cc.fireice-第35章

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　〃That's　what　the　captain　said。　We　worked　round…the…clock　shifts。　There　were　a　few　of　the　hitches　you'd　expect　with　a　job　that　plicated；　but　we　got　all　the　stuff　they　wanted　off　the　ship。〃
　〃Did　you　see　what　was　in　the　steamer　trunks？〃
　〃That　was　a　funny　thing。　They　shoved　us　around　the　corner；　but　we　could　hear　them　prying　the　boxes　open　with　a　crowbar。　They　sounded　pretty　excited。　Then　there　was　this　silence；　and　next　we　heard　them　yelling。　It　sounded　like　an　argument。　Then　Pulaski　appeared　and　started　shouting　at　us　in　Russian；　like　whatever　happened　was　our　fault。　He　looked　real　angry；　but　I　think　he　was　a　little　scared。〃　Kreisman　glanced　around　the　room　and　got　nods　of　agreement　from　the　other　crewmen。
　
　〃No　indication　what　the　dustup　was　all　about？〃
　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃They　put　us　below；　and　when　they　brought　us　on　deck　again　it　was　night。　The　monster　sub　was　back。　There　was　a　ship　nearby；　too。　We　couldn't　see　in　the　dark；　but　it　sounded　like　a　big　one。　They　loaded　us　aboard　the　sub；　except　for　the　captain　and　pilot…same　first…class　acmodations。　We　traveled　underwater；　a　shorter　time　than　before。　When　we　were　allowed　out；　we　were　in　a　place　as　big　as　an　airplane　hangar。〃
　〃That　would　be　the　sub　pen。　What　happened　to　the　NR…1？〃
　〃We　don't　know。　It　was　still　tied　up　alongside　the　salvage　vessel　when　we　left。　The　captain　and　pilot　are　okay；　I　hope；〃　he　said　with　consternation。　〃Why　would　they　keep　us　prisoner　and　let　them　go？〃
　〃They　may　have　further　work　for　the　NR…1　or　simply　want　hostages。　What　happened　next？〃
　〃They　put　us　in　yet　another　bunk　room。　A　real　dump。　We　were　there　a　couple　of　days。　Bored　as　hell。　The　only　excitement　was　what　sounded　like　a　big　explosion　from　somewhere　below。〃
　〃They　were　sealing　the　entrance　to　the　sub　pen。〃
　〃Why　would　they　do　that？〃
　〃The　base　had　been　discovered；　and　they　wanted　to　make　sure　no　one　would　find　the　evidence。　The　big　sub　used　in　the　hijack　had　served　its　purpose。　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　they　planned　to　plug　the　surface　entrance　later。　Maybe　with　you　inside。　What　was　the　guard　situation？〃
　〃Same　bunch　who　kept　an　eye　on　us　on　the　salvage　ship。　Military　types　with　automatic　weapons。　They　gave　us　black　bread　and　water；　and　locked　us　in。　Next　thing　we　know；　these　guys　with　the　funny　hats　and　the　baggy　pants　showed　up。　The　first　guards　were　Girl　Scouts　pared　to　this　gang。　They　beat　up　a　couple　of　the　guys　just　for　chuckles；　dragged　us　outside　and　herded　us　into　that　big　field。　You　know　the　rest。〃
　
　Austin　looked　around　the　room。　〃Any　questions？〃
　〃Did　you　get　a　glimpse　of　your　GPS　position　when　you　were　on　the　NR…1？〃　Gunn　asked。
　
　〃They　kept　us　away　from　the　positioning　gauges；　then　turned　them　off　later　so　we　couldn't　see。〃
　〃Damn　shame；〃　Gunn　said。
　
　Laughter　rippled　around　the　room。
　
　〃Are　we　missing　a　joke？〃　Gunn　said。
　
　A　slim　blond…haired　crewman　in　his　midtwenties　stood　and　identified　himself　as　Seaman　Ted　McCormack。　He　passed　a　sheet　of　paper　toward　the　table。　〃These　are　the　GPS　coordinates　for　the　wreck。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　sure？〃　Gunn　said；　reading　the　figures。
　
　McCormack　held　out　his　arm　and　displayed　what　looked　like　an　overgrown　digital　wristwatch。　〃My　wife　gave　this　to　me。　We　got　married　just　before　I　shipped　out。　She's　got　a　chart　back　home　so　when　I　called　her　she　could　mark　exactly　where　I　was。〃
　〃We　used　to　kid　Mac　about　being　on　a　short　leash；〃　Kreisman　said。　〃Not　anymore。〃
　〃When　we　were　hijacked；　I　slid　this　thing　up　my　arm　and　kept　it　covered　under　my　sleeve；〃　McCormack　said。　〃They　never　frisked　us。　Figured　we　were　harmless；　I　guess。〃
　
　The　ProTek　GPS　watch　was　a　miracle　of　miniaturization；　said　by　its　manufacturer　to　be　the　world's　smallest　GPS　device。　It　could　give　the　wearer　his　position　anywhere　on　the　planet　within　a　few　yards。
