cc.fireice-第24节

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re　built。　They　were　to　have　been　broken　up　after　the　end　of　the　Cold　War。　We've　been　able　to　verify　that　one　was　indeed　scrapped。　We　don't　know　the　fate　of　the　other。　I　think　it　was　used　to　hijack　the　NR…1。〃
　〃You　sound　quite　sure　of　this；　Rudi。　Remember；　our　premise　is　still　only　a　theory。〃
　
　Gunn　smiled。　〃May　I　borrow　your　VCR？〃
　〃Be　my　guest。〃
　
　Gunn　dug　into　his　case　again　and　pulled　out　a　videocassette；　went　over　to　the　paneled　wall；　opened　a　door　to　a　cabinet　and　popped　the　cassette　into　the　VCR。
　
　〃As　you　know；　the　NR…1　had　the　capability　to　broadcast　a　television　picture　from　the　ocean　floor；〃　Gunn　said。
　
　〃I　approved　the　NUMA　funds　myself。　Great　educational　program。　The　pictures　bounce　off　a　satellite　and　into　classrooms　around　the　world。　Teaches　youngsters　that　the　ocean　is　a　lot　more　interesting　than　MTV。　I　understand　the　program　has　worked　out　well。〃
　〃Extremely　well；　in　this　case。　This　picture　was　sent　from　the　NR…1　the　day　she　disappeared。〃
　
　Gunn　pressed　the　Play　button　on　the　remote　control。　The　screen　went　fuzzy；　then　turned　seawater　green。　Bright　floodlights　illuminated　a　slender　black　hull。　There　was　no　sound。　The　time　and　date　showed　in　the　corner。
　
　Sandecker　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　desk；　arms　folded。　〃Looks　like　the　bow　view　from　the　sail　cam；〃　he　said。
　
　〃That's　right。　Keep　on　watching。　Right　about　now。　。　。〃
　
　A　sharklike　shadow　loomed　below　the　hull。　Something　much　bigger　than　the　NR…1　had　e　up　from　below。　After　a　few　minutes；　the　sub　began　to　move　forward　at　great　speed　until　it　was　obscured　by　bubbles。　The　screen　went　fuzzy　again。
　
　〃This　picture　was　sent　from　the　sub　via　satellite　at　exactly　the　time　of　her　disappearance。　It　only　ran　a　short　while；　as　you　can　see；　before　it　was　shut　down。〃
　〃Fascinating；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃Run　it　again；　please。〃
　
　Gunn　replayed　the　tape。
　
　〃Does　the　White　House　have　a　copy　of　this　video？〃　Sandecker　said。
　
　〃The　transmission　came　directly　to　NUMA。　My　guess　is　they　haven't　seen　it。〃
　〃Good　work；　Rudi；〃　the　admiral　said。　〃There's　an　important　piece　of　the　puzzle　missing；　however。〃　He　reached　into　the　desk　humidor　and　pulled　out　two　cigars　…　he　had　them　personally　selected　and　rolled　for　him　by　the　owner　of　a　Dominican　Republic　plantation　…　and　held　one　cigar　above　the　other。　〃Assume　the　bottom　stogie　is　much　larger　than　the　one　on　top。　It　es　up　under　the　smaller　boat。　Then　what？〃　He　moved　the　top　cigar　away。　〃You　see　what　I'm　getting　at。　There　might　be　a　problem　getting　the　smaller　sub　to　play　piggyback。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　be　easy　unless　…　〃
　〃Unless　the　NR…1　were　cooperating。　Which　Captain　Logan　wouldn't　do　unless　he　were　forced　to。〃
　〃Exactly　my　thoughts。〃　Sandecker　tossed　Gunn　a　cigar　and　clamped　the　other　in　his　teeth。　They　lit　up　and　sat　in　the　cloud　of　fragrant　smoke。
　
　〃I　understand　there　was　a　guest　scientist　aboard　the　NR…1；〃　Sandecker　said；　after　a　moment's　thought。
　
　〃That's　right。　I　have　the　whole　roster。〃
