cc.goldenbuddha-第15节

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　〃Dick；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　reached　the　top　of　the　ladder　leading　from　the　shore　boat　to　the　pier；　〃how　goes　it？〃　
　〃Mr。　Chairman；〃　Truitt　said；　〃I　think　all　is　in　order。〃　
　Bob　Meadows　and　Pete　Jones；　former　Navy　SEALs　and　operational　specialists；　along　with　security　and　surveillance　expert　Linda　Ross；　followed。　Once　they　were　all　on　the　pier；　Truitt　motioned　to　the　van。　
　〃Let　me　show　you　the　layout；〃　Truitt　said　quietly　as　they　all　entered　the　van。　
　Truitt　steered　the　van　onto　the　1。3…mile…long　bridge　that　would　take　them　to　Taipa。　It　was　quiet　inside　the　van；　the　only　sound　ing　from　the　tires　as　they　periodically　crossed　over　the　expansion　joints。　
　〃This　is　Taipa；〃　Truitt　said　as　the　van　reached　the　island。　〃Two　bridges　lead　to　Macau。　We'll　take　the　shorter；　which　is　about　a　mile　and　a　half　long。〃　
　As　Truitt　steered　the　van　onto　the　second　bridge；　Cabrillo　stared　to　the　west　across　the　water　toward　the　other　bridge　and　Hong　Kong。　The　road　was　crowded　with　trucks　carrying　cargo　from　the　seaports　and　air　terminal；　but　the　traffic　was　moving　fast。　
　〃Can　the　authorities　seal　off　the　bridges？〃　he　asked。　
　〃There　are　no　gates　per　se；〃　Truitt　said；　〃but　they　could　easily　station　large　trucks　on　the　approaches　and　we'd　be　in　trouble。〃　
　The　high…rises　on　Macau　were　being　more　visible　through　the　windshield。　
　〃We're　not　going　to　luck　out　and　have　the　building　located　along　the　waterfront？〃　Linda　Ross　asked。　
　〃Sorry；　Linda；〃　Truitt　said；　glancing　in　the　rearview　mirror；　〃his　home　is　on　the　hillside。〃　
　Cabrillo　was　staring　ahead　at　the　mass　of　humanity　and　buildings　as　the　van　covered　the　final　hundred　yards　over　the　bridge。　〃So　if　we're　caught　making　a　run　for　it　。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　
　Truitt　slowed　the　van　and　turned　onto　a　crowded　side　street。　〃That's　the　score；　boss；〃　he　said　quietly。　
　〃How　e　we　never　steal　things　that　are　hidden　in　the　middle　of　nowhere？〃　Meadows　asked。　
　〃Because　the　stuff　we're　paid　to　do　never　happens　in　an　isolated　area；〃　Jones　said；　smiling。　
　
　LANGSTON　OVERHOLT　HAD　needed　more　time　with　the　Dalai　Lama　to　explain　his　proposal；　so　he'd　made　a　quick　call　to　Washington；　then　boarded　the　Falcon。　Flying　against　the　sun　had　made　the　night　last　a　long　timeit　was　still　dark　when　they　stopped　in　Manila　to　refuel。　Lifting　from　the　tarmac　at　Manila　International　Airport；　the　pilot　set　a　course　skirting　Vietnam　then　over　the　southernmost　strip　of　Thailand　above　Hat　Yai。　Once　he　passed　over　Thailand；　he'd　make　a　sweeping　turn　north　over　the　Andaman　Sea；　stop　at　Rangoon　for　more　fuel；　and　then　he　could　make　it　to　Punjab；　where　the　Dalai　Lama　would　take　a　small　plane　the　rest　of　the　way　to　Little　Lhasa；　his　exile　home　in　northern　India。　
　Once　the　jet　reached　cruising　altitude；　Overholt　continued　the　conversation。　
　〃Your　father　was　a　friend　of　mine；〃　the　Dalai　Lama　said　quietly；　〃so　I've　listened　carefully　to　your　proposal。　But　you　have　yet　to　explain　how　we　make　the　Chinese　simply　hand　back　my　country。　You　know　I　cannot　agree　to　this　if　there　will　be　bloodshed。〃　
