atlantis.found-第55部分

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　　　　　〃Maybe　they　were　not　intended　to　sail　the　seven　seas；〃　suggested　Loren。　〃Maybe　they　were　built　simply　to　ride　out　the　predicted　cataclysm。〃
　　　　　〃As　fantastic　as　it　seems；〃　said　Pitt；　attempting　to　accept　the　incredible　concept；　〃you're　close　to　the　truth。　The　Wolfs　must　have　spent　billions　betting　on　the　end　of　the　world。〃
　　　　　Pitt　became　quiet；　and　Loren　could　see　he　was　absorbed　in　his　thoughts。　She　rose　from　the　table　and　walked　to　the　ladies'　room；　allowing　him　time　to　sift　through　the　conceptions　running　through　his　head。　Although　he　found　it　difficult　to　accept；　he　began　to　see　why　the　later　generations　of　the　Wolf　family　were　genetically　engineered。
　　　　　The　old　Nazis　who'd　fled　Germany　were　long　gone；　but　they　had　left　in　their　place　a　family　of　superpeople　who　would　be　strong　enough　to　survive　the　ing　cataclysm　and　then　take　over　what　was　left　of　the　civilized　world　and　rebuild　it　into　a　new　one；　controlled　and　directed　under　their　exacting　standards　of　superiority。
　
　　　　　The　gray　granite　cliffs　of　the　gorge　rose　like　giant　shadows　before　they　were　blotted　out　by　the　night　sky。　Below；　the　blue…white　ice　of　the　glacier　glittered　and　flashed　from　the　glow　of　a　three…quarter　moon。　The　11；800…foot　snow…mantled　peak　of　Cerro　Murallon；　starlit　and　cloud…free；　soared　above　the　western　slopes　of　the　southern　Andes　before　dropping　steeply　toward　the　sea；　as　its　chasms　became　filled　with　age…old　glaciers　from　a　distant　past。　The　night　was　clear　and　sharp　and　the　sky　ablaze。　Revealed　from　the　light　of　the　Milky　Way；　a　small　vehicle　darted　through　the　menacing　walls　of　the　gorge　like　a　bat　scanning　a　desert　canyon　for　food。
　　　　　It　was　fall　in　the　Southern　Hemisphere；　and　light　snow　had　already　fallen　on　the　upper　elevations。　Tall　conifers　marched　up　the　rugged　slopes　before　stopping　at　the　timberline；　where　the　barren　rocks　took　over　and　rose　to　the　sharp　and　jagged　mountain　summits。　There　wasn't　a　man…made　light　to　be　seen　in　any　direction。　Pitt　imagined　that　the　scene　in　daylight　would　have　been　one　of　majestic　beauty；　but　at　ten　o'clock　at　night；　the　steep　cliffs　and　rocky　crags　became　dark　and　threatening。
　　　　　The　Moller　M400　Skycar　wasn't　much　larger　than　a　jeep　Cherokee；　but　it　was　as　stable　in　flight　as　a　much　larger　aircraft；　and　capable　of　being　piloted　down　city　streets　and　parked　in　a　residential　garage。　The　aerodynamic　design；　with　its　sloping；　conical　bow；　gave　it　a　look　somewhere　between　a　General　Motors　car　of　the　future　and　a　rocket　fighter　out　of　Star　Wars。　The　four　lift/thrust　nacelles　each　held　two　counter…rotating　engines；　enabling　the　Moller　to　lift　off　the　ground　like　a　helicopter　and　move　horizontally　like　a　conventional　aircraft　at　a　cruising　speed　of　three　hundred　miles　an　hour；　with　an　operational　ceiling　of　30；000　feet。　Lose　an　engine　or　two　and　it　could　still　land　safely　without　disfort　to　the　passengers。　Even　if　it　suffered　a　catastrophic　ponent　failure；　dual　airframe　parachutes　would　be　deployed　to　lower　the　Skycar　and　its　occupants　to　the　ground；　undamaged　and　unhurt。
　　　　　Sensors　and　fail…safe　systems　protected　against　all　errors　in　the　flight　mechanisms　or　puters。　The　vehicle's　four　puters　constantly　monitored　all　systems；　and　maintained　automatic　control　on　a　preset　flight　path　directed　by　Global　Positioning　System　satellites　that　guided　it　over　rivers　and　mountains　and　through　valleys　and　canyons。　The　enormously　efficient　guidance　system　eliminated　the　need　for　a　pilot。
