cussler.blueandgold-第15部分

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ew　orders。
　
　As　Austin　was　walking　back　to　the　car　he　asked　Zavala　what　Contos　meant　when　he　said　he　knew　what　Joe　had　been　up　to。
　
　〃We　dated　the　same　woman　a　few　times；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　shrug。　
　　　　〃Is　there　any　female　in　the　District　of　Columbia　you　haven't　dated？〃　…　Zavala　thought　about　it。　〃The　first　lady。　As　you　know；　I　draw　the　line　at　married　women。〃
　　　　〃Relieved　to　hear　that；〃　Austin　said；　getting　behind　the　wheel。
　　　　〃But　if　she　bees　divorced；　well。。。。〃
　　　　They　got　into　the　car；　and　as　Austin　started　the　engine　he　said；　〃I　think　this　would　be　a　good　time　for　you　to　tell　me　about　the　guy　in　Nogales　who　was　mauled　by　a　burrito。〃
　
　Chapter　7
　Under　a　cloudless　western　sky；　the　teal　green　McDonnell…Douglas　helicopter　cleared　the　rugged　peaks　of　Squaw　Mountain；　dipped　low　over　the　alpine　waters　of　Lake　Tahoe；　and　darted　like　a　startled　dragonfly　to　the　California　shore。　It　hovered　an　instant；　then　dropped　into　a　tall　stand　of　Ponderosa　pine；　touching　down　on　a　concrete　landing　pad。　As　the　rotors　spun　to　a　stop　an　elephantine　Chevy　Suburban　lumbered　alongside。　The　driver；　who　was　wearing　a　uniform　the　same　dark　green　as　the　helicopter　and　the　SU~　got　out　to　greet　the　rangy　passenger　who　stepped　from　the　chopper。
　
　Taking　an　overnight　bag　from　the　passenger's　hand；　he　said；　〃Right　this　way；　Congressman　Kinkaid。〃
　
　They　got　into　the　vehicle；　which　headed　along　a　blacktop　drive　through　thick　forest。　Minutes　later　it　pulled　up　in　front　of　a　plex　of　buildings　that　looked　like　a　redwood　version　of　the　fabled　Hearst　castle　of　San　Simeon。　The　late…afternoon　sun　threw　the　turrets；　walls；　and　towers　into　fantastic　silhouette。　A　whole　forest　of　giant　trees　must　have　been　leveled　merely　to　pro　vide　the　facing。　The　sprawling　edifice　was　the　ultimate　log　cabin；　squared　and　cubed　in　size；　a　series　of　connecting　outbuildings　clustered　around　a　three…story　main　house。
　
　Congressman　Kinkaid　muttered；　〃This　place　is　bigger　than　the　Mormon　Tabernacle。〃
　
　〃Wele　to　Valhalla；〃　the　driver　said　nonmittally。　
　
　　He　parked　the　vehicle　in　front；　took　the　congressman's　bag；　and　led　him　up　a　wide　stairway　to　a　deck　as　long　as　a　bowling　alley；　then　into　a　large　foyer　paneled　and　beamed　in　dark；　almost　black　wood。　They　followed　a　series　of　passageways　done　in　the　same　dark　paneling；　finally　stopping　at　a　set　of　high　metal　doors　cast　in　relief　and　shaped　in　a　Gothic　arch。
　
　〃I'll　take　your　bag　to　your　quarters；　sir。　The　others　are　waiting。　You'll　find　a　nameplate　designating　your　seat。〃
　
　The　guide　pressed　a　button　on　the　wall；　and　the　doors　opened　silently。　Kinkaid　stepped　inside　and　sucked　his　breath　in　as　the　doors　clicked　shut　behind　him。　He　was　in　a　massive；　high　ceilinged　chamber。　The　great　hall　was　lit　by　the　fire　from　a　huge　hearth　and　blazing　wall　torches　that　vied　for　space　with　brightly　decorated　shields　and　pennants；　spears；　battle…axes；　swords；　and　other　instruments　of　death　that　recalled　a　time　when　war　was　an　exercise　in　personal　butchery。
　
　The　lethal　artifacts　paled　next　to　the　object　occupying　the　center　of　the　room。　It　was　a　Viking　ship　about　seventy　feet　in　length；　its　oak　planking　curved　into　an　upswept　bow　and　stern。　The　single　square　hide　sail　was　set　as　if　to　catch　a　following　breeze。　A　gang　way　near　the　stern　allowed　access　to　the　deck　and　to　a　long　table　that　ran　lengthwise　with　the　mast　as　its　center　point。
