cc.fireice-第18部分

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　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　to　the　body。　Maybe　his　friends　came　back　after　we　left；　and　tidied　up。　We　took　the　weapons　with　us。〃
　〃That's　larceny；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃I　prefer　to　call　it　spoils　of　war。〃
　
　Petrov　dismissed　Austin's　reply　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃No　matter。　What　of　this　television　crew？　Did　they　film　any　of　this？〃
　〃They　were　too　busy　running　for　their　lives。　They　filmed　the　body；　but　without　an　explanation　I　doubt　if　they　can　do　much　with　it。〃
　〃I　hope　for　their　sake　that　you　are　right。〃
　〃Let　me　ask　you　a　question　if　I　may；　Ivan。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　asking　the　questions。〃
　〃I'm　aware　of　that；　but　it's　the　least　you　can　do　in　return　for　the　beautiful　flowers　I　sent　you。〃
　〃I've　already　repaid　your　kind　gesture　with　one　of　my　own。　I　didn't　kill　you。　But　go　ahead。　I'll　allow　one　question。〃
　〃What　the　hell　is　this　all　about？〃
　
　A　slight　smile　tweaked　the　ends　of　Petrov's　lips；　and　he　picked　up　the　cigarette　pack　in　front　of　him。　Extracting　a　cigarette　with　great　care；　he　put　it　between　his　lips；　lit　the　end　and　blew　the　smoke　from　his　nostrils。　The　strong　tobacco　smell　filled　the　office　and　drove　out　the　musty　odor。
　

　〃What　do　you　know　about　the　current　political　situation　in　Russia？〃
　〃What　I　read　in　the　papers。　It's　no　secret　that　your　country　has　big　problems。　Your　economy　is　shaky；　organized　crime　and　corruption　are　worse　than　Chicago　under　Capone；　your　military　is　underpaid　and　unhappy；　your　health　care　system　is　a　mess　and　you've　got　independence　movements　and　civil　wars　nibbling　around　your　borders。　But　you've　got　an　educated　and　energetic　workforce　and　abundant　natural　resources。　If　you　don't　keep　shooting　yourself　in　the　foot；　you　may　e　out　okay；　but　it　will　take　time。〃
　〃A　reasonably　accurate　summary　of　a　plicated　scenario。　Ordinarily　I　would　say　you　are　right；　that　we　would　muddle　through。　Our　people　are　used　to　adversity。　Thrive　on　it；　in　fact。　But　there　are　forces　at　work　that　are　much　more　powerful　than　anything　we　have　talked　about。〃
　〃What　sort　of　forces？〃
　〃The　worst　kind。　Human　passions；　whipped　into　a　fiery　nationalism　by　the　winds　of　cynicism；　dismay　and　hopelessness。〃
　〃You've　had　nationalist　movements　before。〃
　〃True；　but　we've　managed　to　marginalize　them；　blackmail　the　proponents　or　demonize　them　as　eccentric　cranks　before　they　could　build　up　their　cause　and　bring　others　into　it。　This　is　different。　The　new　movement　has　sprung　whole　from　the　steppes　of　south　Russia　along　the　Black　Sea　where　the　neo…Cossacks　live。〃
　〃Cossacks？　Like　the　crew　I　met　the　other　day？〃
　〃That's　right。　The　Cossacks　were　originally　outlaws　and　fugitives；　nomads　who　drifted　into　south　Russia　and　the　Ukraine；　where　they　formed　a　loose　federation。　They　were　known　for　their　horsemanship；　a　skill　that　helped　Peter　the　Great　defeat　the　Ottoman　Turks。　In　time　they　evolved　into　a　military　class。　Cossacks　served　as　an　elite　cavalry　for　the　tsars；　who　used　them　to　terrorize　revolutionaries；　strikers　and　minority　groups。〃
　〃Then　came　the　Bolshevik　revolution；　the　tsar　fell　and　the　Cossacks　ended　up　driving　cabs　in　Paris；〃　Austin　observed。
　
