cc.floodtide-第4章

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　of　facial　hair；　Katie　wondered　if　she　looked　the　same。
　
　〃Can't　you　see　it？〃
　
　Dreadfully　stiff　from　the　cold；　Gallagher　struggled　to　a　sitting　position　and　scanned　the　horizons　of　his　restricted　world。　His　view　was　blurred　by　the　driving　sleet；　but　he　kept　trying。　Then　he　thought　his　eyes　were　deceiving　him。　He　could　just　make　out　large　boulders　scattered　along　a　shoreline。　A　short　distance　beyond；　no　more　than　fifty　yards；　snow　blanketed　trees　swaying　in　the　wind。　He　spotted　what　looked　like　the　dark　shape　of　a　small　cabin　amid　the　trees。
　
　His　joints　numb　and　unresponsive；　Gallagher　removed　one　boot　and　used　it　as　a　paddle。　After　a　few　minutes；　the　exertion　seemed　to　warm　his　body　and　the　effort　became　less　arduous。　〃Take　heart；　darlin'。　We'll　be　on　dry　land　soon。〃
　
　The　current　was　working　parallel　to　the　shore；　and　Gallagher　fought　to　break　out　of　its　clutches。　He　felt　as　if　he　was　struggling　against　a　stream　filled　with　molasses。　The　gap　narrowed　with　agonizing　slowness。　The　trees　seemed　so　close　he　could　reach　out　and　shake　them；　but　they　were　still　a　good　sixty　yards　away。
　
　Just　when　Gallagher　had　reached　the　end　of　his　endurance　and　was　about　to　collapse　from　exhaustion；　he　could　feel　the　raft　bumping　against　underwater　boulders。　He　looked　down　at　Katie。　She　was　shivering　uncontrollably　from　the　damp　and　chill。　She　could　not　last　much　longer。
　
　He　shoved　his　frozen　foot　back　inside　the　boot。　Then；　sucking　in　his　breath；　he　prayed　that　the　water　would　not　close　over　his　head　and　jumped　in。　It　was　a　hazard　he　had　to　risk。　Thankfully；　the　soles　of　his　boots　struck　hard　rock　before　the　water　level　reached　his　crotch。
　
　〃Katie！〃　he　shouted　in　happy　delirium。　〃We've　made　it。　We're　on　land。〃
　〃That's　nice；〃　Katie　murmured；　too　paralyzed　and　oblivious　to　care。
　
　Gallagher　dragged　the　raft　onto　a　shore　covered　with　wave…smoothed　rocks　and　pebbles。　The　exhausting　effort　took　the　last　of　his　strength；　and　he　sagged　like　a　lifeless　rag　doll　and　dropped　onto　the　cold；　wet　rocks。　He　never　knew　how　long　he　lay　there；　but　when　he　finally　recovered　enough　to　crawl　up　to　the　life　raft　and　peer　over　the　side；　he　saw　that　Katie's　skin　was　blue　and　mottled。　Fearful；　he　reached　in　and　pulled　her　toward　him。　He　wasn't　sure　whether　she　was　alive　or　dead。　Then　he　noticed　a　wisp　of　vapor　ing　from　her　nose。　He　felt　for　a　pulse　in　her　neck。　It　was　faint　and　slow；　her　strong　heart　was　still　pumping；　but　death　was　very　close　to　her。
　
　He　looked　up　at　the　sky。　It　was　no　longer　a　thick　quilt　of　dark　gray。　The　clouds　were　forming　into　distinct　shapes　and　turning　white。　The　storm　was　passing；　and　already　he　could　sense　the　gusting　wind　diminishing　to　a　settled　breeze。　He　had　little　time。　If　he　did　not　find　warmth　quickly；　he　would　lose　her。
　
　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Gallagher　slid　his　arms　under　Katie's　body　and　lifted　her　out　of　the　raft。　Out　of　hatred　he　kicked　the　raft　with　General　Hui's　frozen　body　away　from　the　shoreline。　He　watched　for　a　few　moments　as　the　current　caught　the　raft　and　began　carrying　it　back　into　deep　water。　Then；　clutching　her　close　to　his　chest；　he　began　trudging　toward　the　cabin　in　the　trees。　The　frigid　air　seemed　suddenly　warmer；　and　he　no　longer　felt　stiff　and　tired。
　
　Three　days　later；　the　cargo　ship　Stephen　Miller　reported　sighting　a　body　in　a　life　raft；　which　was　later　recovered。　The　dead　man　was　Chinese　and　looked　as　if　he　had　been　sculpted　from　ice。　He　was　never　identified。　The　life　raft；　a　model　not　in　use　for　nearly　twenty　years；　was　marked　in　Chinese。　Later　translation　indicated　it　came　from　a　ship　called　the　Princess　Dou　Wan。
　
