cc.floodtide-第2节

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　A　second's　pause；　and　then；　〃This　is　the　captain。〃
　〃Sir；　we've　got　a　hell　of　a　crack　in　the　engine　room；　and　it's　getting　worse　by　the　minute。〃
　Hunt　was　stunned。　He　had　hoped　against　hope　that　they　could　make　port　before　the　damage　turned　critical。　〃Are　we　taking　on　water？〃
　〃The　pumps　are　fighting　a　losing　battle。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Gallagher。　Can　you　keep　the　engines　turning　until　we　reach　land？〃
　〃What　time　frame　do　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃Another　hour　should　put　us　in　calmer　waters。〃
　〃Doubtful；〃　said　Gallagher。　〃I　give　her　ten　minutes；　no　more。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Chief；〃　Hunt　said　heavily。　〃You'd　better　leave　the　engine　room　while　you　still　can。〃
　
　Hunt　wearily　replaced　the　receiver；　turned　and　looked　out　the　aft　wheelhouse　windows。　The　ship　had　taken　on　a　noticeable　list　and　was　rolling　heavily。　Two　of　her　boats　had　already　been　smashed　and　swept　overboard。　Making　for　the　nearest　shore　and　running　the　ship　safely　aground　was　now　out　of　the　question。　To　reach　the　smoother　waters；　he　would　have　to　make　a　turn　to　starboard。　The　Princess　would　never　survive　if　she　was　caught　broadside　in　the　maddened　waves。　She　could　easily　be　plunged　into　a　trough　without　any　hope　of　getting　out。　Whatever　the　circumstance；　breaking　up　or　the　ice　building　on　her　superstructure　and　capsizing　her；　the　ship　was　doomed。
　
　His　mind　briefly　traveled　back　sixty　days　in　time　and　ten　thousand　miles　in　distance　to　the　dock　on　the　Yangtze　River　at　Shanghai；　where　the　furnishings　from　the　Princess　Dou　Wan's　staterooms　were　being　stripped　in　preparation　for　her　final　voyage　to　the　scrap　yard　in　Singapore。　The　departure　had　been　interrupted　when　General　Kung　Hui　of　the　Nationalist　Chinese　Army　arrived　on　the　dock　in　a　Packard　limousine　and　ordered　Captain　Hunt　to　converse　with　him　inside　the　car。
　
　〃Please　excuse　my　intrusion；　Captain；　but　I　am　acting　under　the　personal　directive　of　Generalissimo　Chiang　Kai…shek。〃　General　Kung　Hui；　skin　and　hands　as　smooth　and　white　as　a　sheet　of　paper；　sat　fastidious　and　immaculate　in　a　tailored　uniform　that　showed　no　sign　of　a　crease。　He　took　up　the　entire　rear　seat　in　the　passengers'　partment　as　he　spoke；　while　Captain　Hunt　was　forced　to　sit　unfortably　twisted　sideways　on　a　jump　seat。　〃You　are　hearby　ordered　to　place　your　ship　and　crew　in　a　state　of　readiness　for　a　long　voyage。〃
　〃I　believe　there　has　been　a　mistake；〃　said　Hunt。　〃The　Princess　is　not　in　a　state　of　readiness　for　an　extended　cruise。　She　is　about　to　depart　with　barely　enough　men；　fuel　and　supplies　to　make　the　scrap　yard　in　Singapore。〃
　〃You　can　forget　about　Singapore；〃　said　Hui　with　an　airy　wave　of　one　hand。　〃Ample　fuel　and　food　will　be　provided　along　with　twenty　men　from　our　Nationalist　Navy。　Once　your　cargo　is　on　board。。。〃　Hui　paused　to　insert　a　cigarette　in　a　long　holder　and　light　it。　〃。。。　I　should　say　in　about　ten　days；　you　will　be　given　your　sailing　orders。〃
