cussler.blueandgold-第43章

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e　know；　not　what　we　don't　know。〃
　
　Zavala　swiftly　grasped　the　premise。　〃We　know　what　the　tar　get　was　in　the　Soviet　Union。〃　He　pointed　on　the　map　to　the　northwest　coast　of　Alaska　where　blunt　fingers　of　the　ragged　coastline；　all　that　remained　of　the　old　land　bridge；　reached　to　ward　Asia。　〃What　was　the　flying　wing's　statistical　range？〃
　
　〃Around　three　thousand　miles　cruising　at　around　five　hundred　miles　per　hour。　I'm　assuming　that　its　fuel　storage　capacity　would　have　been　beefed　up　to　extend　the　range　as　much　as　possible　for　this　mission。〃
　
　〃There's　always　the　possibility　of　midair　refueling；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃I've　taken　that　into　consideration。　I'm　guessing　that　they　would　have　kept　the　operation　simple　and　short　to　avoid　detection。〃
　
　Taking　a　sharp　pencil　in　hand；　Austin　drew　an　arc　from　Barrow　to　the　Yukon　Delta。
　
　Zavala　let　out　a　low　whistle。　〃You're　talking　about　a　trip　that　could　be　more　than　a　thousand　miles　from　target。　That's　still　a　lot　of　territory　to　cover。〃
　
　〃It's　bigger　than　some　states；〃　Austin　acknowledged。　〃So　I　made　an　educated　guess。　The　cloak…and…dagger　boys　wanted　to　keep　this　crazy　scheme　as　hush…hush　as　possible。　Building　a　new　base　would　be　costly　and　time…consuming；　and　most　important；　it　might　attract　unwanted　attention。〃
　
　Zavala　snapped　his　fingers。　〃They　would　use　an　existing　base。〃　
　
　　Austin　nodded。　〃During　World　War　II；　Alaska　bristled　with　gun　emplacements　and　airfields　because　of　fears　Japan　would　invade。　Each　red　dot　on　the　map　denotes　an　airstrip　from　World　War　II。〃
　
　Zavala　pondered　the　problem。　〃What　if　the　base　were　secret？〃
　
　〃It　was　secret；　at　least　up　to　now。〃　Austin　jabbed　the　map　with　his　pencil　at　Nome　and　drew　a　wide　circle　around　the　dot。　〃We'll　find　what　we're　looking　for　here；　although　I　must　admit　that　with　all　the　suppositions　I've　made；　it's　still　a　crap　shoot。〃
　
　Zavala　studied　the　map；　and　his　lips　twitched　up　at　the　corners　in　his　trademark　smile。　〃How　can　you　be　certain　this　is　the　right　area？　The　plane　could　have　taken　off　from　dozens　of　places。〃
　
　〃I　had　a　little　help　from　a　ghost。〃　Austin　reached　into　his　jacket　pocket　and　produced　a　small　spiral…bound　notebook。　The　brown　cover　was　worn；　but　it　was　still　possible　to　read　the　words　〃U。S。　Army　Air　Force〃　and　the　name　inked　just　below。　He　handed　the　notebook　to　Zavala。　〃This　is　the　diary　of　Buzz　Martin's　father；　the　pilot　who　flew　the　wing　on　its　last　mission。〃
　
　Zavala　laughed　with　delight。　〃You　should　have　been　a　magician。　You　couldn't　have　done　better　pulling　a　rabbit　out　of　a　hat。〃
　
　〃This　rabbit　jumped　into　my　lap。　After　Sandecker　met　with　LeGrand；　the　CIA　poked　around　and　came　up　with　Martin's　personal　effects。　They　must　have　been　in　a　hurry　to　get　rid　of　in　criminating　evidence　and　didn't　vet　the　stuff　thoroughly。　Buzz　found　the　notebook　tucked　into　his　father's　uniform。　He　thought　it　might　contain　something　of　importance　and　gave　it　to　me　just　before　we　left　Washington。〃
　
　Zavala　thumbed　through　the　curling　pages。　〃I　don't　see　a　de　tailed　map　to　follow。〃
　
　〃You　didn't　think　this　was　going　to　be　easy；　did　you？〃　Austin　took　the　book　back　and　opened　to　a　page　where　he　had　placed　a　yellow　sticky　tab。　〃Martin　was　a　good　soldier。　He　knew　that　loose　lips　sink　ships。　Most　of　the　diary　is　devoted　to　how　he　missed　his　wife　and　kid。　But　he　let　a　few　things　sneak　in。　Here；　let　me　read　you　the　first　paragraph：
　
