Clive Cussler - White Death

'Are you all right?" Austin said, taking Them's arm.

'Yes, I'm fine, but as you can tell, I'm very shaky. What about you:-

He lightly touched the side of his head. "My head feels like raw hamburger and my skull is full of twittering sparrows, but other than that I'm fine. It could have been worse."

"I lnow she said with a shudder. "Thank goodness those men saved us."

"What men? I was a little busy with my imitation oflvanhoe." "They came out of nowhere. I think there were two of them. They went after the others and chased them away."

Austin kicked the battered trash-can lid. "Hell, I thought I scared them off with my head-masher." He brushed the dirt off his ripped and dirty pants. "Damn, this is the first new suit I've bought in years."

Therri couldn't help laughing. "Incredible. You narrowly missed being beaten to death, and you're worried about your suit." She em- braced him in a warm hug.

Therri was holding him tightly. He didn't even complain about the pressure of her body against his knife wound. He was thinking that she smelled very good, when suddenly she stiffened, backed away from him and looked over his shoulder with horror in her eyes.

"Kurt, watch out!"

Austin turned and saw that the attacker who'd been lying on the sidewalk was slowly getting to his feet. The man stared at them for a few seconds, apparently still dazed. Austin clenched his fists and started toward the man, ready to send him back to la-la land. He stopped in midstep when a small circle of intense red appeared in the man's forehead.

"Get down!" Austin yelled at Therri. When she hesitated, he pulled her to the sidewalk, shielding her body with his.

The man started toward them, then he stopped as if he had walked into an invisible wall, went down on his knees and fell face down onto the sidewalk. Austin heard footsteps and saw a figure running down the street. Austin pulled Therri to her feet and apologized for knocking her down.

"What happened?" She seemed to be in a daze.

"Someone shot our friend. I saw the spot from a laser sight."

"Why would they do that?"

"Maybe his company has a strict severance policy."

"Or maybe they didn't want him talking," she said, staring at the dead body.

"Either way, this isn't a healthy place to be."

Austin took Therri by the arm and guided her away from the scene. He kept a sharp eye out for a return of their attackers, not re- laxing until the lights of the Palace Hotel were in sight. The hotel cocktail lounge seemed like another world. Austin and Therri sat in a corner booth surrounded by the cheerful Babel of voices and the tinkling of a jazz piano playing Cole Porter. Austin had ordered two double scotches.

Therri took a deep swallow other drink and looked around at the other patrons. "Did that really happen out there in the street?"

"It wasn't a production of West Side Story, if that's what you mean. Can you tell me what you remember?"

"It all happened so fast. Two of those men with the clubs grabbed me." She frowned. "Loo what those SOBs did to my hair." Anger was replacing her fear. "Who were those jerks?"

"The attack was well-coordinated. They knew we were in Copen- hagen and must have been watching us tonight in order to set up the ambush. What's your guess?"

She replied without hesitation. "Oceanus?"

Austin nodded grimly. "As I learned in the Faroes, Oceanus has the thug power, the violent inclination and the organization. What happened next?"

"They let me go. Just like that. Then they were running away, with the other men chasing after them." She shook her head. "I wish our Good Samaritans had stayed so I could thank them. Should we tell the police what happened?"

"Normally, I'd say yes. But I don't know if it would do any good. They might pass it off as an attempted mugging. Given your rela- tionship with the Danish authorities, you might be detained here longer than you'd like."

"You're right," Therri said. She drained the last other glass. "I'd better get back to my room. My flight leaves early in the morning."

Austin walked Therri to her door, where they paused. "You're sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for the interesting evening. You certainly

know how to show a girl a good time."

"That was nothing. Just wait until our next date." She smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I can hardly wait." He was impressed at how quickly Therri had recovered. She was proving to be an iron butterfly. "Call me if you need anything."

She nodded. Austin wished her a good night's sleep and headed for the elevator. She watched until the elevator doors had closed. Then she pulled her key out of the lock, walked down the hall and knocked on another door, which was opened by Marcus Ryan. His smile disappeared when he saw the strain in her face. "Are you all right?" he said with concern in his voice. "You look a little pale."

"Nothing a little makeup won't cure." She brushed by him and stretched out on the sofa. "Whip me up a strong cup of tea, then have a seat and I'll tell you all about it."

They sat down, and she told them about their attack and rescue.

After hearing her story, Ryan tented his fingers and stared off into space. "Austin is right. It's Oceanus. Vmsure of it." "Me too. I'm less sure who our rescuers were." "Austin didn't know who they were?" She shook her head. "He said no."

"Was he telling the truth?" "He may suspect who they were, but I didn't press him on that.

Kurt doesn't strike me as someone who lies."

"Well, well, my tough-minded legal counsel has a soft side after

all. You like him, don't you?" Ryan said with a foxy grin.

"I won't deny it. He's-different."

"I'm different, too, you must admit."

"That you are," she said with a smile. "That's why we're profes- sional colleagues and not lovers."

Ryan sighed theatrically. "Guess I'm fated to be a bridesmaid, never a bride."

"You'd make a hideous bride. Besides, you had your chance to be a bride. As you recall, I didn't like playing second fiddle to SOS."

"Didn't blame you. I am something of a warrior monk when it comes to the Sentinels."

"Crap! Don't give me that monk stuff. I happen to know you've got a girlfriend in every port."

"Hell, Therri, even a monk has to get out of the monastery and kick up his heels from time to time. But let's talk about your in- triguing relationship with Austin. Do you think he's smitten by your charms, enough to have him wrapped around your finger?"

"From what I've seen, Kurt doesn't wrap around anyone s finger." Her eyes narrowed. "What's going on in that tangle of plots and schemes that you call a mind?"

"Just a thought. I'd like to get NUMA on our side. We need mus- cle if we're going to tackle Oceanus."

"And if we can't get NUMA to help us?"

He shrugged. "Then we'll have to go it alone."

Therri shook her head. "We're not big enough to do that. This is not a street gang we're dealing with. They're too big and powerful. You saw how easily they sabotaged our ship. If someone like Kurt Austin is nervous, then we should pay attention. We can't risk any more lives."

"Don't underestimate SOS, Therri. Muscle isn't everything. Strength can come from knowledge."

"Don't talk in riddles, Marcus."

He smiled. "We may have a winning card. Josh Green called yes- terday. He has stumbled onto something big, and it concerns an Oceanus operation in Canada."

"What sort of operation?"

"Josh wasn't sure. It came out of Ben Nighthawk."

"The college intern in our office?" Ryan nodded. "As you know, Nighthawk is a Canadian Indian.

He's been getting these weird letters from his family in the North Woods. A corporation took over a big tract of land near their village. As a favor to Ben, Josh looked into the ownership. The land was purchased by a straw corporation set up by Oceanus."