cc.floodtide-第111节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Gunn　looked　puzzled。　〃But　we　should　be　gone　by　then。〃
　〃You　get　the　picture；〃　Pitt　laughed。
　〃We　should　consider　ourselves　lucky　that　rumors　of　treasure　haven't　brought　out　swarms　of　salvors。〃
　〃They　e　as　soon　as　they　get　the　word　and　rush　out　to　pick　over　the　scraps。〃
　Julia　came　into　the　control　room　balancing　a　tray　on　one　hand。　〃Breakfast；〃　she　announced　gaily。　〃Isn't　it　a　beautiful　morning？〃
　Pitt　rubbed　the　stubble　of　a　beard　on　his　chin。　〃I　hadn't　noticed。〃
　〃What　are　you　so　happy　about？〃　Gunn　asked　her。
　〃I　just　received　a　message　from　Peter　Harper。　Qin　Shang　came　off　a　Japanese　airliner　at　the　Quebec　airport　disguised　as　a　crew　member。　The　Canadian　Royal　Mounted　Police　followed　him　to　the　waterfront；　where　he　boarded　a　small　boat　and　rendezvoused　with　the　Jade　Adventurer。〃
　〃Hallelujah！〃　exclaimed　Gunn。　〃He　took　the　bait。〃　〃Hook；　line　and　sinker；〃　said　Julia；　flashing　her　teeth。　She　set　the　tray　on　the　chart　table　and　removed　a　tablecloth；　revealing　plates　of　eggs　and　bacon；　toast；　grapefruit　and　coffee。
　〃That　is　good　news；〃　said　Pitt；　pulling　a　chair　up　to　the　table　without　being　told。　〃Did　Harper　say　when　he　plans　to　take　Qin　Shang　into　custody？〃
　〃He's　meeting　with　the　INS　legal　staff　to　formulate　a　plan。　I　must　tell　you；　there　is　great　fear　the　State　Department　and　White　House　may　intervene。〃　〃I　was　afraid　of　that；〃　said　Gunn。
　〃Peter　and　missioner　Monroe　are　very　afraid　Qin　Shang　will　slip　through　the　net　because　of　his　political　connections。〃　〃Why　not　board　the　Jade　Adventurer　and　haul　his　ass　off　now？〃　Gunn　asked。
　〃We　can't　legally　apprehend　him　if　his　ship　skirts　the　Canadian　shoreline　while　sailing　through　Lakes　Ontario；　Erie　and　Huron；〃　explained　Julia。　〃Only　after　the　Jade　Adventurer　has　passed　through　the　Straits　of　Mackinac　into　Lake　Michigan　will　Qin　Shang　be　on　American　waters。〃
　Pitt　slowly　ate　his　grapefruit。　〃I'd　like　to　see　his　face　when　his　crew　lays　a　camera　on　the　Princess　and　finds　her　guts　ripped　out　and　her　cupboards　bare。〃
　〃Did　you　know　that　he's　filed　a　claim　on　the　ship　and　its　cargo　through　one　of　his　subsidiary　corporations　in　state　and　federal　district　courts？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I'm　not　surprised。　That's　the　way　he　operates。〃
　Gunn　rapped　a　knife　on　the　table。　〃If　any　of　us　were　to　stake　a　claim　on　a　treasure　ship　through　legal　channels；　we'd　be　laughed　out　onto　the　street。　And　whatever　artifacts　we　found　would　have　to　be　turned　over　to　the　government。〃
　
　〃People　who　search　for　treasure；〃　Pitt　said　philosophically；　〃believe　their　problems　are　over　when　they　make　the　big　strike；　never　realizing　their　troubles　are　only　beginning。〃
　
　〃How　true；〃　Gunn　assented。　〃I've　yet　to　hear　of　a　treasure　discovery　that　wasn't　contested　in　court　by　a　parasite　or　government　bureaucrat。〃
　Julia　shrugged。　〃Maybe　so；　but　Qin　Shang　has　too　much　influence　to　have　the　door　slammed　in　his　face。　If　anything；　he's　bought　off　all　opposition。〃
　Pitt　looked　at　her　as　though　his　fatigued　mind　had　suddenly　thought　of　something。　〃Aren't　you　eating？〃　he　asked。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　had　a　bite　in　the　galley　earlier。〃
