cc.fireice-第9部分

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　The　captain　was　in　no　mood　to　be　told　that　the　job　done　by　NUMA's　public　affairs　department　in　proclaiming　the　agency's　acplishments　helped　loosen　the　congressional　purse　strings　and　attracted　grants　for　projects　like　the　Black　Sea　survey。
　
　〃I've　got　a　suggestion；〃　Austin　volunteered。　〃I'm　not　busy。　What　say　I　take　a　spin　around　the　neighborhood　and　see　if　I　can　spot　them？〃
　
　The　captain's　frown　dissolved　into　a　knowing　grin。　〃You're　not　fooling　me；　Austin。　You've　wanted　to　get　the　Gooney　into　the　air　since　the　day　you　stepped　aboard。〃
　〃It　would　serve　a　dual　purpose。　I　could　test…fly　the　bird　and　look　for　our　wayward　guests　at　the　same　time。〃　And　it　would　be　a　perfect　antidote　for　his　developing　case　of　cabin　fever。
　
　Atwood　ran　his　fingers　through　his　pale　red　hair。　〃Okay；　pal。　Go　for　it。　But　keep　us　appraised　of　your　position　every　few　minutes。　I've　got　enough　trouble　with　those　missing　TV　types。　I　don't　want　to　chase　you　allover　the　Black　Sea　as　well。〃
　
　Austin　thanked　the　captain；　and；　with　a　noticeable　spring　in　his　step；　went　down　to　get　the　Gooney　ready。　The　ultralight　seaplane　had　been　developed　as　a　way　to　extend　a　boat's　visual　reach。　The　radar　that　most　NUMA　ships　carried　could　pick　up　a　gnat　at　ten　miles；　but　at　times　there　was　no　substitute　for　the　human　eye。　Joe　Zavala；　whose　mechanical　mind　bordered　on　brilliant；　had　designed　the　aircraft。　Zavala　had　asked　Austin　to　take　the　plane　aboard　the　Argo　to　test　it　under　real…life　conditions；　but　the　ship　had　been　on　the　go　for　most　of　its　mission　and　Austin　had　been　reluctant　to　ask　the　captain　for　time　to　make　a　test　flight。
　
　The　single…seat　plane　was　named　after　the　gooney　bird；　the　nickname　sailors　gave　the　albatross；　a　seabird　known　for　its　exquisite　beauty　in　flight；　and　clumsiness　taking　off　and　landing。　Austin　inspected　the　aircraft　in　its　deck　hangar。　The　stubby；　ungainly　appearance　didn't　bother　him。　Austin　had　flown　ultralights　before；　and　what　was　important　was　stability　and　ease　of　operation。
　
　The　letters　NUMA　were　painted　in　black　on　the　side。　The　flat…bottomed　fiberglass　hull　had　an　upturned　canoe　nose；　and　fiberglass　floats　supported　by　aluminum　struts　hung　from　both　sides　of　the　hull。　Attached　to　the　floats　and　flanking　the　hull　was　the　manually　operated　retractable　landing　gear　that　allowed　the　Gooney　to　set　down　on　waterways　or　runways。
　
　The　plane　was　hauled　out　onto　the　deck　and　its　narrow；　thirty…foot　Dacron…covered　wings　were　unfolded　and　locked　in　place。　Austin　eased　into　the　snug　cockpit；　and　some　of　the　Argo's　crew　pushed　the　Gooney　down　the　ship's　broad；　slanting　stem　ramp　into　the　sea。　Austin　started　the　power　plant；　threw　off　the　safety　line　and　taxied　to　open　water　to　get　the　feel　of　the　controls。　The　aircraft　handled　well　on　water；　and　he　decided　to　see　what　it　would　do　in　the　air。　He　pointed　the　Gooney　down　an　imaginary　airstrip　and　gave　it　the　throttle。
　
　Powered　by　the　pact　forty…horsepower　engine；　the　Gooney　got　on　plane　quickly　with　no　skidding。　The　aircraft　skimmed　the　wave　tops　for　about　a　hundred　feet；　then　lifted　into　the　air　and　climbed　until　it　was　above　the　survey　ship。　Austin　circled　the　Argo　once；　tipped　his　wings　in　salute；　then　headed　in　a　line　toward　the　Bosporus　Strait　that　connected　the　Black　Sea　with　the　Mediterranean。　He　reasoned　that　the　TV　people；　based　in　Istanbul；　would　be　ing　from　that　direction。
