cussler.blueandgold-第52章

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　〃By　letting　them　wither　and　die。〃
　
　〃If　that's　necessary；　yes。　You　must　wonder　where　your　desalination　process　fits　in。〃
　
　〃I　assume　you　would　never　allow　it　to　spoil　your　mad　plot。〃
　
　〃To　the　contrary；　your　process　is　an　important　part　of　my　scheme。　I　don't　intend　to　keep　my　tankers　at　sea　forever。　They　are　only　a　stopgap　measure　while　the　world　builds　the　fantastic　infrastructure　that　will　run　water　down　from　the　polar　ice　cap。　Vast　agricultural　areas　that　have　gone　to　desert　will　have　to　be　invigorated　with　huge…scale　irrigation。〃
　
　〃No　country　could　afford　that。　Whole　nations　will　go　bankrupt。〃
　
　'~11　the　better　to　snatch　them　up　at　a　fire　sale。　Eventually　I　will　build　desalting　plants　using　the　Cabral　process；　but　I　alone　will　control　their　output。〃
　
　〃Again　to　the　highest　bidder。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　Now　let　me　present　my　new　offer。　I　will　place　you　in　a　lab　with　everything　you　need　at　your　mand。〃
　
　〃If　I　say　no？〃
　
　〃Then　I　will　turn　your　NUMA　friend　over　to　the　Kradzik　brothers。　She　will　not　die　quickly　or　pleasantly。〃
　
　〃She's　an　innocent。　She　has　no　part　in　this。〃
　
　〃Nonetheless　she　is　a　nail　that　must　be　hammered　down　if　necessary。〃　
　
　　Francesca　was　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　she　said；　〃How　do　I　know　I　can　trust　you？〃
　
　〃You　can't　trust　me；　Dr。　Cabral。　You　should　know　that　you　can　never　trust　anyone。　But　you　are　intelligent　enough　to　see　that　you　are　far　more　valuable　to　me　than　your　friend's　life　and　that　I　am　willing　to　trade。　As　long　as　you　cooperate；　she　lives。　Do　you　agree？〃
　
　This　woman　and　the　deeds　hatched　in　the　dark　recesses　of　her　brilliant　mind　revolted　Francesca。　Brynhild　was　obviously　a　megalomaniac　and；　like　so　many　of　her　ruthless　predecessors；　was　impervious　to　the　sufferings　of　the　innocent。　Francesca　had　not　survived　ten　years　among　savage　headhunters；　blood…sucking　bats；　and　stinging　insects　and　plants　without　inner　resources。　She　could　be　as　Machiavellian　as　the　most　devious。　Living　in　the　jungle　had　given　her　the　quiet　ferocity　of　a　stalking　jaguar。　Since　her　escape　she　had　been　consumed　with　the　desire　for　revenge。　She　knew　it　was　wrong　and　misplaced；　but　it　sustained　and　helped　maintain　her　grip　on　her　sanity。　She　pushed　her　thirst　for　vengeance　aside　for　the　moment。　This　woman　must　be　stopped。
　
　Suppressing　a　smile；　she　bowed　her　head　in　submission　and　with　a　feigned　catch　in　her　voice　said；　〃You　win。　I　will　help　in　developing　the　process。〃
　
　'Agreed。　I'll　show　you　the　facility　you'll　be　working　in。　You'll　be　quite　impressed。〃
　
　〃I　want　to　talk　to　Gamay　to　make　sure　she　is　all　right。〃
　
　Brynhild　punched　a　button　on　the　inter。　Two　men　in　dark　green　uniforms　appeared。　Francesca　was　relieved　to　see　that　they　were　not　the　Kradziks。
　
　〃Take　Dr。　Cabral　to　see　our　other　guest；〃　Brynhild　ordered。　〃Then　bring　her　back　to　me。〃　She　turned　to　Francesca。　〃You　have　ten　minutes。　I　want　you　to　get　to　work　immediately。〃
　
　Flanked　by　the　guards；　Francesca　was　led　through　a　labyrinth　of　passageways　to　an　elevator　that　dropped　several　levels。　They　stopped　in　front　of　an　unmarked　door　opened　by　punching　out　the　code　on　a　keypad。　The　guards　stood　outside　while　Francesca　entered　the　small　windowless　room。　Gamay　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　her　cot。　She　looked　groggy；　like　a　fighter　who　has　taken　one　too　many　punches。　She　brightened　and　smiled　when　she　saw　Francesca。　She　tried　to　rise；　but　her　legs　buckled　and　she　had　to　sit　again。
　
　Francesca　sat　on　the　cot　and　put　her　arm　around　her　friend's　shoulders。　'Are　you　all　right？〃
　
　Gamay　brushed　her　straggly　hair　aside。　〃My　legs　are　wobbly；　but　I'll　be　fine。　What　about　you？〃
　
　〃They　gave　me　a　stimulant。　I've　been　awake　for　some　time。　Your　drugs　will　wear　off　soon。〃
