atlantis.found-第79部分

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s　if　the　tram　were　crawling　and　he　wanted　to　get　out　and　help　push　it。　Stations　designated　in　the　letters　of　the　alphabet　came　and　went；　each　one　met　with　their　expectation　of　security　guards　flooding　on　board　and　seizing　them。　When　the　tram　exchanged　passengers　at　W　Station；　Pitt's　hopes　began　to　rise；　but　at　X　Station；　their　luck　ran　out。
　　　　　Six　black　uniformed　security　guards　boarded　the　end　car　and　began　checking　the　passengers'　identification　tags；　which　Pitt　only　now　observed　were　carried　on　bracelets　around　their　wrists。　He　cursed　himself　for　not　knowing　earlier　so　he　could　have　stolen　the　bracelets　from　the　furniture　movers。　Too　late；　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　guards　would　make　a　special　effort　to　search　for　people　without　them。　He　also　noted　that　they　seemed　to　be　taking　extra　time　to　check　any　workers　wearing　red　or　yellow　coveralls。
　　　　　〃They're　working　their　way　closer；〃　Giordino　noted　without　emotion；　as　the　guards　entered　the　second　car　of　the　five…car　tram。
　　　　　〃One　at　a　time；〃　said　Pitt；　〃move　casually　to　the　first　car。〃
　　　　　Without　a　word　passing　between　them；　Giordino　went　first；　followed　by　Megan　and　then　Pat；　with　Pitt　bringing　up　the　rear。
　　　　　〃We　might　make　the　next　station　before　they　reach　this　car；〃　said　Giordino。　〃But　it's　going　to　be　close。〃
　　　　　〃I　doubt　if　we'll　get　off　that　easy；〃　Pitt　said　grimly。　〃They'll　probably　be　waiting　there；　too。〃
　　　　　He　walked　forward　and　peered　through　the　window　of　the　door　leading　to　a　small　control　cab　in　the　front　of　the　car。　There　was　a　console　with　lights；　buttons；　and　switches；　but　no　driver　or　engineer。　The　tram　was　fully　automatic。　He　tried　the　door　latch；　but　wasn't　surprised　to　find　it　locked。
　　　　　He　studied　the　symbols　and　markings　on　the　console　panel。　One　in　particular　struck　his　eye。　Gripping　the　Colt；　he　rapped　the　barrel　against　the　glass　window　and　shattered　it。　Ignoring　the　startled　looks　of　the　car's　passengers；　he　reached　inside　and　unlocked　the　door。　Without　the　slightest　pause；　he　reached　out　and　moved　the　first　of　five　toggle　switches　connected　to　the　tram's　electronic　couplings。　Next　he　reset　the　puter　that　actuated　the　speed　of　the　tram。
　　　　　The　desired　effect　gave　him　a　surge　of　pleasure。　The　four　rear　cars　detached　from　the　lead　car　and　began　to　fall　back。　Though　each　car　had　its　own　power　source；　their　preset　speed　was　now　slower　than　that　of　the　forward　car。　The　security　guards　could　only　contact　other　search　teams　and　watch　helplessly　as　the　distances　between　the　cars　rapidly　widened　and　their　quarry　gained　a　growing　lead。
　　　　　Four　minutes　later；　the　car　with　Pitt　and　the　others　swept　past　Y　Station　without　stopping；　to　the　frustration　of　a　team　of　security　guards　and　the　dumb　expressions　of　the　workers　who　stood　on　the　platform。　Pitt　felt　as　if　his　stomach　were　being　squeezed　by　a　cold　hand；　and　his　mouth　felt　as　though　it　were　stuffed　with　dry　leaves。　He　was　playing　a　desperate　gamble；　with　the　dice　loaded　against　him。　He　glanced　behind　him　into　the　car　and　caught　sight　of　Pat；　sitting　with　an　arm　around　Megan's　shoulder；　one　arm　still　clutching　the　attaché　case；　her　face　pale　and　strangely　sad　and　forlorn。　He　walked　back　and　ran　his　hand　through　her　streaming　red　hair。
　　　　　〃We'll　get　through　this；〃　he　said；　with　an　air　of　conviction。　〃Old　Dirk　will　take　you　over　the　water　and　the　mountains。〃
　　　　　She　looked　up　and　managed　a　faint　smile。　〃Is　that　a　guarantee？〃
　　　　　〃Ironclad；〃　he　said；　with　a　growing　conviction　inside　him。
　　　　　Half　a　minute　passed。　Pitt　walked　back　into　the　control　cabin　and　saw　that　they　were　approaching　the　marina　at　the　stern　of　the　ship。　Up　ahead；　he　could　see　the　tracks　begin　their　curve　toward　the　marina；　where　the　tram；　he　was　certain；　was　supposed　to　stop　at　Z　Station　before　continuing　around　the　ship。　He　didn't　need　mystical　powers　to　know　security　guards　had　reached　the　station　platform　first　and　were　waiting　to　blast　them　with　an　arsenal　of　weapons。
