cc.floodtide-第19部分

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her　on　the　forward　deck。　After　requesting　Lo　Han　to　turn　on　the　lights；　he　spotted　several　people　stumbling　out　of　the　water　onto　the　lake　bank。　Then　to　add　disaster　to　catastrophe；　he　recognized　them　as　the　immigrants　who　were　supposed　to　be　drowned。　He　went　rigid　in　astonishment。　How　could　they　have　escaped？　Impossible　unless　they　had　help。　It　had　to　be　a　special　force　of　trained　agents；　he　thought　wildly。
　
　Qin　Shang　would　surely　order　him　sent　to　the　bottom　of　the　lake　if　he　didn't　capture　the　escaped　immigrants　before　they　reached　American　authorities。　In　the　light　from　across　the　lake；　Chu　Deng　counted　nearly　a　dozen　men　and　women　and　two　children　staggering　and　crawling　from　the　water's　edge　toward　a　forest　of　trees。　Caught　up　in　fear　of　a　short　future　and　without　regard　to　the　circumstances；　Chu　Deng　turned　the　catamaran　directly　toward　a　low　bank　running　along　the　shoreline。
　
　〃There　they　are！〃　he　screamed　wildly　to　the　enforcer　on　the　forward　deck。　〃Shoot　them；　shoot　them　before　they　reach　the　trees！〃
　
　He　stared　mesmerized　as　his　man　on　the　forward　platform　of　the　catamaran　raised　his　weapon　and　stood　watching　as　if　a　film　was　running　in　slow　motion　when　a　dark　form　rose　out　of　the　water　in　front　of　the　boat　like　some　abominable　creature　out　of　a　nightmare。　The　enforcer　suddenly　stiffened；　dropping　the　machine　pistol　and　clutching　his　shoulder。　Seconds　later　an　ugly　barb　suddenly　protruded　from　the　enforcer's　left　eye。　Chu　Deng　froze　in　bewildered　shock　as　his　enforcer　tumbled　into　the　cold　waters　of　the　lake。
　
　There　are　many　advantages　to　a　craft　with　catamaran　twin　hulls。　Repelling　boarders　is　not　one　of　them。　A　boat　with　a　single　high　bow　is　next　to　impossible　to　climb　aboard；　much　less　to　find　a　means　of　hanging　on　to　the　hull。　But　the　straight…across　platform　deck　forward　of　the　main　cabin　and　wheel…house　sat　only　fourteen　inches　above　the　water；　making　it　relatively　simple　for　a　person　in　the　water　to　grab　hold　of　the　leading　edge。
　
　Propelled　by　the　Stingray；　Pitt　burst　free　of　the　water　just　as　the　black　boat　was　about　to　run　him　down。　With　timing　based　more　on　luck　than　expertise；　he　cast　off　the　propulsion　vehicle；　threw　up　one　arm　and　clamped　it　over　the　edge　of　the　forward　deck。　The　shock　of　the　rapidly　moving　boat　as　it　abruptly　jerked　his　body　through　the　water　felt　as　if　his　arm　was　torn　from　its　socket。　Fortunately；　it　remained　in　place；　and　Pitt　shot　the　man　who　was　aiming　a　machine　pistol　at　the　people　on　shore　before　he　could　pull　the　trigger。　In　three　seconds；　Pitt　had　reloaded　and　fired　a　barb　that　punched　upward　through　the　man's　eye；　penetrating　his　brain。
　
　The　catamaran　was　now　on　a　collision　course　with　the　shore；　which　was　less　than　thirty　feet　away　when　Pitt　slipped　off　the　forward　part　of　the　boat　and　floated　on　his　back。　While　the　raised　cabin　advanced　over　him；　he　calmly　reloaded　the　air　gun。　After　the　propellers　thrashed　by　harmlessly　on　both　sides；　he　twisted　around　and　stroked　powerfully　in　the　wake　of　the　boat。　He　swam　only　a　short　distance　before　the　catamaran　smashed　into　the　lake　bank；　crunching　the　bows　and　ing　to　a　stop　as　abruptly　as　if　it　had　struck　a　steel　wall。　The　engines　raced　for　several　seconds　and　then　sputtered　and　died。　The　momentum　and　the　impact　had　thrown　the　enforcer　on　the　aft　platform　against　the　cabin　with　such　extraordinary　force　that　he　broke　his　neck。
　
