cc.fireice-第49部分

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　the　country。　Turkey　was　allied　with　Germany。　Britain　was　told　of　the　plan　and　agreed　not　to　attack　the　V…boat　on　its　way　to　Europe。〃
　〃That　was　generous　of　the　British。〃　Dodson　guffawed。　〃Oh；　they　were　a　wily　bunch　in　the　good　old　days。　Their　generosity　was　based　on　the　assumption　that　the　family　would　be　captured　by　the　Bolsheviks。〃
　〃That　was　quite　a　gamble。〃
　〃Not　really。　England　told　Lenin　and　his　thugs　that　the　family　were　escaping　on　the　Odessa　Star。〃
　〃Your　grandfather　knew　of　this？〃
　〃He　argued　strenuously　against　it；　but　was　overruled。〃
　〃By　whom？〃
　〃By　King　George。〃
　
　Zavala's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　see　why　you　were　reluctant　to　make　this　information　public。　Some　people　might　not　like　learning　that　the　king　was　a　traitorous　informant　and　accessory　to　a　multiple　murder。〃
　〃I　don't　know　if　I'd　go　so　far　as　to　identify　the　king　as　a　criminal；　though　what　he　did　was　morally　reprehensible。　It　was　naпvete　on　his　part；　but　George　never　dreamed　that　Lenin　would　be　so　ruthless　as　to　order　them　assassinated。　My　father　said　the　king　assumed　the　women　would　be　kept　in　a　convent。　The　Bolsheviks　may　have　given　the　impression　that　no　harm　would　e　to　them。〃
　
　They　sat　in　silence　for　a　few　moments；　alone　with　their　thoughts；　listening　to　the　trill　of　the　birds。
　
　Zavala　shook　his　head　in　puzzlement。　〃There's　something　I　don't　get。　A　few　years　ago；　the　Russians　dug　up　some　bones　that　were　supposedly　identified　as　those　of　the　Romanov　family。〃
　〃The　Soviet　government　was　masterful　at　fabricating　evidence。　I　would　assume　that　they　passed　along　that　skill　to　their　successors。　There　may　be　some　truth　to　the　story　of　the　tsar's　bones；　but　even　so；　the　remains　of　the　boy；　Alexis；　and　his　sister　the　Grand　Duchess　Maria　were　never　found。〃
　〃Maria？〃
　〃Yes；　she　was　the　second　youngest。　Why？〃
　
　Zavala　went　out　to　his　car　and　returned　with　the　Perlmutter　file。　He　leafed　thorough　the　contents　and　pulled　out　the　book　excerpt　on　the　little　mermaid；　which　he　handed　to　Dodson。　The　Englishman　donned　a　pair　of　wire…rimmed　reading　glasses。　As　he　pored　over　the　file；　his　expression　grew　grave。
　
　〃Astounding！　If　this　is　accurate；　the　Romanov　line　didn't　die　out！　Maria；　or　Marie　as　she's　called　here；　went　on　to　marry　and　have　children。〃
　〃That's　my　take　on　it。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　this　means？　Somewhere　there　may　be　a　legitimate　heir　to　the　tsar's　throne。〃　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃My　God；　what　a　catastrophe！〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　understand。〃
　
　Dodson　posed　himself。　〃Russia　is　in　the　midst　of　great　turmoil。　It　is　still　seeking　its　identity。　Beneath　this　bubbling　cauldron　is　a　fire　of　nationalism。　Those　who　would　go　back　to　the　days　of　Peter　the　Great　and　the　tsars　have　touched　a　yearning　in　the　Russian　people；　but　all　they　have　had　to　sell　is　a　memory　of　a　forgotten　time。　With　an　actual　heir　to　the　tsar；　their　cause　would　have　focus。　It　is　a　country　that　still　controls　weapons　of　mass　destruction　and　a　major　share　of　the　world's　natural　resources。　It　will　not　be　safe　for　the　world　if　Russia　lapses　into　a　civil　war　and　follows　the　lead　of　the　worst　kind　of　demagogue。　British　plicity　in　the　plot　against　the　tsar　will　stir　up　all　those　paranoid　feelings　against　the　West。〃　He　affixed　Zavala　with　a　steely　gaze。　〃Tell　your　superiors　that　they　must　be　discreet。　Otherwise　no　one　may　be　able　to　control　the　consequences。〃
