cc.goldenbuddha-第28节

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　〃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　have　plenty　of　time。〃　
　Ho　motioned　to　the　door　and　the　pair　started　out　of　the　office。　
　　
　〃SIGNAL　FROM　ROSS；〃　Larry　King　said。　
　On　board　the　Oregon；　Hanley　was　watching　the　monitors。　〃We　saw　it　too；　Larry。〃　
　Hanley　zoomed　in　on　the　Buddha；　Reinholt；　Pryor　and　Barrett　were　standing　in　a　delta　formation　around　the　object；　while　to　the　left　three　large　speaker　stacks　sat　on　carts　awaiting　removal。　
　〃As　soon　as　Ho　makes　his　toast　and　the　band　resumes；　we　can　begin　the　extraction；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Did　anyone　see　where　Ho　went？〃　
　〃He　headed　inside　with　Huxley；〃　King　noted。　〃I've　got　him　on　audio　in　the　upper　office；〃　one　of　the　operators　on　the　Oregon　said。　
　〃Put　him　on　speaker；〃　Hanley　ordered。　
　〃It's　a　Manet；〃　Ho　was　saying。　
　〃I　always　get　Monet　and　Manet　confused；〃　Huxley　said。　〃But　then；　art　is　not　my　strong　suit。〃　
　〃What　exactly　is　your　strong　suit？〃　Ho　asked。　
　Just　then；　Hanley　keyed　the　tiny　earpiece　in　Huxley's　ear。　〃Julia；〃　he　whispered；　〃you　need　to　have　Ho　get　back　to　the　tent　and　make　the　toast　now。〃　
　〃It's　something　I　need　to　show　you；　not　tell　you；〃　Candace　purred；　〃but　it　takes　some　time。　Once　the　band　starts　the　next　set　and　my　boyfriend　is　busy；　I'd　feel　a　lot　safer。〃　
　〃Safer　is　good；〃　Ho　said。　
　
　INSIDE　THE　TENT；　the　waiters　were　clearing　away　the　appetizers。　Then　they　began　to　pour　the　punch　from　crystal　pitchers　into　small　glass　cups　at　each　setting。　Most　of　the　guests　had　returned　to　their　seats　by　the　time　Ho　walked　through　the　center　of　the　tent　toward　the　stage。　Snagging　a　cup　of　punch　from　a　passing　waiter；　he　continued　toward　the　stage。　
　Mark　Murphy　was　setting　the　last　of　the　charges　around　the　perimeter　of　the　grounds　and　tent。　He　pocketed　a　small　remote　trigger；　then　walked　around　to　the　rear　of　the　stage。　Juan　Cabrillo　was　standing　off　to　one　side　of　the　stage；　staring　at　the　crowd。　Crabtree　had　her　large　purse　on　the　floor　next　to　her　and　she　moved　her　foot　to　make　sure　it　was　at　her　feet。　Kasim；　Lincoln　and　Halpert　stood　off　to　one　side；　awaiting　their　cues。　At　the　front　of　the　tent；　the　trio　from　Redman　Security　paced　nervously。　
　Ho　walked　over　to　Cabrillo。　〃Is　the　P。A。　system　on？〃　
　〃Just　a　second；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　flicked　a　switch。　〃Okay；　sir。〃　
　Ho　tapped　the　microphone　to　see　that　it　was　working。　
　
　THE　MONK　WALKED　out　from　the　dining　room；　then　stopped　in　his　tracks。　There　was　a　banner　with　Arabic　writing　stretched　across　the　alcove　where　the　Golden　Buddha　had　been　placedbut　the　massive　golden　icon　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　He　raced　back　to　the　dining　room　to　alert　the　others。　A　dozen　monks　in　yellow　robes　entered　the　main　temple。　After　appraising　the　situation；　the　head　of　the　monks　walked　into　the　office　and　lifted　up　the　telephone。　
　〃Why　don't　they　make　dollies　with　brakes？〃　one　of　the　motorcyclists　said　as　he　dug　in　his　heels　to　slow　the　descent　down　the　hill　outside　the　temple。　
