cc.fireice-第14部分

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ed　onto　the　deck　of　the　four…hundred…foot　yacht。　Crewmen　who　saw　him　ing　stepped　aside。
　
　The　yacht　had　been　designed　with　a　wide　uncluttered　deck　and　low；　streamlined　superstructure　that　minimized　wind　resistance。　Based　on　a　design　for　a　FastShip　freighter；　the　vessel　was　built　with　a　deep　V…shaped　hull　that　cut　through　the　waves　and　a　concave　stem　that　reduced　drag。　Powered　by　gas　turbines　and　using　an　innovative　water　jet　propulsion　system；　the　vessel　could　go　at　speeds　that　were　twice　those　reached　by　vessels　of　parable　length。
　
　The　bearded　man　came　to　a　door；　opened　it　without　knocking　and　stepped　into　a　spacious　stateroom　as　big　as　a　small　house。　He　walked　through　the　living　area　with　its　sofas；　chairs　and　a　dining　table　of　medieval　size。　The　floors　were　carpeted　with　antique　Persian　rugs；　anyone　of　which　was　worth　a　small　fortune。　On　the　walls　were　priceless　masterpieces；　most　stolen　from　museums　and　private　collections。
　
　At　the　far　end　of　the　room　was　a　massive　desk　made　of　the　finest　mahogany　inlaid　with　gold　and　pearl。　On　the　wall　behind　the　desk　was　a　stylized　logo　that　depicted　a　military　fur　hat　crossed　by　an　unsheathed　saber。　Printed　in　Cyrillic　letters　under　the　symbol　were　the　words：　ATAMAN　INDUSTRIES。　Seated　at　the　desk；　talking　into　a　telephone；　was　Mikhail　Razov；　president　of　Ataman。
　
　Although　Razov　hardly　spoke　above　a　whisper；　his　seemingly　gentle　tone　couldn't　mask　the　cold　menace　in　his　voice。　His　pale　white　face　could　have　been　carved　from　Carrara　marble；　but　no　one　would　mistake　the　hard…edged　profile　as　the　work　of　a　Renaissance　sculptor。　It　was　a　face　that　countless　victims　had　seen　with　their　dying　breath。
　
　Two　lean；　white　Russian　wolfhounds　lounged　at　his　feet。　When　the　tall　man　approached；　they　began　to　whimper。　Razov　hung　the　phone　up　and　shushed　the　dogs；　who　crawled　under　his　desk。　Razov　underwent　an　astounding　metamorphosis。　Unexpected　warmth　came　into　the　slate　gray　eyes；　the　cruel　lips　widened　in　a　smile　and　the　rough…hewn　features　softened。　Razov　could　have　been　anyone's　favorite　uncle。　Career　criminals　like　Razov　bee　acplished　actors　if　they　live　long　enough。　Razov　had　cultivated　his　natural　chameleon's　talent　under　the　tutelage　of　professional　actors。　In　an　instant；　he　could　transform　himself　from　a　murderous　thug　into　a　hard…driving　businessman；　a　charming　host　or　a　charismatic　orator。
　
　Razov's　powerful　shoulders　and　muscular　thighs　offered　a　hint　of　humbler　beginnings。　Born　on　the　steppes　of　the　Black　Sea；　the　son　of　a　Cossack　horse　breeder；　Razov　had　ridden　from　the　time　he　was　big　enough　to　climb　into　a　saddle。　He'd　had　a　keen　mind　and　quickly　saw　the　disadvantages　of　the　brutal　farm　toil　that　had　killed　his　mother　and　was　ruining　his　father's　health。
　
　He　ran　away　to　the　city　and　put　his　muscle　to　work　as　an　enforcer　for　a　gang　of　extortionists。　Razov's　skill　as　a　bone　crusher　and　killer　earned　him　top　wages。　He　had　forgotten　how　many　times　he　had　put　a　bullet　into　the　kneecap　of　a　recalcitrant　merchant　or　the　head　of　a　tardy　loan　customer。　He'd　lost　count　of　the　wayward　prostitutes　he　had　strangled。　In　fact；　he'd　used　his　newfound　wealth　to　buy　a　house　of　prostitution　for　himself。
　