　〃I　must　clear　this　with　my　pany　directors；〃　argued　Hunt。　〃The　directors　of　Canton　Lines　have　been　notified　the　Princess　Dou　Wan　will　be　temporarily　appropriated　by　the　government。〃
　〃They　agreed　to　it？〃
　Hui　nodded。　〃Considering　they　were　generously　offered　payment　in　gold　by　the　generalissimo；　they　were　most　happy　to　cooperate。〃
　〃After　we　reach　our；　or　should　I　say；　your　destination；　what　then？〃
　〃Once　the　cargo　is　safely　delivered　ashore；　you　may　continue　on　to　Singapore。〃
　〃May　I　ask　where　we're　bound　for？〃
　〃You　may　not。〃
　〃And　the　cargo？〃
　〃Secrecy　will　dominate　the　entire　mission。　From　this　minute　on；　you　and　your　crew　will　remain　on　board　your　ship。　No　one　steps　ashore。　You　will　have　no　contact　with　friends　or　family。　My　men　will　guard　the　ship　day　and　night　to　guarantee　strict　security。〃
　〃I　see；〃　said　Hunt；　but　obviously　he　didn't。　He　could　not　recall　seeing　such　shifty　eyes。
　〃As　we　speak；〃　Hui　continued；　〃all　your　munications　equipment　is　being　either　removed　or　destroyed。〃
　
　Hunt　was　stunned。　〃Surely　you　can't　expect　me　to　attempt　a　voyage　at　sea　without　a　radio。　What　if　we　encounter　difficulties　and　have　to　send　out　a　call　for　assistance？〃
　Hui　idly　held　up　his　cigarette　holder　and　studied　it。　〃I　foresee　no　difficulties。〃
　〃You　are　an　optimist；　General；〃　said　Hunt　slowly。　〃The　Princess　is　a　tired　ship　far　beyond　her　prime。　She　is　ill…prepared　to　cope　with　heavy　seas　and　violent　storms。〃
　〃I　cannot　impress　upon　you　the　importance　and　great　rewards　if　this　mission　is　carried　out　successfully。　Generalissimo　Chiang　Kai…shek　will　generously　pensate　you　and　your　crew　in　gold　after　you　successfully　reach　port。〃
　Hunt　stared　out　the　window　of　the　limousine　at　the　rusting　hull　of　his　ship。　〃A　fortune　in　gold　won't　do　me　much　good　when　I'm　lying　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea。〃
　〃Then　we　will　rest　together　for　eternity。〃　General　Hui　smiled　without　humor。　〃I　will　be　ing　along　as　your　passenger。〃
　
　Captain　Hunt　recalled　the　frantic　activity　that　quickly　erupted　around　the　Princess。　Fuel　oil　was　pumped　until　the　tanks　were　filled。　The　ship's　cook　was　astounded　by　the　quality　and　quantity　of　the　food　carried　aboard　and　stored　in　the　galley。　A　constant　stream　of　trucks　soon　began　arriving；　stopping　beneath　the　huge　cranes　on　the　dock。　Their　cargo　of　large　wooden　crates　was　then　lifted　onto　the　ship　and　stowed　in　the　holds；　which　were　soon　filled　to　capacity。
　
　The　stream　of　trucks　seemed　unending。　Crates　small　enough　to　be　carried　by　one　or　two　men　were　stowed　in　the　empty　passenger　cabins；　vacant　passageways　and　every　available　partment　below　decks。　Every　square　foot　of　space　was　crammed　to　the　overhead　decks。　The　final　six　truckloads　were　lashed　down　on　the　promenade　decks　once　strolled　by　the　passengers。　General　Hui　had　been　the　last　to　board；　along　with　a　small　cadre　of　heavily　armed　officers。　His　luggage　consisted　of　ten　steamer　trunks　and　thirty　cases　of　expensive　wines　and　cognacs。
　
　All　for　nothing；　Hunt　thought。　Beaten　in　the　homestretch　by　Mother　Nature。　The　secrecy；　the　intricate　deception；　had　been　for　nothing。　From　the　time　they　left　the　Yangtze；　the　Princess　sailed　silent　and　alone。　Without　munications　equipment；　radio　calls　from　other　passing　ships　went　unanswered。
