atlantis.found-第19部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　head。　For　a　few　moments；　Pitt　thought　his　skull　was　beginning　to　crack　in　a　hundred　places。　What　saved　him　from　having　his　brains　turned　into　mush　was　a　beefy　wrist　that　moved　beside　his　jaw。　He　spat　out　his　mouthpiece；　somehow　managed　to　twist　his　head　under　the　crushing　grip；　and　bit　the　wrist　as　hard　as　his　jaws　could　clamp。　A　cloud　of　blood　billowed　in　the　water。　The　hands　around　his　head　jerked　free　in　chorus　with　a　painful　shout　that　came　as　a　grotesque　gurgle。　Pitt　held　on　and　squeezed　the　great　bull　of　a　neck　with　every　ounce　of　his　fading　strength。　In　desperation；　he　ripped　the　monster's　face　mask　off。
　　　　　The　big　man　threw　himself　backward　toward　one　wall　in　a　convulsive　jerk。　Pitt's　air　tanks　clanged　against　the　rock　and　the　breath　was　crushed　out　of　him；　but　his　choke　hold　did　not　loosen；　even　by　a　fraction。　He　gripped　the　wrist　of　the　arm　around　the　throat　with　his　free　hand　and　increased　the　pressure。
　　　　　From　behind　and　to　the　side；　Pitt　could　not　see　the　other　man's　face。　Whipping　his　body　from　side　to　side　like　a　dog　shaking　his　coat　wet　with　water；　the　giant　tried　desperately　to　find　his　air　regulator　and　thrust　it　back　in　his　mouth；　but　its　hose　was　wrapped　around　Pitt's　arm。　Frantically；　the　man　bent　forward　enough　to　grab　his　dive　knife　from　the　sheath　strapped　to　his　right　calf。　Pitt　had　expected　the　movement　and　was　prepared　for　it。　As　the　giant　reached　down；　Pitt　released　the　hand　holding　the　arm　around　his　throat；　raised　it；　and　jabbed　a　finger　in　an　open　eye。
　　　　　The　effect　was　what　he　expected；　what　he'd　hoped。　The　gorilla　of　a　man　went　stiff　as　a　tree　and　clamped　a　hand　to　his　eye。　In　the　process；　he　blindly　caught　hold　of　Pitt's　hand　and　slowly；　relentlessly　began　to　bend　the　index　and　middle　fingers　backward。　The　pain　shot　through　Pitt　like　a　shaft　of　lightning。　The　agony　of　having　the　bones　of　the　fingers　snapped　is　unlike　any　other。　Excruciating　doesn't　do　justice　as　a　description。　Pitt　began　to　see　fireworks　behind　his　eyes。　He　was　within　a　microsecond　of　releasing　his　stranglehold　and　clutching　at　the　hand　that　was　causing　him　so　much　torment；　when　he　sensed　an　infinitesimal　drop　in　pressure。　The　pain　was　still　there；　but　lessening　by　tiny　degrees。
　　　　　Slowly；　almost　too　slowly；　the　stabbing　pain　began　to　subside　as　the　giant　started　sucking　water　in　through　his　open　mouth。　His　movements　became　uncoordinated　and　spasmodic。　He　entered　the　initial　stages　of　blackout　as　he　began　to　drown。　His　face　suddenly　contorted　in　fear　and　panic。　Pitt　waited　several　seconds　after　the　big　man　went　limp　before　he　replaced　the　mouthpiece；　forcing　air　down　his　victim's　throat　and　lungs。
　　　　　Giordino　came　halfway　through　the　hole。　〃What　took　you　so　long？〃
　　　　　〃The　luck　of　the　draw；〃　Pitt　gasped　between　breaths；　his　heart　pounding　like　a　piston　inside　a　cylinder。　〃I　always　choose　the　wrong　lane　of　traffic；　the　wrong　line　to　stand　in　at　the　bank　and　the　biggest　guy　in　the　world　to　pick　a　fight　with。　What　about　your　man？〃
　　　　　〃I　wrapped　him　tighter　than　a　silkworm　with　electrical　cord　I　found　on　a　string　of　overhead　lights。〃　Giordino　looked　down　at　the　inert　form　on　the　floor　of　the　chamber；　and　the　eyes　behind　the　dive　mask　widened。　He　stared　at　Pitt　with　growing　respect。　〃Do　the　coaches　of　the　National　Football　League　know　about　this　guy？〃
