cc.fireice-第10部分

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　The　horsemen　spurred　their　mounts　and　galloped　along　the　dune　to　outflank　their　prey。　Austin　reached　into　an　emergency　chest　behind　his　seat　and　pulled　out　the　Orion　25…　millimeter　signal　kit　for　offshore　boats。　He　fit　one　of　the　10；000…candIepower　Red　Meteors　into　the　pistol　launcher。　Then　he　cranked　up　the　throttle　to　full　speed。　Wobbling　dangerously　because　of　the　damage；　the　Gooney　hurtled　toward　the　beach　at　sixty…five　miles　per　hour。
　
　The　runners　dove　onto　their　bellies　again　as　the　ultralight　buzzed　overhead　like　a　large；　angry　hornet。　Austin　was　operating　on　pure　reflex；　more　machine　than　man。　Holding　the　control　stick　between　his　knees；　he　leaned　around　the　curved　Plexiglas　sheet　that　served　as　a　windshield　and　sighted　on　the　center　of　the　mounted　line。　He　squeezed　the　trigger　and　the　flare　streaked　toward　the　horsemen　like　a　miniature　et。
　
　The　awkward　angle　of　the　aircraft　threw　Austin's　aim　off。　The　missile　struck　the　dune　a　few　feet　below　the　grassy　crest　and　exploded　in　a　bright　scarlet　shower。　The　horses　nearest　to　the　fiery　burst　reared　in　panic。　Those　animals　that　managed　to　maintain　their　calm　lost　it　as　the　plane　grazed　their　heads　like　a　giant　buzzing　insect。
　
　Austin　made　a　quick　turn　for　a　second　run。　The　chaotic　scene　atop　the　dune　reminded　him　of　the　famous　Picasso　mural；　Guernica。　It　was　hard　to　know　where　the　horses　ended　and　their　riders　began。　He　smiled　grimly　and　slid　an…　other　flare　into　the　launch　gun。　Again　he　came　in；　attacking　from　the　rear　this　time。
　
　A　ragged　hole　surrounded　by　a　lacework　of　cracks　appeared　in　the　windshield。　One　of　the　riders　had　gotten　off　a　lucky　shot。　Austin　felt　the　bullet　whistle　by　his　ear。　He　made　a　superhuman　effort　to　keep　a　grip　on　his　concentration　as　he　aimed　the　pistol　and　squeezed　the　trigger。
　
　The　second　flare　streaked　toward　the　confusing　mass　of　horse　and　human　bodies　and　slammed　into　a　rider　with　a　burst　of　red　phosphorus。　He　fell　from　his　horse　and　was　dragged　off　with　one　foot　still　caught　in　the　stirrup。
　
　The　beach　flashed　by　in　a　blur；　and　again　Austin　was　out　to　sea。　He　came　around　at　an　angle　until　he　was　behind　the　dune　once　more。　The　grass　was　on　fife　and　black　smoke　billowed　into　the　sky。　Riders　who　had　been　thrown　by　their　mounts　were　trying　to　roll　out　of　the　way　to　avoid　being　trampled。　Others　had　dismounted　and　held　tightly　to　the　reins　as　they　tried　to　calm　the　terrified　animals。　The　horses　bumped　into　one　another；　and　the　contact　only　served　to　increase　their　terror。
　
　A　lone　horseman　broke　away　from　the　others　and　spurred　his　mount　into　a　gallop。　Kaela　and　her　friends　heard　the　thunder　of　hooves　and　turned　to　see　the　rider　bearing　down　on　them　with　sword　held　high。　Austin　swung　around　until　he　was　facing　the　horseman。　He　brought　up　the　flare　gun；　but　had　a　problem　keeping　it　steady　for　proper　aim。　Instead；　he　put　the　Gooney　into　a　low　dive　that　took　him　a　few　feet　above　the　heads　of　the　runners　and　aimed　directly　at　the　horseman；　a　big　man　with　a　flowing　red　beard。　At　the　last　second；　Austin　pulled　up。　The　float　missed　the　man's　head　by　inches。　The　horse　whinnied　in　terror　and　broke　into　a　wild　run。　The　rider　struggled　to　hang　on　as　the　horse　took　matters　into　its　own　hooves；　climbed　the　dune　and　chased　after　the　other　riders；　who　had　lost　their　stomach　for　the　at…　tack　and　were　galloping　for　the　woods。
　
