cc.floodtide-第16章

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　In　the　wheelhouse　above　the　cabinlike　prison；　two　of　the　smuggling　crew's　four　enforcers　began　cutting　rope　into　short　lengths　while　the　captain；　who　stood　at　the　helm；　threaded　his　way　up　the　Orion　River　in　the　dark。　The　only　light　came　from　the　stars；　and　his　eyes　never　strayed　from　the　radar　screen。　After　another　ten　minutes；　he　alerted　the　others　to　the　fact　that　they　were　passing　from　the　river　into　the　lake。　Just　as　the　black　boat　was　about　to　e　under　the　bright　lights　positioned　at　Qin　Shang's　retreat；　the　helmsman　picked　up　the　boat's　phone　and　spoke　a　few　words　in　Chinese。　Almost　before　he　set　the　phone　back　in　its　cradle；　the　lights　inside　the　main　building　and　those　placed　around　the　shore　blinked　out；　throwing　the　entire　lake　into　a　cloak　of　blackness。　Guided　by　a　small　red　light　on　a　buoy；　the　helmsman　expertly　slipped　the　catamaran　around　the　broad　transom　of　Shang's　magnificent　yacht　and　came　alongside　the　pilings　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　dock。　Two　enforcers　jumped　clear　and　slipped　the　mooring　lines　over　their　cleats　as　the　helmsman　set　the　twin　diesel　engines　on　idle。
　
　For　the　next　three　or　four　minutes　there　was　no　sound　outside　the　crowded　cabin。　A　flurry　of　questions；　a　swarm　of　anxieties；　framed　themselves　in　the　thoughts　of　Julia　and　the　illegal　immigrants。　But　they　didn't　know　in　what　order　to　assess　them；　and　the　continuing　nightmare　of　their　voyage　still　overshadowed　any　attempt　at　clear　thinking。　And　then　the　door　was　opened　on　the　rear　wall　of　the　cabin。　The　fresh　air　that　came　from　a　breeze　drifting　down　from　the　mountains　seemed　like　a　miracle。　At　first；　all　they　could　see　outside　was　darkness；　then　an　enforcer　moved　into　the　doorway。
　
　〃When　you　hear　your　name；　step　out　onto　the　dock；〃　he　instructed　them。
　
　At　first　it　was　difficult　for　those　in　the　middle　or　the　back　to　squeeze　through　the　overcrowded　cabin；　but　as　each　body　exited　through　the　door　those　who　remained　gave　a　collective　sigh　of　relief。　Most　of　those　who　left　the　boat　were　poorer　immigrants；　the　ones　who　could　not　pay　the　exorbitant　fare　to　reach　land；　any　land；　so　long　as　it　didn't　belong　to　the　People's　Republic　of　China。　Unknowingly；　they　had　signed　away　their　souls　to　a　life　of　servitude　to　the　smugglers；　who　in　turn　sold　them　to　criminal　syndicates　already　established　in　the　U。S。
　
　Soon；　only　Julia；　a　mother　and　father　weak　from　lack　of　food；　along　with　their　two　small　children；　who　looked　like　they　might　be　suffering　from　rickets；　and　eight　elderly　men　and　women　were　left　standing　in　the　cabin。　These　were　the　castoffs；　thought　Julia；　those　who　had　been　bled　dry　of　their　possessions；　who　had　no　more　money　to　give　and　were　too　helpless　and　frail　for　any　type　of　heavy　work。　These　were　the　ones；　including　herself；　who　were　not　going　ashore。
　
　As　if　to　confirm　her　worst　fears；　the　door　was　slammed　shut；　the　lines　were　cast　off　and　the　diesels　were　shifted　into　reverse；　increasing　their　throb。　It　seemed　as　though　the　boat　had　only　traveled　a　short　distance　when　the　engines　slowed　and　idled　again。　The　door　was　thrown　open　and　four　enforcers　entered。　Without　a　word　they　began　binding　everyone's　hands　and　feet。　Mouths　were　sealed　with　duct　tape　and　heavy　iron　weights　tied　to　their　ankles。　The　mother　and　father　made　a　feeble　defense　of　their　children　but　were　easily　subdued。
　
　This　was　it　then；　death　by　drowning。　Julia's　whole　mind；　her　every　nerve　became　instantly　concentrated　on　escaping。　She　sprinted　toward　the　door；　intent　on　reaching　the　outside　deck　and　throwing　herself　into　the　water；　making　a　swim　for　the　nearest　shore。　The　attempt　was　doomed　before　she　hit　the　door。　Debilitated　from　her　beating　the　day　before；　she　stumbled　rather　than　ran；　and　was　easily　swept　off　her　feet　by　one　of　the　enforcers　and　knocked　to　the　deck。　She　tried　to　fight　them；　pounding；　scratching；　biting　as　they　bound　her　feet　and　ankles。　Then　the　tape　was　adhered　across　her　lips　and　the　weight　tied　to　her　ankles。
