cc.fireice-第38部分

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　〃Tell　them　about　the　ship　sounds　we　heard　before　that；〃　one　of　the　submariners　said。
　
　〃Sorry；　I　forgot　about　that。　It　was　a　while　before　we　surfaced。　The　bunk　room　was　as　quiet　as　a　grave。　Some　of　the　guys　in　the　bunks　said　they　could　hear　the　sound　of　ship　engines　through　the　bulkheads。　We　all　put　our　ears　up　to　the　hull　and　listened。　It　was　true。〃
　〃You　were　in　an　area　of　heavy　ship　traffic？〃
　〃That's　what　we　figured。　Eventually；　the　noise　died　out。　Several　hours　later；　we　came　up　next　to　a　surface　ship。　It　must　have　been　waiting　for　us。　They　hustled　us　onto　the　ship　and　into　another　bunk　room。　That　was　our　home　sweet　home　for　three　days。〃
　〃They　kept　you　there　all　that　time？〃　Gunn　said。
　
　〃Hell；　no！　Early　the　next　morning；　we　were　assembled　on　the　deck。　Guys　with　guns　kept　us　covered；　and　the　big　sub　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Pulaski　was　there。　He　gave　us　that　creepy　smile　of　his。　'Good　morning；　gentlemen；'　〃　Kreisman　imitated　Pulaski's　accent。　〃　'In　return　for　this　delightful　cruise；　we　are　going　to　ask　that　you　do　a　little　job　for　us。'　He　said　we　would　be　salvaging　material　from　an　old　ship。　Pulaski　and　another　thug　were　going　with　us。　So　we　piled　into　the　NR…1　alongside　the　ship；　which　was　acting　as　our　tender；　and　down　we　went。〃
　〃How　deep？〃
　〃Four　hundred　feet　plus。　No　big　deal　for　the　NR…1。　We　noticed　the　water　buoyancy　was　different。　We　needed　less　ballast　to　bring　us　down。　The　sea　bottom　was　mud　for　the　most　part；　sloping　before　it　abruptly　dropped　off　into　the　deep。　The　wreck　sat　on　the　bank　of　an　underwater　canyon　or　valley　that　ran　at　right　angles　to　the　cliff　face。〃
　〃Was　there　a　name　on　the　ship's　hull？〃
　〃None　that　we　could　see。　The　vessel　was　covered　with　seaweed　and　barnacles。　The　bow　was　more　up…and…down　than　raked；　like　those　pictures　you　see　of　the　Titanic。〃　He　used　his　hand　to　demonstrate。
　
　〃What　was　its　position　on　the　bottom？〃
　〃The　ship　sat　on　the　slope；　leaning　over　at　a　sharp　angle。　It　looked　as　if　a　good　shove　would　tip　it　over。　We　saw　a　big　hole　in　the　starboard　side。〃
　〃Could　you　see　inside　the　hole？〃
　〃It　was　filled　in　with　rubble。　We　only　stayed　there　a　minute。　They　were　more　interested　in　the　other　side。　They　had　fitted　out　the　manipulator　arm　with　a　cutting　torch。　We　touched　down　on　the　slanting　deck。　It　was　pretty　dicey　putting　the　sub　down　at　an　angle。　We　had　the　feeling　the　ship　could　roll　over　at　any　time。　Then　they　told　us　to　cut　a　hole　in　the　superstructure。〃
　〃Not　in　the　hold？〃　Austin　said　with　surprise。　〃That's　where　the　cargo　would　be。〃
　〃You'd　think　so；　but　we　weren't　in　a　position　to　argue。　We　made　an　opening　around　ten　by　ten　feet。　It　wasn't　too　hard　…　the　metal　was　old　and　rusted。　We　had　to　be　careful；　though。　It　was　like　a　surgical　operation。　One　nudge　and　the　ship　would　drop　off　into　the　deep；　we　were　all　aware　of　that。　We　could　see　the　old　bunks　and　mattresses。　Pulaski　and　his　buddy　got　real　agitated。　They　started　to　jabber　over　some　diagrams　of　the　wreck　that　they　had　with　them。〃
　〃In　Russian。〃
　〃Sounded　like　it。　Apparently；　they'd　had　us　cut　through　the　wrong　spot。　We　tried　two　more　times　before　they　found　what　they　wanted。　It　was　a　fairly　big　cabin　filled　with　metal　boxes　the　size　of　those　old　steamer　trunks　you　see　in　antique　shops。〃
　〃How　many　boxes？〃
