el.angeleyes-第116节

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　''Bring　some　of　your　men　in。〃
　〃No；〃　Mars　said。　〃Such　an　overtly　aggressive　act　would　destroy　everything　I've　worked　for　here。　The　Hero　is　far　too　important　to　us。　He　is　a　doorway　to　a　whole　new　technology。〃
　〃Then　take　the　puter　and　e　with　me。〃
　〃Do　as　I　order！〃
　''But　you　don't　understand；　rade；''　Nikolev　said。　''There　was　only　one　way　to　get　to　Bondasenko；　and　I　used　it。　Remember　the　American　diplomatic　mission　from　Tokyo？　I　intercepted　them　at　Sheremetyevo。　They　are　the　Americans　that　White　Star　asked　for　in　the　coded　cable　we　intercepted。〃
　Nikolev　leaned　closer。　〃I　convinced　them　of　my　sincerity。　They　believe　I　am　on　their　side。　They　told　me　they　know　a　way　to　contact　Bondasenko；　and　they　are　at　the　Rossiya　Hotel　doing　so　right　now。〃
　〃Is　that　where　Valeri　Denysovich　has　gone　to　ground？〃
　〃No。　The　hotel　is　apparently　one　of　White　Star's　dead　drops。〃　Nikolev　watched　the　play　of　emotions　flicker　across　Mars's　face。　〃We　must　go　in　as　friends。　Or；　at　least；　I　must。　The　Americans　can　convince　Bondasenko　to　access　the　puter。　I　know　that　you　do　not　want　to　let　it　out　of　your　sight；　so　I　suggest　the　two　of　us　go。〃
　〃Valeri　Denysovich　and　his　people　will　not　allow　me　to　get　anywhere　near　him。''
　〃True　enough；〃　Nikolev　said。　〃You　will　be　thoroughly　hidden　from　them　along　with　my　people。　I　will　go　in　with　the　Americans　and　the　puter。　When　they　have　convinced　Bondasenko　to　access　the　information；　I　will　signal　you　electronically。　You'll　bring　my　men　in　and　we　will　have　them　all。〃
　Mars　spent　some　time　digesting　this。　''It　seems　flawless；''　he　said。　〃Except　for　one　thing。　How　will　the　Americans　convince　Valeri　Denysovich　to　access　the　White　Star　information？〃
　〃I've　told　them　about　the　coup。〃
　〃You　what？〃
　Nikolev　thought　Mars　was　going　to　have　a　stroke。　〃It　was　the　only　way　to　hook　them；''　he　said。　''Didn't　you　teach　me　that　the　truth　works　better　than　lies　to　catch　human　prey？　Believe　me；　these　are　no　ordinary　Americans。　They　would　not　have　believed　a　lie。　Entanglement　in　the　truth　brings　defeat；　that's　what　you　often　say；　eh；　rade？〃
　Mars　thought　a　moment　longer。　Then　he　nodded。　〃e；〃　he　said。　''Take　the　Toshiba　and　let's　go。〃
　Downstairs　the　two　men　strode　to　Nikolev's　black　Zil。　Nikolev　got　in　behind　the　wheel；　and　Mars；　with　the　Toshiba　on　his　lap；　slid　into　the　passenger's　seat。
　〃Where　is　your　driver？〃　Mars　asked。
　〃I　drove　myself；〃　Nikolev　said。　He　engaged　the　ignition。　He　was　about　to　throw　the　car　in　gear　when　Mars　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。
　〃Just　a　moment。　Captain。　Regulations　make　it　clear…〃
　〃All　my　men　are　with　the　Americans；〃　Nikolev　broke　in；　heading　out　of　Star　Town。　''Not　so　the　Americans　would　notice；　mind　you；　but　that's　why　I've　had　to　use　so　many。　I've　thrown　an　invisible　cordon　around　the　six　square　blocks　surrounding　the　Rossiya。　What　do　the　American　soldiers　say？　An　ant's　ass　couldn't　get　through　there　without　my　knowing。〃
　Mars　laughed。　〃Good　work；　Captain。　You'll　gain　a　promotion　yet。〃
