atlantis.found-第18部分

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　　　　　He　began　to　feel　better。　Beyond　his　anger　lay　an　icy　confidence；　and　beyond　that　a　heightened　lucidity。　A　thought　was　already　forming　in　his　mind；　racing　and　developing　until　he　saw　clearly　what　he　must　do。
　　　　　First　thing　in　the　morning；　he　was　going　back　into　the　mines　and　bring　out　the　black　obsidian　skull。
　
　　　　　Unable　to　use　their　original　escape　route　because　of　the　booby　trap　explosive　that　had　collapsed　the　roof　of　the　tunnel；　a　team　consisting　of　Pitt；　Giordino；　Eagan；　Marquez；　and　two　deputies　traveled　the　course　Pitt　had　taken　from　the　Buccaneer　Mine　twenty…four　hours　earlier。　Relying　on　Pitt's　directional　puter　for　guidance；　the　men　quickly　reached　a　flooded　shaft　that　dropped　to　the　tunnels　below　and　led　into　the　Paradise　Mine。
　　　　　Pitt　stood　on　the　edge　of　the　shaft　and　stared　into　the　black；　ominous　water；　wondering　if　this　was　such　a　good　idea。　The　flooding　had　risen　two　mine　levels　higher　than　the　day　before。　During　the　night　the　pressure　from　far　below　had　slowly　diminished；　until　the　water　finally　found　its　level。
　　　　　Sheriff　Eagan　thought　he　was　crazy。　Pat　O'Connell　thought　he　was　crazy；　as　did　Luis　and　Lisa　Marquez。　Only　Giordino　refrained　from　calling　Pitt　crazy；　and　that　was　because　he　insisted　on　going　along　as　backup　in　case　Pitt　ran　into　trouble。
　　　　　The　dive　equipment　was　basically　the　same　as　that　Pitt　used　before；　except　that　now　he　intended　to　wear　a　dry　suit。　The　wet　suit　had　proven　practical　for　movement　out　of　water　and　protected　him　from　cold　during　the　hike　through　the　mines；　but　the　dry　suit　was　more　efficient　in　insulating　the　body　against　the　frigid　thermal　temperatures　of　the　underground　water。　For　the　hike　back　to　the　shaft；　however；　he　wore　warm；　fortable　clothing；　planning　to　change　into　the　dry　suit　only　when　it　came　time　to　go　under。
　　　　　Luis　Marquez　had　acpanied　the　expedition　after　recruiting　three　of　his　neighboring　miner　friends　to　help　carry　the　dive　equipment；　which　included　rope　ladders　to　ease　the　trip　through　vertical　shafts。　Sheriff　Eagan　firmly　believed　his　services　would　be　required　to　direct　a　rescue　operation　that　he　saw　as　inevitable。
　　　　　Pitt　and　Giordino　slipped　out　of　their　street　clothes　and；　for　added　thermal　protection；　pulled　on　nylon…and…polyester　inner　suits　that　were　shaped　like　long　john　underwear。　Then　they　climbed　into　Viking　vulcanized…rubber　dry　suits　with　attached　hood；　gloves；　and　traction…soled　boots。　Once　they　were　suited　up；　their　equipment　and　gauges　checked；　Pitt　glanced　into　Giordino's　face。　The　little　Italian　looked　as　unruffled　and　tranquil　as　if　he　were　about　to　dive　into　an　eight…foot…deep　swimming　pool。　〃I'll　guide　us　with　the　directional　puter　and　leave　it　to　you　to　focus　on　the　depression　tables。〃
　　　　　Giordino　held　up　a　depression　puter　strapped　to　his　left　arm。　〃Figuring　an　approximate　dive　time　of　thirty　minutes　in　water　one　hundred　and　ten　feet　deep；　at　an　altitude　of　ten　thousand　feet　above　sea　level；　took　a　bit　of　prodigious　calculation　for　our　depression　stops。　But　I　think　I　can　get　you　back　to　this　rock　garden　without　narcosis；　an　embolism；　or　the　bends。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　be　eternally　grateful。〃
　　　　　Pitt　pulled　on　a　Mark　II　full　face　mask　with　a　built…in　underwater　munications　system。　〃Do　you　read　me？〃　he　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　〃Like　you　were　inside　my　head。〃
