cc.floodtide-第77节

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　Giordino　looked　at　the　net。　〃You　think　you're　going　to　catch　crab　for　dinner？〃
　〃No；〃　Pitt　answered；　catching　a　glint　from　the　setting　sun　on　a　shiny　object　far　away　in　the　ocean　of　grass。　〃The　trick　is　to　look　like　I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃
　〃A　helicopter；〃　Giordino　said　in　a　deliberate　tone；　〃or　an　ultralight　like　Washington。〃
　〃Too　low；　more　likely　a　hovercraft。〃
　〃Are　we　on　Qin　Shang's　real　estate？〃
　〃According　to　the　map；　we're　a　good　three　hundred　yards　off　their　property　line。　They　must　be　paying　a　social　call　to　check　us　out。〃
　〃What's　the　scenario？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃I'll　play　a　crab　fisherman；　you　act　like　a　redneck　swilling　beer　and　Romberg　can　play　Romberg。〃
　〃Not　easy　for　an　Italian　to　pretend　he's　French　Cajun。〃
　〃Chew　on　some　okra。〃
　
　The　dog　cooperated　when　dragged　out　onto　the　veranda；　not　out　of　obedience；　but　out　of　necessity。　He　walked　slowly　across　the　gangplank　and　did　his　duty。　The　hound　has　an　iron　bladder；　Giordino　thought；　to　have　lasted　this　long。　Then　Romberg　abruptly　became　alert；　barked　at　a　rabbit　that　darted　through　the　grass　and　chased　after　him。　〃No　Academy　Award　nomination　for　you；　Romberg！〃　Giordino　yelled　at　the　dog　as　it　took　off　onto　a　path　leading　along　the　bank。　Then　he　flopped　in　a　lawn　chair；　removed　his　sneakers　and　socks　and　propped　his　bare　feet　up　on　a　railing；　a　bottle　of　Dixie　beer　clutched　in　one　hand。
　
　Onstage　for　the　opening　act；　Pitt　with　his　old　。45　Colt　stashed　in　a　bucket　at　his　feet　and　covered　by　a　rag；　Giordino　with　the　Aserma　12…gauge　shotgun　from　Pitt's　hangar　resting　beneath　the　pad　on　his　lawn　chair；　they　watched　the　black　dot　that　was　the　hovercraft　grow　in　size　as　it　flew　over　the　marshlands；　swirling　and　flattening　a　swath　through　the　reeds。　It　was　an　amphibious　craft　that　could　make　the　transition　from　water　to　land。　Propelled　by　twin　aircraft　engines　with　propellers　at　the　stern；　the　hovercraft　was　supported　by　a　cushion　of　air　contained　within　a　heavy　rubber　structure　and　produced　by　a　smaller　engine　attached　to　a　horizontal　fan。　Control　was　acplished　with　a　set　of　rudders　much　like　those　used　on　aircraft。　Pitt　and　Giordino　watched　as　it　moved　effortlessly　and　rapidly　over　the　marshlands　and　mud　flats。
　〃She's　fast；〃　mented　Pitt。　〃Capable　of　fifty　miles　an　hour。　About　twenty　feet　long　with　a　small　cabin。　By　the　look　of　her；　she　can　carry　six　people。〃
　〃And　none　of　them　are　smiling；〃　muttered　Giordino　as　the　hovercraft　approached　the　shantyboat　and　slowed。　At　that　moment；　Romberg　came　bounding　from　the　swamp　grass；　barking　up　a　storm。
　〃Good　old　Romberg；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Right　on　cue。〃
　The　hovercraft　came　to　a　stop　ten　feet　away；　its　skirted　hull　resting　in　the　bayou。　The　engines　died　away　to　a　dull　murmur。　The　five　men　on　board　all　wore　side　arms　but　carried　no　rifles。　They　were　wearing　the　same　Qin　Shang　security　uniforms　Pitt　had　seen　at　Orion　Lake。　Every　eye　had　the　unmistakable　slant　of　an　Asian。　They　weren't　smiling；　their　sunburned　faces　looked　dead　serious。　This　was　clearly　an　attempt　at　intimidation。
