cc.fireice-第28部分

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　〃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　the　airport；　and　here　we　are。〃　He　looked　around　at　the　bucolic　setting。　〃Let　me　get　my　bearings。　We're　between　Rostov　and　Novorossiysk？〃
　〃That's　right。　Novorossiysk　is　the　port　for　the　oil　fields　in　I　the　Caucasus。　It's　also　a　Hero　City　full　of　large　ugly　monuments　memorating　the　heroic　resistance　of　the　people　during　the　Great　Patriotic　War。〃　Orlov　turned　to　Gamay。　〃Paul　has　lauded　your　skills　as　a　marine　biologist。　What　sort　of　work　have　you　been　doing？〃
　〃Before　ing　to　the　Black　Sea；　I　was　in　the　Florida　Keys　looking　at　coral　damage　from　industrial　runoff。〃
　
　Orlov　gave　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃It　seems　that　we　Russians　are　not　the　only　environmental　barbarians。　I　am　involved　in　a　study　of　Black　Sea　pollution。　What　about　you；　Paul？〃
　〃I　was　at　Woods　Hole　doing　some　consulting　work　on　a　study　of　ocean　mining。　I　think　one　of　the　ocean　mining　concerns　I　read　about　is　in　Novorossiysk；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃
　
　Guile　was　not　one　of　Trout's　strong　suits。　He　had　a　blunt　Yankee　openness　and　felt　unfortable　skirting　the　truth；　especially　with　an　old　friend。　Trout　figured　that　if　he　threw　out　a　few　conversational　seeds；　one　of　them　would　sprout。　This　seed　fell　on　fertile　soil。
　
　〃Ocean　mining？　You　must　mean　Ataman　Industries。〃
　〃Sounds　familiar。　I'm　sure　I　read　about　it　somewhere。〃
　〃I'd　be　surprised　if　you　hadn't。　Ataman　is　huge。　They　started　as　a　land…mining　conglomerate；　but　they　saw　the　potential　under　the　sea　and　now　their　fleet　ranges　allover　the　world。〃
　〃Smart　move；　with　the　worldwide　demand　for　fuel。〃
　〃Yes；　that　is　true；　but　less　monly　known　is　that　Ataman　has　been　in　the　forefront　in　devising　ways　to　extract　methane　hydrate　from　the　sea　bottom。〃
　〃I　don't　remember　any　mention　of　that　in　the　corporate　literature。〃
　〃Ataman　tends　to　be　secretive。　Russian　capitalism　is　still　in　its　Wild　West　phase。　We　don't　have　all　the　disclosure　laws　your　country　does。　I　doubt　if　they'd　make　that　much　difference；　anyway。　With　the　thousands　employed　by　Ataman；　it's　very　difficult　to　keep　a　secret。　Ataman　has　built　an　entire　fleet　of　monstrous　ships　that　will　be　used　in　the　extraction　of　fire　ice。〃
　〃Fire　ice？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃It's　a　term　someone　came　up　with　for　methane　hydrate；　a　pound　of　methane　gas；〃　Paul　explained。　〃Pockets　of　the　stuff　are　trapped　under　the　sea　bottom　allover　the　world。　Looks　like　icy　snow；　only　it's　flammable。〃
　
　Orlov　chimed　in。　〃Everyone　knows　that　Soviet　scientists　claim　to　have　invented　everything；　from　the　electric　light…bulb　to　the　puter；　but　in　this　case　I　must　give　them　credit。　The　first　natural　deposits　were　found　in　Siberia；　where　it　was　known　as　marsh　gas。　Some　American　scientists　picked　up　on　the　work　of　our　glorious　scientists　and　discovered　hydrates　under　the　ocean。〃
　〃Off　the　South　Carolina　coast；　as　I　recall；〃　Trout　said。　〃Woods　Hole　did　some　dives　with　the　deep…water　submersible　Alvin　and　found　the　plumes　escaping　from　the　sediment　along　faults　in　the　ocean　floor。〃
　〃What　are　the　mercial　applications？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　Orlov　started　to　pour　himself　more　vodka；　thought　better　of　it　and　pushed　the　bottle　aside。　〃The　potential　is　enormous。　The　deposits　around　the　world　possibly　hold　more　energy　than　all　the　other　fossilized　fuels　bined。〃
