pdouglas.thecodex-第33章

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　〃Back　up；〃　said　Tom。　〃Nice　and　easy。〃　But　as　they　backed　up；　the　jaguar　took　a　step　forward；　and　another；　pacing　them　on　padded　paws。
　〃Remember　what　Don　Alfonso　said？〃
　〃I　can't　do　it；〃　Sally　whispered。
　〃Shoot　over　its　head。〃
　Sally　raised　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　and　squeezed　off　a　round。
　The　sound　was　curiously　muffled　in　the　fog　and　heavy　vegetation。　The　jaguar　gave　a　small　shiver　but　otherwise　made　no　sign　it　had　heard；　just　continued　to　stare　at　them；　the　tip　of　the　tail　twitching　as　rhythmically　as　a　metronome。
　〃We'll　go　around　it；〃　Sally　said。
　They　edged　off　the　animal　trail　into　the　forest。　The　animal　made　no　move　to　follow　them　except　with　its　green　eyes；　and　soon　it　was　lost　to　sight。　After　a　few　hundred　yards　Tom　began　to　cut　back　toward　the　ridgeline。　They　heard　the　cat　cough　twice　off　to　their　left；　and　they　moved　farther　down　from　the　ridge。　They　went　a　quarter　mile　and　then　stopped。　They　should　have　encountered　the　ravine　with　the　stream；　but　it　wasn't　there。
　〃We　should　be　cutting　more　to　the　left；〃　said　Tom。
　They　angled　left。　The　forest　became　heavier；　darker；　the　trees　smaller　and　closer　together。
　〃I　don't　recognize　this　area　at　all。〃
　They　stopped　to　listen。　The　jungle　seemed　to　have　fallen　eerily　silent。　There　was　no　sound　of　a　stream；　nothing　but　the　patter　of　water　dripping　from　branches。
　A　low；　booming　cough　came　from　directly　behind　them。
　Sally　turned　angrily。　〃Get　out　of　here！〃　she　yelled。　〃Scat！〃
　They　went　on；　redoubling　their　pace；　Tom　in　the　lead；　slashing　a　path　through　the　undergrowth。　From　time　to　time　he　could　hear　the　cat　on　his　left　keeping　pace　with　them；　making　an　occasional　purring　noise。　It　wasn't　a　friendly　sound　at　all：　It　was　low　and　thick　and　sounded　more　like　a　growl。　He　knew　they　were　getting　lost；　that　they　weren't　going　in　the　right　direction。　They　were　almost　running。
　And　then　with　a　sudden　flash　of　gold　it　seemed　to　congeal　out　of　the　mist　ahead　of　them。　It　stood　on　a　low　branch；　tensed。
　They　stopped；　backed　up　slowly　while　the　animal　watched。　Then；　with　a　liquid　movement；　it　leapt　to　one　side　of　them；　and　in　three　bounds　it　had　positioned　itself　on　a　branch　behind　them；　blocking　their　retreat。
　Sally　kept　her　gun　aimed　at　the　jaguar；　but　she　didn't　shoot。　They　stared　at　the　animal　and　the　animal　stared　at　them。
　〃I　think　maybe　the　time　has　e　to　kill　it；〃　Tom　whispered。
　〃I　can't。〃
　Somehow；　that　was　the　answer　Tom　wanted　to　hear。　Never　had　he　seen　an　animal　so　vital；　so　supple；　or　so　magnificent。
　Then；　all　of　a　sudden；　the　jaguar　turned　and　took　itself　away；　jumping　lightly　from　branch　to　branch；　until　it　had　disappeared　into　the　forest。
　They　stood　there　silently；　and　then　Sally　smiled。　〃I　told　you　she　was　just　curious。〃
　〃That's　some　curiosity；　following　us　for　fifty　miles。〃　Tom　looked　around。　Finally　he　tucked　his　machete　back　into　his　belt　and　picked　up　the　pole　holding　the　dead　peccary。　He　felt　unsettled；　uneasy。　It　wasn't　over。
　They　had　gone　five　paces　when　the　jaguar　dropped　down　on　them　with　a　piercing　shriek；　like　a　shower　of　gold；　landing　on　Sally's　back　with　a　muffled　sound。　The　gun　went　off　uselessly。　Sally　twisted　while　she　fell；　they　hit　the　ground　together；　and　the　force　of　the　blow　knocked　the　jaguar　off；　but　not　before　it　had　torn　off　half　her　shirt。