　
　She　watched　in　icy　horror　as　a　hatch　in　the　middle　of　the　deck　was　lifted　open　and　the　first　body　dropped　through　into　the　water。
　
　Pitt　removed　his　thumb　from　the　speed　switch　on　the　Stingray　and　hovered　in　the　water　ten　feet　below　the　center　cabin　of　the　catamaran。　He　had　planned　to　surface　between　the　two　hulls　and　inspect　the　bottom　of　the　boat　when　suddenly　a　light　showed　above　him　and　a　heavy　splash　broke　the　water　followed　in　succession　by　several　more。
　
　What　in　God's　name　is　happening？　Pitt　wondered　as　bodies　came　raining　down　around　him。　Though　disbelieving　at　what　he　saw　and　shocked　at　the　abhorrent　sight；　his　reaction　time　was　nothing　short　of　incredible。　In　a　series　of　lightning　movements　he　released　his　grip　on　the　Stingray；　switched　on　the　dive　light　and　snatched　his　dive　knife　out　of　its　sheath。　In　movements　blurred　in　time；　he　began　grabbing　bodies；　slicing　the　ropes　binding　the　hands　and　ankles　and　slashing　away　the　iron　weights。　Once　the　ropes　were　cut　free；　he　pushed　the　body　toward　the　surface　and　swam　to　the　next　one。　He　worked　frantically；　hoping　against　hope　that　none　slipped　past　him　into　the　black　depths　of　the　lake；　never　knowing　at　first　whether　the　victims　were　already　dead；　but　fighting　to　save　them　all　regardless　of　his　fears。　Then　he　found　they　were　alive　when　he　gripped　a　young　girl　no　more　than　ten；　who　stared　back　at　him　through　terror…stricken　eyes。　She　looked　like　she　was　Chinese。　He　prayed　she　could　swim　as　he　thrust　her　toward　the　night　air。
　
　At　first；　he　kept　slightly　ahead　of　the　flow　of　victims；　but　he　soon　struggled　furiously　to　keep　pace。　Desperation　was　replaced　with　sheer　anger　as　he　saved　a　little　boy　no　more　than　four　years　old。　He　mentally　cursed　the　monsters　who　were　capable　of　such　inhumanity。　Not　taking　any　chances；　he　kicked　his　fins　upward；　quickly　found　the　floating　Stingray　and　placed　the　boy's　arms　around　it。　He　switched　off　the　dive　light　and　took　a　quick　glance　at　the　boat　to　see　if　the　crew　had　observed　their　victims　popping　to　the　surface。　All　on　board　appeared　quiet。　There　was　no　hint　of　alarm。　He　dove　under　again；　turning　on　the　dive　light。　Its　beam　picked　out　what　seemed　to　be　the　last　body　dumped　from　the　boat。　It　was　already　falling　past　twenty　feet　when　he　caught　up　with　it。　This　one　was　a　young　woman。
　
　Before　her　turn　came；　Julia　had　breathed　deeply　in　and　out；　hyperventilating　her　lungs；　then　holding　her　breath　as　the　enforcers　kicked　her　through　the　hatch　into　the　water。　She　fought　desperately　to　free　herself　from　the　ropes。　Deeper　and　deeper　she　fell　in　the　black　void；　furiously　snorting　through　her　nose　to　relieve　the　pressure　building　in　the　eustachian　tubes　of　her　ears。　One　minute；　maybe　two；　and　her　oxygen　would　be　gone　and　she'd　die　an　agonizing　death。
　
　Suddenly；　a　pair　of　arms　wrapped　around　her　waist；　and　she　could　feel　the　iron　weight　dropping　away　from　her　feet。　Then　her　hands　came　free　and　a　hand　snatched　her　arm　in　a　grip　and　began　towing　her　upward。　As　her　head　broke　the　surface　she　inced　as　the　tape　was　ripped　from　her　mouth。　The　first　thing　she　saw　was　an　apparition　hi　a　hood　with　a　face　mask　and　light　protruding　from　its　head。
　
　〃Can　you　understand　me？〃　a　voice　asked　in　English。
　〃I　can　understand　you；〃　she　gasped。
　〃Are　you　a　good　swimmer？〃
　She　only　nodded　her　reply。
　〃Good。　Help　save　as　many　people　as　you　can；　try　and　gather　them　into　a　group。　Tell　them　to　follow　my　light。　I'll　lead　you　all　into　shallow　water　along　the　shore。〃
　
