cc.floodtide-第107节

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ty　and　her　crew　waiting　for　them。
　
　The　boat；　a　twenty…five…foot　Parker　with　a　cabin；　was　powered　by　a　250　Yamaha　outboard。　Functional　and　electronically　well　equipped　with　a　NavStar　differential　global…positioning　system　interfaced　with　a　state　of　the　art　PC　and　Geometerics　866　marine　magnetometer；　the　Divercity　also　mounted　a　Klein　side…scan　sonar　that　would　play　a　key　role　in　seeking　out　the　remains　of　the　Princess　Don　Wan。　For　a　close…up　identification；　the　boat　carried　a　Benthos　MiniRover　MK　II　underwater　robotic　vehicle。
　
　The　experienced　crew　consisted　of　Ralph　Wilbanks；　a　big；　jolly　man　in　his　early　forties　with　expansive　brown　eyes　and　a　bristling　mustache；　and　his　partner；　Wes　Hall；　easygoing；　soft…spoken　and　smoothly　handsome；　who　could　have　doubled　for　Mel　Gibson。
　Wilbanks　and　Hall　greeted　Pitt　and　Julia　warmly　and　introduced　themselves。　〃We　didn't　expect　you　this　early；〃　said　Hall。
　〃Up　with　the　birds；　that's　us；〃　Pitt　said；　nodding　humorously。　〃How　was　your　trip　from　Kenosha？〃
　〃Calm　water　all　the　way；〃　answered　Wilbanks。
　
　Both　men　spoke　in　a　soft　Southern　accent。　Pitt　liked　them　almost　immediately。　He　didn't　need　a　drawing　to　see　they　were　a　professional；　job…dedicated　pair。　They　watched　amused　as　Julia　jumped　from　the　dock；　landing　on　the　deck　with　the　finesse　of　a　limber　cat。　She　was　dressed　in　jeans　and　a　sweater　under　a　nylon　windbreaker。
　〃She's　a　fine；　no…nonsense　boat；〃　said　Pitt；　admiring　the　Divercity。
　Wilbanks　nodded　in　agreement。　〃She　does　the　job。〃　He　turned　to　Julia。　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind　roughing　it；　ma'am。　We're　not　equipped　with　a　head。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　me；〃　Julia　said；　smiling。　〃I've　got　an　iron　bladder。〃
　Pitt　looked　across　the　water　of　the　little　harbor　at　the　seemingly　endless　lake。　〃Light　breeze；　one…　to　two…foot　waves；　conditions　look　good。　Are　we　ready　to　cast　off？〃
　Hall　nodded　and　unwound　the　mooring　lines　from　the　dock's　cleats。　Just　as　he　was　about　to　climb　on　board；　he　pointed　down　the　dock　at　a　figure　awkwardly　approaching　and　waving　wildly。　〃Is　he　with　you？〃
　Pitt　found　himself　staring　at　Al　Giordino；　who　was　stomping　across　the　wooden　planks　on　a　pair　of　crutches；　his　wounded　leg　encased　in　a　plaster　cast　from　ankle　to　crotch。　Giordino　flashed　his　celebrated　smile　and　said；　〃A　pox　on　your　house　for　thinking　you　could　leave　me　onshore　while　you　got　all　the　glory。〃
　
　Happy　to　see　his　old　friend；　Pitt　said；　〃You　can't　say　I　didn't　try。〃
　Wilbanks　and　Hall　gently　lifted　Giordino　over　the　side　and　sat　him　on　a　long　cushion　that　lay　on　a　raised　hump　in　the　middle　of　the　boat。　Pitt　introduced　him　to　the　crew　as　Julia　fussed　over　him　and　pressed　a　cup　of　coffee　in　his　hand　from　a　thermos　she　carried　in　a　picnic　basket。
　〃Shouldn't　you　be　in　a　hospital？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　hate　hospitals；〃　Giordino　grumbled。　〃Too　many　people　die　in　them。〃
　〃Is　everyone　aboard　who's　ing　aboard？〃　Wilbanks　inquired。
　〃All　present　and　accounted　for；〃　replied　Pitt。
