cussler.blueandgold-第20节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


outs'　quizzical　expressions。　His　face　went　rock　hard；　then　the　unctuous　smile　reappeared。
　
　〃As　you　can　see；　Tessa　was　most　impressed　by　a　group　that　passed　this　way　not　long　ago　in　search　of　specimens。　They　employed　a　miniature　zeppelin　to　move　above　the　tree　canopy。　The　natives　were　very　much　in　awe　of　the　machine；　and　so　was　I；　I　must　admit。〃
　
　〃Who　were　these　people？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　〃I　know　only　that　they　represented　a　French　firm。　You　know　how　close…mouthed　the　French　can　be。〃
　
　〃What　happened　to　them？〃
　
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea。　I　heard　they　moved　on。　Maybe　they　were　captured　and　eaten　by　the　Chulo。〃　He　laughed　heartily　at　the　prospect。　〃Which　brings　me　back　to　the　purpose　of　your　visit。　I　thank　you　very　much　for　warning　me；　but　now　that　you　know　the　dangers　that　lurk　here；　I　trust　you　will　go　back　to　Dr。　Ramirez　with　my　appreciation。〃
　
　Gamay　looked　at　the　lowering　afternoon　sun。　She　and　Paul　knew　that　in　the　tropics　the　sun　drops　with　the　swiftness　of　a　guillotine　blade。
　
　〃It's　a　little　late　to　be　starting　back；〃　she　said。　〃What　do　you　think；　Paul？〃
　
　〃It　would　be　dangerous　trying　to　navigate　that　river　by　night。〃
　
　Dieter　frowned；　then；　seeing　he　was　getting　nowhere；　smiled　and　said；　〃Well　then；　you　will　be　my　guests。　Tomorrow　you　will　get　an　early　start　after　a　good　night's　sleep。〃
　
　Gamay　half　heard　his　words。　Tessa's　head　was　no　longer　downcast。　She　was　looking　straight　at　Gamay；　her　eyes　wide　open；　almost　imperceptibly　shaking　her　head。　Paul　caught　the　gesture　as　well。　
　
　　They　thanked　Dieter　for　the　refreshing　drink　and　his　offer　of　a　place　to　stay　and　said　they　wanted　to　retrieve　some　gear　from　the　boat。　As　they　walked　toward　the　river　the　natives　shied　away　as　if　the　couple　were　surrounded　by　an　invisible　force　field。
　
　Gamay　made　a　pretense　of　checking　the　engine　for　oil。
　
　〃Did　you　see　Tessa？〃　she　said。　〃She　was　warning　us。〃
　
　〃No　mistaking　the　terror　in　those　eyes；〃　Paul　said；　examining　the　dip　stick。
　
　〃What　do　you　think　we　should　do？〃
　
　〃We　don't　have　much　choice。　I'm　not　enthusiastic　about　spending　the　night　here　in　Camp　Happy；　but　I　wasn't　kidding。　It　would　be　crazy　to　run　this　river　in　the　dark。　Do　you　have　any　suggestions？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　Gamay　said；　watching　a　bat　the　size　of　an　eagle　flit　across　the　river　in　the　failing　light。　〃I　suggest　that　we　don't　dose　our　eyes　at　the　same　time。〃
　
　Chapter　9
　As　Austin　scudded　through　the　blue…green　Baja　waters　on　the　back　of　a　mini…submersible；　he　wondered　how　a　National　Geographic　photographer　filming　a　whale　migration　would　react　if　a　man　riding　a　giant　boot　suddenly　appeared　in　his　camera's　viewfinder。　Perched　outside；　like　a　rumble　seat　passenger　in　an　old　roadster；　Austin　could　see　Joe's　head　and　shoulders　outlined　by　the　blue　light　from　the　control　puter　screen　inside　the　watertight　cockpit。
　
　Zavala's　metallic　voice　crackled　in　the　headphones　of　Austin's　underwater　municator。　〃How's　the　weather　out　there；　cap？〃
