inca.gold-第18节

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s　so　we　can　steal　a　helicopter。〃
　　　　She　sighed。　〃It　pains　any　archaeologist　to　see　precious　antiquities　lost　forever。〃
　　　　〃Better　yesterday's　junk　than　us。〃
　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　I　want　him　to　escape　as　much　as　you。　But　it　all　seems　so　impossible。〃
　　　　〃I've　known　the　guy　since　we　were　kids。〃　Giordino　smiled。　〃Believe　me；　he　never　passed　up　an　opportunity　to　play　Horatius　at　the　bridge。〃　He　studied　the　two　helicopters　that　sat　in　the　clearing　in　a　slightly　staggered　formation。
　　　　He　selected　the　one　in　the　rear　as　a　prime　candidate　for　escape。　It　was　only　a　few　meters　from　a　narrow　ravine　they　could　move　in　without　being　seen；　and　more　important；　it　was　out　of　easy　view　of　the　crew　seated　in　the　forward　craft。　〃Pass　the　word；〃　he　ordered　over　the　sounds　of　battle；　〃we're　going　to　hijack　the　second　chopper　in　line。〃

　　　　Pitt　shot　uncontrollably　down　the　side　of　the　temple；　like　a　plummeting　boulder　on　a　path　that　took　him　between　the　stone　animal　heads　protruding　from　the　convex　sloping　walls　with　only　centimeters　to　spare。　His　hands　gripped　the　knife　handles　like　vises；　and　he　pushed　with　all　the　strength　in　his　sinewy　arms　as　the　braking　blades　began　to　throw　out　sparks　of　protest　from　the　friction　of　steel　against　hard　stone。　The　rear　edges　of　the　rubber　heels　on　his　sneakers　were　being　ground　smooth　by　the　rough　surface　of　the　wall。　And　yet　he　accelerated　with　dismaying　speed。　His　two　greatest　fears　were　falling　forward　and　tumbling　head…first　like　a　cannon　ball　into　the　ground　or　striking　with　such　force　that　he　broke　a　leg。　Either　calamity　and　he　was　finished；　dead　meat　for　the　Peruvians　who　wouldn't　treat　him　kindly　for　killing　their　officers。
　　　　Still　fighting　grimly　but　hopelessly　to　arrest　his　velocity；　Pitt　flexed　his　legs　a　split　second　before　he　struck　the　ground　with　appalling　force。　He　let　loose　of　the　knives　on　impact　as　his　feet　drove　into　the　ooze　of　rain…soaked　soil。　Using　his　momentum；　he　rolled　over　on　one　shoulder　and　tumbled　twice　as　required　in　a　hard　parachute　landing。　He　lay　in　the　mud　for　a　few　moments；　thankful　he　hadn't　landed　on　a　rock；　before　rising　experimentally　to　his　feet　and　checking　for　damage。
　　　　One　ankle　slightly　sprained；　but　still　in　working　condition；　a　few　abrasions　on　his　hands；　and　an　aching　shoulder　appeared　to　be　the　only　damage。　The　damp　earth　had　saved　him　from　serious　injury。　The　faithful　mattress　was　in　shreds。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　happy　at　still　being　intact。　Having　no　time　to　waste；　Pitt　broke　into　a　run；　keeping　as　much　of　the　ruins　as　possible　between　him　and　the　troops　massing　for　an　assault　up　the　temple　stairs。

