inca.gold-第24部分

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over。　He　stared　wildly　about　the　cabin；　saw　that　they　had　all　released　their　shoulder　harnesses　and　lay　huddled　on　the　floor　under　the　seats　as　if　the　canvas　webbing　and　small　tubular　supports　could　stop　a　forty…millimeter　tank…killing　rocket。　He　cursed　as　the　wildly　swaying　aircraft　threw　him　against　the　doorframe。
　　　　Shannon　saw　the　furious　look　on　Pitt's　face；　the　despair　as　he　flung　the　empty　rifle　out　the　open　door。　And　yet　she　stared　at　him　with　absolute　faith　in　her　eyes。　She　had　e　to　know　him　well　enough　in　the　past　twenty…four　hours　to　know　he　was　not　a　man　who　would　willingly　accept　defeat。
　　　　Pitt　caught　the　look　and　it　infuriated　him。　〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do；〃　he　demanded；　〃leap　across　space　and　brain　them　with　the　jawbone　of　an　ass？　Or　maybe　they'll　go　away　if　I　throw　rocks　at　them…〃　Pitt　broke　off　as　his　eyes　fell　on　one　of　the　life　rafts。　He　broke　into　a　wild　grin。　〃Al；　you　hear　me？〃
　　　　〃I'm　a　little　busy　to　take　calls；〃　Giordino　answered　tensely。
　　　　〃Lay　this　antique　on　her　port　side　and　fly　above　them。〃
　　　　〃Whatever　you're　concocting；　make　it　quick　before　they　put　a　rocket　up　our　nose　or　we　run　out　of　fuel。〃
　　　　〃Back　by　popular　demand；〃　Pitt　said；　being　his　old　cheerful　self　again；　〃Mandrake　Pitt　and　his　deathdefying　magic　act。〃　He　unsnapped　the　buckles　on　the　tiedown　straps　holding　one　of　the　life　rafts　to　the　floor。　The　fluorescent　orange　raft　was　labeled　Twenty…Man　Flotation　Unit；　in　English；　and　weighed　over　45　kilograms　（100　pounds）。　Leaning　out　the　door　secured　by　the　rope　Shannon　had　tied　around　his　waist；　both　legs　and　feet　spread　and　set；　he　hoisted　the　uninflated　life　raft　onto　his　shoulder　and　waited。
　　　　Giordino　was　tiring。　Helicopters　require　constant　hands…on　concentration　just　to　stay　in　the　air；　because　they　are　made　up　of　a　thousand　opposing　forces　that　want　nothing　to　do　with　each　other。　The　general　rule　of　thumb　is　that　most　pilots　fly　solo　for　an　hour。　After　that；　they　turn　control　over　to　their　backup　or　copilot。　Giordino　had　been　behind　the　controls　for　an　hour　and　a　half；　was　denied　sleep　for　the　past　thirty…six　hours；　and　now　the　strain　of　throwing　the　aircraft　all　over　the　sky　was　rapidly　draining　what　strength　he　had　in　reserve。　For　almost　six　minutes；　an　eternity　in　a　dogfight；　he　had　prevented　his　adversary　from　gaining　a　brief　advantage　for　a　clear　shot　from　the　men　manning　the　rocket　launcher。
　　　　The　other　craft　passed　directly　across　Giordino's　vulnerable　glass…enclosed　cockpit。　For　a　brief　instant　in　time　he　could　clearly　see　the　Peruvian　pilot。　The　face　under　the　bat　flight　helmet　flashed　a　set　of　white　teeth　and　waved。　〃The　bastard　is　laughing　at　me；〃　Giordino　blurted　in　fury。
　　　　〃What　did　you　say？〃　came　Pitt。
　　　　〃Those　fornicating　baboons　think　this　is　funny；〃　Giordino　said　savagely。　He　knew　what　he　had　to　do。　He　had　noticed　an　almost　indiscernible　quirk　to　the　enemy　pilot's　flying　technique。　When　he　bent　left　there　was　no　hesitation；　but　he　was　a　fraction　of　a　second　slow　in　banking　right。　Giordino　feinted　left　and　abruptly　threw　the　nose　skyward　and　curled　right。　The　other　pilot　caught　the　feint　and　promptly　went　left　but　reacted　too　slowly　to　Giordino's　wild　ascending　turn　and　twist　in　the　opposite　direction。　Before　he　could　counter；　Giordino　had　hurled　his　machine　around　and　over　the　attacker。
　　　　Pitt's　opportunity　came　in　just　the　blink　of　an　eye；　but　his　timing　was　right　on　the　money。　Lifting　the　life　raft　above　his　head　with　both　hands　as　easily　as　if　it　were　a　sofa　pillow；　he　thrust　it　out　the　open　door　as　the　Peruvian　chopper　whipped　beneath　him。　The　orange　bundle　dropped　with　the　impetus　of　a　bowling　ball　and　smashed　through　one　of　the　gyrating　rotor　blades　2　meters　（about　6　feet）　from　the　tip。　The　blade　shattered　into　metallic　slivers　that　spiraled　outward　from　the　centrifugal　force。　Now　unbalanced；　the　remaining　four　blades　whirled　in　ever…increasing　vibration　until　they　broke　away　from　the　rotor　hub　in　a　rain　of　small　pieces。
