atlantis.found-第43部分

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taircase　leading　to　the　offices　above；　but　Wolf　stepped　into　a　small　elevator　concealed　in　one　wall。　The　elevator　rose　silently　and　opened　into　a　vast　conference　room；　where　ten　members　of　the　Wolf　family；　four　women；　six　men；　were　waiting　seated　around　a　thirty…foot…long　teakwood　conference　table。
　　　　　They　all　stood　and　greeted　Karl。　The　most　astute　and　perceptive　of　his　vast　family；　at　only　thirty…eight　he　was　accepted　and　respected　as　the　family's　chief　adviser　and　director。
　　　　　〃Forgive　my　tardiness；　my　brothers　and　sisters；　but　I　came　as　soon　as　I　received　word　of　the　tragedy。〃　Then　he　walked　over　to　a　grayhaired　man　and　embraced　him。　〃Is　it　true；　Father；　the　U…2015　is　gone；　and　Heidi　with　it？〃
　　　　　Max　Wolf　nodded　sadly。　〃It's　true。　Your　sister；　along　with　Kurt's　son　Eric　and　the　entire　crew；　now　lie　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea　off　Antarctica。〃
　　　　　〃Eric？〃　said　Karl　Wolf。　〃I　wasn't　told　at　the　opera　that　he　was　dead；　too。　I　did　not　know　he　was　on　board。　Can　you　be　certain　of　all　this？〃
　　　　　〃We've　intercepted　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency's　satellite　transmissions　to　Washington；〃　said　a　tall　man　seated　across　the　table　who　could　have　passed　for　Karl's　twin。　Bruno　Wolf's　face　was　a　mask　of　anger。　〃The　transcriptions　tell　the　story。　While　carrying　out　our　plan　to　eliminate　all　witnesses　to　the　Amenes'　artifacts；　our　U…boat　was　firing　on　the　NUMA　research　ship　when　a　United　States　nuclear　submarine　arrived　and　launched　a　missile；　destroying　the　submarine　and　everyone　on　board。　There　was　no　mention　of　survivors。〃
　　　　　〃A　terrible　loss；〃　Karl　murmured　solemnly。　〃Two　family　members　and　the　venerable　old　U…2015。　Let　us　not　forget　that　she　transported　our　grandparents　and　the　core　of　our　empire　from　Germany　after　the　war。
　　　　　〃Not　forgetting　the　valuable　service　she　provided　over　the　years；〃　added　Otto　Wolf；　one　of　eight　of　the　family's　physicians。　〃She　will　be　sorely　missed。〃
　　　　　The　men　and　women　at　the　table　sat　hushed。　This　was　clearly　a　group　who　had　never　experienced　failure。　For　fifty…five　years；　since　its　inception；　Destiny　Enterprises　Limited　had　operated　with　success　piled　on　success。　Every　project；　every　operation；　was　planned　with　detailed　discipline。　No　contingency　was　overlooked。　Problems　were　expected　and　dealt　with。　Negligence　and　inpetency　simply　did　not　exist。　The　Wolf　family　had　reigned　supreme　until　now。　They　found　it　nearly　impossible　to　accept　reverses　beyond　their　control。
　　　　　Wolf　settled　into　a　chair　at　the　head　of　the　table。　〃What　are　our　losses　in　family　and　hired　personnel　over　the　past　two　weeks？〃
　　　　　Bruno　Wolf；　who　was　married　to　Karl's　sister；　Geli；　opened　a　file　and　examined　a　column　of　numbers。　〃Seven　agents　in　Colorado；　seven　on　St。　Paul　Island；　including　our　cousin　Fritz；　who　directed　the　operation　from　his　helicopter；　forty…seven　crewmen　of　the　U…2015；　plus　Heidi　and　Eric。〃
　　　　　〃Sixty…seven　of　our　best　people　and　three　of　our　family　in　less　than　ten　days；〃　spoke　up　Elsie　Wolf。　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible。〃
　　　　　〃Not　when　you　consider　the　people　responsible　are　a　bunch　of　academic　oceanographers　who　are　little　more　than　spineless　jellyfish；〃　Otto　snarled　angrily。
　　　　　Karl　rubbed　his　eyes　wearily。　〃I　might　remind　you；　dear　Otto；　those　spineless　jellyfish　killed　twelve　of　our　best　agents；　not　including　the　two　we　were　forced　to　eliminate　to　keep　them　from　talking。〃