　〃About　a　dozen；　jumbled　every　which　way。　Pulaski　told　us　to　grab　them　with　the　NR…1's　manipulator　arm。　We　had　a　tough　time　moving　them。　They　were　obviously　heavy　and　strained　the　manipulator　to　capacity。　We　pulled　the　boxes　to　the　opening　and　called　the　surface　ship　and　told　them　to　lower　some　lines　with　hooks　on　the　ends　of　them。　We　attached　the　lines；　stood　off　and　let　the　ship　winch　the　stuff　up　with　its　superior　lifting　power。〃
　
　Austin；　who　had　been　trained　in　deepwater　salvage；　nodded。　〃Exactly　the　way　I　would　have　handled　it。〃
　〃Captain　Logan's　idea。〃　Kreisman　smirked　with　embarrassment。　〃We　were　like　the　British　soldiers　in　that　movie；　Bridge　on　the　River　Kwai。　We　really　got　into　it。　Professional　pride；　I　guess。〃
　〃Don't　feel　bad。　They　probably　would　have　killed　you　if　you　hadn't　done　the　job。〃
　〃That's　what　the　captain　said。　We　worked　round…the…clock　shifts。　There　were　a　few　of　the　hitches　you'd　expect　with　a　job　that　plicated；　but　we　got　all　the　stuff　they　wanted　off　the　ship。〃
　〃Did　you　see　what　was　in　the　steamer　trunks？〃
　〃That　was　a　funny　thing。　They　shoved　us　around　the　corner；　but　we　could　hear　them　prying　the　boxes　open　with　a　crowbar。　They　sounded　pretty　excited。　Then　there　was　this　silence；　and　next　we　heard　them　yelling。　It　sounded　like　an　argument。　Then　Pulaski　appeared　and　started　shouting　at　us　in　Russian；　like　whatever　happened　was　our　fault。　He　looked　real　angry；　but　I　think　he　was　a　little　scared。〃　Kreisman　glanced　around　the　room　and　got　nods　of　agreement　from　the　other　crewmen。
　
　〃No　indication　what　the　dustup　was　all　about？〃
　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃They　put　us　below；　and　when　they　brought　us　on　deck　again　it　was　night。　The　monster　sub　was　back。　There　was　a　ship　nearby；　too。　We　couldn't　see　in　the　dark；　but　it　sounded　like　a　big　one。　They　loaded　us　aboard　the　sub；　except　for　the　captain　and　pilot…same　first…class　acmodations。　We　traveled　underwater；　a　shorter　time　than　before。　When　we　were　allowed　out；　we　were　in　a　place　as　big　as　an　airplane　hangar。〃
　〃That　would　be　the　sub　pen。　What　happened　to　the　NR…1？〃
　〃We　don't　know。　It　was　still　tied　up　alongside　the　salvage　vessel　when　we　left。　The　captain　and　pilot　are　okay；　I　hope；〃　he　said　with　consternation。　〃Why　would　they　keep　us　prisoner　and　let　them　go？〃
　〃They　may　have　further　work　for　the　NR…1　or　simply　want　hostages。　What　happened　next？〃
　〃They　put　us　in　yet　another　bunk　room。　A　real　dump。　We　were　there　a　couple　of　days。　Bored　as　hell。　The　only　excitement　was　what　sounded　like　a　big　explosion　from　somewhere　below。〃
　〃They　were　sealing　the　entrance　to　the　sub　pen。〃
　〃Why　would　they　do　that？〃
　〃The　base　had　been　discovered；　and　they　wanted　to　make　sure　no　one　would　find　the　evidence。　The　big　sub　used　in　the　hijack　had　served　its　purpose。　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　they　planned　to　plug　the　surface　entrance　later。　Maybe　with　you　inside。　What　was　the　guard　situation？〃
　〃Same　bunch　who　kept　an　eye　on　us　on　the　salvage　ship。　Military　types　with　automatic　weapons。　They　gave　us　black　bread　and　water；　and　locked　us　in。　Next　thing　we　know；　these　guys　with　the　funny　hats　and　the　baggy　pants　showed　up。　The　first　guards　were　Girl　Scouts　pared　to　this　gang。　They　beat　up　a　couple　of　the　guys　just　for　chuckles；　dragged　us　outside　and　herded　us　into　that　big　field。　You　know　the　rest。〃
　
　Austin　looked　around　the　room。　〃Any　questions？〃
　〃Did　you　get　a　glimpse　of　your　GPS　position　when　you　were　on　the　NR…1？〃　Gunn　asked。
　
　〃They　kept　us　away　from　the　positioning　gauges；　then　turned　them　off　later　so　we　couldn't　see。〃