　
　Austin　rapped　on　the　Plexiglas　dome　and　curled　his　finger　and　thumb　in　the　okay　sign。
　
　〃It's　fine。　This　beats　muscle　power　any　day；〃　he　said。
　
　Zavala　chuckled。　〃Contos　will　be　pleased　to　hear　that。〃
　
　The　skipper　of　the　Sea　Robin　had　beamed　with　pride　as　he　showed　Austin　the　new　submersible　sitting　in　its　deck　cradle。　The　experimental　mini…sub　was　a　marvelously　pact　vehicle。　The　operator　sat　in　the　dry；　pressurized　cabin　like　the　driver　of　a　car；　legs　stretched　out　into　the　extended　eight…foot…long　hull。　Two　pontoons　flanked　the　miniature　cabin；　and　on　the　back　were　the　air　tanks　and　four　thrusters。
　
　Austin　had　run　his　fingers　over　the　transparent　bubble　dome　and　said；　〃I'll　be　damned。　This　thing　does　look　like　an　old　boot。〃　
　
　　〃I　tried　to　get　you　the　Red　October；〃　Contos　said；　〃but　Sean　Connery　was　using　it。〃
　
　Austin　wisely　kept　his　silence。　NUMA　people　were　known　to　form　personal　attachments　to　the　high…tech　equipment　under　their　mand。　The　uglier　the　gear；　the　more　intense　the　relationship。　Austin　didn't　want　to　embarrass　Contos　by　explaining　how　he　knew　the　sub　was　being　field…tested　off　California　where　the　main　ponents　had　been　assembled。　He　had　missioned　the　design　and　building　of　the　mini…submersible　for　the　Special　Assignments　Team；　and　Zavala　designed　it。　NUMA　had　subs　that　could　go　faster　and　deeper；　but　Austin　wanted　a　tough　little　vehicle　that　would　be　portable；　easily　transported　by　a　helicopter　or　boat。　It　would　have　to　be　unobtrusive　as　well；　Austin　specified；　so　as　not　to　attract　attention。　Although　he　had　approved　the　blueprints；　this　was　his　first　glimpse　of　the　final　product。
　
　Zavala　was　a　brilliant　marine　engineer　who　had　directed　the　construction　of　many　manned　and　unmanned　underwater　craft。　For　inspiration；　Zavala　used　the　DeepWorker；　a　mercial　mini…sub　designed　by　Phil　Nuytten　and　Zegrahm　DeepSea　Voyages；　an　adventure　expedition　cruise　pany。　Zavala　extended　the　range　and　power　and　added　sophisticated　testing　capacity。　He　claimed　the　instruments　aboard　the　submersible　could　tell　what　river　or　glacier　a　drop　of　ocean　water　came　from。
　
　The　sub　was　originally　named　the　DeepSee；　an　homage　to　its　predecessor　and　to　its　intended　function　as　an　exploration　vehicle。　When　Admiral　Sandecker　heard　the　designation　he　cringed　at　the　pun。　Shown　the　scale　model；　he　grinned。　〃It　reminds　me　of　one　of　the　brogans　I　used　to　wear　when　I　was　a　kid；〃　he　said；　using　the　old　slang　term　for　high…topped　workboots。　The　new　name　stuck。
　
　The　NUMA　ship　cruised　south　from　San　Diego　into　Mexican　waters；　staying　well　offshore。　Near　Ensenada　the　Sea　Robin　began　to　follow　the　coast　more　closely。　The　ship　passed　several　fishing　boats　and　a　couple　of　cruise　ships。　Before　long　the　vessel　was　about　a　half　mile　from　the　open　mouth　of　the　cove　Austin　and
　Zavala　had　scouted　out　earlier　from　land。　Austin　scoured　the　rugged　cliffs　through　powerful　binoculars　and　studied　the　back　of　the　tortilla　factory。　Nothing　appeared　out　of　the　ordinary。　Large　signs　posted　on　either　side　of　the　lagoon　warned　of　dangerous　hidden　rocks。　Highlighting　the　warnings　were　caution　buoys　strung　across　the　opening。
