cc.goldenbuddha-第63节

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　〃You　two　go　see　what　the　Chinese　have　that　we　can　use；〃　Seng　said。　〃I　need　to　interrogate　a　prisoner。〃　
　The　two　pilots　ambled　off　toward　the　hangars。　Seng　walked　inside　to　where　a　Chinese　air　force　lieutenant　was　sitting　in　a　chair　in　the　middle　of　the　terminal　with　four　fierce…looking　Tibetan　soldiers　surrounding　him。　
　
　〃DAMN　NICE　SCENERY；〃　Murphy　noted；　glancing　out　the　window。　〃Like　Alaska　on　steroids。〃　
　Gurt　was　watching　the　altitude　gauge　as　they　climbed　higher　toward　the　imposing　ridge　of　mountains　just　ahead。　The　sun　had　yet　to　peek　over　the　horizon；　but　her　ing　was　heralded　by　the　pink　glow　being　cast　over　the　rugged　terrain。　
　〃We　could　probably　claim　the　helicopter　altitude　record；〃　Gurt　said。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Murphy　said。　〃Some　guy　went　to　twenty…four　thousand　feet　a　couple　of　years　ago　to　perform　a　Himalayan　rescue。〃　
　〃I　read　about　that；〃　Gurt　said；　〃but　that　was　in　a　Bell　206。　And　it　had　special　rotor　blades。〃　
　〃You　sound　a　little　worried；〃　Murphy　said。
　〃Not　worried；〃　Gurt　said；　〃just　apprehensive。〃
　He　pointed　out　the　front　windshield　at　the　wall　approaching。　The　trees　were　petering　out　as　they　drew　nearer。　Now　there　was　only　the　black　and　gray　of　rocks　streaked　with　tendrils　of　snow　and　ice　that　dripped　down　the　sides　of　the　imposing　mountain　like　rivulets　of　ice　cream　on　a　child's　hand。　A　gust　of　wind　buffeted　the　helicopter；　blowing　it　sideways。　Clouds　started　to　appear　around　the　Bell。　Gurt　stared　at　the　gauge　again。　
　It　read　eighteen　thousand　feet　and　climbing。
　
　THE　HELICOPTER　CARRYING　Reyes；　King　and　the　Dungkar　forces　came　in　twenty　feet　above　the　ground　and　approached　Lhasa　from　the　south。　The　sound　from　the　Lhasa　River　helped　cover　the　noise　as　the　pilot　landed　on　a　small　spit　of　sand　in　the　river　just　east　of　what　the　Chinese　referred　to　as　Dream　Island；　formerly　an　idyllic　picnic　spot　now　replaced　by　tacky　Chinese　shops　and　karaoke　bars。　〃Unload　the　crates；〃　Reyes　shouted　to　the　Dungkar。　As　soon　as　the　crates　were　unloaded　and　King　had　exited；　they　all　＇　raced　a　short　distance　away　and　crouched　down　to　avoid　the　blast　of　sand　from　the　rotor　wash　as　the　helicopter　quickly　lifted　off　and　raced　downriver。　Once　the　helicopter　was　out　of　sound　and　sight；　Reyes　｜　opened　a　small　satchel　and　removed　a　parabolic　dish　for　listening。　Quickly　switching　it　on；　he　listened　for　the　sound　of　alarms　in　the　city。　He　heard　only　the　sound　of　the　river。　
　Nodding；　he　whispered　to　one　of　the　Tibetans；　〃Look。〃　Prying　a　crate　open；　he　pointed。　It　was　a　box　of　Tibetan　flags；　which　had　long　ago　been　banned　by　the　Chinese　oppressors。　The　flags　featured　a　snow　lion　with　red　and　blue　rays。　The　man　bent　down　and　touched　the　pile　gingerly；　and　when　he　rose　to　look　at　Reyes；　his　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　
　〃We　need　to　carry　all　these　crates　across　the　river；〃　Reyes　said　to　the　Tibetan；　〃and　stash　them。　Then　you　and　the　others　need　to　follow　me　and　King　to　Zhuren's　house。〃　
　〃Yes；〃　the　Tibetan　said　eagerly。　
