p&c.thunderhead-第52部分

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anial　features；　variations　in　incisor　shoveling；　point　to　the　two　groups　of　skeletons　as　being　from　entirely　different　populations。　Anasazi　slaves　beneath；　Aztec　rulers　above。　All　the　evidence　I've　found　at　Quivira　demonstrates　one　thing：　a　group　of　Aztecs；　or　rather　their　Toltec　predecessors；　invaded　the　Anasazi　civilization　around　A。D。　950　and　established　themselves　here　as　a　priestly　nobility。　Perhaps　they　were　even　responsible　for　the　great　building　projects　at　Chaco　and　elsewhere。〃　
　〃I've　never　heard　anything　so　ridiculous；〃　Black　said。　〃There's　never　been　any　sign　of　Aztec　influence　on　the　Anasazi；　let　alone　enslavement。　It　goes　against　a　hundred　years　of　scholarship。〃　
　〃Wait；〃　Nora　said。　〃Let's　not　be　too　hasty　to　dismiss　it。　Nobody's　ever　found　a　city　like　this　before。　And　that　theory　would　explain　a　lot　of　things。　The　city's　strange　location；　for　one　thing。　The　annual　pilgrimages　you　discovered。〃　
　〃And　the　concentration　of　wealth；〃　Sloane　added；　in　a　low；　thoughtful　voice。　〃Maybe　trade　with　the　Aztecs　has　been　the　wrong　word　all　along。　These　were　foreign　invaders；　establishing　an　oligarchy；　maintaining　power　through　religious　ritual　and　sacrificial　cannibalism。〃　
　As　Smithback　began　to　ask　a　question；　Nora　heard　a　distant　shout。　In　unison；　the　group　turned　toward　the　sound。　Roscoe　Swire　was　running　down　the　canyon；　bashing　and　stomping　crazily　through　the　brush　as　he　approached　camp。　
　He　came　to　a　frantic　stop　before　them；　still　dripping　wet　from　the　slot　canyon；　breathing　raggedly。　Nora　stared　at　him　in　horror。　Bloody　water　dripped　from　his　hair；　and　his　shirt　was　stained　pink。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked　sharply。　
　〃Our　horses；〃　Swire　said；　gasping　for　air。　〃They've　been　gutted。〃　
　
　
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　NORA　RAISED　HER　HANDS　TO　SILENCE　THE　immediate　explosion　of　talk。　〃Roscoe；〃　she　said；　〃I　want　you　to　tell　us　exactly　what　happened。〃　
　Swire　sat　down　near　the　fire；　still　heaving　from　his　scramble　through　the　slot　canyon；　oblivious　to　a　nasty　gash　on　his　arm　that　was　bleeding　freely。　〃I　got　up　around　three　this　morning；　just　as　usual。　Reached　the　horses　about　four。　The　cavvy　had　drifted　over　to　the　northern　end　of　the　valley…looking　for　grass；　I　figured…but　when　I　reached　them；　I　found　they　were　all　lathered　up。〃　He　stopped　a　moment。　〃I　thought　maybe　a　mountain　lion　had　been　after　them。　A　couple　were　missing。　Then　I　saw　them　。　。　。　what　was　left　of　them；　anyway。　Hoosegow　and　Crow　Bait；　gutted　like　。　。　。〃　His　face　darkened。　〃When　I　catch　the　sons…a…bitches　that　did　this；　I'll…〃　
　〃What　makes　you　think　humans　did　it？〃　Aragon　asked。　
　Swire　shook　his　head。　〃It　was　done　all　scientific。　They　slit　open　the　bellies；　pulled　out　the　guts；　and…〃　He　faltered。　
　〃And？〃　
　〃Sort　of　made　them　into　a　display。〃　
　〃What？〃　Nora　asked　sharply。　
　〃They　unwound　the　guts　and　laid　them　out　in　a　spiral。　There　were　sticks　with　feathers；　shoved　into　the　eyes。〃　He　paused。　〃Other　stuff；　too。〃　
　〃Any　tracks？〃　
　〃No　footprints　that　I　could　see。　Must've　all　been　done　from　the　backs　of　horses。〃　
