cussler.blueandgold-第73节

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　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　here。〃
　
　Brynhild　had　been　trained　as　an　engineer　to　assemble　the　facts　before　making　a　decision。　If　the　reaction　were　not　stopped　the　resulting　explosion　would　destroy　the　plant。　Francesca　was　the　only　one　who　knew　how　to　defuse　the　situation。　Brynhild　would　let　the　NUMA　people　go。　As　soon　as　the　reaction　was　stabilized　she　would　order　her　security　forces　to　round　them　up。　Then　she　would　deal　with　Francesca。　She　wanted　revenge　for　the　destruction　of　her　ship；　but　she　could　be　patient。　It　had　taken　her　years　to　get　to　this　moment。
　
　She　handed　the　machine　pistol　back　to　the　guard。　'Agreed；〃　she　said。　〃But　you　must　stay。〃
　
　Francesca　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　and　turned　to　Austin。　〃You　said　you　came　by　water？〃
　
　〃Yes。　We　have　scuba　gear　and　a　submersible　waiting　for　us　directly　under　the　lab。〃
　
　〃You　won't　be　able　to　go　that　way；〃　Francesca　said。　〃The　heat　levels　have　already　built　up　too　far。　You'd　be　boiled　before　you　got　to　your　submarine。〃　
　
　　〃We'll　try　to　take　the　elevator　up　to　the　pier。　There's　a　boat　there。〃
　
　〃That's　your　best　course。〃
　
　〃We　can't　leave　you。〃
　
　〃It's　all　right。　They　won't　hurt　me　as　long　as　I'm　of　use　to　them。〃　She　smiled　beguilingly。　〃I'll　look　forward　to　being　rescued　by　NUMA　once　again。〃　She　turned　to　Brynhild。　〃I'll　see　them　to　the　elevator。〃
　
　〃No　tricks；〃　she　snarled。　She　ordered　two　guards　to　escort　the　group。
　
　Francesca　pressed　the　button　that　opened　the　door　on　the　egg…shaped　lift。　〃You're　injured。　I'll　help　you　in。〃　When　they　were　all　seated　she　leaned　in　and　whispered；　〃Does　anyone　have　a　gun？〃
　
　The　guards　who　relieved　Zavala　of　his　machine　pistol　assumed　that　because　Austin　didn't　have　a　gun　in　his　hand　he　wasn't　carrying　one。　But　he　still　had　the　revolver　he　had　taken　from　one　of　the　Kradzik　brothers　tucked　under　his　shirt。
　
　〃I　have　one；〃　Austin　said；　〃but　it　would　be　suicide　to　try　to　shoot　your　way　out　of　here。〃
　
　〃I　don't　intend　to。　The　gun；　please。〃
　
　Austin　reluctantly　handed　the　gun　over。　In　return　she　reached　under　her　smock　and　handed　him　a　manila　envelope。
　
　〃It's　all　here；　Kurt。　Guard　this　with　your　life；〃　she　said。
　
　〃What　is　it？〃
　
　〃You'll　see　when　you　give　it　to　the　world。〃　She　gave　Austin　a　long　and　lingering　kiss。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　we'll　have　to　postpone　our　date；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　Then　she　turned　to　the　others。　〃Good…bye；　my　friends。　Thank　you　for　everything。〃
　
　The　finality　in　her　voice　was　unmistakable。　Austin　suddenly　realized　that　she　had　no　intention　of　being　rescued。
　
　〃Get　in！〃　Austin　yelled；　and　made　a　grab　for　her　arm。
　
　She　stepped　easily　out　of　reach　and　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃You　have　exactly　five　minutes。　Use　them　well。〃
　