　The　ship's　first　officer　leaned　in　the　doorway　and　motioned　to　Pitt。　〃The　barge　has　surfaced；　sir。　You　said　you　wanted　to　take　a　look　at　her　payload　before　she　was　towed　away。〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　Pitt　acknowledged。　He　turned　back　to　Gunn。　〃She's　all　yours；　Rudi。　I'll　see　you；　same　time；　same　place　tomorrow。〃
　Gunn　waved　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　monitors。　〃Sleep　tight。〃
　
　Julia　hung　on　Pitt's　arm　as　they　stepped　out　onto　the　bridge　wing　and　gazed　down　at　the　big　barge　that　had　risen　from　the　depths。　The　interior　cargo　hold　was　filled　with　crates　of　all　sizes　containing　incredible　treasures　from　China's　past。　All　had　been　neatly　spaced　by　the　cranes　and　submersibles。　In　a　divided　partment　with　extra…thick　padding；　the　artworks　whose　packing　crates　had　been　either　damaged　or　destroyed　sat　open　and　exposed。　Some　were　musical　instruments…tuned　chimes　of　stone；　bronze　bells　and　drums。　There　was　a　three…legged　cooking　stove　with　a　hideous　face　molded　on　the　door；　large　jade　ceremonial　carvings　of　half…size　men；　women　and　children；　and　animal　sculptures　in　marble。
　
　〃Oh；　look；〃　she　said；　pointing。　〃They　brought　up　the　emperor　on　the　horse。〃
　
　Standing　under　the　sun　for　the　first　time　in　over　half　a　century；　the　water　glistening　on　the　bronze　armor　of　the　rider　and　streaming　from　his　horse；　the　two…thousand…year…old　sculpture　looked　little　the　worse　for　wear　than　the　day　it　came　out　of　the　mold。　The　unknown　emperor　now　stared　over　a　limitless　horizon；　as　if　in　search　of　new　lands　to　conquer。
　
　〃It's　all　so　incredibly　beautiful；〃　said　Julia；　staring　at　the　ancient　wonder。　Then　she　gestured　at　the　other　crates；　their　contents　still　hidden。　〃I'm　amazed　the　wooden　containers　did　not　rot　away　after　being　submerged　all　these　years。〃
　
　〃General　Hui　was　a　thorough　man；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Not　only　did　he　insist　that　the　crates　be　built　with　an　outer　wall　and　an　inner　lining；　he　specified　teak　instead　of　a　more　mon　wood。　It　was　probably　transported　to　Shanghai　from　Burma　by　freighter　for　use　in　the　shipyards。　Hui　knew　that　teak　is　extraordinarily　strong　and　durable；　and　he　undoubtedly　seized　the　shipment　to　construct　the　crates。　What　he　couldn't　have　predicted　at　the　time　was　that　his　foresight　paid　off　in　protecting　the　treasures　for　the　fifty　years　they　were　resting　underwater。〃
　Julia　raised　a　hand　to　shield　her　eyes　from　the　glare　of　the　sun　on　the　water。　〃A　pity　he　couldn't　have　made　them　watertight。　The　lacquerware；　wooden　carvings　and　paintings　cannot　have　survived　without　some　damage　or　disintegration。〃
　〃The　archaeologists　will　know　soon　enough。　Hopefully；　the　icy；　fresh　water　will　have　preserved　many　of　the　more　delicate　objects。〃
　As　the　tugboat　maneuvered　into　position　to　tow　the　barge　to　the　receiving　dock　in　Chicago；　a　crewman　stepped　from　the　wheelhouse　with　a　paper　in　his　hand。　〃Another　message　for　you；　Ms。　Lee；　from　Washington。〃
　〃Must　be　another　message　from　Peter；〃　she　said；　taking　the　munication。　She　studied　the　wording　for　a　long　time；　her　facial　expression　turning　from　surprise　to　utter　frustration　to　downright　anger。　〃Oh；　good　God；〃　she　muttered。　〃What　is　it？〃