　　　　　〃If　they　did；　he'd　be　a　number…one　draft　choice；〃　Pitt　said；　as　his　heart　began　to　slow　and　his　breath　came　evenly。　〃Take　their　knives　and　any　other　weapons　you　can　find。　Then　find　some　more　electrical　cable　and　let's　bind　him　before　he　es　around　and　tears　the　mountain　down。　Leave　their　dive　masks　off　so　their　vision　is　blurred。〃
　　　　　Giordino　hog…tied　the　giant　diver　with　electrical　cord　and　dropped　him　none　too　gently　through　the　opening　into　the　cleft　below。　He　then　removed　one　or　two　weights　from　the　belts　of　both　men；　so　their　bodies　were　slightly　buoyant；　which　made　their　mass　easier　to　tow　back　through　the　tunnel。　He　also　removed　their　dive　knives。　On　the　smaller　man；　he　found　a　little　gun　that　shot　a　shaft　with　a　barb　on　one　end。　The　shaft　was　propelled　by　pressed　air　from　a　tiny　cylinder。
　　　　　While　Giordino　was　concentrating　on　their　prisoners；　Pitt　removed　a　large　nylon　net　bag　from　his　weight　belt　and　opened　the　metal　clasp　at　the　top。　He　stared　at　the　sinister　black　skull　that　seemed　to　stare　back　through　empty　eye　sockets。　He　could　not　help　but　wonder　if　a　curse　came　with　the　skull。　What　cryptic　secrets　did　it　hold？
　　　　　Pitt's　idealistic　nature　was　overpowered　by　his　practical　side。　Though　he　was　a　daydreamer；　he　did　not　buy　into　myths　and　folktale。　If　an　object　or　conception　could　not　be　seen；　felt；　or　experienced；　it　did　not　exist　for　him。　If　he　wasn't　already　a　hundred　and　eighty　feet　under　water；　he　would　have　spat　in　the　eye　of　the　obsidian　skull。　But　because　it　was　a　link　in　a　chain　of　enigmas；　he　was　determined　to　place　it　in　the　hands　of　people　who　could　properly　study　it。
　　　　　〃Sorry；　my　friend；〃　he　murmured　so　softly　that　Giordino　didn't　hear　him；　〃but　it's　time　you　revealed　yourself。〃　He　lifted　the　skull　very　carefully　from　its　pedestal　and　slid　it　into　the　carry　bag。　At　this　depth　he　handled　it　easily；　but　once　it　carne　out　of　the　water；　he　guessed　it　would　weigh　a　solid　forty　pounds。　He　took　one　final　look　at　the　chamber；　the　inscriptions　on　the　walls；　the　still…burning　floodlights　lying　on　the　floor　where　they　had　been　hurled　during　the　struggle。　Then　he　dove　headfirst　through　the　hole　in　the　rock；　mindful　not　to　knock　the　skull　against　the　rock　and　shatter　it。　Giordino　had　already　pulled　the　two　divers　into　the　tunnel。　The　giant　of　a　man　had　regained　consciousness　and　was　struggling　violently　to　break　free　of　the　electrical　cord　that　bound　his　ankles　and　pinned　his　arms　tightly　against　his　immense　body。
　　　　　〃Need　a　hand？〃　Pitt　asked。
　　　　　〃You　carry　the　skull　and　the　bag　with　the　cameras。　I'll　tote　the　refuse。〃
　　　　　〃Best　if　you　go　first　and　I　follow。　That　way　I　can　watch　them　every　inch　of　the　way　in　case　Big　Boy　starts　breaking　loose。〃
　　　　　Giordino　handed　him　the　little　gun　with　the　barb。　〃Shoot　him　in　his　Adam's　apple　if　he　so　much　as　wiggles　a　finger。〃
　　　　　〃We'll　have　to　be　very　careful　in　our　depression　stops。　We　may　not　have　enough　air　for　the　four　of　us。〃
　　　　　Giordino　made　an　indifferent　motion　with　his　hands。　〃Sorry；　I'm　not　in　a　sacrificial　mood。〃
　　　　　The　return　went　slowly。　Giordino　made　better　time　dragging　the　two　divers　and　their　breathing　gear　by　walking　over　the　ore　track　ties　than　trying　to　swim　his　way　back　to　the　shaft。　Precious　air　was　lost　during　the　prolonged　passage。　Pitt　kept　a　close　eye　on　his　air　gauge　he　knew　that　his　air　was　seriously　depleted。　The　gauge　read　just　three　hundred　pounds。　He　and　Giordino　had　used　twice　the　amount　of　air　they　had　puted　before　the　dive；　not　having　counted　on　a　fight　with　intruders。