　〃Go　over　their　backgrounds　with　a　fine…tooth　b；　especially　the　scientist's。　In　the　meantime；　let's　try　to　find　the　India…class　submarine。　The　navy　keeps　track　of　all　operational　Russian　submarines；　but　I　don't　want　to　alert　anyone　to　the　fact　that　NUMA　is　still　in　this。〃
　〃I'll　see　if　Yaeger　can　tap　into　the　navy　puter　system。〃
　〃Why；　Rudi；〃　Sandecker　said；　studying　the　glowing　ash　on　his　cigar；　〃what　a　surprising　thing　to　hear　from　a　navy　man。　First　in　his　class　at　the　academy；　too。〃
　
　Gunn　tried　without　success　to　look　angelic。　〃Desperate　times　call　for　desperate　measures。〃
　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　you　say　that。　Austin　called　me　from　Istanbul。　He's　assembling　the　Special　Assignments　Team　to　take　another　look　at　that　abandoned　submarine　base。〃
　〃Does　he　think　it　has　a　connection　with　the　NR…1？〃
　〃He　didn't　know　about　the　missing　sub　until　I　told　him。　No；　apparently　he's　been　in　contact　with　someone；　an　old　Russian　friend；　who　indicated　that　the　base　may　have　something　to　do　with　a　supposed　threat　against　the　U。S。〃
　〃Terrorist　activity？〃
　〃I　asked　Kurt　the　same　question。　He　only　knows　what　the　Russian　told　him；　that　the　U。S。　is　in　danger。　A　mining　magnate　named　Razov　seems　to　be　involved；　and　the　old　base　may　hold　the　key　to　what　is　going　on。　Kurt's　instincts　are　usually　sound。　This　threat　of　his　is　all　the　more　reason　for　NUMA　to　get　involved。〃
　〃We　can　take　a　look　at　the　area　by　satellite。〃
　〃We　still　need　eyes　on　the　ground。〃
　〃What　about　your　promise　to　the　president？〃
　〃I　only　promised　not　to　look　for　the　NR…1。　I　never　said　anything　about　a　Soviet　sub　base。　Besides；〃　Sandecker　said；　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye；　〃Austin　is　probably　out　of　reach　by　now。〃
　〃I've　heard　that　sunspot　activity　has　been　interrupting　munications。〃
　〃We'll　keep　trying　to　establish　contact；　of　course。　The　president　is　going　fly…fishing　in　Montana；　but　I　expect　he'll　return　in　a　hurry　if　the　Russian　government　falls。〃
　
　Gunn　looked　worried。　〃If　there　really　is　a　threat；　don't　you　think　we　should　tell　the　president？〃
　
　Sandecker　walked　over　to　the　window　and　looked　out　over　the　Potomac。　Afer　a　moment；　he　turned　and　said；　〃Do　you　know　how　Sid　Sparkman　made　his　fortune？〃
　〃Sure；　he　made　millions　in　mining。〃
　〃Correct。　As　did　Razov。〃
　〃Coincidence？〃
　〃Maybe。　Maybe　not。　There's　often　a　worldwide　good　ol'　boy　network　in　certain　areas　of　industry。　It's　not　out　of　the　question　that　they　know　each　other。　Unless　we　learn　that　the　threat　is　imminent　…　I　suggest　we　keep　this　conversation　to　ourselves　for　now。〃
　〃Are　you　suggesting　that　…　〃
　〃There's　a　connection？　I'm　not　prepared　to　go　that　far。　Yet。〃
　
　Gunn　pursed　his　lips；　a　grave　look　in　his　eyes。　〃I　hope　Kurt　and　his　team　aren't　getting　in　over　their　heads。〃
　
　Sandecker　smiled　grimly；　his　eyes　as　hard　as　topaz。　〃It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time。〃
　
　…11…
　THE　BLACK　SEA
　
