cc.goldenbuddha-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。　
　Macco　fell　for　it。　A　few　seconds　later；　the　big　steel　lock　clacked　and　the　bolts　that　extended　from　the　door　into　the　framework　could　be　heard　withdrawing　from　their　slots。　Then　the　massive　door　swung　open　silently　and　smoothly。　Sergeant　Macco　stood　at　attention　and　snapped　a　salute。　
　Seng　wasted　no　more　time　on　niceties。　He　aimed　the　tranquilizer　gun　at　Macco's　throat　and　squeezed　the　tiny　trigger。　The　guard's　eyes　rolled　back　in　his　head　and　he　dropped　to　the　stone　floor　like　a　sack　of　sand。　
　The　dungeon　was　not　a　state…of…the…art　prison。　The　rusting　iron　cell　doors　had　been　hung　in　the　late　nineteenth　century　and　still　required　
　the　large　antique　key　chained　to　Macco's　belt。　Seng　ripped　the　key　and　its　ring　from　the　guard's　belt　and　began　opening　the　first　doors。　As　soon　as　the　door　was　swung　ajar；　Julia　Huxley　rushed　into　the　cell　to　check　the　condition　of　its　inhabitant。　Seng's　team　helped　by　assisting　the　shocked　prisoners；　who　feared　the　worst；　into　the　dungeon's　passageway。　
　〃Five　are　in　no　condition　to　walk　up　the　stairs　and　onto　the　street；〃　said　Julia。　〃They'll　have　to　be　carried　out　on　stretchers。〃　
　〃Then　we'll　haul　them　on　our　backs；〃　replied　Seng。　〃We　don't　have　enough　bodies　to　carry　five　stretchers。〃　
　〃These　poor　devils　think　we're　going　to　execute　them；〃　said　a　tall；　ruggedly　built　team　member　with　red　hair　in　a　buzz　cut。　
　〃We　haven't　got　time　to　explain！〃　snapped　Seng。　He　knew　that　the　security　officials　downtown　were　wondering　why　the　dungeon　alarm　in　Santa　Ursula　had　been　triggered　at　this　time　of　night。　They　were　certain　to　call　and　find　the　phones　down。　How　soon　they　would　send　a　squad　of　men　to　check　was　anybody's　guess。　〃Julia；　you　round　up　those　who　can　move　on　their　own　two　feet。　The　rest　of　you　men　carry　the　ones　too　weak　to　walk。〃　
　They　moved　off；　almost　having　to　drag　the　poor；　suffering　Cubans　out　of　the　dungeon　and　up　the　stairs；　every　team　member　with　a　Cuban　over　one　shoulder；　their　free　arms　braced　around　other　prisoners　who　could　barely　manage　the　steps。　Julia　brought　up　the　rear；　supporting　two　women　and　whispering　encouraging　words　whose　meanings　could　only　e　through　in　her　soothing　toneshe　knew　only　enough　Spanish　to　order　a　margarita。　
　Climbing　the　winding　stone　steps　was　a　torturous　exertion　for　the　weakened　prisoners；　but　there　could　be　no　turning　back。　Any　capture　now　meant　certain　execution。　They　struggled　up　the　steps；　chests　rising　and　falling；　lungs　gasping　for　air；　hearts　pounding。　Men　and　women　who　had　long　ago　given　up　hope　now　saw　an　opportunity　to　live　normal　lives　again；　thanks　to　these　crazy　people　who　were　risking　death　to　rescue　them。　
　Seng　could　not　afford　the　time　to　sympathize　with　their　plight；　or　look　into　their　gaunt　faces。　Any　thoughts　of　passion　were　fleeting。　Sympathy　could　e　once　they　reached　the　safety　of　the　Oregon。　
　He　concentrated　on　pushing　them　all　toward　the　main　gate；　keeping　his　mind　cold　and　logical。　
　At　last　the　front　of　the　column　reached　the　guard's　office　at　the　gate。　Seng　stepped　cautiously　out　onto　the　brick　street。　There　was　no　whisper　of　sound　or　any　sign　of　vehicles　or　people。　The　truck　was　right　where　they'd　left　it。　
　The　team　carrying　those　too　weak　to　walk　were　huffing　and　puffing　now　and　soaked　in　sweat　from　the　tropical　humidity。　Warily；　Seng　studied　the　darkened　street　and　buildings　through　his　laser　night　binoculars。　The　area　was　clear。　Satisfied；　he　hustled　everyone　through　the　gate　and　shoved　them　roughly　in　the　direction　of　the　truck。　
