cc.fireice-第31章

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　〃You're　a　strange　man；　Ivan；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。
　
　〃That　may　be；　but　in　this　case　my　actions　were　purely　logical。〃　He　spread　his　forefinger　and　thumb　apart。　〃Don't　forget　that　I　have　a　dossier　this　thick　on　you；　as　well　as　my　personal　experience　with　your　methods。　I　knew　warning　you　off　would　be　the　surest　way　to　bring　you　here。〃
　〃Why　be　so　Machiavellian？　Why　not　simply　invite　me　to　your　party？　I'm　an　agreeable　guy。〃
　〃You're　not　naпve　in　these　matters。　If　I　had　said　back　in　Istanbul　that　I　needed　your　help；　what　would　you　have　replied；　given　the　stormy　history　of　our　relationship？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Austin　said　with　a　shrug。
　
　〃I　do。　You　might　have　regarded　it　as　a　trap；　an　ingenious　way　of　getting　back　at　you　for　this　souvenir　of　past　encounters。〃　He　touched　the　scar　on　his　cheek。
　
　〃The　Russians　are　famous　for　their　chess　skills。　And　you　must　admit　revenge　can　be　a　potent　motivator。〃
　〃I've　learned　to　control　my　passions　and　exploit　those　of　others　to　defeat　them。　There's　another　reason　I　held　back。　I　suspect　that　if　I　had　asked　for　your　help；　you　would　have　gone　to　your　higher…ups。　Your　government　would　have　discouraged　this　mission。〃
　〃What　makes　you　so　sure　of　that？〃
　〃Some　of　your　countrymen　are　supporting　the　dark　forces　gathering　in　Russia。〃
　
　Austin　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Anyone　I　know？〃
　〃Probably；　but　I　doubt　if　you'd　believe　me；　so　I'll　keep　my　thoughts　to　myself　for　now。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　sure　that　I　didn't　act　with　official　permission？〃
　〃I　consider　it　highly　unlikely　that　your　government　would　tolerate　a　clandestine　invasion　of　a　foreign　country。〃
　〃Last　time　I　looked；　NUMA　was　part　of　the　government。〃
　〃You're　not　the　only　one　I　have　kept　tabs　on；　Mr。　Austin。　I　have　files　on　everyone　of　any　consequence　in　NUMA；　from　your　partner　Joe　Zavala　right　up　to　Admiral　Sandecker。　We　both　know　that　the　good　admiral　would　never　allow　a　rogue　operation。〃　The　Russian　smiled。　〃Unless　it　was　under　his　control；　of　course。〃
　〃Sounds　as　if　you've　done　your　homework；〃　Austin　admitted。
　
　〃Knowing　the　inner　workings　of　NUMA　was　vital　in　order　to　make　your　agency　a　part　of　the　equation。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。　Why　involve　NUMA？〃
　〃The　intelligence　services　in　both　our　countries　have　been　infiltrated　by　the　enemy。　Those　fighting　men　you　saw　today　have　all　served　with　me　for　years。　But　even　a　tightly　knit　force　can　be　promised　by　a　single　person。　NUMA's　integrity　is　above　reproach。　On　a　more　practical　side；　I　need　NUMA's　global　capacity　for　munications　and　transport；　your　incredible　intelligence　and　research　facilities。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　endorsement；　but　I　don't　know　if　I　can　help。　I'm　only　one　person　out　of　thousands　at　the　agency。〃
　〃Please　don't　be　disingenuous；　Mr。　Austin。　You　could　never　have　undertaken　this　mission　if　it　were　not　for　the　tacit　approval　of　Admiral　Sandecker　and　Rudi　Gunn。〃
　
　Austin　was　impressed　with　Ivan's　knowledge　of　how　things　worked　at　NUMA。　〃Even　if　I　admitted　you　were　right　on　that　score；　I　still　don't　have　the　power　to　give　you　everything　you　want。〃
　〃When　the　threat　to　your　country　bees　apparent；　you'll　feel　different。　We　need　each　other。〃
　〃That's　another　problem。　You　still　haven't　told　me　what　this　threat　is。〃
　〃Only　because　I　don't　know。〃
　〃Yet　you're　still　convinced　it's　real。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　Mr。　Austin。　Knowing　the　players　in　this　drama；　I'd　say　it's　very　real。〃
　
　Austin　still　didn't　know　how　much　to　believe　Ivan；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　the　Russian's　seriousness。　〃Maybe　one　of　the　Cossacks　could　tell　us　something。〃
