pdouglas.thecodex-第8章

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　It　was　a　relief　when　the　Teacher　raised　his　head。　He　took　Vernon's　hands　and　enclosed　them　within　his　own。　His　blue　eyes　were　unusually　bright。
　〃Few　are　given　the　opportunity　that　you　have　been　given；　Vernon。　You　must　not　let　this　opportunity　pass　you　by。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　The　Teacher　stood　and　spoke　with　power　and　resonance　in　his　voice。　〃We　need　to　recover　that　inheritance。　We　need　to　recover　it　now。
　
　8
　
　By　the　time　Tom　had　finished　doctoring　the　sick　horse；　the　sun　was　setting　over　Toh　Ateen　mesa；　casting　long　golden　shadows　across　the　sagebrush　and　chamisa。　Beyond　rose　up　a　thousand…foot　wall　of　sculpted　sandstone；　glowing　red　in　the　dying　light。　Tom　gave　the　animal　another　quick　lookover　and　patted　him　on　the　neck。　He　turned　to　the　Navajo　girl…the　horse's　owner。　〃He's　going　to　make　it。　Just　a　touch　of　sand　colic。〃
　She　broke　into　a　relieved　smile。
　〃Right　now　he's　hungry。　Lead　him　around　the　corral　a　few　times　and　then　give　him　a　scoop　of　psyllium　mixed　in　with　his　oats。　Let　him　water　afterwards。　Wait　half　an　hour；　then　give　him　some　hay。　He'll　be　fine。〃
　The　Navajo　grandmother　who　had　ridden　on　horseback　five　miles　to　the　vet　clinic　to　get　him…the　road　was　washed　out；　as　usual…took　his　hand。　〃Thank　you；　doctor。〃
　Tom　gave　a　little　bow。　〃At　your　service。〃　He　thought　ahead　to　the　ride　back　to　Bluff　with　anticipation。　He　was　glad　the　road　had　washed　out；　giving　him　the　excuse　for　a　long　ride。　It　had　wasted　half　his　day；　but　the　trail　had　taken　him　through　some　of　the　most　beautiful　red…rock　country　in　the　Southwest；　through　the　Jurassic　sandstone　beds　known　as　the　Morrison　Formation；　rich　with　dinosaur　fossils。　There　were　a　lot　of　remote　canyons　running　up　into　Toh　Ateen　mesa；　and　Tom　wondered　if　any　paleontologists　had　ever　explored　up　there。　Probably　not。　Someday；　he　thought；　he'd　take　a　little　side　trip　up　one　of　those　canyons　。。。
　He　shook　his　head　and　smiled　to　himself。　The　desert　was　a　fine　place　to　clear　your　mind；　and　he　had　had　a　lot　of　clearing　to　do。　This　crazy　business　with　his　father　had　been　the　biggest　shock　of　his　life。
　〃What　do　we　owe　you；　doctor？〃　the　grandmother　asked；　breaking　his　reverie。
　Tom　glanced　around　at　the　shabby　tar…paper　hogan；　the　broken…down　car　half　sunk　in　tumbleweeds；　the　skinny　sheep　milling　in　the　pen。
　〃Five　dollars。〃
　The　woman　fished　into　her　velveteen　blouse　and　removed　some　soiled　dollar　bills；　counting　out　five　for　him。
　Tom　had　touched　his　hat　and　had　just　turned　to　get　his　horse　when　he　noticed　a　tiny　cloud　of　dust　on　the　horizon。　The　two　Navajos　had　also　noticed　it。　A　horse　and　rider　were　approaching　fast　from　the　north；　from　the　direction　he　had　e；　the　dark　speck　getting　bigger　in　the　great　golden　bowl　of　the　desert。　He　wondered　if　it　was　Shane；　his　vet　partner。　It　alarmed　him。　It　would　have　to　be　one　hell　of　an　emergency　for　Shane　to　ride　out　there　to　get　him。
　As　the　figure　materialized；　he　realized　it　wasn't　Shane　but　a　woman。　And　she　was　riding　his　horse　Knock。
　The　woman　trotted　into　the　settlement；　covered　with　dust　from　her　journey；　the　horse　lathered　up　and　blowing。　She　stopped　and　swung　down。　She　had　been　riding　bareback　without　even　a　bridle　across　almost　eight　miles　of　empty　desert。　Absolutely；　totally　crazy。　And　what　was　she　doing　with　his　best　horse　and　not　one　of　Shane's　glue…plugs？　He　was　going　to　kill　Shane。
　She　strode　toward　him。　〃I'm　Sally　Colorado；〃　she　said。　〃I　tried　to　find　you　at　your　clinic；　but　your　partner　said　you'd　ridden　out　here。　So　here　I　am。〃　With　a　rustle　of　honey…colored　hair；　she　held　out　her　hand。　Tom；　caught　off　guard；　took　it。　Her　hair　had　spilled　down　her　shoulders　over　a　white　cotton　shirt；　now　powdered　with　dust。　The　shirt　was　tucked　in　at　a　slender　waist；　which　itself　was　snugged　into　a　pair　of　jeans。　There　was　a　faint　scent　of　peppermint　about　her。　When　she　smiled　it　seemed　her　eyes　had　changed　color　from　green　to　blue；　so　bright　was　the　effect。　She　wore　a　pair　of　turquoise　earrings；　but　the　color　in　her　eyes　was　even　richer　than　the　color　of　the　stone。
