cc.fireice-第46部分

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bridge。　The　farther　into　the　ship　they　got；　the　more　apparent　it　became　that　the　Sea　Hunter　had　been　transformed　into　a　charnel　house。　Everywhere　they　looked　they　saw　spatters　or　puddles　of　blood。　Austin's　jaw　grew　rock　hard。　He　had　known　many　of　the　crew　and　scientists　on　board。
　
　By　the　time　they　got　to　the　wheelhouse；　their　nerves　were　as　taut　as　piano　strings。　The　floor　was　littered　with　charts　and　paper　and　broken　glass　from　the　windows。　Austin　picked　up　the　radio　microphone　that　had　been　ripped　from　its　connection。　The　mike　would　have　been　of　little　use；　since　the　munications　console　was　riddled　with　bullet　holes。
　
　〃Now　we　know　why　they　didn't　answer　their　calls；〃　he　said。
　
　Zavala　murmured　softly　in　Spanish。　〃It　looks　like　the　Manson　gang　was　here。〃
　〃We'd　better　check　the　ship's　quarters；〃　Austin　said。　They　made　their　way　down　two　levels　in　the　tomblike　silence　and　worked　their　way　through　the　acmodations　for　the　crew；　officers　and　the　scientists；　finding　more　evidence　of　violence　but　no　one　alive；　finally　stopping　outside　a　door　marked　STORES。
　
　Austin　pushed　the　door　open；　slipped　his　hand　around　the　jamb　and　flicked　on　the　lights。　Cardboard　cartons　stacked　several　levels　high　were　arranged　in　a　rectangle　on　wooden　palettes　with　a　narrow　aisle　running　around　the　outside。　In　one　corner　of　the　room　was　a　service　elevator　used　to　haul　supplies　up　to　the　galley。
　
　Austin　heard　a　soft　muffled　sound；　and　his　finger　tightened　on　the　trigger。　He　signaled　to　Zavala　to　take　one　side　of　the　room　while　he　took　the　other。　Zavala　nodded　and　started　off；　moving　as　silently　as　a　ghost。　Austin　edged　along　the　other　wall；　then　peered　around　a　stack　of　canned…tomato　cartons。　The　noise　was　repeated；　louder　now；　sounding　more　animal　than　human。　Zavala　peered　around　the　far　corner；　then　they　both　stepped　into　the　clear。　Austin　put　his　finger　to　his　lips　and　pointed　toward　a　narrow　cleft　between　stacked　boxes。　A　low　moan　issued　from　the　alcove。
　
　Austin　waved　Zavala　off。　Holding　his　gun　in　front　of　him　with　both　hands；　he　stepped　forward；　and　swung　the　Bowen　around；　pointing　it　between　the　boxes。　He　let　out　a　robust　curse；　thinking　how　close　he　had　e　to　shooting　the　young　woman　who　cowered　in　the　tight　space。
　
　She　was　a　pitiful　sight。　Her　dark　curly　hair　hung　over　her　face；　her　red…rimmed　eyes　brimmed　with　tears；　her　nose　was　wet　and　runny。　She　had　crammed　herself　into　a　space　less　than　two　feet　wide；　her　legs　tight　together；　her　arms　around　her　knees。　Her　clenched　fists　were　white…knuckled。　When　she　saw　Austin；　a　toneless　ululating　sound　escaped　her　lips。
　
　〃Nunununu。〃
　
　Austin　realized　the　woman　was　repeating　the　word　〃no〃　again　and　again。　He　holstered　his　gun　and　squatted　down　so　their　faces　were　level。
　
　〃It's　okay；〃　he　said。　〃We're　from　NUMA。　Do　you　understand？〃
　

　She　stared　at　Austin　and　mouthed　the　word　NUMA。
　
　〃That's　right。　I'm　Kurt　Austin。〃　Joe　had　e　up　behind　him。　〃This　is　Joe　Zavala。　We're　from　the　Argo。　We　tried　to　call　your　ship　on　the　radio。　Can　you　tell　us　what　happened？〃
　
　She　replied　with　a　vigorous　shake　of　her　head。
　
　〃Maybe　we　should　go　on　deck　where　there's　fresh　air；〃　Zavala　suggested。　
　
　She　shook　her　head　again。　This　wasn't　going　to　be　easy。　The　woman　was　wedged　tightly　in　her　space　and　they　would　hurt　her；　and　maybe　themselves；　if　they　tried　to　pull　her　out　by　force。　She　was　in　a　state　of　shock。
　
