cc.fireice-第4节

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　〃What　has　happened？〃　the　major　said。
　
　〃It's　incredible！　Someone　has　killed　the　first　mate。〃
　
　Yakelev　nudged　the　bloody　corpse　with　his　boot。　〃Who　could　have　done　this？〃
　〃No　one。〃
　〃No　one　slaughtered　your　mate　like　a　pig？　e　to　your　senses；　Captain。〃
　
　Tovrov　shook　his　head；　unable　to　take　his　eyes　off　the　mate's　body。　〃I　meant　that　I　know　all　the　crew　well。〃　He　paused。　〃All　except　the　two　new　men。〃
　〃What　new　men？〃　Yakelev's　good　eye　blazed　at　Tovrov　like　a　spotlight。
　
　〃I　hired　them　two　days　ago　as　stokers。　They　were　in　the　bar　when　I　was　talking　to　Federoff；　and　they　came　by　later　looking　for　berths。　They　looked　like　ruffians；　but　I　was　short　of　crew　…　〃
　
　Uttering　a　curse；　Yakelev　pulled　his　pistol　from　its　holster；　shoved　Tovrov　aside　and　vaulted　through　the　door；　shouting　mands　to　his　men。　Tovrov　glanced　at　the　first　mate　and　vowed　not　to　let　the　same　thing　happen　to　him　without　a　fight。　He　tied　the　wheel；　then　he　went　into　his　stateroom　and　with　trembling　hands　turned　the　bination　dial　on　the　ship's　safe。　Pulling　out　a　7。63…millimeter　Mauser　automatic；　he　unwrapped　the　soft　velvet　cloth　protecting　the　gun；　which　he　had　acquired　years　before　in　a　barter　in　the　event　of　a　mutiny；　loaded　the　magazine；　stuck　the　pistol　in　his　belt　and　peered　out　the　cabin　door。
　
　Descending　to　the　lower　deck；　he　peeked　through　the　small　circular　window　in　the　door　that　led　to　the　passengers'　quarters。　The　passageway　was　empty。　He　went　down　to　the　main　deck　and　crept　forward。　In　the　glow　of　the　deck　lights；　he　saw　the　Cossacks　crouched　near　the　rail。
　
　Suddenly；　a　small；　dark　object　looped　over　the　gunwale；　bounced　once　and　skittered　along　the　wet　deck；　leaving　a　trail　of　sparks。
　
　〃Grenade！〃　someone　yelled。　Moving　like　quicksilver；　Yakelev　dove　for　the　sputtering　grenade；　rolled　onto　his　back　and　snapped　the　metal　pineapple　over　the　side。　An　explosion　sounded；　and　the　screams　of　pain　that　followed　were　drowned　out　as　the　Cossacks　poured　rifle　fire　into　the　mist。　One　guard　leaned　over　with　a　sharp：　knife　and　slashed　the　lines　tied　to　several　grappling　hooks；　then　a　boat　engine　roared；　as　if　it　had　been　given　full　throttle。　The　Cossacks　continued　to　fire　until　the　boat　was　out　of　range。
　
　The　major　turned　and　his　rifle　snapped　up　to　firing　position。　Then　a　grin　crossed　his　face　as　he　recognized　the　captain。
　
　〃You'd　better　put　that　toy　away　before　you　shoot　yourself；　Captain。〃
　
　Tovrov　tucked　the　gun　into　his　belt　and　walked　over　to　Yakelev。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃You　were　right　about　being　followed。　A　fishing　boat　came　alongside　and　some　impolite　fellows　tried　to　invite　themselves　on　board。　We　had　to　teach　them　manners。　One　of　your　new　crewmen　was　signaling　them　with　a　light　until　we　put　a　knife　in　his　heart。〃　He　indicated　a　body　lying　on　the　deck。
　
　〃We　gave　our　visitors　a　warm　wele；〃　another　Cossack　said；　and　his　panions　joined　in　the　laughter。　The　guards　picked　the　body　up　and　threw　it　over　the　side。　The　captain　was　about　to　ask　where　the　other　stoker　was。　Too　late。
