cc.fireice-第60部分

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　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　waited　until　he　was　once　more　alone；　then　ducked　under　the　ropes　into　the　restricted　area。　He　made　his　way　forward；　as　silent　as　a　ghost。　With　his　black　outfit　he　easily　melted　into　the　shadows。
　
　After　a　few　minutes；　he　stopped　at　a　vent　that　was　taller　dim　he　was　by　a　foot。　He　reached　into　his　pocket；　brought　out　an　object　about　the　size　and　shape　of　a　Palm　Pilot　and　hit　the　On　button。　The　small　dial　glowed　pale　green；　and　a　set　of　numbers　appeared。　Yaeger's　〃sniffer〃　was　ready　to　go　to　work。
　
　An　excited　Yaeger　had　called　while　Austin　was　getting　ready　to　go　to　Boston。　〃I　think　I　know　how　to　plug　into　the　yacht's　system；〃　Yaeger　said。　〃Wi…Fi。〃

　
　Austin　no　longer　blinked　at　the　strange　language　Yaeger　used。　He　assumed　that　puter　geniuses　like　Yaeger　were　on　another　planet　and　sometimes　they　reverted　to　their　native　tongue。　He'd　asked　for　an　explanation。　Yaeger　said　that　Wi…Fi　was　shorthand　for　the　wireless　puter　networks　that　were　ing　into　use　at　major　plexes。
　
　〃Say　you're　running　a　big　hospital；〃　Yaeger　explained。　〃You　want　your　people　to　have　access　to　vital　information　so　that　if　they're　away　from　their　puters　on　the　other　side　of　the　building；　they　don't　have　to　go　running　back。　You　set　up　a　wireless　puter　network　that　only　covers　the　building　or　plex。　The　key　staff　carry　laptop　puters。　They　simply　switch　them　on；　tune　in　to　the　right　frequency　and　they　have　instant　access　to　the　main　system。〃
　〃That's　very　interesting；　Hiram；　but　what's　it　got　to　do　with　our　problem？〃
　〃Everything。　The　Ataman　yacht　has　Wi…Fi。〃
　
　Austin　still　wasn't　sure　where　Yaeger　was　going；　but　Hiram's　enthusiasm　was　contagious。　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃
　〃It's　Max's　idea；　really。　After　we　fell　flat　on　our　faces　trying　to　decipher　Ataman's　code；　she　started　to　pullout　everything　she　could　find　on　the　yacht。　There　wasn't　a　lot；　because　Ataman　built　the　ship　at　its　yard　on　the　Black　Sea。　But　the　electronics　were　beyond　anything　the　Russians　had；　so　they　bought　American　equipment　and　had　it　installed　by　a　French　team。　Max　got　into　the　French　pany's　file。　They　set　up　Wi…Fi　for　the　yacht。〃
　〃I　can　see　a　hospital　using　something　like　that；　but　why　a　yacht？〃
　〃Think　of　it；　Kurt。　A　boat　that　size　is　a　munity　unto　itself。　Say　you're　the　purser；　and　a　question　on　the　payroll　es　up　while　you're　away　from　your　office　at　the　other　end　of　the　boat。　You　flick　on　your　laptop；　and　there　you　have　it。　Same　thing　goes　for　the　chef。　Maybe　he's　in　his　cabin　and　has　to　check　inventory。　Or　you're　the　first　mate　and　you're　on　break　in　the　mess　hall　when　you　need　information　on　who's　manning　a　shift。〃
　〃How's　this　help　with　our　main　problem；　the　missing　password？〃
　
　〃The　password　must　be　in　that　ship。　If　Max　and　I　could　plug　directly　into　the　network。　we　could　take　stuff　out　at　our　leisure　and　look　closely　at　it。〃
　〃What's　stopping　you？〃
　〃A　couple　of　things。　First　of　all；　the　information　is　bound　to　be　encrypted　against　unauthorized　use。　Second；　the　wireless　signal　is　a　weak　one　that　only　covers　the　yacht　itself。　I　need　somebody　to　place　a　'sniffer'　on　board。〃
　〃You're　talking　puter　weird　again。〃
　〃Sorry。　A　sniffer　is　simply　a　device　that　can　tap　into　the　network；　pump　up　the　signal　and　send　it　to　the　waiting　arms　of　Max。〃