　
　〃Did　anyone　mention　what　happened　to　Paul？　He　was　up　stairs　when　the　kidnappers　broke　in。〃
　
　Francesca　shook　her　head。　Putting　aside　her　worst　fears；　Gamay　said；　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　where　we　are？〃
　
　〃No。　Our　host　didn't　tell　us。〃
　
　〃You　mean　you've　spoken　to　someone　I　can　thank　for　these　glorious　acmodations？〃
　
　〃Her　name　is　Brynhild　Sigurd。　Those　were　her　men　who　kid　napped　us。〃
　
　Gamay　started　to　reply；　but　Francesca　pursed　her　lips　and　shifted　her　eyes　from　left　to　right。　Gamay　caught　the　hint。　They　were　being　bugged　and　probably　watched。
　
　〃I　only　have　a　few　minutes。　I　just　wanted　you　to　know　I've　agreed　to　work　with　Ms。　Sigurd　on　my　desalting　process。　We'll　have　to　stay　here　until　the　project　is　plete。　I　don't　know　how　long　it　will　take。〃
　
　〃You're　going　to　work　with　the　person　who　kidnapped　us？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Francesca　replied　with　a　stubborn　tilt　of　her　chin。　〃I　wasted　ten　years　of　my　life　in　the　jungle。　There's　a　great　deal　of　money　to　be　made；　but　beyond　that　I　believe　Gogstad　has　the　best　chance　of　bringing　my　process　to　the　world　in　an　orderly　and　controlled　fashion。〃
　
　〃Are　you　sure　this　is　what　you　want　to　do？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I'm　absolutely　sure；〃　she　said。
　
　The　door　slid　open；　and　one　of　the　guards　motioned　for　Francesca　to　leave。　She　nodded；　then　leaned　over　and　gave
　Gamay　a　hug。　Then　she　stood　quickly　and　went　off　with　the　guards。　Alone　once　more；　Gamay　pondered　what　had　just　happened。　As　their　eyes　met　briefly；　Francesca　had　winked。　There　was　no　mistake　about　it。　Gamay　was　pleased　to　think　there　was　more　to　Francesca's　startling　announcement　that　she　was　working　for　the　enemy；　but　there　were　more　immediate　concerns。　She　lay　back　on　her　cot　and　closed　her　eyes。　Her　first　priority　was　to　give　her　body　and　brain　a　rest。　Then　she　would　try　to　figure　out　how　to　escape。
　
　Chapter　35
　The　man　floated　high　above　the　cobalt…blue　waters　of　Lake　Tahoe；　suspended　from　the　parasail　under　a　red…and…white　canopy　that　billowed　over　his　head　like　an　old…fashioned　round　parachute。　He　sat　in　a　reclining　Skyrider　chair　attached　by　a　towline　to　the　moving　winch　boat　two　hundred　feet　below。
　
　The　rider　clicked　on　his　handheld　radio。　〃Let's　go　around　for　one　more　pass；　Joe。〃
　
　Zavala；　who　was　at　the　wheel　of　the　boat；　waved　to　show　that　he　had　heard　Austin's　instruction。　He　put　the　ParaNautique　winch　boat　into　a　big；　slow　turn　that　would　take　them　back　along　the　lake's　California　side。
　
　The　maneuver　gave　Austin　a　sweeping　view　of　the　lake。　Lake　Tahoe　is　on　the　California…Nevada　border　in　the　Sierra　Nevada　about　twenty…three　miles　southwest　of　Reno。　Ringed　by　rugged　mountains　that　are　covered　with　snow　in　the　winter；　Tahoe　is　the　largest　alpine　lake　in　the　United　States。　It　is　more　than　a　mile　high；　more　than　sixteen　hundred　feet　deep。　The　lake　is　twenty　two　miles　long　and　about　a　dozen　miles　wide　and　lies　in　a　fault　basin　created　by　ancient　forces　deep　in　the　earth。　Two…thirds　of　its　two…hundred…square…mile　area　is　in　California。　At　the　north　end　it　empties　into　the　Truckee　River。　At　the　south　end　a　river　of　money　empties　into　the　coffers　of　the　high…rise　gambling　casinos　at　Stateline。　The　first　white　man　to　discover　the　lake　was　John　C。　
　Freemont　who　was　on　a　surveying　mission。　To　English　speakers　the　Washoe　Indian　name　for　the　lake；　Da…ow；　which　means　〃much　water；〃　sounded　like　Tahoe；　and　the　pronunciation　stuck。
　
　As　the　parasail　brought　Austin　around　in　a　wide　arc　he　concentrated　his　attention　on　a　particular　stretch　of　shoreline　and　the　dark　forest　rising　behind　it；　imprinting　the　image　on　his　mind。　He　would　have　preferred　to　use　a　video　or　still　camera　in　stead　of　his　imperfect　memory；　but　traffic　this　close　to　Gogstad's　lair　was　sure　to　e　under　close　scrutiny。　Any　undue　interest　on　his　part；　such　as　pointing　a　camera　lens　in　the　wrong　direction；　would　set　off　alarms。
