danbrown.deceptionpoint-第71部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　didn't；　Sexton　would　get　suspicious。
　She　took　the　call。　〃Hello？〃
　〃Gabrielle？〃　Sexton　sounded　impatient。　〃What's　keeping　you？〃
　〃The　FDR　Memorial；〃　Gabrielle　said。　〃The　taxi　got　hemmed　in；　and　now　we're…〃
　〃You　don't　sound　like　you're　in　a　taxi。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said；　her　blood　pumping　now。　〃I'm　not。　I　decided　to　stop　by　my　office　and　pick　up　some　NASA　documents　that　might　be　relevant　to　PODS。　I'm　having　some　trouble　finding　them。〃
　〃Well；　hurry　up。　I　want　to　schedule　a　press　conference　for　the　morning；　and　we　need　to　talk　specifics。〃
　〃I'm　ing　soon；〃　she　said。
　There　was　a　pause　on　the　line。　〃You're　in　your　office？〃　He　sounded　suddenly　confused。
　〃Yeah。　Another　ten　minutes　and　I'll　be　on　my　way　over。〃
　Another　pause。　〃Okay。　I'll　see　you　soon。〃
　Gabrielle　hung　up；　too　preoccupied　to　notice　the　loud　and　distinctive　triple…tick　of　Sexton's　prized　Jourdain　grandfather　clock　only　a　few　feet　away。
　
　　
　113
　Michael　Tolland　did　not　realize　Rachel　was　hurt　until　he　saw　the　blood　on　her　arm　as　he　pulled　her　to　cover　behind　the　Triton。　He　sensed　from　the　catatonic　look　on　her　face　that　she　was　not　aware　of　any　pain。　Steadying　her；　Tolland　wheeled　to　find　Corky。　The　astrophysicist　scrambled　across　the　deck　to　join　them；　his　eyes　blank　with　terror。
　We've　got　to　find　cover；　Tolland　thought；　the　horror　of　what　had　just　happened　not　yet　fully　registering。　Instinctively；　his　eyes　raced　up　the　tiers　of　decks　above　them。　The　stairs　leading　up　to　the　bridge　were　all　in　the　open；　and　the　bridge　itself　was　a　glass　box…a　transparent　bull's…eye　from　the　air。　Going　up　was　suicide；　which　left　only　one　other　direction　to　go。
　For　a　fleeting　instant；　Tolland　turned　a　hopeful　gaze　to　the　Triton　submersible；　wondering　perhaps　if　he　could　get　everyone　underwater；　away　from　the　bullets。
　Absurd。　The　Triton　had　room　for　one　person；　and　the　deployment　winch　took　a　good　ten　minutes　to　lower　the　sub　through　the　trap　door　in　the　deck　to　the　ocean　thirty　feet　below。　Besides；　without　properly　charged　batteries　and　pressors；　the　Triton　would　be　dead　in　the　water。
　〃Here　they　e！〃　Corky　shouted；　his　voice　shrill　with　fear　as　he　pointed　into　the　sky。
　Tolland　didn't　even　look　up。　He　pointed　to　a　nearby　bulkhead；　where　an　aluminum　ramp　descended　belowdecks。　Corky　apparently　needed　no　encouragement。　Keeping　his　head　low；　Corky　scurried　toward　the　opening　and　disappeared　down　the　incline。　Tolland　put　a　firm　arm　around　Rachel's　waist　and　followed。　The　two　of　them　disappeared　belowdecks　just　as　the　helicopter　returned；　spraying　bullets　overhead。
　Tolland　helped　Rachel　down　the　grated　ramp　to　the　suspended　platform　at　the　bottom。　As　they　arrived；　Tolland　could　feel　Rachel's　body　go　suddenly　rigid。　He　wheeled；　fearing　maybe　she'd　been　hit　by　a　ricocheting　bullet。
　When　he　saw　her　face；　he　knew　it　was　something　else。　Tolland　followed　her　petrified　gaze　downward　and　immediately　understood。
　　
　Rachel　stood　motionless；　her　legs　refusing　to　move。　She　was　staring　down　at　the　bizarre　world　beneath　her。
