cc.fireice-第72部分

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　〃Dear　God；〃　Dodson　said。　He　pointed　his　light　at　the　brown；　muddy　water。　Only　a　few　bubbles　marked　Razov's　position　and　soon　they；　too；　were　swept　away　by　the　slow…moving　current。
　
　〃Long　live　the　tsar；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Then　he　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　house。
　
　…38…
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　AUSTIN　ROWED　IN　the　misty　golden　light；　so　intent　on　his　strokes　that　he　barely　noticed　the　powerboat　that　crossed　the　river　until　it　took　up　a　position　behind　him。　Austin　stopped　and　the　boat　did　the　same。　He　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　forehead；　took　a　pull　from　his　plastic　water　bottle　and　rested　on　his　oar　handles；　squinting　against　the　glare。　As　he　gazed　back　at　the　unmoving　boat；　Austin　began　to　wonder　if　life　still　pulsed　in　a　stray　tentacle　of　Razov's　vast　organization。
　
　As　a　test；　he　started　to　row。　He　had　only　taken　a　few　strokes　before　the　boat　stirred　and　followed　him　again；　keeping　an　even　distance。　He　let　the　scull　coast　to　a　halt。　The　powerboat　stopped　again。
　
　A　quick　glance　up　and　down　the　river　told　Austin　he　was　on　his　own。　The　river　was　empty　of　boats；　which　was　why　he　rowed　so　early。　Austin　set　the　scull　into　a　wide　easy　turn　and　pointed　the　needle…sharp　bow　back　the　way　he　had　e。　He　picked　up　the　pace；　keeping　in　mind　that　rowing　was　more　technical　precision　than　power。　As　he　drew　nearer；　he　saw　that　the　boat　had　a　white　hull；　although　he　couldn't　tell　how　many　people　were　aboard。　He　pulled　harder；　and　the　scull　shot　toward　the　boat　with　the　unerring　accuracy　of　a　cruise　missile。
　
　He　was　nearing　a　section　of　shoreline　that　bulged　into　the　Potomac　like　a　beer　gut。　Austin　knew　that　the　current　flowing　near　the　knob　of　land　described　a　peculiar　curlicue　that　could　suck　an　unwary　boater　in　close　to　land　before　spitting　him　out。　Although　his　rowing　created　a　straight…line　illusion；　he　was　actually　being　drawn　closer　to　the　bulge。
　
　On　his　next　stroke；　Austin　kept　one　oar　out　of　the　water　and　used　the　other　as　an　impromptu　rudder。　The　scull　veered　suddenly　and　he　finessed　the　abrupt　change　in　direction　without　overturning；　pointing　the　scull　toward　land。　He　heard　the　angry　buzz　of　the　outboard　motor。
　
　He　had　hoped　to　catch　the　watcher　off…guard　and　hadn't　expected　such　a　swift　reaction。　The　powerboat　quickly　rose　up　on　plane。　Austin　saw　he'd　never　make　shore　and　that　he'd　be　at　his　most　vulnerable；　broadside　to　the　approaching　boat。　He　jettisoned　his　original　plan；　did　another　quick　turn　and　sent　the　scull　directly　toward　the　fast…approaching　powerboat。　The　boat　was　slightly　shorter　than　the　scull；　but　seen　from　water　level　it　seemed　to　loom　like　the　QE2。　Any　collision　with　the　arrow…slim　scull　would　be　as　devastating　as　an　encounter　with　an　ocean　liner。　Austin　hoped　that　the　boat　would　veer　off　at　the　last　moment；　or　at　the　worst；　that　the　hulls　would　e　together　with　a　glancing　blow。　Just　when　they　seemed　about　to　collide；　he　hoisted　one　oar　on　his　shoulder　as　if　preparing　to　throw　a　javelin；　and　braced　himself。
