cc.floodtide-第47章

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　time　by　the　feet；　James　and　Meadows　hauled　them　under　the　launch　to　the　opposite　side；　where　they　were　rendered　unconscious　by　a　none　too　gentle　rap　on　the　back　of　the　head　before　being　pushed　aboard　and　roughly　dumped　in　a　small　cargo　hold。
　
　Cabrillo　scanned　the　stern　of　the　United　States　and　the　end　of　the　dock　for　witnesses。　He　counted　no　more　than　three　or　four　shipyard　workers　who　had　paused　to　watch　the　activity　on　the　two　boats。　None　appeared　unduly　concerned。　The　cabin　on　the　security　cruiser　had　blocked　off　most　of　the　view　the　workers　had　from　the　dock　and　the　liner。　As　far　as　they　could　see；　it　looked　like　a　normal　investigation　by　the　security　force。　All　they　could　see　was　Cabrillo's　crew　still　dozing　and　fishing　off　the　stern　of　the　launch。　The　shipyard　workers　soon　returned　to　their　jobs；　showing　no　signs　of　alarm。
　
　James　and　Meadows　climbed　back　on　board　and；　along　with　Eddie　Seng；　quickly　stripped　the　security　mander　and　two　of　his　men　of　their　clothes。　A　few　minutes　later　all　three　reappeared　on　deck　wearing　the　security　guards'　uniforms。
　
　〃Not　a　bad　fit；〃　said　Eddie；　modeling　his　damp　attire　for　Cabrillo；　〃considering　that　the　suit　is　soaking　wet。　〃
　〃Mine　is　about　four　sizes　too　small；〃　grumbled　Meadows；　who　was　a　big　man。
　〃Join　the　club；〃　said　James；　holding　out　an　arm　and　demonstrating　a　sleeve　that　barely　passed　the　elbow。
　〃You　don't　have　to　walk　down　the　runway　at　a　fashion　show；〃　said　Cabrillo　while　jockeying　the　launch　next　to　the　security　boat。　〃Jump　over　and　take　the　helm。　As　soon　as　we've　got　the　submersible　under　tow；　follow　along　in　our　wake　as　though　you　were　escorting　us　to　the　Hong　Kong　Harbor　Patrol　dock。　Once　we're　out　of　sight　of　Qin　Shang's　shipyard；　we'll　cruise　around　until　dark。　Then　we'll　head　back　to　the　Oregon　and　scuttle　the　security　boat。〃
　〃What　about　the　five　drenched　rats　in　the　hold？〃　asked　Seng。
　Cabrillo　turned　from　the　helm　and　leered。　〃We'll　enjoy　seeing　the　expressions　on　their　faces　when　they　wake　up　and　find　they've　been　abandoned　on　an　island　off　the　Philippines。〃
　Not　having　enough　oxygen　supply　to　remain　underwater；　the　Sea　Dog　II　was　towed　on　the　surface　with　the　upper　hatch　partially　open。　Pitt　and　Giordino　remained　inside　while　the　security　boat　cruised　alongside　and　screened　any　view　of　it　from　passing　ships　and　shore。　Thirty　minutes　later　the　Sea　Dog　II　was　quickly　lifted　back　onto　the　deck　of　the　Oregon。　Cabrillo　was　there　to　help　Pitt　and　Giordino　out　of　the　submersible。　With　muscles　stiff　and　numb　from　the　many　hours　of　tight　confinement；　they　were　grateful　for　his　help。
　〃I　apologize　for　leaving　you　cooped　up　like　that；　but　as　you　know；　we　ran　into　a　little　difficulty。〃
　〃And　you　handled　it　very　well；〃　Pitt　plimented　him。
　〃You　boys　did　a　pretty　fair　job　of　fighting　off　the　bad　guys　yourselves。〃
　〃We'd　still　be　sitting　on　the　bottom　if　you　hadn't　lobbed　those　grenades。〃
　〃What　did　you　find？〃　asked　Cabrillo。
　
　Pitt　shook　his　head　wearily。　〃Nothing；　absolutely　nothing。　The　hull　below　the　waterline　is　clean；　no　modifications；　no　concealed　hatches　or　pressurized　doors。　The　bottom　has　been　scraped　and　recoated　with　antifouling　paint　and　looks　as　unaltered　as　the　day　she　was　launched。　If　Qin　Shang　has　a　shifty　method　of　slipping　illegal　aliens　ashore　in　a　foreign　port；　it's　not　from　below　the　waterline。〃
　
　〃So　where　does　that　leave　us？〃
　Pitt　gave　Cabrillo　a　steady　look。　〃We've　got　to　get　inside　the　ship。　Can　you　manage　it？〃
　〃As　the　resident　whiz；　yes；　I　believe　I　can　arrange　a　guided　tour　of　the　ship's　interior。　But　consider　this。　One；　maybe　two　hours　from　now　is　all　we　have　before　the　security　guards　we　kidnapped　are　discovered　as　missing。　The　chief　of　Qin　Shang's　shipyard　security　will　put　two　and　two　together　and　figure　the　intruders　came　from　the　Oregon。　No　doubt　he's　already　wondering　how　and　why　ten　of　his　divers　went　missing。　Once　he　alerts　the　Chinese　Navy　they'll　e　after　us　as　sure　as　women　bear　babies。　With　a　head　start　the　Oregon　can　outdistance　most　any　ship　in　the　Chinese　fleet。　If　they　send　planes　after　us　before　we　can　get　out　of　their　territorial　waters；　we're　dead。〃
