inca.gold-第28部分

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Captain　Stewart　ordered　slow　speed　as　a　launch　came　alongside　the　Deep　Fathom　and　the　harbor　pilot　jumped　onto　a　boarding　ladder　and　climbed　on　board。　Once　the　pilot　steered　the　ship　safely　inside　the　main　channel；　Captain　Stewart　took　mand　of　the　bridge　again　and　adroitly　eased　the　big　research　ship　to　a　stop　beside　the　dock　of　the　main　passenger　terminal。　Under　his　watchful　eye　the　mooring　lines　were　slipped　over　big；　rusty　bollards。　Then　he　shut　down　his　automatic　control　system；　rang　his　chief　engineer；　and　told　him　that　he　was　through　with　the　engines。
　　　　Everyone　lining　the　ship's　rail　was　surprised　to　see　over　a　thousand　people　jamming　the　dock。　Along　with　an　armed　military　security　force　and　a　large　contingent　of　police；　TV　news　cameras　and　press　photographers　quickly　began　jockeying　for　position　as　the　gangway　was　lowered。　Beyond　the　news　media　stood　a　group　of　smiling　government　officials；　and　behind　them　the　happily　waving　parents　of　the　archaeology　students。
　　　　〃Still　no　Dixieland　band　playing　‘Waiting　for　the　Robert　E。　Lee；'　〃　Pitt　said；　feigning　a　disappointed　tone。
　　　　〃Nothing　like　a　cheering　populace　to　snap　one　out　of　depression；〃　said　Giordino；　gazing　at　the　unexpected　reception。
　　　　〃I　never　expected　so　grand　a　turnout；〃　murmured　Shannon　in　awe。　〃I　can't　believe　word　spread　so　fast。〃
　　　　Miles　Rodgers　lifted　one　of　three　cameras　hung　around　his　neck　and　began　shooting。　〃Looks　to　me　like　half　the　Peruvian　government　turned　out。〃
　　　　The　dock　was　filled　with　an　air　of　excitement。　Small　children　were　waving　Peruvian　and　American　flags。　A　roar　came　from　the　crowd　as　the　archaeology　students　climbed　out　on　the　bridge　wing　and　began　waving　and　shouting　as　they　recognized　their　parents。　Only　Stewart　looked　uneasy。
　　　　〃My　God；　I　hope　they　all　don't　expect　to　storm　aboard　my　ship。〃
　　　　〃Too　many　boarders　to　repel。〃　Giordino　shrugged。　〃Better　to　haul　down　your　flag　and　plead　for　mercy。〃
　　　　〃I　told　you　my　students　came　from　influential　families；〃　said　Shannon　happily。
　　　　Unnoticed　by　the　crowd；　a　small　man　wearing　glasses　and　carrying　a　briefcase　expertly　squeezed　through　the　milling　throng　and　slipped　around　the　cordon　of　security　guards。　He　bounded　up　the　still…lowering　gangway　before　anyone　could　stop　him　and　leaped　onto　the　deck　with　the　elated　expression　of　a　running　back　who　has　just　crossed　a　goal　line。　He　approached　Pitt　and　Giordino　and　grinned。
　　　　〃Why　is　it　prudence　and　discretion　are　beyond　your　talents？〃
　　　　〃We　try　not　to　fly　in　the　face　of　public　opinion；〃　Pitt　said　before　smiling　broadly　and　embracing　the　little　man。　〃Good　to　see　you；　Rudi。〃
　　　　〃Seems　we　can't　get　away　from　you；〃　said　Giordino　warmly。
　　　　Rudi　Gunn；　the　deputy　director　of　NUMA；　shook　Stewart's　hand　and　was　introduced　to　Shannon　and　Rodgers。　〃Will　you　excuse　me　if　I　borrow　these　two　rogues　before　the　weling　ceremonies？〃　he　asked　graciously。
　　　　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　stepped　through　a　hatch　and　walked　down　an　alleyway　with　ease。　Gunn　had　helped　design　the　Deep　Fathom　and　was　very　familiar　with　the　ship's　deck　layout。　He　stopped　before　the　doorway　to　the　conference　room；　opened　it　and　entered。　He　went　directly　to　the　head　of　a　long　table　and　fished　through　his　briefcase　for　a　yellow　legal　pad　filled　with　notations　as　Pitt　and　Giordino　settled　into　a　pair　of　leather　chairs。
