cussler.blueandgold-第57章

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ith　electricity；　pushing　it　through　membranes　to　screen　out　the　salt　the　way　a　child　sifts　through　shells　at　the　beach。　I　reasoned　that　it　might　be　easier　in　some　respects　to　change　the　molecular　structure　of　the　chemicals　in　salt　water　at　an　atomic　and　subatomic　level。〃
　
　The　smooth…faced　German　banker　said；　〃Your　process　sounds　somewhat　like　alchemy；　Dr。　Cabral。〃
　
　〃That's　a　very　appropriate　analogy。　Although　alchemy　never　achieved　its　goal；　it　set　the　stage　for　the　science　of　chemistry。　Like　the　alchemists；　I；　too；　was　trying　to　transform　a　base　metal　into　gold。　In　my　case　it　was　blue　gold。　Water。　More　precious　than　any　mineral　on　earth。　I　needed　a　sorcerer's　stone　that　would　make　that　possible。〃　She　turned　to　the　anasazium　core。　〃Contained　here　is　the　catalyst　that　makes　the　process　work。　The　salted　water　is　brought　into　contact　with　this　material　which　purifies　the　water。〃
　
　〃When　will　we　get　a　demonstration　of　this　miracle？〃　said　Lord　Grimley。

　
　〃If　you　would　step　this　way；〃　she　said；　leading　the　way　to　the　console。　Her　hands　danced　over　the　keyboard。　There　was　a　muffled　growl　of　pumps　and　the　sound　of　rushing　water。　〃That's　the　salt　water　ing　through　the　main　over　your　heads。　It　is　flowing　into　the　container。　It　takes　a　few　minutes。〃　
　
　Francesca　herded　the　group　to　the　other　side　of　the　catalytic　container。　She　said　nothing　for　several　moments　as　the　suspense　built。　Then　she　checked　a　gauge　and　pointed　to　another　main。　〃This　is　the　outtake　pipe　that　carries　the　fresh　water。　You　can　feel　the　heat　produced　during　the　transformation。〃
　
　The　American　said；　〃As　I　understand　it；　that　heat　can　be　used　to　produce　energy。〃
　
　〃That's　correct。　Right　now　the　water　is　being　pumped　into　the　cold　waters　of　the　lake　where　the　heat　is　dissipated；　but　with　a　few　adjustments　this　facility　could　be　modified　so　the　heat　es　back　as　power　to　run　the　plant。　There　would　even　be　surplus　energy　that　could　be　exported。〃
　
　There　was　a　murmur　from　the　board。　Francesca　could　almost　feel　the　aura　of　greed　that　emanated　from　the　men　as　they　tallied　the　billions　to　be　made；　aside　from　the　water；　by　producing　cheap　energy。
　
　She　went　over　to　a　vertical　set　of　coils　that　hung　down　from　the　freshwater　pipe。　At　the　base　of　the　coil　was　a　tap　and　beside　it　a　stack　of　paper　cups。　〃This　is　a　cooling　unit　that　removes　heat　from　the　water；〃　she　explained。　Turning　to　a　technician；　she　said；　〃What　has　been　the　quality　of　the　water　produced　by　the　process　before　today？〃
　
　〃Brackish　at　the　very　best；〃　the　technician　said。
　
　Francesca　opened　the　tap　and　filled　one　of　the　cups。　She　held　the　cup　to　the　light　like　a　wine　connoisseur；　took　a　sip；　then　downed　the　contents。　〃A　little　warm　still；　but　quite　parable　to　any　spring　water　I've　had。〃
　
　Brynhild　stepped　forward；　poured　herself　water；　and　drank　it。
　
　〃Nectar　of　the　gods；〃　she　said　triumphantly。
　
　The　directors　pushed　their　way　to　the　tap　like　thirst…crazed　steers。　There　were　cries　of　amazement　with　each　cup　sampled。　Before　long　everyone　was　talking　at　once。　While　the　directors　gathered　around　the　tap　as　if　it　were　the　fountain　of　youth；　Brynhild　guided　Francesca　away　from　the　babble　of　voices。
　
　〃Congratulations；　Dr。　Cabral。　It　seems　that　the　process　is　a　success。〃　
　〃I　knew　that　ten　years　ago；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　Brynhild's　thoughts　were　on　the　future；　not　the　past。　〃You've　instructed　my　technicians　so　they　can　make　the　process　work？〃
　
　〃Yes。　I　had　to　make　only　a　few　adjustments　in　the　procedure。　You　were　quite　close　to　perfecting　the　process；　you　know。〃
　
　〃Then　we　would　have　developed　it　in　time？〃
　
