cussler.blueandgold-第72节

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ee…punch　bo　that　had　decked　more　than　one　opponent　in　his　college　days。　He　followed　up　a　quick　left　jab　with　a　short　right　cross　and　a　left　hook。
　
　The　right　missed；　but　the　left　hook　caught　Brynhild　solidly　in　the　jaw。　Her　eyes　went　glassy；　but　only　for　a　second。　She　stepped　back　as　he　moved　in　and　shot　a　hard　overhand　right　to　the　heart　that　took　his　breath　away。　While　he　sucked　in　air　she　got　past　his　lowered　guard　and　clouted　him　in　the　midsection。　Zavala　absorbed　the　blow　with　his　hard　stomach　muscles　and　swung　a　right　and　a　left　aimed　at　her　jaw。　Both　missed。　Brynhild　had　been　surprised　by　Joe's　quick　and　skillful　reaction；　but　now　that　she　had　his　measure　she　stood　off　and　used　her　superior　height　and　reach　to　pound　him　with　the　long　artillery。
　
　Zavala　guessed　her　strategy　and　tried　to　move　in　for　an　uppercut　to　her　chin；　but　each　time　she　lobbed　haymakers　at　him　while　staying　safely　out　of　reach。　His　left　eye　was　partially　closed；　and　his　nose　was　bleeding。　He　threw　a　long　overhand　left　that　caught　Brynhild　in　the　throat；　but　it　cost　him　another　stinging　punch　to　the　head　in　return。　In　spite　of　her　size；　she　was　as　fast　as　any　middleweight　he　had　ever　seen。　The　old　ring　aficionados　used　to　say　that　a　good　big　man　can　beat　a　good　small　man　any　day。　Zavala　hoped　the　same　truism　didn't　apply　to　a　big　woman。　
　
　　He　kept　doggedly　on；　his　timing　pletely　off；　throwing　soggy　punches　that　caught　air。　He'd　only　last　another　minute。　Then　she'd　finish　him　off　with　a　couple　of　neck…snapping　kicks。
　
　Quite　unexpectedly；　Brynhild　lowered　her　guard。　Before　Zavala's　weary　reflexes　could　take　advantage；　the　giant　woman　collapsed　in　a　heap。　Joe　stood　there　stupidly　and　wiped　the　sweat　out　of　his　eyes。　He　saw　Gamay　standing　over　Brynhild；　holding　one　of　the　wooden　shields　from　the　ship　in　both　hands。
　
　〃There's　more　than　one　way　to　swat　a　Viking　bitch；〃　she　said　with　fury　in　her　eyes。
　
　Austin　had　managed　to　get　to　his　feet。　Holding　his　cracked　ribs；　he　looked　at　the　others　and　said；　〃I　hope　we　feel　better　than　we　look。〃
　
　〃I'll　feel　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　when　we're　out　of　here；〃　Zavala　said　through　puffy　lips。
　
　〃Wait；〃　Austin　said；　looking　around。　〃We　need　a　diversion。〃
　
　Without　hesitation　he　went　over　to　one　of　the　braziers　near　the　boat。　He　picked　it　up　by　the　metal　legs　and　dumped　the　burning　coals　onto　the　boat's　deck。　Then　he　went　on　board　and　tossed　the　shields　into　a　pile。　The　flames　from　the　impromptu　bonfire　flared　up　the　mast　and　licked　the　bottom　of　the　hide　sail。　Within　seconds　the　square　sail　was　a　sheet　of　fire。　Black；　noxious　smoke　from　the　blaze　curled　up　to　the　roof　and　began　to　move　horizontally　along　the　ceiling。
　
　With　his　work　done；　Austin　led　the　way　to　the　doors。　They　waited　off　to　the　side　as　the　chamber　filled　with　smoke。　Within　minutes　the　big　doors　swung　open；　and　a　group　of　shouting　guards　piled　into　the　hall。　The　new　supply　of　fresh　air　fueled　the　fire　and　sent　the　black　clouds　billowing　throughout　the　Great　Hall。　The　guards　who　ran　directly　to　the　boat　never　saw　the　three　shadowy　figures　slip　through　the　open　portal。
