cc.floodtide-第53章

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as　incredibly　responsive。　The　faster　the　speed；　the　more　solid　the　feeling　of　stability。　All　he　had　to　do　was　point　the　car　where　he　wanted　to　go；　and　she　went。　He　breathed　a　brief　sigh　of　relief　at　seeing　no　cross…traffic　on　Fourteenth　Street；　the　next　thoroughfare　across　the　Mall。　The　sidemount　mirror　and　the　rearview　mirror　on　the　windshield　had　both　been　blown　to　pieces　by　the　earlier　burst　of　gunfire；　and　he　could　not　spare　a　brief　glance　to　see　if　the　pursuing　van　was　closing　within　accurate　firing　range　again。
　
　〃Take　a　peek　over　the　seat　and　see　how　close　they　are；〃　he　yelled　to　Julia。
　She　had　thumbed　off　the　side　safety　on　the　Colt　and　had　it　aimed　over　the　backrest　of　the　seat。　〃They　slowed　when　bouncing　over　the　curbs　on　the　last　two　cross　streets；〃　she　answered；　〃but　they're　gaining。　I　can　almost　see　the　whites　of　the　driver's　eyes。〃
　〃Then　you　can　begin　shooting　back。〃
　〃This　isn't　the　wilderness　around　Orion　River。　There　are　pedestrians　all　over　the　Mall。　I　can't　risk　striking　anyone　with　a　stray　shot。〃
　〃Then　wait　until　you　can't　miss。〃
　
　The　men　firing　out　the　sides　of　the　van　were　not　as　considerate。　They　unleashed　another　burst　at　the　Duesenberg；　drilling　the　big　trunk　mounted　on　the　rear　of　the　body；　the　thuds　of　the　bullets　mingling　with　the　pulsing　bursts　erupting　from　the　guns'　muzzles。　Pitt　wrenched　desperately　on　the　wheel；　dodging　the　fusillade　that　whistled　past　the　right　side　of　the　car。
　
　〃Those　guys　don't　have　your　sensitivity　toward　others；〃　he　said；　thankful　that　he　had　managed　to　swerve　around　any　car　that　crossed　his　path　without　accident。
　
　Wishing　he　had　a　magic　wand　to　stop　the　traffic；　he　hurtled　across　Fifteenth　Street；　narrowly　missing　a　newspaper　truck　and　throwing　the　Duesenberg　into　a　four…wheel　slide　to　avoid　a　black　Ford　Crown　Victoria　sedan；　which　had　replaced　most　of　the　government　limousines。　Fleetingly；　he　wondered　what　government　VIP　was　riding　inside。　He　felt　a　small　surge　of　fort　at　knowing　the　van　had　to　drop　back　to　negotiate　the　curbs。
　
　The　towering　Washington　Monument　rose　in　front　of　the　car's　path。　Pitt　guided　the　car　around　the　floodlit　obelisk　and　sped　down　the　slight　slope　on　the　opposite　side。　Julia　was　still　unable　to　get　a　clear　shot　as　Pitt　concentrated　on　getting　the　Duesenberg　past　the　Monument　without　losing　control　on　the　slippery　grass。　And　then　they　were　heading　toward　the　Lincoln　Memorial　at　the　end　of　the　Mall。
　
　Seconds　later　he　came　to　Seventeenth　Street。　Thankfully；　there　was　a　slot　in　the　middle　of　the　traffic　and　he　shot　toward　the　other　side　without　endangering　passing　cars。　Despite　the　violent　chase　through　the　avenues　of　Washington　and　across　the　Mall；　he　saw　no　flashing　red　lights　nor　heard　sirens　from　pursuing　police　cars。　If　he　had　attempted　the　mad　ride　across　the　Mall　on　any　other　occasion；　he'd　have　been　stopped　and　arrested　for　reckless　driving　within　the　first　hundred　yards。
　
　Pitt　had　a　short　breathing　spell　as　they　roared　between　the　Reflecting　Pool　and　Constitution　Gardens。　Almost　directly　ahead　loomed　the　brilliantly　illuminated　Lincoln　Memorial　and　the　Potomac　River　beyond。　He　turned　and　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　van；　which　was　corning　up　fast　on　the　Duesen…berg　again。　The　van's　twin　headlights　were　so　close　he　could　have　read　a　newspaper　under　them。　The　contest　was　too　uneven。　Despite　the　Duesenberg　being　a　magnificent　automobile　by　which　all　others　were　measured；　it　was　a　case　of　a　big…game　hunter　in　a　bush　vehicle　chasing　an　elephant。　He　knew　that　they　knew　he　was　running　out　of　space。　If　he　cut　and　swung　right　toward　Constitution　Avenue；　they　could　easily　cut　him　off。　To　his　left　the　long　Reflecting　Pool　stretched　almost　to　the　great　white　marble　Memorial。　The　water　barrier　looked　impassable。　Or　was　it？
