pdouglas.thecodex-第55部分
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ould be ing from the Cayman Islands soon。 He would have to spend the money outside the United States； of course。 A snug villa on the Costiera Amalfitana would be a nice place to park it； a million for the villa and the second million for expenses。 Ravello was supposed to be nice。 He and Sally could take their honeymoon there。
He thought back to his meeting with the CEO and the Hartz board； so very serious； so very Swiss。 They were skeptical； of course； but when they saw the page Julian had already translated； their old gray mouths were almost watering。 The Codex would bring them many billions。 Most drug panies had research departments that evaluated indigenous medicines…but here was the ultimate medical cookbook； all nicely packaged； and Julian was about the only person in the world； apart from Sally； who could translate it accurately。 Hartz would have to strike a deal with the Broadbents over it； but as the largest pharmaceutical pany in the world it was in the best position to pay。 And without his translation skills； what use would the Codex be to the Broadbents anyway？ Everything would be done correctly： The pany had of course insisted on it。 The Swiss were like that。
He wondered how Sally would react when she learned that the Codex was going to disappear into the maw of some giant multinational corporation。 Knowing her； she would not take it well。 But once they started enjoying the two million dollars Hartz had agreed to pay him as a finder's fee…not to mention the generous remuneration he expected to receive for doing the translation…she'd get over it。 And he would show her that this was the right thing to do； that Hartz was in the best position to develop these new drugs and bring them to market。 It was the right thing to do。 It took money to develop new drugs。 Nobody was going to do it for free。 Profit made the world go round。
As for himself； poverty had been fine for a few years while he was young and idealistic； but it would bee unendurable over thirty。 And Professor Julian Clyve was fast approaching thirty。
58
After ten hours of hiking into the mountains； Tom and his brothers topped a bare； windswept ridge。 A stupendous view of mountains greeted their eyes； a violent sea of peaks and valleys； layered toward the horizon in deepening shades of purple。
Borabay pointed。 〃Sukia Tara； the White City；〃 he said。
Tom squinted in the bright afternoon sun。 About five miles away； across a chasm； rose two pinnacles of white rock。 Nestled between them was a flat； isolated saddle of land； cut off on both sides by chasms and surrounded by jagged peaks。 It was a lone patch of green； a lush piece of cloudforest that looked as if it had broken off from somewhere else to lodge between the two fangs of white rock； teetering on the brink of a precipice。 Tom had imagined it would be a ruin with white towers and walls。 Instead； he could see nothing but a thick； lumpy carpet of trees。
Vernon raised his binoculars； examined the White City； and passed them to Tom。
The green promontory leapt into magnification。 Tom scanned it； slowly。 The plateau was heavily covered in trees and what appeared to be impenetrable mats of vines and creepers。 Whatever ruined city lay in that strange hanging valley was well covered by jungle。 But as Tom scrutinized it； here and there； rising from the verdure； he could make out whitish outcrops that began to take on faint patterns： a corner； a broken stretch of wall； a dark square that looked like a window。 And as he looked further at what he thought was a steep hill； he realized it was a ruined pyramid； heavily overgrown。 One side of it had been gashed open； a white wound in the living green。
The mesa the city had been constructed on was； truly； an island in the sky。 It hung between the two peaks； separated from the rest of the Sierra Azul by sheer cliffs。 It looked cut off until he saw a thread of yellow curving across one of the chasms…a crude suspension bridge。 As he examined it further he saw that the bridge was well guarded by soldiers who were using a ruined stone fortress evidently built by the original inhabitants to protect the White City。 Hauser and his men had cut down a large swath of forest at the foot of the bridge to give themselves a clear field of fire。
On the opposite side of the White City； not far from the bridge； a small river ran down from the mountains and poured into the chasm； turning into a graceful filament of white and disappearing into the mists below。 As Tom watched； mists billowed up from the chasm； obscuring the suspension bridge and then blocking their view of the White City itself。 The mists cleared； then rose again； then cleared； in a never ending ballet of darkness and light。
