cc.fireice-第7章

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　the　wave　like　a　hand　beating　a　tom…tom。　Hunkered　down　in　the　bow；　hands　clutching　the　lifeline　to　keep　from　being　bounced　out；　Kaela　Dorn　looked　like　a　finely　carved　figurehead。　The　spray　that　splashed　over　the　blunt　prow　stung　her　face　and　her　dusky　features　dripped　with　water；　but　she　turned　away　only　once；　and　that　was　to　yell　at　the　man　who　knelt　in　the　boat　with　his　hand　on　the　tiller。
　
　〃Mehmet；　crank　this　thing　up；　crank　it　up！〃　She　made　circular　motions　with　her　hand　as　if　she　were　twirling　a　lariat。
　
　The　wizened　Turk　answered　with　a　toothless　grin　that　was　wider　than　his　face。　He　goosed　the　throttle　and　the　Zodiac　porpoised　over　the　next　wave　and　slammed　down　with　even　greater　gut…wrenching　force。　Kaela　reinforced　her　grip　on　the　lifeline　and　laughed　with　delight。
　
　The　two　men　jouncing　around　in　the　boat　like　dice　in　a　shaker　were　less　enthusiastic。　They　held　tight　to　keep　from　being　thrown　into　the　sea；　their　teeth　clacking　with　every　jolt。　Neither　passenger　was　surprised　to　hear　Kaela　tell　Mehmet　to　kick　up　the　speed。　After　three　months　of　working　with　the　young　reporter　on　the　Unbelievable　Mysteries　television　series；　they　were　accustomed　to　her　recklessness。　Mickey　Lombardo；　the　crew's　senior　member；　was　a　short；　thickset　native　New　Yorker　with　arms　made　powerful　from　hefting　sound　and　light　equipment　in　and　out　of　every　conceivable　means　of　transport　around　the　globe。　A　wave　had　extinguished　the　cigar　clenched　between　his　teeth　seconds　after　their　wild　ride　began。　His　assistant；　Hank　Simpson；　was　a　blond　and　muscled　Australian　beach　boy　Lombardo　had　nicknamed　〃Dundee。〃
　
　When　they'd　first　learned　that　they　would　be　working　closely　with　the　beautiful　reporter；　neither　man　could　believe　his　good　luck。　That　was　before　Kaela　had　led　them　through　a　dung…filled　bat　cave　in　Arizona；　down　the　rapids　in　the　Green　Hell　of　the　Amazon　and　crashed　a　voodoo　ceremony　in　Haiti。　Lombardo　said　Kaela　was　living　proof　of　the　old　axiom：　Be　careful　what　you　wish　for；　because　you　might　get　it。　She'd　turned　out　to　be　a　cross　between　Amelia　Earhart　and　Wonder　Woman；　and　their　libidos　had　diminished　in　direct　proportion　to　their　growing　respect　for　her　audacity。　Instead　of　regarding　Kaela　as　a　potential　conquest；　they　now　guarded　her　like　a　precocious　kid　sister　who　had　to　be　protected　from　her　own　impetuousness。
　
　Lombardo　and　Dundee　could　hardly　be　classified　as　shrinking　violets　themselves。　The　crews　that　worked　for　Unbelievable　Mysteries　had　to　be　physically　fit；　aggressive　in　pursuing　a　story　and　preferably　brain…dead。　The　cable　TV　series　had　a　high　turnover　and　injury　rate。　With　its　emphasis　on　high…risk　adventures；　the　series　was　tough　on　production　crews　…　in　fact；　the　misadventures　of　the　crews；　rather　than　their　main　assignments；　often　became　the　topic　of　each　episode。　It　was　the　logical　continuation　of　the　〃true…life〃　adventure　inspired　by　the　success　of　the　Survivor　series　and　its　clones。　If　a　reporter　or　technician　were　swept　into　the　sea　or　pursued　by　cannibals；　it　made　for　a　better　story。　As　long　as　a　crew　didn't　lose　expensive　equipment；　management　didn't　care　how　hazardous　working　conditions　were。
　
　They　had　arrived　in　Istanbul　a　few　days　earlier　to　launch　a　search　for　Noah's　ark。　The　ark　was　an　overworked　clichй　that　even　the　supermarket　tabloids　had　consigned　to　the　back　section　with　Elvis　sightings　and　the　Loch　Ness　monster；　so　Kaela　had　kept　a　sharp　eye　out　for　other　leads　in　case　the　ark　story　didn't　pan　out。　Their　first　day；　while　Kaela　was　looking　for　a　fishing　boat　to　take　them　into　the　Black　Sea；　she'd　struck　up　a　conversation　with　a　colorful　old　Russian　seaman　she　met　on　the　docks。　He　had　served　on　a　Soviet　missile　sub　and　told　her　about　an　abandoned　submarine　base；　even　drew　her　a　map　showing　the　base's　location　in　a　remote　er　of　the　Black　Sea；　after　hinting　that　a　gift　of　money　might　refresh　his　failing　memory。
