cc.floodtide-第75节

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　〃And　Bartholomeaux？〃　Giordino　persisted。　〃Aren't　you　curious　to　see　if　that's　where　the　barge　dumps　human　cargo？〃
　〃Curious；　yes。　Desperate；　no。　We're　not　working　under　a　deadline。　We　can　size　up　Bartholomeaux　after　we　check　the　canal。〃
　〃If　you　want　to　conduct　an　underwater　search；〃　said　Giordino；　〃we'll　need　diving　equipment。〃
　〃Soon　as　we're　settled　in；　I'll　call　Rudi　and　have　him　ferry　our　gear　to　wherever　we're　staying。〃
　〃And　Bartholomeaux？〃　Giordino　continued。　〃Should　we　prove　the　old　sugar　mill　is　a　staging　and　distribution　depot　for　smuggled　aliens；　then　what？〃
　〃We'll　turn　the　chore　of　conducting　a　raid　over　to　INS　agents；　but　only　after　we　give　Admiral　Sandecker　the　satisfaction　of　informing　Peter　Harper　that　NUMA　has　uncovered　another　one　of　Qin　Shang's　illicit　operations　without　his　help。〃
　〃I　believe　that　is　what　you　call　poetic　justice。〃
　Pitt　grinned　at　his　friend。　〃Now　es　the　hard　part。〃
　〃Hard　part？〃
　〃We　have　to　find　a　taxi。〃
　
　As　they　stood　on　the　curb　Giordino　turned　and　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　at　the　bar　and　grill。　〃Did　that　old　fisherman　look　familiar　to　you？〃
　
　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；　there　was　something　about　him　that　struck　a　chord。〃
　〃We　never　did　get　his　name。〃
　〃Next　time　we　see　him；〃　said　Pitt；　〃we'll　have　to　ask　if　we've　ever　met。〃
　
　Back　in　Charlie's　Fish　Dock　restaurant　and　bar；　the　old　fisherman　glanced　up　at　the　bar　as　the　bartender　yelled　across　the　room　at　him。
　〃Hey；　Cussler。　You　want　another　beer？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　The　old　man　nodded。　〃One　more　brew　before　I　hit　the　road　won't　hurt。〃
　
　
　〃OUR　HOME　AWAY　FROM　HOME；〃　SAID　GlORDINO　AT　HIS　FIRST　look　of　the　shantyboat　he　and　Pitt　were　borrowing　from　the　old　fisherman。　〃Hardly　bigger　than　a　North　Dakota　outhouse。〃
　〃Not　fancy　but　functional；〃　Pitt　said　as　he　paid　the　taxi　driver　and　studied　the　ancient　boat　that　was　moored　at　the　end　of　a　rickety；　sagging　dock　that　extended　from　the　riverbank　on　waterlogged　pilings。　Inside　the　dock；　several　small　aluminum　fishing　boats　bobbed　in　the　green　water；　their　outboard　motors　showing　rust　and　grease　from　long；　hard　use。
　〃Talk　about　roughing　it；〃　Giordino　groaned　as　he　unloaded　their　underwater　equipment　from　the　trunk　of　the　taxi。　〃No　central　heating　or　air…conditioning。　I'll　bet　this　tub　doesn't　have　running　water　or　electricity　to　operate　lights　and　a　television。〃
　〃You　don't　need　running　water；〃　said　Pitt。　〃You　can　bathe　in　the　river。〃
　〃What　about　a　toilet？〃
　Pitt　smiled。　〃Use　your　imagination。〃
　Giordino　pointed　to　a　small　reception　dish　on　the　roof。　〃Radar；〃　he　muttered　incredulously；　〃It　has　radar。〃
　The　shantyboat's　hull　was　broad　and　flat　with　easy　rakes；　much　like　that　of　a　small　barge。　The　black　paint　was　heavily　scarred　from　a　hundred　sideswipes　against　dock　pilings　and　other　boats；　but　the　bottom　that　could　be　seen　below　the　water…line　appeared　scraped　clean　of　marine　growth。　A　square　box　with　windows　and　doors；　which　was　the　house；　rose　about　seven　feet；　its　weathered　blue　walls　nearly　flush　with　the　sides　of　the　hull。　A　small；　roofed…over　veranda　sporting　lawn　chairs　stretched　across　the　bow。　Above；　centered　on　the　house　roof；　as　if　it　was　an　afterthought；　sat　a　low；　raised　bridgelike　structure　that　acted　as　a　skylight　and　a　small　pilothouse。　On　the　roof　lay　a　short　skiff　with　paddles　lashed　upside　down。　The　black　chimney　pipe　from　a　wood…burning　potbellied　stove　stuck　up　from　the　aft　end　of　the　house。
