cc.floodtide-第66章

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　JULIA　　WAS　　　THANKFUL　　WHEN　　　DARKNESS　　　ARRIVED。　　　MOVING　through　the　shadows　along　the　outside　deck　of　the　towboat　toward　the　bow；　she　slipped　over　the　side　onto　the　barge　and　hid　amid　the　black　plastic　bags　of　trash。　She　was　not　happy　about　the　faint　light　thrown　by　a　waning　moon；　but　it　enabled　her　to　keep　track　of　crew　movements　on　board　the　towboat　and　to　observe　the　countryside　for　geographical　references　as　to　location。　She　also　followed　the　direction　of　her　progress　by　glancing　up　every　few　minutes　at　Polaris；　the　North　Star。
　
　Unlike　the　featureless　landscape　of　the　central　Atchafalaya　Valley；　the　grassy　banks　of　Bayou　Teche　supported　a　thick　canopy　of　live　oak　trees；　interspersed　with　stately　cypresses　and　lime　willows。　But　like　the　edge　of　a　checkerboard；　the　tree　belt　opened　up　every　mile　to　reveal　lights　of　farmhouses　and　dim；　moonlit　fields　of　newly　planted　crops。　Behind　fenced　pastures；　Julia　could　make　out　the　shapes　of　cattle　grazing。　She　recognized　the　sound　of　a　meadowlark　and　fleetingly　wished　that　she　had　a　family　and　a　home。　She　knew　the　day　was　not　far　off　when　her　superiors　at　INS　would　curtail　her　hazardous　attempts　to　stop　Chinese　immigrant…smuggling　operations　and　put　her　behind　a　desk。
　
　The　towboat　and　barge　passed　what　seemed　a　picturesque　fishing　town　that　Julia　would　later　learn　was　Patterson。　Docks　lined　the　waterfront　with　fishing　trawlers　taking　up　almost　every　slip。　She　made　a　mental　note　of　how　the　town　was　laid　out　along　the　bayou　as　it　receded　in　the　distance。　The　towboat　captain　blew　his　air　horn　as　a　drawbridge　drew　into　sight。　The　bridge　tender　dutifully　tooted　his　horn　in　reply　and　raised　the　span　to　allow　passage。
　
　A　few　miles　above　Patterson　the　towboat　slackened　its　speed　and　began　easing　toward　the　west　bank。　Peering　over　the　side　of　the　barge；　Julia　could　see　a　large；　warehouselike　brick　structure　with　several　outer　buildings　that　were　spaced　around　a　long　dock。　A　high　chain…link　fence　with　barbwire　strung　along　the　top　encircled　the　pound。　A　few　scattered　floodlights　with　dim　and　dusty　bulbs　in　their　sockets　ineffectually　illuminated　the　open　area　between　the　dock　and　warehouse。　The　only　sign　of　life　Julia　could　see　was　a　guard　who　exited　a　little　shack　and　stood　at　a　closed　gate　on　the　end　of　the　dock。　She　noted　that　he　was　wearing　the　mon　uniform　sold　by　private　security　services。　Through　a　window　of　the　shack；　she　could　see　the　reflected　images　of　a　television　screen。
　
　Her　heart　gave　a　leap　when　she　spied　a　pair　of　railroad　tracks　that　ran　down　a　concrete　culvert　under　the　big　warehouse。　She　believed　with　growing　certainty　that　this　was　the　main　staging　center　from　where　the　illegals　were　transported　to　their　predetermined　destinations。　Once　there；　they　were　either　enslaved　or　released　into　heavily　populated　metropolitan　cities。
　
　She　burrowed　under　the　trash　bags　as　the　Chinese　crew　came　aboard　the　barge　and　tied　it　to　the　dock。　When　the　barge　was　secure；　they　leaped　back　on　board　the　towboat。　There　was　no　word　spoken　between　the　captain；　crew　and　the　guard　behind　the　gate。　The　captain　gave　a　brief　blast　on　his　air　horn　to　signal　his　intentions　to　a　small　shrimp　boat　about　to　pass　by。　The　towboat　slowly　reversed　away　from　the　barge；　swinging　its　stern　wide　until　a　180…degree　turn　was　pleted　and　the　flat…nosed　bow　was　pointing　down　the　bayou。　Then　the　captain　engaged　FORWARD；　increased　speed　and　set　the　towboat　on　a　course　back　toward　Sungari。
　
　The　next　twenty　minutes　were　spent　in　a　strange　silence　that　began　to　frighten　Julia。　Not　from　personal　fear　of　her　safety；　but　a　dread　that　perhaps　she　had　made　a　mistake。　The　guard　had　long　since　returned　to　his　shack　and　his　television。　The　barge　full　of　trash　lay　moored　to　the　dock；　dismissed　and　neglected。
