　carefully　crated　and　returned　to　you。〃　He　coughed　into　his　handkerchief。　〃I'm　very　sorry；　Lily。〃　
　〃I'm　sure　you　are。〃　The　woman　spun　around　and　left　the　office　abruptly；　leaving　a　faint　cloud　of　expensive　perfume　in　her　wake。　
　In　the　silence　that　followed；　Goddard　settled　onto　the　edge　of　the　table；　a　thoughtful　look　on　his　face。　〃You're　familiar　with　Mimbres　pottery？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Yes；〃　Nora　replied。　She　still　could　not　believe　he　had　turned　down　the　gift。　
　〃What　do　you　think？〃　
　〃Other　institutions　have　killed　Mimbres　pots　in　their　collections。〃　
　〃We　are　not　other　institutions；〃　Goddard　replied　in　his　soft　whisper。　〃These　pots　were　buried　by　people　who　respected　their　dead；　and　we　have　an　obligation　to　continue　that　respect。　I　doubt　Mrs。　Henigsbaugh　would　approve　of　us　digging　up　her　dear　departed　Harry。〃　He　settled　into　a　chair　behind　the　worktable。　〃I　had　a　visit　from　Dr。　Blakewood　the　other　day；　Nora。〃　
　She　stiffened。　This　was　it；　then。　
　〃He　mentioned　that　you　were　behind　in　your　projects；　and　that　he　felt　your　tenure　review　might　go　poorly。　Care　to　tell　me　about　it？〃　
　〃There's　nothing　to　tell；〃　Nora　said。　〃I'll　submit　my　resignation　whenever。〃　
　To　her　surprise；　Goddard　grinned　at　this。　〃Resignation？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　on　earth　would　you　want　to　resign？〃　
　She　cleared　her　throat。　〃There's　no　way；　in　six　months；　I'm　going　to　be　able　to　write　up　the　Rio　Puerco　and　Gallegos　Divide　projects；　and…〃　She　stopped。　
　〃And　what？〃　Goddard　asked。　
　〃Do　what　I　need　to　do；〃　she　finished。　〃So　I　might　as　well　resign　now；　and　save　you　the　trouble。〃　
　〃I　see。〃　Goddard's　glittering　eyes　never　left　hers。　〃Do　what　you　need　to　do；　you　say。　Might　that　be　searching　for　the　lost　city　of　Quivira？〃　
　Nora　looked　sharply　at　him；　and　once　again　the　chairman　grinned。　〃Oh；　yes。　Blakewood　mentioned　that；　too。〃　
　Nora　remained　silent。　
　〃He　also　mentioned　your　sudden　absence　from　the　Institute。　Did　it　have　something　to　do　with　this　idea　of　yours；　this　search　for　Quivira？〃　
　〃I　was　in　California。〃　
　〃I　should　have　thought　Quivira　was　somewhat　east　of　there。〃　
　Nora　sighed。　〃What　I　did　was　on　my　own　time。〃　
　〃Dr。　Blakewood　didn't　think　so。　Did　you　find　Quivira？〃　
　〃In　a　way；　yes。〃　
　There　was　a　silence　in　the　room。　Nora　looked　at　Goddard's　face。　The　grin　was　suddenly　gone。　
　〃Would　you　care　to　explain？〃　
　〃No；〃　said　Nora。　
　Goddard's　surprise　lasted　only　for　a　moment。　〃Why　not？〃　
　〃Because　this　is　my　project；〃　Nora　said　truculently。　
　〃I　see。〃　Goddard　eased　himself　off　the　table　and　leaned　toward　Nora。　〃The　Institute　might　be　able　to　help　you　and　your　project。　Now　tell　me：　what　did　you　find　in　California？〃　
　Nora　moved　in　her　chair；　considering。　〃I　have　some　radar　images　that　show　an　ancient　Anasazi　road　leading　to　what　I　believe　is　Quivira。〃　
　〃Do　you　indeed？〃　Goddard's　face　expressed　both　astonishment　and　something　else。　〃And　just　where　did　these　images　e　from？〃　
　〃I　have　a　contact　inside　the　Jet　Propulsion　Laboratory。　He　was　able　to　digitally　manipulate　radar　images　of　the　area；　canceling　out　the　modern　tracks　and　leaving　the　ancient　road。　It　leads　straight　into　the　heart　of　the　redrock　country　mentioned　in　the　early　Spanish　accounts。〃　
　Goddard　nodded；　his　face　curious　and　expectant。　〃This　is　extraordinary；〃　he　said。　〃Nora；　you're　a　woman　of　many　surprises。〃　
