scoonts.theminotaur-第49章

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　〃Marriage　is　an　obsolete　institution。〃
　〃It's　doomed；〃　Toad　pronounced；　sounding　a　good　bit　like　Samuel　Dodgers　denouncing　sin；　which　was　probably　unintentional。　But　to　prove　he　wasn't　a　bigot　he　added；　〃Of　course；　my　parents　are　happily　married。　Thirty…five　years　this　July。　It's　a　lot　tougher　nowadays；　though。　My　sister　was　only　married　three　years；　one　kid…the　divorce　was　real　messy。　My　dad　had　to　help　her　with　the　legal　fees。〃
　〃Did　she　get　custody？〃　Rita　asked。
　Toad　told　her　about　it。　Both　of　them　shook　their　heads　sadly。　Truly；　modern　marriage　was　a　misery。
　〃Two　people　who　love　each　other　don't　need　all　that；〃　Rita　sniffed。　〃I　want　a　man　who　loves　me　and　wants　to　be　with　me；　not　because　he　has　to；　but　because　he　wants　to。〃
　〃It's　the　has…to　part　that　turns　me　off；〃　Toad　explained。　〃You　know；　I　think　it's　terrific　that　you　and　I　think　so　much　alike。〃
　〃Well；　we're　very　similar。　We　both　have　middle…class　backgrounds；　good　educations；　we're　naval　officers；　we　fly。　You're　only　a　year　older　than　I　am。　It's　no　wonder。〃
　〃I　guess。〃
　Toad　wheeled　her　Mazda　into　the　restaurant　parking　lot　and　found　a　space。　He　opened　the　door　for　Rita　and　she　smiled　her　thanks；　a　gorgeous　little　grin　that　be　returned。　She　rested　her　fingers　lightly　on　his　arm　as　they　walked　across　the　macadam。　He　held　the　door　for　her　and　she　preceded　him　through。　He　had　never　felt　better　in　his　life…so　alive；　so　into　all　of　it。　They　loved　each　other　without　strings。　And　the　best　part；　he　told　himself；　was　that　they　could　be　so　forthright；　so　frank　with　each　other。　Wouldn't　the　world　be　a　better　place　if　everyone's　relationships　were　so　open　and　honest？
　They　were　married　that　afternoon　in　Oakland；　Maryland。
　
　The　glider　wheeled　and　soared　six　feet　above　the　dune；　the　sun　flashing　on　its　wings。　Jake　Grafton　sat　in　the　sand　with　the　wind　at　his　back。　David　and　Amy　sat　beside　him；　hugging　their　knees。　He　manipulated　the　levers　on　the　radio　control　box　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　free…flying　bird。
　〃Remember　to　keep　the　nose　up　in　the　turns；〃　David　reminded　him　as　the　glider　reached　the　tuft　of　sea　grass　a　hundred　feet　north　along　the　dune　where　Jake　had　been　turning。　He　had　the　technique　now；　he　hoped。　He　hadn't　crashed　in　ten　minutes。　He　thought　he　could　stay　aloft　as　long　as　the　wind　remained　steady。
　Back　the　glider　came；　crossing　silently　above　their　heads。　〃Totally　awesome；〃　David　murmured。
　〃Awesome〃　seemed　to　be　the　word　this　year　in　the　sixth　grade。
　What　had　it　been　when　Jake　had　been　twelve　years　old？　He　tried　to　remember　and　drew　a　blank。
　Amy　Carol　stretched　out　in　the　sand　on　her　stomach；　her　chin　on　her　forearms。　Her　figure　was　still　a　collection　of　straight　lines。　Callie　said　she　would　start　to　fill　out　soon。　David　matched　her　position；　his　big　feet　incongruous　beside　Amy's　petite　ones。　No　doubt　his　growth　would　also　spurt　in　the　next　year　or　so；　he　already　had　the　feet　of　a　good…sized　man；　though　the　rest　of　him　had　a　lot　further　to　go。
　〃Your　dad's　gonna　be　a　pretty　good　pilot；〃　David　told　her。
　〃He　isn't　my　dad。　He's　Jake。〃
　〃He's　gonna　be　good；〃　David　insisted。
　〃That's　not　so　tough　to　do；〃　she　said；　sitting　up。
　〃Oh　no？　Why　don't　you　try　it。〃
　〃Can　I；　Jake？〃
　〃Yeah。　e　over　here　and　watch　me　for　a　minute。〃　He　explained　the　controls　and　demonstrated　how　they　worked。　After　two　passes　up　and　down　the　beach　with　Amy　watching　intently；　be　turned　the　box　over　to　her。　She　overbanked　and　nosed　the　plane　in　on　the　very　next　turn。
　David　smacked　his　hands　together　in　exasperation。　〃'Nothing　to　it。'　Girls！〃　He　pronounced　the　last　word　as　if　it　were　spelled　〃gurls。〃