　Because　of　its　SWATH　design；　the　Goya　had　no　hull　but　rather　struts　like　a　giant　catamaran。　They　had　just　descended　through　the　deck　onto　a　grated　catwalk　that　hung　above　an　open　chasm；　thirty　feet　straight　down　to　the　raging　sea。　The　noise　was　deafening　here；　reverberating　off　the　underside　of　the　deck。　Adding　to　Rachel's　terror　was　the　fact　that　the　ship's　underwater　spotlights　were　still　illuminated；　casting　a　greenish　effulgence　deep　into　the　ocean　directly　beneath　her。　She　found　herself　gazing　down　at　six　or　seven　ghostly　silhouettes　in　the　water。　Enormous　hammerhead　sharks；　their　long　shadows　swimming　in　place　against　the　current…rubbery　bodies　flexing　back　and　forth。
　Tolland's　voice　was　in　her　ear。　〃Rachel；　you're　okay。　Eyes　straight　ahead。　I'm　right　behind　you。〃　His　hands　were　reaching　around　from　behind；　gently　trying　to　coax　her　clenched　fists　off　the　banister。　It　was　then　that　Rachel　saw　the　crimson　droplet　of　blood　roll　off　her　arm　and　fall　through　the　grating。　Her　eyes　followed　the　drip　as　it　plummeted　toward　the　sea。　Although　she　never　saw　it　hit　the　water；　she　knew　the　instant　it　happened　because　all　at　once　the　hammerheads　spun　in　unison；　thrusting　with　their　powerful　tails；　crashing　together　in　a　roiling　frenzy　of　teeth　and　fins。
　Enhanced　telencephalon　olfactory　lobes。。。　
　They　smell　blood　a　mile　away。
　〃Eyes　straight　ahead；〃　Tolland　repeated；　his　voice　strong　and　reassuring。　〃I'm　right　behind　you。〃
　Rachel　felt　his　hands　on　her　hips　now；　urging　her　forward。　Blocking　out　the　void　beneath　her；　Rachel　started　down　the　catwalk。　Somewhere　above　she　could　hear　the　rotors　of　the　chopper　again。　Corky　was　already　well　out　in　front　of　them；　reeling　across　the　catwalk　in　a　kind　of　drunken　panic。
　Tolland　called　out　to　him。　〃All　the　way　to　the　far　strut；　Corky！　Down　the　stairs！〃
　Rachel　could　now　see　where　they　were　headed。　Up　ahead；　a　series　of　switchback　ramps　descended。　At　water　level；　a　narrow；　shelflike　deck　extended　the　length　of　the　Goya。　Jutting　off　this　deck　were　several　small；　suspended　docks；　creating　a　kind　of　miniature　marina　stationed　beneath　the　ship。　A　large　sign　read：
　DIVE　AREA
Swimmers　May　Surface　without　Warning
…Boats　Proceed　with　Caution…
　Rachel　could　only　assume　Michael　did　not　intend　for　them　to　do　any　swimming。　Her　trepidation　intensified　when　Tolland　stopped　at　a　bank　of　wire…mesh　storage　lockers　flanking　the　catwalk。　He　pulled　open　the　doors　to　reveal　hanging　wetsuits；　snorkels；　flippers；　life　jackets；　and　spearguns。　Before　she　could　protest；　he　reached　in　and　grabbed　a　flare　gun。　〃Let's　go。〃
　They　were　moving　again。
　Up　ahead；　Corky　had　reached　the　switchback　ramps　and　was　already　halfway　down。　〃I　see　it！〃　he　shouted；　his　voice　sounding　almost　joyous　over　the　raging　water。
　See　what？　Rachel　wondered　as　Corky　ran　along　the　narrow　walkway。　All　she　could　see　was　a　shark…infested　ocean　lapping　dangerously　close。　Tolland　urged　her　forward；　and　suddenly　Rachel　could　see　what　Corky　was　so　excited　about。　At　the　far　end　of　the　decking　below；　a　small　powerboat　was　moored。　Corky　ran　toward　it。
　Rachel　stared。　Outrun　a　helicopter　in　a　motorboat？
　〃It　has　a　radio；〃　Tolland　said。　〃And　if　we　can　get　far　enough　away　from　the　helicopter's　jamming。。。　〃
　Rachel　did　not　hear　another　word　he　said。　She　had　just　spied　something　that　made　her　blood　run　cold。　〃Too　late；〃　she　croaked；　extending　a　trembling　finger。　We're　finished。。。　
　　
　When　Tolland　turned；　he　knew　in　an　instant　it　was　over。
　At　the　far　end　of　the　ship；　like　a　dragon　peering　into　the　opening　of　a　cave；　the　black　helicopter　had　dropped　down　low　and　was　facing　them。　For　an　instant；　Tolland　thought　it　was　going　to　fly　directly　at　them　through　the　center　of　the　boat。　But　the　helicopter　began　to　turn　at　an　angle；　taking　aim。