　Wilbanks　grinned　and　said；　〃Then　let's　do　it。〃
　
　As　soon　as　they　cleared　the　harbor；　Wilbanks　pushed　the　throttle　forward　and　the　Divercity　leaped　ahead；　bow　clear　of　the　water；　until　she　was　skimming　the　waves　at　nearly　thirty　miles　an　hour。　While　Julia　and　Giordino　sat　aft；　enjoying　the　view　and　the　beginning　of　a　spectacular　day　under　a　sky　decorated　with　clouds　drifting　overhead　like　a　grazing　herd　of　white　buffalo；　Pitt　gave　Wilbanks　his　chart　with　an　X　marked　twenty…five　miles　just　south　of　east　frorh　the　Gallagher's　house。　He　had　enclosed　the　X　within　a　five…mile…by…five…mile　search　grid。　Wilbanks　then　programmed　the　coordinates　into　the　puter　and　watched　as　the　numbers　came　up　on　the　monitor。　Hall　busied　himself　studying　the　photos　and　dimensions　of　the　Princess　Dou　Wan。
　It　seemed　hardly　any　time　had　passed　before　Wilbanks　slowed　the　boat　and　announced；　〃ing　up　on　lane　one　in　eight　hundred　meters。〃　He　used　the　metric　system；　since　the　equipment　was　set　up　for　it。
　Pitt　helped　Hall　drop　over　the　magnetometer　sensor　and　the　side…scan　sonar　towfish；　trailing　them　behind　the　stern　of　the　boat　on　tethered　cables。　After　tying　off　the　cables；　they　returned　to　the　cabin。
　Wilbanks　steered　the　boat　toward　the　end　of　a　line　displayed　on　the　monitor　that　led　to　a　search　grid　with　parallel　lanes。　〃Four　hundred　meters　to　go。〃
　〃I　feel　like　I'm　taking　part　in　an　adventure；〃　said　Julia。
　〃You're　going　to　be　sadly　disappointed；〃　Pitt　laughed。　〃Running　search　lanes　for　a　shipwreck　is　downright　tedious。　You　might　pare　it　to　mowing　grass　on　an　endless　lawn。　You　can　go　hours；　weeks　or　even　months　without　finding　so　much　as　an　old　tire。〃
　Pitt　took　over　the　magnetometer　duties　as　Hall　set　up　the　Klein　&　Associates　Systems　2000　sonar。　He　sat　on　a　stool　in　front　of　the　high…resolution　color　video　display　unit　that　was　mounted　in　the　same　console　as　a　thermal　printer　that　recorded　the　floor　of　the　lake　in　256　shades　of　gray。
　〃Three　hundred　meters；〃　Wilbanks　droned。
　〃What　range　are　we　set　for？〃　Pitt　asked　Hall。
　〃Since　we're　hunting　for　a　large　target　five　hundred　feet　in　length；　we'll　run　thousand…meter　lanes。〃　He　pointed　to　the　lake…bed　detail　that　was　beginning　to　unreel　from　the　printer。　〃The　bottom　looks　flat　and　undisturbed；　and　since　we're　operating　in　fresh　water；　we　should　have　no　problem　spotting　an　anomaly　that　fits　the　target's　dimensions。〃
　〃Speed？〃
　〃The　water's　pretty　calm。　I　think　we　can　run　at　ten　miles　an　hour　and　still　get　a　sharp　recording。〃
　〃Can　I　watch？〃　asked　Julia　from　the　cabin　doorway。
　〃Be　my　guest；〃　said　Hall；　making　room　for　her　in　the　cramped　quarters。
　〃The　detail　is　amazing；〃　she　said；　staring　at　the　image　from　the　printer。　〃You　can　clearly　see　ripples　in　the　sand。〃
　〃The　resolution　is　good；〃　Hall　lectured　her；　〃but　nowhere　near　the　definition　of　a　photograph。　The　sonar　image　translates　similar　to　a　photo　that's　been　duplicated　and　then　run　through　a　copy　machine　three　or　four　times。〃
　Pitt　and　Hall　exchanged　grins。　Observers　always　became　addicted　to　watching　the　sonar　data。　Julia　would　be　no　different。　They　knew　that　she　would　gaze　entranced　for　hours；　enthusiastically　waiting　for　the　image　of　a　ship　to　materialize。