　Out　on　the　highway　there　was　almost　no　traffic　at　all；　and　the　Zil　made　good　time。　Several　miles　from　Star　Town；　Nikolev　pulled　over　to　the　shoulder　and　turned　off　the　ignition。
　〃Is　something　the　matter；　Captain？〃　Mars　asked。
　Nikolev　turned；　and　there　was　a　pistol　in　his　hand。　It　was　aimed　at　Mars's　chest。　〃I'll　take　the　Toshiba　now；　rade。〃
　Mars's　eyes　did　not　nicker。　〃Why；　Captain；　you　disappoint　me。〃
　''Never　mind　that；''　Nikolev　snapped。　''I　want　the　puter；　and　I　want　it　now。〃
　''I　hope　there　are　a　great　number　of　treasures　in　here；''　Mars　said；　〃otherwise　you're　throwing　your　life　away　for　nothing。〃
　〃That's　yet　to　be　seen；〃　Nikolev　said。
　〃What　did　you　do；　Captain；　foolishly　make　a　deal　with　the　Americans？　I　should　have　known。　A　rampant　devotee　of　history　could　not　be　a　true　Marxist。〃
　〃You're　a　bit　behind　the　times；　rade。　There　is　no　such　thing　as　a　true　Marxist　anymore。　Can't　you　see　that　you're　the　last　of　a　dying　breed？　A　dinosaur　in　a　new；　enlightened　age。〃
　〃If　that's　so；〃　Mars　said；　〃then　my　teeth　are　huge。　The　better　to　bite　you　with。〃
　The　muzzle　of　the　pistol　flicked　slightly。　〃Give　the　puter　over。〃
　〃And　once　I　do；　what　is　to　happen　to　me？〃　Mars　nodded；　reading　the　look　on　Nikolev's　face。　〃I　see。　So　that's　how　it's　to　be。　You'll　leave　a　lump　of　dead　meat　for　the　animals　to　tear　apart。〃
　〃You're　a　dangerous　man；　rade；〃　Nikolev　said。
　〃You　're　telling　me；〃　Mars　said；　firing　the　small…caliber　pistol　he　had　hidden　in　his　lap　under　me　Toshiba。
　The　report　was　deafening　inside　the　Zil；　and　the　two　men　were　rocked　on　its　shocks。　Captain　Nikolev's　face　registered　surprise；　and　he　gaped　at　the　blood　pouring　out　of　him。　But　the　bullet　had　been　slightly　deflected　by　the　puter；　and　it　had　entered　Nikolev's　belly；　quite　a　bit　below　where　Mars　had　been　aiming。
　Mars　slapped　at　Nikolev's　pistol　and　it　went　off；　tearing　a　hole　in　the　Zil's　roof。　Nikolev　grabbed　Mars；　slammed　the　heel　of　his　hand　into　Mars's　throat。　Mars's　grip　on　his　pistol　loosened；　and　Nikolev　slapped　it　away。
　The　Toshiba　crashed　to　the　floorwell　of　the　car。　Mars　balled　his　fist；　smashed　it　into　Nikolev's　belly　where　the　bullet　had　entered。　Nikolev　shouted；　and　tears　of　pain　came　to　his　eyes。
　Mars　immediately　bent　to　retrieve　his　pistol；　but　Nikolev　caught　him　in　a　lock　meant　to　break　his　arm。　Gritting　his　teeth；　Mars　jammed　his　elbow　into　Nikolev's　face；　heard　the　sharp　crack　of　the　jawbone　splintering；　and　thought；　I　have　him　now。
　It　was　a　mistake。　Nikolev；　almost　blind　with　pain；　used　two　quick；　percussive　blows　to　Mars's　solar　plexus。　Bright　spots　of　noncolor　danced　in　Mars's　head　and　he　felt　himself　begin　to　black　out。　He　fought　to　gain　control　over　his　spasming　diaphragm；　winced　as　the　third　blow　robbed　him　of　desperately　needed　air。
　He　used　the　heel　of　his　hand　in　an　attempt　to　break　Nikolev's　nose；　but　the　lack　of　oxygen　in　his　system　had　robbed　him　of　strength　and　he　had　nothing　behind　the　strike。
　Meanwhile；　Nikolev　was　hard　at　work　trying　to　separate　Mars　from　his　ribs。　Mars　felt　a　searing　pain　lance　up　into　his　chest　and　neck。　He　was　losing　feeling　in　his　right　side；　and　he　began　to　panic。　He　had　nothing　to　work　with；　so　in　desperation　he　slammed　his　forehead　into　Nikolev's　nose。　Blood　and　cartilage　splattered；　but　the　pain　in　his　chest　would　not　abate。
