cc.goldenbuddha-第27部分

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　〃We're　collecting　the　props；〃　he　said　as　he　twisted　the　key　and　started　the　engine。　
　
　ON　THE　OREGON；　Max　Hanley　was　watching　the　unfolding　scene　with　amazement。　
　The　two　distinct　groups　were　obvious。　The　Corporation　members　were　moving　about　in　a　blur　of　motion　and　action；　while　the　rest　of　the　party　seemed　caught　in　a　haze　of　indecision　and　disbelief。　The　element　of　chaos　in　the　surroundings　was　plete。　It　was　almost　time　to　stoke　the　fires　of　escape。　
　〃Murph；　Lincoln；　Halpert；〃　Hanley　said；　〃Juan's　ing　around　with　the　van。　Load　up　fast　and　make　your　way　to　the　front　of　the　mansion。〃　
　He　saw　the　waves　of　acknowledgment。　
　〃Ross；　dispose　of　the　punch　and　the　doctored　appetizers　left　on　the　tables。〃　
　〃Larry；〃　Hanley　asked；　〃what　do　you　see？〃　
　〃The　policeman　is　leaning　against　the　front　of　his　car；　waiting　for　help。　I　think　we　can　count　him　out　for　now。　One　of　the　guards　has　just　left　the　tent；　carrying　Monica。　He's　making　his　way　to　extraction　point　one。〃　King　scanned　the　grounds　with　the　scope。　〃Two　of　the　guards　are　wheeling　the　faux　Buddha　toward　the　rear　door　as　I　speak。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Hanley　said；　〃everything　is　in　play。　You　can　make　your　egress　anytime　you　deem　fit。　If　you　make　your　way　along　the　wall　and　wait　by　the　street；　I'll　have　Juan　slow　the　van　down　as　he　passes。〃　
　〃Understand；〃　King　said。　
　He　began　to　break　down　the　rifle　and　fit　it　into　its　case。　Once　that　was　done；　he　climbed　down　to　the　edge　of　the　wall　and　began　to　make　his　way　west。　
　〃Who　haven't　we　used？〃　Hanley　asked　one　of　the　operators；　who　stared　quickly　at　the　list　of　participants。　
　〃Truitt；〃　the　operator　replied。　
　〃Where's　Julia？〃　
　〃Last　we　saw　her；　she　was　going　back　inside　the　tent；〃　the　operator　said。　〃But　since　the　chairman　broke　down　the　keyboard　set；　we've　lost　the　camera　inside。〃　
　〃Dick；〃　Hanley　said；　〃if　you　can　hear　me；　signal　someone　in　our　team。〃　
　Cabrillo　pulled　the　van　to　the　rear　of　the　tent。　It　had　been　slow　going　with　all　the　people　wandering　the　grounds。　He　slid　the　van　into　Park　and　opened　the　door。　Truitt　appeared　at　the　rear　of　the　tent　and　motioned　to　the　camera　in　the　van's　mirror。　
　〃Dick；　I　need　you　to　find　Julia；〃　Hanley　said。　〃She　immobilized　the　art　dealer。　Carry　him　to　the　landing　zone；　then　I　want　the　two　of　you　to　exit　via　Crabtree's　limousine。〃　
　Truitt　gave　the　camera　a　thumbs…up　and　raced　away。　
　The　members　of　the　team　were　tossing　the　remaining　speakers　and　electronics　into　the　rear　of　the　van。　Out　over　Nam　Van　Lakes；　the　landing　lights　of　the　helicopter　were　visible　and　growing　brighter。　The　thumping　of　the　rotor　blades　increased　as　the　helicopter　drew　near。　
　Inside　the　tent　it　was　pandemonium。　Truitt　found　Huxley　talking　to　Ho；　who　seemed　unable　to　move　from　where　he　stood。　Too　much　was　happening；　his　brain　could　not　put　it　all　into　place。　
　〃The　megaphone；〃　he　said　in　a　daze。　〃I　have　to　warn　the　guests。〃　
　〃Who　has　it？〃　Truitt　asked　Ho。　
　〃The　band；〃　Ho　said。　〃The　band　said　they　had　one。〃　
　〃I　just　saw　them　at　the　rear　of　the　tent；〃　Truitt　said。　〃You　should　go　there。〃　
　Ho　raced　off。　
　Truitt　reached　over　and　whispered　in　Huxley's　ear；　〃Where's　the　art　dealer？〃　
　Huxley　led　him　over；　and　she　and　Truitt　carried　Spenser　out　onto　the　grounds。　
　The　helicopter　pilot　slowed　his　forward　speed　and　initiated　a　hover。　The　Eurocopter　EC…350　that　the　Corporation　had　leased　was　a　sweet　machineit　hung　in　the　air　with　little　input　from　the　controls。　Reaching　to　the　radio　on　the　control　panel；　the　pilot　changed　the　radio　frequency。　