　　　　　〃Marine　scientists　and　engineers　are　not　professional　killers；〃　said　Elsie。　〃Our　agent　working　undercover　at　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　in　Washington　sent　me　the　personnel　files　of　the　men　who　were　responsible　for　our　dead　in　Colorado　and　on　St。　Paul　Island。　They　are　not　ordinary　men。　Their　exploits　within　NUMA　read　like　an　adventure…novel　series。〃　Elsie　paused　and　passed　several　photographs　around　the　table。　〃The　first　face　you　see　belongs　to　Admiral　James　Sandecker；　the　chief　director　of　NUMA。　Sandecker　is　very　respected　among　the　political　power　elite　of　the　United　States　government。　After　an　enviable　war　record　in　Vietnam；　he　was　personally　selected　to　instigate　and　run　the　agency。　He　carries　great　weight　among　members　of　the　American　Congress。〃
　　　　　〃I　met　him　once　at　an　ocean　sciences　conference　in　Marseilles；〃　said　Karl。　〃He　is　not　an　adversary　to　underestimate。〃
　　　　　〃The　next　photo　is　of　Rudolph　Gunn；　the　deputy　director　of　NUMA。〃
　　　　　〃An　insignificant…looking　little　fellow；〃　observed　Felix　Wolf；　the　corporate　attorney　for　the　family。　〃He　certainly　doesn't　look　like　he　has　the　strength　to　be　a　killer。〃
　　　　　〃He　doesn't　have　to　know　how　to　kill　with　his　hands；〃　said　Elsie。　〃As　near　as　we　can　tell；　he　was　the　genius　behind　the　loss　of　our　search　group　on　St。　Paul　Island。　A　graduate　of　the　United　States　Naval　Academy；　he　went　on　to　a　brilliant　career　in　the　Navy　before　joining　NUMA　and　being　Admiral　Sandecker's　right…hand　man。〃
　　　　　Bruno　held　up　a　third　photo。　〃Now；　this　one　looks　like　he　could　tear　coins　from　your　stomach　and　give　you　change。〃
　　　　　〃Albert　Giordino；　NUMA's　assistant　special　projects　director；〃　explained　Elsie。　〃A　graduate　of　America's　Air　Force　Academy。　He　served　in　Vietnam　with　distinction。　Bruno　is　right；　Giordino　is　known　as　a　very　tough　customer。　His　record　at　NUMA　is　remarkable。　The　file　on　projects　he　has　directed　to　successful　conclusions　is　quite　thick。　He　has　been　known　to　kill；　and　from　what　little　information　we　have　been　able　to　gather；　it　was　he；　along　with　Gunn；　who　is　responsible　for　the　annihilation　of　our　St。　Paul　search　team。〃
　　　　　〃And　the　final　photo；〃　Otto　prompted　Elsie　gently。
　　　　　〃His　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。　Considered　a　legend　among　oceanographic　circles。　The　special　projects　director　for　NUMA；　he　is　known　as　something　of　a　Renaissance　man。　Unmarried；　he　collects　classic　cars。　Also　a　graduate　of　the　Air　Force　Academy；　with　several　decorations　from　Vietnam　for　heroism。　His　achievements　make　for　heavy　reading。　It　was　he　who　frustrated　our　plans　in　Colorado。　He　was　also　present　in　the　Antarctic　during　the　sinking　of　the　U…2015　by　the　American　nuclear　submarine。〃
　　　　　〃A　great　pity；〃　said　Otto　in　quiet　anger。　He　looked　from　one　face　to　the　next　around　the　table。　〃A　mistake　to　have　used　her　instead　of　a　modern　surface　ship。〃
　　　　　〃A　misguided　attempt　on　all　our　parts；〃　said　Karl；　〃to　confuse　our　enemies。〃
　　　　　Bruno　pounded　the　desk　with　his　fist。　〃We　must　exact　vengeance　from　these　men。　They　must　die。〃
　　　　　〃You　ordered　an　assassination　attempt　on　Pitt　without　the　approval　of　the　rest　of　us；〃　said　Karl　sharply　〃An　attempt　that　failed；　I　might　add。　We　cannot　afford　the　luxury　of　vengeance。　We　have　a　schedule　to　maintain；　and　I　do　not　want　our　attentions　misdirected　to　petty　revenge。〃
　　　　　〃I　see　nothing　petty　about　it；〃　argued　Bruno。　〃These　four　men　are　directly　accountable　for　the　deaths　of　our　brothers　and　sister。　They　cannot　go　unpunished。〃
