Treasure of Khan (Dirk Pitt 19)
"Mongolia?" Roy asked.
"My regrets for your hasty exit from Siberia," Borjin replied, ignoring Roy's remark. "Tatiana tells me that your lives were in peril."
"Indeed?" Theresa said, casting a wary eye toward her former cabinmate.
"The forced departure at gunpoint was most necessary for your security," she explained. "The environmental radicals of Baikal are very dangerous. They had apparently infiltrated the institute's survey ship and tried to sink it with all hands. I was fortunately able to contact a leased vessel nearby that assisted in our evacuation. It was best that we departed secretly, so as not to call attention to ourselves and risk further attacks."
"I have never heard of the Lake Baikal environmentalist groups acting in such a violent manner," Theresa replied.
"It is a new breed of youthful radicals. With the reduction in state administrative controls in recent years, I am afraid that the rebellious youths have become much more brazen and forceful."
"And what about the scientist, Dr. Sarghov, who was taken off the ship with us?"
"He was insistent on returning to the ship to alert the other institute members. I'm afraid we could no longer vouch for his safety."
"Is he dead? What about the others on the ship?"
"We were forced to evacuate the area for everyone's safety. I have no information on the research ship or Dr. Sarghov."
The color drained from Theresa's face as she contemplated the words.
"So why haul us here?" Roy asked.
"We have abandoned the Lake Baikal project for the time being. Your assistance in evaluating potential oil field sites is still of value to us. You were contracted to work for us for six weeks, so we will honor the contract through another project."
"Has the company been notified?" Theresa asked, realizing her cell phone had been left behind on the Vereshchagin. "I shall need to contact my supervisor to discuss this."
"Regrettably, our microwave phone line is down at the moment. A common problem in remote regions, as you can surely understand. Once the service is restored, you will of course be free to make any calls you like."
"Why are you locking us in our rooms like animals?"
"We have a number of sensitive research projects in development. I'm afraid we can't let outsiders go wandering around the facilities. We can give you a limited tour at the appropriate time."
"And if we wish to leave right now instead?" Theresa probed.
"A driver will take you to Ulaanbaatar, where you can catch a flight to your home." Borjin smiled, his sharp teeth glistening.
Still weary from the trip, Theresa didn't know what to think. Perhaps it was best not to test the waters just yet, she decided. "What is it that you would like us to do?"
Reams of folders were wheeled into the study along with several laptop computers, all chock-full of geological assessments and subsurface seismic profiles. Borjin's request was simple.
"We wish to expand dri
lling operations into a new geographical region. The ground studies are at your fingertips. Tell us where the optimal drilling locations would be." Saying nothing more, he turned his back and left the room, Tatiana tailing close behind.
"This is a load of bunk," Roy muttered, standing up.
"Actually, this looks like professionally gathered data," Wofford replied, holding up a subsurface isopach map, which portrayed the thickness of various underground sedimentary layers.
"I don't mean the data," Roy said, slamming a file down on the table.
"Easy, big fella," Wofford whispered, tilting his head toward the corner ceiling. "We're on Candid Camera."
Roy looked up and noticed a tiny video camera mounted beside the smiling stuffed head of a reindeer.
"Best we at least pretend to study the files," Wofford continued in a low voice, holding the map in front of his mouth as he spoke.
Roy sat down and pulled one of the laptops close, then slunk down in the chair so that the opened screen blocked his face.