p&c.thunderhead-第61部分

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catch　them？〃　
　〃No；〃　said　Nora。　〃The　person　you　saw　at　the　top　of　the　ridge　was　an　old　Indian　man　camping　upcountry。〃　
　A　look　of　skepticism　crossed　Swire's　face。　〃An　old　Indian　man？　What　the　hell　was　he　doing　on　top　of　the　ridge？〃　
　〃He　wanted　to　see　who　was　in　the　valley；〃　Nora　replied。　〃He　said　nobody　from　his　village　ever　goes　into　this　valley。〃　
　Swire　sat　silent　a　moment；　his　mouth　working　a　lump　of　tobacco。　〃So　you　followed　the　wrong　tracks；〃　he　said　at　last。　
　〃We　followed　the　only　tracks　up　there。　The　tracks　of　the　man　you　saw。〃　
　In　reply；　Swire　expertly　shot　a　string　of　tobacco　juice　from　his　lips；　forming　a　little　brown　crater　in　the　nearby　sand。　
　〃Roscoe；〃　Nora　went　on；　careful　to　keep　her　tone　even；　〃if　you'd　met　this　man；　you'd　realize　he's　no　horse　killer。〃　
　Swire's　mouth　continued　working。　There　was　a　long；　strained　silence　as　the　two　stared　at　each　other。　Then　Swire　spat　a　second　time。　〃Shit；〃　he　said。　〃I　ain't　saying　you're　right。　But　if　you　are；　it　means　the　bastards　that　killed　my　horses　are　still　around。〃　Then；　without　another　word；　he　spun　his　horse　with　invisible　knee　pressure　and　trotted　back　down　the　creek。　
　Nora　watched　his　receding　back。　Then　she　glanced　over　at　the　writer。　Smithback　merely　shrugged　in　return。　
　As　they　set　off　across　the　valley　toward　the　dark　slot　canyon；　Nora　looked　up。　The　northern　sky　had　grown　lumpy　with　thunderheads。　She　frowned；　normally；　the　summer　rains　weren't　due　for　another　couple　of　weeks。　But　with　a　sky　like　this；　the　rains　could　be　upon　them　as　early　as　that　very　afternoon。　
　She　urged　her　horse　into　a　trot　toward　the　slot　canyon。　Better　get　through　before　the　system　moves　in；　she　thought。　Soon；　they　reached　the　opening。　They　unsaddled　their　horses；　wrapped　and　stowed　the　saddles；　then　turned　the　animals　loose　to　find　the　rest　of　the　herd。　
　It　was　the　work　of　a　long；　wet；　weary　hour　to　toil　through　the　slot　canyon；　the　gear　dead　weight　on　their　backs。　At　last；　Nora　parted　the　hanging　weeds　and　began　walking　down　toward　the　camp。　Smithback　fell　in　step　beside　her；　breathing　hard　and　shaking　mud　and　quicksand　from　his　legs。　
　Suddenly；　Nora　stopped　short。　Something　was　wrong。　The　camp　was　deserted；　the　fire　untended　and　smoking。　Instinctively；　she　looked　up　the　cliff　face　toward　Quivira。　Although　the　city　itself　was　hidden；　she　could　hear　the　faint　sounds　of　loud；　hurried　conversation。　
　Despite　her　weariness；　she　shrugged　the　pack　from　her　back；　jogged　toward　the　base　of　the　rope　ladder；　and　climbed　to　the　city。　As　she　clambered　onto　the　bench；　she　saw　Sloane　and　Black　near　the　city's　central　plaza；　talking　animatedly。　On　the　far　side　of　the　plaza　sat　Bonarotti；　legs　crossed；　watching　them。　
　Sloane　saw　her　approaching　and　broke　away　from　Black。　〃Nora；〃　she　said。　〃We've　been　vandalized。〃　
　Exhausted；　Nora　sank　onto　the　retaining　wall。　〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　she　said。　
