pdouglas.thecodex-第48章

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　below。
　The　shaking　subsided。
　〃Stand　up；　Philip。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You've　got　to。　Now。〃　Time　was　the　one　thing　they　didn't　have。　The　mists　had　cleared。　The　klieg　light　was　shining　brightly。　All　the　soldiers　had　to　do　was　turn　and　look。　He　extended　his　hand。　〃Grab　my　hand　and　I'll　lift　you　up。〃
　Philip　raised　a　shaking　hand；　and　Tom　grasped　it　and　slowly　pulled　his　brother　up。　The　bridge　swayed；　and　Philip　clutched　at　the　vertical　cords。　There　was　another　series　of　gusts；　and　the　bridge　began　to　shudder　and　sway　in　that　awful　way　again。　Philip　moaned　in　terror。　Tom　himself　held　on　for　dear　life；　his　body　thrown　from　side　to　side。　Five　minutes　went　by　while　the　bridge　shuddered；　the　longest　five　minutes　of　his　life。　He　could　feel　his　arms　aching　from　the　effort。　Finally　the　shaking　subsided。
　〃Let　s　go。〃
　Philip　moved　one　foot；　gingerly　placed　it　ahead　on　the　cable；　then　another；　then　moved　his　hands；　sidestepping　along。　In　five　minutes　they　had　reached　the　far　side。　Borabay　and　Vernon　had　been　waiting　for　them　in　the　darkness；　and　together　they　plunged　into　the　cloudforest；　running　as　fast　as　they　could。
　
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　Borabay　led　the　way　through　the　forest；　and　his　three　brothers　followed；　moving　in　single　file。　Their　way　was　lit　by　that　strange　phosphorescence　Tom　had　seen　earlier；　every　rotting　stump　and　log　was　etched　in　faint　green　light；　shimmering　like　ghosts　in　the　forest。　It　no　longer　looked　beautiful…only　menacing。
　After　twenty　minutes　a　broken　stone　wall　loomed　ahead。　Borabay　stopped　and　crouched　down；　and　suddenly　there　was　a　flare　of　light　and　he　stood　up　holding　a　burning　bundle　of　reeds。　The　wall　leapt　into　view：　It　was　made　with　giant　limestone　blocks；　almost　obscured　by　a　heavy　mat　of　vines。　Tom　glimpsed　a　bas…relief…faces　in　profile；　a　row　of　hollow…eyed　skulls；　fantastical　jaguars；　birds　with　huge　talons　and　gaping　eyes。
　〃The　city　walls。〃
　They　walked　along　the　wall　for　a　moment　and　came　to　a　small　doorway　with　vines　hanging　down　across　it　like　a　beaded　curtain。　Pushing　the　vines　aside；　they　ducked　through。
　In　the　feeble　light　Borabay　reached　out；　grasped　Philip's　arm；　and　drew　him　toward　him。　〃Little　brother　Philip；　you　brave。〃
　〃No；　Borabay；　I'm　a　dreadful　coward　and　a　hindrance。〃
　Borabay　gave　him　an　affectionate　slap　on　the　arm。　〃Not　true。　I　scared　out　of　shit　there。〃
　〃Scared　shitless。〃
　〃Thankee。〃　Borabay　cupped　the　brand　and　blew　on　it；　brightening　the　flame。　His　face　glowed　in　the　light；　making　his　green　eyes　golden；　highlighting　his　Broadbent　chin　and　finely　formed　lips。　〃We　go　to　tombs　now。　We　go　find　Father。〃
　They　passed　through　the　doorway　into　a　ruined　courtyard。　A　staircase　mounted　up　the　side。　Borabay　flitted　across　the　courtyard　and　climbed　the　stairs；　and　the　others　followed。　He　turned　right；　walked　along　the　top　of　the　wall；　cupping　the　brand　to　obscure　the　light；　and　descended　a　staircase　on　the　other　side。　There　was　a　sudden　shriek　in　the　trees　above　and　a　motion；　the　treetops　thrashing　and　snapping。　Tom　jumped。
　〃Monkeys；〃　whispered　Borabay；　but　he　paused；　his　face　troubled。　Then　he　shook　his　head　and　they　went　on；　passing　through　a　jumble　of　toppled　columns　into　an　inner　courtyard。　The　courtyard　was　full　of　fallen　blocks　of　stone；　some　measuring　ten　feet　on　a　side；　that　had　once　formed　a　gigantic　head。　Tom　could　see　a　nose　here；　a　staring　eye　there；　an　ear　elsewhere；　poking　up　helter…skelter　from　the　riot　of　vegetation　and　snaking　tree　roots。　They　climbed　over　the　blocks　and　passed　through　a　doorway　framed　by　stone　jaguars　into　an　underground　passageway。　The　air　moving　through　the　corridor　smelled　cool　and　moldy。　The　brand　flickered。　