cc.fireice-第45章

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eyes　around　the　tumbling　waterfalls　and　aquaria　filled　with　exotic　fish；　taking　in　the　huge　globe　of　the　world　that　rose　from　the　center　of　the　sea…green　marble　floor。
　
　Smiling　like　a　child　in　a　toy　shop；　he　started　across　the　giant　lobby；　threading　his　way　among　the　gaggles　of　tourists　who　trailed　behind　impeccably　uniformed　guides。　An　attractive　woman　in　her　twenties；　one　of　several　receptionists　at　a　long　information　desk；　saw　Jenkins　approach　and　beamed　him　in　with　a　pleasant　smile。
　
　〃May　I　help　you？〃　Jenkins　was　struck　dumb。　On　the　flight　from　Portland；　he'd　rehearsed　what　he　would　say　when　he　got　to　NUMA。　Now　his　tongue　seemed　glued　to　the　roof　of　his　mouth。　He　was　overe　by　awe　at　being　in　the　heart　of　the　biggest　ocean　science　agency　in　the　world。　He　felt　like　Fred　Flintstone　visiting　the　Jetsons。　As　an　oceanographer；　he　had　long　contemplated　a　trip　to　the　Holy　Grail　of　ocean　science；　but　his　teaching　duties　had　intervened　and　later　he　was　consumed　by　his　wife's　illness。　Now；　he'd　reached　the　point　where　he　didn't　like　to　leave　Maine；　because；　as　he　joked；　his　gills　would　close　up　if　he　ventured　too　far　from　the　sea。
　
　The　air　seemed　to　crackle　with　electrical　energy。　Every　nontourist　in　view　clutched　a　laptop　puter。　No　one　carried　anything　remotely　resembling　the　battered　tan　briefcase　in　his　sweaty　hand。　Jenkins　was　unfortably　aware　of　his　wrinkled　khaki　pants；　his　worn　Hush　Puppies　and　the　faded　blue　chambray　work　shirt；　damp　from　the　heat。　He　removed　the　tan　fisherman's　cap　and　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　forehead　with　a　red　bandanna；　immediately　regretting　the　move　because　it　made　him　look　even　more　like　a　hick。　He　stuffed　the　bandanna　back　into　his　pocket。
　
　〃Someone　in　particular　you'd　like　to　see？〃
　〃Yes；　but　I'm　not　sure　who　it　might　be。〃　Jenkins　offered　a　weak　grin。　〃Sorry　to　be　so　vague。〃
　
　The　receptionist　was　familiar　with　the　symptoms。　〃You're　not　the　first　person　who's　been　vague。　This　place　can　be　a　bit　overwhelming。　Let's　see　what　we　can　work　out。　Could　you　tell　me　your　name？〃
　〃Sure；　it's　Roy　Jenkins。　Dr：　Leroy　Jenkins；　I　mean。　I　taught　oceanography　at　the　University　of　Maine　before　I　retired　a　few　years　ago。〃
　〃That　narrows　it　down。　Would　you　like　to　speak　to　someone　in　the　oceanography　division；　Dr。　Jenkins？〃
　
　Hearing　the　title　before　his　name　gave　him　courage。　He　said；　〃I'm　not　sure。　I've　some　questions　of　a　specialized　nature。〃
　〃Why　don't　we　start　in　oceanography　and　go　from　there？〃
　
　The　young　woman　picked　up　the　phone；　pressed　a　button　and　spoke　a　few　words。　〃Go　right　up；　Dr。　Jenkins。　The　receptionist　on　the　ninth　floor　is　expecting　you。〃　She　flashed　her　fabulous　smile　again　and　directed　her　eyes　to　the　next　person　in　line。
　
　Jenkins　made　his　way　toward　the　ranks　of　elevators　off　to　one　side　of　the　lobby。　Still　wondering　if　he　had　e　all　this　way　to　make　a　fool　of　himself　in　front　of　some　young　Ph。D。　with　a　pocket　protector　and　a　condescending　attitude；　he　stepped　into　an　elevator　and　pushed　a　button。　Too　late　now；　he　thought　as　the　elevator　whisked　him　skyward。
　
　
　ON　THE　TENTH　floor　of　the　NUMA　building；　Hiram　Yaeger　sat　in　front　of　a　horseshoe…shaped　console　and　stared　at　an　immense　puter　monitor　that　looked　as　if　it　were　suspended　in　space。　Displayed　on　the　screen　was　the　image　of　a　narrow…faced　man　with　beetling　brows　bent　over　a　chessboard。　Yaeger　watched　the　man　move　the　white　rook　two　spaces。　He　studied　the　board　a　moment　and　said；　〃Bishop　to　queen　five。　Check　and　checkmate。〃
　
　The　man　on　the　screen　nodded　and　tipped　his　king　over　with　a　forefinger。　In　a　thick　accent；　he　said；　〃Thank　you　for　the　game；　Hiram。　We　must　play　again。〃　The　screen　went　blank　except　for　a　pale　green　afterglow。
　
