cc.fireice-第16章

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　…9…
　THE　SPOTLIGHT　SNAPPED　off　and　a　portable　table　lamp　came　on；　illuminating　the　face　of　a　man　in　his　forties。　He　had　a　broad　forehead　and　high　cheekbones　and　would　have　been　handsome　if　not　for　the　massive　scar　defacing　his　right　cheek。
　
　〃Don't　be　alarmed；　Mr。　Austin；〃　Petrov　said。　〃I'm　not　the　Phantom　of　the　Opera。〃
　
　Austin's　mind　flashed　back　fifteen　years　to　the　Barents　Sea。　He　remembered　the　frigid　waters　penetrating　his　heated　dry　suit　as　he　activated　the　timer　on　two　hundred　pounds　of　explosives。　It　was　a　miracle　the　Russian　was　still　alive。
　
　〃Sorry　about　the　booby　trap；　Ivan。　Can't　say　I　didn't　warn　you　to　stay　clear。〃
　〃No　apology　necessary。　Simply　a　misfortune　of　war。〃　He　paused；　then　said；　〃I've　wondered　something　for　long　time。　Suppose　our　places　had　been　reversed。　Would　you　have　listened　to　a　warning　from　me？〃
　
　After　a　moment's　reflection；　Austin　said；　〃I　might　have　assumed；　like　you；　that　the　warning　was　a　diversion。　I'd　like　to　think　discretion　would　have　won　over　valor；　but　I　can't　say　for　sure。　It　was　a　long　time　ago。〃
　〃Yes；　it　was　a　very　long　time　ago。〃　Petrov's　lips　widened　in　a　sad　smile。　〃Obviously；　discretion　did　not　rule　over　my　youthful　impatience。　I　was　impetuous　in　those　days。　Don't　worry；　I　bear　you　no　animosity　for　the　fruits　of　my　own　foolishness。　I　would　have　killed　you　long　ago　if　I　thought　you　were　entirely　to　blame。　As　I　said；　c'est　la　guerre。　In　a　sense　you　are　as　disfigured　as　I　am；　only　you　can't　see　the　scars　that　cover　your　heart。　The　war　made　hard　men　out　of　both　of　us。〃
　〃I　recall　hearing　that　the　Cold　War　is　over。　I　have　a　suggestion。　Why　not　ask　your　friends　to　give　us　a　lift　to　the　bar　at　the　Palace　Hotel？　We　can　talk　about　old　times　over　a　drink。〃
　〃In　time；　Mr。　Austin。　In　time。　We　have　a　matter　of　grave　importance　to　discuss。〃　Petrov's　voice　had　gained　a　businesslike　edge；　and　his　eyes　drilled　into　Austin's　face。　〃I　would　like　to　know　what　you　were　doing　at　the　abandoned　Soviet　submarine　base　on　the　Black　Sea。〃
　〃Seems　I　was　naпve　to　think　our　brief　visit　went　unnoticed。〃
　〃Not　at　all。　It's　a　desolate　part　of　the　coast。　Under　normal　circumstances；　you　could　have　landed　a　division　of　Marines　without　detection。　We've　kept　the　area　under　surveillance　for　months；　but　we　were　caught　off　guard。　We　know　from　intercepted　radio　messages　that　you　landed　some　sort　of　air…　craft　and　that　the　NUMA　ship　came　in　to　pick　you　up。　Please　tell　me　what　you　were　doing　on　Russian　territory。　Take　your　time。　I'm　in　no　hurry。〃
　〃I'll　be　glad　to　fill　you　in。〃　Austin　squirmed　in　his　chair。　〃It　might　help　my　memory　if　I　weren't　sitting　on　my　wrists。　How　about　loosening　the　tape？〃
　
　Petrov　thought　briefly；　then　nodded。　〃I　consider　you　a　dangerous　man；　Mr。　Austin。　Please　don't　try　anything　foolish。〃
　
　Petrov　gave　a　sharp　order　in　Russian。　Someone　came　up　from　behind。　Austin　felt　a　cold　blade　against　his　wrists　and　the　tape　was　severed　in　a　single　swipe。
　
　〃Now　for　your　story；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　
　Austin　massaged　the　circulation　back　into　his　arms。　〃I　was　on　the　NUMA　survey　ship　Argo；　conducting　a　study　of　wave　action　in　the　Black　Sea。　Three　American　television　people　were　supposed　to　rendezvous　with　our　ship；　but　they　had　heard　about　the　old　sub　base　before　they　sailed　from　Istanbul；　and　decided　to　check　it　out　without　notifying　us　of　their　change　in　plans。　They　were　overdue　and　I　went　looking　for　them。　Some　men　on　shore　murdered　a　Turkish　fisherman　who　was　bringing　the　TV　people　to　shore；　and　attempted　to　kill　them；　too。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　these　killers。〃
　〃There　were　about　a　dozen　of　them；　on　horseback；　and　wearing　Cossack　uniforms。　They　even　carried　swords　and　old　rifles　…　really　old。〃
　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　
