cc.floodtide-第77部分

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f　the　Louisiana　&　Southern　Railroad。
　Next　to　the　building　near　the　railroad　tracks；　Pitt　could　see　a　parked　pair　of　white　stretch　limousines；　their　drivers　talking　together　while　watching　with　interest　as　the　train　rolled　past。
　
　It　became　startlingly　clear　to　Pitt　that　the　immigrants　he'd　just　left　were　about　to　be　loaded　on　the　freight　cars。　Acpanied　by　a　growing　knot　in　his　stomach；　he　also　observed　that　the　loading　docks　were　manned　by　nearly　a　dozen　guards。　After　seeing　all　there　was　to　see；　he　sat　down　below　the　window；　back　to　the　wall；　and　considered　the　situation。
　
　Stopping　the　smugglers　from　boarding　the　immigrants　onto　the　train　looked　grim。　Stalling　them　was　a　tactic　that　lay　open；　but　what　good　would　delaying　the　inevitable　do？　He　might　take　out　four　or　five　of　the　guards　before　they　recovered　from　surprise　and　blasted　him；　but　where　were　the　percentages　in　that？　There　was　almost　no　hope　of　terminating　the　departure；　but　there　was　a　slim　chance　of　bringing　it　to　a　standstill；　at　least　for　the　next　few　hours。
　
　Pitt　removed　his　small　arsenal　and　studied　the　two　。357　magnum　revolvers；　the　bowie　knife　and　his　steadfast　old　Colt。　The　six…shot　revolvers　gave　him　twelve　rounds。　Many　years　ago　he　had　redesigned　the　grip　on　the　Colt　to　hold　a　twelve…shot　magazine。　The　revolvers　were　loaded　with　hollow…point　cartridges；　excellent　for　stopping　power　and　producing　extreme　tissue　damage　in　man　and　animal；　but　not　efficient　for　what　Pitt　had　in　mind。　His　。45　packed　Winchester　185…grain　Sil…vertips；　which　were　not　as　brutal　on　flesh　but　had　better　penetration。　He　had　twenty…four　chances　to　stop　the　train's　departure。　Only　one　lucky　shot　would　do　it。　The　problem　was　that　although　he　had　more　than　enough　killing　power；　he　was　woefully　short　in　the　metal…piercing　department。　His　intent　was　to　strike　a　vital　part　of　the　diesel　engines　and　electric　generators；　shutting　down　all　power　to　the　drive　wheels。
　
　Pitt　sighed；　rose　to　his　knees；　took　the　revolvers　in　both　hands　and　menced　firing；　aiming　at　the　louvered　sides　of　the　lootive。
　
　JULIA　HAD　NO　IDEA　OF　HOW　LONG　SHE　HAD　BEEN　UNCONSCIOUS。　The　last　thing　she　remembered　was　the　soft　face　of　a　woman；　a　very　beautiful　woman；　dressed　in　a　red　Oriental…silk　sheath　dress　slit　up　the　sides；　tearing　Julia's　blouse　from　her　shoulders。　As　the　haze　lifted　she　became　aware　of　a　fiery；　burning　sensation　that　coursed　through　her　body。　She　also　discovered　that　her　hands　and　feet　were　in　manacles　with　chains　running　around　her　waist　and　snaking　through　the　bars　of　a　gate；　brutally　pulling　her　arms　out　of　their　sockets；　leaving　her　toes　barely　touching　the　floor。　The　chains　were　worked　tight　and　looped　over　the　door；　making　it　impossible　for　her　to　move　even　fractionally。
　
　Only　the　cool；　damp　air　that　touched　and　tingled　her　bare　skin　gave　her　relief　from　the　searing　fire　flowing　in　her　veins。　She　slowly　came　to　realize　that　her　clothes　were　gone　and　she　was　dressed　in　little　else　but　her　bra　and　panties。
　
　The　woman；　who　looked　Eurasian；　stared　at　Julia　from　a　nearby　chair。　She　sat　with　her　legs　curled　under　her　and　smiled　a　catlike　smile　that　sent　a　shiver　running　through　Julia。　Her　hair　was　shiny　black　and　fell　in　a　long　cascade　down　her　back。　Her　shoulders　were　broad；　her　breasts　nicely　rounded；　her　slim
　