　Nora　said　nothing。　
　〃Of　course；　Dr。　Blakewood　had　reasons　to　say　what　he　did。　But　perhaps　he　spoke　a　little　precipitously。〃　He　placed　a　hand　lightly　on　her　shoulder。　〃What　if　we　make　this　search　for　Quivira　our　project？〃　
　Nora　paused。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　understand。〃　
　Goddard　withdrew　his　hand；　stood　up；　and　walked　slowly　around　the　room；　looking　away　from　her。　〃What　if　the　Institute　were　to　fund　this　expedition　of　yours；　roll　back　your　tenure　review？　How　would　that　sound？〃　
　Nora　gazed　at　the　man's　narrow　back；　absorbing　what　he　had　just　said。　〃That　would　sound　unlikely；　if　you　don't　mind　my　saying　so；〃　she　answered。　
　Goddard　began　to　laugh；　only　to　be　cut　short　by　a　series　of　coughs。　He　returned　to　the　worktable。　〃Blakewood　told　me　about　your　theories；　about　your　father's　letter。　Some　of　the　things　he　said　were　less　than　generous。　But　it　happens　that　I；　too；　have　long　wondered　about　Quivira。　No　less　than　three　early　Spanish　explorers　in　the　Southwest　heard　these　stories　about　a　fabulous　golden　city：　Cabeza　de　Vaca　in　the　1530s；　Fray　Marcos　in　1538；　and　Coronado　in　1540。　Their　stories　are　too　similar　to　be　fiction。　And　then　in　the　1770s；　and　again　in　the　1830s；　more　people　came　out　of　that　wilderness；　claiming　to　have　heard　of　a　lost　city。〃　He　looked　up　at　her。　〃There's　never　been　a　question　in　my　mind　that　Quivira　existed。　The　question　was　always　exactly　where。〃　
　He　circled　the　table　and　came　to　rest　on　its　corner　once　more。　〃I　knew　your　father；　Nora。　If　he　said　he　found　evidence　for　this　lost　city；　I'd　believe　him。〃　
　Nora　bit　her　lip　against　an　unexpected　well　of　emotion。　
　〃I　have　the　means　to　put　the　Institute　squarely　behind　your　expedition。　But　I　need　to　see　the　evidence　first。　The　letter　and　the　data。　If　what　you　say　is　true；　we'll　back　you。〃　
　Nora　placed　a　hand　on　her　portfolio。　She　could　hardly　believe　the　turnaround。　And　yet；　she　had　seen　too　many　young　archaeologists　lose　credit　to　their　older；　more　powerful　colleagues。　〃You　said　this　would　be　our　project。　I'd　still　like　to　keep　it　my　project；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　
　〃Well；　perhaps　I　do　mind。　If　I'm　going　to　fund　this　expedition…through　the　Institute；　of　course…I　would　like　control；　particularly　over　the　personnel。〃　
　〃Who　did　you　envision　leading　the　expedition？〃　she　asked。　
　There　was　the　slightest　of　pauses　while　Goddard　steadily　met　her　gaze。　〃You　would；　of　course。　Aaron　Black　would　go　along　as　the　geochronologist；　and　Enrique　Aragon　as　the　medical　doctor　and　paleopathologist。〃　
　Nora　sat　back；　surprised　at　the　rapidity　with　which　his　mind　worked。　Not　only　was　he　thinking　ahead　to　the　expedition；　but　he　was　already　peopling　it　with　the　best　scientists　in　their　fields。　〃If　you　can　get　them；〃　she　said。　
　〃Oh；　I'm　reasonably　sure　I　can　get　them。　I　know　them　both　very　well。　And　the　discovery　of　Quivira　would　be　a　watershed　in　southwestern　archaeology。　It's　the　kind　of　gamble　an　archaeologist　can't　resist。　And　since　I　can't　go　along　myself〃…he　waved　his　handkerchief　in　explanation…〃I'd　want　to　send　my　daughter　in　my　stead。　She　got　her　undergraduate　degree　from　Smith；　just　took　her　Ph。D。　at　Princeton　in　American　archaeology；　and　she's　anxious　to　do　some　fieldwork。　She's　young；　and　perhaps　a　little　impetuous；　but　she　has　one　of　the　finest　archaeologica