cc.vixen03-第61节

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s　death　shroud。　The　lines　are　woven　around　the　base　of　the　rotor　and　overhang　the　side　opposite　the　cargo　door。　Even　if　the　craft　were　hovering　in　a　stationary　position；　it　would　be　impossible　for　a　man　to　climb　out　on　that　stream…lined　fairing　far　enough　to　reach　the　lines　with　a　knife。〃
　〃Could　they　bail　out　of　the　helicopter　before　it　goes　down？〃　Jarvis　inquired。
　General　Sayre　shook　his　head。　〃Unlike　conventional　aircraft；　whirly…birds　do　not　have　automatic　control　systems。　They　must　be　flown　manually　every　second。　If　the　crew　were　to　ditch；　the　craft　would　fall　on　top　of　them。〃
　〃The　same　principle　applies　to　a　midair　pickup；〃　said　Kemper。　〃We　might　snatch　one　of　the　men；　but　not　both。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　we　can　do？〃　There　was　a　faint　catch　in　Jarvis's　voice。
　The　President　gazed　forlornly　at　the　lacquered　tabletop　for　several　moments。　At　last　he　said；　〃Just　pray　that　they　carry　that　vile　abhorrence　safely　past　our　shores。〃
　〃And　if　they　make　it？〃
　〃Then　we　sit　helplessly　by　and　watch　two　brave　men　die。〃
　The　icy　water　jabbed　Pitt　back　to　consciousness。　The　first　minute；　eyes　blinking　back　the　bright　daylight；　his　mind　tried　to　fathom　his　condition；　to　make　sense　out　of　why　he　was　floating　in　a　cold；　dirty　river。　Then　the　pain　began　to　bloom　and　his　head　felt　like　the　receiving　end　of　a　carpenter's　nail。
　He　felt　a　vibration　in　the　water；　heard　a　muffled　popping　sound；　and　soon　a　Coast　Guard　patrol　boat　slid　out　of　the　rising　sun　and　idled　in　his　direction。　Two　men　in　wet　suits　dropped　over　the　side　and　expertly　fitted　Pitt　into　a　hoist　rig。　The　signal　was　given　and　he　was　gently　hauled　on　board。
　〃A　bit　early　in　the　morning　for　a　swim；〃　said　a　huge　bear　of　a　man　with　his　arm　in　a　sling。　〃Or　are　you　practicing　for　the　English　Channel？〃
　Pitt　looked　around　and　saw　the　shattered　glass　and　shredded　wood　on　the　boat's　bridge。　〃Where　did　you　e　from？　The　battle　of　Midway？〃
　The　bear　grinned　and　replied；　〃We　were　headed　for　our　dock　when　we　were　ordered　back　to　pick　you　out　of　the　drink。　I'm　Kiebel；　Oscar　Kiebel；　mander　of　what　was　once　the　cleanest　boat　on　the　Inland　Waterway。〃
　〃Dirk　Pitt。　I'm　with　NUMA。〃　
　Kiebel's　eyes　narrowed。　〃How　didyou　e　to　be　on　the　battleship？〃
　Pitt　looked　up　at　the　boat's　broken　rigging。　〃LbelieVe　I　owe　you。a　hew　radio　aerial。〃
　〃That　was　you？〃
　〃Sorry　about　the　hit　and　run；　but　there　was　09　time　to　fill　out　an　accident　report。〃
　Kiebel　motioned　toward　a　doorway？…〃Better　cpme　inside　and　get　a　bandage　on　your　head。　It　looks　as　though　you　took　a　nasty　crack。〃
　It　was　then　that　Pitt　saw　a　great　pall　of　smoke　rising　around　a　bend　in　the　Potomac。　〃The　Iowa；〃　he　said。　〃What　of　the　Iowa？〃
　〃She　blew　herself　up。〃
　Pitt　leaned　heavily　against　the　railing。
　Kiebel　gently　put　his　good　arm　around　Pitt　as　one　of　his　men　brought　up　a　blanket。　〃Better　take　it　easy　and　lie　down。　A　doctor　will　be　waiting　when　we　dock。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Not　anymore。〃