　〃Impressive。　You　say　the　files　would　be　encrypted。　What's　to　say　the　code　won't　stop　you　again？〃
　〃Nothing。　But　it's　not　a　dedicated　encryption　like　the　one　on　the　mystery　ship。　We　can　e　in　sideways　from　different　angles。　And　besides；　Max　is　determined。〃
　〃Nothing　like　a　determined　woman；　even　a　cybernetic　one。　Where　can　I　pick　up　these　electronic　noses？〃
　〃There's　a　NUMA　courier　on　the　way　over　with　a　package。　Instructions　included。〃
　
　The　instructions　had　been　simple。　Click　the　sniffer　on；　check　to　make　sure　it's　picking　up　a　signal；　then　use　the　magnet　attached　to　the　back　of　the　transmitter　to　attach　it。　Yaeger　had　given　him　a　second　sniffer　for　backup。
　
　Now　Austin　reached　into　the　vent　and　placed　the　sniffer　out　of　sight。　Then　he　worked　his　way　over　to　a　lifeboat　and　felt　his　way　down　to　where　the　davit　joined　the　deck。　He　got　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　and　found　a　small　hollow　space　in　the　steel　support。　He　slipped　the　second　sniffer　inside　and　started　to　rise；　when　he　heard　a　soft　click　on　the　deck　behind　him。　Something　hard　pressed　against　the　small　of　his　back。
　
　…32…
　YOU'RE　GETTING　CARELESS　in　your　old　age；　Kurt　Austin。　The　next　time　it　could　be　fatal。〃
　
　The　hard　pressure　was　removed　from　his　back。　Austin　turned　and　saw　the　livid　white　scar　on　Petrov's　face　in　the　silvery　moonlight。
　
　〃I　aged　at　least　ten　years　when　you　stuck　that　gun　in　my　ribs；　Ivan。　A　simple　hello　would　have　been　sufficient　to　grab　my　attention。〃
　〃It　keeps　me　in　practice；〃　Petrov　said　〃I　don't　want　to　lose　my　edge。〃
　〃Believe　me；　your　edge　is　as　sharp　as　ever。　Who　let　you　in　my　country？〃
　〃Unlike　your　unsanctioned　adventure　in　Russia；　my　visit　here　es　with　the　blessing　of　your　State　Department。　I'm　in　the　U。S。　on　an　agricultural　trade　mission　for　Siberian　Pest　Control　and　asked　the　local　Russian　consulate　to　include　me　on　the　guest　list　for　this　reception。〃
　〃How　did　you　find　me？〃
　〃I　saw　you　leave　the　grand　salon　and　followed　you　into　the　restricted　area　of　the　ship。　Your　face　threw　me　off；　I　must　admit；　but　it　was　impossible　to　hide　those　wide　shoulders　and　that　confident　walk。　I've　been　wondering；　where　did　you　get　that　incredible　wig？〃
　〃I　bought　it　at　a　KGB　yard　sale。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised　at　that　the　way　things　are　going。　May　I　ask　why　you　were　crawling　about　in　the　dark　on　your　hands　and　knees？〃
　〃I　lost　a　contact　lens？〃
　〃Really？　I　don't　remember　your　dossier　saying　anything　about　contacts。〃
　
　Austin　chuckled　and　told　the　Russian　about　the　electronic　sniffers。　Ivan　was　duly　impressed　and　asked　only　that　he　be　kept　informed　as　information　developed。　〃I　suggest　that　we　rejoin　the　festivities；〃　he　said。　〃Most　of　the　guards　are　watching　the　guests；　but　a　few　are　making　the　rounds。〃
　
　Austin　knew　they　were　already　pressing　their　luck。　They　moved　toward　the　lights　and　music；　taking　advantage　of　every　shadow　or　pocket　of　darkness。　They　saw　only　one　guard　and　ducked　behind　a　bollard　until　he　passed。　Moments　later；　they　were　strolling　along　the　deck。
　
　Petrov；　who　looked　debonair　in　his　tuxedo；　lit　up　an　American　cigarette。　〃What　are　your　plans　now？〃
　〃You　didn't　see　Razov's　pet　monk；　did　you？〃
　〃I　suspect　that　Razov　prefers　to　have　Boris　stay　out　of　sight　on　public　occasions。　He　mayor　may　not　be　on　the　ship。　We're　not　likely　to　see　him。〃
　〃In　that　case；　maybe　I'll　spend　a　few　minutes　talking　to　our　host。〃
