atlantis.found-第66部分

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l　boat　sank　out　of　sight。
　　　　　Giordino　came　around　the　cabin　and　stood　at　the　door；　looking　at　the　bits　and　pieces　of　burning　debris　and　oil　that　floated　on　the　surface。　〃Nice　shooting；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　　　〃Good　pitching。〃
　　　　　Giordino　inclined　his　head　toward　the　second　patrol　boat　that　was　hurtling　across　the　fjord。　Then　he　turned　slightly　and　stared　toward　the　shore。　〃It's　going　to　be　close；〃　he　said　objectively。
　　　　　〃They　won't　fall　for　a　sucker　play　like　their　buddies。　They'll　stand　off　at　a　safe　distance　and　try　and　disable　us　by　shooting　at　our　engines。〃
　　　　　〃Pat　and　Megan　are　down　there；〃　Giordino　reminded　him。
　　　　　〃Bring　them　up；〃　said　Pitt；　his　eyes　reading　the　numbers　on　the　directional　puter。　He　made　a　slight　adjustment　and　swung　the　Grand　Banks　another　five　degrees　to　the　southwest。　Four　hundred　yards　remained。　The　gap　was　rapidly　narrowing。　〃Tell　them　to　get　ready　to　abandon　the　boat　the　instant　we　hit　shore。〃
　　　　　〃You're　going　to　hit　the　rocks　at　full　throttle？〃
　　　　　〃We　don't　have　time　to　tie　up　to　a　rock　and　step　ashore　with　confetti　and　bands　playing。〃
　　　　　〃On　my　way；〃　Giordino　acknowledged　with　a　brief　wave。
　　　　　The　second　patrol　boat　was　driving　directly　toward　them；　unaware　of　Pitt's　intention　to　run　ashore。　The　searchlight　illuminated　the　Grand　Banks　in　its　beam　with　unwavering　steadiness；　like　a　spotlight　trained　at　a　dancer　on　a　stage。　The　two　boats　closed　rapidly；　running　at　an　angle　toward　each　other。　Then　the　mander　of　the　patrol　boat　sensed　Pitt's　intentions　and　steered　to　cut　off　the　Grand　Banks　and　block　it　from　reaching　the　shore。　With　less　than　half　the　speed　of　his　nemesis；　Pitt　was　forced　to　accept　the　fact　that　he　was　engaged　in　a　race　he　would　surely　lose。　Yet　he　stood　at　the　helm　with　unblinking　eyes　and　a　callous　determination。　The　fight　was　extremely　one…sided；　but　he　wasn't　about　to　turn　the　other　cheek。　The　thought　of　failure　never　entered　his　mind。
　　　　　Seeing　an　unexpected　opportunity；　Pitt　yanked　the　gear　lever　and　threw　the　Grand　Banks　into　reverse。　The　boat　shuddered　from　the　strain　under　full　throttle　and　came　to　a　stop；　its　props　beating　the　water　in　a　maelstrom　of　froth。　Then　it　began　moving　backward；　its　square　transom　pushing　aside　the　water　like　a　bulldozer。
　　　　　Giordino　appeared　with　Pat　and　Megan。　He　stared　bemused　at　seeing　the　patrol　boat　about　to　cross　the　Grand　Banks'　bow　while　their　own　boat　was　surging　backward。　〃Don't　tell　me。　I'm　keen　to　guess。　You've　conjured　up　another　cunning　plan。〃
　　　　　〃Not　cunning；　just　desperate。〃
　　　　　〃You're　going　to　ram　him。〃
　　　　　〃If　we　play　our　cards　right；〃　answered　Pitt　quickly；　〃I　do　believe　we　can　bloody　his　nose。　Now；　everyone　lie　on　the　floor。　Use　whatever　solid　cover　you　can　find　to　shield　yourselves。　Because　it's　surely　going　to　rain。〃
　　　　　There　was　no　time　to　say　more。　The　mander　of　the　second　patrol　boat；　not　prehending　the　reverse　movement　of　his　prey；　altered　his　course　so　that　he　would　cross　within　ten　feet　of　the　Grand　Banks'　bow；　e　to　a　stop；　and　blast　the　Grand　Banks　at　point…blank　range。　It　was　a　naval　tactic　called　crossing　the　T。　He　stood　at　the　helm　and　raised　one　hand　as　a　signal　for　the　gunners　to　open　fire。
