cc.fireice-第23部分

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dant　of　the　tsar；　going　back　to　Peter　the　Great。〃
　〃I　was　under　the　impression　that　Tsar　Nicholas　was　the　last　of　the　Romanov　line。〃
　〃There　have　always　been　questions。〃
　〃Even　so；　I　can　say　I'm　the　king　of　Spain；　but　that　doesn't　put　me　on　his　throne。〃
　〃Razov　says　he　has　proof。〃
　〃DNA？〃
　〃I　doubt　if　he　would　let　anyone　take　a　blood　sample。〃
　〃You　may　be　onto　something；〃　Austin　conceded。　〃You　have　a　movement；　a　charismatic　leader　guided　by　a　messianic　prophet　and　a　hereditary　line。　I　agree　that　sounds　like　a　potent　formula　for　revolution。〃
　
　Petrov　nodded　solemnly。　〃There　is　no　'maybe'　about　it。　Russia　is　on　the　verge　of　a　neo…Cossack　revival　that　will　sweep　across　the　country；　wiping　out　all　the　gains　we　have　made。　The　tsar　and　his　family　have　already　been　canonized　by　the　right　wing　in　our　country。　And　Razov　is　poised　to　take　on　the　tsar's　sacred　mantle。〃　He　smiled。　〃How　many　politicians　can　claim　to　be　descended　from　a　saint？〃
　〃Most　of　them　claim　to　be　saints。　But　I　take　your　point。　What's　your　role　in　this　Ivan？　Are　you　with　the　KGB？〃
　〃The　KGB　has　been　infiltrated　by　Razov's　people。　I　lead　a　small　inner　group　whose　job　is　to　keep　watch　on　those　who　threaten　Russia's　stability。　We　report　directly　to　the　president。　But　I've　only　told　you　part　of　the　story。　This　involves　you；　too；　Mr。　Austin。　Razov　considers　the　United　States　to　be　the　head　of　a　dark　worldwide　conspiracy　that　is　largely　responsible　for　Russia's　ills。　He　believes　America　is　deliberately　using　its　power　around　the　world　to　keep　Russia　impoverished　and　backward。　Many　in　parliament　share　his　views。〃
　〃America　has　a　long　list　of　enemies。　It　goes　with　being　the　only　superpower。〃
　〃Add　Razov's　name　to　the　roster；　then。　But　this　isn't　just　political　…　he　has　a　personal　reason　as　well。　His　fiancйe　was　accidentally　killed　in　the　Americans'　bombing　of　Belgrade　several　years　ago。　I　understand　Irini　was　quite　beautiful；　and　he　has　never　gotten　over　her　loss。　So　I　would　urge　you　to　take　him　very　seriously　…　especially　as　there　are　signs　he　intends　to　cause　great　harm　to　your　country。〃
　〃In　what　way？〃
　
　Petrov　spread　his　hands。　〃We　don't　know。　We　know　only　that　he　has　given　his　scheme　a　name：　Operation　Troika。〃
　〃Then　you've　wasted　your　time　and　mine。　You　should　use　diplomatic　channels　to　take　your　case　to　higher…ups　in　the　American　government。〃
　〃We　already　have。　We　have　told　them　we　want　them　to　avoid　any　overt　moves。〃
　〃I　can't　picture　the　White　House　and　the　Pentagon　ignoring　a　possible　threat　like　this；　not　now。　They've　learned　the　hard　way　to　take　threats　seriously。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　they're　not　pleased　with　our　position。　We　have　told　them　if　they　respond　too　clumsily；　they　will　spoil　our　efforts　and　ensure　that　the　threat；　whatever　it　is；　will　be　carried　out。〃
　〃What's　the　connection　between　this　threat　and　the　sub　base？〃
　〃e　to　your　own　conclusion。　The　sub　pen　was　built　for　medium…range　missile　submarines　that　roamed　the　Black　Sea；　mostly　to　intimidate　Turkish　leaders　who　allowed　the　Americans　to　establish　bases。　It　was　abandoned　after　the　Soviet　government　fell　and　lay　undisturbed　for　years。　Then　Razov　leased　the　facility　from　the　government。　His　ships　were　seen　ing　and　going。　The　Cossacks　you　encountered　were　camped　nearby　as　guards。〃
　〃Why　the　fancy　costumes　and　old　weapons？〃
　〃It　has　something　to　do　with　the　symbolism　of　his　cause。　Razov　chooses　to　equip　some　of　his　men　as　if　they　were　still　cavalry　for　the　tsar。　Make　no　mistake。　He　has　accumulated　many　modem　weapons　from　the　former　Soviet　Union。〃
　〃Why　haven't　you　moved　in　on　these　guys？〃
　〃We　were　waiting　and　watching　for　the　right　time。　Then　you　blundered　in。〃
　〃Sorry　to　spoil　your　stakeout。　Someone　was　being　mugged　and　needed　help。〃
　〃We　think　he　intends　to　act　against　the　U。S。　before　he　assumes　power。〃
　〃I　can　help　you　find　out　what　he　has　in　mind。〃
　
　Petrov　shook　his　head　vigorously。　〃We　don't　need　American　cowboys　charging　in　with　six…guns　blazing。〃
　〃Neither　do　I。　I'm　a　scientist　with　NUMA　now。〃
