cc.goldenbuddha-第71节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　〃THERE　THEY　ARE；〃　the　leader　of　the　Dungkar　detail　said。　
　Three　stainless…steel　canisters　were　marked　with　Chinese　symbols。　The　Dungkar　erected　the　apparatus　to　burn　off　the　gas；　then　started　to　dress　in　gas　masks　and　rubber　gloves。　The　gas　had　been　right　where　Zhuren　had　said。　
　〃Has　anyone　seen　the　American？〃　the　Dungkar　leader　asked。　The　answer　came　back　negative。　
　〃Slowly　and　carefully　start　to　destroy　the　gas；〃　the　leader　said。　〃I'm　going　downstairs　to　report。〃　
　
　THE　SMOKE　CLEARED　and　Cabrillo　was　still　standing。　
　One　of　the　Public　Security　Bureau　officers　reached　over　and　took　Po's　handgun　from　his　holster。　Then　he　did　a　quick　pat…down　search　to　look　for　other　weapons。　
　〃You　missed；〃　Cabrillo　said；　wiping　a　fleck　of　blood　off　his　cheek　from　where　a　chip　of　stone　had　struck。　
　Stone　looked　over　at　Hanley；　who　smiled。　〃The　Tibetans　are　with　us；〃　he　explained。　〃They　have　been　all　along。〃　
　Stone　raised　his　arms　in　the　air　in　exasperation。　〃No　one　tells　me　anything；〃　he　said。　
　Cabrillo　was　walking　over　to　pick　up　his　telephone　when　the　Dungkar　leader　burst　into　the　room。　He　stared　at　the　scene　in　shock。　Against　the　far　wall　was　a　large　outline　of　a　man　that　had　been　made　by　the　bullets　striking　the　stone。　Five　PSB　officers　were　standing　with　rifles；　while　a　lone　PSB　officer　was　placing　another　man　in　handcuffs。　
　〃We　found　the　gas；〃　the　Dungkar　blurted　out。　〃We're　burning　it　off　now。〃　
　Cabrillo　bent　down　and　retrieved　the　telephone。　〃Max；〃　he　said；　〃did　you　hear　that？〃　
　〃I　did；　Juan；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Now　get　the　hell　out　of　there。〃　
　Cabrillo　folded　the　telephone　in　half　and　slid　it　in　his　pocket。　〃Nor…quay；　I　assume？〃　he　asked　the　leader　of　the　PSB　officers。　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　officer　answered。　
　〃Assist　the　Dungkar　with　the　destruction　of　the　gas；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Then　secure　Potala。　General　Rimpoche　will　be　in　contact　with　you　soonthanks　for　your　help。〃　
　Norquay　nodded。　
　〃To　a　Free　Tibet；〃　Cabrillo　shouted。　
　〃To　a　Free　Tibet；〃　the　men　answered。　
　Cabrillo　began　walking　toward　the　door。　
　〃Sir？〃　Norquay　said；　〃there's　just　one　more　thing。〃　
　Cabrillo　paused。　
　〃What　do　you　want　us　to　do　with　him？〃　Norquay　said；　motioning　to　Po。　
　Cabrillo　smiled。　〃Let　him　go。〃　
　Cabrillo　reached　for　the　door　handle。　〃But　take　his　uniform　and　papers。　He's　just　too　emotional　to　be　a　policeman。〃　
　Then　Cabrillo　walked　out　the　door；　climbed　down　the　steps　and　boarded　the　helicopter。　Five　minutes　later　he　was　back　at　Gonggar　Airport。　Ten　minutes　later　he　and　his　team　were　airborne　in　the　C…130。　They　passed　the　fleet　of　leased　helicopters　in　the　air；　headed　for　Bhutan；　and　the　pilot　of　the　C…130　wagged　his　wings。　The　helicopters　returned　the　good…bye　by　flicking　on　their　landing　lights。　
　Then　the　team　settled　in　for　the　short　flight。　Soon　they'd　be　back　on　the　Oregon。　
　
　IN　BEIJING；　NEWS　of　the　events　in　Tibet　was　filtering　in；　and　a　hurried　meeting　was　held。　
　President　Jintao　was　direct。　〃What　are　our　options？〃　he　asked。　