　
　The　Rotax　two…stroke；　twin…cylinder　engine　driving　the　rear…mounted　propeller　could　push　the　blunt…nosed　plane　at　a　top　speed　of　sixty…five　miles　per　hour。　Not　exactly　supersonic；　but　the　plane　handled　like　a　dream；　turning；　climbing　and　diving　without　a　hint　of　a　stall。　Austin　felt　as　free　as　the　seabirds　he'd　seen　wheeling　high　above　the　Argo　in　search　of　scraps　from　the　galley。　He　flew　at　about　a　thousand　feet；　an　altitude　that　allowed　him　to　see　miles　in　every　direction；　cruising　at　fifty…five　miles　per　hour。　The　five…gallon　tank　gave　the　plane　a　range　of　about　one　hundred　and　fifty　miles。
　
　The　air　was　as　clear　as　fine　crystal；　and　the　bright　sun　cast　a　silvery　sheen　on　the　rippled　surface　of　the　water。　He　set　up　a　rough　search　pattern；　running　a　series　of　parallel　lines　that　would　cover　the　greatest　amount　of　territory　in　the　shortest　time。　The　TV　people　had　sent　a　short　radio　message　before　they'd　left　Istanbul；　requesting　the　Argo's　position　and　giving　their　estimated　time　of　arrival。　They　said　they　would　be　traveling　on　a　fishing　boat。　Austin　saw　a　number　of　trawlers；　but　none　appeared　to　be　on　a　direct　course　for　the　Argo。
　
　The　back…and…forth　flight　pattern　quickly　used　up　his　fuel。　He　was　down　to　a　third　of　a　tank；　enough　to　get　back　to　the　ship　with　a　narrow　margin　of　error。　He　checked　his　pass　and　was　about　to　turn　back　to　the　ship；　when　he　spotted　the　wake　of　a　boat　approaching　the　Russian　coast　at　a　high　rate　of　speed。　Curiosity　got　the　best　of　him；　and　he　decided　to　make　a　swing　close　to　land。　He　brought　the　Gooney　down　so　that　he　was　flying　less　than　five　hundred　feet　over　the　water；　and　had　almost　caught　up　with　the　boat　when　suddenly　it　was　caught　by　a　wave　and　flipped　over。
　
　As　Austin　circled；　pondering　his　next　step；　he　noticed　that　the　capsized　inflatable　was　behaving　oddly。　Although　it　was　caught　in　the　pull　of　waves；　it　was　moving　toward　shore　at　an　angle。
　
　Austin　picked　up　his　microphone　and　clicked　the　On　button。
　
　〃Gooney　to　NUMA　ship　Argo。　e　in；　please。〃
　〃Argo　here。〃　Austin　recognized　the　voice　of　the　ship's　captain。　〃How's　the　little　seabird　handle？〃　Atwood　said。
　
　〃Like　a　trained　pterodactyl。　She　practically　flies　herself。　I'm　just　along　for　the　ride。〃
　〃Glad　to　hear　that。　Any　sign　of　those　unbelievable　TV　idiots　from　Unbelievable　Mysteries？〃
　
　Keeping　his　eye　on　the　boat　below；　Austin　said；　〃The　only　mystery　out　here　is　an　overturned　Zodiac。　I　saw　some　people　hanging　on　to　it；　but　they're　gone。〃
　〃What's　your　position？〃
　〃I'm　right　off　the　coast。〃　Austin　scanned　a　craggy　point　of　land　that　jutted　into　the　sea。　〃I'm　looking　at　some　medium…high　sea　cliffs；　with　a　beach　and　dunes　in　between　them。　There's　a　rock　profile　on　a　headland　that　reminds　me　of　Admiral　Sandecker's　profile。　Beard　and　all。〃
　〃I'll　ask　the　navigator。　He's　sailed　these　waters　hundreds　of　times。〃　After　a　pause；　the　voice　came　back。　〃That's　Imam's　Point。　Supposedly　the　face　of　an　old　holy　man。〃
　〃The　boat's　drifted　into　the　surf　line。　Too　rough　for　me　to　set　down　at　sea。〃
　〃What　do　you　want　us　to　do？〃
　〃I'm　going　down　for　a　peek。　I'm　going　to　need　help　if　I　find　anyone。　The　Gooney　wasn't　made　to　carry　passengers。〃
　〃We're　on　our　way。　ETA　in　about　an　hour。〃
　〃Roger。　Will　land　and　see　if　I　can　find　a　bar　that　serves　decent　Stoli　martini。〃
　
　Austin　clicked　off　the　mike　and　checked　the　boat　again。　He　smiled　tightly。　He　hadn't　been　imagining　things。　Three　swimmers　had　broken　away　from　the　Zodiac　and　were　stroking　toward　the　beach。
