cc.floodtide-第35章

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wnward　across
　
　the　four　doors　to　the　skirted　fenders　at　the　rear；　matching　the　sloping　rear　roof　and　trunk　known　as　the　〃French　curve〃　that　was　copied　by　Cadillac　in　the　early　eighties。
　
　Seng　flashed　the　identification　he'd　taken　from　the　captain　of　the　security　boat。　Though　the　two　men　could　have　passed　for　cousins；　he　did　not　allow　the　guards　to　study　the　photo　on　the　ID　card　too　closely。　〃Han　Wan…Tzu；　captain　of　the　dockside　security；〃　he　announced　in　Chinese。
　
　One　of　the　guards　leaned　in　the　rear　window　and　peered　at　the　two　passengers　in　the　rear　seat　who　were　wearing　conservative　blue　pinstripe　business　suits。　His　eyes　slightly　narrowed。　〃Who　is　with　you？〃
　〃Their　names　are　Karl　Mahler　and　Erich　Grosse。　They　are　respected　marine　engineers　with　the　German　shipbuilding　firm　of　Voss　and　Heibert；　here　to　inspect　and　consult　on　the　turbine　engines　of　the　great　ocean　liner。〃
　〃I　don't　see　them　on　the　security　list；〃　said　the　guard；　checking　names　on　a　clipboard。
　〃These　gentlemen　are　here　at　the　personal　request　of　Qin　Shang。　If　you　have　a　problem　with　that；　you　can　call　him。　Would　you　like　his　direct　and　personal　number？〃
　〃No；　no；〃　the　。guard　stammered。　〃Since　you　acpany　them；　their　entry　must　have　been　cleared。〃
　〃Contact　no　one；〃　Seng　ordered。　〃The　services　of　these　men　are　required　immediately　and　their　presence　here　is　a　closely　guarded　secret。　Do　you　understand？〃
　
　The　guard　nodded　fervently；　backed　away　from　the　car；　lifted　the　barrier　and　waved　them　through　onto　a　road　leading　to　the　dock　area。　Seng　steered　the　luxurious　old　car　past　several　warehouses　and　parts　depots　and　under　tall　gantries　arched　over　the　skeletons　of　ships　under　construction。　He　had　little　problem　finding　the　United　States。　Her　funnels　towered　over　nearby　terminal　buildings。　The　Rolls　came　to　a　silent　halt　at　one　of　the　many　gangways　that　led　up　and　into　the　hull　of　the　ship。　The　ship　appeared　strangely　lifeless。　There　were　no　crewmen；　shipyard　workers　or　security　guards　anywhere　to　be　seen。　The　gangways　were　deserted　and　unguarded。
　
　〃Odd；〃　muttered　Pitt。　〃All　her　lifeboats　have　been　removed。〃
　Giordino　looked　up　at　the　wisps　of　light　smoke　trailing　from　the　funnels。　〃If　I　didn't　know　better；　I'd　say　she's　getting　ready　to　sail。〃
　〃She　can't　take　passengers　without　carrying　boats。〃　〃The　plot　thickens；〃　said　Giordino；　looking　up　at　the　silent　ship。　Pitt　nodded　in　agreement。　〃Nothing　is　what　we　were　led　to　expect。〃
　Seng　came　around　and　opened　the　rear　door。　〃This　is　as　far　as　I　go。　You　guys　are　on　your　own。　Good　luck。　I'll　e　back　in　thirty　minutes。〃
　〃Thirty　minutes；〃　Giordino　plained。　〃You've　got　to　be　kidding。〃
　〃A　half　an　hour　is　not　nearly　enough　time　to　inspect　the　interior　of　an　ocean　liner　the　size　of　a　small　city；〃　protested　Pitt。
　〃The　best　I　can　do。　Chairman　Cabrillo's　orders。　The　sooner　we　abscond；　the　less　chance　we　all　have　of　being　discovered　as　fakes。　Besides；　it'll　be　dark　soon。〃
　Pitt　and　Giordino　stepped　from　the　car　and　walked　up　a　gangway　leading　through　a　pair　of　open　doors　and　inside　the　ship。　They　entered　what　was　once　the　purser's　reception　area。　It　seemed　curiously　bare　of　all　furnishings　and　signs　of　life。
　
　〃Did　I　forget　to　mention；〃　said　Giordino；　〃that　I　can't　speak　with　a　German　accent？〃　
　Pitt　looked　at　him。　〃You're　Italian；　aren't　you？〃
　〃My　grandparents　were；　but　what　has　that　got　to　do　with　anything？〃
　〃If　you're　confronted；　talk　with　your　hands。　Nobody　will　know　the　difference。〃
　〃And　you？　How　do　you　intend　to　pass　as　a　kraut？〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃I'll　just　say　7a'　to　anything　I'm　asked。〃
　〃We　don't　have　much　time。　More　territory　can　be　covered　if　we　split　up。〃
　〃Agreed。　I'll　make　a　sweep　of　the　cabin　decks；　you　scan　the　engine　room。　While　you're　at　it；　look　in　the　galley。〃