　〃We　could　send　bombers　to　hit　Lhasa；〃　the　head　of　the　Chinese　air　force　said。　〃Then　ready　paratroopers　for　a　later　assault。〃　
　〃But　that　leaves　us　short　on　the　Mongolian　border；〃　Jintao　noted。　〃What's　the　latest　intelligence　on　the　Russian　movements？〃　
　The　head　of　Chinese　intelligence　was　a　short　man　with　a　pronounced　belly。　He　adjusted　his　glasses　before　speaking。　〃The　Russian　forces　are　enough　for　them　to　sweep　down　and　flank　our　troops　that　are　currently　still　headed　down　the　pass　into　Qinghai　Province。　If　they　supported　their　efforts　with　air　power；　we　could　lose　both　Qinghai　and　Xinjiang　Provinces；　basically　the　entire　western　frontier。〃　
　〃That　would　give　them　control　of　our　secret　advanced　weapons　facilities　at　Lop　Nur；　plus　a　good　portion　of　our　space　program；〃　Jintao　said　wearily。　
　〃I'm　afraid　so；　sir；〃　the　head　of　intelligence　noted。　
　〃Okay〃　Jintao　started　to　say　before　his　aide　rushed　into　the　room　and　walked　over　and　whispered　in　his　ear。　
　〃Gentlemen；〃　President　Jintao　said；　〃continue　discussionsI　have　an　emergency　meeting。　The　Russian　ambassador　is　insisting　we　talk　and　has　arrived　ahead　of　his　scheduled　meeting。〃　
　The　Russian　ambassador　was　waiting　in　an　outer　office。　He　rose　as　Jintao　walked　into　the　room。　〃Mr。　President；〃　he　said　solicitously；　〃I　apologize　for　moving　up　the　time　of　our　meeting；　but　the　president　of　my　country　insisted　I　see　you　immediately。〃　
　〃Do　you　e　bringing　a　declaration　of　war？〃　Jintao　asked　directly；　motioning　the　Russian　to　take　a　seat　on　a　couch　near　a　window　with　a　view　of　the　outer　gardens。　
　The　Russian　ambassador　sat　on　the　left　end　of　the　couch；　Jintao　farther　down　on　the　right。　
　〃No；　Mr。　President；〃　the　Russian　ambassador　said；　straightening　his　suit　pants。　〃I　e　with　a　business　offer　that　can　put　an　end　to　the　tension　between　our　countries；　as　well　as　placing　your　economy　on　solid　footing　again。〃　
　Jintao　stared　at　his　watch　before　answering。　〃You　have　five　minutes。〃　
　The　Russian　ambassador　explained　it　all　in　four。　
　〃So　you　are　convinced　you　can　pull　a　UN　Security　Council　vote？〃　Jintao　said　after　he　was　through。　
　〃We　can；〃　the　Russian　said。　
　〃What　do　we　get　if　we　go　along　with　the　vote？〃　Jintao　asked。　〃If　China　votes　to　go　along。〃　
　The　Russian　ambassador　smiled。　〃World　peace？〃　
　〃I　was　thinking　of　a　larger　percentage　of　the　field。〃　
　Two　minutes　later；　the　Russian　had　his　offer。　
　〃Mr。　President；〃　he　said；　〃allow　me　to　make　a　telephone　call。〃　
　〃Tell　them　I　want　your　armored　column　stopped　immediately；〃　Jintao　said；　〃confirmed　by　satellite　reconnaissance。〃　
　Eight　minutes　later；　the　new　percentages　would　be　confirmed　and　the　Russian　armored　column　would　grind　to　a　halt。　Further　negotiations　would　continue　right　up　until　the　UN　vote。　
　
　AT　THE　SAME　instant　the　Russian　ambassador　was　calling　Moscow；　the　C…130　containing　the　Corporation　team　was　crossing　into　India。　Off　the　right　wing　the　jet　carrying　the　Dalai　Lama　home　passed。　The　pilot　of　the　jet　wagged　his　wings　and　the　pilot　of　the　C…130　reciprocated。　
　Less　than　an　hour　later；　the　team　reached　Calcutta；　India；　and　was　met　by　the　Corporation's　amphibious　airplane。　Within　minutes　of　the　C…130　touching　down；　the　crew　was　being　flown　out　to　the　ship。　