　　　　Giordino　could　only　hope　that　Pitt　had　survived　the　rockets　and　somehow　made　it　safely　down　the　wall　of　the　temple　without　being　spotted　and　shot。　It　seemed　an　impossible　act；　Giordino　thought。　Pitt　was　seemingly　indestructible；　but　the　old　faceless　man　with　the　scythe　catches　up　to　us　all。　That　he　might　catch　up　with　Pitt　was　a　prospect　Giordino　could　not　accept。　It　was　inconceivable　to　him　that　Pitt　could　die　anywhere　but　in　bed　with　a　beautiful　woman　or　in　a　nursing　home　for　aged　divers。
　　　　Giordino　crouched　and　ran　into　a　blind　position　behind　the　trailing　helicopter　as　a　squad　of　troops　began　charging　up　the　precipitous　temple　steps。　The　reserve　squad　remained　below　while　pouring　a　covering　storm　of　rifle　fire　at　the　now　shattered　palace　of　the　dead。
　　　　Every　one　of　the　Peruvians　had　his　attention　focused　on　the　attack。　No　one　saw　Giordino；　clutching　an　automatic　rifle；　steal　around　the　tail　boom　of　the　helicopter　and　enter　through　the　rear　clamshell　doors。　He　hurried　inside　and　dropped　flat；　his　eyes　taking　in　the　empty　troop　carrier　and　cargo　partment　and　the　two　pilots　in　the　cockpit　with　their　backs　turned　to　him；　intently　watching　the　one…sided　battle。
　　　　With　practiced　stealth　Giordino　moved　with　incredible　quickness　for　a　man　built　like　a　pact　bulldozer。　The　pilots　did　not　hear　him　or　feel　his　presence　as　he　came　up　behind　their　seats。　Giordino　reversed　the　rifle　and　clubbed　the　copilot　on　the　back　of　the　neck。　The　pilot　heard　the　thud　and　twisted　around　in　his　seat；　staring　briefly　at　Giordino　more　from　curiosity　than　dread。　Before　he　could　blink　an　eye；　Giordino　rammed　the　butt　of　the　steel　folding　rifle　stock　against　the　pilot's　forehead。
　　　　Quickly　he　dragged　the　unconscious　pilots　to　the　doorway　and　dumped　them　on　the　ground。　He　frantically　waved　to　Shannon；　Rodgers；　and　the　students；　who　were　hiding　in　the　ravine。　〃Hurry！〃　he　shouted；　〃for　God's　sake　hurry！〃
　　　　His　words　carried　clearly　above　the　sounds　of　the　fighting。　The　archaeologists　needed　no　further　urging。　They　broke　from　cover　and　dashed　through　the　open　door　into　the　helicopter　in　seconds。　Giordino　had　already　returned　to　the　cockpit　and　was　hurriedly　scanning　the　instruments　and　the　console　between　the　pilots'　seats　to　familiarize　himself　with　the　controls。
　　　　〃Are　we　all　here？〃　he　asked　Shannon　as　she　slipped　into　the　copilot's　seat　beside　him。
　　　　〃All　but　Pitt。〃
　　　　He　did　not　reply；　but　glanced　out　the　window。　The　troops　on　the　stairway；　being　more　courageous　at　encountering　no　defensive　fire；　surged　onto　the　landing　and　inside　the　fallen　palace　of　the　dead。　Only　seconds　were　left　before　the　attackers　realized　they'd　been　had。
　　　　Giordino　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　controls。　The　helicopter　was　an　old　Russian…built　Mi…8　assault　transport；　designated　a　Hip…C　by　NATO　during　the　Cold　War　years。　A　rather　ancient；　ugly　craft；　thought　Giordino；　with　twin　1500…horsepower　engines　that　could　carry　four　crew　and　thirty　passengers。　Since　the　engines　were　already　turning；　Giordino　placed　his　right　hand　on　the　throttles。
　　　　〃You　heard　me？〃　said　Shannon　nervously。　〃Your　friend　isn't　with　us。〃
　　　　〃I　heard。〃　With　a　total　absence　of　emotion；　Giordino　increased　power。