　〃You're　well　armed；〃　said　Giordino。
　Cabrillo　tightened　his　lips。　〃But　not　immune　to　warships　with　heavy　guns　and　aircraft　with　missiles。　The　sooner　we　get　the　hell　out　of　Hong　Kong　and　onto　the　high　seas；　the　safer　we'll　be。〃
　〃Then　you're　pulling　up　anchor　and　skipping　town；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃I　didn't　say　that。〃　Cabrillo　looked　over　at　Seng；　who　had　thankfully　changed　into　dry　clothes。　〃What　say　you；　Eddie？
　Do　you　want　to　put　the　uniform　of　a　Qin　Shang　security　chief　back　on　and　parade　around　the　shipyard　like　a　big　man　on　campus？
　Seng　grinned。　〃I've　always　wanted　to　tour　the　inside　of　a　big　cruise　ship　without　paying　for　a　ticket。〃
　〃Then　it's　settled；〃　said　Cabrillo　directly　to　Pitt　〃Go　now　bee　what　you　have　to　see　and　get　back　here　fast；　or　we'll　all　regret　not　knowing　our　grandchildren。〃
　
　〃DON'T　YOU　THINK　WE'RE　OVERDOING　IT　A　BIT？〃　SAID　PITT　less　than　an　hour　later。
　
　Seng　shrugged　behind　the　wheel　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　driver's　seat。　〃Who　would　suspect　spies　arriving　at　a　security　gate　in　a　Rolls…Royce？〃　he　asked　innocently。
　〃Anyone　who　does　doesn't　suffer　from　glaua　or　cataracts；〃　Giordino　said　wearily。
　A　collector　of　old　classic　cars；　Pitt　appreciated　the　fine　workmanship　of　the　Rolls。　〃Chairman　of　the　Board　Cabrillo　is　an　amazing　man。〃
　
　〃The　best　scrounger　in　the　business；〃　said　Seng　as　he　braked　to　a　stop　beside　the　main　guard　gate　in　front　of　the　Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited　shipyard。　〃He　made　a　deal　with　the　concierge　of　Hong　Kong's　finest　five　star　hotel。　They　use　the　limo　to　pick　up　and　deliver　celebrity　guests　to　the　airport。〃
　
　The　late…afternoon　sun　was　still　perched　above　the　horizon　when　two　guards　came　out　of　the　security　shack　to　stare　at　the　1955　Rolls…Royce　Silver　Dawn　with　Hooper　coachwork。　The　elegant　body　lines　exemplified　the　classic　〃razor　edge〃　saloon　style　that　was　popular　with　British　coach…built　cars　in　the　1950s。　The　front　fenders　gracefully　swooped　downward　across
　
　the　four　doors　to　the　skirted　fenders　at　the　rear；　matching　the　sloping　rear　roof　and　trunk　known　as　the　〃French　curve〃　that　was　copied　by　Cadillac　in　the　early　eighties。
　
　Seng　flashed　the　identification　he'd　taken　from　the　captain　of　the　security　boat。　Though　the　two　men　could　have　passed　for　cousins；　he　did　not　allow　the　guards　to　study　the　photo　on　the　ID　card　too　closely。　〃Han　Wan…Tzu；　captain　of　the　dockside　security；〃　he　announced　in　Chinese。
　
　One　of　the　guards　leaned　in　the　rear　window　and　peered　at　the　two　passengers　in　the　rear　seat　who　were　wearing　conservative　blue　pinstripe　business　suits。　His　eyes　slightly　narrowed。　〃Who　is　with　you？〃
　〃Their　names　are　Karl　Mahler　and　Erich　Grosse。　They　are　respected　marine　engineers　with　the　German　shipbuilding　firm　of　Voss　and　Heibert；　here　to　inspect　and　consult　on　the　turbine　engines　of　the　great　ocean　liner。〃
　〃I　don't　see　them　on　the　security　list；〃　said　the　guard；　checking　names　on　a　clipboard。
　〃These　gentlemen　are　here　at　the　personal　request　of　Qin　Shang。　If　you　have　a　problem　with　that；　you　can　call　him。　Would　you　like　his　direct　and　personal　number？〃
　〃No；　no；〃　the　。guard　stammered。　〃Since　you　acpany　them；　their　entry　must　have　been　cleared。〃
　〃Contact　no　one；〃　Seng　ordered。　〃The　services　of　these　men　are　required　immediately　and　their　presence　here　is　a　closely　guarded　secret。　Do　you　understand？〃
　
　The　guard　nodded　fervently；　backed　away　from　the　car；　lifted　the　barrier　and　waved　them　through　onto　a　road　leading　to　the　dock　area。　Seng　steered　the　luxurious　old　car　past　several　warehouses　and　parts　depots　and　under　tall　gantries　arched　over　the　skeletons　of　ships　under　construction。　He　had　little　problem　finding　the　United　States。　Her　funnels　towered　over　nearby　terminal　buildings。　The　Rolls　came　to　a　silent　halt　at　one　of　the　many　gangways　that　led　up　and　into　the　hull　of　the　ship。　The　ship　appeared　strangely　lifeless。　There　were　no　crewmen；　shipyard　workers　or　security　guards　anywhere　to　be　seen。　The　gangways　were　deserted　and　unguarded。
　
　〃Odd；〃　muttered　Pitt。　〃All　her　lifeboats　have　been　removed。〃