inca.gold-第56部分

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　deck　mounted　one　large　smokestack　and　two　pilothouses；　one　on　each　end。　Like　most　car　ferries；　she　could　be　loaded　and　off…loaded　from　either　bow　or　stern；　depending　on　the　direction　the　ferry　was　steaming　at　the　time。　Even　when　new；　she　would　never　have　been　called　glamorous；　but　she　had　supplied　an　important　and　unforgettable　service　in　the　lives　of　millions　of　her　former　passengers。
　　　　The　name　painted　across　the　center　of　the　superstructure　that　housed　the　paddlewheels　identified　her　as　the　Alhambra。
　　　　〃Where　did　you　steal　that　derelict？〃　asked　Pitt。　〃From　a　maritime　museum？〃
　　　　〃To　know　her　is　to　love　her；〃　said　Giordino　without　feeling。
　　　　〃She　was　the　only　vessel　I　could　find　quickly　that　could　land　a　helicopter；〃　Gunn　explained。　〃Besides；　I　kept　Sandecker　happy　by　obtaining　her　on　the　cheap。〃
　　　　Loren　smiled。　〃At　least　this　is　one　relic　you　can't　get　in　your　transportation　collection。〃
　　　　Pitt　pointed　to　the　walking　beam　mounted　above　the　high　A…frame　that　tilted　up　and　down；　one　end　driven　by　a　connecting　rod　from　the　steam　cylinder；　the　other　driving　the　crank　that　turned　the　paddlewheel。　〃I　can't　believe　her　boilers　are　still　fired　by　coal。〃
　　　　〃They　were　converted　to　oil　fifty　years　ago；〃　said　Gunn。　〃The　engines　are　still　in　remarkable　shape。　Her　cruising　speed　is　twenty　miles　an　hour。〃
　　　　〃Don't　you　mean　knots　or　kilometers？〃　said　Loren。
　　　　〃Ferryboat　speeds　are　measured　in　miles；〃　answered　Gunn　knowledgeably。
　　　　〃Doesn't　look　like　she's　going　anywhere；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Not　unless　you　dig　her　keel　out　of　the　muck。〃
　　　　〃She'll　be　floating　like　a　cork　by　midnight；〃　Gunn　assured　him。　〃The　tide　runs　four　to　five　meters　in　this　section　of　the　Gulf。〃
　　　　Though　he　made　a　show　of　disapproval；　Pitt　already　felt　great　affection　toward　the　old　ferry。　It　was　love　at　first　sight。　Antique　automobiles；　aircraft；　or　boats；　anything　mechanical　that　came　from　the　past；　fascinated　him。　Born　too　late；　he　often　plained；　born　eighty　years　too　late。
　　　　〃And　the　crew？〃
　　　　〃An　engineer　with　one　assistant　and　two　deckhands。〃　Gunn　paused　and　gave　a　wide　boyish　smile。　〃I　get　to　man　the　helm　while　you　and　Al　cavort　around　the　Gulf　in　your　flying　machine。〃
　　　　〃Speaking　of　the　helicopter；　where　have　you　hidden　it？〃
　　　　〃Inside　the　auto　deck；〃　replied　Gunn。　〃Makes　it　convenient　to　service　it　without　worrying　about　the　weather。　We　push　it　out　onto　the　loading　deck　for　flight　operations。〃
　　　　Pitt　looked　at　Giordino。　〃Have　you　planned　a　daily　search　pattern？〃
　　　　The　stocky　Italian　shook　his　head。　〃I　worked　out　the　fuel　range　and　flight　times；　but　left　the　search　pattern　for　you。〃
　　　　〃What　sort　of　time　frame　are　we　looking　at？〃
　　　　〃Should　be　able　to　cover　the　area　in　three　days。〃
　　　　〃Before　I　forget；〃　said　Gunn。　〃The　admiral　wants　you　to　contact　him　first　thing　in　the　morning。　There's　an　Iridium　phone　in　the　forward　pilothouse。〃
　　　　〃Why　not　call　him　now？〃　asked　Pitt。
　　　　Gunn　looked　at　his　watch。　〃We're　three　hours　behind　the　East　Coast。　About　now　he's　sitting　in　the　Kennedy　Center　watching　a　play。〃
　　　　〃Excuse　me；〃　interrupted　Loren。　〃May　I　ask　a　few　questions？〃
　　　　The　men　paused　and　stared　at　her。　Pitt　bowed。　〃You　have　the　floor；　Congresswoman。〃
　　　　〃The　first　is　where　do　you　plan　to　park　the　Pierce　Arrow？　It　doesn't　look　safe　enough　around　here　to　leave　a　hundred…thousand…dollar　classic　car　sitting　unattended　on　a　fishing　dock。〃
　　　　Gunn　looked　surprised　that　she　should　ask。　〃Didn't　Dirk　tell　you？　The　Pierce　and　the　trailer　e　on　board　the　ferry。　There's　acres　of　room　inside。〃
　　　　〃Is　there　a　bath　and　shower？〃
　　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　there　are　four　ladies'　restrooms　on　the　upper　passenger　deck　and　a　shower　in　the　crew's　quarters。〃
