cc.floodtide-第93章

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　〃How？〃　he　asked　simply。
　〃With　much　luck　and　many　good　people；〃　Pitt　said　impassively。　〃After　my　researcher　discovered　a　survivor　who　pointed　the　way；　I　put　together　a　salvage　project　bining　NUMA；　the　U。S。　Navy　and　the　Canadians。　Together；　they　pleted　the　salvage　in　ten　days　before　leaking　the　Princess　Dou　Wan's　position　to　your　researcher。　I　believe　his　name　is　Zhu　Kwan。　Then　it　was　merely　a　matter　of　sitting　back　and　waiting　for　you　to　show　up。　I　knew　you　were　obsessed　by　the　treasure；　Qin　Shang。　I　read　you　like　a　book。　Now　it's　payoff　time。　By　ing　back　into　the　U。S。　you've　forfeited　any　chance　you　had　of　a　long　life。　Unfortunately；　because　there　is　a　great　lack　of　ethics　and　morality　in　the　world　these　days；　your　money　and　political　influence　has　undoubtedly　kept　you　out　of　prison。　But　the　final　entry　in　your　ledger；　Qin　Shang；　is　that　you　are　going　to　die。　You　are　going　to　die　as　retribution　for　all　those　innocent　people　you　murdered。〃
　〃You　create　amusing　plots；　Pitt。〃　There　was　a　sneer　in　Qin　Shang's　voice；　but　it　was　contradicted　by　a　deep　uneasiness　in　his　eyes。　〃And　who　is　going　to　see　that　I　die？〃
　〃I've　been　waiting　for　you；〃　Pitt　said；　hate　mirrored　in　his　green　eyes。　〃There　was　never　a　doubt　that　you　would　e　and　e　alone。〃
　〃Are　you　quite　finished？　Or　do　you　wish　to　bore　me　to　death？〃
　Qin　Shang　knew　his　life　was　hanging　by　a　thread；　but　he　had　yet　to　figure　by　what　means　he　was　supposed　to　die。　Although　Pitt's　casualness　made　him　unfortable；　all　fear　was　slowly　replaced　by　an　inner　self…defense　mechanism。　His　conspiring　mind　began　to　concentrate　on　a　plan　to　save　himself。　His　hopes　rose　when　he　prehended　that　Pitt　had　no　support　from　a　surface　ship。　A　diver　inside　a　Newtsuit　did　not　make　descents　and　ascents　without　an　umbilical　cable。　He　had　to　be　lowered　and　raised　by　winch　from　a　mother　ship　on　the　surface。　The　cable　also　served　as　a　munications　link。　Pitt　was　breathing　self…contained　air　that　could　not　last　much　longer　than　an　hour。
　Without　life　support　on　the　surface；　Pitt　was　on　borrowed　time　and　totally　defenseless。
　〃You're　not　as　clever　as　you　think；〃　Qin　Shang　said；　a　faint　pallor　on　his　face。　〃From　my　side　of　the　viewing　port；　it　looks　like　you　are　the　one　who　is　going　to　die；　Mr。　Pitt。　Your　ingenious　diving　apparatus　against　my　submersible？　You　stand　about　as　much　chance　as　a　sloth　against　a　bear。〃　〃I'm　willing　to　give　it　a　try。〃　〃Where　is　your　support　ship？〃
　〃I　don't　need　one；〃　Pitt　said　with　unnerving　nonchalance。　〃I　walked　from　shore。〃
　〃You　are　very　humorous　for　a　man　who　will　never　see　the　sun　again。〃　
　As　Qin　Shang　spoke；　his　hands　moved　furtively　toward　the　controls　of　the　submersible's　manipulator　arms　and　their　claws。　〃I　can　either　drop　my　weights　and　float　to　the　surface；　leaving　you　alone　to　your　fate。　Or；　I　can　call　my　crew　and　order　them　to　send　down　my　backup　submersible。〃
　〃Not　fair。　That　would　make　it　two　bears　against　one　sloth。〃
　The　man's　imperturbable　posure　is　inhuman；　thought　Qin　Shang。　Something　is　not　as　it　seems。　〃You　act　sure　of　yourself；〃　he　said；　as　he　measured　his　options。
　Pitt　raised　one　of　the　Newtsuit's　manipulator　arms　and　displayed　a　small；　watertight　box　with　an　antenna。　〃In　case　you're　wondering　why　you　haven't　heard　from　your　friends　topside；　this　little　device　scrambles　all　munications　within　five　hundred　feet。〃
　That　explained　why　he　had　received　no　calls　from　the　Jade　Adventurer。　But　that　piece　of　news　did　nothing　to　deter　Qin　Shang's　determination　to　wreak　punishment　on　Pitt。
　〃You　have　meddled　in　my　affairs　for　the　last　time。〃　Qin　Shang's　fingers　slowly　curled　around　the　throttle　of　the　thrust…ers　and　the　manipulator　controls。　〃I　can　not　waste　another　minute　with　you。　I　must　seek　out　where　you've　hidden　the　treasure。　Farewell；　Mr。　Pitt。　I'm　dropping　my　ballast　weights　and　returning　to　the　surface。〃
