cussler.blueandgold-第14部分

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　door　another　corridor　slanted　down。　Unlike　the　first；　this　passage　had　several　doors。　All　were　locked　except　one　that　opened　into　a　locker　room。
　
　The　lockers　were　secure；　and　he　could　have　opened　them　with　his　picks　if　he　had　time。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　The　tour　would　wind　up　soon。　On　the　opposite　wall　were　shelves　piled　with　neatly　folded　white　coats。　He　found　one　that　fit　and　slipped　it　on。　In　a　supply　cabinet　he　discovered　a　clipboard。　He　stepped　out　into　the　corridor　and　continued　on　to　yet　a　third　door。　This；　too；　was　locked；　but　he　managed　to　open　it　after　a　few　tries。
　
　The　door　opened　onto　an　elevated　platform　that　overlooked　a　big　room。　The　platform　led　to　a　series　of　walkways　that　crossed　through　a　web　of　linking　horizontal　and　vertical　pipes。　The　low　hum　of　machinery　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere；　and　he　couldn't　trace　its　source。　He　descended　a　set　of　stairs。　The　pipes　came　out　of　the　floor；　then　disappeared　at　right　angles　into　the　wall。　Plumbing　for　the　tortilla　factory；　he　surmised。　At　one　end　of　the　room　was　another　door。　It　was　unlocked。　When　he　cautiously　opened　it；　a　cool　ocean　breeze　hit　him　in　the　face。
　
　He　gasped　with　surprise。　He　was　standing　on　a　small　plat　form　perched　high　on　the　side　of　a　cliff；　facing　out　onto　a　lagoon　about　two　hundred　feet　below　him。　It　was　a　beautiful　vista；　and　again　he　wondered　why　somebody　hadn't　built　a　hotel　rather　than　a　factory　there。　He　assumed　the　factory　was　behind　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　but　he　couldn't　see　it　from　his　angle。　He　looked　down　again。　The　water　washed　up　against　the　jagged　rocks　along　the　shore　in　foamy　ripples。　The　platform　had　a　gate　at　one　end　that　led　to　empty　space　with　no　steps　going　down　or　up。　Odd。　A　few　feet　from　the　gate　a　metal　rail　ran　down　the　side　of　the　cliff　and　disappeared　into　the　water。
　
　He　followed　the　rail　down　to　the　lagoon　with　his　eye。　A　section　of　water　appeared　to　be　darker　than　that　surrounding　it。　It　might　have　been　kelp　and　other　seaweed　washing　against　the　rocks。　As　he　watched；　there　was　an　intense　bubbling　at　the　base　of　the　cliff；　and　a　large；　shiny；　egg…shaped　object　suddenly　appeared　from　the　water　and　began　its　climb　up　the　side　of　the　cliff。　Of　course！　The　rail　was　for　an　elevator。　The　egg　rose　steadily　up　the　track。　It　would　be　there　within　seconds。　Zavala　ducked　back　into　the　big　room　with　the　pipes；　keeping　the　door　open　a　crack。
　
　The　egg；　made　of　a　dark　tinted　glass　or　plastic　that　blended　in　with　the　side　of　the　cliff；　came　to　a　stop　at　the　platform。　A　door　opened；　and　two　men　in　white　smocks　stepped　out。　Zavala　dashed　for　the　stairs。　Within　seconds　he　was　back　at　the　store　room。　He　tore　his　coat　off；　folded　it　as　neatly　as　possible；　and　quickly　walked　along　the　corridors　to　the　bakery。　Nobody　saw　him　step　back　into　the　area　open　to　the　public。　He　hurried　along　in　the　direction　Austin　and　the　tour　group　had　taken。　The　guide　saw　him　approach　and　gave　him　a　quizzical　and　not　altogether　pleased　look。　〃I　was　looking　for　the　bano。〃
　
　She　blushed　and　said；　〃Oh；　yes。　I　will　show　you。〃　She　clapped　her　hands　for　attention。　〃The　tour　is　about　over。〃　She　handed　everyone　a　sample　package　of　tortillas　and　conducted　them　back　to　the　reception　area。　As　the　cars　and　tour　buses　left；　Austin　and　Zavala　pared　notes。
　
