atlantis.found-第23部分

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　　　　　He　marveled　at　their　efficiency。　They　were　using　self…contained　breathing　units　that　absorbed　and　eliminated　the　bubbles　exhaled　through　their　air　regulators　in　order　to　prevent　water　disturbance　in　front　of　their　camera　lenses。　He　was　especially　careful　not　to　allow　his　own　exhaust　bubbles　to　float　through　the　opening　in　the　chamber　floor。
　　　　　〃They're　tenacious；　I'll　give　them　that；〃　Pitt　muttered。　〃Whatever　is　in　the　inscriptions；　they　want　it　badly　enough　to　kill　and　die　for　it。〃
　　　　　〃Good　thing　their　munications　system　is　on　a　different　frequency；　or　they'd　have　eavesdropped　on　our　conversations。〃
　　　　　〃Could　be　they've　tuned　in　and　plan　on　suckering　us　inside。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　lips　curled　into　a　tight　grin　behind　the　mask。　〃So　do　we　disappoint　them　and　cut　and　run？〃
　　　　　〃Since　when　were　we　ever　smart　enough　to　take　the　easy　way　out？〃
　　　　　〃Never；　that　I　recall。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　bond　with　Pitt　had　never　weakened　in　all　their　years　of　friendship　a　friendship　that　went　all　the　way　back　to　the　first　grade。　Whatever　scheme　Pitt　devised；　no　matter　how　insane　or　ridiculous；　Giordino　was　in　for　a　penny；　in　for　a　pound；　without　the　slightest　protest。　They　had　saved　each　other's　life　on　more　than　one　occasion；　and　when　needed　could　get　inside　the　other's　head。　That　they　worked　as　a　close…knit　team　went　without　saying。　Their　adventures　were　legendary　within　NUMA。
　　　　　〃It'd　be　next　to　impossible　for　both　of　us　to　rush　inside　the　chamber　in　unison　before　they　react；〃　said　Pitt；　eyeing　the　narrow　diameter　of　the　opening。
　　　　　〃We　could　swim　inside　and　knife　them　in　their　respective　guts；〃　said　Giordino　quietly。
　　　　　〃If　our　positions　were　reversed；〃　murmured　Pitt；　so　softly　that　Giordino　could　barely　hear　him；　〃that's　what　they　would　do　to　us。　But　the　practical　side　of　me　says　take　them　alive。〃
　　　　　〃Easier　said　than　done。〃
　　　　　Pitt　moved　as　close　as　he　dared　to　the　opening　and　peered　at　the　two　divers；　who　were　absorbed　in　their　work。　〃I　think　I　see　an　opportunity。〃
　　　　　〃Don't　leave　me　in　suspense；〃　said　Giordino；　removing　his　gloves　so　his　hands　had　freedom　of　movement。
　　　　　〃They're　wearing　their　dive　knives　strapped　to　their　lower　legs。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　eyebrows　rose　questioningly　under　the　mask。　〃So　are　we。
　　　　　〃Yes；　but　we're　not　about　to　be　attacked　from　behind　by　a　pair　of　genial　and　dashing　rogues。〃
　
　　　　　The　divers　inside　finished　photographing　the　inscriptions　and　star　symbols。　While　one　loaded　their　camera　equipment　in　a　large　duffel　bag；　the　other　began　placing　a　charge　of　explosives　in　one　corner　of　the　chamber。　The　procedure　played　into　Pitt　and　Giordino's　hands。　As　soon　as　the　diver　with　the　camera　gear　had　worked　his　way　through　the　hole　into　the　cavity　below；　Giordino　snatched　the　mouthpiece　of　the　breathing　regulator　from　between　the　man's　lips　and　cut　off　his　air　supply。　In　the　same　instant；　he　circled　a　massive　arm　around　the　man's　exposed　neck；　choking　him　until　he　went　limp　from　unconsciousness。
　　　　　〃I've　got　mine；〃　Giordino　muttered　heavily。
　　　　　Pitt　didn't　bother　to　reply。　With　a　powerful　kick　of　his　fins；　he　shot　into　the　chamber　and　toward　the　unsuspecting　diver　connecting　a　timer　to　the　explosives。　He　came　in　from　the　side　to　avoid　the　air　tanks　on　the　diver's　backpack。　In　a　repeat　of　Giordino's　performance；　he　tore　away　the　mouthpiece　and　squeezed　the　diver's　throat　in　a　viselike　grip。　Pitt　had　not　enjoyed　the　luxury　of　time；　however；　to　see　that　he　was　tackling　a　man　of　giant　size。　It　took　all　of　two　seconds　for　Pitt　to　realize　he　had　bitten　off　more　than　he　could　chew。　His　opponent　was　built　like　a　professional　wrestler　and　had　the　muscles　of　one。　He　didn't　react　with　helpless　inertia；　but　thrashed　around　the　narrow　confines　of　the　chamber　like　a　crazy　man　in　a　violent　fit。　Pitt　felt　like　a　fox　who　had　unwittingly　leaped　onto　the　back　of　a　wounded　bear　and　was　holding　on　for　dear　life。
