cc.goldenbuddha-第29节

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gold…painted　plaster　Buddha　replica　slipped　onto　the　ground。　At　the　same　time；　Reinholt　flipped　the　edge　of　the　tent　over　the　Buddha　on　display。　Several　potted　plants　placed　in　the　Y　inside　the　tent　shielded　the　guards　from　anyone　who　might　be　watching。　
　〃All　dark　on　the　western　front；〃　King　said　as　he　scanned　the　ground　through　the　pale　green　light　of　a　night　scope。　〃Anyone　moving？〃　Hanley　asked。　King　swept　across　the　grounds；　then　down　the　hillside。　〃There's　an　unmarked　police　car　with　a　portable　light　on　the　roof　proceeding　along　Avenida　Republica。　He's　three　hundred　and　fifty　yards　distant。〃　
　〃Can　you　hit　at　that　distance？〃　Hanley　asked。　〃Oh　ye　of　little　faith；〃　King　said。　〃It's　a　car；　not　a　bug。　I　doubt　I　can　hit　the　driver's　nose；　but　you　never　know。〃
　〃Just　a　tire；　Larry；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Hold　on；〃　King　said。　
　Supporting　the　rifle　on　a　branch；　he　regulated　his　breathing；　then　waited　until　the　police　car　was　in　his　field　of　fire。　He　was　in　an　almost　Zen　state　of　concentration。　When　the　target　appeared；　it　was　as　if　it　were　in　slow　motion。　King　squeezed　the　trigger；　then　willed　the　bullet　to　run　true。　Inside　the　rifle；　the　firing　pin　hit　the　shell　primer　and　sparked；　the　gunpowder　burned　and　propelled　the　shell　out　of　the　cartridge　and　sent　it　spinning　through　the　rifling　inside　the　barrel。　Leaving　the　end　of　the　barrel　and　passing　through　the　noise　suppressor；　the　slug　started　down　the　hill　in　a　straight　line　toward　the　target。　
　〃Shit；〃　Po　said　as　his　front　tire　shredded。　He　slowed　down　and　climbed　out　of　the　squad　car；　leaving　the　door　open。　Looking　back　onto　the　sidewalk；　he　tried　to　see　what　he　had　hit。　There　was　nothing　visible；　but　that　didn't　mean　anything。　He　stared　up　the　hill　to　his　intended　destination；　then　decided　the　hill　was　too　steep　to　climb。　Po　slid　back　into　the　driver's　seat　and　reached　for　the　radio。　
　〃Target　has　stopped　and　he's　calling　for　help；〃　King　said。　
　〃Good　job；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Hanley　was　watching　the　monitors；　but　without　lights　there　was　little　to　see。　He　stared　at　his　watch；　then　glanced　at　the　schedule　of　actions。　Thirty　seconds　passed。　King　continued　to　scan　the　grounds。　A　few　of　the　kitchen　workers　had　popped　out　from　inside　and　were　clustered　around　the　rear　door。　He　swiveled　his　scope　to　the　front　of　the　house　and　noticed　that　the　front　gate　to　the　driveway　had　opened　automatically　when　the　power　was　cut。　Ten　seconds。　
　〃Have　you　sighted　the　charge　on　the　fireworks　display？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃Got　it；〃　King　said。　
　〃Protect　your　eyes　after　the　shot；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃I'll　switch　back　to　regular　sights；〃　King　agreed。　
　〃We　go　in　five；　four；　three；　two；　one。〃　
　King　squeezed　the　trigger　and　hit　the　explosive　packet　Murphy　had　laid　in　place　hours　earlier。　The　fireworks　exploded　with　a　roar。　Roman　candles　streaked　skyward　and　the　large　mortarlike　devices　began　to　spew　forth　in　belches。　There　was　shrieking　and　thumping　sounds　as　the　fireworks　began　to　discharge。　King　rubbed　his　eyes　and　stared　at　the　now…lit…up　scene。　
