cc.floodtide-第31章

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　〃Fourteen　hours　if　we　treat　them　gently；〃　replied　Giordino。
　〃Can　you　be　towed　behind　a　launch　while　underwater　and　out　of　sight？〃
　Pitt　nodded。　〃A　tow　to　and　from　would　give　us　an　extra　hour　under　the　liner's　hull。　I　must　warn　you；　though；　the　submersible　is　no　lightweight。　Its　underwater　drag　will　make　ponderous　going　for　a　small　launch。〃
　Cabrillo　smiled　evenly。　〃You　don't　know　what　type　of　engines　power　our　shore　launch　and　lifeboats。〃
　〃I'm　not　even　going　to　ask；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I'm　guessing　they　could　hold　their　own　in　a　Gold　Cup　hydro　race。〃
　〃We've　given　away　enough　of　the　Oregon's　technical　secrets　for　you　to　write　a　book　on　her。〃　Cabrillo　turned　and　peered　through　the　bridge　window　as　the　pilot　boat　came　out　from　the　harbor；　made　a　180…degree　turn　and　came　alongside。　The　ladder　was　dropped；　and　the　pilot　stepped　from　his　boat　and　climbed　to　the　deck　while　both　vessels　were　still　under　way。　He　went　directly　to　the　bridge；　greeted　Cabrillo　and　took　charge　of　the　helm。
　
　Pitt　walked　outside　onto　the　bridge　wing　and　viewed　the　incredible　carnival　of　colored　lights　of　Kowloon　and　Hong　Kong　as　the　ship　slipped　through　the　channel　to　her　assigned　anchorage　northwest　of　the　central　harbor。　Along　the　waterfront　of　Victoria　Harbor；　the　skyscrapers　were　illuminated　like　a　forest　of　giant　Christmas　trees。　In　appearance；　the　city　had　changed　little　after　it　was　taken　over　in　1997　by　the　People's　Republic　of　China。　For　most　of　the　residents　life　went　on　as　before。　It　was　the　wealthy；　along　with　many　of　the　giant　corporations；　who　had　moved；　primarily　to　the　West　Coast　of　the　United　States。
　
　He　was　joined　by　Giordino　as　the　ship　closed　on　Qin　Shang's　dock　terminal。　The　transatlantic　ocean　liner　that　was　once　the　pride　of　America's　maritime　fleet　appeared　and　grew　larger。
　
　During　the　flight　to　Manila　he　and　Giordino　had　studied　a　lengthy　report　on　the　United　States。　The　brainchild　of　the　famed　ship　designer　William　Francis　Gibbs；　she　was　built　by　the　Newport　News　Ship　Building　&　Dry　Dock　pany；　who　laid　her　keel　in　1950。　Gibbs；　a　genius　and　a　genuine　character；　was　to　marine　engineering　and　design　what　Frank　Lloyd　Wright　was　to　dry…land　architecture。　His　dream　was　to　create　the　fastest　and　most　beautiful　passenger　liner　yet　built。　He　achieved　his　dream；　and　his　masterpiece　became　the　pride　and　apex　of　America　during　the　age　of　great　liners。　She　was　truly　the　ultimate　in　elegant　refinement　and　speed。
　
　Gibbs　was　fanatical　about　weight　and　fireproofing。　He　insisted　on　using　aluminum　whenever　possible。　From　the　1。2　million　rivets　driven　into　her　hull　to　the　lifeboats　and　their　oars；　stateroom　furnishings　and　bathroom　fixtures；　baby's　high　chairs；　even　coat　hangers　and　picture　frames；　all　had　to　be　aluminum。　The　only　wood　on　the　entire　ship　was　a　fireproof　Steinway　piano　and　the　chef's　butcher　block。　In　the　end；　Gibbs　had　reduced　the　weight　of　the　superstructure　by　2；500　tons。　The　result　was　a　ship　of　remarkable　stability。
　
　Considered　huge　then　and　now　with　a　gross　tonnage　of　53；329　and　measuring　990　feet　in　length　with　a　101…foot　beam；　she　was　not　the　world's　largest　liner。　At　the　time　of　her　construction　the　Queen　Mary　outweighed　her　by　over　30；000　tons　and　the　Queen　Elizabeth　was　forty…one　feet　longer。　The　Cunard　Line　Queens　may　have　provided　a　more　ornate　and　baroque　atmosphere；　but　the　American　ship's　lack　of　rich　wood　paneling　and　fancy　decor　in　favor　of　tasteful　restraint；　and　her　speed　and　safety　were　the　elements　that　set　the　United　States　apart　from　her　contemporaries。　Unlike　foreign　peting　liners；　the　Big　U；　as　her　crew　had　affectionately　called　her；　gave　her　passengers　694　unusually　spacious　staterooms　and　air　conditioning。　Nineteen　elevators　carried　passengers　between　the　decks。　Besides　the　usual　gift　shops；　they　could　enjoy　three　libraries　and　two　cinemas　and　could　worship　in　a　chapel。
