cc.fireice-第43部分

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　〃How　did　you　know　about　the　crown　without　the　list？〃
　〃I've　seen　this　and　other　photos　of　it。　It's　made　in　two　parts；　representing　the　east　and　west　empires。　The　double…headed　eagle　was　the　crest　of　the　Romanovs。　The　orb　the　eagle　surmounts　is　a　symbol　of　earthly　power。〃
　〃It　must　be　worth　a　fortune。〃
　〃The　crown's　value　can't　be　measured　in　dollars　or　rubles。　This　crown　and　the　other　treasure　came　from　the　sweat　and　toil　of　the　Russian　serfs；　who　saw　the　tsar　as　god…like。　The　tsar　was　the　richest　man　in　the　world。　He　had　revenue　from　the　crown　lands；　a　million　square　miles；　including　gold　and　silver　mines；　and　owned　incredible　riches。　Our　sovereigns　had　an　almost　barbaric　taste　for　the　glitter　of　gold　and　gems。　Tsar　is　Russian　for　'Caesar。'　Emirs　and　shahs　laid　gifts　of　incredible　value　at　his　feet。〃
　〃The　family　in　the　photo　doesn't　look　as　if　it's　enjoying　all　that　wealth。〃
　〃They　knew　the　crown　was　more　of　a　curse　than　a　blessing。　It　was　reserved　for　the　frail　head　of　the　young　boy；　Alexander；　although　it's　doubtful　he　would　have　lived　long　enough　to　take　his　father's　place。　He　had　hemophilia；　un…　controllable　bleeding；　you　know？　A　real　problem　among　European　royalty　…　all　those　intermarriages。　Anyway；　other　relatives　would　have　stepped　in　to　claim　the　throne。〃
　〃Any　idea　who　built　this　shrine？〃
　〃I　thought　it　might　be　Razov　at　first。　I　could　see　him　sitting　here；　imagining　that　he　will　someday　bee　the　ruler　of　Russia。　But　the　decadent　trappings　of　the　apartment　in　the　main　plex　puzzle　me。　Razov　is　almost　ascetic　in　his　convictions。　The　monk；　on　the　other　hand；　is　said　to　be　debauched。　It's　odd　how　much　he　resembles　Rasputin　in　his　depraved　lifestyle。　My　guess　is　that　Boris　spent　more　time　here　than　Razov。　Razov　would　like　to　bring　back　the　past。　In　his　madness；　Boris　lives　it。〃
　〃That's　quite　a　role　reversal。〃
　〃Perhaps；　but　one　thing　is　certain：　They　both　must　be　stopped；〃　Petrov　said；　his　eyes　boring　into　Austin's。　〃And　you　must　help　me。〃
　
　Austin　was　still　skeptical。　〃I'll　think　about　it；　Ivan。　Right　now　I　need　some　fresh　air。〃
　
　Petrov　gripped　Austin　by　the　arm。　〃Maybe　your　own　countryman　can　persuade　you。　You　remember　the　words　of　the　great　American　patriot…philosopher　Thomas　Paine。　He　said　he　was　not　defending　a　few　acres　of　ground；　but　a　cause。〃
　
　Austin　knew　the　dossier　Petrov　had　on　him　would　have　mentioned　the　volumes　of　philosophy　that　lined　his　bookshelves。
　
　〃What　is　your　cause；　Ivan？〃
　〃Perhaps　it's　the　same　as　yours。〃
　〃Don't　take　this　the　wrong　way；　but　I　can't　see　you　waving　the　flag　for　motherhood；　apple　pie　and　the　American　way。〃
　〃I　did　my　share　of　waving　the　hammer　and　sickle　as　a　Young　Pioneer　marching　in　the　May　Day　parades。　There　are　deeper　issues　here。　Don't　let　our　past　get　in　the　way。　Judge　me　by　the　present；　so　that　both　our　countries　will　have　a　future。〃
　
　Austin　saw　a　slight　softening　in　Petrov's　rock…hard　eyes。　Maybe　the　man　was　human　after　all。　〃Guess　we're　stuck　with　each　other；　whether　we　like　it　or　not。〃
　〃Then　you'll　work　with　me？〃
　〃I　can't　speak　for　NUMA；　but　I'll　do　what　I　can；〃　Austin　said；　extending　his　hand。　〃C'mon；　partner；　I've　got　something　else　that　will　interest　you。〃　He　led　the　way　down　through　the　labyrinth　to　the　submarine　pen。　Petrov　recognized　the　sub　immediately。
　
　〃It's　an　India　class；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　designed　to　carry　submersibles　for　use　by　special…operations　forces。〃
　〃Any　idea　how　it　got　here？〃
　〃There's　a　booming　market　in　the　world　for　Soviet　armaments。〃
　〃This　isn't　exactly　a　box　of　AK…47s。〃
　〃My　country　has　always　done　things　on　a　grand　scale。　For　the　right　price；　you　could　probably　buy　a　battleship。　As　you　know；　the　Soviet　Union　launched　dozens　of　huge　subs　during　the　Cold　War。　Many　have　been　mothballed　or　other…　wise　demissioned。　But　given　the　sad　state　of　our　armed　forces；　anything　is　possible。　This　could　be　an　important　lead。　I　can't　imagine　anyone　making　a　purchase　this　big　without　somebody　knowing　about　it。　I'll　run　a　discreet　check。　Tell　me　about　these　men　from　your　NR…1　submarine。　What　did　they　have　to　say？〃
