cc.fireice-第58章

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　…33…
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　SANDECKER　GLANCED　AROUND　the　Oval　Office　and　reflected　on　the　life…and…death　decisions　that　had　been　made　in　the　famous　room。　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　the　political　currents　that　swirled　around　Washington　had　their　center　within　these　quiet　walls。　On　his　last　visit　to　the　White　House；　he'd　been　treated　as　a　pariah　and　warned　to　butt　out　of　national　security　matters；　but　after　NUMA　had　rescued　the　NR…1's　captain　and　crew　and　saved　the　White　House　major　embarrassment；　Sandecker　had　bee　the　proverbial　eight…hundred…pound　gorilla。　He　lost　no　time　throwing　his　weight　around。
　
　The　White　House's　formidable　appointments　secretary　hadn't　hesitated　when　he　called　and　asked　to　meet　with　the　president　on　an　urgent　matter。　The　secretary　bumped　an　ambassador　and　a　congressional　delegation　from　the　president's　busy　schedule；　and　she　never　blinked　when　Sandecker　asked　that　only　the　president　and　vice　president　attend。
　
　Sandecker　had　politely　refused　the　offer　of　a　White　House　limousine　and　made　the　trip　in　a　Jeep　Cherokee　from　the　NUMA　motor　pool。　The　receptionist　had　ushered　the　admiral；　Rudi　Gunn　and　Austin　into　the　Oval　Office　and　saw　to　it　that　a　steward　served　them　coffee　on　White　House　china。
　
　As　they　waited；　Sandecker　turned　to　Austin。　〃I've　been　meaning　to　ask　you；　Kurt。　How　did　it　feel　to　mandeer　a　national　monument？〃
　〃Quite　the　rush；　Admiral。　Unfortunately；　with　only　two　cannon　in　the　bow；　I　couldn't　yell；　'Give　'em　a　broadside！'　〃
　〃From　what　I've　heard；　you　and　the　Constitution's　crew　acquitted　yourselves　with　undeniable　valor。　Old　lronsides　lived　up　to　her　glorious　name。〃
　
　Gunn　said　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye；　〃The　scuttlebutt　among　the　top　navy　brass　has　it　that　Old　lronsides　is　being　missioned　as　part　of　the　Seventh　Fleet。　After　she's　patched　up；　of　course。〃
　〃I　understand　that　the　navy　plans　to　retire　an　aircraft　carrier　in　her　favor；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　poker　face。　〃The　Pentagon　sees　great　cost…cutting　opportunities　in　the　use　of　sail　and　belaying　pins。〃
　〃Cost　cutting　would　be　a　new　one　for　the　Pentagon；〃　Sandecker　mused。　〃What　happened　to　the　men　who　attacked　you？〃
　〃The　Coast　Guard　and　police　scoured　the　harbor。　They　found　three　boats　scuttled　in　the　marshes　on　a　harbor　island；　the　hulls　shot　full　of　holes。〃
　〃I　understand　there　were　some　injuries。〃
　〃The　tugboat　crewmen　were　wounded；　but　they　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　play　dead。〃
　〃What　of　the　Russian；　the　man　you　call　Ivan？〃
　〃He　was　only　grazed　by　the　bullet　and　is　doing　fine。〃
　〃What　did　Razov　have　to　say　about　these　pirates？〃
　〃Nothing。　He　cut　his　party　short；　kicked　his　guests　off　the　yacht　and　sailed　out　of　the　harbor　before　anyone　could　ask　him　questions。〃
　〃This　Razov　is　a　shifty　character；〃　Sandecker　said　with　a　j　knitted　brow。　〃We've　got　our　work　cut　out　for　us。　We've　been　keeping　an　eye　on　him　since　he　left　Boston？〃
　
　Gunn　nodded。　〃Satellite　surveillance　had　him　heading　at　a　leisurely　pace　along　the　Maine　coast。〃
　〃Just　a　gentleman　yachtsman　out　for　a　cruise；〃　Sandecker　said；　his　voice　dripping　with　sarcasm。
　
　〃I've　asked　the　satellite　department　to　run　the　latest　results　over　here　for　this　meeting；〃　Gunn　said。
　
　The　door　opened；　and　a　Secret　Service　man　stepped　inside。　〃The　boss　is　on　his　way；〃　he　said。
　
　A　bustle　of　activity　could　be　heard　in　the　hall　and　President　Wallace　came　through　the　door；　wearing　his　trademark　smile；　his　outstretched　hand　cocked　for　action。　The　towering　figure　of　Vice　President　Sid　Sparkman　was　a　step　behind。　After　a　round　of　handshakes；　the　president　settled　behind　his　desk；　and　as　usual　the　vice　president　drew　up　a　chair　close　at　his　right　elbow；　emphasizing　his　place　in　the　executive　hierarchy。
