cc.floodtide-第9节

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by　two　great　bronze　reclining　lions　on　each　side　of　a　stairway　that　led　to　rosewood　doors　standing　the　height　of　three　men。　He　refocused　the　telescope　and　discerned　the　beautifully　carved　dragon　motif　on　the　panels。　The　expansive　golden…tiled；　pagoda…styled　roof　seemed　utterly　incongruous　with　the　walls　of　copper…tinted　solar　glass　that　wrapped　the　entire　lower　structure。　The　three…story　house　itself　was　set　in　a　spacious　clearing　a　stone's　throw　from　the　shoreline。
　
　He　lowered　the　telescope　a　fraction　and　studied　the　dock　that　extended　half　the　length　of　a　football　field　into　the　waters　of　the　lake。　Two　boats　were　tied　alongside。　Nothing　fancy　about　the　smaller　one。　The　stubby　twin　catamaran　hulls　held　a　large；　boxlike　cabin　with　no　portholes　or　windows。　A　wheel…house　was　perched　on　the　roof；　and　the　entire　vessel　was　painted　as　black　as　a　hearse；　not　a　color　often　seen　on　the　upperworks　of　a　boat。　The　second　could　have　qualified　as　a　ship。　She　was　a　looker；　an　elegant　motor　yacht　with　a　sky…lounge　on　a　hull　over　120　feet　in　length；　the　kind　that　stopped　people　hi　their　tracks。　Pitt　estimated　her　beam　at　nearly　thirty　feet。　Designed　for　luxurious　fort；　her　classic　lines　enhanced
　
　her　from　a　mere　yacht　to　a　floating　masterwork。　Probably　built　either　in　Singapore　or　Hong　Kong；　Pitt　guessed。　Even　with　a　shallow　draft；　it　would　take　a　good　pilot　to　navigate　her　through　the　river　running　from　the　lake　to　open　water。
　
　As　he　watched；　diesel　smoke　trailed　from　the　stack　of　the　work　boat。　In　a　few　moments　its　crew　cast　off　the　mooring　lines；　and　it　began　moving　across　the　lake　toward　the　river　outlet。　A　very　strange　craft；　Pitt　thought。　It　looked　like　a　wooden　shipping　crate　on　two　pontoons。　He　could　not　begin　to　imagine　what　its　builder　had　in　mind。
　
　On　land；　except　for　the　maid　and　two　golfers；　the　premises　looked　deserted。　There　was　no　hint　of　security　systems。　He　could　find　no　visible　sign　of　mounted　video　cameras；　but　he　knew　they　had　to　be　there。　No　guards　patrolling　the　grounds　either；　unless　they　had　learned　the　art　of　invisibility。　The　only　objects　that　seemed　out　of　place　with　the　landscape　were　several　windowless　structures　built　out　of　logs。　Similar　to　the　hostel…type　huts　used　by　hunters　and　hikers；　they　were　spaced　at　strategic　locations　around　the　lake。　He　counted　three　and　guessed　that　more　were　hidden　in　the　woods。　The　third　one　seemed　curiously　mislaid。　It　floated　at　the　end　of　the　dock　and　looked　like　a　small　boathouse。　As　with　the　strange　black　boat；　there　were　no　windows　or　doors。　He　gazed　at　it　for　nearly　a　full　minute；　trying　to　fathom　its　purpose　and　speculate　on　what　was　inside。
　
　A　slight　shift　in　the　telescope；　and　the　focal　point　of　his　interest　was　rewarded。　Only　a　small　piece　showed　from　behind　a　stand　of　spruce。　Not　much；　but　enough　to　lay　to　rest　his　curiosity　about　the　security　setup。　The　roof　of　a　neatly　hidden　recreation　vehicle　revealed　a　small　forest　of　antennae　and　reception　dishes。　In　a　short　clearing　beyond；　what　appeared　to　be　a　small　aircraft　hangar　sat　beside　a　narrow　runway　that　was　only　fifty　yards　in　length。　Definitely　not　the　sort　of　layout　that　would　facilitate　the　use　of　a　helicopter。　Ultralight　aircraft；　perhaps？　Pitt　conjectured。　Yes；　that　had　to　be　the　answer。
