cc.fireice-第40章

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　〃It's　a　miracle　I'm　not　dead；　Admiral；〃　Petrov　said；　eyeing　the　uniform　from　head　to　toe。　〃Some　things　are　worse　than　death。〃
　
　The　admiral's　smile　vanished。　〃You　don't　have　to　tell　me　how　low　I　have　fallen。　I　still　have　eyes。　But　no　lower　than　someone　who　would　amuse　himself　at　the　expense　of　an　old　rade。〃
　

　〃I　agree；　but　I　am　not　here　for　amusement。　I　came　to　ask　your　help　and　to　offer　mine。〃
　
　The　admiral　let　out　with　a　wet　laugh。　〃What　help　can　I　give　you？　I　am　nothing　but　a　clown。　The　human　garbage　that　runs　this　place　keeps　me　around　to　entertain　their　patrons　and　remind　them　of　the　bad　old　days。　Well；　they　were　not　bad　for　everyone。〃
　〃True；　my　friend。　Nor　were　they　good　for　everyone；〃　Petrov　said；　bringing　his　hand　up　to　the　scar　that　disfigured　his　face。
　
　〃In　the　old　days；　we　were　feared　and　respected。〃
　〃By　our　enemies；〃　Petrov　said。　〃Yet　we　were　despised　by　our　government；　who　quickly　forgot　our　sacrifices　when　they　no　longer　needed　us　for　their　dirty　work。　Your　once　proud　navy　is　a　joke。　Heroes　like　you　are　reduced　to　this。〃
　
　The　admiral's　shoulders　sagged　under　the　gaudy　epaulets。　Petrov　realized　he　had　gone　too　far。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Admiral。〃
　
　The　admiral　pulled　a　pack　of　Marlboros　from　a　pocket　and　offered　one　to　Petrov；　who　declined。　〃Yes；　I　believe　you　are　sorry。　So　are　we　all。''　He　stuck　a　cigarette　in　his　mouth　and　lit　up。　〃Well；　enough　talk　about　the　past。　What's　done　is　done。　Are　you　sure　you　don't　want　a　whore？　Not　all　my　job　is　for　show。　I　get　a　mission　and　an　employee　discount。　Capitalism　is　truly　a　wonderful　thing。〃
　
　Petrov　smiled　as　he　recalled　the　razor…sharp　wit　from　the　days　when　he　and　the　admiral　had　served　on　secret　missions　together。　With　the　changes　in　government；　the　admiral's　outspoken　criticisms　had　not　been　well　received　by　the　new　generation　of　thin…skinned　bureaucrats。　Petrov　had　survived　by　allowing　himself　to　sink；　undetected；　into　the　governmental　morass。　The　admiral　had　attempted　to　stand　above　the　fray；　and　his　demise　mirrored　that　of　his　beloved　navy。
　
　〃Later；　maybe。　But　for　now；　I　need　information　about　a　certain　naval　property。〃
　
　The　admiral's　eyes　narrowed　behind　their　thick　folds。　〃That　covers　a　wide　range。〃

　
　Petrov　said　one　word：　〃India。〃
　〃The　submarine？　Well；　well。　What　is　your　interest？〃
　〃It's　better　if　you　don't　know；　Admiral。〃
　〃You　mean　there　is　some　risk　involved　here？　Well；　that　must　be　worth　something。〃
　〃I'm　prepared　to　pay　for　the　information。〃　The　naval　officer　frowned；　and　a　sad　look　came　into　his　eyes。　〃Listen　to　me。　I　have　bee　no　better　than　the　prostitutes　who　get　their　customers　to　buy　them　glasses　of　fake　champagne。〃　He　sighed。　〃As　for　your　questions；　I'll　do　my　best　to　answer　them。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Admiral。　I　once　saw　an　India…class　sub　at　its　base；　but　never　went　aboard　one。　I　understand　it　was　designed　to　carry　on　operations　similar　to　mine。〃
　〃Integration　is　a　swearword　in　the　armed　forces　any…　where　in　the　world。　Ask　the　Americans　how　much　money　they've　wasted　in　duplication　because　the　army；　navy；　air　force　and　marines　wanted　to　have　their　own　versions　of　virtually　the　same　weapons　systems。　It　was　the　same　with　us。　The　Soviet　navy　had　no　desire　to　share　its　assets　with　anyone　else；　especially　a　group　like　yours；　which　was　beyond　its　control。〃　He　smiled。　〃Beyond　anyone　s　control。〃
　〃Supposedly；　the　sub　was　designed　for　underwater　rescue。〃
　〃Now　there's　a　fairy　tale！　How　many　submarine　crews　were　rescued　by　this　thing？　I'll　tell　you。〃　He　curled　his　thumb　and　forefinger　in　a　circle。　〃Zero。　It　certainly　had　the　capacity　to　dive　on　a　sunken　sub。　The　India　class　could　carry　two　deep　submergence　recovery　vehicles　in　wells　abaft　the　sail。　They　could　fit　onto　the　rescue　hatch　of　a　downed　sub；　but　they　weren't　there　to　pull　some　poor　sailor　from　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　They　were　designed　for　clandestine　intelligence　gathering　and　to　carry　Spetsnaz。〃