　〃The　president　feels　if　we　enlist　the　Russians'　help；　the　threat　of　war　might　make　the　Chinese　back　down。　Their　economy　is　in　a　pinch　right　nowthe　cost　to　occupy　your　country　is　starting　to　mount。〃　
　〃So　you　believe　the　financial　motive　is　sufficient？〃　the　Dalai　Lama　asked。　
　〃It　might　help　if　you　offered　them　the　Golden　Buddha；〃　Overholt　said；　saving　his　silver　bullet　for　the　last。　
　The　Dalai　Lama　smiled。　〃Like　your　father；　you　are　a　fine　man；　Lang…ston；　but　in　this　case　your　information　is　faulty。　The　Golden　Buddha　
　was　stolen　when　I　went　into　exile。　The　government…in…exile　no　longer　has　it　to　offer。〃　
　The　sun　was　finally　appearing　over　the　horizon　and　it　illuminated　the　wings　on　the　Falcon　jet　in　a　golden　glow。　To　the　rear　of　the　plane　a　steward　was　preparing　a　light　breakfast　of　juice　and　muffins。　The　time　had　e　for　Overholt　to　show　his　hand。　
　〃The　United　States　has　a　plan　to　liberate　the　Golden　Buddha；〃　he　said。　〃We　should　have　it　in　a　few　days。〃　
　The　Dalai　Lama's　smile　became　a　grin。　〃I　must　say　that　is　very　unexpected　news。　Now　I　can　see　why　you　have　flown　halfway　around　the　world　with　me。〃　
　Overholt　smiled　and　nodded。　〃So　you　think　the　Chinese　will　accept　the　icon　as　payment　when　bined　with　the　threat　of　war？〃　
　The　Dalai　Lama　shook　his　head。　〃No；　my　CIA　friend；　I　do　not。　The　true　secret　of　the　Golden　Buddha　is　inside　。　。　。　a　secret　the　Chinese　would　pay　dearly　for。〃　
　
　EXITING　THE　BRIDGE；　Truitt　steered　the　van　through　the　clover…。？　leaf。　The　thousand…room　Hotel　Lisboa　and　casino　was　to　the　right　f　as　they　drove　west　on　Avenida　Dr。　Mario　Soares。　To　the　right；　the　Bank　of　China　soared　into　the　air；　a　pink　granite…and…glass　structure　whose　top　levels　allowed　the　occupants　a　view　across　the　border　into　China。　〃For　anticapitalists；　they　build　a　nice　bank；〃　Meadows　said　quietly。　No　one　replied；　they　were　enamored　with　the　scenery。　Central　Macau　was　a　strange　mishmash　of　new　and　old；　European　and　Asian；　traditional　and　modern。　Truitt　reached　Rua　da　Praia　Grande　and　turned　left。　
　〃From　what　I'm　told；　this　used　to　be　a　beautiful　drive；〃　Truitt　said；　〃until　construction　started　on　the　Nam　Van　Lakes　Reclamation　Project。〃　
　The　road　was　clogged　with　construction　trucks；　cement　mixers　and　piles　of　materials。　
　Driving　farther；　the　road　became　Avenida　da　Republica　and　skirted　Nam　Van　Lake。　
　〃That's　the　governor's　residence；〃　Truitt　said；　pointing　up　the　hill。　〃I'm　taking　us　the　long　way　around　the　tip　of　the　peninsula　so　you　can　see　the　geography。　The　hill　north　of　the　governor's　residence　is　named　Penha。　This　one　on　the　end　is　Barra　Hill。　Our　target　is　between　the　two；　on　a　street　named　Estrada　da　Penha。〃　
　Angling　left　on　the　road；　they　climbed　a　rise　until　the　van　reached　Estrada　de　D。　Joao　Paulino。　Turning　a　quick　right；　they　drove　a　few　yards　and　made　another　sharp　right　onto　Estrada　da　Penha；　which　formed　a　wavy　U　shape　around　the　top　of　the　hill　until　it　met　back　up　with　Joao　Paulino。　
　The　van　passed　the　bottom　of　the　U　and　was　halfway　up　the　side　when　Truitt　slowed。　〃Thar　she　blows。〃　
