cc.fireice-第27部分

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ks。　The　beds　were　unmade　and　the　footlockers　were　empty。　Next　to　the　dormitory　was　a　small　game　room　with　a　few　tables　and　chairs。　Austin　walked　over　to　a　chessboard；　studied　the　pieces　for　a　moment；　then　moved　a　black　knight　to　a　different　square。
　
　〃Checkmate；〃　he　said。　With　Austin　in　the　lead；　they　headed　back　to　the　main　corridor　and　climbed　the　stairs　to　the　next　floor。　In　contrast　to　the　spartan　barracks；　the　floors　were　covered　with　thick　wall…to…wall　carpeting　and　the　walls　were　paneled　in　dark　wood。　They　explored　half　a　dozen　offices　and　conference　rooms。　On　the　walls　were　a　few　yellowed　charts；　but　the　desks　were　cleaned　out　and　the　filing　cabinets　were　empty。
　
　〃This　must　have　been　the　mand　post　for　the　submarine　base；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Zavala　glanced　around　the　haunted　precincts。　〃It's　been　a　while　since　they　did　any　manding。　Spooky。　Maybe　we　should　call　Ghostbusters。〃
　
　Austin　grunted。　〃The　guys　who　shot　me　out　of　the　air　a　few　days　ago　weren't　made　out　of　ectoplasm。〃
　
　From　the　mand　post；　they　went　back　to　the　main　passageway；　poked　into　several　rooms；　each　with　two　beds；　that　could　have　been　officers'　quarters；　and　followed　another　connector　that　led　to　a　large　and　luxurious　suite。　The　polished　oak　floors　were　covered　with　finely　woven　oriental　rugs。　The　ornate　furniture　was　made　from　heavy　dark　wood。　The　decor　was　a　blend　of　Byzantine　and　Middle　Eastern；　with　a　liberal　use　of　red　cloth　and　gold　fringe。
　
　Zavala　looked　at　the　painting　of　a　voluptuous　woman；　one　of　several　that　decorated　the　walls。　〃Remind　me　when　I　get　home　to　redo　my　place　in　harem　modern。〃
　

　Austin　was　having　a　problem　imagining　a　bulldog…jowled　Soviet　sub　mander　in　these　decadent　surroundings。　〃It　looks　like　someone's　idea　of　a　Victorian　bordello。〃
　
　Despite　their　bantering；　both　men　were　uneasy。　Austin　recalled　the　violence　that　had　greeted　his　first　visit　to　these　shores。　The　quiet　gave　him　the　jitters。　They　explored　the　rest　of　the　suite；　eventually　ing　to　a　thick　wooden　door　built　with　rivets　and　ornamental　straps　as　if　it　guarded　the　portal　to　a　medieval　keep。　Carved　in　the　door　was　a　large　stylized　letter　R。
　
　Zavala　examined　the　antique　keyhole；　then　he　reached　into　his　pack　and　pulled　out　a　soft　leather　case　that　he　unfolded　to　display　an　array　of　lock　picks　that　would　have　gotten　him　arrested　in　most　states。　He　selected　a　particularly　large　pick。
　
　〃The　basic　skeleton　key　should　do　the　job。〃　He　ran　his　fingers　over　the　door　carving　and　strong　steel　hinges。　〃There　must　be　something　valuable　on　the　other　side。　I'm　surprised　they　didn't　use　a　better　lock。〃　Bending　to　his　task；　he　inserted　the　pick　in　the　keyhole；　jiggled　the　tool；　then　turned　it。　The　lock　had　been　well…lubricated　and　the　deadbolt　opened　with　a　loud　clunk。
　
　Austin　put　his　ear　up　against　the　dark　wood。　Hearing　nothing；　he　tried　the　ornamental　knob。　He　paused；　wondering　if　hidden　cameras　had　watched　them　every　step　of　the　way　into　the　labyrinth。　A　gang　of　cutthroats　could　be　lurking　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。　The　thought　of　a　bullet　or　dagger　in　the　eye　made　him　squeamish。　His　lips　tightened　in　a　grim　smile。　Being　shot　or　stabbed　in　the　heart　would　leave　him　just　as　dead　as　a　poke　in　the　eye。
　