　Francesca　thought　about　it　a　moment。　〃Probably　not。　Your　process　and　mine　were　like　parallel　lines。　No　matter　how　close　they　e　they　never　touch。　Now　that　I　have　done　what　I　said　I　would；　it　is　time　for　you　to　fulfill　your　side　of　the　bargain。〃
　
　〃Ah；　yes；　the　bargain。〃　Brynhild　took　the　radio　from　her　belt　and　switched　it　on。　She　smiled；　her　cold　blue　eyes　boring　into　Francesca's；　and　said；　〃Tell　the　Kradzik　brothers　that　the　NUMA　woman　is　all　theirs。〃
　
　〃Wait！〃　Francesca　grabbed　Brynhild's　muscular　arm。　〃You　promised…〃
　
　Brynhild　easily　shook　the　smaller　woman　off。　〃I　also　re　minded　you　that　I　could　not　be　trusted。　Now　that　you　have　demonstrated　your　process；　your　friend　is　of　no　use　to　me。〃　She　brought　the　phone　up　to　her　ear　again。　Her　smile　suddenly　vanished；　replaced　by　a　frown。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　snapped。　Storm　clouds　gathered　on　her　wide　brow。　〃How　long　ago？〃
　
　She　tucked　the　radio　in　her　belt。　〃I'11　deal　with　you　later；〃　she　promised　Francesca。　With　a　military　heel　spin　she　marched　for　the　staff　elevator。
　
　Francesca　was　frozen　in　shock。　Then；　as　Brynhild's　treachery　sank　in；　the　fiery　anger　that　had　sustained　her　for　ten　years　was　rekindled。　If　Gamay　were　dead；　it　would　only　make　her　decision　easier　to　live　with。　With　her　jaw　set　in　renewed　determination；　she　headed　back　into　the　labyrinth　of　pipes。
　
　Chapter　39
　Gamay　was　almost　relieved　when　the　pair　of　husky　guards　came　to　take　her　away。　She　was　bored　to　pieces；　having　concluded　that　the　cell　was　escape…proof　un　less　she　could　figure　a　way　to　blow　the　door　off　its　hinges。　She　re　solved　to　talk　to　someone　at　NUMA　about　ing　up　with　James　Bond　gadgets。　But　that　would　have　to　wait。　Her　only　option　now　was　to　watch　for　a　chance　to　run　for　it　once　she　was　out　of　the　cell。
　
　Her　heart　sank　as　the　guards　ushered　her　through　a　maze　of　corridors。　She　would　bee　lost　before　she　went　ten　feet。　They　stopped　in　front　of　a　pair　of　heavy　bronze　doors　at　least　eight　feet　high。　The　surface　of　the　doors　was　cast　with　mythological　scenes。　The　theme　was　heavy　on　skulls；　but　for　variety　there　were　giants　and　dwarfs；　strange　monsters；　fierce　horses；　twisted　trees；　runes；　and　lightning　around　a　central　motif；　a　sleek　double…ended　sailing　ship。
　
　One　guard　pressed　a　button　on　the　wall；　and　the　doors　swung　in　noiselessly。　The　other　guard　prodded　her　into　the　room　with　his　gun。
　
　〃This　isn't　our　idea；〃　he　said　in　what　sounded　like　an　apology。　The　doors　clicked　shut；　and　she　looked　around　to　get　her　bearings。　〃Charming；〃　she　murmured　under　her　breath。
　
　She　was　in　an　enormous　chamber　bigger　than　a　football　field。　She　could　trace　its　outline　by　the　torches　lining　the　walls　of　the　cavernous　space。　In　the　center　of　the　room；　illuminated　by　four　tall　braziers；　was　a　ship；　its　one　square　sail　unfurled；　that　looked　like　the　twin　of　the　vessel　carved　on　the　doors。
　
　Before　being　a　marine　biologist　Gamay　had　been　a　nautical　archaeologist；　and　she　knew　immediately　that　it　was　a　Viking　ship　or　a　very　good　replica　of　one。　She　wondered　if　she　were　in　a　museum。　No；　she　decided；　it　was　more　like　an　elaborate　crypt。　Maybe　the　ship　served　as　a　sepulchre　as　was　the　custom　of　the　Norsemen。　Partly　out　of　curiosity；　but　mostly　because　there　was　no　alternative；　she　began　to　walk　toward　the　vessel。
　
　As　she　made　her　lonely　way　across　the　great　hall　two　pairs　of　red…rimmed　eyes　observed　her　progress　from　the　shadows。　The　same　eyes　had　hungrily　watched　her　earlier　on　a　TV　monitor　as　she　languished　in　her　cell。　The　Kradzik　twins　had　spent　hours　in　front　of　the　screen。　They　had　taken　in　her　every　physical　feature；　from　the　distinctive　dark　red　hair　to　the　long；　slim　legs。　There　was　nothing　sexual　in　their　voyeurism；　that　would　have　been　too　natural。　Their　interest　was　purely　in　inflicting　pain。　They　were　like　a　dog　trained　to　balance　a　treat　on　its　nose　until　the　owner　gives　the　okay　to　swallow。　With　Gamay　enticingly　within　their　reach；　their　sadistic　urges　surfaced。　Gamay　and　the　other　woman　had　been　promised　to　them。　With　Brynhild　busy　in　the　lab；　they　decided　to　claim　their　toy。
