cc.fireice-第68部分

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　Austin　and　Trout　had　scrambled　up　a　ladder　when　the　pumping　started；　and　now　they　hung　above　the　deck。　The　weight　of　their　scuba　equipment　pulled　at　their　arms　and　fingers。　While　they　huddled　in　the　shadows；　below　them　in　the　glare　of　lights　men　leaned　a　ladder　against　the　sub。　The　hatch　opened　in　the　conning　tower；　and　a　man　with　a　white　beard　climbed　out。　He　had　a　revolver　holster　on　his　belt　and　matched　the　description　Ensign　Kreisman　had　given　of　Pulaski；　the　phony　scientist　who'd　pulled　a　gun　on　the　NR…1。
　
　Two　more　men　came　out。　Austin　recognized　Captain　Logan　and　the　pilot　of　the　NR…1　from　pictures　he'd　been　shown。　Four　more　men　emerged。　They　had　tough；　impassive　faces　and　carried　heavy…duty　firearms　that　identified　them　as　guards。　The　NR…1　men　were　ushered　up　the　stairs　and　disappeared　from　view。　Hauling　bags　of　sea　debris；　the　last　of　the　cleaning　crew　followed。　The　lights　went　out　except　for　a　glow　above　their　heads。
　
　〃What　now？〃　Trout　said。
　
　〃We've　got　two　choices。　Up　or　down。〃
　
　Trout　looked　at　the　darkness　below　them　and　then　grabbed　the　rung　above　his　head　and　started　to　climb。　The　scuba　gear　seemed　to　get　heavier　the　higher　they　got。　Luckily；　they　had　to　climb　less　than　twenty　feet　before　they　reached　a　narrow　landing。　With　a　mighty　grunt；　Trout　pulled　himself　up　and　over　the　rail　and　slipped　off　his　tanks　and　weight　belt。　He　gave　Austin　a　hand　and　they　both　sat　there；　catching　their　breath。
　
　While　he　sat　with　his　back　to　the　bulkhead；　Austin　retrieved　his　Bowen　from　a　watertight　pack。　Trout　carried　a　SIG…Sauer　。9　mm　pistol　of　Swiss　design。　They　walked　to　where　the　short　landing　joined　a　catwalk　at　a　right　angle。　The　catwalk　ran　into　a　well…lit　passageway。　Seeing　that　it　was　deserted；　they　kept　on　the　move。　They　came　upon　a　large　alcove　that　sheltered　a　shiny；　white；　domed　structure　with　small　portholes　on　its　side。　They　recognized　the　white　dome　immediately　as　a　depression　chamber。
　
　After　making　sure　no　one　was　using　the　chamber；　they　went　back　for　their　scuba　gear　and　stashed　it　inside。　Then　they　slipped　out　of　their　dry　suits　and　stowed　them　with　the　tanks。　A　short　distance　from　the　depression　chamber；　they　found　a　locker　room。　Hanging　from　a　thick　rod　and　still　dripping　with　seawater　were　the　suits　worn　by　the　divers　who　had　tied　down　the　NR…1。　Austin　was　more　interested　in　the　neatly　folded　sets　of　coveralls　stashed　on　shelves　near　the　lockers。　They　pulled　the　coveralls　on　over　their　suit　liners。
　
　At　six　feet　eight　and　270　pounds；　Trout　wasn't　easy　to　fit。　The　legs　of　his　uniform　came　down　to　his　ankles；　and　his　arms　protruded　from　his　sleeves。　〃How　do　I　look？〃　Trout　said。
　
　〃Like　a　very　tall　scarecrow。　Aside　from　that；　you　should　fool　anyone　we　meet　for　at　least　ten　seconds。〃
　
　He　scrunched　down。　〃How's　this？〃
　〃Now　you　look　like　Quasimodo；〃
　〃That　hair　of　yours　isn't　exactly　inconspicuous。　Let's　hope　anyone　we　meet　is　legally　blind。　What's　next？〃
　
　Austin　plucked　a　cap　from　a　pile；　tossed　it　to　Trout　and　jammed　another　on　his　head；　He　pulled　the　visor　down　over　his　head　and　said：　〃We　go　for　a　stroll。〃
　
　…29…
　AUSTIN　STOPPED　AT　an　intersection　and　glanced　up　and　down　the　corridors　like　a　bewildered　tourist。　〃Damn；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　we're　lost。〃
　〃We　should　have　left　a　trail　of　bread　crumbs；〃　Trout　said　wistfully。
　
　〃This　isn't　exactly　a　gingerbread　house　and　we're　not　Hansel　and　…　whoops。〃　Austin　jerked　his　thumb　at　a　door　off　to　the　left。　His　ear　had　picked　up　the　click　of　a　knob　turning。
　
　Trout　stepped　back；　but　Austin　grabbed　his　arm。　〃Too　late；〃　he　whispered。　〃Look　as　if　we　belong　here。〃　He　bent　his　head　over　a　clipboard　he'd　liberated　from　the　divers'　room　and　kept　one　hand　close　to　the　gun　concealed　under　his　uniform。　Trout　got　down　on　one　knee；　untied　his　shoelace　and　began　to　tie　it。
　
　The　door　opened；　and　two　men　carne　out。　Austin　glanced　up　from　his　clipboard；　gave　them　a　friendly　smile　and　checked　them　out　for　weapons。　The　men　differed　from　each　other　in　physique；　but　both　wore　glasses　and　their　faces　had　a　studious　look。　They　were　deep　in　conversation　and　only　glanced　at　the　NUMA　men　before　they　disappeared　down　a　corridor。
