cc.vixen03-第34章

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it　off。　〃So　long　as　South　Africa　lives　under　the　threat　of　black　rule；　we　have　no　option　but　to　use　any　method　available　to　survive。　Wild　Rose　will　take　place　as　planned。〃
　〃I'll　feel　better　when　Lusana　falls　in　our　net。〃
　De　Vaal　threw　Zeegler　an　off…kilter　grin。　〃You　haven't　heard？〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Hiram　Lusana　won't　be　ing　back　to　Africa；　ever。〃
　Machita　had　no　way　of　telling　when　he　had　recrossed　the　threshold　of　consciousness。　He　could　see　nothing　but　darkness。　Then　the　pain　began　multiplying　in　his　nerve　endings　and　he　groaned　involuntarily。　His　ears　recorded　the　sound；　but　nothing　else　registered。
　He　tried　to　raise　his　head　and　a　yellowish　ball　appeared　above　and　to　his　left。　Slowly　the　strange　object　came　into　focus　and　formed　a　frame　of　reference。　He　was　looking　at　a　full　moon。
　He　struggled　to　a　sitting　position　with　his　back　crammed　against　a　cold；　bare　wall。　In　the　light　that　sifted　through　the　wreckage　he　could　see　that　the　floor　above　had　dropped　only　two　feet　before　being　wedged　between　the　narrow　walls　of　his　cell。
　After　a　brief　rest　to　collect　his　strength；　Machita　began　pushing　away　the　rubble。　His　hands　discovered　a　short　length　of　board　and　he　used　it　to　pry　away　the　topside　flooring　until　at　last　he　forced　an　opening　large　enough　to　crawl　through。　Cautiously　he　peered　over　the　edge　into　the　chilly　night　air。　Nothing　stirred。　He　bent　his　knees　and　shoved　his　body　upward　until　his　hands　touched　the　grass　of　the　parade　ground。　A　sudden　heave　and　he　was　free。
　Machita　took　a　deep　breath　and　looked　around。　It　was　then　that　he　saw　the　miracle　of　his　salvation。　The　wall　of　the　administration　building　facing　the　parade　field　had　caved　inward；　collapsing　the　first　floor；　which　had　effectively　shielded　his　cell　from　falling　debris　and　the　deadly　wrath　of　the　South　Africans。
　No　one　greeted　Machita　as　he　staggered　to　his　feet；　because　there　was　no　one　in　sight。　The　moon　illuminated　an　eerie；　barren　landscape。　Every　facility；　every　building；　had　been　leveled。　The　field　was　empty；　the　bodies　of　the　dead　were　gone。
　It　was　as　though　the　African　Army　of　Revolution　had　never　existed。
　〃I　wish　I　could　help　you；　but　I　don't　really　see　how。〃
　Lee　Raferty　had　been　right；　Pitt　reflected。　Orville　Mapes　did　look　more　like　a　hardware　peddler　than　a　weapons　dealer。　Raferty　was　wrong　on　one　count；　though：　Mapes　was　no　longer　a　vice…president；　he　had　moved　up　to　president　and　chairman　of　the　board　of　the　Phalanx　Arms　Corporation。　Pitt　stared　back　into　the　gray　eyes　of　the　stubby　little　man。
　〃A　check　of　your　inventory　records　would　be　helpful。〃
　〃I　do　not　open　my　records　for　a　stranger　who　wanders　in　from　the　street。　My　customers　would　not　look　kindly　upon　a　supplier　who　failed　to　keep　their　transactions　confidential。〃
　〃The　law　requires　you　to　list　your　arms　sales　with　the　Defense　De…partment；　so　what's　the　big　secret？〃
　〃Are　you　with　Defense；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　asked　Mapes。
　〃Indirectly。〃
　〃Then　whom　do　you　represent？〃
　〃Sorry；　I　can't　say。〃
　Mapes　shook　his　head　irritably　and　rose。　〃I'm　a　busy　man。　I　have　no　time　for　games。　You　can　find　your　own　way　out。〃
　Pitt　remained　in　his　chair。　〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Mapes　。　。　。　please。〃
　Mapes　found　himself　looking　into　a　pair　of　green　eyes　that　were　as　hard　as　jade。　He　hesitated；　and　considered　challenging　the　mand；　then　slowly　did　as　he　was　asked。
　Pitt　nodded　at　the　telephone。　〃So　we　both　know　where　we　stand；　I　suggest　you　call　General　Elmer　Grosfield。〃
　Mapes　made　a　nettled　face。　〃The　Chief　Inspector　of　Foreign　Arms　Shipments　and　I　seldom　see　eye　to　eye。〃
　〃I　take　it　he　frowns　on　classified　weapons'　being　sold　to　unfriendly　nations。〃
　Mapes　shrugged。　〃The　general　is　a　narrow…minded　man。〃　Mapes　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　stared　speculatively　at　Pitt。　〃What；　may　I　ask；　is　your　connection　with　Grosfield？〃
