cc.floodtide-第52章

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　〃Maybe　they　decided　we　were　boring；　and　they　drove　to　a　sports　bar　to　watch　basketball。〃
　〃Not　funny；〃　Julia　said　grimly。
　〃Then　it's　deja　vu　all　over　again；〃　Pitt　noted　with　deceptive　calm。　He　leaned　across　Julia；　reached　into　a　side　pocket　on　the　door；　pulled　out　the　old　。45　Colt　that　he　had　reloaded；　and　handed　it　to　her。　〃I　hope　you　haven't　lost　your　touch　since　our　escapade　on　the　Orion　River。〃
　She　shook　her　head　vigorously。　〃You're　exaggerating　the　danger。〃
　〃No；　I'm　not；〃　he　argued。　〃Something　is　seriously　wrong。　Take　the　gun；　and　if　you　have　to；　use　it。〃
　〃There　must　be　a　simple　explanation　for　the　vans'　departure。〃
　〃One　more　prognostication　of　Pitt's　precognition。　The　pockets　of　the　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service　are　not　as　deep　as　the　pockets　of　Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited。　I　suspect　Harper's　private　security　guards　were　paid　double　to　pack　up　and　go　home。〃
　Julia　snatched　the　radio　transmitter　from　her　purse。　〃This　is　Dragon　Lady。　e　in；　Shadow；　and　give　me　your　position。〃　She　patiently　waited　for　a　response；　but　her　only　reply　was　static。　She　repeated　the　message　four　times　but　received　no　answer。　〃This　is　inexcusable！〃　Julia　snapped。
　〃Can　you　raise　anyone　else　with　your　call　box？〃　Pitt　asked　cynically。
　〃No；　it's　only　good　for　about　two　miles。〃
　〃Then　it's　time　to…〃　Pitt　stopped　in　midsentence　as　the　two　vans　suddenly　turned　the　corner　of　the　block　and　pulled　up　at　the　curb；　one　on　each　side　of　the　Duesenberg；　which　was　still　sitting　in　the　driveway。　They　left　barely　enough　room　for　the　Duesenberg's　wide；　flowing　fenders　to　pass　into　the　street　between　them。　They　showed　no　headlights；　only　parking　lights。　The　figures　inside　looked　vague　and　shadowy　through　the　darkened；　solar…coated　windows。
　〃I　knew　nothing　was　wrong；〃　said　Julia；　squinting　at　Pitt　with　a　know…it…all　look。　She　spoke　into　her　radio　transmitter　again。　〃Shadow；　this　is　Dragon　Lady；　why　did　you　leave　your　positions　around　the　carriage　house？〃
　This　time　a　voice　answered　almost　immediately。　〃Sorry　Dragon　Lady；　we　thought　it　best　to　circle　the　block　and　look　for　any　suspicious　vehicles。　If　you　are　ready　to　leave；　please　give　us　your　destination。〃
　〃I　don't　buy　it；〃　Pitt　said；　eyeing　the　distance　between　the　two　parked　vans　while　gauging　the　passing　traffic　on　the　street。　〃One　van　should　have　remained　in　position　while　the　other　circled　the　block。　You're　an　agent。　Why　am　I　telling　you？〃
　〃Peter　would　not　have　hired　irresponsible　people；〃　Julia　said　firmly。　〃He　doesn't　work　that　way。〃
　〃Don't　answer　just　yet！〃　said　Pitt　harshly。　Danger；　like　a　red　warning　sign；　began　to　flash　in　Pitt's　brain。　〃We've　been　sold　out。　A　dime　will　get　you　a　dollar　those　are　not　the　same　men　Harper　hired。〃
　For　the　first　time　Julia's　eyes　reflected　a　growing　apprehension。　〃If　you're　right；　what　do　I　tell　them？〃
　If　Pitt　thought　their　lives　were　in　deadly　peril；　he　didn't　show　it。　His　face　was　cool；　his　mind　focused。　〃Say　we're　going　to　my　place　at　the　Washington　National　Airport。〃
　〃You　live　in　an　airport？〃　Julia　asked；　baffled。
　〃For　almost　twenty　years。　Actually；　I　live　on　the　perimeter。〃
　Julia　shrugged　in　bewilderment　and　gave　the　instructions　to　the　men　in　the　vans　as　Pitt　reached　under　the　seat　and　produced　a　cellular　phone。　〃Now　get　a　hold　of　Harper。　Explain　the　situation　and　say　we're　on　our　way　toward　the　Lincoln　Memorial。　Tell　him　I'll　try　to　stall　off　our　arrival　until　he　can　arrange　an　intercept。〃
　Julia　dialed　a　number　and　waited　for　the　party　on　the　other　end　to　answer。　After　giving　her　identification；　she　was　put　through　to　Peter　Harper；　who　was　at　home　relaxing　with　his　family。　After　she　gave　him　Pitt's　message；　she　sat　and　listened　in　silence　before　punching　off　the　phone。　She　looked　at　Pitt　expressionless。　〃Help　is　on　the　way。　Peter　also　said　to　tell　you　that　considering　what　happened　at　your　hangar　earlier　this　evening；　he　regrets　not　being　more　alert　to　possible　problems。〃
