cc.goldenbuddha-第11部分

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l　structure。　
　〃Has　there　ever　been　an　official　photograph　of　the　president　sitting　in　the　Oval　Office　in　a　T…shirt？〃　the　president　joked。　
　〃I'll　check；　sir；〃　said　the　aide　who　had　just　led　the　CIA　director　inside。　
　〃Thank　you；　John；〃　the　president　said；　dispatching　the　man。　
　The　president　reached　across　the　desk　and　shook　the　director's　hand　as　the　aide　closed　the　door　to　leave　the　men　alone。　The　president　motioned　for　him　to　be　seated。　
　〃These　aides　I　have　are　sharp　as　tacks；〃　the　president　noted　as　he　sat　down；　〃but　short　on　a　sense　of　humor。　The　kid's　probably　checking　with　the　White　House　historian　as　we　speak。〃　
　〃If　it　was　anyone；〃　the　director　said；　smiling；　〃I'd　guess　LBJ。〃　
　When　you're　seventeen　years　old　and　you　know　the　director　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency；　the　spy　game　seems　pretty　cool。　When　you　later　bee　president；　you　really　have　a　chance　to　see　what　happens。　Time　had　not　diminished　his　enthusiasmthe　president　still　found　the　intelligence　game　fascinating。　
　〃What　have　you　got　for　me？〃　the　president　asked。　
　〃Tibet；〃　the　director　said　without　preamble。　
　The　president　nodded；　then　adjusted　a　fan　on　his　desk　so　that　the　breeze　swept　evenly　across　both　men。　〃Explain。〃　
　The　CIA　director　reached　into　his　briefcase　and　removed　some　documents。　
　Then　he　laid　out　the　plan。　
　bird　fluttered　around　for　a　few　seconds；　then　stopped　and　peered　in　the　window　and　looked　directly　toward　Jintao。　
　〃How　would　you　cut　costs？〃　Jintao　said　to　the　bird；　〃and　where　do　we　find　oil？〃　
　
　IN　BEIJING；　PRESIDENT　Hu　Jintao　was　studying　documents　that　showed　the　true　state　of　the　Chinese　economy。　The　picture　was　grim。　The　race　to　modernization　had　required　more　and　more　petroleum；　and　the　Chinese　had　yet　to　locate　any　significant　new　reserves　inside　their　borders。　The　situation　had　not　been　such　a　problem　a　few　years　earlier；　when　the　price　of　oil　had　been　at　twenty…year　lows；　but　with　the　recent　price　spike　upward；　the　higher　costs　were　wreaking　havoc。　Adding　to　the　problem　were　the　Japanese；　whose　thirst　for　oil　had　led　to　a　price　petition　the　Chinese　could　not　hope　to　win。　
　Jintao　stared　out　the　window。　The　air　was　clearer　than　usual　today　a　light　wind　was　blowing　the　smoke　from　the　factories　away　from　central　Beijingbut　the　wind　was　not　so　strong　as　to　blow　away　the　soot　that　had　landed　on　the　windowsill。　Jintao　watched　as　a　sparrow　landed　on　the　sill。　The　bird's　tiny　feet　made　tracks　in　the　powder。　The　Kasim　was　sound　asleep；　his　feet　up　on　the　control　panel。　His　mouth　was　partially　opened。　
　Kasim　could　sleep　through　a　hurricane；　Lincoln　thought；　or　in　this　part　of　the　ocean；　a　cyclone。　
　
　THE　OREGON　SWEPT　past　the　Paracel　Islands　under　a　pitch…black　night　sky。　The　air　was　liquid　with　rain　that　fell　in　sheets。　The　wind　was　blowing　in　gusts　without　firm　direction　or　purpose。　For　several　minutes　it　would　rake　the　Oregon　amidships；　then　quickly　change　to　blow　bow　on　or　stern　first。　The　soggy　flags　on　the　stern　were　pivoting　on　their　staffs　as　fast　as　a　determined　Boy　Scout　trying　to　light　a　fire　with　a　stick。　
　Inside　the　control　room；　Franklin　Lincoln　stared　at　the　radar　screen。　The　edge　of　the　storm　began　petering　out　just　before　the　ship　passed　the　twenty…degree　latitude　line。　Walking　over　to　a　puter　terminal　in　the　control　room；　he　entered　mands　and　waited　while　the　satellite　images　of　the　Chinese　coastline　loaded。　
