cc.vixen03-第39章

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ld　Rose　might　prove　a　match。〃
　〃An　attack　on　a　major　coastal　city　with　a　battleship　by　South　African　blacks　posing　as　terrorists　of　the　AAR。　It's　lunacy。〃
　〃Wrong；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃The　plan　smacks　of　genius。　A　few　bombs　placed　here　or　there；　or　another　skyjacking；　would　hardly　move　an　entire　nation　to　see　red。　But　an　old　battleship　with　flags　flying；　raining　explo…sives　on　a　helpless　population；　that's　sensationalism　at　its　best。〃
　〃What　city？〃
　〃None　was　specified。　That　part　of　the　plan　remains　a　mystery。〃
　〃Fortunately；　the　prime　ingredient　is　missing。〃
　〃A　battleship；〃　Jarvis　said。
　〃You　said　they've　all　been　removed　from　active　status。〃
　〃The　last　one　was　sold　for　scrap　months　ago。　All　the　rest　are　nonopera…tional　memorials。〃
　Pitt　stared　off　into　space　for　a　moment。　〃I　recall　seeing　a　capital　ship　docked　on　an　inlet　in　Chesapeake　Bay　only　a　few　weeks　ago。〃
　〃More　than　likely　a　heavy…missile　cruiser；〃　said　Jarvis。
　〃No；　I'm　certain　it　had　three　massive　gun　turrets；〃　Pitt　said　firmly。　〃I　was　on　a　flight　to　Savannah　and　the　plane　flew　right　over　it　before　turning　south。〃
　Jarvis　remained　unconvinced。　〃I　have　no　reason　to　doubt　the　accu…racy　of　my　information；　however；　in　the　interest　of　security；　I'll　have　your　sighting　checked　out。〃
　〃There　is　something　else；〃　Pitt　said；　rising　from　the　chair　and　search…ing　a　row　of　encyclopedias　on　a　bookshelf。　He　pulled　out　a　black…bound　volume　and　flipped　the　pages。
　〃Did　you　trigger　another　memory？〃　asked　Jarvis。
　〃Operation　Wild　Rose；〃　answered　Pitt。
　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃The　name。　Can　it　stand　for　anything？〃
　〃Code　names　seldom　have　an　ulterior　meaning；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃It　might　give　them　away。〃
　〃I'll　bet　you　a　vintage　bottle　of　wine　this　one　does。〃
　Pitt　held　out　the　book。　The　pages　were　open　at　a　map。　Jarvis　slipped　on　his　reading　glasses　and　took　a　cursory　glance　at　it。
　〃All　right；　so　Iowa　is　the　Hawkeye　State。　So　what？〃
　Pitt　pointed　to　a　spot　halfway　down　the　right…hand　page。　〃The　state　flower　of　Iowa；〃　he　said　softly；　〃is　the　wild　rose。〃
　The　color　abruptly　washed　from　Jarvis's　face。　〃But　the　battleship　Iowa　was　scrapped。〃
　〃Scrapped；　or　sold　for　scrap？〃　said　Pitt。　〃There　is　a　big　difference。〃
　A　series　of　worry　lines　grew　on　Jarvis's　forehead。
　Pitt　looked　at　Jarvis　and　let　the　worry　lengthen。　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　run　a　check　on　all　shipyards　located　on　the　western　Chesapeake　shoreline　of　Maryland。〃
　〃Your　phone。〃　It　was　more　a　mand　than　a　request。
　Pitt　silently　pointed　to　one　on　an　end　table。
　Jarvis　dialed　a　number。　Then；　as　he　waited　for　an　answer；　he　looked　at　Pitt。　〃Do　you　have　a　car　that　isn't　an　antique？〃
　〃I　have　a　NUMA　car　parked　outside。〃
