cc.fireice-第35部分

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　〃I　talked　to　one　of　them。　The　sub　was　hijacked　by　someone　posing　as　a　scientist；　transported　on　the　back　of　that　submarine　and　made　to　work　salvaging　cargo　from　an　old　freighter。　The　fact　that　they're　still　holding　the　captain　and　pilot　indicates　that　they　have　more　work　planned　for　the　NR…l。〃　Austin　rapped　the　stone　floor　with　his　heel。　〃Maybe　you　can　look　into　the　ownership　of　this　place。〃
　〃I　already　have。　The　property　is　still　owned　by　the　Russian　government。　About　two　years　ago；　it　was　leased　to　a　private　corporation。　They　said　they　wanted　to　establish　a　fish…processing　plant　here。〃
　〃From　what　I've　seen；　the　leaseholder　was　more　interested　in　what　was　under　the　ground　than　on　top　of　it。　Any　leads　on　the　corporation？〃
　〃Yes。　We　got　a　break　there。　It　was　a　straw　for　Ataman。〃
　
　Austin　nodded。　〃Why　does　that　not　surprise　me？　I　should　get　back　above。　Joe　will　wonder　what　happened　to　us。〃
　
　They　followed　the　network　of　corridors　and　stairs　that　took　them　back　to　the　surface。　It　was　a　relief　to　break　out　into　the　sunshine　and　fresh　air。　To　Austin's　surprise；　the　soccer　field　was　clear　of　carnage。
　
　Petrov　sensed　the　question　on　Austin's　lips。　〃Before　we　went　below；　I　ordered　my　men　to　drag　the　dead　into　the　woods　and　bury　them。〃
　〃That　was　considerate　of　you。〃
　〃There　was　nothing　considerate　about　it。　I　wanted　nothing　left　that　could　be　seen　from　the　air。〃　They　walked　across　the　field　toward　the　downed　helicopter。　〃I've　taken　care　of　the　dead；〃　he　said；　glancing　toward　the　helicopter。　〃I　will　leave　it　up　to　you　to　deal　with　the　living。〃
　
　
　IT　WAS　A　wonder　that　the　chopper　had　been　able　to　land　as　softly　as　it　had。　The　Cossacks　had　shot　high；　and　the　upper　cockpit　and　engine　housing　were　riddled　with　bullet　holes。　Kaela　sat　on　the　ground　nearby　with　her　legs　crossed；　writing　in　a　shorthand　notebook。　Austin　put　on　his　most　winning　smile。　Kaela　felt　his　shadow　and　looked　up。
　
　〃Small　world；〃　he　said；　with　his　best　show　of　tooth　enamel。

　
　Kaela　skewered　Austin　with　a　hard　stare。　Undaunted；　Austin　plunked　onto　the　ground　beside　her。　〃Nice　of　you　to　go　to　all　this　trouble　just　so　we'd　have　the　opportunity　to　reschedule　our　dinner　date。〃
　〃You're　the　one　who　didn't　show　up　back　there　in　Istanbul。〃
　〃True。　Which　is　why　I'm　glad　I　have　the　chance　to　apologize　and　see　if　can　make　it　up　to　you　over　cocktails。〃
　
　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Apologize　for　standing　me　up　or　for　stealing　Captain　Kemal？〃
　
　Kaela　was　no　pushover　for　the　Austin　charm　offensive。　This　was　going　to　be　more　plicated　than　he　thought。
　
　〃Okay。　Let's　deal　with　this　in　tiny　steps。　First；　I　apologize　for　missing　the　dinner　date。　I　was　unexpectedly　tied　up　and　couldn't　make　it。　As　for　Captain　Kemal；　you'll　have　to　admit　you　made　a　mistake　by　not　holding　him　with　some　sort　of　retainer　while　you　went　off　to　Paris。〃
　〃Please　spare　me　the　lecture。　I　never　thought　you　would　steal　him　after　you　warned　me　to　stay　away　from　this　place　because　it　was　too　dangerous　and　an　infringement　of　Russian　territory。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　admit　I　was　right　about　the　danger；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　the　wreckage　of　the　helicopter。
　
　Kaela　took　a　deep　breath　and　slowly　let　it　out。　〃I'll　grant　you　the　obvious。　But　I'll　bet　nobody　gave　you　or　your　NUMA　friend　an　invitation　to　drop　by　for　tea。〃
