cc.fireice-第1部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　ODESSA；　RUSSIA；　1918
　
　THE　DENSE　FOG　rolled　into　the　harbor　late　in　the　afternoon；　nudged　by　a　sudden　change　in　wind　direction。　The　damp　gray　billows　washed　over　the　stone　quays；　swirled　up　the　Odessa　Steps　and　brought　an　early　nightfall　to　the　busy　Black　Sea　port。　Passenger　ferries　and　freighters　canceled　their　runs；　idling　dozens　of　sailors。　As　Captain　Anatoly　Tovrov　groped　his　way　through　the　bone…chilling　mists　that　enveloped　the　waterfront；　he　could　hear　bursts　of　drunken　laughter　from　the　crowded　dives　and　brothels。　He　walked　past　the　main　concentration　of　bars；　turned　down　an　alley　and　opened　an　unmarked　door。　Warm　air；　heavy　with　the　smell　of　cigarette　smoke　and　vodka；　invaded　his　nostrils。　A　portly　man　sitting　at　a　er　table　beckoned　the　captain　over。
　
　Alexei　Federoff　was　in　charge　of　Odessa　Customs。　When　the　captain　was　in　port；　he　and　Federoff　made　it　a　habit　to　meet　at　the　secluded　watering　hole；　frequented　mostly　by　retired　mariners；　where　the　vodka　was　cheap　and　not　usually　lethal。　The　bureaucrat　satisfied　the　captain's　need　for　human　panionship　without　friendship。　Tovrov　had　steered　a　lonely　course　since　his　wife　and　young　daughter　had　been　killed　years　before　in　one　of　Russia's　senseless　outbursts　of　violence。
　
　Federoff　seemed　strangely　subdued。　Normally　a　boisterous　man　who　could　be　counted　on　to　accuse　the　waiter　jokingly　of　overcharging；　he　ordered　a　round　by　silently　raising　two　fingers。　Even　more　surprising；　the　frugal　customs　man　paid　for　the　drinks。　He　kept　his　voice　low；　nervously　tugging　at　his　pointed　little　black　beard；　and　glanced　nervously　at　other　tables　where　weather…beaten　seamen　hunched　over　their　glasses。　Satisfied　that　their　conversation　was　private；　Federoff　raised　his　drink　and　they　clinked　glasses。
　
　〃My　dear　Captain；〃　Federoff　said。　〃I　regret　that　I　have　little　time　and　must　get　directly　to　the　point。　I　would　like　you　to　take　a　group　of　passengers　and　a　small　amount　of　cargo　to　Constantinople；　no　questions　asked。〃
　〃I　knew　something　was　odd　when　you　paid　for　my　drink；〃　the　captain　said；　with　his　usual　bluntness。
　
　Federoff　chuckled。　He　had　always　been　intrigued　by　the　captain's　honesty；　even　if　he　couldn't　prehend　it。　〃Well；　Captain；　we　poor　government　servants　must　exist　on　the　pittance　they　pay　us。〃
　
　The　captain's　lips　tightened　in　a　thin　smile　as　he　eyed　the　corpulent　belly　that　strained　the　buttons　of　Federoff's　expensive　French…made　waistcoat。　The　customs　man　often　plained　about　his　job。　Tovrov　would　listen　politely。　He　knew　the　official　had　powerful　connections　in　Saint　Petersburg　and　that　he　spent　his　days　soliciting　bribes　from　shipowners　to　〃smooth　the　seas〃　of　bureaucracy；　as　he　put　it。
　
　〃You　know　my　ship；〃　Tovrov　said；　with　a　shrug。　〃It　is　not　what　you　would　call　a　luxury　liner。〃
　〃No　matter。　It　will　suit　our　purposes　admirably。〃　The　captain　paused　in　thought；　wondering　why　anyone　would　want　to　sail　on　an　old　coal　carrier　when　more　appealing　alternatives　were　available。　Federoff　mistook　the　captain's　hesitation　for　the　opening　round　of　a　bargaining　session。　Reaching　into　his　breast　pocket；　he　withdrew　a　thick　envelope　and　placed　it　on　the　table。　He　opened　the　envelope　slightly　so　the　captain　could　see　that　it　held　thousands　of　rubles。
　
　〃You　would　be　well　pensated。〃　Tovrov　swallowed　hard。　With　shaking　fingers；　he　dug　a　cigarette　from　its　pack　and　lit　up。　〃I　don't　understand；〃　he　said。
