cc.vixen03-第36部分

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nd　Recovery　Team　along　with　five　coffins。
　At　ten　a。m。　everyone　was　assembled　and　Pitt　waved　his　arms　at　the　crane　operators。　Slowly　the　cables　hanging　from　the　floating　derricks　to　beneath　the　wind…rippled　surface　of　the　lake　tightened　and　quivered　as　the　power…unit　operators　increased　the　tension。　The　derricks　listed　a　few　degrees　with　the　strain　and　creaked　at　their　bolted　joints。　Then；　abruptly；　as　though　a　great　weight　had　fallen　from　their　unseen　clutches；　they　straightened。
　〃She's　broken　free　of　the　mud；〃　Pitt　announced。
　In　confirmation；　Giordino；　standing　at　his　side；　wearing　radio　ear…phones；　nodded。　〃Divers　report　she　is　on　her　way　up。〃
　〃Tell　whoever　is　operating　the　cradle　sling　around　the　nose　section　to　keep　it　low。　We　don't　want　the　canisters　spilling　out　of　the　hole　in　the　tail。〃
　Giordino　relayed　Pitt's　orders　through　a　tiny　microphone　attached　to　his　headphones。
　The　freezing　mountain　air　was　heavy　with　tension；　every　man　stood　motionless；　numb　with　anticipation；　his　eyes　locked　on　the　water　be…tween　the　derricks。　The　only　sounds　came　from　the　exhaust　of　the　lift　engines。　They　were　a　hard…bitten　salvage　crew；　and　yet　no　matter　how　many　wrecks　they　had　reclaimed　from　the　sea；　the　same　old　tentacles　of　excitement　during　a　lift　operation　never　failed　to　wring　their　emotions　dry。
　Admiral　Bass　found　himself　reliving　that　snowy　night　so　many　years　ago。　To　him　it　seemed　all　but　impossible　to　associate　the　image　of　Major　Raymond　Vylander　in　his　memory　with　the　fleshless　bones　he　knew　to　be　inside　the　wreck's　cockpit。　He　moved　closer　to　the　water's　edge　until　it　lapped　at　his　shoes；　and　he　began　to　experience　a　burning　sensation　in　his　mid…chest　and　left　shoulder。
　Then　the　water　under　the　cables　swirled　from　blue　to　muddy　brown；　and　the　curved　roof　of　Vixen　03　arched　into　the　daylight　for　the　first　time　in　thirty…four　years。　The　once…shiny　aluminum　skin　had　corroded　to　a　whitish　gray　and　was　streaked　by　slimy　bottom　weed。　As　the　cranes　lifted　her　higher　into　the　air；　the　silt…laden　water　cascaded　from　the　open　wound　at　the　rear　of　the　fuselage。
　The　blue　and　yellow　insignia　that　ran　across　the　top　of　the　fuselage　appeared　surprisingly　sharp；　and　the　words　military　AIR　transport　service　were　still　quite　legible。　Vixen　03　no　longer　resembled　an　airplane。　It　was　easier　to　picture　her　as　a　huge　dead　whale　whose　fins　and　tail　had　been　clipped。　The　severed　and　twisted　control　cables；　electrical　wiring；　and　hydraulic　lines　dangling　from　the　gaping　wounds　could　be　imagined　as　entrails。
　Abe　Steiger　was　the　first　to　break　the　hushed　quiet。
　
　〃Odds　are　that's　the　cause　of　her　crash；〃　he　said；　pointing　at　the　gash　in　the　cargo　cabin　just　aft　of　the　cockpit。　〃She　must　have　thrown　a　prop　blade。〃
　Bass　stared　at　the　ominous　evidence；　making　no　ment。　The　pain　in　his　chest　became　more　intense。　With　great　force　of　will　he　put　it　from　his　mind　while　unconsciously　massaging　the　ache　on　the　inside　of　his　left　arm。　He　tried　to　peer　through　the　plane's　windshield　glass；　but　the　years　of　accumulated　silt　blocked　out　all　view。　The　cranes　had　lifted　the　fuselage　ten　feet　above　the　lake's　surface　when　a　thought　struck　him　and　he　turned　and　gazed　at　Pitt　questioningly。
