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From the mand post； they went back to the main passageway； poked into several rooms； each with two beds； that could have been officers' quarters； and followed another connector that led to a large and luxurious suite。 The polished oak floors were covered with finely woven oriental rugs。 The ornate furniture was made from heavy dark wood。 The decor was a blend of Byzantine and Middle Eastern； with a liberal use of red cloth and gold fringe。
Zavala looked at the painting of a voluptuous woman； one of several that decorated the walls。 〃Remind me when I get home to redo my place in harem modern。〃
Austin was having a problem imagining a bulldog…jowled Soviet sub mander in these decadent surroundings。 〃It looks like someone's idea of a Victorian bordello。〃
Despite their bantering； both men were uneasy。 Austin recalled the violence that had greeted his first visit to these shores。 The quiet gave him the jitters。 They explored the rest of the suite； eventually ing to a thick wooden door built with rivets and ornamental straps as if it guarded the portal to a medieval keep。 Carved in the door was a large stylized letter R。
Zavala examined the antique keyhole； then he reached into his pack and pulled out a soft leather case that he unfolded to display an array of lock picks that would have gotten him arrested in most states。 He selected a particularly large pick。
〃The basic skeleton key should do the job。〃 He ran his fingers over the door carving and strong steel hinges。 〃There must be something valuable on the other side。 I'm surprised they didn't use a better lock。〃 Bending to his task； he inserted the pick in the keyhole； jiggled the tool； then turned it。 The lock had been well…lubricated and the deadbolt opened with a loud clunk。
Austin put his ear up against the dark wood。 Hearing nothing； he tried the ornamental knob。 He paused； wondering if hidden cameras had watched them every step of the way into the labyrinth。 A gang of cutthroats could be lurking on the other side of the door。 The thought of a bullet or dagger in the eye made him squeamish。 His lips tightened in a grim smile。 Being shot or stabbed in the heart would leave him just as dead as a poke in the eye。
Austin couldn't remember who'd said the best defense is a good offense； but he had always considered it good advice。 He cocked his Bowen； motioned to Zavala to back him up； then turned the knob； threw the door open and stepped inside。
…14…
THE DENTED BLACK Lada taxi clattered down the dirt road； with every bolt in its ancient chassis rattling in protest。 The potholed ruts led through thick pines and ended at an encampment of rustic chalets clustered near the Black Sea。 The cab bounced on its worn shock absorbers even after Paul and Gamay Trout extricated themselves from the cramped backseat like clowns in a circus skit。 They removed their duffel bags from the roof rack and paid the driver。 The cab drove off in a cloud of dust； and the door to a nearby chalet flew open with a bang。 A bearlike man charged out； roaring in a voice that practically shook the cones off the trees。
〃Trout！ I can't believe you're here。〃 He wrapped Paul in a bear hug。 〃How good to see you； my friend！〃 He pounded Trout on the back。
〃Go…od to see you…oo； Vlad；〃 Trout replied； in between the breath…stealing thumps。 〃Thi…is is my wife； Gamay…may。 Gamay； meet Professor Vladimir Orlov。〃
Orlov extended a ham…sized hand and attempted to click the heels of his rubber sandals together。 〃A pleasure to meet you； Gamay。 Your husband often talked about his brilliant and lovely wife as we drank beer at the Captain Kidd。〃
〃No less than he talked about you； Professor Orlov。 Paul has often said how much he enjoyed your time together at Woods Hole。〃
〃We have many fond memories； your husband and I。〃 He turned to Paul。 〃She is as beautiful and charming as I imagined。 You are a lucky man。〃
〃Thank you。 And you will be pleased to know that your barstool awaits your return。〃
〃Then it is only a question of when。 Tell me how things are at the Oceanographic？〃
〃I was there only a few days ago。 I try to get back home in between NUMA assignments。 Woods Hole hasn't changed since the year you spent there。〃
〃I envy you。 As a pauper nation； Russia is stingy with money for pure scientific research。 Even a well…thought…of institution such as Rostov State University must beg for funding。 We're fortunate that the government allows the university to use this place as a fieldwork center。〃 Gamay looked around at the rustic cottages and the water sparkling through the trees。 〃It's wonderful！ Reminds me of the old cottage colonies on the Great Lakes where I grew up。〃
