cussler.blueandgold-第78部分

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ith　electricity；　pushing　it　through　membranes　to　screen　out　the　salt　the　way　a　child　sifts　through　shells　at　the　beach。　I　reasoned　that　it　might　be　easier　in　some　respects　to　change　the　molecular　structure　of　the　chemicals　in　salt　water　at　an　atomic　and　subatomic　level。〃
　
　The　smooth…faced　German　banker　said；　〃Your　process　sounds　somewhat　like　alchemy；　Dr。　Cabral。〃
　
　〃That's　a　very　appropriate　analogy。　Although　alchemy　never　achieved　its　goal；　it　set　the　stage　for　the　science　of　chemistry。　Like　the　alchemists；　I；　too；　was　trying　to　transform　a　base　metal　into　gold。　In　my　case　it　was　blue　gold。　Water。　More　precious　than　any　mineral　on　earth。　I　needed　a　sorcerer's　stone　that　would　make　that　possible。〃　She　turned　to　the　anasazium　core。　〃Contained　here　is　the　catalyst　that　makes　the　process　work。　The　salted　water　is　brought　into　contact　with　this　material　which　purifies　the　water。〃
　
　〃When　will　we　get　a　demonstration　of　this　miracle？〃　said　Lord　Grimley。

　
　〃If　you　would　step　this　way；〃　she　said；　leading　the　way　to　the　console。　Her　hands　danced　over　the　keyboard。　There　was　a　muffled　growl　of　pumps　and　the　sound　of　rushing　water。　〃That's　the　salt　water　ing　through　the　main　over　your　heads。　It　is　flowing　into　the　container。　It　takes　a　few　minutes。〃　
　
　Francesca　herded　the　group　to　the　other　side　of　the　catalytic　container。　She　said　nothing　for　several　moments　as　the　suspense　built。　Then　she　checked　a　gauge　and　pointed　to　another　main。　〃This　is　the　outtake　pipe　that　carries　the　fresh　water。　You　can　feel　the　heat　produced　during　the　transformation。〃
　
　The　American　said；　〃As　I　understand　it；　that　heat　can　be　used　to　produce　energy。〃
　
　〃That's　correct。　Right　now　the　water　is　being　pumped　into　the　cold　waters　of　the　lake　where　the　heat　is　dissipated；　but　with　a　few　adjustments　this　facility　could　be　modified　so　the　heat　es　back　as　power　to　run　the　plant。　There　would　even　be　surplus　energy　that　could　be　exported。〃
　
　There　was　a　murmur　from　the　board。　Francesca　could　almost　feel　the　aura　of　greed　that　emanated　from　the　men　as　they　tallied　the　billions　to　be　made；　aside　from　the　water；　by　producing　cheap　energy。
　
　She　went　over　to　a　vertical　set　of　coils　that　hung　down　from　the　freshwater　pipe。　At　the　base　of　the　coil　was　a　tap　and　beside　it　a　stack　of　paper　cups。　〃This　is　a　cooling　unit　that　removes　heat　from　the　water；〃　she　explained。　Turning　to　a　technician；　she　said；　〃What　has　been　the　quality　of　the　water　produced　by　the　process　before　today？〃
　
　〃Brackish　at　the　very　best；〃　the　technician　said。
　
　Francesca　opened　the　tap　and　filled　one　of　the　cups。　She　held　the　cup　to　the　light　like　a　wine　connoisseur；　took　a　sip；　then　downed　the　contents。　〃A　little　warm　still；　but　quite　parable　to　any　spring　water　I've　had。〃
　
　Brynhild　stepped　forward；　poured　herself　water；　and　drank　it。
　
　〃Nectar　of　the　gods；〃　she　said　triumphantly。
　
　The　directors　pushed　their　way　to　the　tap　like　thirst…crazed　steers。　There　were　cries　of　amazement　with　each　cup　sampled。　Before　long　everyone　was　talking　at　once。　While　the　directors　gathered　around　the　tap　as　if　it　were　the　fountain　of　youth；　Brynhild　guided　Francesca　away　from　the　babble　of　voices。
　
　〃Congratulations；　Dr。　Cabral。　It　seems　that　the　process　is　a　success。〃　
　〃I　knew　that　ten　years　ago；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　Brynhild's　thoughts　were　on　the　future；　not　the　past。　〃You've　instructed　my　technicians　so　they　can　make　the　process　work？〃
　
　〃Yes。　I　had　to　make　only　a　few　adjustments　in　the　procedure。　You　were　quite　close　to　perfecting　the　process；　you　know。〃
　
　〃Then　we　would　have　developed　it　in　time？〃
　
　Francesca　thought　about　it　a　moment。　〃Probably　not。　Your　process　and　mine　were　like　parallel　lines。　No　matter　how　close　they　e　they　never　touch。　Now　that　I　have　done　what　I　said　I　would；　it　is　time　for　you　to　fulfill　your　side　of　the　bargain。〃
　
　〃Ah；　yes；　the　bargain。〃　Brynhild　took　the　radio　from　her　belt　and　switched　it　on。　She　smiled；　her　cold　blue　eyes　boring　into　Francesca's；　and　said；　〃Tell　the　Kradzik　brothers　that　the　NUMA　woman　is　all　theirs。〃
