cc.floodtide-第24节

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ks　and　canoe　still　in　their　wall　racks。　He　stood　numb；　aware　of　the　enormity　of　his　blunder；　the　incredible　ease　with　which　he　had　been　deceived。　He　should　have　known；　at　least　guessed；　how　the　man　in　the　cabin　had　slipped　through　his　fingers。
　
　The　old　boat；　the　Chris…Craft　runabout　that　Kung　Chong　had　observed　earlier　after　a　personal　search　of　the　cabin　and　boathouse；　was　missing。
　Nearly　two　miles　away；　it　was　a　sight　to　stir　the　blood　of　those　fortunate　people　who　lived　in　the　past。　The　beautifully　designed　mahogany　hull；　contoured　in　what　old…timers　called　a　tumble…home　stern；　curved　gracefully　from　the　transom　forward　to　the　engine　partment；　which　sat　between　the　forward　and　aft　cockpits。　Weighted　down　with　twelve　adults　and　two　children　packed　into　its　dual　cockpits；　the　sixty…seven…year…old　125…horsepower　Chrysler　marine　engine　lifted　the　bow　and　thrust　the　boat　over　the　water　at　nearly　thirty　miles　an　hour；　casting　twin　sheets　of　water　to　the　sides　and　leaving　a　rooster　tail　in　her　wake。　Pitt　sat　behind　the　wheel　of　the　Foleys'　1933　Chris…Craft　runabout　with　the　little　Chinese　boy　on　his　lap　as　the　boat　planed　over　the　waters　of　the　Orion　River　toward　Grapevine　Bay。
　
　After　explaining　his　latest　plot　to　Julia；　Pitt　had　quickly　put　two　of　the　elderly　Chinese　men　to　work　siphoning　gas　out　of　the　car's　tank　and　transferring　it　into　the　tank　of　the　runabout。　Because　the　big　Chrysler　marine　engine　had　not　turned　over　for　several　months；　Pitt　also　replaced　the　battery　with　the　one　from　his　car。　With　Julia　Lee　translating；　he　instructed　the　senior　citizens　to　take　the　paddles　from　the　kayaks　and　canoe；　and　demonstrated　the　proper　method　of　propelling　the　runabout　without　undue　splashing　noises。　Considering　the　fatigue　of　the　elderly　immigrants　and　drawback　of　working　in　the　dark；　the　enterprise　went　surprisingly　smoothly。
　
　Suddenly　Pitt　turned　and　rushed　out　of　the　boathouse。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　shouted　Julia。
　〃I　almost　forgot　my　best　pal；〃　he　yelled　back；　running　across　the　dock　to　the　cabin。　He　was　back　in　two　minutes　with　a　small　bundle　under　one　arm　wrapped　in　a　towel。
　〃That's　your　best　pal？〃　asked　Julia。
　〃I　never　leave　home　without　him；〃　he　said。
　Without　further　explanation　he　began　helping　everyone　in　the　boat。　When　the　drawn　and　hollow…eyed　immigrants　were　stuffed　into　the　confined　dual　cockpits；　Pitt　opened　the　boat…house　door　and　whispered　the　order　for　everyone　to　paddle。　They　had　hardly　traveled　little　more　than　a　quarter　of　a　mile；　staying　along　the　shoreline　in　the　shadows；　when　the　weary　Chinese　began　giving　up　from　the　effects　of　exposure　and　exhaustion。　Pitt　continued　stroking　until　the　runabout　was　at　last　caught　in　the　current　of　the　river。　Only　then　did　he　lay　his　paddle　aside　and　catch　his　breath　for　a　few　moments。　Luck　was　with　them；　they　had　yet　to　be　discovered。　He　waited　until　they　had　drifted　down　the　river　out　of　earshot　of　the　lake　before　he　tried　to　start　up　the　engine。　He　primed　the　twin　carburetors　Foley　had　installed　to　update　the　intake　manifold。　Then　he　made　a　wish　on　every　star　in　sight　and　pushed　the　starter　button　on　the　dashboard。