〃The Soviet navy used it as a getaway for middle…level officers and their wives。 There's a tennis court； but the macadam looks like the face of the moon。 We've brought in students and they have done a good job fixing up the chalets。 It's perfect for seminars or retreats like this one where we academics simply e to think。〃 He grabbed the duffel bags。 〃e； I'll show you where you're staying。〃 Orlov led the way along a soft pine…needle path to a chalet that gleamed with new green…and…white trim。 He climbed onto the porch； dropped the bags and held the door open for the Trouts。 The one…room cottage had up…and…down bunks for four people； a rough…hewn table in the middle； a sink with a pump and a gas camp stove on the other side。 Orlov went to the sink and pumped the handle。
〃The water is pure and cold。 Be sure to save some in this coffee can to prime the pump。 There's a shower outside。 The WC is just behind the house。 It's a bit primitive； I'm afraid。〃
Gamay looked around the room。 〃Looks quite cozy to me。〃
Paul said； 〃We invited ourselves； Professor。 We should be grateful we're not sleeping in a tent。〃
〃Nonsense！ I'll have no more such talk； You'll probably want to unpack and get into something more fortable；〃 The professor was wearing baggy black shorts and a red tank top。 〃As you see； we're very informal； When you're ready； follow the path back to the main clearing。 I'll be waiting with some refreshment。〃
After Orlov left； they filled the sink and washed up。 Gamay traded her stylish cotton slacks and sweater for blue shorts and a T…shirt from the Scripps Oceanographic Institute； where she'd first met Paul； who was studying there； Paul was wearing an L。L。 Bean nonwrinkle navy blazer and tan slacks and one of the wildly colored bow ties he favored。 He put on new tan shorts； navy polo shirt and Teva sandals； Then they strolled back through the pines to the main clearing。
Orlov sat at a picnic table in the shade of an arbor。 He was talking to a middle…aged couple he introduced as Natasha and Leo Arbikov； both physicists。 They spoke little English but municated with sunny smiles。 Orlov said that there were a number of other academicians and students from various fields scattered about in the woods working on experiments or simply reading。 From an oversized cooler； he produced plastic containers of fresh fruit； caviar； smoked fish； cold borscht； a jug of water and a bottle of vodka。 The Trouts sampled the food； but drank water； putting off the hard stuff until later。 Orlov had no such hesitation； drinking his vodka with apparently little effect。
〃It helps my concentration；〃 he said with good cheer； washing down a mouthful of caviar。 He gave Trout another teeth…rattling pound on the back。 〃This is so incredible to see you； my friend； I'm glad you called to say you would be in the neighborhood。〃
〃It's wonderful to see you again； Vlad； although it was a little difficult getting through to you。〃
〃We're connected to the outside by a single telephone。 That's the beauty of this place。 It's the Lost World。 Only we are the dinosaurs。〃 He roared with laughter at his own joke。 〃We are paid practically nothing； but we can pursue our work with little in the way of expenses。〃 He lifted the bottle； smacked his lips and poured himself another two fingers of vodka。 〃Enough about me。 Tell me what brought you to the Black Sea。〃
〃You've heard of the NUMA research vessel； Argo？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I've been on her； in fact。 A few years ago。 She's a wonderful ship。 I would expect nothing less from NUMA。〃
Paul nodded in agreement。 〃Garnay and I are doing some research in connection with the Argo's most recent survey。 I remembered you were at the university and thought I'd give you a call to let you know we were in the neighborhood。〃
Austin had asked the Trouts to look into Ataman Indus… tries while he and Zavala checked out the submarine base。 Ataman's headquarters were in the port city of Novorossiysk； on the northeast er of the Black Sea。 Trout immediately thought of Orlov； who had been a visiting professor at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution； because he remembered that the professor taught at the university in Rostov near Novorossiysk。 When he'd called Orlov； the professor said he would never forgive Paul if he and Gamay didn't e to visit him。
〃You had no problem getting here？〃 the professor inquired。
〃Not at all。 We were lucky to catch a mercial flight to Novorossiysk on short notice。 The university arranged for a cab to pick