　〃That's　correct；　but　it　doesn't　make　it　right。〃
　〃You　sound　like　my　mother；〃　she　said　with　mock　disgust。　〃Your　apology　for　missing　dinner　is　accepted。　Luckily；　my　producers　bankrolled　enough　money　to　lease　a　helicopter；　so　I　wouldn't　have　hired　Captain　Kemal　anyhow。　You　still　owe　me；　though。〃
　
　Austin　noticed　the　twinkle　in　the　amber　eyes　and　realized　she　had　been　setting　him　up；　using　his　guilt　as　leverage。
　
　〃You're　playing　me　like　a　fish；　aren't　you？〃
　
　Kaela　threw　her　head　back　and　laughed。　〃I'm　certainly　trying　to。　You　deserve　to　be　jerked　around　after　trying　to　put　me　off　with　that　phony　shark　smile　and　the　'small　world'　routine。　Real　smooth　character！　Next　thing　you'd　be　asking　me　what　my　astrological　sign　was。　Well；　it's　Capricorn；　in　case　you're　interested。〃
　〃I　didn't　mean　to　make　it　sound　like　a　singles　bar。　My　sign　is　Pisces；　by　the　way。〃
　〃Pisces？　That's　fitting　for　a　NUMA　guy。〃　She　put　her　notebook　aside。　〃I'd　advise　you　to　stay　out　of　singles　bars。　With　that　corny　line；　you'd　go　home　alone　every　night。〃
　
　Austin　decided　he　really　liked　this　woman。　She　was　tough　and　feminine　at　the　same　time；　had　a　sharp　sense　of　humor　and　plenty　of　intelligence。　And　the　qualities　he　admired　were　gift　wrapped　in　a　lovely　package。
　
　〃Okay；　now　that　I've　snapped　up　the　hook；　I'll　let　you　reel　me　in。　But　only　to　a　point！　What　does　your　devious　little　soul　want　from　me？〃
　〃The　truth；　for　starters。　Why　are　you　here；　for　instance？　And　who　are　the　tough　guys　in　the　black　suits？　And　why　are　the　people　around　here　so　damned　unfriendly？〃
　〃Is　this　for　a　story？〃
　〃Maybe。　But　I　want　to　know　mostly　because　I　want　to　know。　Curiosity　is　the　best　tool　of　a　good　reporter。〃
　
　Austin　was　no　fan　of　mendacity；　but　he　didn't　want　to　involve　Kaela　and　her　gang　in　something　that　could　bite　them。　They　had　been　lucky　twice　so　far。　Their　third　encounter　with　the　bad　guys　could　be　a　strikeout。
　
　〃You're　not　the　only　one　who's　curious。　After　my　first　run…in　with　those　guys　on　horses；　I　wanted　to　know　more。　I　also　felt　I　had　to　do　something　for　Kemal's　cousin　Mehmet。〃
　〃Is　there　a　submarine　base　here？〃
　〃Yes。　Quite　extensive；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃
　〃I　knew　it。　I　want　to　get　inside。〃
　〃Okay　by　me；　but　you　may　have　problems　with　that　gentleman　over　there。〃　Ivan　was　making　his　way　across　the　field　from　the　woods；　where　he　had　been　inspecting　his　men's　work。
　
　〃Who　is　he？〃
　〃His　name　is　Ivan。　He's　the　boss　man。〃
　〃Military？〃
　〃Why　don't　you　ask　him　yourself？〃
　
　Kaela　grabbed　her　notebook　and　sprang　to　her　feet。　〃I　think　I　will。〃　She　strode　toward　the　Russian　and　intercepted　him。　Austin　watched　with　interest　as　she　used　her　body　language　to　send　a　tantalizing　message。　She　was　wading　in　with　a　full　feminine　court　press；　standing　first　on　one　leg；　then　the　other；　hip　out；　touching　Ivan　lightly　on　the　chest；　flashing　him　her　incredible　smile。
　
　Ivan　stood　there　with　his　arms　crossed　like　a　granite　statue；　resisting　the　full　assault。　When　she　was　done；　he　spoke　a　few　words。　Kaela's　shoulders　suddenly　squared；　she　leaned　forward　and　stuck　her　jaw　into　his　face；　then　she　wheeled　and　strode　purposefully　back　to　Austin。
　
　〃What　a　stubborn　little　man；〃　she　fumed。　〃He　said　that　the　sub　base　is　the　property　of　the　Russian　government　and　is　off…limits　to　the　public。　He　suggests　that　I　make　arrangements　with　you　to　leave　here　as　quickly　as　possible　or　suffer　the　consequences。〃　She　grinned。　〃Well；　we　can　still　run　the　story。　I've　got　film。〃
