cc.floodtide-第56章

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　〃The　Navy　has　been　developing　the　'robo　ship'　concept　for　ten　years；〃　explained　Sandecker。　〃Ship　designers　and　engineers　have　already　built　an　arsenal　ship　that　is　basically　a　floating　missile　pad　able　to　launch　as　many　as　five　hundred　missiles　by　remote　control　from　another　ship；　an　aircraft　or　a　facility　thousands　of　miles　away；　a　radical　departure　from　present　aircraft　carriers　that　require　a　five…thousand…man　crew。　It's　the　newest　concept　from　the　Navy　since　the　nuclear　ballistic　missile　submarine。　Totally　contained　warships　and　bomber　aircraft　are　not　far　behind。〃
　〃Whatever　Qin　Shang　has　in　mind　for　the　United　States；〃　said　Giordino；　〃it's　not　as　a　missile　platform。　Dirk　and　I　searched　it　from　engine　room　to　wheelhouse。　There　are　no　missile　launchers。〃
　〃I　read　your　report；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃You　also　found　no　indication　that　it　would　be　used　to　smuggle　illegal　immigrants。〃
　〃That's　true；〃　acknowledged　Pitt。　〃When　Shang's　operations　are　examined　at　first　glance　they　appear　to　be　conceived　by　a　genius　with　a　flair　for　sorcery；　but　tear　away　the　veneer　and　you　find　a　logical　exercise。　He　has　a　valid　function　for　the　ship；　you　can　bet　on　it。〃
　
　Sandecker　pulled　the　throttle　lever　another　notch　and　increased　the　speed　of　the　whaleboat。　〃So　we're　no　closer　to　a　solution　than　we　were　two　weeks　ago。〃
　〃Except　for　my　personal　theory　that　Shang　intends　to　scuttle　her；〃　said　Pitt。
　Sandecker　looked　dubious。　〃Why　scuttle　a　perfectly　good　ocean　liner　after　he　spent　millions　refitting　her？〃
　〃I　don't　have　an　answer；〃　Pitt　admitted。
　〃That's　what　I　want　you　to　find　out。　Take　care　of　your　immediate　affairs　and　sign　out　a　NUMA　jet　to　fly　yourselves　to　Morgan　City。　I'll　call　Rudi　and　tell　him　you're　ing。〃
　〃Now　that　we're　working　without　an　endorsement　from　the　INS　and　other　investigative　agencies；　how　far　can　we　go　with　this　thing？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃Do　whatever　it　takes　without　getting　yourselves　killed；〃　responded　Sandecker　firmly。　〃I'll　be　responsible　and　answer　for　your　actions　once　Monroe　and　Harper　get　wise　that　we　haven't　stumbled　off　into　the　fog　and　gone　home　like　good　little　boys。〃
　Pitt　studied　Sandecker。　〃Why　are　you　doing　this；　Admiral？　Why　are　you　jeopardizing　your　job　as　head　of　NUMA　to　stop　Qin　Shang？〃
　The　admiral　stared　back　at　Pitt　astutely。　〃You　and　Al　were　going　to　go　behind　my　back　and　keep　dogging　Qin　Shang　anyway。　Am　I　right？〃
　Giordino　shrugged。　〃Yes；　I　guess　you　are。〃
　〃The　instant　Dirk　played　the　cowardly　lion　and　timidly　submitted　to　Monroe's　demand　that　you　go　to　a　safe　house；　I　knew　　　damned　well　you　were　going　to　jump　ship。　I'm　only　bowing　to　the　inevitable。〃
　Pitt　had　long　ago　bee　a　shrewd　judge　of　Sandecker's　　character。　〃Not　you；　Admiral。　You　never　bow　to　anything　or　anybody。〃
　The　fire　in　Sandecker's　eyes　blazed　for　a　moment；　then　　　j　smoldered。　〃If　you　must　know；　those　spooks　around　the　table　pissed　me　off　so　bad　that　I'm　counting　on　both　of　you　and　Rudi　Gunn　and　every　resource　at　NUMA　to　take　out　Qin　Shang　before　they　do。〃
　〃We're　up　against　some　pretty　heavy　petition；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Maybe；〃　said　Sandecker；　his　eyes　being　urgent；　manding。　〃But　Qin　Shang　Maritime　operates　on　water；　and　that's　where　we　have　the　advantage。〃
　After　the　meeting　broke　up；　Harper　escorted　Julia　to　his　office　and　closed　the　door。　When　she　was　seated　he　came　around　and　sat　down　behind　his　desk。　〃Julia；　I　have　a　tough　assignment　for　you。　Strictly　on　a　volunteer　basis。　I'm　not　sure　you're　quite　up　to　it　just　yet。〃
　Julia's　interest　was　piqued。　〃It　won't　hurt　to　give　me　a　rundown。〃