　waist　neatly　merging　with　trim　hips。　She　wore　makeup　with　skill　and　her　nails　were　incredibly　long。　But　it　was　her　eyes　that　drew　Julia's　interest。　The　scientific　term　was　heterochro…mia。　One　of　her　eyes　was　nearly　black　while　the　other　was　a　light　gray。　The　effect　was　hypnotic。
　
　〃Well？〃　she　said　sociably。　〃Wele　back　to　reality。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃My　name　is　May　Ching。　I　serve　the　Dragon　Triad。〃
　〃Not　Qin　Shang？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Not　very　sporting　of　you　to　drug　me；〃　Julia　whispered　angrily；　fighting　off　the　internal　torment　raging　inside　her　body。
　〃I　suspect　you　did　no　less　to　Lin　Wan　Chu；　the　cook　on　board　the　Sung　Lien　Star；〃　said　May　Ching。　〃Where　is　she；　by　the　way？〃
　〃She's　being　treated　better　than　I　am。〃
　May　Ching　casually　lit　a　cigarette　and　blew　the　smoke　toward　Julia。　〃We　had　quite　a　chat；　you　and　I。〃
　〃I　was　interrogated？〃　Julia　exclaimed。　〃I　don't　remember。〃
　〃You　wouldn't。　The　very　latest　in　truth　serums。　Not　only　does　it　reverse　the　mind　to　a　child　of　five；　but　it　makes　the　body　feel　as　if　your　blood　turned　into　molten　lava。　Between　the　madness　and　the　agony；　no　man　or　woman；　regardless　of　how　strong…willed；　can　refuse　honest　answers　to　intimate　questions。　By　the　way；　just　so　you　won't　feel　unduly　embarrassed；　it　was　I　who　undressed　and　searched　you。　Clever　hiding　places　for　your　little　automatic　and　knife。　Most　men　wouldn't　have　thought　to　look　between　your　legs　and　inside　your　biceps。　Being　a　woman；　however；　your　radio　was　exactly　where　I　thought　it　would　be。〃
　〃You're　not　Chinese。〃
　〃Only　on　my　mother's　side；〃　answered　May　Ching。　〃My　father　was　British。〃
　At　that　moment　Ki　Wong　entered　the　room　with　another　man　whose　facial　features　were　also　Eurasian。　They　both　stood　in　front　of　Julia；　staring　at　her　lewdly。　Wong's　sallow　skin　stretched　tautly　and　contrasted　with　his　panion's　suntanned　face　and　neck。　As　he　stared　at　her；　he　seemed　to　revel　in　a　perverse　satisfaction。
　〃Excellently　done；〃　he　informed　May　Ching。　〃You　obtained　an　incredible　supply　of　information　that　will　be　most　useful。　Discovering　that　Miss　Lee　is　working　hi　cooperation　with　the　Coast　Guard；　who　has　our　facility　under　surveillance　from　across　the　bayou；　has　given　us　the　necessary　time　to　remove　all　immigrants　and　any　evidence　of　their　presence　before　local　authorities　and　immigration　agents　can　marshal　their　forces　to　conduct　a　raid。〃
　
　〃Fifteen　more　minutes　and　all　they'll　find　are　abandoned　ruins；〃　said　the　other　man。　His　eyes　were　black　and　vapid；　like　those　of　a　raccoon。　A　scavenger's　eyes；　bright　without　warmth。　His　hair　was　long；　black　and　tied　in　a　ponytail　that　came　halfway　down　his　back。　His　face　portrayed　someone　who　lived　high；　a　party　animal；　a　Las　Vegas　gambler；　a　womanizer。　The　skin　was　taut　from　more　than　one　face…lift。　Nothing　done　by　a　surgeon　hid　the　fact　that　he　would　never　see　fifty　again。　He　was　dressed　fashionably　for　a　Hollywood　lifestyle。
　He　stepped　over　to　Julia；　reached　out；　took　a　handful　of　hair　and　cruelly　pulled　her　head　back　until　she　was　staring　up　at　the　ceiling。　〃My　name　is　Jack　Loo；〃　he　said　icily。　〃You　belong　to　me。〃
　〃I　belong　to　no　one；〃　Julia　gasped　through　lips　taut　from　the　sudden　pain。
　〃Not　so；〃　said　Wong。　〃Qin　Shang's　orders　were　to　kill　you　on　sight。　But　Mr。　Loo　made　an　offer　I　cannot　refuse。　For　a　tidy　sum；　I　sold　you　to　him。〃
　〃You　sick　beast；〃　Julia　flashed　at　him；　fear　beginning　to　spread　in　her　eyes。
