cc.floodtide-第87节

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　their　gray　matter　into　the　next　parish。〃
　They　all　turned　instinctively　toward　the　strange　voice；　each　forming　different　expressions　on　their　faces　at　his　abrupt　appearance。　Loo's　tan　features　went　pallid；　his　eyes　blank　with　incredulity。　May　Ching's　features　went　taut　with　dread。　Wong　looked　downright　curious。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Wong　asked。
　Pitt　ignored　him。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　to　Loo。　〃Put　the　lady　down　gently。〃　To　emphasize　his　demand；　Pitt　jammed　the　。45　solidly　into　the　flesh　of　Loo's　neck　below　the　skull。
　〃Don't　shoot；　please　don't　shoot；〃　pleaded　Loo　as　he　slowly　lowered　Julia　to　her　feet；　his　beady　eyes　glazed　with　fear。
　Julia　crumpled　to　her　knees。　It　was　then　that　Pitt　saw　the　terrible　bruises　on　Julia's　wrists　and　ankles。　Without　a　second's　hesitation；　he　clubbed　Loo　on　the　temple　with　the　barrel　of　the　Colt；　watching　with　grim　satisfaction　as　the　Triad　director　dropped　and　rolled　down　the　stairs。
　Unable　to　believe　the　voice　was　really　his；　Julia　looked　up　and　saw　the　opaline…green　eyes　and　the　crooked　grin。　〃Dirk！〃　she　muttered　dazedly　as　she　reached　up　and　gentry　touched　the　bandage　on　his　broken　nose。　〃Oh　God；　oh　God；　you're　here。　How；　how　in　the　world　。。。　？〃
　Pitt　wanted　desperately　to　lift　her　up　and　hold　her　in　his　arms；　but　he　didn't　dare　take　his　eyes　off　of　Wong。　He　read　the　expression　and　knew　Qin　Shang's　enforcer　was　coiled　to　strike　like　a　snake。　With　foresight；　he　also　predicted　May　Ching　had　nothing　to　lose　now　that　her　boss　was　a　broken　body　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　She　stared　at　him　with　a　look　of　cold　hatred　no　woman　had　ever　speared　him　with　before。　Pitt　kept　his　eyes　on　her　and　the　gun　trained　on　Wong's　forehead。　〃I　just　happened　to　be　passing　by　and　thought　I'd　drop　in　and　say　hello。〃
　
　〃Your　name　is　Dirk？〃　Wong　said　tightly。　〃Am　I　to　presume　you　are　Dirk　Pitt？〃
　〃I　certainly　hope　so。　And　you？〃
　〃Ki　Wong；　and　the　lady　is　May　Ching。　What　do　you　intend　to　do　with　us？〃
　〃Ki　Wong；〃　said　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃Where　have　I　heard　that　name　before？〃
　
　Julia　was　astute。　Without　jeopardizing　Pitt's　vigilance；　she　circled　her　arms　around　his　waist　from　the　back　so　as　not　to　restrict　his　movements。
　〃He's　Qin　Shang's　chief　enforcer；〃　said　Julia；　slowly　struggling　to　her　feet。　〃He　interrogates　the　immigrants　and　decides　who　lives　and　dies。　He　was　the　one　who　tortured　me　on　board　the　Indigo　Star。〃
　〃You're　not　a　very　nice　man；　are　you？〃　said　Pitt　conversationally。　〃I've　seen　your　handiwork。〃
　Without　warning　a　guard　appeared　from　nowhere。　Too　late；　Pitt　caught　the　unexpected　presence　from　May　Ching's　eyes　as　they　flashed　from　hatred　to　triumph　at　seeing　the　uniformed　guard。　Desperately　he　whirled　around　to　face　his　attacker　as　Wong　threw　himself　at　Pitt。　May　Ching　screamed。
　〃Kill　him！　Kill　him！〃
