cc.goldenbuddha-第13部分

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　〃I　can　find　someone；〃　the　billionaire　said。　
　〃Then　I'll　send　you　a　sliver　of　metal　along　with　a　videotape　of　me　removing　it　from　the　bottom　of　the　artifact。　The　gold　used　in　the　Buddha　was　mined　in〃　
　〃I　know　the　history；〃　the　billionaire　said；　cutting　him　off。　〃How　are　you　going　to　send　the　sample？〃　
　〃I'll　FedEx　it　this　evening；〃　Spenser　said。　
　The　billionaire　reeled　off　an　address；　then　asked；　〃If　it　checks　out；　in　what　form　will　you　want　payment？〃　
　〃I'll　accept　a　wire　transfer　of　American　dollars　to　an　account　I'll　specify　at　the　time　of　the　transfer；〃　Spenser　said。　
　〃Sounds　reasonable；〃　the　billionaire　said。　〃I'll　set　it　up　tonight。　One　more　thing；　though；〃　the　billionaire　added。　〃I　just　hope　you're　better　at　stealing　than　you　are　at　picking　electronics。　Your　choice　in　voice…alteration　equipment　is　second…rateyour　accent　is　as　British　as　beans　on　toast；　and　that　gives　me　a　pretty　good　idea　of　who　you　are。〃　
　Spenser　stared　at　the　flashing　green　light　in　disgust；　but　said　nothing。　
　〃So　just　remember；〃　the　billionaire　finished；　〃if　you　try　and　screw　meI　can　be　real　unpleasant。〃　
　
　〃FULL　STOP；〃　HANLEY　ordered。　
　The　Oregon　had　crossed　the　outer　edge　of　the　harbor　just　after　11　a。m。　and　picked　up　the　pilot。　Several　containerized　ships　leaving　port　had　slowed　their　progress；　and　the　trip　to　a　mooring　buoy　in　the　water　just　off　the　main　portion　of　the　port　had　required　most　of　the　next　hour。　The　time　was　just　before　noon　when　the　vessel　was　finally　secured。　
　Cabrillo　stood　next　to　Hanley　at　the　helm　and　stared　at　the　city；　which　encircled　the　harbor。　The　pilot　had　just　left；　and　he　watched　the　stern　of　the　boat　retreating。　
　〃You　don't　think　he　noticed　anything　unusual？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃I　think　we're　okay；〃　Hanley　answered。　
　
　The　Corporation's　previous　ship；　the　Oregon　I；　had　been　involved　in　a　sea　battle　off　Hong　Kong　a　few　years　before；　which　had　resulted　in　them　sinking　the　Chinese　navy　vessel　Chengdo。　If　the　Chinese　officials　figured　out　this　was　the　same　crew　that　had　sunk　their　multimillion…dollar　destroyer；　they'd　all　be　hung　as　spies。　
　〃Truitt　arranged　for　us　to　receive　our　cover　cargo　the　day　after　tomorrow；〃　Cabrillo　said；　scanning　the　sheet　of　paper　on　a　clipboard　that　listed　the　operational　plans。　〃You're　going　to　love　thisit's　a　load　of　fireworks　bound　for　Cabo　San　Lucas。〃　
　〃The　Oregon　delivering　fireworks；〃　Hanley　said　quietly。　〃It　seems　so　fitting。〃　
　THE　EXECUTIVE　JET　terminal　in　Honolulu　was　plush　without　being　ostentatious。　It　was　cool　inside；　the　air　conditioning　maintaining　an　even　seventy　degrees。　The　smoked…glass　windows　gave　the　lobby　a　clear　view　of　the　runways；　and　Langston　Overholt　IV　passed　the　time　watching　a　series　of　private　jets　appear　in　the　night　sky　and　then　touch　down　and　taxi　over　to　the　refueling　area　near　private　hangars。　Overholt　never　saw　the　passengers　of　the　jets；　they　were　either　met　by　limousines　or　large　black　SUV's　on　the　tarmac　then　transferred　to　their　locations；　or　they　stayed　aboard　while　the　jets　were　refueled　and　continued　on　their　journies。　Pilots　or　copilots　came　and　wentstopping　for　weather　briefings；　to　use　the　restrooms；　to　grab　a　cup　of　coffee　or　a　pastry　from　a　pantry　to　the　side　of　the　lobbybut　for　the　most　part　it　was　quiet　in　a　mid…evening　lull。　Overholt　rose　from　the　couch；　walked　over　to　the　pantry　and　poured　a　cup　of　coffee；　then　was　removing　a　banana　from　a　fruit　basket　on　the　table　when　his　telephone　vibrated。　
