atlantis.found-第121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！


the　Mercedes。
　　　　　〃Time　for　me　to　play　Wild　Bill　Hickok；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　　Pitt　handed　him　his　。45。　〃You'll　need　all　the　firepower　you　can　get。　There　are　extra　clips　in　my　duffel　bag。〃
　　　　　Giordino　lay　down　beside　the　open　passenger　door　with　his　feet　toward　the　rear　of　the　aircraft　and　sighted　over　the　tail　section　at　the　pursuing　SUVs。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　bullets　stitch　through　the　port　wing　and　open　the　fuel　tank。　Luckily　there　was　no　fire；　but　it　was　only　a　question　of　time　before　an　engine　was　struck　and　flamed。　He　took　careful　aim　and　fired　when　Pitt　turned　from　zig　to　zag。
　　　　　Pitt　literally　threw　the　plane　up　the　on…ramp　leading　to　the　Branch　Avenue　Highway　that　ran　into　the　city。　With　both　jet　engines　screaming；　he　soon　had　the　airplane　hurtling　nearly　a　hundred　miles　an　hour　down　the　right　lane　and　shoulder　of　the　highway。　Startled　drivers　gaped　openmouthed　as　the　plane　shot　by　them；　then　watched；　stunned；　the　gun　battle　between　a　man　shooting　out　the　passenger　door　of　the　aircraft　and　two　Mercedes…Benz　SUVs　that　chased　in　and　out　of　traffic　from　behind。
　　　　　Pitt　knew　the　aircraft　easily　had　the　power　to　outrun　the　Mercedes；　but　he　had　a　great　disadvantage　because　of　the　forty…two…foot　wingspan。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　he　clipped　a　car；　a　truck；　or　a　light　pole。　His　only　advantage　was　that　the　engines　were　mounted　on　the　fuselage。　But　they　wouldn't　turn　over　long　if　one　or　both　wings　containing　the　fuel　tanks　were　torn　away。　As　it　was；　he　noticed　that　the　gauge　that　registered　the　fuel　on　the　port　tank　was　dropping　at　an　alarming　rate。　He　took　a　quick　glance　out　his　side　window　and　saw　the　wing　shredded　by　bullets　and　the　fuel　spraying　out　under　the　head　wind。
　　　　　He　steered　by　the　brakes；　moving　in　and　out　of　the　light　traffic　that　he　knew　would　bee　heavier　as　he　neared　the　city。　When　possible；　he　tried　to　pass　and　move　in　ahead　of　trucks；　using　them　as　a　shield　against　the　gunfire　from　the　men　in　the　SUVs。　He　could　hear　Giordino's　gun　shooting　from　the　main　cabin；　but　he　couldn't　see　the　results；　nor　could　he　tell　how　close　his　pursuers　were　behind　the　aircraft's　rudder。
　　　　　With　both　feet　on　the　brakes　and　his　right　hand　on　the　throttles；　he　used　his　left　to　call　a　Mayday　over　the　radio。　The　control　tower　operator　at　Andrews　Air　Force　Base　replied　and　asked　for　his　location；　as　they　did　not　have　him　on　radar。　When　told　he　was　on　Branch　Avenue　approaching　the　Suitland　Parkway；　the　controllers　thought　he　was　a　nutcase　and　ordered　him　sharply　to　get　off　the　radio。　But　Pitt　persisted　and　demanded　they　call　the　nearest　police　unit；　a　request　they　were　more　than　happy　to　grant。
　　　　　Back　in　the　cabin；　Giordino's　slow；　methodically　aimed　fire　finally　paid　off。　He　shot　out　the　right　front　tire　of　the　lead　Mercedes；　sending　it　into　an　uncontrollable　skid　across　the　highway；　where　it　flew　into　a　drainage　ditch　and　rolled　over　three　times　before　ing　to　rest　upside　down　in　a　cloud　of　dust。　The　other　Mercedes　came　on　without　hesitation　and　was　gaining　due　to　the　increased　traffic　that　was　slowing　Pitt。　He　needed　two　lanes　and　the　shoulder　to　cut　past　cars　and　trucks　looming　ahead。
　　　　　Sirens　screamed　in　the　distance；　and　soon　red…and…blue　flashing　lights　were　seen　ing　from　the　opposite　direction。　The　police　cars　cut　across　the　grassy　strip　between　the　divided　highway　and　picked　up　the　chase　almost　on　the　rear　bumper　of　the　Mercedes；　passing　around　it　and　rushing　toward　the　aircraft　the　officers　thought　was　in　the　hands　of　either　a　drug　addict　or　a　drunk。
　　　　　For　perhaps　ten　seconds；　the　police　officers　were　not　aware　of　the　bullets　ing　out　of　the　automatic　rifles　fired　by　the　two　men　out　the　rear　side…door　windows　of　the　lone　Mercedes；　but　then　the　bullets　ripped　through　the　hoods　of　the　police　cars　and　mauled　the　engines；　causing　them　to　stop　dead。　The　officers；　surprised　and　bewildered；　coasted　their　cars　off　the　highway　onto　the　shoulder　as　smoke　rolled　from　beneath　their　hoods。
　　　　　〃They　stopped　the　cops！〃　Giordino　shouted　through　the　cockpit　door。
