cc.fireice-第30部分

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arge；　only　to　retreat　when　Austin　showed　no　sign　of　yielding　ground。
　
　Austin　had　been　standing　with　his　hands　behind　his　back　like　a　child　hiding　cookies。　He　brought　his　left　hand　out　and　beckoned。　The　horseman's　puzzled　frown　turned　into　a　gap…toothed　grin。　He　liked　this　new　game。　He　edged　his　mount　closer；　still　wary。
　
　Austin　beckoned　again　with　more　animation。　Emboldened；　the　horseman　came　nearer。　Austin　smiled　like　Davy　Crockett　grinning　down　a　grizzly。　The　horseman　let　out　a　roar　and　goaded　his　mount　forward。
　
　Still　smiling；　Austin　waited　until　he　couldn't　miss；　then　in　a　smooth　fluid　motion　he　brought　the　Bowen　from　behind　his　back。　Holding　the　heavy　revolver　in　both　hands；　he　sighted　on　the　X　made　by　the　Cossack's　crossed　cartridge　belts。
　
　〃Here's　one　for　Mehmet；〃　he　said；　squeezing　the　trigger。　The　revolver　barked　once。　The　heavy　bullet　smashed　into　the　rider's　sternum　and　splintered　his　rib　cage；　sending　fragments　of　bone　into　his　heart。　The　Cossack　was　dead　even　before　his　hands　lost　their　grip　on　the　reins。　The　horse　continued　toward　Austin　like　a　runaway　cement　mixer；　its　eyes　rolling　in　panic。　Austin　cursed　himself　for　not　getting　down　to　business　and　firing　sooner。
　
　Spooked　by　the　human　standing　in　its　way；　and　with　no　signal　ing　from　the　slack　reins；　the　animal　veered　off。　Its　rock…hard　haunch　swung　around；　slammed　into　Austin　with　the　force　of　a　battering　ram　and　knocked　him　off　his　feet。　He　flew　through　the　air；　and　crashed　to　the　turf　with　a　teeth…　rattling　shock；　landing　on　his　left　side。　When　he　stopped　rolling；　he　tried　to　stand　but　only　made　it　up　onto　one　knee。　He　was　covered　with　dust　and　wet　on　one　side　from　horse　sweat。　Zavala　was　by　Austin's　side；　helping　him　to　his　feet。
　
　As　Austin's　blurred　vision　cleared；　he　expected　to　see　the　Cossacks　bearing　down　on　them。
　
　Instead；　the　world　seemed　frozen　in　time　and　place。　Stunned　by　their　leader's　fall；　the　horsemen　sat　in　their　saddles　like　statues　in　a　park。　The　people　on　the　field　were　equally　immobilized。　Austin　spat　out　a　mouthful　of　dirt。　Slowly　and　deliberately；　he　walked　over　to　where　his　gun　had　landed　and　picked　it　up。　He　yelled　at　the　runner　and　told　him　to　go　for　the　warehouse。　The　order　shocked　the　man　into　action。　He　started　to　run。
　
　It　was　if　a　power　switch　had　been　thrown。
　
　Seeing　their　friend　break　for　safety；　the　men　in　the　field　bolted　after　him　in　a　disorganized　mob。　Austin　and　Zavala　yelled　encouragement　and　pointed　to　the　warehouse。　With　their　leader　dead　and　their　prey　escaping；　the　Cossacks　yelled　as　one；　poured　into　the　soccer　field　and　advanced　at　a　gallop；　sabers　held　high；　toward　Austin　and　Zavala。　The　two　men　stood　there　in　awe　at　the　fearful　beauty　of　a　Cossack　charge。
　
　〃Wow！〃　Zavala　shouted　over　the　thunder　of　hooves。　〃It's　like　being　in　an　old　Western。〃
　〃Let's　hope　it　isn't　a　remake　of　Custer's　Last　Stand；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　thin　smile。
　
　Austin　brought　his　Bowen　up　and　fired。　The　lead　rider　pitched　from　his　saddle。　Zavala's　H　and　K　stuttered；　and　another　horseman　crashed　to　the　ground。　The　riders　advanced　without　slackening　their　pace；　well　aware　they　held　the　ad…　vantage　in　numbers　and　momentum。　The　guns　fired　simultaneously　and　two　more　men　flew　from　their　saddles。
　