　〃Special　forces？〃
　〃Sure。　When　we　did　some　snooping　off　Sweden；　the　subs　carried　armored　tracked　amphibious　vehicles。　They　could　crawl　along　the　sea　bottom　like　big　bugs。　It　was　a　sweet　ship；　the　India。　Fast　and　very　maneuverable。〃
　〃The　public　literature　said　two　were　built？〃
　〃That's　correct。　We　had　one　in　the　northern　fleet　and　another　in　the　southern。　Sometimes　one　would　join　the　other　for　special　operations。〃
　〃What　happened　to　them？〃
　〃We　lost　the　Cold　War　and　they　were　withdrawn　from　service。　They　were　scheduled　for　demolition。〃
　〃So　they　were　scrapped？〃
　
　The　admiral　grinned。　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　
　Petrov　replied　with　a　hike　of　an　eyebrow。
　
　〃On　paper；　anyhow；〃　the　admiral　said。　〃You　know；　everyone　is　worried　about　our　nuclear　bombs　getting　in　some　madman's　hands。　But　while　there's　been　all　that　talk；　we've　sold　half　our　conventional　weaponry；　which　can　be　as　deadly　under　the　proper　circumstances。　Nobody　says　anything　about　that。〃
　〃I'm　saying　something。　Where　did　the　India…class　subs　go？〃
　〃One　was　scrapped。　The　other　was　sold　to　a　private　buyer。〃
　〃Do　you　know　his　name？〃
　

　〃Of　course；　but　what　difference　does　it　make？　He　represented　a　group　that　was　obviously　a　straw　for　someone　else。　There　could　be　many　layers　in　between　the　buyer　and　the　person　who　forked　over　the　money。〃
　〃But　you　have　a　suspicion　about　who　bought　it？〃
　〃I'm　pretty　sure　it　stayed　within　the　country。　The　buyer　was　an　outfit　called　Volga　Industries。　They　had　an　office　in　Moscow；　but　who　knows　where　their　parent　panies　were？　Nobody　really　cared。　They　paid　in　cash。〃
　
　Petrov　shook　his　head。　〃How　could　someone　so　easily　remove　a　war　machine　three　hundred　and　fifty　feet　long？〃
　〃It's　done　all　the　time。　All　you　need　is　some　hard…up　officers　in　the　military　who　haven't　been　paid　in　a　year。　We've　got　lots　of　them　living　on　promises。　Then　you　have　the　collusion　of　government　maggots　and　it's　done。　The　worst　are　the　former　munists。〃
　〃Like　us？〃
　〃Tripe！　We　waved　the　red　flag；　but　we　were　never　ideological。　I　know　you　didn't　believe　that　bull。　We　did　it　because　it　was　exciting　and　somebody　else　was　paying　the　bill。〃
　〃I'll　need　some　names。〃
　〃How　could　I　forget？　The　scum　who　were　making　millions　selling　all　this　war　material　asked　if　I　wanted　a　piece。　I　said　no；　that　it　wasn't　right　to　sell　the　people's　property　for　personal　gain。　Next　thing　I　know；　I　was　out　of　the　navy　on　my　ass。　Nobody　would　hire　me。　So　here　I　am。〃
　
　The　admiral　was　wandering　into　a　bitter　swamp。　〃The　names；　please；　Admiral。〃
　〃Sorry；〃　he　said；　posing　himself。　〃The　years　haven't　been　easy。　There　were　five　principals　in　the　deal。〃　He　rattled　off　the　names。
　
　〃I　know　all　of　them；〃　Petrov　said。　〃They　were　petty　functionaries　in　the　party　who　have　flourished　by　picking　the　bones　of　the　Soviet　Union。〃
　〃What　can　I　say；　my　friend？　Well；　is　that　enough？　It's　all　I've　got。　The　people　who　e　here　don't　talk　about　military　secrets。　Anyway；　it　was　good　to　see　you。　My　employers　expect　me　to　make　the　rounds　of　the　tables　every　few　minutes。　So　excuse　me；　I　must　get　back　to　work。〃
　〃Maybe　not；〃　Petrov　said。　He　reached　into　his　suit　pocket　and　extracted　a　brown　envelope。　〃If　you　could　make　a　wish；　what　would　it　be？〃
　〃Aside　from　making　my　wife　alive　again　and　persuading　my　children　that　it　is　worth　their　time　to　talk　to　me？〃　He　thought　about　it　for　a　moment。　〃I　would　like　to　move　to　the　United　States。　To　Florida。　I　would　sit　in　the　sun　and　talk　only　to　those　I　wanted　to　talk　to。〃