　A　search　was　launched；　bits　of　floating　debris　were　spotted　but　never　retrieved　for　investigation。　No　oil　slick　was　discovered。　No　ship　had　been　reported　missing。　Nowhere；　on　ship　or　ashore；　had　any　distress　signal　or　cry　of　〃Mayday〃　been　picked　up。　All　rescue　stations　monitoring　the　standard　ship…distress　frequency　received　nothing；　hearing　only　static　from　the　heavy　snow。
　
　The　mystery　deepened　when　it　was　learned　that　a　ship　named　Princess　Dou　Wan　had　been　reported　sunk　off　the　coast　of　Chile　the　month　before。　The　body　found　in　the　life　raft　was　buried；　and　the　strange　enigma　was　quickly　forgotten。
　
　PART　I
　THE　KILLING　WATER
　
　April　14；　2000　Pacific　Ocean　off　Washington
　
　AS　IF　SHE　WERE　STRUGGLING　OUT　OF　A　BOTTOMLESS　PIT；　CONsciousness　slowly　returned　to　Ling　T'ai。　Her　whole　upper　body　swam　in　pain。　She　groaned　through　clenched　teeth；　wanting　to　scream　out　in　agony。　She　lifted　a　hand　that　was　badly　bruised　and　tenderly　touched　her　fingertips　to　her　face。　One　coffee　brown　eye　was　swollen　closed；　the　other　puffed　but　partially　open。　Her　nose　was　broken；　with　blood　still　trickling　from　the　nostrils。　Thankfully；　she　could　feel　her　teeth　still　in　their　gums；　but　her　arms　and　shoulders　were　turning　black…and…blue。　She　could　not　begin　to　count　the　bruises。
　
　Ling　T'ai　was　not　sure　at　first　why　she　was　singled　out　for　interrogation。　The　explanation　came　later；　just　before　she　was　brutally　beaten。　There　were　others；　to　be　sure；　who　were　pulled　from　the　mass　of　illegal　Chinese　immigrants　on　board　the　ship；　tormented　and　thrown　into　a　dark　partment　in　the　cargo　hold。　Nothing　was　very　clear　to　her；　everything　seemed　confused　and　obscure。　She　felt　as　if　she　was　about　to　lose　her　grip　on　consciousness　and　fall　back　into　the　pit。
　
　The　ship　she　had　traveled　on　from　the　Chinese　port　of　Qing…dao　across　the　Pacific　looked　to　all　appearances　like　a　typical　cruise　ship。　Named　the　Indigo　Star；　her　hull　was　painted　white　from　waterline　to　the　funnel。　parable　in　size　to　most　smaller　cruise　ships　that　carried　between　one　hundred　and　one　hundred　fifty　passengers　in　luxurious　fort；　the　Indigo　Star　crammed　nearly　twelve　hundred　illegal　Chinese　immigrants　into　huge　open　bays　within　the　hull　and　superstructure。　She　was　a　facade；　innocent　on　the　outside；　a　human　hellhole　on　the　inside。
　
　Ling　T'ai　could　not　have　envisioned　the　insufferable　conditions　that　she　and　over　a　thousand　others　had　to　endure。　The　food　was　minimal　and　hardly　enough　to　exist　on。　Sanitary　conditions　were　nonexistent　and　toilet　facilities　deplorable。　Some　had　died；　mostly　young　children　and　the　elderly；　their　bodies　removed　and　never　seen　again。　It　seemed　likely　to　Ling　T'ai　that　they　were　simply　thrown　into　the　sea　as　if　they　were　garbage。　The　day　before　the　Indigo　Star　was　scheduled　to　reach　the　northwestern　coast　of　the　United　States；　a　team　of　sadistic　guards　called　enforcers；　who　maintained　a　climate　of　fear　and　intimidation　on　board　the　ship；　had　rounded　up　thirty　or　forty　passengers　and　forced　them　to　undergo　an　unexplained　interrogation。　When　her　turn　finally　came；　she　was　ushered　into　a　small；　dark　partment　and　manded　to　sit　in　a　chair　in　front　of　four　enforcers　of　the　smuggling　operation　who　were　seated　behind　a　table。　Ling　was　then　asked　a　series　of　questions。
　
　〃Your　name！〃　demanded　a　thin　man　neatly　attired　in　a　gray　pinstripe　business　suit。　His　smooth；　brown　face　was　intelligent　but　expressionless。　The　other　three　enforcers　sat　silently　and　glared　malevolently。　To　the　initiated；　it　was　a　classic　act　of　interrogative　coercion。 〃My　name　is　Ling　T'ai。〃
　
　〃What　province　were　you　born？〃 〃Jiangsu。〃
　〃You　lived　there？〃　asked　the　thin　man。
　〃Until　I　was　twenty　and　finished　my　studies。　Then　I　went　to　Canton；　where　I　became　a　schoolteacher。〃
　The　questions　came　dispassionately　and　devoid　of　inflection。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　go　to　the　United　States？〃
