cc.fireice-第61部分

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　〃That's　assuming　your　secret　Operation　Troika　is　a　success。〃
　〃There's　nothing　secret　about　Troika；〃　he　said；　with　undisguised　scorn。　〃It's　shorthand　for　my　plan　to　open　trade　centers　in　Boston；　Charleston　and　Miami。　Look　around；　Mr。　Austin。　There　is　nothing　sinister　about　my　business。〃
　〃What　about　the　massacre　aboard　the　NUMA　ship？　Would　you　consider　that　sinister？〃
　〃I　read　about　it　in　the　press。　A　tragedy；　certainly；　but　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　that　unfortunate　incident。〃
　〃I　don't　blame　you　for　not　taking　credit　for　it。　It　was　a　botched　attack。　You　screwed　up；　Razov。　Your　mad　dog　got　the　wrong　ship。　I　wasn't　on　the　Sea　Hunter；　and　your　men　murdered　the　Sea　Hunter's　crew　for　nothing。　Of　course；　you　know　all　that　by　now。〃
　
　Austin　saw　a　flash　of　anger　in　Razov's　eyes。　〃Really；　Mr。　Austin；　you　disappoint　me。　You　sneak　aboard　my　ship　in　that　ridiculous　disguise；　drink　my　vodka　and　eat　my　food；　then　repay　my　hospitality　by　calling　me　a　killer。〃
　〃I　had　another　reason　to　e　aboard。　I　wanted　to　look　into　the　face　of　the　murdering　scum　I　plan　to　destroy。〃
　
　The　mask　of　the　affable　politician　melted　away；　to　be　replaced　by　the　street　thug。　〃You　destroy　me？　You're　a　mere　flea。〃
　〃Maybe；　but　there　are　many　more　fleas　where　I　e　from。　And　we　all　bite。〃
　〃It　will　take　more　than　NUMA　and　your　government　to　stop　me；〃　Razov　said。　〃When　I'm　through　bringing　Russia　back　to　its　former　glory；　the　U。S。　will　be　like　a　puking；　mewling　child；　a　world　beggar；　its　resources　depleted；　its　leadership　weak　and　confused　…　〃　Razov　saw　that　he　had　gone　too　far　and　stopped　suddenly。　〃You're　no　longer　wele　aboard　my　yacht；　Mr。　Austin。　My　security　men　will　escort　you　to　the　launch。〃
　〃I　can　find　my　way。　'Til　we　meet　the　next　time；　Mr。　Razov。〃　He　started　to　walk　away。
　
　Razov's　lips　parted　in　a　feral　grin。　〃There　isn't　going　to　be　a　next　time。〃
　
　Razov　made　a　subtle　gesture；　and　his　guards　started　to　follow。　Austin　let　out　a　low　whistle。　The　wolfhounds　perked　up　their　ears　and；　with　tails　wagging；　broke　away　from　Razov；　trailing　their　useless　leashes。　Austin　grinned　and　looked　Razov　straight　in　the　eye。　The　Russian　stared　at　Austin　with　a　look　of　pure　hate。　Austin　turned　and　walked　quickly　toward　the　stern　of　the　boat；　merging　with　the　crowd　with　the　dogs　at　his　heel。　He　realized　that　he　had　to　lose　the　hounds。　They　were　too　conspicuous　and　would　call　attention　to　him。
　
　He　stopped　and　patted　the　dogs　on　their　heads；　then　handed　their　leashes　to　a　startled　young　woman　wearing　a　maroon　blazer。　He　whipped　his　wig　and　sunglasses　off　and　tucked　them　in　the　woman's　pocket。
　
　〃Would　you　return　these　to　Mr。　Razov；　please？　With　my　pliments。〃
　
　Walking　quickly；　he　made　his　way　past　the　salon　entrance　and　slipped　through　the　crowd；　almost　bowling　Kaela　over。
　
　〃What's　the　big　hurry？〃　she　said。
　
　〃Get　off　the　yacht　as　soon　as　you　can；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　〃Don't　know。　See　you　at　the　Ritz　Bar　in　about　an　hour。〃　Austin　pecked　Kaela's　cheek　and　headed　toward　the　stairs　that　would　take　him　to　the　launch　deck。　He　hoped　to　catch　a　ride　on　a　launch；　but　abandoned　that　course。　Two　guards　flanked　the　stairway；　their　eyes　scanning　the　crowd。　Austin　had　assumed；　wrongly；　that　Razov　wouldn't　risk　an　incident　with　all　the　people　around。　But　Razov　had　spilled　more　than　he'd　intended　and　was　willing　to　take　the　risk。　Pushing　his　way　back　through　the　crowd；　Austin　was　trying　to　gain　a　few　minutes　while　he　figured　out　an　alternative　escape　route；　when　someone　grabbed　his　arm。
