cc.vixen03-第17章

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　Machita　found　the　performance　amusing。　He　threw　the　bag　into　the　backseat　and　followed　it。　〃The　Mozambique　Consulate；〃　he　said　to　the　aggressive　driver。
　The　cabby　merely　tipped　his　cap；　set　the　meter；　and　steered　into　traffic。　Machita　leaned　back　and　idly　watched　the　scenery。　He　unlocked　the　wrist　chain　and　threw　it　into　the　briefcase。　The　Mozambique　consul；　friendly　to　the　AAR　cause；　allowed　Machita　and　his　operatives　to　e　and　go　under　the　guise　of　diplomatic　couriers。　After　a　proper　length　of　time　spent　enjoying　the　Consulate's　hospitality；　they　then　retired　to　an　inconspicuous　hotel　and　went　about　their　business　of　espionage。
　Something　in　the　back　of　Machita's　brain　blinked　a　warning　signal。　He　sat　up　and　studied　the　landscape。　The　driver　was　not　taking　a　direct　route　to　the　Consulate；　instead；　the　cab's　hood　ornament　was　pointed　toward　the　bustling　downtown　business　section　of　Pretoria。
　Machita　tapped　the　driver　on　the　shoulder。　〃I　am　not　a　tourist　to　be　gouged；　my　friend。　I　suggest　you　take　the　nearest　shortcut　to　my　destina…tion　if　you　expect　to　get　paid。〃
　His　only　reply　was　an　indifferent　shrug。　After　a　few　more　minutes　of　weaving　through　the　busy　traffic　pattern；　the　driver　turned　into　the　underground　parking　lot　of　a　large　department　store。　Machita　needed　no　extrasensory　perception　to　detect　the　trap。　His　tongue　swelled　like　a　dry　sponge　and　he　could　hear　his　heart　begin　to　pound。　He　carefully　clicked　open　the　briefcase　snaps　and　slipped　out　a　Mauser　。38　automatic。
　At　the　lowest　level　of　the　parking　lot　the　driver　eased　the　cab　into　an　empty　space　against　the　wall　farthest　from　the　entrance　tunnel　and　stopped。　Then　he　turned　around　and　found　the　barrel　of　Machita's　gun　caressing　the　tip　of　his　nose。
　It　was　the　first　chance　Machita　had　had　to　observe　the　cabby's　face。　The　smooth　dark　skin　and　facial　features　were　those　of　an　Indian；　a　race　that　numbered　more　than　half　a　million　in　South　Africa。　The　man　smiled　a　genuine　relaxed　smile。　There　was　none　of　the　uneasiness　about　him　that　Machita　expected。
　〃I　think　we　can　dispense　with　the　theatrics；　Major　Machita；〃　said　the　cabby。　〃You　are　in　no　danger。〃
　Machita's　gun　hand　held　steady。　He　did　not　dare　turn　to　scan　the　parking　area　for　the　army　of　heavily　armed　men　he　was　sure　were　there。　〃Whatever　happens；　you　die　with　me；〃　he　said。
　〃You　are　an　emotional　man；〃　the　driver　remarked。　〃Stupid；　actually。　It　bodes　ill　for　a　man　of　your　occupation　to　react　like　an　adolescent　caught　robbing　a　sweets　shop。〃
　〃Can　the　fat　talk；　man；〃　Machita　snapped。　〃What's　the　gig？〃
　The　driver　laughed。　〃Spoken　like　the　true　American　black　that　you　are。　Luke　Sampson；　of　Los　Angeles；　alias　Charley　Le　Mat；　of　Chicago；　alias　Major　Thomas　Machita；　of　the　AAR；　and　God　only　knows　how　many　others。〃
　A　chill　gripped　Machita。　His　mind　hunted　frantically　for　answers；　answers　to　who　the　cabby　was　and　how　he　knew　so　much　about　him。　〃You　are　mistaken。　My　name　is　Yariko；　George　Yariko。〃
　〃Whatever　forts　you；〃　the　cabby　said。　〃However；　you'll　pardon　me　if　I　find　it　more　expedient　to　conduct　my　conversation　with　Major　Machita。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃For　an　intelligence　man；　your　powers　of　perception　are　woefully　lacking。〃　The　voice　altered　subtly　into　an　English　now　tinged　with　an　Afrikaans　accent。　〃We　have　met　twice　before。〃
　Machita　slowly　lowered　the　gun。　〃Emma？〃
　〃Ah；　the　haze　lifts。〃
　Machita　expelled　a　great　sigh　of　relief　and　put　the　gun　back　in　the　briefcase。　〃How　in　hell　did　you　know　I　was　arriving　on　that　particular　flight？〃
　〃A　crystal　ball；〃　said　Emma；　obviously　not　willing　to　share　his　secrets。
