cc.floodtide-第54节

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　〃The　White　House　and　Immigration　Service　suspect　the　chief　purpose　behind　the　building　of　Sungari　is　for　a　dispersal　point　for　smuggling　illegal　immigrants；　drugs　and　illegal　weapons。〃
　Montaigne　shrugged。　〃So　I　was　told。　But　why　sink　tons　of　money　into　a　facility　capable　of　handling　millions　of　tons　of　ship　cargoes　and　then　use　it　only　to　smuggle　illicit　contraband？　I　fail　to　see　the　logic。〃
　〃There　is　big　money　in　alien　smuggling　alone；〃　said　Gunn。　〃One　thousand　illegals　brought　in　on　one　boat　and　ferried　across　the　country　at　thirty　thousand　dollars　a　head；　and　you're　talking　real　money。〃
　〃Ah〃　right；　if　Sungari　is　a　front　for　immigrant　smuggling；〃　said　Montaigne；　〃I'd　be　interested　in　knowing　how　Qin　Shang　is　going　to　get　the　immigrants　and　goods　from　point　A　to　point　B　without　some　sort　of　underground　transportation　system。　U。S。　Customs　and　Immigration　b　every　ship　docking　at　Sungari。　All　barge　traffic　inland　is　carefully　monitored。　It　would　be　impossible　for　undocumented　aliens　to　slip　through　their　fingers。〃
　〃The　reason　NUMA　is　here。〃　Gunn　picked　up　a　metal　pointer　and　tapped　the　point　inside　the　image　of　the　Atchafa…laya　River　that　divided　Sungari　East　from　Sungari　West。　〃Because　there　is　no　way　for　him　to　send　human　and　drug　cargo　over　land　and　water；　he　must　be　shipping　them　under　the　surface。〃
　Montaigne　sat　erect　and　stared　at　Gunn　through　skeptical　eyes。　〃By　submarine？〃
　〃Submarines　capable　of　carrying　large　numbers　of　passengers　and　cargo　are　a　possibility　we　can't　ignore。〃
　〃Forgive　me　for　saying　so；　but　there　is　no　way　in　hell　you　can　get　a　submarine　up　the　Atchafalaya　River。　The　shoals　and　bends　are　a　nightmare　for　experienced　river　pilots。　Navigating　below　the　surface　upriver　against　the　current　is　unthinkable。〃
　〃Then　perhaps　Shang's　engineers　have　carved　out　hidden　underwater…passage　systems　that　we're　not　aware　of。〃
　Montaigne　gave　a　negative　shake　of　his　head。　〃No　way　they　could　have　excavated　a　tunnel　network　without　discovery。　Government　building　experts　scrutinized　every　square　inch　of　the　site　during　construction　to　make　sure　the　approved　plans　were　followed　to　the　letter。　Qin　Shang's　contractors　were　incredibly　cooperative　and　either　plied　with　our　criticisms　or　took　as　gospel　any　and　all　suggested　changes　without　argument。　In　the　end　it　was　almost　as　if　we　had　all　been　in　on　the　design　stage。　If　Qin　Shang　dug　a　tunnel　under　the　noses　of　men　and　women　whom　I　consider　the　best　engineering　and　structural　inspectors　in　the　South；　he　could　get　himself　elected　Pope。〃
　Gunn　held　up　a　pitcher　and　a　glass。　〃Can　I　interest　you　in　a　glass　of　iced　tea？〃
　〃You　wouldn't　happen　to　have　a　bottle　of　bourbon　lying　about？〃
　Gunn　smiled。　〃Admiral　Sandecker　follows　Navy　tradition　and　has　a　rule　against　alcohol　on　board　NUMA　research　vessels。　However；　in　honor　of　your　presence；　I　do　believe　a　bottle　of　Jack　Daniels'　Black　Label　whiskey　somehow　slipped　on　board。〃
　〃You；　sir；　are　a　saint；〃　said　Montaigne；　his　eyes　gleaming　in　anticipation。
　Gunn　poured　a　glass。　〃Ice？〃