　　　　　Then　two　events　happened　in　the　same　instant。　Pitt　crammed　the　gear　lever　back　to　full　forward　and　the　machine　guns　on　the　patrol　boat　opened　up。　The　Grand　Banks'　props　dug　in　the　water　and　sent　the　boat　surging　forward；　as　bullets　sprayed　the　bridge。　The　glass　from　the　windshield　shattered　into　a　thousand　shards　and　burst　all　through　the　cabin。　Pitt　had　already　thrown　himself　down　behind　the　console；　one　hand　raised　and　gripping　the　bottom　arc　of　the　helm。　He　didn't　notice　that　the　back　of　his　hand　had　been　gashed　by　flying　glass　until　the　blood　began　dripping　into　his　eyes。　The　upper　cabin　of　the　Grand　Banks　was　being　methodically　shot　to　pieces。　The　gunners　were　shooting　high　to　throw　sheer　terror　into　the　minds　of　those　lying　prone　on　the　deck。　The　interior　of　the　bridge　was　a　bedlam　of　flying　wreckage；　as　nine…millimeter　shells　shredded　everything　they　smashed　against。
　　　　　The　mander　of　the　patrol　boat　had　cut　his　speed　and　was　drifting　to　a　stop；　since　his　gunners　seemed　to　be　enjoying　close…up　target　practice。　His　satisfaction　was　premature；　while　Pitt's　timing　couldn't　have　been　more　perfect。　The　mander　missed　Pitt's　intent　until　it　was　too　late。　Before　he　could　steer　his　patrol　boat　out　of　the　way；　the　Grand　Banks　had　suddenly　jerked　forward；　her　engines　pounding　at　full　rpms。
　　　　　There　came　a　grinding　sound　of　twisted　and　tortured　fiberglass　and　wood。　The　Grand　Banks'　bow　sliced　through　the　starboard　hull　of　the　patrol　boat　and　punched　through　to　the　keel。　The　patrol　boat　canted　over　on　her　port　side；　the　crew　grabbing　at　any　solid　object　to　keep　from　being　pitched　overboard；　and　began　to　settle　almost　immediately。
　　　　　Pitt　hauled　himself　to　his　feet；　threw　the　gear　lever　into　reverse；　and　backed　the　Grand　Banks　out　of　the　gash　in　the　hull　of　the　patrol　boat；　allowing　a　rush　of　water　to　flood　and　gurgle　into　the　cavity。　For　a　moment；　the　patrol　boat　struggled　back　to　an　even　keel；　but　then　the　black　waters　flowed　over　her　deck　and　she　slipped　away；　her　searchlight　still　glaring　as　it　plunged　to　the　floor　of　the　fjord；　leaving　her　crew　struggling　to　stay　afloat　in　the　frigid　waters。
　　　　　〃Al；〃　Pitt　said　in　a　conversational　tone。　〃Check　the　forward　partment。〃
　　　　　Giordino　disappeared　through　a　hatch　and　returned　in　seconds。　〃We're　sucking　in　water　like　a　giant　douche　bag。　Another　five　minutes　and　we'll　join　our　friends　in　the　water；　even　faster　if　you　don't　stop　this　tub。〃
　　　　　〃Who　said　anything　about　going　forward？〃　Pitt's　eyes　locked　on　the　direction　puter。　The　distance　to　shore　and　the　mouth　of　the　ravine　was　only　fifty　yards；　but　it　was　an　impossible　span　for　a　fast…sinking　boat。　Trying　to　move　ahead　would　only　escalate　the　flood　of　water　pouring　in　through　the　shattered　bow。　His　mind　raced　with　a　strange　clarity；　as　it　always　did　during　crisis；　considering　any　and　every　option。　He　sent　the　Grand　Banks　barreling　through　the　water　in　reverse；　which　lowered　the　stern　and　raised　the　bow。　The　flooding　problem　temporarily　solved；　he　warned　the　others。　〃Go　out　on　deck　and　brace　yourselves　for　the　shock　when　we　strike　the　rocks。〃
　　　　　〃On　deck？〃　Pat　asked　numbly。
　　　　　〃In　case　the　boat　rolls　over　when　we　ground；　you're　better　off　out　in　the　open　where　you　can　jump　in　the　water。〃
　　　　　None　too　soon；　Giordino　herded　the　two　females　outside　and　made　them　sit　down　on　the　deck；　backs　against　the　cabin　while　reaching　out　and　clutching　the　railing　He　sat　in　the　middle　with　both　strong　arms　encircling　their　waists。　Pat　was　frozen　in　pure　fright；　but　Megan；　looking　into　Giordino's　unperturbed　face；　took　courage　from　it。　He　and　the　man　at　the　helm　had　brought　them　this　far。　It　was　utterly　inprehensible　to　her　that　they　wouldn't　make　good　on　their　word　and　take　her　safely　home。