　　　　〃No　standing　in　line　for　the　potty。　I　like　that。〃
　　　　Pitt　laughed。　〃You　don't　even　have　to　unpack。〃
　　　　〃Make　believe　you're　on　a　Carnival　Lines　cruise　ship；〃　said　Giordino　humorously。
　　　　〃And　your　final　question？〃　inquired　Gunn。
　　　　〃I'm　starved；〃　she　announced　regally。　〃When　do　we　eat？〃

　　　　In　autumn；　the　Baja　sun　has　a　peculiar　radiance；　spilling　down　through　a　sky　of　strange　brilliant　blue…white。　This　day；　there　wasn't　a　cloud　to　be　seen　from　horizon　to　horizon。　One　of　the　most　arid　lands　in　the　world；　the　Baja　Peninsula　protects　the　Sea　of　Cortez　from　the　heavy　swells　that　roll　in　from　the　dim　reaches　of　the　Pacific　Ocean。　Tropical　storms　with　high　winds　are　not　unknown　during　the　summer　months；　but　near　the　end　of　October　the　prevailing　winds　turn　east　to　west　and　generally　spare　the　Gulf　from　high；　choppy　swells。
　　　　With　the　Pierce　Arrow　and　its　travel　trailer　safely　tied　down　on　the　cavernous　auto　deck；　Gunn　at　the　wheel　in　the　pilothouse；　and　Loren　stretched　on　a　lounge　chair　in　a　bikini；　the　ferry　moved　out　of　the　breakwater　harbor　and　made　a　wide　turn　to　the　south。　The　old　boat　presented　an　impressive　sight　as　black　smoke　rose　from　her　stack　and　her　paddlewheels　pounded　the　water。　The　walking　beam；　shaped　like　a　flattened　diamond；　rocked　up　and　down；　transmitting　the　power　from　the　engine's　huge　piston　to　the　shaft　that　cranked　the　paddlewheels。　There　was　a　rhythm　to　its　motion；　almost　hypnotic　if　you　stared　at　it　long　enough。
　　　　While　Giordino　made　a　preflight　inspection　of　the　helicopter　and　topped　off　the　fuel　tank；　Pitt　was　briefed　on　the　latest　developments　by　Sandecker　in　Washington　over　the　Motorola　Iridium　satellite　phone。　Not　until　an　hour　later；　as　the　ferry　steamed　off　Point　Estrella；　did　Pitt　switch　off　the　phone　and　descend　to　the　improvised　flight　pad　on　the　open　forward　deck　of　the　ferry。　As　soon　as　Pitt　was　strapped　in　his　seat；　Giordino　lifted　the　turquoise　NUMA　craft　off　the　ferry　and　set　a　parallel　course　along　the　coastline。
　　　　〃What　did　the　old　boy　have　to　say　before　we　left　the　Alhambra？〃　asked　Giordino　as　he　leveled　the　chopper　off　at　800　meters　（2600　feet）。　〃Did　Yaeger　turn　up　any　new　clues？〃
　　　　Pitt　was　sitting　in　the　copilot's　seat　and　acting　as　navigator。　〃Yaeger　had　no　startling　revelations。　The　only　information　he　could　add　was　that　he　believes　the　statue　of　the　demon　sits　directly　over　the　entrance　to　the　passageway　leading　to　the　treasure　cavern。〃
　　　　〃What　about　the　mysterious　river？〃
　　　　〃He's　still　in　the　dark　on　that　one。〃
　　　　〃And　Sandecker？〃
　　　　〃The　latest　news　is　that　we've　been　blindsided。　Customs　and　the　FBI　dropped　in　out　of　the　blue　and　informed　him　that　a　gang　of　art　thieves　is　also　on　the　trail　of　Huascar's　treasure。　He　warned　us　to　keep　a　sharp　eye　out　for　them。〃
　　　　〃We　have　petition？〃
　　　　〃A　family　that　oversees　a　worldwide　empire　dealing　in　stolen　and　forged　works　of　art。〃
　　　　〃What　do　they　call　themselves？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　〃Zolar　International。〃
　　　　Giordino　looked　blank　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　laughed　uncontrollably。
　　　　〃What's　so　hilarious？〃
　　　　〃Zolar；〃　Giordino　choked　out。　〃1　remember　a　dumb　kid　in　the　eighth　grade　who　did　a　corny　magician　act　at　school　assemblies。　He　called　himself　the　Great　Zolar。〃
　　　　〃From　what　Sandecker　told　me；〃　said　Pitt；　〃the　guy　who　heads　the　organization　is　nowhere　close　to　dumb。　Government　agents　a　mate　his　annual　illicit　take　in　excess　of　eighty　million　dollars。　A　tidy　sum　when　you　consider　the　IRS　is　shut　out　of　the　profits。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　so　he　isn't　the　nerdy　kid　I　knew　in　school。　How　close　do　the　Feds　think　Zolar　is　to　the　treasure？〃
　　　　〃They　think　he　has　better　directions　than　we　do。〃
　　　　〃I'm　willing　to　bet　my　Thanksgiving　turkey　we　find　the　site　first。〃
