cc.fireice-第32部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　in　through　the　airport；　so　you　know　it's　got　connections　allover　the　world。〃
　〃I　can　see　why　Ataman　would　have　its　headquarters　here；〃　Gamay　noted；　as　she　scanned　the　bustling　bay。
　
　〃I'll　show　you。〃　Yuri　kicked　the　boat's　speed　up　and　angled　the　bow　in　toward　a　wide　indentation　on　the　shore。　Six　long　concrete　piers　extended　from　land。　Several　ships　were　tied　up　at　the　wharves。　Rising　behind　the　piers　was　a　sprawling　plex　of　industrial　buildings；　gantry　cranes；　big　straddle　carriers　and　cargo　derricks。　Forklift　trucks　and　tractors　moved　along　the　piers　like　oversized　insects。
　
　〃Which　part　is　Ataman's？〃　Gamay　asked。
　
　Yuri　grinned　and　swept　his　hand　in　a　wide　arc。　〃All　of　it。〃
　
　Gamay　whistled　in　astonishment。　〃I　can't　believe　the　size　of　this　place。　It's　bigger　than　some　major　ports。〃
　〃Ataman　has　it　own　fleet　of　tugboats；　fuel　and　water　supplies　and　tanks　for　bilge　and　waste　removal；〃　Yuri　said。　〃See　those　giant　cranes　over　there？　That's　Ataman's　shipyard。　They　build　all　their　own　vessels。　That　way　they　can　control　design　and　cost。〃　He　furrowed　his　brow　and　looked　around　as　if　he　had　lost　something。　〃That's　funny；　Ataman'　s　port　is　practically　empty。〃
　
　Paul　exchanged　a　puzzled　glance　with　his　wife。　〃It　doesn't　look　empty　to　me。　Look　at　all　that　activity。　I　can　see　five　ships　of　considerable　size　pulled　up　to　the　dock。〃
　〃Those　are　Ataman's　small　ships。　I　wanted　to　show　you　their　ocean　drilling　rigs。　They　look　like　they　could　drill　through　to　the　other　side　of　the　world。　Each　one　is　like　a　city　in　itself。〃
　〃Maybe　they're　all　at　sea　working。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　he　said；　with　skepticism　in　his　voice。　〃But　I　don't　think　so。　Ataman　has　so　many　ships；　a　few　are　always　being　outfitted。　Even　with　all　those　wharves；　they　don't　have　space　to　take　care　of　their　whole　fleet　at　the　same　time。〃　He　scanned　the　shoreline　until　he　saw　what　he　was　looking　for。　〃I　can　show　you　something　almost　as　interesting。〃
　
　Yuri　kept　the　boat　on　the　same　heading　until　they　were　past　the　main　wharves；　then　he　steered　in　toward　a　smaller　pier。　A　luxurious　yacht　four　hundred　feet　long　was　tied　up　at　the　dock。　The　gleaming　white　hull　was　set　off　by　black　trim。　The　superstructure　was　unusually　sleek　and　stream…　lined。　The　hull　was　shaped　in　a　deep　V　to　cut　through　the　waves。　The　wide　rear　of　the　boat　was　concave。
　
　〃Wow！〃　Yuri　said。　〃I've　heard　of　this　baby；　but　it's　the　first　time　I've　seen　it。〃
　〃Quite　a　luxury　yacht；〃　Paul　said　with　appreciation。　〃It　belongs　to　Razov；　the　head　guy　at　Ataman。　They　say　he　lives　on　the　boat　and　runs　his　business　from　it。〃　Yuri　gave　the　tiller　a　wiggle。　Gamay　pressed　the　shutter　release　and　banged　off　several　shots。　〃Can　we　go　around　to　the　other　side？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　Yuri　replied　with　a　pull　on　the　tiller　that　brought　them　around　behind　the　boat。　Gamay　lifted　the　camera　up　to　her　eye　again　and　started　to　press　the　control　button　that　would　give　her　a　wide…angle　shot；　when　she　detected　movement　on　the　deck。　A　figure　had　e　into　view。　She　extended　the　zoom　to　its　full　200…mm　range。　〃Dear　God！〃　she　said　with　a　gasp。
　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Paul　said。
　
　She　handed　the　camera　over。　〃Take　a　look。〃
　
　Paul　peered　through　the　viewfinder　and　scanned　the　deck；　but　saw　no　one。
　