　
　Julia　had　contacted　Captain　Lewis　aboard　the　Weehawken　soon　after　her　leap　onto　the　towboat　and　informed　him　of　her　reckless　enterprise。　Lewis　was　not　a　happy　camper　when　he　realized　that　die　woman　whose　safety　was　in　his　hands　had　taken　a　terrible　risk。　Professional　that　he　was；　he　brushed　aside　his　frustration　and　ordered　a　launch　full　of　armed　men　under　Lieutenant　Stowe　to　follow　the　towboat　and　barge　as　a　backup　to　the　helicopter。　His　only　order　to　Stowe　was　to　keep　a　respectful　distance　behind　the　towboat　and　not　arouse　suspicion。　Julia　could　hear　the　whine　of　the　helicopter's　engines　and　see　its　navigation　lights　in　the　night　sky。
　
　She　well　knew　the　fate　that　awaited　her　if　Qin　Shang's　smuggling　enforcers　apprehended　her；　and　it　gave　her　a　warm　feeling　to　know　she　was　being　watched　over　by　men　who　were　willing　to　lay　their　lives　on　the　line　to　save　her　if　worst　came　to　worst。
　
　She　had　long　before　removed　Lin　Wan　Chu's　cook　clothes　and　crammed　them　into　a　plastic　trash　bag；　not　so　much　because　they　were　now　incongruous　but　because　the　white　cloth　would　have　made　her　visible　to　anyone　on　the　towboat　when　she　stood　up　to　stare　over　the　side　of　the　barge　during　the　journey　from　Sungari。　Underneath；　she　wore　simple　shorts　and　a　blouse。
　For　the　first　time　in　nearly　an　hour；　she　spoke　into　her　miniature　radio　and　hailed　Lieutenant　Stowe。　〃The　towboat　has　dropped　off　the　barge　and　moored　it　alongside　a　dock　near　what　looks　like　a　large　warehouse。〃
　Lieutenant　Jefferson　Stowe；　in　mand　of　the　launch；　answered　quickly　over　the　transmitter　and　receiver　set　around　his　head。　〃We　confirm。　The　towboat　is　about　to　pass　us　going　in　the　opposite　direction。　What　is　your　situation？〃
　〃About　as　exciting　as　watching　a　tree　bee　petrified。　Except　for　a　security　guard　on　the　other　side　of　a　tall　fence；　who's　busy　watching　a　TV　program　in　his　shack；　there　isn't　another　soul　in　sight。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　your　objective　is　a　washout？〃　asked　Stowe。
　〃I　need　more　time　for　an　investigation；〃　answered　Julia。
　〃Not　too　long；　I　hope。　Captain　Lewis　is　hardly　a　patient　man；　and　the　helicopter　only　has　another　hour　of　fuel　left。　And　that's　only　the　half　of　it。〃
　〃What's　the　other　half？〃
　〃Your　decision　to　jump　on　the　towboat　came　so　fast　none　of　my　crew　or　I　got　dinner。〃
　〃You're　joking。〃
　〃Not　about　growing　coast　guardsmen　missing　a　meal；〃　Stowe　said　humorously。
　〃You　will　stand　by；　and　not　desert　me。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　replied　Stowe；　the　humor　in　his　voice　quickly　fading。　〃I　only　hope　the　towboat　didn't　simply　park　the　barge　overnight　in　expectation　of　moving　it　to　a　trash　fill　in　the　morning。〃
　〃I　don't　think　that's　the　case；〃　said　Julia。　〃One　of　the　buildings　has　a　railroad　siding　leading　in　and　out　of　it。　This　place　would　make　an　ideal　layout　to　transport　smuggled　immigrants　to　destinations　around　the　country。〃
　〃I'll　request　Captain　Lewis　to　check　the　railroad　pany　for　freight…train　schedules　that　call　for　stops　at　the　mill；〃　Stowe　offered　reasonably。　〃Meanwhile；　I'll　run　the　launch　into　a　small　inlet　across　the　bayou　about　a　hundred　yards　south　of　you。　We'll　stand　by　here　until　I　hear　otherwise。〃　There　was　a　slight　pause。　〃Ms。　Lee。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Don't　get　your　hopes　up；〃　said　Stowe　evenly。　〃I've　just　spotted　a　shabby；　run…down　sign　that's　sitting　at　a　crazy　angle　on　the　bank　of　the　bayou。　Would　you　like　to　know　what　it　says？〃
　〃Yes；　do　tell　me；〃　Julia　answered；　deliberately　robbing　her　words　of　irritation。
　〃Felix　Bartholomeaux　Sugar　Processing　Plant　Number　One。　Established　1883。　You're　apparently　moored　at　a　long…abandoned　sugar　mill。　From　my　vantage　point；　the　plex　looks　deader　than　a　fossilized　dinosaur　egg。〃
　〃Then　why　would　it　be　protected　by　a　security　guard？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Stowe　replied　honestly。
