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maller stuff…including the Codex。 The woman； Colorado； knew what it was worth。 That would be the first thing they would take。
In his mind； Hauser ran through the list of other treasures in the tomb。 A great deal of Maxwell Broadbent's collection would be portable； including some of the most valuable items。 There were some rare carved gemstones from the Indian subcontinent。 There was a large collection of Inca and Aztec gold artifacts； most of which were small； as were the ancient Greek gold coins。 There were two extremely valuable Etruscan bronze figurines； each about ten inches high； that weighed less than twenty pounds apiece。 All these things could be carried on the back of a single man。 Value： between ten and twenty million。
They would be able to carry out the Lippi and the Monet。 These two paintings were relatively small…the Lippi was twenty…eight by eighteen inches； the Monet thirty…six by twenty…six。 Both had been packed unframed。 The Lippi； painted on gessoed wood； weighed ten pounds and the Monet eight pounds。 The two boxes that held them weighed no more than thirty pounds apiece。 Both boxes could be tied together； strapped on a pack frame； and carried out on one person's back。 Value： upward of one hundred million。
There were； of course； many treasures they could not take。 The Pontormo； worth perhaps thirty or forty million； was too large。 So was the Bronzino portrait。 The Mayan stelae and the Soderini bronzes were too heavy。 But the two Braques were portable。 The smaller of the two was one of Braque's earliest cubist masterpieces； which might fetch five or ten million。 There was a late Imperial Roman bronze statue of a boy； half life…size； that weighed a hundred pounds…probably too much to carry out。 There were Cambodian temple figurines in stone； a couple of early Chinese bronze urns； some Mayan inlaid turquoise plaques 。。。 Max had had a good eye； and he had gone for quality； not quantity。 Over the years； a lot of art had passed through his hands； and he had shortstopped only the very best for himself。
Yes； Hauser thought； if it weren't for him the four of them below could remove on their backs artworks amounting to perhaps two hundred million dollars。 Almost half the value of the entire collection。
He shifted； stretching his cramped legs。 The sun was bright and hot。 He glanced at his watch。 Five to ten。 He had decided to move out at ten o'clock。 Time had little meaning out here； but the habits of discipline gave him pleasure。 It was； he thought； more a philosophy of life than anything else。 He stood up； stretched his arms； and took a few deep breaths。 He did a rapid check of his Steyr AUG。 It was； as usual； in perfect working order。 He smoothed his hair again； then examined his cuticles and nails。 There was a rim of dirt under one of them； he scraped it out with the end of his nail file and flicked it away。 Then he examined the backs of his hands； which were smooth； hairless； and white and showed only the faintest trace of veins； they were the hands of a thirty…year…old； not a man of sixty。 He had always taken good care of his hands。 The sun glistened off the array of heavy gold and diamond rings on his fingers。 He flexed his hands five times； balling and opening them； and then shook out the creases in his khaki pants； rotated his ankles； rolled his head around on his neck five times； opened his arms wide； and inhaled again。 Exhaled。 Inhaled。 He examined his crisp white shirt。 He would consider this op successful if； at the end； his shirt was free of spots。 It was such a trial keeping one's clothes clean in the jungle。
Hauser eased the Steyr AUG back on his shoulder and headed down the trail。
70
The four brothers and their father rested in the shade along a shelf of rock to the side of the tomb door。 They had eaten most of their food； and Tom passed around a canteen of water。 There was so much Tom had wanted to say to his father； and he had no doubt his brothers felt the same way…and yet； after the initial outburst of talk； they had fallen silent。 Somehow it was enough to be together。 The canteen made the rounds； with a gurgle as each one drank； and ended up back with Tom。 He screwed the top on and shoved it back in his small rucksack。
Finally Maxwell Broadbent spoke。 〃So Marcus Hauser is out there； looking to rob my tomb。〃 He shook his head。 〃What a world。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Philip again。
〃It was my fault；〃 said Broadbent。 〃No more apologies。 Everything is my fault。〃
This was something new； Tom thought： Maxwell Broadbent admitting he was wrong。 He seemed to be the same gruff old man； but he had changed。 Definitely； he had changed。
〃There's only one thing I want right now； and that's for my four sons to get out of here alive。 I'm going to be a drag on you。 You leave me here and I'll take care of myself。 I'll greet that man Hauser in a way that he'll remember。〃
〃What！〃 Philip exclaimed。 〃After all we did to rescue you？〃 He was genuinely outraged。
〃e now。 I'm going to be dead in a month or two anyway。 Leave me to deal with Hauser while you escape。〃
Philip rose up； furious。 〃Father； we didn't e all this way to abandon you to Hauser。〃
〃I'm a sorry reason to risk your lives。〃
〃Without you； we no go；〃 Borabay said。 〃Wind e from east； bring storm tonight。 We wait here till dark； then go。 Get across bridge during storm。〃
Broadbent exhaled and wiped his face。
Philip cleared his throat。 〃Father？〃
〃Yes； son？〃
〃I don't mean to bring up an unwele subject； but what are we going to do about the stuff in your tomb？〃
Tom immediately thought of the Codex。 He had to bring it out； too…not only for himself； but for Sally and for the world。
Broadbent gazed at the ground for a moment before speaking。 〃I hadn't thought about that。 It just doesn't seem important to me anymore。 But I'm glad you brought it up； Philip。 I suppose we should take the Lippi and anything else that's easy to carry。 At least we can keep a few things out of that greedy bastard's hands。 It kills me to think he's going to get most of the stuff； but I guess it can't be helped。〃
〃When we get out； we'll report it to the FBI； Interpol…〃
〃Hauser's going to get away with it； Philip； and you know it。 Which reminds me。 There was something odd about the boxes in the tomb； something that I've been wondering about。 As much as I hate to go back in there； there's something I've got to check out。〃
〃I'll help you；〃 Philip said； springing to his feet。
〃No。 I need to go in there alone。 Borabay； give me a light。〃
Borabay lit a bundle of reeds and handed it to his father。
The old man disappeared through the doorway； and Tom could see the yellow halo moving about in the tomb among the crates and boxes。 Maxwell Broadbent's voice boomed out。 〃God knows why all this bloody crap was so important to me once。〃
The light moved deeper into the darkness and vanished。
Philip stood up and walked a tight circle； stretching his legs。 He lit his pipe。 〃I hate to think of Hauser getting his hands on the Lippi。〃
A voice； cool and amused； came floating toward them：
〃I say； did someone mention my name？〃
71
Hauser spoke softly； soothingly； his weapon leveled and ready to go at the slightes