cc.fireice-第77节

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　sea　and　its　thrusters　dug　in。　As　they　peered　into　the　dark　roiling　sea；　it　was　as　if　they　were　looking　into　the　bowels　of　hell。
　
　…36…
　PETROV'S　LEAD　MAN；　a　giant　whom　Austin　had　nicknamed　Tiny；　stepped　forward　and　drove　the　wooden　butt　of　his　AKM　into　the　side　of　the　guard's　head。　The　guard's　legs　turned　to　rubber　and　he　crashed　to　the　deck。　Figures　were　running　toward　them。　Someone　flicked　on　a　flashlight　that　caught　Austin　in　its　beam。　An　AKM　burped　once。　At　a　firing　rate　of　six　hundred　rounds　per　minute；　even　a　short　burst　was　deadly；　especially　at　close　range。
　
　The　flashlight　skittered　across　the　deck；　but　in　its　quick　flicker；　Razov's　men　had　sized　up　the　strength　and　position　of　the　assault　group。　White…hot　muzzle　bursts　blossomed　in　the　darkness。　They　dove　for　cover。　In　the　stroboscopic　effect　created　by　the　fusillade；。Petrov's　men　looked　as　if　they　were　moving　in　slow　motion。
　
　Austin　and　Zavala　hit　the　deck　belly　first　and　rolled　over　until　they　were　behind　the　protection　of　a　bollard。　Bullets　shredded　the　air　over　their　heads　and　ricocheted　off　the　big　steel　mushroom。　Austin　hauled　out　his　Bowen　and　blasted　at　a　moving　shadow；　unsure　if　he'd　hit　anyone。　Zavala　pecked　away　with　his　H　and　K。　The　muzzle　bursts　became　more　scattered；　indicating　that　Razov's　men　were　spreading　out。
　
　〃They're　trying　to　outflank　us；〃　Zavala　shouted。
　
　Tiny；　who　was　on　his　belly　a　few　feet　away；　was　waving　to　get　their　attention。
　
　〃Go！〃　he　bellowed。　〃We　hold　position。〃
　
　Austin　had　his　doubts。　Tiny　and　his　men　could　defend　the　narrow　deck　for　a　while；　but　like　the　Spartans　holding　the　pass　at　Thermopylae；　they　too　would　eventually　be　outmaneuvered。　Tiny　jerked　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　The　gesture　needed　no　translation。　Get　moving。　They　let　off　a　few　more　rounds；　then　inched　backward　on　their　elbows　and　knees　until　they　were　under　a　lifeboat　davit。
　
　With　Razov's　men　still　shooting　at　their　last　position；　they　got　to　their　feet　and　dashed　heads…down　toward　a　salon　door。　It　was　unlocked。　They　stepped　inside；　weapons　cocked。　The　crystal　chandeliers　were　dark；　and　the　only　illumination　came　from　a　series　of　wall　sconces。　In　their　yellow　glow；　Austin　could　see　the　outlines　of　tables；　chairs　and　settees。　They　crossed　the　dance　floor　to　the　opposite　side。
　
　Austin　paused。　Petrov's　men　might　be　in　the　vicinity；　and　it　could　be　a　lethal　mistake　to　surprise　them。　He　called　Petrov　on　the　radio　and　gave　him　their　position。
　
　〃Sounds　as　if　you　stepped　into　a　hornets'　nest；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　〃Couldn't　be　helped。　Don't　know　how　long　Tiny　can　hold　them　off。〃
　〃You　might　be　surprised；〃　Petrov　said　without　concern。
　
　〃e　through　the　door　onto　the　deck。　We'll　be　watching　for　you。〃
　
　Austin　clicked　off；　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out。　There　was　no　sign　of　Petrov　or　his　men。　Then　dark　shapes　detached　themselves　from　the　shadows　where　the　mandos　crouched。　Petrov　came　toward　them。　〃You　were　wise　not　to　stick　your　heads　outside。　My　men　are　a　little　edgy。　I've　sent　a　few　around　to　the　other　side。　We　should　hear　from　them　in　a　…　〃
