cussler.blueandgold-第20章

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　Paul　kept　climbing　and　felt　his　wife's　hand　reach　down　to　help　him　clamber　onto　a　branch　thicker　than　a　man's　waist。　Grunting　with　effort；　he　pulled　himself　onto　the　limb　and　reached　for　another　branch。　His　hand　touched　a　smooth；　rubbery　surface。　The　pewter　light　from　a　half　moon　was　diffused　by　a　mist　that　hung　over　the　trees；　but　he　could　see　a　large　plat　form　of　mesh　and　tubing　draped　like　a　giant　spider's　web　over　the　canopy。　It　was　an　ingenious　working　platform；　Trout　thought；　but　he　would　have　to　save　his　admiration　for　later。　Heavy　breathing　was　ing　from　under　their　feet。　Paul　grabbed　for　his　hunting　knife　and　remembered　that　one　of　the　Indians　had　taken　it　from　him　at　the　same　time　he　was　relieved　of　the　Colt。
　
　Gamay　yelled　and　pointed　at　the　rotund　silhouette　of　a　small　blimp　floating　above　their　heads。　There　was　a　crack　of　twigs　from　just　under　their　feet。　The　Chulos　were　seconds　away。　Paul　detached　himself　from　the　lifting　line　and　walked　with　some　difficulty　across　the　spongy　mesh　until　he　reached　a　mooring　rope。　He　gripped　the　line　and　used　his　weight　to　pull　the　blimp　down　to　where　Gamay　could　clamber　into　the　seat　hanging　under　the　gas　bag。　With　her　weight　holding　the　blimp　down；　he　climbed　in　next　to　her。
　
　〃Do　you　know　how　to　operate　one　of　these　things？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃Can't　be　too　hard。　Think　of　it　as　a　boat。　First　thing　you　do　is　cast　off。〃
　
　Gamay　had　sailed　the　Great　Lakes　as　a　child；　so　the　parison　was　reassuring　even　if　she　didn't　believe　it。　They　quickly　untied　the　other　mooring　lines。　The　blimp　hesitated；　then　made
　up　its　mind　and　rose　slowly　above　the　trees。　They　looked　down　and　saw　shadows　leaping　to　grab　the　dangling　lines；　but　the　blimp　was　safely　out　of　reach。
　
　They　rose　high　above　the　fog…filled　valleys　that　stretched　off　in　every　direction　and　began　to　drift　like　a　milkweed　seed；　wondering　if　they　had　simply　exchanged　one　set　of　dangers　for　an　other。
　
　Chapter　11
　〃Senor？　Senor？〃　
　　　　Austin's　eyes　blinked　open　to　see　a　white　stubble　of　whiskers　covering　leathery　cheeks　and　a　gap…toothed　mouth　stretched　wide　in　a　jack…o'…lantern　grin。　It　was　the　face　of　the　Mexican　fisherman　he　and　Joe　had　met　on　the　cliffs　the　day　before。　Austin　lay　on　his　back　in　an　open　wooden　boat；　his　head　cushioned　by　a　coil　of　rope。　He　was　still　in　his　wet　suit；　but　his　scuba　gear　was　gone。　He　pushed　himself　upright　with　his　hands；　a　task　of　no　small　difficulty　because　his　joints　were　sore　and　he　was　sprawled　on　a　slimy　pile　of　fish。
　
　A　fisherman　who　strongly　resembled　the　first　man；　right　down　to　the　cleft　in　his　dental　work；　sat　at　the　other　end　of　the　boat　keeping　watch　over　Zavala。　Joe's　hair；　normally　so　neatly　bed；　sprouted　in　a　hundred　different　directions；　and　his　shorts　and　T…shirt　were　dripping　wet。　He　looked　dazed　but　awake。
　
　〃You　okay？〃　Austin　called　out。
　
　A　fish　flopped　onto　Zavala's　lap。　He　carefully　picked　up　the　creature　by　the　tail　and　tossed　it　with　the　others。　〃No　broken　bones。　Now　I　know　what　it's　like　to　be　shot　out　of　a　cannon。　How　about　you？〃
　
　〃A　few　aches　and　pains。〃　Austin　rubbed　the　throbbing　muscles　of　his　shoulder；　then　went　to　work　on　his　legs。　〃I　feel　like　I've　gone　through　a　car　wash　and　a　telephone　keeps　ringing　in　my　ear。〃　
　
　　〃Your　voice　sounds　like　it's　still　ing　over　an　underwater　municator。　Do　you　know　what　happened？　I　was　ing　to　get　you　in　the　Brogan　when　all　hell　broke　loose。〃
　
　〃There　was　an　underwater　explosion。〃　Austin　glanced　at　the　mirror…flat　sea。　The　boat　lay　off　the　cove　entrance。　The　Sea　Robin　was　nowhere　in　sight。　Austin　couldn't　figure　it。　Contos　and　his　crew　would　have　heard　the　blast。　Why　hadn't　they　e　out　to　investigate？
　