　
　Austin　watched　them　go　and　said；　〃You　can　stand　now。　Those　two　looked　like　techies。　We've　got　a　major　problem。　It　could　take　days　to　search　this　ship　properly。　The　longer　we're　here；　the　greater　the　chance　someone　will　see　through　our　highly　imaginative　disguises。〃
　
　Trout　stood　and　rubbed　his　knee。　〃To　say　nothing　of　the　toll　to　be　exerted　on　my　aging　joints。　What　do　we　do　now？〃
　
　Austin　stared　off　past　Trout's　shoulder；　and　a　smile　replaced　the　frown　on　his　lips。　〃For　starters；　I'd　suggest　that　you　look　behind　you。〃
　
　Trout　grinned　when　he　saw　the　diagram　on　the　wall。　It　was　a　map　showing　the　ship's　layout　as　seen　from　above　and　in　profile。　〃We're　apparently　not　the　only　ones　who　need　help　finding　their　way　around　this　little　houseboat。〃
　
　Austin　examined　the　map　closely　and　tapped　a　red　dot　that　indicated　their　intersection。　〃We're　ing　up　on　a　restricted　area。　Let's　see　what　they're　trying　to　hide。　If　it's　restricted；　there　may　be　less　chance　of　bumping　into　Razov's　thug　brigade。〃
　
　Austin's　words　had　barely　faded　when　they　heard　rough　male　voices　approaching。　Without　hesitation；　Austin　stepped　over　to　the　door　from　which　the　scientists　had　emerged；　and　tried　the　knob。　The　door　was　unlocked。　He　gestured　for　Trout　to　follow　him。　The　room　was　dark；　but　he　could　smell　chemicals　and　guessed　it　was　a　lab。　He　quietly　closed　the　door；　leaving　it　open　a　crack。　Within　seconds；　a　pair　of　stocky　guards；　each　carrying　an　automatic　weapon；　passed　by　and　disappeared　down　the　passageway。　He　flicked　on　a　wall　light　long　enough　to　see　that　they　were；　indeed；　in　a　laboratory　of　some　sort。　Then　he　checked　once　more；　saw　the　way　was　clear；　and　they　cautiously　slipped　back　into　the　corridor。
　
　He　pointed　to　the　passageway　on　the　right。　Ever　alert；　they　set　off　along　the　corridor　until　a　door　blocked　their　way。　Austin　used　his　rusty　language　skills　from　his　CIA　days　to　translate　the　Cyrillic　letters　printed　on　the　outside。　AUTHORIZED　PERSONNEL　ONLY。　He　tried　the　door。　Locked。　He　reached　into　his　pack　and　came　out　with　a　set　of　burglary　lock　picks；　another　holdover　from　his　time　with　the　pany。　With　Trout　keeping　watch；　Austin　tried　several　picks　before　ing　up　with　the　right　one。　He　turned　the　knob；　and　they　stepped　inside。
　
　With　its　horseshoe…shaped　console；　the　room　resembled　the　control　area　of　Yaeger's　puter　center；　although　it　was　a　fraction　of　the　size。　Instead　of　facing　out　onto　a　voice…activated　hologram　stage　like　Max；　beyond　the　console　was　a　large　screen　controlled　by　a　keyboard；　archaic　relics　that　Yaeger　would　have　disdained。
　
　Trout　walked　over　and　examined　the　setup。　It　was　fairly　sophisticated。　Although　he　was　considered　a　puter　whiz　in　his　own　right；　specializing　in　the　modeling　of　deep　ocean　bottom　phenomena；　Trout　was　not　in　the　same　league　as　Yaeger。
　
　〃Well？〃　Austin　said。
　
　Trout　shrugged　and　said；　〃I'll　give　it　a　try。〃　He　settled　his　long　form　into　a　swivel　chair。　Like　a　concert　pianist　looking　for　a　lost　chord；　he　let　his　fingers　play　over　the　keyboard　without　touching　the　keys。　After　first　asking　Austin　to　trans…　late　the　Cyrillic；　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　pushed　the　key　that　said　Enter。　The　fish　school　screens　aver　that　had　been　swimming　across　the　screen　disappeared；　and　in　its　place　was　an　icon　of　a　sunburst。　〃So　far；　so　good；〃　he　said。〃
　
　I　didn't　set　off　any　alarms　that　I　know　of。〃
　
　Austin；　who　was　leaning　over　Trout's　shoulder　looking　at　the　monitor；　gave　him　a　back　pat　of　encouragement。
　
　Trout　bent　to　his　task。　He　clicked　on　the　icon；　which　was　replaced　by　a　number　of　options。　For　several　minutes；　he　pecked　away　at　the　keys；　muttering　under　his　breath。　Then　he　sat　back　and　folded　his　arms。　〃I　need　a　password　to　get　in。〃
　〃That　could　be　anything；〃　Austin　said　with　frustration。
　
　Trout　nodded　sadly。　〃We　have　to　think　Russian。　Anything　you've　e　across　that　might　work？〃
　
　Taking　a　stab　at　it；　Austin　told　him　to　try　Cossack。　When　that　didn't　work；　he　tried　Ataman。　Nothing。　One　more　false　try；　and　the　p