　Austin　laid　out　a　detailed　narrative　of　the　fight。　Petrov　listened　impassively；　although　from　his　experience　with　Austin's　resourcefulness；　he　was　not　surprised　at　the　way　the　battle　had　ended。
　
　〃An　ultralight；〃　Petrov　said；　with　a　chuckle。　〃An　ingenious　tactic　using　your　flare　gun。〃
　
　Austin　shrugged。　〃I　was　lucky。　They　were　using　antique　weapons。　Otherwise　my　story　would　not　have　a　happy　Hollywood　ending。〃
　〃You　couldn't　have　known　from　the　air　that　they　were　using　old　rifles。　I　assume　you　must　have　landed。〃
　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking。　Old　or　not；　those　rifles　made　a　sieve　out　of　my　plane's　wings。　I　crash…landed　on　the　beach。〃
　〃What　did　you　see　besides　the　weapons？　Every　detail；　please。〃
　〃We　found　the　body　of　one　of　the　attackers　behind　the　sand　dune。〃
　〃He　was　dressed　like　the　others？〃
　〃That's　right。　Fur　hat；　baggy　pants。　I　found　this　on　one　of　them。〃　He　reached　into　his　pocket　and　dug　out　the　emblem　he　had　taken　from　the　dead　Cossack's　hat。
　
　Petrov　studied　the　pin　without　expression　and　passed　it　to　one　of　his　men。　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。
　
　〃After　I　confirmed　that　the　TV　people　were　okay；　I　called　my　ship　in。　They　picked　us　up；　and　we　left　as　soon　as　we　were　able。〃
　〃We　found　no　evidence　of　a　body　or　weapons；〃　Petrov　said。
　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　to　the　body。　Maybe　his　friends　came　back　after　we　left；　and　tidied　up。　We　took　the　weapons　with　us。〃
　〃That's　larceny；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃I　prefer　to　call　it　spoils　of　war。〃
　
　Petrov　dismissed　Austin's　reply　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃No　matter。　What　of　this　television　crew？　Did　they　film　any　of　this？〃
　〃They　were　too　busy　running　for　their　lives。　They　filmed　the　body；　but　without　an　explanation　I　doubt　if　they　can　do　much　with　it。〃
　〃I　hope　for　their　sake　that　you　are　right。〃
　〃Let　me　ask　you　a　question　if　I　may；　Ivan。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　asking　the　questions。〃
　〃I'm　aware　of　that；　but　it's　the　least　you　can　do　in　return　for　the　beautiful　flowers　I　sent　you。〃
　〃I've　already　repaid　your　kind　gesture　with　one　of　my　own。　I　didn't　kill　you。　But　go　ahead。　I'll　allow　one　question。〃
　〃What　the　hell　is　this　all　about？〃
　
　A　slight　smile　tweaked　the　ends　of　Petrov's　lips；　and　he　picked　up　the　cigarette　pack　in　front　of　him。　Extracting　a　cigarette　with　great　care；　he　put　it　between　his　lips；　lit　the　end　and　blew　the　smoke　from　his　nostrils。　The　strong　tobacco　smell　filled　the　office　and　drove　out　the　musty　odor。
　

　〃What　do　you　know　about　the　current　political　situation　in　Russia？〃
　〃What　I　read　in　the　papers。　It's　no　secret　that　your　country　has　big　problems。　Your　economy　is　shaky；　organized　crime　and　corruption　are　worse　than　Chicago　under　Capone；　your　military　is　underpaid　and　unhappy；　your　health　care　system　is　a　mess　and　you've　got　independence　movements　and　civil　wars　nibbling　around　your　borders。　But　you've　got　an　educated　and　energetic　workforce　and　abundant　natural　resources。　If　you　don't　keep　shooting　yourself　in　the　foot；　you　may　e　out　okay；　but　it　will　take　time。〃
　〃A　reasonably　accurate　summary　of　a　plicated　scenario。　Ordinarily　I　would　say　you　are　right；　that　we　would　muddle　through。　Our　people　are　used　to　adversity。　Thrive　on　it；　in　fact。　But　there　are　forces　at　work　that　are　much　more　powerful　than　anything　we　have　talked　about。〃
　〃What　sort　of　forces？〃
　〃The　worst　kind。　Human　passions；　whipped　into　a　fiery　nationalism　by　the　winds　of　cynicism；　dismay　and　hopelessness。〃
　〃You've　had　nationalist　movements　before。〃
　〃True；　but　we've　managed　to　marginalize　them；　blackmail　the　proponents　or　demonize　them　as　eccentric　cranks　before　they　could　build　up　their　cause　and　bring　others　into　it。　This　is　different。　The　new　movement　has　sprung　whole　from　the　steppes　of　south　Russia　along　the　Black　Sea　where　the　neo…Cossacks　live。〃