　Austin　couldn't　remember　who'd　said　the　best　defense　is　a　good　offense；　but　he　had　always　considered　it　good　advice。　He　cocked　his　Bowen；　motioned　to　Zavala　to　back　him　up；　then　turned　the　knob；　threw　the　door　open　and　stepped　inside。
　
　…14…
　THE　DENTED　BLACK　Lada　taxi　clattered　down　the　dirt　road；　with　every　bolt　in　its　ancient　chassis　rattling　in　protest。　The　potholed　ruts　led　through　thick　pines　and　ended　at　an　encampment　of　rustic　chalets　clustered　near　the　Black　Sea。　The　cab　bounced　on　its　worn　shock　absorbers　even　after　Paul　and　Gamay　Trout　extricated　themselves　from　the　cramped　backseat　like　clowns　in　a　circus　skit。　They　removed　their　duffel　bags　from　the　roof　rack　and　paid　the　driver。　The　cab　drove　off　in　a　cloud　of　dust；　and　the　door　to　a　nearby　chalet　flew　open　with　a　bang。　A　bearlike　man　charged　out；　roaring　in　a　voice　that　practically　shook　the　cones　off　the　trees。
　
　〃Trout！　I　can't　believe　you're　here。〃　He　wrapped　Paul　in　a　bear　hug。　〃How　good　to　see　you；　my　friend！〃　He　pounded　Trout　on　the　back。
　
　〃Go…od　to　see　you…oo；　Vlad；〃　Trout　replied；　in　between　the　breath…stealing　thumps。　〃Thi…is　is　my　wife；　Gamay…may。　Gamay；　meet　Professor　Vladimir　Orlov。〃
　
　Orlov　extended　a　ham…sized　hand　and　attempted　to　click　the　heels　of　his　rubber　sandals　together。　〃A　pleasure　to　meet　you；　Gamay。　Your　husband　often　talked　about　his　brilliant　and　lovely　wife　as　we　drank　beer　at　the　Captain　Kidd。〃
　〃No　less　than　he　talked　about　you；　Professor　Orlov。　Paul　has　often　said　how　much　he　enjoyed　your　time　together　at　Woods　Hole。〃
　〃We　have　many　fond　memories；　your　husband　and　I。〃　He　turned　to　Paul。　〃She　is　as　beautiful　and　charming　as　I　imagined。　You　are　a　lucky　man。〃
　〃Thank　you。　And　you　will　be　pleased　to　know　that　your　barstool　awaits　your　return。〃
　〃Then　it　is　only　a　question　of　when。　Tell　me　how　things　are　at　the　Oceanographic？〃
　〃I　was　there　only　a　few　days　ago。　I　try　to　get　back　home　in　between　NUMA　assignments。　Woods　Hole　hasn't　changed　since　the　year　you　spent　there。〃
　〃I　envy　you。　As　a　pauper　nation；　Russia　is　stingy　with　money　for　pure　scientific　research。　Even　a　well…thought…of　institution　such　as　Rostov　State　University　must　beg　for　funding。　We're　fortunate　that　the　government　allows　the　university　to　use　this　place　as　a　fieldwork　center。〃　Gamay　looked　around　at　the　rustic　cottages　and　the　water　sparkling　through　the　trees。　〃It's　wonderful！　Reminds　me　of　the　old　cottage　colonies　on　the　Great　Lakes　where　I　grew　up。〃
　〃The　Soviet　navy　used　it　as　a　getaway　for　middle…level　officers　and　their　wives。　There's　a　tennis　court；　but　the　macadam　looks　like　the　face　of　the　moon。　We've　brought　in　students　and　they　have　done　a　good　job　fixing　up　the　chalets。　It's　perfect　for　seminars　or　retreats　like　this　one　where　we　academics　simply　e　to　think。〃　He　grabbed　the　duffel　bags。　〃e；　I'll　show　you　where　you're　staying。〃　Orlov　led　the　way　along　a　soft　pine…needle　path　to　a　chalet　that　gleamed　with　new　green…and…white　trim。　He　climbed　onto　the　porch；　dropped　the　bags　and　held　the　door　open　for　the　Trouts。　The　one…room　cottage　had　up…and…down　bunks　for　four　people；　a　rough…hewn　table　in　the　middle；　a　sink　with　a　pump　and　a　gas　camp　stove　on　the　other　side。　Orlov　went　to　the　sink　and　pumped　the　handle。
　
　〃The　water　is　pure　and　cold。　Be　sure　to　save　some　in　this　coffee　can　to　prime　the　pump。　There's　a　shower　outside。　The　WC　is　just　behind　the　house。　It's　a　bit　primitive；　I'm　afraid。〃
　
　Gamay　looked　around　the　room。　〃Looks　quite　cozy　to　me。〃
　
　Paul　said；　〃We　invited　ourselves；　Professor。　We　should　be　grateful　we're　not　sleeping　in　a　tent。〃
