cc.fireice-第26部分

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　range。　Austin　was　grateful　for　this　development；　but　he　didn't　want　too　much　space　separating　them。　He　saw　nothing　that　resembled　an　entrance；　and　was　about　to　tell　Zavala　to　head　back；　but　Joe　broke　off　his　serenade　with　a　loud　〃Whoa！〃
　〃Say　again？〃
　〃Got　something；　Kurt；〃　he　said　excitedly。
　
　Austin　wheeled　the　Torpedo　2000　around　in　a　tight　arc。　He　glided　past　the　beach　and　homed　in　on　a　silvery　pinpoint　that　blinked　like　a　firefly　on　a　summer　night。　Zavala　was　hovering　at　midwater　and　flashing　his　light　as　a　homing　beacon。　When　Austin　got　closer；　Zavala　adjusted　his　light　to　flood　pattern　and　pointed　the　beam　toward　the　face　of　the　undersea　wall　that　rose　to　bee　the　chin　of　Imam's　Point。
　
　Austin　was　looking　at　a　huge　pile　of　rubble　that　resembled　a　landslide　one　might　see　in　a　mountain　valley。　The　sea　bottom　below　the　slide　was　littered　with　hundreds　of　chunks　of　rock　and　concrete　obviously　flung　there　with　great　force；　most　likely　by　an　explosion。
　
　〃Not　exactly　what　I'd　call　a　wele　mat；〃　Austin　said。　With　short　fluttering　fin　strokes；　he　swam　up　the　face　of　the　rubble　pile。　If　this　was　the　entrance　to　the　pen；　no　submarines　would　be　using　it　soon。　He　swam　back　and　forth　searching　for　an　opening；　but　the　blockage　was　plete。
　
　Zavala　floated　up　beside　him。　〃So　much　for　my　dreams　of　beautiful　Russian　women。〃
　
　Austin　scanned　the　rubble；　then　swam　over　to　a　slab　about　six　feet　tall　and　half　as　wide　that　stood　like　a　giant　l　gravestone　in　a　more　or　less　vertical　position。　A　pair　of　steel　rods　protruded　from　the　top；　like　antennae　on　an　insect。
　
　〃If　we　could　topple　this　slab；　maybe　we　could　start　a　slide　that　would　open　up　this　mess。〃
　〃Not　a　bad　idea。　Too　bad　we　forgot　to　pack　dynamite。〃
　〃We　may　not　need　it。　Remember　what　Archimedes　said？〃
　〃Sure；　he's　the　guy　who　runs　the　Greek　restaurant　down　the　street；　He　said　'Eat　here　or　to　go？'　〃
　〃I'm　talking　about　the　other　Archimedes。〃
　〃Oh；　that　one；　He　said；　'Eureka！'　〃
　

　〃He　also　said；　'Give　me　a　place　to　stand　and　I　will　move　the　earth。'　〃
　
　Zavala　stared　at　the　steel　rods。　〃Archimedes　was　into　levers　and　fulcrums；　as　I　recall。〃
　〃Eureka；〃　Austin　said；　swimming　up　the　rock　slide　until　he　was　above　the　slab。　He　squeezed　in　between　the　concrete　and　the　cliff；　braced　his　back　against　the　wall　and　placed　his　feet　on　one　of　the　rods。　Zavala　took　a　position　beside　Austin　with　his　feet　on　the　other　rod。
　
　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　move　a　smaIl　piece　of　the　world；〃　Austin　said；　〃On　three。〃
　
　They　pushed　against　the　rods　and　the　slab　tilted　a　few　inches　before　settling　back　into　place。　The　air　tanks　got　in　the　way；　so　they　adjusted　them　and　tried　again。　The　slab　tipped　precariously　this　time。　For　a　moment；　it　seemed　as　if　the　block　would　go　over；　but　despite　their　shoving　and　grunting；　it　rocked　back　into　place。
　
　Zavala　suggested　that　they　push　higher　for　more　leverage。　They　slid　their　feet　to　the　ends　of　the　rods；　planted　their　backs　and　tried　again。　This　time　the　slab　went　over　so　fast　that　they　almost　tumbled　down　with　it。　It　crashed　in　slow　motion　off　a　big　boulder；　breaking　in　half；　then　bounced　a　few　more　times　before　landing　in　a　muddy　cloud。　Several　other　chunks　followed　it　down　in　a　secondary　landslide。
　