　
　The　big；　straight…eight　Chrysler　turned　over　slowly　until　the　oil　circulated；　and　then　increased　its　revolutions。　After　grinding　away　for　several　seconds；　Pitt　disengaged　the　starter。　As　he　primed　the　carburetors　again　he　could　have　sworn　that　everyone　in　the　boat　was　holding　his　breath。　On　the　next　attempt　a　pair　of　cylinders　popped　to　life；　then　another　pair　until　the　engine　was　hitting　on　all　eight。　Pitt　pushed　the　floor　lever　into　forward　and　let　the　boat　move　only　on　the　engine's　idle　speed。　He　steered　with　the　little　Chinese　boy　sitting　in　his　lap。　Still　no　shouts　from　the　shore；　no　searchlight　stabbing　across　the　lake。　He　looked　back　at　the　cabin。　He　could　see　tiny　figures　appearing　out　of　the　forest　and　running　into　the　lights　he'd　left　on。
　
　The　first　rays　of　the　sun　were　spreading　over　the　mountains　to　the　east　when　Pitt　turned　to　Julia；　who　was　sitting　beside　him；　her　arms　clasped　around　the　young　girl。　He　looked　over　at　her；　seeing　her　face　in　the　light　for　the　first　time；　shocked　at　the　punishment　inflicted　on　what　must　have　been　delicate　features；　and　fully　appreciating　her　courage　and　stamina　in　surviving　her　ordeal。
　
　Cold　anger　suddenly　overwhelmed　him。　〃My　God；　those　bastards　really　worked　you　over。〃
　〃I　haven't　looked　in　a　mirror；　but　I　suspect　I　won't　be　showing　my　face　hi　public　for　a　while；〃　she　said　gamely。
　〃If　your　superiors　at　INS　give　out　medals；　you'd　rate　a　chestfull。〃
　〃A　certificate　of　merit　in　my　file　is　the　best　I　can　hope　for。〃
　〃Tell　everybody　to　hold　on　tight；〃　he　advised　her。　〃We're　ing　into　rapids。〃
　〃After　we　reach　the　mouth　of　the　river；　what　then？〃　she　asked。
　〃According　to　my　calculations；　any　place　on　a　map　called　Grapevine　Bay　must　have　grapes　and　grapes　mean　vineyards　and　vineyards　mean　people。　The　more；　the　merrier。　Shang's　mad　dogs　wouldn't　dare　attack　us　with　a　hundred　U。S。　citizens　looking　on。〃
　〃I'd　better　call　the　INS　field　agents　again　and　alert　them　to　the　fact　that　we've　left　the　area　and　give　them　our　destination。〃
　〃A　good　idea；〃　said　Pitt；　pushing　the　throttle　forward　to　its　stop　with　one　hand　while　handing　her　the　phone　with　the　other。　〃They　can　concentrate　their　forces　on　the　retreat　instead　of　worrying　about　us　at　the　cabin。〃
　〃Did　you　hear　from　your　NUMA　people？〃　Julia　shouted　above　the　increased　roar　of　the　exhaust。
　〃They're　supposed　to　meet　and　pick　me　up　after　we　reach　Grapevine　Bay。〃
　〃Do　they　use　little　open　aircraft　painted　yellow？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃NUMA　leases　executive　jets　and　helicopters　with　turquoise　color　schemes。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　
　Julia　tapped　Pitt　on　the　shoulder　and　pointed　over　the　stern　at　a　yellow　ultralight　that　was　chasing　them　down　the　river。　〃If　they're　not　friends；　they　must　be　foes。〃
　
　
　
