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the lost road-第44章

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in progress。

〃Thank God;〃 breathed Monica; 〃we are in time。〃

Everett gave the ponies in care of one of the guards。  He turned
to Garland。

〃Catch up with those lights ahead of us;〃 he said; 〃and we will
join this party to the right。  If you find Ward; tell him I forbid
him taking the law into his own hands; tell him I will protect
his interests。  If you meet Peabody; make him give up his gun;
and see that the others don't harm him!〃

Everett and the girl did not overtake the lights they had seen
flashing below them。  Before they were within hailing distance;
that searching party had disappeared; and still farther away
other torches beckoned。

Stumbling and falling; now in pursuit of one will…o'…the…wisp;
now of another; they scrambled forward。  But always the lights
eluded them。  From their exertions and the moist heat they were
breathless; and their bodies dripped with water。  Panting; they
halted at the entrance of what once had been a tomb。  From its
black interior came a damp mist; above them; alarmed by their
intrusion; the vampire bats whirled blindly in circles。  Monica;
who by day possessed some slight knowledge of the ruins; had;
in the moonlight; lost all sense of direction。

〃We're lost;〃 said Monica; in a low tone。  Unconsciously both were
speaking in whispers。  〃I thought we were following what used to
be the main thoroughfare of the city; but I have never seen this place
before。  From what I have read I think we must be among the tombs
of the kings。〃

She was silenced by Everett placing one hand quickly on her arm;
and with the other pointing。  In the uncertain moonlight she saw
moving cautiously away from them; and unconscious of their
presence; a white; ghostlike figure。

〃Peabody;〃 whispered Everett。

〃Call him;〃 commanded Monica。

〃The others might hear;〃 objected Everett。  〃We must overtake him。
If we're with him when they meet; they wouldn't dare〃

With a gasp of astonishment; his words ceased。

Like a ghost; the ghostlike figure had vanished。

〃He walked through that rock!〃 cried Monica。

Everett caught her by the wrist。  〃Come!〃 he commanded。

Over the face of the rock; into which Peabody had dived as into
water; hung a curtain of vines。  Everett tore it apart。  Concealed
by the vines was the narrow mouth to a tunnel; and from it they
heard; rapidly lessening in the distance; the patter of footsteps。

〃Will you wait;〃 demanded Everett; 〃or come with me?〃

With a shudder of distaste; Monica answered by seizing his hand。

With his free arm Everett swept aside the vines; and; Monica
following; they entered the tunnel。  It was a passageway cleanly
cut through the solid rock and sufficiently wide to permit of their
moving freely。  At the farther end; at a distance of a hundred
yards; it opened into a great vault; also hollowed from the rock
and; as they saw to their surprise; brilliantly lighted。

For an instant; in black silhouette; the figure of Peabody
blocked the entrance to this vault; and then; turning to the
right; again vanished。  Monica felt an untimely desire to laugh。
Now that they were on the track of Peabody she no longer feared
the outcome of the adventure。  In the presence of the American
minister and of herself there would be no violence; and as they
trailed the archaeologist through the tunnel she was reminded of
Alice and her pursuit of the white rabbit。  This thought; and her
sense of relief that the danger was over; caused her to laugh aloud。

They had gained the farther end of the tunnel and the entrance to
the vault; when at once her amusement turned to wonder。  For the
vault showed every evidence of use and of recent occupation。  In
brackets; and burning brightly; were lamps of modern make; on
the stone floor stood a canvas cot; saddle…bags; camp…chairs;
and in the centre of the vault a collapsible table。  On this were
bottles filled with chemicals; trays; and presses such as are used
in developing photographs; and apparently hung there to dry;

swinging from strings; the proofs of many negatives。

Loyal to her brother; Monica exclaimed indignantly。  At the proofs
she pointed an accusing finger。

〃Look!〃 she whispered。  〃This is Peabody's darkroom; where he
develops the flash…lights he takes of the hieroglyphs! Chester has
a right to be furious!〃

Impulsively she would have pushed past Everett; but with an
exclamation he sprang in front of her。

〃No!〃 he commanded; 〃come away!〃

He had fallen into a sudden panic。  His tone spoke of some
catastrophe; imminent and overwhelming。  Monica followed
the direction of his eyes。  They were staring in fear at the proofs。

The girl leaned forward; and now saw them clearly。

Each was a United States Treasury note for five hundred dollars。

Around the turn of the tunnel; approaching the vault apparently
from another passage; they heard hurrying footsteps; and then;
close to them from the vault itself; the voice of Professor Peabody。

It was harsh; sharp; peremptory。

〃Hands up!〃 it commanded。  〃Drop that gun!〃

As though halted by a precipice; the footsteps fell into instant
silence。  There was a pause; and then the ring of steel upon the
stone floor。  There was another pause; and Monica heard the
voice of her brother。  Broken; as though with running; it still
retained its level accent; its note of insolence。

〃So;〃 it said; 〃I have caught you?〃

Monica struggled toward the lighted vault; but around her Everett
threw his arm。

〃Come away!〃 he begged。

Monica fought against the terror of something unknown。  She could
not understand。  They had come only to prevent a meeting between
her brother and Peabody; and now that they had met; Everett was
endeavoring to escape。

It was incomprehensible。

And the money in the vault; the yellow bills hanging from a
cobweb of strings; why should they terrify her; what did they
threaten? Dully; and from a distance; Monica heard the voice
of Peabody。

〃No;〃 he answered; 〃I have caught you! And I've had a hell of a
time doing it!〃

Monica tried to call out; to assure her brother of her presence。
But; as though in a nightmare; she could make no sound。  Fingers
of fear gripped at her throat。  To struggle was no longer possible。

The voice of Peabody continued:

〃Six months ago we traced these bills to New Orleans。  So we guessed
the plant was in Central America。  We knew only one man who could
make them。  When I found you were in Amapala and they said you had
struck 'buried treasure'the rest was easy。〃

Monica heard the voice of her brother answer with a laugh。

〃Easy?〃 he mocked。  〃There's no extradition。  You can't touch me。
You're lucky if you get out of here alive。  I've only to raise my voice〃

〃And; I'll kill you!〃

This was danger Monica could understand。

Freed from the nightmare of doubt; with a cry she ran forward。
She saw Peabody; his back against a wall; a levelled automatic in
his hand; her brother at the entrance to a tunnel like the one from
which she had just appeared。  His arms were raised above his head。
At his feet lay a revolver。  For an instant; with disbelief; he stared
at Monica; and then; as though assured that it was she; his eyes
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