cc.goldenbuddha-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


gnal　was　scrambled。　
　〃Go　ahead；　Carl；〃　Hanley　said　a　minute　later。　
　〃I've　got　the　plane；　Max；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　didn't　ask　for　a　pilot。〃　
　〃One　of　our　guys　will　be　flying；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃It's　a　Russian　Antonov；〃　Gannon　noted。　〃I　doubt　we　have　someone　typed　in　this　model。〃　
　〃We'll　download　some　manuals　off　the　Internet；〃　Hanley　said。　〃That's　about　all　we　can　do。〃　
　〃She's　fueled　and　waiting　at　the　airport　in　old　Saigon；〃　Gannon　said。　〃The　mechanic　should　be　finished　bolting　the　winch　in　place　in　the　next　hour。　I'm　faxing　a　picture。〃　
　〃We'll　be　seeing　you　soon；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Everything　okay　in　the　meantime？〃　
　〃Smooth　as　a　baby's　bottom；〃　Gannon　said　easily。　
　
　ON　THE　ZAPATA　Petroleum　rig　off　Vietnam；　Delbert　Chiglack　took　the　sheet　that　had　just　printed　out　of　the　fax　machine；　then　called　once　more　to　the　ining　helicopter。　When　finished；　he　returned　to　the　lunchroom　on　the　rig　and　handed　the　sheet　to　Gunderson。　
　〃This　just　came　for　you。〃　
　〃Thanks；〃　Gunderson　said　quickly；　staring　at　the　picture　of　the　biplane　the　Oregon　had　sent；　then　folding　it　and　placing　it　in　his　flight…suit　pocket。　
　Just　then；　a　siren　on　the　rig　sounded　twice。　
　〃Your　ride's　here；〃　Chiglack　said。　
　Walking　the　trio　out　to　just　below　the　helicopter　pad；　Chiglack　waited　until　the　helicopter　touched　down；　then　shouted　over　the　noise。　
　〃Up　the　ladder；　heads　down；　the　door　should　be　open；〃　he　said。　
　〃Thanks　for　the　hospitality；〃　Michaels　shouted。　
　〃Watch　your　hair；　ladies；〃　Chiglack　called　as　they　started　up　the　stairs。　
　Four　minutes　later　the　helicopter　was　airborne　again；　heading　back　toward　land。　Chiglack　shook　his　head　as　the　helicopter　retreated　in　the　distance。　Then　he　walked　back　to　his　office　to　report　his　guests　had　left　the　rig。　
　Pilston　tapped　on　Gunderson's　arm　as　the　helicopter　approached　the　airport　and　located　the　Antonov　from　the　air。　Slowing　his　speed；　the　pilot　neared　the　large　biplane；　then　hovered　in　the　air　above　the　tarmac。　After　touching　down　smoothly　some　fifty　feet　away；　the　copilot　unbuckled　his　belt；　then　slipped　back　and　unlatched　the　door　to　the　Bell。　
　〃Later；　alligators；〃　he　shouted。　
　Gunderson；　Pilston　and　Michaels　bowed　their　heads　and　sprinted　away　from　the　helicopter。　
　Once　they　were　clear；　the　pilot　throttled　up；　pulled　up　on　the　collective　and　moved　the　cyclic　so　the　Bell　rose　in　the　air　and　made　a　sweeping　turn。　The　helicopter　disappeared　into　the　haze　as　it　flew　off　to　the　south。　
　The　trio　was　ten　feet　from　the　biplane　when　Michaels　spoke。　
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do　with　this　beast？〃　she　asked。　
　〃The　plan　is；〃　Gunderson　said　as　he　approached　the　open　door　and　stared　inside；　〃to　fly　out　to　the　Oregon。〃　
　〃What　on　earth　for？〃　Pilston　asked。　
　〃Our　chairman　has　a　meeting　to　attend。〃　
　
　GUNDERSON　HANDED　THE　photo　of　the　biplane　to　the　copilot。　〃She's　on　the　north　side　of　the　airport；〃　he　said　as　the　copilot　clipped　the　photo　to　a　strap　around　his　knee。　〃If　you　can　land　nearby；　we'd　sure　appreciate　it。〃　
　The　copilot　replaced　his　headset　over　his　ears；　then　relayed　the　information　to　the　pilot；　who　made　an　okay　sign　with　his　fingers。　The　copilot　smiled　at　Gunderson；　nodded　yes；　then　motioned　for　him　to　sit　back　in　his　seat。　
　Twenty　minutes　later；　the　coast　of　southern　Vietnam　came　into　view。　As　they　passed　over　shallow　water；　he　caught　sight　of　a　wrecked　ship　below　the　surface　of　the　water。　In　the　bushes　nearby　was　what　looked　like　the　remains　of　a　bombed…out　tank　from　the　war　some　thirty　years　before。　
　
　INSIDE　THE　OREGON'S　Magic　Shop；　Kevin　Nixon　was　loosening　the　top　off　a　long　wooden　crate　with　a　pry　bar。　The　crate　was　stamped　U。S。　Air　Force；　Special　Operations。　The　second　line　read：　（1）　ea。　Fulton　Aerial　Recovery　System；　checked　02…11…90；　and　then　the　initials　of　the　airman　who　had　rendered　the　verdict　that　the　system　was　operational。　Setting　the　top　aside；　Nixon　peered　inside。　Then　he　began　to　remove　the　contents。　