　
　〃A　state…of…the…art　setup；〃　he　muttered　softly　to　himself。
　And　a　state…of…the…art　setup　it　was；　too。　He　recognized　the　RV　as　a　mobile　mand　post　of　the　type　that　presidential　Secret　Service　agents　often　operated　from　when　the　President　traveled　away；　from　Washington。　Pitt　began　to　understand　the　purpose　of　the　log　huts。　The　next　step　was　to　provoke　a　response。
　
　It　seemed　silly　to　go　to　so　much　effort　out　of　bored　inquisi…tiveness。　He　had　yet　to　receive　Yaeger's　report。　For　all　he　knew；　Shang　was　a　humanitarian；　a　philanthropist　and　a　spiritual　inspiration；　someone　Pitt　could　respect。　Pitt　wasn't　an　investigator；　he　was　a　marine　engineer。　Most　of　his　work　took　place　beneath　the　sea。　Why　he　even　bothered　was　a　mystery。　But　a　tiny　flag　went　up　in　his　mind。　Shang's　lifestyle　didn't　hold　water。　This　wouldn't　be　the　first　time　Pitt　had　meddled　in　something　that　didn't　concern　him。　The　most　pelling　reason　to　jump　in　was　that　Pitt's　intuition　was　almost　always　right　on　the　money。
　
　As　if　on　cue；　the　tone　on　his　Indium　phone　sounded。　Only　Hiram　Yaeger　knew　his　code。　He　stepped　a　safe　distance　outside　the　cabin　before　answering。　〃Hiram？〃
　
　〃Your　boy　Shang　is　a　real　piece　of　work；〃　Yaeger　said　without　preamble。
　〃What　have　you　got　on　him？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃This　guy　lives　like　a　Roman　emperor。　Huge　entourage。　Palatial　homes　around　the　world；　yachts；　a　bevy　of　gorgeous　women；　jet　aircraft；　an　army　of　security　people。　If　ever　someone　qualified　for　Lifestyles　of　the　Rich　and　Famous；　it's　Shang。〃
　〃What　did　you　learn　about　his　operations？〃
　〃Damned　little。　Every　time　Max…〃
　〃Max？〃
　〃Max　is　my　buddy。　He　lives　inside　my　puter。〃
　〃If　you　say　so。　Go　on。〃
　〃Every　time　Max　tried　to　get　into　a　data　file　with　Shang's　name　on　it；　puters　from　just　about　every　intelligence　agency　in　town　blocked　our　inquiries　and　demanded　to　know　our　business。　It　seems　you're　not　the　only　one　interested　in　this　guy。〃
　〃Sounds　like　we　opened　a　can　of　worms；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Why　would　our　own　government　throw　a　security　lock　around　Shang？〃
　〃My　impression　is　our　intelligence　agencies　are　conducting　a　classified　investigation　and　don't　appreciate　an　outside　probe　slipping　under　their　fence。〃
　〃The　plot　thickens。　Shang　can't　be　pure　as　the　driven　snow　if　he's　under　a　secret　government　investigation。〃
　〃Either　that　or　they're　protecting　him。〃
　〃Which　is　it？〃
　〃Beats　me；〃　admitted　Yaeger。　〃Until　Max　and　I　can　carry　out　a　heavy　hacking　project　into　the　proper　data　sources；　I'm　in　the　dark　as　much　as　you　are。　All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　he's　not　the　second　ing　of　the　Messiah。　Shang　slithers　around　the　world　like　an　eel；　making　enormous　profits　from　a　myriad　of　what　appear　to　be　perfectly　legal　enterprises。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　you　have　no　evidence　that　he's　involved　with　an　organized…crime　group？〃
