cc.goldenbuddha-第14部分

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to　have　a　life　force。　The　chunk　of　gold　appeared　to　glow　in　the　dim　room；　as　if　illuminated　by　a　light　from　within。　The　large　jade　eyes　seemed　to　follow　his　every　move。　And　while　its　visage　might　appear　benign　to　some　only　that　of　a　potbellied；　smiling　prophetto　Spenser　the　image　seemed　to　be　mocking　him。　
　As　if　he　had　not　known　it　before；　earlier　in　the　evening　Spenser　had　bee　certain　that　what　he　had　done　was　not　a　stroke　of　genius。　The　Golden　Buddha　was　not　some　canvas；　dabbed　with　paintit　was　the　embodiment　of　reverence；　crafted　with　love　and　respect。　
　And　Spenser　had　swiped　it　like　a　candy　in　a　drugstore。　
　THE　DALAI　LAMA　listened　to　the　slow　flow　of　water　over　the　smooth　stones　while　he　meditated。　On　the　far　reaches　of　his　mind　was　static；　and　he　willed　the　disturbance　to　clear。　He　could　see　the　ball　of　light　in　the　center　of　his　skull；　but　the　edges　were　rough　and　pulsating。　Slowly　he　smoothed　the　signals；　and　the　ball　began　to　collapse　in　on　itself　until　only　a　pinpoint　of　white　light　remained。　Then　he　began　to　scan　his　physical　shell。　
　There　was　a　disturbance；　and　it　was　growing。　
　Eighteen　minutes　later；　he　came　back　into　his　shell　and　rose　to　his　feet。　
　Eight　yards　away；　sitting　under　a　green　canvas　awning　alongside　the　kidney…shaped　pool　on　the　estate　in　Beverly　Hills；　was　his　Chikyah　Kenpo。　The　Dalai　Lama　walked　over。　The　Hollywood　actor　who　was　his　host　smiled　and　rose　to　his　feet。　
　〃It　is　time　for　me　to　go　home；〃　the　Dalai　Lama　said。　
　There　was　no　pleading　or　disagreement　from　the　actor。　
　〃Your　Holiness；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　call　for　my　jet。〃　
　
　VICE　PRESIDENT　OF　Operations　Richard　Truitt　was　still　awake。　His　body　clock　had　yet　to　adjust　and　his　night　was　still　Macau's　day。　Logging　on　to　his　puter；　he　checked　for　messages。　One　had　been　sent　by　Cabrillo　a　few　hours　before。　Like　every　e…mail　he　received　from　the　chairman；　this　one　was　short。　
　Confirmation　received　from　the　home　of　George。　All　systems　go。　ETA　33　hours。　
　The　CIA　was　still　in　and　the　Oregon　would　arrive　in　less　than　two　days'　time。　Truitt　had　a　lot　of　work　to　plete　in　a　short　span。　Calling　down　to　the　hotel's　twenty…four…hour　room　service；　he　ordered　a　meal　of　bacon　and　eggs。　Then　he　walked　into　the　bathroom　to　shave；　shower　and　pick　his　disguise。　
　
　IN　THE　NORTH　of　Tibet；　on　the　border　between　U…Tsang　and　Amdo　province；　the　Basatongwula　Shan　mountains　towered　over　the　plains。　The　peak　was　a　snowcapped　sentinel　watching　over　an　area　where　few　men　trod。　To　the　untrained　eye；　the　lands　around　Basatongwula　Shan　looked　barren　and　desolate；　a　wasteland　best　left　alone　and　deserted。　On　the　surface；　this　may　have　been　true。　
　But　underneath；　hidden　for　centuries；　was　a　secret　known　only　by　a　few。　
　A　yak　walked　slowly　along　a　rocky　path。　On　his　back　was　a　black　mynah　bird　that　remained　silent　as　he　hitched　a　ride。　Slowly　at　first；　but　growing　in　intensity；　a　light　tremor　rippled　across　the　land。　The　yak　began　to　shake　in　fear；　causing　the　bird　to　take　to　the　air。　Digging　his　cloven　hooves　into　the　soil；　he　stood　firm　as　the　land　trembled。　Then　slowly　the　disruption　passed　and　the　earth　stilled。　The　yak　resumed　his　journey。　
　Within　minutes；　the　fur　on　his　legs　and　lower　body　was　covered　with　a　haze　from　a　mineral　that　over　countless　generations　had　made　some　men　rich　and　others　go　mad。　
　
　Cabrillo　lifted　his　cup　of　coffee　and　then　stood　up。　〃We're　less　than　twenty…four　hours　from　port。　How　are　things　going　in　the　Magic　Shop？〃　
　〃Most　of　the　props　are　constructed　and　I'm　starting　on　the　disguises。〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃Do　you　have　any　preferences　for　your　look？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃Try　to　keep　the　facial　hair　to　a　minimum；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃It　can　be　muggy　in　Macau。〃　
　Hanley　rose　from　the　table。　〃Sahib；　your　wish　is　my　mand。〃　
　　
　JUAN　CABRILLO　FINISHED　the　last　bite　of　an　omelet　filled　with　apple…smoked　bacon　and　Gorgonzola　cheese；　then　pushed　the　plate　away。　
　〃It's　a　wonder　we　all　don't　weigh　three　hundred　pounds；〃　he　said。　
　〃The　jalapeno　cheese　grits　alone　were　worth　waking　up　for；〃　Hanley　noted。　〃I　just　wish　the　chef　would　have　consulted　with　my　ex…wife。　I　might　still　be　married。〃　
