danbrown.deceptionpoint-第72部分

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e　catwalk；　Corky　had　not　been　able　to　reach　them。　He'd　been　forced　to　make　a　snap　decision。
　Divide　and　conquer。
　Corky　knew　if　he　could　lure　the　chopper　far　enough　away　from　the　Goya；　maybe　Tolland　and　Rachel　could　radio　for　help。　Unfortunately；　as　he　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　illuminated　ship；　Corky　could　see　the　chopper　still　hovering　there；　as　if　undecided。
　e　on；　you　bastards！　Follow　me！
　But　the　helicopter　did　not　follow。　Instead　it　banked　over　the　stern　of　the　Goya；　aligned　itself；　and　dropped　down；　landing　on　the　deck。　No！　Corky　watched　in　horror；　now　realizing　he'd　left　Tolland　and　Rachel　behind　to　be　killed。
　Knowing　it　was　now　up　to　him　to　radio　for　help；　Corky　groped　the　dashboard　and　found　the　radio。　He　flicked　the　power　switch。　Nothing　happened。　No　lights。　No　static。　He　turned　the　volume　knob　all　the　way　up。　Nothing。　e　on！　Letting　go　of　the　wheel；　he　knelt　down　for　a　look。　His　leg　screamed　in　pain　as　he　bent　down。　His　eyes　focused　on　the　radio。　He　could　not　believe　what　he　was　looking　at。　The　dashboard　had　been　strafed　by　bullets；　and　the　radio　dial　was　shattered。　Loose　wires　hung　out　the　front。　He　stared；　incredulous。
　Of　all　the　goddamned　luck。。。　
　Weak…kneed；　Corky　stood　back　up；　wondering　how　things　could　get　any　worse。　As　he　looked　back　at　the　Goya；　he　got　his　answer。　Two　armed　soldiers　jumped　out　of　the　chopper　onto　the　deck。　Then　the　chopper　lifted　off　again；　turning　in　Corky's　direction　and　ing　after　him　at　full　speed。
　Corky　slumped。　Divide　and　conquer。　Apparently　he　was　not　the　only　one　with　that　bright　idea　tonight。
　　
　As　Delta…Three　made　his　way　across　the　deck　and　approached　the　grated　ramp　leading　belowdecks；　he　heard　a　woman　shouting　somewhere　beneath　him。　He　turned　and　motioned　to　Delta…Two　that　he　was　going　belowdecks　to　check　it　out。　His　partner　nodded；　remaining　behind　to　cover　the　upper　level。　The　two　men　could　stay　in　contact　via　CrypTalk；　the　Kiowa's　jamming　system　ingeniously　left　an　obscure　bandwidth　open　for　their　own　munications。
　Clutching　his　snub…nose　machine　gun；　Delta…Three　moved　quietly　toward　the　ramp　that　led　belowdecks。　With　the　vigilance　of　a　trained　killer；　he　began　inching　downward；　gun　leveled。
　The　incline　provided　limited　visibility；　and　Delta…Three　crouched　low　for　a　better　view。　He　could　hear　the　shouting　more　clearly　now。　He　kept　descending。　Halfway　down　the　stairs　he　could　now　make　out　the　twisted　maze　of　walkways　attached　to　the　underside　of　the　Goya。　The　shouting　grew　louder。
　Then　he　saw　her。　Midway　across　the　traversing　catwalk；　Rachel　Sexton　was　peering　over　a　railing　and　calling　desperately　toward　the　water　for　Michael　Tolland。
　Did　Tolland　fall　in？　Perhaps　in　the　blast？
　If　so；　Delta…Three's　job　would　be　even　easier　than　expected。　He　only　needed　to　descend　another　couple　of　feet　to　have　an　open　shot。　Shooting　fish　in　a　barrel。　His　only　vague　concern　was　Rachel　standing　near　an　open　equipment　locker；　which　meant　she　might　have　a　weapon…a　speargun　or　a　shark　rifle…although　neither　would　be　any　match　for　his　machine　gun。　Confident　he　was　in　control　of　the　situation；　Delta…Three　leveled　his　weapon　and　took　another　step　down。　Rachel　Sexton　was　almost　in　perfect　view　now。　He　raised　the　gun。
　One　more　step。
