cc.fireice-第66部分

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　〃I　was　going　to　get　a　big　cut　of　the　methane　hydrates　production　off　the　United　States。　It　would　have　been　worth　billions；〃　he　said；　his　voice　shaky。
　
　〃Now　that　you've　heard　the　real　reason　behind　those　explorations；　have　you　changed　your　mind？〃
　〃Of　course　I　have！　You　heard　me　in　the　Oval　Office。　I'm　the　one　who　took　the　hard　line。　I　wanted　to　go　after　Razov　tooth　and　nail。〃
　〃I'm　sure　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　fact　that　if　Razov　were　blown　out　of　the　water；　your　secret　would　be　safe。〃
　
　A　wan　smile　crossed　Sparkman's　lips。　〃You're　not　a　man　known　to　dillydally；　are　you；　Admiral？　All　right。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃First　of　all；　I　want　you　to　know　that　if　one　word　of　what　transpired　in　the　Oval　Office　this　morning　gets　back　to　Razov；　I'll　see　that　you　are　pursued　by　the　hounds　of　hell。〃
　〃I　may　be　greedy；　but　I'm　not　a　traitor；　Admiral。　There　is　no　way　I　would　aid　and　abet　Razov　after　what　I've　learned　of　his　plans。〃
　〃Good。　Second；　as　soon　as　this　is　over；　I　want　you　to　submit　your　resignation。〃
　〃I　can't　…　〃
　〃You　can　and　you　will。　Or　else　your　role　in　this　scheme　will　be　played　out　on　CNN　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Agreed？〃
　
　Sparkman's　face　had　a　haunted　look。　〃Agreed；〃　he　whispered。
　
　〃There's　one　other　thing。　Tell　Razov　that　the　U。S。　is　still　trying　to　figure　out　why　the　NR…1　was　hijacked。　A　little　disinformation　couldn't　hurt。〃
　
　Sparkman　nodded。　
　
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Vice　President。　I　won't　waste　any　more　of　your　time。　I　know　you've　got　a　lot　to　do　carrying　out　the　president's　orders。〃
　
　Sparkman　squared　his　shoulders。　〃I'll　have　someone　from　my　office　stay　in　close　contact　so　we　can　coordinate　our　planning。〃
　
　The　two　men　parted　without　shaking　hands；　with　Sparkman　heading　back　to　the　White　House。　Sandecker　strode　to　the　parking　lot；　where　the　others　awaited　him。　He　was　angry　at　having　to　destroy　a　man's　career；　angry　that　Sparkman　had　been　such　a　fool。　His　blue　eyes　blazed　with　a　cold　fire　as　he　slid　behind　the　wheel　of　the　Jeep　and　said；　〃Gentlemen；　I　think　it's　time　we　put　Mr。　Razov's　wolfhounds　in　the　dog　pound。〃
　
　…34
　OFF　THE　COAST　OF　BOSTON
　
　IN　THE　EVENT　I　ever　write　my　memoirs；〃　Zavala　said；　〃What　exactly　is　going　on？〃
　〃This　is　a　scientific　mission　being　undertaken　by　Siberian　Pest　Control　on　a　U。S。　Navy　submarine；　supervised　by　NUMA；〃　Austin　said。　〃Officially；　it　doesn't　exist。〃
　〃Maybe　I　won't　write　my　memoirs；〃　Zavala　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。
　
　〃Cheer　up；〃　Austin　said；　glancing　around　the　spacious　wardroom。　〃No　one　would　believe　you　anyhow。〃
　
　Austin　had　to　raise　his　voice　to　be　heard　above　the　raucous　voices　of　a　dozen　tough…faced　men　dressed　in　black　mando　uniforms。　They　were　at　the　far　end　of　the　room　smearing　black　and　green　camouflage　paint　on　their　faces。　The　exercise　produced　laughter　and　jokes　that　rose　in　decibel　level；　stoked　by　slugs　from　the　vodka　bottle　being　passed　around。　Petrov；　who　was　dressed　for　bat　like　the　others；　dabbed　paint　on　his　cheek；　hiding　his　scar；　and　made　a　remark　in　Russian　that　provoked　great　hilarity　among　his　men。　One　man　started　to　howl　and　pounded　him　on　the　back　with　sufficient　force　to　break　the　rib　cage　of　an　average　person。
　
　Petro　grabbed　the　bottle　and　came　over　to　Austin　and　Zavala。
　
　Austin　said；　〃Sounds　like　amateur　night　at　the　Kremlin　edy　Club。　What　was　the　big　joke？〃
