michael crichton.congo-第18节

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d　from　the　long　flight。
　They　had　been　waiting　nearly　three　hours；　and　she　was　worried。　Munro's　house　was　of　Moorish　design；　and　open　to　the　outdoors。　From　the　interior　she　could　hear　voices；　faintly　carried　by　the　breeze；　speaking　some　Oriental　language。
　One　of　the　graceful　Moroccan　servant　girls　that　Munro　seemed　to　have　in　infinite　supply　came　onto　the　terrace　carrying　a　telephone。　She　bowed　formally。　Ross　saw　that　the　girl　had　violet　eyes；　she　was　exquisitely　beautiful；　and　could　not　have　been　more　than　sixteen。　In　careful　English　the　girl　said；　〃This　is　your　telephone　to　Houston。　The　bidding　will　now　begin。〃
　Karen　nudged　Peter；　who　awoke　groggily。　〃The　bidding　will　now　begin；〃　she　said。
　
　Peter　Elliot　was　surprised　from　the　moment　of　his　first　entrance　into　Munro's　house。　He　had　anticipated　a　tough　military　setting　and　was　amazed　to　see　delicate　carved　Moroccan　arches　and　soft　gurgling　fountains　with　sunlight　sparkling　on　them。
　Then　he　saw　the　Japanese　and；　Germans　in　the　next　room；　staring　at　him　and　at　Ross。　The　glances　were　distinctly　unfriendly；　but　Ross　stood　and　said；　〃Excuse　me　a　moment；〃　and　she　went　forward　and　embraced　a　young　blond　German　man　warmly。　They　kissed；　chattered　happily；　and　in　general　appeared　to　be　intimate　friends。
　Elliot　did　not　like　this　development；　but　he　was　reassured　to　see　that　the　Japanese…identically　dressed　in　black　suits…　were　equally　displeased。　Noticing　this；　Elliot　smiled　benignly；　to　convey　a　sense　of　approval　for　the　reunion。
　But　when　Ross　returned；　he　demanded；　〃Who　was　that？〃
　〃That's　Richter；〃　she　said。　〃The　most　brilliant　topologist　in　Western　Europe；　his　field　is　n…space　extrapolation。　His　work's　extremely　elegant。〃　She　smiled。　〃Almost　as　elegant　as　mine。〃
　〃But　he　works　for　the　consortium？〃
　〃Naturally。　He's　German。〃
　〃And　you're　talking　with　him？〃
　〃I　was　delighted　for　the　opportunity；〃　she　said。　〃Karl　has　a　fatal　limitation。　He　can　only　deal　with　pre…existing　data。　He　takes　what　he　is　given；　and　does　cartwheels　with　it　in　n…space。　But　he　cannot　imagine　anything　new　at　all。　I　had　a
　professor　at　M。I。T。　who　was　the　same　way。　Tied　to　facts；　a
　hostage　to　reality。〃　She　shook　her　head。
　〃Did　he　ask　about　Amy？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃And　what　did　you　tell　him？〃
　〃I　told　him　she　was　sick　and　probably　dying。〃
　〃And　he　believed　that？〃
　〃We'll　see。　There's　Munro〃
　Captain　Munro　appeared　in　the　next　room；　wearing　khakis；　smoking　a　cigar。　He　was　a　tall；　rugged…looking　man　with　a　mustache；　and　soft　dark　watchful　eyes　that　missed　nothing。　He　talked　with　the　Japanese　and　Germans；　who　were　evidently　unhappy　with　what　he　was　saying。　Moments　later；　Munro　entered　their　room；　smiling　broadly。
　〃So　you're　going　to　the　Congo；　Dr。　Ross。〃
　〃We　are；　Captain　Munro；〃　she　said。
　Munro　smiled。　〃It　seems　as　though　everyone　is　going。〃　There　followed　a　rapid　exchange　which　Elliot　found　inprehensible。　Karen　Ross　said；　〃Fifty　thousand　U。S。　in　Swiss　francs　against　point　oh　two　of　first…year　adjusted　extraction　returns。〃
