cc.goldenbuddha-第27节

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　light　specks　in　the　distant　sky…All　of　the　guests　had　arrived　and　the　front　lawn　of　the　mansion　looked　like　a　luxury　car　dealership。　There　were　Jaguars　and　BMWs；　single　Lamborghini；　a　pair　of　Ferraris。　Twelve　limousines；　a　lone　armored　Humvee　and　an　old　Rolls…Royce　crowded　the　lawn。　On　the　wall　along　the　road；　the　security　cameras　swept　back　and　forth；　but　no　more　cars　approached　and　the　guard　tired　of　watching　the　monitor。　
　So　no　one　noticed　when　a　pair　of　motorcycles　drove　slowly　past。　
　If　someone　had；　and　they　were　knowledgeable；　they　might　have　noticed　that　one　of　the　motorcycle's　sidecars　had　been　enlarged　and　reinforced。　The　modifications　were　barely　perceptible；　but　if　you　looked　closely；　you　could　see　that　there　was　a　heavy…duty　training　wheel　underneath；　and　that　the　passenger　seat　had　been　removed　and　made　into　a　cargo　partment。　The　motorcycles　continued　north　to　the　stop　sign；　then　turned　left　and　headed　in　the　direction　of　the　Inner　Port。　The　bikers　had　an　appointment　to　keep　in　a　place　not　too　far　distant。　
　
　THE　BAND　WAS　performing　a　sound　check。　The　wall　of　speakers　behind　the　bandstand　lent　an　air　of　full…on　rock　concert；　but　the　actual　sound　ing　out　of　them　was　less　than　one　would　have　thought。　Unless　someone　was　standing　directly　in　front　of　the　speaker　wall；　he'd　have　no　way　to　tell　that　many　of　the　speakers　were　not　functioning。　Some　were　hollow　shells；　others　held　items　that　would　be　needed　for　the　operation。　
　Ross　walked　over　and　spoke　to　Cabrillo。　
　〃The　first　set　starts　at　seven；〃　she　said。　〃Are　you　ready？〃　
　Cabrillo　stared　at　the　players；　then　at　the　crowd　that　was　still　milling　about　the　tent；　some　seated；　more　still　flitting　from　table　to　table。　〃I'll　put　the　background　music　on　in　a　second。　That　should　signal　we're　about　to　begin。〃　
　He　walked　over　to　the　main　console　and　adjusted　a　switch。　At　the　sound　of　the　music；　the　crowd　began　to　make　their　way　to　their　assigned　seats。　Stanley　Ho　was　standing　just　inside　one　of　the　tents　on　the　left　side　of　the　Y。　He　was　attempting　to　regale　Huxley　with　stories　of　his　vast　wealth　and　power。　
　〃I　love　the　Buddha；〃　Huxley　said；　smiling。　〃Perhaps　you　have　some　other　artwork　you　could　show　me　later。〃　
　〃I'd　be　glad　to；〃　Ho　said。　〃In　fact；　there　are　many　pieces　in　my　upper　office　that　might　interest　you。　Maybe　we　could　slip　away　later　and　take　a　look。〃　
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　Huxley　said。　
　Ho　nodded　greedily。　He　was　already　imagining　the　possibilities　the　suicide　blonde　might　offer　his　libidoif　he　needed　to　ignore　his　guests　　for　the　opportunity；　so　be　it。　
　〃I　need　to　go　to　the　front　and　make　my　introductions　now；〃　Ho　said；　〃but　we　can　meet　later。〃　
　Huxley　smiled　and　slinked　away。　Ho　walked　through　the　crowd；　stopping　at　various　tables　to　glad…hand　his　guests。　A　few　minutes　later；　he　was　standing　in　front　of　the　bandstand。　
　〃I'm　Stanley　Ho；〃　he　said　to　Halpert。　〃Might　I　use　your　microphone　to　make　an　introduction？〃　
　Halpert　handed　his　microphone　to　Ho；　who　tapped　the　top　to　be　sure　it　was　working。　