　Pitt　knew　full　well　what　was　ing。　Even　through　the　murky　water　that　separated　them；　he　detected　the　sudden　shift　in　Qin　Shang's　eyes。　He　threw　up　his　manipulator　arms　to　protect　his　vulnerable　bubble　mask　and　reversed　the　two　small　motors　mounted　on　each　side　of　the　Newtsuit's　waist。　His　reaction　came　at　almost　the　same　instant　as　the　submersible　lurched　forward。
　It　was　a　battle　Pitt　could　not　win。　One　second　the　Sea　Lotus　was　hovering　level；　the　next　it　was　relentlessly　ing　toward　him。　His　much　smaller　manipulator　pincers　were　no　match　for　the　larger　claws　on　the　arms　of　the　submersible。　Qin　Shang's　vehicle　could　also　move　at　twice　the　speed　of　the　Newtsuit。　If　the　submersible's　mechanical　claws　cut　through　the　Newtsuit；　it　would　be　all　over。
　Pitt　could　do　nothing　but　helplessly　watch　as　the　big　ugly　manipulator　arms　spread　in　preparation　of　encircling　him　in　a　death　grip；　squeezing　until　the　integrity　of　the　Newtsuit　was　gashed　open　to　the　water　waiting　to　rush　inside。　When　that　happened；　Pitt　would　die　an　agonizing　death。
　He　had　no　wish　to　wait　for　the　water　to　gush　down　his　open　throat　into　his　lungs。　The　burst　of　sudden　pressure　alone　would　make　his　final　moments　unbearable。　He　had　e　close　to　drowning　on　at　least　two　occasions；　and　he　had　no　desire　to　repeat　the　events。　Tormented；　struggling　and　dying　with　no　one　near　him　to　see　except　his　most　vicious　enemy　was　not　what　Pitt　had　in　mind。
　Pitt　longed　to　drive　the　Newtsuit　forward；　using　his　own　manipulator　pincers　to　smash　Qin　Shang's　viewing　window　of　the　submersible；　but　they　were　too　short　and　would　have　easily　been　knocked　away　by　the　arms　on　the　submersible。　Also；　an　aggressive　attack　was　not　part　of　his　plan。　He　looked　into　the　twin　jaws　of　death；　saw　the　evil　leer　on　Qin　Shang's　face　and　maneuvered　his　cumbersome　pressure　suit　backward　in　a　losing　effort　to　stall　for　time。
　Directing　the　articulated　joints　of　the　Newtsuit；　he　leaned　over　and　used　the　manipulator　pincers　to　pick　up　a　short　length　of　pipe　that　was　lying　on　the　deck。　Then　he　swung　the　pipe　to　ward　off　the　deadly　arms　of　the　submersible。　It　was　almost　a　laughable　gesture。　Qin　Shang　guided　his　claws　toward　Pitt　from　two　sides。　Almost　as　if　he　was　snatching　candy　from　a　baby；　he　seized　the　pipe　and　tore　it　from　the　Newtsuit's　pincers。　If　spectators　could　have　seen　the　fight　through　the　murk；　it　would　have　looked　like　a　ballet　between　two　huge　animals　in　slow　motion。　All　movement　at　that　depth　was　hindered　by　the　surrounding　water　pressure。
　Then　Pitt　felt　the　Newtsuit　e　to　an　abrupt　halt　as　he　backed　it　against　the　forward　bulkhead　of　the　Princess　Dou　Wart's　superstructure。　Now　there　was　no　room　to　escape　the　onslaught。　The　uneven　fight　had　only　lasted　eight　or　nine　minutes。　Pitt　could　see　the　satanic　grin　on　Qin　Shang's　face　as　his　sadistic　opponent　closed　in　for　the　kill。
　Then；　unexpectedly；　without　warning；　a　vague　shape　came　gliding　silently　out　of　the　gloom　like　a　great　incarnate　vulture。　Stretched　prone　inside　a　submersible　with　the　configuration　of　a　small　airplane　with　stubby　wings　and　a　tail　assembly；　Giordino　angled　the　Sappho　TV　from　above　and　dropped　behind　the　Sea　Lotus。　With　grim　concentration　he　operated　the　controls　to　a　viselike　talon　that　protruded　from　beneath　the　craft。　Clutched　in　the　talon　was　a　small　round　ball　less　than　three　inches　in　diameter　that　was　attached　to　a　small　suction　device。　pletely　oblivious；　Qin　Shang's　attention　was　focused　on　murdering　Pitt。　Then　Giordino　pressed　the　ball　and　suction　device　against　the　pressure　hull　of　the　Sea　Lotus　until　it　adhered。　After　that　he　tilted　the　Sappho　TVs　bow　sharply　upward　and　banked　away；　quickly　disappearing　into　the　watery　void。
