p&c.thunderhead-第18部分

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　Beside　her；　Swire　frowned　out　the　window。　They　had　talked　horses　most　of　the　trip；　and　Nora　had　e　to　respect　the　cowboy。　〃I　don't　know　how　these　horses　are　going　to　like　floating　on　a　barge；〃　he　said。　〃We　might　have　ourselves　a　surprise　swimming　party。〃　
　〃We'll　be　able　to　drive　the　trailers　right　onto　the　barge　and　unhook　them；〃　Nora　replied。　〃They　never　have　to　be　unloaded。〃　
　〃Until　the　far　side；　you　mean。〃　Swire　fingered　the　heavy　mustache　that　drooped　beneath　his　nose。　〃Don't　see　any　sign　of　that　Sloane　gal；　do　you？〃　
　Nora　shrugged。　Sloane　Goddard　was　supposed　to　fly　directly　into　Page　and　meet　them　at　the　marina；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　any　Seven　Sisters　sorority　types　among　the　fleshy；　beer…bellied　throngs　milling　around　the　docks。　Perhaps　she　was　waiting　in　the　air…conditioned　fastness　of　the　manager's　office。　
　The　two　trailers　pulled　up　on　the　vast　cement　apron　of　West　Boatramp。　The　van　and　the　pickup　came　up　behind　and　the　pany　emerged　into　the　sweltering　heat；　followed　by　the　four　Institute　employees　who　would　drive　the　vehicles　back　to　Santa　Fe。　
　Down　here　near　the　water；　Nora　could　see　Wahweap　Marina　in　all　its　glory。　Styrofoam　cups；　beer　cans；　plastic　bags；　and　floating　pieces　of　newspaper　bobbed　in　the　brown　shallows　at　the　bottom　of　the　boatramp。　SKI　ONLY　IN　CLOCKWISE　DIRECTION　read　one　sign　and　nearby　was　another：　LET'S　ALL　HAVE　FUN　TOGETHER！　Endless　ranks　of　moored　houseboats　lined　the　shore　in　either　direction；　enormous　floating　metal…sided　RVs。　They　were　painted　in　garish　colors…motel　greens　and　yellows；　polyester　browns…and　sported　names　like　Li'l　Injun　and　Dad's　Desire。　
　〃What　a　place；〃　Holroyd　said；　stretching　and　looking　around。　
　〃It's　so　hot；〃　Black　said；　wiping　his　brow。　
　As　Swire　went　to　help　back　the　horsetrailers　around；　Nora　noticed　an　incongruous　sight：　a　black　stretch　limousine　flying　down　the　parking　lot　toward　the　docks。　The　crowds　noticed　it　too；　and　there　was　a　small　stir。　For　a　moment；　Nora's　heart　sank。　Not　Sloane　Goddard；　she　thought；　not　in　a　limo。　She　was　relieved　when　the　car　came　to　a　halt　and　a　tall　young　man　tumbled　rather　awkwardly　out　of　the　back；　straightened　up　his　skinny　frame；　and　took　in　the　marina　through　dark　Ray…Bans。　
　Nora　found　herself　staring　at　him。　He　was　not　particularly　handsome；　but　there　was　something　striking　in　the　high　cheekbones；　aquiline　nose；　and　especially　in　the　bemused；　confident　way　he　surveyed　the　scene　before　him。　His　soft　brown　hair　was　wild；　sticking　out　every　which　way；　as　if　he　had　just　climbed　out　of　bed。　Who　in　the　world　can　he　be？　she　wondered。　
　Several　teenagers　in　the　crowd　instinctively　moved　toward　him；　and　soon　a　crowd　gathered。　Nora　could　see　the　man　was　talking　animatedly。　
　Black　followed　her　stare。　〃Wonder　who　that　guy　is？〃　he　asked。　
