cc.floodtide-第43章

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uri　River　where　it　joins　the　Mississippi　near　St。　Louis。　It　was　a　job　he　was　born　for。　Montaigne　loved　the　river　almost　as　much　as　he　loved　his　wife；　who　was　also　a　Cajun；　the　sister　of　his　best　boyhood　friend；　and　his　three　daughters。　But　mixed　with　his　love　for　the　flowing　waters　was　a　fear　that　someday　Mother　Nature　would　turn　violent　and　wipe　out　his　efforts；　sending　the　Mississippi　raging　over　the　levees　and　flooding　millions　of　acres　while　cutting　a　new　channel　to　the　Gulf。
　
　Earlier　in　the　morning　just　before　dawn；　the　Larson；　named　after　an　Army　Corps　engineer　long　deceased；　had　eased　into　the　navigation　locks　that　were　constructed　by　the　Army　Corps　for　flood　control　and　to　stop　the　Atchafalaya　from　capturing　the　Mississippi。　Giant　control　structures　that　are　basically　dams　with　spillways　were　built　fifty　miles　above　Baton　Rouge　at　an　old　bend　hi　the　river　where　a　hundred　and　seventy　years　before　the　Red　River　once　entered　into　the　Mississippi　and　the　Atchafalaya　flowed　out。　Then　in　1831　a　steamboat　entrepreneur；　Captain　Henry　Shreve；　dug　a　channel　across　the　neck　of　the　bend。　Now　the　Red　River　bypassed　the　Mississippi　and　flowed　through　remains　of　the　bend　that　became　known　as　the　Old　River。　Almost　as　if　it　was　a　siren　enticing　an　unwary　sailor；　the　Atchafalaya；　with　only　142　miles　to　the　Gulf　versus　the　Mississippi's　315；　beckons　the　main　river　into　its　waiting　arms。
　
　Montaigne　had　stepped　out　on　deck　as　the　gates　swung　and　closed　off　the　water　of　the　Mississippi　and　watched　as　the　walls　of　the　lock　seemed　to　rise　toward　the　sky　while　the　survey　boat　descended　to　the　Atchafalaya。　He　waved　to　the　lockmaster；　who　waved　back。　The　waters　of　the　Atchafalaya　run　fifteen　feet　lower　than　the　Mississippi's；　but　it　only　took　ten　minutes　before　the　west　gates　opened　and　the　Larson　moved　out　into　the　channel　that　led　south　to　Morgan　City　and　the　Gulf　beyond。
　
　〃What　time　do　you　estimate　our　rendezvous　with　the　NUMA　research　ship　below　Sungari？〃　he　asked　the　Larson^　captain。
　〃Around　three　o'clock；　give　or　take；〃　answered　Giraud　without　indecision。
　Montaigne　nodded　at　a　big　towboat　pushing　a　string　of　barges　downriver。　〃Looks　like　a　cargo　of　lumber；〃　he　said　to　Giraud。
　〃Must　be　heading　for　that　new　industrial　development　near　Melville。〃　Giraud　looked　like　one　of　the　Three　Musketeers　with　his　hawklike　French　features　and　flowing　black　mustache　waxed　and　twisted　at　the　ends。　Like　Montaigne；　Giraud　had　grown　up　in　the　Cajun　land；　only　he　had　never　left　it。　A　big　man　with　a　belly　seldom　empty　of　Dixie　beer；　he　possessed　a　sardonic　humor　that　was　known　up　and　down　the　river。
　Montaigne　watched　as　a　small　speedboat　filled　with　four　teenagers　darted　recklessly　around　the　survey　boat　and　cut　in　front　of　the　barges；　followed　by　four　of　their　friends　astride　a　pair　of　watercraft。
　
　〃Stupid　kids；〃　muttered　Giraud。　〃If　any　of　them　lost　their　engines　in　front　of　the　barges；　there　is　no　way　the　towboat　could　stop　the　momentum　before　running　them　over。〃
　〃I　used　to　do　the　same　thing　with　my　father's　eighteen　foot　aluminum　fishing　skiff　with　a　little　twenty…five　horsepower　outboard　motor；　and　I'm　still　alive。〃
　〃Forgive　me　for　saying　so；　General；　but　you　were　even　dumber　than　them。〃
　Montaigne　knew　that　Giraud　meant　no　disrespect。　He　was　well　aware　the　pilot　had　witnessed　his　share　of　accidents　during　the　long　years　he'd　piloted　ships　and　towboats　up　and　down　the　Mississippi　river　system。　Ships　running　aground；　oil　spills；　collisions；　fires；　he'd　seen　them　all；　and　as　with　most　old　river　pilots；　he　was　a　cautious　man。　No　one　was　more　aware　that　the　Mississippi　was　an　unforgiving　river。
　〃Tell　me；　Lucas；〃　said　Montaigne；　〃do　you　think　the　Mississippi　will　flow　into　the　Atchafalaya　one　day？〃