　
　Petrov's　lips　tightened　in　a　smile。　〃We　both　should　have　thought　about　that　earlier。　Their　leader　was　the　big　man　with　the　red　beard。　Dead　men　tell　no　tales；　unfortunately。〃
　〃Sorry；　but　it　couldn't　be　helped　under　the　circumstances。　I'm　curious。　How　long　were　you　and　your　boys　hiding　in　the　woods？〃
　〃Since　dawn。　We　landed　a　few　miles　up　the　coast　and　made　our　way　overland　at　night。　I　saw　the　fishing　boat　arrive　and　suspected　you　were　on　it。　We　didn't　know　you　had　landed　and　were　quite　surprised　to　see　you　pop　up　out　of　nowhere。　Congratulations　on　a　successful　infiltration。〃
　
　Austin　ignored　the　pliment。　〃Then　you　saw　that　the　submarine　crew　was　in　trouble？〃
　〃We　observed　the　men　being　rounded　up　and　marched　to　the　field。　To　answer　your　unspoken　question；　yes；　we　would　have　intervened。　My　men　were　readying　for　the　attack。　Then　you　and　your　friend　arrived　and　our　intervention　hardly　seemed　necessary。　From　the　damage　you　inflicted；　I　thought　a　platoon　of　U。S。　Marines　had　landed。　It's　doubtful　how　much　the　Cossacks　could　have　told　us。　They　are　nothing　more　than　bandit　scum　whose　sole　function　was　to　guard　this　plex。〃　Petrov　walked　over　to　the　altar　and　touched　the　photograph　above　it。　〃The　last　of　the　tsars；〃　he　said。
　
　〃That's　quite　a　headpiece；〃　Austin　said；　pointing　to　the　jeweled　crown　in　the　picture。
　
　〃Whoever　wears　the　crown　of　Ivan　the　Terrible　will　rule　Russia；〃　Petrov　said。　Seeing　Austin's　perplexed　expression；　he　smiled。　〃An　old　Russian　proverb。　Don't　look　for　hidden　auguries　in　the　words；　they　mean　what　they　say。　Whoever　is　strong　enough　to　keep　all　that　weight　on　his　head；　and　brutish　and　terrible　enough　to　possess　the　crown；　will　find　those　same　qualities　of　use　in　ruling　this　land。〃
　〃Where's　the　crown　now？〃
　〃It　disappeared　with　a　great　deal　of　the　tsar's　other　treasure　that　went　missing　after　the　revolution。　When　the　White　government　came　into　Yekaterinburg；　where　the　tsar　was　probably　murdered；　they　found　a　list　of　items　belonging　to　the　imperial　family。　Some　items　were　recovered；　but　it　is　generally　conceded　that　the　list　represented　only　a　portion　of　the　items　the　family　had　with　them　in　exile。　The　most　valuable　items；　the　crown　included；　have　never　been　found。〃
　〃Was　there　a　list　of　the　missing　treasure？〃
　〃The　Soviets　made　such　a　list；　but　it　has　never　turned　up。　It's　assumed　that　the　KGB　had　the　list　before　the　overthrow　of　munism。　I've　made　inquiries　that　lead　me　to　believe　the　list　is　still　in　existence；　but　its　whereabouts　is　a　mystery。〃
　〃How　did　you　know　about　the　crown　without　the　list？〃
　〃I've　seen　this　and　other　photos　of　it。　It's　made　in　two　parts；　representing　the　east　and　west　empires。　The　double…headed　eagle　was　the　crest　of　the　Romanovs。　The　orb　the　eagle　surmounts　is　a　symbol　of　earthly　power。〃
　〃It　must　be　worth　a　fortune。〃
　〃The　crown's　value　can't　be　measured　in　dollars　or　rubles。　This　crown　and　the　other　treasure　came　from　the　sweat　and　toil　of　the　Russian　serfs；　who　saw　the　tsar　as　god…like。　The　tsar　was　the　richest　man　in　the　world。　He　had　revenue　from　the　crown　lands；　a　million　square　miles；　including　gold　and　silver　mines；　and　owned　incredible　riches。　Our　sovereigns　had　an　almost　barbaric　taste　for　the　glitter　of　gold　and　gems。　Tsar　is　Russian　for　'Caesar。'　Emirs　and　shahs　laid　gifts　of　incredible　value　at　his　feet。〃
　〃The　family　in　the　photo　doesn't　look　as　if　it's　enjoying　all　that　wealth。〃
　〃They　knew　the　crown　was　more　of　a　curse　than　a　blessing。　It　was　reserved　for　the　frail　head　of　the　young　boy；　Alexander；　although　it's　doubtful　he　would　have　lived　long　enough　to　take　his　father's　place。　He　had　hemophilia；　un…　controllable　bleeding；　you　know？　A　real　problem　among　European　royalty　…　all　those　intermarriages。　Anyway；　other　relatives　would　have　stepped　in　to　claim　the　throne。〃
　〃Any　idea　who　built　this　shrine？〃
