cp.reddice-第6节
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〃Lake Mead。〃 Hoover Dam…it is only twenty minutes away； I estimate。
But I have waited too long。
Five minutes later I catch sight of two military helicopters； ing at us from the west； not the south。 Because my eyes are so sharp； I see them far off…sixty miles away。 I feel it is still possible to reach the lake。 Yet I know they have spotted us； that they are tracking us on their radar。 When I alter course slightly； they do likewise。 Joel sees my concern but doesn't understand it at first。 Even changed； his sight is no match for mine。
〃What is it？〃 he asks。
〃We have pany；〃 I say。
He looks around。 〃Can we reach the lake？〃
〃Possibly。〃 I ask in jest； 〃Can we fight two Apache helicopters？〃
〃No way。〃
I guess at the type of craft that pursues us； but a few minutes later I see that I was right。 My knowledge of the Apache isn't extensive； but I have read enough to know that we are facing the most lethal attack helicopter on earth。 The two choppers move close to each other； on a direct intercept course with us。 Black as the desert sky； with wide hypnotic propellers…they are clearly faster than we are。 Their machine…gun turret and rocket launchers hang from the sides like dangerous fists。 They sweep toward us for a knockout punch。 Joel sees them。
〃Maybe we should surrender；〃 he suggests。
〃I never surrender。〃
They catch us three miles short of the lake。 The wide flat expanse of water is clearly visible； but it could be on the other side of the moon for all the good it can do us now。 That's what I think at first。 Yet the Apaches do not immediately lock on their weapons。 They swoop above and below us； dangerously close； ordering us to land。
〃Somebody has told them to take us alive；〃 Joel observes。
〃Who？〃
Joel shrugs。 〃The order could have e from the President of the United States。 But I suspect the mander of the base where these helicopters originated has given the order。〃
〃We only need to get to the water；〃 I say。 〃They couldn't imagine that we'd try to vanish underwater。〃
〃I can't imagine it。 Can we really hold our breath a long time？〃
〃I can go an hour。〃
〃But what about me？〃
I pat his leg。 〃Have faith。 We should have died a dozen times tonight and we're still alive。 Maybe Krishna hasn't deserted us after all。〃
〃If they open fire in the next minute we might have a chance to ask him directly；〃 Joel says dryly。
The Apaches buzz us a couple of times more； then grow tired of the cat…and…mouse game。 They lay down a stream of bullets across our path and I have to slow sharply to avoid being torn to shreds。 Still； they could blow us out of the sky whenever they wish。 Yet they hold back； although they don't want me flying above the lake。 They try blocking our path and I have to go into a steep dive to stay on course。 We e within several feet of the ground and Joel almost has a heart attack。
〃You are one mean pilot；〃 he says when he catches his breath。
〃I'm pretty good in bed as well；〃 I reply。
〃Of that I have no doubt。〃
These military men are not like the LAPD。 They expect their orders to be obeyed。 They may have instructions to take us alive； but they also have orders to prevent us from escaping。 A quarter mile from the water； they open fire with surgical precision and suddenly our rotor blades are not a hundred percent intact。 Our copter falters in the air； but stays up。 The noise above us is deafening。 Yet I continue on toward the lake。 I have no choice。
〃Get ready to jump；〃 I tell Joel。
〃I'm not leaving till you leave。〃
〃Nice line。 But you have to jump as soon as we cross over the water。 Swim for the far shore； not the near one。 Stay under water as long as possible。〃
Joel hesitates。 〃I don't know how to swim。〃
〃What？〃
〃I said I don't know how to swim。〃
I can't believe it。 〃Why didn't you tell me that earlier？〃
〃I didn't know what you had planned。 You didn't tell me。〃
〃Joel！〃
〃Sita！〃
I pound the chopper dashboard。 〃Damn！ Damn！ Well； you're just going to have to learn how to swim。 You're a vampire。 All vampires can swim。〃
〃Says who？〃
〃Says me； and I'm the only authority on the subject Now stop arguing with me and prepare to jump。〃
〃You jump with me。〃
〃No。 I have to wait until they fire their lethal blow…that way they'll think I'm dead。〃
〃That's crazy。 You will be dead。〃
〃Shut up and crack your door slightly。 When you reach the far shore； run into the hills and hide。 I'll find you。 I can hear a vampire breathing ten miles away。〃
