rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　The　machine　offered　him　thirteen　choices。　Smith　then　instructed　the　puter　to　check　those　thirteen　against　viruses　that　Bioaparat　was　known　to　have　developed；　manufactured；　and　stockpiled。
　〃Could　be　Marburg　or　Ebola；〃　Klein　said；　looking　over　his　shoulder。　〃Some　of　the　most　lethal　bugs　in　the　world。〃
　〃Stage　Two　implies　reconfiguration；　gene　splicing；　or　some　other　form　of　alternation；〃　Smith　told　him。　〃Marburg；　Ebola；　and　others　can't　be　'developed'　per　se。　They　exist　in　nature…　and；　of　course；　in　the　bioweapons　labs。　With　them；　it's　more　a　case　of　designing　effective　battlefield　delivery　systems。〃
　Suddenly　Smith　gasped。　〃But　this。。。　this　can　be　tampered　with。　We　know　that　the　Russians　were　playing　with　it　for　years；　trying　to　alter　it　to　produce　a　more　virulent　strain。　They　were　supposed　to　have　shut　down　those　labs；　but。。。〃
　Klein　was　listening；　but　his　eyes　were　locked　on　the　screen　where　black　letters　blinked　like　death's…heads　against　a　white　background：　SMALLPOX。
　
　Virus　is　derived　from　the　Latin　word　for　poison。　Viruses　are　so　minuscule　that　their　existence　was　unknown　until　the　late　nineteenth　century；　when　Dmitri　Ivanovsky；　a　Russian　microbiologist；　stumbled　across　them　while　investigating　an　outbreak　of　disease　in　tobacco　plants。
　Smallpox　belongs　to　the　pox　family　of　viruses。　Its　earliest　recorded　history　dates　back　to　China　in　1122　B。C。　Since　then；　it　has　changed　the　course　of　human　history；　decimating　the　populations　of　eighteenth…century　Europe　and　the　native　peoples　of　the　Americas。
　Variola　major　attacks　the　respiratory　system。　After　an　incubation　period　of　five　to　ten　days；　the　disease　brings　on　high　fever；　vomiting；　headaches；　and　stiffness　of　the　joints。　After　a　week；　a　rash　appears；　localized　at　first；　then　spreading　throughout　the　body　and　causing　blisters。　Scabs　appear；　fall　away；　and　leave　scars　that　serve　as　incubation　beds　for　a　fresh　assault。　Death　can　e　within　two　to　three　weeks　or；　in　the　case　of　the　red　or　the　black　pox；　in　a　matter　of　days。
　It　wasn't　until　1796　that　a　medical　assault　was　mounted　on　the　virus。　A　British　doctor；　Edward　Jenner；　discovered　that　milkmaids　who　had　contracted　a　mild　form　of　the　pox　virus　from　cows　seemed　immune　to　smallpox。　Taking　samples　of　a　milkmaid's　lesions；　Jenner　inoculated　a　young　boy　who　subsequently　survived　the　epidemic。　Jenner　named　his　discovery　vaccinia…　vaccine。
　The　last　known　case　of　the　disease　was　reported　and　treated　in　Somalia　in　1977。　By　May　1980；　the　World　Health　Organization　had　declared　smallpox　vanquished。　The　Organization　also　ordered　the　cessation　of　immunization　programs；　since　there　was　no　tangible　need　to　subject　people　to　even　the　slightest　risk　associated　with　vaccination。
　By　the　end　of　the　1980s；　only　two　stockpiles　of　Variola　major　remained　on　earth：　at　the　Centers　for　Disease　Control　in　Atlanta；　and　at　the　Ivanovsky　Institute　of　Virology　in　Moscow。　In　the　case　of　the　latter；　the　virus　was　subsequently　moved　to　Bioaparat；　located　near　the　town　of　Vladimir；　350　kilometers　southeast　of　Moscow。
　Under　an　international　treaty　signed　by　both　the　United　States　and　Russia；　the　samples　were　to　be　preserved　in　highly　secure　laboratories　subject　to　international　inspection。　None　of　the　samples　could　be　used　for　any　kind　of　experiment　without　the　World　Health　Organization　monitors　being　present。
　That；　at　least；　was　the　theory。
　
　
　〃In　theory；　monitors　were　supposed　to　be　present；〃　Smith　said。　He　glanced　at　Klein。　〃You　and　I　know　better。〃
　Klein　snorted。　〃The　Russians　gave　the　WHO　bureaucrats　some　song　and　dance　about　updated　facilities　at　Vladimir　and　the　fools　let　them　move　the　smallpox。　What　they　never　realized　was　that　the　Russians　showed　them　only　the　parts　of　Bioaparat　that　they　wanted　them　to　see。〃