　Tearing　her　glance　away；　Nora　left　the　group　to　gather　up　their　gear　and　went　in　search　of　Ricky　Briggs；　one　of　the　marina's　managers。　Her　route　to　the　marina　headquarters　took　her　past　the　limo；　and　she　paused　at　the　edge　of　the　crowd；　intrigued；　glancing　again　at　the　man。　He　was　dressed　in　starchy　new　jeans；　a　red　bandanna；　and　expensive　alligator　cowboy　boots。　She　could　barely　hear　his　voice　over　the　hubbub　of　the　crowd；　making　ments　while　he　waved　a　paperback　book　in　one　hand。　As　she　watched；　he　scribbled　an　autograph　in　it；　then　handed　it　to　a　particularly　ripe…looking　girl　in　a　string　bikini。　The　small　crowd　laughed　and　chattered　and　clamored　for　more　books。　
　Nora　turned　to　a　woman　standing　at　the　fringe　of　the　crowd。　〃Who　is　he？〃　
　〃Dunno；〃　the　woman　said；　〃but　he's　gotta　be　famous。〃　
　As　she　was　about　to　walk　on；　Nora　heard；　quite　distinctly；　the　words　Nora　Kelly。　She　stopped。　
　〃It's　a　confidential　project；〃　the　man　was　saying　in　a　nasal　voice。　〃I　can't　talk　about　it；　but　you'll　read　about　it　soon　enough…〃　
　Nora　began　pushing　through　the　crowd。　
　〃…in　the　New　York　Times　and　in　book　form…〃　
　She　elbowed　past　a　heavyset　man　in　flowered　trunks。　
　〃…a　fantastic　expedition　to　the　farthest　corner　of…〃　
　〃Hey！〃　Nora　cried；　bursting　through　the　last　of　the　crowd。　The　young　man　looked　down　at　her；　surprise　and　consternation　on　his　face。　Then　he　broke　into　a　smile。　〃You　must　be…〃　
　She　grabbed　his　hand　and　began　pulling　him　through　the　crowd。　
　〃My　luggage…〃　he　said。　
　〃Just　shut　the　hell　up；〃　she　retorted；　dragging　him　through　the　stragglers　at　the　edge　of　the　crowd；　who　parted　before　her　fury。　
　〃Just　hold　on　a　minute…〃　the　man　began。　
　Nora　continued　to　pull　him　across　the　tarmac　toward　the　horse　trailers；　leaving　the　perplexed　crowd　behind　to　disperse。　
　〃I'm　Bill　Smithback；〃　the　man　said；　trying　to　extend　his　hand　as　he　skipped　alongside　of　her。　
　〃I　know　who　you　are。　Just　what　the　hell　do　you　mean；　making　a　spectacle　of　yourself？〃　
　〃A　little　advance　publicity　never　hurt…〃　
　〃Publicity！〃　Nora　cried。　She　stopped　at　the　horse　trailer　and　faced　him；　breathing　hard。　
　〃Did　I　do　something　wrong？〃　Smithback　said；　looking　innocent；　and　holding　a　book　up　to　his　chest　like　a　shield。　
　〃Wrong？　You　arrive　here　in　a　limo；　like　some　kind　of　movie　star…〃　
　〃I　got　it　cheap　at　the　airport。　And　besides；　it's　hot　as　hell　out　here：　limos　have　excellent　air　conditioning…〃　
　〃This　expedition；〃　Nora　interrupted；　〃is　supposed　to　be　confidential。〃　
　〃But　I　didn't　reveal　anything；〃　he　protested。　〃I　just　signed　a　few　books。〃　
　Nora　felt　herself　beginning　to　boil　over。　〃You　may　not　have　told　them　where　Quivira　is；　but　you　sure　as　hell　alerted　them　that　something's　going　on。　I　wanted　to　get　in　and　out　of　here　as　quietly　as　possible。〃　
　〃I　am　here　to　write　a　book；　after　all；　and…〃　
　〃One　more　stunt　like　that　and　there　won't　be　a　book。〃　
　Smithback　fell　silent。　
　Suddenly　Black　appeared　out　of　nowhere　with　an　ingratiating　smile；　hand　extended。　〃Delighted　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Smithback；〃　he　said。　〃Aaron　Black。　I'm　looking　forward　to　working　with　you。〃　
　Smithback　shook　the　proffered　hand。　
　Nora　watched　with　irritation。　She　was　seeing　a　side　of　Black　that　wasn't　obvious　from　the　SAA　meetings。　She　turned　to　Smithback。　〃Go　tell　your　chauffeur　to　bring　your　stuff　and　put　it　with　the　rest。　And　keep　a　low　profile；　okay？〃　
　〃He's　not　exactly　my　chauffeur…〃　