　　　　〃Either　way；　you'd　lose。〃
　　　　Giordino　turned　and　looked　at　him。　〃Care　to　let　your　old　buddy　in　on　the　rationale？〃
　　　　〃If　we　hit　the　jackpot　ahead　of　them；　we're　supposed　to　fade　into　the　landscape　and　let　them　scoop　up　the　loot。〃
　　　　〃Give　it　up？〃　Giordino　was　incredulous。
　　　　〃Those　are　the　orders；〃　said　Pitt；　resentment　written　in　his　eyes。
　　　　〃But　why？〃　demanded　Giordino。　〃What　great　wisdom　does　our　benevolent　government　see　in　making　criminals　rich？〃
　　　　〃So　Customs　and　the　FBI　can　trail　and　trap　them　into　an　indictment　and　eventual　conviction　for　some　pretty　heavy　crimes。〃
　　　　〃I　can't　say　this　sort　of　justice　appeals　to　me。　Will　the　taxpayers　be　notified　of　the　windfall？〃
　　　　〃Probably　not；　any　more　than　they　were　told　about　the　Spanish　gold　the　army　removed　from　Victorio　Peak　in　New　Mexico　after　it　was　discovered　by　a　group　of　civilians　in　the　nineteen　thirties。〃
　　　　〃We　live　in　a　sordid；　unrelenting　world；〃　Giordino　observed　poetically。
　　　　Pitt　motioned　toward　the　rising　sun。　〃e　around　on　an　approximate　heading　of　one…one…o　degrees。〃
　　　　Giordino　took　note　of　the　eastern　heading。　〃You　want　to　check　out　the　other　side　of　the　Gulf　on　the　first　run？〃
　　　　〃Only　four　islands　have　the　geological　features　similar　to　what　we're　looking　for。　But　you　know　I　like　launching　the　search　on　the　outer　perimeters　of　our　grid　and　then　working　back　toward　the　more　promising　targets。〃
　　　　Giordino　grinned。　〃Any　sane　man　would　begin　in　the　center。〃
　　　　〃Didn't　you　know？〃　Pitt　came　back。　〃The　village　idiot　has　all　the　fun。〃

　　　　It　had　been　a　long　four　days　of　searching。　Oxley　was　discouraged；　Sarason　oddly　placent；　while　Moore　was　baffled。　They　had　flown　over　every　island　in　the　Sea　of　Cortez　that　had　the　correct　geological　formations。　Several　displayed　features　on　their　peaks　that　suggested　man…made　rock　carvings。　But　low　altitude　reconnaissance　and　strenuous　climbs　up　steep　palisades　to　verify　the　rock　structures　up　close　revealed　configurations　that　appeared　as　sculpted　beasts　only　in　their　imaginations。
　　　　Moore　was　no　longer　the　arrogant　academic。　He　was　plainly　baffled。　The　rock　carving　had　to　exist　on　an　island　in　an　inland　sea。　The　pictographs　on　the　golden　mummy　suit　were　distinct；　and　there　was　no　mistaking　the　directions　in　his　translation。　For　a　man　so　cocksure　of　himself；　the　failure　was　maddening。
　　　　Moore　was　also　puzzled　by　Sarason's　sudden　change　in　attitude。　The　bastard；　Moore　mused；　no　longer　displayed　animosity　or　anger。　Those　strange　almost　colorless　eyes　always　seemed　to　be　in　a　constant　state　of　observation；　never　losing　their　intensity。　Moore　knew　whenever　he　gazed　into　them　that　he　was　facing　a　man　who　was　no　stranger　to　death。
　　　　Moore　was　being　increasingly　uneasy。　The　balance　of　power　had　shifted。　His　edge　was　dulled　now　he　was　certain　that　Sarason　saw　beyond　his　credentials　as　an　insolent　schoolteacher。　If　he　had　recognized　the　killer　instinct　in　Sarason；　it　stood　to　reason　Sarason　had　identified　it　in　him　too。
　　　　But　there　was　a　small　measure　of　satisfaction。　Sarason　was　not　clairvoyant。　He　could　not　have　known；　nor　did　any　man　alive　know　except　the　President　of　the　United　States；　that　Professor　Henry　Moore；　respected　anthropologist；　and　his　equally　respected　archaeologist　wife；　Micki　were　experts　in　carrying　out　assassinations　of　foreign　terrorist　leaders。　With　their　academic　credentials　they　easily　traveled　in　and　out　of　foreign　countries　as　consultants　on　archaeological　projects。　Interestingly；　the　CIA　was　in　total　ignorance　of　their　actions。　Their　assignments　came　directly　from　an　obscure　agency　calling　itself　the　Foreign　Activities　Council　that　operated　out　of　a　small　basement　room　under　the　White　House。
　　　　Moore　shifted　restlessly　in　his　seat　and　studied　a　chart　of　the　Gulf。　Finally　he　said；　〃Something　is　very；　very　wrong。〃
　　　　Oxley　looked　at