cc.floodtide-第35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！


oat　was　a　concert　in　black…black　pants；　black　T…shirt　and　black　stocking　cap　pulled　down　over　the　ears　despite　the　tropical　heat　and　humidity。
　
　The　launch　eased　away　from　the　wooden　pilings　and　turned　her　bow　toward　a　ship　that　lay　anchored　about　two…thirds　of　a　mile　from　the　terminal。　Around　her　were　the　lights　from　other　ships　waiting　for　their　turn　to　load　or　unload　cargo　under　the　great　cranes。　The　atmosphere　was　as　clear　as　cut　glass；　and　far　across　Manila　Bay　the　colored　lights　of　fishing　boats　sparkled　like　gemstones　against　the　black　sky。
　
　The　shape　of　the　ship　began　to　rise　in　the　night；　and　Pitt　could　see　that　she　was　not　the　typical　tramp　steamer　that　plowed　the　South　Seas　from　island　to　island。　He　correctly　identified　her　as　a　Pacific　Coast　lumber　hauler　with　clean；　unencumbered　holds　and　no　amidships　superstructure。　Her　engine　room　was　in　the　stern　below　the　crew's　quarters。　A　single　stack　rose　just　aft　of　the　wheelhouse　and　behind　it；　a　tall　mast。　A　second；　smaller　mast　rose　from　the　forecastle　on　the　bow。　Pitt　guessed　her　at　somewhere　between　four　and　five　thousand　tons　with　a　length　of　just　under　three　hundred　feet　and　a　forty…five…foot　beam。　A　vessel　her　size　could　have　carried　nearly　three　million　board　feet　of　lumber。　Her　time　had　long　e　and　gone。　Her　sister　ships；　which　had　carried　the　product　of　saw　mills；　had　settled　into　the　silt　of　the　boneyard　almost　fifty　years　earlier；　having　been　replaced　by　more　modern　towboats　and　barges。
　
　〃What's　her　name？〃　Pitt　asked　Smith。
　〃The　Oregon。〃
　〃I　imagine　she　carried　a　goodly　amount　of　lumber　in　her　day。〃
　Smith　looked　at　Pitt　across　the　launch；　inspecting　him　closely。　〃How　could　a　pretty　boy　like　you　know　that？〃
　〃When　my　father　was　a　young　man；　he　crewed　on　a　lumber　ship。　He　made　ten　runs　between　San　Diego　and　Portland　before　finishing　college。　He　has　a　picture　of　the　ship　on　his　office　wall。〃
　〃The　Oregon　sailed　from　Vancouver　to　San　Francisco　for　close　to　twenty…five　years　before　she　was　retired。〃
　〃I　wonder　when　she　was　built。〃
　〃Long　before　you　or　I　were　born；〃　said　Smith。
　The　helmsman　swung　the　launch　alongside　the　hull；　once　painted　a　dark　orange　but　now　discolored　by　rust；　as　revealed　by　the　running　lights　on　the　masts　and　the　glow　from　the　starboard　navigation　light。　There　was　no　gangway；　only　a　rope　boarding　ladder　with　wood　rungs。
　
　〃After　you；　pretty　boy；〃　said　Smith；　gesturing　topside。
　
　Pitt　went　first；　trailed　by　Giordino。　On　the　way　up；　Pitt　wiped　his　fingers　across　a　large　scale　of　rust。　The　patch　felt　smooth；　and　no　smudge　dirtied　his　fingertips。　The　hatches　on　the　deck　were　closed　and　the　cargo　booms　sloppily　stowed。　Several　large　wooden　crates　stacked　on　the　deck　looked　like　they　had　been　secured　by　untrained　chimpanzees。　To　all　appearances　the　crew　ran　what　was　often　called　〃a　loose　ship。〃　None　of　them　were　seen；　and　the　decks　seemed　deserted。　The　only　indication　of　life　was　a　radio　playing　a　Strauss　waltz。　The　music　was　inconsistent　with　the　ship's　overall　appearance。　Pitt　thought　an　ode　to　a　trash　dump　would　have　been　more　appropriate。　He　saw　no　sign　of　the　Sea　Dog　II。　〃Did　our　submersible　arrive？〃　Pitt　asked　Smith。　〃She's　stowed　in　that　large　crate　just　behind　the　forecastle。〃　〃Which　way　to　the　captain's　cabin？〃　The　mangy　escort　lifted　a　plate　in　the　deck　that　revealed　a　ladder　leading　into　what　seemed　a　cargo　partment。　〃You'll　find　him　down　there。〃
