cussler.blueandgold-第67节

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　and　could　keep　it　at　a　steady　ten　knots。　Within　half　an　hour　they　had　covered　the　five　miles　to　land。
　
　As　Zavala　steered；　Austin　consulted　the　sonar　screen。　The　rocky　shore　continued　its　vertical　drop　into　the　water　for　more　than　a　hundred　feet　before　jutting　out　in　a　wide　ledge。　The　sonar　picked　up　an　extremely　large　object　resting　on　the　ledge　directly　under　the　floating　pier。　Moments　later　they　looked　up　and　saw　the　long　shape　of　the　pier　and　its　floats　silhouetted　against　the　shimmer　of　surface　light。　Austin　hoped　his　earlier　assessment　was　correct；　that　the　guard　was　too　numb　from　boredom　to　notice　any　disturbance　the　submersible　might　cause。　Zavala　took　the　SeaBus　down　in　a　shallow　spiral　while　Austin　alternated　between　radar　and　visual　checks。
　
　〃Level　out。　Fast；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Zavala　responded　instantly；　and　the　submersible　circled　like　a　hungry　shark。
　
　〃Were　we　getting　too　close　to　the　ledge？〃
　
　〃Not　exactly。　Take　her　out　and　go　down　another　fifty　feet。〃
　
　The　SeaBus　moved　away　from　the　shore　and　spun　around　so　they　were　facing　a　ledge。
　
　〃Madre　de　Dios；〃　Zavala　said。　〃Last　time　I　knew；　the　Astrodome　was　still　in　Texas。〃
　
　〃I　doubt　you'll　find　any　Dallas　Cowgirls　inside　that　thing；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃It's　similar　to　the　one　that　went　ka…pop　in　the　Baja。　Hate　to　admit　it；　but　you　were　right　as　usual。〃
　
　〃Just　lucky。〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　how　lucky　you　are。　We've　got　to　get　inside　that　thing。〃
　
　〃There's　no　time　like　the　present。　I　suggest　we　take　a　look　at　the　underside。〃
　
　With　a　nod　of　his　head；　Zavala　cranked　up　the　throttle　and　put　the　SeaBus　into　a　glide　that　took　them　directly　under　the　massive　structure。　The　surface　was　made　of　a　translucent　green　material　that　emitted　a　dull　glow。　Zavala's　hyperbole　not　with　standing；　the　facility　would　have　been　an　impressive　engineering
　feat　even　on　dry　land。　Like　the　Baja　operation；　this　structure　also　rested　on　four　cylindrical　legs　around　the　perimeter。
　
　〃There　are　openings　in　the　outside　legs；〃　Austin　said。　〃Probably　like　the　ones　in　Mexico；　used　for　intake　and　exhaust。〃
　
　Zavala　brought　the　submersible　in　close　to　a　fifth　support　at　the　very　center　of　the　structure。　He　switched　on　the　sub's　twin　spotlights。　〃No　duct　openings。　Hello。　What　have　we　here？〃　He　nudged　the　SeaBus　closer　to　an　oval　depression　in　the　otherwise　smooth　surface　of　the　support。　〃Looks　like　a　door。　Still　no　wele　mat；　though。〃
　
　〃Maybe　they　forgot　it；〃　Austin　said。　〃What　say　we　park　the　bus　and　pay　a　neighborly　social　call？〃
　
　Zavala　dropped　the　SeaBus　lightly　onto　the　ledge　next　to　the　support　leg。　They　pulled　on　their　air　tanks　and　the　headsets　for　their　Divelink　municators。　Austin　tucked　his　big　Bowen　and　some　spare　ammunition　into　a　waterproof　fanny　pack。　The　pack　held　a　9mm　Glock　to　replace　the　machine　pistol　Zavala　lost　in　Alaska。
　
