cussler.blueandgold-第2章

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resist　the　chance　to　impress　a　beautiful　woman。
　〃This　plane　is　so　smart　it　can　fly　itself　while　we　watch　the　soccer　games　on　TV；〃　he　said；　showing　his　big　teeth。
　〃Don't　let　Carlos　blow　smoke　up　your　flue；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃That's　the　EFIS；　the　electronic　flight　instrument　system。　The　screens　take　the　place　of　the　gauges　we　used　to　use。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Francesca　said　politely。　She　pointed　to　another　gauge。　〃Is　that　a　pass？〃　she　said。
　〃Sim；　sim；〃　the　copilot　said；　proud　of　his　successful　tutelage。
　〃Then　why　does　it　indicate　we're　going　almost　due　north？〃　she　said　with　a　furrowed　brow。　〃Shouldn't　we　be　heading　in　a　more　westerly　direction　toward　Miami？〃
　
　The　men　exchanged　glances。　〃You're　quite　observant；　senhora；〃　the　Texan　said。　〃Absolutely　right。　But　in　the　air　a　straight　line　isn't　always　the　fastest　way　between　two　points。　Has　to　do　with　the　curvature　of　the　earth。　Like　when　you　fly　from　the　U。S。　to　Europe　the　shortest　way　is　up　and　around　in　a　big　curve。　We've　also　got　to　deal　with　Cuban　airspace。　Don't　want　to　get　ol'　Fidel　all　haired　up。〃
　The　quick　wink　and　smirk　again。
　Francesca　nodded　appreciatively。　〃Thank　you　for　your　time；　gentlemen。　It's　been　most　instructive。　I'll　let　you　get　back　to　your　work。〃
　〃No　bother；　ma'am。　Any　time。〃
　Francesca　was　fuming　as　she　took　her　seat。　Fools！　Did　they　think　she　was　an　idiot？　The　curvature　of　the　earth　indeed！　
　〃Everything's　okay；　like　I　said？〃　Phillipo　asked；　looking　up　from　the　magazine　he　was　reading。
　She　leaned　across　the　aisle　and　spoke　in　a　low；　even　tone。　〃No；　everything　is　not　okay。　I　think　this　plane　is　off…course。〃　She　told　him　about　the　pass　reading。　〃I　felt　something　odd　in　my　sleep。　I　think　it　was　the　shifting　of　the　plane　as　they　changed　direction。〃
　〃Maybe　you're　mistaken。〃
　〃Perhaps。　But　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃Did　you　ask　the　pilots　for　an　explanation？〃
　〃Yes。　They　gave　me　some　absurd　story　saying　the　shortest　distance　between　two　points　was　not　a　straight　line　because　of　the　curvature　of　the　earth。〃
　
He　raised　an　eyebrow；　apparently　surprised　by　the　explanation；　but　he　still　wasn't　convinced。　〃I　don't　know　。　。　。〃
Francesca　pondered　some　other　inconsistencies。　〃Do　you　re　member　what　they　said　when　they　came　on　board；　about　being　replacement　pilots？〃
　〃Sure。　They　said　the　other　pilots　were　called　off　on　another　job。　They　took　their　place　as　a　favor。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Peculiar。　Why　did　they　even　bring　it　up？　It's　as　if　they　wanted　to　head　off　any　questions　I　might　have。　But　why？〃
　
　〃I　have　had　some　experience　in　navigation；〃　Phillipo　said　thoughtfully。　〃I　will　go　see　for　myself。〃　He　sauntered　up　to　the　cockpit　again。　She　heard　male　laughter；　and　after　a　few　minutes　he　came　back　with　a　smile　on　his　face。　The　smile　faded　as　he　sat　down。
　〃There's　an　instrument　in　the　cockpit　that　shows　the　original　flight　plan。　We　are　not　following　the　blue　line　as　we　should　be。　You　were　right　about　the　pass；　too；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　not　on　the　correct　course。〃
　〃What　in　God's　name　is　going　on；　Phillipo？〃
　A　grave　expression　came　onto　his　face。　〃There　was　something　your　father　didn't　tell　you。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　Phillipo　glanced　toward　the　closed　cockpit。　〃He　had　heard　things。　Nothing　that　would　persuade　him　you　were　in　danger；　but　enough　so　that　he　would　like　the　reassurance　of　knowing　I　would　be　nearby　if　you　needed　help。〃
　〃Looks　like　we　could　both　use　some　help。〃
　〃Sim；　senhora。　But　unfortunately　we　must　do　for　ourselves。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　gun？〃　she　said　abruptly。
　〃Of　course；〃　he　said；　faintly　amused　at　the　hard…nosed　question　from　this　beautiful　and　cultured　woman。　〃Would　you　like　me　to　shoot　them？〃
　〃I　didn't　mean…no；　of　course　not；〃　she　said　glumly。　〃Do　you　have　any　ideas？〃
　'A　gun　is　not　just　for　shooting；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　use　it　for　intimidation；　use　its　threat　to　make　people　do　things　they　don't　want　to　do。〃
　〃Like　pointing　us　in　the　right　direction？〃