　Then　she　punched　the　Up　button。　The　door　slid　shut；　and　the　elevator　quickly　shot　out　of　sight。　The　guards　diverted　their　attention　to　watch　the　elevator。　Francesca　eased　the　gun　from　under　her　smock　and　shot　out　the　elevator　controls。　Then　she　did　the　same　with　the　freight　elevator　and　tossed　the　gun　aside。　As　Brynhild　rushed　over　with　the　other　guards；　a　loud　klaxon　began　to　sound　from　loudspeakers　set　around　the　dome。　〃What　have　you　done？〃　Brynhild　shouted。
　
　〃That's　the　five…minute　warning；〃　Francesca　yelled　back。　〃The　reaction　has　been　locked　into　place。　Nothing　will　stop　it　now。〃
　
　〃You　said　you　would　stop　the　reaction　if　I　let　your　friends　go。〃
　
　Francesca　laughed。　〃I　lied。　You　told　me　never　to　trust　any　one；〃　flinging　Brynhild's　words　back　at　her。
　
　The　technicians　had　realized　the　danger　before　anyone；　and　while　attention　was　diverted　they　silently　slipped　off　to　climb　a　narrow　emergency　staircase　that　spiraled　in　a　separate　water　proof　shaft　that　led　to　the　surface。　The　directors　saw　them　trying　to　flee　and　tried　to　follow。　The　discipline　of　the　guards　quickly　dissolved　under　the　influence　of　fear。　They　used　their　gun　butts　to　drive　the　directors　back；　then　opened　up　on　those　who　wouldn't　yield。　Bodies　piled　up　in　front　of　the　portal　that　led　to　the　stairway。　Guards　scrambled　over　the　heap　of　corpses　only　to　be　stuck　in　the　narrow　space。　None　would　give　way；　and　others　pushed　from　behind。　Within　seconds　the　only　way　out　was　clogged　with　crushed　bodies。
　
　Brynhild　couldn't　believe　how　quickly　her　world　had　deteriorated。　She　focused　all　her　anger　on　Francesca；　who　had　made　no　move　to　get　away。　Scooping　Austin's　handgun　from　the　floor；　she　aimed　it　at　Francesca。
　
　〃You　will　die　for　this！〃　she　screamed。
　
　〃I　died　ten　years　ago　when　your　mad　plan　sent　me　into　the　rain　forest。〃
　
　Brynhild's　finger　squeezed　the　trigger　and　let　off　three　shots。　The　first　two　went　wild；　but　the　third　caught　Francesca　in　the　chest。　Her　knees　buckled；　and　she　fell　to　the　floor；　landing　in　a　sitting　position　with　her　back　to　the　wall。　As　a　black　curtain　fell　over　her　eyes　she　smiled　beatifically。　Then　she　was　dead。　
　
　　Brynhild　threw　the　gun　aside　and　walked　over　to　the　control　panel。　She　stood　helplessly　in　front　of　the　puter　screen　as　if　she　could　make　the　reaction　stop　through　sheer　force　of　will。　She　bunched　her　fists　and　held　them　high　over　her　head。　Her　howl　of　rage　mingled　with　the　hoarse　bray　of　the　klaxon。
　
　Then　the　tortured　atoms　and　molecules　trapped　within　the　core　material　broke　free；　unleashing　a　tremendous　burst　of　energy。　Blasted　by　the　internal　pressures；　the　core　container　turned　to　molten　metal。　Brynhild　was　incinerated　instantly　in　the　white…hot　explosion；　and　a　giant　fireball　turned　the　lab　into　an　inferno。
　
　Superheated　smoke　reared　up　the　elevator　shafts；　along　the　tram　tunnel；　and　into　the　plex；　where　it　filled　every　passage　way；　then　into　the　Great　Hall。　The　smoke　burst　into　billowing　flames　that　boiled　the　air；　touched　off　the　banners　hanging　on　the　walls。　The　smoldering　gray　ashes　of　the　Gogstad　ship　in　the　heart　of　Valhalla　vanished　in　a　final　firestorm。
　
　Chapter　41
