atlantis.found-第60部分

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etrieving　the　electrical　cable　and　paint　cans；　they　walked　inside　and　approached　a　long　counter　manned　by　two　security　guards。　Giordino　flashed　his　most　sociable　smile　and　spoke　softly　in　Spanish　to　one　of　the　guards。
　　　　　The　guard　simply　nodded　and　threw　a　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　elevators。　〃What　line　did　you　feed　him　this　time？〃　queried　Pitt；　as　they　stepped　inside；　but　not　before　he　peered　with　one　eye　around　the　elevator　door　and　spied　one　guard　pick　up　a　phone　and　speak　excitedly。　Then　he　stepped　back　and　the　doors　closed。
　　　　　〃I　said　we　were　ordered　by　one　of　the　Wolfs　to　make　electrical　repairs　behind　a　wall　in　the　penthouse　suite　on　the　tenth　floor；　then　mend　and　repaint　the　wall　when　we　were　finished。　He　didn't　give　me　the　least　argument。〃
　　　　　Pitt　scanned　the　elevator　for　TV　cameras　but　found　none。　It's　almost　as　if　they　have　no　fear　of　covert　actions；　he　thought。　Or　else　they　know　we're　here　and　have　laid　a　trap。　He　might　have　been　whistling　in　the　dark；　but　he　didn't　trust　the　Wolfs　as　far　as　he　could　throw　that　floating　monstrosity　outside。　He　also　sensed　that　the　guards　in　the　lobby　had　been　expecting　them。
　　　　　〃Time　for　an　ingenious　scheme；〃　he　said。
　　　　　Giordino　looked　at　him。　〃Plan　C？〃
　　　　　〃We'll　stop　on　the　fifth　floor　to　throw　off　the　guards　who　are　probably　monitoring　our　movements。　But　we　remain　inside　and　send　the　elevator　up　to　the　penthouse；　while　we　climb　through　the　roof　and　ride　up　the　rest　of　the　way。〃
　　　　　〃Not　half　bad；〃　said　Giordino；　pressing　the　button　to　stop　the　elevator　on　the　fifth　floor。
　　　　　〃Okay；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Hold　me　on　your　shoulders　while　I　climb　through　the　ceiling。〃　But　Pitt　made　no　move。　Though　he　did　not　detect　the　presence　of　TV　cameras；　Pitt　was　dead　sure　the　elevator　contained　listening　devices。　He　stood　quietly　still　and　grinned　darkly　at　Giordino。
　　　　　Giordino　immediately　understood　and　pulled　out　his　P…10　automatic。　〃Damn；　you're　heavy；〃　he　grunted。
　　　　　〃Give　me　your　hand　and　I'll　pull　you　up；〃　Pitt　said　quietly；　as　he　gripped　the　old　。45　Colt　in　his　right　hand。　Remaining　inside　the　elevator；　they　stood　on　opposite　sides　of　the　doors　and　pressed　themselves　into　the　corners。
　　　　　The　doors　opened；　and　three　guards；　wearing　identical　coveralls；　black　with　matching　stocking　caps　on　their　heads；　rushed　inside；　handguns　drawn；　eves　staring　up　at　the　open　maintenance　door　in　the　ceiling。　Pitt　stuck　out　his　leg　and　tripped　the　third　man；　who　fell　against　the　first　two；　sending　them　all　sprawling　in　a　tangled　heap　on　the　floor。　Then　he　punched　the　door…close　button；　waited　until　they　descended　several　feet；　and　pressed　the　red　emergency　stop　button；　freezing　the　elevator　between　floors。
　　　　　Giordino　had　expertly　clubbed　two　of　the　guards　on　the　head　with　the　butt　of　his　automatic　before　they　could　recover；　then　held　the　muzzle　against　the　forehead　of　the　third　and　snarled　in　Spanish；　〃Drop　your　gun　or　go　brain…dead。〃
　　　　　The　guard　was　as　tough　and　coldly　efficient　as　the　mercenaries　they　had　encountered　in　the　Pandora　Mine。　Pitt　tensed；　sensing　the　guard　might　attempt　a　lightning　move　to　get　in　the　first　shot。　But　the　man　detected　the　cold　look　of　posure　in　Pitt's　eyes　and　recognized　a　deadly　threat。　Knowing　the　slightest　flick　of　his　eyes　would　bring　a　bullet　smashing　into　his　head；　he　wisely　dropped　his　gun　onto　the　elevator　floor；　the　same　model　Para…Ordnance　that　Giordino　was　pressing　between　his　eyes。
