cc.goldenbuddha-第26节

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　He　turned　and　moved　toward　the　back　door　of　the　mansion。　〃Mr。　Ho；〃　Ross　shouted　after　him；　〃I　think　we　have　the　placement　figured　out。〃　
　〃Just　take　care　of　it；〃　Ho　said　over　his　shoulder。　Ross　passed　by　Huxley。　〃Slut；〃　she　whispered。　〃Lesbian；〃　Huxley　replied。
　
　MAXHANLEY　WAS　sitting　in　a　leather　chair　in　the　mand　center　of　the　Oregon。　
　〃Okay；　people；〃　he　said　to　the　trio　of　operators　that　remained；　〃we're　a　go。　Display　from　the　tree；〃　Hanley　ordered。　
　The　image　from　the　tiny　camera　in　the　tree　filled　one　of　the　screens　in　the　control　room。　Hanley　could　see　Cabrillo　rolling　a　cart　containing　several　long　speaker　boxes　across　the　lawn。　Ross　had　just　passed　Huxley　and　was　now　turning　to　go　back　toward　the　tent。　Murphy　popped　out　from　the　side　of　one　of　the　tents。　As　if　on　cue；　he　turned　to　the　tree　and　smiled。　
　〃Larry；〃　Hanley　said；　〃all　okay。〃　
　Larry　King　was　the　Corporation　member　hiding　in　the　tree。　He　adjusted　his　sniper　rifle　and　then　pushed　the　tiny　microphone　over　his　voice　box　and　answered。　
　〃How's　the　picture；　boss？〃　
　〃Looks　good；〃　Hanley　said。　〃You　holding　up？〃　
　King　had　been　forced　to　take　his　position　above　the　party　sometime　just　after　3　a。m。　He'd　been　in　his　perch　over　twelve　hours　already。　There　was　a　good　chance　he'd　need　to　remain　there　almost　that　long　again。　
　〃I　did　six　days　once　in　Indonesia；〃　King　said。　〃This　is　a　piece　of　cake。〃　
　〃Have　you　dialed　in　your　fields　of　fire？〃　Hanley　asked；　already　knowing　the　answer。　
　〃About　a　thousand　times；　boss；〃　King　said；　swatting　away　a　fly　on　his　arm。　
　King　was　a　U。S。　Army…trained　sniper。　If　Hanley　gave　the　order；　he　could　lob　a　dozen　shots　onto　the　grounds　in　about　as　long　as　it　took　to　sneeze。　Hanley　hoped　it　wouldn't　e　down　to　thatbut　if　one　of　the　crew　was　in　trouble　and　there　was　no　other　choice；　King　was　the　great　equalizer。　
　〃Stand　by；　Larry；〃　Hanley　said。　〃We'll　call　you　if　we　need　you。〃　
　〃Affirmative；〃　King　said　as　he　continued　to　scan　the　grounds　through　his　scope。　
　〃Try　the　inside　of　the　tent；〃　Hanley　ordered。　
　An　image　filled　the　screen　from　a　camera　that　was　inserted　in　the　body　of　Cabrillo's　electric　keyboard。　The　image　was　slightly　off。　
　〃Juan；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Cabrillo　was　pushing　the　cart　around　the　side　of　the　tent；　but　he　could　hear　through　his　tiny　earpiece。　
　〃You'll　need　to　adjust　your　keyboard　slightly　to　the　right。　We're　｜　missing　a　little　of　the　left　side　of　the　tent。〃　Cabrillo　made　a　slight　nod　to　confirm。　〃Go　to　the　van；〃　Hanley　ordered。　
　Another　picture　flicked　onto　a　separate　screen　that　was　split　in　half。　The　cameras　had　been　attached　to　the　van's　folding　mirrors。　They　were　showing　a　pretty　good　view　of　most　of　the　front　of　the　house。　Lincoln　was　removing　a　box　from　the　back　of　the　van。　〃Frankie；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Franklin　Lincoln　moved　out　of　the　back　of　the　van　and　stared　into　one　of　the　rearview　mirrors　as　if　he　were　fixing　his　hair。　
