cc.floodtide-第83部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　laughed。　〃When　was　the　last　time　you　drove　a　stick　shift？〃
　〃Never；〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃I've　always　owned　cars　with　automatic　transmissions。〃
　〃I　promise　that　as　soon　as　I　can　get　there；　we'll　take　the　Duesy　and　go　on　a　picnic。〃
　〃Sounds　wonderful。〃
　He　stood　back　and　stared　downward　at　her　through　his　opaline…green　eyes。　〃Try　to　be　a　good　girl。〃
　Then　he　kissed　her　and　they　both　turned　away；　neither　looking　back　as　they　walked　apart。
　
　THE　RIVER　SOUNDS　WERE　MUTED　BY　A　LIGHT　MIST　THAT　HUNG　over　the　dark　water　like　a　diaphanous　quilt。　The　egrets　and　herons　that　walked　silently　along　the　shorelines；　their　long；　curved　beaks　dipping　into　the　silt　for　food；　were　the　first　to　sense　something　not　of　their　world　moving　toward　them　out　of　the　night。　It　began　as　a　slight　tremor　through　the　water　that　increased　to　a　sudden　rush　of　air　and　a　loud　throb　that　sent　the　startled　birds　flapping　into　the　air。
　
　The　few　bystanders　strolling　the　levees　after　dinner　and　watching　the　lights　of　the　boats　on　the　water　were　startled　by　the　sudden　appearance　of　the　monstrous　shadow。　And　then　the　leviathan　materialized　from　the　mist　with　her　towering　raked　bows　slicing　through　the　water　with　incredible　ease　for　an　object　of　such　massive　proportions。　Although　her　four　bronze　screws　were　throttled　down　to　negotiate　the　sharp　bend　at　Nine　Mile　Point；　she　still　threw　a　massive　wake　that　rolled　up　the　levees　nearly　to　the　roads　running　along　their　crests；　crushing　small　vessels　anchored　along　the　shore　and　sweeping　a　dozen　people　into　the　water。　Only　after　she　maneuvered　into　a　straight　reach　did　her　engines　go　on　full　throttle　and　thrust　her　up　the　river　at　an　incredible　rate　of　speed。
　
　Except　for　a　white　light　on　the　stub　of　her　once…tall　foremast　and　the　red　and　green　running　lights；　the　only　other　illumination　was　an　eerie　glow　that　came　from　her　wheelhouse。　No　movement　could　be　seen　on　her　decks；　and　only　the　occasional　flicker　of　silhouettes　on　the　bridge　wings　offered　any　signs　of　life。　For　the　brief　minutes　it　took　for　her　to　pass　she　seemed　like　a　colossal　dinosaur　charging　across　a　shallow　lake。　Her　white　superstructure　was　a　shadow　in　the　gloom；　her　black　hull　all　but　invisible。　She　flew　no　flag；　her　only　identification　the　raised　letters　of　her　name　on　the　bows　and　stern。
　
　Before　the　mist　shrouded　her　again；　her　decks　seemed　to　e　to　life　as　men　scurried　about　setting　up　weapons　stations　and　arming　an　array　of　portable　missile　launchers　against　possible　attack　by　American　law　enforcement。　These　were　not　foreign　mercenaries　or　amateur　terrorists。　Despite　their　casual　clothing；　they　were　an　elite　team　of　fighters…ruthless；　trained　and　disciplined　for　this　mission。　If　captured　alive；　they　were　prepared　to　mit　suicide　or　die　fighting。　If　the　operation　went　according　to　plan　without　interference；　they　would　all　be　evacuated　by　helicopters　before　the　ship　was　scuttled。
　
　Captain　Hung…chang　had　been　right　about　the　surprise　and　shock　shown　by　the　thousands　of　spectators　lining　the　waterfront　of　New　Orleans　waiting　to　wele　the　United　States；　After　racing　past　the　all…steel；　stern…wheel　steamboat　called　the　Natchez　IX；　he　had　ordered　full　speed；　watching　amused　as　the　great　liner　left　the　city　behind　her　stern　while　crushing　a　small　cabin　cruiser　and　its　occupants　that　had　happened　to　get　in　the　path　of　her　sharp　bow。　He　had　laughed　when　he　viewed　the　faces　of　the　official　weling　mittee；　consisting　of　the　Louisiana　governor；　the　mayor　of　New　Orleans　and　other　dignitaries；　through　his　binoculars。　They　looked　absolutely　stricken　when　the　United　States　failed　to　stop　and　raced　on　past　the　dock　where　she　was　to　be　moored　and　refurbished　with　plush　rooms；　restaurants；　gift　shops　and　gambling　tables。