　
　He　roughly　pushed　Julia　off　the　seat　onto　the　floor。　〃Keep　down　and　hold　on　tight！〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃We're　going　boating。〃
　〃You're　not　only　deranged；　you've　gone　berserk。〃
　〃A　rare　bination；〃　Pitt　said　calmly。　His　features　were　fixed　in　concentration；　his　eyes　glistening　like　those　of　a　hawk　circling　over　a　hare。　There　was　a　look　of　unfathomable　detachment　about　him。　To　Julia；　who　stared　up　from　her　position　on　the　floorboards　under　the　dashboard；　he　looked　as　relentlessly　determined　as　a　ber　surging　toward　a　beach。　Then　she　saw　him　snap　the　wheel　to　the　left；　sending　the　Duesenberg　sliding　sideways　in　the　grass　at　nearly　seventy　miles　an　hour；　the　big　rear　wheels　spinning　crazily；　ripping　up　the　turf　like　giant　meat　grinders　and　just　missing　the　large　trees　spaced　twenty…two　feet　apart　along　the　pool。
　
　After　what　seemed　like　ages；　the　tires　dug　in　and　gripped　the　soft　ground；　sending　the　car　beyond　the　point　of　no　return；　her　immense　bulk　lunging　forward　into　the　Reflecting　Pool。
　
　The　heavy　steel　chassis　and　aluminum　body；　driven　by　the　full　force　of　the　powerful　engine；　smacked　into　the　water　with　an　enormous　white　explosion　that　leaped　from　her　front　and　sides　like　Niagara　Falls　turned　upside　down。　The　sickening　thump　jarred　the　Duesenberg　from　bumper　to　bumper　as　her　great　weight　sank；　pushing　her　balloon　tires　onto　the　concrete　bottom　where　their　rubber　treads　bit　and　hurled　the　car　forward　like　a　bull　whale　charging　through　the　sea　after　a　female　in　heat。
　
　The　water　gushed　over　the　hood　and　flooded　through　the　shattered　windshield　into　the　front　partment；　drenching　Pitt　and　nearly　inundating　Julia。　Unaware　exactly　of　Pitt's　intentions；　she　was　petrified　at　finding　herself　suddenly　submerged　under　a　deluge。　To　Pitt；　taking　the　full　brunt　of　the　torrent；　it　seemed　as　if　he　was　driving　into　raging　breakers　only　a　surfer　could　love。
　
　There　was　no　growth　on　the　bottom　of　the　Reflecting　Pool。　It　was　drained　and　cleaned　by　the　Park　Service　on　a　regular　basis。　The　distance　between　the　surface　of　the　water　and　the　top　of　the　edge　along　the　sides　measured　only　eight　inches。　The　bottom　of　the　pool　was　not　flat　but　sloped　from　a　depth　of　one　foot　around　the　walls　to　a　maximum　depth　of　two　and　a　half　feet　in　the　middle。　The　distance　from　the　pool　floor　to　the　top　edge　of　the　wall　measured　twenty　inches。
　
　Pitt　prayed　the　engine　wouldn't　flood　and　die。　The　distributor；　he　knew；　was　a　good　four　feet　from　the　ground。　No　problem　there。　Nor　with　the　carburetors；　as　they　sat　well　over　three　feet　high。　But　his　main　concern　was　the　spark　plugs。　They　rested　between　the　twin　overhead　cam　shafts　at　three　feet　on　the　nose。
　
　The　Reflecting　Pool　was　exactly　160　feet　in　width。　It　seemed　impossible　for　the　Duesenberg　to　navigate　such　an　obstacle。　But　she　bulldozed　a　gaping　valley　through　the　water；　her　engine　gamely　producing　torque　to　the　rear　wheels　and　not　drowning　out。　She　had　pushed　her　way　to　within　ten　yards　of　the　opposite　edge　of　the　pool　when　the　water　around　her　suddenly　erupted　in　a　cloud　of　small　geysers。
　〃Obstinate　bastards！〃　Pitt　muttered　to　himself。　He　gripped　the　big　steering　wheel　so　hard　his　knuckles　bleached　white。
　
　The　chase　van　had　stopped　at　the　edge　of　the　Reflecting　Pool；　her　occupants　tumbling　out　and　firing　wildly　at　the　big　car　crashing　through　the　water。　Their　shock　and　disbelief　had　cost　them　nearly　a　full　minute；　giving　Pitt　time　almost　to　reach　the　other　side。　Realizing　this　was　their　final　chance；　they　pumped　shot　after　shot　at　the　floundering　Duesenberg　seemingly　deaf　and　dumb　to　the　sirens　and　flashing　lights　that　were　converging　on　them　from　Twenty…Third　Street　and　Constitution　Avenue。　Too　late　did　they　finally　sense　their　predicament。　Unless　they　followed　Pitt　across　the　Reflecting　Pool；　an　act　about