　At　the　mention　of　the　spirals；　the　feathers　shoved　into　the　eyes；　Nora　had　gone　cold。　〃e　on；〃　she　heard　Smithback　say。　〃Nobody　could　do　all　that　from　the　back　of　a　horse。〃　
　〃There　ain't　no　other　explanation；〃　Swire　snapped。　〃I　told　you；　I　saw　no　footprints。　But　。　。　。〃　He　paused　again。　〃Yesterday　evening；　when　I　was　about　to　leave　the　horses　for　the　night；　I　thought　I　saw　a　rider　atop　the　hogback　ridge。　Man　on　a　horse；　just　standing　there；　looking　down　at　me。〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you　mention　this　before？〃　Nora　asked。　
　〃I　thought　it　was　my　imagination；　a　trick　of　the　setting　sun。　Can't　say　I　expected　to　see　another　horse　atop　that　goddamned　ridge。　Who'd　be　way　the　hell　out　here？〃　
　Who　indeed？　Nora　thought；　desperation　rising　within　her。　Over　the　past　several　days；　she'd　grown　certain　she　had　left　the　strange　apparitions　from　the　ranch　house　far　behind。　Now　that　certainty　was　fading。　Perhaps　they'd　been　followed；　after　all。　But　who　could　have　had　the　skill；　or　the　desperate　resolve；　to　track　them　across　such　a　harsh　and　barren　landscape？　
　〃That's　dry　sandy　country；〃　Swire　was　saying；　the　dark　uncertain　look　replaced　with　a　new　resolve。　〃They　can't　hide　a　track　in　it　forever。　I　just　came　in　here　to　tell　you　I'm　going　after　them。〃　He　stood　up　abruptly　and　went　into　his　tent。　
　In　the　ensuing　silence；　Nora　could　hear　the　rattle　of　metal；　the　sound　of　bullets　being　pushed　into　chambers。　A　moment　later　he　reemerged；　rifle　slung　behind　his　back；　revolver　buckled　around　his　waist。　
　〃Wait　a　minute；　Roscoe；〃　Nora　said。　
　〃Don't　try　to　stop　me；〃　Swire　said。　
　〃You　can't　just　rush　off；〃　she　replied　sharply。　〃Let's　talk　about　this。〃　
　〃Talking　to　you　only　causes　trouble。〃　
　Bonarotti　walked　wordlessly　to　his　cabinet　and　began　loading　a　small　sack　with　food。　
　〃Roscoe；〃　Sloane　said；　〃Nora's　absolutely　right。　You　can't　just　head　off　like…〃　
　〃You　shut　your　mouth。　I'm　not　going　to　have　a　bunch　of　goddamn　women　telling　me　what　to　do　with　my　own　horses。〃　
　〃Well；　how　about　a　goddamn　man；　then；〃　said　Black。　〃This　is　foolhardy。　You　could　get　hurt；　or　worse。〃　
　〃I'm　done　with　discussion；〃　Swire　said；　accepting　the　small　sack　from　Bonarotti；　tying　it　into　his　slicker；　and　throwing　it　over　his　shoulder。　
　As　Nora　watched　him；　her　fear　and　shock　at　this　new　development　suddenly　turned　to　anger：　anger　at　whatever　was　bent　on　disturbing　a　dig　that　had　begun　so　successfully；　anger　at　Swire　for　behaving　so　truculently。　〃Swire；　stand　down！〃　she　bellowed。　
　There　was　a　breathless　hush　in　the　little　valley。　Swire；　momentarily　taken　aback；　turned　to　face　her。　
　〃Now　look；〃　Nora　went　on；　aware　that　her　heart　was　hammering　in　her　rib　cage　and　that　her　tone　was　uneven；　〃we　have　to　think　this　through。　You　can't　just　run　off　without　a　plan　and　go　kill　someone。〃　
　〃I've　got　a　plan；〃　came　the　answer。　〃And　there's　nothing　to　think　about。　I'm　gonna　find　the　bastard　that…〃　
　〃Agreed；〃　Nora　said；　cutting　off　Swire's　words。　〃But　you're　not　the　person　to　do　it。〃　
　〃What？〃　Swire's　expression　turned　to　one　of　scornful　disbelief。　〃And　just　who　else　is　going　to　do　it　for　me？〃　