　〃One　great　flood　is　all　it　will　take　for　the　river　to　tear　away　the　levees　and　sweep　into　the　Atchafalaya；〃　replied　Giraud　stoically。　〃One　year；　ten　years；　maybe　twenty；　but　sooner　or　later　the　river　will　run　no　more　past　New　Orleans。　It's　only　a　matter　of　time。〃
　〃The　Army　Corps　has　fought　a　good　battle　to　keep　it　hi　control。〃
　〃Man　can't　tell　nature　what　to　do　for　very　long。　I　only　hope　I'm　around　to　see　it。〃
　〃The　sight　won't　be　pretty；〃　said　Montaigne。　〃The　effects　of　the　disaster　will　be　appalling。　Death；　major　flooding；　mass　destruction。　Why　would　you　want　to　be　a　witness　to　such　devastation？〃
　Giraud　turned　from　the　wheel　and　stared　at　the　general；　a　dreamlike　look　in　his　eyes。　〃The　channel　already　carries　the　flow　of　the　Red　and　Atchafalaya　rivers。　Just　think　what　a　mighty　river　will　flow　through　southern　Louisiana　when　the　entire　Mississippi　breaks　loose　and　adds　its　discharge　to　the　other　two。　It　will　be　a　sight　to　behold。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　said　Montaigne　slowly；　〃a　sight　to　behold；　but　one　I　hope　I　never　live　to　see。〃
　
　AT　FIVE　MINUTES　BEFORE　THREE　O'CLOCK　IN　THE　AFTERNOON；　Lucas　Giraud　slipped　the　throttles　to　the　big　Caterpillar　diesels　to　quarter　speed　as　the　Larson　cruised　past　Morgan　City　at　the　lower　end　of　the　Atchafalaya　River。　After　crossing　the　Intracoastal　Waterway　and　dropping　below　Qin　Shang　Mari…time's　port　of　Sungari；　the　Larson　entered　the　glassy…smooth　waters　of　Sweet　Bay　Lake　six　miles　from　the　Gulf　of　Mexico。　He　swung　the　boat　toward　a　turquoise…colored　research　ship　with　NUMA　painted　in　large　block　letters　on　the　hull　amidships。　She　has　a　no…nonsense；　businesslike　air　about　her；　Giraud　noted。　As　the　Larson　drew　closer　he　could　read　the　name　on　the　bow；　Marine　Denizen。　She　looked　like　a　ship　that　had　seen　her　share　of　service。　He　judged　her　age　at　twenty…five　years　or　more；　old　for。　working　ship。
　
　The　wind　blew　out　of　the　southeast　at　fifteen　miles　an　hour　and　the　water　had　a　light　chop。　Giraud　ordered　a　crewman　to　drop　the　fenders　over　the　side。　He　then　eased　the　Larson　against　the　Marine　Denizen　with　a　gentle　bump；　and　held　the　survey　boat　against　the　research　vessel　just　long　enough　for　his　passenger　to　step　across　a　ramp　that　had　been　extended　for　his　arrival。
　
　On　board　the　Denizen；　Rudi　Gunn　raised　his　eyeglasses　to　the　light　streaming　in　through　a　porthole　of　the　NUM　A　marine…survey　ship；　squinted　his　eyes　and　checked　for　smudges　on　the　lenses。　Seeing　none；　he　replaced　the　rims　and　adjusted　the　earpieces。　Then　he　looked　down　and　studied　the　three…dimensional　diorama　of　the　Sungari　shipping　port　that　was　beamed　down　on　a　horizontal　surface　by　an　overhead　holographic　projector。　The　image　was　processed　from　forty　or　more　aerial　photographs　taken　at　low　altitudes　by　a　NUMA　helicopter。
　
　Constructed　on　newly　made　land　in　a　swampland　along　both　banks　of　the　Atchafalaya　River　before　it　emptied　into　the　Gulf　of　Mexico；　the　port　was　hailed　as　the　most　modern　and　efficient　shipping　terminus　in　the　world。　Covering　two　thousand　acres　and　stretching　over　a　mile　on　both　sides　of　the　Atchafalaya　River；　it　was　dredged　to　a　navigational　depth　of　thirty…two　feet。　The　Port　of　Sungari　consisted　of　over　one　million　square　feet　of　warehouse　space；　two　grain　elevators　with　loading　slips；　a　six…hundred…thousand…barrel…capacity　liquid　bulk　terminal　and　three　general…cargo　handling　terminals　that　could　load　and　unload　twenty　container　ships　at　one　time。　The　steel…faced　docks　on　opposite　sides　of　the　river　channel　backed　by　landfill　provided　twelve　thousand　feet　of　deep…water　berthage　for　all　ships　except　heavily　laden　super…tankers。
　
