cussler.blueandgold-第59部分

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om　very　much　like　the　one　they　had　just　left。
　
　This　room；　too；　had　an　elevator；　but　unlike　the　more　conventional　box　on　a　cable；　its　transparent　plastic　walls　were　egg　shaped。　There　were　seats　for　four　people　of　ordinary　stature。　The　door　hissed　shut；　and　the　elevator　passed　through　blackness；　then　descended　into　a　deep　blue。　Watching　the　fluid　interplay　of　light　and　shadow　through　the　transparent　walls；　Francesca　realized　they　were　sinking　into　water。　The　blue　became　darker　until；　all　at　once；　it　was　as　if　they　were　caught　in　the　beam　of　a　searchlight。
　
　The　door　opened；　and　they　stepped　out。　Francesca　could　hardly　believe　her　eyes。　They　were　in　a　brightly　lit；　circular　space　hundreds　of　feet　across。　A　curving　roof　arched　overhead。　The　exact　size　of　the　room　was　difficult　to　estimate　because　it　was　filled　with　thick　pipes；　coils；　and　vats　of　all　sizes。　A　dozen　or　so　white…frocked　technicians　moved　quietly　among　the　conduits　and　tanks　or　were　bent　over　puter　monitors。
　
　〃Well；　what　do　you　think？〃　Brynhild　said　with　obvious　pride。
　
　〃It's　incredible。〃　The　awe　in　her　voice　was　real。　〃Where　are　we；　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea？〃
　
　The　giantess　smiled。　〃This　is　where　you'll　do　your　work。　e；　I'll　show　you　around。〃
　
　Francesca's　scientific　mind　quickly　made　order　out　of　her　chaotic　first　impression。　Although　the　pipes　went　off　at　different　angles；　there　was　definitely　a　scientific　organization　to　the　mad　ness。　No　matter　which　way　the　pipes　went；　they　eventually　led　toward　the　center　of　the　room。
　
　〃This　controls　the　various　conditions　that　affect　the　core　material；〃　Brynhild　said；　pointing　to　the　blinking　lights　on　a　control　board。　〃This　underwater　facility　stands　on　four　legs。　Two　of　the　support　legs　double　as　intake　pipes；　and　the　other　two　as　out　flow。　Since　we　are　on　a　fresh　body　of　water；　we　first　infuse　the　liquid　we　pump　in　with　salt　and　sea　minerals　from　those　containers。　It　is　indistinguishable　from　actual　seawater。〃
　
　They　walked　toward　the　center　of　the　chamber。　It　was　occupied　by　a　massive　cylindrical　tank　some　twenty　feet　across　and　ten　feet　high。
　
　〃This　must　contain　the　anasazium；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　〃That's　right。　The　water　is　circulated　around　the　core；　then　returned　to　the　lake　through　the　other　two　supports。〃
　
　They　walked　back　to　the　master　control　console。
　
　〃Well；　how　close　are　we　to　duplicating　the　Cabral　process？〃
　
　Francesca　examined　the　gauges。　〃Refrigeration；　electrical　cur　rent；　heat　monitoring；　all　good。　You　were　close；　very　close。〃
　
　〃We　have　subjected　the　anasazium　to　heat；　cold；　and　electrical　current；　but　with　only　limited　success。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　surprised。　The　sonic　ponent　is　missing。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　Sound　vibrations。〃　
　
　　〃You　have　the　right　idea；　but　the　process　won't　work　unless　the　material　is　subjected　to　a　certain　level　of　sound　waves　in　con　cert　with　the　other　forces。　It's　like　removing　the　cello　from　a　string　quartet。〃
　
　〃Ingenious。　How　did　you　e　up　with　that　technique？〃
　
