cc.goldenbuddha-第33部分

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　〃Juan；〃　Hanley　said；　〃the　bird　is　inbound。〃　
　〃Time　to　pull　out；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　his　team。　〃Round　everyone　up。〃　Reinholt　and　Pryor　were　rolling　the　cart　containing　the　false…bottomed　speakers　over　the　lawn　to　the　far　side　of　the　heliport。　Once　the　cart　was　positioned；　they　removed　green　light　bars　from　their　pockets　and　bent　them　in　half。　The　chemical　reaction　made　the　tubes　glow　and　they　spread　them　in　a　crude　circle　so　the　helicopter　pilot　would　know　where　to　land。　
　The　scene　inside　the　tent　was　absolutely　chaotic。　People　were　singing；　howling；　dancing　and　prancing。　Sung　Rhee　was　groping　a　woman　at　his　table；　the　mayor　of　Macau　was　drinking　the　water　out　of　the　table　arrangement。　
　Only　Winston　Spenser　seemed　posed。　When　his　stomach　was　upset；　he　was　sensitive　to　fruit　juice。　He　had　faked　the　toast　and　was　beginning　to　see　something　was　terribly　wrong。　Right　then；　he　felt　a　prick　on　his　neck。　A　second　later；　his　head　slumped　over　on　the　table。　
　
　THE　TRAFFIC　OPENED　up　for　a　second　and　the　police　car　racing　along　the　Inner　Port　Road　managed　to　make　some　headway。　I　the　distance；　the　officer　managed　to　glimpse　the　motorcycles　making　a　turn　onto　Calcada　da　Barra。　Pushing　the　gas　pedal　to　the　floor；　he　raced　after　the　retreating　pair　of　motorcycles。　
　〃I　have　them　in　sight；〃　he　shouted　over　the　radio。　〃They're　northwest　on　Calcada。〃　
　The　man　aboard　the　motorcycle　carrying　the　Buddha　glanced　in　his　rearview　mirror　and　saw　the　police　car　approaching。　He　waved　his　hand　in　the　air　and　the　second　motorcyclist　turned　his　head。　Dropping　back　a　little；　he　waited　until　the　police　car　was　right　behind　him。　Then　he　reached　over　and　tripped　a　lever　on　his　sidecar。　
　
　STANLEY　HO'S　METICULOUSLY　planned　party　had　deteriorated　into　a　bacchanalia。　
　Juan　Cabrillo　walked　over　to　where　Ho　was　standing　next　to　the　prone　Crabtree。　Ho　was　in　a　daze。　There　were　so　many　things　happening；　his　drug…addled　brain　could　not　prehend　them　all。　A　few　moments　ago；　the　lesbian　party　planner　had　e　to　him　and　said　that　she　could　not　figure　out　how　to　restore　the　lights　inside　the　tent　and　offered　to　have　some　workers　raise　some　of　the　side　panels　to　allow　the　scant　natural　moonlight　to　filter　inside。　It　was　now　a　little　brighter　inside　the　tent；　but　many　of　the　guests　had　started　wandering　outside　onto　the　lawn。　
　〃Sir；〃　the　security　guard　said；　〃the　roads　are　choked　with　traffic　and　the　ambulances　can't　get　through。　They　remended　an　air　evacua…　Ho　stared　down。　A　minor　member　of　a　royal　family　expiring　at　his　party　would　definitely　put　a　crimp　in　his　social　aspirations。　
　〃Do　it；〃　Ho　said　through　the　fog　in　his　brain。　
　〃I　already　did；〃　the　guard　admitted；　〃but　we　have　another　problem。〃　
　That　was　all　Ho　needed。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　
　〃There's　another　guest　slumped　over；〃　the　guard　said；　pointing　toward　Spenser。　
　〃Have　him　taken　out；　too；〃　Ho　said。　
　Juan　Cabrillo　spoke。　〃Mr。　Ho。　Some　of　my　band　is　feeling　queasy。　We　indulged　in　some　of　the　appetizers　and　I　think　something　was　bad。　I'd　remend　we　end　this　party　and　have　the　guests　seek　medical　attention　immediately。〃　
　The　entire　affair　was　collapsing　before　Ho's　eyes。　
　〃The　band　wants　to　leave；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We're　going　to　pull　our　van　around　to　the　rear　and　load　up　our　equipment。〃　
　〃I　need　the　P。A。　system　to　make　an　announcement；〃　Ho　said。　
　〃We　already　broke　it　down；〃　Cabrillo　told　him；　〃but　we　have　a　portable　megaphone　we　can　let　you　use。　I'll　go　get　it　from　the　van。〃　
　Ho　turned　to　the　security　guard。　〃Who　is　watching　the　Buddha？〃　
　〃The　other　two　guards；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　remend　we　place　it　back　inside。〃　
　〃Take　it　to　my　office；〃　Ho　ordered。　
　The　sound　of　an　approaching　helicopter　grew　louder。　
　The　guard　reached　for　his　walkie…talkie　and　ordered　the　Buddha　to　be　moved　upstairs。　Then　he　reached　down　and　lifted　Crabtree　and　cradled　her　in　his　arms。　He　started　walking　out　of　the　tent　toward　the　landing　zone。　Cabrillo　raced　across　the　grounds　to　the　van。　Once　inside；　he　adjusted　the　outside　mirror　and　stared　into　the　camera。　
