atlantis.found-第68部分

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e　war；　but　found　no　substance　to　them。〃
　　　　　〃Because　many　of　the　highly　advanced　XXI　and　XXII　class　of　U…boats　are　still　listed　as　missing；〃　said　Little。　〃We　strongly　suspect　that　a　fleet　of　them　was　preserved　by　Nazi　leadership　for　smuggling　purposes　during　the　years　since　the　war。〃
　　　　　〃I　would　have　to　admit　you're　probably　correct。〃
　　　　　Sandecker　was　about　to　speak　when　the　phone　rang　again。　He　engaged　the　speaker；　almost　afraid　of　what　he　might　hear。　〃Yes？〃
　　　　　〃Just　to　confirm；〃　came　Pitt's　voice。　〃The　pizza　is　on　your　doorstep　and　the　delivery　boy　is　on　his　way　back　to　the　store　through　heavy　rush…hour　traffic。〃
　　　　　〃Thank　you　for　calling；〃　said　Sandecker。　There　was　no　sense　of　relief　in　his　voice。
　　　　　〃I　hope　you　call　again　when　you　get　the　urge　for　pizza。〃
　　　　　〃I　prefer　calzone。〃　Sandecker　closed　the　connection。　〃Well；〃　he　said　wearily；　〃they　reached　the　aircraft　and　are　in　the　air。〃
　　　　　〃Then　they're　home　free；〃　said　Little；　suddenly　buoyant。
　　　　　Sandecker　shook　his　head　dejectedly。　〃When　Dirk　mentioned　rush…hour　traffic；　he　meant　they　were　under　attack　by　security　force　aircraft。　I　fear　they　have　escaped　the　sharks　only　to　encounter　the　barracuda。〃
　
　
　　　　　Under　its　automatic　guidance　system；　the　Moller　Skycar　ascended　into　the　night　and　skimmed　across　the　black　waters　of　the　fjord；　slowly　increasing　its　altitude　as　it　swept　over　the　glacier　flowing　down　from　the　mountains。　If　anyone　on　board　thought　that　once　they　reached　the　Skycar；　they　had　lifted　off　for　a　peaceful　flight　back　to　the　NUMA　ship　waiting　off　Punta　Entrada；　they　were　sadly　mistaken。
　　　　　Not　one　but　four　helicopter　gunships　rose　from　the　deck　of　the　Ulrich　Wolf　and　set　a　course　to　intercept　the　Skycar。　One　should　have　been　enough；　but　the　Wolfs　sent　out　their　entire　fleet　of　security　aircraft　to　stop　the　fleeing　fugitives。　There　were　no　fancy　formations；　no　tentative　skirmishing　they　came　on　abreast　in　a　well…calculated　deployment　to　cut　off　the　Skycar　before　it　could　reach　the　sanctuary　of　the　mountains。
　　　　　Purchased　by　Destiny　Enterprises　from　the　Messerschmitt…Bolkow　Corporation；　the　Bo　105LS…7　helicopter　was　designed　and　built　for　the　Federal　German　Army　primarily　for　ground　support　and　paramilitary　use。　The　aircraft　chasing　the　Skycar　carried　a　crew　of　two；　and　mounted　twin　engines　that　gave　it　a　maximum　speed　of　two　hundred　and　eighty　miles　an　hour。　For　firepower；　it　relied　on　a　ventral…mounted；　swiveling　twenty…millimeter　cannon。
　　　　　Giordino　sat　in　the　pilot's　seat　this　trip；　with　Pitt　monitoring　the　instruments；　while　the　women　huddled　in　the　cramped　rear　passenger　seat。　In　a　repeat　performance　of　the　ining　flight；　there　was　little　for　Giordino　to　do　but　alter　the　throttle　settings　to　maximum　speed。　Every　other　manipulation　was　puter…controlled　and　operated。　Next　to　him；　Pitt　was　studying　the　pursuing　helicopters　on　the　radar　screen。
　　　　　〃Why；　oh　why；　can't　those　big　bullies　leave　us　alone？〃　Giordino　moaned。
　　　　　〃Looks　like　they　sent　the　entire　gang；〃　said　Pitt；　eyeing　the　blips　on　the　outer　edge　of　the　screen；　which　were　closing　in　on　the　outline　of　the　Skycar　in　the　center　as　if　it　were　a　magnetic　bull's…eye。
　　　　　〃If　they　have　heat…seeking　missiles　that　fly　in　and　through　canyons；〃　said　Giordino；　〃they　may　prove　a　nuisance。〃
　　　　　〃I　don't　think　so。　Civilian　aircraft　are　rarely　capable　of　carrying　military　missiles。〃
