jamesclavell.noblehouse-第289节

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　Then　he　saw　Casey　。。。
　
　The　police　car　following　the　fire　truck　roared　up　the　hill；　sirens　howling；　the　traffic　heavy　here　and　no　one　getting　out　of　the　way。　Inside　the　car　Armstrong　was　monitoring　the　radio　calls：　〃All　police　units　and　fire　trucks　converge　on　Kotewall　Road。　Emergency；　emergency　emergency！　There's　a　new　landslip　in　the　vicinity　of　Po　Shan　and　Sinclair　Road！　Callers　say　Rose　Court　and　two　other　twelve…story　buildings've　collapsed。〃
　〃Bloody　ridiculous！〃　Armstrong　muttered；　then；　〃Watch　out　for　chrissake！〃　he　shouted　at　the　driver　who　had　cut　across　the　road　to　the　wrong　side；　narrowly　missing　a　truck。　〃Turn　right　here；　then　cut　up　Castle　into　Robinson　and　into　Sinclair　that　way；〃　he　ordered。　He　had　been　going　home　from　another　rebuild　session　with　Brian　Kwok；　his　head　aching　and　exhausted；　when　he　had　heard　the　emergency　call。　Remembering　that　Crosse　lived　on　Sinclair　Road　and　that　he'd　said　he　would　be　going　to　Jason　Plumm's　party　after　he'd　followed　a　lead　with　Rosemont；　he　had　decided　to　check　it　out。　Christ；　he　thought　grimly；　if　he's　been　clobbered　who'll　take　over　SI？　And　do　we　still　let　Brian　go　or　hold　him　or　what？
　A　new　voice　came　on；　firm；　unhurried；　the　static　on　the　radio　heavy。　〃This　is　Deputy　Fire　Chief　Soames。　Emergency　One！〃　Armstrong　and　the　driver　gasped。　〃I'm　at　the　junction　of　Sinclair；　Robinson　and　Kotewall　Road　where　I　have　set　up　a　mand　post。　Emergency　One　repeat　One！　Inform　the　missioner　and　the　governor　at　once；　this　is　a　disaster　of　very　great　proportions。　Inform　all　hospitals　on　the　Island　to　be　on　standby。　Order　every　ambulance　and　all　paramedics　to　the　area。　We　will　require　immediate　and　heavy　army　assistance。　All　power　is　out　so　we　require　generators；　cables　and　lights。　。。。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ；〃　Armstrong　muttered。　Then　sharply；　〃Get　the　lead　out　for　chrissake；　and　hurry　it　up！〃
　The　police　car　increased　speed。　。。。
　
　〃Oh；　Ian；〃　Casey　said　beyond　tears；　the　petrified　child　still　in　her　arms。　〃Linc's　somewhere　down　there。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　know；〃　he　said　above　the　insane　bedlam　of　screams　and　cries　for　help　that　came　through　the　ominous　grinding　of　the　wreckage　as　it　still　settled。　People　wandered　around　blindly；　not　knowing　where　to　look；　where　to　start；　how　to　help。　〃You　all　right？〃
　〃Oh　yes　but　。。。　but　Linc。　I　don…　〃　She　stopped。　Just　ahead；　down　the　slope　near　the　remains　of　the　elevator；　a　vast　pile　of　twisted　beams　and　shattered　fragments　of　concrete　subsided　deafeningly；　starting　a　chain　reaction　all　down　the　slope　and　as　he　focused　his　flashlight　on　it　they　saw　a　loosened　mass　of　debris　smash　against　the　elevator；　claw　it　loose　and　send　it　reeling；　leaving　bodies　in　its　wake。
　〃Oh　Jesus；〃　she　whimpered。　The　child　clutched　her　in　panic。
　〃Go　back　to　the　car；　you'll　be　saf…　〃　At　that　moment　a　man　crazed　with　anxiety　rushed　up　to　them；　peered　at　the　child　in　her　arms；　then　grabbed　her；　clutching　her　to　him；　mumbling　his　thanks　to　God　and　to　her。　〃Where；　where　did　you　find　her？〃
　Casey　pointed　numbly。
