cussler.blueandgold-第62部分

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　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　shells　at　the　beach。　I　reasoned　that　it　might　be　easier　in　some　respects　to　change　the　molecular　structure　of　the　chemicals　in　salt　water　at　an　atomic　and　subatomic　level。〃
　
　The　smooth…faced　German　banker　said；　〃Your　process　sounds　somewhat　like　alchemy；　Dr。　Cabral。〃
　
　〃That's　a　very　appropriate　analogy。　Although　alchemy　never　achieved　its　goal；　it　set　the　stage　for　the　science　of　chemistry。　Like　the　alchemists；　I；　too；　was　trying　to　transform　a　base　metal　into　gold。　In　my　case　it　was　blue　gold。　Water。　More　precious　than　any　mineral　on　earth。　I　needed　a　sorcerer's　stone　that　would　make　that　possible。〃　She　turned　to　the　anasazium　core。　〃Contained　here　is　the　catalyst　that　makes　the　process　work。　The　salted　water　is　brought　into　contact　with　this　material　which　purifies　the　water。〃
　
　〃When　will　we　get　a　demonstration　of　this　miracle？〃　said　Lord　Grimley。

　
　〃If　you　would　step　this　way；〃　she　said；　leading　the　way　to　the　console。　Her　hands　danced　over　the　keyboard。　There　was　a　muffled　growl　of　pumps　and　the　sound　of　rushing　water。　〃That's　the　salt　water　ing　through　the　main　over　your　heads。　It　is　flowing　into　the　container。　It　takes　a　few　minutes。〃　
　
　Francesca　herded　the　group　to　the　other　side　of　the　catalytic　container。　She　said　nothing　for　several　moments　as　the　suspense　built。　Then　she　checked　a　gauge　and　pointed　to　another　main。　〃This　is　the　outtake　pipe　that　carries　the　fresh　water。　You　can　feel　the　heat　produced　during　the　transformation。〃
　
　The　American　said；　〃As　I　understand　it；　that　heat　can　be　used　to　produce　energy。〃
　
　〃That's　correct。　Right　now　the　water　is　being　pumped　into　the　cold　waters　of　the　lake　where　the　heat　is　dissipated；　but　with　a　few　adjustments　this　facility　could　be　modified　so　the　heat　es　back　as　power　to　run　the　plant。　There　would　even　be　surplus　energy　that　could　be　exported。〃
　
　There　was　a　murmur　from　the　board。　Francesca　could　almost　feel　the　aura　of　greed　that　emanated　from　the　men　as　they　tallied　the　billions　to　be　made；　aside　from　the　water；　by　producing　cheap　energy。
　
　She　went　over　to　a　vertical　set　of　coils　that　hung　down　from　the　freshwater　pipe。　At　the　base　of　the　coil　was　a　tap　and　beside　it　a　stack　of　paper　cups。　〃This　is　a　cooling　unit　that　removes　heat　from　the　water；〃　she　explained。　Turning　to　a　technician；　she　said；　〃What　has　been　the　quality　of　the　water　produced　by　the　process　before　today？〃
　
　〃Brackish　at　the　very　best；〃　the　technician　said。
　
　Francesca　opened　the　tap　and　filled　one　of　the　cups。　She　held　the　cup　to　the　light　like　a　wine　connoisseur；　took　a　sip；　then　downed　the　contents。　〃A　little　warm　still；　but　quite　parable　to　any　spring　water　I've　had。〃
　
　Brynhild　stepped　forward；　poured　herself　water；　and　drank　it。
　
　〃Nectar　of　the　gods；〃　she　said　triumphantly。
　
　The　directors　pushed　their　way　to　the　tap　like　thirst…crazed　steers。　There　were　cries　of　amazement　with　each　cup　sampled。　Before　long　everyone　was　talking　at　once。　While　the　directors　gathered　around　the　tap　as　if　it　were　the　fountain　of　youth；　Brynhild　guided　Francesca　away　from　the　babble　of　voices。
　
　〃Congratulations；　Dr。　Cabral。　It　seems　that　the　process　is　a　success。〃　
　〃I　knew　that　ten　years　ago；〃　Francesca　said。
　
　Brynhild's　thoughts　were　on　the　future；　not　the　past。　〃You've　instructed　my　technicians　so　they　can　make　the　process　work？〃
　
　〃Yes。　I　had　to　make　only　a　few　adjustments　in　the　procedure。　You　were　quite　close　to　perfecting　the　process；　you　know。〃
　
　〃Then　we　would　have　developed　it　in　time？〃
　
　Francesca　thought　about　it　a　moment。　〃Probably　not。　Your　process　and　mine　were　like　parallel　lines。　No　matter　how　close　they　e　they　never　touch。　Now　that　I　have　done　what　I　said　I　would；　it　is　time　for　you　to　fulfill　your　side　of　the　bargain。〃
　
　〃Ah；　yes；　the　bargain。〃　Brynhild　took　the　radio　from　her　belt　and　switched　it　on。　She　smiled；　her　cold　blue　eyes　boring　into　Francesca's；　and　said；　〃Tell　the　Kradzik　brothers　that　the　NUMA　woman　is　all　theirs。〃
　
　〃Wait！