　〃It　must　have　happened　during　the　night；〃　Sloane　went　on；　taking　a　seat　beside　her。　〃At　breakfast；　Peter　said　he　wanted　to　go　up　and　check　his　equipment　before　getting　to　work。　I　was　going　to　tell　him　to　take　the　day　off；　actually…he　didn't　look　that　well。　But　he　insisted。　Said　he'd　heard　something　during　the　night。　Anyway；　next　thing　I　know　he　was　calling　down　from　the　top　of　the　cliff。　So　I　went　up　after　him。〃　She　paused。　〃Our　munications　equipment；　Nora　。　。　。　it's　all　been　smashed　to　pieces。〃　
　Nora　looked　over　at　her。　Sloane　was　uncharacteristically　unkempt；　her　eyes　were　red；　her　dark　hair　tousled。　
　〃Everything？〃　Nora　asked。　
　Sloane　nodded。　〃The　transmitter；　the　paging　network…everything　but　the　weather　receiver。　Guess　they　didn't　think　to　look　up　in　that　tree。〃　
　〃Did　anybody　else　see　or　hear　anything？〃　
　Black　glanced　at　Sloane；　then　turned　back　to　Nora。　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　
　〃I've　kept　a　sharp　eye　out　all　day；〃　Sloane　said。　〃I　haven't　seen　anybody；　or　anything。〃　
　〃What　about　Swire？〃　
　〃He　went　out　to　the　horses　before　we　learned　about　it。　I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　ask　him。〃　
　Nora　sighed　deeply。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　Peter　about　this。　Where　is　he　now？〃　
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Sloane　said。　〃He　went　down　the　ladder　from　the　summit　before　I　did。　I　figured　he'd　gone　back　to　his　tent　to　lie　down。　He　was　pretty　upset　and　。　。　。　well；　frankly；　he　wasn't　making　much　sense。　He　was　sobbing。　I　guess　that　equipment　really　meant　a　lot　to　him。〃　
　Nora　stood　up　and　walked　to　the　rope　ladder。　〃Bill！〃　she　shouted　down　into　the　valley。　
　〃Ma'am？〃　the　writer's　voice　floated　up。　
　〃Check　the　tents。　See　if　you　can　find　Holroyd。〃　
　She　waited；　scanning　the　tops　of　the　canyon　walls。　〃Nobody　home；〃　Smithback　called　up　a　few　minutes　later。　
　Nora　returned　to　the　retaining　wall；　shivering　now。　She　realized　she　was　still　wet　from　the　trip　through　the　canyon。　〃Then　he　must　be　in　the　ruin　somewhere；〃　she　said。　
　〃That's　possible；〃　Sloane　replied。　〃He　said　something　yesterday　about　calibrating　the　magnetometer。　Guess　we　lost　track　of　him　in　all　the　confusion。〃　
　〃What　about　the　horse　killers？〃　Black　interrupted。　
　Nora　hesitated　a　moment。　She　decided　there　was　no　point　in　alarming　everybody　with　Beiyoodzin　and　his　story　of　witches。　〃There　was　only　one　set　of　prints　on　the　ridge；　and　they　led　to　the　camp　of　an　old　Indian。　He　clearly　wasn't　the　killer。　Since　our　equipment　was　smashed　last　night；　that　probably　means　the　horse　killers　are　still　around　here　somewhere。〃　
　Black　licked　his　lips。　〃That's　great；〃　he　said。　〃Now　we're　going　to　have　to　post　a　guard。〃　
　Nora　looked　at　her　watch。　〃Let's　find　Peter。　We're　going　to　need　his　help　setting　up　some　kind　of　emergency　transmitter。〃　
　〃I'll　check　the　roomblock　where　he　stashed　the　magnetometer。〃　Sloane　walked　away；　Black　following　in　her　wake。　Bonarotti　came　over　to　Nora　and　drew　out　a　cigarette。　Nora　opened　her　mouth　to　remind　him　that　smoking　wasn't　allowed　in　the　ruin；　but　decided　she　couldn't　summon　up　the　energy。　
　There　was　a　scuffling　noise；　then　Smithback's　shaggy　head　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　rope　ladder。　〃What's　up？〃　he　said；　ing　over　to　the　retaining　wall。　
