rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第42章

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　〃I　found　everyone　except　Megan。　Jesus；　I　can't　tell　you。。。〃
　〃We　need　to　know　what　they　look　like；　Dylan。〃
　〃The　bodies　are　bloated；　sores；　blood。。。　I've　never　seen　anything　like　it。〃
　〃Are　there　any　signs　of　the　contaminant？〃
　〃Negative。　But　I'm　not　taking　off　the　EMU。〃
　〃Of　course　not。　Can　you　tell　what　they　were　eating？〃
　〃I'm　on　the　flight　deck；　with　Wallace。　Let　me　go　downstairs。〃
　After　a　few　minutes；　Reed　was　back　on　the　link。　In　reality；　he　hadn't　moved。　〃Looks　like　whatever　was　brought　onboard。　Chicken；　peanut　butter；　shrimp。。。〃
　〃Okay；　we're　checking　the　source　of　the　food　right　now：　If　it　was　contaminated；　the　agent　might　have　mutated　in　microgravity。〃　Landon　paused。　〃You　need　to　find　Megan。〃
　〃I　know。　I'll　check　mid…deck　again；　the　john。。。　If　she's　not　there；　she'll　be　on　the　lower　deck。〃
　〃Contact　me　as　soon　as　you　find　her。　Mission　director　out。〃
　
　
　Thank　God！
　Although　her　transmit　button　was　still　malfunctioning；　Megan　had　heard　every　word　between　Reed　and　Landon。　She　slumped　forward；　her　helmet　clicking　against　the　air…lock　door。　Hundreds　of　questions　raced　through　her　mind：　How　could　the　rest　of　the　crew　be　dead？　What　could　have　overtaken　them？　Was　it　something　they　had　brought　onboard？　It'd　been　less　than　an　hour　since　she'd　last　seen　Carter　and　the　others。　Now　they　were　dead？
　Megan　forced　herself　to　calm　down。　She　glanced　at　the　nest　of　wires　in　the　open　panel　above　the　door。　Clearly　there　was　a　mix…up　in　the　wiring。　Following　the　instructions　printed　on　the　panel　door；　she　had　tried　to　reverse　a　number　of　connections　but　so　far　hadn't　found　the　faulty　one。
　Relax；　she　told　herself。　Dylan　will　be　down　here　in　a　few　minutes。　When　he　doesn't　find　me　out　there；　he'll　realize　I'm　in　here。　He'll　open　the　door　from　his　end。
　Megan　took　as　much　fort　in　the　thought　as　she　could。　She　wasn't　prone　to　claustrophobia；　but　she　could　feel　the　air　lock…　no　bigger　than　a　pair　of　broom　closets　set　side　by　side…　closing　in　on　her。
　If　only　the　damn　mike　worked！　To　be　heard　by　another　human　would　be　the　sweetest　thing。
　Then　fix　the　mike；　she　told　herself。
　Dylan's　voice　came　over　her　headset：　〃Mission　director；　I'm　in　the　lower　deck。　No　sign　of　Megan　yet。　I'll　check　the　storage　holds。〃
　Even　though　she　knew　that　sound　was　baffled　in　space；　Megan　raised　both　hands　and　began　pounding　on　the　door。　Maybe　somehow　Dylan　would　hear　her。
　〃Mission　director；　I've　checked　most　of　the　hold。　Still　nothing。〃
　Landon's　voice　floated　through　Megan's　headset：　〃Suggest　you　try　the　air　lock。　Maybe　she　got　in　there。〃
　Yes；　try　the　air　lock！
　〃Roger　that；　mission　director。　I'll　cut　mo　until　I　reach　the　air　lock。〃
　As　soon　as　Reed　approached　the　door；　he　saw　Megan's　face　behind　the　porthole。　The　joy　and　relief　in　her　eyes　speared　him。　He　switched　on　the　inter　mode　on　his　munications　set。
　〃Megan；　can　you　hear　me？〃
　He　saw　her　nod。
　〃I'm　not　receiving。　Is　your　transmitter　down？〃
　Megan　nodded；　then　floated　up　and　pointed　to　the　mo　unit　built　into　the　chest　of　her　EMU。　She　gave　the　universal　thumbsdown　signal　and　worked　her　way　back　to　the　porthole。
　Reed　looked　at　her。　〃Okay。　I　understand。　Not　that　it　makes　any　difference。〃
　Megan　wasn't　sure　she'd　heard　him　correctly　and　mimed　a　shrug。
　〃You　don't　understand；〃　Reed　said。　〃Of　course　you　don't。　How　could　you？　Megan。。。〃　He　hesitated。　〃I　can't　help　you　get　out。〃
　Her　eyes　widened　in　terror　and　disbelief。
　〃Let　me　tell　you　what's　out　here；　Megan。　A　virus。　The　kind　the　world　has　never　seen　before　because　it's　not　of　this　world。　It　was　born　on　earth；　but　it　was　given　life　here；　in　the　Spacelab。　That's　what　I　was　working　on。〃
　She　was　shaking　her　head；　her　lips　moving　frantically　in　soundless　words。
