cc.fireice-第15部分

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ind　our　country　to　dust　beneath　their　boots。〃
　
　Before　long　the　crowd　was　on　its　feet　in　a　frightening　example　of　mass　hysteria。　They　surged　toward　the　podium　with　glazed　eyes；　arms　reaching　out。　They　wanted　to　be　part　of　him。　They　were　chanting；　〃Razov　。　。　。　Razov　。　。　。　Razov　。　。　。　〃　He　flicked　off　the　television。
　
　〃You　have　learned　well；　Mikhail；〃　Boris　said。
　
　〃No；　Boris。　You　have　taught　me　well。〃
　〃I　merely　showed　you　how　to　draw　upon　the　passions　of　our　people。〃
　〃This　is　nothing　pared　to　what　is　to　e。　But　much　depends　on　our　Black　Sea　work。　I　was　talking　to　the　salvage　ship　when　you　arrived。　There　are　many　difficulties；　but　they　are　close　to　their　goal。　I　told　them　that　their　lives　depended　on　success。　I　will　not　accept　failure。〃
　〃Do　you　wish　me　to　look　into　the　future？〃
　〃Yes；　tell　me　what　you　see。〃
　
　Boris　bent　his　head　and　touched　his　fingers　to　his　brow。　His　eyes　became　glassy。　Speaking　as　if　his　voice　were　ing　from　a　cave；　he　said；　〃I　prophesy　that　the　day　will　e　when　you　take　the　reins　as　the　new　tsar　of　Mother　Russia。　All　our　enemies　will　be　vanquished。　The　United　States　will　be　the　first　to　feel　the　sword　of　righteousness。〃
　〃What　else　do　you　see？〃
　
　His　forehead　furrowed　as　if　he　were　in　pain；　and　his　voice　became　hollow。　〃Cold　and　blackness。　A　place　of　death　under　the　sea。〃　He　reached　out　and　grabbed　Razov's　arm；　digging　his　fingers　into　the　flesh　like　daggers。　〃There　is　light。〃　The　thick　lips　curled　into　a　beatific　smile。　〃Success　is　within　reach。〃　Life　returned　to　the　stony　eyes。　〃The　ghosts　of　the　dead　will　soon　bestow　their　blessing　on　our　cause。　They　plead　for　you　to　seek　revenge　in　their　name。〃
　
　Razov　had　been　a　successful　gangster　and　was　a　creature　of　the　city。　Once　out　of　his　element　he　was　practically　helpless。　Razov　thought　back　to　his　first　meeting　with　Boris。　He　had　been　wandering；　lost　and　half　starved；　through　the　bleak　countryside　when　he　came　upon　a　stream　of　peasants。　There　were　dozens　of　them；　frail　and　sick；　some　unable　to　walk；　carried　by　others。　When　he　asked　where　they　were　going；　they　replied　that　they　were　going　to　the　monastery　to　be　cured　by　the　〃mad　one。〃　Having　nothing　else　to　do；　he　followed。　He　saw　the　crippled　throwaway　their　crutches　and　walk　and　blind　people　claim　they　could　see。　When　he　went　up　to　Boris；　the　monk　had　gazed　at　him　as　if　they　had　known　each　other　forever　and　said；　〃I　have　been　expecting　you；　my　son。〃
　
　Under　the　gaze　of　those　remarkable　eyes；　Razov　had　poured　out　his　story。　His　shock　at　his　father's　dying　words。　His　retreat　from　civilization　and　his　wanderings　in　the　wild　country　around　the　Black　Sea。　Boris　told　him　to　stay　after　the　others　had　left；　and　they　talked　through　the　night。　When　Razov　asked　where　the　other　monks　were；　Boris　only　said；　〃They　were　unworthy。〃　Razov　suspected　the　horrible　truth；　but　it　made　no　difference。　When　he　returned　to　civilization；　the　bizarre　figure　of　the　bearded　monk　was　at　his　side；　and　he　had　been　at　his　side　ever　since。
　
　Eventually；　other　mobsters　had　moved　into　Razov's　territory。　At　Boris's　suggestion；　he'd　sent　out　word　that　he　was　abandoning　his　turf；　and　he　made　sure　his　sordid　past　would　not　e　back　to　haunt　him。　First；　he　changed　his　name；　then；　after　several　assassinations；　some　arson　fires　and　bombings；　he　had　wiped　out　most　connections　to　his　criminal　days。　Using　the　millions　stashed　in　Swiss　bank　accounts　and　the　strong…arm　methods　that　had　served　him　well　as　a　criminal；　he'd　bought　into　mines　that　were　slipping　from　munist　control。　Soon　he　expanded　his　mining　interests　into　the　sea。