　〃I　talked　to　one　of　them。　The　sub　was　hijacked　by　someone　posing　as　a　scientist；　transported　on　the　back　of　that　submarine　and　made　to　work　salvaging　cargo　from　an　old　freighter。　The　fact　that　they're　still　holding　the　captain　and　pilot　indicates　that　they　have　more　work　planned　for　the　NR…l。〃　Austin　rapped　the　stone　floor　with　his　heel。　〃Maybe　you　can　look　into　the　ownership　of　this　place。〃
　〃I　already　have。　The　property　is　still　owned　by　the　Russian　government。　About　two　years　ago；　it　was　leased　to　a　private　corporation。　They　said　they　wanted　to　establish　a　fish…processing　plant　here。〃
　〃From　what　I've　seen；　the　leaseholder　was　more　interested　in　what　was　under　the　ground　than　on　top　of　it。　Any　leads　on　the　corporation？〃
　〃Yes。　We　got　a　break　there。　It　was　a　straw　for　Ataman。〃
　
　Austin　nodded。　〃Why　does　that　not　surprise　me？　I　should　get　back　above。　Joe　will　wonder　what　happened　to　us。〃
　
　They　followed　the　network　of　corridors　and　stairs　that　took　them　back　to　the　surface。　It　was　a　relief　to　break　out　into　the　sunshine　and　fresh　air。　To　Austin's　surprise；　the　soccer　field　was　clear　of　carnage。
　
　Petrov　sensed　the　question　on　Austin's　lips。　〃Before　we　went　below；　I　ordered　my　men　to　drag　the　dead　into　the　woods　and　bury　them。〃
　〃That　was　considerate　of　you。〃
　〃There　was　nothing　considerate　about　it。　I　wanted　nothing　left　that　could　be　seen　from　the　air。〃　They　walked　across　the　field　toward　the　downed　helicopter。　〃I've　taken　care　of　the　dead；〃　he　said；　glancing　toward　the　helicopter。　〃I　will　leave　it　up　to　you　to　deal　with　the　living。〃
　
　
　IT　WAS　A　wonder　that　the　chopper　had　been　able　to　land　as　softly　as　it　had。　The　Cossacks　had　shot　high；　and　the　upper　cockpit　and　engine　housing　were　riddled　with　bullet　holes。　Kaela　sat　on　the　ground　nearby　with　her　legs　crossed；　writing　in　a　shorthand　notebook。　Austin　put　on　his　most　winning　smile。　Kaela　felt　his　shadow　and　looked　up。
　
　〃Small　world；〃　he　said；　with　his　best　show　of　tooth　enamel。

　
　Kaela　skewered　Austin　with　a　hard　stare。　Undaunted；　Austin　plunked　onto　the　ground　beside　her。　〃Nice　of　you　to　go　to　all　this　trouble　just　so　we'd　have　the　opportunity　to　reschedule　our　dinner　date。〃
　〃You're　the　one　who　didn't　show　up　back　there　in　Istanbul。〃
　〃True。　Which　is　why　I'm　glad　I　have　the　chance　to　apologize　and　see　if　can　make　it　up　to　you　over　cocktails。〃
　
　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Apologize　for　standing　me　up　or　for　stealing　Captain　Kemal？〃
　
　Kaela　was　no　pushover　for　the　Austin　charm　offensive。　This　was　going　to　be　more　plicated　than　he　thought。
　
　〃Okay。　Let's　deal　with　this　in　tiny　steps。　First；　I　apologize　for　missing　the　dinner　date。　I　was　unexpectedly　tied　up　and　couldn't　make　it。　As　for　Captain　Kemal；　you'll　have　to　admit　you　made　a　mistake　by　not　holding　him　with　some　sort　of　retainer　while　you　went　off　to　Paris。〃
　〃Please　spare　me　the　lecture。　I　never　thought　you　would　steal　him　after　you　warned　me　to　stay　away　from　this　place　because　it　was　too　dangerous　and　an　infringement　of　Russian　territory。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　admit　I　was　right　about　the　danger；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　the　wreckage　of　the　helicopter。
　
　Kaela　took　a　deep　breath　and　slowly　let　it　out。　〃I'll　grant　you　the　obvious。　But　I'll　bet　nobody　gave　you　or　your　NUMA　friend　an　invitation　to　drop　by　for　tea。〃
　〃That's　correct；　but　it　doesn't　make　it　right。〃
　〃You　sound　like　my　mother；〃　she　said　with　mock　disgust。　〃Your　apology　for　missing　dinner　is　accepted。　Luckily；　my　producers　bankrolled　enough　money　to　lease　a　helicopter；　so　I　wouldn't　have　hired　Captain　Kemal　anyhow。　You　still　owe　me；　though。〃
　
　Austin　noticed　the　twinkle　in　the　amber　eyes　and　realized　she　had　been　setting　him　up；　using　his　guilt　as　leverage。
　
　〃You're　playing　me　like　a　fish；　aren't　you？〃
　
　Kaela　threw　her　head　back　and　laughed。　〃I'm　certainly　trying　to。　You　deserve　to　be　jerked　around　after　trying　to　put　me　off　with　that　phony　shark　smile　and　the　'small　world'　routine。　Real　smooth　character！　Next　thing　you'd　be　asking　me　what　my　astrological　sign　was。　Well；　it's　Capricorn；　in　case　you're　interested。〃
　〃I　didn't　mean