cc.fireice-第78节

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　〃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　in　a　mask　of　rage。　〃True　…　Too　bad　you　will　have　the　privilege　of　witnessing　the　activation。　Too　bad　you're　about　to　die　knowing　that　your　feeble　attempts　to　stop　my　grand　scheme　have　failed。〃
　
　Razov　gave　an　almost　imperceptible　nod　of　his　head。　In　response；　Boris　stepped　over　to　a　keyboard　next　to　the　monitor；　and　his　long　fingers　reached　out　for　the　keys。　They　never　made　it。
　
　Austin　swung　his　revolver　away　from　Razov；　aimed　at　the　monk's　hand　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　The　effect　at　close　range　was　devastating。　The　hand　exploded　in　a　shower　of　bone　and　blood。　Boris　stared　down　in　disbelief　at　the　bloody　stump。　An　ordinary　mortal　would　have　crumpled　to　the　deck。　Instead；　Boris　let　out　a　feral　cry　of　rage　and　glared　at　Austin　with　hate　burning　in　his　eyes。　He　reached　under　his　tunic　with　his　left　hand　and　pulled　out　a　dagger。　Paying　no　heed　to　the　blood　flowing　from　his　mangled　hand；　he　went　for　Austin。
　
　The　other　men　cocked　their　machine　pistols　Boris　shouted　a　warning。　He　wanted　Austin　to　himself。
　
　Austin　couldn't　believe　the　man　was　still　standing。　He　raised　the　Bowen；　intending　to　finish　Boris　off　with　a　bullet　between　the　mad；　staring　eyes；　but　without　warning　his　arms　were　pinioned　by　his　sides。　Pulaski　had　grabbed　him　from　behind。
　
　Boris　was　so　close　Austin　could　smell　the　animal　odor　of　the　unwashed　body　and　the　foul　breath。　Boris　smiled；　showing　a　mouthful　of　rotting　teeth；　and　raised　his　knife　to　strike。　Forcefully；　Austin　ground　his　heel　into　Pulaski's　instep。
　
　Pulaski　grunted　with　pain　and　his　grip　loosened；　and　Austin　bent　his　knees　and　drove　his　elbow　into　the　man's　side。　Pulaski　let　go　pletely；　then　Austin　brought　the　long　barrel　of　his　revolver　up　so　it　was　mere　inches　from　the　Russian's　chest；　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　The　impact　of　the　heavy　bullet　hurled　Boris　back　and　he　slammed　into　the　bulkhead　and　fell　to　the　deck。
　
　Then　Pulaski　brought　the　butt　down　on　the　side　of　Austin's　head。　Austin　saw　every　star　in　the　galaxy　and　he　crashed　to　the　deck　and　blacked　out　for　a　second；　but　the　in。　tense　pain　kept　him　at　the　edge　of　consciousness。　Through　blurred　eyes；　he　saw　Razov　tapping　out　a　mand　on　the　blood…splattered　keyboard。　He　felt　the　recoil　of　the　gun　in　his　hand　and　blacked　out。
　
　Pulaski　bent　over　and　lowered　his　machine　pistol　to　Austin's　head　to　administer　the　coup　de　grace；　but　Zavala's　Heckler　and　Koch　stuttered　from　the　side　door。　Pulaski　went　down；　with　the　Cossack　right　behind　him。
　
　When　Austin　regained　consciousness；　Zavala　was　kneeling　by　his　side。　The　wolfhounds　had　cowered　in　a　corner　when　the　shooting　started。　Now　they　came　over　and　licked　Austin's　hand。
　
　〃Sorry　I　didn't　get　here　sooner。　I　had　to　take　care　of　a　couple　of　Razov's　goons。〃
　
　Austin　brushed　the　dogs　gently　aside。　〃Where's　Razov？〃　he　said；　looking　around。
　
　〃He　slipped　out　the　other　side　while　I　was　trading　gunfire　with　the　Cossack　guard。〃