　Austin　crawled　into　the　snug　airlock　first；　flooded　the　chamber；　then　opened　the　outer　hatch。　Minutes　later；　Zavala　joined　him　outside　the　SeaBus。　They　swam　to　the　support　leg　and　rose　up　the　thick　cylinder；　where　they　hung　on　to　hand　bars　on　either　side　of　the　door。　To　the　right　of　the　tight　seam　was　a　panel。　En　cased　in　clear　plastic　were　two　large　buttons；　one　red　and　the　other　green。　The　green　one　was　glowing。
　
　They　hesitated。
　
　〃She　might　be　connected　to　an　alarm；〃　Zavala　said；　echoing　Austin's　own　thoughts。
　
　〃I　was　wondering　the　same　thing。　But　why　would　they　bother？　The　neighborhood　around　here　isn't　exactly　swarming　with　burglars。〃
　
　〃We　don't　have　a　lot　of　choice；〃　Zavala　said。　〃Go　for　it。〃
　
　Austin　pushed　against　the　glowing　button。　If　an　alarm　went　off；　they　didn't　hear　it。　A　section　in　the　support　leg　slid　silently　aside　to　reveal　an　opening　shaped　like　a　mouth　wide　open　in　a　yawn。　Zavala　gave　Austin　the　okay　sign　and　swam　in　first。　
　Austin　was　right　on　his　fins。　They　were　in　a　chamber　shaped　like　the　inside　of　a　hat　box。　A　metal　ladder　hung　down　from　the　ceiling。　On　the　wall　was　a　duplicate　of　the　switch　that　opened　the　door。　Austin　pushed　the　glowing　green　button。　He　accidentally　nudged　the　pack　with　their　weapons；　and　it　fell　through　the　opening　in　the　air　lock。
　
　〃Forget　it；〃　he　said；　anticipating　Zavala's　question。　〃We　don't　have　time。〃
　
　The　outer　door　closed；　and　a　ring　of　lights　flicked　on　inside。　The　chamber　was　quickly　pumped　dry；　and　a　circular　hatch　popped　open　in　the　ceiling。　Still　no　sign　that　their　presence　had　been　noted。　All　was　quiet　except　for　the　hum　of　distant　machinery。
　
　Austin　pulled　himself　up　the　ladder　and　poked　his　head　through　the　hatch。　Then　he　motioned　for　Zavala　to　follow　and　climbed　the　rest　of　the　way。　They　were　in　another；　larger　circular　room。　Several　dark　green　dry　suits　hung　from　the　wall。　Air　tanks　were　stacked　on　shelves。　A　large　cabinet　held　various　specialized　tools。
　
　Austin　removed　his　headset；　mask；　and　tank　and　picked　up　a　long…handled　brush　with　stiff　steel　bristles。　〃They　must　use　this　stuff　to　clean　the　intake　ports　out　there。　The　openings　would　get　clogged　up　with　algae　otherwise。〃
　
　Zavala　went　over　to　a　door　in　the　curving　wall　and　pointed　to　another　red…green　switch。　〃I'm　beginning　to　feel　like　a　monkey　in　one　of　those　intelligence　tests　where　the　chimp　presses　a　button　for　food。〃
　
　〃Not　me；〃　Austin　said。　〃A　chimp　would　be　too　smart　to　be　in　a　place　like　this。〃
　
　On　Austin's　signal；　he　hit　the　green　button。　The　door　opened；　and　they　stepped　into　a　room　with　four　walls。　The　room　contained　shower　stalls　and　shelves。　Austin　removed　a　plastic　wrapped　packet　from　a　shelf　and　opened　it。　Inside　was　a　white　two…piece　suit　made　of　a　light　synthetic　material。　Without　further　conversation　they　got　out　of　their　dry　suits　and　quickly　pulled　the　white　uniforms　over　their　thermal　underwear。　Austin's　distinctive　silver…platinum　hair　made　him　stand　out　from　the　crowd；　so　he　was　glad　to　see　that　each　packet　held　a　tight…fitting　plastic　cap。
　
　〃How　do　I　look？〃　he　said；　aware　that　the　suit　wasn't　made　to　acmodate　his　wide　shoulders。
　
　〃Like　a　large　and　unsavory　white　mushroom。〃
　
　〃Exactly　the　image　I　was　trying　for。　Let's　go。〃
　