　He　rushed　back　into　the　office　and　checked　the　guard。　He　was　still　unconscious。　He　also　spotted　a　red　light　on　a　console　beside　the　desk。　The　alarm　had　indeed　been　activated　when　they'd　opened　the　dungeon　door。　The　phone　began　to　ring；　and　he　picked　it　up　and　snapped　in　Spanish；　〃Uno　momenta！〃　
　Then　he　set　the　receiver　down　and　dashed　out　the　door。　
　The　rescue　team　and　the　freed　prisoners　were　crammed　into　the　cargo　bed　of　the　truck　like　Japanese　workers　during　rush　hour。　The　driver　shifted　the　weary　old　transmission　into　gear　with　a　brief　metallic　grind；　and　the　truck　leaped　forward。　The　streets　were　as　before；　the　auto　traffic　thin；　while　Cubans　were　enjoying　a　balmy　evening　outside　on　their　balconies；　sitting　at　chairs　and　tables　on　the　sidewalks　or　drinking　in　the　cantinas；　dancing　and　singing。　
　Seng　cocked　his　ear　out　the　window　and　listened　for　any　sound　of　alarms　or　sirens。　There　came　only　the　strains　of　music　in　the　night　air。　The　harshest　sound　came　from　the　truck's　muffler；　which　seemed　to　be　ing　loose　from　the　engine　header　pipe。　The　rattle　of　the　exhaust　soon　drowned　out　the　city　noise。　He　saw　Cubans　glance　at　the　truck　and　then　turn　away。　Loose　exhaust　pipes　and　rusted…out　mufflers　were　
　mon　on　the　old　cars　that　traveled　the　streets　of　Santiago。　The　city's　inhabitants　had　more　entertaining　thoughts　on　their　minds。　
　The　truck　driver　drove　maddeningly　slow；　but　Seng　knew　better　than　to　push　him。　A　truck　casually　taking　its　time　through　town　would　arouse　no　suspicion。　After　what　seemed　an　hour；　but　was　only　fifteen　minutes；　the　driver　pulled　up　alongside　a　warehouse　dock　and　stopped。　A　quick　look　up　and　down　the　deserted　dock　and　Seng　began　goading　everyone　toward　the　maintenance　shed。　The　five…minute　journey　to　the　shed　was　uneventful。　
　Their　luck　still　held。　The　only　activity　was　centered　on　the　two　cargo　ships　unloading　their　big　containers。　Though　still　apprehensive；　Seng　finally　began　to　relax。　He　motioned　them　through　the　door　of　the　maintenance　shed　and　down　the　wooden　stairs。　In　the　darkness　he　saw　the　vague　shape　of　the　Nomad　sub's　pilot；　standing　on　the　floating　dock　and　helping　the　Cubans　on　board。　The　other　pilot　was　down　below；　packing　them　tightly　inside　the　narrow　confines　of　the　Nomad's　main　cabin。　
　When　Seng　and　Julia　Huxley；　the　last　to　board；　climbed　onto　the　sub's　upper　deck；　the　pilot　quickly　cast　off　the　mooring　lines；　looked　up　briefly　and　said；　〃You　made　good　time。〃　
　〃Get　to　the　ship　as　fast　as　this　craft　can　take　us；〃　Seng　replied。　〃We　couldn't　help　setting　off　an　alarm。　I'm　surprised　Cuban　security　forces　aren't　already　breathing　down　our　neck。〃　
　〃If　they　haven't　tracked　you　here；〃　said　the　pilot　confidently　as　he　closed　and　sealed　the　hatch；　〃they'll　never　guess　where　you　came　from。〃　
　〃At　least　not　until　the　Oregon's　found　missing　from　her　assigned　anchorage。〃　
　In　seconds　the　sub　was　dropping　beneath　the　surface　of　the　dark　water。　Fifteen　minutes　later　it　surfaced　inside　the　moon　pool　of　the　Oregon。　Divers　attached　the　hook　and　cable　of　the　big　overhead　crane；　and　the　Nomad　was　lifted　delicately　until　it　was　even　with　the　second　deck　and　moored　to　the　balcony。　Huxley's　medical　team　was　waiting　along　with　several　members　of　the　ship's　crew　to　help　the　Cubans　to　the　Oregon's　well…equipped　hospital。　
