pdouglas.thecodex-第25章

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　Philip　did　not　answer。
　Hauser　remembered　how　he　had　explained　that　the　manacles　were　an　important　psychological　tool　to　manage　the　soldiers；　a　sort　of　portable　brig。　Of　course；　he　would　never　actually　use　them。　〃Now　you　know；〃　Hauser　said。　〃They　were　for　you。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　just　kill　me　and　get　it　over　with？〃
　〃All　in　good　time。　One　doesn't　kill　the　last　in　the　family　line　lightly。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃
　〃Delighted　you　asked。　Shortly　I'll　be　taking　care　of　your　two　brothers；　who　are　behind　us　in　the　swamp。　When　the　last　of　the　Broadbent　line　has　been　made　extinct；　I　will　take　what　is　mine。〃
　〃You're　a　psychopath。〃
　〃I　am　a　rational　human　addressing　a　great　wrong　that　was　once　done　to　me；　thank　you。〃
　〃What　wrong　is　this？〃
　〃Your　father　and　I　were　partners。　He　deprived　me　of　my　share　of　the　loot　from　his　first　big　discovery。〃
　〃That　was　forty　years　ago。〃
　〃Which　only　pounds　the　crime。　While　I　struggled　for　forty　years　to　make　a　living；　your　father　bathed　in　luxury。〃
　Philip　struggled；　rattling　his　chains。
　〃How　wonderful　is　the　turn　of　the　wheel。　Forty　years　ago　your　father　cheated　me　out　of　a　fortune。　I　went　on　to　a　lovely　place　called　Vietnam　while　he　went　on　to　riches。　Now　I　stand　to　gain　it　all　back　and　more。　The　irony　of　it　is　delicious。　And　to　think；　Philip；　you　brought　me　this　on　a　silver　platter。〃
　Philip　said　nothing。
　Hauser　inhaled　again。　He　loved　the　heat　and　he　loved　the　air。　He　never　felt　so　healthy　and　alive　as　in　the　jungle。　All　that　was　missing　was　the　faint　perfume　of　napalm。　He　turned　to　one　of　the　soldiers。　〃Now　we　will　do　Ocotal。　e；　Philip；　you　won't　want　to　miss　this。〃
　The　two　dugouts　were　already　packed；　and　the　soldiers　shoved　Ocotal　and　Philip　into　one。　The　soldiers　fired　up　the　engines；　and　they　headed　into　the　maze　of　pools　and　side　channels　at　the　far　end　of　the　lake。　Hauser　stood　in　the　bow　keeping　an　eye　out。
　〃That　way。〃
　The　boats　motored　on　until　they　came　to　a　stagnant　pool；　cut　off　from　the　main　channel　by　the　lowering　water。　The　piranhas；　Hauser　knew；　had　been　concentrated　in　the　pool　by　the　subsiding　water。　Long　ago　they　had　eaten　all　the　available　food　and　were　now　eating　each　other。　Woe　to　any　animal　that　blundered　into　one　of　those　stagnant　pools。
　〃Cut　the　engine。　Drop　anchor。〃
　The　engines　sputtered　off；　and　the　ensuing　silence　was　broken　only　by　the　two　soft　splashes　of　the　rock　anchors。
　Hauser　turned　and　looked　at　Ocotal。　This　was　going　to　be　interesting。
　〃Stand　him　up。〃
　The　soldiers　pulled　Ocotal　to　his　feet。　Hauser　took　a　step　forward　and　gazed　on　his　face。　The　Indian；　dressed　in　a　Western　shirt　and　shorts；　was　straight　and　cool。　His　eyes　showed　neither　fear　nor　hatred。　This　Tawahka　Indian；　Hauser　thought；　had　proven　to　be　one　of　those　unfortunate　people　motivated　by　superannuated　notions　of　honor　and　loyalty。　Hauser　disliked　such　people。　They　were　unreliable　and　inflexible。　Max　had　also　proven　to　be　a　person　like　that。
　〃Well；　Don　Orlando；〃　Hauser　said；　giving　the　honorific　an　ironic　emphasis。　〃Have　you　anything　to　say　for　yourself？〃
　The　Indian　gazed　at　him　unblinkingly。
　Hauser　removed　his　pocketknife。　〃Hold　him　tight。〃
　The　soldiers　grasped　him。　His　hands　were　tied　behind　his　back；　and　his　feet　were　loosely　tied　together。
　Hauser　opened　the　little　knife　and　sharpened　the　blade　on　a　whetstone　with　a　quick　zing；　zing。　He　tested　it　against　his　thumb　and　smiled。　Then　he　reached　out　and　scored　a　long　cut　across　Ocotal's　chest；　cutting　through　the　fabric　of　his　shirt　to　his　skin　below。　It　wasn't　a　deep　cut；　but　the　blood　began　to　run；　turning　the　khaki　black。
　The　Indian　did　not　even　flinch。