　Tolland　followed　the　direction　of　the　gun　barrels。　No！
　Crouched　beside　the　powerboat　untying　the　moorings；　Corky　glanced　up　just　as　the　machine　guns　beneath　the　chopper　erupted　in　a　blaze　of　thunder。　Corky　lurched　as　if　hit。　Wildly；　he　scrambled　over　the　gunwale　and　dove　into　the　boat；　sprawled　himself　on　the　floor　for　cover。　The　guns　stopped。　Tolland　could　see　Corky　crawling　deeper　into　the　powerboat。　The　lower　part　of　his　right　leg　was　covered　with　blood。　Crouched　below　the　dash；　Corky　reached　up　and　fumbled　across　the　controls　until　his　fingers　found　the　key。　The　boat's　250　hp　Mercury　engine　roared　to　life。
　An　instant　later；　a　red　laser　beam　appeared；　emanating　from　the　nose　of　the　hovering　chopper；　targeting　the　powerboat　with　a　missile。
　Tolland　reacted　on　instinct；　aiming　the　only　weapon　he　had。
　The　flare　gun　in　his　hand　hissed　when　he　pulled　the　trigger；　and　a　blinding　streak　tore　away　on　a　horizontal　trajectory　beneath　the　ship；　heading　directly　toward　the　chopper。　Even　so；　Tolland　sensed　he　had　acted　too　late。　As　the　streaking　flare　bore　down　on　the　helicopter's　windshield；　the　rocket　launcher　beneath　the　chopper　emitted　its　own　flash　of　light。　At　the　same　exact　instant　that　the　missile　launched；　the　aircraft　veered　sharply　and　pulled　up　out　of　sight　to　avoid　the　ining　flare。
　〃Look　out！〃　Tolland　yelled；　yanking　Rachel　down　onto　the　catwalk。
　The　missile　sailed　off　course；　just　missing　Corky；　ing　the　length　of　the　Goya　and　slamming　into　the　base　of　the　strut　thirty　feet　beneath　Rachel　and　Tolland。
　The　sound　was　apocalyptic。　Water　and　flames　erupted　beneath　them。　Bits　of　twisted　metal　flew　in　the　air　and　scattered　the　catwalk　beneath　them。　Metal　on　metal　ground　together　as　the　ship　shifted；　finding　a　new　balance；　slightly　askew。
　As　the　smoke　cleared；　Tolland　could　see　that　one　of　the　Goya's　four　main　struts　had　been　severely　damaged。　Powerful　currents　tore　past　the　pontoon；　threatening　to　break　it　off。　The　spiral　stairway　descending　to　the　lower　deck　looked　to　be　hanging　by　a　thread。
　〃e　on！〃　Tolland　yelled；　urging　Rachel　toward　it。　We've　got　to　get　down！
　But　they　were　too　late。　With　a　surrendering　crack；　the　stairs　peeled　away　from　the　damaged　strut　and　crashed　into　the　sea。
　　
　Over　the　ship；　Delta…One　grappled　with　the　controls　of　the　Kiowa　helicopter　and　got　it　back　under　control。　Momentarily　blinded　by　the　ining　flare；　he　had　reflexively　pulled　up；　causing　the　Hellfire　missile　to　miss　its　mark。　Cursing；　he　hovered　now　over　the　bow　of　the　ship　and　prepared　to　drop　back　down　and　finish　the　job。
　Eliminate　all　passengers。　The　controller's　demands　had　been　clear。
　〃Shit！　Look！〃　Delta…Two　yelled　from　the　rear　seat；　pointing　out　the　window。　〃Speedboat！〃
　Delta…One　spun　and　saw　a　bullet…riddled　Crestliner　speedboat　skimming　away　from　the　Goya　into　the　darkness。
　He　had　a　decision　to　make。
　
　　
　114
　Corky's　bloody　hands　gripped　the　wheel　of　the　Crestliner　Phantom　2100　as　it　pounded　out　across　the　sea。　He　rammed　the　throttle　all　the　way　forward；　trying　to　eke　out　maximum　speed。　It　was　not　until　this　moment　that　he　felt　the　searing　pain。　He　looked　down　and　saw　his　right　leg　spurting　blood。　He　instantly　felt　dizzy。
　Propping　himself　against　the　wheel；　he　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　Goya；　willing　the　helicopter　to　follow　him。　With　Tolland　and　Rachel　trapped　up　on　the　catwalk；　Corky　had　not　been　able　to　reach　them。　He'd　been　forced　to　make　a　snap　decision。
　Divid