cussler.blueandgold-第31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！


to　keep　the　Trouts　from　trying　anything　foolish。
　
　Paul　said；　〃Look　at　that　water　wheel。　We　have　them　like　that　in　New　England。〃
　
　Water　had　been　diverted　from　the　river　and　was　flowing　through　wooden　chutes　to　turn　a　wheel。　They　didn't　get　the　chance　for　a　closer　look。　Their　guards　directed　them　toward　a　structure　at　the　center　of　the　settlement。　It　was　four　times　bigger　than　any　of　the　surrounding　huts；　and　the　walls　were　made　of　putty…colored　clay　rather　than　saplings。　They　stopped　in　front　of　a　portal　that　looked　like　a　large；　gaping　mouth。　Hung　over　the　entrance　was　the　bladed　fan　from　a　jet　engine。　The　Indians　closed　ranks　behind　them；　put　their　weapons　aside；　and　kneeled　with　their　noses　touching　the　earth。
　
　〃Now　what？〃　Gamay　said　with　astonishment　at　the　sudden　submissiveness　of　the　fierce　Indians。
　
　〃I　wouldn't　advise　running　for　it。　We　wouldn't　get　ten　feet　before　they　nailed　us。　My　guess　is　they　want　us　to　go　in。　After　you；　madame。〃
　
　〃We'll　go　in　together。〃
　
　They　walked　hand…in…hand　through　the　doorway　into　the　dim　interior。　They　passed　through　two　smaller　rooms；　then　into　a　large　space。　At　the　far　end　of　the　hut；　visible　in　a　shaft　of　light　ing　through　a　hole　cut　in　the　roof；　was　a　seated　figure。　The　figure　raised　its　arm　and　beckoned　for　them　to　approach。　They　moved　ahead　slowly。　The　floor　was　made　of　wood；　not　dirt　like　the　huts　they　had　been　in　before。
　
　The　figure　sat　on　a　throne　made　of　what　looked　like　an　airplane　seat。　With　the　exception　of　two　tanned　and　shapely　legs；　most　of　the　body　was　hidden　behind　a　blue…and…white　oval　mask　that　could　have　e　out　of　a　nightmare。　It　was　painted　with　huge　eyes　and　a　wide　mouth　with　sharp…pointed　shark's　teeth。　
　The　Trouts　stood　nervously　in　front　of　the　bizarre　figure；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Then　two　hands　came　from　behind　the　mask　and　lifted　it　off。
　
　〃Whew；　this　thing　is　hot；〃　the　beautiful　woman　behind　the　ugly　mask　said　in　English。　She　set　the　mask　aside；　cocked　her　head　at　Paul；　then　at　Gamay。
　
　〃The　Drs。　Trout；　I　presume？〃
　
　Gamay　was　the　first　to　speak　through　their　astonishment。　〃How　do　you　know　our　names？〃
　
　〃We　white　goddesses　see　all　and　know　all。〃　She　laughed　when　she　saw　the　puzzlement　deepen　even　more。　〃I'm　a　poor　host；　teasing　my　guests。〃
　
　She　smiled　and　clapped　her　hands　lightly。　The　Trouts　were　in　for　another　surprise。　The　beaded　curtains　behind　the　throne　parted　with　a　rustle；　and　Dieter's　wife；　Tessa；　stepped　out。　
　
　Chapter　15
　The　law　office　of　Francis　Xavier　Hanley　was　on　the　twelfth　floor　of　a　blue　glass　tower　that　looked　out　onto　San　Diego　Harbor。　Austin　and　Zavala　stepped　from　the　elevator　into　the　office　lobby　and　gave　the　attractive　young　receptionist　their　names。　She　punched　a　button　on　her　inter　　and　after　a　murmured　conversation　smiled　brightly　and　told　them　to　go　right　in。　A　ruddy…faced　man　with　the　body　of　a　night　club　bouncer　gone　to　flab　greeted　them　at　the　door。　He　introduced　himself　as　Hanley　and　ushered　them　to　a　pair　of　Empire…style　chairs。　Settling　his　bulk　behind　a　large　mahogany　desk；　he　leaned　back　in　his　plush　swivel　chair；　tented　his　fingertips；　and　contemplated　the　two　men　like　a　wolf　drooling　over　a　pair　of　staked　goats。
