cc.goldenbuddha-第39部分

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　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　we　can　safely　go；　but　the　ride　will　be　touchy　because　of　the　wind。〃　
　〃I　understand；〃　Reyes　said。　
　Adams　did　a　quick　walk　around　the　helicopter；　checking　fuel　oil　and　general　condition；　then　motioned　to　Reyes。　〃Hop　in；〃　he　said；　〃and　we'll　get　this　show　on　the　road。〃　
　Once　both　men　were　in　the　seats；　Adams　reached　down　and　ran　through　the　preflight　checklist。　Once　he　was　done；　he　screamed　〃Clear〃　out　the　window　and　engaged　the　starter。　Once　the　engine　had　fired　and　the　clutch　was　engaged；　the　rotor　blades　started　slowly　spinning；　then　gathered　speed　until　the　helicopter　was　shaking　and　vibrating。　Adams　watched　the　gauges　closely；　and　when　the　engine　was　warmed　and　everything　had　settled　down；　he　spoke　through　the　headset　microphone　to　Reyes。　
　〃Hold　on；　Tom；〃　Adams　said；　〃this　will　be　like　a　giant　jump。〃　
　Neutralizing　the　cyclic；　Adams　quickly　lifted　the　collective　and　the　tiny　bird　left　the　pad。　A　second　later；　Adams　eased　the　cyclic　forward　and　the　helicopter　nosed　over　into　the　wind；　rising　and　moving　forward　at　the　same　time。　
　Clear　of　the　Oregon；　Adams　flew　directly　into　the　wind。　Heading　offshore　a　distance；　he　then　started　to　angle　back　toward　Macau。　Around　the　knee　of　his　flight　suit　was　a　strap　with　a　metal　clip；　and　in　the　clip　was　a　folded　slip　of　paper　showing　the　locations　of　the　storm　sewer　outflows。　
　〃There　we　go；〃　Adams　said；　spotting　the　dirty　water　where　a　pipe　spilled　into　the　bay。　
　Reyes　reached　down　in　the　box；　removed　a　baggie；　slid　the　top　open　partway；　and　then　tossed　it　out　the　small　window　opening　in　the　passenger　door。　It　tumbled　through　the　ten　feet　from　the　helicopter　to　the　water　and　began　to　spread　out　like　blood　from　a　rare　steak。　
　In　the　distance；　a　police　boat　heard　the　noise　from　the　helicopter　but　it　could　not　make　it　out　in　the　rain。　Adams　moved　the　helicopter　up　the　line；　salting　the　water　on　the　east　side　of　Macau。　Then　he　steered　around　the　end　of　the　peninsula　between　Macau　and　Taipa　to　repeat　the　exercise。　
　
　DETECTIVE　PO　PARKED　in　front　of　the　headquarters　of　the　Macau　Police　Department；　then　walked　through　the　rain　toward　the　front　doors。　In　the　east；　the　sky　was　lightening　some；　but　the　rain　continued　on　unabated。　
　Entering　the　building；　he　rode　the　elevator　up　to　Rhee's　floor；　then　exited　the　elevator　and　walked　down　the　hallway。　Upon　reaching　the　reception　area；　he　instantly　knew　that　there　was　trouble　afoot。　The　U。S。　consular　agent；　the　mayor　of　Macau；　a　Chinese　general　and　four　reporters　were　clustered　around　a　man　dressed　entirely　in　black。　
　〃This　isn't　a　case　of　shoplifting；〃　the　man　in　black　said　loudly。　〃They've　stolen　a　Boeing　737；　for　God's　sake。〃　
　It　had　been　a　case　of　blind　luck　for　the　software　billionaire。　Still　refused　a　telephone　call；　he　had　been　brought　to　headquarters　to　be　questioned　by　Rhee　in　his　office。　As　soon　as　they　had　entered　the　office；　however；　the　billionaire　had　noticed　a　copy　of　Fortune　magazine　on　Rhee's　side　table。　His　face　was　gracing　the　cover。　Once　he'd　pointed　that　out　to　Rhee；　things　had　begun　happening　fast。　
　The　billionaire　had　turned　from　suspect　to　victim　in　seconds。　
　Po　walked　over　and　stood　next　to　Rhee。　
　Po　heard　him　whisper　〃Damn〃　as　the　elevator　door　opened　again　and　Stanley　Ho　started　down　the　hall。　
　〃Have　you　found　my　Buddha？〃　Ho　said　as　soon　as　he　was　within　range。　
