atlantis.found-第82部分

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　　　　　Their　attitude　was　exactly　what　Pitt　had　hoped　for。　Coldly；　precisely；　he　dropped　his　hands；　whipped　out　the　two　automatics；　aimed　the　one　in　his　right　hand　at　the　man　standing　at　the　forward　machine　gun；　and　in　the　same　moment　in　time　lined　up　the　left　muzzle　at　the　gunner　in　the　stern；　pulling　both　triggers　as　fast　as　his　fingers　could　curl。　At　a　range　of　fifteen　feet；　he　couldn't　miss。　The　machine　gunner　in　the　bow　sank　to　his　knees　on　the　deck　with　a　bullet　in　his　shoulder。　The　gunner　in　the　stern　threw　his　hands　in　the　air；　stumbled　backward；　and　fell　over　the　gunwale　into　the　water。
　　　　　Almost　simultaneously；　flaming　bottles　of　fuel　soared　over　and　past　the　Grand　Banks'　bridge　like　a　meteor　shower　and　dropped　onto　the　cabin　and　decks　of　the　patrol　boat；　erupting　in　a　roar　of　flames　as　the　glass　shattered　and　the　contents　ignited。　The　fiery　liquid　pooled　and　spread　across　the　patrol　boat；　turning　it　into　a　blazing　funeral　pyre。　Virtually　the　whole　open　stern　deck　and　half　the　cabin　erupted　into　flame。　Tongues　of　fire　soon　poked　from　every　port。　Finding　themselves　about　to　burn　alive；　the　crew　unhesitatingly　hurled　their　bodies　into　the　cold　water。　The　wounded　gunner　on　the　bow　also　staggered　across　the　deck　through　the　flames　and　leaped　overboard。　His　clothing　afire；　the　mander　ignored　the　flames　and　stared　scathingly　at　Pitt；　before　shaking　his　fist　and　leaping　over　the　side。
　　　　　Truculent　jerk；　Pitt　thought。
　　　　　He　didn't　waste　so　much　as　a　second。　He　rushed　to　the　bridge　console　and　thrust　the　throttles　full　forward　again；　sending　the　Grand　Banks　on　its　interrupted　journey　toward　the　ravine。　Only　then　did　he　spare　the　time　to　turn　and　stare　at　the　patrol　boat。　The　entire　craft　was　engulfed　with　contorted　flames　that　danced　high　into　the　night　sky。　Black　smoke　curled　and　twisted　upward；　blotting　out　the　stars。　In　another　minute；　the　fuel　tanks　exploded；　throwing　burning　debris　into　the　air　like　a　fireworks　display。　She　began　to　sink　by　the　stern；　sliding　backward　with　a　hissing　sound　as　the　icy　water　met　the　blistering　flames。　Then；　with　a　great　sigh；　as　if　she　had　a　soul；　the　patrol　boat　sank　out　of　sight。
　　　　　Giordino　came　around　the　cabin　and　stood　at　the　door；　looking　at　the　bits　and　pieces　of　burning　debris　and　oil　that　floated　on　the　surface。　〃Nice　shooting；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　　　〃Good　pitching。〃
　　　　　Giordino　inclined　his　head　toward　the　second　patrol　boat　that　was　hurtling　across　the　fjord。　Then　he　turned　slightly　and　stared　toward　the　shore。　〃It's　going　to　be　close；〃　he　said　objectively。
　　　　　〃They　won't　fall　for　a　sucker　play　like　their　buddies。　They'll　stand　off　at　a　safe　distance　and　try　and　disable　us　by　shooting　at　our　engines。〃
　　　　　〃Pat　and　Megan　are　down　there；〃　Giordino　reminded　him。
　　　　　〃Bring　them　up；〃　said　Pitt；　his　eyes　reading　the　numbers　on　the　directional　puter。　He　made　a　slight　adjustment　and　swung　the　Grand　Banks　another　five　degrees　to　the　southwest。　Four　hundred　yards　remained。　The　gap　was　rapidly　narrowing。　〃Tell　them　to　get　ready　to　abandon　the　boat　the　instant　we　hit　shore。〃
　　　　　〃You're　going　to　hit　the　rocks　at　full　throttle？〃
　　　　　〃We　don't　have　time　to　tie　up　to　a　rock　and　step　ashore　with　confetti　and　bands　playing。〃
　　　　　〃On　my　way；〃　Giordino　acknowledged　with　a　brief　wave。
　　　　　The　second　patrol　boat　was　driving　directly　toward　them；　unaware　of　Pitt's　intention　to　run　ashore。　The　searchlight　illuminated　the　Grand　Banks　in　its　beam　with　unwavering　steadiness；　like　a　spotlight　trained　at　a　dancer　on　a　stage。　The　two　boats　closed　rapidly；　running　at　an　angle　toward　each　other。　Then　the　mander　of　the　patrol　boat　sensed　Pitt's　intentions　and　steered　to　cut　off　the　Grand　Banks　and　block　it　from　reaching　the　shore。　With　less　than　half　the　speed　of　his　nemesis；　Pitt　was　forced　to　accept　the　fact　that　he　was　engaged　in　a　race　he　would　surely　lose。　Yet　he　stood　at　the　helm　with　unblinking　eyes　and　a　callous　determination。　The　fight　was　extremely　one…sided；　but　he　wasn't　about　to　turn　the　other　cheek。　The　thought　of　failure　never　entered　his　mind。
