cc.floodtide- 第47部分

　
　Though　it　seemed　like　a　useless；　defiant　gesture…the　hurricane　of　small　shells　merely　splattered　and　ricocheted　off　the　heavily　armored　turret…Cabrillo　realized　what　Pitt　was　attempting　to　do。　Stark　madness；　he　thought；　sheer；　unfettered　madness　to　attempt　the　impossible。　Even　with　a　solid　support　to　rest　the　barrel　of　his　rifle；　only　a　superb　marksman　could　have　put　a　bullet　down　the　barrel　of　any　one　of　the　turret's　gun　muzzles　from　a　ship　rising　and　falling　on　the　ocean　swells。　But　Cabrillo　overlooked　the　awesome　firepower　of　the　Oerlikons　at　Pitt's　mand；　not　realizing　the　law　of　averages　was　on　his　side。　Three　shells；　one　directly　behind　the　other；　entered　the　muzzle　of　the　center　gun　and　swept　down　its　barrel；　impacting　with　the　shell　that　had　been　freshly　loaded　in　the　breech　and　detonating　its　warhead　at　almost　the　same　instant　it　was　fired。
　
　In　a　moment　stolen　from　hell；　the　big　one…hundred…millimeter　shell　burst；　causing　a　sympathetic　explosion　inside　that　peeled　the　turret　open　like　a　tin　can　covering　a　Fourth　of　July　cherry　bomb；　instantly　turning　it　into　a　shambles　of　jagged　steel。　Then；　as　if　on　cue；　the　Oregon's　last　two　torpedoes　smashed　into　the　Chengdo's　hull；　one　of　them　miraculously　entering　through　a　previous　hole　made　by　one　of　its　predecessors。　The　destroyer　shuddered　as　a　great　thunderous　roar　exploded　in　her　bowels；　lifting　her　hull　nearly　clear　of　the　water。　A　blossoming　ball　of　fire　bloomed　around　her；　and　then；　like　a　great；　mortally　wounded　animal；　she　shuddered　and　died。　Three　minutes　later　she　was　gone　amid　a　great　hissing　sound　and　column　of　black　smoke　that　spiraled　upward　and　merged　with　the　night　sky；　hiding　the　stars。
　
　The　shock　wave　swept　against　the　Oregon；　and　the　following　tidal　surge　from　the　sinking　destroyer　rocked　her　as　if　she　was　landlocked　in　an　earthquake。　On　the　bridge；　Cabrillo　had　not　seen　the　final　death　throes　of　the　Chengdo。　Only　seconds　before　Pitt's　shrewdly　directed　fire　turned　her　into　a　smoldering　wreck；　the　destroyer's　light　guns　had　converged　their　fire　on　the　bridge；　pounding　it　into　a　shower　of　debris　and　shattered　glass；　as　if　struck　by　a　thousand　sledgehammers。　Cabrillo　felt　the　air　tear　apart　around　him　in　a　concert　of　explosions。　His　arms　flailed　at　the　air　as　he　was　struck　and　hurled　backward　from　the　bridge　into　the　wheelhouse。　He　fell　to　the　deck；　closed　his　eyes　tightly　and　wrapped　his　arms　around　the　brass　binnacle　and　held　on。　A　shell　had　smashed　through　his　right　leg　below　the　knee；　but　Cabrillo　experienced　no　pain。　And　then　he　heard　a　tremendous　eruption　and　felt　a　rush　of　air；　followed　by　an　almost　eerie　silence。
　
　On　the　deck　below；　Pitt　released　the　trigger　grip　and　retraced　his　steps　through　the　wreckage　littering　the　cargo　deck。　He　reached　Giordino　and　helped　him　upright。　Giordino　put　his　arm　around　Pitt's　waist　to　steady　himself；　and　then　withdrew　it；　staring　at　a　hand　stained　with　red。　〃It　appears　to　me　that　you've　developed　a　leak。〃
　
　Pitt　gave　him　a　tight　grin。　〃I　must　remember　to　stick　my　finger　in　it。〃
　