　〃Who　the　hell　is　this？〃　the　billionaire　asked。　
　〃I'm　Stanley　Ho；〃　Ho　said　in　aggravation。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃Marcus　Friday；〃　the　billionaire　said　loudly。　〃You　might　have　heard　of　me？〃　
　〃And　you　of　me；〃　Ho　said；　affronted。　〃I'm　one　of　Forbes's　richest　people。〃　
　〃I　know　all　the　people　ahead　of　me　on　the　listyou　aren't　one　of　them；〃　Friday　retorted。　
　Detective　Po　smiled　to　himself。　If　all　this　was　true；　it　was　the　greatest　game　of　one…upmanship　he　had　ever　seen。　Here　was　a　pair　of　obscenely　rich　men　vying　for　attention　like　children　trying　to　be　picked　for　kickball。　
　〃Yeah；〃　Ho　began　to　say；　〃well；　this　is　my　town；　and　you　can〃　
　〃Mr。　Ho；〃　Detective　Po　said　quickly；　〃why　don't　you　e　down　to　my　office　so　we　can　sort　this　out？〃　
　〃I'm　not　going　anywhere；〃　Ho　said　loudly。　
　〃Everyone　calm　down；〃　Rhee　said。　
　He　motioned　to　a　conference　room；　pointed　for　the　reporters　to　remain　in　the　foyer；　and　then　led　the　rest　inside。　Once　everyone　was　inside　and　seated；　he　picked　up　the　telephone；　ordered　tea　to　be　delivered；　then　spoke。　
　〃Okay；　everyone；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃who　wants　to　begin？〃　Ho　stared　at　the　chief　inspector。　〃A　Buddha　I　purchased　for　two　hundred　million　dollars　in　Switzerland　was　stolen　tonight　while　you　were　at　a　party　at　my　house。　I　demand　to　know　if　you　have　recovered　it　yet。〃　
　〃I　lost　a　hundred　million　dollars　in　bearer　bonds　and　my　737　to　a　gang　of　criminals；〃　the　billionaire　said；　〃and　want　to　know　what　is　going　on　in　this　godforsaken　country。〃　
　Po　stood　up　and　paced　for　a　second。　〃Was　your　plane　valued　over　a　hundred　million？〃　he　asked　Friday。　
　The　billionaire　shook　his　head。　
　〃Then　it　looks　like　two　hundred　million　is　the　highest　bid　here　tonight；〃　Po　said。　
　　
　THE　STORM　SEWER　was　fast　being　a　watery　grave。　
　Less　than　three　feet　separated　the　rising　water　from　the　arched　dome　of　air　overhead。　The　drainpipes　on　the　top　of　the　tube　were　gushing　like　a　downpour。　The　water　was　littered　with　refuse　washed　from　the　streets　above。　Horns　by　saw　a　rat　swimming　toward　them　in　the　current　and　slapped　at　the　creature　with　a　paddle。　Just　ahead　was　another　junction。　
　〃We　need　to　make　a　decision；〃　he　shouted　over　the　roar　of　the　water。　〃Sink　or　swim。〃　
　Meadows　looked　forward。　In　the　dimming　light　from　the　miner's　hard　hat　he　could　just　see　the　torrent　ahead；　a　cascade　of　white　water　that　would　make　the　rafts　uncontrollable。　
　〃Ready　with　the　paddles；〃　he　shouted。　〃The　horse　has　to　lead　the　cart。〃　
　Digging　into　the　water　on　the　left　side　of　the　raft；　they　swung　the　stern　of　their　raft　to　the　right。　The　nose　of　the　lead　raft；　which　was　carrying　the　Golden　Buddha；　pulled　hard　left　but　made　the　turn　into　the　proper　channel。　The　turn　was　not　as　smooth　for　the　raft　carrying　the　trio　of　men。　It　slammed　amidships　into　the　junction；　and　the　corner　struck　Jones　hard　in　his　right　side。　He　hung　there　for　a　minute　pressed　against　a　concrete　arch　until　the　rope　holding　them　to　the　lead　raft　went　taut　and　yanked　them　down　the　channel。　
　〃Jonesy's　been　hurt；〃　Meadows　shouted　above　the　din。　
　Pete　Jones　was　clutching　the　side　of　his　chest　and　wheezing　to　catch　his　breath。　Turning　his　head；　in　the　dim　light　Hornsby　could　just　make　out　his　shredded　shirt　and　anguished　expression。　
　〃My　ribs；〃　Jones　managed　to　groan。　
　〃We　need　to　cut　the　raft　loose；〃　Hornsby　shouted。　〃There's　no　way　we'll　make　the　next　turn。〃　
