cussler.blueandgold-第53章

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　〃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　about　a　desalting　plant。　This　is　a　freshwater　lake。〃
　
　〃I　agree；　it　doesn't　make　sense。　But　there's　only　one　way　to　find　out　for　sure。　Let's　head　back　and　see　if　our　package　has　arrived。〃
　
　Austin　started　the　engine　and　pointed　the　winch　boat　toward　South　Lake　Tahoe。　They　skimmed　over　the　intense　blue　waters；　and　before　long　they　were　pulling　into　a　marina。　A　lanky　figure　stood　at　the　end　of　a　finger　pier　waving　at　them。　Paul　had　stayed　on　shore。　His　wound　was　still　too　tender　to　allow　him　to　bounce　around　in　a　boat。　As　they　pulled　up　to　the　slip　he　grabbed　the　line　with　his　good　hand　and　tied　them　off。
　
　〃Your　package　has　arrived；〃　he　announced。　〃It's　in　the　parking　lot。〃
　
　〃That　was　fast；〃　Austin　said。　〃Let's　take　a　look。〃　He　and　Zavala　set　off　toward　the　parking　lot。
　
　〃Wait；〃　Paul　said。
　
　Austin　was　eager　to　check　out　the　delivery。　〃We'll　fill　you　in　later；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。
　
　Paul　shook　his　head。　〃Can't　say　I　didn't　try　to　warn　you；〃　he　muttered。
　
　The　flatbed　truck　was　pulled　up　off　to　the　side。　The　object　on　the　trailer　was　about　the　shape　and　size　of　two　cars；　one　be　hind　the　other。　It　was　covered　with　padding　and　dark　plastic。　Austin　had　moved　in　for　a　closer　look　when　the　passenger　door　of　the　truck　opened　and　a　familiar　figure　stepped　out。　Jim　Contos；　skipper　of　the　Sea　Robin；　strolled　over　with　a　grin　on　his　face。
　
　〃Uh…oh；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃Jim；〃　Austin　said。　〃What　a　nice　surprise。〃
　
　〃What　the　hell　is　going　on；　Kurt？〃　The　grin　had　vanished。
　
　〃It　was　an　emergency；　Jim。〃
　
　〃Yeah；　I　figured　it　was　an　emergency　when　Rudi　Gunn　called　in　the　middle　of　sea　trials　and　told　me　to　ship　the　SeaBus　out　to　Tahoe　ASAP。　So　I　just　tagged　along　on　the　ride　in　from　San　Diego　to　see　who　was　on　the　receiving　end。〃　
　
　　Austin　noticed　a　picnic　table　and　suggested　they　sit　down。　Then　he　laid　out　the　situation；　using　the　photos　and　drawings　as　visual　aids。　Contos　sat　silently　through　the　entire　explanation；　his　dark　features　growing　graver　with　each　added　detail。
　
　〃So　there　you　have　it；〃　Austin　said。　〃When　we　saw　that　there　might　be　only　one　way　in；　we　checked　on　the　nearest　submersible　to　do　the　job。　Unfortunately　it　happened　to　be　the　one　you　were　testing。〃
　
　〃Why　play　Blind　Man's　Bluff？〃　Contos　said；　referring　to　daring　covert　underwater　operations　during　the　cold　war。　〃Why　not　just　go　in？〃
　
　〃First　of　all；　the　place　has　better　security　than　Fort　Knox。　We　checked　on　land　access。　The　plex　is　surrounded　by　razor…wire　fence　rigged　to　set　off　alarms　if　you　so　much　as　breathe　on　it。　The　perimeter　is　heavily　patrolled。　There　is　only　one　access　road　in　and　out。　It　runs　through　dense　forest　and　is　heavily　guarded。　If　we　send　a　SWAT　team　in　with　guns　blazing　it's　likely　someone　would　get　hurt。　Beyond　that；　what　if　we're　wrong　about　the　whole　thing；　that　the　women　are　not　being　held　there；　and　what's　behind　all　those　fences　is　perfectly　legal？〃
　
　〃You　don't　think　that's　the　case；　do　you？〃
　
　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　
　Contos　gazed　out　at　the　sailboats　peacefully　gliding　across　the　lake；　then　turned　to　Paul；　who　had　joined　them　at　the　table。
　
　〃Do　you　think　your　wife　is　in　there？〃
　
　〃Yep。　I　have　every　intention　of　getting　her　out。〃
　
　Contos　noted　Trout's　arm　in　its　sling。　〃I'd　say　you　could　use　an　extra　hand。　And　your　friends　here　will　need　some　help　launching　the　SeaBus。〃
　
　〃I　designed　it；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃I'm　well　aware　of　that；　but　you　haven't　been　the　one　testing　it；　so　you　don't　know　the　quirks。　For　instance；　the　batteries　are　supposed　to　be　good　for　six　hours。　They　barely　make　it　past　four。　From　what　you　say；　this　facility　is　quite　a　way　from　here。　Have　you　given　any　thought　to　how　you're　going　to　get　it　to　the　launch　point？〃　