　The　other　man　was　in　front　of　the　dolly；　trying　to　slow　Buddha　down；　but　the　loose　soil　was　not　allowing　him　much　purchase　and　he　was　sliding　downhill　fast。　
　〃Drop　it　down　and　dig　in　the　rear；〃　he　whispered。　With　more　of　a　slide　than　a　controlled　descent；　they　reached　the　bottom　of　the　hill。　Once　they　had　regained　control　of　the　dolly；　they　quickly　wheeled　it　over　to　the　motorcycle　sidecar　and　cut　the　straps。　The　man　at　the　front　lowered　the　door　on　the　sidecar。　〃Let's　get　him　in；〃　he　said。　At　just　that　instant；　a　gong　on　the　grounds　of　the　temple　started　sounding。　
　〃Damn；〃　the　first　man　said　as　the　two　wrestled　the　chunk　of　metal　into　the　sidecar；　〃I　figured　we'd　at　least　be　out　of　the　parking　lot　before　someone　caught　on。〃　
　〃I'll　strap　him　down；〃　the　second　man　said。　〃You　start　your　engine。〃　
　The　man　climbed　aboard　the　motorcycle　and　pushed　the　starter。　The　engine　roared　to　life。　The　second　man　finished　with　securing　the　Buddha　and　walked　over　to　his　motorcycle　and　started　the　engine。　Looking　up　the　hill；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　several　monks　starting　down；　and　he　beeped　his　horn。　The　first　man　turned　his　head　and；　upon　seeing　the　monks　stumbling　down　the　hill；　reached　for　the　clutch；　then　toed　the　motorcycle　into　gear。　He　twisted　the　throttle　and　began　driving　out　of　the　parking　lot。　
　
　〃AGAIN；〃　HO　SAID；　〃thank　you　all　for　ing。　Before　I　make　a｜　。toast；　let's　give　a　round　of　applause　to　the　Minutemen。〃　
　The　crowd　clapped。　
　〃Now；〃　Ho　said；　〃if　you　will　all　raise　your　glasses。〃　
　He　paused。　
　〃To　peace　and　prosperity　on　this　holy　day；〃　he　said。　〃Let　us　all　remember　the　sacrifices　the　few　have　made　so　that　the　many　may　find　peace。〃　
　Ho　tipped　the　glass　cup　to　his　lips　and　took　a　drink。　The　crowd　followed　suit。　
　〃The　dinner　will　be　served　now；〃　Ho　said；　〃and　in　a　second　the　band　will　begin　again。〃　
　
　THE　POTION　IS　in；〃　Hanley　said　to　everyone　listening；　〃we　move　in　five　minutes。〃　
　Sometimes；　if　you　know　where　to　look；　a　person　can　realize　that　life　is　a　well…orchestrated　ballet。　If　one　is　in　tune；　seemingly　unrelated　events　begin　to　reveal　themselves。　If　there　were　someone　high　above　the　party；　what　he　would　see　right　now　would　be　two　distinctly　different　groups。　The　people　from　the　Corporation　began　to　move　like　pieces　on　a　chessboard；　while　those　who　were　part　of　the　party　seemed　to　act　as　a　single　unit。　
　Sung　Rhee　tried　to　focus　his　eyes；　but　the　view　of　the　inside　of　the　tent　was　ebbing　and　flowing。　Specks　of　blue　dotted　the　far　edges　of　his　peripheral　vision。　Then　he　saw　what　he　thought　was　a　yellow…and…red　weasel　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　but　when　he　moved　his　head；　it　was　gone。　At　just　that　instant；　his　cellular　telephone　rang。　
　〃Rhee。〃　
　〃I　can　barely　hear　you；　sir；〃　one　of　his　detectives　said。　Rhee　stared　at　the　tiny　telephone。　He　was　holding　it　a　foot　from　his　mouth；　as　if　unable　to　gauge　distances。　He　tried　to　move　it　to　the　proper　place；　but　he　slammed　it　into　his　temple。　
　〃How's　that？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Better。　Sir；　we　just　received　a　call　from　the　head　abbot　at　the　A…Ma　Temple。　They　report　that　a　pair　of　men　has　just　stolen　a　large　golden　Buddha　they　had　on　display。〃　
