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〃Austin to Argo。〃
Austin。 It couldn't be。
Petrov took a deep breath to steady his nerves。 Austin was a mon name in the United States； and NUMA was a large organization。 He tried to persuade himself that it was sheer coincidence； but as he read the transcript； his lips curled into a grim smile。 There was no mistaking the pilot's wisecracking tone。 The irreverent reference to the director of NUMA clinched it。 He was reading pure Kurt Austin。 Petrov reached into the dusty file cabinet and extracted a thick folder marked NUMA； Kurt Austin。 The dossier's well…worn pages told him what he already knew by heart。 Austin had been born in Seattle； his father the wealthy owner of a marine salvage pany。 The sea had shaped his adventurous personality。 He could sail as soon as he could walk； and as he grew older； he acquired a taste for racing speedboats； although in recent years he had taken up sculling on the Potomac。 He lived in a converted boathouse below the Palisades in Washington； D。C。； less than a mile from the Central Intelligence Agency at Langley。 He enjoyed philosophy； collected dueling pistols； listened to progressive jazz。 。 。 。
Petrov read further； though his eyes barely registered the words。 After studying for his master's in systems management at the University of Washington； Austin had attended a highly rated Seattle dive school and trained as a professional。 He'd brought these skills to bear working on North Sea oil rigs； then returned to his father's salvage pany before being lured into government service by a little known branch of the CIA that specialized in underwater intelligence…gathering。 At the end of the Cold War； the CIA had closed down the branch and NUMA director Admiral James Sandecker had hired Austin to head up a special assignments team being assembled for oceanographic research。
Their backgrounds couldn't have been more different。 Austin and Petrov。 Like the American； Petrov had salt water in his veins； but his beginnings were more humble。 He'd been born the only son of a poor fisherman。 As a Young Pioneer； his intelligence and athletic ability were noticed by a visiting political missar； and he was taken to Moscow and made a ward of the state。 He never saw his parents or siblings again。 Even worse； he didn't care to see them； the Soviet state had bee his new family。 He attended the finest Soviet schools； excelling in engineering； served a stint in the KGB as a submarine officer； and later moved to naval intelligence。 Like Austin； Petrov had also served in a little…known ocean intelligence branch。 Unlike Austin's group； which concentrated on oceanographic research； Petrov's people were authorized to carry out their duties by any means； including force。
Their paths had rust crossed after an Israeli submarine clandestinely sank an Iranian container ship carrying nuclear weapons。 Petrov was ordered to retrieve the weapons at all costs： The container ship could be an embarrassment； because the weapons had been stolen from the Soviet arsenal。 Meanwhile； the U。S。 was performing a balancing act between its Arab allies and Israel； and Washington had worried that if Iran knew how the ship had been sunk； they would declare a holy war that would spread around the region。 Austin had been made the director of an attempt to salvage the container ship and destroy the evidence。
Ships from the USSR and the U。S。 had arrived over the sunken container ship at about the same time。 Neither ship would give way to the other。 The standoff dragged on for days。 Warships from both countries hovered on the horizon。 It was a tense time。 Petrov was awaiting orders from Moscow when he was called to the bridge to hear a message from the American ship。
〃This is the U。S。 vessel Talon calling unknown Soviet salvage ship。 e in； please。〃 The caller spoke in heavily accented Russian。
〃Soviet salvage ship to Talon；〃 Petrov replied in the American…accented English he had learned at the state schools。
〃Do you mind if we speak in English？〃 the American said。 〃My Russian is a little rusty。〃
〃No problem。 I assume you called to let us know you will be moving off…site。〃
〃No； actually I called to check on your caviar supply。〃 Petrov smiled。 〃It is more than adequate； thank you。 Now let me ask a question。 When will your ship be departing？〃
〃Your mand of English isn't as good as I thought。 We have no intention of leaving international waters。〃
〃Then the responsibility for any repercussions will be on your head。〃
〃Sorry； we're not accepting repercussions。〃
〃Then we have no alternative but to force the situation。〃
〃Let's see if we can settle this thing amicably； tovarich；〃 the American replied casually。 〃We both know what's on that wreck and what a pain it could cause our respective countries。 So here's my suggestion： We pull back while you go down and retrieve your； uh； stolen property。 We'll even give you a hand if you'd like。 When you're finished with your salvage work； you leave and we'll dispose of the evidence。 What do you say？〃
〃Interesting proposition。〃
〃I think so。〃
〃How do I know I can trust you？〃
〃Action speaks louder than words。 I've given the order to move back a half mile。〃
Petrov watched the American ship lift anchor and reposition itself farther from the salvage site。 Petrov judged that despite the American's lighthearted manner； he was determined to carry out his mission。 The alternative to a deal was an escalation of force。 Petrov was no gambler。 If the American reneged； Petrov could use the armed men on his ship and the Soviet navy was on call。 No matter what the oute； however； he would not look good for letting the confrontation get out of control。
〃Very well；〃 he said。 〃Once we are finished with our salvage； we will leave and you may move in。〃
〃Fair enough。 What's your name； by the way？ I like to know whom I'm dealing with。〃
The question caught Petrov off…guard。 In a sense； he had no name； having been given one by the Soviet government He chuckled and said； 〃You may call me Ivan。〃
His answer was greeted by a deep laugh。 〃I'll bet half the guys on your ship are named Ivan。 Okay； you can call me John Doe。〃 He wished Petrov good luck in Russian and hung up。
Petrov lost no time sending divers down to the container ship。 The torpedo blast hole allowed for relatively easy access to the hull； and two nuclear devices were extracted。 There were a few dicey moments when currents snagged the lifting line； but they worked on rotating shifts and got the job done in less than twenty…four hours。 Petrov ordered the ship to move out and signaled the Americans。 The vessels passed within a few hundred yards of each other； going in opposite directions。 Petrov stood on the deck and looked through binoculars at the American vessel。 Through the lenses； he saw a husky man with gray hair looking back at him。 At one point； the American lowered his binoculars and waved。 Petrov ignored him。
Their next encounter was not as friendly。 A mercial airliner from a third…world nation had been mysteriously shot down in the Persian Gulf。 Paranoia was the reigning national psychosis of the Cold War； and for reasons as vague as they were far…fetched； both countries suspected the other of plicity。 Again； Petrov and Austin located the plane at the same time。 Petrov's ship came close to ramming the American vessel； shearing off at the last second so Austin could see the heavily armed men on deck。 Austin called Petrov and warned the Russian to improve his driving or he'd get a traffic ticket。 Austin stubbornly refused to move out。 An international incident was avoided only when ships from the plane's home nation showed up at the site to claim the jetliner。
As the rival vessels steamed off in opposite directions； Austin radioed a good…bye message。
〃So long； Ivan。 'Til we meet again。〃
Petrov had a short fuse in his younger days； and this arrogant American was annoying him。 〃You better hope that won't happen；〃 he said with chilling directness。 〃Neither one of us will be happy with the oute。〃
Eight months later； Petrov's prediction came true。 During the Cold War； the United States pursued a daring intelligence o