　〃Cossacks？　Like　the　crew　I　met　the　other　day？〃
　〃That's　right。　The　Cossacks　were　originally　outlaws　and　fugitives；　nomads　who　drifted　into　south　Russia　and　the　Ukraine；　where　they　formed　a　loose　federation。　They　were　known　for　their　horsemanship；　a　skill　that　helped　Peter　the　Great　defeat　the　Ottoman　Turks。　In　time　they　evolved　into　a　military　class。　Cossacks　served　as　an　elite　cavalry　for　the　tsars；　who　used　them　to　terrorize　revolutionaries；　strikers　and　minority　groups。〃
　〃Then　came　the　Bolshevik　revolution；　the　tsar　fell　and　the　Cossacks　ended　up　driving　cabs　in　Paris；〃　Austin　observed。
　
　〃Not　all　were　so　lucky。　Some　joined　the　Bolsheviks；　others　became　staunch　defenders　of　the　last　of　Imperial　Russia；　even　after　the　tsar　and　his　family　were　assassinated。　Stalin　tried　to　neutralize　or　eliminate　them；　but　he　was　only　partially　successful。　To　this　day；　the　Cossacks　are　a　warrior　caste　who　believe　that　they　embody　the　glories　of　a　pure　Mother　Russia。　There　is　a　word　for　it。　Kazachestvo。　Cossackism。　The　idea　that　they　are　the　ones　chosen　by　a　Higher　Power　to　dominate　inferior　races。〃
　
　Austin　was　getting　restless。　〃The　Cossacks　aren't　the　first　to　think　they　were　chosen　to　set　the　rest　of　the　world　straight。　History　is　full　of　groups　that　have　e　and　gone；　leaving　a　high　body　count　behind　them。〃
　〃True。　The　difference　is　that　those　groups　are　chapters　in　a　history　book；　while　the　Cossacks　and　their　blind　faith　are　very　much　alive。〃　He　leaned　forward　onto　the　desk　and　leveled　his　gaze　at　Austin。　〃Russia　has　bee　a　violent　place；　and　violence　is　the　life's　blood　of　the　Cossack。　There　has　been　a　great　revival　of　Kazachestvo。　Neo…Cossacks　have　taken　over　parts　of　Russian　territory　around　the　Black　Sea。　They　ignore　the　Moscow　government；　knowing　that　it　is　weak　and　toothless。　They　have　formed　private　armies　and　hired　out　as　mercenaries。　Their　audacity　has　captured　the　loyalty　of　many　Russians　who　tired　quickly　of　capitalism　and　freedom。　Many　in　parliament　and　the　streets　yearn　for　a　reactionary　nationalism　that　would　restore　the　glories　of　Russia。　There　are　pure　Cossack　units　in　the　Russian　army　with　their　own　costumes　and　ranks。　They　have　declared　a　New　Russia　around　the　Black　Sea　and　are　expanding　into　other　areas；　seven　million　strong。　That　pin　you　found　is　the　emblem　of　their　movement。　It　shows　the　sun　in　a　new　dawn　for　Russia。〃
　〃They're　still　a　minority；　Ivan。　How　much　damage　can　I　they　do？〃
　〃The　Bolsheviks　were　only　a　minority　but　they　knew　what　was　in　the　Russian　heart；　that　the　soldiers　were　tired　of　I　war　and　the　peasants　wanted　land。〃
　〃The　Bolsheviks　had　Lenin。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　making　my　point；〃　Petrov　said；　with　a　humorless　smile。　〃Absolutely　correct。　The　revolution　would　have　been　nothing　if　not　for　a　determined　and　ruthless　leader　who　unified　the　country　and　squashed　opponents　under　his　thumb。〃　The　smile　vanished。　〃The　Cossacks　have　a　similar　leader。　His　name　is　Mikhail　Razov。　He　is　an　immensely　wealthy　shipping　and　mining　magnate　who　owns　a　cartel　named　Ataman　Industries。　He　is　dedicated　to　the　resurrection　of　Great　Russia。　He　endorses　the　Cossack　ideals　of　masculinity　and　brute　force　He　has　said　the　best　way　to　wipe　out　corruption　is　with　a　machine　gun。　He　is　totally　paranoid；　believes　that　the　rest　of　the　world　is　out　to　get　him。〃
　〃Money　and　power　are　a　potent　formula。〃
　〃It　goes　far　beyond　that。〃　Petrov　lit　up　another　cigarette。　Austin　was　surprised　to　see　that　the　match　hand　was　trembling。　〃He　is　advised　by　a　monk　named　Boris；　a　man　of　great　animal　magnetism　with　a　reputation　for　prophecy。　He　exerts　an　evil　influence　over　Razov；　encouraging　his　claim　that　he　is　a　true　descendant　of　the　tsar；　going　back　to　Peter　the　Great。〃
　〃I　was　under　the　impression　that　Tsar　Nich