cc.fireice-第59部分

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the　gala　event；　the　local　congressional　delegation　had　persuaded　the　Navy　Department　to　move　the　frigate　U。S。S。　Constitution；　〃Old　lronsides；〃　from　her　home　at　the　Charlestown　Navy　Yard　for　a　rare　nighttime　harbor　excursion。
　
　The　old　fighting　ship　normally　left　her　pier　only　once　a　year；　when　she　was　turned　around　so　that　her　sides　weathered　evenly。　The　annual　turnaround　cruise　was　done　with　the　help　of　tugboats。　But　in　recent　years；　after　an　extensive　overhaul　that　had　restored　some　of　the　original　1794　construction　design；　the　ship　had　been　taken　for　short　cruises　under　sail　for　special　occasions。　Austin　overheard　one　of　the　TV　people　say　the　frigate　was　scheduled　to　do　a　sail…by　under　its　own　power。　A　detachment　of　Marines　and　a　gun　crew　were　on　board　to　fire　off　a　cannon　salute。
　
　As　the　launch　drew　closer；　Austin　turned　his　attention　to　the　yacht。　It　was　as　Gamay's　photos　showed；　with　a　sharp　V…shaped　bow；　concave　stem　and　streamlined　superstructure。　He　recognized　the　FastShip　design　that　would　allow　Razov　to　move　his　headquarters　and　home　anywhere　there　was　water　within　days。　The　launch　took　its　place　in　line　behind　several　others；　corning　alongside　the　ship　to　a　door　on　the　side　of　the　hull。　Crewmen　leaned　from　the　opening　and　helped　passengers　out　of　the　shuttle　boats。　The　guests　were　passed　on　to　official　greeters；　who　barely　glanced　at　their　press　credentials　and　sent　them　toward　a　stairway。　Austin　noted　with　perverse　amusement　that　the　TV　anchors　looked　as　if　they　had　stood　in　front　of　a　fan　after　the　trip　in　the　open　boat。
　
　With　Kaela　leading；　Austin　and　Lombardo　lugged　their　equipment　to　the　main　deck；　which　resembled　a　high…class　block　party。　The　press　representatives　passed　through　a　gauntlet　of　young　men　and　women；　all　dressed　maroon　blazers；　who　looked　as　if　they　had　been　hired　through　central　casting。　They　were　handed　press　kits；　novelty　key　chains　in　the　shape　of　Russian　wolfhounds　and　magnets　with　the　Ataman　logo　on　them。　Thus　loaded　down；　they　were　guided　to　a　roped…off　section　in　the　fantail。
　
　A　handsome　young　man　whose　blazer　had　a　crest　on　it；　indicating　rank；　weled　them　to　the　reception。　He　said　interviews　were　being　set　up　in　the　media　center　with　the　governor　and　the　mayor。　Mr。　Razov　would　be　giving　no　interviews；　but　would　make　a　statement　shortly。　Knowing　that　free　food　and　drink　are　the　most　persuasive　bribes　for　favorable　publicity；　he　directed　them　to　the　salon。
　
　While　the　other　press　people　stampeded　toward　the　open　bar；　Austin　and　his　crew　set　up　their　equipment　near　a　rank　of　microphones　and　floodlights。　When　their　work　was　finished；　he　took　Kaela　by　her　slim　arm。　〃Shall　we　join　the　other　muckety…mucks？〃
　〃In　a　minute；〃　she　said。　She　guided　him　to　the　rail；　where　there　was　a　view　of　the　Boston　skyline；　the　Customs　House　and　the　Prudential　and　Hancock　towers。　Her　soft　features　were　set　in　a　grave　expression。　〃Before　we　go　in；　I　want　to　ask　you　something。　You　were　determined　to　get　on　board　this　boat。　Does　Razov　have　anything　to　do　with　the　Black　Sea　sub　base　or　those　thugs　who　attacked　us？〃

　
　〃Why　would　you　conclude　that？〃
　〃Please　don't　be　coy　with　me。　He's　Russian。　They　were　Russian。　His　operations　are　centered　in　the　Black　Sea。〃
　〃Sorry；　I　can't　tell　you　everything。　It's　for　your　own　protection。　But　there　is　a　connection。〃
　〃Is　Razov　Tesponsible　for　the　death　of　Captain　Kemal's　cousin；　Mehmet？〃
