hr.thecarpetbaggers-第125部分

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nned。　〃Each　of　these　guys　bet　me　a　buck　we'd　never　get　off　the　water。〃
　I　flashed　a　grin　at　him　and　kept　the　ship　in　a　slow　climb　until　we　reached　six　thousand　feet。　Then　I　turned　her　west　and　aimed　her　right　at　the　setting　sun。
　
　〃She　handles　like　a　baby　carriage。〃　Amos　chortled　gleefully　from　his　seat。
　I　looked　up　at　him　from　behind　the　radioman；　where　I　had　been　standing　as　he　explained　the　new　automatic　signaling　recorder。　All　you　had　to　do　was　give　your　message　once；　then　turn　on　the　automatic　and　the　wire　recorder　would　repeat　it　over　and　over　again　until　the　power　gave　out。
　The　sun　had　turned　Amos'　white　hair　back　to　the　flaming　red　of　his　youth。　I　looked　down　at　my　watch。　It　was　six　fifteen　and　we　were　about　two　hundred　miles　out　over　the　Pacific。　〃Better　turn　her　around　and　take　her　back；　Amos；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　want　it　to　be　dark　the　first　time　we　put　her　down。〃
　〃The　term　in　the　Navy；　captain；　is　'Put　her　about'。〃　The　radioman　grinned　at　me。
　〃O。K。；　sailor；〃　I　said。　I　turned　to　Amos。　〃Put　her　about。〃
　〃Aye；　aye；　sir。〃
　We　went　into　a　gentle　banking　turn　as　I　bent　over　the　radioman's　shoulder　again。　Suddenly；　the　plane　lurched　and　I　almost　fell　over　him。　I　grabbed　at　his　shoulder　as　the　starboard　engineer　yelled；　〃Number　five's　gone　bad　again。〃
　I　pushed　myself　toward　my　seat　as　I　looked　out　the　window。　The　engine　was　shooting　oil　like　a　geyser。　〃Kill　it！〃　I　shouted；　strapping　myself　into　my　seat。
　The　cords　on　Amos'　neck　stood　out　like　steel　wire　as　he　fought　the　wheel　on　the　suddenly　bucking　plane。　I　grabbed　at　my　wheel　and　together　we　held　her　steady。　Slowly　she　eased　off　in　our　grip。
　〃Number　five　dead；　sir；〃　the　engineer　called。
　I　glanced　out　at　it。　The　propeller　turned　slowly　with　the　wind　force　but　the　oil　had　stopped　pouring　from　the　engine。　I　looked　at　Amos。　His　face　was　white　and　perspiration　was　dripping　from　it；　but　he　managed　a　smile。　〃We　can　make　it　back　on　five　engines　without　any　trouble。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　We　could　make　it　back　on　three　engines；　according　to　the　figures。　But　I　wouldn't　like　to　try　it。　I　looked　at　the　panel。　The　red　light　was　on　for　the　number…five　engine。　While　I　was　watching；　a　red　light　began　to　flicker　on　and　off　at　number　four。　〃What　the　hell？〃
　It　began　to　sputter　and　cough　even　as　I　turned　to　look　at　it。　〃Check　number　four！〃　I　yelled。　I　turned　back　to　the　panel。　The　red　light　was　on　for　the　number…four　fuel　line。
　〃Number…four　fuel　line　clogged！〃
　〃Blow　it　out　with　the　vacuum！〃
　〃Aye；　aye；　sir！〃　I　heard　the　click　as　he　turned　on　the　vacuum　pump。　Another　red　light　jumped　on　in　front　of　me。　〃Vacuum　pump　out　of　mission；　sir！〃
　〃Kill　number　four！〃　I　said。　There　was　no　percentage　in　leaving　the　line　open　in　the　hopes　that　it　would　clear　itself。　Clogged　fuel　lines　have　a　tendency　to　turn　into　fires。　And　we　still　had　four　engines　left。
　〃Number　four　dead；　sir！〃
　I　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　after　ten　minutes　had　gone　by　and　there　was　nothing　new　to　worry　about。　〃I　think　we'll　be　O。K。　now；〃　I　said。
　I　should　have　kept　my　big　fat　mouth　shut。　No　sooner　had　I　spoken　than　the　number…one　engine　started　to　choke　and　sputter　and　the　instrument　panel　in　front　of　me　began　to　light　up　like　a　Christmas　tree。　The　number…six　engine　began　to　choke。
　〃Main　fuel　pump　out！〃