　　　　　He　curled　his　body　and　kicked　around　to　the　side　of　the　bound　divers；　checking　their　air　gauges。　Both　men　had　nearly　seven　hundred　pounds。　They　must　have　found　a　shorter　route　through　the　mine　to　the　chamber；　Pitt　surmised。　After　what　seemed　a　year　and　a　day；　they　finally　reached　the　vertical　shaft　and　rose　to　the　first　depression　stop。　Sheriff　Eagan　and　Luis　Marquez　had　lowered　two　spare　tanks　on　nylon　line　to　the　precise　depth　Giordino　had　calculated　earlier。
　　　　　Keeping　a　tight　eye　on　his　depression　puter；　Giordino　listened　as　Pitt　read　off　the　air　pressure　remaining　in　each　tank。　Only　when　they　went　beyond　the　safety　level　did　he　unstrap　and　push　them　aside。　The　prisoners　did　not　bee　belligerent。　They'd　e　to　realize　that　to　resist　was　to　die。　But　Pitt　didn't　let　down　his　guard　for　a　second。　He　knew　well　they　were　two　ticking　time　bombs；　waiting　to　explode　at　the　first　opportunity　that　presented　itself　for　them　to　escape。
　　　　　Time　passed　as　if　mired　in　glue。　They　used　up　the　last　of　their　air　and　went　on　the　reserve　tanks。　When　the　prisoner's　tanks　were　dry；　Pitt　and　Giordino　began　to　buddy…breathe　with　them；　exchanging　their　mouthpieces　between　breaths。　After　the　prescribed　wait；　they　lazily　swam　up　to　the　next　depression　stop。
　　　　　They　were　scraping　the　bottom　of　the　reserve　tanks　when　Giordino　finally　gave　the　〃surface〃　sign　and　said；　〃The　party's　over。　We　can　go　home　now。〃
　　　　　Pitt　climbed　the　rope　ladder　thrown　into　the　shaft　by　Marquez。　He　reached　the　rim　of　the　tunnel　floor　and　handed　Sheriff　Eagan　his　air　tanks。　Then　he　passed　up　the　skull　and　camera　bag。　Next；　Eagan　took　Pitt's　outstretched　hand　and　helped　him　onto　firm　rock。　Pitt　rolled　over　on　his　back；　removed　his　full　face　mask；　and　lay　there　for　a　minute；　thankfully　breathing　in　the　cool　damp　air　of　the　mine。
　　　　　〃Wele　home；〃　said　Eagan。　〃What　took　you　so　long？　You　were　due　back　twenty　minutes　ago。〃
　　　　　〃We　ran　into　two　more　candidates　for　your　jail。〃
　　　　　Giordino　surfaced；　climbed　up；　and　then　knelt　on　his　hands　and　knees　before　hauling　the　smaller　prisoner　into　the　tunnel。　〃I'll　need　help　with　the　other；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　face　mask。　〃He　weighs　two　of　me　put　together。〃
　　　　　Three　minutes　later；　Eagan　was　standing　over　the　intruders；　questioning　them。　But　they　glared　menacingly　at　him　and　said　nothing。　Pitt　dropped　to　his　knees　and　removed　the　dive　hood　covering　the　smaller　man's　head　and　chin。
　　　　　〃Well；　well；　my　friend　the　biker。　How's　your　neck？〃
　　　　　The　constrained　killer　lifted　his　head　and　spat　at　Pitt's　face；　narrowly　missing。　The　teeth　were　bared　like　a　rabid　dog's。　Eyes　that　had　seen　more　than　one　death　glared　at　Pitt。
　　　　　〃A　testy　little　devil；　aren't　we？〃　said　Pitt。　〃A　zealot　of　the　Fourth　Empire。　Is　that　it？　You　can　dream　about　it　while　you　rot　in　jail。〃
　　　　　The　sheriff　reached　down　and　gripped　Pitt's　shoulder。　〃I'll　have　to　let　them　go　free。〃
　　　　　Pitt　stared　up；　his　green　eyes　suddenly　blazing。　〃Like　hell　you　will。〃
　　　　　〃I　can't　arrest　them　unless　they've　mitted　a　crime；〃　Eagan　said　helplessly。
　　　　　〃I'll　press　charges；〃　Marquez　cut　in　coldly。
　　　　　〃What　charges？〃
　　　　　〃Trespassing；　claim…jumping；　destroying　private　property；　and　you　can　throw　in　theft　for　good　measure。〃
　　　　　〃What　did　they　steal？〃　Eagan　asked；　puzzled。
　　　　　〃My　overhead　lighting　system；〃　Marquez　replied　indignantly；　pointing　down　at　the　electrical　cord　binding　the　div