　
　Zavala　was　bowled　over　by　the　emotional　reaction　from　this　reserved　Englishman。　〃Yes；　of　course；　I'll　tell　them　what　you　said。〃
　
　But　Dodson　seemed　to　have　forgotten　that　Zavala　was　even　there。　〃The　tsar　is　dead；〃　he　murmured。　〃Long　live　the　tsar。〃
　
　…26…
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　LEROY　JENKINS　CAUGHT　his　breath　as　he　stepped　from　the　wilting　Washington　heat　into　the　cool　interior　of　the　thirty…story　green　glass　tower　overlooking　the　Potomac。　The　exterior　of　the　tall　tubular　building　was　impressive　enough；　but　nothing　could　have　prepared　him　for　his　first　glimpse　inside　NUMA　headquarters。　He　craned　his　neck　to　gaze　up　to　the　top　of　the　atrium　lobby；　then　swept　his　eyes　around　the　tumbling　waterfalls　and　aquaria　filled　with　exotic　fish；　taking　in　the　huge　globe　of　the　world　that　rose　from　the　center　of　the　sea…green　marble　floor。
　
　Smiling　like　a　child　in　a　toy　shop；　he　started　across　the　giant　lobby；　threading　his　way　among　the　gaggles　of　tourists　who　trailed　behind　impeccably　uniformed　guides。　An　attractive　woman　in　her　twenties；　one　of　several　receptionists　at　a　long　information　desk；　saw　Jenkins　approach　and　beamed　him　in　with　a　pleasant　smile。
　
　〃May　I　help　you？〃　Jenkins　was　struck　dumb。　On　the　flight　from　Portland；　he'd　rehearsed　what　he　would　say　when　he　got　to　NUMA。　Now　his　tongue　seemed　glued　to　the　roof　of　his　mouth。　He　was　overe　by　awe　at　being　in　the　heart　of　the　biggest　ocean　science　agency　in　the　world。　He　felt　like　Fred　Flintstone　visiting　the　Jetsons。　As　an　oceanographer；　he　had　long　contemplated　a　trip　to　the　Holy　Grail　of　ocean　science；　but　his　teaching　duties　had　intervened　and　later　he　was　consumed　by　his　wife's　illness。　Now；　he'd　reached　the　point　where　he　didn't　like　to　leave　Maine；　because；　as　he　joked；　his　gills　would　close　up　if　he　ventured　too　far　from　the　sea。
　
　The　air　seemed　to　crackle　with　electrical　energy。　Every　nontourist　in　view　clutched　a　laptop　puter。　No　one　carried　anything　remotely　resembling　the　battered　tan　briefcase　in　his　sweaty　hand。　Jenkins　was　unfortably　aware　of　his　wrinkled　khaki　pants；　his　worn　Hush　Puppies　and　the　faded　blue　chambray　work　shirt；　damp　from　the　heat。　He　removed　the　tan　fisherman's　cap　and　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　forehead　with　a　red　bandanna；　immediately　regretting　the　move　because　it　made　him　look　even　more　like　a　hick。　He　stuffed　the　bandanna　back　into　his　pocket。
　
　〃Someone　in　particular　you'd　like　to　see？〃
　〃Yes；　but　I'm　not　sure　who　it　might　be。〃　Jenkins　offered　a　weak　grin。　〃Sorry　to　be　so　vague。〃
　
　The　receptionist　was　familiar　with　the　symptoms。　〃You're　not　the　first　person　who's　been　vague。　This　place　can　be　a　bit　overwhelming。　Let's　see　what　we　can　work　out。　Could　you　tell　me　your　name？〃
　〃Sure；　it's　Roy　Jenkins。　Dr：　Leroy　Jenkins；　I　mean。　I　taught　oceanography　at　the　University　of　Maine　before　I　retired　a　few　years　ago。〃
　〃That　narrows　it　down。　Would　you　like　to　speak　to　someone　in　the　oceanography　division；　Dr。　Jenkins？〃
　
　Hearing　the　title　before　his　name　gave　him　courage。　He　said；　〃I'm　not　sure。　I've　some　questions　of　a　specialized　nature。〃
　〃Why　don't　we　start　in　oceanography　and　go　from　there？〃
　
　The　young　woman　picked　up　the　phone；　pressed　a　button　and　spoke　a　few　words。　〃Go　right　up；　Dr。　Jenkins。　The　receptionist　on　the　ninth　floor　is　expecting　you。〃　She　flashed　her　fabulous　smile　again　and　directed　her　eyes　to　the　next　person　in　line。
