cc.fireice-第6章

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ot's　seat。　You've　met　Dr。　Pulaski；〃　he　said　to　the　pilot。　〃He's　a　marine　archaeologist　from　the　University　of　North　Carolina。〃
　
　The　pilot　nodded　and　Logan　slid　into　the　right…hand　chair　beside　him。　In　front　of　him　was　a　formidable　array　of　instruments　and　video　display　screens。　〃Those　are　our　'eyes；'　〃　he　said；　pointing　to　a　row　of　television　monitors。　〃That's　the　bow　view　from　the　sail　cam　on　the　front　of　the　sail。〃
　
　The　captain　studied　the　glowing　control　panel　and　after　conferring　with　the　pilot；　he　radioed　the　support　ship　and　said　the　sub　was　ready　to　dive。　He　gave　the　order　to　submerge　and　level　off　at　one　hundred　feet。　The　pump　motors　hummed　as　water　was　introduced　into　the　ballast　tanks。　The　rocking　motion　of　the　sub　ceased　as　she　sank　below　the　waves。　The　sharp　bow　pictured　on　the　monitors　disappeared　in　a　geyser　of　spray；　then　reappeared；　looming　dark　against　the　blue　water。　The　crew　checked　out　the　sub's　systems　while　the　captain　tested　the　UQC；　an　underwater　wireless　telephone　that　connected　the　sub　with　the　support　ship。　The　voice　from　the　ship　had　a　drawling；　metallic　quality　but　the　words　were　clear　and　distinct。
　
　When　the　captain　was　assured　all　systems　were　go；　he　said；　〃Dive；　dive！〃
　
　There　was　little　sensation　of　movement。　The　monitor　pictures　went　from　blue　to　black　water　as　the　sunlight　faded；　and　the　captain　ordered　the　exterior　lights　on。　The　descent　was　practically　silent；　the　pilot　using　a　joystick　to　operate　the　diving　planes；　the　captain　keeping　a　close　eye　on　the　deep…depth　gauge。　When　the　sub　was　fifty　feet　above　the　bottom；　Logan　ordered　the　pilot　to　hover。
　
　The　pilot　turned　to　Pulaski。　〃We're　in　shouting　distance　of　the　site　we　picked　up　with　remote　sensing。　We'll　run　a　search　using　our　side…scan　sonar。　We　can　program　a　search　pattern　into　the　puter。　The　sub　will　automatically　run　the　course　on　its　own　while　we　sit　back　and　relax。　Saves　wear　and　tear　on　the　crew。〃
　〃Incredible；〃　Pulaski　said。　〃I'm　surprised　this　remarkable　boat　won't　analyze　our　findings；　write　a　report　and　defend　our　conclusions　against　the　criticism　of　jealous　colleagues。〃
　〃We're　working　on　that；〃　Logan　said；　with　a　poker　face。　Pulaski　shook　his　head　in　mock　dismay。　〃I'd　better　find　another　line　of　work。　At　this　rate；　marine　archaeologists　will　be　doomed　to　extinction　or　to　simply　staring　at　television　monitors。〃
　〃Something　else　you　can　blame　on　the　Cold　War。〃
　
　Pulaski　looked　around　in　wonderment。　〃I　never　would　have　guessed　that　I'd　be　doing　archaeological　research　in　a　sub　designed　to　spy　on　the　Soviet　Union。〃
　〃There's　no　way　you　could　have　known。　This　vessel　was　as　hush…hush　as　it　gets。　The　amazing　part　is　that　the　ninety…million…dollar　price　tag　was　kept　a　secret。　It　was　money　well…spent　in　my　opinion。　Now　that　the　navy　has　allowed　her　to　be　used　for　civilian　purposes；　we　have　an　incredible　tool　for　pure　research。〃
　〃I　understand　the　sub　was　used　in　the　Challenger　space　shuttle　disaster；〃　Pulaski　said。
　
　Logan　said；　〃She　retrieved　critical　parts　so　NASA　could　determine　what　went　wrong　and　make　the　shuttle　safe　to　fly。　She　also　salvaged　a　sunken　F…14　and　a　missing　Phoenix　air…to…air　missile　we　didn't　want　anyone　getting　their　hands　on。　Some　of　the　stuff　involving　the　Russians　is　still　classified。〃
　〃What　can　you　tell　me　about　the　mechanical　arm？〃
　〃The　manipulator　works　like　a　human　arm；　with　rotation　at　all　the　joints。　The　sub　has　two　rubber　wheels　in　the　keel。　It's　not　exactly　a　Harley…Davidson　motorcycle；　but　it　allows　us　to　move　along　on　the　seabed。　While　the　sub　rests　on　the　ocean　floor；　the　arm　can　work　a　nine…foot　radius。〃
　〃Fascinating；〃　Pulaski　said。　〃And　its　capacity？〃
　〃It　can　lift　objects　up　to　two　hundred　pounds。〃
　〃What　about　cutting　tools？〃
