cp.reddice-第6部分

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　　〃Lake　Mead。〃　Hoover　Dam…it　is　only　twenty　minutes　away；　I　estimate。
　　But　I　have　waited　too　long。
　　Five　minutes　later　I　catch　sight　of　two　military　helicopters；　ing　at　us　from　the　west；　not　the　south。　Because　my　eyes　are　so　sharp；　I　see　them　far　off…sixty　miles　away。　I　feel　it　is　still　possible　to　reach　the　lake。　Yet　I　know　they　have　spotted　us；　that　they　are　tracking　us　on　their　radar。　When　I　alter　course　slightly；　they　do　likewise。　Joel　sees　my　concern　but　doesn't　understand　it　at　first。　Even　changed；　his　sight　is　no　match　for　mine。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asks。
　　〃We　have　pany；〃　I　say。
　　He　looks　around。　〃Can　we　reach　the　lake？〃
　　〃Possibly。〃　I　ask　in　jest；　〃Can　we　fight　two　Apache　helicopters？〃
　　〃No　way。〃
　　I　guess　at　the　type　of　craft　that　pursues　us；　but　a　few　minutes　later　I　see　that　I　was　right。　My　knowledge　of　the　Apache　isn't　extensive；　but　I　have　read　enough　to　know　that　we　are　facing　the　most　lethal　attack　helicopter　on　earth。　The　two　choppers　move　close　to　each　other；　on　a　direct　intercept　course　with　us。　Black　as　the　desert　sky；　with　wide　hypnotic　propellers…they　are　clearly　faster　than　we　are。　Their　machine…gun　turret　and　rocket　launchers　hang　from　the　sides　like　dangerous　fists。　They　sweep　toward　us　for　a　knockout　punch。　Joel　sees　them。
　　〃Maybe　we　should　surrender；〃　he　suggests。
　　〃I　never　surrender。〃
　　They　catch　us　three　miles　short　of　the　lake。　The　　wide　flat　expanse　of　water　is　clearly　visible；　but　it　could　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　moon　for　all　the　good　it　can　do　us　now。　That's　what　I　think　at　first。　Yet　the　Apaches　do　not　immediately　lock　on　their　weapons。　They　swoop　above　and　below　us；　dangerously　close；　ordering　us　to　land。
　　〃Somebody　has　told　them　to　take　us　alive；〃　Joel　observes。
　　〃Who？〃
　　Joel　shrugs。　〃The　order　could　have　e　from　the　President　of　the　United　States。　But　I　suspect　the　mander　of　the　base　where　these　helicopters　originated　has　given　the　order。〃
　　〃We　only　need　to　get　to　the　water；〃　I　say。　〃They　couldn't　imagine　that　we'd　try　to　vanish　underwater。〃
　　〃I　can't　imagine　it。　Can　we　really　hold　our　breath　a　long　time？〃
　　〃I　can　go　an　hour。〃
　　〃But　what　about　me？〃
　　I　pat　his　leg。　〃Have　faith。　We　should　have　died　a　dozen　times　tonight　and　we're　still　alive。　Maybe　Krishna　hasn't　deserted　us　after　all。〃
　　〃If　they　open　fire　in　the　next　minute　we　might　have　a　chance　to　ask　him　directly；〃　Joel　says　dryly。
　　The　Apaches　buzz　us　a　couple　of　times　more；　then　grow　tired　of　the　cat…and…mouse　game。　They　lay　down　a　stream　of　bullets　across　our　path　and　I　have　to　slow　sharply　to　avoid　being　torn　to　shreds。　Still；　they　could　blow　us　out　of　the　sky　whenever　they　wish。　Yet　they　hold　back；　although　they　don't　want　me　flying　above　the　lake。　They　try　blocking　our　path　and　I　have　to　go　into　a　steep　dive　to　stay　on　course。　We　e　within　several　feet　of　the　ground　and　Joel　almost　has　a　heart　attack。
　　〃You　are　one　mean　pilot；〃　he　says　when　he　catches　his　breath。
　　〃I'm　pretty　good　in　bed　as　well；〃　I　reply。
　　〃Of　that　I　have　no　doubt。〃
