cc.vixen03-第7章

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　〃And　03？〃　asked　Pitt　evenly。　〃Does　that　one　keep　you　awake？〃
　〃You're　asking　me　about　an　accident　that　occurred　when　I　was　four　years　old。　I　can't　relate　to　it。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　Mr。　Pitt；　and　as　far　as　the　Air　Force　is　concerned；　the　disappearance　of　03　is　a　closed　book。　She's　lying　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea　for　all　eternity　and　the　secret　behind　the　tragedy　lies　with　her。〃
　Pitt　looked　at　Steiger　for　a　moment；　then　refilled　the　man's　coffee　cup。　〃You're　wrong；　Colonel　Steiger；　dead　wrong。　There　is　an　answer　and　it's　not　three　thousand　miles　from　here。〃
　After　breakfast　Pitt　and　Steiger　went　their　separate　ways…Pitt　to　probe　a　deep　ravine　that　had　been　too　narrow　for　the　helicopter　to　enter；　Steiger　to　find　a　stream　in　which　to　pan　gold。　The　weather　was　crisp。　A　few　soft　clouds　hovered　over　the　mountaintops　and　the　temperature　stood　in　the　low　sixties。
　It　was　past　noon　when　Pitt　climbed　out　of　the　ravine　and　headed　back　toward　the　cabin。　He　took　a　faintly　marked　trail　that　meandered　through　the　trees　and　came　out　on　the　shore　of　Table　Lake。　A　mile　along　the　waterline　he　met　a　stream　that　emptied　out　of　the　lake；　and　he　followed　it　until　he　ran　into　Steiger。
　The　colonel　was　contentedly　sitting　on　a　flat　rock　in　the　middle　of　the　current；　swishing　a　large　metal　pan　around　in　the　water。
　〃Any　luck？〃　Pitt　yelled。
　Steiger　turned　around；　waved；　and　began　wading　toward　the　bank。　〃I　won't　be　making　any　deposits　at　Fort　Knox。　I'll　be　lucky　if　I　can　scrounge　half　a　gram。〃　He　gave　Pitt　a　friendly　but　skeptical　look。　〃How　about　you？　Find　what　you　were　looking　for？〃
　〃A　wasted　trip；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃But　an　invigorating　hike。〃
　Steiger　offered　him　a　cigarette。　Pitt　declined。
　〃You　know；〃　Steiger　said；　lighting　up；　〃you're　a　classic　study　of　a　stubborn　man。〃
　〃So　I've　been　told；〃　Pitt　said；　and　laughed。
　Steiger　sat　down　and　inhaled　deeply　and　let　the　smoke　trickle　between　his　lips　as　he　spoke。　〃Now；　take　me：　I'm　a　bona　fide　quitter；　but　only　on　the　matters　that　don't　really　count；〃　he　said。　〃Crossword　puzzles；　dull　books；　household　projects；　hooked　rugs…I　never　finish　any　of　them。　I　figure；　without　all　that　mental　stress；　I'll　live　ten　years　longer。〃
　〃A　pity　you　can't　quit　smoking。〃
　〃louche；〃　Steiger　said。
　Just　then　two　teenagers；　a　boy　and　a　girl；　wearing　down　vests　and　standing　on　a　makeshift　raft；　rounded　a　bend　in　the　stream　and　drifted　past。　They　were　laughing　with　adolescent　abandon；　totally　oblivious　of　the　men　on　the　bank。　Pitt　and　Steiger　watched　them　in　silence　until　they　disappeared　downstream。
　〃Now；　there　is　the　life；〃　said　Steiger。　〃I　used　to　go　rafting　down　the　Sacramento　River　when　I　was　a　kid。　Did　you　ever　try　it？〃
　Pitt　did　not　hear　the　question。　He　stood　gazing　intently　at　the　spot　where　the　boy　and　the　girl　became　lost　to　view。　His　facial　expression　transformed　from　deep　thoughtfulness　to　sudden　enlightenment。
　〃What's　with　you？〃　Steiger　asked。　〃You　look　as　though　you've　seen　God。〃
　〃It　was　socking　me　in　the　face　all　this　time　and　I　ignored　it；〃　Pitt　murmured。
　〃Ignored　what？〃
　〃It　just　goes　to　prove　the　toughest　problems　fall　by　the　simplest　solutions。〃
　〃You　haven't　answered　my　question。〃
　〃The　oxygen　tank　and　the　nose　gear；〃　Pitt　said。　〃I　know　where　they　came　from。〃
　Steiger　only　looked　at　Pitt；　his　eyes　clouded　with　skepticism。
　〃What　I'm　getting　at；〃　Pitt　continued；　〃is　that　we've　been　overlooking　the　one　quality　they　share。〃
　〃I　fail　to　see　the　connection；〃　said　Steiger。　〃When　installed　in　the　aircraft；　they　work　under　two　entirely　different　flow　systems；　one　gas　and　the　other　hydraulic。〃
　〃Yes；　but　take　them　off　the　aircraft　and　they　both　have　one　charac…teristic　in　mon。〃
　〃Which　is？〃
