cc.fireice-第68节

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　catch　a　ride　on　a　launch；　but　abandoned　that　course。　Two　guards　flanked　the　stairway；　their　eyes　scanning　the　crowd。　Austin　had　assumed；　wrongly；　that　Razov　wouldn't　risk　an　incident　with　all　the　people　around。　But　Razov　had　spilled　more　than　he'd　intended　and　was　willing　to　take　the　risk。　Pushing　his　way　back　through　the　crowd；　Austin　was　trying　to　gain　a　few　minutes　while　he　figured　out　an　alternative　escape　route；　when　someone　grabbed　his　arm。
　
　Austin　whirled　and　tensed　his　body　into　a　bat　stance。　Petrov　released　his　grip。　The　Russian　was　smiling；　but　his　eyes　were　deadly　serious。
　
　〃I　think　you'd　better　not　go　that　way；〃　he　said。　Austin　followed　Petrov's　gaze。　A　guard　was　working　his　way　through　the　crowd。　He　looked　straight　at　Austin　and　spoke　to　a　microphone　in　the　lapel　of　his　suit。　Austin　let　Petrov　guide　him　into　one　door　of　the　salon；　around　the　dance　floor；　then　through　the　other　door　and　out　onto　the　deck。　They　headed　toward　a　stairway；　but　this　too　had　a　tall　guard　stationed　at　it。　The　man　had　a　hand　cupped　next　to　his　ear；　listening　to　his　radio。
　
　Wearing　a　broad　smile；　Petrov　went　up　to　him　and　said　something　in　Russian。　The　guard　responded　with　a　suspicious　glare　and　reached　for　the　gun　inside　his　jacket。　Petrov　drove　his　fist　into　the　man's　midsection。　The　guard　doubled　over；　gasping　for　breath；　and　when　he　came　up　for　air；　Austin　was　waiting　with　a　right　cross。　The　big　man　tumbled　like　a　big　tree　felled　by　a　lumberjack。
　
　Stepping　over　the　fallen　guard；　they　raced　down　the　stairs　to　the　deck　below。　Austin　saw　a　door　like　the　one　used　on　the　other　side　of　the　ship　for　the　guest　shuttles。　Petrov　worked　the　latch　and　pushed　the　door　open。　Austin　wondered　if　they　were　going　to　have　to　swim　for　it　when　a　shaft　of　light　fell　on　a　powerboat。　The　motor　was　idling；　and　the　man　at　the　wheel　grinned　and　waved　when　he　saw　Petrov。
　
　〃I　took　the　liberty　of　arranging　alternative　transportation；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　〃I　thought　you　came　alone。〃
　〃Never　trust　a　former　KGB　man。〃
　
　Austin　scolded　himself。　Unlike　Petrov；　he　had　underestimated　the　determination　of　his　foe。　He　had　been　so　eager　to　confront　Razov　that　he　had　neglected　his　own　escape　plans。　He　vowed　to　praise　Ivan　later　for　his　meticulous　attention　to　detail。　He　stepped　from　the　ship　onto　the　deck　of　the　powerboat；　Petrov　followed　and　Petrov's　man　ratcheted　up　the　throttle　several　notches。　The　boat　surged　forward；　almost　pitching　Austin　and　Petrov　into　the　water；　as　the　snarling　outboard　motor　pushed　it　up　on　plane。
　
　Austin　looked　back　at　the　brightly　lit　ship　and　chuckled　as　he　imagined　the　reaction　of　Razov　and　his　thugs　to　their　escape。　His　triumph　lasted　only　a　second；　however。　Silent　gunfire　raked　the　boat；　ing　not　from　the　ship　but　from　the　harbor　itself。　Though　there　was　no　sound；　the　muzzle　flashes　were　clearly　visible　in　the　darkness；　and　the　hail　of　bullets　stitched　their　way　across　the　body　of　the　helmsman。　He　let　out　a　soggy　yell　before　he　crumpled　over　the　wheel；　and　the　boat　careened　off　at　a　wild　angle。