　〃Nonsense！　I'll　have　no　more　such　talk；　You'll　probably　want　to　unpack　and　get　into　something　more　fortable；〃　The　professor　was　wearing　baggy　black　shorts　and　a　red　tank　top。　〃As　you　see；　we're　very　informal；　When　you're　ready；　follow　the　path　back　to　the　main　clearing。　I'll　be　waiting　with　some　refreshment。〃
　
　After　Orlov　left；　they　filled　the　sink　and　washed　up。　Gamay　traded　her　stylish　cotton　slacks　and　sweater　for　blue　shorts　and　a　T…shirt　from　the　Scripps　Oceanographic　Institute；　where　she'd　first　met　Paul；　who　was　studying　there；　Paul　was　wearing　an　L。L。　Bean　nonwrinkle　navy　blazer　and　tan　slacks　and　one　of　the　wildly　colored　bow　ties　he　favored。　He　put　on　new　tan　shorts；　navy　polo　shirt　and　Teva　sandals；　Then　they　strolled　back　through　the　pines　to　the　main　clearing。
　
　Orlov　sat　at　a　picnic　table　in　the　shade　of　an　arbor。　He　was　talking　to　a　middle…aged　couple　he　introduced　as　Natasha　and　Leo　Arbikov；　both　physicists。　They　spoke　little　English　but　municated　with　sunny　smiles。　Orlov　said　that　there　were　a　number　of　other　academicians　and　students　from　various　fields　scattered　about　in　the　woods　working　on　experiments　or　simply　reading。　From　an　oversized　cooler；　he　produced　plastic　containers　of　fresh　fruit；　caviar；　smoked　fish；　cold　borscht；　a　jug　of　water　and　a　bottle　of　vodka。　The　Trouts　sampled　the　food；　but　drank　water；　putting　off　the　hard　stuff　until　later。　Orlov　had　no　such　hesitation；　drinking　his　vodka　with　apparently　little　effect。
　
　〃It　helps　my　concentration；〃　he　said　with　good　cheer；　washing　down　a　mouthful　of　caviar。　He　gave　Trout　another　teeth…rattling　pound　on　the　back。　〃This　is　so　incredible　to　see　you；　my　friend；　I'm　glad　you　called　to　say　you　would　be　in　the　neighborhood。〃
　〃It's　wonderful　to　see　you　again；　Vlad；　although　it　was　a　little　difficult　getting　through　to　you。〃
　〃We're　connected　to　the　outside　by　a　single　telephone。　That's　the　beauty　of　this　place。　It's　the　Lost　World。　Only　we　are　the　dinosaurs。〃　He　roared　with　laughter　at　his　own　joke。　〃We　are　paid　practically　nothing；　but　we　can　pursue　our　work　with　little　in　the　way　of　expenses。〃　He　lifted　the　bottle；　smacked　his　lips　and　poured　himself　another　two　fingers　of　vodka。　〃Enough　about　me。　Tell　me　what　brought　you　to　the　Black　Sea。〃
　〃You've　heard　of　the　NUMA　research　vessel；　Argo？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　I've　been　on　her；　in　fact。　A　few　years　ago。　She's　a　wonderful　ship。　I　would　expect　nothing　less　from　NUMA。〃
　
　Paul　nodded　in　agreement。　〃Garnay　and　I　are　doing　some　research　in　connection　with　the　Argo's　most　recent　survey。　I　remembered　you　were　at　the　university　and　thought　I'd　give　you　a　call　to　let　you　know　we　were　in　the　neighborhood。〃
　
　Austin　had　asked　the　Trouts　to　look　into　Ataman　Indus…　tries　while　he　and　Zavala　checked　out　the　submarine　base。　Ataman's　headquarters　were　in　the　port　city　of　Novorossiysk；　on　the　northeast　er　of　the　Black　Sea。　Trout　immediately　thought　of　Orlov；　who　had　been　a　visiting　professor　at　the　Woods　Hole　Oceanographic　Institution；　because　he　remembered　that　the　professor　taught　at　the　university　in　Rostov　near　Novorossiysk。　When　he'd　called　Orlov；　the　professor　said　he　would　never　forgive　Paul　if　he　and　Gamay　didn't　e　to　visit　him。
　
　〃You　had　no　problem　getting　here？〃　the　professor　inquired。
　
　〃Not　at　all。　We　were　lucky　to　catch　a　mercial　flight　to　Novorossiysk　on　short　notice。　The　university　arranged　for　a　cab　to　pick　us　up　at