　The　man　peered　at　the　spot　blankly　then　went　off　into　the　night；　weeping　openly　with　relief。
　〃Stay　here；　Casey；〃　Dunross　said　urgently；　sirens　approaching　from　every　direction。　〃I'll　take　a　quick　look。〃
　〃Do　be　careful。　Jesus；　do　you　smell　gas？〃
　〃Yes；　lots　of　it。〃　Using　the　flashlight　he　began　to　thread　his　way　over　and　under　and　through　the　wreckage；　slipping　and　sliding。　It　was　treacherous；　the　whole　mass　uneasy　and　creaking。　The　first　crumpled　body　was　a　Chinese　woman　he　did　not　know。　Ten　yards　below　was　a　European　man；　his　head　mashed　and　almost　obliterated。　Quickly　he　scoured　the　way　ahead　with　his　light　but　could　not　see　Bartlett　among　the　other　dead。　Farther　below　were　two　broken　bodies；　both　Chinese。　Swallowing　his　nausea；　he　worked　his　way　under　a　dangerous　overhang　toward　the　European；　then；　holding　the　flashlight　carefully；　reached　into　the　dead　man's　pockets。　The　driver's　license　said：　Richard　Pugmire。
　〃Christ！〃　Dunross　muttered。　The　smell　of　gas　was　heavy。　His　stomach　turned　over　as；　far　below；　more　power　lines　gushed　sparks。　We'll　all　go　to　kingdom　e　if　those　bloody　sparks　reach　up　here；　he　thought。　Carefully　he　eased　out　of　the　debris　and　stood　at　his　full　height；　breathing　easier　now。　A　last　look　at　Pugmire's　body　and　he　started　down　the　slope　again。　A　few　steps　later　he　heard　a　faint　moan。　It　took　a　little　time　to　find　the　source　but　he　centered　on　it　and　climbed　down；　his　heart　beating　heavily。　With　great　care　he　squirmed　into　the　depths　under　a　monstrous　overhang　of　beams　and　rubble。　His　fingers　took　hold。　Using　all　his　strength　he　tilted　the　broken　concrete　and　shoved　it　aside。　A　man's　head　was　below。　〃Help；〃　Clinker　said　weakly。　〃God　love　you；　mate。　。。。〃
　〃Hang　on　a　second。〃　Dunross　could　see　the　man　was　wedged　down　by　a　huge　rafter　but　the　rafter　was　also　keeping　the　debris　above　from　crushing　him。　With　the　flashlight　he　searched　until　he　found　a　broken　piece　of　pipe。　With　this　as　a　lever　he　tried　to　raise　the　rafter。　A　pyramid　of　rubble　shifted　ominously。　〃Can　you　move？〃　he　gasped。
　〃It's　。。。　it's　me　legs；　I　hurt　proper　bad；　but　I　can　try。〃　Clinker　reached　out　and　gripped　an　imbedded　piece　of　iron。　〃Ready　when　you　are。〃
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Clinker；　Ernie　Clinker。　Wot's　yorn？〃
　〃Dunross。　Ian　Dunross。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Clinker　moved　his　head　painfully　and　peered　upward；　his　face　and　head　bleeding；　hair　matted　and　lips　raw。　〃Thanks；　tai…pan；〃　he　said。　〃Ready；　ready　when　you　are。〃
　Dunross　put　his　weight　and　strength　onto　his　makeshift　lever。　The　beam　raised　an　inch。　Clinker　squirmed　but　could　not　dislodge　himself。　〃Bit　more；　mate；〃　he　gasped；　in　great　pain。　Again　Dunross　bore　down。　He　felt　the　sinews　of　his　arms　and　legs　cry　out　under　the　strain。　The　beam　came　up　a　fraction。　A　trickle　of　rubble　cascaded　into　the　cavity。　Higher　still。　〃Now！〃　he　said　urgently。　〃I　can't　hold　it。　。。。〃