　〃You　see　it　as　a　replacement　for　oil　and　gas；　then？〃
　〃No　less　than　Scientific　American　called　it　the　'fuel　of　the　future。'　It　could　be　worth　trillions；　which　is　why　so　many　people　are　interested　in　its　extraction。　The　technical　problems　are　formidable；　though。　The　substance　is　unstable　and　quickly　deposes　once　it　is　removed　from　conditions　of　extreme　depth　and　pressure。　But　whoever　controls　the　process　may　control　the　future　energy　supply　of　the　world。　Ataman　is　in　the　forefront　of　the　exploration　and　research；〃　Orlov　said。　His　wide　brow　wrinkled　in　a　worried　furrow。　〃Which　is　not　good。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Paul　asked。
　
　〃Ataman　is　owned　in　its　entirety　by　an　ambitious　businessman　named　Mikhail　Razov。〃
　〃He　must　be　fabulously　wealthy；〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃It　goes　beyond　riches。　Razov　is　a　plex　man。　While　he　keeps　his　business　dealings　shrouded　in　secret；　his　public　persona　looms　quite　large　in　Russia。　He　has　been　outspoken　in　his　criticism　of　the　way　things　are　being　run　in　Moscow；　and　has　gained　a　substantial　cult　following。〃
　〃A　tycoon　with　political　ambitions　is　not　unusual；　even　in　the　United　States；〃　Gamay　said。　〃We've　often　elected　rich　men　as　governors；　senators；　presidents。〃
　〃Well；　God　help　us　if　we　put　someone　like　Razov　in　power。　He's　a　nationalist　zealot　who　talks　only　of　restoring　the　good　old　days。〃
　〃I　thought　munism　was　dead。〃
　〃Oh；　it　is；　only　to　be　replaced　by　another　form　of　oligarchy。　Razov　believes　Russia　achieved　its　greatest　glories　under　the　rule　of　the　tsars：　Peter　the　Great；　Ivan　the　Terrible。　He's　not　clear　on　the　specifics；　which　is　what　frightens　many　people。　He　says　only　that　he　wants　to　see　the　spirit；　of　the　old　empire　embodied　in　the　New　Russia。〃
　〃Guys　like　him　e　and　go；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃I　hope　so；　but　this　time　I'm　not　so　sure。　He　has　a　magnetic　quality；　and　his　simplistic　message　has　struck　a　chord　in　my　poor　country。〃
　〃Is　Ataman　a　city　or　region？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　Orlov　smiled。　〃It's　a　Russian　term　for　a　Cossack　chieftain。　Razov　is　a　Cossack　by　birth；　so　I　suppose　he　fancies　himself　as　the　pany's　chief。　He　spends　most　of　his　time　on　a　magnificent　yacht。　It's　called　the　Kazachestvo。　Loosely　translated；　it　stands　for　Cossackism；　the　whole　bloody　chest…thumping　exercise。　You　should　see　it！　A　floating　palace　a　few　miles　from　here。〃　Orlov　displayed　his　gold　teeth。　〃But　enough　of　politics。　We　have　more　pleasant　things　to　talk　about。　First；　I　must　excuse　myself。　I　have　some　unavoidable　work　I　must　attend　to。　It　will　take　only　an　hour　or　two；　then　I　will　be　pletely　free。　In　the　meantime；　you　might　like　to　sun　yourself　on　the　beach。〃
　〃I'm　sure　we　can　find　something　to　do。〃
　〃Splendid。〃　He　got　up；　shook　hands　with　Trout　and　embraced　Gamay。　〃I　will　see　you　back　here　later　this　afternoon　and　we　will　talk　all　night。〃　The　middle…aged　couple　also　took　their　leave　and　the　Trouts　were　alone。　Paul　suggested　that　they　inspect　the　beach。
　
　The　deep　blue　sea　was　a　short　walk　from　the　camp。　A　lone　swimmer　was　paddling　around　about　a　hundred　feel　out。　The　beach　was　stony　and　not　conducive　to　sun　bathing；　and　the　metal　beach　chairs　were　as　hot　as　grills　to　the　touch。
　
　While　Gamay　looked　for　a　place　to　stretch　out；　Paul　walked　down　the　beach。　He　came　back　a　few　minutes　later。
　