　〃Damn　shame；〃　Gunn　said。
　
　Laughter　rippled　around　the　room。
　
　〃Are　we　missing　a　joke？〃　Gunn　said。
　
　A　slim　blond…haired　crewman　in　his　midtwenties　stood　and　identified　himself　as　Seaman　Ted　McCormack。　He　passed　a　sheet　of　paper　toward　the　table。　〃These　are　the　GPS　coordinates　for　the　wreck。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　sure？〃　Gunn　said；　reading　the　figures。
　
　McCormack　held　out　his　arm　and　displayed　what　looked　like　an　overgrown　digital　wristwatch。　〃My　wife　gave　this　to　me。　We　got　married　just　before　I　shipped　out。　She's　got　a　chart　back　home　so　when　I　called　her　she　could　mark　exactly　where　I　was。〃
　〃We　used　to　kid　Mac　about　being　on　a　short　leash；〃　Kreisman　said。　〃Not　anymore。〃
　〃When　we　were　hijacked；　I　slid　this　thing　up　my　arm　and　kept　it　covered　under　my　sleeve；〃　McCormack　said。　〃They　never　frisked　us。　Figured　we　were　harmless；　I　guess。〃
　
　The　ProTek　GPS　watch　was　a　miracle　of　miniaturization；　said　by　its　manufacturer　to　be　the　world's　smallest　GPS　device。　It　could　give　the　wearer　his　position　anywhere　on　the　planet　within　a　few　yards。
　
　Austin　grinned。　〃Let's　hear　it　for　love。〃　He　looked　around　the　room。　〃Now；　to　quote　the　immortal　words　of　Porky　Pig；　'That's　all；　folks。'　Thanks　for　your　help。　And　bon　voyage。〃
　
　The　NR…1　crew　rose　to　their　feet　as　one　and　stampeded　out　of　the　conference　room　like　thirsty　steers　who'd　smelled　water。　Austin　turned　to　the　NUMA　team。
　
　Paul　flipped　open　his　laptop　puter　and　connected　it　to　the　modem　that　would　allow　files　to　be　projected　on　a　large　screen　at　one　end　of　the　room。　Gamay　stood　next　to　the　projection　screen　with　a　laser　pointer。　Paul　tapped　a　few　keys；　and　a　map　of　the　kidney…shaped　Black　Sea　and　the　surrounding　land　appeared。
　
　〃Wele　to　the　Black　Sea；　one　of　the　most　fascinating　bodies　of　water　in　the　world；〃　Gamay　said；　outlining　the　shores　with　the　bright　red　dot。　〃It's　roughly　six　hundred　thirty　miles　from　east　to　west　and　three　hundred　thirty　from　north　to　south。　It's　only　one　hundred　forty…four　miles　here　at　the　'waist；'　where　the　Crimea　sticks　out。　Despite　its　relatively　small　size；　it's　got　a　big　bad　reputation。　The　Greeks　called　it　Axenos；　which　means　'inhospitable。'　The　medieval　Turks　were　less　diplomatic。　They　named　it　Karadenez。　The　'Sea　of　Death。'　〃
　〃Catchy；〃　Zavala　said。　〃It　has　a　certain　poetic　quality。〃
　〃I　can　definitely　see　the　chamber　of　merce　using　that　in　a　New　York　Times　ad；〃　Austin　agreed。
　
　Gamay　rolled　her　eyes。　〃Are　you　two　ever　serious？〃
　〃We　try　not　to　be；〃　Austin　said。　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；　teacher。　Please　go　on。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Despite　the　bad　press；　the　Black　Sea　gets　a　lot　of　visitors。　Jason　came　this　way　in　the　original　Argo　to　look　for　the　Golden　Fleece。　The　sea　has　been　an　important　trade　route　and　fishing　ground　for　thousands　of　years。　During　the　Ice　Age；　it　was　a　big　freshwater　lake。　Then　around　6000　B。C。；　a　natural　land　dam　broke　and　the　waters　of　the　Mediterranean　burst　through。　The　sea　level　rose　hundreds　of　feet。〃
　
　〃Noah's　flood；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃Some　people　think　so。　The　people　who　lived　around　the　lake　fled　for　their　lives。〃　Gamay　smiled。　〃I　can't　say　whether　they　did　it　on　an　ark。　The　salt　water　effectively　smothered　the　lake。　River　nutrients　pouring　into　the　sea　have　only　made　the　situation　worse。〃　She　signaled　to　Paul；　who　projected　a　profile　of　the　sea　onto　the　screen。
　
　〃This　gives　you　an　idea　of　the　inc