cc.floodtide-第30章

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　top　speed　in　excess　of　170　miles　an　hour；　as　a　craft　he'd　often　flown。　The　forward　fuselage　looked　like　those　on　most　rotorcraft；　but　the　tail　boom；　with　its　dual　vertical　stabilizers；　extended　to　the　rear　like　a　thin　corona　cigar。
　〃Where　did　it　e　from？〃
　〃My　ride　showed　up　early；〃　Pitt　said；　swearing　to　put　the　pilot　in　his　will。
　
　Every　pair　of　eyes　in　the　runabout　and　on　the　remaining　ultralight　were　trained　on　the　intruder　as　it　charged　through　the　air。　Two　figures　could　be　seen　through　the　transparent　bow　of　the　helicopter。　The　copilot　was　wearing　a　baseball　cap　turned　backward　and　peered　through　horn…rim　glasses。　The　pilot　wore　a　reed　hat　like　those　woven　on　tropical　beaches　and　a　brightly　flowered　Hawaiian　aloha　shirt。　A　gargantuan　cigar　was　clenched　between　his　teeth。
　
　Kung　Chong　was　no　longer　grinning。　His　expression　was　one　of　abject　shock　and　fear。　It　flashed　through　his　mind　that　the　new　bully　on　the　playground　wasn't　about　to　back　off。　He　took　stock　and　saw　that　the　runabout；　though　barely　making　headway；　would　soon　reach　the　mouth　of　the　river　leading　into　Grapevine　Bay。　From　his　height　he　could　already　see　a　small　fleet　of　fishing　boats　heading　out　to　sea　around　the　final　bend　in　the　river。　Houses　on　the　outskirts　of　a　town　perched　along　the　shoreline。　People　walked　along　the　beaches。　His　chance　for　terminating　the　escaped　immigrants　and　the　devil　responsible　for　the　chaos　at　Orion　Lake　had　evaporated。　Kung　Chong　had　no　choice　but　to　order　his　pilot　to　break　off　the　attack。　In　an　attempt　to　dodge　its　attacker；　the　ultralight　pulled　up　sharply　and　curled　a　turn　so　tight　its　wing　tipped　on　a　vertical　angle。
　
　The　pilot　of　the　NUMA　helicopter　had　been　there　before。　He　easily　second…guessed　his　opponent。　There　was　never　a　flicker　of　pity　or　indecision。　The　face　was　expressionless　as　he　easily　matched　the　ultralight's　steep　turn　and　closed　the　distance　between　them。　Then　came　a　crunching　sound　as　the　landing　skids　of　the　helicopter　ripped　through　the　ultralight's　flimsy　wing。
　
　The　men　in　the　open　seats　froze　as　their　craft　twisted　in　maddened　torment；　seeking　desperately；　hopelessly　to　cling　to　the　sky。　Then　the　shredded　wing　folded　in　the　middle；　and　the　little　craft　dove　and　crashed　into　a　shoreline　filled　with　large　rocks。　There　was　no　explosion；　as　only　a　small　cloud　of　dust　and　debris　sprayed　the　air。　All　that　remained　was　a　distorted　mass　of　wreckage　with　two　bodies　fused　amid　the　shattered　struts　and　tubing。
　
　The　helicopter　hovered　over　the　crippled　Chris…Craft　as　the　pilot　and　the　man　sitting　in　the　copilot's　seat　both　leaned　out　the　cockpit　windows　and　waved。
　Julia　waved　back　and　threw　them　kisses。　〃Whoever　those　wonderful　men　are；　they　saved　our　lives。〃
　〃Their　names　are　Al　Giordino　and　Rudi　Gunn。〃
　〃Friends　of　yours？〃
　〃For　many；　many　years；〃　Pitt　said；　beaming　like　a　lighthouse。
　The　struggling　old　Chrysler　marine　engine　almost　carried　them　to　the　end　of　their　harrowing　voyage；　but　not　quite。　Its　bearings　and　pistons　finally　froze　from　lack　of　oil；　and　it　gave　up　the　ghost　only　two　hundred　yards　from　the　dock　that　extended　from　the　main　street　of　the　seaside　village　of　Grapevine。　A　young　teenager　with　an　outboard　boat　towed　the　battered　Chris…Craft　and　its　weary　passengers　to　the　dock；　where　two　men　and　one　woman　waited。　None　of　the　tourists　strolling　the　wooden　pier　nor　any　of　the　local　residents　fishing　over　the　railings　would　have　guessed　by　the　casual　clothing　that　the　three　people　standing　at　the　end　of　the　dock　were　INS　agents　about　to　collect　a　group　of　illegal　immigrants。
　
　〃Your　people？〃　Pitt　asked　Julia。
　She　nodded。　〃I've　never　met　him　but　I　assume　one　of　them　is　the　district　director　of　investigations。〃
　Pitt　held　up　the　little　boy；　made　a　funny　face　and　was　rewarded　with　a　smile　and　a　laugh。　〃What　will　happen　to　these　people　now？〃
　〃They're　illegal　aliens。　Under　the　law　they　must　be　sent　back　to　China。〃
　He　looked　at　her　and　scowled。　〃After　what　they've　endured；　it　would　be　a　crime　to　send　them　back。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Julia。　〃But　my　hands　are　tied。　I　can　fill　out　the　required　paperwork　and　remend　they　be　allowed　to　stay。　But　their　final　disposition　is　beyond　my　control。〃