　
　Austin　whirled　and　tensed　his　body　into　a　bat　stance。　Petrov　released　his　grip。　The　Russian　was　smiling；　but　his　eyes　were　deadly　serious。
　
　〃I　think　you'd　better　not　go　that　way；〃　he　said。　Austin　followed　Petrov's　gaze。　A　guard　was　working　his　way　through　the　crowd。　He　looked　straight　at　Austin　and　spoke　to　a　microphone　in　the　lapel　of　his　suit。　Austin　let　Petrov　guide　him　into　one　door　of　the　salon；　around　the　dance　floor；　then　through　the　other　door　and　out　onto　the　deck。　They　headed　toward　a　stairway；　but　this　too　had　a　tall　guard　stationed　at　it。　The　man　had　a　hand　cupped　next　to　his　ear；　listening　to　his　radio。
　
　Wearing　a　broad　smile；　Petrov　went　up　to　him　and　said　something　in　Russian。　The　guard　responded　with　a　suspicious　glare　and　reached　for　the　gun　inside　his　jacket。　Petrov　drove　his　fist　into　the　man's　midsection。　The　guard　doubled　over；　gasping　for　breath；　and　when　he　came　up　for　air；　Austin　was　waiting　with　a　right　cross。　The　big　man　tumbled　like　a　big　tree　felled　by　a　lumberjack。
　
　Stepping　over　the　fallen　guard；　they　raced　down　the　stairs　to　the　deck　below。　Austin　saw　a　door　like　the　one　used　on　the　other　side　of　the　ship　for　the　guest　shuttles。　Petrov　worked　the　latch　and　pushed　the　door　open。　Austin　wondered　if　they　were　going　to　have　to　swim　for　it　when　a　shaft　of　light　fell　on　a　powerboat。　The　motor　was　idling；　and　the　man　at　the　wheel　grinned　and　waved　when　he　saw　Petrov。
　
　〃I　took　the　liberty　of　arranging　alternative　transportation；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　〃I　thought　you　came　alone。〃
　〃Never　trust　a　former　KGB　man。〃
　
　Austin　scolded　himself。　Unlike　Petrov；　he　had　underestimated　the　determination　of　his　foe。　He　had　been　so　eager　to　confront　Razov　that　he　had　neglected　his　own　escape　plans。　He　vowed　to　praise　Ivan　later　for　his　meticulous　attention　to　detail。　He　stepped　from　the　ship　onto　the　deck　of　the　powerboat；　Petrov　followed　and　Petrov's　man　ratcheted　up　the　throttle　several　notches。　The　boat　surged　forward；　almost　pitching　Austin　and　Petrov　into　the　water；　as　the　snarling　outboard　motor　pushed　it　up　on　plane。
　
　Austin　looked　back　at　the　brightly　lit　ship　and　chuckled　as　he　imagined　the　reaction　of　Razov　and　his　thugs　to　their　escape。　His　triumph　lasted　only　a　second；　however。　Silent　gunfire　raked　the　boat；　ing　not　from　the　ship　but　from　the　harbor　itself。　Though　there　was　no　sound；　the　muzzle　flashes　were　clearly　visible　in　the　darkness；　and　the　hail　of　bullets　stitched　their　way　across　the　body　of　the　helmsman。　He　let　out　a　soggy　yell　before　he　crumpled　over　the　wheel；　and　the　boat　careened　off　at　a　wild　angle。
　
　Petrov　pulled　the　man　away　from　the　wheel　and　Austin　grabbed　the　helm。　Spotlight　beams　converged　on　the　powerboat。　Razov　was　no　fool。　He'd　stationed　a　picket　line　of　his　gunmen　in　boats　around　the　yacht。
　
　Another　volley　raked　the　boat。　There　was　only　one　way　past　the　guard　boats；　and　that　was　through　them；　Austin　concluded。　He　steered　toward　a　gap　between　spotlights；　and　the　boat　shot　between　the　picket　line。　Razov's　guards　held　their　fire　for　fear　of　hitting　each　other　in　the　cross　fire；　but　once　Austin　was　in　the　open　harbor；　they　let　fly　with　everything　they　had。
　