　〃It　was　simply　a　matter　of　thinking　in　unconventional　terms。　As　you　know；　there　have　been　three　main　methods　of　desalting　be　fore　this。　In　electrodialysis　and　reverse　osmosis；　electrified　water　passes　through　membranes　that　remove　the　salt。　The　third　method　is　distillation；　which　evaporates　the　water　the　way　the　sun's　heat　turns　the　ocean　to　vapor。　All　require　tremendous　expenditures　of　energy　that　made　the　cost　of　desalting　prohibitive。　My　method　changes　molecular　and　atomic　structure。　In　the　process　it　creates　energy　and　bees　self…sustaining。　The　bination　of　forces　must　be　exactly　right。　The　process　won't　work　if　it　is　off　by　a　hair。〃
　
　〃Now　that　you've　seen　it；　how　long　do　you　think　it　would　take　to　modify　this　facility　to　your　standards？〃
　
　She　shrugged。　〃A　week。〃
　
　〃Three　days；〃　Brynhild　said　flatly。
　
　〃Why　the　time　limit？〃
　
　〃The　Gogstad　board　of　directors　is　due　to　meet　here。　I　am　bringing　people　in　from　all　parts　of　the　world。　I　want　to　give　them　a　demonstration　of　your　process。　Once　they　have　seen　it　work　they　will　go　home　and　we　can　implement　the　greater　plan。〃
　
　Francesca　thought　about　it　a　moment　and　said；　〃I　can　have　it　working　for　you　within　twenty…four　hours。〃
　
　〃That's　quite　a　difference　from　a　week。〃
　
　〃I　work　faster　with　incentive。　There　is　a　price。〃
　
　〃You're　in　no　position　to　bargain。〃
　
　〃I　realize　that。　But　I　want　you　to　let　your　prisoner　go。　She　was　drugged。　She　has　no　idea　where　she　is　or　how　she　got　here。　She　could　never　identify　or　cause　you　any　trouble。　You　keep　her　prisoner　to　make　sure　I　make　this　plant　work。　Once　the　process　is　working　you　have　no　need　of　her。〃
　
　'Agreed；〃　Brynhild　said。　〃I　will　let　her　go　as　soon　as　you　show　me　the　first　ounce　of　pure　water。〃　
　
　　〃What　guarantees　can　you　give　me　that　you　will　stand　by　your　word？〃
　
　〃None。　But　you　have　no　alternative。〃
　
　Francesca　nodded。　〃I　will　need　certain　equipment　and　un　questioning　assistance。〃
　
　〃Anything　you　want；〃　Brynhild　said。　She　waved　over　several　technicians。　〃Dr。　Cabral　is　to　have　whatever　she　requests；　do　you　understand？〃　She　barked　an　order；　and　another　technician　came　over　carrying　a　battered　aluminum　suitcase。　Brynhild　took　it　from　the　man　and　handed　it　to　Francesca。　〃I　believe　this　belongs　to　you。　We　found　it　at　your　friends'　house。　I　must　leave　you　now。　Call　when　you　are　about　to　run　a　test。〃
　
　As　Francesca　ran　her　hand　lovingly　over　the　suitcase　that　contained　the　original　working　model　for　her　process；　Brynhild　strode　off　toward　the　elevator。　Within　minutes　she　was　back　in　her　turret　room。　She　had　summoned　the　Kradzik　brothers　on　a　portable　phone；　and　they　were　waiting　for　her　when　she　returned。
　
　〃After　all　these　years　of　waiting　and　disappointments；　the　Cabral　process　will　soon　be　ours；〃　she　announced　with　triumph。
　
　〃How　long？〃　one　of　the　twins　asked。
　
　〃It　should　be　up　and　running　within　twenty…four　hours。〃
　
　〃No；〃　said　the　other　twin；　the　light　glittering　on　his　metal　teeth。　〃How　long　before　we　can　have　the　women　to　play　with？〃
　
　She　should　have　known。　The　brothers　were　programmed　like　malevolent　puters　to　carry　out　torture　and　murder。　Brynhild　had　no　intention　of　letting　Francesca　live　after　she　had　delivered　the　process。　Part　of　her　treachery　stemmed　from　her　envy　of　Francesca's　scientific　prowess　and　beauty。　Part　was　pure　vindictiveness。　The　Brazilian　woman　had　cost　her　in　time　and　money。　She　had　nothing　in　particular　against　Gamay。　Brynhild　simply　didn't　like　loose　ends。
　
　Her　smile　brought　the　already　low　temperature　in　the　room　down　another　ten　degrees。
　
　〃Soon；〃　she　said。
　
　Chapter　37
