cc.goldenbuddha-第42部分

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　〃Countermeasures　and　detection　at　one　hundred　percent；〃　another　j　officer　reported。　
　〃Perfect；〃　Farragut　said。　
　〃Sensors　report　clear；　sir；〃　the　chief　of　boat　said。　〃We　appear　to　be　j　alone　out　here。　We　can　mence　operation　inside　of　eight；　repeat　eight；　j　minutes。〃　
　〃Acknowledged；〃　Farragut　said。　
　The　great　beast　was　rising　from　the　depths　and　preparing　to　bite　if　i　necessary。　
　
　ADAMS　BURST　INTO　the　control　room　of　the　Oregon。　He　was　dressed　in　a　tan　flight　suit　that　he　was　zipping　up　as　he　approached。　
　〃Mr。　Chairman；〃　he　said；　smiling　a　blindingly　white　smile；　〃what　can　I　do　for　you？〃　
　Cabrillo　pointed　to　one　of　the　puter　screens。　〃George；　we　have　a　situation。　We　have　the　two　Zodiacs　along　with　seven　of　our　people　trying　to　get　out　of　Macau　waters。　We　can't　turn　to　pick　them　up　because　we're　being　pursued　ourselves。〃　Cabrillo　pointed　to　another　screen。　〃You　can　see　they　also　have　a　tail。　You　need　to　provide　support。〃　
　〃I'll　mount　the　experimental　weapons　pods　Mr。　Hanley　designed　for　the　Robinson。　That　gives　me　mini…rockets　and　a　small　chain　gun；　so　I　can　cover　their　exit。〃　
　〃What　about　the　extraction　system？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　〃I　can't　pull　seven　people　aboard；〃　Adams　said；　〃I　don't　have　the　payload。〃　
　〃That's　not　what　I　was　thinking；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Let　me　explain。〃　
　
　CAPTAIN　CHING　STARED　at　the　radar　screen。　He　had　been　told　the　ship　he　was　supposed　to　intercept　was　an　aging　cargo　ship　named　the　Oregon。　From　the　description　given　by　the　pilot；　the　vessel　was　little　more　than　a　bucket　of　rust。　Somehow；　Ching　was　beginning　to　doubt　thatGale　Force　was　steaming　at　fifty　knots；　and　if　the　radar　on　the　puter　screen　was　correct；　the　cargo　ship　was　doing　forty…five。　At　the　current　speeds；　the　Oregon　would　be　safely　in　international　waters　in　less　than　five　minutes。　Then　there　would　be　the　risk　of　a　major　incident　if　the　sailors　on　Gale　Force　attempted　a　boarding。　〃Give　me　full　speed；〃　Ching　ordered　the　engine　room。　
　
　〃THE　HYDROFOIL　IS　accelerating；〃　Hanley　noted。　〃At　the　increased　speed；　they　will　intercept　us　a　minute　or　two　before　we　reach　the　demarcation　line。〃　
　Cabrillo　glanced　at　the　screen　showing　the　water　in　front　of　the　Oregon。　The　clouds　were　finally　clearing　and　soon　they　would　be　free　of　the　fog　bank。　
　〃Let's　raise　them　on　the　radio；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃and　explain　the　situation。〃　
　Stone　started　tuning　the　radio　while　Cabrillo　reached　for　a　different　microphone。　
　〃Engine　room；〃　he　said。　
　〃Sir；〃　a　voice　said；　〃this　is　Reinholt。〃　
　Cabrillo　didn't　bother　to　ask　why　the　ailing　engineer　was　not　in　sick　bay　as　he　had　been　ordered。　The　man　had　obviously　felt　well　enough　to　help。　
　〃Reinholt；〃　Cabrillo　said　quickly；　〃is　there　any　way　to　coax　out　a　few　more　knots？〃　
　〃We're　on　it；　sir；〃　Reinholt　answered。　
　
　DOWN　BELOWDECKS；　THE　weapons　pods　had　already　been　attached　to　both　sides　of　the　R…44。　While　the　elevator　lifted　the　helicopter　up　to　launch　height；　Adams　slid　a　pair　of　Nomex　flight　gloves　over　his　hands；　then　slid　a　pair　of　yellow…tinted　sunglasses　over　his　eyes。　He　stepped　from　foot　to　foot　in　anticipation；　and　as　soon　as　the　elevator　stopped　and　locked　in　place；　he　raced　over；　did　a　quick　preflight　and　checked　the　underneath　harness；　then　stepped　to　the　pilot's　door　of　the　Robinson　and　cracked　it　open。　He　was　sliding　into　the　seat　as　a　deckhand　raced　over。　