　〃I　see　no　provisions　for　a　makeshift　barge。　How　do　you　expect　to　carry　the　wreckage　to　shore？〃
　Pitt　grinned。　〃This　is　where　we　send　for　a　sky　hook；　Admiral。〃　He　gestured　at　Giordino。　〃Okay；　signal　Dumbo。〃
　Within　two　minutes；　like　some　great　pterodactyl　flushed　from　its　Mesozoic　nest；　an　ungainly　structured　helicopter　soared　over　the　treetops；　its　two　big　rotors　pounding　the　thin　mountain　air　with　peculiar…sounding　thumps。
　The　pilot　hovered　the　giant　helicopter　above　the　moored　cranes。　Two　hooks　gradually　unreeled　from　the　gaping　belly　and　were　rapidly　at…tached　to　the　hoist　cradles　by　the　derrick　crews。　Then　the　pilot　took　up　the　strain　of　the　full　weight　and　the　connectors　from　the　crane　cables　slackened　and　were　released。　The　Dumbo　clawed　at　the　air；　its　turbines　struggling　under　the　massive　load。　Very　tenderly；　as　if　maneuvering　a　cargo　of　fragile　crystal；　the　pilot　eased　Vixen　03　toward　shore。
　Pitt　and　the　others　turned　their　backs　as　a　cloud　of　spray；　kicked　up　by　the　rotor　blades；　swirled　in　from　the　lake。　Giordino；　ignoring　the　gusting　wetness；　moved　to　where　the　pilot　could　plainly　see　him；　motioning　with　his　hands　while　directing　the　lowering　operation　over　the　earphone　transmitter。
　Five　minutes　was　all　it　took　for　the　Dumbo　to　release　its　load　and　disappear　again　over　the　trees。　Then　they　all　stood　there　staring；　no　one　making　a　move　for　the　wreckage。　Steiger　murmured　a　mand　to　his　Air　Force　detail　and　they　smartly　marched　to　the　truck　and　began　unloading　the　coffins；　setting　them　on　the　ground　in　an　orderly　row。　One　of　Pitt's　men　produced　a　ladder　and　propped　it　against　the　exposed　rear　of　the　upper　cargo　deck。　Pitt　remained　silent　and　indicated　with　his　hand　that　Admiral　Bass　be　the　first　to　enter　the　aircraft。
　Once　inside；　Bass　made　his　way　around　the　canisters　to　the　control…cabin　doorway。　He　stood　immobile　for　several　seconds；　looking　pale　and　very　ill。　'？
　〃Are　you　all　right；　sir？〃　Pitt　asked；　ing　up　behind　him。
　The　voice　that　answered　was　remote　and　far　away。　〃I　can't　seem　to　bring　myself　to　look　at　them。〃
　〃It　would　serve　no　purpose；〃　said　Pitt　gently。
　Bass　leaned　heavily　against　the　bulkhead；　the　agony　in　his　chest　growing。　〃A　minute　to　get　my　bearings。　Then　I'll　take　stock　of　the　warheads。〃
　Steiger　approached　Pitt；　gingerly　stepping　around　the　canisters　as　though　he　were　afraid　to　touch　them。　〃Whenever　you　give　the　word　I'll　bring　my　men　on　board　to　recover　the　remains　of　the　crew。〃
　〃Might　as　well　begin　with　our　unexplained　guest。〃　Pitt　tilted　his　head　at　ajumble　of　loose　canisters。　〃You'll　find　him　strapped　to　the　floor　about　ten　feet　to　your　right。〃
　Steiger　searched　in　the　area　Pitt　instructed　and　shrugged；　his　facial　expression　blank。　〃I　don't　find　anything。〃
　〃You're　practically　standing　on　top　of　him；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃What　gives；　for　Christ's　sake？〃　Steiger　demanded。　〃I'm　telling　you　there's　nothing　here。〃