　AUSTIN　STROLLED　ALONG　the　Bosporus　past　the　ferry　terminal　and　sleek　tour　vessels　until　the　smell　of　decaying　fish　told　his　nostrils　he　was　near　the　working　waterfront。　Raucous　squadrons　of　gulls　grew　more　numerous　as　he　approached　the　ragtag　fleet　of　fishing　boats　nuzzled　up　to　the　dock。　With　their　paint…flaked　woodwork　and　corroded　metal；　the　sea…beaten　rust　buckets　seemed　to　remain　afloat　by　a　miracle　of　levitation。　Austin　stopped　at　one　exception；　a　solid…looking　wooden　boat　that　appeared　to　have　under…　gone　heroic　maintenance。　The　black　hull　and　white　wheelhouse　gleamed　with　many　coats　of　paint；　and　the　brightwork　was　liberally　soaked　with　oil。
　
　Reaching　into　his　pocket；　Austin　pulled　out　a　folded　piece　of　notepaper　and　matched　the　scrawled　word　Turgut　with　the　name　painted　in　white　on　the　stem。　He　smiled　approvingly。　He　liked　Captain　Kemal　without　having　met　him。　Turgut　was　a　renowned　sixteenth…century　admiral　in　the　reign　of　Sьleyman　the　Magnificent。　Anyone　who　would　name　an　ancient　fishing　vessel　after　such　a　towering　naval　figure　displayed　a　sense　story　and　humor。
　
　The　deck　was　deserted　except　for　a　man　in　a　double…breasted　black　suit。　He　sat　on　a　coil　of　thick　rope　mending　a　net　spread　across　his　knees。
　
　Austin　called　out　a　greeting　in　Turkish。　〃Meraba。　May　I　e　aboard？〃
　
　The　man　looked　up。　〃Meraba；〃　he　said；　and　beckoned　Austin　aboard。
　
　Austin　climbed　a　short　gangway　and　stepped　onto　the　deck。　The　boat　was　about　fifty　feet　long；　with　a　wide　beam　to　provide　stability　as　a　fishing　platform。　His　eyes　swept　the　Turgut；　taking　in　the　extraordinary　efforts　that　had　been　made　to　maintain　a　vessel　that　looked　as　if　it　went　back　to　the　Ottoman　Empire　itself。　He　went　over　to　the　seated　man　and　said；　〃I'm　looking　for　Captain　Kemal。〃
　〃I'm　Kemal；〃　the　man　said。　His　fingers　flew　over　the　mesh　without　missing　a　loop。
　
　The　captain　was　a　slightly　built　man　in　his　fifties。　His　face　was　narrow；　his　olive　skin　burnished　to　a　reddish　glow　by　sun　and　wind。　He　wore　a　woven　skullcap　over　dark　brown　hair　going　to　gray；　and　he　was　clean…shaven　except　for　a　toothbrush　mustache　that　seemed　to　be　held　in　place　by　the　curve　of　his　prominent　nose。　The　soft　wail　of　Turkish　music　came　from　a　portable　radio　at　his　feet。
　
　〃My　name　is　Kurt　Austin。　I'm　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。　I　was　on　the　NUMA　ship　Argo　when　we　found　your　cousin　Mehmet's　body。〃
　
　Kemal　nodded　solemnly　and　put　the　net　aside。　〃Mehmet's　funeral　was　this　morning；〃　he　said　in　well…spoken　English。　He　plucked　at　his　sleeve　to　show　that　he　was　wearing　his　best　and　only　suit。
　
　〃They　told　me　on　the　Argo。　I　hope　I'm　not　intruding　by　ing　by　so　soon。〃
　
　The　captain　shook　his　head　and　indicated　a　nearby　waist…high　stack　of　netting。
　
　〃Sit；　please；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃You　speak　English　very　well。〃
　〃Thank　you。　When　I　was　younger；　I　worked　as　a　cook　for　the　American　air　base　near　Ankara。〃　He　smiled；　displaying　a　brilliant　gold　tooth。　〃The　pay　was　good；　I　worked　very　hard　and　saved　the　money　to　buy　this　boat。〃
　〃I　noticed　you　named　it　after　a　great　admiral。〃
　
　Kemal　raised　a　bushy　eyebrow；　impressed。　〃Turgut　was　a　big　hero　to　my　people。〃
　〃I　know。　I　read　a　biography　about　him。〃
　
　The　captain　studied　Kurt　with　deep…set　liquid　brown　eyes。　〃Thank　your　NUMA　people　for　me。　It　would　be　very　hard　for　Mehmet's　fam