cc.fireice-第45部分

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ters　to　see　if　anyone　there　has　heard　from　the　ship？〃
　〃Yes。　They　said　the　Sea　Hunter　called　in　yesterday；　saying　they　had　found　some　significant　Bronze　Age　relics　and　were　heading　into　port。〃
　〃Hold　on；　Captain；〃　Austin　said。　He　hailed　the　pilot　over　the　inter。　〃How　far　can　we　fly　on　our　current　fuel　supply？〃
　〃We're　corning　up　on　the　Turkish　mainland　now。　We're　carrying　a　light　load；　so　we　can　go　another　forty…five　minutes　or　so　before　we　drop　out　of　the　sky。　Planning　a　side　trip？〃
　〃Maybe。〃　Austin　looked　over　at　Rudi　Gunn；　who　had　been　listening　to　the　exchange　with　Captain　Atwood。　Gunn　nodded　slightly；　like　someone　bidding　at　an　auction。　Do　what　has　to　be　done。　Austin　got　back　to　Captain　Atwood　and　said　they　would　try　to　find　the　Sea　Hunter。　Then　he　relayed　the　ship's　last　known　position　to　the　pilot。　The　chopper　banked　and　headed　off　at　a　tangent。
　
　Zavala　sat　up　and　his　eyes　snapped　open。　He　had　been　plugged　into　a　Walkman；　pletely　absorbed　in　a　Latin　American　CD。　Zavala　was　an　experienced　pilot　who　flew　by　the　seat　of　his　pants　like　an　old　barnstormer。　Sensing　the　course　change；　he　removed　his　earphones　and　peered　out　the　window；　a　quizzical　expression　on　his　face。
　
　〃We're　making　a　detour；〃　Austin　said；　explaining　the　situation。　Then　he　called　the　Argo　and　asked　the　captain　to　advise　the　Trouts　of　the　change　in　plan。　Paul　and　Gamay　had　stayed　aboard　the　ship　to　map　out　the　sea　bottom　in　the　area　of　the　sunken　cargo　vessel　and　planned　to　return　to　port　with　the　ship　in　a　few　days。
　
　Austin　closed　his　eyes　and　tried　to　picture　the　Sea　Hunter　as　he　remembered　her　from　two　years　before；　when　he　had　sailed　on　the　research　vessel　during　a　survey　in　the　Caribbean。　He　visualized　the　vessel　as　if　he　were　looking　at　a　puter…rendered　image。　It　was　a　relatively　easy　task　because　it　was　practically　identical　to　the　Argo；　having　been　built　at　the　same　shipyard　in　Bath；　Maine。　The　two…hundred…foot…long　hull　was　painted　the　familiar　turquoise　hue；　like　all　NUMA　research　vessels。　An　A…frame　hung　over　the　stem；　a　hydraulic　crane　towered　over　the　raised　deck　behind　the　I　bridge　and　there　was　a　smaller　boom　on　the　starboard　side。
　
　A　single　tapering　…funnel　stuck　out　through　the　roof　of　the　cream…colored　bridge　superstructure　and　a　tall　radio　mast　rose　like　a　flagpole　from　the　bow。　His　mental　camera　floated　from　the　aft　deck　into　the　ship；　through　the　winch…operation　station；　the　main　lab；　library　and　mess　hall。　Below　this　deck　would　be　scientific　stores；　the　lower　lab　and　crew　and　scientists'　acmodations。　The　ship　normally　traveled　with　a　crew　of　twelve　and　room　for　a　dozen　scientists。　In　the　wheelhouse；　he　could　picture　the　Hunter's　good…natured　skipper；　Captain　Lloyd　Brewer；　a　highly　petent　sailor…scientist　who　would　not　have　ignored　a　call　from　another　NUMA　vessel。
　
　The　pilot　flew　a　dead…reckoning　course；　following　a　line　between　the　ship's　last…known　position　and　her　destination。　Austin　took　a　post　on　one　side　of　the　helicopter；　and　Zavala　pressed　his　nose　against　a　window　on　the　other。　Gunn　went　up　to　the　cockpit　to　scan　the　sea　ahead。　They　saw　fishing　boats；　mercial　vessels　and　cruise　ships。　Sightings　thinned　as　they　moved　away　from　the　more　heavily　traveled　traffic　lanes。
　
　Austin　checked　his　watch　and　called　the　pilot　on　the　inter。　〃How　are　we　doing？〃
　〃We'll　have　to　turn　back　pretty　soon。〃
　〃Can　you　give　us　five　more　minutes？〃　Austin　pleaded。