　
　Austin　grinned。　〃Let's　hear　it　for　love。〃　He　looked　around　the　room。　〃Now；　to　quote　the　immortal　words　of　Porky　Pig；　'That's　all；　folks。'　Thanks　for　your　help。　And　bon　voyage。〃
　
　The　NR…1　crew　rose　to　their　feet　as　one　and　stampeded　out　of　the　conference　room　like　thirsty　steers　who'd　smelled　water。　Austin　turned　to　the　NUMA　team。
　
　Paul　flipped　open　his　laptop　puter　and　connected　it　to　the　modem　that　would　allow　files　to　be　projected　on　a　large　screen　at　one　end　of　the　room。　Gamay　stood　next　to　the　projection　screen　with　a　laser　pointer。　Paul　tapped　a　few　keys；　and　a　map　of　the　kidney…shaped　Black　Sea　and　the　surrounding　land　appeared。
　
　〃Wele　to　the　Black　Sea；　one　of　the　most　fascinating　bodies　of　water　in　the　world；〃　Gamay　said；　outlining　the　shores　with　the　bright　red　dot。　〃It's　roughly　six　hundred　thirty　miles　from　east　to　west　and　three　hundred　thirty　from　north　to　south。　It's　only　one　hundred　forty…four　miles　here　at　the　'waist；'　where　the　Crimea　sticks　out。　Despite　its　relatively　small　size；　it's　got　a　big　bad　reputation。　The　Greeks　called　it　Axenos；　which　means　'inhospitable。'　The　medieval　Turks　were　less　diplomatic。　They　named　it　Karadenez。　The　'Sea　of　Death。'　〃
　〃Catchy；〃　Zavala　said。　〃It　has　a　certain　poetic　quality。〃
　〃I　can　definitely　see　the　chamber　of　merce　using　that　in　a　New　York　Times　ad；〃　Austin　agreed。
　
　Gamay　rolled　her　eyes。　〃Are　you　two　ever　serious？〃
　〃We　try　not　to　be；〃　Austin　said。　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；　teacher。　Please　go　on。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Despite　the　bad　press；　the　Black　Sea　gets　a　lot　of　visitors。　Jason　came　this　way　in　the　original　Argo　to　look　for　the　Golden　Fleece。　The　sea　has　been　an　important　trade　route　and　fishing　ground　for　thousands　of　years。　During　the　Ice　Age；　it　was　a　big　freshwater　lake。　Then　around　6000　B。C。；　a　natural　land　dam　broke　and　the　waters　of　the　Mediterranean　burst　through。　The　sea　level　rose　hundreds　of　feet。〃
　
　〃Noah's　flood；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃Some　people　think　so。　The　people　who　lived　around　the　lake　fled　for　their　lives。〃　Gamay　smiled。　〃I　can't　say　whether　they　did　it　on　an　ark。　The　salt　water　effectively　smothered　the　lake。　River　nutrients　pouring　into　the　sea　have　only　made　the　situation　worse。〃　She　signaled　to　Paul；　who　projected　a　profile　of　the　sea　onto　the　screen。
　
　〃This　gives　you　an　idea　of　the　incredible　depth。　A　continental　shelf　that's　probably　the　remnant　of　the　old　shoreline　runs　around　the　perimeter。　It's　the　widest　off　the　Ukraine；　then　it　plunges　down　for　seven　thousand　feet。　The　thin　layer　near　the　top　is　rich　with　life。　But　below　the　five…hundred…fifty…foot　mark；　there　is　no　oxygen　and　the　sea　is　lifeless。　It's　the　biggest　body　of　dead　water　in　the　world。　Even　worse；　the　depths　are　loaded　with　hydrogen　sulfide。　One　breath　of　the　stuff　can　kill　you。　If　that　mass　of　poison　ever　rose　to　the　surface；　it　would　release　a　cloud　that　would　kill　every　living　thing　in　and　around　the　sea。〃
　〃The　Turks　weren't　kidding　about　the　sea　of　death；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　Paul　projected　a　map　that　had　a　dotted　line　running　around　the　inner　edge　of　the　sea。　〃Kreisman　said　the　ship　was　found　around　the　four…hundred…foot　level。　That　would　put　it　at　the　edge　of　the　continental　shelf。　Any　deeper　and　ship　wouldn't　be　there。　Wooden　vessels　are　perfectly　preserved　in　the　depths；　because　there　is　no　oxygen　to　sustain　wood…boring　worms；　but　the　chemicals　eat　away　at　metal。〃
