cc.fireice-第71部分

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　〃Then　you've　made　a　big　mistake。　Everything　in　this　house　is　mine。〃
　
　The　man's　lips　widened　in　a　sardonic　smile。　〃Everything？〃
　
　Dodson　hesitated。　〃Yes。〃
　
　The　man　took　a　step　closer。　〃e；　Lord　Dodson。　It's　not　dignified　for　a　proper　English　gentleman　to　be　caught　in　a　lie。〃
　〃You'd　better　leave。　I've　called　the　police。〃
　〃Tut…tut。　Another　lie。　I　cut　your　telephone　line　after　I　had　a　little　chat　with　your　housekeeper。〃
　〃Jenna？　Where　is　she？〃
　〃In　a　safe　place。　For　now。　But　if　you　don't　start　telling　the　truth；　I　will　have　to　kill　her。〃
　
　Dodson　had　no　doubt　the　man　meant　what　he　said。　〃All　right。　What　is　it　that　you　want？〃
　〃I　think　you　know。　The　crown　of　Ivan　the　Terrible。〃
　

　〃What　makes　you　think　I　have　this…what　is　it？　Some　sort　of　Russian　crown；　you　say？〃
　〃Don't　try　my　patience　with　your　futile　bluff。　When　I　failed　to　find　the　crown　with　the　other　tsarist　treasure　on　the　Odessa　Star；　I　did　what　any　experienced　hunter　does。　I　backtracked。　The　crown　was　with　the　tsar's　family　until　they　arrived　in　Odessa。　But　the　tsarina　had　a　premonition　that　she　and　her　family　would　never　plete　their　journey。　She　wanted　to　make　sure　that　even　if　the　family　died；　the　crown　would　find　its　way　to　a　surviving　Romanov　who　would　use　it　to　reclaim　the　Russian　throne。　She　entrusted　the　crown　to　an　English　agent。〃
　〃That　would　have　been　long　before　my　time。〃
　〃Of　course；　but　we　both　know　that　the　agent　was　in　the　employ　of　your　grandfather。〃
　
　Dodson　started　to　protest；　but　he　could　see　it　was　indeed　futile。　This　man　knew　everything。　〃The　crown　is　nothing　to　me。　If　I　give　it　to　you；　I　must　have　your　word　that　you　will　let　my　housekeeper　go。　She　has　no　knowledge　of　any　of　this。〃
　
　〃I　have　no　use　for　the　old　woman。　Take　me　to　the　crown。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Dodson　said。　〃Follow　me。〃
　
　Dodson　led　the　way　to　a　hallway　and　opened　the　doors　of　a　walk…in　closet。　He　cleared　out　the　winter　jackets　and　other　clothing　hanging　in　the　closet；　then　he　pushed　boots　and　shoes　aside　and　stepped　in。　He　lifted　a　section　of　floor　and　pressed　a　button　set　under　the　wood。　The　back　wall　of　the　closet　slid　noiselessly　aside。　Dodson　turned　on　a　light；　and　with　Razov　close　behind；　he　descended　a　winding　staircase　made　of　stone　blocks。　They　were　in　a　stone…walled　chamber　about　fifteen　feet　square。　Rusty　iron　brackets　stuck　out　of　the　walls。
　
　〃This　is　the　original　Roman　cellar。　They　used　it　to　store　wine　and　vegetables。〃
　〃Spare　me　the　history　lesson；　Lord　Dodson。　The　crown。〃　Dodson　nodded　and　went　over　to　a　pair　of　brackets　set　in　the　wall。　He　twisted　them　both　clockwise。　〃This　is　the　unlocking　mechanism。〃　He　ran　his　hands　down　the　stones　until　his　fingers　found　a　depression。　Then　he　pulled　and　a　section　of　wall；　actually　an　iron　door　faced　with　inch…thick　stones；　creaked　open。　Dodson　stepped　back。　〃There's　your　crown。　Exactly　where　my　grandfather　put　it　nearly　a　hundred　years　ago。〃
　
　The　crown　sat　on　a　pedestal　that　was　covered　with　purple　velvet。
　
　〃Turn　around　and　put　your　hands　behind　your　back；〃　Razov　ordered。
　
　He　bound　Dodson's　hands　and　ankles　with　duct　tape　and　pushed　the　Englishman　down　on　the　floor　so　that　he　sat　with　his　back　to　a　wall。　Then　Razov　tucked　his　pistol　in　his　belt　and　reached　inside　for　the　crown。　It　was　heavier　than　he　thought　and　he　grunted　with　exertion　as　he　hugged　it　to　his　chest。
　
