atlantis.found-第81部分

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　He　waited　patiently；　like　a　hunter　in　a　blind　watching　the　skies　for　a　passing　duck。
　　　　　At　the　precise　moment　the　security　guard　crouched　to　leap　between　the　two　boats；　he　shoved　the　twin　throttles　forward　in　a　brief　burst　of　speed；　before　abruptly　pulling　them　back　again。　The　sudden　movement　threw　off　the　balance　of　the　guard；　and　he　landed　sprawling　on　the　narrow　port　deck　of　the　Grand　Banks。
　　　　　Pitt　smoothly　stepped　through　the　cabin　door；　jammed　the　heel　of　his　right　foot　into　the　guard's　neck；　bent　down　and　snatched　up　his　automatic　rifle；　a　Bushmaster　M17S；　and　clubbed　him　behind　the　neck　with　the　butt　end。　He　leveled　it　at　the　guard　at　the　helm　of　the　outboard　and　fired。　He　missed；　as　the　guard　dropped　to　his　knees；　cramped　the　wheel　over；　hit　the　throttle；　and　turned　the　outboard　on　a　sharp　angle　away　from　the　Grand　Banks。　With　a　loud　roar　from　the　motor；　the　boat　leaped　away　in　a　cloud　of　spray　and　churning　water。　Without　waiting　to　see　more；　Pitt　stepped　back　into　the　cabin　and　pushed　the　throttles　as　far　as　they　would　go。　The　stern　of　the　Grand　Banks　dug　down　in　the　water；　the　bow　lifted；　and　soon　it　was　rushing　across　the　black　waters　at　nearly　twenty　knots。
　　　　　Now　Pitt　focused　on　the　patrol　boats　that　had　swung　around　on　a　course　back　up　the　fjord；　ing　at　full　speed；　the　searchlights　playing　the　water　in　ever…closer　sweeps　toward　the　Grand　Banks。　It　was　a　given　that　the　guard　driving　the　outboard　had　radioed　a　report。　The　lead　boat　was　a　good　half　mile　ahead　of　its　escort。　From　Pitt's　view　through　the　windshield；　it　was　impossible　to　predict　when　the　nearest　patrol　boat　would　meet　the　Grand　Banks　on　a　converging　course。　The　only　certainty　was　that　it　would　cross　his　bows　before　they　reached　the　mouth　of　the　ravine。　Another　six　or　seven　minutes　would　spell　the　difference　between　survival　and　death。
　　　　　They　were　well　clear　of　the　shipyard　now；　with　less　than　two　miles　to　go。
　　　　　The　outboard　cruiser　was　less　than　a　hundred　yards　off　and　slightly　behind。　The　only　reason　the　remaining　security　guard　had　not　opened　up　with　his　own　Bushmaster　rifle　was　that　he　was　afraid　of　hitting　his　partner。
　　　　　Giordino　returned　to　the　cabin；　carrying　an　armload　of　four　bottles　filled　with　solvent　from　a　can　used　to　clean　oil　and　grease　within　the　engine　partment。　Thin　strips　of　rags　were　stuffed　in　the　bottle　necks。　He　carefully　set　the　bottles　on　the　cushions　of　a　bench。　The　beefy　Italian　was　nursing　a　large　bruise　on　his　forehead。
　　　　　〃What　happened　to　you？〃　Pitt　asked。
　　　　　〃Some　guy　I　know　can't　drive　a　boat。　I　was　thrown　all　over　the　engine　partment　and　bounced　my　head　off　a　water　pipe　during　a　series　of　wild　gyrations。〃　Then　Giordino　spotted　the　unconscious　body　of　the　security　guard　lying　partially　in　the　door。　〃My　sincerest　apologies。　You　had　a　social　caller。〃
　　　　　〃He　failed　to　produce　an　invitation。〃
　　　　　Giordino　moved　beside　Pitt　and　stared　through　the　windshield　at　the　rapidly　approaching　patrol　boat。　〃No　warning　shot　across　the　bow　with　this　crew。　They're　armed　to　the　teeth　and　looking　for　any　excuse　to　blow　us　out　of　the　water。〃
　　　　　〃Maybe　not；〃　said　Pitt。　〃They　still　need　the　expertise　of　Pat　to　decipher　their　inscriptions。　They　might　rough　her　up　and　slap　Megan　around；　but　they　won't　kill　them。　You　and　I　will　be　history。　I　plan　on　giving　them　a　bit　of　a　surprise。　If　we　can　suck　them　in　close　enough；　we　might　give　them　a　bonfire　to　enjoy。〃
　　　　　Giordino　stared　Pitt　in　the　eyes。　Most　men　would　have　reflected　inevitable　defeat；　but　Giordino　saw　no　such　reflection。　What　he　saw　was　calculated　determination　and　a　faint　gleam　of　anticipation。　〃I　wonder　how　John　Paul　Jones　would　see　it。〃
　　　　　Pitt　nodded。　〃You'll　be　busy　with　your　toys。　Lend　me　your　piece。　Then　lay　low　on　the　far　side　of　the　bridge　until　you　hear　shooting。〃
　　　　　〃You　or　them？〃
　　　　　Pitt　gave　Giordino　a　dour　look。　〃It　doesn't　matter　who。〃
　　　　　Giordino　handed　over　his　Para…Ordnance　automatic　without　question；　as　Pitt　pushed　against　the　throttles　in　a　fruitless　attempt　to　goad　a　few　more　revolutions　out　of　the　engines。　The　Grand　Banks　was　giving　everything　it　had；　but　it　was　a　boat　built　for　fortable　cruising；　not　speed。
