cc.goldenbuddha-第34节

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um；　the　lights　from　the　fire　trucks　that　had　extinguished　the　burning　Peugeot　were　still　visible。　To　the　right；　along　the　parade　route；　a　column　of　smoke　lit　by　the　city　lights　was　visible　from　the　burning　float。　
　〃Whoever's　stealing　Buddhas　tonight；　they're　well　trained　and　well　funded；〃　Po　said　to　Rhee。　
　Rhee's　mind　was　back　to　normal。　And　he　was　as　mad　as　a　Dobei　man。　It　was　bad　enough　that　some　team　of　thieves　was　using　his　city　as　a　playgroundit　was　worse　that　he　had　been　made　part　of　the　heist。　
　〃Whatever　happens；〃　he　said；　〃they　still　have　to　spirit　the　icons　out　of　the　country。〃　
　〃I　have　men　at　the　airport　and　patrolling　the　waters；〃　Po　said；　〃and　the　border　into　China　has　been　alerted　to　be　on　the　lookout。　They　won't　be　able　to　leave　Macau；　that's　for　sure。〃　
　〃All　of　the　suspects　except　the　British　art　dealer　are　American；〃　Rhee　said。　〃Did　you　pull　up　the　list　of　tourist　visas？〃　
　〃The　tourism　authority　is　closed　for　the　night；〃　Po　admitted；　〃but　I'll　have　someone　there　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃　
　〃These　guys　are　professionals；〃　Rhee　said　quietly。　〃They　won't　hang　around。　By　the　time　we　get　the　list　and　begin　to　question　all　the　Americans；　they　will　be　long　gone。〃　
　Po's　telephone　rang　and　he　unfolded　it　and　pushed　the　button。　
　〃Po。〃　
　〃The　fire　reached　part　of　one　of　the　buildings；〃　an　officer　at　the　parade　reported；　〃but　the　fire　department　has　got　that　under　control。　They　are　hosing　down　the　float　as　we　speak；　but　the　framework　is　still　hot　and　it　melted　in　onto　itself。　There　is　a　pile　of　twisted　metal　that　is　still　too　hot　for　inspection。〃　
　〃Can　you　see　the　motorcycles　inside　the　wreckage？〃　
　〃It　seems　they　are　inside　the　frame；〃　the　officer　said；　〃but　it's　hard　to　be　certain。〃　
　〃I'm　ing　down　there；〃　Po　said。　〃Keep　the　crowd　back　and　order　the　rest　of　the　floats　to　the　end　of　the　route。　The　parade　has　officially　ended。〃　
　〃Excellent；　sir；〃　the　officer　said。　〃See　you　shortly。〃　
　Po　disconnected　and　turned　to　Rhee。　〃I'm　going　down　to　the　parade。　Would　you　like　to　e　along；　sir？〃　
　Rhee　considered　this　for　a　moment。　〃I　don't　think　so；　Ling；〃　he　said。　〃We're　going　to　get　some　flack　over　thisI　think　it's　best　if　I　go　to　headquarters　and　coordinate　efforts　there。〃　
　〃I　understand；　sir；〃　Po　said　as　he　started　to　walk　down　the　driveway。　
　〃You　find　these　men；〃　Rhee　said；　〃and　recover　the　objects。〃　
　〃I'll　do　my　best；　sir；〃　Po　said。　
　Then　Rhee　opened　the　door　to　the　mansion　and　went　inside　to　report　to　the　mayor　of　Macau。　
　〃Good　luck；　Mr。　Chairman；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Cabrillo　out。〃　
　
　INSIDE　THE　CHEVROLET　SUV；　Juan　Cabrillo　adjusted　his　radio　and　called　the　Oregon。　〃Where　are　we　at；　Max？〃　There　was　a　slight　lag　as　the　scrambled　signal　was　rearranged　and　delivered。　
　〃The　Ross　team　took　a　casualty；〃　Hanley　said。　〃He's　being　worked　on　in　the　clinic。〃　
　〃Report　to　me　as　soon　as　you　know　more；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃What　else？〃　
　〃The　temple　team　has　made　it　to　the　catabs；　as　planned。〃　
　〃I　saw　the　smoke；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃No　injuries？〃　
