cc.fireice-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　state　and　felt　his　rage　ebb；　although　it　didn't　go　away　entirely。　After　rowing　for　a　time；　he　turned　in　a　wide　circle　and　headed　back。　Before　long；　the　scull　was　gliding　up　to　the　ramp　of　the　boathouse。　He　threw　his　sweaty　clothes　in　a　hamper；　took　a　long　shower　and　shaved；　and　dressed　in　a　tan　sports　jacket；　navy　blue　polo　shirt　and　light　slacks。
　
　A　sound　sleep　and　an　energetic　row　had　given　him　perspective。　He　brushed　aside　the　distractions　that　had　been　pulling　his　mind　apart　in　a　hundred　different　directions　and　concentrated　on　the　prime　force　behind　all　he　had　experienced。　Razov。　He　had　to　find　Razov。　Everything　else　would　flow　from　there。　He　picked　up　the　phone　and　called　Rudi　Gunn；　who　had　never　shaken　his　old　navy　habits　and　was　in　his　office　before　most　muters　had　poured　their　first　cup　of　coffee。
　
　〃Kurt；　I　was　about　to　call　you。　Admiral　Sandecker　told　me　about　your　successful　mission。　Congratulations　to　you　and　Paul。〃
　〃Thanks；　Rudi。　Unfortunately；　our　job　isn't　over。　Razov　is　the　key　to　all　this。　I　was　wondering　if　you'd　heard　anything　about　his　whereabouts。〃
　〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　tell　you。　The　Mad　Russian　has　e　up　for　air。　He　and　his　super　yacht　are　expected　momentarily　in　Boston。〃
　〃How'd　you　pick　that　up；　through　intelligence　or　satellites？〃
　〃Neither　one；　actually。　I　saw　it　in　the　business　section　of　the　Washington　Post。　I'll　read　it　to　you：
　
　
　Russian　mining　tycoon　Mikhail　Razov　will　arrive　in　Boston　today　to　announce　the　opening　of　an　international　trade　center。　Razov；　who　is　also　a　prominent　political　figure　in　his　country；　will　host　a　reception　for　government　officials　and　other　guests　tonight　aboard　his　yacht；　said　to　be　one　of　the　largest　privately　owned　vessels　in　the　world。　The　stop…off　is　part　of　a　tour　of　major　East　Coast　ports。〃
　
　
　〃Thoughtful　of　him　to　save　us　time　and　energy；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃It　doesn't　fit　with　what　I　have　heard　about　the　gentleman。　Wonder　what　he's　really　up　to？〃
　〃Why　don't　I　go　aboard　and　ask　him？〃
　〃You're　serious？〃
　〃Of　course。　It　might　do　some　good　for　him　to　know　that　we're　onto　him。　Maybe　we　can　shake　the　trees　and　see　what　falls　out。〃
　〃Just　as　long　as　you're　not　standing　under　them。〃
　
　Austin　thought　of　Yaeger's　suggestion　about　finding　the　master　control　center。　A　man　like　Razov　would　never　let　anything　get　far　from　his　control。　And　his　yacht　was　both　his　home　and　the　headquarters　of　his　worldwide　corporation。
　
　〃We　can't　let　an　opportunity　like　this　go　by。　I　want　to　get　aboard　that　yacht。〃
　〃We　could　fix　you　up　with　some　NUMA　credentials。〃
　〃That　would　be　like　waving　a　red　flag　in　front　of　a　bull。　I　have　another　idea。　I'll　get　back　to　you。〃
　
　Austin　hung　up　and　dug　in　his　wallet　for　a　business　card。　Then　he　dialed　the　New　York　number　on　it。
　
　〃Unbelievable　Mysteries；〃　the　receptionist　said。
　
　He　asked　if　Kaela　Dorn　had　returned　from　assignments。　〃I　believe　so。　May　I　say　who's　calling？〃
　
　Austin　gave　his　name　and　braced　for　a　breath　of　icy　air。　He　was　surprised　at　the　warmth　in　Kaela's　voice。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Austin。　You　certainly　get　up　early　in　the　day。〃
　〃The　early　bird　catches　the　worm；　I've　been　told。〃
　〃Never　did　like　worms；〃　Kaela　said。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃First　of　all；　tell　me　why　you're　being　so　friendly。〃