　Tom　threw　himself　on　top　of　the　animal's　back；　squeezing　it　between　his　legs　like　a　bronco；　clawing　for　its　eyes　with　both　thumbs　to　gouge　them　out；　but　before　he　could　do　it　he　felt　the　massive　body　flex　and　snap　like　a　steel　spring　under　him。　The　animal　screamed　again；　leaping　and　twisting　its　body　around　in　midair　as　Tom　drew　his　machete。　Then　the　animal　was　on　top　of　him；　a　smothering　of　hot；　rank　fur　bearing　down　on　him　and　the　pointed　machete；　Tom　felt　its　flesh　give；　he　could　feel　the　blade　slide　up　into　the　jaguar；　and　there　was　a　powerful　rush　of　hot　blood　in　his　face。　The　jaguar　screamed；　twisted；　and　with　all　his　might　Tom　gave　the　machete　a　sideways　jerk。　The　knife　must　have　penetrated　the　animals'　lungs；　because　the　jaguar's　scream　turned　into　a　suffocated　gurgle。　The　animal　went　limp。　Tom　pushed　it　off　him　and　pulled　out　the　machete。　The　jaguar　gave　one　more　kick　and　then　was　still。
　He　rushed　over　to　Sally；　who　was　struggling　to　get　up。　She　screamed　when　she　saw　him。　〃My　God；　Tom；　are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃What　did　it　do　to　you！〃　She　tried　to　reach　for　his　face；　and　he　suddenly　understood。
　〃It's　not　my　blood；　it's　hers；〃　he　said　weakly；　bending　over　her。　〃Let　me　look　at　your　back。〃
　She　rolled　onto　her　stomach。　The　shirt　was　in　tatters。　There　were　four　scores　that　ran　across　her　shoulder。　He　pulled　what　remained　of　her　shirt　off。
　〃Hey；　I'm　fine；〃　came　her　muffled　voice。
　〃Quiet。〃　Tom　stripped　off　his　own　shirt　and　soaked　one　end　in　a　puddle　of　water。　〃This　is　going　to　hurt。〃
　She　grunted　slightly　with　pain　as　he　cleaned　out　the　wounds。　They　were　not　deep…the　danger　was　mostly　from　infection。　Tom　took　some　moss　and　made　a　pad　and　tied　it　onto　the　wound　with　his　shirt。　He　helped　her　put　her　shirt　back　on　and　sit　up。
　She　looked　at　him　again　and　winced。　〃My　God；　you're　drenched　in　blood。〃　She　looked　over　at　the　jaguar；　stretched　out　in　all　its　golden　glory　on　the　ground；　its　eyes　half　open。　〃You　killed　her　with　your　machete？〃
　〃I　had　my　machete　out；　and　she　jumped　on　it　and　did　all　the　work　herself。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　her。　〃Can　you　stand　up？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　He　helped　her　up；　and　she　staggered　a　little；　then　recovered。　〃Give　me　my　gun。〃
　Tom　fetched　it。　〃I'll　carry　it。〃
　〃No；　I'll　just　carry　it　over　the　other　shoulder。　You　carry　the　peccary。〃
　Tom　didn't　argue。　He　retied　the　peccary　on　the　pole；　slung　it　over　his　shoulder；　and　paused　to　take　one　last　look　at　the　jaguar　stretched　out　on　its　side；　its　eyes　glazed　over；　lying　in　a　pool　of　blood。
　〃You're　going　to　have　one　hell　of　a　cocktail　party　story　to　tell　when　we　get　out　of　here；〃　said　Sally　with　a　grin。
　Back　at　the　camp；　Vernon　and　Don　Alfonso　listened　to　their　story　in　silence。　When　Tom　was　finished　Don　Alfonso　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　looked　into　his　eyes；　and　said；　〃You　are　one　crazy　yanqui；　Tomasito；　you　know　that？〃
　Tom　and　Sally　retreated　into　the　privacy　of　the　hut　while　he　redoctored　her　wound　with　some　of　her　own　herbal　antibiotics　as　she　sat　cross…legged　on　the　ground　with　her　shirt　off；　mending　it　with　bark　thread　Don　Alfonso　had　made。　She　kept　looking　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　trying　to　suppress　a　smile。　Finally　she　said；　〃Have　I　thanked　you　for　saving　my　life　yet？〃
　〃I　don't　need　thanks。〃　Tom　tried　to　hide　the　flush　in　his　face。　It　wasn't　the　first　time　he　had　seen　her　with　her　shirt　off…they　had　long　ago　abandoned　pretenses　of　privacy…but　this　time　he　felt　an　intense　erotic　charge。　He　noticed　a　blush　creeping　up　her　chest；　spreading　between　her　breasts；　her　nipples　erect。　Did　she　feel　the　same　way？
　〃Yes；　you　do。〃　She　put　down　the　shirt　she　was　mending；　turned　around；　put　her　arms　around　his　neck；　and　kissed　him　softly　on　the　lips。
　
　39
　
　Hauser　halted　his　men　at　the　river。　Beyond　he　could　see　the　blue　flanks　of　the　Sierra　Azul　rising　into　the　clouds；　like　the　lost　world　of　Arthur　Conan　Doyle。　He　crossed　the　clearing　himself　and　examined　the　muddy　trail　on　the　far　side。　The　constant　rain　had　washed　away　most　marks；　but　it　had　the　advantage　of　telling　him　that　the　bare　footprints　he　saw　must　be　very　fresh…no　more　than　a　few　hours　old。　It　looked　like　a　group　of　six　men；　a　hunting　party　perhaps。