　　　　　They　are　desperate　to　retrieve　the　sacred　relics；　Pitt　thought；　as　the　Mercedes　pulled　even　and　the　gunners　unleashed　a　gale　of　bullets　that　smashed　into　the　cowl　of　the　nose　in　front　of　him。　But　ing　too　close　to　the　aircraft　was　a　mistake。　Giordino　held　both　automatics　in　his　hands　and　pumped　both　magazines　into　the　Mercedes；　striking　the　driver；　who　slumped　over　the　wheel。　The　SUV　then　drifted　out　of　its　lane　and　crashed　into　the　side　of　a　giant　truck　and　trailer　hauling　milk。　The　rear　wheels　of　the　heavy　trailer　smashed　into　and　over　the　Mercedes；　flattening　the　occupants　and　bouncing　wildly　over　the　wreckage　before　leaving　it　scattered　in　jagged　pieces　across　the　concrete。
　　　　　〃You　can　slow　down　now；〃　announced　an　exultant　Giordino。　〃The　posse　is　no　more。〃
　　　　　〃You're　a　better　shot　than　I　gave　you　credit　for；〃　said　Pitt；　easing　back　on　the　throttles；　but　still　keeping　the　aircraft　moving　down　the　highway。　When　he　was　absolutely　sure　there　was　no　more　pursuit；　he　eased　the　aircraft　onto　a　wide　grassy　area　of　Fort　Davis　Park　and　killed　the　engines。
　　　　　Within　minutes；　they　were　surrounded　by　nearly　ten　District　of　Columbia　police　cars　and　forced　to　lie　on　the　ground　with　their　wrists　handcuffed　behind　them。　Later；　after　they　were　taken　to　the　nearest　station　and　questioned　by　two　detectives；　who　thought　their　story　of　being　chased　from　the　airport　for　sacred　Nazi　relics　belonged　in　Alice　in　Wonderland；　Pitt　convinced　them　to　make　a　phone　call。
　　　　　〃You're　entitled　to　your　one　call；〃　said　Detective　Lieutenant　Richard　Scott；　a　gray…haired　veteran　of　the　force。
　　　　　〃I'd　be　grateful　if　you　made　it　for　me；〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　　The　detective　plugged　a　phone　into　a　jack　inside　the　interrogation　room　and　looked　up。　〃The　number？〃
　　　　　〃I've　never　memorized　it；　but　information　can　give　you　the　phone　number　for　the　White　House。〃
　　　　　〃I'm　tired　of　your　nonsense；〃　said　Scott　wearily。　〃What　number　do　you　want　to　reach？〃
　　　　　Pitt　pierced　the　detective　with　a　cold　stare。　〃I'm　dead　serious。　Call　the　White　House；　ask　for　the　President's　chief　of　staff。　Tell　him　we；　along　with　the　sacred　relics；　are　languishing　in　a　police　station　on　Potomac　Avenue。
　　　　　〃You're　joking。〃
　　　　　〃You　must　have　checked　us　out　and　found　we're　ranking　officials　of　NUMA　and　not　wanted　criminals。〃
　　　　　〃Then　how　do　you　explain　shooting　up　the　highway　with　guns　that　aren't　registered？〃
　　　　　〃Please；〃　Pitt　coaxed。　〃Just　make　the　call。〃
　　　　　Looking　up　the　White　House　number；　Scott　followed　Pitt's　instructions。　Slowly；　his　face　changed　expressions　like　a　ic　actor's。　From　suspicion　to　curiosity　to　downright　bafflement。　When　he　set　down　the　receiver；　he　stared　with　newfound　respect。
　　　　　〃Well？〃　asked　Giordino。
　　　　　〃President　Wallace　himself　came　on　the　line　and　directed　me　to　get　you　and　your　relics　to　the　White　House　in　the　next　ten　minutes　or　he'd　have　my　badge。〃
　　　　　〃Don't　fret；　Lieutenant；〃　Giordino　said　congenially。　〃We　won't　time　you。〃
　
　　　　　With　sirens　blaring　and　lights　flashing；　Pitt　and　Giordino　and　the　bronze　box　were　rushed　to　the　northwest　gate　of　the　White　House。　Once　inside；　the　bronze　box　was　opened　and　searched　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　Secret　Service　for　weapons　or　explosive　devices。　The　Nazi　relics　were　removed　from　their　leather　cases　and　unwrapped　from　the　linen　and　examined。　Then；　rather　than　go　through　the　trouble　of　replacing　and　rewrapping　again；　Giordino　simply　took　the　sacred　lance　and　carried　it　in　one　hand。　Pitt　kept　the　little　bronze　plaque　and　gave　the　sacred　bloodstained　flag　to　an　agent。　The　silver　urn　he　kept　in　his　possession；　firmly　gripped　with　both　hands。
　　　　　The　President's　secretary　stood　as　she　saw　them　approaching；　surrounded　by　no　fewer　than　four　Secret　Service　agents。　She　smiled　and　greeted　Pitt　and　Giordino。　〃The　President　and　quite　a　few　high…ranking　people　have　been　patiently　waiting　for　you　in　his　office。〃
　　　　　〃We　look　pretty　shabby　for　a　reception；〃　said　Giordino；　surveying　his　rumpled　clothing。
　　　　　〃If　I　may　have　a　moment；〃　asked　Pitt。　〃Could　you　direct　me　to　the　nearest　bathroom？〃
　　　　　〃Why；　certainly；〃　she　said　sweetly。　〃The　men's　room　is　just　behind　yo