cc.goldenbuddha-第25节

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　Ho　and　Ross　walked　over　to　the　spot。　
　〃I　could　light　it　with　blue　and　red　spotlights；〃　she　said。　
　〃What　else？〃　Ho　asked。　
　Ross　racked　her　brain。　What　could　help　the　Corporation　with　the　theft？　
　〃What　do　you　think　about　some　billowing　clouds　of　smoke；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃so　the　object　seems　to　appear　and　disappear　like　a　mirage？〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Ho　said　eagerly。　

　Ross　smiled。　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　trio　of　men　from　the　Oregon；　they　were　dressed　in　security　guards'　uniforms。　Somehow　her　team　had　sent　help。　Barrett；　acting　as　the　leader　of　the　guards；　walked　over　to　where　she　and　Ho　were　standing。　
　〃Are　you　Mr。　Ho？〃　he　said。　
　〃I'm　Ho。〃　
　〃The　insurance　pany　sent　us。〃　
　Barrett　placed　a　finger　to　his　eye　and　winked　at　Ross　when　Ho　was　not　looking。　
　〃Good；〃　Ho　said；　〃I'm　glad　you　arrived　so　quickly。　This　is　Iselda；　she's　in　charge　of　planning。　We　were　just　now　figuring　out　the　best　place　to　place　the　object　you　will　be　guarding。〃　
　Barrett　nodded。　
　〃We're　thinking　there；〃　Ho　said；　pointing；　〃near　the　entrance　to　the　tent。〃　
　Barrett　scanned　the　grounds　as　if　to　determine　the　security　of　the　spot。　He　turned　back　to　Ho　and　spoke。　
　〃My　pany　mentioned　it　was　a　statue。〃　
　〃Right；〃　Ho　said；　〃a　six…foot…tall　Buddha。〃　
　Barrett　nodded　as　if　he　were　weighing　his　options。　
　〃Is　it　heavy？〃　he　asked。　
　〃It　weighs　about　six　hundred　pounds；〃　Ho　said。　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃　
　〃Well；　sir；〃　Barrett　said；　〃I　thought　you　might　want　it　to　be　more　of　a　part　of　the　festivitiesyou　know；　have　it　moved　from　place　to　place　as　the　party　proceeds。　Six　hundred　pounds　is　too　heavy　for　my　men　to　move；　however。〃　
　Ross　was　catching　on。　
　〃You　mean　to　have　the　statue　bee　one　of　the　guests；〃　she　said　　eagerly。　
　〃Something　like　that；〃　the　guard　admitted。　〃The　object　would　actually　be　safer　the　more　people　that　are　around。〃　
　〃Interesting；〃　Ho　said。　
　〃The　party's　almost　ready　to　start；〃　Ross　said；　〃but　I　could　see　if　I　could　scrounge　up　some　other　Buddha　statues　and　do　an　entire　theme　in　that　direction。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃Maybe　I　could　find　some　plaster　Buddha　statues　and　have　them　placed　around　the　grounds；〃　Ross　said。　
　〃That　would　help　with　security；〃　Barrett　admitted；　〃by　confusing　the　real　and　the　fakes。〃　
　〃Do　you　think　you　can？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃Don't　worry；　Mr。　Ho；〃　Ross　said；　〃my　pany　can　work　miracles。〃
　
　THE　BAND　WAS　assembled　in　the　conference　room　on　the　Oregon。　Hanley　and　Cabrillo　were　walking　them　through　their　last…minute　instructions。　
　〃As　you　know；　we　have　three　more　men　inside；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃posing　as　security；　so　we　don't　need　to　worry　about　getting　it　down　to　ground　level。　It　should　already　be　there。〃　
　〃That's　a　plus；〃　Franklin　noted。　
　〃So　the　actual　removal　from　the　site　has　bee　easier；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　we　have　the　added　problem　of　more　witnesses。〃　
　〃That　means　we　almost　certainly　need　to　drug　the　guests；〃　Kasim　noted。　
