scoonts.theminotaur-第3章

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　〃Delighted　to。　Which　one　you　want？〃
　Jake　scanned　the　planes　hanging　from　the　ceiling。　He　began　to　examine　them　critically。
　〃You　ever　build　an　RC　plane　before？〃
　〃Build？　You　mean　I　can't　buy　one　already　made？〃
　〃Not　any　of　these；　you　can't。　My　son　built　all　these　years　ago；　before　he　went　to　the　air　force。　They're　his。〃
　〃Build　one；〃　Jake　said　softly；　weighing　it。　He　hadn't　figured　on　that。　Oh　well；　the　decision　was　already　made。　Now　he　wanted　a　plane。　〃Let　me　see　what　you　have。〃
　Forty　minutes　later；　with　a　yellow　credit　card　invoice　for　S349。52　tucked　into　his　wallet；　Jake　Grafton　left　the　hobby　store　carrying　two　large　sacks　and　walked　the　block　to　his　car。　He　walked　purposefully；　quickly。　For　the　first　time　in　months　he　had　a　task　ahead　that　would　be　worth　doing。
　Fifteen　minutes　later　he　parked　the　car　in　the　sand…and…crushed…seashell　parking　area　in　front　of　his　house。　He　could　hear　the　faint　ringing　of　the　telephone　as　he　climbed　the　steps　to　the　little　wooden　porch。　He　unlocked　the　front　door；　sat　one　of　the　paper　sacks　on　the　floor　and　strode　across　the　living　room　for　the　phone　on　the　wall　by　the　kitchen　table。　The　ringing　stopped　just　as　he　reached　for　the　receiver。　He　went　back　to　the　car　for　the　other　sack。
　The　airplane　on　the　lid　of　the　box　looked　gorgeous；　mouthwateringly　gorgeous；　but　inside　the　box　was　sheet　after　sheet　of　raw　balsa　wood。　At　least　the　aircraft　parts　were　impressed；　stamped；　into　the　wood。　All　you　would　have　to　do　was　pick　them　out　and　maybe　trim　the　pieces。　The　instruction　booklet　looked　devilishly　plicated；　with　photos　and　line　drawings。　Jake　studied　the　pictures。　After　a　bit　he　began　laying　out　the　balsa　pieces　from　the　box　on　the　kitchen　table；　referring　frequently　to　the　pictures　in　the　booklet。　When　the　box　was　empty　he　surveyed　the　mess　and　rubbed　his　temples。　This　was　going　to　be　a　big　job；　even　bigger　than　he　thought。
　He　put　coffee　and　water　in　the　brewer　and　was　waiting　for　the　Pyrex　pot　to　fill　when　the　phone　rang　again。　〃Hello。〃
　〃Jake。　How　are　you　feeling　this　morning？〃　Callie；　his　wife；　called　twice　a　day　to　check　on　him；　even　though　she　knew　it　irritated　him。
　〃Fine。　How's　your　morning　going？〃
　〃Did　you　go　out？〃
　〃Downtown。〃
　〃Jake；〃　she　said；　tension　creeping　into　her　voice　as　she　pronounced　his　name　firmly。　〃We　need　to　talk。　When　are　you　going　to　call　that　admiral？〃
　〃I　dunno。〃
　〃You　can't　keep　loafing　like　this。　You're　well。　You're　going　to　have　to　go　back　to　work；　or　retire　and　find　something　to　do。　You　can't　just　keep　loafing　like　this。　It　isn't　you。　It　isn't　good　for　you；　Jake。〃
　She　emphasized　the　word　〃good；〃　Jake　noticed　listlessly。　That's　Callie；　instinctively　dividing　the　world　into　good　and　evil。　〃We'll　talk　about　it　this　weekend。〃　She　was　driving　over　from　Washington　when　she　got　off　work　this　evening。　Jake　had　driven　over　to　the　beach　house　two　days　ago。
　〃That's　what　you　said　last　weekend；　and　Monday　and　Tuesday　evenings。　And　then　you　avoid　the　subject。〃　Her　voice　was　firm。　〃The　only　way　I　can　get　your　undivided　attention　is　to　call　you　on　the　phone。　So　that's　what　I'm　doing。　When；　Jake？〃
　〃This　weekend。　We'll　discuss　it　this　weekend。　I　promise。〃
　They　muttered　their　goodbyes。　Jake　poured　a　cup　of　coffee　and　sipped　it　as　he　sorted　through　the　piles　of　balsa　again。　What　had　be　gotten　himself　into？
　Coffee　cup　in　hand；　he　went　through　the　front　door　and　walked　past　UK　car　to　the　street。　He　turned　toward　the　beach；　which　was　about　a　hundred　yards　away。　The　house　beside　him　was　empty；　a　smaller　place　that　belonged　to　some　doctor　in　Baltimore。　The　next　house　belonged　to　a　local；　a　pharmacist　whose　wife　worked　sights　down　at　the　drugstore。　He　had　seen　their　son　on　the　beach　flying　a　radio…controlled　airplane；　and　didn't　Callie　say　this　week　was　spring　break　for　the　kids？　He　went　to　the　door　and　knocked。