　〃Is　he　sending　law…enforcement　teams　to　the　Memorial　for　the　intercept？〃
　〃He's　contacting　them　now。〃
　〃You　never　told　me　what　happened　at　your　hangar。〃
　〃Not　now。〃
　Julia　began　to　say　something；　thought　better　of　it　and　said　simply；　〃Shouldn't　we　have　waited　right　here　for　help？〃
　Pitt　studied　the　vans　parked　quietly　and　ominously　at　the　curb。　〃I　can't　sit　here　any　longer　looking　like　I'm　waiting　for　the　traffic　to　ease　or　our　friends　will　begin　to　think　we're　onto　them。　Once　we　reach　Massachusetts　Avenue　and　merge　into　the　main　stream　of　traffic；　we'll　be　reasonably　safe。　They　won't　risk　exposure　by　attacking　us　in　front　of　a　hundred　witnesses。〃
　〃You　could　call　nine…one…one　on　your　cell　phone　and　ask　them　to　respond　with　a　patrol　car　cruising　the　area。〃
　〃If　you　were　a　dispatcher；　would　you　buy　some　bizarre　story　and　take　responsibility　for　ordering　a　fleet　of　patrol　cars　to　charge　to　the　Lincoln　Memorial　and　look　for　an　orange　and　brown　nineteen…twenty…nine　Duesenberg　that　is　being　pursued　by　killers？〃
　〃I　suppose　not；〃　Julia　admitted。　〃Better　we　left　it　to　Harper　to　call　out　the　posse。〃　He　slipped　the　big　stick　shift　on　the　floor　into　first　gear　and　accelerated　out　into　the　street；　turning　to　the　left　so　the　vans　would　lose　time　swinging　a　U…turn　to　follow　him。　He　gained　almost　a　hundred　yards　before　he　caught　the　lights　of　the　lead　van　ing　up　on　his　rear　bumper。　Two　blocks　later　he　whipped　the　heavy　Duesenberg　onto　Massachusetts　Avenue　and　began　snaking　in　and　out　of　the　nighttime　traffic。
　
　Julia　tensed　as　she　looked　through　the　steering　wheel　and　saw　the　needle　creep　up　and　waver　at　seventy　miles　an　hour。　〃This　car　doesn't　have　seat　belts。〃
　〃They　didn't　believe　in　them　in　nineteen　twenty…nine。〃　〃You're　going　awfully　fast。〃
　〃I　can't　think　of　a　better　way　to　attract　attention　than　by　exceeding　the　speed　limit　in　a　seventy…year…old　car　that　weighs　almost　four　tons。〃
　〃I　hope　she　has　good　brakes。〃　Julia　resigned　herself　to　the　chase；　uncertainty　still　in　her　mind。
　〃They're　not　as　sensitive　as　modern　power　brakes；　but　if　I　stomp　on　them　they　do　the　job　just　fine。〃
　Julia　gripped　the　Colt　automatic　but　made　no　effort　to　remove　the　safety　or　aim　it。　She　balked　at　accepting　Pitt's　assertion　that　their　lives　were　in　jeopardy。　That　their　bodyguards　had　turned　on　them　seemed　too　incredible　to　believe。
　〃Why　me？〃　Pitt　moaned　as　he　careened　the　monster　around　Mount　Vernon　Square；　the　big　tires　howling　in　protest；　heads　turning　on　the　sidewalks；　people　staring　incredulously。　〃Would　you　believe　this　is　the　second　time　in　a　year　a　pretty　girl　and　I　had　to　escape　sharks　who　chased　us　over　the　streets　of　Washington？〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃This　happened　to　you　before？〃　〃On　that　occasion　I　was　driving　a　sports　car　and　had　a　much　easier　time　of　it。〃
　Pitt　aimed　the　polished　hood　ornament　on　the　radiator　cap　down　New　Jersey　Avenue　before　hammering　a　right　turn　onto　First　Street　and　accelerating　toward　the　nation's　Capitol　and　its　Mall。　Cars　that　got　in　his　way；　he　frightened　aside　with　warning　blasts　from　the　big　twin　horns　mounted　beneath　the　massive　headlights。　He　spun　the　thick　rim　of　the　steering　wheel　violently　as　they　raced　between　the　traffic　on　the　crowded　street。
　The　vans　were　still　on　his　tail。　Because　of　their　faster　acceleration；　they　had　closed　until　their　reflections　loomed　in　the　rearview　mirror　atop　the　center　of　the　windshield。　Although　the　Duesenberg　could　outpull　them　if　given　a　long　enough　straight　stretch；　it　was　not　a　car　that　would　set　records　at　a　drag　strip。　Pitt　had　yet　to　shift　from　second　to　third；　and　the　gears　wailed　like　a　banshee。