　Austin　and　Zavala　exchanged　an　amused　glance。
　
　'As　a　matter　of　fact；　we　have　already　lined　up　a　delivery　sys　tem；〃　Austin　said。　〃Would　you　like　to　see　it？〃
　
　Contos　nodded；　and　they　got　up　from　the　table　and　walked　through　the　parking　lot　to　the　dock。　The　closer　they　got　to　the　water　the　more　puzzled　was　the　expression　on　Contos's　face。　Used　to　NUMA's　state…of…the…art　equipment；　he　was　looking　for　something　like　a　high…tech　barge　fitted　out　with　cranes。　There　was　nothing　like　that。
　
　〃Where's　your　delivery　system？〃　he　said。
　
　〃I　think　I　see　it　ing　in　now；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Contos　looked　out　at　the　lake；　and　his　eyes　grew　wider　as　the　old…fashioned　paddle…wheel　tour　boat　made　its　way　in　their　direction。　The　vessel　was　painted　red；　white；　and　blue　and　deco　rated　with　bunting　and　fluttering　flags。
　
　〃You're　kidding；〃　he　said。　〃You're　going　to　launch　from　that？　It　looks　like　a　waterborne　wedding　cake。〃
　
　〃It　is　pretty　festive。　The　old　girl　makes　the　trip　from　one　end　of　the　lake　to　the　other　every　day。　No　one　gives　it　a　second　look　anymore。　It's　the　perfect　cover　for　a　covert　operation；　don't　you　think；　Joe？〃
　
　〃I've　heard　they　serve　a　pretty　good　breakfast　aboard；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　straight　face。
　
　Contos　stared　grimly　at　the　approaching　vessel。　Then；　with　out　warning；　he　wheeled　about　and　headed　for　the　parking　lot。
　
　〃Hey；　captain；　where　are　you　going？〃　Austin　called　after　him。
　
　〃Back　to　the　truck　to　get　my　banjo。〃
　
　Chapter　36
　Francesca　stood　on　the　deck　of　the　Viking　ship　taking　in　its　long；　sweeping　lines；　its　graceful；　upturned　bow　and　stern；　the　painted　square　sail。　Even　with　the　thick　planking　and　massive　keel　it　seemed　almost　delicate　in　its　construction。　She　looked　around　at　the　huge　chamber；　with　its　vaulted　ceiling；　the　flaming　torches；　and　high　stone　walls　hung　with　medieval　weapons；　and　she　wondered　how　anything　so　beautiful　could　be　in　a　setting　so　bizarre　and　ugly。
　
　Standing　by　the　tiller；　Brynhild　Sigurd　mistook　Francesca's　silence　for　appreciative　awe。
　
　〃It's　a　masterpiece；　isn't　it？　The　Norsemen　called　this　a　skuta　when　they　built　the　original　nearly　two　thousand　years　ago。　It　was　not　the　biggest　of　their　boats；　like　the　dragon　ship；　but　it　was　the　fastest。　I　have　had　her　duplicated　in　every　way；　from　the　oak　planking　to　the　spun　cow's　hair　that　was　used　as　caulking。　She　is　more　than　seventy…nine　feet　long　and　sixteen　feet　wide。　The　original　is　in　Oslo；　Norway。　An　earlier　replica　actually　sailed　across　the　Atlantic。　You　must　be　wondering　why　I　went　through　the　trouble　to　have　her　built　and　placed　in　the　great　hall。〃
　
　〃Some　people　collect　old　stamps；　others　old　cars。　There's　no　accounting　for　tastes。〃
　
　〃This　goes　beyond　a　collector's　whim。〃　Brynhild　took　her　hand　off　the　tiller　and　came　over　to　stand　before　Francesca；　who　shuddered　at　their　physical　proximity。　Although　Brynhild's　towering　body　was　hard　and　muscular；　the　menace　she　projected　went　beyond　the　physical。　She　seemed　capable　of　reaching　up　and　wringing　the　power　from　a　lightning　bolt。　〃I　chose　this　ship　as　the　symbol　of　my　vast　holdings　because　it　embodies　the　Viking　spirit。　It　was　sailed　by　those　who　seized　what　they　wanted。　I　e　here　often　for　inspiration。　So　shall　it　be　with　you；　Dr。　Cabral。　e；　I　will　show　you　where　you　will　be　working。〃
　
　Francesca　had　been　escorted　back　to　Brynhild's　aerie　after　the　brief　visit　with　Gamay。　Brynhild　had　led　the　way　through　a　bewildering　maze　of　passageways　that　reminded　Francesca　of　being　on　a　cruise　ship。　They　were　unguarded　at　all　times；　but　the　thought　of　escape　never　crossed　Francesca's　mind。　Even　if　she　were　able　to　disable　the　giant　woman；　an　unlikely　prospect；　she　would　have　bee　lost　in　minutes。　And　she　suspected　the　guards　were　not　far　away。
