cc.floodtide-第10部分

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ld　not　be　exposed　to　any　camera　still　undiscovered　in　the　living　room。
　
　As　he　watched　the　underwater　video　recorded　by　the　AUV；　he　hardly　expected　to　see　anything　that　did　not　belong　on　the　lake's　bottom。　His　primary　interest　was　the　area　in　and　around　the　dock　and　the　yacht　moored　beside　it。　He　sat　patiently　as　the　submersible　swept　back　and　forth　over　the　shallower　slopes　before　passing　over　the　deep　hole　in　the　middle　of　the　lake　during　its　roundabout　voyage　toward　Shang's　dock。　The　first　few　minutes　revealed　only　an　occasional　fish　that　darted　away　from　the　mechanical　intruder；　weeds　growing　out　of　the　silt；　gnarled　logs　that　had　been　washed　down　the　feeding　streams。　He　smiled　to　himself　when　he　observed　several　children's　toys　and　bicycles　just　off　a　beach；　as　well　as　a　pre…World　War　II　automobile　in　deeper　water。　Then；　suddenly；　odd　patches　of　white　appeared　through　the　blue…green　void。
　
　Pitt　stiffened　and　stared　in　horrified　fascination　as　the　patches　of　white　materialized　into　human　faces　on　heads　attached　to　bodies　heaped　together　or　lying　alone　in　the　silt。　The　lake　bed　was　littered　with　what　must　have　been　hundreds　of　them；　some　piled　three　and　four　deep；　perhaps　more；　many　more。　They　rested　on　the　slope　of　the　lake　in　forty　feet　of　water　and　spread　out　of　sight　into　the　deepest　part　of　the　lake。　To　Pitt　it　was　like　staring　from　a　stage　at　a　vast　audience　through　an　opaque　curtain。　Those　in　the　front　seats　were　clear　and　distinct；　but　me　mass　of　people　seated　further　to　the　rear　faded　and　were　lost　in　the　dark。　He　couldn't　begin　to　estimate　the　numbers。　The　appalling　thought　that　came　to　him　was　that　the　bodies　scattered　in　the　shallower　waters　were　but　a　small　portion　of　those　that　lay　out　of　the　AUV's　camera　range　in　the　unseen　deep　of　the　lake。
　
　The　chilling　fingers　of　revulsion　touched　the　back　of　Pitt's　neck　as　he　saw　a　number　of　women　and　several　children　scattered　among　the　sunken　field　of　dead。　Many　of　them　were　elderly。　The　icy；　fresh　water　running　down　from　the　glaciers　had　maintained　the　bodies　in　a　state　of　near…perfect　preservation。　They　appeared　to　be　lying　peacefully；　as　if　asleep；　slightly　indented　in　soft　silt。　On　some　the　facial　expressions　were　tranquil；　on　others　the　eyes　bulged　and　mouths　were　thrust　open　in　what　was　their　final　scream。　They　lay　undisturbed；　unaffected　by　the　frigid　water　temperature　and　the　daily　sequences　of　light　and　dark。　There　was　no　sign　of　decay。
　
　As　the　submersible　passed　directly　within　one　meter　of　what　looked　like　an　entire　family；　he　could　see　by　the　folds　of　the　eyes　and　features　of　the　faces　that　they　were　Oriental。　He　could　also　see　that　their　hands　were　tied　behind　them；　their　mouths　taped　and　their　feet　roped　to　iron　weights。
　
　They　had　died　at　the　hands　of　mass　murderers。　There　was　no　sign　of　gunshot　or　knife　wounds。　Despite　the　myth；　death　by　drowning　is　not　a　pleasant　way　to　die。　Only　fire　can　be　more　horrible。　When　sinking　rapidly　into　the　deep；　the　eardrums　burst；　water　rushes　into　the　nostrils；　causing　incredible　sinus　pain；　and　the　lungs　feel　as　if　they　are　seared　by　hot　coals。　Nor　was　death　swift。　The　terror　as　they　were　bound；　transported　to　the　middle　of　the　lake　in　the　dead　of　night　and　then　thrown；　he　guessed；　from　under　the　center　cabin　of　the　mysterious　twin…hulled　black　boat；　their　screams　muffled　by　the　black　water。　They　were　innocently　trapped　in　some　unknown　conspiracy；　and　died　terribly　and　in　agony。
