cc.goldenbuddha-第19部分

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side；　which　he　folded　up　and　over。　The　engine　was　surprisingly　clean。　It　smelled　strongly　of　thick　grease　and　fresh　oil。　The　belts　and　hoses；　while　not　new；　were　serviceable；　and　the　electrical　wires　and　battery　looked　good。　Gannon　climbed　down。　
　〃Can　you　start　her　up？〃　
　The　man　walked　around；　opened　the　door　and　climbed　into　the　driver's　seat。　
　After　pulling　out　the　choke；　he　pumped　the　gas　pedal；　then　twisted　the　key。　After　turning　over　a　few　times；　the　engine　roared　to　life。　Smoke　drifted　out　of　a　rusted　hole　in　the　exhaust　pipe；　but　the　engine　settled　into　an　idle。　Gannon　listened　carefully。　There　was　no　tapping　from　the　valves；　but　he　placed　his　hand　over　the　covers　just　to　be　sure。　Nothing　was　amiss。　
　〃Rev　her　up；〃　he　shouted。　
　The　owner　depressed　the　gas　pedal；　then　left　off。　He　did　this　four　times。　
　〃Okay；〃　Gannon　said；　〃you　can　shut　her　off。〃　
　The　owner　turned　off　the　engine；　pocketed　the　key；　and　then　climbed　from　the　cockpit。　He　was　small；　a　shade　over　five　feet　tall；　with　tanned　skin　and　slightly　almond…shaped　eyes。　Smiling　at　Gannon；　he　awaited　the　verdict。　
　〃Do　you　have　spare　belts　and　hoses？〃　
　〃I　can　find　some；〃　the　man　told　him。　
　Gannon　reached　into　his　pocket　and　removed　a　wad　of　bills　wrapped　with　a　thick　rubber　band。　Removing　the　rubber　band；　he　fanned　out　the　bills。　
　〃How　much　to　take　me　and　a　cargo　to　the　border　with　Tibet？〃　he　asked。　〃With　amnesia　included。〃　
　〃Amnesia？〃　the　man　said；　not　understanding。　
　〃After　this　is　over；〃　Gannon　said；　〃I　want　you　to　forget　we　ever　　met。〃　
　The　man　nodded。　〃One　thousand　dollars；〃　he　said　easily；　〃and　one　DVD　player。〃　
　〃Sounds　reasonable；〃　Gannon　said。　〃Now；　do　you　know　where　I　can　buy　an　ox？〃　
　
　THE　OREGON　WAS　a　buzz　of　activity。　Belowdecks　in　the　Magic　Shop；　the　players　in　the　band　were　checking　their　instruments　and　arranging　their　costumes。　Juan　Cabrillo　flipped　open　his　cell　phone　and　answered　a　call。　
　〃Situation　is　stabilized　here；〃　Linda　Ross　said。　〃I'm　headed　to　the　site　now。〃　
　〃We've　got　three　men　inside　and　one　watching　from　outside　the　wall；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃If　anyone　catches　on；　you　sound　the　alarm　and　help　will　e　running。〃　
　〃Piece　of　cake；〃　Ross　said。　
　The　telephone　went　dead　and　Cabrillo　turned　to　Max　Hanley。　
　〃Iselda　is　making　her　entrance。〃　
　〃So　far　so　good；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Mark　Murphy　finished　with　Kasim　and　patted　his　back。　〃There　you　go；〃　he　said。　
　Michael　Halpert　was　playing　with　a　microphone。　Murphy　turned　to　him　and　motioned。　
　〃e　on；　kid；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　get　you　strapped。〃　
　Halpert　walked　over　and　turned　his　back　to　Murphy；　who　raised　Halpert's　shirt。　
　〃This　is　a　featherlight　thirty…eight；　Mike；〃　Murphy　recited　as　he　taped　a　holster　containing　the　weapon　on　Halpert's　lower　back。　〃Now　I　want　you　to　reach　back　and　yank　the　smoke　wagon。〃　
　
　It　was　a　line　Murphy　had　heard　from　the　movie　Tombstoneever　since　then；　he'd　used　it　unmercifully。　Halpert　reached　back　and　pulled　the　pistol。　
　〃Hang　on；〃　Murphy　said。　〃It's　too　high；　you're　cocking　your　elbow。〃　
　He　readjusted　the　holster　and　waited　until　Halpert　tried　it　again。　
　〃That's　better；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　see　your　boot。〃　
　Halpert　turned　and　raised　his　pant　leg。　Murphy　strapped　on　a　knife　inside　a　hard　plastic　case。　
