el.angeleyes-第130部分

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e　had　been　made　into　an　experiment　to　see　the　effects　of　cosmic　rays　on　the　human　body　and　mind。
　And　he　had　had　the　munication；　he　had　seen　the　color　between　the　stars；　the　color　of　God。　Who　could　know　how　that　had　altered　him；　or　even　whether　the　changes　were　not　still　going　on？　Certainly　not　Mars。
　So　there　was　a　way　to　fight　him；　then。
　As　Mars's　fingers　wrapped　around　her　wrist；　she　collapsed　in　his　arms。
　〃I　don't　know　what　more　you　want　from　me；　Mars；〃　she　whispered。　〃I've　given　you　everything　you've　wanted。〃
　〃I　want　the　truth；　Irina。　Only　the　truth。〃
　She　put　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　molded　her　body　against　him；　not　as　a　siren；　but　as　he　would　wish　for；　a　helpless；　confused　female　dependent　on　him　for　guidance。
　〃Irina；〃　he　said　in　her　ear。　〃Just　tell　me　everything。　It　will　be　all　right。　I　promise　you。〃
　〃Oh；　Mars。〃　Bringing　to　mind　images　of　her　betrayal　of　Natasha　Mayakova；　she　began　to　weep。　〃When　Odysseus　took　me　by　surprise　in　the　pool；　I　was　helpless；　you　must　believe　me。〃
　''I　do；　koshka。　I　see　his　physical　effect　on　Tatiana　and　Lara。''
　〃I　was　at　that　time　of　the　month。　I　was　fertile。〃
　She　felt　him　stiffen；　and　she　clung　to　him　all　the　more。
　〃There　is　no　way　to　know　for　certain；　of　course；〃　she　went　on　relentlessly；　〃but　a　woman　can　often　tell　these　things　far　sooner　than　even　a　doctor　can。　But　now　I　am　afraid。　I　don't　know　what　Odysseus　is　any　longer。　I　don't　believe　even　he　does；　though　he　puts　on　a　brave　face。　Now　I　don't　know　what　is　forming　inside　me。　What　if　it's…but　that　is　too　unspeakable　to　even　contemplate。　I　would　kill　myself。　I　would…〃
　She　stopped　as　Mars　thrust　her　convulsively　away　from　him。　He　stared　at　her　for　a　long　tension…filled　moment。
　〃How　could　you？〃　he　said　at　last。　〃How　could　you　be　with　him　at　just　the　wrong　moment？〃
　〃I　told　you。　He　took　me　by　surprise。〃　Irina　made　herself　shiver。　Who　am　I？　a　tiny　voice　reverberated　in　her　mind。　〃He　gave　me　no　time　to　think。　He　made　me　helpless。〃
　〃I…〃
　At　that　moment　a　sharp　rap　on　the　door　interrupted　them。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Mars　showed　his　nerves　by　nearly　shouting。
　〃Captain　Nikolev　is　here；〃　Tatiana　said。
　〃Tell　him　I'm　busy。　I'll　see　him…〃
　''He　says　he　must　see　you　now；　rade。　It　is　most　urgent。〃
　〃Shit！〃　Mars　said。　He　looked　at　Irina。　〃Get　back　to　the　puter。　Find　that　White　Star　information。　Now。〃
　He　went　out　into　the　pool　room；　ignored　Irina　as　she　slipped　past　him。
　〃What　is　it；　Captain？〃　he　said　tersely。
　Nikolev　took　Mars　aside。　Both　Tatiana　and　Lara　were　staring　at　them。
　〃We　have　located　Valeri　Bondasenko。〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Mars　said；　for　the　moment　forgetting　the　sliver　of　terror　Irina　had　handed　him。　''Bring　him　here。''
　〃I　am　afraid　that　is　impossible；　rade。〃
　〃Nothing　is　impossible。　Captain。　Do　it！　That's　an　order。　I　must　have　the　secrets　of　White　Star　contained　in　Valeri　Deny…sovich's　puter。〃
　〃You　and　I　will　have　to　go　to　him；〃　Nikolev　said。
　〃I　won't　leave　here；〃　Mars　said　flatly。　〃I　do　not　trust　the　Hero　alone　with　Lara　and　Tatiana。〃
　''Bring　some　of　your　men　in。〃
　〃No；〃　Mars　said。　〃Such　an　overtly　aggressive　act　would　destroy　everything　I've　worked　for　here。　The　Hero　is　far　too　important　to　us。　He　is　a　doorway　to　a　whole　new　technology。〃
　〃Then　take　the　puter　and　e　with　me。〃
　〃Do　as　I　order！〃
　''But　you　don't　understand；　rade；''　Nikolev　said。　''There　was　only　one　way　to　get　to　Bondasenko；　and　I　used　it。　Remember　the　American　diplomatic　mission　from　Tokyo？　I　intercepted　them　at　Sheremetyevo。　They　are　the　Americans　that　White　Star　asked　for　in　the　coded　cable　we　intercepted。〃
　Nikolev　leaned　closer。　〃I　convinced　them　of　my　sincerity。　They　believe　I　am　on　their　side。　They　told　me　they　know　a　way　to　contact　Bondasenko；　and　they　are　at　the　Rossiya　Hotel　doing　so　right　now。〃
　〃Is　that　where　Valeri　Denysovich　has　gone　to　ground？〃
　〃No。　The　hotel　is　apparently　one　of　White　Star's　dead　drops。〃　Nikolev　watched　the　play　of　emotions　flicker　across　Mars's　face。　〃We　must　go　in　as　friends。　Or；　at　least；　I　must。　The　Americans　can　convince　Bondasenko　to　access　the　puter。　I　know　that　you　do　not　want　to　let　it　out　of　your　sight；　so　I　suggest　the　two　of　us　go。〃