　
　The　Sea　Robin　sailed　beyond　the　cove　and　headed　into　a　small　inlet。　As　the　anchor　slid　into　the　sea；　Zavala　eased　into　the　mini…sub　and　made　his　last…minute　checks。　With　the　dome　se　cured　the　cabin　was　watertight　and　carried　its　own　air　supply。　Zavala　was　dressed　fortably　in　shorts　and　his　new　purple　Hussong's　T…shirt。
　
　Austin；　who　would　be　immersed　in　water；　was　suited　out　in　full　scuba　gear　and　extra　air　tank。　He　climbed　onto　the　back　of　the　Brogan　with　his　fins　resting　on　the　pontoons　and　fastened　a　quick…release　harness　attached　to　the　sub。　The　dome　was　latched　tight。　At　his　signal　a　crane　hoisted　the　sub　in　the　air；　then　lowered　it　into　the　sea。　Austin　unhooked　the　slack　holding　lines　and　gave　Zavala　the　go…ahead　to　dive。　Within　seconds　they　were　sinking　into　the　sea　in　an　explosion　of　bubbles。
　
　The　battery…operated　thrusters　kicked　into　action　with　a　high…pitched　hum；　and　Zavala　steered　for　open　water。　The　sub　rounded　the　point　of　jagged　sea…wet　rocks　and　followed　a　course　directly　into　the　mouth　of　the　lagoon。　They　stayed　at　a　depth　of　thirty…five　feet；　moving　well　under　Mach　One　at　a　fortable　five　knots。　They　used　a　bination　of　Austin's　observations　and　the　mini's　instruments　to　navigate。　Austin　kept　his　head　low　to　reduce　water　resistance。　He　was　enjoying　the　trip；　particularly　the　schools　of　brightly　colored　fish　that　scattered　like　wind　blown　confetti　at　their　approach。
　
　Austin　was　glad　to　see　fish　for　a　less　aesthetic　reason。　Their　presence　meant　the　water　was　still　safe　for　living　things。　He　had　not　forgotten　that　unknown　forces　killed　an　entire　pod　of　huge　creatures　that　were　hardier　and　more　adaptable　to　their　marine　environment　than　a　puny　human　being。　Although　sensors　in　the　sub's　skin　automatically　sampled　and　tested　the　ambient　waters；　
　Austin　knew　that　by　the　time　he　learned　conditions　were　un　healthy　it　might　be　too　late。
　
　'Approaching　the　mouth　of　the　lagoon。　We're　going　right　up　the　middle；〃　Zavala　reported。　〃Plenty　of　room　on　either　side。　Mooring　line　from　a　warning　buoy　off　to　starboard。〃
　
　Austin　turned　to　the　right　and　saw　a　thin　black　line　running　from　the　surface　toward　the　bottom。　〃I　see　it。　Notice　anything　funny？〃
　
　〃Yeah；〃　Zavala　said　as　they　cruised　by。　〃No　rocks　under　the　buoy。〃
　
　〃Bet　you　a　bottle　of　Cuervo　that　all　the　other　warnings　are　phony；　too。〃
　
　〃I'll　take　the　bottle　but　not　the　bet。　Someone　wants　to　keep　people　out　of　here。〃
　
　〃That's　obvious。　How's　this　buggy　handling？〃
　
　〃Getting　into　a　little　backwash　from　the　water　swishing　out　of　the　lagoon；　but　it's　still　easier　than　driving　on　the　Beltway；〃　Zavala　said；　referring　to　the　highway　that　separates　Washington　from　the　rest　of　the　country　geographically　and　politically。　〃She　handles　like　an…uh…oh。〃
　
　〃What's　wrong？〃
　
　〃Sonar　is　picking　up　multiple　targets。　Lots　of　them。　About　fifty　yards　dead　ahead。〃
　
　Austin　had　been　lulled　into　placency　by　the　tranquility　of　the　trip。　In　his　imagination　he　pictured　a　line　of　underwater　guards　waiting　in　ambush。
　
　〃Diver