　〃You　must　be　blind。〃　Pitt　pushed　Steiger　aside　and　looked　down。　The　straps　were　still　attached　to　the　cargo　tie…down　rings　but　the　body　in　the　old　khaki　uniform　had　vanished。　Pitt　stared　dumbly　at　the　space　on　the　floor　while　his　mind　stumbled　to　grasp　the　reality　of　the　missing　remains。　He　knelt　and　picked　up　the　rotting　straps。　They　had　been　cut。
　Steiger's　eyes　reflected　doubt。　〃The　water　was　like　ice　the　day　you　dived。　Perhaps　your　mind　saw　something　。　。　。〃　His　voice　trailed　off　but　the　implication　was　clear。
　Pitt　rose　to　his　feet。　〃He　was　here；〃　he　said；　expecting　no　further　argument　and　receiving　none。
　〃Could　he　have　washed　out　the　aft　opening　during　the　lift　operation？〃　Steiger　offered　lamely。
　〃Not　possible。　The　divers　who　swam　beside　the　wreck　to　the　surface　would　have　reported　any　debris　falling　free。〃
　Steiger　started　to　say　something；　but　suddenly　his　eyes　turned　un…prehending　at　a　strangled　gasping　sound　that　emitted　from　the　forward　end　of　the　partment。　〃What　in　God's　name　is　that？〃
　Pitt　wasted　no　time　in　answering。　He　knew。
　He　found　Admiral　Bass　lying　on　the　wet　floor；　fighting　for　breath；　his　skin　bathed　in　cold　sweat。　The　unbearable　severity　of　the　pain　contorted　his　face　into　a　tormented　mask。
　〃His　heart！〃　Pitt　called　out　to　Steiger。　〃Find　Giordino　and　tell　him　to　get　that　helicopter　back　here。〃
　Pitt　began　tearing　the　clothing　away　from　the　admiral's　neck　and　chest。　Bass　reached　up　and　grasped　Pitt's　wrist。　〃The　。　。　。　the　warheads；〃　he　rasped。
　〃Rest　easy。　We'll　soon　have　you　on　your　way　to　a　hospital。〃
　〃The　warheads　。　。　。〃　Bass　repeated。
　〃All　safe　in　their　canisters；〃　Pitt　reassured　him。
　〃No　。。。　no　。。。　you　don't　understand。〃　His　voice　was　a　hoarse　whisper　now。　〃The　canisters　。。。　I　counted　them　。　。　。　twenty…eight。〃
　Bass's　words　were　being　barely　audible；　and　Pitt　had　to　place　his　ear　at　the　tremoring　lips。
　Giordino　rushed　up　carrying　several　blankets。　〃Steiger　gave　me　the　word；〃　he　said　tensely。　〃How　is　he？〃
　〃Still　hanging　in　there；〃　Pitt　said。　He　released　the　viselike　grip　from　his　wrist　and　gently　squeezed　Bass's　hand。　〃I'll　see　to　it；　Admiral。　That's　a　promise。〃
　Bass　blinked　his　dulled　eyes　and　nodded　in　understanding。
　Pitt　and　Giordino　had　covered　him　and　cushioned　his　head　with　the　blankets　when　Steiger　reappeared；　followed　by　two　airmen　carrying　a　stretcher。　Only　then　did　Pitt　rise　to　his　feet　and　step　aside。　The　helicopter　had　already　returned　and　landed　when　they　carried　the　still…conscious　Bass　from　Vixen　03。
　Steiger　took　Pitt's　arm。　〃What　was　he　trying　to　tell　you？〃
　〃His　inventory　of　the　warhead　canisters；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃He　counted　twenty…eight。〃
　〃I　pray　the　old　guy　makes　it；〃　Steiger　said。　〃At　least　he　had　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　the　monstrosities　were　retrieved。　Now　all　that's　。　left　is　to　dump　them　in　the　ocean。　End　of　horror　story。〃
　〃No；　I'm　afraid　it's　only　the　beginning。〃
　〃You're　talking　in　riddles。〃
　〃According　to　Admiral　Bass；　Vixen　03　did　not　depart　Buckley　Field　carrying　twenty…eight　warheads　filled　with　the　Quick　Death　agent。〃
　Steiger　sensed　an　icy　dread　in　Pitt's　tone。　〃But　his