　
　He　was　interrupted　by　the　thud　of　exploding　grenades。　The　gunfire　became　more　sporadic。　〃Evidently；　my　men　have　thinned　out　the　ranks　of　the　opposition；〃　he　said。　〃I　suggest　you　proceed　to　your　objective。　Do　you　need　any　help？〃
　〃I'll　call　you　if　we　do；〃　Austin　said；　moving　toward　a　ladder　that　went　up　the　side　of　the　bulkhead　on　the　bridge　superstructure。
　
　〃Good　luck！〃　Petrov　called　out。　Austin　and　Zavala　were　halfway　up　the　bridge　when　the　chilling　reports　started　ing　in　from　the　Omega　teams。　He　stopped　to　tell　Zavala　the　bad　news　ing　in　through　his　earpiece。
　
　〃The　bombs　have　dropped；〃　he　told　Zavala。　〃All　of　them。〃
　
　Zavala　had　taken　the　lead　and　was　hanging　on　to　a　ladder　to　the　next　deck。　He　turned　at　Austin's　words　and　let　out　a　long　string　of　curses　in　Spanish。　〃What　now？〃
　
　In　answer；　Austin　jerked　his　arm　up　to　shoulder　level　and　pointed　his　gun　at　Zavala；　who　froze　in　place。　The　Bowen　barked。　The　slug　passed　within　inches　of　Zavala's　head　and　the　breeze　created　by　its　passing　ruffled　his　hair。　A　heavy　object　plunged　from　above　and　crashed　to　the　deck　with　a　thud。　Zavala　blinked　the　light　spots　out　of　his　eyes　and　stared　at　the　Cossack　spread…eagled　on　the　deck。　A　saber　lay　a　few　feet　from　the　man's　outstretched　hand。
　
　〃Sorry；　Joe；〃　Austin　said。　〃That　guy　was　about　to　cut　you　down　to　size。〃
　
　Zavala　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　on　the　side　the　bullet　had　passed。　〃That's　okay。　I　always　wanted　to　part　my　hair　on　this　side。〃
　〃There's　nothing　we　can　do　about　the　bombs；〃　Austin　said　somberly。　〃But　we　can　deal　with　the　murdering　scum　who　launched　them。〃
　
　Austin　took　the　lead；　and　they　climbed　higher　until　they　were　under　the　wings　that　extended　out　from　either　side　of　the　wheelhouse。　They　split　up；　with　each　man　taking　a　wing。　Austin　sprinted　up　the　stairs。　With　his　back　to　the　bulkhead；　he　edged　up　to　the　open　door　and　peered　around　the　corner。
　
　The　spacious　wheelhouse　was　lit　by　red　night…lights　that　washed　the　interior　in　their　crimson　glow。
　
　The　wheelhouse　seemed　deserted；　except　for　the　solitary　figure　of　a　man　who　stood　in　front　of　a　large　puter　monitor；　his　back　to　Austin；　apparently　staring　at　the　screen。　Austin　whispered　into　his　radio；　instructing　Zavala　to　keep　watch　while　he　investigated。　Then　he　stepped　inside。
　
　Razov's　wolfhounds　must　have　smelled　him。　They　rushed　out　of　nowhere　in　a　flurry　of　clicking　claws　and　wagging　tails　and　pounced　on　Austin。　He　pushed　them　down　with　his　free　hand；　but　the　dogs　had　spoiled　all　hopes　of　a　silent　entry。　Razov　turned　and　frowned　at　the　dogs'　attention　to　Austin。　He　gave　a　sharp　mand　that　brought　the　dogs　whimpering　back　to　his　side　with　their　heads　low　and　tails　between　their　legs。　His　thin　lips　widened　in　an　evil　smile。
　
　〃I've　been　expecting　you；　Mr。　Austin。　My　men　told　me　that　you　and　your　friends　were　aboard。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。　Pity　that　you　had　to　depart　so　abruptly　on　your　last　visit。〃
