"14 - Flood Tide" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cussler Clive)

As if given a shot to spur his adrenaline, he brushed off any feelings of fatigue and tension and stepped outside, walking thirty paces away from the cabin into the woods. He pulled a Motorola Iridium phone from the inside pocket of his jacket. After dialing a number, his signal was bounced over a network of sixty-six satellites around the world and down to the private line of the person he was calling at the NUMA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

After four rings, a voice with a slight New England twang answered. "This is Hiram Yaeger. Be brief, time is money."

"Your time isn't worth a dime stuck in gum on the bottom of a shoe."

"Am I the subject of mockery by NUMA's special projects director?"

"You are."

"What are you doing that's not worth repeating?" asked Yaeger facetiously. Yet his voice betrayed a trace of concern. He knew Pitt was still recovering from injuries suffered during a volcanic eruption on an island off Australia only the month before.

"I haven't time to leave you breathless with my daring adventures in the north woods. But I do need a favor."

"I'm drooling with anticipation."

"See what you can dig up on a Qin Shang."

"How's it spelled?"

"Probably like it sounds. If my limited knowledge of Chinese menus serves me correctly, the first name begins with a Q. Shang is a Chinese shipping magnate who operates out of Hong Kong. He also owns a private retreat on Orion Lake in Washington State."

"Is that where you're at?" asked Yaeger. "You never told anyone where you were going when you up and disappeared."

"I'd just as soon Admiral Sandecker was kept in the dark."

"He'll find out anyway. He always does. Just what is it that intrigues you about Shang?"

"You might say I'm irritated by nosy neighbors," replied Pitt.

"Why don't you go over and borrow a cup of sugar, have a few laughs and challenge him to a fast game of mah-jongg."

"According to the locals, no one can get within ten city blocks of his place. And at that, I doubt if he's at home. If Shang is like most wealthy celebrities, he has several different houses around the world."

"Why does this guy consume you with curiosity?"

"No upstanding citizen has a mania about security unless he has something to hide," said Pitt.

"Sounds to me like you're bored, lying around the primeval forest, watching moss grow on the rocks. You've missed one of life's pleasures if you haven't tried to outstare a moose for forty-five minutes."

"I've never been turned on by apathy."

"Any other requests while I'm in the mood?" asked Yaeger.

"Now that you mention it, I do have a wish list of Christmas goodies I'd like boxed and sent out tonight so I can have them no later than tomorrow afternoon."

"Fire away," said Yaeger. "I've turned on the recorder and will print them out when you're finished."

Pitt described the articles and equipment he required. When he finished, he added, "Throw in a Department of Natural Resources chart of Orion Lake showing bathymetric data and fish species, underwater wrecks and obstructions."