　〃Its　jaws　can　cut　rope　or　cable；　but　they　can　also　hold　a　torch　if　the　job　is　tough。　As　I　said；　very　versatile。〃
　〃Yes；　evidently；〃　Pulaski　said。　He　seemed　pleased。
　
　The　sub　had　been　moving　in　a　classic　search　pattern；　back　and　forth　in　a　series　of　parallel　lines；　like　mowing　a　lawn。　The　monitors　showed　the　seafloor　moving　beneath　the　submarine。　Vegetation　was　nonexistent。
　
　Logan　said；　〃We　should　be　closing　in　on　the　location　we　spotted　from　above。〃　He　gestured　at　a　screen。　〃Hul…lo。　Looks　like　the　side　scan　picked　up　a　hit。〃　He　turned　to　the　pilot。　〃Resume　manual　control　and　bring　her　down　around　twenty　degrees　to　port。〃
　
　With　gentle　bursts　of　the　thrusters；　the　NR…1　glided　on　a　shallow　angle。　The　battery　of　two　dozen　exterior　lights　illuminated　the　sea　bottom　with　a　sun…bright　intensity。　The　pilot　adjusted　ballast　tanks　until　the　sub　achieved　neutral　buoyancy。
　
　〃Hold　steady；〃　Logan　said。　〃We're　ing　into　visual　contact　with　our　target。〃　He　leaned　forward　and　peered　intently　at　the　screen；　his　features　bathed　in　the　blue…green　light。　his　the　sub　moved　forward；　bulbous　shapes　appeared　on　the　screen；　singly　at　first；　then　in　groups。
　
　〃Those　are　concentrations　of　amphorae；〃　Pulaski　said。　The　clay　jars　for　wine　or　other　liquid　cargo　were　often　found　on　ancient　sunken　ships。
　
　〃We've　got　the　still　and　video　cameras　making　a　three…dimensional　record　for　you　to　analyze　later；〃　the　captain　said。　〃Is　there　anything　you'd　like　to　retrieve？〃
　〃Yes；　that　would　be　wonderful。　Can　we　bring　up　an　amphora？　Maybe　from　that　pile。〃
　
　Logan　ordered　the　pilot　to　put　the　sub　on　the　bottom　near　a　pile　of　clay　jars。　The　four…hundred…ton　vessel　touched　down　like　a　feather　and　rolled　forward。　The　captain　called　for　the　retrieval　crew。
　
　Two　crewmen　came　forward　and　lifted　a　hatch　in　the　floor　behind　the　control　area。　Beneath　the　hatch　was　a　shallow　well。　A　trio　of　four…inch…thick　acrylic　viewing　ports　in　the　floor　offered　a　view　of　the　bottom。　One　man　squeezed　into　the　space　and　kept　watch　so　the　sub　wouldn't　run　into　the　pile　of　jars。　When　the　targets　were　within　reach；　the　sub　stopped。　The　manipulator　arm　was　housed　in　the　forward　end　of　the　keel　box。　Using　a　portable　control　panel；　the　man　in　the　well　extended　the　arm　and　worked　the　jaws。　The　arm　rotated　at　the　shoulder。
　
　The　mechanical　hand　gently　grabbed　a　jar　around　the　neck；　lifted　and　placed　it　in　a　storage　basket　below　the　bow。　The　arm　was　retracted　and　Logan　ordered　the　crew　to　raise　the　sub　off　the　bottom。　While　the　sub　made　another　photo　run；　Logan　called　the　support　ship；　described　their　find　and　said　they　were　about　to　surface；　then　ordered　the　sonar　turned　on　to　locate　the　support　ship　on　the　surface。　A　measured　ping…ping　echoed　throughout　the　sub。
　
　〃Prepare　to　surface；〃　Logan　told　the　pilot。　Dr。　Pulaski　was　standing　directly　behind　the　captain's　chair。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　he　said。
　
　Preoccupied　with　the　task　at　hand；　Logan　was　only　half　listening。　〃Pardon　me；　Doctor。　What　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　said　we're　not　going　to　the　surface。〃
　
　Logan　spun　his　chair　around；　an　amused　expression　on　his　face。　〃I　hope　you　didn't　take　my　bragging　about　the　ability　to　stay　down　for　a　month　at　face　value。　We　only　brought　enough　food　for　a　few　days。〃
　
　Pulaski　slipped　a　hand　under　his　windbreaker　and　pulled　out　a　Tokarev　TT…33　pistol。　Speaking　calmly；　he　said；　〃You　will　do　as　I　say　or　I　will　shoot　your　pilot。〃　He　brought　the　weapon　around　and　placed　the　muzzle　against　the　pilot's　head。
　
　Logan's　eyes　focused　on　the　gun；　then　darted　to　Pulaski's　face。　There　was　no　hint　of　mercy　in　the　rock…hard　features。
　
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Logan　said。
　