　The　water　around　the　fleeing　boat　exploded　with　miniature　geysers。　A　few　shots　found　the　windshield　and　shattered　the　glass。　Petrov　clutched　his　head　and　fell　to　the　deck。　Austin　ducked　low　and　wrung　every　ounce　of　speed　he　could　out　of　the　motor。　The　boat　was　fast；　but　the　pursuers　were　slightly　faster。　Spotlights　were　gaining　on　both　sides。
　
　Austin　glanced　toward　shore。　They'd　never　make　it　。　。　。　and　then　another　possible　refuge　offered　itself。　Dead　ahead；　her　masts　and　sails　illuminated　by　deck　lights；　was　Old　Ironsides。
　
　A　volley　of　slugs　from　a　flanking　pursuer　slammed　into　the　side　of　the　boat　at　the　waterline　and　blasted　a　row　of　holes　in　the　fiberglass。　Austin　tried　to　keep　the　boat　on　plane；　but　the　holes　were　too　big　and　the　boat　quickly　swamped。　The　outboard　motor　pushed　on　until　it　died　with　a　smoky　gasp。　The　boat　went　under　like　a　diving　submarine。　Austin　found　himself　floating　in　Boston　Harbor。　Petrov　went　under。　Austin　dove　after　him；　grabbed　the　Russian　by　the　neck　and　pulled　him　to　the　surface；　where　he　was　greeted　by　a　bright　light　shining　in　his　eyes；　and　he　could　hear　the　sound　of　voices　shouting。
　
　
　STRONG　HANDS　REACHED　down；　grabbed　Austin　by　the　arms　and　the　scruff　of　his　jacket　and　pulled　him；　dripping；　from　the　chill　water。　He　wiped　his　eyes　and　saw　that　he　was　in　a　double…ended　boat　about　thirty　feet　long。　A　dozen　men　wearing　white　navy　uniforms　and　black　neckerchiefs　pulled　at　long　oars　with　practiced　strokes。　Petrov　was　stretched　out　at　Austin's　feet；　blood　streaming　from　a　wound　on　his　head。　He　gave　Austin　a　weak　wave。
　
　〃All　you　all　right；　sir？〃　said　a　young　man　who　sat　next　to　Austin　in　the　stem；　his　hand　on　the　tiller。　Over　his　white　sailor's　uniform　he　wore　a　long　black　coat　with　brass　buttons　down　the　front；　a　black　neckerchief　and　a　shiny　black…brimmed　hat。
　
　〃A　little　waterlogged。　Thanks　for　hauling　us　out　of　the　harbor。〃
　
　The　steersman　extended　his　free　hand。　〃Josh　Slade。　I'm　the　officer　of　the　deck　on　board　the　U。S。S。　Constitution。　We　saw　you　from　up　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　Old　Ironsides；　which　sat　in　the　water　a　few　hundred　feet　away；　her　three　tall　masts　brightly　illuminated　by　floodlights。
　
　〃My　name　is　Kurt　Austin。　I'm　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　〃What's　NUMA　doing　in　these　parts？〃　Slade　gave　him　a　funny　look　as　he　asked　the　question。　Austin　brought　his　hand　up　to　his　face　and　felt　his　fake　nose。
　
　It　was　hanging　half　off　from　the　effects　of　the　dunk　in　the　harbor。　Austin　ripped　the　nose　off　and　tossed　it　over　the　side。
　
　〃Long　story；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃How's　my　friend？〃
　〃Looks　like　the　bleeding　has　stopped。　We'll　give　him　first　aid　when　we　get　back　on　board。〃
　
　Music　from　Razov's　yacht　drifted　across　the　water。　Austin　hoped　Kaela　and　Lombardo　were　all　right。　He　saw　no　sign　of　the　chase　boats　and　their　gun…happy　crews；　but　instinct　and　experience　told　him　they　hadn't　gone　far。
　
　〃Did　anyone　see　the　powerboats　that　were　following　us？〃
　〃Just　a　glimpse。　They　were　right　on　your　tail；　but　when　you　got　into　trouble；　they　disappeared。　We　couldn't　figure　out　why　they　didn't　stop　to　help。　Don't　know　where　they　went。　We　were　busy　launching　the　captain's　gig　and　didn't　pay　much　attention。〃
　〃Lucky　you　were　here。　It　would　have　been　a　long　swim　back　to　land。〃
　〃I'll　say。　Normally　we　wouldn't　be　out　here　this　late。　The　Constitution　does　one　turnaround　cruise　a　year；　on　the　Fourth　of　July。　We　were　taking　the　ship　out　on　a　midnight　cruise。　Got　the　m