cc.goldenbuddha-第38部分

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　〃Doing　some　operation　time　tonight；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　Barrett。　〃Do　you　like　it？〃　
　〃Not　as　easy　as　frosting　a　cake；〃　Barrett　admitted；　〃but　a　lot　more　exciting。〃　
　The　four　men　walked　through　a　hatch　into　the　interior　of　the　Oregon。　Cabrillo　motioned　down　the　hallway。　〃You　men　go　and　clean　up。　I've　still　got　some　work　to　do。〃　
　The　men　started　down　the　hallway　to　their　cabins。　
　〃Hey；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　the　retreating　men；　〃good　job。〃　
　Then　he　walked　down　to　the　control　room　and　opened　the　door。　Stepping　inside；　he　began　to　unbutton　his　wet　shirt；　then　turned　to　Hanley。　
　〃Where　are　we　at；　Max？〃　
　each　side　where　the　two　rafts　met；　standing　in　a　half　crouch。　As　the　rafts　careened　along；　they　attempted　to　alter　their　direction　by　pushing　against　the　hard　sides　of　the　pipe　with　their　legs。　
　〃Junction　ing　up；〃　Hornsby　shouted。　〃We　need　the　left　channel。〃　
　At　the　V　in　the　pipes　just　ahead；　the　fast…flowing　water　was　being　parted　like　the　bow　wake　on　a　nuclear　submarine。　Chunks　of　debris　littered　the　water；　the　roof　of　the　pipe　was　dripping　so　hard　they　might　as　well　have　been　outside；　and　the　pair　of　rafts　was　accelerating　almost　beyond　control。　
　Jones　watched　ahead　and　timed　his　action。　As　the　rafts　reached　a　spot　twenty　feet　in　advance　of　the　V；　he　reached　over　with　his　leg　and　shoved　against　the　wall。　The　rafts　lumbered　to　the　left　side；　and　then　were　carried　in　the　current　past　the　junction。　
　〃We　made　that　one；〃　Jones　shouted；　〃but　if　we　get　much　more　water　in　this　pipe；　we're　going　to　have　trouble　on　the　next　one。〃　
　〃If　we　don't　get　some　help　soon；〃　Meadows　said；　〃we're　going　to　need　to　cut　the　Buddha　loose　and　try　to　save　our　own　skin。〃　
　
　FOUR　FEET　OF　space　remained　between　the　surface　of　the　rising　water　and　the　top　of　the　storm　sewer。　The　batteries　on　the　hardhat　lights　were　growing　dim；　the　water　was　rising　fast；　and　the　men　could　no　longer　safely　climb　from　the　raft　to　steer　the　Golden　Buddha；　along。　
　Meadows　had　lashed　the　rafts　together；　and　he　and　Jones　were　on　
　
　〃ONE　AT　A　time；〃　Detective　Po　said　to　the　officer。　
　Using　a　screwdriver　on　his　key　chain；　the　officer　opened　the　first　can　of　paint　and　poured　the　contents　through　the　open　manhole　into　the　racing　water　below。　From　the　light　of　his　flashlight；　Po　could　see　the　purple　paint　mix　with　the　water；　then　spread　out。　Placing　the　empty　can　to　the　side；　the　officer　pried　open　a　second　and　repeated　the　process。　At　just　that　instant；　Po's　cell　phone　rang　and　he　stepped　a　few；　feet　away　and　answered。　
　〃Ling；〃　Sung　Rhee　said。　〃I　want　you　to　e　to　headquarters。　We've　captured　a　suspect。〃
　〃Right；　boss；〃　Po　said。　
　
　THE　AUTHORITIES　HAVE　decided　to　trace　the　flow　of　water　in　the　storm　sewers　with　paint；〃　Hanley　said　to　Cabrillo。　

　Cabrillo　was　wiping　his　wet　face　and　hair　with　a　hand　towel。　Once　he　was　finished；　he　tossed　it　onto　a　table　and　ran　a　b　quickly　through　his　hair。　
　〃If　they　did　realize　our　men　had　escaped　through　the　sewers；　I　was　hoping　that　removing　all　the　blueprints　would　slow　down　the　pursuit　long　enough　for　our　men　to　be　extracted；〃　he　said。　〃Looks　like　we　need　to　implement　one　of　the　backup　plans。〃　
　Hanley　pointed　to　a　puter　screen。　〃As　you　know；　the　outflow　pipe　we　picked　for　the　exit　into　the　bay　is　the　only　one　on　the　southwest　point　of　the　Southern　Peninsula。　The　outflow　runs　between　the　Nam　Van　Lakes　and　enters　the　water　just　north　of　the　island　of　Taipa。〃　
