pdouglas.thecodex-第19部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　a　good　idea。〃
　What　the　hell　was　he　thinking？　Tom　pulled　away；　angry　and　humiliated。
　The　awkward　moment　was　interrupted　by　a　sudden　banging　at　the　door。　〃Dinner；〃　cried　one　of　the　soldiers。　The　door　opened　briefly；　letting　in　light；　then　slammed　shut。　He　heard　the　soldier　relock　the　padlock。
　Tom　shined　the　flashlight　over　and　picked　up　the　tray。　Dinner　consisted　of　two　warm　Pepsis；　some　bean　tortillas；　and　a　heap　of　tepid　rice。　Neither　of　them　felt　like　eating。　For　a　moment　they　sat　there　in　the　darkness。　The　aching　in　Tom's　head　subsided；　and　as　it　did　he　began　to　get　mad。　The　soldiers　had　no　right。　He　and　Sally　had　done　nothing　wrong。　He　felt　that　their　phony　arrest　had　probably　been　engineered　by　the　nameless　enemy　who　had　killed　Barnaby　and　Fenton。　His　brothers　were　in　even　more　danger　than　he　thought。
　〃Give　me　the　flashlight。〃
　He　shined　it　around。　The　shed　couldn't　have　been　more　shoddily　built；　just　a　post…and…beam　frame　with　boards　nailed　over　it　and　a　tin　roof。　An　idea　began　to　take　shape…a　plan　of　escape。
　
　18
　
　At　three　o'clock　that　morning　they　took　their　places；　Sally　by　the　door　and　Tom　braced　at　the　back　wall。　He　whispered　a　three…count　and　they　both　kicked　simultaneously；　Sally's　assault　on　the　door　masking　the　sound　of　Tom's　kick　to　the　boards　on　the　back　wall。　The　bined　blows　sounded　like　one；　ringing　loudly　in　the　confined　space。　The　shabby　board　popped　off；　just　as　Tom　hoped。
　Dogs　began　to　bark　in　the　village；　and　one　of　the　soldiers　cursed。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　〃I　have　to　go　to　the　bathroom！〃　Sally　cried。
　〃No；　no；　you　must　go　in　there。〃
　Tom　whispered　the　countdown　again；　one；　two；　three；　kick。　Sally　gave　the　door　another　blow　while　he　kicked　out　a　second　board。
　〃Stop！〃　said　the　soldier。
　〃But　I　have　to　go；　cabrón！〃
　〃Se？orita；　I　am　sorry；　but　you　must　take　care　of　it　in　there。　I　am　under　orders　not　to　open　the　door。〃
　One；　two；　three；　kick！
　The　third　board　popped　off。　The　opening　was　now　big　enough　to　squeeze　through。　The　dogs　in　town　were　barking　hysterically。
　〃One　more　kick　and　I　call　the　teniente！〃
　〃But　I　have　to　go！〃
　〃There　is　nothing　I　can　do。〃
　〃You　soldiers　are　barbarians。〃
　〃It　is　our　orders；　se？orita。〃
　〃That's　just　what　Hitler's　soldiers　said。〃
　〃Sally；　let's　go；〃　hissed　Tom；　gesturing　to　her　in　the　dark。
　〃Hitler　was　not　such　a　bad　man；　se？orita。　He　made　the　trains　run　on　time。〃
　〃That　was　Mussolini；　you　idiot。　You　two　will　end　up　on　the　gallows；　and　good　riddance。〃
　〃Sally！〃　Tom　called。
　Sally　came　back。　〃Did　you　hear　what　those　Nazis　just　said？〃
　He　pushed　her　through　the　hole　and　handed　out　their　sleeping　bags。　They　ran　at　a　crouch　down　the　jungle　track　toward　the　town。　The　town　had　no　electricity；　but　the　sky　was　clear　and　moonlight　bathed　the　empty　streets。　The　dogs　were　already　barking；　and　they　were　able　to　pass　through　without　creating　a　further　alarm。　Despite　the　noise　nobody　was　stirring。
　These　people　have　learned　to　mind　their　own　business；　Tom　thought。