　
　Kinkaid　was　a　Marine　veteran　who　had　seen　action　in　Vietnam　and　was　not　put　off　by　the　intimidating　surroundings。　Set　ting　his　jaw　in　an　unmistakable　expression　of　determination；　he　crossed　the　hall　to　the　ship　and　went　up　the　gangway。　Seated　around　the　table　were　about　two　dozen　men　who　halted　their　conversation　and　looked　at　him　with　curiosity。　He　sat　in　the　last　empty　chair　and　glowered　at　the　others。　He　was　about　to　strike　up　a　conversation　with　the　man　on　his　right　when　the　double　doors　at　the　end　of　the　hall　were　flung　open。
　
　A　woman　entered　and　strode　toward　the　boat　in　the　flickering　light　of　the　torches；　her　long　legs　quickly　eating　up　the　distance。　As　she　made　her　way　across　the　hall；　her　close…fitting　green　coveralls　emphasized　the　athletic　body；　but　it　was　her　height　that　was　most　imposing。　She　was　nearly　seven　feet　tall。　
　
　　The　woman's　body　and　features　were　unflawed；　but　she　was　beautiful　in　the　way　an　iceberg　is　beautiful；　and　equally　forbid　ding。　She　could　have　sprung　whole　from　the　arctic　permafrost。　Her　flaxen　hair　was　pulled　away　from　her　face　and　tied　in　a　bun；　displaying　to　the　fullest　the　marble　skin　and　large　eyes　that　were　a　hard　glacial　blue。　She　came　up　the　gangway　onto　the　ship　and　walked　around　the　table。　In　a　voice　surprising　for　its　softness　she　greeted　each　man　by　name　and　thanked　him　for　ing。　When　she　reached　the　congressman　she　paused；　boring　into　his　craggy　face　with　her　remarkable　eyes；　and　shook　his　hand　in　a　vise　grip。　Then　she　took　her　place　in　front　of　the　high…backed　chair　at　the　bow　end　of　the　table。　She　smiled　a　smile　that　was　as　cold　as　it　was　seductive。
　
　〃Good　afternoon；　gentlemen；〃　she　said；　her　voice　rising　to　the　rich　tones　of　a　natural　orator。　〃My　name　is　Brynhild　Sigurd。　Undoubtedly；　you　are　wondering　what　sort　of　a　place　this　is。　Valhalla　is　my　home　and　corporate　headquarters；　but　it　is　also　a　celebration　of　my　Scandinavian　roots。　The　main　building　is　an　expanded　version　of　a　Viking　long　house。　The　wings　are　for　specialized　use；　such　as　offices；　guest　quarters；　gymnasium；　and　a　museum　for　my　collection　of　primitive　Norse　art。〃
　
　She　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃I　hope　none　of　you　is　prone　to　sea　sickness。〃　She　waited　for　the　laughter　to　subside；　then　went　on。　〃This　vessel　is　a　reproduction　of　the　Gogstad　Viking　ship。　It　is　more　than　a　stage　prop；　it　symbolizes　my　belief　that　the　impossible　is　attainable。　I　had　it　built　because　I　admire　the　functional　beauty　of　the　design；　but　also　as　a　constant　reminder　that　the　Vikings　would　never　have　crossed　the　sea　if　they　had　not　been　adventurous　and　daring。　Perhaps　their　spirit　will　influence　the　decisions　made　here。〃　She　paused　for　a　moment；　then　went　on。　〃You're　probably　all　wondering　why　I　invited　you；〃　she　said。
　
　A　saw…edged　voice　cut　her　off。　〃I'd　say　that　your　offer　to　give　us　fifty　thousand　dollars　or　donate　it　to　a　charity　of　our　choice　may　have　had　something　to　do　with　it；〃　Congressman　Kinkaid　said。　〃I've　donated　your　offer　to　a　scientific　foundation　that　looks　into　birth　defects。〃　
　
　　〃I　would　have　expected　nothing　less；　given　your　reputation　for　integrity。〃
　
