scoonts.theminotaur-第5章

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licemen　scrutinizing　passes　at　the　security　booth。　〃I　have　an　appointment　with　Vice　Admiral　Henry。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　building　pass；　sir？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Use　those　phones　right　over　there〃…he　pointed　at　telephones　by　the　tour　windows…〃and　someone　will　e　down　to　escort　you。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Jake　called　and　a　yeoman　answered。　Five　minutes；　the　yeoman　said。
　Jake　stood　and　watched　the　people。　Men　and　women　wearing　the　uniforms　of　all　four　services　came　and　went；　most　walking　quickly；　carrying　briefcases；　folders；　gym　bags　and　small　brown　paper　bags　that　must　have　contained　their　lunches。　People　leaving　the　interior　of　the　building　walked　by　the　security　desk　without　a　glance　from　the　two　armed　DOD　policemen。
　〃Captain　Grafton？〃
　A　small　black　woman　in　civilian　clothes　stood　at　his　elbow。　〃Yes？〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　your　escort。〃　She　smiled　and　flashed　her　pass　at　the　guards　and　motioned　Jake　toward　the　metal　detector　that　stood　to　the　left　of　the　security　booth。　He　walked　through　it；　nothing　beeped；　and　the　woman　led　him　through　the　open　doors　into　another　huge　hallway；　this　one　lined　with　shops。　Directly　across　from　the　entrance　was　a　large　gedunk…a　store　selling　snacks；　magazines　and　other　sundries。
　〃I　was　expecting　a　yeoman。〃
　〃The　phone　started　ringing　and　he　sent　me　down。〃
　As　she　led　him　along　the　corridor；　he　asked；　〃How　long　did　it　take　you　to　learn　your　way　around　in　here？〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　still　learning…I've　only　been　here　five　years。　It's　confusing　at　times。〃
　They　went　up　a　long　ramp　that　opened　onto　the　A…Ring；　the　central　corridor　that　overlooked　the　five…acre　interior　courtyard。　As　they　proceeded　around　the　ring；　Jake　glanced　through　the　windows　at　the　grass　and　huge　trees　and　the　snack　bar　in　the　center。
　〃Have　you　ever　been　here　before？〃　she　asked。
　〃Nope；〃　said　Jake　Grafton。　〃I've　always　managed　to　avoid　it。〃
　After　she　had　gone　what　seemed　like　a　hundred　yards　or　so；　she　turned　right　and　ascended　a　staircase　with　a　ninety…degree　bend　in　it　and　at　the　top　turned　right。　They　were　still　on　the　A…Ring；　but　on　the　fourth　level。　After　another　fifty　feet　she　veered　left　down　a　corridor；　then　right　onto　another　corridor　that　zagged　away　at　an　angle。　〃Now　we're　walking　back　toward　the　outside　of　the　building；〃　she　said。　〃There　are　five　concentric　rings　in　the　Pentagon。　The　inner　is　the　A…Ring；　and　next　is　B；　and　so　forth；　with　the　outer　being　E。　They　are　connected　by　ten　radial　corridors　like　the　spokes　of　a　wagon　wheel。　It's　supposed　to　be　efficient　but　it　does　confuse　newers。〃　She　grinned。
　This　corridor　had　little　to　mend　it。　It　was　lit　by　fluorescent　lights；　and　over　half　the　tubes　were　dark。　The　walls　were　bare。　Not　a　picture　or　a　poster。　Dusty；　tied…down　furniture　was　stacked　along　one　wall。　It　looked　as　if　it　had　been　there　since　the　Elsenhower　administration。　Catching　Jake's　glance；　the　guide　said；　〃It's　been　there　for　three　months。　Some　of　the　offices　got　new　furniture。　This　is　the　old　stuff。〃　The　piles　were　posed　of　sofas　and　chairs　and　scarred　and　battered　metal…gray　desks。　〃These　places　on　the　ceiling　where　the　plywood　is？〃　Jake　looked。　The　plaster　was　falling　off　from　water　seepage　from　the　roof　and　asbestos　was　being　released。
　At　the　end　of　the　corridor　stood　a　magnificent　large　painting　of　Admiral　Dewey's　flagship；　Olympia；　entering　Manila　Bay。　Spots　illuminated　it。　The　guide　turned　right　and　Jake　followed。　The　overhead　blue　mantel　proclaimed：　〃Naval　Aviation。〃　Here　the　hallway　was　well　lit；　painted　a　yellowish　pastel　and　decorated　with　pictures　of　past　and　present　naval　and　marine　aircraft。　This　straight　stretch　was　long；　a　third　as　long　as　the　outside；　of　the　building。　Almost　at　the　end；　his　guide　turned　left　into　a　large　office。　The　sign　over　the　door　said：　〃Assistant；　Chief　of　Naval　Operations；　Air　Warfare。〃　Beside　the　door　was　a　blue　sign　that　read：　〃OP…05。〃　This　was　the　office　of　the　senior　U。S。　Naval　Aviator；　Mr。　Naval　Aviation。
