cc.vixen03-第30章

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　a　cargo　of　fragile　crystal；　the　pilot　eased　Vixen　03　toward　shore。
　Pitt　and　the　others　turned　their　backs　as　a　cloud　of　spray；　kicked　up　by　the　rotor　blades；　swirled　in　from　the　lake。　Giordino；　ignoring　the　gusting　wetness；　moved　to　where　the　pilot　could　plainly　see　him；　motioning　with　his　hands　while　directing　the　lowering　operation　over　the　earphone　transmitter。
　Five　minutes　was　all　it　took　for　the　Dumbo　to　release　its　load　and　disappear　again　over　the　trees。　Then　they　all　stood　there　staring；　no　one　making　a　move　for　the　wreckage。　Steiger　murmured　a　mand　to　his　Air　Force　detail　and　they　smartly　marched　to　the　truck　and　began　unloading　the　coffins；　setting　them　on　the　ground　in　an　orderly　row。　One　of　Pitt's　men　produced　a　ladder　and　propped　it　against　the　exposed　rear　of　the　upper　cargo　deck。　Pitt　remained　silent　and　indicated　with　his　hand　that　Admiral　Bass　be　the　first　to　enter　the　aircraft。
　Once　inside；　Bass　made　his　way　around　the　canisters　to　the　control…cabin　doorway。　He　stood　immobile　for　several　seconds；　looking　pale　and　very　ill。　'？
　〃Are　you　all　right；　sir？〃　Pitt　asked；　ing　up　behind　him。
　The　voice　that　answered　was　remote　and　far　away。　〃I　can't　seem　to　bring　myself　to　look　at　them。〃
　〃It　would　serve　no　purpose；〃　said　Pitt　gently。
　Bass　leaned　heavily　against　the　bulkhead；　the　agony　in　his　chest　growing。　〃A　minute　to　get　my　bearings。　Then　I'll　take　stock　of　the　warheads。〃
　Steiger　approached　Pitt；　gingerly　stepping　around　the　canisters　as　though　he　were　afraid　to　touch　them。　〃Whenever　you　give　the　word　I'll　bring　my　men　on　board　to　recover　the　remains　of　the　crew。〃
　〃Might　as　well　begin　with　our　unexplained　guest。〃　Pitt　tilted　his　head　at　ajumble　of　loose　canisters。　〃You'll　find　him　strapped　to　the　floor　about　ten　feet　to　your　right。〃
　Steiger　searched　in　the　area　Pitt　instructed　and　shrugged；　his　facial　expression　blank。　〃I　don't　find　anything。〃
　〃You're　practically　standing　on　top　of　him；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃What　gives；　for　Christ's　sake？〃　Steiger　demanded。　〃I'm　telling　you　there's　nothing　here。〃
　〃You　must　be　blind。〃　Pitt　pushed　Steiger　aside　and　looked　down。　The　straps　were　still　attached　to　the　cargo　tie…down　rings　but　the　body　in　the　old　khaki　uniform　had　vanished。　Pitt　stared　dumbly　at　the　space　on　the　floor　while　his　mind　stumbled　to　grasp　the　reality　of　the　missing　remains。　He　knelt　and　picked　up　the　rotting　straps。　They　had　been　cut。
　Steiger's　eyes　reflected　doubt。　〃The　water　was　like　ice　the　day　you　dived。　Perhaps　your　mind　saw　something　。　。　。〃　His　voice　trailed　off　but　the　implication　was　clear。
　Pitt　rose　to　his　feet。　〃He　was　here；〃　he　said；　expecting　no　further　argument　and　receiving　none。
　〃Could　he　have　washed　out　the　aft　opening　during　the　lift　operation？〃　Steiger　offered　lamely。
　〃Not　possible。　The　divers　who　swam　beside　the　wreck　to　the　surface　would　have　reported　any　debris　falling　free。〃
　Steiger　started　to　say　something；　but　suddenly　his　eyes　turned　un…prehending　at　a　strangled　gasping　sound　that　emitted　from　the　forward　end　of　the　partment。　〃What　in　God's　name　is　that？〃
　Pitt　wasted　no　time　in　answering。　He　knew。
　He　found　Admiral　Bass　lying　on　the　wet　floor；　fighting　for　breath；　his　skin　bathed　in　cold　sweat。　The　unbearable　severity　of　the　pain　contorted　his　face　into　a　tormented　mask。
　〃His　heart！〃　Pitt　called　out　to　Steiger。　〃Find　Giordino　and　tell　him　to　get　that　helicopter　back　here。〃
　Pitt　began　tearing　the　clothing　away　from　the　admiral's　neck　and　chest。　Bass　reached　up　and　grasped　Pitt's　wrist。　〃The　。　。　。　the　warheads；〃　he　rasped。
　〃Rest　easy。　We'll　soon　have　you　on　your　way　to　a　hospital。〃
　〃The　warheads　。　。　。〃　Bass　repeated。
　〃All　safe　in　their　canisters；〃　Pitt　reassured　him。
　〃No　。。。　no　。。。　you　don't　understand。〃　His　voice　was　a　hoarse　whisper　now。　〃The　canisters　。。。　I　counted　them　。　。　。　twenty…eight。〃