　〃It's　beginning　to　look　that　way；〃　Cabrillo　admitted。　
　〃The　playlist　features　three　sets；〃　Hanley　continued。　〃That　gives　us　two　breaks　between　sets　when　you；　as　members　of　the　band；　can　move　freely　about。　Watch　the　chairman　for　the　lead　and。be　flexiblethis　entire　caper　is　still　unfolding。〃　
　〃Do　we　have　the　plane　waiting　to　receive　the　icon　after　the　theft？〃　Halpert　asked。　
　〃Arranged；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃A　plane　is　inbound　as　we　speak。〃　
　〃When's　the　extraction　scheduled？〃　Monica　asked。　
　〃Ten　minutes　before　midnight；　tonight；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃The　Oregon　sails　away　from　here　sometime　tomorrow；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃no　matter　what　the　oute。　So　let's　just　do　our　jobs　and　take　our　leave。〃　
　〃A　little　richer　for　the　effort；〃　Murphy　said；　smiling。　
　〃That's　the　idea；〃　Cabrillo　agreed。
　
　THIN　TENDRILS　OF　richly　scented　incense　smoke　wafted　toward　the　ceiling　in　the　A…Ma　Temple。　
　A　scattering　of　tourists　filed　through　the　public　areas　and　left　offerings　at　the　foot　of　various　Buddhas。　They　walked　on　the　pebbled　paths；　sat　on　the　carved　wooden　benches　on　the　grounds　and　stared　at　the　sea　in　reflection。　It　was　a　place　of　tranquillity；　a　port　of　serenity　in　a　storm　of　confusion　and　haste。　
　Winston　Spenser　was　not　feeling　calm。　
　Fear　gripped　him。　The　Golden　Buddha　was　laughing　at　himof　that　he　was　sure。　The　calm　gaze　and　unmoving　solidness　made　him　uneasy。　Spenser　dreamed　of　when　he　would　be　rid　of　the　curse　and　collect　his　money。　He　could　see　it　in　his　mind。　The　armored…car　pany　picking　up　the　icon　again　and　delivering　it　to　the　software　billionaire's　plane。　The　crates　of　money　he　would　receive。　
　He　rose　from　the　bench　in　the　main　temple；　then　walked　out　the　door　and　down　the　hillside　to　his　waiting　limousine。　The　parking　lot　was　half　empty。　Most　of　the　people　in　Macau　were　preparing　for　the　parade　and　tonight's　parties。　A　pair　of　motorcycles　sat　off　to　one　side　under　a　tree。　Spenser　didn't　notice　themhe　was　wrapped　up　in　his　own　certain　failure。　Climbing　in　the　rear　of　the　limousine；　he　gave　the　driver　directions。　A　few　moments　later　the　limousine　rolled　out　of　the　lot。　
　〃I've　seen　what　I　need　to　see；〃　one　of　the　motorcyclists　said。　
　〃I　agree；〃　said　the　other。　
　
　SIX　CHINESE　VALETS　awaited　the　first　of　the　guests。　After　showing　their　invitations　to　the　guard；　they　pulled　through　the　gate；　drove　up　the　circular　drive；　then　climbed　from　their　cars　near　the　front　door　of　the　mansion。　
　
　The　sun　was　slowly　dipping　in　the　west　and　the　view　from　the　mansion　was　an　expanse　of　sea　lit　with　the　golden　hues　of　a　waning　sun。　Spenser　climbed　from　the　rear　of　his　limousine　and　stared　at　the　scene。　He　was　dressed　in　a　black　tuxedo　that　hid　the　pools　of　sweat　under　his　arms。　Squaring　his　shoulders；　he　walked　into　the　foyer。　
　Juan　Cabrillo　rolled　down　the　window　of　the　van　and　handed　the　guard　a　slip　of　paper。　
　〃Park　over　by　the　garages；〃　the　guard　said；　〃then　unload　your　equipment　and　wheel　it　around　back。〃　
　Cabrillo　nodded。　When　the　gate　opened；　he　drove　around　to　the　garages；　then　backed　the　van　up　near　the　edge　of　the　lawn。　
　〃Showtime；〃　he　said。　
　And　the　band　climbed　from　the　van　and　began　shuttling　equipment　to　the　rear　of　the　house。　
