cussler.blueandgold-第51章

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　〃Later　perhaps。〃　The　answer　was　unpromising。　The　woman　touched　the　screen；　and　it　went　dark。
　
　Francesca　looked　around。　〃Where　exactly　is　this　place？〃
　
　〃That's　not　important。〃
　
　〃Why　have　you　brought　us　here？〃
　
　The　woman　ignored　her　question。　〃Did　Melo　and　Radko　frighten　you？〃
　
　〃Do　you　mean　the　human　mushrooms　who　just　left？〃
　
　She　smiled　at　the　parison。　'A　clever　metaphor；　but　you　would　do　better　to　pare　them　to　poisonous　toadstools。　De　spite　your　bravado；　I　can　see　the　fear　in　your　eyes。　Good。　They　should　frighten　you。　During　the　ethnic　cleansing　campaign　in　Bosnia　the　Kradzik　brothers　personally　killed　hundreds　of　people　and　planned　the　deaths　of　thousands。　They　destroyed　entire　villages　and　engineered　numerous　massacres。　If　not　for　me　they　would　be　sitting　in　the　prisoners'　dock　at　the　World　Court　in　the　Hague；　charged　with　crimes　against　humanity。　There　is　no　war　crime　they　did　not　mit。　They　have　absolutely　no　conscience；　no　morals；　no　sense　of　remorse　for　anything　they　do。　Maiming　and　killing　are　second　nature　to　them。〃　She　paused　to　let　her　words　sink　in。　〃Am　I　making　my　point？〃
　
　〃Yes。　That　you　have　no　scruples　yourself　about　hiring　murderers。〃
　
　〃Exactly。　Their　murderous　character　is　precisely　why　I　hired　them。　It　is　no　different　from　a　carpenter　buying　a　hammer　to　drive　nails　into　a　board。　The　Kradzik　twins　are　my　hammer。〃
　
　〃People　aren't　nails。〃
　
　〃Some　are。　Some　aren't；　Dr。　Cabral。〃
　
　Francesca　wanted　to　change　the　subject。　〃How　do　you　know　my　name？〃
　
　〃I　have　known　and　admired　your　work　for　years；　Dr。　Cabral。　In　my　opinion；　your　fame　as　one　of　the　world's　leading　hydro　engineers　easily　eclipses　your　more　recent　notoriety　as　a　white　goddess。〃
　
　〃You　know　who　I　am；　but　who　are　you？〃
　
　〃My　name　is　Brynhild　Sigurd。　Although　your　name　is　better　known　than　mine；　we　are　both　acplished　in　our　chosen　field；　the　movement　of　the　earth's　most　precious　substance；　its　water。〃
　
　〃You're　a　hydro…engineer？〃
　
　〃I　studied　at　the　finest　technological　institutions　in　Europe。　After　I　finished　my　studies　I　moved　to　California；　where　I　started　my　consulting　pany；　now　one　of　the　biggest　in　the　world。〃
　
　Francesca　shook　her　head。　She　thought　she　knew　everyone　in　the　water　engineering　fraternity。　〃I've　never　heard　of　you。〃
　
　〃I　prefer　it　that　way。　I've　always　operated　behind　the　scenes。　I'm　nearly　seven　feet　tall。　My　stature　makes　me　a　freak；　subject　to　derision　from　those　very　much　inferior　to　me。〃
　
　Despite　her　predicament；　Francesca　felt　a　slight　pang　of　empathy。　〃I　had　my　share　of　harassment　from　idiots　who　don't　like　the　idea　of　a　woman　excelling　in　their　field。　I　never　let　it　bother　me。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　you　should　have。　In　the　long　run　my　resentment　at　having　to　hide　from　the　public　has　been　an　asset。　I　directed　my　anger；　retooling　it　into　an　unstoppable　ambition。　I　acquired　other　panies；　all　with　an　eye　toward　the　future。　There　was　only　one　fly　in　the　ointment。〃　The　cold　smile　again。　〃You；　Dr。　Cabral。〃
　
　〃I've　never　considered　myself　an　insect；　Ms。　Sigurd。〃
　
　〃My　apologies　for　the　label；　but　the　analogy　is　precise。　Some　years　ago　it　became　clear　to　me　that　in　time　the　demand　for　the　world's　water　would　exceed　the　supply；　and　I　wanted　to　be　the　one　with　her　hand　on　the　tap。　Then　I　heard　about　your　revolutionary　desalting　process。　If　you　were　successful　it　would　torpedo　my　carefully　laid　plans。　I　couldn't　allow　that　to　happen。　I　considered　making　you　an　offer；　but　I　had　studied　your　personality　and　knew　I　could　never　get　through　your　impractical　altruism。　I　re　solved　to　prevent　you　from　giving　the　process　to　the　world。〃
　
