cc.goldenbuddha-第70节

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　〃Good；　I'm　going　in；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃The　media　is　on　their　way；〃　Hanley　said；　〃and　the　Dalai　Lama　has　already　left　India。　Both　are　due　to　arrive　in　Lhasa　in　just　over　an　hour。　We　need　you　all　out　of　there　posthaste。　I've　dispatched　the　C…130　from　Thimbu；　and　Seng　is　rounding　everyone　up。　Just　get　this　doneand　get　out　of　there。〃　
　〃All　I　can　say　is　that　you'd　better　have　some　beer　on　board　that　plane；〃　Cabrillo　said；　laughing。　〃Bet　on　it；〃　Hanley　said。　
　
　THE　SMILE。　THE　smile　was　the　same　as　that　of　the　man　on　the　tape。　Po　slid　the　binoculars　back　in　the　case　and　turned　to　the　driver。　〃To　Potala。〃　
　
　FLY　THE　CARGO　to　that　level　and　unload　it；〃　Cabrillo　said；　pointing　to　a　stark　white　center　section　of　the　palace；　〃then　start　searching。　I'll　meet　you　on　the　courtyard　that　abuts　the　taller　section。〃　
　The　Dungkar　in　charge　of　the　detail　nodded。　
　〃I'm　going　to　take　the　stair　and　search　the　lower　levels；〃　Cabrillo　said；　removing　a　small　portable　oxygen　tank　from　inside　the　helicopter　and　strapping　it　on　his　back。　He　attached　a　nose　clip；　turned　on　the　flow　of　oxygen；　then　started　up　the　stairs。　
　A　few　minutes　later；　the　helicopter　lifted　off　the　flats　and　dropped　off　the　Dungkar　and　cargo。　Four　minutes　later；　the　truck　carrying　Po　and　the　Public　Security　Bureau　members　slid　to　a　stop　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。　Po　unholstered　his　pistol　and；　followed　by　the　others；　started　up　the　stairs。　Cabrillo　disappeared　out　of　sight　in　the　first　structure　bordering　the　stairs。　
　The　helicopter；　now　empty；　parked　on　the　flats　near　the　truck。　
　The　pilot　noticed　the　truck　and　radioed　the　Oregon。　
　〃It　has　markings　from　the　Public　Security　Bureau；〃　he　said。　
　〃I'll　call　Cabrillo；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　I　wouldn't　worry　about　it　right　now。　We're　receiving　sporadic　radar　returns　here。　We　have　yet　to　determine　the　source。　Watch　overhead。〃　
　
　GEORGE　ADAMS　HAD　stopped　and　refueled　the　Chinese　attack　helicopter　twice。　Chuck　Gunderson　still　had　half　a　tank。　For　the　most　part；　their　mission　so　far　had　been　quiet。　Gunderson　had　been　called　in　to　monitor　the　fighting　at　the　motor　pool；　but　the　Dungkar　had　gained　control　fast　enough　that　they　never　needed　his　makeshift　gunship。　Adams　had　yet　to　locate　a　clear　target　to　fire　upon。　In　the　last　twenty　minutes；　the　situation　had　changedother　than　a　few　pockets　of　small…arms　fire　in　the　city；　it　appeared　that　Lhasa　was　now　firmly　under　Dungkar　control。　Both　men　could　see　the　transformation　clearly　from　the　airthe　war　was　almost　over。　
　〃Gorgeous　George；　this　is　Tiny；〃　Gunderson　said　over　the　radio。　〃Hey；　Chuckie；〃　George　said；　〃you　as　bored　as　I　am？〃
　〃I'm　telling　you〃　Gunderson　started　to　say。　〃This　is　Climber　One；〃　Murphy　said。　〃A　trio；　meaning　three；　Chinese　fighters　just　blew　past　me　and　Rescue　One。　We　are　fifty　miles　out　of　Lhasa　inbound　for　Gonggar。〃　
　〃All　Corporation　members；　this　is　the　Oregon；〃　Hanley　said。　〃We　have　detected　three　Chinese　fighters　inbound　from　the　northern　theater。　Assume　them　as　unfriendly。　Prepare　to　take　cover。　All　offensive　forces　report　in　now。〃　