　He　made　a　second　shallow　cut　on　the　shoulders；　and　two　more　cuts　on　the　arms　and　back。　Still　the　Indian　showed　nothing。　Hauser　was　impressed。　He　hadn't　seen　such　stamina　since　his　days　questioning　captured　Viet　Cong。
　〃Give　the　blood　a　little　time　to　flow；〃　he　said。
　They　waited。　The　shirt　darkened　with　blood。　A　bird　screamed　somewhere　in　the　depths　of　the　trees。
　〃Throw　him　in。〃
　The　three　solders　gave　him　a　shove；　and　he　went　over　the　side。　After　the　splash　there　was　a　moment　of　calm；　and　then　the　water　began　to　swirl；　slowly　at　first；　and　then　with　more　agitation；　until　the　pool　seethed。　There　were　flashes　of　silver　in　the　brown　water　like　fluttering　coins；　until　a　red　cloud　billowed　up；　turning　the　water　opaque。　Tatters　of　khaki　cloth　and　strings　of　flesh　rose　to　the　surface　and　bobbed　on　the　chop。
　The　boiling　went　on　for　a　good　five　minutes　before　it　finally　began　to　subside。　Hauser　was　pleased。　He　turned　to　see　Philip's　reaction　and　was　gratified　by　it。
　Very　gratified　indeed。
　
　29
　
　For　three　days　Tom　and　his　group　continued　traveling　through　the　heart　of　the　swamp　along　an　interconnecting　web　of　channels；　camping　on　mud…islands　scarcely　higher　than　the　waterline；　cooking　beans　and　rice　with　wet　wood　over　smoking　fires　because　Chori　could　find　no　fresh　game。　Despite　the　endless　rain　the　water　had　been　going　down；　exposing　waterlogged　tree　trunks　that　had　to　be　chopped　through　before　they　could　proceed。　They　carried　along　with　them　a　permanent；　malevolent　humming　cloud　of　blackflies。
　〃I'll　think　I'll　take　that　pipe　now；〃　said　Sally。　〃I'd　rather　die　of　cancer　than　endure　this。〃
　With　a　smile　of　triumph　Don　Alfonso　removed　it　from　his　pocket。　〃You　will　see…smoking　will　lead　to　a　long　and　happy　life。　I　myself　have　smoked　for　over　a　hundred　years。〃
　There　was　a　deep　booming　sound　from　the　jungle；　like　a　man　with　a　cough；　only　louder　and　slower。
　〃What　was　that？〃
　〃A　jaguar。　And　a　hungry　one。〃
　〃It's　amazing　what　you　know　about　the　forest；〃　Sally　said。
　〃Yes。〃　Don　Alfonso　sighed。　〃But　today　no　one　wants　to　learn　any　more　about　the　forest。　My　grandchildren　and　great…grandchildren；　all　they　care　about　is　soccer　and　those　fat　white　shoes　that　rot　your　feet；　the　ones　with　the　bird　on　the　sides　made　in　those　factories　in　San　Pedro　Sula。〃　He　pointed　at　Tom's　shoes　with　his　lips。
　〃Nikes？〃
　〃Yes。　Up　near　San　Pedro　Sula　there　are　entire　villages　of　boys　whose　feet　rotted　and　dropped　off　from　wearing　those。　Now　they　have　to　walk　around　on　wooden　stumps。〃
　〃That's　not　true。〃
　Don　Alfonso　shook　his　head；　clucking　disapprovingly。　The　boat　moved　on　through　curtains　of　vines；　which　Pingo　slashed　away　at。　Tom　could　see　a　patch　of　sunlight　up　ahead；　a　beam　falling　from　above；　and　as　they　moved　forward　he　saw　that　a　giant　tree　had　recently　fallen；　leaving　a　hole　in　the　canopy。　The　trunk　lay　across　the　channel；　blocking　their　path。　It　was　the　biggest　tree　they'd　encountered　yet。
　Don　Alfonso　muttered　a　curse。　Chori　picked　up　his　Pulaski　and　hopped　out　of　the　bow　and　onto　the　log。　Gripping　the　slippery　surface　with　his　bare　feet；　he　began　to　chop；　the　chips　flying。　In　half　an　hour　he　had　notched　the　log　deep　enough　to　slide　the　boats　through。
　They　all　climbed　out　and　began　to　push。　Beyond　the　log　the　water　suddenly　got　deep。　Tom　waded　through　it；　up　to　his　waist；　trying　not　to　think　of　the　toothpick　fish；　the　piranhas；　and　all　the　diseases　lurking　in　that　soupy　water。
　Vernon　was　ahead　of　him；　holding　the　gunwale　and　pushing　the　dugout　forward；　when　Tom　saw　a　slow　undulation　in　the　dark　water　to　their　right。　Simultaneously　he　heard　Don　Alfonso's　piercing　cry。　〃Anaconda！〃　Tom　scrambled　in　but　Vernon　was　just　a　fraction　too　slow。　There　was　a　swirl　of　water；　a　sudden　humplike　rise；　and　with　a　scream…cut　short…Vernon　disappeared　beneath　the　brown　water。　The　snake's　glossy　back　slid　past；　exposing　briefly　a　body　as　thick　as　a　small　tree　trunk；　before　it　sank　and　disappeared。