　
　The　motorboat　throttled　back；　came　off　plane　and　settled　down　in　the　water；　where　hull　resistance　brought　it　almost　to　a　stop　a　few　feet　away。　Austin　heard　a　familiar　barking　laugh　and　looked　up　to　see　Petrov's　cold…chiseled　face　looking　down　at　him。　The　Russian　was　wearing　a　baseball　cap　and　a　Hawaiian　shirt　with　palm　trees　and　bikini…clad　women　on　it。
　
　Austin　replaced　the　oar　in　its　outrigger。　His　heart　was　still　thumping　in　his　chest。　〃Hello；　Ivan。　I　was　wondering　when　you'd　show　up　again。　How'd　you　know　I'd　be　out　here？〃
　
　Petrov　shrugged。
　
　Austin　smiled　and　said；　〃You　might　be　interested　to　know　that　I　checked　into　your　dossier。　Seems　you've　only　bee　…　Ivan　Petrov　in　the　last　couple　of　years。〃
　〃As　the　poet　said；　what's　in　a　name？〃
　〃When　do　you　leave　for　home？〃
　〃Tomorrow。　Your　president　has　turned　the　tsar's　treasure　over　to　my　country。　I'll　be　returning　to　Russia　as　a　hero。　There's　even　talk　of　political　office。　With　the　disappearance　of　Razoy；　his　Cossack　forces　are　in　disarray　and　the　moderates　have　a　chance　of　staying　in　power。〃
　〃Congratulations。　You　deserve　it。〃
　〃Thank　you；　but　to　be　honest；　can　you　really　see　me　sitting　in　the　parliament？〃
　〃Guess　not；　Ivan；〃　Austin　said。　〃You'll　always　be　a　man　of　the　shadows。〃
　〃Do　you　blame　me？　It's　where　I　belong　and　where　I'm　the　most　fortable。〃
　〃Maybe　you　could　answer　a　couple　of　questions　before　you　take　on　your　next　identity。　Was　Razov　really　descended　from　the　tsar？〃
　〃That's　what　he　was　told　from　his　father's　deathbed。　When　he　met　Boris；　the　mad　monk　saw　it　as　a　marriage　made　in　heaven。　We　have　definite　proof　that　Boris　was　directly　descended　from　Rasputin。〃
　〃The　original　mad　monk？〃　Petrov　nodded。
　
　Austin　shook　his　head　in　amazement。　〃And　Razov？〃
　〃His　father　was　ill；　advised。　The　village　priest　who　kept　the　family　records　was　a　bit　of　a　drunkard。　He　had　heard　the　story　of　the　tsar's　daughter　surviving；　and　used　it　to　pry　vodka　money　from　Razov's　father。〃
　〃So　there　were　no　descendants　from　Maria。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that。〃　Petrov's　lips　widened　in　an　enigmatic　smile。
　
　Austin　raised　an　eyebrow。
　
　〃The　Grand　Duchess　Maria　had　two　descendants　who　are　still　living。　A　man　and　a　woman。　I've　talked　to　both　of　them。　They　are　happy　in　their　lives　and　aware　of　the　repercussions　that　would　result　if　they　revealed　themselves。　I　will　respect　their　wish　for　privacy。　Now　I　have　a　question。　How　did　you　know　Razov　was　headed　to　see　Lord　Dodson？〃
　〃We　searched　his　yacht　and　found　some　papers　indicating　that　the　crown　had　been　sent　to　Dodson's　grandfather。　We　hopped　a　NUMA　jet　to　England。　Razov　was　traveling　alone；　luckily。　I　don't　think　he　wanted　anyone　to　know　he　had　to　steal　the　crown。　Sorry　we　couldn't　save　it。〃
　〃Don't　be。　It's　probably　better　off　where　it　is。　If　ever　an　inanimate　object　harbored　a　malignancy；　that　was　it。　Every　one　of　those　jewels　was　paid　for　with　the　blood　and　sweat　of　the　serfs。〃　Petrov　watched　a　hawk　making　a　lazy　circle　over　the　river　and　said；　〃Well；　Mr。　Austin　…　〃
　〃Kurt。　We're　beyond　formalities。〃
　
