cc.vixen03-第58节

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by　the　shadowy　bulk　of　the　captain。　Then；　fractionally；　he　began　slithering　up　the　stairs　like　a　snake。
　〃Ordered；　you　say；〃　said　Fawkes。　〃By　whom？〃
　〃My　employer　does　not　matter。〃
　〃Then　why　all　the　prattle；　damn　you。　Why　not　shoot　me　in　the　chest　and　be　done　with　it？〃
　〃I　do　not　operate　without　purpose；　Captain　Fawkes。　You　have　been　deceived。　I　think　you　should　know　that。〃
　〃Deceived？〃　Fawkes　thundered。　〃Your　foggy　words　tell　me　nothing。〃
　An　alarm　began　to　sound　in　the　back　of　Emma's　mind；　an　alarm　honed　by　a　dozen　years　of　cat…and…mouse　existence。　He　stood　there　silently；　not　answering　the　captain's　question；　his　senses　probing　for　a　sound　or　a　movement。
　〃What　about　the　man　behind　me？〃　asked　Fawkes。　〃He　has　no　hand　in　this。　No　need　to　murder　an　innocent　bystander。〃
　〃Rest　easy；　Captain；〃　said　Emma。　〃My　fee　is　for　only　one　life。　Yours。〃
　With　agonizing　slowness；　Pitt　raised　his　head　until　he　was　eye　level　with　the　landing。　He　could　see　Emma　now。　Not　in　detail…the　light　was　too　dim　for　that…but　he　could　make　out　the　pale　blur　of　a　face　and　the　outline　of　a　figure。
　Pitt　didn't　wait　to　see　more。　He　could　only　guess　Emma　would　blast　Fawkes　in　the　gut　during　the　middle　of　a　sentence；　after　lulling　him　with　idle　conversation。　An　old　but　effective　trick。　He　dug　the　balls　of　his　feet　into　the　steps；　took　a　breath；　and　lunged；　going　for　a　vicious　impact　with　Emma's　legs；　his　hands　clawing　for　the　gun。
　The　silencer　flashed　in　Pitt's　face；　and　a　stabbing　pain　slammed　the　right　side　of　his　head　as　he　grabbed　for　Emma's　arm。　After　the　haze　of　sudden　shock　he　swam　into　unconsciousness　and　began　falling；　falling。　It　seemed　to　take　forever　before　the　abysmal　void　swallowed　him　and　there　was　nothing。
　
　64
　
　Goaded　on　by　Pitt's　flying　tackle；　Fawkes　charged　up　the　steps　like　a　maddened　rhino　and　threw　his　great　weight　against　the　bodies　of　both　men。　Pitt　went　limp　and　fell　off　to　one　side。　Emma　struggled　to　bring　the　gun　to　bear；　but　Fawkes　slapped　it　away　as　though　it　were　a　toy　in　a　child's　hands。　Then　Emma　went　for　Fawkes's　crotch；　clutched　his　cock　and　balls；　and　squeezed　ruthlessly。
　It　was　the　wrong　move。　The　captain　roared　like　thunder　and　reacted　by　swinging　both　his　massive　fists　from　over　his　head　down　upon　Emma's　upturned　face；　crushing　cartilage　and　tearing　skin。　Astoundingly；　Emma　maintained　the　pressure。
　Though　his　groin　felt　as　if　it　were　bursting　in　white…hot　agony；　Fawkes　was　wise　enough　not　to　try　knocking　away　the　hands　that　held　him　like　a　vise。　Calmly；　purposefully；　like　a　man　who　knew　exactly　what　he　in…tended　to　do；　he　gripped　Emma's　head　and　began　pounding　it　into　the　metal　deck　landing　with　every　ounce　of　strength　in　his　tree…trunk　arms。　Mercifully；　the　pressure　eased；　but　shrouded　in　his　pain…lashed　rage；　he　kept　smashing　away　until　the　back　of　Emma's　skull　turned　to　pulp。　When　his　fury　was　finally　spent；　he　rolled　over　and　gently　massaged　his　groin；　cursing。