　I　threw　a　glance　at　the　altimeter。　We　were　at　five　thousand　and　dropping。　〃Radio　emergency　and　prepare　to　abandon　ship！〃　I　shouted。
　I　heard　the　radioman's　voice。　〃Mayday！　Mayday！　Cord　Aircraft　Experimental。　Going　down　Pacific。　Position　approx　one　two　five　miles　due　west　San　Diego。　I　repeat；　position　approx　one　two　five　miles　due　west　San　Diego。　Mayday！　Mayday！〃
　I　heard　a　loud　click　and　the　message　began　over　again。　I　felt　a　hand　on　my　shoulder。　I　looked　around　quickly。　It　was　the　radioman。　There　was　a　faint　surprise　in　the　back　of　my　mind　until　I　remembered　the　recorder　was　now　broadcasting　the　call　for　help。　〃We'll　stay　if　you　want　us；　sir；〃　he　said　tensely。
　〃This　isn't　for　God　and　country；　sailor！　This　is　for　money。　Get　goin'！〃
　I　looked　over　at　Amos；　who　was　still　in　his　seat。　〃You；　too；　Amos！〃
　He　didn't　answer。　Just　pulled　off　his　safety　belt　and　got　out　of　his　seat。　I　heard　the　cabin　door　behind　me　open　as　they　went　through　to　the　emergency　door　in　the　passenger　partment。
　The　altimeter　read　thirty…eight　hundred　and　I　killed　the　one　and　six　engines。　Maybe　I　could　set　her　down　on　the　water　if　the　two　remaining　engines　could　hold　out　on　the　fuel　that　would　be　diverted　from　the　others。　We　were　at　thirty…four　hundred　when　the　red　light　for　the　emergency　door　flashed　on　as　it　opened。　I　cast　a　quick　look　back　out　the　window。　Three　parachutes　opened；　one　after　the　other；　in　rapid　succession。　I　looked　at　the　board。　Twenty…eight　hundred。
　I　heard　a　noise　behind　me　and　looked　around。　It　was　Amos；　getting　back　into　his　seat。　〃I　told　you　to　get　out！〃　I　yelled。
　He　reached　for　the　wheel。　〃The　kids　are　off　and　safe。　I　figure　between　the　two　of　us；　we　got　a　chance　to　put　her　down　on　top　of　the　water。〃
　〃Suppose　we　don't？〃　I　yelled　angrily。
　〃We　won't　be　missing　much。　We　ain't　got　as　much　time　to　lose　as　they　have。　Besides；　this　baby　cost　a　lot　of　dough！〃
　〃So　what？〃　I　yelled。　〃It's　not　your　money！〃
　There　was　a　curiously　disapproving　look　on　his　face。　〃Money　isn't　the　only　thing　put　into　this　plane。　I　built　her！〃
　We　were　at　nine　hundred　feet　when　number　three　began　to　conk　out。　We　threw　our　weight　against　the　wheel　to　pensate　for　the　starboard　drag。　At　two　hundred　feet；　the　number…three　engine　went　out　and　we　heeled　over　to　the　starboard。　〃Cut　the　engines！〃　Amos　yelled。　〃We're　going　to　crash！〃
　I　flipped　the　switch　just　as　the　starboard　wing　bit　into　the　water。　It　snapped　off　clean　as　a　matchstick　and　the　plane　slammed　into　the　water　like　a　pile　driver。　I　felt　the　seat　belt　tear　into　my　guts　until　I　almost　screamed　with　the　pressure；　then　suddenly　it　eased　off。　My　eyes　cleared　and　I　looked　out。　We　were　drifting　on　top　of　the　water　uneasily；　one　wing　pointing　to　the　sky。　Water　was　already　trickling　into　the　cabin　under　our　feet。
　〃Let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here；〃　Amos　yelled；　moving　toward　the　cabin　door；　which　had　snapped　shut。　He　turned　the　knob　and　pushed。　Then　he　threw　himself　against　it。　The　door　didn't　move。　〃It's　jammed！〃　he　yelled；　turning　to　me。
　I　stared　at　him　and　then　jumped　for　the　pilot's　emergency　hatch　over　our　heads。　I　pulled　the　hatch　lock　with　one　hand　and　pushed　at　the　hatch　with　the　other。　Nothing　happened。　I　looked　up　and　saw　why。　The　frame　had　buckled；　locking　it　in。　Nothing　short　of　dynamite　would　open　it。
　Amos　didn't　wait　for　me　to　tell　him。　He　pulled　a　wrench　from　the　emergency　tool　kit　and　smashed　at　the　glass　until　there　was　only　a　jagged　frame　left　in　the　big　port。　He　dropped　the　wrench；　picked　up　the　Mae　West　and　threw　it　at　me。　I　slipped　into　it　quickly；　making　sure　the　automatic　valve　was　set　so　it　would　work　the　minute　I　hit　the　water。