　
　〃Ship　captains　aren't　generally　quartered　in　concealed　partments。〃　Pitt　looked　up　at　the　superstructure　on　the　stern。　〃On　any　ship　I've　known　the　captain's　cabin　is　below　the　wheelhouse。〃
　
　〃Down　there；　pretty　boy；〃　Smith　repeated。　〃What　in　hell　has　Sandecker　gotten　us　into；〃　murmured　Giordino　suspiciously　as　he　turned　his　back　to　Pitt's　and　instinctively　went　into　a　fighting　crouch。
　
　Calmly；　as　if　it　was　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world；　Pitt　laid　his　tote　bag　on　the　deck；　unzipped　a　pocket　and　retrieved　his　old　。45　Colt。　Before　Smith　knew　what　was　happening　the　muzzle　was　jammed　under　his　chin。　〃Forgive　me　for　not　mentioning　it；　but　I　blew　the　head　off　the　last　jerk　who　called　me　pretty　boy。〃
　
　〃Okay；　pal；〃　Smith　said　without　a　hint　of　fear。　〃I　recognize　a　gun　when　I　see　one。　Not　one　in　mint　condition；　but　obviously　well　used。　Please　point　it　somewhere　else。　You　wouldn't　want　to　get　hurt　now；　would　you？〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　it's　me　who's　going　to　get　hurt；〃　Pitt　said　conversationally。
　〃You　might　be　wise　to　look　around　you。〃
　
　It　was　the　oldest　trick　in　the　book；　but　Pitt　had　nothing　to　lose。　He　glanced　around　the　deck　as　men　stepped　out　of　the　shadows。　Not　two　men；　nor　four；　but　six　men　every　bit　as　disreputable　as　Smith；　each　holding　automatic　weapons　pointed　at　Pitt　and　Giordino。　Big；　silent　men　dressed　as　mangily　as　Smith。
　
　Pitt　pulled　back　the　hammer　and　pressed　the　Colt　another　quarter　inch　into　the　flesh　under　Smith's　chin。　〃Would　it　matter　if　I　said；　if　I　go；　you　go　with　me？〃
　〃And　allow　your　friend　to　be　killed　too？〃　said　Smith　with　an　ungodly　grin。　〃From　what　little　I　know　about　you；　Pitt；　you're　not　that　dumb。〃
　〃Just　what　do　you　know　about　me？〃　〃Put　the　gun　away；　and　we'll　talk。〃　〃I　can　hear　you　perfectly　well　from　where　I　stand。〃　〃Relax；　boys；〃　said　Smith　to　his　men。　〃We　must　show　a　little　class　and　treat　our　guests　with　respect。〃
　Incredibly；　the　crew　of　the　Oregon　lowered　their　guns　and　began　laughing。　〃Serves　you　right；　skipper；〃　one　of　them　said。　〃You　said　they　were　probably　a　couple　nerds　from　NUMA　who　drank　milk　and　ate　broccoli。〃
　Giordino　smoothly　joined　the　act。　〃You　guys　got　any　beer　on　this　tub？〃
　〃Ten　different　brands；〃　said　a　crewman；　slapping　him　on　the　back。　〃Glad　to　have　passengers　with　a　little　guts　on　board。〃
　Pitt　lowered　the　gun　and　eased　the　hammer　back　in　the　safety　position。　〃I　get　the　feeling　we've　been　had。〃
　〃Sorry　to　inconvenience　you；〃　said　Smith　heartily；　〃but　we　can't　let　our　guard　down　for　even　a　moment。〃　He　turned　to　his　men　and　issued　an　order。　〃Weigh　anchor；　boys；　and　get　under　way　for　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Admiral　Sandecker　said　this　was　a　singularly　unmon　ship；〃　said　Pitt；　replacing　the　automatic　in　his　tote　bag。　〃But　he　didn't　say　anything　about　the　crew。〃