　〃Captain　Grafton。　What　a　pleasant　surprise。〃
　〃Hi；　Mrs。　Brown。　Is　David　around？〃
　〃Sure。〃　She　turned　away。　〃David；〃　she　called；　〃you　have　a　visitor。〃　She　turned　back　toward　him；　〃Won't　you　e　in？〃
　The　boy　appeared　behind　her。　〃Hey；　David；〃　Jake　said。　He　explained　his　errand。　〃I　need　some　of　your　expert　advice；　if　you　can　e　over　for　a　little　while。〃
　Mrs。　Brown　nodded　her　approval　and　told　her　son　to　be　back　for　lunch。
　As　they　walked　down　the　street；　Jake　explained　about　the　plane。　The　boy　smiled　broadly　when　he　saw　the　pile　on　Jake's　kitchen　table。　〃The　Gentle　Lady；〃　David　read　from　the　cover　of　the　instruction　booklet。　〃That's　an　excellent　airplane　for　a　beginner。　Easy　to　build　and　fly。　You　chose　a　good　one；　Captain。〃
　〃Yeah；　but　I　can't　tell　which　parts　are　which。　They　aren't　labeled；　as　far　as　I　can　tell。〃
　〃Hmmm。〃　David　sat　at　the　table　and　examined　the　pile。　He　was　about　twelve；　still　elbows　and　angles；　with　medium…length　brown　hair　full　of　cowlicks。　His　fingers　moved　swiftly　and　surely　among　the　parts；　identifying　each　one。　〃Did　you　get　an　engine　for　this　plane？〃
　〃Nope。〃
　〃A　glider　is　more　difficult　to　fly；　of　course；　more　challenging；　but　you'll　get　more　satisfaction　from　mastering　it。〃
　〃Right；〃　Jake　said；　eyeing　the　youngster　at　the　table。
　〃Let's　see。　You　have　a　knife；　and　the　man　at　the　store…Mr。　Swoze；　right？…remended　you　buy　these　pins　to　hold　the　parts　in　place　while　you　glue　them。　This　is　a　good　glue；　cyanoacrylate。　You're　all　set；　except　for　a　board　to　spread　the　diagram　on　and　pin　the　parts　to；　and　a　drill。〃
　〃What　kind　of　board？〃
　〃Oh；　I'll　loan　you　one。　I've　built　three　airplanes　on　mine。　You　spread　the　diagram　on　it　and　position　the　parts　over　the　diagram；　then　pin　them　right　to　the　board。　And　I'll　loan　you　my　drill　if　you　don't　have　one。〃　Jake　nodded。　The　youngster　continued；　his　fingers　still　moving　restlessly　through　the　parts；　〃The　most　important　aspect　of　assembling　this　aircraft　is　getting　the　same　dihedral　and　washout　on　the　right　and　left　wing　ponents；　both　inner　and　outer　panels。　Be　very　careful　and　work　slowly。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃I'll　run　home　and　get　my　board　and　drill。　You　won't　need　the　drill　for　several　days；　but　I　might　as　well　bring　it　over。〃　He　bolted　out　the　door；　leaving　Jake　to　refill　his　coffee　cup　and　stare　at　the　actual…size　diagram。
　The　house　was　quiet；　with　only　the　background　murmur　of　the　surf　on　the　beach　and　the　occasional　burble　of　a　passing　car　to　break　the　solitude。　The　task　assumed　a　life　of　its　own；　breaking　the　pieces　out　of　the　balsa　boards；　assembling　them　on　the　diagram；　occasionally　sanding　or　trimming　with　the　razor…sharp　nobby　knife　before　pinning　them　into　place。　As　he　worked　he　occasionally　glanced　at　the　picture　on　the　box；　visualizing　how　the　airplane　would　look　soaring　back　and　forth　above　the　sand；　trying　to　imagine　how　it　would　feel　to　fly　it。　This　would　be　real　flying；　he　knew。　Even　though　his　feet　would　not　leave　the　ground；　the　plane　would　be　flying　free；　and　since　he　would　be　flying　it；　so　would　he。　He　carefully　glued　the　rudder　and　vertical　stabilizer　parts　together　and　began　assembling　the　horizontal　stabilizer。
　The　knock　on　the　door　startled　him。　He　had　been　so　intent　on　his　task　he　had　paid　no　attention　to　the　sound　of　the　car　driving　up。　〃Yeah。　e　on　in。〃
　He　heard　the　door　open。　〃Captain　Grafton。〃
　〃Yep。〃　Jake　looked　up。
　The　man　standing　there　was　in　his　late　twenties；　slightly　above　medium　height；　with　short　brown　hair。　〃Toad　Tarkington！　e　on　in！　What　a　surprise！〃
　The　man's　face　split　in　a　wide　grin　and　he　crossed　the　room　and　pumped　Jake's　hand。　〃It's　great　to　see　you　again；　CAG。　I　thought　for　a　while　there　you　were　dead。〃