　Harper　handed　her　a　file　folder。　She　opened　it　and　examined　a　photograph　of　a　woman　her　own　age　who　was　facing　the　camera　with　a　blank　expression　on　her　face。　Except　for　a　scar　on　her　chin；　she　and　Julia　could　have　passed　for　sisters。　〃Her　name　is　Lin　Wan　Chu。　She　grew　up　on　a　farm　in　Jiangsu　Province　and　ran　away　when　her　father　wanted　her　to　marry　a　man　old　enough　to　be　her　grandfather。　After　finding　work　in　the　kitchen　of　a　restaurant　hi　the　port　Qingdao；　she　eventually　became　a　chef。　Two　years　ago　she　signed　on　as　a　cook　with　Qin　Shang　Maritime　and　has　since　crewed　on　a　container　ship　called　the　Sung　Lien　Star；〃
　Julia　turned　to　a　dossier　on　the　woman　and　noted　that　it　came　from　the　CIA。　She　began　reading　as　Harper　sat　back　silently　until　she　finished。　〃There　is　a　definite　resemblance；〃　said　Julia。　〃We're　the　same　height　and　weight。　I'm　only　four　months　older　than　Lin　Wan　Chu。〃　She　kept　the　file　open　in　her　lap　and　stared　across　the　desk　at　Harper。　〃You　want　me　to　take　her　place？　Is　that　the　assignment？〃
　He　nodded。　〃It　is。〃
　〃My　ID　was　made　on　the　Indigo　Star。　Thanks　to　a　double　agent　on　Qin　Shang's　payroll；　his　security　people　have　a　file　on　me　a　mile　long。〃
　〃The　FBI　thinks　they　have　a　prime　suspect　and　are　maintaining　surveillance　on　him。〃
　〃I　don't　see　how　I　could　take　Lin　Wan　Chu's　identity　and　not　be　caught；〃　Julia　said　solemnly。　〃Especially　during　a　long　voyage。〃
　〃You　only　have　to　be　Lin　Wan　Chu　for　four；　maybe　five；　hours　at　the　most。　Just　enough　time　to　slip　into　the　ship's　routine　and　hopefully　discover　how　Qin　Shang　is　smuggling　his　illegal　cargo　of　immigrants　onto　land。〃
　〃You　know　for　a　fact　the　Sung　Lien　Star　has　aliens　hidden　on　board？〃
　〃A　CIA　undercover　agent　in　Qingdao　reported　that　he　observed　over　a　hundred　men；　women　and　children　with　luggage　being　unloaded　from　buses　in　the　dead　of　night　who　were　herded　into　a　warehouse　on　the　dock　beside　the　ship。　Two　hours　later；　the　Sung　Lien　Star　sailed。　At　daylight；　the　agent　found　the　warehouse　empty。　A　hundred…some…odd　people　had　mysteriously　disappeared。〃
　〃And　he　thinks　they　were　smuggled　on　board　the　ship？〃
　〃The　Star　is　a　large　container　ship　with　the　capacity　to　hide　a　hundred　warm　bodies；　and　its　destination　is　the　port　of　Sun…gari　in　Louisiana。　There　seems　little　doubt　that　she's　another　one　of　Qin　Shang's　illegal…immigrant　smuggling　vessels。〃
　〃They　make　me　this　time；〃　said　Julia　seriously；　〃and　I'll　be　shark　bait　in　less　time　than　it　takes　to　tell　about　it。〃
　〃The　risk　is　not　as　high　as　you　think；〃　Harper　assured　her。　〃You　won't　be　working　alone　like　you　did　on　the　Indigo　Star。　You'll　carry　a　concealed　radio　and　be　monitored　every　minute。　Backup　will　be　no　less　than　a　mile　away。〃
　When　it　came　to　daring　the　unknown；　Julia　was　as　fearless　as　any　man；　more　so　than　most。　Her　adrenaline　was　already　rising　at　the　thought　of　walking　a　tightrope。
　〃There　is　one　problem；〃　she　said　quietly。
　〃What　is　that？〃
　A　little　grimace　twisted　the　shapely　red　mouth。　〃My　mother　and　father　taught　me　gourmet　cooking。　I've　never　prepared　basic　slop　in　quantity　before。〃
　
　THE　MORNING　WAS　BRIGHT　WITH　A　HIGH　CLEAR　SKY　FLECKED　by　small　cloud　puffs　scattered　about　like　popcorn　spilled　on　a　blue　carpet　as　Pitt　leveled　out　the　little　Skyfox　flying　boat　and　flew　over　the　terminal　buildings　and　docks　of　Sungari。　He　circled　and　made　several　passes；　skimming　less　than　a　hundred　feet　above　the　tops　of　the　big　cranes　that　were　lifting　wooden　cargo　crates　from　the　holds　of　the　only　freighter　moored　along　an　otherwise　deserted　dock。　The　merchant　ship　was　sandwiched　between　the　dock　and　a　barge　with　a　towboat。
　
　〃Must　be　a　slow　business　day；〃　observed　Giordino　from　the　copilot's　seat。
　〃One　ship　offloading　cargo　at　a　port　facility　built　to　handle　an　entire　fleet；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited's　profit…and…loss　ledger　must　be　awash　in　red　ink。〃
　〃What　do　you　make　of　the　barge？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃Looks　like　trash　day。　The　crew　appears　to　be　throwing　plastic　sacks　over　the　side　into　the　barge。〃
