scoonts.theminotaur-第55章

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　Senator　Hiram　Duquesne　was　not　philosophical　when　he　telephoned　George　Ludlow。　〃You　keeping　up　on　what's　going　on　out　in　Tonopah？〃　he　thundered。
　〃Well；　I　get　reports　from　Vice　Admiral　Dunedin。　Captain　Grafton　reports　to　him　several　times　a　day。〃
　〃I　want　to　know　why　the　officer　in　charge　out　there　insisted　on　performing　maneuvers　that　the　manufacturer　did　not　feel　the　plane　was　ready　for；　or　safe　to　perform。〃
　〃He's　doing　an　op　eval。　He　knows　what　he's　doing。〃
　〃Oh　does　he？　He's　got　a　twenty…five…year…old　woman　with　no　previous　test　experience　flying　that　plane；　a　four…hundred…million…dollar　prototype！〃
　〃She's　not　twenty…five。　She's　twenty…seven。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　her？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean　what　the　hell　is　going　on　over　there；　George？　A　lot　of　people　have　a　lot　riding　on　the　oute　of　this　fly…off。　And　you　got　Bo　Derek's　little　sister　out　there　flying　the　planes！　Is　she　the　best　test　pilot　you　people　have？　My　God；　we've　been　spending　millions　for　that　Test　Pilot　School　in　Pax　River…is　she　the　best　you've　got？〃
　〃If　you　have　any　information　that　implies　she's　inpetent；　I'd　like　to　hear　it。〃
　〃I　hear　she　intentionally　shut　down　both　engines　while　she　was　up　in　the　sky。　Now　Consolidated　is　spending　a　ton　checking　them　far　damage。　I'll　bet　duck　Yeager　never　shut　down　both　engines　on　a　test　flight　at　the　same　time！〃
　〃I　wouldn't　know。　You'd　have　to　ask　the　air　force。〃
　〃Don't　get　cute。　I'm　serious。　Dead　serious。　Don't　let　that　hero　fly…boy　Grafton　and　his　bimbo　test　pilot　screw　this　up；　George。　I'm　warning　you。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃By　the　way；　the　authorization　for　reactors　for　that　new　carrier　you　guys　want　to　start？　My　mittee　voted　this　morning　to　delete　it。　Maybe　next　year；　huh？〃
　The　senator　hung　up　before　Ludlow　could　respond。
　
　Jake　Grafton　changed　Rita's　test　profile　for　the　last　three　flights。　He　had　her　avoid　all　high…angle…of…attack　maneuvers；　though　he　did　let　her　ease　toward　the　advertised　five…G　limit；　where　the　airflow　to　the　engines　once　again　became　turbulent　and　began　to　rumble。
　The　three　flights　took　another　ten　days。　When　they　were　finished　the　navy　crowd　spent　three　more　days　correlating　their　data　and　talking　to　Consolidated　engineers；　then　packed　up　for　the　return　to　Washington。　It　would　be　three　weeks　before　they　came　back　to　try　the　TRX　prototype。
　On　their　last　night　in　Tonopah　the　navy　contingent　threw　a　party　in　the　officers'　club　for　a　very　subdued　group　from　Consolidated。　Adele　DeCrescentis　didn't　attend；　which　was　perhaps　just　as　well。　Along　toward　midnight；　after　Toad　Tarkington　had　enjoyed　the　entire　salubrious　effect　of　alcohol　and　had　begun　the　downhill　slide；　he　spotted　Stu　Vinich　in　a　corner　putting　the　moves　on　some　woman　from　Consolidated's　avionics　division。　He　strolled　over；　tapped　Vinich　on　the　shoulder；　and　as　the　test　pilot　turned；　flattened　him　with　one　roundhouse　punch。
　
　21
　
　Jake　Grafton　was　amazed　when　he　saw　Amy　at　the　passenger　terminal　at　Andrews　Air　Force　Base。　In　the　three　weeks　he　had　been　gone　the　child　had　visibly　grown。　〃Hi；　Jake；〃　she　warbled；　and　ran　to　throw　her　arms　around　him。
　〃Miss　me？〃　he　asked。
　〃Not　as　much　as　Callie　did；〃　was　the　sophisticated　reply。　As　he　and　Callie　waited　for　the　luggage　to　be　off…loaded　from　the　airplane；　Callie　visited　with　the　other　officers　who　had　ridden　the　DC…9　from　Tonopah。　Jake　made　a　fuss　over　Amy　and　teased　her　a　little；　causing　her　cheeks　to　redden。　But　she　stayed　right　there　beside　him；　saying　hello　to　everyone　and　smiling　broadly　when　spoken　to。
　〃So　how'd　it　go？〃　Callie　asked　him　as　they　walked　to　the　car。　Jake　shrugged。　Everything　was　classified。　〃Okay；　I　guess。　And　you？〃
　〃I　stopped　going　to　Dr。　Arnold。　Last　Friday　was　my　last　appointment。〃
