cc.floodtide-第41部分

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tter　tower。　It　was　difficult　for　Pitt　to　imagine　the　onslaught　of　death　and　destruction　that　inundated　the　rocky　outcropping　during　the　war　years。　The　number　of　men　who　died　there；　Americans　in　1942；　Japanese　in　1945；　numbered　in　the　thousands。　A　small　village　of　huts　sat　near　the　decaying　dock　from　which　General　Douglas　MacArthur　had　boarded　mander　Buckley's　torpedo　boat　for　the　initial　stage　of　his　journey　to　Australia　and　later　return。
　
　Pitt　smelled　the　pungent　odor　of　cigar　smoke　and　turned　as　a　crewman　moved　beside　him　at　the　railing。　Under　the　running　lights；　Pitt　could　see　a　man　who　was　in　his　late　fifties。　He　recognized　Max　Hanley；　who　had　been　introduced　earlier；　not　as　the　chief　engineer　or　first　officer；　but　as　the　corporate　vice　president　in　charge　of　operational　systems。
　
　Once　safely　out　to　sea；　Hanley；　like　the　rest　of　the　dedicated　crew　members；　transformed　himself　into　a　different　person　by　donning　fortably　casual　clothes　better　suited　for　a　golf　course。　He　wore　sneakers　and　was　dressed　in　white　shorts　and　a　maroon　polo　shirt。　He　held　a　cup　of　coffee　in　one　hand。　His　skin　was　reddened　with　no　trace　of　tan；　the　brown　eyes　alert；　a　bulbous　nose　and　only　a　wisp　of　auburn　hair　splayed　across　his　head。
　
　〃A　lot　of　history　on　that　old　rock；〃　said　Hanley。　〃I　always　e　topside　when　we　slip　past　her。〃
　〃She's　pretty　quiet　now；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃My　father　died　over　there　in　'forty…two　when　the　big　gun　he　was　manning　took　a　direct　hit　from　a　Japanese　bomber。〃
　　〃A　lot　of　good　men　died　with　him。〃
　　〃That　they　did。〃　Hanley　looked　into　Pitt's　eyes。　〃I'll　be　directing　the　descent　into　the　water　and　retrieval　of　your　submersible。　Anything　me　or　my　engineers　can　help　you　with　in　regard　to　your　equipment　and　electronics；　you　just　holler。
There　is　something。
Name　it。〃
　〃Could　your　crew　do　a　quick　repaint　of　the　Sea　Dog　II？　The　NUMA　turquoise　trademark　color　is　highly　visible　in　shallow　water　from　the　surface。〃
　〃What　color　would　you　like？〃　asked　Hanley。　〃A　medium　green；〃　explained　Pitt；　〃a　shade　that　blends　with　the　water　in　the　harbor。〃
　〃I'll　get　my　boys　on　it　first　thing。〃　Hanley　turned　and　leaned　against　the　rail　with　his　back；　staring　up　at　the　wisp　of　smoke　drifting　from　the　ship's　funnel。　〃Seems　to　me　it　might　have　been　a　whole　lot　simpler　to　use　one　of　them　underwater　robotic　vehicles。〃
　〃Or　an　autonomous　underwater　vehicle；〃　said　Pitt；　smiling。　〃Neither　would　prove　as　efficient　as　a　manned　submersible　for　inspecting　the　bottom　of　a　hull　the　size　of　the　United　States。　The　sub's　manipulator　arm　may　also　prove　useful。　There　are　certain　projects　where　human　eyesight　is　advantageous　over　video　cameras。　This　happens　to　be　one　of　them。〃
　Hanley　read　the　dial　of　an　old　pocket　watch　whose　chain　was　hooked　to　a　belt　loop。　〃Time　to　program　the　engine　and　navigation　systems。　Now　that　we've　reached　open　water；　the　chairman　will　want　to　triple　our　speed。〃
　〃We　must　be　doing　close　to　nine　or　ten　knots　now；〃　said　Pitt；　his　curiosity　piqued。
　〃Strictly　a　performance；〃　Hanley　said　candidly。　〃Whenever　the　old　Oregon　is　in　sight　of　prying　eyes　around　the　harbor　or　other　ships　that　pass　at　sea；　we　like　to　make　her　look　as　if　her　antique　engines　and　screws　are　straining　to　make　headway。　Which　is　the　way　she　should　appear　for　an　old　tub。　In　truth；　she's　been　modified　with　two　screws　turned　by　twin　diesel　turbine　engines　that　can　push　her　past　forty　knots。〃
　〃But　with　a　full　load　of　cargo；　your　hull　is　riding　low　in　the　water　and　causing　a　heavy　drag。〃
　Hanley　tilted　his　head　toward　the　cargo　hatches　and　the　wooden　crates　tied　to　the　deck。　〃All　empty。　We　ride　low　because　we　fill　specially　installed　ballast　tanks　to　give　the　appearance　of　a　heavily　laden　ship。　Once　they're　pumped　out；　she'll　rise　six　feet　and　take　off　four　times　faster　than　when　she　was　built。〃
　〃A　fox　in　disguise。〃
　〃With　the　teeth　to　match。　Ask　Chairman　Cabrillo　to　show　you　how　we　bite　back　if　we're　attacked。〃
　〃I'll　do　that。〃
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Hanley。〃
　
