cc.goldenbuddha-第4部分

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　Hanley　grinned。　〃If　only　he'd　known　he　was　steering　a　dead　wheel。　We'll　have　to　make　some　adjustments；　though。　You　speak　to　him　in　Spanish？〃　
　Smith　smiled。　〃My　best　Yankee　English。　Why　let　him　know　I　speak　his　language？　That　way；　I　could　tell　if　he　played　any　tricks　over　the　radio　with　the　harbor　officials　as　we　anchored。〃　Smith　pulled　back　a　sleeve　of　his　grimy　coveralls　and　checked　a　Timex　watch　with　a　badly　scratched　lens。　〃Thirty　minutes　until　dark。〃　　〃The　equipment　in　the　moon　pool　is　all　ready。〃　
　〃And　the　landing　crew？〃　
　〃Standing　by。〃　
　〃I　just　have　time　to　get　rid　of　these　smelly　clothes　and　get　decent；〃　said　Cabrillo；　heading　toward　his　cabin　down　a　hallway　hung　with　paintings　by　modern　artists。　
　The　crew　cabins　were　concealed　inside　two　of　the　cargo　holds　and　were　as　plush　as　rooms　in　a　five…star　hotel。　There　was　no　separation　between　officers　and　crew　on　the　Oregon。　All　were　educated　people；　highly　trained　in　their　respective　fieldselite　men　and　women　who　had　served　in　the　armed　forces。　The　ship　was　owned　by　its　staff；　who　were　stockholders。　There　were　no　ranks。　Cabrillo　was　chairman；　Hanley；　president；　the　others　held　various　other　titles。　They　were　all　mercenaries；　here　to　make　a　profitthough　that　did　not　necessarily　rule　out　good　works　at　the　same　timehired　by　countries　or　large　panies　to　perform　clandestine　services　around　the　world；　very　often　at　great　risk。　
　
　THE　MAN　WHO　left　the　cabin　twenty　minutes　later　did　not　look　like　the　man　who'd　entered。　The　greasy　hairpiece；　scruffy　beard　and　grimy　coveralls　were　gone；　as　was　the　foul　smell。　So　was　the　Timex；　
　now　replaced　with　a　stainless…steel　Concord　chronograph。　In　addition；　the　man　had　dropped　at　least　a　hundred　pounds。　
　Juan　Rodriguez　Cabrillo　had　transformed　himself　from　the　grimy　sea　dog　Smith　to　his　true　self　again。　A　tall　man　in　his　forties；　ruggedly　handsome；　he　stared　through　pixie…blue　eyes。　His　blond　hair　was　trimmed　in　a　crew　cut　and　a　western　cowboy…style　mustache　sprouted　from　his　upper　lip。　
　He　hurried　down　the　corridor　to　a　far　door　and　entered　a　control　room　perched　high　inside　a　vast　cavern　in　the　hull　amidships。　The　three…deck…high　moon　pool；　as　it　was　called；　was　where　all　the　Oregon's　underwater　equipment　was　storeddiving　gear；　submersibles；　manned　and　unmanned；　and　an　array　of　underwater　electronic　sensors。　A　pair　of　state…of…the…art　contemporary　underwater　craft　by　U。S。　Submarinesa　sixty…five…foot　Nomad　1000　and　a　thirty…two…foot　Discovery　1000　hung　in　cradles。　The　doors　on　the　bottom　of　the　hull　slid　open　and　water　flooded　in　until　it　was　level　with　the　outer　waterline。　
　The　remarkable　ship　was　not　what　she　appeared　from　her　exterior。　The　outer　decks　and　hull　were　disguised　to　make　her　look　like　a　rust　bucket。　The　wheelhouse　and　the　unused　officers'　and　crew's　quarters　below　were　also　kept　in　a　slovenly　condition　to　avoid　suspicion　from　visiting　port　officials　or　harbor　pilots。　
　Cabrillo　entered　the　underwater　operations　room　and　stood　before　a　large　table　showing　three…dimensional　holographic　images　of　every　street　in　the　city　of　Santiago。　Linda　Ross；　the　Oregon's　security　and　surveillance　analyst；　was　standing　at　the　table　lecturing　a　group　of　people　dressed　in　Cuban　military　fatigue　uniforms。　Linda　had　been　a　lieutenant　mander　in　the　navy　when　Cabrillo　had　sweet…talked　her　into　resigning　and　joining　the　Oregon。　In　the　navy　she　had　been　an　intelligence　officer　on　board　an　Aegis　guided…missile　cruiser　before　spending　four　years　in　Washington　in　the　navy's　intelligence　department。　