　Kiebel　steered　him　into　the　pilothouse　and　found　Pitt　a　steaming　cup　of　coffee。　〃Sorry　there's　no　booze　on　board。　Regulations　and　all　that。　A　bit　early　for　a　shot　anyway。〃　Then　he　turned　and　spoke　through　an　open　doorway　to　his　munications　officer。　〃What's　the　latest　on　that　helicopter？〃
　〃She's　over　Chesapeake　Bay；　sir。〃
　Pitt　looked　up。　〃What　helicopter　is　that？〃
　〃Why；　one　of　yours；〃　Kiebelsaid。　〃Damnedest　thing。　A　shell　from　the　Iowa's　final　salvo　came　down　in　a　parachute　and　this　idiot　in　a　NUMA　chopper　nabbed　it　on　the　fly。〃
　〃Thank　God！〃　Pitt　said　as　the　full　implication　hit　him。　〃A　radio。　I　need　to　borrow　your　radio。〃
　Kiebel　hesitated。　He　could　read　the　urgency　in　Pin's　eyes。　〃Allowing　civilians　to　use　military　munications　gear　is　hardly　kosher。　。　。　。〃
　Pitt　held　up　a　hand　and　cut　him　off。　The　feeling　was　returning　to　his　cold…numbed　skin　and　he　sensed　something　pressing　into　his　stomach　under　the　shirt。　His　face　went　blank　as　he　removed　a　small　packet　and　stared　at　it　speculatively。
　〃Now　where　in　hell　did　that　e　from？〃
　Steiger　warily　regarded　the　temperature　gauge　as　the　needle　crept　toward　the　red。　The　Atlantic　coastline　was　still　sixty　miles　away；　and　the　last　thing　he　wanted　was　a　seized　turbine　bearing。
　The　call　light　on　the　radio　blinked　on　and　the　admiral　pressed　the　〃transmit〃　button。　〃This　is　Sandecker。　Go　ahead。〃
　〃I'm　ready　for　those　scrambled　eggs；〃　Pitt　said；　his　voice　crackling　over　the　headphones。
　〃Dirk！〃　Sandecker　blurted。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃A　trifle　shopworn　but　still　kicking。〃
　〃The　other　warhead？〃　Steiger　asked　anxiously。　'
　〃Disarmed；〃　Pitt　answered。
　〃And　the　Quick　Death　agent？〃
　Pitt's　tone　betrayed　no　uncertainty。　〃Flushed　down　the　drain。〃
　Pitt　could　be　only　reasonably　sure　Hiram　Lusana　had　disposed　of　the　bomblets　in　the　river；　but　he　was　not　about　to　suggest　to　Steiger　and　the　admiral　that　it　was　possible　their　efforts　had　been　in　vain。
　Sandecker　briefed　Pitt　on　the　grappling　of　the　parachute　and　explained　that　the　outlook　was　grim。　Pitt　listened　without　interrupting。　When　the　admiral　had　finished；　Pitt　posed　only　one　question。
　〃How　long　can　you　stay　in　the　air？〃
　〃I　can　stretch　the　fuel　for　another　two；　maybe　two　and　a　half　hours；〃　replied　Steiger。　〃My　immediate　problem　is　the　engines。　They're　running　rough　and　getting　hot　under　the　collar。〃
　〃Sounds　like　the　parachute's　canopy　is　partially　blocking　the　intake　chambers。〃
　〃I'm　open　for　brilliant　ideas。　Got　any？〃
　〃It　so　happens　I　do；〃　Pitt　responded。　〃Keep　your　ears　up。　I'll　be　back　in　touch　two　hours　from　now。　In　the　meantime；　dump　every　ounce　you　can。　Seats；　tools；　any　piece　of　the　ship　you　can　pry　loose　to　lighten　your　weight。　Do　whatever　has　to　be　done；　but　claw　the　air　till　you　hear　from　me。　Pitt　out。〃
　He　switched　off　the　microphone　and　turned　to　Lieutenant　…mander　Kiebel。　〃I　must　get　ashore　as　quickly　as　possible。〃
　〃We'll　be　dockside　in　eight　minutes。〃
　〃I'll　need　transportation；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃I　still　don't　know　how　you　fit　into　this　mess；〃　said　Kiebel。　〃For　all　I　know；　I　should　place　you　under　arrest。〃
　〃This　is　no　time　to　play　vigilante　games；〃　snapped　Pitt。　〃Christ；　do　I　have　to　do　everything　myself？〃　He　bent　over　the　radio　operator。　〃Patch　me　in　to　NUMA　headquarters　and　the　Stransky　Instrument　pany；　in　that　order。〃