　〃Do　you　understand？〃　
　〃Hey；　does　that　hole　in　your　head　have　an　off　switch？〃　Smithback　asked。　〃Because　it's　getting　a　little　strident　for　my　tender　ears。〃　
　She　glared　at　him。　
　〃Okay！　Okay。　I　understand。〃　
　Nora　watched　as　he　went　shambling　off　toward　the　limousine；　head　drooping　in　mock　embarrassment。　Soon　he　was　back；　carrying　a　large　duffel。　He　slung　it　on　the　pile　and　turned　to　Nora　with　a　grin；　bemused　posure　regained。　〃This　place　is　perfect；〃　he　said；　glancing　around。　〃Central　Station。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　
　〃You　know；〃　he　explained；　〃Central　Station。　That　squalid　little　spot　in　Heart　of　Darkness。　The　last　outpost　of　civilization　where　people　stopped　before　heading　off　into　the　African　interior。〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head　and　walked　toward　a　nearby　plex　of　stuccoed　buildings　overlooking　the　water。　She　found　Ricky　Briggs　ensconced　in　a　messy　office；　a　short；　overweight　man　yelling　into　a　telephone。　〃Goddamned　Texican　assholes；〃　he　said；　slamming　the　phone　into　its　cradle　as　Nora　entered。　He　looked　up；　his　gaze　traveling　slowly　up　and　down　her　body。　Nora　felt　herself　bristling。　〃Well；　now；　what　can　I　do　for　you；　missy？〃　he　asked　in　a　different　tone；　leaning　back　in　the　chair。　
　〃I'm　Nora　Kelly；　from　the　Santa　Fe　Archaeological　Institute；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃You　were　supposed　to　have　a　barge　here　ready　for　us。〃　
　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　he　said；　the　smile　vanishing。　Picking　up　the　phone　again；　he　punched　in　a　number。　〃They're　here；　the　group　with　the　horses。　Bring　the　barge　around。〃　He　replaced　the　phone；　then　turned　and　without　another　word　charged　for　the　door。　As　she　scrambled　to　follow；　she　realized　she　was　showing　a　little　more　bitchiness　than　was　good　for　a　leader　of　an　expedition。　She　wondered　what　it　was　about　Smithback　that　had　suddenly　made　her　flare　up　like　that。　
　Nora　followed　Briggs　around　the　side　of　the　plex　and　down　the　blacktop　to　a　long　floating　dock。　Planting　himself　at　the　edge　of　the　dock；　Briggs　began　yelling　at　the　nearby　boaters　to　clear　away　their　craft。　Then　he　swivelled　toward　Nora。　〃Turn　the　horse　trailers　around　and　back　'em　down　to　the　water。　Unload　the　rest　of　your　gear　and　line　it　up　on　the　dock。〃　
　After　Nora　gave　the　orders；　Swire　came　around　and　jerked　his　head　in　the　direction　of　Smithback。　〃Who's　the　mail…order　cowboy？〃　he　asked。　
　〃He's　our　journalist；〃　said　Nora。　
　Swire　fingered　his　mustache　thoughtfully。　〃Journalist？〃　
　〃It　was　Goddard's　idea；〃　said　Nora。　〃He　thinks　we　need　someone　along　to　write　up　the　discovery。〃　She　stifled　the　ment　that　was　about　to　e；　it　would　do　no　good　to　badmouth　either　Goddard　or　Smithback。　It　puzzled　her　that　Goddard；　who　had　chosen　so　well　with　the　rest　of　the　expedition　personnel；　had　picked　someone　like　Smithback。　She　watched　him　hefting　gear；　his　lean　arms　rippling　with　the　effort；　and　felt　a　fresh　stab　of　irritation。　I　go　to　all　this　trouble　to　keep　things　quiet；　she　thought；　and　then　this　smug　jerk　es　along。　
　As　Nora　returned　to　the　ramp　to　help　guide　the　trailers；　a　great　barge　hove　into　view；　davits　str