　　　　　Pitt's　view　of　the　environment　outside　the　cockpit　was　limited。　He　seldom　bothered　to　stare　through　the　canopy。　He　didn't　care　to　see　the　plane's　shadow　under　the　dim　light　from　the　moon　whisking　over　the　uneven　rocks　below；　flitting　over　the　tops　of　the　trees；　lifting　over　sharp　rises　before　they　could　be　seen　ahead。　He　especially　wasn't　interested　in　seeing　how　the　plane　and　its　shadow　almost　blended　into　one。　He　could　watch　the　flight's　path　through　the　virtual　reality　topographical　display；　while　the　automatic　navigation　equipment　flew　the　Skycar　to　its　preprogrammed　destination。　Turbulence　was　dampened　by　the　quick；　automatic　reaction　of　the　vanes　below　the　engines　manded　by　the　automatic　stabilization　system。
　　　　　Pitt　found　it　disconcerting　to　sit　with　his　arms　crossed　while　the　aircraft　swept　in　and　around　mountains　in　the　dead　of　night　without　the　slightest　assistance　from　a　human　brain　and　hands。　He　had　little　choice　but　to　put　his　trust　in　the　puter　guidance　system　and　let　it　do　the　flying。　If　Giordino；　seated　next　to　him；　was　unduly　concerned　about　the　puter　failing　to　avoid　collision　with　the　side　of　a　mountain；　no　trace　of　it　showed　in　his　face。　Giordino　calmly　read　an　adventure　novel　under　a　cockpit　light；　while　Pitt　turned　his　attention　to　a　nautical　chart　showing　the　underwater　depths　of　the　fjord　leading　to　the　Wolf　shipyard。
　　　　　There　was　no　plan　to　fly　at　safe　heights　above　the　tallest　of　the　peaks。　This　was　a　stealth　mission。　The　powerful；　efficient　rotary　thrusters　were　taking　them　to　their　destination　well　out　of　sight　of　radar　and　laser　detection。
　　　　　Both　men's　bodies　were　sweating　up　a　storm　inside　their　DUI　CF200　series　dry　suits；　which　were　worn　over　radiant　insulating　underwear；　but　neither　of　them　plained。　By　dressing　for　cold…water　diving　before　the　flight；　they　saved　time　changing　after　touchdown。
　　　　　Pitt　punched　in　a　code　and　read　the　numbers　on　the　box。　〃Two　hundred　and　twelve　miles　since　we　lifted　off　the　ship　at　Punta　Entrada　outside　of　Santa　Cruz。〃
　　　　　〃How　much　farther？〃　asked　Giordino　without　looking　up　from　the　pages　of　his　novel。
　　　　　〃A　little　less　than　fifty　miles　and　another　fifteen　minutes　should　put　us　in　the　hills　above　the　Wolf　shipyard。〃　The　exact　landing　site　had　been　programmed　into　the　puter　from　an　enhanced　photo　taken　from　a　spy　satellite。
　　　　　〃Just　enough　time　to　knock　out　another　chapter。〃
　　　　　〃What's　so　interesting　that　you　can't　tear　yourself　away　from　the　book？〃
　　　　　〃I'm　just　to　the　part　where　the　hero　is　about　to　rescue　the　gorgeous　heroine　who　is　within　seconds　of　being　ravished　by　the　evil　terrorists。〃
　　　　　〃I've　read　that　plot　before；〃　Pitt　said　wearily。　He　refocused　his　eyes　on　the　virtual　reality　display　that　pictured　the　terrain　ahead　in　extreme　detail　through　a　powerful　night…vision　scope　mounted　in　the　nose　of　the　M400。　It　was　like　traveling　inside　a　pinball　machine。　The　mountainous　landscape　approached　and　flashed　past　in　a　blur。　A　box　in　the　corner　displayed　speed；　altitude；　fuel　range；　and　distance　to　their　destination　in　red　and　orange　digital　numbers。　Pitt　recalled　using　a　similar　system　on　the　aircraft　they　had　flown　searching　for　the　hijacked　cruise　ship　over　an　area　of　the　Chilean　fjords　not　more　than　a　hundred　miles　south　of　their　present　position。
