scoonts.theminotaur-第46章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


probably　saying。　Make　Grafton　the　villain。
　And　that　was　how　it　went。　When　Caplinger　came　out　of　the　office　he　buttonholed　Jake。　〃You're　going　downstairs　and　explain　to　the　senator　that　you　personally　must　put　DeCrescentis　back　on　that　plane。　You　will　brief　me　and　the　senator　this　afternoon　on　Athena　and　we'll　see　it　in　operation　tomorrow。　But　you　are　going　to　insist　that　woman　goes　home　now；　and　you　are　going　to　make　Duquesne　like　it。　Got　it？〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　senator　didn't　like　it；　of　course；　and　DeCrescentis　liked　it　even　less；　but　when　Grafton　made　it　clear　that　the　law　was　going　to　be　obeyed　regardless　and　he　was　the　man　insisting；　both　of　them　gave　ground　with　what　grace　they　could　muster。　Duquesne　had　more　of　it　than　the　corporate　vice　president　did；　perhaps　because　he　knew　that　even　Caesar　had　to　retreat　occasionally。
　After　an　hour　with　Samuel　Dodgers　in　the　hangar；　it　appeared　Hiram　Duquesne　wished　he　had　joined　DeCrescentis　on　the　plane。
　Dodgers　gave　Athena　no　more　than　half　his　air　and　used　the　rest　to　blast　away　at　Congress；　corporations　and　the　munist…Jew…nigger　conspiracy。　Finally　Jake　told　him　to　shut　up。　It　didn't　take。　Jake　told　him　again　in　terms　and　tones　that　would　have　stopped　a　rock　band　in　full　screech。　Dodgers　stormed　off；　leaving　Caplinger　and　Duquesne　gaping　foolishly　at　each　other。
　Jake　Grafton　took　a　deep　breath；　made　his　excuses　to　the　two　politicians；　and　left　them　in　the　care　of　a　stunned　Helmut　Fritsche。
　In　the　parking　lot；　he　caught　up　with　Dodgers；　trembling　with　outrage。　〃You　owe　me　an　apology；〃　the　scientist　spluttered；　holding　himself　rigid；　his　fists　clenched。
　〃No；　sir；〃　Grafton　said　in　a　normal　voice。　〃You　owe　me　one。　And　you　owe　apologies　to　all　three　of　those　men　in　there。〃
　Dodgers　was　speechless。
　〃You　have　inflicted　yourself　on　everyone　within　earshot　since　the　day　I　met　you。　Now　there's　not　going　to　be　any　more　of　that　while　I'm　around。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃How　dare　you　talk　to　me　like　this！〃　When　Dodgers　got　it　out；　it　came　out　loud。
　Jake　lowered　his　voice　still　more。　〃I'm　the　officer　responsible。　That's　it　as　far　as　you're　concerned。　You　do　your　work　and　keep　your　personal　opinions　to　yourself；　and　you　and　I　will　get　along。〃
　The　scientist　spluttered。　〃I　don't　want　to　get　along　with　you；　you。。。〃　He　couldn't　find　the　word。
　〃You'd　better　reconcile　yourself　to　it　if　you　want　this　project　to　go　anywhere。〃
　〃。。。sinner。　Agent　of　Satan。〃
　〃You　want　money　for　your　church；　right？　I'm　the　man。〃　With　that　Jake　turned　his　back　on　Samuel　Dodgers。
　
　The　little　neighborhood　bar　was　fairly　well　lit　and　not　very　fancy；　with　cheap　furniture　and　oilcloth　table　covers。　A　television　high　in　one　corner　was　tuned　to　a　ball　game；　one　of　the　NCAA　tournament　semifinals。　Smoke　Judy　slid　into　an　empty　booth　and　ordered　a　draft。　The　waitress　flirted　for　a　moment　when　she　brought　it；　then　skipped　away。
　Smoke　sipped　his　beer　and　watched　the　body　posture　of　the　men　leaning　against　the　bar　and　sitting　on　the　stools。　Some　were　absorbed　in　the　game；　some　were　talking　to　a　buddy。　Most　of　them　were　doing　a　little　of　both。
　This　was　Smoke　Judy's　favorite　weekend　beer　spot；　only　a　mile　from　his　place。　He　knew　the　bartender　casually　and　they　often　exchanged　pleasantries　on　slow　days。　There　were　a　lot　worse　ways　to　make　a　living；　Smoke　decided；　than　running　a　neighborhood　bar　where　the　guys　could　stop　in　after　work　or　take　a　break　from　lawn　mowing　and　garage　cleaning。　The　crowd　was　nice　and　the　work　pleasant；　although　the　money　wouldn't　be　great。
　Maybe　he　would　get　a　place　like　this　when　he　retired　next　year。　He　had　dropped　a　hint　to　the　bartender…who　also　owned　the　place…few　weeks　back；　trying　to　find　out　if　he　had　ever　thought　of　selling；　but　the　man　didn't　get　his　drift；　or　pretended　he　didn't。
