jamesclavell.noblehouse-第203部分

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　〃I　hope　that　will　not　be　necessary。〃
　Gregor　Suslev　laughed。。　〃So　do　I；　my　young　friend。　Please　sit　down。〃　He　poured　two　vodkas。　〃You　deserve　the　promotion。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Boradinov　hesitated。　〃What　happened　to　Metkin？〃
　〃The　first　thing　is　he　made　a　stupid　and　unnecessary　mistake。　Next；　he　was　betrayed。　Or　he　betrayed　himself。　Or　the　god…cursed　SI　tailed　him　and　caught　him。　Or　the　CIA　pegged　him。　Whatever　happened；　the　poor　fool　should　never　have　exceeded　his　authority　and　put　himself　into　such　danger。　Stupid　to　risk　himself；　to　say　nothing　of　our　whole　security。　Stupid！〃
　The　first　officer　shifted　nervously　in　his　chair。　〃What's　our　plan？〃
　〃To　deny　everything。　And　to　do　nothing　for　the　moment。　We're　due　to　sail　on　Tuesday　at　midnight；　we　keep　to　that　plan。〃
　Boradinov　looked　out　of　the　porthole　at　the　carrier；　his　face　tight。　〃Pity。　That　material　could　have　jumped　us　forward　a　quantum。〃
　〃What　material？〃　Suslev　asked；　his　eyes　narrowing。
　〃Didn't　you　know；　sir？　Before　Dimitri　left；　the　poor　fellow　whispered　he'd　heard　that　this　time　we　were　to　get　some　incredible　information　…　a　copy　of　the　guidance　system　and　a　copy　of　their　armament　manifest；　including　atomics　…　that's　why　he　was　going　himself。　It　was　too　important　to　trust　to　an　ordinary　courier。　I　must　tell　you　I　volunteered　to　go　in　his　place。〃
　Suslev　covered　his　shock　that　Metkin　had　confided　in　anyone。　〃Where　did　he　hear　that？〃
　The　other　man　shrugged。　〃He　didn't　say。　I　presume　the　American　sailor　told　him　when　Dimitri　took　the　call　at　the　phone　box　to　arrange　the　drop。〃　He　wiped　a　bead　of　sweat　away。　〃They'll　break　him；　won't　they？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Suslev　said　thinly；　wanting　his　subordinate　suitably　indoctrinated。　〃They　can　break　anyone。　That's　why　we　have　to　be　prepared。〃　He　fingered　the　slight　bulge　of　the　poison　capsule　in　the　point　of　his　lapel　and　Boradinov　shuddered。　〃Better　to　have　it　quickly。〃
　〃Bastards！　They　must　have　been　tipped　to　capture　him　before　he　did　it。　Terrible。　They're　all　animals。〃
　〃Did　。。。　did　Dimitri　say　anything　else？　Before　he　left？〃
　〃No；　just　that　he　hoped　we'd　all　get　a　few　weeks'　leave　…　he　wanted　to　visit　his　family　in　his　beloved　Crimea。〃
　Satisfied　that　he　was　covered；　Suslev　shrugged。　〃A　great　pity。　I　liked　him　very　much。〃
　〃Yes。　Such　a　shame　when　he　was　due　to　retire　so　soon。　He　was　a　good　man　even　though　he　made　such　a　mistake。　What　will　they　do　to　him？〃
　Suslev　considered　showing　Boradinov　one　of　the　other　decoded　cables　on　his　desk　that　said　in　part：　〃。。。　Advise　Arthur　that；　following　his　request　for　a　Priority　One　on　the　traitor　Metkin；　an　immediate　intercept　was　ordered　for　Bombay。〃　No　need　to　give　away　that　information；　he　thought。　The　less　Boradinov　knows　the　better。　〃He'll　just　vanish　…　until　we　catch　a　bigger　fish　of　theirs　to　use　as　an　exchange。　The　KGB　looks　after　their　own；〃　he　added　piously；　not　believing　it；　knowing　that　the　younger　man　did　not　believe　it　either；　but　the　saying　of　it　was　obligatory　and　policy。
　They'd　have　to　exchange　me；　he　thought；　very　satisfied。　Yes；　and　very　quickly。　I　know　too　many　secrets。　They're　my　only　protection。　If　it　wasn't　for　what　I　know　they'd　order　a　Priority　One　on　me　as　fast　as　they　did　on　Metkin。　So　would　I　if　I　was　them。　Would　I　have　bit　my　lapel　as　that　stupid　turd　should　have　done？
　A　shudder　went　through　him。　I　don't　know。
