cc.goldenbuddha-第50节

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　Richard　Truitt　waded　through　the　dissolving　foam　to　the　door　as　soon　as　the　rotor　stopped。　
　〃You　okay？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Shaken　but　not　stirred。〃　Adams　smiled。　〃What's　new？〃
　At　just　that　instant　the　Oregon　started　moving　again。　Truitt　shrugged。　〃We're　heading　out。〃　
　〃Open　seas；〃　Adams　said；　climbing　from　the　cockpit；　〃here　we　e。〃　
　〃Fill　out　a　repair　order；〃　Truitt　said；　〃then　meet　me　in　the　cafeteria。　
　We　need　to　do　a　little　planning。〃　
　The　two　men　reached　the　edge　of　the　foam　just　as　a　deckhand　began　to　hose　the　foam　over　the　side　with　a　stream　of　seawater。　They　brushed　flecks　off　their　pants　as　they　made　their　way　to　the　door　leading　inside。　
　〃Do　I　need　to　bring　anything　special？〃　Adams　asked。　
　〃High…altitude　performance　charts；〃　Truitt　answered。　
　
　THE　OREGON　STEAMED　south　just　inside　the　edge　of　the　storm。　The　time　was　6　a。m。　and　the　cafeteria　aboard　smelled　of　bacon；　sausage；　eggs　and　cinnamon　rolls。　Cabrillo　was　sitting　at　a　table　talking　with　Julia　Huxley　as　Hanley　walked　toward　them　with　a　cup　of　steaming　coffee　in　his　hand。　He　smiled　and　nodded。　
　〃Now　that；〃　he　said　to　Cabrillo；　〃was　exciting。〃　
　〃Never　a　dull　moment　around　here；〃　Cabrillo　agreed。　
　〃How　are　Reinholt　and　Jones？〃　Hanley　asked　Huxley。　
　〃Minor　injuries；〃　Huxley　reported。　〃Jonesy　has　a　couple　of　cracked　ribsI　gave　him　pain　medication　and　he's　sleeping　in　sick　bay。　Reinholt　claims　he's　better；　but　I　have　him　resting　in　his　cabin　just　to　be　sure。〃　
　〃Did　you　check　on　repairs　to　the　R…44？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Chairman；〃　Hanley　said　as　an　attendant　walked　over　and　set　a　plate　containing　a　cinnamon　roll　in　front　of　him。　〃A　buckle　that　controls　movement　to　the　rotor　head　was　bent。　They　are　replacing　it　now　and　estimate　it　will　be　ready　to　fly　in　a　couple　of　hours。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Once　the　Oregon　steams　closer　to　the　mainland；　I'll　need　Adams　to　drop　me　off　at　the　airport。〃　
　〃Just　like　we　planned；〃　Hanley　agreed。　
　〃Now　all　we　need　to　do　is　find　the　secret　partment　inside　the　Golden　Buddha；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃and　see　if　its　contents　are　still　intact。〃　
　
　SUNG　RHEE　CAUGHT　sight　through　the　window　of　the　four　men　approaching　his　office。　They　did　not　look　happy；　and　the　aide　did　not　bother　to　knock　before　swinging　the　door　open。　Rhee　rose　from　his　；　desk　as　the　aide　stood　aside　and　allowed　the　admiral　to　enter。　
　〃We　managed　to　get　air　bags　under　the　hydrofoil　to　keep　her　afloat　until　a　salvage　ship　can　tow　her　back；〃　the　admiral　said　without　preamble；　〃but　my　men　tell　me　repairs　will　require　close　to　six　months。〃
　〃Sir〃　Rhee　started　to　say。　
　〃Enough；〃　the　admiral　thundered。　〃I　have　one　ship　out　of　mission　and　our　only　frigate　and　fast…attack　corvette　disabled　and　dead　in　the　water。　You　set　me　upand　you　will　pay。〃　
　〃Sir；〃　Rhee　said　quickly；　〃we　had　no　idea　。　。　。　the　ship　to　all　appearances　was　merely　a　decrepit　cargo　vessel。〃　
