cc.floodtide-第18章

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　He　jammed　his　dive　knife　between　the　spokes　of　the　wheel；　sticking　the　point　into　the　wooden　pass　box　beyond　to　hold　the　boat　on　course。　Then　he　set　the　throttles　on　slow　and　exited　the　wheelhouse；　scrambling　down　the　ladder　to　the　engine　partment　in　the　starboard　hull。　There　was　no　time　to　build　a　fancy　incendiary　bomb；　so　he　spun　off　the　big　refueling　cap　to　the　fuel　tank；　found　several　oily　rags　used　to　clean　the　engine　fittings　and　quickly　knotted　them　together。　Then　he　stuffed　a　length　of　rags　inside　the　tank；　soaked　them　with　diesel　fuel　and　trailed　the　rest　onto　the　engine…partment　deck。　Next；　he　arranged　the　rags　into　a　small；　circlelike　dam　and　poured　fuel　inside　it。　Not　overly　pleased　with　his　handiwork；　but　satisfied　that　under　the　circumstances　it　was　the　best　he　could　do；　Pitt　returned　to　the　wheelhouse　and　rummaged　the　storage　cabinets　until　he　found　what　he　knew　had　to　be　there　somewhere。　Loading　the　emergency　flare　gun；　he　laid　it　on　the　counter　beside　the　phone　in　front　of　the　helm。　Only　then　did　he　pull　his　knife　from　the　wheel　and　grip　the　spokes。
　
　The　yacht　and　the　dock　were　only　two　hundred　yards　distant　now。
　
　Water　gushing　through　cracks　in　the　bows；　crushed　from　their　collision　with　the　lake　bank；　rapidly　filled　the　forward　section　of　the　twin　hulls；　dragging　them　down。　Pitt　shoved　the　throttles　against　their　stops。　The　propellers　bit　and　churned　the　water　to　froth；　their　drive　power　raising　the　bows　out　of　the　water。　Fifteen；　eighteen；　then　twenty　knots；　the　ungainly　catamaran　skipped　over　the　water。　The　helm　vibrated　under　Pitt's　hands　as　the　yacht　loomed　ever　larger　through　the　windshield。　He　cut　a　broad　arc　until　the　twin　hulls　were　lined　up　square　in　the　middle　of　the　yacht's　port　beam。
　
　When　the　distance　closed　to　seventy；　going　on　sixty；　yards；　Pitt　dashed　through　the　wheelhouse　door；　dropped　to　the　aft…deck　platform；　aimed　the　flare　gun　down　through　the　open　hatch　of　the　engine　partment　at　the　fuel…soaked　rags　and　pulled　the　trigger。　Trusting　his　aim　was　accurate；　he　leaped　into　the　water；　striking　it　at　twenty　knots　with　such　force　that　his　buoyancy　pensator　was　torn　from　his　body。
　
　Four　seconds　later；　there　was　a　splintering　crash　as　the　catamaran　smashed　through　the　hull　of　the　yacht；　followed　by　an　explosion　that　filled　the　night　sky　with　flame　and　flying　debris。　The　black　catamaran　that　had　acted　as　an　execution　chamber　disintegrated。　All　that　remained　of　it　was　a　flaming　oil　slick。　Almost　immediately；　fire　was　shooting　through　every　port　and　varnished　door　of　the　yacht。　Pitt　was　stunned　at　how　quickly　she　became　a　flaming　torch。　He　backstroked　around　the　yacht's　stern　toward　the　floating　hut　at　the　end　of　the　dock；　watching　as　the　luxurious　skylounge　and　dining　salon　collapsed　into　the　fire。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　the　yacht　settled　into　the　cold　waters　of　the　lake　amid　a　huge　cloud　of　hissing　steam；　until　nothing　remained　of　her　except　the　upper　half　of　a　radar　antenna。
　
　The　reaction　time　for　the　security　guards；　as　Pitt　had　previously　estimated；　was　slow。　He　had　reached　the　floating　hut　before　they　came　racing　from　the　retreat　on　their　dirt　bikes　toward　the　dock；　which　had　also　ignited　and　was　now　going　up　in　flames。　For　the　second　time　in　an　hour　he　surfaced　inside　the　hut。　Feet　could　be　heard　pounding　through　the　passageway。　He　slammed　the　door；　but　finding　no　lock；　wedged　his　trusty　dive　knife　between　the　outer　edge　and　the　frame；　effectively　jamming　it　closed。
　
