cc.floodtide-第103部分

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rior　of　the　submersible。　He　frantically　switched　on　the　pumps　to　drain　the　ballast　tanks　and　hit　the　lever　to　drop　the　heavy　weights　beneath　the　keel。　The　Sea　Lotus　sluggishly　ascended　for　several　feet　and　then　hung　there　as　the　flooding　water　neutralized　its　buoyancy。　Then　it　slowly　began　to　fall；　settling　into　the　bottom　and　throwing　up　a　thin　cloud　of　silt。
　
　Now　in　mindless　panic；　Qin　Shang　desperately　tried　to　open　the　outer　hatch　in　an　insane　attempt　to　reach　the　surface　430　feet　above；　an　impossible　gesture　because　of　the　immense　water　pressure　outside。
　
　Pitt　moved　the　Newtsuit　through　the　cloud　of　silt　and　gazed　through　the　submersible's　viewing　window；　remembering　the　sight　of　the　bodies　strewn　in　the　depths　of　Orion　Lake　as　the　Chinese　arch…criminal　pulled　himself　up　into　a　rapidly　pressing　air　pocket　for　one　last　breath　before　the　icy　water　of　the　lake　filled　his　nose　and　open；　screaming　mouth。　The　screams　were　soon　choked　off　until　the　only　sound　ing　from　the　Sea　Lotus　was　the　gurgling　of　escaping　bubbles。　Then；　as　if　set　on　a　timer；　the　halogen　lights　blinked　out；　throwing　the　submersible　into　total　darkness。
　
　Pitt　was　sweating　heavily　inside　the　Newtsuit。　He　stood　on　the　bottom；　staring　with　grim　satisfaction　at　the　underwater　tomb　of　Qin　Shang。　The　billionaire　shipping　magnate；　who　had　dominated　and　exploited　and　slain　thousands　of　innocent　people；　would　spend　eternity　in　the　deep　next　to　the　empty　treasure　ship　that　had　obsessed　most　of　his　waking　life。　It　was　a　fitting　end；　Pitt　thought　without　the　slightest　sense　of　pity。
　
　He　glanced　up　as　Giordino　reappeared　in　the　Sappho　IV。　〃You　took　your　sweet　time。　I　might　have　been　killed。〃
　
　Giordino　hovered　the　sub　until　their　faces　behind　the　protective　transparent　shields　were　no　more　than　two　feet　apart。　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　much　I　enjoyed　the　show；〃　he　laughed。　〃If　you　could　have　only　seen　yourself　in　that　Pillsbury　Doughboy　suit　playing　Errol　Flynn　with　a　pipe　as　a　sword。〃
　
　〃Next　time；　you　do　the　hard　part。〃
　〃Qin　Shang？〃　asked　Giordino。
　Pitt　pointed　a　pincer　at　the　inert　submersible。　〃Where　he　belongs。〃
　〃How　are　you　fixed　for　air？〃
　〃Down　to　twenty　minutes。〃
　〃No　time　to　waste。　Stand　still　until　I　can　connect　up　my　cable　to　the　lift　ring　on　top　of　your　helmet。　Then　I'll　tow　you　to　the　surface。〃
　〃Not　just　yet；〃　said　Pitt。　〃I've　got　a　little　task　to　perform。〃
　
　He　activated　the　little　thrusters　on　the　Newtsuit　and　moved　up　the　sides　of　the　superstructure　until　he　came　to　the　wheel…house。　The　bulkheads　had　been　torched　away　for　entry　and　for　the　removal　of　the　treasures　packed　in　the　passageways　and　former　passenger　staterooms。　He　quickly　studied　a　diagram　of　the　ship's　interior　that　he　had　taped　to　the　globular　view　plate　and　began　propelling　the　pressurized　suit　past　the　captain's　cabin　next　to　the　wheelhouse　to　the　next　cabin　beyond。　Amazingly；　the　furnishings　were　still　relatively　intact　and　jumbled　about　the　small　partment。　After　only　a　few　minutes'　search；　Pitt　found　what　he　was　looking　for　and　removed　a　small　pouch　from　the　utility　belt　on　the　Newtsuit　and　filled　it　with　objects　from　one　corner　of　the　cabin。
　
　〃You'd　better　get　a　move　on；〃　came　Giordmo's　worried　voice。
　〃On　my　way；〃　Pitt　plied。
　