　
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　asked　a　hard…faced　individual　in　fluent　English。　He　wore　the　insignia　on　his　shoulders　and　hat　of　someone　in　mand；　and　he　looked　like　a　man　who　would　enjoy　sticking　pins　hi　living　insects；　a　man　who　would　wele　the　opportunity　to　shoot　another　human　being。　He　eyed　Romberg　with　a　gleam　in　his　eye。
　〃We're　havin'　fun；〃　Pitt　said　casually。　〃What's　y'alls　problem？〃
　〃This　is　private　property；〃　the　hovercraft's　mander　said　coldly。　〃You　cannot　moor　here。〃
　〃Ah　happen　to　know　for　a　fact　that　the　land　around　Hooker's　Bayou　belongs　to　the　Cherokee　Oil　pany。〃　Pitt　actually　wasn't　certain　who　owned　the　property；　but　he　assumed　it　had　to　be　Cherokee　Oil。
　
　The　mander　turned　to　his　men　and　they　jabbered　among　themselves　in　Chinese。　Then　the　mander　stepped　to　the　side　of　the　hovercraft　and　announced；　〃We　are　ing　aboard。〃
　
　Pitt　tensed　and　readied　himself　to　snatch　up　the　old　Colt。　Then　he　realized　the　demand　to　e　aboard　was　a　deception。　But　Giordino　didn't　fall　for　it。　〃The　hell　y'all　are；〃　said　Giordino；　threateningly。　〃Y'all　got　no　authority。　Now　get　your　ass　out　of　here　before　we　call　the　sheriff。〃
　
　The　mander　looked　at　the　weathered　shantyboat　and　the　faded　and　shabby　clothing　worn　by　Pitt　and　Giordino。　〃You　have　a　radio　or　a　cellular　phone　on　that　boat？〃
　〃A　flare　gun；〃　Giordino　answered；　scratching　an　imaginary　itch　between　the　toes　of　one　foot。　〃We　shoot　flares　and　the　law　es　a…runnin'。〃
　The　hovercraft's　mander's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　do　not　find　that　believable。〃
　〃Exhibiting　a　pompous　attitude　toward　intellectual　impeccability　will　get　you　nowhere；〃　Pitt　suddenly　said　smartly。
　The　mander　tensed。　〃What　was　that？〃　he　demanded。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Ah　said；　leave　us　alone；〃　Pitt　drawled。　〃We　ain't　hurtin'　nothin'。〃
　Another　conference　between　the　mander　and　his　men。　Then　he　pointed　a　finger　at　Pitt。　〃I　warn　you。　Do　not　enter　Qin　Shang　Maritime　property。〃
　〃Who'd　want　to？〃　Giordino　said　nastily。　〃Y'all's　pany　ruined　the　swamp；　killed　the　fish　and　drove　off　the　wildlife　with　your　dredging。　No　reason　to　go　in　there　anyways。〃
　The　mander　arrogantly　turned　his　back　and　dismissed　them　as　the　first　drops　of　a　rainsquall　began　to　splatter　on　the　roof　of　the　shantyboat。　He　gave　the　still　barking　Romberg　a　withering　stare　and　said　something　to　his　crew。　The　engines　accelerated　and　the　hovercraft　began　moving　off　in　the　direction　of　the　canal。　A　moment　later　they　disappeared　from　view　as　the　rain　poured　down　in　blinding　torrents。
　
　Giordino　sat　enjoying　the　rain　splashing　on　his　bare　feet　as　they　dangled　over　the　railing。　He　cringed　as　Romberg　shook　his　wet　fur；　sending　a　barrage　of　water　flying　in　every　direction。　〃A　glittering　performance　except　for　your　attempt　at　a　drawing…room　put…down。〃
　
　Pitt　laughed。　〃A　bit　of　keen　and　boisterous　freewheeling　humor　never　fails　to　get　a　rise。〃
　〃You　might　have　given　us　away。〃
