cc.floodtide-第25部分

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　〃I　can't　be　certain；　but　it　appears　the　occupants　of　the　boat　are　immigrants。〃
　〃Impossible；　the　only　aliens　brought　ashore　are　either　confined；　on　their　way　inland　or　dead。〃
　〃I　could　be　mistaken。〃
　〃Let's　hope　you　are；〃　said　Lo　Han。　〃Can　you　fly　close　enough　to　identify　their　nationality？〃　asked　Lo　Han。
　〃For　what　purpose？　For　me　to　eliminate　the　devil　responsible　for　the　destruction　of　Qin　Shang's　yacht　and　the　infiltration　into　the　alien　holding　cells；　those　who　are　with　him　must　die　too。　What　difference　if　they　are　Chinese　or　American？〃
　〃You　are　right；　Kung　Chong；〃　acknowledged　Lo　Han。　〃Do　whatever　you　must　to　protect　the　enterprise。〃
　〃I　shall　give　orders　to　launch　the　attack。〃
　〃Be　certain　there　are　no　spectators　in　the　vicinity。〃
　〃The　river　is　clear　of　recreational　craft；　and　the　shorelines　are　empty　of　people。〃
　〃Very　well；　but　keep　a　sharp　eye。　We　cannot　afford　eyewitnesses。〃
　〃As　you　mand；〃　said　Kung　Chong。　〃But　time　is　running　out。　If　we　do　not　destroy　the　boat　and　those　in　it　within　the　next　few　minutes；　all　opportunity　will　be　lost。〃
　〃Why　didn't　he　fire？〃　asked　Julia；　squinting　against　the　glare　from　the　morning　sun　on　the　surface　of　the　river。
　〃A　hitch　in　their　assassination　plans。　They　thought　I　worked　alone。　He's　reporting　to　his　boss　that　I'm　loaded　to　the　gunwales　with　passengers。〃
　〃How　far　to　Grapevine　Bay？〃
　〃A　good　twelve　or　thirteen　miles。〃
　〃Can't　we　pull　onto　shore　and　take　cover　in　the　trees　and　rocks？〃
　〃Not　a　practical　idea；〃　he　said。　〃All　they'd　have　to　do　is　land　in　the　nearest　clearing　and　hunt　us　down。　The　river　is　our　only　chance；　slim　as　it　is。　You　and　the　others　keep　your　heads　down。　Let　them　wonder　where　I　picked　up　a　load　of　passengers。　If　they're　looking　closely　they'll　spot　the　folds　on　your　eyelids　and　realize　you're　not　the　descendants　of　European　ancestry　on　a　picnic。〃
　The　venerable　Chris…Craft　covered　another　two　miles　of　river　before　the　lead　ultralight　dipped　low　over　the　river　and　increased　speed；　its　nose　aimed　menacingly　at　the　runabout。　〃No　more　peaceful　intentions；〃　said　Pitt　calmly。　〃He　means　business　this　time。　How　good　are　you　with　a　handgun？〃
　〃My　qualifying　scores　on　the　range　are　higher　than　most　of　the　male　agents　I　know；〃　she　said　as　matter…of…factly　as　if　she　was　describing　her　latest　hairdo。
　He　took　the　bundle　from　under　his　seat；　unwrapped　the　towel　and　handed　her　his　old　automatic　pistol。　〃Ever　shoot　a　Colt　forty…five？〃
　〃No；〃　she　answered。　〃When　required；　most　of　us　at　INS　pack　a　Beretta　forty…caliber　automatic。〃
　〃Here　are　two　spare　clips。　Don't　waste　your　shells　firing　at　the　engine　or　fuel　tank。　As　a　target；　it's　too　small　to　hit　on　an　aircraft　passing　overhead　at　more　than　fifty　miles　an　hour。　Aim　for　the　pilot　and　the　gunner。　One　good　body　shot　and　they'll　either　crash　or　head　for　home。〃
　She　took　the　。45；　twisted　around　in　the　seat　so　she　was　facing　backward；　flipped　off　the　safety　and　cocked　the　hammer。　〃He's　almost　on　us；〃　she　warned　Pitt。