　The　flurry　of　movement　came　from　beneath　him；　under　the　stairs。　Delta…Three　was　more　confused　than　frightened　as　he　looked　down　and　saw　Michael　Tolland　thrusting　an　aluminum　pole　out　toward　his　feet。　Although　Delta…Three　had　been　tricked；　he　almost　laughed　at　this　lame　attempt　to　trip　him　up。
　Then　he　felt　the　tip　of　the　stick　connect　with　his　heel。
　A　blast　of　white…hot　pain　shot　through　his　body　as　his　right　foot　exploded　out　from　under　him　from　a　blistering　impact。　His　balance　gone；　Delta…Three　flailed；　tumbling　down　the　stairs。　His　machine　gun　clattered　down　the　ramp　and　went　overboard　as　he　collapsed　on　the　catwalk。　In　anguish；　he　curled　up　to　grip　his　right　foot；　but　it　was　no　longer　there。
　　
　Tolland　was　standing　over　his　attacker　immediately　with　his　hands　still　clenching　the　smoking　bang…stick…a　five…foot　Powerhead　Shark…Control　Device。　The　aluminum　pole　had　been　tipped　with　a　pressure…sensitive；　twelve…gauge　shotgun　shell　and　was　intended　for　self…defense　in　the　event　of　shark　attack。　Tolland　had　reloaded　the　bang…stick　with　another　shell；　and　now　held　the　jagged；　smoldering　point　to　his　attacker's　Adam's　apple。　The　man　lay　on　his　back　as　if　paralyzed；　staring　up　at　Tolland　with　an　expression　of　astonished　rage　and　agony。
　Rachel　came　running　up　the　catwalk。　The　plan　was　for　her　to　take　the　man's　machine　gun；　but　unfortunately　the　weapon　had　gone　over　the　edge　of　the　catwalk　into　the　ocean。
　The　munications　device　on　the　man's　belt　crackled。　The　voice　ing　out　was　robotic。　〃Delta…Three？　e　in。　I　heard　a　shot。〃
　The　man　made　no　move　to　answer。
　The　device　crackled　again。　〃Delta…Three？　Confirm。　Do　you　need　backup？〃
　Almost　immediately；　a　new　voice　crackled　over　the　line。　It　was　also　robotic　but　distinguishable　by　the　sound　of　a　helicopter　noise　in　the　background。　〃This　is　Delta…One；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃I'm　in　pursuit　of　the　departing　vessel。　Delta…Three；　confirm。　Are　you　down？　Do　you　need　backup？〃
　Tolland　pressed　the　bang…stick　into　the　man's　throat。　〃Tell　the　helicopter　to　back　off　that　speedboat。　If　they　kill　my　friend；　you　die。〃
　The　soldier　winced　in　pain　as　he　lifted　his　munication　device　to　his　lips。　He　looked　directly　at　Tolland　as　he　pressed　the　button　and　spoke。　〃Delta…Three；　here。　I'm　fine。　Destroy　the　departing　vessel。〃
　
　　
　115
　Gabrielle　Ashe　returned　to　Sexton's　private　bathroom；　preparing　to　climb　back　out　of　his　office。　Sexton'sphone　call　had　left　her　feeling　anxious。　He　had　definitely　hesitated　when　she　told　him　she　was　in　her　office…as　if　he　knew　somehow　she　was　lying。　Either　way；　she'd　failed　to　get　into　Sexton's　puter　and　now　was　unsure　of　her　next　move。
　Sexton　is　waiting。
　As　she　climbed　up　onto　the　sink；　getting　ready　to　pull　herself　up；　she　heard　something　clatter　to　the　tile　floor。　She　looked　down；　irritated　to　see　that　she'd　knocked　off　a　pair　of　Sexton's　cuff　links　that　had　apparently　been　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　sink。
　Leave　things　exactly　as　you　found　them。
　Climbing　back　down　Gabrielle　picked　up　the　cuff　links　and　put　them　back　on　the　sink。　As　she　began　to　climb　back　up；　she　paused；　glancing　again　at　the　cuff　links。　On　any　other　night；　Gabrielle　would　have　ignored　them；　but　tonight　their　monogram　caught　her　attention。　Like　most　of　Sexton's　monogrammed　items；　they　had　two　intertwining　letters。　SS。　Gabrielle　flashed　on　Sexton's　initial　puter　password…SSS。　She　pictured　his　calendar。。。　POTUS。。。　and　the　White　House　screensaver　with　its　optimistic　ticker　tape　crawling　around　the　screen　ad　infinitum。
