cc.floodtide-第79章

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　〃What　story？〃　Pitt　demanded。
　〃You　haven't　been　told？〃　asked　Gunn。
　〃Haven't　been　told　what？〃
　〃The　United　States；〃　Gunn　muttered　quietly。　〃She's　heading　up　the　Mississippi　to　New　Orleans；　where　she's　going　to　be　remodeled　into　a　hotel　and　gambling　casino。〃
　
　Both　Pitt　and　Giordino　looked　as　if　they　had　been　told　their　life's　savings　had　vanished。　Giordino　twisted　his　mouth　in　a　wry　grimace。　〃It　seems；　old　buddy；　that　we　have　been　led　down　the　garden　path。〃
　
　〃That　we　have。〃　When　Pitt　spoke　again　his　voice　carried　a　windchill　factor　of　minus　twenty；　and　he　smiled　a　grim　smile　that　seemed　to　portend　something。　〃But　then；　things　aren't　always　what　they　seem。〃
　
　LATER　THE　SAME　AFTERNOON；　THE　COAST　GUARD　CUTTER　Weehawken　moved　easily　over　the　low；　breeze…ruffled　waves　and　slowed　as　the　order　came　down　from　the　wheelhouse　to　the　engine　room　to　reduce　speed。　Captain　Duane　Lewis　peered　through　his　binoculars　at　the　big　container　ship　that　was　approaching　from　the　south　less　than　a　nautical　mile　away。　His　expression　was　calm　and　relaxed；　his　cap　tilted　slightly　back　over　a　thicket　of　sandy　hair。　He　lowered　the　glasses；　revealing　deep…set　ivory　brown　eyes。　He　turned　and　smiled　thinly　at　the　woman　standing　beside　him　on　the　bridge　wing　who　was　dressed　in　the　uniform　of　the　United　States　Coast　Guard。
　
　〃There's　your　ship；〃　he　said　in　a　bass　voice；　〃sailing　as　smugly　as　a　wolf　in　sheep's　clothing。　She　looks　innocent　enough。〃
　
　Julia　Lee　gazed　over　the　railing　at　the　Sung　Lien　Star。　〃A　deception。　God　only　knows　the　human　suffering　that's　being　endured　hidden　within　her　hull。〃
　
　She　wore　no　makeup；　and　a　fake　scar　ran　across　her　chin。　Her　beautiful　long　black　hair　had　been　cropped　short　and　styled　like　a　man's；　and　was　covered　by　a　ship's　baseball　cap。　In　the　beginning；　she　had　second　thoughts　about　clandestinely　switching　roles　with　Lin　Wan　Chu；　but　her　burning　hatred　of　Qin　Shang；　along　with　an　unyielding　confidence　that　she　could　succeed；　made　her　more　determined　than　ever　to　make　the　attempt。　She　felt　a　surge　of　optimism　at　knowing　that　she　was　not　alone　hi　this　mission。
　Lewis　turned　and　aimed　the　binoculars　toward　the　flat　green　shoreline　and　the　mouth　of　the　lower　Atchafalaya　River　only　three　miles　away。　Except　for　a　few　shrimp　boats；　the　water　was　empty。　He　gestured　at　a　young　officer　standing　at　his　side。　〃Lieutenant　Stowe；　signal　her　to　e　to　a　stop　and　stand　by　for　a　boarding　inspection。〃
　〃Aye；　sir；〃　acknowledged　Stowe　as　he　stepped　into　the　radio　room。　Tanned；　blond　and　tall；　Jefferson　Stowe　had　the　boyish　good　looks　of　a　tennis　instructor。
　The　Weehawken　heeled　slightly　in　response　to　her　rudder　as　the　helmsman　brought　the　cutter　around　on　a　parallel　course　with　the　container　ship　that　was　flying　the　flag　of　the　People's　Republic　of　China。　The　decks　were　piled　high　with　containers；　and　yet　she　rode　strangely　high　in　the　water；　Lewis　observed。　〃Did　they　reply？〃　he　asked　loud　enough　to　be　heard　across　the　wheelhouse。
　〃They　answered　in　Chinese；〃　Stowe　called　from　the　radio　room。
　〃Shall　I　translate？〃　offered　Julia。
　〃It's　a　dodge；〃　Lewis　said　with　a　grin。　〃Half　the　foreign　ships　we　stop　have　a　habit　of　acting　dumb。　Most　of　their　officers　speak　better　English　than　we　do。〃
　Lewis　waited　patiently　as　the　seventy…six…millimeter　Mark　75　remote…controlled；　rapid…firing　gun　on　the　bow　turned　and　ominously　aimed　its　muzzle　at　the　container　ship。　〃Please　inform　the　captain；　in　English；　to　stop　engines　or　I　will　fire　into　his　bridge。〃
　Stowe　returned　to　the　bridge　wing　with　a　smile　stretched　across　his　lips。　〃The　captain　answered　in　English；〃　he　said。　〃He　reports　he　is　stopping。〃
　
　As　if　to　underscore　the　pliance；　the　foam　that　spilled　from　around　the　bows　fell　away　as　the　big　container　ship　slowly　drifted　to　a　stop。　Lewis　looked　at　Julia　with　care　written　in　his　eyes。　〃Ready；　Ms。　Lee？〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃Ready　as　I'll　ever　be。〃
　〃You've　checked　your　radio。〃　It　was　a　statement　rather　than　a　question。
　