　The　room　was　large　and　contained　numerous　windows　facing　south　across　the　huge　parking　lot　toward　Arlington。　Wooden　desks；　blue　drapes；　wainscoting　on　the　walls。
　A　mander　greeted　Jake。　〃I'm　a　little　early；〃　Jake　said；　glancing　at　his　watch。
　〃I'll　see　if　the　admiral's　free。〃　He　was。　Jake　was　escorted　in　through　a　swinging　double　saloon　door。
　Vice　Admiral　Tyler　Henry　rose　from　his　chair　and　came　around　his　desk　wearing　a　warm　smile　to　greet　Jake。
　〃Good　to　see　you　again；　Captain。〃　The　men　had　met　on　several　occasions　in　the　past；　but　Jake　was　unsure　if　Henry　would　remember。　After　he　pumped　Jake's　hand　the　admiral　motioned　to　a　chair。　〃Please；　be　seated。　Have　any　trouble　getting　here　this　morning？〃
　〃I　rode　the　Metro　this　morning；　sir；〃　Jake　said　as　the　admiral　seated　himself　behind　his　desk。　It　was　dark　wood；　perhaps　mahogany。　A　matching　table　extended　outward　from　the　main　desk；　forming　the　leg　of　a　T。　It　was　at　this　table　Jake　sat。
　〃Good　idea。　Parking　places　are　all　for　car　pools　and　flag　officers。〃　He　pushed　the　button　on　his　inter　box。　〃Chief；　did　mander　Gadd　sweep　the　office　this　morning？〃
　〃Yessir；〃　was　the　tinny　reply。
　〃Are　the　window　buzzers　on？〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃Please　close　my　door。。。　Window　buzzers　are　little　security　gizmos　to　vibrate　the　glass。　Supposed　to　foil　parabolic　mikes；　but　who　knows？〃　the　admiral　explained。　〃The　damn　things　play　waiting　room　music；　and　I　can't　hear　noises　like　that　anymore。〃　Jake　listened　hard。　He　could　just　hear　the　beat　and　a　trumpet。
　The　admiral　leaned　back　fortably　in　his　chair　as　the　door　to　the　office　closed　behind　Jake。　〃Soundproof；〃　he　muttered；　then　smiled。　〃You　look　surprised。〃
　Jake　smiled；　his　embarrassment　showing。　〃Seems　like　a　lot　of　trouble　to　go　to　just　to　talk　to　the　guy　who's　going　to　be　designing　the　new　officer　fitness　report　form。〃
　The　admiral　smiled　broadly。　〃That　job　has　been　floating　around　with　no　takers。　No；　we　have　another　project　for　you　that　is　going　to　demand　expertise　of　a　different　sort。〃
　Jake　was　having　trouble　holding　his　eyebrows　still。　〃I　thought；〃　he　said　softly；　〃that　I　was　a　pariah　around　here。〃
　The　smile　disappeared　from　Admiral　Henry's　face；　〃I'm　not　going　to　bullshit　you；　Captain。　Last　fall　when　you　disobeyed　a　direct　order　from　a　vice　admiral；　you　may　have　torpedoed　any　chance　you　had　of　ever　getting　promoted　again。　Now　with　hindsight　and　all；　most　people　can　see　you　did　the　right　thing。　But　the　military　won't　work　if　people　go　around　telling　flag　officers　to　get　fucked。　For　any　reason；　justified　or　not。　And　the　congressmen　and　politicos　from　SECDEPs　office　who　interfered　with　a　navy　investigation　of　that　incident　made　you　no　friends。〃
　He　raised　his　hand　when　Jake　opened　his　mouth　to　speak。　〃I　know；　I　know；　you　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　that　and　you　couldn't　control　the　politicians　even　if　you　tried。　No　one　can。　They　go　any　damn　place　they　want　with　hobnail　boots。　Still；　they　raised　hackles　when　they　implied　the　navy　couldn't　or　wouldn't　be　fair　in　its　treatment　of　a　naval　officer。〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　The　admiral　nodded。　〃I　suspect　you　do。　Your　record　says　you're　one　of　our　best；　which　is　why　I　asked　for　you。　We　need　a　shit…hot　attack　pilot　with　a　ton　of　smarts　and　a　gilt…edge　reputation　who　can　waltz　a　little　project　through　the　minefields。　You're　him。〃
　Jake　flexed　his　hands　and　rearranged　his　bottom　in　his　chair。　〃I　didn't　think　my　reputation　was　quite　that　shiny。　And　I've　never　had　any　Pentagon　duty　before。〃
