cc.floodtide-第73章

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　at　sarcastic　wit。　A　worthy　opponent？〃　Qin　Shang　shook　his　head　wearily。　〃Not　really。　But　an　opponent　to　be　savored；　not　like　fine　caviar；　but　more　like　an　American　hamburger…coarse；　mon　and　primitive。〃
　〃If　he　but　knew　where　to　look　he　would　be　able　to　view　the　pitiful　remains　of　those　who　wished　you　ill　and　tried　to　obstruct　your　ambitions。〃
　〃Pitt　will　be　eliminated；〃　Qin　Shang　said　in　a　cold　voice。　〃So　far　he　has　merely　thwarted　a　pair　of　minor　projects　that　can　be　easily　restored。　My　only　concern　with　him　now　is　why　is　he　in　Louisiana　when　my　sources　here　in　Washington　informed　me　that　NUMA　was　taken　off　all　investigations　involving　immigrant　smuggling？　His　dogged　persistence　in　annoying　me　is　a　mystery。〃
　〃A　misguided　vendetta　against　you；　perhaps？〃
　〃Pitt　is　what　the　Americans　call　a　righteous　do…gooder；〃　said　Qin　Shang　with　a　rare　flash　of　humor。　〃And　therein　lies　his　flaw。　When　he　makes　a　mistake；　as　he　surely　will；　his　demise　will　e　because　he　took　a　moral　road。　He　has　never　learned　that　money　and　power；　when　arranged　in　appropriate　designs；　cannot　lose。〃　He　paused　to　pat　her　on　the　knee。　〃Do　not　trouble　yourself　over　Dirk　Pitt；　my　little　songbird。　He　will　die　very　soon。〃
　
　
　
　April　29；　2000　The　Lower　Mississippi　River
　
　TWENTY　MILES　SOUTH　OF　THE　HEAD　OF　PASSES；　THAT　PART　OF　the　lower　Mississippi　that　branches　into　three　major　channels　leading　into　the　Gulf　of　Mexico；　two　large　helicopters　took　turns　dropping　onto　the　open　stern　deck　of　the　United　States　and　discharging　their　cargo　of　men　and　equipment。　Then　they　lifted　into　the　air　again　and　flew　west　toward　the　port　of　Sun…gari。　The　operation　lasted　little　more　than　fifteen　minutes　while　the　ship　continued　moving　at　a　speed　of　twenty…five　knots；　as　dictated　by　her　automated　control　systems。
　
　A　tight　unit　of　heavily　armed　men　from　Qin　Shang's　private　security　forces；　led　by　a　former　colonel　from　the　Chinese　People's　Liberation　Army；　dressed　in　work　clothes　usually　worn　by　the　men　who　worked　the　river；　and　carrying　automatic　weapons　and　portable　missile　launchers；　dispersed　throughout　the　decks　as　maritime　crewmen　went　to　the　engine　room　and　wheelhouse；　where　they　took　manual　mand　of　the　ship's　systems。　Before　reaching　the　Southwest　Pass；　the　channel　most　often　used　by　oceangoing　vessels　entering　the　river；　the　great　liner　slowed　as　it　was　met　by　the　boat　carrying　the　pilot　who　would　navigate　the　ship　upriver　to　New　Orleans。
　
　The　pilot　was　a　heavy　man　with　a　beer　belly。　He　was　sweating　heavily　and　dabbing　a　red　bandanna　across　his　balding　head　after　climbing　the　rope　ladder　when　he　stepped　into　the　wheelhouse。　He　gave　a　wave　and　walked　up　to　Captain　Li　Hung…chang；　who　until　two　days　before　had　manded　the　Sung　Lien　Star。
　
　〃Howdy；　Captain；　Sam　Boone。　I　got　lucky　and　won　a　lottery　of　river　pilots　for　the　honor　of　taking　this　here　monstrosity　up　to　New　Orleans；〃　he　proclaimed；　pronouncing　Orleans　as　Auwlans。
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　said　Hung…chang　without　bothering　to　introduce　himself。　He　pointed　toward　the　short　Chinese　man　standing　at　the　helm　who　was　the　rudder　master。　〃My　first　officer　will　do　the　job。〃
　Boone　looked　at　Hung…chang　queerly。　〃You're　funnin'　me；　right？〃
　〃No；〃　answered　Hung…chang。　〃We　are　quite　capable　of　running　the　ship　to　our　destination　under　our　own　mand。〃　He　nodded　at　two　guards　who　were　nearby。　They　took　Boone　by　the　arms　and　began　leading　him　away。
　〃Now　wait　just　a　damned　minute；〃　snorted　Boone；　fighting　off　the　guards。　〃You're　violating　maritime　law。　You're　headin'　for　a　calamity　if　you're　dumb　enough　to　try　navigatin'　it　yourself。　You　don't　know　the　river　like　an　experienced　pilot。　We　have　rigorous　standards。　I've　been　taking　ships　up　and　down　the　delta　for　twenty…five　years。　It　might　look　easy　to　you；　but　believe　you　me；　it　ain't。〃