　In　five　minutes　they　were　down　by　the　boats。　Tom　flashed　the　light　over　the　army　dugout；　the　one　with　the　eighteen…horse　engine。　It　was　in　good　order；　with　two　large　plastic　tanks　of　gasoline；　both　full。　He　began　untying　the　prow。　Suddenly　he　heard　a　voice；　speaking　low；　from　the　darkness。
　〃You　no　want　that　boat。〃
　It　was　the　man　they　had　hired　earlier　that　day。
　〃We　sure　as　hell　do；〃　hissed　Tom。
　〃Let　stupid　army　mans　take　that　boat。　Water　going　down。　At　every　bend　in　river　they　get　stuck。　You　take　my　boat。　You　no　get　stuck。　That　way　you　escape。〃　He　leapt　like　a　cat　onto　the　dock　and　untied　a　slender　dugout　with　a　six…horsepower　engine。　〃Get　in。〃
　〃Are　you　ing　with　us？〃　Sally　asked。
　〃No。　I　tell　stupid　army　mans　you　rob　me。〃　He　started　unhooking　the　gas　tanks　from　the　army　boat　and　loading　them　into　the　back　of　their　dugout　canoe。　He　also　gave　them　the　gas　tank　from　the　other　boat。　Tom　and　Sally　climbed　in。　Tom　fished　in　his　pocket　and　offered　the　man　some　money。
　〃Not　now。　If　they　search　me　and　find　money；　I　get　shot。〃
　〃How　can　we　pay　you？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃You　pay　me　million　dollar　later。　My　name　Manuel　Waono。　I　always　here。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute。　A　million　dollars？〃
　〃You　rich　American；　you　easy　pay　me　million　dollar。　I；　Manuel　Waono；　save　your　life。　You　go　now。　Fast。〃
　〃How　do　we　find　Pito　Solo？〃
　〃Last　village　on　river。〃
　〃But　how　do　we　know…〃
　The　Indian　wasn't　interested　in　making　any　more　explanations。　He　pushed　them　off　with　a　big　bare　foot；　and　the　boat　slid　into　the　blackness。
　Tom　lowered　the　engine　into　the　water；　primed　it；　choked　it；　gave　it　a　pull。　Instantly　it　roared　into　life。　In　the　silence；　the　sound　was　high　pitched　and　loud。
　〃Go！〃　said　Manuel　from　shore。
　Tom　threw　the　boat　into　forward。　He　turned　the　throttle　as　far　as　it　would　go；　and　the　tinny　engine　whined　and　shuddered。　The　long　wooden　canoe　began　to　move　through　the　water。　Tom　steered　while　Sally　stood　in　the　bow；　probing　the　river　ahead　with　the　flashlight。
　Not　a　minute　later；　back　at　the　dock；　Manuel　began　shouting　in　Spanish：　〃Help！　I　am　robbed！　My　boat；　they　stole　my　boat！〃
　〃Christ；　he　didn't　wait　long；〃　Tom　muttered。
　Soon　a　cacophony　of　excited　voices　came　drifting　toward　them　over　the　dark　river。　Then　the　bright　light　of　a　gas　lantern　came　bobbing　down　the　embankment；　along　with　flashlights；　illuminating　a　knot　of　people　gathering　on　the　makeshift　dock。　There　was　some　angry　and　confused　shouting　and　then　a　sudden　hush。　A　voice　rang　out　in　English：　the　voice　of　Lieutenant　Vespán。　〃Turn　around　or　I　order　my　men　to　shoot；　please！〃
　〃He's　bullshitting；〃　said　Sally。
　Tom　didn't　feel　quite　so　sure。
　〃Do　not　think　I　am　joking！〃　the　teniente　shouted。
　〃He'll　never　shoot；〃　said　Sally。
　〃One　。。。　two　。。。〃
　〃It's　a　crock；〃　said　Sally。
　〃Three　。。。〃
　There　was　a　silence。
　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃
　There　was　a　sudden　burst　of　automatic…weapons　fire　ing　across　the　water；　shockingly　loud　and　close。
　〃Shit！〃　Tom　yelled；　throwing　himself　down。　As　the　boat　began　to　yaw；　he　quickly　reached　up　with　one　hand　and　steadied　the　engine　handle。