　〃Why　shouldn't　I　be？　You　saved　my　life。　Even　better；　you　got　me　transportation　back　to　Istanbul　on　Captain　Kemal's　boat。〃
　〃Which　wasn't　exactly　the　QE2；　as　I　recall。〃
　〃Doesn't　matter。　On　the　way　back；　the　captain　told　me　about　a　wreck　he　knew　of　and　took　me　there。　It　was　big　and　old；　and　my　guess　is　that　it　was　originally　measured　in　cubits。〃
　〃Noah's　ark？〃
　〃Who　knows？　Who　cares？　We　got　the　story；　plus　bonuses。　So　thanks　again；　and　I　mean　it　with　all　sincerity　when　I　say；　what　can　I　do　for　you；　even　though　you　still　owe　me　a　dinner。〃
　〃How　about　Boston　baked　beans？〃
　〃I　was　thinking　more　of　rack　of　lamb　at　the　Four　Seasons。〃
　〃Anything　you　say。　But　I　need　your　help　first。　There's　a　trade　reception　tonight　aboard　a　yacht　in　Boston　Harbor；　and　I　need　some　press　credentials。〃
　〃Is　there　a　story　here？〃
　〃Eventually。　But　not　now。〃
　〃Okay；　but　under　one　condition。　I'm　going　with　you。　Before　you　say　no；　think　about　it。〃
　
　Austin　thought　about　Kaela's　sultry　beauty　for　a　millisecond。　〃It's　a　deal。　I'll　catch　a　shuttle　to　Logan　Airport。〃　He　suggested　a　meeting　time　and　place。
　
　After　they　hung　up；　Austin　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　stared　into　space；　a　distant　expression　in　the　coral…blue　eyes。　Finding　Razov's　central　control　system　might　be　the　breakthrough　he　and　NUMA　needed；　but　there　was　another　reason　he　wanted　to　get　aboard　the　yacht。　Boris。
　
　…31…
　BOSTON；　MASSACHUSETTS
　
　KAELA　DORN　WAITED　at　monwealth　Pier　overlooking　Boston　Harbor　and　watched　the　parade　of　limousines　drop　off　a　steady　stream　of　VIPs　who　quickly　lined　up　to　be　transported　to　Razov's　yacht。　She　stood　near　a　line　of　television　vans　whose　satellite　dishes　and　antennae　sprouted　from　their　roofs　like　alien　vegetative　growths。　She　was　scanning　the　crowd　when　the　tall　stranger　approached　from　behind　and　greeted　her。　Hardly　glancing　in　his　direction；　Kaela　replied　with　a　polite　hello。　She　regretted　it　a　second　later　when　he　said　in　a　wheedling　nasal　voice：　〃Excuse　me；　but　haven't　we　met　before？〃
　
　She　turned　her　full　attention　toward　the　man；　thinking　that　he　looked　like　a　husky　version　of　…　what　was　that　singer's　name？
　
　〃No；〃　she　said　with　a　mixture　of　amusement　and　scorn。　〃Never？〃
　〃I　thought　you'd　forgiven　me　for　missing　our　dinner　date　in　Istanbul。〃　The　voice　had　dropped　several　octaves。
　
　Kaela　gave　him　a　hard　look；　especially　the　broad　shoulders。　〃Good　Lord！　I　didn't　recognize　you。〃
　〃They　don't　call　me　the　Man　of　a　Thousand　Faces　for　nothing；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　devilish　smile；　He　spread　his　arms　wide；　〃Is　this　what　the　well…dressed　tabloid　TV　journalist　wears？〃
　
　Austin　wore　black　slacks；　matching　T…shirt　and　sports　jacket　and　seventies…era　Ray…Ban　sunglasses；　even　though　it　was　night；　and　scuffed　New　Balance　running　shoes；　He　wore　a　gold　neck　chain；　and　his　silvery…gray　hair　was　hidden　under　a　dark　brown　wig。
　
　〃You　look　like　a　Hollywood　undertaker；〃　Kaela　said；　〃I　especially　like　the　wild　hairpiece。〃　She　squinted。　〃What　did　you　do　to　your　face？〃
　〃Putty。　A　necessary　evil　in　the　age　of　face　recognition　technology。〃
　
　Kaela　raised　an　eyebrow；　suddenly　remembering　the　name。　〃The　only　one　they're　likely　to　match　you　with　is　Roy　Orbison。〃
　〃I'll　remember　that　in　case　someone　wants　my　autograph。　Now　that　I've　passed　inspection；　how　are　you？〃
　〃I'm　fine；　Kurt。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。〃
　〃I'm　hoping　after　business　hours　we　can　pick　up　where　we　left　off。〃
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　she　said；　with　a　flirtatious　tilt　of　her　head。　〃I'd　like　that　very　much。〃