　Austin　extended　his　hand　palm　up。　She　stared　at　it　for　a　minute；　then　reached　out　and　brushed　his　fingers　as　if　she　wanted　to　make　sure　he　was　real。　The　physical　contact　seemed　to　bring　her　back　into　the　world。
　
　〃I　was　on　this　ship　two　years　ago。　I　know　Captain　Brewer　very　well；〃　Austin　said。
　
　She　studied　his　face　for　a　moment；　and　the　flame　of　recognition　flickered　in　her　eyes。　〃I　saw　you　at　NUMA　headquarters　once。〃
　
　〃That's　possible。　What　department　did　you　work　in？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　not　with　NUMA。　My　name　is　Ian　Montague。　I　teach　at　the　University　of　Texas。　I'm　a　guest　scientist。〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　e　out；　Ian？　It　can't　be　too　fortable　in　there。〃
　
　She　made　a　face。　〃I'm　beginning　to　feel　like　a　sardine。〃
　
　The　flash　of　humor　was　a　good　sign。　Austin　helped　Ian　from　the　alcove　and　turned　her　over　to　Zavala；　who　asked　if　she　was　hurt。
　
　〃No；　thank　you。　I　can　walk　on　my　own。〃　She　took　a　few　steps　and　had　to　reach　out　for　Joe's　arm　for　support。
　
　They　climbed　up　to　the　aft　deck。　Even　the　fresh　air　and　sun　couldn't　dispel　the　black　cloud　that　hung　over　the　ship。　Ian　sat　on　a　coil　of　line；　blinking　her　eyes　in　the　sunlight。　Zavala　offered　her　a　flask　of　tequila　he　carried　in　his　pack　for　what　he　said　were　medicinal　purposes。　The　liquor　brought　color　back　to　her　cheeks；　and　signs　of　life　returned　to　the　impassive　eyes。　Austin　waited　patiently　for　her　to　speak。
　
　She　stared　out　at　the　water　in　silence。　Finally；　she　said；　〃They　came　out　of　the　sea。〃
　〃Who　did？〃
　〃The　killers。　They　came　at　dawn。　Most　people　were　in　bed。〃
　〃What　kind　of　boat　did　they　e　on？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　They　were　just。　。　。　here。　I　never　saw　a　boat。〃　Once　the　plug　was　pulled；　the　story　poured　out。　〃I　was　sleeping；　and　they　came　into　my　room　and　pulled　me　out。　They　were　dressed　in　strange　uniforms；　baggy　pants　and　boots。　They　killed　my　roommate；　shot　her　without　warning。　I　could　hear　gunfire　allover　the　ship。〃
　〃Did　they　tell　you　who　they　were？〃
　
　〃They　didn't　say　a　word。　They　just　went　about　their　business　as　if　they　were　killing　cattle　in　a　slaughterhouse。　Only　one　of　them　talked。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　him。〃
　
　She　reached　out　with　trembling　hands　and　took　another　swig　of　tequila。　〃He　was　tall；　very　tall；　and　skinny；　almost　emaciated。　He　was　pale；　as　if　he　never　saw　the　sun；　and　had　a　long　beard　and　hair　all　matted　as　if　he　never　bed　it。〃　She　wrinkled　her　nose　in　disgust。　〃He　smelled；　too；　as　if　he　hadn't　taken　a　bath　in　months。〃
　〃How　was　he　dressed？〃
　〃All　in　black；　like　some　kind　of　priest。　But　the　worst　thing　were　those　eyes。〃　She　shuddered。　〃They　were　too　big　for　his　face；　round　and　staring。　I　don't　think　he　blinked；　They　were　like　fish　eyes。　Dead　with　no　emotion　in　them。〃
　〃You　said　he　spoke　to　you。〃
　〃I　must　have　passed　out。　When　I　awoke；　I　was　lying　on　my　bunk。　He　was　bending　over　me。　His　breath　was　so　foul；　it　was　all　I　could　do　not　to　vomit。　The　ship　was　quiet。　There　was　only　that　voice；　soft　like　the　hissing　of　a　snake。　Almost　hypnotic。　He　said　he　had　killed　everyone　on　the　ship　except　me。　They　were　leaving　me　alive　to　deliver　a　message。〃　Her　body　convulsed　into　choking　sobs；　but　her　anger　helped　her　pull　herself　together　and　she　continued。　〃He　wanted　NUMA　to　know　that　this　was　revenge　for　killing　his　Guardians　and　violating　the　'sacred　precincts。'　He　said　he　wanted　Kurt　Austin。〃
