scoonts.theminotaur-第51章

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tail；　in　March　when　his　car　blew　up　with　him　in　it。〃
　Bigelow　finished　the　doughnut　and　used　a　moist　finger　to　capture　and　convey　the　last　few　crumbs　to　his　mouth。　Then　he　dabbed　his　Ups　a　final　time　and　used　two　napkins　to　scrub　the　powdered　sugar　and　flecks　of　jelly　from　his　oak　desk。　He　put　this　trash　in　the　wastebasket　and；　sighing　contentedly；　rearranged　his　bottom　in　his　chair。
　〃And。。。？〃　said　P。　R。　Bigelow。
　〃A　hit　man　wiped　a　walk…in　witness　to　a　drop　with　Franklin。　Camacho　talked　to　her　a　couple　times；　but　she　got　eliminated　before　we　could　get　her　to　look　at　any　photos。　A　professional　hit。　Two　twenty…two　caliber　slugs　in　the　skull。　We've　got　the　autopsy　and　lab　reports　and　we've　talked　to　neighbors　up　and　down　the　street。　We've　got　nothing　at　all。　We're　absolutely　dry　on　this　one。〃
　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Lloyd　Dreyfus　with　an　edge　in　his　voice。　He　was　beginning　to　lose　his　temper　and　didn't　care　if　it　showed　a　little。　〃One　of　the　staff　officers　in　the　navy's　ATA　project…a　mander　Judy…is　trying　to　peddle　classified　inside　info　to　interested　defense　contractors。　We　got　interested　in　this　officer　when　the　project　manager　was　murdered　over　in　West　Virginia　one　Friday　evening　in　early　February。　That　murder　is　unsolved…no　one　is　doing　anything　on　it…and　Camacho　doesn't　appear　to　be　doing　any　follow…up　on　Judy's　contacts。　He　hasn't　even　turned　the　file　over　to　the　fraud　investigators　or　NIS。　We　know　some　of　the　people　Judy's　talked　to　and。。。〃　Dreyfus　threw　up　his　hands　in　frustration。
　〃Finished　yet？〃
　〃Yes；　I　think　that　about　covers　it。〃
　〃So　you　asked　for　this　appointment　on　the　off　chance　that　Camacho　has　been　lying　to　me　about　the　activities　of　his　office；　purposely　bungling　the　search　for　this　mole；　wasting　millions　of　dollars　and　thousands　of　man…hours　on　wild…goose　chases。〃　Dreyfus　opened　his　mouth　to　interrupt；　but　Bigelow　held　up　a　hand。　〃I　grant　that　you　can　probably　phrase　it　more　tactfully。　You　notice　I　did　not　suggest　that　you　came　up　here　to　tattle　and　gain　some　personal　advantage。　You　are　a　better　man　than　that。〃　He　sighed　heavily；　almost　a　belch。　〃Of　course　there　is　another　possibility。　Perhaps　you　just　wanted　to　see　if　I　was　so　stupid　as　to　be　satisfied　with　the　progress　of　the　investigation　to　date。〃
　〃I…〃　The　upraised　palm　stopped　him　again。
　〃I　am　satisfied。　Camacho　has　kept　me　fully　informed　of　the　activities　of　his　subordinates；　of　which　you　are　one；　by　the　way。　His　lines　of　inquiry　have　been　initiated　with　my　knowledge　and；　where　necessary；　my　approval。　He　has　discussed　his　concerns　with　me　and　I　have　informed　him　of　mine。　He　has　followed　orders　to　the　letter。　I　am　pletely　satisfied　with　his　performance。　He　is　one　of　the　most　talented　senior　officers　in　the　bureau。〃
　Dreyfus　just　stared。
　〃Before　you　go　back　to　work；　do　you　wish　for　me　to　arrange　a　meeting　for　you　with　the　Director？〃　Bigelow　managed　to　make　his　face　look　interested　and　mildly　amused　at　the　same　time。　Yes；　Lloyd；　you　miserable；　disloyal；　alarmist　peckerhead；　you　jumped　from　the　top　of　the　cliff；　but　you　seem　to　nave　had　the　luck　to　Strike　a　bush　a　few　feet　below　the　edge；　which　arrested　your　downward　progress。　Do　you　wish　my　help　in　pleting　your　suicidal　plunge？
　Dreyfus　shook　his　head　no。
　〃I　suggest　that　you　not　mention　this　little　conversation　to　any　of　your　colleagues。〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　see　you　in　this　office　ever　again；　Dreyfus；　unless　you　have　your　supervisor　with　you；　or　unless　I　send　for　you。〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃Let's　both　get　back　to　work。〃　P。　R。　Bigelow　nodded　toward　the　closed　office　door　and　Dreyfus　took　the　hint。
　
