inca.gold-第17部分

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　　　　In　the　main　partment；　the　students　and　Rodgers　saw　Pitt　launch　his　dash　toward　the　gaping　clamshell　doors。　They　all　began　shouting　encouragement　as　he　pounded　over　the　soft　ground。　Their　shouts　turned　urgent　as　a　sergeant　happened　to　glance　away　from　the　battle　scene　and　saw　Pitt　chasing　after　the　rising　helicopter。　He　immediately　shouted　for　the　men　of　the　reserve　squad　who　were　still　waiting　for　the　order　to　advance　up　the　stairway。
　　　　The　sergeant's　shouts　they　were　almost　screams　carried　over　the　last　echoes　of　the　firing　from　atop　the　temple。　〃They're　escaping！　Shoot；　for　the　love　of　Jesus；　shoot　them！〃
　　　　The　troops　did　not　respond　as　ordered。　Pitt　was　in　a　direct　line　of　fire　with　the　helicopter。　To　fire　at　him　meant　riddling　their　own　aircraft。　They　hesitated；　unsure　of　following　the　frantic　sergeant's　mands。　Only　one　man　lifted　his　rifle　and　fired。
　　　　Pitt　ignored　the　bullet　that　cut　a　crease　in　his　right　thigh。　He　had　other　priorities　than　feeling　pain。　And　then　he　was　under　the　long　tail　boom　and　in　the　shadow　of　the　clamshell　doors；　and　Rodgers　and　the　Peruvian　young　people　were　on　their　stomachs；　leaning　out；　reaching　out　to　him　in　the　opening　between　the　doors。　The　helicopter　shuddered　as　it　was　buffeted　by　its　own　downdraft　and　lurched　backward。　Pitt　extended　his　arms　and　jumped。

　　　　Giordino　bent　the　helicopter　into　a　hard　turn；　putting　the　rotor　blades　dangerously　close　to　a　grove　of　trees。　A　bullet　shattered　his　side　window　and　sprayed　a　shower　of　silvery　fragments　across　the　cockpit；　cutting　a　small　gash　across　his　nose。　Another　round　plunked　into　the　rear　frame　of　his　seat；　missing　his　spinal　cord　by　a　whisker。　The　helicopter　took　several　more　hits　before　he　yanked　it　over　the　grove　and　below　the　far　side；　out　of　the　line　of　fire　from　the　Peruvian　assault　force。
　　　　Soon　out　of　range；　he　went　into　a　left　climbing　turn　until　he　had　enough　altitude　to　pass　over　the　mountains。　At　almost　4000　meters　（13；000　feet）　he　had　expected　to　find　barren；　rocky　slopes　above　a　timberline；　but　was　mildly　surprised　to　find　the　peaks　so　heavily　forested。　Once　clear　of　the　valley；　he　set　a　course　to　the　west。　Only　then　did　he　turn　to　Shannon。　〃You　all　right？〃
　　　　〃They　were　trying　to　kill　us；〃　she　said　mechanically。
　　　　〃Must　not　like　gringos；〃　Giordino　replied；　surveying　Shannon　for　damage。　Seeing　no　signs　of　punctures　or　blood；　he　refocused　on　flying　the　aircraft　and　pulled　the　lever　that　closed　the　clamshell　doors。　Only　then　did　he　shout　over　his　shoulder　into　the　main　cabin。　〃Anyone　hit　back　there？〃
　　　　〃Just　little　old　me。〃
　　　　Giordino　and　Shannon　twisted　in　their　seats　in　unison　at　recognizing　the　voice。　Pitt。　A　rather　exhausted　and　mud…encrusted　Pitt；　it　was　true；　a　Pitt　with　one　leg　seeping　blood　through　a　hastily　tied　bandanna。　But　a　Pitt　as　indefatigable　as　ever　leaned　through　the　cabin　door　with　a　devilish　smirk　on　his　face。
　　　　A　vast　wave　of　relief　swept　over　Giordino；　and　he　flashed　a　smile。
　　　　〃You　almost　missed　your　bus　again。〃
　　　　〃And　you　still　owe　me　a　Dixieland　band。〃
　　　　Shannon　smiled；　knelt　in　her　seat　facing　backward；　threw　her　arms　around　Pitt　and　gave　him　a　big　hug。　〃I　was　afraid　you　wouldn't　make　it。〃
　　　　〃I　damn　near　didn't。〃
　　　　She　looked　down　and　her　smile　faded。　〃You're　bleeding。〃
　　　　〃A　parting　shot　from　the　soldiers　just　before　Rodgers　and　the　students　pulled　me　on　board。　Bless　their　hearts。〃