　
　Petrov　pulled　the　man　away　from　the　wheel　and　Austin　grabbed　the　helm。　Spotlight　beams　converged　on　the　powerboat。　Razov　was　no　fool。　He'd　stationed　a　picket　line　of　his　gunmen　in　boats　around　the　yacht。
　
　Another　volley　raked　the　boat。　There　was　only　one　way　past　the　guard　boats；　and　that　was　through　them；　Austin　concluded。　He　steered　toward　a　gap　between　spotlights；　and　the　boat　shot　between　the　picket　line。　Razov's　guards　held　their　fire　for　fear　of　hitting　each　other　in　the　cross　fire；　but　once　Austin　was　in　the　open　harbor；　they　let　fly　with　everything　they　had。
　
　The　water　around　the　fleeing　boat　exploded　with　miniature　geysers。　A　few　shots　found　the　windshield　and　shattered　the　glass。　Petrov　clutched　his　head　and　fell　to　the　deck。　Austin　ducked　low　and　wrung　every　ounce　of　speed　he　could　out　of　the　motor。　The　boat　was　fast；　but　the　pursuers　were　slightly　faster。　Spotlights　were　gaining　on　both　sides。
　
　Austin　glanced　toward　shore。　They'd　never　make　it　。　。　。　and　then　another　possible　refuge　offered　itself。　Dead　ahead；　her　masts　and　sails　illuminated　by　deck　lights；　was　Old　Ironsides。
　
　A　volley　of　slugs　from　a　flanking　pursuer　slammed　into　the　side　of　the　boat　at　the　waterline　and　blasted　a　row　of　holes　in　the　fiberglass。　Austin　tried　to　keep　the　boat　on　plane；　but　the　holes　were　too　big　and　the　boat　quickly　swamped。　The　outboard　motor　pushed　on　until　it　died　with　a　smoky　gasp。　The　boat　went　under　like　a　diving　submarine。　Austin　found　himself　floating　in　Boston　Harbor。　Petrov　went　under。　Austin　dove　after　him；　grabbed　the　Russian　by　the　neck　and　pulled　him　to　the　surface；　where　he　was　greeted　by　a　bright　light　shining　in　his　eyes；　and　he　could　hear　the　sound　of　voices　shouting。
　
　
　STRONG　HANDS　REACHED　down；　grabbed　Austin　by　the　arms　and　the　scruff　of　his　jacket　and　pulled　him；　dripping；　from　the　chill　water。　He　wiped　his　eyes　and　saw　that　he　was　in　a　double…ended　boat　about　thirty　feet　long。　A　dozen　men　wearing　white　navy　uniforms　and　black　neckerchiefs　pulled　at　long　oars　with　practiced　strokes。　Petrov　was　stretched　out　at　Austin's　feet；　blood　streaming　from　a　wound　on　his　head。　He　gave　Austin　a　weak　wave。
　
　〃All　you　all　right；　sir？〃　said　a　young　man　who　sat　next　to　Austin　in　the　stem；　his　hand　on　the　tiller。　Over　his　white　sailor's　uniform　he　wore　a　long　black　coat　with　brass　buttons　down　the　front；　a　black　neckerchief　and　a　shiny　black…brimmed　hat。
　
　〃A　little　waterlogged。　Thanks　for　hauling　us　out　of　the　harbor。〃
　
　The　steersman　extended　his　free　hand。　〃Josh　Slade。　I'm　the　officer　of　the　deck　on　board　the　U。S。S。　Constitution。　We　saw　you　from　up　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　Old　Ironsides；　which　sat　in　the　water　a　few　hundred　feet　away；　her　three　tall　masts　brightly　illuminated　by　floodlights。
　
　〃My　name　is　Kurt　Austin。　I'm　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　〃What's　NUMA　doing　in　these　parts？〃　Slade　gave　him　a　funny　look　as　he　asked　the　question。　Austin　brought　his　hand　up　to　his　face　and　felt　his　fake　nose。
　
