cc.goldenbuddha-第24部分

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en　supervised　the　placement　near　the　fountain。　
　The　target　of　all　the　planning　and　preparation　was　now　in　plain　sight。　
　
　CHIEF　INSPECTOR　OF　the　Macau　Constabulary　Sung　Rhee　watched　the　statue　from　his　place　on　the　lawn　near　the　rear　door　of　the　mansion。　Rhee　had　known　Stanley　Ho　since　before　he'd　bee　wealthy。　He　was　an　acquaintance；　not　a　friend。　The　first　ship　Ho　had　owned；　the　start　of　his　shipping　fortune；　had　been　a　constant　thorn　in　Rhee's　side。　
　The　chief　inspector　had　been　a　mere　detective　at　that　time；　assigned　to　vice　and　smuggling；　and　he　had　bee　convinced　Ho　was　moving　drugs　with　the　ship。　Rhee　had　just　never　been　able　to　catch　him　in　the　act。　Ho's　fortune　had　grown　fast；　and　the　chief　inspector　knew　what　that　usually　denotedthe　problem　was　that　as　the　shipowner's　fortune　had　swelled；　so　had　his　power。　Twice　in　the　past　decade　Rhee　had　been　ordered　away　from　Ho's　activities　when　he　was　close　to　amassing　enough　evidence　to　bring　charges。　Now　Rhee　was　beginning　to　understand　that　as　Ho　legitimized　his　holdings；　he　probably　never　would　pay　the　price　for　his　past　shady　dealings。　
　Rhee　had　been　invited　to　the　party　in　an　unofficial　capacitywindow　dressing　for　the　guests。　
　Like　the　mayor；　the　ambassadors　of　various　countries；　and　the　minor　royalty　who　were　present；　Rhee　was　here　today　to　add　to　the　theme　of　legitimacy　Ho　so　desperately　craved。　
　He　was　a　propbut　that　didn't　make　the　police　officer　inside　him　take　leave。　He　stared　at　the　chunk　of　gold　and　tried　to　decide　how；　if　it　was　up　to　him；　he　would　steal　it。　Rhee　stared　around　the　grounds；　trying　to　imagine　an　escape　route。　The　wall　surrounding　the　grounds　almost　insisted　on　a　departure　through　the　main　gate。　The　fact　that　the　object　was　being　placed　out　in　the　open　actually　helped　the　security。　It　would　almost　certainly　always　be　in　view　of　someone。　He　glanced　around　again；　then　shook　his　head　slightly。　
　Rhee　concluded　theft　was　not　a　problem　and　went　inside　for　some　shrimp　puffs。　
　
　A　DARK　GREEN　Mercedes…Benz　limousine　pulled　up　to　the　gate　and　the　driver　was　waved　through。　Tom　Reyes；　the　driver；　swung　around　on　the　circular　driveway　and　positioned　the　passenger　door　near　the　front　door　of　the　mansion。　He　then　climbed　out　and　opened　the　door　to　the　rear　partment　and　helped　the　occupant　out。　
　Once　Crabtree　was　standing　alongside　the　limousine；　Reyes　raced　to　the　front　door　and　said　to　the　butler；　〃This　is　Princess　Aalborg　of　Denmark。〃　
　The　butler　stood　aside　as　she　swept　into　the　foyer　in　a　rustle　of　satin　and　lace；　then　walked　toward　Ho；　who　was　now　standing　alone。　〃Princess　Aalborg；〃　Reyes　announced　from　two　steps　behind。　Ho　bent　over　and　lightly　kissed　the　proffered　hand；　then　raised　his　head　and　smiled。　〃I'm　honored　to　have　you　visit　my　humble　home。〃
　〃Charmed；〃　Monica　Crabtree　said　in　a　bizarre　accent。　Ho　snapped　his　fingers　and　a　waiter　instantly　appeared。　〃May　I　offer　　you　a　libation？〃　
　〃Champagne　with　a　strawberry　would　be　nice；〃　Crabtree　said。　
　Ho　motioned　to　the　waiter；　who　scurried　off。　
　〃Jeeves；〃　Crabtree　said　to　the　driver；　〃I'll　be　fine　nowyou　may　take　your　leave。〃　
　Reyes　backed　away　a　distance；　then　turned　and　walked　toward　the　front　door。　Moving　the　limousine　away　from　the　front　of　the　mansion；　Reyes　parked　in　a　spot　near　the　garage　and　climbed　out。　Then　he　walked　around　to　the　front　of　the　limousine；　tilted　back　his　cap　and　lit　a　cigarette。　