　
　Observers　noted　a　mysterious　and　profound　bond　between　the　two　men。　Razov　consulted　Boris　on　all　crucial　decisions　and　he　rewarded　Boris　handsomely。　The　monk　himself　was　a　study　in　multiple　personality。　His　stateroom　on　the　yacht　was　furnished　with　only　a　cot；　where　he　spent　many　hours　in　meditation；　and　he　would　go　for　long　periods　without　washing。　Sometimes；　however；　when　the　yacht　was　in　port；　he　disappeared。　Razov　had　Boris　followed　and　learned　that　the　monk　had　been　spending　his　time　in　the　seediest　brothels。　Boris　seemed　to　be　struggling　with　his　two　sides；　the　ascetic　monk　and　the　murderous　voluptuary。
　
　For　all　his　madness；　though；　the　monk　was　a　valuable　advisor；　his　insanity　tempered　by　a　rational　intelligence。　In　this　case；　Boris　was　right　about　NUMA。　It　might　prove　a　menace　waiting　in　the　wings。
　
　…8…
　BLACK　SEA
　
　FOLLOWING　IN　THE　wake　of　the　original　Argo；　the　NUMA　ship　steamed　across　the　Black　Sea　toward　the　Bosporus；　the　narrow　strait　that　separated　the　Asian　and　European　sides　of　Istanbul。　Unlike　Jason；　who　brought　home　the　Golden　Fleece；　all　that　Austin　had　to　show　for　his　labors　was　a　head　laceration；　a　bedraggled　television　crew　and　a　pile　of　unanswered　questions。
　
　The　evacuation　from　the　Russian　beach　had　gone　off　without　a　hitch。　Captain　Atwood　had　sent　a　boat　in　to　transport　Austin　and　the　television　people　to　the　Argo。　Moving　the　Gooney　was　less　trouble　than　anticipated；　it　was　mostly　a　case　of　picking　up　the　pieces。　Austin　didn't　look　forward　to　telling　Zavala　that　the　nifty　little　plane　he'd　designed　could　practically　fit　into　a　shoe　box。
　
　On　the　final　run　to　the　beach；　Austin　had　spotted　something　floating　in　the　water。　It　was　the　body　of　the　Turkish　helmsman；　Mehmet。　They'd　hauled　the　body　onto　the　tender　and　brought　it　back　to　the　ship。　The　pitiful　sight　reminded　Austin　of　the　deadly　game　he'd　been　playing。　One　wrong　roll　of　the　dice　and　it　would　have　been　his　body　pulled　from　the　water　and　wrapped　in　a　tarpaulin。
　
　Austin　checked　in　with　the　ship's　paramedic　to　have　his　cut　treated；　then　showered　and　changed。　He　had　suggested　to　Kaela　that　she　meet　him　for　dinner　in　the　mess　hall　after　she　had　a　chance　to　rest。　Austin　snagged　a　table　next　to　a　big　window　that　looked　out　over　the　stern　deck。　He　was　gazing　out　at　the　ship's　foamy　wake；　trying　to　make　sense　of　the　skirmish　on　the　beach；　when　Kaela　made　her　entrance。
　
　The　reporter　wore　jeans　and　a　faded　blue　chambray　shirt　borrowed　from　a　female　oceanographer　whose　figure　must　have　been　shorter　and　wider。　What　would　have　been　practical　but　ill…fitting　work　clothes　on　another　woman　achieved　an　elegant　sophistication　draped　over　Kaela'　s　slim　physique。　As　she　entered　the　mess；　she　could　have　been　strolling　down　a　Paris　runway　wearing　the　latest　in　avant…garde　fashion。
　
　She　smiled　at　Austin　and　came　over　to　the　table。　〃Something　smells　good。〃
　〃You're　in　luck。　The　chef　has　decided　on　an　Italian　theme。　Have　a　seat。〃
　
　She　sat　down　and　closed　her　eyes。　〃Don't　tell　me。〃　She　inhaled　the　aromas　ing　from　the　galley。　〃An　antipasto　of　truffle　salad　and　olivi　mushrooms　followed　by　a　porcini　risotto。〃
　〃Not　quite。〃　Austin　cleared　his　throat。　〃We're　having　pizza。　Mushroom；　or　pepperoni　if　you'd　prefer　carne。〃
