cc.goldenbuddha-第36节

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　who　immigrated　to　Paraguay　a　few　years　ago　and　hold　citizenship。　We'll　give　you　a　flat　one　million　U。S。　dollars　to　start　over　and　a　plane　ticket　from　Hong　Kong　to　Asuncion。　What　you　do　then　is　up　to　you　and　luck。〃　
　〃The　authorities　will　stop　me　if　I　try　to　leave　Hong　Kong　with　a　million　cash；〃　Spenser　said；　feeling　hope。　
　〃We'll　take　care　of　that；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Now　pick　a　name。〃　
　Nixon　walked　over　and　began　to　apply　the　disguise。　
　〃Norman　McDonald；〃　Spenser　said。　〃Norm　McDonald　it　is；〃　Cabrillo　agreed。　
　TINY　GUNDERSON　WAS　watching　the　customs　officials　walk　through　the　737　when　his　digital　municator　vibrated。　He　removed　it　from　his　pocket　and　stared　at　the　readout。　Memorizing　the　message；　he　erased　it　and　slid　the　device　back　in　his　pocket。　The　customs　agents　walked　to　where　Gunderson　was　standing；　then　signed　a　sheet　of　paper　and　handed　it　to　the　pilot。　
　〃We'll　move　to　the　fuel　ramp　now；〃　the　pilot　said　to　the　officials；　who　nodded　and　walked　out　the　door　and　down　the　ramp。　The　ramp　was　retracted　and　the　operator　drove　it　away。　
　〃Close　the　door；〃　the　pilot　said　to　Gunderson。　Then　he　steered　
　down　the　wet　runway。　
　Thirty　minutes　later；　the　737　was　refueled　and　parked　in　a　large　hangar　only　yards　from　where　Cabrillo　and　his　team　were　waiting。　The　software　billionaire　dialed　his　satellite　telephone。　
　HORNSBY；　MEADOWS　AND　Jones　stopped　to　catch　their　breath。　All　along　the　walls　of　the　storm　sewer；　metal　and　tile　pipes　were　funneling　water　into　the　main　line。　There　was　eight　inches　of　water　on　the　floor　of　the　main　sewer　and　it　was　dotted　with　cigarette　butts；　scraps　of　paper　and　the　refuse　from　the　world　above　their　heads。　
　〃We're　gaining　an　inch　every　few　minutes；〃　Meadows　said。　Hornsby　was　staring　at　the　blueprint　under　the　light　of　his　miner's　helmet。　He　traced　the　route　and　stared　at　his　pass。　〃I　don't　think　the　water　is　rising　that　fast；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　is　cause　for　concern。〃　
　Jones　stared　around　the　crowded　space。　He　didn't　like　being　in　confined　spaces　and　he　wanted　out　as　soon　as　possible。　〃Which　way　do　we　go；　Horny？〃　
　〃We　take　the　left　passage；〃　Hornsby　said。　
　
　INSIDE　THE　CONTROL　room　on　the　Oregon；　Max　Hanley　was　staring　at　a　weather　radar　image。　A　cell　of　clouds；　the　center　an　angry　red　color；　was　situated　in　the　water　between　Hong　Kong　and　Macau。　〃Show　the　movement；〃　he　said　to　an　operator。　
　The　man　entered　mands　into　the　puter　and　the　image　moved　in　a　slow；　sweeping　wave　to　the　west。　At　the　present　speed；　the　storm　center　would　pass　over　Macau　around　four　a。m。　Sometime　during　breakfast；　the　trailing　edge　would　reach　the　Chinese　mainland　and　the　weather　would　clear。　Between　now　and　then；　there　would　be　only　rain。　
　〃Eddie；〃　Hanley　said；　〃I'm　going　to　need　you　to　take　a　team　into　the　tunnel。〃　
　Eddie　Seng　was　the　Corporation　go…to　guy。　He　had　served　in　marine　RECON；　had　spearheaded　more　than　a　few　Corporation　projects　and　had　an　innate　knack　for　making　good　out　of　bad。　So　far；　Cabrillo　and　Hanley　had　kept　him　on　the　sidelines　in　this　operation。　He　was　their　reserve　man　in　case　of　unforeseen　circumstances；　and　he　was　itching　to　get　in　the　game。　
