cc.floodtide-第23部分

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he　snapped。
　〃I　could　have　sworn　I　scored；〃　she　snapped　back　furiously。
　〃Ever　hear　of　a　deflection　shot？〃　Pitt　lectured　her。　〃You've　got　to　lead　a　moving　target。　Haven't　you　ever　hunted　ducks？〃
　〃I　could　never　bring　myself　to　shoot　a　harmless　bird；〃　she　said　loftily　as　she　expertly　ejected　an　empty　clip　and　pumped　a　full　one　inside　the　handgrip　of　the　Colt。
　Feminine　logic　again；　thought　Pitt。　Can't　shoot　an　animal　or　bird；　but　not　hesitating　to　blow　a　man's　head　off。　〃If　he　es　at　the　same　speed　and　altitude；　aim　a　good　ten　feet　ahead　of　the　pilot。〃
　
　The　ultralight　circled　around　for　another　attack　while　its　sister　craft　hung　back　in　the　distance。　The　droning　whir　of　the　engine's　exhaust　echoed　off　the　rock　walls　of　the　canyon。　The　pilot　swooped　low　over　the　shoreline；　the　airflow　churned　out　by　the　propeller　blades　whipping　the　tops　of　the　trees　along　the　banks。　The　serene　and　picturesque　river　and　the　slopes　of　the　forested　canyon　seemed　the　wrong　location　for　a　life…and…death　struggle。　The　clear　green　water　flowed　past　banks　that　were　lined　with　trees　marching　up　the　rocky　sides　of　the　mountains　until　they　thinned　and　stopped　at　the　timberline。　The　yellow　aircraft　stood　out　like　a　colored　gemstone；　a　Mexican　fire　opal　against　a　sapphire　sky。　All　things　considered；　Pitt　thought　fleetingly；　there　are　worse　places　to　die。
　
　The　ultralight　leveled　out　and　came　directly　toward　the　Chris…Craft's　bow　on　this　run。　Now　Pitt　had　an　open　field　of　vision　and　could　see　the　angle　of　the　gunner's　trajectory　for　himself。　Unless　the　pilot　is　a　certified　cretin；　Pitt　thought；　he　won't　fall　for　the　same　sidestep　again。　Pitt　had　to　reach　down　in　his　bag　of　tricks　for　another　dodge。　Maintaining　his　course　until　the　last　possible　second；　he　felt　like　a　herring　taunting　a　shark。
　
　Julia　leveled　the　Colt　over　the　windshield。　She　almost　looked　ical；　her　head　slightly　tilted　to　one　side　as　she　aimed　with　the　only　eye　that　was　partially　open。　The　pilot　of　the　ultralight　was　sideslipping　up　the　river　to　give　his　gunner　additional　shooting　time　and　a　wider　range　of　fire。　He　knew　his　stuff　and　wasn't　about　to　be　fooled　twice。　On　this　strafing　run　he　hugged　the　riverbank；　cutting　off　any　attempt　by　Pitt　to　slip　under　the　plane's　narrow　belly。　The　pilot　was　also　playing　a　more　cautious　game。　Some　of　Julia's　bullets　had　struck　the　wing　and　made　him　realize　his　prey　had　a　sting。
　
　Pitt　knew　with　sickening　certainty　that　they　were　going　to　take　hits。　No　tricky　maneuvers；　no　fancy　footwork；　could　save　them　this　time　around。　Unless　Julia　scored　big…time；　they　were　all　dead；　literally。　He　watched　the　ultralight　loom　up　through　the　windshield。　It　was　like　standing　in　the　middle　of　a　bridge　over　a　thousand…foot　ravine　with　an　express　train　hurtling　toward　him。
　
　And　then　there　was　the　despairing　thought　that　even　if　they　were　successful　in　downing　the　first　ultralight；　they　weren't　even　halfway　home。　The　second　and　third　craft　were　lagging　back；　staying　out　of　range　and　clear　of　stray　bullets　while　awaiting　their　turn。　Take　one　out　of　the　game　and　two　substitutes　were　suited　up　and　ready　for　action。　The　moment　of　trepidation　ended　as　bullets　struck　and　gouged　the　water；　the　line　of　splashes　moving　inexorably　toward　the　boat。
　