　
　〃Wait！〃　Francesca　grabbed　Brynhild's　muscular　arm。　〃You　promised…〃
　
　Brynhild　easily　shook　the　smaller　woman　off。　〃I　also　re　minded　you　that　I　could　not　be　trusted。　Now　that　you　have　demonstrated　your　process；　your　friend　is　of　no　use　to　me。〃　She　brought　the　phone　up　to　her　ear　again。　Her　smile　suddenly　vanished；　replaced　by　a　frown。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　snapped。　Storm　clouds　gathered　on　her　wide　brow。　〃How　long　ago？〃
　
　She　tucked　the　radio　in　her　belt。　〃I'11　deal　with　you　later；〃　she　promised　Francesca。　With　a　military　heel　spin　she　marched　for　the　staff　elevator。
　
　Francesca　was　frozen　in　shock。　Then；　as　Brynhild's　treachery　sank　in；　the　fiery　anger　that　had　sustained　her　for　ten　years　was　rekindled。　If　Gamay　were　dead；　it　would　only　make　her　decision　easier　to　live　with。　With　her　jaw　set　in　renewed　determination；　she　headed　back　into　the　labyrinth　of　pipes。
　
　Chapter　39
　Gamay　was　almost　relieved　when　the　pair　of　husky　guards　came　to　take　her　away。　She　was　bored　to　pieces；　having　concluded　that　the　cell　was　escape…proof　un　less　she　could　figure　a　way　to　blow　the　door　off　its　hinges。　She　re　solved　to　talk　to　someone　at　NUMA　about　ing　up　with　James　Bond　gadgets。　But　that　would　have　to　wait。　Her　only　option　now　was　to　watch　for　a　chance　to　run　for　it　once　she　was　out　of　the　cell。
　
　Her　heart　sank　as　the　guards　ushered　her　through　a　maze　of　corridors。　She　would　bee　lost　before　she　went　ten　feet。　They　stopped　in　front　of　a　pair　of　heavy　bronze　doors　at　least　eight　feet　high。　The　surface　of　the　doors　was　cast　with　mythological　scenes。　The　theme　was　heavy　on　skulls；　but　for　variety　there　were　giants　and　dwarfs；　strange　monsters；　fierce　horses；　twisted　trees；　runes；　and　lightning　around　a　central　motif；　a　sleek　double…ended　sailing　ship。
　
　One　guard　pressed　a　button　on　the　wall；　and　the　doors　swung　in　noiselessly。　The　other　guard　prodded　her　into　the　room　with　his　gun。
　
　〃This　isn't　our　idea；〃　he　said　in　what　sounded　like　an　apology。　The　doors　clicked　shut；　and　she　looked　around　to　get　her　bearings。　〃Charming；〃　she　murmured　under　her　breath。
　
　She　was　in　an　enormous　chamber　bigger　than　a　football　field。　She　could　trace　its　outline　by　the　torches　lining　the　walls　of　the　cavernous　space。　In　the　center　of　the　room；　illuminated　by　four　tall　braziers；　was　a　ship；　its　one　square　sail　unfurled；　that　looked　like　the　twin　of　the　vessel　carved　on　the　doors。
　
　Before　being　a　marine　biologist　Gamay　had　been　a　nautical　archaeologist；　and　she　knew　immediately　that　it　was　a　Viking　ship　or　a　very　good　replica　of　one。　She　wondered　if　she　were　in　a　museum。　No；　she　decided；　it　was　more　like　an　elaborate　crypt。　Maybe　the　ship　served　as　a　sepulchre　as　was　the　custom　of　the　Norsemen。　Partly　out　of　curiosity；　but　mostly　because　there　was　no　alternative；　she　began　to　walk　toward　the　vessel。
　
　As　she　made　her　lonely　way　across　the　great　hall　two　pairs　of　red…rimmed　eyes　observed　her　progress　from　the　shadows。　The　same　eyes　had　hungrily　watched　her　earlier　on　a　TV　monitor　as　she　languished　in　her　cell。　The　Kradzik　twins　had　spent　hours　in　front　of　the　screen。　They　had　taken　in　her　every　physical　feature；　from　the　distinctive　dark　red　hair　to　the　long；　slim　legs。　There　was　nothing　sexual　in　their　voyeurism；　that　would　have　been　too　natural。　Their　interest　was　purely　in　inflicting　pain。　They　were　like　a　dog　trained　to　balance　a　treat　on　its　nose　until　the　owner　gives　the　okay　to　swallow。　With　Gamay　enticingly　within　their　reach；　their　sadistic　urges　surfaced。　Gamay　and　the　other　woman　had　been　promised　to　them。　With　Brynhild　busy　in　the　lab；　they　decided　to　claim　their　toy。
　
　They　ordered　Gamay　brought　to　the　Great　Hall。　The　guards　obeyed　with　some　reluctance。　The　small　army　that　protected　Gogstad　and　occasionally　projected　its　reach；　as　in　Alaska；　were　all　ex…military　men；　plucked　from　elite　services　around　the　world。　In　their　ranks　were　former　French　Legionnaires；　U。S。　Special　Forces；　SEALs；　Red　Army　infantry；　British　paratroopers；　and　other　assorted　mercenaries。　It　was　jokingly　said　in　their　barracks　that　a　dishonorable　discharge　was　a　min