　〃It　makes　no　difference　who　I　am。　I　will　repeat　this　only　one　more　time。　You　will　follow　my　orders。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Logan　said；　his　voice　hoarse　with　tension。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃First；　switch　off　all　munications　with　your　support　ship。〃　Pulaski　watched　carefully　as　Logan　clicked　all　the　radio　switches　off。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　checking　his　watch。　〃Next；　inform　the　rest　of　the　crew　that　the　sub　has　been　hijacked。　Warn　them　that　anyone　who　es　forward　without　permission　will　be　shot。〃
　
　The　captain　glared　at　Pulaski　as　he　got　on　the　internal　munications　system。　〃This　is　the　captain。　There　is　a　man　with　a　gun　in　the　control　area。　The　sub　is　now　under　his　mand。　We　will　do　what　he　says。　Stay　out　of　the　control　area。　This　is　not　a　joke。　Repeat：　This　is　not　a　joke。　Remain　at　your　posts。　Anyone　ing　forward　will　be　shot。〃
　
　Startled　voices　could　be　heard　ing　from　the　aft　section；　and　the　captain　issued　the　warning　a　second　time　to　make　sure　his　men　knew　he　was　serious。
　
　〃Very　good；〃　Pulaski　said。　〃Now　you　will　bring　the　sub　up　to　the　five…hundred…foot　level。〃
　〃You　heard　him；〃　Logan　said　to　the　pilot；　as　if　reluctant　to　give　the　direct　order。
　
　The　pilot　had　been　frozen　in　his　chair。　At　Logan's　mand；　he　reached　for　the　controls　and　pumped　water　from　the　variable　ballast　tanks。　Working　the　planes；　he　elevated　the　sub's　nose　and　moved　the　NR…1　upward　with　short　bursts　of　the　main　propulsion。　At　five　hundred　feet；　he　leveled　the　sub　off。
　
　〃Okay；〃　Logan　said。　〃Now　what？〃　His　eyes　blazed　with　anger。
　
　Pulaski　glanced　at　his　watch　like　a　man　worrying　over　a　late　train。　〃Now　we　wait。〃　He　shifted　the　gun　away　from　the　pilot；　but　kept　it　leveled　and　at　ready。
　
　Ten　minutes　passed。　Then　fifteen。　Logan's　patience　was　wearing　thin。　〃If　you　don't　mind；　could　you　tell　me　what　we're　waiting　for？〃
　
　Pulaski　put　his　finger　to　his　lips。　〃You'll　see；〃　he　said　with　a　mysterious　smile。
　
　Several　more　minutes　passed。　The　tension　was　suffocating。　Logan　stared　at　the　sail　cam　monitor；　wondering　who　this　man　was　and　what　he　wanted…and　the　answer　was　soon　in　ing。　A　huge　shadow　moved　beyond　the　sharply　pointed　bow。
　
　Logan　leaned　forward　and　peered　at　the　screen。　〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃
　
　The　shadow　glided　under　the　sub　like　a　monstrous　shark　ing　up　for　a　belly　bite。　A　horrendous　metal　clang　reverberated　from　one　end　of　the　sub　to　the　other　as　if　the　NR…1　had　been　slammed　by　a　giant　sledgehammer。　The　vessel　shivered　from　the　shock　and　rose　several　feet。
　
　〃We've　been　hit！〃　the　pilot　yelled；　instinctively　reaching　f　for　the　controls。
　
　〃Stay　where　you　are！〃　Pulaski　barked；　bringing　his　gun　to　bear。
　
　The　pilot's　hand　froze　in　midair　and　his　eyes　stared　at　the　overhead。　Those　in　the　sub　could　hear　scraping　and　dragging　as　if　big　metal　bugs　were　crawling　on　the　hull。
　
　Pulaski　beamed　with　pleasure。　〃Our　weling　party　has　arrived　to　greet　us。〃
　
　The　noise　continued　for　several　minutes　before　it　stopped；　to　be　replaced　by　the　vibration　of　powerful　engines。　The　speed　dial　on　the　control　panel　began　to　move　even　though　no　power　had　been　given　to　the　thrusters。
　
　〃We're　moving；〃　the　pilot　said；　his　eyes　glued　to　the　speed　indicator。　〃What　should　I　do？〃
　
　He　turned　to　the　captain。　They　were　up　to　ten；　then　twenty　knots　and　still　accelerating。
　
　〃Nothing；〃　Pulaski　answered。　Turning　to　Logan；　he　said；　〃Captain；　if　you　would　give　a　message　to　your　crew。〃
　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　say？〃
　
　Pulaski　smiled。　〃I　think　that　is　fairly　obvious；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　them　to　sit　back　and　enjoy　the　ride。〃
　
　…3…
　THE　BLACK　SEA
　
　THE　SIXTEEN…FOOT　ZODIAC　inflatable　boat　sped　toward　the　distant　shore；　its　flat　bottom　thumping　against　the　wave　like　a　hand　beating　a　tom…tom。　Hunkered　down　in　the　bow；　hands　clutching　the　lifeline　to　k