　He　was　going　to　retire　next　year；　with　twenty…two　years　in。　By　law；　as　a　mander　he　could　stay　in　the　navy　until　be　had　pleted　twenty…six　years　of　service；　but　he　wasn't　going　to　endure　the　hassle　of　staff　Job　after　staff　job　with　no　chance　of　promotion。
　The　end　of　the　line　had　been　a　tour　in　mand　of　a　training　squadron　in　Texas。　Four　of　those　damn　kids　had　crashed；　three　fatally。　Hard　to　believe。　He　had　worked　hard　and　flown　hard　and　done　it　by　the　book；　and　still　those　goddamned　kids　just　kept　smashing　themselves　into　the　ground　like　suicidal　rats。　The　accident　investigators　had　never　said　or　even　implied　he　was　at　fault；　Yet　every　crash　had　felt　like　God　whacking　him　on　the　head；　pressing　another　two　vertebrae。　He　had　gotten　punchy　toward　the　end；　a　screamer　in　the　cockpit；　afraid　to　certify　any　student　safe　for　anything。　He　left　that　for　the　lieutenants。
　The　admiral　had　been　sympathetic；　of　course；　but　he　had　no　choice。　He　said。　He　had　to　rate　Judy　the　lowest　of　all　his　squadron　manders。　After　all；　four　accidents？　Nine　million　dollars'　worth　of　airplanes　and　three　lives？　That　had　been　God's　final　whack。　Judy　would　never　be　promoted　or　given　another　mand。　All　that　remained　was　a　decision　on　when　to　retire。
　He　had　seen　it　ing；　like　something　from　a　Greek　tragedy；　after　that　second　kid　augered　in　on　a　night　instrument　solo。　A　fucking　Canoe　U。　grad　no　less！　Then　the　third　one；　that　kid　punched　out　of　a　perfectly　good　airplane　on　a　solo　aero　hop　after　be　flew　into　the　only　cloud　for　fifty　miles　in　any　direction　for　ten　whole　seconds　and　got　the　plane　into　a　high…speed　spiral　and　panicked。　But　he　stood　there　in　the　CO's　office　afterwards　and　said　he　was　sorry！　The　fourth　one；　that　shithead…Judy　had　personally　given　him　a　down　once　already…one　clear；　cloudless　day　that　spastic　bastard　failed　to　get　the　nose　up　to　the　horizon　on　a　pullout　from　a　simulated　strafing　run　and　panicked　in；　smearing　himself　and　his　airplane　across　a　half　mile　of　cow　pasture。　The　manding　officer　is　always　responsible。　And　so　it　had　been；　like　a　judgment　from　the　Doomsday　book。
　Next　year。　With　twenty…two　in。　That　would　give　him　55　percent　of　his　base　pay；　and　if　one　or　two　of　these　little　deals　he　was　working　with　hungry　contractors　came　through；　he　would　do　all　right。　Not　rich；　but　okay。　He　paid　for　the　beer　and　left　two　quarters　for　a　tip。　His　car　was　parked　just　fifty　feet　down　the　street；　but　as　he　walked　toward　it；　the　car　in　front　backed　right　into　it！
　〃A。。〃
　The　driver　got　out　and　walked　back　to　examine　the　damage。
　〃Awww；　shit！〃　Smoke　Judy　exclaimed　when　he　saw　the　broken　grille；　the　smashed　headlight　and　the　bowed…out　fender。　〃Get　your　goddamn　driver's　license　yesterday？〃
　〃Jesus；　mister；　I　am　sorry！　My　foot　just　slipped　off　the　brake。　Don't　know　how　it　happened。〃
　〃Awww；　damn。　The　second　time　this　year　somebody　has　smacked　it　when　it　was　parked。　Look　at　this　fender；　will'ya？　Those　Japs　must　make　these　things　out　of　recycled　beer　cans。　Look　how　this　thing's　sprung！　And　this　headlight　socket！〃
　The　other　driver　turned　from　examining　his　own　bent　fender　and　smashed　taillight　and　surveyed　Judy's　damage。　He　was　chunky；　fifty　or　so；　flecks　of　gray　in　his　hair。　〃Don't　worry。　I　got　insurance。　They'll　fix　it　good　as　new。　But　honest；　I　am　really　sorry。〃
　〃I　suppose。〃　Smoke　Judy　shook　his　head。
　〃Maybe　we'd　better　exchange　information。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Judy　unlocked　his　car　and　fished　the　registration　and　insurance　certificate　from　the　glove　box　while　the　other　driver　rooted　in　his。
　〃Maybe　we　should　go　inside　and　do　this；〃　the　chunky　man　suggested。　〃Can　I　buy　you　a　beer？〃