　〃You're　being　disingenuous。　You　have　a　reputation　for　bending　the　rules。　I　know　about　your　Special　Assignments　Team。　My　office　has　press　accounts　of　the　NUMA　team's　role　in　the　Andrea　Doria　conspiracy　and　the　plot　to　take　over　the　freshwater　resources　of　the　world。〃
　〃We　like　to　keep　busy　in　our　spare　time。〃
　〃Then　keep　busy　with　your　ocean　science。〃　Austin　folded　his　arms　over　his　chest。　〃Let　me　see　if　I　understand　this　correctly；　Ivan。　You　want　us　to　count　fish　while　your　madman　goes　on　a　terror　spree　in　our　country。〃
　〃We　have　every　intention　of　stopping　Razov　before　it　gets　to　that。　Your　interference　may　already　have　spoiled　any　chance　we　have　of　containing　him。　If　you　don't　stay　out；　I　will　consider　you　an　enemy　of　the　Russian　people　and　will　act　accordingly。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　advice。〃　Austin　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃I　hate　to　break　off　our　reunion；　but　I'm　late　for　dinner　with　a　lovely　young　woman。　So　if　you're　through。　。　。〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　through。〃　Petrov　barked　an　order　in　Russian。　The　men　guarding　Austin　pulled　him　to　his　feet　and　attempted　to　herd　him　toward　the　door。　He　stood　his　ground　and　said；　〃Nice　seeing　you　again；　Ivan。　Sorry　for　past　encounters。〃
　〃What's　past　is　past。　It's　the　future　that　we　should　both　be　concerned　about。〃　Petrov's　hand　went　to　his　scar。　〃You　know；　Mr。　Austin；　you　taught　me　a　very　valuable　lesson。〃
　
　Which　is？〃
　〃Know　your　enemy。〃
　
　Austin　was　hustled　down　the　dark　hallway　into　the　rickety　elevator。　Minutes　later；　he　was　in　the　taxi。　The　driver　kept　the　car　more　or　less　under　Mach　I。　Before　long；　they　pulled　up　at　the　exact　point　where　he'd　been　kidnapped。
　
　〃Out；〃　said　the　driver。
　
　Austin　was　glad　to　ply。　He　had　to　jump　back　to　keep　his　toes　from　being　crushed　as　the　car　sped　off　in　a　squeal　of　tires。　He　watched　the　taillights　vanish　around　a　corner；　then　walked　to　the　Argo's　slip。　Back　aboard　the　ship；　he　called　the　hotel　where　Kaela　was　staying。　When　she　didn't　answer　her　room　phone；　he　asked　the　desk　if　she'd　left　a　message。
　
　〃Yes；　sir；　there's　a　message　from　Ms。　Dorn；〃　the　desk　clerk　said。
　
　〃Would　you　read　it　to　me；　please。〃
　〃Of　course。　It　says；　'Waited　an　hour。　Something　more　important　must　have　e　up。　Went　to　dinner　with　the　boys。　Kaela。'　〃
　
　Austin　frowned。　The　message　said　nothing　about　getting　together　at　another　time。　He　would　have　to　mend　fences　in　the　morning。　Meanwhile；　he　went　out　on　the　Argo's　deck　and　paced　from　one　end　of　the　ship　to　the　other；　trying　to　remember　every　detail　of　the　dialogue　with　Ivan。　As　he　walked；　his　lips　tightened　in　determination。　Damned　if　he　was　going　to　ignore　a　threat　to　his　country。　The　best　way　to　get　Austin　to　do　something　was　to　tell　him　he　couldn't　do　it。　He　went　back　into　his　cabin　and　punched　out　a　number　on　his　cell　phone。
　
　
　FIVE　THOUSAND　MILES　away；　Josй　〃Joe〃　Zavala　plucked　the　purring　cell　phone　from　the　dashboard　holder　of　his　1961　Corvette　convertible　and　answered　with　a　cheery　hello。　Zavala　had　been　thinking　how　all　was　right　with　the　world。　He　was　young；　。healthy　and　on　an　undemanding　work　project　that　left　him　plenty　of　free　time。　At　his　side　was　a　lovely　blond　statistical　analyst　from　the　Department　of　merce。　They　were　driving　along　a　country　road　in　MacLean；　Virginia；　on　their　way　to　a　candlelight　dinner　at　a　romantic　old　inn。　The　warm　air　pleasantly　tousled　his　thick　black　hair。　After　dinner　it　would　be　back　to　the　former　district　library　building　in　Arlington；　where　he　lived；　for　a　nightcap。　Then；　who　knows？　The　possibilities　were　endless。　This　could　be　the　start　of　a　long　relationship；　long　being　a　relative　term　in　Zavala's　world。
　
　When　he　heard　the　voice　of　his　friend　and　colleague；　Zavala's　reaction　was　a　happy　one。　A　slight　smile　cracked　the　ends　of　his　lips　〃Buona　sera；　Kurt；　old　amigo。　How's　your　vacation？〃
　〃Over。　So　is　yours；　I'm　sorry　to　say。〃
　
　Zavala's　smile　faded　and　a　pained　expression　came　onto　his　darkly　handsome　features；　as　Austin　laid　out　his　plans　for　Joe's　immediate　future。　With　a　mighty　sigh；　he　replaced　the　phone；　looked　soulfully　into　the　dreamy　and　pliant　blue　eyes　of　his　date　and　said；　〃I'm　afraid　I've　got　bad　news。　My　grandmother　just　died。〃
　
　
　WHILE