cc.floodtide-第78章

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e　Skyfox。　Water　fell　in　cascades　from　the　hull　and　floats　as　the　Coast　Guard　crew　manning　the　guy　ropes　pulled　the　aircraft　into　the　proper　attitude。　Once　clearance　was　achieved；　the　crane　swung　the　aircraft　over　the　side　and　lowered　it　onto　a　landing　pad　on　the　stern　deck　next　to　the　ship's　helicopter。　Pitt　and　Giordino　climbed　from　the　cockpit　and　shook　hands　with　Gunn　and　Stewart。
　
　〃We　watched　through　binoculars；〃　said　Stewart。　〃If　you　had　circled　Sungari　any　lower　you　could　have　rented　a　headset　and　cassette　and　taken　a　self…guided　tour　of　the　place。〃
　〃See　anything　interesting　from　the　air？〃　asked　Gunn。
　〃Odd　that　you　should　mention　that；〃　said　Giordino。　〃I　do　believe　we　just　might　have　viewed　something　we　weren't　supposed　to。〃
　〃Then　you've　seen　more　than　we　have；〃　muttered　Stewart。
　Pitt　gazed　at　a　pelican　that　folded　its　wings　and　dove　cleanly　into　the　water；　emerging　with　a　small　fish　in　its　scooplike　beak。
　
　〃The　admiral　told　us　that　you　failed　to　find　any　openings　in　the　landfill　casings　under　the　docks　before　their　security　snatched　your　AUV。〃
　〃Not　so　much　as　a　crack；〃　admitted　Gunn。　〃If　Qin　Shang　is　planning　on　smuggling　illegal　aliens　through　Sungari；　it　isn't　from　a　ship　through　underground　tunnels　to　the　warehouse　terminals。〃
　〃You　warned　us　they　could　be　cagey；〃　said　Stewart。　〃And；　we　found　out　the　hard　way。　Now　NUMA　is　out　an　expensive　piece　of　equipment　and　we　don't　dare　ask　for　it　back。〃
　Gunn　said　bleakly；　〃We've　acplished　nothing。　All　we've　done　for　the　last　forty…eight　hours　is　stare　at　empty　docks　and　vacant　buildings。〃
　Pitt　placed　a　hand　on　Gunn's　shoulder。　〃Cheer　up；　Rudi。　While　we　stand　here　feeling　sorry　for　ourselves　for　acting　deaf；　dumb　and　blind；　a　boatload　of　illegal　immigrants　from　China　was　offloaded　at　Sungari　and　are　now　on　their　way　inland　to　a　staging　center。〃
　Gunn　stared　into　Pitt's　eyes；　startled；　and　saw　them　twinkle。　〃So　tell　us　what　you　saw。〃
　〃The　towboat　and　barges　that　left　Sungari　a　short　time　ago；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃Al　observed　a　couple　of　men　on　board　the　barges　who　were　carrying　weapons。　When　we　passed　over　them　they　tried　to　hide。〃
　〃Nothing　shady　about　a　towboat　crew　carrying　arms；〃　said　Stewart。　〃It's　a　fairly　mon　practice　if　they're　transporting　valuable　cargo。〃
　〃Valuable？〃　Pitt　said；　laughing。　〃The　cargo　was　trash　and　garbage　thrown　off　the　ship　that　had　accumulated　after　a　long　voyage　across　the　sea。　Armed　men　weren't　on　the　barge　to　protect　trash；　they　were　there　to　keep　their　human　cargo　from　escaping。〃
　〃How　could　you　know　that？〃　asked　Gunn。
　〃A　process　of　elimination。〃　Pitt　began　to　feel　good。　He　was　on　a　roll。　〃At　the　present　time；　the　only　way　in　and　out　of　Sungari　is　by　ocean　ships　and　riverboats。　The　ships　smuggle　in　the　immigrants；　but　there　is　no　way　to　secretly　transport　them　to　a　staging　area　for　dispersion　around　the　country。　And　you've　proven　they're　not　herded　from　the　ships　through　hidden　passages　under　the　docks　and　warehouses。　So　they　must　be　carried　inland　by　barges。〃
　〃Not　possible；〃　stated　Stewart　flat　out。　〃Customs　and　immigration　agents　e　on　board　the　minute　the　ship　docks　and　search　it　from　bow　to　stern。　All　cargo　must　be　offloaded　and　stored　in　the　warehouses　for　inspection。　Every　bag　of　trash　is　examined。　So　how　do　Qin　Shang's　people　deceive　the　inspectors？〃
　〃I　believe　the　illegal　immigrants　are　secretly　housed　in　an　underwater　craft　beneath　the　hull　of　the　merchant　ship　that　transported　them　from　China。　After　the　ship　es　into　port；　the　submerged　craft　is　somehow　transferred　under　the　barge　tied　alongside　to　receive　the　trash　and　garbage。　While　this　is　going　on；　the　customs　and　immigration　agents　do　their　job　but　find　no　evidence　of　illegal　immigrants。　Then；　moving　to　a　landfill　up　the　Atchafalaya　River　to　dispose　of　the　trash；　they　make　a　stop　at　some　out…of…the…way　place　to　disembark　the　aliens。〃
　Gunn　looked　like　a　blind　man　whose　sight　had　suddenly　been　restored　by　a　faith　healer　in　a　revivalist　tent。　〃You　figured　that　out　by　simply　flying　over　a　garbage　barge？〃
　〃A　theory　at　best；〃　Pitt　said　modestly。
　〃But　a　theory　that　can　easily　be　verified；〃　pointed　out　Stewart。