　Unbuckling　the　straps　to　the　backpack　that　held　his　air　cylinders　and　dropping　his　weight　belt；　Pitt　heaved　himself　up　onto　the　aft　platform。　No　figure　showed　inside　the　wheelhouse。　He　climbed　the　ladder　and　kicked　in　the　door。
　
　A　man　lay　on　the　deck；　his　head　and　shoulders　propped　against　the　forward　counter；　hands　clutching　his　chest。　Broke　his　ribs　from　the　impact；　Pitt　quickly　suspected。　Injured　or　not；　the　man　was　a　killer。　Pitt　took　no　chances。　Not　with　men　like　this。　He　raised　his　air　gun　in　the　same　instant　as　Chu　Deng　thrust　out　a　small；　。32…caliber　automatic　pistol　he'd　been　shielding　with　the　hands　across　his　chest。　The　deadly　crack　of　the　automatic　overpowered　the　hiss　of　the　barb　from　the　air　gun；　both　missiles　passing　in　the　same　microsecond。　The　bullet　plowed　a　small　hole　through　the　outer　flesh　of　Pitt's　hip　at　the　same　time　the　barb　plunged　into　Chu　Deng's　forehead。
　
　Pitt　did　not　judge　his　wound　as　serious。　There　was　minor　bleeding　and　pain　to　be　sure；　but　it　did　not　slow　his　physical　movements。　He　ran　stiffly　from　the　wheelhouse；　down　the　ladder　and　jumped　off　the　forward　platform　onto　the　shore。　He　found　the　frightened　immigrants　huddled　behind　a　clump　of　bushes。
　
　〃Where　is　the　lady　who　speaks　English？〃　he　asked　between　pants　of　breath。
　〃I'm　here；〃　answered　Julia。　She　rose　to　her　feet　and　approached　until　she　stood　in　front　of　him；　more　imagined　than　seen。
　〃How　many　did　I　lose？〃　he　asked；　fearful　of　the　answer。
　〃By　rough　count；〃　she　answered；　〃three　are　missing。〃
　〃Damn！〃　Pitt　muttered　in　frustration。　〃I'd　hoped　I　got　them　all。〃
　〃You　did；〃　said　Julia。　〃They　became　lost　on　the　way　to　shore。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Pitt　said　honestly。
　〃You　needn't　be。　It　was　a　miracle　you　saved　any　of　us。〃
　〃Can　they　travel？〃
　〃I　believe　so。〃
　〃Follow　the　shore　to　your　left　as　you　face　the　lake；〃　he　instructed　her。　〃After　about　three　hundred　yards；　you'll　e　to　a　cabin。　Hide　everyone　in　the　woods　outside　but　do　not　enter。　I　repeat；　do　not　enter。　I'll　follow　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　〃Where　will　you　be？〃　she　asked。
　〃We're　not　dealing　with　people　who　like　to　be　fooled。　They'll　wonder　what　happened　to　their　boat　and　e　scouring　the　lakefront　within　the　next　ten　minutes。　I'm　going　to　create　a　little　diversion。　You　might　call　it　a　little　payback　for　the　person　responsible　for　your　misery。〃
　It　was　too　dark　for　him　to　see　the　sudden　look　of　caring　in　her　face。　〃Please　be　careful；　Mr。。。。　？〃　〃Pitt；　my　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃　〃I'm　Julia　Lee。〃
　
　He　started　to　say　something；　but　broke　off　and　hurried　back　to　the　catamaran；　returning　to　the　wheelhouse　just　as　the　phone　buzzed。　He　groped　for　it　in　the　dark；　found　and　picked　it　up。　Someone　was　conversing　in　Chinese　on　the　other　end。　When　the　voice　paused；　Pitt　muttered　unintelligible　vowels；　clicked　the　receiver　and　laid　the　phone　on　the　bridge　counter。　Using　the　dive　light　on　his　hood；　he　soon　found　the　boat's　ignition　switches　and　throttles。　He　engaged　the　starters　and　worked　the　throttles　back　and　forth　until　both　engines　coughed　into　life　again。
　
　The　catamaran's　bows　were　stuck　fast　in　the　mud　of　the　bank。　Pitt　shifted　to　full　throttle　in　reverse　and　spun　the　helm；　swinging　the　boat's　twin　sterns　back　and　forth　in　an　effort　to　loosen　the　suction　of　the　mud。　One　agonizing　inch　at　a　time；　the　black　boat　warped　backwards　until　the　suction　relaxed　its　grip　and　the　bows　broke　free。　The　boat　surged　into　deeper　water；　where　Pitt　swung　her　around　and　then　pushed　the　throttles　forward；　pointing　the　damaged　bows　toward　the　dock　and　Qin　Shang's　yacht；　its　elegant；　seemingly　deserted　salons　sparkling　with　light。
