cc.fireice-第88部分

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　With　Zavala's　help；　Austin　got　to　his　feet。　He　glanced　at　the　bodies　of　the　dead　Cossack；　Pulaski　and　Boris；　then　went　over　to　the　puter。　The　screen　was　a　pile　of　splintered　glass。　〃The　bombs　had　to　be　activated　from　here。　Razov　was　typing　out　the　mand　to　trigger　the　explosions。　I　got　the　control　puter　with　a　lucky　shot。〃
　
　Zavala　smiled。　〃I　hope　he's　got　a　thirty…day　warranty。〃
　
　Austin　got　on　the　radio　to　Petrov。　〃Ivan；　are　you　there？〃
　〃Yes；　we're　here。　Any　problems？〃
　〃A　few；　but　we　took　care　of　them。　How　are　you　doing？〃
　〃They　made　the　mistake　of　trying　to　outflank　us。　We　were　waiting　for　them。　It　was　what　you　Americans　call　a　turkey　shoot。　I　lost　a　few　men；　but　it's　now　only　a　question　of　mopping　up。〃
　〃Good　work。　Boris　is　dead。　We　stopped　the　bombs　from　being　activated。　Razov　is　on　the　run。　Keep　an　eye　out　for　him。〃
　〃Yes　…　wait。　There's　a　helicopter　taking　off。〃
　
　Austin　could　hear　the　clatter　of　rotors　above　the　sporadic　gunfire。　He　stepped　out　onto　the　bridge　wing　in　time　to　see　a　black　helicopter　soar　over　the　ship。　He　raised　his　pistol；　but　the　masts　interfered　with　his　aim。　Within　seconds；　the　helicopter　had　merged　with　the　darkness。
　
　Something　nuzzled　the　back　of　Austin's　knees。　The　wolfhounds　wanted　attention　and　food；　not　necessarily　in　that　order。　He　holstered　his　gun　and　scratched　their　heads。　With　the　two　white　hounds　trailing　behind　them；　he　and　Zavala　made　their　way　down　to　the　main　deck　to　rendezvous　with　Petrov　and　his　men。　Maybe　he　could　find　a　plate　of　sausages　for　his　new　pals。
　
　…37…
　ENGLAND
　
　THIRTY…SIX　HOURS　LATER；　Lord　Dodson　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　leather　chair；　blinked　the　sleep　out　of　his　eyes　and　looked　around　at　the　familiar　dark　paneling　of　his　study。　He　had　dozed　off　reading　a　new　biography　of　Lord　Nelson。　He　muttered　to　himself。　Sign　of　old　age。　Nelson's　life　was　anything　but　boring。
　
　A　noise　had　jarred　him　from　his　slumber；　he　was　sure　of　it。　All　was　quiet　now。　Jenna；　his　housekeeper；　had　left　a　short　while　before。　The　house　had　no　ghosts　that　he　knew　of；　although　it　sometimes　creaked　and　mumbled。　He　reached　over　and　plucked　his　cold　pipe　from　the　ashtray　and　considered　lighting　it。　Curiosity　got　the　best　of　him。　He　replaced　the　pipe　and　put　his　book　aside；　rose　from　his　chair；　unlatched　the　front　door　and　stepped　out　into　the　soft　darkness。
　
　Great　luminous　clouds　were　moving　across　the　moon　and　stars　peeked　out　here　and　there。　There　was　no　wind。　With　his　hand；　he　stirred　the　wind　chimes　outside　the　door。　No；　he　thought；　the　tinkling　sound　they　made　wasn't　what　had　awakened　him。　He　went　back　into　the　house。　As　he　shut　the　door；　he　froze　at　the　ragged　cracking　noise　from　the　kitchen。
　
　Had　Jenna　returned　without　his　knowledge？　Impossible。　She　was　going　to　tend　to　a　sick　sister；　and　her　family　took　precedence　over　work。
　
　Dodson　quietly　went　back　into　the　study　and　removed　the　hunting　rifle　from　above　the　fireplace。　With　trembling　hands；　he　rummaged　through　a　desk　drawer　until　he　found　a　box　of　shells。　He　loaded　the　rifle　and　made　his　way　to　the　kitchen。
　
　The　light　had　been　left　on。　He　stepped　inside；　and　his　eyes　went　immediately　to　the　broken　window　pane　in　the　back　door。　The　floor　was　littered　with　shards　of　glass。　The　sharp　sound　could　have　been　someone　walking　on　a　broken　piece　of　window。　Burglars。　Damned　cheeky　breaking　into　a　house　with　somebody　home。　Dodson　walked　over　to　the　door　for　a　closer　look。　As　he　was　bending　over　to　examine　the　damage；　he　caught　the　reflection　of　movement　in　an　unbroken　pane。
　
　He　whirled　around。　A　man　had　stepped　out　of　the　pantry；　pistol　in　hand。
　
　〃Good　evening；　Lord　Dodson；〃　the　man　said。　〃Please　give　me　your　rifle。〃
　
　Dodson　was　cursing　himself　for　not　checking　the　pantry　first。　He　lowered　the　rifle　and　handed　it　over。　〃Who　in　the　blazes　are　you　and　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃My　name　is　Razov。　I　am　the　rightful　owner　of　a　valuable　object　that　you　have　in　your　possession。〃
　〃Then　you've　made　a　big　mistake。　Everything　in　this　house　is　mine。〃
　
