cc.goldenbuddha-第65节

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iority　channel。〃　
　〃Did　he　disclose　the　nature　of　his　request？〃　Jintao　asked。　
　〃No；〃　the　foreign　relations　head　said。　
　Jintao　stood　quietly　for　a　moment；　thinking。　
　〃Mr。　President；〃　the　general　said；　〃there's　more。　We　just　received　reports　from　the　capital　of　Tibet　that　a　protest　has　formed　in　one　of　thi　main　squares　inside　the　city。〃　
　
　Her；　they　had　yanked　a　rapid…firing　antiaircraft　gun　from　its　mount　on　the　border　of　Gonggar　Airport。　Now　they　were　fitting　it　to　the　cargo　plane　to　make　a　crude　gunship。　The　soldiers　worked　quickly；　as　did　those　at。　the　other　end　of　the　hangar。　
　George　Adams　watched　as　the　Dungkar　troops　filled　the　fuel　tank　on　the　attack　helicopter。　For　the　last　ten　minutes；　he　had　climbed　around　inside　the　ship　in　an　effort　to　determine　the　controls　and　weapons　systems。　At　this　instant；　he　was　convinced　that　he　could　probably　fly　the　birdmaking　the　weapons　perform　as　desired　was　a　little　iffier。　
　〃Wele　to　the　Dungkar　Air　Force；〃　Gunderson　said；　walking　over。　〃We　fly；　you　die。〃　
　〃How's　it　going　over　there？〃　Adams　said；　smiling。　
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　Gunderson　admitted。　〃We　have　the　weapon　lodged　in　the　rear　and　supported　with　enough　planks　to　build　a　barnif　it　doesn't　fly　out　the　opposite　side　the　first　time　we　light　it　up；　we　should　be　okay。　How　about　you？〃　
　〃My　Chinese　is　a　little　rusty；〃　Adams　said。　〃About　as　rusty　as　an　iron　ship　on　the　bottom　of　the　ocean。　But　I　think　I　can　pilot　this　beast。〃　
　Gunderson　nodded。　〃Let's　make　a　pact；　old　buddy；〃　he　said；　smiling。　
　〃What's　that？〃　Adams　asked。　
　〃When　we　get　up　there；〃　Gunderson　said；　〃let's　not　shoot　each　other　down。〃　
　He　turned　and　started　to　walk　back　to　the　cargo　plane。　〃Good　luck；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　
　〃You　too；〃　Adams　answered。　
　Right　then　the　door　started　to　rise；　and　sunlight　and　cold　air　swept　into　the　hangar。　A　minute　later　the　attack　helicopter　was　wheeled　onto　the　tarmac　and　a　motorized　cart　was　attached　to　the　front　of　the　cargo　plane　to　pull　it　onto　the　runway。　
　
　BARKHOR　SQUARE　WAS　rapidly　filling　with　Tibetans。　The　crude　human　telegraph　system　that　operates　in　time　of　crisis　was　working　overtime。　Four　blocks　away；　a　platoon　of　Chinese　soldiers　were　attempting　to　make　their　way　by　armored　personnel　carrier　from　their　barracks　to　the　square　after　receiving　a　call　that　there　was　action　at　the　chairman's　home。　
　Tibetans　clogged　the　streets　and　the　going　was　slow。　
　〃Piper；　Piper；　this　is　Masquerade。〃　
　〃Masquerade；　this　is　Piper；　we　read。〃　
　〃Request　immediate　extraction；〃　Reyes　said。　〃We　have　the　target。〃　
　〃State　point　of　extraction；　Masquerade。〃　
　〃Spot　one；　one；　primary；　Piper。　Spot　one　three；　secondary　HH。〃　
　〃Acknowledge　extraction　coordinates；　Masquerade；　they　are　inbound　in　three。〃　
　Upon　receiving　the　order；　the　helicopter　that　had　delivered　them　to　the　river　lifted　from　the　ground　at　a　spot　ten　miles　between　Lhasa　and　Gonggar　Airport；　where　the　pilot　had　been　waiting。　Once　he　had　the　helicopter　in　forward　flight；　the　pilot　stared　at　a　map　listing　the　extraction　points　they　had　arranged；　and　glanced　at　the　note　he　had　scribbled　on　a　pad　attached　to　the　clip　on　his　knee。　He　flew　fast　and　low　toward　Barkhor　Square。　