　It　was　hanging　half　off　from　the　effects　of　the　dunk　in　the　harbor。　Austin　ripped　the　nose　off　and　tossed　it　over　the　side。
　
　〃Long　story；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃How's　my　friend？〃
　〃Looks　like　the　bleeding　has　stopped。　We'll　give　him　first　aid　when　we　get　back　on　board。〃
　
　Music　from　Razov's　yacht　drifted　across　the　water。　Austin　hoped　Kaela　and　Lombardo　were　all　right。　He　saw　no　sign　of　the　chase　boats　and　their　gun…happy　crews；　but　instinct　and　experience　told　him　they　hadn't　gone　far。
　
　〃Did　anyone　see　the　powerboats　that　were　following　us？〃
　〃Just　a　glimpse。　They　were　right　on　your　tail；　but　when　you　got　into　trouble；　they　disappeared。　We　couldn't　figure　out　why　they　didn't　stop　to　help。　Don't　know　where　they　went。　We　were　busy　launching　the　captain's　gig　and　didn't　pay　much　attention。〃
　〃Lucky　you　were　here。　It　would　have　been　a　long　swim　back　to　land。〃
　〃I'll　say。　Normally　we　wouldn't　be　out　here　this　late。　The　Constitution　does　one　turnaround　cruise　a　year；　on　the　Fourth　of　July。　We　were　taking　the　ship　out　on　a　midnight　cruise。　Got　the　master　gun　team；　so　we　can　fire　a　twenty…one…gun　salute。　The　governor　and　the　mayor　got　the　okay　from　the　Navy　Department　for　us　to　do　a　nighttime　sail…by。　What　happened？　We　saw　you　zipping　it　along；　but　then　your　boat　seemed　to　vanish　from　under　you。〃
　
　Austin　saw　no　point　in　beating　around　the　bush。　〃We　were　leaving　the　party　yacht。　Those　boats　you　saw　shot　us　out　of　the　water　and　killed　our　helmsman。〃
　
　He　stared　at　Austin　as　if　he　suspected　his　sanity。　〃We　didn't　hear　any　gunfire。〃
　
　〃They　had　silencers　on　their　guns。〃
　〃e　to　think　of　it；　we　saw　flashes　of　light　that　could　have　e　from　guns。　We　thought　they　were　camera　strobe　lights。　Who　were　those　guys？　Whoops；〃　he　said；　not　waiting　for　an　answer。　〃Going　to　have　to　excuse　me　for　a　minute。〃
　
　Slade　steered　them　around　behind　the　Constitution　under　the　white　eagle　and　ship's　name　emblazoned　on　the　stem。　He　maneuvered　the　boat　under　the　davits　that　projected　overhead　like　extended　wooden　arms。　The　rowers　lifted　the　oars　out　of　their　locks　and　stood　them　in　a　vertical　position；　then　attached　the　lines　hanging　down　from　the　davits　and　winched　themselves　up　to　deck　level。
　
　With　help　from　the　deck　crew；　Petrov　was　extricated　from　the　boat。　The　Russian　had　revived　and　was　able　to　walk　with　the　help　of　a　sailor　on　either　side。　Someone　made　a　mattress　of　life　jackets　so　he　wouldn't　have　to　lie　on　the　hard　wooden　deck。　Another　crewman　gave　Austin　a　coat　to　replace　his　dripping　jacket。
　
　Slade　took　his　hat　off　and　tucked　it　under　his　arm。　He　was　a　dark…haired　young　man　in　his　twenties；　a　couple　of　inches　taller　than　Austin's　six　feet　one。　With　his　chiseled　features　and　ramrod　posture；　he　could　have　posed　for　a　navy　recruiting　poster。
　
　〃Wele　to　Old　Ironsides；　the　oldest　missioned　warship　in　the　world；　still　manned　by　an　active…duty　U。S。　Navy　crew。〃　The　pride　in　his　voice　was　obvious。
　
　〃　'Ay；　tear　her　tattered　ensign　down！　Long　has　it　waved　on　high；'　〃　Austin　said；　quoting　the　first　line　of　the　Oliver　Wendell　Holmes　poem；　〃Old　Ironsides；〃　that　had　inspired　the　nation　to