　〃I　came　in　a　taxi；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃Will　you　do　the　honors？〃
　〃Give　me　a　minute　to　clean　up；〃　Pitt　replied。
　When　Pitt　emerged　from　the　bathroom；　Jarvis　was　waiting　at　the　door。　〃You　were　right；〃　he　said　evenly。　〃As　of　yesterday；　the　battleship　Iowa　was　docked　at　the　Forbes　Marine　Scrap　and　Salvage　Yard；　in　Maryland。〃
　〃I　know　the　facility；〃　said　Pitt。　〃It's　a　few　miles　below　the　bay　entrance　to　the　Patuxent　River。〃
　
　51
　
　As　Pitt　drove　through　the　rain；　Jarvis　seemed　mesmerized　by　the　flailing　windshield　wipers。　Finally　his　eyes　focused　and　he　made　a　casual　gesture　at　the　road　ahead。　〃I　make　the　next　town　to　be　Lexington　Park。〃
　〃Another　four　miles；〃　Pitt　said　without　turning。
　〃There　is　an　all…night　gas　station　on　the　outskirts；〃　Jarvis　continued。　〃Pull　up　at　the　pay　phone。〃
　Minutes　later　the　headlights　picked　out　the　Lexington　Park　city…limits　sign。　In　less　than　a　mile；　around　a　sweeping　curve；　a　brightly　lit　service　station　beckoned　through　the　soggy　night。　Pitt　turned　in　the　driveway　and　parked　beside　an　outside　phone　booth。
　The　station　attendant　sat　warm　and　dry　inside　the　office；　his　feet　propped　up　on　an　old　oil…burning　stove。　He　put　down　his　magazine　and　for　two　or　three　minutes　watched　Pitt　and　Jarvis　suspiciously　through　water…streaked　windows。　Then；　satisfied　they　weren't　acting　like　holdup　men；　he　returned　to　his　reading。　The　pay　phone's　light　blinked　out　and　Jarvis　hurriedly　ducked　back　into　the　passenger　seat。
　〃Any　late　word？〃　Pitt　asked。
　Jarvis　nodded。　〃My　staff　has　uncovered　a　piece　of　discouraging　in…formation。〃
　〃Bad　news　and　dismal　weather　go　hand　in　hand；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃The　Iowa　was　stricken　from　Navy　rolls　and　auctioned　as　surplus。　The　winning　bidder　was　an　outfit　called　the　Walvis　Bay　Investment　Corpora…tion。〃
　〃I've　never　heard　of　it。〃
　〃The　corporation　is　a　financial　front　for　the　African　Army　of　Revolu…tion。〃
　Pitt　gave　a　slight　twist　of　the　wheel　to　avoid　a　deep　puddle　in　the　road。　〃Is　it　possible　Lusana　pulled　the　rug　from　under　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry's　pipe　dreams　by　outbidding　them　for　the　ship？〃
　〃I　doubt　it。〃　Jarvis　shivered　from　the　damp　cold　and　held　his　hands　over　the　dashboard's　defroster　vents。　〃I'm　convinced　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry　bought　the　Iowa；　handling　the　transaction　under　the　guise　of　Walvis　Bay　Investment。〃
　〃You　don't　think　Lusana　is　wise？〃
　〃He　has　no　way　of　knowing；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃It's　mon　policy　to　keep　the　bidders'　names　confidential　upon　request。〃
　〃Christ；〃　Pitt　muttered；　〃the　sale　of　the　warheads　by　Phalanx　Arms　to　the　AAR　。　。　。〃
　〃With　a　little　more　digging；〃　Jarvis　said；　his　voice　strained；　〃I'm　afraid　we'll　find　that　Lusana　and　the　AAR　had　nothing　to　do　with　that　deal　either。〃
　〃That's　the　Forbes　shipyard　dead　ahead；〃　Pitt　said。
