cc.floodtide-第84章

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ybody　questions　you；　just　say　you're　friends　of　the　Bayou　Kid。　That's　what　some　people　call　me　around　here。　Except　for　my　old　fishing　pal；　Tom　Straight；　the　bartender。　He　still　calls　me　by　my　given　name。〃
　〃Is　the　engine　powerful　enough　to　move　it　upriver　against　the　current？〃　asked　Pitt　naively。
　〃I　think　you'll　find　she　can　do　the　job。〃
　Pitt　and　Giordino　were　elated　and　grateful　for　the　old　fisherman's　significant　cooperation。　〃We'll　bring　your　shantyboat　back　in　the　condition　we　found　it；〃　Pitt　promised。
　
　Giordino　reached　across　the　table　and　shook　the　old　man's　hand。　When　he　spoke　it　was　with　uncharacteristic　humility。　〃I　don't　think　you'll　ever　know　how　many　people　will　benefit　from　your　kindness。〃
　
　The　fisherman　stroked　his　beard　and　waved　an　airy　hand。　〃Glad　to　be　of　help。　I　wish　you　fellas　luck。　The　illegal　business　of　smuggling；　especially　that　of　human　beings；　is　a　rotten　way　to　make　money。〃
　
　He　watched　thoughtfully　as　Pitt　and　Giordino　left　Charlie's　Fish　Dock　and　stepped　into　the　night　outside。　He　sat　and　finished　his　beer。　It　had　been　a　long　day；　and　he　was　tired。
　
　〃Did　you　learn　anything　at　the　bar？〃　Pitt　asked　Giordino　as　they　walked　from　the　dock　down　an　alley　to　a　busy　street。
　〃The　rivermen　aren't　real　friendly　toward　Qin　Shang　Maritime；〃　answered　Giordino。　〃The　Chinese　refuse　to　use　local　labor　or　boat　panies。　All　towboat　and　barge　traffic　out　of　Sungari　is　conducted　by　Chinese　boats　and　crews　who　live　at　the　port　and　never　e　into　Morgan　City。　There　is　an　undercurrent　of　anger　that　just　might　erupt　into　a　small…scale　war　if　Qin　Shang　doesn't　begin　showing　more　respect　to　St。　Mary　Parish　residents。〃
　
　〃I　doubt　if　Shang　ever　cultivated　an　affinity　for　dealing　with　peasants；〃　mented　Pitt　drolly。
　〃What's　the　plan？〃
　〃First　we　find　a　local　bed　and　breakfast。　Then；　soon　as　the　sun　es　up；　we'll　board　the　shantyboat；　travel　upriver　and　canvass　the　canal　to　nowhere。〃
　〃And　Bartholomeaux？〃　Giordino　persisted。　〃Aren't　you　curious　to　see　if　that's　where　the　barge　dumps　human　cargo？〃
　〃Curious；　yes。　Desperate；　no。　We're　not　working　under　a　deadline。　We　can　size　up　Bartholomeaux　after　we　check　the　canal。〃
　〃If　you　want　to　conduct　an　underwater　search；〃　said　Giordino；　〃we'll　need　diving　equipment。〃
　〃Soon　as　we're　settled　in；　I'll　call　Rudi　and　have　him　ferry　our　gear　to　wherever　we're　staying。〃
　〃And　Bartholomeaux？〃　Giordino　continued。　〃Should　we　prove　the　old　sugar　mill　is　a　staging　and　distribution　depot　for　smuggled　aliens；　then　what？〃
　〃We'll　turn　the　chore　of　conducting　a　raid　over　to　INS　agents；　but　only　after　we　give　Admiral　Sandecker　the　satisfaction　of　informing　Peter　Harper　that　NUMA　has　uncovered　another　one　of　Qin　Shang's　illicit　operations　without　his　help。〃
　〃I　believe　that　is　what　you　call　poetic　justice。〃
　Pitt　grinned　at　his　friend。　〃Now　es　the　hard　part。〃
　〃Hard　part？〃
　〃We　have　to　find　a　taxi。〃
　
　As　they　stood　on　the　curb　Giordino　turned　and　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　at　the　bar　and　grill。　〃Did　that　old　fisherman　look　familiar　to　you？〃
　
　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；　there　was　something　about　him　that　struck　a　chord。〃
　〃We　never　did　get　his　name。〃
　〃Next　time　we　see　him；〃　said　Pitt；　〃we'll　have　to　ask　if　we've　ever　met。〃
　
　Back　in　Charlie's　Fish　Dock　restaurant　and　bar；　the　old　fisherman　glanced　up　at　the　bar　as　the　bartender　yelled　across　the　room　at　him。
　〃Hey；　Cussler。　You　want　another　beer？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　The　old　man　nodded。　〃One　more　brew　before　I　hit　the　road　won't　hurt。〃
　
　
　〃OUR　HOME　AWAY　FROM　HOME；〃　SAID　GlORDINO　AT　HIS　FIRST　look　of　the　shantyboat　he　and　Pitt　were　borrowing　from　the　old　fisherman。　〃Hardly　bigger　than　a　North　Dakota　outhouse。〃
　〃Not　fancy　but　functional；〃　Pitt　said　as　he　paid　the　taxi　driver　and　studied　the　ancient　boat　that　was　moored　at　the　end　of　a　rickety；　sagging　dock　that　extended　from　the　riverbank　on　waterlogged　pilings。　Inside　the　dock；　several　small　aluminum　fishing　boats　bobbed　in　the　green　water；　their　outboard　motors　showing　rust　and　grease　from　long；　hard　use。
