cc.fireice-第25章

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　out；　roaring　in　a　voice　that　practically　shook　the　cones　off　the　trees。
　
　〃Trout！　I　can't　believe　you're　here。〃　He　wrapped　Paul　in　a　bear　hug。　〃How　good　to　see　you；　my　friend！〃　He　pounded　Trout　on　the　back。
　
　〃Go…od　to　see　you…oo；　Vlad；〃　Trout　replied；　in　between　the　breath…stealing　thumps。　〃Thi…is　is　my　wife；　Gamay…may。　Gamay；　meet　Professor　Vladimir　Orlov。〃
　
　Orlov　extended　a　ham…sized　hand　and　attempted　to　click　the　heels　of　his　rubber　sandals　together。　〃A　pleasure　to　meet　you；　Gamay。　Your　husband　often　talked　about　his　brilliant　and　lovely　wife　as　we　drank　beer　at　the　Captain　Kidd。〃
　〃No　less　than　he　talked　about　you；　Professor　Orlov。　Paul　has　often　said　how　much　he　enjoyed　your　time　together　at　Woods　Hole。〃
　〃We　have　many　fond　memories；　your　husband　and　I。〃　He　turned　to　Paul。　〃She　is　as　beautiful　and　charming　as　I　imagined。　You　are　a　lucky　man。〃
　〃Thank　you。　And　you　will　be　pleased　to　know　that　your　barstool　awaits　your　return。〃
　〃Then　it　is　only　a　question　of　when。　Tell　me　how　things　are　at　the　Oceanographic？〃
　〃I　was　there　only　a　few　days　ago。　I　try　to　get　back　home　in　between　NUMA　assignments。　Woods　Hole　hasn't　changed　since　the　year　you　spent　there。〃
　〃I　envy　you。　As　a　pauper　nation；　Russia　is　stingy　with　money　for　pure　scientific　research。　Even　a　well…thought…of　institution　such　as　Rostov　State　University　must　beg　for　funding。　We're　fortunate　that　the　government　allows　the　university　to　use　this　place　as　a　fieldwork　center。〃　Gamay　looked　around　at　the　rustic　cottages　and　the　water　sparkling　through　the　trees。　〃It's　wonderful！　Reminds　me　of　the　old　cottage　colonies　on　the　Great　Lakes　where　I　grew　up。〃
　〃The　Soviet　navy　used　it　as　a　getaway　for　middle…level　officers　and　their　wives。　There's　a　tennis　court；　but　the　macadam　looks　like　the　face　of　the　moon。　We've　brought　in　students　and　they　have　done　a　good　job　fixing　up　the　chalets。　It's　perfect　for　seminars　or　retreats　like　this　one　where　we　academics　simply　e　to　think。〃　He　grabbed　the　duffel　bags。　〃e；　I'll　show　you　where　you're　staying。〃　Orlov　led　the　way　along　a　soft　pine…needle　path　to　a　chalet　that　gleamed　with　new　green…and…white　trim。　He　climbed　onto　the　porch；　dropped　the　bags　and　held　the　door　open　for　the　Trouts。　The　one…room　cottage　had　up…and…down　bunks　for　four　people；　a　rough…hewn　table　in　the　middle；　a　sink　with　a　pump　and　a　gas　camp　stove　on　the　other　side。　Orlov　went　to　the　sink　and　pumped　the　handle。
　
　〃The　water　is　pure　and　cold。　Be　sure　to　save　some　in　this　coffee　can　to　prime　the　pump。　There's　a　shower　outside。　The　WC　is　just　behind　the　house。　It's　a　bit　primitive；　I'm　afraid。〃
　
　Gamay　looked　around　the　room。　〃Looks　quite　cozy　to　me。〃
　
　Paul　said；　〃We　invited　ourselves；　Professor。　We　should　be　grateful　we're　not　sleeping　in　a　tent。〃
　〃Nonsense！　I'll　have　no　more　such　talk；　You'll　probably　want　to　unpack　and　get　into　something　more　fortable；〃　The　professor　was　wearing　baggy　black　shorts　and　a　red　tank　top。　〃As　you　see；　we're　very　informal；　When　you're　ready；　follow　the　path　back　to　the　main　clearing。　I'll　be　waiting　with　some　refreshment。〃
　
　After　Orlov　left；　they　filled　the　sink　and　washed　up。　Gamay　traded　her　stylish　cotton　slacks　and　sweater　for　blue　shorts　and　a　T…shirt　from　the　Scripps　Oceanographic　Institute；　where　she'd　first　met　Paul；　who　was　studying　there；　Paul　was　wearing　an　L。L。　Bean　nonwrinkle　navy　blazer　and　tan　slacks　and　one　of　the　wildly　colored　bow　ties　he　favored。　He　put　on　new　tan　shorts；　navy　polo　shirt　and　Teva　sandals；　Then　they　strolled　back　through　the　pines　to　the　main　clearing。
　
