cc.fireice-第17节

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spending　his　time　in　the　seediest　brothels。　Boris　seemed　to　be　struggling　with　his　two　sides；　the　ascetic　monk　and　the　murderous　voluptuary。
　
　For　all　his　madness；　though；　the　monk　was　a　valuable　advisor；　his　insanity　tempered　by　a　rational　intelligence。　In　this　case；　Boris　was　right　about　NUMA。　It　might　prove　a　menace　waiting　in　the　wings。
　
　…8…
　BLACK　SEA
　
　FOLLOWING　IN　THE　wake　of　the　original　Argo；　the　NUMA　ship　steamed　across　the　Black　Sea　toward　the　Bosporus；　the　narrow　strait　that　separated　the　Asian　and　European　sides　of　Istanbul。　Unlike　Jason；　who　brought　home　the　Golden　Fleece；　all　that　Austin　had　to　show　for　his　labors　was　a　head　laceration；　a　bedraggled　television　crew　and　a　pile　of　unanswered　questions。
　
　The　evacuation　from　the　Russian　beach　had　gone　off　without　a　hitch。　Captain　Atwood　had　sent　a　boat　in　to　transport　Austin　and　the　television　people　to　the　Argo。　Moving　the　Gooney　was　less　trouble　than　anticipated；　it　was　mostly　a　case　of　picking　up　the　pieces。　Austin　didn't　look　forward　to　telling　Zavala　that　the　nifty　little　plane　he'd　designed　could　practically　fit　into　a　shoe　box。
　
　On　the　final　run　to　the　beach；　Austin　had　spotted　something　floating　in　the　water。　It　was　the　body　of　the　Turkish　helmsman；　Mehmet。　They'd　hauled　the　body　onto　the　tender　and　brought　it　back　to　the　ship。　The　pitiful　sight　reminded　Austin　of　the　deadly　game　he'd　been　playing。　One　wrong　roll　of　the　dice　and　it　would　have　been　his　body　pulled　from　the　water　and　wrapped　in　a　tarpaulin。
　
　Austin　checked　in　with　the　ship's　paramedic　to　have　his　cut　treated；　then　showered　and　changed。　He　had　suggested　to　Kaela　that　she　meet　him　for　dinner　in　the　mess　hall　after　she　had　a　chance　to　rest。　Austin　snagged　a　table　next　to　a　big　window　that　looked　out　over　the　stern　deck。　He　was　gazing　out　at　the　ship's　foamy　wake；　trying　to　make　sense　of　the　skirmish　on　the　beach；　when　Kaela　made　her　entrance。
　
　The　reporter　wore　jeans　and　a　faded　blue　chambray　shirt　borrowed　from　a　female　oceanographer　whose　figure　must　have　been　shorter　and　wider。　What　would　have　been　practical　but　ill…fitting　work　clothes　on　another　woman　achieved　an　elegant　sophistication　draped　over　Kaela'　s　slim　physique。　As　she　entered　the　mess；　she　could　have　been　strolling　down　a　Paris　runway　wearing　the　latest　in　avant…garde　fashion。
　
　She　smiled　at　Austin　and　came　over　to　the　table。　〃Something　smells　good。〃
　〃You're　in　luck。　The　chef　has　decided　on　an　Italian　theme。　Have　a　seat。〃
　
　She　sat　down　and　closed　her　eyes。　〃Don't　tell　me。〃　She　inhaled　the　aromas　ing　from　the　galley。　〃An　antipasto　of　truffle　salad　and　olivi　mushrooms　followed　by　a　porcini　risotto。〃
　〃Not　quite。〃　Austin　cleared　his　throat。　〃We're　having　pizza。　Mushroom；　or　pepperoni　if　you'd　prefer　carne。〃
　
　Kaela　opened　her　eyes　and　stared　at　Austin。　〃What　happened　to　the　four…star　chef？〃
　
　Austin　tried　his　best　to　look　angelic；　but　his　rugged　features　wouldn't　cooperate。　〃I　confess。　I　exaggerated。　My　intentions　were　entirely　honorable。　Your　spirits　needed　a　lift　back　there　on　the　beach。〃