　〃I'll　need　a　couple　of　Zodiac　boats；　and　a　method　of　locating　the　men　if　the　water　keeps　rising；〃　Seng　said。　
　〃Murphy；　Kasim　and　Huxley；〃　Hanley　said　quickly。　〃I'll　have　the　boats　prepped　and　the　equipment　arranged。　You　assemble　the　team　and　meet　me　back　here。〃　
　Seng　walked　quickly　from　the　control　room。　
　
　〃NO　MENT；〃　SUNG　Rhee　said；　slamming　down　the　telephone。　
　The　reporters　for　the　local　newspapers　had　gotten　wind　something　was　happeningthey　just　did　not　know　what。　The　hospital　Was　filled　with　guests　from　Ho's　party；　but　as　the　drug　wore　off　they　Were　leaving　one　by　one。　Food　poisoning　was　mentioned　as　the　source　of　the　guests'　disfort；　but　the　cover　story　was　flimsy　and　someone　would　soon　pierce　through　that　lie。　The　kidnappings　were　being　investigated；　reporters　with　police　scanners　had　ensured　that。　The　theft　at　the　A…Ma　Temple；　the　burning　Peugeot；　the　fire　at　the　paradeall　were　being　investigated　by　reporters。　Only　Stanley　Ho's　house　was　sealed　from　them。　Once　he　had　cleared　the　house；　he　had　locked　the　doors　to　outsiders。　Once　morning　came；　Rhee　would　be　pelled　to　ment。　
　Just　then　his　telephone　rang　again。　
　〃The　wreckage　of　the　float　is　cooling；　but　we　have　yet　to　get　close　enough　to　inspect　for　remains；〃　Detective　Po　said。　〃But　my　guess　is　they　burned　up　in　the　conflagration。〃　
　〃Was　the　float　being　observed　the　entire　time？〃　Rhee　asked。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Po　said。　
　〃Then　find　me　some　teeth；〃　Rhee　said；　〃and　melted　gold。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　Po　stared　at　the　firemen　who　were　still　spraying　water　over　the　twisted　mess　of　metal。　Within　the　hour；　he　should　be　able　to　inspect　the　wreckage。　In　the　meantime；　Ho's　theft　would　take　center　stage。　Somewhere　in　Macau　was　another　Golden　Buddha。　And　Po　intended　to　find　it。　
　
　〃OUR　DEAL　WAS　cash；〃　Spenser　said　in　answer　to　Cabrillo's　question。　
　Monica　Crabtree　was　on　the　secure　line　to　the　Oregon。　She　made　notes　on　a　sheet　of　paper；　then　disconnected。　〃Mr。　Chairman；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　you　should　see　this。〃　
　Nixon　was　doing　layout　on　Spenser's　new　documents。　Once　he　had　the　basic　package　together；　he　entered　a　mand　and　they　were　sent　through　the　lines　to　the　Oregon；　where　there　was　a　store　of　blank　passports；　immigration　documents　and　blank　credit　cards。　Someone　on　board　would　print　up　the　material　and　deliver　it　to　the　hangar。　
　Cabrillo　stared　at　the　notes　and　handed　them　back　to　Crabtree。　〃Shred　them。〃　
　
　TOM　REYES　WAS　driving　at　breakneck　speed；　with　Franklin　Lincoln　in　the　passenger　seat。　Lincoln　stared　at　the　cab　dispatch　records；　then　out　the　windshield　once　again。　〃There　were　three　cabs　dispatched　to　the　ferry　dock；　numbers　twelve；　one　twenty…one；　and　forty…two。〃　
　〃I've　been　listening　to　the　scanner；〃　Reyes　said。　〃Forty…two　has　already　dropped　its　fare　at　the　Hotel　Lisboa；　and　number　twelve　is　heading　along　the　New　Road。　He　must　be　on　number　one　twenty…one。　He　called　the　dispatcher　to　report　that　he　was　inbound　to　the　Hyatt　Regency　on　Taipa；　then　he　was　supposed　to　wait　for　his　fare　and　take　him　onward。〃　
