cc.floodtide-第49部分

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a　fine　wine　before　sipping　it。　〃Because　nothing　suspicious　was　observed　above　ground；　I　was　told　at　my　briefing　that　you're　going　to　try　your　luck　with　an　underwater　search。〃
　Gunn　nodded。　〃I'm　sending　in　an　autonomous　underwater　vehicle　for　an　exploratory　search　first　thing　in　the　morning。　If　anything　questionable　is　recorded　by　its　cameras；　divers　will　investigate。〃
　〃The　water　is　murky　and　running　with　silt；　so　I　doubt　if　you'll　see　much。〃
　〃With　high　resolution　and　digital　enhancement；　our　cameras　can　distinguish　objects　in　murky　water　up　to　twenty　feet。　My　only　concern　is　Qin　Shang's　underwater　security。〃
　Montaigne　laughed。　〃If　it's　anything　like　the　security　around　the　port；〃　Montaigne　said　with　a　chuckle；　〃you　can　forget　it。　A　ten…foot…high　fence　runs　around　the　perimeter；　but　there　is　only　one　gate　that　leads　to　nowhere　in　the　swamp　with　no　guard。　Any　passing　vessel；　especially　fishing　boats　out　of　Morgan　City；　are　wele　to　tie　up　at　a　dock。　And　there　is　an　excellent　helicopter　landing　pad　with　a　small　terminal　building　on　the　north　end。　I　never　heard　of　Shang's　security　turning　away　anybody　who　dropped　in　for　a　guided　tour。　They　go　out　of　their　way　to　make　the　place　accessible。〃
　〃Definitely　not　your　ordinary　Qin　Shang　operation。〃
　〃So　I've　been　told。〃
　〃As　a　port；〃　Gunn　continued；　〃Sungari　must　have　offices　for　customs　and　immigration　agents？〃
　Montaigne　laughed。　〃Like　the　Maytag　man；　they're　the　loneliest　men　in　town。〃
　〃Dammit！〃　Gunn　abruptly　burst。　〃This　has　to　be　a　gigantic　scam。　Qin　Shang　built　Sungari　to　conduct　criminal　activities。　I'd　stake　my　government　pension　on　it。〃
　〃If　it　was　me；　and　my　aim　was　to　conduct　an　illegal　operation；　I'd　have　never　designed　the　port　to　stand　out　like　a　Las　Vegas　casino。〃
　〃Nor　I；〃　Gunn　conceded。
　〃There　was；　e　to　think　of　it；〃　Montaigne　said　thoughtfully；　〃an　odd　bit　of　construction　that　puzzled　inspecting　engineers。〃
　〃What　was　that？〃
　〃Shang's　contractor　built　the　upper　level　of　their　docks　a　good　thirty　feet　higher　than　necessary　from　the　water's　surface。　Instead　of　walking　down　a　gangway　to　the　dock　from　the　deck　of　a　ship；　you　actually　have　to　negotiate　a　slight　incline。〃
　
　〃Could　it　be　insurance　against　hurricane　tides　or　a　hundred…year　flood　down　the　river？〃
　〃Yes；　but　they　magnified　the　threat；〃　explained　Montaigne。　〃Oh　sure；　there　have　been　flood　stages　on　the　Mississippi　that　have　reached　huge　heights；　but　not　on　the　Atchafalaya。　Ground　level　at　Sungari　was　raised　to　a　level　far　beyond　anything　that　nature　could　throw　at　it。〃
　〃Qin　Shang　wouldn't　be　where　he　is　by　gambling　with　the　elements。〃
　〃I　suppose　you're　right。〃　Montaigne　finished　off　the　Jack　Daniels。　He　waved　a　hand　at　the　image　of　Sungari。　〃So　there　it　sits；　a　grand　edifice　to　one　man's　ego。　Look　across　the　water。　Two　ships　in　a　port　built　to　take　a　hundred。　Is　that　any　way　to　run　a　profitable　business？〃
　〃No　way　that　I'm　aware　of；〃　said　Gunn。
　The　general　rose　to　his　feet。　〃I　should　be　on　my　way。　It'll　be　dark　soon。　I　think　I'll　instruct　my　pilot　to　go　upriver　to　Morgan　City　and　tie　up　there　for　the　night　before　heading　back　to　New　Orleans。〃
　〃Thank　you；　General；〃　Gunn　said　sincerely。　〃I　appreciate　you　taking　the　time　to　see　me。　Please　don't　be　a　stranger。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Montaigne　replied　jovially。　〃Now　that　I　know　where　to　go　for　a　free　shot　of　good　whiskey；　rest　assured；　you'll　see　me　again。　And　good　luck　on　your　investigation。　Anytime　you　require　the　services　of　the　Corps；　you　have　but　to　call　me。〃