　
　Orion　Lake　was　more　than　a　picture　of　idyllic；　charming　scenery；　much　more。　It　was　a　graveyard。
　
　ALMOST　THREE　THOUSAND　MILES　TO　THE　EAST；　A　SPRING　drizzle　fell　over　the　heart　of　the　city　as　a　black　limousine　rolled　silently　over　the　wet；　empty　streets。　The　darkened　windows　rolled　up；　its　occupants　unseen；　the　car　seemed　as　if　it　was　part　of　a　nocturnal　funeral　procession　carrying　mourners　to　a　cemetery。
　
　The　dominant　capital　in　the　world；　Washington　had　a　benign　aura　of　antiquated　grandeur。　This　was　especially　true　late　at　night　when　the　offices　were　dark；　the　phones　stopped　ringing；　the　copy　machines　went　mute　and　the　distortions　and　exaggerations　stopped　coursing　through　the　halls　of　the　bureaucracy。　Its　political　transient　residents　had　all　gone　home　to　sleep　with　visions　of　campaign　fund…raisers　dancing　in　their　heads。　But　for　the　lights　and　minimal　traffic；　the　city　took　on　a　look　of　an　abandoned　Babylon　or　Persepolis。
　
　Neither　of　the　two　men　in　the　passenger　partment　spoke　as　the　driver；　seated　at　the　wheel　in　front　of　the　closed　divider　window；　efficiently　steered　the　limousine　over　the　rain…slicked　asphalt　that　mirrored　the　streetlights　along　the　sidewalks。　Admiral　James　Sandecker　stared　out　the　window；　his　eyes　staying　unfocused　as　the　driver　turned　onto　Pennsylvania　Avenue。　His　mind　was　lost　in　thought。　Dressed　in　expensive　sport　coat　and　slacks；　he　didn't　look　the　least　bit　tired。　When　the　call　came　from　Morton　Laird；　the　President's　chief　of　staff；　he　was　hosting　a　late…night　supper　for　a　group　of　visiting　oceanographers　from　Japan　in　his　office　suite　atop　the　NUMA　building　across　the　river　in　Arlington；　Virginia。
　
　Slight　of　build　from　jogging　five　miles　a　day　and　exercising　in　the　NUMA　employees'　health　center；　Sandecker　looked　much　younger　than　a　man　homing　in　on　sixty…five　years　of　age。　The　respected　director　of　NUMA　since　its　founding；　he　had　built　a　federal　bureau　of　ocean　sciences　that　was　the　envy　of　every　maritime　nation　in　the　world。　Spirited　and　gutsy；　he　wasn't　a　man　to　take　no　for　an　answer。　Thirty　years　in　the　Navy；　highly　decorated；　he　was　picked　by　a　former　president　to　head　up　NUMA　when　there　wasn't　a　dime　in　funding　nor　congressional　approval。　In　fifteen　years；　Sandecker　had　stepped　on　many　toes；　made　any　number　of　enemies；　but　persevered　until　no　member　of　Congress　dared　suggest　he　resign　in　favor　of　a　political　lackey。　Egocentric　yet　simple；　he　vainly　dyed　the　gray　that　was　seeping　into　his　flaming　red　hair　and　Vandyke　beard。
　
　The　man　beside　him；　mander　Rudi　Gunn；　wore　a　rumpled　business　suit。　He　hunched　his　shoulders　and　rubbed　his　hands　briskly。　The　April　nights　in　Washington　could　be　far　too　chilly　for　fort。　A　graduate　of　the　Naval　Academy；　Gunn　had　served　in　submarines　until　he　became　the　admiral's　chief　aide。　When　Sandecker　resigned　to　form　NUMA；　Gunn　had　followed　him　and　was　appointed　director　in　charge　of　operations。　He　looked　across　at　Sandecker　through　horn…rimmed　glasses；　studied　the　luminescent　dial　of　his　watch　and　then　broke　the　silence。
　
　He　spoke　in　a　voice　mixed　with　fatigue　and　irritation。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea；　Admiral；　why　the　President　demanded　to　see　us　at　one　o'clock　in　the　morning？〃
　
　Sandecker　turned　his　gaze　from　the　passing　lights　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　haven't　a　clue。　Judging　from　Morton　Laird's　tone；　it　was　an　invitation　we　couldn't　refuse。〃