　〃Why　not。〃　Smoke　turned　and　led　the　way　back　into　the　bar　he　had　just　e　out　of。　〃My　name's　Judy。　Smoke　Judy。〃
　〃Sorry　we　had　to　meet　like　this。　I'm　Harlan　Albright。〃
　
　Dodgers　kept　his　opinions　to　himself　at　dinner　Sunday　evening；　partially　because　he　was　too　busy　with　his　food　to　waste　effort　on　small　talk；　and　partially　because　he　could　not　have　gotten　a　word　in　edgewise　against　Caplinger's　verbal　flow。　There　were　just　the　four　of　them　around　a　table　in　an　empty　dining　room…empty　because　the　officers'　club　was　usually　closed　on　Sunday　evening　and　Secretary　Caplinger　declined　to　go　off…base　to　eat…Dodgers；　Caplinger；　Senator　Duquesne；　and　Jake　Grafton。　Caplinger　discussed　the　budget　deficit。　Third　World　debt；　global　pollution；　and　the　illegal　drug　industry　with　a　depth　of　knowledge　and　insight　that　amazed　Jake　and　even　quieted　the　senator；　who　was　the　only　person　at　the　table　who　tried　to　participate　in　the　conversation。　It　was　obvious　that　Royce　Caplinger　not　only　had　read　widely　but　had　thought　deeply　about　all　these　issues。　Less　obvious　but　equally　impressive　was　the　way　he　wove　the　strands　of　these　mega…issues　into　one　whole　cloth。
　After　the　steward　placed　a　coffeepot　in　the　center　of　the　table　and　departed；　closing　the　door　behind　him；　Caplinger　eyed　Jake　speculatively。　〃Well；　Captain；　it　seems　to　me　that　now　would　be　a　good　time　to　sound　you　out。〃
　〃I'm　just　an　0…6；　Mr。　Secretary。　All　I　see　are　the　elephant's　feet。〃
　Caplinger　poured　himself　a　cup　of　coffee　and　used　a　spoon　to　stir　in　cream。　He　surveyed　Samuel　Dodgers　as　if　seeing　him　this　evening　for　the　first　time。　〃Good　of　you　to　share　your　Sabbath　with　us；　Doctor。　We're　looking　forward　to　seeing　your　handiwork　tomorrow。〃
　Dodgers　wiped　his　mouth　and　tossed　his　napkin　beside　his　plate。　〃Tomorrow。〃　He　nodded　at　everyone　except　Grafton　and　departed。
　When　the　door　had　firmly　closed　behind　the　inventor；　Caplinger　remarked；　〃Senator；　what　will　happen　on　the　Hill　if　it　bees　mon　gossip　that　the　father　of　Athena　is　a　fascist　churl？〃
　〃You'll　be　in　trouble。　That　man　couldn't　sell　water　in　Death　Valley　on　the　Fourth　of　July。〃
　〃My　thought　exactly。　We'll　have　to　make　sure　he　stays　out　of　sight　and　sound。　Little　difficult　to　do　in　America；　but　not　impossible。〃　He　grinned。　When　he　did　his　face　twisted。　It　didn't　look　like　he　made　the　effort　very　often。　〃So　how　do　the　elephant's　feet　look；　Captain？〃
　Jake　Grafton　reached　for　the　coffeepot。　〃I　confess；　sir；　that　I'm　baffled。　Seems　to　me　that　these　new　weapons　systems　under　development；　with　the　sole　exception　of　Athena；　are　going　to　be　too　expensive　for　the　nation　ever　to　afford　enough　of　them　to　do　any　good。〃
　All　traces　of　the　smile　disappeared　from　Caplinger's　face。　〃Go　on。〃
　〃As　the　cost　goes　up；　the　quantity　goes　down。　And　every　technical　breakthrough　seems　to　double　or　triple　the　cost。　If　anything；　Athena　will　be　the　exception　that　proves　the　rule。　Athena　should　be　a　fairly　cheap　system；　all　things　considered；　but　it'll　be　the　only　one。〃
　〃And。。。〃　prompted　the　Secretary　of　Defense。
　〃Well；　if　our　goal　is　to　maintain　forces　which　deny　the　Soviets　any　confidence　in　a　favorable　oute　in　any　probable　nuclear　war　scenario；　we　seem　to　have　reached　the　treadmill。　We　can't　maintain　forces　if　we　can't　afford　them。〃
　〃You　made　a　rather　large　assumption。〃
　〃So　what　is　our　goal？〃
　〃The　general　public　regards　nuclear　war　as　unwinnable。　That's　the　universal　popular　wisdom；　and　like　anything　that　almost　everyone　believes；　it's　wrong。　The　Soviets　have　invested　heavily　in　hardened　bunkers　for　the　top　leadership。　They've　built　underground　cities　for　the　munist　elite。　Somebody　over　there　thinks　they　can　win！　Now　their　idea　of　victory　and　ours　are　two　very　different　things；　but　as　long　as　they　think　they　can　win；　the　likelihood　of　a　nuclear　war　increases。　Nuclear　war　bees　more　likely　to　happen。〃
　Ca