cc.goldenbuddha-第33节

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art。〃　
　〃The　insurance　man　was　a　plant；〃　Ho　said。　〃They　replaced　my　party　coordinator　and　band　with　others；　then　put　fake　guests　inside　as　well。〃
　〃It　appears　they　even　provided　their　own　security；〃　Rhee　noted。　〃The　alleged　protectors　were　the　thieves。〃　
　Just　then；　the　tow　truck　driver　who　had　brought　Po　to　the　mansion　'　walked　into　the　living　room。　
　〃What　do　you　need？〃　Po　asked。　
　〃Your　tires　have　been　changed；〃　the　driver　said；　〃but　I　found　a　hole　inside　the　inner　fender　well。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
　〃I　think　someone　shot　out　your　tire；〃　the　tow　truck　man　said。　〃There's　probably　a　slug　somewhere　inside　the　engine　partment。〃
　〃We'll　look　into　it；〃　Po　said。　〃If　the　car's　ready；　you　can　take　off。　
　Just　bill　my　department。〃　
　The　tow　truck　driver　walked　from　the　room。　〃This　is　not　some　haphazard　group　of　thieves；〃　Rhee　noted。　〃They　have　snipers　capable　of　long…range　shooting；　helicopter　pilots　and　masters　of　disguise。〃　
　〃They　sure　as　hell　aren't　locals；〃　Po　said　quietly。　〃Oh；　that　makes　me　feel　so　much　better；〃　Ho　said　loudly。　〃At　least　I　was　robbed　by　professionals。　How　about　you　two　work　on　recovering　my　Buddha　first；　then　you　can　play　all　the　mind　games　you　want　about　their　modus　operandi。〃　
　At　this　second；　there　were　seventeen　Macau　police　officers　and　two　other　detectives　searching　the　grounds　and　mansion。　In　addition；　a　trio　of　teams　had　been　dispatched　to　the　airport　and　the　two　kidnapping　sites。　The　entire　force　had　been　mobilized　and　Ho　was　plaining。　
　〃We　are　doing　everything　in　our　power；　Mr。　Ho；〃　the　detective　said。　〃We're　going　to　catch　them。〃　
　Ho　shook　his　head　with　disgust　and　walked　out　of　the　room。
　
　THE　PARADE　CAME　down　the　hill　just　as　the　fireworks　barge　in　the　inner　harbor　launched　the　first　several　rounds　of　the　evening's　display。　The　Macau　police　had　moved　quickly　and　surrounded　the　edges　of　the　route　as　soon　as　the　pair　of　motorcyclists　had　been　spotted。　There　was　no　chance　of　escape　except　a　shoot…out。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　time　until　the　police　captured　the　men。　The　man　driving　the　motorcycle　containing　the　Buddha　steered　down　a　side　street；　then　honked　his　horn　for　the　crowd　to　part。　His　partner　followed　close　behind　with　the　sound　of　sirens　growing　closer。　
　A　tall　float　of　a　dragon　was　just　ahead。　At　regular　intervals；　his　mouth　spewed　fire。　
　
　ON　THE　OREGON；　Max　Hanley　stared　at　the　screen；　then　moved　the　joystick　a　little　to　the　left。　The　dragon　moved　to　the　center　of　the　road。　On　another　screen；　a　camera　was　showing　a　view　from　the　side。　Hanley　caught　sight　of　the　motorcycles。　Another　screen　displayed　a　GPS　map　of　Macau；　with　pulsing　dots　that　showed　the　location　of　the　police　cars。　The　net　was　closing　in　on　the　motorcyclists。　He　adjusted　the　movement　of　the　float　again；　and　then　stared　at　the　blueprints　stolen　from　the　Macau　Public　Works　Department。　
　