　〃Valeri　Denysovich　and　his　people　will　not　allow　me　to　get　anywhere　near　him。''
　〃True　enough；〃　Nikolev　said。　〃You　will　be　thoroughly　hidden　from　them　along　with　my　people。　I　will　go　in　with　the　Americans　and　the　puter。　When　they　have　convinced　Bondasenko　to　access　the　information；　I　will　signal　you　electronically。　You'll　bring　my　men　in　and　we　will　have　them　all。〃
　Mars　spent　some　time　digesting　this。　''It　seems　flawless；''　he　said。　〃Except　for　one　thing。　How　will　the　Americans　convince　Valeri　Denysovich　to　access　the　White　Star　information？〃
　〃I've　told　them　about　the　coup。〃
　〃You　what？〃
　Nikolev　thought　Mars　was　going　to　have　a　stroke。　〃It　was　the　only　way　to　hook　them；''　he　said。　''Didn't　you　teach　me　that　the　truth　works　better　than　lies　to　catch　human　prey？　Believe　me；　these　are　no　ordinary　Americans。　They　would　not　have　believed　a　lie。　Entanglement　in　the　truth　brings　defeat；　that's　what　you　often　say；　eh；　rade？〃
　Mars　thought　a　moment　longer。　Then　he　nodded。　〃e；〃　he　said。　''Take　the　Toshiba　and　let's　go。〃
　Downstairs　the　two　men　strode　to　Nikolev's　black　Zil。　Nikolev　got　in　behind　the　wheel；　and　Mars；　with　the　Toshiba　on　his　lap；　slid　into　the　passenger's　seat。
　〃Where　is　your　driver？〃　Mars　asked。
　〃I　drove　myself；〃　Nikolev　said。　He　engaged　the　ignition。　He　was　about　to　throw　the　car　in　gear　when　Mars　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。
　〃Just　a　moment。　Captain。　Regulations　make　it　clear…〃
　〃All　my　men　are　with　the　Americans；〃　Nikolev　broke　in；　heading　out　of　Star　Town。　''Not　so　the　Americans　would　notice；　mind　you；　but　that's　why　I've　had　to　use　so　many。　I've　thrown　an　invisible　cordon　around　the　six　square　blocks　surrounding　the　Rossiya。　What　do　the　American　soldiers　say？　An　ant's　ass　couldn't　get　through　there　without　my　knowing。〃
　Mars　laughed。　〃Good　work；　Captain。　You'll　gain　a　promotion　yet。〃
　Out　on　the　highway　there　was　almost　no　traffic　at　all；　and　the　Zil　made　good　time。　Several　miles　from　Star　Town；　Nikolev　pulled　over　to　the　shoulder　and　turned　off　the　ignition。
　〃Is　something　the　matter；　Captain？〃　Mars　asked。
　Nikolev　turned；　and　there　was　a　pistol　in　his　hand。　It　was　aimed　at　Mars's　chest。　〃I'll　take　the　Toshiba　now；　rade。〃
　Mars's　eyes　did　not　nicker。　〃Why；　Captain；　you　disappoint　me。〃
　''Never　mind　that；''　Nikolev　snapped。　''I　want　the　puter；　and　I　want　it　now。〃
　''I　hope　there　are　a　great　number　of　treasures　in　here；''　Mars　said；　〃otherwise　you're　throwing　your　life　away　for　nothing。〃
　〃That's　yet　to　be　seen；〃　Nikolev　said。
　〃What　did　you　do；　Captain；　foolishly　make　a　deal　with　the　Americans？　I　should　have　known。　A　rampant　devotee　of　history　could　not　be　a　true　Marxist。〃
　〃You're　a　bit　behind　the　times；　rade。　There　is　no　such　thing　as　a　true　Marxist　anymore。　Can't　you　see　that　you're　the　last　of　a　dying　breed？　A　dinosaur　in　a　new；　enlightened　age。〃
　〃If　that's　so；〃　Mars　said；　〃then　my　teeth　are　huge。　The　better　to　bite　you　with。〃
　The　muzzle　of　the　pistol　flicked　slightly。　〃Give　the　puter　over。〃
　〃And　once　I　do；　what　is　to　happen　to　me？〃　Mars　nodded；　reading　the　look　on　Nikolev's　face。　〃I　see。　So　that's　how　it's　to　be。　You'll　leave　a　lump　of　dead　meat　for　the　animals　to　tear　apart。〃
　〃You're　a　dangerous　man；　rade；〃　Nikolev　said。
　〃You　're　telling　me；〃　Mars　said；　firing　the　small…caliber　pistol　he　had　hidden　in　his　lap　under　me　Toshiba。
　The　report　was　deafening　inside　the　Zil；　and　the　two　men　were　rocked　on　its　shocks。　Captain　Nikolev's　face　registered　surprise；　and　he　gaped　at　the　blood　pouring　out　of　him。　But　the　bullet　had　been　slightly　deflected　by　the　puter；　and　it　had　entered　Nikolev's　belly；　quite　a　bit　below　where　Mars　had　been　aiming。
　Mars　slapped　at　Nikolev's　pistol　and　it　went　off；　tearing　a　hole　in　the　Zil's　roof。　Nikolev　grabbed　Mars；　slammed　the　heel　of　his　hand　into　Mars's　throat。　Mars's　grip　on　his　pistol　loosened；　and　Nikolev　slapped　it　away。
　The　Toshiba　crashed　to　the　floorwell　of　the　car。　Mars　balled　his　fist；　smashed　it　into　Nikolev's　belly　where　the　bullet　had　entered。　Nikolev　shouted；　and　tears　of　pain　came　to　his　eyes。
　Mars