　〃Crude　but　effective；〃　Austin　said；　as　he　drifted　down　the　face　of　the　pile　and　stopped　in　front　of　a　newly　created　opening　in　the　rubble。　He　probed　the　hole　with　his　light；　then　tried　to　squeeze　through　only　to　have　his　air　tanks　get　in　the　way　again。　He　removed　the　tanks。　Keeping　the　regulator　in　his　mouth；　he　backed　into　the　opening　feet　first　and　pulled　his　tanks　in　after　him。　Zavala　followed　using　the　same　procedure。
　
　They　were　wedged　in　a　tight　space　between　the　pile　of　boulders　and　two　massive　steel　blast　doors。　The　armored　doors　were　sealed；　but　near　the　top　of　one　was　a　shadow　where　the　force　of　the　explosion　had　peeled　back　a　er　like　a　page　in　a　book。　The　gap　was　big　enough　for　them　and　their　tanks。　They　slipped　through　the　hole　and　flashed　their　lights　around。　The　beams　faded　into　nothingness　except　for　a　grayish　reflection　over　their　heads。　They　swam　up　several　feet　until　their　tanks　scraped　against　concrete。　Swimming　a　few　feet　below　the　ceiling；　they　proceeded　through　the　murky　water。
　
　After　a　few　minutes；　the　ceiling　disappeared　and　they　swam　up　until　their　heads　emerged　into　the　open。　They　were　in　plete　darkness。　Austin　removed　the　regulator　from　his　mouth　and　took　a　tentative　breath。　The　air　was　musty　but　breathable。　They　switched　on　their　lights　and　saw　that　they　were　near　the　edge　of　a　man…made　pool。　They　swam　to　a　ladder；　pulled　themselves　up　on　the　side　of　the　pool　and　flashed　their　lights　around；　probing　the　perimeter　of　the　rectangular　basin。
　
　〃Hel…Io；〃　Austin　murmured。　〃Someone　left　their　rubber　ducky　in　the　bathtub。〃
　
　His　light　outlined　the　contours　of　a　submarine　on　the　far　side　of　the　pool。
　
　They　stacked　their　scuba　gear　in　neat　piles　for　quick　retrieval　and　stripped　down　to　their　lightweight　black　insulated　liners。　They　were　traveling　light；　taking　only　their　weapons；　extra　ammunition　and　lights　and；　in　Austin's　case；　a　belt　radio。　He　tried　to　call　Kemal；　but　the　thick　concrete　walls　made　radio　contact　impossible。　Setting　off　to　explore　the　high…ceilinged　chamber；　they　followed　a　set　of　narrow…gauge　tracks　that　ran　around　the　pool's　perimeter；　making　their　way　past　fuel　pumps　and　conduits　for　water　and　electricity。
　
　Gantries　and　cranes　hung　from　the　ceiling　to　service　heavy　loads。　Sideways…traversing　machinery　could　move　a　sub　to　the　dry　side　for　maintenance。　Austin　and　Zavala　went　around　the　pool　to　where　the　submarine　lay　in　dry　dock。　The　sub　was　between　three　hundred　and　four　hundred　feet　long；　Austin　estimated。　They　climbed　aboard　and　explored　the　sub　from　end　to　end。　The　deck　behind　the　conning　tower　was　of　an　unusual　design；　long　and　flat　and　recessed。　They　climbed　the　sail　and　opened　the　entry　hatch。　The　stale　smell　of　food；　unwashed　bodies　and　fuel　issued　from　the　opening。
　
　As　the　expert　on　underwater　vehicles；　Zavala　volunteered　to　go　inside　the　sub　while　Austin　stood　watch。　A　short　while　later；　Zavala　emerged。
　
　〃Nobody　home；〃　he　said；　his　voice　echoing　in　the　great　chamber。
　
　〃Nothing？〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that。〃　Zavala　handed　Austin　a　navy　baseball　cap。　〃I　found　this　in　a　bunk　room。〃
　
　Austin　examined　the　white　lettering　on　the　front　of　the　cap。　NR…1。　〃This　raises　more　questions　than　it　answers。〃
　〃The　boat　itself　is　less　of　a　mystery；〃　Zavala　said。　〃It's　a　diesel；　built　for　a　specialized　purpose。　No　torpedoes。　She's　probably　pretty　fast　on　the　surface；　from　the　looks　of　her；　and　those　hydroplanes　on　the　sail　would　give　her　good　maneuverability　under　water。　The　deck　is　modified　to　carry　something。　Cargo。　Submersibles　maybe。〃