　　These　military　men　are　not　like　the　LAPD。　They　expect　their　orders　to　be　obeyed。　They　may　have　instructions　to　take　us　alive；　but　they　also　have　orders　to　prevent　us　from　escaping。　A　quarter　mile　from　the　water；　they　open　fire　with　surgical　precision　and　suddenly　our　rotor　blades　are　not　a　hundred　percent　intact。　Our　copter　falters　in　the　air；　but　stays　up。　The　noise　above　us　is　deafening。　Yet　I　continue　on　toward　the　lake。　I　have　no　choice。
　　〃Get　ready　to　jump；〃　I　tell　Joel。
　　〃I'm　not　leaving　till　you　leave。〃
　　〃Nice　line。　But　you　have　to　jump　as　soon　as　we　cross　over　the　water。　Swim　for　the　far　shore；　not　the　near　one。　Stay　under　water　as　long　as　possible。〃
　　Joel　hesitates。　〃I　don't　know　how　to　swim。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃I　said　I　don't　know　how　to　swim。〃
　　I　can't　believe　it。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that　earlier？〃
　　〃I　didn't　know　what　you　had　planned。　You　didn't　tell　me。〃
　　〃Joel！〃
　　〃Sita！〃
　　I　pound　the　chopper　dashboard。　〃Damn！　Damn！　Well；　you're　just　going　to　have　to　learn　how　to　swim。　You're　a　vampire。　All　vampires　can　swim。〃
　　〃Says　who？〃
　　〃Says　me；　and　I'm　the　only　authority　on　the　subject　Now　stop　arguing　with　me　and　prepare　to　jump。〃
　　〃You　jump　with　me。〃
　　〃No。　I　have　to　wait　until　they　fire　their　lethal　blow…that　way　they'll　think　I'm　dead。〃
　　〃That's　crazy。　You　will　be　dead。〃
　　〃Shut　up　and　crack　your　door　slightly。　When　you　reach　the　far　shore；　run　into　the　hills　and　hide。　I'll　find　you。　I　can　hear　a　vampire　breathing　ten　miles　away。〃
　　The　Apaches　are　still　determined　to　prevent　us　from　reaching　the　water。　One　swoops　overhead　and　literally　drops　itself　directly　into　our　path。　I　have　to　go　into　another　steep　dive　to　avoid　it；　which　is　easy　to　do　because　the　craft　is　ready　to　crash　anyway。　The　water　is　now　only　a　hundred　yards　away。　The　Apache　behind　us　opens　fire。　They　mimic　my　earlier　strategy。　They　blow　off　our　tail　rotor。　I　immediately　lose　control　We　spin　madly　to　the　left。　Yet　the　water　is　suddenly　below　us。
　　〃Jump！〃　I　scream　at　Joel。
　　He　casts　me　one　last　glance…his　expression　curiously　sad。
　　Then　he　is　gone。
　　Pulling　back　hard　on　the　steering　bar；　I　try　to　gain　altitude；　partly　to　distract　them　from　Joel　and　partly　to　stay　alive。　It　is　my　hope　they　didn't　see　him　jump。　My　chopper　swings　farther　out　over　the　water。　A　mile　away　I　see　Hoover　Dam。　There　is　no　way　I　can　make　it　that　far。　The　chopper　bucks　like　a　hyperactive　horse　on　speed。　Cracking　my　door；　I　take　hold　of　the　shotgun　and　blast　at　one　of　the　Apaches　as　it　swings　nearby。　I　hit　the　top　blades；　but　these　suckers　are　tough。　The　military　chopper　banks　sharply。　Then　the　two　helicopters　regroup；　hovering　behind　me；　twin　hornets　studying　a　wounded　butterfly。　Over　my　shoulder　I　see　one　pilot　nod　to　his　gunner。　The　man　reaches　for　a　fresh　set　of　controls；　no　doubt　the　firing　mechanism　for　the　rockets。　As　I　throw　my　door　open　wide；　an　orange　tongue　of　flame　leaps　out　from　the　side　of　the　Apache。　My　reflexes　are　fast；　blinding　by　human　standards；　but　even　I　cannot　outrun　a　missile。　I　am　barely　free　of　my　seat　when　the　rocket　hits。
