atlantis.found-第57部分

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　　　　　〃Sounds　like　a　winner。〃
　　　　　While　the　patrol　boats　continued　their　sweep　to　the　south；　Pitt　and　Giordino　checked　their　equipment　for　a　final　time　before　slipping　on　dry　hoods　over　their　heads　and　gauntlet…style　quarter…inch　neoprene　gloves　onto　their　hands。　Next　they　pulled　their　swim　fins　over　the　attached　boots　of　their　dry　suits。　They　wore　full　face　masks　over　their　hoods；　with　Aqua　underwater　municators。　Lastly；　they　each　clipped　a　thin　umbilical　line　to　their　weight　belts。　This　line　ran　from　one　man　to　the　other　to　keep　them　from　being　separated　and　losing　one　another　in　the　pitch…black　water。
　　　　　After　purging　the　air　from　his　dry　suit；　Giordino　gave　a　thumbs…up　sign　to　indicate　that　he　was　ready。　Pitt　returned　a　brief　wave　and　entered　the　water。　The　bottom　near　the　shore　was　rocky　and　slippery　with　slimy　growth。　Loaded　down　by　their　equipment；　they　had　to　walk　carefully　to　maintain　their　balance　until　the　water　rose　to　their　waists　and　they　could　launch　themselves　forward　and　swim　just　beneath　the　surface。　The　bottom　quickly　fell　away　and　Pitt　descended　to　ten　feet；　where　he　paused　and　vented　the　last　of　the　air　out　of　his　suit。　He　was　breathing　shallowly；　and　his　descent　gathered　momentum　until　the　water　pressure　pressed　the　suit　and　he　added　a　small　amount　of　air　to　maintain　near…neutral　buoyancy　so　he　could　hover　motionlessly。
　　　　　After　he　had　moved　fifty　yards　from　shore；　Pitt　surfaced　and　looked　south。　The　patrol　boats　had　reached　the　end　of　their　circuit　and　were　turning　to　e　back。　〃Our　escort　is　heading　our　way；〃　he　spoke　through　the　municator。　〃I　hope　you're　right　about　them　doing　four　knots。　That's　about　as　fast　as　our　propulsion　vehicles　can　pull　us。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　head　slipped　from　the　black　water　beside　him。　〃It　will　be　close；　but　I　think　we　can　hang　with　them。　Let's　hope　they　have　no　infrared　underwater　cameras。〃
　　　　　〃The　fjord　is　at　least　half　a　mile　wide　too　large　an　area　to　be　effectively　covered　by　cameras。〃　Pitt　swung　around　and　gazed　at　the　lights　to　the　north。　〃With　three　shifts　working　twenty…four　hours；　the　Wolfs　must　be　paying　a　king's　treasury　in　wages。〃
　　　　　〃What　do　you　bet　they　don't　tolerate　employee　unions？〃
　　　　　〃What　do　you　figure　the　patrol　boat's　draft　at？〃
　　　　　〃Less　than　two　feet；　but　it's　the　prop　we　worry　about。　It's　probably　almost　three　feet　in　diameter。〃
　　　　　They　watched　closely　as　the　patrol　boat　on　their　side　of　the　fjord　approached。　Estimating　its　course；　they　swam　out　another　ten　yards　and　then　curled　over　and　swam　down　to　twelve　feet；　before　the　searchlight　could　catch　their　heads　protruding　above　the　surface。　Underwater；　the　boat's　engine　and　thrashing　propeller　sounded　four　times　louder　than　they　did　in　the　air。　They　rolled　onto　their　backs　and　waited。　They　stared　at　the　fjord's　surface　from　below；　watching　the　searchlight　beams　e　closer　at　they　danced　over　the　icy　water。
　　　　　And　then　the　boat's　shadowed　hull　swept　overhead；　propelled　by　the　big　screw　that　churned　past　in　a　cyclone　of　froth　and　frenzied　bubbles。　Almost　instantly；　Pitt　and　Giordino　pressed　the　magnetic　speed　switches　against　their　stops；　gripped　the　handles；　and　merged　into　the　seething　wake　of　the　patrol　boat。