　
　He　jammed　his　dive　knife　between　the　spokes　of　the　wheel；　sticking　the　point　into　the　wooden　pass　box　beyond　to　hold　the　boat　on　course。　Then　he　set　the　throttles　on　slow　and　exited　the　wheelhouse；　scrambling　down　the　ladder　to　the　engine　partment　in　the　starboard　hull。　There　was　no　time　to　build　a　fancy　incendiary　bomb；　so　he　spun　off　the　big　refueling　cap　to　the　fuel　tank；　found　several　oily　rags　used　to　clean　the　engine　fittings　and　quickly　knotted　them　together。　Then　he　stuffed　a　length　of　rags　inside　the　tank；　soaked　them　with　diesel　fuel　and　trailed　the　rest　onto　the　engine…partment　deck。　Next；　he　arranged　the　rags　into　a　small；　circlelike　dam　and　poured　fuel　inside　it。　Not　overly　pleased　with　his　handiwork；　but　satisfied　that　under　the　circumstances　it　was　the　best　he　could　do；　Pitt　returned　to　the　wheelhouse　and　rummaged　the　storage　cabinets　until　he　found　what　he　knew　had　to　be　there　somewhere。　Loading　the　emergency　flare　gun；　he　laid　it　on　the　counter　beside　the　phone　in　front　of　the　helm。　Only　then　did　he　pull　his　knife　from　the　wheel　and　grip　the　spokes。
　
　The　yacht　and　the　dock　were　only　two　hundred　yards　distant　now。
　
　Water　gushing　through　cracks　in　the　bows；　crushed　from　their　collision　with　the　lake　bank；　rapidly　filled　the　forward　section　of　the　twin　hulls；　dragging　them　down。　Pitt　shoved　the　throttles　against　their　stops。　The　propellers　bit　and　churned　the　water　to　froth；　their　drive　power　raising　the　bows　out　of　the　water。　Fifteen；　eighteen；　then　twenty　knots；　the　ungainly　catamaran　skipped　over　the　water。　The　helm　vibrated　under　Pitt's　hands　as　the　yacht　loomed　ever　larger　through　the　windshield。　He　cut　a　broad　arc　until　the　twin　hulls　were　lined　up　square　in　the　middle　of　the　yacht's　port　beam。
　
　When　the　distance　closed　to　seventy；　going　on　sixty；　yards；　Pitt　dashed　through　the　wheelhouse　door；　dropped　to　the　aft…deck　platform；　aimed　the　flare　gun　down　through　the　open　hatch　of　the　engine　partment　at　the　fuel…soaked　rags　and　pulled　the　trigger。　Trusting　his　aim　was　accurate；　he　leaped　into　the　water；　striking　it　at　twenty　knots　with　such　force　that　his　buoyancy　pensator　was　torn　from　his　body。
　
　Four　seconds　later；　there　was　a　splintering　crash　as　the　catamaran　smashed　through　the　hull　of　the　yacht；　followed　by　an　explosion　that　filled　the　night　sky　with　flame　and　flying　debris。　The　black　catamaran　that　had　acted　as　an　execution　chamber　disintegrated。　All　that　remained　of　it　was　a　flaming　oil　slick。　Almost　immediately；　fire　was　shooting　through　every　port　and　varnished　door　of　the　yacht。　Pitt　was　stunned　at　how　quickly　she　became　a　flaming　torch。　He　backstroked　around　the　yacht's　stern　toward　the　floating　hut　at　the　end　of　the　dock；　watching　as　the　luxurious　skylounge　and　dining　salon　collapsed　into　the　fire。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　the　yacht　settled　into　the　cold　waters　of　the　lake　amid　a　huge　cloud　of　hissing　steam；　until　nothing　remained　of　her　except　the　upper　half　of　a　radar　antenna。
　
　The　reaction　time　for　the　security　guards；　as　Pitt　had　previously　estimated；　was　slow。　He　had　reached　the　floating　hut　before　they　came　racing　from　the　retreat　on　their　dirt　bikes　toward　the　dock；　which　had　also　ignited　and　was　now　going　up　in　flames。　For　the　second　time　in