　Kinkaid　grunted　and　sat　back　in　his　chair。　〃Pardon　me　for　interrupting；〃　he　said。　〃Please　get　on　with　your；　er；　fascinating　presentation。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　Brynhild　said。　〃To　continue；　you　gentlemen　e　from　all　parts　of　the　country　and　represent　many　different　endeavors。　Among　your　number　are　politicians；　bureaucrats；　academics；　lobbyists；　and　engineers。　But　you　and　I　belong　to　a　mon　fraternity　bound　together　by　one　thing。　Water。　A　modity　we　know　to　be　in　very　short　supply　these　days。　Everyone　is　aware　that　we　are　facing　what　could　possibly　be　the　longest　drought　in　the　country's　history。　Is　that　not　so；　Professor　Dearborn？　As　a　climatologist；　would　you　kindly　give　us　your　appraisal　of　the　situation？〃
　
　〃I'd　be　glad　to；〃　replied　a　middle…aged　man　who　seemed　surprised　to　be　called　upon。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　thinning　ginger…colored　hair　and　said；　〃This　country　is　experiencing　moderate　to　severe　drought　in　its　midsection　and　along　the　southern　tier　from　Arizona　to　Florida。　That's　nearly　a　quarter　of　the　contiguous　forty…eight　states。　The　situation　will　probably　get　worse。　In　addition；　water　in　the　Great　Lakes　is　at　all…time　lows。　A　prolonged　drought　of　Dust　Bowl　levels　is　entirely　possible。　A　mega　drought　lasting　decades　is　not　outside　the　realm　of　possibility。〃
　
　There　was　a　murmur　from　around　the　table。
　
　Brynhild　opened　a　wooden　box　in　front　of　her；　dug　her　hand　inside；　and　let　the　sand　run　through　her　long　fingers。
　
　〃The　party's　over；　gentlemen。　This　is　the　bleak；　dusty　future　we　face。〃
　
　〃With　all　due　respect；　Ms。　Brynhild；〃　drawled　a　Nevadan；　〃you're　not　telling　us　anything　new。　Vegas　is　going　to　be　in　tough　shape。　L。A。　and　Phoenix　aren't　much　better　off。〃
　
　She　put　her　hands　together　in　light　applause。　〃Agreed。　But　what　if　I　told　you　there　is　a　way　to　save　our　cities？〃
　
　〃I'd　like　to　hear　about　that；〃　said　the　Nevadan。
　
　She　slammed　the　cover　down　symbolically　on　the　box。　
　
　　〃The　first　step　has　already　been　taken。　As　most　of　you　know；　Congress　has　authorized　private　control　over　the　distribution　of　water　from　the　Colorado　River。〃
　
　Kinkaid　leaned　forward　onto　the　table。　〃And　as　you　must　know；　Ms。　Sigurd；　I　led　the　opposition　to　that　bill。〃
　
　〃Fortunately　you　did　not　prevail。　Had　the　legislation　gone　down；　the　West　would　have　been　doomed。　The　reservoirs　hold　only　a　two…year　supply。　After　that　ran　out　we　would　have　to　evacuate　most　of　California　and　Arizona　and　a　good　portion　of　Colorado；　New　Mexico；　Utah；　and　Wyoming。〃
　
　〃I'll　say　the　same　thing　I　told　those　fools　in　Washington。　Putting　Hoover　Dam　in　private　hands　won't　increase　the　water　supply。〃
　
　〃That　was　never　at　issue。　The　problem　was　not　water　supply　but　distribution。　Much　of　the　water　was　being　misused。　Ending　government　subsidies　and　putting　water　in　the　private　sector　means　that　it　will　not　be　wasted　for　the　simplest　of　reasons。　Waste　is　not　profitable。〃
　
　〃I　stand　by　my　basic　argument；〃　Kinkaid　said。　〃Something　as　important　as　water　should　not　be　controlled　by　panies　that　are　unaccountable　to　the　public。〃
　
　〃The　public　had　its　chance　and　failed。　Now　the　price　of　water　will　be　set　by　supply　and　demand。　The　marketplace　will　rule。　Only　those　who　can　afford　the　water　will　get　it。〃
　
　〃That's　exactly　what　I　said　during　the　debate。　The　rich　cities　would　thrive　while　the　poor　munities　die　of　thirst。〃
　
　Brynhild　was　unyielding。　〃So　what　of　it？　Consider　the　alter　natives　if　the　water　continued　to　be　distributed　under　the　old　publicly　owned　system　and　the　rivers　dried　up。　The　West　as　we　know　it　would　bee　a　dust　bowl。　As　the　man　from　Nevada　said；　L。A。；　Phoenix；　and　Denver　would　bee　ghost　towns。　Picture　tumbleweed　blowing　through　the　emp