cc.floodtide-第69部分

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nt　for　the　night。　Duckweed　and　hyacinth　floated　on　much　of　the　open　water。　Forests　grew　from　the　brackish　muck；　not　dry　land。　It　was　hard　for　Pitt　to　imagine　that　all　the　water　he　could　see　came　from　as　far　away　as　Ontario　and　Manitoba；　North　Dakota　and　Minnesota；　and　every　state　below。　Only　behind　the　safety　of　thousands　of　miles　of　levee　systems　did　people　cultivate　farms　and　build　cities　and　towns。　It　was　a　landscape　unlike　any　he'd　ever　seen。
　
　The　day　was　pleasantly　cool；　with　just　enough　breeze　to　make　small　waves　across　the　surface　of　the　water。　The　hours　rolled　by　as　if　time　was　as　limitless　as　space。　As　idyllic　as　the　lazy　cruise　up　the　river　seemed；　they　were　on　serious　business　that　could　easily　be　the　cause　of　their　deaths。　There　could　be　no　mistakes；　no　errors　in　planning　their　reconnaissance　of　the　mysterious　canal。
　
　A　few　minutes　after　noon；　Pitt　took　a　salami　sandwich　and　a　bottle　of　beer　up　to　Giordino　in　the　little　wheelhouse　on　the　roof。　Pitt　offered　to　take　the　helm；　but　Giordino　wouldn't　hear　of　it。　He　was　having　too　much　fun；　so　Pitt　returned　to　his　chair　on　the　veranda。
　
　Although　time　seemed　to　have　no　meaning；　Pitt's　hours　were　neither　idle　nor　aimless。　He　spent　the　time　laying　out　their　diving　equipment。　He　unpacked　and　adjusted　the　controls　on　the　little　AUV　he　had　used　at　Orion　Lake。　Lastly；　he　removed　the　night…vision　goggles　from　their　case　and　laid　them　on　the　cushions　of　an　old；　worn　sofa。
　
　Shortly　after　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　Pitt　stepped　inside　the　house　and　stood　at　the　base　of　the　ladder　leading　up　to　the　pilothouse　on　the　roof。　〃One　half　mile　before　we　reach　the　mouth　of　the　canal；〃　he　alerted　Giordino。　〃Move　on　past　another　half　mile　to　the　next　bayou。　Then　swing　a　turn　to　starboard。〃
　
　〃What's　it　called？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃Hooker's　Bayou；　but　don't　bother　looking　for　a　sign　at　the　intersection。　Take　it　for　about　six　miles　to　where　the　map　shows　an　abandoned　dock　by　a　capped　oil　well。　We'll　tie　up　there　and　have　dinner　while　we　wait　for　darkness。〃
　
　Giordino　eased　the　shantyboat　around　a　long　string　of　barges　pushed　downriver　by　a　large　towboat。　The　captain　of　the　tow…boat　gave　a　blast　from　his　air　horn　as　they　passed；　no　doubt　thinking　the　owner　was　on　board　the　shantyboat。　Pitt　had　returned　to　his　chair　on　the　bow　and　waved。　Using　a　pair　of　binoculars；　he　scrutinized　the　canal　as　they　crossed　its　mouth。　It　was　carved　in　a　perfectly　straight　course　nearly　a　quarter　of　a　mile　wide　that　seemed　to　roll　like　a　green　carpet　over　the　horizon。　A　rusty　chain　stretched　across　the　mouth　and　was　attached　to　concrete　pilings。　Large；　billboard…sized　signs　were　raised　with　red　letters　against　a　background　of　white　that　said；
　
　NO　TRESPASSING。　ANYONE　CAUGHT　ON　QIN　SHANG　MARITIME　PROPERTY　WILL　BE　PROSECUTED。
　
　Small　wonder　the　local　residents　hate　Qin　Shang；　thought　Pitt。　He　seriously　doubted　that　the　local　sheriff　would　go　out　of　his　way　to　arrest　friends　and　neighbors　for　hunting　or　fishing　on　foreign…owned　property。
　
　Forty　minutes　later；　Giordino　eased　back　on　the　throttle　and　swung　the　bulky　shantyboat　from　the　narrow　channel　of　Hooker's　Bayou　and　crept　to　a　halt　toward　the　remains　of　a　concrete　pier；　nudging　the　flat；　raked　bow　onto　a　low　bank。　Stenciled　lettering　on　the　concrete　pilings　read；　CHEROKEE　OIL　PANY；　BATON　ROUGE；　LOUISIANA。　The　boat　had　no　anchor；　so　they　took　up　long　poles　that　were　tied　to　the　catwalks　for　the　purpose　and　rammed　them　into　the　mud。　Then　they　tied　the　mooring　lines　from　the　boat　to　the　poles。　Lastly；　a　gangplank　was　run　out　onto　firm　ground。