　〃I'm　waiting；〃　he　said　to　the　Oregon。　
　〃What　do　you　see？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　The　pilot　flicked　on　his　landing　lights。　
　〃I　have　two　people　carrying　a　body　to　the　zone；〃　the　pilot　said。　
　〃Everything　else　is　in　place。〃　
　〃As　soon　as　they　reach　the　zone；　touch　down；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　watch　for　another　party　who　will　be　arriving。　We'll　need　four　to　get　the　object　aboard。〃　
　〃Tom？〃　Hanley　said。　
　Crabtree's　limousine　driver　was　behind　the　wheel　of　the　car。　He　flashed　his　lights。　
　〃I　have　a　car　flashing　their　lights；〃　the　pilot　said。　
　〃Drive　onto　the　lawn　and　park　near　the　landing　zone。　Then　load　the　helicopter。〃　
　The　lights　flashed　again　and　the　limousine　began　moving。　
　〃He　heard　you；〃　the　pilot　said。　
　Hanley　was　pacing　back　and　forth。　There　were　several　carefully　timed　actions　occurring。　As　long　as　everyone　followed　the　plan；　the　team　would　be　out　in　a　few　more　minutes。　This　was　what　the　Corporation　called　Critical　Time。　The　time　when　it　could　all　go　to　hell　in　seconds。　〃Juan's　waving；〃　one　of　the　operators　said；　pointing　to　a　monitor。　Just　then；　Ho　wandered　over。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked。　Cabrillo　turned　and　smoothed　his　hair　back。　〃Just　checking　my　hair。〃　
　Ho　nodded。　〃You　said　you　had　a　megaphone　I　could　use？〃　Cabrillo　nodded　and　reached　between　the　seats；　removed　the　megaphone　and　handed　it　to　Ho。　
　〃It's　battery　operated；〃　he　said。　〃Just　flick　that　switch。〃　
　Ho　flicked　it　on。　〃Testing。〃　
　It　worked。　He　stared　into　the　van；　where　the　rest　of　the　band　members　were　sprawled　across　the　seats　and　atop　the　cases　of　equipment。　
　〃Where's　Candace？〃　Ho　asked。　His　head　was　starting　to　clear。　That　was　dangerous。　
　〃We　are　going　to　meet　her　around　front；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　climbed　into　the　driver's　seat。　〃Now　I　need　to　get　my　people　to　the　hospital。〃　
　〃Tell　her　she　can　stay　if　she　wants；〃　Ho　said。　
　〃I'll　mention　it；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　twisted　the　key；　then　placed　the　van　in　gear　and　slowly　began　to　steer　through　the　crowd。　
　Ho　wandered　back　into　the　tent。　He　was　thinking　clearer　now。　The　megaphone　was　not　that　powerful；　but　if　he　could　find　a　spot　above　the　crowd　they　would　probably　be　able　to　hear　his　warning。　His　office　his　office　was　on　the　top　floor。　
　The　helicopter　pilot　touched　down　and　Truitt　opened　the　rear　door。　
　Then　Truitt；　Barrett；　Reyes　and　Huxley　struggled　to　slide　the　crate　inside　the　cargo　area。　Once　the　Golden　Buddha　was　safely　stowed；　they　laid　Spenser　on　the　floor　and　helped　Crabtree　inside。　Truitt　slid　the　door　closed；　then　slapped　it　twice　to　signal　the　pilot　to　lift　off。　Then　they　bent　over　and　protected　their　faces　from　the　rotor　wash　as　the　Eurocopter　lifted　back　into　the　air。　
　Once　the　helicopter　was　safely　away；　Reyes　stood　up。　
　〃I'm　supposed　to　give　you　guys　a　ride；〃　he　said　easily。　
　At　that　instant；　Reinholt　and　Pryor　had　just　reached　the　bottom　stair。　They　opened　the　front　door　and　walked　out　onto　the　driveway。　The　door　had　only　been　shut　a　few　seconds　before　Ho　raced　to　the　first　step　and　headed　up　to　his　office。　
　〃What's　the　playlist？〃　Hanley　asked　an　operator。　
　〃The　helicopter　has　Crabtree；　the　limo　contains　Reyes；　Barrett；　Truitt；　and　Huxley；　with　Reyes　driving。　Cabrillo　has　the　band　inside　the　van。〃　The　operator　pointed　to　the　screen。　〃They　are　just　past　the　end　of　the　tent　and　will　be　on　the　driveway　momentarily。〃