　Francesca　felt　the　heat　rising　in　her　cheeks。　Her　voice　came　out　in　a　hiss。　〃You　were　the　one　behind　my　attempted　kidnap　ping。'
　
　〃I　had　hoped　to　persuade　you　to　work　for　me。　I　would　have　set　you　up　in　a　laboratory　to　perfect　your　process。　Unfortunately　my　plans　went　awry；　and　you　disappeared　into　the　Amazon。　Everyone　thought　you　were　dead。　Then　I　read　with　admiration　about　your　adventures　among　the　savages；　how　you　became　their　queen。　I　knew　that　we　were　both　survivors　in　a　hostile　world。〃
　
　Francesca　had　gotten　her　initial　fury　under　control；　and　her　reply　was　in　measured　tones。　〃What　would　you　have　done　with　the　process　if　I　had　given　it　to　you？〃
　
　〃I　would　have　kept　it　secret　while　I　consolidated　my　grip　on　the　world's　water。〃
　
　〃I　was　going　to　give　my　findings　to　the　world　free　of　charge；〃　Francesca　said　disdainfully。　〃My　goal　was　to　relieve　suffering；　not　profit　by　it。〃
　
　〃Laudable　but　self…defeating。　With　you　apparently　dead；　I　set
　up　a　plant　in　Mexico　to　duplicate　your　work。　It　was　destroyed　in　an　explosion。〃
　
　Francesca　almost　laughed。　She　knew　the　reason　for　the　blast　and　was　tempted　to　throw　it　in　this　woman's　face。　Instead　she　said；　〃I'm　not　surprised。　Working　with　high　pressure　and　extreme　heat　can　be　tricky。〃
　
　〃No　matter。　The　main　lab　here　was　working　on　another　aspect　of　the　process。　Then　came　the　happy　announcement　of　your　escape　from　the　Amazon。　Again　you　disappeared；　but　I　knew　of　your　ties　to　NUMA。　We've　been　watching　the　Trouts　since　they　returned。〃
　
　〃Too　bad　you're　wasting　your　time　once　again。〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　so。　It's　not　too　late　to　put　your　talents　to　work　
　
　　〃You　have　a　strange　way　of　recruiting　employees。　Your　first　kidnapping　attempt　was　the　reason　I　spent　ten　years　in　the　wilderness。　Now　you　drug　and　kidnap　me　again。　Why　would　I　want　to　do　anything　for　you？〃
　
　〃I　can　offer　you　unparalleled　support　for　your　research。〃
　
　〃A　dozen　foundations　would　be　glad　to　fund　my　work。　Even　if　I　were　inclined　to　work　for　you；　which　I'm　not；　there　is　a　major　obstacle。　The　desalting　process　involves　a　plex　molecular　metamorphosis　that　works　only　in　the　presence　of　a　rare　substance。〃
　
　〃I　know　about　anasazium。　My　supply　of　the　material　was　destroyed　in　the　blast　at　the　Mexican　facility。〃
　
　〃Too　bad；〃　Francesca　said。　〃The　process　can't　work　without　it。　So　if　you'll　be　so　kind　as　to　allow　me　to　leave　。　。　。〃
　
　〃You'll　be　pleased　to　know　that　I　have　all　the　anasazium　you'll　need　to　develop　your　process。　When　I　heard　of　your　re　turn　I　acquired　a　substantial　amount　of　the　refined　material。　Just　in　time；　I　might　add。　NUMA　had　dispatched　part　of　its　Special　Assignments　Team　on　a　similar　mission。　Now　I　can　carry　out　my　full　plan　to　control　the　world's　fresh　water。　You　alone　would　appreciate　the　simple　brilliance　of　my　scheme；　Dr。　Cabral。〃
　
　Francesca　feigned　a　reluctant　agreement；　as　if　she　were　secretly　pleased　at　the　pliment。　〃Well；　of　course；　as　a　water　scientist　I　would　be　curious　about　such　an　ambitious　endeavor。〃
　
　〃The　world　is　entering　one　of　the　most　serious　droughts　in　its　history。　This　dry　spell　could　last　a　hundred　years　if　the　past　is　any　indication。　The　first　impacts　have　been　felt　in　Africa；　China；　and　the　Middle　East。　Europe　is　beginning　to　experience　a　thirst　that　cannot　be　quenched。　I　simply　plan　to　accelerate　the　process　of　drying　out　the　world。〃
　
　〃Excuse　my　skepticism；　but　that's　absurd。〃
　
　〃Is　it？〃　Brynhild　replied　with　a　smile。　〃The　United　States　is　not　immune。　The　great　desert　cities　of　the　Southwest；　Los　Angeles；　Phoenix；　Las　Vegas；　draw　their　water　from　the　Colorado　River；　which　is　now　under　my　control。　They　rely　on　a　tenuous　network　of　dams；　reservoirs；　and　river　diversion。　The　water　sup　ply　hangs　by　a　thread。　Any　disruption　in　the　water　supply　would　be　disastrous。〃