　By　sundown　on　March　31；　the　Oregon　was　steaming　south　in　the　Bay　of　Bengal。　
　On　the　deck；　Hanley　and　Cabrillo　watched　the　setting　sun。　
　〃I　got　a　call　from　Overholt　after　you　left　Calcutta；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃I'm　sure　it　was　the　usual；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Rah；　rah；　good　job。　The　check　is　in　the　mail。〃　
　〃He　did　mention　that；　and　a　wire　transfer　that　Halpert　has　already　confirmed。〃　
　〃What　else？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃He　has　another　job　for　us；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃Where？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃The　land　of　the　midnight　sun；　Mr。　Chairman；〃　Hanley　said。　〃The　Arctic　Circle。〃　
　Cabrillo　sniffed　the　salt　air；　then　began　walking　for　the　hatch　inside。　〃e　on；　you　can　explain　over　dinner。〃　
　〃It　had　better　be　dinner　and　drinks；〃　Hanley　said。　〃I　haven't　had　a　cocktail　since　Cuba。〃　
　〃Cuba；〃　Cabrillo　said　wearily。　〃Seems　like　years　ago。〃　
　
　EPILOGUE　
　THERE　EXIST　SNIPPETS　of　history　etched　into　the　fabric　of　time　and　so　perfectly　formed　that　they　may　never　be　duplicated。　Seemingly　scripted　by　a　power　with　perfect　timing　and　blessed　with　scenes　that　know　no　bounds；　these　moments　exist　to　be　captured　on　film；　to　be　remembered　and　cherished　for　centuries　to　e。　
　These　snippets　do　not　happen　often。　They　are　as　rare　as　the　perfect　turn　on　skis；　as　delightful　as　homemade　ice　cream　in　the　hot　sun。　They　exist　to　remind　man　there　is　hope。　They　exist　to　show　promise。　They　exist　for　generations　yet　unborn。　
　The　Dalai　Lama's　return　to　Lhasa　was　one　of　these　events。　
　April　1；　2005；　dawned　with　clear　skies　and　no　wind。　The　snowcapped　mountains　surrounding　the　city　appeared　to　be　close　enough　that　one　could　run　his　fingertip　across　the　sharp　crests。　The　very　air　in　Lhasa　seemed　alive　with　energy。　It　filled　the　lungs　of　the　faithful　with　a　hope　silent　for　decades　and　soothed　and　cooled　the　fires　of　war。　
　〃Unbelievable；〃　a　reporter　for　a　Los　Angeles　newspaper　said　quietly。　
　It　was　an　image　from　Shangri…la。　Potala　Palace　was　glistening　like　a　mirage　in　the　mind　of　a　plicated　man。　The　hillside　surrounding　the　palace　was　covered　with　a　flowing　field　of　red　and　blue　blooming　flowers　that　spilled　down　the　hill　in　a　waterfall　of　color。　One　thousand　Buddhist　monks　in　yellow　robes　filled　the　steps　from　top　to　bottom　like　a　colored　strip　of　DNA　molecules。　On　the　lower　buildings；　parts　of　the　green　roofs　were　visible；　adding　contrast；　while　the　white　rocks　of　the　structure　seemed　to　have　been　scrubbed　clean　of　dirt　as　a　result　of　the　cloak　of　oppression　being　lifted。　High　overhead　a　hawk　circled　lazily　on　the　warming　air。　
　The　chosen　one　was　ing　home。　
　Nearly　a　mile　away；　on　the　large　flat　meadow　below　Potala；　a　monk　stepped　over　to　a　six…foot…tall　gong　suspended　from　a　dark；　carved　wooden　frame。　He　glanced　at　the　Dalai　Lama；　who　was　sitting　atop　a　gold　gilded　throne　chair。　The　throne　chair　was　topped　with　a　fringed　silk　awning；　supported　by　wooden　poles　at　the　corners　and　held　aloft　by　six　stout　monks　who　walked　in　unison　with　the　throne　chair。　
　The　six