　〃Not　all　were　so　lucky。　Some　joined　the　Bolsheviks；　others　became　staunch　defenders　of　the　last　of　Imperial　Russia；　even　after　the　tsar　and　his　family　were　assassinated。　Stalin　tried　to　neutralize　or　eliminate　them；　but　he　was　only　partially　successful。　To　this　day；　the　Cossacks　are　a　warrior　caste　who　believe　that　they　embody　the　glories　of　a　pure　Mother　Russia。　There　is　a　word　for　it。　Kazachestvo。　Cossackism。　The　idea　that　they　are　the　ones　chosen　by　a　Higher　Power　to　dominate　inferior　races。〃
　
　Austin　was　getting　restless。　〃The　Cossacks　aren't　the　first　to　think　they　were　chosen　to　set　the　rest　of　the　world　straight。　History　is　full　of　groups　that　have　e　and　gone；　leaving　a　high　body　count　behind　them。〃
　〃True。　The　difference　is　that　those　groups　are　chapters　in　a　history　book；　while　the　Cossacks　and　their　blind　faith　are　very　much　alive。〃　He　leaned　forward　onto　the　desk　and　leveled　his　gaze　at　Austin。　〃Russia　has　bee　a　violent　place；　and　violence　is　the　life's　blood　of　the　Cossack。　There　has　been　a　great　revival　of　Kazachestvo。　Neo…Cossacks　have　taken　over　parts　of　Russian　territory　around　the　Black　Sea。　They　ignore　the　Moscow　government；　knowing　that　it　is　weak　and　toothless。　They　have　formed　private　armies　and　hired　out　as　mercenaries。　Their　audacity　has　captured　the　loyalty　of　many　Russians　who　tired　quickly　of　capitalism　and　freedom。　Many　in　parliament　and　the　streets　yearn　for　a　reactionary　nationalism　that　would　restore　the　glories　of　Russia。　There　are　pure　Cossack　units　in　the　Russian　army　with　their　own　costumes　and　ranks。　They　have　declared　a　New　Russia　around　the　Black　Sea　and　are　expanding　into　other　areas；　seven　million　strong。　That　pin　you　found　is　the　emblem　of　their　movement。　It　shows　the　sun　in　a　new　dawn　for　Russia。〃
　〃They're　still　a　minority；　Ivan。　How　much　damage　can　I　they　do？〃
　〃The　Bolsheviks　were　only　a　minority　but　they　knew　what　was　in　the　Russian　heart；　that　the　soldiers　were　tired　of　I　war　and　the　peasants　wanted　land。〃
　〃The　Bolsheviks　had　Lenin。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　making　my　point；〃　Petrov　said；　with　a　humorless　smile。　〃Absolutely　correct。　The　revolution　would　have　been　nothing　if　not　for　a　determined　and　ruthless　leader　who　unified　the　country　and　squashed　opponents　under　his　thumb。〃　The　smile　vanished。　〃The　Cossacks　have　a　similar　leader。　His　name　is　Mikhail　Razov。　He　is　an　immensely　wealthy　shipping　and　mining　magnate　who　owns　a　cartel　named　Ataman　Industries。　He　is　dedicated　to　the　resurrection　of　Great　Russia。　He　endorses　the　Cossack　ideals　of　masculinity　and　brute　force　He　has　said　the　best　way　to　wipe　out　corruption　is　with　a　machine　gun。　He　is　totally　paranoid；　believes　that　the　rest　of　the　world　is　out　to　get　him。〃
　〃Money　and　power　are　a　potent　formula。〃
　〃It　goes　far　beyond　that。〃　Petrov　lit　up　another　cigarette。　Austin　was　surprised　to　see　that　the　match　hand　was　trembling。　〃He　is　advised　by　a　monk　named　Boris；　a　man　of　great　animal　magnetism　with　a　reputation　for　prophecy。　He　exerts　an　evil　influence　over　Razov；　encouraging　his　claim　that　he　is　a　true　descendant　of　the　tsar；　going　back　to　Peter　the　Great。〃
　〃I　was　under　the　impression　that　Tsar　Nicholas　was　the　last　of　the　Romanov　line。〃
　〃There　have　always　been　questions。〃
　〃Even　so；　I　can　say　I'm　the　king　of　Spain；　but　that　doesn't　put　me　on　his　throne。〃
　〃Razov　says　he　has　proof。〃
　〃DNA？〃
　〃I　doubt　if　he　would　let　anyone　take　a　blood　sample。〃
　〃You　may　be　onto　something；〃　Austin　conceded。　〃You　have　a　movement；　a　charismatic　leader　guided　by　a　messianic　prophet　and　a　hereditary　line。　I　agree　that　sounds　like　a　potent　formula　for　revolution。〃
　
