cc.goldenbuddha-第23部分

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moorage　below　A…Ma　Temple　and　started　out　for　a　patrol；　while　a　large　luxury　yacht　with　a　helicopter　perched　on　her　fantail　called　on　the　radio　for　the　location　of　her　slip。　
　A　lone　cargo　ship；　decades　past　her　prime；　started　into　port　to　deliver　a　cargo　of　bicycles　from　Taiwan。　On　another　cargo　ship；　this　one　appearing　old　and　decrepit；　a　man　with　a　blond　crew　cut　was　sitting　at　the　table　in　his　stateroom　reading。　
　Juan　Cabrillo　had　been　awake　for　hours。　
　He　was　running　every　possible　scenario　through　his　head。　
　A　light　knock　came　at　the　door；　and　Cabrillo　stood　up　and　walked　over　and　opened　the　hatch。　
　〃Somehow　I　knew　you'd　be　awake；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Hanley　held　a　tray　of　plates　covered　by　metal　lids；　steam　escaping　from　under　them。　
　〃Breakfast；〃　he　said　as　he　walked　inside。　
　Cabrillo　cleared　a　space　on　the　table　and　Hanley　off…loaded　the　contents。　Next　he　pulled　the　lid　off　a　dinner…sized　plate　and　smiled。　
　Cabrillo　nodded　and　pointed　to　a　seat。　
　Hanley　slid　into　the　seat　and　poured　two　cups　of　coffee　from　a　thermal　carafe；　then　removed　the　lid　from　another　plate。　
　〃Anything　unusual　happen　overnight？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃No；〃　Hanley　said　easily；　〃everything　is　still　according　to　plan。〃　
　Cabrillo　sipped　his　coffee。　
　〃There's　a　lot　here　that　could　go　wrong；〃　he　said。　
　〃There　always　is。〃　
　〃That's　why　we　get　the　big　money。〃　
　〃That's　why　we　get　the　big　money；〃　Hanley　agreed。　
　
　〃SO；　DO　YOU　know　when　I　lost　my　virginity？〃　the　brunette　flight　attendant　asked。　〃You　seem　to　know　everything　else。〃
　〃That's　too　personal。〃　The　blond…haired　man　laughed。　〃But　my　failed　relationships　and　credit　card　bills　aren't？〃　The　attendant　grinned。　
　〃Sorry　about　the　intrusion　into　your　privacy。　The　group　I　work　with　has　a　thing　for　detail。〃　
　〃Sounds　like　you're　a　spy；〃　the　attendant　noted。　
　〃Oh；　heck　no；〃　the　blond…haired　man　said；　〃we　just　work　for　them。〃　
　〃Tax…free　ine　enough　so　I　can　retire？〃
　〃Everyone's　dream；〃　the　blond…haired　man　admitted。　The　brunette　attendant　glanced　around　the　forward　cabin。　She　was　really　nothing　more　than　a　glorified　waitress　on　a　restaurant　in　the　sky。　〃How　can　I　say　no？〃　she　said　finally。　〃Good；〃　the　blond…haired　man　said；　rising。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　asked。　
　〃I　have　to　go　kill　the　pilot；〃　the　blond…haired　man　said　lightly。　The　look　on　the　brunette　flight　attendant's　face　was　priceless。　〃Just　kidding；〃　the　blond…haired　man　said。　〃I　have　to　pee。　I'm　qualified　in　737s；　but　I　think　Mr。　Fabulous　would　think　it　odd　if　I　disappeared。〃　
　〃Who　are　you　people？〃　the　attendant　muttered　as　the　blond…haired　man　slipped　into　the　lavatory。　
　
　〃ARE　YOU　SURE　this　beast　will　make　it　to　the　border　and　back？〃　…Carl　Gannon　asked。　Gannon　was　staring　at　a　decrepit　old　two…and…a…half…ton　truck　parked　under　a　tree　alongside　a　stone　building　on　a　side　street　in　Thimbu；　Bhutan。　Sometime　in　the　past　the　truck　had　been　painted　an　olive　drab　color；　but　most　of　the　paint　was　gone　and　now　it　showed　mostly　a　light　dusting　of　hairy　rust。　The　two…part　windshield　was　cracked　on　the　passenger　side；　and　all　six　of　the　tires　were　worn　past　any　margin　of　safety。　The　hood；　which　had　a　strip　down　the　center　so　the　sides　could　be　flipped　open　to　work　on　the　engine；　was　bent　and　had　been　welded　more　than　once。　The　running　boards　were　wooden　slats。　The　exhaust　pipe　hung　down　from　the　undercarriage　and　was　held　in　place　with　rusted　wire。　
　Gannon　walked　to　the　rear　and　stared　into　the　bed。　Some　of　the　planks　that　formed　the　floor　were　cracked　and　some　were　missing；　and　the　canvas　flaps　that　covered　the　sides　were　in　roughly　the　same　condition　as　a　World　War　II　pup　tent。　
　〃Oh；　yes；　sir；〃　the　Bhutanese　owner　said　easily。　〃She　has　a　strong　heart。〃　
　Gannon　continued　his　walk　around。　Climbing　onto　the　passenger　running　board；　he　peeked　into　the　cockpit。　The　long　bench　seat　was　worn；　with　portions　of　the　springs　underneath　visible；　but　the　few　gauges　on　the　dash　were　not　cracked　and　appeared　functional。　He　climbed　down；　then　walked　over　to　the　hood　and　lifted　the　passenger　side；　which　he　folded　up　and　over。　The　engine　was　surprisingly　clean。　It　smelled　strongly　of　thick　grease　and　fresh　oil。　The　belts　and　hoses；　while　not　new；　were　serviceable；　and　the　electrical　wires　and　battery　looked　good。　Gannon　climbed　down。　
