cc.floodtide-第36节

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　〃You'll　get　used　to　it；〃　Cabrillo　said　tolerantly。
　〃If　I　recall　my　California　history；〃　said　Pitt；　〃you　discovered　California　in　the　early　fifteen　hundreds。〃
　
　Cabrillo　laughed。　〃My　father　always　claimed　Cabrillo　the　explorer　as　an　ancestor；　but　I've　had　my　doubts。　My　grandparents　walked　across　the　border　at　Nogales　from　Sonora；　Mexico；　in　nineteen　thirty…one　and　became　American　citizens　five　years　later。　In　honor　of　my　birth　they　insisted　my　mother　and　father　name　me　after　a　famous　historical　figure　in　California。〃
　〃I　believe　we've　met　before；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Like　about　twenty　minutes　ago；〃　added　Giordino。　〃Your　imitation　of　a　waterfront　derelict；　Chairman　Cabrillo；　alias　Mr。　Smith；　was　very　professional。〃
　Cabrillo　laughed　merrily。　〃You　gentlemen　are　the　first　to　see　through　my　disguise　as　a　rum…soaked　barnacle。〃　Unlike　his　staged　character；　Cabrillo　was　well…built　and　slightly　on　the　thin　side。　The　hook　nose　was　gone；　along　with　the　tattoos　and　the　overstuffed　belly。
　〃I　must　admit；　you　had　me　fooled　until　I　saw　the　van。〃　〃Yes；　our　shore　transportation　is　not　quite　what　it　appears。〃　〃This　ship；〃　said　Pitt；　〃your　playacting；　the　facade；　what's　it　all　about？〃
　Cabrillo　gestured　for　them　to　sit　in　a　leather　sofa。　He　walked　over　to　a　teak　bar。　〃A　glass　of　wine？〃　〃Yes；　thank　you。〃　〃I'd　prefer　a　beer；〃　said　Giordino。　Cabrillo　poured　and　held　out　a　mug　to　Giordino。　〃A　Philippine　San　Miguel。〃　Then　a　wineglass　to　Pitt。　〃Wattle　Creek　Chardonnay　from　Alexander　Valley；　California。〃
　〃You　have　excellent　taste；〃　Pitt　plimented　Cabrillo。　〃I　have　the　feeling　it　extends　to　your　kitchen。〃
　Cabrillo　smiled。　〃I　pirated　my　chef　from　a　very　exclusive　restaurant　in　Brussels；　Belgium。　I　might　also　add　that　should　you　get　heartburn　or　indigestion　from　overindulging；　we　have　an　excellent　hospital　staffed　by　a　top　surgeon　who　doubles　as　a　dentist。〃
　〃I'm　curious；　Mr。　Cabrillo；　what　sort　of　trade　is　the　Oregon　engaged　in；　and　who　exactly　do　you　work　for？〃
　〃This　ship　is　a　state…of…the…art　intelligence…gathering　vessel；〃　Cabrillo　replied　without　hesitation。　〃We　go　where　no　U。S。　Navy　warship　can　go；　enter　ports　closed　to　most　mercial　shipping　and　transport　highly　secret　cargo　without　arousing　suspicion。　We　work　for　any　United　States　government　agency　that　requires　our　unique　array　of　services。〃
　〃Then　you're　not　under　the　CIA。〃
　Cabrillo　shook　his　head。　〃Although　we're　staffed　by　a　few　ex…intelligence　agents；　the　Oregon　is　operated　by　an　elite　crew　of　former　naval　men　and　naval　officers；　all　of　whom　are　retired。〃
　〃I　couldn't　tell　in　the　dark。　What　flag　do　you　fly？〃
　〃Iran；〃　replied　Cabrillo　with　a　faint　smile。　〃The　last　country　any　port　authority　would　identify　with　the　United　States。〃
　〃Am　I　correct　in　assuming；〃　said　Pitt；　〃you're　all　mercenaries？〃
　〃I　can　honestly　say　we're　in　business　to　make　a　profit；　yes。　By　performing　a　variety　of　clandestine　services　for　our　country；　we　are　paid　extremely　well。〃