　〃How's　the　divorce　going？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃Pretty　good；〃　Hanley　admitted；　〃considering　my　reported　ine　last　year　was　only　thirty　thousand　dollars。〃　
　〃Just　be　fair；〃　Cabrillo　cautioned。　〃I　don't　want　any　lawyers　snooping　around。〃　
　〃You　know　I　will；〃　Hanley　said　as　he　refilled　their　coffee　cups　from　a　silver　thermal　carafe　on　the　table。　〃I'm　just　waiting　for　Jeanie　to　calm　down。〃　
　WHEN　THE　OREGON　had　been　refitted　by　the　Corporation　in　the　shipyard　in　Odessa；　two　decks　had　been　installed　inside　the　hull；　giving　the　interior　a　total　of　three　levels；　not　including　the　raised　pilothouse。　The　lowest　level　housed　the　engines　and　physical　plants；　along　with　the　moon　pool；　machine　shops；　armory　and　storage　rooms。　One　level　above；　reached　by　metal　stairs　or　the　single　heavy…lift　elevator　amidships；　was　the　deck　containing　munications；　weapon　systems；　a　variety　of　shops　and　offices；　a　large　library；　a　puter　room　and　a　map　room。　The　third　level　housed　the　dining　room；　recreation　rooms；　a　full　gym；　plus　crew　cabins　and　meeting　and　boardrooms。　Level　three　was　surrounded　by　a　two…lane　running　track　for　exercise。　The　Oregon　was　a　city　unto　itself。　
　Hanley　walked　from　the　dining　room　and　across　the　running　track；　then　eschewed　the　elevators　for　the　stairs。　Opening　the　door；　he　started　down。　The　stairway　was　paneled　with　mahogany　and　lit　by　sconces。　At　the　bottom　Hanley　stepped　onto　a　thick　carpet　in　a　room　with　insets　in　the　walls　that　held　plaques　and　medals　awarded　by　grateful　customers　and　nations　to　the　men　and　women　of　the　Oregon。　
　He　made　his　way　forward　toward　the　bow　until　the　walls　in　the　hallway　turned　to　glass　on　the　port　side。　Behind　the　glass　was　what　could　have　passed　for　a　Hollywood　costume　and　set　shop。　Kevin　Nixon　raised　his　head　and　waved。　
　
　Hanley　opened　the　door　to　the　shop　and　entered。　It　was　cool　inside　and　the　air　was　scented　with　the　smells　of　grease；　vinyl　and　wax。　A　Willie　Nelson　CD　was　seeping　from　hidden　speakers。　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃　Hanley　asked。　Nixon　was　sitting　on　a　three…legged　stool　in　front　of　a　metal…framed；　wood…topped　workbench　that　had　a　ring　of　hand　tools　around　the　perimeter。　In　his　hands　he　held　an　ornamental　headdress　with　silken　gold　fabric　that　flowed　down　his　right　side　to　the　floor。　
　〃Two　hours；〃　he　said。　〃I　woke　up　early；　checked　my　e…mail　and　got　the　preliminary　specs。〃　
　〃Did　you　eat　breakfast？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃I　just　grabbed　some　fruit；〃　Nixon　said。　〃I　need　to　drop　ten　pounds　or　so。〃　
　Nixon　was　a　big　man；　but　he　carried　his　weight　well。　If　you　saw　him　on　the　street；　you　would　think　him　stocky　but　not　fat。　But　he　was　in　a　constant　battle；　his　weight　running　from　240　pounds　to　210；　depending　on　his　vigilance。　Last　summer；　when　he'd　taken　a　few　weeks　off　and　hiked　the　Appalachian　Trail；　he'd　gotten　down　to　200；　but　his　sedentary　life　aboard　ship　and　the　charms　of　the　chef's　cooking　had　caught　up　to　him。　
　Hanley　walked　over　to　the　bench　and　stared　at　Nixon's　work。　〃That's　religious　garb？〃　
　〃For　a　Macanese　in　a　Good　Friday　parade；　it　is。〃　
　〃We'll　need　a　total　of　six　sets；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Nixon　nodded。　〃I　figured　two　shaman　and　four　penitents。〃　
　Hanley　walked　over　to　the　wall；　where　several　more　benches　were　abutting　the　bulkhead。　〃I'm　going　to　start　on　the　masks。〃　
　Nixon　nodded　and　reached　for　a　remote　control　for　the　CD　player。　He　punched　a　button　and　Willie　stopped。　Johnny　Rivers's　〃Secret　Agent　Man〃　began　to　play。　
　〃Kevin；〃　Hanley　said　easily；　〃you　just　love　to　do　that；　don't　you？〃　
　〃There's　a　man　who　lives　a　life　of　danger；〃　Nixon　sang　in　a　baritone。　
　
　TRUITT　SENT　A　map　showing　the　parade　route　for　Good　Friday；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We　lucked　outtraffic　in　the　downtown　area　will　be　at　a　standstill。〃　
　Eddie　Seng　reached　across　the　table　for　one　of　the　folders。　〃It's　surprising　that　the　Chinese　would　have　such　a　large　celebration　for　something　that　concerns　Christianity。〃　
　〃Macau　was　a　Portuguese　possession　from　1537　until　1999；〃　Linda　Ross　noted。　〃Roughly　thirty　thousand　of　the　population　is　Catho