　〃You　should　try　to　stay　calm；〃　Reed　continued。　〃You　heard　me　talking　to　mission　control。　They　know　everyone's　dead。　They　have　no　clue　what　happened　up　here。　And　they　never　will。〃
　Reed　wet　his　lips。　〃Discovery　has　bee　a　kind　of　Marie　Celeste；　a　doomed　ghost　ship。　Of　course；　there　are　differences。　I'm　still　alive　and　so　are　you…　for　the　time　being。　NASA　can　and　will　bring　the　orbiter　down　on　autopilot。　As　long　as　I'm　alive；　they're　not　going　to　push　the　autodestruct　button。〃
　Reed　let　a　beat　go　by。　〃They　won't　have　to。〃
　Megan　felt　hot　tears　spill　over　her　cheeks。　She　was　faintly　aware　that　she　was　screaming　but　that　had　no　impact　on　Reed。　His　expression　remained　as　cold　and　remote　as　arctic　ice。
　〃I　wish　it　were　someone　other　than　you；　Megan；〃　he　was　saying。　〃Really　I　do。　But　Treloar　had　to　be　eliminated　and　you　were　his　backup。　Now；　I　don't　expect　you　to　understand。　But　since　I　was　the　one　who　brought　you　into　the　program　and　gave　you　this　chance；　I　feel　I　owe　you　an　explanation。　You　see；　we　need　to　keep　our　bioweapons'　arsenal　strong。　All　those　treaties　we　signed…　do　you　think　places　like　Iraq；　Libya；　or　North　Korea　give　a　damn　about　them？　Of　course　not。　They're　too　busy　developing　their　own　weapons。　Well；　now　we'll　have　something　that　will　trump　whatever　they　e　up　with。　And　we'll　be　the　only　ones　to　have　it。
　〃The　sample　I　made？　A　thimbleful　is　enough　to　eradicate　any　country　we　choose。　I　realize　that's　not　a　very　scientific　measurement；　but　you　get　my　drift。　If　you　don't　believe　me；　look　at　what　happened　here；　how　quickly　the　smallpox　went　to　work；　the　consequences。。。〃
　Never　in　her　life　had　Megan　felt　so　powerless。　Reed's　voice　droned　in　her　ears　like　something　from　a　nightmare。　She　could　not　believe　such　words　ing　from　a　man　she　had　thought　she　knew；　a　colleague；　a　mentor；　someone　she'd　trusted　implicitly。
　He's　insane。　That's　all　I　need　to　know。　And　what　I　need　to　do　is　get　out　of　here！
　When　Reed　spoke　again；　it　was　as　though　he'd　read　her　mind。
　〃You've　done　most　of　my　job　for　me；　Megan；　locking　yourself　in　like　that。　The　fire　will　do　the　rest。　I　didn't　mention　that？　Well；　there's　going　to　be　an　awful　lot　of　confusion　when　this　thing　lands。　The　only　thing　on　mission　control's　mind　will　be　to　get　me　out　of　here　safely。　After　that；　if　something　explodes；　well。。。〃　He　shrugged。　〃You've　been　a　part　of　history；　Megan。　I'll　never　forget　you…　or　the　others。〃
　His　eyes　never　left　hers　as　he　touched　a　panel　on　his　mo　unit。　〃Mission　director；　this　is　Reed。　Do　you　copy？〃
　She　heard　Landon's　voice：　〃Copy；　Dylan。〃
　〃I　have　an　update。　I。。。　I　found　Megan。　She's　dead。。。　like　the　others。〃
　There　was　a　moment's　silence　on　the　other　end。　〃I　copy；　Dylan。　I'm　so　sorry。　Listen；　we're　working　to　bring　you　home。　Can　you　get　to　the　flight　deck？〃
　〃Affirmative。〃
　〃We　won't　need　any　help；　but　if　something　goes　wrong。。。〃
　〃Understood。　Harry？〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃You've　opened　the　Black　Book；　right？〃
　〃Yes；　Dylan。〃
　〃There's　a　name　that's　not　in　there。　Dr。　Karl　Bauer。　He　knows　more　about　bugs　than　anyone　alive。　I　think　you　might　want　to　consult　with　him　about　the　quarantine。〃
　〃Roger　that。　We'll　get　Bauer　to　the　landing　site。　We're　running　emergency　descent　models　right　now。　As　soon　as　we　have　a　firm　trajectory；　we'll　let　you　know。〃
　Reed　smiled　faintly　and；　looking　directly　at　Megan；　said；　〃Roger；　mission　director。　Discovery；　signing　off。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY　FIVE
　　
　The　helicopter　ferrying　Jon　Smith　from　Camp　David　landed　in　the　cargo　transport　area　of　Andrews　Air　Force　Base。　Smith　hopped　out　and　trotted　across　the　tarmac　to　the　white　panel　truck　parked　next　to　a　sleek　executive　jet。
　〃Hello；　Jon；〃　Major…General　Kirov　said；　watching　the　corpsmen　pull　a　stretcher　out　of　the　truck。