　The　sparkle　of　the　diamonds；　rubies　and　emeralds　covering　the　domed　crown　was　matched　by　the　glitter　in　Razov's　greedy　eyes。
　
　〃Beautiful；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　always　thought　it　was　a　bit　gaudy　myself；〃　Dodson　said。
　
　〃Englishmen；〃　Razov　said　with　contempt。　〃You're　like　your　grandfather；　a　fool。　Neither　one　of　you　could　appreciate　the　power　you　held　in　your　hands。〃
　〃On　the　contrary。　My　grandfather　knew　that　with　the　tsar's　family　dead；　the　appearance　of　the　crown　would　inflame　passions　and　bring　out　any　number　of　claimants；　legitimate　and　otherwise。〃　He　looked　pointedly　at　Razov。　〃Other　countries　would　be　drawn　in。　There　would　be　another　world　war。〃
　〃Instead；　we　got　more　than　half　a　century　of　munism。〃
　〃It　would　have　e　in　time；　anyway。　The　tsarist　regime　would　have　withered　from　corruption。〃
　
　Razov　laughed　and　placed　the　crown　on　his　head。　〃Like　
　
　
　Napoleon；　I　crown　myself。　Behold；　the　next　ruler　of　Russia。〃
　〃I　only　see　a　little　man　making　a　vulgar　display　of　wealth。〃
　
　Razov's　serpent's　eyes　went　flat。　He　cut　another　piece　of　duct　tape　and　slapped　it　over　Dodson's　mouth；　then　he　picked　up　the　crown　and　climbed　up　the　stairs。　At　the　top；　he　paused。　〃You　must　have　read　Poe's　'The　Cask　of　Amontillado。'　Where　the　victim　is　sealed　up　forever？　Perhaps　someday　your　bones　will　be　found。　I　leave　you　here　in　place　of　the　crown。　I'm　afraid　I　must　dispose　of　your　housekeeper。〃　He　stepped　through　the　closet　door　and　into　the　hallway。
　
　His　hands　were　both　full　with　the　crown；　so　he　didn't　close　the　secret　panel　in　the　back　of　the　closet。　He　would　deposit　the　crown　in　the　back　of　the　car；　e　back　and　seal　Dodson　off　for　eternity；　then　kill　the　housekeeper　and　dispose　of　her　body　in　the　river。
　
　As　Razov　carried　his　burden　toward　the　back　of　the　house；　he　heard　a　rap　at　the　front　door。　He　froze。
　
　Zavala's　voice　called　out。　〃Lord　Dodson。　Are　you　home？〃　Then　the　knock　again；　louder　this　time。　Razov　turned　and　headed　for　the　kitchen。
　
　Dodson　had　left　the　door　unlocked　when　he　went　out　to　see　if　the　wind　was　blowing。　Zavala　and　Austin　stepped　inside；　guns　in　their　hands。　Zavala　called　out　again。　They　made　their　way　down　the　hall　and　stopped　at　the　open　closet　where　light　streamed　from　the　secret　chamber。　They　exchanged　glances；　then　Austin　stepped　inside；　Bowen　at　ready；　and　descended　the　stairs　while　Zavala　covered　his　back。
　
　Austin　saw　Lord　Dodson　sitting　on　the　floor　and　peeled　the　tape　from　the　Englishman's　mouth。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　fine。　Go　after　Razov　…　he　has　the　crown。〃　Austin　used　his　Buck　knife　to　cut　the　tape　binding　Dodson's　hands　and　feet；　and　they　climbed　from　the　cellar。　Dodson　smiled　when　he　saw　Joe。　〃A　pleasure　to　see　you　again；　Mr。　Zavala。〃
　〃Nice　to　be　back；　Lord　Dodson。　This　is　my　partner；　Kurt　Austin。〃
　〃I'm　very　pleased　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃The　back　door　is　open；〃　Zavala　said。　〃He　must　have　gone　that　way。〃
　
　Dodson　looked　worried。　〃My　housekeeper。　Have　you　seen　her？〃
　〃If　you're　talking　about　the　large　and　very　angry　lady　we　found　tied　up　in　the　backseat　of　a　rental　car；　she's　fine；〃　Austin　said。　〃We　sent　her　for　the　police。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dodson　said。　〃Razov　may　try　for　the　river　when　he　finds　his　car　is　gone。　There's　a　boat　there　he　may　use　in　an　attempt　to　escape。〃
　
　Zavala　started　for　the　back　door。
　
　〃Wait；〃　Dodson　said。　〃I　know　a　better　way。　e　with　me。〃