　〃Starting　lane　one；〃　Wilbanks　proclaimed。
　〃What's　our　depth；　Ralph？〃　Pitt　asked。
　Wilbanks　glanced　up　at　his　depth　sounder；　which　hung　from　the　roof　on　one　side　of　the　helm。　〃About　four　hundred　ten　feet。〃
　An　old　hand　at　search…and…survey；　Giordino　shouted　from　his　fortable　position　on　the　cushion　where　he　lay　with　his　cast　propped　up　on　a　railing。　〃I'm　going　to　take　a　siesta。　Yell　out　if　you　spot　anything。〃
　The　hours　passed　slowly　as　the　Divercity　plowed　through　the　low　waves　at　ten　miles　an　hour　mowing　the　lawn；　the　magnetometer　ticking　away；　the　recording　line　trailing　down　the　center　of　the　graph　paper　until　swinging　off　to　the　sides　when　it　detected　the　presence　of　iron。　In　unison；　the　side…scan　sonar　emitted　a　soft　clack　as　the　thermal　plastic　film　unreeled　from　the　printer。　It　revealed　a　lake　bed　cold　and　desolate　and　free　of　human　debris。
　〃It's　a　desert　down　there；〃　said　Julia；　rubbing　tired　eyes。
　〃No　place　to　build　your　dream　house；〃　said　Hall　with　a　little　grin。
　〃That　finishes　lane　twenty…two；〃　Wilbanks　broadcast。　〃ing　around　on　lane　twenty…three。〃
　Julia　looked　at　her　watch。　〃Lunchtime；〃　she　announced；　opening　the　picnic　basket　she　had　packed　at　the　bed　and　breakfast。　〃Anybody　besides　me　hungry？〃
　〃I'm　always　hungry；〃　Giordino　called　out　from　the　back　of　the　boat。
　〃Amazing。〃　Pitt　shook　his　head　incredulously。　〃At　twelve　feet　away；　outside　in　a　breeze　with　the　roar　of　the　outboard　motor；　he　can　still　hear　the　mere　mention　of　food。〃
　〃What　delicacies　have　you　prepared？〃　Giordino　asked　Julia；　having　dragged　himself　to　the　cabin　doorway。
　〃Apples；　granola　bars；　carrots　and　herbal　ice　tea。　You　have　your　choice　between　hummus　and　avocado　sandwiches。　It's　what　I　call　a　healthy　lunch。〃
　Every　man　on　the　boat　looked　at　each　of　the　others　with　utter　horror。　She　couldn't　have　received　a　more　unpalatable　reaction　if　she　had　said　she　was　volunteering　their　services　as　diaper　changers　at　a　day…care　center。　Out　of　deference　to　Julia　none　of　the　men　said　anything　negative；　since　she　went　to　the　bother　of　fixing　lunch。　The　fact　that　she　was　a　woman　and　their　mothers　had　raised　them　all　as　gentlemen　added　to　the　dilemma。　Giordino；　however；　did　not　e　from　the　old　school。　He　plained　vociferously。
　〃Hummus　and　avocado　sandwiches；〃　he　said　disgustedly。　〃I'm　going　to　throw　myself　off　the　boat　and　swim　to　the　nearest　Burger　King…〃
　〃I　have　a　reading　on　the　mag！〃　Pitt　interrupted。　〃Anything　on　the　sonar？〃
　〃My　sonar　towfish　is　trailing　farther　astern　than　your　mag　sensor；〃　said　Hall；　〃so　my　reading　will　lag　behind　yours。〃
　Julia　leaned　closer　to　the　sonar's　printer　in　anticipation　of　seeing　an　object　appear　from　the　printer。　Slowly；　the　image　of　a　hard　target　began　to　move　across　the　video　display　and　the　printer　simultaneously。
　〃A　ship！〃　Julia　shouted　excitedly。　〃It's　a　ship！〃
　〃But　not　the　one　we're　after；〃　Pitt　said　flatly。　〃She's　an　old　sailing　ship　sitting　straight　up　off　the　bottom。〃
　Wilbanks　leaned　around　the　others　to　peer　at　the　sunken　ship。　〃Look　at　that　detail。　The　cabins；　the　hatch　covers；　th