　Pitt　left　her　and　swam　off　toward　the　boy　clutching　the　Stingray　in　a　death　grip。　He　swung　the　boy　behind　him；　clasping　the　small　hands　around　his　neck。　Then　he　engaged　the　speed　switch　and　searched　for　the　little　girl；　rinding　her　and　circling　his　arm　around　her　only　seconds　before　she　was　about　to　slip　out　of　sight。
　
　On　board　the　boat　two　of　the　enforcers　climbed　to　the　wheel…house　and　stepped　inside。　〃All　are　drowned；〃　one　said　to　the　helmsman。　〃Our　job　is　done。〃
　
　The　captain　at　the　helm　nodded　and　gently　pushed　the　twin　throttles　forward。　The　propellers　bit　the　water；　and　the　black　catamaran　began　to　move　back　toward　the　dock。　Before　it　had　traveled　a　hundred　feet；　a　call　came　over　the　boat's　phone。　〃Chu　Deng？〃
　〃This　is　Chu　Deng；〃　the　captain　responded。　〃Lo　Han；　chief　of　pound　security。　Why　are　you　ignoring　your　instructions？〃
　〃I　have　followed　the　plan。　All　immigrants　are　disposed　of。　What　is　your　problem？〃　〃You　are　showing　a　light。〃
　Chu　Deng　stepped　from　the　wheel　and　glanced　over　the　boat。　〃You　ate　too　much　spicy　Szechuan　chicken　for　dinner；　Lo　Han。　Your　stomach　is　telling　lies　to　your　eyes。　There　are　no　lights　showing　on　this　boat。〃
　
　〃Then　what　am　I　seeing　toward　the　eastern　shoreline？〃　As　supervisor　for　transporting　the　illegal　immigrants　from　the　mother　ships；　Chu　Deng　was　also　responsible　for　the　execution　of　those　unfit　for　slave　labor。　He　did　not　work　under　the　chief　of　security　for　the　imprisoned　immigrants。　Both　merciless　men；　both　on　equal　footing；　neither　got　along　with　the　other。　Lo　Han　was　a　big　bull　of　a　man　built　like　a　beer　keg　with　a　massive；　square…jawed　head　and　eyes　that　were　always　bloodshot。　Deng　considered　him　little　better　than　an　untrained　dog。　He　turned　and　stared　to　the　east。　Only　then　did　he　spot　a　dim　light　low　in　the　water。　〃I　see　it；　about　two　hundred　yards　off　the　starboard　beam。　Must　be　a　local　fisherman；〃　he　said　to　LoHan。
　〃Take　no　chances。　You　must　investigate。〃
　〃I　shall　make　a　search。〃
　〃If　you　see　anything　suspicious；〃　said　Lo　Han；　〃contact　me　immediately　and　I　will　switch　the　lights　on　again。〃
　Chu　Deng　acknowledged　and　hung　up　the　phone。　Then　he　twisted　the　wheel；　swinging　the　catamaran　to　starboard。　As　he　set　the　twin　bows　on　a　course　toward　the　dim　light　bobbing　on　the　surface　of　the　lake；　he　called　to　the　pair　of　enforcers　still　below　on　the　main　deck。　〃Go　forward　and　closely　observe　that　light　on　the　water　dead　ahead。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　it　is？〃　asked　a　small　man　with　expressionless　eyes　as　he　unslung　his　machine　pistol。
　Chu　Deng　shrugged。　〃Probably　fishermen。　It's　not　the　first　time　we've　seen　them　troll　for　salmon　at　night。〃
　〃And　if　they　aren't　fishermen？〃
　Chu　Deng　turned　from　the　wheel　and　grinned　with　every　tooth。　
　〃In　that　case；　see　that　they　join　the　others。〃
　
　Pitt　saw　the　boat　ing　toward　the　small　group　of　people　struggling　through　the　water　and　was　certain　they'd　been　seen。　He　could　hear　voices　on　the　bow；　actually　more　of　a　platform　extending　across　the　forward　section　between　the　hulls；　shouting　in　Chinese；　no　doubt　telling　their　skipper　there　were　people　swimming　in　the　lake。　He　didn't　mentally　have　to　do　an　equation　to　know　they　had　been　attracted　by　his　dive　light。　He　was　guilty　of　being　damned　if　it　was　on　and　damned　if　it　was　off。　With　no　light　the　people　he'd　rescued　from　a　watery　death　would　have　floundered　off　in　all　directions；　bee　lost　and　eventually　drowned。
　
　Keeping　the　frightened　boy　on　his　shoulders；　he　stopped　the　Stingray　and　passed　off　the　little　girl　to　the　young　woman；　who'd　been　helping　an　elderly　man　and　woman　paddle　through　the　water。　Now　both　his　hands　were　free　and　he　flicked　off　his　dive　light；　twisted　around　to　face　the　boat　that　was　looming　above　him　and　blocking　off　the　stars。　He　noted　that　it　was　passing　less　than　th