　
　Kaela　wore　a　taupe　pantsuit　whose　silky　folds　emphasized　the　curves　of　her　body。　Austin　found　himself　being　drawn　in　again　by　her　exotic　looks。　With　great　effort；　he　put　a　lid　on　his　amorous　thoughts。　For　now；　anyway。
　
　〃Then　it's　a　date。　Cocktails　at　the　Ritz　Bar。〃　He　looked　around　at　the　milling　crowds　of　men　and　women　dressed　for　the　black…tie　affair。　〃Ready　to　crash　the　party？〃
　
　Kaela　hung　a　plastic　laminated　ill　card　around　his　neck。　〃From　now　on；　you're　Hank　Simpson；　our　sound　man。　It　should　be　easy　to　fake；　Dundee's　job　was　mostly　hauling　equipment　around　and　holding　a　mike　boom。　I'll　help　you　set　up。　Mickey　is　going　to　meet　us　at　the　press　boat。　Just　grab　those　cases　and　play　dumb。〃
　〃Dumb　I　can　do；〃　Austin　said。　Snatching　up　the　heavy　metal　suitcases　as　if　they　were　feathers；　he　followed　Kaela　to　a　section　of　the　pier　where　a　PRESS　sign　had　been　nailed　onto　a　piling。　An　open　launch　was　ing　in　to　pick　up　the　next　load　of　journalists。
　
　The　short；　stocky　figure　of　Mickey　Lombardo　came　trotting　over　with　a　steadi…cam　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　got　some　great　shots　of　the　Kennedys。〃　He　recognized　Austin　despite　his　disguise。　〃Hey；　it's　our　guardian　angel；〃　he　said；　with　a　grin。　〃Good　to　see　you　again；　pal。〃
　
　Austin　held　his　finger　up　to　his　lips　and　glanced　around。
　
　〃Oh；　yeah；　I　forgot；〃　Lombardo　said；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　stage　whisper。　〃By　the　way；　I　like　your　taste　in　clothes。〃　Like　Austin；　Mickey　himself　was　dressed　almost　all　in　black。
　
　〃If　anybody　asks；　tell　them　we're　the　Blues　Brothers；〃　Austin　suggested。
　
　〃Hate　to　interrupt　your　reunion；　boys；　but　our　ride　is　here；〃　Kaela　said。
　
　Austin　picked　up　the　sound…equipment　cases　and　loaded　them　into　the　launch。　The　seats　in　the　boat　were　set　up　in　rows　like　a　bus。　Kaela　sat　between　her　two　crewmen。　Within　minutes；　the　boat　was　filled　with　a　diverse　group　made　up　of　print　journalists　unfortable　in　their　rented　tuxes　and　blow…dried　TV　anchorpersons；　each　with　an　entourage　of　fawning　assistants。　The　launch　swung　away　from　the　pier　and　sped　across　the　harbor；　its　place　taken　by　another　shuttle。
　
　The　arrival　of　Razov's　yacht　had　attracted　press　coverage　from　allover　the　East　Coast。　The　general　public　had　learned　for　the　first　time　of　Razov's　wealth　and　political　ambitions；　and　his　intention　to　open　a　billion…dollar　trade　center　in　Boston。　But　it　was　the　physical　manifestation　of　that　incredible　wealth；　his　huge　and　luxurious　yacht；　that　invited　the　most　interest。
　
　The　Kazachestvo　was　the　biggest　thing　to　hit　Boston　since　the　Tall　Ships。　Circling　TV　helicopters　followed　her　entrance　into　the　harbor　and　beamed　aerial　pictures　around　the　world。　An　escort　of　fire…fighting　boats　sent　fountains　of　water　arcing　into　the　sky。　Hundreds　of　pleasure　craft　nudged　closer；　only　to　be　shooed　away　by　the　Coast　Guard　patrols。
　
　When　the　yacht　dropped　anchor；　it　was　greeted　by　boatloads　of　politicians；　bureaucrats　and　businesspeople。　But　only　the　most　important　and　influential　guests　were　invited　to　the　gala　reception　in　the　evening。
　
　The　Ataman　ship　was　allowed　to　anchor　between　Logan　Airport　and　the　Boston　waterfront；　so　guests　arriving　by　plane　could　be　shuttled　to　the　party。　The　yacht　blazed　from　one　end　to　the　other　with　colored　lights　that　lit　up　the　harbor。　To　celebrate　the　gala　event；　the　local　congressional　delegation　had　persuaded　the　Navy　Department　to　move　the　fri