　Machita　stared　at　the　man　in　the　driver's　seat；　taking　in　every　minute　detail　of　the　face；　the　smooth；　unblemished　skin。　There　wasn't　the　slightest　resemblance　to　the　gardener　and　the　cafe　waiter　who　had　claimed　to　be　Emma　on　the　two　previous　occasions　they'd　met。
　〃I　was　hoping　you'd　contact　me；　but　I　hadn't　expected　you　quite　this　soon。〃
　〃I　have　e　up　with　something　I　think　Hiram　Lusana　will　find　interesting。〃
　〃How　much　this　time？〃　asked　Machita　dryly。
　There　was　no　hesitation。　〃Two　million　United　States　dollars。〃
　Machita　grimaced。　〃There's　no　information　worth　that　cost。〃
　〃I　haven't　time　to　argue　the　point；〃　said　Emma。　He　passed　Machita　a　small　envelope。　〃This　contains　a　brief　description　of　a　highly　classified　bit　of　and…AAR　strategy　known　as　Operation　Wild　Rose。　The　material　inside　explains　the　concept　and　the　purpose　behind　the　plan。　Give　it　to　Lusana。　If；　after　examining　it；　he　agrees　to　my　price；　I　shall　deliver　the　entire　plan。〃
　The　envelope　went　in　the　briefcase；　on　top　of　the　wrist　chain　and　the　Mauser。　〃It　will　be　in　the　general's　hands　by　tomorrow　evening；〃　prom…ised　Machita。
　〃Excellent。　Now　then；　I　will　drive　you　to　the　Consulate。〃
　〃There　is　one　more　thing。〃
　Emma　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　major。　〃You　have　my　atten…tion。〃
　〃The　general　wishes　to　know　who　attacked　the　Fawkes　farm　in　Natal。〃
　Emma's　dark　eyes　locked　on　Machita's　speculatively。　〃Your　general　has　a　strange　sense　of　humor。　Evidence　left　at　the　scene　tied　your　benevolent　AAR　to　the　massacre。〃
　〃The　AAR　is　innocent。　We　must　have　the　truth。〃
　Emma　shrugged　affirmatively。　〃All　right；　I　will　look　into　it。〃
　Then　he　shifted　the　cab　into　reverse　and　backed　out　of　the　parking　space。　Eight　minutes　later　he　dropped　Machita　off　at　the　Mozambique　Consulate。
　〃A　last　bit　of　advice；　Major。〃
　Machita　leaned　down　to　the　driver's　window。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃A　good　operative　never　takes　the　first　taxi　offered　to　him。　Always　pick　out　the　second　or　third　in　line。　You　stay　out　of　trouble　that　way。〃
　Properly　rebuked；　Machita　stood　on　the　curb　and　watched　the　cab　until　it　was　swallowed　by　the　swarming　traffic　of　Pretoria。
　
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　The　rays　of　the　late…afternoon　sun　crept　over　the　balcony　railing　and　probed　the　languid　form　stretched　outside　one　of　the　more　expensive　suites　of　the　New　Stanley　Hotel　in　Nairobi；　Kenya。

　Felicia　Collins　wore　a　colorfully　patterned　bra　and　matching　Kongo　skirt　over　the　bottom　half　of　her　bikini。　She　rolled　over　on　her　side；　lit　a　cigarette；　and　considered　her　actions　of　the　past　few　days。　Granted；　she　had　slept　with　a　varied　lot　of　men　over　the　years。　That　part　didn't　bother　her。　Her　first　time　had　been　with　a　sixteen…year…old　cousin　when　she　was　only　fourteen　herself。　At　best；　it　was　an　experience　dimmed　by　the　passage　of　time。　Then　came　at　least　ten　other　men　by　the　time　she　was　twenty。　Most　of　the　names　were　long　forgotten　and　the　faces　vague　and　indistinct。
　The　lovers　who　had　climbed　in　and　out　of　her　bed　during　the　years　when　she　was　struggling　as　an　aspiring　vocalist　formed　a　continuous　montage　of　recording…pany　executives；　disc　jockeys；　musicians；　and　posers。　Most　had　in　some　way　contributed　to　her　rise　to　the　top。　With　the　sudden　crest　of　success　came　Hollywood　and　a　whole　new　orgy　of　high　living。
　Faces；　she　thought。　How　strange　that　she　couldn't　remember　their　shapes　and　features。　And　yet　the　bedrooms　and　their　decor　stood　out　vividly。　The　feel　of　the　mattress；　the　design　on　the　wallpaper；　the　fixtures　in　the　adjoining　bathroom；　were　still　etched　in　her　mind　along　with　the　different　types　of　beams　and　plaster　she　had　recorded　on　the　ceilings。
　As　with　many　women；　sex　to　Felicia　was　not　necessarily　exalted　above　other　forms　of　entertainment。　There　were　uncounted　times　she'd　wished　she　had　curled　up　with　a　good　novel　instead。　Already　Hiram　Lusana's　face　was　blurring　into　obscurity　along　with　all　the　rest。