　
　He　drifted　past　a　long　pier　that　jutted　from　the　rocky　shore。　A　powerboat　was　tied　up　at　the　pier。　Behind　a　boathouse　or　storage　shed；　the　black　rocks　rose　at　a　sharp　angle；　then　leveled　off　into　a　heavily　wooded　natural　tableland。　Several　hundred　yards　back　from　shore　the　land　rose　again　in　thick　forest。　The　towers；　roofs；　and　turrets　peeking　above　the　tall　trees　reminded　Austin　of　the　castle　ramparts　in　a　Grimm　fairy　tale。
　
　Austin's　eye　was　drawn　by　sudden　movement。　Several　men　in　dark　clothes　had　run　out　to　the　end　of　the　pier。　He　was　too　far　away　to　see　details；　but　he　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　pictures　of　him　parasailing　wound　up　in　a　Gogstad　family　album。
　
　The　pier　disappeared　in　his　wake　as　the　winch　boat　towed　him　another　mile　south。　When　they　were　safely　out　of　view　he　gave　Zavala　the　okay　to　haul　him　in。　The　winch　pulled　the　Skyrider　in　like　a　boy　reeling　in　a　kite。　The　reclining　chair　splashed　down　and　floated　in　the　water。　Austin　was　grateful　he　wasn't　using　the　old　harness…style　rig　which　would　have　dunked　him　in　the　lake。　Even　in　summer　the　water　temperature　was　in　the　sixties。
　
　〃See　anything　interesting？〃　Zavala　asked　as　he　helped　Austin　back　into　the　winch　boat。
　
　〃There's　no　wele　mat　on　the　doorstep；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　
　〃I　think　I　saw　a　weling　mittee　on　the　dock。〃
　
　〃They　came　charging　out　the　minute　we　did　our　second　fly　by。　We　were　right　about　the　tight　security。〃　
　
　
　They　had　assumed　the　pound　would　be　well　guarded　and　that　there　would　be　no　point　sneaking　around。　Reasoning　that　the　obvious　was　often　the　most　innocuous；　they　had　flashed　a　wad　of　bills　and　their　NUMA　IDs　and　persuaded　the　owner　of　the　parasail　and　the　winch　boat　to　spare　his　equipment　for　a　few　hours。　They　implied　that　they　were　investigating　the　Mafia；　which　was　not　implausible　given　the　nearness　to　the　gambling　casinos。　Since　business　was　off　and　he　stood　to　make　more　in　the　deal　than　he　earned　in　a　week；　he　went　along　with　the　deal。
　
　　Austin　helped　Zavala　stow　the　Skyrider　and　parasail；　then　he　opened　a　waterproof　bag　and　dug　out　a　sketch　pad　and　pen。　Apologizing　for　his　draftsmanship；　which　was　really　quite　good；　he　drew　several　sketches　of　what　he　had　seen　from　the　air。　He　had　brought　along　the　satellite　photos　Yaeger　provided　and　　pared　the　sketches　to　them。　At　the　top　of　the　bluff　the　staircase　from　the　dock　connected　with　a　walkway。　This　in　turn　widened　into　a　road　that　led　to　the　main　plex。　A　spur　from　the　road　shot　off　to　a　helicopter　pad。
　
　　〃A　full　frontal　waterborne　assault　is　out　of　the　question；〃　he　said。
　
　　〃Can't　say　I'm　disappointed。　I　haven't　forgotten　our　shoot　out　in　Alaska；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　　〃I　had　hoped　to　see　down　into　the　water。　In　the　old　days　the　lake　was　as　clear　as　crystal；　but　the　runoff　from　all　the　development　around　the　shores　has　clouded　up　the　water　with　algae　growth。〃
　
　　Zavala　had　been　studying　another　photo。　After　their　strategy　meeting　at　NUMA　headquarters；　Austin　called　up　a　NOAA　satellite　photo　of　Lake　Tahoe。　The　shot　showed　the　water　temperature　of　the　lake　in　colors。　The　lake　was　almost　entirely　blue　except　for　one　spot　along　the　western　shore　where　the　red　shade　denoted　high　temperatures。　The　heated　water　was　practically　under　the　Gogstad　pier。　It　was　similar　to　the　heat　pulse　in　the　ocean　off　the　Baja　coast。
　
　　〃Pictures　don't　lie；〃　Zavala　said。　〃There's　always　the　possibility　of　a　hot　spring。〃　
　Austin　frowned。
　
　〃Okay；　say　you're　right；　that　there's　an　underwater　facility　like　the　one　in　the　Baja。　There's　one　thing　I　don't　understand。　We're　talking