　〃Try　to　leave　the　van　where　it　is；〃　Hanley　said。　〃You　guys　got　lucky　and　placed　it　where　we　have　a　good　field　of　view。〃　Lincoln　made　an　okay　sign　at　the　mirror。　〃Okay；　men；〃　Hanley　said　to　the　operators；　〃we're　the　eyes　and　ears；　so　be　alert。〃　
　　
　WINSTON　SPENSER　WALKED　into　the　mansion；　snagged　a　glass　of　champagne　from　a　passing　waiter；　and　slurped　down　half　of　the　flute　before　approaching　the　receiving　line。　Stanley　Ho　was　beaming　and　shaking　hands　with　each　guest　that　passed。　Ahead　of　Spenser　were　an　Australian　couple　who　were　just　being　greeted；　and　directly　in　front　of　him　was　the　local　Portuguese　consular　agent。　Spenser　waited　patiently；　finishing　the　first　glass　of　champagne　and　summoning　the　waiter　for　another；　then　took　his　place　in　front　of　Ho。　
　〃Winston；〃　Ho　said；　smiling；　〃it's　good　to　see　you；　but　you're　a　little　latethe　insurance　adjuster　was　already　here。〃　
　〃Sorry；〃　Spenser　said；　〃I　was　running　late。〃　
　Spenser　tried　to　keep　moving　along；　but　Ho　reached　out　and　took　him　by　the　arm。　
　〃That's　all　right；〃　Ho　said。　〃It　seems　your　timing　is　perfect。〃　
　Ho　pointed　to　the　staircase。　
　Spenser's　stomach　did　a　backflip。　The　Golden　Buddha；　strapped　to　a　dolly　like　a　patient　in　a　mental　ward；　was　descending　the　stairs；　being　helped　down　by　the　guards　from　Redman　Security。　
　〃I've　decided　to　display　my　newest　treasure；〃　Ho　said；　〃so　all　the　guests　can　share　in　the　glory。　Don't　worry；　I'll　let　everyone　who　asks　know　who　helped　me　handle　the　acquisition。〃　
　A　thousand　thoughts　raced　through　Spenser's　mind。　None　of　them　were　good。　
　〃Sir　。　。　。　；〃　Spenser　began　to　say。　But　the　line　was　moving　along　and　Ho　was　already　preparing　to　greet　the　next　guest。　〃I　don't　think　。　。　。〃　
　〃I'll　talk　to　you　when　we　are　outside；〃　Ho　said　quietly　as　he　turned　to　shake　a　couple's　hands。　
　
　AT　THE　REAR　door；〃　Hanley　said；　pointing　to　a　screen。　He　flipped　a　switch　on　the　munication　console；　then　spoke　into　a　microphone。　
　〃Juan；　the　Buddha　is　being　wheeled　outside。〃　On　one　of　the　screens；　Cabrillo　could　be　seen　inside　the　tent　checking　the　connection　to　his　keyboard。　He　raised　his　head　and　made　a　signal　that　he　understood。　Ross　walked　over　to　the　front　of　the　tents　as　the　Buddha　was　wheeled　up；　then　supervised　the　placement　near　the　fountain。　
　The　target　of　all　the　planning　and　preparation　was　now　in　plain　sight。　
　
　CHIEF　INSPECTOR　OF　the　Macau　Constabulary　Sung　Rhee　watched　the　statue　from　his　place　on　the　lawn　near　the　rear　door　of　the　mansion。　Rhee　had　known　Stanley　Ho　since　before　he'd　bee　wealthy。　He　was　an　acquaintance；　not　a　friend。　The　first　ship　Ho　had　owned；　the　start　of　his　shipping　fortune；　had　been　a　constant　thorn　in　Rhee's　side。　
　The　chief　inspector　had　been　a　mere　detective　at　that　time；　assigned　to　vice　and　smuggling；　and　he　had　bee　convinced　Ho　was　moving　drugs　with　the　ship。　Rhee　had　just　never　been　able　to　catch　him　in　the　act。　Ho's　fortune　had　grown　fast；　and　the　chief　inspector　knew　what　that　usually　denotedthe　problem　was　that　as　the　shipowner's　fortune　had　swelled；　so　had　his　power。　Twice　in　the　past　decade　Rhee　had　been　ordered　away　from　Ho's　activities　when　he　was　close　to　amassing　enough　evidence　to　bring　charges。　Now　Rhee　was　beginning　to　understand　that　as　Ho　legitimized　his　holdings；　he　probably　never　would　pay　the　price　for　his　past　shady　dealings。　