　Pitt　jerked　the　steering　wheel；　sending　the　runabout　on　a　skidding　turn　to　his　right。　The　gunner　pensated；　but　too　late。　Pitt　swung　the　boat　in　a　flat　curve　to　the　left；　throwing　off　his　aim。　He　feinted　again；　but　the　gunner　merely　swiveled　his　weapon　and　laid　down　an　S　pattern。　Then；　as　if　he　had　touched　a　switch；　Julia　began　blasting　away。
　
　This　was　the　moment。　As　bullets　stitched　a　groove　of　holes　across　the　lustrous　mahogany　bow　of　the　Chris…Craft；　Pitt　took　the　gear　lever　in　both　hands　and　yanked　it　back　while　the　boat　was　at　full　speed。　There　was　a　horrifying　grinding　noise　as　the　gearbox　howled　in　protest。　The　engine　revolutions　raced　past　the　red　line　on　the　tachometer；　and　the　boat　came　to　an　abrupt　stop。　Then　it　leaped　backward　in　a　tight　arc。　Several　bullets　shattered　the　windshield　but　miraculously　missed　hitting　anyone。　And　then　the　hail　of　fire；　like　a　passing　rainstorm；　moved　behind　the　boat。　Julia　tracked　her　target　and　fired　until　the　last　shell　flipped　out　of　the　firing　chamber。
　
　Pitt　glanced　back　and　saw　a　beautiful　sight。　The　ultralight　was　out　of　control；　the　racing　engine　shrieking　like　a　banshee　as　fragments　of　the　propeller　spiraled　in　the　air；　spraying　in　every　direction。　He　could　see　the　pilot　fighting　the　controls　in　a　futile　gesture　as　the　craft　hung　poised　in　the　air　as　if　tied　to　a　string。　Then　the　nose　dipped；　and　it　plunged　lifeless　into　the　middle　of　the　river；　making　a　crater　in　the　water　and　causing　a　huge　splash　before　bobbing　back　to　the　surface　for　a　few　moments　and　then　sinking　rapidly　until　it　vanished。
　
　〃Nice　shooting；〃　Pitt　plimented　Julia。　〃Wyatt　Earp　would　be　proud　of　you。〃
　〃I　was　lucky；〃　Julia　said　modestly；　not　about　to　admit　that　she　had　been　aiming　at　the　pilot。
　〃You　put　the　fear　of　God　in　the　pilot　of　the　other　two。　They're　not　about　to　make　the　same　mistakes　as　his　buddy。　They'll　lay　back　out　of　range　of　your　Colt；　take　their　time　and　pepper　away　at　us　at　a　safer　altitude。〃
　〃How　much　farther　until　we're　out　of　the　canyon？〃　〃Four；　maybe　five　miles。〃
　
　They　exchanged　looks；　she　seeing　the　fierce　determination　in　his　eyes；　he　seeing　her　head　and　shoulders　sag　from　severe　fatigue；　mental　and　physical。　It　didn't　take　a　physician　to　see　Julia　was　half…dead　from　lack　of　sleep。　She　had　run　on　sheer　guts　as　far　as　she　could　go；　and　had　e　to　the　end　of　the　road。　She　turned　slightly　and　stared　at　the　bullet　holes　that　had　splintered　the　bow　of　the　Chris…Craft。
　〃We're　not　going　to　make　it；　are　we？〃　she　muttered　the　words　dully。
　〃Hell　yes；　we're　going　to　make　it！〃　he　answered　as　if　he　truly　believed　it。　〃I　didn't　interrupt　my　vacation　and　go　to　all　the　work　of　bringing　you　and　these　people　this　far　to　let　it　end　now。〃
　
　She　gazed　at　his　dark；　craggy　face　for　a　long　moment；　then　shook　her　head　in　defeat。　〃I　can't　get　off　a　straight　shot　if　the　ultralights　stay　more　than　a　hundred　yards　away；　not　at　that　distance　against　a　moving　target　from　a　boat　that's　bounding　all　over　the　place。〃
　
　〃Do　the　best　you　can。〃　Hardly　brilliant　words　of　encouragement；　Pitt　conceded；　but　his　mind　was　on　other　matters　as　he　swerved　around　a　series　of　large　boulders　protruding　from　the　river。　〃Another　ten　minutes　and　we'll　be　home　free。〃　〃What　if　they　both　e　at　the　same　time？〃　〃You　can　bet　on　it。　Take　your　time　and　divide　your　fire；　two　shots　at　one　then　two　shots　at　the　other。　Maintain　a　show　of　resistance；　just　enough　to　keep　them　from　getting　too　cocky　and　ing　in　too　close。　The　farther　they　stay　away；　the　more　difficult　for　the　gunners　to　fire　with　any　accuracy。　I'll　throw　the　boat　all　over　the　river　to　spoil　their　aim。〃