　　　　　Pitt　looked　out　the　bubble　canopy　at　the　glacier　below。　He　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　at　seeing　the　worst　of　the　mountains　fall　behind。　The　moon's　rays　reflected　on　a　smooth　glacier　with　irregular　crevasses　slicing　through　its　surface　every　half　mile。　The　ice　spread　wider　as　it　flowed　toward　its　rendezvous　with　the　fjord　before　melting　and　emptying　into　the　sea。
　　　　　They　were　through　the　worst　of　the　mountains　now；　and　Pitt　could　discern　lights　on　the　horizon　beyond　the　glacier。　He　knew　they　were　not　stars；　because　they　were　clustered　and　twinkling　at　too　low　an　altitude。　He　also　knew　that　because　of　the　crisp　atmosphere；　the　lights　were　much　farther　away　than　they　looked。　Then　gradually；　almost　imperceptibly；　he　became　aware　of　other　light　clusters　against　a　plain　of　pure　black。　Another　five　minutes　and　they　were　solidly；　unmistakably　there；　the　lights　of　four　monstrous　ships　that　blazed　like　small　cities　in　the　night。
　　　　　〃Our　objective　is　in　sight；〃　he　said　evenly；　without　emotion。
　　　　　〃Damn！〃　muttered　Giordino。　〃Just　when　I　was　ing　to　the　exciting　climax。〃
　　　　　〃Relax。　You　have　another　ten　minutes　to　finish　it。　Besides；　I　already　know　how　it　es　out。〃
　　　　　Giordino　looked　over　at　him。　〃You　do？〃
　　　　　Pitt　nodded　seriously。　〃The　butler　did　it。〃
　　　　　Giordino　gave　a　menacing　Fu　Manchu　squint　to　his　eyes　and　went　back　to　his　book。
　　　　　The　Moller　M400　did　not　fly　directly　over　the　lights　of　the　shipyard　and　the　great　ships　nearby　in　the　fjord。　Instead；　as　if　it　had　a　mind　of　its　own；　which　it　did；　it　banked　on　a　course　southwest。　Pitt　could　do　little　but　gaze　at　the　blaze　of　lights　rising　on　the　starboard　side　of　the　aircraft。
　　　　　〃Finished。〃　Giordino　sighed。　〃And　in　case　you're　interested；　it　wasn't　the　butler　who　killed　ten　thousand　people；　it　was　a　mad　scientist〃　He　stared　out　the　canopy　at　the　thousands　of　lights。　〃Won't　they　pick　us　up　on　their　detection　systems？〃
　　　　　〃A　slim　possibility　at　best。　The　Moller　M400　is　so　small；　it's　invisible　to　all　but　the　most　sophisticated　military　radar。〃
　　　　　〃I　hope　you're　right；〃　said　Giordino；　stretching。　〃I'm　very　modest　when　it　es　to　wele　mittees。〃
　　　　　Pitt　beamed　a　little　penlight　on　his　chart。　〃At　this　point　the　puter　is　giving　us　a　choice　between　swimming　underwater　for　two　miles　or　walking　four　miles　across　a　glacier　to　reach　the　shipyard。〃
　　　　　〃Hiking　across　a　glacier　in　the　dark　doesn't　sound　inviting；〃　said　Giordino。　〃What　if　Mrs。　Giordino's　little　boy　falls　down　a　crevasse　and　isn't　found　for　ten　thousand　years？〃
　　　　　〃Somehow　I　can't　picture　you　lying　in　a　display　case　in　a　museum；　being　stared　at　by　thousands　of　people。〃
　　　　　〃I　see　nothing　wrong　with　being　a　star　attraction　from　another　time；〃　Giordino　said　pompously。
　　　　　〃Did　it　ever　occur　to　you　that　you'd　probably　be　viewed　in　the　nude？　You'd　hardly　set　an　example　as　a　manly　specimen　from　the　twenty…first　century。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　have　you　know　I　can　hold　my　own　with　the　best　of　them。〃
　　　　　All　further　conversation　came　to　an　end　as　the　Moller's　ground　speed　began　to　fall　away　and　it　lost　altitude。　Pitt　elected　to　make　their　approach　underwater；　and　he　programmed　the　puter；　instructing　it　to　land　at　a　preplanned　site　near　the　shoreline　that　had　been　pinpointed　by　satellite　photo　analysts　at　the　CIA。　Minutes　later；　the　M400's　cascade　vane　systems　on　the　engines　altered　their　thrust　through　the　duct　exits　and　the　craft　came　to　a　plete　stop；　hovering　in　the　air　in　preparation　for　setting　down。　All　Pitt　could　see　in