　
　To　the　puzzlement　of　the　NUMA　men；　Dodson　led　them　back　through　the　closet　into　the　underground　chamber。　He　twisted　two　more　wall　brackets　and　opened　another　section　of　wall。　〃This　is　an　old　escape　tunnel。　It　es　out　at　the　bottom　of　a　dry　well　near　the　river。　Use　the　hand　and　footholds　to　climb　out。　You　may　be　able　to　get　to　the　boat　ahead　of　that　dreadful　man。　The　crown　will　slow　him　down。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Lord　Dodson；〃　Austin　said；　ducking　his　head　as　he　slipped　through　the　door。
　
　〃Don't　go　into　the　river　after　him；〃　Dodson　called　out。
　
　〃The　shallows　are　dangerous　to　walk　on。　The　mud　is　like　quicksand。　It　can　swallow　a　horse。〃
　
　Austin　and　Zavala　barely　heard　the　warning　as　they　bent　into　a　running　crouch　and　made　their　way　through　the　tunnel。　They　had　no　flashlight　and　had　to　feel　their　way　down　the　narrow；　sloping　passageway。　The　smell　of　stagnant　water　and　rotting　vegetation　grew　stronger。　The　tunnel　ended　abruptly；　and　if　not　for　the　shaft　of　moonlight　they　would　have　slammed　into　the　curved　wall。
　
　Austin　groped　around　the　stones　and　found　the　foot　and　handholds；　then　they　climbed　over　the　low　walls　around　the　well　and　saw　the　small　boathouse　silhouetted　against　the　river's　sheen。　They　made　their　way　to　the　river　and　took　up　their　stations　on　either　side　of　the　pier。
　
　
　Before　long；　they　heard　the　pounding　of　feet　and　heavy　breathing。　Razov　was　running　their　way。　It　seemed　as　if　he　would　walk　directly　into　their　trap；　but　as　he　neared　the　pier；　a　patch　of　sky　opened　in　the　clouds　and　the　riverside　and　Austin's　pale　hair　were　bathed　in　a　silvery　light。　It　was　only　an　instant；　but　Razov　veered　off　to　avoid　the　ambush　and　ran　along　the　banks　of　the　river。
　
　〃Stop；　Razov！〃　Austin　shouted。　〃It's　no　use。〃
　
　The　crackle　of　broken　branches　came　from　ahead　as　Razov　crashed　through　the　bushes　bordering　the　river。　They　heard　a　splash。　Austin　and　Zavala　followed　the　sound　until　they　stood　on　the　grassy　bank　that　rose　a　few　feet　above　the　river。　Razov　was　trying　to　ford　the　river；　but　had　only　made　it　a　few　yards　from　shore　before　his　feet　became　encased　in　the　soft　bottom　mud。　He　had　tried　to　scramble　back　to　land　without　success。　Now　he　stood　in　the　water　waist　deep；　facing　the　bank；　the　crown　still　clutched　in　his　arms。
　
　〃I　can't　move；〃　he　said。
　
　Austin　remembered　Dodson's　warning　of　quicksand。　He　found　a　limb　broken　off　a　tree　and　extended　it　toward　Razov。　〃Grab　this。〃
　
　Razov　was　sinking　almost　to　his　armpits；　yet　he　made　no　effort　to　reach　for　the　branch。
　
　〃Drop　the　damned　crown！〃　Austin　yelled。
　
　〃No；　I've　waited　too　long。　I　won't　let　it　go。〃
　〃It's　not　worth　your　life；〃　Austin　said。
　
　The　water　had　reached　Razov's　chin；　and　his　reply　was　unintelligible。　He　lifted　the　crown　high　and　placed　it　on　his　head。　The　weight　only　served　to　push　him　under　the　surface　more　quickly。　His　face　disappeared　until　only　the　crown　was　visible；　seemingly　floating　on　the　water；　its　surface　glittering　with　a　silver　fire。　Then　it；　too；　disappeared。
　
　〃Dios　mio；〃　Zavala　said；　reverting　to　his　native　Spanish。　〃What　a　way　to　go。〃
　
　They　heard　a　huffing　and　puffing。　Dodson　had　retrieved　his　rifle　and　ran　toward　them　with　a　flashlight。
　
　〃Where　is　that　scoundrel？〃　Dodson　asked。
　
　〃There。〃　Austin　threw　the　useless　branch　into　the　river　where　Razov　had　disappeared。　〃The　crown；　too。〃
　〃Dear　God；〃　Dodson　said。　He　pointed　his　light　at　the　brown；　muddy　water。