　〃Who　owns　the　ship？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃Everyone　on　board　is　a　stockholder　in　the　corporation；〃　answered　Cabrillo。　〃Some　of　us　own　more　stock　than　others；　but　there　isn't　a　single　crew　member　who　hasn't　at　least　five　million　dollars　stashed　away　in　foreign　investments。〃
　〃Does　the　IRS　know　about　you？〃
　〃The　government　has　a　secret　fund　for　operations　like　ours；〃　Cabrillo　explained。　〃We　have　an　arrangement　whereby　they　pay　our　fees　through　a　network　of　banks　in　countries　that　do　not　open　their　records　to　IRS　auditors。〃
　Pitt　took　a　sip　of　his　wine。　〃A　sweet　setup。〃
　〃But　one　that　isn't　unknown　to　peril　and　occasional　disaster。　The　Oregon　is　our　third　ship。　The　others　were　destroyed　by　unfriendly　forces。　I　might　add　that　over　thirteen　years　we've　been　in　operation；　we've　lost　no　fewer　than　twenty　men。〃
　〃Foreign　agents　caught　on　to　you？〃
　〃No；　we've　yet　to　be　unmasked。　There　were　other　circumstances。〃　Whatever　they　were；　Cabrillo　didn't　explain　them。
　〃Who　authorized　this　trip？〃　inquired　Giordino。
　〃Between　you　and　me　and　the　nearest　porthole；　our　sailing　orders　came　from　within　the　White　House。〃
　〃That's　about　as　high　as　you　can　go。〃
　Pitt　looked　at　the　captain。　〃Do　you　think　you　can　put　us　reasonably　close　to　the　United　States？　We　have　a　couple　of　acres　of　hull　to　inspect；　and　our　time　underwater　is　limited　due　to　the　Sea　Dog　IFs　battery　power。　If　you　have　to　moor　the　Oregon　a　mile　or　more　away；　just　getting　to　the　liner　and　back　will　cut　our　downtime　considerably。〃
　Cabrillo　stared　back　at　him　confidently。　〃I'll　put　you　near　enough　to　fly　a　kite　over　her　funnels。〃　Then　he　poured　himself　another　glass　of　the　chardonnay　and　held　it　up。　〃To　a　very　successful　voyage。〃
　
　
　PlTT　WENT　OUT　ON　DECK　AND　LOOKED　UP　AT　THE　MAST　LIGHT　as　it　swayed　back　and　forth　across　the　Milky　Way。　He　planted　his　arms　on　the　railing　and　gazed　across　the　water　at　the　island　of　Corregidor　as　the　Oregon　sailed　out　of　Manila　Bay。　The　indefinable　black　mass　rose　from　the　night；　guarding　the　entrance　to　the　bay　in　tomblike　silence。　A　few　lights　glimmered　on　the　interior　of　the　island　along　with　red　warning　lights　on　a　transmitter　tower。　It　was　difficult　for　Pitt　to　imagine　the　onslaught　of　death　and　destruction　that　inundated　the　rocky　outcropping　during　the　war　years。　The　number　of　men　who　died　there；　Americans　in　1942；　Japanese　in　1945；　numbered　in　the　thousands。　A　small　village　of　huts　sat　near　the　decaying　dock　from　which　General　Douglas　MacArthur　had　boarded　mander　Buckley's　torpedo　boat　for　the　initial　stage　of　his　journey　to　Australia　and　later　return。
　
　Pitt　smelled　the　pungent　odor　of　cigar　smoke　and　turned　as　a　crewman　moved　beside　him　at　the　railing。　Under　the　running　lights；　Pitt　could　see　a　man　who　was　in　his　late　fifties。　He　recognized　Max　Hanley；　who　had　been　introduced　earlier；　not　as　the　chief　engineer　or　first　officer；　but　as　the　corporate　vice　president　in　charge　of　operational　systems。
　
　Once　safely　out　to　sea；　Hanley；　like　the　rest　of　the　dedicated　crew　members；　transformed　himself　into　a　different　person　by　donning　fortably　casual　clothes　better　suited　for　a　golf　course。　He　wore　sneakers　and　was　dressed　in　white　shorts　and　a　maroon　polo　shirt。　He　held　a　cup　of　coffee　in　one　hand。　His　skin　was　reddened　with　no　trace　of　tan；　the　brown　eyes　alert；　a　bulbous　nose　and　only　a　wisp　of　auburn　hair　splayed　across　his　head。