　Assured　Pitt's　wound　was　not　serious；　Giordino　gestured　at　Seng　and　the　others　and　said；　〃These　guys　are　seriously　injured。　We　must　help　them。〃
　
　〃Do　what　you　can　to　make　them　fortable　until　the　ship's　surgeon　can　tend　to　them；〃　Pitt　said　as　he　looked　up　at　the　ruins　of　what　had　been　the　bridge；　now　a　tangled　mass　of　debris。　〃If　Cabrillo　is　still　alive　I　should　try　to　help　him。〃
　
　The　ladder　to　the　bridge　wing　from　the　cargo　deck　was　a　tangled　piece　of　scrap；　and　Pitt　had　to　scale　the　shell…riddled；　twisted　mass　of　steel　that　had　been　the　aft　superstructure　to　reach　the　wheelhouse。　The　shattered　interior　was　deadly　quiet。
　
　The　only　sounds　came　from　the　racing　beat　of　the　engines　and　the　rash　of　water　along　the　hull　as　the　badly　punished　ship　raced　from　the　scene　of　the　battle；　strangely　enhancing　the　eerie　silence。　Pitt　slowly　entered　Satan's　scrap　heap；　stepping　over　the　rabble。
　
　There　were　no　bodies　of　a　helmsman　or　first　officer　in　the　wheelhouse…all　fire…bat　systems　had　been　operated　from　the　control　center　under　the　forecastle。　Cabrillo　had　observed　and　directed　the　battle　alone　on　the　seldom…used　bridge。　Through　the　edge　of　unconsciousness　he　saw　a　vague　figure　approach　and　push　aside　the　splintered　remains　of　the　door。　Awkwardly；　he　straggled　to　sit　up。　One　leg　responded　but　the　other　proved　powerless。　His　thoughts　seemed　lost　in　a　fog。　He　was　only　dimly　aware　of　someone　kneeling　beside　him。
　
　〃Your　leg　took　a　nasty　hit；〃　said　Pitt　as　he　tore　off　his　shirt　and　tightened　it　above　the　wound　to　stop　the　bleeding。　〃How's　the　rest　of　you？〃
　Cabrillo　held　up　the　remains　of　a　shattered　pipe。　〃The　bastards　rained　my　best　briar。〃
　
　〃You're　lucky　it　wasn't　your　skull。〃　Reaching　up；　Cabrillo　grasped　Pitt's　arm。　〃You　made　it　through。　I　thought　you　bought　a　tombstone　for　sure。〃
　〃Didn't　someone　tell　you；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃I'm　indestructible；　thanks　in　large　part　to　the　body　armor　you　suggested　I　check　out。〃
　〃The　Chengdo？〃
　〃Settling　in　the　mud　on　the　bottom　of　the　China　Sea　about　now。〃
　〃Survivors　from　the　destroyer？〃
　〃Hanley　has　his　engines　wound　as　tight　as　they'll　go。　I　don't　think　he　has　any　inclination　to　slow　down；　turn　around；　go　back　and　see。〃
　〃How　badly　were　we　mauled？〃　Cabrillo　asked　as　his　eyes　began　to　focus　again。
　〃Other　than　looking　like　she　was　trampled　by　Godzilla；　there　isn't　any　damage　a　few　weeks　in　a　shipyard　won't　cure。〃　〃Casualties？〃
　〃About　five；　maybe　six　wounded；　including　yourself；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃No　dead　or　injured　below　decks　that　I'm　aware　of。〃
　〃I　want　to　thank　you；〃　said　Cabrillo。　He　could　feel　himself　getting　faint　from　loss　of　blood；　and　he　wanted　to　get　it　in。
　〃You　fooled　both　me　and　the　Chinese　boarding　party　with　your　fake…hands…in…the…air　routine。　If　you　hadn't　taken　them　out；　the　oute　might　have　been　different。〃
　〃I　had　help　from　four　good　men；〃　Pitt　said　as　he　knotted　the　tourniquet　on　Cabrillo's　leg。
　〃It　took　a　ton　of　guts　to　ran　across　that　shell…swept　deck　to　man　the　Oerlikons。〃
　Having　done　all　he　could　until　Cabrillo　could　be　carried　to　the　ship's　hospital；　Pitt　sat　back　and　stared　at　the　chairman　of　the　board。　〃I　believe　they　call　it　temporary　insanity。〃
