scoonts.theminotaur-第20章

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　Henry　stopped　at　the　end　of　the　little　path　that　led　through　the　waist…high　dune　and　looked　right　and　left；　up　and　down　the　beach。　He　turned　right；　south；　and　walked　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets　toward　the　area　with　the　fewest　people。　He　didn't　even　glance　toward　the　ocean。　Out　on　the　horizon　a　large　containership　was　making　its　way　north；　perhaps　to　round　Cape　Henlopen　and　go　up　the　Delaware。
　〃Yesterday　you　wanted　to　know　what　really　happened　in　West　Virginia　after　Harold　Strong　was　killed。〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃I　told　you　the　truth；　but　I　left　a　few　things　out。　Camacho　here　was　with　me　that　morning。　We　met　with　Trooper　Keadle　and　the　local　prosecutor；　guy　named　Don　Cookman。　They　weren't　happy　campers。　They　knew　murder　when　they　saw　it　and　cooperation　smacked　of　cover…up。　So　Luis　got　on　the　phone　to　Washington　and　the　director　of　the　FBI　drove　up　along　with　the　forensic　team。　We　got　cooperation　with　a　capital　C　from　then　on。〃
　〃Go　on；〃　Jake　prompted　when　the　admiral　fell　silent。
　The　admiral　turned　to　face　him。　〃You're　asking　too　damn　much；　Jake。〃
　〃I'm　not　asking　for　anything　other　than　what　I　need　to　know　to　do　my　job。〃
　〃Like　shit。〃
　〃Would　you　let　yourself　be　led　along　by　the　nose　if　you　were　me？　Jesus　Christ；　Admiral；　my　predecessor　was　murdered！　I　got　a　wife　over　there〃…he　pointed　back　toward　his　house…〃who　would　like　to　have　me　alive　for…〃
　〃What　do　you　want　to　know？〃
　〃Why　was　Strong　killed？　What　did　you　tell　those　people　in　West　Virginia？　Why　the　silence　on　a　murder？　Who　and　what　are　you　investigating？〃　He　looked　at　Camacho。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　Camacho　spoke　first；　〃I'm　special　agent　in　charge　of　the　Washington…area　FBI　group　that　handles　counterespionage。　That's　why　the　locals　in　West　Virginia　cooperated。　That's　why　Trooper　Keadle　called　me　when　you　left　his　office　Thursday。　That's　why　he　called　me　when　mander　Judy　showed　up　that　afternoon　to　search　Harold　Strong's　cabin。〃　He　turned　and　started　down　the　beach；　still　talking。　Admiral　Henry　and　Jake　Grafton　trailed　along。　〃Why　was　Strong　killed？　If　we　knew　that　we　would　be　almost　there。　It　wasn't　personal　or　domestic。　No　way。　It　was　a　hit；　a　contract。　He　got　taken　out　by　someone　who　knew　precisely　what　they　were　doing；　a　cool　customer。　So　the　hypothesis　that　seems　most　likely　is　that　he　knew　something　he　shouldn't。　That　leads　us　to　his　job…the　ATA　program。〃
　〃That　sea　story　about　a　Minotaur…that　was　true？〃
　〃Yeah；　that's　the　code　name。　But　we　don't　know　if　it's　one　guy　or　several；〃　the　agent　said；　with　a　glance　at　Tyler　Henry；　who　picked　that　moment　to　look　out　to　sea。
　〃I　thought；〃　Jake　said；　〃that　these　spy　things　usually　get　broken　when　you　get　somebody　to　talk。〃
　〃That's　the　history。　It'd　be　nice　if　we　knew　who　to　put　the　screws　to　to　clean　up　this　little　mess。　But　we　don't。　So　right　now　we're　busy　doing　it　the　hard　way。〃　He　led　the　two　naval　officers　along　the　beach　as　he　talked　and　answered　questions。　When　Jake　remembered　to　glance　out　to　sea；　the　containership　was　no　longer　in　sight。
　〃Let's　transfer　Smoke　Judy；〃　Jake　suggested　to　the　admiral。
　Henry　just　stared　at　him。
　〃Dunedin　said　if　I　got　goosey；　I　could　get　rid　of　him。〃
　〃I'd　rather　you　left　him　in　place；〃　Camacho　said。　〃I've　already　made　that　request　to　Admiral　Henry　and　now　I'll　make　it　to　you。〃
　〃Going　to　be　real　tough　to　pretend　I　don't　know　anything。〃
　〃You　don't　know　anything；〃　Henry　growled。　He　jerked　his　thumb　at　Camacho。　〃If　he　talked　to　you　for　a　week；　you　still　wouldn't　know　anything。　I　sure　as　hell　don't。〃