　
　〃Glad　you　asked　for　this　meeting；〃　the　president　said。　〃Gives　me　the　chance　to　thank　you　personally　for　saving　the　folks　from　the　NR…1。〃
　
　Sandecker　acknowledged　the　thank…you　and　added；　〃Kurt　and　the　others　in　the　NUMA　Special　Assignments　Team　deserve　the　real　credit。〃
　
　The　president's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　heard　about　that　business　in　Boston；　Kurt。　What　sort　of　a　lunatic　would　shoot　up　Old　lronsides？〃
　〃The　same　type　of　lunatic　who　would　order　the　massacre　of　a　NUMA　crew；　Mr。　President。　Mikhail　Razov。〃
　
　The　vice　president　leaned　forward　in　his　chair　as　if　he　were　using　his　body　mass　to　intimidate。　〃Mikhail　Razov　is　a　prominent　figure　in　his　country；〃　he　said；　his　smile　belied　by　the　fierce　expression　in　his　eyes。　〃You're　talking　about　the　man　who　might　be　the　next　leader　of　Russia。　What　evidence　do　you　have　that　he's　involved　in　any　of　this　business？〃
　
　Austin　leaned　forward　as　well；　emphasizing　his　broad　shoulders。　〃The　best　kind　of　evidence。　An　eyewitness。〃
　〃I　read　the　report　on　the　Sea　Hunter　attack。　The　ravings　of　a　hysterical　woman；〃　Sparkman　said；　with　a　snort。
　
　Austin　felt　the　bile　rising　in　his　throat。　〃Hysterical；　yes；　ravings；　no。　Razov's　man　Boris　made　sure　we　knew　the　attack　was　retribution　for　trespassing　on　the　old　Soviet　sub　pens。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you　used　the　word　trespass；　because　that's　what　it　was；　an　illegal　violation　of　another　country's　national　sovereignty。〃
　
　Austin's　mouth　widened　in　a　grin；　but　his　gaze　had　the　look　of　a　lion　regarding　a　wounded　wildebeest。　Sandecker　saw　Kurt　ready　himself　to　unsheathe　his　claws　and　deflected　the　attack。　〃What's　done　is　done；　I'm　afraid。　We've　got　more　to　worry　about　now；　gentlemen。　The　prospect　of　a　plot　against　the　United　States。　With　all　due　respect；　Mr。　Vice　President；　we　believe　that　the　man　behind　this　threat　is　Mikhail　Razov。〃
　〃That's　ridiculous　…　〃　the　vice　president　said。　The　president　silenced　him　with　his　hand。
　
　〃Razov　expects　to　rise　on　the　crest　of　a　neo…Cossack　revolution；〃　explained　Austin。　〃Claiming　to　be　descended　from　the　Romanovs　gives　him　legitimacy　in　the　eyes　of　his　fanatical　supporters；　who　will　follow　him　to　the　death。〃
　〃Any　truth　to　his　claims？〃
　〃We　don't　know；　Mr。　President。　We　do　have　evidence　that　the　Grand　Duchess　Maria；　one　of　the　tsar's　daughters；　survived　the　Russian　Revolution　and　went　on　to　marry　and　have　children。〃
　〃Maria？　The　only　one　I've　ever　heard　of　was　Anastasia；〃　the　president　said。　〃Saw　that　Walt　Disney　picture。〃　He　toyed　with　a　pen　on　his　desk。　〃Fascinating。　Does　Razov　have　any　proof　to　back　up　his　bloodline？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　he　had　a　birth　certificate。　The　Russians　have　decades　of　experience　forging　documents　under　munist　rule。　We　believe　he　will　buttress　his　claim　with　the　crown　of　Ivan　the　Terrible。　The　crown　is　said　to　bestow　mystical　power　upon　its　wearer。　Razov　will　say　that　only　the　rightful　ruler　of　Russia　would　have　the　crown。　Once　he's　in　power；　I　doubt　if　anyone　would　bother　him　for　a　DNA　sample。〃
　〃He　has　this　crown？〃
　〃Maybe。　We　found　a　jewelry　box　containing　a　list　of　the　tsarist　treasures　being　carried　on　the　Odessa　Sta1：　The　crown　was　not　included。〃
　

　〃What　about　DNA？〃
　〃Once　Razov　is　in　power；　he　could　fabricate　any　DNA　evidence　he　needed。　It　would　be　a　simple　thing。〃
　〃The　Russian　people　are　pretty　sophisticated；　for　all　their　problems；〃　the　president　said。　〃Do　you　really　think　they'll　buy　a　cock…and…bull　story　like　that？〃
　
　Sandecker's　lips　tightened　in　a　smile。　〃As　an　elected　official；　you've　had　more　experience　than　I　have　with　the　ability　of　politicians　to　bamboozle　the　public。〃
　