　〃Talk　about　roughing　it；〃　Giordino　groaned　as　he　unloaded　their　underwater　equipment　from　the　trunk　of　the　taxi。　〃No　central　heating　or　air…conditioning。　I'll　bet　this　tub　doesn't　have　running　water　or　electricity　to　operate　lights　and　a　television。〃
　〃You　don't　need　running　water；〃　said　Pitt。　〃You　can　bathe　in　the　river。〃
　〃What　about　a　toilet？〃
　Pitt　smiled。　〃Use　your　imagination。〃
　Giordino　pointed　to　a　small　reception　dish　on　the　roof。　〃Radar；〃　he　muttered　incredulously；　〃It　has　radar。〃
　The　shantyboat's　hull　was　broad　and　flat　with　easy　rakes；　much　like　that　of　a　small　barge。　The　black　paint　was　heavily　scarred　from　a　hundred　sideswipes　against　dock　pilings　and　other　boats；　but　the　bottom　that　could　be　seen　below　the　water…line　appeared　scraped　clean　of　marine　growth。　A　square　box　with　windows　and　doors；　which　was　the　house；　rose　about　seven　feet；　its　weathered　blue　walls　nearly　flush　with　the　sides　of　the　hull。　A　small；　roofed…over　veranda　sporting　lawn　chairs　stretched　across　the　bow。　Above；　centered　on　the　house　roof；　as　if　it　was　an　afterthought；　sat　a　low；　raised　bridgelike　structure　that　acted　as　a　skylight　and　a　small　pilothouse。　On　the　roof　lay　a　short　skiff　with　paddles　lashed　upside　down。　The　black　chimney　pipe　from　a　wood…burning　potbellied　stove　stuck　up　from　the　aft　end　of　the　house。
　
　Giordino　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I've　slept　on　bus　benches　that　had　more　class　than　this。　Kick　me　the　next　time　I　plain　about　my　motel　room。〃
　
　〃Oh；　ye　of　little　faith；　stop　griping。　Keep　telling　yourself　that　it　didn't　cost　us　anything。〃
　〃I've　got　to　admit　that　it　has　character。〃
　Pitt　aimed　the　chronically　plaining　Giordino　toward　the　shantyboat。　〃Go　load　up　the　equipment　and　check　out　the　engine。　I'll　go　over　to　the　store　and　buy　some　groceries。〃
　〃I　can't　wait　to　see　our　motive　power；〃　Giordino　groused。　〃Ten　to　one　it　doubles　as　an　eggbeater。〃
　
　Pitt　walked　a　boardwalk　through　a　boatyard　leading　down　the　bank　into　the　river。　A　worker　was　giving　a　wooden　fishing　boat　set　inside　a　cradle　on　rails　a　new　coat　of　antifouling　paint　on　the　keel　and　hull。　Next　door；　Pitt　came　to　a　wooden　structure　under　a　sign　that　proclaimed　WHEELER'S　LANDING。　A　long　porch　ran　around　the　building；　which　was　raised　off　the　ground　by　rows　of　short　pilings。　The　walls　were　painted　a　bright　green　with　yellow　shutters　framing　the　windows。　Inside；　Pitt　found　it　incredible　that　so　much　merchandise　could　be　crammed　in　so　small　a　space。　Boating　parts　took　up　one　end　of　the　store；　fishing　and　hunting　supplies　the　other。　The　center　was　devoted　to　groceries。　A　pact　refrigerator　stocked　with　five　times　as　much　beer　as　soft　drinks　and　dairy　products　stood　against　one　wall。
　
　Pitt　picked　up　a　hand　basket　and　made　out　very　well；　selecting　enough　foodstuffs　to　feed　him　and　Giordino　three　or　four　days；　and；　as　with　most　men；　he　probably　bought　more　than　they　could　eat；　especially　specialty　items　and　condiments。　Setting　the　overloaded　basket　on　the　counter　by　the　cash　register；　he　introduced　himself　to　the　portly　owner　of　the　store　who　was　busily　stocking　canned　goods。
　〃Mr。　Wheeler。　My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。　My　friend　and　I　have　charted　the　Bayou　Kid's　shanty　boat。〃
　Wheeler　brushed　his　thick　mustache　with　the　light　touch　of　a　finger　and　stuck　out　his　hand。　〃Been　expectin'　you。　The　Kid　said　you'd　be　by　this　mornin'。　She's　all　ready　to　go。　Fuel　tank　filled；　battery　charged　and　topped　off　with　oil。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　your　trouble。　We　should　be　back　in　a　few　days。〃
　〃I　hear　y'all　is　goin'　up　to　the　canal　them　Chinks　built。〃
　Pitt　nodded。　〃Word　travels。〃
　〃Y'all　got　charts　of　the　river？〃　asked　Wheeler。
　〃I　was　hoping　you　might　supply　them。〃
　
　Wheeler　turned　and　checked　the　labels　taped　on　a　slotted　cabinet　hanging　on　the　wall　containing　rolled　nautical　charts　of　the　local　waterways　and　topographical　maps　of　the　surrounding　marshlands。　He　pulled　out　several　and　spread　them　on　the　counter。　〃Here's　a　chart　showing　depths　of　the　river　and　a　few　topo　maps　of　the　Atchafalaya　Valley。　One　of　them　shows　the　area　around　the　canal。〃
　
　〃You're　a　great　help；　Mr。　Wheeler；〃　said　Pitt　sincerely。　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃I　guess　y'all　kn