cc.fireice-第37节

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or's　mouth　and　felt　for　a　pulse　in　his　neck。　Then　she　examined　his　arms　and　legs。
　
　〃Can　we　get　him　somewhere　where　he'll　be　more　fortable？〃　she　asked。
　
　The　professor　was　lifted　onto　the　picnic　table　and　covered　with　the　tablecloth。　At　Gamay's　request；　a　pot　of　warm　water　and　towels　were　produced。　She　gently　sponged　the　blood　away　from　the　professor's　face　and　balding　scalp。
　
　〃The　bleeding　seems　to　have　stopped；〃　she　said。　〃It's　ing　from　the　head；　so　it's　worse　than　it　looks。　He's　also　bleeding　from　the　mouth；　but　I　don't　think　it's　internal。〃
　
　Paul's　jaw　hardened　at　the　plight　of　his　old　colleague。　〃Someone　used　him　for　a　punching　bag。〃
　
　The　professor　stirred　and　mumbled　some　words　in　Russian。　Yuri　leaned　close　for　a　second；　then　grinned。　〃He　says　he　needs　a　glass　of　vodka。〃
　
　Glowing　embers　were　ing　down　on　them　from　the　fire　and　the　smoke　made　it　hard　to　breathe；　so　Paul　suggested　that　they　move　the　professor　to　a　more　sheltered　location。　Trout　and　three　other　men　carried　him　to　the　cottage　farthest　from　the　fire。　They　laid　him　out　on　a　bed；　covered　his　body　with　blankets　and　brought　him　a　glass　of　vodka。
　
　〃Sorry　this　isn't　champagne；〃　Gamay　said；　offering　him　a　sip　as　she　tilted　his　head　up。
　
　The　vodka　dribbled　down　his　chin；　but　he　swallowed　enough　of　the　potent　liquor　to　bring　color　back　to　his　cheeks。　Paul　dragged　a　chair　over。　〃Do　you　feel　like　talking？〃
　〃Keep　the　vodka　ing　and　I'll　talk　all　night　long；〃　Orlov　said。　〃How's　my　cottage？〃
　〃The　fire　brigade　couldn't　save　it；　but　they　kept　the　fIre　from　spreading；〃　Yuri　said。
　
　A　satisfied　smile　crossed　the　professor's　swollen　lips。　〃One　of　the　first　things　I　organized　here　was　a　fire　pany。　We　draw　water　directly　from　the　sea。〃
　〃Please　tell　us　what　happened；〃　Gamay　said；　as　she　dabbed　the　professor's　forehead　with　a　damp　washcloth。
　
　〃We　were　sleeping；〃　he　said；　talking　slowly。　〃Some　men　came　into　the　cottage。　We　never　lock　the　doors　out　here。　They　wanted　to　know　where　the　people　in　the　boat　were。　I　didn't　know　what　they　were　talking　about　at　first；　then　I　realized　they　wanted　you。　So　naturally　I　said　I　didn't　know。　They　beat　me　until　I　was　unconscious。〃

　
　〃I　ran　off　to　warn　the　Trouts；〃　Yuri　said。　〃I　didn't　want　to　leave　you。　They　came　looking　for　us。　We　hid　in　the　woods　until　they　were　gone。〃
　
　Orlov　reached　out　and　put　his　hand　on　Yuri's　shoulder。　〃You　did　the　right　thing。〃
　
　He　motioned　for　more　vodka。　The　drink　seemed　to　clear　his　mind；　and　the　scientific　analysis　of　cause　and　effect　came　into　play。
　
　Looking　Paul　directly　in　the　eye；　he　said；　〃Well；　my　friend；　it　seems　you　and　Gamay　made　some　interesting　friends　in　the　short　time　you　have　been　here。　On　your　little　sightseeing　trip；　perhaps？〃
　〃I'm　truly　sorry。　I'm　afraid　we're　responsible　for　this　mess；〃　Paul　said。　〃It　was　entirely　unanticipated。　We　made　your　son　a　partner　in　crime；　too。〃
　
　Paul　told　Orlov　that　NUMA　was　investigating　Ataman　and　related　the　events　surrounding　their　boat　trip。
　
　〃Ataman？〃　Orlov　said。　〃In　a　way；　I　can't　say　I'm　surprised　at　their　violent　reaction。　Huge　cartels　tend　to　act　as　if　they　are　above　the　law。〃
