pdouglas.thecodex-第34章

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　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　exchanged　a　glance　with　Sally。
　〃So　what　does　this　dream　mean？〃　Sally　asked。
　Don　Alfonso　placed　a　piece　of　matta　root　inside　his　mouth　and　chewed　thoughtfully；　then　leaned　over　to　spit　put　the　pulp。　〃It　means　I　have　only　a　few　more　days　with　you。〃
　〃A　few　more　days？　Don't　be　ridiculous。〃
　Don　Alfonso　finished　his　stew　and　rose；　saying；　〃Let　us　talk　no　more　about　this　and　go　to　the　Sierra　Azul。〃
　That　day　was　worse　than　before；　for　when　the　rains　ceased　the　insects　appeared。　The　travelers　struggled　up　and　down　a　succession　of　steep　ridges　on　trails　deep　in　muck；　falling　and　sliding　constantly；　hounded　by　swarms。　Toward　afternoon　they　descended　into　another　ravine　echoing　with　the　sound　of　roaring　water。　As　they　descended　the　roar　became　louder；　and　Tom　realized　a　major　river　lay　at　the　bottom。　As　the　foliage　broke　at　the　banks　of　the　river；　Don　Alfonso；　who　was　in　front；　halted　and　retreated　in　confusion；　motioning　them　to　stay　back　in　the　trees。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃There　is　a　dead　man　across　the　river；　under　a　tree。〃
　〃An　Indian？〃
　〃No；　it　is　a　person　wearing　North　American　clothing。〃
　〃Could　it　be　an　ambush？〃
　〃No；　Tomás；　if　it　was　an　ambush　we　would　already　be　dead。〃
　Tom　followed　Don　Alfonso　to　the　riverbank。　On　the　other　side　of　the　river；　perhaps　fifty　yards　up　from　the　crossing　point；　there　was　a　small　natural　clearing　with　a　large　tree　in　the　middle。　Tom　could　just　see　a　bit　of　color　behind　the　tree。　He　borrowed　Vernon's　binoculars　to　examine　it　more　closely。　A　bare　foot；　horribly　swollen；　was　visible；　with　part　of　a　ragged　pantleg　in　view。　The　rest　of　him　was　hidden　behind　the　trunk。　As　Tom　looked　he　saw　a　bluish　puff　of　smoke　drift　from　behind　the　tree；　then　another。
　〃Unless　a　dead　man　can　smoke；　that　man's　alive；〃　said　Tom。
　〃Mother　of　God；　you　are　right。〃
　They　felled　a　tree　across　the　river。　The　sound　of　the　axe　echoed　through　the　forest；　but　whoever　was　behind　the　tree　did　not　move。
　After　the　tree　had　e　crashing　down；　forming　a　wobbly　bridge；　Don　Alfonso　stared　suspiciously　across　the　river。　〃It　may　be　a　demon。〃
　They　crossed　on　the　rickety　tree　using　the　pole。　On　the　far　side　of　the　river　they　could　no　longer　see　the　man。
　〃We　must　go　on　and　pretend　we　have　not　seen　him；〃　whispered　Don　Alfonso。　〃I　am　sure　now　it　is　a　demon。〃
　〃That's　absurd；〃　said　Tom。　〃I'm　going　to　check　it　out。〃
　〃Please　do　not　go；　Tomás。　He　will　steal　your　soul　and　take　it　to　the　bottom　of　the　river。〃
　〃I'll　e　with　you；〃　said　Vernon。
　〃Curandera；　you　stay　here。　I　do　not　want　the　demon　to　take　all　of　you。〃
　Tom　and　Vernon　picked　their　way　along　the　polished　boulders　on　the　riverbank；　leaving　Don　Alfonso　muttering　unhappily　to　himself。　They　soon　arrived　at　the　clearing　and　stepped　around　the　tree。
　There；　they　beheld　a　wreck　of　a　human　being。　He　sat　with　his　back　against　the　tree；　smoking　a　briar　pipe；　looking　at　them　steadily。　He　did　not　seem　to　be　an　Indian；　although　his　skin　was　almost　black。　His　clothing　was　in　tatters；　and　his　face　was　scratched　raw　and　bleeding　from　insect　bites。　His　bare　feet　were　cut　and　swollen。　He　was　so　thin；　the　bones　of　his　body　stuck　out　grotesquely；　like　a　starving　refugee's。　His　hair　was　stringy；　and　he　had　a　short　beard　full　of　sticks　and　leaves。
　He　made　no　reaction　to　their　arrival。　He　merely　stared　up　at　them　out　of　hollow　eyes。　He　looked　more　dead　than　alive。　And　then　he　gave　a　start；　like　a　little　shiver。　The　pipe　came　out　of　his　mouth；　and　he　spoke；　his　voice　little　more　than　a　harsh　whisper。
　〃How　are　you；　brothers　of　mine？〃
　
　41
　
