cc.floodtide-第76部分

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d　shack；　where　he　unholstered　the　impressive　Wesson　Firearms　。357　Magnum　revolver　that　he'd　taken　off　the　unconscious　guard；　and　waited　for　something　to　happen。
　
　Pitt　dropped　his　air　tank；　weight　belt　and　the　rest　of　the　dive　gear　below　the　shantyboat。　Clad　only　in　his　wet　suit　and　carrying　the　Colt　above　his　head　to　keep　it　dry；　he　stroked　under　the　wharf　to　the　chute　portal　and　climbed　inside。　It　was　a　tight　squeeze；　and　he　had　to　pull　his　body　along　a　few　inches　at　a　time。　The　Colt　he　slipped　under　the　collar　of　his　wet　suit　against　his　upper　chest；　making　it　easy　merely　to　bend　his　arm　and　retrieve　it　should　an　unpleasant　occasion　arise。　The　light　decreased　the　farther　he　penetrated　the　chute；　his　body　blocking　off　a　fair　share　of　it。　But　he　could　still　see　well　enough　to　pick　out　any　obstacles　that　lay　ahead。　He　fervently　hoped　he　wouldn't　run　up　against　a　poisonous　snake。　With　almost　no　room　to　maneuver；　he　would　either　have　to　club　it　to　death　with　the　old　Colt　or　shoot　it。　One　event　risked　a　bite　from　fangs；　the　other　detection　by　security　guards。
　
　Then　a　belated　fear　flooded　his　mind。　What　if　the　other　end　was　blocked　by　another　iron　door　that　could　only　be　opened　from　the　opposite　side？　There　was　no　denying　the　possibility。　But　the　gamble　was　worth　the　effort；　he　rationalized。　Nothing　ventured　and　all　that。　He　forged　on　until　the　chute　began　to　slope　upward。　The　going　became　more　difficult　as　gravity　began　to　work　against　him。
　
　Fingertips　scraped　raw　from　clawing　the　corroded　lining　of　the　chute；　Pitt　continued　forward。　A　vivid　imagination　could　have　easily　conjured　up　visions　of　nightmare　monsters　from　an　alien　world　lurking　in　the　darkness　ahead；　but　reality　revealed　an　empty；　hollow　chute；　nothing　more。　Slowly；　almost　imperceptibly；　the　chute　began　to　widen；　as　if　blossoming　into　the　upper　half　of　a　giant　funnel。　Then　suddenly　and　pletely　unanticipatedly；　he　found　himself　crawling　into　a　large　bin　that　flared　upward　and　out　to　the　sides。　The　upper　lip　was　only　four　feet　away。　He　struggled　upward；　gaining　a　grip　and　pulling　himself　higher；　then　climbing　toward　the　upper　rim　of　the　chute。
　
　Automatic　grasped　in　one　hand　and　only　dimly　aware　of　the　curious　prickling　sensation　moving　up　the　nape　of　his　neck；　he　heard　voices　drifting　into　the　chute；　voices　that　were　not　speaking　English。　He　also　became　strongly　aware　of　the　heavy；　sickening　odor　of　human　bodies　packed　too　long　in　a　stifling　atmosphere。　Pitt　raised　his　head　until　his　eyes　could　see　over　the　edge　of　the　chute。　He　found　himself　gazing　down　from　a　height　of　twelve　feet　into　a　large　chamber　scarcely　lit　by　a　small　dirty　skylight　in　the　ceiling。　The　walls　of　the　chamber　were　dingy　brick；　the　floor　concrete。
　
　Standing；　lying　or　crouched　in　the　stale　atmosphere　of　the　chamber；　packed　together　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　little　or　no　room　to　move　about；　were　over　three　hundred　men；　women　and　children　in　varying　states　of　sickness；　malnutrition　and　fatigue。　All　appeared　to　be　Chinese。　Pitt　scanned　the　chamber　but　saw　no　guards。　The　mass　of　humanity　below　was　sealed　in　what　was　once　the　sugar…processing　room；　the　only　entrance　was　barred　by　a　thick　wooden　door。
　
