cc.goldenbuddha-第40节

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runway　at　Macau　airport。　It　has　the　Buddha　that　was　stolen　from　the　party。　Goodbye。〃　
　The　telephone　went　dead　in　Po's　ear。　For　a　moment；　he　stared　at　it　in　amazementthen　he　quickly　dialed　Sung　Rhee。　
　〃I　just　had　a　call　from　the　thieves；〃　Po　said　rapidly。　〃They　claim　the　Buddha　is　in　a　white　Chevrolet　truck　on　the　runway　at　Macau　airport。〃　
　
　HANLEY；　SPENSER；　AND　Adams　ran　to　the　rear　of　the　hangar　to　where　a　limousine　was　sitting　with　the　engine　running。　Monica　Crabtree　was　behind　the　wheel。　Once　the　trio　of　men　was　safely　in　the　rear　partment；　she　placed　the　limousine　in　gear　and　raced　toward　the　gate。　
　〃Okay；　Kevin；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　Using　a　remotely　operated　device　he　had　installed　a　few　hours　earlier；　Nixon　began　to　back　the　ramp　away　from　the　737。　As　soon　as　the　ramp　lurched　backward；　the　billionaire　knew　he　had　been　hadhe　swiveled　around　at　the　top　of　the　ramp　and　glanced　down。　The　truck　was　there；　but　no　one　was　visible。　
　Larry　King　watched　the　737　through　the　nightscope。　Less　than　a　minute　later；　he　watched　as　Gunderson　slid　into　the　pilot　seat；　then　motioned　he　was　ready。　King　flashed　a　red　laser　on　his　rifle　sight　at　the　pilot's　window　of　the　737；　and；　at　the　signal；　Gunderson　fired　the　engines　on　the　jet。　The　ramp　was　retracting　faster　and　faster；　and　Nixon　steered　it　to　the　side。　Once　it　was　safely　clear　of　the　jet；　he　let　his　joystick　go　neutral　and　the　ramp　began　to　roll　to　a　stop。　Tossing　the　controller　into　a　box；　he　did　a　final　visual　sweep　of　the　hangar　with　Cabrillo。　He　and　Crabtree　had　packed　everything　else　into　the　trunk　of　the　limousine　in　the　half　hour　before　Spenser　had　made　his　approach。　All　that　remained　was　for　Nixon　and　Cabrillo　to　hightail　it　off　airport　property。　
　Once　the　ramp　was　free　of　the　737　and　a　safe　distance　away；　King　signaled　again　with　the　laser　and　Gunderson　began　to　advance　the　throttles。　
　Cabrillo　and　Nixon　were　walking　quickly　for　the　rear　door　when　King　radioed。　
　〃Chuck's　started　his　taxi；〃　King　said。　
　The　ramp　had　finally　slowed　enough　for　the　billionaire　to　leap　off。　He　ran　down　the　tarmac　after　his　retreating　737。　A　few　seconds　of　that　and　he　knew　the　situation　was　hopeless；　so　he　raced　toward　the　Chevrolet。　Once　he　reached　the　vehicle；　he　was　surprised　to　find　the　Buddha　still　aboard。　Pushing　over　the　aluminum　awning；　he　slammed　the　rear　door　closed；　then　climbed　into　the　driver's　seat。　Another　break；　the　keys　were　still　in　the　ignition。　His　100　million　in　bonds　were　lostbut　the　Buddha　was　worth　twice　that。　Now　his　plan　was　to　escape　with　the　Golden　Buddha　and　worry　later　about　who　had　stolen　his　jet。　He　started　the　truck　and　placed　it　in　gear。　
　On　board　the　737；　the　brunette　flight　attendant　was　guarding　the　cockpit　door。　No　one　had　told　her　to　do　this；　she　had　just　thought　it　prudent。　One　of　the　bimbos　walked　forward　and　started　for　the　cockpit　door。　
　〃Get　back；〃　the　brunette　said。　
　〃I　need　to　talk　to　the　pilot；〃　the　blonde　said。　