　　　　　Seeing　an　unexpected　opportunity；　Pitt　yanked　the　gear　lever　and　threw　the　Grand　Banks　into　reverse。　The　boat　shuddered　from　the　strain　under　full　throttle　and　came　to　a　stop；　its　props　beating　the　water　in　a　maelstrom　of　froth。　Then　it　began　moving　backward；　its　square　transom　pushing　aside　the　water　like　a　bulldozer。
　　　　　Giordino　appeared　with　Pat　and　Megan。　He　stared　bemused　at　seeing　the　patrol　boat　about　to　cross　the　Grand　Banks'　bow　while　their　own　boat　was　surging　backward。　〃Don't　tell　me。　I'm　keen　to　guess。　You've　conjured　up　another　cunning　plan。〃
　　　　　〃Not　cunning；　just　desperate。〃
　　　　　〃You're　going　to　ram　him。〃
　　　　　〃If　we　play　our　cards　right；〃　answered　Pitt　quickly；　〃I　do　believe　we　can　bloody　his　nose。　Now；　everyone　lie　on　the　floor。　Use　whatever　solid　cover　you　can　find　to　shield　yourselves。　Because　it's　surely　going　to　rain。〃
　　　　　There　was　no　time　to　say　more。　The　mander　of　the　second　patrol　boat；　not　prehending　the　reverse　movement　of　his　prey；　altered　his　course　so　that　he　would　cross　within　ten　feet　of　the　Grand　Banks'　bow；　e　to　a　stop；　and　blast　the　Grand　Banks　at　point…blank　range。　It　was　a　naval　tactic　called　crossing　the　T。　He　stood　at　the　helm　and　raised　one　hand　as　a　signal　for　the　gunners　to　open　fire。
　　　　　Then　two　events　happened　in　the　same　instant。　Pitt　crammed　the　gear　lever　back　to　full　forward　and　the　machine　guns　on　the　patrol　boat　opened　up。　The　Grand　Banks'　props　dug　in　the　water　and　sent　the　boat　surging　forward；　as　bullets　sprayed　the　bridge。　The　glass　from　the　windshield　shattered　into　a　thousand　shards　and　burst　all　through　the　cabin。　Pitt　had　already　thrown　himself　down　behind　the　console；　one　hand　raised　and　gripping　the　bottom　arc　of　the　helm。　He　didn't　notice　that　the　back　of　his　hand　had　been　gashed　by　flying　glass　until　the　blood　began　dripping　into　his　eyes。　The　upper　cabin　of　the　Grand　Banks　was　being　methodically　shot　to　pieces。　The　gunners　were　shooting　high　to　throw　sheer　terror　into　the　minds　of　those　lying　prone　on　the　deck。　The　interior　of　the　bridge　was　a　bedlam　of　flying　wreckage；　as　nine…millimeter　shells　shredded　everything　they　smashed　against。
　　　　　The　mander　of　the　patrol　boat　had　cut　his　speed　and　was　drifting　to　a　stop；　since　his　gunners　seemed　to　be　enjoying　close…up　target　practice。　His　satisfaction　was　premature；　while　Pitt's　timing　couldn't　have　been　more　perfect。　The　mander　missed　Pitt's　intent　until　it　was　too　late。　Before　he　could　steer　his　patrol　boat　out　of　the　way；　the　Grand　Banks　had　suddenly　jerked　forward；　her　engines　pounding　at　full　rpms。
　　　　　There　came　a　grinding　sound　of　twisted　and　tortured　fiberglass　and　wood。　The　Grand　Banks'　bow　sliced　through　the　starboard　hull　of　the　patrol　boat　and　punched　through　to　the　keel。　The　patrol　boat　canted　over　on　her　port　side；　the　crew　grabbing　at　any　solid　object　to　keep　from　being　pitched　overboard；　and　began　to　settle　almost　immediately。
　　　　　Pitt　hauled　himself　to　his　feet；　threw　the　gear　lever　into　reverse；　and　backed　the　Grand　Banks　out　of　the　gash　in　the　hull　of　the　patrol　boat；　allowing　a　rush　of　water　to　flood　and　gurgle　into　the　cavity。　For　a　moment；　the　patrol　boat　struggled　back　to　an　even　keel；　but　then　the　black　waters　flowed　over　her　deck　and　she　slipped　away；　her　searchlight　still　glaring　as　it　plunged　to　the　floor　of　the　fjord；　leaving　her　crew　struggling　to　stay　afloat　in　the　frigid　waters。
　　　　　〃Al；〃　Pitt　said　in　a　conversational　tone。　〃Check　the　forward　partment。〃
　　　　　Giordino　disappeared　through　a　hatch　and　returned　in　seconds。　〃We're　sucking　in　water　like　a　giant　douche　bag。　Another　five　minutes　and　we'll　join　our　friends　in　the　water；　even　faster　if　you　don't　stop　this　tub。〃
　　　　　〃Who　said　anything　about　going　forward？〃　Pitt's　eyes　locked　on　the　direction　puter。　The　distance　to　shore　and　the　mouth　of　the　ravine　was　only　fifty　yards；　but　it　was　an　impossible　span　for　a　fast…sinking　boat。　Trying　to　move　ahead　would　only　escalate　the　flood　of　water　pouring　in　through　the　shattered　bow。　His　mind　raced　with　a　strange　clarity；　as　it　always　did　during　crisis；　considering　any　and　every　option。　He　sent　the　Grand　Banks　barreling　through　the　water　in　reverse；