　
　Pitt　had　read　Kung　Chong's　mind　correctly。　The　Chinaman　ordered　his　pilots　to　attack　from　a　higher　altitude。　〃I　have　lost　one　aircraft　and　two　good　men；〃　he　dutifully　reported　to　LoHan。
　
　〃How？〃　asked　Lo　Han　simply。
　〃By　gunfire　from　the　boat。〃
　〃Not　inconceivable　that　professionals　would　carry　automatic　weapons。〃
　〃I　am　ashamed　to　say；　Lo　Han；　the　defensive　fire　es　from　a　woman　with　one　automatic　pistol。〃
　〃A　woman！〃　Lo　Han's　voice　came　through　Kung　Chong's　earpiece　as　angry　as　he　ever　heard　it。　〃We　have　lost　face；　you　and　I。　Conclude　this　unfortunate　occasion　and　do　it　now。〃
　〃Yes；　Lo　Han。　I　will　faithfully　carry　out　your　orders。〃
　〃I　anxiously　await　your　announcement　of　victory。〃
　〃Soon；　very　soon；〃　Kung　Chong　said　confidently。　〃Success　or　death。　I　promise　you　one　or　the　other。〃
　
　During　the　next　three　miles；　the　tactics　worked。　The　two　remaining　ultralights　pressed　home　their　attack；　weaving　violently　from　side　to　side　to　escape　the　few　pathetic　shells　sent　in　their　direction；　but　making　it　next　to　impossible　for　the　gunners　to　train　their　machine　pistols。　Two　hundred　yards　away　from　the　Chris…Craft　they　split　apart　and　closed　in　on　the　runabout　from　two　sides。　It　was　a　shrewd　maneuver　that　enabled　them　to　converge　their　fire。
　
　Julia　took　her　time　and　fired　a　round　whenever　she　saw　an　opportunity　for　a　remote　hit　while　Pitt　madly　twisted　the　wheel　and　sent　the　speeding　runabout　zigzagging　from　one　bank　to　the　other　in　an　effort　to　escape　the　sporadic　spray　of　bullets　that　splattered　the　water　around　them。　He　stiffened　when　he　heard　the　thud　of　strikes　behind　him　as　one　burst　of　gunfire　cut　across　the　mahogany　hatch　over　the　engine　partment　between　the　dual　cockpits。　But　the　big　Chrysler　marine　engine's　throaty　roar　never　slackened。　On　instinct　his　eyes　swept　the　instrument　panel；　and　he　noted　ominously　that　the　needle　on　the　oil…pressure　gauge　was　suddenly　falling　into　the　red　zone。
　
　Sam　Foley　will　be　madder　than　hell　when　he　gets　his　boat　back；　Pitt　thought。
　
　Two　miles　to　go。　The　stench　of　scorched　oil　began　to　waft　from　the　engine　partment。　The　engine　revolutions　were　slowly　dropping　off；　and　Pitt　mentally　pictured　metal　grinding　against　metal　from　lack　of　oil。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　minutes　before　the　bearings　burned　out　and　the　engine　froze。　All　the　ultralight　pilots　have　to　do　now；　Pitt　savvied；　is　circle　over　the　boat　and　blast　everyone　to　bloody　bits。　He　pounded　the　steering　wheel　in　maddened　frustration　as　they　came　at　him　together；　wingtip　to　wingtip。
　
　They　came　head…on　with　no　deviation；　and　much　lower　this　time；　knowing　time　was　running　out；　keenly　aware　that　once　the　boat　and　its　occupants　broke　into　the　open　bay；　there　would　be　spectators　to　report　the　murders。
　
　Then；　magically；　the　pilot　of　the　ultralight　that　rolled　off　to　the　left　of　the　Chris…Craft　suddenly　slumped　in　his　seat　and　his　arms　fell　to　his　sides。　One　of　Julia's　bullets　had　taken　the　pilot　in　the　chest　and　torn　through　his　heart。　The　aircraft　sheered　off　violently；　its　wingtip　brushed　the　water　and　then　it　cartwheeled　crazily　across　the　wake　of　the　boat　before　disappearing　into　the　uncaring　river。
　
　There　was　no　time　to　celebrate　Julia's　phenomenal　shot。　Their　situation　went　from　bad　to　worse　as　she　fired　her　last　shell。　The　pilot　on　the　last　ultralight；　seeing　the　return　fire　slacken　and　f