cc.fireice-第72部分

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　Russian　banquet。　Perlmutter　would　love　it。　Sounds　quite　tasty　after　this　morning's　snack　of　sugar…glazed　doughnuts　and　weak　coffee。〃
　〃I'll　buy　you　a　full…course　breakfast　later；　but　are　you　saying　that　after　all　we　went　through　to　get　this　stuff；　the　best　we　can　e　up　with　is　caviar？〃
　〃Yes　and　no。　The　menu　is　really　a　set　of　files　encrypted　with　steganography。　It　means　'covered　writing。'　It's　a　way　of　hiding　messages　in　pictures。　Uses　a　special　software。　Man；　whoever　set　up　security　is　real　good。　Even　Max　hit　the　wall　on　this　one。　I　wrote　a　new　program　that　unravels　the　puzzle。　Watch。〃
　
　A　gray　dialog　box　appeared。　〃What　is　that？〃
　〃It's　asking　for　the　password。〃
　〃What　about　the　password　we　used　to　get　into　the　ship's　puter？〃
　〃Troika　was　only　good　so　far　as　it　went。　It　got　me　to　this　point。　Now　I　need　another　one。〃
　
　Austin　groaned。　〃So　we're　right　back　to　where　we　started。〃
　〃Yes　and　no。　I've　got　Max　running　through　possible　words　or　binations。　She'll　e　up　with　an　answer。　。　。　but　it　could　be　days。〃
　〃We　may　not　have　days；〃　Austin　said。　〃Then　I've　got　another　idea　that　may　help　you。　The　files　indicate　that　there　is　a　master　control　somewhere　other　than　on　your　mystery　ship。　Find　that；　and　we　can　find　your　password。〃
　
　Austin's　head　was　swimming；　as　it　did　after　any　conversation　with　Yaeger。　〃Let　me　think　about　it。　I'll　get　back　to　you。〃
　
　Austin　went　back　downstairs　and　shoved　his　racing　scull　into　the　water。　Easing　into　the　narrow　craft；　he　warmed　up　for　ten　minutes　under　quarter　pressure；　gradually　working　his　rate　to　twenty…eight　strokes　a　minute；　his　eyes　glued　to　the　dial　of　the　StrokeCoach　over　his　toes。　The　strokes　merged　with　an　unbroken　rhythm　that　sent　the　light　shell　scudding　smoothly　over　the　river's　misty　surface　like　flowing　quicksilver。
　
　Austin　rowed　without　gloves　so　he　could　feel　the　river　with　each　dip　of　the　oars。　He　wanted　to　sweat　out　the　white…hot　anger　he　felt　over　the　Sea　Hunter　so　that　the　heat　would　not　consume　him。　He　slipped　into　a　meditative　state　and　felt　his　rage　ebb；　although　it　didn't　go　away　entirely。　After　rowing　for　a　time；　he　turned　in　a　wide　circle　and　headed　back。　Before　long；　the　scull　was　gliding　up　to　the　ramp　of　the　boathouse。　He　threw　his　sweaty　clothes　in　a　hamper；　took　a　long　shower　and　shaved；　and　dressed　in　a　tan　sports　jacket；　navy　blue　polo　shirt　and　light　slacks。
　
　A　sound　sleep　and　an　energetic　row　had　given　him　perspective。　He　brushed　aside　the　distractions　that　had　been　pulling　his　mind　apart　in　a　hundred　different　directions　and　concentrated　on　the　prime　force　behind　all　he　had　experienced。　Razov。　He　had　to　find　Razov。　Everything　else　would　flow　from　there。　He　picked　up　the　phone　and　called　Rudi　Gunn；　who　had　never　shaken　his　old　navy　habits　and　was　in　his　office　before　most　muters　had　poured　their　first　cup　of　coffee。
　
　〃Kurt；　I　was　about　to　call　you。　Admiral　Sandecker　told　me　about　your　successful　mission。　Congratulations　to　you　and　Paul。〃
　〃Thanks；　Rudi。　Unfortunately；　our　job　isn't　over。　Razov　is　the　key　to　all　this。　I　was　wondering　if　you'd　heard　anything　about　his　whereabouts。〃
　〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　tell　you。　The　Mad　Russian　has　e　up　for　air。　He　and　his　super　yacht　are　expected　momentarily　in　Boston。〃
　〃How'd　you　pick　that　up；　through　intelligence　or　satellites？〃
　〃Neither　one；　actually。　I　saw　it　in　the　business　section　of　the　Washington　Post。　I'll　read　it　to　you：
　
　
　Russian　mining　tycoon　Mikhail　Razov　will　arrive　in　Boston　today　to　announce　the　opening　of　an　international　trade　center。　Razov；　who　is　also　a　prominent　political　figure　in　his　country；　will　host　a　reception　for　government　officials　and　other　guests　tonight　aboard　his　yacht；　said　to　be　one　of　the　largest　privately　owned　vessels　in　the　world。　The　stop…off　is　part　of　a　tour　of　major　East　Coast　ports。〃
　
　
　〃Thoughtful　of　him　to　save　us　time　and　energy；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃It　doesn't　fit　with　what　I　have　heard　about　the　gentleman。　Wonder　what　he's　really　up　to？〃
　〃Why　don't　I　go　aboard　and　ask　him？〃
　〃You're　serious？〃