　Linda　glanced　sideways　at　Cabrillo　as　he　stood　quietly　without　interrupting。　She　was　an　attractive　woman；　not　a　head　turner；　but　most　men　still　considered　her　pretty。　She　kept　her　five…foot…eight…inch；　130　pound　body　in　firm　shape　with　exercise；　but　rarely　spent　extra　time　on　makeup　or　hairstyle。　She　was　one　smart　lady；　soft…spoken　and　greatly　admired　by　the　entire　Oregon　crew。　
　The　five　men　and　one　woman　standing　around　the　detailed　3…D　image　of　the　city　listened　intently　as　Linda　ran　through　the　last…minute　instructions；　using　a　small　metal　rod　with　a　light　on　the　end　to　point　out　their　objective。　〃The　fortress　of　Santa　Ursula。　It　was　built　during　the　Spanish…American　War；　and　after　the　turn　of　the　twentieth　century　it　was　used　as　a　warehouse　until　Castro　and　his　revolutionaries　took　over　the　country。　Then　it　was　turned　into　a　prison。〃　
　〃What　is　the　exact　distance　from　our　landing　to　the　prison？〃　asked　Eddie　Seng；　the　Oregon's　master　of　subterfuge　and　director　of　shore　operations。　
　〃Two　hundred　yards　less　than　a　mile；〃　answered　Linda。　
　Seng　folded　his　arms　and　looked　thoughtful。　〃We'll　be　able　to　fool　the　locals　with　our　uniforms　going　in；　but　if　we　have　to　fight　our　way　back　a　mile　to　the　docks　while　herding　eighteen　prisoners；　I　can't　guarantee　we'll　make　it。〃　
　〃Certainly　not　in　the　condition　those　poor　people　are　going　to　be　in；〃　said　Julia　Huxley；　the　Oregon's　medical　officer。　She　was　going　along　on　the　raid　to　care　for　the　prisoners。　A　short　woman；　large　bosomed　with　a　body　suited　for　wrestling；　Julia　was　the　congeniality　lady　of　the　ship。　She'd　served　as　a　chief　medical　officer　for　four　years　at　the　San　Diego　Naval　Base　and　was　well　respected　by　them　all。　
　〃Our　agents　in　the　city　have　arranged　for　a　truck　to　be　stolen　twenty　minutes　before　you　leave　the　prison。　It's　used　for　hauling　food　supplies　to　the　hotels。　The　truck　and　a　driver　will　be　parked　one　block　from　the　workers'　maintenance　shack　situated　on　the　wharf　above　your　landing　dock。　He'll　drive　you　to　the　prison；　wait；　and　return　you　to　the　dock。　》From　there　he'll　ditch　the　truck　and　ride　home　on　his　bicycle。〃　
　〃Does　he　have　a　name？　Is　there　a　password？〃　
　Linda　smiled　slightly。　〃The　password　is　dos。〃　
　Seng　looked　skeptical。　〃Two？　That's　it？〃　
　〃Yes；　he'll　reply　with　uno；　one。　It's　that　simple。〃　
　〃Well；　at　least　it's　concise。〃　
　Linda　paused　to　flick　a　series　of　switches　on　a　small　remote　control。　The　images　of　the　city　dissolved　into　a　3…D　interior　diorama　of　Santa　Ursula　Prison　without　its　roof；　revealing　the　inner　rooms　and　cells　and　their　connecting　passageways。　〃Our　sources　tell　us　there　are　only　ten　guards　in　the　whole　prison。　Six　on　the　day　shift；　two　in　the　evening　and　two　from　midnight　until　six　in　the　morning。　You　should　have　no　problem　overpowering　the　two　on　the　station。　They'll　think　you're　a　military　unit　e　to　transport　the　prisoners　to　another　secure　facility。　You're　scheduled　to　gain　entry　at　ten　o'clock。　Subdue　the　two　on…duty　guards　and　release　the　prisoners；　then　return　to　the　submarine　and　make　the　ship　by　eleven　o'clock。　Any　later　and　you　jeopardize　our　escape　out　of　the　harbor。〃　
　〃How　so？〃　asked　one　of　Seng's　team　members。　