　She　started　for　the　door　again；　and　the　brunette　threw　a　punch　that　never　landed。　The　blonde　deflected　the　blow；　then　struck　the　brunette　in　the　breadbasket　with　a　chop。　
　〃Chucky；〃　the　blonde　shouted　over　the　noise　of　the　engines；　〃will　you　tell　this　bitch　you　need　me　up　there？〃　
　The　brunette　was　bent　over；　trying　to　catch　her　breath；　when　the　cockpit　door　was　flung　open。　Through　the　open　door；　the　brunette　could　see　the　737　taxiing　faster　toward　the　runway　for　takeoff。　Gunderson　was　sitting　in　the　pilot's　seat。　He　turned　and　smiled。　
　〃That's　okay；　honey；〃　Gunderson　said　quickly。　〃She's　my　copilot。〃　
　The　Macau　taxi　was　sitting　to　the　rear　of　the　hangar；　the　purring　engine　making　puffs　of　smoke　in　the　rain…soaked　air。　Cabrillo　and　Nixon　climbed　into　the　rear　just　as　King　radioed　again。　〃Okay；　boss；〃　he　said　easily；　〃he　went　for　the　truck。〃　
　〃e　out　front　of　the　nest；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃and　we'll　meet　you　around〃　
　King　began　to　extract　himself　from　inside　the　air　intake　at　the　same　time　the　billionaire　had　the　Chevrolet　up　to　speed　on　the　road　leading　from　the　hangars　to　the　main　terminal。　
　
　INSIDE　THE　BURGUNDY　737；　Gunderson　scanned　the　storm　scope　and　answered　a　call　from　the　control　tower。　Then　he　hit　the　switch　to　allow　him　to　talk　over　the　cabin　speakers。　〃Ladies；　if　you　could　take　a　seat；　I'd　appreciate　itwe'll　be　taking　off　in　a　second。　Also；　after　we　1　get　in　the　air；　if　one　of　you　could　bring　a　pot　of　coffee　and　some　sand…'。。　wiches　to　the　cockpit；　you'd　be　our　hero。〃　
　Then　he　turned　to　the　blonde　sitting　next　to　him。　〃Hi；　Judy；　long　　time　no　see。〃　
　
　ALONG　THE　BRIDGE　leading　from　Macau　proper　to　the　island　where　the　airport　was　situated；　twelve　police　cars　with　sirens　screaming　and　lights　flashing　formed　a　rolling　barricade　as　they　raced　to　the　main　terminal。　
　〃There　they　go；〃　Crabtree　said　as　she　drove　in　the　opposite　direction。　
　She　watched　in　the　rearview　mirror　as　several　cars　left　the　bridge；　then　crossed　the　median　and　sealed　off　both　lanes　of　traffic。　〃Just　made　it；〃　Adams　noted。　
　The　driver　steered　the　cab　slowly　around　the　front　of　the　building；　then　waited　as　King　slid　down　the　drainpipe　and　climbed　into　the　front　seat。　Then　he　turned　his　head　and　stared　at　Cabrillo。　
　〃Take　us　to　the　far　south　end　of　the　airport　across　from　Coloane；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We　have　a　boat　to　catch。〃　
　
　ON　BOARD　THE　737；　the　final　clearance　was　approved　at　the　same　time　as　the　Chevrolet　SUV　passed　in　front　of　the　main　airport　terminal。　In　the　distance；　the　billionaire　could　see　a　line　of　police　cars　blocking　the　road。　Turning　his　head；　he　could　see　through　the　rain　the　flashing　lights　on　the　wings　and　fuselage　of　his　burgundy　737　as　it　lifted　from　the　runway　and　headed　out　over　the　bay。　
　〃Destination？〃　Judy　asked。　
　〃Singapore；〃　Gunderson　answered。　〃Now　tell　mehow　was　it　for　you　and　Tracy？〃　
　〃We　took　a　couple　for　the　team；〃　Judy　said。　〃Then　he　got　tired。〃　
　
　THE　FULL　FURY　of　the　storm　descended　on　Macau　only　a　few　minutes　after　Gunderson　and　the　737　cut　a　wide　arc　out　over　the　South　China　Sea　to　head　south。　Inside　the　storm　sewer；　the　waters　were　rising　faster　now；　and　the　rafts　holding　the　Golden　Buddha　and　his　three　liberators　hurtled　faster　toward　salvation　or　destruction。　