　He　sipped　his　vodka。　It　tasted　very　good　to　him。　I　don't　want　to　die。　This　life　is　too　good。
　〃You're　going　ashore　again；　rade　Captain？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Suslev　concentrated。　He　handed　the　younger　man　a　note　he　had　typed　and　signed。　〃You're　in　mand　now。　Here's　your　authority　…　post　it　on　the　bridge。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Tomorr…　〃　Boradinov　stopped　as　the　ship's　inter　came　on　and　the　urgent　voice　said　rapidly：　〃This's　the　bridge！　There're　two　police　cars　converging　on　the　main　gangway　filled　with　police　。。。〃　Both　Suslev　and　Boradinov　blanched。　〃。。。　about　a　dozen　of　them。　What　should　we　do？　Stop　them；　repel　them；　what　do　we　do？〃
　Suslev　jerked　the　sending　switch　on。　〃Do　nothing！〃　He　hesitated　then　switched　on　the　ship's　inter。　〃All　hands：　Emergency；　Red　One　。。。〃　This　order　meant：　〃Hostile　visitors　are　ing　aboard。　Radio　and　radar　rooms：　arm　destructs　on　all　secret　equipment。〃　He　switched　the　sender　off　and　hissed　at　Boradinov；　〃Go　on　deck；　down　the　gangway；　greet　them；　delay　for　five　minutes　then　invite　the　leaders　aboard；　only　them　if　you　can。　Go　on！〃
　〃Surely　they　daren't　e　aboard　to　sear…　〃
　〃Intercept　them　…　now！〃
　Boradinov　rushed　out。　Once　alone　Suslev　armed　the　secret　destruct　on　his　safe。　If　anyone　but　him　tried　to　open　it　now　its　incendiary　napalm　would　obliterate　everything。
　He　tried　to　put　his　panicked　mind　at　ease。　Think！　Is　everything　covered　against　a　sudden　search？　Yes。　Yes　we've　done　the　Red　One　drill　a　dozen　times。　But　God　curse　Roger　Crosse　and　Arthur！　Why　the　devil　didn't　we　get　a　warning？　Was　Arthur　caught？　Or　Roger？　Kristos；　let　it　not　be　Roger！　What　ab…　
　His　eyes　caught　the　pile　of　coded　and　decoded　cables。　Frantically　he　scooped　them　into　an　ashtray；　cursing　himself　for　not　doing　it　earlier；　not　knowing　if　there　was　enough　time　now。　He　found　his　lighter。　His　fingers　were　trembling。　The　lighter　flamed　as　the　inter　crackled　on：　〃Two　men're　ing　aboard　with　Boradinov；　two　men；　the　rest're　staying　below。〃
　〃All　right；　but　delay　them。　I'll　e　on　deck。〃　Suslev　doused　the　flame　with　a　curse　and　stuffed　the　cables　in　his　pocket。　He　grabbed　a　half…empty　vodka　bottle；　took　a　deep　breath；　put　a　broad　beam　on　his　face　and　went　on　deck。　〃Ah；　wele　aboard！　What's　the　trouble；　eh？〃　he　said；　a　slight　slur　now　in　his　voice；　keeping　up　his　well…known　cover。　〃One　of　our　sailors　has　himself　in　trouble；　Superintendent　Armstrong？〃
　〃This　is　Mr。　Sun。　May　we　have　a　word　with　you？〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃Of　course；　of　course！〃　Suslev　said　with　a　forced　joviality　be　did　not　feel。　He　had　never　seen　the　Chinese　before。　He　examined　the　cold…eyed；　sallow；　hate…filled　face。　〃Follow　me　please；〃　he　said；　then　added　in　Russian　to　Boradinov　who　spoke　perfect　English；　〃You　too；〃　then　again　to　Armstrong　with　continuing　forced　good　humor；　〃Who's　going　to　win　the　fifth　race；　Superintendent？〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew；　sir。〃
　Suslev　led　the　way　to　the　small　wardroom　that　adjoined　his　cabin。　〃Sit　down；　sit　down。　Can　I　offer　you　tea　or　vodka？　Orderly；　bring　tea　and　vodka！〃
　They　came　quickly。　Expansively　Suslev　poured　vodka　even　though　the　two　policemen　refused　politely。　〃Prosit；〃　he　said　and　laughed　jovially。　〃Now　what's　the　trouble？〃
　〃It　seems　that　one　of　your　crew　is　engaged　in　espionage　against　Her　Majesty's　Government；〃　Armstrong　said　politely。
　〃Impossible；　tovarich！　Why　joke　with　me；　eh？〃
　〃We've　caught　one。　Her　Majesty's　Government　is　really　quite　upset。〃