　Orlov　sat　at　a　picnic　table　in　the　shade　of　an　arbor。　He　was　talking　to　a　middle…aged　couple　he　introduced　as　Natasha　and　Leo　Arbikov；　both　physicists。　They　spoke　little　English　but　municated　with　sunny　smiles。　Orlov　said　that　there　were　a　number　of　other　academicians　and　students　from　various　fields　scattered　about　in　the　woods　working　on　experiments　or　simply　reading。　From　an　oversized　cooler；　he　produced　plastic　containers　of　fresh　fruit；　caviar；　smoked　fish；　cold　borscht；　a　jug　of　water　and　a　bottle　of　vodka。　The　Trouts　sampled　the　food；　but　drank　water；　putting　off　the　hard　stuff　until　later。　Orlov　had　no　such　hesitation；　drinking　his　vodka　with　apparently　little　effect。
　
　〃It　helps　my　concentration；〃　he　said　with　good　cheer；　washing　down　a　mouthful　of　caviar。　He　gave　Trout　another　teeth…rattling　pound　on　the　back。　〃This　is　so　incredible　to　see　you；　my　friend；　I'm　glad　you　called　to　say　you　would　be　in　the　neighborhood。〃
　〃It's　wonderful　to　see　you　again；　Vlad；　although　it　was　a　little　difficult　getting　through　to　you。〃
　〃We're　connected　to　the　outside　by　a　single　telephone。　That's　the　beauty　of　this　place。　It's　the　Lost　World。　Only　we　are　the　dinosaurs。〃　He　roared　with　laughter　at　his　own　joke。　〃We　are　paid　practically　nothing；　but　we　can　pursue　our　work　with　little　in　the　way　of　expenses。〃　He　lifted　the　bottle；　smacked　his　lips　and　poured　himself　another　two　fingers　of　vodka。　〃Enough　about　me。　Tell　me　what　brought　you　to　the　Black　Sea。〃
　〃You've　heard　of　the　NUMA　research　vessel；　Argo？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　I've　been　on　her；　in　fact。　A　few　years　ago。　She's　a　wonderful　ship。　I　would　expect　nothing　less　from　NUMA。〃
　
　Paul　nodded　in　agreement。　〃Garnay　and　I　are　doing　some　research　in　connection　with　the　Argo's　most　recent　survey。　I　remembered　you　were　at　the　university　and　thought　I'd　give　you　a　call　to　let　you　know　we　were　in　the　neighborhood。〃
　
　Austin　had　asked　the　Trouts　to　look　into　Ataman　Indus…　tries　while　he　and　Zavala　checked　out　the　submarine　base。　Ataman's　headquarters　were　in　the　port　city　of　Novorossiysk；　on　the　northeast　er　of　the　Black　Sea。　Trout　immediately　thought　of　Orlov；　who　had　been　a　visiting　professor　at　the　Woods　Hole　Oceanographic　Institution；　because　he　remembered　that　the　professor　taught　at　the　university　in　Rostov　near　Novorossiysk。　When　he'd　called　Orlov；　the　professor　said　he　would　never　forgive　Paul　if　he　and　Gamay　didn't　e　to　visit　him。
　
　〃You　had　no　problem　getting　here？〃　the　professor　inquired。
　
　〃Not　at　all。　We　were　lucky　to　catch　a　mercial　flight　to　Novorossiysk　on　short　notice。　The　university　arranged　for　a　cab　to　pick　us　up　at　the　airport；　and　here　we　are。〃　He　looked　around　at　the　bucolic　setting。　〃Let　me　get　my　bearings。　We're　between　Rostov　and　Novorossiysk？〃
　〃That's　right。　Novorossiysk　is　the　port　for　the　oil　fields　in　I　the　Caucasus。　It's　also　a　Hero　City　full　of　large　ugly　monuments　memorating　the　heroic　resistance　of　the　people　during　the　Great　Patriotic　War。〃　Orlov　turned　to　Gamay。　〃Paul　has　lauded　your　skills　as　a　marine　biologist。　What　sort　of　work　have　you　been　doing？〃
　〃Before　ing　to　the　Black　Sea；　I　was　in　the　Florida　Keys　looking　at　coral　damage　from　industrial　runoff。〃
　
　Orlov　gave　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃It　seems　that　we　Russians　are　not　the　only　environmental　barbarians。　I　am　involved　in　a　study　of　Black　Sea　pollution。　What　about　you；　Paul？〃
　〃I　was　at　Woods　Hole　doing　some　consulting　work　on　a　study　of　ocean　mining。　I　think　one　of　the　ocean　mining　concerns　I　read　about　is　in　Novorossiysk；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃
　
　Guile　was　not　one　of　Trout's　strong　suits。　He　had　a　blunt　Yankee　openness　and　felt　unfortable　skirting　the　truth；　especially　with　an　old　friend。　Trout　figured　that　if　he　threw　out　a　few　conversational　seeds；　one　of　them　would　sprout。　This　seed　fell　on　fertile　soil。
　
　〃Ocean　mining？　You　must　mean　Ataman　Industries。〃
　〃Sounds　familiar。　I'm　sure　I　read　about　it　somewhere。〃
