cc.vixen03-第29章

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　〃What　is　this？〃
　〃I　was　told　to　tell　you　it　is　most　urgent　that　you　open　the　envelope　now；　ma'am。〃　Then　he　hastily　turned　away　and　left　the　chamber　through　a　side　door。
　Loren　undid　the　unsealed　flap　of　the　envelope　and　eased　out　one　of　several　eight…by…ten　photographs。　It　had　captured　her　naked　body　entwined　with　Pitt's　in　one　of　a　wild　series　of　orgiastic　positions。　Quickly；　she　shoved　the　photo　back　in　the　envelope；　her　face　gone　white；　reflecting　fear　and　disgust。
　Daggat　turned　to　her。　〃Congresswoman　Smith；　we　seem　to　have　a　hung　mittee。　Congressman　Hunt　and　I　agree　that　General　Lusana　should　be　heard。　Congressman　Meyers　stands　with　you。　As　chairman　of　this　hearing；　may　I　prevail　upon　you　in　the　interest　of　fair　play　to　permit　the　general　to　speak　his　piece。〃
　Loren　felt　the　hairs　on　the　back　of　her　neck　stiffen。　Daggat　was　leering　at　her。　It　was　all　there　in　his　expression：　he　was　no　stranger　to　the　contents　of　the　envelope。　She　struggled　to　contain　the　sickness　that　was　rising　in　her　throat；　suddenly　realizing　that　Felicia　Collins　had　sold　her　out　to　Lusana's　cause。　Silently　she　cursed　her　stupidity　in　allowing　herself　to　be　set　up　as　naively　as　a　teenage　runaway　with　a　big…city　pimp。
　〃Congresswoman　Smith？〃　Daggat　said；　prompting　her。
　There　was　no　out。　Daggat　controlled　her　now。　She　lowered　her　eyes　and　trembled。
　〃Mr。　Chairman；〃　she　said　in　total　defeat；　〃I　withdraw　my　objection。〃
　Barbara　Gore；　at　forty…three；　still　cut　the　figure　of　a　Vogue　fashion　model。　She　remained　trim　and　had　shapely　legs；　and　her　high…cheekboned　features　had　yet　to　flesh　with　age。　She　had　once　had　an　affair　with　Dale　Jarvis；　but　that　had　long　since　passed　through　the　sexual　phase；　and　now　she　was　simply　a　good　friend　as　well　as　his　personal　secretary。
　She　sat　across　from　his　desk；　those　beautiful　legs　crossed　at　an　angle　fortable　only　to　women　and　showy　to　the　male　eye。　Jarvis；　however；　took　no　notice　of　them。　He　sat　engrossed　in　dictation。　After　a　while　he　abruptly　broke　off　and　began　probing　through　a　mountainous　batch　of　highly　classified　reports。
　〃Perhaps　if　you　tell　me　what　it　is　you're　looking　for；〃　Barbara　said　patiently；　〃I　can　help　you。〃
　〃A　status　check　on　all　existing　battleships。　I　was　promised　delivery　for　today。〃
　She　sighed　and　reached　into　the　pile　and　extracted　a　stapled　sheaf　of　blue　papers。　〃Been　on　your　desk　since　eight　this　morning。〃　There　were　times　when　Barbara　was　moved　to　exasperation　over　Jarvis's　sloppy　work　habits；　but　she　had　long　ago　learned　to　accept　his　idiosyncrasies　and　flow　with　the　tide。
　〃What　does　it　say？〃
　〃What　do　you　want　it　to　say？〃　she　asked。　〃You　haven't　bothered　to　tell　me　what　you're　after。〃
　〃I　want　to　buy　a　battleship；　of　course。　Who　has　one　for　sale？〃
　Barbara　shot　him　a　dour　expression　and　studied　the　blue　papers。　〃I'm　afraid　you're　out　of　luck。　The　Soviet　Union　has　one　left；　which　is　used　to　train　naval　cadets。　France　has　long　since　scrapped　hers。　Same　with　Great　Britain；　even　though　she　still　keeps　one　on　the　rolls　for　the　sake　of　tradition。〃
　〃The　United　States？〃
　〃Five　of　them　have　been　preserved　as　memorials。〃
　〃What　are　their　present　locations？〃
　〃They're　enshrined　in　the　states　they　were　named　after：　North　Carolina；　Texas；　Alabama；　and　Massachusetts。〃
　〃You　said　five。〃
　〃The　Missouri　is　maintained　by　the　Navy　in　Bremerton；　Washington。　Oh；　I　almost　forgot：　the　Arizona　is　still　sentimentally　kept　on　naval　rolls　as　a　missioned　ship。〃
　Jarvis　put　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。　〃I　seem　to　recall　the　battlewagons　Wisconsin　and　Iowa　were　tied　up　at　the　Philadelphia　Navy　Yard　a　few　years　back。〃
　〃Good　memory；〃　said　Barbara。　〃According　to　the　report；　the　Wiscon…sin　went　to　the　ship…breakers　in　1984。〃