　　　　　〃I'm　going　to　slow　the　car　to　about　ten　miles　an　hour；〃　Pitt　said。　〃When　I　give　the　word；　we　jump。　The　edge　of　the　tracks　is　planted　with　vegetation；　so　our　landing　should　be　fairly　soft。　Try　to　roll　forward　when　you　hit。　At　this　point　we　can't　afford　to　have　anybody　suffer　a　fractured　ankle　or　leg。〃
　　　　　Giordino　put　his　arm　around　Megan。　〃We'll　go　together。　That　way　you'll　have　lots　of　fat　to　cushion　your　fall。〃　It　was　a　broad　misstatement。　Giordino　didn't　have　an　ounce　of　fat　on　his　muscular　body。
　　　　　Pitt　reset　the　controls　and　the　car　slowed　abruptly。　The　instant　the　red　numbers　on　the　speed　scale　dropped　to　ten　miles　an　hour；　he　yelled；　〃All　right；　everyone　out！〃
　　　　　He　hesitated；　making　sure　they　all　had　leaped　from　the　tram。　Then　he　punched　up　the　numbers　until　the　dial　read　sixty　miles　an　hour；　before　running　from　the　cab　to　the　door　and　jumping　as　the　tram　car　quickly　accelerated　toward　its　fastest　speed。　He　struck　soft　earth　feet　first　before　rolling　with　the　momentum　of　a　cannonball　into　a　bed　of　ornamental　bonsai　trees；　crushing　their　distorted　branches　and　mashing　them　into　the　soil　with　his　weight。　He　staggered　to　his　feet；　one　knee　protested　in　pain；　but　he　was　still　capable　of　active　movement。
　　　　　Giordino　was　beside　him；　helping　him　regain　his　balance。　He　was　relieved　to　see　Pat　and　Megan；　their　faces　clear　of　expressions　of　pain。　They　seemed　more　concerned　with　brushing　the　soil　and　pine　needles　from　their　hair。　The　tram　had　disappeared　around　the　bend；　but　the　stairway　leading　to　the　first　pier　was　no　more　than　fifty　feet　away；　and　no　guards　were　nearby。
　　　　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Pat　asked；　regaining　a　small　measure　of　posure。
　　　　　〃Before　we　catch　our　plane；〃　answered　Pitt；　〃we　have　to　take　a　little　boat　trip。〃
　　　　　He　caught　her　by　the　arm　and　dragged　her　behind　him；　as　Giordino　hustled　Megan　along。　They　ran　along　the　track　until　they　reached　the　stairs　leading　down　to　Pier　Number　One。　As　Pitt　suspected；　the　security　guards　had　encircled　the　station　at　Z　Section　two　hundred　yards　farther　up　the　track　in　the　center　of　the　marina。　Confusion　reigned；　as　the　tram　car　shot　past　the　station　and　around　the　next　bend　on　its　way　along　the　port　side　of　the　ship。　The　guards；　pletely　deluded　into　thinking　their　prey　was　still　hiding　in　the　speeding　car；　hurriedly　launched　a　pursuit；　as　the　security　director　in　mand　ordered　the　power　circuits　for　the　tram　system　to　be　closed　down。
　　　　　Pitt　figured　it　would　take　them　another　seven　minutes　before　the　guards　could　reach　the　stopped　car　and　realize　that　it　was　empty。　If　he　and　the　others　weren't　off　the　ship　by　then；　capture　was　a　foregone　conclusion。
　　　　　None　of　the　workers　on　the　pier　paid　any　attention　to　them　as　they　calmly　strolled　down　the　steps　and　onto　the　pier。　There　were　three　boats　moored　between　the　first　and　second　piers；　a　small　twenty…four…foot　sailboat；　a　vessel　that　Pitt　recognized　as　a　forty…two…foot　Grand　Banks　cabin　cruiser；　and　a　twenty…four…foot　classic　runabout。　〃Climb　aboard　the　big　powerboat；〃　said　Pitt；　walking　placidly　across　the　pier。
　　　　　〃I　guess　we're　not　going　to　retrieve　our　dive　gear；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　　〃Pat　and　Megan　could　never　make　it　back　alive　in　the　water。　Better　we　take　our　chances　on　the　surface。〃
　　　　　〃The　runabout　is　faster；〃　Giordino　pointed　out。
　　　　　〃True；〃　Pitt　agreed；　〃but　the　security　force　will　be　suspicious　of　a　fast　boat　speeding　away　from　the　shipyard。　The　Grand　Banks　powerboat；　cruising　calmly　across　the　water；　won't　create　near　the　attention。〃
　　　　　There　was　a　dockhand　hosing　down　the　deck　when　Pitt　walked　up　and　stopped　at　the　gangway。　〃Nice　boat；〃　he　said；　smiling。
　　　　　〃Heh？〃　The　dockhand　looked　at　him；　unable　to　understand　English。
　　　　　Pitt　moved　up　the　gangway　and　gestured　at　the　no…nonsense　lines　of　the　Grand　Banks　42。　〃She's　a　nice　boat；〃　he　repeated；　boldly　stepping　into　the　bridge　cabin。
　　　　　The　dockhand　followed　him　inside；　protesting　his　trespass　on　the　boat；　but　once　they　were　out　of　sight　of　other　workers　on　the　pier；　Pitt　lashed　out　with　his　fist　and　decked　him　with　a　solid　blow　to　the　jaw。　Then　he　leaned　out　the　doorway　and　announced；　〃Al；　cast　off　the　lines。　You　ladies；　all　aboard。〃
　　　　　Pitt　stood　for　a　moment　and　studied　the　instruments　on　the　console