cc.floodtide-第88章

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　Wilbanks　grinned　and　said；　〃Then　let's　do　it。〃
　
　As　soon　as　they　cleared　the　harbor；　Wilbanks　pushed　the　throttle　forward　and　the　Divercity　leaped　ahead；　bow　clear　of　the　water；　until　she　was　skimming　the　waves　at　nearly　thirty　miles　an　hour。　While　Julia　and　Giordino　sat　aft；　enjoying　the　view　and　the　beginning　of　a　spectacular　day　under　a　sky　decorated　with　clouds　drifting　overhead　like　a　grazing　herd　of　white　buffalo；　Pitt　gave　Wilbanks　his　chart　with　an　X　marked　twenty…five　miles　just　south　of　east　frorh　the　Gallagher's　house。　He　had　enclosed　the　X　within　a　five…mile…by…five…mile　search　grid。　Wilbanks　then　programmed　the　coordinates　into　the　puter　and　watched　as　the　numbers　came　up　on　the　monitor。　Hall　busied　himself　studying　the　photos　and　dimensions　of　the　Princess　Dou　Wan。
　It　seemed　hardly　any　time　had　passed　before　Wilbanks　slowed　the　boat　and　announced；　〃ing　up　on　lane　one　in　eight　hundred　meters。〃　He　used　the　metric　system；　since　the　equipment　was　set　up　for　it。
　Pitt　helped　Hall　drop　over　the　magnetometer　sensor　and　the　side…scan　sonar　towfish；　trailing　them　behind　the　stern　of　the　boat　on　tethered　cables。　After　tying　off　the　cables；　they　returned　to　the　cabin。
　Wilbanks　steered　the　boat　toward　the　end　of　a　line　displayed　on　the　monitor　that　led　to　a　search　grid　with　parallel　lanes。　〃Four　hundred　meters　to　go。〃
　〃I　feel　like　I'm　taking　part　in　an　adventure；〃　said　Julia。
　〃You're　going　to　be　sadly　disappointed；〃　Pitt　laughed。　〃Running　search　lanes　for　a　shipwreck　is　downright　tedious。　You　might　pare　it　to　mowing　grass　on　an　endless　lawn。　You　can　go　hours；　weeks　or　even　months　without　finding　so　much　as　an　old　tire。〃
　Pitt　took　over　the　magnetometer　duties　as　Hall　set　up　the　Klein　&　Associates　Systems　2000　sonar。　He　sat　on　a　stool　in　front　of　the　high…resolution　color　video　display　unit　that　was　mounted　in　the　same　console　as　a　thermal　printer　that　recorded　the　floor　of　the　lake　in　256　shades　of　gray。
　〃Three　hundred　meters；〃　Wilbanks　droned。
　〃What　range　are　we　set　for？〃　Pitt　asked　Hall。
　〃Since　we're　hunting　for　a　large　target　five　hundred　feet　in　length；　we'll　run　thousand…meter　lanes。〃　He　pointed　to　the　lake…bed　detail　that　was　beginning　to　unreel　from　the　printer。　〃The　bottom　looks　flat　and　undisturbed；　and　since　we're　operating　in　fresh　water；　we　should　have　no　problem　spotting　an　anomaly　that　fits　the　target's　dimensions。〃
　〃Speed？〃
　〃The　water's　pretty　calm。　I　think　we　can　run　at　ten　miles　an　hour　and　still　get　a　sharp　recording。〃
　〃Can　I　watch？〃　asked　Julia　from　the　cabin　doorway。
　〃Be　my　guest；〃　said　Hall；　making　room　for　her　in　the　cramped　quarters。
　〃The　detail　is　amazing；〃　she　said；　staring　at　the　image　from　the　printer。　〃You　can　clearly　see　ripples　in　the　sand。〃
　〃The　resolution　is　good；〃　Hall　lectured　her；　〃but　nowhere　near　the　definition　of　a　photograph。　The　sonar　image　translates　similar　to　a　photo　that's　been　duplicated　and　then　run　through　a　copy　machine　three　or　four　times。〃
　Pitt　and　Hall　exchanged　grins。　Observers　always　became　addicted　to　watching　the　sonar　data。　Julia　would　be　no　different。　They　knew　that　she　would　gaze　entranced　for　hours；　enthusiastically　waiting　for　the　image　of　a　ship　to　materialize。
　〃Starting　lane　one；〃　Wilbanks　proclaimed。
　〃What's　our　depth；　Ralph？〃　Pitt　asked。
　Wilbanks　glanced　up　at　his　depth　sounder；　which　hung　from　the　roof　on　one　side　of　the　helm。　〃About　four　hundred　ten　feet。〃
　An　old　hand　at　search…and…survey；　Giordino　shouted　from　his　fortable　position　on　the　cushion　where　he　lay　with　his　cast　propped　up　on　a　railing。　〃I'm　going　to　take　a　siesta。　Yell　out　if　you　spot　anything。〃