　
　A　pause。　〃I'll　give　you　ten；　but　one　second　more　and　we　learn　to　walk　on　water。〃
　
　Austin　asked　the　pilot　to　do　his　best　and　squinted　into　the　glare；　thinking　about　the　line　from　the　old　sailors'　prayer：　Oh　Lord；　Thy　sea　is　so　great　and　my　boat　so　small。　Zavala's　voice　broke　into　his　reverie。　〃Kurt。　Check　this　out　at　two　o'clock。〃
　
　Austin　shifted　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　cabin　and　followed　Zavala's　finger　with　his　eyes。　A　large；　dark　object　was　silhouetted　against　the　sea's　surface　a　couple　of　miles　away。　The　pilot　had　picked　up　Zavala's　alert　and　pointed　the　chopper's　sharp　nose　at　the　object。　Soon　the　full　light　of　the　sun　fell　upon　a　blue…green　hull　and　the　letters　NUMA　painted　in　black　amidships。
　
　〃It's　the　Sea　Hunter；〃　Austin　said；　recognizing　the　ship's　features。
　
　〃I　don't　see　a　wake；〃　Gunn　observed　from　the　cockpit。　〃She　seems　to　be　dead　in　the　water。〃
　
　The　helicopter　angled　down　until　the　water　was　a　sparkling　blur。　They　soared　over　the　ship's　mast；　then　wheeled　around　and　hovered。　Upturned　faces　and　hand　waves　would　have　greeted　a　normal　flyover。　Nothing　stirred；　except　for　the　desultory　flutter　of　the　ship's　flags。　The　pilot　moved　the　helicopter　forward　until　it　was　directly　over　the　ship。　He　tilted　the　aircraft　first　one　way；　then　the　other；　so　those　on　board　could　look　straight　down。　Powered　by　the　twin　turbos；　the　rotors　made　a　horrendous　racket。
　
　〃We're　making　enough　noise　up　here　to　wake　King　Neptune；〃　Gunn　said。　〃I　don't　see　one　damned　person。　No　anchors　over　the　side。　She　looks　like　she's　drifting。〃
　〃Can　you　try　them　on　the　radio？〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃I'll　give　it　a　shot。〃
　
　The　pilot　reported　no　answer　from　the　ship。　〃Wish　I　could　set　this　bird　down　for　you；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Deck　is　too　cluttered　with　junk。〃
　
　A　research　vessel　was　basically　a　floating　platform　that　allowed　scientists　to　drop　various　ocean…probing　instruments　or　submersibles　over　the　side。　Dozens　of　different　research　projects　might　be　in　progress。　The　decks　were　designed　for　flexibility；　with　cleats　and　bolt　eyes　where　equipment　could　be　fastened　down　with　cable　or　chain。　Sometimes　ship　containers　were　brought　aboard　to　use　as　extra　lab　space。　The　Argo's　deck　was　relatively　uncluttered；　allowing　use　of　the　helicopter　pad。　But　the　Sea　Hunter　had　installed　labs　on　the　space　normally　used　for　chopper　landings。
　
　Austin　scanned　the　deck　and　focused　on　a　cargo　container。　〃How　low　can　you　get　us？〃　he　said。
　
　〃Maybe　thirty　or　forty　feet。　Any　lower　and　the　rotor　might　hit　a　mast。　It　could　be　tricky。〃
　〃Does　this　aircraft　have　a　winch　hoist？〃
　〃Sure。　We　use　it　on　short　hops　for　carrying　stuff　that's　too　big　to　fit　in　the　chopper。〃
　
　Zavala　was　listening　intently　to　the　discussion。　From　long　experience　with　his　partner's　thought　processes；　Joe　knew　exactly　what　Austin　had　in　mind。　Zavala　reached　over　and　grabbed　his　rucksack　from　the　adjoining　seat。　Austin　told　the　pilot　what　they　planned　to　do；　then　he　checked　the　load　in　the　Bowen；　stuck　it　in　his　rucksack　and　slung　the　pack　over　his　shoulder。
　
　The　copilot　came　back　from　the　cockpit　and　opened　the　side　door；　bringing　a　blast　of　sea　air　into　the　cabin。　Gunn　helped　the　copilot　uncoil　cable　from　a　winch　drum　and　feed　it　through　the　doorway。　Austin　sat　in　the　doorway　with　legs　dangling。　When　the　chopper　was　as　low　as　it　was　going　to　be；　he　grabbed　onto　the　cable　and　swung　his　body　out　of　the　helicopter。　He　slid　down　the　cable；　wedged　one　foot　in　the　hook　on　the　end　and　hung　on　as　the　cable　swung　back　and　forth　like　a　twisting　pendulum；　buffeted　by　the　powerful　downdraft　from　the　rotors。