　
　as　conceivable　as　producing　wings　and　flying　to　the　moon　because　of　their　modern；　smaller　wheels　and　tires；　they　were　left　with　no　alternative　but　to　try　to　evade　the　rapidly　approaching　police　patrol　cars。　Without　the　luxury　of　a　conference；　they　leaped　back　in　the　van　and　spun　a　180…degree　turn　before　tearing　back　across　the　Mall　toward　the　Washington　Monument。
　
　The　Duesenberg　was　ing　up　the　slope　of　the　pool　toward　the　edge　now。　Pitt　slowed　the　car；　carefully　judging　the　height　of　the　wall　in　relation　to　the　size　of　the　front　tires。　He　back…shifted　the　transmission　into　first；　actually　crammed　it　into　gear。　The　gears　inside　the　three…speed　nonsynchromesh　crash　box　shrieked　in　protest　before　they　finally　meshed　in　place。　Then；　ten　feet　before　meeting　the　wall；　Pitt　stamped　the　gas　pedal　into　the　floorboard　as　hard　as　he　could；　taking　advantage　of　the　upward　slope　of　the　pool　to　lift　the　front　end　of　the　car。　〃Do　it！〃　he　implored　the　Duesenberg。　〃Go　over　the　wall！〃
　
　As　though　she　had　a　mechanical　brain　and　heart；　the　old　Duesenberg　responded　with　a　burst　of　acceleration　that　lifted　the　front　end；　barely　clearing　the　bumper　over　the　edge　of　the　pool；　the　tires　rolling　up　the　wall　until　they　shot　over　the　edge　onto　flat　ground。
　
　The　Duesenberg's　ground　clearance　was　almost　a　foot；　but　not　high　enough　for　the　bottom　of　her　chassis　to　run　clear。　She　canted　steeply；　followed　by　a　rendering　crash。　Then　an　ungodly　scraping；　tearing　sound　ripped　the　air。　For　a　moment　she　seemed　to　hang；　then　her　momentum　propelled　her　forward　and　she　leaped　ahead；　as　if　grinding　her　guts　out　over　the　concrete　wall　until　all　four　wheels　were　on　the　grass　of　the　Mall　again。
　
　Only　at　that　instant　did　the　engine　begin　to　miss。　Almost　like　a　golden　retriever　exiting　a　river　with　a　bird　in　its　mouth；　the　Duesenberg　shuddered；　shook　herself　free　of　the　water　that　filled　her　body；　and　limped　ahead。　After　only　a　hundred　yards　the　fan　behind　the　radiator　and　the　heat　from　the　engine　worked　in　unison　to　blow…dry　the　water　that　had　splashed　and　shorted　four　of　her　spark　plugs。　Soon；　she　began　hitting　on　all　eight　cylinders　again。
　
　Julia　came　up　off　the　floor　sputtering　and　peered　over　the　back　of　the　car　at　the　van　speeding　away　under　pursuit　by　four　police　cars。　She　wrung　the　water　from　the　hem　of　her　dress　and　ran　her　fingers　through　her　hair　in　a　vain　attempt　to　look　presentable。　〃I'm　a　mess。　My　dress　and　coat　are　ruined。〃　She　looked　at　Pitt　with　a　look　of　pure　anger。　Then　her　expression　softened。　〃If　you　hadn't　saved　my　life　for　the　second　time　hi　as　many　weeks；　I'd　make　you　buy　me　a　new　outfit。〃
　
　He　turned　to　her　and　smiled　as　he　set　the　Duesenberg　on　a　course　down　Independence　Avenue　and　across　the　Memorial　Bridge　toward　the　Washington　National　Airport　and　his　hangar。　〃Tell　you　what。　If　you're　a　good　girl；　I'll　take　you　to　my　place；　dry　your　clothes　and　warm　you　up　with　a　cup　of　coffee。〃
　
　Her　gray　eyes　were　soft　and　unblinking。　She　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm　and　murmured。　〃And　if　I'm　a　naughty　girl？〃
　
　Pitt　laughed；　partly　from　the　relief　of　escaping　another　death　trap；　partly　from　seeing　Julia's　bedraggled　appearance　and　partly　because　she　was　trying　without　success　to　cover　the　parts　of　her　body　that　were　revealed　through　the　wet　dress。　〃Keep　talking　like　that　and　I'll　skip　the　coffee。〃
　
　SUNLIGHT　WAS　SLIDING　OVER　THE　SILLS　OF　THE　SKYLIGHTS　when　Julia　slowly　pushed　aside　the　mist　of　sleep。　She　felt　as　if　she　was　floating；　her　body　totally　weightless。　It　was　a　pleasurable　sensation　left　over　from　the　ardor　of　the　night。　She　opened　her　eyes；　shifted　her　mind　into　gear　and　began　studying　her　surr