　
　For　the　first　thirty　miles；　a　fleet　of　yachts；　outboards　and　fishing　boats　followed　in　the　liner's　wake。　A　Coast　Guard　cutter　also　raced　in　pursuit　up　the　river；　along　with　sheriff　and　police　patrol　cars　that　tore　along　parallel　highways　with　sirens　screaming　and　red　lights　flashing。　Helicopters　from　New　Orleans　television　news　channels　swarmed　around　the　ship；　cameras　aimed　at　the　grand　scene　being　enacted　below。　Hung…chang　ignored　all　orders　demanding　the　ship　e　to　a　stop。　Unable　to　match　the　great　ship's　incredible　speed　on　the　straight　runs　of　the　river；　the　private　craft　and　Coast　Guard　cutter　soon　fell　back。
　
　As　darkness　fell；　the　first　real　problem　Hung…chang　faced　was　not　the　narrowing　of　the　shipping　channel　between　New　Orleans　and　Baton　Rouge　that　decreased　from　one　thousand　to　five　hundred　feet。　He　was　reasonably　safe　with　the　forty…foot　depth。　Her　hull　was　only　101　feet　at　its　widest　point；　narrowing　considerably　toward　the　waterline。　If　she　could　pass　through　the　Panama　Canal；　Hung…chang　reasoned；　the　two…hundred…foot　clearance　on　either　side　provided　just　enough　leeway　through　the　tight　turns。　It　was　clearing　the　six　bridges　that　spanned　the　banks　of　the　river　that　gave　him　his　greatest　concern。　The　spring　runoff　had　added　nearly　fourteen　feet　to　the　height　of　the　river；　making　for　a　tight　passage。
　
　The　United　States　narrowly　slipped　under　both　the　Crescent　City　Connection　bridges；　and　the　Huey　P。　Long　Bridge；　scraping　the　lower　span　with　the　tops　of　her　towering　funnels。　The　next　two　bridges；　the　Luling　and　Gramercy；　provided　a　slim　gap　of　less　than　twelve　feet　of　space。　Only　the　Sunshine　Bridge　at　Donaldsonville　remained；　and　Hung…chang　had　carefully　calculated　the　United　States　could　safely　pass　under　with　six　feet　to　spare。　After　that；　the　liner　was　free　of　all　obstructions　on　her　dash　to　the　Mystic　Canal　except　for　river　traffic。
　
　A　myriad　of　uneasy　thoughts　began　to　fade　from　Hung…chang's　mind。　There　was　no　strong　wind　to　push　the　ship　off　course。　Ming　Lin　guided　the　ship　through　the　intricate　river　bends　with　practiced　mastery。　And；　most　important　of　all；　surprise　was　on　his　side。　Before　the　Americans　realized　what　was　happening；　it　would　be　too　late。　Hung…chang　would　have　the　ship　in　the　precise　spot　to　divert　the　water　through　the　breach　blasted　in　the　levee　before　he　and　his　crew　scuttled　the　ship　and　were　to　be　in　the　air　and　on　their　way　back　to　the　safety　of　Sungari　and　the　Sung　Lien　Star　which　was　prepared　to　cast　off　immediately　and　head　out　to　sea。　The　closer　the　United　States　steamed　to　the　scuttling　point；　the　more　distant　such　worries　became。
　
　He　felt　an　unexpected　shudder　through　the　deck　and　tensed；　looking　quickly　at　Ming　Lin；　searching　for　a　sign　of　an　error；　a　tiny　mistake　in　judgment。　All　he　could　detect　was　a　few　beads　of　sweat　on　the　helm　master's　forehead　and　a　tight　set　to　the　lips。　Then　the　decks　became　placid　again；　except　for　the　beat　of　the　engines；　as　they　again　went　to　full　speed　up　a　straight　reach　of　the　river。
　