　Giordino　looked　puzzled。　〃Galley？〃
　
　Pitt　smiled　down　at　the　shorter　Giordino。　〃You　can　always　tell　a　home　by　its　kitchen。〃　Then　he　was　walking　swiftly　up　a　circular　staircase　to　the　upper　deck；　which　had　acmodated　the　first…class　dining　room；　cocktail　lounges；　gift　shops　and　movie　theater。
　
　The　etched…glass　doors　that　opened　to　the　first…class　dining　room　had　been　removed。　The　walls；　with　their　Spartan　fifties　decor　and　high…arched　ceiling；　stood　guard　over　an　empty　room。　It　was　the　same　everywhere　he　walked；　his　footsteps　echoing　on　the　salon　deck；　which　had　been　stripped　of　its　carpeting。　The　352　seats　of　the　theater　had　been　torn　out。　The　gift　shops　were　bare　of　display　shelving　and　cases。　Each　of　the　two　cocktail　lounges　was　little　more　than　a　hollow　partment。　The　ballroom；　where　the　wealthy　celebrities　of　their　time　danced　their　way　across　the　Atlantic；　was　stripped　down　to　the　bare　walls。
　
　He　hurried　up　a　panionway　to　the　crew's　quarters　and　the　wheelhouse。　The　bareness　was　repeated。　The　crew's　cabins　were　devoid　of　any　sign　of　furnishings　or　human　presence。　〃An　empty　shell；〃　Pitt　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃The　entire　ship　is　one　big　empty　shell。〃
　
　The　wheelhouse　was　a　different　story。　It　was　crammed　from　deck　to　ceiling　with　a　maze　of　puterized　electronic　equipment　whose　multitude　of　colored　lights　and　switches　were　mostly　positioned　in　the　ON　mode。　Pitt　paused　briefly　to　study　the　sophisticated　ship's　automated　control　system。　He　found　it　odd　that　the　brass…spoked　helm　was　the　only　piece　of　original　equipment。
　
　He　checked　his　watch。　Ten　minutes　was　all　he　had　left。　Incredibly；　he　had　seen　no　workers；　no　crewmen。　It　was　as　if　the　ship　had　bee　a　graveyard。　He　dropped　down　the　stairs　to　the　first…class　cabin　deck　and　ran　down　the　hallways　separating　the　staterooms。　It　was　the　same　as　the　salon　deck。　Where　the　passengers　once　slept　in　luxury　from　New　York　to　Southampton　and　back；　there　was　a　ghostly　emptiness。　Even　the　doors　had　been　taken　from　their　hinges。　What　struck　Pitt　was　the　lack　of　trash　or　debris。　The　gutted　interior　appeared　surprisingly　immaculate；　as　if　the　entire　interior　had　been　sucked　clean　by　a　giant　vacuum。
　
　When　he　reached　the　entry　door　in　the　purser's　reception　area；　Giordino　was　already　waiting。　〃What　did　you　find？〃　Pitt　asked　him。
　〃Damn　little；〃　Giordino　came　back。　〃The　cabin　class　decks　and　cargo　holds　are　barren　voids。　The　engine　room　looks　like　the　day　the　ship　left　on　her　maiden　voyage。　Beautifully　maintained　with　steam　up　and　ready　to　sail。　Every　other　partment　was　stripped　clean。〃
　〃Did　you　get　into　the　baggage　and　the　forward　cargo　holds　that　were　used　to　transport　the　passengers'　cars？〃
　Giordino　gave　a　negative　shake　of　his　head。　〃The　cargo　doors　were　welded　shut。　Same　with　entrances　and　exits　to　the　crew's　quarters　on　the　lower　deck。　They　must　have　been　cleaned　out　as　well。〃
　〃I　got　the　same　picture；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Did　you　run　into　any　trouble？〃
　〃That's　the　weird　part。　I　didn't　see　a　soul。　If　anyone　was　working　in　the　engine　room；　they're　either　mute　or　invisible。　You　meet　up　with　anyone？〃　〃Never　encountered　a　body。〃
　Suddenly　the　deck　began　to　tremble　beneath　their　feet。　The　ships　big　engines　had　e　to　life。　Pitt　and　Giordino　quickly　headed　down　the　gangway　to　the　waiting　Rolls…Royce。　Eddie　Seng　stood　beside　an　open　door　to　the　passengers'　seat。　〃Enjoy　your　tour？〃　he　greeted　them。
　〃You　don't　know　what　you　missed；〃　said　Giordino。　〃The　food；　the　floor　show；　the　girls。〃
　Pitt　motioned　toward　the　dockworkers　who　were　casting　off　the　huge　hawsers　from　the　iron　bollards　on　the　dock。　The　big　rail　cranes　lifted　the　gangways　and　laid　them　on　the　dock。　〃Our　timing　was　right　on　the　money。　She's　pushing　off。〃　〃How　is　it　possible；〃　Giordino　muttered；　〃with　no　one　on　board？〃