　〃Thank　you；　I　will。〃
　Long　after　General　Montaigne　returned　to　his　survey　boat；　Gunn　sat　staring　at　the　holographic　image　of　Sungari；　his　mind　seeking　answers　that　never　revealed　themselves。
　〃If　you're　worried　about　their　security　hassling　us；〃　said　Frank　Stewart；　captain　of　the　Marine　Denizen；　〃we　can　conduct　our　survey　from　the　middle　of　the　river。　They　may　own　the　buildings　and　land　on　both　sides　of　the　Atchafalaya；　but　free　passage　between　the　Gulf　and　Morgan　City　is　guaranteed　under　maritime　law。〃
　
　Stewart；　with　brown　hair　cut　short　and　slickly　bed　with　a　precision　part　on　the　right　side；　was　a　mariner　from　the　old　school。　He　still　shot　the　sun　with　his　sextant　and　figured　latitude　and　longitude　the　old…fashioned　way　when　a　quick　scan　of　his　geophysical　positioning　system　could　tell　him　within　a　yard　of　where　he　was　standing。　Slim　and　tall　with　deep…set　blue　eyes；　he　was　a　man　without　a　wife　whose　mistress　was　the　sea。
　
　Gunn　stood　beside　the　helm；　staring　through　the　wheelhouse　windows　at　the　deserted　port。　〃We'd　look　as　obvious　as　a　wart　on　a　movie　star's　nose　if　we　anchored　in　the　river　between　their　docks　and　warehouses。　General　Montaigne　said　that　security　around　Sungari　was　no　heavier　than　any　other　port　facility　on　the　East　and　West　coasts。　If　he's　right；　I　see　no　reason　to　play　cagey。　Let's　simply　call　the　port　master　and　request　dock　space　to　make　repairs；　and　work　in　their　backyard。〃
　
　Stewart　nodded　and　hailed　the　port　master　over　a　satellite　phone；　which　had　all　but　replaced　ship…to…shore　radio。　〃This　is　NUMA　research　ship　Marine　Denizen。　We　request　dock　space　to　make　repairs　to　our　rudder。〃
　
　The　port　master　was　most　congenial。　He　gave　his　name　as　Henry　Pang　and　readily　gave　permission。　〃Sure；　maintain　your　position　and　I'll　send　a　boat　to　lead　you　to　dock　seventeen；　where　you　can　tie　up。　If　there's　one　thing　we've　got；　it's　vacant　moorings。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Pang；〃　acknowledged　Stewart。
　〃You　guys　looking　for　weird　fish？〃　asked　Pang。
　〃No；　we're　studying　Gulf　currents。　We　bumped　over　an　unmarked　shoal　off　the　coast　and　damaged　our　rudder。　It　responds　but　not　to　its　full　arc。〃
　〃Enjoy　your　stay；〃　said　Pang　politely。　〃If　you　need　a　marine　mechanic　or　parts；　please　let　me　know。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Stewart。　〃Standing　by　for　your　guide　boat。〃
　〃General　Montaigne　was　right；〃　said　Gunn。　〃So　much　for　tight　security。〃
　
　A　rainsquall　rolled　in　and　out　during　the　night；　leaving　the　decks　of　the　Marine　Denizen　gleaming　under　the　rising　sun。　Stewart　had　two　of　his　crew　lowered　on　a　small　platform　over　the　rudder　to　act　as　though　they　were　making　repairs。　The　performance　hardly　seemed　necessary。　The　docks　and　cranes　were　as　dead　as　a　football　stadium　in　the　middle　of　the　week。　Both　of　the　Chinese　cargo　ships　Gunn　had　observed　the　evening　before　had　slipped　out　during　the　night。　The　Marine　Denizen　had　the　entire　port　to　herself。
　
　Inside　the　center　section　of　the　Denizen's　hull　was　a　cavernous　partment　called　the　moon　pool。　Two　sliding　divisions　parted　like　horizontal　elevator　doors；　allowing　water　to　flow　inside　the　moon　pool　until　it　leveled　out　after　rising　six　feet。　This　was　the　heart　of　the　research　vessel；　where　divers　could　freely　enter　the　water　without　being　knocked　about　by　waves；　where　submersibles　could　be　lowered　to　explore　the　depths；　and　where　scientific　equipment　that　monitored　and　captured　sea　life　could　be　raised　for　study　in　the　ship's　labs。