　Pitt　gazed　at　Steiger　and　smiled　and　smiled。　Then　he　spoke　the　magic　words。
　〃They　float。〃
　
　8
　
　Alongside　most　sleek　executive　jets；　the　Catlin　M…200　came　off　like　a　flying　toad。　Also　slower　in　flight；　it　had　one　redeeming　quality　that　was　unmatched　by　any　other　airplane　its　size：　the　Catlin　was　designed　to　land　and　take　off　in　impossible　places　with　cargo　loads　twice　its　own　weight。
　The　sun　gleamed　on　the　aquamarine　color　scheme　adorning　the　plane's　fuselage　as　the　pilot　expertly　banked　the　craft　and　settled　it　onto　the　narrow　asphalt　strip　of　the　Lake　County　airport　outside　Leadville。　It　came　to　an　abrupt　halt　with　nearly　two　thousand　feet　to　spare　and　then　turned　and　taxied　toward　the　area　where　Pitt　and　Steiger　waited。　As　it　neared；　the　letters　NUMA　could　be　clearly　distinguished　on　the　side。　The　Catlin　rolled　to　a　stop；　the　engines　were　shut　down；　and　a　minute　later　the　pilot　climbed　down　and　approached　the　two　men。
　〃Thanks　a　lot；　buddy；〃　he　said；　and　grimaced　at　Pitt。
　〃For　what；　a　carefree　all…expenses…paid　vacation　in　the　Rockies？〃
　〃No；　for　prodding　me　out　of　the　sack　with　a　madcap　redhead　in　the　middle　of　the　night　to　assemble　a　cargo　and　fly　it　out　here　from　Washington。〃
　Pitt　turned　to　Steiger。　〃Colonel　Abe　Steiger；　may　I　present　Al　Giordino；　my　sometimes　able　assistant　and　always　chief　bellyacher；　of　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　Giordino　and　Steiger　sized　each　other　up　like　two　professional　fighters。　Except　for　Steiger's　cleanly　shaved　head　and　Semitic　features；　and　Giordino's　mischievous　Italian　grin　and　curly　mop　of　black　hair；　they　could　have　passed　for　brothers。　They　were　built　exactly　alike：　same　height；　same　weight；　even　the　muscles　that　fought　to　escape　their　cloth…ing　seemed　poured　from　the　same　mold。　Giordino　extended　his　hand。
　〃Colonel；　I　hope　you　and　I　never　get　mad　at　each　other。〃
　〃The　feeling　is　mutual；〃　Steiger　said；　smiling　warmly。
　〃Did　you　bring　the　equipment　I　specified？〃　asked　Pitt。
　Giordino　nodded。　〃It　took　some　conniving。　If　the　admiral　finds　out　about　your　little　back…door　project；　he'll　throw　one　of　his　renowned　temper　tantrums。〃
　〃Admiral？〃　Steiger　queried。　〃I　don't　see　how　the　Navy　enters　into　this。〃
　〃They　don't；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃Admiral　James　Sandecker；　retired；　happens　to　be　Chief　Director　of　NUMA。　He　has　this　Scrooge　hangup：　he　frowns　on　clandestine　expenditures　by　the　hired　help　that　aren't　included　in　the　agency's　fiscal　budget。〃
　Steiger's　eyebrows　rose　with　sudden　realization。　〃Are　you　saying　that　you　had　Giordino　take　a　government　aircraft　at　government　expense　halfway　across　the　country　without　authorization；　not　to　mention　a　stolen　cargo　of　equipment？〃
　〃Something　like　that；　yes。〃
　〃We're　really　quite　good　at　it；〃　Giordino　said；　deadpan。
　〃Saves　enormous　time；〃　said　Pitt　unconcernedly。　〃Bureaucratic　red　tape　can　be　such　a　bore。〃
　〃This　is　incredible；〃　said　Steiger　softly。　〃I'll　probably　be　court…martialed　as　an　acplice。〃
　〃Not　if　we　get　away　with　it；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Now　then；　if　you　two　will　untie　the　cargo；　I'll　back　the　Jeep　up　to　the　airplane。〃　With　that　he　walked　toward　the　parking　lot。
　Steiger　watched　him　for　a　moment　and　then　turned　to　Giordino。　〃Have　you　known　him　long？〃
　〃Since　the　first　grade。　I　was　the　class　bully。　When　Dirk　moved　into　the　neighborhood　and　showed　up　for　his　first　day　at　school；　I　worked　him　over　pretty　good。〃
　〃You　showed　him　who　was　boss？〃
　〃Not　exactly。〃　Giordino　reached　up　and　opened　the　cargo　door。　〃After　I　bloodied　his　nose　and　blackened　one　eye；　he　got　up　off　the　ground　and　kicked　me　in　the　crotch。　I　walked　lopsided　for　a　week。〃
　〃You　make　him　sound　devious。〃