　〃Never！〃　Montaigne　held　up　the　glass　and　studied　the　amber　contents；　then　sniffed　the　aroma　as　if　pondering　a　fine　wine　before　sipping　it。　〃Because　nothing　suspicious　was　observed　above　ground；　I　was　told　at　my　briefing　that　you're　going　to　try　your　luck　with　an　underwater　search。〃
　Gunn　nodded。　〃I'm　sending　in　an　autonomous　underwater　vehicle　for　an　exploratory　search　first　thing　in　the　morning。　If　anything　questionable　is　recorded　by　its　cameras；　divers　will　investigate。〃
　〃The　water　is　murky　and　running　with　silt；　so　I　doubt　if　you'll　see　much。〃
　〃With　high　resolution　and　digital　enhancement；　our　cameras　can　distinguish　objects　in　murky　water　up　to　twenty　feet。　My　only　concern　is　Qin　Shang's　underwater　security。〃
　Montaigne　laughed。　〃If　it's　anything　like　the　security　around　the　port；〃　Montaigne　said　with　a　chuckle；　〃you　can　forget　it。　A　ten…foot…high　fence　runs　around　the　perimeter；　but　there　is　only　one　gate　that　leads　to　nowhere　in　the　swamp　with　no　guard。　Any　passing　vessel；　especially　fishing　boats　out　of　Morgan　City；　are　wele　to　tie　up　at　a　dock。　And　there　is　an　excellent　helicopter　landing　pad　with　a　small　terminal　building　on　the　north　end。　I　never　heard　of　Shang's　security　turning　away　anybody　who　dropped　in　for　a　guided　tour。　They　go　out　of　their　way　to　make　the　place　accessible。〃
　〃Definitely　not　your　ordinary　Qin　Shang　operation。〃
　〃So　I've　been　told。〃
　〃As　a　port；〃　Gunn　continued；　〃Sungari　must　have　offices　for　customs　and　immigration　agents？〃
　Montaigne　laughed。　〃Like　the　Maytag　man；　they're　the　loneliest　men　in　town。〃
　〃Dammit！〃　Gunn　abruptly　burst。　〃This　has　to　be　a　gigantic　scam。　Qin　Shang　built　Sungari　to　conduct　criminal　activities。　I'd　stake　my　government　pension　on　it。〃
　〃If　it　was　me；　and　my　aim　was　to　conduct　an　illegal　operation；　I'd　have　never　designed　the　port　to　stand　out　like　a　Las　Vegas　casino。〃
　〃Nor　I；〃　Gunn　conceded。
　〃There　was；　e　to　think　of　it；〃　Montaigne　said　thoughtfully；　〃an　odd　bit　of　construction　that　puzzled　inspecting　engineers。〃
　〃What　was　that？〃
　〃Shang's　contractor　built　the　upper　level　of　their　docks　a　good　thirty　feet　higher　than　necessary　from　the　water's　surface。　Instead　of　walking　down　a　gangway　to　the　dock　from　the　deck　of　a　ship；　you　actually　have　to　negotiate　a　slight　incline。〃
　
　〃Could　it　be　insurance　against　hurricane　tides　or　a　hundred…year　flood　down　the　river？〃
　〃Yes；　but　they　magnified　the　threat；〃　explained　Montaigne。　〃Oh　sure；　there　have　been　flood　stages　on　the　Mississippi　that　have　reached　huge　heights；　but　not　on　the　Atchafalaya。　Ground　level　at　Sungari　was　raised　to　a　level　far　beyond　anything　that　nature　could　throw　at　it。〃
　〃Qin　Shang　wouldn't　be　where　he　is　by　gambling　with　the　elements。〃
　〃I　suppose　you're　right。〃　Montaigne　finished　off　the　Jack　Daniels。　He　waved　a　hand　at　the　image　of　Sungari。　〃So　there　it　sits；　a　grand　edifice　to　one　man's　ego。　Look　across　the　water。　Two　ships　in　a　port　built　to　take　a　hundred。　Is　that　any　way　to　run　a　profitable　business？〃
　〃No　way　that　I'm　aware　of；〃　said　Gunn。
　The　general　rose　to　his　feet。　〃I　should　be　on　my　way。　It'll　be　dark　soon。　I　think　I'll　instruct　my　pilot　to　go　upriver　to　Morgan　City　and　tie　up　there　for　the　night　before　heading　back　to　New　Orleans。〃