　The　Cossacks　were　bold　but　not　suicidal。　First　one；　then　another；　leaned　out　of　his　saddle　and　hung　from　his　horse's　neck　so　he　no　longer　offered　an　easy　target。　As　Austin　and　Zavala　adjusted　to　the　new　strategy；　one　horse　came　to　a　sudden　stop；　dropped　to　the　ground　and　rolled　onto　its　side。
　
　Austin　thought　the　animal　had　stumbled。　Then　he　saw　that　the　rider　was　firing　at　them；　using　his　mount　as　a　protective　barricade。　Other　riders　followed　suit。　Those　Cossacks　still　in　their　saddles　split　up；　corning　in　from　both　sides　in　a　pincer　movement。　Austin　and　Zavala　hit　the　ground　and　dug　in。　Bullets　flew　over　their　heads　like　angry　bees。
　
　〃Automatic　weapons！〃　Zavala　yelped。　〃You　said　these　guys　carried　blunderbusses　and　pigstickers。〃
　〃How　would　I　know　they'd　stop　off　at　a　gun　show？〃
　〃What　ever　happened　to　background　checks？〃
　
　Austin's　reply　was　drowned　out　by　the　stutter　of　automatic…arms　fire。　He　and　Zavala　let　off　a　couple　of　rounds　more　for　show　than　effect；　then　pulled　back　from　the　rise　and　crawled　toward　the　warehouse。　The　Cossacks　peppered　the　ridge　with　gunfire。　Thinking　their　prey　was　dead；　they　climbed　onto　their　horses　and　took　up　the　charge　where　they　had　left　off。
　
　From　the　shelter　of　the　warehouse；　Austin　and　Zavala　aimed　through　the　windows　and　two　more　riders　toppled　from　their　mounts。　Seeing　that　their　foe　was　still　alive；　the　Cossacks　called　off　the　attack　and　galloped　to　the　center　of　the　field　to　regroup。　Taking　advantage　of　the　momentary　battle　lull；　Austin　turned　from　the　window　and　surveyed　the　men　who　had　taken　refuge。　Austin　couldn't　remember　when　he'd　seen　a　more　bedraggled…looking　bunch。　Their　tan　jumpsuits　were　wrinkled　and　begrimed；　and　their　hollow…eyed　faces　bristled　with　whiskers。　The　first　runner；　who　had　felt　the　direct　wrath　of　the　Cossack　leader；　came　over　to　speak　with　Austin。　His　uniform　was　torn　at　the　knees　and　elbows　and　covered　with　dust。　Yet　he　kept　his　chin　as　high　as　if　he　were　wearing　newly　pressed　dress　whites　on　parade。　The　young　man　gave　Austin　a　crisp　salute。　〃Ensign　Steven　Kreisman　of　the　U。S。　Navy　submarine　NR…1。〃
　
　Austin　reached　under　his　belt；　where　he　had　tucked　the　cap　Zavala　found　on　the　Russian　submarine。　〃Maybe　you　can　get　this　back　to　its　owner；〃　he　said；　handing　the　cap　over。
　
　〃It's　the　captain's。　Where　did　you　get　this？〃　Kreisman　said；　looking　at　the　cap　as　if　he　were　seeing　it　for　the　first　time。
　
　〃My　partner　found　it　in　a　Russian　sub。〃
　〃Who　are　you　guys？〃　Kreisman　said；　losing　his　aplomb。
　
　〃I'm　Kurt　Austin　and　that's　my　partner　Joe　Zavala　at　the　window。　We're　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　
　The　ensign's　jaw　dropped　down　to　his　Adam's　apple。　With　their　battle…hardened　eyes　and　smoking　guns；　the　two　who　had　rescued　him　and　his　crew　looked　more　like　mandos　than　ocean　scientists。
　
　〃I　didn't　know　NUMA　had　its　own　SWAT　team；〃　he　said　with　wonder。
　
　〃We　don't。　Are　you　okay？〃
　〃I　feel　as　if　I've　been　run　over　by　a　bulldozer；　but　other　than　that　I'm　fine；〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　neck　where　the　saber　had　whacked　him。　〃I　won't　be　wearing　a　tie　for　a　while。　This　may　sound　like　a　dumb　question；　Mr。　Austin；　but　what　are　you　and　your　friend　doing　here？〃
　〃Your　turn　first。　Last　I　heard；　your　sub　was　diving　for　relics　on　the　bottom　of　the　Aegean。〃
　
　The　young　man's　shoulders　sagged　slightly。　〃It's　a　long　story；〃　he　said；　with　weariness。
　
　〃We　don't　have　much　time。　See　if　you　can　tell　me　what　happened　in　thirty　seconds。〃
　
　Kreisman　chuckled　at　Austin's　audacity。　〃I'll　do　my　best。〃