　〃The　ship　was　far　from　that；〃　the　admiral　said　loudly。　〃She　shot　the　side　out　from　under　the　hydrofoil　as　if　it　was　a　routine　exercise。　We　still　don't　know　what　happened　to　the　other　two　ships。〃　
　Just　outside　the　door；　the　admiral's　aide　was　whispering　into　a　satellite　telephone。　He　poked　his　head　into　Rhee's　office。　〃Admiral；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃Beijing's　on　the　line。〃　
　
　CHUCK　〃TINY〃　GUNDERSON　smiled　at　Rhonda　Rosselli　and　held　out　one　of　the　bearer　bonds。
　〃So；〃　he　said；　〃here's　the　deal。　Tracy；　Judy　and　I　need　to　make　an　unscheduled　midair　exit。　Once　'　are　safely　out；　you　can　untie　the　pilots。〃　
　〃You're　abandoning　me？〃　Rosselli　asked　pointedly。　〃All　that　ta　about　me　joining　your　team　was　a　lie？〃　
　Gunderson　pulled　a　thick　cigar　from　his　flight…suit　pocket　and　sli　it　under　his　nose。　Then　he　bit　off　the　end　and　lit　it　with　a　solid　gol　lighter。　He　puffed　the　stogie　to　life。　〃I　never　lie　to　a　pretty　girl；〃　he　said　smiling；　〃and　I'm　always　right。〃
　〃Then　what's　the　deal？〃　
　Gunderson　slipped　the　bearer　bond　into　a　plastic　envelope　and　sealed　it　inside　with　the　others。　〃The　bond　I　showed　you　will　be　mailed　to　your　home　address　once　I　reach　land。　That's　your　payment　for　a　job　well　executed。〃　
　〃What　do　I　say　when　we　land？〃　Rosselli　asked。　〃I'd　tell　them　everything；〃　Gunderson　said；　〃except　about　the　bond。　That　should　remain　our　little　secret。〃　
　〃Just　tell　them？〃　Rosselli　said　incredulously。
　〃Why　not？〃　Gunderson　said。　〃I　was　careful　not　to　relay　any　information　that　can　incriminate　my　group。　My　team　will　make　sure　that　the　United　States　embassy　is　notified　in　whatever　country　the　plane　lands。　Just　spill　your　guts　and　they'll　let　you　go　in　a　few　days。　Once　you　get　back　to　California；　someone　that　works　with　me　will　make　contact　in　due　time。〃　
　〃So　I　won't　see　you　again？〃　she　asked。　
　〃You　never　know；〃　Gunderson　said　as　red…haired　Tracy　Pilston　walked　over。　
　〃Our　ride　is　only　a　few　miles　ahead；〃　Pilston　noted；　〃and　we're　both　ready　to　fly　the　coop。〃　
　〃Did　you　take　her　down？〃　Gunderson　asked。　
　Pilston　nodded。　〃We're　to　receive　a　signal；　so　we　can　time　the　jump。〃　
　Gunderson　removed　two　parachutes　from　a　storage　partment　where　a　Corporation　team　member　had　hidden　them　when　the　737　was　in　her　hangar　in　California。　He　helped　strap　one　on　Pilston's　back；　then　strapped　on　the　other。　Removing　a　sack　containing　goggles；　he　handed　one　over　to　Pilston。　
　〃We'll　alert　Judy；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃and　exit　from　the　rear。〃
　〃Go　forward；〃　Gunderson　said　to　Rosselli。　〃Tell　Judy　it's　time；　then　f　stay　in　the　cockpit。〃　
　〃Won't　everything　be　sucked　out　the　rear？〃　Rosselli　asked。
　〃We're　not　pressurized；〃　Gunderson　said；　〃so　it　won't　be　that　bad　I　wouldn't　try　walking　around；　however。　Just　stay　in　the　cockpit；　and　after　the　egg　timer　goes　off；　raise　the　rear　door　and　untie　the　pilots。〃　
　〃Okay；〃　Rosselli　said　as　she　went　forward；　opened　the　cockpit　door　and　reported　the　news　to　Michaels。
　〃Understood；〃　Judy　Michaels　said。　
　Then　she　checked　the　speed　once　more；　made　sure　the　autopilot　was　operating；　then　pushed　the　lever　to　lower　the　rear　door。　The　door　began　to　lower　slowly　and　the　alarms　on　the　dashboard　began　to　beep。　Twisting　a　cheap　plastic　egg　timer；　Michaels　slid　past　Rosselli。　