　The　night　shift　guard　was　having　a　cigarette　at　the　end　of　the　Valhalla　pier　when　his　relief　man　arrived　and　asked　for　a　report。　The　swarthy　ex…Marine　squinted　out　at　the　sun…sparkled　lake　and　flicked　the　butt　into　the　water。　〃It's　been　busier'n　a　one…legged　man　at　a　kick…ass　contest；〃　he　replied　in　an　Alabama　drawl。　〃Choppers　ing　and　going　all　night。〃
　
　The　relief　guard；　a　former　Green　Beret；　looked　up　at　the　whup…whup　sound　of　an　approaching　helicopter。　〃Looks　like　more　guests　are　arriving。〃
　
　〃What's　going　on？〃　the　Alabaman　said。　〃I　don't　hear　much　working　nights　and　sleeping　days。〃
　
　〃Bunch　of　big　shots　are　ing　in　for　a　meeting。　We　got　the　full　crew　on；　and　security　around　the　pound's　tight　as　a　tick's　ass。〃　He　glanced　toward　the　lake。　〃There's　the　ol'　Tahoe　Queen；　right　on　time。〃
　
　He　brought　his　binoculars　up　and　focused　on　the　stern　wheeler　as　it　crawled　toward　the　north　end　of　the　lake。　The　Tahoe　Queen　looked　like　something　out　of　Showboat。　The　boat　was　painted　white；　like　vanilla　frosting；　with　light　blue　trim　that　marked　the　divide　between　the　enclosed　first　and　second　decks。　Two　tall　black　smoke　stacks　were　located　at　the　front。　The　paddle　wheels　that　churned　up　the　placid　lake　water　and　gave　the　boat　its　forward　motion　were　painted　fire…engine　red。　The　top　deck　rail　was　overhung　with　red；　white；　and　blue　bunting。　Flags　fluttered　in　the　breeze。　
　
　　〃Hmm；〃　the　guard　said；　surveying　the　deck。　〃Not　many　tourists　aboard　today。〃
　
　The　guard　would　have　been　less　sanguine　if　he　knew　the　same　coral…green　eyes　that　had　scrutinized　him　the　day　before　from　the　parasail　were　watching　him　again。　Austin　stood　inside　the　pilothouse　that　was　perched　like　a　cigar　box　on　the　top　for　ward　deck。　He　was　studying　the　guards　and　assessing　their　state　of　alertness。　Austin　could　see　that　the　men　were　armed；　but　their　lackadaisical　posture　suggested　a　bored　attitude。
　
　The　boat's　captain；　a　weathered　lake　veteran　from　Emerald　Bay；　was　at　the　helm。　〃Want　me　to　drop　the　Queen's　speed　down　a　couple　of　knots？〃　the　captain　asked。
　
　The　paddle　wheeler　was　a　charming　anachronism　built　more　for　fort　than　for　speed。　Any　slower　and　it　would　stop；　Austin　thought。　〃I'd　keep　it　steady；　captain。　Launch　shouldn't　be　a　problem。〃　He　checked　out　the　pier　again　and　saw　that　one　of　the　guards　was　leaving　and　the　other　ducked　into　the　shade　of　a　shelter。　Austin　hoped　the　man　would　take　a　nap。
　
　He　extended　his　hand。　〃Thanks　for　your　cooperation；　captain。　Hope　we　didn't　disappoint　your　regular　customers　by　chartering　your　boat　at　the　last　minute。〃
　
　〃I　just　drive　this　old　girl　back　and　forth　no　matter　who's　on　it。　Besides；　this　is　a　lot　more　exciting　than　a　boatload　of　day　trippers。〃
　
　The　captain's　excitement　had　e　at　a　price。　The　boat　line　was　reluctant　to　lose　a　day's　revenue；　and　it　took　deep　pockets　and　high…level　calls　from　Washington　to　persuade　it　to　charter　the　paddle　wheeler　for　official　business。
　
　〃Glad　to　help　make　your　day；〃　Austin　said。　〃Got　to　go。　Just　keep　steaming　after　you　drop　us　off。〃
　
　〃How　will　you　get　back？〃
　
　〃We're　working　on　that；〃　Austin　said　with　a　grin。
　
　Austin　left　the　pilothouse　and　descended　to　the　spacious　salon　on　the　lowest　deck。　On　a　normal　day　the　salon　would　be　crowded　with　tourists　eating　and　drinking　as　they　took　in　the　magnificent　scenery。　Only　two　people　were　in　the　salon；　Joe　and
　Paul。　Zavala　was　already　in　his　black…hooded　Viking　Pro　military　dry　suit；　and　Trout　was　going　over　a　checklist。　Austin　lost　no　time　suiting　up。　Then　he　and　Zavala　went　through　a