　〃Can　you　start　her　up？〃　
　The　man　walked　around；　opened　the　door　and　climbed　into　the　driver's　seat。　
　After　pulling　out　the　choke；　he　pumped　the　gas　pedal；　then　twisted　the　key。　After　turning　over　a　few　times；　the　engine　roared　to　life。　Smoke　drifted　out　of　a　rusted　hole　in　the　exhaust　pipe；　but　the　engine　settled　into　an　idle。　Gannon　listened　carefully。　There　was　no　tapping　from　the　valves；　but　he　placed　his　hand　over　the　covers　just　to　be　sure。　Nothing　was　amiss。　
　〃Rev　her　up；〃　he　shouted。　
　The　owner　depressed　the　gas　pedal；　then　left　off。　He　did　this　four　times。　
　〃Okay；〃　Gannon　said；　〃you　can　shut　her　off。〃　
　The　owner　turned　off　the　engine；　pocketed　the　key；　and　then　climbed　from　the　cockpit。　He　was　small；　a　shade　over　five　feet　tall；　with　tanned　skin　and　slightly　almond…shaped　eyes。　Smiling　at　Gannon；　he　awaited　the　verdict。　
　〃Do　you　have　spare　belts　and　hoses？〃　
　〃I　can　find　some；〃　the　man　told　him。　
　Gannon　reached　into　his　pocket　and　removed　a　wad　of　bills　wrapped　with　a　thick　rubber　band。　Removing　the　rubber　band；　he　fanned　out　the　bills。　
　〃How　much　to　take　me　and　a　cargo　to　the　border　with　Tibet？〃　he　asked。　〃With　amnesia　included。〃　
　〃Amnesia？〃　the　man　said；　not　understanding。　
　〃After　this　is　over；〃　Gannon　said；　〃I　want　you　to　forget　we　ever　　met。〃　
　The　man　nodded。　〃One　thousand　dollars；〃　he　said　easily；　〃and　one　DVD　player。〃　
　〃Sounds　reasonable；〃　Gannon　said。　〃Now；　do　you　know　where　I　can　buy　an　ox？〃　
　
　THE　OREGON　WAS　a　buzz　of　activity。　Belowdecks　in　the　Magic　Shop；　the　players　in　the　band　were　checking　their　instruments　and　arranging　their　costumes。　Juan　Cabrillo　flipped　open　his　cell　phone　and　answered　a　call。　
　〃Situation　is　stabilized　here；〃　Linda　Ross　said。　〃I'm　headed　to　the　site　now。〃　
　〃We've　got　three　men　inside　and　one　watching　from　outside　the　wall；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃If　anyone　catches　on；　you　sound　the　alarm　and　help　will　e　running。〃　
　〃Piece　of　cake；〃　Ross　said。　
　The　telephone　went　dead　and　Cabrillo　turned　to　Max　Hanley。　
　〃Iselda　is　making　her　entrance。〃　
　〃So　far　so　good；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Mark　Murphy　finished　with　Kasim　and　patted　his　back。　〃There　you　go；〃　he　said。　
　Michael　Halpert　was　playing　with　a　microphone。　Murphy　turned　to　him　and　motioned。　
　〃e　on；　kid；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　get　you　strapped。〃　
　Halpert　walked　over　and　turned　his　back　to　Murphy；　who　raised　Halpert's　shirt。　
　〃This　is　a　featherlight　thirty…eight；　Mike；〃　Murphy　recited　as　he　taped　a　holster　containing　the　weapon　on　Halpert's　lower　back。　〃Now　I　want　you　to　reach　back　and　yank　the　smoke　wagon。〃　
　
　It　was　a　line　Murphy　had　heard　from　the　movie　Tombstoneever　since　then；　he'd　used　it　unmercifully。　Halpert　reached　back　and　pulled　the　pistol。　
　〃Hang　on；〃　Murphy　said。　〃It's　too　high；　you're　cocking　your　elbow。〃　
　He　readjusted　the　holster　and　waited　until　Halpert　tried　it　again。　
　〃That's　better；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　see　your　boot。〃　
　Halpert　turned　and　raised　his　pant　leg。　Murphy　strapped　on　a　knife　inside　a　hard　plastic　case。　
　〃Be　careful　with　this；　Mike；〃　Murphy　told　him；　〃the　blade　has　been　dipped　in　a　paralytic　poison。　If　things　turn　to　shit；　you　just　have　to　nick　someone　and　they'll　go　down。　The　problem　is；　the　same　thing　happens　to　you　if　your　target　takes　it　from　you。　Be　sure　he's　close　and　make　sure　you　are　in　control　of　the　situation。〃　
　〃Okay；　Mark；〃　Halpert　said　quietly。　
　The　knife　was　in　place　and　Murphy　climbed　from　his　knees。　〃You　worried？〃　he　asked　quietly。　
　〃A　little；〃　Halpert　said。　〃I'm　usually　not　on　the　operational　end。〃　
　Murphy　nodded　and　smiled。　〃Don't　worry；　buddy；　I'm　going　to　be　right　next　to　you。　If　trouble　breaks　out；　they　have　to　get　through　me　first。〃　
　Halpert　nodded；　then　walked　over　to　pick　his　microphone　up　again。　
　〃Boss；〃　he　said　to　Cabrillo；　〃you're　last。〃　
　Cabrillo　smiled　and　walked　over　to　Murphy。　He　was　dressed　in　a　costume　that　would　make　Elton　John　blush