cc.fireice-第36节

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wed。
　
　Yuri's　face　was　flushed　with　excitement。　〃Man；　that　was　fun。　I've　heard　a　lot　of　businesses　have　their　own　armies　to　protect　them　from　the　Russian　Mafia；　but　this　is　the　first　time　I've　ever　seen　them。〃
　
　Paul　felt　guilty　about　putting　the　son　of　his　old　colleague　in　harm's　way。　He　and　Gamay　owed　Yuri　an　explanation；　but　too　much　knowledge　could　be　just　as　dangerous。　municating　with　her　eyes；　Gamay　silently　sent　a　message　saying　that　she　knew　what　to　do。
　
　〃Yuri；　we've　got　a　favor　to　ask；〃　she　said。　〃We'd　like　you　Ito　say　nothing　about　what　happened　back　there　to　anyone。〃
　〃I　guess　your　visit　to　my　father　wasn't　entirely　social；〃　Yuri　said。
　
　Gamay　nodded。　〃We've　been　asked　by　NUMA　to　check　out　Ataman　Industries。　They're　suspected　of　being　involved　in　some　shady　business。　We　had　planned　to　do　so　from　a　safe　distance。　We　never　dreamed　that　they　would　be；　well；　so　touchy。〃
　〃It　was　like　something　out　of　James　Bond！〃　Yuri　had　a　broad　smile　on　his　face。
　
　〃Except　that　this　isn't　fiction。　It's　very　real。〃
　
　Gamay's　calming　tone　got　through　to　Yuri　far　more　effectively　than　any　bombast　Paul　might　have　been　able　to　summon　up。
　
　Yuri　tried　to　look　serious。　〃I'll　be　quiet；　but　it's　going　to　be　hard　not　to　tell　my　friends。〃　He　sighed。　〃They　wouldn't　believe　me　anyhow。〃
　
　Paul　said；　〃We'll　fill　you　in　as　soon　as　we　know　what　this　is　all　about。　We　can　assure　you　that　you'll　be　one　of　the　first　to　know。　Deal？〃　He　stretched　his　hand　forward。
　
　〃It's　a　deal；〃　Yuri　said；　pleased　to　be　in　on　the　conspiracy。　They　shook　hands　all　around。
　
　The　sun　had　dropped　toward　the　horizon；　and　shadows　were　gathering　as　they　saw　the　lights　of　the　camp　glimmering　on　shore。　They　all　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　as　the　boat　drew　nearer　the　beach。　They　would　have　been　less　assured　if　they　knew　that　a　birdlike　speck　in　the　sky　high　above　them　was　a　helicopter　equipped　with　high…powered　optics。
　
　
　PROFESSOR　ORLOV　WAS　waiting　on　the　beach。　He　waded　into　the　water　and　pulled　the　boat　into　shore。　〃Hello；　my　friends。　I　see　that　you've　met　my　son；　Yuri。〃
　〃He　was　kind　enough　to　take　us　on　a　sightseeing　tour；〃　Gamay　said。　She　slipped　over　the　side　and　used　her　body　to　hide　the　hole　gouged　out　by　the　bullet。　〃We　had　a　nice　talk　about　now　and　the　future。〃
　〃The　now　is　that　you　go　back　to　your　cottage　and　get　ready　for　dinner。　The　future　is　a　wonderful　meal　and　talking　about　old　times。　Our　acmodations　are　primitive；　but　we　feed　ourselves　well。〃　He　patted　his　expansive　stomach。
　
　The　professor　ushered　the　Trouts　back　to　the　main　clearing　and　instructed　them　to　return　in　a　half　hour　with　their　appetites。　Then　he　hustled　off　with　his　son。　As　he　walked　away；　Yuri　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　winked。　The　silent　message　was　clear。　Their　secret　was　safe　with　him。
　
　Paul　and　Gamay　returned　to　their　cottage　and　showered　away　the　salt　and　sweat　from　their　nautical　adventure。　Gamay　changed　into　designer　jeans　that　emphasized　her　long　legs；　a　blazer　and　lilac　camisole。　Paul　had　not　left　his　fastidious　sartorial　habits　behind。　He　wore　loose　tan　slacks　with　a　Gatsby…style　pale　green　shirt　and　a　violet　bow　tie。