　By　mid…May　the　dance　of　the　dwarves　at　the　Pentagon　had　reached　a　critical　frenzy。　A　thousand　details　were　beginning　to　e　together　for　a　trip　into　the　desert　with　the　prototypes　in　June。　The　airplanes　had　been　moved　weeks　earlier　to　the　Tonopah　Test　Range　in　Nevada；　the　same　secret　field　where　the　air　force　had　tested　its　stealth　prototypes。　Also　known　as　Area　58；　or　Groom　Lake；　the　field　lay　about　a　hundred　miles　northwest　of　Las　Vegas　on　a　huge　government　reservation　with　excellent　physical　security。　Here　the　contractors'　field　teams　readied　the　planes　in　separate　hangars　and　installed　telemetry　devices。
　Toad　and　Rita　would　leave　for　Nevada　two　weeks　before　Jake　and　the　rest　of　the　staff。　They　had　intensive　sessions　planned　with　pany　test　pilots　and　engineers　to　learn　everything　they　could　about　the　planes　and　how　they　flew。　The　Saturday　night　before　they　left；　Jake　and　Callie　had　them　to　dinner　at　the　house　in　Rehoboth　Beach。
　〃How　do　you　like　being　married？〃　Callie　asked　Rita　in　the　kitchen。
　〃I　should　have　had　a　brother；〃　Rita　confided。　〃Men　are　such　sloppy　creatures。　They　don't　think　like　we　do。〃
　On　the　screened…in　porch；　Jake　and　Toad　sipped　on　bourbon　and　Amy　slurped　a　Coke。　〃So　how's　married　life；　Toad？〃
　〃Oh；　so…so；　I　guess。　Isn't　exactly　like　I　thought　it　would　be；　but　nothing　ever　is。　Rita　can　think　up　stuff　for　me　to　do　faster　than　I　can　do　it；　and　we　only　live　in　an　apartment。　If　we　had　a　town　house　or　something　with　a　basement　and　a　lawn；　she'd　have　worked　me　to　death　by　now。〃
　Amy　Carol　thought　this　remark　deliriously　fanny　and　giggled　hugely。
　〃Why　don't　you　go　visit　with　Mom　and　Rita？〃
　She　stood　regally　and　tossed　her　hair。　〃I　do　believe　I　will　join　the　ladies；　but　she　isn't　my　mom。　I　wish　you'd　stop　calling　her　that。〃　She　flounced　off　toward　the　kitchen。
　〃The　day　she〃…Jake　pointed　after　the　departing　youngster…〃gets　married；　I　am　going　to　get　down　on　my　knees　and　give　thanks。〃
　〃That　bad；　huh？〃
　〃She's　about　driven　Callie　over　the　edge。　That　poor　woman　had　no　idea　what　she　was　getting　into。　No　matter　how　much　love　she　pours　on　Amy；　the　kid　still　does　exactly　as　she　chooses。　She　intentionally　disobeys　and　cuts　up　just　to　get　her　goal。　And　Callie　never　gets　mad；　never　pops　off；　never　gives　her　anything　but　love。　She's　gonna　go　nuts。〃
　〃Maybe　she　should　get　angry。〃
　〃That's　what　I　think。　And　Callie　insists　she　doesn't　want　my　help　or　advice。〃
　〃They're　all　alike；〃　Toad　said；　now　vastly　experienced。　Amy　was　back　in　five　minutes；　hopping　from　foot　to　foot；　so　excited　she　bounced。　〃Can　we　fly　the　glider　now；　so　I　can　show　Rita？　She's　a　pilot。〃
　Toad　gasped。　〃She　is？〃
　〃You're　teasing　me；〃　Amy　said；　stamping　her　foot。
　〃The　wind's　wrong；〃　Jake　pointed　out。　〃It　isn't　ing　in　from　the　sea。　This　evening　it's　a　land　breeze。〃
　〃David　said　we　might　be　able　to　fly　the　glider　above　the　house　in　a　land　breeze。　He　said　the　wind　just　goes　right　up　and　over　our　house。〃
　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　Well；　run　down　the　street　and　see　if　he　can　spend　a　half　hour　consulting　with　us。〃　As　Amy　scampered　off；　Jake　told　Toad；　〃There's　an　aviation　expert　right　down　the　street　who　is　kind　enough　to　offer　advice　from　time　to　time。〃
　The　aviation　expert　was　apparently　unoccupied　at　the　moment　He　showed　up　wearing　a　monster…truck　T…shirt　bearing　the　legend　〃Eat　Street。〃　His　shoelaces　were　untied；　his　cowlicks　fully　aroused；　and　his　grin　as　impish　as　ever。　He　listened　carefully　to　Jake's　plan。
　〃Sounds　to　me　like　it　might　work；　Cap'n；〃　he　said　with　a　sidelong　glance　at　Toad。　〃Might　ding　up　your　plane　a　tittle；　though。〃
　〃I'll　risk　it　if　you'll　fix　the　damage。〃
　〃Callie！　Rita！〃　Amy　called　excitedly。　〃We're　going　to　fly。〃