　Munro　shook　his　head。　〃A　hundred　in　Swiss　francs　and　point　oh　six　of　first…year　return　on　the　primary　deposits；　crude…grade　accounting；　no　discounting。
　〃A　hundred　in　U。S。　dollars　against　point　oh　one　of　the　first…year　return　on　all　deposits；　with　full　discounting　from　point　of　origin。〃
　〃Point　of　origin？　In　the　middle　of　the　bloody　Congo？　I　would　want　three　years　from　point　of　origin：　what　if　you're　shut　down？〃
　〃You　want　a　piece；　you　gamble。　Mobutu's　clever。〃
　〃Mobutu's　barely　in　control；　and　I　am　still　alive　because　I　am　no　gambler；〃　Munro　said。　〃A　hundred　against　point　oh　four　of　first　year　on　primary　with　front…load　discount　only。　Or　I'll　take　point　oh　two　of　yours。〃
　〃If　you're　no　gambler；　I'll　give　you　a　straight　buy…out　for　two　hundred。〃
　Munro　shook　his　head。　〃You've　paid　more　than　that　for　your　MER　in　Kinshasa。〃
　〃Prices　for　everything　are　inflated　in　Kinshasa；　including　mineral　exploration　rights。　And　the　current　exploration　limit；　the　puter　CEL；　is　running　well　under　a　thousand。〃
　〃If　you　say　so。〃　He　smiled；　and　headed　buck　into　the　other　room；　where　the　Japanese　and　Germans　were　waiting　for　his　return。
　Ross　said　quickly；　〃That's　not　for　them　to　know。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　sure　they　know　it　anyway；〃　Munro　said；　and　walked　into　the　other　room。
　〃Bastard；〃　she　whispered　to　his　back。　She　talked　in　low　tones　on　the　telephone。　〃He'll　never　accept　that。　。　。　。　No；　no；　he　won't　go　for　it。　。　。　they　want　him　bad。　。　。〃
　Elliot　said；　〃You're　bidding　very　high　for　his　services。〃
　〃He's　the　best；〃　Ross　said；　and　continued　whispering　into　the　telephone。　In　the　next　mom；　Munro　was　shaking　his　head　sadly；　turning　down　an　offer。　Elliot　noticed　that　Richter　was　very　red　in　the　face。
　Munro　came　back　to　Karen　Ross。　〃What　was　your　projected　CEL？〃
　〃Under　a　thousand。〃
　〃So　you　say。　Yet　you　know　there's　an　ore　intercept。〃
　〃I　don't　know　there's　an　ore　intercept。〃
　〃Then　you're　foolish　to　spend　all　this　money　to　go　to　the　Congo；〃　Munro　said。　〃Aren't　you？〃
　Karen　Ross　made　no　reply。　She　stared　at　the　ornate　ceiling　of　the　room。
　〃Virunga's　not　exactly　a　garden　spot　these　days；〃　Munro　continued。　〃The　Kigani　are　on　the　rampage；　and　they're　cannibals。　Pygmies　aren't　friendly　anymore　either。　Likely　to　find　an　arrow　in　your　back　for　your　troubles。　Volcanoes　always　threatening　to　blow。　Tsetse　flies。　Bad　water。　Corrupt　officials。　Not　a　place　to　go　without　a　very　good　reason；　hmm？　Perhaps　you　should　put　off　your　trip　until　things　settle　down。〃
　Those　were　precisely　Peter　Elliot's　sentiments；　and　he　said
　so。
　〃Wise　man；〃　Munro　said；　with　a　broad　smile　that　annoyed　Karen　Ross。
　〃Evidently；〃　Karen　Ross　said；　〃we　will　never　e　to　terms。〃
　〃That　seems　clear。〃　Munro　nodded。
　Elliot　understood　that　negotiations　were　broken　off。　He　got　up　to　shake　Munro's　hand　and　leave…but　before　he　could　do　that；　Munro　walked　into　the　next　room　and　conferred　with　the　Japanese　and　Germans。
　〃Things　are　looking　up；〃　Ross　said。
　〃Why？〃　Elliot　said。　〃Because　he　thinks　he's　beaten　you　down？〃
　〃No。　Because　he　thinks　we　know　more　than　they　do　about　the　site　location　and　are　more　likely　to　hit　an　ore　body　and　pay　off。〃