　An　hour　later；　as　they　came　single　file　through　the　dune　trail；　Henry　said；　〃Now　you　know　as　much　as　I　do；　which　is　precious　little。　On　Monday　you　tell　that　chief　in　officer　personnel　to　tear　up　your　retirement　papers。〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃Don't　ever　pull　that　stunt　on　me　again；　Grafton。〃
　〃Or。。？〃
　〃Don't　you　abandon　ship　and　leave　me　and　Dunedin　up　to　our　necks　alone　in　this　sack　of　shit。〃
　After　the　two　men　had　departed　in　the　admiral's　car；　Jake　went　back　into　the　house。　Callie　was　sitting　on　the　couch　reading　a　book。　〃David　got　your　plane　fixed；　but　his　mother　called　and　he　went　home　for　lunch。　He　said　he　would　e　back　later　and　help　you　fly　it。〃
　Jake　nodded　and　poured　a　cup　of　coffee。
　〃Want　to　tell　me　about　it？〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃Jake。。。〃　Her　voice　had　that　time…to…e…clean；　no…more…nonsense　tone。　That　tone　in　her　voice　always　got　his　attention；　perhaps　because　his　mother　had　used　it　so　effectively　some　years　ago。
　〃Admiral　Henry's　my　boss's　boss。　Camacho's　a　civilian。　They　drove　over　here　to　talk　about　a　problem　at　the　office。　A　classified　problem。　That's　all　I　can　say。　You　want　coffee？〃
　She　nodded　yes。　When　he　handed　it　to　her　she　said；　〃So　you　are　working　on　the　ATA　program？〃
　〃Callie；　for　Christ's　sake。　I　told　you　I　was。　I　don't　lie　to　you。〃
　She　sipped　her　coffee　for　a　bit。　〃David　likes　you；〃　she　said。
　It　made　him　nervous　when　she　shifted　subjects　like　that　〃He's　a　great　kid；〃　he　said　nonmittally。　〃Honest；　Callie。　I　tell　you　the　truth。　If　something's　classified　and　I　can't　talk　about　it；　I　just　say　so。　You　know　that！　You　know　me！〃
　She　nodded　her　agreement　and　picked　up　the　book。　He　waited　a　moment；　slightly　baffled；　then　wandered　outside　with　his　coffee　cup　in　his　hand。　Women！　Any　man　who　thinks　he's　got　them　figured　out　should　be　declared　inpetent　and　incarcerated　to　protect　himself。
　
　The　cursors　were　running　all　over　the　scope　when　it　occurred　to　Toad　to　check　the　velocities　in　the　inertial。　They　were　all　gone　to　hell。　〃Hold　this　heading；〃　he　growled　at　Rita　as　he　consulted　his　kneeboard　cards。　He　pushed　the　buttons　to　take　the　inertial　out　of　the　system；　then　typed　in　a　wind　he　thought　would　work。
　〃Okay；〃　he　told　her。　〃This　run；　no　inertial　and　no　radar。　puter　dead　reckoning　and　the　IR…that's　all　we'll　use。　We'll　even　leave　the　laser　off。　Go　in　at　a　hundred　feet　and　let's　see　if　we　can　hit　anything。〃　Below　two　hundred　feet　system　deliveries　in　the　A…6　were　degraded；　probably；　Toad　suspected；　due　to　the　trigonometry　of　low　grazing　angles。
　She　lowered　the　left　wing　and　let　the　nose　sag　down　into　the　turn。　When　she　leveled　the　wings　they　were　on　the　run…in　line　at　a　hundred　feet；　throttles　against　the　stops；　bouncing　moderately　in　the　turbulence　as　the　engines　moaned　through　their　helmets。
　He　got　the　reticle；　or　cross　hair；　on　the　IR　display　onto　the　tower。　The　cross　hairs　started　drifting。　The　wind　he　typed　into　the　puter　was　wrong。　He　pushed　the　velocity　correct　switch；　then　held　the　cross　hairs　on　the　tower　bulls…eye。
　〃Master　Arm　on；　in　attack；　and　in　range。〃
　〃I'm　mitted；〃　she　said。　This　meant　she　had　squeezed　the　mit　trigger　on　the　stick；　authorizing　the　puter　to　release　the　weapon。
　Toad　glanced　out　his　side　window。　The　desert　was　right　there；　close　enough　to　touch；　racing　by　beneath　them。　He　came　back　to　the　IR　scope。　All　okay。　If　Moravia　got　distracted　and　let　the　nose　fall　just　a　smidgen；　they　would　be　a　fireball　rolling　across　the　desert　so　quickly　they　would　never　even　know　what　happened。　〃Release　ing；〃　he　advised。　The　cursors　started　to　drift　in　close　and　he　held　them　on　the　base　of　the　tower。
　When　the　release　came　she　eased　back　on　the　stick　and　Toad　felt　the　G　press　him　down　even　as　he　watched　the　tower　on　the　IR　scope…now　going　inverted…for　the　hit。　Pop。　There　it　was。　Almost　dead…on。
　That　was　the　last　bomb。　He　glanced　at　the　panel　in　front　of　her。　They　were　climbing　and　heading　north　for　Yakima。　He　flipped　the　radar　to　transmit　and　began　to　adjust　the　picture。