　Cabrillo　stared　at　the　puter　screen。　The　image　of　the　storm　sewers　looked　like　a　crooked　tree　with　sagging　limbs。　The　sewer　his　team　would　use　to　exit　was　the　trunk　at　the　roots。　
　〃Have　we　been　able　to　establish　contact　with　them？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃No　luck　with　Hornsby；　Meadows　and　Jones；〃　Hanley　admitted。　〃The　portable　radios　they　carry　just　don't　seem　to　have　enough　power　to　penetrate　the　layers　of　soil　overhead。〃　
　〃What　about　Murph　and　Kasim？〃　
　〃We've　been　trying；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　the　voice　transmission　is　spotty。　Data　seems　to　be　passing　through；　howeverwe　are　in　contact　by　alphanumeric　signals。〃　
　〃So　we　can　type　orders　to　the　Zodiacs　and　they　can　respond？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃So　far；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Eric　Stone　interrupted　the　conversation。　〃Sirs；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　a　screen；　〃the　portable　camera　Halpert　left　near　the　manhole　is　showing　something　you　might　want　to　watch。〃　
　Cabrillo　and　Hanley　watched　as　the　officer　poured　paint　into　the　hole。　
　〃Give　me　a　simulation　of　how　long　that　paint　will　take　to　reach　our　men；〃　Cabrillo　said　quickly。　
　Stone's　hands　danced　over　the　keyboards；　and　a　few　seconds　later　the　screen　showing　the　sewer　system　began　slowly　to　take　on　a　red　color。　The　men　stood　watching　as　the　color　advanced　along　the　arteries　of　the　sewer　system。　A　counter　in　the　corner　of　the　screen　timed　the　movement。　
　〃Seventeen　minutes　until　the　paint　reaches　where　we　believe　the　men　are　now；〃　Stone　said　slowly。　〃Twenty…two　until　it　reaches　the　water　above　Taipa。〃　
　At　just　that　instant；　a　printer　off　to　the　side　whirled　and　a　sheet　was　spit　into　the　tray。　Hanley　walked　over　and　picked　it　up。　〃The　order　just　went　through　to　the　police　boats　and　the　two　Chinese　navy　boats　here　in　Macau。　They　are　supposed　to　begin　patrols　immediately　to　scan　for　the　colored　water；　then；　when　they　find　an　outflow；　remain　there　on　station。〃　
　〃Start　a　timer；〃　Cabrillo　ordered　quickly。　〃We're　in　crunch　time　now。　Make　sure　everyone　is　aboard　and　prepare　the　Oregon　to　sail。　I　want　my　team　out　of　that　storm　sewer　with　the　Golden　Buddha　and　safely　back　aboardthen　we　need　to　vacate　Macau　by　first　light。　With　the　Chinese　navy　on　patrol；　this　ship　is　in　jeopardy。〃　
　〃Broken　Arrow？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃Confirm；　Broken　Arrow；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃Put　it　out；　Mr。　Stone；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Stone　sounded　the　alarm。　In　a　few　minutes；　the　Oregon　was　a　blur　of　activity。
　
　TINY　GUNDERSON　WAS　eating　a　salami　sandwich　and　sipping　on　a　glass　of　iced　tea　as　he　flew　over　the　South　China　Sea。　The　brunette　flight　attendant；　Rhonda　Rosselli；　was　sitting　in　the　flight　engineer's　chair。　The　door　to　the　cockpit　was　open；　and　the　blonde　copilot；　Judy　Michaels；　walked　inside　and　slid　back　into　her　seat。　She　was　dressed　in　a　khaki　flight　suit　and　her　face　was　freshly　scrubbed。　〃Tracy　is　changing　and　checking　the　equipment；〃　she　said。　〃Did　I　tell　you；　you　did　a　great　job？〃　Gunderson　asked。　〃You　both　are　most　convincing　ho's。〃　
　〃A　master's　degree　in　political　science　from　Georgetown　and　four　years　with　the　National　Security　Council；　and　I'm　sleeping　with　the　enemy；〃　Michaels　said。　
　Gunderson　popped　the　last　of　the　sandwich　in　his　mouth；　then　brushed　the　crumbs　off　his　hands。　Washing　the　last　bite　down　with　a　sip　of　iced　tea；　he　spoke。　
　〃I　think　you　forget　I　seduced　a　Romanian　countess　a　few　years　ago；〃　Gunderson　said。　〃We　do　what　we　have　to；　to　acplish　the　objective。〃　