　He　turned　his　attention　back　to　their　own　predicament。　〃Would　you　ask　our　friends　how　we　got　here？〃
　
　Zavala　questioned　the　fishermen　in　Spanish。　One　of　them　did　most　of　the　talking；　speaking　in　rapid　fire　as　his　brother　nodded　in　agreement。　Zavala　thanked　him　and　translated　the　ex　change。
　
　〃This　man's　name　is　Juan；〃　Zavala　said。　〃He　remembers　us　from　yesterday　up　on　the　cliffs。　The　other　guy　is　his　brother　Pedro。　They　were　fishing　when　they　heard　a　big　muffled　roar　and　the　water　bubbled　and　foamed　in　the　inlet。〃
　
　〃Si；　si；　la　bufadora；〃　Juan　said。　He　threw　his　hands　expansively　into　the　air　like　an　orchestra　conductor　calling　for　a　crescendo。
　
　〃What's　with　the　theatrics？〃　Austin　asked
　
　〃He　says　the　noise　was　like　the　blowhole　outside　Ensenada　where　the　sea　es　into　a　cleft　in　the　rocks　and　makes　a　big　boom。　Only　it　was　many　times　louder。　The　cliff　split　away　be　hind　the　tortilla　factory。　There　were　big　swells；　and　the　boat　al　most　capsized。　Then　we　popped　out　of　the　water。　They　pulled　us　in　like　a　couple　of　overgrown　sardines；　and　here　we　are。〃
　
　Austin　scanned　the　sea　again。　〃Did　they　mention　seeing　the　Sea　Robin？〃
　
　〃They　saw　a　ship　earlier。　From　their　description　it　must　have　been　the　Robin。　It　went　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　headland；　and　they　haven't　seen　it　since。〃
　
　Austin　was　starting　to　worry　about　Contos　and　his　crew。　〃Please　thank　our　benefactors　for　their　kindness　and　ask　if　they　would　mind　taking　us　around　the　point。〃　
　
　　Zavala　relayed　Austin's　request；　and　the　fishermen　started　the　old　Mercury　outboard　in　a　cloud　of　blue　smoke。　Coughing　like　an　asthmatic　corn　popper；　the　motor　effortlessly　moved　the　boat　through　the　silken　sea。　With　Juan　manning　the　tiller；　they　rounded　the　headland　and　immediately　saw　why　the　Sea　Robin　hadn't　left　its　mooring。　The　NUMA　ship　wasn't　going　anywhere　for　a　while。
　
　The　deck　was　covered　with　a　small　mountain　of　dirt　and　boulders；　and　the　vessel　listed　heavily　to　the　starboard。　The　A…frame　at　the　stern　and　the　free…standing　cranes　on　the　aft　deck　had　been　twisted　as　easily　as　pretzels　by　the　debris。　Above　the　boat；　the　steep　cliff　face　was　layered　with　yellow　strata　exposed　by　the　rockslide。　Crew　members　were　attacking　the　rubble　with　shovels　and　crowbars；　tossing　what　debris　they　could　manage　over　the　side。　A　forklift　was　moving　the　bigger　rocks。
　
　Juan　maneuvered　the　fishing　boat　alongside　the　NUMA　vessel。　Contos　came　to　the　rail　and　leaned　over。　His　hands　and　face　were　caked　with　dirt；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　had　crawled　out　of　a　mine。
　
　Austin　cupped　his　hands　and　called　out；　〃Anyone　hurt？〃
　
　〃A　few　cuts　and　bruises；〃　Contos　yelled　back。　〃Luckily　the　aft　deck　was　clear。　We　had　heard　a　loud　boom　from　the　cove　and　were　about　to　check　it　out。　Then　the　whole　side　of　the　cliff　came　down　before　we　could　weigh　anchor。　Where　the　hell　have　you　two　been？〃
　
　〃I　like　your　new　makeup；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Joe　chimed　in；　〃Is　it　Estee　Lauder？〃
　
　Contos's　attempt　to　rub　the　dirt　off　his　nose　only　made　it　worse。　〃It's　evident　from　your　wise…ass　ment　that　you're　hale　and　hearty。　When　you're　through　being　obnoxious；　would　you　mind　telling　me　what　happened？〃
　
　〃That　boom　you　heard　was　an　underwater　explosion；〃　Joe　said。
　
　Contos　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃I　don't　know　of　any　volcanic　activity　along　here。　What　caused　it？〃
　
　〃Best　we　can　say　for　sure　is　that　it　was　centered　in　the　under　water　installation；〃　Austin　said。　
　He　gave　Austin　a　blank　look。
　
　〃We'll　explain　later。〃　Austin　surveyed　the　yellowed　〃The　explosion　shook　the　slide　loose。〃
　
　Contos　furrowed　his　brow。　〃Hey；〃　he　said　as　a　thought　struck　him。　〃What　did　you　do　with　the　Brogan？〃
　