　　　　　〃You　clowns　are　going　nowhere！〃　the　guard　spat　in　English。
　　　　　〃Well；　well；〃　said　Pitt。　〃What　have　we　here？　Another　mercenary　hit　man　like　we　met　in　Colorado。　Karl　Wolf　must　pay　you　guys　handsome　wages　to　murder　and　die　for　him。〃
　　　　　〃Give　up；　pal。　You're　the　one　who's　going　to　die。〃
　　　　　〃You　people　have　a　nasty　habit　of　repeating　the　same　old　song。〃　Pitt　pointed　his　old　Colt　an　inch　from　the　guard's　left　eye　until　it　was　lined　up　to　fire　across　his　face。　〃Dr。　O'Connell　and　her　daughter。　Where　are　they　held？〃　Pitt　wasn't　trying　to　imitate　the　rattle　of　a　diamondback；　but　he　gave　a　pretty　good　impression　of　it。　〃Talk　or　I　pull　the　trigger。　You'll　probably　live；　but　you　won't　have　any　eyeballs　to　see　with。　Now；　then；　where　are　they？〃
　　　　　Pitt　was　tough；　but　he　wasn't　sadistic。　The　look　on　his　twisted　face　and　the　malice　in　his　eyes　was　enough　to　fool　the　guard　into　thinking　a　madman　was　about　to　blow　his　eyes　out。　〃They're　confined　on　one　of　the　great　ships。〃
　　　　　〃Which　ship？〃　demanded　Pitt。　〃There　are　four　of　them。〃
　　　　　〃I　don't　know；　I　swear　I　don't　know。〃
　　　　　〃He's　lying；〃　said　Giordino；　his　tone　cold　enough　to　freeze　oil。
　　　　　〃The　truth；〃　Pitt　said　menacingly；　〃or　I'll　blast　both　your　eyeballs　into　the　far　wall。〃　He　pulled　back　the　hammer　of　the　Colt　and　pressed　the　muzzle　against　the　edge　of　the　guard's　right　eye　in　line　with　the　left。
　　　　　The　guard's　face　did　not　transform　from　defiance　to　pure　fright；　but　still；　staring　from　eyes　filled　with　loathing；　he　gasped；　〃The　Ulrich　Wolf'　They're　being　held　on　the　Ulrich　Wolf。〃
　　　　　〃Which　ship　is　that？〃
　　　　　〃The　ship…city　that　will　carry　the　people　of　the　Fourth　Empire　to　sea　after　the　cataclysm。〃
　　　　　〃It　would　take　two　years　to　search　a　ship　that　size；〃　Pitt　pressured。　〃Give　a　more　exact　location　or　go　blind。　Quickly！〃
　　　　　〃Level　Six；　K　Section。　I　don't　know　which　residence。〃
　　　　　〃He's　still　lying；〃　said　Giordino　coarsely。　〃Pull　the　trigger；　but　wait　till　I　look　away。　I　can't　stand　to　see　blood　spray　all　over　the　furniture。〃
　　　　　〃Then　kill　me　and　get　it　over　with；〃　the　guard　growled。
　　　　　〃Where　do　the　Wolfs　find　murdering　scum　like　you？〃
　　　　　〃Why　would　you　care？〃
　　　　　〃You're　American。　He　didn't　hire　you　off　the　street；　so　you　must　have　e　out　of　the　military；　an　elite　force；　unless　I　miss　my　guess。　Your　loyalty　to　the　Wolf　family　goes　far　beyond　rationality。　Why？〃
　　　　　〃Giving　my　life　for　the　Fourth　Empire　is　an　honor。　I'm　repaid　by　knowing；　as　we　all　are；　that　my　wife　and　sons　will　be　safely　onboard　the　Ulrich　Wolf　when　the　rest　of　the　world　is　devastated。〃
　　　　　〃So　that's　your　insurance　policy。〃
　　　　　〃He　has　a　human　family？〃　Giordino　said　in　amazement。　〃I'd　have　sworn　he　curls　up　and　lays　eggs。〃
　　　　　〃What　good　is　a　bank　account　with　a　billion　dollars　when　the　world's　population　is　about　to　perish？〃
　　　　　〃I　hate　a　pessimist；〃　said　Giordino；　as　he　swung　the　barrel　of　his　automatic　against　the　nape　of　the　mercenary's　neck；　dropping　him　unconscious　onto　the　inert　bodies　of　his　rades。　In　almost　the　same　instant　a　series　of　alarms　began　to　sound　throughout　the　building　〃That　tears　it。　We'll　have　to　shoot　our　way　out　of　town。〃
　　　　　〃Style　and　sophistication；〃　Pitt　said；　seemingly　unconcerned。　〃Always　style　and　sophistication。〃