　Bass's　words　were　being　barely　audible；　and　Pitt　had　to　place　his　ear　at　the　tremoring　lips。
　Giordino　rushed　up　carrying　several　blankets。　〃Steiger　gave　me　the　word；〃　he　said　tensely。　〃How　is　he？〃
　〃Still　hanging　in　there；〃　Pitt　said。　He　released　the　viselike　grip　from　his　wrist　and　gently　squeezed　Bass's　hand。　〃I'll　see　to　it；　Admiral。　That's　a　promise。〃
　Bass　blinked　his　dulled　eyes　and　nodded　in　understanding。
　Pitt　and　Giordino　had　covered　him　and　cushioned　his　head　with　the　blankets　when　Steiger　reappeared；　followed　by　two　airmen　carrying　a　stretcher。　Only　then　did　Pitt　rise　to　his　feet　and　step　aside。　The　helicopter　had　already　returned　and　landed　when　they　carried　the　still…conscious　Bass　from　Vixen　03。
　Steiger　took　Pitt's　arm。　〃What　was　he　trying　to　tell　you？〃
　〃His　inventory　of　the　warhead　canisters；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃He　counted　twenty…eight。〃
　〃I　pray　the　old　guy　makes　it；〃　Steiger　said。　〃At　least　he　had　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　the　monstrosities　were　retrieved。　Now　all　that's　。　left　is　to　dump　them　in　the　ocean。　End　of　horror　story。〃
　〃No；　I'm　afraid　it's　only　the　beginning。〃
　〃You're　talking　in　riddles。〃
　〃According　to　Admiral　Bass；　Vixen　03　did　not　depart　Buckley　Field　carrying　twenty…eight　warheads　filled　with　the　Quick　Death　agent。〃
　Steiger　sensed　an　icy　dread　in　Pitt's　tone。　〃But　his　inventory　。　。　。　the　count　came　to　twenty…eight。〃
　〃He　should　have　tallied　thirty…six；〃　Pitt　said　ominously。　〃Eight　warheads　are　missing。〃
　
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　No　Return　Ticket
　
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　Washington；　D。C。…　December　1988
　
　The　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　building；　a　tubular　struc…ture　sheeted　in　green　reflective　glass；　rose　thirty　stories　above　an　East　Washington　hill。
　On　the　top　floor　Admiral　James　Sandecker　sat　behind　an　immense　desk　made　from　a　refinished　hatch　cover　salvaged　from　a　Confederate　blockade　runner　in　Albemarle　Sound。　His　private　line　buzzed。
　〃Sandecker。〃
　〃Pitt　here；　sir。〃
　Sandecker　pushed　a　switch　on　a　small　console　that　activated　a　holo…graphic　TV　camera。　Pitt's　lifelike　image　materialized　in　three…dimensional　depth　and　color　in　the　middle　of　the　office。
　〃Raise　the　camera　from　your　end；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃You've　chopped　off　your　head。〃
　Through　the　miracle　of　satellite　holography　Pitt's　face　seemed　to　grow　from　his　shoulders；　and　his　projected　self；　including　voice　and　gestures；　became　identical　to　the　original。　The　major　difference；　which　never　ceased　to　amuse　Sandecker；　was　that　he　could　pass　a　hand　through　the　image　because　it　was　totally　lacking　in　matter。
　〃That　better？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃At　least　you're　whole　now。〃　Sandecker　wasted　no　more　words。　〃What's　the　latest　on　Walter　Bass？〃
　Pitt　looked　tired　as　he　sat　on　a　folding　chair　beneath　a　large　pine　tree；　his　ebony　hair　tossed　by　a　stiff　breeze。
　〃The　heart　specialist　at　the　Fitzsimons　Army　Hospital　in　Denver　reports　his　condition　as　stable。　If　he　survives　the　next　forty…eight　hours；　his　chances　for　recovery　look　good。　As　soon　as　he's　strong　enough　for　the　trip；　they're　going　to　transfer　him　to　Bethesda　Naval　Hospital。〃
　〃What　about　the　warheads？〃
　〃We　trucked　them　to　a　rail　siding　in　Leadville；〃　Pitt　answered　slowly。　〃Colonel　Steiger　volunteered　to　arrange　shipment　to　Pier　Six　in　San　Francisco。〃
　〃Tell　Steiger　we're　grateful　for　his　cooperation。　I've　ordered　our　Pacific　Coast　research　ship　to　be　standing　by。　Instructions　were　given　to　the　skipper　to　dump　the　warheads　off　the　continental　shelf　in　ten　thousand　feet　of　water。〃　Sandecker　hesitated　at　posing　the　next　ques…tion。　〃Did　you　locate　the　missing　eight？〃
　Pitt's　negative　expression　answered　him　even　before　the　image　spoke。