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　pull　the　pins？〃　the　deckhand　asked。　〃Arm　me；〃　Adams　said　quickly；　〃then　clear　the　deck。　I'm　out　of　here　as　soon　as　I　have　operating　temps。〃　
　The　man　bent　down；　removed　the　pins　from　the　missiles　and　checked　the　power　to　the　mini…gun。　Once　he　was　finished；　he　popped　his　head　inside　the　door　again。　
　〃Check　your　weapons　console。〃　
　Adams　stared　at　the　small　screen　attached　to　the　side　of　the　dashboard。　〃I'm　green。〃　
　The　deckhand　shut　the　door　and　raced　away。　Adams　waited　until　he　was　clear；　then　engaged　the　starter。　Four　minutes　and　twenty…eight　seconds　later；　using　the　surface　wind　from　the　accelerating　Oregon　as　a　crutch；　Adams　lifted　from　the　deck；　then　pivoted　the　R…44　in　midair；　turned　and　headed　back　toward　Macau。　
　
　THE　ZODIACS　WERE　skimming　across　the　water　at　thirty　knots　According　to　their　crude　radars；　they　were　keeping　ahead　of　the　pursuing　boats；　but　just　barely。　Seng's　boat；　with　the　added　weight　of　the　Golden　Buddha；　was　straining　to　maintain　speed。　He　had　the　throttle　all　the　way　to　the　stops；　but　there　was　no　more　speed　to　be　coaxed　from　his　engine。　The　fog　and　rain　were　still　thick　and　they　shielded　the　inflatable　boats　from　the　pursuers；　but　Seng　could　sense　they　were　just　out　of　visual　and　auditory　range。　If　one　thing　went　wrongan　engine　miss　or　overheating；　a　leak　in　the　inflatable　pontoons　that　slowed　them　downthey　would　be　toast。　
　At　the　same　instant　Seng　was　having　his　dark　thoughts；　Huxley　heard　the　Oregon　calling　over　the　radio。　She　cupped　her　hand　over　her　ear　so　she　could　hear。　Because　of　the　potential　for　interception；　the　message　was　brief　and　to　the　point。　
　〃Help　is　on　the　way；〃　Stone　said。　
　〃Understand；〃　Huxley　answered。　
　She　turned　to　Seng　and　Hornsby。　〃The　Oregon's　sending　the　cavalry；〃　she　said。　
　〃Not　a　moment　too　soon；〃　Seng　said　as　he　stared　at　the　temperature　gauge　for　his　engine；　now　beginning　to　creep　into　the　red。　
　Not　too　far　distant；　the　Zodiac　carrying　Kasim；　Murphy　Meadows；　and　Jones　heard　the　message　as　well。　Kasim　was　steering；　Meadows　standing　alongside；　with　Jones　lying　prone　on　the　deck　to　the　stern。　Once　Meadows　heard　the　news；　he　turned；　crouched　down；　then　yelled　the　news　over　the　sound　of　the　wind　and　waves　to　Jones。　
　〃I　wish　I'd　have　known；〃　Jones　quipped。　〃I　would　have　asked　them　to　bring　some　aspirin。〃　
　〃You　want　another　bottle　of　water？〃　Meadows　asked。　
　〃Not　unless　there's　a　bathroom　on　board；〃　Jones　said；　grimacing。　
　〃Hang　in　there；　buddy；〃　Meadows　said。　〃We'll　be　home　soon。〃　
　
　LIKE　THE　DISTANT　view　of　a　shoplifter　across　a　crowded　store；　the　outline　of　the　Oregon　started　to　form　through　Ching's　binoculars　as　the　fog　began　to　clear。　Concentrating　on　the　hull；　Ching　could　see　the　large　white…capped　wake　being　created　by　the　racing　cargo　ship。　The　wake　and　the　cargo　ship's　track　were　like　nothing　he　had　ever　witnessed　before。　Most　cargo　ships；　and　Ching　had　tracked　and　intercepted　more　than　a　few；　moved　through　the　water　like　lumbering　manateesthis　Iranian…flagged　vessel　he　was　chasing　moved　like　a　thoroughbred　in　heat。　
　The　water　out　the　stern　was　not　churning；　as　with　most　ships；　instead；　it　seemed　to　be　forming　into　concentric　whirlpools　that　flattened　the　sea　to　the　rear；　as　if　a　large　container　of　glycerin　had　been　poured　overboard。　Ching　stared　at　the　decks；　but　no　crew　was　visible。　There　was　only　rusty　metal　and　junk　piled　high。　