　They　were　in　a　cavernous　chamber　with　a　high；　curving　roof。　Pipes　and　conduits　of　varying　widths　crossed　the　space。　The　hum　they　heard　earlier　was　so　loud　it　almost　hurt　their　ears。　The　sound　seemed　to　be　ing　from　everywhere。
　
　〃Bingo；〃　Austin　murmured　softly。
　
　Zavala　said；　〃Reminds　me　of　a　scene　from　that　movie；　Alien。　〃
　
　〃I　wish　these　were　aliens；〃　Austin　said。
　
　A　white…clad　figure　unexpectedly　emerged　from　behind　a　fat　vertical　duct。　They　tensed　and　groped　for　their　missing　weapons；　but　the　technician；　who　was　carrying　a　portable　gauge；　hardly　gave　them　a　glance　before　disappearing　into　the　maze。　The　huge　room　had　two　levels　divided　from　each　other　by　metal　scaffolding　and　catwalks。　They　decided　to　climb　above　the　main　floor；　where　they　would　have　a　better　view　of　the　entire　facility　and　have　less　chance　of　running　into　other　technicians。　They　ascended　the　nearest　stairs　and　made　their　way　toward　the　center。　The　technicians　below　were　intent　on　their　work；　and　no　one　looked　up。　From　their　elevation　the　facility　was　even　more　impressive。　It　looked　like　a　futuristic　hive　filled　with　drones。
　
　〃We　could　spend　all　day　searching　this　place；〃　Austin　said。　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　find　a　guide。〃
　
　They　descended　stairs　that　took　them　back　onto　the　main　floor　and　hid　behind　a　large　pipe。　Standing　before　a　large　console　were　three　technicians。　The　figures　had　their　backs　turned；　obviously　engrossed　in　their　task。
　
　Two　technicians　moved　off；　leaving　the　third　alone。　With　a　quick　glance　to　make　sure　he　was　unobserved；　Austin　swiftly　closed　on　the　unsuspecting　figure　and　hooked　his　thick　arm　around　the　person's　throat。　
　
　　〃Don't　make　a　sound；　or　I'll　snap　your　neck；〃　he　growled；　then　dragged　his　catch　back　behind　the　pipe。　〃Meet　our　new　guide；〃　he　said。
　
　Zavala　stared　at　the　technician。　〃We've　already　met。〃
　
　Austin　spun　the　technician　around。　Francesca。　The　terror　in　her　face　turned　to　relief。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　
　The　pleasure　at　seeing　Francesca　overcame　Austin's　surprise。　〃We　had　a　date；　remember？〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　〃Time　and　place　to　be　announced。〃
　
　Francesca　smiled　through　her　nervousness。　Calmer　now；　she　glanced　around　and　said；　〃We　can't　stay　here。　Follow　me。〃
　
　They　wound　their　way　through　the　labyrinth　into　a　small　room　furnished　with　a　plain　plastic　desk　and　chair。　〃I　asked　for　this　space　so　I　could　work　quietly。　We'll　be　safe　for　a　few　minutes。　If　anyone　es；　pretend　you　know　what　you're　doing。〃　She　shook　her　head　in　wonder。　〃How　in　God's　name　did　you　get　in　here？〃
　
　〃We　took　the　bus；〃　Austin　said。　〃Where's　Gamay？〃
　
　〃This　is　the　desalting　facility。　She's　in　the　main　pound。　They　have　her　in　a　heavily　guarded　cell　on　the　first　level。〃
　
　〃How　do　we　get　there？〃
　
　〃I'll　show　you。　There's　an　elevator　that　takes　you　from　the　lab。　It　goes　to　a　tram。　The　car　goes　through　a　tunnel　to　the　main　pound。　Then　an　elevator　will　take　you　up　to　her　level。　Do　you　think　you　can　rescue　her？〃
　
　〃We　won't　know　until　we　try；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　slight　smile。