Tom shivered。 Their father； Maxwell Broadbent； had probably stood in the same place forty years ago。 No doubt he had been able to pick out the faint outlines of the city amid the chaos of vegetation。 Here was where he made his first discovery and began his life's work； and this was where he had ended up； shut up alive in a dark tomb。 The White City was the alpha and the omega of Maxwell Broadbent's career。
He passed the binoculars to Sally。 She examined the White City for a long time。 Then she lowered the glasses and turned to Tom； her face flushed with excitement。 〃It's Maya；〃 she said。 〃There's a central ball court； a pyramid； and some multistoried pavilions。 It's High Classic。 The people who built this city came from Copán； I'm sure of it…probably this is where the Maya retreated after the fall of Copán in A。D。 900。 One great mystery solved。〃
Her eyes were sparkling； the sun shimmering off her golden hair。 He had never seen her so vital。 It was surprising； he thought； considering how little sleep they had been getting。
She turned and her eyes connected with his； and it seemed to him that she understood what he was thinking。 Her face flushed slightly； and she looked away； smiling to herself。
Philip took the binoculars next and scanned the city。 Tom heard an intake of breath。 〃There are men down there；〃 he said。 〃Cutting trees at the base of the pyramid。〃
There was a faint crump of dynamite； and a puff of dust rose up from the city like a small white flower。
Tom said； 〃We're going to have to find Father's tomb before they do。 Or 。。。〃 He left the sentence unfinished。
59
They spent the rest of the afternoon in the cover of the trees； observing Hauser and his men。 One group of soldiers was clearing trees from a stone temple at the base of the pyramid while another group dug and blasted into a smaller pyramid nearby。 The shifting winds brought them the faint sounds of chainsaws and； every half hour or so； the distant rumble of explosives； followed by a rising cloud of dust。
〃Where is Father's tomb？〃 he asked Borabay。
〃In cliffs below city on far side。 Place of dead。〃
〃Will Hauser find it？〃
〃Yes。 Trail down is hidden； but he find it in end。 Maybe tomorrow； maybe two weeks。〃
As night fell； a pair of klieg lights went on in the White City； and another set illuminated the suspension bridge and the area around it。 Hauser was taking no chances； and he had e well equipped with everything； including a generator。
They ate their dinner in silence。 Tom could hardly taste the frogs or lizards or whatever dish it was Borabay had cooked for them。 From what he could see from their vantage point on the ridge； the White City was well defended and well…nigh impregnable。
At the conclusion of the meal； it was Philip who spoke what was on everyone's mind。 〃I think we better get the hell out of here and e back with help。 We can't do this on our own。〃
〃Philip；〃 said Tom； 〃when they find the tomb and open it； what do you think's going to happen？〃
〃They'll rob it。〃
〃No； the first thing Hauser will do is murder Father。〃
Philip didn't answer。
〃It's going to take us at least forty days just to get out of here。 If we're going to save Father； we've got to act now。〃
〃I don't want to be the one to say no to rescuing Father； but Tom； for God's sake； we have an old rifle； maybe ten rounds； and some painted warriors with bows and arrows。 They have automatic weapons； grenade launchers； and dynamite。 And they've got the advantage of defending an incredibly secure position。〃
Tom said； 〃Not if there's a secret way into the city。〃
〃No secret way；〃 said Borabay。 〃Only bridge。〃
〃There has to be a second way；〃 said Tom。 〃Otherwise； how did they originally build the bridge？〃
Borabay stared at him； and Tom felt a flush of triumph。
〃Gods build bridge；〃 said Borabay。
〃Gods don't build bridges。〃
〃Gods build this bridge。〃
〃Damn it； Borabay！ The gods did not build that bridge； people built it； and to do that they had to be on both sides！〃
〃You're right；〃 said Vernon。
〃Gods build bridge；〃 Borabay insisted。 〃But；〃 he added after a moment； 〃Tara people also know how to build bridge from one side only。〃
〃Impossible。〃
〃Brother； you always so sure you right？ I tell you how Tara build bridge from one side only。 First； Tara shoot arrow with rope and hook。 Get it stuck on tree on far side。 Then send little boy across in basket on wheels。〃
〃How does he get across？〃
〃He pull himself。〃
〃How could a man possibly span a two…hundred…yar
