p&c.thunderhead-第72部分

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orse　as　the　walls　of　the　benchland　began　caving　in　before　him。　
　From　still　higher　ground；　he　stared　down　at　the　humped　and　gnarled　backside　of　the　tidal　wave　as　it　thundered　down　the　valley　toward　the　dark　slot　canyon　in　the　far　rock　face。　As　the　flood　struck　the　opening　of　the　slot；　he　felt　the　brutal　crash　ripple　beneath　his　feet。　An　enormous　shockwave　shuddered　backward　through　the　torrent；　momentarily　stopping　the　forward　motion　of　the　flood；　atomizing　the　water。　A　vast　curtain　of　brown　spume　erupted　along　the　rock　face；　rising　several　hundred　feet　up　the　cliffs　with　terrifying　speed　before　gradually　falling　back。　
　Now　the　torrent　settled　into　a　new　pattern。　The　floodwaters　continued　to　pile　up　against　the　slot　canyon；　forcing　their　way　in；　creating　an　instant　lake：　a　huge；　angry　maelstrom　of　water　boiling　at　the　canyon's　mouth。　Man…sized　splinters　of　wood　were　thrown　from　the　water　as　the　swirling　trees　were　torn　apart　by　the　violent　pressure。　
　Another　huge　piece　of　benchland　caved　in　before　him。　Shaking；　Beiyoodzin　turned　his　horse　from　the　appalling　scene　and　headed　in　the　direction　of　the　old　Priest's　Trail：　the　back　door　into　the　valley　of　Quivira。　It　had　been　too　late　to　save　the　horses。　And　now　he　wondered　if　anyone…including　himself…would　get　out　of　Chilbah　Valley　alive。　
　
　
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　WITH　THE　HELP　OF　ARAGON　AND　SMITHBACK；　Nora　tied　off　the　ripped　covering　around　Holroyd's　body　bag　and　lashed　it　to　the　pole。　Then　she　stood　back；　wiping　her　brow　with　the　back　of　her　hand。　Although　she　knew　it　had　to　be　done；　she　was　reluctant　to　begin　the　awkward；　arduous；　depressing　task　of　lugging　Holroyd's　body；　along　with　several　drysacks　full　of　gear；　out　to　where　the　packhorses　waited。　
　She　looked　up；　scanning　the　canyon　ahead。　On　the　far　side　of　the　pool　and　well　above　her　head　was　the　massive　cottonwood　trunk。　Beyond　was　a　steep　climb　to　the　next　pool；　it　was　going　to　be　hell；　she　knew；　to　get　across　it。　The　rising　wind　blew　a　strand　of　hair　across　her　face；　which　she　unconsciously　tucked　back　behind　her　ear。　She　took　a　deep　breath；　knelt；　and　grasped　one　end　of　the　pole。　
　Then　she　froze。　There　was　another　breath　of　wind　on　her　cheek；　stronger　this　time。　Along　with　it　came　the　sudden；　strangely　pleasant　scent　of　crushed　vegetation。　
　Fear　sent　blood　surging　in　her　ears。　The　wind　was　accelerating　with　an　almost　machinelike　precision；　very　different　from　a　natural；　intermittent　breeze。　Even　as　she　paused　it　became　stronger。　
　〃Flash　flood；〃　she　said。　
　〃Yeah？〃　The　sky　overhead　was　calm　and　blue；　Smithback's　tone　was　curious；　not　worried。　〃How　can　you　tell？〃　
　But　Nora　didn't　hear　him。　Her　mind　was　calculating　furiously。　They　were　at　least　a　quarter　mile　into　the　slot　canyon。　There　was　no　way　to　get　out　in　time。　Their　only　chance　was　to　climb；　to　get　above　the　level　of　the　flood。　
　Quickly；　she　pointed　up　toward　the　cavity　in　the　rock　where　Holroyd's　corpse　had　been　stored。　〃Drop　the　body；〃　she　said　urgently；　〃drop　everything。　Let's　go！〃　
　Smithback　began　to　protest。　〃We　can't　just…〃　