　Austin　and　Zavala　looked　at　each　other　like　guilty　children　who　had　broken　the　cookie　jar。　Austin　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　he　were　a　Jonah；　the　name　mariners　give　a　seaman　who　at　tracts　calamity。　This　was　the　second　craft　he　had　lost　in　as　many　days。
　
　〃We　lost　her；〃　Austin　said。　〃Sorry。　It　couldn't　be　helped。　Juan　and　Pedro　here　hauled　us　out　of　the　water。〃
　
　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；〃　Contos　said　to　the　smiling　fishermen。　〃Not　much　we　can　do　about　it　now。　NUMA　will　simply　have　to　build　me　a　new　one。〃
　
　Austin　swept　his　eyes　over　the　tilted　hull　of　the　Sea　Robin。　〃Your　vessel　has　quite　a　list。　Are　you　in　any　danger　of　sinking？〃
　
　〃I　think　we'll　be　okay。　No　leaks　detected　so　far。　We'll　see　what　happens　once　we　get　under　way。　Most　of　the　damage　is　to　the　deck　and　superstructure。　The　cranes　are　useless；　as　you　can　see。　The　forklift　can　move　the　big　stuff。　We　haven't　called　for　help　because　we　don't　want　to　have　to　explain　what　we're　doing　in　Mexican　waters。〃
　
　〃Do　we　have　time　to　check　out　the　cove？〃
　
　Contos　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　rubble　still　to　be　re　moved。　〃Be　my　guest。　We'll　get　under　way　as　soon　as　we're　able。〃
　
　Zavala　asked　the　fishermen　to　take　them　back　to　the　inlet。　The　request　started　an　animated　argument　between　the　brothers。　Pedro　had　had　enough　of　the　cursed　place　with　its　strange　explosions　and　stranger　mermen　popping　out　of　the　sea。　He　clearly　wanted　to　go　home；　but　his　brother　prevailed。
　
　The　boat　made　its　way　around　the　headland。　As　they　entered　the　cove　they　could　see　smoke　ing　from　the　tortilla　factory。　Like　the　cliff　above　the　Sea　Robin；　the　sheer　face　behind　the　factory　was　layered　yellow　where　the　outer　rock　cover　had　been　dislodged　by　the　explosion。　The　rock　slide　had　taken　with　it　all　traces　of　the　monorail　elevator。
　
　The　fishing　boat　cut　a　path　through　the　debris　and　dead　fish　that　covered　the　surface　of　the　inlet。　Using　a　bucket；　Austin　and　Zavala　scooped　pieces　of　melted　plastic　and　charred　paper　from　the　water。　Remembering　how　a　tiny　piece　of　metal　had　helped　track　down　the　source　of　the　TWA　jet　explosion　over　Locker　bee；　Scotland；　Austin　figured　even　the　tiniest　fragment　might　be　of　use。
　
　The　work　was　painstaking；　but　their　persistence　paid　off。　Zavala　snagged　a　metal　cylinder　bobbing　in　the　water。　It　was　about　two　feet　long　and　six　inches　in　diameter。　Austin　found　a　serial　number　and　the　name　of　its　manufacturer　etched　into　the　metal。
　
　Joe　called　his　attention　to　movement　at　the　top　of　the　cliffs。　Human　specks　could　be　seen　lining　the　bluff。　Austin　didn't　feel　like　answering　questions　for　the　local　authorities。　The　fishermen　were　happy　to　head　back　to　the　ship。　The　deck　was　practically　clear　as　they　pulled　up　next　to　the　Sea　Robin。　The　ship　was　close　to　its　normal　pitch。　Austin　borrowed　some　money　from　Contos　and　tried　to　pay　the　fishermen　for　their　services；　but　the　brothers　refused　the　cash。　Juan　explained　through　Zavala　that　showing　them　the　hole　in　the　fence　was　a　service　for　which　he　would　accept　payment；　but　saving　men　from　the　sea　was　a　moral　duty。　Austin　thought　about　it；　then　persuaded　the　fishermen　to　accept　a　gift　of　friendship。　After　discussing　it　with　Contos；　they　presented　the　happy　fishermen　with　an　outboard　motor　soon　to　be　retired　from　service　but　in　excellent　shape。
　
　The　engines　were　started；　and　the　ship　slowly　headed　for　open　water。　No　leaks　were　detected。　Contos　set　a　course　north。　They　left　just　in　time。　As　they　cruised　along；　a　dark　green　helicopter　appeared　out　of　nowhere；　circled　the　inlet　several　times；　then　dashed　off　to　the　north　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　They　mingled　with　the　boat　traffic　around　Ensenada；　where　they　spotted　a　Mexican　coast　guard　boat　steaming　at　full　speed　in　the　opposite　direction。　With　the　Sea　Robin　safely　on　its　way；　the　NUMA
　men　hit　the　showers　and　got　into