　
　Twenty　seconds　later　a　sharp　thump　sounded　through　the　water。　At　first　Qin　Shang　was　mystified　as　he　felt　the　Sea　Lotus　shudder。　Too　late　he　realized　that　Pitt's　brave　defiance　against　overwhelming　odds　was　a　diversion　for　an　attack　from　another　source。　And　then　he　watched　in　growing　horror　as　a　spiderweb　of　tiny　fractures　spread　across　the　upper　wall　of　the　pressure　chamber。　Suddenly　water　burst　inside　as　if　shot　from　a　small　cannon。　The　pressure　chamber　maintained　its　integrity　and　did　not　implode；　but　the　ining　flood　spelled　its　doom。
　
　Qin　Shang　froze　in　cold　fright　as　the　water　rose　higher　and　higher；　rapidly　filling　the　small　interior　of　the　submersible。　He　frantically　switched　on　the　pumps　to　drain　the　ballast　tanks　and　hit　the　lever　to　drop　the　heavy　weights　beneath　the　keel。　The　Sea　Lotus　sluggishly　ascended　for　several　feet　and　then　hung　there　as　the　flooding　water　neutralized　its　buoyancy。　Then　it　slowly　began　to　fall；　settling　into　the　bottom　and　throwing　up　a　thin　cloud　of　silt。
　
　Now　in　mindless　panic；　Qin　Shang　desperately　tried　to　open　the　outer　hatch　in　an　insane　attempt　to　reach　the　surface　430　feet　above；　an　impossible　gesture　because　of　the　immense　water　pressure　outside。
　
　Pitt　moved　the　Newtsuit　through　the　cloud　of　silt　and　gazed　through　the　submersible's　viewing　window；　remembering　the　sight　of　the　bodies　strewn　in　the　depths　of　Orion　Lake　as　the　Chinese　arch…criminal　pulled　himself　up　into　a　rapidly　pressing　air　pocket　for　one　last　breath　before　the　icy　water　of　the　lake　filled　his　nose　and　open；　screaming　mouth。　The　screams　were　soon　choked　off　until　the　only　sound　ing　from　the　Sea　Lotus　was　the　gurgling　of　escaping　bubbles。　Then；　as　if　set　on　a　timer；　the　halogen　lights　blinked　out；　throwing　the　submersible　into　total　darkness。
　
　Pitt　was　sweating　heavily　inside　the　Newtsuit。　He　stood　on　the　bottom；　staring　with　grim　satisfaction　at　the　underwater　tomb　of　Qin　Shang。　The　billionaire　shipping　magnate；　who　had　dominated　and　exploited　and　slain　thousands　of　innocent　people；　would　spend　eternity　in　the　deep　next　to　the　empty　treasure　ship　that　had　obsessed　most　of　his　waking　life。　It　was　a　fitting　end；　Pitt　thought　without　the　slightest　sense　of　pity。
　
　He　glanced　up　as　Giordino　reappeared　in　the　Sappho　IV。　〃You　took　your　sweet　time。　I　might　have　been　killed。〃
　
　Giordino　hovered　the　sub　until　their　faces　behind　the　protective　transparent　shields　were　no　more　than　two　feet　apart。　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　much　I　enjoyed　the　show；〃　he　laughed。　〃If　you　could　have　only　seen　yourself　in　that　Pillsbury　Doughboy　suit　playing　Errol　Flynn　with　a　pipe　as　a　sword。〃
　
　〃Next　time；　you　do　the　hard　part。〃
　〃Qin　Shang？〃　asked　Giordino。
　Pitt　pointed　a　pincer　at　the　inert　submersible。　〃Where　he　belongs。〃
　〃How　are　you　fixed　for　air？〃
　〃Down　to　twenty　minutes。〃
　〃No　time　to　waste。　Stand　still　until　I　can　connect　up　my　cable　to　the　lift　ring　on　top　of　your　helmet。　Then　I'll　tow　you　to　the　surface。〃
　〃Not　just　yet；〃　said　Pitt。　〃I've　got　a　little　task　to　perform。〃
　
　He　activated　the　little　thrusters　on　the　Newtsuit　and　moved　up　the　sides　of　the　superstructure　until　he　came　to　the　wheel…house。　The　bulkheads　had　been　torched　away　for　entry　and　for　the　removal　of　the　treasures　packed　in　the　passageways　and　former　passenger　staterooms。　He　quickly　studied　a　diagram　of　the　ship's　interior　that　he　had　taped　to　the　globular　view　plate　and　began　propelling　the　pressurized　suit　past　the　captain's　cabin　next　to　the　wheelhouse　to　the　next　cabin　beyond。　Amazingly；　the　furnishings　were　still　relatively　intact　and　jumbled　about　the　small　partment。　After　only　a　few　minutes'　search；　Pitt　found　what　he　was　looking　for　and　removed　a　small　pouch　from　the　utility　belt　on　th