　〃Move！〃　Aragon　said　urgently；　releasing　the　other　end　of　the　pole。　The　body　slid　into　the　pool；　turning　lazily。　Nora　began　thrashing　through　the　water　downstream；　toward　the　spot　where　the　ledge　angled　upward　to　the　small　cave。　
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Smithback　called；　disbelief　strong　in　his　voice。　〃Shouldn't　we　be　heading　the　other　way？〃　
　〃No　time！〃　she　cried。　〃e　on；　hurry！　Hurry！〃　
　Beneath　the　driving　wind；　Nora　could　now　hear　a　faint　noise：　a　low…frequency　sound；　deep　and　menacing。　The　calm　pools　of　water　in　the　stream　broke　into　a　dancing　chop。　The　hastily　abandoned　drysacks　began　to　bob　and　roll　wildly。　
　She　floundered　across　the　pool；　breath　ing　in　sobs。　The　wind　grew；　and　grew；　and　then　there　was　a　painful　pop　in　her　ears：　a　drastic　change　in　air　pressure。　She　looked　back　at　Smithback　and　Aragon；　wet　and　bedraggled；　and　tried　to　scream　at　them　to　hurry。　Her　voice　was　drowned　by　a　vast；　distorted　roar　that　washed　through　the　slot　canyon；　popping　her　ears　a　second　time。　
　In　its　wake　came　an　intense　silence。　The　wind　had　suddenly　dropped。　
　She　hesitated；　confused；　her　ears　straining　to　catch　every　nuance　of　sound。　From　what　seemed　to　be　a　vast　distance；　she　could　make　out　clatterings　and　crunchings；　strangely　distinct　despite　their　remoteness。　She　whirled　toward　the　ledge　again；　realizing　she　was　hearing　the　sound　of　boulders　and　logs　jamming　into　the　stone　slot；　ricocheting　off　the　narrow　canyon　walls　on　their　way　toward　them。　As　she　ran；　a　fresh　wind　rose　to　a　screaming　pitch；　tearing　shreds　of　water　from　the　surface　of　the　stream。　The　flood；　she　knew；　would　first　turn　the　slot　canyon　into　a　wind　tunnel。　
　She　thrashed　forward。　The　sound　in　the　canyon　grew　to　a　terrible　howl；　and　the　ever…rising　hurricane　of　wind　tore　at　their　backs。　We're　not　going　to　make　it；　Nora　thought。　She　glanced　back　and　saw　that　Aragon　had　fallen　behind。　She　held　out　her　hands　to　him；　urging　him　on；　screaming　words　that　had　no　sound　over　the　blast。　
　Suddenly　a　boulder　came　down　the　canyon　from　behind　them；　bounding　between　the　rock　walls　with　thunderous　booms；　roaring　over　their　heads　with　horrifying　speed。　Another；　even　larger；　followed　in　its　wake；　propelled　ahead　of　the　water　by　a　stochastic　amplification　of　momentum。　It　hit　the　jammed　cottonwood　trunk　with　a　shattering　force　and　continued　downcanyon；　leaving　behind　the　smell　of　smoke　and　crushed　stone。　
　Gasping　and　coughing；　Nora　reached　the　ledge　and　grasped　it　with　both　hands；　pulling　herself　out　of　the　water。　She　scrambled　up　the　rock；　trying　to　maintain　her　purchase　on　the　slippery　ledge。　The　air　had　grown　full　of　pulverized　water；　which　lashed　at　them　mercilessly。　She　hugged　the　rockface　in　an　effort　to　keep　the　wind　from　plucking　her　off。　
　An　advance　guard　of　water　blasted　through　the　canyon　just　below　them；　and　the　light　above　dimmed。　Events　were　happening　so　quickly…the　day　had　grown　so　suddenly；　pletely　violent…for　a　moment　it　seemed　to　Nora　that　she　was　locked　in　some　terrible　dream。　She　could　barely　make　out　Aragon's　form　below　her；　struggling　up　the　ledge。　