　Mars；　losing　control；　hit　Nikolev　again　with　his　forehead；　and　this　time　Nikolev's　neck　snapped　back；　the　top　of　his　head　smashing　into　the　Zil's　windshield　and　breaking　it。　Nikolev；　stretched　unnaturally　backward　across　the　dashboard；　blinked　heavily；　momentarily　stunned。
　Mars；　taking　great　gulps　of　air；　made　the　most　of　this　respite。　He　drove　his　fist　into　Nikolev's　side　over　and　over　until　the　rib　cage　gave　way。
　Nikolev　fell　sideways　into　the　floorwell。　His　face　was　streaked　with　blood；　and　shards　of　glass　were　embedded　in　his　cheeks。　his　eyes　stared　upward。
　Mars；　almost　weeping　with　the　enormous　expenditure　of　energy；　cursed　him　mightily；　kicked　the　side　of　his　head。　He　bent　over；　put　his　head　between　his　legs　so　that　he　wouldn't　pass　out。
　It　took　him　some　time　to　recover。　The　smell　of　fresh　blood；　as　sickly　as　decaying　flowers；　reminded　him　of　how　close　he　had　been　brought　to　the　brink　of　death。
　〃You　sonuvabitch；　Nikolev；　you　thought　you　were　more　clever　than　I　was；　but　in　the　end　you　didn't　have　a　clue。　I　had　a　man　on　the　inside　of　your　division　since　before　the　time　I　had　you　seconded　to　Department　N。　That's　one　of　the　reasons　I　picked　the　Eleventh　Division　of　the　Border　Guards。''
　He　spat　onto　Nikolev's　face。　The　captain　was　beyond　caring；　but　just　the　same；　it　made　Mars　feel　better。
　Mars　opened　the　passenger's　door；　bent　down；　rolled　Nikolev's　corpse　out　onto　the　verge　of　the　highway。　〃Dead　meat；　Captain；〃　Mars　said。　〃You　were　right　about　that　at　least。〃
　He　took　the　Toshiba　off　the　floorwell。　The　case　was　covered　in　blood　and　bits　of　bone；　but　Mars　didn't　care　about　that。　Hurriedly　he　unzipped　the　case；　cursed　harshly　as　he　saw　the　damage　his　bullet　had　done　to　the　puter。　There　was　a　large　chip　taken　out　of　the　hard　disk。
　Christ；　he　thought；　this　is　useless　now；　the　White　Star　information　is　locked　away　in　there　for　all　time。　Now　I　need　Valeri　Denysovich　more　than　ever。
　Throwing　the　Toshiba　aside；　he　activated　the　Zil's　two…way　radio。　He　identified　himself；　asked　to　be　patched　through　to　Lieutenant　Pokov。　His　fingers　drummed　impatiently　against　the　bloody　dashboard。　e　on！　he　thought。　e　on！
　The　radio　crackled　to　life。　〃Pokov。〃
　〃This　is　Volkov；〃　Mars　said　without　preamble。　〃You　are　now　manding　the　Eleventh　Division；　is　that　clear；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃Perfectly；　rade。〃
　〃You　have　the　Americans　in　sight？〃
　〃I　do。　Everything　is　under　control。〃
　〃Excellent。　They　will　lead　you　to　Bondasenko。　Bring　as　many　men　as　you　feel　you　need。　I　give　you　the　authority。　And；　Pokov；　I　need　Bondasenko。　I'd　like　to　have　the　Americans　as　well；　but　if　they　give　you　the　least　problem；　kill　them。　The　less　witnesses　the　better；　do　you　follow　me；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃Yes；　rade。〃
　〃Volkov　out。〃
　Mars　replaced　the　receiver；　slid　over　into　the　driver's　seat。　He　started　the　engine；　swung　the　Zil　around；　headed　back　for　Star　Town。　It　was　difficult　negotiating　the　highway　with　the　shattered　windshield；　and