　Tom　jumped；　he　was　so　startled　by　hearing　his　brother　Philip's　voice　ing　from　this　living　cadaver。　He　bent　down　to　scrutinize　the　face；　but　he　could　find　no　point　of　resemblance。　He　recoiled　in　horror：　Maggots　were　squirming　in　a　sore　on　the　man's　neck。
　〃Philip？〃　Vernon　whispered。
　The　voice　croaked　an　affirmative。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃Dying。〃　He　spoke　matter…of…factly。
　Tom　knelt　and　looked　into　his　brother's　face　closer　up。　He　was　still　too　horrified　to　speak　or　react。　He　laid　a　hand　on　his　brother's　bony　shoulder。　〃What　happened？〃
　The　figure　closed　its　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　opened　them。　〃Later。〃
　〃Of　course。　What　am　I　thinking？〃　Tom　turned　to　his　brother。　〃Vernon；　go　get　Don　Alfonso　and　Sally。　Tell　them　we　found　Philip　and　that　we're　making　camp　here。〃
　Tom　continued　looking　at　his　brother；　too　shocked　to　speak。　Philip　was　so　utterly　calm　。。。　it　was　as　if　he　had　already　resigned　himself　to　death。　It　was　unnatural。　There　was　the　serenity　of　apathy　in　his　eyes。
　Don　Alfonso　arrived　and；　relieved　to　find　that　the　river　demon　had　turned　out　to　be　a　human　being；　began　clearing　an　area　to　set　up　camp。
　When　Philip　saw　Sally　he　removed　the　pipe　and　blinked。
　〃I'm　Sally　Colorado；〃　she　said；　taking　his　hand　in　hers。
　Philip　managed　a　nod。
　〃We　need　to　clean　you　up　and　doctor　you。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　They　carried　Philip　down　to　the　river；　laid　him　on　a　bed　of　banana　leaves；　and　stripped　him。　Philip's　body　was　covered　with　sores；　many　of　which　were　infected　and　some　of　which　were　crawling　with　maggots。　The　maggots；　Tom　thought；　examining　the　wounds；　had　actually　been　a　boon；　as　they　were　consuming　the　septic　tissue　and　reducing　the　chance　of　gangrene。　He　could　see　that　in　some　of　the　wounds　where　the　maggots　had　been　at　work　there　was　already　fresh　granulation　tissue。　Others　didn't　look　so　good。
　With　an　awful　feeling　he　looked　at　his　brother。　They　had　no　drugs；　no　antibiotics；　no　bandages；　only　Sally's　herbs。　They　carefully　washed　him　and　then　carried　him　back　to　the　clearing　and　laid　him　down；　stark　naked；　on　a　bed　of　palm　leaves　near　the　fire。
　Sally　began　sorting　the　bundles　of　herbs　and　roots　she　had　collected。
　〃Sally　is　an　herbal　healer；〃　said　Vernon。
　Philip　said；　〃I'd　prefer　an　injection　of　amoxycillin。〃
　〃We　don't　have　any。〃
　Philip　lay　back　on　the　leaves　and　closed　his　eyes。　Tom　doctored　the　sores；　scraping　out　the　necrotic　flesh；　irrigating　and　flushing　out　the　maggots。　Sally　dusted　the　wounds　with　an　herbal　antibiotic　and　bandaged　him　up　with　strips　of　pounded　bark　that　had　been　sterilized　in　boiling　water　and　then　smoke…dried　in　the　fire。　They　washed　and　dried　his　tattered　clothes　and　redressed　him　in　them；　having　no　others。　They　finished　as　the　sun　was　beginning　to　set。　They　propped　him　up；　and　Sally　brought　in　a　mug　of　herbal　tea。
　Philip　took　the　mug。　He　was　looking　better。　He　said；　〃Turn　around；　Sally；　and　let　me　check　you　for　wings。〃
　Sally　blushed。
　Philip　took　a　sip　and　then　another。　Don　Alfonso；　meanwhile；　had　pulled　a　half　dozen　fish　out　of　the　stream　and　was　now　grilling　them　on　skewers　at　the　fire。　The　smell　of　roasting　fish　came　wafting　over。
　〃Strange　how　I　have　no　appetite；〃　said　Philip。
　〃That's　not　unmon　when　you're　starving；〃　said　Tom。
　Don　Alfonso　served　out　the　fish　on　leaves。　For　a　while　they　ate　in　silence；　and　then　Philip　spoke：
　〃Well；　well；　here　we　are。　A　little　family　reunion　in　the　Honduran　jungle。〃　Philip　looked　around；　his　eyes　sparkling；　and　then　he　said：　〃G。〃
　There　was　a　silence　and　then　Vernon　said：　〃H。〃
　Tom　said　〃O。〃
　Philip　said　〃S。〃
　There　was　a　long　silence　and　then　Vernon　said；　〃Goddamn　it。　T。〃
　〃Vernon　has　to　wash　the　dishes！〃　crowed　Philip。
　Tom　turned　to　Sally　to　explain。　〃It's　a　game　we　used　to　play；〃　he　said　with　a　sheepish　smile。
　〃I　guess　you　three　really　are　brothers。〃