　The　man's　lips　widened　in　a　sardonic　smile。　〃Everything？〃
　
　Dodson　hesitated。　〃Yes。〃
　
　The　man　took　a　step　closer。　〃e；　Lord　Dodson。　It's　not　dignified　for　a　proper　English　gentleman　to　be　caught　in　a　lie。〃
　〃You'd　better　leave。　I've　called　the　police。〃
　〃Tut…tut。　Another　lie。　I　cut　your　telephone　line　after　I　had　a　little　chat　with　your　housekeeper。〃
　〃Jenna？　Where　is　she？〃
　〃In　a　safe　place。　For　now。　But　if　you　don't　start　telling　the　truth；　I　will　have　to　kill　her。〃
　
　Dodson　had　no　doubt　the　man　meant　what　he　said。　〃All　right。　What　is　it　that　you　want？〃
　〃I　think　you　know。　The　crown　of　Ivan　the　Terrible。〃
　

　〃What　makes　you　think　I　have　this…what　is　it？　Some　sort　of　Russian　crown；　you　say？〃
　〃Don't　try　my　patience　with　your　futile　bluff。　When　I　failed　to　find　the　crown　with　the　other　tsarist　treasure　on　the　Odessa　Star；　I　did　what　any　experienced　hunter　does。　I　backtracked。　The　crown　was　with　the　tsar's　family　until　they　arrived　in　Odessa。　But　the　tsarina　had　a　premonition　that　she　and　her　family　would　never　plete　their　journey。　She　wanted　to　make　sure　that　even　if　the　family　died；　the　crown　would　find　its　way　to　a　surviving　Romanov　who　would　use　it　to　reclaim　the　Russian　throne。　She　entrusted　the　crown　to　an　English　agent。〃
　〃That　would　have　been　long　before　my　time。〃
　〃Of　course；　but　we　both　know　that　the　agent　was　in　the　employ　of　your　grandfather。〃
　
　Dodson　started　to　protest；　but　he　could　see　it　was　indeed　futile。　This　man　knew　everything。　〃The　crown　is　nothing　to　me。　If　I　give　it　to　you；　I　must　have　your　word　that　you　will　let　my　housekeeper　go。　She　has　no　knowledge　of　any　of　this。〃
　
　〃I　have　no　use　for　the　old　woman。　Take　me　to　the　crown。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Dodson　said。　〃Follow　me。〃
　
　Dodson　led　the　way　to　a　hallway　and　opened　the　doors　of　a　walk…in　closet。　He　cleared　out　the　winter　jackets　and　other　clothing　hanging　in　the　closet；　then　he　pushed　boots　and　shoes　aside　and　stepped　in。　He　lifted　a　section　of　floor　and　pressed　a　button　set　under　the　wood。　The　back　wall　of　the　closet　slid　noiselessly　aside。　Dodson　turned　on　a　light；　and　with　Razov　close　behind；　he　descended　a　winding　staircase　made　of　stone　blocks。　They　were　in　a　stone…walled　chamber　about　fifteen　feet　square。　Rusty　iron　brackets　stuck　out　of　the　walls。
　
　〃This　is　the　original　Roman　cellar。　They　used　it　to　store　wine　and　vegetables。〃
　〃Spare　me　the　history　lesson；　Lord　Dodson。　The　crown。〃　Dodson　nodded　and　went　over　to　a　pair　of　brackets　set　in　the　wall。　He　twisted　them　both　clockwise。　〃This　is　the　unlocking　mechanism。〃　He　ran　his　hands　down　the　stones　until　his　fingers　found　a　depression。　Then　he　pulled　and　a　section　of　wall；　actually　an　iron　door　faced　with　inch…thick　stones；　creaked　open。　Dodson　stepped　back。　〃There's　your　crown。　Exactly　where　my　grandfather　put　it　nearly　a　hundred　years　ago。〃
　
　The　crown　sat　on　a　pedestal　that　was　covered　with　purple　velvet。
　
　〃Turn　around　and　put　your　hands　behind　your　back；〃　Razov　ordered。
　
　He　bound　Dodson's　hands　and　ankles　with　duct　tape　and　pushed　the　Englishman　down　on　the　floor　so　that　he　sat　with　his　back　to　a　wall。　Then　Razov　tucked　his　pistol　in　his　belt　and　reached　inside　for　the　crown。　It　was　heavier　than　he　thought　and　he　grunted　with　exertion　as　he　hugged　it　to　his　chest。
　
　The　sparkle　of　the　diamonds；　rubies　and　emeralds　covering　the　domed　crown　was　matched　by　the　glitter　in　Razov's　greedy　eyes。
　
　〃Beautiful；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　always　thought　it　was　a　bit　gaudy　myself；〃　Dodson　said。
　
　〃Englishmen；〃　Razov　said　with　contempt。　〃You're　like　your　grandfather；　a　fool。　Neither　one　of　you　could　appreciate　the　power　you　held　in　your　hands。〃
　〃On　the　contrary。　My　grandfather　knew　that　with　the　tsar's　family　dead；　the　appearance　of　the　crown　would　inflame　passions　and　bring　out　any　number　of　claimants；　legitimate　and　otherwise。〃　He　looked　pointedly　at　Razov。　〃Other　countries　would　be　drawn　in。　There　would　be　another　world　war。〃
　〃Instead；　we　got　more　than　half　a　century　of　munism。〃
　〃It　would　have　e　in　time；　anyway。　The　tsarist　regime　would　have　withered　from　corruption。〃
　
　Razov　laughed　and　placed　the　crown　on　h