cussler.blueandgold-第51部分

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　〃I　think　we　just　lost　the　deposit　on　our　leased　plane；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　Finished　with　its　first　line　of　business；　the　chopper　swiveled　so　that　its　nose　pointed　toward　the　hangar。　Austin　and　Zavala　had　been　dumbfounded　in　the　seconds　since　the　helicopter　arrived　and　began　its　deadly　work。　Now　Austin　realized　how　vulnerable　they　were。　They　dashed　for　the　open　door　as　the　chopper　leaped　forward。　White　bursts　of　flame　flowered　from　the　guns　on　either　side　of　the　speeding　aircraft；　and　the　bullets　threw　up　geysers　of　water　and　mud　as　they　stitched　their　way　to　ward　the　two　running　figures。
　
　They　ducked　inside；　and　Austin　hit　the　door　switch。　There　was　another　grinding　of　motors　and　machinery；　and　slowly　the　door　began　to　close。　The　chopper　landed　a　few　hundred　yards　away。　Armed　men　in　dark　green　uniforms　spilled　out　and　advanced　on　the　hangar　with　automatic　weapons。
　
　Unfortunately　Zavala　had　left　his　machine　pistol　in　the　plane。　Austin's　Bowen　revolver　filled　his　hand；　and　he　let　off　a　couple　of　shots　to　give　the　attackers　something　to　think　about。　Then　the　door　clanked　shut；　and　the　gunfire　became　barely　audible。
　
　〃We'd　better　bolt　the　back　door；〃　Austin　said；　sprinting　for　the　rear　of　the　hangar　where　they　had　e　in。
　
　They　ran　along　the　corridor　to　the　cellar　hole。　The　bolt　was　rusted　away；　and　they　couldn't　secure　the　door。　Hoping　their　attackers　were　as　stupid　as　they　were　bold；　they　dragged　one　of　the　mattresses　out　of　a　bunkroom　and　covered　the　ventilation　hole　in　the　floor　in　a　makeshift　pitfall。　Then　they　dashed　back　and　secured　the　door　leading　directly　into　the　hangar。　All　was　silent；　but　they　had　no　illusions　about　their　security。　It　was　obvious　that　the　attackers　didn't　want　to　damage　the　flying　wing；　but　a　few　well…placed　rockets　or　ex　plosives　could　peel　back　the　hangar's　metal　walls　like　a　sardine　can。　
　
　　〃Who　are　those　guys？〃　Zavala　said；　trying　to　catch　his　breath。
　
　　There　was　a　sharp　hammering　on　the　metal　skin　of　the　hangar　as　if　someone　were　testing　it　for　weakness。　Austin's　coral　green　eyes　swept　the　hangar　from　one　end　to　the　other。
　
　　〃If　I'm　not　mistaken；　we're　about　to　find　out。〃
　
　Chapter　31
　The　siege　was　announced　with　an　ear…splitting　explosion　that　echoed　off　every　square　inch　of　steel；　as　if　the　metal…enclosed　space　were　a　huge　bell。　Shards　of　hot　metal　and　pieces　of　burning　vegetation　rained　down　from　a　hole　high　in　the　front　face　of　the　hangar。　A　patch　of　daylight　opened；　but　the　thick　cushion　of　vegetation　and　earth　that　had　grown　up　around　the　hangar　over　the　decades　had　dampened　the　explosion。
　
　Austin　looked　up　at　the　ragged　hole　and　said；　〃They're　aiming　high　so　they　won't　hit　the　plane。　Probably　hoping　to　spook　us。〃
　
　〃They're　doing　a　good　job；〃　Zavala　said。　〃I'm　spooked。〃
　
　In　fact；　Zavala　looked　anything　but　spooked。　He　would　have　retired　from　the　Special　Assignments　Team　long　before　if　he　succumbed　easily　to　panic。　His　eyes　calmly　scanned　the　interior　of　the　hangar　looking　for　something　that　would　give　them　even　the　slightest　edge。
　
　The　reverberations　from　the　blast　had　barely　faded　when　there　was　a　loud　hammering　on　the　steel　door　at　the　rear　of　the　hangar。
　
　〃So　much　for　our　pitfall；〃　Austin　said。
　