　
　〃You're　not　going　to　blow　up　a　dam？〃　Francesca　said　with　alarm。
　
　〃Nothing　so　crude。　With　their　regular　water　supply　at　the　breaking　point；　the　cities　have　been　depending　more　and　more　on　private　sources。　Gogstad's　straw　corporations　have　been　buying　up　water　systems　everywhere。　We　can　create　a　water　shortage　wherever　and　whenever　we　want　to　simply　by　turning　the　handle　of　the　tap。　Then　we　will　sell　only　to　the　places　that　can　afford　it；　the　big　cities　and　the　high…tech　centers。〃
　
　〃What　of　those　who　can't　afford　it？〃
　
　〃There's　an　old　saying　in　the　West：　'Water　flows　uphill　to　money。'　The　wealthy　have　always　been　assured　of　a　cheap　water　source　at　the　expense　of　others。　Under　my　plan　water　will　no　longer　be　cheap。　We　will　be　doing　this　on　a　worldwide　scale；　in　Europe　and　Asia；　South　America　and　Africa。　It　will　be　capitalism　at　its　purest。　The　market　will　determine　price。〃
　
　〃But　water　isn't　a　modity　like　pork　bellies。〃
　
　〃You've　been　in　the　jungle　too　long。　Globalization　is　nothing　more　than　the　promotion　of　monopolies　in　munication；　agriculture；　food；　or　power。　Why　not　water？　Under　the　new　international　treaties；　no　one　country　owns　its　water　resources　anymore。　They　go　to　the　highest　bidder；　and　Gogstad　will　be　the　highest　bidder。〃
　
　〃You　will　deny　water　to　thousands　who　will　be　forced　out　of　the　market。　There　will　be　famine　and　chaos　in　countries　that　can't　afford　to　buy　water。〃
　
　〃Chaos　will　be　our　friend。　It　will　prepare　the　way　for　Gogstad's　political　takeover　of　weakened　governments。　Think　of　it　as　water　Darwinism。　The　strong　will　survive。〃
　

　The　icy　blue　eyes　seemed　to　bore　into　Francesca's　skull。　〃Don't　think　this　is　retribution　for　all　the　slights　I　have　received　because　of　my　stature。　I　am　a　businesswoman　who　realizes　the　proper　political　climate　is　necessary　to　do　business。　This　has　required　no　small　investment　on　my　part。　I　have　spent　millions　building　up　a　fleet　of　water　tankers　that　would　transport　water　from　places　that　have　it；　towing　it　behind　them　in　huge　ocean　going　bags。　I　have　been　waiting　years　for　this　moment。　I　have　not　dared　to　move　because　I　feared　your　process。　It　could　destroy　my　monopoly　within　weeks。　Now　that　I　have　you　and　the　anasazium；　I　can　strike。　Within　days　the　entire　western　half　of　the　country　will　run　out　of　water。〃
　
　〃That's　impossible！〃
　
　〃Is　it？　We　will　see。　Once　the　Colorado　River　is　finished　as　a　supplier；　the　rest　of　the　pieces　will　fall　rapidly　into　place。　My　pany　controls　most　of　the　fresh　water　supplies　in　other　parts　of　the　world。　We　will　simply　turn　the　faucet　off；　so　to　speak。　Gradually　at　first；　then　more　forcefully。　If　there　are　any　　plaints；　we　will　say　that　we　are　producing　as　much　water　as　possible。〃
　
　〃You　know　the　results；〃　Francesca　said　levelly。　〃You're　talking　about　turning　much　of　the　world　into　desert。　The　consequences　would　be　terrible。〃
　
　〃Terrible　for　some；　but　not　those　who　control　the　world's　water。　We　could　get　any　price　we　ask。〃
　
　〃From　desperate　people。　You　would　soon　be　exposed　as　the　monster　you　are。〃　
　
　　〃To　the　contrary。　Gogstad　will　say　that　we　are　ready　to　move　water　from　Alaska；　British　Columbia；　and　the　Great　Lakes　to　other　parts　of　the　world　in　the　tanker　fleet　I　have　been　building。　When　Gogstad's　beautiful　tankers　appear　off　the　coast　we　will　be　hailed　as　heroes。〃
　
　〃You're　already　apparently　rich　beyond　the　dreams　of　many。　Why　do　you　need　more　wealth？〃
　
　〃This　could　benefit　the　world　in　the　long　run。　I　will　prevent　wars　from　being　fought　over　water。〃
　
　〃Apax　Gogstad；　imposed　by　force。〃
　
　〃Force　will　not　be　necessary。　I　will　reward　those　who　bend　to　my　will；　punish　those　who　don't。〃
　
　〃By　letting　them　wither　and　die。〃
　
　〃If　that's　necessary；