　This　was　true。　Through　defectors　and　on…site　sources；　the　United　States　had；　over　the　years；　managed　to　piece　together　a　solid　posite　of　what　was　really　taking　place　at　the　Bioaparat　plex。　The　international　inspectors　had　seen　only　the　tip　of　the　iceberg…　the　variola　storage　facilities；　which　were　subsequently　approved。　But　there　were　other　buildings；　disguised　as　seed　and　fertilizer　laboratories；　that　remained　hidden　from　the　world。　Klein　had　enough　evidence　to　bring　before　the　WHO　and　demand　that　Bioaparat　be　pletely　opened　up。　But　politics　was　an　issue。　The　current　administration　did　not　wish　to　antagonize　Russia；　which　was　threatening　to　revert　to　munist　rule。　Also；　a　number　of　the　WHO　inspectors　were　not　inclined　to　take　American…produced　evidence　at　face　value。　Nor　could　their　discretion　be　relied　on。　American　intelligence　agencies　feared　for　the　lives　of　those　who　had　furnished　him　with　the　information；　believing　that　if　the　Russians　knew　what　information　the　West　had；　they　could　walk　back　the　cat　and　discover　who　had　passed　it　on。
　〃I　have　no　choice；〃　Klein　said　grimly。　〃I　must　tell　the　president。〃
　〃Which　could　make　it　a　government…to…government　situation；〃　Smith　pointed　out。　〃Then　the　question　bees：　do　we　trust　the　Russians　enough　to　go　after　the　leak　and　the　courier？　We　don't　know　whom　we're　dealing　with　at　Bioaparat；　how　senior　he　is；　or　who　gave　him　his　marching　orders。　It's　possible　that　this　isn't　some　rogue　scientist　or　researcher　looking　to　make　a　quick　buck　by　delivering　a　package　to　New　York　City。　This　could　travel　all　the　way　up　to　the　Kremlin。〃
　〃You're　saying　that　if　the　president　were　to　speak　to　the　Russian　prime　minister　we　might　be　tipping　our　hand…　to　the　wrong　people。　I　agree…　but　give　me　an　alternative。〃
　It　took　Smith　three　minutes　to　lay　out　the　contingency　plan　he　had　e　up　with　during　the　flight。　He　noticed　Klein's　skeptical　expression　and　was　prepared　to　argue；　but　Klein　surprised　him。
　〃I　agree。　It's　the　only　course　of　action　we　can　take　immediately…　and　that　has　a　chance　of　success。　But　I'll　tell　you　this：　the　president　won't　give　us　much　time。　If　you　don't　get　results　fast　he'll　have　no　choice　but　to　e　down　hard　on　the　Russians。〃
　Smith　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Give　me　two　days。　I'll　check　in　every　twelve　hours。　If　I　miss　a　signal　by　more　than　sixty　minutes；　assume　that　I　won't　be　calling　in　at　all。〃
　Klein　shook　his　head。　〃That's　a　hell　of　a　gamble；　Jon。　I　don't　like　sending　men　in　on　a　wing　and　a　prayer。〃
　〃A　prayer　is　all　we　have　right　now；　sir；〃　Smith　said　somberly。　〃There's　something　else　you　might　want　to　tell　him。　We　stopped　manufacturing　smallpox　vaccine　years　ago。　Right　now；　all　we　have　are　a　hundred　thousand　inoculations…　at　USAMRIID；　strictly　for　military　use。　We　couldn't　inoculate　even　a　fraction　of　our　population。〃　He　paused。　〃There's　even　a　lousier　scenario：　if　someone　is　stealing　smallpox　because　they　can't　do　Stage　Two　development　in　Russia；　they're　bringing　it　here　because　they　can…　something's　already　waiting　for　the　courier　on　this　end。　If　that's　the　case；　and　the　object　is　not　only　to　create　a　mutant　strain　but　to　disperse　it　in　this　country；　then　we're　defenseless。　We　could　manufacture　all　the　vaccine　in　the　world；　but　none　of　it　would　be　effective　against　a　new　strain　of　variola。〃
　Klein's　eyes　locked　on　Smith。　His　voice　was　low　and　harsh。
　〃Go　and　find　out　what　kind　of　hell　the　Russians　are　letting　loose。　Find　out　fast！〃
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　　
　Megan's　heels　echoed　smartly　off　the　polished　concrete　floor　as　she　walked　through　the　giant　hangar　and　into　daylight。　Although　she'd　been　in　Houston　for　almost　two　months；　she　still　wasn't　used　to　its　climate。　It　was　April　but　already　the　air　was　humid。　She　was　glad　her　training　wouldn't　extend　into　the　summer。