　〃None；〃　Hanley　said。　〃So　far　so　good。　They　are　initiating　the　extraction。〃　
　〃What　about　the　others？〃　
　〃Most　everyone　staying　in　town　has　reported　in；〃　Hanley　said。　〃King　made　it　back　to　the　boat　and　is　going　to　direct　offensive　actions　until　Murphy　returns。〃　
　〃Target　three？〃　
　〃The　737　landed　a　few　moments　ago；〃　Hanley　reported。　〃They　should　be　going　through　customs　as　we　speak。〃　
　〃Our　man　is　still　with　them？〃　
　〃Awaiting　instructions。〃　
　〃What　else？〃　
　〃The　second　leg　of　the　journey　is　almost　ready　to　activate；〃　Hanley　said。　〃The　way　it　looks　so　far；　we　can　deliver　the　package　on　time。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We're　almost　at　the　airport。〃　
　Hanley　stared　at　the　flashing　blip　on　one　of　the　monitors。　〃I've　gol　you　made；　Juan。〃　
　〃Now　all　I　have　to　do　is　collect　on　our　side　deal；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃and　we　can　be　on　our　way。〃　
　
　MEADOWS；　JONES　AND　Hornsby　looked　like　three　tourists　on　an　Arizona　mine　tour。　
　They　were　wearing　silver　hard　hats　made　from　pressed　metal；　with　small　battery…operated　lamps　that　spewed　beams　of　light　from　the　front。　Hornsby　was　holding　a　blueprint　that　showed　the　underground　drainage　systems。　The　map　looked　like　the　tentacles　of　an　octopus。　Jones　stared　overhead　as　the　first　drops　of　water　from　the　rain　above　filtered　down　through　an　aged　tile　drainpipe　in　the　wall。　
　〃Did　the　operations　plans　factor　in　possible　rain？〃　he　asked。　
　〃As　long　as　there　isn't　a　prolonged　shower；〃　Hornsby　noted；　〃we　should　be　okay。〃　
　〃What　if　there　is？〃　Jones　asked。　
　〃That's　not　good；〃　Hornsby　admitted。　
　〃So　we　should　get　moving；〃　Meadows　said。　
　〃Exactly；〃　Hornsby　said。　〃But　let's　not　worry　too　muchthe　plan　states　we　can　have　six　hours　or　so　of　continuous　rain　before　the　drains　reach　chest…high　level。〃　
　〃We　can　be　out　of　here　by　then；〃　Jones　said。　
　〃That's　the　plan；〃　Hornsby　agreed。　
　The　Golden　Buddha　was　resting　on　the　wooden　ramp。　When　Hornsby　had　entered　the　storm　drain　through　a　side　tunnel　earlier　that　evening；　he　had　brought　along　a　bag　that　contained　four　rubber…tired　wheels　that　attached　to　the　ramp。　It　was　a　crude　arrangement；　but　it　would　allow　the　three　men　to　wheel　the　heavy　object　along　the　tunnels。　A　pair　of　olive　drab　ditty　bags　was　atop　the　crate　containing　the　Golden　Buddha；　these　contained　emergency　supplies　and　weapons。　The　entire　affair　stood　at　nearly　chest　height。　
　〃Here's　where　I　came　in；〃　Hornsby　said。　〃It's　a　shame　we　can't　leave　the　same　wayit's　only　about　two　hundred　yards　to　the　grate。　
　The　problem　is；　when　we　emerge；　we're　right　in　the　middle　of　town　and　the　police　should　be　everywhere　by　now。〃　
　Meadows　looked　to　where　Hornsby's　finger　was　pointing。　〃So　which　way　did　the　control　room　route　us？〃　Hornsby　traced　the　route　with　his　finger。　〃That's　a　long　way；〃　Jones　noted。　
　〃A　couple　of　miles；〃　Hornsby　agreed。　〃But　we　e　out　in　a　secluded　spot　alongside　the　Inner　Port；　where　we　can　be　extracted。〃　
　Meadows　wiped　the　edge　of　his　hard　hat　to　dispel　a　few　drops　of　water；　then　walked　around　behind　the　Golden　Buddha。　〃You've　got　the　map；　Horn　Dog；〃　he　said。　〃Why　don't　you　pull　the　front　strap　and　navigate。　Me　and　Jonesy　will　push　from　the　rear。〃　
