cc.fireice-第56部分

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　〃Sorry；　Captain；〃　he　said；　with　obvious　embarrassment。　was　getting　a　fix　on　Paul；　and　I　had　to　divert　his　attention。〃
　
　Logan　dusted　off　the　seat　of　his　pants。　〃I've　had　my　mand　hijacked；　my　crew　kidnapped；　and　been　forced　by　these　seagoing　thugs　to　use　a　U。S。　Navy　vessel　for　their　purposes；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　〃I'll　suffer　whatever　it　takes　to　get　off　this　ship。〃
　
　Trout　stopped　and　examined　another　wall　diagram。　〃It　looks　as　if　the　moon　pool　hold　is　divided　into　a　smaller　and　larger　section。　I'd　advise　going　in　the　smaller　end　to　avoid　crew　quarters　here。〃
　
　Austin　told　him　to　lead　the　way。　With　long；　loping　strides；　Trout　led　them　along　a　series　of　passageways　until　they　came　to　an　unlocked　door。　On　the　other　side　was　a　catwalk　that　ran　along　the　wall　of　a　high…ceiling　chamber　about　a　third　the　size　of　the　moon　pool。
　
　〃What　the　hell　is　that　thing？〃　the　captain　said。　He　was　looking　at　a　huge　cylindrical　object　suspended　from　the　ceiling。　It　was　at　least　four　feet　across　and　fifty　feet　long。　The　bottom　end　was　cone　shaped　and　several　projections　were　clustered　around　the　top；　where　a　plex　set　of　cables　and　hoses　snaked　into　the　ceiling。
　
　〃Looks　like　an　ICBM；〃　the　pilot　said；　〃only　it's　pointing　wrong　way。〃
　〃That's　not　all　that's　wrong　with　it；〃　Trout　said。　〃Those　thrusters　around　the　top；　not　fins。〃
　
　Austin　was　as　fascinated　as　the　others；　but　time　was　short。　〃Take　a　good　look　at　it　now；　gentlemen；　and　we'll　pare　notes　later。〃
　
　They　continued　along　the　walkway　through　another　door　and　found　themselves　outside　the　changing　room；　where　they　found　dry　suits　that　fit　the　navy　men。　Austin　and　Trout　carefully　folded　their　borrowed　coveralls　and　replaced　them　on　the　shelves。　Then　they　all　moved　on　to　the　depression　chamber。　The　dive　gear　was　undisturbed。　They　descended　a　short　stairway　that　led　to　a　room　with　the　smaller　moon　pool。　Set　into　the　deck　was　a　depressed　twelve…by…twelve…foot…square　section　outlining　the　pool　that　was　used　for　launching　ROVs。　Trout　studied　the　controls　on　the　wall；　then　hit　a　button　and　the　floor　of　the　shallow　wall　slid　back。
　
　Water　lapped　over　the　top　of　the　well　and　a　damp；　briny　chill　filled　the　room。
　
　The　pilot　looked　into　the　dark　square　of　ocean　and　gulped。　〃You're　kidding。〃
　〃Sorry　it　isn't　a　hot　tub；〃　Austin　said。　〃But　unless　you　can　figure　a　way　to　open　the　main　floodgates　so　we　can　use　the　NR…1；　this　is　the　only　way　off　the　ship。〃
　〃Hell；　this　should　be　no　different　from　the　escape　training　tank　at　Groton；〃　the　captain　said　with　bravado；　although　his　face　was　pale。
　
　〃We　don't　have　any　spare　air　tanks；　so　we'll　buddy…breathe。　It's　about　a　hundred…yard　swim　to　our　pickup。　The　open　hatch　probably　sets　off　an　alarm　up　in　the　wheelhouse；　so　we　don't　have　much　time。〃
　
　Despite　his　bluster；　the　captain　didn't　look　enthusiastic　about　the　prospect　ahead；　but　he　gritted　his　teeth；　pulled　the　hood　down　and　the　face　mask　over　his　eyes。　〃Let's　go　before　I　change　my　mind；〃　he　growled。
　
　Austin　handed　the　pilot　the　auxiliary　air　hose；　called　the　octopus。　Trout　did　the　same　with　the　captain。　When　all　were　ready；　Austin　linked　arms　with　the　pilot；　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　pool　and　jumped　in。
　
