cc.fireice-第65章

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　〃It　would　have　e　in　time；　anyway。　The　tsarist　regime　would　have　withered　from　corruption。〃
　
　Razov　laughed　and　placed　the　crown　on　his　head。　〃Like　
　
　
　Napoleon；　I　crown　myself。　Behold；　the　next　ruler　of　Russia。〃
　〃I　only　see　a　little　man　making　a　vulgar　display　of　wealth。〃
　
　Razov's　serpent's　eyes　went　flat。　He　cut　another　piece　of　duct　tape　and　slapped　it　over　Dodson's　mouth；　then　he　picked　up　the　crown　and　climbed　up　the　stairs。　At　the　top；　he　paused。　〃You　must　have　read　Poe's　'The　Cask　of　Amontillado。'　Where　the　victim　is　sealed　up　forever？　Perhaps　someday　your　bones　will　be　found。　I　leave　you　here　in　place　of　the　crown。　I'm　afraid　I　must　dispose　of　your　housekeeper。〃　He　stepped　through　the　closet　door　and　into　the　hallway。
　
　His　hands　were　both　full　with　the　crown；　so　he　didn't　close　the　secret　panel　in　the　back　of　the　closet。　He　would　deposit　the　crown　in　the　back　of　the　car；　e　back　and　seal　Dodson　off　for　eternity；　then　kill　the　housekeeper　and　dispose　of　her　body　in　the　river。
　
　As　Razov　carried　his　burden　toward　the　back　of　the　house；　he　heard　a　rap　at　the　front　door。　He　froze。
　
　Zavala's　voice　called　out。　〃Lord　Dodson。　Are　you　home？〃　Then　the　knock　again；　louder　this　time。　Razov　turned　and　headed　for　the　kitchen。
　
　Dodson　had　left　the　door　unlocked　when　he　went　out　to　see　if　the　wind　was　blowing。　Zavala　and　Austin　stepped　inside；　guns　in　their　hands。　Zavala　called　out　again。　They　made　their　way　down　the　hall　and　stopped　at　the　open　closet　where　light　streamed　from　the　secret　chamber。　They　exchanged　glances；　then　Austin　stepped　inside；　Bowen　at　ready；　and　descended　the　stairs　while　Zavala　covered　his　back。
　
　Austin　saw　Lord　Dodson　sitting　on　the　floor　and　peeled　the　tape　from　the　Englishman's　mouth。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　fine。　Go　after　Razov　…　he　has　the　crown。〃　Austin　used　his　Buck　knife　to　cut　the　tape　binding　Dodson's　hands　and　feet；　and　they　climbed　from　the　cellar。　Dodson　smiled　when　he　saw　Joe。　〃A　pleasure　to　see　you　again；　Mr。　Zavala。〃
　〃Nice　to　be　back；　Lord　Dodson。　This　is　my　partner；　Kurt　Austin。〃
　〃I'm　very　pleased　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Austin。〃
　〃The　back　door　is　open；〃　Zavala　said。　〃He　must　have　gone　that　way。〃
　
　Dodson　looked　worried。　〃My　housekeeper。　Have　you　seen　her？〃
　〃If　you're　talking　about　the　large　and　very　angry　lady　we　found　tied　up　in　the　backseat　of　a　rental　car；　she's　fine；〃　Austin　said。　〃We　sent　her　for　the　police。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dodson　said。　〃Razov　may　try　for　the　river　when　he　finds　his　car　is　gone。　There's　a　boat　there　he　may　use　in　an　attempt　to　escape。〃
　
　Zavala　started　for　the　back　door。
　
　〃Wait；〃　Dodson　said。　〃I　know　a　better　way。　e　with　me。〃
　
　To　the　puzzlement　of　the　NUMA　men；　Dodson　led　them　back　through　the　closet　into　the　underground　chamber。　He　twisted　two　more　wall　brackets　and　opened　another　section　of　wall。　〃This　is　an　old　escape　tunnel。　It　es　out　at　the　bottom　of　a　dry　well　near　the　river。　Use　the　hand　and　footholds　to　climb　out。　You　may　be　able　to　get　to　the　boat　ahead　of　that　dreadful　man。　The　crown　will　slow　him　down。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Lord　Dodson；〃　Austin　said；　ducking　his　head　as　he　slipped　through　the　door。
　
　〃Don't　go　into　the　river　after　him；〃　Dodson　called　out。
　
　〃The　shallows　are　dangerous　to　walk　on。　The　mud　is　like　quicksand。　It　can　swallow　a　horse。〃
　
　Austin　and　Zavala　barely　heard　the　warning　as　they　bent　into　a　running　crouch　and　made　their　way　through　the　tunnel。　They　had　no　flashlight　and　had　to　feel　their　way　down　the　narrow；　sloping　passageway。　The　smell　of　stagnant　water　and　rotting　vegetation　grew　stronger。　The　tunnel　ended　abruptly；　and　if　not　for　the　shaft　of　moonlight　they　would　have　slammed　into　the　curved　wall。