　　My　chopper　vaporizes　in　midair。
　　The　shock　from　the　explosion　hits　with　the　power　of　an　iron　fist。　A　fragment　of　burning　metal　cuts　into　my　skull　above　my　hairline；　sending　waves　of　searing　pain　through　my　whole　system。　I　topple　like　a　helicopter　without　a　stabilizing　propeller。　Blood　pours　over　my　face　and　I　am　blinded。　I　do　not　see　the　cold　water　of　the　lake　approaching；　but　I　feel　it　when　it　slaps　my　broken　side。　The　molten　shrapnel　in　my　head　shudders　as　it　contacts　the　dark　liquid。　I　fell　myself　spiralling　down　into　a　forsaken　abyss。　Consciousness
　　flickers　in　and　out。　The　lake　is　bottomless；　my　soul　as　empty　as　dice　without　numbers。　As　I　start　to　black　out；　I　wish　that　I　didn't　have　to　die　this　waywithout　Krishna's　grace。　How　I　would　love　to　see　him　on　the　other　side…his　divine　blue　eyes。　God　forgive　me；　how　I　love　him。
　　　
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　　I　awake　with　a　pale　wash　of　light　panning　across　my　face。　Opening　my　eyes；　I　see　it　is　the　searchlights　of　hovering　helicopters　pointing　down　on　me。　Only　they　are　high　in　the　air；　and　I　am　many　feet　underwater；　on　my　back；　on　the　bottom　of　the　lake。　Even　though　unconscious；　my　mind　must　have　had　the　wisdom　to　halt　my　breathing。　I　don't　know　how　long　I　have　been　out。　My　head　still　hurts　but　the　pain　is　bearable。　It　is　obvious　that　the　personnel　in　the　helicopters　cannot　see　me。
　　I　wonder　how　Joel　is；　if　he　escaped。
　　My　left　leg　is　pinned　under　the　wreckage　of　my　chopper。　It　is　good　because　otherwise　I　would　be　floating　on　the　surface；　probably　with　many　bullet　holes　in　me。　Pulling　my　leg　free；　I　roll　over　on　my　belly　and　begin　to　swim　away　from　the　lights；　not　sure　at　first　if　I　am　moving　deeper　into　the　lake　or　closer　to　the　shore。　My　desire　for　breath　is　strong　but　not　overwhelming。　I　know　I　can　swim　a　long　way　before　I'll　have　to　surface。　They　can't　scan　every　square　inch　of　the　lake。　I　am　going　to　escape。
　　Yet　there　will　be　no　freedom　for　me　if　Joel　is　not　free。
　　Ten　minutes　later；　when　the　lights　are　far　behind　me；　I　allow　myself　to　swim　to　the　surface　and　peek。　I　am　far　out　in　the　center　of　the　lake。　Behind　me；　near　the　shore　where　my　chopper　was　blown　out　of　the　sky；　the　helicopters　still　circle；　their　beams　still　focused　on　the　water。　Close　to　this　spot；　on　the　shore；　are　several　trucks；　many　uniformed　people；　some　cops；　some　army　personnel。　Joel　stands　in　the　middle　of　them；　a　dozen　guns　pointed　at　his　head。
　　〃Damn；〃　I　whisper。　〃He　really　couldn't　swim。〃
　　I　cannot　rush　in　to　save　him。　I　know　this　yet　I　have　to　stop　myself　from　making　the　attempt。　It　is　my　nature　to　act　quickly。　Patience　has　not　e　to　me　over　the　centuries。　Floating　in　the　center　of　the　black　lake；　it　seems　to　me　the　years　have　only　brought　grief。
　　Joel　is　ushered　into　an　armored　truck。　Men　on　the　shore　are　donning　scuba　gear。　They　want　my　body；　they　want　to　see　it　before　they　can　rest。　I　know　that　I　must　act　quickly　if　I　am　to　track　Joel。　Yet　I　also　know　I　have　to　stop　killing。　They'll　be　looking　for　any　suspicious　deaths　in　the　area　as　a　way　to　confirm　I　am　still　alive。　A　throbbing　sensation　in　my　for