　Henry　pretended　not　to　have　heard。　〃Do　you　want　to　hear　about　the　job？〃
　〃I'm　just　a　little　surprised；　sir。　Shocked　might　be　a　better　word。　I'd　thought。。。〃　He　punched　the　air。　〃What's　the　job？〃
　〃You'll　be　working　for　Vice　Admiral　Roger　Dunedin。　He's　NAVAIR。〃　NAVAIR　was　Naval　Air　Systems　mand；　the　procurement　arm　of　naval　aviation。　〃He　needs　a　new　program　manager　for　the　Advanced　Tactical　Aircraft；　also　known　as　the　ATA。　If　and　when　we　get　it；　it'll　be　the　A…12。〃
　Jake　Grafton　couldn't　suppress　a　grin。
　The　admiral　laughed。　〃The　fact　we　have　this　project　is　unclassified。　ATA；　A…12；　those　are　the　only　two　things　useless　in　the　whole　program；　and　those　two　terms　were　just　recently　declassified。　The　project　is　black。〃　Jake　had　heard　about　〃black〃　programs；　so　highly　classified　that　even　the　existence　of　the　program　was　sometimes　a　secret。
　The　admiral　rapped　a　knuckle　on　the　desk。　〃So　far；　it　appears　to　be　one　of　our　best…kept　military　secrets。〃　His　voice　fell　to　a　murmur。　〃No　way　of　being　sure；　of　course。〃
　Henry　fixed　his　eyes　on　Jake。　〃The　A…12　is　our　follow…on　airplane　for　the　A…6。〃　The　A…6　Intruder　was　the　aircraft　carriers'　main　offensive　weapon；　an　all…weather　medium　attack　plane。
　〃But　I　thought　the　A…6　was　going　to　remain　in　the　inventory　into　the　next　century。　That　was　the　justification　for　the　A…6G　project…new　graphite…posite　wings　and　updated　avionics。〃
　〃The　A…6　had　to　have　the　new　wings　just　to　stay　in　the　air；　and　the　A…6G　avionics　are　going　into　the　A…12。　We　were　trying　the　new　gee…whiz　gizmos　out　in　the　A…6G；　until　they　canceled　it。〃　The　A…6G　had　died　under　the　budget　cutters'　knives。　Henry　smiled　wickedly。　〃The　A…12　will　have　something　even　better。　Athena。　Do　you　know　Greek　mythology？〃
　〃A　smattering。　Wasn't　Athena　the　goddess　of　war；　the　protector　of　warriors？〃
　〃Yep；　and　she　had　a　quality　that　we　are　going　to　give　to　our　new　plane。〃　He　paused　and　raised　one　finger　aloft。　When　he　grinned　like　that　his　eyebrows　matched　the　curve　of　his　lips。　〃She　could　make　herself　invisible。〃　Jake　just　stared。
　〃Stealth　technology。　The　air　force　built　a　land…based　fighter：　that's　first…generation　stealth　technology。　Then　came　new　paint　and　radar…absorbent　materials　and　the　flying…wing　shape…that's　second…generation。〃　His　voice　dropped　conspiratorially。　〃We're　building　an　all…weather；　go…anywhere　anytime　carrier…based　attack　plane　that　will　equal　or　exceed　the　A…6　in　range；　speed　and　payload；　and　carry　advanced　sensors　that　will　make　the　A…6　look　blind　as　a　cornfield　scarecrow。　These　sensors…anyway；　they're　a　whole　new　generation　beyond　the　A…6。　And　the　A…12　will　have　third…generation　stealth　technology…Athena…which　will　make　it　truly　invisible　to　radar。　A　stealth　Super…Intruder；　if　you　wish。　That's　the　A…12。〃　Henry's　eyebrows　danced。
　〃And　that；　my　friend；　is　the　secret〃
　The　admiral　smacked　his　hand　on　the　desk。　The　gold　rings　encircling　his　sleeve　attracted　Jake's　eye。　〃The　Russians　don't　know　about　it。　Yet。　If　we　can　get　this　thing　to　sea　before　they　steal　the　technology　and　figure　out　how　to　counter　it；　we've　pretty　well　guaranteed　that　there　won't　be　a　conventional　war　with　the　Soviets　for　at　least　the　next　ten　years。　Their　ships　would　be　defenseless　against　a　stealth　Intruder。〃
　Admiral　Henry　sighed。　〃We're　trying　to　build　one　of　these　things；　anyway。　You're　replacing　Captain　Harold　Strong；　who　was　killed　in　a　car　wreck　a　month　ago。　We　had　to　wait　to　get　you；　but　now；　by　God；　your　ass　is　ours。〃
　Jake　Grafton　sat　stunned。　〃But　how…all　the　weapons　will　have　to　be　carried　externally　and　they'll　reflect　energy…how　will　you　get　around　that？〃
　The　corners　of　Henry's　lips　turned　up　until　his　mouth　formed　a　V　and　his　eyebrows　danced。　〃You're　going　to　enjoy　this　job；　Captain。〃
　〃A　real　job；〃　Jake　said；　his　relief　obvious。　〃And　I　thought　I　was　just　going　to　be　designing　fitness　report　forms。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Henry　boo