　The　middle…aged　man　sitting　next　to　Yaeger　said；　〃Very　impressive。　Victor　Karpov　isn't　exactly　a　slouch。〃
　〃I　cheated；　Hank。　When　I　programmed　all　of　Karpov's　games　into　Max's　data　banks；　I　set　up　an　array　of　responses　based　on　Bobby　Fischer's　strategy。　Fischer　simply　overrode　any　dumb　move　I　made。〃
　〃It　all　sounds　like　magic　to　me；〃　Hank　Reed　replied。　〃Speaking　of　vanishing　acts；　I　wonder　where　our　pastrami　sandwiches　are。〃　He　licked　his　lips。　〃I　think　I'd　work　for　NUMA　even　if　they　didn't　pay　me；　just　so　I　could　use　the　cafeteria。〃
　
　Yaeger　nodded　in　agreement。　〃Let's　get　back　to　work。　If　the　delivery　guy　doesn't　arrive　in　five　minutes；　I'll　call　again。〃
　〃Sounds　good；〃　Hank　said。　〃Did　Austin　ever　say　why　he　wanted　this　stuff？〃
　
　Yaeger　chuckled　knowingly。　〃Kurt's　the　ultimate　poker　player。　He　never　shows　his　cards　until　he　lays　down　his　hand。〃
　
　Austin　had　called　Yaeger　earlier　in　the　day　with　a　cheery　〃Good　morning。〃　Getting　right　to　the　point；　he'd　said；　〃I　need　some　help　from　Max。　Is　she　in　a　good　mood？〃
　〃Max　is　always　in　a　good　mood；　Kurt。　As　long　as　I　ply　her　with　electronic　cocktails；　she'll　do　anything　I　ask。〃　In　a　stage　whisper；　he　said；　〃She　thinks　I　want　her　for　her　mind　and　not　her　body。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　Max　had　a　body。〃
　〃She　has　her　pick　of　bodies。　Mae　West。　Betty　Grable。　Marilyn　Monroe。　Jennifer　Lopez。　Whatever　I　program　in。〃
　〃Please　soften　her　up　with　a　few　drinks　and　ask　her　to　dig　up　what　she　can　on　the　subject　of　methane　hydrates。〃
　
　Austin　had　been　thinking　about　methane　hydrates　since　the　Trouts　had　told　him　Ataman　Industries　was　attempting　to　mine　them　from　the　ocean　floor。
　
　〃I'll　have　a　package　for　you　later　today；　if　that's　okay。〃
　〃Fine。　I'll　be　pretty　much　tied　up　with　Admiral　Sandecker　this　morning。〃
　
　Yaeger　made　no　attempt　to　ask　when　Austin　wanted　the　information。　If　Austin　wanted　it；　it　was　important。　And　if　it　was　important；　he　wanted　it　immediately。
　
　People　who　met　Yaeger　for　the　first　time　sometimes　found　it　difficult　to　reconcile　the　scruffy…Levis…and…T…shirt　look　with　his　reputation　as　a　puter　whiz。　It　only　took　a　few　minutes　of　watching　him　at　work　to　see　why　Admiral　Sandecker　had　made　him　the　head　of　NUMA's　oceans　data　center。　From　his　console；　he　had　access　to　vast　resources　of　data　on　ocean　technology　and　history　and　every　related　bit　of　information　on　and　under　the　seas。
　
　Finding　his　way　through　the　massive　amount　of　data　at　his　mand　required　a　deft　hand。　Yaeger　knew　that　if　Max　searched　out　every　mention　of　methane　hydrates　recorded；　he　would　drown　in　the　digital　deluge。　He　needed　someone　to　point　the　way。　Hank　Reed　immediately　came　to　mind。
　
　Reed　was　in　his　lab　when　Yaeger　called。　〃Hi；　Hank。　I　could　use　your　geochemical　expertise。　Any　chance　you　could　break　away　from　your　Bunsen　burners　for　a　few　minutes？〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　NUMA's　resident　puter　whiz　needs　the　help　of　a　mere　human　being。　What's　wrong；　did　your　know…it…all　machine　blow　a　fuse？〃
　〃Nope。　Max　truly　does　know　it　all；　which　is　why　I　need　someone　on　the　slow　side　to　bird…dog　the　data。　Tell　you　what；　I'll　buy　lunch。〃
　〃Flattery　and　food。　An　irresistible　bination。　I'll　be　right　up。〃
　
　Reed　walked　into　the　data　center　wearing　a　warm　smile。　Despite　their　playful　insults；　they　were　the　best　of　friends；　bound　by　their　eccentricities。　With　his　graying　ponytail　and　wire…rimmed　granny　glasses；　Yaeger　looked　like　he　belonged　in　the　cast　of　Hair：　Dr。　Henry　Reed　had　a　round　cherub's　face　and　a　high　thatch　of　wheat…colored　hair　that　added　a　few　inches　to　his　five…foot　height　and　looked　like　it　could　have　been　bed　with　a　pitchfork。　The　thick　round　glasses　perched　on　his　small　nose　gave　him　the　expression　of　a　benign　owl。　He　took　the　chair　Yaeger　offered　and　rubbed　his　pudgy　hands　together。