　〃Keep　the　door　closed；　and　when　that　timer　chimes；　you　know　what　to　do。〃　
　Rosselli　nodded。　
　〃Nice　meeting　you；〃　Michaels　said　as　she　slipped　out　the　door。　Racing　down　the　aisle；　Michaels　stopped　for　Gunderson　to　check　her　parachute。　The　farther　the　rear　door　lowered；　the　more　wind　raced　through　the　fuselage　of　the　737。　Magazines　rustled；　and　any　loose　items　inside　fluttered　in　the　wind。　Gunderson　watched　as　a　silk　kimono　filled　like　a　sail　and　shot　out　the　rear。　Then　the　trio　made　their　way　to　the　rear；　where　the　steps　were　now　pointing　straight　below　the　tail　of　the　737。　
　〃What　do　you　think　they'll　do　to　Rhonda？〃　Pilston　asked。　
　〃Not　much　they　can　do；〃　Gunderson　said　as　he　adjusted　his　goggles　and　helped　Michaels　into　position　to　jump。　
　〃I　think　she's　sweet　on　you；〃　Pilston　said　as　she　moved　into　place　next　to　Michaels。　
　〃There's　something　about；〃　Gunderson　said；　〃an　Aqua…Velva　man。〃　At　that　instant；　the　signal　was　received　from　the　satellite　to　his　alphanumeric　pager。　The　pager　began　to　vibrate。　Gunderson　took　one　lady　under　each　arm。　Then　he　ran　off　the　end　of　the　ramp　and；　once　he　was　clear；　pushed　them　away。
　
　PLODDING　THROUGH　THE　South　China　Sea；　the　helmsman　on　the　Kalia　Challenger　noticed　the　sky　was　finally　clearing。　He　noticed　it　because　the　sky　overhead　was　suddenly　filled　with　a　pair　of　Chinese　antisubmarine　aircraft　as　well　as　a　single　long…range　heavy…lift　helicopter。　The　Kalia　Challenger　had　originally　been　built　in　1962　for　the　United　States　Line　as　one　of　an　eleven…ship　class　of　express　cargo　cruisers。　Later　sold　to　a　Greek　shipping　concern；　she　plied　the　seas　on　a　regular　schedule　from　Asia　to　the　west　coast　of　the　United　States。　
　At　just　over　five　hundred　feet　with　a　seventy…foot　beam；　the　vessel　featured　derricks　on　the　upper　deck　for　loading　and　unloading　of　cargo。　Her　lower　hull　was　a　rusty　red　with　a　black　band　along　the　gunwales。　She　was　a　work　ship　who　had　served　a　long　and　useful　life；　and　the　wear　and　tear　showed。　Still　functional；　though　dated；　she　was　possessed　of　one　major　flaw。　
　From　a　distance；　to　an　untrained　eye；　she　resembled　the　Oregon。　
　She　was　far　out　in　international　waters　when　the　antisubmarine　aircraft　dropped　the　first　depth　charge。　It　landed　a　hundred　yards　ahead　of　the　bow　and　exploded　with　a　cascade　of　water　that　reached　eighty　feet　into　the　air。　
　〃Heave　to！〃　the　captain　shouted。　
　The　alert　reached　the　engine　room；　and　the　Kalia　Challenger　slowed；　then　stopped　in　the　water。　
　It　would　be　nearly　an　hour　before　a　Chinese　boarding　party　climbed　across　her　decks。　
　The　illegal　stop　was　never　explained。　
　
　
　DELBERT　CHIGLACK　STARED　up　at　the　sky　in　amazement。　He　had　seen　some　incredible　things　in　the　fourteen　years　he　had　worked　on　offshore　oil　rigs：　strange　sea　creatures　that　defied　explanation；　unidentified　flying　objects；　weird　weather　phenomena。　But　in　all　the　years　I　he　had　drilled　offshore；　he　had　yet　to　see　a　trio　of　parachutists　e　from　nowhere　and　attempt　to　land　on　his　rig。　Gunderson；　Michaels　and　Pilston　had　leapt　from　the　737　at　an　altitude　of　fifteen　thousand