　An　old　hand　at　riding　watercraft；　he　jumped　astride　the　nearest　one　and　pressed　the　starter　button。　He　squeezed　the　thumb　throttle；　and　the　motor　immediately　whirred　into　life。　The　thrasters　dug　in　the　water　and　threw　the　craft　and　Pitt　forward。　Together；　they　struck　the　flimsy　door；　shattering　it　into　splinters　before　racing　across　the　lake。　Cold；　wet；　exhausted　and　bleeding　from　the　bullet　wound　in　his　hip；　Pitt　felt　like　a　man　who　had　just　won　the　lottery；　the　sweepstakes　and　broke　the　bank　at　Monte　Carlo。　But　only　for　the　time　it　took　to　reach　the　dock　beside　his　cabin。
　
　Then　reality　set　in；　and　he　knew　the　worst　was　yet　to　e。
　
　LO　HAN　STARED　DUMBSTRUCK　AT　THE　MONITORS　INSIDE　THE　mobile　security　vehicle　revealing　the　black　catamaran　suddenly　making　a　wide　swing　around　the　lake　and　homing　in　on　the　yacht；　ramming　the　beautiful　vessel　square　amidships。　The　resulting　explosion　rocked　the　security　vehicle；　temporarily　knocking　out　the　surveillance　systems。　Lo　Han　ran　outside　and　down　to　the　shoreline　to　witness　the　disaster　firsthand。
　
　There　will　be　a　heavy　price　to　pay；　he　thought；　staring　at　the　yacht　as　it　sank　under　the　lake　in　a　cloud　of　steam。　Qin　Shang　was　not　a　man　who　easily　forgave。　He　would　not　be　pleased　when　he　learned　that　one　of　his　four　yachts　had　been　destroyed。　Already　Lo　Han　was　mentally　creating　ways　to　blame　that　stupid　Chu　Deng。
　
　After　he　had　demanded　that　Chu　Deng　investigate　the　mysterious　light；　there　had　been　no　coherent　munication　from　the　black　boat　and　its　crew　of　enforcers。　He　had　to　believe　that　they　were　drunk　and　had　passed　out　in　a　stupor。　What　other　explanation　could　there　be？　What　reason　for　purposely　mitting　suicide？　The　last　thing　to　cross　his　mind　was　the　specter　of　an　outside　source　who　was　responsible　for　this　disaster。
　
　
　
　Two　of　his　guards　came　running　up　to　him。　Lo　Han　recognized　them　as　the　men　from　his　water　patrol。
　〃Lo　Han；〃　one　of　the　men　panted；　out　of　breath　after　running　nearly　four　hundred　yards　out　and　back　through　the　passageway　to　the　floating　log　hut。
　He　stared　at　them　angrily。　〃Wang　Hui；　Li　San；　why　aren't　you　men　on　the　water　with　your　craft？〃
　〃We　couldn't　reach　them；〃　explained　Wang　Hui。　〃The　door　was　locked。　Before　we　could　force　it　open　the　hut　was　on　fire；　and　we　had　to　escape　back　into　the　tunnel　or　be　burned　alive。〃
　〃The　door　was　locked！〃　Lo　Han　bellowed。　〃Impossible。　I　personally　instructed　that　no　lock　be　installed。〃
　〃I　swear　to　you；　Lo　Han；〃　said　Li　San；　〃the　door　was　barred　from　the　inside。〃
　〃Perhaps　it　became　blocked　from　the　explosion；〃　offered　Wang　Hui。
　〃Nonsense…〃　Lo　Han　broke　off　as　a　voice　came　over　his　portable　radio。　〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃　he　snapped。
　The　quiet；　petent　voice　of　his　second　in　mand；　Kung　Chong；　came　through　the　earpiece。　〃The　two　men　who　were　late　in　relieving　the　cell…block　security　guards　。。。〃
　〃Yes；　what　about　them？〃
　〃They　have　been　found　bound　and　beaten　on　the　vacant　second　level　of　the　building。〃
　〃Bound　and　beaten；〃　blurted　Lo　Han。　〃There　is　no　mistake？〃
　〃It　looks　like　the　work　of　a　professional；〃　stated　Kung
　Chong　flatly。
　〃Are　you　saying　our　security　has　been　infiltrated？〃
　〃It　would　seem　so。〃
　〃Launch　an　immediate　search　of　the　grounds；〃　demanded　Lo　Han。
　〃I　have　already　given　the　order。〃
　
　Lo　Han　slipped　the　radio　into　his　pocket　and　gazed　at　the　dock　that　was　still　blazing　from　end　to　end。　There　has　to　be　a　connection　between　the　men　who　were　assaulted　in　the　prison　building　and　the　insane　collision　of　the　yacht　by　the　catamaran；　he　thought。　Still　ignorant　of　Pitt's　rescue　of　the　doomed　immigrants；　Han　could　not　bring　himself　to　believe　that　American　law…enforcement　agents　had　sent　an　undercover　team　to　destroy　Qin　Shang's　operation。　He　eliminated　that　thought　as　unrealistic；　considering　the　situation。　That　would　make　them　responsible　for　the　murders　of　Chu　Deng　and　his　crew　of　enforcers；　an　act　not　generally　conceived　by　FBI　or　INS　agents。　No；　if　American　investigators　had　the　slightest　clue　of　the　covert　activities　taking　place　on　Orion　Lake；　a　tactical　assault　team　would　already　be　swarming　over　the　grounds。　It　was　painfully　obvious　to　Lo　Han　that　this　was　no　professionally　planned　intrusion　by　an　army　of　trained　agents。　It　was　an　operation　conducted　by　one；　surely　no　more　than　two；　men。
