cc.fireice-第87部分

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es　of　Zavala's　head　and　the　breeze　created　by　its　passing　ruffled　his　hair。　A　heavy　object　plunged　from　above　and　crashed　to　the　deck　with　a　thud。　Zavala　blinked　the　light　spots　out　of　his　eyes　and　stared　at　the　Cossack　spread…eagled　on　the　deck。　A　saber　lay　a　few　feet　from　the　man's　outstretched　hand。
　
　〃Sorry；　Joe；〃　Austin　said。　〃That　guy　was　about　to　cut　you　down　to　size。〃
　
　Zavala　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　on　the　side　the　bullet　had　passed。　〃That's　okay。　I　always　wanted　to　part　my　hair　on　this　side。〃
　〃There's　nothing　we　can　do　about　the　bombs；〃　Austin　said　somberly。　〃But　we　can　deal　with　the　murdering　scum　who　launched　them。〃
　
　Austin　took　the　lead；　and　they　climbed　higher　until　they　were　under　the　wings　that　extended　out　from　either　side　of　the　wheelhouse。　They　split　up；　with　each　man　taking　a　wing。　Austin　sprinted　up　the　stairs。　With　his　back　to　the　bulkhead；　he　edged　up　to　the　open　door　and　peered　around　the　corner。
　
　The　spacious　wheelhouse　was　lit　by　red　night…lights　that　washed　the　interior　in　their　crimson　glow。
　
　The　wheelhouse　seemed　deserted；　except　for　the　solitary　figure　of　a　man　who　stood　in　front　of　a　large　puter　monitor；　his　back　to　Austin；　apparently　staring　at　the　screen。　Austin　whispered　into　his　radio；　instructing　Zavala　to　keep　watch　while　he　investigated。　Then　he　stepped　inside。
　
　Razov's　wolfhounds　must　have　smelled　him。　They　rushed　out　of　nowhere　in　a　flurry　of　clicking　claws　and　wagging　tails　and　pounced　on　Austin。　He　pushed　them　down　with　his　free　hand；　but　the　dogs　had　spoiled　all　hopes　of　a　silent　entry。　Razov　turned　and　frowned　at　the　dogs'　attention　to　Austin。　He　gave　a　sharp　mand　that　brought　the　dogs　whimpering　back　to　his　side　with　their　heads　low　and　tails　between　their　legs。　His　thin　lips　widened　in　an　evil　smile。
　
　〃I've　been　expecting　you；　Mr。　Austin。　My　men　told　me　that　you　and　your　friends　were　aboard。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。　Pity　that　you　had　to　depart　so　abruptly　on　your　last　visit。〃
　〃You　might　change　your　mind　when　we　blow　your　operation　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃It's　a　little　late　for　that；〃　Razov　said。　He　pointed　toward　die　monitor。　The　screen　was　subdivided　into　three　vertical　segments。　On　each　section；　a　blip　was　rapidly　descending　toward　a　wavy　line　at　the　bottom。
　
　〃I　know　you've　launched　the　bombs。〃
　
　〃Then　you　know　there's　nothing　you　can　do。　When　the　missiles　hit　bottom；　the　thrusters　will　drive　them　into　the　seafloor；　where　they　will　explode；　releasing　the　methane　hydrate；　collapsing　the　shelf　and　triggering　tsunamis　that　will　destroy　three　of　your　major　coastal　cities。〃
　
　'〃To　say　nothing　of　launching　your　mad　scheme　to　trigger　global　warming。〃
　
　Razov　looked　startled；　then　he　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　should　have　known　you　would　figure　out　my　ultimate　goal。　No　matter。　Yes；　Siberia　will　bee　the　breadbasket　of　the　world；　and　your　country　will　be　so　busy　licking　its　wounds　and　trying　to　feed　itself　that　you　will　no　longer　be　able　to　mind　Russia's　business。　Maybe　we　might　sell　you　Siberian　wheat；　if　you　behave。〃
　〃Would　lrini　have　agreed　with　your　insane　plot？〃
　
　
　The　smile　disappeared。　〃You're　not　fit　to　speak　her　name。〃
　〃Maybe　not。〃　Austin　pointed　the　Bowen　at　Razov's　heart。　〃But　I　can　send　you　to　join　her。〃
　
　Razov　spat　out　a　mand。　The　curtain　that　divided　the　main　section　of　the　wheelhouse　from　the　chart　room　parted；　and　two　men　came　out；　a　bearded　Cossack　and　Pulaski；　who　had　hijacked　the　NR…1。　Machine　pistols　at　the　ready；　they　moved　around　behind　Austin。　Then　the　curtain　parted　again。　A　tall　man　dressed　in　a　long　black　robe　emerged。　He　gazed　at　Austin　with　deep…set　eyes　and　licked　his　lips；　as　if　he　were　about　to　feast。　He　said　something　in　Russian；　his　voice　was　deep　and　sonorous；　as　if　it　were　issuing　from　a　tomb。
　
　A　chill　danced　along　Austin's　spine；　but　he　kept　his　gun　leveled　at　Razov。
　
　Razov　seemed　amused　at　Austin's　reaction。　〃I'd　like　you　to　meet　Boris；　my　associate　and　closest　advisor。〃　The　monk　grinned　at　the　mention　of　his　name　and　spoke　in　Russian。　Razov　translated。　〃Boris　says　he's　sorry　he　didn't　meet　you　when　he　boarded　the　NUMA　ship。〃