　
　The　missing　stoker　announced　his　arrival　with　deadly　force。　Rifle　fire　cut　short　the　Cossacks'　mirth；　and　four　men　were　mowed　down　as　if　by　an　invisible　scythe。　A　round　caught　Yakelev　in　the　chest；　and　the　force　slammed　him　against　the　bulkhead。　He　refused　to　go　down　and　mustered　the　strength　to　push　the　captain　out　of　the　line　of　fire。　The　remaining　Cossack　dropped　to　his　belly　and　crawled　along　the　deck；　firing　as　he　went；　but　he　was　killed　before　he　gained　the　protection　of　an　air　vent。
　
　While　the　attacker　was　diverted；　Tovrov　and　the　major　made　their　escape；　but　after　a　few　steps；　the　major's　knees　buckled　and　his　great　body　dropped　to　the　deck；　his　tunic　soaked　in　blood。　He　gestured　toward　the　captain；　who　brought　his　ear　close　to　the　Cossack's　mouth。
　
　〃See　to　the　family；〃　he　said　in　a　wet；　guttural　voice。
　
　〃They　must　live。〃　His　hand　groped　for　Tovrov's　jacket。　〃Remember。　Without　a　tsar；　Russia　cannot　exist。〃　He　blinked　in　astonishment　that　he　should　be　in　such　a　position；　and　a　soggy　chuckle　escaped　his　frothy　lips。　〃Damn　this　ship。　give　me　a　horse　any　day。　。　。　。〃　The　life　went　out　of　his　fierce　eye；　his　chin　slumped　forward　and　his　fingers　went　limp。
　
　Just　then；　the　ship　was　rocked　by　a　tremendous　blast。
　
　Crouching　low；　Tovrov　ran　to　the　rail　and　saw　the　fishing　boat　a　hundred　yards　away。　A　bright　flash　from　the　muzzle　of　a　deck　gun；　and　a　second　shell　slammed　into　the　freighter。
　
　The　ship　rocked　violently。
　
　A　muffled　thud　came　from　below；　as　the　fuel　tanks　caught　fire；　and　burning　fuel　gushed　from　the　tanks　and　spread　in　flaming　sheets　across　the　surface　of　the　water。　The　second　stoker　decided　to　abandon　ship。　He　ran　across　the　deck；　threw　the　rifle　over　the　side；　then　he　climbed　onto　the　rail；　leaped　into　a　clear　section　of　water　and　stroked　for　the　fishing　boat。　He　underestimated　the　speed　of　the　spreading　fuel；　however。　Within　seconds；　it　caught　up　with　him；　and　his　screams　were　drowned　out　by　the　loud　crackle　of　flames。
　
　The　cannonade　had　dislodged　the　rest　of　the　crew　from　their　hiding　places。　Men　ran　in　desperation　toward　the　lifeboat　on　the　side　away　from　the　fire。　Tovrov　went　to　follow　them；　then　he　remembered　Yakelev's　dying　words。　Gasping　as　he　tried　to　pull　air　into　his　ravaged　lungs；　Tovrov　climbed　to　the　passenger　quarters　and　threw　the　door　open。
　
　A　pitiful　sight　greeted　his　eyes。　Four　girls　in　their　teens　cowered　against　the　wall；　along　with　the　cook。　Standing　protectively　in　front　of　them　was　a　middle…aged　woman　with　sad　blue…gray　eyes。　She　had　a　long　thin　nose；　slightly　aquiline；　with　a　firm　but　delicate　chin。　Her　lips　were　closely　pressed　together　in　determination。　They　could　have　been　any　group　of　refugees　huddling　in　terror；　but　Tovrov　knew　they　weren't。　He　fumbled　as　he　tried　to　decide　on　the　right　form　of　address。
　
　〃Madame；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　and　the　children　must　e　to　the　lifeboat。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　the　woman　said；　with　the　same　German　accent　the　captain　had　heard　earlier。
　
　〃Captain　Tovrov。　I　am　master　of　this　vessel。〃