　
　But　her　two　greatest　assets　were　a　military　secret　at　the　time　of　her　building　and　operation。　Not　until　several　years　later　did　it　bee　known　that　she　could　be　converted　into　a　military　transport　capable　of　carrying　14；000　troops　within　a　few　weeks。　Powered　by　eight　massive　boilers　creating　superheated　steam；　her　four　Westinghouse…geared　turbines　could　put　out　240；000　horsepower；　60；000　for　each　of　her　four　propeller　shafts；　and　drive　her　through　the　water　just　under　fifty　miles　an　hour。　She　was　one　of　the　few　liners　that　could　slip　through　the　Panama　Canal；　charge　across　the　Pacific　to　Singapore　and　back　to　San
　
　Francisco　without　refueling。　In　1952；　the　United　States　won　the　prestigious　Blue　Riband；　awarded　for　the　fastest　speed　across　the　Atlantic。　No　liner　has　won　it　since。
　
　A　decade　after　she　left　the　shipyard；　she　had　bee　an　anachronism。　mercial　airplanes　were　already　being　petition　to　the　famed　greyhounds　of　the　sea。　By　1969；　rising　operating　costs　and　the　public's　desire　to　reach　their　destination　in　the　shortest　time　possible　by　air；　spelled　the　end　for　America's　greatest　ocean　liner。　She　was　retired　and　laid　up　for　thirty　years　at　Norfolk；　Virginia；　before　eventually　finding　her　way　to　China。
　
　Borrowing　a　pair　of　binoculars；　Pitt　studied　the　huge　ship　from　the　bridge　of　the　Oregon。　Her　hull　was　still　painted　black；　her　superstructure　white；　her　two　great；　magnificent　funnels　red；　white　and　blue。　She　looked　as　magnificent　as　the　day　she　broke　the　transatlantic　record。
　
　He　was　puzzled　to　see　her　ablaze　with　light。　The　sounds　of　activity　echoed　across　the　water。　It　puzzled　him　that　Qin　Shang's　shipyard　crews　were　working　on　her　around　the　clock　without　any　attempt　at　secrecy。　Then；　curiously；　all　sounds　and　activity　suddenly　stopped。
　
　The　pilot　nodded　at　Cabrillo；　who　rang　the　ancient　telegraph　to　STOP　ENGINES。　Unknown　to　the　pilot；　the　telegraph　was　nonfunctional　and　Cabrillo　muttered　orders　through　a　handheld　radio。　The　vibration　died；　and　the　Oregon　went　as　quiet　as　a　tomb　as　she　slowly　moved　forward　under　her　own　momentum。　Then　the　mand　came　for　slow　astern；　followed　shortly　by　all　stop。
　
　Cabrillo　gave　the　order　to　let　go　the　anchor。　The　chain　rattled；　and　it　fell　with　a　splash　into　the　water。　Then　he　shook　hands　with　the　pilot　after　signing　the　usual　affidavits　and　logging　the　mooring。　He　waited　until　the　pilot　was　on　board　the　pilot　boat　before　motioning　to　Pitt　and　Giordino。
　　〃e　join　me　in　the　chartroom　and　we'll　go　over　tomorrow's　program。〃
　〃Why　wait　another　twenty…four　hours？〃　asked　Giordino。
　Cabrillo　shook　his　head。　〃Tomorrow　after　dark　is　soon　enough。　We　still　have　customs　officials　due　aboard。　No　sense　in　alerting　suspicions。〃
　Pitt　said；　〃I　think　we　have　a　breakdown　in　munications。〃
　Cabrillo　looked　at　him。　〃You　see　a　problem？〃
　〃We　have　to　go　during　daylight。　We　have　no　visibility　at　night。〃
　〃Can't　you　use　underwater　lights？〃
　〃In　black　water　any　bright　light　stands　out　like　a　beacon。　We'd　be　discovered　ten　seconds　after　we　switched　on　our　floods。〃
　〃We'll　be　inconspicous　when　we're　under　the　keel；〃　Giordino　added。　〃It's　when　we're　inspecting　the　hull　on　the　sides　below　the　waterline　that　we're　vulnerable　to　detection　from　above。〃
　〃What　about　the　darkness　caused　by　the　shadow　of　the　hull？〃　asked　Cabrillo。　〃What　if　underwater　visibility　is　lousy？　What　then？〃
　〃We'd　have　to　rely　on　artificial　lighting；　but　it　would　be　imperceptible　to　anyone　staring　over　the　side　of　the　dock　with　sun　over　their　head。〃
　Cabrillo　nodded。　〃I　understand　your　dilemma。　Romantic　adventure　novels　say　it's　darkest　before　dawn。　We'll　drop　you　and　your　submersible　over　the　side　and　tow　you　within　spitting　distance　of　the　United　States；　putting　you　on　station　before　sunup。〃
