cussler.blueandgold-第21节

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　Austin　had　been　lulled　into　placency　by　the　tranquility　of　the　trip。　In　his　imagination　he　pictured　a　line　of　underwater　guards　waiting　in　ambush。
　
　〃Divers？〃
　
　〃Sonar　hits　are　too　small。　Little　or　no　movement。〃
　
　Austin　strained　his　eyes　in　an　attempt　to　pierce　the　gauzy　blue。
　
　Thinking　ahead；　he　said；　〃What's　the　Brogan's　top　speed　if　we　have　to　get　out　of　here　in　a　hurry？〃
　
　〃Seven　knots；　pedal　to　the　metal。　She　was　made　more　for　vertical　travel　than　horizontal；　and　we're　carrying　a　couple　of　hundred　extra　pounds　of　beef。〃
　
　〃I'll　join　Weight　Watchers　when　we　get　back；〃　Austin　said。　〃Move　in　real　slow；　but　be　prepared　to　make　a　dash　for　it。〃　
　
　　They　crawled　ahead　at　half　speed。　Within　moments　dozens　of　dark　objects　materialized；　stretching　from　the　surface　to　the　bottom　and　rolling　off　both　directions　in　a　great　wall。
　
　Fish。
　
　〃Looks　like　a　net；〃　Austin　advised。　〃Stop　before　we　get　snagged。〃
　
　The　Brogan　slowed　to　a　plete　halt　and　hovered　in　place。
　
　Austin　ducked　his　head　in　reflex　as　a　streamlined　silhouette　glided　in　from　above　and　behind　him。　The　shark　was　only　there　for　an　instant；　long　enough　for　Austin　to　see　its　round　white　eye　and　to　estimate　the　hungry　predator's　length　at　more　than　six　feet。　Its　toothy　jaws　opened　then　clamped　shut　to　grab　half　a　struggling　fish　in　one　bite　before　disappearing　from　sight　with　a　flick　of　its　high　tail　fin。
　
　Zavala　had　seen　the　same　thing。　〃Kurt；　are　you　okay？〃　he　shouted。
　
　Austin　laughed。　〃Yeah。　Don't　worry。　That　guy　doesn't　want　a　tough　old　human　to　chew　on　when　he's　got　a　whole　seafood　buffet。〃
　
　〃Glad　to　hear　you　say　that；　because　he　invited　some　of　his　friends　for　dinner。〃
　
　Several　more　sharks　swooped　in；　grabbed　a　bite；　then；　wary　of　the　sub；　quickly　left。　It　was　less　a　wild　feeding　frenzy　than　a　gathering　of　discriminating　gourmands　picking　from　the　choicest　items　on　the　menu。　Hundreds　of　fish　were　caught　in　the…　fine　mesh。　They　came　in　all　sizes；　shapes；　and　species。　Some；　still　alive；　were　making　fruitless　attempts　to　free　themselves；　only　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　sharks。　Others　had　only　their　heads　left；　and　bones　marked　the　remains　of　many　more。
　
　〃No　one　has　been　tending　the　net；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃Maybe　someone　hung　it　here　to　keep　nosy　guys　like　us　out。〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Austin　said　after　a　moment's　reflection。　〃That　net　is　made　of　monofilament。　You　could　cut　your　way　through　it　with　a　nail　clipper。　No　electrical　wiring；　so　it　doesn't　seem　to　have　an　alarm　signal　attached。〃
　
　〃I　don't　get　it。〃　
　
　　〃Let's　think　about　it。　Whatever；　sir！　that　lagoon　killed　a　pod　of　whales。　The　locals　would　begin　asking　questions　if　they　started　seeing　hundreds　of　dead　fish。　The　folks　who　bring　you　Baja　Tortillas　don't　like　attention。　So　they　stick　the　net　here　to　keep　the　fish　out　and　any　dead　ones　in。〃
　
　〃Makes　sense；〃　Zavala　agreed。　〃What　next？〃
　
　〃Keep　on　going。〃
　