　〃Monica　is　safely　inside；〃　Hanley　reported　to　Cabrillo。
　
　TWILIGHT　FELL　OVER　the　grounds　with　a　light　breeze　that　brought　the　smell　of　the　sea。　A　few　miles　away；　at　the　staging　area　for　the　parade；　the　engines　of　the　lead　floats　came　to　life。　The　marching　band　that　was　the　first　group　to　walk　the　route　began　to　assemble　in　orderly　rows；　awaiting　the　signal　to　begin。　Macau　began　to　settle　in　for　the　night；　and　in　the　high…rises　in　the　city　center　and　along　the　waterfront；　lights　began　to　flicker　on。　Out　to　sea；　the　navigation　lights　of　the　ships　approaching　port　began　to　be　visible；　and　the　scattering　of　airplanes　both　inbound　and　outbound　appeared　as　light　specks　in　the　distant　sky…All　of　the　guests　had　arrived　and　the　front　lawn　of　the　mansion　looked　like　a　luxury　car　dealership。　There　were　Jaguars　and　BMWs；　single　Lamborghini；　a　pair　of　Ferraris。　Twelve　limousines；　a　lone　armored　Humvee　and　an　old　Rolls…Royce　crowded　the　lawn。　On　the　wall　along　the　road；　the　security　cameras　swept　back　and　forth；　but　no　more　cars　approached　and　the　guard　tired　of　watching　the　monitor。　
　So　no　one　noticed　when　a　pair　of　motorcycles　drove　slowly　past。　
　If　someone　had；　and　they　were　knowledgeable；　they　might　have　noticed　that　one　of　the　motorcycle's　sidecars　had　been　enlarged　and　reinforced。　The　modifications　were　barely　perceptible；　but　if　you　looked　closely；　you　could　see　that　there　was　a　heavy…duty　training　wheel　underneath；　and　that　the　passenger　seat　had　been　removed　and　made　into　a　cargo　partment。　The　motorcycles　continued　north　to　the　stop　sign；　then　turned　left　and　headed　in　the　direction　of　the　Inner　Port。　The　bikers　had　an　appointment　to　keep　in　a　place　not　too　far　distant。　
　
　THE　BAND　WAS　performing　a　sound　check。　The　wall　of　speakers　behind　the　bandstand　lent　an　air　of　full…on　rock　concert；　but　the　actual　sound　ing　out　of　them　was　less　than　one　would　have　thought。　Unless　someone　was　standing　directly　in　front　of　the　speaker　wall；　he'd　have　no　way　to　tell　that　many　of　the　speakers　were　not　functioning。　Some　were　hollow　shells；　others　held　items　that　would　be　needed　for　the　operation。　
　Ross　walked　over　and　spoke　to　Cabrillo。　
　〃The　first　set　starts　at　seven；〃　she　said。　〃Are　you　ready？〃　
　Cabrillo　stared　at　the　players；　then　at　the　crowd　that　was　still　milling　about　the　tent；　some　seated；　more　still　flitting　from　table　to　table。　〃I'll　put　the　background　music　on　in　a　second。　That　should　signal　we're　about　to　begin。〃　
　He　walked　over　to　the　main　console　and　adjusted　a　switch。　At　the　sound　of　the　music；　the　crowd　began　to　make　their　way　to　their　assigned　seats。　Stanley　Ho　was　standing　just　inside　one　of　the　tents　on　the　left　side　of　the　Y。　He　was　attempting　to　regale　Huxley　with　stories　of　his　vast　wealth　and　power。　
　〃I　love　the　Buddha；〃　Huxley　said；　smiling。　〃Perhaps　you　have　some　other　artwork　you　could　show　me　later。〃　
　〃I'd　be　glad　to；〃　Ho　said。　〃In　fact；　there　are　many　pieces　in　my　upper　office　that　might　interest　you。　Maybe　we　could　slip　away　later　and　take　a　look。〃　
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　Huxley　said。　
　Ho　nodded　greedily。　He　was　already　imagining　the　possibilities　the　suicide　blonde　might　offer　his　libidoif　he　needed　to　ignore　his　guests　　for　the　opportunity；　so　be　it。　
　〃I　need　to　go　to　the　front　and　make　my　introductions　now；〃　Ho　said；　〃but　we　can　meet　later。〃　
　Huxley　smiled　and　slinked　away。　Ho　walked　through　the　crowd；　stopping　at　various　tables　to　glad…hand　his　guests。　A　few　minutes　later；　he　was　standing　in　front　of　the　bandstand。　