　〃I　always　respect　a　lady's　wishes；〃　said　the　intruder　without　emotion。　The　。357　magnum　revolver　in　his　hand　spat　ike；　the　deafening　blast　reverberating　around　the　landing　as　if　it　came　from　a　cannon。　Wong's　eyes　burst　from　their　sockets　as　the　bullet's　impact　struck　him　square；　just　above　the　bridge　of　the　nose。　He　reeled　backward；　arms　outstretched；　and　careened　over　the　railing；　his　already　dead　body　crashing　onto　the　rails　far　below。
　
　Giordino　regarded　his　handiwork　modestly。　〃I　hope　I　did　the　right　thing。〃
　〃And　high　time　too；〃　said　Pitt；　hoping　his　heart　would　start　pumping　again。
　〃Damn　you！〃　shrieked　May　Ching；　leaping　at　Pitt；　her　ringers　with　their　long　nails　curled　to　gouge　out　his　eyes。
　She　only　took　one　step　before　Julia's　fist　rammed　into　May　Ching's　mouth；　splitting　the　lips　and　sending　a　spurt　of　blood　down　the　front　of　the　red　silk　dress。　〃You　bitch！〃　said　Julia　fiercely。　〃That's　for　drugging　me。〃　Another　convulsive　movement；　and　Julia's　next　blow　took　May　Ching　in　the　stomach；　sending　the　lady　from　the　Dragon　Triad　to　her　knees；　gasping　for　breath。　〃And　that's　for　leaving　me　half　naked　in　front　of　men。〃
　
　〃Remind　me　never　to　make　you　mad；〃　Pitt　said　with　a　grin。
　
　She　massaged　her　fist　and　stared　up　at　him；　her　face　sad　and　strained。　〃If　only　we　could　have　caught　them　in　the　act　of　transporting　illegal　immigrants。　God　only　know　how　many　lives　we　could　have　saved。　Now　it's　too　late。〃
　
　Pitt　hugged　her　tenderly；　favoring　her　cracked　ribs。　〃Didn't　you　know？〃
　〃Know？〃　she　said；　puzzled。　〃Know　what？〃
　He　motioned　toward　the　train　below。　〃There　are　over　three　hundred　of　them　locked　into　freight　cars　down　there。〃
　Caught　off　balance；　she　stiffened　as　if　Pitt　had　struck　her。　She　stared　unprehending　at　the　train。　〃They　were　here　and　I　never　saw　them。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　to　the　sugar　mill？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃I　sneaked　on　board　the　trash　barge　as　it　left　the　Sung　Lien　Star。〃
　〃Then　you　rode　on　top　of　them　from　Sungari。　They　came　across　the　sea　from　China　in　a　submerged　container　that　was　moved　by　an　underwater　rail　system　from　under　the　Sung　Lien　Star　to　the　barge　that　brought　mem　here。〃
　Her　voice　suddenly　became　hard。　〃We've　got　to　free　them　before　the　train　leaves。〃
　〃Not　to　worry；〃　said　Pitt　with　a　canny　smile。　〃Even　Mussolini　couldn't　make　that　train　run　on　time。〃
　They　were　unlocking　the　freight　cars　and　helping　the　illegal　immigrants　onto　the　loading　docks　when　the　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service　agents　and　coast　guardsmen　arrived　and　took　over。
　
　PRESIDENT　DEAN　COOPER　WALLACE　CAME　FROM　BEHIND　HIS　desk　as　Qin　Shang　stepped　into　the　oval　office　of　the　White　House。　He　put　out　a　hand　and　said；　〃My　dear　Qin　Shang；　how　good　to　see　you。〃
　Qin　Shang　pressed　the　President's　hand　in　both　of　his。　〃It's　so　kind　of　you　to　see　me　in　light　of　your　busy　schedule。〃
　〃Nonsense；　I'm　deeply　in　your　debt。〃
　〃Will　you　be　needing　me？〃　asked　Morton　Laird；　who　had　escorted　Qin　Shang　from　the　reception　room。
　〃Please　stay；　Morton；〃　said　the　President。　〃I'd　like　you　to　be　present。〃
　The　President　showed　Qin　Shang　to　a　pair　of　sofas　that　faced　across　a　coffee　table；　and　they　sat　down。　〃I　wish　you　to　convey　my　deep　appreciation　to　Premier　Wu　Kwong　for　his　generous　contribution　to　my　presidential　campaign。　And　please　tell　him　he　has　my　promise　of　close　cooperation　between　our　two　governments。〃