　
　Lulled　by　the　cemetery…like　atmosphere　of　Sungari；　the　crew　and　scientists　ate　a　leisurely　breakfast　before　gathering　around　the　work　platforms　in　the　moon　pool。　A　Benthos　autonomous　underwater　vehicle　hung　in　a　cradle　over　the　water。　This　vehicle　was　three　times　the　size　of　the　pact　AUV　that　Pitt　used　at　Orion　Lake。　A　rugged；　streamlined　unit　with　two　horizontal　thrusters；　it　could　move　at　speeds　up　to　five　knots。　The　imagery　equipment　consisted　of　a　Benthos　video　camera　with　low…light　sensitivity　and　high　resolution。　The　AUV　also　featured　a　digital　still　camera　and　a　ground…penetrating　radar　unit　that　could　detect　a　void　through　the　steel　casings；　indicating　a　passage。　A　diver；　wearing　a　wet　suit　purely　as　protection　against　jellyfish；　lazily　floated　on　his　back　while　he　waited　for　the　AUV　to　be　lowered。
　
　Stewart　looked　through　a　doorway　at　Gunn；　who　was　sitting　in　front　of　a　puter　monitor　that　was　mounted　beneath　a　large　video　screen。　〃Ready　when　you　are；　Rudi。〃
　〃Drop　her　in；〃　said　Gunn　with　the　wave　of　a　hand。
　The　winch　attached　to　the　cradle　hummed　and　the　AUV　slowly　settled　into　the　perpetual　gloom　of　the　river。　The　diver　uncoupled　the　cradle；　swam　to　a　ladder　and　climbed　onto　the　work　platform。
　
　Stewart　entered　the　small　partment　that　was　rilled　from　deck　to　roof　with　electronic　equipment。　He　sat　down　next　to　Gunn；　who　was　operating　the　AUV　from　a　puter　console　while　staring　into　the　video　monitor。　All　that　was　revealed　was　a　long　gray　wall　of　steel　casing　that　trailed　off　into　the　gloom。　〃Frankly；　this　seems　like　much　ado　about　nothing。〃
　
　〃You'll　get　no　argument　from　me；〃　said　Gunn。　〃The　order　to　investigate　Sungari　from　under　the　surface　came　direct　from　the　White　House。〃
　〃Do　they　really　think　Qin　Shang　would　conduct　his　smuggling　operations　through　underwater　passageways　that　connect　to　the　hulls　of　his　ships？〃
　〃Some　hotshot　in　Washington　must　think　so。　That's　why　we're　here。〃
　〃Like　me　to　send　for　some　coffee　from　the　galley？〃　asked　Stewart。
　〃I　could　use　a　cup；〃　said　Gunn　without　turning　from　the　monitor。
　
　The　cook's　galley　assistant　soon　brought　a　tray　of　cups　along　with　a　filled　coffeepot。　Three　hours　later　the　cups　and　pot　were　as　empty　as　the　inspection　project。　Nothing　showed　on　the　monitor　except　a　seemingly　unending　wall　of　steel　casings　that　were　driven　deep　into　the　silt　to　act　as　a　barrier　for　the　landfill　that　in　turn　acted　as　a　foundation　for　the　dock　and　terminal　buildings。　Finally；　just　before　noon；　Gunn　turned　to　Stewart。
　
　〃So　much　for　the　west　side　of　the　port；〃　Gunn　said　wearily。　He　rubbed　his　eyes　to　relieve　the　strain。　〃It　gets　awfully　tedious　staring　at　gray；　shapeless　casing　for　hours　on　end。〃
　〃See　any　hint　of　a　door　leading　to　a　passage？〃
　〃No　so　much　as　a　crack　or　hinge。〃
　〃We　can　move　the　AUV　across　the　river　channel　and；　with　luck；　finish　up　the　east　side　before　dark；〃　said　Stewart。
　〃The　sooner　we　wrap　this　up；　the　better。〃　Gunn　typed　a　mand　on　the　keyboard　that　sent　the　AUV　on　a　course　toward　the　opposite　side　of　the　port。　Then　he　leaned　back　and　relaxed　in　his　chair。
　〃Sure　you　don't　want　to　knock　off　for　a　sandwich？〃　asked　Stewart。
　Gunn　shook　his　head。　〃I'll　see　it　through　and　fill　my　empty　stomach　at　dinner。〃
　
　It　took　only　ten　minutes　for　the　AUV　to　c