　〃O。K。；〃　he　said。　〃Out　you　go！〃
　I　grinned　at　him。　〃Traditions　of　the　sea；　Amos。　Captain's　last　off　the　ship。　After　you；　Alphonse。〃
　〃You　crazy；　man？〃　he　shouted。　〃I　couldn't　get　out　that　port　if　they　cut　me　in　half。〃
　〃You　ain't　that　big；〃　I　said。　〃We're　going　to　give　it　a　try。〃
　Suddenly；　he　smiled。　I　should　have　known　better　than　to　trust　Amos　when　he　smiled　like　that。　That　peculiarly　wolfish　smile　came　over　him　only　when　he　was　going　to　do　you　dirty。　〃All　right；　Gaston。　You're　the　captain。〃
　〃That's　better；〃　I　said；　bracing　myself　and　making　a　sling　step　with　my　hands　to　boost　him　up　to　the　port。　〃I　knew　you'd　learn　someday　who's　boss。〃
　But　he　never　did。　And　I　never　even　saw　what　he　hit　me　with。　I　sailed　into　Dream　Street　with　a　full　load　on。　I　was　out　but　I　wasn't　all　the　way　out。　I　knew　what　was　going　on　but　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　about　it。　My　arms　and　legs　and　head；　even　my　body　…　they　all　belonged　to　someone　else。
　I　felt　Amos　push　me　toward　the　port；　then　there　was　a　burning　sensation；　like　a　cat　raking　her　claws　across　your　face。　But　I　was　through　the　narrow　port　and　falling。　Falling　about　a　thousand　miles　and　a　thousand　hours　and　I　was　still　looking　for　the　rip　cord　on　my　parachute　when　I　crashed　in　a　heap　on　the　wing。
　I　pulled　myself　to　my　feet　and　tried　to　climb　back　the　cabin　wall　to　the　port。　〃e　on　out　of　there；　you　no…good；　dirty　son　of　a　bitch！〃　I　yelled。　I　was　crying。　〃e　on　outa　there　and　I'll　kill　you！〃
　Then　the　plane　lurched　and　a　broken　piece　of　something　came　flying　up　from　the　wing　and　hit　me　in　the　side；　knocking　me　clear　out　into　the　water。　I　heard　the　soft　hiss　of　pressed　air　as　the　Mae　West　began　to　wrap　her　legs　around　me。　I　put　my　head　down　on　those　big　soft　pillows　she　had　and　went　to　sleep。
　
　5
　
　IN　NEVADA；　WHERE　I　WAS　BORN　AND　RAISED；　THERE　IS　MOSTLY　SAND　AND　ROCKS　AND　A　FEW　SMALL　MOUNTAINS。　But　there　are　no　oceans。　There　are　streams　and　lakes；　and　swimming　pools　at　every　country　club　and　hotel；　but　they're　all　filled　with　fresh；　sweet　water　that　bubbles　in　your　mouth　like　wine；　if　you　should　happen　to　drink　it　instead　of　bathe　in　it。
　I've　been　in　a　couple　of　oceans　in　my　time。　In　the　Atlantic；　off　Miami　Beach　and　Atlantic　City；　in　the　Pacific；　off　Malibu；　and　in　the　blue　waters　of　the　Mediterranean；　off　the　Riviera。　I've　even　been　in　the　warm　waters　of　the　Gulf　Stream；　off　the　white；　sandy　beach　of　Bermuda；　chasing　a　naked　girl　whose　only　ambition　was　to　do　it　like　a　fish。　I　never　did　get　to　find　out　the　secret　of　how　the　porpoises　made　it；　because　somehow；　in　the　salt　water；　everything　eluded　me。　I　never　did　like　salt　water。　It　clings　too　heavily　to　your　skin；　burns　your　nose；　irritates　your　eyes。　And　if　you　happen　to　get　a　mouthful；　it　tastes　like　yesterday's　leftover　mouthwash。
　So　what　was　I　doing　here？
　Hot　damn；　little　man；　all　the　stars　are　out　and　laughing　at　you。　This'll　teach　you　some　respect　for　the　oceans。　You　don't　like　salt　water；　eh？　Well；　how　do　you　like　a　million；　billion；　trillion　gallons　of　it？　A　gazillion　gallons？
　〃Aah；　the　hell　with　you；〃　I　said　and　went　back　to　sleep。
　
　I　came　trotting　around　the　corner　of　the　bunkhouse　as　fast　as　my　eight…year…old　legs　could　carry　me；　dragging　the　heavy　cartridge　belt　and　holstered　gun　in　the　sand　behind　me。
　I　heard　my　father's　voice。　〃Hey；　boy！　What　have　you　got　there？〃