　
　Giordino　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I've　slept　on　bus　benches　that　had　more　class　than　this。　Kick　me　the　next　time　I　plain　about　my　motel　room。〃
　
　〃Oh；　ye　of　little　faith；　stop　griping。　Keep　telling　yourself　that　it　didn't　cost　us　anything。〃
　〃I've　got　to　admit　that　it　has　character。〃
　Pitt　aimed　the　chronically　plaining　Giordino　toward　the　shantyboat。　〃Go　load　up　the　equipment　and　check　out　the　engine。　I'll　go　over　to　the　store　and　buy　some　groceries。〃
　〃I　can't　wait　to　see　our　motive　power；〃　Giordino　groused。　〃Ten　to　one　it　doubles　as　an　eggbeater。〃
　
　Pitt　walked　a　boardwalk　through　a　boatyard　leading　down　the　bank　into　the　river。　A　worker　was　giving　a　wooden　fishing　boat　set　inside　a　cradle　on　rails　a　new　coat　of　antifouling　paint　on　the　keel　and　hull。　Next　door；　Pitt　came　to　a　wooden　structure　under　a　sign　that　proclaimed　WHEELER'S　LANDING。　A　long　porch　ran　around　the　building；　which　was　raised　off　the　ground　by　rows　of　short　pilings。　The　walls　were　painted　a　bright　green　with　yellow　shutters　framing　the　windows。　Inside；　Pitt　found　it　incredible　that　so　much　merchandise　could　be　crammed　in　so　small　a　space。　Boating　parts　took　up　one　end　of　the　store；　fishing　and　hunting　supplies　the　other。　The　center　was　devoted　to　groceries。　A　pact　refrigerator　stocked　with　five　times　as　much　beer　as　soft　drinks　and　dairy　products　stood　against　one　wall。
　
　Pitt　picked　up　a　hand　basket　and　made　out　very　well；　selecting　enough　foodstuffs　to　feed　him　and　Giordino　three　or　four　days；　and；　as　with　most　men；　he　probably　bought　more　than　they　could　eat；　especially　specialty　items　and　condiments。　Setting　the　overloaded　basket　on　the　counter　by　the　cash　register；　he　introduced　himself　to　the　portly　owner　of　the　store　who　was　busily　stocking　canned　goods。
　〃Mr。　Wheeler。　My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。　My　friend　and　I　have　charted　the　Bayou　Kid's　shanty　boat。〃
　Wheeler　brushed　his　thick　mustache　with　the　light　touch　of　a　finger　and　stuck　out　his　hand。　〃Been　expectin'　you。　The　Kid　said　you'd　be　by　this　mornin'。　She's　all　ready　to　go。　Fuel　tank　filled；　battery　charged　and　topped　off　with　oil。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　your　trouble。　We　should　be　back　in　a　few　days。〃
　〃I　hear　y'all　is　goin'　up　to　the　canal　them　Chinks　built。〃
　Pitt　nodded。　〃Word　travels。〃
　〃Y'all　got　charts　of　the　river？〃　asked　Wheeler。
　〃I　was　hoping　you　might　supply　them。〃
　
　Wheeler　turned　and　checked　the　labels　taped　on　a　slotted　cabinet　hanging　on　the　wall　containing　rolled　nautical　charts　of　the　local　waterways　and　topographical　maps　of　the　surrounding　marshlands。　He　pulled　out　several　and　spread　them　on　the　counter。　〃Here's　a　chart　showing　depths　of　the　river　and　a　few　topo　maps　of　the　Atchafalaya　Valley。　One　of　them　shows　the　area　around　the　canal。〃