　Cabrillo　walked　around　to　the　rear　of　the　house；　seeking　Ross。　He　saw　her　in　the　distance　talking　on　a　cell　phone。　Several　people　were　standing　nearby。　
　〃We're　The　Minutemen；〃　he　said　when　she　had　disconnected。　
　〃Good；〃　Ross　said。　〃The　bandstand　is　over　there。〃　
　〃We　have　some　large　speakers；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃that　we'll　need　some　help　moving。〃　
　〃Let　me　summon　some　help。〃　
　〃We　like　to　take　care　of　our　equipment　ourselves；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We　just　need　some　carts。〃　
　Ross　nodded　and　turned　to　one　of　the　caterers。　
　〃This　is　the　leader　of　the　band；〃　she　said。　〃He　needs　to　borrow　a　few　of　the　carts　you　use　to　move　the　tables。〃　
　The　man　nodded　and　motioned　to　Cabrillo。　〃Right　this　way。〃　
　Mark　Murphy　stood　on　the　bandstand　and　surveyed　the　surroundings。　Three　large　tents　were　erected；　forming　a　Y　with　the　band　at　the　far　end。　The　bandstand　was　slightly　elevated　from　the　ground；　and　to　the　rear　the　back　of　the　tent　had　slits　that　opened　to　provide　access。　Electrical　cables　to　power　their　speakers　and　lights　stretched　out　under　the　tent。　He　sat　his　guitar　down　and　poked　through　the　slit　in　the　back。　Forty　feet　behind　the　rear　of　the　tent　was　part　of　the　wall　that　formed　the　boundary　of　the　house。　To　the　right　side　of　the　Y　portion　of　the　tent；　some　thirty　yards　away；　was　the　rear　wall　of　the　mansion　and　the　doors　leading　to　the　kitchens　and　inside。　He　began　to　walk　the　perimeter　of　the　tent。　
　At　the　front；　or　top；　of　the　Y　were　the　entrances　for　the　guests。　In　the　opening　between　the　legs　of　the　Y　there　was　a　portable　fountain　and　a　small　wooden　platform　that　was　currently　empty。　Murphy　continued　around　the　other　side；　examining　the　way　the　tents　were　fastened　to　the　ground。　There　were　large　metal　stakes　on　the　edges　with　guy　wires　running　farther　out　onto　the　lawn；　where　they　were　staked　into　the　earth。　He　stared　up。　Long　metal　poles；　two　per　each　section　of　the　three　separate　tents；　poked　through　the　tops。　He　found　a　slit　in　the　tent　and　walked　over　to　one　of　the　poles。　The　bases　sat　on　plastic　holders。　Murphy　figured　it　wouldn't　take　much　to　bring　it　all　down。　
　Ho　was　making　his　way　back　to　the　mansion　when　he　stopped　in　his　tracks。　
　Several　longhaired　men　were　approaching　the　tent；　but　that　didn't　concern　him。　What　did　concern　him　was　the　lady　that　was　following。　Ho　pivoted　on　his　heel　and　walked　over。　
　〃I'm　Stanley　Ho；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃I'm　your　host。〃
　〃I'm　Candace；〃　Julia　Huxley　said。　
　Ho's　eyes　were　riveted　on　Huxley's　ample　assets。　〃I　find　this　hard　to　believe；〃　Ho　said；　〃but　I　don't　remember　meeting　you　before。〃　
　〃I'm　with　the　band；〃　Candace　said；　smiling　wickedly。　〃At　least　I　came　with　them。〃　
　〃Performer？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃In　many　ways；〃　Candace　said；　smiling。　
　Ho　was　beginning　to　get　the　feeling　that　if　he　played　his　cards　right；　he　might　get　lucky。　
　〃I　need　to　go　inside　and　greet　my　guests；〃　Ho　said　quickly　as　he　saw　Iselda　approaching　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃Perhaps　we　could　talk　later。〃　
　He　turned　and　moved　toward　the　back　door　of　the　mansion。　〃Mr。　Ho；〃　Ross　shouted　a