　
　Gamay　said；　〃There　was　a　strange　man　on　the　yacht。　He　had　a　thin　face；　long　black　hair　and　a　beard。　Was　that　Razov？〃
　〃It　doesn't　sound　like　him。　Probably　his　friend；　the　mad　monk。〃
　〃Pardon　me？〃
　〃His　name　is　Boris。　I　don't　even　know　if　he　has　a　last　name。　He　is　said　to　be　Razov's　йminence　grise；　his　mentor。　Few　people　have　seen　him。　You're　very　lucky。〃
　〃I　don't　know　if　I'd　call　it　lucky；〃　Gamay　said。　〃I'm　sure　he　saw　us；　too。〃
　〃He's　probably　the　one　who　called　out　the　hounds；〃　Paul　said。
　
　Orlov　groaned。　〃That's　where　we　are　in　Russia　today。　Thugs　advised　by　mad　monks。　I　can't　believe　Razov　has　bee　such　a　powerful　political　figure　in　our　country。〃
　〃I　was　wondering；〃　Paul　said。　〃How　did　they　know　where　to　find　us？　I'm　pretty　sure　Yuri　lost　them。〃
　〃Maybe　the　bigger　question　is　what　they　intended　to　do　after　they　found　us。〃　Gamay　turned　to　the　professor　and　his　son。　〃We're　profoundly　sorry　for　what　happened。　Please　tell　us　how　we　can　make　it　up　to　you。〃
　〃Perhaps　a　little　help　in　rebuilding　my　cottage；〃　Orlov　said；　after　some　thought。
　
　〃That　goes　without　saying；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃Anything　else？〃　Orlov　furrowed　his　brow。　〃One　more　thing；〃　he　said；　his　face　lighting　up。　〃As　you　know；　Yuri　is　intent　on　visiting　the　United　States。〃
　〃Consider　it　done；　with　the　condition　that　you　e　along。〃
　
　The　professor　could　barely　control　his　pleasure；　〃You　drive　a　hard　bargain；　my　friend。〃
　〃I'm　a　tough　old　Yankee；　and　don't　you　forget　it　I　think　we　should　be　on　our　way　the　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　you　have　to　leave　so　soon。　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃It　might　be　best　for　everyone　if　we　go。〃
　
　They　talked　until　the　professor's　weariness　caught　up　with　him　and　he　drifted　off　to　sleep。　The　Trouts　and　Yuri　split　the　rest　of　the　night　into　shifts；　so　at　least　one　person　would　stand　watch　while　the　others　caught　some　sleep　in　the　bunk　beds。　The　morning　dawned　without　incident；　and　after　a　quick　breakfast　of　coffee　and　rolls；　the　Trouts　said　their　good…byes；　vowing　to　get　together　in　a　few　months；　and　squeezed　into　the　same　taxi　that　had　dropped　them　off。
　
　As　the　Lada　bumped　down　the　road；　Gamay　looked　out　the　back　window　at　the　charred　remains　of　the　cottage。　Smoke　still　hung　in　the　air。　〃We'll　have　a　lot　to　tell　Kurt　when　we　get　back；〃　she　said。
　
　Paul's　eyes　blinked　with　amusement。　〃If　I　know　Kurt；　he'll　have　even　more　to　tell　us。〃
　
　…17…
　THE　MAN　AUSTIN　knew　only　as　Ivan　gazed　around　in　wonder　at　the　shrine　to　the　Romanovs。　Austin　had　just　given　him　a　demonstration　of　the　chanting　chair。　〃This　is　really　quite　extraordinary；〃　he　said；　letting　his　eyes　wander　around　the　room。　〃You　have　made　quite　a　find。〃
　
　Austin　responded　with　a　lopsided　grin。　〃Then　all　is　forgiven　for　corning　in　with　six…guns　blazing？〃
　〃On　the　contrary。　It's　exactly　what　I　wanted　to　happen。〃
　〃You're　a　strange　man；　Ivan；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。
　