　First　was　a　harness　made　out　of　nylon　webbing　similar　to　that　on　a　parachute。　On　the　front　of　the　harness　was　a　swivel　hook。　Next　was　a　length　of　high…tension　strength　line。　Last；　a　deflated　balloon　and　the　fittings　to　hook　the　system　together。　Nixon　checked　each　piece　carefully　as　he　removed　them　from　the　box。　Everything　looked　fine。　
　Just　then；　the　door　to　the　Magic　Shop　opened。　
　〃How's　it　look？〃　Hanley　inquired。　
　〃Good；〃　Nixon　answered。　
　Hanley　pointed　to　a　strange　forged…metal　three…pronged　hook　on　the　ground。　〃What's　that？〃　
　Nixon　nodded　at　the　bottom　of　the　crate's　lid；　where　a　set　of　directions　had　been　stenciled　on　the　surface。　〃That's　the　hook　that　grabs　the　line　at　the　end　of　the　balloon。〃　
　〃Doesn't　it　have　to　be　aboard　the　pickup　plane？〃　
　〃Ideally；〃　Nixon　admitted。　
　〃So？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　Nixon　pointed　across　the　room。　〃Good　thing　we　have　rules　around　here；〃　he　said。　
　〃Always　have　a　backup；〃　Hanley　said；　smiling；　reading　the　sign。　
　〃But　of　course；〃　Nixon　said。　
　〃I'll　notify　the　plane；〃　Hanley　said。　〃We　have　a　few　hours　yet。〃　
　〃Mr。　Hanley；〃　Nixon　said；　〃you　just　tell　me　when。〃　
　
　THE　SINGLE　ENGINE　on　the　Antonov　Colt　droned　with　a　monotonous　sound　as　Gunderson；　Michaels　and　Pilston　headed　out　into　the　South　China　Sea。　The　skies　were　clear；　the　wall　of　the　south…moving　storm　still　hundreds　of　miles　ahead。　Gunderson　just　hoped　that　the　Oregon；　which　was　cruising　at　full　speed；　made　it　out　of　the　leading　edge　of　the　storm　before　he　reached　the　ship。　He　was　a　great　pilot；　but　even　in　clear　skies　what　they　were　about　to　attempt　was　akin　to　trying　to　hit　a　bull's…eye　on　a　dartboard　at　ten　paces　while　blindfolded。　
　Gunderson　had　the　windows　in　the　cockpit　and　the　cargo　area　cracked　open　to　vent　the　gasoline　fumes　as　they　cruised　along。　The　Antonov　normally　carried　312　gallons　of　fuel；　but　since　this　plane　was　used　for　remote　logging　operations；　two　more　tanks　of　300　gallons　each　had　been　fitted　along　the　center　of　the　cargo　bay。　That　was　a　good　thing。　Without　the　additional　fuel　capacity；　there　was　no　way　they　could　make　it　out　to　the　Oregon　and　back　to　Vietnam；　a　distance　far　beyond　that　of　a　helicopter。　The　problem　was；　the　inside　of　the　plane　smelled　like　an　Exxon　station　after　a　big　spill。　Gunderson　stared　at　his　portable　GPS　　receiver。　
　〃How's　it　look；　Tiny？〃　Michaels　asked。　
　〃So　far　so　good；〃　Gunderson　answered；　〃but　this　unit　burns　through　batteries　like　a　kid　with　a　video　game。　Did　they　by　chance　load　any　spare　batteries　on　board？〃　
　Pilston；　who　was　crouched　between　the　pilot's　and　copilot's　seat；　rooted　around　in　a　pair　of　paper　bags　but　came　up　empty。　〃Sorry；　Chuck；〃　she　said；　〃no　luck。〃　
　〃What　did　we　get？〃　he　asked。　
　Pilston　did　a　quick　inventory。　〃Some　MREs；　two　thermoses　of　what　I　assume　is　coffee；　some　Hershey　bars　and　M&M's；　bottled　water；　maps；　and　some　mouthwash。〃　
　〃What　about　towels　and　soap？〃　
　Pilston　dug　around　in　the　bottom　of　one　of　the　bags。　〃Yep。〃
　〃Gannon's　pretty　good　about　that；〃　Gunderson　said；　yawning。　Michaels　stared　at　the　speed　indicator。　〃We　have　five　more　hours　until　we　reach　the　Oregon；〃　she　said。　〃Tracy　and　I　got　some　sleep　last　night。　Why　don't　you　clean　up　a　little　and　try　to　get　some　rest。　We'll　wake　you　when　we　get　close。〃　
　〃Think　you　can　fill　the　copilot's　duties？〃　he　asked　Pilston。
　〃I　received　my　private　pilot's　certificate　last　year；〃　Pilston　told　him。　〃I　don't　have　many　hours；　but　I　think　I'm　qualified　to　watch　the　needles　quiver。〃　
　Gunderson　nodded　wearily。　〃Off　the　controls；〃　he　said。　
　As　soon　as　he　was　sure　Michaels　had　the　plane；　he　stood　up；　slid　out　of　his　seat；　and　slid　past　Pilston；　who　quickly　climbed　into　the　pilot's　station。　The　Antonov　could　be　flown　from　either　the　left　or　right　seat；　so　there　was　no　reason　for　Michaels　to　move　across　the　cockpit。　Once　Pilston　was　situated；　she　turned　around　to　Gunderson。　
　〃There's　a　cot　that　folds　out　of　the　wall；〃　she　said；　〃and　a　toilet　that　basically　dumps　out　the　side　of　the　plane。　You　want　anything　to　eat　first？〃　
　〃No；　ladies；〃　Gunderson　said。　〃Just　wake　me　if　you　need　me。〃　Then　he　walked　back　to　the　cot；　removed　his　shirt　and　crumpled　it　up　as　a　pillow；　stretched　out　and　was　asleep　within　minutes。　The　Antonov　droned　north　for　the　rendezvous。