　〃Be　careful　with　this；　Mike；〃　Murphy　told　him；　〃the　blade　has　been　dipped　in　a　paralytic　poison。　If　things　turn　to　shit；　you　just　have　to　nick　someone　and　they'll　go　down。　The　problem　is；　the　same　thing　happens　to　you　if　your　target　takes　it　from　you。　Be　sure　he's　close　and　make　sure　you　are　in　control　of　the　situation。〃　
　〃Okay；　Mark；〃　Halpert　said　quietly。　
　The　knife　was　in　place　and　Murphy　climbed　from　his　knees。　〃You　worried？〃　he　asked　quietly。　
　〃A　little；〃　Halpert　said。　〃I'm　usually　not　on　the　operational　end。〃　
　Murphy　nodded　and　smiled。　〃Don't　worry；　buddy；　I'm　going　to　be　right　next　to　you。　If　trouble　breaks　out；　they　have　to　get　through　me　first。〃　
　Halpert　nodded；　then　walked　over　to　pick　his　microphone　up　again。　
　〃Boss；〃　he　said　to　Cabrillo；　〃you're　last。〃　
　Cabrillo　smiled　and　walked　over　to　Murphy。　He　was　dressed　in　a　costume　that　would　make　Elton　John　blush。　Murphy　raised　one　of　the　sequined　pockets　on　the　vest　and　slid　two　hypodermic　needles　in　covers　inside。　In　the　other　pocket；　he　slid　an　arced　carbon…fiber　blade　that　had　holes　for　fingers。　
　〃Your　blade　is　dipped　in　paralytic　agent；　too；〃　he　said；　spinning　Cabrillo　around　and　strapping　a　small　automatic　weapon　to　his　lower　back。　〃The　bullets　are　wad　cutters。　There's　not　as　much　horsepower　in　the　rounds　as　I　like；　so　be　close　before　you　pull　the　trigger。〃　
　〃Let's　hope　it　doesn't　e　to　that；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　Lincoln　had　already　been　outfitted；　and　he　stood　to　one　side；　playing　with　his　bass　guitar。　
　Cabrillo　smiled；　then　spoke。　
　〃Okay；　everybody；　we'll　be　going　in　soon；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　the　order　of　operations　and　make　sure　you've　memorized　the　out。　If　at　any　time　I　give　the　signal　to　pull　out；　make　your　way　to　the　extraction　point。　Keep　in　mind　this　portion　today　is　only　one　part　of　the　bigger　pictureif　this　goes　haywire；　we　still　have　ways　of　salvaging　the　operation。　There　are　no　bold　heroesonly　old　heroes。　The　weapons　are　to　be　used　only　if　everything　goes　to　hell　and　one　of　our　people　is　in　danger　of　losing　life　or　limb。　What　we　want；　as　always；　is　an　orderly　operation　where　we　do　our　job　and　return　here　safe　and　sound。　Any　questions？〃　
　The　Magic　Shop　was　silent。　
　〃Okay；　people；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃then　give　your　letters　to　Julia。〃　
　Medical　Officer　Julia　Huxley　hated　this　part　of　her　job。　The　letters　gave　instructions　for　the　lengths　of　medical　care　each　man　wanted　if　critically　injured。　They　also　gave　detailed　instructions　as　to　the　dispersal　of　the　operatives'　funds　and　other　bequests。　Whatever　was　in　the　letters；　Huxley　was　bound　to　see　it　through。　She　walked　around　the　room　collecting　the　sealed　envelopes。　When　she　was　done；　the　room　was　quiet。　
　〃That　always　puts　a　pall　over　the　proceedings；〃　Murphy　said；　laughing。　〃We're　not　going　in　to　disable　a　nuclear　warhead。　We're　just　stealing　some　gold。〃　
　The　sour　mood　dissipated　and　they　resumed　talking。　
　Michael　Halpert　was　playing　with　a　microphone。　Murphy　turned　to　him　and　motioned。　
　〃e　on；　kid；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　get　you　strapped。〃　Halpert　walked　over　and　turned　his　back　to　Murphy；　who　raised　Halpert's　shirt。　
　〃This　is　a　featherlight　thirty…eight；　Mike；〃　Murphy　recited　as　he　taped　a　holster　containing　the　weapon　on　Halpert's　lower　back。　〃Now　I　want　you　to　reach　back　and　yank　the　smoke　wagon。〃　
　It　was　a　line　Murphy　had　heard　from　the　movie　Tombstoneever　since　then；　he'd　used　it　unmercifully。　Halpert　reached　back　and　pulled　the　pistol。　
　〃Hang　on；〃　Murphy　said。　〃It's　too　high；　you're　cocking　your　elbow。〃　