　〃Deck's　deserted　now。　What　did　you　see？〃　Gamay　didn't　spook　easily；　but　she　couldn't　suppress　a　shudder。　〃A　tall　man　with　long　black　hair　and　a　beard。　He　was　staring　straight　at　me。　It　was　one　of　the　most　frightening　faces　I've　ever　seen。〃
　
　A　Jeeplike　vehicle　was　racing　toward　the　wharf　along　an　access　road；　and　Trout's　instincts　were　aroused。　He　looked　through　the　camera　lens　as　the　vehicle　drove　onto　the　boat　dock。　Speaking　calmly；　he　said；　〃We've　got　pany。　Time　to　go。〃
　
　The　vehicle　screeched　to　a　stop。　Six　uniformed　men　carrying　weapons　jumped　out；　dashed　along　the　wharf；　raced　toward　the　gangplank　and　climbed　onto　the　ship。　Yuri　had　hesitated；　but　when　he　saw　the　armed　men；　he　twisted　the　throttle　as　far　as　it　would　go；　and　headed　out　to　the　bay。
　
　The　bow　lifted　and　the　boat　got　on　plane；　making　a　respectable　speed　despite　its　heavy　construction。　Flashes　of　small…arms　fire　could　be　seen　on　the　yacht's　fantail。　The　bullets　stitched　a　line　of　small　fountains　in　the　water。　Paul　yelled　at　the　others　to　get　down。　A　round　hit　the　boat　and　took　a　chip　out　of　the　transom；　but　seconds　later　they　were　out　of　range。　The　danger　wasn't　over；　though。　Another　vehicle　had　followed　the　first；　and　the　men　who　piled　out　headed　for　the　dock；　where　some　powerboats　were　tied　up。
　
　Yuri　pointed　the　boat　out　into　the　busy　channel；　crossing　behind　a　cargo　ship　that　was　making　its　way　out　of　the　bay。　The　small　boat　leaped　like　a　dolphin　as　it　crossed　the　wake；　but　it　rode　the　waves　out　fortably。　Yuri　brought　the　boat　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　ship；　using　the　cargo　vessel　as　a　screen。　When　they　were　safely　beyond　the　Ataman　plex；　he　peeled　the　boat　away　and　they　followed　the　coast　back　toward　the　camp。　At　one　point；　Paul　suggested　that　they　pull　into　a　creek。　They　waited　ten　minutes；　but　no　one　followed。
　
　Yuri's　face　was　flushed　with　excitement。　〃Man；　that　was　fun。　I've　heard　a　lot　of　businesses　have　their　own　armies　to　protect　them　from　the　Russian　Mafia；　but　this　is　the　first　time　I've　ever　seen　them。〃
　
　Paul　felt　guilty　about　putting　the　son　of　his　old　colleague　in　harm's　way。　He　and　Gamay　owed　Yuri　an　explanation；　but　too　much　knowledge　could　be　just　as　dangerous。　municating　with　her　eyes；　Gamay　silently　sent　a　message　saying　that　she　knew　what　to　do。
　
　〃Yuri；　we've　got　a　favor　to　ask；〃　she　said。　〃We'd　like　you　Ito　say　nothing　about　what　happened　back　there　to　anyone。〃
　〃I　guess　your　visit　to　my　father　wasn't　entirely　social；〃　Yuri　said。
　
　Gamay　nodded。　〃We've　been　asked　by　NUMA　to　check　out　Ataman　Industries。　They're　suspected　of　being　involved　in　some　shady　business。　We　had　planned　to　do　so　from　a　safe　distance。　We　never　dreamed　that　they　would　be；　well；　so　touchy。〃
　〃It　was　like　something　out　of　James　Bond！〃　Yuri　had　a　broad　smile　on　his　face。
　
　〃Except　that　this　isn't　fiction。　It's　very　real。〃
　
　Gamay's　calming　tone　got　through　to　Yuri　far　more　effectively　than　any　bombast　Paul　might　have　been　able　to　summon　up。
　
　Yuri　tried　to　look　serious。　〃I'll　be　quiet；　but　it's　going　to　be　hard　not　to　tell　my　friends。〃　He　sighed。　〃They　wouldn't　believe　me　anyhow。〃
　
　Paul　said；　〃We'll　fill　you　in　as　soon　as　we　know　what　this　is　all　about。　We　can　assure　you　that　you'll　be　one　of　the　first　to　know。　Deal？〃　He　stretched　his　hand　forward。
　
　〃It's　a　deal；〃　Yuri　said；　pleased　to　be　in　on　the　conspiracy。　They　shook　hands　all　around。
　