　
　When　Kaela　approached　her　colleagues　and　excitedly　poured　out　the　story　of　the　abandoned　Soviet　submarine　base；　they　lost　no　time　planning　a　side　trip。　The　sub　base　might　make　a　good　backup　if　the　search　for　Noah's　ark　fell　apart；　as　it　probably　would。　The　fishing　boat　had　been　hired　to　take　them　to　a　rendezvous　with　a　research　vessel　from　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。
　
　Captain　Kemal；　the　boat's　owner；　was　paid　by　the　day；　and　said　he　knew　of　the　sub　base　and　would　be　happy　to　go　there　before　they　hooked　up　with　the　NUMA　vessel。　However；　the　fishing　boat　had　engine　trouble　as　they　neared　the　base　and　the　captain　wanted　to　turn　back　to　port　…　he'd　had　a　similar　problem　before　and　it　would　take　only　a　few　hours　to　fix　it　once　he　had　the　part　…　but　Kaela　had　persuaded　him　to　drop　her　and　her　crew　off　and　e　back　for　them　the　next　day。　Mehmet；　who　was　the　captain's　cousin；　had　volunteered　to　run　them　ashore　in　his　Zodiac。
　
　Now；　the　Zodiac　was　approaching　a　wide　beach　that　rose　gradually　to　a　ridge　of　sand　dunes。　The　waves　grew　higher　and　closer　together；　and　Mehmet　reduced　their　speed　to　half。　The　old　Russian　sailor　had　said　that　the　base　was　underground；　near　an　abandoned　scientific　station；　and　they　would　have　to　search　for　telltale　air　vents。　Kaela　wiped　the　water　from　her　sunglasses　and　squinted　toward　the　grassy　hills；　but　saw　no　sign　of　human　presence。　The　countryside　was　bleak　and　desolate；　and　she　began　to　wonder　if　they　had　bitten　off　more　than　they　could　chew。　The　bean　counters　at　U。M。　frowned　at　unproductive　expenditures。
　
　〃See　anything？〃　Lombardo　shouted　over　the　buzz　of　the　outboard。
　
　〃No　billboards；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　〃Maybe　this　isn't　the　right　place。〃
　〃Captain　Kemal　says　this　is　it；　and　I　have　the　map　from　the　Russian。〃
　〃How　much　did　you　pay　that　scam　artist　for　the　map？〃
　〃One　hundred　dollars。〃
　
　Lombardo　looked　as　if　he　had　sucked　on　a　lemon。　〃Wonder　how　many　times　he's　sold　the　same　map。〃
　
　Kaela　pointed　toward　land。　〃That　high　spot　over　there　looks　promising。〃
　
　Thut！
　
　Kaela　jerked　her　head　back　at　the　weird　sound。　Then　she　saw　the　ragged　hole　that　had　opened　in　the　rubberized　fabric　a　foot　to　the　right　of　her　head。　She　thought　one　of　the　many　patches　on　the　inflatable's　skin　had　popped　off　from　the　beating　the　Zodiac　was　taking；　and　she　turned　to　tell　Mehmet　…　but　the　Turk　had　risen　from　his　kneeling　position；　an　odd　expression　on　his　face；　his　hand　clutched　to　his　chest。　Then　he　crumpled　as　if　the　air　had　gone　out　of　him　and　pitched　overboard。　With　no　hand　to　steady　the　tiller；　the　boat　went　broadside　and　was　caught　by　an　ining　wave。　The　breaker　lifted　the　boat　at　a　sharp　angle；　then　it　was　caught　by　another　wave　and　flipped　over；　spilling　the　passengers　into　the　sea。
　
　The　sky　whirled　over　Kaela's　head；　then　cold　water　shocked　her　body。　She　went　under　a　few　feet；　and　when　she　came　up；　sputtering；　to　the　surface；　the　lights　had　gone　out。　She　was　under　the　overturned　raft。　She　ducked　her　head　and　came　up　in　the　open。　Lombardo's　bald　head　bobbed　up；　then　Dundee　surfaced。
　
　〃Are　you　okay？〃　she　yelled；　swimming　closer。
　
　Lombardo　spit　out　the　remnants　of　his　cigar。　〃What　the　hell　happened？〃
　〃I　think　Mehmet　was　shot。〃
　〃Shot？　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃He　grabbed　his　chest　and　went　over　the　side。〃　With　Lombardo　following；　she　swam　over　to　the　front　of　the　boat。　〃This　is　where　the　first　bullet　hit　a　second　before　the　second　one　got　Mehmet。〃
　〃Jeez！〃　Lombardo　said；　sticking　his　finger　in　the　hole。
　