　Rhee　thought　for　a　second。　The　Buddha　was　right　outside　the　tent。　〃That's　all　right；〃　Rhee　said；　〃I　saw　our　friend　earlier。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　sir？〃　
　Rhee　stared　at　the　floral　arrangement　in　the　center　of　the　table。　The　head　of　a　tiny　horse　appeared　and　spoke　in　a　British　accent。　Take　me　for　a　ride；　it　said。　
　〃Listen；　you；〃　Rhee　said；　〃my　horse　is　here。〃　
　〃Sir；〃　the　detective　said；　〃I'm　ing　over　there　right　away。〃　Rhee　dropped　the　telephone　and　turned　to　the　person　next　to　him。　
　〃See　my　horse？〃　
　The　person　was　a　troll　and　he　was　speaking　in　a　language　Rhee　could　not　understand。　
　
　OVER　THE　ROAR　of　the　motorcycle　engine；　a　siren　came　from　just　over　the　hill。　The　two　men　shut　off　the　engines　and　listened。　The　sound　neither　grew　louder　nor　diminished。　
　〃Good；〃　the　first　man　said；　〃they're　stuck　in　traffic；　just　like　we　planned。〃　
　〃Let's　do　it；〃　the　second　man　said。　
　They　started　their　engines　and　roared　away。　
　
　DETECTIVE　LING　PO　was　screaming　into　the　radio　as　he　raced　toward　the　mansion。　He　was　a　half　mile　away　when　the　traffic　ground　to　a　stop。　
　〃Can　anyone　reach　the　temple？〃　he　shouted。　
　The　units　reported　in　one　at　a　time。　Only　the　car　along　the　Inner　Port　Road　was　making　any　progress。　　〃We　have　a　pair　of　men　on　motorcycles　that　have　stolen　a　large　gold　Buddha；〃　he　said　as　he　beeped　his　horn。　〃Has　anyone　seen　them　pass？〃　
　The　reports　were　negative。　
　Po　steered　his　squad　car　onto　the　sidewalk　and；　blaring　his　horn；　continued　on。　
　
　THE　BAND　WAS　performing　the　Thin　Lizzie　song　〃The　Boys　Are　Back　in　Town。〃　
　On　the　Oregon；　Hanley　was　watching　the　monitors　in　alarm。　They　had　expected　some　unusual　behavior　once　the　potion　was　administered；　but　what　he　was　seeing　was　chaos。　A　crowd　of　guests　in　tuxedos　and　evening　dresses　had　suddenly　filled　the　dance　floor；　and　several　of　the　ladies　were　shedding　their　clothes。　
　Stanley　Ho　was　walking　through　the　tent　in　a　daze。　He　was　feeling　strange；　but　he　had　no　idea　why。　Spotting　Candace　across　the　tent；　he　began　to　make　his　way　toward　her。　
　〃Okay；　everyone；　we　go　in　sixty　seconds；〃　Hanley　ordered。　
　〃I　hear　sirens；〃　King　reported；　〃and　they　are　growing　closer。〃　
　〃Monica；〃　Hanley　said；　〃are　you　hearing？〃　
　Crabtree　turned　to　where　she　knew　the　camera　was　in　the　keyboard　and　winked。　
　〃Now；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Crabtree　bit　down　on　a　packet　she　had　taken　from　her　purse　and　slipped　it　inside　her　mouth。　Ho　was　a　few　feet　away　and　she　stumbled　toward　him　with　foam　seeping　from　the　edges　of　her　mouth。　She　grabbed　him　around　his　neck　and　held　tight。　
　〃Go　ahead；　Murph；〃　Hanley　ordered。　
　Murphy　slipped　his　hand　inside　his　pocket　and　hit　the　trigger。　Almost　instantly　there　was　a　series　of　explosions　like　fireworks。　The　outside　lights　and　those　inside　the　tent　went　dark。　
　〃We're　a　go　for　switch；〃　Hanley　said。　
　At　exactly　that　instant；　Barrett　and　Pryor　slid　one　of　the　speaker　boxes　off　the　cart　and　opened　a　back　door。　A　gold…painted　plaster　Buddha　replica　slipped　onto　the　ground。　At　the　s