　〃Paperwork！〃　Pitt　nearly　spat　the　word。　〃You　can　do　better　than　that。　The　minute　they　step　foot　in　their　homeland；　Shang's　people　will　have　them　killed；　and　you　damned　well　know　it。　They　wouldn't　be　alive　if　you　hadn't　shot　down　the　ultralights。　You　know　the　rule；　save　someone's　life　and　you're　forever　responsible　for　them。　You　can't　wash　your　hands　of　them　and　not　care　about　their　fate。〃
　
　〃I　do　care；〃　Julia　said　firmly。　She　looked　at　Pitt　the　way　women　usually　look　at　men　when　they　feel　as　if　they're　talking　to　the　village　idiot。　〃And　I'm　not　about　to　wash　my　hands　of　them。　And　because　it　is　entirely　possible；　as　you　suggest；　that　they　might　be　murdered　if　they　returned　to　the　Chinese　mainland；　it　goes　without　saying　that　they'll　be　given　every　opportunity　to　apply　for　political　asylum。　There　are　laws；　Mr。　Pitt；　whether　you　or　I　like　them　or　not。　But　they're　for　a　purpose　and　must　be　followed。　I　promise　you　that　if　it　is　humanly　possible　for　these　people　to　bee　United　States　citizens；　it　shall　be。〃
　
　〃I'll　hold　you　to　that　promise；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　〃Believe　me；〃　she　said　earnestly；　〃I'll　do　everything　in　my　power　to　help　them。〃　
　〃Should　you　run　into　problems；　please　contact　me　through　NUMA。　I　have　a　bit　of　political　influence　and　might　arrange　for　the　Senate　to　back　their　cause。〃
　She　looked　at　him　skeptically。　〃How　could　a　marine　engineer　with　NUMA　possibly　have　political　influence　in　the　Senate？〃
　〃Would　it　help　if　I　told　you　my　father　is　Senator　George　Pitt　of　California？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　murmured；　properly　awed。　〃I　can　see　you　might　prove　useful。〃
　
　The　boy　in　the　outboard　cast　off　the　towline；　and　the　Chris…Craft　bumped　against　the　dock　pilings。　The　Chinese　immigrants　were　all　smiles。　They　were　happy　at　not　being　shot　at　any　longer；　and　elated　to　have　at　last　reached　safety　in　America。　Any　apprehension　about　their　fate　was　set　aside　for　the　moment。　Pitt　passed　up　the　little　boy　and　girl　to　the　waiting　hands　of　the　INS　agents　and　then　turned　to　help　the　mother　and　father　step　up　to　the　dock。
　
　A　tall；　jovial…looking　man　with　twinkling　eyes　stepped　up　to　Julia　and　put　his　arm　around　her。　The　look　on　his　face　was　one　of　passion　at　seeing　the　bruised　and　swollen　face　with　blood　caked　around　the　split　lips。　〃Ms。　Lee；　I'm　George　Sim…mons。〃
　
　〃Yes；　the　assistant　district　director。　I　spoke　to　you　over　the　phone　from　the　cabin。〃
　〃You　don't　know　how　happy　we　are　to　see　you　alive；　how　grateful　for　your　information。〃
　〃Not　as　happy　as　I　am；〃　she　said；　wincing　with　pain　as　she　tried　to　crack　a　smile。
　〃Jack　Farrar；　the　district　director；　would　have　greeted　you　himself；　but　he's　directing　the　cleanup　operation　on　Orion　Lake。〃
　〃It's　started？〃
　〃Our　agents　dropped　onto　the　grounds　by　helicopter　eight　minutes　ago。〃
　〃The　prisoners　inside　the　building？〃
　〃All　alive；　but　in　need　of　medical　care。〃
　〃The　security　guards？〃
　〃Rounded　up　without　a　fight。　At　last　report　only　their　head　man　had　yet　to　be　apprehended。　But　he　should　be　in　custody　shortly。〃
　Julia　turned　to　Pitt；　who　was　helping　the　last　of　the　elderly　immigrants　out　of　the　runabout。　〃Mr。　Simmons；　may　I　introduce　Mr。　Dirk　Pitt　of　NUMA；　who　made　your　raid　possible。〃
　Simmons　stuck　out　his　hand　to　Pitt。　〃Ms。　Lee　didn't　have　time　to　fill　me　in　on　the　details；　Mr。　Pitt；　but　I　gather　that　you　pulled　off　a　remarkable　achievement。〃
　〃They　call　it　being　hi　the　right　place　at　the　right　time；〃　said　Pitt；　gripping　the　INS　agent's　hand。
　〃Seems　to　me　it　was　more　like　the　right　man　being　where　it　counts　most；〃　said　Simmons。　〃If　you　don't　mind；　I'd　like　a　report　of　your　activities　over　the　past　two　days。〃
　
　Pitt　nodded　and　then　pointed　at　the　Chinese　who　were　being　herded　by　the　other　INS　agents　to　a　waiting　bus　at　the　end　of　the　dock。　〃These　people　have　gone　through　the　worst　ordeal　imaginable。　I　hope　they'll　be　treated　in　a　humane　manner。〃
　〃I　can　safely　say；　Mr。　Pitt；　they　will　be　given　every　consideration。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Simmons。　I　appreciate　your　concern。〃
　Simm