cc.fireice-第56章

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　〃I　thought　you　came　alone。〃
　〃Never　trust　a　former　KGB　man。〃
　
　Austin　scolded　himself。　Unlike　Petrov；　he　had　underestimated　the　determination　of　his　foe。　He　had　been　so　eager　to　confront　Razov　that　he　had　neglected　his　own　escape　plans。　He　vowed　to　praise　Ivan　later　for　his　meticulous　attention　to　detail。　He　stepped　from　the　ship　onto　the　deck　of　the　powerboat；　Petrov　followed　and　Petrov's　man　ratcheted　up　the　throttle　several　notches。　The　boat　surged　forward；　almost　pitching　Austin　and　Petrov　into　the　water；　as　the　snarling　outboard　motor　pushed　it　up　on　plane。
　
　Austin　looked　back　at　the　brightly　lit　ship　and　chuckled　as　he　imagined　the　reaction　of　Razov　and　his　thugs　to　their　escape。　His　triumph　lasted　only　a　second；　however。　Silent　gunfire　raked　the　boat；　ing　not　from　the　ship　but　from　the　harbor　itself。　Though　there　was　no　sound；　the　muzzle　flashes　were　clearly　visible　in　the　darkness；　and　the　hail　of　bullets　stitched　their　way　across　the　body　of　the　helmsman。　He　let　out　a　soggy　yell　before　he　crumpled　over　the　wheel；　and　the　boat　careened　off　at　a　wild　angle。
　
　Petrov　pulled　the　man　away　from　the　wheel　and　Austin　grabbed　the　helm。　Spotlight　beams　converged　on　the　powerboat。　Razov　was　no　fool。　He'd　stationed　a　picket　line　of　his　gunmen　in　boats　around　the　yacht。
　
　Another　volley　raked　the　boat。　There　was　only　one　way　past　the　guard　boats；　and　that　was　through　them；　Austin　concluded。　He　steered　toward　a　gap　between　spotlights；　and　the　boat　shot　between　the　picket　line。　Razov's　guards　held　their　fire　for　fear　of　hitting　each　other　in　the　cross　fire；　but　once　Austin　was　in　the　open　harbor；　they　let　fly　with　everything　they　had。
　
　The　water　around　the　fleeing　boat　exploded　with　miniature　geysers。　A　few　shots　found　the　windshield　and　shattered　the　glass。　Petrov　clutched　his　head　and　fell　to　the　deck。　Austin　ducked　low　and　wrung　every　ounce　of　speed　he　could　out　of　the　motor。　The　boat　was　fast；　but　the　pursuers　were　slightly　faster。　Spotlights　were　gaining　on　both　sides。
　
　Austin　glanced　toward　shore。　They'd　never　make　it　。　。　。　and　then　another　possible　refuge　offered　itself。　Dead　ahead；　her　masts　and　sails　illuminated　by　deck　lights；　was　Old　Ironsides。
　
　A　volley　of　slugs　from　a　flanking　pursuer　slammed　into　the　side　of　the　boat　at　the　waterline　and　blasted　a　row　of　holes　in　the　fiberglass。　Austin　tried　to　keep　the　boat　on　plane；　but　the　holes　were　too　big　and　the　boat　quickly　swamped。　The　outboard　motor　pushed　on　until　it　died　with　a　smoky　gasp。　The　boat　went　under　like　a　diving　submarine。　Austin　found　himself　floating　in　Boston　Harbor。　Petrov　went　under。　Austin　dove　after　him；　grabbed　the　Russian　by　the　neck　and　pulled　him　to　the　surface；　where　he　was　greeted　by　a　bright　light　shining　in　his　eyes；　and　he　could　hear　the　sound　of　voices　shouting。
　
　
　STRONG　HANDS　REACHED　down；　grabbed　Austin　by　the　arms　and　the　scruff　of　his　jacket　and　pulled　him；　dripping；　from　the　chill　water。　He　wiped　his　eyes　and　saw　that　he　was　in　a　double…ended　boat　about　thirty　feet　long。　A　dozen　men　wearing　white　navy　uniforms　and　black　neckerchiefs　pulled　at　long　oars　with　practiced　strokes。　Petrov　was　stretched　out　at　Austin's　feet；　blood　streaming　from　a　wound　on　his　head。　He　gave　Austin　a　weak　wave。
　
　〃All　you　all　right；　sir？〃　said　a　young　man　who　sat　next　to　Austin　in　the　stem；　his　hand　on　the　tiller。　Over　his　white　sailor's　uniform　he　wore　a　long　black　coat　with　brass　buttons　down　the　front；　a　black　neckerchief　and　a　shiny　black…brimmed　hat。
　
　〃A　little　waterlogged。　Thanks　for　hauling　us　out　of　the　harbor。〃
　