　
　But　whom　were　they　working　for？　Who　was　paying　them？　Certainly　not　a　peting　smuggling　operation　or　one　of　the　established　criminal　syndicates。　They　wouldn't　be　so　stupid　as　to　start　a　territory　fight；　not　while　Qin　Shang　had　the　backing　of　the　People's　Republic　of　China。
　
　Han's　gaze　traveled　from　the　burning　pier　and　the　sunken　ships　to　the　cabin　across　the　lake。　He　stood　there　transfixed　and　recalled　the　arrogant　fisherman　who　flaunted　his　catch　the　day　before。　He　may　not　be　what　he　seemed。　Probably　no　fisherman　or　a　simple　businessman　on　vacation；　Lo　Han　deduced；　and　yet　he　did　not　act　like　an　agent　of　the　Immigration　Service　or　the　FBI。　Whatever　his　motive；　the　fisherman　was　Lo　Han's　only　suspect　within　a　hundred　miles。
　
　Content　that　he　had　eliminated　the　worst…case　scenario；　Lo　Han　began　to　breathe　a　little　easier。　He　took　his　radio　and　called　a　name。　The　voice　of　Kung　Chong　answered。
　〃Are　there　suspicious　sightings　of　vehicles？〃　Lo　Han　asked。
　〃The　roads　and　skies　are　empty；〃　Kung　Chong　assured　him。
　〃Any　unusual　activity　across　the　lake？〃
　〃Our　cameras　reveal　some　movement　among　the　trees　behind　the　cabin　but　no　signs　of　the　occupant　inside。〃
　〃I　want　a　raid　on　that　cabin。　I　must　know　who　we're　dealing　with。〃
　〃A　raid　will　take　time　to　organize；〃　said　Kung　Chong。
　〃Buy　time　by　sending　in　a　man　to　sabotage　his　automobile　so　he　can't　escape。〃
　〃Should　something　go　wrong；　won't　we　be　risking　a　confrontation　with　the　local　law　authorities？〃
　〃The　last　of　my　worries。　If　my　instincts　are　correct；　the　man　is　dangerous　and　a　threat　to　our　employer　who　pays　us　and　pays　us　well。〃
　〃Do　you　wish　to　terminate　him？〃
　〃I　believe　that　to　be　the　safest　alternative；〃　Lo　Han　said；　nodding　to　himself。　〃Be　warned。　There　must　be　no　mistakes。　It　is　not　wise　to　incur　the　wrath　of　Qin　Shang。〃
　〃Mr。　Pitt？〃　Julia　Lee's　whisper　was　barely　audible　in　the　darkness。
　〃Yes。〃　Pitt　had　parked　the　watercraft　in　a　small　inlet　that　opened　onto　the　lake　beside　the　cabin；　approaching　through　the　woods　until　he　found　Julia　and　her　brood。　He　sat　down　heavily　on　a　fallen　tree　and　began　pulling　off　his　dry　suit。　〃Is　everyone　all　right？〃
　〃They're　alive；〃　she　answered　in　a　soft　voice　with　just　a　trace　of　huskiness。　〃But　they're　not　all　right。　They're　soaked　to　the　skin　and　freezing。　Everyone　needs　dry　clothes　and　medical　attention。〃
　Pitt　gently　touched　the　bullet　wound　in　his　hip。　〃I'll　second　that。〃
　〃Why　can't　they　go　inside　your　cabin　where　they　can　be　warm　and　find　something　to　eat？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Not　a　good　idea。　I　haven't　been　to　town　for　almost　two　days　and　my　cupboard　is　bare。　Better　we　herd　them　into　the　boathouse。　I'll　bring　them　whatever　food　I　have　left　and　every　blanket　I　can　find。〃
　
　〃You're　not　making　sense；〃　she　said　flatly。　〃They'd　be　more　fortable　in　the　cabin　than　some　smelly　old　boathouse。〃
　
　A　stubborn　woman；　this　one；　Pitt　thought；　and　self…sufficient　too。　〃Did　I　forget　to　mention　the　surveillance　cameras　and　listening　bugs　that　grow　like　mushrooms　in　nearly　every　room？　I　think　it　best　if　your　friends　across　the　lake　observe　no　one　but　me。　If　they　suddenly　see　the　ghosts　of　the　people　they　believe　they　drowned　watching　television　and　drinking　my　tequila；　they'll　e　charging　in　here　with　every　gun　blazing　before　our　side's　posse　arrives。　No　sense　in　getting　them　all　riled　up　before　their　time。〃
　〃They've　been　monitoring　you　from　across　the　lake？〃　she　asked；　puzzled。
　〃Someone　over　there