　With　three　minutes　to　spare；　the　Sappho　TV　and　the　Newtsuit　surfaced　one　behind　the　other　and　were　lifted　on　board　the　Ocean　Retriever。　As　the　technicians　worked　to　remove　Pitt　from　the　big　dive　suit；　he　looked　across　the　water　at　Qin　Shang's　Jade　Adventurer。　A　boarding　party　from　the　Coast　Guard　cutter　was　routinely　examining　the　ship's　papers　before　ordering　it　out　of　American　waters。
　
　When　he　was　finally　free　of　the　ponderous　suit；　Pitt　leaned　wearily　over　the　railing　and　gazed　down　into　the　water　as　Julia　came　up　behind　him　and　ran　her　arms　around　his　waist；　clasping　her　hands　across　his　stomach。　〃I　was　worried　about　you；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃I　put　my　trust　in　Al　and　Rudi；　knowing　they　would　never　fail。〃
　〃Is　Qin　Shang　dead？〃　she　asked；　certain　of　the　answer。
　He　held　her　head　between　his　hands　and　looked　down　into　her　gray　eyes。　〃He's　only　a　bad　memory　it　pays　to　forget。〃
　She　pulled　back；　her　face　suddenly　disturbed。　〃When　word　leaks　out　that　you　killed　him；　you're　going　to　be　in　big　trouble　with　the　government。〃
　Despite　the　exhaustion；　Pitt　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　〃Dearheart；　I'm　always　in　big　trouble　with　the　government。〃
　
　EPILOGUE
　
　FRITZ
　July　31；　2000　Washington；　D。C。
　
　PRESIDENT　DEAN　COOPER　WALLACE　WORKED　LATE　HOURS　IN　his　office　in　his　secret　living　quarters　at　Fort　McNair　and　thought　nothing　of　inconveniencing　his　staff　and　visitors　for　meetings　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　He　did　not　rise　from　behind　his　desk　as　missioner　Duncan　Monroe；　Admiral　Sandecker　and　Peter　Harper　were　escorted　into　the　office　by　his　newly　appointed　chief　of　staff；　Harold　Pecorelli。　Nor　did　he　invite　his　visitors　to　sit　down。
　
　Wallace　was　not　a　happy　man。
　
　The　news　media　was　crucifying　him　for　his　relations　with　Qin　Shang；　now　accused　of　conspiracy　for　the　destruction　and　deaths　along　the　Mississippi　River。　To　make　matters　worse；　the　Chinese　leaders　had　thrown　Qin　Shang　on　their　sacrificial　altar　and　denied　any　association　with　him。　The　head　of　Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited　had　disappeared；　and　even　the　Chinese　government　was　at　a　loss　as　to　his　whereabouts。　The　Jade　Adventurer　was　still　at　sea　on　its　way　back　to　China。　Throughout　the　voyage　from　Lake　Michigan；　Captain　Chen　Jiang　had　maintained　radio　silence；　not　wanting　to　be　the　one　to　announce　Qin　Shang's　death　at　the　hands　of　the　Americans。
　
　At　the　same　time；　Wallace　took　great　delight　in　pretending
　
　that　he　played　a　key　role　in　the　discovery　and　salvage　of　the　Chinese　art　treasures。　Negotiations　were　already　under　way　for　their　return　to　mainland　China。　Photojournalists　and　television　news　cameras　had　a　field　day　recording　the　incredible　display　of　artifacts　as　they　were　removed　from　the　original　teak　packing　crates　and　prepared　for　preservation。　The　bones　of　Peking　man　by　themselves　caused　an　international　sensation。
　
　Advised　that　it　was　not　in　his　best　interests　to　interfere；　Wallace　remained　quiet　as　the　INS　and　FBI；　working　hand　in　hand；　rounded　up　nearly　three　hundred　Chinese　gang　leaders　and　members　around　the　country　and　arraigned　them　for　trial。　Thousands　of　illegal　immigrants　working　in　virtual　slavery　were　taken　into　custody　for　later　deportation　back　to　China。　The　flow　of　illegal　aliens　ing　in　from　Asia　may　not　have　been　plugged　pletely；　but　the　smuggling　operations　were　cut　back　drastically。
　
　The　President's　closest　advisers；　having　observed　the　recklessness　of　the　previous　chief　executive　in　conducting　cov…erups；　strongly　advised　Wallace　simply　to　admit　that　mistakes　were　made　and　make　no　excuses。　Any　errors　of　judgment　were　made　for　what　he　thought　was　the　good　of　the　country。　Damage　control　was　already　in　high　gear　to　sidestep　any　criticism　encountered　along　his　way　for　election　to　a　second　term。