　〃Somebody　snuck　into　the　valley　last　night；〃　Nora　replied。　〃Our　munications　gear　was　smashed。〃　She　was　interrupted　by　an　urgent　shout　from　within　the　city。　Sloane　had　emerged　from　one　of　the　roomblocks　on　the　far　side　of　the　plaza；　waving　an　arm。　
　〃It's　Peter！〃　her　voice　echoed　across　the　ghostly　city。　〃Something's　wrong！　He's　sick！〃　
　Immediately　Nora　was　on　her　feet。　〃Find　Aragon；〃　she　said　to　Bonarotti。　〃Have　him　bring　his　emergency　medical　kit。〃　Then　she　was　running　across　the　plaza；　Smithback　at　her　side。　
　They　ducked　inside　a　second…story　roomblock　plex　near　the　site　of　the　burial　cyst。　As　Nora's　eyes　grew　accustomed　to　the　dim　light；　she　could　see　Sloane　on　her　knees　beside　Holroyd's　prone　form。　Black　was　standing　well　back；　a　look　of　horror　on　his　face。　Beside　Holroyd　lay　the　magnetometer；　its　case　open；　ponents　scattered　across　the　floor。　
　Nora　gasped　and　knelt　down。　Holroyd's　mouth　was　wide　open；　his　jaw　locked　solid。　His　tongue；　black　and　swollen；　protruded　from　puffy；　glaucous　lips。　His　eyes　were　bulging；　and　a　foul　graveyard　stench　washed　up　from　each　shallow　breath。　A　slight；　thready　gasp　escaped　his　lungs。　
　There　was　movement　in　the　doorway；　then　Aragon　was　beside　her。　〃Hold　my　light；　please；〃　he　said　calmly；　laying　two　canvas　duffels　on　the　floor；　opening　one　of　them；　and　removing　a　light。　〃Dr。　Goddard；　could　you　please　bring　the　fluorescent　lantern？　And　the　rest　of　you；　please　step　outside。〃　
　Nora　trained　the　light　on　Holroyd；　his　eyes　glassy；　pupils　narrowed　to　pinpoints。　〃Peter；　Enrique's　here　to　help　you；〃　she　murmured；　taking　his　hand　in　hers。　〃Everything's　going　to　be　fine。〃　
　Aragon　pressed　his　hands　beneath　Holroyd's　jaw；　probed　his　chest　and　abdomen；　then　pulled　a　stethoscope　and　blood　pressure　cuff　from　the　duffel　and　began　to　check　his　vital　signs。　As　the　doctor　opened　Holroyd's　shirt　and　pressed　the　stethoscope　to　his　chest；　Nora　saw　to　her　horror　a　scattering　of　dark　lesions　across　the　pale　skin。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Nora　said。　
　Aragon　just　shook　his　head　and　shouted　for　Black。　〃I　want　the　rest　of　you　to　get　a　tarp；　ropes；　poles；　anything　we　can　use　for　a　stretcher…and　tell　Bonarotti　to　get　some　water　boiling。〃　
　Aragon　peered　intently　back　into　Holroyd's　face；　then　examined　the　man's　fingertips。　〃He's　cyanotic；〃　he　murmured；　fishing　in　one　of　the　duffels　and　pulling　out　a　slender　oxygen　tank　and　a　pair　of　nasal　cannula。　〃I'll　set　the　flow　at　two　liters；〃　he　said；　handing　the　tank　to　Nora　and　fixing　the　cannula　into　Holroyd's　nostrils。　
　There　was　the　sound　of　feet；　then　Sloane　returned　with　the　lantern。　Suddenly；　the　room　was　bathed　in　chill　greenish　light。　Aragon　pulled　the　stethoscope　from　his　ears　and　looked　up。　
　〃We've　got　to　get　him　down　into　camp；〃　he　said。　〃This　man　needs　to　go　to　a　hospital　immediately。〃　
　Sloane　shook　her　head。　〃The　munications　gear　is　pletely　trashed。　The　only　thing　still　functioning　is　the　weather　receiver。〃　
　〃Can　we　cobble　something　together？〃　Nora　asked。　
　〃Only　Peter　could　answer　that　question；〃　Sloane　replied。　
　〃What　about　the　cell　phone？〃　Aragon　asked。　〃How　far　to　the　nearest　area　of　coverage？〃　
　〃Up　around　Escalante；〃　said　Sloane。　〃Or　back　at　Wahweap　Ma