　〃Your　hit　forty　feet　at　seven…thirty。〃
　〃Boardman；　thanks　a　lot。　We're　switching　to　Center。〃
　〃Have　a　safe　flight。〃
　〃Yo。〃　Toad　dialed　in　the　Seattle　Center　frequency。
　〃Pretty　good　bombing　for　a　fighter　puke；〃　Moravia　said。
　〃Yep。　It　was　that；〃　he　agreed　smugly；　relishing　the　role　and　willing　today　to　play　it　to　the　hut。　Moravia　had　had　her　fun　last　night。　His　head　was　still　thumping　like　a　toothache。　〃Ain't　anybody　better　than　the　ol'　Horny　Toad。〃
　〃Or　anyone　more　humble。〃
　〃Humble　is　for　folks　that　can't；〃　he　shot　back。　〃I　can。〃
　Rita　called　Center　and　asked　for　a　clearance　to　the　military　operating　area　over　Okanogan。　She　leveled　the　plane　at　Flight　Level　220。　Toad　played　with　the　scope。
　Entering　the　area；　Rita　disengaged　the　autopilot　and　looked　about　expectantly。　She　and　her　pilot　instructor　of　the　previous　week；　Lieutenant　Clyde　〃Duke〃　Degan；　had　agreed　to　and　briefed　an　ACM　engagement。　She　was　right　on　time。　Now　if　she　could　just　find　him　first。　She　dialed　in　the　squadron　tactical　frequency　and　gave　him　a　call。
　〃I'm　here；〃　Degan　replied。
　Toad　caught　the　first　glimpse　of　the　other　A…6。　It　was　high；　near　the　sun。　Duke　didn't　intend　to　give　Moravia　any　break　at　all。　〃All　right；〃　Toad　enthused。　〃Now；　by　God；　we're　playing　my　game！〃　Toad　pointed　over　her　left　shoulder。　〃Up　there。　Better　turn　under　him　and　get　the　nose　down　for　some　airspeed。〃
　Rita　knew　Toad　had　just　recently　finished　a　three…year　tour　in　the　backseat　of　F…14　Tomcats。　He　had　ridden　through　literally　hundreds　of　practice　dogfights。　Fighter　crews　lived　for　Air　bat　Maneuvering　（ACM）；　the　orgiastic　climax　of　their　training　and　their　existence。　So　she　knew　Toad　Tarkington　undoubtedly　knew　a　thing　or　two　about　dogfighting。　She　took　his　advice。　〃Think　he's　seen　us？〃　The　A…6's　radar　had　no　air…to…air　capability。
　Toad　kept　the　other　plane　in　sight。　Immediately　above　them…maybe　two　miles　above…it　rolled　inverted；　preparatory　to　a　split　S。　〃Looks　like　it；〃　Toad　murmured。　〃Already　you're　at　a　serious　disadvantage；　assuming　he's　smart　enough　to　cash　in。〃
　With　the　throttles　on　the　stops；　she　began　a　climbing　right　turn　holding　340　knots　indicated；　the　best　climb　speed。　Toad　glanced　across　the　panel；　then　cranked　his　neck　to　keep　the　other　plane　in　sight。　〃He's　ing　down　like　a　ruptured　duck；〃　Toad　advised。　〃If　you　had　guns　you　could　get　a　low…percentage　deflection　shot　here。　Shake　him　up　some。〃
　The　other　plane　came　rocketing　down　with　vapor　pouring　off　its　wingtips。　Now　his　wingtip　speed　brakes…boards…came　open。　〃He's　trying　to　minimize　his　overshoot。〃　The　other　Intruder　went　dropping　through　their　altitude　with　the　boards　still　open；　vapor　swirling　from　his　wings。　〃Work　the　angles；〃　Toad　advised。　〃Turn　into　him　and　get　the　nose　down。〃
　Rita　Moravia　did　just　that　in　a　workmanlike　four…G　pull。　〃Not　too　much　nose…down；〃　Toad　grunted　against　the　G。　Duke　Degan　would　undoubtedly　use　his　energy　advantage　to　zoom　again　and　try　to　turn　in　behind　her；　but　he　should　not　have　left　the　boards　out　as　long　as　he　did。　That　was　his　second　mistake。　His　first　was　the　split　S；　he　should　have　spiraled　down　to　convert　his　energy　advantage　to　a　lethal　position　advantage。
　Degan　zoomed。　Moravia　smartly　lifted　her　nose　into　a　climb；　still　closing；　then　eased　it　to　hold　340　indicated。　〃Very　nice；〃　Toad　mented。　Inexperienced　pilots　would　just　yank　on　the　stick　until　they　had　squandered　all　their　airspeed。　Moravia　had　better　sense。　Patience；　Toad　decided。　She　was　patient。
　Degan　was　above　them　now；　spread…eagled　against　the　sky；　maybe　a　mile　ahead　and　four　thousand　feet　above。　And　he　was　running　out　of　airspeed。
　〃You　got　him　now；〃　Toad　said；　excitement　creeping　into　his　voice。
　Apparently　Degan　thought　so　too。　He　continued　over　the　top　of　his　loop　and　let　the　nos