　
　〃I　have　a　contact　on　radar　moving　across　the　marsh　from　the　southeast；〃　Giordino　calmly　reported。
　〃They're　ing　from　the　direction　of　the　Mystic　Canal。〃
　〃They're　ing　fast；〃　Giordino　said　in　a　deliberate　tone。
　〃Shang's　security　didn't　waste　any　time　tagging　us。〃　Pitt　went　inside　and　returned　with　a　large　square　net　with　vertical　supports　he'd　found　on　the　aft　veranda。　〃Drag　Romberg　out　here　and　get　yourself　a　bottle　of　beer。〃
　Giordino　looked　at　the　net。　〃You　think　you're　going　to　catch　crab　for　dinner？〃
　〃No；〃　Pitt　answered；　catching　a　glint　from　the　setting　sun　on　a　shiny　object　far　away　in　the　ocean　of　grass。　〃The　trick　is　to　look　like　I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃
　〃A　helicopter；〃　Giordino　said　in　a　deliberate　tone；　〃or　an　ultralight　like　Washington。〃
　〃Too　low；　more　likely　a　hovercraft。〃
　〃Are　we　on　Qin　Shang's　real　estate？〃
　〃According　to　the　map；　we're　a　good　three　hundred　yards　off　their　property　line。　They　must　be　paying　a　social　call　to　check　us　out。〃
　〃What's　the　scenario？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃I'll　play　a　crab　fisherman；　you　act　like　a　redneck　swilling　beer　and　Romberg　can　play　Romberg。〃
　〃Not　easy　for　an　Italian　to　pretend　he's　French　Cajun。〃
　〃Chew　on　some　okra。〃
　
　The　dog　cooperated　when　dragged　out　onto　the　veranda；　not　out　of　obedience；　but　out　of　necessity。　He　walked　slowly　across　the　gangplank　and　did　his　duty。　The　hound　has　an　iron　bladder；　Giordino　thought；　to　have　lasted　this　long。　Then　Romberg　abruptly　became　alert；　barked　at　a　rabbit　that　darted　through　the　grass　and　chased　after　him。　〃No　Academy　Award　nomination　for　you；　Romberg！〃　Giordino　yelled　at　the　dog　as　it　took　off　onto　a　path　leading　along　the　bank。　Then　he　flopped　in　a　lawn　chair；　removed　his　sneakers　and　socks　and　propped　his　bare　feet　up　on　a　railing；　a　bottle　of　Dixie　beer　clutched　in　one　hand。
　
　Onstage　for　the　opening　act；　Pitt　with　his　old　。45　Colt　stashed　in　a　bucket　at　his　feet　and　covered　by　a　rag；　Giordino　with　the　Aserma　12…gauge　shotgun　from　Pitt's　hangar　resting　beneath　the　pad　on　his　lawn　chair；　they　watched　the　black　dot　that　was　the　hovercraft　grow　in　size　as　it　flew　over　the　marshlands；　swirling　and　flattening　a　swath　through　the　reeds。　It　was　an　amphibious　craft　that　could　make　the　transition　from　water　to　land。　Propelled　by　twin　aircraft　engines　with　propellers　at　the　stern；　the　hovercraft　was　supported　by　a　cushion　of　air　contained　within　a　heavy　rubber　structure　and　produced　by　a　smaller　engine　attached　to　a　horizontal　fan。　Control　was　acplished　with　a　set　of　rudders　much　like　those　used　on　aircraft。　Pitt　and　Giordino　watched　as　it　moved　effortlessly　and　rapidly　over　the　marshlands　and　mud　flats。
　〃She's　fast；〃　mented　Pitt。　〃Capable　of　fifty　miles　an　hour。　About　twenty　feet　long　with　a　small　cabin。　By　the　look　of　her；　she　can　carry　six　people。〃
　〃And　none　of　them　are　smiling；〃　muttered　Giordino　as　the　hovercraft　approached　the　shantyboat　and　slowed。　At　that　moment；　Romberg　came　bounding　from　the　swamp　grass；　barking　up　a　storm。
　〃Good　old　Romberg；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Right　on　cue。〃