　Reyes　steered　onto　the　bridge　leading　to　Taipa。　〃Call　Hanley　and　explain　the　situation。〃　
　Lincoln　turned　on　his　radio　and　reported　to　the　control　room。　
　〃Give　me　a　minute　or　so；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃Access　the　Hyatt　puter　and　search　for　this　name；〃　he　said；　handing　Eric　Stone；　an　operator；　the　sheet　of　paper；　〃and　get　me　a　room。〃　
　Stone's　hands　danced　over　the　keyboard；　a　second　later　he　turned　I　to　Hanley。　
　〃What　timing；〃　Stone　said。　〃He's　just　now　checking　in。〃　Stone　waited　until　the　data　filled　the　screen。　〃Room　twenty…two　'　fourteen；〃　he　said。　
　〃Hyatt　Regency；　room　twenty…two　fourteen；〃　Hanley　said　to　Lincoln；　〃and　grab　him　fastif　he　asked　the　cab　to　wait；　he's　headed　for　the　airport　soon。〃　
　〃Got　it；〃　Lincoln　said。　〃Then　what？〃
　〃Bring　him　here。〃　
　Reyes　steered　up　the　driveway　to　the　Hyatt　Regency。　〃Room　number　twenty…two　fourteen；〃　Lincoln　said。　〃We　grab　him　and　bring　him　to　the　Oregon。〃　
　Reyes　stopped　the　car　and　slid　it　into　Park。　〃You　got　any　money？〃　
　〃Sure；　what　for？〃　Lincoln　asked。　
　〃There's　the　cab；〃　Reyes　said；　pointing。　〃Pay　him　off　and　tell　him　'j　to　leave。　Then　meet　me　on　the　twenty…second　floor。〃　
　
　MICHAEL　TALBOT　PAID　the　bellman；　then　closed　the　door。　He　was　due　at　the　airport　any　minute；　but　he　was　grimy　and　decided　on　a　quick　shower。　Undressing；　he　walked　into　the　bathroom　and　adjusted　the　shower。　
　Tom　Reyes　reached　into　his　wallet　and　removed　a　universal　key　card。　Then　he　slid　it　through　the　slot　and　waited　until　the　light　went　green。　Then　he　slowly　opened　the　door。　At　first；　he　thought　no　one　was　in　the　room；　then　he　heard　the　shower　running。　Reyes　started　to　close　the　door　but　heard　the　sound　of　footsteps　approaching　down　the　hall。　He　peered　out　and　saw　Lincoln。　Reyes　touched　his　finger　to　his　lips；　then　motioned　Lincoln　inside。　
　Earplugs　were　slipped　into　his　ears。　He　could　not　hear　Reyes　tell　Lincoln；　〃I'll　go　find　a　room　service　cart。　You　stay　here。〃　
　Lincoln　nodded　and　flipped　on　the　television。　Their　prisoner　was　not　going　anywhere。　He　lay　trussed　like　a　Thanksgiving　turkey；　not　moving　a　muscle。　Eight　minutes　later；　Lincoln　and　Reyes　had　snuck　him　out　a　back　entrance　of　the　hotel；　then　brought　the　car　around　and　slid　him　onto　the　backseat。　
　〃I'm　hungry；〃　Reyes　said　as　he　reached　over　to　place　the　car　in　Drive。　
　〃Man；〃　Lincoln　said；　〃you　always　say　that。〃　
　
　〃BARRETT；〃　HANLEY　SAID；　〃are　you　cross…trained　in　the　Magic　Shop？〃　
　〃I've　worked　it　before；〃　Barrett　said。　〃Go　down　there　and　warm　up　the　latex　machine。〃
　〃You've　got　it；　boss；〃　Barrett　said；　walking　quickly　out　of　the　control　room。　
　
　TALBOT　WAS　TOWELING　himself　off　and　trying　to　decide　what　he　would　wear。　He　stepped　from　the　bathroom　and　into　the　bedroom。　A　large　black　man　was　sitting　at　his　table；　and　the　image　so　surprised　him　that　his　mind　was　unable　to　process　the　discovery　for　a　second。　
　Then；　from　the　side　of　the　door；　he　felt　a　hand　around　his　mouth。　He　was　thrown　facedown　on　the　bed；　his　eyes　pressed　tight　against　the　stainless…steel　screws　on　the　rear　of　the　box　with　an　optomet