　〃What　a　coincidence；〃　Petrov　said。　〃Within　this　envelope　is　a　one…way　plane　ticket　to　Fort　Lauderdale；　leaving　tomorrow；　a　passport　and　visa；　and　the　immigration　paperwork　that　will　ensure　your　stay　there。　There　is　also　some　money　to　live　on　and　the　name　of　a　gentleman　who　is　looking　for　an　investor　to　buy　into　his　fishing　pany。　He　especially　wants　someone　who　has　experience　on　the　sea　It　would　be　a　much　smaller　fleet　than　you　have　been　used　to。〃
　
　A　defeated　expression　came　onto　the　admiral's　face。　〃Please　don't　toy　with　me。　We　were　once　rades。〃
　〃We　still　are；〃　Petrov　said；　handing　over　the　envelope。　〃Consider　this　a　delayed　payment　from　your　country　for　past　services。〃
　
　The　admiral　took　the　envelope　and　examined　the　contents。　When　he　looked　up；　tears　brimmed　in　his　eyes。
　
　〃How　did　you　know？〃
　〃About　Florida？　Word　gets　around。　It　was　not　hard　to　find　out。〃
　〃I　don't　know　how　I　can　repay　you。〃
　〃You　already　have。　Now　I　must　be　on　my　way；　and　you　have　to　inform　your　employers　of　your　wish　to　end　your　services　here。〃
　〃Inform　them？　I'll　leave　as　soon　as　I　can　change　my　clothes。〃
　〃That　might　be　a　good　idea；　considering　the　amount　of　cash　you're　carrying。　Oh；　I　forgot。　One　thing。〃
　
　The　admiral　froze；　wondering　if　strings　were　attached　after　all。　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Don't　forget　to　use　sunscreen　when　you're　out　on　the　water；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　The　admiral　threw　his　arms　around　Petrov　and　embraced　him　in　a　bone…cracking　bear　hug。　Then　he　tossed　his　cap　across　the　room。　His　jacket；　with　medals　clattering；　followed。
　
　Petrov　slipped　away。　He　allowed　himself　a　rare　smile　as　he　stepped　through　the　outside　door。　He　shook　hands　with　the　doorman；　passing　along　another　hundred…dollar　bill。　He　was　feeling　generous　tonight。　The　doorman　shoved　his　way　through　the　crowd　to　make　a　path　for　Petrov；　who　quickly　limped　through　the　alley　and　disappeared　into　the　night。
　
　…24…
　THE　BLACK　SEA
　
　THE　CALL　FROM　Captain　Atwood　came　in　as　the　NUMA　helicopter　sped　across　the　Black　Sea　toward　the　Turkish　mainland。　Austin　had　been　jotting　down　his　thoughts　in　a　notebook　when　he　heard　the　familiar　voice　crackle　in　his　earphones。
　
　〃Kurt；　are　you　there？　e　in；　please；〃　Captain　Atwood　urged。
　
　〃Miss　me　already；　Captain？〃　Austin　said。　〃I'm　truly　touched。〃
　〃I'll　admit　things　are　a　lot　quieter　here　since　you　left；　but　that's　not　why　I'm　calling。　I've　tried　to　get　in　touch　with　the　Sea　Hunter　and　still　can't　raise　her。〃
　〃When　was　the　last　time　you　talked　to　her？〃
　〃I　called　last　night　to　say　you'd　be　on　your　way　in　the　morning。　Everything　was　okay。　Then　I　tried　again　after　you　took　off；　to　let　them　know　you　were　in　the　air。　No　answer。　We've　been　calling　at　regular　intervals。　I　called　again　a　few　minutes　ago。　Still　no　reply。〃
　
　〃That's　odd；〃　Austin　said；　glancing　down　at　the　water…tight　bucket　sitting　on　the　floor　at　his　feet。　Inside　the　bucket；　soaking　in　seawater；　was　the　silver　jewelry　box　plucked　from　the　Odessa　Star。　At　Gamay's　suggestion；　the　Argo　had　called　the　Sea　Hunter　and　asked　if　a　conservator　could　take　a　look　at　the　box　and　its　contents。　The　Sea　Hunter's　captain　said　the　ship　had　finished　its　project　in　the　Black　Sea　and　was　on　its　way　to　Istanbul；　where　he　would　be　happy　to　hook　up　with　Austin。
　
　〃It's　more　than　odd；　it's　crazy。　What　the　hell　do　you　make　of　it？〃
　
　Austin　went　down　a　mental　checklist　of　possible　reasons　for　the　ship's　silence；　but　none　of　them　held　water。　All　NUMA　vessels　carried　the　latest　in　munications；　and　their　systems　were　redundant　several　times　over。　They　kept　inconstant　contact　with　other　ships。
　
　He　felt　as　if　someone　were　walking　on　his　grave。　〃I　don't　know；　Captain。　Have　you　called　NUMA　headquarters　to　see　if　anyone　there　has　heard　from　the　ship？〃
　〃Yes。　They　said　the　Sea　Hunter　called　in