　Rhee　had　been　invited　to　the　party　in　an　unofficial　capacitywindow　dressing　for　the　guests。　
　Like　the　mayor；　the　ambassadors　of　various　countries；　and　the　minor　royalty　who　were　present；　Rhee　was　here　today　to　add　to　the　theme　of　legitimacy　Ho　so　desperately　craved。　
　He　was　a　propbut　that　didn't　make　the　police　officer　inside　him　take　leave。　He　stared　at　the　chunk　of　gold　and　tried　to　decide　how；　if　it　was　up　to　him；　he　would　steal　it。　Rhee　stared　around　the　grounds；　trying　to　imagine　an　escape　route。　The　wall　surrounding　the　grounds　almost　insisted　on　a　departure　through　the　main　gate。　The　fact　that　the　object　was　being　placed　out　in　the　open　actually　helped　the　security。　It　would　almost　certainly　always　be　in　view　of　someone。　He　glanced　around　again；　then　shook　his　head　slightly。　
　Rhee　concluded　theft　was　not　a　problem　and　went　inside　for　some　shrimp　puffs。　
　
　A　DARK　GREEN　Mercedes…Benz　limousine　pulled　up　to　the　gate　and　the　driver　was　waved　through。　Tom　Reyes；　the　driver；　swung　around　on　the　circular　driveway　and　positioned　the　passenger　door　near　the　front　door　of　the　mansion。　He　then　climbed　out　and　opened　the　door　to　the　rear　partment　and　helped　the　occupant　out。　
　Once　Crabtree　was　standing　alongside　the　limousine；　Reyes　raced　to　the　front　door　and　said　to　the　butler；　〃This　is　Princess　Aalborg　of　Denmark。〃　
　The　butler　stood　aside　as　she　swept　into　the　foyer　in　a　rustle　of　satin　and　lace；　then　walked　toward　Ho；　who　was　now　standing　alone。　〃Princess　Aalborg；〃　Reyes　announced　from　two　steps　behind。　Ho　bent　over　and　lightly　kissed　the　proffered　hand；　then　raised　his　head　and　smiled。　〃I'm　honored　to　have　you　visit　my　humble　home。〃
　〃Charmed；〃　Monica　Crabtree　said　in　a　bizarre　accent。　Ho　snapped　his　fingers　and　a　waiter　instantly　appeared。　〃May　I　offer　　you　a　libation？〃　
　〃Champagne　with　a　strawberry　would　be　nice；〃　Crabtree　said。　
　Ho　motioned　to　the　waiter；　who　scurried　off。　
　〃Jeeves；〃　Crabtree　said　to　the　driver；　〃I'll　be　fine　nowyou　may　take　your　leave。〃　
　Reyes　backed　away　a　distance；　then　turned　and　walked　toward　the　front　door。　Moving　the　limousine　away　from　the　front　of　the　mansion；　Reyes　parked　in　a　spot　near　the　garage　and　climbed　out。　Then　he　walked　around　to　the　front　of　the　limousine；　tilted　back　his　cap　and　lit　a　cigarette。　
　〃Monica　is　safely　inside；〃　Hanley　reported　to　Cabrillo。
　
　TWILIGHT　FELL　OVER　the　grounds　with　a　light　breeze　that　brought　the　smell　of　the　sea。　A　few　miles　away；　at　the　staging　area　for　the　parade；　the　engines　of　the　lead　floats　came　to　life。　The　marching　band　that　was　the　first　group　to　walk　the　route　began　to　assemble　in　orderly　rows；　awaiting　the　signal　to　begin。　Macau　began　to　settle　in　for　the　night；　and　in　the　high…rises　in　the　city　center　and　along　the　waterfront；　lights　began　to　flicker　on。　Out　to　sea；　the　navigation　lights　of　the　ships　approaching　port　began　to　be　visible；　and　the　scattering　of　airplanes　both　inbound　and　outbound　appeared　as　light　specks　in　the　distant