　　　　　〃Can　we　lose　them　in　the　mountains？〃
　　　　　〃It　will　be　a　near　thing；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃Their　only　hope　is　to　take　their　best　shot　from　half　a　mile　before　we're　out　of　range。　After　that；　we　can　outrun　them。　Their　speed　looks　to　be　about　thirty　miles　slower　than　ours。〃
　　　　　Giordino　peered　through　the　canopy。　〃We're　ing　off　the　glacier　and　entering　the　mountains。　Twisting　through　the　canyons　should　make　it　awkward　for　them　to　get　off　a　clean　shot。〃
　　　　　〃Shouldn't　you　be　concentrating　on　flying　this　thing？〃　said　Pat；　staring　uneasily　at　the　mountains　silhouetted　in　the　faint　moonlight　that　were　beginning　to　rise　up　on　both　sides　of　the　Skycar。　〃Rather　than　chatting　among　yourselves？〃
　　　　　〃How　are　you　two　getting　on　back　there？〃　Pitt　asked　solicitously。
　　　　　〃This　is　like　riding　a　roller　coaster；〃　said　Megan　excitedly。
　　　　　Pat　was　more　aware　of　the　danger　and　not　as　enthusiastic　as　her　daughter。　〃I　think　I'll　keep　my　eyes　closed；　thank　you。〃
　　　　　〃We'll　be　thrown　around　by　turbulence；　and　the　sudden　shifts　of　direction　through　the　mountains；　because　we'll　be　running　at　maximum　speed；〃　explained　Pitt。　〃But　not　to　worry。　The　puter　is　flying　the　aircraft。〃
　　　　　〃How　forting；〃　Pat　muttered　uneasily。
　　　　　〃The　bad　guys　are　ing　over　the　summit　at　nine　o'clock；〃　announced　Giordino；　warily　staring　at　the　glaring　lights　beamed　by　the　helicopters　that　lit　up　the　jagged　mountain　slopes。
　　　　　The　pilots　of　the　assault　helicopters　played　a　smart　game。　They　made　no　attempt　to　chase　the　faster　Skycar　through　the　hooks　and　crooks　among　the　ravines　that　split　the　mountains。　They　realized　they　had　one　opportunity；　and　only　one；　to　shoot　down　the　strange…looking　aircraft。　They　gained　altitude　as　one　and　fired　down　into　the　ravine；　their　twenty…millimeter　shells　blasting　through　the　dark　in　trajectories　ahead　of　the　Skycar。
　　　　　Pitt　instantly　realized　the　tactic　and　elbowed　Giordino's　arm。　〃Take　manual　control！〃　he　snapped。　〃Stop　us　in　midair　and　back　up！〃
　　　　　Giordino　obeyed　and　pleted　the　maneuver　almost　before　the　words　were　out　of　Pitt's　mouth。　He　switched　off　the　puter　control　and　took　mand；　bringing　the　Skycar　to　a　gut…wrenching　halt　that　threw　them　against　their　safety　harnesses；　then　sending　the　aircraft　back　down　the　ravine　in　reverse。
　　　　　〃If　we　attempt　to　fly　through　that　barrage；〃　said　Pitt；　〃we'll　be　shot　t《　》　shreds。〃
　　　　　〃It's　only　a　matter　of　seconds　before　they　reposition　and　aim　this　way。
　　　　　〃That's　the　idea。　I'm　banking　on　them　turning　and　deflecting　their　fire　behind　our　path；　expecting　us　to　fly　into　it。　But　we　shoot　forward　again；　forcing　them　to　realign　the　same　trick　we　pulled　on　the　patrol　boat。　If　things　fall　our　way；　we'll　gain　enough　time　to　put　a　mountain　between　us　before　they　can　reconcentrate　their　fire　again。〃
　　　　　As　they　spoke；　the　gunships　broke　out　of　formation　to　converge　their　fire。　In　a　few　seconds；　they　had　realigned　and　zeroed　in；　firing　directly　at　the　Skycar。　It　was　the　signal　for　Giordino　to　send　the　craft　charging　up　the　ravine　again。　The　plan　came　within　a　hair　of　out…and…out　success；　but　the　seconds　spent　in　reverse　allowed　the　helicopters　to　move　in　closer。　There　was　no　concentrated　barrage　this　time。　The　pilots　reacted　swiftly　and　began　firing　wildly　at　the　rapidly　fleeing　Skycar。