　〃Something　like　the　NR…1？〃
　〃Easily。　But　why　block　off　the　entrance　doors　to　the　pen？〃
　〃They　don't　need　this　baby　anymore。　What　better　way　to　hide　the　evidence？　Let's　see　if　we　can　find　the　owner　of　this　cap；〃　he　said；　tucking　the　cap　inside　his　suit。
　
　Satisfied　that　the　sub　could　yield　no　further　clues；　they　walked　the　rest　of　the　way　around　the　pool　until　they　carne　back　to　their　dive　gear。　Railroad　tracks　led　to　a　set　of　double　steel　doors　about　twelve　feet　high。　Next　to　the　doors　was　an　entryway　to　allow　passage　without　having　to　open　and　close　the　big　doors。　Zavala　tried　the　handle。
　
　〃It's　unlocked；〃　he　said。　〃We're　in　luck。〃
　〃Don't　be　too　sure　about　that。　This　may　be　a　case　of　the　spider　weling　the　flies。〃
　〃No　problem；〃　Zavala　said；　fitting　the　holster　to　the　butt　of　his　Heckler　and　Koch　。9…mm　VP70M　to　form　a　shoulder　stock；　giving　the　pistol　the　capability　of　firing　three…round　bursts。　〃I　brought　spider　repellent。〃
　
　Austin　slipped　his　own　brand　of　pesticide　out　of　its　leather　holster。　His　Ruger　Redhawk；　custom…built　by　the　Bowen　Classic　Arms　pany；　was　a　heavy…duty　revolver　chambered　for　the　。50　special　cartridge。　His　hand　was　filled　with　grips　made　of　snake　wood；　a　rare　South　American　wood。　The　fat　barrel　was　only　four　inches　long；　but　the　gun　packed　a　deadly　wallop。
　
　They　opened　the　door　and　stepped　into　a　chamber　half　the　size　of　the　sub　pen。　A　railroad　spur　extended　from　the　main　chamber。　Sitting　on　the　tracks　were　a　half…dozen　car…sized　freight　carriers　powered　by　propane。　The　tracks　ran　down　the　center　of　the　room；　with　tributaries　branching　out　on　both　sides　to　a　series　of　arched　portals　that　allowed　entrance　into　side　chambers。
　
　Entering　the　nearest　room；　they　found　shelves　filled　with　spare　parts。　The　other　storerooms　contained　tools；　firefighting　equipment　and　workshops。　One　room；　separated　from　the　others　by　a　heavy　steel　blast　door；　contained　demolition　charges　and　small　arms。
　
　They　returned　to　the　main　chamber　and　walked　over　to　an　elevator。　Next　to　the　elevator　was　a　door　that　led　to　a　stairwell。　The　smell　of　cooked　cabbage　drifted　from　above。　They　climbed　the　stairs　to　the　next　landing　and　saw　light　ing　from　beneath　a　door　that　led　off　the　landing。
　
　Austin　put　his　ear　up　to　the　door　and　listened。　Hearing　nothing；　he　cracked　the　door　a　few　inches。　Then　he　gently　pushed　the　door　open　and　stepped　through；　motioning　for　Zavala　to　follow。　They　were　in　a　corridor　lit　by　lights　recessed　in　the　ceiling。　It　was　wide　enough　for　four　people　to　walk　abreast。　The　passageway　echoed　the　poured…concrete；　bomb…shelter　motif　of　the　lower　level。
　
　Several　doors　opened　off　one　side。　The　first　led　to　a　cold…storage　room　stocked　with　meats　and　vegetables。　The　cold　room　was　connected　to　food　lockers　provisioned　with　canned　goods　and　groceries。　Next　to　the　pantry　were　a　large　kitchen　and　bakery。　They　moved　from　the　kitchen　into　the　adjacent　mess　hall；　which　was　furnished　with　long　benches　and　tables。　The　smell　of　cooked　food　was　strong。
　
　Austin　went　over　to　a　table；　brushed　some　crumbs　off　the　top　and　dabbed　his　finger　into　a　circle　of　water。
　
　〃Keep　a　sharp　eye　out；〃　he　said。　〃Some　of　the　regular　customers　may　still　be　around。〃
　
　A　door　led　from　the　mess　hall　to　another　passageway　and　a　deserted　dormitory　fitted　out　with　fifty　bunks。　The　beds　were　unmade　and　the　footlockers　were　empty。　Next　to　the　dormitory　was　a　small　game　room