　〃Of　course。　It　might　do　some　good　for　him　to　know　that　we're　onto　him。　Maybe　we　can　shake　the　trees　and　see　what　falls　out。〃
　〃Just　as　long　as　you're　not　standing　under　them。〃
　
　Austin　thought　of　Yaeger's　suggestion　about　finding　the　master　control　center。　A　man　like　Razov　would　never　let　anything　get　far　from　his　control。　And　his　yacht　was　both　his　home　and　the　headquarters　of　his　worldwide　corporation。
　
　〃We　can't　let　an　opportunity　like　this　go　by。　I　want　to　get　aboard　that　yacht。〃
　〃We　could　fix　you　up　with　some　NUMA　credentials。〃
　〃That　would　be　like　waving　a　red　flag　in　front　of　a　bull。　I　have　another　idea。　I'll　get　back　to　you。〃
　
　Austin　hung　up　and　dug　in　his　wallet　for　a　business　card。　Then　he　dialed　the　New　York　number　on　it。
　
　〃Unbelievable　Mysteries；〃　the　receptionist　said。
　
　He　asked　if　Kaela　Dorn　had　returned　from　assignments。　〃I　believe　so。　May　I　say　who's　calling？〃
　
　Austin　gave　his　name　and　braced　for　a　breath　of　icy　air。　He　was　surprised　at　the　warmth　in　Kaela's　voice。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Austin。　You　certainly　get　up　early　in　the　day。〃
　〃The　early　bird　catches　the　worm；　I've　been　told。〃
　〃Never　did　like　worms；〃　Kaela　said。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃First　of　all；　tell　me　why　you're　being　so　friendly。〃
　〃Why　shouldn't　I　be？　You　saved　my　life。　Even　better；　you　got　me　transportation　back　to　Istanbul　on　Captain　Kemal's　boat。〃
　〃Which　wasn't　exactly　the　QE2；　as　I　recall。〃
　〃Doesn't　matter。　On　the　way　back；　the　captain　told　me　about　a　wreck　he　knew　of　and　took　me　there。　It　was　big　and　old；　and　my　guess　is　that　it　was　originally　measured　in　cubits。〃
　〃Noah's　ark？〃
　〃Who　knows？　Who　cares？　We　got　the　story；　plus　bonuses。　So　thanks　again；　and　I　mean　it　with　all　sincerity　when　I　say；　what　can　I　do　for　you；　even　though　you　still　owe　me　a　dinner。〃
　〃How　about　Boston　baked　beans？〃
　〃I　was　thinking　more　of　rack　of　lamb　at　the　Four　Seasons。〃
　〃Anything　you　say。　But　I　need　your　help　first。　There's　a　trade　reception　tonight　aboard　a　yacht　in　Boston　Harbor；　and　I　need　some　press　credentials。〃
　〃Is　there　a　story　here？〃
　〃Eventually。　But　not　now。〃
　〃Okay；　but　under　one　condition。　I'm　going　with　you。　Before　you　say　no；　think　about　it。〃
　
　Austin　thought　about　Kaela's　sultry　beauty　for　a　millisecond。　〃It's　a　deal。　I'll　catch　a　shuttle　to　Logan　Airport。〃　He　suggested　a　meeting　time　and　place。
　
　After　they　hung　up；　Austin　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　stared　into　space；　a　distant　expression　in　the　coral…blue　eyes。　Finding　Razov's　central　control　system　might　be　the　breakthrough　he　and　NUMA　needed；　but　there　was　another　reason　he　wanted　to　get　aboard　the　yacht。　Boris。
　
　…31…
　BOSTON；　MASSACHUSETTS
　
　KAELA　DORN　WAITED　at　monwealth　Pier　overlooking　Boston　Harbor　and　watched　the　parade　of　limousines　drop　off　a　steady　stream　of　VIPs　who　quickly　lined　up　to　be　transported　to　Razov's　yacht。　She　stood　near　a　line　of　television　vans　whose　satellite　dishes　and　antennae　sprouted　from　their　roofs　like　alien　vegetative　growths。　She　was　scanning　the　crowd　when　the　tall　stranger　approached　from　behind　and　greeted　her。　Hardly　glancing　in　his　direction；　Kaela　replied　with　a　polite　hello。　She　regretted　it　a　second　later　when　he　said　in　a　wheedling　nasal　voice：　〃Excuse　me；　but　haven't　we　met　before？〃
　
　She　turned　her　full　attention　toward　the　man；　thinking　that　he　looked　like　a　husky　version　of　…　what　was　that　singer's　name？
　
　〃No；〃　she　said　with　a　mixture　of　amusement　and　scorn。　〃Never？〃
　〃I　thought　you'd　forgiven　me　for　missing　our　dinner　date　in　Istanbul。〃　The　voice　had　dropped　several　octaves。
　
　Kaela　gave　him　a　hard　look；　especially　the　broad　shoulders。　〃Good　Lord！　I　didn't　recognize　you。〃
　〃They　don't　call　me　the　Man　of　a　Thousand　Faces　for　nothing；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　devilish　smile；　He　spread　his　arms　wide；　〃Is　this　what　the　well…dressed　tabloid　TV　journalist　wears？〃
　
　Austin　wore　black　slacks；　matching　T…shirt　and　sports　jacket　and　seventies…era　Ray…Ban　sunglasses；　even　though　it　was　night；　and　scuffed　New　Balance　running　shoes；　He　wore　a　gold　neck　chain；　and　his　silvery…gray　hair　was　hidden　under　a　dark　brown　wig。
　
　〃You