　
　After　crossing　back　from　Tijuana；　Austin　had　called　Hanley's　office　and　asked　for　an　appointment。　He　spread　his　story　on　as　thick　as　peanut　butter；　saying　he　and　his　partner　〃had　made　a　few　mil〃　in　the　market　and　wanted　a　place　to　spend　it。　They　got　an　immediate　meeting。　The　predatory　gleam　in　the　lawyer's　pale　green　eyes　suggested　that　the　bait　had　done　its　job　well。　He　looked　from　one　man　to　the　other。　〃I　believe　in　getting　right　down　to　business；〃　he　purred。　〃You　said　on　the　phone　that　you're　interested　in　foreign　investment。〃
　
　〃We're　primarily　interested　in　Mexico；〃　Zavala　explained。
　
　The　attorney　wore　an　expensive　sharkskin　gray　suit　and　had　enough　gold　and　diamonds　on　his　fleshy　hands　to　sink　the　Titanic。　All　the　tailors　in　the　world　couldn't　hide　the　brawler's　body；　and　no　amount　of　jewelry　could　have　obscured　the　coarse　ness　ingrained　in　his　every　word　and　move。　The　NUMA　men　were　dressed　in　jeans；　T…shirts；　and　windbreakers。　It　was　a　studied　casualness。　In　California；　the　only　ones　who　look　like　millionaires　are　those　who　aren't。
　
　Hanley　took　in　Zavala's　Latin　American　looks。　〃You've　e　to　the　right　place；〃　he　said　expansively。　He　smiled　in　an　attempt　to　exert　charm；　but　the　V…shaped　mouth　in　the　fleshy　face　made　him　look　like　a　fat　vulture。　〃Did　you　have　a　specific　area　in　mind？〃
　
　〃We　like　tortillas；〃　Austin　said　with　a　straight　face。
　
　A　look　of　inprehension　appeared　on　Hanley's　florid　features。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said；　not　certain　he　had　heard　correctly。
　
　〃You　know；　tortillas；〃　Austin　said；　making　a　circular　motion　with　his　finger。　〃We　hear　it's　a　fast…growing　business。〃
　
　Recovering　nicely；　Hanley　replied；　〃And　so　it　is。　A　booming　sector　in　the　expanding　food　services　area。〃
　
　Austin　had　the　feeling　that　the　answer　would　have　been　the　same　had　they　told　Hanley　they　were　interested　in　making　mud　pies。　He　and　Zavala　had　decided　to　use　the　direct　approach　that　had　worked　so　well　in　drawing　a　strong　reaction　from　Pedralez。
　
　Zavala　smiled　and　said；　〃We've　been　hearing　about　a　tortilla　plant　in　Baja　California；　outside　Ensenada；　that　might　be　for　sale　real　cheap。〃
　
　Hanley's　watery　eyes　narrowed　under　the　prominent　brow　ridge。　〃Where'd　you　hear　that？〃　he　growled。
　
　〃Around。〃　The　corners　of　Zavala's　lips　turned　up　in　a　mysterious　smile。
　
　〃Sorry；　gentlemen；　I'm　not　familiar　with　any　Baja　tortilla　plant。〃
　
　Zavala　turned　to　Austin。　〃He　says　he's　not　familiar　with　that　one。〃
　
　Austin　shrugged。　〃We're　surprised　at　your　answer。　Enrico　Pedralez　says　you're　very　familiar　with　the　property。　He　gave　us　your　name　and　said　you　arranged　the　deal　for　him。〃　Hanley's　defenses　went　on　full　alert　at　the　mention　of　the　Mexican　mob　boss。　He　was　uncertain　how　accountable　he　had　to　be　to　these　two　strangers。　He　fast…forwarded　through　the　categories　of　likely　threats：　police；　IRS；　state　bureaucrats。　These　men　didn't　fit　into　any　pigeonhole。　He　decided　to　take　the　offensive。