　〃Overholt；〃　he　said　quietly。　
　〃Sir；〃　a　voice　a　few　thousand　miles　away　said　steadily；　〃tracking　reports　the　target　on　final　approach。〃　
　〃Thank　you；〃　Overholt　said　as　he　disconnected。　
　Then　he　peeled　the　banana；　ate　it　and　walked　over　to　the　flight　desk。　
　Taking　a　leather　badge　cover　from　the　breast　pocket　of　his　suit；　he　flipped　it　open　and　handed　it　to　the　clerk。　The　man　quickly　scanned　the　golden　eagle；　then　perused　the　ID　card　showing　Overholt's　picture　and　title。　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　clerk　said。　
　〃I　need　to　talk　to　the　party　on　the　Falcon　you　have　inbound　for　landing。〃　
　The　man　nodded　and　reached　for　a　portable　radio　on　his　belt。　〃I'll　notify　the　ramp　and　call　for　a　golf　cart。　Is　there　anything　else　you　need？〃　
　Overholt　turned　and　stared　out　the　window。　The　light　mist　was　turning　to　rain。　
　〃Do　you　have　an　umbrella　I　can　borrow？〃　
　The　clerk　was　on　the　radio　calling　out　to　the　ramp　attendants　and　nodded　at　Overholt's　request。　〃You　can　use　mine；〃　the　clerk　said；　reaching　under　the　counter　and　handing　it　across　the　desk。　
　Overholt　slipped　his　hand　in　his　trouser　pocket　and　removed　a　money　clip；　then　peeled　off　a　fifty。　〃The　CIA　would　like　to　buy　you　dinner　tonight；〃　he　said；　smiling。　
　〃Is　this　when　you　say　you　were　never　here？〃　the　clerk　said；　smiling　in　turn。　
　〃Something　like　that。〃　Overholt　nodded。　
　The　man　pointed　to　the　doors。　〃Your　golf　cart　is　here。〃　
　Outside　the　window；　the　landing　lights　on　the　Falcon　jet　reflected　off　the　light　rain　and　the　wet　surface　as　it　lowered　onto　the　runway　with　a　chirp　from　the　tires。　A　truck　with　a　flashing　light　bar　mounted　on　the　roof　raced　down　an　access　road　in　hot　pursuit。　The　truck　would　lead　the　jet　to　the　spot　for　refueling。　
　Then　Overholt　could　board　and　ask　the　Dalai　Lama　if　he　was　ready　for　the　journey。　
　
　MACAU　IS　A　tiny　country　consisting　of　three　small　islands　connected　by　causeways。　The　farthest　north　is　Macau；　which　houses　the　government　buildings；　the　middle　island；　Taipa；　has　a　manmade　extension　for　the　airport　and　runways；　and　is　connected　to　the　main　body　of　the　island　with　a　pair　of　roads；　and　the　farthest　south　island　is　Coloane。　To　the　north　and　east　of　the　country　is　the　Chinese　mainland；　and　to　the　west；　across　the　body　of　water　known　as　Zhujiang　Kou；　is　Hong　Kong。　
　Formerly　a　Portuguese　colony；　the　country　had　reverted　to　China　in　1999　and　was　administered　as　a　special　region　similar　to　Hong　Kong。　The　landmass　of　Macau　is　a　mere　9。1　square　miles；　or　just　under　a　sixth　of　the　size　of　Washington；　D。C。　The　population　is　estimated　at　around　430；000　people。　
　The　Oregon　was　moored　off　Coloane；　and　nearest　to　international　waters。　
　〃Dick；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　reached　the　top　of　the　ladder　leading　from　the　shore　boat　to　the　pier；　〃how　goes　it？〃　
　〃Mr。　Chairman；〃　Truitt　said；　〃I　think　all　is　in　order。〃　
　Bob　Meadows　and　Pete　Jones；　former　Navy　SEALs　and　operational　specialists；　along　with　security　and　surveillance　expert　Linda　Ross；　followed。　Once　they　were　all　on　the　pier；　Truitt　motioned　to　the　van。　
　〃Let　me　show　you　the　layout；〃　Truitt　said　quietly　as　they　all　entered　the　van。　
　Truitt　steered　the　van　onto　the　1。3…mile…long　bridge　that　would　take　them　to　Taipa。　It　was　quiet　inside　the　van；　the　only　sound　ing　from　the　tires　as　they　periodically　crossed　over　the　expansion　joints。　
