atlantis.found-第63部分

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Three　of　them　now　wore　the　red　coveralls　of　interior　ship　workers；　while　the　fourth　himself　was　dressed　in　the　yellow　uniform　of　a　supervisor。
　　　　　Security　guards　were　already　stationed　at　an　intersection　just　short　of　the　tram　station。　One　of　them　stepped　forward　and　held　up　his　hand。　Pitt　brought　the　cart　to　an　unhurried　stop　and　looked　at　the　guard　questioningly。
　　　　　Not　knowing　that　Pat　and　her　daughter　had　been　whisked　from　their　quarters；　the　guard　was　not　unduly　disturbed　at　seeing　two　women　in　the　uniforms　of　cargo　loaders；　since　many　of　them　had　been　recruited　to　operate　forklifts　and　tow　vehicles。　Pat　squeezed　her　daughter's　arm　as　a　warning　not　to　speak　or　move。　She　also　turned　Megan's　face　away　from　the　guard；　so　he　wouldn't　notice　her　tender　age。
　　　　　Pitt　figured　the　yellow　coveralls　he　had　appropriated　represented　authority；　and　the　respectful　look　in　the　guard's　eyes　confirmed　it。
　　　　　〃What's　going　on　here？〃　Giordino　demanded；　his　Spanish　improving　with　practice。
　　　　　〃Two　intruders　in　security　guard　uniforms　have　infiltrated　the　shipyard　and　are　believed　to　have　boarded　the　Ulrich　Wolf。〃
　　　　　〃Intruders？　Why　didn't　you　stop　them　before　they　entered　the　shipyard？〃
　　　　　〃I　can't　say；〃　the　guard　replied。　〃All　I　know　is　that　they　killed　four　of　our　security　force　guards　in　an　attempt　to　escape。〃
　　　　　〃Four　dead；〃　Giordino　said　sadly。　〃A　great　pity。　I　hope　you　catch　the　murdering　swine。　Right；　group？〃　He　turned　to　the　others　and　nodded　spiritedly。
　　　　　〃Si；　Si；〃　Pitt　said；　agreeing　with　a　vigorous　display　of　disgust。
　　　　　〃We　have　to　check　everyone　going　on　or　ing　off　each　ship；〃　the　guard　persisted。　〃I　must　see　your　identification　cards。〃
　　　　　〃Do　we　look　like　trespassers　in　security　guard　uniforms？〃　Giordino　demanded　indignantly。
　　　　　The　guard　shook　his　head　and　smiled。　〃No。〃
　　　　　〃Then　let　us　pass！〃　Giordino's　friendly　voice　went　suddenly　cold　and　official。　〃We　have　a　cargo　to　load　and　a　deadline　that　we　won't　meet　sitting　around　the　dock　talking　to　you。　I'm　already　late　for　a　meeting　with　Karl　Wolf。　Unless　you　don't　want　to　be　left　behind　when　the　cataclysm　hits；　I　suggest　you　step　aside。〃
　　　　　Properly　browbeaten；　the　guard　lowered　his　weapon　and　yielded。　〃I'm　sorry　to　have　detained　you。〃
　　　　　Not　able　to　translate　the　exchange；　Pitt　stepped　on　the　cart's　accelerator　pedal　only　after　Giordino　elbowed　him　in　the　ribs。　Thinking　it　best　to　appear　like　ordinary　shipyard　workers　on　a　job…related　assignment；　he　continued　toward　the　nearest　tram　station　at　a　moderate　pace；　drowning　an　urge　to　run　the　cart　at　its　full　speed。　With　one　hand　on　the　steering　wheel；　he　dialed　the　Globalstar　phone　with　the　other。
　
　
　　　　　Sandecker　pounded　the　speaker　button　halfway　through　the　first　ring。　〃Yes？〃
　　　　　〃This　is　the　Leaning　Pizza　Tower　calling。　Your　order　is　on　its　way。〃
　　　　　〃Do　you　think　you　can　find　the　house　all　right？〃
　　　　　〃The　issue　is　in　doubt　whether　we　can　arrive　before　the　pizza　gets　cold。〃
　　　　　〃I　hope　you　hurry；〃　said　Sandecker；　suppressing　an　urgent　tone　in　his　voice。　〃There　are　hungry　people　here。〃
　　　　　〃Traffic　is　heavy。　Will　do　my　best。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　leave　a　light　on。〃　Sandecker　set　down　the　phone　and　stared　at　Admiral　Hozafel　with　a　heavy　face。　〃Forgive　the　rather　silly　talk；　Admiral。〃
　　　　　〃I　understand　perfectly；〃　said　the　courtly　old　German。
　　　　　〃What　is　their　situation？〃　asked　Little。