　〃You　might　change　your　mind　when　we　blow　your　operation　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃It's　a　little　late　for　that；〃　Razov　said。　He　pointed　toward　die　monitor。　The　screen　was　subdivided　into　three　vertical　segments。　On　each　section；　a　blip　was　rapidly　descending　toward　a　wavy　line　at　the　bottom。
　
　〃I　know　you've　launched　the　bombs。〃
　
　〃Then　you　know　there's　nothing　you　can　do。　When　the　missiles　hit　bottom；　the　thrusters　will　drive　them　into　the　seafloor；　where　they　will　explode；　releasing　the　methane　hydrate；　collapsing　the　shelf　and　triggering　tsunamis　that　will　destroy　three　of　your　major　coastal　cities。〃
　
　'〃To　say　nothing　of　launching　your　mad　scheme　to　trigger　global　warming。〃
　
　Razov　looked　startled；　then　he　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　should　have　known　you　would　figure　out　my　ultimate　goal。　No　matter。　Yes；　Siberia　will　bee　the　breadbasket　of　the　world；　and　your　country　will　be　so　busy　licking　its　wounds　and　trying　to　feed　itself　that　you　will　no　longer　be　able　to　mind　Russia's　business。　Maybe　we　might　sell　you　Siberian　wheat；　if　you　behave。〃
　〃Would　lrini　have　agreed　with　your　insane　plot？〃
　
　
　The　smile　disappeared。　〃You're　not　fit　to　speak　her　name。〃
　〃Maybe　not。〃　Austin　pointed　the　Bowen　at　Razov's　heart。　〃But　I　can　send　you　to　join　her。〃
　
　Razov　spat　out　a　mand。　The　curtain　that　divided　the　main　section　of　the　wheelhouse　from　the　chart　room　parted；　and　two　men　came　out；　a　bearded　Cossack　and　Pulaski；　who　had　hijacked　the　NR…1。　Machine　pistols　at　the　ready；　they　moved　around　behind　Austin。　Then　the　curtain　parted　again。　A　tall　man　dressed　in　a　long　black　robe　emerged。　He　gazed　at　Austin　with　deep…set　eyes　and　licked　his　lips；　as　if　he　were　about　to　feast。　He　said　something　in　Russian；　his　voice　was　deep　and　sonorous；　as　if　it　were　issuing　from　a　tomb。
　
　A　chill　danced　along　Austin's　spine；　but　he　kept　his　gun　leveled　at　Razov。
　
　Razov　seemed　amused　at　Austin's　reaction。　〃I'd　like　you　to　meet　Boris；　my　associate　and　closest　advisor。〃　The　monk　grinned　at　the　mention　of　his　name　and　spoke　in　Russian。　Razov　translated。　〃Boris　says　he's　sorry　he　didn't　meet　you　when　he　boarded　the　NUMA　ship。〃
　〃You　don't　know　how　sorry　I　am；〃　Austin　said。　〃He　wouldn't　be　standing　here　now。〃
　〃Bravo！　A　fine　attempt　at　bluff。　Put　the　gun　down；　Mr。　Austin。　As　we　speak；　your　panions　are　being　eradicated　by　my　men。〃
　
　Austin　had　no　intention　of　relinquishing　his　gun。　If　he　had　to；　he'd　go　down　in　a　hail　of　machine　gun　fire　and　take　Razov　and　Boris　with　him。　He　wondered　where　Zavala　was。　While　he　pondered　his　next　move；　he　heard　Yaeger's　voice　in　his　earpiece。
　
　〃Kurt；　can　you　hear　me？　There's　still　a　chance。　I've　been　working　on　the　code；　the　section　I　couldn't　figure　out。　It's　about　the　bombs。　They　won't　explode　until　they're　activated。　Can　you　hear　me？〃
　
　Still　keeping　the　Bowen　trained　on　Razov；　Austin　glanced　at　the　monitor。　The　blips　had　e　to　rest　on　the　ocean　bottom。　Razov　saw　where　he　was　looking。　〃The　deed　It　is　done；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃Not　quite；〃　Austin　said。　〃The　bombs　are　harmless　unless　they're　activated。〃
　
　Razov's　face　betrayed　his　surprise；　but　he　recovered　quickly。　His　features　contorted