　〃Tell　me　what　has　happened。　What　is　all　that　noise？〃
　〃Your　guards　are　all　dead。　The　ship　is　under　attack。　We　must　abandon　it。〃
　
　She　glanced　at　the　girls　and　seemed　to　gain　renewed　courage。　〃Captain　Tovrov；　if　you　guide　me　and　my　family　to　safety；　great　rewards　await　you。〃
　〃I　will　do　my　best；　Madame。
　
　She　nodded。　〃Go；　and　we　will　follow。〃
　
　Tovrov　checked　to　see　if　the　way　was　clear；　then　held　the　door　open　for　the　family　and　led　the　way　across　the　deck　away　from　the　fire。　The　Star　tilted　at　a　pronounced　angle　and　they　had　to　climb　up　a　slanting　slippery　metal　surface。　They　fell；　helped　one　another　up　and　pushed　on。
　
　The　crew　was　piling　into　the　lifeboat；　struggling　to　work　the　davits。　Taking　control；　the　captain　ordered　the　men　to　help　the　family。　When　everyone　was　in　the　boat；　he　told　the　crewmen　to　look　smart　and　lower　the　boat。　He　was　worried　that　the　ship　was　at　such　an　angle　that　the　davits　would　not　work；　but　the　boat　began　to　descend；　although　it　bumped　against　the　slanting　hull。
　
　The　lifeboat　was　a　few　yards　above　the　water　when　one　of　the　men　shouted。　The　fishing　boat　had　e　around　from　the　other　side　and　the　deck　gun　was　leveled　directly　at　the　lifeboat。　The　gun　fired　and　the　shell　smashed　through　one　end　of　the　boat；　and　then　the　air　was　filled　with　flying　splinters　of　wood；　hot　steel　and　body　parts。
　
　Tovrov　had　stretched　his　arm　around　the　girl　nearest　to　him。　He　still　had　his　arm　around　her　when　he　came　to　in　the　freezing　water；　calling　out　the　name　of　his　long…lost　daughter。　Spotting　a　wooden　hatch　cover　floating　nearby；　and　moving　slowly　so　as　not　to　alert　the　attackers；　he　swam　toward　the　debris；　hauling　the　semiconscious　girl　behind　him。
　
　He　helped　her　climb　aboard　the　precarious　raft；　gave　it　a　shove；　and　the　cover　and　its　cargo　drifted　away　from　the　light　of　the　dying　ship　and　merged　with　the　darkness。　Then；　frozen　and　exhausted；　with　nothing　to　keep　him　afloat；　Tovrov　slipped　beneath　the　embracing　waters；　taking　with　him　his　dream　of　a　cottage　by　the　sea。
　
　…1…
　OFF　THE　MAINE　COAST；　THE　PRESENT
　
　LEROY　JENKINS　WAS　hauling　in　a　barnacle…　encrusted　lobster　trap　aboard　his　boat；　The　Kestrel；　when　he　looked　up　and　saw　the　giant　ship　on　the　horizon。　He　gingerly　extracted　a　fat　pair　of　angry　crustaceans　from　the　trap；　pegged　the　claws　and　tossed　the　lobsters　into　a　holding　tank；　then　he　rebaited　the　trap　with　a　fish　head；　pushed　the　wire　cage　over　the　side　and　went　into　the　pilothouse　for　his　binoculars。　He　peered　through　the　lenses　and　silently　mouthed　the　word　〃Wow！〃
　
　The　ship　was　huge。　Jenkins　examined　the　vessel　from　stem　to　stem　with　an　expert　eye。　Before　retiring　to　take　up　lobster…fishing；　he　had　taught　oceanography　for　years　at　the　University　of　Maine；　and　he　had　spent　many　summer　breaks　on　survey　ships　…　but　this　vessel　was　like　nothing　he　had　ever　seen。　He　estimated　its　length　at　about　six　hundred　feet。　Derricks　and　cranes　sprouted　from　its　deck。　Jenkins　guessed　it　was　some　sort　of　ocean　mining　or　exploration　vessel。　He　watched　until　the　ship　vanished　from　sight；　then　went　back　to　pull　the　rest　of　the　strin