　
　Austin　paused。　There　was　no　refusing　the　determined　gaze　of　those　amber　eyes。　〃Indirectly；　yes。〃
　〃I　knew　it。　It's　time　that　dirtbag　is　called　to　accounts。〃
　〃I　have　every　intention　of　making　Razov　pay　for　his　deeds；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃Then　I　want　a　piece　of　the　action。〃
　〃You'll　get　your　story。　I　promise。〃
　〃I'm　not　talking　about　a　story。　Look；　Kurt；〃　she　said　with　frustration；　〃I'm　not　some　California　Valley　Girl　whose　biggest　thrill　was　getting　kicked　out　of　the　mall　for　smoking。　I　grew　up　in　a　tough　hood　and　if　I　hadn't　had　an　even　tougher　mother；　I　might　be　doing　ten　to　twenty　at　Soledad　now。　I　want　to　do　something　to　help。〃
　〃You've　already　helped　by　getting　me　on　board。〃
　〃That's　not　enough。　It's　evident　to　me　that　you　want　to　nail　this　creep　to　the　wall。　Okay；　I　want　my　hand　on　the　hammer。〃
　
　Austin　vowed　never　to　get　caught　in　the　crosshairs　of　Kaela's　gunsight。
　
　〃It's　a　deal；　but　tonight　we're　on　Razov's　turf。　You　keep　a　low　profile。　I　don't　want　to　expose　you　and　Mickey　to　any　danger。　I'll　work　the　ship　on　my　own。　Agreed？〃
　
　Kaela　nodded。　〃You'll　have　time　while　we're　doing　the　interviews。〃　She　grabbed　his　arm　and　guided　him　toward　the　salon　door。　〃But　first　I'm　calling　in　the　IOU　on　that　drink　you've　promised　me　since　the　day　we　met。〃
　
　They　joined　the　throng　moving　into　the　immense　salon。　For　a　moment；　Austin　forgot　that　he　was　on　a　boat。　They　seemed　to　have　been　transported　a　hundred　years　back　in　time。　The　salon　looked　like　a　throne　room　designed　by　a　Las　Vegas　casino　architect。　It　was　a　curious　meld　of　Western　civilization　and　Eastern　barbarism。　Their　feet　sank　into　a　plush　carpet　of　imperial　purple　that　was　big　enough　to　cover　several　houses。　Crystal　chandeliers　hung　from　vaulted　ceilings　that　were　covered　with　figures　of　cupids　and　nymphs。　On　each　side　of　the　room　was　a　row　of　square…built　columns　whose　sides　were　carved　and　covered　with　gold　leaf。
　

　The　crowd　was　a　cross　section　of　Boston's　powerful　and　influential。　Fat；　red…nosed　pols　whose　bellies　strained　at　the　buttons　of　their　rented　tuxedos　jostled　each　other　for　room　at　the　huge　center　table；　which　groaned　under　the　weight　of　Russian　delicacies　of　every　description。　At　the　other　exreme；　painfully　thin　women　sat　at　rococo　tables　and　picked　at　their　food　as　if　it　were　poisoned。　Waspish　businessmen　gathered　in　knots　to　discuss　how　best　to　help　the　wealthy　Razov　spend　his　money。　Legions　of　attorneys；　financiers；　Beacon　Hill　lobbyists　and　staff　people　flitted　from　table　to　table　like　bees　in　search　of　nectar。　At　the　far　end　was　a　dais；　but　instead　of　a　gold　throne　it　held　a　band　that　played　a　lively　Russian　folk　tune。　The　musicians　were　dressed　like　Cossacks；　Austin　noted　with　disfort。
　
　While　Austin　and　Kaela　looked　for　a　place　to　light；　there　was　a　roll　of　drums　from　the　band。　The　public…relations　man　in　the　crested　blazer　took　the　stage；　effusively　thanked　everyone　for　ing　and　said　that　their　host　would　like　to　say　a　few　words。　Moments　later；　a　middle…aged　man　wearing　a　plain　blue　suit　climbed　the　stage　and　took　the　microphone。　At　his　heel　were　two　Russian　wolfhounds…lean；　regal…looking　dogs　with　snow…white　fur。
　