　〃You're　sure　he　called　me　by　name？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　make　a　mistake　about　something　like　that。　I　said　that　you　weren't　here。　They　knew　you　were　on　the　Argo。　I　told　him　this　wasn't　the　Argo。　He　had　one　of　his　men　check。　When　he　learned　he　was　on　the　wrong　ship；　he　flew　into　a　rage。　He　said　to　tell　NUMA　and　the　U。S。　that　this　was　a　small　taste　of　the　destruction　that　was　yet　to　e。〃
　〃Is　there　anything　else？〃
　〃That's　all　I　remember。〃　She　stared　dumbly。
　
　Austin　thanked　her　and　went　over　to　where　his　pack　was　lying　on　the　deck。　He　pulled　out　his　Globalstar　phone。　Within　seconds；　he　was　talking　to　Gunn。　〃Are　you　still　in　the　air？〃
　〃Just　barely。　We're　running　on　fumes；　but　we'll　make　it。　Are　you　and　Joe　okay？〃
　〃We're　fine。〃
　
　Gunn　sensed　from　Austin's　tone　that　there　was　more　be…　hind　the　terse　reply。　〃What's　the　situation　on　the　Hunter？〃
　〃I'd　rather　not　say　over　the　phone；　but　it's　about　as　bad　as　it　can　get。〃
　
　Gunn　said；　〃Help　is　on　its　way。　I　talked　to　Sandecker；　and　he　called　his　friends　in　the　navy。　They're　grateful　for　getting　the　NR…1's　crew　back。　When　he　said　you　needed　some　assistance；　they　broke　a　cruiser　off　from　NATO　exercises　in　the　area。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　mind　an　aircraft　carrier　at　this　point；　but　a　cruiser　will　be　fine。〃
　〃The　ship　will　be　there　within　two　hours。　Anything　else　you　need？〃
　
　Austin's　eyes　hardened　and　a　razor…sharp　edge　came　into　his　voice。　〃Yeah。　I'd　like　about　five　minutes　with　a　certain　bug…eyed　freak。〃
　
　…25…
　THE　NAVY　PUT　an　armed　party　aboard　the　Sea　Hunter；　but　nothing　could　be　done　until　an　investigation　team　arrived。　Austin　needed　no　forensic　expert　to　tell　him　the　murderous　sequence　of　events　that　had　transpired　aboard　the　unsuspecting　ship。　The　attackers　had　arrived　by　sea；　silently　stolen　onto　the　vessel；　then　made　their　way　through　the　ship　and　systematically　slaughtered　everyone　on　her　except　for　the　one　witness　they　purposely　left　alive。　A　maniac　who　talked　of　revenge　had　led　the　attack。
　
　The　message　left　with　the　sole　survivor　made　it　clear　that　the　raid　was　payback：　Austin　called　NUMA　headquarters　and　asked　that　a　warning　be　issued　to　all　the　agency's　vessels；　especially　those　in　the　Mediterranean　area。　He　felt　responsible　despite　Zavala's　argument　that　no　one　could　have　anticipated　the　savage　attack　on　the　Sea　Hunter：　He　could　barely　keep　his　anger　under　control。　Zavala　recognized　the　cold；　distant　expression　on　Austin's　face；　and　he　knew　the　contest　between　Austin　and　the　killers　had　bee　intensely　personal。　If　he　hadn't　seen　what　Boris　and　his　minions　bad　done　on　the　NUMA　ship；　he　might　have　felt　sorry　for　them。
　
　The　trip　back　to　Istanbul　on　the　navy　cruiser　was　uneventful。　Austin　and　Zavala　arrived　at　their　Istanbul　hotel　in　the　wee　hours　of　the　morning。　An　overnight　FedEx　packet　from　the　States　awaited　Austin　at　the　front　desk。　He　took　it　up　to　his　room　and　smiled　as　he　read　the　note　inside　the　envelope；　〃Herewith　is　enclosed　information　on　the　Odessa　Star。　Will　forward　more　as　unearthed。　Haven't　you　forgotten　you　owe　me　something？　P。〃　Austin　called　the　hotel　concierge　and　said　a　large　tip　would　be　forthing　if　he　could　dig　up　a　recipe　for　imam　bayidi　and　forward　it　to　Perlmutter。　Then　he　scanned　the　material　on　the　Odessa　Star。
　
　The　Lloyd's　record　was　enlightening；　but　Austin　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　the　story　of　the　little　mermaid　and　filed　it　in　the　back　of　his　mind。　Perlmutter's　description　of　the　strange　conversa