cussler.blueandgold-第56章

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he　saw　Austin's　face。
　
　〃We're　feeling　generous　today。　You　get　a　second　chance。　Where's　the　woman？〃
　
　The　guard　shook　his　head。　Austin　wasn't　in　the　mood　for　stalling。　He　brought　the　gun　muzzle　to　the　bridge　of　the　guard's　nose；　so　close　that　the　man　looked　cross…eyed　at　it。
　
　〃I'm　not　going　to　waste　any　time；〃　Austin　said　quietly。　〃We　know　she's　on　the　first　level。　If　you　don't　tell　us　where　she　is；　we'll　find　someone　who　can。　Understand？〃　
　The　guard　nodded。
　
　〃Good；〃　Austin　said。　He　pulled　the　man　to　a　standing　position　by　the　scruff　of　his　neck；　and　Zavala　hit　the　button　for　the　next　floor。　Nobody　was　waiting　for　the　elevator。　They　pushed　the　guard　out　into　the　deserted　hall。
　
　〃What's　the　security　like　ahead？〃
　
　The　guard　shrugged。　〃Most　of　the　guards　are　upstairs　taking　care　of　the　big　shots　ing　in　for　the　meeting。〃
　
　Austin　was　curious　about　the　purpose　of　the　meeting　and　who　the　VIPs　were；　but　he　was　more　concerned　about　Gamay。　He　stuck　the　gun　in　the　guard's　ribs。　〃Fetch；〃　he　said。
　
　The　guard　reluctantly　led　the　way　down　a　corridor　and　stopped　in　front　of　a　door　with　a　keypad　lock。　He　hesitated；　wondering　if　he　could　stall　by　saying　he　didn't　know　the　bination；　but　one　look　at　the　thunder　and　lightning　on　Austin's　brow　told　him　he'd　better　not　try。　He　punched　out　the　code；　and　the　door　opened。　The　room　was　empty。
　
　〃This　is　her　room；〃　the　guard　said。　He　looked　worried。
　
　They　pushed　him　inside　and　looked　around。　The　small　room　was　evidently　used　as　a　cell　because　it　could　only　be　opened　from　the　outside。　Zavala　went　over　to　the　bed；　plucked　some　thing　off　the　pillow；　and　grinned。
　
　〃She　was　here。〃　The　dark　red　strand　he　held　in　his　fingers　was　unmistakably　Gamay's。
　
　Austin　turned　back　to　the　guard。　〃Where　did　they　take　her？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　guard　answered　sullenly。
　
　　〃Make　believe　that　the　next　thing　you　say　may　be　your　last　words；　and　think　very　carefully　about　it。〃
　
　The　guard　knew　that　Austin　would　shoot　him　without　hesitation。
　
　　〃I'm　not　protecting　those　creeps；〃　he　said。
　
　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　〃The　Kradzik　brothers。　They　had　her　taken　to　the　Great　Hall。〃
　
　〃Who　are　these　guys？〃　
　
　　〃Couple　of　killers　who　do　the　boss's　dirty　work；〃　he　said　with　obvious　disgust。
　
　〃Tell　us　how　to　get　there。〃
　
　The　guard　gave　them　the　directions。　Austin　told　him　to　expect　a　return　visit　if　he　sent　them　on　a　wild　goose　chase。　They　left　him　in　the　room　and　locked　the　door；　then　bolted　down　the　hall　to　the　elevator。　They　didn't　know　who　the　Kradzik　brothers　were；　and　they　didn't　care。　One　thing　they　could　be　certain　of。　Whatever　was　planned　for　Gamay　couldn't　be　good。
　
　Chapter　38
　The　fifty　men　gathered　around　the　table　on　the　deck　of　the　Gogstad　ship　were　dressed　in　dark　business　suits　rather　than　cloaks　and　armor；　but　the　scene　could　have　been　taken　from　a　thousand…year…old　pagan　celebration。　Torchlight　glinted　off　the　sharp　metal　edges　of　the　medieval　armaments　lining　the　walls　and　cast　flickering　shadows　on　the　men's　faces。　The　theatrical　effect　was　not　accidental。　Brynhild　had　designed　the　entire　chamber　as　an　elaborate　stage　set　with　herself　as　director。
　
　The　Gogstad　board　of　directors　was　made　up　of　some　of　the　most　prominent　individuals　in　the　world。　They　came　from　many　countries　and　every　continent。　Their　ranks　included　the　chief　executives　of　multinational　corporations；　trade　representatives　whose　secret　negotiations　gave　them　more　power　than　some　governments；　and　politicians；　past　and　present；　who　owed　their　careers　to　the　plutocracies　that　were　the　real　ruling　class　in　the　countries　they　came　from。　The　men　represented　every　race　and　color；　but　despite　the　differences　in　their　physical　stature　and　skin　plexion；　they　were　bound　together　by　a　mon　denominator：　their　insatiable　avarice。　With　every　disdainful　facial　expression　and　gesture；　they　projected　the　same　polished　arrogance。