　〃Predator；　ready；〃　Lincoln　said　from　his　remote　station　in　Bhutan。　
　〃Attack　One；　ready；〃　Adams　said。　
　〃Gunship　One；　ready；〃　Gunderson　said。　
　〃I'm　sorry；　people；〃　Hanley　said。　〃They　must　have　slipped　in　low　under　the　radar。　We　now　have　intermittent　returns　and　expect　arrival　in　minutes。〃　
　The　three　fighters　roared　down　the　canyon　from　the　north　toward　Lhasa。　
　
　CABRILLO　WAS　IN　a；large　prayer　room　with　small　rooms　to　each　side。　He　was　searching　each　room　one　at　a　time；　but　the　going　was　slow。　Po　and　his　team　had　made　it　up　the　stairs。　Po　paused　outside　the　door　with　his　pistol　in　the　air　and　peered　inside。　Then；　seeing　no　one；　he　crept　inside。　Cabrillo　was　searching　through　a　large　stack　of　wooden　crates　in　a　storeroom。　His　attention　was　focused　on　locating　the　poison　gas；　so　he　was　unaware　that　Po　and　his　men　were　outside。　The　crates　contained　scrolls；　old　textbooks　and　documents。　Wiping　his　hands；　he　walked　out。　
　Po　was　standing　outside　the　door　with　his　pistol　trained　on　Cabrillo's　chest。　The　six　members　of　the　Public　Security　Bureau　carried　rifles；　which　they　pointed　at　him　as　well。　
　Cabrillo　smiled。　〃Morning；　men；〃　he　said　easily。　〃Just　changing　the　filters　in　the　furnace。　This　old　palace　can　get　a　mite　drafty　when　it　snows。〃　
　〃I'm　Detective　Ling　Po　from　the　Macau　Constabulatory；　and　you're　under　arrest　for　theft　and　murder。〃　
　〃Murder？〃　Cabrillo　said　quietly。　〃I　didn't　kill　anyone。〃　
　〃Your　little　Buddha　theft　and　the　subsequent　escape　left　three　Chinese　citizens　dead。〃　
　〃Do　you　mean　when　the　Chinese　navy　attacked　my　boat？〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃They　started　it。〃　
　Right　at　that　instant；　the　first　fighter　plane　passed　over　Lhasa；　and　all　hell　broke　out。　
　
　MURPHY'S　WARNING　GAVE　Adams　and　Gunderson　just　enough　time　to　prepare。　Adams　clung　to　the　side　of　a　mountain　west　of　Lhasa；　pointing　his　tail　boom　toward　the　fighters。　Gunderson　clung　to　the　mountains　on　the　east　side　with　the　mini…gun　ready　to　fire。　The　Predator　was　in　a　slow　orbit　over　Gonggar；　ready　to　protect　the　area。　The　fighters　passed　over　Lhasa　and　unleashed　their　chain　guns；　killing　scores　of　Tibetans；　then　they　continued　toward　the　airport。　A　minute　or　so　later；　the　fighters　neared　Gonggar　and　the　antiaircraft　guns　opened　fire。　Flying　through　flak；　the　lead　fighter　pilot　passed　over　the　airport；　then　made　a　sweeping　left　turn　back　toward　Lhasa。　Slowly　a　helicopter　appeared　against　the　mountain。　Then　a　puff　of　smoke　and　a　flaming　spear　emerged　from　under　the　fuselage。　
　Adams　watched　the　video　camera　and　made　adjustments　as　the　missile　streaked　toward　the　fighter。　He'd　aimed　for　the　main　fuselage。　What　he　hit　was　a　wing。　The　pilot　ejected　and　Adams　saw　a　chute　open。　
　In　a　textbook　maneuver；　the　second　fighter　pilot　had　broken　right。　He　was　racing　back　toward　Lhasa　when　a　target　showed　on　his　radar　scope　off　his　left　wing。　Before　he　could　react；　a　Chinese　cargo　plane　appeared。　Confused　for　a　second　by　the　appearance　of　a　seemingly　friendly　force；　the　pilot　hesitated　firing。　
　〃Open　up；〃　Gunderson　shouted　to　the　rear。　