　Slowly；　the　three　men　began　trudging　along　the　storm　sewer。　Outside；　the　rain　grew　in　intensity。　Within　the　hour；　it　was　a　full…fledged　monsoon。　
　
　LINDA　ROSS　WALKED　into　the　Oregon's　control　room。　Max　Hanley　was　pouring　a　cup　of　coffee　from　a　pot　on　a　side　table。　His　face　was　lined　with　tension　and　Ross　could　see　he　was　stressed。　
　〃Reinholt's　rebounding；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃It　looked　worse　than　it　was。　If　we　keep　any　infections　at　bay；　he　should　pull　through。〃　
　〃Will　there　be　any　lasting　damage？〃　Hanley　asked　as　he　motioned　to　the　coffee　and　Ross　walked　over　and　poured　a　cup。　
　〃The　top　of　his　ear　is　gone；〃　Ross　said。　〃He'll　need　plastic　surgery　to　make　that　right。〃　
　〃How's　his　attitude？〃　
　〃He　came　out　of　the　stupor　once　and　asked　where　he　was；〃　Ross　said。　〃When　I　told　him　he　was　on　the　Oregon；　he　seemed　happy。〃
　〃Propulsion　engineers　always　seem　more　fortable　on　board　ship；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃How's　the　rest　of　the　operation　going？〃　Ross　asked。　
　〃The　actual　Golden　Buddha　is　currently　in　an　underground　storm　sewer；〃　Hanley　said；　pointing　to　a　monitor。　〃That　team　is　making　its　way　to　the　waterfront。〃　
　〃I　thought　the　Buddha　was　lifted　out　by　helicopter；〃　Ross　said。　
　〃That　was　the　fake；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃But。　。　。；〃　Ross　started　to　say。　
　〃It　was　on　a　need…to…know　basis；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Remember　when　the　chairman　arrived　by　seaplane？〃　
　〃Sure；〃　Ross　said。　〃When　we　were　under　way　at　sea。〃　
　〃He　had　just　returned　from　the　art　auction　where　the　icon　was　sold。　The　Corporation　jumped　in　thenwe　arranged　the　shipment　to　Macau。　Gunderson　was　the　pilot。　Then　a　couple　of　our　men　met　the　plane　with　an　armored　carwe　thought　we'd　just　grab　it　then。　The　art　dealer　had　other　plans；　however。　He　was　planning　to　screw　the　owner　with　a　fake；　so　we　just　went　along　with　his　plan；　knowing　all　the　while　where　the　true　artifact　was　hiding。〃　
　〃So　all　the　efforts　at　the　party　were　a　facade？〃　
　〃It　was　designed　to　throw　off　the　authorities　and　confuse　the　picture；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Meanwhile；　if　all　goes　well；　Cabrillo　will　plete　the　art　dealer's　sale　and　the　Corporation　will　pocket　the　proceeds。〃　
　〃So　Reinholt　was　shot　for　no　reason；〃　Ross　said。　
　〃There　were　a　hundred　million　reasons　Reinholt　was　wounded；〃　Hanley　said。　〃A　hundred　million　and　one；　if　you　count　the　fact　that　we　confused　the　Macau　police　and　made　the　art　dealer　the　prime　suspect。〃　
　〃So　the　art　dealer　is　the　patsy；〃　Ross　said。　
　〃He's　our　Oswald；〃　Hanley　agreed。　
　〃Diabolical；〃　said　Ross。　
　〃It's　not　over　yet；〃　Hanley　said　quietly。　〃We　still　need　the　payoff。　And　to　get　out　of　here。〃　
　
　IN　BEIJING；　THE　foreign　secretary；　the　head　of　the　Chinese　army　and　President　Hu　Jintao　were　staring　at　satellite　photographs。　
　〃As　of　yesterday；〃　the　foreign　secretary　said；　〃Novosibirsk　in　Siberia　is　the　busiest　airport　in　the　world。　The　Russians　are　ferrying　in　military　1　supplies　at　an　alarming　rate。　Cargo　planes　are　landing　at　the　rate　of　one　every　few　minutes。〃　
　Hu　Jintao　was　examining　a　photograph　with　a　magnifying　glass。　〃Tan