cc.fireice-第73节

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　〃Razov's　treachery　can't　be　tolerated。　My　first　instinct　is　to　blow　him　out　of　the　water。　I'd　keep　the　attack　subs　and　fighter　planes　ready　to　destroy　him；　his　yacht　and　ships　if　the　plan　doesn't　work　out。〃
　〃Fair　enough；〃　the　president　said。　〃Well；　Admiral；　looks　f　like　you　have　my　'blessing。'　But　no　one　outside　this　room　can　ever　hear　about　it。　Sid；　I　want　you　to　get　this　thing　moving　immediately　with　special　ops　and　the　armed　services。〃　He　checked　his　watch　and　got　up　from　his　desk。　〃Now　if　you'll　excuse　me；　I've　got　a　Boy　Scout　troop　ing　in　from　my　home　state　for　a　Rose　Garden　ceremony。〃
　
　
　AS　THE　OVAL　Office　emptied；　Sandecker　touched　Sparkman's　sleeve。　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　have　a　word　with　you　in　private。〃　Sparkman　gave　him　a　troubled　look。　〃Sure；　why　don't　we　go　outside　and　get　some　air？　We　can　talk　about　how　to　keep　the　White　House　liaison　with　NUMA　close　to　our　vest。〃
　
　They　walked　out　of　the　executive　mansion　to　the　south　portico。　Sandecker　gazed　around　the　manicured　grounds。　〃Beautiful　setting；　isn't　it？〃
　〃The　prettiest　sight　in　all　of　Washington。〃
　〃A　pity　you　will　never　get　to　live　here。〃
　
　Sparkman　laughed；　but　there　was　an　edge　to　it。　〃I　have　no　intention　of　moving　from　the　naval　observatory。　Couldn't　t　afford　the　heating　bills　for　this　place。〃
　〃Don't　be　modest；　Sid。　Everyone　in　Washington　knows　that　you　are　the　heir　apparent　after　this　president's　term　has　expired。〃
　〃There's　no　guarantee　I'd　be　elected　or　even　nominated。〃　There　was　something　in　his　tone。
　
　〃You're　being　disingenuous。　It's　not　a　sin　to　have　political　ambitions。〃
　〃We're　all　politically　motivated　in　this　town；　even　you。〃
　〃No　argument　there。〃　Sandecker　swung　around　to　face　him。　〃But　my　ambitions　aren't　funded　by　a　Russian　madman；　Sid。　Tell　me；　what　did　Razov　promise　you？　And　don't　tell　me　I　don't　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　You've　been　caught　with　your　hand　in　the　cookie　jar。〃
　
　Sandecker's　bluff　was　convincing。　Sparkman　looked　for　a　moment　like　he　was　going　to　bluster　…　and　then　he　caved　in　pletely；　his　face　a　mask　of　misery。
　
　〃I　was　going　to　get　a　big　cut　of　the　methane　hydrates　production　off　the　United　States。　It　would　have　been　worth　billions；〃　he　said；　his　voice　shaky。
　
　〃Now　that　you've　heard　the　real　reason　behind　those　explorations；　have　you　changed　your　mind？〃
　〃Of　course　I　have！　You　heard　me　in　the　Oval　Office。　I'm　the　one　who　took　the　hard　line。　I　wanted　to　go　after　Razov　tooth　and　nail。〃
　〃I'm　sure　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　fact　that　if　Razov　were　blown　out　of　the　water；　your　secret　would　be　safe。〃
　
　A　wan　smile　crossed　Sparkman's　lips。　〃You're　not　a　man　known　to　dillydally；　are　you；　Admiral？　All　right。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃First　of　all；　I　want　you　to　know　that　if　one　word　of　what　transpired　in　the　Oval　Office　this　morning　gets　back　to　Razov；　I'll　see　that　you　are　pursued　by　the　hounds　of　hell。〃
　〃I　may　be　greedy；　but　I'm　not　a　traitor；　Admiral。　There　is　no　way　I　would　aid　and　abet　Razov　after　what　I've　learned　of　his　plans。〃
