scoonts.theminotaur-第43章

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hey　were　too　well　armed　with　statutes　and　regulations　and　pet　congressmen。　〃Russell；　you'll　have　to　make　this　work；　find　some　dollars　in　one　of　your　little　hidey…holes；　keep　it　too　small　for　anyone　to　get　curious　about。　And　no　fucking　memos。〃
　Queen　nodded　slowly；　his　smooth　round　face　revealing　his　disfort。　He　looked；　Jake　thought；　like　a　man　staring　into　a　dark　abyss　that　he　has　been　told　to　lower　himself　into。
　〃I　don't　think　that's　the　way　to　do　it。〃　Ludlow　said。　〃Admiral　Lanham　wants　it　now　and　the　air　force　will　too。　We're　going　to　have　to　fund　Athena　as　one　of　our　highest…priority　items。　We're　going　to　have　to　throw　money　at　it　and　hope　the　technology　works。〃
　〃Do　you　agree；　Admiral？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I'd　rather　have　Athena　than　a　whole　lot　of　projects　I　can　name；　including　the　A…12。〃
　〃We　need　them　both；〃　Caplinger　said。　〃So　we'll　keep　Athena　in　with　the　ATA　and　request　funding　for　them　both。〃
　〃What　about　Congress？〃　Ludlow　murmured。　When　no　one　replied；　he　expanded　the　question。　〃How　will　Athena　be　seen　by　the　liberals　dying　to　chop　the　defense　budget？　Will　they　think　it　gives　us　such　a　large　qualitative　technical　advantage　over　the　Soviets　that　they　can　chop　our　capital　budget？　Shrink　the　navy？〃　To　maintain　a　navy；　worn…out；　obsolete　ships　must　be　constantly　replaced　with　new　ones。　New　ships　are　expensive　and　require　years　to　construct。　A　decision　not　to　build　as　many　as　necessary　to　maintain　current　force　levels　was　a　decision　to　shrink　the　navy。　Insufficient　ships　to　fulfill　continuing　worldwide　mitments　forced　planners　to　delay　ship　overhauls　and　keep　sailors　at　sea　for　grotesquely　long　periods；　which　wore　out　ships　prematurely　and　devastated　enlisted　retention　rates。　It　was　a　cruel　downward　spiral。　This　was　the　post…Vietnam　nightmare　from　which　the　navy　was　just　recovering。
　〃No　democracy　will　ever　buy　enough　ships；〃　Jake　Grafton　said。　〃Not　over　the　long　haul。〃
　〃You're　saying　we　can't　maintain　a　six…hundred…ship　navy；〃　Lanham　said；　frowning。
　〃We　don't　have　six　hundred　ships　now；　sir；　and　we're　not　likely　to　ever　get　them；〃　Jake　shot　back；　suddenly　sure　he　didn't　want　Lanham　to　think　he　could　be　cowed。
　〃Lessen　the　primary　threat　and　we　won't　need　as　many　ships。　That's　the　argument；〃　said　Ludlow。
　〃Politicians　never　understand　mitments；〃　Royce　Caplinger　said　dryly；　〃perhaps　because　they　make　so　many　of　them。　The　federal　deficit　is　totally　out　of　control　due　to　mandated　increases　in　social　program　expenditures。　They　borrowed　money　and　never　asked　if　they　could　afford　the　interest。　They　approved　treaties　and　never　weighed　the　cost　in　defense　expenditures。〃
　The　CNO　made　a　gesture　of　frustration。　〃We　have　more　practical　concerns。　The　air　force　is　facing　institutional　death。　They　gave　up　the　close　air　support　mission　to　the　army　a　generation　ago。　The　strategic　bomber　mission　is　on　the　ropes。　All　they　have　left　are　ICBMs…which　the　army　could　run…and　tactical　air　and　airlift。　Their　bases　are　fixed；　vulnerable　to　ICBMs　and　political　upheavals。　The　world　is　passing　them　by。　They're　panicking。　And　they　have　a　lot　of　friends。　If　they　don't　get　Athena　and　get　it　now。。。〃
　〃It'll　get　ugly；〃　Ludlow　agreed。
　〃I　am　the　Secretary　of　Defense；〃　Caplinger　said；　his　voice　hard。　〃I　will　take　care　of　the　air　force。　You　people　take　care　of　the　navy。〃
　The　heavy　silence　that　followed　was　broken　by　Tyler　Henry。　〃No　one　has　mentioned　the　Minotaur。〃　All　eyes　turned　to　the　vice　admiral。　An　unfortable　look　crossed　his　face；　as　if　he　had　just　farted　in　church。
　〃What　about　him？〃　Caplinger　asked。
　〃He　hasn't　gotten　Athena　yet；　but　the　minute　we　start　bringing　defense　contractors　into　the　loop；　he　will。〃