　
　〃May　I　see　some　identification　from　you　gentlemen？〃
　
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃In　that　case；　if　you're　not　out　of　my　office　in　two　seconds；　I'll　throw　you　out　myself。〃
　
　Austin　made　no　move　to　rise。　〃You　could　try；〃　he　said　with　an　icy　coldness；　〃but　I　wouldn't　remend　it。　I　wouldn't　bother　calling　in　your　Mexican　pals；　either。〃
　
　Seeing　that　intimidation　wasn't　going　to　work；　the　lawyer　reached　for　the　phone。　〃I'm　calling　the　police。〃
　
　〃Why　don't　you　call　the　bar　association　while　you're　at　it？〃　Austin　said。　〃I'm　sure　they'd　like　to　hear　how　one　of　their　members　set　up　a　deal　with　a　notorious　Mexican　mafioso。　That　framed　license　on　your　wall　won't　be　worth　the　paper　it's　printed　on。〃
　
　The　hand　retreated；　and　Hanley　stared　across　the　desk。　〃Who　are　you　gentlemen？〃　He　practically　spat　out　the　last　word。
　
　〃A　couple　of　people　who　want　to　know　more　about　that　plant　in　the　Baja；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Hanley　was　having　a　hard　time　trying　to　figure　out　this　pair。　With　their　athletic　builds　and　sun…burnished　faces　they　looked　like　a　couple　of　beach　bums；　but　he　detected　a　hard　edge　under　their　genial　image。
　
　〃Even　if　you　had　credible　authority　I　couldn't　help　you；〃　he　said。　〃All　discussions　on　that　matter　are　covered　by　lawyer…client　privilege。〃
　
　〃That's　true；〃　Austin　said　agreeably。　〃It　is　also　true　that　you　could　go　to　jail　for　making　a　dirty　deal　with　a　known　criminal。〃
　
　Hanley's　mouth　widened　in　an　insincere　smile。　〃Okay；　you　win；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　can。　But　let's　promise。　Tell　me　why　you　are　interested　in　this　property。　It　would　be　the　fair　thing　to　do。〃　
　
　　〃True；〃　Austin　said；　〃but　this　is　an　unfair　world。〃　His　coral　green　eyes　bored　into　Hanley's　face。　〃I'll　put　your　mind　at　ease。　Your　slimy　dealings　are　not　our　concern。　Once　you　tell　us　who　hired　you　for　the　Baja　job；　chances　are　you'll　never　see　us　again。〃
　
　Hanley　nodded　and　plucked　a　cigar　from　a　humidor　without　offering　his　guests　one。　He　lit　up　and　puffed　smoke　in　their　direction。　〃I　was　contacted　about　two　years　ago　by　a　broker　from　Sacramento。　He　had　heard　about　my；　ah；　connections；　south　of　the　border　and　thought　I　would　be　the　perfect　go…between　for　a　highly　lucrative　deal　with　no　risk　and　little　work。〃
　
　〃An　offer　you　couldn't　refuse。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　But　I　was　cautious。　Everyone　in　California　has　a　get…rich　scheme。　He　knew　about　my　ties　to　Enrico。　So　I　had　to　make　sure　this　guy　wasn't　working　in　an　official　capacity。　I　had　a　private　detective　check　him　out。　He　was　legit。〃
　
　Austin　smiled　faintly　at　the　irony　of　a　crooked　lawyer　worrying　about　honesty。　〃What　did　he　hire　you　to　do？〃
　
　〃The　people　he　represented　wanted　to　find　land　in　the　Baja。　It　had　to　be　remote　and　on　the　coast。　Then　he　wanted　me　to　handle　the　paperwork　and　red　tape　involved　in　starting　a　business　in　Mexico。〃
　
　〃Baja　Tortillas。〃
　
　〃Yes。　He　wanted　a　Mexican　to　hold　the　actual　ownership　for　the　plant。　He　said　it　would　be　easier　that　way。　It　would　be　a　turnkey　ope