　
　Federoff　noted　the　captain's　bewilderment。　〃What　do　you　know　about　the　political　state　of　our　country？〃
　
　The　captain　relied　on　scuttlebutt　and　out…of…date　papers　for　his　news。　〃I　am　a　simple　sailor；〃　he　replied。　〃I　rarely　set　foot　on　Russian　soil。〃
　〃Even　so；　you　are　a　man　of　vast　practical　experience。　Please　be　frank；　my　friend。　I　have　always　valued　your　opinion。〃
　
　Tovrov　pondered　what　he　knew　about　Russia's　tribulations　and　put　it　in　a　nautical　context。　〃If　a　ship　were　in　the　same　condition　as　our　country；　I　would　wonder　why　it　is　not　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea。〃
　〃I　have　always　admired　your　candor；〃　Federoff　replied；　with　a　hearty　laugh。　〃It　seems　you　have　a　gift　for　metaphor　as　well。〃　He　grew　serious　again。　〃Your　reply　is　entirely　to　the　point。　Russia　is　indeed　in　a　perilous　state。　Our　young　men　are　dying　in　the　Great　War；　the　tsar　has　abdicated；　the　Bolsheviks　are　ruthlessly　assuming　power；　the　Germans　occupy　our　southern　flank　and　we　have　called　upon　other　nations　to　snatch　our　chestnuts　from　the　fire。〃
　〃I　had　no　idea　things　were　that　bad。〃　〃They　are　getting　worse；　if　you　can　believe　it。　Which　brings　me　back　to　you　and　your　ship。〃　Federoff　locked　his　eyes　on　the　captain's。　〃We　loyal　patriots　here　in　Odessa　have　our　backs　to　the　sea。　The　White　Army　holds　territory；　but　the　Reds　are　pressing　from　the　north　and　will　soon　overwhelm　them。　The　German　army's　ten…mile　military　zone　will　dissolve　like　sugar　in　water。　By　taking　on　these　passengers；　you　would　be　doing　a　great　service　for　Russia。〃
　
　The　captain　considered　himself　a　citizen　of　the　world；　but　deep　down　he　was　no　different　from　the　rest　of　his　countrymen；　with　their　deep　attachment　to　the　motherland。　He　knew　that　the　Bolsheviks　were　arresting　and　executing　the　old　guard　and　that　many　refugees　had　escaped　to　the　south。　He　had　talked　with　other　captains　who　whispered　tales　of　taking　on　important　passengers　in　the　dead　of　night。
　
　Passenger　space　was　no　problem。　The　ship　was　practically　empty。　The　Odessa　Star　was　the　last　choice　of　sailors　looking　for　a　berth。　She　smelled　of　leaky　fuel；　rusting　metal　and　low…end　cargo。　Sailors　called　it　the　stench　of　death　and　avoided　the　ship　as　if　it　carried　the　plague。　The　crew　was　mostly　wharf　rats　no　other　ship　would　hire。　Tovrov　could　move　the　first　mate　into　his　quarters；　freeing　up　the　officers'　cabins　for　passengers。　He　glanced　at　the　thick　envelope。　The　money　would　make　the　difference　between　dying　in　an　old　sailors'　home　or　retiring　to　a　fortable　cottage　by　the　sea。
　
　〃We　sail　in　three　days　with　the　evening　tide；〃　the　captain　said。
　
　〃You　are　a　true　patriot；〃　Federoff　said；　his　eyes　glistening　with　tears。　He　thrust　the　envelope　across　the　table。　〃This　is　half。　I　will　pay　you　the　balance　when　the　passengers　arrive。〃
　
　The　captain　slid　the　money　into　his　coat；　where　it　seemed　to　throw　off　heat。　〃How　many　passengers　will　there　be？〃
　
　Federoff　glanced　at　two　sailors　who　entered　the　cafe　and　sat　at　a　table。　Lowering　his　voice；　he　said；　〃About　a　dozen。　There　is　extra　money　in　the　envelope　to　buy　food。　Purchase　the　supplies　at　different　markets　to　avoid　suspicion。　I　must　go　now。〃　He　rose　from　his　seat；　and；　in　a　voice　loud　enough　for　all　to　hear；　said　sternly；　〃Well；　my　good　Captain；　I　hope　you　have　a　better　understanding　of　our　customs；　rules　and　regulations！　Good　day。〃
　