　
　Austin　groped　around　the　stones　and　found　the　foot　and　handholds；　then　they　climbed　over　the　low　walls　around　the　well　and　saw　the　small　boathouse　silhouetted　against　the　river's　sheen。　They　made　their　way　to　the　river　and　took　up　their　stations　on　either　side　of　the　pier。
　
　
　Before　long；　they　heard　the　pounding　of　feet　and　heavy　breathing。　Razov　was　running　their　way。　It　seemed　as　if　he　would　walk　directly　into　their　trap；　but　as　he　neared　the　pier；　a　patch　of　sky　opened　in　the　clouds　and　the　riverside　and　Austin's　pale　hair　were　bathed　in　a　silvery　light。　It　was　only　an　instant；　but　Razov　veered　off　to　avoid　the　ambush　and　ran　along　the　banks　of　the　river。
　
　〃Stop；　Razov！〃　Austin　shouted。　〃It's　no　use。〃
　
　The　crackle　of　broken　branches　came　from　ahead　as　Razov　crashed　through　the　bushes　bordering　the　river。　They　heard　a　splash。　Austin　and　Zavala　followed　the　sound　until　they　stood　on　the　grassy　bank　that　rose　a　few　feet　above　the　river。　Razov　was　trying　to　ford　the　river；　but　had　only　made　it　a　few　yards　from　shore　before　his　feet　became　encased　in　the　soft　bottom　mud。　He　had　tried　to　scramble　back　to　land　without　success。　Now　he　stood　in　the　water　waist　deep；　facing　the　bank；　the　crown　still　clutched　in　his　arms。
　
　〃I　can't　move；〃　he　said。
　
　Austin　remembered　Dodson's　warning　of　quicksand。　He　found　a　limb　broken　off　a　tree　and　extended　it　toward　Razov。　〃Grab　this。〃
　
　Razov　was　sinking　almost　to　his　armpits；　yet　he　made　no　effort　to　reach　for　the　branch。
　
　〃Drop　the　damned　crown！〃　Austin　yelled。
　
　〃No；　I've　waited　too　long。　I　won't　let　it　go。〃
　〃It's　not　worth　your　life；〃　Austin　said。
　
　The　water　had　reached　Razov's　chin；　and　his　reply　was　unintelligible。　He　lifted　the　crown　high　and　placed　it　on　his　head。　The　weight　only　served　to　push　him　under　the　surface　more　quickly。　His　face　disappeared　until　only　the　crown　was　visible；　seemingly　floating　on　the　water；　its　surface　glittering　with　a　silver　fire。　Then　it；　too；　disappeared。
　
　〃Dios　mio；〃　Zavala　said；　reverting　to　his　native　Spanish。　〃What　a　way　to　go。〃
　
　They　heard　a　huffing　and　puffing。　Dodson　had　retrieved　his　rifle　and　ran　toward　them　with　a　flashlight。
　
　〃Where　is　that　scoundrel？〃　Dodson　asked。
　
　〃There。〃　Austin　threw　the　useless　branch　into　the　river　where　Razov　had　disappeared。　〃The　crown；　too。〃
　〃Dear　God；〃　Dodson　said。　He　pointed　his　light　at　the　brown；　muddy　water。　Only　a　few　bubbles　marked　Razov's　position　and　soon　they；　too；　were　swept　away　by　the　slow…moving　current。
　
　〃Long　live　the　tsar；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Then　he　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　house。
　
　…38…
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　AUSTIN　ROWED　IN　the　misty　golden　light；　so　intent　on　his　strokes　that　he　barely　noticed　the　powerboat　that　crossed　the　river　until　it　took　up　a　position　behind　him。　Austin　stopped　and　the　boat　did　the　same。　He　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　forehead；　took　a　pull　from　his　plastic　water　bottle　and　rested　on　his　oar　handles；　squinting　against　the　glare。　As　he　gazed　back　at　the　unmoving　boat；　Austin　began　to　wonder　if　life　still　pulsed　in　a　stray　tentacle　of　Razov's　vast　organization。
　
　As　a　test；　he　started　to　row。　He　had　only　taken　a　few　strokes　before　the　boat　stirred　and　followed　him　again；　keeping　an　even　distance。　He　let　the　scull　coast　to　a　halt。　The　powerboat　stopped　again。
　
　A　quick　glance　up　and　down　the　river　told　Austin　he　was　on　his　own。　The　river　was　empty　of　boats；　which　was　why　he　rowed　so　early。　Austin　set　the　scull　into　a　wide　easy　turn　and　pointed　the　needle…sharp　bow　back　the　way　he　had　e。　He　picked　up　the　pace；　keeping　in　mind　that　rowing　was　more　technical　precision　than　power。　As　he　drew　nearer；　he　saw　that　the　boat　had　a　white　hull；　although　he　couldn't　tell　how　many　people　were　aboard。　He　pulled　harder；　and　the　scull　shot　toward　the　boat　with　the　unerring　accuracy　of　a　cruise　missile。
