cc.fireice-第33节

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　sword　swept　down　in　a　killing　blow　to　the　neck。　The　runner's　legs　crumbled　and　he　slammed　face…first　into　the　ground。　Austin　swore　with　helpless　anger。　The　cowardly　attack　had　e　too　fast　for　him　to　react。　The　Cossack　laughed　at　his　own　cleverness　and　wheeled　his　mount　around；　then　rode　leisurely　back　to　the　center　of　the　field；　daring　someone　else　to　make　a　run　for　it。
　
　Austin　brought　the　Bowen　up　and　sighted　on　the　Cossack's　broad　back。　He　was　squeezing　the　trigger　when　he　caught　movement　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　To　Austin's　amazement；　the　figure　slumped　on　the　ground　began　to　stir。　The　runner　got　onto　his　hands　and　knees　and　staggered　to　his　feet。　The　Cossack　had　only　toyed　with　his　prey；　using　the　flat　of　his　sword　so　as　to　extend　the　game。
　
　The　Cossacks　began　shouting。　Redbeard　pretended　that　he　didn't　understand；　then　turned　and　went　through　a　great　show　of　being　surprised。　He　waved　his　arms　as　if　he　were　nonplussed　at　his　victim　rising　from　the　dead　…　then　once　more　he　gave　chase。　The　runner　was　almost　to　the　edge　of　the　field。　Austin　knew　that　the　Cossack　would　never　let　his　prey　reach　the　buildings；　where　it　would　be　difficult　to　get　at　him。　The　next　sword　blow　would　be　lethal。
　
　Zavala　had　lost　his　patience。　〃Game's　over；〃　he　snarled。　Bringing　his　Heckler　and　Koch　up　in　the　classic　prone　shooting　position；　he　sighted　on　the　Cossack's　chest。
　
　Austin　put　his　hand　on　the　barrel　and　said；　〃No。〃　Then　he　stood　up。
　
　When　the　runner　saw　Austin　spring　from　the　earth；　his　sweat…streaked　face　fell　in　dismay。　Seeing　his　escape　route　cut　off；　he　jammed　his　heels　in　and　came　to　a　skidding　stop。
　
　Redbeard　saw　Austin　at　the　same　time。　He　reined　in　his　horse；　leaned　forward　on　the　pommel　and　stared　at　the　broad…shouldered　man　with　the　strange　pale　hair。　Austin　could　see　the　hate　burning　in　the　red…rimmed　eyes。　The　horse　snorted　and　nervously　pawed　the　ground。　Losing　interest　in　the　runner；　the　Cossack　sat　up　in　his　saddle　and　put　his　horse　into　a　pirouette。　Then　he　made　a　false　charge；　only　to　retreat　when　Austin　showed　no　sign　of　yielding　ground。
　
　Austin　had　been　standing　with　his　hands　behind　his　back　like　a　child　hiding　cookies。　He　brought　his　left　hand　out　and　beckoned。　The　horseman's　puzzled　frown　turned　into　a　gap…toothed　grin。　He　liked　this　new　game。　He　edged　his　mount　closer；　still　wary。
　
　Austin　beckoned　again　with　more　animation。　Emboldened；　the　horseman　came　nearer。　Austin　smiled　like　Davy　Crockett　grinning　down　a　grizzly。　The　horseman　let　out　a　roar　and　goaded　his　mount　forward。
　
　Still　smiling；　Austin　waited　until　he　couldn't　miss；　then　in　a　smooth　fluid　motion　he　brought　the　Bowen　from　behind　his　back。　Holding　the　heavy　revolver　in　both　hands；　he　sighted　on　the　X　made　by　the　Cossack's　crossed　cartridge　belts。
　
　〃Here's　one　for　Mehmet；〃　he　said；　squeezing　the　trigger。　The　revolver　barked　once。　The　heavy　bullet　smashed　into　the　rider's　sternum　and　splintered　his　rib　cage；　sending　fragments　of　bone　into　his　heart。　The　Cossack　was　dead　even　before　his　hands　lost　their　grip　on　the　reins。　The　horse　continued　toward　Austin　like　a　runaway　cement　mixer；　its　eyes　rolling　in　panic。　Austin　cursed　himself　for　not　getting　down　to　business　and　firing　sooner。