　Grafton　nodded　and　studied　Lieutenant　Toad　Tarkington；　today　clad　in　jeans　and　rugby　shirt　and　windbreaker。　He　looked。。。　just　the　same　as　he　did　the　morning　they　went　after　Colonel　Qazi　in　an　F…14　five　months　ago。　Last　September。　And　here　he　was　with　that　grin。。。　quick；　energetic；　nervous。　He　was　ready　to　laugh　or　fly；　ready　for　a　prank　in　the　ready　room　or　a　night　cat　shot；　fully　alive。　That's　what　Toad　Tarkington　projected…vibrant；　energetic；　enthusiastic　life。
　〃I'm　not　a　CAG　now；　Toad。　I'm　just　a　plain　ol'　sick…leave　captain。〃　CAG　was　the　title　bestowed　on　an　air　wing　mander；　and　was　pronounced　to　rhyme　with　〃rag。〃
　Toad　grabbed　his　hand　and　held　it；　that　grin　splitting　his　face。　〃Have　we　got　a　lot　to　talk　about！　I　tried　to　call　you；　sir；　but　your　phone　wasn't　listed。〃
　〃Yeah。　Had　to　have　the　number　changed。　The　reporters　were　driving　me　nuts。〃
　Toad　pulled　one　of　the　kitchen　chairs　around　and　sat　down。　〃I　was　pretty　damn　happy　last　fall　when　I　heard　you　were　alive。　What　happened　to　you　anyway；　after　we　rammed　that　transport？〃
　〃Some　Greek　fishermen　pulled　me　out　of　the　water。　I　don't　remember　a　thing。　Had　a　concussion。　Lucky　for　me　the　life　vests　inflate　automatically　nowadays。　Anyway；　they　pulled　me　out　and　I　made　it。〃
　〃How　e　they　didn't　radio　someone　or　head　for　port？〃
　〃Their　radio　was　broken　and　they　were　there　to　fish；〃　Jake　looked　away　from　Toad。　He　was　back　among　the　ordinary；　everyday　things；　for　a　moment　there。。。　but　he　was　here；　at　the　beach　house。　〃They　thought　I　was　gonna　die　on　them　any　minute　and　they　needed　the　fish。　I　was　in　a　a。〃　His　shoulders　moved　up　and　down。　〃Too　damned　many　Gs。　Messed　up　my　eyes。　That's　why　I　wear　these　glasses　now。〃
　Jake　removed　the　glasses　and　examined　the　lenses；　as　if　seeing　them　for　the　first　time。　〃It's　20/100　now。　It　was　20/500。　The　Gs　almost　ripped　my　eyeballs　out。〃　He　placed　the　glasses　back　on　the　bridge　of　his　nose　and　stared　at　the　pieces　of　balsa　on　the　kitchen　table。　〃I　don't　remember　much　about　it。　The　docs　say　some　blood　vessels　popped　in　the　front　part　of　my　brain　and　I　had　some　memory　loss。〃
　〃By　God；　sir；　I　sure　as　hell　can　fill　you　in。〃　Toad　leaned　forward　and　seized　his　arm。　Jake　refocused　on　that　excited；　expressive　face；　〃The　Gs　were　something　else　and　I　couldn't　get　to　the　ejection　handles；　and　I　guess　you　couldn't　either。　Man；　our　bacon　was　well　and　truly　fried　when　she　broke　up　and　spit　us　out。　The　left　wing　was　gone　and　I　figure　most　of　the　left　vertical　stab；　because　we　were　getting　pushed　around　screwy。　I…〃　He　continued　his　tale；　his　hands　automatically　moving　to　show　the　plane's　position　in　space。　Jake　stopped　listening　to　the　voice　and　watched　the　hands；　those　practiced；　expressive　hands。
　Tarkington…he　was　the　past　turned　into　a　living；　breathing　person。　He　was　every　youngster　Jake　had　shared　a　ready　room　with　for　the　past　twenty　years；　all　those　guys　now　middle…aged。。。　or　dead。
　Toad　was　still　talking　when　Jake　turned　back　to　the　pile　of　balsa　on　the　table。　When　he　eventually　paused　for　air；　Jake　said　mildly。
　〃So　what　we　you　up　to　these　days？〃　as　he　used　the　X…acto　knife　to　trim　a　protruding　sliver　from　a　balsa　rib　piece。
　〃My　squadron　tour　was　up；〃　Toad　said　slowly。　〃And　when　you　get　a　Silver　Star　you　can　pretty　well　call　your　next　set　of　orders。　So　I　talked　it　over　with　the　detailer。〃　He　looked　around　the　room；　then　swiveled　back　to　Jake。　〃And　I　told　him　I　wanted　to　go　where　you　were　going。〃
　Jake　laid　the　knife　down　and　scooted　his　chair　back。　〃I'm　still　on　convalescent　leave。〃
　〃Yessir。　I　heard。　And　I　hear　you're　going　to　the　Pentagon　as　a　division　director　or　something。　So　I'm　reporting　there　this　ing　Monday。　I'll　be　working　for　you。〃
　Jake　smiled　again。　〃I　seem　to　recall　you　had　had　enou