　As　he　watched；　the　door　abruptly　swung　open；　and　an　Asian　wearing　the　same　uniform　Giordino　had　taken　off　the　guard　at　the　dock　roughly　pushed　a　man　into　the　crowded　chamber。　A　woman；　who　Pitt　assumed　was　the　man's　wife；　had　her　arms　tightly　pinned　by　another　guard　in　a　passage　outside。　The　door　slammed　shut　with　an　echoing　thud；　and　the　man；　in　a　highly　emotional　state；　pounded　on　it　and　cried　out　in　Chinese；　clearly　begging　the　guards　not　to　take　the　woman　away。
　
　Without　misgivings　or　thoughts　of　personal　risk；　Pitt　dropped　out　of　the　chute　opening　onto　the　floor　below；　landing　on　his　feet　between　two　women；　knocking　both　into　people　packed　around　them；　creating　a　ripple　in　the　mass。　The　women　stared　at　him　in　startled　curiosity　but　said　nothing。　No　one　else　gave　indication　of　his　sudden　appearance。
　
　Pitt　didn't　bother　to　beg　their　pardon。　He　moved　quickly　through　the　huddled　crowd　of　bodies　toward　the　door。　Reaching　it；　he　gently　pushed　the　sobbing　man　aside　and　then　rapped　on　the　door　with　the　butt　of　his　Colt。　It　was　a　familiar　knock；　one　long；　four　short；　two　long；　often　given　by　someone　friendly　with　the　occupants　on　the　other　side。　After　the　second　try；　Pitt's　brazenness　was　rewarded。　As　he'd　hoped；　the　guard's　curiosity　was　aroused　by　the　inprehensible　rap　instead　of　the　crazed　pounding　from　a　distraught　husband。
　
　The　lock　clacked　and　the　door　was　thrown　open　again；　only　this　time　with　Pitt　standing　behind　it。　A　guard　burst　back　into　the　chamber；　grabbing　the　husband　by　the　collar　and　shaking　him　like　a　fruit　tree。　The　other　guard　still　stood　in　the　passage；　pinning　the　woman's　arms　cruelly　behind　her　back。　He　spoke　angrily　in　perfect　English。
　
　〃Tell　that　dumb　bastard　for　the　last　time；　he　isn't　getting　his　wife　back　until　he　forks　over　another　ten　thousand　U。S。　dollars。〃
　
　Pitt's　arm　whirled　in　a　blurred　arc　downward；　the　butt　of　the　Colt　in　his　hand　connecting　solidly　on　the　side　of　the　first　guard's　head；　sending　him　unconscious　to　the　concrete　floor。　Then　Pitt　stepped　into　the　open　doorway；　gun　pointed　steadily　at　the　head　of　the　man　with　the　young　woman。
　〃I　don't　mean　to　intrude；　but　I　believe　you　have　something　that　belongs　to　someone　else。〃
　The　guard's　jaw；　already　open　at　seeing　his　colleague　crumpled　in　a　heap；　dead　to　the　world；　began　working　furiously　as　he　stared　pop…eyed　at　the　apparition　in　the　black　wet　suit。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃I　was　hired　by　your　captives　to　act　as　their　agent；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling。　〃Now　let　the　girl　go。〃
　The　guard　had　guts；　Pitt　had　to　admit　that。　One　arm　moved　up　and　encircled　the　young　woman's　neck。　〃Drop　the　gun　or　by　God　I'll　snap　her　neck。〃
　
　Pitt　stepped　forward　and　raised　the　Colt　until　the　muzzle　was　only　a　few　inches　from　the　guard's　left　eye。　〃I'll　blow　your　eyes　out　if　you　do。　Is　that　what　you　want；　to　spend　the　rest　of　your　days　as　a　blind　man？〃
　
　The　guard　was　smart　enough　to　know　he　was　in　a　no…win　situation。　He　looked　up　and　down　the　passageway　in　hope　of　finding　help。　But　he　was　alone。　Slowly；　he　acted　as　if　his　hold　was　loosening　around　the　woman's　neck　while　his　other　hand　inched　toward　a　gun　in　a　holster　at　his　hip。
　
　Pitt　caught　the　movement　and　rammed　the　muzzle　of　the　Colt　into　the　guard's　eye。　〃Not　a　wise　gamble；　my　friend。〃　He　smiled　pleasantly；　his　teeth　gleaming　in　the　pale　light。
　The　guard　gasped　in　pain；　dropped　his　hold　on　the　woman　and　clutched　both　hands　to　his　eye。　〃Oh　God；　you　blinded　me！〃
　〃No　such　luck；〃　Pitt　said　briefly　as　he　yanked　the　guard　into　the　chamber　by　the　collar。　He　didn't　have　to　order　the　woman；　she　had　already　rushed　by　him　and　thrown　herself　into　her　husband's　arms。　〃The　worst　you　can　expect　is　a　bloodshot　eyeball　for　a　few　days。〃