　
　Kaela　opened　her　eyes　and　stared　at　Austin。　〃What　happened　to　the　four…star　chef？〃
　
　Austin　tried　his　best　to　look　angelic；　but　his　rugged　features　wouldn't　cooperate。　〃I　confess。　I　exaggerated。　My　intentions　were　entirely　honorable。　Your　spirits　needed　a　lift　back　there　on　the　beach。〃
　〃And　you　looked　like　you'd　pushed　your　face　through　a　plate…glass　window。　Glad　to　see　you're　in　better　shape。〃
　〃Amazing　the　miracles　that　can　be　performed　with　a　needle；　sutures　and　swabs。〃
　
　Kaela　glanced　over　at　the　serving　counter。　〃How's　the　pizza？〃
　〃Almost　as　good　as　Spago's。　Especially　when　you　have　nectar　like　this　to　wash　it　down。〃　He　reached　under　the　table　and　produced　a　bottle　of　Brunello　Chianti　Classico。　〃I　picked　up　a　case　when　we　stopped　in　Venice。〃
　〃You'refull　of　surprises；　aren't　you？〃　Kaela　said；　laughing。
　
　〃Sorry　the　dinner　is　not　quite　as　advertised；　but　you'll　have　to　admit　that　the　water…view　table　is　as　promised。〃
　〃No　argument　there。　The　view　is　spectacular。〃　She　rose　and　said；　〃If　you　open　the　bottle；　I'll　get　our　dinner。〃　She　grabbed　a　tray　and　stepped　into　the　serving　line。　A　few　minutes　later；　she　returned　with　two　personal…sized　pizzas　and　Caesar　salads。　Austin　had　the　wine　opened　and　poured　their　glasses。　They　hungrily　attacked　their　dinner。
　
　〃This　pizza　is　incredible；〃　Kaela　said。　She　sipped　the　wine　with　a　dreamy　expression　on　her　face。　Suddenly；　she　glanced　around　as　if　she　had　lost　something。　〃Have　you　seen　Mickey　and　Dundee？〃
　〃I　meant　to　tell　you。　The　boys　grabbed　something　to　eat　earlier；　then　went　up　to　the　bridge　to　shoot　some　video。　Seems　they've　charmed　their　way　past　Captain　Atwood's　gruff　faзade。〃
　〃The　camera　tends　to　bring　out　the　ham　in　people。〃　Austin　refilled　their　glasses。　〃Tell　me　about　your　Noah's　ark　assignment。〃
　〃It's　the　usual　bination　of　humbug　and　fact　that　Unbelievable　Mysteries　packages　for　the　mass　TV　audience。　They　splice　old　blurry　images　with　new　footage　and　do　a　dramatic　voice…over。　Heavy　on　the　mysterious　background　music。　There's　usually　a　hint　of　a　government　cover…up　and　some　danger　to　the　crew。　The　viewers　love　it。〃
　〃The　danger　was　real　this　time。〃
　〃Yes；　it　was；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。　〃That's　why　I　feel　so　bad　about　Captain　Kemal's　cousin。　It　was　my　idea　to　look　into　the　old　sub　base。〃
　〃Don't　blame　yourself。　There　was　no　way　you　could　have　known　you'd　be　shot　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃Still　…　has　anyone　been　able　to　contact　Captain　Kemal？〃
　〃The　bridge　got　in　touch　with　him　a　while　ago。　Apparently；　his　radio　is　working　now。　The　captain　gave　him　the　bad　news。〃
　〃Poor　Mehmet。　I　keep　playing　that　scene　over　and　over　again　in　my　head。　His　family　must　be　devastated。〃　Austin　gently　tried　to　take　Kaela's　mind　off　a　situation　she　couldn't　alter。
　
　〃If　you're　looking　for　Noah's　ark；　wouldn't　you　do　better　poking　around　Mount　Ararat？〃
　
　Kaela　weled　the　chance　to　change　the　subject。　〃No；　not　especially。　You're　familiar　with　the　findings　of　William　Ryan　and　Walter　Pitman？〃
　〃They're　the　Columbia　University　geologists　who　speculated　that　the　Black　Sea　was　originally　a　freshwater　lake　be…　fore　the　Mediterranean　broke　through　the　Bosporus　in　a　great　flood。　The　people　who　lived　along　the　shore　had　to　run　for　their　lives。〃
　〃Then　you　must　know　that　the　saga　of　the　flood；　passed　down　by　generations　of　bards；　may　have　inspired　the　tale　of　Noah　and　the　ark。　Which　means　t