　The　Boston　whaler　streaked　across　the　lake　with　its　bow　up　on　plane；　Austin　pushing　the　twin　Overdue　150　outboard　motors　for　all　they　were　worth。　His　face　was　a　bronze　mask　of　anger　and　frustration。　He　had　tried　to　go　back　to　the　lab；　but　the　elevator　had　gone　dead　after　it　delivered　them　to　the　boathouse。　The　freight　elevator　wasn't　working；　either。　He　had　started　down　a　staircase　only　to　have　Gamay　pull　him　back。　〃It's　no　use；〃　she　said。　〃There　isn't　time。〃
　
　〃Listen　to　Gamay；〃　Zavala　agreed。　〃We've　got　less　than　four　minutes。〃
　
　Austin　knew　they　were　right。　He　would　die　and　jeopardize　their　lives　if　he　attempted　a　futile　rescue。　He　led　the　way　out　of　the　boathouse　onto　the　pier。　The　guard　sat　outside　dozing　in　the　sun。　He　got　up　and　tried　to　unsling　his　gun。　Austin；　who　was　in　no　mood　for　Marquis　of　Queensberry　rules；　rushed　the　terrified　guard。　He　slammed　his　shoulder　into　the　man's　midsection　and　knocked　him　off　the　pier。
　
　They　piled　into　the　boat。　The　key　was　in　the　ignition；　and　the　gas　tanks　were　full。　The　motors　started　right　away。　They　cast　off；　and　Austin　gunned　the　throttle　and　steered　the　boat　on　a　direct　line　for　the　Nevada　shore。　He　heard　a　shout　from　Zavala　and　turned　his　head。　Joe　and　Gamay　were　looking　back　toward　the　pier；　where　the　lake　bubbled　like　water　boiling　in　a　pot。　
　
　There　was　a　muffled　roar；　and　a　blood…red　geyser　shot　hundreds　of　feet　into　the　air　like　a　water　spout。　They　covered　their　faces　with　their　hands　against　the　scalding　rainfall　and　the　cloud　of　steam　that　followed。　When　they　dared　to　look　they　saw　that　the　pier　had　pletely　vanished。
　
　A　wave　at　least　ten　feet　tall　was　rolling　in　their　direction。
　
　〃These　boats　are　supposed　to　be　unsinkable；〃　Zavala　said　tensely。
　
　〃That's　what　they　said　about　Titanic；〃　Gamay　reminded　him。
　
　Austin　brought　the　boat　around　so　the　bow　was　facing　into　the　wave。　They　braced　themselves；　expecting　to　be　swamped；　but　the　surge　simply　lifted　them　high　in　the　air　and　rolled　beneath　them。　Austin　remembered　that　even　a　tsunami　doesn't　amount　to　much　until　it　hits　the　shore。　He　hoped　the　power　of　the　wave　would　ease　before　it　hit　the　Nevada　side。
　
　Things　were　happening　on　land　as　well。　A　plume　of　smoke　rose　from　the　forest　where　Austin　had　seen　the　turrets　of　the　building　plex　from　his　parasail。　As　they　watched；　the　smoke　changed　in　character；　being　thicker　and　darker。　Austin　reduced　their　speed　and　stared　at　the　great　black　billows　streaked　with　red　and　yellow　flames　that　were　rising　high　above　the　trees。
　
　〃Gotterdammerung；〃　he　murmured。
　
　Gamay　overheard　him。　〃Twilight　of　the　Gods？〃
　
　〃I　was　thinking　more　of　a　goddess。　〃
　
　They　were　all　silent；　the　only　sound　the　drone　of　the　motors　and　the　hiss　of　the　bow　through　water。　Then　they　heard　a　hooting　like　a　deranged　owl　and　turned　to　see　a　red；　white；　and　blue　confection　steaming　in　their　direction。　The　Tahoe　Queen　blew　its　whistle　again。　Paul's　tall　figure　could　be　seen　waving　from　the　top　deck。　Austin　waved　back；　goosed　the　throttle；　and　pointed　the　Whaler　toward　the　oning　riverboat。　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　Epilogue
　Libyan