　Prior　to　reaching　each　junction；　one　of　the　men　would　climb　off　the　raft　and　drag　the　rear　rope　to　slow　the　raft　with　the　Golden　Buddha。　Then　he　would　push　the　side　of　the　raft　toward　the　proper　channel　and　let　the　current　do　the　rest。　The　randomly　spaced　overhead　pipes　that　drained　into　the　main　sewer　were　running　full　now；　and　each　time　the　rafts　passed　under　the　spray　some　of　the　water　made　it　into　the　floors　of　the　rafts。　The　men　were　using　their　hats　to　bail　out　the　buildup；　but　as　each　mile　passed　the　effort　was　being　harder　and　harder。　
　Hornsby　stared　at　the　blueprint　carefully。　〃We've　passed　the　halfway　point；〃　he　said；　〃but　if　we　make　the　same　rate　of　progress　and　the　water　continues　to　rise　at　the　current　pace；　by　the　time　we　reach　the　exit　to　the　Inner　Harbor　the　water　will　be　almost　at　the　top　of　the　pipe。〃　
　〃The　Oregon　will　have　sent　help　by　now；〃　Jones　said；　〃and　they　will　have　a　copy　of　the　blueprints。〃　
　Meadows　wiped　some　water　from　his　forehead　before　speaking。　〃That　doesn't　change　the　problems　we　face。　It　just　places　more　people　in　harm's　way。〃　
　Hornsby　was　standing　in　water　up　to　his　waist；　pushing　the　raft　with　the　Buddha　to　the　left　with　his　hip。　Once　the　raft　entered　the　other　stream　and　started　to　move；　he　rolled　back　inside　the　following　raft。　〃Not　only　that；〃　he　said；　〃if　the　pace　continues　when　we　do　reach　the　Inner　Harborif　we　doit　will　be　at　first　light　and　then　we　risk　detection。〃　
　Hornsby　turned　his　head。　He　could　see　Jones　grinning　in　the　dim　light　from　his　faltering　hard…hat　lamp。　Then　he　spoke。　
　〃We're　the　Corporation；〃　Jones　said　quietly。　〃We're　always　one　step　ahead。〃　
　The　trio　of　men　nodded　as　the　pair　of　rafts　hurtled　faster　in　the　growing　current　toward　a　rendezvous　with　a　rescuing　force　that　was　fighting　problems　of　their　own。　
　
　THE　FOUR…STROKE　OUTBOARD　on　the　Zodiac　being　driven　by　Mark　Murphy　was　blasting　water　out　of　its　jet　drive。　The　current　was　running　stronger　every　few　feet；　but　the　powerful　engine　was　propelling　the　craft　forward　in　spite　of　the　strong　stream　running　against　the　bow。　To　the　middle　of　the　inflatable；　Hali　Kasim　was　unscrewing　the　tubular　metal　top　that　supported　a　canvas　sun　awning　and　the　electronics　sensors　to　gain　a　few　feet　of　needed　clearance。　Finishing　the　job；　he　stacked　the　last　of　the　pipes　inside　the　Zodiac　and　turned　to　Murphy。　〃Maximum　headroom；〃　he　said。　〃Now　hit　the　gas。　If　we　don't　meet　up　with　the　other　team　and　tow　them　out　of　here　soon；　we're　all　going　to　be　swimming。〃　
　Murphy　advanced　the　throttle　and　steered　around　a　bend。　For　lights　he　used　a　handheld　spotlight；　for　navigation；　a　portable　GPS　unit　held　between　his　knees。　〃Find　the　air　horn；〃　Murphy　said　to　Kasim。　〃I　have　a　feeling　we'll　need　it　soon。〃　
　
　SHEETS　OF　RAIN　washed　from　east　to　west　as　Rick　Barrett　steered　the　Scarab　close　to　the　southernmost　strip　of　man…made　land　that　prised　the　Macau　airport。　Barrett　was　wearing　a　bright　yellow　rain　suit　that　should　have　made　him　stand　out；　but　in　the　dark　of　night　and　the　po