　
　With　Zavala's　help；　Austin　got　to　his　feet。　He　glanced　at　the　bodies　of　the　dead　Cossack；　Pulaski　and　Boris；　then　went　over　to　the　puter。　The　screen　was　a　pile　of　splintered　glass。　〃The　bombs　had　to　be　activated　from　here。　Razov　was　typing　out　the　mand　to　trigger　the　explosions。　I　got　the　control　puter　with　a　lucky　shot。〃
　
　Zavala　smiled。　〃I　hope　he's　got　a　thirty…day　warranty。〃
　
　Austin　got　on　the　radio　to　Petrov。　〃Ivan；　are　you　there？〃
　〃Yes；　we're　here。　Any　problems？〃
　〃A　few；　but　we　took　care　of　them。　How　are　you　doing？〃
　〃They　made　the　mistake　of　trying　to　outflank　us。　We　were　waiting　for　them。　It　was　what　you　Americans　call　a　turkey　shoot。　I　lost　a　few　men；　but　it's　now　only　a　question　of　mopping　up。〃
　〃Good　work。　Boris　is　dead。　We　stopped　the　bombs　from　being　activated。　Razov　is　on　the　run。　Keep　an　eye　out　for　him。〃
　〃Yes　…　wait。　There's　a　helicopter　taking　off。〃
　
　Austin　could　hear　the　clatter　of　rotors　above　the　sporadic　gunfire。　He　stepped　out　onto　the　bridge　wing　in　time　to　see　a　black　helicopter　soar　over　the　ship。　He　raised　his　pistol；　but　the　masts　interfered　with　his　aim。　Within　seconds；　the　helicopter　had　merged　with　the　darkness。
　
　Something　nuzzled　the　back　of　Austin's　knees。　The　wolfhounds　wanted　attention　and　food；　not　necessarily　in　that　order。　He　holstered　his　gun　and　scratched　their　heads。　With　the　two　white　hounds　trailing　behind　them；　he　and　Zavala　made　their　way　down　to　the　main　deck　to　rendezvous　with　Petrov　and　his　men。　Maybe　he　could　find　a　plate　of　sausages　for　his　new　pals。
　
　…37…
　ENGLAND
　
　THIRTY…SIX　HOURS　LATER；　Lord　Dodson　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　leather　chair；　blinked　the　sleep　out　of　his　eyes　and　looked　around　at　the　familiar　dark　paneling　of　his　study。　He　had　dozed　off　reading　a　new　biography　of　Lord　Nelson。　He　muttered　to　himself。　Sign　of　old　age。　Nelson's　life　was　anything　but　boring。
　
　A　noise　had　jarred　him　from　his　slumber；　he　was　sure　of　it。　All　was　quiet　now。　Jenna；　his　housekeeper；　had　left　a　short　while　before。　The　house　had　no　ghosts　that　he　knew　of；　although　it　sometimes　creaked　and　mumbled。　He　reached　over　and　plucked　his　cold　pipe　from　the　ashtray　and　considered　lighting　it。　Curiosity　got　the　best　of　him。　He　replaced　the　pipe　and　put　his　book　aside；　rose　from　his　chair；　unlatched　the　front　door　and　stepped　out　into　the　soft　darkness。
　
　Great　luminous　clouds　were　moving　across　the　moon　and　stars　peeked　out　here　and　there。　There　was　no　wind。　With　his　hand；　he　stirred　the　wind　chimes　outside　the　door。　No；　he　thought；　the　tinkling　sound　they　made　wasn't　what　had　awakened　him。　He　went　back　into　the　house。　As　he　shut　the　door；　he　froze　at　the　ragged　cracking　noise　from　the　kitchen。
　
　Had　Jenna　returned　without　his　knowledge？　Impossible。　She　was　going　to　tend　to　a　sick　sister；　and　her　family　took　precedence　over　work。
　
　Dodson　quietly　went　back　into　the　study　and　removed　the　hunting　rifle　from　above　the　fireplace。　With　trembling　hands；　he　rummaged　through　a　desk　drawer　until　he　found　a　box　of　shells。　He　loaded　the　rifle　and　made　his　way　to　the　kitchen。