The　flame　revealed　they　were　in　a　tunnel　of　stone；　the　walls　crusted　with　lime；　the　ceiling　bristling　with　stalactites。　Insects　rustled　and　skittered　across　the　damp　walls　seeking　refuge　from　the　light。　A　fat　viper　jerked　itself　into　an　S…coil　with　its　head　raised　in　striking　position。　It　hissed；　swaying　slightly；　its　slitted　eyes　reflecting　the　orange　flame。　They　gave　the　snake　a　wide　berth　and　went　on。　Through　cave…ins　in　the　stone　ceding　Tom　could　see　a　scattering　of　stars　though　the　swaying　treetops；　lashed　by　wind。　They　went　past　an　old　stone　altar　littered　with　bones；　out　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel；　and　across　a　platform　dotted　with　broken　statues；　heads　and　arms　and　legs　emerging　from　the　tangle　of　vines　like　a　crowd　of　monsters　drowning　in　a　sea　of　vines。
　Suddenly　they　came　to　the　edge　of　a　vast　precipice…the　far　side　of　the　plateau。　Beyond　stretched　a　sea　of　jagged　black　mountain　peaks；　faintly　backlit　by　starlight。　Borabay　paused　to　light　a　fresh　brand。　He　tossed　the　spent　torch　over　the　cliff；　where　it　flickered　and　disappeared　into　the　blackness　below。　He　led　them　along　a　trail　skirting　the　edge；　then　through　a　cleverly　hidden　gap　in　the　rock　that　seemed　to　lead　over　the　sheer　cliff。　But　as　they　came　through　the　gap　a　trail　appeared；　chiseled　into　the　cliff；　being　a　steep　staircase　cut　into　the　very　rock　of　the　mountain。　It　switchbacked　down　the　cliff　and　ended　at　a　terrace…a　stone　balcony　of　sorts…paved　with　smoothly　fitted　stones；　made　by　an　undercut　into　the　cliff；　which　rendered　it　invisible　from　above。　On　one　side　the　jagged　cliffs　of　the　White　City　mesa　mounted　up。　On　the　other　side　was　a　sheer　drop　of　thousands　of　feet　into　blackness。　Hundreds　of　black　doors　riddled　the　cliffs　above；　with　precipitous　trails　and　staircases　connecting　them。
　〃Place　of　tombs；〃　said　Borabay。
　The　wind　shivered　and　gusted　around　them；　bringing　with　it　the　sickly…sweet　smell　of　some　nightblooming　flower。　Here　they　could　not　hear　the　sounds　of　the　jungle　above　them…only　the　rising　and　falling　of　the　wind。　It　was　an　eerie；　haunting　place。
　My　God；　thought　Tom；　to　think　that　Father's　up　in　those　cliffs　somewhere。
　Borabay　led　them　through　a　dark　doorway　in　the　cliff；　and　they　now　ascended　a　spiral　staircase　cut　into　the　rock。　The　cliff　face　was　honeybed　with　tombs；　and　the　staircase　passed　open　niches　with　bones　inside　them；　a　skull　with　a　bit　of　hair；　bony　hands　with　rings　winking　on　the　fingers；　mummified　bodies　rustling　with　insects；　mice；　and　small　snakes；　disturbed　by　the　light　and　retreating　back　into　darkness。　Several　niches　they　passed　contained　fresh　corpses；　emanating　a　smell　of　decay；　there　the　rustlings　of　animals　and　insects　were　even　louder。　They　passed　one　corpse　on　which　several　large　rats　were　crouched；　eating。
　〃How　many　of　these　tombs　did　Father　rob？〃　Philip　asked。
　〃Only　one；〃　said　Borabay。　〃But　it　was　richest　one。〃
　Some　of　the　tomb　doors　were　smashed；　as　if　broken　into　by　grave　robbers　or　shaken　loose　by　ancient　earthquakes。　At　one　point　Borabay　stopped　and　picked　something　up　off　the　ground。　Silently　he　handed　it　to　Tom。　It　was　a　shiny　wing　nut。
　The　staircase　turned　and　ended　on　a　ledge　halfway　up　the　cliff　face；　about　ten　feet　wide。　There　was　a　massive　stone　door；　the　largest　they　had　seen；　which　faced　outward　across　the　dark　sea　of　mountains　and　the　starry　night　sky　above。　Borabay　held　the　burning　brand　up　to　the　door；　and　they　stood　looking　at　it。　All　the　other　tomb　doors　had　been　unadorned；　this　one；　however；　had　a　small　relief　carved　into　its　face；　a　Mayan　glyph。　Borabay　paused；　then　took　a　step　backward；　saying　something　in　his　own　language；　like　a　prayer。　Then　he　turned　and　whispered。
　〃Father's　tomb。〃
　