　〃Still；〃　Cabrillo　said　in　a　weak　voice；　〃you　saved　the　ship　and　everyone　on　it。〃
　Pitt　looked　at　him　tiredly　and　smiled。　〃Will　the　corporation　vote　me　a　bonus　at　the　next　board…of…directors　meeting？〃
　Cabrillo　started　to　say　something；　but　he　passed　out　just　as　Giordino；　followed　by　two　men　and　a　woman；　entered　the　ravaged　wheelhouse。　〃How　bad　is　he？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃His　lower　leg　is　hanging　by　a　thread；〃　said　Pitt。　〃If　the　ship's　surgeon　is　as　skilled　and　professional　as　everyone　else　on　this　ship；　I'm　betting　he　can　reattach　it。〃
　Giordino　looked　down　on　the　blood　seeping　through　Pitt's　pants　at　the　hip。　〃Did　you　ever　consider　painting　a　bull's…eye　on　your　ass？〃
　〃Why　bother？〃　Pitt　retorted　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eyes。　〃They'd　never　miss　it　anyway。〃
　
　UNKNOWN　TO　MOST　VISITORS　OF　HONG　KONG　ARE　THE　OUTLYing　islands；　235　of　them。　Considered　the　other　face　of　the　bustling　business　district　across　from　Kowloon；　the　old　fishing　villages　and　peaceful　open　countryside　are　embellished　by　picturesque　farms　and　ancient　temples。　Most　of　the　islands　are　less　accessible　than　Cheung　Chau；　Lamma　and　Lantau；　whose　populations　run　from　8；000　to　25；000；　and　many　are　still　uninhabited。
　
　Four　miles　southwest　of　the　town　of　Aberdeen　on　Repulse　Bay；　Tia　Nan　Island　rises　from　the　waters　of　the　East　Lamma　Channel　across　a　narrow　channel　from　the　Stanley　Peninsula。　It　is　small；　no　more　than　a　mile　in　diameter。　At　its　peak；　jutting　from　a　promontory　two　hundred　feet　above　the　sea；　stands　a　monument　to　wealth　and　power；　a　manifestation　of　supreme　ego。
　
　Originally　a　Taoist　monastery　built　in　1789　and　dedicated　to　Ho　Hsie　Ku；　one　of　the　immortals　of　Taoism；　the　main　temple　and　its　surrounding　three　smaller　temples　were　abandoned　in　1949。　In　1990　it　was　purchased　by　Qin　Shang；　who　became　obsessed　with　creating　a　palatial　estate　that　would　bee　the　envy　of　every　affluent　businessman　and　politician　in　southeast　China。
　
　Protected　by　a　high　wall　and　well…guarded　gates；　the　enclosed　gardens　were　artistically　designed　and　planted　with　the　world's　rarest　trees　and　flowers。　Master　craftsmen　replicated　ancient　design　motifs。　Artisans　from　all　over　China　were　brought　in　to　remodel　the　monastery　into　a　glorious　showplace　of　Chinese　culture。　The　harmonious　architecture　was　retained　and　enhanced　to　display　Qin　Shang's　immense　collection　of　art　treasures。　His　thirty…year　hunt　netted　art　objects　from　China's　prehistory　to　the　end　of　the　Ming　dynasty　in　1644。　He　pleaded；　cajoled　and　bribed　People's　Republic　bureaucrats　into　selling　him　priceless　antiques　and　artwork；　any　cultural　treasure　he　could　get　his　hands　on。
　
　His　agents　bed　the　great　auction　houses　of　Europe　and　America；　and　scoured　every　private　collection　on　every　continent　for　exquisite　Chinese　objects。　Qin　Shang　bought　and　bought　with　a　fanaticism　that　stunned　his　few　friends　and　business　associates。　After　an　appropriate　time　span；　what　could　not　be　purchased　was　stolen　and　smuggled　to　his　estate。　What　he　cou