　〃Razov？　Do　you　think　it's　wise　to　play　your　hand　here　on　his　territory？〃
　〃Maybe　I　can　get　him　rattled　enough　to　make　a　mistake。〃
　〃I've　heard　it's　not　safe　to　play　with　rattlesnakes；　but　do　what　you　wish。　I　think　I'll　wander　around　and　enjoy　the　food　and　drink　as　long　as　I'm　here。〃
　〃You　came　alone？〃
　
　Petrov　plucked　a　shot　of　vodka　from　the　tray　of　a　passing　waiter。　He　slugged　it　down　and　smiled。　〃I　won't　be　far　away　if　you　need　me。〃
　
　The　party　was　going　full…blast。　Guests　wandered　about　the　deck　with　food　and　drinks。　The　Cossack　band　had　switched　from　Russian　folk　tunes　and　was　belting　out　a　rock　number。　Petrov　mingled　with　the　crowd　and　disappeared　like　a　leaf　being　swept　away　in　a　stream。　Austin　saw　a　knot　of　people；　with　Razov　holding　court　at　its　center。　He　moved　closer；　wondering　how　he　was　going　to　get　past　the　body…　guards　flanking　Razov。　The　pair　of　long…legged　canines　took　the　matter　out　of　his　hands。　Razov's　dogs　jerked　away　from　him　and　galloped　toward　Austin　in　a　dead　heat。　As　before；　they　jumped　up；　put　their　paws　on　his　chest　and　licked　his　face。　He　managed　to　dislodge　them　with　strategically　placed　hip　blocks。
　
　He　grabbed　the　leashes　and　held　them　short　to　keep　the　rambunctious　hounds　under　control。　A　moment　later；　the　dogs'　trainer　came　running　up；　this　time　with　panic　in　his　eyes。　Austin　was　about　to　pass　the　leashes　over　when　he　saw　Razov　and　his　two　bodyguards　ing　up　behind　the　trainer。
　
　〃I　see　you've　met　Sasha　and　Gorky；〃　Razov　said；　with　a　genial　smile。　He　took　the　leashes　from　Austin　and　said　some1hing　in　Russian。　The　dogs　obeyed　instantly　and　sat　by　his　side。　Their　haunches　quivered　as　they　fought　their　instincts。
　
　〃I　shared　some　prime　rib　and　sausage　with　them　a　while　ago；〃　Austin　said。　〃Hope　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃I'm　surprised　they　ate　it；〃　Razov　said。　〃They　dine　on　fare　much　better　than　most　people's。　My　name　is　Razov。〃　He　extended　his　hand　and　glanced　at　the　name　on　the　press　pass　hanging　around　Austin's　neck。　〃I'm　the　host　of　this　little　celebration。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know。　I　heard　you　speak。　Very　impressive。〃　He　squeezed　the　hand　until　the　bones　crunched　and　he　saw　Razov　wince　with　pain。　〃My　name　is　Kurt　Austin。〃
　
　Razov's　face　showed　no　emotion。　〃The　famous　Mr。　Austin。　You　look　nothing　like　I　expected。〃
　〃Neither　do　you。　You're　much　smaller　than　I　thought　you'd　be。〃
　〃This　is　only　a　temporary　diversion。　I'm　still　with　NUMA。　We've　been　doing　some　treasure　hunting　in　the　Black　Sea。〃
　〃I　hope　it　was　worth　your　while。〃
　〃Someone　beat　me　to　a　treasure　aboard　a　ship　called　the　Odessa　Star。〃
　〃That's　too　bad；　but　treasure…hunting　is　very　petitive。〃
　〃What　I　can't　figure　out　is　why　someone　who　already　possesses　huge　wealth　would　go　through　so　much　trouble　to　recover　a　few　shiny　baubles。〃
　〃We　Russians　have　always　been　fascinated　by　baubles；　as　you　call　them。　We　believe　that　beyond　their　intrinsic　value；　they　impart　a　power　to　the　possessor。〃
　〃Treasure　didn't　do　the　tsar　and　his　family　much　good。〃
　〃The　royal　family　was　betrayed　by　traitors　in　its　midst。〃
　〃I　assume　you　intend　to　return　the　treasure　to　the　Russian　people。〃
　〃You　know　nothing　about　my　people；〃　Razov　said。　〃They　don't　care　for　jewels。　What　they　need　is　the　firm　hand　of　a　leader　who　can　restore　their　national　pride　and　fend　off　those　countries　who　are　circling　like　vultures。〃
　〃That's　assuming　your　secret　Operation　Troika　is　a　success。〃