　After　a　minute　or　two　he　rose　stiffly　to　his　feet；　took　the　coat　collars　of　the　two　inert　men；　and　dragged　them　up　the　stairway。　One　more　short　flight；　a　few　yards　down　a　passageway；　and　he　came　to　a　cargo…loading　door　in　the　upper　starboard　side　of　iheIowa's　hull。　He　cracked　the　door　enough　to　let　in　daylight　and　examined　Pitt's　wound。
　The　bullet　had　scored　Pitt's　left　temple；　causing；　at　worst；　Fawkes　figured；　a　nasty　gash　and　a　concussion。　Then　he　checked　Emma。　What　skin　that　was　visible　through　the　mask　of　blood　on　the　assassin's　face　was　turning　blue。　Fawkes　went　through　his　pockets　and　found　only　a　spare　clip　for　the　Hocker…Rodine　pistol。　Strapped　around　a　heavy　woolen　sweater　was　an　inflatable　life　vest。
　〃A　nonswimmer；　hey？〃　Fawkes　said；　smiling。　〃I　don't　guess　you'll　be　needing　this　anymore。〃
　He　removed　the　vest　from　Emma　and　tied　it　around　Pitt。　Reaching　into　his　own　coat　pocket；　Fawkes　took　out　a　small　notebook　and　made　several　notations　with　the　stub　of　a　pencil。　Next　he　took　his　eelskin　tobacco　pouch；　emptied　the　contents；　inserted　the　notebook；　and　tucked　the　packet　snugly　under　Pitt's　shirt。　The　cord　to　the　CO2　bottle　was　yanked　and　the　vest　hissed　as　it　inflated。
　Returning　to　Emma；　Fawkes　grabbed　the　corpse　by　the　front　of　the　sweater　and　pulled　it　toward　the　open　hatch。　The　weight　was　too　much　for　the　angle　of　Fawkes's　grip　and　the　sweater　slipped　over　Emma's　head。　Something　around　Emma's　upper　torso　caught　Fawkes's　eye。　It　was　a　nylon　binding　that　tightly　circled　the　chest。　Entranced；　Fawkes　undid　a　tiny　clasp　and　the　nylon　fell　away；　releasing　two　small　rosebud…tipped　mounds。
　For　a　moment　Fawkes　stood　petrified。
　〃Holy　Mother　of　Christ！〃　he　murmured　in　awe。
　Emma　had　indeed　been　a　woman。
　Dale　Jarvis　pointed　at　the　viewing　screen。　〃There；　just　below　the　second　gun　turret；　on　the　side　of　the　hull。〃
　〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　asked　the　President。
　〃Someone　has　opened　the　forward　loading　hatch；〃　answered　Kemper。　He　turned　to　General　Higgins。　〃Better　alert　your　men　to　the　possibility　that　the　crew　may　attempt　an　escape。〃
　〃They　won't　get　ten　feet　past　the　shoreline；〃　said　Higgins。　They　watched　as　the　hatch　was　thrown　back　to　its　stops　and　a　monster　of　a　man　stepped　to　the　threshold　and　threw　out　what　looked　like　a　body。　The　form　hit　the　water　with　a　splash　and　disappeared。　Soon　he　returned　with　another　body；　but　this　time　he　lowered　it　on　a　line　to　the　leisurely　flowing　current…almost　tenderly；　it　seemed　to　the　men　in　the　conference　room…until　the　inert　figure　bobbed　and　floated　free　of　the　ship。　Then　the　line　was　cast　away　and　the　doors　closed。
　Kemper　motioned　to　an　aide。　〃Contact　the　Coast　Guard　and　have　them　pick　up　that　man　drifting　in　the　river。〃
　〃What　was　that　little　performance　all　about？〃　The　President's　question　echoed　the　thoughts　of　the　men　at　the　table。
　〃The　hell　of　it　is；〃　Kemper　said　quietly；　〃we　may　never　know。〃
　After　what　seemed　like　ages；　Hiram　Lusana　found　a　doorway　that　exited　to　the　main　deck。　He　stumbled　outside；　bone　chilled　in　his　thin　business　suit；　clutching　the　sack　of　bomblets　in　both　hands。　His　sudden　emergence　into　daylight　blinded　him　and　he　paused　to　get　his　bearings。