　The　left　wing　had　torn　skin　and　a　broken　spar。　The　three　aviators　collected　their　gear　and　trudged　for　the　house。　〃Don't　worry；　Cap'n；〃　the　boy　said　with　a　disgusted　glance　at　Amy；　〃I　can　fix　it　good　as　new。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　can；〃　Jake　told　him；　grinning。
　〃Girls　don't　know　nothin'　about　flyin'。〃
　〃Don't　bet　on　it；　Dave。　There's　a　woman　pilot　working　for　me；　and　she's　real　damn　good。〃
　Amy　squared　her　shoulders；　threw　her　head　back　and　marched　proudly　before　them；　at　long　last　assuming　her　rightful　place　among　the　exalted　sisters。
　
　〃You're　what？〃　exclaimed　Harriet；　Rita's　horrified　roommate。　It　was　Sunday　evening　and　they　were　in　the　bedroom。　Out　in　the　living　room　Toad　had　settled　in　to　watch　a　Knicks　game。
　Rita　held　up　her　left　hand　and　waggled　it　proudly。　〃Here's　the　ring。　I'm　married。〃
　〃My　God！　How　long　have　you　known　him？　A　month？　How　long　were　you　engaged？〃
　〃A　little　over　an　hour。　We　were　driving　to　Deep　Geek　Lake　for　the　weekend　and　around　Prostburg　we　decided　to　get　married。　So　Toad　drove　off　the　next　exit　and　into　Oakland。　We　found　the　most　delightful　minister。　He　knew　a　lady　in　the　county　clerk's　office…she　was　a　member　of　his　church…and　she　drove　downtown　and　opened　up　the　courthouse　just　to　issue　us　a　license。　Wasn't　that　sweet？〃
　Harriet　lowered　herself　onto　the　bed　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。
　〃The　minister's　wife　gave　me　some　flowers　from　her　garden。　Some　paper…white　narcissus　and　tulips　and　multicolored　butterfly　daffodils；　all　accented　by　bridal　wreath　in　a　beautiful　bouquet。　I　cradled　them　in　my　right　arm　when　we　said　our　vows。〃　She　sighed　remembering。　〃I　have　the　best　ones　down　in　the　car。　I　thought　you　and　I　could　press　them。〃
　〃A　one…hour　engagement！　Rita；　Rita；　Rita；　you　poor　poor　child。　What　do　you　know　about　this　man？　What？〃　Harriet　opened　the　bedroom　door　a　crack　and　looked　with　loathing　at　the　groom　sagged　out　in　front　of　the　TV　with　a　beer　in　his　hand。　No　wonder　they　called　him　Toad。
　〃My　God；　Rita；　how　could　you？〃　she　hissed。　〃What　do　you　know　about　him？　He　could　be　AC…DC　or　a　closet　pervert；　or　even　a　Republican！　What　will　your　mother　say？〃　Harriet　spun　like　a　lioness　ready　to　pounce。　〃Have　you　told　her　yet？〃
　〃Well…〃
　〃I　knew　it！　When　are　you　going　to　tell　her？　After　all；　Rita；　she　is　your　mother。　She　once　told　me　that　after　buying　a　thousand　wedding　presents　for　all　of　your　friends；　she　was　so　looking　forward　to　inviting　every　one　of　them　to　your　wedding。　You're　her　only　daughter！〃　Harriet　threw　herself　backward　onto　her　bed　and　bounced　once。　〃How　could　you？〃　she　moaned。
　〃It　was　easy；〃　Rita　Moravia　Tarkington　said　lightly。　She　dearly　enjoyed　Harriet's　tantrums。　〃It　was　so　romantic。　Just　like　I　always　wanted　it　to　be。　He's　so　handsome；　so。。。　We're　going　to　be　so　very　happy　all　our　lives。　He's。。。　he's。。。〃　She　sighed　again　and　smiled。
　〃One　thing's　for　sure；〃　Harriet　said　acidly；　〃he's　all　yours　now。〃
　
　On　Monday　morning　Lieutenant　Toad　Tarkington　and　Lieutenant　Rita　Moravia　entered　Jake's　office　together；　side　by　side。　They　stopped　in　front　of　his　desk　and　waited　at　parade　rest　until　he　looked　up　from　the　report　he　was　working　on。
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃We　have　some　news　for　you；　Captain；〃　Rita　said。
　Jake　carefully　surveyed　their　expectant　faces。　He　scowled。　〃Why　have　I　got　the　feeling　I'm　not　going　to　enjoy　this？〃
　Rita　and　Toad　both　grinned　broadly　and　glanced　at　each　other。　〃We're　married；〃　Toad　said。
　Jake　Grafton　clapped　his　hands　over　his　ears。　〃I　didn't　hear　that。　Whatever　it　was；　I　didn't　hear　it。　And　I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃　He　stood　and　leaned　slightly　toward　them；　his　voice　low；　〃I　have　enough　problems　around　here　without　people　sniping　at　me　about　the　romantic　status　of　my　test　crew。　What　you　two　do　on　your　own　time　is　your　business。　But　until　we　get　the　prototype　testing　pleted　and　I　submit　the　report；　you　two　puppies　are　going　to　walk　the　line　for　me。　All　business。　No　kissy…facey　or　kootchy…koo　or　groping　or　any　of　that　other　goofy　hooey。　No　glorious　announcements。　Strictly　business。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Rita　said。