　
　Petrov　laughed　and　offered　the　vodka。
　
　Austin　declined　and　Zavala　said；　〃Thanks；　I'm　a　tequila　man。〃
　
　Petrov　seemed　more　in　his　element　than　Austin　had　ever　seen　him。　〃I　reminded　my　men　of　an　old　Russian　proverb：　'Live　with　wolves；　howl　like　a　wolf。'　〃　Noting　Austin's　blank　look；　he　said；　〃It's　like　your　saying　about　birds　of　a　feather。〃　Seeing　that　his　explanation　still　fell　short；　Petrov　said；　〃I'll　explain　later。〃　He　daubed　Austin's　forehead　and　cheeks　with　paint；　Indian　fashion。　〃Now　you're　properly　prepared　for　action。〃
　〃Thanks；　Ivan；〃　Austin　said；　pleting　the　job。　〃Sure　you're　up　to　a　field　operation？〃
　〃Are　you　implying　that　I'm　too　old？　As　I　recall；　I'm　a　month　younger　than　…　〃
　〃I　know；〃　Austin　said。　〃My　dossier：　Don't　be　so　touchy。　I　was　thinking　about　your　injuries　from　our　fun　night　in　Boston　Harbor。〃
　〃A　wonderful　battle。　I　will　never　forget　the　way　you　swung　over　the　deck　like　Tarzan　of　the　apes。　I　have　a　few　scratches。　Nothing　that　would　slow　me　down。〃
　
　Austin　jerked　his　head　toward　Petrov's　men。　〃Hope　the　same　goes　for　your　men。　Maybe　we　should　give　them　Breathalyzer　tests。〃
　
　Petrov　dismissed　the　ment　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃I　would　trust　any　of　those　men　with　my　life；　drunk　or　sober。　You　worry　too　much。　A　few　shots　of　vodka　before　battle　is　a　tradition　in　the　Russian　military。　It　was　the　secret　weapon　we　used　to　defeat　Napoleon　and　Hitler。　When　the　time　es；　my　bandits　will　carry　out　the　mission　with　precision　and　courage。〃
　
　Austin　glanced　toward　a　young　sailor　who　had　stepped　through　the　door。　〃Looks　like　that　time　is　now；　Ivan。〃
　
　The　seeds　of　the　joint　operation　had　been　hatched　after　Austin　had　returned　to　his　office　following　the　White　House　meeting。　Petrov　had　been　waiting　for　him。　When　Austin　described　the　plan；　Petrov　immediately　volunteered　his　men　to　board　the　yacht。　Austin　checked　with　Sandecker；　who　liked　the　idea　and　got　an　okay　from　the　vice…president。　Russians　boarding　a　Russian　yacht　would　add　another　layer　of　insulation　between　the　mission　and　the　president。
　
　The　sailor　surveyed　the　painted　faces；　trying　to　pick　out　someone　in　mand。　Austin　waved　him　over。
　
　〃Captain　says　we're　ready　anytime　you　are。〃
　
　Petrov　barked　a　mand　to　his　men。　The　transformation　was　startling。　The　horseplay　came　to　a　halt　and　the　bottle　of　vodka　vanished。　The　grins　were　replaced　by　firm　jaws　and　stony　expressions　of　determination。　Hands　reached　for　automatic　weapons；　and　a　chorus　of　metallic　clicks　echoed　throughout　the　room　as　loads　were　checked。　Within　seconds；　the　ragtag　gang　had　changed　into　a　fierce…eyed　fighting　force。
　
　Ivan　gave　Austin　an　I…told…you…so　smirk。　〃After　you；〃　he　said。
　
　Austin　grabbed　the　pack　holding　his　Bowen；　and　with　Zavala　and　the　others　behind　him；　followed　the　sailor　to　the　control　room。　Captain　Madison　lifted　his　eyes　from　the　periscope　and　said；　〃We　surface　in　exactly　three　minutes。　The　target　is　one　hundred　yards　away。　Seas　look　fairly　calm。　You're　in　luck；　the　clouds　are　covering　the　moon。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　allowing　my　men　the　use　of　your　vessel；　Captain；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　Madison　scratched　his　head。　〃This　is　a　first　for　me；　but　if　your　country　and　mine　can　cooperate　in　space；　why　not　under　the　sea？〃　He　turned　to　Austin。　〃Someone　at　NUMA's　got　a　lot　of　pull。　It's　not　anyone　who　can　yank　a　U。S。　Navy　missile　sub　off　its　usual　patrol　for　what　seems　to　be；　if　you'll　pardon　the　expression；　a　renegade　special…ops　mission。〃