　Three　flickers　from　a　flashlight　at　the　front　of　the　tent　caught　his　attention。　
　〃I　have　a　signal　the　switch　has　been　made；〃　King　noted。　
　〃Signal　the　helicopter；〃　Hanley　said　to　one　of　the　operators。　
　〃She's　having　a　seizure；〃　Ho　shouted。　
　Monica　Crabtree　hung　on　to　Ho's　neck　and　rolled　her　eyes　back　in　her　head。　A　doctor　Ho　knew　was　dancing　on　one　of　the　tables　nearby；　but　he　didn't　respond　to　Ho's　request　to　e　over。　At　just　that　instant；　Barrett　walked　over。　
　〃This　woman　is　sick；〃　Ho　said。　
　The　guard　grabbed　Crabtree　and　slid　her　to　the　ground。　The　inside　of　the　tent　was　chaos；　the　music　was　blaring；　but　in　the　dim　light　no　one　noticed　the　band　had　left　the　stage。　Ho's　head　was　spinning　and　he　vvas　having　trouble　concentrating。　The　guard　placed　his　lips　over　Crab…tree's。　
　〃No　tongue；　please；〃　Crabtree　whispered。　
　Faking　CPR；　the　guard　turned　to　Ho。　〃This　woman　is　dying。〃　
　〃Call　for　help；〃　Ho　said。　
　The　guard　reached　for　the　radio　on　his　belt　and　called　for　an　ambulance。　
　〃Juan；〃　Hanley　said；　〃the　bird　is　inbound。〃　
　〃Time　to　pull　out；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　his　team。　〃Round　everyone　up。〃　Reinholt　and　Pryor　were　rolling　the　cart　containing　the　false…bottomed　speakers　over　the　lawn　to　the　far　side　of　the　heliport。　Once　the　cart　was　positioned；　they　removed　green　light　bars　from　their　pockets　and　bent　them　in　half。　The　chemical　reaction　made　the　tubes　glow　and　they　spread　them　in　a　crude　circle　so　the　helicopter　pilot　would　know　where　to　land。　
　The　scene　inside　the　tent　was　absolutely　chaotic。　People　were　singing；　howling；　dancing　and　prancing。　Sung　Rhee　was　groping　a　woman　at　his　table；　the　mayor　of　Macau　was　drinking　the　water　out　of　the　table　arrangement。　
　Only　Winston　Spenser　seemed　posed。　When　his　stomach　was　upset；　he　was　sensitive　to　fruit　juice。　He　had　faked　the　toast　and　was　beginning　to　see　something　was　terribly　wrong。　Right　then；　he　felt　a　prick　on　his　neck。　A　second　later；　his　head　slumped　over　on　the　table。　
　
　THE　TRAFFIC　OPENED　up　for　a　second　and　the　police　car　racing　along　the　Inner　Port　Road　managed　to　make　some　headway。　I　the　distance；　the　officer　managed　to　glimpse　the　motorcycles　making　a　turn　onto　Calcada　da　Barra。　Pushing　the　gas　pedal　to　the　floor；　he　raced　after　the　retreating　pair　of　motorcycles。　
　〃I　have　them　in　sight；〃　he　shouted　over　the　radio。　〃They're　northwest　on　Calcada。〃　
　The　man　aboard　the　motorcycle　carrying　the　Buddha　glanced　in　his　rearview　mirror　and　saw　the　police　car　approaching。　He　waved　his　hand　in　the　air　and　the　second　motorcyclist　turned　his　head。　Dropping　back　a　little；　he　waited　until　the　police　car　was　right　behind　him。　Then　he　reached　over　and　tripped　a　lever　on　his　sidecar。　
　
　STANLEY　HO'S　METICULOUSLY　planned　party　had　deteriorated　into　a　bacchanalia。　
　Juan　Cabrillo　walked　over　to　where　Ho　was　standing　next　to　the　prone　Crabtree。　Ho　was　in　a　daze。　There　were　so　many　things　happening；　his　drug…addled　brain　could　not　prehend　them　all。　A　few　moments　ago；　the　lesbian　party　planner　had　e　to　him　and　said　that　she　could　not　figure　out　how　to　restore　the　lights　inside　the　tent　and　offered　to　have　some　workers　raise　some　of　the　side　panels　to　allow　the　scant　natural　moonlight　to　filter　inside。　It　was　now　a　little　brighter　inside　the　tent；　but　many　of　the　guests　had　started　wandering　outside　onto　the　lawn。　