　At　first　she　hated　Daggat；　hated　the　very　idea　that　he　could　turn　her　on。　She　had　insulted　him　at　every　opportunity；　and　yet　he　had　remained　courteous。　Nothing　she　could　say　or　do　angered　him。　God；　it　is　madden…ing；　she　thought。　She　almost　wished　he　would　demean　her　as　a　slave　so　that　her　hatred　would　be　justified；　but　it　was　not　to　be。　Frederick　Daggat　was　too　shrewd。　He　played　her　gently；　cautiously；　as　would　a　fisherman　in　the　knowledge　he　had　a　record　fish　on　the　line。
　The　balcony　door　slid　open　and　Daggat　stepped　outside。　Felicia　sat　up　and　removed　her　sunglasses　as　his　shadow　fell　across　her　body。
　〃Were　you　dozing？〃
　She　offered　him　a　fluid　smile。　〃Just　daydreaming。〃
　〃It's　beginning　to　get　cool。　You'd　better　e　inside。〃
　He　took　her　hand　and　pulled　her　to　her　feet。　She　gazed　at　him　mis…chievously　for　a　moment　and　then　unclasped　the　bikini's　bra　and　pushed　her　bare　breasts　against　his　chest。　〃There　is　still　time　to　make　love　before　dinner。〃
　It　was　a　tease　and　they　both　knew　it。　Since　they　had　left　Lusana's　camp　。｜　together；　she　had　responded　to　his　sexual　manipulations　with　all　the　　'　abandon　of　a　robot。　It　was　a　part　she　had　never　played　before。
　〃Why？〃　he　asked　simply。
　Her　expressive　coffee　eyes　studied　him。　〃Why？〃
　〃Why　did　you　leave　Lusana　and　e　with　me？　I　am　not　a　man　whose　looks　turn　women's　heads。　I've　looked　at　this　ugly　face　of　mine　in　the　mirror　every　day　for　forty　years　and　I'm　not　about　to　kid　myself　into　thinking　I'm　superstar　material。　You　did　not　have　to　behave　like　a　bartered　cow；　Felicia。　Lusana　didn't　own　you；　nor　do　I；　and　I　suspect　no　man　ever　will。　You　could　have　told　us　both　to　go　to　hell　and　yet　you　came　with　me　willingly；　too　willingly。　Why？〃
　She　felt　her　stomach　tingle　as　her　nostrils　detected　his　strong　male　scent；　and　she　took　his　face　in　her　hands。　〃I　suppose　I　jumped　from　Hiram's　bed　into　yours　merely　to　prove　that　if　he　didn't　need　me；　I　could　just　as　easily　do　without　him。〃
　〃A　perfectly　human　reaction。〃
　She　kissed　him　on　the　chin。　〃Forgive　me；　Frederick。　In　a　sense；　Hiram　and　I　both　used　you：　he　to　gain　your　goodwill　for　congressional　support；　and　I　in　an　adolescent　game　to　make　him　jealous。〃
　He　smiled。　〃This　is　one　time　in　my　life　that　I　can　honestly　say　I'm　happy　I　was　taken　advantage　of。〃
　She　took　him　by　the　hand　and　led　him　into　the　bedroom　and　expertly　undressed　him。　〃This　time；〃　she　said；　her　voice　low；　〃I'm　going　to　show　you　the　real　Felicia　Collins。〃
　It　was　well　past　eight　o'clock　when　they　finally　released　each　other。　She　was　far　stronger　than　Daggat　had　believed　possible。　There　was　no　plumbing　the　depths　of　her　passion。　He　lay　in　bed　for　several　minutes；　listening　to　her　humming　in　the　shower。　Then　he　wearily　rose　and　pulled　on　a　short　kimono；　sat　down　at　a　desk　littered　with　important…looking　documents；　and　began　sorting　through　them。
　Felicia　padded　from　the　bathroom　and　slipped　on　a　belted　wrap　dress　in　a　red　and　white　zebra　print。　She　approved　of　what　she　saw　reflected　in　the　full…length　mirror。　Her　figure　was　slim　and　solid；　the　vitality　that　flowed　through　her　lithe　muscles　overshadowed　the　soreness　that　was　there　from　the　vigorous　exertions　of　early　evening。　Thirty…two　years　old　and　still　damned　provocative；　she　decided。　There　were　still　a　few　good　years　left　before　she　could　allow　her　agent　to　accept　matronly　roles　for　her；　unless；　of　course；　a　producer　offered　a　blockbuster　script　and　a　hefty　percentage　of　the　net。
　〃Do　you　think　he　can　win？〃　Daggat　asked；　interrupting　her　reverie。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃
　〃I　asked　you　if　Lusana　can　defeat　the　South　African　Defence　Forces。〃
　〃I'm　hardly　one　to　offer　a　valid　prediction　on　the　oute　of　the　revolution；〃　Felicia　said。　〃My　part　in　the　AAR　was　simply　that　of　a　fund　raiser。〃
　He　gri