　The　hovercraft　came　to　a　stop　ten　feet　away；　its　skirted　hull　resting　in　the　bayou。　The　engines　died　away　to　a　dull　murmur。　The　five　men　on　board　all　wore　side　arms　but　carried　no　rifles。　They　were　wearing　the　same　Qin　Shang　security　uniforms　Pitt　had　seen　at　Orion　Lake。　Every　eye　had　the　unmistakable　slant　of　an　Asian。　They　weren't　smiling；　their　sunburned　faces　looked　dead　serious。　This　was　clearly　an　attempt　at　intimidation。
　
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　asked　a　hard…faced　individual　in　fluent　English。　He　wore　the　insignia　on　his　shoulders　and　hat　of　someone　in　mand；　and　he　looked　like　a　man　who　would　enjoy　sticking　pins　hi　living　insects；　a　man　who　would　wele　the　opportunity　to　shoot　another　human　being。　He　eyed　Romberg　with　a　gleam　in　his　eye。
　〃We're　havin'　fun；〃　Pitt　said　casually。　〃What's　y'alls　problem？〃
　〃This　is　private　property；〃　the　hovercraft's　mander　said　coldly。　〃You　cannot　moor　here。〃
　〃Ah　happen　to　know　for　a　fact　that　the　land　around　Hooker's　Bayou　belongs　to　the　Cherokee　Oil　pany。〃　Pitt　actually　wasn't　certain　who　owned　the　property；　but　he　assumed　it　had　to　be　Cherokee　Oil。
　
　The　mander　turned　to　his　men　and　they　jabbered　among　themselves　in　Chinese。　Then　the　mander　stepped　to　the　side　of　the　hovercraft　and　announced；　〃We　are　ing　aboard。〃
　
　Pitt　tensed　and　readied　himself　to　snatch　up　the　old　Colt。　Then　he　realized　the　demand　to　e　aboard　was　a　deception。　But　Giordino　didn't　fall　for　it。　〃The　hell　y'all　are；〃　said　Giordino；　threateningly。　〃Y'all　got　no　authority。　Now　get　your　ass　out　of　here　before　we　call　the　sheriff。〃
　
　The　mander　looked　at　the　weathered　shantyboat　and　the　faded　and　shabby　clothing　worn　by　Pitt　and　Giordino。　〃You　have　a　radio　or　a　cellular　phone　on　that　boat？〃
　〃A　flare　gun；〃　Giordino　answered；　scratching　an　imaginary　itch　between　the　toes　of　one　foot。　〃We　shoot　flares　and　the　law　es　a…runnin'。〃
　The　hovercraft's　mander's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　do　not　find　that　believable。〃
　〃Exhibiting　a　pompous　attitude　toward　intellectual　impeccability　will　get　you　nowhere；〃　Pitt　suddenly　said　smartly。
　The　mander　tensed。　〃What　was　that？〃　he　demanded。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Ah　said；　leave　us　alone；〃　Pitt　drawled。　〃We　ain't　hurtin'　nothin'。〃
　Another　conference　between　the　mander　and　his　men。　Then　he　pointed　a　finger　at　Pitt。　〃I　warn　you。　Do　not　enter　Qin　Shang　Maritime　property。〃
　〃Who'd　want　to？〃　Giordino　said　nastily。　〃Y'all's　pany　ruined　the　swamp；　killed　the　fish　and　drove　off　the　wildlife　with　your　dredging。　No　reason　to　go　in　there　anyways。〃
　The　mander　arrogantly　turned　his　back　and　dismissed　them　as　the　first　drops　of　a　rainsquall　began　to　splatter　on　the　roof　of　the　shantyboat。　He　gave　the　still　barking　Romberg　a　withering　stare　and　said　something　to　his　crew。　The　engines　accelerated　and　the　hovercraft　began　moving　off　in　the　direction　of　the　canal。　A　moment　later　they　disappeared　from　view　as　the　rain　poured　down　in　blinding　torrents。
　
　Giordino　sat　enjoying　the　rain　splashing　on　his　bare　feet　as　they　dangled　over　the　railing。　He　cringed　as　Romberg　shook　his　wet　fur；　sending　a　barrage　of　water　flying　in　every　direction。　〃A　glittering　performance　except　for　your　attempt　at　a　drawing…room　put…down。〃
　
　Pitt　laughed。　〃A　bit　of　keen　and　boisterous　freewheeling　humor　never　fails　to　get　a　rise。〃
　〃You　might　have　given　us　away。〃
　〃I　wanted　them　to　record　our　arrogance。　Did　you　catch　the　video　camera　on　top　of　the　cabin？　At　this　moment；　our　pictures　are　being　sent　by　satellite　to　Shang's　security　headquarters　in　Hong　Kong　for　identification。　A　pity　we　can't　be　there　to　see　Shang's　face　when　he's　infor