　　　　　At　four　knots；　the　prop　wash　was　not　as　extreme　as　it　would　have　been　if　the　boat　had　been　speeding　along　at　its　maximum　of　eighteen。　They　easily　maintained　a　stabilized　course　behind　the　patrol　boat　without　being　pitched　and　buffeted。　Their　most　pressing　dilemma　was　that　it　was　almost　impossible　to　see　where　they　were　going。　Fortunately；　a　bright　stern　light　was　visible　to　Pitt　through　the　agitated　water；　so　he　kept　his　eyes　locked　on　it；　his　hands　gripped　around　the　handles　of　the　propulsion　vehicle　as　he　manhandled　its　torpedo…rounded　bow　so　that　it　maintained　a　steady　course　through　the　turbulent　water。
　　　　　They　trailed　the　boat　for　the　next　two　miles；　six　feet　below　the　cold　surface　water　of　the　fjord；　barely　keeping　pace；　pushing　their　propulsion　vehicles　to　their　limits。　They　were　draining　the　batteries　at　a　rapid　rate。　Pitt　could　only　hope　they　would　have　enough　juice　for　the　return　trip　to　the　ravine　and　the　Skycar。　His　only　consolation　was　that　he　and　Giordino　would　not　be　easily　visible　so　close　to　the　surface　under　the　brilliant　lights　from　the　shipyard。　Though　they　were　shielded　by　the　wake　and　with　their　black　dry　suits　blending　into　the　freezing　depths；　a　sharp…eyed　crewman　just　might　catch　a　glint　of　something　suspicious。　But　no　assault　came。　Pitt　had　correctly　assumed　that　the　crew　had　their　eyes　focused　on　the　sweep　of　the　searchlights　forward。
　　　　　〃Can　you　hear　me　okay？〃　asked　Pitt　through　the　municator　inside　his　full　face　mask。
　　　　　〃Every　syllable；〃　replied　Giordino。
　　　　　〃My　monitor　shows　we've　covered　almost　two　miles。　The　boat　should　be　ready　to　begin　a　turn　for　its　next　pass　down　the　fjord。　The　second　we　feel　the　wake　cut　either　left　or　right；　we　head　down　to　a　safe　depth　for　a　few　minutes　before　surfacing　to　get　sight　bearings。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　tag　along；〃　said　Giordino；　as　calmly　as　if　he　were　waiting　for　a　bus　to　e　around　the　corner。
　　　　　In　less　than　three　minutes；　the　patrol　boat　began　a　wide　180…degree　turn。　Sensing　the　wake　begin　to　curve；　Pitt　and　Giordino　dove　to　twenty　feet　and　hung　in　the　water　until　the　searchlight　faded　into　the　distance　and　could　no　longer　be　seen　from　underwater。　Slowly；　cautiously；　they　kicked　their　fins　and　ascended；　not　knowing　exactly　where　they　would　surface　in　the　shipyard。
　　　　　Both　heads　inched　above　the　water　surface；　both　pair　of　eyes　scanning　the　surrounding　water。　They　found　themselves　drifting　only　seventy…five　yards　from　the　first　of　four　enormous　docks　that　extended　over　a　mile　into　the　fjord。　A　colossal　floating　city　was　moored　along　the　nearest　dock；　while　the　three　other　immense　ships　were　tied　beside　parallel　docks。　They　presented　a　dazzling　sight　as　they　glittered　under　the　night　sky。　To　Pitt　and　Giordino；　staring　up　at　the　colossus　from　the　water；　its　size　was　inconceivable。　They　could　not　conceive　that　such　an　unbelievable　mass　not　only　floated　but　could　cruise　the　world's　seas　under　its　own　power。
　　　　　〃Can　it　be　real？〃　Giordino　murmured　in　awe。
　　　　　〃Stupendous　es　to　mind；〃　Pitt　said；　barely　above　a　whisper。
　　　　　〃Where　does　one　begin？〃
　　　　　〃Forget　the　ships　for　now。　We've　got　to　find　a　place　to　get　out　of　our　dive　gear　before　we　hunt　down　the　shipyard　offices。〃
　　　　　〃You　think　Pat　is　kept　there？〃
　　　　　〃I　don't　know；　but　that's　as　good　a　place　as　any　to　start。〃
　　　　　〃We　can　move　beneath　the　dock　until　we　reach　the　rocks　along　the　shore；〃　said　Giordino；　holding　up　a　hand　to　gesture　at　the　water　between　the　great　dock　pilings。　〃There　are　some　darkened　sheds　off　to　the　right。　Hopefully；　we　can　gain　entry　and　change　into　our　work　clothes。〃