　〃I　knew　the　voyage　would　be　extremely　hazardous；　but　the　promise　of　opportunity　and　a　better　life　was　too　great；〃　answered　Ling　T'ai。　〃I　decided　to　leave　my　family　and　bee　an　American。〃
　〃Where　did　you　obtain　the　money　for　your　passage？〃
　〃I　saved　most　of　it　from　my　teacher's　pay　over　ten　years。　The　rest　I　borrowed　from　my　father。〃
　〃What　is　his　occupation？〃
　〃He　is　a　professor　of　chemistry　at　the　university　in　Beijing。〃
　〃Do　you　have　friends　or　family　in　the　United　States？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　have　no　one。〃
　The　thin　man　looked　at　her　in　long；　slow　speculation；　then　pointed　his　finger　at　her。　〃You　are　a　spy；　sent　to　report　on　our　smuggling　operation。〃
　The　accusation　came　so　abruptly；　she　sat　frozen　for　a　few　moments　before　stammering。　〃I　do　not　know　what　you　mean。　I　am　a　schoolteacher。　Why　do　you　call　me　a　spy？〃
　〃You　do　not　have　the　appearance　of　one　born　in　China。〃
　〃Not　true！〃　she　cried　in　panic。　〃My　mother　and　father　are　Chinese。　So　were　my　grandparents。〃
　〃Then　explain　why　your　height　is　at　least　four　inches　above　average　for　a　Chinese　woman　and　your　facial　features　have　the　faint　touch　of　European　ancestry。〃
　
　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　demanded。　〃Why　are　you　so　cruel？〃
　〃Not　that　it　matters；　my　name　is　Ki　Wong。　I　am　the　chief　enforcer　for　the　Indigo　Star。　Now　please　answer　my　last　question。〃
　Acting　frightened；　Ling　explained　that　her　great…grandfather　had　been　a　Dutch　missionary　who　headed　up　a　mission　in　the　city　of　Longyan。　He　took　a　local　peasant　girl　as　a　wife。　〃That　is　the　only　Western　blood　in　me；　I　swear。〃
　The　inquisitors　acted　as　if　they　did　not　credit　her　story。　〃You　are　lying。〃
　〃Please；　you　must　believe　me！〃
　〃Do　you　speak　English？〃
　〃I　know　only　a　few　words　and　phrases。〃
　Then　Wong　got　down　to　the　real　issue。　〃According　to　our　records；　you　did　not　pay　enough　for　your　passage。　You　owe　us　another　ten　thousand　dollars　American。〃
　Ling　T'ai　leaped　to　her　feet　and　cried　out。　〃But　I　have　no　more　money！〃
　Wong　shrugged　indifferently。　〃Then　you　will　have　to　be　transported　back　to　China。〃
　〃No；　please；　I　can't　go　back；　not　now！〃　She　wrung　her　hands　until　the　knuckles　went　white。　The　chief　enforcer　glanced　smugly　at　the　three　other　men；　who　sat　like　stone　sculptures。　Then　his　voice　changed　subtly；　〃There　may　be　another　way　for　you　to　enter　the　States。〃　　
　〃I　will　do　anything；〃　Ling　T'ai　pleaded。
　〃If　we　put　you　ashore；　you　will　have　to　work　off　the　rest　of　your　passage　fee。　Since　you　can　hardly　speak　English　it　will　be　impossible　for　you　to　find　employment　as　a　schoolteacher。　Without　friends　or　family　you'll　have　no　means　of　support。　Therefore；　we　will　take　it　upon　ourselves　to　generously　provide　you　with　food；　a　place　to　live　and　an　opportunity　for　work　until　such　time　as　you　can　subsist　on　your　own。〃
　〃What　kind　of　work　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Ling　T'ai　hesitantly。
　Wong　paused；　then　grinned　evilly。
　　〃You　will　engage　in　the　art　of　satisfying　men。〃
　This　then　was　what　it　was　all　about。　Ling　T'ai　and　most　of　the　other　smuggled　aliens　were　never　intended　to　be　allowed　to　roam　free　in　the　United　States。　Once　they　landed　on　foreign　soil；　they　were　to　bee　indentured　slaves　subject　to　torture　and　extortion。
　〃Prostitution？〃　Horrified；　Ling　T'ai　shouted　angrily；　〃I　will　never　degrade　myself！〃
　〃A　pity；〃　said　Wong　impassively。　〃You　are　an　attractive　woman　and　could　demand　a　good　price。〃
　He　rose　to　his　feet；　stepped　around　the　table　and　stood　in　front　of　her。　The　smirk　on　his　face　suddenly　vanished　and　was　replaced　with　a　look　of　malice。　Then　he　pulled　what　looked　like　a　stiff　rubber　hose　from　his　coat　pocket　and　began　lashing　at　her　face　and　body。　He　stopped　only　when　he　began　to　break　out　in　sweat；　pausing　to　grip　her　chin　with　one　hand；　s