　　　　Though　Giordino　and　Gunn　were　both　short；　they　were　as　unalike　as　a　gibbon　and　a　bulldog。　While　Gunn　was　as　slight　as　a　girl；　Giordino　was　a　huge　walking　muscle。　They　also　differed　in　brain　power。　Giordino　was　shrewd　and　street　smart。　Gunn　was　sheer　genius。　Number　one　in　his　class　at　the　Naval　Academy；　and　a　former　navy　mander　who　could　easily　have　ascended　to　a　top　staff　job　in　the　Navy　Department；　he　preferred　the　underwater　science　of　NUMA　to　the　science　of　warfare。　Extremely　nearsighted；　he　peered　through　heavy　hornrimmed　glasses；　but　never　missed　the　slightest　movement　within　two　hundred　yards。
　　　　Pitt　was　the　first　to　speak。　〃Why　the　frenzy　to　send　Al　and　me　back　to　that　rotten　sinkhole　to　retrieve　a　body？〃
　　　　〃The　request　came　from　U。S。　Customs。　They　made　an　urgent　appeal　to　Admiral　Sandecker　to　borrow　his　best　men。〃
　　　　〃And　that　includes　you。〃
　　　　〃I　could　have　begged　off；　claiming　my　present　projects　would　grind　to　a　stop　without　my　presence。　The　admiral　would　not　have　hesitated　to　send　someone　else。　But　a　canary　let　slip　your　little　unauthorized　mission　to　find　a　lost　galleon　in　the　wilds　of　Ecuador。〃
　　　　〃Hiram　Yaeger；〃　Pitt　supplied。　〃I　should　have　remembered　you　two　are　as　close　as　Frank　and　Jesse　James。〃
　　　　〃I　couldn't　resist　dumping　the　routine　of　Washington　to　mix　a　little　business　with　adventure；　so　I　volunteered　for　the　dirty　job　of　briefing　and　joining　you　on　the　Customs　project。〃
　　　　‘You　mean　you　sold　Sandecker　a　bill　of　goods　and　skipped　town？〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　〃Mercifully　for　everyone　involved；　he　doesn't　know　about　the　hunt　for　the　galleon。　At　least　not　yet。〃
　　　　〃He's　not　an　easy　man　to　fool；〃　said　Giordino　seriously。
　　　　Not　for　very　long；〃　added　Pitt。　〃He's　probably　already　on　to　you。〃
　　　　Gunn　waved　a　hand　indifferently。　〃You　two　are　on　safe　ground。　Better　me　than　some　poor　fool　unfamiliar　with　your　escapades。　Anyone　else　in　the　NUMA　bureaucracy　might　overestimate　your　abilities。〃
　　　　Giordino　made　a　surly　face。　〃And　we　call　him　a　friend？〃
　　　　〃What　can　NUMA　do　for　Customs　that's　so　special？〃　asked　Pitt。
　　　　Gunn　spread　a　sheaf　of　papers　on　the　table。　〃The　issue　is　plex　but　involves　the　plunder　of　ancient　art。〃
　　　　〃Isn't　that　a　little　out　of　our　line？　Our　business　is　underwater　exploration　and　research。〃
　　　　〃Destruction　for　the　purpose　of　looting　underwater　archaeological　sites　is　our　business；〃　Gunn　stated　earnestly。
　　　　〃Where　does　recovering　Dr。　Miller's　body　enter　the　picture？〃
　　　　〃Only　the　first　step　of　our　cooperation　with　Customs。　The　murder　of　a　world…renowned　anthropologist　is　the　bedrock　of　their　case。　They　suspect　the　killer　is　a　highlevel　member　of　an　international　looting　syndicate；　and　they　need　proof　for　an　indictment。　They　also　hope　to　use　the　killer　as　a　key　to　unlock　the　door　leading　to　the　masterminds　of　the　entire　theft　and　smuggling　operation。　As　for　the　sacred　well；　Customs　and　Peruvian　authorities　believe　a　vast　cache　of　artifacts　was　raised　from　the　bottom　and　has　already　been　shipped　to　black…market　receiving　stations　around　the　world。　Miller　discovered　the　theft　and　was　terminated　to　shut　him　up。　They　want　us；　you　and　Al　in　particular；　to　search　the　floor　of　the　well　for　evidence。〃
　　　　〃And　our　plan　to　explore　for　the　lost　galleon？〃
　　　　〃plete　the　job　on　the　well；　and　I'll　authorize　a　small　budget　out　of　NUMA　to　fund　your　search。　That's　all　I　can　promise。〃
　　　　〃And　if　the　admiral　shoots　you　down？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　Gunn　shrugged。　〃He's　my　boss　as　well　as　yours。　I'm　an　old　navy　man。　I　follow　orders。〃