　A　second　tongue　of　twisting　water　came　racing　past　below　them；　almost　sucking　Aragon　from　the　canyon　wall。　Pausing　in　his　climb；　Smithback　reached　back；　grabbed　Aragon's　shirt；　and　hauled　him　upward。　As　Nora　watched　from　above；　powerless　to　help；　another　surge　grabbed　at　Aragon's　leg。　Over　the　cry　of　the　flood；　she　thought　she　heard　the　man　scream：　a　strange；　hollow；　despairing　sound。　
　Smithback　lunged　for　a　better　hold　as　Aragon　was　dragged　from　the　ledge；　dangling　into　space。　A　passing　rock　smacked　into　Aragon；　spinning　him　around；　there　was　a　soundless　parting　of　fabric　and　Smithback　fell　back　against　the　cliff；　a　tattered　remnant　of　Aragon's　collar　in　his　hand。　A　furious　gust　of　wind　buoyed　Aragon　above　the　dancing　rocks；　whirling　him　downstream。　Caught　by　another　packet　of　water；　his　body　was　slammed　into　the　canyon　wall　and　dragged　across　it　like　cheese　across　a　grater。　In　his　wake；　gobbets　of　red　lay　scraped　across　dark　rock；　vanishing　quickly；　like　Aragon　himself；　into　the　boiling　spume。　
　Choking　back　a　sob；　Nora　turned　and　grabbed　the　next　handhold；　hoisted　herself　up；　then　reached　for　the　next。　Higher；　she　thought。　Higher。　Behind　her；　Smithback　was　ing　up　fast。　She　scrambled；　slid　back；　regained　her　footing；　then　fell　again；　the　wind　tearing　her　from　the　rock。　As　she　slid　away；　Smithback's　arm　wrapped　itself　around　her；　and　she　felt　herself　pulled　up　the　narrow　ledge；　closer　and　closer　to　the　cavity　in　the　rock。　
　And　then；　at　last；　the　main　body　of　the　flood　came：　a　huge　shadow；　looming　far　above　them；　a　wedge　of　darkness　shutting　out　the　last　of　the　light；　a　foaming　spasm　of　air；　water；　mud；　rock；　and　brutalized　wood；　pushing　before　it　a　wind　of　tornadolike　intensity。　Nora　felt　Smithback　lose　his　grip　briefly；　then　regain　it。　As　he　jammed　her　into　the　cavity；　forcing　himself　in　after　her；　there　was　a　sudden　fusillade　of　sound　as　countless　small　rocks　scoured　the　walls　of　the　canyon。　She　felt　Smithback　go　rigid；　heard　the　wet　hollow　thumps　as　the　rocks　glanced　off　his　back。　
　Then　the　beast　descended；　wrapping　them　inside　an　endless；　black；　suffocating　roar。　The　noise　went　on；　and　on；　and　on；　the　roar　and　vibration　so　loud　that　Nora　felt　she　was　losing　her　sanity。　Rolled　into　a　protective　ball；　she　squeezed　her　arms　tighter　around　herself　and　prayed　for　the　shaking　to　stop。　Jets　of　water　forced　their　way　into　the　cavity　around　her；　battering　her　shoulders；　pulling　at　her　limbs　as　if　trying　to　suck　her　out　of　the　refuge。　
　In　a　remote　corner　of　her　mind；　it　seemed　strange　that　it　was　taking　so　long　to　die。　She　tried　to　breathe；　but　the　oxygen　seemed　to　have　been　sucked　out　of　the　air。　She　felt　the　iron　grip　of　Smithback's　arms　relax　with　a　horrifying　twitch。　She　tried　to　breathe　again；　hiccupped；　choked；　tried　to　scream…and　then　the　world　folded　in　on　itself　and　she　lost　consciousness。　
　
　
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　BLACK　SAT　ON　THE　RETAINING　WALL；　BREATHING　heavily。　The　four　expedition　members　remaining　in　camp　had　all　taken　several　trips　up　into　Quivira；　lugging　the　unnecessary　gear　into　the　empty　caching　room　they　had　chosen　in　a　remote　part　of　the　city。　There…with　any　luck…it