　Julia　held　out　the　message　to　Pitt。　〃The　INS　operation　to　apprehend　Qin　Shang　has　been　called　off　by　order　of　the　White　House。　We　are　not　to　molest　or　harass　him　in　any　way。　Any　and　all　treasure　recovered　from　the　Princess　Dou　Wan　is　to　be　turned　over　to　Qin　Shang　as　acting　representative　of　the　Chinese　government。〃
　〃That's　crazy；〃　Pitt　said　wearily；　too　tired　to　display　outrage。　〃The　man　is　a　proven　mass　murderer。　Give　him　the　treasure？　The　President　must　have　a　brain　hemorrhage。〃
　〃I've　never　felt　so　helpless　in　my　life；〃　Julia　said；　furious。　Suddenly；　unpredictably；　Pitt's　lips　spread　in　a　crazy　grin。　〃I　wouldn't　take　it　too　badly　if　I　were　you。　There's　always　a　bright　side。〃
　She　stared　at　him　as　if　he　was　certifiably　insane。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　Where　do　you　see　a　bright　side　in　allowing　that　scum　to　roam　free　and　steal　the　art　masterpieces　for　himself？〃
　〃The　orders　from　the　White　House　definitely　state　that　the　INS　is　not　to　molest　or　harass　Qin　Shang。〃　〃So？〃　〃The　orders；〃　Pitt　said；　still　grinning　but　with　a　hard　edge　to　his　voice；　〃make　no　mention　of　what　NUMA　can　or　cannot　do…〃
　He　broke　off　as　Gunn　ran　excitedly　from　the　control　room　onto　the　bridge　wing。　〃Al　thinks　he's　got　them；〃　the　words　rushed　out。　〃He's　ing　to　the　surface　now　and　wants　to　know　how　you　want　them　handled。〃
　〃Very　carefully；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Tell　him　to　rise　slowly　and　maintain　a　good　grip。　When　he　surfaces；　we'll　lift　the　Sappho　IV　aboard　with　them。〃
　〃Who　is　them？〃　asked　Julia。
　Pitt　gave　her　a　quick　glance　before　he　rushed　down　a　ladder　to　the　submersible　recovery　deck。　〃The　bones　of　Peking　man；　that's　who。〃
　
　Word　quickly　spread　throughout　the　salvage　fleet；　and　the　Ocean　Retriever's　crew　began　assembling　on　the　stern　work　deck。　The　crews　of　the　other　vessels　crowded　their　railings；　watching　the　activity　aboard　the　NUMA　ship。　There　was　a　strange　silence　as　the　turquoise　Sappho　TV　broke　the　surface　and　rolled　slightly　from　the　low　waves　of　the　lake。　Divers　waited　in　the　water　to　attach　the　crane's　cable　hook　to　the　lifting　ring　on　top　of　the　submersible。　Every　eye　was　on　the　large　wire…mesh　basket　between　the　twin　articulated　arms。　Two　wooden　boxes　sat　in　the　basket。　They　all　held　their　breath　as　the　submersible　was　slowly　lifted　from　the　lake。　The　crane　operator　used　great　caution　in　swinging　the　underwater　craft　over　the　stern　before　lowering　it　gently　into　its　cradle。
　
　The　crowd　on　deck　gathered　around　the　sub　as　the　ship's　archaeologist　directed　the　unloading　of　the　crates　on　the　deck。　While　the　archaeologist；　a　blond　lady　in　her　forties　by　the　name　of　Pat　O'Connell；　was　engaged　in　exposing　the　interior　of　the　crates；　Giordino　threw　back　the　hatch　from　inside　the　submersible　and　pushed　his　head　and　shoulders　into　the　open　air。
　〃Where　did　you　find　them？〃　Pitt　shouted　up　at　him。
　〃Using　a　diagram　of　the　deck　plans　I　managed　to　force　entry　into　the　captain's　cabin。〃
　〃The　location　sounds　right；〃　said　Gunn；　peering　through　his　eyeglasse