　〃Ehi！　He　has　Vernito！〃
　Tom　pulled　his　machete　out　of　his　belt　and　dove　into　the　water。　He　kicked；　swimming　down　as　deep　as　he　could。　He　couldn't　see　more　than　a　foot　into　the　murky；　brown　glow。　He　scissors　kicked　toward　the　middle；　feeling　ahead　with　his　free　hand；　trying　to　find　the　snake。　He　felt　something　cold；　round；　and　slippery　and　slashed　at　it　before　he　realized　it　was　just　a　sunken　log。　Grasping　it；　he　pulled　himself　forward；　feeling　around　desperately　for　the　snake　or　his　brother。　His　lungs　were　about　to　burst。　He　shot　to　the　surface　and　redove；　groping　ahead。　Where　was　the　snake？　How　long　had　it　been？　A　minute？　Two？　How　long　could　Vernon　survive？
　Desperation　drove　him　forward；　and　he　continued　his　mad　search；　feeling　among　the　slimy　sunken　logs。
　One　of　the　logs　suddenly　flexed　under　his　touch。　It　was　a　muscled　tube；　as　hard　as　mahogany；　but　he　could　feel　the　skin　moving；　the　waves　of　contracting　muscles。
　He　shoved　the　machete　into　its　soft　underbelly；　driving　it　in　as　deep　as　it　would　go。　For　a　second；　nothing：　and　then　the　snake　exploded　into　a　whiplike　motion；　which　slammed　him　backward　in　the　water；　knocking　out　his　air　in　a　violent　expulsion　of　bubbles。　He　clawed　his　way　to　the　surface　and　sucked　in　more　air。　The　surface　was　boiling　as　the　snake　thrashed。　He　realized　he　no　longer　had　the　machete。　Now　roiling　coils　of　the　snake　flew　out　of　the　water　in　a　glossy　arc；　and　for　a　moment　Vernon's　hand　appeared；　clutched　into　a　fist；　followed　by　his　head。　A　gasp；　and　he　was　gone。
　〃Another　machete！〃
　Pingo　tossed　him　one；　handle　first。　He　grabbed　it　and　began　slashing　at　the　coils　lashing　about　on　the　water's　surface。
　〃The　head！〃　Don　Alfonso　cried　from　the　boat。　〃Go　for　the　head！〃
　Where　was　the　head　in　this　mass　of　snake？　Tom　had　a　sudden　idea　and　jabbed　the　snake　with　the　tip　of　the　machete；　once；　twice；　prodding　him　into　a　fury…and　then；　rearing　out　of　the　water；　came　the　brute's　head；　ugly　and　small；　with　a　plated　mouth　and　two　slitty　eyes；　searching　for　the　source　of　its　torment。　It　lunged　at　him；　mouth　open；　and　Tom　shoved　the　machete　right　into　the　pink　cavity　and　straight　down　the　monster's　gullet。　The　snake　jerked　and　twisted　and　bit　down；　but　Tom；　clutching　the　handle；　held　on　even　as　his　arm　was　being　bitten；　giving　the　machete　one　hard　twist　after　another。　He　could　feel　the　flesh　yielding　inside；　the　sudden　gush　of　cold　reptilian　blood；　the　head　began　thrashing　back　and　forth；　almost　jerking　his　arm　out　of　its　socket。　With　all　his　remaining　strength　he　gave　the　machete　a　final　massive　twist；　and　the　blade　came　out　behind　the　snake's　head。　He　rotated　it　and　felt　a　spasmodic　tremble　in　the　jaws　as　the　snake　was　decapitated　from　the　inside。　He　pried　open　the　mouth　with　his　other　hand　and　pulled　his　arm　out；　searching　frantically　for　his　brother　amid　the　still…churning　water。
　Vernon　suddenly　rose　to　the　surface　of　the　pond；　facedown。　Tom　grabbed　him　and　turned　him　over。　His　face　was　red；　his　eyes　closed。　He　looked　dead。　Tom　dragged　him　through　the　water　to　the　boat；　and　Pingo　and　Sally　hauled　him　in。　Tom　fell　in　after　him　and　passed　out。
　Sally　was　leaning　over　him　when　he　came　to；　her　blond　hair　like　a　waterfall　swaying　above　him；　cleaning　the　teeth　marks　in　his　arm；　rubbing　them　with　cotton　soaked　in　alcohol。　His　shirt　had　been　ripped　off　above　the　elbow；　and　there　were　deep　scores　on　his　arm。　Blood　was　welling　out。
　〃Vernon…？〃
　〃He's　okay；〃　Sally　said。　〃Don　Alfonso's　helping　him。　He　just　swallowed　some　water　and　got　a　nasty　bite　on　his　thigh。〃
　He　tried　to　sit　up。　His　arm　felt　like　it　was　on　fire。　The　blackflies　were　swirling　about　him　worse　than　ever；　and　he　breathed　them　in　with　each　b