　
　〃A　lot　of　history　on　that　old　rock；〃　said　Hanley。　〃I　always　e　topside　when　we　slip　past　her。〃
　〃She's　pretty　quiet　now；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃My　father　died　over　there　in　'forty…two　when　the　big　gun　he　was　manning　took　a　direct　hit　from　a　Japanese　bomber。〃
　　〃A　lot　of　good　men　died　with　him。〃
　　〃That　they　did。〃　Hanley　looked　into　Pitt's　eyes。　〃I'll　be　directing　the　descent　into　the　water　and　retrieval　of　your　submersible。　Anything　me　or　my　engineers　can　help　you　with　in　regard　to　your　equipment　and　electronics；　you　just　holler。
There　is　something。
Name　it。〃
　〃Could　your　crew　do　a　quick　repaint　of　the　Sea　Dog　II？　The　NUMA　turquoise　trademark　color　is　highly　visible　in　shallow　water　from　the　surface。〃
　〃What　color　would　you　like？〃　asked　Hanley。　〃A　medium　green；〃　explained　Pitt；　〃a　shade　that　blends　with　the　water　in　the　harbor。〃
　〃I'll　get　my　boys　on　it　first　thing。〃　Hanley　turned　and　leaned　against　the　rail　with　his　back；　staring　up　at　the　wisp　of　smoke　drifting　from　the　ship's　funnel。　〃Seems　to　me　it　might　have　been　a　whole　lot　simpler　to　use　one　of　them　underwater　robotic　vehicles。〃
　〃Or　an　autonomous　underwater　vehicle；〃　said　Pitt；　smiling。　〃Neither　would　prove　as　efficient　as　a　manned　submersible　for　inspecting　the　bottom　of　a　hull　the　size　of　the　United　States。　The　sub's　manipulator　arm　may　also　prove　useful。　There　are　certain　projects　where　human　eyesight　is　advantageous　over　video　cameras。　This　happens　to　be　one　of　them。〃
　Hanley　read　the　dial　of　an　old　pocket　watch　whose　chain　was　hooked　to　a　belt　loop。　〃Time　to　program　the　engine　and　navigation　systems。　Now　that　we've　reached　open　water；　the　chairman　will　want　to　triple　our　speed。〃
　〃We　must　be　doing　close　to　nine　or　ten　knots　now；〃　said　Pitt；　his　curiosity　piqued。
　〃Strictly　a　performance；〃　Hanley　said　candidly。　〃Whenever　the　old　Oregon　is　in　sight　of　prying　eyes　around　the　harbor　or　other　ships　that　pass　at　sea；　we　like　to　make　her　look　as　if　her　antique　engines　and　screws　are　straining　to　make　headway。　Which　is　the　way　she　should　appear　for　an　old　tub。　In　truth；　she's　been　modified　with　two　screws　turned　by　twin　diesel　turbine　engines　that　can　push　her　past　forty　knots。〃
　〃But　with　a　full　load　of　cargo；　your　hull　is　riding　low　in　the　water　and　causing　a　heavy　drag。〃
　Hanley　tilted　his　head　toward　the　cargo　hatches　and　the　wooden　crates　tied　to　the　deck。　〃All　empty。　We　ride　low　because　we　fill　specially　installed　ballast　tanks　to　give　the　appearance　of　a　heavily　laden　ship。　Once　they're　pumped　out；　she'll　rise　six　feet　and　take　off　four　times　faster　than　when　she　was　built。〃
　〃A　fox　in　disguise。〃
　〃With　the　teeth　to　match。　Ask　Chairman　Cabrillo　to　show　you　how　we　bite　back　if　we're　attacked。〃
　〃I'll　do　that。〃
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Hanley。〃
　
　Ten　minutes　later　Pitt　felt　the　ship　e　to　life　as　the　vibrations　from　the　engines　increased　dramatically。　The　wake　turned　from　a