　　　　Pitt　crouched　behind　a　stone　building　and　peered　around　a　corner；　hearing　the　growing　whine　of　the　turboshaft　engines　and　seeing　the　five…bladed　main　rotor　slowly　increase　its　revolutions。　An　hour　previously；　it　had　taken　no　little　persuasion　for　him　to　convince　Giordino　that　he　must　take　off　whether　Pitt　arrived　or　not。　The　life　of　one　man　was　not　worth　the　death　of　thirteen　others。　Though　only　30　meters　（98　feet）　of　open　ground；　pletely　devoid　of　any　brush　or　cover；　separated　Pitt　from　the　helicopter；　it　seemed　more　like　a　mile　and　a　half。
　　　　There　was　no　longer　any　need　for　caution。　He　had　to　make　a　run　for　it。　He　leaned　down　and　gave　his　bad　ankle　a　fast　massage　to　knead　out　a　growing　tenseness。　He　felt　little　pain；　but　it　was　beginning　to　tighten　up　and　grow　numb。　No　time　left　if　he　wanted　to　save　himself。　He　plunged　forward　like　a　sprinter　and　raced　into　the　open。
　　　　The　rotors　were　beating　the　ground　into　dust　when　Giordino　lifted　the　old　Hip…C　into　a　hover。　He　gave　one　fast　scan　of　the　instrument　panel　to　see　if　it　showed　any　red　lights　and　tried　to　sense　any　strange　noises　or　weird　vibrations。　Nothing　seemed　wrong；　as　the　weary　engines　of　an　aircraft　badly；　overdue　for　an　overhaul　responded　in　a　businesslike　manner　as　he　dipped　the　nose　and　increased　power。
　　　　In　the　main　partment；　the　students　and　Rodgers　saw　Pitt　launch　his　dash　toward　the　gaping　clamshell　doors。　They　all　began　shouting　encouragement　as　he　pounded　over　the　soft　ground。　Their　shouts　turned　urgent　as　a　sergeant　happened　to　glance　away　from　the　battle　scene　and　saw　Pitt　chasing　after　the　rising　helicopter。　He　immediately　shouted　for　the　men　of　the　reserve　squad　who　were　still　waiting　for　the　order　to　advance　up　the　stairway。
　　　　The　sergeant's　shouts　they　were　almost　screams　carried　over　the　last　echoes　of　the　firing　from　atop　the　temple。　〃They're　escaping！　Shoot；　for　the　love　of　Jesus；　shoot　them！〃
　　　　The　troops　did　not　respond　as　ordered。　Pitt　was　in　a　direct　line　of　fire　with　the　helicopter。　To　fire　at　him　meant　riddling　their　own　aircraft。　They　hesitated；　unsure　of　following　the　frantic　sergeant's　mands。　Only　one　man　lifted　his　rifle　and　fired。
　　　　Pitt　ignored　the　bullet　that　cut　a　crease　in　his　right　thigh。　He　had　other　priorities　than　feeling　pain。　And　then　he　was　under　the　long　tail　boom　and　in　the　shadow　of　the　clamshell　doors；　and　Rodgers　and　the　Peruvian　young　people　were　on　their　stomachs；　leaning　out；　reaching　out　to　him　in　the　opening　between　the　doors。　The　helicopter　shuddered　as　it　was　buffeted　by　its　own　downdraft　and　lurched　backward。　Pitt　extended　his　arms　and　jumped。

　　　　Giordino　bent　the　helicopter　into　a　hard　turn；　putting　the　rotor　blades　dangerously　close　to　a　grove　of　trees。　A　bullet　shattered　his　side　window　and　sprayed　a　shower　of　silvery　fragments　across　the　cockpit；　cutting　a　small　gash　across　his　nose。　Another　round　plunked　into　the　rear　frame　of　his　seat；　missing　his　spinal　cord　by　a　whisker。　The　helicopter　took　several　more　hits　before　he　yanked　it　over　the　grove　and　below　the　far　side；　out　of　the　line　of　fire　from　the　Peruvian　assault　force。
　　　　Soon　out　of　range；　he　went　into　a　left　climbing　turn　until　he　had　enough　altitude　to　pass　over　the　mountains。　At　almost　4000　meters　（13；000　feet）　he　had　expected　to　find　barren；　rocky　slopes　above　a　timberline；　but　was　mildly　surprised　to　find　the　peaks　so　heavily　forested。　Once　clear　of　the　valley；　he　set　a　course　to　the　west。　Only　th