　〃To　my　dear　wife　Phyllis　and　son　Buzz。　Maybe　someday　you　will　read　this。　I　had　a　lot　of　time　on　my　hands　and　started　this　diary　on　the　way　to　No…Name。　If　the　brass　knew　I　was　taking　notes；　I'd　be　in　hot　water。　This　thing　is　even　more　secret　than　the　Manhattan　Project。　As　the　spooks　frequently　reminded　me；　I'm　just　a　dumb　sky　jockey　who's　sup　posed　to　follow　orders　and　not　ask　questions。　Sometimes　I　feel　more　like　a　prisoner：　I'm　kept　under　close　supervision　with　the　rest　of　the　crew。　So　I　guess　this　journal　is　a　way　of　saying；　hey；　I'm　a　person。　They're　feeding　us　well；　Phyllis；　I　know　how　you　worry　about　the　way　I　eat。　Lots　of　good　fresh　meat　and　fish。　The　Quonset　hut　was　not　made　for　the　frozen　north。　The　snow　slides　off　the　roof　but　metal　is　a　lousy　insulator。　We　keep　the　wood　stove　going　day　and　night。　We'd　be　better　off　in　an　igloo。　The　plane　gets　the　first…class　acmodations　in　its　hidey…hole。　Sorry　to　plain。　I'm　lucky　to　be　flying　this　baby！　I　can't　believe　an　aircraft　as　big　as　this　can　maneuver　like　a　fighter　plane。　It's　definitely　the　aviation　wave　of　the　future。　〃
　
　Austin　stopped　reading。　〃He　goes　on　to　say　how　homesick　he　is　and　how　glad　he'll　be　to　get　back。〃
　
　〃Too　bad　Martin　didn't　get　to　enjoy　that　future。　He　had　no　idea　he　was　not　only　a　prisoner　but　a　condemned　man　as　well。〃
　
　〃Martin　wasn't　the　first　or　last　patriot　thrown　to　the　dogs　in　the　interests　of　what　the　higher…ups　said　was　the　greater　good。　Unfortunately　he　can't　have　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　his　little　diary　will　show　us　the　way　to　No…Name。〃
　
　〃That's　even　more　obscure　than　the　dateline　they　used　to　use　during　the　war：　'Somewhere　in　the　Pacific。'　〃
　
　〃I　thought　so；　too；　until　I　remembered　a　story　I　heard　years　ago。　Seems　a　British　Navy　officer　sailing　off　Alaska　in　the　1850s　saw　land　that　wasn't　on　the　chart　so　he　wrote　in　'？　Name。'　The　Admiralty　draftsman　who　recopied　the　chart　thought　the　question　mark　was　a　C　and　that　the　a　in　Name　was　an　o。　No　name　became　Cape　Nome　which　became　Nome。　Here's　something　else：
　
　　〃Uneventful　trip　from　Seattle。　Plane　handles　like　a　dream。　Touched　down　thirty　minutes　past　No…Name。　〃
　
　　〃What　was　the　cruising　speed　of　the　wing？〃　Zavala　asked。
　
　　〃About　four　hundred　to　five　hundred　miles　per　hour。〃
　
　　〃That　would　put　them　two　hundred　to　two　hundred　fifty　miles　beyond　Nome。〃
　
　　〃My　calculations　exactly。　Here's　where　it　starts　to　get　interesting：
　
　　〃Got　my　first　look　at　our　destination。　Told　the　guys　it　looks　like　Doug's　nose　from　the　air。　〃
　
　　'A　dog's　nose？〃
　
　　〃No；　the　proper　name；　Doug；〃
　
　　〃That　narrows　it　down　to　a　few　million　guys；〃　Zavala　said　wearily。
　
　　〃Yeah；　I　know；　I　had　the　same　reaction　until　I　read　the　rest：　All　it　needs　is　a　corn　cob　pipe　to　look　like　old　Eagle　Beak。〃
　
　　〃Douglas　MacArthur。　Who　could　forget　that　profile？〃
　
　〃Especially　someone　who　had　e　out　of　the　Big　War。　In　addition；　Nome　is　only　one　hundred　and　sixty　one　miles　from　Russia。　I　thought　it　was　worth　ordering　up　some　satellite　pictures。　While　you　snoozed　your　way　over　the　continental　United　States；　I　was　going　over　the　photos　with　a　magnifying　glass。〃
　
　He　handed　the　satellite　views　to　Zavala；　who　examined　them　for　a　few　minutes　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　see　anything　that　resembles　an　eagle's　beak。〃
　
　〃I　didn't　find　one；　either。　I　told　you　it　wasn't　going　to　be　easy。〃
　
　They　were　still　going　over　the　photos　and　map　when　the　NUMA　pilot　announced　that　the　plane　was　starting　its　de　scent　to　Nome　Airport。　They　gathered　their　gear　in　a　couple　of　bags　and　were　ready　when　the　plane　rolled　to　a　stop　on　the　tarmac　of　the　small　but　modern　airport。　A　taxi　took　them　to　town　along　one　of　Nome's　three　two…lane　gravel　roads。　The　bright　sun　did　little　to　relieve　the　monotonous　terrain　of　flat；　treeless　tundra；　although　the　Kigluaik　Mountains　could　be　seen　in　the　distance。　The　cab　took　them　onto　Front　Street；　which　bordered　the　blue…gray　waters　of　the　Bering　Sea；　past　the　turn…of…the…century　city　hall；　terminus　for　the　Iditarod　dogsled　race；　dropping　them　off　at　the　barge　port　and　fishing　harbor　where　their　leased　float　plane　awaited　with　a　full　tank　of　fuel。