　〃Sounds　good　to　me；〃　Pitt　said　gratefully。
　〃Can　I　ask　you　a　question；　Mr。　Chairman？〃　inquired　Giordino。
　〃Go　right　ahead。〃
　〃If　you　carry　no　cargo；　how　do　you　justify　entering　and　exiting　a　port？〃
　
　Cabrillo　gave　Giordino　a　canny　look。　〃The　empty　wooden　crates　you　see　on　the　deck　and　the　ones　in　the　cargo　holds　above　our　concealed　cabins　and　galley　are　stage　props。　They　will　be　off…loaded　onto　the　dock；　then　consigned　to　an　agent　who　works　for　me　and　transported　to　a　warehouse。　After　a　proper　length　of　time；　the　crates　are　re…marked　with　different　descriptions；　returned　to　the　dock　and　loaded　back　on　board。　As　far　as　the　Chinese　are　concerned；　we　dumped　one　cargo　and　took　on　another。〃
　
　〃Your　operation　never　ceases　to　amaze；〃　said　Pitt。
　
　〃You　were　given　a　tour　of　our　puter　partment　in　the　bow　of　the　ship；〃　said　Cabrillo。　〃So　you　know　that　ninety　percent　of　the　Oregon's　operation　is　under　the　mand　of　puter…automated　systems。　We　go　manual　when　entering　and　departing　a　port。〃
　
　Pitt　handed　the　binoculars　to　Cabrillo。　〃You're　an　old　pro　at　stealth　and　covert　activities。　Doesn't　it　strike　you　odd　that　Qin　Shang　is　converting　the　United　States　into　a　first…class　smugglers'　transport　right　out　in　the　open　under　the　eyes　of　anyone　looking　on？　Crewmen　on　cargo　ships；　passengers　on　ferries　and　tour　boats？〃
　〃It　does　seem　peculiar；〃　Cabrillo　admitted。　He　lowered　the　glasses　momentarily　in　thought；　puffed　on　his　pipe；　and　peered　through　the　lenses　again。　〃It's　also　peculiar　that　all　work　on　the　ship　appears　to　have　stopped。　No　sign　of　tight　security　either。〃
　〃Tell　you　anything？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃It　either　tells　Qin　Shang　is　unmonly　careless　or　our　renowned　intelligence　agencies　have　been　outsmarted　by　him；〃　said　Cabrillo　quietly。
　〃We'll　know　better　after　we　check　out　the　ship's　bottom；〃　said　Pitt。　〃If　he　intends　to　smuggle　illegal　aliens　into　foreign　countries　under　the　noses　of　their　immigration　officials；　he'd　have　to　have　a　technique　for　removing　them　off　the　ship　undetected。　That　can　only　mean　some　kind　of　watertight　passage　beneath　the　waterline　to　shore　or　even　possibly　a　submarine。〃
　
　Cabrillo　tapped　his　pipe　on　the　rail；　watching　as　the　ashes　spiraled　down　into　the　harbor。　Then　he　looked　thoughtfully　across　the　water　at　the　former　pride　of　America's　passenger　fleet；　her　superstructure　and　two　rakish　funnels　brilliantly　lit　like　a　movie　set。　When　he　spoke　it　was　slowly　and　solemnly。　〃You　fully　realize；　I　assume；　that　if　something　should　go　wrong；　a　minor　mishap；　an　overlooked　detail；　and　you　are　caught　in　what　is　considered　an　act　of　espionage　by　the　People's　Republic　of　China；　you　will　be　treated　accordingly。〃
　〃Like　being　tortured　and　shot；〃　said　Giordino。
　Cabrillo　nodded。　〃And　without　anyone　in　our　government　so　much　as　lifting　then〃　little　finger　to　stop　the　execution。〃
　〃Al　and　I　are　fully　aware　of　the　consequences；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　you're　placed　in　the　hazardous　position　of　risking　your　entire　crew　and　your　ship。　I　wouldn't　fault　you　for　a　second　if　you　wanted　to　toss　us　in　the　bay　and　steam　off　into　the　sunset〃
　Cabrillo　stared　at　him　and　smiled　craftily。　〃Are　you　serious？　Skip　out　on　you？　I'd　never　consider　it。　Certainly　not　for　the　enormous　sum　of　money　a　certain　secret　government　fund　is　paying　me　and　the　crew。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　this　has　far　less　risk　than　robbing　a　bank。〃
　〃In　excess　of　seven　figures？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃More　like　eight；〃　replied　Cabrillo；　suggesting　a　fee　of　over　ten　million　dollars。
　Giordino　looked　over　at　Pitt　sadly。　〃When　I　think　of　what　our　pitiful　monthly　stipend　from　NUMA　adds　up　to；　I　can't　help　won