　The　high　chain…link　fence　enclosing　the　shipyard　met　and　began　paral…leling　the　road。　At　the　main　gate　Pitt　braked　to　a　stop　in　front　of　a　cable　that　stretched　across　the　entrance。　Nothing　of　the　ship　could　be　seen　through　the　falling　rain。　Even　the　huge　derricks　were　lost　in　the　black…ness。　The　guard　was　at　Pitt's　door　almost　before　he　rolled　the　window　down。
　〃May　I　help　you；　gentlemen？〃　he　asked　courteously。
　Jarvis　leaned　across　Pitt　and　displayed　his　credentials。　〃We'd　like　to　confirm　the　Iowa's　presence　in　the　shipyard。〃
　〃You　can　take　it　from　me；　sir；　she's　down　at　the　dock。　Been　there　refitting　close　to　six　months。〃
　Pitt　and　Jarvis　exchanged　worried　looks　at　the　word　〃refitting。〃
　〃My　orders　are　to　admit　no　one　without　a　pass　or　proper　authority　from　pany　officials；〃　the　guard　continued。　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　wait　until　morning　to　take　a　tour　of　the　ship。〃
　Jarvis's　face　flushed　with　anger。　But　before　he　could　launch　an　official　tirade；　another　car　pulled　up　and　a　man　wearing　a　dinner　jacket　emerged。
　〃Problems；　O'Shea？〃　he　said。
　〃These　gentlemen　want　to　enter　the　yard；〃　answered　the　guard；　〃but　they　don't　have　passes。〃
　Jarvis　swung　out　of　the　car　and　met　the　stranger　halfway。　〃My　name　is　Jarvis；　director　of　the　National　Security　Agency。　My　friend　is　Dirk　Pitt；　he's　with　NUMA。　It's　a　matter　of　highest　priority　that　we　inspect　the　Iowa。〃
　〃At　three　o'clock　in　the　morning？〃　muttered　the　confused　man；　studying　Jarvis's　identification　under　the　floodlights。　Then　he　turned　to　the　guard。
　〃They're　okay；　let　them　through。〃　He　faced　Jarvis　again。　〃The　way　to　the　dock　is　a　bit　tricky。　I'd　better　e　along。　By　the　way；　I'm　Metz；　Lou　Metz；　superintendent　of　the　shipyard。〃
　Metz　went　back　to　his　car　and　said　something　to　a　woman　sitting　on　the　passenger　side。　〃My　wife；〃　he　explained；　hunching　into　Pitt's　backseat。　〃Tonight　is　our　anniversary。　We　were　on　our　way　home　from　celebrating　and　I　happened　to　drop　by　the　yard　to　pick　up　some　blueprints。〃
　O'Shea　unhooked　the　barrier　cable　and　dropped　it　to　the　wet　ground。　He　motioned　to　Pitt　to　hold　while　he　leaned　in　the　window。　〃If　you　see　that　bus　driver；　Mr。　Metz；　ask　him　what's　delaying　his　departure。〃
　Metz　looked　puzzled。　〃Bus　driver？〃
　〃Came　through　about　seven　o'clock　this　evening　carrying　a　load　of　about　seventy　black　guys。　They　were　headed　for　the　Iowa。〃
　〃You　let　them　through？〃　Metz　asked　incredulously。
　〃They　all　had　proper　passes；　including　the　driver　of　the　truck；　who　followed　them　in。〃
　〃Fawkes！〃　Metz　snapped　angrily。　〃What's　that　crazy　Scot　up　to　now？〃
　Pitt　shifted　into　drive　and　steered　the　car　into　the　yard。　〃Who's　Fawkes？〃　he　asked。
　〃Captain　Patrick　McKenzie　Fawkes；〃　Metz　said。　〃Royal　Navy　re…tired。　He　made　no　secret　of　the　fact　that　some　black　terrorist　bunch　hired　him　to　refit　the　ship。　The　man　is　nuttier　than　a　cashew　factory。〃
　Jarvis　turned　and　faced　Metz。　〃How　so？〃