　〃Poor　bastard。〃　Dundee　breaststroked　over　to　join　the　other　two　and　they　all　drifted　together；　holding　on　to　the　raft。　They　agreed　to　stay　with　the　raft　where　Kemal　would　find　them；　rather　than　risk　going　ashore。　The　Zodiac　was　low　in　the　water；　but　some　partments　still　held　air。　Several　times　they　tried　to　flip　the　boat　over；　but　the　weight　of　the　outboard　and　the　slipperiness　of　the　rounded　sides　made　it　impossible。　They　were　tiring　fast　and　the　waves　were　pushing　them　ever　closer　to　the　beach。
　
　〃That's　it；〃　Lombardo　said；　after　an　unsuccessful　effort　that　left　them　all　breathless。　〃Looks　like　we're　going　in　after　all。〃
　〃What　if　the　guys　who　shot　at　us　are　still　there？〃　Dundee　said。

　
　〃You　got　a　better　suggestion？〃
　〃The　gunshots　look　as　if　they　came　from　directly　ahead；〃　Kaela　said。　〃Let's　hide　under　the　raft　and　move　it　off　at　an　angle。〃
　〃We　don't　have　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　choice；〃　Lombardo　said。　He　ducked　underneath。
　
　When　the　other　two　joined　him；　he　was　smiling。　〃Look　at　this；〃　he　said；　grabbing　onto　the　waterproof　bags　that　were　suspended　from　the　seats；　where　they　had　been　tied。　〃The　cameras　are　okay。〃
　
　Kaela　let　out　a　whooping　laugh　that　had　a　damp　echo　in　the　enclosed　space。　〃What　are　we　supposed　to　do　if　somebody　points　a　gun　at　us；　Mickey；　take　their　picture？〃
　〃You'll　have　to　admit　it　would　make　a　good　story。　What'ya　think；　Dundee？〃
　〃I　think　you　two　Yanks　are　bloody　crazy！　But　so　am　I；　or　I　wouldn't　be　here　with　you。　Tell　me；　luv；〃　he　said　to　Kaela；　〃didn't　your　Russkie　friend　say　this　place　was　abandoned？〃
　〃He　said　the　Russians　had　left　a　long　time　ago。〃
　〃Maybe　it's　like　one　of　those　islands　in　the　Pacific　where　the　Japanese　soldiers　hid　in　the　jungle；　not　knowing　the　war　was　over；〃　Lombardo　suggested。　〃Maybe　the　guys　here　haven't　heard　the　Cold　War　ended。〃　He　was　clearly　excited　at　the　prospect。
　
　〃Sounds　pretty　far…fetched；〃　Kaela　said。
　
　〃Yeah；　I　agree；　but　do　you　have　a　better　idea　of　who　took　the　potshots　at　us？〃
　〃No；　I　don't；〃　Kaela　said。　〃But　if　we　don't　start　kicking；　we're　going　to　find　out　real　soon。　I'll　check　things　out。〃　She　disappeared　for　a　few　moments。　When　she　returned；　she　said；　〃The　beach　looks　deserted。　I　suggest　we　start　moving　this　thing　off　to　the　right。　Otherwise　we'll　drift　straight　in。〃
　
　They　grabbed　onto　the　boat；　and　began　to　kick。　The　Zodiac　moved；　but　the　rollers　pushed　them　toward　shore。　The　muffled　roar　of　waves　breaking　on　the　beach　grew　louder。　No　more　gunshots　came　their　way　and　they　began　to　hope　that　the　shooters　were　gone。　That　optimism　would　have　eroded　quickly　if　they　had　been　able　to　see　beyond　the　grass　crowning　the　dunes。　A　line　of　razor…sharp　sabers　was　raised　high　in　the　sun　like　the　blades　of　a　giant　threshing　machine；　ready　to　cut　them　to　ribbons　as　soon　as　they　crawled　ashore。
　
　…4…
　HIGH　ABOVE　THE　overturned　Zodiac；　a　turquoise　aircraft　that　resembled　a　winged　canoe　wheeled　in　a　lazy　circle。　The　broad…shouldered　man　at　the　controls　rolled　the　ultralight　airplane　into　a　tight　banking　turn　and　peered　down　through　tinted　goggles；　squinting　against　the　reflected　glare　with　eyes　the　color　of　coral　underwater。　His　wind…burnished　face　was　creased　in　a　look　of　puzzlement。
　
　Moments　before；　he　had　seen　swimmers　in　the　water　next　to　the　overturned　inflatable。　He　glanced　away　to　get　his　bearings；　and　when　he　looked　again　the　swimmers　were　gone。
　
　Kurt　Austin　had　been　chasing　the　Zodiac　like　an　aerial　motorcycle　cop　hot　on　the　tail　of　a　speeder；　and　had　seen　the　boat　flip　over。　He　couldn't　figure　out　why　it　had　gone　out　of　control。　The　seas　were　moderate；　and　no　rocks　or　other　submerged　objects　were　visible。　Austin　wondered　if　the　inflatable；　or　the　fishing　boat　he　had　seen　steaming　away　from　the　coast；　had　anything　to　do　with　the　television　crew　he　was　loo