　Austin　edged　closer　for　a　good　look　at　Razov。　The　Russian　didn't　look　like　an　arch　villain。　Except　for　his　hatchet…faced　profile　and　deathly　pale　skin；　he　was　quite　ordinary。　Austin　reminded　himself　that　history　is　full　of　men　of　unremarkable　appearance　who　have　rained　unbounded　misery　on　their　fellow　human　beings。　Hitler　could　have　passed　as　the　starving　artist　he　once　was。　Roosevelt　had　called　Stalin　〃Uncle　Joe；〃　as　if　he　were　a　kindly　old　relative　instead　of　a　mass　murderer。　Razov　began　to　talk。
　
　Speaking　English　with　only　a　trace　of　an　accent；　he　said；　〃I　wish　to　thank　you　all　for　ing　to　this　party　honoring　your　wonderful　city。〃　Gesturing　toward　the　wolfhounds；　he　said；　〃Sasha　and　Gorky　are　very　happy　to　have　you　here　too。〃　The　dogs　were　the　ice　breakers　he　wanted　them　to　be。　After　the　crowd　had　responded　with　laughter　and　applause；　the　hounds　were　taken　away　by　a　handler。　Razov　waved　good…bye　to　the　dogs　and　grinned　at　the　audience。　He　spoke　in　a　deep　baritone　and　with　an　authoritative　manner。　He　had　the　gift　of　appearing　to　look　people　directly　in　the　eye。　Within　minutes；　he　had　everyone　in　the　room　hanging　on　his　every　word。　Even　the　pols　had　stopped　their　gluttony　to　listen。
　
　〃It　gives　me　great　pleasure　to　be　here　in　America's　cradle　of　independence。　Only　a　few　miles　from　here　is　Bunker　Hill；　and　a　little　farther；　Lexington；　where　the　shot　was　fired　that　was　'heard　'round　the　world。'　Your　great　institutions　of　learning　and　medical　centers　are　legendary。　You　have　done　much　to　inspire　my　country；　and　in　return　I　wish　to　announce　the　opening　of　a　Russian　trade　center　that　will　foster　the　smooth　flow　of　merce　between　our　two　great　countries。〃
　
　While　Razov　was　going　over　the　details　of　his　investment；　Austin　whispered　into　Kaela's　ear。　〃Time　for　me　to　poke　around。　I'll　meet　you　back　at　the　launch。〃
　
　Kaela　squeezed　his　hand。　〃I'll　be　waiting；〃　she　said。　Austin　edged　his　way　toward　a　side　door　and　stepped　out　into　the　coolness　of　the　night。　With　most　people　in　the　salon　listening　to　Razov　speak；　the　decks　were　virtually　deserted。　He　bumped　into　only　one　person；　a　waiter　who　pressed　a　plate　loaded　down　with　sausages　and　boneless　prime　rib　into　his　hand。　Austin　was　going　to　throw　the　plate　over　the　side　as　soon　as　the　waiter　was　out　of　sight；　but　decided　he'd　look　less　conspicuous　if　he　wandered　around　the　boat　with　the　plate　in　his　hands。
　
　He　sauntered　toward　the　front　of　the　yacht　until　he　came　to　a　roped…off　section。　A　sign　in　English　hung　from　the　rope：　PRIVATE。　The　deck　beyond　the　sign　was　in　darkness。　Razov　had　kept　his　strong…arm　boys　out　of　sight　so　as　not　to　scare　the　guests。　But　as　Austin　was　checking　the　off…limits　area；　a　stocky　man　with　the　unmistakable　bulge　of　weapon　under　his　suit　walked　by。　He　saw　Austin　and　said；　〃Is　preevat；〃　in　a　thick　Russian　accent。
　
　Austin　gave　him　a　drunken　smile　and　offered　his　plate。　〃Sausage？〃
　
　The　guard　replied　with　a　sour　look　and　kept　on　his　rounds。　Austin　waited　until　he　was　out　of　sight　and　prepared　to　duck　under　the　rope。　He　turned　at　the　sound　of　a　light　patter　on　the　deck　and　saw　two　white　ghosts　sprinting　in　his　direction。　Razov's　wolfhounds。　Trailing　their　leashes；　they　jumped　up　on　his　chest　and　almost　knocked　him　down；　then　stuck　their　long　curved　snouts　into　the　plate　he　was　carrying。　He　put　the　food　down　on　the　deck。　The　dogs　noisily　gobbled　down　the　sausages　and　prime　rib；　licked　the　plate　clean；　then　looked　up　at　Austin　as　if　be　were　holding　out　on　them。
　
　Someone　was　running　toward　them。　It　was　the　dogs'　trainer。　He　said　something　in　Russian　that　might　have　been　an　apology；　grabbed　the　leashes　and　led　the　dogs　away。　Austin　wa