　
　They　ordered　Gamay　brought　to　the　Great　Hall。　The　guards　obeyed　with　some　reluctance。　The　small　army　that　protected　Gogstad　and　occasionally　projected　its　reach；　as　in　Alaska；　were　all　ex…military　men；　plucked　from　elite　services　around　the　world。　In　their　ranks　were　former　French　Legionnaires；　U。S。　Special　Forces；　SEALs；　Red　Army　infantry；　British　paratroopers；　and　other　assorted　mercenaries。　It　was　jokingly　said　in　their　barracks　that　a　dishonorable　discharge　was　a　minimum　requirement　to　work　for　Gogstad；　and　jail　time　was　worth　a　bonus。　They　would　shoot　to　kill　on　order；　but　they　considered　themselves　professionals　simply　doing　their　job。　The　Kradziks　were　different。　Everybody　knew　the　stories　of　massacre　and　murder　in　Bosnia；　and　there　were　rumors　of　their　special　assignments　for　Gogstad。　The　men　also　knew　of　their　close　ties　to　Brynhild。　When　they　were　ordered　to　deliver　the　prisoner；　they　did　so　without　argument。
　
　Gamay　was　halfway　to　the　ship　when　she　heard　the　unmistakable　sound　of　motors　starting　up。　The　staccato　snarl　was　made　even　more　intense　as　it　echoed　off　the　hard　stone　walls。　Single　headlights　appeared　to　the　right　and　left　of　the　ship　and　began　to　move　slowly　in　her　direction。
　
　Motorcycles。
　
　She　could　see　the　silhouettes　of　the　riders。　Gamay　felt　like　a　deer　caught　crossing　a　highway。　Then　the　motors　revved　up　to　a　high…pitched　whine；　and　the　motorcycles　came　at　her　like　twin　rockets。
　
　Her　eyes　went　to　the　sharp…pointed　lances　resting　on　the　handlebars。
　
　The　riders　came　at　her　like　grotesque　caricatures　of　jousting　knights。　Just　when　it　seemed　the　spears　would　penetrate　her　midsection；　the　motorcycles　swerved　off。　They　quickly　reversed　course　and　came　in　behind　her。　She　whirled　as　they　flashed　by　in　a　precision　criss…cross。　They　spun　around；　their　motors　idling；　and　once　more　the　headlights　faced　her　on　either　side　like　the　glowing　eyes　of　a　huge　purring　cat。
　
　The　Kradziks　were　riding　the　Yamaha　250　dirt　bikes　that　the　security　guards　used　to　patrol　the　perimeter　of　the　giant　　pound。　The　lances　had　been　borrowed　from　the　weapon　collection　decorating　the　Great　Hall。　The　twins　were　not　imaginative　men；　and　their　activities；　whether　the　victim　was　a　teenage　girl　or　an　elderly　man；　always　followed　the　same　formula：　intimidate；　terrorize；　inflict　pain；　and　kill。
　
　A　voice　came　out　from　the　darkness　on　the　left：　〃If　you　run　
　
　　Then　from　the　right；　〃。　。　。　maybe　we　won't　catch　you。〃
　
　Fat　chance；　Gamay　thought。　She　could　tell　from　the　voices　that　she　was　dealing　with　the　same　metal…mouthed　morons　who　had　broken　into　her　house。　It　was　obvious　to　her　they　simply　wanted　a　little　challenge　in　their　sport。　She　called　out；　〃Let　me　see　you。〃　
　
　　The　only　sound　was　the　popping　idle　of　the　motors。　The　Kradziks　were　accustomed　to　having　victims　cower　and　beg　for　their　lives。　They　didn't　know　how　to　deal　with　questions；　especially　from　a　defenseless　woman。　Curious；　they　edged　their　bikes　closer　and　stopped　a　few　yards　away。
　
　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　said。
　
　〃We　are　death；〃　they　said　as　one。
　
　The　short　reprieve　was　over。　The　motors　revved。　The　motor　bikes　reared　up　on　their　back　wheels。　The　front　wheels　came　down　and；　with　a　double　shriek　of　burning　rubber；　the　bikes　shot　forward；　did　another　criss…cross；　then　began　to　circle。　They　wanted　Gamay　to　spin　until　she　became　dizzy　and　collapsed　into　a　helpless；　blubbering　heap。　She　refused　to　play　their　game。　Instead　she　stood　her　ground　with　her　eyes　straight　ahead；　arms　t