　〃Maybe　we　should　slit　the　side　and　sink　the　Buddha；〃　Meadows　shouted。　〃Then　we　can　return　when　the　water　recedes　and　pull　it　out　of　here。〃　
　Jones　gritted　his　teeth　and　stared　at　his　watch。　〃The　Oregon；〃　he　said　painfully；　〃is　due　to　sail　this　morning。　If　we　don't　get　this　out　now；　we　never　will。〃　
　Hornsby　thought　for　a　second；　then　decided。　The　next　junction　would　be　ing　up　in　a　few　minutes。　Taking　a　pen　from　his　shirt　pocket；　he　stared　at　the　GPS；　then　drew　the　rest　of　their　intended　course　on　the　back　of　his　hand。　
　〃Bob；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　going　onto　the　lead　raft。　My　weight　will　place　it　low　in　the　water；　but　it　should　still　remain　afloat。　As　soon　as　I'm　on　top　of　the　case　holding　the　Buddha；　cut　me　loose。〃　
　He　handed　Meadows　the　GPS。　
　〃You　sure；　Horny？〃　
　Hornsby　threw　his　paddle　onto　the　top　of　the　Buddha；　pulled　the　rope　to　bring　the　rear　raft　closer；　then　turned。　
　〃Ready　your　knife；〃　he　said。　
　Unclipping　a　folding　knife　from　his　belt；　Meadows　opened　the　blade　and　nodded。　
　Hornsby　crouched　and　hopped　the　short　distance　to　the　lead　raft。　As　soon　as　he　was　clear；　Meadows　sliced　through　the　tether；　then　dug　his　paddle　into　the　side　to　slow　down　his　raft。　Hornsby　squirted　ahead。　In　the　dim　light；　Meadows　could　see　the　Buddha　was　awash；　and　only　a　portion　of　Hornsby's　head　and　torso　were　above　the　waterline。　
　〃Going　right；〃　Hornsby　shouted　as　he　pulled　ahead；　〃then　left。〃　
　
　AS　THE　STORM　sewer　pipes　came　closer　to　the　water；　they　increased　in　diameter　so　the　storm　water　would　not　bee　pressurized　and　blow　apart　the　tiles。　At　six　places　under　Macau　were　large　square　pond…like　storage　facilities　where　the　water　could　pool　and　lose　some　speed　before　spilling　out　into　the　last　series　of　pipes　and　eventually　the　bay。　
　Murphy　and　Kasim　were　motoring　around　in　circles　in　one　of　them。　
　〃Five　more　minutes；〃　Murphy　shouted。　〃Then　we　go　in　and　find　them。〃　
　Kasim　gave　three　more　blasts　on　the　air　horn。　〃They　should　be　here　by　now；〃　he　agreed。　
　At　just　that　instant；　Murphy's　digital　pager　beeped　and　he　pushed　the　button　to　light　the　screen。　Scrolling　through　the　message；　he　nodded　his　head。　
　〃They　poured　paint　into　the　sewers　to　follow　the　flow；〃　he　said　as　he　steered　the　Zodiac　into　another　tight　circle。　〃If　it　makes　it　down　our　escape　channel；　we're　screwed。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Kasim　asked。　
　〃The　paint　will　bring　the　Chinese　to　the　area；　as　well　as　marking　the　sides　of　the　Zodiac；〃　Murphy　said。　〃Then　they'll　grab　us　and　take　us　in　for　questioning。〃　
　〃What's　the　Oregon　remend？〃　
　Murphy　was　quiet　for　a　moment　before　answering。　〃They　want　us　to　blow　up　the　tunnel　leading　into　here　and　seal　off　the　tainted　water。〃　
　〃How　long　do　we　have？〃
　〃Six　minutes　and　forty…seven　seconds；〃　Murphy　said；　removing　…a　satchel　charge　from　one　of　the　bags　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat。　
　〃What　about　the　others？〃　Kasim　asked。
　〃If　they　aren't　out　by　then；〃　Murphy　said；　〃the　Oregon　said　to　assume　they　took　a　wrong　turn　or　drowned　inside。　Then　we　need　to　protect　our　own　asses　and　make　a　safe　retreat。〃　Murphy　angled　the　Zodiac　over　to　the　pipe　leading　into　the　holding　pool。　Using　the　power　of　the　outboard　motor；　he　held　the　boat　in　place　against　the　strong　current　until　Kasim　had　attached　the　charges　to　the　top　of　the　storm　sewer。　Once　the　explosives　were　in　place；　Kasim　activated　the　digital　timer。　Four；　three；　two；　one；　and　the　r