　　　　　They　had　hauled　ten　air　tanks　into　the　mine。　For　the　dive；　they　each　carried　twin　tanks　strapped　to　their　backpacks；　with　a　reserve　tank　clamped　in　between　for　a　total　of　six。　The　remaining　four　were　to　be　lowered　by　Marquez　and　his　friends　at　predetermined　depths　as　reckoned　by　Giordino's　puter　for　the　depression　stops。　They　carried　no　weapons　except　their　dive　knives。
　　　　　〃I　guess　we　might　as　well　go；〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　　〃After　you；〃　Giordino　replied。
　　　　　Pitt　switched　on　his　dive　light　and　beamed　it　onto　the　smooth　surface　of　the　water。　He　kicked　off　from　the　edge　and　dropped　five　feet　through　the　air；　crashing　through　the　liquid　void　in　an　explosion　of　bubbles。　A　second　explosion　quickly　followed；　as　Giordino　emerged　out　of　the　gloom　beside　him。　He　made　a　motion　with　his　hand　downward；　doubled　over；　and　kicked　his　fins；　heading　into　the　depths　of　the　mine。
　　　　　They　swam　down；　down；　their　dive　lights　cutting　the　black　water；　revealing　nothing　but　cold；　hard　rock　walls。　They　went　slowly；　equalizing　the　increasing　water　pressure　in　their　ears　the　deeper　they　dove。　If　they　hadn't　known　they　were　diving　down　a　vertical　shaft；　they'd　have　sworn　they　were　swimming　inside　a　horizontal　drainpipe。
　　　　　At　last；　the　floor　of　the　gallery　at　the　bottom　of　the　shaft　appeared；　the　ore　cart　track　rising　to　meet　them；　rails　mute　and　cold　under　their　thick　film　of　rust。　The　turbidity　created　by　the　rushing　surge　after　the　explosion　the　day　before　had　dissipated　and　the　water　was　calm　and　clear；　visibility　reaching　at　least　fifty　feet。　Pitt　checked　his　depth　gauge　the　needle　stood　at　186　feet　and　he　waited　until　Giordino　leveled　out　slightly　ahead　of　him。
　　　　　〃How　far　from　here？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　〃Ninety　to　a　hundred　yards；〃　Pitt　answered；　pointing。　〃Just　around　that　bend　in　the　tunnel。〃
　　　　　He　pumped　his　fins　and　darted　into　the　tunnel；　his　light　sweeping　back　and　forth　through　the　timbers。　They　rounded　the　bend；　moving　above　the　curve　of　the　ore　cart　tracks。　Suddenly；　Pitt　thrust　out　his　arm　and　abruptly　stopped。
　　　　　〃Switch　off　your　light！〃　he　ordered　Giordino。
　　　　　His　friend　plied；　casting　the　tunnel　into　smothering　blackness；　but　not　totally。　A　dim　glow　filtered　through　the　water　in　front　of　them。　〃I　think　we　have　poachers；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　　〃Why　is　it　these　characters　materialize　every　time　I　blow　my　nose？〃　Pitt　groaned。
　
　
　　　　　There　were　two　divers　inside　the　chamber；　both　working　with　intent　and　purpose；　photographing　the　inscriptions　on　the　walls。　A　pair　of　underwater　floodlights　stood　on　stands；　illuminating　the　drowned　chamber　as　dazzlingly　as　a　Hollywood　studio　stage。　Pitt　gazed　upward　through　the　hole　on　the　floor　of　the　chamber；　staying　in　the　shadows　so　the　divers　inside　wouldn't　spot　a　reflection　from　the　glass　plate　in　his　full　face　mask。
　　　　　He　marveled　at　their　efficiency。　They　were　using　self…contained　breathing　units　that　absorbed　and　eliminated　the　bubbles　exhaled　through　their　air　regulators　in　order　to　prevent　water　disturbance　in　front　of　their　camera　lenses。　He　was　especially　careful　not　to　allow　his　own　exhaust　bubbles　to　float　through　the　opening　in　the　chamber　floor。
　　　　　〃They're　tenacious；　I'll　give　them　that；〃　Pitt　muttered。　〃Whatever　is　in　the　inscriptions；　they　want　it　badly　enough　to　kill　and　die　for　it。〃
　　　　　〃Good　thing　their　munications　system　is　on　a　different　frequency；　or　they'd　have　eavesdropped　on　our　conversations。〃