　Though　the　decks　were　deserted；　the　Oregon　did　not　give　the　appearance　of　a　ghost　ship。　No；　Ching　thought；　beneath　her　metal　skin；　much　was　happening。　At　just　that　instant；　a　medium…sized　helicopter　flew　over　the　Gale　Force　about　a　hundred　yards　to　the　port　side；　just　above　wave…top　level。　
　〃Where　did　that　e　from？〃　Ching　asked　his　electronics　officer。　
　〃What；　sir？〃　the　officer　said；　staring　up　from　a　screen。　
　〃A　helicopter；〃　Ching　said；　〃heading　from　sea　toward　land。〃　
　〃It　didn't　show　up　on　the　sensors；〃　the　officer　said。　〃Are　you　sure　you　saw　it　through　the　fog？〃　
　〃Yes；〃　Ching　said　loudly；　〃I　saw　it。〃　
　He　walked　over　to　the　screen　and　stared　at　the　radar　returns。　
　〃What's　happening？〃　he　asked　a　few　seconds　later。　
　The　electronics　officer　was　short　and　slim。　He　looked　like　a　jockey　in　a　fancy　uniform。　His　hair　was　jet　black　and　straight　and　his　eyes　brown…edged　with　bloodshot　red　from　staring　at　the　radar。　
　〃Sir；〃　he　said　finally；　〃I'm　not　sure。　What　you　see　has　been　happening　intermittently　since　we　began　the　chase。　One　second　we　seem　to　get　a　clear　return；　then　it　jumps　to　the　other　side　of　the　screen　like　it's　a　video　game　playing　hide…and…seek。〃　
　〃The　image　is　not　even　the　correct　size；〃　Captain　Ching　noted。　
　〃It　grows；　then　diminishes　to　a　pinprick；〃　the　officer　said。　〃Then　jumps　across　the　screen。〃　
　
　Ching　stared　out　the　window　again；　they　were　drawing　closer　to　the　Oregon。　〃They're　jamming　us。〃　
　〃I　can　detect　that；〃　the　officer　said。　
　〃Then　what　is　it？〃　Ching　asked。　
　The　officer　thought　for　a　minute。　〃I　read　in　a　translated　science　journal　about　an　experimental　system　an　American　engineer　was　building。　Instead　of　making　objects　disappear；　as　with　stealth；　or　using　extra　signals；　as　on　most　jamming　equipment；　this　system　has　a　puter　that　takes　in　all　the　signals　from　our　hull　and　reforms　them　into　different　shapes　and　strengths。〃　
　〃So　this　system　can　make　them　appear　or　disappear　as　they　decide？〃　Ching　said　incredulously。　
　〃That's　about　it；　sir；〃　the　officer　said。　
　〃Well；〃　Ching　said　finally；　〃there's　no　way　an　old　rust　bucket　has　anything　like　that　on　board。〃　
　〃Well；　let's　hope　not；　sir；〃　the　electronics　officer　said。
　〃Why's　that？〃　Ching　asked。　
　〃Because　the　article　also　stated　that　by　changing　the　object　dimensions；　they　can　increase　the　targeting　potential。〃
　〃Which　means？〃　
　〃That　if　the　frigate　to　the　rear　or　the　fast…attack　corvette　ing　up　quick　on　our　stern　fires　anything　other　than　bullets；　and　they　have　a　system　like　this；　they　could　redirect　the　fire　to　us。〃
　〃Chinese　missiles　used　to　sink　Chinese　ships？〃
　〃Exactly。〃　

　〃JAMMING　AND　JAMMING；〃　Eric　Stone　shouted。　
　V。　Lincoln　was　on　the　far　side　of　the　control　room　at　the　primary　fire　control　station。　He　was　running　a　quick　diagnostic　check　on　the　missile　battery。　He　stared　intently　at　the　bar　graphs　as　they　filled　the　puter　screen。　
　〃Mr。　Chairman；　I'm　good　to　go；〃　he　shouted　toward　Cabrillo　a　few　seconds　later。　
　Cabrillo　turned　to　Hanley。　〃Here's　the　deal　as　I　see　it。　The　entire　thrust　of　this　operation　was　the　retrieval　of　the　Golden　Buddha。　We　have　it；　but　it's　still　inside　the　circle　of　Chinese　influence。　Our　first　priority　must　be　to　get　our　teams　and　the　Golden　Buddha　safely　back　on　the　Oregon；　while　at　the　same　time　making　our　escape。〃　
　〃I　hate　to　say　it；　Juan；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　I　wish　the　weather　wasn't　clearing。〃　
　〃A　wasted　wish；　but　I　agree；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃We　don't　know　what　the　n