　〃You　don't　know　how　sorry　I　am；〃　Austin　said。　〃He　wouldn't　be　standing　here　now。〃
　〃Bravo！　A　fine　attempt　at　bluff。　Put　the　gun　down；　Mr。　Austin。　As　we　speak；　your　panions　are　being　eradicated　by　my　men。〃
　
　Austin　had　no　intention　of　relinquishing　his　gun。　If　he　had　to；　he'd　go　down　in　a　hail　of　machine　gun　fire　and　take　Razov　and　Boris　with　him。　He　wondered　where　Zavala　was。　While　he　pondered　his　next　move；　he　heard　Yaeger's　voice　in　his　earpiece。
　
　〃Kurt；　can　you　hear　me？　There's　still　a　chance。　I've　been　working　on　the　code；　the　section　I　couldn't　figure　out。　It's　about　the　bombs。　They　won't　explode　until　they're　activated。　Can　you　hear　me？〃
　
　Still　keeping　the　Bowen　trained　on　Razov；　Austin　glanced　at　the　monitor。　The　blips　had　e　to　rest　on　the　ocean　bottom。　Razov　saw　where　he　was　looking。　〃The　deed　It　is　done；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃Not　quite；〃　Austin　said。　〃The　bombs　are　harmless　unless　they're　activated。〃
　
　Razov's　face　betrayed　his　surprise；　but　he　recovered　quickly。　His　features　contorted　in　a　mask　of　rage。　〃True　…　Too　bad　you　will　have　the　privilege　of　witnessing　the　activation。　Too　bad　you're　about　to　die　knowing　that　your　feeble　attempts　to　stop　my　grand　scheme　have　failed。〃
　
　Razov　gave　an　almost　imperceptible　nod　of　his　head。　In　response；　Boris　stepped　over　to　a　keyboard　next　to　the　monitor；　and　his　long　fingers　reached　out　for　the　keys。　They　never　made　it。
　
　Austin　swung　his　revolver　away　from　Razov；　aimed　at　the　monk's　hand　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　The　effect　at　close　range　was　devastating。　The　hand　exploded　in　a　shower　of　bone　and　blood。　Boris　stared　down　in　disbelief　at　the　bloody　stump。　An　ordinary　mortal　would　have　crumpled　to　the　deck。　Instead；　Boris　let　out　a　feral　cry　of　rage　and　glared　at　Austin　with　hate　burning　in　his　eyes。　He　reached　under　his　tunic　with　his　left　hand　and　pulled　out　a　dagger。　Paying　no　heed　to　the　blood　flowing　from　his　mangled　hand；　he　went　for　Austin。
　
　The　other　men　cocked　their　machine　pistols　Boris　shouted　a　warning。　He　wanted　Austin　to　himself。
　
　Austin　couldn't　believe　the　man　was　still　standing。　He　raised　the　Bowen；　intending　to　finish　Boris　off　with　a　bullet　between　the　mad；　staring　eyes；　but　without　warning　his　arms　were　pinioned　by　his　sides。　Pulaski　had　grabbed　him　from　behind。
　
　Boris　was　so　close　Austin　could　smell　the　animal　odor　of　the　unwashed　body　and　the　foul　breath。　Boris　smiled；　showing　a　mouthful　of　rotting　teeth；　and　raised　his　knife　to　strike。　Forcefully；　Austin　ground　his　heel　into　Pulaski's　instep。
　
　Pulaski　grunted　with　pain　and　his　grip　loosened；　and　Austin　bent　his　knees　and　drove　his　elbow　into　the　man's　side。　Pulaski　let　go　pletely；　then　Austin　brought　the　long　barrel　of　his　revolver　up　so　it　was　mere　inches　from　the　Russian's　chest；　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　The　impact　of　the　heavy　bullet　hurled　Boris　back　and　he　slammed　into　the　bulkhead　and　fell　to　the　deck。
　
　Then　Pulaski　brought　the　butt　down　on　the　side　of　Austin's　head。　Austin　saw　every　star　in　the　galaxy　and　he　crashed　to　the　deck　and　blacked　out　for　a　second；　but　the　in。　tense　pain　kept　him　at　the　edge　of　consciousness。　Through　blurred　eyes；　he　saw　Razov　tapping　out　a　mand　on　the　blood…splattered　keyboard。　He　felt　the　recoil　of　the　gun　in　his　hand　and　blacked　out。
　
　Pulaski　bent　over　and　lowered　his　machine　pistol　to　Austin's　head　to　administer　the　coup　de　grace；　but　Zavala's　Heckler　and　Koch　stuttered　from　the　side　door。　Pulaski　went　down；　with　the　Cossack　right　behind　him。
　
　When　Austin　regained　consciousness；　Zavala　was　kneeling　by　his　side。　The　wolfhounds　had　cowered　in　a　corner　when　the　shooting　started。　Now　they　came　over　and　licked　Austin's　hand。
　
　〃Sorry　I　didn't　get　here　sooner。　I　had　to　take　care　of　a　couple　of　Razov's　goons。〃
　
　Austin　brushed　the　dogs　gently　aside。　〃Where's　Razov？〃　he　said；　looking　around。
　
　〃He　slipped　out　the　other　side　while　I　was　trading　gunfire　with　the　Cossack　guard。〃
　
　With　Zavala's　help；　Austin　got　to　his　feet。　He　glanced　at　the　bodies　of　the　dead　Cossack；　Pulaski　and　Boris；　th