cc.goldenbuddha-第24部分

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　〃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。　Murphy　raised　one　of　the　sequined　pockets　on　the　vest　and　slid　two　hypodermic　needles　in　covers　inside。　In　the　other　pocket；　he　slid　an　arced　carbon…fiber　blade　that　had　holes　for　fingers。　
　〃Your　blade　is　dipped　in　paralytic　agent；　too；〃　he　said；　spinning　Cabrillo　around　and　strapping　a　small　automatic　weapon　to　his　lower　back。　〃The　bullets　are　wad　cutters。　There's　not　as　much　horsepower　in　the　rounds　as　I　like；　so　be　close　before　you　pull　the　trigger。〃　
　〃Let's　hope　it　doesn't　e　to　that；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　Lincoln　had　already　been　outfitted；　and　he　stood　to　one　side；　playing　with　his　bass　guitar。　
　Cabrillo　smiled；　then　spoke。　
　〃Okay；　everybody；　we'll　be　going　in　soon；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　the　order　of　operations　and　make　sure　you've　memorized　the　out。　If　at　any　time　I　give　the　signal　to　pull　out；　make　your　way　to　the　extraction　point。　Keep　in　mind　this　portion　today　is　only　one　part　of　the　bigger　pictureif　this　goes　haywire；　we　still　have　ways　of　salvaging　the　operation。　There　are　no　bold　heroesonly　old　heroes。　The　weapons　are　to　be　used　only　if　everything　goes　to　hell　and　one　of　our　people　is　in　danger　of　losing　life　or　limb。　What　we　want；　as　always；　is　an　orderly　operation　where　we　do　our　job　and　return　here　safe　and　sound。　Any　questions？〃　
　The　Magic　Shop　was　silent。　
　〃Okay；　people；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃then　give　your　letters　to　Julia。〃　
　Medical　Officer　Julia　Huxley　hated　this　part　of　her　job。　The　letters　gave　instructions　for　the　lengths　of　medical　care　each　man　wanted　if　critically　injured。　They　also　gave　detailed　instructions　as　to　the　dispersal　of　the　operatives'　funds　and　other　bequests。　Whatever　was　in　the　letters；　Huxley　was　bound　to　see　it　through。　She　walked　around　the　room　collecting　the　sealed　envelopes。　When　she　was　done；　the　room　was　quiet。　
　〃That　always　puts　a　pall　over　the　proceedings；〃　Murphy　said；　laughing。　〃We're　not　going　in　to　disable　a　nuclear　warhead。　We're　just　stealing　some　gold。〃　
　The　sour　mood　dissipated　and　they　resumed　talking。　
　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。　Murphy　raised　one　of　the　sequined　pockets　on　the　vest　and　slid　two　hypodermic　needles　in　covers　inside。　In　the　other　pocket；　he　slid　an　arced　carbon…fiber　blade　that　had　holes　for　fingers。　
　〃Your　blade　is　dipped　in　paralytic　agent；　too；〃　he　said；　spinning　Cabrillo　around　and　strapping　a　small　automatic　weapon　to　his　lower　back。　〃The　bullets　are　wad　cutters。　There's　not　as　much　horsepower　in　the　rounds　as　I　like；　so　be　close　before　you　pull　the　trigger。〃　
　〃Let's　hope　it　doesn't　e　to　that；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　Lincoln　had　already　been　outfitted；　and　he　stood　to　one　side；　playing　with　his　bass　guitar。　
　Cabrillo　smiled；　then　spoke。　
　〃Okay；　everybody；　we'll　be　going　in　soon；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　the　order　of　operations　and　make　sure　you've　memorized　the　out。　If　at　any　time　I　give　the　signal　to　pull　out；　make　your　way　to　the　extraction　point。　Keep　in　mind　this　portion　today　is　only　one　part　of　the　bigger　pictureif　this　goes　haywire；　we　still　have　ways　of　salvaging　the　operation。　There　are　no　bold　heroesonly　old　heroes。　The　weapons　are　to　be　used　only　if　everything　goes　to　hell　and　one　of　our　people　is　in　danger　of　losing　life　or　limb。　What　we　want；　as　always；　is　an　orderly　operation　where　we　do　our　job　and　return　here　safe　and　sound。　Any　questions？〃　