　〃We're　told　the　harbor　defense　systems　are　run　through　an　operational　test　every　night　at　twelve。　We've　got　to　be　well　on　our　way　to　sea　before　then。〃　
　〃Why　not　wait　and　go　in　after　midnight；　when　most　of　the　town　is　asleep？〃　asked　a　member　of　the　landing　force。　〃At　ten　o'clock；　the　local　citizens　will　still　be　stirring　around。〃　
　〃You'll　cause　less　suspicion　if　you　don't　sneak　around　the　streets　before　dawn；〃　she　replied。　〃Also；　the　other　eight　guards　are　usually　out　on　the　town　in　the　local　bars　until　early　morning。〃　
　〃You're　sure　about　that？〃　asked　Seng。　
　Linda　nodded。　〃Their　movements　have　been　watched　and　clocked　for　two　weeks　by　our　agents　in　the　city。〃　
　〃Unless　Murphy's　Law　rears　its　ugly　head；〃　said　Cabrillo；　〃the　release　of　the　prisoners　and　the　escape　should　go　smoothly。　The　tough　part　es　when　you're　all　on　board　and　we　have　to　sail　out　of　the　harbor。　The　minute　Castro's　harbor　security　forces　see　us　pull　up　the　anchor　and　turn　down　the　channel　for　the　open　sea；　they'll　know　something　is　wrong　and　all　hell　will　break　loose。〃　
　Linda　looked　at　Cabrillo。　〃We　have　the　weaponry　to　knock　them　out。〃　
　〃True；〃　Cabrillo　acknowledged。　〃But　we　cannot　fire　the　first　shot。　If　they　strike　the　Oregon　first；　however；　we'll　have　no　choice　but　to　protect　ourselves。〃　
　〃None　of　us　has　been　told；〃　said　Seng；　〃who　exactly　are　we　breaking　out　of　jail。　They　must　be　important　or　we　wouldn't　have　contracted　for　the　job。〃　
　Cabrillo　looked　at　him。　〃We　wanted　to　keep　it　under　wraps　until　we　got　here。　They're　Cuban　doctors；　journalists　and　businessmen　who　opposed　Castro's　government；　all　highly　respected　men　and　women。　Castro　knows　they　are　dangerous　if　they　are　free。　If　they　reach　the　Cuban　munity　in　Miami；　they　can　use　it　as　a　base　to　instigate　a　revolutionary　movement。〃　
　〃Is　it　a　good　contract？〃　
　〃Ten　million　dollars　if　we　deliver　them　to　U。S。　soil。〃　
　Seng　and　the　others　around　the　holographic　display　smiled。　〃That　should　add　a　tidy　little　amount　to　everyone's　nest　egg；〃　he　said。　
　〃Doing　good　for　profit；〃　Cabrillo　said　with　a　wide　grin。　〃That's　our　motto。〃　
　
　AT　PRECISELY　8：30；　Seng　and　his　small　force　boarded　the　Nomad　1000　along　with　the　two　crewmen　who　would　pilot　the　sub　and　guard　it　during　the　operation。　The　sub　looked　more　like　a　luxury　surface　yacht　than　a　submersible。　Capable　of　running　at　high　speeds　on　the　surface　with　its　diesel　engines；　it　was　battery　powered　beneath　the　waves。　With　a　speed　of　twelve　knots　underwater；　the　Nomad　could　dive　to　a　thousand　feet。　The　interior　was　designed　to　hold　twelve　people　fortably；　but　Cabrillo　had　had　her　configured　to　carry　three　times　that　number　tightly　packed　together；　for　missions　such　as　this　one。　
　The　entry　door　was　closed　and　sealed；　and　the　craft；　secured　by　a　large　sling；　was　lifted　by　a　crane　into　the　center　of　the　moon　pool。　The　operator　looked　into　the　control　room　and　was　given　the　descent　signal　by　Cabrillo。　Then；　slowly；　the　large　craft　was　lowered　into　the　black　water。　As　soon　as　she　settled；　divers　removed　the　sling　and　were　carried　upward　to　the　surrounding　balcony　by　the　crane。　
　〃Radio　check；〃　said　Seng。　〃Do　you　read　me？〃　
　〃Like　you're　in　the　same　room；〃　Linda　Ross　assured　him。　
　〃Are　we　clear？〃　
　〃No　ship　movement　and　only　three　fishing　boats　are　heading　out　to　sea。　At　thirty　feet；　you　should　stay　well　below　their　keels　and　props。〃　
　〃Keep　the　coffee　on；〃　said　Seng。　
　〃Bon　voyage；〃　quipped　Cabrillo。　
　〃That's　easy　for　you　to　say；〃　Seng　came　back。　
　A　few　moments　later；　the　lights　ins