Razov looked startled, then he smiled and shook his head. “I should have known you would figure out my ultimate goal. No matter. Yes, Siberia will become the breadbasket of the world, and your country will be so busy licking its wounds and trying to feed itself that you will no longer be able to mind Russia's business. Maybe we might sell you Siberian wheat, if you behave.”

“Would lrini have agreed with your insane plot?”

The smile disappeared. “You're not fit to speak her name.”

“Maybe not.” Austin pointed the Bowen at Razov's heart. “But I can send you to join her.”

Razov spat out a command. The curtain that divided the main section of the wheelhouse from the chart room parted, and two men came out, a bearded Cossack and Pulaski, who had hijacked the NR-1. Machine pistols at the ready, they moved around behind Austin. Then the curtain parted again. A tall man dressed in a long black robe emerged. He gazed at Austin with deep-set eyes and licked his lips, as if he were about to feast. He said something in Russian; his voice was deep and sonorous, as if it were issuing from a tomb.

A chill danced along Austin's spine, but he kept his gun leveled at Razov.

Razov seemed amused at Austin's reaction. “I'd like you to meet Boris, my associate and closest advisor.” The monk grinned at the mention of his name and spoke in Russian. Razov translated. “Boris says he's sorry he didn't meet you when he boarded the NUMA ship.”

“You don't know how sorry I am,” Austin said. “He wouldn't be standing here now.”

“Bravo! A fine attempt at bluff. Put the gun down, Mr. Austin. As we speak, your companions are being eradicated by my men.”

Austin had no intention of relinquishing his gun. If he had to, he'd go down in a hail of machine gun fire and take Razov and Boris with him. He wondered where Zavala was. While he pondered his next move, he heard Yaeger's voice in his earpiece.

“Kurt, can you hear me? There's still a chance. I've been working on the code, the section I couldn't figure out. It's about the bombs. They won't explode until they're activated. Can you hear me?”

Still keeping the Bowen trained on Razov, Austin glanced at the monitor. The blips had come to rest on the ocean bottom. Razov saw where he was looking. “The deed It is done, Mr. Austin.”

“Not quite,” Austin said. “The bombs are harmless unless they're activated.”

Razov's face betrayed his surprise, but he recovered quickly. His features contorted in a mask of rage. “True – Too bad you will have the privilege of witnessing the activation. Too bad you're about to die knowing that your feeble attempts to stop my grand scheme have failed.”