　〃I'm　Stanley　Ho；〃　he　said　to　Halpert。　〃Might　I　use　your　microphone　to　make　an　introduction？〃　
　Halpert　handed　his　microphone　to　Ho；　who　tapped　the　top　to　be　sure　it　was　working。　
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　
　The　crowd　quieted　down。　
　〃I'd　like　to　wele　you　to　my　Good　Friday　party。〃　
　The　crowd　clapped。　
　〃I　hope　that　you　are　finding　the　food　and　drink　to　your　liking。〃　
　Another　round　of　applause。　
　〃I　hope　each　of　you　has　a　chance　to　view　my　latest　acquisition；　a　good…luck　charm。　I　have　displayed　the　piece　at　the　entrance　to　the　tent。　Like　another　we　honor　tonight；　he　signifies　enlightenment　and　spirituality　and　that　is　the　theme　of　this　evening's　festivities。　Now；　if　we　could　take　a　second　to　remember　those　that　have　sacrificed　themselves　for　our　freedoms。〃　
　The　crowd　was　silent。　
　〃Thank　you；〃　Ho　said　a　few　moments　later。　〃We　will　have　fireworks　and　light　displays　tonight；　as　well　as　an　excellent　band　straight　from　California　in　the　United　States。　Please　join　me　in　weling　the　Minutemen。〃　
　He　handed　the　microphone　back　to　Halpert。　At　the　same　time；　the　lights　in　the　tent　began　to　dim　until　a　single　spotlight　illuminated　Hal…pert's　back；　which　was　turned　from　the　crowd。　The　band　keyed　their　instruments　and　the　opening　notes　of　the　Eagles　song　〃Already　Gone〃　began　pulsing　through　the　crowd。　
　Halpert　swung　around　and　began　to　belt　out　the　lyrics。　
　
　MORE　THAN　ANY　one　thing；　the　key　to　a　successful　robbery　is　stealth。　The　pair　of　men　on　the　motorcycles　knew　this　and　they　moved　quietly　through　the　A…Ma　Temple　toward　their　target。　The　tourists　had　gone　home　for　the　night　and　most　of　the　monks　were　in　the　dining　hall　partaking　of　their　simple　evening　meal。　The　side　room　where　their　target　stood　was　dimly　lit；　and　the　men；　who　were　dressed　in　black　clothes　and　face　masks；　blended　into　the　air　like　whispery　goblins。　〃There　he　is；〃　one　man　whispered。　
　The　man　was　pushing　a　heavy…duty　dolly　stolen　from　a　rental　store　the　previous　night。　He　wheeled　it　over；　examined　the　artifact；　then　waited　while　his　partner　closed　the　door　on　the　wooden　crate　and　tilted　it　so　the　other　man　could　slide　the　dolly　underneath。　After　securing　it　with　straps；　they　began　to　make　their　way　toward　the　door。　
　
　WINSTON　SPENSER　WAS　past　wine　and　into　cognac。　He　was　pleasantly　buzzed　and　beginning　to　feel　that　he　might　just　acplish　his　goal。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　He　had　some　time　before　he　needed　to　slip　away　and　meet　the　armored…car　pany　at　the　temple。　Then　he　would　make　his　way　to　the　airport　and　consummate　the　sale　with　the　software　billionaire。　
　By　first　light；　he'd　be　on　his　way　away　from　here；　then　he'd　take　a　break　from　all　the　drinking。　
　Finishing　the　snifter；　he　motioned　to　a　passing　waiter　for　a　refill。　Then　he　turned　to　one　of　the　guests　seated　next　to　him。　〃Excellent　band。〃
　〃They　truly　are；〃　Crabtree　replied。　
　
　TWO　HUNDRED　AND　twenty…seven　miles　from　Macau；　in　the　South　China　Sea；　the　burgundy　jet　was　passing　over　Tungsha　Island；　inbound　for　landing。　The　software　billionaire　walked　forward；　fastening　a　sash　around　his　black　silk　kimono。　
　〃The　ladies　are　tired；〃　he　said　with　a　barely　hidden　trace　of　pride。　〃Could　you　prepare　pitchers　of　coffee；　orange　juice　and　some　pastries　and　take　them　to　the　rear？〃　
　〃Immediately；〃　the　blond…haired　man　said；　leaping　to　his　feet。　Con