　
　IN　LITTLE　LHASA；　the　Dalai　Lama　waited　inside　the　munications　room　near　a　bank　of　radios。　In　the　last　few　minutes；　his　network　of　spies　inside　Tibet　had　begun　to　report　the　progress。　So　far；　at　least；　the　operation　appeared　to　be　going　flawlessly。　
　He　turned　to　an　aide…de…camp。　〃Are　the　preparations　pleted　for　our　trip　home？〃　he　asked。　
　〃As　soon　as　word　es　from　Mr。　Cabrillo；　Your　Holiness；〃　he　said。　〃We　can　have　you　there　in　two　hours　by　jet。〃　
　The　Dalai　Lama　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Once　we　take　off；〃　he　asked；　〃how　long　will　it　be　until　we　are　over　Tibet？〃　
　〃Half　an　hour；〃　the　man　noted；　〃give　or　take。〃
　〃I　am　going　to　the　temple　now　to　pray；〃　the　Dalai　Lama　said；　rising。　〃Keep　watch　on　the　situation。〃　
　〃Yes；　Your　Holiness；〃　the　aide　said。　
　
　CHUCK　GUNDERSON　WAS　helping　George　Adams　strap　himself　into　the　attack　helicopter。　None　of　the　Chinese　helmets　inside　the　hangar　were　large　enough　to　fit　his　head；　so　he　was　using　his　own　personal　headset；　plugged　into　the　radio　for　munications。　He　was　squeezed　into　the　seat　like　a　fat　girl　in　spandex。　
　〃They　don't　make　these　for　big　guys　like　us；〃　Adams　joked。　〃You　should　see　mine；〃　Gunderson　said。　〃The　Chinese　still　believe　in　quantity　over　quality。　My　cockpit　looks　like　I'm　back　in　World　War　Two。　I　keep　expecting　Glenn　Miller　music　to　start　playing　over　the　radio。〃　
　〃Look　at　this　dashboard；〃　Adams　said　as　Gunderson　finished　and　stood　upright　on　the　ladder。　〃It's　got　more　metal　that　a　fifty…seven　Chevy。〃　
　Just　then；　Eddie　Seng　walked　over　quickly。　You　need　to　get　airborne　and　clear　the　runway。　Cabrillo　just　called。　He's　five　minutes　out。〃　
　Gunderson　pushed　down　on　the　Plexiglas　shield　over　Adams's　head　and　held　it　as　he　fastened　it　in　place。　Then　he　thumped　the　top　and　gave　Adams　a　thumbs…up　sign。　Climbing　back　down　the　ladder；　he　motioned　for　the　Tibetan　helpers　to　wheel　it　out　of　the　way。　He　began　walking　with　Seng　toward　the　cargo　plane　as　he　heard　the　igniters　in　the　turbine　engine　of　the　attack　helicopter　begin　to　wind　up。　
　〃Mr。　Seng；〃　Gunderson　said；　〃what's　the　latest？〃　
　〃I　interrogated　the　Chinese　lieutenant　that　was　the　ranking　officer　here；〃　Seng　said。　〃He　was　not　able　to　get　word　to　Beijing　before　we　captured　his　forces。〃　
　〃So　for　now；〃　Gunderson　said；　reaching　the　door　of　the　cargo　plane；　
　〃we　don't　need　to　worry　about　an　attack　from　Chinese　fighters　from　outside　the　country？〃　
　〃If　the　Russians　do　their　job　and　keep　the　Chinese　on　their　toes；〃　Seng　said；　〃your　role　right　now　seems　to　be　to　provide　close　air　support　for　the　Dungkar　forces。〃　
　〃I'll　do　what　I　can；〃　Gunderson　said；　climbing　into　the　side　door　of　the　cargo　plane。　
　〃Good；〃　Seng　said；　patting　the　side　of　the　plane。　〃Now　get　to　workthe　boss　is　ing。〃　
　At　just　that　second；　Adams　pulled　the　collective　and　the　Chinese　helicopter　lifted　from　the　ground。　The　helicopter　wobbled　a　little　as　Adams　fought　to　get　the　feel；　then　it　moved　forward；　broke　through　the　ground　effect；　and　headed　in　the　direction　of　Lhasa。　