　　　　〃I'm　old　air　force；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃I　question　them。〃
　　　　〃Worry　about　it　when　the　time　es；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Let's　get　the　sinkhole　probe　out　of　the　way。〃
　　　　Pitt　took　a　deep　breath　and　relaxed　in　his　chair。　〃Might　as　well　do　something　useful　while　Yaeger　and　Perlmutter　conduct　their　research。　They　should　have　some　solid　leads　by　the　time　we　stumble　out　of　the　jungle。〃
　　　　〃There　is　one　more　request　from　the　Customs　agents；〃　said　Gunn。
　　　　〃What　the　hell　else　do　they　have　on　their　want　list？〃　demanded　Pitt　roughly。　〃A　dive　orgy　for　souvenirs　thrown　off　cruise　ships　by　tourists　afraid　of　Customs　inspectors？〃
　　　　〃Nothing　so　mundane；〃　Gunn　explained　patiently。　〃They　also　insist　that　you　return　to　the　Pueblo　de　los　Muertos。〃
　　　　〃They　must　think　artifacts　sitting　in　the　rain　qualify　as　underwater　stolen　goods；〃　Giordino　said　with　acidic　humor。
　　　　〃The　Customs　people　are　in　dire　need　of　an　inventory。〃
　　　　〃Of　the　artifacts　in　the　temple？〃　Pitt　asked　incredulously。　〃Do　they　expect　an　indexed　catalogue？　There　must　be　close　to　a　thousand　items　stacked　inside　whatever　is　left　of　the　temple　after　the　mercenaries　finished　blowing　it　all　to　hell。　They　need　archaeologists　to　sort　through　the　hoard；　not　marine　engineers。〃
　　　　〃The　Peruvian　Investigative　Police　have　investigated　and　reported　that　most　of　the　artifacts　were　removed　from　the　temple　soon　after　you　escaped；〃　explained　Gunn。　〃International　Customs　agents　need　descriptions　so　they　can　identify　the　artifacts　should　they　begin　to　show　up　at　antique　auctions；　or　in　private　collections；　galleries；　and　museums　in　affluent　first　world　countries。　They　hope　that　a　return　trip　to　the　scene　of　the　crime　will　jog　your　memories。〃
　　　　〃Events　were　moving　too　fast　for　a　quick　tally。〃
　　　　Gunn　nodded　in　understanding。　〃But　certain　objects　must　have　stuck　in　your　mind；　especially　the　outstanding　pieces。　What　about　you；　Al？〃
　　　　〃I　was　busy　prowling　the　ruins　for　a　radio；〃　said　Giordino。　〃I　didn't　have　time　to　examine　the　stuff。〃
　　　　Pitt　held　his　hands　to　his　head　and　massaged　his　temples。　〃I　might　be　able　to　recall　fifteen　or　twenty　items　that　stood　out。〃
　　　　〃Can　you　sketch　them？〃
　　　　〃I'm　a　miserable　artist；　but　I　think　I　can　draw　reasonably　accurate　pictures。　No　need　to　visit　the　place　again。　I　can　just　as　well　illustrate　what　I　remember　while　lounging　by　a　swimming　pool　at　a　resort　hotel。〃
　　　　〃Sounds　sensible　to　me；〃　Giordino　said　cheerfully。
　　　　〃No；〃　Gunn　said；　〃it's　not　sensible。　Your　job　goes　much　deeper。　As　much　as　it　turns　my　stomach；　you　two　middle…aged　delinquents　are　Peruvian　national　heroes。　Not　only　are　you　in　demand　with　the　Customs　Service；　the　State　Department　wants　a　piece　of　you。〃
　　　　Giordino　stared　at　Pitt。　〃One　more　manifestation　of　Giordino's　list　of　laws。　Any　man　who　volunteers　for　a　rescue　mission　bees　a　victim。〃
　　　　〃What　does　the　State　Department　have　to　do　with　us　making　a　round　trip　to　the　temple？〃　Pitt　demanded。
　　　　〃Since　the　South　American　Free　Trade　Treaty；　the　petroleum　and　mining　industries　have　been　denationalized。　Several　American　panies　are　currently　pleting　negotiations　to　help　Peru　better　exploit　its　natural　resources。　The　country　desperately　needs　foreign　investment；　and　the　money　is　ready　to　pour　in。　The　catch　is　that　labor　unions　and　the　opposition　parties　of　the　legislature　are　against　foreign　involvement　in　their　economy。　By　saving　the　lives　of　sons　and　daughters　of