cc.fireice-第47章

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　Yaeger　said；　〃That　was　great；　Max。　While　you're　in　profile　mode；　let's　go　back　to　the　continental　shelf　at　the　epicenter　of　the　shock。〃
　
　Displayed　on　the　screen　was　a　cross…section　of　the　ocean　floor　showing　a　wavy　line　representing　the　ocean's　surface　and　a　lower　one　that　was　the　sea　bottom。　The　continental　shelf　dropped　off　sharply。　At　the　edge　of　the　shelf　was　a　thick　fault　that　angled　down。　The　fault　intersected　a　variegated　line　that　represented　the　methane…hydrate　deposit　under　the　limestone　crust。

　
　〃There's　our　trouble　spot。　Show　us　what　happens　when　methane　hydrates　are　released。〃　A　methane　plume　rose　from　the　ocean　floor。　The　sea　bottom　along　the　slope　of　the　continental　shelf　collapsed。　A　depression　occurred　in　the　water　surface　where　the　landslide　occurred。　The　surface　of　the　water　cratered　above　the　slide。
　
　The　water　tried　to　stabilize；　creating　a　bump　that　moved　along　the　ocean　surface。
　
　〃There's　the　genesis　of　the　big　wave；〃　Reed　said。
　
　〃Let　me　try　something；〃　Yaeger　said。　〃You　heard　what　Dr。　Jenkins　said　about　the　Richter　scale　reading　at　that　location。　Please　give　us　a　simulation　of　what　happened。〃
　
　Ripples　that　represented　waves　began　to　travel　out　from　the　area　immediately　around　the　slide。　Max　zoomed　in　on　the　wave　heading　for　Rocky　Point。　When　the　moving　arc　was　close　to　shore；　the　close…up　of　Rocky　Point　enlarged　to　fill　the　whole　screen。　The　wave　could　be　seen　rolling　into　the　harbor；　onto　the　shore　and　up　the　river。
　
　Without　being　asked；　Max　split　the　screen　showing　the　side　view　displaying　the　profile　of　the　wave。　The　tsunami　grew　as　it　approached　land；　morphed　into　a　giant　watery　claw；　and　crashed　down　on　the　sleepy　harbor。　There　was　silence　in　the　room　as　Max　repeated　the　scene　again　and　again　in　fast　and　slow　motion。
　
　Yaeger　swiveled　in　his　chair　and　said；　〃ments；　gentlemen？〃
　〃We've　established　effect；〃　Jenkins　said。　〃The　big　question　is　whether　the　cause　was　man…made。〃
　〃It's　happened　before；〃　Reed　said。　〃Remember　what　I　said　about　a　drill　platform's　collapsing　after　accidentally　releasing　a　plume。〃
　〃Max；　I　know　you've　worked　hard；　but　I　wonder　if　you　could　do　me　a　favor。〃
　〃Of　course；　Dr。　Jenkins。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Go　back　to　your　map　of　the　East　Coast　and　show　us　weak　spots　similar　to　those　off　Maine。〃
　
　The　map　appeared　again　with　pulsating　bull's…eyes　of　varying　sizes。　The　biggest　were　off　the　New　England　coast；　New　Jersey；　Washington；　Charleston　and　Miami。
　
　〃Max；　please　simulate　what　would　happen　if　the　continental　shelf　collapsed　at　the　major　intersections　with　methane…hydrate　deposits。〃
　
　Within　an　instant；　waves　rippled　out　from　the　larger　epicenters；　reaching　a　height　of　thirty　feet；　hitting　the　coast　and　flowing　into　bays　and　up　rivers　and　far　onto　land。
　
　Reed's　eyes　blinked　rapidly　behind　the　thick　lenses。　〃Good…bye　Boston；　New　York；　Washington；　Charleston　and　Miami。〃
　〃Meth　is　death；〃　Yaeger　said　softly。　Seeing　the　puzzled　faces　of　the　older　men；　he　explained；　〃It's　an　old　hippie　saying；　meant　to　warn　people　of　the　dangers　of　using　methamphetamines　to　get　high。〃
　
　Reed　said；　〃This　is　worse　than　any　drug；　my　friend。〃　Jenkins　cleared　his　throat。　〃There　was　something　I　didn't　mention。〃　He　told　them　about　the　encounter　with　the　huge　ship　the　same　day　as　the　Rocky　Point　tsunami。
　
　〃It　sounds　as　if　you　think　the　ship　had　something　to　do　with　the　landslide　and　the　tsunami；〃　Yaeger　said。
　
　Jenkins　nodded。
　
　〃Were　there　any　markings　on　it？〃
　〃Yes；　as　a　matter　of　fact。　The　ship　was　registered　in　Liberia；　as　a　lot　of　them　are；　and　the　name　on　the　hull　was　Ataman　Explorer　I。　I　checked　the　dictionary。　It　means　the　head　man　of　a　bunch　of　Cossacks。〃