　〃From　the　look　on　your　face　I'd　guess　your　little　exploration　was　successful。〃
　
　〃I　found　something。　I　just　don't　know　what　it　is。〃　Zavala　laid　out　a　quick　summary　of　his　findings。
　
　〃The　fact　that　they　hid　something　underwater　indicates　that　they　don't　want　anyone　to　know　what　they　are　doing；〃　Austin　said。　〃Let's　take　a　walk。〃
　
　They　strolled　around　the　side　of　the　factory　but　only　got　a　short　distance　toward　the　water　before　they　encountered　a　high　mesh　fence　topped　with　razor　wire　a　few　hundred　feet　short　of　where　the　cliff　dropped　off。

　
　〃So　much　for　an　ocean　view；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　get　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　cove。〃
　
　The　two　men　returned　to　the　pickup　and　drove　back　onto　the　road。　Several　tracks　led　down　to　the　sea；　but　the　fence　blocked　each　potential　access。　They　were　just　about　to　give　up　when　they　saw　a　man　with　a　fishing　pole　and　a　basket　full　of　fish　ing　from　a　path　that　led　toward　the　water。　Zavala　called　him　over　and　asked　if　they　could　get　to　the　water。　The　man　was　wary　at　first；　apparently　thinking　they　had　something　to　do　with　the　tortilla　place。　When　Zavala　extracted　a　twenty…dollar　bill　from　his　wallet；　the　man's　face　lit　up；　and　he　said　yes；　there　was　a　fence；　but　there　was　a　place　to　crawl　under　it。
　
　He　led　them　on　a　narrow　path　through　the　shoulder…high　bushes；　pointed　to　a　section　of　chain…link　fence；　and　left　clutching　his　windfall。　A　section　of　fence　was　bent　back　from　the　ground　and　a　hole　scooped　out　underneath。　Zavala　easily　slithered　under　to　the　other　side；　then　held　the　fence　for　Austin。　They　followed　the　overgrown　path　until　they　came　to　the　edge　of　a　cliff。　They　were　near　the　tip　of　the　southernmost　promontory　enclosing　the　lagoon。
　
　A　trail　that　must　have　been　worn　by　the　feet　of　fishermen　descended　down　the　less　steep　side　of　the　point。　The　NUMA　men　were　more　interested　in　the　unimpeded　view　across　the　cove。　From　this　angle　the　dark　metal　structure　looked　like　a　sinister　re　doubt　out　of　a　Conan　movie。　Austin　scanned　the　building　through　his　binoculars；　then　pointed　them　at　the　side　of　the　cliff。　Sunlight　glinted　off　metal　about　where　Zavala　had　described　the　elevator　track。　He　let　his　eyes　sweep　out　to　the　wide　entrance　of　the　lagoon　where　surf　broke　on　the　rocks；　then　back　to　the　factory。
　
　〃Ingenious；〃　Austin　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃If　you　stuck　a　big　facility　out　here　in　the　boonies；　everyone；　like　our　fisherman　friend　back　there；　would　talk　about　it。　But　put　it　in　plain　sight；　invite　the　public　to　e　tramping　in　and　out　every　day；　and　you've　got　an　unbeatable　cover　for　some　kind　of　clandestine　operation。〃
　
　Zavala　borrowed　the　binoculars　and　scanned　the　opposite　cliff。　〃Why　a　waterproof　elevator？〃
　
　〃I　don't　have　an　answer；〃　Austin　said　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃I　think　we've　seen　all　we're　going　to　see。〃
　
　Hoping　to　detect　signs　of　activity　around　the　building　or　cliff；　they　lingered　a　few　more　minutes；　but　the　only　movement　they　saw　was　the　soaring　sea　birds。　They　headed　away　from　the　sea　and　minutes　later　were　crawling　under　the　fence。　Zavala　would　have　liked　to　ask　the　fisherman　if　he　knew　about　the　elevator　or　whether　he　had　seen　anything　unusual　in　the　lagoon；　but　the　man　had　taken　his　money　and　run。　They　got　back　into　the　pickup　and　headed　north。
　