　〃She〃　was　a　mansion；　an　old　elegant　structure　worthy　of　a　landed　family。　A　tall　stone　wall　encircled　the　grounds；　broken　only　by　a　wrought…iron　gate　and　the　creeping　growth　of　ivy。　Giant；　perfectly　placed　trees；　planted　generations　past；　studded　the　expanse　of　emerald　grass。　As　the　van　rolled　past；　a　croquet　field　was　visible　off　to　the　side。　Farther　to　the　right；　down　a　cobblestone　driveway；　was　a　two…story　garage　building；　where　a　handyman　was　soaping　down　a　Mercedes…Benz　limousine。　
　The　mansion　looked　like　a　wealthy　nineteenth…century　shipowner　could　live　there　now；　the　only　promise　for　the　times　was　the　series　of　security　cameras　atop　the　stone　wall　fronting　the　street。　
　〃There　are　six　cameras　strategically　located　around　the　grounds。〃　The　van　was　approaching　the　junction　with　Joao　Paulino；　and　Truitt　slowed　before　menting。　
　〃That　would　plicate　things；〃　Truitt　said；　as　he　slowed　for　the　stop　sign；　〃except　for　one　thing　I　failed　to　mention。〃　　〃What's　that？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃Our　target　is　throwing　a　huge　party；〃　Truitt　said　as　he　steered　the　van　left；　〃and　we're　booked　as　the　entertainment。〃　
　Truitt　took　the　scenic　way　back；　past　the　temple　and　along　the　waterfront。　
　
　〃WELL？〃　THE　SOFTWARE　billionaire　asked　pointedly。　；　；　
　One　thousand　dollars　to　the　Stanford　scientist　had　pro　cured　his　services；　a　call　to　the　president　of　the　university　reminding　him　of　past　donations　had　opened　up　the　full　use　of　the　laboratory。　
　〃The　date　shows　thirteenth　century；　but　for　me　to　give　you　a　more　accurate　estimate　of　the　area　from　which　it　was　mined；　I'll　have　to　melt　half　of　your　sample。〃　
　〃Well？　What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　
　〃It's　going　to　take　me　thirty　or　forty…five　minutes；〃　the　scientist　said；　already　growing　weary　of　the　billionaire's　rude　manner。　〃Why　don't　you　head　to　the　cafeteria　and　grab　something　to　drink？〃
　〃Do　they　have　Chai　tea？〃　the　billionaire　said。　〃No；〃　the　scientist　said　wearily；　〃but　there's　a　Starbucks　on　the　mons　that　does。〃　
　After　giving　him　directions　to　the　Starbucks；　he　waited　until　the　man　walked　out　and　closed　the　door　to　the　laboratory。　〃Idiot；〃　the　scientist　said。　
　Then　he　walked　over　to　a　small　kiln　and　slid　the　metal　plate　holding　the　shaving　of　gold　inside。　After　it　melted；　he　placed　the　sample　inside　a　puter…powered　sampler　that　would　give　a　breakdown　of　the　percentages　of　the　other　metals　present。　By　paring　the　ratios　with　known　ores　already　mined；　the　scientist　could　determine　the　general　area　where　the　gold　had　been　mined。　
　As　he　waited　for　the　machine　to　perform　its　magic；　the　scientist　read　a　skiing　magazine。　Twenty　minutes　later；　the　machine　stopped。　
　
　THE　PRESIDENT　OF　the　United　States　was　sitting　in　an　Adirondack　1　chair　behind　the　main　house　at　Camp　David；　Maryland。　The　pres…1　ident　of　Russia　sat　across　from　him；　a　wooden　table　separating　the　two。　
　Though　not　visible；　2　billion　in　foreign　aid　was　on　the　table。　
　〃How　does　it　sound；　Vlad？〃　the　president　asked。　
　〃You　know　I've　never　been　a　big　fan　of　the　Chinese；〃　the　Russian　president　said；　〃but　the　foreign　aid　is　only　a　bandage。　My　country's　factori