　　　　　〃Not　good；〃　replied　Sandecker。　〃They　have　Dr。　O'Connell　and　her　daughter；　but　must　be　facing　enormous　odds　in　escaping　the　shipyard。　‘Traffic　is　heavy'　meant　that　they　were　under　pursuit　by　Wolf　security　forces。〃
　　　　　Little　looked　directly　at　Sandecker。　〃What　do　you　think　their　odds　of　making　a　clean　getaway　are？〃
　　　　　〃Odds？〃　Sandecker's　expression　seemed　pained。　He　looked　as　though　he　had　aged　ten　years　in　the　past　hour。　〃They　have　no　odds。〃
　
　　　　　The　tram　moved　slowly　out　of　the　station；　passing　another　tram　going　in　the　opposite　direction。　Though　it　picked　up　speed　until　it　was　gliding　over　the　rails　at　nearly　thirty　miles　an　hour；　Pitt　felt　as　if　the　tram　were　crawling　and　he　wanted　to　get　out　and　help　push　it。　Stations　designated　in　the　letters　of　the　alphabet　came　and　went；　each　one　met　with　their　expectation　of　security　guards　flooding　on　board　and　seizing　them。　When　the　tram　exchanged　passengers　at　W　Station；　Pitt's　hopes　began　to　rise；　but　at　X　Station；　their　luck　ran　out。
　　　　　Six　black　uniformed　security　guards　boarded　the　end　car　and　began　checking　the　passengers'　identification　tags；　which　Pitt　only　now　observed　were　carried　on　bracelets　around　their　wrists。　He　cursed　himself　for　not　knowing　earlier　so　he　could　have　stolen　the　bracelets　from　the　furniture　movers。　Too　late；　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　guards　would　make　a　special　effort　to　search　for　people　without　them。　He　also　noted　that　they　seemed　to　be　taking　extra　time　to　check　any　workers　wearing　red　or　yellow　coveralls。
　　　　　〃They're　working　their　way　closer；〃　Giordino　noted　without　emotion；　as　the　guards　entered　the　second　car　of　the　five…car　tram。
　　　　　〃One　at　a　time；〃　said　Pitt；　〃move　casually　to　the　first　car。〃
　　　　　Without　a　word　passing　between　them；　Giordino　went　first；　followed　by　Megan　and　then　Pat；　with　Pitt　bringing　up　the　rear。
　　　　　〃We　might　make　the　next　station　before　they　reach　this　car；〃　said　Giordino。　〃But　it's　going　to　be　close。〃
　　　　　〃I　doubt　if　we'll　get　off　that　easy；〃　Pitt　said　grimly。　〃They'll　probably　be　waiting　there；　too。〃
　　　　　He　walked　forward　and　peered　through　the　window　of　the　door　leading　to　a　small　control　cab　in　the　front　of　the　car。　There　was　a　console　with　lights；　buttons；　and　switches；　but　no　driver　or　engineer。　The　tram　was　fully　automatic。　He　tried　the　door　latch；　but　wasn't　surprised　to　find　it　locked。
　　　　　He　studied　the　symbols　and　markings　on　the　console　panel。　One　in　particular　struck　his　eye。　Gripping　the　Colt；　he　rapped　the　barrel　against　the　glass　window　and　shattered　it。　Ignoring　the　startled　looks　of　the　car's　passengers；　he　reached　inside　and　unlocked　the　door。　Without　the　slightest　pause；　he　reached　out　and　moved　the　first　of　five　toggle　switches　connected　to　the　tram's　electronic　couplings。　Next　he　reset　the　puter　that　actuated　the　speed　of　the　tram。
　　　　　The　desired　effect　gave　him　a　surge　of　pleasure。　The　four　rear　cars　detached　from　the　lead　car　and　began　to　fall　back。　Though　each　car　had　its　own　power　source；　their　preset　speed　was　now　slower　than　that　of　the　forward　car。　The　security　guards　could　only　contact　other　search　teams　and　watch　helplessly　as　the　distances　between　the　cars　rapidly　widened　and　their　quarry　gained　a　growing　lead。