　Ten　minutes　later　Pitt　felt　the　ship　e　to　life　as　the　vibrations　from　the　engines　increased　dramatically。　The　wake　turned　from　a　white　spreading　scar　to　a　boiling　cauldron。　The　stern　sank　by　a　good　three　feet；　the　bow　raised　in　an　equal　proportion　and　creamed　white。　The　water　rushed　along　the　hull　as　if　swept　away　by　a　giant　broom。　The　sea　shimmered　under　an　awning　of　stars　that　outlined　a　scattering　of　thunderclouds　on　the　horizon。　It　was　a　postcard　South　China　Sea　evening　with　an　orange…tinted　sky　to　the　west。
　
　The　Oregon　approached　the　outer　reaches　of　Hong　Kong　Harbor　two　days　later；　making　landfall　at　sunset。　She　had　made　the　crossing　from　Manila　in　remarkable　time。　Twice；　upon　meeting　other　freighters　during　daylight；　Cabrillo　gave　the　order　for　slow　speed。　Several　of　the　crew　always　quickly　dressed　in　their　shabby　coveralls；　assembled　on　deck　and　peered　across　the　gap　between　the　passing　ships；　staring　blankly　at　what　Cabrillo　called　a　show　of　dummies。　In　an　unwritten　tradition　of　the　sea；　the　crews　of　overtaking　or　passing　ships　ing　together　at　sea　never　showed　any　animation。　Only　their　eyeballs　moved　and　blinked。　Passengers　wave；　but　merchant　seamen　always　act　uneasy　when　looking　at　crewmen　on　another　ship。　Usually；　they　offer　a　stiff　little　wave　from　a　hand　draped　over　the　rail　before　disappearing　inside　their　ship。　Once　the　strange　vessel　was　a　safe　distance　in　the　Oregon's　wake；　Cabrillo　ordered　a　return　to　fast　cruising　speed。
　
　Pitt　and　Giordino　were　given　a　tour　of　the　remarkable　ship。　The　wheelhouse　above　the　aft　house　or　superstructure　was　kept　in　a　grimy　and　dirty　state　to　mislead　visiting　port　officials　and　harbor　pilots。　The　unused　officer　and　crew　quarters　below　the　wheelhouse　were　also　kept　in　a　slovenly　mess　to　avoid　suspicion。　There　was；　however；　no　way　of　masquerading　the　engine　room　to　make　it　look　like　a　scrap　heap。　Vice　president　Hanky　wouldn't　hear　of　it。　If　any　customs　or　harbor　inspector　came　on　board　and　wanted　to　see　his　engines；　Hanley　fixed　up　a　passageway　with　enough　dirty　oil　and　sludge　covering　the　deck　and　bulkheads　to　discourage　even　the　most　zealous　officials　from　wanting　to　enter。　None　ever　realized　that　the　hatch　beyond　the　filthy　passageway　opened　onto　an　engine　room　as　immaculate　as　a　hospital's　operating　room。
　
　The　actual　officer　and　crew　cabins　were　concealed　under　the　cargo　holds。　For　defense　the　Oregon　fairly　bristled　with　weaponry。　Like　the　German　raiders　of　both　wars　and　the　British　Q…ships　of　World　War　I；　whose　sides　dropped　away　to　reveal　six…inch　guns　and　vicious　torpedo　tubes；　the　Oregon's　hull　secreted　an　array　of　sea…to…sea　and　sea…to…air　missile　launchers。　The　ship　was　remarkably　different　from　any　whose　decks　Pitt　had　set　foot　on　before。　It　was　a　masterwork　of　deception　and　fabrication。　He　suspected　there　was　no　other　like　it　on　the　seas。
　
　He　ate　an　early　dinner　with　Giordino　before　going　to　the　wheelhouse　for　a　conference　with　Cabrillo。　He　was　introduced　to　the　ship's　chef；　Marie　du　Gard；　a　lady　from　Belgium　with　credentials　that　would　send　any　restaurant　or　hotel　owner　on　his　knees　begging　her　to　work　as　his　chef　de　cuisine。　She　was　on　board　the　Oregon　because　Cabrillo　made　her　an　offer　she　couldn't　refuse。　Through　wise　investments　of　her　considerable　fee　as　the　ship's　chef；　she　planned　on　opening　her　own　restaurant　in　midtown　Manhattan　after　two　more　undercover　operations。
　
　The　menu　was　extraordinary。　Giordino's　tastebuds　were　mundane；　so　he　settled　for　the　boeuf　&　la　mode；　braised　beef　covered　with　aspic　and　glazed　vegetables。　Pitt　opted　for　ris　de　veau　ou　cervelles　au　beurre　noir；　sweetbreads　in　brown　butter　sauce　served　with　baked　mushroom　caps　stuffed　with　crab　enhanced　by　a　boiled　artichoke　with　hollandaise　sauce。　He　allowed　the　chef　to　select　for　him　a　fine　1992　Ferrari…Carano　Siena　from　Sonoma　County。　Pitt　could　not　boast　of　having　eaten　a　more　savory　meal；　and　certainly　not　on　board　a　ship　such　as　the　Oregon。
　
　After　an　espresso；　Pitt　and　Giordino　took　a　panionway　up　to　the　wheelhouse。　Here　pipes　and　iron　fittings　were　stained　with　rust。　Paint　was　flaking　from　bulkheads　and　window　frames。　The　deck　was　deeply　marred　and　spotted　with　old　cigarette　burns。