　〃Did　everything　go　as　planned？〃　Smith　asked。
　〃It　did；〃　Kirov　replied。　〃These　men〃　…he　indicated　the　corpsmen…　〃arrived　at　your　house　exactly　on　schedule。　They　were　very　quick；　very　efficient。〃
　Smith　glanced　at　Ivan　Beria；　a　blanket　tucked　up　to　his　chin；　as　he　was　wheeled　by。
　〃Is　he　all　right？〃
　〃The　tranquilizers　worked　perfectly；〃　Kirov　replied。
　Smith　nodded。
　As　the　stretcher　disappeared　into　the　jet；　Kirov　turned　to　Smith。　〃I　am　grateful　to　you…　and　to　Mr。　Klein…　for　allowing　me　to　help。　I　only　wish　I　could　do　more。〃
　Smith　shook　the　Russian's　hand。　〃I'll　stay　in　touch；　General。　I　think　we　got　everything　we　could　out　of　Beria；　but　if　he　says　anything　interesting。。。〃
　〃You'll　be　the　first　to　know；〃　Kirov　assured　him。　〃Good…bye；　Jon　Smith。　I　hope　that　we　will　meet　again；　under　more　pleasant　circumstances。〃
　Smith　waited　until　Kirov　was　onboard　and　the　hatch　was　closed。　By　the　time　the　jet　was　racing　down　the　runway　he　was　in　his　car；　being　waved　through　perimeter　security。　As　he　headed　for　the　highway；　his　thoughts　drifted　from　what　had　been　acplished　to　what　was　still　left　to　do。
　
　In　Moscow　it　was　the　middle　of　the　night；　but　the　lights　were　still　burning　in　the　offices　of　the　Bay　Digital　Corporation。
　In　the　conference　room；　Randi　Russell　was　working　on　her　fourth　cup　of　coffee；　watching　Sasha　Rublev　as　he　worked　to　ferret　out　the　secrets　of　the　laptop　Jon　Smith　had　delivered。　Surrounded　by　hardware　wired　into　the　laptop；　Sasha　had　been　at　his　keyboard　for　over　seven　hours；　downing　the　occasional　Coke　to　maintain　his　energy　level。　Three　times　Randi　had　suggested　they　quit　for　the　night；　but　each　time　Sasha　simply　waved　her　words　away。
　〃I'm　close；〃　he　would　mumble。　〃Just　a　few　more　minutes。〃
　By　now　Randi　had　decided　that　Sasha　did　not　measure　time　like　mere　mortals。
　She　drained　her　coffee；　stared　at　the　dregs；　and　then　said：　〃Okay；　that's　it。　And　this　time　I　mean　it。〃
　Sasha　held　up　one　hand；　kept　typing　with　the　other。　〃Wait　for　it。。。〃
　He　jabbed　a　key　triumphantly　and　slumped　in　his　chair。　〃Look；〃　he　said　proudly。
　Randi　couldn't　believe　her　eyes。　The　big　monitor；　which　had　been　filled　with　nothing　but　a　series　of　unintelligible　symbols　all　evening；　suddenly　morphed　into　a　string　of　deciphered　E…mails。
　〃Sasha；　how…？〃　Randi　shook　her　head。　〃Never　mind。　I'd　never　understand。〃
　Sasha　beamed　at　her。　〃The　person　this　puter　belongs　to　used　CARNIVORE；　your　FBI's　latest　encryption　program。〃　He　looked　at　her　shrewdly。　〃I　thought　no　one　outside　America　had　this。〃
　〃Me　too；〃　Randi　murmured。
　Using　the　mouse；　she　scanned　the　E…mails；　unable　to　believe　what　she　was　reading。
　What　the　hell　is　the　Cassandra　pact？
　
　Returning　to　Bethesda；　Jon　Smith　fixed　himself　a　quick　snack　and　took　it　into　his　study。　The　faint　odor　of　drugs　and　a　broken　man's　fear　hung　in　the　house。　Smith　opened　a　window　and　sat　down　with　the　files　Nathaniel　Klein　had　given　him。
　Travis　Nichols　and　Patrick　Drake。。。　both　U。S。　Army　sergeants。　Both　from　the　same　small　town　in　central　Texas　where　young　men　went　either　into　the　oil　fields　or　the　military。　Seasoned　bat　veterans；　they　had　seen　action　in　Somalia；　the　Gulf；　and　most　recently；　Nigeria。
　Smith's　interest　was　piqued　when　he　read　their　fitness　reports　from　the　Advanced　Warfare　School　at　Fort　Benning；　Georgia。　Nichols　and　Drake　had　graduated　one　and　two　in　their　class；　cold；　hard　men　whose　keen　edge　had　been　further　honed　by　instructors　in　the　blackest　bat　arts。
　Then　they　disappear。。。
　Now　Smith　knew　what　Klein　had　meant　about　the　lapses。　In　each　of　the　last　five　years　there　were　months　where　the　soldiers'　whereabouts　could　not　be　accounted　for。　No　notations　had　been　made　by　manding　officers；　no　ship…out　or　transport　orders　were　available。
　Experienced　in　the　ways