　　　　The　big　helicopter　seemed　to　hang　poised　for　a　moment　before　it　yawed　in　circles　and　angled　nose…first　toward　the　ground　at　190　kilometers　（118　miles）　an　hour。　Pitt　hung　out　the　door　and　watched；　fascinated；　as　the　Peruvian　craft　bored　through　the　trees　and　crashed　into　a　low　hill　only　a　few　meters　below　the　summit。　He　stared　at　the　glinting　shreds　of　metal　that　flew　off　into　the　branches　of　the　trees。　The　big　injured　bird　came　to　rest　on　its　right　side；　a　crumpled　lump　of　twisted　metal。　And　then　it　was　lost　in　a　huge　fireball　that　erupted　and　wrapped　it　in　flames　and　black　smoke。
　　　　Giordino　eased　back　on　the　throttles　and　made　a　slow　circular　pass　over　the　column　of　smoke；　but　neither　he　nor　Pitt　saw　any　evidence　of　life。　〃This　has　to　be　the　first　time　in　history　an　aircraft　was　knocked　out　of　the　sky　by　a　life　raft；〃　said　Giordino。
〃Improvisation。〃　Pitt　laughed　softly；　bowing　to　Shannon；　Rodgers；　and　the　students　who　were　all　applauding　with　rejuvenated　spirits。　〃Improvisation。〃　Then　he　added；　〃Fine　piece　of　flying；　Al。　None　of　us　would　be　breathing　but　for　you。〃
　　　　〃Ain't　it　the　truth；　ain't　it　the　truth；〃　said　Giordino；　turning　the　nose　of　the　craft　toward　the　west　and　reducing　the　throttle　settings　to　conserve　fuel。
　　　　Pitt　pulled　the　passenger　door　closed；　redogged　the　latches；　untied　Shannon's　line　from　around　his　waist；　and　returned　to　the　cockpit。　〃How　does　our　fuel　look？〃
　　　　〃Fuel；　what　fuel？〃
　　　　Pitt　gazed　over　Giordino's　shoulder　at　the　gauges。　Both　showed　flickering　red　warning　lights。　He　could　also　see　the　drawn　look　of　fatigue　on　his　friend's　face。　〃Take　a　break　and　let　me　spell　you　at　the　controls。〃
　　　　〃I　got　us　this　far。　I'll　take　us　what　little　distance　we　have　left　before　the　tanks　run　dry。〃
　　　　Pitt　did　not　waste　his　breath　in　debate。　He　never　ceased　to　marvel　at　Giordino's　intrepid　calm；　his　glacial　fortitude；　he　could　have　searched　the　world　and　never　found　another　friend　like　the　tough　burly　Italian。　〃Okay；　you　take　her　in。　I'll　sit　this　one　out　and　pray　for　a　tailwind。〃
　　　　A　few　minutes　later　they　crossed　over　the　shoreline　and　headed　out　to　sea。　A　resort　with　attractive　lawns　and　a　large　swimming　pool　encircled　a　small　cove　with　a　white　sand　beach。　The　sunbathing　tourists　looked　up　at　the　lowflying　helicopter　and　waved。　With　nothing　better　to　do；　Pitt　waved　back。
　　　　Pitt　returned　to　the　cargo　cabin　and　approached　Rodgers。　〃We've　got　to　dump　as　much　weight　as　possible；　except　for　survival　equipment　like　the　life　vests　and　the　remaining　raft。　Everything　else　goes；　excess　clothing；　tools；　hardware；　seats；　anything　that　isn't　welded　or　bolted　down。〃
　　　　Everyone　pitched　in　and　passed　whatever　objects　they　could　find　to　Pitt；　who　heaved　them　out　the　passenger　door。　When　the　cabin　was　bare　the　chopper　was　lighter　by　almost　136　kilograms　（300　pounds）。　Before　he　closed　the　door　again；　Pitt　looked　aft。　Thankfully；　he　didn't　see　any　pursuing　aircraft。　He　was　certain　the　Peruvian　pilot　had　radioed　the　sighting　and　his　intention　to　attack；　blowing　Pitt's　Chiclayo　smokescreen。　But　he　doubted　the　Solpemachaco　would　suspect　the　loss　of　their　mercenary　soldiers　and　helicopter　for　at　least　another　ten　minutes。　And　if　they　belatedly　totaled　the　score；　and　whistled　up　a　Peruvian　Air　Force　fighter　jet　to　intercept；　then　it　would　be　too　late。　Any　attack　on　an　unarmed　American　research　ship　would　stir　up　serious　diplomatic　repercussions　between　the　United　States　government　and　Peru；　a　situation　the　struggling　South　American　nation　could　ill　afford。　Pitt　was　on　safe　ground　in　assuming　that　no　local　bureaucrat　or　military　officer　would　risk　political　disaster　regardless　of　any　under…the…table　payoff　by　the　Solpemachaco。
　　　　Pitt　limped　back　to　the　cockpit；　slid　into　the　copilot's　seat；　and　picked　up　the　radio　microphone。　He　brushed　aside　all　caution　as　he　pressed　the　transmit　button。　To　hell　with　any　bought…and…paid…for　Solpemachaco　cronies　who　were　monitoring　the　airwaves；　he　thought。
　　　　〃NUMA　calling　Deep　Fathom。　Talk　to　me；　Stucky。〃
　　　　〃e　in；　NUMA。　This　is　Deep　Fathom。　What　is　your　position？〃
　　　　My；　what　big　eyes　you　have；　and　how　your　voice　has　changed；　Grandma。〃
　　　　〃Say　again；　NUMA。〃
　　　　〃Not　even　a　credible　effort。〃　Pitt　laughed。　〃Rich　Little　you　ain't。〃　He　looked　over　at　Giordino。