　
　Pitt　kicked　the　big　door　closed；　crouched　down　and　hurriedly　removed　the　guards'　revolvers　from　their　holsters。　Then　he　searched　them　for　concealed　weapons。　The　guard　he'd　knocked　unconscious　carried　a　small　。32…caliber　automatic　strapped　to　his　pants　belt　behind　his　back；　the　other　had　a　bowie　knife　stuffed　in　one　boot。　Then　he　checked　them　for　size　to　see　which　one　came　closest　in　height　and　weight。　They　were　both　considerably　shorter；　but　one　nearly　matched　his　chest　and　waist　measurements。
　
　As　he　began　to　switch　clothes；　Pitt　spoke　to　the　hushed　horde　who　stared　back　at　him　as　if　he　was　some　kind　of　deity。　〃Do　any　of　you　speak　English？〃
　
　Two　people　made　their　way　toward　him。　One　was　an　elderly　man　with　a　long　white　beard；　the　other　an　attractive　woman　in　her　mid…thirties。　〃My　father　and　I　can　speak　English；〃　she　said。　〃We　both　taught　languages　at　Chungking　University。〃
　
　Pitt　swept　his　hand　around　the　chamber。　〃Please　tell　them　to　bind　and　gag　these　men　and　hide　their　bodies　as　far　away　from　the　door　as　possible；　where　they　can't　be　easily　found。〃
　The　father　and　daughter　nodded。　〃We　understand；〃　he　replied。　〃We　will　also　caution　them　to　remain　quiet。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Pitt；　as　he　stripped　off　his　wet　suit。　〃Am　I　correct　in　saying　that　you　have　all　been　treated　badly　by　the　smugglers　who　are　extorting　you　for　more　money？〃
　〃Yes；〃　answered　the　woman；　〃all　you　say　is　true。　We　were　subjected　to　unspeakable　conditions　during　the　voyage　from　China。　After　we　arrived　in　the　United　States；　we　were　brought　here　by　the　enforcers　from　Qin　Shang　Maritime；　where　we　were　turned　over　to　an　American…Chinese　crime　syndicate。　It　is　they　who　are　extorting　us　for　more　money　by　threatening　to　either　kill　or　force　us　into　indentured　slavery　if　we　do　not　pay。〃
　〃Tell　them　all　to　take　heart；〃　said　Pitt　solemnly。　〃Help　is　on　the　way。〃
　
　He　finished　dressing；　grinning　when　he　noticed　that　a　good　three　inches　of　socks　showed　between　the　guard's　shoes…two　sizes　too　small…and　the　bottom　cuffs　of　the　trousers。　While　the　guards　were　dragged　to　the　other　end　of　the　chamber　and　bound；　Pitt　slipped　one　revolver　and　the　Colt　automatic　inside　his　pants　and　buttoned　the　shirt　over　them。　Next　he　adjusted　the　holster　containing　the　second　guard's　revolver　at　his　side。　Then；　with　a　quick　look　of　encouragement　to　the　poor　wretched　immigrants；　he　stepped　into　the　passage；　quietly　closed　the　door　and　locked　it。
　
　Twenty　feet　to　the　left　of　the　door　the　passage　ended　in　a　tangled　mass　of　old　rusty　machinery　that　filled　it　from　floor　to　ceiling。　Pitt　went　right　and　came　to　a　stairway　ascending　to　a　corridor　that　opened　onto　a　series　of　rooms　with　huge　copper　pots　that　had　corroded　over　the　decades　until　the　once…bright　metal　had　changed　to　a　patinated　green。
　
　Pitt　entered　one　of　what　had　been　the　sugar　cane　cooking　rooms　and　peered　through　a　long　row　of　dusty　windows。　Below　him　was　a　vast　storage　and　shipping　terminal。　A　pair　of　railroad　tracks　ran　between　two　loading　docks　before　stopping　at　a　concrete　barrier。　Broad　doors　on　one　end　of　the　floor　were　spread　open　to　acmodate　three　freight　cars　that　were　being　backed　down　a　slope　by　a　diesel…eiectric　lootive　painted　in　the　blue　and　orange　colors　of　the　Louisiana　&　Southern　Railroad。
　Next　to　the　building　near　the　railroad　tracks；　Pitt　could　se