　
　〃You're　a　great　help；　Mr。　Wheeler；〃　said　Pitt　sincerely。　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃I　guess　y'all　know　the　Chinks　won't　let　you　on　the　canal。　They've　got　it　chained　off。〃
　〃Is　there　another　way　in？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃Sure；　at　least　two　of　them。〃　Wheeler　took　a　pencil　and　began　marking　the　maps。　〃You　can　take　either　Hooker's　or　Mortimer's　bayous。　Both　run　parallel　to　the　canal　and　empty　into　it　about　eight　miles　from　the　Atchafalaya。　Y'all'll　find　Hooker's　to　be　the　easiest　to　navigate　the　shanty　boat。〃
　〃Does　Qin　Shang　Maritime　own　the　property　around　Hooker's　Bayou；　too？〃
　Wheeler　shook　his　head。　〃Their　borders　only　run　a　hundred　yards　on　either　side　of　the　canal。〃
　〃What　happens　if　you　cross　the　barrier？〃
　〃Local　fishermen　and　hunters　sneak　in　sometimes。　More　often　than　not；　they're　caught　and　thrown　out　by　an　armed　boatload　of　automatic　rifle…to　tin'　Chinks　who　patrol　the　canal。〃
　〃Then　security　is　tight；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Not　so　much　at　night。　Y'all　could　probably　get　in；　see　what　y'all　want　to　see；　since　we're　havin'　a　quarter　moon　for　the　next　two　nights　before　it　wanes；　and　get　out　before　they　know　y'all　been　there。〃
　〃Has　anyone　reported　seeing　anything　strange　in　and　around　the　canal？〃
　〃Nothin'　worth　writin'　home　about。　Nobody　can　figure　why　the　fuss　to　keep　people　out　of　a　ditch　through　a　swamp。〃
　〃Any　barge　or　boat　traffic　in　and　out？〃
　Wheeler　shook　his　head。　〃None。　The　chain　barrier　is　fixed　in　place　and　can't　be　opened　unless　ya　blast　it　with　TNT。〃
　〃Does　the　canal　have　a　name？〃
　〃Use　to　be　known　as　Mystic　Bayou；〃　Wheeler　said　wistfully。　〃And　a　pretty　bayou　it　was；　too；　before　it　was　dug　all　to　hell。　Lots　of　deer；　ducks　and　alligator　to　hunt。　Catfish；　bream　and　bass　to　fish。　Mystic　Bayou　was　a　sportsman's　paradise。　Now　it's　all　gone；　and　what's　left　is　off　limits。〃
　〃Hopefully　my　friend　and　I　will　have　some　answers　in　the　next　forty…eight　hours；〃　said　Pitt　as　he　loaded　the　groceries　in　an　empty　cardboard　box　offered　by　Wheeler。
　
　The　boat…landing　owner　penciled　several　numbers　on　the　corner　of　a　map。　〃Y'all　get　into　trouble；　call　my　cell…phone　number。　Y'all　hear？　I'll　see　that　you　get　help　real　quick。〃
　
　Pitt　was　touched　by　the　amiable　and　intelligent　people　in　southern　Louisiana　who　had　offered　their　advice　and　assistance。　They　were　contacts　to　be　treasured。　He　thanked　Wheeler　and　carried　the　groceries　down　the　dock　to　the　shantyboat。　As　he　stepped　on　board　the　veranda；　Giordino　stood　in　the　doorway　shaking　his　head　in　wonderment。
　
　〃You're　not　going　to　believe　what　you　see　in　here；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　worse　than　you　thought？〃
　〃Not　at　all。　The　ulterior　is　clean　and　Spartan。　It's　the　engine　and　our　passenger　that　boggle　the　mind。〃
　〃What　passenger？〃
　
　Giordino　handed　Pitt　a　note　he'd　found　pinned　to　the　door。　It　read；
　
　Mr。　Pitt　and　Mr。　Giordino。　I　thought　that　since　you　wanted　to　look　like　locals　on　a　fishing　trip；　you　should　have　a　panion。　So　I　loaned　you　Romberg　to　embellish　your　image　as　rivermen。　He'II　eat　any　kind　offish　you　throw　at　him。
　
　Luck；