　Caplinger　leaned　forward。　〃Where　will　we　be　if　he　gives　Athena　to　the　Russians？〃
　Henry　had　recovered　his　posure。　〃We'll　have　lost　our　advantage；〃　he　said　with　a　trace　of　irritation　in　his　voice。　〃They　outgun　us　two　to　one。　We　need　the　technological　edge　to　stay　in　the　game。〃
　Caplinger　got　to　his　feet　and　reached　for　the　jacket　draped　over　the　back　of　his　chair。　〃Thanks　for　lunch；　George。　Russell；　you　talk　to　these　people　and　get　this　Athena　business　on　track。　I　want　it　in　production　as　soon　as　possible。　We'll　include　it　with　the　ATA　in　the　budget。　Black　all　the　way。〃　He　paused　and　surveyed　the　faces　at　the　table。　〃The　navy　can　develop　this。　Keep　it　under　wraps。　Security　as　tight　as　a　miser's　money　belt。　Develop　it　for　planes　and　ships。　But　the　air　force　must　be　brought　into　this　as　soon　as　we　have　to　start　talking　to　Congress。　This　may　kill　the　B…2；　but　it'll　save　the　B…L。〃
　〃But　what　about　the　billions　we're　pouring　into　stealth　planes　now？〃　Russell　Queen　the　bean　counter　asked　his　boss。
　〃Heck；　Russell；　this　Athena　gizmo　may　not　work。　Probably　won't。　Sorry；　Tyler；　but　after　all！　A　religious　crackpot　in　a　backyard　workshop？　It's　too　good　to　be　true。　Sounds　like　something　Tom　Clancy　dreamed　up　after　he　had　a　bad　pizza。〃
　An　hour　later　as　Tyler　Henry　and　Jake　Grafton　walked　along　the　E…Ring　back　toward　the　admiral's　office；　Jake　remarked；　〃At　lunch；　Admiral；　you　said　we　need　a　technological　edge　to　stay　in　the　game。　What　if　the　game　has　changed？〃
　〃You　mean　Gorbachev　reforming　the　Kremlin；　converting　the　mies？　Bull　fucking　shit。〃
　〃The　Soviets　packed　up　and　pulled　out　of　Afghanistan。　They　helped　get　the　Cubans　out　of　Angola。　They're　relaxing　their　hold　on　Eastern　Europe。　They're　even　talking　to　the　Chinese。　Something's　going　on。〃
　〃So　the　sons　of　Uncle　Joe　Stalin　have　given　up　their　goal　of　world　domination？　The　fucking　thugs　who　murdered　twenty　million　of　their　own　people？　My　aching　ass。　That's　all　big…lie　propaganda　that　liberal　half…wits　want　to　believe。　Twenty　million　men；　women　and　children！　They　make　Adolf　Hitler　look　like　a　weenie　waver。　We'd　better　have　the　edge　when　the　shit　splatters；　because　we'll　never　get　a　second　chance。〃
　〃So　you're　maintaining　an　open　mind　on　the　question。〃
　〃You've　been　hanging　around　with　that　loose…screw　Tarkington　too　long；　Grafton。　You're　beginning　to　sound　like　him。〃　Dunedin　must　have　mentioned　Tarkington　to　Henry；　Jake　surmised。　He　was　sure　Henry　had　never　met　the　lieutenant。
　〃But　what　if　Royce　Caplinger　and　the　politicos　in　Congress　think　the　game　has　changed？〃
　〃Caplinger　isn't　a　fool。〃　Two　paces　later　Henry　added；　〃Thinking　politician　is　an　oxymoron。〃
　After　Jake　parted　from　the　admiral　he　walked　to　the　cafeteria；　where　he　bought　a　packet　of　Nabs　and　washed　them　down　with　a　half…pint　of　milk。　Humans　are　unique　animals；　he　reflected。　What　other　species　has　man's　ability　to　see　the　world　as　he　wants　it　to　be；　rather　than　as　it　actually　is？　He　couldn't　think　of　any。　The　worst　of　it　is　that　this　human　trait　deprives　you　of　the　ability　to　recognize　reality　when　you　see　it。　On　this　gloomy　note　his　thoughts　turned　to　Callie。
　
　〃What　d'ya　think's　wrong　with　it？〃　Camacho　asked　nervously　as　he　and　Harlan　Albright　stood　listening　to　Luis'　car。　It　had　a　ragged；　sick　sound；　most　likely　because　Camacho　had　taken　out　one　of　the　spark　plugs　and　pounded　the　hide　arm　against　the　core　until　there　was　no　gap　at　all；　then　reinstalled　it。
　〃Sounds　to　me　like　you　got　a　cylinder　missing；　but　I'm　no　mechanic；〃　Albright　said；　and　made　notations　on　the　service　form。　〃We'll　have　a　guy　look　at　it　this　afternoon　and　give　you　a　call。　I　can't　give　you　an　estimate　or　tell　you　how　long　it'll　take　to　fix　until　we　find　out　what's　wrong。〃
　〃What　neighborhood　of　finance　are　we　talking　here？　Checking；　savings；　or　second　mortgage？〃