　The　Magic　Shop　was　silent。　
　〃Okay；　people；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃then　give　your　letters　to　Julia。〃　
　Medical　Officer　Julia　Huxley　hated　this　part　of　her　job。　The　letters　gave　instructions　for　the　lengths　of　medical　care　each　man　wanted　if　critically　injured。　They　also　gave　detailed　instructions　as　to　the　dispersal　of　the　operatives'　funds　and　other　bequests。　Whatever　was　in　the　letters；　Huxley　was　bound　to　see　it　through。　She　walked　around　the　room　collecting　the　sealed　envelopes。　When　she　was　done；　the　room　was　quiet。　
　〃That　always　puts　a　pall　over　the　proceedings；〃　Murphy　said；　laughing。　〃We're　not　going　in　to　disable　a　nuclear　warhead。　We're　just　stealing　some　gold。〃　
　The　sour　mood　dissipated　and　they　resumed　talking。　
　〃We　have　some　time　before　we　need　to　leave；〃　Hartley　said；　〃so　if　you　need　to　eat　or　whatever；　the　time　is　now。〃　
　Everyone　filtered　out　of　the　room；　leaving　only　Cabrillo　and　Hanley。　
　〃Meadows　and　Jones　ready？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃Right　on　schedule；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃And　the　flyboy？〃　
　〃Jetting　his　way　here；〃　Hanley　said；　〃as　we　speak。〃　
　〃Then　the　fun　is　about　ready　to　happen。〃　
　
　A　PAIR　OF　men　on　motorcycles　with　sidecars　sat　on　the　side　of　Rua　de　Lourenco　and　watched　employees　from　the　Macau　Public　Works　Department　erecting　barricades　along　the　route　of　the　Good　Friday　parade。　The　side　streets　would　all　be　blocked　off；　but　the　barricades　were　wooden　sawhorses　and　would　yield　to　the　bumper　of　a　car　or　the　front　tire　of　a　motorcycle。　
　〃Let's　ride　over　to　the　staging　area；〃　one　of　the　men　said。　The　other　man　nodded　and　pushed　his　starter　button；　then　placed　the　cycle　in　gear　and　drove　up　the　street。　A　few　blocks　away；　he　slid　over　to　the　side　of　the　road　and　shut　off　the　engine。　The　street　leading　out　of　the　staging　area　was　festooned　with　banners　and　crepe…paper　streamers。　Paper　lanterns　holding　candles　were　placed　along　the　route；　waiting　to　be　lit　at　dusk。　Various　vendors　were　setting　up　shop　in　handcarts　to　offer　food　and　drink　to　those　watching　the　parade；　while　a　street　sweeper　made　a　last…minute　pass　to　make　sure　the　street　at　least　started　out　clean。　
　〃They　sure　are　big　on　dragons；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　pointing　to　a　large　line　of　floats。　
　There　were　at　least　seventy　different　floats。　Ships；　stages　where　musicians　would　play；　sword　swallowers　and　juggling　acts。　And　dragons。　Red　crepe…paper　monstrosities；　a　blue…and…yellow　dragon　with　a　long　tail　posed　in　the　air。　
　The　floats　were　built　on　motorized　platforms；　then　outlined　in　thick　
　wire　and　covered　with　cloth；　paper　or；　in　one　case；　what　looked　like　hammered　copper。　A　single　driver　perched　inside　each　steered　down　the　route　by　staring　through　a　small　slit　in　the　front　of　the　float。　The　exhaust　from　the　small　internal…bustion　engines　was　vented　out　the　side。　
　It　was　quiet　now；　but　by　the　amount　of　speakers　on　the　various　floats；　it　was　obvious　that　once　the　parade　got　under　way　there　would　be　a　medley　of　sights　and　sounds。　
　〃I'm　going　to　go　take　a　look；〃　one　of　the　men　said　as　he　climbed　off　the　motorcycle　and　walked　over