　Gunderson　walked　up　the　slope　to　the　cockpit；　slid　into　his　seat；　then　began　the　engine…starting　procedure。　Once　the　pair　of　engines　were　running　smoothly；　he　glanced　back　to　the　four　Dungkar　soldiers　manning　the　gun　in　the　rear。　
　〃Okay；　men；〃　he　shouted　over　the　noise　of　the　engines；　〃I'll　tell　you　when　and　where　to　direct　the　fire。　For　right　now；　we're　just　taking　a　little　flight。〃　
　That　sounded　simple　enoughbut　not　one　of　the　Tibetans　had　ever　been　inside　a　plane　before。　
　
　ON　BOARD　THE　Oregon；　Hanley　stood　above　the　microphone　and　talked　in　a　clear　voice。　
　〃I　just　sent　word　to　your　contact；〃　he　said。　〃Watch　for　red　strobes　as　your　signal。〃　
　〃Same　spot　as　we　had　first　planned？〃　Murphy　asked。　〃Yes；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Now　as　far　as　Gurt　is　concerned；　we　talked　to　Huxley。　You　need　to　apply　direct　pressure　to　the　wound　as　soon　as　possible。〃　
　〃Do　you　have　us　on　satellite　surveillance？〃　Murphy　asked。　
　〃Yes；〃　Hanley　said；　staring　at　the　screen。　〃You're　about　five　minutes　from　the　rendezvous　point。〃　
　〃We'll　report　back　once　we　land；〃　Murphy　said。　
　The　radio　went　dead。　Hanley　dialed　Seng　and　waited　while　it　rang。　
　
　BRIKTIN　GAMPO　CHECKED　to　make　sure　the　strobes　were　flashing；　then　stared　up　at　the　sky。　The　clouds　were　low；　almost　a　fog；　but　from　second　to　second　they　would　shift；　revealing　patches　of　open　air。　In　the　distance　he　could　hear　a　helicopter　approaching。　He　walked　back　inside；　stirred　a　pot　of　tea　on　the　stove；　then　went　back　out　to　await　the　arrival。　
　〃I　see　one；〃　Murphy　said；　pointing。　
　In　the　last　few　minutes；　Gurt's　face　had　turned　ashen。　Murphy　could　see　beads　of　sweat　on　his　forehead；　and　his　hand　controlling　the　helicopter　was　shaking。　
　〃Hold　on；〃　Murphy　said；　〃we're　almost　there。〃
　〃I'm　starting　to　see　black　on　the　edges　of　my　eyes；〃　Gurt　said。　〃You　might　need　to　guide　me　on　where　to　land。〃　
　
　THE　SOUND　OF　the　cargo　plane　lifting　off　was　loud。　Eddie　Seng　was　forced　to　yell　into　the　telephone。　〃How　bad　is　it？〃　he　asked　Hanley。　
　〃We　don't　know；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　we　should　dispatch　someone　nowthe　flight　north　takes　a　couple　of　hours。　If　the　support　is　not　needed；　we　can　call　it　back。〃
　〃Got　it；〃　Seng　said。　
　Then　he　walked　toward　the　makeshift　clinic　to　see　if　Huxley　had　found　anyone　trained　in　nursing　to　fly　along。　Five　minutes　later；　he　had　a　helicopter　refueled；　a　Tibetan　soldier　with　a　limited　nursing　background；　and　supplies　in　the　air。　
　
　YOU'RE　CLOSE　ENOUGH；　Gurt；〃　Murphy　said；　〃and　you're　about　twelve　feet　above　the　ground。〃　
　Gurt　started　to　descend；　then　vomited　across　the　dashboard　of　the　Bell。　〃In　case　I　can't；　when　that　gauge　reads　green；〃　he　said；　wiping　the　sleeve　of　his　flight　suit　across　his　mouth；　〃flick　these　three　switches　down。　That　will　shut　down　the　turbines。〃　
　Six　feet　above　the　ground　in　a　slow　descent；　Gurt　paused　and　hovered　for　a　second；　then　took　her　the　rest　of　the　way　to　the　ground。　As　soon　as　the　helicopter　settled　on　the　skids；　he　slumped　over　in　the　harness　and　sat　unmoving。　
　Murp