　〃See　any　signs　of　security？〃
　〃The　place　sits　in　the　middle　of　a　swamp；〃　said　Giordino　staring　down　into　the　surrounding　marshlands。　〃The　only　duty　for　security　guards　would　be　to　shoo　off　itinerant　alligators；　which　I　hear　are　hunted　around　these　parts。〃
　〃A　big　business；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Their　skins　are　used　for　shoes；　boots　and　purses。　Hopefully；　laws　will　be　passed　to　restrict　the　alligator　killing　long　before　they　bee　an　endangered　species。〃
　〃That　tugboat　and　garbage　barge　are　beginning　to　pull　away　from　the　hull　of　the　freighter。　Make　a　swing　over　them　when　they　get　into　open　water。〃
　〃Not　tugboat；　you　mean　towboat。〃
　〃A　misnomer。　Why　call　them　towboats　when　they　push　instead　of　pull　barges　through　inland　waterways？〃
　〃A　collection　of　connecting　barges　is　called　a　tow；　hence；　towboat。〃
　〃They　should　be　called　pushboats；〃　Giordino　grumbled。
　〃I'll　take　your　suggestion　up　at　the　next　river　pilot's　annual　high…water　ball。　Maybe　they'll　give　you　a　free　pass　on　a　ferryboat。〃
　〃I　already　get　one　of　those　every　time　I　buy　ten　gallons　of　gas。〃
　〃ing　around。〃　Pitt　tilted　the　control　column　slightly；　banking　the　Lockheed　Skyfox　two…seater　jet　aircraft　and　leveling　out　for　a　few　hundred　yards　before　flying　over　the　five…story…high　towboat　with　its　square　bow　burrowed　against　the　stern　of　a　single　barge。　A　man　stepped　from　the　towboat's　wheelhouse　and　furiously　motioned　the　aircraft　away。　As　the　Skyfox　skimmed　over　the　towboat；　Giordino　caught　a　quick　glimpse　of　a　dirty；　unfriendly　look　on　a　face　that　harbored　suspicions。
　
　〃The　captain　acts　paranoid　about　prying　eyes。〃　〃Maybe　we　should　drop　him　a　note　asking　directions　to　Ireland；〃　Pitt　said　facetiously　as　he　banked　the　Skyfox　for　another　pass。　Formerly　a　military　jet　trainer；　the　aircraft　was　purchased　by　NUMA　and　modified　for　water　landings　with　a　waterproof　hull　and　retractable　floats。　With　twin　jet　engines　mounted　on　the　fuselage　behind　the　wings　and　cockpit；　the　Skyfox　was　often　used　by　NUMA　personnel　when　one　of　their　larger　executive　jets　was　not　required；　and　because　it　could　land　and　take　off　from　water；　it　was　especially　useful　for　offshore　transportation。
　
　This　time　Pitt　came　in　no　more　than　thirty　feet　over　the　towboat's　funnel　and　electronic　gear；　which　sprouted　from　the　roof　of　the　wheelhouse。　As　they　flashed　past　the　boat　and　over　the　barge；　Giordino　spotted　a　pair　of　men　throwing　themselves　prone　amid　the　trash　bags　in　an　effort　to　make　themselves　indiscernible。
　〃I've　got　two　men　carrying　automatic　rifles　who　made　a　bad　job　of　trying　to　look　invisible；〃　Giordino　announced　as　calmly　as　if　he　was　calling　guests　to　dinner。　〃Methinks　there　is　skulduggery　afoot。〃
　〃We've　seen　all　we're　going　to　see；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Time　to　meet　up　with　Rudi　and　the　Marine　Denizen。〃　He　made　a　sweeping　turn　and　set　the　Skyfox　on　a　course　down　the　Atcha…falaya　River　toward　Sweet　Bay　Lake。　The　research　ship　soon　came　into　view；　and　he　lowered　the　flaps　and　dropped　the　floats　in　preparation　for　landing。　He　flared　the　aircraft；　allowing　it　gently　to　kiss　the　calm　water　and　throw　up　a　light　sheet　of　spray　from　the　floats。　Then　Pitt　taxied　alongside　the　research　ship　and　killed　the　engines。
　Giordino　raised　the　canopy　and　waved　up　to　Rudi　Gunn　and　Captain　Frank　Stewart；　who　were　standing　at　the　railing。　Stew…art　turned　and　shouted　an　order。　The　boom　from　the　ship's　crane　swung　around　until　it　was　hovering　over　the　Skyfox。　The　cable　was　lowered　and　Giordino　attached　the　hook　and　lines　to　the　lifting　rings　on　the　top　of　the　aircraft's　wings　and　fuselage　before　catching　guy　ropes　from　the　crew。　A　signal　was　given　and　the　crane's　engine　shifted　into　gear　and　hoisted　up　the　Skyfox。　Water