　　　　　〃Could　be　they've　tuned　in　and　plan　on　suckering　us　inside。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　lips　curled　into　a　tight　grin　behind　the　mask。　〃So　do　we　disappoint　them　and　cut　and　run？〃
　　　　　〃Since　when　were　we　ever　smart　enough　to　take　the　easy　way　out？〃
　　　　　〃Never；　that　I　recall。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　bond　with　Pitt　had　never　weakened　in　all　their　years　of　friendship　a　friendship　that　went　all　the　way　back　to　the　first　grade。　Whatever　scheme　Pitt　devised；　no　matter　how　insane　or　ridiculous；　Giordino　was　in　for　a　penny；　in　for　a　pound；　without　the　slightest　protest。　They　had　saved　each　other's　life　on　more　than　one　occasion；　and　when　needed　could　get　inside　the　other's　head。　That　they　worked　as　a　close…knit　team　went　without　saying。　Their　adventures　were　legendary　within　NUMA。
　　　　　〃It'd　be　next　to　impossible　for　both　of　us　to　rush　inside　the　chamber　in　unison　before　they　react；〃　said　Pitt；　eyeing　the　narrow　diameter　of　the　opening。
　　　　　〃We　could　swim　inside　and　knife　them　in　their　respective　guts；〃　said　Giordino　quietly。
　　　　　〃If　our　positions　were　reversed；〃　murmured　Pitt；　so　softly　that　Giordino　could　barely　hear　him；　〃that's　what　they　would　do　to　us。　But　the　practical　side　of　me　says　take　them　alive。〃
　　　　　〃Easier　said　than　done。〃
　　　　　Pitt　moved　as　close　as　he　dared　to　the　opening　and　peered　at　the　two　divers；　who　were　absorbed　in　their　work。　〃I　think　I　see　an　opportunity。〃
　　　　　〃Don't　leave　me　in　suspense；〃　said　Giordino；　removing　his　gloves　so　his　hands　had　freedom　of　movement。
　　　　　〃They're　wearing　their　dive　knives　strapped　to　their　lower　legs。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　eyebrows　rose　questioningly　under　the　mask。　〃So　are　we。
　　　　　〃Yes；　but　we're　not　about　to　be　attacked　from　behind　by　a　pair　of　genial　and　dashing　rogues。〃
　
　　　　　The　divers　inside　finished　photographing　the　inscriptions　and　star　symbols。　While　one　loaded　their　camera　equipment　in　a　large　duffel　bag；　the　other　began　placing　a　charge　of　explosives　in　one　corner　of　the　chamber。　The　procedure　played　into　Pitt　and　Giordino's　hands。　As　soon　as　the　diver　with　the　camera　gear　had　worked　his　way　through　the　hole　into　the　cavity　below；　Giordino　snatched　the　mouthpiece　of　the　breathing　regulator　from　between　the　man's　lips　and　cut　off　his　air　supply。　In　the　same　instant；　he　circled　a　massive　arm　around　the　man's　exposed　neck；　choking　him　until　he　went　limp　from　unconsciousness。
　　　　　〃I've　got　mine；〃　Giordino　muttered　heavily。
　　　　　Pitt　didn't　bother　to　reply。　With　a　powerful　kick　of　his　fins；　he　shot　into　the　chamber　and　toward　the　unsuspecting　diver　connecting　a　timer　to　the　explosives。　He　came　in　from　the　side　to　avoid　the　air　tanks　on　the　diver's　backpack。　In　a　repeat　of　Giordino's　performance；　he　tore　away　the　mouthpiece　and　squeezed　the　diver's　throat　in　a　viselike　grip。　Pitt　had　not　enjoyed　the　luxury　of　time；　however；　to　see　that　he　was　tackling　a　man　of　giant　size。　It　took　all　of　two　seconds　for　Pitt　to　realize　he　had　bitten　off　more　than　he　could　chew。　His　opponent　was　built　like　a　professional　wrestler　and　had　the　muscles　of　one。　He　didn't　react　with　helpless　inertia；　but　thrashed　around　the　narrow　confines　of　the　chamber　like　a　crazy　man　in　a　violent　fit。　Pitt　felt　like　a　fox　who　had　unwittingly　leaped　onto　the　back　of　a　wounded　bear　and　was　holding　on　for　dear　life。
　　　　　The　sheer　animal　power　as　the　man　tried　to　reach　over　his　shoulders　and　grasp　Pitt's　head　was　terrifying。　Two　huge　hands　managed　to　clutch　Pitt　around　the　head。　For　a　few　moments；　Pitt　thought　his　skull　was　begin