　　　　　The　sheer　animal　power　as　the　man　tried　to　reach　over　his　shoulders　and　grasp　Pitt's　head　was　terrifying。　Two　huge　hands　managed　to　clutch　Pitt　around　the　head。　For　a　few　moments；　Pitt　thought　his　skull　was　beginning　to　crack　in　a　hundred　places。　What　saved　him　from　having　his　brains　turned　into　mush　was　a　beefy　wrist　that　moved　beside　his　jaw。　He　spat　out　his　mouthpiece；　somehow　managed　to　twist　his　head　under　the　crushing　grip；　and　bit　the　wrist　as　hard　as　his　jaws　could　clamp。　A　cloud　of　blood　billowed　in　the　water。　The　hands　around　his　head　jerked　free　in　chorus　with　a　painful　shout　that　came　as　a　grotesque　gurgle。　Pitt　held　on　and　squeezed　the　great　bull　of　a　neck　with　every　ounce　of　his　fading　strength。　In　desperation；　he　ripped　the　monster's　face　mask　off。
　　　　　The　big　man　threw　himself　backward　toward　one　wall　in　a　convulsive　jerk。　Pitt's　air　tanks　clanged　against　the　rock　and　the　breath　was　crushed　out　of　him；　but　his　choke　hold　did　not　loosen；　even　by　a　fraction。　He　gripped　the　wrist　of　the　arm　around　the　throat　with　his　free　hand　and　increased　the　pressure。
　　　　　From　behind　and　to　the　side；　Pitt　could　not　see　the　other　man's　face。　Whipping　his　body　from　side　to　side　like　a　dog　shaking　his　coat　wet　with　water；　the　giant　tried　desperately　to　find　his　air　regulator　and　thrust　it　back　in　his　mouth；　but　its　hose　was　wrapped　around　Pitt's　arm。　Frantically；　the　man　bent　forward　enough　to　grab　his　dive　knife　from　the　sheath　strapped　to　his　right　calf。　Pitt　had　expected　the　movement　and　was　prepared　for　it。　As　the　giant　reached　down；　Pitt　released　the　hand　holding　the　arm　around　his　throat；　raised　it；　and　jabbed　a　finger　in　an　open　eye。
　　　　　The　effect　was　what　he　expected；　what　he'd　hoped。　The　gorilla　of　a　man　went　stiff　as　a　tree　and　clamped　a　hand　to　his　eye。　In　the　process；　he　blindly　caught　hold　of　Pitt's　hand　and　slowly；　relentlessly　began　to　bend　the　index　and　middle　fingers　backward。　The　pain　shot　through　Pitt　like　a　shaft　of　lightning。　The　agony　of　having　the　bones　of　the　fingers　snapped　is　unlike　any　other。　Excruciating　doesn't　do　justice　as　a　description。　Pitt　began　to　see　fireworks　behind　his　eyes。　He　was　within　a　microsecond　of　releasing　his　stranglehold　and　clutching　at　the　hand　that　was　causing　him　so　much　torment；　when　he　sensed　an　infinitesimal　drop　in　pressure。　The　pain　was　still　there；　but　lessening　by　tiny　degrees。
　　　　　Slowly；　almost　too　slowly；　the　stabbing　pain　began　to　subside　as　the　giant　started　sucking　water　in　through　his　open　mouth。　His　movements　became　uncoordinated　and　spasmodic。　He　entered　the　initial　stages　of　blackout　as　he　began　to　drown。　His　face　suddenly　contorted　in　fear　and　panic。　Pitt　waited　several　seconds　after　the　big　man　went　limp　before　he　replaced　the　mouthpiece；　forcing　air　down　his　victim's　throat　and　lungs。
　　　　　Giordino　came　halfway　through　the　hole。　〃What　took　you　so　long？〃
　　　　　〃The　luck　of　the　draw；〃　Pitt　gasped　between　breaths；　his　heart　pounding　like　a　piston　inside　a　cylinder。　〃I　always　choose　the　wrong　lane　of　traffic；　the　wrong　line　to　stand　in　at　the　bank　and　the　biggest　guy　in　the　world　to　pick　a　fight　with。　What　about　your　man？〃
　　　　　〃I　wrapped　him　tighter　than　a　silkworm　with　electrical　cord　I　found　on　a　string　of　overhead　lights。〃　Giordino　looked　down　at　the　inert　form　on　the　floor　of　the　chamber；　and　the　eyes　behind　the　dive　mask　widened。　He　stared　at　Pitt　with　growing　respect。　〃Do　the　coaches　of　the　National　Football　League　know　about　this　guy？〃
　　　　　〃If　they　did；　he'd　be　a　number…one　draft　choice；〃　Pitt　said；　as　his　heart　began　to　slow　and　his　breath　came　evenly。　〃Take　their　knives　and　any　other　weapons　you　can　find。　Then　find　some　more　electrical　cable　and　let's　bind　him　before　he　es　around　and　tears　the　mountain　down。　Leave　their　dive　masks　off　so　their　vision　is　blurred。〃
　　　　　Giordino　hog…tied　the　giant　diver　with　electrical　cord　and　dropped　him　none　too　gently　through　the　opening　into　the　cleft　below。　He　then　removed　one　or　two　weights　from　the　belts　of　both　men；　so　their　bodies　were　slightly　buoyant；　which　made　their　mass　easier　to　tow　back　through　the　tunnel。　He　also　removed　their　dive　knives。　On　the　smaller　man；　he　found　a　little　gun　that　shot　a　shaft　with　a　barb　on　one　end。　The　shaft　was　propelled　by　pressed　air　from　a　tiny　cylinder。
　　　　　While　Giordino　was　concentrating　o