　CLIFF　HORNSBY　WAS　tired　and　sweaty。　Staring　at　his　watch；　he　arose　from　the　crate　he　was　sitting　on　in　the　storm　drain；　then　inflated　a　lift　bag　at　the　base　of　a　metal　ladder。　Once　that　was　in　place；　he　climbed　the　rungs　of　the　ladder。　On　the　way　up；　he　tested　the　wooden　ramp　to　ensure　it　was　solid。　Finding　it　fine；　he　touched　his　hand　to　the　bottom　of　the　manhole　cover　he　had　already　removed　once；　earlier　in　the　night；　to　make　sure　that　it　was　free。　Now　he　just　had　to　wait　for　the　signal。　
　Hanley　stared　at　the　control　box。　Gas　jets　for　the　fire　from　the　dragon's　mouth；　aluminum　powder　charges　for　the　maelstrom；　joystick　for　control。　Just　then；　a　voice　came　over　the　radio。　
　〃They　have　blockaded　the　route　at　Avenida　Infante　D。　Henrique；〃　
　Halpert　said。　
　〃Got　it；〃　Hanley　said。　〃You're　done；　Michael；　get　out　of　there。〃　
　Halpert　began　walking　in　the　direction　of　his　hotel　for　the　night。　
　〃Go　now；〃　Hanley　said　to　the　motorcyclists。　
　Steering　the　float　with　the　dragon　over　the　top　of　the　manhole　cover；　Hanley　stopped　it　in　its　tracks。　From　the　side　camera；　he　could　see　the　motorcycles　approaching　from　the　side　street。　
　〃Pop　the　top；　Hornsby；〃　he　said　over　the　radio。　
　Hornsby　pushed　against　the　manhole　cover　and…lifted　it　in　the　air。　Then　he　slid　it　to　the　side　and　stared　up　into　the　bowels　of　the　beast　that　had　stopped　over　his　lair。　Unclipping　a　flashlight　from　his　belt；　he　scanned　the　inside。　There　was　a　metal　frame　constructed　of　welded　tubes　with　a　fabric　outer　layer。　A　round　gas　canister　with　tubing　was　attached　to　one　side；　another　tube　with　a　small　explosive　charge　on　the　other。　The　explosive　charge　was　flashing　with　a　tiny　green　light。　At　just　that　instant；　Hornsby　heard　the　sound　of　motorcycles　approaching　and　he　ducked　down。　
　The　first　motorcycle　drove　under　the　fabric　side　wall　and　slid　to　a　stop　inside。　It　was　as　if　he　were　inside　a　tent。　The　interior　of　the　dragon　float　was　fifteen　feet　long　and　more　than　eight　feet　wide；　and　the　peaked　top　reached　nearly　seven　feet　above。　The　motorcyclist　felt　like　a　kid　in　a　secret　fort　as　he　climbed　off　the　seat。　The　second　motorcycle　steered　under　the　fabric　side　curtain　and　stopped。　Hornsby　climbed　from　the　hole。　
　Bob　Meadows　was　unfastening　his　helmet；　he　got　it　off　and　tossed　it　to　the　side。　
　〃I　could　see　the　cops；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃They're　right　at　the　end　of　the　street。〃　
　Pete　Jones　tossed　his　helmet　aside。　〃So　be　it；〃　he　said　to　Meadows。　
　〃Hey；　Horny；〃　Meadows　said　as　he　began　to　unfasten　the　Golden　Buddha　from　the　sidecar。　
　Jones　walked　over　and　dropped　the　hinged　metal　sides　of　the　sidecar。　〃This　is　heavy；　Cliff。〃　
　〃I've　got　a　ramp；〃　Hornsby　said。　〃If　we　walk　it　to　the　ground　and　over　to　the　ramp；　we　can　just　let　goit'll　slide　down　to　a　lift　bag　at　the　bottom。〃　
　〃Slick；〃　Meadows　said　as　he　started　to　wrestle　with　the　Buddha。　
　Hanley　stared　at　the　image　from　the　forward　camera。　The　Macau　police　had　organized；　and　with　weapons　drawn；　they　were　walking　carefully　through　the　parted　crowd。　He　hit　the　button　for　flames　and　the　dragon's　mouth　roared。　
　The　Golden　Buddha　was　lined　up　above　the　ramp；　then　released。　It　plunged　down　the　wooden　ramp　onto　the　lift　bag；　then　tumbled　over　on　its　side。　Hornsby　wrestled　the　ramp　over　to　one　side；　then　motioned　to　Meadows　and　Jones。　
