atlantis.found-第25部分

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ase。　〃Are　you　injured？〃　asked　one。
　　　　　〃I　believe　the　word　is　shaken；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Where　did　it　e　from？〃
　　　　　〃A　handheld　launcher　fired　from　a　helicopter；〃　answered　the　guard。　〃Sorry　we　let　it　get　so　close。　We　were　conned　by　the　markings　it　was　supposed　to　be　from　a　local　television　station。　We　did　fire　on　it；　however；　and　bring　it　down。　It　crashed　in　the　river。〃
　　　　　〃Nice　work；〃　said　Pitt　sincerely。
　　　　　〃Your　friends　certainly　don't　spare　any　expense；　do　they？〃
　　　　　〃They　obviously　have　money　to　burn。〃
　　　　　The　guard　turned　to　his　partner。　〃We're　going　to　have　to　increase　our　perimeter。〃　Then　he　looked　around　the　hangar。　〃Any　damage？〃　he　asked　Pitt。
　　　　　〃Only　a　couple　of　holes　in　the　walls　big　enough　to　fly　kites　through。〃
　　　　　〃We'll　see　that　they're　repaired　immediately。　Anything　else？〃
　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Pitt　said；　being　even　more　angered　as　he　stared　at　the　coating　of　dust　on　his　expensive　cars。　〃Please　call　in　a　cleaning　crew。〃
　　　　　〃Maybe　you　should　reconsider　that　project　in　the　Pacific；〃　said　Gunn。
　　　　　Pitt　seemed　not　to　have　heard　him。　〃Fourth　Reich；　Fourth　Empire；　whoever　they　are；　they've　made　a　very　serious　mistake。〃
　　　　　〃Oh？〃　said　Gunn；　looking　curiously　at　his　trembling　hands　as　if　they　belonged　to　someone　else。　〃What　mistake　is　that？〃
　　　　　Pitt　was　staring　up　at　the　gaping；　jagged　holes　in　his　hangar's　walls。　There　was　a　cold　malignity　glaring　out　of　his　opaline　green　eyes；　a　malignity　Gunn　had　seen　on　at　least　four　other　occasions；　and　he　shivered　involuntarily。
　　　　　〃So　far；　the　bad　guys　have　had　all　the　fun；〃　said　Pitt；　his　mouth　twisted　in　a　crooked　grin。　〃Now　it's　my　turn。〃
　
　　　　　Pitt　watched　his　security…camera　tapes　before　going　t0　bed　and　saw　that　the　guards　had　done　their　homework。　Using　maps　of　the　airport's　underground　drainage　system；　they'd　found　a　large　concrete　pipe　eight　feet　in　diameter　that　carried　away　the　rain　and　melted　snow　runoff　from　the　airport's　runways；　taxiways；　and　terminal　areas。　The　drainage　pipe　ran　within　ninety　feet　of　Pitt's　hangar。　At　a　maintenance　access；　unseen　in　the　high　weeds；　the　guards　had　set　up　a　well　camouflaged　observation　post。
　　　　　Pitt　considered　walking　over　and　offering　them　coffee　and　sandwiches；　but　it　was　only　a　passing　thought。　The　last　thing　he　needed　to　do　was　promise　their　security　cover。
　　　　　He　had　just　dressed　and　finished　a　quick　breakfast　when　a　truck　loaded　with　materials　to　repair　the　holes　in　the　hangar　stopped　on　the　road　outside。　An　unmarked　van　pulled　up　behind　the　truck　and　several　women　in　coveralls　stepped　out。　The　security　guards　did　not　reveal　their　presence；　but　Pitt　knew　they　were　closely　observing　the　scene。　One　of　the　workmen　walked　over　to　him。
　　　　　〃Mr。　Pitt？〃
　　　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　　　〃We'll　get　in；　make　the　repairs；　clean　up　the　mess　and　get　out　as　fast　as　we　can。〃
　　　　　Pitt　watched　in　awe　as　men　began　unloading　old　rusting　corrugated　sheets　that　nearly　matched　those　on　the　hangar　walls。　〃Where　did　you　find　those？〃　he　asked；　pointing。
　　　　　〃You'd　be　surprised　how　the　government　keeps　track　of　old　building　materials；〃　the　foreman　replied。　〃What　you　see　came　off　the　roof　of　an　old　warehouse　in　Capital　Heights。〃
　　　　　〃Our　government　is　more　efficient　than　I　gave　them　credit　for。〃
