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cc.goldenbuddha-第28部分

小说: cc.goldenbuddha 字数: 每页4000字

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 Ho and Ross walked over to the spot。 
 〃I could light it with blue and red spotlights;〃 she said。 
 〃What else?〃 Ho asked。 
 Ross racked her brain。 What could help the Corporation with the theft? 
 〃What do you think about some billowing clouds of smoke;〃 she said slowly; 〃so the object seems to appear and disappear like a mirage?〃 
 〃Excellent;〃 Ho said eagerly。 

 Ross smiled。 Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of a trio of men from the Oregon; they were dressed in security guards' uniforms。 Somehow her team had sent help。 Barrett; acting as the leader of the guards; walked over to where she and Ho were standing。 
 〃Are you Mr。 Ho?〃 he said。 
 〃I'm Ho。〃 
 〃The insurance pany sent us。〃 
 Barrett placed a finger to his eye and winked at Ross when Ho was not looking。 
 〃Good;〃 Ho said; 〃I'm glad you arrived so quickly。 This is Iselda; she's in charge of planning。 We were just now figuring out the best place to place the object you will be guarding。〃 
 Barrett nodded。 
 〃We're thinking there;〃 Ho said; pointing; 〃near the entrance to the tent。〃 
 Barrett scanned the grounds as if to determine the security of the spot。 He turned back to Ho and spoke。 
 〃My pany mentioned it was a statue。〃 
 〃Right;〃 Ho said; 〃a six…foot…tall Buddha。〃 
 Barrett nodded as if he were weighing his options。 
 〃Is it heavy?〃 he asked。 
 〃It weighs about six hundred pounds;〃 Ho said。 〃Why do you ask?〃 
 〃Well; sir;〃 Barrett said; 〃I thought you might want it to be more of a part of the festivitiesyou know; have it moved from place to place as the party proceeds。 Six hundred pounds is too heavy for my men to move; however。〃 
 Ross was catching on。 
 〃You mean to have the statue bee one of the guests;〃 she said  eagerly。 
 〃Something like that;〃 the guard admitted。 〃The object would actually be safer the more people that are around。〃 
 〃Interesting;〃 Ho said。 
 〃The party's almost ready to start;〃 Ross said; 〃but I could see if I could scrounge up some other Buddha statues and do an entire theme in that direction。〃 
 〃What do you mean?〃 Ho asked。 
 〃Maybe I could find some plaster Buddha statues and have them placed around the grounds;〃 Ross said。 
 〃That would help with security;〃 Barrett admitted; 〃by confusing the real and the fakes。〃 
 〃Do you think you can?〃 Ho asked。 
 〃Don't worry; Mr。 Ho;〃 Ross said; 〃my pany can work miracles。〃
 
 THE BAND WAS assembled in the conference room on the Oregon。 Hanley and Cabrillo were walking them through their last…minute instructions。 
 〃As you know; we have three more men inside;〃 Cabrillo said; 〃posing as security; so we don't need to worry about getting it down to ground level。 It should already be there。〃 
 〃That's a plus;〃 Franklin noted。 
 〃So the actual removal from the site has bee easier;〃 Hanley said; 〃but we have the added problem of more witnesses。〃 
 〃That means we almost certainly need to drug the guests;〃 Kasim noted。 
 〃It's beginning to look that way;〃 Cabrillo admitted。 
 〃The playlist features three sets;〃 Hanley continued。 〃That gives us two breaks between sets when you; as members of the band; can move freely about。 Watch the chairman for the lead and。be flexiblethis entire caper is still unfolding。〃 
 〃Do we have the plane waiting to receive the icon after the theft?〃 Halpert asked。 
 〃Arranged;〃 Cabrillo said。 〃A plane is inbound as we speak。〃 
 〃When's the extraction scheduled?〃 Monica asked。 
 〃Ten minutes before midnight; tonight;〃 Hanley said。 
 〃The Oregon sails away from here sometime tomorrow;〃 Cabrillo said; 〃no matter what the oute。 So let's just do our jobs and take our leave。〃 
 〃A little richer for the effort;〃 Murphy said; smiling。 
 〃That's the idea;〃 Cabrillo agreed。
 