　〃I　warned　you　about　this；　Tarkington。　No　romances；　I　said。　And　look　at　you！　It's　disgusting；　that's　what　it　is。〃
　〃Yessir；〃　Toad　said。
　〃I　can't　let　you　out　of　my　sight　for　a　minute。〃
　〃I　just　couldn't　control　myself；　sir。〃
　〃You　two　are　going　to　be　very　happy　someday。　But　not　today　or　tomorrow。　Right　now　you're　serious；　mitted；　dedicated　professionals。　Pretend。　Try　real　hard。〃
　〃Yessir；〃　they　both　said。
　〃Congratulations。　Get　back　to　work。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃　They　came　to　attention　like　plebes　at　the　Naval　Academy；　did　a　smart　about…face　and　marched　out；　Rita　leading。　Jake　Grafton　bit　his　lip　and　resumed　work　on　his　report。
　
　19
　
　〃Somebody　explain　how　this　airplane　is　going　to　be　used。〃　Jake　Grafton　looked　from　bee　to　face。　He　had　his　staff　gathered　around　while　he　stood　at　the　office　blackboard　with　marker　in　hand。　〃Who　wants　the　floor？〃
　〃Captain；　there's　been　two　or　three　studies　on　that　written　during　the　last　three　or　four　years；〃　said　Smoke　Judy。
　〃I　know。　Somebody　dug　them　out　for　me　and　I　read　them。　I　want　to　hear　your　ideas。〃
　〃Seems　to　me；〃　said　Toad　Tarkington；　〃that　the　first　thing　it　has　to　do　is　land　and　take　off　from　a　carrier。　Must　be　carrier…patible。〃
　Jake　wrote　that　down。　Obvious；　but　often　overlooked。　Any　navy　attack　plane　must　have　a　tailhook；　nose　tow；　strong　keel；　routinely　tolerate　a　six…hundred　foot…per…minute　sink　rate　collision　with　the　deck　on　landing；　fit　into　allotted　deck　space　and　accept　electrical　power　and　inertial　alignment　information　from　the　ship's　systems。　It　had　to　be　capable　of　being　launched　from　existing　catapults　and　arrested　with　existing　machinery。　In　addition；　it　would　have　to　be　able　to　fly　down　a　3。5…degree　glide　slope　carrying　enough　power　to　make　a　wave…off　fusible；　and　with　a　low　enough　nose　attitude　so　that　the　pilot　could　see　the　carrier's　optical　landing　system。　Amazingly　enough；　in　the　late　1960s　the　navy　was　almost　forced　to　boy　a　plane　that　wasn't　carrier…patible…the　TFX；　which　the　air　force　called　the　F…11I　and　immediately　began　using　as　an　all…weather　tactical　bomber　with　a　system　identical　to　the　A…6's。
　〃Corrosion…resistant；〃　Tarkington　added　as　Jake　made　furious　notes。　〃Has　to　be　able　to　withstand　long　exposure　to　salty　environment　without　a　lot　of　expensive　maintenance。〃
　〃Maintenance；〃　muttered　Les　Richards。　〃Got　to　have　easy　maintainability　designed　in。　Easy　access　to　engines；　black　boxes　and　so　forth；　without　a　lot　of　special　equipment。〃
　The　requirements　came　thick　and　fast　now；　as　quick　as　Jake　could　write。　Range；　speed；　payload　and　a　lot　of　other　parameters。　After　ten　minutes　he　had　filled　up　most　of　the　board　and　his　staff　paused　for　air。
　〃How're　we　going　to　use　this　thing？〃　he　asked　again。　〃What　I'm　getting　at　is　this：　these　stealth　designs　appear　to　be　optimized　for　high…altitude　ingress　over　heavily　defended　territory。　Presumably　at　night。　Are　all　our　missions　going　to　be　at　night？〃
　〃We　can't　afford　to　give　away　the　day；〃　someone　said。
　〃What's　that　mean　in　the　way　of　aircraft　capability？　Daytime　means　enemy　fighters　and　optically　aimed　surface…to…air　missiles。　They'll　see　our　plane。　Do　we　have　to　be　able　to　engage　the　fighters　and　dodge　the　missiles？　How　much　G　capability　do　we　need？　Sustained　turning　ability？　Dash　speed？　Climb　speed？　Will　we　go　in　low　in　the　daytime？　If　so；　how　about　ability　to　withstand　bird　strikes　and　turbulence？〃
　The　staff　spent　an　hour　on　these　questions。　There　was　no　consensus；　nor　did　Jake　expect　one。　No　plane　in　the　world　could　do　everything；　but　any　design　must　meet　most　of　the　major　requirements　for　its　i