　
　Chapter　40
　Inside　the　domed　underwater　facility　Francesca　was　being　increasingly　frantic。　One　more　piece　in　place；　and　her　plan　would　be　plete。　She　didn't　dare　make　her　move　until　she　knew　the　others　were　safe；　especially　after　Brynhild's　hurried　exit。　She　glanced　around。　The　technicians　were　busy　currying　favor　with　the　directors　who　milled　around　tossing　back　cups　of　purified　water　as　if　it　were　Moet　champagne。　The　party　wouldn't　last　forever。　Someone　was　bound　to　notice　her　continued　attention　to　the　control　panel。
　
　The　babble　of　conversation　stopped　suddenly；　and　Francesca　turned　to　see　three　bizarre　figures　step　out　of　the　staff　elevator。　She　gasped　at　the　sight　of　her　friends。　They　were　almost　unrecognizable。　Gamay　was　limping；　her　beautiful　dark　red　hair　looked　as　if　it　had　been　caught　in　an　egg　beater；　and　her　arms　and　legs　were　marked　with　angry　bruises。　The　white　coveralls　Austin　and　Zavala　wore　were　streaked　with　blood　and　soot。　Zavala's　face　was　puffy；　and　he　had　adopted　a　Popeye　squint。
　
　They　shoved　their　way　through　the　crowd　and　came　up　to　Francesca。　Austin　managed　a　grin。　〃Sorry　we　took　so　long。　We　ran　into　a　few；　uh；　obstacles。〃
　
　〃Thank　God　you're　here。〃
　
　Austin　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders。　〃We　don't　plan　to　stay。　We've　got　a　taxi　sitting　under　this　thing。　Can　we　offer　you　a　lift？〃　
　
　　Francesca　said；　〃There　is　one　more　thing　I　have　to　do。〃　She　went　over　to　the　control　panel　and　punched　a　series　of　numbers　into　the　puter　keyboard。　She　watched　the　digital　gauges　for　a　moment。　Satisfied　all　was　going　as　planned；　she　turned　and　said；　〃I'm　ready。〃
　
　Zavala　had　been　keeping　the　Gogstad　people　cowed　with　his　weapon　in　the　event　someone　had　an　unexpected　attack　of　courage。　Austin　inspected　the　board　of　directors　with　curiosity。　They　returned　his　gaze　with　glares　of　pure　hatred。　At　one　point　the　Englishman　named　Grimley　stepped　forward。　He　stuck　his　nose　in　Austin's　face　and　said；　〃We　demand　that　you　tell　us　who　you　are　and　what　you　want　here。〃
　
　Austin　laughed　unpleasantly；　put　his　hand　on　the　man's　bony　chest；　and　shoved　him　back　with　the　others。　〃Who　is　this　clown？〃　he　asked　Francesca。
　
　〃He　and　his　friends　are　a　symbol　of　all　that　is　wrong　with　the　world。〃
　
　As　an　amateur　philosopher　Austin　had　long　been　intrigued　by　questions　of　good　and　evil；　but　metaphysical　discussions　would　have　to　wait。　He　ignored　the　Englishman　and　took　Francesca's　arm；　guiding　her　toward　the　exit　that　would　take　them　down　to　the　air　lock　and　the　submersible。　Gamay　followed；　then　Zavala；　who　covered　their　rear。
　
　They　had　taken　only　a　few　steps　when　the　freight　elevator　doors　flew　open　and　about　twenty　guards　spilled　out　into　the　lab。　They　quickly　surrounded　the　fugitives　and　relieved　Zavala　of　his　gun。
　
　Brynhild　strode　from　the　elevator；　and　the　guards　stepped　aside　to　let　her　through。　Her　blond　hair　was　disheveled　as　a　result　of　the　encounter　with　Gamay's　shield；　and　her　pale　face　was　smudged　with　soot。　But　her　disarray　didn't　diminish　her　imposing　physique　and　the　malevolence　in　her　pale　blue　eyes。　Quivering　with　rage；　she　pointed　to　the　NUMA　crew　as　if　she　were　about　to　unleash　a　bolt　of　lightning。