　PlTT　TOOK　A　FAST　LOOK　OVER　HIS　SHOULDER　AT　THE　AIRCRAFT　rapidly　closing　over　the　wake　of　the　Chris…Craft。　He　recognized　it　as　an　ultra…light；　a　pusher…engined；　high…winged　monoplane　with　tricycle　landing　gear　and　tandem　seats　for　two　people。　The　pilot　sat　forward；　out　in　the　open；　with　his　passenger　behind　and　slightly　elevated。　The　airframe　consisted　of　aluminum　tubing　braced　with　thin　cable。　Propelled　by　a　lightweight；　reduction…drive；　fifty…horsepower　engine；　it　could　move　fast。　Pitt　guessed　it　was　capable　of　120　miles　an　hour。
　
　The　pilot　was　flying　directly　over　the　middle　of　the　river　no　more　than　forty　feet　off　the　water。　He　was　good；　Pitt　admitted。　The　air　currents　swirled　through　the　narrow　canyon　in　a　series　of　strong　wind　gusts；　but　the　pilot　pensated　and　kept　the　ultralight　on　a　straight　and　level　course。　He　was　ing　after　the　runabout　intentionally　and　purposefully；　like　someone　who　knew　exactly　what　he　was　about　to　do。　There　was　no　hesitation　and　no　uncertainty　about　who　was　going　to　end　up　the　loser　in　the　ing　unequal　contest。　God　knows　Pitt　had　no　doubts；　not　when　he　saw　a　man　strapped　in　the　seat　behind　the　pilot　holding　a　stubby　machine　pistol　in　his　hands。
　
　〃Force　everyone　to　get　down　as　low　as　they　can；〃　Pitt　ordered　Julia。
　She　spoke　in　Chinese；　passing　on　Pitt's　mand；　but　the　runabout's　passengers　were　already　so　overcrowded　in　the　small　cockpits　they　had　no　place　to　go。　All　they　could　do　was　settle　as　low　as　humanly　possible　in　the　leather　seats　and　duck　their　heads。
　〃Oh；　dear　lord；〃　gasped　Julia。　〃There　are　two　more　of　them　about　a　mile　behind　the　first。〃
　〃I　wish　you　hadn't　told　me；〃　said　Pitt；　hunched　over　the　steering　wheel；　willing　the　runabout　to　go　faster。　〃They're　not　about　to　let　us　escape　and　spread　the　gospel　about　their　shady　operation。〃
　
　The　lead　ultralight　roared　so　low　over　the　speeding　Chris…Craft；　the　draft　from　its　propeller　blades　whirled　a　cloud　of　spray　that　dampened　the　occupants　of　the　boat。　Pitt　expected　to　hear　gunshots；　see　holes　appear　in　the　smoothly　varnished　mahogany；　but　the　aircraft　passed　on　without　attacking。　It　pulled　up　sharply；　its　tricycle　landing　wheels　missing　the　runabout's　windshield　by　no　more　than　five　feet。
　
　Kung　Chong　sat　strapped　into　the　rear　seat　of　the　ultralight　bringing　up　the　rear　and　gazed　with　smug　satisfaction　at　the　speeding　runabout　below。　He　spoke　into　the　transmitter　attached　to　his　crash　helmet。　〃We　have　the　boat　in　sight；〃　he　reported。
　
　〃Have　you　menced　your　attack？〃　asked　Lo　Han　from　the　mobile　security　vehicle。
　〃Not　yet。　The　lead　plane　reports　our　quarry　is　not　alone。〃
　〃As　we　suspected；　there　were　two　of　them。〃
　〃Not　two；〃　said　Kung　Chong。　〃More　like　ten　or　twelve。　The　boat　appears　crowded　with　old　people　and　young　children。〃
　〃The　devil　must　have　found　a　family　camping　along　the　river　and　forced　them　into　the　boat　to　act　as　hostages。　Our　adversary；　it　seems；　will　stop　at　nothing　to　preserve　his　life。〃
　
　Kung　Chong　raised　a　pair　of　binoculars　with　one　hand　and　peered　at　the　passengers　huddled　in　the　dual　cockpits。　〃I　believe　we　have　an　unforeseen　problem；　Lo　Han。〃
　〃We've　had　nothing　but　problems　for　the　past　twelve　hours。　What　is　it　now？〃
　〃I　can't　be　certain；　but　it　appears　the　occupants　of　the　boat　are　immigrants。〃
　〃Impossible；　the　only　aliens　brought　ashore　are　e