　The　sun　had　dropped　toward　the　horizon；　and　shadows　were　gathering　as　they　saw　the　lights　of　the　camp　glimmering　on　shore。　They　all　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　as　the　boat　drew　nearer　the　beach。　They　would　have　been　less　assured　if　they　knew　that　a　birdlike　speck　in　the　sky　high　above　them　was　a　helicopter　equipped　with　high…powered　optics。
　
　
　PROFESSOR　ORLOV　WAS　waiting　on　the　beach。　He　waded　into　the　water　and　pulled　the　boat　into　shore。　〃Hello；　my　friends。　I　see　that　you've　met　my　son；　Yuri。〃
　〃He　was　kind　enough　to　take　us　on　a　sightseeing　tour；〃　Gamay　said。　She　slipped　over　the　side　and　used　her　body　to　hide　the　hole　gouged　out　by　the　bullet。　〃We　had　a　nice　talk　about　now　and　the　future。〃
　〃The　now　is　that　you　go　back　to　your　cottage　and　get　ready　for　dinner。　The　future　is　a　wonderful　meal　and　talking　about　old　times。　Our　acmodations　are　primitive；　but　we　feed　ourselves　well。〃　He　patted　his　expansive　stomach。
　
　The　professor　ushered　the　Trouts　back　to　the　main　clearing　and　instructed　them　to　return　in　a　half　hour　with　their　appetites。　Then　he　hustled　off　with　his　son。　As　he　walked　away；　Yuri　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　winked。　The　silent　message　was　clear。　Their　secret　was　safe　with　him。
　
　Paul　and　Gamay　returned　to　their　cottage　and　showered　away　the　salt　and　sweat　from　their　nautical　adventure。　Gamay　changed　into　designer　jeans　that　emphasized　her　long　legs；　a　blazer　and　lilac　camisole。　Paul　had　not　left　his　fastidious　sartorial　habits　behind。　He　wore　loose　tan　slacks　with　a　Gatsby…style　pale　green　shirt　and　a　violet　bow　tie。
　
　Some　of　the　other　inhabitants　of　the　camp　were　assembled　at　or　around　the　picnic　table。　The　Trouts　were　greeted　by　the　middle…aged　couple　they　had　met　earlier；　a　tall　intense…looking　physicist　who　resembled　the　writer　Alexander　Solzhenitsyn　and　a　young　married　couple；　both　engineering　students　at　the　university　in　Rostov。　The　table　was　set　with　an　embroidered　tablecloth　and　colorful　china。　Japanese　lanterns　lent　a　festive　air　to　the　gathering。
　
　Orlov　broke　into　a　beaming　smile　when　he　saw　the　Trouts'　approach。　〃Ah；　my　American　guests。　You　look　lovely；　Gamay；　and　you　are　handsome　as　usual；　Paul。　A　new　bow　tie？　You　must　have　an　endless　supply　of　cravats。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　my　addiction　is　starting　to　get　expensive。　You　don't　know　anyone　who　makes　cheap　throwaway　bow　ties；　do　you？〃
　
　The　professor　roared　with　laughter　and　translated　for　the　others。　Then　he　directed　the　Trouts　to　the　seating　that　had　been　saved　for　them；　rubbed　his　hands　in　anticipation；　and　went　into　his　cottage　to　start　the　meal　moving。　Dinner　was　salmon…filled　pirogi；　basically　Russian　turnovers；　served　with　rice　and　a　clear　borscht。　The　professor　also　had　a　case　of　the　famous　Russian　champagne　that　was　made　in　nearby　Abrau…Dyurso。　Even　without　vodka　and　a　mon　language；　dinner　was　loud　and　friendly　and　extended　late　into　the　evening。　It　was　nearly　midnight　when　the　Trouts　pushed　themselves　away　from　the　table　and　begged　to　be　allowed　to　go　back　to　their　cottage。
　
　〃The　party　is　just　starting！〃　Orlov　bellowed。　His　face　was　red　from　alcohol　and　sweaty　after　serenading　the　other　diners　with　an　energetic　rendition　of　a　bawdy　Russian　folk　song。
　
　〃Please　don't　stop　on　our　account；〃　Paul　said。　〃We've　had　a　long　day；　and　it's　starting　to　catch　up　with　us。〃
　〃Of　course；　you　must　be　very　tired。　I've　been　a　poor　host；　making　you　sit　here　and　listen　to　my　attempts　to　sing。〃
　
　Paul　patted　his　stomach。　〃You've　been　a　great　host。　But　I'm　a　little　older　than　I　was　when　we　used　to　drink　the　night　away　at　the　Ca