　　　　〃We've　got　to　get　you　to　a　hospital。　It　looks　serious。〃
　　　　〃Not　unless　they　were　using　bullets　dipped　in　hemlock；〃　Pitt　said　facetiously。
　　　　〃You　should　get　off　that　leg。　Take　my　seat。〃
　　　　Pitt　eased　Shannon　around　and　pressed　her　back　into　the　copilot's　seat。　〃Stay　put；　I'll　sit　in　coach　with　the　rest　of　the　peasants。〃　He　paused　and　looked　around　the　control　cabin。　〃This　is　a　real　antique。〃
　　　　〃She　shakes；　rattles；　and　rolls；〃　said　Giordino；　〃but　she　hangs　in　the　air。〃
　　　　Pitt　leaned　over　Giordino's　shoulder　and　examined　the　instrument　panel；　his　eyes　ing　to　rest　on　the　fuel　gauges。　He　reached　over　and　tapped　the　instrument　glass。　Both　needles　quivered　just　below　the　three…quarter　mark。　〃How　far　do　you　figure　she'll　take　us？〃
　　　　〃Fuel　range　should　be　in　the　neighborhood　of　three　hundred　and　fifty　kilometers。　If　a　bullet；　didn't　bite　a　hole　in　one　of　the　tanks；　I'd　guess　she'll　carry　us　about　two　hundred　and　eighty。〃
　　　　〃Must　be　a　chart　of　the　area　around　somewhere　and　a　pair　of　dividers。〃
　　　　Shannon　found　a　navigation　kit　in　a　pocket　beside　her　seat　and　passed　it　to　Pitt。　He　removed　a　chart　and　unfolded　it　against　her　back。　Using　the　dividers；　careful　not　to　stick　the　points　through　the　chart　paper　and　stab　her；　Pitt　laid　out　a　course　to　the　Peruvian　coast。
　　　　〃I　estimate　roughly　three　hundred　kilometers　to　the　Deep　Fathom。〃
　　　　〃What's　Deep　Fathom？〃　asked　Shannon。
　　　　〃Our　research　ship。〃
　　　　〃Surely　you　don't　intend　to　land　at　sea　when　one　of　Peru's　largest　cities　is　much　closer？〃
　　　　〃She　means　the　international　airport　at　Trujillo；〃　explained　Giordino。
　　　　〃The　Solpemachaco　has　too　many　friends　to　suit　me；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Friends　who　have　enough　clout　to　order　in　a　regiment　of　mercenaries　at　a　moment's　notice。　Once　they　spread　the　word　we　stole　a　helicopter　and　sent　the　pride　of　their　military　to　a　graveyard；　our　lives　won't　be　worth　the　spare　tire　inside　the　trunk　of　an　Edsel。　We'll　be　safer　on　board　an　American　ship　outside　their　offshore　limit　until　we　can　arrange　for　our　U。S。　Embassy　staff　to　make　a　full　report　to　honest　officials　in　the　Peruvian　government。〃
　　　　〃I　see　your　point；〃　agreed　Shannon。　〃But　don't　overlook　the　archaeology　students。　They　know　the　whole　story。　Their　parents　are　very　influential　and　will　see　that　a　true　account　of　their　abduction　and　the　pillaging　of　national　treasures　hits　the　news　media。〃
　　　　〃You're　assuming；　of　course；〃　Giordino　said　matter…of…factly；　〃that　a　Peruvian　posse　won't　cut　us　off　at　any　one　of　twenty　passes　between　here　and　the　sea。〃
　　　　〃On　the　contrary；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃I'm　counting　on　it。　Care　to　bet　the　other　assault　helicopter　isn't　chasing　our　tail　rotor　as　we　speak？〃
　　　　〃So　we　hug　the　ground　and　dodge　sheep　and　cows　until　we　cross　over　water；〃　acknowledged　Giordino。
　　　　〃Precisely。　Cuddling　with　low　clouds　won't　hurt　matters　either。〃
　　　　〃Forgetting　a　little　something；　aren't　you？〃　said　Shannon　wearily；　as　though　reminding　a　husband　who　neglected　to　carry　out　the　trash。　〃If　my　math　is　correct；　our　fuel　tanks　will　run　dry　twenty　kilometers　short　of　your　ship。　I　hope　you　aren't　proposing　we　swim　the　rest　of　the　way。〃
　　　　〃We　solve　that　insignificant　problem；〃　said　Pitt　calmly；　〃by　calling　up　the　ship　and　arranging　for　it　to　run　full　speed　on　a　converging　course。〃
　　　　〃Every　klick　helps；〃　said　Giordino；　〃but　we'll　still　be　cutting　it　a　mite　fine。〃