　
　She　marched　over　to　the　helicopter　wreckage　with　a　determined　step　and　talked　with　Lombardo　and　Dundee；　who　had　been　poking　around　in　the　wreckage。　Their　conversation　was　animated；　and　grew　more　so　when　he　showed　her　the　jumble　of　metal　and　plastic　that　was　what　was　left　of　the　video　camera。　Kaela　slowly　walked　back　to　Austin。
　
　〃It　looks　as　if　we'll　have　to　bum　a　ride　with　you；〃　she　said；　without　enthusiasm。
　
　Austin　saw　Joe　Zavala　making　his　way　toward　them　from　the　direction　of　the　beach；　where　he'd　been　checking　visually　and　on　the　radio　to　see　if　the　NR…1　crew　had　made　it　to　the　fishing　boat。　He　excused　himself　and　took　Zavala　aside。
　
　Zavala　said；　〃They　all　made　it　to　Kemal's　boat。〃
　〃Good　news；　but　we've　got　a　problem。　Kaela　and　her　guys　need　a　ride；　and　I　don't　want　them　anywhere　near　the　NR…1　crew。〃
　
　Zavala　cast　an　admiring　glance　toward　the　TV　reporter。　'Then　you'll　be　happy　to　know　the　Argo　was　keeping　an　eye　on　us　and　monitoring　radio　transmissions。　I　just　talked　to　Captain　Atwood。　They've　sent　a　boat　in　to　transfer　the　navy　to　the　survey　ship。　Kemal's　boat　is　free　and　clear。〃
　
　Austin　let　out　a　nasty　chuckle。　〃Would　you　send　a　message　to　the　Argo　and　ask　them　to　pick　us　up；　too？　Then　call　Captain　Kemal；　tell　him　that　we　will　be　transferring　to　the　Argo　and　ask　if　he　wouldn't　mind　taking　on　a　few　passengers　in　our　place。〃
　〃Aye；　aye；　sir；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　snappy　salute。
　
　While　Joe　was　calling　the　fishing　boat；　Austin　went　over　。to　tell　Kaela　and　her　friends　that　first…class　transportation　had　been　arranged。
　
　…18…
　THE　TRIP　FROM　Novorossiyskto　Istanbul　was　an　aviation　nightmare。　Unspecified　mechanical　problems　delayed　the　flight　on　the　ground。　The　Trouts　sat　in　the　hot　and　crowded　cabin　for　an　hour　before　being　switched　to　another　plane。　The　passengers　who　sampled　the　mystery　meat　served　for　the　in…flight　meal　paid　a　price　for　their　daring　when　the　plane　encountered　turbulence。　Adding　to　everyone's　misery；　only　one　toilet　was　operable。
　
　Paul　and　Gamay　thought　their　suffering　had　ended　after　the　white…knuckle　flight；　but　the　taxi　driver　who　picked　them　up　at　the　airport　drove　as　if　he　had　a　death　wish。　When　Paul　asked　him　to　slow　down；　he　punched　the　gas　pedal。
　
　〃I　think　something　got　lost　in　the　translation；〃　Gamay　said　over　the　squeal　of　tires。
　
　〃Must　be　my　New　England　accent；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　Gamay　said；　with　a　determined　set　to　her　jaw。　〃After　what　we've　been　through　on　this　trip；　nothing；　not　even　death；　will　stand　between　me　and　a　hot　shower；　a　Bombay　Sapphire　gin　martini　and　a　long　nap。〃
　
　The　cab　narrowly　missed　the　doorman；　who　stepped　back　like　a　matador　playing　a　bull；　and　screeched　to　a　jarring　stop　in　front　of　the　Marmara　Istanbul　Hotel　on　Taksim　Square。　They　exited　the　cab　as　if　they　were　in　a　twin　ejection　seat；　paid　off　the　smiling　cabby　and　made　their　way　across　the　spacious　lobby　to　the　check…in　desk。
　
　The　desk　clerk　was　a　dapper　man　whose　slicked…down　hair　and　razor…trimmed　mustache　made　him　resemble　Hercule　Poirot。　He　saw　the　Trouts　approach　and　flashed　a　high…wattage　smile。　〃Wele　back；　Drs。　Trout。　I　hope　you　had　a　pleasant　journey　exploring　Ephesus。〃　When　they'd　left　the　hotel　for　Novorossiysk；　the　Trouts　had　announced　with　great　fanfare　that　they　were　going　to　visit　the　ancient　ruins　on　the　coast　of　Asia　Minor。
　
　〃Thank　you；　yes；　the　Temple　of　Artem