　〃We'll　need　one　of　you　to　guard　the　flags　and　one　man　to　go　with　Mr。　King。　The　other　two　of　you；〃　Reyes　said　quietly；　〃will　enter　the　house　with　me。〃　
　The　Tibetan　nodded；　then　began　to　whisper　orders　to　his　men。　Five　minutes　later；　they　were　all　safely　across　the　river　and　walking　toward　the　Barkhor　area　of　Lhasa。　King　and　his　Tibetan　helper　peeled　away　from　the　group　and　made　their　way　to　the　tallest　building　near　the　home　of　the　Chinese　government　official。　The　streets　were　empty　except　for　a　few　Tibetan　merchants　who　were　sweeping　the　square　in　preparation　of　setting　up　shop。　Taking　the　steps　two　at　a　time；　King　and　his　helper　made　their　way　to　the　rooftop；　where　they　took　up　position。　Once　he　was　in　place；　King　reached　into　his　bag；　removed　a　small　bottle　of　oxygen；　and　then　took　a　few　deep　breaths。　He　then　offered　the　bottle　to　the　Tibetan；　who　smiled　but　shook　his　head　no。　Then　he　scanned　the　area　through　his　scope。　
　The　home　of　Legchog　Zhuren　was　an　ornate　affair　whose　front　faced　south　onto　Barkhor　Square。　Just　to　the　east　of　the　house　lay　the　Jok…hang；　a　temple　built　sometime　in　the　seventh　century。　The　Jokhang；　the　most　revered　religious　building　in　Lhasa；　featured　dozens　of　statues；　a　variety　of　gold　artwork　and　some　thirty　chapels。　
　King　watched　as　Reyes　passed　in　front　of　the　Jokhang。　He　stopped　for　a　second　and　raised　a　closed　fist　into　the　air。　Then　Reyes；　followed　by　two　Tibetans；　made　his　way　down　an　alley　between　the　temple　and　the　chairman's　house　and　passed　out　of　view。　
　King　pushed　the　button　on　a　silver…plated　stopwatch；　set　the　time　for　one　minute；　and　watched。　
　When　the　stopwatch　read　fifteen　seconds；　King　reached　into　his　satchel　and　removed　a　hollowed…out　ram's　horn　and　handed　it　to　the　Tibetan。　
　〃When　I　say；〃　he　told　him；　〃start　blowing；　and　don't　stop　until　I　tell　you　to；　or　we're　dead。〃　
　The　man　nodded　eagerly　and　took　the　horn。　King　took　another　breath　of　oxygen　and　checked　the　stopwatch。　Five　seconds。　He　glanced　at　the　guards　patrolling　the　walkway　outside　Zhuren's　house。　There　were　two　outside　the　wrought…iron　gate；　two　more　just　outside　the　front　door　sitting　on　chairs。　He　lined　up　his　shots。　〃Now；〃　he　said　loudly。　
　The　horn　erupted　with　the　sound　of　a　cat　under　a　vacuum　cleaner。　Like　wraiths　appearing　above　a　graveyard；　the　square　was　suddenly　filled　with　four　dozen　Dungkar　warriors。　They　had　posed　as　shopkeepers　and　early…morning　walkers；　and　had　hidden　inside　drums　containing　spices　and　seeds。　They　screamed　war　cries　and　raced　toward　the　gate　leading　up　to　the　chairman's　home。　On　the　front　porch；　one　of　the　guards　was　rousted　from　a　half　sleep　by　the　sound　of　the　horn　and　the　approaching　horde。　He　stood　up　and　reached　for　a　bell　near　the　front　door。　But　before　he　could　reach　it　to　sound　the　alarm；　he　heard　a　sharp　crack。　As　if　in　a　dream；　he　stared　in　amazement　as　his　hand　and　arm　from　the　elbow　dropped　onto　the　porch。　
　Then　he　screamed　as　blood　erupted　from　the　stump　like　a　geyser。　At　the　same　time；　the　Dungkar　reached　the　pair　of　guards　outside　the　gate；　they　were　dead　before　they　could　prehend　what　was　happening；　their　throats　slit　like　pigs　at　slaughter。　