　A　haze　of　smog　could　be　seen　over　Hong　Kong　and　Macau。　
　He　glanced　over　at　Hali　Kasim；　who　was　sharing　the　night　shift。　
　
　AT　THE　SAME　time　the　Oregon　was　steaming　east；　Winston　Spenser　awoke；　startled。　Earlier　in　the　evening　he　had　visited　the　Golden　Buddha　at　A…Ma。　The　icon　was　still　in　the　mahogany　crate；　sitting　upright；　door　opened；　in　the　room　where　it　had　been　taken。　Spenser　had　gone　alone；　simple　mon　sense　dictated　that　as　few　people　as　possible　know　the　actual　location；　but　he'd　found　the　experience　unnerving。　
　Spenser　knew　the　icon　was　nothing　more　than　a　mass　of　precious　metal　and　stones；　but　for　some　strange　reason　the　object　seemed　to　have　a　life　force。　The　chunk　of　gold　appeared　to　glow　in　the　dim　room；　as　if　illuminated　by　a　light　from　within。　The　large　jade　eyes　seemed　to　follow　his　every　move。　And　while　its　visage　might　appear　benign　to　some　only　that　of　a　potbellied；　smiling　prophetto　Spenser　the　image　seemed　to　be　mocking　him。　
　As　if　he　had　not　known　it　before；　earlier　in　the　evening　Spenser　had　bee　certain　that　what　he　had　done　was　not　a　stroke　of　genius。　The　Golden　Buddha　was　not　some　canvas；　dabbed　with　paintit　was　the　embodiment　of　reverence；　crafted　with　love　and　respect。　
　And　Spenser　had　swiped　it　like　a　candy　in　a　drugstore。　
　THE　DALAI　LAMA　listened　to　the　slow　flow　of　water　over　the　smooth　stones　while　he　meditated。　On　the　far　reaches　of　his　mind　was　static；　and　he　willed　the　disturbance　to　clear。　He　could　see　the　ball　of　light　in　the　center　of　his　skull；　but　the　edges　were　rough　and　pulsating。　Slowly　he　smoothed　the　signals；　and　the　ball　began　to　collapse　in　on　itself　until　only　a　pinpoint　of　white　light　remained。　Then　he　began　to　scan　his　physical　shell。　
　There　was　a　disturbance；　and　it　was　growing。　
　Eighteen　minutes　later；　he　came　back　into　his　shell　and　rose　to　his　feet。　
　Eight　yards　away；　sitting　under　a　green　canvas　awning　alongside　the　kidney…shaped　pool　on　the　estate　in　Beverly　Hills；　was　his　Chikyah　Kenpo。　The　Dalai　Lama　walked　over。　The　Hollywood　actor　who　was　his　host　smiled　and　rose　to　his　feet。　
　〃It　is　time　for　me　to　go　home；〃　the　Dalai　Lama　said。　
　There　was　no　pleading　or　disagreement　from　the　actor。　
　〃Your　Holiness；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　call　for　my　jet。〃　
　
　VICE　PRESIDENT　OF　Operations　Richard　Truitt　was　still　awake。　His　body　clock　had　yet　to　adjust　and　his　night　was　still　Macau's　day。　Logging　on　to　his　puter；　he　checked　for　messages。　One　had　been　sent　by　Cabrillo　a　few　hours　before。　Like　every　e…mail　he　received　from　the　chairman；　this　one　was　short。　
　Confirmation　received　from　the　home　of　George。　All　systems　go。　ETA　33　hours。　
　The　CIA　was　still　in　and　the　Oregon　would　arrive　in　less　than　two　days'　time。　Truitt　had　a　lot　of　work　to　plete　in　a　short　span。　Calling　down　to　the　hotel's　twenty…four…hour　room　service；　he　ordered　a　meal　of　bacon　and　eggs。　Then　he　walked　into　the　bathroom　to　shave；　shower　and　pick　his　disguise。　
　
　IN　THE　NORTH　of　Tibet；　on　the　border　between　U…Tsang　and　Amdo　province；　the　Basatongwula　Shan　mountains　towered　over　the　plains。　The　peak　was　a　snowcapped　sentinel　watching　over　an　area　where　few　men　trod。　To　the　untrained　eye；　the　lands　around　Basatongwula　Shan　looked　barren　and　desolate；　a　wasteland　best　left　alone　and　deserted。　On　the　surface；　this　may　have　been　true。　
　But　underneath；　hidden　for　centuries；　was　a　secret　known　only　by　a　few。　