　
　Brynhild　stood　on　the　deck　of　the　Viking　ship　at　the　head　of　the　table。　〃Wele；　gentlemen；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you　for　ing　on　short　notice。　I　know　many　of　you　traveled　a　long　way；　but
　I　assure　you；　the　journey　will　have　been　worth　it。〃　She　looked　from　face　to　face；　glorying　in　the　greed　she　saw　lurking　behind　the　practiced　smiles　and　the　knifing　eyes。　〃We　in　this　room　rep　resent　the　heart　and　soul　of　Gogstad；　an　invisible　government　more　powerful　than　any　the　world　has　ever　seen。　You　are　more　than　a　corporate　elite；　you　are　priests　in　a　secret　society；　like　the　Knights　Templar。〃
　
　〃Pardon　me　for　interrupting　your　stirring　pep　talk　right　at　the　start；〃　said　a　fish…eyed　English　arms　dealer　named　Grimley。　〃You're　not　telling　us　anything　new。　I　hope　I　didn't　just　fly　six　thousand　miles　to　hear　you　tell　us　what　an　extraordinary　group　this　is。〃
　
　Brynhild　smiled。　The　directors　were　the　only　people　on　earth　who　could　talk　to　her　as　equals。
　
　〃No；　Lord　Grimley；　I　called　you　together　to　inform　you　that　our　plans　have　been　drastically　accelerated。〃
　
　The　Englishman　was　still　unimpressed。　His　long　nose　sniffed　the　air　as　if　he　smelled　an　unpleasant　odor。　〃You　were　originally　talking　of　years　to　gain　the　monopoly　on　the　world's　water　supply。　That　has　been　changed　to　months；　I　take　it？〃
　
　〃No；　Lord　Grimley。　I'm　talking　a　target　date　of　days。〃
　
　There　was　a　low　murmur　around　the　table。
　
　An　unctuous　smile　crossed　Grimley's　face。　〃Disregard　my　earlier　ment；〃　he　said。　〃Please　go　on。〃
　
　〃I'd　be　happy　to；〃　Brynhild　said。　〃As　you　know　from　my　monthly　reports；　our　plans　have　been　moving　smoothly　but　slowly。　Every　day　we　have　acquired　another　water　source；　but　it　has　taken　time　to　build　up　our　tanker　fleet。　The　huge　storage　bags　that　would　be　used　to　transport　water　across　oceans　have　been　a　problem。　Only　now　has　the　technology　to　construct　the　bags　been　achieved。　And　most　recently　our　project　has　elicited　interest　from　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　
　An　American　real　estate　baron　named　Howes　was　the　first　to　pounce　on　the　significance　of　her　last　sentence。　〃NUMA？　How　did　they　e　to　know　about　us？〃
　
　〃It's　a　plicated　story。　You　will　all　be　provided　with　reports　detailing　NUMA's　interest。　Suffice　it　to　say　for　now　that　their　people　are　very　persistent　and　lucky。〃
　
　〃This　is　serious；〃　said　the　American。　〃First　the　newspaper　investigation；　now　this。〃
　
　〃The　newspaper　will　not　be　running　the　story；　nor　will　any　one　else。　All　the　investigative　records　have　been　destroyed。　In　regard　to　NUMA；　that　situation；　too；　has　been　neutralized。〃
　
　〃It's　still　damned　worrisome；〃　Howes　said。　〃We've　spent　mil　lions　keeping　our　activities　secret。　This　whole　thing　could　un　ravel　in　no　time。〃
　
　〃I　agree　wholeheartedly；〃　Brynhild　replied。　〃We　have　done　everything　possible　to　preserve　our　privacy；　but　an　operation　of　this　size　and　duration　could　not　go　undetected　forever。　The　facade　we　erected　to　hide　our　activities　from　public　view　is　be　ginning　to　crack。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　so　I'm　not　surprised；　but　it　did　suggest　the　need　for　haste。〃
　
　〃Are　you　saying　that　you　are　rushing　our　plans　because　of　NUMA？〃
　
　〃No。　Only　that　there　has　been　a　fortunate　turn　of　events。〃
　
　A　German　banker　named　Heimmler　was　the　first　to　catch　on。　〃There　is　only　one　way　the　plan　can　be　advanced　so　dramatically；〃　he　said　with　the　expression　of　a　boa　constrictor　presented　with　a　live　rabbit。　〃You　have　perfected　the　Cabral　desalting　method。〃