　　　　〃Survival　is　guaranteed；〃　Pitt　said　confidently。　〃This　aircraft　carries　life　vests　for　everyone　on　board　plus　two　life　rafts。　I　know　I　checked　when　I　walked　through　the　main　cabin。〃　He　paused；　turned；　and　looked　back。　Rodgers　was　checking　to　see　all　the　students　had　their　shoulder　harnesses　on　properly。
　　　　〃Our　pursuers　will　be　on　to　us　the　instant　you　make　contact　with　your　vessel；〃　Shannon　persisted　bleakly。　〃They'll　know　exactly　where　to　intercept　and　shoot　us　down。〃
　　　　〃Not；〃　Pitt　replied　loftily；　〃if　I　play　my　cards　right。〃

　　　　Setting　the　office　chair　to　almost　a　full　reclining　position；　munications　technician　Jim　Stucky　settled　in　fortably　and　began　reading　a　paperback　mystery　novel　by　Wick　Downing。　He　had　finally　gotten　used　to　the　thump　that　reverberated　throughout　the　hull　of　the　NUMA　oceanographic　ship；　Deep　Fathom；　every　time　the　sonar　unit　bounced　a　signal　off　the　seafloor　of　the　Peru　Basin。　Boredom　had　set　in　soon　after　the　vessel　began　endlessly　cruising　back　and　forth　charting　the　geology　2500　fathoms　below　the　ship's　keel。　Stucky　was　in　the　middle　of　the　chapter　where　a　woman's　body　is　found　floating　inside　a　waterbed　when　Pitt's　voice　crackled　over　the　speaker。
　　　　〃NUMA　calling　Deep　Fathom。　You　awake；　Stucky？〃
　　　　Stucky　jerked　erect　and　pressed　the　transmit　button。　〃This　is　Deep　Fathom。　I　read　you；　NUMA。　Please　stand　by。〃　While　Pitt　waited；　Stucky　alerted　his　skipper　over　the　ship's　speaker　system。
　　　　Captain　Frank　Stewart　hurried　from　the　bridge　into　the　munications　cabin。　〃Did　I　hear　you　correctly？　You're　in　contact　with　Pitt　and　Giordino？〃
　　　　Stucky　nodded。　〃Pitt　is　standing　by。〃
　　　　Stewart　picked　up　the　microphone。　〃Dirk；　this　is　Frank　Stewart。〃
　　　　〃Good　to　hear　your　beer…soaked　voice　again；　Frank。〃
　　　　〃What　have　you　guys　been　up　to？　Admiral　Sandecker　has　been　erupting　like　a　volcano　the　past　twenty…four　hours；　demanding　to　know　your　status。〃
　　　　〃Believe　me；　Frank；　it　hasn't　been　a　good　day。〃
　　　　〃What　is　your　present　position？〃
　　　　〃Somewhere　over　the　Andes　in　an　antique　Peruvian　military　chopper。〃
　　　　〃What　happened　to　our　NUMA　helicopter？〃　Stewart　demanded。
　　　　〃The　Red　Baron　shot　it　down；〃　said　Pitt　hastily。　〃That's　not　important。　Listen　to　me　carefully。　We　took　bullet　strikes　in　our　fuel　tanks。　We　can't　stay　in　the　air　for　more　than　a　half　hour。　Please　meet　and　pick　us　up　in　the　town　square　of　Chiclayo。　You'll　find　it　on　your　charts　of　the　Peruvian　mainland。　Use　our　NUMA　backup　copter。〃
　　　　Stewart　looked　down　at　Stucky。　Both　men　exchanged　puzzled　glances。　Stewart　pressed　the　transmit　button　again。　〃Please　repeat。　I　don't　read　you　clearly。〃
　　　　〃We　are　required　to　land　in　Chiclayo　due　to　loss　of　fuel。　Rendezvous　with　us　in　the　survey　helicopter　and　transport　us　back　to　the　ship。　Besides　Giordino　and　me；　there　are　twelve　passengers。〃
　　　　Stewart　looked　dazed。　〃What　in　hell　is　going　on？　He　and　Giordino　flew　off　the　ship　with　our　only　bird。　And　now　they're　flying　a　military　aircraft　that's　been　shot　up　with　twelve　people　on　board。　What's　this　baloney　about　a　backup　chopper？〃
　　　　〃Stand　by；　Stewart　transmitted　to　Pitt。　Then　he　reached　out　and　picked　up　the　ship's　phone　and　buzzed　the　bridge。　〃Find　a　map　of　Peru　in　the　chart　room　and　bring　it　to　munications　right　away。〃
　　　　〃You　think　Pitt　has　fallen　off　his　pogo　stick？〃　asked　Stucky。
　　　　Not　in　a　thousand　years；〃　answered　Stewart。　〃Those　guys　are　in　trouble　and　Pitt's　laying　a　red　herring　to　mislead　eavesdroppers。〃　A　crewman　brought　the　map；　and　Stewart　st