The Apaches are still determined to prevent us from reaching the water。 One swoops overhead and literally drops itself directly into our path。 I have to go into another steep dive to avoid it； which is easy to do because the craft is ready to crash anyway。 The water is now only a hundred yards away。 The Apache behind us opens fire。 They mimic my earlier strategy。 They blow off our tail rotor。 I immediately lose control We spin madly to the left。 Yet the water is suddenly below us。
〃Jump！〃 I scream at Joel。
He casts me one last glance…his expression curiously sad。
Then he is gone。
Pulling back hard on the steering bar； I try to gain altitude； partly to distract them from Joel and partly to stay alive。 It is my hope they didn't see him jump。 My chopper swings farther out over the water。 A mile away I see Hoover Dam。 There is no way I can make it that far。 The chopper bucks like a hyperactive horse on speed。 Cracking my door； I take hold of the shotgun and blast at one of the Apaches as it swings nearby。 I hit the top blades； but these suckers are tough。 The military chopper banks sharply。 Then the two helicopters regroup； hovering behind me； twin hornets studying a wounded butterfly。 Over my shoulder I see one pilot nod to his gunner。 The man reaches for a fresh set of controls； no doubt the firing mechanism for the rockets。 As I throw my door open wide； an orange tongue of flame leaps out from the side of the Apache。 My reflexes are fast； blinding by human standards； but even I cannot outrun a missile。 I am barely free of my seat when the rocket hits。
My chopper vaporizes in midair。
The shock from the explosion hits with the power of an iron fist。 A fragment of burning metal cuts into my skull above my hairline； sending waves of searing pain through my whole system。 I topple like a helicopter without a stabilizing propeller。 Blood pours over my face and I am blinded。 I do not see the cold water of the lake approaching； but I feel it when it slaps my broken side。 The molten shrapnel in my head shudders as it contacts the dark liquid。 I fell myself spiralling down into a forsaken abyss。 Consciousness
flickers in and out。 The lake is bottomless； my soul as empty as dice without numbers。 As I start to black out； I wish that I didn't have to die this waywithout Krishna's grace。 How I would love to see him on the other side…his divine blue eyes。 God forgive me； how I love him。
2
I awake with a pale wash of light panning across my face。 Opening my eyes； I see it is the searchlights of hovering helicopters pointing down on me。 Only they are high in the air； and I am many feet underwater； on my back； on the bottom of the lake。 Even though unconscious； my mind must have had the wisdom to halt my breathing。 I don't know how long I have been out。 My head still hurts but the pain is bearable。 It is obvious that the personnel in the helicopters cannot see me。
I wonder how Joel is； if he escaped。
My left leg is pinned under the wreckage of my chopper。 It is good because otherwise I would be floating on the surface； probably with many bullet holes in me。 Pulling my leg free； I roll over on my belly and begin to swim away from the lights； not sure at first if I am moving deeper into the lake or closer to the shore。 My desire for breath is strong but not overwhelming。 I know I can swim a long way before I'll have to surface。 They can't scan every square inch of the lake。 I am going to escape。
Yet there will be no freedom for me if Joel is not free。
Ten minutes later； when the lights are far behind me； I allow myself to swim to the surface and peek。 I am far out in the center of the lake。 Behind me； near the shore where my chopper was blown out of the sky； the helicopters still circle； their beams still focused on the water。 Close to this spot； on the shore； are several trucks； many uniformed people； some cops； some army personnel。 Joel stands in the middle of them； a dozen guns pointed at his head。
〃Damn；〃 I whisper。 〃He really couldn't swim。〃
I cannot rush in to save him。 I know this yet I have to stop myself from making the attempt。 It is my nature to act quickly。 Patience has not e to me over the centuries。 Floating in the center of the black lake； it seems to me the years have only brought grief。
Joel is ushered into an armored truck。 Men on the shore are donning scuba gear。 They want my body； they want to see it before they can rest。 I know that I must act quickly if I am to track Joel。 Yet I also know I have to stop killing。 They'll be looking for any suspicious deaths in the area as a way to confirm I am still alive。 A throbbing sensation in my for