　〃I　wanted　them　to　record　our　arrogance。　Did　you　catch　the　video　camera　on　top　of　the　cabin？　At　this　moment；　our　pictures　are　being　sent　by　satellite　to　Shang's　security　headquarters　in　Hong　Kong　for　identification。　A　pity　we　can't　be　there　to　see　Shang's　face　when　he's　informed　that　we're　poking　around　another　one　of　his　sensitive　projects。〃
　〃Then　our　friends　will　be　back。〃
　〃You　can　bet　the　farm　on　it。〃
　〃Romberg　will　protect　us；〃　Giordino　said　jokingly。
　
　Pitt　looked　around　for　the　dog　and　found　him　curled　up　inside　the　shantyboat；　having　quickly　returned　to　his　catatonic　state。　〃That　I　seriously　doubt。〃
　
　AFTER　THE　RAINSQUALL　PASSED　AND　BEFORE　THE　LAST　RAYS　of　the　sun　vanished　beyond　the　marshlands　in　the　west；　Pitt　and　Giordino　moved　the　shantyboat　into　a　narrow　tributary　of　Hooker's　Bayou　and　moored　it　beneath　a　huge　cottonwood　tree　to　cloak　it　from　the　hovercraft's　radar。　Then　they　camouflaged　the　boat　with　reeds　and　dead　branches　from　the　cottonwood。　Romberg　only　came　alive　when　Pitt　fed　him　a　bowl　filled　with　catfish。　Giordino　offered　him　some　hamburger；　but　Romberg　wouldn't　touch　it；　happily　licking　his　chops　and　drooling　from　his　flews　while　consuming　the　fish。
　
　After　closing　the　shutters　and　hanging　blankets　over　the　windows　and　doors　to　black　out　interior　light；　Pitt　spread　the　topo　map　on　the　dining　table　and　traced　out　a　plan　of　action。　〃If　Shang's　security　force　runs　true　to　form；　they'll　have　a　mand　post　somewhere　along　the　banks　of　the　canal；　probably　in　the　center　so　they　can　cover　both　ends　quickly　against　trespassing　locals。〃
　〃A　canal　by　any　other　name　is　a　canal；〃　said　Giordino。　〃What　exactly　are　we　looking　for？〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃Your　guess　is　as　good　as　mine。〃
　〃Bodies　like　you　found　in　Orion　Lake？〃
　〃God；　I　hope　not；〃　Pitt　said　soberly。　〃But　if　Qin　Shang　is　smuggling　illegals　through　Sungari；　you　can　bet　he's　got　a　killing　ground　somewhere　in　the　area。　Dead　bodies　are　easy　to　hide　in　the　marshlands。　But　according　to　Doug　Wheeler；　boat　traffic　from　the　river　into　the　canal　is　nonexistent。〃
　〃Qin　Shang　didn't　excavate　an　eighteen…mile　trench　as　an　exercise　in　futility。〃
　〃Not　him；〃　Pitt　said　acridly。　〃The　catch　is　that　two　miles　of　excavation　could　have　easily　supplied　all　the　fill　he　required　to　build　Sungari。　And　the　question　is；　why　dig　another　sixteen　miles？〃
　〃Where　do　we　begin？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃We'll　take　the　skiff　because　it's　less　likely　to　be　detected　by　their　security　systems。　After　loading　the　equipment；　we　paddle　up　Hooker's　Bayou　until　it　empties　into　the　canal。　Then　continue　east　to　Calzas。　After　we　see　whatever　there　is　of　interest；　we　work　back　toward　the　Atchafalaya　and　around　to　the　shantyboat。〃
　〃They　must　have　detection　systems　to　spot　trespassers。〃
　〃I'm　counting　on　them　using　the　same　limited　technology　they　had　at　Orion　Lake。　If　they　have　laser　detectors；　the　beams　must　be　set　to　sweep　above　the　marsh　grass。　Hunters　with　swamp　vehicles　or　fishermen　standing　in　their　boat　to　throw　a　net　can　be　distinguished　from　five　miles　away。　By　keeping　low　in　the　skiff　and　skirting　the　banks；　we　can　stay　below　any　sweeping　beam。〃
　Giordino　listened　to　Pitt's　plan　of　action　and　remained　silent　for　a　few　moments　after　he　finished。　He　sat　with　his　Etruscan　features　twisted　in　a　scowl