　They　sank　in　a　cloud　of　bubbles　until　their　buoyancy　overcame　their　downward　momentum。　The　bubbles　quickly　cleared；　and　Austin　saw　Trout's　light　waving　in　the　gloom　from　several　feet　away。　Austin　started　swimming。　The　submariners'　kicking　technique　was　uneven　and　the　Siamese…twin　arrangement　was　awkward；　but　they　managed　to　claw　their　way　out　from　under　the　ship's　massive　bulk。
　
　Austin　felt　himself　rising　and　falling。　Sea　conditions　must　be　deteriorating。　Austin's　pass　was　useless　so　close　to　the　huge　metal　mass　of　the　Ataman　ship。　He　relied　on　dead　reckoning　to　move　them　in　the　general　direction　of　the　rendezvous。
　
　When　Austin　gauged　they　were　a　hundred　yards　from　the　ship；　he　stopped　and　signaled　for　the　others　to　do　the　same。　While　they　hovered　thirty　feet　below　the　surface；　he　undid　a　small　self…inflating　buoy　from　his　belt　and　looped　a　nylon　line　tied　to　the　buoy　over　his　wrist。　He　released　the　buoy　and　let　it　rise　to　the　surface；　where　the　miniature　transponder　it　carried　would　start　broadcasting　their　location。
　
　The　next　few　minutes　were　excruciating。　Despite　their　suits；　the　cold　numbed　the　exposed　areas　around　their　hands　and　masks。　The　NR…1　men　were　courageous；　but　being　held　prisoner　had　sapped　their　strength　and　they　were　simply　out　of　shape　from　spending　long　idle　hours　in　their　cabin。　Austin　wondered　what　they　would　do　if　the　Kestrel　failed　to　show　up。　He　was　savoring　the　bleak　possibilities　when　Jenkins's　voice　came　through　his　earphones。
　
　〃Got　a　lock　on　your　position　marker。　You　boys　okay？〃
　〃We're　fine。　We　picked　up　a　couple　of　hitchhikers；　and　they're　turning　six　shades　of　blue　from　the　cold。〃
　〃On　my　way。〃
　
　Austin　signaled　to　the　others　to　get　ready。　The　NR…1　men　responded　with　okay　hand　signals；　but　the　slowness　of　their　movements　indicated　that　they　were　being　fatigued。　For　the　plan　to　work；　they　would　need　energy。　All　four　men　looked　up　as　they　heard　the　muffled　grumble　of　an　engine。　The　noise　grew　louder　until　it　was　right　overhead。
　
　Austin　jerked　his　thumb　up。　Then　he　and　Trout　rose；　pulling　their　exhausted　panions　with　them。　Austin　kept　his　free　arm　extended　straight　above　his　head　until　his　fingers　closed　on　the　moving　net　being　towed　behind　the　slow…moving　Kestrel。　The　others　all　managed　to　grab　onto　the　cod　end；　the　tapering　pocket　where　the　fish　are　actually　caught。
　
　When　Austin　saw　that　everyone　had　a　grip　on　the　net；　he　shouted　to　Jenkins。　〃All　aboard！〃
　
　The　boat's　speed　picked　up　and　they　felt　as　if　their　arms　were　being　pulled　out　of　their　sockets。　But　after　the　initial　shock；　the　ride　smoothed　out　and　they　were　flying　through　the　water。　The　water　pressure　tried　to　brush　them　off；　but　they　held　on　gamely　until　they　were　well　away　from　the　ship。　Jenkins　hove　to。
　
　〃Hauling　back；〃　he　said　in　warning。
　
　Austin　and　Trout　got　a　firm　grip　on　their　charges　as　the　net　pulled　them　to　the　surface。　Their　troubles　weren't　over；　however。　They　were　tossed　around　in　the　heaving　seas　and　hampered　by　their　scuba　gear；　until；　finally；　they　jettisoned　their　air　tanks　and　belts。　Without　the　awkward　weight；　they　could　work　with　the　waves　rather　than　fight　them。
　
　Jenkins　was　leaning　over　the　stern　controlling　the　hauler；　the　big　metal　drum　that　the　net　was　wound　upon　when　not　in　the　water。　The　net　had　drawn　Austin　and　the　pilot　within　a　few　feet　of　safety；　but　the　boat　pitched　and　yawed　violently　and　the　seas　lifted　them　one　second；　dropped　them　the　next。　Choking　fumes　from　the　exhaust　rose　from　the　water。　To　make　matters　worse；　Austin's　right　arm　had　bee　entangled　in　the　net。
