inca.gold-第16部分

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ht　flash　produced　by　the　rocket's　booster。　He　ducked　with　his　hands　over　his　head　as　another　rocket　slammed　into　the　ancient　stone　and　exploded　with　a　deafening　roar。　The　vicious　blow　pelted　Pitt　with　flying　rubble　and　the　concussion　knocked　the　breath　out　of　him。
　　　　For　a　moment　he　lay　motionless；　almost　lifeless。　Then　he　struggled　painfully　to　his　hands　and　knees；　coughing　dust；　seized　the　rifle；　and　crawled　back　into　the　interior　of　the　palace。　He　took　a　last　look　at　the　mountain　of　precious　artifacts　and　paid　a　final　call　on　Amaru。
　　　　The　grave　looter　had　regained　consciousness　and　glared　at　Pitt；　his　hands　clutching　his　groin；　now　clotted　with　dried　blood；　the　murderous　face　masked　in　hate。　There　was　a　strange　coldness　about　him　now；　an　utter　indifference　to　the　pain。　He　radiated　evil。
　　　　〃Your　friends　have　a　destructive　nature；〃　said　Pitt；　as　another　rocket　struck　the　temple。
　　　　〃You　are　trapped；〃　Amaru　rasped　in　a　low　tone。
　　　　〃Thanks　to　your　staged　murder　of　Dr。　Miller's　imposter。　He　made　off　with　your　radio　and　called　in　reinforcements。〃
　　　　〃Your　time　to　die　has　arrived；　Yankee　pig。〃
　　　　〃Yankee　pig；〃　Pitt　repeated。　〃I　haven't　been　called　that　in　ages。〃
　　　　〃You　will　suffer　as　you　have　made　me　suffer。〃
　　　　〃Sorry；　I　have　other　plans。〃
　　　　Amaru　tried　to　rise　up　on　an　elbow　and　say　something；　but　Pitt　was　gone。
　　　　He　rushed　to　the　rear　opening　again。　A　mattress　and　pair　of　knives　he　had　scrounged　from　living　quarters　inside　the　cliff　tomb　discovered　by　Giordino　and　Shannon　sat　beside　the　window。　He　laid　the　mattress　over　the　lower　sill；　then　lifted　his　legs　outside　and　sat　on　it。　He　cast　aside　the　rifle；　gripped　the　knives　in　outstretched　hands；　and　glanced　apprehensively　at　the　ground　20　meters　（65　feet）　below。　He　recalled　an　occasion　when　he　bungee…jumped　into　a　canyon　on　Vancouver　Island　in　British　Columbia。　Leaping　into　space；　he　mused；　went　against　all　human　nature。　Any　hesitation　or　second　thoughts　abruptly　ended　when　a　fourth　rocket　smashed　into　the　temple。　He　dug　the　heels　of　his　sneakers　into　the　steep　slope　and　jammed　the　knife　blades　into　the　stone　blocks　for　brakes。　Without　a　backward　glance；　he　launched　himself　over　the　side；　and　slid　down　the　wall；　using　the　mattress　as　a　toboggan/sled。

　　　　Giordino；　with　Shannon　and　the　students　trailing　behind　him　and　Rodgers　bringing　up　the　rear；　cautiously　climbed　a　stairway　from　an　underground　tomb　where　they　had　been　hiding　when　the　helicopters　landed。　Giordino　paused；　raised　his　head　slightly　over　a　fallen　stone　wall；　and　scanned　the　landscape。　The　helicopters　were　sitting　only　50　meters　（164　feet）　away；　engines　idling；　the　two…man　flight　crews　calmly　sitting　in　their　cockpits　watching　the　assault　on　the　temple。
　　　　Shannon　moved　beside　Giordino　and　looked　over　the　wall　just　in　time　to　see　a　rocket　bring　down　the　arched　entrance　of　the　upper　palace。　〃They'll　destroy　the　artifacts；〃　she　said　in　grief。
　　　　〃No　concern　over　Dirk？〃　Giordino　spared　her　a　brief　glance。　〃He's　only　risking　his　life　for　us；　fighting　off　an　army　of　mercenaries　so　we　can　steal　a　helicopter。〃
　　　　She　sighed。　〃It　pains　any　archaeologist　to　see　precious　antiquities　lost　forever。〃
　　　　〃Better　yesterday's　junk　than　us。〃
　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　I　want　him　to　escape　as　much　as　you。　But　it　all　seems　so　impossible。〃
　　　　〃I've　known　the　guy　since　we　were　kids。〃　Giordino　smiled。　〃Believe　me；　he　never　passed　up　an　opportunity　to　play　Horatius　at　the　bridge。〃　He　studied　the　two　helicopters　that　sat　in　the　clearing　in　a　slightly　staggered　formation。
　　　　He　selected　the　one　in　the　rear　as　a　prime　candidate　for　escape。　It　was　only　a　few　meters　from　a　narrow　ravine　they　could　move　in　without　being　seen；　and　more　important；　it　was　out　of　easy　view　of　the　crew　seated　in　the　forward　craft。　〃Pass　the　word；〃　he　ordered　over　the　sounds　of　battle；　〃we're　going　to　hijack　the　second　chopper　in　line。〃