　The　president　cleared　his　throat。　〃Yes；　I　see　what　you　mean。　He　wouldn't　be　the　first　tinhorn　dictator　to　sell　his　people　a　bill　of　goods。　We　know　Razov　is　furious　at　the　United　States　for　trying　to　paint　him　out　of　the　political　picture。　Sounds　like　he　intends　to　call　our　bluff；　use　this　so…called　threat　as　a　little　blackmail　to　get　us　to　pull　back。　Well；　I've　got　news　for　Mr。　Razov。　The　United　States　won't　be　blackmailed。　If　we　let　Razov　get　away　with　this；　there　will　be　no　end　to　the　threats。〃
　〃It　may　be　more　plicated　than　simple　blackmail；〃　Austin　said；　recalling　the　story　Petrov　had　told　him　about　Razov's　girlfriend。　〃Razov　had　a　fiancйe；　a　young　woman　who　was　going　to　be　his　tsarina。　She　was　visiting　Yugoslavia　during　the　NATO　air　raids　on　Belgrade　and　was　accidentally　killed　by　a　bomb　from　an　American　plane。　It's　given　him　a　deep　hatred　of　the　United　States。〃
　
　Sandecker　rejoined　the　discussion。　〃What　Kurt　is　saying　is　that　Razov's　animosity　toward　the　United　States　goes　beyond　our　efforts　to　frustrate　his　political　career。　My　guess　is　that　neutralizing　the　U。S。　fits　in　with　his　nationalist　ambitions；　but　that　he　intends　to　satisfy　his　thirst　for　vengeance　as　well。〃
　
　The　president　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　laced　his　fingers　across　his　chest。　〃It's　the　last　part　that　interests　me；　Admiral。　How's　he　propose　to　knock　us　out　of　the　game？〃
　〃We　think　Razov　has　found　a　way　to　release　the　energy　stored　in　pockets　of　methane　hydrates　under　the　continental　shelf　off　the　East　Coast；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃By　destabilizing　the　shelf；　he　can　cause　massive　underwater　landslides　that　create　tsunamis；　giant　waves　that　can　be　directed　at　specific　targets。〃
　
　A　look　of　pure　astonishment　crossed　the　president's　face。　He　sat　bolt　upright。　〃Are　you　saying　Razov　plans　to　launch　giant　waves　against　the　U。S。？〃
　〃He　already　has。　He　sent　that　wave　into　Rocky　Point。〃
　
　Turning　to　Sparkman；　the　president　said；　〃Sid；　I　signed　off　on　the　federal　disaster　aid　to　Rocky　Point。　Did　anyone　say　it　was　connected　to　terrorism？〃
　〃No；　Mr。　President。　Nobody　I've　talked　to　thinks　the　wave　was　anything　other　than　a　natural　occurrence。　In　this　case；　caused　by　an　undersea　earthquake。〃
　〃Well；　Admiral？〃　the　president　said　to　Sandecker。　〃Perhaps　if　we　heard　from　an　authority　on　the　subject；　it　might　allay　any　doubts。〃
　〃That　seems　like　a　good　idea；〃　the　president　said。　〃When　can　you　line　up　your　expert？〃
　〃As　long　as　it　takes　to　summon　him　from　the　reception　room。　Actually；　I've　brought　along　two　experts；　Dr。　Leroy　Jenkins；　an　oceanographer　formerly　with　the　University　of　Maine；　and　Dr。　Hank　Reed；　a　geochemist　with　NUMA。〃
　〃You　never　go　anywhere　without　backup；　do　you；　James？〃　the　president　said；　with　a　smile。
　
　〃It's　my　old　academy　training。　Why　fire　one　torpedo　when　you　can　launch　a　whole　spread？　I've　also　taken　the　liberty　of　inviting　NUMA's　chief　puter　programmer；　Hiram　Yaeger。〃
　
　The　president　murmured　an　order　over　the　inter。　A　few　minutes　later；　the　Secret　Service　agent　ushered　Yaeger；　Reed　and　Jenkins　into　the　office。　Yaeger　was　no　stranger　to　the　corridors　of　power　and　was　little　impressed　by　anyone　who　did　not　speak　in　terms　of　megabytes。　In　deference　to　the　president's　title；　he　had　donned　a　well…worn　Madras…plaid　cotton　sports　jacket　over　his　jeans　and　T…shirt　and　wore　a　new　pair　of　desert　boots。　Jenkins　had　on　his　tan　poplin　suit　from　his　college　days　and　a　new　blue　oxford　shirt　bought　for　the　occasion。　Hank　Reed　had　made　a　valiant　effort　to　subdue　his　Lyle　Lovett　hair；　but　even　his　suit　and　tie　couldn't　prevent　him　from　looking　like　a　troll　doll。
　
　If　the　president　wondered　at　what　may　have　been　the　oddest…looking　assortment　of　human　beings　ever　to　visit　the　Oval　Office；　he　was　diplomatic　enough　not　to　show　it。　After　a　round　of　handshakes　and　introductions；　he　said：
　
　〃The　admiral　here　was　telling　us　about　that　tsunami　bu