　What　made　Sungari　different　from　most　port　facilities　was　its　architecture。　No　gray　concrete　buildings　shaped　in　austere　rectangles。　The　warehouses　and　office　structures　were　constructed　in　the　shape　of　pyramids；　all　covered　with　a　gold　galvanized　material　that　blazed　like　fire　when　struck　by　the　sun。　The　effect　was　electrifying；　especially　to　planes　flying　overhead；　and　its　glow　could　be　seen　from　ships　forty　miles　out　in　the　Gulf。
　
　A　light　rap　came　on　the　door　behind　Gunn。　He　stepped　across　the　ship's　conference　room；　used　for　meetings　between　the　ship's　scientists　and　technicians；　and　opened　the　door。　General　Frank　Montaigne　stood　in　the　passageway　outside；　looking　dapper　in　a　gray　suit　with　vest　and　leaning　on　his　cane。　〃Thank　you　for　ing；　General。　I'm　Rudi　Gunn。〃
　　〃mander　Gunn；〃　said　General　Montaigne　affably；　〃I've　looked　forward　to　meeting　you。　After　my　briefing　by　officials　from　the　White　House　and　INS；　I'm　delighted　to　find　that　I'm　not　the　only　one　who　believes　Qin　Shang　to　be　a　deviously　clever　menace。〃
　〃We　seem　to　be　members　of　a　growing　club。〃
　Gunn　showed　the　general　to　a　chair　beside　the　three…dimensional　image　of　Sungari。　Montaigne　leaned　toward　the　projected　diorama；　his　hand　and　chin　resting　on　the　leaping　frog　atop　his　cane。　〃I　see　NUMA　also　uses　holographic　imagery　to　demonstrate　their　marine　projects。〃
　〃I've　heard　the　Army　Corp　of　Engineers　takes　advantage　of　the　same　technology。〃
　〃It　es　in　handy　to　convince　Congress　to　increase　our　funding。　The　only　difference　is；　our　unit　is　designed　to　show　fluid　motion。　When　we　brief　the　various　mittees　in　Washington；　we　like　to　impress　them　with　a　demonstration　on　the　horrors　of　a　disastrous　flood。〃
　〃What's　your　opinion　of　Sungari？〃　asked　Gunn。
　Montaigne　seemed　lost　in　the　image。　〃It's　as　if　an　alien　culture　came　down　from　space　and　built　a　city　in　the　middle　of　the　Gobi　Desert。　It's　all　so　pointless　and　unnecessary。　I'm　reminded　of　the　old　saying；　All　dressed　up　and　no　place　to　go。〃
　〃You're　not　impressed　with　it。〃
　〃As　a　shipping　terminus；　I　find　it　about　as　useful　as　a　second　belly　button　on　my　forehead。〃
　〃Hard　to　believe　Qin　Shang　got　the　necessary　approval　and　permits　for　such　a　vast　project　with　no　profitable　future；〃　said　Gunn。
　〃He　submitted　a　prehensive　development　plan　that　was　approved　by　the　Louisiana　state　legislature。　Naturally；　politicians　will　jump　on　any　industrial　development　they　think　will　increase　employment　and　revenue　that　won't　tap　the　taxpayers'　pockets。　With　no　obvious　downside；　who　can　blame　them？　The　Army　Corps　also　approved　their　permits　for　dredging　because　we　saw　no　interruption　in　the　natural　flow　of　the　Atchafalaya　River。　The　environmentalists　raised　hell；　of　course；　because　of　the　virtual　destruction　of　a　vast　area　of　wetlands。　But　all　their　objections　and　those　of　my　own　engineers　concerning　the　future　alteration　of　the　Atchafalaya　Delta　were　quickly　brushed　aside　when　Qin　Shang's　lobbyists　sweet…talked　Congress　into　fully　authorizing　the　project。　I've　yet　to　meet　a　financial　analyst　or　port…district　missioner　who　did　not　think　Sungari　was　a　failure　before　its　plans　came　out　of　the　puters。〃
　
　〃And　yet；　all　permits　were　approved；〃　said　Gunn。　〃Blessings　were　given　by　high　officials　in　Washington；　including　President　Wallace；　who　greased　the　path；〃　conceded　Montaigne。　〃Much　of　the　acceptance　was　based　around　the　new　trade　deals　with　China。　Congress　didn't　want　to　upset　the　apple　cart　when　Chinese　trade　reps　threw　Sungari　into　their　proposals。　And　to　be　sure；　there　must　have　been　heavy　payoffs　under　the　table　by　Qin　Shang　Maritime　up　and　down　the　line。〃　Gunn　moved　around　the　three…dimensional　projection　and　stared　through　a　porthole　at　the　actual　plex　two　miles　upriver　from　the　Marine　Denizen；　The　golden　buildings　were　turning　orange　with　the　setting　sun。　But　for　two　ships；　the　long　docks　were　empty。　〃We're　not　dealing　with　a　man　who　bets