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　
　The　crowd　quieted　down。　
　〃I'd　like　to　wele　you　to　my　Good　Friday　party。〃　
　The　crowd　clapped。　
　〃I　hope　that　you　are　finding　the　food　and　drink　to　your　liking。〃　
　Another　round　of　applause。　
　〃I　hope　each　of　you　has　a　chance　to　view　my　latest　acquisition；　a　good…luck　charm。　I　have　displayed　the　piece　at　the　entrance　to　the　tent。　Like　another　we　honor　tonight；　he　signifies　enlightenment　and　spirituality　and　that　is　the　theme　of　this　evening's　festivities。　Now；　if　we　could　take　a　second　to　remember　those　that　have　sacrificed　themselves　for　our　freedoms。〃　
　The　crowd　was　silent。　
　〃Thank　you；〃　Ho　said　a　few　moments　later。　〃We　will　have　fireworks　and　light　displays　tonight；　as　well　as　an　excellent　band　straight　from　California　in　the　United　States。　Please　join　me　in　weling　the　Minutemen。〃　
　He　handed　the　microphone　back　to　Halpert。　At　the　same　time；　the　lights　in　the　tent　began　to　dim　until　a　single　spotlight　illuminated　Hal…pert's　back；　which　was　turned　from　the　crowd。　The　band　keyed　their　instruments　and　the　opening　notes　of　the　Eagles　song　〃Already　Gone〃　began　pulsing　through　the　crowd。　
　Halpert　swung　around　and　began　to　belt　out　the　lyrics。　
　
　MORE　THAN　ANY　one　thing；　the　key　to　a　successful　robbery　is　stealth。　The　pair　of　men　on　the　motorcycles　knew　this　and　they　moved　quietly　through　the　A…Ma　Temple　toward　their　target。　The　tourists　had　gone　home　for　the　night　and　most　of　the　monks　were　in　the　dining　hall　partaking　of　their　simple　evening　meal。　The　side　room　where　their　target　stood　was　dimly　lit；　and　the　men；　who　were　dressed　in　black　clothes　and　face　masks；　blended　into　the　air　like　whispery　goblins。　〃There　he　is；〃　one　man　whispered。　
　The　man　was　pushing　a　heavy…duty　dolly　stolen　from　a　rental　store　the　previous　night。　He　wheeled　it　over；　examined　the　artifact；　then　waited　while　his　partner　closed　the　door　on　the　wooden　crate　and　tilted　it　so　the　other　man　could　slide　the　dolly　underneath。　After　securing　it　with　straps；　they　began　to　make　their　way　toward　the　door。　
　
　WINSTON　SPENSER　WAS　past　wine　and　into　cognac。　He　was　pleasantly　buzzed　and　beginning　to　feel　that　he　might　just　acplish　his　goal。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　He　had　some　time　before　he　needed　to　slip　away　and　meet　the　armored…car　pany　at　the　temple。　Then　he　would　make　his　way　to　the　airport　and　consummate　the　sale　with　the　software　billionaire。　
　By　first　light；　he'd　be　on　his　way　away　from　here；　then　he'd　take　a　break　from　all　the　drinking。　
　Finishing　the　snifter；　he　motioned　to　a　passing　waiter　for　a　refill。　Then　he　turned　to　one　of　the　guests　seated　next　to　him。　〃Excellent　band。〃
　〃They　truly　are；〃　Crabtree　replied。　
　
　TWO　HUNDRED　AND　twenty…seven　miles　from　Macau；　in　the　South　China　Sea；　the　burgundy　jet　was　passing　over　Tungsha　Island；　inbound　for　landing。　The　software　billionaire　walked　forward；　fastening　a　sash　around　his　black　silk　kimono。　
　〃The　ladies　are　tired；〃　he　said　with　a　barely　hidden　trace　of　pride。　〃Could　you　prepare　pitchers　of　coffee；　orange　juice　and　some　pastries　and　take　them　to　the　rear？〃　