　〃I　hope；　senhora。　I　will　go　forward。　I　will　ask　them　politely　to　land　at　the　nearest　airport；　saying　it　is　your　wish。　If　they　refuse　I　will　show　them　my　gun　and　say　I　would　not　like　to　use　it。〃
　〃You　can't　use　it；〃　Francesca　said　with　alarm。　〃If　you　put　a　hole　in　the　plane　at　this　altitude；　it　would　depressurize　the　cabin；　and　we'd　all　be　dead　within　seconds。〃
　〃A　good　point。　It　will　increase　their　fear。〃　He　took　her　hand　and　squeezed　it。　〃I　told　your　father　I　would　watch　out　for　you；　senhora。　〃
　She　shook　her　head　as　if　it　would　make　the　situation　go　away。　〃What　if　I'm　wrong？　That　these　are　innocent　pilots　doing　their　job？〃
　〃Simple；〃　he　said　with　a　shrug。　〃We　call　ahead　on　the　radio；　we　land　at　the　nearest　airport；　we　bring　in　the　police；　we　straighten　things　out；　then　we　resume　our　trip。〃
　They　cut　their　conversation　short。　The　door　to　the　cockpit　had　opened；　and　the　captain　stepped　into　the　cabin。　He　ambled　forward；　having　to　bend　his　head　because　of　the　low　overhead。
　〃That　was　some　joke　you　just　told　us；〃　he　said　with　his　crooked　grin。　〃Got　any　more？〃
　〃Sorry；　senhor；〃　Phillipo　said。
　〃Waall；　I　got　one　for　you；〃　the　pilot　replied。　Riordan's　droopy；　heavy…lidded　eyes　gave　him　a　sleepy　look。　But　there　was　nothing　sluggish　about　the　way　he　reached　behind　his　back　and　produced　the　pistol　he　had　tucked　in　his　belt。
　〃Hand　it　over；〃　he　said　to　Phillipo。　〃Real　slow。〃
　Phillipo　gingerly　opened　his　jacket　wide　so　the　shoulder　holster　was　in　plain　view；　then　extracted　his　gun　by　the　tips　of　his　fingers。　The　pilot　stuck　the　gun　in　his　belt。
　〃Grazyeass；　amigo；〃　he　said。　〃Always　nice　to　deal　with　a　professional。〃　He　sat　on　an　armrest　and　with　his　free　hand　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Me　and　my　partner　have　been　talking；　and　we　think　maybe　you're　on　to　us。　Figured　you　were　checking　us　out　when　you　came　up　a　second　time；　so　we　decided　to　lay　it　all　out　so　there　won't　be　any　misunderstandings。〃
　〃Captain　Riordan；　what　is　going　on？〃　Francesca　said。　〃Where　are　you　taking　us？〃
　〃They　said　you　were　smart；〃　the　pilot　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃My　partner　never　should　have　started　bragging　about　the　plane。〃　He　blew　twin　plumes　of　smoke　from　his　nostrils。　〃You're　right。　We're　not　going　to　Miami；　we're　on　our　way　to　Trinidad。〃
　〃Trinidad？〃
　〃I　hear　it's　a　real　nice　place。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃It's　like　this；　senyoreeta。　There's　going　to　be　a　wele　party　waiting　for　you　at　the　airport。　Don't　ask　me　who　they　are　'cause　I　don't　know。　All's　I　know　is　we've　been　hired　to　deliver　you。　Things　were　supposed　to　go　nice　and　easy。　We　were　going　to　tell　you　we　had　mechanical　problems　and　needed　to　land。〃
　〃What　happened　to　the　pilots？〃　Phillipo　asked。
　〃They　had　an　accident；〃　he　said　with　a　slight　shrug。　He　ground　the　cigarette　butt　on　the　floor。　〃Here's　the　situation；　miss。　You　just　stay　put；　and　everything　will　be　fine。　As　for　you；　cavaleiro；　I'm　sorry　to　get　you　in　trouble　with　your　bosses。　Now　I　can　tie　you　both　up；　but　I　don't　think　you'd　try　anything　foolish　unless　you　can　fly　this　plane　yourselves。　One　more　thing。　Up；　partner；　and　turn　around。〃
　Thinking　he　was　about　to　be　frisked；　Phillipo　plied　without　protest。　Francesca's　warning　came　too　late。　The　pistol　barrel　arced　down　in　a　silvery　blur　and　struck　the　bodyguard　above　the　right　ear。　The　sickening　crunch　was　drowned　out　by　the　bodyguard's　cry　of　pain　as　he　doubled　over　and　crumpled　onto　the　floor。
　Francesca　jumped　up　from　her　seat。　〃Why　did　you　do　that？〃　she　said　defiantly。　〃You　have　his　gun。　He　couldn't　harm　you。〃
　〃Sorry；　miss。　I'm　a　firm　believer　in　insurance。〃　Riordan　stepped　over　the　prostrate　form　in　the　aisle　as　if　it　were　a　sack　of　potatoes。　〃Nothing　like　a　cracked　skull　to　discourage　a　man　from　getting　into　trouble。　There's　a　first　aid　kit　up　there　on　the　wall。　Taking　care　of　him　should　keep　you　busy　'til　it's　time　to　set　down。〃　He　tipped　his　hand　to　his　cap；　strolled　back　to　the　cockpit；　and　shut　the　door。
　Francesca　knelt　by　the　stricken　bodyguard。　She　soaked　cloth　napkins　in　mineral　water　and　cleaned　the　wound；　then　applied　pressure　until　the　bleeding　was　stanched。　She　daubed　an　antiseptic　on　the　scalp　cut　and　the　bruised　skin　around　it；　wrapped　ice　in　another　napkin；　and　pressed　it　to　the　side　of　the　man's　head　to　prevent　swelling。
　As　Francesca　sat　by　his　side；　s