　On　the　afternoon　of　departure；　Federoff　came　to　the　ship　to　tell　the　captain　the　plans　were　unchanged。　The　passengers　would　arrive　late　in　the　evening。　Only　the　captain　was　to　be　on　deck。　Shortly　before　midnight；　as　Tovrov　paced　the　fog…shrouded　deck　alone；　a　vehicle　squealed　to　a　halt　at　the　bottom　of　the　gangplank。　From　the　guttural　sound　of　the　motor；　he　guessed　it　was　a　truck。　The　headlights　and　engine　were　turned　off。　Doors　opened　and　closed；　and　there　was　the　murmur　of　voices　and　the　scuffle　of　boots　on　wet　cobblestones。
　
　A　tall　figure　wearing　a　hooded　cloak　climbed　the　gang…　way；　stepped　onto　the　deck　and　came　over　to　the　captain。
　
　Tovrov　felt　unseen　eyes　boring　into　his。　Then　a　deep　male　voice　spoke　from　the　dark　hole　under　the　cowling。
　
　〃Where　are　the　passengers'　quarters？〃
　〃I'll　show　you；〃　Tovrov　said。
　
　〃No；　tell　me。〃
　〃Very　well。　The　cabins　are　on　the　bridge　one　deck　up。　The　ladder　is　over　there。〃
　〃Where　are　your　crew？〃
　〃They　are　all　in　their　bunks。〃
　〃See　that　they　stay　there。　Wait　here。〃
　
　The　man　silently　made　his　way　to　the　ladder　and　climbed　to　the　officers'　cabins　on　the　deck　below　the　wheelhouse。　Minutes　later；　he　returned　from　his　inspection。　〃Better　than　a　stable；　but　not　much；〃　he　said。　〃We're　ing　aboard。　Stay　out　of　the　way。　Over　there。〃　He　pointed　toward　the　bow；　then　descended　to　the　quay。
　
　Tovrov　was　ruffled　at　being　ordered　about　on　his　own　ship；　but　then　thought　of　the　money　locked　safe　in　his　cabin　smoothed　his　feathers。　He　was　also　wise　enough　not　to　argue　with　a　man　who　towered　above　him。　He　took　up　a　post　on　the　bow　as　instructed。
　
　The　group　huddled　on　the　quay　filed　onto　the　ship。
　
　Tovrov　heard　the　sleepy　voice　of　a　young　girl　or　boy　being　shushed　by　an　adult　as　the　passengers　made　their　way　to　their　quarters。　Others　followed；　lugging　boxes　or　steamer　trunks。　From　the　grunts　and　curses；　he　guessed　that　the　baggage　was　heavy。　The　last　person　onto　the　ship　was　Federoff；　who　huffed　with　unaccustomed　exertion　from　the　short　climb。
　
　〃Well；　my　good　fellow；〃　he　said　cheerily；　clapping　his　gloves　together　for　warmth。　〃That's　the　last　of　it。　Is　everything　ready？〃
　〃We　sail　when　you　give　the　order。〃
　〃Consider　it　given。　Here　is　the　rest　of　your　money。〃　He　handed　Tovrov　an　envelope　that　crackled　with　new　bills。　Then；　unexpectedly；　he　embraced　the　captain　in　a　bear　hug　and　kissed　him　on　both　cheeks。　〃Mother　Russia　can　never　pay　you　enough；〃　he　whispered。　〃Tonight　you　make　history。〃　He　released　the　astounded　captain　and　descended　the　gangway。　After　a　moment；　the　truck　drove　off　and　disappeared　into　the　gloom。
　
　The　captain　brought　the　envelope　to　his　nose；　inhaling　the　smell　of　rubles　as　if　they　were　roses；　then　he　tucked　the　money　in　a　coat　pocket　and　climbed　to　the　wheelhouse。　He　went　into　the　chart　room　behind　the　wheelhouse；　then　through　a　door　into　his　cabin　to　roust　Sergei；　his　first　mate。　The　captain　fold　the　young　Georgian　to　wake　the　crew　and　cast　off。　Muttering　inprehensibly　to　himself；　the　mate　went　below　to　follow　orders。
　
　A　handful　of　human　flotsam　staggered　out　onto　the　deck　in　various　states　of　sobriety。　Tovrov　watched　from　the　wheelhouse　as　the　mooring　lines　were　cast　off　and　the　gangway　pulled　up。　There　were　a　dozen　crewmen　in　all；　including　two　men　hired　at　the　last　minute　as　stokers　down　in　the　〃junkyard；〃　as　the　engine　room　was　called。　The　chief　engineer　was　a　petent　seaman　who　had　stayed　with　the　captain　out　of　loyalty。　He