　　　　Pitt　shot　uncontrollably　down　the　side　of　the　temple；　like　a　plummeting　boulder　on　a　path　that　took　him　between　the　stone　animal　heads　protruding　from　the　convex　sloping　walls　with　only　centimeters　to　spare。　His　hands　gripped　the　knife　handles　like　vises；　and　he　pushed　with　all　the　strength　in　his　sinewy　arms　as　the　braking　blades　began　to　throw　out　sparks　of　protest　from　the　friction　of　steel　against　hard　stone。　The　rear　edges　of　the　rubber　heels　on　his　sneakers　were　being　ground　smooth　by　the　rough　surface　of　the　wall。　And　yet　he　accelerated　with　dismaying　speed。　His　two　greatest　fears　were　falling　forward　and　tumbling　head…first　like　a　cannon　ball　into　the　ground　or　striking　with　such　force　that　he　broke　a　leg。　Either　calamity　and　he　was　finished；　dead　meat　for　the　Peruvians　who　wouldn't　treat　him　kindly　for　killing　their　officers。
　　　　Still　fighting　grimly　but　hopelessly　to　arrest　his　velocity；　Pitt　flexed　his　legs　a　split　second　before　he　struck　the　ground　with　appalling　force。　He　let　loose　of　the　knives　on　impact　as　his　feet　drove　into　the　ooze　of　rain…soaked　soil。　Using　his　momentum；　he　rolled　over　on　one　shoulder　and　tumbled　twice　as　required　in　a　hard　parachute　landing。　He　lay　in　the　mud　for　a　few　moments；　thankful　he　hadn't　landed　on　a　rock；　before　rising　experimentally　to　his　feet　and　checking　for　damage。
　　　　One　ankle　slightly　sprained；　but　still　in　working　condition；　a　few　abrasions　on　his　hands；　and　an　aching　shoulder　appeared　to　be　the　only　damage。　The　damp　earth　had　saved　him　from　serious　injury。　The　faithful　mattress　was　in　shreds。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　happy　at　still　being　intact。　Having　no　time　to　waste；　Pitt　broke　into　a　run；　keeping　as　much　of　the　ruins　as　possible　between　him　and　the　troops　massing　for　an　assault　up　the　temple　stairs。

