cc.floodtide-第116节

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　After　Sandecker；　Monroe　and　Harper　departed　through　the　tunnel　back　to　the　White　House；　Wallace　told　his　chief　of　staff　he　wanted　a　few　moments　alone。　He　sat　there　lost　in　his　thoughts；　wondering　how　history　would　treat　him。　If　only　he　was　clairvoyant　and　could　read　the　future。　No　doubt　a　talent　every　president　since　Washington　wished　he'd　possessed。　Finally　he　sighed　and　called　in　Pecorelli。
　〃Who　am　I　scheduled　to　see　now？〃
　〃Your　speech　writers　would　like　a　few　minutes　of　your　time　to　put　the　finishing　touches　on　your　speech　to　the　Hispanic　American　College　Association。〃
　〃Yes；　that　is　an　important　speech；〃　said　the　President；　his　thoughts　ing　back　on　line。　〃It's　an　excellent　opportunity　to　announce　my　new　plan　for　a　cultural…arts　agency。〃
　It　was　business　as　usual　in　the　executive　office。
　How　nice　to　see　you　again；〃　said　Katie；　standing　in　the　open　front　door。　〃Please　e　in。　lan　is　out　on　the　porch；　reading　his　morning　newspaper。〃
　〃We　can't　stay　long；〃　said　Julia　as　she　passed　into　the　entry　way。　〃Dirk　and　I　have　to　be　on　a　plane　back　to　Washington　by　noon。〃
　Pitt　followed　the　two　women　into　the　house。　He　carried　a　small　wooden　box　under　one　arm。　They　passed　into　the　kitchen　and　out　onto　the　porch　overlooking　the　lake。　There　was　a　brisk　breeze　and　a　good　chop　on　the　waves。　A　sailboat　was　running　with　the　wind　about　a　mile　offshore。　Gallagher　rose　to　his　feet；　his　newspaper　in　one　hand。
　〃Dirk；　Julia；　thank　you　for　stopping　by；〃　he　boomed。
　〃Let　me　bring　you　some　tea；〃　said　Katie。
　Pitt　would　have　preferred　coffee　this　early　in　the　morning；　but　he　simply　smiled　and　said；　〃I'd　love　some。〃
　〃I　hope　you've　e　to　tell　us　about　the　salvage　project；〃　said　Gallagher。
　Pitt　nodded。　〃The　very　purpose　of　our　visit。〃
　Gallagher　motioned　for　them　to　sit　around　a　picnic　table　set　up　on　the　porch。　〃Take　a　load　off　your　feet。〃
　As　they　gathered　around　the　table；　Pitt　placed　the　box　at　his　feet。　After　Katie　returned　with　a　pot　of　tea；　Pitt　and　Julia　talked　about　the　salvage　project　and　described　some　of　the　art　treasures　they　had　actually　seen　because　of　broken　packing　crates。　Their　only　omission　was　any　reference　to　Qin　Shang；　whom　lan　and　Katie　were　not　aware　of　anyway。　Pitt　told　of　Giordino's　discovery　of　the　bones　of　Peking　man。
　〃Peking　man；〃　Katie　repeated　slowly。　〃The　Chinese　people　revere　him　as　an　honored　ancestor。〃
　〃Are　we　keeping　any　of　the　treasure？〃　asked　Gallagher。
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I've　been　told　that　President　Wallace　intends　on　turning　the　entire　treasure　over　to　the　Chinese　people　after　it　has　gone　on　exhibit　around　the　United　States。　Peking　man's　bones　are　already　on　their　way　home。〃
　〃Just　think；　lan；〃　said　Katie；　gazing　fondly　at　her　husband；　〃it　might　have　been　all　ours。〃
　Gallagher　patted　her　on　one　knee　and　gave　a　hearty　laugh。　〃Where　would　we　have　put　it？　We've　got　enough　Chinese　junk　sitting　around　the　house　to　start　a　museum　as　it　is。〃
　Katie　rolled　her　eyes　and　gave　Gallagher　a　hard　slap　on　the　shoulder。　〃You　big　mick；　you　love　those　objects　as　much　as　I　do。〃　She　turned　to　Julia。　〃You　have　to　excuse　lan。　Once　a　roughneck　always　a　roughneck。〃
　〃We　really　should　be　moving　along；〃　said　Julia；　reluctant　to　leave。
　Pitt　leaned　down；　picked　up　the　box　from　the　floor　and　presented　it　to　Katie。　〃A　gift　from　the　Princess　Dou　Wan　that　I　thought　you　should　have。〃