　　　　　He　left　them　to　their　work　and　was　about　to　slip　behind　the　wheel　of　a　turquoise…colored　NUMA　Jeep　Cherokee；　when　a　black　split…window　Sting　Ray　Corvette　stopped　on　the　road。　Giordino　leaned　out　the　passenger's　window　and　yelled；　〃Need　a　lift？〃
　　　　　Pitt　jogged　to　the　car　and　climbed　in；　folded　his　legs；　and　settled　in　the　leather　seat。　〃You　didn't　tell　me　you　were　ing　by。〃
　　　　　〃I　was　told　to　be　at　the　same　place　as　you　at　eight　o'clock。　Thought　we　might　as　well　share　a　ride。〃
　　　　　〃You're　okay；　Al；〃　said　Pitt　cheerfully；　〃I　don't　care　what　they　say　about　you。〃
　
　　　　　Giordino　turned　the　Corvette　off　Wisconsin　Avenue　onto　a　small　residential　side　street　in　Glover　Park　near　the　Naval　Observatory。　The　street；　only　one　block　in　length；　was　shaded　by　century…old　elm　trees。　Except　for　a　single　house　hidden　behind　high　hedges；　the　block　was　empty。　No　parked　cars；　no　people　strolling　the　sidewalks。
　　　　　〃You　sure　we　didn't　make　a　wrong　turn？〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　　Pitt　looked　through　the　windshield　and　pointed。　〃We're　on　the　right　street；　and　since　that's　the　only　house　in　sight；　this　must　be　the　place。〃
　　　　　Giordino　turned　into　the　second　entrance　of　a　circular　driveway　but　kept　going　straight；　to　the　rear　of　the　house；　instead　of　stopping　under　the　front　porte　cochere。　Pitt　studied　the　three…story　brick　structure　as　Giordino　steered　toward　a　detached　garage　at　the　back。　The　house　looked　to　have　been　built　for　someone　of　importance　and　wealth　sometime　after　the　Civil　War。　The　grounds　and　house　appeared　immaculately　maintained；　but　the　curtains　were　all　drawn；　as　if　its　tenants　were　away　for　an　extended　length　of　time。
　　　　　The　Corvette　rolled　into　the　garage；　whose　double　doors　were　spread　open。　The　interior　was　vacant；　except　for　scattered　garden　tools；　a　lawn　mower；　and　a　tool　bench　that　looked　as　if　it　hadn't　been　used　in　decades。　Giordino　turned　off　the　ignition；　placed　the　shift　lever　in　Park；　and　turned　to　Pitt。
　　　　　〃Well；　what　now？〃
　　　　　His　answer　came　as　the　doors　automatically　closed。　A　few　seconds　later；　the　car　began　to　fall　slowly　through　the　floor　of　the　garage　on　an　elevator。　But　for　a　barely　audible　hum；　the　ride　was　soundless。　Pitt　tried　to　estimate　the　rate　of　descent　and　distance；　but　it　became　dark。　After　what　he　guessed　was　a　drop　of　nearly　a　hundred　feet；　the　elevator　came　to　a　gentle　stop。　An　array　of　lights　flashed　on　and　they　found　themselves　in　a　fair…size　concrete　parking　garage　filled　with　several　cars。　Giordino　pulled　the　Corvette　into　an　empty　stall　between　a　turquoise　jeep　Cherokee　with　〃NUMA〃　painted　on　the　front　doors　and　a　Chrysler　limousine。　The　jeep；　they　knew；　was　Admiral　Sandecker's。　He　insisted　that　all　NUMA　transportation　vehicles　be　four…wheel…drive　suburban　utility　vehicles；　so　they　could　be　driven　in　the　worst　weather。
　　　　　A　Marine　guard　stood　at　the　entrance　to　a　metal　doorway。　〃Think　the　car　is　okay　here；〃　said　Giordino　impishly；　〃or　should　I　lock　it？〃
　　　　　〃Just　a　gut　feeling；〃　answered　Pitt；　〃but　I　have　the　feeling　it's　not　going　anywhere。〃
　　　　　They　exited　the　car　and　walked　over　to　the　uniformed　guard；　who　wore　the　three　stripes　of　a　sergeant　on　his　sleeves。　He　nodded　and　greeted　them。　〃You　must　be　Dirk　Pitt　and　Albert　Giordino。　You're　the　last　to　arrive。〃
　　　　　〃Don't　you　want　to　see　our　IDs？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　The　guard　smiled。　〃I've　studied　your　photos。　Knowing　which　is　which　is　like　paring　Joe　Pesci　to　Clint　Eastwood。　You're　not　difficult　to　tell　apart。〃