　〃Nothing　shows　on　the　surface；〃　answered　Yaeger。　〃Which　doesn't　mean　he　can't　operate　as　an　independent。〃
　〃Maybe　he's　Fu　Manchu　reincarnated；〃　said　Pitt　lightly。　〃Mind　telling　what　you　have　against　him？〃　〃His　flunkies　tossed　my　cabin。　I'm　not　keen　on　strangers　probing　about　my　underwear。〃
　〃There　is　one　thing　you'd　find　interesting；〃　said　Yaeger。　〃I'm　listening。〃
　〃Not　only　do　you　and　Shang　have　the　same　birthday；　but　you　were　born　in　the　same　year。　Under　his　culture　Shang　was　born　in　the　year　of　the　rat。　In　yours；　under　the　sign　of　Cancer。〃
　〃That's　the　best　the　finest　puter　whiz　in　the　business　can　e　up　with？〃　Pitt　said　dryly。
　〃I　wish　I　had　more　to　offer；〃　Yaeger　said　regretfully。　〃I'll　keep　trying。〃
　〃I　can　ask　no　more。〃　〃What　do　you　plan　to　do　now？〃
　〃There　isn't　much　I　can　do；〃　said　Pitt；　〃except　go　fishing。〃　He　didn't　fool　Yaeger　for　an　instant。　〃Watch　your　back；〃　Yaeger　said　seriously；　〃or　you　may　find　yourself　up　that　famous　foul…smelling　creek　without　means　of　propulsion。〃　〃I'll　be　my　old；　usual　cagey　self。〃
　He　punched　off　the　CALL　button；　reached　up　and　set　the　Indium　phone　in　the　fork　of　a　tree。　Not　the　greatest　of　hiding　places；　but　better　than　allowing　it　to　lie　around　the　cabin　in　the　event　of　another　search　while　he　was　away。
　
　Pitt　hated　brushing　off　Yaeger's　loyal　concern；　but　it　was　better　the　head　puter　guru　at　NUMA　knew　as　little　as　possible。　For　what　Pitt　was　about　to　do　he　could　get　arrested。　And　if　he　wasn't　careful；　the　probability　was　even　greater　of　getting　shot。　He　only　hoped　to　God　there　were　no　unforeseen　consequences。　He　had　a　leaden　feeling　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach　that　if　he　made　a　mistake；　his　body　might　never　be　found。
　
　There　were　two　hours　of　daylight　left　when　Pitt　walked　the　dock　to　the　boathouse。　In　his　arms　he　carried　a　jumbo…sized　ice　chest　and　a　large　mounted　salmon　that　had　hung　over　the　cabin's　fireplace　mantel。　Once　inside　he　opened　the　ice　chest　and　lifted　out　a　small　autonomous　underwater　vehicle　built　by　Benthos　Inc。；　an　undersea　systems　technology　designer。　Inside　a　black　housing　no　more　than　twenty…five　inches　in　length　by　six　inches　wide；　the　AUV　held　a　high…resolution　color　video　camera。　Its　battery　power　supply　could　propel　two　counter…rotating　thrusters　for　slightly　over　two　hours。
　
　Pitt　laid　the　pact　little　unit　in　the　bottom　of　the　sailboat　along　with　a　fishing　rod　and　a　tackle　box。　Next　he　opened　the　outer　doors　to　the　boathouse；　climbed　down　and　took　his　place　at　the　tiller。　Pushing　off　the　dock　with　a　boat　hook　until　it　was　free　of　the　boathouse；　he　stepped　the　mast；　raised　the　sail　and　lowered　the　centerboard。
　
　To　an　observing　eye　he　looked　like　a　garden…variety　businessman　on　holiday　leisurely　sailing　on　the　lake。　The　climate　was　pleasant　but　cool；　and　he　was　dressed　warmly　in　a　red　wool　lumberman's　shirt　and　khaki　pants。　On　his　feet　he　wore　sneakers　and　sweat　socks。　The　only　contrast　with　serious　fishermen　was　that　they　would　have　used　a　powerboat　or　a　rowboat　with　an　outboard　motor　to　go　after　salmon　and　trout；　certainly　not　a　sailboat。　Pitt　chose　the　slower　of　the　two　boats　because　the　sail　made　a　good　shield　from　any