　〃And　you　looked　like　you'd　pushed　your　face　through　a　plate…glass　window。　Glad　to　see　you're　in　better　shape。〃
　〃Amazing　the　miracles　that　can　be　performed　with　a　needle；　sutures　and　swabs。〃
　
　Kaela　glanced　over　at　the　serving　counter。　〃How's　the　pizza？〃
　〃Almost　as　good　as　Spago's。　Especially　when　you　have　nectar　like　this　to　wash　it　down。〃　He　reached　under　the　table　and　produced　a　bottle　of　Brunello　Chianti　Classico。　〃I　picked　up　a　case　when　we　stopped　in　Venice。〃
　〃You'refull　of　surprises；　aren't　you？〃　Kaela　said；　laughing。
　
　〃Sorry　the　dinner　is　not　quite　as　advertised；　but　you'll　have　to　admit　that　the　water…view　table　is　as　promised。〃
　〃No　argument　there。　The　view　is　spectacular。〃　She　rose　and　said；　〃If　you　open　the　bottle；　I'll　get　our　dinner。〃　She　grabbed　a　tray　and　stepped　into　the　serving　line。　A　few　minutes　later；　she　returned　with　two　personal…sized　pizzas　and　Caesar　salads。　Austin　had　the　wine　opened　and　poured　their　glasses。　They　hungrily　attacked　their　dinner。
　
　〃This　pizza　is　incredible；〃　Kaela　said。　She　sipped　the　wine　with　a　dreamy　expression　on　her　face。　Suddenly；　she　glanced　around　as　if　she　had　lost　something。　〃Have　you　seen　Mickey　and　Dundee？〃
　〃I　meant　to　tell　you。　The　boys　grabbed　something　to　eat　earlier；　then　went　up　to　the　bridge　to　shoot　some　video。　Seems　they've　charmed　their　way　past　Captain　Atwood's　gruff　faзade。〃
　〃The　camera　tends　to　bring　out　the　ham　in　people。〃　Austin　refilled　their　glasses。　〃Tell　me　about　your　Noah's　ark　assignment。〃
　〃It's　the　usual　bination　of　humbug　and　fact　that　Unbelievable　Mysteries　packages　for　the　mass　TV　audience。　They　splice　old　blurry　images　with　new　footage　and　do　a　dramatic　voice…over。　Heavy　on　the　mysterious　background　music。　There's　usually　a　hint　of　a　government　cover…up　and　some　danger　to　the　crew。　The　viewers　love　it。〃
　〃The　danger　was　real　this　time。〃
　〃Yes；　it　was；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。　〃That's　why　I　feel　so　bad　about　Captain　Kemal's　cousin。　It　was　my　idea　to　look　into　the　old　sub　base。〃
　〃Don't　blame　yourself。　There　was　no　way　you　could　have　known　you'd　be　shot　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃Still　…　has　anyone　been　able　to　contact　Captain　Kemal？〃
　〃The　bridge　got　in　touch　with　him　a　while　ago。　Apparently；　his　radio　is　working　now。　The　captain　gave　him　the　bad　news。〃
　〃Poor　Mehmet。　I　keep　playing　that　scene　over　and　over　again　in　my　head。　His　family　must　be　devastated。〃　Austin　gently　tried　to　take　Kaela's　mind　off　a　situation　she　couldn't　alter。
　
　〃If　you're　looking　for　Noah's　ark；　wouldn't　you　do　better　poking　around　Mount　Ararat？〃
　
　Kaela　weled　the　chance　to　change　the　subject。　〃No；　not　especially。　You're　familiar　with　the　findings　of　William　Ryan　and　Walter　Pitman？〃
　〃They're　the　Columbia　University　geologists　who　speculated　that　the　Black　Sea　was　originally　a　freshwater　lake　be…　fore　the　Mediterranean　broke　through　the　Bosporus　in　a　great　flood。　The　people　who　lived　along　the　shore　had　to　run　for　their　lives。〃