　The　old　man's　grip　on　the　iron　tightened　and　he　dragged　himself　out　inch　by　inch。　More　rubble　moved　as　he　shifted　his　grip。　Now　he　was　halfway　out。　Once　his　trunk　was　free；　Dunross　let　the　rafter　settle　back；　oh　so　gently；　and　when　it　was　pletely　at　rest　he　grabbed　the　old　man　and　wrenched　him　free。　It　was　then　that　he　saw　the　trail　of　blood；　the　left　foot　missing。　〃Don't　move；　old　fellow；〃　he　said　passionately　as　Clinker　lay　panting；　half　unconscious；　trying　to　stop　the　whimpers　of　pain。　Dunross　tore　open　a　bandage；　tying　a　rough　tourniquet　just　under　the　knee。
　Then　he　stood　up　in　the　small　space　and　looked　at　the　vicious　overhang　above　him；　trying　to　decide　what　to　do　next。　Next　I　get　the　poor　bugger　out；　he　thought；　loathing　the　closeness。　Then　he　heard　the　rumble　and　shriek　of　shifting　debris。　The　earth　lurched　and　he　ducked；　his　arms　protecting　his　head。　A　new　avalanche　began。　。。。
　
　83
　
　9：13　P。M。：
　It　was　just　sixteen　minutes　since　Rose　Court　was　struck；　but　all　over　the　vast　area　of　destruction　people　were　moving。　Some　had　fought　themselves　out　of　the　rubble。　Others　were　rescuers　and　down　below；　near　the　mand　post　set　up　at　the　junction；　police　cars；　four　fire　trucks　and　rescue　units　were　there；　their　mobile　lights　washing　the　slope；　firemen　and　police　frantically　working　their　way　through　the　wreckage。　A　small　fire　flickered　and　it　was　quickly　doused；　everyone　aware　of　the　gas　danger。　An　ambulance　with　wounded　or　dying　had　already　been　dispatched；　more　were　converging。
　It　was　chaotic　in　the　darkness；　all　streetlighting　failed；　the　rain　beginning　again。　The　senior　divisional　fire　officer　had　arrived　a　moment　ago　and　had　sent　for　gas　pany　engineers　and　organized　other　experts　to　inspect　the　foundations　of　the　other　high　rises　and　buildings　nearby　in　case　they　should　be　evacuated　…　the　whole　three　tiers　of　Kotewall；　Conduit　and　Po　Shan　Roads　suspect。　〃Christ；〃　he　muttered；　appalled；　〃this's　going　to　take　weeks　to　dig　out　and　clean　up。〃　But　he　stood　in　the　open；　an　outward　picture　of　calm。　Another　patrol　car　whined　to　a　halt。　〃Oh　hello；　Robert；〃　he　said　as　Armstrong　joined　him。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　seeing　his　shock；　〃Christ　knows　how　many're　buried　th…　〃
　〃Look　out！〃　someone　shouted　and　everyone　ran　for　cover　as　a　huge　lump　of　reinforced　concrete　came　crashing　down　from　the　mutilated　top　stories　of　Sinclair　Towers。　One　of　the　police　cars　turned　its　light　upward。　Now　they　could　see　the　shreds　of　rooms　open　to　the　skies。　A　tiny　figure　was　teetering　on　the　brink。　〃Get　someone　up　there　and　see　what　the　hell's　going　on！〃
　A　fireman　took　to　his　heels。　。。。
　
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　In　the　darkness　at　the　roadblock　up　on　Kotewall　Road；　onlookers　from　nearby　buildings　had　been　collecting；　everyone　petrified　that　there　would　be　another　slide；　tenants　frantic；　not　knowing　whether　to　evacuate　or　not。　Orlanda　was　still　leaning　numbly　against　the　car；　the　rain　on　her　face　mixing　with　her　tears。　Another　group　of　police　reinforcements　poured　over　the　barrier　onto　the　morass　and　fanned　out　with　heavy…duty　flashlights　searching　the　terrain。　One　heard　a　call　for　help　from　below　and　directed　his　light　into　the　brush；　then　changed　direction　quickly　as　he　saw　Riko　waving　and　shouting；　two　figures　inert　beside　her。
　Down　Kotewall　Road　at　the　fork；　Gornt's　car　skidded　to　a　halt。　Brushing　aside　orders　from　the　harassed　policeman　there；　he　pressed　the　keys