　Hung…chang　nodded　at　the　guards。　〃Lock　him　up。　Knock　him　unconscious　if　you　have　to。〃
　〃You're　crazy！〃　Boone　shouted　over　his　shoulder　as　he　was　dragged　away。　〃You'll　ran　her　aground　sure　as　hell！〃
　〃Is　he　right；　Ming　Lin？〃　Hung…chang　asked　the　rudder　master。　〃Will　you　run　us　aground？〃
　Lin　turned　and　smiled　a　narrow　smile。　〃I've　taken　this　ship　upriver　over　two　hundred　times　in　puter…generated　virtual　reality　in　three　dimensions。〃
　〃Have　you　ever　run　aground？〃　Hung…chang　persisted。
　〃Twice；〃　replied　Ming　Lin　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　river　channel。　〃The　first　two　times　I　tried　it；　but　never　after。〃
　Hung…chang's　dark　amber　eyes　gleamed。　〃Please　keep　your　speed　within　the　limit。　We　can　allow　curiosity；　but　we　cannot　afford　to　arouse　suspicion；　not　for　the　next　several　hours。〃
　Hung…chang　was　chosen　by　Qin　Shang's　personal　orders　to　captain　the　United　States　upriver　to　New　Orleans。　Not　only　did　Qin　Shang　trust　him　explicitly；　but　his　decision　was　also　based　on　expediency。　Having　a　captain　at　the　helm　who　was　experienced　in　ocean　liners　was　not　a　necessity。　By　selecting　a　snip's　captain　and　his　crew　who　were　already　in　America　and　within　a　short　helicopter　flight　of　the　approaching　liner；　Qin　Shang　saved　time　and　the　expense　of　sending　a　crew　from　Hong　Kong。　His　ulterior　motive　was　that　he　did　not　believe　more　experienced　cruise…ship　chief　officers　were　as　expendable　as　the　captain　and　crew　of　the　Sung　Lien　Star。
　Hung…chang's　duties　consisted　of　little　more　than　greeting　the　customs　inspectors　and　immigration　officials　and　acting　the　conquering　hero　to　the　crowds　of　people　lining　the　riverbanks。　His　true　function　was　mostly　for　ornamentation。　Besides　twenty　heavily　armed　security　men　on　Qin　Shang's　payroll；　his　crew　of　fifteen　was　primarily　made　up　of　demolition　experts　mixed　in　with　a　few　engineers　to　stand　by　in　case　there　was　a　call　for　emergency　repairs　if　the　ship　was　attacked。
　
　He　turned　a　blind　eye　to　the　dangerous　part　of　the　journey。　Twenty…four　hours；　that　was　all　the　time　Qin　Shang　had　requested　of　his　services。　His　evacuation；　when　the　moment　came；　was　well　timed　and　organized。　Helicopters　were　standing　by　to　swoop　in　and　pick　up　the　fighting　men　and　crew　once　the　charges　were　detonated　and　the　ship　was　scuttled　in　precisely　the　right　spot。　Qin　Shang　had　given　his　assurances　that　Hung…chang　would　be　a　rich　man　when　he　returned　home；　providing；　of　course；　the　operation　went　as　conceived。
　
　He　sighed。　All　that　troubled　him　now　was　navigating　the　sharp　bends　in　the　river；　avoiding　other　ships　and　passing　under　the　six　bridges　that　faced　him　after　New　Orleans。　The　distance　from　the　Head　of　Passes　to　the　city　was　ninety…five　miles。　Although　the　navigation　channel　for　oceangoing　traffic　in　the　lower　reaches　of　the　river　averaged　more　than　forty　feet　deep　by　one　thousand　feet　wide；　no　ship　the　size　of　the　United　States　had　ever　traveled　on　the　Mississippi　before。　The　narrow　inland　waterway　channel　was　not　dredged　for　a　vessel　of　her　huge　bulk　and　restricted　maneuverability。
　
　After　passing　Venice；　the　last　town　on　the　west　bank　that　was　accessible　by　highway；　the　levees　were　lined　with　thousands　of　people　who　had　turned　out　to　see　the　grand　spectacle　of　the　great　liner's　passage　up　the　river。　Students　had　been　temporarily　let　out　of　schools　to　witness　an　event　that　had　never　before　taken　place　and　would　not　again。　Hundreds　of　small　private　boats　trailed　after　the　ship；　tooting　and　honking　their　horns；　and　were　kept　a　safe　distance　away　from　her　churning　wake　by　two　escorting　Coast　Guard　boats　that　had　appeared　after　the　United　States　had　emerged　from　the　Head　of　Passes。