　Sandwiched　between　buildings　G…3　and　G…4　was　the　new　visitors'　center。　Megan　walked　past　the　flotilla　of　NASA　buses；　which　ferried　guests　from　the　main　gates　into　the　pound；　and　entered　the　atrium…style　lobby。　Suspended　from　the　overhead　girders　was　a　halfsize　mock…up　of　the　shuttle。　Slipping　around　groups　of　schoolchildren　who　were　staring　wide…eyed　at　the　mock…up；　she　headed　for　the　security　desk。　Visitors　to　NASA；　as　well　as　their　destinations　within　the　facility；　were　logged　into　a　puter。　Megan　was　wondering　where　she　would　find　Jon　Smith　when　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　him　walking　beneath　the　mock…up。
　〃Jon！〃
　Smith　was　startled　to　hear　his　name；　but　his　frown　turned　into　a　smile　when　he　saw　Megan。
　〃Megan。。。　How　wonderful　to　see　you　again。〃
　Megan　came　up　to　him　and　took　his　arm。　〃You　look　like　a　man　on　a　mission…　all　so　serious。　Don't　tell　me　you　weren't　even　going　to　look　me　up。〃
　Smith　hesitated。　His　thoughts　had　wandered　to　Megan　Olson　but　nothing　had　prepared　him　for　actually　running　into　her。
　〃I　wouldn't　have　known　where　to　begin　to　look　for　you；〃　he　replied　truthfully。
　〃And　you　being　such　a　resourceful　man；〃　Megan　teased　him。　〃What　are　you　doing　down　here？　Did　you　e　in　with　the　president's　party？〃
　〃Hardly。　I　had　a　meeting；　something　that　came　up　at　the　last　minute。〃
　〃Uh…huh。　And　now　you're　galloping　off。　Do　you　at　least　have　time　for　a　drink　or　a　cup　of　coffee？〃
　Although　he　was　anxious　to　get　back　to　Washington；　Smith　decided　he　didn't　want　to　raise　any　suspicions；　especially　since　Megan　seemed　to　have　accepted　his　vague　explanation　for　his　presence　at　NASA。
　〃I'd　love　a　drink；〃　he　said；　then　added；　〃You　seemed　to　be　looking　for　me…　or　am　I　imagining　things？〃
　〃I　was；〃　Megan　replied；　leading　them　toward　the　elevators。　〃Actually；　a　friend　of　yours；　Dylan　Reed；　mentioned　that　he'd　heard　you　were　on…site。〃
　〃Dylan。。。　I　see。〃
　〃Where　do　you　know　him　from？〃
　〃Dylan　and　I　worked　together　when　NASA　and　USAMRIID　were　retooling　the　biochem　program　for　the　shuttle。　That　was　a　while　back。　I　haven't　seen　him　since。〃
　Which　begs　the　question：　how　the　hell　would　Reed　or　anyone　else　know　that　I　was　here？
　Since　the　air　space　around　NASA　was　restricted；　the　Gulfstream　pilot　would　have　filed　a　crew/passenger　manifest　with　the　NASA　controllers；　who　would　have　passed　it　on　to　security。　But　that　information　should　have　remained　confidential…unless　someone　was　monitoring　flight　arrivals。
　Megan　slid　a　card　key　into　the　slot　of　the　glass…enclosed　elevator　that　went　up　to　the　private　dining　room。　Upstairs；　she　and　Smith　walked　past　the　dining　room's　floor…to…ceiling　windows　that　offered　a　panoramic　view　of　the　center's　air…training　facilities。　Megan　couldn't　help　but　smile　when　she　saw　a　KC…135；　a　converted　aerial　tanker；　lumber　down　the　runway。
　〃Fond　memories？〃　Smith　asked　her。
　Megan　laughed。　〃Only　in　retrospect。　That　one…thirty…five　has　been　especially　modified　to　pretest　various　experiments　and　equipment　for　the　low　gravity　of　shuttle　flights。　It　climbs　steeply　until　its　acceleration　reaches　two　Gs；　then　freefalls；　creating　a　weightless　environment　for　twenty　or　thirty　seconds。　When　I　took　my　first　ride；　I　had　no　idea　how　greatly　reduced　gravity　stresses　the　body's　internal　systems。〃　She　grinned。　〃That's　when　I　discovered　why　the　one…thirty…five　has　onboard　a　generous　supply　of　emesis　bags。〃
　〃And　why　they　call　it　the　Vomit　et；〃　Smith　added。
　Megan　was　surprised。　〃Have　you　ever　ridden　in　that　thing？〃　she　asked。
　〃Wouldn't　dream　of　it。〃
　They　took　a　table　by　the　window。　Megan　ordered　a　beer　but　Smith；　about　to　get　back　in　the　air；　chose　orange　juice。　When　their　drinks　arrived；　he　raised　his　glass。
　〃May　you　reach　the　stars。〃
　Megan　met　his　glance