 THIN TENDRILS OF richly scented incense smoke wafted toward the ceiling in the A…Ma Temple。 
 A scattering of tourists filed through the public areas and left offerings at the foot of various Buddhas。 They walked on the pebbled paths; sat on the carved wooden benches on the grounds and stared at the sea in reflection。 It was a place of tranquillity; a port of serenity in a storm of confusion and haste。 
 Winston Spenser was not feeling calm。 
 Fear gripped him。 The Golden Buddha was laughing at himof that he was sure。 The calm gaze and unmoving solidness made him uneasy。 Spenser dreamed of when he would be rid of the curse and collect his money。 He could see it in his mind。 The armored…car pany picking up the icon again and delivering it to the software billionaire's plane。 The crates of money he would receive。 
 He rose from the bench in the main temple; then walked out the door and down the hillside to his waiting limousine。 The parking lot was half empty。 Most of the people in Macau were preparing for the parade and tonight's parties。 A pair of motorcycles sat off to one side under a tree。 Spenser didn't notice themhe was wrapped up in his own certain failure。 Climbing in the rear of the limousine; he gave the driver directions。 A few moments later the limousine rolled out of the lot。 
 〃I've seen what I need to see;〃 one of the motorcyclists said。 
 〃I agree;〃 said the other。 
 
 SIX CHINESE VALETS awaited the first of the guests。 After showing their invitations to the guard; they pulled through the gate; drove up the circular drive; then climbed from their cars near the front door of the mansion。 
 
 The sun was slowly dipping in the west and the view from the mansion was an expanse of sea lit with the golden hues of a waning sun。 Spenser climbed from the rear of his limousine and stared at the scene。 He was dressed in a black tuxedo that hid the pools of sweat under his arms。 Squaring his shoulders; he walked into the foyer。 
 Juan Cabrillo rolled down the window of the van and handed the guard a slip of paper。 
 〃Park over by the garages;〃 the guard said; 〃then unload your equipment and wheel it around back。〃 
 Cabrillo nodded。 When the gate opened; he drove around to the garages; then backed the van up near the edge of the lawn。 
 〃Showtime;〃 he said。 
 And the band climbed from the van and began shuttling equipment to the rear of the house。 
 Cabrillo walked around to the rear of the house; seeking Ross。 He saw her in the distance talking on a cell phone。 Several people were standing nearby。 
 〃We're The Minutemen;〃 he said when she had disconnected。 
 〃Good;〃 Ross said。 〃The bandstand is over there。〃 
 〃We have some large speakers;〃 Cabrillo said; 〃that we'll need some help moving。〃 
 〃Let me summon some help。〃 
 〃We like to take care of our equipment ourselves;〃 Cabrillo said。 〃We just need some carts。〃 
 Ross nodded and turned to one of the caterers。 
 〃This is the leader of the band;〃 she said。 〃He needs to borrow a few of the carts you use to move the tables。〃 
 The man nodded and motioned to Cabrillo。 〃Right this way。〃 
 Mark Murphy stood on the bandstand and surveyed the surroundings。 Three large tents were erected; forming a Y with the band at the far end。 The bandstand was slightly elevated from the ground; and to the rear the back of the tent had slits that opened to provide access。 Electrical cables to power their speakers and lights stretched out under the tent。 He sat his guitar down and poked through the slit in the back。 Forty feet behind the rear of the tent was part of the wall that formed the boundary of the house。 To the right side of the Y portion of the tent; some thirty yards away; was the rear wall of the mansion and the doors leading to the kitchens and inside。 He began to walk the perimeter of the tent。 
 At the front; or top; of the Y were the entrances for the guests。 In the opening between the legs of the Y there was a portable fountain and a small wooden platform that was currently empty。 Murphy continued around the other side; examining the way the tents were fastened to the ground。 There were large metal stakes on the edges with guy wires running farther out onto the lawn; where they were staked into the earth。 He stared up。 Long metal poles; two per each section of the three separate tents; poked through the tops。 He found a slit in the tent and walked over to one of the poles。 The bases sat on plastic holders。 Murphy

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