　Albright　grinned　and　slid　the　form　across　the　counter　for　Camacho　to　sign。　〃We'll　call　you。〃
　〃Well；　poo。　How　about　running　me　back　downtown？〃
　The　service　manager　glanced　at　the　wall　clock；　〃I　get　off　for　lunch　in　about　thirty　minutes。　You　wait　and　I'll　take　you。　Go　browse　in　the　showroom　or　get　some　coffee。〃
　Albright　was　driving　a　new　car　with　dealer　plates。　Camacho　settled　into　the　passenger　seat　and　fastened　the　seat　belt　as　Albright　pulled　out　into　traffic。　〃Thought　I　oughta　drop　by　and　fill　you　in。　Sally　and　I　have　to　go　to　a　church　dinner　tonight。　The　only　thing　wrong　with　my　car　is　a　bad　spark　plug。　Don't　let　your　mechanical　wizards　screw　me。〃
　〃So　what's　happening？〃
　〃We've　got　a　letter　from　Terry　Franklin's　mother…in…law。　She　says　he's　a　spy　and　wants　us　to　bust　him。〃
　Albright　glanced　at　the　FBI　agent。　〃You　must　get　letters　like　that　all　the　time。〃
　〃We　do。　And　we　check　them　out。　Which　is　precisely　what　we're　going　to　do　with　this　one。　Sometime　toward　the　end　of　next　week　we'll　have　to　interview　Franklin。　Thought　you　ought　to　know。〃
　〃I　appreciate　that。　And　the　search　for　the　Minotaur？〃
　〃We　need　a　letter　from　his　mother…in…law。〃
　〃Maybe　you　already　got　it。　Maybe　Franklin　is　the　Minotaur。〃
　〃Yeah。　And　I'm　Donald　Trump。　I　just　live　like　this　because　I　think　money　is　vulgar。　Jesus；　you　know　damn　well　that　little　shit　doesn't　have　the　balls　or　the　brains。〃
　〃I've　been　thinking　about　it。〃　He　coasted　the　car　up　to　a　stoplight　and　waited　until　it　turned　green。　〃It's　possible　he　could　be　hacking　the　codes　from　the　puter；　mailing　them　to　the　embassy；　then　waiting　for　us　to　pay　him　to　copy　the　files。　Maybe　he's　slicker　than　anyone　suspected。　Maybe　being　a　schlep　is　his　idea　of　secondary　cover。〃
　〃Seriously；　I　thought　of　that　some　time　back。　But　I　can't　find　a　shred　of　evidence。　And　this　stuff　you're　getting…I　thought　you　said　it　was　good。〃
　〃Excellent。〃
　〃So　the　Minotaur　knows　quality。　It's　not　Franklin　or　any　other　puter　clerk。　It's　somebody　so　high　they　know　what　you　need。〃
　Albright　acknowledged　this　logic。　In　the　world　of　espionage；　need　determines　value。　He　spotted　a　Burger　King　and　turned　in。　With　the　engine　off；　he　leaned　back　in　his　seat　and　adjusted　his　testicles　to　a　more　fortable　position。　〃You're　stringing　me　along；　Luis。〃
　Camacho　already　had　his　door　open；　but　he　pulled　it　closed。　〃Say　that　again。〃
　〃I　think　you're　a　lot　closer　to　the　Minotaur　than　you're　telling　me。　You　may　even　know　who　he　is。　That　leads　me　to　some　interesting　speculations。〃
　Camacho　had　been　expecting　this；　but　now　that　it　was　here　he　still　didn't　know　how　to　play　it。　〃So　I'm　a　double　agent。　Is　that　it？〃
　Harlan　Albright　raised　an　eyebrow；　then　looked　away。
　〃Start　the　fucking　car。　Take　me　to　the　office。　I　don't　have　time　to　sit　around　and　shoot　the　shit　with　you　over　a　greaseburger。〃
　Albright　turned　the　key。　The　engine　caught。　Two　blocks　later　he　said；　〃You　going　to　deny　it？〃
　〃Why　bother？　You　have　never　given　me　a　list　of　the　stuff　you　got　from　the　Minotaur。　Now　today　you　give　me　this　crap　about　Franklin　being　the　Minotaur　and　I'm　supposed　to　go　charging　off　like　Inspector　Qouseau。　Why　don't　you　go　back　to　Moscow　and　tell　Gorby　you　screwed　the　pooch？　Mail　me　a　postcard　when　you　get　to　Siberia。　I　hear　it's　lovely　in　the　snow。〃
　〃I　don't　know　the　file　names。　Even　if　I　did；　I　don't　have　the　authority　to　give　them　to　you。〃
　〃Go　tell　it　to　somebody　who　gives　a　shit。　I　don't。〃
　〃What　about　Smoke　Judy？〃
　〃What　about　him？〃
　〃What's　he　up　to？〃
　〃He's　trying　to　peddle　inside　knowledge　of　defense　contracts。　So　far　without　much　success；　as　far　as　I　can　tell。　Apparently　he　doesn't　think　money　is　vulgar。〃
　〃Are　the　fraud　people　onto　him？　IG　or　NIS？〃　IG　was　the　Inspector　General。　NIS　meant　Naval　Investigative　Service。
　〃If　some