　　　　Giordino　could　only　hope　that　Pitt　had　survived　the　rockets　and　somehow　made　it　safely　down　the　wall　of　the　temple　without　being　spotted　and　shot。　It　seemed　an　impossible　act；　Giordino　thought。　Pitt　was　seemingly　indestructible；　but　the　old　faceless　man　with　the　scythe　catches　up　to　us　all。　That　he　might　catch　up　with　Pitt　was　a　prospect　Giordino　could　not　accept。　It　was　inconceivable　to　him　that　Pitt　could　die　anywhere　but　in　bed　with　a　beautiful　woman　or　in　a　nursing　home　for　aged　divers。
　　　　Giordino　crouched　and　ran　into　a　blind　position　behind　the　trailing　helicopter　as　a　squad　of　troops　began　charging　up　the　precipitous　temple　steps。　The　reserve　squad　remained　below　while　pouring　a　covering　storm　of　rifle　fire　at　the　now　shattered　palace　of　the　dead。
　　　　Every　one　of　the　Peruvians　had　his　attention　focused　on　the　attack。　No　one　saw　Giordino；　clutching　an　automatic　rifle；　steal　around　the　tail　boom　of　the　helicopter　and　enter　through　the　rear　clamshell　doors。　He　hurried　inside　and　dropped　flat；　his　eyes　taking　in　the　empty　troop　carrier　and　cargo　partment　and　the　two　pilots　in　the　cockpit　with　their　backs　turned　to　him；　intently　watching　the　one…sided　battle。
　　　　With　practiced　stealth　Giordino　moved　with　incredible　quickness　for　a　man　built　like　a　pact　bulldozer。　The　pilots　did　not　hear　him　or　feel　his　presence　as　he　came　up　behind　their　seats。　Giordino　reversed　the　rifle　and　clubbed　the　copilot　on　the　back　of　the　neck。　The　pilot　heard　the　thud　and　twisted　around　in　his　seat；　staring　briefly　at　Giordino　more　from　curiosity　than　dread。　Before　he　could　blink　an　eye；　Giordino　rammed　the　butt　of　the　steel　folding　rifle　stock　against　the　pilot's　forehead。
　　　　Quickly　he　dragged　the　unconscious　pilots　to　the　doorway　and　dumped　them　on　the　ground。　He　frantically　waved　to　Shannon；　Rodgers；　and　the　students；　who　were　hiding　in　the　ravine。　〃Hurry！〃　he　shouted；　〃for　God's　sake　hurry！〃
　　　　His　words　carried　clearly　above　the　sounds　of　the　fighting。　The　archaeologists　needed　no　further　urging。　They　broke　from　cover　and　dashed　through　the　open　door　into　the　helicopter　in　seconds。　Giordino　had　already　returned　to　the　cockpit　and　was　hurriedly　scanning　the　instruments　and　the　console　between　the　pilots'　seats　to　familiarize　himself　with　the　controls。
　　　　〃Are　we　all　here？〃　he　asked　Shannon　as　she　slipped　into　the　copilot's　seat　beside　him。
　　　　〃All　but　Pitt。〃
　　　　He　did　not　reply；　but　glanced　out　the　window。　The　troops　on　the　stairway；　being　more　courageous　at　encountering　no　defensive　fire；　surged　onto　the　landing　and　inside　the　fallen　palace　of　the　dead。　Only　seconds　were　left　before　the　attackers　realized　they'd　been　had。
　　　　Giordino　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　controls。　The　helicopter　was　an　old　Russian…built　Mi…8　assault　transport；　designated　a　Hip…C　by　NATO　during　the　Cold　War　years。　A　rather　ancient；　ugly　craft；　thought　Giordino；　with　twin　1500…horsepower　engines　that　could　carry　four　crew　and　thirty　passengers。　Since　the　engines　were　already　turning；　Giordino　placed　his　right　hand　on　the　throttles。
　　　　〃You　heard　me？〃　said　Shannon　nervously。　〃Your　friend　isn't　with　us。〃
　　　　〃I　heard。〃　With　a　total　absence　of　emotion；　Giordino　increased　power。

　　　　Pitt　crouched　behind　a　stone　building　and　peered　around　a　corner；　hearing　the　growing　whine　of　the　turboshaft　engines　and　seeing　the　five…bladed　main　rotor　slowly　increase　its　revolutions。　An　hour　previously；　it　had　taken　no　little　persuasion　for　him　to　convince　Giordino　that　he　must　take　off　whether　Pitt　arrived　or　not。　The　life　of　one　man　was　not　worth　the　death　of　thirteen　others。　Though　only　30　meters　（98　feet）　of　open　ground；　pletely　devoid　of　any　brush　or　cover；　separated　Pitt　from　the　helicopter；　it　seemed　more　like　a　mile　and　a　half。
　　　　There　was　no　longer　any　need　for　caution。　He　had　to　make　a　run　for　it。　He　leaned　down　and　gave　his　bad　ankle　a　fast　massage　to　knead　out　a　growing　tenseness。　He　felt　little　pain；　but　it　was　beginning　to　tighten　up　and　grow　numb。　No　time　left　if　he　wanted　to　save　himself。　He　plunged　forward　like　a　sprinter　and　raced　into　the　open。
　　　　The　rotors　were　beating　the　ground　into　dust　when　Giordino　lifted　the　old　Hip…C　into　a　hover。　He　gave　one　fast　scan　of　the　instrument　panel　to　see　if　it　showed　any　red　lights　and　tried　to　sense　any　strange　noises　or　weird　vibrations。　Nothing　seemed　wrong；　as　the　weary　engines　of　an　aircraft　badly；　overdue　for　an　overhaul　responded　in　a　businesslike　manner　as　he　dipped　the　nose　and　increased　power。
　　　　In　the　main　partment；　the　students　and　Rodgers　saw　Pitt　launch　his　dash　toward　the　gaping　clamshell　doors。　They　all