　Austin　drove　without　talking。　Zavala　knew　from　past　experience　that　his　partner　was　chewing　over　a　plan　and　when　he　had　it　fully　formulated　he　would　spill　the　details。　Just　beyond　Ensenada；　Austin　said；　〃Is　NUMA　still　running　those　field　tests　off　San　Diego？〃
　
　〃As　far　as　I　know。　I　was　planning　to　check　in　after　the　race　to　see　how　things　were　going。〃
　
　Austin　nodded。　During　the　drive　back　they　exchanged　small　talk；　trading　war　stories　about　past　adventures　and　youthful　indiscretions　in　Mexico。　The　long　line　of　traffic　at　the　border　crossing　was　moving　at　a　snail's　pace。　They　flashed　their　NUMA　IDs　to　save　time　and　were　whisked　through　customs。　Back　in　San　Diego　they　headed　toward　the　bay　until　they　came　to　a　sprawling　municipal　marina。　They　parked　and　made　their　way　along　a　pier　past　dozens　of　sail…　and　power　boats。　At　the　end　of　a　dock　reserved　for　larger　craft　they　found　a　stubby；　wide…beamed　vessel　about　eighty…five　feet　long。　Painted　in　white　on　the　greenish…blue　hull　were　the　letters　〃NUMA。〃
　
　They　stepped　across　the　catwalk　and　asked　one　of　the　crew　men　puttering　on　the　deck　if　the　captain　were　aboard。　He　led　the　way　to　the　bridge；　where　a　slim；　olive…skinned　man　was　going　over　some　charts。　Jim　Contos　was　considered　one　of　the　best　skippers　in　the　NUMA　fleet。　The　son　of　a　Tarpon　Springs　sponge　fisher　man；　he　had　been　on　boats　since　he　was　able　to　walk。
　
　〃Kurt。　Joe；〃　Contos　said　with　a　wide　grin。　〃What　a　nice　surprise！　I　heard　you　were　in　the　neighborhood；　but　I　never　suspected　you'd　honor　the　Sea　Robin　with　a　visit。　What　are　you　up　to？〃　He　glanced　at　Zavala。　〃Well；　I　always　know　what　you've　been　up　to。〃
　
　Zavala's　lips　turned　up　in　his　typical　slight　smile。　〃Kurt　and　I　were　in　the　offshore　boat　race　yesterday。〃
　
　A　dark　cloud　crossed　his　brow。　〃Hey；　I　heard　about　that　thing　with　your　boat。　I'm　really　sorry　about　that。〃　
　
　　〃Thanks；〃　Austin　said。　〃Then　you　must　know　about　the　dead　gray　whales。〃
　
　〃I　do…a　very　strange　story。　Any　idea　what　killed　them？〃
　
　〃We　might　be　able　to　find　out　with　your　help。〃
　
　〃Sure；　anything　I　can　do。〃
　
　〃We'd　like　to　borrow　the　Sea　Robin　and　the　mini　and　do　a　little　diving　south　of　the　border。〃
　
　Contos　laughed。　〃You　weren't　kidding　about　a　big　favor。〃　He　paused　in　thought；　then　shrugged。　〃Why　not？　We're　just　about　through　with　our　field　tests　here。　If　you　can　get　an　oral　authorization　to　work　in　Mexican　waters；　it's　fine　with　me。〃
　
　Austin　nodded　and　immediately　called　NUMA。　After　a　few　minutes　of　conversation　he　passed　the　cell　phone　to　Contos。　He　listened；　nodded；　asked　a　few　questions；　then　clicked　off。　〃Looks　like　we're　heading　south。　Gunn　gave　his　okay。〃　Rudi　Gunn　was　NUMA　director　of　operations　in　Washington。　〃Two　days　at　the　most。　He　wants　you　and　Joe　back　so　he　can　put　you　to　work　again。　One　thing；　though。　He　says　he　won't　have　time　to　get　clearance　from　the　Mexican　government　on　short　notice。〃
　
　〃If　anyone　asks；　we　can　say　we　were　lost；〃　Austin　said　with　feigned　innocence。
　
　Contos　gestured　at　the　glittering　array　of　lights　and　dials　on　the　ship's　console。　〃That　might　be　a　tough　story　to　sell　with　all　the　electronics　this　vessel　carries。　The　Sea　Robin　may　be　ugly；　but　she　sure　knows　what's　going　on　in　the　world。　We'll　let　the　State　Department　iron　out　any　problems　if　we're　boarded。　When　do　you　want　to　leave？〃
　
　〃We'll　pick　up　our　gear　and　get　back　as　soon　as　possible。　The　rest　is　up　to　you。〃
　
　〃I'll　schedule　a　seven　A。M。　departure　for　tomorrow；〃　he　said；　and　turned　away　to　give　the　crew　its　new　orders。
　
　As　Austin　was　walking　back　to　the　car　he　asked　Zavala　what　Contos　meant　when　he　sa