　
　〃Kill　them；〃　she　ordered。
　
　The　Gogstad　directors　murmured　with　pleasure　at　the　turn　of　events；　and　their　eyes　glittered　in　anticipation　of　the　slaughter　of　the　upstarts。　But　as　the　guards　raised　their　weapons　and　pre　pared　to　unleash　a　lethal　volley；　Francesca　stepped　in　front　of　her　battered　friends。　In　a　voice　whose　strength　and　tenor　evoked　her　reign　as　a　white　goddess；　she　shouted；　〃Stop！〃
　
　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　or　they'll　kill　you　as　well；〃　Brynhild　ordered。
　
　Francesca　thrust　her　chin　out。　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　
　Brynhild　seemed　to　grow　another　foot。　〃Who　are　you　to　defy　me？〃　she　snarled。
　
　In　reply；　Francesca　walked　over　and　stood　before　the　controls。　The　panel　was　lighting　up　like　a　pinball　machine。　Numerical　phalanxes　marched　across　the　puter　screen。　There　was　no　mistaking　the　fact　that　something　was　dreadfully　out　of　kilter。
　
　Brynhild　swooped　down　on　Francesca　like　an　avenging　angel。　〃What　have　you　done？〃
　
　〃See　for　yourself；〃　Francesca　said；　and　stepped　aside。
　
　Brynhild　stared　at　the　colorful　display。　〃What's　happening？〃
　
　〃The　instrumentation　is　having　a　nervous　breakdown　as　it　tries　to　deal　with　the　equivalent　of　a　chain　reaction。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？　Tell　me；　or　I'll…〃
　
　〃You'll　kill　me？　Go　ahead。　I'm　the　only　one　who　can　stop　the　reaction。〃　She　smiled。　〃There's　something　you　never　knew　about　anasazium。　Left　alone；　it's　no　more　dangerous　than　iron。　But　its　atoms　bee　highly　unstable　when　the　material　is　subjected　to　certain　conditions。〃
　
　〃What　kind　of　conditions？〃
　
　〃Exactly　the　bination　of　temperature；　power；　and　sonic　vibration　that　the　core　is　being　subjected　to　at　this　minute。　Un　less　I　alter　the　instructions　the　core　will　explode。〃
　
　〃You're　bluffing。〃
　
　　See　for　yourself。　The　heat　levels　are　going　off　the　charts。　Still　not　convinced？〃　she　said。　〃Think　about　the　mysterious　explosion　at　your　Mexican　facility。　The　moment　you　told　me　about　the　blast　I　knew　exactly　what　had　caused　it。　Only　a　few　pounds　of　material　destroyed　your　facility。　Think　of　what　will　happen　when　hundreds　of　pounds　reach　critical　mass。〃　Brynhild　turned　to　the　technicians　who　had　gathered　around　and　shouted　for　someone　to　stop　the　reaction。　The　head　technician　had　been　watching　the　insane　pattern　on　the　puter　screen　with　fascination。　He　stepped　forward；　sweat　beading　on　his　forehead；　and　said；　〃We　don't　know　how。　Anything　we　do　might　make　it　worse。〃
　
　Brynhild　yanked　a　machine　pistol　out　of　the　hands　of　the　nearest　guard　and　pointed　it　at　Gamay。
　
　〃If　you　don't　stop　this　I　will　kill　your　friends　one　by　one。　Her　first。〃
　
　〃Now　who's　bluffing？〃　Francesca　replied。　〃You　plan　to　kill　them　anyhow。　This　way　we'll　all　die　together。〃
　
　Brynhild's　white　skin　grew　impossibly　paler。　She　lowered　the　gun。
　
　〃Tell　me　what　you　want；〃　she　demanded；　her　voice　taut　with　anger。
　
　〃I　want　these　people　safely　out　of　her