　
　Zavala　was　more　than　pleased　with　the　plane；　a　single…engine　Maule　M…7　with　short　takeoff　and　landing　capability。　While　Joe　checked　out　the　plane　Austin　picked　up　some　sandwiches　and　coffee　at　Fat　Freddie's　diner。　They　were　traveling　light。　They　brought　clothing　mostly；　although　Austin　had　packed　his　trusty　Bowen　revolver。　Zavala　had　brought　along　an　Ingram　machine　pistol　capable　of　firing　hundreds　of　rounds　a　minute。　When　Austin　asked　why　he　needed　such　lethal　firepower　in　the　desolate　northland；　Zavala　had　muttered　something　about　grizzly　bears。
　
　With　Zavala　at　the　controls　the　Maule　headed　northeasterly　along　the　coast。　The　plane　stayed　low；　cruising　at　a　hundred　and　seventy…five　miles　per　hour。　The　day　was　cloudy　but　with　none　of　the　rain　the　Nome　area　is　noted　for。　They　quickly　settled　into　a　routine。　Austin　called　out　a　promising…looking　piece　of　real　estate；　and　Zavala　circled　it　a　couple　of　times。　Austin　pencil…shaded　the　areas　they　covered　on　his　map。　Their　excitement　at　being　on　the　hunt　quickly　faded　as　the　plane　droned　over　mile　after　mile　of　ragged　coastline。　The　barren　land　was　broken　only　by　lacy　rivers　and　shallow　ponds　created　by　melted　snow。
　
　Austin　kept　them　amused　by　reciting　poems　of　Robert　Ser　vice　which　Zavala　translated　into　Spanish。　But　even　〃The　Shooting　of　Dan　McGrew〃　didn't　dull　the　monotony　of　their　quest。　Zavala's　usual　good　humor　was　beginning　to　wear。　〃We've　seen　parrot　beaks；　pigeon　beaks；　and　even　a　turtle　beak；　but　no　eagle；〃　he　grumbled。
　
　Austin　studied　the　shaded　portions　of　his　map。　A　substantial　amount　of　coastline　had　yet　to　be　covered。　
　
　　〃We've　still　got　a　lot　of　territory　to　check　out。　I'd　like　to　keep　on　going。　How　are　you　doing？〃
　
　〃I'm　fine；　but　the　plane　is　going　to　need　fuel　before　long。〃
　
　〃We　passed　what　looked　like　a　fishing　camp　a　short　while　back。　How　about　breaking　for　lunch　while　we　tank　up　old　Betsy　here？〃
　
　Zavala　responded　by　putting　the　plane　into　a　banking　circle。　Before　long　they　picked　up　the　river　they　had　flown　over　earlier　and　followed　it　for　about　ten　minutes　until　they　sighted　a　cluster　of　plywood　shacks。　Two　float　planes　were　tied　up　in　the　river。　Zavala　scoped　out　a　straight　stretch　of　water。　He　brought　the　plane　down；　skimmed　the　surface　in　a　near　perfect　landing；　and　taxied　the　plane　up　to　a　weather…beaten　pier。　A　stocky　young　man　with　a　face　as　round　as　a　full　moon　saw　them　ing　and　threw　out　a　mooring　line。
　
　〃Wele　to　Tinook　Village；　population　one　hundred　and　sixty…seven；　most　of　them　related；〃　he　said　with　a　smile　as　dazzling　as　sunlight　on　new　snow。　〃My　name　is　Mike　Tinook。〃
　
　Tinook　didn't　appear　surprised　to　have　a　couple　of　strangers　drop　out　of　the　sky　to　visit　his　remote　village。　With　vast　distances　to　cover　Alaskans　will　fly　a　hundred　miles　just　to　have　breakfast。　Perhaps　it　has　something　to　do　with　the　scarcity　of　human　contact　outside　Anchorage；　but　most　Alaskans　spin　out　their　stories　about　how　they　came　north　within　five　minutes　of　making　an　acquaintance。　Mike　related　how　he　grew　up　in　the　village；　worked　as　an　airplane　mechanic　in　Anchorage；　and　came　back　home　to　stay。
　
　Austin　explained　they　were　with　the　National　Underwater　&　Marine　Agency。
　
　〃Had　you　figured　for　some　kind　of　government　guys；〃　Tinook　said　knowingly。　〃Too　clean　for　oil　men　or　hunters　and　too　sure　of　yourselves　to　be　tourists。　We　had　a　NUMA　team　drop　by　a　few　years　ago。　They　were　doing　research　in　the　Chukchi　Sea。　What　brings　you　to　the　Land　of　the　Midnight　Sun？〃
　
　〃We're　doing　sort　of　a　geological　survey；　but　I　must　confess　that　we're　not　having　much　success；〃　Austin　said。　〃We're　looking　for　a　poi