　They　raced　behind　the　plane　and　grabbed　tool　chests；　benches；　and　storage　lockers；　anything　they　could　move；　stacking　them　against　the　door。　The　makeshift　barricade　would　stall　deter　mined　attackers　only　a　few　minutes。　They　were　more　concerned　with　the　front　of　the　hangar；　where　the　main　firepower　appeared　to　be　concentrated。　As　they　darted　under　the　plane's　fuselage　Zavala　glanced　up　at　the　jet　engines。　The　yawning　black　exhausts　protruding　from　the　rear　of　the　wing　resembled　cannon　barrels　lined　up　on　a　fort。　He　grabbed　Austin　by　the　arm。
　
　〃Look；　Kurt；　those　jets　are　pointed　right　at　the　rear　wall。　If　we　got　the　engines　started；　we　could　give　those　guys　ing　in　the　back　door　a　warm　wele。〃
　
　Austin　calmly　walked　under　the　plane's　fuselage；　seemingly　oblivious　to　the　steady　thumping　from　the　rear　of　the　hangar。　He　stood　in　front　of　the　plane；　where　the　wing's　thin　edge　came　to　a　point；　his　hands　on　his　hips；　and　gazed　up　at　the　cockpit。
　
　〃Even　if　we　somehow　made　it　out　of　the　hangar；　we'd　have　no　place　to　go。　Maybe　I've　a　got　better　idea；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。
　
　Working　with　Austin　had　given　Zavala　insight　into　the　un　orthodox　way　his　partner's　mind　functioned。　He　caught　Austin's　drift　instantly。　〃You're　kidding；〃　he　said。
　
　Austin's　eyes　were　deadly　serious。
　
　〃You　said　the　systems　are　working。　If　we　can　crank　up　the　engines；　why　waste　fuel　toasting　a　few　bad　guys　when　we　can　simply　leave　them　in　the　dust？　Admit　it；〃　he　said；　catching　the　gleam　in　Zavala's　eye。　〃You've　been　itching　to　fly　this　thing。〃
　
　〃There　are　a　lot　of　ifs　here。　The　engines　may　not　start；　or　the　fuel　could　have　gone　sour；〃　Zavala　said。　He　listed　a　few　more　un　desirable　possibilities；　but　from　the　way　the　corners　of　his　mouth　were　turned　up　in　a　smile　it　was　clear　he　was　discounting　disaster。　Austin　had　tapped　into　Joe's　desire　to　fly　every　type　of　air　craft　that　had　ever　been　built。
　
　〃I　know　it　won't　be　easy。　Those　trucks　over　there　were　probably　used　to　tow　the　plane　outside　where　it　could　take　off。　We　won't　have　that　luxury。　We're　going　to　have　to　make　a　running　start。〃
　
　〃I'd　be　happy　if　we　could　make　any　kind　of　start。　Those　engines　haven't　been　cranked　over　in　fifty　years；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃Just　keep　thinking　about　the　scene　in　that　Woody　Allen　movie；　where　the　Volkswagen　starts　right　up　after　centuries　in　a　cave。　Should　be　a　piece　of　cake。〃　
　
　　Zavala　grinned。　〃This　isn't　exactly　a　Volkswagen；〃　he　protested；　although　it　was　clear　from　his　excitement　that　the　idea　had　gone　beyond　a　matter　of　life　and　death。　It　was　now　a　challenge。　〃First　I'll　have　to　see　if　I　can　get　this　old　buggy　cranked　up。　We're　not　going　anywhere　with　those　flat　tires。　We'll　have　to　get　air　into　them。〃
　
　〃I　saw　some　air　hoses；　but　we　don't　have　much　time。〃
　
　〃We'll　start　with　the　two　outside　tires　under　the　fuselage　and　the　nose　wheel。　We'll　get　to　the　inside　tires　if　we　can。〃
　
　They　quickly　uncoiled　the　air　hose　and　fed　the　air　into　the　tires。　The　rattle　of　the　pressor　was　slightly　slower　than　their　heartbeats。　Austin　stopped　pumping　air　and　listened。　The　pounding　had　stopped　although　the　back　door　was　still　firmly　secured。　Austin　didn't　like　it。　The　halt　could　mean　the　attackers　were　preparing　to　blow　the　door。　He　didn't　have　time　to　worry。　Another　horrendous　explosion　came　from　the　front　of　the　hangar。　The　blast　sent　them　both　sprawling　face…first　onto　the　oil…soaked　concrete　floor。　A　second　rocket　had　been　fired　to　open　up　the　gap　below　the　first　hole。　Smoke　from　burning　vegetation　hovered　near　the　ceiling。