　〃I　found　something　interesting；〃　he　said；　and　led　the　way　around　a　bend；　where　a　powerboat　was　drawn　up　on　shore。　The　white　paint　was　peeling　on　the　wooden　hull；　but　the　boat　looked　sound　enough。　The　outboard　motor　was　a　Yamaha　in　good　condition　and　there　was　gas　in　the　tank。
　
　Gamay　read　her　husband's　mind。　〃Are　you　thinking　of　taking　a　spin？〃
　
　Trout　shrugged　and　glanced　off　at　a　young　man　of　college　age　who　was　ing　out　of　the　water。　〃Let's　ask　this　guy　if　it's　okay。〃
　
　They　went　over　to　the　swimmer；　who　had　e　to　shore　and　was　toweling　himself　dry。　When　they　said　hello；　the　young　man　smiled。　〃You're　the　Americans？〃
　
　Paul　nodded　and　introduced　himself　and　Gamay。
　
　〃My　name　is　Yuri　Orlov；〃　the　Russian　said。　〃You　know　my　father。　I'm　a　student　at　the　university。〃　He　spoke　English　with　an　American　accent。
　
　They　shook　hands　all　around。　Yuri　was　tall　and　gangling；　about　twenty　years　old；　with　a　shock　of　straw…colored　hair　over　his　forehead　and　big　blue　eyes　magnified　by　horn…rimmed　glasses。
　
　〃We　were　wondering　if　it　would　be　possible　to　take　a　spin　in　the　boat；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃No　problem；〃　Yuri　said；　beaming。　〃Anything　for　friends　of　my　father。〃
　
　He　pushed　the　boat　out　to　where　the　water　was　deeper　and　gave　the　cord　a　pull。　The　motor　coughed；　but　didn't　start。　〃This　motor　has　an　attitude；〃　he　said　in　apology。　He　rubbed　his　hands　together；　then　adjusted　the　fuel　mixture　and　tried　again。　This　time；　the　motor　sputtered　and　snarled　before　smoothing　out。　The　Trouts　got　in　the　boat　and　Yuri　gave　it　a　push；　jumped　aboard　and　pointed　the　boat　out　to　sea。
　
　…15…
　AUSTIN'S　EYES　TOOK　a　few　seconds　to　adjust　to　the　dimness。　The　pungent　fragrance　of　incense　evoked　the　image　of　an　ancient　Byzantine　chapel　in　a　monastery　he　had　visited　high　on　a　hill　at　Mystra；　overlooking　the　Greek　city　of　Sparti。　Gaslight　flickered　in　brass　lanterns　of　ornate　gold　and　stained　glass　that　were　set　into　sconces　in　rough　plaster　walls　covered　with　brilliantly　painted　icons。　The　vaulted　ceiling　was　reinforced　with　thick　wooden　ribs。　A　high…backed　chair　faced　an　altar　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。
　
　They　moved　in　for　a　closer　look。　The　altar　was　draped　with　a　dark　purple　cloth　stitched　in　gold　with　the　letter　R。　On　top　of　the　altar　was　a　smoking　incense　burner。　Set　in　the　wall　above　the　altar　was　a　lamp　whose　yellow　light　illuminated　a　large　black…and…white　photograph　in　an　ornate　gold　frame。
　
　Seven　people　were　pictured　in　the　photograph。　From　the　facial　resemblance　they　shared；　the　two　adults　and　five　young　people　appeared　to　be　posing　for　a　family　portrait。　Standing　on　the　left　side　was　a　bearded　man　wearing　a　military…style　visored　cap　and　a　ceremonial　military　uniform　trimmed　with　fancy　piping。　Medals　adorned　his　chest。
　
　A　thin；　pale…faced　young　boy　in　a　sailor　suit　stood　in　front　of　the　man。　Next　to　the　boy　were　three　girls　in　their　teens　and　another　girl　slightly　younger；　all　gathered　around　a　seated　middle…aged　woman。　The　children's　features　bined　their　father's　wide　forehead　and　the　broad　face　of　their　mother。　In　the　foreground　was　a　low　column　like　those　used　for　museum　display。　Resting　on　top　of　it　was　a　magnificent　crown。
　
　The　crown　was　massive　and　obviously　not　designed　to　be　worn　for　very　long。　It　was　heavily　encrusted　with　rubies；　diamonds　and　emeralds。　Even　in　the　black…and…white　photograph；　the　gemstones　crowding　the　surface　glittered　as　if　they　were　on　fire。　A　two…headed　gold　eagle　surmounted　the　globe。
　
　〃That　little　bauble　must　be　worth　something；〃　Zavala　said。　He　leaned　closer　and　studied　the　somber　faces。　〃They