　The　hours　passed　slowly　as　the　Divercity　plowed　through　the　low　waves　at　ten　miles　an　hour　mowing　the　lawn；　the　magnetometer　ticking　away；　the　recording　line　trailing　down　the　center　of　the　graph　paper　until　swinging　off　to　the　sides　when　it　detected　the　presence　of　iron。　In　unison；　the　side…scan　sonar　emitted　a　soft　clack　as　the　thermal　plastic　film　unreeled　from　the　printer。　It　revealed　a　lake　bed　cold　and　desolate　and　free　of　human　debris。
　〃It's　a　desert　down　there；〃　said　Julia；　rubbing　tired　eyes。
　〃No　place　to　build　your　dream　house；〃　said　Hall　with　a　little　grin。
　〃That　finishes　lane　twenty…two；〃　Wilbanks　broadcast。　〃ing　around　on　lane　twenty…three。〃
　Julia　looked　at　her　watch。　〃Lunchtime；〃　she　announced；　opening　the　picnic　basket　she　had　packed　at　the　bed　and　breakfast。　〃Anybody　besides　me　hungry？〃
　〃I'm　always　hungry；〃　Giordino　called　out　from　the　back　of　the　boat。
　〃Amazing。〃　Pitt　shook　his　head　incredulously。　〃At　twelve　feet　away；　outside　in　a　breeze　with　the　roar　of　the　outboard　motor；　he　can　still　hear　the　mere　mention　of　food。〃
　〃What　delicacies　have　you　prepared？〃　Giordino　asked　Julia；　having　dragged　himself　to　the　cabin　doorway。
　〃Apples；　granola　bars；　carrots　and　herbal　ice　tea。　You　have　your　choice　between　hummus　and　avocado　sandwiches。　It's　what　I　call　a　healthy　lunch。〃
　Every　man　on　the　boat　looked　at　each　of　the　others　with　utter　horror。　She　couldn't　have　received　a　more　unpalatable　reaction　if　she　had　said　she　was　volunteering　their　services　as　diaper　changers　at　a　day…care　center。　Out　of　deference　to　Julia　none　of　the　men　said　anything　negative；　since　she　went　to　the　bother　of　fixing　lunch。　The　fact　that　she　was　a　woman　and　their　mothers　had　raised　them　all　as　gentlemen　added　to　the　dilemma。　Giordino；　however；　did　not　e　from　the　old　school。　He　plained　vociferously。
　〃Hummus　and　avocado　sandwiches；〃　he　said　disgustedly。　〃I'm　going　to　throw　myself　off　the　boat　and　swim　to　the　nearest　Burger　King…〃
　〃I　have　a　reading　on　the　mag！〃　Pitt　interrupted。　〃Anything　on　the　sonar？〃
　〃My　sonar　towfish　is　trailing　farther　astern　than　your　mag　sensor；〃　said　Hall；　〃so　my　reading　will　lag　behind　yours。〃
　Julia　leaned　closer　to　the　sonar's　printer　in　anticipation　of　seeing　an　object　appear　from　the　printer。　Slowly；　the　image　of　a　hard　target　began　to　move　across　the　video　display　and　the　printer　simultaneously。
　〃A　ship！〃　Julia　shouted　excitedly。　〃It's　a　ship！〃
　〃But　not　the　one　we're　after；〃　Pitt　said　flatly。　〃She's　an　old　sailing　ship　sitting　straight　up　off　the　bottom。〃
　Wilbanks　leaned　around　the　others　to　peer　at　the　sunken　ship。　〃Look　at　that　detail。　The　cabins；　the　hatch　covers；　the　bowsprit；　they　all　show　clearly。〃
　〃Her　masts　are　gone；〃　observed　Hall。
　〃Probably　swept　away　by　the　same　storm　that　sank　her；〃　said　Pitt。
　
　The　ship　had　passed　behind　the　range　of　the　towfish　now；　but　Hall　recalled　its　image　on　the　video　screen　before　zooming　in；　freezing　the　target；　and　paring　synchronous　magnifications。　〃Good　size；〃　Hall　said；　studying　the　image。　〃At　least　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet。〃
　〃I　can't　help　wondering　about　her　crew；〃　said　Julia。　〃I　hope　they　were　saved。〃
　〃Since　she's　relatively　intact；〃　said　Wilbanks；　〃she　must　have　gone　down　pretty　fast。〃
　
　The　moment　of　fascination　quickly　passed；　and　the　search　for　the　Princess　Dou　Wan　continued。　The　breeze　had　slowly　veered　from　north　to　west　and　dropped　until　it　barely　fluttered　the　flag　on　the　stern　of　the　boat。　An　ore　ship　passed　a　few　hundred　yards　away　and　rocked　the　Divercity　in　its　wake。　At　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　Wilbanks　turned　and　looked　at　Pitt。
　〃We've　got　two　hours　of　daylight　left。　What　time　do　you　want　to　pack　it　in　and　head　back　to　the　dock？〃
　〃You　never　know　when　the　lake　will　turn　ugly；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃I　suggest　we　keep　going　and　finish　as　much　of　the　grid　as　we　can　while　the　water　is　calm。〃