　　　　　Karl　looked　at　Bruno　icily。　〃Did　it　ever　occur　to　you；　dear　brother；　that　when　the　New　Destiny　Project　reaches　its　climax；　they　will　all　die　violent　deaths？〃
　　　　　〃Karl　is　right；〃　said　Elsie。　〃We　cannot　afford　distractions　from　our　true　purpose；　regardless　of　how　tragic　they　are　to　the　family。〃
　　　　　〃The　matter　is　settled；〃　stated　Karl　firmly。　〃We　concentrate　on　the　work　at　hand　and　accept　our　grief　as　part　of　the　cost。〃
　　　　　〃Now　that　the　chambers　in　Colorado　and　St。　Paul　Island　have　been　discovered　by　outsiders；〃　said　Otto；　〃I　see　little　to　be　gained　by　continuing　to　expend　time；　money；　and　more　lives　in　concealing　the　existence　of　our　ancient　ancestors。〃
　　　　　〃I　agree；〃　said　Bruno。　〃With　the　inscriptions　now　in　the　hands　of　American　government　officials；　we　should　stand　in　the　shadows　while　they　decipher　the　message　and　announce　the　Amenes'　warning　of　disaster　through　the　international　news　media；　thereby　saving　us　the　effort。〃
　　　　　Karl　stared　at　the　surface　of　the　table；　his　expression　pensive。　〃Our　gravest　concern　is　having　the　story　e　out　too　soon　before　the　New　Destiny　Project　is　launched　and　the　disinformation　leads　to　our　doorstep。〃
　　　　　〃Then　we　must　muddy　the　waters　before　scientific　investigators　penetrate　our　ruse。〃
　　　　　〃Thanks　to　those　meddling　rogues　from　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency；　the　world　will　be　onto　us　in　two　weeks。〃　Bruno　gazed　across　the　table　at　Karl。　〃Is　there　any　chance；　brother；　that　our　people　at　Valhalla　can　move　up　the　timetable？〃
　　　　　〃If　I　explain　the　urgency　and　make　them　aware　of　the　dangers　arising　around　us；　yes；　I　believe　I　can　inspire　them　to　move　up　the　launch　date　to　ten　days　from　now。〃
　　　　　〃Ten　days；〃　Christa　repeated　heatedly。　〃Only　ten　days　before　the　old　world　is　destroyed　and　the　Fourth　Empire　rises　from　the　ashes。〃
　　　　　Karl　nodded　solemnly。　〃If　all　goes　according　to　the　carefully　laid　plans　of　our　family　since　1945；　we　will　pletely　alter　mankind　for　the　next　ten　thousand　years。〃
　
　　　　　After　being　airlifted　to　an　ice　station　and　flown　across　the　western　end　of　the　Indian　Ocean　to　Cape　Town；　Pitt　joined　Pat　O'Connell；　who　had　flown　down　from　Washington。　She　was　acpanied　by　Dr。　Bradford　Hatfield；　a　pathologist/archaeologist　who　specialized　in　the　study　of　ancient　mummies。　Together；　they　flew　to　St。　Paul　Island　by　a　tilt…rotor　aircraft。　A　heavy　drizzle；　unleashed　by　hostile　clouds　and　hurled　by　a　stiff　breeze；　stung　their　exposed　faces　like　pellets　shot　from　air　rifles。　They　were　met　by　a　team　of　SEALs；　an　elite　group　of　fighters　belonging　to　the　United　States　Navy。　They　were　big　quiet　men；　dead　set　with　a　purpose；　dressed　in　camouflage　fatigues　that　matched　the　gray　volcanic　rock　of　the　island。
　　　　　〃Wele　to　Hell's　lost　acre；〃　said　a　big；　lanky　man　with　a　friendly　smile。　He　was　toting　a　huge　weapon　slung　over　one　shoulder　upside　down。　It　looked　like　a　bination　automatic　rifle；　missile　launcher；　sniper　rifle；　and　twelve…gauge　shotgun。　〃I'm　Lieutenant　Miles　Jacobs。　I'll　be　your　tour　guide。〃
　　　　　〃Admiral　Sandecker　isn't　taking　any　chances　of　terrorists　returning；〃　Pitt　remarked；　as　he　shook　Jacobs's　hand。
　　　　　〃He　may　be　retired　from　the　Navy；〃　said　Jacobs；　〃but　he　still　carries　a　lot　of　weight　in　the　upper　echelons。　My　orders　to　protect　you　NUMA　people　came　direct　from　the　secretary　of　the　Navy。〃
　　　　　Without　further　conversation；　Jacobs　and　four　of　his　men；　two　in　front；　two　bringi