　〃Ataman？　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Yes；　does　the　name　ring　a　bell？〃
　〃Possibly。　How　long　are　you　in　Washington；　Dr。　Jenkins？〃　Yaeger　asked。
　
　〃I　don't　know。　As　long　as　I　have　to　be　I　guess。　Why？〃
　
　Yaeger　rose　from　his　chair。　〃I've　got　a　couple　of　people　I　want　you　to　meet。〃
　
　…27…
　THE　SUNLIGHT　STREAMING　through　the　tinted　floor…to…ceiling　window　washed　the　sharp　features　of　Admiral　James　Sandecker　in　a　sea…green　patina　that　made　；　his　face　look　like　a　bronze　bust　of　Father　Neptune。　From　his　office　on　the　top　floor　of　NUMA　headquarters；　he　had　an　unparalleled　view　of　official　Washington。　He　stood　at　the　window；　in　thought；　his　authoritative　blue　eyes　sweeping　the　city；　taking　in　the　White　House；　the　tall　spire　of　the　Washington　Monument　and　the　dome　of　the　Capitol；　as　if　he　were　a　hawk　searching　for　its　prey。
　
　Austin　had　spent　most　of　the　morning　filling　Sandecker　in　on　the　events　in　the　Black　Sea。　The　admiral　had　been　fascinated　by　the　description　of　the　sub　pen；　and　intrigued　at　the　meeting　with　Petrov　and　the　Odessa　Star　link　to　Lord　Dodson；　whom　he　had　met。　Occasionally；　he　asked　a　question　to　clarify　or　offer　a　theory　of　his　own。　But　he　listened　in　stony　silence；　tugging　at　his　precisely　trimmed　red　Vandyke　beard；　when　Austin　told　him　about　the　massacre　aboard　the　Sea　Hunter。　At　the　end　of　the　grisly　narrative；　he　rose　from　his　desk　without　a　word　and　walked　over　to　gaze　out　the　window。　After　a　few　moments；　he　turned　to　Austin　and　Gunn；　who　sat　in　leather　chairs　in　front　of　the　desk；　and　said；　〃In　all　my　days　as　a　navy　mander；　I　never　lost　a　ship　or　its　crew。
　
　Damned　if　I'm　about　to　start　now；　This　son　of　a　bitch　and　his　friend　Razov　are　not　going　to　get　away　with　the　massacre　of　an　entire　NUMA　crew。〃
　
　The　temperature　in　the　room　seemed　to　drop　twenty　degrees。
　
　Sandecker　came　over　and　settled　behind　his　desk。　〃How　is　Ms。　Montague；　the　young　lady　who　survived　the　attack？〃
　〃She's　tough；〃　Austin　said；　〃She　insisted　on　staying　aboard　the　ship　while　the　replacement　crew　brings　the　Sea　Hunter　back　to　port。〃
　〃Make　sure　I　see　the　young　lady　on　her　return。〃
　〃I'll　do　that；〃　Austin　said；　〃What's　the　latest　from　the　CIA？〃
　
　Sandecker　reached　into　the　humidor　on　his　desk；　pulled　out　a　cigar　and　lit　it；　〃The　CIA　is　barking　up　the　wrong　tree；　the　FBI　is　skeptical　and　the　armed　forces　aren't　much　good　unless　you　point　them　in　the　right　direction　and　give　them　marching　orders。　The　secretary　of　state　doesn't　return　my　phone　calls。〃
　〃What　about　the　White　House？〃
　〃The　president　is　sympathetic　and　concerned；　of　course。　But　I　can't　help　thinking　there　is　a　bit　of　glee　among　some　of　his　Cabinet；　a　hint　that　the　massacre　was　justified　retribution　for　sticking　our　nose　in　where　it　doesn't　belong；　They　are　angry　that　NUMA　rescued　the　NR…1　crew。〃
　〃What　difference　does　it　make　who　rescued　the　crew；　long　as　it　was　rescued？〃　Austin　said　in　frustration。
　
　Sandecker　puffed　out　a　plume　of　smoke　that　temporarily　enveloped　his　head　in　a　purple　cloud。　〃I　assume　that　was　I　rhetorical　question；　because　you're　much　too　savvy　in　the　ways　of　this　city。　You　know　that　gratitude　simply　does　not　exist　inside　the　Beltway。　We've　stolen　their　thunder；　and　they　resent　that。〃
　
　Gunn　sighed。　〃That's　pretty　much　the　scuttlebutt　I've　heard。　There's　even　criticism　behind　our　back　that　our　'bungling'　is　the　reason　that　the　captain　and　pilot　are　still　missing　with　the　sub。〃
　〃Nice　of　us　to　provide　an　excuse　for　the　inpetence　of　other　agencies；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃But　I'm　afraid　it　means　NUMA　is　on　its　own　when　it　es　to　the　Sea　Hunter　business。　Any　lead　on　this　man；　Boris？〃
　〃He's　a　will…o'…the…wisp；〃　Austin　said。　〃Our　best　chance　is　to　concentrate　on　Razov。　At　last　report；　his　yacht　had　left　the　Black　Sea；　and　we're　trying　to　track　it　down。〃