　In　the　next　room；　the　Japanese　and　Germans　abruptly　stood；　and　walked　to　the　front　door。　At　the　door；　Munro　shook　hands　with　the　Germans；　and　bowed　elaborately　to　the　Japanese。
　〃I　guess　you're　right；〃　Elliot　said　to　Ross。　〃He's　sending　them　away。〃
　But　Ross　was　frowning；　her　face　grim。　〃They　can't　do　this；〃　she　said。　〃They　can't　just　quit　this　way。〃
　Elliot　was　confused　again。　〃I　thought　you　wanted　them　to　quit。〃
　〃Damn；〃　Ross　said。　〃We've　been　screwed。〃　She　whispered　into　the　telephone；　talking　to　Houston。
　Elliot　didn't　understand　it　at　all。　And　his　confusion　was　not　resolved　when　Munro　locked　the　door　behind　the　last　of　the　departing　men；　then　came　back　to　Elliot　and　Ross　to　say　that　supper　was　served。
　
　They　ate　Moroccan…style；　sitting　on　the　floor　and　eating　with　their　fingers。　The　first　course　was　a　pigeon　pie；　and　it　was　followed　by　some　sort　of　stew。
　〃So　you　sent　the　Japanese　off？〃　Ross　said。　〃Told　them　no？〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　Munro　said。　〃That　would　be　impolite。　I　told
　them　I　would　think　about　it。　And　I　will。〃
　〃Then　why　did　they　leave？〃
　Munro　shrugged。　〃Not　my　doing；　I　assure　you。　I　think　they　heard　something　on　the　telephone　which　changed　their　whole　plan。〃
　Karen　Ross　glanced　at　her　watch；　making　a　note　of　the　time。　〃Very　good　stew；〃　she　said。　She　was　doing　her　best　to　be　agreeable。
　〃Glad　you　like　it。　It's　tajin。　Camel　meat。〃
　Karen　Ross　coughed。　Peter　Elliot　noticed　that　his　own　appetite　had　diminished。　Munro　turned　to　him。　〃So　you　have　the　gorilla；　Professor　Elliot？〃
　〃How　did　you　know　that？〃
　〃The　Japanese　told　me。　The　Japanese　are　fascinated　by　your　gorilla。　Can't　figure　the　point　of　it；　drives　them　mad。　A　young　man　with　a　gorilla；　arid　a　young　woman　who　is　searching　for…〃
　〃Industrial…grade　diamonds；〃　Karen　Ross　said。
　〃Ah；　industrial…grade　diamonds。〃　He　turned　to　Elliot。　〃I　enjoy　a　frank　conversation。　Diamonds；　fascinating。〃　His　manner　suggested　that　he　had　been　told　nothing　of　importance。
　Ross　said；　〃You've　got　to　take　us　in；　Munro。〃
　〃World's　full　of　industrial…grade　diamonds；〃　Munro　said。　〃You　can　find　them　in　Africa；　India；　Russia；　Brazil；　Canada；　even　in　America…Arkansas；　New　York；　Kentucky…　everywhere　you　look。　But　you're　going　to　the　Congo。〃
　The　obvious　question　hung　in　the　air。
　〃We　are　looking　for　Type　Jib　boron…coated　blue　diamonds；〃　Karen　Ross　said；　〃which　have　semi　conducting　properties　important　to　microelectronics　applications。〃
　Munro　stroked　his　mustache。　〃Blue　diamonds；〃　he　said；　nodding。　〃It　makes　sense。〃
　Ross　said　that　of　course　it　made　sense。
　〃You　can't　dope　them？〃　Munro　asked。
　〃No。　It's　been　tried。　There　was　a　mercial　boron…doping　process；　but　it　was　too　unreliable。　The　Americans　had　one　and　so　did　the　Japanese。　Everyone　gave　it　up　as　hopeless
　〃So　you've　got　to　find　a　natural　source。〃
　〃That's　right。　I　want　to　get　there　as　soon　as　possible；〃　Ross　said；　staring　at　him；　her　voice　flat。
　〃I'm　sure　you　do；〃　Munro　said。　〃Nothing　but　business　for　our　Dr。　Ross；　eh？〃　He　crossed　the　room　and；　leaning　against　one　of　the　arches；　looked　out　on　the　da