　　　　　Six　minutes　later；　the　elevator　stopped　at　the　lobby　level　and　the　door　opened。　On　the　floor　of　the　lobby；　nearly　two　dozen　men；　with　automatic　weapons　raised　and　aimed　into　the　elevator；　stood　and　knelt　in　the　firing　position。
　　　　　Two　men　in　the　black　coverall　uniforms　of　security　guards；　with　stocking　caps　pulled　down　almost　to　their　eyes；　raised　their　hands　and　shouted　with　lowered　heads　in　both　English　and　Spanish。　〃Do　not　shoot。　We　have　killed　two　of　the　intruders！〃　Then　they　dragged　two　bodies　dressed　in　orange　coveralls　by　the　feet　out　onto　the　lobby's　marble　floor　and　unceremoniously　dumped　them。　〃There　are　others　who　were　working　from　the　inside；〃　Giordino　said　excitedly。　〃They've　barricaded　themselves　on　the　tenth　floor。〃
　　　　　〃Where　is　Max？〃　inquired　a　guard　who　acted　as　if　he　was　in　mand。
　　　　　Pitt；　his　arm　over　his　face　as　if　wiping　away　perspiration；　turned　and　pointed　upward。　Giordino　said；　〃We　had　to　leave　him。　He　was　wounded　in　the　fight。　Hurry；　send　for　a　doctor。〃
　　　　　The　well…trained　security　force　rapidly　broke　down　into　two　units；　one　heading　into　the　elevator；　the　other　rushing　up　the　emergency　fire　stairs。　Pitt　and　Giordino　knelt　over　the　two　unconscious　guards　they　had　pulled　from　the　elevator　and　made　a　show　of　examining　them；　until　they　saw　an　opportunity　to　walk　quietly　from　the　lobby　through　the　front　doors。
　　　　　〃I　can't　believe　we　pulled　it　off；〃　said　Giordino；　as　they　mandeered　a　cart　and　sped　off　toward　the　dock　where　the　Ulrich　Wolf　was　moored。
　　　　　〃Luckily；　they　were　all　too　focused　on　apprehending　the　evil　intruders　to　take　a　good　look　at　our　faces　and　recognize　us　as　strangers。〃
　　　　　〃My　security　uniform　is　too　long　and　too　tight。　How　about　yours？〃
　　　　　〃Too　short　and　too　loose；　but　we　don't　have　time　to　stop　off　at　a　tailor；〃　Pitt　muttered；　as　he　steered　the　cart　back　toward　the　first　dock　while　dodging　around　a　soaring　crane　that　was　moving　ponderously　over　its　rail　track。　He　kept　his　foot　flat　on　the　pedal；　but　the　cart　had　a　top　speed　of　only　about　twelve　miles　an　hour　and　the　pace　seemed　agonizingly　slow。
　　　　　They　traveled　alongside　the　stupendous　floating　city；　avoiding　the　busy　loading　activities。　The　dock　was　packed　with　a　milling　horde　of　workers；　many　moving　about　in　electric　carts；　others　on　bicycles；　with　quite　a　few　darting　in　and　around　all　obstacles　on　rollerblades。　Pitt　had　to　frequently　ram　his　foot　onto　the　brake　to　keep　from　colliding　with　workers　who　moved　carelessly　into　his　path；　absorbed　in　their　jobs。　Huge　forklifts　also　ignored　their　approach　and　crossed　in　front　of　them　to　deliver　their　loads；　moving　up　ramps　and　into　the　cavernous　cargo　holds。　There　were　any　number　of　raised　fists　and　angry　shouts　as　Pitt　careened　around　all　obstacles；　humans　or　solid　objects。
　　　　　If　it　wasn't　for　the　black　security　uniforms；　stolen　off　the　guards　in　the　elevator；　they　would　have　surely　been　stopped　and　threatened　with　a　beating　for　such　reckless　driving。　Seeing　an　opportunity　to　board　the　ship　without　climbing　long　gangways；　Pitt　cramped　the　steering　wheel　and　sent　the　cart　into　a　hard　right　turn　up　a　ramp　empty　of　loading　vehicles；　across　the　main　deck；　and　then　down　another　ramp　into　the　bowels　of　the　floating　city；　to　where　the　cargo　was　stored　and　all　ship　maintenance　was　performed。　Inside　a　yawning　cargo　depot；　with　huge　passageways　leading　in　all　directions　through　the　lower　warehouse　bays　of　the　ship；　Pitt　spotted　a　man　in　red　coveralls　who　looked　to　be　in　charge　of　loading　supplies　and　equipment。　He　alerted　Giordino　on　what　to　ask　in