　Julia　glanced　down　at　where　the　miniature　radio　was　taped　inside　the　cleavage　of　her　breasts　under　her　bra。　〃Working　perfectly。〃　Without　being　obvious；　she　pressed　her　legs　together；　feeling　the　little　。25…caliber　automatic　that　was　strapped　to　the　inside　of　her　right　thigh。　A　short　Smith　&　Wesson　First　Response　knife；　whose　blade　could　spring　open　in　an　eye　blink　and　was　strong　enough　to　rip　through　sheet　metal；　was　taped　to　her　biceps　under　the　sleeve　of　her　uniform。
　
　〃Keep　your　transmitter　on　so　we　can　monitor　your　every　word；〃　said　Lewis。　〃The　Weehawken　will　remain　within　range　of　your　radio　until　the　Sung　Lien　Star　docks　at　Sungari　and　you　signal　that　you　are　ready　to　be　picked　up。　Hopefully　the　substitution　will　go　as　planned；　but　should　you　encounter　a　problem　after　you　take　the　cook's　identity；　call　out　and　we'll　e　running。　I'll　also　have　our　helicopter　and　crew　in　the　air　ready　to　drop　on　board。〃
　〃I　appreciate　your　concern；　Captain。〃　Julia　paused；　turned　slightly　and　motioned　to　a　burly　man　with　a　walrus　mustache　whose　deep…set　gray　eyes　peered　from　under　the　brim　of　a　baseball　cap。　〃Chief　Cochran　has　been　a　dream　to　work　with　during　our　rehearsals　for　the　switch。〃
　〃Chief　Mickey　Cochran　has　been　called　many　names；〃　said　Lewis；　laughing；　〃but　never　a　dream。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　for　putting　everyone　to　so　much　trouble；〃　Julia　said　softly。
　〃All　on　board　the　Weehawken　feel　responsible　for　your　safety。　Admiral　Ferguson　gave　me　strict　orders　to　protect　you　regardless　of　the　consequences。　I　don't　envy　you　your　job；　Ms。　Lee。　But　I　promise　we　will　do　everything　in　our　power　to　keep　you　out　of　harm's　way。〃
　She　looked　away；　her　face　very　controlled　despite　the　tears　forming　in　her　eyes。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　simply。　〃Thank　them　all　for　me。〃
　As　Stowe　gave　the　order　to　swing　out　the　cutter's　launch；　Captain　Lewis　looked　down　at　Julia　and　said；　〃It's　time。〃　Then　he　firmly　shook　her　hand。　〃God　bless；　and　best　of　luck。〃
　Captain　Li　Hung…chang　of　the　Sung　Lien　Star　was　not　unduly　annoyed　at　being　stopped　by　the　American　Coast　Guard　and　boarded。　He　had　expected　it　long　before　now。　He　had　been　warned　by　Qin　Shang　Maritime　directors　that　the　United　States's　immigration　agents　were　stepping　up　their　efforts　to　halt　the　rise　in　illegal…alien　smuggling。　He　felt　impervious　to　any　threat。　The　most　diligent　inspection　would　never　discover　the　second　hull　attached　beneath　the　bilges　and　keel　of　his　ship　that　housed　three　hundred　immigrants。　Despite　the　cramped　and　insufferable　conditions；　he　had　not　lost　one。　Hung…chang　was　assured　that　a　generous　Qin　Shang　would　reward　him　with　a　fat　bonus　after　his　return　to　China；　as　in　the　past。　This　was　his　sixth　voyage　bining　the　legal　transportation　of　cargo　with　smuggling；　and　already　his　pensation　had　built　a　fine　house　for　his　family　in　the　upper…class　section　of　Beijing。
　
　He　watched　the　bow　wave　fall　off　the　Coast　Guard　cutter；　his　expression　calm　and　outwardly　relaxed。　Hung…chang　was　still　in　his　late　forties；　yet　his　hair　was　a　gleaming　salt…and…pepper　under　the　sun；　though　his　narrow　mustache　was　still　black。　He　stared　through　kindly…grandfather；　dark…amber　eyes；　his　lips　tight　with　silence　as　the　two　ships　drifted　closer。　Then　a　boat　was　lowered　and　began　to　motor　toward　the　Sung　Lien　Star。　He　nodded　to　his　first　officer。
　
　〃Go　to　the　boarding　ladder　and　greet　our　guests。　About　ten　by　the　look　of　it。　Give　them　your　fullest　cooperation　and　allow　them　free　access　throughout　the　ship。〃
　
　Then；　as　calm　and　relaxed　as　if　he　was　sitting　in　the　garden　of　his　home；　Captain　Li　Hung…chang　ordered　a　cup　of　tea　from　the　galley　and　watched　the　Weehawken's　boarding　party　climb　onto　the　deck　of　his　ship　and　begin　their　inspection。
　
　Lieutenant　Stowe　paid　his　respects　to　Captain　Hung…chang　on　the　bridge　and　requested　to　see　the　ship's　papers　and　manifest。　The　crew　from　the　Coast　Guard　cutter　began　to　split　up；　four　searching　the　ship's　partments；　three　examining　the　cargo　containers；　and　another　three　who　headed　for　the　crew's　quarters。　The　Chinese　acted　indifferently　to　the　intrusion　and　paid　little　attention　to　the　three　coast　guardsmen　who　seemed　more　interested　in　the　ship's　mess；　particularly　the　galley；　instead　of　their　indiv