　〃I'm　not　aware　of　any　crisis　going　on；〃　muttered　Gunn　wearily；　〃domestic　or　foreign；　that　calls　for　middle…of…the…night　secrecy。〃
　〃Nor　I。〃
　〃Does　the　man　ever　sleep？〃
　〃Three　hours　between　four　and　seven　A。M。；　according　to　my　sources　inside　the　White　House。　Unlike　the　previous　three　presidents；　who　served　in　Congress　and　were　good　friends；　this　one；　a　two…term　governor　of　Oklahoma；　is　almost　a　total　stranger　to　me。　In　the　short　time　he's　been　in　office　since　the　former　chief　executive　had　a　debilitating　stroke；　this　is　the　first　chance　we've　had　to　talk。〃
　Gunn　glanced　over　in　the　darkness。　〃You　never　met　Dean　Cooper　Wallace　when　he　was　vice　president？〃
　Sandecker　shook　his　head。　〃From　what　I'm　told；　he　has　no　use　for　NUMA。〃
　The　limousine　driver　turned　off　Pennsylvania　Avenue　and　circled　into　the　barricaded　drive　to　the　White　House；　stopping　at　the　northwest　gate。　〃Here　we　are；　Admiral；〃　he　announced　as　he　came　around　and　opened　the　rear　door。
　
　A　uniformed　member　of　the　Secret　Service　checked　San…decker's　and　Gunn's　IDs　and　crossed　off　their　names　on　a　visitors'　list。　Then　they　were　escorted　through　the　building's　entrance　and　led　to　the　West　Wing　reception　room。　The　receptionist；　an　attractive　lady　in　her　late　thirties　with　auburn　hair　tied　in　an　old…fashioned　bow；　rose　and　smiled　warmly。　The　sign　on　her　desk　read　
　ROBIN　CARR。
　
　〃Admiral　Sandecker；　mander　Gunn；　a　great　pleasure　to　meet　you。〃
　〃You　work　long　hours；〃　said　Sandecker。
　〃Fortunately；　my　time　clock　ticks　in　unison　with　the　President's。〃
　〃Any　chance　for　a　cup　of　coffee？〃　asked　Gunn。
　The　smile　faded。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　I'm　afraid　there　isn't　time。〃　She　quickly　sat　down；　picked　up　a　phone　and　simply　said；　〃The　Admiral　is　here。〃
　
　Within　ten　seconds；　the　new　President's　chief　of　staff；　Morton　Laird；　who　had　replaced　the　hospitalized　former　president's　right…hand　man；　Wilbur　Hutton；　appeared　and　shook　hands。　〃Thank　you　for　ing；　gentlemen。　The　President　will　be　pleased　to　see　you。〃
　
　Laird　came　from　the　old　school。　He　was　the　only　chief　of　staff　in　recent　history　who　wore　three…piece　suits　with　vests　that　sported　a　large　gold　chain　attached　to　a　pocket　watch。　And　unlike　most　of　his　predecessors；　who　came　out　of　Ivy　League　schools；　Laird　was　a　former　professor　of　munications　from　Stanford　University*　A　tall；　balding　man　with　rimless　spectaclesr　he　peered　through　glistening　fox…brown　eyes　beneath　heavily　thicketed　eyebrows。　He　oozed　charm　and　was　one　of　the　few　men　in　the　executive　office　whom　everyone　genuinely　liked。　He　turned　and　motioned　for　Sandecker　and　Gunn　to　follow　him　into　the　Oval　Office。
　
　The　famous　room；　whose　walls　had　witnessed　a　thousand　crises；　the　lonely　burdens　of　power　and　agonized　decisions　that　affected　the　lives　of　billions　of　people；　was　empty。
　Before　either　Sandecker　or　Gunn　could　ment；　Laird　turned　and　said；　〃Gentlemen；　what　you　will　observe　in　the　next　twenty　minutes　is　vital　to　our　nation's　security。　You　must　swear　never　to　breathe　a　word　to　anyone。　Do　I　have　your　oath　of　honor？〃
　〃I　venture　to　say　that　in　all　my　years　of　service　to　my　government；　I've　learned　and　kept　more　secrets　than　you　have；　Mr。　Laird；〃　said　Sandecker　with　total　conviction。　〃I　will　vouch　for　mander　Gunn's　integrity。〃
　〃Forgive　me；　Admiral；〃　said　Laird。　〃It　es　with　the　territory。〃　Laird　walked　over　to　one　wall　and　tapped　a　concealed　switch　on　the　baseboard。　A　section　of　the　wall　sl