　After　a　moment　Tom　realized　he　was　still　holding　her　hand；　and　released　it。
　〃I　just　had　to　find　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　couldn't　wait。〃
　〃An　emergency？〃
　〃It's　not　a　vet　emergency；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　〃Then　what　kind　of　emergency　is　it？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　on　the　ride　back。〃
　〃Damn　it；〃　Tom　exploded；　〃I　can't　believe　Shane　let　you　take　my　best　horse　and　ride　it　like　that；　without　a　saddle　or　bridle。　You　could　have　been　killed！〃
　〃Shane　didn't　give　him　to　me。〃　The　girl　smiled。
　〃How　did　you　get　him；　then？〃
　〃I　stole　him。〃
　It　took　a　moment　of　consternation　before　Tom　could　bring　himself　to　laugh。
　
　The　sun　had　set　by　the　time　they　headed　north；　riding　together；　back　to　Bluff。　For　a　while　they　rode　in　silence；　and　then　Tom　finally　said；　〃All　right。　Let's　hear　what　was　so　important　that　you　had　to　steal　a　horse　for　it　and　risk　your　neck。〃
　〃Well　。。。〃　she　hesitated。
　〃I'm　all　ears；　Miss　。。。　Colorado。　If　that's　really　your　name。〃
　〃It's　an　odd　name；　I　know。　My　great…grandfather　was　in　vaudeville。　He　did　the　patent　medicine　circuit　dressed　as　an　Indian；　and　he　took　Colorado　as　his　stage　name。　It　was　better　than　our　old　name…Smith…and　so　it　kind　of　stuck。　Call　me　Sally。〃
　〃All　right；　Sally。　Let's　hear　your　story。〃　Tom　found　himself　watching　her　ride　with　a　feeling　of　pleasure。　She　looked　like　she'd　been　born　on　a　horse。　A　lot　of　money　must　have　gone　into　that　straight；　easy；　and　centered　seat　of　hers。
　〃I'm　an　anthropologist；〃　Sally　began。　〃More　specifically；　I'm　an　ethnopharmacologist。　I　study　indigenous　medicine　with　Professor　Julian　Clyve　at　Yale。　He　was　the　man　who　cracked　Mayan　hieroglyphics　a　few　years　ago。　A　really　brilliant　piece　of　work。　It　was　in　all　the　papers。〃
　〃No　doubt。〃　She　had　a　sharp；　clean　profile；　a　small　nose；　and　a　funny　way　of　sticking　out　her　lower　lip。　She　had　a　little　dimple　when　she　smiled；　but　only　on　one　side　of　her　mouth。　Her　hair　was　dark　gold；　and　it　bent　in　a　glistening　curve　over　her　slender　shoulders　before　heading　down　her　back。　She　was　an　amazingly　beautiful　woman。
　〃Professor　Clyve　has　assembled　the　largest　collection　of　Mayan　writing　in　existence；　a　library　of　every　inscription　known　in　ancient　Mayan。　It　consists　of　rubbings　from　stone　inscriptions；　pages　from　Mayan　codices；　and　copies　of　inscriptions　on　pots　and　tablets。　His　library　is　consulted　by　scholars　from　all　over　the　world。〃
　Tom　could　just　see　the　doddering　old　pedagogue　shuffling　among　his　heaps　of　dusty　manuscripts。
　〃The　greatest　of　the　Mayan　inscriptions　were　contained　in　what　we　call　codices。　They　were　the　original　books　of　the　Maya；　written　in　glyphs　on　bark　paper。　The　Spanish　burned　most　of　them　as　books　of　the　devil；　but　a　couple　of　inplete　codices　managed　to　survive　here　and　there。　A　plete　Mayan　codex　has　never　been　found。　Last　year；　Professor　Clyve　found　this　in　the　back　of　a　filing　cabinet　that　belonged　to　one　of　his　deceased　colleagues。〃
　She　drew　a　folded　sheet　of　paper　out　of　her　breast　pocket　and　handed　it　to　him。　Tom　took　it。　It　was　an　old；　yellowing　photocopy　of　a　page　of　a　manuscript　written　in　hieroglyphics；　with　some　drawings　of　leaves　and　flowers　in　the　margins。　It　looked　vaguely　familiar。　Tom　wondered　where　he　had　seen　it　before。
　〃Writing　was　invented　only　three　times　independently　in　the　history　of　the　human　race。　Mayan　hieroglyphics　was　one　of　them。〃
　〃My　Mayan　reading　skills　are　a　little　rusty。　What　does　it　say？〃