　〃The　pilot　will　roll　and　e　over　us　slightly　off　to　one　side；　giving　his　gunner　a　clear　shot　downward；〃　Pitt　said　coolly。　〃The　instant　he　lines　us　up　in　his　sights；　shout　out　which　side　he's　passing；　left　or　right；　so　I　can　zigzag　under　him。〃
　Without　questioning　Pitt's　instructions；　Julia　gripped　the　old　Colt　with　both　hands；　raised　the　barrel　and　lined　up　the　sights　on　the　two　men　perched　in　front　of　the　wings　and　engine　as　it　soared　down　the　river。　Her　face　showed　more　concentration　than　fear　as　her　finger　tightened　on　the　trigger。
　〃On　your　left！〃　she　called　out。
　Pitt　threw　the　runabout　in　a　sharp　turn　to　the　left；　staying　with　the　ultralight。　He　heard　the　quiet　staccato　burp　of　an　automatic　weapon　with　a　suppressor　on　its　muzzle；　mingled　with　the　loud　thunder　of　the　old　Colt；　and　saw　bullets　lace　the　water　only　three　feet　alongside　the　hull　as　he　cut　under　the　ultralight；　using　its　underside　to　mask　the　runabout　from　the　gunner's　view。
　As　the　ultralight　shot　ahead；　Pitt　saw　no　trace　of　injury　to　the　pilot　or　copilot。　They　looked　as　if　they　were　enjoying　themselves。　〃You　missed！〃　he　snapped。
　〃I　could　have　sworn　I　scored；〃　she　snapped　back　furiously。
　〃Ever　hear　of　a　deflection　shot？〃　Pitt　lectured　her。　〃You've　got　to　lead　a　moving　target。　Haven't　you　ever　hunted　ducks？〃
　〃I　could　never　bring　myself　to　shoot　a　harmless　bird；〃　she　said　loftily　as　she　expertly　ejected　an　empty　clip　and　pumped　a　full　one　inside　the　handgrip　of　the　Colt。
　Feminine　logic　again；　thought　Pitt。　Can't　shoot　an　animal　or　bird；　but　not　hesitating　to　blow　a　man's　head　off。　〃If　he　es　at　the　same　speed　and　altitude；　aim　a　good　ten　feet　ahead　of　the　pilot。〃
　
　The　ultralight　circled　around　for　another　attack　while　its　sister　craft　hung　back　in　the　distance。　The　droning　whir　of　the　engine's　exhaust　echoed　off　the　rock　walls　of　the　canyon。　The　pilot　swooped　low　over　the　shoreline；　the　airflow　churned　out　by　the　propeller　blades　whipping　the　tops　of　the　trees　along　the　banks。　The　serene　and　picturesque　river　and　the　slopes　of　the　forested　canyon　seemed　the　wrong　location　for　a　life…and…death　struggle。　The　clear　green　water　flowed　past　banks　that　were　lined　with　trees　marching　up　the　rocky　sides　of　the　mountains　until　they　thinned　and　stopped　at　the　timberline。　The　yellow　aircraft　stood　out　like　a　colored　gemstone；　a　Mexican　fire　opal　against　a　sapphire　sky。　All　things　considered；　Pitt　thought　fleetingly；　there　are　worse　places　to　die。
　
　The　ultralight　leveled　out　and　came　directly　toward　the　Chris…Craft's　bow　on　this　run。　Now　Pitt　had　an　open　field　of　vision　and　could　see　the　angle　of　the　gunner's　trajectory　for　himself。　Unless　the　pilot　is　a　certified　cretin；　Pitt　thought；　he　won't　fall　for　the　same　sidestep　again。　Pitt　had　to　reach　down　in　his　bag　of　tricks　for　another　dodge。　Maintaining　his　course　until　the　last　possible　second；　he　felt　like　a　herring　taunting　a　shark。
　