　
　〃We're　out　of　time！〃　Austin　yelled。　〃We'll　have　to　stop　for　air　at　a　gas　station。　Leave　the　belly　hatch　open。　As　soon　as　I　hear　the　engines　cranking　I'll　hit　the　wall　switch。　While　the　door's　on　its　way　up　I'll　run　for　the　plane。〃
　
　〃Don't　forget　to　detach　the　plane　from　its　power　umbilical；〃　Zavala　said　as　he　ran　for　the　belly　hatch。
　
　Austin　took　up　his　post　next　to　the　wall　with　his　hand　on　the　switch。　He　knew　the　odds　were　against　them　but　hoped　American　wartime　engineering　would　prove　its　worth。
　
　Zavala　scrambled　into　the　pilot's　high　seat　and　peered　through　the　plastic　cowling。　The　dials　blurred　as　he　stared　at　the　strange　instrument　panel。　This　was　going　to　be　a　fast　learning　curve。　He　blinked　his　eyes　and　relaxed；　trying　to　remember　the　procedure　he　used　to　fly　the　Catalina；　trying　not　to　look　at　every　dial；　only　for　needles　that　indicated　trouble。　All　systems　checked　out　fine。　The　center…line　console　between　the　two　pilot　stations　contained　the　radio　and　the　fuel　and　air　speed　gauges。　His　fingers　flew　over　the　switches；　and　the　dials　lit　up　like　a　pinball　machine　display。
　
　Holding　his　breath；　he　hit　the　ignition　switches　for　the　engines　one　at　a　time。　The　turbines　began　with　a　throaty　rumble　and　worked　themselves　up　to　a　high　pitch。　Satisfied　that　the　engines　were　working；　he　waved　at　Austin；　who　stood　next　to　the　wall。　Austin　waved　back。
　
　As　Zavala　jumped　into　the　copilot's　seat　and　adjusted　the　fuel　feed；　Austin　hit　the　wall　switch。　A　thin　line　of　daylight　began　to　shine　under　the　rising　door。　Kurt　dashed　beneath　the　plane　and　disconnected　the　umbilical。　Then；　using　the　sledge　hammer　he　had　set　aside　for　the　task；　he　knocked　the　wooden　wheel　chocks　away。　Austin　groped　his　way　through　the　smoke；　pulled　himself　into　the　plane；　and　battened　the　hatch。
　
　The　hot　exhaust　from　engines　blasted　the　rear　of　the　building。　Anything　not　nailed　down　was　blown　against　the　wall　by　the　tremendous　force　or　melted　by　the　intense　heat。　The　noise　was　so　loud　it　was　almost　impossible　to　think；　and　hot；　choking　fumes　and　smoke　filled　the　hangar。
　
　Austin　crashed；　gasping　for　breath；　into　the　copilot's　seat。　〃She's　all　yours；　pal。〃
　
　Zavala　gave　him　the　thumbs…up　sign。　〃She's　a　little　cranky　but　not　bad　for　an　old　gal。〃
　
　Zavala's　eyes　were　glued　on　the　rising　door。　He　kept　the　brakes　set　and　pushed　each　throttle　forward　until　they　were　at　full　power。　If　they　had　the　luxury　of　a　full　crew；　Zavala　would　have　relied　on　a　flight　engineer　to　tell　him　if　the　engines　were　running　the　way　they　should；　but　the　best　he　could　do　was　rely　on　his　experienced　ear。　It　was　impossible　to　distinguish　individual　engines；　but　the　unbroken　roar　was　a　good　sign。
　
　The　door　seemed　to　catch　for　an　instant；　then　it　pulled　free。　He　released　the　brakes；　and　the　plane　lurched　forward。　Zavala　pushed　the　throttle　levers　smoothly　forward　and　let　out　a　rebel　yell　as　the　power　from　thousands　of　pounds　of　thrust　pushed　the　plane　out　into　the　open；　but　his　jubilation　was　short…lived。
　
　The　big　green　helicopter　was　directly　in　the　line　of　takeoff。　
　The　helicopter　had　landed　after　blasting　the　second　hole；　and　now　it　sat　on　the　tundra　about　a　half　mile　away。　Men　in　dark　green　uniforms　were　outside　the　hangar　preparing　for　an　assault　when　the　wing　emerged　like　a　monstrous　black　bird　hatching　from　its　egg。　Their　surprise　quickly　turned　to　terror；　and　they　scattered　like　leaves　be