　
　Now　they　got　into　an　elevator　that　dropped　with　knee…bending　swiftness。　The　door　opened　on　a　room　where　a　monorail　car　awaited。　Brynhild　motioned　for　Francesca　to　get　into　the　front；　then　got　in　the　back；　sitting　in　a　space　especially　made　for　her　tall　form。　Their　weight　activated　the　accelerator。　The　tram　went　through　an　opening　and　sped　along　a　lighted　tunnel。　When　it　seemed　the　car　would　go　rocketing　out　of　control　the　puters　controlling　its　speed　decelerated　it　to　a　fortable　stop　in　a　room　very　much　like　the　one　they　had　just　left。
　
　This　room；　too；　had　an　elevator；　but　unlike　the　more　conventional　box　on　a　cable；　its　transparent　plastic　walls　were　egg　shaped。　There　were　seats　for　four　people　of　ordinary　stature。　The　door　hissed　shut；　and　the　elevator　passed　through　blackness；　then　descended　into　a　deep　blue。　Watching　the　fluid　interplay　of　light　and　shadow　through　the　transparent　walls；　Francesca　realized　they　were　sinking　into　water。　The　blue　became　darker　until；　all　at　once；　it　was　as　if　they　were　caught　in　the　beam　of　a　searchlight。
　
　The　door　opened；　and　they　stepped　out。　Francesca　could　hardly　believe　her　eyes。　They　were　in　a　brightly　lit；　circular　space　hundreds　of　feet　across。　A　curving　roof　arched　overhead。　The　exact　size　of　the　room　was　difficult　to　estimate　because　it　was　filled　with　thick　pipes；　coils；　and　vats　of　all　sizes。　A　dozen　or　so　white…frocked　technicians　moved　quietly　among　the　conduits　and　tanks　or　were　bent　over　puter　monitors。
　
　〃Well；　what　do　you　think？〃　Brynhild　said　with　obvious　pride。
　
　〃It's　incredible。〃　The　awe　in　her　voice　was　real。　〃Where　are　we；　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea？〃
　
　The　giantess　smiled。　〃This　is　where　you'll　do　your　work。　e；　I'll　show　you　around。〃
　
　Francesca's　scientific　mind　quickly　made　order　out　of　her　chaotic　first　impression。　Although　the　pipes　went　off　at　different　angles；　there　was　definitely　a　scientific　organization　to　the　mad　ness。　No　matter　which　way　the　pipes　went；　they　eventually　led　toward　the　center　of　the　room。
　
　〃This　controls　the　various　conditions　that　affect　the　core　material；〃　Brynhild　said；　pointing　to　the　blinking　lights　on　a　control　board。　〃This　underwater　facility　stands　on　four　legs。　Two　of　the　support　legs　double　as　intake　pipes；　and　the　other　two　as　out　flow。　Since　we　are　on　a　fresh　body　of　water；　we　first　infuse　the　liquid　we　pump　in　with　salt　and　sea　minerals　from　those　containers。　It　is　indistinguishable　from　actual　seawater。〃
　
　They　walked　toward　the　center　of　the　chamber。　It　was　occupied　by　a　massive　cylindrical　tank　some　twenty　feet　across　and　ten　feet　high。
　
　〃This　must　contain　the　anasazium；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　〃That's　right。　The　water　is　circulated　around　the　core；　then　returned　to　the　lake　through　the　other　two　supports。〃
　
　They　walked　back　to　the　master　control　console。
　
　〃Well；　how　close　are　we　to　duplicating　the　Cabral　process？〃
　
　Francesca　examined　the　gauges。　〃Refrigeration；　electrical　cur　rent；　heat　monitoring；　all　good。　You　were　close；　very　close。〃
　
　〃We　have　subjected　the　anasazium　to　heat；　cold；　and　electrical　current；　but　with　only　limited　success。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　surprised。　The　sonic　ponent　is　missing。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　Sound　vibrations。〃　
　
　　〃You　have　the　right　idea；　but　the　process　won't　work　unless　the　material　is　subjected　to　a　certain　level　of　sound　waves　in　con　cert　with　the　other　forces。　It's　like　removing　the　cello　from　a　string　quartet。〃
　
　〃Ingenious。　How　did　you　e　up　with　that　technique？〃
　
　〃It　was　simply　a　matter　of　thinki