　〃Gotta　make　hay　while　the　sun　shines；〃　Hall　agreed。
　
　The　mood　of　anticipation　had　not　diminished。　Pitt　had　requested　that　Wilbanks　begin　the　search　through　the　center　of　the　grid　and　work　east。　That　half　had　been　pleted；　and　now　they　were　working　west　with　over　thirty　lanes　to　go。　The　sun　was　lingering　over　the　western　shore　of　the　lake　when　Pitt　called　out　again。
　
　〃A　target　on　the　mag；〃　he　said　with　a　tinge　of　excitement　in　his　voice。　〃A　big　one。〃
　〃Here　she　es；〃　said　Julia；　electrified。
　〃We've　got　a　modern　steel　ship；〃　Hall　acknowledged。
　〃How　big？〃　asked　Wilbanks。
　〃Can't　tell。　She's　still　showing　on　the　edge　of　the　screen。〃
　〃She's　huge；〃　Julia　muttered　in　awe。
　Pitt　grinned　like　a　gambler　who　hit　a　jackpot。　〃I　think　we've　got　her。〃　He　checked　his　X　on　the　chart。　The　wreck　was　three　miles　closer　inshore　than　Gallagher　had　estimated。　Actually；　an　incredibly　close　guess；　all　things　considered；　Pitt　thought。
　〃She's　broken　in　two；〃　Hall　said；　pointing　at　the　blue…black　image　on　the　video　screen　as　everyone；　including　Giordino；　pushed　in　for　a　closer　look。　〃About　two　hundred　feet　of　her　stern　lies　a　good　hundred　and　fifty　feet　away　with　a　large　debris　field　in　between。〃
　
　〃The　forward　section　looks　to　be　sitting　upright；〃　added　Pitt。
　〃Do　you　really　think　it's　the　Princess　Dou　Wan？〃　asked　Julia。
　〃We'll　know　for　certain　after　we　get　the　ROV　down　on　her。〃　He　stared　at　Wilbanks。　〃Do　you　want　to　wait　until　tomorrow？〃
　〃We're　here；　ain't　we？〃　Wilbanks　retorted　with　a　smile。　〃Anybody　have　any　objections　against　working　at　night？〃
　
　No　one　objected。　Pitt　and　Hall　quickly　retrieved　the　sonar　towfish　and　magnetometer　sensor；　and　soon　they　had　the　Benthos　MiniRover　MK　II　robotic　vehicle　tethered　up　to　the　control　handbox　and　a　video　monitor。　At　seventy…five　pounds；　it　only　took　two　of　the　men　to　lift　it　over　the　side　and　lower　it　into　the　water。　The　bright　halogen　underwater　lights　of　the　ROV　slowly　vanished　in　the　deep　as　she　began　her　journey　downward　into　the　dark　void　of　Lake　Michigan。　She　was　attached　to　the　Divercity　and　the　control　console　by　an　umbilical　cable。　Wilbanks　aimed　an　eye　on　the　puter　screen　of　the　global　positioning　system　and　adroitly　kept　the　Divercity　floating　motionless　above　the　wreck。
　
　The　descent　to　four　hundred　feet　took　only　a　few　minutes。　All　light　from　the　setting　sun　vanished　at　360　feet。　Hall　stopped　the　MiniRover　when　the　bottom　came　into　sight。　It　looked　like　a　lumpy　blanket　of　gray　silt。
　
　〃The　depth　here　is　four　hundred　thirty　feet；〃　he　said　as　he　swung　the　ROV　in　a　tight　circle。　Suddenly；　the　lights　illuminated　a　large　shaft　that　looked　like　a　giant　tentacle　reaching　out　from　a　sea　monster。
　〃What　in　hell　is　that？〃　muttered　Wilbanks；　turning　from　his　puter　positioning　screen。
　〃Move　toward　it；〃　Pitt　ordered　Hall。　〃I　think　we've　e　down　on　the　forward　cargo　section　of　the　hull；　and　we're　looking　at　the　overhead　boom　of　a　loading　crane　on　the　forward　deck。〃
　Working　the　controls　of　the　MiniRover's　handbox；　Hall　slowly　sent　the　ROV　along　one　side　of　the　crane　until　the　camera　revealed　a　clear　video　image　of　a　hull　belonging　to　a　large　ship。　He　worked　the　ROV　along　the　sides　of　the　hull　toward　the　bow；　which　still　stood　perfectly　upright；　as　if　the　ship　had　refused　to　die　and　still　dreamed　of　sailing　the　seas。　Soon　the　outline　of　the　ship's　name　became　visible。　It　looked　to　have　been　painted　crudely　on　the　raised　white　gunwale　atop　the　black　bow　slightly　aft　of　the　anchor；　which　still　fit　snug　in　its　hawsehole。　One　by　one　the　letters　slid　past　the　screen。
　A　doctor　will　tell　you　that　if　your　heart　stops；　you're　dead。　But　it　seemed　everyone's　heart　paused　for　several　seconds　as　the　name　of　the　sunken　ship　passed　under　the　MiniRover's　cameras。
　〃Prince