　　　　　The　Grand　Banks　was　settling　lower　from　the　water　ing　through　the　damaged　hull　below　the　waterline　aft　of　the　bow。　The　mouth　of　the　ravine　was　very　close　now。　Black　heaps　of　rock　that　Pitt　and　Giordino　had　waded　past；　before　mencing　their　underwater　journey　to　the　shipyard　earlier　that　night；　rose　from　the　blackness；　ominous　and　beckoning。　Pitt　did　his　best　to　dodge　around　the　largest　of　the　rocks；　barely　distinguishing　their　shapes；　as　they　were　outlined　by　the　white　foam　of　the　fjord's　two…foot　waves　that　slapped　against　them。
　　　　　And　then　one　of　the　propellers　struck　with　a　loud　metallic　smack　and　sheared　off；　sending　the　engine　racing　out　of　control。　More　rocks　swirled　by　Then　came　a　heavier　blow　and　the　boat　shuddered　but　kept　going　several　more　feet；　before　the　port　side　of　the　transom　crunched　into　a　rock　that　smashed　the　yielding　wood　to　pieces。　As　though　a　dam　had　burst；　a　gush　of　water　flooded　across　the　rear　open　deck；　pulling　down　the　stern。　The　next　shock　came　with　bone…jarring　impact；　as　the　boat　struck　hard　on　and　split　down　the　keel；　the　wooden…planked　hull　tearing　itself　to　pieces。　But　then　the　terrible　crunching　and　grinding　sounds　ceased　as　the　battered　Grand　Banks　finally　came　to　a　stop；　with　only　ten　feet　separating　her　ruptured　stern　from　the　edge　of　the　rocky　shoreline。
　　　　　Pitt　snatched　up　the　little　directional　puter　and　rushed　out　the　bridge　door。　〃Everybody　ashore　who's　going　ashore；〃　he　shouted。　He　snatched　up　Megan　under　one　arm　and　smiled　at　her。　〃Sorry　about　this；　young　lady；　but　we　can't　hang　around　to　find　a　ladder。〃　Then　he　slid　over　the　railing　and　lowered　himself　and　Megan　into　the　frigid　water；　his　feet　touching　bottom　in　four　feet。　He　knew　Pat　and　Giordino　were　right　behind　him；　as　he　struggled　over　the　rocky　bottom　and　slimecovered　rocks　toward　dry　land。
　　　　　As　soon　as　his　feet　cleared　the　water；　he　released　Megan　and　checked　his　directional　puter　to　make　absolutely　certain　they　had　the　right　ravine。　They　did。　The　Skycar　was　only　minutes　away。
　　　　　〃You're　hurt；〃　said　Pat；　seeing　the　dark　stream　of　blood　on　Pitt's　hand　under　the　light　of　the　stars　and　falling　crescent　moon。　〃You've　got　a　nasty　gash。〃
　　　　　〃A　glass　cut；〃　he　said　simply。
　　　　　She　inserted　a　hand　under　her　red　coveralls；　ripped　off　her　bra；　and　began　using　it　to　wrap　Pitt's　hand　to　stem　the　flow　of　blood。　〃Now；　there's　a　bandage　I've　never　seen　before；〃　he　murmured　with　a　grin。
　　　　　〃Under　the　circumstances；〃　she　said；　tying　the　ends　tightly　in　a　knot；　〃it's　the　best　I　can　do。〃
　　　　　〃Who's　plaining？〃　He　gave　her　a　hug　and　then　turned　to　the　shadow　that　was　Giordino。　〃All　present　and　accounted　for？〃
　　　　　Giordino　had　Megan　by　the　hand。　〃Adrenaline　still　pumping。〃
　　　　　〃Then　e　on；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Our　private　plane　awaits。〃
　
　
　　　　　To　Sandecker　and　Agent　Little；　the　wait　for　the　next　contact　from　Pitt　and　Giordino　seemed　interminable。　The　fire　had　died　to　a　few　smoldering　embers；　and　the　admiral　seemed　to　have　no　interest　in　rekindling　it。　He　puffed　on　one　of　his　big　cigars；　covering　the　ceiling　with　a　haze　of　blue　smoke。　Both　he　and　Little　passed　the　time　sitting　spellbound；　listening　to　the　tales　told　by　Admiral　Hozafel；　tales　he　had　never　told　anyone　in　more　than　fifty…six　years。
　　　　　〃You　were　saying；　Admiral；〃　said　Sandecker；　〃that　the　Nazis　sent