　〃No　luck；　Admiral。　A　thorough　search　of　the　lake　bed　failed　to　turn　up　a　trace。〃
　Sandecker　read　the　frustration　on　Pitt's　face。　〃I　fear　the　time　has　e　to　inform　the　Pentagon。〃
　〃Do　you　honestly　think　that　a　wise　course？〃
　〃What　other　options　do　we　have？〃　Sandecker　came　back。　〃We　don't　have　the　means　at　our　disposal　for　a　large…scale　investigation。〃
　〃All　we　need　is　a　lead；〃　Pitt　said；　pressing　on。　〃Odds　favor　the　warheads'　being　stored　somewhere；　gathering　dust。　It's　even　possible　the　thieves　don't　know　what　they　really　have　on　their　hands。〃
　〃I'll　accept　that；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃But　who　would　want　them　in　the　first　place？　Christ；　they　weigh　nearly　a　ton　each；　and　they're　easily　recognizable　in　exterior　appearance　as　obsolete　naval　shells。〃
　〃The　answer　will　also　lead　us　to　the　murderer　of　Loren　Smith's　father。〃
　〃No　corpus　delicti；　no　crime；〃　Sandecker　said。
　〃I　know　what　I　saw；〃　Pitt　said　evenly。
　〃It　won't　alter　present　circumstances。　The　dilemma　staring　us　all　in　the　face　is　how　to　get　a　tag　on　those　lost　warheads　and　do　it　before　someone　gets　it　in　his　head　to　play　demolition　expert。〃
　Suddenly　the　exhaustion　seemed　to　drop　from　Pitt。　〃Something　you　just　said　jogged　a　thought。　Give　me　five　days　to　flush　out　the　warheads。　If　I　turn　up　nothing；　then　it's　your　ball　game。〃
　Sandecker　smiled　tightly　at　Pitt's　sudden　show　of　intensity。　〃This　happens　to　be　my　ball　game；　any　way　you　look　at　it；〃　he　said　sharply。　〃As　the　senior　government　official　involved　in　this　mess；　it　became　my　unwanted　responsibility　the　day　you　hijacked　a　NUMA　aircraft　and　underwater　camera　system。〃
　Pitt　stared　back　across　the　room　but　remained　discreetly　silent。
　Sandecker　left　Pitt　stewing　for　a　moment　while　he　rubbed　his　eyes。　Then　he　said；　〃All　right；　against　my　better　judgment　I'll　take　the　gam…ble。〃
　〃You'll　go　along；　then？〃
　Sandecker　caved　in。　〃You've　got　five　days；　Pitt。　But　heaven　help　us　if　you　e　up　empty…handed。〃
　He　hit　the　switch　to　the　holograph　and　Pitt's　image　faded　and　disap…peared。
　
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　It　was　just　before　sunset　when　Maxine　Raferty　turned　from　her　clothesline　and　spied　Pitt　walking　up　the　road。　She　continued　her　chore；　pinning　up　the　last　of　her　husband's　shirts　before　waving　a　greeting。
　〃Mr。　Pitt；　how　nice　to　see　you。〃
　〃Mrs。　Raferty。〃
　〃Loren　with　you　up　to　the　cabin？〃
　〃No；　she　had　to　remain　in　Washington。〃　Pitt　looked　around　the　yard。　〃Is　Lee　at　home？〃
　〃In　the　house；　fixing　the　kitchen　sink。〃　A　brisk　breeze　was　sweeping　down　the　mountains　from　the　west　and　Maxine　thought　it　odd　that　Pitt　was　carrying　his　Windbreaker　over　his　right　hand　and　arm。　〃Just　go　on　in。〃
　Lee　Raferty　was　sitting　at　the　kitchen　table；　filing　burrs　from　a　length　of　plumbing　pipe。　He　looked　up　as　Pitt　entered。
　〃Mr。　Pitt。　Hey；　sit　down；　you're　just　in　time。　I　was　about　to　open　a　bottle　of　my　private　stock　of　grape　squeezin's。〃
　Pitt　pulled　up　a　chair。　〃You　make　wine　as　well　as　beer？〃
　〃Gotta　be　self…sufficient　up　here　in　the　high　country；〃　Lee　said；　grinning；　and　pointing　a　cigar　stub　at　the　pipe。　〃Take　this。　Cost　me　a　fortune　to　get　a　plumber　up　here　from　Leadville。　Cheaper　to　do　it　myself。　Leaky　gasket。　Any　kid　could　fix　it。〃
　Raferty　laid　the　rusty　pipe　on　an　old　newspaper；　rose　from　the　table；　and　produced　two　glasses　and　a　ceramic　jug　from　under　a　cupboard。
　〃I　wanted　to　talk　with　you；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃Sure　thing。〃　Lee　poured　the　glasses　to　their　brims。　〃Hey；　what　do　you　think　about　all　that　motion　up　at　the　lake？　I　hear　tell　they　found　an　old　airplane。　Could　it　be　the　one　you　was　askin'　about？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Pitt　answered；　sipping　from　the　wineglass；　which　he　held　in　his　left　hand。　He　was　mildly　surprised　to　find　the　wine　quite　smooth。　〃That's　part　of　the　reason　I'm　here。　I　was　hoping　you　might　enlighten　me