　　　　　Shells　ripped　into　the　vertical　fins　of　the　tail　assembly。　The　landing　wheels　were　shot　off　and　the　upper　part　of　the　canopy　suddenly　shattered　and　flew　off　into　the　darkness；　allowing　a　rush　of　cold　air　to　flood　into　the　cockpit。　The　murderous　but　inaccurate　fire　sprayed　all　around　the　craft；　but　mercifully　the　engines　remained　unscathed。　Unable　to　evade　the　salvo　by　twisting　the　Skycar　obliquely　since　the　sides　of　the　ravine　were　no　more　than　fifty　feet　from　the　widest　part　of　the　aircraft　Giordino　jerked　it　up　and　down　instead。
　　　　　The　twenty…millimeter　shells　that　missed　chewed　into　the　steep　cliffs　and　threw　up　geysers　of　rocky　fragments。　Like　a　cat　chased　by　a　pack　of　dogs；　Giordino　hurled　the　Skycar　up　the　canyon　in　a　frenzied　series　of　undulating　maneuvers。　Another　two　hundred　yards；　then　a　hundred；　and　suddenly；　Giordino　threw　the　aircraft　into　a　sharp　ninety…degree　bank；　skirting　around　a　protruding　rock…bound　slope　that　blocked　off　the　storm　of　shell　fire。
　　　　　By　the　time　the　Destiny　Enterprises'　gunships　had　reached　the　promontory　and　rounded　it；　the　Skycar　had　vanished　deep　into　the　blackness　of　the　mountains。
　
　CITY　UNDER　THE　ICE
　
　April　10；　2001
　Buenos　Aires；　Argentina
　　　　　Limousines　formed　a　long　arc　on　the　circular　drive　of　the　British　Embassy　in　Buenos　Aires。　Ladies　in　ballgowns　and　men　in　tuxedos　exited　the　long　black　cars　and　entered　through　high　bronze　doors　into　the　foyer；　where　they　were　met　by　the　British　ambassador　to　Argentina；　Charles　Lexington；　and　his　wife；　Martha；　a　tall；　serene　woman　with　white　hair　cut　in　a　pageboy。　The　social　event　of　the　year　was　a　celebration　in　honor　of　Prince　Charles's　elevation　to　the　throne；　finally　abdicated　by　his　mother；　Queen　Elizabeth。
　　　　　The　elite　of　Argentina　had　been　invited；　and　all　attended。　The　President；　the　National　Congress　leaders；　the　mayor　of　the　city；　financiers　and　industrialists；　and　the　nation's　most　admired　celebrities。　Those　who　entered　the　ballroom　to　the　music　of　an　orchestra　in　eighteenth…century　costume　were　enthralled　with　the　sumptuous　buffet　prepared　by　the　finest　chefs　imported　from　England　especially　for　the　event。
　　　　　When　Karl　Wolf　and　his　usual　entourage　of　sisters　made　their　grand　entrance　into　the　vast　room；　they　inevitably　received　the　stares　of　everyone　present。　His　personal　bodyguard　stayed　close　beside　them　at　all　times。　In　keeping　with　their　family　tradition；　the　gorgeous　women　were　all　wearing　gowns　of　the　same　design　but　in　different　colors。　After　being　greeted　by　the　British　ambassador；　they　swept　into　the　ballroom；　their　radiance　envied　by　almost　all　the　women　present。
　　　　　Karl　was　acpanied　by　Geli；　Maria；　and　Luci；　who'd　brought　along　their　husbands；　and　Elsie；　who　had　just　returned　from　America。　As　his　sisters　and　their　spouses　began　dancing　to　a　medley　of　Cole　Porter　tunes；　Karl　led　Elsie　to　the　buffet；　stopping　along　the　way　to　accept　a　glass　of　champagne　from　the　liveried　waiters。　They　selected　a　sampling　of　exotic　dishes　and　moved　into　the　library；　where　they　found　an　empty　table　with　two　chairs　next　to　a　floor…to…ceiling　bookcase。
　　　　　Elsie　was　about　to　lift　a　fork　with　a　delicate　cheese　to　her　mouth　when　her　hand　froze　in　midair　and　her　face　took　on　a　look　of　disbelief。　Karl　studied　her　dazed　expression　but　did　not　turn　around；　instead　waiting　quietly　for　an　explanation。　It　came　with　the　presence　of　a　tall；　rugged…looking　man　with　a　lovely　woman　at　his　side；　flaming　red　hair　cascading　to　her　waist。　The　man　wore　a　tuxedo　with　a　maroon　brocade　vest；　and　a　gold　watch　chain　hung　across　the　front。　T