　The　steersman　extended　his　free　hand。　〃Josh　Slade。　I'm　the　officer　of　the　deck　on　board　the　U。S。S。　Constitution。　We　saw　you　from　up　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　Old　Ironsides；　which　sat　in　the　water　a　few　hundred　feet　away；　her　three　tall　masts　brightly　illuminated　by　floodlights。
　
　〃My　name　is　Kurt　Austin。　I'm　with　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　〃What's　NUMA　doing　in　these　parts？〃　Slade　gave　him　a　funny　look　as　he　asked　the　question。　Austin　brought　his　hand　up　to　his　face　and　felt　his　fake　nose。
　
　It　was　hanging　half　off　from　the　effects　of　the　dunk　in　the　harbor。　Austin　ripped　the　nose　off　and　tossed　it　over　the　side。
　
　〃Long　story；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃How's　my　friend？〃
　〃Looks　like　the　bleeding　has　stopped。　We'll　give　him　first　aid　when　we　get　back　on　board。〃
　
　Music　from　Razov's　yacht　drifted　across　the　water。　Austin　hoped　Kaela　and　Lombardo　were　all　right。　He　saw　no　sign　of　the　chase　boats　and　their　gun…happy　crews；　but　instinct　and　experience　told　him　they　hadn't　gone　far。
　
　〃Did　anyone　see　the　powerboats　that　were　following　us？〃
　〃Just　a　glimpse。　They　were　right　on　your　tail；　but　when　you　got　into　trouble；　they　disappeared。　We　couldn't　figure　out　why　they　didn't　stop　to　help。　Don't　know　where　they　went。　We　were　busy　launching　the　captain's　gig　and　didn't　pay　much　attention。〃
　〃Lucky　you　were　here。　It　would　have　been　a　long　swim　back　to　land。〃
　〃I'll　say。　Normally　we　wouldn't　be　out　here　this　late。　The　Constitution　does　one　turnaround　cruise　a　year；　on　the　Fourth　of　July。　We　were　taking　the　ship　out　on　a　midnight　cruise。　Got　the　master　gun　team；　so　we　can　fire　a　twenty…one…gun　salute。　The　governor　and　the　mayor　got　the　okay　from　the　Navy　Department　for　us　to　do　a　nighttime　sail…by。　What　happened？　We　saw　you　zipping　it　along；　but　then　your　boat　seemed　to　vanish　from　under　you。〃
　
　Austin　saw　no　point　in　beating　around　the　bush。　〃We　were　leaving　the　party　yacht。　Those　boats　you　saw　shot　us　out　of　the　water　and　killed　our　helmsman。〃
　
　He　stared　at　Austin　as　if　he　suspected　his　sanity。　〃We　didn't　hear　any　gunfire。〃
　
　〃They　had　silencers　on　their　guns。〃
　〃e　to　think　of　it；　we　saw　flashes　of　light　that　could　have　e　from　guns。　We　thought　they　were　camera　strobe　lights。　Who　were　those　guys？　Whoops；〃　he　said；　not　waiting　for　an　answer。　〃Going　to　have　to　excuse　me　for　a　minute。〃
　
　Slade　steered　them　around　behind　the　Constitution　under　the　white　eagle　and　ship's　name　emblazoned　on　the　stem。　He　maneuvered　the　boat　under　the　davits　that　projected　overhead　like　extended　wooden　arms。　The　rowers　lifted　the　oars　out　of　their　locks　and　stood　them　in　a　vertical　position；　then　attached　the　lines　hanging　down　from　the　davits　and　winched　themselves　up　to　deck　level。
　
　With　help　from　the　deck　crew；　Petrov　was　extricated　from　the　boat。　The　Russian　had　revived　and　was　able　to　walk　with　the　help　of　a　sailor　on　either　side。　Someone　made　a　mattress　of　life　jackets　so　he　wouldn't　have　to　lie　on　the　hard　wooden　deck。　Another　crewman　gave　Austin　a　coat　to　replace　his　dripping　jacket。
　
　Slade　took　his　hat　off　and　tucked　it　under　his　arm。　He　was　a　dark…haired　young　man　in　his　twenties；　a　couple　of　inches　taller　than　Austin's　six　feet　one。　With　his　chiseled　features　and　ramrod　posture；　he　could　have　posed　for　a　navy　recruiting　poster。
　
　〃Wele　to　Old　Ironsides；　the　oldest　missioned　warship　in　the　world；　still　manned　by　an　active…duty　U。S。　Navy　crew。〃　The　pride　in　his　voice　was　obvious。
　
　〃　'Ay；　tear　her　tattered　ensign　down！　Long　has　it　waved　on　high；'　〃　Austin　said；　quoting　the　first　line　of　the　Oliver　Wendell　Holmes　poem；　〃Old　Ironsides；〃　that　had　inspired　the　nation　to　save　the　ship　from　destruction。
　
　Slade　grinned　and　quoted　the　second　line；　〃　'And　many　an　eye　has　danced　to　see　that　banner　in　the　sky　。　。　。'　Sounds　as　if　you　know　your　naval　history；　sir。〃