　〃Premier　Kwong　will　be　happy　to　hear　it；〃　said　Qin　Shang　affably。
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Qin　Shang？〃　asked　the　President；　setting　the　discussion　in　a　firm　direction。
　〃As　you　know；　certain　members　of　Congress　have　been　calling　my　country　a　slave　state　and　condemning　what　they　call　human…rights　abuses。　They　are　currently　proposing　a　bill　to　reject　our　most…favored…nation　status。　Premier　Wu　Kwong　fears　they　may　muster　enough　votes　to　push　through　the　bill's　passage。〃
　〃Rest　assured；〃　the　President　said；　smiling；　〃I　fully　intend　to　veto　any　bill　Congress　passes　that　jeopardizes　trade　between　our　two　countries。　I've　also　gone　on　record　as　stating　that　mutual　trade　benefits　are　the　best　opportunity　to　eliminate　the　human…rights　questions。〃
　〃Do　I　have　your　word　on　that；　Mr。　President？〃　asked　Qin　Shang；　his　aggressiveness　pulling　a　negative　expression　from　Chief　of　Staff　Laird。
　〃You　can　tell　Premier　Wu　Kwong　that　he　has　my　personal　assurance。〃
　Laird　marveled　at　the　conciliatory　atmosphere　in　the　room　between　the　shipping　tycoon　and　the　President　when　the　air　should　have　crackled　with　antagonism。
　〃The　other　matter　of　concern　is　the　harassment　by　your　Coast　Guard　and　immigration　agents　of　my　ships。　Search　boardings　have　bee　more　numerous　and　extensive　in　the　past　months；　and　shipping…schedule　delays　have　proved　very　costly。〃
　〃I　understand　your　concern；　Qin　Shang；〃　said　Wallace　flatly。　〃At　last　count　by　the　INS　there　were　six　million　people　living　illegally　in　the　United　States。　A　good　percentage　of　them；　so　the　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service　claims；　were　smuggled　into　the　country　in　your　ships；　and　the　fiasco　at　Orion　Lake　was　not　an　easy　event　to　conceal。　By　rights　I　should　have　you　arrested　as　you　stand　in　my　office　and　indicted　for　mass　murder。〃
　There　was　no　display　of　indignation　from　Qin　Shang。　He　stared　at　the　most　powerful　man　in　the　world　without　blinking。　〃Yes；　under　your　laws　you　have　every　right　to　do　so。　But　then　you　run　the　risk　of　much　delicate　information　being　leaked　to　the　American　public　about　your　secret　dealings　with　Qin　Shang　Maritime　and　the　People's　Republic　of　China。〃
　〃Are　you　threatening　blackmail　against　the　President　of　the　United　States？〃　Wallace　demanded；　suddenly　disturbed。
　〃Please　forgive　me；〃　Qin　Shang　acquiesced　quickly。　〃I　merely　wished　to　remind　the　President　of　possible　contingencies。〃
　〃I　will　not　condone　mass　murder。〃
　〃An　unfortunate　event　caused　by　criminal　syndicates　in　your　own　country；〃　Qin　Shang　countered。
　〃Not　in　the　report　I　read。〃
　〃You　have　my　solemn　oath　there　will　be　no　repetition　of　Orion　Lake。〃
　〃In　return；　you　want　your　ships　left　alone。　Is　that　it？〃
　Qin　Shang　nodded。　〃I　would　be　most　grateful。〃
　Wallace　looked　at　Laird。　〃Inform　Admiral　Ferguson　and　Duncan　Monroe　that　I　wish　the　Coast　Guard　and　INS　to　treat　the　inspection　of　Qin　Shang　Maritime　ships　entering　our　waters　with　the　same　courtesy　offered　to　any　other　foreign　shipping　pany。〃
　Laird's　brow　was　furrowed　in　disbelief。　He　sat　quietly　and　did　not　immediately　acknowledge　the　presidential　or