　〃Where's　Ross？〃　
　〃There；　on　the　grounds；〃　the　operator　said；　pointing。　
　The　van　containing　the　band　was　passing　and　she　came　into　view。　
　A　few　minutes　before；　Ross　had　ordered　the　waiters　to　dump　all　the　cups　of　punch；　then　she　wheeled　the　cart　containing　the　pitchers　outside　and　tipped　it　over。　
　〃Linda；〃　Hanley　ordered；　〃go　to　your　car　now！　I　want　you　out　of　there。〃　
　Ross　began　walking　quickly　to　the　front。　〃Who　else？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃King　is　on　the　wall　awaiting　extraction；　the　other　two　guards　should　be　in　front　now　and　that's　it；〃　the　operator　noted。　〃Is　the　van　full？〃　Hanley　said　to　Cabrillo。　Cabrillo　mouthed　yes　in　the　mirror。　
　The　van　rolled　onto　the　drive；　with　the　Mercedes…Benz　limousine　directly　to　the　rear。　Ross　followed　the　retreating　motorcade。　She　reached　the　Peugeot　and　started　the　engine。　
　〃Slow　at　the　front　door　and　tell　the　guards　they　will　be　catching　a　ride　with　Ross；〃　Hanley　said　to　Cabrillo；　who　acknowledged　the　instruction。　
　A　second　later；　he　slowed　the　van　and　explained；　then　continued　down　the　driveway　toward　the　gate。　The　first　team　was　almost　off　the　property。　
　Stanley　Ho　opened　the　door　to　his　office。　He　started　toward　the　window　to　warn　the　guests；　then　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks。　Cabrillo　made　it　out　the　gate　and　turned　right。　
　〃Slow　along　the　corner　of　the　wall；〃　Hanley　ordered。　〃The　King　ii　ing。〃　
　The　limousine　was　not　far　behind　the　van；　it　slowed　at　the　gate　to　turn　at　the　same　instant　Ross　pulled　up　at　the　front　door；　and　Reinholt　and　Pry　or　climbed　inside　the　Peugeot。　She　steered　toward　the　gate。　〃Close　the　gate；〃　Ho　screamed。　
　〃The　electricity's　out；〃　the　guard　said。　〃The　gates　are　locked　open。　〃You　need　to　stop　anyone　from　leaving；〃　Ho　shouted。　Ross　was　twenty　feet　from　the　gate　when　the　guard　burst　from　the　guard　shack；　fumbling　with　his　holster。　Ross　never　hesitated；　never　faltered。　She　steered　toward　the　guard　and　hit　the　gas。　At　the　same　second　the　guard　was　making　a　life…and…death　choice；　Cabrillo　heard　a　thump　as　Larry　King　jumped　from　the　wall　and　landed　on　the　roof　of　the　van。　Sliding　off　the　roof；　still　holding　the　case　containing　his　sniper　rifle；　he　opened　the　passenger　door；　tossed　the　case　between　the　seats；　and　climbed　into　Halpert's　lap。　The　limousine　passed　the　stopped　van；　and　then　blew　through　the　stop　sign　at　the　end　of　the　street。　
　The　front　gate　guard　could　not　get　his　weapon　out　of　the　holster。　As　the　Peugeot　accelerated　toward　him；　he　could　only　jump　out　of　the　way。　Ross　blew　through　the　gate　at　nearly　fifty　miles　an　hour；　then　stomped　on　the　brakes　and　twisted　the　wheel　to　the　stops。　
　The　Peugeot　slid　around　in　a　hard　right　turn。　Ross　hit　the　gas。　Ca…brillo's　van　was　moving　again。　He　raced　through　the　stop　sign　and　turned　right；　following　the　limousine；　just　as　the　guard　made　it　to　the　middle　of　the　street　in　front　of　the　mansion　and　removed　his　sidearm。　Sighting　down　the　barrel；　he　began　to　squeeze　off　rounds。　
　The　first　hit　the　left　rear　taillight；　the　second　and　third　went　wide。　The　fourth　entered　the　rear　window　and　shattered　the　rearview　mirror　at　the　same　instant　Ross　passed　the　stop　sign　and　did　a　left…hand　turn　toward　the　water。　
　
　ONCE　THE　LEVER　was　pulled　back；　the　cargo　inside　the　sidecai　of　the　motorcycle　began　sliding　down　a　chute　and　spilling　onto　the　road。　The　small　metal　orbs　were　about　the　size　o