　Petrov　saluted。　〃Until　we　meet　again；　Kurt。〃　He　kicked　up　the　throttle　and　raced　down　the　river　until　the　boat　disappeared　around　a　curve。　Austin　resumed　his　rowing　and　was　back　at　the　boathouse　in　a　few　minutes。　He　stowed　the　scull　and　climbed　the　stairs　that　took　him　to　the　main　level。　Stripping　down　to　his　shorts；　he　made　a　fresh　pot　of　Jamaican　coffee　and　gathered　the　ingredients　for　a　gourmet　breakfast。
　
　〃You're　certainly　an　early　riser。〃　Austin　turned　to　see　Kaela　Dorn　ing　down　the　stairs　from　the　turret　bedroom。　She　was　wearing　a　silk　pajama　top　and　a　smile。
　
　〃Hope　I　didn't　wake　you；〃　Austin　said。
　
　She　came　over　and　inhaled　the　fragrance　from　the　coffeepot。　〃I　can't　think　of　a　nicer　way　to　wake　up。〃　Her　brow　wrinkled　as　she　traced　some　of　the　scars　on　Austin's　tanned　back　with　her　fingers。　〃I　didn't　see　these　in　the　dark　last　night。〃
　〃You　had　your　eyes　closed。〃
　〃So　did　you。　I　must　say　we　made　up　for　all　those　dates　we　didn't　have。〃
　〃Hope　it　was　worth　the　wait。〃　She　kissed　him　lightly。
　
　〃Was　it　ever。〃

　
　The　coffee　was　ready。　He　poured　two　steaming　mugs；　and　they　went　out　on　the　deck　overlooking　the　shimmering　river；　The　air　was　fresh　and　clear。　Austin　raised　his　mug　in　toast；　〃Here's　to　your　new　career　with　CNN。〃
　〃Thanks　to　you；　it　never　would　have　happened　without　my　exclusive　on　the　Ataman　plot；　I'm　going　to　miss　Mickey　and　Dundee；　though。　I　don't　know　how　I　can　repay　you；〃　He　gave　her　a　Groucho　Marx　leer。　〃You　already　have。〃
　〃You　mean　to　say　that　you　gave　me　that　exclusive　just　so　you　could　get　into　in　my　pants？〃
　〃Can　you　think　of　a　better　reason？〃
　
　She　put　her　finger　on　her　cheek　and　cocked　her　head。　〃No。　Not　really。〃
　
　Austin　had　called　Kaela　before　he　left　London　to　tell　her　he　was　ing　home。　They'd　arranged　to　meet　in　Washington　after　he　reported　to　NUMA。　As　promised；　he　gave　her　an　exclusive　on　Razov's　plot。　He　had　to　leave　out　some　details；　but　she　had　enough　leads　to　chase　down　on　her　own。　The　story　ran　for　three　nights　on　all　the　networks；　and　all　at　once　Kaela　was　the　hottest　journalistic　property　in　town　…　so　much　in　demand　that　Austin　was　surprised　when　she　called　and　suggested　they　get　together　for　dinner　at　a　quiet　inn　in　the　Virginia　countryside。　The　reunion　had　then　shifted　to　Austin's　boathouse；　and　nature　had　taken　its　course。
　
　Austin　excused　himself　and　went　to　the　front　door；　which　looked　out　on　a　rolling　green　lawn。　He　gave　a　whistle；　and　two　white　blurs　shot　out　of　a　copse　of　trees　and　raced　across　the　lawn。　The　excited　wolfhounds　followed　him　back　onto　the　deck。
　
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　these　characters？〃　Kaela　said；　scratching　Sasha's　bony　head。
　
　〃They'll　be　my　houseguests　for　the　time　being。　I'll　find　a　new　home　for　them　when　I　go　on　my　next　assignment。　In　the　meantime；　I'd　like　to　take　you　on　a　boat　ride。〃
　
　She　laughed　lightly。　〃What　kind　of　boat　do　you　have？〃
　
　Austin　said；　〃NUMA　and　I　recently　came　into　possession　of　a　very　large　yacht。〃
　
　She　put　her　arms　around　him　and　gave　him　a　long　and　lingering　kiss。　In　a　husky　voice　whose　tone　was　unmistakable；　she　said；　〃Just　make　sure　they　have　room　service。〃
　
　
　
　
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