　
　The　four…hundred…twenty…five…foot　Benjamin　Franklin　was　one　of　four　subs　in　its　class　that　had　been　recruited　because　it　was　equipped　for　special　operations。　Even　Sandecker's　considerable　influence　wouldn't　have　superseded　naval　orders　without　approval；　however　masked；　from　the　highest　level。
　
　Austin　said；　〃This　mission　wouldn't　have　gotten　off　the　ground　if　it　weren't　crucial。〃
　〃Good　luck；　then；〃　the　captain　said。　〃We'll　standby　as　long　as　we　have　to。　Call　us　when　you　need　a　lift　home。〃
　〃You'll　be　the　first　to　know。〃　Austin　went　over　to　a　bank　of　puter　screens。
　
　〃We're　heading　out；　Hiram；〃　he　said。
　
　Yaeger　sat　in　front　of　a　keyboard　where　one　of　the　sub's　electronics　people　was　explaining　the　vessel's　puter　setup。　Sandecker　had　been　reluctant　to　let　Yaeger　go　on　the　mission；　but　Austin　had　pressed　his　case；　saying　that　Hiram's　puter　expertise　could　be　vital。　The　admiral　relented　after　Austin　had　said　he　would　bring　Yaeger　aboard　only　if　the　yacht's　control　center　had　been　secured。
　
　Yaeger　shook　hands　with　Austin　and　wished　him　good　luck。　〃I'm　still　working　to　decipher　the　last　piece　of　code；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　let　you　know　if　I　break　through　the　wall。〃
　
　At　a　signal　from　Austin；　Petrov　gave　his　men　a　series　of　mands。　The　boarding　party　made　its　way　through　the　sub　and　crowded　into　the　space　under　the　loading　hatch。　A　crewman　climbed　a　ladder　and　opened　the　hatch　cover；　letting　in　a　cold　spray。　Austin　and　Zavala　went　first；　climbing　through　the　hatch　to　emerge　on　the　deck　behind　the　sail。　Petrov's　men　joined　them　and　passed　up　two　large　plastic　canisters。　The　canisters　were　opened；　and　pressed　air　hissed　into　the　inflatable　boats　inside。　The　sub's　crewman　whispered；　〃Good　luck；〃　and　the　hatch　cover　closed　with　a　soft　clunk。
　
　Moonlight；　filtered　by　the　clouds；　gave　the　sea　a　dark　pewter　cast。　The　tall　sail；　with　its　horizontal　hydroplanes；　looked　like　a　giant　robot　from　a　science…fiction　movie。　Austin　squinted　through　the　gloom　at　the　silhouetted　yacht。　Unlike　its　appearance　in　Boston　Harbor；　where　it　had　been　lit　up　like　a　Mississippi　riverboat；　the　yacht　was　dark；　except　for　a　few　lights　on　its　radio　masts　and　the　yellow　glow　of　cabin　windows。
　
　The　satellites　had　watched　the　yacht　change　its　course　along　the　coast　of　Maine　and　head　south；　until　it　finally　stopped　off　the　coast　of　Massachusetts　about　fifty　miles　from　the　Ataman　Explorer　/；　which　was　due…east　of　Boston。　The　other　two　Ataman　ships　had　halted　eastward　of　Charleston　and　Miami。
　
　The　men　grabbed　their　paddles；　pushed　the　boats　off　the　slippery　deck　into　the　water　and　clambered　aboard。　Donning　their　night…vision　goggles；　they　silently　dipped　their　paddles；　using　precise　strokes　that　propelled　the　bobbing　craft　through　the　mounding　seas。
　
　The　cool　air　stabbed　like　an　ice　pick　through　Austin's　layers　of　clothing　and　he　almost　regretted　not　taking　a　slug　of　vodka　himself　to　warm　his　innards。　He　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　sub；　which　had　slipped　under　the　sea　with　hardly　a　gurgle。　The　sub　would　remain　on　station　with　only　a　few　feet　of　its　conning　tower　above　the　surface。
　
　Within　minutes；　the　boats　were　nudging　the　towering　steel　walls　that　formed　the　ship's　sides。　Austin　felt　like　a　minnow　next　to　a　whale。　Ordinarily；　he　would　say　that　the　odds　against　the　mission　were　considerable；　but　Max　had　leveled　the　playing　field。　As　Yaeger　had　poked　around　in　t