　The　giant　engine　with　its　twin　overhead　cams　turned　effortlessly　at　high　rpms。　The　traffic　on　the　street　ahead　thinned；　and　Pitt　was　able　to　push　the　Duesenberg　as　hard　as　she　could　go。　He　slewed　the　car　into　the　circle　around　the　Peace　Monument　behind　the　Capitol　building。　Then　another　quick　twist　of　the　steering　wheel　and　the　Duesy　drifted　on　all　four　wheels　around　the　Garfield　Monument；　skirted　the　Reflecting　Pool　and　shot　down　Maryland　Avenue　toward　the　Air　&　Space　Museum。
　
　From　behind　them；　over　the　exhaust　roar　of　the　Duesenberg；　they　heard　a　brief　staccato　of　gunfire。　The　mirror　attached　to　the　top　of　the　spare…tire　cover　mounted　in　the　left　front　fender　abruptly　disintegrated。　The　shooter　quickly　adjusted　and　a　stream　of　bullets　shredded　the　top　frame　of　the　windshield；　shattering　the　glass；　which　showered　across　the　hood　of　the　car。　Pitt　slipped　down　low　behind　the　wheel；　his　right　hand　grabbing　Julia　by　the　hair　and　yanking　her　horizontal　on　the　leather　seat。
　
　〃That　concludes　the　entertainment　part　of　the　program；〃　muttered　Pitt。　〃No　more　chicken…hearted　maneuvers。〃
　〃Oh；　God；　you　were　right！〃　Julia　shouted　in　his　ear。　〃They　are　out　to　kill　us。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　make　a　straight　run　so　you　can　return　their　fire。〃
　〃Not　in　traffic；　not　on　these　streets；〃　she　retorted。　〃I　couldn't　live　with　myself　if　I　hit　an　innocent　child。〃
　
　Her　reply　was　a　frenzied　sideways　motion　as　the　car　rocketed　across　Third　Street。　Instead　of　turning　with　the　traffic；　Pitt　cut　across　the　pavement　and　sent　the　Duesenberg　leaping　over　the　curb　onto　the　grass　of　the　Capitol　Mall。　The　big　750…by…17…inch　tires　took　the　raised　concrete　as　casually　as　a　minor　speed　bump。　Sod　was　ripped　out　of　the　ground　by　the　spinning　rear　wheels　and　sprayed　out　and　under　the　rear　fenders　like　shrapnel。
　
　Julia　did　what　any　sane　woman　would　do　under　the　same　circumstances。　She　screamed　and　then　cried　out；　〃You　can't　drive　down　the　middle　of　the　Mall！〃
　〃I　damned　well　can　and　will　so　long　as　we　live　to　tell　about　it！〃　Pitt　shot　back。
　
　His　seemingly　crazy　and　totally　unexpected　maneuver　had　the　desired　results。　The　driver　of　the　lead　van　tenaciously　chased　the　Duesenberg　over　the　curb　onto　the　grassy　Mall；　and　Wew　all　four　tires　in　the　attempt。　They　struck　the　concrete　barrier　with　such　force　that　they　exploded　in　a　rapid　series　of　loud　pops。　The　much　smaller；　more　modern　tires　on　the　vans　could　not　jump　over　the　curb　with　the　ease　of　the　Duesenberg's　big　doughnuts。
　
　The　second　van's　driver　elected　for　discretion；　checked　his　speed　in　time；　braked　and　slowly　drove　over　the　curb　without　damaging　his　tires。　The　men　in　the　first　van…there　were　two　…frantically　abandoned　their　vehicle　and　flung　themselves　through　the　open　side　door　of　the　second　one。　Then　they　all　stubbornly　took　up　the　chase　again；　pursuing　the　Duesenberg　across　the　middle　of　the　Mall　to　the　astonishment　of　hundreds　of　onlookers　who　were　heading　for　home　after　an　open…air　Marine　Corps　band　conceit　at　the　Navy　Memorial。　The　shocked　expression　on　their　faces　ranged　from　frozen　inprehension　to　stunned　astonishment　at　seeing　the　huge　car　with　the　artistically　flowing　lines　tearing　across　the　Mall　between　the　National　Ak　&　Space　Museum　and　the　National　Gallery　of　Art。　Groups　of　people　strolling　or　jogging　along　the　Mall's　paths　were　suddenly　galvanized　into　chasing　the　speeding　vehicles　on　foot；　certain　they　were　about　to　witness　an　accident。
　
　The　Duesenberg　was　still　accelerating　with　Pitt's　foot　flat　on　the　gas　pedal。　The　long　car　flared　as　it　tore　across　Seventh　Street；　skidding　around　passing　cars；　Pitt　righting　the　wheel　with　grim　tenacity。　The　mammoth　car　was　incredibly　responsive。　The　faster　the