　
　Jenkins　made　his　way　toward　the　ranks　of　elevators　off　to　one　side　of　the　lobby。　Still　wondering　if　he　had　e　all　this　way　to　make　a　fool　of　himself　in　front　of　some　young　Ph。D。　with　a　pocket　protector　and　a　condescending　attitude；　he　stepped　into　an　elevator　and　pushed　a　button。　Too　late　now；　he　thought　as　the　elevator　whisked　him　skyward。
　
　
　ON　THE　TENTH　floor　of　the　NUMA　building；　Hiram　Yaeger　sat　in　front　of　a　horseshoe…shaped　console　and　stared　at　an　immense　puter　monitor　that　looked　as　if　it　were　suspended　in　space。　Displayed　on　the　screen　was　the　image　of　a　narrow…faced　man　with　beetling　brows　bent　over　a　chessboard。　Yaeger　watched　the　man　move　the　white　rook　two　spaces。　He　studied　the　board　a　moment　and　said；　〃Bishop　to　queen　five。　Check　and　checkmate。〃
　
　The　man　on　the　screen　nodded　and　tipped　his　king　over　with　a　forefinger。　In　a　thick　accent；　he　said；　〃Thank　you　for　the　game；　Hiram。　We　must　play　again。〃　The　screen　went　blank　except　for　a　pale　green　afterglow。
　
　The　middle…aged　man　sitting　next　to　Yaeger　said；　〃Very　impressive。　Victor　Karpov　isn't　exactly　a　slouch。〃
　〃I　cheated；　Hank。　When　I　programmed　all　of　Karpov's　games　into　Max's　data　banks；　I　set　up　an　array　of　responses　based　on　Bobby　Fischer's　strategy。　Fischer　simply　overrode　any　dumb　move　I　made。〃
　〃It　all　sounds　like　magic　to　me；〃　Hank　Reed　replied。　〃Speaking　of　vanishing　acts；　I　wonder　where　our　pastrami　sandwiches　are。〃　He　licked　his　lips。　〃I　think　I'd　work　for　NUMA　even　if　they　didn't　pay　me；　just　so　I　could　use　the　cafeteria。〃
　
　Yaeger　nodded　in　agreement。　〃Let's　get　back　to　work。　If　the　delivery　guy　doesn't　arrive　in　five　minutes；　I'll　call　again。〃
　〃Sounds　good；〃　Hank　said。　〃Did　Austin　ever　say　why　he　wanted　this　stuff？〃
　
　Yaeger　chuckled　knowingly。　〃Kurt's　the　ultimate　poker　player。　He　never　shows　his　cards　until　he　lays　down　his　hand。〃
　
　Austin　had　called　Yaeger　earlier　in　the　day　with　a　cheery　〃Good　morning。〃　Getting　right　to　the　point；　he'd　said；　〃I　need　some　help　from　Max。　Is　she　in　a　good　mood？〃
　〃Max　is　always　in　a　good　mood；　Kurt。　As　long　as　I　ply　her　with　electronic　cocktails；　she'll　do　anything　I　ask。〃　In　a　stage　whisper；　he　said；　〃She　thinks　I　want　her　for　her　mind　and　not　her　body。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　Max　had　a　body。〃
　〃She　has　her　pick　of　bodies。　Mae　West。　Betty　Grable。　Marilyn　Monroe。　Jennifer　Lopez。　Whatever　I　program　in。〃
　〃Please　soften　her　up　with　a　few　drinks　and　ask　her　to　dig　up　what　she　can　on　the　subject　of　methane　hydrates。〃
　
　Austin　had　been　thinking　about　methane　hydrates　since　the　Trouts　had　told　him　Ataman　Industries　was　attempting　to　mine　them　from　the　ocean　floor。
　
　〃I'll　have　a　package　for　you　later　today；　if　that's　okay。〃
　〃Fine。　I'll　be　pretty　much　tied　up　with　Admiral　Sandecker　this　morning。〃
　
　Yaeger　made　no　attempt　to　ask　when　Austin　wanted　the　information。　If　Austin　wanted　it；　it　was　important。　And　if　it　was　important；　he　wanted　it　immediately。
　
　People　who　met　Yaeger　for　the　first　time　sometimes　found　it　difficult　to　reconcile　the　scruffy…Levis…and…T…shirt　look　with　his　reputation　as　a　puter　whiz。　It　only　took　a　few　minutes　of　watching　him　at　work　to　see　why　Admiral　Sandecker　had　made　him　the　head　of　NUMA's　oceans　data　center。　From　his　console；　he　had　access　to　vast　resources　of　data　on　ocean　technology　and　history　and　every　related　bit　of　information　on　and　under　the　seas。
　
　Finding　his　way　through　the　massive　amount　of　data　at　his　mand　require