　Zavala's　fingers　danced　over　the　puter　screen　that　con　trolled　the　sub's　functions。　Two　mechanical　arms　on　the　front　of　the　Brogan　unfolded　and　extended　like　a　telescope　to　within　inches　of　the　net。　The　claws　at　the　end　of　each　arm　grabbed　the　mesh　and　tore　it　open　like　an　actor　parting　a　curtain。　Pieces　of　fish　in　various　states　of　deposition　drifted　off　in　every　direction。
　
　The　job　acplished；　Zavala　brought　the　metal　arms　back　to　their　rest　position　and　increased　throttle。　With　Austin　still　on　the　sub's　back；　they　plunged　through　the　hole　and　into　the　la　goon。　The　thirty…foot　visibility　was　cut　in　half　by　thousands　of　tiny　particles　of　seaweed　that　had　washed　into　the　cove　to　be　shredded　by　the　razor…sharp　rocks。　The　sub　slowed　to　a　walk；　Zavala　feeling　his　way　like　a　blind　man　with　a　white　cane。　They　didn't　see　the　huge　object　until　they　were　almost　on　top　of　it。　Again　the　sub　came　to　a　stop。
　
　〃What　is　that　thing？〃　Zavala　asked。
　
　The　cathedral　light　filtering　down　from　the　surface　illuminated　an　enormous　structure。　It　was　about　three　hundred　feet　wide；　Austin　estimated；　and　about　thirty　feet　thick；　tapered　at　the　ends　like　a　huge　metal　lens　and　resting　on　four　thick　metal　legs。　The　legs　were　hidden　by　boxlike　structures　where　they　sank　into　the　sea。
　
　〃It's　either　a　big　metal　spider　or　a　sunken　UFO；〃　Austin　said　in　wonder。　〃In　any　case；　let's　take　a　closer　look。〃
　
　At　Austin's　direction；　Zavala　steered　the　sub　off　at　an　angle　and　cruised　along　the　perimeter　as　far　as　they　could；　then　re　traced　their　path　and　went　along　the　other　side。　The　structure　was　almost　perfectly　round　except　where　it　butted　up　close　to　the　undersea　cliffs。　
　〃Hey；　this　is　amazing！　I'm　getting　high　heat　readings。〃
　
　〃I　can　feel　the　heat　through　my　wet　suit。　Someone　has　cranked　up　the　BTUs。〃
　
　〃The　instruments　indicate　that　it's　ing　from　the　pillars。　Must　be　conduits　as　well　as　supports。　Nothing　dangerous。　Yet。〃
　
　〃Park　this　thing　while　I　go　in　for　a　closer　look。〃
　
　The　mini　dropped　lightly　to　the　bottom　and　rested　on　its　pontoons。　Austin　unhooked　the　harness　and　peeled　off　with　instructions　for　Zavala　to　turn　on　the　positioning　strobe　light　in　fifteen　minutes。
　
　Austin　swam　toward　the　disk；　then　over　it。　Except　for　a　circular　skylight　the　odd　structure　was　fabricated　of　metal　painted　a　dull　green；　which　would　have　been　difficult　to　see　from　the　surface。　He　dropped　down　onto　the　dome　itself　and　peered　cautiously　through　the　skylight。
　
　Below　was　a　network　of　pipes　and　machines。　Men　in　white　frocks　walked　about　the　well…lit　cavernous　space。　Austin　puzzled　over　the　function　of　the　machines；　trying　to　put　what　he　saw　together　with　the　hot　water　discharges；　but　came　up　with　nothing。　He　undid　a　portable　waterproof　video　camera　from　his　belt　and　filmed　the　scene　below。　Satisfied　with　his　work；　he　decided　to　get　an　overview。　He　rose　off　the　disk　and　was　panning　the　camera　when　he　saw　movement　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。
　