　〃Fawkes　has　driven　me　and　my　crew　up　the　bulkheads　giving　the　entire　vessel　a　major　face…lift。　He's　made　us　strip　her　down　next　to　nothing　and　replace　half　the　superstructure　with　wood。〃
　〃The/owa　was　never　designed　to　float　like　a　cork；〃　said　Pitt。　〃If　her　buoyancy　and　gravity　centers　are　drastically　altered；　she　could　capsize　in　a　heavy　storm。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　Metz　grunted。　〃I've　argued　with　that　stubborn　bastard　for　months。　I　might　as　well　have　farted　at　a　hurricane　for　all　the　good　it　did　me。　He　even　demanded　we　remove　two　perfectly　good　General　Electric　geared　turbine　engines　and　seal　their　shafts。〃　He　paused　and　tapped　Pitt　on　the　shoulder。　〃Turn　right　at　the　next　pile　of　steel　plating　and　then　swing　a　left　at　the　derrick's　rail　tracks。〃
　The　temperature　had　dropped　and　the　rain　was　being　an　icy　sheet。　Two　large　boxlike　shadows　materialized　under　the　headlights。　〃The　bus　and　truck；〃　announced　Pitt。　He　parked　the　car　but　left　the　motor　running　and　the　lights　on。
　〃No　sign　of　the　drivers；〃　said　Jarvis。
　Pitt　took　a　flashlight　from　the　car's　door　pocket　and　got　out。　Jarvis　followed；　but　Metz　hurried　off　into　the　night　without　saying　a　word。　Pitt　aimed　the　beam　through　the　bus　windows　and　into　the　back　of　the　truck。　They　were　both　empty。
　Pitt　and　Jarvis　skirted　the　deserted　vehicles　and　found　Metz　standing　stock　still；　hands　clenched　at　his　sides。　His　evening　jacket　was　soaked　and　his　hair　plastered　to　his　scalp。　He　looked　like　a　resurrected　drowning　victim。
　〃The　Iowa？〃　Jarvis　asked。
　Metz　spastically　waved　his　arms　at　the　dark。　〃Shagged　ass。〃
　〃Shagged　。　。　。　what？〃
　〃That　damned　Scot　has　sailed　her　away！〃
　〃Jesus；　are　you　sure？〃
　Metz's　face　and　his　voice　were　alive　with　a　desperate　kind　of　urgency。　〃I　don't　misplace　battleships。　This　is　where　she's　been　moored　during　the　refit。〃　Suddenly　he　spotted　something　and　ran　over　to　the　edge　of　the　dock。　〃My　God；　look　at　that！　The　mooring　lines　are　still　tied　to　the　dock　bollards。　The　crazy　idiots　cast　off　their　lines　from　the　ship。　It's　as　though　they　never　intend　to　moor　her　again。〃
　Jarvis　leaned　over　and　stared　down　at　where　the　heavy　lines　disap…peared　into　the　inky　water。　〃My　fault。　Criminal　negligence　not　to　have　believed　the　handwriting　on　the　wall。〃
　〃We　still　can't　be　certain　they're　actually　going　through　with　an　at…tack；〃　Pitt　said。
　Jarvis　shook　his　head。　〃They're　going　to　do　it；　you　can　count　on　that。〃　Tiredly；　he　rested　his　weight　against　a　piling。　〃If　only　they'd　given　us　a　date　and　a　target。〃
　〃The　date　was　there　all　the　time；〃　said　Pitt。
　Jarvis　looked　at　him　questioningly　and　waited。
　〃You　said　the　idea　behind　the　attack　was　to　motivate　sympathy　for　the　South　African　whites　and　provoke　American　anger　against　the　black　revolutionaries；〃　Pitt　continued。　〃What　more　perfect　day　than　today？〃
　〃It　is　now　five　minutes　past　twelve　on　Wednesday　morning。〃　Jarvis's　v