cc.fireice-第59章

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　〃The　admiral　here　was　telling　us　about　that　tsunami　business　up　in　Maine。　He　seems　to　think　the　wave　was　man…made。〃
　
　Jenkins　had　been　nervously　playing　with　the　knot　of　his　tie。　Under　gentle　prodding　from　the　president；　he　spun　out　the　story　of　the　Rocky　Point　tsunami　and　his　investigation　as　to　its　cause。
　
　The　president　turned　to　Reed。　〃Do　you　agree　with　Dr。　Jenkins？〃
　〃Totally。　I　see　no　reason　to　doubt　his　conclusions。　My　re…　search　shows　that　force　applied　at　specific　points　on　the　continental　shelf　could　produce　the　results　he's　predicted。〃
　
　Austin　jumped　in。　〃I've　described　the　projectile　I　saw　on　the　Ataman　ship　to　some　ordnance　people。　They　suggested　that　it　might　be　a　concussion　bomb　with　a　shaped　charge　capable　of　great　penetration。　The　thrusters　drive　it　deep　into　the　seabed。　It　might　have　multiple　warheads　similar　to　a　nuclear　ballistics　missile。〃
　〃You're　not　suggesting　nuclear　warheads？〃　the　president　said；　with　a　look　of　alarm。
　
　〃From　what　I　understand；　it　could　be　done　with　conventional　explosives。　Some　of　the　new　ones　are　almost　as　powerful　as　a　nuke。　There's　another　thing。　When　I　talked　to　the　captain　and　pilot　of　the　NR…1；　they　said　Ataman　had　been　using　the　sub　to　look　for　weak　spots；　faults　and　thin　cover　in　the　crust　along　the　slopes　and　canyons　of　the　continental　shelf。〃
　〃Where　is　this　Ataman　ship　now？〃
　〃Off　the　New　England　coast。　I've　asked　our　satellite　people　to　look　around。　A　courier　will　have　the　results　here　shortly。〃
　〃I'll　instruct　my　receptionist　to　send　your　person　right　in；〃　the　president　said。　He　turned　to　Sparkman。　〃You're　the　mining　man；　Sid。　You　know　anything　about　this　methane　hydrate？〃
　
　Sparkman；　who　had　been　quiet　throughout　the　presentation　looked　as　if　he　were　having　acid　indigestion。　〃Yes；　Mr。　President。　It's　basically　frozen　natural　gas。　Some　people　call　it　fire　ice。〃
　〃Let's　get　back　to　specifics；　Dr。　Jenkins。　What　could　we　expect　off　the　U。S。　coast？〃
　
　Jenkins　looked　preoccupied；　as　if　another　thought　had　occurred　to　him。　〃Damage　depends　on　the　shallowness　of　water　near　shore；　the　shape　of　the　bay；　whether　there　is　a　river　where　the　wave　concentrates　its　energy。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃It's　possible　that　a　wave　might　reach　a　height　of　one　hundred　feet　after　it　hits　the　shore。〃
　
　The　president　looked　shocked。　〃That　could　cause　unimaginable　damage。〃
　〃Unfortunately；　there　are　worse　things　than　tsunamis；〃　Jenkins　said　quietly。
　
　〃What　could　be　worse　than　a　giant　wave　hitting　a　metropolitan　area？〃　the　president　said。
　
　Jenkins　took　another　deep　breath。　〃Mr。　President。　。　。　a　massive　release　of　methane　could　trigger　large…scale　global　warming。〃
　〃What？　How　could　that　happen？　I　thought　it　was　just　man…made　causes　we　had　to　worry　about。〃
　〃That；　too；　but　…　look；　let　me　give　you　an　example。　Back　in　the　eleventh　century；　there　was　a　huge　'burp'　of　methane　that　released　a　giant　amount　of　methane　into　the　atmosphere　and　started　a　worldwide　warming　trend。　The　tropics　advanced　as　far　north　as　England　and　the　sea　may　have　extended　as　far　as　Arizona。〃
　
　The　room　was　silent。
　
　〃Razov　must　know　about　the　possibility；〃　Sparkman　said；　at　last。　〃Why　would　he　do　such　a　thing？〃
　
　Reed　offered　an　explanation。　〃The　Russians　have　always　wanted　to　warm　the　northern　wastes　of　their　country。　It's　an　incredibly　rich；　but　very　harsh　land。　There　was　serious　talk　at　one　time　of　warming　the　waters　off　the　Arctic　with　atomic　energy　to　acplish　the　goal。　A　temperate　climate　would　allow　vast　development　and　settlement。　At　the　same　time；　some　people　speculate　that　global　warning　would　turn　America's　interior　into　a　dust　bowl。〃