　〃It　describes　the　medicinal　qualities　of　a　certain　plant　found　in　the　Central　American　rainforest。〃
　〃What　does　it　do？　Cure　cancer？〃
　Sally　smiled。　〃If　only。　The　plant　is　called　the　K'ik'…te；　or　blood　tree。　This　page　describes　how　you　boil　the　bark；　add　ashes　as　an　alkali；　and　apply　the　paste　as　a　poultice　to　a　wound。〃
　〃Interesting。〃　Tom　handed　the　sheet　back　to　her。
　〃It's　more　than　interesting：　It's　medically　correct。　There's　a　mild　antibiotic　in　the　bark。〃
　They　were　now　on　the　slickrock　plateau。　A　pair　of　coyotes　howled　mournfully　in　a　distant　canyon。　They　had　to　go　single　file　now。　Sally　rode　behind　while　Tom　listened。
　〃That　page　es　from　a　Mayan　codex　of　medicine。　It　was　probably　written　around　800　A。D。；　at　the　height　of　the　Classic　Maya　civilization。　It　contains　two　thousand　medical　prescriptions　and　preparations；　not　just　from　plants　but　from　everything　in　the　rainforest…insects；　animals；　and　even　minerals。　There　may　in　fact　be　a　cure　for　cancer　in　there；　or　at　least　some　types　of　cancer。　Professor　Clyve　asked　me　to　locate　the　owner　and　see　if　I　couldn't　arrange　for　him　to　translate　and　publish　the　codex。　It's　the　only　plete　Mayan　codex　known。　It　would　be　a　stunning　cap　to　his　already　distinguished　career。〃
　〃And　for　yours；　too；　I　imagine。〃
　〃Yes。　Here's　a　book　that　contains　all　the　medicinal　secrets　of　the　rainforest；　accumulated　over　centuries。　We're　talking　about　the　richest　rainforest　in　the　world；　with　hundreds　of　thousands　of　species　of　plants　and　animals…many　still　unknown　to　science。　The　Maya　knew　every　plant；　every　animal；　everything　in　that　rainforest。　And　everything　they　knew　went　into　this　book！〃
　She　trotted　her　horse　alongside　him。　Her　loose　hair　spilled　and　swung　as　she　caught　up。　〃Do　you　realize　what　this　means？〃
　〃Surely；〃　said　Tom；　〃medicine　has　advanced　a　long　way　from　the　ancient　Maya。〃
　Sally　Colorado　snorted。　〃Twenty…five　percent　of　all　our　drugs　originally　came　from　plants。　And　yet；　only　one…half　of　one　percent　of　the　world's　265；000　plant　species　have　been　evaluated　for　their　medicinal　properties。　Think　of　the　potential！　The　most　successful　and　effective　drug　in　history…aspirin…was　originally　discovered　in　the　bark　of　a　tree　used　by　natives　to　cure　aches　and　pains。　Taxol；　an　important　anti…cancer　drug；　also　es　from　tree　bark。　Cortisone　es　from　yams；　and　the　heart　medication　digitalis　es　from　foxglove。　Penicillin　was　first　extracted　from　mold。　Tom；　this　codex　could　be　the　greatest　medical　discovery　ever。〃
　〃I　see　your　point。〃
　〃When　Professor　Clyve　and　I　translate　and　publish　this　codex；　it　will　revolutionize　medicine。　And　if　that　doesn't　convince　you；　here's　something　else。　The　Central　American　rainforest　is　disappearing　under　the　loggers'　saws。　This　book　will　save　it。　The　rainforest　will　suddenly　be　worth　a　lot　more　standing　up　than　cut　down。　Drug　panies　will　pay　those　countries　billions　in　royalties。〃
　〃No　doubt　keeping　a　tidy　profit　themselves。　So　what's　this　book　got　to　do　with　me？〃
　A　full　moon　was　now　rising　over　the　Hobgoblin　Rocks；　painting　them　silver。　It　was　a　lovely　evening。
　〃The　Codex　belongs　to　your　father。〃
　Tom　stopped　his　horse　and　looked　at　her。
　〃Maxwell　Broadbent　stole　it　from　a　Mayan　tomb　almost　forty　years　ago。　He　wrote　to　Yale　asking　for　help　in　translating　it。　But　Mayan　script　hadn't　been　cracked　then。　The　man　who　got　the　letter　assumed　it　was　a　fake　and　shoved　it　in　an　old　file　without　even　answering。　Professor　Clyve　found　it　forty　years　later。　He　instantly　knew　it　was　real。　No　one　could　fake　Mayan　script　forty　years　ago　for　the　simple　reason　that　no　one　could　read　it。　But　Professor　Clyve　could　read　it：　He's　the　only　man　on　earth；　in　fact；　who　can　read　Mayan　script　fluently。　I've　been　trying　to　reach　your　father　for　weeks；　but　he　seems　to　have　dropped　off　the　face　of　the　earth。　So　finally　i