　He　froze；　floating　above　the　structure。　The　egg…shaped　elevator　Zavala　had　described　descended　from　the　shimmering　surface。　It　moved　along　its　track　and　disappeared　into　a　circular　hatch　that　was　opening　on　the　roof　of　the　underwater　structure　closest　to　the　face　of　the　cliff。　Austin　resumed　his　camera　work　only　to　be　interrupted　again；　this　time　by　Zavala。
　
　〃Better　get　back　here　pronto！　The　water　temp　readings　are　shooting　up。〃
　
　There　was　no　mistaking　the　urgency　in　Zavala's　voice。　〃On　my　way！〃
　
　Austin　threshed　the　water　with　strong　kicks　of　his　powerful　legs　maintaining　a　rhythm　that　ate　up　the　yards。　Zavala　wasn't
　kidding　about　the　heat　buildup。　Austin　was　sweating　under　his　wet　suit。　He　vowed　never　to　boil　a　lobster　again。　〃Hurry；〃　Zavala　said。　〃The　temp　is　going　off　the　tracks！〃
　
　The　Brogan's　silvery　beacon　blinked　in　the　gloom。　Austin　reached　down　and　switched　on　a　small　strobe　that　hung　from　his　buoyancy　pensator。　The　Brogan　moved　in　to　meet　him。　The　heat　had　bee　more　intense。　Austin　grabbed　onto　the　back　of　the　moving　sub　and　snapped　his　harness　buckle　in　place。　With　Austin　aboard；　the　Brogan　quickly　wheeled　about　and　was　headed　for　the　mouth　of　the　lagoon；　motors　whining　at　top　speed。　Zavala　barked；　〃Something's　wrong；　Kurt！　I　am　detecting　alarms　inside　the　facility。〃　Moments　later；　Austin　heard　a　loud；　muffled　whump。　He　turned　to　look　over　his　shoulder　just　as　the　facility　exploded　in　a　fiery　ball。　The　inferno　instantly　incinerated　every　living　thing　in　the　enclosed　space。　Superheated　gas　shot　up　pipes　into　the　tortilla　factory。　Luckily；　the　factory　was　empty　be　cause　it　was　Sunday。　The　Brogan　wasn't　as　fortunate。　It　was　caught　by　the　shock　wave　and　tumbled　end　over　end　with　Austin　desperately　clinging　on。
　
　Austin　felt　as　if　he　had　been　kicked　by　a　giant　invisible　mule。　The　harness　straps　let　go；　and　he　was　flung　forward；　arms　and　legs　flailing；　in　a　tangle　of　air　hoses。　He　cartwheeled　for　an　eternity　and　might　have　kept　going　halfway　across　the　Pacific　if　he　hadn't　slammed　into　the　net　strung　across　the　mouth　of　the　la　goon。　He　hit　the　mesh　with　his　feet；　which　was　fortunate；　be…。　cause　a　headfirst　impact　would　have　broken　his　neck。　The　netting　yielded；　then　snapped　back。　Austin　shot　out　like　a　rock　in　a　boy's　slingshot。
　
　Right　into　the　path　of　the　oning　submersible。
　
　The　mini's　dome　had　been　ripped　off；　and　Zavala　was　no　longer　inside。　The　sub　tumbled　at　Austin　on　a　collision　course。　Austin　brought　his　knees　up　to　his　chest　and　wrapped　his　arms　around　them。　He　seemed　fated　to　be　smashed　like　a　bug　on　a　car　windshield　when　the　sub　did　a　little　hop　that　took　it　over　Austin's　head。　He　felt　a　painful　impact　as　a　pontoon　grazed　his　shoulder。　Then　he　was　buffeted　by　secondary　shock　waves　from
　multiple　explosions　that　slowed　his　velocity　and　tossed　him　back　after　the　mini…sub。　The　Brogan　had　battered　its　way　through　the　net；　and　this　time　there　was　nothing　to　stop　him。
　
　Instinctively；　he　swooped　his　arm　out　to　retrieve　his　regulator　hose；　clenched　the　mouthpiece　between　his　teeth；　and　took　a　breathy　gulp　of　air。　The　regulator　was　still　working。　His　face　mask　was　a　cobweb　of　fracture　lines　where　one　of　the　hoses　had　hit　the　lens。　Better　the　mask　than　his　face！　He　whipped　the　use　less　mask　off；