　〃Then　you　must　know　that　the　saga　of　the　flood；　passed　down　by　generations　of　bards；　may　have　inspired　the　tale　of　Noah　and　the　ark。　Which　means　that　the　ark　sailed　these　waters。　It　would　be　a　waste　of　time　humping　our　cameras　up　the　side　of　Mount　Ararat。　Don't　you　agree？〃
　
　Austin　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　gazed　into　the　dark　amber　eyes。　They　sparkled　with　good…humored　intelligence。
　
　〃I'll　answer　that　with　a　question　of　my　own。〃
　〃Let　me　guess。　You　want　to　know　why　someone　who　pretends　to　be　a　serious　reporter　ended　up　on　the　television　equivalent　of　a　supermarket　tabloid。〃
　
　Austin　added　perceptiveness　to　the　list　of　Kaela's　other　admirable　qualities。　〃I've　seen　your　show。　In　the　episode　I　watched；　Big　Foot　had　been　found　living　in　Loch　Ness　with　an　alien　love…child。〃
　〃That　must　have　been　before　my　time；　but　I　take　your　point。　U。M。　is　trash　television　at　its　trashiest。〃
　
　Austin　spread　his　hands。　〃So？〃
　〃It's　a　long　story。〃
　〃We've　plenty　of　time　to　talk。　I'll　have　the　sommelier　refill　your　wineglass　as　often　as　you'd　like。〃
　〃That's　the　best　offer　I've　had　all　day。〃　She　cradled　her　chin　in　one　hand　and　gazed　into　his　face。　There　was　no　timidity　in　her　large　eyes。　〃I'll　tell　you　about　my　background　if　you　do　the　same　for　yourself。〃
　〃Okay；　you're　on。〃
　
　She　took　another　sip　of　Chianti。　〃I　was　born　in　Oakland；　California。　I　was　named　Katherine　after　my　dad's　mother；　and　Ella　after　Ella　Fitzgerald；　Mom's　favorite　singer。　My　last　name　was　Doran。　I　shortened　it　to　Kaela　Dorn　when　I　went　into　TV。　My　mother　was　a　ballet　instructor　at　an　African…American　munity　center　and　my　dad　was　an　Irish…American；　long…haired；　pot…smoking　hippie　who　had　e　to　Berkeley　to　protest　the　Vietnam　War　and　everything　else。〃
　〃There　was　a　lot　of　that　in　the　sixties。〃　She　nodded。　〃Dad　put　aside　his　love　beads　and　bongos　and　now　teaches　courses　in　contemporary　American　history　at　Berkeley；　specializing　in　the　protest　movements　of　the　sixties　and　seventies。　He　still　has　his　beard；　but　it's　a　lot　whiter　than　it　used　to　be。〃
　〃Happens　to　the　best　of　us；〃　Austin　said；　pointing　to　his　prematurely　steel　gray　hair。
　
　〃I　was　something　of　a　rebel　as　a　kid。　Pop's　fault。　One　day　Mom　came　down　to　the　corner；　where　I　was　hanging　out　with　a　gang；　and　dragged　me　into　her　ballet　classes　where　she　could　keep　an　eye　on　me。　I　traded　in　my　gangsta　colors　for　a　tutu。　I　wasn't　a　bad　dancer。〃
　
　The　woman　sitting　across　from　Austin　seemed　made　for　dancing。　〃I　would　have　been　surprised　if　you　were　any　less　graceful　than　a　Pavlova。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　fair；　but　tripping　about　on　my　toes　in　the　Nutcracker　Suite　didn't　satisfy　my　craving　for　adventure。　Pop's　fault；　too。　He　bummed　around　Khartoum　and　New　Delhi　before　he　headed　west　to　pull　us　out　of　Vietnam　single…handedly。　I　went　to　Berkeley　and　studied　English　lit；　then　I　got　accepted　as　an　intern　at　a　local　TV　station　that　wanted　to　fill　its　minority…hiring　quota。　I　got　tired　of　reading　gory　reports　about　car　crashes　off　a　TelePrompTer。　When　I　heard　about　the　opening　at　Unbelievable　Mysteries；　I　jumped　at　the　chance　to　travel　to　exotic；　offbeat　places；　and　be　paid　pretty　well　for　it。　Okay；　that's