cc.fireice-第44部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


're　interested。〃
　〃I　didn't　mean　to　make　it　sound　like　a　singles　bar。　My　sign　is　Pisces；　by　the　way。〃
　〃Pisces？　That's　fitting　for　a　NUMA　guy。〃　She　put　her　notebook　aside。　〃I'd　advise　you　to　stay　out　of　singles　bars。　With　that　corny　line；　you'd　go　home　alone　every　night。〃
　
　Austin　decided　he　really　liked　this　woman。　She　was　tough　and　feminine　at　the　same　time；　had　a　sharp　sense　of　humor　and　plenty　of　intelligence。　And　the　qualities　he　admired　were　gift　wrapped　in　a　lovely　package。
　
　〃Okay；　now　that　I've　snapped　up　the　hook；　I'll　let　you　reel　me　in。　But　only　to　a　point！　What　does　your　devious　little　soul　want　from　me？〃
　〃The　truth；　for　starters。　Why　are　you　here；　for　instance？　And　who　are　the　tough　guys　in　the　black　suits？　And　why　are　the　people　around　here　so　damned　unfriendly？〃
　〃Is　this　for　a　story？〃
　〃Maybe。　But　I　want　to　know　mostly　because　I　want　to　know。　Curiosity　is　the　best　tool　of　a　good　reporter。〃
　
　Austin　was　no　fan　of　mendacity；　but　he　didn't　want　to　involve　Kaela　and　her　gang　in　something　that　could　bite　them。　They　had　been　lucky　twice　so　far。　Their　third　encounter　with　the　bad　guys　could　be　a　strikeout。
　
　〃You're　not　the　only　one　who's　curious。　After　my　first　run…in　with　those　guys　on　horses；　I　wanted　to　know　more。　I　also　felt　I　had　to　do　something　for　Kemal's　cousin　Mehmet。〃
　〃Is　there　a　submarine　base　here？〃
　〃Yes。　Quite　extensive；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃
　〃I　knew　it。　I　want　to　get　inside。〃
　〃Okay　by　me；　but　you　may　have　problems　with　that　gentleman　over　there。〃　Ivan　was　making　his　way　across　the　field　from　the　woods；　where　he　had　been　inspecting　his　men's　work。
　
　〃Who　is　he？〃
　〃His　name　is　Ivan。　He's　the　boss　man。〃
　〃Military？〃
　〃Why　don't　you　ask　him　yourself？〃
　
　Kaela　grabbed　her　notebook　and　sprang　to　her　feet。　〃I　think　I　will。〃　She　strode　toward　the　Russian　and　intercepted　him。　Austin　watched　with　interest　as　she　used　her　body　language　to　send　a　tantalizing　message。　She　was　wading　in　with　a　full　feminine　court　press；　standing　first　on　one　leg；　then　the　other；　hip　out；　touching　Ivan　lightly　on　the　chest；　flashing　him　her　incredible　smile。
　
　Ivan　stood　there　with　his　arms　crossed　like　a　granite　statue；　resisting　the　full　assault。　When　she　was　done；　he　spoke　a　few　words。　Kaela's　shoulders　suddenly　squared；　she　leaned　forward　and　stuck　her　jaw　into　his　face；　then　she　wheeled　and　strode　purposefully　back　to　Austin。
　
　〃What　a　stubborn　little　man；〃　she　fumed。　〃He　said　that　the　sub　base　is　the　property　of　the　Russian　government　and　is　off…limits　to　the　public。　He　suggests　that　I　make　arrangements　with　you　to　leave　here　as　quickly　as　possible　or　suffer　the　consequences。〃　She　grinned。　〃Well；　we　can　still　run　the　story。　I've　got　film。〃
　
　She　marched　over　to　the　helicopter　wreckage　with　a　determined　step　and　talked　with　Lombardo　and　Dundee；　who　had　been　poking　around　in　the　wreckage。　Their　conversation　was　animated；　and　grew　more　so　when　he　showed　her　the　jumble　of　metal　and　plastic　that　was　what　was　left　of　the　video　camera。　Kaela　slowly　walked　back　to　Austin。
　
　〃It　looks　as　if　we'll　have　to　bum　a　ride　with　you；〃　she　said；　without　enthusiasm。
　
　Austin　saw　Joe　Zavala　making　his　way　toward　them　from　the　direction　of　the　beach；　where　he'd　been　checking　visually　and　on　the　radio　to　see　if　the　NR…1　crew　had　made　it　to　the　fishing　boat。　He　excused　himself　and　took　Zavala　aside。
　
　Zavala　said；　〃They　all　made　it　to　Kemal's　boat。〃
　〃Good　news；　but　we've　got　a　problem。　Kaela　and　her　guys　need　a　ride；　and　I　don't　want　them　anywhere　near　the　NR…1　crew。〃
　
　Zavala　cast　an　admiring　glance　toward　the　TV　reporter。　'Then　you'll　be　happy　to　know　the　Argo　was　keeping　an　eye　on　us　and　monitoring　radio　transmissions。　I　just　talked　to　Captain　Atwood。　They've　sent　a　boat　in　to　transfer　the　navy　to　the　survey　ship。　Kemal's　boat　is　free　and　clear。〃
　
　Austin　let　out　a　nasty　chuckle。　〃Would　you　send　a　message　to　the　Argo　and　ask　them　to　pick　us　up；　too？　Then　call　Captain　Kemal；　tell　him　that　we　will　be　transferring　to　the　Argo　and　ask　if　he　wouldn't　mind　taking　on　a　few　passengers　in　our　place。〃