　The　Tibetan　gunner　let　loose　with　a　volley　that　stitched　the　side　of　the　fighter　like　a　shotgun　blast　to　the　gut　of　a　duck。　The　man　kept　firing　even　after　the　plane　passed　from　view。　
　〃I　think　you　got　him；〃　Gunderson　shouted　back。　〃Hold　off。〃　
　Gunderson　made　a　sweeping　turn　and　caught　a　glimpse　as　the　flaming　wreckage　spun　into　a　mountain。　There　was　no　ejection；　no　salvation。　
　As　soon　as　the　third　fighter　realized　they　were　being　fired　upon；　he　made　a　steep　climb　straight　up　in　the　air。　The　Predator　was　hot　on　his　tail。　
　〃Fire　four；〃　Lincoln　said　over　the　radio　as　he　blew　off　all　his　remaining　missiles　at　once。　
　The　jet　raced　into　the　heavens；　but　the　lighter　and　smaller　missiles　were　faster。　
　The　Tibetans　on　the　ground　watched　as　the　white　contrail　from　the　jet　made　a　straight　line　up　into　the　sky。　Two　sets　of　twin　tendrils　of　steam　followed。　Then；　high　over　Lhasa；　a　fireball　erupted。　The　three　fighters　would　fight　no　more。　
　
　GO　SEE　WHAT　that　was；〃　Po　ordered　one　of　the　Tibetans。　The　man　walked　out　and　stared　down　at　the　city；　then　walked　back　inside。　〃Planes　attacking；〃　was　all　he　said　when　he　returned。　
　〃That's　the　Chinese；　retaking　the　city；〃　Po　said。　〃In　a　few　minutes〃　
　Just　then　Cabrillo's　telephone　rang。　So　he　answered　it。　
　〃Excuse　me；〃　he　said　to　Po；　holding　his　hand　over　the　receiver。　
　〃Right；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Okay；　good。　No；　not　yet；　there　has　been　a　slight　snag。　There　is　a　Macau　policeman　here　that's〃　
　Po　slid　his　pistol　in　his　holster　and　batted　the　telephone　to　the　floor。　
　〃You　shouldn't　have　done　that；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃I　didn't　buy　the　extended　warranty。〃　
　Po　was　enraged。　His　control　was　slipping　and　he　needed　it　back　now。　
　On　the　Oregon；　Hanley　was　still　listening　to　the　open　line。　〃Against　the　wall；〃　Po　said；　dragging　Cabrillo　against　a　stone　wall；　then　stepping　back。　
　Cabrillo　stood　there；　the　realization　of　what　was　happening　slowly　dawning。　
　〃What　do　you　think；　Po〃　he　spat。　〃That　you're　judge；　jury　and　executioner？〃　
　〃Men；〃　Po　said；　〃line　up。〃　
　The　Tibetans　formed　a　firing　line；　their　rifles　at　their　shoulders。　On　the　Oregon；　Eric　Stone　was　next　to　Hanley；　listening　in。　〃Sir；〃　j　he　said；　〃what　can　we　do？〃　
　Hanley　raised　his　hand　to　quiet　him。　
　〃On　behalf　of　the　Macau　authorities；〃　Po　said；　〃I　have　heard　your　admission　of　guilt　and　find　you　guilty　of　murder。　Your　sentence　is　death　by　firing　squad；　at　this　time　and　place。〃　
　Stone　looked　in　horror　at　Hanley；　whose　face　remained　impassive。　〃Do　you　have　any　last　words　or　pleas？〃　Po　asked。　〃Yes；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃I　ask　that　you　stop　this　nonsense　immediately　there　is　a　deadly　gas　somewhere　in　this　palace；　and　if　I　don't　find　it　soon；　we　all　will　die。〃　
　〃Enough　of　your　lies；〃　Po　thundered。　〃Men；　prepare　to　fire。〃　
　Cabrillo　brushed　his　hand　along　his　crew…cut　hair；　then　smiled　and　winked。　
　〃Fire；〃　Po　shouted。　
　A　volley　of　shots　rang　out　and　the　prayer　room　was　filled　with　the　scent　of　gunpowder。　
　
　〃THERE　THEY　ARE；〃　the　leader　of　the　Dungkar　detail　said。　
　Three　stainless…steel　canisters　were　marked　with　Chinese　symbols。　The　Dungkar　erec