　
　Some　of　the　other　inhabitants　of　the　camp　were　assembled　at　or　around　the　picnic　table。　The　Trouts　were　greeted　by　the　middle…aged　couple　they　had　met　earlier；　a　tall　intense…looking　physicist　who　resembled　the　writer　Alexander　Solzhenitsyn　and　a　young　married　couple；　both　engineering　students　at　the　university　in　Rostov。　The　table　was　set　with　an　embroidered　tablecloth　and　colorful　china。　Japanese　lanterns　lent　a　festive　air　to　the　gathering。
　
　Orlov　broke　into　a　beaming　smile　when　he　saw　the　Trouts'　approach。　〃Ah；　my　American　guests。　You　look　lovely；　Gamay；　and　you　are　handsome　as　usual；　Paul。　A　new　bow　tie？　You　must　have　an　endless　supply　of　cravats。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　my　addiction　is　starting　to　get　expensive。　You　don't　know　anyone　who　makes　cheap　throwaway　bow　ties；　do　you？〃
　
　The　professor　roared　with　laughter　and　translated　for　the　others。　Then　he　directed　the　Trouts　to　the　seating　that　had　been　saved　for　them；　rubbed　his　hands　in　anticipation；　and　went　into　his　cottage　to　start　the　meal　moving。　Dinner　was　salmon…filled　pirogi；　basically　Russian　turnovers；　served　with　rice　and　a　clear　borscht。　The　professor　also　had　a　case　of　the　famous　Russian　champagne　that　was　made　in　nearby　Abrau…Dyurso。　Even　without　vodka　and　a　mon　language；　dinner　was　loud　and　friendly　and　extended　late　into　the　evening。　It　was　nearly　midnight　when　the　Trouts　pushed　themselves　away　from　the　table　and　begged　to　be　allowed　to　go　back　to　their　cottage。
　
　〃The　party　is　just　starting！〃　Orlov　bellowed。　His　face　was　red　from　alcohol　and　sweaty　after　serenading　the　other　diners　with　an　energetic　rendition　of　a　bawdy　Russian　folk　song。
　
　〃Please　don't　stop　on　our　account；〃　Paul　said。　〃We've　had　a　long　day；　and　it's　starting　to　catch　up　with　us。〃
　〃Of　course；　you　must　be　very　tired。　I've　been　a　poor　host；　making　you　sit　here　and　listen　to　my　attempts　to　sing。〃
　
　Paul　patted　his　stomach。　〃You've　been　a　great　host。　But　I'm　a　little　older　than　I　was　when　we　used　to　drink　the　night　away　at　the　Captain　Kidd。〃
　〃You're　obviously　out　of　training；　my　friend。　One　week　here　and　we　would　have　you　back　in　shape。〃　He　hugged　both　Trouts。　〃But　I　understand。　Would　you　like　Yuri　to　escort　you？〃
　〃Thank　you；　Professor。　We'll　find　our　way；〃　Gamay　said。　〃See　you　in　the　morning。〃
　
　Orlov　let　them　go　after　another　round　of　hugs　and　kisses。　As　they　made　their　way　along　the　path　toward　the　single　light　glowing　on　the　porch　of　their　cottage；　the　Trouts　could　hear　Orlov　belting　out　a　spirited　but　hardly　recognizable　rendition；　in　Russian；　of　〃What　Should　We　Do　with　the　Drunken　Sailor？〃
　〃I　don't　envy　Vlad　for　the　hangover　he's　going　to　have；〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃There's　no　party　animal　like　a　Russian　party　animal。〃　They　laughed　as　they　climbed　onto　the　porch。　They　weren't　exaggerating　their　exhaustion。　They　brushed　their　teeth；　stripped　down　to　their　underwear　and　slipped　beneath　the　cool　sheets。　Within　minutes；　both　were　asleep。　Gamay　was　the　lighter　sleeper。　Later　that　night；　she　sat　up　in　bed　and　listened。　Something　had　awakened　her。　The　sound　of　voices。　High…pitched　and　excited。　She　poked　Paul　out　of　his　slumber。