　〃Immediately；〃　the　blond…haired　man　said；　leaping　to　his　feet。　Continuing　forward；　the　billionaire　knocked　on　the　cockpit　door。　The　copilot　opened　the　door。　〃Sir？〃　he　asked。　〃How　far　out　are　we？〃　
　〃Less　than　half　an　hour；〃　the　copilot　said；　glancing　at　his　navigational　chart。　
　〃Have　you　arranged　for　refueling？〃　
　〃All　taken　care　of；　sir；〃　the　pilot　said；　turning　his　head　toward　the　cockpit　door。　　
　Passing　through　the　galley；　the　billionaire　could　smell　the　coffee　'　brewing。　〃About　a　half　hour　and　we'll　be　on　the　ground；〃　he　said　as　he　passed。　
　The　blond…haired　man　waited　until　he　was　gone；　then　removed　a　digital　pager　from　his　belt　and　pushed　a　few　buttons。　Then　he　winked　at　the　other　flight　attendant　and　resumed　his　preparations。　
　
　THE　TRIO　OF　Redman　Security　officers　glanced　up　as　the　band　was　finishing　the　last　song　in　the　first　set。　Then　Sam　Pryor　turned　toward　a　camera　and　touched　his　nose。　
　Back　on　the　Oregon；　Max　Hanley　reached　for　a　microphone。　
　〃Julia；〃　he　said；　〃you　can　start　now。〃　
　Huxley　slipped　from　behind　the　speaker　wall　and　motioned　to　Hal…pert。　Cabrillo；　Lincoln　and　Murphy　began　to　remove　a　few　speakers　from　the　bank　behind　them。　Ho　walked　over。　
　〃You　have　two　more　sets；〃　he　said。　
　〃We　have　some　electrical　glitches；〃　Cabrillo　told　him。　〃Three　of　the　tower　speakers　aren't　working。　Don't　worrythey　haven't　worked　yet　and　we　sound　all　right。〃　
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　take　them　back　to　the　truck？〃　Huxley　asked。　
　〃That's　part　of　your　job；〃　Halpert　said。　
　Ho　stared　at　Huxley。　The　thought　of　his　suicide　blonde　being　sweaty　disturbed　him。　
　〃I'll　have　one　of　the　guards　give　you　a　hand；〃　Ho　said。　〃Miss　Candace　asked　earlier　if　she　might　have　a　tour　of　my　home。〃　
　〃Okay；　Mr。　Ho；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We'll　move　them　around　to　the　front　of　the　tent；　then　have　one　of　the　guards　help　us　put　them　in　the　van。〃　
　〃Whatever；〃　Ho　said。　〃Now；　Candymay　I　show　you　my　home？〃
　
　ROSS　MOTIONED　TO　the　caterer。　〃Before　the　second　set；　Mr。　Ho　wants　to　make　a　special　toast。〃　
　〃The　passion　fruit　punch？〃　the　caterer　said。　
　〃Correct；〃　Ross　said。　
　〃Just　before　the　main　meal　is　served？〃　
　〃That's　the　plan。〃　
　〃I'll　go　ahead　and　ice　down　the　punch　then；〃　the　caterer　said。　
　〃You　look　busy　here；〃　Ross　said；　〃I'll　take　care　of　the　punch。〃　
　When　the　chef　had　his　back　turned；　Ross　removed　the　flask　of　liquid　and　broke　the　seal。　The　viscous　fluid　was　a　strange　blue　green　with　flecks　of　what　looked　like　powdered　silver。　She　swirled　it　around　then　poured　it　into　the　vat。　Taking　a　wooden　spoon；　she　stirred　the　mixture　and　added　a　block　of　ice。　
　The　caterer　was　on　the　far　end　of　the　kitchen；　talking　to　the　chef。　Ross　called　across　the　room。　
　〃Have　the　punch　transferred　to　the　crystal　pitchers　and　taken　into　the　tent；〃　she　said。　〃Then　order　the　waiters　to　begin　serving。〃　
　The　caterer　waved　a　hand　in　reply　and　Ross　walked　back　outside。　
　Huxley　walked　over　to　Ho　and　rubbed　her　ample　assets　against　his　side。　
　〃I'll　quickly　go　make　the　toast；〃　he　said　with　a　growing　need。　
　〃I　need　to　make　an　appearance；　too；〃　Huxley　said；　〃then　we'll