　〃I　remember；　Chuck；〃　Michaels　said。　〃In　fact；　I　seem　to　remember　you　rather　enjoyed　the　assignment。〃　
　Gunderson　smiled。　〃So　you　didn't　like　yours？〃　
　Michaels　noted　readings　from　the　instrument　panel　on　a　clipboard。　〃The　guy　was　a　freak；〃　she　said。　〃Capital　PH；　phreak。〃　
　〃Then　it　serves　him　right；〃　Gunderson　said　as　he　unbuckled　his　seat　belt　and　slid　from　the　pilot's　seat；　〃that　we　swiped　his　plane。〃　
　〃On　the　controls；〃　Michaels　said。　
　〃I　have　to　use　the　restroom；〃　Gunderson　said　to　Rosselli。　〃Be　right　back。〃　
　
　IN　THE　DINING　room　on　the　Oregon；　Winston　Spenser　was　sipping　tea　and　worrying。　Off　to　one　side；　at　a　separate　table；　a　guard　sat　on　silent　watch。　Juan　Cabrillo　entered　the　dining　room；　walked　over　to　Spenser；　and　handed　him　a　slip　of　paper。　
　〃That's　the　account　number　of　the　bank　in　Paraguay；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃The　transfer　has　taken　place　and　the　funds　are　available　now。　If　the　account　is　not　accessed　within　one　year　of　today；　the　funds　will　automatically　bounce　back　to　one　of　our　banks。　The　sectmd　you　make　a　deposit　or　withdrawal；　however；　within　the　next　year　the　puter　erases　all　traces　of　where　the　money　came　from　or　would　go　to。〃
　〃Why　one　year？〃　Spenser　asked。　
　〃Because；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃in　the　financial　shape　you're　in；　if　you　don't　touch　the　money　in　a　year；　it'll　be　because　you're　dead。〃　
　Spenser　nodded。　
　Next；　Cabrillo　handed　Spenser　a　folder　with　a　plane　ticket。　〃Hong　Kong　to　Dubai；　then　on　to　Paraguay；　first　class。　It's　the　first　available　flight　tomorrow　morning。〃　Spenser　took　the　ticket。　
　〃Here　is　ten　thousand　dollars　in　U。S。　currency；〃　Cabrillo　said；　handing　Spenser　an　envelope。　〃Any　more　will　arouse　suspicions。〃　Spenser　took　the　envelope。　
　〃That　concludes　our　agreement；　Mr。　Spenser；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We　have　called　a　cab　to　take　you　where　you　want　to　go。　It　will　be　pulling　up　at　the　side　of　the　ship　in　a　few　minutes。〃　
　The　guard　stood　up　and　waited　for　Spenser　to　rise。　Cabrillo　started　for　the　door。　
　〃Can　I　ask　you　a　question？〃　Spenser　said。　
　Cabrillo　had　just　opened　the　door。　He　stopped；　turned　and　nodded。　
　〃This　all　seems　a　little　too　perfect；〃　Spenser　said。　〃What's　the　catch？〃　
　〃You　still　have　to　make　it　to　Hong　Kong；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　walked　through　the　door。　
　
　ON　THE　OREGON'S　rear　deck；　George　Adams　waited　as　a　landing　pad　on　the　fantail　rose　up　to　deck　level。　A　hard　rain　was　raking　the　deck　and　the　winds　were　a　steady　twenty　knots　from　east　to　west。　He　turned　to　Tom　Reyes。　
　〃Once　the　deckhand　locks　the　lift　in　place；　we　need　to　rotate　the　whirlybird　into　the　wind；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I'm　going　to　need　to　make　a　hot　takeoff　into　the　wind。〃　
　Reyes　nodded　and　watched　as　another　deckhand　rolled　a　metal　cart　containing　several　boxes　near　the　lift。　The　elevator　operator　signaled　that　the　lift　was　locked；　and　Adams　and　Reyes　walked　over。　
　The　Robinson　R…44　helicopter　was　a　medium…sized　piston…engine　craft　with　a　top　speed　of　just　over　130　miles　an　hour。　The　weight　was　1；420　pounds；　the　horsepower　of　the　power　plant　260；　and　the　cost　was　about　300；000。　
　The　two　men　attached　ground…handling　wheels；　spun　the　ship　around；　then　removed　the　wheels　and　handed　them　to　the　deckhand。　
　〃We　distributed　the　dye　into　plastic　baggies　like　you　ordered；〃　the　deckhand　noted。　
　Adams　nodded　and　turned　to　Reyes。　〃Keep　the　box　at　your　feet；　but　away　from　the　foot　pedals。　I'll　take　us　down　as　low　as