　
　The　captain　stared　down　at　the　recently　installed　radar；　but　its　sweep　showed　no　other　ship　within　fifty　miles　of　the　Princess。　Unable　to　send　a　distress　signal；　there　could　be　no　rescue。　He　looked　up　as　General　Hui　stepped　unsteadily　into　the　wheel…house；　face　deathly　white；　a　soiled　handkerchief　held　to　his　lips。
　
　〃Seasick；　General？〃　said　Hunt　tauntingly。
　〃This　damned　storm；〃　Hui　murmured。　〃Will　it　never　end？〃
　〃We　were　prophetic；　you　and　I。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Resting　together　on　the　bottom　for　all　eternity。　It　won't　be　long　now。〃
　
　Gallagher　rushed　topside　and　ran；　clutching　the　handrail　for　support　while　sliding　his　hand　along　it　down　the　passageway　to　his　cabin。　He　was　neither　frantic　nor　confused　but　calm　and　posed。　He　knew　exactly　what　he　must　do。　He　always　kept　the　door　locked　because　of　what　was　inside；　but　did　not　waste　time　fumbling　for　the　key。　He　kicked　the　door　open；　smashing　it　against　the　stop。
　
　A　woman　with　long　blond　hair；　wearing　a　silk　robe；　lay　stretched　on　the　bed　reading　a　magazine。　She　looked　up　startled　from　the　sudden　intrusion　as　a　small　dachshund　jumped　to　its　feet　beside　her　and　began　barking。　The　woman's　body　was　long　and　beautifully　proportioned。　Her　plexion　was　smooth　and　flawless　with　high　cheekbones；　her　eyes　the　vivid　blue　of　a　late…morning　sky。　If　she　stood；　the　top　of　her　head　would　have　e　up　to　Gallagher's　chin。　She　swung　her　legs　to　the　deck　gracefully　and　sat　there　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　
　〃e　on；　Katie。〃　His　hand　on　her　wrist；　he　jerked　her　to　her　feet。　〃We've　precious　little　time。〃
　〃Are　we　ing　into　port？〃　she　asked　in　confusion。
　〃No；　darlin'。　The　ship　is　about　to　sink。〃
　
　Her　hand　flew　to　her　mouth。　〃Oh　God！〃　she　gasped。
　
　Gallagher　was　jerking　open　closet　doors；　tearing　out　drawers　and　throwing　clothes　at　her　over　his　shoulders。　〃Put　on　every　piece　of　clothing　you　can　get　into；　every　pair　of　pants　you've　got　and　every　pair　of　my　socks　you　can　slide　over　your　feet。　Dress　in　layers；　thinner　garb　on　the　inside；　heavier　on　the　outside；　and　be　quick　about　it。　This　old　tub　is　heading　for　the　bottom　any　minute。〃
　
　The　woman　looked　as　if　she　was　about　to　protest；　then　silently　and　quickly　threw　off　the　robe　and　began　pulling　on　her　underwear。　She　moved　rapidly　and　purposely；　wiggling　first　into　her　slacks　and　then　Gallagher's　pants。　Five　knit　sweaters　went　on　over　three　blouses。　She　felt　fortunate　indeed　that　she　had　packed　a　full　suitcase　for　her　rendezvous　with　her　fiance。　When　she　could　wear　no　more；　Gallagher　helped　stuff　her　into　one　of　his　working　jumpsuits。　A　pair　of　his　boots　went　over　her　silk　hose　and　several　pairs　of　his　socks。
　
　The　little　dachshund　darted　between　their　legs；　leaping　up　and　down；　ears　flapping　in　excitement。　He　had　been　a　gift　from　Gallagher　along　with　an　emerald　engagement　ring　when　he　had　proposed　marriage。　The　dog　wore　a　red　leather　collar　with　a　gold　dragon　charm　that　swung　wildly　across　his　little　chest。
　
　〃Fritz！〃　she　scolded　him。　〃Lie　on　the　bed　and　be　still。〃
　
　Katrina　Garin　was　a　strong…minded　woman　w