　〃Do　not　entirely　blame　me；〃　Wong　said　as　if　wounded。　〃Your　future　is　now　in　the　hands　of　the　Dragon　Triad；　Qin　Shang　Maritime's　partners　in　crime；　you　might　say。　We　export　and　the　Dragon　Triad　imports。　We　smuggle　and　sell；　they　buy；　be　it　drugs；　aliens　or　weapons。　In　return；　Mr。　Loo；　who　is　their　chief　executive　officer；　and　his　partners　provide　Qin　Shang　with　stolen　luxury　automobiles；　yachts；　consumer　goods；　high　technology；　and　counterfeit　currency；　credit　cards　and　government　documents　for　shipment　to　China。〃
　〃A　most　profitable　arrangement　for　both　sides；〃　said　Loo；　twisting　Julia's　hair　viciously　until　she　screamed。　Then　he　slapped　her　hard　across　the　buttocks　and　began　removing　the　chains。　〃You　and　I　are　going　for　a　nice；　long　ride　in　my　limo。　By　the　time　we　reach　New　Orleans；　we'll　be　on　very　close　terms。〃
　〃You　will　pay；〃　Julia　murmured　as　she　was　released　from　the　door；　her　wrists　and　ankles　free　of　the　manacles。　Unable　to　stand；　she　sagged　into　Loo's　arms。　〃I　am　an　agent　of　the　United　States　government。　Kill　me　and　they'll　never　rest　until　you're　brought　to　justice。〃
　Wong　laughed　off　her　threat。　〃You　have　no　one　but　yourself　to　blame　for　your　plight。　Qin　Shang　sent　a　force　of　no　less　than　twenty　men　to　track　you　and　Mr。　Pitt　down　for　the　purpose　of　killing　you　both。　They　lost　your　trail　and　certainly　never　expected　you　to　walk　through　our　front　door。〃
　〃I　was　stupid。〃
　
　Wong　shrugged　in　agreement。　〃Granted；　impulsive　behavior　is　not　what　makes　a　good　government　agent…〃　Wong　was　suddenly　interrupted　by　the　sound　of　gunfire　from　somewhere　within　the　building。　He　stared　at　Loo；　who　removed　a　portable　phone　from　a　pocket　of　his　expensive　sport　coat　and　spoke　into　the　receiver。
　
　〃Where　is　the　gunfire　ing　from？〃　demanded　Loo。　〃Are　we　being　raided？〃
　〃No；　Mr。　Loo；〃　his　chief　of　security　answered　from　the　monitoring…systems　room。　〃There　is　no　raid。　All　grounds　and　wharf　are　clear。　The　gunfire　is　ing　from　a　room　above　the　train…loading　dock。　We　do　not　yet　know　who　is　behind　the　attack　nor　his　purpose。〃
　〃Are　there　casualties？〃
　〃No；〃　answered　the　security　chief。　〃Whoever　is　shooting　is　not　aiming　at　our　guards。〃
　〃Keep　me　informed！〃　Loo　snapped。　He　nodded　at　Wong。　〃It　is　time　to　go。〃　He　had　barely　spoken　the　words　when　the　shooting　stopped。　〃What　has　happened？〃　he　inquired；　snatching　up　the　radio　again。
　The　security　chief's　voice　came　back。　〃We　must　have　hit　him。　I　am　sending　a　team　upstairs　to　examine　the　body。〃
　〃I　wonder　who　it　can　be；〃　Wong　muttered　thoughtfully。
　〃We'll　know　shortly；〃　Loo　muttered。　He　threw　Julia　over　his　shoulder　as　lightly　as　if　she　was　a　large　pillow。　He　shook　hands　with　Wong。　〃Good　doing　business　with　you；　Mr。　Wong。　I　suggest　you　find　a　new　staging　depot。　This　one　is　no　longer　safe。〃
　Wong　smiled　without　the　slightest　expression　of　agitation。　〃Three　days　from　now　Qin　Shang　Maritime's　new　operation　will　be　firmly　established　and　the　Americans　will　have　bigger　problems　on　their　minds。〃
　With　Wong　in　the　lead；　they　left　the　office　together　and　hurried　down　a　circular　staircase　that　opened　onto　a　wide　corridor　leading　past　empty　storage　and　equipment　rooms　last　used　when　the　sugar　mill　was　in　operation。　They　were　halfway　down　the　corridor　when　Loo's　beeper　went　off　on　his　radio。　〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃　he　said　irritably。
　〃Our　security　agents　stationed　throughout　St。　Mary　Parish　report　a　small　fleet　of　Coast　Guard　boats　entering　Bayou　Teche；　and　a　pair　of　helicopters　with　government　markings　just　now　passing　over　Morgan　City；　headed