　〃I　hope　it's　not　a　piece　of　the　treasure；〃　she　said；　surprised。　〃That　would　be　stealing。〃
　〃Oh；　but　it　belongs　to　you；〃　Julia　assured　her。
　Katie　slowly；　somewhat　apprehensively；　opened　the　lid　on　the　box。　〃I　don't　understand；〃　she　said；　bewildered。　〃It　looks　like　the　bones　of　some　kind　of　animal。〃　Then　she　saw　the　little　golden　dragon　that　was　attached　to　a　faded　red　leather　collar；　〃lan！　lan！〃　she　cried　in　sudden　prehension。　〃Look；　they've　brought　me　Fritz。〃
　〃He's　e　back　to　his　mistress；〃　said　Gallagher；　his　eyes　beginning　to　mist。
　Tears　instantly　formed　in　Katie's　eyes　as　she　came　around　the　table　and　embraced　Pitt。　〃Thank　you；　thank　you。　You　don't　know　how　much　this　means　to　me。〃
　〃If　he　didn't；〃　said　Julia；　gazing　at　Pitt　tenderly；　〃he　does　now。〃
　Gallagher　put　an　arm　around　his　wife's　shoulders。　〃I'll　bury　him　with　the　others。〃　He　looked　at　Pitt　and　Julia。　〃We　have　a　little　cemetery　that　holds　the　pets　we've　owned　over　the　years　who've　died。〃
　As　they　drove　away；　lan　〃Hong　Kong〃　Gallagher　stood　next　to　Katie；　who　smiled　and　smiled　and　smiled　as　she　waved　goodbye。　Pitt　found　himself　envying　the　big　Irishman。　Gallagher　had　been　right；　he　had　found　riches　without　salvaging　the　Princess　Dou　Wan's　treasure。
　〃They're　a　wonderful　couple；〃　said　Julia；　waving　back。
　〃It　must　be　nice　to　grow　old　with　someone　you　love。〃
　Julia　stared　at　Pitt；　her　eyes　narrowing　in　wonder。　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　a　sentimental　guy。〃
　〃I　have　my　dark　moments；〃　he　answered；　smiling。
　She　sat　back　in　the　seat　and　stared　out　the　windshield　at　the　passing　trees　pensively。　〃I　wish　we　could　keep　right　on　going　and　not　fly　back　to　Washington。〃
　〃What's　to　stop　us？〃
　〃Are　you　mad？　I　have　my　job　at　INS。　You　have　yours　at　NUMA。　Our　superiors　are　waiting　for　lengthy　reports　on　the　treasure　recovery　and　all　the　other　harrowing　experiences　we've　had　cutting　the　flow　of　illegal　immigrants。　They'll　keep　us　so　busy　for　the　next　few　weeks；　we'll　be　lucky　if　we　get　to　see　each　other　for　a　few　hours　on　Sundays。　And　Lord　only　knows　what　the　Justice　Department　will　do　to　you　when　they　learn　you　entombed　Qin　Shang　on　the　wreck　of　the　Princess　Dou　Wan。〃
　Pitt　said　nothing。　He　took　one　hand　off　the　wheel；　reached　in　the　inside　pocket　of　his　jacket　and　passed　two　envelopes　to　Julia。
　〃What's　this？〃　she　asked。
　〃Two　airline　tickets　to　Mexico。　I　forgot　to　tell　you；　we're　not　going　back　to　Washington。〃
　Her　mouth　dropped　open。　〃You　get　crazier　by　the　minute。〃
　〃Sometimes　I　scare　myself。〃　Then　he　grinned。　〃Don't　worry　your　little　head。　I　cleared　it　with　both　missioner　Monroe　and　Admiral　Sandecker。　We　have　their　blessings　for　a　ten…day　vacation。　They　admitted　it　was　the　least　they　could　do。　The　reports　can　wait。　The　federal　government　isn't　going　anywhere。〃
　〃But　1　didn't　bring　any　proper　clothes。〃
　〃I'll　buy　you　an　entire　new　wardrobe。〃
　〃But　where　are　we　going　in　Mexico？〃　she　asked；　suddenly　being　excited。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　
　〃We；〃　he　said　with　emphasis；　〃are　going　to　lie　on　the　beach　at　Mazatlan；　drink　margaritas　and　watch　the　sunset　over　the　Sea　of　Cortez。〃
　〃I　think　I'm　going　to　love　that；〃　she　said；　nestling　against　him。　He　looked　down　and　smiled。　〃Somehow；　I　thought　you　would。〃
　
　
　
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