　
　Jenkins　saw　their　predicament；　and　the　narrow　blade　of　a　razor…sharp　filleting　knife　flashed　dangerously　close　to　Austin's　biceps。　With　his　arm　free；　he　reached　up　to　Jenkins；　who　grabbed　his　wrist　in　an　iron　grip。　Working　the　hauler　with　the　other　hand；　he　pulled　Austin；　then　the　pilot；　closer。
　
　〃Damn　funny…looking　fish　we're　catching　these　days；〃　he　yelled　over　the　rumble　of　the　engine。
　
　Howes　was　manning　the　helm　and　doing　his　best　to　keep　the　boat　steady。　〃Those　fellas　are　a　bit　small；〃　he　shouted　back。　〃Maybe　we　should　throw　them　back。〃
　〃Not　on　your　life；〃　Austin　said；　as　he　got　one　leg　over　the　transom　and　practically　fell　into　the　boat。
　
　Jenkins　helped　the　pilot　on　board。　With　three　of　them　working；　they　got　Trout　and　Logan　onto　the　boat　in　short　order。　The　submariners　staggered　drunkenly　across　the　pitching　deck　into　the　wheelhouse。　The　net　had　caught　several　hundred　pounds　of　fish；　and　the　weight　threatened　to　drag　the　ship　down。　Jenkins　hated　to　lose　the　fish　and　let　the　net　loose　in　the　sea　where　it　might　catch　on　a　propeller；　but　he　had　no　choice。　He　cut　the　lines　and　watched　the　net　drift　off　into　the　foamy　sea。　Then　he　took　over　the　helm　and　gunned　the　boat　through　the　white…capped　seas　that　splashed　over　the　bow。
　
　Howes　helped　the　others　out　of　their　dry　suits；　then　passed　around　blankets　and　a　bottle　of　Irish　whiskey。　Austin　peered　through　the　spume；　but　the　black　ship　had　disappeared。　There　was　also　no　sign　of　the　fishing　boats　that　had　acpanied　them　on　the　way　out。　He　asked　where　the　other　boats　were。
　
　〃Things　got　dicey　out　here；　so　I　sent　them　home；〃　Jenkins　yelled　over　the　grinding　roar　of　the　engine。　〃We　should　get　back　to　port　before　the　storm　hits。　Sit　back　and　enjoy　the　ride。〃
　〃I　wonder　what　our　former　hosts　will　say　when　they　discover　us　gone；〃　Logan　said　with　a　wolfish　smile。
　
　〃I'm　hoping　that　they'll　think　you　tried　to　escape　and　were　drowned。〃
　〃Thanks　for　ing　to　our　rescue。　My　only　regret　is　that　we　couldn't　leave　the　way　we　came；　on　the　NR…1。〃
　〃The　important　part　was　getting　you　out　in　one　piece。〃
　
　Trout　passed　the　whiskey　bottle　to　Austin。　〃Here's　to　a　job　well　done。〃
　
　Austin　raised　the　bottle　to　his　lips　and　took　a　sip。　The　fiery　liquid　overwhelmed　the　salty　taste　in　his　mouth　and　warmed　his　stomach。　He　stared　out　past　their　heaving　wake；　thinking　about　the　huge　projectile　they　had　seen　on　the　ship。
　
　〃Unfortunately；〃　he　said；　〃the　real　work　may　have　just　begun。〃
　
　
　HIRAM　YAEGER　TOILED　late　into　the　night。　He　had　moved　away　from　his　usual　place　at　the　grand　console　and　sat　in　a　corner　of　the　vast　puter　center；　his　face　lit　up　by　a　single　screen。　He　was　typing　mands　into　a　keyboard；　and　Max　didn't　like　it。
　
　HIRAM；　WHY　AREN'T　WE　USING　THE　HOLOGRAM？
　
　THIS　IS　A　SIMPLE　ACCESS　PROBLEM；　MAX。　WE　DON'T　NEED　THE　BELLS　AND　WHISTLES。　IT's　BACK　TO　BASICS。
　
　I　FEEL　PRACTICALLY　NAKED　SITTING　OUT　HERE　IN　A　PLAIN　PLASTIC　CABINET。
　
　YOU'RE　STILL　BEAUTIFUL　IN　MY　EYES。
　
　FLATTERY　WILL　GET　YOU　EVERYWHERE。　THE　PROBLEM；　PLEASE。
　
　Yaeger　had　been　working　for　hours　to　carve　away　the　useless　and　misleading　data　in　the　files　Austin　and　Trout　had　transmitted　from　the　Ataman　ship。　He'd　run　into　countless　dead　ends　and　had　had　to　cut　through　more　layers　than　an　onion。　Finally；　he　had　distilled　his　findings　into　a　series　of　mands　that　would　cut　through　the　dross。　He　typed　them　out　one　at　a