　〃And　the　Iowa？〃
　〃Sold　for　scrap。〃
　Jarvis　rose　and　walked　to　the　window。　He　looked　out；　hands　in　pockets；　for　several　moments。　Then　he　said；　〃The　Wild　Rose　folder。〃
　As　if　reading　his　thoughts；　Barbara　pointed　to　its　cover。　〃I　have　it。〃
　〃Send　it　over　to　John　Gossard　in　the　Africa　Section　and　tell　him　the　operation　made　damn　fine　reading。〃
　〃Is　that　all？〃
　Jarvis　turned。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　pensively。　〃All　things　considered；　that's　all　there　was　to　it。〃
　At　the　same　moment；　a　small　double…ender　whaleboat　dropped　anchor　a　hundred　yards　off　Walnut　Point；　Virginia；　and　swung　slowly　around　until　its　bow　split　the　ining　tide。　Patrick　Fawkes　unfolded　a　worn　old　deck　chair　and　erected　it　on　the　narrow　stern　deck；　barely　fitting　the　ends　between　the　bulwarks。　Next　he　propped　a　fishing　pole　against　the　helm　and　threw　its　hookless　line　over　the　side。
　He　had　just　opened　a　picnic　basket　and　was　lifting　out　a　large　wedge　of　Cheshire　cheese　and　a　bottle　of　Cutty　Sark　when　a　tug　towing　three　heavily　laden　trash　scows　acknowledged　him　with　a　passing　signal　blast　from　its　whistle。　Fawkes　waved　back　and　braced　his　feet　as　the　wash　from　the　plodding　vessels　rocked　his　little　whaleboat。　Fawkes　noted　the　time　of　the　tug's　passing　in　a　notebook。
　The　battered　deck　chair　creaked　in　protest　as　he　lowered　his　huge　body　onto　its　cushioned　slats。　Then　he　ate　a　cut　of　the　Cheshire　and　took　a　swig　from　the　bottle。
　Every　mercial　ship　or　pleasure　boat　that　passed　by　the　seemingly　drowsing　fisherman　was　sketched　into　the　notebook。　The　time　of　their　appearance；　heading；　and　speed　were　also　recorded。　One　sighting　in…terested　Fawkes　more　than　most。　He　kept　a　pair　of　binoculars　trained　on　a　Navy　missile　destroyer　until　it　disappeared　beyond　the　land　point；　carefully　observing　the　empty　missile　mounts　and　the　relaxed　attitude　of　the　deck　crew。
　Toward　late　evening　a　light　shower　began　to　splatter　against　the　scarred　and　paint…cracked　deck。　Fawkes　loved　the　rain。　During　storms　at　sea　he'd　often　stood　and　faced　their　furies　on　his　ship's　bridge　wing；　later　upbraiding　his　junior　officers　who　preferred　hot　tea　and　the　creature　forts　of　the　control　room。　Even　now；　Fawkes　ignored　the　shelter　of　a　small　cabin　and　elected　to　remain　on　deck；　donning　a　slicker　to　protect　his　skin　and　clothes　from　the　damp。
　He　felt　good；　the　rain　cleansed　the　air　in　his　lungs；　the　thick　richness　of　the　cheese　filled　his　belly；　and　the　scotch　made　his　veins　fairly　glow。　He　allowed　his　mind　to　roam　free；　and　soon　it　began　flashing　images　of　his　lost　family。　The　smells　of　his　farm　in　Natal　came　to　his　nostrils　and　the　sound　of　Myrna's　voice　calling　him　to　dinner　sounded　clear　and　distinct　to　his　ears。
　Four　hours　later　he　jerked　his　thoughts　back　to　reality　as　the　tug；　its　tow　of　scows　now　empty；　came　into　view　on　a　return　heading。　Quickly　he　stood　and　jotted　down　the　number　and　position　of　the　navigation　lights。　Then　Fawkes　weighed　anchor；　started　the　engine；　and　eased　into　the　wake　of　the　last　scow　in　line　as　it　slipped　by。
　
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　The　snow　was　falling　heavily　at　Table　Lake；　Colorado；　when　the　NUMA　salvage　divers；　immune　to　the　frigid　water　in　their　thermal　suits；　finished　cutting　away　the　wings　and　tail　of　Vixen　03。　Then　they　manhandled　two　huge　cradle　slings　under　the　mutilated　fuselage。
　Admiral　Bass　and　Abe　Steiger　arrived；　followed　by　an　Air　Force…blue　truck　carrying　several　shivering　airmen　of　the　Remains　Identity　and　Recovery　Team　along　with　five　coffins。
　At　ten　a。m。　everyone　was　assembled　and　Pitt　waved　his　arms　at　the　crane　operators。　Slowly　the　cables　hanging　from　the　floating　derricks　to　beneath　the　wind…rippled　surface　of　the　lake　tightened　and　quivered　as　the　power…unit　operators　increased　the　tension。　The　derricks　listed　a　few　degrees　with　the　strain　and　creaked　at　their　bolted　joints。　Then；　abruptly；　as　though　a　great　weight　had　fallen　from　their　unseen　clutches；　they　straightened。