　He　readjusted　the　holster　and　waited　until　Halpert　tried　it　again。　〃That's　better；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　see　your　boot。〃　Halpert　turned　and　raised　his　pant　leg。　Murphy　strapped　on　a　knife　inside　a　hard　plastic　case。　
　〃Be　careful　with　this；　Mike；〃　Murphy　told　him；　〃the　blade　has　been　dipped　in　a　paralytic　poison。　If　things　turn　to　shit；　you　just　have　to　nick　someone　and　they'll　go　down。　The　problem　is；　the　same　thing　happens　to　you　if　your　target　takes　it　from　you。　Be　sure　he's　close　and　make　sure　you　are　in　control　of　the　situation。〃　
　〃Okay；　Mark；〃　Halpert　said　quietly。　
　The　knife　was　in　place　and　Murphy　climbed　from　his　knees。　〃You　worried？〃　he　asked　quietly。　
　〃A　little；〃　Halpert　said。　〃I'm　usually　not　on　the　operational　end。〃　
　Murphy　nodded　and　smiled。　〃Don't　worry；　buddy；　I'm　going　to　be　right　next　to　you。　If　trouble　breaks　out；　they　have　to　get　through　me　first。〃　
　Halpert　nodded；　then　walked　over　to　pick　his　microphone　up　again。　〃Boss；〃　he　said　to　Cabrillo；　〃you're　last。〃　
　Cabrillo　smiled　and　walked　over　to　Murphy。　He　was　dressed　in　a　costume　that　would　make　Elton　John　blush。　Murphy　raised　one　of　the　sequined　pockets　on　the　vest　and　slid　two　hypodermic　needles　in　covers　inside。　In　the　other　pocket；　he　slid　an　arced　carbon…fiber　blade　that　had　holes　for　fingers。　
　〃Your　blade　is　dipped　in　paralytic　agent；　too；〃　he　said；　spinning　Cabrillo　around　and　strapping　a　small　automatic　weapon　to　his　lower　back。　〃The　bullets　are　wad　cutters。　There's　not　as　much　horsepower　in　the　rounds　as　I　like；　so　be　close　before　you　pull　the　trigger。〃　
　〃Let's　hope　it　doesn't　e　to　that；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　Lincoln　had　already　been　outfitted；　and　he　stood　to　one　side；　playing　with　his　bass　guitar。　
　Cabrillo　smiled；　then　spoke。　
　〃Okay；　everybody；　we'll　be　going　in　soon；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　the　order　of　operations　and　make　sure　you've　memorized　the　out。　If　at　any　time　I　give　the　signal　to　pull　out；　make　your　way　to　the　extraction　point。　Keep　in　mind　this　portion　today　is　only　one　part　of　the　bigger　pictureif　this　goes　haywire；　we　still　have　ways　of　salvaging　the　operation。　There　are　no　bold　heroesonly　old　heroes。　The　weapons　are　to　be　used　only　if　everything　goes　to　hell　and　one　of　our　people　is　in　danger　of　losing　life　or　limb。　What　we　want；　as　always；　is　an　orderly　operation　where　we　do　our　job　and　return　here　safe　and　sound。　Any　questions？〃　
　The　Magic　Shop　was　silent。　
　〃Okay；　people；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃then　give　your　letters　to　Julia。〃　
　Medical　Officer　Julia　Huxley　hated　this　part　of　her　job。　The　letters　gave　instructions　for　the　lengths　of　medical　care　each　man　wanted　if　critically　injured。　They　also　gave　detailed　instructions　as　to　the　dispersal　of　the　operatives'　funds　and　other　bequests。　Whatever　was　in　the　letters；　Huxley　was　bound　to　see　it　through。　She　walked　around　the　room　collecting　the　sealed　envelopes。　When　she　was　done；　the　room　was　quiet。　
　〃That　always　puts　a　pall　over　the　proceedings；〃　Murphy　said；　laughing。　〃We're　not　going　in　to　disable　a　nuclear　warhead。　We're　just　stealing　some　gold。〃　
　The　sour　mood　dissipated　and　they　resumed　talking。　
　〃We　have　some　time　before　we　need　to　leave；〃　Hartley　said；　〃so　if　you　need　to　eat　or　whatever；　the　time　is　now。〃　
　Everyone　filtered　out　of　the　room；　leaving　only　Cabrillo　and　Hanley。　
　〃Meadows　and　Jones　ready？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃Right　on　schedule；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃And　the　flyboy？〃　
　〃Jetting　his　way　here；〃　Hanley　said；　〃as　we　speak。〃　
　〃Then　the