　
　Spooked　by　the　human　standing　in　its　way；　and　with　no　signal　ing　from　the　slack　reins；　the　animal　veered　off。　Its　rock…hard　haunch　swung　around；　slammed　into　Austin　with　the　force　of　a　battering　ram　and　knocked　him　off　his　feet。　He　flew　through　the　air；　and　crashed　to　the　turf　with　a　teeth…　rattling　shock；　landing　on　his　left　side。　When　he　stopped　rolling；　he　tried　to　stand　but　only　made　it　up　onto　one　knee。　He　was　covered　with　dust　and　wet　on　one　side　from　horse　sweat。　Zavala　was　by　Austin's　side；　helping　him　to　his　feet。
　
　As　Austin's　blurred　vision　cleared；　he　expected　to　see　the　Cossacks　bearing　down　on　them。
　
　Instead；　the　world　seemed　frozen　in　time　and　place。　Stunned　by　their　leader's　fall；　the　horsemen　sat　in　their　saddles　like　statues　in　a　park。　The　people　on　the　field　were　equally　immobilized。　Austin　spat　out　a　mouthful　of　dirt。　Slowly　and　deliberately；　he　walked　over　to　where　his　gun　had　landed　and　picked　it　up。　He　yelled　at　the　runner　and　told　him　to　go　for　the　warehouse。　The　order　shocked　the　man　into　action。　He　started　to　run。
　
　It　was　if　a　power　switch　had　been　thrown。
　
　Seeing　their　friend　break　for　safety；　the　men　in　the　field　bolted　after　him　in　a　disorganized　mob。　Austin　and　Zavala　yelled　encouragement　and　pointed　to　the　warehouse。　With　their　leader　dead　and　their　prey　escaping；　the　Cossacks　yelled　as　one；　poured　into　the　soccer　field　and　advanced　at　a　gallop；　sabers　held　high；　toward　Austin　and　Zavala。　The　two　men　stood　there　in　awe　at　the　fearful　beauty　of　a　Cossack　charge。
　
　〃Wow！〃　Zavala　shouted　over　the　thunder　of　hooves。　〃It's　like　being　in　an　old　Western。〃
　〃Let's　hope　it　isn't　a　remake　of　Custer's　Last　Stand；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　thin　smile。
　
　Austin　brought　his　Bowen　up　and　fired。　The　lead　rider　pitched　from　his　saddle。　Zavala's　H　and　K　stuttered；　and　another　horseman　crashed　to　the　ground。　The　riders　advanced　without　slackening　their　pace；　well　aware　they　held　the　ad…　vantage　in　numbers　and　momentum。　The　guns　fired　simultaneously　and　two　more　men　flew　from　their　saddles。
　
　The　Cossacks　were　bold　but　not　suicidal。　First　one；　then　another；　leaned　out　of　his　saddle　and　hung　from　his　horse's　neck　so　he　no　longer　offered　an　easy　target。　As　Austin　and　Zavala　adjusted　to　the　new　strategy；　one　horse　came　to　a　sudden　stop；　dropped　to　the　ground　and　rolled　onto　its　side。
　
　Austin　thought　the　animal　had　stumbled。　Then　he　saw　that　the　rider　was　firing　at　them；　using　his　mount　as　a　protective　barricade。　Other　riders　followed　suit。　Those　Cossacks　still　in　their　saddles　split　up；　corning　in　from　both　sides　in　a　pincer　movement。　Austin　and　Zavala　hit　the　ground　and　dug　in。　Bullets　flew　over　their　heads　like　angry　bees。
　
　〃Automatic　weapons！〃　Zavala　yelped。　〃You　said　these　guys　carried　blunderbusses　and　pigstickers。〃
　〃How　would　I　know　they'd　stop　off　at　a　gun　show？〃
　〃What　ever　happened　to　background　checks？〃