　〃Good。　Second；　as　soon　as　this　is　over；　I　want　you　to　submit　your　resignation。〃
　〃I　can't　…　〃
　〃You　can　and　you　will。　Or　else　your　role　in　this　scheme　will　be　played　out　on　CNN　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Agreed？〃
　
　Sparkman's　face　had　a　haunted　look。　〃Agreed；〃　he　whispered。
　
　〃There's　one　other　thing。　Tell　Razov　that　the　U。S。　is　still　trying　to　figure　out　why　the　NR…1　was　hijacked。　A　little　disinformation　couldn't　hurt。〃
　
　Sparkman　nodded。　
　
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Vice　President。　I　won't　waste　any　more　of　your　time。　I　know　you've　got　a　lot　to　do　carrying　out　the　president's　orders。〃
　
　Sparkman　squared　his　shoulders。　〃I'll　have　someone　from　my　office　stay　in　close　contact　so　we　can　coordinate　our　planning。〃
　
　The　two　men　parted　without　shaking　hands；　with　Sparkman　heading　back　to　the　White　House。　Sandecker　strode　to　the　parking　lot；　where　the　others　awaited　him。　He　was　angry　at　having　to　destroy　a　man's　career；　angry　that　Sparkman　had　been　such　a　fool。　His　blue　eyes　blazed　with　a　cold　fire　as　he　slid　behind　the　wheel　of　the　Jeep　and　said；　〃Gentlemen；　I　think　it's　time　we　put　Mr。　Razov's　wolfhounds　in　the　dog　pound。〃
　
　…34
　OFF　THE　COAST　OF　BOSTON
　
　IN　THE　EVENT　I　ever　write　my　memoirs；〃　Zavala　said；　〃What　exactly　is　going　on？〃
　〃This　is　a　scientific　mission　being　undertaken　by　Siberian　Pest　Control　on　a　U。S。　Navy　submarine；　supervised　by　NUMA；〃　Austin　said。　〃Officially；　it　doesn't　exist。〃
　〃Maybe　I　won't　write　my　memoirs；〃　Zavala　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。
　
　〃Cheer　up；〃　Austin　said；　glancing　around　the　spacious　wardroom。　〃No　one　would　believe　you　anyhow。〃
　
　Austin　had　to　raise　his　voice　to　be　heard　above　the　raucous　voices　of　a　dozen　tough…faced　men　dressed　in　black　mando　uniforms。　They　were　at　the　far　end　of　the　room　smearing　black　and　green　camouflage　paint　on　their　faces。　The　exercise　produced　laughter　and　jokes　that　rose　in　decibel　level；　stoked　by　slugs　from　the　vodka　bottle　being　passed　around。　Petrov；　who　was　dressed　for　bat　like　the　others；　dabbed　paint　on　his　cheek；　hiding　his　scar；　and　made　a　remark　in　Russian　that　provoked　great　hilarity　among　his　men。　One　man　started　to　howl　and　pounded　him　on　the　back　with　sufficient　force　to　break　the　rib　cage　of　an　average　person。
　
　Petro　grabbed　the　bottle　and　came　over　to　Austin　and　Zavala。
　
　Austin　said；　〃Sounds　like　amateur　night　at　the　Kremlin　edy　Club。　What　was　the　big　joke？〃
　
　Petrov　laughed　and　offered　the　vodka。
　
　Austin　declined　and　Zavala　said；　〃Thanks；　I'm　a　tequila　man。〃
　
　Petrov　seemed　more　in　his　element　than　Austin　had　ever　seen　him。　〃I　reminded　my　men　of　an　old　Russian　proverb：　'Live　with　wolves；　howl　like　a　wolf。'　〃　Noting　Austin's　blank　look；　he　said；　〃It's　like　your　saying　about　birds　of　a　feather。〃　Seeing　that　his　explanation　still　fell　short；　Petrov　said；　〃I'll　explain　later。〃　He　daubed　Austin's　forehead　and　cheeks　with　paint；　Indian　fashion。　〃Now　you're　properly　prepared　for　action。〃
　〃Thanks；　Ivan；〃　Austin　said；　pleting　the　job。　〃Sure　you're　up　to　a　field　operation？〃
　〃Are　you　implying　that　I'm　too　old？　As　I　recall；　I'm　a　month　younger　than　…　〃