　Soon；　by　eliminating　his　former　employers；　he　gained　control　of　a　network　of　brothels。　He　protected　his　investment　with　a　private　army　of　ruthless　thugs　and　branched　out　into　gambling；　drugs　and　loan…sharking。　With　generous　bribes　and　strategic　killings；　Razov　put　himself　beyond　the　reach　of　Soviet　authority　and　became　a　multimillionaire。　He'd　bee　the　quintessential　Soviet　mobster；　and　it　seemed　as　if　he　would　go　on　until　a　more　aggressive　rival　surfaced。
　
　The　bearded　man　came　over　and　stood　in　front　of　Razov's　desk；　hands　clasped　in　front　of　him。　〃You　called　for　me；　Mikhail？〃
　〃Boris；　my　dear　friend　and　advisor。　I'm　sorry　if　I　disturbed　your　meditation；　but　there's　important　news。〃
　
　〃The　test　was　a　success　then？〃
　
　Razov　nodded。　〃The　early　damage　reports　are　most　impressive；　considering　the　small　scale　of　the　experiment。〃　He　hit　a　button　on　the　desk　and　an　orderly　appeared；　as　if　by　magic；　with　a　tray；　two　glasses　and　a　bottle　of　vodka。　Razov　poured　the　glasses　full　and　handed　one　to　Boris。　Dismissing　the　orderly；　he　indicated　a　chair；　took　a　seat　opposite　and　raised　his　glass　in　toast。
　
　Boris's　large　Adam's　apple　bobbled　as　he　noisily　slugged　his　drink　down。　He　drained　the　glass　as　if　the　contents　were　no　stronger　than　herbal　tea　and　wiped　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hairy　hand。　〃How　many　dead？〃　he　said；　hardly　able　to　control　his　eagerness。
　
　〃One　or　two；〃　Razov　said；　with　a　shrug。　〃Apparently；　there　was　a　warning。〃
　
　The　monk's　strange　eyes　blazed　with　a　killing　anger。　〃An　informer？〃
　〃No；　it　was　pletely　unanticipated。　A　fisherman　warned　the　townspeople；　and　the　harbor　was　evacuated。〃
　〃A　pity；〃　Boris　said；　with　genuine　sadness　in　his　voice。　〃We　must　be　sure　next　time　that　there　is　no　warning。〃
　
　Razov　nodded　in　agreement　and　pointed　to　a　large　puter…generated　monitor　on　one　wall。　The　screen　displayed　a　map　of　the　world。　It　sparkled　with　lights　that　showed　the　positions　of　the　far…flung　Ataman　fleet。　Using　a　remote　control；　he　zoomed　in　on　the　map　to　bring　up　a　line　of　lights　assembling　off　the　East　Coast　of　the　United　States。
　
　〃Our　assets　are　moving　into　position。〃　His　eyes　grew　colder。　〃I　can　assure　you　that　when　we　have　acplished　our　work；　there　will　be　many　dead　to　count；　and　much　more。〃
　
　Boris　smiled。　〃Then　the　North　American　project　is　on　schedule？〃
　
　Razov　refilled　their　glasses。　He　seemed　troubled。　〃Yes　and　no。　There　are　some　matters　of　vital　importance　that　I　want　to　discuss　with　you。　They　have　a　bearing　on　our　plans。　We　must　deal　with　an　unexpected　problem。　There　have　been　intruders　at　our　Black　Sea　operation。〃
　〃Moscow　has　heard　of　our　activities？〃
　〃The　fools　in　Moscow　are　still　unaware　of　our　plan；〃　Razov　replied　with　unveiled　contempt。　〃No；　it　was　not　the　central　government。　An　American　television　crew　landed　near　the　old　submarine　pen。〃
　〃Americans？〃　He　lifted　his　arms　toward　the　sky。　〃A　gift　from　heaven；〃　he　said；　eyes　glittering。　〃I　hope　their　necks　felt　the　sharp　edges　of　the　Guardians'　blades。〃
　〃To　the　contrary。　There　was　a　fight　and　the　Guardians　were　driven　off。　Some　of　your　men　died　in　the　struggle。〃
　〃How　could　that　be；　Mikhail？　The　Guardians　are　trained　to　kill　without　mercy。〃
　〃True；　they　are　superb　horsemen；　Cossack　warriors　in　the　finest　sense。　Their　weapons　are　traditional　but　effective。〃
　〃Then　how　could　an　unarmed　television　crew　resist？〃
　〃They　were　not　alone；〃　Razov　said；　scowling。　〃Apparently；　they　had　help　from　an　aircraft。〃
　〃Military？〃
　
　Razov　shook　his　head。　〃My　sources　tell　me　the　aircraft　was　launched　from　a　ship　called　the　Argo。　The　vessel　is　supposedly　in　the　Black　Sea　to　conduct　a　scientific　survey　for　NUMA。〃