　Julia　leveled　the　Colt　over　the　windshield。　She　almost　looked　ical；　her　head　slightly　tilted　to　one　side　as　she　aimed　with　the　only　eye　that　was　partially　open。　The　pilot　of　the　ultralight　was　sideslipping　up　the　river　to　give　his　gunner　additional　shooting　time　and　a　wider　range　of　fire。　He　knew　his　stuff　and　wasn't　about　to　be　fooled　twice。　On　this　strafing　run　he　hugged　the　riverbank；　cutting　off　any　attempt　by　Pitt　to　slip　under　the　plane's　narrow　belly。　The　pilot　was　also　playing　a　more　cautious　game。　Some　of　Julia's　bullets　had　struck　the　wing　and　made　him　realize　his　prey　had　a　sting。
　
　Pitt　knew　with　sickening　certainty　that　they　were　going　to　take　hits。　No　tricky　maneuvers；　no　fancy　footwork；　could　save　them　this　time　around。　Unless　Julia　scored　big…time；　they　were　all　dead；　literally。　He　watched　the　ultralight　loom　up　through　the　windshield。　It　was　like　standing　in　the　middle　of　a　bridge　over　a　thousand…foot　ravine　with　an　express　train　hurtling　toward　him。
　
　And　then　there　was　the　despairing　thought　that　even　if　they　were　successful　in　downing　the　first　ultralight；　they　weren't　even　halfway　home。　The　second　and　third　craft　were　lagging　back；　staying　out　of　range　and　clear　of　stray　bullets　while　awaiting　their　turn。　Take　one　out　of　the　game　and　two　substitutes　were　suited　up　and　ready　for　action。　The　moment　of　trepidation　ended　as　bullets　struck　and　gouged　the　water；　the　line　of　splashes　moving　inexorably　toward　the　boat。
　
　Pitt　jerked　the　steering　wheel；　sending　the　runabout　on　a　skidding　turn　to　his　right。　The　gunner　pensated；　but　too　late。　Pitt　swung　the　boat　in　a　flat　curve　to　the　left；　throwing　off　his　aim。　He　feinted　again；　but　the　gunner　merely　swiveled　his　weapon　and　laid　down　an　S　pattern。　Then；　as　if　he　had　touched　a　switch；　Julia　began　blasting　away。
　
　This　was　the　moment。　As　bullets　stitched　a　groove　of　holes　across　the　lustrous　mahogany　bow　of　the　Chris…Craft；　Pitt　took　the　gear　lever　in　both　hands　and　yanked　it　back　while　the　boat　was　at　full　speed。　There　was　a　horrifying　grinding　noise　as　the　gearbox　howled　in　protest。　The　engine　revolutions　raced　past　the　red　line　on　the　tachometer；　and　the　boat　came　to　an　abrupt　stop。　Then　it　leaped　backward　in　a　tight　arc。　Several　bullets　shattered　the　windshield　but　miraculously　missed　hitting　anyone。　And　then　the　hail　of　fire；　like　a　passing　rainstorm；　moved　behind　the　boat。　Julia　tracked　her　target　and　fired　until　the　last　shell　flipped　out　of　the　firing　chamber。
　
　Pitt　glanced　back　and　saw　a　beautiful　sight。　The　ultralight　was　out　of　control；　the　racing　engine　shrieking　like　a　banshee　as　fragments　of　the　propeller　spiraled　in　the　air；　spraying　in　every　direction。　He　could　see　the　pilot　fighting　the　controls　in　a　futile　gesture　as　the　craft　hung　poised　in　the　air　as　if　tied　to　a　string。　Then　the　nose　dipped；　and　it　plunged　lifeless　into　the　middle　of　the　river；　making　a　crater　in　the　water　and　causing　a　huge　splash　before　bobbing　back　to　the　surface　for　a　few　moments　and　then　sinking　rapidly　until　it　vanished。
　
　〃Nice　shooting；〃　Pitt　plimented　Julia。　〃Wyatt　Earp　would　be　proud　of　you。〃
　〃I　was　lucky；〃　Julia　said　modestly；　not　about　to　admit　that　she　had　been　aiming　at　the　pilot。
　〃You　put　the　fear　of　God　in　the　pilot　of　the　other　two。　They're　not　about　to　make　the　same　mistakes　as　his　buddy。　They'll　lay　back　out