　
　〃You　stepped　far　beyond　the　bounds　of　your　office；〃　Wallace　said；　directing　his　wrath　toward　Monroe。　〃And　you　did　it　without　briefing　anyone　in　my　office　regarding　your　intent。〃
　〃Sir；　I　did　nothing　but　the　job　I　was　appointed　to　do；〃　Duncan　replied　resolutely。
　〃China　is　a　magnificent　stage　for　the　future　of　the　American　economy；　and　you　jeopardized　the　close　relationship　I　have　worked　to　build　between　our　two　countries。　The　future　of　the　United　States　lies　in　a　universal　world…trading　system；　and　China　is　a　vital　step　toward　that　goal。〃
　〃But　not；　Mr。　President；〃　said　Sandecker　with　his　usual　testiness；　〃if　it　means　flooding　the　country　with　illegal　immigrants。〃
　〃You　people　are　not　foreign…policy　experts；　nor　are　you　economists；〃　Wallace　said　coldly。　〃Your　business；　Duncan；　is　to　properly　conduct　immigration　procedures。　And　yours；　Admiral；　is　to　conduct　ocean…science　projects。　Neither　of　you　were　appointed　to　run　amok。〃
　Sandecker　shrugged　and　then　dropped　his　bomb。　〃I　admit　NUMA　scientists　and　engineers　are　not　in　the　business　of　executing　criminals；　but…〃
　〃What　was　that　you　said？〃　Wallace　demanded。　〃What　are　you　insinuating？〃
　With　feigned　innocence　Sandecker　replied。　〃No　one　briefed　you？〃
　〃Briefed　me　on　what？〃
　〃The　unfortunate　accident　that　took　the　life　of　Qin　Shang。〃
　〃He's　dead？〃　Wallace　gasped。
　Sandecker　nodded　solemnly。　〃Yes；　he　suffered　a　temporary　fit　of　insanity　and　attacked　my　special　projects　director　on　the　wreck　of　the　Princess　Dou　Wan；　who　in　self…defense　was　forced　to　kill　Qin　Shang。〃
　Wallace　was　stunned。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　of　what　you've　done？〃
　〃If　ever　a　monster　deserved　to　be　terminated；〃　Sandecker　came　back　caustically；　〃it　was　Qin　Shang。　And　I　might　add　that　I'm　proud　it　was　my　people　who　were　responsible。〃
　Before　the　President　could　censure　the　admiral；　Peter　Harper　jumped　into　the　debate。　〃I　received　a　report　from　the　CIA　revealing　that　certain　members　of　the　Chinese　government　were　themselves　plotting　to　assassinate　Qin　Shang。　Their　plan　was　to　appropriate　Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited　and　merge　it　with　their　government…owned　shipping　line；　China　Marine。　There　is　no　reason　to　believe　they　will　curtail　illegal　smuggling　operations；　but　without　Qin　Shang　they　won't　be　able　to　operate　as　efficiently　or　on　the　same　scale。　This　is　all　to　our　advantage。〃
　〃You　must　realize；　gentlemen；〃　said　Pecorelli　diplomatically；　〃the　President　has　policies　to　protect　and　interests　to　defend　no　matter　how　unpopular　they　might　seem。〃
　
　Sandecker　gave　Pecorelli　a　stern　look。　〃It's　no　longer　a　secret；　Harold；　that　Qin　Shang　acted　as　a　middleman　between　the　White　House　and　illegal　Chinese　interests。〃
　
　〃Purely　a　misinformed　judgment　call；〃　Pecorelli　said；　shrugging　indifferently。
　Sandecker　turned　to　President　Wallace。　〃Rather　than　bring　Duncan　and　me　in　here　to　chew　our　asses；　we　should　be　awarded　medals　for　getting　rid　of　a　scourge　to　national　security　and　laying　one　of　the　greatest　treasures　of　all　time　in　your　lap。〃　〃You　will　certainly　score　a　vast　number　of　points　with　the　Chinese　when　you　return　it　to　them；〃　added　Monroe。
　〃Yes；　yes；　an　amazing　feat；〃　Wallace　acknowledged　unre…sponsively。　He　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　his　sui