　〃This　is　Taipa；〃　Truitt　said　as　the　van　reached　the　island。　〃Two　bridges　lead　to　Macau。　We'll　take　the　shorter；　which　is　about　a　mile　and　a　half　long。〃　
　As　Truitt　steered　the　van　onto　the　second　bridge；　Cabrillo　stared　to　the　west　across　the　water　toward　the　other　bridge　and　Hong　Kong。　The　road　was　crowded　with　trucks　carrying　cargo　from　the　seaports　and　air　terminal；　but　the　traffic　was　moving　fast。　
　〃Can　the　authorities　seal　off　the　bridges？〃　he　asked。　
　〃There　are　no　gates　per　se；〃　Truitt　said；　〃but　they　could　easily　station　large　trucks　on　the　approaches　and　we'd　be　in　trouble。〃　
　The　high…rises　on　Macau　were　being　more　visible　through　the　windshield。　
　〃We're　not　going　to　luck　out　and　have　the　building　located　along　the　waterfront？〃　Linda　Ross　asked。　
　〃Sorry；　Linda；〃　Truitt　said；　glancing　in　the　rearview　mirror；　〃his　home　is　on　the　hillside。〃　
　Cabrillo　was　staring　ahead　at　the　mass　of　humanity　and　buildings　as　the　van　covered　the　final　hundred　yards　over　the　bridge。　〃So　if　we're　caught　making　a　run　for　it　。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　
　Truitt　slowed　the　van　and　turned　onto　a　crowded　side　street。　〃That's　the　score；　boss；〃　he　said　quietly。　
　〃How　e　we　never　steal　things　that　are　hidden　in　the　middle　of　nowhere？〃　Meadows　asked。　
　〃Because　the　stuff　we're　paid　to　do　never　happens　in　an　isolated　area；〃　Jones　said；　smiling。　
　
　LANGSTON　OVERHOLT　HAD　needed　more　time　with　the　Dalai　Lama　to　explain　his　proposal；　so　he'd　made　a　quick　call　to　Washington；　then　boarded　the　Falcon。　Flying　against　the　sun　had　made　the　night　last　a　long　timeit　was　still　dark　when　they　stopped　in　Manila　to　refuel。　Lifting　from　the　tarmac　at　Manila　International　Airport；　the　pilot　set　a　course　skirting　Vietnam　then　over　the　southernmost　strip　of　Thailand　above　Hat　Yai。　Once　he　passed　over　Thailand；　he'd　make　a　sweeping　turn　north　over　the　Andaman　Sea；　stop　at　Rangoon　for　more　fuel；　and　then　he　could　make　it　to　Punjab；　where　the　Dalai　Lama　would　take　a　small　plane　the　rest　of　the　way　to　Little　Lhasa；　his　exile　home　in　northern　India。　
　Once　the　jet　reached　cruising　altitude；　Overholt　continued　the　conversation。　
　〃Your　father　was　a　friend　of　mine；〃　the　Dalai　Lama　said　quietly；　〃so　I've　listened　carefully　to　your　proposal。　But　you　have　yet　to　explain　how　we　make　the　Chinese　simply　hand　back　my　country。　You　know　I　cannot　agree　to　this　if　there　will　be　bloodshed。〃　
　〃The　president　feels　if　we　enlist　the　Russians'　help；　the　threat　of　war　might　make　the　Chinese　back　down。　Their　economy　is　in　a　pinch　right　nowthe　cost　to　occupy　your　country　is　starting　to　mount。〃　
　〃So　you　believe　the　financial　motive　is　sufficient？〃　the　Dalai　Lama　asked。　
　〃It　might　help　if　you　offered　them　the　Golden　Buddha；〃　Overholt　said；　saving　his　silver　bullet　for　the　last。　
　The　Dalai　Lama　smiled。　〃Like　your　father；　you　are　a　fine　man；　Lang…ston；　but　in　this　case　your　information　is　faulty。　The　Golden　Buddha　
　was　stolen　when　I　went　into　exile。　The　government…in…exile　no　longer　has　it　to　offer。〃　
　The　sun　was　finally　appearing　over　the　horizon　and　it　illuminated　the　wings　on　the　Falcon　jet　in　a　golden　glow。　To　the　rear　of　the　plane　a　steward　was　preparing　a　light　breakfast　of　juice　and　muffins。　The　time　had　e　for　Overholt　to　show　his　hand。　
　〃The　United　States　has　a　plan　to　liberate　the　Golden　Buddha；〃　he　said。　〃We　should　have　it　in　a　few　days。〃　
　The　Dalai　Lama's　smile　became　a　grin。　〃I　must　say　that　is　very　unexpected　news。　Now　I