　
　They　all　stood；　many　in　awed　silence；　others　waving　and　cheering；　as　the　United　States　negotiated　the　sharp　bends　of　the　river；　her　bow　brushing　the　edge　of　the　channel　on　the　west　bank；　her　stem　and　slowly　turning　propellers　thrashing　past　the　east　bank　that　protruded　around　the　bend。　This　was　late　April　going　on　May；　and　the　spring　runoff　far　to　the　north　that　came　flowing　down　from　the　Mississippi's　tributaries　had　raised　the　water　level　above　the　base　of　the　levees。　Hung…chang　was　thankful　for　extra　water　between　the　keel　and　river　bottom。　It　gave　him　an　extra　margin　for　success。
　
　He　readjusted　the　buckle　on　the　strap　of　his　binoculars；　squared　the　cap　on　his　head；　then　stepped　out　onto　the　bridge　wing。　He　ignored　the　pass　mounted　on　a　stand　that　responded　to　the　ship's　every　change　of　direction　as　it　moved　over　the　curling　river。　He　was　glad　the　waterway　had　been　emptied　of　traffic　in　anticipation　of　the　big　ship's　passage。　It　would　be　a　different　story　after　New　Orleans；　but　he　would　deal　with　that　problem　when　the　time　came。
　
　He　looked　up　at　the　sky　and　was　relieved　to　see　the　weather　had　cooperated。　The　day　was　warm　with　only　a　whisper　of　a　breeze。　A　twenty…mile…an…hour　wind　against　the　gigantic　hull　of　the　ship　could　have　caused　disaster　by　pushing　her　broadside　into　the　bank　during　navigation　of　a　sharp　river　bend。　The　azure…blue　cloudless　sky　and　the　sunlight　reflected　off　the　water　surface；　giving　it　a　green；　almost　clean；　look。　Because　he　was　ascending　the　river　the　green　channel　buoys　swayed　aimlessly　on　his　left　while　the　red　navigation　buoys　rolled　to　his　right。
　
　He　waved　back　at　the　people　standing　on　the　levee　amid　a　sea　of　parked　cars　and　pickup　trucks。　From　his　height　nine　stories　above　the　water　he　looked　down　on　the　horde　and　saw　the　flat　marsh　and　farmlands　beyond。　Li　Hung…chang　felt　like　a　spectator　watching　someone　else　play　his　role　in　a　drama。
　
　He　began　to　speculate　on　the　reception　waiting　along　the　waterfront　in　New　Orleans；　and　he　smiled　to　himself。　Millions　of　Americans　would　remember　this　day；　he　mused；　but　not　for　the　reasons　they　had　expected。
　
　RUDI　GUNN　WAS　WAITING　　FOR　PITT　AND　GIOROINO　WHEN　they　returned　the　shantyboat　to　Doug　Wheeler's　dock　late　the　same　afternoon。　His　eyes　were　red　from　lack　of　sleep　caused　by　sitting　up　most　of　the　night　waiting　for　Pitt's　sporadic　reports。　He　wore　khaki　shorts　and　a　white　T…shirt　with　the　words
　
　ST。　MARY　PARISH；　GOOD　OLD　FASHION　SOUTHERN　HOSPITALITY
　
　printed　across　the　back。
　
　After　replacing　the　fuel　they　had　used　and　loading　their　equipment　in　the　Marine　Denizen's　launch；　Put　and　Giordino　bade　a　fond　farewell　to　Romberg；　who　raised　his　head　from　the　deck　and　gave　them　a　lethargic　goodbye　〃Woof；〃　before　promptly　falling　back　to　sleep。
　
　As　they　cleared　the　dock；　Giordino　stood　beside　Gunn　at　the　helm。　〃I'd　say　we　could　all　use　some　dinner　and　a　good　night's　sleep。〃
　〃I'll　second　the　motion；〃　Pitt　yawned。
　〃All　you　get　is　a　thermos　of　coffee　with　chicory；〃　said　Gunn。　〃The　admiral　flew　into　town　along　with　Peter　Harper　of　the　Immigration　Service。　Your　presence　has　been　requested　on　board　the　Coast　Guard　cutter　Weehawken。〃
　〃Last　I　saw　of　her；〃　said　Pitt；　〃she　was　anchored　just　above　Sungari。〃
　〃She's　now　tied　up　at　the　Coast　Guard　dock　near　Morgan　City；〃　Gunn　enlightened　him。
　〃No　dinner？〃　asked　Giordino　sadly。
　〃No　time；〃　Gunn　replied。　〃Maybe　if　you　act　like　good　little　boys；　you　can　get　a　fast　bite　from　the　Weehawken's　galley。〃
　〃I　promise　to　be　good；〃　Giordino　said　with　a　wily　shift　to　his　eyes。
　Pitt　and　Gunn　exchanged　disbelieving　looks。　〃Never　happen；〃　Gunn　sighed。
　〃Not　in　our　lifetime；〃　Pitt　agreed。
　Peter　Harper；　Admiral　Sandecker；　Captain　Lewis　and　Julia　Lee　were　waiting　for　them　in　the　wardroom　of　the　Weehawke