　The　time　was　three　minutes　past　eleven。　
　A　thin　man；　his　hair　white　before　his　time；　recognized　Cabrillo　as　an　officer　and　walked　unsteadily　up　to　him。　〃Sir；　my　name　is　Juan　Tural。　Can　you　tell　me　who　you　people　are　and　why　you　rescued　my　friends　and　me　from　Santa　Ursula？〃　
　〃We　are　a　corporation；　and　we　were　contracted　to　do　this　job。〃　
　〃Who　hired　you？〃　
　〃Friends　of　yours　in　the　United　States；〃　answered　Cabrillo。　〃That's　all　that　I　can　say。〃　
　〃Then　you　had　no　idealistic　purpose；　no　political　cause？〃　
　Cabrillo　smiled　slightly。　〃We　always　have　a　purpose。〃　
　Tural　sighed。　〃I　had　hoped　that　salvation；　when　it　came；　would　e　from　another　quarter。〃　
　〃Your　people　did　not　have　the　means　to　do　it。　It's　that　simple。　That　is　why　they　came　to　us。〃　
　〃It's　a　great　pity　your　only　motivation　was　money。〃　
　〃It　wasn't。　Money　is　simply　the　vehicle；〃　said　Cabrillo。　〃It　allows　our　corporation　to　pick　its　fights　and　to　fund　our　charity　projects。　It's　a　liberty　none　of　us　had　when　we　were　employed　by　our　respective　governments。〃　He　glanced　at　his　chronograph。　〃Now　if　you'll　excuse　me；　we're　not　out　of　the　woods　just　yet。〃　
　Then　he　turned　and　left　Tural　staring　after　him　as　he　walked　away。　
　
　ELEVEN　SEVENTEEN。　IF　they　were　going　to　make　a　run　for　it；　now　was　the　time；　thought　Cabrillo。　The　alarm　had　long　been　answered　at　the　prison；　and　by　now　patrols　were　certainly　roaming　the　city　and　the　countryside　in　search　of　the　escaped　prisoners　and　their　rescuers。　Their　only　link　was　the　truck　driver；　but　he　could　not　provide　any　information　to　the　Cuban　security　forces；　even　if　he　was　captured　and　tortured。　His　original　contact　had　made　no　mention　of　the　Oregon。　As　far　as　the　driver　knew；　the　rescue　team　had　e　from　a　landing　party　on　another　part　of　the　island。　
　Cabrillo　lifted　a　phone　and　called　down　to　the　Corporation's　president　in　the　engine　room。　〃Max？〃　
　Hanley　answered　almost　immediately。　〃Juan。〃　
　〃Have　the　ballast　tanks　been　pumped　dry？〃　
　〃Tanks　are　dry　and　the　hull　is　raised　for　speed。〃　
　〃The　tide　is　about　to　turn　and　will　swing　us　around。　We'd　better　leave　while　our　bow　is　still　aimed　toward　the　main　channel。　As　soon　as　the　anchor　es　free；　I'll　set　the　engines　very　slow。　No　sense　in　alerting　any　observers　on　the　shore　to　a　sudden　departure。　At　the　first　alarm　or　when　we　reach　the　main　channel；　whichever　es　first；　I'll　enter　the　program　for　full　speed。　We'll　need　every　ounce　of　power　your　engines　can　give。〃　
　〃You　think　you　can　get　us　through　a　narrow　channel　in　the　dead　of　night　at　full　speed　without　a　pilot？〃　
　〃The　ship's　puter　system　read　every　inch　of　the　channel　and　the　buoy　markers　on　the　way　in。　Our　escape　course　is　plotted　and　programmed　into　the　automatic　pilot。　We'll　leave　it　to　Otis　to　take　us　out。〃　Otis　was　the　crew's　name　for　the　ship's　automated　control　systems。　It　could　steer　the　Oregon　within　inches　of　the　intended　route。　
　〃puterized　automated　controls　or　not；　it　won't　be　an　easy　matter　to　race　through　a　tight　channel　at　sixty　knots。〃　
　〃We　can　do　it。〃　Cabrillo　punched　off　and　hit　another　code。　〃Mark；　give　me　a　status　on　our　defense　systems。〃　
　Mark　Murphy；　the　Oregon's　weapons　specialist；　replied　in　his　west　Texas　drawl；　〃If　any　of　them　Cuban　missile　launchers　so　much　as　hiccups；　we'll　take　them　out。〃　
　〃You　can　expect　aircraft　once　we're　in　the　open　sea。〃　
　〃Nuthin'　we　cain't　handle。〃　
　He　turned　to　Linda　Ross。　〃Linda？〃　
　〃All　systems　are　onli