cussler.blueandgold-第76章

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　〃Like　a　large　and　unsavory　white　mushroom。〃
　
　〃Exactly　the　image　I　was　trying　for。　Let's　go。〃
　
　They　were　in　a　cavernous　chamber　with　a　high；　curving　roof。　Pipes　and　conduits　of　varying　widths　crossed　the　space。　The　hum　they　heard　earlier　was　so　loud　it　almost　hurt　their　ears。　The　sound　seemed　to　be　ing　from　everywhere。
　
　〃Bingo；〃　Austin　murmured　softly。
　
　Zavala　said；　〃Reminds　me　of　a　scene　from　that　movie；　Alien。　〃
　
　〃I　wish　these　were　aliens；〃　Austin　said。
　
　A　white…clad　figure　unexpectedly　emerged　from　behind　a　fat　vertical　duct。　They　tensed　and　groped　for　their　missing　weapons；　but　the　technician；　who　was　carrying　a　portable　gauge；　hardly　gave　them　a　glance　before　disappearing　into　the　maze。　The　huge　room　had　two　levels　divided　from　each　other　by　metal　scaffolding　and　catwalks。　They　decided　to　climb　above　the　main　floor；　where　they　would　have　a　better　view　of　the　entire　facility　and　have　less　chance　of　running　into　other　technicians。　They　ascended　the　nearest　stairs　and　made　their　way　toward　the　center。　The　technicians　below　were　intent　on　their　work；　and　no　one　looked　up。　From　their　elevation　the　facility　was　even　more　impressive。　It　looked　like　a　futuristic　hive　filled　with　drones。
　
　〃We　could　spend　all　day　searching　this　place；〃　Austin　said。　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　find　a　guide。〃
　
　They　descended　stairs　that　took　them　back　onto　the　main　floor　and　hid　behind　a　large　pipe。　Standing　before　a　large　console　were　three　technicians。　The　figures　had　their　backs　turned；　obviously　engrossed　in　their　task。
　
　Two　technicians　moved　off；　leaving　the　third　alone。　With　a　quick　glance　to　make　sure　he　was　unobserved；　Austin　swiftly　closed　on　the　unsuspecting　figure　and　hooked　his　thick　arm　around　the　person's　throat。　
　
　　〃Don't　make　a　sound；　or　I'll　snap　your　neck；〃　he　growled；　then　dragged　his　catch　back　behind　the　pipe。　〃Meet　our　new　guide；〃　he　said。
　
　Zavala　stared　at　the　technician。　〃We've　already　met。〃
　
　Austin　spun　the　technician　around。　Francesca。　The　terror　in　her　face　turned　to　relief。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　
　The　pleasure　at　seeing　Francesca　overcame　Austin's　surprise。　〃We　had　a　date；　remember？〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　〃Time　and　place　to　be　announced。〃
　
　Francesca　smiled　through　her　nervousness。　Calmer　now；　she　glanced　around　and　said；　〃We　can't　stay　here。　Follow　me。〃
　
　They　wound　their　way　through　the　labyrinth　into　a　small　room　furnished　with　a　plain　plastic　desk　and　chair。　〃I　asked　for　this　space　so　I　could　work　quietly。　We'll　be　safe　for　a　few　minutes。　If　anyone　es；　pretend　you　know　what　you're　doing。〃　She　shook　her　head　in　wonder。　〃How　in　God's　name　did　you　get　in　here？〃
　
　〃We　took　the　bus；〃　Austin　said。　〃Where's　Gamay？〃
　
　〃This　is　the　desalting　facility。　She's　in　the　main　pound。　They　have　her　in　a　heavily　guarded　cell　on　the　first　level。〃
　
　〃How　do　we　get　there？〃
　
　〃I'll　show　you。　There's　an　elevator　that　takes　you　from　the　lab。　It　goes　to　a　tram。　The　car　goes　through　a　tunnel　to　the　main　pound。　Then　an　elevator　will　take　you　up　to　her　level。　Do　you　think　you　can　rescue　her？〃
　
　〃We　won't　know　until　we　try；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　slight　smile。
　
　〃It　will　be　very　dangerous。　You　may　have　a　chance；　though。　The　guards　are　preoccupied。　There's　some　kind　of　meeting　planned。　You　must　move　quickly　before　people　start　ing　here。〃
　
　〃What　kind　of　meeting？〃　Zavala　asked。
　
　〃I　don't　know；　only　that　it's　extremely　important。　I　have　to　have　this　facility　up　and　working　by　then；　or　they'll　kill　Gamay。〃
　
　She　glanced　out　of　the　office　to　see　if　the　coast　was　clear。　Then　she　led　them　to　the　elevator。　Austin　thought　that　she　looked　exhausted。　There　were　black　circles　under　her　red…rimmed　eyes。　She　wished　them　well　and　disappeared　into　the　network　of　pipes。
　
　Wasting　no　time；　they　stepped　into　a　strange　egg…shaped　elevator。　The　elevator　rose　through　the　water　to　the　tram　room　Francesca　had　described。　They　got　aboard　the　tram　car　and　sped　along　the　tunnel　to　its　terminus。　From　the　tram　room　they　stepped　into　a　passageway。　The　elevator　door　was　a　few　paces　away。　The　light　over　the　door　indicated　that　the　elevator　was　moving　down。
　
　〃Do　we　go　naughty　or　nice？〃　Zavala　asked。
　
　〃See　if　nice　works。〃
　
　The　door　opened；　and　a　guard　stepped　out。　A　machine　pistol　was　slung　from　his　shoulder。　He　looked　at　Zavala　suspiciously；　then　at　Austin。
　
　〃Pardon　me；〃　Zavala　said　politely。　〃Could　you　tell　us　where　to　find　the　woman　from　NUMA？　Can't　miss　her。　Tall　with　red　hair。〃
　
　The　guard　began　to　raise　his　machine　pistol。　The　move　brought　Austin's　ham…sized　right　fist　crashing　into　the　man's　midsection。　He　made　a　sound　like　a　deflating　balloon；　and　his　legs　went　limp。
　
　〃I　thought　we　were　going　to　try　nice；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃That　was　nice；〃　Austin　replied。　He　grabbed　the　man's　arms；　and　with　Zavala　holding　the　feet；　they　dragged　the　guard　into　the　elevator。　Zavala　brought　the　elevator　halfway　to　the　next　floor　and　locked　it　in　place。　Austin　kneeled　and　lightly　patted　the　guard's　cheek。　The　man's　eyes　rolled；　then　popped　wide　open　when　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　w