　
　The　light　had　been　left　on。　He　stepped　inside；　and　his　eyes　went　immediately　to　the　broken　window　pane　in　the　back　door。　The　floor　was　littered　with　shards　of　glass。　The　sharp　sound　could　have　been　someone　walking　on　a　broken　piece　of　window。　Burglars。　Damned　cheeky　breaking　into　a　house　with　somebody　home。　Dodson　walked　over　to　the　door　for　a　closer　look。　As　he　was　bending　over　to　examine　the　damage；　he　caught　the　reflection　of　movement　in　an　unbroken　pane。
　
　He　whirled　around。　A　man　had　stepped　out　of　the　pantry；　pistol　in　hand。
　
　〃Good　evening；　Lord　Dodson；〃　the　man　said。　〃Please　give　me　your　rifle。〃
　
　Dodson　was　cursing　himself　for　not　checking　the　pantry　first。　He　lowered　the　rifle　and　handed　it　over。　〃Who　in　the　blazes　are　you　and　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃My　name　is　Razov。　I　am　the　rightful　owner　of　a　valuable　object　that　you　have　in　your　possession。〃
　〃Then　you've　made　a　big　mistake。　Everything　in　this　house　is　mine。〃
　
　The　man's　lips　widened　in　a　sardonic　smile。　〃Everything？〃
　
　Dodson　hesitated。　〃Yes。〃
　
　The　man　took　a　step　closer。　〃e；　Lord　Dodson。　It's　not　dignified　for　a　proper　English　gentleman　to　be　caught　in　a　lie。〃
　〃You'd　better　leave。　I've　called　the　police。〃
　〃Tut…tut。　Another　lie。　I　cut　your　telephone　line　after　I　had　a　little　chat　with　your　housekeeper。〃
　〃Jenna？　Where　is　she？〃
　〃In　a　safe　place。　For　now。　But　if　you　don't　start　telling　the　truth；　I　will　have　to　kill　her。〃
　
　Dodson　had　no　doubt　the　man　meant　what　he　said。　〃All　right。　What　is　it　that　you　want？〃
　〃I　think　you　know。　The　crown　of　Ivan　the　Terrible。〃
　

　〃What　makes　you　think　I　have　this…what　is　it？　Some　sort　of　Russian　crown；　you　say？〃
　〃Don't　try　my　patience　with　your　futile　bluff。　When　I　failed　to　find　the　crown　with　the　other　tsarist　treasure　on　the　Odessa　Star；　I　did　what　any　experienced　hunter　does。　I　backtracked。　The　crown　was　with　the　tsar's　family　until　they　arrived　in　Odessa。　But　the　tsarina　had　a　premonition　that　she　and　her　family　would　never　plete　their　journey。　She　wanted　to　make　sure　that　even　if　the　family　died；　the　crown　would　find　its　way　to　a　surviving　Romanov　who　would　use　it　to　reclaim　the　Russian　throne。　She　entrusted　the　crown　to　an　English　agent。〃
　〃That　would　have　been　long　before　my　time。〃
　〃Of　course；　but　we　both　know　that　the　agent　was　in　the　employ　of　your　grandfather。〃
　
　Dodson　started　to　protest；　but　he　could　see　it　was　indeed　futile。　This　man　knew　everything。　〃The　crown　is　nothing　to　me。　If　I　give　it　to　you；　I　must　have　your　word　that　you　will　let　my　housekeeper　go。　She　has　no　knowledge　of　any　of　this。〃
　
　〃I　have　no　use　for　the　old　woman。　Take　me　to　the　crown。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Dodson　said。　〃Follow　me。〃
　
　Dodson　led　the　way　to　a　hallway　and　opened　the　doors　of　a　walk…in　closet。　He　cleared　out　the　winter　jackets　and　other　clothing　hanging　in　the　closet；　then　he　pushed　boots　and　shoes　aside　and　stepped　in。　He　lifted　a　section　of　floor　and　pressed　a　button　set　under　the　wood。　The　back　wall　of　the　closet　slid　noiselessly　aside。