　〃I　thought　it　might　be　Razov　at　first。　I　could　see　him　sitting　here；　imagining　that　he　will　someday　bee　the　ruler　of　Russia。　But　the　decadent　trappings　of　the　apartment　in　the　main　plex　puzzle　me。　Razov　is　almost　ascetic　in　his　convictions。　The　monk；　on　the　other　hand；　is　said　to　be　debauched。　It's　odd　how　much　he　resembles　Rasputin　in　his　depraved　lifestyle。　My　guess　is　that　Boris　spent　more　time　here　than　Razov。　Razov　would　like　to　bring　back　the　past。　In　his　madness；　Boris　lives　it。〃
　〃That's　quite　a　role　reversal。〃
　〃Perhaps；　but　one　thing　is　certain：　They　both　must　be　stopped；〃　Petrov　said；　his　eyes　boring　into　Austin's。　〃And　you　must　help　me。〃
　
　Austin　was　still　skeptical。　〃I'll　think　about　it；　Ivan。　Right　now　I　need　some　fresh　air。〃
　
　Petrov　gripped　Austin　by　the　arm。　〃Maybe　your　own　countryman　can　persuade　you。　You　remember　the　words　of　the　great　American　patriot…philosopher　Thomas　Paine。　He　said　he　was　not　defending　a　few　acres　of　ground；　but　a　cause。〃
　
　Austin　knew　the　dossier　Petrov　had　on　him　would　have　mentioned　the　volumes　of　philosophy　that　lined　his　bookshelves。
　
　〃What　is　your　cause；　Ivan？〃
　〃Perhaps　it's　the　same　as　yours。〃
　〃Don't　take　this　the　wrong　way；　but　I　can't　see　you　waving　the　flag　for　motherhood；　apple　pie　and　the　American　way。〃
　〃I　did　my　share　of　waving　the　hammer　and　sickle　as　a　Young　Pioneer　marching　in　the　May　Day　parades。　There　are　deeper　issues　here。　Don't　let　our　past　get　in　the　way。　Judge　me　by　the　present；　so　that　both　our　countries　will　have　a　future。〃
　
　Austin　saw　a　slight　softening　in　Petrov's　rock…hard　eyes。　Maybe　the　man　was　human　after　all。　〃Guess　we're　stuck　with　each　other；　whether　we　like　it　or　not。〃
　〃Then　you'll　work　with　me？〃
　〃I　can't　speak　for　NUMA；　but　I'll　do　what　I　can；〃　Austin　said；　extending　his　hand。　〃C'mon；　partner；　I've　got　something　else　that　will　interest　you。〃　He　led　the　way　down　through　the　labyrinth　to　the　submarine　pen。　Petrov　recognized　the　sub　immediately。
　
　〃It's　an　India　class；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　designed　to　carry　submersibles　for　use　by　special…operations　forces。〃
　〃Any　idea　how　it　got　here？〃
　〃There's　a　booming　market　in　the　world　for　Soviet　armaments。〃
　〃This　isn't　exactly　a　box　of　AK…47s。〃
　〃My　country　has　always　done　things　on　a　grand　scale。　For　the　right　price；　you　could　probably　buy　a　battleship。　As　you　know；　the　Soviet　Union　launched　dozens　of　huge　subs　during　the　Cold　War。　Many　have　been　mothballed　or　other…　wise　demissioned。　But　given　the　sad　state　of　our　armed　forces；　anything　is　possible。　This　could　be　an　important　lead。　I　can't　imagine　anyone　making　a　purchase　this　big　without　somebody　knowing　about　it。　I'll　run　a　discreet　check。　Tell　me　about　these　men　from　your　NR…1　submarine。　What　did　they　have　to　say？〃
　〃I　talked　to　one　of　them。　The　sub　was　hijacked　by　someone　posing　as　a　scientist；　transported　on　the　back　of　that　submarine　and　made　to　work　salvaging　cargo　from　an　old　freighter。　The　fact　that　they're　still　holding　the　captain　and　pilot　indicates　that　they　have　more　work　planned　for　the　NR…l。〃　Austin　rapped　the　stone　floor　with　his　heel。　〃Maybe　you　can　look　into　the　ownership　of　this　place。〃
　〃I　already　have。　The　property　is　still　owned　by　the　Russian　government。　About　two　years　ago；　it　was　leased　to　a　private　corporation。　They　said　they　wanted　to　establish　a　fish…processing　plant　here。〃
　〃From　what　I've　seen；　the　leaseholder　was　more　interested　in　what　was　under　the　ground　than　on　top　of　it。　Any　leads　on　the　corporation？〃
　〃Yes。　We　got　a　break　there。　It　was　a　straw　for　Ataman。〃
　
　Austin　nodded。　〃Why　does　that　not　surprise　me？　I　should　get　back　above。　Joe　will　wonder　what　happened　to　us。〃
　
　They　followed　the　network　of　corridors　and　stairs　that　took　them　back　to　the　surface。　It　was　a　relief　to　break　out　into　the　sunshine　and　fresh　air。　To　Austin's　surprise；