　〃You　two　first；〃　he　said。　〃Pull　the　ramp　aside　when　you　hit　bottom。　I'll　close　the　cover。〃　
　Meadows　and　Jones　started　climbing　down　the　ladder。　Hornsby　walked　over　to　the　charge　on　the　metal　tube　and　armed　the　device。　The　light　flicked　red。　He　was　walking　back　to　the　hole　when　Hanley　came　over　the　radio。　
　〃The　police　are　less　than　a　hundred　feet　away；〃　he　said　quickly。　
　〃Where　are　you　at？〃　
　Hornsby　climbed　down　the　ladder　a　few　feet；　then　reached　up　and　slid　the　manhole　cover　back　in　place。　He　flicked　a　tiny　switch　on　the　lapel　of　his　thin　jacket　and　spoke。　
　〃We're　armed　and　the　door　closed；〃　he　said。　〃Give　me　ten　seconds　to　reach　the　bottom。〃　
　〃Got　it；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Hornsby　reached　the　bottom　of　the　ladder　and　stared　at　the　crate　containing　the　Golden　Buddha。　〃So　what　have　you　guys　been　up　to？〃　he　asked。　
　Hanley　pushed　a　button　and　increased　the　flow　of　gas　to　the　dragon's　mouth。　A　flame　shot　forty　feet　forward　and　the　crowd　backed　away。　Then　he　pushed　the　button　to　ignite　the　charge。　A　small　explosion　ripped　into　the　side　of　the　metal　tank　containing　the　aluminum　powder。　It　began　to　burn　with　a　hot　white　light。　Almost　instantly　the　fabric　covering　of　the　float　ignited　and　began　to　burn。　In　a　few　seconds；　the　float　was　a　maelstrom；　with　flames　reaching　twenty　feet　into　the　air。　
　〃We　need　fire　and　rescue；〃　one　of　the　officers　said；　giving　the　address。　
　Then　he　stared　at　the　firestorm；　waiting　for　a　pair　of　men　to　run　screaming　forth。　
　But　no　one　emerged　from　the　glowing　pile。　
　
　THE　WHITE　CHEVROLET　SUV　pulled　to　the　side　of　the　road　and　Cabrillo　climbed　into　the　front　seat。　The　helicopter　pilot；　George　Adams；　pulled　away　from　the　curb。　
　〃Gorgeous　George；〃　he　said；　〃any　problems？〃　Adams　looked　like　a　poster　child　for　the　American　way。　He　had　a　chiseled　jaw；　short　brown　hair　parted　to　one　side；　and　a　smile　that　could　sell　toothpaste。　Strangely　enough；　in　spite　of　his　looks；　he　was　almost　without　ego。　Married　to　his　high　school　sweetheart；　he　had　been　an　army　warrant　officer　before　joining　the　Corporation。　
　〃No；　sir；〃　he　said。　
　〃Monica？〃　Cabrillo　said；　turning　to　the　rear　seat。　
　〃No；　boss；〃　she　said。　〃Our　guest　is　still　out　of　it；　however。〃　
　Cabrillo　stared　at　Spenser　slumped　against　the　window。　Then　back　to　the　rear　partment；　where　the　speaker　frame　holding　the　fake　Buddha　was　sitting。　
　〃Did　the　folding　ramp　work？〃　he　asked　Adams。　
　〃Like　a　dream；〃　Adams　said。　〃We　just　adjusted　the　legs　to　the　same　height　as　the　helicopter　floor；　then　pushed　the　package　across　on　the　wheels。〃　
　〃Good。　We've　rented　part　of　a　small　hangar　at　the　airport；〃　he　said　to　Adams。　〃We　need　to　go　there　now。〃　
　Adams　nodded　and　steered　the　Chevrolet　back　toward　the　bridge。　
　
　ALIGHT　RAIN　began　falling　over　Macau。　Sung　Rhee　and　Ling　Po　were　standing　on　the　front　porch　of　the　mansion　staring　toward　the　city。　Po　disconnected　his　cellular　telephone　and　turned　to　Rhee。　Down　the　hill；　near　the　Maritime　Museum；　the　lights　from　the　fire　trucks　that　had　extinguished　the　burning　Peugeot　were　still　visible。　To