　〃She's　broken　free　of　the　mud；〃　Pitt　announced。
　In　confirmation；　Giordino；　standing　at　his　side；　wearing　radio　ear…phones；　nodded。　〃Divers　report　she　is　on　her　way　up。〃
　〃Tell　whoever　is　operating　the　cradle　sling　around　the　nose　section　to　keep　it　low。　We　don't　want　the　canisters　spilling　out　of　the　hole　in　the　tail。〃
　Giordino　relayed　Pitt's　orders　through　a　tiny　microphone　attached　to　his　headphones。
　The　freezing　mountain　air　was　heavy　with　tension；　every　man　stood　motionless；　numb　with　anticipation；　his　eyes　locked　on　the　water　be…tween　the　derricks。　The　only　sounds　came　from　the　exhaust　of　the　lift　engines。　They　were　a　hard…bitten　salvage　crew；　and　yet　no　matter　how　many　wrecks　they　had　reclaimed　from　the　sea；　the　same　old　tentacles　of　excitement　during　a　lift　operation　never　failed　to　wring　their　emotions　dry。
　Admiral　Bass　found　himself　reliving　that　snowy　night　so　many　years　ago。　To　him　it　seemed　all　but　impossible　to　associate　the　image　of　Major　Raymond　Vylander　in　his　memory　with　the　fleshless　bones　he　knew　to　be　inside　the　wreck's　cockpit。　He　moved　closer　to　the　water's　edge　until　it　lapped　at　his　shoes；　and　he　began　to　experience　a　burning　sensation　in　his　mid…chest　and　left　shoulder。
　Then　the　water　under　the　cables　swirled　from　blue　to　muddy　brown；　and　the　curved　roof　of　Vixen　03　arched　into　the　daylight　for　the　first　time　in　thirty…four　years。　The　once…shiny　aluminum　skin　had　corroded　to　a　whitish　gray　and　was　streaked　by　slimy　bottom　weed。　As　the　cranes　lifted　her　higher　into　the　air；　the　silt…laden　water　cascaded　from　the　open　wound　at　the　rear　of　the　fuselage。
　The　blue　and　yellow　insignia　that　ran　across　the　top　of　the　fuselage　appeared　surprisingly　sharp；　and　the　words　military　AIR　transport　service　were　still　quite　legible。　Vixen　03　no　longer　resembled　an　airplane。　It　was　easier　to　picture　her　as　a　huge　dead　whale　whose　fins　and　tail　had　been　clipped。　The　severed　and　twisted　control　cables；　electrical　wiring；　and　hydraulic　lines　dangling　from　the　gaping　wounds　could　be　imagined　as　entrails。
　Abe　Steiger　was　the　first　to　break　the　hushed　quiet。
　
　〃Odds　are　that's　the　cause　of　her　crash；〃　he　said；　pointing　at　the　gash　in　the　cargo　cabin　just　aft　of　the　cockpit。　〃She　must　have　thrown　a　prop　blade。〃
　Bass　stared　at　the　ominous　evidence；　making　no　ment。　The　pain　in　his　chest　became　more　intense。　With　great　force　of　will　he　put　it　from　his　mind　while　unconsciously　massaging　the　ache　on　the　inside　of　his　left　arm。　He　tried　to　peer　through　the　plane's　windshield　glass；　but　the　years　of　accumulated　silt　blocked　out　all　view。　The　cranes　had　lifted　the　fuselage　ten　feet　above　the　lake's　surface　when　a　thought　struck　him　and　he　turned　and　gazed　at　Pitt　questioningly。
　〃I　see　no　provisions　for　a　makeshift　barge。　How　do　you　expect　to　carry　the　wreckage　to　shore？〃
　Pitt　grinned。　〃This　is　where　we　send　for　a　sky　hook；　Admiral。〃　He　gestured　at　Giordino。　〃Okay；　signal　Dumbo。〃
　Within　two　minutes；　like　some　great　pterodactyl　flushed　from　its　Mesozoic　nest；　an　ungainly　structured　helicopter　soared　over　the　treetops；　its　two　big　rotors　pounding　the　thin　mountain　air　with　peculiar…sounding　thumps。
　The　pilot　hovered　the　giant　helicopter　above　the　moored　cranes。　Two　hooks　gradually　unreeled　from　the　gaping　belly　and　were　rapidly　at…tached　to　the　hoist　cradles　by　the　derrick　crews。　Then　the　pilot　took　up　the　strain　of　the　full　weight　and　the　connectors　from　the　crane　cables　slackened　and　were　released。　The　Dumbo　clawed　at　the　air；　its　turbines　struggling　under　the　massive　load。　Very　tenderly；　as　if　maneuvering　a　cargo　of　fragile　crystal；　the　pil