　〃We'd　better　go　too　while　the　going　is　good；〃　said　Seng；　herding　them　inside　the　car　and　closing　the　door。　He　hurried　around　the　Rolls…Royce's　flying…lady　ornament　on　the　radiator　shell　and　leaped　behind　the　wheel。　This　time　they　were　passed　through　the　security　gate　with　the　mere　nod　of　the　head。　Two　miles　from　the　shipyard；　his　eyes　darting　in　the　rearview　mirror　to　see　if　they　were　being　followed；　Seng　pulled　onto　a　dirt　road　and　drove　to　an　open　field　behind　a　school　that　was　empty　of　children。　A　purple…and…silver　unmarked　helicopter　was　sitting　in　the　middle　of　a　playground；　its　rotor　blades　slowly　turning。　〃We're　not　returning　to　the　Oregon　by　boat？〃　inquired　Pitt。　〃Too　late；〃　replied　Seng。　〃Chairman　Cabrillo　thought　it　wiser　to　raise　the　anchor　and　put　as　much　water　as　possible　between　the　ship　and　Hong　Kong　before　the　fireworks　start。　The　Oregon　should　be　passing　out　of　the　West　Lamma　Channel　into　the　China　Sea　about　now。　Thus；　the　helicopter。〃
　
　〃Did　Cabrillo　work　a　deal　on　the　helicopter　too？〃　said　Giordino。
　〃A　friend　of　a　friend　runs　a　charter　service。〃
　〃He　must　not　believe　in　advertising；〃　observed　Pitt；　looking　vainly　for　a　name　on　the　side　of　the　tail　boom。
　Seng's　mouth　stretched　in　a　broad　smile。　〃His　clientele　prefers　to　travel　in　obscurity。〃
　〃If　we're　any　example　of　his　clientele；　I'm　not　at　all　surprised。〃
　A　young　man　in　a　chauffeur's　uniform　stepped　up　to　the　Rolls　and　opened　the　door。　Seng　thanked　him　and　slipped　an　envelope　into　his　pocket。　Then　he　motioned　Pitt　and　Giordino　to　follow　him　into　the　aircraft。　They　were　in　the　act　of　tightening　their　seat　belts　when　the　pilot　lifted　off　the　playground　and　leveled　off　at　only　twenty　feet　before　ducking　under　a　network　of　electrical　power　lines　as　if　it　was　an　everyday　affair。　He　then　set　a　course　to　the　south　and　flew　out　across　the　waters　of　the　harbor；　passing　over　an　oil　tanker　no　more　than　a　hundred　feet　above　its　funnel。
　Pitt　gazed　with　longing　at　the　former　crown　colony　in　the　distance。　He　would　have　given　a　month's　pay　to　walk　the　winding　streets　and　visit　the　multitude　of　small　shops　selling　everything　from　tea　to　intricately　carved　furniture；　dine　on　exotic　Chinese　cuisine　in　a　suite　at　the　Peninsula　Hotel　overlooking　the　lights　of　the　harbor　with　an　elegant　and　beautiful　woman　and　a　bottle　of　Veuve　Clicquot…Ponsardin　brut　champagne　。。。
　His　reverie　was　shattered　into　a　kaleidoscope　of　pieces　when　Giordino　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃God；　what　I　wouldn't　give　for　ataco　and　a　beer。〃
　
　The　sun　was　down　and　the　western　sky　was　a　bluish　gray　when　the　helicopter　caught　up　to　the　Oregon　and　landed　on　one　of　her　cargo…hatch　covers。　Cabrillo　was　waiting　for　them　in　the　galley　with　a　glass　of　wine　for　Pitt　and　a　bottle　of　beer　for　Giordino。　〃You　two　must　have　had　a　hard　day；〃　he　said。　〃So　our　chef　is　fixing　up　something　special。〃
　Pitt　removed　the　borrowed　coat　and　loosened　the　tie。　〃A　hard　day　and　an　extremely　unproductive　one。〃
　〃Discover　anything　of　interest　on　board　the　United　States？〃　asked　Cabrillo。
　〃What　we　found　was　a　ship　that　has　been　gutted　from　stem　to　stern；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃The　entire　interior　is　nothing　but　a　vacuum　with　an　operational　engine　room　and　a　wheelhouse　filled　with　automated　navigation　and　control　systems。〃
　〃The　ship　has　already　left　her　dock。　She　must　be　operating　with　a　skeleton　crew。〃
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃There　is　no　crew。　If；　as　you　say；　she's　sailing　out　of　the　harbor；　she's　sailing　without　benefit　of　human　hands。　The　entire　ship　is　operated　by　puter　and　remote　mand。〃
　〃I　can　vouch　for　the　fact　there　isn't　a　scrap　of　food　in　the　galley；〃　added　Giordino。　〃Nor　stove　nor　refrigerator　nor　even　a　knife　and　fork。