　
　Austin's　reply　was　drowned　out　by　the　stutter　of　automatic…arms　fire。　He　and　Zavala　let　off　a　couple　of　rounds　more　for　show　than　effect；　then　pulled　back　from　the　rise　and　crawled　toward　the　warehouse。　The　Cossacks　peppered　the　ridge　with　gunfire。　Thinking　their　prey　was　dead；　they　climbed　onto　their　horses　and　took　up　the　charge　where　they　had　left　off。
　
　From　the　shelter　of　the　warehouse；　Austin　and　Zavala　aimed　through　the　windows　and　two　more　riders　toppled　from　their　mounts。　Seeing　that　their　foe　was　still　alive；　the　Cossacks　called　off　the　attack　and　galloped　to　the　center　of　the　field　to　regroup。　Taking　advantage　of　the　momentary　battle　lull；　Austin　turned　from　the　window　and　surveyed　the　men　who　had　taken　refuge。　Austin　couldn't　remember　when　he'd　seen　a　more　bedraggled…looking　bunch。　Their　tan　jumpsuits　were　wrinkled　and　begrimed；　and　their　hollow…eyed　faces　bristled　with　whiskers。　The　first　runner；　who　had　felt　the　direct　wrath　of　the　Cossack　leader；　came　over　to　speak　with　Austin。　His　uniform　was　torn　at　the　knees　and　elbows　and　covered　with　dust。　Yet　he　kept　his　chin　as　high　as　if　he　were　wearing　newly　pressed　dress　whites　on　parade。　The　young　man　gave　Austin　a　crisp　salute。　〃Ensign　Steven　Kreisman　of　the　U。S。　Navy　submarine　NR…1。〃
　
　Austin　reached　under　his　belt；　where　he　had　tucked　the　cap　Zavala　found　on　the　Russian　submarine。　〃Maybe　you　can　get　this　back　to　its　owner；〃　he　said；　handing　the　cap　over。
　
　〃It's　the　captain's。　Where　did　you　get　this？〃　Kreisman　said；　looking　at　the　cap　as　if　he　were　seeing　it　for　the　first　time。
　
　〃My　partner　found　it　in　a　Russian　sub。〃
　〃Who　are　you　guys？〃　Kreisman　said；　losing　his　aplomb。
　
　〃I'm　Kurt　Austin　and　that's　my　partner　Joe　Zavala　at　the　window。　We're　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　
　The　ensign's　jaw　dropped　down　to　his　Adam's　apple。　With　their　battle…hardened　eyes　and　smoking　guns；　the　two　who　had　rescued　him　and　his　crew　looked　more　like　mandos　than　ocean　scientists。
　
　〃I　didn't　know　NUMA　had　its　own　SWAT　team；〃　he　said　with　wonder。
　
　〃We　don't。　Are　you　okay？〃
　〃I　feel　as　if　I've　been　run　over　by　a　bulldozer；　but　other　than　that　I'm　fine；〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　neck　where　the　saber　had　whacked　him。　〃I　won't　be　wearing　a　tie　for　a　while。　This　may　sound　like　a　dumb　question；　Mr。　Austin；　but　what　are　you　and　your　friend　doing　here？〃
　〃Your　turn　first。　Last　I　heard；　your　sub　was　diving　for　relics　on　the　bottom　of　the　Aegean。〃
　
　The　young　man's　shoulders　sagged　slightly。　〃It's　a　long　story；〃　he　said；　with　weariness。
　
　〃We　don't　have　much　time。　See　if　you　can　tell　me　what　happened　in　thirty　seconds。〃
　
　Kreisman　chuckled　at　Austin's　audacity。　〃I'll　do　my　best。〃
　
　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　delivered　a　condensed　version　of　events。
　
　〃A　guest　scientist　we　had　on　board；　a　guy　named　Pulaski；　pulled　a　gun　on　us　and　hijacked　the　NR…1。　We　were　transported　on　the　back　of　a　giant　submarine。　This　whole　thing　is　so　unbelievable。〃　He　paused；　expecting　a　skeptical　reaction。　Seeing　none　in　Austin's　attentive　eyes；　he　continued。　〃