　Meanwhile；　Austin　was　fighting　a　losing　battle　to　keep　the　damaged　plane　level。　He　sat　half　out　of　the　cockpit；　like　someone　hiking　out　on　an　angled　sailboat；　gritted　his　teeth　…　and　braced　himself　for　the　hard　landing　that　he　knew　was　ing。
　
　…5…
　KAELA　DORN　HELD　her　breath　as　the　strange　little　aircraft　plunged　from　the　sky　in　a　spiraling　tailspin。　At　the　last　second；　the　plane　swung　up　in　a　wild　G…force　swoop。　It　soared　and　dipped　like　a　kite　on　a　string；　then　leveled　off；　although　the　wings　quivered　and　the　aircraft　pitched　and　yawed　as　if　it　were　on　an　invisible　roller　coaster。
　
　The　pilot　finally　brought　the　plane　under　a　semblance　of　control　and　put　it　in　a　landing　glide。　He　held　it　steady；　but　before　he　could　touch　down；　the　left　wing　dipped　sharply　and　dug　into　the　soft　sand。　The　wing　snapped　off　where　it　joined　the　fuselage　and　the　plane　slammed　into　the　beach　at　an　angle；　skidding　several　yards　before　it　came　to　a　jarring　halt；　tail　section　high　in　the　air。　The　engine　shut　down；　and　the　beach　was　suddenly　quiet　except　for　the　lap　of　waves　and　the　crackle　of　burning　grass。
　
　The　reporter　and　her　colleagues　stared　like　zombies　at　the　plane　wreck。　They　were　too　exhausted　to　move；　drained　by　their　swim　to　shore；　still　panting　from　the　run　for　their　lives。　Kaela　was　in　the　best　shape　of　the　three；　and　her　legs　felt　like　putty。　When　the　stubby　plane　had　first　appeared；　they　hadn't　known　whether　it　was　friend　or　foe；　but　there　had　been　no　question　as　to　the　intentions　of　the　horsemen　with　their　wild　yells　and　drawn　swords：　They　had　been　out　for　blood。　The　plane　looked　like　a　bird　that　had　flown　into　a　fan；　and　it　seemed　impossible　that　its　pilot　could　have　escaped　without　harm；　but　someone　moved　in　the　cockpit。　The　pilot　got　one　leg；　then　another　over　the　cockpit　bing　and　climbed　out。
　
　He　seemed　to　be　all　right　as　he　walked　around　the　aircraft；　hands　on　hips；　inspecting　the　damage。　He　kicked　a　buckled　wheel　as　if　he　were　checking　out　a　used　car　and　shook　his　head。　Then　he　turned　to　the　television　crew；　gave　them　a　friendly　wave；　and　started　in　their　direction；　walking　with　a　slight　limp。
　
　Lombardo　and　Dundee　moved　in　and　stood　protectively　at　Kaela's　sides。　She　was　more　interested　in　appraising　the　stranger。　He　was　tall；　slightly　over　six　feet；　and　the　broad　powerful　shoulders　of　a　nightclub　bouncer　filled　out　the　navy　sweatshirt。　He　wore　tan　shorts；　and　his　muscular　legs　looked　as　if　they　could　propel　the　husky　body　through　a　brick　wall。　As　he　came　closer；　he　removed　his　baseball　cap　to　reveal　his　steel　gray；　almost　platinum　hair。　His　bronzed　face　was　unlined；　except　for　laugh　crinkles　around　the　eyes　and　mouth。　She　guessed　his　age　at　around　forty。　Dried　blood　dripped　down　one　cheek　and　soaked　the　bandanna　around　his　forehead。　The　aircraft　landing　must　have　been　hair…raising；　yet　he　seemed　as　if　he　were　ing　off　a　game　of　tennis。
　
　〃Good　afternoon；〃　he　said；　with　a　wide　grin。　〃Are　you　folks　okay？〃
　〃Yes；　we're　fine；　thank　you；〃　Kaela　replied　warily。　〃What　about　you？　You're　bleeding。〃
　
　He　touched　the　wound　absentmindedly。　〃It's　only　a　little　cut。　I'm　still　in　one　piece；　more　or　less。〃　He　jerked　his　thumb　at　the　battered　ultralight。　〃Wish　I　could　say　the　same　for　my　transportation。　They　just　don't　make　them　like　they　used　to。　You　don't　happen　to　have　a　roll　of　duct　tape？〃
　
　Kaela　ventured　a　smile。　〃Your　plane　has　gone　beyond　the　duct　tape　stage；〃　she　said。　〃I　believe　the　term　insurance　people　use　is　totaled。〃