　〃That　may　be；　but　in　this　case　my　actions　were　purely　logical。〃　He　spread　his　forefinger　and　thumb　apart。　〃Don't　forget　that　I　have　a　dossier　this　thick　on　you；　as　well　as　my　personal　experience　with　your　methods。　I　knew　warning　you　off　would　be　the　surest　way　to　bring　you　here。〃
　〃Why　be　so　Machiavellian？　Why　not　simply　invite　me　to　your　party？　I'm　an　agreeable　guy。〃
　〃You're　not　naпve　in　these　matters。　If　I　had　said　back　in　Istanbul　that　I　needed　your　help；　what　would　you　have　replied；　given　the　stormy　history　of　our　relationship？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Austin　said　with　a　shrug。
　
　〃I　do。　You　might　have　regarded　it　as　a　trap；　an　ingenious　way　of　getting　back　at　you　for　this　souvenir　of　past　encounters。〃　He　touched　the　scar　on　his　cheek。
　
　〃The　Russians　are　famous　for　their　chess　skills。　And　you　must　admit　revenge　can　be　a　potent　motivator。〃
　〃I've　learned　to　control　my　passions　and　exploit　those　of　others　to　defeat　them。　There's　another　reason　I　held　back。　I　suspect　that　if　I　had　asked　for　your　help；　you　would　have　gone　to　your　higher…ups。　Your　government　would　have　discouraged　this　mission。〃
　〃What　makes　you　so　sure　of　that？〃
　〃Some　of　your　countrymen　are　supporting　the　dark　forces　gathering　in　Russia。〃
　
　Austin　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Anyone　I　know？〃
　〃Probably；　but　I　doubt　if　you'd　believe　me；　so　I'll　keep　my　thoughts　to　myself　for　now。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　sure　that　I　didn't　act　with　official　permission？〃
　〃I　consider　it　highly　unlikely　that　your　government　would　tolerate　a　clandestine　invasion　of　a　foreign　country。〃
　〃Last　time　I　looked；　NUMA　was　part　of　the　government。〃
　〃You're　not　the　only　one　I　have　kept　tabs　on；　Mr。　Austin。　I　have　files　on　everyone　of　any　consequence　in　NUMA；　from　your　partner　Joe　Zavala　right　up　to　Admiral　Sandecker。　We　both　know　that　the　good　admiral　would　never　allow　a　rogue　operation。〃　The　Russian　smiled。　〃Unless　it　was　under　his　control；　of　course。〃
　〃Sounds　as　if　you've　done　your　homework；〃　Austin　admitted。
　
　〃Knowing　the　inner　workings　of　NUMA　was　vital　in　order　to　make　your　agency　a　part　of　the　equation。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。　Why　involve　NUMA？〃
　〃The　intelligence　services　in　both　our　countries　have　been　infiltrated　by　the　enemy。　Those　fighting　men　you　saw　today　have　all　served　with　me　for　years。　But　even　a　tightly　knit　force　can　be　promised　by　a　single　person。　NUMA's　integrity　is　above　reproach。　On　a　more　practical　side；　I　need　NUMA's　global　capacity　for　munications　and　transport；　your　incredible　intelligence　and　research　facilities。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　endorsement；　but　I　don't　know　if　I　can　help。　I'm　only　one　person　out　of　thousands　at　the　agency。〃
　〃Please　don't　be　disingenuous；　Mr。　Austin。　You　could　never　have　undertaken　this　mission　if　it　were　not　for　the　tacit　approval　of　Admiral　Sandecker　and　Rudi　Gunn。〃
　
　Austin　was　impressed　with　Ivan's　knowledge　of　how　things　worked　at　NUMA。　〃Even　if　I　admitted　you　were　right　on　that　score；　I　still　don't　have　the　power　to　give　you　everything　you　want。〃
　〃When　the　threat　to　your　country　bees　apparent；　you'll　feel　different。　We　need　each　other。〃
　〃That's　another　problem。　You　sti