　〃I　know；〃　Austin　said。　〃My　dossier：　Don't　be　so　touchy。　I　was　thinking　about　your　injuries　from　our　fun　night　in　Boston　Harbor。〃
　〃A　wonderful　battle。　I　will　never　forget　the　way　you　swung　over　the　deck　like　Tarzan　of　the　apes。　I　have　a　few　scratches。　Nothing　that　would　slow　me　down。〃
　
　Austin　jerked　his　head　toward　Petrov's　men。　〃Hope　the　same　goes　for　your　men。　Maybe　we　should　give　them　Breathalyzer　tests。〃
　
　Petrov　dismissed　the　ment　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃I　would　trust　any　of　those　men　with　my　life；　drunk　or　sober。　You　worry　too　much。　A　few　shots　of　vodka　before　battle　is　a　tradition　in　the　Russian　military。　It　was　the　secret　weapon　we　used　to　defeat　Napoleon　and　Hitler。　When　the　time　es；　my　bandits　will　carry　out　the　mission　with　precision　and　courage。〃
　
　Austin　glanced　toward　a　young　sailor　who　had　stepped　through　the　door。　〃Looks　like　that　time　is　now；　Ivan。〃
　
　The　seeds　of　the　joint　operation　had　been　hatched　after　Austin　had　returned　to　his　office　following　the　White　House　meeting。　Petrov　had　been　waiting　for　him。　When　Austin　described　the　plan；　Petrov　immediately　volunteered　his　men　to　board　the　yacht。　Austin　checked　with　Sandecker；　who　liked　the　idea　and　got　an　okay　from　the　vice…president。　Russians　boarding　a　Russian　yacht　would　add　another　layer　of　insulation　between　the　mission　and　the　president。
　
　The　sailor　surveyed　the　painted　faces；　trying　to　pick　out　someone　in　mand。　Austin　waved　him　over。
　
　〃Captain　says　we're　ready　anytime　you　are。〃
　
　Petrov　barked　a　mand　to　his　men。　The　transformation　was　startling。　The　horseplay　came　to　a　halt　and　the　bottle　of　vodka　vanished。　The　grins　were　replaced　by　firm　jaws　and　stony　expressions　of　determination。　Hands　reached　for　automatic　weapons；　and　a　chorus　of　metallic　clicks　echoed　throughout　the　room　as　loads　were　checked。　Within　seconds；　the　ragtag　gang　had　changed　into　a　fierce…eyed　fighting　force。
　
　Ivan　gave　Austin　an　I…told…you…so　smirk。　〃After　you；〃　he　said。
　
　Austin　grabbed　the　pack　holding　his　Bowen；　and　with　Zavala　and　the　others　behind　him；　followed　the　sailor　to　the　control　room。　Captain　Madison　lifted　his　eyes　from　the　periscope　and　said；　〃We　surface　in　exactly　three　minutes。　The　target　is　one　hundred　yards　away。　Seas　look　fairly　calm。　You're　in　luck；　the　clouds　are　covering　the　moon。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　allowing　my　men　the　use　of　your　vessel；　Captain；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　Madison　scratched　his　head。　〃This　is　a　first　for　me；　but　if　your　country　and　mine　can　cooperate　in　space；　why　not　under　the　sea？〃　He　turned　to　Austin。　〃Someone　at　NUMA's　got　a　lot　of　pull。　It's　not　anyone　who　can　yank　a　U。S。　Navy　missile　sub　off　its　usual　patrol　for　what　seems　to　be；　if　you'll　pardon　the　expression；　a　renegade　special…ops　mission。〃
　
　The　four…hundred…twenty…five…foot　Benjamin　Franklin　was　one　of　four　subs　in　its　class　that　had　been　recruited　because　it　was　equipped　for　special　operations。　Even　Sandecker's　considerable　influence　wouldn't　have　superseded　naval　orders　without　approval；　however　masked；　from　the　highest　level。
　
　Austin　said；　〃Thi