　〃I　know　the　ship　fought　the　Barbary　pirates　and　gave　the　British　a　major　headache　during　the　War　of　1812。　That　she　was　undefeated　in　battle。　And　during　the　fight　with　the　British　frigate　H。M。S　Guerriere；　cannonballs　bounced　off　her　sides　as　if　they　were　made　of　iron。〃　His　eyes　fondly　swept　the　two…hundred…four…foot　length　of　the　frigate；　taking　in　the　long　bowsprit；　We　expansive　spar　deck　with　the　neat　rows　of　cannon　and　the　two…hundred…twenty…foot…tall　main…mast。　〃Hope　I　look　half　as　good　when　I'm　her　age。〃
　〃Thank　you。　We　take　great　pride　in　keeping　her　ship…shape。　She　was　built　not　far　from　here；　launched　in　1797。　Actually；　her　sides　were　made　of　live　oak　from　the　south…eastern　U。S。　Her　hull　is　twenty…five　inches　thick　at　the　waterline。　Paul　Revere　did　the　copperwork　and　made　the　ship's　bell。　Don't　mean　to　give　you　the　guide　routine；〃　he　apologized；　〃but　we're　awfully　proud　of　the　lady。〃　His　face　grew　serious。　〃Instead　of　giving　you　a　history　lesson；　I　should　call　the　Coast　Guard　and　let　them　know　we've　got　an　injured　man　on　board。〃　Slade　patted　the　pockets　of　his　coat　and　frowned。　〃Damn。　My　cell　phone　must　have　fallen　out　when　I　got　in　the　gig。　I've　got　a　walkie…talkie　we　use　to　keep　in　touch　with　the　tugboat　when　we're　being　pushed　or　towed。　I'll　ask　the　crew　to　relay　a　message　to　the　Coast　Guard。〃
　
　While　Slade　retrieved　his　handheld　radio；　Austin　went　over　to　where　Petrov　was　stretched　out　on　the　deck。　Someone　had　covered　him　with　a　section　of　sail。　A　crewman　was　keeping　watch。
　
　Austin　knelt　by　Petrov's　side。　〃How　are　you　feeling；　tovarich？〃
　
　Petrov　groaned。　〃I　have　a　splitting　headache；　as　you　would　expect　after　having　a　bullet　bounce　off　a　er　of　my　skull。　Why　is　it　that　every　time　I　get　too　close　to　you；　I　get　blown　up　or　shot　up？〃
　〃Just　lucky；　I　guess。　Razovmust　have　taken　something　I　said　the　wrong　way。　Sorry　that　you　lost　your　man。〃
　〃I　am；　too。　He　wasn't　a　bad　sort　for　a　Ukrainian。　He　was　aware　he　was　in　a　dangerous　business；　though。　His　family　will　be　well…pensated。〃
　
　Austin　told　Petrov　to　take　it　easy；　then　he　rose　and　walked　to　the　thick　wooden　bulwark；　the　chin…high　raised　side　that　enclosed　the　uppermost　deck。　While　he　was　scanning　the　harbor；　Slade　returned。
　
　〃Mission　acplished；〃　he　said。　〃The　tug　crew　will　notify　the　Coast　Guard　and　the　police　harbor　patrol。　They'll　ask　them　to　send　some　EMTs　over　to　take　care　of　your　friend。　How's　he　doing？〃
　〃He'll　live。　A　half　an　inch　lower　and　he　would　have　lost　some　brain　power。〃
　〃Is　he　with　NUMA；　too？〃
　〃He's　a　Russian　trade　representative　from　Siberian　Pest　Control。〃
　
　Slade　gave　him　that　funny　look　again。　〃What's　he　doing　in　Boston　Harbor？〃
　〃Looking　for　Siberian　pests；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Slade　noticed　Austin　peering　back　toward　where　the　tugboat　was　nudged　up　against　the　stern　of　the　ship。
　
　〃The　tug　pushed　us　away　from　the　wharf；〃　Slade　explained。　〃We　were　getting　ready　to　raise　sail　after　they　got　us　into　the　outer　harbor。　We're　supposed　to　do　a　run　for　the　television　cameras；　then　rendezvous　with　the　tug　and　get　a　ride　back　to　the　navy　yard。〃
　
　Austin　was　only　half　listening。　He　squinted　into　the　darkness　at　the　snarl　of　boat　motors。　The　sound　grew　louder。　Then　he　saw　firefly　points　of　light　made　by　muzzle　flashes。
　
　Traveling　in　a　line；　three　fast　powerboats　materialized　and　raced　toward　the　stern　of　the　sailing　vessel。　Then　came　the　snap　and　whine　of　rounds　ricocheting　off　the　tugboat。　Sparks　exploded　where　the　bullets　struck　the　steel　hull。　The　tugboat　crew　got　over　its　surprise　at　being　fired　upon。　With　a　roar　of　its　engines；　the　tugboat　went　into　reverse　and　headed　off　at　full　throttle。　The　boats　circled　the　slower　craft；　riddling　the　wooden　pilothouse　with　bullets。　The　tug　slowed；　traveled　a　few　hundred　feet　before　i