　〃Let's　just　say　he　respects　my　judgment　more　than　he　does　yours。〃
　〃Do　I　detect　a　veiled　threat；　Mr。　Pitt？　If　I　don't　play　ball；　you　cry　foul　to　Grosfield…is　that　it？〃
　〃My　request　is　simple；〃　said　Pitt。　〃A　check　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　naval　shells　you　bought　from　Lee　Raferty　in　Colorado。〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　show　you　a　damn　thing；　mister；〃　Mapes　replied　stubbornly。　〃Not　without　a　logical　explanation　or　proper　identification；　or；　for　that　matter；　a　court　order。〃
　〃And　if　General　Grosfield　makes　the　request？〃
　〃In　that　case　I　might　be　persuaded　to　string　along。〃
　Pitt　nodded　at　the　phone　again。　〃I'll　give　you　his　private　number
　〃I　have　it；〃　Mapes　said；　fishing　through　a　small　box。　He　found　the　slotted　index　card　he　was　looking　for　and　held　it　up。　〃Not　that　I　don't　trust　you；　Mr。　Pitt。　But　if　you　don't　mind；　I　prefer　using　a　number　from　my　own　file。〃
　〃Suit　yourself；〃　said　Pitt。
　Mapes　lifted　the　receiver；　inserted　the　card　in　the　automatic…dialer　phone；　and　pressed　the　code　button。　〃It's　after　twelve　o'clock；〃　he　said。
　〃Grosfield　is　probably　out　to　lunch。〃　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃The　general　is　a　brown…bagger。　He　eats　at　his　desk。〃
　〃I　always　figured　him　for　a　cheapass；〃　Mapes　grunted。
　Pitt　smiled；　hoping　Mapes　couldn't　read　the　anxiety　behind　his　eyes。
　Abe　Steiger　rubbed　the　sweat　from　his　palms　on　his　pant　legs　and　picked　up　the　phone　on　the　third　ring；　taking　a　bite　from　a　banana　before　he　spoke。
　〃General　Grosfield　here；〃　he　mumbled。
　〃General；　this　is　Orville　Mapes；　of　Phalanx　Arms。〃
　〃Mapes；　where　are　you？　You　sound　like　you're　talking　from　the　bottom　of　a　barrel。〃
　〃You　sound　muffled　and　distant；　too；　General。〃
　〃You　caught　me　in　the　middle　of　a　peanut…butter　sandwich。　I　like　them　thick　with　gobs　of　mayonnaise。　What's　on　your　mind；　Mapes？〃
　〃Sorry　to　interrupt　your　lunch；　but　do　you　know　a　Mr。　Dirk　Pitt？〃
　Steiger　forced　a　pause　and　took　a　deep　breath　before　answering。　〃Pitt。　Yes；　I　know　Pitt。　He's　an　investigator　for　the　Senate　Armed　Forces　mittee。〃
　〃His　credentials　are　right　up　there；　then。〃
　〃They　don't　go　any　higher；〃　said　Steiger；　as　though　talking　with　a　mouthful。　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃He's　sitting　in　front　of　me；　demanding　to　inspect　my　inventory　records。〃
　〃I　wondered　when　he'd　get　around　to　you　civilians。〃　Steiger　took　another　bite　from　the　banana。　〃Pitt　is　heading　up　the　Stanton　probe。〃
　〃The　Stanton　probe？　I　never　heard　of　it。〃
　〃I'm　not　surprised。　They're　not　advertising。　Some　do…good　senator　got　it　in　his　head　that　stockpiles　of　nerve…gas　weapons　are　hidden　under　the　Army's　carpet。　So　he　launched　a　probe　to　find　them。〃　Steiger　wolfed　down　the　last　of　the　banana　and　tossed　the　peel　in　one　of　General　Grosfield's　desk　drawers。　〃Pitt　and　his　investigators　didn't　turn　up　so　much　as　a　pellet。　Now　he's　after　you　surplus　boys。〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃
　〃What　I　suggest；〃　Steiger　blurted；　〃is　that　you　give　the　bastard　what　he　wants。　If　you　have　any　gas　canisters　stashed　in　your　warehouses；　give　them　to　him　and　save　yourself　a　carload　of　grief。　The　Stanton　mittee　is　not　out　to　prosecute　anybody。　They　only　want　to　make　damned　sure　some　Third　World　dictator　doesn't　lay　his　hands　on　the　wrong　kind　of　weapons。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　advice；　General；〃　Mapes　said。　Then；　〃Mayonnaise；　you　say？　I　prefer　peanut　butter　with　onions；　myself。〃
　〃To　each　his　own；　Mr。　Mapes。　Good…bye。〃
　Steiger　hung　up　the　phone　and　let　out　a　deep；　satisfied　sigh。　Then　he　wiped　the　receiver　with　his　handkerchief　and　exited　into　the　hall。　He　was　just　in　the　act　of　closing　the　door　to　the　general's　office　when　a　captain　in　Army　green　walked　around　a　corner。　The　captain's　eyes　grew　mildly　suspicious　at　the　sight　of　Steiger。