　These；　then；　were　the　Indians　that　Broadbent　had　allied　himself　with。　No　one　else　lived　in　these　godforsaken　jungle　mountains。
　Hauser　rose　from　his　kneeling　position　and　reflected　for　a　moment。　He　would　lose　any　cat…and…mouse　chase　in　this　jungle。　He　would　get　nothing　from　them　by　negotiation；　either。　That　left　only　one　sensible　course　of　action。
　He　signaled　the　soldiers　forward；　taking　the　lead　himself。　They　moved　swiftly　down　the　trail　in　the　direction　the　men　had　gone。　He　had　left　Philip　in　the　rear；　well　manacled；　and　guarded　by　a　soldier。　The　Broadbent　son　was　by　now　too　weak　to　keep　up　and　in　no　condition　to　escape；　especially　with　manacles。　It　was　a　shame　to　lose　the　services　of　a　soldier　when　he　had　so　few　petent　ones；　but　when　the　time　came　Philip　could　be　a　useful　bargaining　chip。　One　should　never　underestimate　the　value　of　a　hostage。
　He　ordered　his　men　into　double…time。
　It　unfolded　exactly　as　he　suspected。　The　Indians　had　heard　them　ing　just　in　time　and　had　melted　into　the　forest…but　not　before　Hauser　had　marked　where　they'd　gone。　He　was　an　expert　jungle　tracker；　and　he　pursued　them　at　full　press；　a　blitzkreig　strategy　that　never　failed　to　terrify　even　the　most　prepared　enemy…let　alone　a　group　of　unsuspecting　hunters。　His　men　split；　and　Hauser　took　himself　and　two　others　on　a　roundabout　route；　cutting　off　the　Indians。
　It　was　fast；　furious；　and　earsplitting。　The　jungle　shook。　It　brought　back　with　such　vividness　his　many　firefights　in　Vietnam。　In　less　than　a　minute　it　was　over；　trees　were　shattered　and　stripped；　bushes　smoking；　the　ground　pulverized；　an　acrid　haze　drifting　upward。　One　small　tree　had　its　branches　hung　with　orchids　and　entrails。
　It　was　amazing；　really；　what　a　couple　of　simple　grenade　launchers　could　do。
　Hauser　added　up　the　body　parts　and　determined　that　four　men　had　been　killed。　Two　others　had　escaped。　For　once　his　soldiers　had　acted　petently。　This　is　what　they　were　good　at：　straight…ahead；　unplicated　killing。　He　would　have　to　remember　that。
　There　wasn't　much　time。　He　needed　to　reach　the　village　shortly　after　the　two　survivors　in　order　to　strike　at　the　moment　of　greatest　confusion　and　terror；　but　before　they　could　organize。
　He　turned　and　shouted　to　his　men。　〃Arriba！　Vamonos！〃
　The　men　cheered；　heartened　by　his　enthusiasm；　finally　in　their　element。　〃To　the　village！〃
　
　40
　
　It　rained　for　a　week　solid；　without　letup。　Every　day　they　pushed　forward；　up　and　down　canyons；　along　precarious　cliffs；　across　roaring　streams；　all　of　it　buried　in　the　thickest　jungle　Tom　thought　possible。　If　they　made　four　miles　it　was　a　good　day。　After　seven　days　of　this　Tom　awoke　one　morning　to　find　the　rain　had　finally　ceased。　Don　Alfonso　was　already　up；　tending　a　large　fire。　His　face　was　grave。　While　they　ate　breakfast；　he　announced：
　〃I　had　a　dream　last　night。〃
　The　serious　tone　in　his　voice　gave　Tom　pause。　〃What　kind　of　dream？〃
　〃I　dreamed　that　I　died。　My　soul　went　up　into　the　sky　and　began　searching　for　St。　Peter。　I　found　him　standing　in　front　of　the　gates　of　heaven。　He　hailed　me　as　I　came　up。　'Don　Alfonso；　is　that　you；　you　old　rascal？'　he　asked。　'That's　right；'　I　said。　'It　is　I；　Don　Alfonso　Boswas；　who　died　in　the　jungle　far　from　home　at　the　age　of　one　hundred　and　twenty…one；　and　I　want　to　e　inside　and　see　my　Rosita。'　'What　were　you　doing　way　out　there　in　the　jungle；　Don　Alfonso？'　he　asked。　'I　was　with　some　crazy　yanquis　going　to　the　Sierra　Azul；'　I　said。　'And　did　you　get　there？'　he　asked。　'No；'　I　said。　'Well　then；　Don　Alfonso；　you　scoundrel；　you'll　have　to　go　back。'　〃
　He　stopped；　then　added；　〃And　so　I　came　back。〃
　Tom　wasn't　sure　how　to　react。　For　a　moment　he　thought　the　dream　might　be　one　of　Don　Alfonso's　jokes；　until　he　saw　the　serious　look　on　the　old　man's　face。　He　ex