　〃We're　going　to　have　to　do　better；〃　Sandecker　said。　Sandecker's　inter　beeped　softly；　and　the　voice　of　his　secretary　came　on。
　
　〃I　know　you're　in　conference；　Admiral；　but　Mr。　Yaeger　is　here　with　two　other　gentlemen　and　he　says　it's　urgent　that　they　see　you。〃
　〃Send　them　in；　please；〃　Sandecker　said。　A　moment　later；　the　office　door　opened　and　Yaeger　came　in；　followed　by　the　diminutive　Dr。　Reed　and　a　stranger。　Sandecker　had　spent　too　much　time　on　the　water　not　to　recognize　Jenkins　as　a　fisherman；　especially　after　they　shook　hands　and　he　felt　the　barnacle…hard　calluses。
　
　He　greeted　them　warmly　and　told　the　men　to　pull　up　chairs。　〃Well；　Hiram；　what　brings　you　out　of　your　sanctum　sanctorum？〃
　〃I　think　Dr。　Jenkins　can　explain　it　better　than　I　can。〃　Jenkins　was　nervous　at　being　in　the　presence　of　the　legendary　director　of　NUMA。　But　once　he　started　to　talk；　he　hit　his　stride。　When　Jenkins　finished　his　saga；　Reed　gave　his　opinion　as　a　geochemist。　Finally；　Yaeger　pitched　in；　passing　around　printouts　of　the　diagrams　Max　had　projected　onto　the　screen。　Sandecker　sat　back　in　his　chair；　tenting　his　fingers；　his　eyes　alert　to　every　nuance。
　
　When　they　were　through　with　their　presentation；　he　tapped　his　inter。　〃Please　see　if　Dr。　Wilkins　can　e　up　from　the　Geology　Department。〃
　
　Dr。　Elwood　Wilkins　arrived　a　few　minutes　later。　He　was　I　slim；　reserved　midwesterner　who　looked　like　one　of　those　movie　character　actors　who　always　played　the　kindly　pharmacist　or　family　doctor。　Sandecker　pulled　over　another　chair　close　to　his　desk。　He　passed　Wilkins　the　printouts　and　gave　the　geologist　a　few　minutes　to　study　them。　Wilkins　finished　reading　the　material　and　looked　up。
　
　Sandecker　answered　the　question　in　the　scientist's　eyes。　〃These　gentlemen　have　suggested　that　it　is　possible　for　the　edge　of　the　continental　shelf　along　the　East　Coast　to　cave　in；　creating　destructive　tsunamis。　While　I　value　their　opinion；　it　a　never　hurts　to　hear　from　a　disinterested　observer。　What　do　d　you　think？〃
　
　Wilkins　smiled。　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　there's　any　danger　of　the　Atlantic　City　Boardwalk　being　washed　into　the　sea。〃
　
　Sandecker　raised　an　eyebrow。
　
　〃But；〃　Wilkins　added；　〃there　is　new　research　which　indicates　that　what　they　suggest　is　not　at　all　far…fetched。　The　d　rock　under　the　overlying　layer　of　the　continental　shelf　is　quite　waterlogged。　If　the　pressure　exerted　by　the　sea　bottom　reached　a　critical　state；　the　water　would　squeeze　out。　It's　as　if　you　stepped　on　a　balloon。　The　blowout　could　cause　landslides　that　deform　the　water　and　send　giant　waves　toward　the　shore。　Some　of　my　colleagues　at　Penn　State　University　have　run　puter　models　demonstrating　that　the　possibility　is　very　real。〃
　〃These　slides　would　have　to　be　triggered　by　a　quake？〃　Sandecker　said。
　
　〃A　quake　could　do　it；　most　certainly。〃
　〃Could　it　happen　on　the　East　Coast？〃　Gunn　asked。
　
　Wilkins　tapped　the　sheaf　of　printouts　in　his　hand。　〃This　material　pretty　much　spells　it　out。　The　continental　shelf　runs　the　full　length　of　the　coast。　In　several　places　along　its　slope　are　big　cracks　and　craters　where　the　potential　for　landslides　is　greater。〃
　〃Could　a　slide　be　caused　by　something　other　than　a　quake？〃　Gunn　said。
　
　〃It　could　happen　spontaneously。　I'm　sorry　I　can't　be　more　specific。　This　is　a　whole　new　area　of　science。〃
　〃I　was　thinking　of　a　release　of　methane　hydrate。〃
　〃Why　not？　If　the　hydrate　layer　is　destabilized；　sure；　the　whole　shooting　match　could　e　tumbling　down　and　set　off　your　giant　waves。〃
　
　Sandecker　could　see　Wilkins's　lips　about　to　form　a　question。　He　cut　the　discussion　short。　〃Thank　you；　Doctor。　You've　been　a　great　help；　as　always。〃　He　ushered　Wilkins　to　the　door；　patted　him　on　the　back　and　thanked　him　again。　Returni