　
　〃What's　going　on？〃　he　mumbled；　his　voice　thick　with　sleep。
　
　〃Listen。　It　sounds　like　。　。　。　children　playing。〃
　
　But　just　then　a　loud　shriek　of　unmistakable　terror　echoed　through　the　woods　outside。
　
　〃That　was　no　kid；〃　Paul　said；　vaulting　from　the　bed。　He　scooped　his　slacks　off　a　chair　and　jumped　into　them；　nearly　falling　on　his　face。　Gamay　was　one　second　behind；　pulling　her　shorts　over　her　slim　hips　and　throwing　a　T…shirt　over　her　head。　They　burst　out　onto　the　porch；　where　they　could　see　a　reddish　glow　through　the　trees。　The　smell　of　smoke　hung　heavily　in　the　air。
　
　〃One　of　the　camps　is　on　fire！〃　Paul　said。
　
　They　ran　along　the　path　in　bare　feet　and　almost　mowed　down　Yuri；　who　was　running　in　the　opposite　direction。
　
　〃What's　going　on？〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃Don't　talk；〃　Yuri　replied　breathlessly。　〃We　must　hide。　This　way。〃
　
　The　Trouts　glanced　at　the　fire；　then　followed　Yuri's　lead。　He　moved　fast　in　a　long；　loping　gait。　When　they　were　deep　in　the　pines；　he　took　Gamay　by　the　arm；　pulled　her　onto　the　soft　Cover　of　pine　needles　and　motioned　for　Paul　to　duck　down。　They　could　hear　branches　and　twigs　snapping　and　rough　voices。　Paul　started　to　get　up　to　look；　but　Yuri　pulled　him　back　down。　After　a　few　minutes；　the　crashing　stopped。
　
　Yuri　spoke　from　the　darkness。
　
　〃I　was　asleep　in　my　father's　camp；〃　he　said；　his　voice　！　hoarse　from　tension。　〃Men　came　in　the　night。〃
　〃Who　were　they？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　They　had　their　faces　covered。　They　dragged　us　out　of　bed。　They　wanted　to　know　where　the　red…headed　woman　and　the　man　were。　My　father　said　that　you　had　left　to　go　home。　They　didn't　believe　him。　They　beat　him。　He　yelled　in　English　for　me　to　warn　you。　While　they　were　busy；　I　ran　to　tell　you。〃
　〃How　many　were　there？〃
　

　〃A　dozen；　maybe。　I　don't　know。　It　was　dark。　They　must　have　e　by　water。　Our　camp　is　right　by　the　driveway；　and　we　would　have　heard　someone　e　in。〃
　〃We've　got　to　get　back　to　your　father。〃
　〃I　know　a　way；〃　Yuri　said。　〃e。〃
　
　Paul　grabbed　onto　the　back　of　Yuri's　shorts　and　Gamay　held　on　to　her　husband's　other　hand　as　they　made　their　way　through　the　woods；　taking　a　circuitous　path。　The　smoke　thickened。　Soon　they　could　see　the　source　of　the　smoke：　the　professor's　cottage。　They　stepped　out　of　the　woods　into　the　clearing；　where　students　were　spraying　the　cottage　with　hoses　apparently　powered　by　a　generator。　They　couldn't　save　the　building；　but　their　efforts　kept　the　fire　from　spreading　to　the　adjacent　woods　and　cottages。　The　older　people　were　huddled　in　a　group。　Yuri　spoke　in　Russian　to　the　tall　physicist；　then　turned　to　the　Trouts。
　
　〃He　says　the　men　are　gone。　He　saw　them　leave　in　a　boat。〃
　
　The　group　parted　to　reveal　Orlov　lying　on　the　ground；　his　face　covered　with　blood。　Gamay　was　on　her　knees　in　an　instant；　put　her　ear　close　to　the　professor's　mouth　and　felt　for　a　pulse　in　his　neck。　Then　she　examined　his　arms　and　legs。
　
　〃Can　we　get