　〃Aye；　aye；　sir；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　snappy　salute。
　
　While　Joe　was　calling　the　fishing　boat；　Austin　went　over　。to　tell　Kaela　and　her　friends　that　first…class　transportation　had　been　arranged。
　
　…18…
　THE　TRIP　FROM　Novorossiyskto　Istanbul　was　an　aviation　nightmare。　Unspecified　mechanical　problems　delayed　the　flight　on　the　ground。　The　Trouts　sat　in　the　hot　and　crowded　cabin　for　an　hour　before　being　switched　to　another　plane。　The　passengers　who　sampled　the　mystery　meat　served　for　the　in…flight　meal　paid　a　price　for　their　daring　when　the　plane　encountered　turbulence。　Adding　to　everyone's　misery；　only　one　toilet　was　operable。
　
　Paul　and　Gamay　thought　their　suffering　had　ended　after　the　white…knuckle　flight；　but　the　taxi　driver　who　picked　them　up　at　the　airport　drove　as　if　he　had　a　death　wish。　When　Paul　asked　him　to　slow　down；　he　punched　the　gas　pedal。
　
　〃I　think　something　got　lost　in　the　translation；〃　Gamay　said　over　the　squeal　of　tires。
　
　〃Must　be　my　New　England　accent；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　Gamay　said；　with　a　determined　set　to　her　jaw。　〃After　what　we've　been　through　on　this　trip；　nothing；　not　even　death；　will　stand　between　me　and　a　hot　shower；　a　Bombay　Sapphire　gin　martini　and　a　long　nap。〃
　
　The　cab　narrowly　missed　the　doorman；　who　stepped　back　like　a　matador　playing　a　bull；　and　screeched　to　a　jarring　stop　in　front　of　the　Marmara　Istanbul　Hotel　on　Taksim　Square。　They　exited　the　cab　as　if　they　were　in　a　twin　ejection　seat；　paid　off　the　smiling　cabby　and　made　their　way　across　the　spacious　lobby　to　the　check…in　desk。
　
　The　desk　clerk　was　a　dapper　man　whose　slicked…down　hair　and　razor…trimmed　mustache　made　him　resemble　Hercule　Poirot。　He　saw　the　Trouts　approach　and　flashed　a　high…wattage　smile。　〃Wele　back；　Drs。　Trout。　I　hope　you　had　a　pleasant　journey　exploring　Ephesus。〃　When　they'd　left　the　hotel　for　Novorossiysk；　the　Trouts　had　announced　with　great　fanfare　that　they　were　going　to　visit　the　ancient　ruins　on　the　coast　of　Asia　Minor。
　
　〃Thank　you；　yes；　the　Temple　of　Artemis　was　fascinating；〃　Gamay　gushed　with　the　proper　amount　of　awe。　The　clerk　smiled　and　handed　Paul　an　envelope　along　with　the　room　key。　〃This　message　came　for　you　earlier　today。〃
　
　Paul　opened　the　envelope；　unfolded　the　paper　inside　and　handed　it　to　Gamay。　She　read　the　single　sentence　neatly　printed　on　hotel　stationary：　〃Call　me　soonest。　A。〃
　
　A　telephone　number　followed　the　brief　message。
　
　〃Duty　calls；〃　Paul　said。
　
　Gamay　rolled　her　eyes。　〃Sometimes　duty　calls　at　the　worst　damn　time！〃　She　snatched　the　key　from　his　hand　and　headed　for　the　elevator。
　
　Back　in　their　room；　Paul　suggested　that　Gamay　take　the　first　shower　while　he　called　Austin。　She　snapped　up　the　offer　without　hesitation　and　left　a　trail　of　clothes　leading　to　the　bathroom。　Concluding　that　a　palliative　was　in　order；　Paul　called　room　service　and　asked　to　have　a　shaker　of　extra…dry　martinis　sent　up。　The　tray　arrived　about　the　same　time　the　shower　stopped　running。　Paul　poured　a　glass　and　knocked　on　the　bathroom　door。　It　opened　in　a　cloud　of　steam；　and　a　hand　reached　out　for　the　martini。　He　poured　himself　a　drink；　propping　his　long　legs　up　on　a　footstool；　took　a　grateful　sip　and　pronounced　the　cocktail　tolerable　for　Istanbul。　Fortified　for　the　task　ahead；　he　dialed　the　number　on　Austin's　note。
　
　〃We're　back　in　Istanbul；〃　Trout　said；　when　Kurt's　voice　came　on　the　line。　〃Got　your　note。〃
　〃Good。　How　was　your　trip？〃
　〃lnformative　and　full　of　surprises。〃　Trout　gave　Austin　a　summary。
　
　〃From　your　description　of　Razov's　yacht；　it　sounds　like　a　FastShip。　Probably　powered　by　gas　turbines　that　can　kick　it　up　to　speeds　twice　that　of　parable　boats。　Smart。　Razov　can　move　his　center　of　operations　anywhere　on　the　globe　within　days。　I'm　glad　no　one　was　hurt；　but　it's　too　bad　about　the　professor's　cottage。　As　soon　as　we　hang　up；　I'll　start　the　ball　rolling　on　an　official　NUMA　invitation　to　Orlov　and　his　son。〃
　〃They'll　be　thrilled。　How　did　your　excursion　go？〃
　〃Like　you　and　Gamay；　we　got　a　warm　reception；　but　I　wouldn't　advise　it　for　a　Cook's　Tour。　I'll　fill　you