　〃This　is　a　peaceful　freighter；　trading。　You've　known　us　for　years。　Your　Superintendent　Crosse　has　watched　us　for　years。　We　don't　deal　in　espionage。〃
　〃How　many　of　your　crew　are　ashore；　sir？〃
　〃Six。　Now　listen；　I　don't　want　any　trouble。　I've　had　enough　cursed　trouble　this　voyage　already　with　one　of　my　innocent　seamen　murdered　by　unkn…　〃
　〃Ah　yes；　the　late　Major　Yuri　Bakyan　of　the　KGB。　Very　unfortunate。〃
　Suslev　pretended　sullen　anger。　〃His　name　was　Voranski。　I　know　nothing　of　this　major　you　talk　about。　I　know　nothing　about　that；　nothing。〃
　〃Of　course。　Now；　sir；　when　are　your　sailors　back　from　shore　leave？〃
　〃Tomorrow；　at　dusk。〃
　〃Where　are　they　staying？〃
　Suslev　laughed。　〃They're　ashore；　on　leave。　Where　else　should　they　be　but　with　a　girl　or　in　a　bar？　With　a　girl；　eh；　happily；　eh？〃
　〃Not　all　of　them　are；〃　Armstrong　said　coldly。　〃At　least　one　is　very　miserable　right　now。〃
　Suslev　watched　him；　glad　that　he　knew　Metkin　was　gone　forever　and　they　could　not　bluff　him。　〃e　now；　Superintendent；　I　know　nothing　about　any　espionage。〃
　Armstrong　put　the　eight…by…ten　photos　on　the　table。　They　showed　Metkin　going　into　the　restaurant；　then　under　guard；　then　being　hustled　into　the　Black　Maria；　then　a　mug　shot　of　him；　terror　in　the　face。
　〃Kristos！〃　Suslev　gasped；　a　consummate　actor。　〃Dimitri？　It's　impossible！　It's　another　false　arrest！　I　will　have　my　gov…　〃
　〃It's　already　been　reported　to　your　government　in　London。　Major　Nicoli　Leonov　admitted　espionage。〃
　Now　Suslev's　shock　was　real。　He　had　never　expected　Metkin　to　break　so　quickly。　〃Who？　Who　did　you　say？〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃Major　Nicoli　Leonov　of　your　KGB。　That's　his　real　name　and　rank。　He　was　also　political　missar　on　this　ship。〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　that　is　true　but　his　。。。　his　name　is　Metkin；　Dimitri　Metkin。〃
　〃Oh？　You　have　no　objection　if　we　search　this　ship？〃　Armstrong　began　to　get　up。　Suslev　was　aghast；　Boradinov　equally。
　〃Oh　yes　I　object；〃　Suslev　stuttered。　〃Yes；　Superintendent；　so　sorry　but　I　formally　object；　and　I　mu…　〃
　〃If　your　ship　is　not　engaged　in　espionage　and　is　a　peaceful　freighter　why　should　you　object？〃
　〃We　have　international　protections。　Unless　you　have　a　formal　search　warrant　th…　〃
　Armstrong's　hand　went　into　his　pocket　and　Suslev's　stomach　turned　over。　He　would　have　to　ply　with　a　formal　warrant　and　then　he　would　be　ruined　because　they　would　find　more　evidence　than　even　they　could　ever　hope　for。　That　god…cursed　son　of　a　whore　bitch　Metkin　must've　told　them　something　vital。　He　wanted　to　shout　in　rage；　the　decoded　and　coded　messages　in　his　pocket　suddenly　lethal。　His　face　had　gone　white。　Boradinov　was　paralyzed。　Armstrong's　hand　came　out　of　his　pocket　with　only　a　pack　of　cigarettes。　Suslev's　heart　began　again　though　his　nausea　still　almost　overwhelmed　him。　〃Matyeryebyets！〃　he　muttered。
　〃Sir？〃　Armstrong　asked　innocently。　〃Is　anything　the　matter？〃
　〃No；　no；　nothing。〃
　〃Would　you　care　for　an　English　cigarette？〃
　Suslev　fought　for　control；　wanting　to　smash　the　other　man　for　tricking　him。　Sweat　was　on　his　back　and　on　his　face。　He　took　the　cigarette　shakily。　〃These　things　are　。。。　are　terrible；　eh？　Espionage　and　searches　and　threats　of　searches。〃
　〃Yes。　Perhaps　you'd　be　kind　enough　to　leave　tomorrow；　not　Tuesday。〃
　〃Impossible！　Are　we　being　hounded　like　rats？〃　Suslev　blustered；　not　knowing　how　far　he　dare　go。　〃I　will　have　to　inform　my　government　and　th…　〃
　〃Please　do。　Please　tell　them　we　have　intercepted　Major　Leonov　of　the　KGB；　caught　him　in　an　espionage　act；　and　that　he　has　been　charged　und