　Hung…chang　stood　with　both　legs　braced　apart。　He　had　never　felt　such　incredible　strength　from　a　ship　before：　240；000　horsepower；　60；000　each　to　drive　her　massive　propellers；　which　in　turn　hurled　her　up　the　river　at　the　incredible　speed　of　fifty　miles　an　hour；　speed　that　Hung…chang　could　not　imagine　from　a　ship　under　his　mand。　He　studied　his　image　in　the　front　storm　windows　of　the　bridge　and　saw　a　face　calm　and　poised　with　no　stress　lines。　He　smiled　as　the　ship　passed　a　large　waterfront　home　with　a　tall　pole　flying　the　stars　and　bars　of　the　Confederate　flag。　Soon；　very　soon；　the　flag　would　no　longer　be　flapping　in　the　wind　over　the　mighty　Mississippi；　but　over　a　muddy　creek。
　
　The　bridge　was　strangely　quiet。　There　was　no　need　for　Hung…chang　to　call　out　orders　for　course　and　speed　changes。　Ming　Lin　was　in　plete　mand　of　the　ship's　passage；　his　hands　locked　on　the　wheel；　his　eyes　staring　into　a　large　monitor　that　displayed　the　vessel　and　its　relation　to　the　river　in　a　three…dimensional　image　that　was　transmitted　by　infrared　cameras　j　mounted　on　the　bow　and　funnels。　Through　the　medium　of　digital　science；　a　display　across　the　bottom　of　the　monitor　also　gave　him　remended　course　deviations　and　velocity　instructions；　providing　him　with　far　better　mastery　over　the　ship's　progress　than　if　he　had　piloted　by　eye　during　daylight。
　
　〃We　have　a　towboat　pushing　ten　grain　barges　ing　up　ahead；〃　announced　Ming　Lin。
　Hung…chang　picked　up　the　ship's　radiophone。　〃Captain　of　the　towboat　approaching　St。　James　Landing。　We　are　overtaking　you。　We　are　one…half　mile　behind　and　will　overtake　you　on　the　Cantrelle　Reach；　passing　on　your　starboard。　We　have　a　hundred…foot　beam　and　suggest　you　give　us　a　wide　berth。〃
　There　was　no　response　from　the　unknown　towboat　captain；　but　when　the　United　States　turned　into　Cantrelle　Reach；　Hung…chang　could　see　through　his　night…vision　glasses　that　the　tow…boat　was　slowly　turning　to　port；　too　slowly。　The　towboat　captain　had　not　followed　the　news　from　New　Orleans　and　could　never　imagine　that　a　giant　behemoth　the　size　of　the　United　States　was　bearing　down　on　him　at　unbelievable　speed。
　
　〃He's　not　going　to　make　it　in　time；〃　Ming　Lin　certified　calmly。
　〃Can　we　slow？〃　asked　Hung…chang。
　〃If　we　don't　pass　him　on　a　straight　reach；　it　will　be　impossible　after　we　enter　the　next　series　of　bends。〃
　〃Then　it's　now　or　never。〃
　Ming　Lin　nodded。　〃For　us　to　deviate　from　our　puter…programmed　passage　might　very　well　imperil　the　operation。〃
　Hung…chang　picked　up　the　radiophone。　〃Captain；　please　veer　away　quickly　or　we　may　run　you　down。〃
　The　towboat　captain's　voice　came　back　angrily。　〃You　don't　own　the　river；　Charlie　Brown。　Who　the　hell　do　you　think　you're　threatening？〃
　Hung…chang　shook　his　head　wearily。　〃I　think　you　had　better　look　over　your　stern。〃
　The　reply　came　like　a　choked　gasp。　〃Jeezez！　Where　did　you　e　from？〃
　Then　the　towboat　and　her　barges　quickly　veered　to　port。　Although　the　move　came　in　time；　the　great　wash　from　the　superliner；　her　hull　displacing　over　forty　thousand　tons　of　water　with　her　passing；　cascaded　over　the　towboat　and　barges；　sweeping　them　sideways　and　depositing　them　high　and　dry　on　the　bank　of　the　levee。
　
　In　another　ten　minutes　the　ship　rounded　Point　Houmas；　named　for　a　tribe　of　Indians　who　once　lived　there；　before　rushing　past　the　town　of　Donaldsonville　and　successfully　clearing　the　Sunshine　Bridge。　As　the　lights　of　the　bridge　faded　around　the　last　bend　in　the　river；　Hung…chang　allowed　himself