　A　yak　walked　slowly　along　a　rocky　path。　On　his　back　was　a　black　mynah　bird　that　remained　silent　as　he　hitched　a　ride。　Slowly　at　first；　but　growing　in　intensity；　a　light　tremor　rippled　across　the　land。　The　yak　began　to　shake　in　fear；　causing　the　bird　to　take　to　the　air。　Digging　his　cloven　hooves　into　the　soil；　he　stood　firm　as　the　land　trembled。　Then　slowly　the　disruption　passed　and　the　earth　stilled。　The　yak　resumed　his　journey。　
　Within　minutes；　the　fur　on　his　legs　and　lower　body　was　covered　with　a　haze　from　a　mineral　that　over　countless　generations　had　made　some　men　rich　and　others　go　mad。　
　
　Cabrillo　lifted　his　cup　of　coffee　and　then　stood　up。　〃We're　less　than　twenty…four　hours　from　port。　How　are　things　going　in　the　Magic　Shop？〃　
　〃Most　of　the　props　are　constructed　and　I'm　starting　on　the　disguises。〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃Do　you　have　any　preferences　for　your　look？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃Try　to　keep　the　facial　hair　to　a　minimum；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃It　can　be　muggy　in　Macau。〃　
　Hanley　rose　from　the　table。　〃Sahib；　your　wish　is　my　mand。〃　
　　
　JUAN　CABRILLO　FINISHED　the　last　bite　of　an　omelet　filled　with　apple…smoked　bacon　and　Gorgonzola　cheese；　then　pushed　the　plate　away。　
　〃It's　a　wonder　we　all　don't　weigh　three　hundred　pounds；〃　he　said。　
　〃The　jalapeno　cheese　grits　alone　were　worth　waking　up　for；〃　Hanley　noted。　〃I　just　wish　the　chef　would　have　consulted　with　my　ex…wife。　I　might　still　be　married。〃　
　〃How's　the　divorce　going？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃Pretty　good；〃　Hanley　admitted；　〃considering　my　reported　ine　last　year　was　only　thirty　thousand　dollars。〃　
　〃Just　be　fair；〃　Cabrillo　cautioned。　〃I　don't　want　any　lawyers　snooping　around。〃　
　〃You　know　I　will；〃　Hanley　said　as　he　refilled　their　coffee　cups　from　a　silver　thermal　carafe　on　the　table。　〃I'm　just　waiting　for　Jeanie　to　calm　down。〃　
　WHEN　THE　OREGON　had　been　refitted　by　the　Corporation　in　the　shipyard　in　Odessa；　two　decks　had　been　installed　inside　the　hull；　giving　the　interior　a　total　of　three　levels；　not　including　the　raised　pilothouse。　The　lowest　level　housed　the　engines　and　physical　plants；　along　with　the　moon　pool；　machine　shops；　armory　and　storage　rooms。　One　level　above；　reached　by　metal　stairs　or　the　single　heavy…lift　elevator　amidships；　was　the　deck　containing　munications；　weapon　systems；　a　variety　of　shops　and　offices；　a　large　library；　a　puter　room　and　a　map　room。　The　third　level　housed　the　dining　room；　recreation　rooms；　a　full　gym；　plus　crew　cabins　and　meeting　and　boardrooms。　Level　three　was　surrounded　by　a　two…lane　running　track　for　exercise。　The　Oregon　was　a　city　unto　itself。　
　Hanley　walked　from　the　dining　room　and　across　the　running　track；　then　eschewed　the　elevators　for　the　stairs。　Opening　the　door；　he　started　down。　The　stairway　was　paneled　with　mahogany　and　lit　by　sconces。　At　the　bottom　Hanley　stepped　onto　a　thick　carpet　in　a　room　with　insets　in　the　walls　that　held　plaques　and　medals　awarded　by　grateful　customers　and　nations　to　the　men　and　women　of　the　Oregon。　
　He　made　his　way　forward　toward　the　bow　until　the　walls　in　the　hallway　turned　to　glass　on　the　port　side。　Behind　the　glass　was　what　could　have　passed　for　a　Hollywood　costume　and　set　shop。　Kevin　Nixon　raised　his　head　and　waved。　
　
　Hanley　opened　the　door　to　the　shop　and　entered。　It　was　cool　inside　and　the　air　was　scented　with　the　smells　of　grease；　vinyl　and　wax。　A　Willie　Nelson　CD　was　seeping　from　hidden　speakers。　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃　Hanley　asked。　Ni