　Petrov　nodded　solemnly。　〃There　is　no　'maybe'　about　it。　Russia　is　on　the　verge　of　a　neo…Cossack　revival　that　will　sweep　across　the　country；　wiping　out　all　the　gains　we　have　made。　The　tsar　and　his　family　have　already　been　canonized　by　the　right　wing　in　our　country。　And　Razov　is　poised　to　take　on　the　tsar's　sacred　mantle。〃　He　smiled。　〃How　many　politicians　can　claim　to　be　descended　from　a　saint？〃
　〃Most　of　them　claim　to　be　saints。　But　I　take　your　point。　What's　your　role　in　this　Ivan？　Are　you　with　the　KGB？〃
　〃The　KGB　has　been　infiltrated　by　Razov's　people。　I　lead　a　small　inner　group　whose　job　is　to　keep　watch　on　those　who　threaten　Russia's　stability。　We　report　directly　to　the　president。　But　I've　only　told　you　part　of　the　story。　This　involves　you；　too；　Mr。　Austin。　Razov　considers　the　United　States　to　be　the　head　of　a　dark　worldwide　conspiracy　that　is　largely　responsible　for　Russia's　ills。　He　believes　America　is　deliberately　using　its　power　around　the　world　to　keep　Russia　impoverished　and　backward。　Many　in　parliament　share　his　views。〃
　〃America　has　a　long　list　of　enemies。　It　goes　with　being　the　only　superpower。〃
　〃Add　Razov's　name　to　the　roster；　then。　But　this　isn't　just　political　…　he　has　a　personal　reason　as　well。　His　fiancйe　was　accidentally　killed　in　the　Americans'　bombing　of　Belgrade　several　years　ago。　I　understand　Irini　was　quite　beautiful；　and　he　has　never　gotten　over　her　loss。　So　I　would　urge　you　to　take　him　very　seriously　…　especially　as　there　are　signs　he　intends　to　cause　great　harm　to　your　country。〃
　〃In　what　way？〃
　
　Petrov　spread　his　hands。　〃We　don't　know。　We　know　only　that　he　has　given　his　scheme　a　name：　Operation　Troika。〃
　〃Then　you've　wasted　your　time　and　mine。　You　should　use　diplomatic　channels　to　take　your　case　to　higher…ups　in　the　American　government。〃
　〃We　already　have。　We　have　told　them　we　want　them　to　avoid　any　overt　moves。〃
　〃I　can't　picture　the　White　House　and　the　Pentagon　ignoring　a　possible　threat　like　this；　not　now。　They've　learned　the　hard　way　to　take　threats　seriously。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　they're　not　pleased　with　our　position。　We　have　told　them　if　they　respond　too　clumsily；　they　will　spoil　our　efforts　and　ensure　that　the　threat；　whatever　it　is；　will　be　carried　out。〃
　〃What's　the　connection　between　this　threat　and　the　sub　base？〃
　〃e　to　your　own　conclusion。　The　sub　pen　was　built　for　medium…range　missile　submarines　that　roamed　the　Black　Sea；　mostly　to　intimidate　Turkish　leaders　who　allowed　the　Americans　to　establish　bases。　It　was　abandoned　after　the　Soviet　government　fell　and　lay　undisturbed　for　years。　Then　Razov　leased　the　facility　from　the　government。　His　ships　were　seen　ing　and　going。　The　Cossacks　you　encountered　were　camped　nearby　as　guards。〃
　〃Why　the　fancy　costumes　and　old　weapons？〃
　〃It　has　something　to　do　with　the　symbolism　of　his　cause。　Razov　chooses　to　equip　some　of　his　men　as　if　they　were　still　cavalry　for　the　tsar。　Make　no　mistake。　He　has　accumulated　many　modem　weapons　from　the　former　Soviet　Union。〃
　〃Why　haven't　you　moved　in　on　these　guys？〃
　〃We　were　waiting　and　watching　for　the　right　time。　Then　you　blundered　in。〃
　〃Sorry　to　spoil　your　stakeout。　Someone　was　being　mugged　and　needed　help。〃
　〃We　think　he　intends　to　act　against　the　U。S。　before　he　assumes　power。〃
　〃I　can　help　you　find　out　what　he　has　in　mind。〃
　
　Petrov　shook　his　head　vigorously。　〃We　don't　need　American　cowboys　charging　in　with　six…guns　blazing。〃
　〃Neither　do　I。　I'm　a　scientist　with　NUMA　now。〃
　〃You're　being　disingenuous。　You　have　a　reputation　for　bend