　
　From　his　perch；　the　pilot　could　not　see　Austin　and　relied　on　the　copilot；　who　was　crouched　at　the　open　door　where　he　shouted　directions。　The　chopper　inched　lower。　The　deck　whirled　under　Austin's　feet。　The　main　hydraulic　crane　took　up　a　major　portion　of　the　aft　deck；　along　with　coils　of　chain　and　rope；　orange　plastic　containers　holding　various　instruments；　cartons；　bollards　and　air　vents。
　
　Hanging　on　to　the　twisting　cable　with　one　hand；　Austin　pointed　to　the　nearest　cargo　container　and　jabbed　the　air　with　his　finger。　The　chopper　moved　several　feet　until　it　was　directly　over　the　container。　Austin　gave　a　thumbs…down　signal。　Released　from　its　drum　by　the　slow…turning　winch；　the　cable　unwound　until　the　container　was　barely　a　yard　below　Austin's　feet。　Waiting　for　the　right　moment；　he　decided　it　wasn't　going　to　e。　He　dropped　onto　the　metal　roof　and　rolled　over　a　couple　of　times　to　absorb　the　shock　and　to　avoid　being　bashed　in　the　head　by　the　hook　swinging　wildly　inches　above　his　head。
　
　The　cable　was　winched　up；　and　Austin　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　waved　to　the　faces　peering　down　at　him　to　show　he　was　all　right。　Zavala　lost　no　time　exiting　the　helicopter。　He　dropped　to　the　roof　of　the　cargo　container；　but　his　timing　was　wrong　and　he　would　have　fallen　off　if　Austin　hadn't　grabbed　his　arm　and　pulled　him　back。　Seeing　them　both　on　board；　the　pilot　headed　off。　Watching　the　aircraft　as　it　sped　toward　the　horizon；　Austin　prayed　that　the　fuel　supply　would　hold　out。
　
　As　the　chopper　receded　to　the　size　of　a　mosquito；　Austin　and　Zavala　dabbed　antiseptic　from　their　first…aid　kit　onto　hands　rubbed　raw　by　the　cable。　From　their　elevated　perch；　they　had　a　good　view　of　the　ship；　and　from　what　they　could　see　the　vessel　was　pletely　deserted。
　
　They　climbed　down　to　the　deck　and　Austin　suggested　that　they　move　forward　on　each　side　of　the　boat；　keeping　their　weapons　at　the　ready。　Austin　took　the　starboard　deck　and　Zavala　the　port。　They　advanced　cautiously；　guns　in　hand。　The　only　sound　was　the　snap　of　pennants　and　flags　in　the　warm　breeze。　They　came　out　onto　the　foredeck　at　the　same　time。
　
　Zavala's　face　wore　an　expression　of　astonishment。　〃Nothing；　Kurt。　It's　like　the　Mary　Celeste；〃　he　said；　referring　to　the　famous　old　sailing　ship　that　had　been　found　adrift　with　no　one　on　board。　〃Did　you　find　anything？〃
　
　Austin　gestured　for　Zavala　to　follow　and　led　the　way　back　along　the　starboard　deck。　He　knelt　next　to　a　dark　streak　on　the　metal　deck　between　the　railing　and　a　doorway　into　the　ship。　Austin　gingerly　touched　the　sticky　stain　and　sniffed　the　coppery　odor　on　his　finger。
　
　〃I　hope　that　isn't　what　I　think　it　is；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃If　you　said　blood；　you'd　be　right。　Someone　dragged　a　body；　maybe　more　than　one　from　the　looks　of　it；　across　the　deck　and　threw　the　corpse　overboard。　There's　more　blood　on　the　rail。〃
　
　With　a　heavy　heart；　Austin　took　the　lead　and　stepped　through　the　door　out　of　the　hot　sun　into　the　cool　interior　of　the　ship。　Moving　methodically；　he　and　Zavala　checked　out　the　mess　hall；　library　and　the　main　lab；　then　climbed　to　the　upper　lab　and　the　bridge。　The　farther　into　the　ship　they　got；　the　more　apparent　it　became　that　the　Sea　Hunter　had　been