　〃Hold　on！〃　Julia　snapped　unexpectedly。　〃I　heard　something。〃
　
　She　went　quietly；　listening；　and　Stowe　cooperated　by　asking　no　questions。　As　if　far　away；　she　heard　the　muted　clank　of　metal　against　metal。　At　first；　she　thought　it　came　from　somewhere　within　the　deserted　sugar　mill；　but　then　she　realized　the　sound　was　muffled　by　the　water　beneath　the　barge。　Furiously；　she　threw　the　plastic　trash　bags　aside　until　she　could　squirm　a　passage　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　barge's　hull。　Then　she　pressed　her　ear　against　the　damp；　rusting　metal　of　the　bilge　keel。
　This　time　she　heard　muffled　voices　whose　vibrations　telegraphed　through　the　steel。　She　could　not　distinguish　words；　but　what　she　heard　came　through　as　men　shouting　harshly。　Julia　fought　her　way　back　to　the　top　of　the　trash…bag　pile；　checked　to　see　the　guard　was　still　occupied　and　then　leaned　over　the　side　of　the　barge；　peering　down　into　the　water。　There　were　no　telltale　lights　in　the　depths；　and　it　was　too　dark　to　see　more　than　a　few　inches　past　the　surface。
　〃Lieutenant　Stowe；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃I'm　here。〃
　〃Can　you　see　anything　in　the　water　between　the　dock　and　the　barge？〃
　〃Not　from　here。　But　I　have　you　in　view。〃
　Julia　instinctively　turned　and　stared　across　the　bayou；　but　all　she　saw　was　darkness。　〃You　can　follow　my　actions？〃
　〃Through　a　night…vision　scope。　I　didn't　want　anybody　sneaking　up　on　you　without　you　knowing　about　it。〃
　Good　old　faithful　Lieutenant　Stowe。　Another　time；　another　place；　she　might　have　felt　a　growing　affection　for　him。　But　any　thought　of　love；　no　matter　how　fleeting；　created　an　image　of　Dirk　Pitt　in　her　mind。　For　the　first　time　in　her　life　she　was　infatuated　with　a　man；　and　her　independent　spirit　was　not　sure　how　to　accept　the　situation。　Almost　reluctantly；　she　refocused　her　concentration　on　discovering　the　covert　methods　of　Qin　Shang's　smuggling　operation。
　
　〃I　believe　there　must　be　another　vessel　or　partment　connected　to　the　bottom　of　the　barge；〃　she　reported。
　〃What　are　the　indications？〃　asked　Stowe。
　〃I　heard　voices　through　the　keel。　That　would　explain　how　the　Chinese　were　able　to　smuggle　the　illegal　immigrants　through　Sungari　and　past　immigration；　customs　and　the　Coast　Guard。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　buy　your　theory；　Ms。　Lee；　but　an　underwater　partment　that　is　carried　across　two　oceans　from　China　and　then　shifted　under　a　barge　for　a　voyage　up　a　Louisiana　bayou　to　a　railroad　terminal　in　an　abandoned　sugar　mill　may　get　you　an　award　for　literary　fiction；　but　it　won't　score　you　any　points　with　pragmatic　minds。〃
　〃I'll　stake　my　career　on　it；〃　Julia　said　positively。
　〃May　I　ask　your　intent？〃　Stowe's　tone　went　from　friendly　to　official。
　〃I　intend　to　gain　entry　into　the　mill　and　make　a　search。〃
　〃Not　a　smart　move。　Better　to　wait　until　morning。〃
　〃That　may　be　too　late。　The　immigrants　could　be　herded　into　freight　cars　and　transported　away　by　then。〃
　〃Ms。　Lee；〃　said　Stowe　coldly。　〃I　strongly　urge　you　to　think　this　thing　out　and　back　off。　I'll　swing　the　launch　across　the　bayou　and　pick　you　up　off　the　barge。〃
　Julia　did　not　feel　that　she　had　e　this　far　suddenly　to　walk　away。　〃No　thank　you；　Lieutenant　Stowe。　I'm　going　in。　If　I　find　what　I　hope　to　find；　you　and　your　men　can　e　running。〃
　〃Ms。　Lee；　I　must　remind　you　that　although　you're　under　the　protection　of　the　Coast　Guard；　we　are　not　a　Justice　Department　SWAT　team。　My　advice；　if　you　wish　to　take　it；　is　to　wait　until　daylight；　obtain　a　search　warrant　from　a　parish　judge　and　then　send　in　the　local　sheriff　to　investigate。　You'll　score　more　points　with　your　superiors　that　way。〃
　It　was　as　though　Julia　had　not　heard　Stowe。　〃Please　ask　Captain　Lewis　to　notify　Peter　Harper　in　Washington　and　alert　the　INS　office　in　New　Orlean