　Sally　was　still　standing　in　the　prow；　unconcerned。　〃Tom；　they're　shooting　into　the　air。　They're　not　going　to　risk　hitting　us。　We're　Americans。〃
　There　was　a　second　burst　of　gunfire。　This　time　Tom　distinctly　heard　the　slap　of　bullets　hitting　the　water　around　them。　Instantly　Sally　landed　on　the　floor　of　the　dugout　next　to　him。　〃Jesus　Christ；　they　are　shooting　at　us！〃　she　cried。
　Tom　reached　up　and　shoved　the　tiller　sideways；　sending　the　dugout　into　a　sharp　evasive　maneuver。　There　were　two　more　short　bursts　of　gunfire。　This　time　he　heard　the　whine　of　bullets　overhead　and　to　the　left；　like　bees。　They　were　evidently　aiming　for　the　sound　of　the　engine；　raking　the　water　back　and　forth　with　their　automatic　weapons。　And　they　were　most　definitely　shooting　to　kill。
　He　steered　the　boat　on　a　zigzag　course；　trying　to　throw　the　shooters　off　their　aim。　At　each　lull；　Sally　raised　her　head　and　shined　the　light　ahead　so　they　could　see　where　they　were　going。　They　would　be　safe；　at　least　for　the　moment；　once　they　got　around　the　bend　in　the　river。
　There　was　another　burst；　and　this　time　several　rounds　nicked　the　gunwale；　showering　them　with　splinters。
　〃Shit！〃
　〃We　will　e　and　get　you！〃　rose　up　the　voice　of　the　lieutenant；　fainter　now。　〃We　will　find　you；　and　then　you　will　be　very　sorry　for　the　very　short　remainder　of　your　very　miserable　lives。〃
　Tom　counted　to　twenty　and　risked　another　look　ahead。　Slowly　the　boat　came　around　the　bend；　out　of　the　line　of　fire。　Tom　steered　as　close　to　the　wall　of　vegetation　as　he　dared。　As　they　went　around　the　bend；　the　lights　at　the　little　landing　flickered　through　the　leaves　and　then　were　gone。
　They　had　made　it。
　There　was　another　halfhearted　burst　of　gunfire。　Tom　heard　a　snipping　and　cracking　in　the　jungle　to　their　left　as　the　bullets　were　stopped　by　the　trees。　The　sounds　echoed　away　and　the　river　fell　silent。
　Tom　helped　Sally　up。　Her　face　looked　white；　almost　ghostly；　in　the　dim　light。　He　shined　the　flashlight　around。　Two　walls　of　trees　rose　up　on　either　side　of　the　dark　river。　A　single　star　burned　for　a　moment　in　a　patch　of　exposed　sky；　then　blinked　and　flickered　through　the　canopy　as　they　moved。　The　little　engine　whined　away。　For　now　they　were　alone　on　the　river。　The　dark；　humid　night　enfolded　them。
　Tom　took　Sally's　hand。　He　found　it　was　shaking；　and　then　he　realized　his　own　hand　was　shaking；　too。　The　soldiers　had　shot　at　them；　trying　to　kill　them。　He　had　seen　it　a　million　times　in　the　movies；　but　to　actually　be　shot　at　was　something　else　entirely。
　The　moon　was　setting　behind　the　wall　of　jungle；　and　darkness　suffocated　the　river。　Tom　flicked　on　the　flashlight　to　see　what　lay　ahead；　guiding　the　boat　around　snags　and　riffles。　A　growing　cloud　of　mosquitoes　whined　around　them。　They　seemed　to　be　sweeping　up　thousands　as　they　traveled。
　〃I　don't　suppose　you　have　a　can　of　bug　repellent　in　one　of　those　pockets　of　yours？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　did　manage　to　snag　my　fanny　pack　in　the　jeep。　I　shoved　it　in　my　pants。〃　She　fished　the　small　pack　out　of　an　enormous　pocket　on　her　thigh　and　unzipped　it。　She　began　rummaging　through；　pulling　out　a　miscellany　of　thi