　
　〃Plunk　your　magic　twanger；　Froggy。〃
　
　Yaeger　looked　over　the　tops　of　his　granny　glasses。　〃Huh？〃
　〃It's　from　an　old　program；　I　can't　remember　which　it　was。　Froggy　was　a　…　Never　mind。　You　probably　never　even　heard　of　radio。〃
　
　Yaeger　grinned。　〃Sure　I　have。　My　grandmother　told　me　about　it。　Television　without　pictures。〃　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　with　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　said；　〃Max；　say　hello　to　my　pal；　Dr。　Reed。〃
　
　A　feminine　voice　purred　through　the　speakers　placed　strategically　around　the　room。
　
　〃Hello；　Dr。　Reed。　How　nice　to　see　you　again。　。　。〃
　
　AS　THE　DOORS　hissed　shut　behind　him；　Roy　Jenkins　thought　it　strange　that　he　was　the　only　one　getting　off　the　elevator。　He　looked　at　the　numerals　on　the　wall　and　swore　to　himself。　He'd　bee　the　absentminded　professor　he　had　always　scorned。　The　receptionist　had　said　the　ninth　floor。　Preoccupied　with　his　thoughts；　he　had　pushed　the　button　for　the　tenth。
　
　Instead　of　the　standard　office　architecture　of　hallways；　cubicles　and　offices；　a　vast　glass…enclosed　area　took　up　the　entire　floor。　Jenkins　should　have　turned　back　to　the　elevator；　but　scientific　curiosity　got　the　best　of　him。　He　walked　past　banks　of　blinking　puters；　glancing　from　left　to　right；　listening　to　the　electronic　whisperings。　He　could　have　landed　on　an　alien　planet　peopled　only　by　machines。　With　some　relief　he　came　upon　the　two　men　behind　the　large　glowing　console　at　the　center　of　the　puter　plex。　They　were　looking　at　a　large　screen　that　seemed　to　hang　by　invisible　wires；　and　was　dominated　by　the　image　of　a　woman　in　vivid　color。　She　had　topaz　brown　eyes；　auburn　hair　and　the　bottom　of　the　monitor　barely　hid　her　ample　cleavage。
　
　The　woman　was　talking；　but　even　more　odd；　one　of　the　men；　who　wore　his　long　hair　in　a　ponytail；　was　talking　back　to　her。　Thinking　he　had　stumbled　into　a　showing　of　a　very　private　nature；　Jenkins　was　about　to　back　out；　but　the　other　man；　who　sported　a　hairdo　like　a　wheat　plant　gone　to　seed；　saw　him　and　grinned。
　
　〃At　last；　our　pastrami　sandwiches；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Pardon　me？〃
　
　Reed　saw　that　Jenkins　was　carrying　a　briefcase　instead　of　f　a　white　paper　bag；　studied　Jenkins's　weathered　and　tanned　face　and　then　took　in　the　workshirt　and　cap。
　
　〃Guess　you're　not　from　the　cafeteria；〃　he　said　sadly。
　
　〃My　name　is　Leroy　Jenkins。　I'm　sorry　to　bother　you。　I　got　off　at　the　wrong　floor　and　sort　of　wandered　in　here。〃　He　looked　around。　〃What　is　this　place？〃
　〃NUMA's　puter　center；〃　said　the　ponytailed　man。　He　was　boyish；　clean…shaven　face　with　a　narrow　nose　and　gray　eyes。　〃Max　can　answer　just　about　any　question　you　throw　her　way。〃
　〃Max？〃
　
　Yaeger　gestured　to　the　screen。　〃I'm　Hiram　Yaeger。　This　is　Hank　Reed。　That　lovely　lady　up　there　is　a　holographic　illusion。　Her　voice　is　a　feminine　version　of　my　own。　I　used　my　own　face　originally；　but　I　got　tired　of　looking　at　myself　and　dreamed　up　a　pretty　woman；　my　own　wife。〃
　
　Max　smiled。　〃Thank　you　for　the　pliment；　Hiram。〃
　〃You're　wele。　Max　is　smart　as　well　as　beautiful。　Ask　her　any　question　you'd　like。　Max；　this　is　Mr。　Jenkins。〃
　
　The　image　smiled　and　said；　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Jenkins。〃
　
　I've　been　in　the　wilds　of　Maine　for　too　long；　Jenkins　thought。　〃Actually；　it's　Dr。　Jenkins。　I'm　an　oceanologist。〃　He　drew　a　breath　in。　〃I'm　afraid　my　questions　are　rather　plicated。　They've　got　to　do　with　methane　hydrates。〃
　
　Yaeger　and　Reed　looked　at　each　other；　then　at　Jenkins。
　
　Max　said；　with　a　sigh　that　was　more　than　human；　〃Is　it　really　necessary　to　repeat　myself？〃
　〃Nothing　personal；　Dr。　Jenkins。　Max　has　been　working　on　the　same　subject　for　the　last　hour　or　so；〃　Yaeger　said。　He　punched　out　the　cafeteria　number　on　the　phone　and　turned　to　Jenkins。　〃We'd　like　y