　〃I　am。〃　
　Swire　opened　his　mouth　to　speak。　
　〃Think　for　a　minute；〃　Nora　went　on　quickly。　〃He；　or　they；　or　whatever；　killed　two　horses。　Not　for　food；　not　for　sport；　but　to　send　a　message。　Doesn't　that　tell　you　something？　What　about　the　rest　of　the　horses？　What　do　you　think　is　going　to　happen　to　them　while　you　set　out　on　your　lynching　party？　Those　are　your　animals。　You're　the　only　person　who　knows　enough　to　keep　them　safe　until　all　this　is　resolved。〃　
　Swire　pursed　his　lips　and　smoothed　a　finger　over　his　mustache。　〃Someone　else　can　watch　the　horses　while　I'm　gone。〃　
　〃Like　who？〃　
　Swire　didn't　answer　for　a　moment。　〃You　don't　know　the　first　thing　about　tracking；〃　he　said。　
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　do。　Anyone　who　grew　up　on　a　ranch　knows　something　about　tracking。　I've　looked　for　plenty　of　lost　cows　in　my　day。　I　may　not　be　in　your　league；　but　you　said　it　yourself：　out　here　in　sandy　country；　there's　no　great　trick　to　it。〃　She　leaned　toward　him。　〃The　fact　is；　if　somebody　has　to　go；　I'm　the　only　choice。　Aaron；　Sloane；　and　Enrique's　work　is　essential　here。　You're　vital　to　the　horses。　Luigi's　our　only　cook。　Peter　isn't　an　experienced　enough　rider。　And　besides；　he's　necessary　for　munications。〃　
　Swire　looked　at　her　appraisingly；　but　remained　silent。　
　Black　turned　to　Nora。　〃This　is　insane。　You；　alone？　You　can't　go；　you're　the　expedition　director。〃　
　〃That's　why　I　can't　ask　anybody　else　to　do　this。〃　Nora　looked　around。　〃I'll　only　be　gone　a　day；　overnight　at　the　most。　Meanwhile；　you；　Sloane；　and　Aragon　can　make　decisions　by　majority　consent。　I'll　find　out　who　did　this；　and　why。〃　
　〃I　think　we　should　simply　call　the　police；〃　Black　said。　〃We　have　a　radio。〃　
　Aragon　burst　out　in　a　sudden；　uncharacteristic　laugh。　〃Call　the　police？　What　police？〃　
　〃Why　not？　We're　still　in　America；　aren't　we？〃　
　〃Are　we？〃　Aragon　murmured。　
　There　was　a　brief　pause。　Then　Smithback　spoke　up；　surprisingly　quiet　and　firm。　〃It's　pretty　obvious　that　she　can't　go　alone。　I'm　the　only　person　who　can　be　spared　from　the　dig。　I'll　go　with　her。〃　
　〃No；〃　Nora　said　automatically。　
　〃Why　not？　The　trash　mound　can　spare　me　for　a　day。　Aaron　over　here　hasn't　been　getting　nearly　enough　exercise　lately。　I'm　not　a　bad　horseman　and；　if　necessary；　I'm　not　a　bad　shot；　either。〃　
　〃There's　something　else　to　think　about；〃　Aragon　said。　〃You　said　these　killings　were　meant　to　send　a　message。　Have　you　thought　about　the　other　possibility？〃　
　Nora　looked　at　him。　〃And　what's　that？〃　
　〃That　the　killings　were　done　to　lure　people　away　from　camp；　where　they　could　be　dealt　with　individually？　Perhaps　this　man　on　the　ridge　showed　himself　to　Swire　deliberately。〃　
　Nora　licked　her　lips。　
　〃Another　reason　for　me　to　go；〃　Smithback　said。　
　〃Now　hold　on；〃　came　the　cold　voice　of　Swire。　〃Aren't　we　forgetting　about　the　Devil's　Backbone？　Three　of　my　horses　are　already　dead；　thanks　to　that　goddamn　ridge。〃　
　Nora　turned　to　him。　〃I've　been　thinking　about　that；〃　she　said。　〃You　said　you　saw　a　rider　atop　the　ridge　the　other　day。　And　obviously；　people　got　into　the　outer　valley　on　horseback　last　night。　There's　no　other　way