　〃Then　we're　wasting　time　talking；〃　said　Gunn　excitedly。　〃We　put　a　launch　over　the　side　and　follow　the　towboat。　You　and　Al　can　keep　an　eye　on　them　from　the　air。〃
　〃Worst　thing　we　could　do；〃　cut　in　Giordino。　〃We've　already　put　them　on　guard　by　buzzing　the　barge。　The　towboat　captain　will　know　if　he's　being　tailed。　I　vote　we　lay　low　temporarily　and　play　inconspicuous。〃
　〃Al's　right；〃　said　Pitt。　〃The　smugglers　are　not　dumb。　They　have　calculated　every　option。　Their　uncanny　intelligence　sources　in　Washington　may　have　already　given　the　Sungari　security　force　photographs　of　everyone　on　board　the　Marine　Denizen。　It's　best　we　take　our　time　and　keep　any　scouting　expedition　as　discreet　as　possible。〃
　〃Shouldn't　we　at　least　notify　the　INS？〃　inquired　Steward　seriously。
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃Not　until　we　can　show　them　hard　evidence。〃
　〃There's　another　problem；〃　Giordino　added。　〃Dirk　and　I　are　prohibited　from　working　your　side　of　the　street。〃
　Gunn　grinned　perceptively。　〃Admiral　Sandecker　told　me。　You're　AWOL　from　a　government　safe　house　in　Maine。〃
　〃They've　probably　got　an　all…points　bulletin　out　on　me　for　fleeing　across　state　lines；〃　Giordino　said；　laughing。
　〃So　what　do　we　do　to　keep　busy？〃　asked　Stewart。　〃And　for　how　long？〃
　〃Keep　the　Marine　Denizen　anchored　right　where　she　is　for　now；〃　Pitt　ordered。　〃After　Qin　Shang's　security　people　stole　your　AUV；　any　cover　you　had　as　an　innocent　NUMA　research　project　was　blown。　Maintain　observation　of　Sungari　as　close　as　you　can　anchor。〃
　〃If　they're　onto　us；　wouldn't　it　be　better　to　move　the　ship　further　downriver　toward　the　Gulf？〃
　
　Pitt　gave　a　negative　shake　of　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　so。　Stay　in　close。　I'm　betting　they're　overconfident　and　think　their　smuggling　tactics　and　strategy　are　undetectable　and　foolproof。　Qin　Shang　believes　he　is　untouchable。　Let　him　go　right　on　thinking　Chinese　are　artful　and　crafty　devils　while　Americans　all　attend　village…idiot　school。　Meanwhile；　Al　and　I　mount　a　little　clandestine　operation　of　our　own　upriver　and　pinpoint　the　staging　center。　Immigration　agents　will　want　to　know　where　the　smuggled　aliens　are　unloaded　and　held　before　boarding　buses　or　trucks　for　circulation　around　the　country。〃　Pitt　paused。　〃Any　questions；　any　ments？〃
　
　〃If　you've　pegged　Qin　Shang's　modus　operandi；〃　Stewart　said　happily；　〃we're　halfway　home。〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　good　plan　to　me；〃　said　Gunn。　〃How　should　we　proceed？〃
　〃Subterfuge　will　be　the　order　of　the　day；〃　explained　Pitt。　〃Al　and　I　will　move　into　Morgan　City；　merge　in　with　the　locals　and　charter　a　fishing　boat。　Then　head　up　the　Atchafalaya　and　search　out　the　staging　center。〃
　〃You'll　probably　need　a　guide；〃　Stewart　suggested。　〃There　are　a　thousand　inlets；　sloughs　and　bayous　between　here　and　the　canal　locks　above　Baton　Rouge。　Not　being　familiar　with　the　river　could　cost　you　much　time　and　wasted　effort。〃
　〃Good　thinking；〃　agreed　Giordino。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　go　off　and　perish　in　a　quagmire　and　bee　a　mystery　like　Amelia　Earhart。〃
　〃Little　danger　of　that；〃　Stewart　said；　smiling。
　〃Detailed　topographical　maps　should　be　the　only　guide　we'll　need。〃　Pitt　nodded　at　the　Marine　Denizen's　captain。　〃We'll　keep　you　apprised　of　location　and　any　progress　over　my　satellite　phone。　You　alert　us　to　the　next　departure　of　the　barge　and　towboat　from　the　next　ship　to　hit　port。〃
　〃Won't　hurt　for　you　to　pass　on　the　information　regarding　the　United　States　too；〃　added　Giordino。　〃I'd　like　to　be　around　when　she　docks　at　Sungari。〃
　Gunn　and　Stewart　exchanged　confused　looks。　〃The　United　States　isn't　bound　for　Sungari；〃　said　Gunn。
　Pitt's　green　eyes　narrowed　and　his　shoulders　stiffened　slightly。　〃I've　heard　nothing　from　Admiral　Sandecker。　Where　did　you　get　that　bit　of　information？〃
　〃The　local　newspaper；〃　answered　Stewart。　〃We　send　a　launch　up　to　Morgan　City　once　a　day　for　any　needed　supplies。　Whoever　volunteers　for　the　trip　always　brings　back　a　newspaper。　The　story　has　been　big　news　around　Louisiana。〃
　〃What　story？〃　Pitt　demanded。
　〃You　haven't　been　told？〃　asked　Gunn。
　〃Haven't　been　told　what？〃
　〃The　United　States；〃　Gunn