　
　The　ultralight　landed　best　into　the　wind；　which　was　ing　off　the　water。　Austin　dropped　down　to　a　hundred　feet　and　headed　toward　shore；　setting　his　sights　on　a　long　rolling　dune　overlooking　the　beach。　He　intended　to　make　a　U…turn　over　the　dune　and　bring　the　aircraft　down　lightly　onto　the　sand。
　
　The　Gooney　flew　over　the　figures　struggling　through　the　surf。　The　swimmers　were　making　good　progress；　riding　the　crests　to　save　their　strength。　Austin　had　a　brief　glimpse　of　some　low…lying　buildings　inland；　but　a　brilliant　flash　of　light　from　the　ground　caught　his　eye。　The　Gooney　could　turn　on　a　dime。　Taking　advantage　of　its　quick　handling；　Austin　pushed　the　rudder　control。　The　plane　seemed　to　spin　in　midair；　and　he　had　a　clear　view　of　the　shallow　valley　behind　the　dune。
　
　Hidden　behind　the　dune　were　a　dozen　mounted　men　spread　out　in　a　single　line　with　swords　held　high　in　the　air。　The　silvery…red　brightness　Austin　had　seen　was　the　sun　reflecting　off　the　sword　blades。　The　Gooney's　sudden　and　noisy　appearance　startled　the　horses；　however；　and　they　milled　around　in　fright　while　the　riders　fought　to　bring　them　under　control。　Austin　only　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　scene　as　he　passed　directly　overhead；　then　he　was　above　the　beach　again。　The　swimmers　were　only　moments　from　shore。
　
　Suddenly；　pieces　of　Dacron　began　flying　past　his　face。　The　horsemen　were　carrying　more　than　swords。　The　wing　over　Austin's　head　looked　as　if　a　tiger　was　sharpening　its　claws　in　the　fabric…someone　on　the　beach　was　shooting　at　him。　The　thin　fiberglass　cockpit　was　no　protection　against　bullets。　Even　worse；　Austin　was　practically　sitting　on　the　Gooney's　gas　tank。　The　shots　were　high；　but　one　lucky　round　in　the　propeller　would　drop　him　like　a　wounded　duck。　He　pushed　forward　on　the　stick；　and　the　plane　dove。　Even　wearing　earphones；　he　heard　the　sharp　thwack　of　a　bullet　striking　one　of　the　hollow　aluminum　struts　that　connected　the　cockpit　to　the　wings。　He　felt　a　sharp　sting　on　his　right　temple。　A　splinter　of　flying　metal　had　hit　him；　and　blood　was　trickling　down　his　face。　He　was　wearing　a　neckerchief；　and　he　pulled　it　up　around　his　fore…　head　to　catch　the　blood。
　
　The　same　volley　that　had　also　hit　the　strut　had　shattered　a　fiberglass　wing　float。　Austin　jammed　the　stick　as　far　forward　as　it　would　go；　and　the　ultralight　dropped　like　a　run…away　elevator　and　tilted　dangerously；　the　plane　thrown　off…　balance　by　the　loss　of　the　float。　Austin　had　to　pensate　by　leaning　his　weight　to　one　side。　He　flew　out　to　sea　until　he　was　out　of　range；　then　put　the　plane　into　a　turn　that　took　him　parallel　to　the　shore。
　
　The　swimmers　had　hit　the　sand　on　their　bellies　when　the　gunfire　broke　out。　Now　they　were　up　again　and　running　along　the　water's　edge。　He　picked　out　a　slim；　dark…skinned　woman　and　two　men；　one　short　and　the　other　tall。　As　they　ran；　they　glanced　over　their　shoulders；　trying　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　Gooney；　only　to　see　the　mounted　men　crest　the　dune　with　swords　raised。　Spurred　on　by　the　new　threat；　the　trio　dug　their　feet　in；　but　it　was　impossible　to　run　faster　in　the　soft　sand。　The　mounted　men　would　make　short　work　of　die　defenseless　runners　caught　between　them　and　the　deep　blue　sea。　The　open　expanse　of　beach　offered　no　shelter。　It　was　a　perfect　killing　field。
　
　The　horsemen　spurred　their　mounts　and　galloped　along　the　dune　t