　〃We're　collecting　the　props；〃　he　said　as　he　twisted　the　key　and　started　the　engine。　
　
　ON　THE　OREGON；　Max　Hanley　was　watching　the　unfolding　scene　with　amazement。　
　The　two　distinct　groups　were　obvious。　The　Corporation　members　were　moving　about　in　a　blur　of　motion　and　action；　while　the　rest　of　the　party　seemed　caught　in　a　haze　of　indecision　and　disbelief。　The　element　of　chaos　in　the　surroundings　was　plete。　It　was　almost　time　to　stoke　the　fires　of　escape。　
　〃Murph；　Lincoln；　Halpert；〃　Hanley　said；　〃Juan's　ing　around　with　the　van。　Load　up　fast　and　make　your　way　to　the　front　of　the　mansion。〃　
　He　saw　the　waves　of　acknowledgment。　
　〃Ross；　dispose　of　the　punch　and　the　doctored　appetizers　left　on　the　tables。〃　
　〃Larry；〃　Hanley　asked；　〃what　do　you　see？〃　
　〃The　policeman　is　leaning　against　the　front　of　his　car；　waiting　for　help。　I　think　we　can　count　him　out　for　now。　One　of　the　guards　has　just　left　the　tent；　carrying　Monica。　He's　making　his　way　to　extraction　point　one。〃　King　scanned　the　grounds　with　the　scope。　〃Two　of　the　guards　are　wheeling　the　faux　Buddha　toward　the　rear　door　as　I　speak。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Hanley　said；　〃everything　is　in　play。　You　can　make　your　egress　anytime　you　deem　fit。　If　you　make　your　way　along　the　wall　and　wait　by　the　street；　I'll　have　Juan　slow　the　van　down　as　he　passes。〃　
　〃Understand；〃　King　said。　
　He　began　to　break　down　the　rifle　and　fit　it　into　its　case。　Once　that　was　done；　he　climbed　down　to　the　edge　of　the　wall　and　began　to　make　his　way　west。　
　〃Who　haven't　we　used？〃　Hanley　asked　one　of　the　operators；　who　stared　quickly　at　the　list　of　participants。　
　〃Truitt；〃　the　operator　replied。　
　〃Where's　Julia？〃　
　〃Last　we　saw　her；　she　was　going　back　inside　the　tent；〃　the　operator　said。　〃But　since　the　chairman　broke　down　the　keyboard　set；　we've　lost　the　camera　inside。〃　
　〃Dick；〃　Hanley　said；　〃if　you　can　hear　me；　signal　someone　in　our　team。〃　
　Cabrillo　pulled　the　van　to　the　rear　of　the　tent。　It　had　been　slow　going　with　all　the　people　wandering　the　grounds。　He　slid　the　van　into　Park　and　opened　the　door。　Truitt　appeared　at　the　rear　of　the　tent　and　motioned　to　the　camera　in　the　van's　mirror。　
　〃Dick；　I　need　you　to　find　Julia；〃　Hanley　said。　〃She　immobilized　the　art　dealer。　Carry　him　to　the　landing　zone；　then　I　want　the　two　of　you　to　exit　via　Crabtree's　limousine。〃　
　Truitt　gave　the　camera　a　thumbs…up　and　raced　away。　
　The　members　of　the　team　were　tossing　the　remaining　speakers　and　electronics　into　the　rear　of　the　van。　Out　over　Nam　Van　Lakes；　the　landing　lights　of　the　helicopter　were　visible　and　growing　brighter。　The　thumping　of　the　rotor　blades　increased　as　the　helicopter　drew　near。　
　Inside　the　tent　it　was　pandemonium。　Truitt　found　Huxley　talking　to　Ho；　who　seemed　unable　to　move　from　where　he　stood。　Too　much　was　happening；　his　brain　could　not　put　it　all　into　place。　
　〃The　megaphone；〃　he　said　in　a　daze。　〃I　have　to　warn　the　guests。〃　
　〃Who　has　it？〃　Truitt　asked　Ho。　
　〃The　band；〃　Ho　said。　〃The　band　said　they　had　one。〃　
　〃I　just　saw　them　at　the　rear　of　the　tent；〃　Truitt　said。　〃You　should　go　there。〃　
　Ho　raced　off。　
　Truitt　reached　over　and　whispered　in　Huxley's　ear；　〃Where's　the　art　dealer？〃　
　Huxley　led　him　over；　and　she　and　Truitt　carried　Spenser　out　onto　the　grounds。　
　The　helicopter　pilot　slowed　his　forward　speed　and　initiated　a　hover。　The　Eurocopter　EC…350　that　the　Corporation　had　leased　was　a　sweet　machineit　hung　in　the　air　with　little　input　from　the　controls。　Reaching　to　the　radio　on　the　control　panel；　the　pilot　changed　the　radio　frequency。　
　〃I'm　waiting；〃　he　said　to　the　Oregon。　
　〃What　do　you　see？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　The　pilot　flicked　on　his　landing　lights。　
　〃I　have　two　people　carrying　a　body　to　the　zone；〃　the　pilot　said。　
　〃Everything　else　is　in　place。〃　
　〃As　soon　as　they　reach　the　zone；　touch　down；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　watch　for　another　party　who　will　be　arriving。　We'll　need　four　to　get　the　object　aboard。〃　
　〃Tom？〃　Hanley　said。　
　Crabtree's　limousine　driver　was　behind　the　wheel　of　the　car。　He　flashed　his　lights。　
　〃I　have　a　car　flashing　their　lights；〃　the　pilot　said。　
　〃Drive　onto　the　lawn　and　park　near　the　landing　zone。　Then　load　the　helicopter。〃　
　The　ligh