　　　　　The　mander　of　the　patrol　boat　had　no　reservations　about　closing　in　on　the　Grand　Banks。　He　had　no　reason　to　believe　that　anyone　on　board　was　crazy　enough　to　take　on　a　boat　armed　with　twin　machine　guns　plus　the　weapons　held　by　men　who　were　trained　to　kill　at　the　slightest　provocation。　He　studied　the　Grand　Banks　through　night　glasses；　saw　only　one　man　standing　at　the　helm　on　the　bridge；　and　made　the　ultimate　mistake　of　an　aggressor　he　profoundly　underestimated　his　adversary。　The　searchlights　were　trained　on　the　Grand　Banks；　illuminating　the　boat　in　a　blinding　glare。
　　　　　The　bone　of　foam　cut　by　the　bow　fell　away　as　the　thirty…eight…foot　patrol　boat　edged　closer　to　the　Grand　Banks　and　gradually　pulled　alongside；　until　it　was　less　than　twenty　feet　away。　From　his　position　on　the　bridge；　Pitt　squinted　his　eyes　against　the　bright　light　and　made　out　a　man　behind　each　machine　gun；　pointing　the　barrels　directly　at　him　in　the　bridge　cabin。　Three　other　men　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　on　the　open　deck　aft　of　the　cabin；　armed　with　Bushmaster　automatic　rifles。　Pitt　was　unable　to　see　Giordino　crouched　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　cabin；　but　he　knew　that　his　friend　was　poised　with　either　a　match　or　a　lighter　to　ignite　the　wicks　on　the　bottles　filled　with　the　solvent。　It　was　a　nerve…prickling　moment；　but　not　one　of　total　hopelessness；　certainly　not　in　Pitt's　mind。
　　　　　He　had　no　burning　desire　to　execute　anyone；　not　even　the　species　of　hardened　killers　whom　he　was　looking　at　across　the　water；　and　whose　mercenary　rades　he'd　met　in　Colorado。　It　was　no　mystery　that　his　life　and　that　of　Giordino　weren't　worth　two　cents　if　they　were　captured。　He　watched　as　the　mander　of　the　patrol　boat　raised　a　loudspeaker　to　his　mouth。
　　　　　Pitt　recognized　that　the　word　alto　meant　〃stop；〃　and　he　could　only　assume　the　words　that　followed　were　a　threat　that　if　he　didn't　do　what　he　was　ordered；　the　security　guards　would　open　fire。　He　waved　that　he　understood；　took　one　more　look　at　the　distance　separating　him　from　the　ravine；　now　down　to　less　than　half　a　mile；　and　a　quick　glance　at　the　second　patrol　boat　to　estimate　when　it　would　arrive　to　back　up　its　escort　five　to　six　minutes。　Next　he　checked　to　make　sure　the　two　automatics　were　snug　under　the　belt　behind　his　back。　Only　then　did　he　pull　back　the　throttles　to　the　idle　position；　but　he　kept　the　boat　in　gear　so　that　it　still　maintained　very　slow　headway。
　　　　　He　moved　to　the　doorway　of　the　cabin；　no　farther；　raised　his　hands；　and　stood　properly　subdued　in　the　dazzling　beam　of　the　light。　He　didn't　bother　using　his　limited　Spanish　vocabulary。　He　shouted　back　in　English。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　　　　〃Do　not　resist；〃　ordered　the　mander；　now　close　enough　to　dispense　with　the　loudspeaker。　〃I　am　sending　men　to　board　you。〃
　　　　　〃How　can　I　possibly　resist？〃　Pitt　offered　helplessly。　〃I　have　no　machine　guns　like　you。〃
　　　　　〃Tell　the　others　to　e　on　deck！〃
　　　　　Pitt　kept　his　hands　in　the　air；　turned；　and　made　as　if　he　were　relaying　the　mander's　orders。　〃They　are　afraid　you　will　shoot　them。〃
　　　　　〃We're　not　going　to　shoot　anyone；〃　the　mander　answered；　in　a　tone　that　was　about　as　slimy　as　an　eel。
　　　　　〃Please　turn　the　light　out；〃　Pitt　begged。　〃You　are　blinding　me　and　frightening　the　women。〃
　　　　　〃Stand　where　you　are　and　do　not　move；〃　the　mander　shouted　in　exasperation。
　　　　　In　a　few　moments；　the　patrol　boat　slowed　its　engines　to　a　slow　throb　and　angled　toward　the　Grand　Banks。　A　few　feet　away；　two　of　the　guards　laid　down　their　rifles　and　began　dropping　bumpers　over　the　rail　of　the　patrol　boat。　It　was　the　opportunity　Pitt　had　been　waiting　for。　Even　the　men　behind　the　machine　guns　had　relaxed。　Sensing　no　sign　of　trouble；　one　lit　a　cigarette。　The　crew　and　their　mander；　their　wariness　sharply　diminished　at　seeing　not　the　slightest　hint　of　a　threat；　felt　they　had　the　situation　firmly　under　their　control。
　　　　　Their　attitude　was　exactly　what　Pitt　had　hoped　for。　Coldly；　precisely；　he　dropped　his　hands；　whipped　out　the　two　automatics；　aimed　the　one　in　his　right　hand　at　the　man　standing　at　the　for