　
　〃If　we　can　dispense　with　the　theatrics；〃　said　Smith；　〃I'll　show　you　below。〃　He　dropped　down　the　ladder　through　the　narrow　hatch　and　disappeared。　Pitt　and　Giordino　followed；　finding　themselves　in　a　brightly　lit；　carpeted　hallway　whose　walls　were　painted　in　pastel　colors。　Smith　opened　a　smoothly　varnished　door　and　nodded　inside。　〃You　can　share　this　cabin。　Stow　your　gear；　get　fortable；　use　the　head　and　then　I'll　introduce　you　to　the　captain。　You'll　find　his　cabin　behind　the　fourth　door　on　the　port　side　aft。〃
　
　Pitt　stepped　inside　and　switched　on　the　light。　This　was　no　Spartan　cabin　on　a　decrepit　freighter。　It　was　every　bit　as　swank　as　any　stateroom　on　a　luxury　cruise　ship。　Ornately　decorated　leading　to　a　private　veranda。　The　only　suggestion　of　the　outside　world　was　a　porthole　painted　black。　〃What；〃　exclaimed　Giordino；　〃no　bowl　of　fruit？〃
　Pitt　stared　around　the　cabin　in　fascination。　〃I　wonder　if　we　have　to　dress　formal　when　we　dine　with　the　captain。〃
　They　heard　the　anchor　chain　rattle　up　out　of　the　water　and　felt　the　engines　begin　to　throb　through　the　deck　under　their　feet　as　the　Oregon　began　beating　her　way　across　Manila　Bay　toward　her　destination　in　Hong　Kong。　A　few　minutes　later　they　knocked　on　the　door　to　the　captain's　cabin。　A　voice　on　the　other　side　responded。　〃Please　e　in。〃
　If　their　cabin　resembled　a　deluxe　stateroom；　this　one　would　have　easily　rated　as　the　penthouse　suite。　It　resembled　a　decorator　showroom　on　Rodeo　Drive　in　Beverly　Hills。　The　furniture　was　expensive　yet　tasteful。　The　walls；　or　bulkheads　in　nautical　terms；　were　either　richly　paneled　or　covered　by　curtains。　The　carpet　was　thick　and　plush。　Two　of　the　paneled　walls　were　covered　by　original　oil　paintings。　Pitt　walked　up　to　one　and　studied　it。　The　painting　inside　an　ornate　frame　was　a　seascape　depicting　a　black　man　lying　on　the　deck　of　a　small；　demasted　sloop　with　a　school　of　sharks　swimming　around　its　hull。
　〃Winslow　Homer's　Gulf　Stream；〃　said　Pitt。　〃I　thought　it　was　hanging　in　a　New　York　museum。〃
　〃The　original　is；〃　said　a　man　standing　beside　a　large　antique　rolltop　desk。　〃What　you　see　are　forgeries。　In　my　line　of　business　no　insurance　pany　would　insure　the　real　thing。〃　A　handsome　man　in　his　mid…forties　with　blue　eyes　and　blond　hair　in　a　crewcut　stepped　forward　and　stuck　out　a　manicured　hand。　〃Chairman　Juan　Rodriguez　Cabrillo；　at　your　service。〃　He　pronounced　Cabrillo　as　Ka…bree…yo。
　〃Chairman；　like　in　chairman　of　the　board？〃
　〃A　departure　from　maritime　tradition；〃　Cabrillo　explained。　〃This　ship　is　run　like　a　business；　a　corporation　if　you　will。　The　personnel　prefer　to　be　assigned　corporate　titles。〃
　〃That's　a　twist；〃　Giordino　said　equably。　〃Don't　tell　me；　I'm　keen　to　guess。　Your　first　officer　is　president。〃
　Cabrillo　shook　his　head。　〃No；　my　chief　engineer　is　president。　My　first　officer　is　executive　vice　president。〃
　Giordino　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃This　is　the　first　I've　heard　the　Kingdom　of　Oz　owns　a　ship。〃
　〃You'll　get　used　to　it；〃　Cabrillo　said　tolerantly。
　〃If　I　recall　my　California　history；〃　said　Pitt；　〃you