　〃A　little　free　with　my　men　and　equipment；　aren't　you；　mister？〃
　Pitt　didn't　doubt　for　a　second　that　if　Kiebel　had　had　two　good　arms；　he'd　have　mashed　him　to　the　deck。　〃What　do　I　have　to　do　to　get　your　cooperation？〃
　Kiebel　fixed　his　cork…brown　eyes　on　Pitt　with　a　murderous　stare；　then；　slowly；　they　took　on　a　twinkle　as　his　mouth　etched　into　a　smile。　〃Say　'please。'　〃
　Pitt　plied；　and　exactly　twelve　minutes　later　he　was　in　a　Coast　Guard　helicopter；　racing　back　to　Washington。
　
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　The　two　hours　came　and　went　with　agonizing　slowness　for　Steiger　and　Sandecker。　They　had　crossed　the　Delaware　shoreline　at　Slaughter　Beach　and　were　now　five　hundred　miles　out　over　the　Atlantic。　The　weather　remained　relatively　calm；　and　the　few　thunderclouds　obligingly　floated　free　of　their　flight　path。
　Everything　that　wasn't　bolted　down；　and　some　things　that　were；　had　been　jettisoned　out　the　cargo　door。　Sandecker　estimated　he　had　dumped　in　the　neighborhood　of　four　hundred　pounds。　That　and　the　weight　loss　from　the　diminishing　fuel　had　kept　the　protesting　engines　from　overheating　as　they　struggled　to　keep　the　overladen　Minerva　aloft。
　Sandecker　was　lying　with　his　back　against　the　cockpit　bulkhead。　He　had　removed　every　seat　except　Steiger's。　The　physical　efforts　of　the　past　two　hours　had　exhausted　him。　His　lungs　heaved　and　his　arms　and　legs　were　stiff　with　muscle　fatigue。
　〃Any　word　。　。　。　anything　from　Pitt？〃
　Steiger　shook　his　head　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　instruments。　〃Dead　silence；〃　he　said。　〃But　then；　what　can　we　expect？　The　man　isn't　a　card…carrying　miracle　worker。〃
　〃I've　known　him　to　pull　off　what　others　thought　impossible。〃
　〃I　know　a　pathetic　attempt　to　instill　false　hope　when　I　hear　one。〃　Steiger　tilted　his　head　toward　the　panel　clock。　〃Two　hours；　eight　min…utes　since　the　last　contact。　I　guess　he's　written　us　off。〃
　Sandecker　was　too　exhausted　to　argue。　As　if　through　a　heavy　mist；　he　reached　over；　pulled　a　headset　down　over　his　ears；　and　closed　his　eyes。　A　gentle　peace　was　settling　over　him　when　a　loud　voice　abruptly　blasted　him　to　full　wakefulness。
　〃Hey；　Baldy；　you　fly　like　you　screw。〃
　〃Giordino！〃　Steiger　rasped。
　Sandecker　punched　the　〃transmit〃　button。　〃Al；　where　are　you　calling　from？〃
　〃About　a　half　mile　back　and　two　hundred　feet　below　you。〃
　Sandecker　and　Steiger　exchanged　stunned　looks。
　〃You're　supposed　to　be　in　the　hospital；〃　Sandecker　said　dumbly。'
　〃Pitt　arranged　my　parole。〃
　〃Where　is　Pitt？〃　Steiger　demanded。
　〃Looking　up　your　ass；　Abe；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃I'm　at　the　controls　of　Giordino's　Catlin　M…two　hundred。〃
　〃You're　late；〃　said　Steiger。
　〃Sorry；　these　things　take　time。　How's　your　fuel？〃
　〃Sopping　the　bottom　of　the　tank；〃　answered　Steiger。　〃I　might　squeeze　another　eighteen　or　twenty　minutes　if　I'm　lucky。〃
　〃A　Norwegian　cruise　liner　is　standing　by　sixty　miles；　bearing　two…seven…zero　degrees。　Her　captain　has　cleared　all　passengers　from　the　sun　deck　for　your　arrival。　You　should　make　it…〃