　President　of　the　United　States　Sedgewick　Sexton。。。　President　of　the　United　States　Sedgewick　Sexton。。。　President　of　the。。。　
　Gabrielle　stood　a　moment　and　wondered。　Could　he　be　that　confident？
　Knowing　it　would　take　only　an　instant　to　find　out；　she　hurried　back　into　Sexton's　office；　went　to　his　puter；　and　typed　in　a　seven…letter　password。
　POTUSSS
　The　screensaver　evaporated　instantly。
　She　stared；　incredulous。
　Never　underestimate　the　ego　of　a　politician。
　
　　
　116
　Corky　Marlinson　was　no　longer　at　the　helm　of　the　Crestliner　Phantom　as　it　raced　into　the　night。　He　knew　the　boat　would　travel　in　a　straight　line　with　or　without　him　at　the　wheel。　The　path　of　least　resistance。。。　
　Corky　was　in　the　back　of　the　bouncing　boat；　trying　to　assess　the　damage　to　his　leg。　A　bullet　had　entered　the　front　part　of　his　calf；　just　missing　his　shinbone。　There　was　no　exit　wound　on　the　back　of　his　calf；　so　he　knew　the　bullet　must　still　be　lodged　in　his　leg。　Foraging　around　for　something　to　stem　the　bleeding；　he　found　nothing…some　fins；　a　snorkel；　and　a　couple　of　life　jackets。　No　first…aid　kit。　Frantically；　Corky　opened　a　small　utility　chest　and　found　some　tools；　rags；　duct　tape；　oil；　and　other　maintenance　items。　He　looked　at　his　bloody　leg　and　wondered　how　far　he　had　to　go　to　be　out　of　shark　territory。
　A　hell　of　a　lot　farther　than　this。
　　
　Delta…One　kept　the　Kiowa　chopper　low　over　the　ocean　as　he　scanned　the　darkness　for　the　departing　Crestliner。　Assuming　the　fleeing　boat　would　head　for　shore　and　attempt　to　put　as　much　distance　as　possible　between　itself　and　the　Goya；　Delta…One　had　followed　the　Crestliner's　original　trajectory　away　from　the　Goya。
　I　should　have　overtaken　him　by　now。
　Normally；　tracking　the　fleeing　boat　would　be　a　simple　matter　of　using　radar；　but　with　the　Kiowa's　jamming　systems　transmitting　an　umbrella　of　thermal　noise　for　several　miles；　his　radar　was　worthless。　Turning　off　the　jamming　system　was　not　an　option　until　he　got　word　that　everyone　onboard　the　Goya　was　dead。　No　emergency　phone　calls　would　be　leaving　the　Goya　this　evening。
　This　meteorite　secret　dies。　Right　here。　Right　now。
　Fortunately；　Delta…One　had　other　means　of　tracking。　Even　against　this　bizarre　backdrop　of　heated　ocean；　pinpointing　a　powerboat's　thermal　imprint　was　simple。　He　turned　on　his　thermal　scanner。　The　ocean　around　him　registered　a　warm　ninety…five　degrees。　Fortunately；　the　emissions　of　a　racing　250　hp　outboard　engine　were　hundreds　of　degrees　hotter。
　　
　Corky　Marlinson's　leg　and　foot　felt　numb。
　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　he　had　wiped　down　his　injured　calf　with　the　rag　and　wrapped　the　wound　in　layer　after　layer　of　duct　tape。　By　the　time　the　tape　was　gone；　his　entire　calf；　from　ankle　to　knee；　was　enveloped　in　a　tight　silver　sheath。　The　bleeding　had　stopped；　although　his　clothing　and　hands　were　still　covered　with　blood。
　Sitting　on　the　floor　of　the　runaway　Crestliner；　Corky　felt　confused　about　why　the　chopper　hadn't　found　him　yet。　He　looked　out　now；　scanning　the　horizon　behind　him；　expecting　to　see　the　distant　Goya　and　ining　helicopter。　Oddly；　he　saw　neither。　The　lights　of　the　Goya　had　disappeared。　Certainly　he　hadn't　e　that　far；　had　he？
　Corky　suddenly　felt　hopeful　he　might　escape。　Maybe　they　had　lost　him　in　the　dark。　Maybe　he　could　get　to　shore！
　It　was　then　he　noticed　that　the　wake　behind　his　boat　was　not　straight。　It　seemed　to　curve　gradually　away　from　the　back　of　his　boat；　as　if　he　were　traveling　in　an　arc　rather　than　a　straight　line。　Confused　by　thi