　〃The　ship　would　have　been　reduced　to　its　basic　molecules；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃That's　right。　That　gorge　he　talked　about　is　probably　an　extended　riverbed。　The　continental　shelf　is　smooth　and　gradually　dips　seaward；　pretty　much　like　the　ensign's　description。　The　decay　from　all　those　organisms　has　formed　pockets　of　methane　gas。　Presumably；　a　diver　could　be　insulated　from　that　type　of　thing；　but　there　might　still　be　some　danger　in　diving　in　a　poisonous　environment。〃
　
　Gunn　had　been　absorbing　the　discussion。　He　rose　from　his　seat　and　borrowed　the　laser　pointer。
　
　〃Let's　see　what　we've　got。　The　NR…1　was　hijacked　here。〃　He　ran　the　red　dot　from　the　Aegean　through　the　Bosporus。　〃This　is　where　they　heard　sounds　of　ship　traffic。〃　He　moved　the　pointer　along　the　edge　of　the　continental　shelf。　〃Here's　our　mystery　ship；　according　to　the　GPS。〃
　
　Using　his　cursor；　Paul　drew　an　X　at　the　location　Gunn　indicated。
　
　〃Someone　went　to　a　great　deal　of　trouble　to　salvage　that　ship；〃　Austin　said。　〃Maybe　it　holds　the　key　to　unraveling　this　whole　mess。〃
　
　Gunn　turned　to　the　captain。　〃How　soon　can　we　haul　anchor　and　get　moving？〃
　
　Atwood　had　kept　silent　throughout　the　ensign's　presentation　and　the　NUMA　team's　discussion。　He　smiled　and　said；　〃You　people　have　been　so　engrossed　in　the　Black　Sea；　you　didn't　notice　me　calling　the　bridge。　We're　on　our　way。　Should　be　on…site　in　the　morning。〃
　
　The　faint　vibration　of　the　engines　came　through　the　deck　under　their　feet。　Gunn　got　up。　〃I'm　going　to　hit　the　sack。　Tomorrow　could　be　a　long　day。〃　Austin　got　directions　to　his　cabin；　then　told　Joe　that　he'd　catch　up　with　him　later。　When　Austin　was　alone；　he　sat　at　the　table　and　stared　at　the　lines　and　squiggles　of　the　Black　Sea　map　projected　on　the　screen　as　if　they　were　letters　of　an　unknown　language　whose　secret　could　be　unlocked　by　a　Rosetta　Stone。　His　eye　fastened　on　the　X　that　marked　the　position　of　the　mystery　ship。
　
　He　sorted　through　the　events　that　had　brought　him　to　this　place　on　a　NUMA　vessel　in　pursuit　of　what？　He　felt　like　someone　making　his　way　through　a　snake　pit；　trying　to　pick　out　the　nonpoisonous　snakes　from　the　vipers。　He　snapped　off　the　lights　and　left　the　conference　room。　As　he　made　his　way　to　his　cabin；　he　had　a　depressing　thought。　Maybe　they　were　all　poisonous。
　
　…20…
　THE　GRAY　DAWN　light　streaming　through　the　cabin　porthole　woke　Austin　up。　He　glanced　over　at　Zavala；　who　was　in　the　next　bunk；　no　doubt　lost　in　a　dreamworld　of　red　Corvettes　and　beautiful　blond　statisticians。　He　envied　his　partner's　ability　to　drop　off　to　sleep；　snooze　soundly　through　the　night　and　wake　up　fresh　and　ready　for　action。　Austin's　own　slumber　had　been　fitful；　disturbed　by　churning　thoughts；　as　if　his　brain　were　searching　for　answers　hidden　in　the　maze　of　his　subconscious。
　
　Levering　himself　out　of　bed；　Austin　went　over　to　the　sink　and　splashed　cold　water　on　his　face。　He　dressed　quickly；　pulling　on　jeans；　a　heavy　sweatshirt　and　a　windbreaker；　and　stepped　out　of　the　cabin。　A　cool　morning　breeze　from　off　the　water　smacked　him　in　the　face　and　blew　away　the　lingering　shreds　of　sleep。　The　sun's　eyebrow　was　starting　to　peek　over　the　eastern　horizon；　its　soft　rays　bathing　the　clouds　in　a　reddish　gold　light。
　
　With　the　Argo　steaming　at　fifteen　knots；　Austin　hung　over　the　railing　and　stared　out　at　the　opaque　surface　of　the　sea；　listening　to　the　soothing　hiss　of　the　waves　against　the　hull。　Seabirds　skimmed　the　foam　like　windblown　confetti。　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　a　few　hundred　feet　below　was　the　most　lifeless　place　on　the　planet。　The　Black　Sea　was　a　big　puddle　of　dead　water；　but　Austin　knew　that　an　abyss　with　far　more　reason　to　be　feared　was　the　remorseless　evil　that　lurked　in　the　depths　of　the　human　mind。　Austin　shivered；　not　entirely　from　the　cold；　and　headed　back　into　the　ship。
　
　As　he　stepped　through　the　door　into　the　warmth　of　the　mess　hall；　the　mouth…watering　bouquet　of　coffee；　fried　eggs　and　bacon　provided　an　antidote　for　his　morbid　mood；　and　his　spirits　improved。　Except　for　the　blue　sea　visibl