　Jake　readied　the　plane　for　flight　in　the　front　yard　under　David's　supervision。　Eight　rubber　bands　were　stretched　to　hold　the　six…foot　wing　to　the　fuselage。　Batteries　were　tested　and　inserted；　the　cover　closed；　switch　on；　controls　waggled　to　the　fall　extent　of　their　travel　using　the　radio　control　box：　Amy　checked　each　item　after　Jake　performed　it　while　David　briefed　Toad　on　proper　launch　procedure。　In　five　minutes　they　were　ready　for　the　sky。　Toad　climbed　the　ladder　from　the　garage　and　scaled　the　sloping　roof　until　he　sat　perched　on　the　ridgepole　with　the　plane　in　hand。
　〃Pretty　good　breeze　up　here；〃　he　informed　the　crowd　below；　which　now　included　Callie　and　Rita。
　〃Don't　you　jump　off　there；　Darius　Green；〃　Rita　called　as　Toad　sucked　on　a　finger　and　held　it　aloft
　〃As　you　can　plainly　see；　dear　wife；　I'm　not　wearing　my　wings　tonight；〃　Tarkington　replied　lightly。　He　flapped　his　elbows　experimentally。　〃'I'll　astonish　the　nation　and　all　creation；　by　flyin'　over　the　celebration！　I'll　dance　on　the　chimneys；　I'll　stand　on　the　steeple；　I'll　flop　up　to　winders　and　scare　all　the　people；'〃　quoted　he；　striking　a　precarious　pose；　or　trying　to；　up　there　on　the　ridge　of　the　roof　with　an　airplane　grasped　carefully　in　his　right　hand。
　〃Maybe　I'd　better　alert　the　emergency　room　at　the　hospital；〃　Callie　said；　laughing。
　〃Oh；　Callie；〃　Amy　groaned。　〃He's　not　going　to　jump！　Really！〃
　Toad　finished　his　recitation　with　a　flourish：　〃'And　I'll　say　to　the　gawpin'　fools　below；　What　world's　this　here　that　I've　e　near？'〃
　Jake　Grafton　handed　the　radio　control　box　to　David。　〃You're　up　first。　Whenever　you're　ready。〃
　The　youngster　centered　the　control　levers　and　shouted　to　Toad。
　〃Let　'er　go！〃
　With　the　gentlest　of　tosses；　Toad　laid　the　glider　into　the　rising　air　currents。　The　boy　immediately　banked　left　and　raised　the　nose　until　the　aircraft　was　barely　moving　in　relation　to　the　ground。　As　it　reached　the　end　of　the　house；　he　reversed　the　controls　and　flew　it　back　the　other　way。　The　ship　soared　upward　on　the　rising　current　of　air。　It　floated　above　Toad's　head；　back　and　forth　along　the　peak　of　the　roof；　banking　gently　to　maintain　position　and　rising　and　falling　as　the　air　currents　dictated。
　〃All　right！〃　Toad　shouted　and　began　to　clap。　On　the　ground　the　spectators　all　did　likewise。
　〃There's　just　enough　wind；〃　Jake　told　David；　grinning　broadly。　〃Now；　by　God；　that's　flying。〃
　〃Awesome；〃　David　agreed；　his　pixie　grin　spreading　uncontrollably。
　After　a　few　minutes；　David　handed　the　control　box　to　Jake。　He　overbanked　and　the　plane　lost　altitude　precipitously；　threatening　to　strike　Toad　straddling　the　roof's　ridge。　〃Keep　your　nose　up。〃　David　advised　hurriedly。　〃You　can　fly　slower　than　that。〃　As　the　glider　responded；　he　continued。　〃That's　it！　She's　got　plenty　of　camber　in　those　wings　and　good　washout。　She'll　fly　real；　real　slow；　just　riding　those　updrafts。　That's　it！　Let　'er　fly。　Just　sorta　urge　'er　along。〃
　He　was　right。　The　plane　soared　like　a　living　thing；　banking　and　diving　and　climbing；　seeking　the　rising　air　and　responding　willingly。　The　evening　sun　flashed　on　the　wings　and　fuselage　and　made　the　little　craft　brightly　lustrous　against　the　darkening　blue　of　the　sky　above。
　〃Let　Rita　try　it；〃　Amy　urged。
　〃Don't　you　want　to？〃
　〃No。　Let　Rita。〃
　〃e　over　here；　Rita　Moravia。〃　The　pilot　did　as　she　was　bid。　She　watched　the　captain　manipulate　the　controls　as　he　explained　what　each　was。　〃The　thing　you　gotta　watch　is　that　the　controls　work　backwards　as　you　look　at　the　plane　head…on。　Turn　around　and　fly　it　by　looking　over　your　shoulder。　Then　left　will　be　left　and　right　will　be　right。〃
　Rita　obediently　faced　away　from　the　house　and　looked　back　over　her　shoulder。　Toad　waved。　Jake　handed　her　the　radio　control　box。　As　David　and　Amy　tried　to　offer　simultaneous　advice；　Rita　clumsily　swung　the　plane　back　and　forth　and　worked　the　nose　hesitantly。　She　overcontrolled　as　David　groaned；　〃Not　too　much；　no　no　no。〃
　But　the　wind　was　dying。　She　got　the