　〃My　advisors　have　filled　me　in　on　global　warming；〃　the　president　said。　〃It's　a　very　plex　process；　as　I　understand　it。　There's　no　guarantee　it　would　turn　out　the　way　Razov　wants　it　to。〃
　〃Apparently；　Razov　is　willing　to　take　that　chance；〃　Reed　said。
　
　〃Good　God！〃　the　president　said。　〃That　would　be　a　disaster　of　unimaginable　proportions。〃
　〃It　would　be　worse　than　that；〃　Sandecker　observed。　〃With　his　huge　methane　hydrate　mining　ships　and　a　weakened　U。S。；　Razov　would　be　in　a　position　to　control　the　world's　future　energy　supply。　He　could　be　the　closest　thing　to　a　global　dictator　we've　ever　seen。〃
　〃This　man　must　be　stopped；〃　the　president　said。
　
　〃A　squadron　of　fighter　planes　would　make　short　work　of　Mr。　Razov；〃　the　vice　president　said。
　
　〃Do　we　have　enough　evidence　to　blast　this　ship　out　of　water；　especially　with　the　situation　in　Russia？〃　the　president　asked。
　
　Sandecker　said；　〃That's　an　excellent　point；　Mr。　President。　As　we　all　know；　Russia　is　in　turmoil　with　Razov's　rightwing　forces　battling　the　moderates。　Razov　would　use　any　at。　tacks　against　Russian　ships　to　show　that　the　U。S。　is　the　enemy。　The　moderates　would　be　done　for。　Russia's　nuclear　arsenal　would　e　under　the　control　of　the　Cossack　lunatic　fringe。〃
　〃But　we　can't　let　that　ship　carry　out　its　mission；〃　the　president　said。
　
　The　receptionist　knocked　softly　at　the　door；　then　opened　it。　A　young　woman　rushed　in　with　a　folder　in　her　hand。　〃Sorry　for　the　delay；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃We　ran　into　plications。〃
　〃That's　quite　all　right；〃　Sandecker　said；　〃but　how　plicated　could　it　be　to　find　one　ship？〃
　〃That　was　easy；〃　she　said；　handing　over　the　folders。　〃We　picked　up　the　target　so　quickly　we　decided　to　look　at　the　rest　of　the　East　Coast　down　to　Florida。〃
　〃You　found　another　ship；　then？〃
　〃Actually；　sir；　we　found　three　of　them　in　position　off　the　East　Coast。　Another　three　appear　to　be　on　their　way；　and　there　seems　to　be　some　activity　off　the　Pacific　coast　as　well。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Sandecker　said；　dismissing　the　courier。　When　she　was　gone；　the　president　exploded。　〃Three　ships？　And　more　on　the　way？　Damn！　How　will　we　know　which　city　is　the　target？〃　The　shadow　of　a　cloud　passed　over　the　president's　face。　〃What　if　there　is　more　than　one　target？〃
　
　Sandecker　turned　to　Yaeger。　〃Hiram？〃
　〃Kurt　and　Paul　did　all　the　hard　work；〃　Yaeger　said。　〃They　gave　me　access　to　the　encrypted　files　aboard　the　Ataman　ship；　but　Razov　was　using　a　steganographic　system。　The　munications　were　hidden　within　digital　photographs　…　it's　bee　a　standard　tool　of　terrorists　because　the　images　can　be　tough　to　decipher。　In　this　case；　it　was　a　photograph　of　a　Russian　restaurant　menu。　It　was　part　of　what　Razov　called　Operation　Troika。〃
　〃Razov　told　me　that　Troika　was　nothing　more　than　a　nickname　for　his　plan　to　open　trade　centers　in　three　U。S。　cities；〃　Austin　said。　〃There　was　nothing　secret　about　it。〃
　〃The　menu　hid　his　plans　for　the　real　operation；〃　Yaeger　continued。　〃The　key　to　deciphering　the　code　was　on　Razov's　yacht。　Thanks　to　Kurt　again；　Max　and　I　were　able　to　get　into　the　yacht's　central　control　system。　We　tracked　down　the　bi…　nary　code　in　a　dark　er　of　the　system。　The　actual　operation　is　not　Troika；　but　Wolfhound。〃
　
　Austin　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Gorky　and　Sasha；〃　he　said。　Seeing　the　quizzical　expressions　around　him；　Austin　explained：　〃Those　are　the　names　of　Razov's　pet　wolfhounds。　He's　pretty　infatuated　with　the　two　mutts。〃
　
　The　president　said；　〃I　like　dogs；　too；　but　I'm　more　interested　in　the　nuts　and　bolts　of　this　operation。〃
　
　Yaeger　said；　〃The　Wolfhound　file　indicated　that　the　three　；　ships　would　be　off　the　cities　of　Boston；　Charleston　and　。　Miami。〃
　
　
　〃But。　。　。　those　are　the　cities　where　Ataman　plans　to　open　his　trade　centers；〃　the　vice　president　said。　He　seemed　stunned。
　