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　The　old　gray　men　sat　arrayed　like　mummies　around　the　boardroom　table；　high　above　the　city　of　Geneva。　Julian　Clyve　faced　them　across　the　wilderness　of　polished　wood；　beyond　which；　through　the　wall　of　glass；　was　spread　the　Lake　of　Geneva　with　its　giant　fountain；　like　a　little　white　flower　far　below　them。
　〃We　trust；〃　said　the　head　man；　〃that　you　received　the　advance。〃
　Clyve　nodded。　A　million　dollars。　These　days　not　a　lot　of　money；　but　more　than　what　he　was　earning　at　Yale。　These　men　were　getting　a　bargain　and　they　knew　it。　No　matter。　The　two　million　was　for　the　manuscript。　They　still　had　to　pay　him　for　the　translation。　Sure；　there　were　others　who　could　now　translate　ancient　Maya；　but　only　he　could　manage　the　difficult　archaic　dialect　that　the　manuscript　was　written　in。　He　and　Sally；　that　is。　They　hadn't　yet　discussed　the　particulars　of　his　translation　fees。　One　step　at　a　time。
　〃We　called　you　here；〃　the　man　continued；　〃because　there　is　a　rumor。〃
　They　had　been　speaking　in　English；　but　Clyve　decided　to　respond　in　German；　which　he　spoke　fluently；　as　a　way　of　throwing　them　off　balance。　〃Whatever　I　can　do　to　help。〃
　There　was　an　unfortable　shifting　in　the　wall　of　gray；　and　the　man　continued　to　speak　in　English。　〃There　is　a　pharmaceutical　pany　in　the　United　States　by　the　name　of　Lampe…Denison。　Do　you　know　of　it？〃
　Clyve　continued　in　German。　〃I　believe　I　do。　One　of　the　big　ones。〃
　The　man　nodded。　〃The　rumor　is　that　they　are　acquiring　a　ninth…century　Mayan　medicinal　codex　containing　two　thousand　pages　of　indigenous　medical　prescriptions。〃
　〃There　can't　be　two。　It's　impossible。〃
　〃That　is　right。　There　can't　be　two。　And　yet　the　rumor　exists。　The　price　of　Lampe　stock　has　risen　more　than　twenty　percent　over　the　past　week　as　a　result。〃
　The　seven　gray　men　continued　looking　at　Clyve；　waiting　for　his　answer。　Clyve　shifted；　crossed　his　legs；　then　recrossed　them。　He　had　a　momentary　frisson　of　fear。　What　if　the　Broadbents　had　somehow　made　other　arrangements　for　the　Codex？　But　they　hadn't。　Before　she　left；　Sally　had　reported　back　to　him　in　detail　on　how　things　stood；　and　since　then　the　Broadbents　had　been　inmunicado　in　the　jungle；　unable　to　strike　deals。　The　Codex　was　free　and　clear。　And　he　had　great　faith　in　Sally　to　do　his　bidding。　She　was　bright；　capable；　and　very　much　under　his　thumb。　He　shrugged。　〃The　rumor's　false。　I　control　the　Codex。　From　Honduras　it'll　be　ing　directly　into　my　hands。〃
　Another　silence。
　〃We　have　deliberately　refrained　from　inquiring　into　your　affairs；　Professor　Clyve；〃　continued　the　man。　〃But　now　you　have　one　million　of　our　dollars。　Which　means　we　are　concerned。　Perhaps　the　rumor　isn't　true。　Very　well。　I　would　like　an　explanation　for　the　very　existence　of　this　information。〃
　〃If　you're　implying　that　I've　been　careless；　I　can　assure　you　I've　spoken　to　no　one。〃
　〃No　one？〃
　〃Except　my　colleague；　Sally　Colorado…naturally。〃
　〃And　she？〃
　〃She's　deep　in　the　Honduran　jungle。　She　can't　even　contact　me。　How　could　she　contact　anyone　else？　And　she　is　the　soul　of　discretion。〃
　The　silence　around　the　table　stretched　on　for　a　minute。　Was　this　what　they　had　called　him　all　the　way　to　Geneva　for？　Clyve　didn't　like　it。　He　didn't　like　it　at　all。　He　was　not　their　whipping　boy。　He　rose。　〃I　am　offended　by　the　imputation；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　keep　my　end　of　the　bargain；　and　that's　all　you　gentlemen　need　to　know。　You'll　get　the　Codex；　and　you'll　pay　me　the　second　million…and　then　we'll　discuss　my　fees　for　translating　it。〃
　That　was　greeted　with　a　further　silence。　〃Fees　for　translating　it？〃　the　man　repeated。
　〃Unless　you　intend　to　translate　it　yourselves。〃　They　looked　like　they'd　just　sucked　lemons。　What　a　gaggle　of　morons　they　were。　Clyve　despised　businessmen　like　these：　uneducated；　ignorant；　their　slavering　greed　hidden　behind　a　genteel　facade　of　expensively　tailored　fabric。
　〃We　hope　for　your　sake；　Professor；　that　you　will　do　what　you've　promised。〃
　〃Don't