　
　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　delivered　a　condensed　version　of　events。
　
　〃A　guest　scientist　we　had　on　board；　a　guy　named　Pulaski；　pulled　a　gun　on　us　and　hijacked　the　NR…1。　We　were　transported　on　the　back　of　a　giant　submarine。　This　whole　thing　is　so　unbelievable。〃　He　paused；　expecting　a　skeptical　reaction。　Seeing　none　in　Austin's　attentive　eyes；　he　continued。　〃They　transferred　the　crew　to　a　salvage　ship。　They　made　us　work　on　an　old　sunken　freighter。　Tricky　retrieval　stuff　using　the　manipulators。　Then　the　big　sub　brought　us　here。　They　kept　the　captain　and　pilot　with　the　NR…1。　We　were　held　prisoner　underground。　When　they　brought　us　up　today；　we　thought　we　were　going　back　to　the　NR…1。　Instead　they　herded　us　onto　that　field。　The　guards　who'd　been　watching　us　disappeared；　and　those　cowboys　with　the　fur　hats　started　trying　to　break　us　up。〃　He　rubbed　his　neck　again。　〃Who　are　those　SOBs？〃
　
　Zavala　was　signaling　to　Austin。　〃Sorry；〃　he　said。　〃Our　thirty　seconds　appears　to　be　up。〃
　
　He　went　to　the　window；　and　Zavala　handed　him　the　binoculars。　〃The　members　of　the　polo　club　are　having　an　argument；〃　he　said　lazily。
　
　Austin　peered　through　the　binoculars　at　the　Cossacks；　who　were　still　gathered　in　the　field。　Some　riders　had　dismounted　and　were　waving　their　arms　in　the　air。
　
　Lowering　the　glasses；　Austin　said；　〃They　could　be　exchanging　borscht　recipes；　but　my　guess　is　that　they're　adding　our　names　to　the　guest　list　for　a　slice…and…dice　party。〃
　
　Zavala　looked　as　if　he　had　a　stomachache。　〃You　have　a　way　with　words。　How　can　we　decline　the　invitation　without　hurting　their　feelings？〃
　
　Scratching　his　chin　in　thought；　Austin　said；　〃We've　got　a　couple　of　options。　We　can　run　for　the　beach　and　swim　out　to　sea；　hoping　our　fur…hatted　friends　won't　have　settled　their　differences。　Or　we　can　hole　up　below。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　see　the　same　problems　I　do；〃　Zavala　said。　〃If　they　catch　us　in　the　open；　we're　sitting　ducks。　If　we　go　back　down　to　the　sub　pen；　we've　only　got　dive　gear　for　two　people。〃　Austin　nodded。　〃I　suggest　that　we　go　with　a　double。　You　and　the　crew　run　for　the　beach。　I'll　stay　here；　and　if　the　riders　move　in　I'll　draw　them　into　the　sub　base；　where　they'll　be　at　a　disadvantage　on　foot。　I'll　escape　the　way　we　came。　Like　a　fish　slipping　through　a　hole　in　a　net。〃
　〃Your　chances　would　be　better　if　we　were　watching　each　other's　back。〃
　〃Someone　has　to　cover　for　the　sub　crew。　They　look　pretty　beat…up。〃
　
　Ensign　Kreisman　had　edged　closer。　〃Excuse　me　for　eavesdropping。　I　went　through　SEAL　training　when　I　joined　the　navy。　I　washed　out；　but　I　still　know　the　drill。　I　can　take　the　men　out　of　here。〃
　
　Austin　sized　up　the　determined　set　of　Kreisman's　jaw　and　decided　he　would　be　wasting　time　arguing　with　the　young　navy　man。　〃Okay；　it's　your　show。　Run　for　the　beach　and　start　swimming。　A　fishing　boat　will　pick　you　up。　We'll　stay　here　and　cover　you　as　long　as　we　can。　I'd　urge　you　to　get　going。　Joe　will　ride　shotgun　part　of　the　way。〃
　
　If　the　ensign　wondered　how　Austin　had　arranged　for　an　at…sea　pickup；　he　didn't　show　it。　He　snapped　his　arm　in　a　crisp　salute　and　rounded　up　his　rades。　Then　they　climbed　out　of　the　back　of　the　warehouse　through　a　window。　While　Zavala　escorted　the　crew　to　the　beach；　Austin　kept　watch。　The　Cossacks　still　seemed　disorganized。　He　got　on　his　hand　radio　and　called　Captain　Kemal。
　
　〃You　are　all　right？〃　the　captain　said。　〃We　heard　gun