　〃What　better　cover　for　an　operation？〃　Sandecker　asked。
　
　Yaeger　said；　〃The　admiral's　right　on　the　mark。　I　came　across　orders　to　evacuate　Ataman　personnel　and　interests　in　all　three　cities。　Unfortunately；　there　was　no　information　in　the　yacht's　puter　system　about　whether　one　city　or　all　the　cities　are　targets。〃
　〃My　guess　is　Boston；〃　Austin　said。　〃There's　a　major　international　financial　conference　going　on　right　now　at　the　Boston　Harbor　Hotel。　It's　being　attended　by　representatives　from　all　the　countries　that　have　been　trying　to　undermine　Razov。〃
　〃Then　the　other　ships　are　decoys？〃
　〃I　won't　rule　out　the　possibility　that　Razov　means　harm　to　all　three　cities；　but　Boston　may　be　his　prime　target。〃　Austin　opened　a　manila　folder　he'd　been　holding　on　his　lap。　He　pulled　out　two　transparent　sheets　and　put　them　on　the　presidential　desk。　〃This　is　a　map　of　Rocky　Point。　The　other　sheet　is　a　mylar　transparency　of　Boston　Harbor　and　surroundings。〃
　
　The　president　laid　the　transparency　over　the　map　and　swore　under　his　breath。　〃They're　almost　identical。〃
　
　Austin　nodded。　〃I　think　that　when　Razov　chose　Rocky　Point　to　try　out　his　wave…making　machine；　he　picked　a　place　as　close　to　his　intended　target　as　possible。〃
　
　The　president　banged　his　hand　down　on　the　desk　and　reached　for　his　phone。　〃That　does　it；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　calling　an　emergency　meeting　of　the　cabinet　and　Joint　Chiefs　of　Staff　to　discuss　air…and…sea　strikes；　no　matter　what　the　risks。　We　may　have　to　evacuate　those　cities。　How　long　do　we　have？〃

　
　Hiram　said；　〃The　operation　is　to　be　launched　in　less　than　twenty…four　hours。〃
　
　Sandecker　said；　〃The　panic　of　a　mass　evacuation　may　cause　as　many　casualties　as　an　attack。　May　I　suggest　a　middle　course；　Mr。　President？〃
　
　The　president's　hand　froze　in　midair。　〃I'm　listening；　but　I　can't　forget　my　duties　as　mander　in　chief。〃
　〃We're　not　asking　you　to。　From　what　we've　heard；　the　immediate　threat　is　to　Boston　and　possibly　two　other　cities。　According　to　Hiram's　information；　the　mand　center　is　on　the　yacht。　I　propose　that　we　disable　the　central　control。　As　insurance；　we　send　boarding　teams　aboard　all　three　ships　and　deactivate　the　explosives。　In　the　meantime；　we　can　delay　the　arrival　of　the　other　ships；　maybe　under　some　pretense。〃
　
　The　president　scratched　his　chin　in　thought。　〃I　like　it。　Of　course　I。　can't　give　official　approval　of　an　operation　in　international　waters。　I　need　deniability　in　case　things　get　dicey。〃
　〃This　wouldn't　be　the　first　time　that　NUMA　has　operated　out　of　sight　and　sound　of　official　channels；〃　Sandecker　said。
　
　〃No；　it　wouldn't；〃　the　president　said　dryly。　〃What　do　you　think；　Sid？〃
　〃Razov's　treachery　can't　be　tolerated。　My　first　instinct　is　to　blow　him　out　of　the　water。　I'd　keep　the　attack　subs　and　fighter　planes　ready　to　destroy　him；　his　yacht　and　ships　if　the　plan　doesn't　work　out。〃
　〃Fair　enough；〃　the　president　said。　〃Well；　Admiral；　looks　f　like　you　have　my　'blessing。'　But　no　one　outside　this　room　can　ever　hear　about　it。　Sid；　I　want　you　to　get　this　thing　moving　immediately　with　special　ops　and　the　armed　services。〃　He　checked　his　watch　and　got　up　from　his　desk。　〃Now　if　you'll　excuse　me；　I've　got　a　Boy　Scout　troop　ing　in　from　my　home　state　for　a　Rose　Garden　ceremony。〃
　
　
　AS　THE　OVAL　Office　emptied；　Sandecker　touched　Sparkman's　sleeve。　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　have　a　word　with　you　in　private。〃　Sparkman　gave　him　a　troubled　look。　〃Sure；　why　don't　we　go　outside　and　get　some　air？　We　can　talk　about　how　to　keep　the　White　House　liaison　with　NUMA　close　to　our　vest。〃
　
　They　walked　out　of　the　executive　mansion　to　the　south　portico。　Sandecker　gazed　around　the　manicured　grounds。　〃Beautiful　setting；　isn't　it？〃
　〃The　prettiest　sight　in　all　of　Washington。〃
　〃A　pity　you　will　never　get　to　live　here。〃
　
　Sp