　〃Excuse　me；　Colonel；　but　if　you　were　looking　for　General　Grosfield；　he's　out　to　lunch。〃
　Steiger　straightened　and　offered　the　captain　his　best　〃I　outrank　you〃　stare　and　said；　〃I　don't　know　the　general。　This　jungle　of　concrete　threw　my　sense　of　direction　out　of　balance。　I'm　looking　for　the　Army　Accident　and　Safety　Department。　Got　lost　and　poked　my　head　in　this　office　to　ask　directions。〃
　The　captain　seemed　noticeably　relieved　at　avoiding　an　embarrassing　situation。　〃Oh　hell；　I　get　lost　ten　times　a　day　myself。　You'll　find　Accident　and　Safety　one　floor　down。　Just　take　the　elevator　around　the　next　corner　to　your　right。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Captain。〃
　〃My　pleasure；　sir。〃
　In　the　elevator　Steiger　smiled　devilishly　to　himself　as　he　wondered　what　General　Grosfield　would　think　when　he　found　the　banana　peel　in　his　desk。
　Unlike　most　security　guards　who　wear　ill…fitting　uniforms　with　waist　belts　sagged　by　heavy　revolvers；　Mapes's　people　looked　more　like　fashionably　attired　bat　troops　as　imagined　by　the　editors　of　Gentle…men's　Quarterly　magazine。　Two　of　them　stood　smartly　at　the　gate　to　the　Phalanx　warehouse　grounds　in　neatly　tailored　field　fatigues　with　the　latest　in　assault　rifles　slung　over　their　shoulders。
　Mapes　slowed　his　Rolls…Royce　convertible　and　lifted　both　hands　from　the　steering　wheel　in　an　apparent　greeting。　The　guard　nodded　and　waved　to　his　partner；　who　pulled　open　the　gate　from　the　inside。
　〃I　assume　that　was　a　signal　of　some　kind；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Pardon？〃
　〃The　hands…in…the…air　routine。〃
　〃Ah　yes；〃　Mapes　said。　〃If　you　had　been　holding　a　concealed　gun　on　me；　my　hands　would　have　remained　on　the　wheel。　A　normal　gesture。　Then；　as　we　were　waved　through　and　your　attention　was　lulled　by　the　guard's　opening　the　gate；　his　teammate　would　have　discreetly　stepped　behind　the　car　and　blown　your　head　off。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you　remembered　to　raise　your　hands。〃
　〃You're　most　observant；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Mapes。　〃However；　you　force　me　to　issue　a　new　signal　to　the　gate　guards。〃
　〃I'm　crushed　you　don't　trust　me　to　keep　your　secret。〃
　Mapes　did　not　reply　to　Pitt's　sarcasm。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　a　narrow　asphalt　road　that　passed　between　semingly　endless　rows　of　Quonset　huts。　After　about　a　mile　they　came　to　an　open　field　crammed　with　heavily　armored　tanks　in　various　states　of　rust　and　disrepair。　A　small　army　of　mechanics　was　busily　crawling　over　ten　of　the　massive　vehicles　that　had　been　parked　in　formation　beside　the　road。
　〃How　many　acres　do　you　have？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃Five　thousand；〃　Mapes　replied。　〃You're　looking　at　the　world's　sixth…largest　army　in　terms　of　equipment。　Phalanx　Arms　also　ranks　seventh　as　an　air　force。〃
　Mapes　turned　the　car　onto　a　dirt　road　that　paralleled　several　bunkers　set　into　a　hillside；　and　stopped　in　front　of　one　marked　ARSENAL　6。　He　slid　from　behind　the　wheel　and　pulled　a　single　key　from　his　pocket；　insert…ed　it　in　a　large　brass　lock；　and　pulled　the　catch　free。　Then　he　swung　open　a　pair　of　steel　doors　and　flipped　on　the　light　switch。
　Inside　the　cavelike　bunker；　thousands　of　ammunition　cases　and　crates　containing　a　vast　variety　of　shell　sizes　lay　stacked　in　a　tunnel　that　seemed　to　stretch　into　infinity。　Pitt　had　never　seen　so　much　potential　destruction　heaped　in　one　place。
　Mapes　motioned　toward　a　golf　cart。　〃No　need　to　raise　blisters　walk…ing。　This　storage　area　runs　underground　for　nearly　two　miles。〃
　The　arsenal　was　cold　and　the　hum　from　the　electric　cart　seemed　to　hang　in　the　damp　air。　Mapes　turned　into　a　side　tunnel　and　slowed　down。　He　held　a　map　up　to　the　light　and　studied　it。　〃Beginning　here　and　ending　about　a　hundred　yards　down　is　the　last　store　of　sixteen…inch　naval　shells　in　the　world。　They're　obsolete　because　only　battleships　can　use　them；　and　there　is　not　a　single　operational　bat