　
　Brynhild　waited　for　the　buzzing　around　the　table　to　die　down。　〃Better　still；〃　she　said　triumphantly。　〃Dr。　Cabral　is　perfecting　the　process　for　us。〃
　
　〃Cabral；〃　the　German　said。　〃I　read　press　reports　that　she　was　still　alive；　but…〃
　
　〃Alive　and　quite　well。　She　has　agreed　to　work　with　Gogstad　since　we　control　the　only　supply　of　anasazium。　At　this　moment　she　is　in　our　laboratory　where　she　is　preparing　a　demonstration。　In　a　short　time　I　will　show　you　this　miracle。　I　spoke　to　Dr。　Cabral　before　our　meeting。　She　said　she　would　be　ready　in　an　hour。　In　the　meantime　you　are　invited　to　enjoy　the　refreshments　we　have　prepared　for　you　in　the　dining　room。　I　must　check　on　transport　arrangements　and　will　see　you　shortly。〃　
　
　　As　the　directors　filed　out　of　the　Great　Hall；　Brynhild　went　to　the　front　entrance　of　the　main　plex。　Several　dark　green　Suburbans　were　lined　up　in　front　of　the　spacious　porch。　A　driver　and　armed　guard　stood　next　to　each　vehicle。
　
　〃Is　everything　ready？〃　she　asked　the　guard　standing　by　the　lead　vehicle。
　
　〃Yes；　ma'am；　we　can　move　the　guests　whenever　they　are　ready　to　go。〃
　
　The　underground　tram　was　the　fastest　way　to　get　to　the　lab；　but　it　was　built　mainly　to　shuttle　small　parties　of　technicians　back　and　forth。　It　was　quicker　to　transport　a　large　group；　such　as　the　board　of　directors；　in　vehicles。　Brynhild　left　nothing　to　chance。　She　got　in　the　passenger　side　of　the　lead　vehicle　and　ordered　the　driver　to　take　her　to　the　lake。　A　few　minutes　later　the　SUV　pulled　up　at　the　edge　of　the　low　hill　that　overlooked　the　water。　She　descended　a　short　stairway　to　the　pier　and　went　in　side　the　boathouse。　The　structure　was　actually　a　cover　for　the　elevators　that　serviced　the　lab。　She　walked　past　the　fast　egg…shaped　lift　and　into　the　large　freight　elevator。　Moments　later　she　was　striding　across　the　lab　toward　the　main　core。　There　was　a　discernible　air　of　excitement　in　the　dome…shaped　structure。
　
　Francesca　was　working　at　the　control　console。　When　she　saw　Brynhild　she　said；　〃I　was　just　about　to　call　you。　I　can　perform　the　demonstration　earlier　than　I　anticipated。〃
　
　〃You're　absolutely　sure　it　will　work？〃
　
　〃I　can　give　you　a　preview　now　if　you'd　like。〃
　
　Brynhild　considered　the　offer；　then　said；　〃No；　I　can't　wait　to　see　their　faces　when　they　observe　how　our　process　works。〃
　
　Francesca　ignored　the　use　of　the　plural　possessive　in　describing　ownership　of　the　process。　〃I'm　sure　they　will　be　surprised。〃
　
　Brynhild　used　her　small　belt　phone　to　order　the　shuttles　to　start　transporting　the　directors。　In　less　than　half　an　hour　the　en　tire　board　was　gathered　in　the　lab　around　the　core　container。　Brynhild　introduced　Francesca。　There　was　a　murmur　of　admiration　when　the　lovely　Brazilian　scientist　stepped　forward。　Even　as　she　smiled　at　the　hard…faced　men　gathered　around　her；　Francesca　thought　how　much　they　resembled　hungry　reptiles　gathered　around　a　water　hole。　She　didn't　have　to　remind　herself　that　their　quest　for　more　power　and　money　was　responsible　for　her　years　in　the　rain　forest。　While　she　lived　with　the　Chulo　awaiting　rescue；　possibly　millions　of　people　who　could　have　benefited　from　her　work　died　from　thirst。
　
　Francesca　had　never　seen　so　much　evil　gathered　in　one　room；　but　she　covered　her　loathing　well。　〃I　don't　know　how　many　of　you　have　a　scientific　background；　but　technical　knowledge　is　not　necessary　to　grasp　the　basic　principle　behind　what　you　are　about　to　see。　While　my　process　is　difficult　in　execution；　it's　rather　simple　in　concept。　Desalting　methods　have　been　around　since　the　time　of　the　ancient　Greeks。　But　those　techniques　always　used　a　physical　process；　heating　the　water　to　steam；　treating　it　with　electricity；　pushing　it　through　membranes　to　screen　out　the　salt　the　way　a　child　sifts　through　s