　〃Sort　of；〃　said　Vernon。　〃Even　if　Philip　is　an　ass。〃
　Philip　let　out　a　guffaw。　〃Poor　Vernon。　You　always　did　end　up　in　the　kitchen；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Glad　to　see　you　feeling　better；〃　said　Tom。
　Philip　turned　his　hollow　face　to　him。　〃I　am。〃
　〃You　feel　like　telling　us　what　happened？〃
　Philip's　face　grew　serious；　losing　all　its　archness。　〃It's　a　heart…of…darkness　story；　plete　with　a　Mistah　Kurtz。　Are　you　sure　you　want　to　hear　it？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Tom。　〃We　want　to　hear　it。〃
　
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　Philip　carefully　filled　his　pipe　from　a　tin　of　Dunhill　Early　Morning　and　lit　it；　his　movements　slow　and　deliberate。　〃The　one　thing　they　didn't　take　from　me　was　my　tobacco　and　pipe；　thank　God。〃　He　puffed　slowly；　his　eyes　half　closed；　gathering　his　thoughts。
　Tom　took　the　opportunity　to　examine　Philip's　face。　Now　that　it　had　been　cleaned　up　he　could　finally　recognize　his　brother's　long；　aristocratic　features。　The　beard　gave　him　a　raffish　appearance　that　made　him　look　curiously　like　their　father。　But　the　face　was　different：　Something　had　happened　to　his　brother；　something　so　awful　it　had　altered　his　basic　features。
　His　pipe　lit；　Philip　opened　his　eyes　and　began　to　speak。
　〃After　I　left　you　two；　I　flew　back　to　New　York　and　looked　up　Father's　old　partner；　Marcus　Aurelius　Hauser。　I　figured　that　he　would　know　better　than　anyone　where　Father　might　have　gone。　He　was　a　private　eye；　of　all　things。　I　found　him　a　rather　plump；　perfumed　fellow。　With　two　quick　phone　calls　he　was　able　to　learn　that　Father　had　gone　to　Honduras；　so　I　figured　he　was　petent　and　hired　him。　We　flew　to　Honduras；　he　organized　an　expedition　and　hired　twelve　soldiers　and　four　boats。　He　financed　it　all　by　forcing　me　to　sell　the　beautiful　little　Paul　Klee　watercolor　that　Father　gave　me…〃
　〃Oh；　Philip；〃　Vernon　said。　〃How　could　you？〃
　Philip　closed　his　eyes　wearily。　Vernon　fell　silent。　Then　Philip　continued：　〃So　we　all　flew　down　to　Brus　and　piled　into　dugout　canoes　for　a　jolly　punt　upriver。　We　picked　up　a　guide　in　some　backwater　hamlet　and　proceeded　across　the　Meambar　Swamp。　And　then　Hauser　staged　a　coup。　The　pomaded　prick　had　been　planning　it　all　along…he's　one　of　those　wicked　micromanaging　Nazi　types。　They　chained　me　up　like　a　dog。　Hauser　fed　our　guide　to　the　piranhas　and　then　set　up　that　ambush　to　kill　you。〃
　At　this　his　voice　faltered；　and　he　sucked　on　his　pipe　a　few　times；　his　bony　hand　trembling。　The　story　was　told　with　a　certain　humorous　bravado　that　Tom　knew　well　in　his　brother。
　〃After　clapping　me　in　chains；　Hauser　left　five　G。I。　Josés　behind　on　the　Laguna　Negra　to　ambush　you　all。　He　took　me　and　the　other　soldiers　up　the　Macaturi　as　far　as　the　Falls。　I'll　never　forget　when　the　soldiers　returned。　There　were　only　three　of　them；　and　one　had　a　three…foot　arrow　sticking　through　his　thigh。　I　couldn't　hear　all　of　what　they　said。　Hauser　was　furious　and　took　the　man　out；　shot　him　point…blank　in　the　head。　I　knew　they　had　killed　two　people；　and　I　was　sure　one　or　both　of　you　were　dead。　I　have　to　tell　you；　brothers　of　mine；　that　when　you　arrived；　I　thought　I　had　died　and　gone　to　hell…and　you　were　the　reception　mittee。〃　He　gave　a　dry　little　laugh。　〃We　left　the　boats　at　the　Falls　and　followed　Father's　trail　on　foot。　Hauser　could　track　a　mouse　in　the　jungle　if　he　had　a　mind　to。　He　kept　me　around　because　he　had　the　idea　of　using　me　as　a　bargaining　chip　with　you。　He　ran　into　a　group　of　mountain　Indians；　killed　several；　and　chased　the　rest　back　to　the　village。　He　then　attacked　the　village　and　managed　to　capture　the　chief。　I　didn't　see　any　of　this；　I　was　kept　behind　under　ball　and　chain；　but　I　saw　the　results。〃
　He　shuddered。　〃Once　he　had　the　chief　as　a　hostage；　we　made　our　way　up　into　the　mountains　toward　the　White　City。〃