　He　found　himself　standing　beneath　the　aft　fire…control　bridge；　forward　of　the　number…three　gun　turret。　Small…arms　fire　whistled　about　the　ship；　but　his　mind　was　intent　on　disposing　of　the　Quick　Death　bomblets；　and　he　was　oblivious　of　it。　The　river　beckoned　and　he　began　sprinting　toward　the　bulwarks　edging　the　outer　limits　of　the　deck。　He　still　had　twenty　feet　to　go　when　a　man　in　a　black　rubber　wet　suit　rose　from　the　shadows　of　the　turret　and　aimed　a　gun　at　him。
　Lieutenant　Alan　Fergus　no　longer　felt　the　burning　pain　from　the　hole　in　his　leg；　no　longer　felt　the　agony　from　seeing　his　bat　teams　cut　to　pieces。　His　whole　body　was　quivering　with　hatred　for　the　men　responsi…ble。　It　did　not　matter　that　the　man　in　his　sights　wore　a　business　suit　j　instead　of　a　uniform；　or　that　he　appeared　to　be　unarmed。　Fergus　saw　only　I　a　man　who　in　his　mind　was　murdering　his　friends。
　Lusana　halted　abruptly　and　stared　at　Fergus。　He　had　never　before　seen　such　cold　malignity　on　a　man's　face。　They　looked　into　each　other's　eyes　from　no　more　than　twelve　feet；　trying　to　exchange　thoughts　in　that　brief　instant。　No　word　passed　between　them；　only　a　strange　kind　of　understanding。　Time　seemed　to　pause　and　all　sounds　diminished　into　a　blurred　background。
　Hiram　Lusana　knew　his　fight　to　rise　above　the　filth　of　his　childhood　had　culminated　in　this　time　and　place。　He　had　e　to　realize　he　could　not　be　the　leader　of　a　people　who　would　never　fully　accept　him　as　one　of　their　own。　His　path　became　clear。　He　could　do　far　more　for　the　op…pressed　of　Africa　by　being　a　martyr　to　their　cause。
　Lusana　accepted　the　invitation　of　death。　He　threw　Fergus　a　silent　smile　of　forgiveness　and　then　leaped　toward　the　bulwarks。
　Fergus　pulled　the　trigger　and　sprayed　a　pattern　of　automatic　fire。　The　sudden　impact　of　three　bullets　in　his　side　pitched　Lusana　forward　in　a　shuddered　dance　that　pounded　the　breath　from　his　lungs。　Miraculously；　he　stayed　on　his　feet　and　staggered　drunkenly　on。
　Fergus　fired　again。
　Lusana　fell　to　his　knees；　still　struggling　toward　the　edge　of　the　deck。
　Fergus　watched　in　detached　admiration；　vaguely　wondering　what　drove　the　incongruously　dressed　black　man　to　ignore　at　least　a　dozen　bullets　in　his　body。
　With　brown　eyes　glazed　with　shock；　and　with　a　determination　known　only　to　a　man　who　could　never　quit；　Lusana　crawled　across　the　deck；　holding　the　canvas　sack　against　his　stomach；　leaving　an　ever…widening　trail　of　crimson　behind　him。
　The　bulwarks　were　only　three　feet　away。　He　fought　closer　despite　the　blackness　beginning　to　cloud　his　vision　and　the　blood　streaming　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　Summoning　an　inner　strength　born　of　final　desper…ation；　he　threw　the　sack。
　It　hung　on　the　bulwark　for　an　instant　that　seemed　frozen　in　time；　teetered；　and　then　fell　into　the　river。　Lusana's　face　sank　to　the　deck　and　he　passed　the　gate　into　oblivion。
　The　interior　of　the　massive　gun　housing　reeked　of　sweat　and　blood　and　the　pungent　odors　of　powder　and　heated　oil。　Most　of　the　crew　were　still　in　shock；　their　eyes　glazed；　unknowing；　dulled　with　confusion　and　fear；　the　rest　were　lying　amid　the　machinery　in　unna