　〃I'd　be　surprised　if　you　hadn't。　Ataman　is　huge。　They　started　as　a　land…mining　conglomerate；　but　they　saw　the　potential　under　the　sea　and　now　their　fleet　ranges　allover　the　world。〃
　〃Smart　move；　with　the　worldwide　demand　for　fuel。〃
　〃Yes；　that　is　true；　but　less　monly　known　is　that　Ataman　has　been　in　the　forefront　in　devising　ways　to　extract　methane　hydrate　from　the　sea　bottom。〃
　〃I　don't　remember　any　mention　of　that　in　the　corporate　literature。〃
　〃Ataman　tends　to　be　secretive。　Russian　capitalism　is　still　in　its　Wild　West　phase。　We　don't　have　all　the　disclosure　laws　your　country　does。　I　doubt　if　they'd　make　that　much　difference；　anyway。　With　the　thousands　employed　by　Ataman；　it's　very　difficult　to　keep　a　secret。　Ataman　has　built　an　entire　fleet　of　monstrous　ships　that　will　be　used　in　the　extraction　of　fire　ice。〃
　〃Fire　ice？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃It's　a　term　someone　came　up　with　for　methane　hydrate；　a　pound　of　methane　gas；〃　Paul　explained。　〃Pockets　of　the　stuff　are　trapped　under　the　sea　bottom　allover　the　world。　Looks　like　icy　snow；　only　it's　flammable。〃
　
　Orlov　chimed　in。　〃Everyone　knows　that　Soviet　scientists　claim　to　have　invented　everything；　from　the　electric　light…bulb　to　the　puter；　but　in　this　case　I　must　give　them　credit。　The　first　natural　deposits　were　found　in　Siberia；　where　it　was　known　as　marsh　gas。　Some　American　scientists　picked　up　on　the　work　of　our　glorious　scientists　and　discovered　hydrates　under　the　ocean。〃
　〃Off　the　South　Carolina　coast；　as　I　recall；〃　Trout　said。　〃Woods　Hole　did　some　dives　with　the　deep…water　submersible　Alvin　and　found　the　plumes　escaping　from　the　sediment　along　faults　in　the　ocean　floor。〃
　〃What　are　the　mercial　applications？〃　Gamay　said。
　
　Orlov　started　to　pour　himself　more　vodka；　thought　better　of　it　and　pushed　the　bottle　aside。　〃The　potential　is　enormous。　The　deposits　around　the　world　possibly　hold　more　energy　than　all　the　other　fossilized　fuels　bined。〃
　〃You　see　it　as　a　replacement　for　oil　and　gas；　then？〃
　〃No　less　than　Scientific　American　called　it　the　'fuel　of　the　future。'　It　could　be　worth　trillions；　which　is　why　so　many　people　are　interested　in　its　extraction。　The　technical　problems　are　formidable；　though。　The　substance　is　unstable　and　quickly　deposes　once　it　is　removed　from　conditions　of　extreme　depth　and　pressure。　But　whoever　controls　the　process　may　control　the　future　energy　supply　of　the　world。　Ataman　is　in　the　forefront　of　the　exploration　and　research；〃　Orlov　said。　His　wide　brow　wrinkled　in　a　worried　furrow。　〃Which　is　not　good。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Paul　asked。
　
　〃Ataman　is　owned　in　its　entirety　by　an　ambitious　businessman　named　Mikhail　Razov。〃
　〃He　must　be　fabulously　wealthy；〃　Gamay　said。
　
　〃It　goes　beyond　riches。　Razov　is　a　plex　man。　While　he　keeps　his　business　dealings　shrouded　in　secret；　his　public　persona　looms　quite　large　in　Russia。　He　has　been　outspoken　in　his　criticism　of　the　way　things　are　being　run　in　Moscow；　and　has　gained　a　substantial　cult　following。〃
　〃A　tycoon　with　political　ambitions　is　not　unusual；　even　in　the　United　States；〃　Gamay　said。　〃We've　often　elected　rich　men　as　governors；　senators；　presidents。〃
　〃Well；　God　help　us　if　we　put　someone　like　Razov　in　power。　He's　a　nationalist　zealot　who　talks　only　of　restoring　the　good　old　days。〃
　〃I　thought　munism　was　dead。〃
　〃Oh；　it　is；　only　to　be　replaced　by　another　form　of　oligarchy。　Razov　believes　Russia　achieved　its　greatest　glories　under　the　rule　of　the　tsars：　Peter　the　Great；　Ivan　the　Terrible。　He's　not　clear　on　the　specifics；　which　is　what　frightens　many　people。　He　says　only　that　he　wants　to　see　the　spirit；　of　the　old　empire　embodied　in　the　New　Russia。〃
　〃Guys　like　him　e　and　go；〃　Paul　said。
　
　〃I　hope　so；　but　this　time　I'm　not　so　sure。　He　has　a　magnetic　quality；　and　his　simplist