　　　　　He　pressed　a　button　beside　the　door　and　it　slid　open；　revealing　a　short　hallway　leading　to　another　metal　door。　〃When　you　reach　the　inner　door；　stand　still　for　a　moment　until　the　guard　on　the　other　side　ID's　you　with　a　security　camera。〃
　　　　　〃Doesn't　he　trust　your　judgment？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　The　guard　never　cracked　a　smile。　〃Insurance；〃　he　said　tersely。
　　　　　〃Aren't　they　overdoing　the　security　routine？〃　muttered　Giordino。　〃We　could　have　just　as　easily　reserved　a　couple　booths　at　Taco　Bell　to　hold　a　briefing。〃
　　　　　〃Bureaucrats　have　a　fetish　for　secrecy；〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　　〃At　least　I　could　have　had　a　burrito。〃
　　　　　They　were　passed　through　the　door　into　a　vast　carpeted　room　whose　walls　were　covered　with　drapes　to　mute　the　acoustics。　A　twenty…foot…long　kidney…shaped　conference　table　dominated　the　room。　A　huge　screen　covered　the　entire　far　wall。　The　room　was　fortably　lit；　and　easy　on　the　eyes。　Several　men　and　one　woman　were　already　seated　around　the　table。　None　stood　as　Pitt　and　Giordino　approached。
　　　　　〃You're　late。〃　This　from　Admiral　James　Sandecker；　the　head　of　NUMA。　A　small　athletic　man　with　flaming　red　hair　and　a　Vandyke　beard；　he　had　manding　cold　blue　eyes　that　took　in　everything。　Sandecker　was　as　canny　as　a　leopard　sleeping　in　a　tree　with　one　eye　open　he　knew　that　a　meal　would　e　to　him　sooner　or　later。　He　was　testy　and　irascible　but　ran　NUMA　like　a　benevolent　dictator。　He　motioned　now　to　a　man　sitting　on　his　left。
　　　　　〃I　don't　believe　you　two　know　Ken　Helm；　special　agent　with　the　FBI。〃
　　　　　A　gray…haired　man；　dressed　in　a　tailored　business　suit；　with　speculative；　quiet　hazel　eyes　that　peered　over　reading　glasses；　half　rose　out　of　his　chair　and　extended　his　hand。　〃Mr。　Pitt；　Mr。　Giordino；　I've　heard　a　great　deal　about　you。〃
　　　　　Which　means　he's　perused　our　personnel　files；　Pitt　thought　to　himself。
　　　　　Sandecker　turned　to　the　man　on　his　right。　〃Ron　Little。　Ron　has　a　fancy　title　over　at　Central　Intelligence；　but　you'd　never　know　it。〃
　　　　　Deputy　director　was　the　title　that　ran　through　Pitt's　mind　at　meeting　Little。
　　　　　He　looked　through　collie…brown　eyes　set　in　a　deeply　lined　face　pious；　middle…aged；　a　face　etched　with　experience。　He　simply　nodded。　〃Gentlemen。〃
　　　　　〃The　others　you　know；〃　Sandecker　said；　nodding　down　the　table。
　　　　　Rudi　Gunn　was　furiously　taking　notes　and　didn't　bother　to　look　up。
　　　　　Pitt　stepped　over　and　placed　a　hand　on　Pat　O'Connell's　shoulder　and　said　softly；　〃Sooner　than　you　thought。〃
　　　　　〃I　adore　a　man　who　keeps　his　promises。〃　She　patted　his　hand；　uncaring　of　the　stares　from　the　men　around　the　table。　〃e　sit　by　me。　I　feel　intimidated　by　all　these　important　government　officials。〃
　　　　　〃I　assure　you；　Dr。　O'Connell；〃　said　Sandecker；　〃that　you'll　leave　this　room　with　every　lovely　hair　intact。〃
　　　　　Pitt　pulled　out　a　chair　and　slid　next　to　Pat；　while　Giordino　took　a　seat　next　to　Gunn。　〃Have　Al　and　I　missed　anything　of　relevance？〃　Pitt　asked。
　　　　　〃Dr。　O'Connell　briefed　us　on　the　skull　and　underground　chamber；〃　said　Sandecker；　〃and　Ken　Helm　was　about　to　report　on　the　initial　results　of　the　forensic　examination　on　the　bodies　flown　in　from　Telluride。〃
　　　　　〃Not　much　to　tell。〃　Helm　spoke　slowly。　〃Making　a　positive　identification　from　their　teeth　has　bee　difficult。　Preliminary　examinations　suggest　that　their　dental　work　came　from　South　American　dentists。〃
　　　　　Pitt　appeared　dubious。　〃Your　people　can　distinguish　the　difference　in　dental　techniques　of　different　countries？〃
　　　　　〃A　good　forensic　pathologist　who　specializes