　〃What　is　this　NUMA　？〃
　〃I've　forgotten　that　you　were　isolated　from　the　outside　world　for　many　years。　The　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　is　the　largest　oceanic　science　organization　in　the　world。　They　have　thousands　of　scientists　and　engineers　spread　across　the　globe。　The　pilot　of　the　aircraft；　the　man　who　killed　the　Guardians；　was　one　of　those　scientists。〃
　
　Boris　stood　and　paced　the　cabin。　'This　report　concerns　me。　How　could　scientists　or　engineers　defeat　armed　warriors？〃
　〃A　good　question。　I　don't　know。　I'm　certain　of　one　thing；　however。　This　is　not　the　end　of　it。　I　have　ordered　preparations　made　to　move　our　operations。　Meanwhile；　extra　guards　will　be　posted。　I　have　taken　the　liberty　of　arming　them　with　more　contemporary　weapons。　I'm　sorry。　I　know　how　you　feel　about　preserving　the　purity　of　our　traditions。〃
　〃I　understand　the　need　to　be　ready　to　face　impure　forces。　What　of　your　source　in　Washington？〃
　〃His　power　is　limited；　but　I　have　asked　him　to　do　what　he　can　without　jeopardizing　his　role。〃
　〃We　must　know　who　and　what　we　are　dealing　with；〃　Boris　said。　'This　NUMA　may　not　be　what　it　says　it　is。〃
　〃Agreed。　It　would　be　folly　to　underestimate　them；　as　the　Guardians　did。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　these　television　people。〃
　〃I　have　confirmed　that　they　were　from　an　American　network。　Two　men　and　a　woman。〃
　
　Boris　stroked　his　beard　in　thought。　'This　is　no　accident。　The　television　people　and　this　NUMA　must　be　a　cover　for　an　American　scheme。　Where　are　they　now？〃
　〃On　the　Argo　heading　back　to　Istanbul。　I've　dispatched　a　boat　to　follow　her。〃
　〃Can　we　destroy　the　NUMA　ship？〃
　〃As　easily　as　smashing　an　insect；　but　I　don't　think　it　would　be　wise　at　this　time。　It　might　draw　attention　to　our　Black　Sea　venture。〃
　〃Then　we　must　wait。〃
　〃I　agree。　After　the　Black　Sea　venture　is　done；　then　you　may　take　your　vengeance。〃
　〃I　defer　to　your　wisdom；　Mikhail。〃
　
　Razov's　smile　had　all　the　warmth　of　an　anaconda's。　〃No；　Boris；　it　is　you　who　is　the　wise　one。　My　expertise　is　business　and　politics；　but　you　have　the　vision　for　the　great　and　grand　future。〃
　〃A　vision　you　will　carry　out　as　the　lone　defender　against　the　corruption　and　materialism　that　is　a　cancer　in　our　once…great　country。　We　must　show　the　world　that　our　cause　is　right。　Nothing　must　stand　in　the　way　of　our　plan　to　carve　out　decay　where　we　find　it。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　see　something。〃　Razov　said。　He　punched　a　button　on　his　desk。　〃This　is　my　most　recent　speech　before　the　army。〃
　
　A　picture　appeared　on　the　wall　screen：　Razov　speaking　in　a　large　hall。　The　audience　was　made　up　of　men　in　the　uniforms　of　the　various　Russian　armed　services。　Razov　stepped　onto　the　stage；　and　within　minutes　he　had　his　audience　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。　As　he　spoke；　he　seemed　to　grow　to　ten　feet　high；　drawing　on　the　power　of　his　deep　voice；　impressive　physique　and　his　convictions　to　exhort　the　crowd：
　
　〃We　must　honor　the　warrior　creed　of　our　Cossack　brothers。　Our　people　threw　off　the　yoke　of　the　Ottoman　Empire　and　defeated　Napoleon。　The　Cossacks　took　Azov　for　Peter　the　Great　and　have　defended　the　borders　of　Russia　against　intruders　for　centuries。　Now；　seven　million　strong；　with　your　help；　we　will　destroy　the　enemies　within；　the　financiers；　the　criminals　and　the　politicians　who　would　grind　our　country　to　dust　beneath　their　boots。〃
　
　Before　long　the　crowd　was　on　its　feet　in　a　frig