　〃Sir；〃　the　security　guard　said；　〃the　roads　are　choked　with　traffic　and　the　ambulances　can't　get　through。　They　remended　an　air　evacua…　Ho　stared　down。　A　minor　member　of　a　royal　family　expiring　at　his　party　would　definitely　put　a　crimp　in　his　social　aspirations。　
　〃Do　it；〃　Ho　said　through　the　fog　in　his　brain。　
　〃I　already　did；〃　the　guard　admitted；　〃but　we　have　another　problem。〃　
　That　was　all　Ho　needed。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　
　〃There's　another　guest　slumped　over；〃　the　guard　said；　pointing　toward　Spenser。　
　〃Have　him　taken　out；　too；〃　Ho　said。　
　Juan　Cabrillo　spoke。　〃Mr。　Ho。　Some　of　my　band　is　feeling　queasy。　We　indulged　in　some　of　the　appetizers　and　I　think　something　was　bad。　I'd　remend　we　end　this　party　and　have　the　guests　seek　medical　attention　immediately。〃　
　The　entire　affair　was　collapsing　before　Ho's　eyes。　
　〃The　band　wants　to　leave；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We're　going　to　pull　our　van　around　to　the　rear　and　load　up　our　equipment。〃　
　〃I　need　the　P。A。　system　to　make　an　announcement；〃　Ho　said。　
　〃We　already　broke　it　down；〃　Cabrillo　told　him；　〃but　we　have　a　portable　megaphone　we　can　let　you　use。　I'll　go　get　it　from　the　van。〃　
　Ho　turned　to　the　security　guard。　〃Who　is　watching　the　Buddha？〃　
　〃The　other　two　guards；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　remend　we　place　it　back　inside。〃　
　〃Take　it　to　my　office；〃　Ho　ordered。　
　The　sound　of　an　approaching　helicopter　grew　louder。　
　The　guard　reached　for　his　walkie…talkie　and　ordered　the　Buddha　to　be　moved　upstairs。　Then　he　reached　down　and　lifted　Crabtree　and　cradled　her　in　his　arms。　He　started　walking　out　of　the　tent　toward　the　landing　zone。　Cabrillo　raced　across　the　grounds　to　the　van。　Once　inside；　he　adjusted　the　outside　mirror　and　stared　into　the　camera。　
　〃We're　collecting　the　props；〃　he　said　as　he　twisted　the　key　and　started　the　engine。　
　
　ON　THE　OREGON；　Max　Hanley　was　watching　the　unfolding　scene　with　amazement。　
　The　two　distinct　groups　were　obvious。　The　Corporation　members　were　moving　about　in　a　blur　of　motion　and　action；　while　the　rest　of　the　party　seemed　caught　in　a　haze　of　indecision　and　disbelief。　The　element　of　chaos　in　the　surroundings　was　plete。　It　was　almost　time　to　stoke　the　fires　of　escape。　
　〃Murph；　Lincoln；　Halpert；〃　Hanley　said；　〃Juan's　ing　around　with　the　van。　Load　up　fast　and　make　your　way　to　the　front　of　the　mansion。〃　
　He　saw　the　waves　of　acknowledgment。　
　〃Ross；　dispose　of　the　punch　and　the　doctored　appetizers　left　on　the　tables。〃　
　〃Larry；〃　Hanley　asked；　〃what　do　you　see？〃　
　〃The　policeman　is　leaning　against　the　front　of　his　car；　waiting　for　help。　I　think　we　can　count　him　out　for　now。　One　of　the　guards　has　just　left　the　tent；　carrying　Monica。　He's　making　his　way　to　extraction　point　one。〃　King　scanned　the　grounds　with　the　scope。　〃Two　of　the　guards　are　wheeling　the　faux　Buddha　toward　the　rear　door　as　I　speak。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Hanley　said；　〃everything　is　in　play。　You　can　make