　　　　　Four　minutes　later；　the　car　with　Pitt　and　the　others　swept　past　Y　Station　without　stopping；　to　the　frustration　of　a　team　of　security　guards　and　the　dumb　expressions　of　the　workers　who　stood　on　the　platform。　Pitt　felt　as　if　his　stomach　were　being　squeezed　by　a　cold　hand；　and　his　mouth　felt　as　though　it　were　stuffed　with　dry　leaves。　He　was　playing　a　desperate　gamble；　with　the　dice　loaded　against　him。　He　glanced　behind　him　into　the　car　and　caught　sight　of　Pat；　sitting　with　an　arm　around　Megan's　shoulder；　one　arm　still　clutching　the　attaché　case；　her　face　pale　and　strangely　sad　and　forlorn。　He　walked　back　and　ran　his　hand　through　her　streaming　red　hair。
　　　　　〃We'll　get　through　this；〃　he　said；　with　an　air　of　conviction。　〃Old　Dirk　will　take　you　over　the　water　and　the　mountains。〃
　　　　　She　looked　up　and　managed　a　faint　smile。　〃Is　that　a　guarantee？〃
　　　　　〃Ironclad；〃　he　said；　with　a　growing　conviction　inside　him。
　　　　　Half　a　minute　passed。　Pitt　walked　back　into　the　control　cabin　and　saw　that　they　were　approaching　the　marina　at　the　stern　of　the　ship。　Up　ahead；　he　could　see　the　tracks　begin　their　curve　toward　the　marina；　where　the　tram；　he　was　certain；　was　supposed　to　stop　at　Z　Station　before　continuing　around　the　ship。　He　didn't　need　mystical　powers　to　know　security　guards　had　reached　the　station　platform　first　and　were　waiting　to　blast　them　with　an　arsenal　of　weapons。
　　　　　〃I'm　going　to　slow　the　car　to　about　ten　miles　an　hour；〃　Pitt　said。　〃When　I　give　the　word；　we　jump。　The　edge　of　the　tracks　is　planted　with　vegetation；　so　our　landing　should　be　fairly　soft。　Try　to　roll　forward　when　you　hit。　At　this　point　we　can't　afford　to　have　anybody　suffer　a　fractured　ankle　or　leg。〃
　　　　　Giordino　put　his　arm　around　Megan。　〃We'll　go　together。　That　way　you'll　have　lots　of　fat　to　cushion　your　fall。〃　It　was　a　broad　misstatement。　Giordino　didn't　have　an　ounce　of　fat　on　his　muscular　body。
　　　　　Pitt　reset　the　controls　and　the　car　slowed　abruptly。　The　instant　the　red　numbers　on　the　speed　scale　dropped　to　ten　miles　an　hour；　he　yelled；　〃All　right；　everyone　out！〃
　　　　　He　hesitated；　making　sure　they　all　had　leaped　from　the　tram。　Then　he　punched　up　the　numbers　until　the　dial　read　sixty　miles　an　hour；　before　running　from　the　cab　to　the　door　and　jumping　as　the　tram　car　quickly　accelerated　toward　its　fastest　speed。　He　struck　soft　earth　feet　first　before　rolling　with　the　momentum　of　a　cannonball　into　a　bed　of　ornamental　bonsai　trees；　crushing　their　distorted　branches　and　mashing　them　into　the　soil　with　his　weight。　He　staggered　to　his　feet；　one　knee　protested　in　pain；　but　he　was　still　capable　of　active　movement。
　　　　　Giordino　was　beside　him；　helping　him　regain　his　balance。　He　was　relieved　to　see　Pat　and　Megan；　their　faces　clear　of　expressions　of　pain。　They　seemed　more　concerned　with　brushing　the　soil　and　pine　needles　from　their　hair。　The　tram　had　disappeared　around　the　bend；　but　the　stairway　leading　to　the　first　pier　was　no　more　than　fifty　feet　away；　and　no　guards　were　nearby。
　　　　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Pat　asked；　regaining　a　small　measure　of　posure。
　　　　　〃Before　we　catch　our　plane；〃　answered　Pitt；　〃we　have　to　take　a　little　boat　trip。〃
　　　　　He　caught　her　by　the　arm　and　dragged　her　behind　him；　as　Giordino　hustled　Megan　along。　They　ran　along　the　track　until　they　reached　the　stairs　leading　down　to　Pier　Number　One。　As　Pitt　suspected；　the　security　guards　had　encircled　the　station　at　Z　Section　two　hundred　yards　farther　up　the　track　in　the　center　of　the　marina。　Confusion　reigned；　as　the　tram　car　shot　past　the　station　and　around　the　next　bend　on　its　way　along　the　port　side　of　the　ship。　The　guards；　pletely　delu