　　　　　The　work　clothes　were　orange　coveralls；　similar　to　American　prison　uniforms；　that　had　been　custom…made　from　blown…up；　enhanced　photos　of　the　workers。　The　pictures　had　been　recorded　by　a　spy　satellite　and　given　to　Admiral　Sandecker；　along　with　detailed　maps　of　the　shipyard　and　a　photo…analysis　identification　of　the　many　buildings。
　　　　　Punching　a　program　into　his　direction　finder；　Pitt　then　held　the　monitor　against　his　face　mask　and　saw　the　pilings　of　the　dock　materialize　before　his　eyes　as　if　he　were　standing　on　dry　land　under　a　bright　sun。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　swimming　through　an　underwater　corridor　with　shimmering　lights　filtering　down　from　above。
　　　　　They　moved　over　large　pipes　and　electrical　conduits　that　led　from　the　shore　to　the　end　of　the　dock。　Visibility　had　increased　to　over　a　hundred　feet　beneath　the　reflection　of　thousands　of　lights　so　bright　it　was　as　if　they　were　along　the　Las　Vegas　strip。
　　　　　Pitt　swam；　with　Giordino　at　his　side　and　slightly　behind；　over　a　bottom　layered　with　smooth　rocks。　Gradually；　the　rock…strewn　bottom　began　to　rise　until　the　divers　were　pulling　themselves　along　by　hand。　Stopping　and　lying　in　the　shallows；　they　saw　steps　leading　up　from　a　small　concrete　quay　not　far　from　the　dock　pilings。　A　single　light　globe　cast　its　paltry　glow　over　the　quay；　in　contrast　to　the　galaxy　of　lights　illuminating　from　the　shipyard；　lighting　up　the　front　of　small　buildings　that　Pitt　had　memorized　from　the　satellite　photo　as　tool　sheds。　Only　the　side　walls　away　from　the　bright　lights　were　lost　in　the　shadows。
　　　　　〃How　does　it　look？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　〃Deserted；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃But　there　is　no　way　of　telling　if　anyone　is　lurking　out　there　in　the　dark。〃　He　had　no　sooner　spoken　than　Giordino；　who　was　peering　through　his　spectral　image　scope；　spotted　movement　along　the　side　of　the　nearest　tool　shed。　He　gripped　Pitt's　shoulder　as　a　warning；　as　a　uniformed　guard　with　an　automatic　weapon　slung　over　one　shoulder　emerged　into　the　light　and　briefly　glanced　down　at　the　quay。　They　lay　unmoving　and　half　submerged；　partially　hidden　by　the　dock　pilings。
　　　　　As　Pitt　half　expected；　the　guard　looked　bored；　since　he　had　never　seen　any　suspicious　person　attempting　to　sneak　into　the　shipyard。　No　burglar；　thief；　or　vandal　would　have　bothered　to　rob　a　facility　over　a　hundred　miles　from　the　nearest　town；　and　especially　not　one　that　was　on　the　other　side　of　several　glaciers　and　the　Andes　Mountains。　He　soon　turned　and　walked　back　into　the　gloom　along　the　row　of　tool　sheds。
　　　　　Even　before　the　guard　faded　into　the　darkness；　Pitt　and　Giordino　were　on　the　quay；　fins　in　hand；　propulsion　vehicles　under　their　arms；　stealing　up　the　steps　and　moving　hurriedly　out　from　under　the　glare　of　the　lights。　The　door　to　the　first　shed　was　unlocked；　and　they　thankfully　stepped　inside。　Pitt　closed　the　door。
　　　　　〃Home　at　last；〃　Giordino　said　blissfully。
　　　　　Pitt　found　a　painter's　canvas　tarpaulin　and　hung　it　over　the　only　window；　stuffing　the　edges　into　any　cracks。　Then　he　switched　on　his　dive　light　and　beamed　it　around　the　shed。　It　was　filled　with　marine　hardware　bins　heaped　with　brass　and　chrome　nuts；　bolts　and　screws；　shelves　neatly　arranged　with　electrical　supplies　consisting　of　coils　and　bales　of　wire；　cabinets　stacked　with　gallon　cans　of　marine　paint　all　precisely　organized　and　labeled。
　　　　　〃They　certainly　have　a　fetish　for　neatness。〃
　　　　　〃It　carries　down　from　their　German　ancestry。〃
　　　　　Swiftly；　they　removed　their　dive　eq