　
　The　stranger　grimaced。　〃I'm　afraid　you're　right；　Ms。…　〃
　〃Dorn。　Kaela　Dorn。　This　is　my　producer；　Mickey　Lombardo；　and　his　assistant；　Hank　Simpson。　We're　with　the　Unbelievable　Mysteries　television　series。〃
　〃I　thought　so。　My　name　is　Kurt　Austin。　I'm　with　NUMA。〃
　〃NUMA。〃　Lombardo　stepped　forward　and　pumped　Austin's　hand。　〃Boy；　are　we　glad　to　see　you。　Lucky　you　came　by。〃
　〃It　was　more　than　luck；〃　Austin　said。　〃I've　been　looking　for　you　folks。　You　were　supposed　to　rendezvous　with　the　Argo　this　morning。〃
　〃Sorry　about　that；〃　Lombardo　said。　〃We　took　a　detour　to　check　out　an　old　Russian　submarine　base　that's　supposed　to　be　around　here。〃
　〃The　captain　of　the　Argo　isn't　too　happy。　You've　delayed　his　departure　schedule。　It　might　have　saved　us　some　grief　if　you　had　let　us　know　that　your　plans　had　changed。〃　Austin　was　smiling；　but　the　gentle　scolding　tone　of　his　voice　was　unmistakable。
　
　〃It's　my　fault；〃　Kaela　said。　〃We　thought　we'd　only　be　a　few　hours。　We　intended　to　call　you　at　sea；　but　the　fishing　boat　we　hired　didn't　have　a　workable　radio。　The　captain　had　to　return　to　port　for　engine　repairs；　and　he　planned　to　get　the　radio　fixed　and　give　you　a　call。〃
　〃That　must　be　the　fishing　boat　I　saw　steaming　away　from　here。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃He　was　going　to　pick　us　up　in　the　morning。　Thank　you　for　saving　our　lives。　I　apologize　for　putting　you　through　so　much　trouble。〃
　〃No　trouble；〃　he　said；　reluctant　to　chastise　the　bedraggled　group　any　further。　He　gazed　at　the　wrecked　aircraft。　〃Maybe　a　little　trouble。　What　made　your　boat　capsize？〃
　〃Someone　on　shore　shot　at　us　and　killed　the　Turkish　man　who　was　bringing　us　in；〃　Kaela　said。　〃A　wave　caught　us　broadside　and　the　boat　went　over。　We　hid　under　the　Zodiac　and　tried　to　move　it　away　from　the　beach；　but　the　surf　was　too　strong　and　we　came　almost　straight　in。〃　She　glanced　to…　ward　the　dune　where　she　had　first　seen　the　attackers。　〃Do　you　know　who　those　men　on　horseback　were？〃
　
　Austin　didn't　reply。　Although　he　seemed　to　be　studying　her　face；　Kaela　became　aware　that　her　wet　T…shirt　and　shorts　clung　to　her　lithe　figure。　She　self…consciously　plucked　at　the　sand…caked　front　of　the　shirt；　but　the　fabric　insisted　on　plastering　itself　to　her　skin。　Austin　sensed　her　disfiture　and　stared　off　at　the　smoke　rising　from　the　dune。
　
　〃My　guess　is　that　they　weren't　the　local　equestrian　group　out　for　a　jaunt；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　take　a　look。〃
　
　He　climbed　up　the　sloping　beach；　with　the　others　trailing　tentatively　behind。　The　fire　had　almost　burned　itself　out。　They　walked　through　the　charred　stalks　of　grass　at　the　top　of　the　dune。　Austin　saw　sunlight　glinting　off　something　on　the　ground　and　went　over　to　investigate。　It　was　a　saber。　He　picked　the　weapon　up　and　tested　the　heft　and　balance。　The　sword's　long；　curved　blade　was　perfectly　weighted　to　give　the　arm　greater　striking　power。　Austin's　jaw　muscles　clenched　as　he　contemplated　the　terrible　damage　the　scalpel…sharp　edge　could　inflict　on　human　flesh。　He　was　examining　the　Cyrillic　writing　etched　into　the　blade　when　the　Australian　called　out。　Dundee　was　standing　in　a　knee…high　patch　of　unburned　grass　staring　at　something　at　his　feet。
　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃Dead　guy。〃
　
　Austin　stuck　the　saber　point　into　the　sand　and　waded　through　the　thatch。　Dundee　pointed　to　the　body　of　a　man　who　lay　on　his　back；　glassy　eyes　locked　in　a　death　stare。