　〃Let's　just　say　that　Pitt　has　a　ton　of　balls；　the　brains　to　go　with　them；　and　an　uncanny　knack　for　knocking　the　shit　out　of　any　obstacle；　man　made　or　otherwise；　that　gets　in　his　way。　He　is　a　soft　touch　for。kids　and　animals；　and　helps　little　old　ladies　up　escalators。　To　my　knowledge；　he's　never　stolen　a　dime　in　his　life　nor　used　his　sly　talents　for　personal　gain。　Beyond　all　that；　he's　one　helluva　guy。〃
　〃Do　you　think　he　might　have　gone　too　far　this　time？〃
　〃You　mean　his　stock　in　a　nonexistent　aircraft？〃
　Steiger　nodded。
　〃If　Pitt　tells　you　there's　a　Santa　Claus；　hang　your　stocking　on　the　mantel；　because　you　better　believe　it。〃
　Pitt　crouched　on　his　knees　in　an　aluminum　rowboat　and　fine…tuned　the　TV　monitor。　Steiger　sat　toward　the　bow　and　struggled　with　the　oars。　Giordino　was　in　another　boat；　about　twenty　feet　forward；　nearly　hidden　behind　a　pile　of　battery…powered　transmitters。　As　he　rowed；　he　kept　a　wary　eye　on　the　cable　that　crept　over　the　stern　and　disappeared　into　the　water。　At　the　other　end　was　a　TV　camera　enclosed　in　a　watertight　case。
　〃Wake　me　when　a　good　horror　movie　es　on；〃　Giordino　said；　yawning；　across　the　water。
　〃Keep　rowing；〃　Steiger　grunted。　〃I'm　beginning　to　gain　on　you。〃
　Pitt　did　not　join　in　the　idle　banter。　His　concentration　was　focused　on　the　screen。　A　frigid　afternoon　breeze　rolled　down　the　mountain　slopes　and　turned　the　glassy　surface　of　the　lake　into　a　mild　chop；　making　it　difficult　for　Giordino's　and　Steiger's　aching　arms　to　keep　the　two　boats　on　an　even　course。
　Since　early　morning　the　only　objects　that　had　strayed　past　the　monitor　were　scattered　mounds　of　rocks　embedded　in　the　muddy　bottom；　rotting　remains　of　long…dead　trees　whose　leafless　branches　seemed　to　clutch　at　the　passing　camera；　and　a　few　startled　rainbow　trout　who　gave　the　intruding　camera　a　respectable　berth。
　〃Wouldn't　it　have　been　easier　to　conduct　a　search　with　scuba　equip…ment？〃　Steiger　said；　cutting　into　Pitt's　fixed　scrutiny。
　Pitt　rubbed　his　strained　eyes　with　the　palms　of　his　hands。　〃TV　is　far　more　efficient。　Also；　the　lake　is　two　hundred　feet　deep　in　spots。　A　diver's　bottom　time　at　that　depth　is　measured　in　mere　minutes。　Add　to　that　the　fact　that　fifty　feet　beneath　the　surface　the　water　turns　almost　to　freezing　and　you　have　one　damned　unfortable　situation。　A　man　would　be　lucky　if　his　body　could　withstand　the　cold　more　than　ten　minutes。〃
　〃And　if　we　find　something？〃
　〃Then　I'll　put　on　a　wet　suit　and　go　over　the　side　for　a　look…see；　but　not　one　second　before。〃
　Something　materialized　on　the　monitor　and　Pitt　leaned　forward　for　a　closer　look；　shielding　the　outside　light　with　a　black　cloth。
　〃I　think　we　just　picked　up　Giordino's　horror　movie；〃　he　said。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Steiger　demanded　excitedly。
　〃Looks　like　an　old　log　cabin。〃
　〃A　log　cabin？〃
　〃See　for　yourself。〃
　Steiger　bent　around　Pitt's　shoulder　and　gazed　at　the　screen。　The　camera；　one　hundred　forty　feet　below　the　boats；　relayed　through　the　icy　water　a　picture　of　what　seemed　to　be　a　distorted　structure。　The　sun's　wavering　light　through　the　choppy　surface　and　the　hazy　visibility　at　that　depth　bined　to　give　it　a　ghostlike　image。
　〃How　in　the　world　did　that　get　there？〃　asked　a　bewildered　Steiger。
　〃No　great　secret；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Table　Lake　is　man　made。　The　state　dammed　up　the　stream　that　flows　through　this　valley　in　1945。　An　aban…doned　lumber　mill　that　stood　near　the　old　streambed　was　submerged　when　the　water　rose。　The　cabin　we　see　must　have　been　one　of　the　old　bunkhouses。〃
　Giordino　rowed　back　for　a　look。　〃All　that's　missing　is　a　'for　sale'　sign。〃
　〃Amazingly　well　preserved；〃　murmured　Steiger。
　〃Thanks　to　the　near…freezing　fresh　water；〃　Pitt　added。　Then；　〃So　much　for　the　local　tourist　attraction。　Shall　we　continue？〃
　〃How　much　longer？〃　Giordino　asked　him。　〃I　could　use　some　liquid　nourishment；　preferably　the　kind　that　es　out　of　a　bottle。〃
　〃It'll　be　dark　in　a　couple　of　hours