　
　He　was　nearing　a　section　of　shoreline　that　bulged　into　the　Potomac　like　a　beer　gut。　Austin　knew　that　the　current　flowing　near　the　knob　of　land　described　a　peculiar　curlicue　that　could　suck　an　unwary　boater　in　close　to　land　before　spitting　him　out。　Although　his　rowing　created　a　straight…line　illusion；　he　was　actually　being　drawn　closer　to　the　bulge。
　
　On　his　next　stroke；　Austin　kept　one　oar　out　of　the　water　and　used　the　other　as　an　impromptu　rudder。　The　scull　veered　suddenly　and　he　finessed　the　abrupt　change　in　direction　without　overturning；　pointing　the　scull　toward　land。　He　heard　the　angry　buzz　of　the　outboard　motor。
　
　He　had　hoped　to　catch　the　watcher　off…guard　and　hadn't　expected　such　a　swift　reaction。　The　powerboat　quickly　rose　up　on　plane。　Austin　saw　he'd　never　make　shore　and　that　he'd　be　at　his　most　vulnerable；　broadside　to　the　approaching　boat。　He　jettisoned　his　original　plan；　did　another　quick　turn　and　sent　the　scull　directly　toward　the　fast…approaching　powerboat。　The　boat　was　slightly　shorter　than　the　scull；　but　seen　from　water　level　it　seemed　to　loom　like　the　QE2。　Any　collision　with　the　arrow…slim　scull　would　be　as　devastating　as　an　encounter　with　an　ocean　liner。　Austin　hoped　that　the　boat　would　veer　off　at　the　last　moment；　or　at　the　worst；　that　the　hulls　would　e　together　with　a　glancing　blow。　Just　when　they　seemed　about　to　collide；　he　hoisted　one　oar　on　his　shoulder　as　if　preparing　to　throw　a　javelin；　and　braced　himself。
　
　The　motorboat　throttled　back；　came　off　plane　and　settled　down　in　the　water；　where　hull　resistance　brought　it　almost　to　a　stop　a　few　feet　away。　Austin　heard　a　familiar　barking　laugh　and　looked　up　to　see　Petrov's　cold…chiseled　face　looking　down　at　him。　The　Russian　was　wearing　a　baseball　cap　and　a　Hawaiian　shirt　with　palm　trees　and　bikini…clad　women　on　it。
　
　Austin　replaced　the　oar　in　its　outrigger。　His　heart　was　still　thumping　in　his　chest。　〃Hello；　Ivan。　I　was　wondering　when　you'd　show　up　again。　How'd　you　know　I'd　be　out　here？〃
　
　Petrov　shrugged。
　
　Austin　smiled　and　said；　〃You　might　be　interested　to　know　that　I　checked　into　your　dossier。　Seems　you've　only　bee　…　Ivan　Petrov　in　the　last　couple　of　years。〃
　〃As　the　poet　said；　what's　in　a　name？〃
　〃When　do　you　leave　for　home？〃
　〃Tomorrow。　Your　president　has　turned　the　tsar's　treasure　over　to　my　country。　I'll　be　returning　to　Russia　as　a　hero。　There's　even　talk　of　political　office。　With　the　disappearance　of　Razoy；　his　Cossack　forces　are　in　disarray　and　the　moderates　have　a　chance　of　staying　in　power。〃
　〃Congratulations。　You　deserve　it。〃
　〃Thank　you；　but　to　be　honest；　can　you　really　see　me　sitting　in　the　parliament？〃
　〃Guess　not；　Ivan；〃　Austin　said。　〃You'll　always　be　a　man　of　the　shadows。〃
　〃Do　you　blame　me？　It's　where　I　belong　and　where　I'm　the　most　fortable。〃
　〃Maybe　you　could　answer　a　couple　of　questions　before　you　take　on　your　next　identity。　Was　Razov　really　descended　from　the　tsar？〃
　〃That's　what　he　was　told　from　his　father's　deathbed。　When　he　met　Boris；　the　mad　monk　saw　it　as　a　marriage　made　in　heaven。　We　have　definite　proof　that　Boris　was　directly　descended　from　Rasputin。〃
　〃The　original　mad　monk？〃　Petrov　nodded。
　
　Austin　shook　his　head　in　amazement。　〃And　Razov？〃
　〃His　father　was　ill；　advised。　The　village　priest　who　kept　the　family　records　was　a　bit　of　a　drunkard。　He　had　heard　the　story　of　the　tsar's　daughter　surviving；　and　used　it　to　pry　vodka　money　from　Razov's　father。〃
　〃So　there　were　no　descendants　from　Maria。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that。〃　Petrov's　lips　widened　in　an　enigmatic　smile。
　
　Austin　raised　an　eyebrow。
　
　〃The　Grand　Duchess　Maria　had　two　descendants　who　are　still　livin