　〃Thank　you；　General；〃　Gunn　said　sincerely。　〃I　appreciate　you　taking　the　time　to　see　me。　Please　don't　be　a　stranger。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Montaigne　replied　jovially。　〃Now　that　I　know　where　to　go　for　a　free　shot　of　good　whiskey；　rest　assured；　you'll　see　me　again。　And　good　luck　on　your　investigation。　Anytime　you　require　the　services　of　the　Corps；　you　have　but　to　call　me。〃
　〃Thank　you；　I　will。〃
　Long　after　General　Montaigne　returned　to　his　survey　boat；　Gunn　sat　staring　at　the　holographic　image　of　Sungari；　his　mind　seeking　answers　that　never　revealed　themselves。
　〃If　you're　worried　about　their　security　hassling　us；〃　said　Frank　Stewart；　captain　of　the　Marine　Denizen；　〃we　can　conduct　our　survey　from　the　middle　of　the　river。　They　may　own　the　buildings　and　land　on　both　sides　of　the　Atchafalaya；　but　free　passage　between　the　Gulf　and　Morgan　City　is　guaranteed　under　maritime　law。〃
　
　Stewart；　with　brown　hair　cut　short　and　slickly　bed　with　a　precision　part　on　the　right　side；　was　a　mariner　from　the　old　school。　He　still　shot　the　sun　with　his　sextant　and　figured　latitude　and　longitude　the　old…fashioned　way　when　a　quick　scan　of　his　geophysical　positioning　system　could　tell　him　within　a　yard　of　where　he　was　standing。　Slim　and　tall　with　deep…set　blue　eyes；　he　was　a　man　without　a　wife　whose　mistress　was　the　sea。
　
　Gunn　stood　beside　the　helm；　staring　through　the　wheelhouse　windows　at　the　deserted　port。　〃We'd　look　as　obvious　as　a　wart　on　a　movie　star's　nose　if　we　anchored　in　the　river　between　their　docks　and　warehouses。　General　Montaigne　said　that　security　around　Sungari　was　no　heavier　than　any　other　port　facility　on　the　East　and　West　coasts。　If　he's　right；　I　see　no　reason　to　play　cagey。　Let's　simply　call　the　port　master　and　request　dock　space　to　make　repairs；　and　work　in　their　backyard。〃
　
　Stewart　nodded　and　hailed　the　port　master　over　a　satellite　phone；　which　had　all　but　replaced　ship…to…shore　radio。　〃This　is　NUMA　research　ship　Marine　Denizen。　We　request　dock　space　to　make　repairs　to　our　rudder。〃
　
　The　port　master　was　most　congenial。　He　gave　his　name　as　Henry　Pang　and　readily　gave　permission。　〃Sure；　maintain　your　position　and　I'll　send　a　boat　to　lead　you　to　dock　seventeen；　where　you　can　tie　up。　If　there's　one　thing　we've　got；　it's　vacant　moorings。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Pang；〃　acknowledged　Stewart。
　〃You　guys　looking　for　weird　fish？〃　asked　Pang。
　〃No；　we're　studying　Gulf　currents。　We　bumped　over　an　unmarked　shoal　off　the　coast　and　damaged　our　rudder。　It　responds　but　not　to　its　full　arc。〃
　〃Enjoy　your　stay；〃　said　Pang　politely。　〃If　you　need　a　marine　mechanic　or　parts；　please　let　me　know。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Stewart。　〃Standing　by　for　your　guide　boat。〃
　〃General　Montaigne　was　right；〃　said　Gunn。　〃So　much　for　tight　security。〃
　
　A　rainsquall　rolled　in　and　out　during　the　night；　leaving　the　decks　of　the　Marine　Denizen　gleaming　under　the　rising　sun。　Stewart　had　two　of　his　crew　lowered　on　a　small　platform　over　the　rudder