　Swiveling　around；　the　front…door　guard　stared　in　horror　at　the　advancing　Dungkar。　His　partner　started　to　speak；　but　a　second　later　his　head　was　blown　off　his　shoulders。　It　landed　on　the　porch　with　a　thud；　the　lips　still　straining　to　answer　a　signal　from　an　impulse　now　dead。　The　first　Dungkar　raced　up　the　steps　with　his　sword　held　in　front。　The　guard　tried　to　reach　for　his　handgun；　but　with　no　hand　he　had　no　chance。　
　The　sword　ran　through　his　middle　and　pinned　him　to　the　wooden　door　like　some　macabre　Christmas　wreath。　He　mouthed　a　few　words　before　dying；　but　only　blood　seeped　from　inside。　The　force　of　the　guard　slamming　into　the　door　burst　the　lock。　
　The　door　swung　open　and　the　Dungkar　raced　inside。　
　
　AROUND　THE　REAR　of　the　house　the　scene　was　less　violent。　The　single　guard　at　the　door　off　the　kitchen　had　been　asleep。　His　dereliction　of　duty　would　save　his　life。　Reyes　crept　up；　hit　him　with　a　stun　gun；　then　had　one　of　the　Tibetans　bind　his　mouth；　wrists　and　legs　with　duct　tape　before　he　had　a　chance　to　do　anything。　Then　Reyes　popped　open　the　lock　with　a　pick　and　made　his　way　inside。　He　and　the　Tibetans　were　halfway　up　the　stairs　leading　to　Zhuren's　bedroom　before　the　horn　sounded。　
　Then　Reyes　saw　them。　
　There　were　three　unarmed　men　at　the　top　of　the　landing。　He　reached　for　his　holstered　。40　handgun；　but　before　he　could　snap　off　a　round；　a　Tibetan　houseboy　appeared　from　behind　and　lopped　a　leather　garrote　over　the　men's　heads　and　pulled　tight。　Their　heads　slammed　together；　then　their　legs　began　to　kick　as　the　houseboy　tightened　the　cord。　Reyes　motioned　for　one　of　the　men　following　to　help；　then　raced　past　to　Zhuren's　door。　Stopping　for　a　second　to　line　himself　up；　he　slammed　his　polished　black　boot　at　a　point　just　above　the　doorknob。　The　door　burst　open　and　he　stepped　inside。　The　man　in　the　bed　slowly　started　to　rise　while　rubbing　his　eyes；　then　he　reached　toward　the　nightstand。　Reyes　fired　a　round　into　the　headboard　above　the　man's　head　and　the　room　filled　with　the　smell　of　spent　gunpowder。　
　〃I　wouldn't；〃　Reyes　said；　〃if　I　were　you。〃　
　
　''I'CAN'T　SEE　much；〃　Gurt　admitted。　
　The　clouds　had　closed　in　as　they　neared　the　top　of　the　pass。　Snow　and　sleet　raked　across　the　windshield　of　the　Bell。　The　212　was　slowly　ascending；　but　barely　making　any　forward　movement　at　all。　They　were　flying　blind　on　the　edge　of　the　helicopter's　performance　envelope。　〃I've　got　a　road；〃　Murphy　suddenly　shouted；　〃on　the　port　side。〃　Gurt　spotted　the　black　stripe　against　the　white　background。　A　movement　of　vehicles　across　the　terrain　had　displaced　most　of　the　snow；　leaving　only　dirt　and　rock。　
　〃What's　that？〃　Gurt　said；　straining　to　see。　
　〃I　think　it's　a　column　of　tanks；〃　Murphy　said。　
　〃I'll　go　to　one　side；〃　Gurt　said；　〃and　stay　in　the　cloud　cover。〃　
　Along　the　side　of　the　road；　a　Chinese　tank　mander　was　watching　several　of　his　soldiers　repair　a　tread　that　had　e　loose。　He　heard　the　helicopter　in　the　distance；　so　he　climbed　inside　and　called　his　superior　
　on　the　radio。　
　〃No　idea；〃　his　superior　reported；　〃but　you'd　better　find　out　what　
　it　is。〃　
　Popping　his