　Jake　set　his　luggage　on　the　pavement　and　gave　her　a　tight　squeeze　as　Amy　skipped　on　ahead；　her　black　hair　bobbing　with　every　bound。　Callie　looked　happier　than　Jake　had　seen　her　in　a　long；　long　time。
　The　next　morning；　a　Tuesday；　he　spent　closeted　with　Admiral　Dunedin　going　over　the　test　results。　They　watched　videotapes　and　looked　at　numbers；　and　began　writing　down　tentative　conclusions。
　〃So　how　did　Moravia　do？〃　the　admiral　asked　at　one　point
　〃Fine。　Good　stick；　keeps　her　wits　about　her；　knows　more　aeronautical　engineering　than　I　even　knew　existed。〃
　〃So　you　want　to　keep　her　for　the　TRX　bird？〃
　〃No　reason　not　to。〃
　The　admiral　told　him　about　the　conversation　Senator　Duquesne　had　had　with　George　Ludlow。　〃The　secretary　didn't　tell　me　to　fire　her；　or　keep　her；　or　anything　else；〃　Dunedin　concluded。　〃He　just　relayed　the　conversation。〃
　〃Let　me　see　if　I　understand　this；　Admiral。　Duquesne's　mittee　deleted　the　appropriation　for　reactors　for　the　new　carrier　from　this　year's　budget。　Is　he　implying　that　if　we　get　another　test　pilot　he'll　put　it　back　in？〃
　〃No。　I　think　the　message　is　that　unless　the　navy　buys　the　Consolidated　plane；　he's　not　going　to　be…he'll　be　less　enthusiastic　about　navy　budget　requests。〃
　〃Sir；　I　don't　think　Consolidated's　plane　can　be　modified　enough　to　meet　tile　mission　requirements　for　a　new　attack　plane。　And　you　have　to　factor　Athena　into　the　equation。　With　Athena　we　won't　need　to　buy　all　that　expensive　stealth　stuff　on　every　airplane。〃
　〃Try　the　TRX　plane。　Then　we'll　see。〃
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　get　another　test　pilot？〃
　〃I　just　wanted　you　to　understand　what's　going　on。　The　temperature　is　rising。　Ludlow　and　all　the　politicos　in　SECDEFs　office　are　playing　politics　right　along　with　everyone　else　in　this　town。　The　admirals　and　generals　are　parading　over　to　the　hill　for　hearings。　It's　that　merry　time　of　year。〃
　〃I　think　we　have　to　keep　Moravia。　After　she's　flown　both　planes　she　can　make　point…by…point　parisons　that　can't　be　questioned　for　extraneous　reasons。　Consolidated　will　beat　us　to　death　with　Rita's　corpse　if　we　use　another　test　pilot　to　fly　the　TRX　plane；　and　then　remend　it　instead　of　theirs。　They'll　claim　they　got　shafted　by　an　inpetent；　inexperienced　pilot。　You　and　I　will　look　like　blundering　idiots；　or　worse。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　the　admiral　said。
　Proposals　from　contractors　were　arriving　based　on　the　navy's。　Request　for　Proposal　（RFP）　on　the　Athena　project。　The　afternoon　was　devoted　to　examining　these　documents；　which　were　as　thick　as　metropolitan　telephone　directories。　〃How　e　these　guys　can't　just　say　what　they　want　to　say　and　leave　it　at　that？〃
　〃Lawyers　wrote　these。〃
　〃I　can't　make　head　or　tail　of　some　of　this　stuff。　They've　used　every　acronym　in　the　book　and　made　up　a　bunch　more。　These　dungs　look　like　dispatches　from　Babel。〃
　
　One　morning　several　days　later　Dreyfus　stuck　his　head　in　Luis　Camacho's　office　door。　〃The　Minotaur　mailed　the　Russians　another　letter。〃
　Dreyfus　handed　Camacho　a　copy　and　sank　into　a　chair　while　his　boas　perused　it　Addressed　to　the　Soviet　ambassador；　the　letter　was　a　mentary　on　Gorbachev's　recent　visit　to　Cuba。　The　last　paragraph　contained　some　advice　on　how　the　Soviets　should　handle　Castro。
　〃On　generic　copy　paper；　as　usual。　Just　like　all　the　others。〃
　〃Has　the　original　been　through　the　lab　yet？〃
　〃Nope。　I　just　took　it　down。〃
　〃Go　get　it。　I　want　to　see　it。〃
　〃What　for？　That's　an　accurate　copy。〃
　〃Please。　Now。〃
　With　a　shake　of　his　head；　Dreyfus　plied。
　Camacho　opened　his　desk　drawer　and　pulled　out　a　pair　of　rubber　gloves；　which　he　worked　onto　his　hands　without　the　benefit　of　baby　powder。　Then　he　extracted　a　jar　from　the　lower　left　drawer。　He　opened　it　and　used　a　letter　opener　to　smear　a　little　of　the　blue　jelly　on　his　desk。　Oops；　too　much。　He　used　a　piece　of　paper　from　a　legal　pad　to　blot　the　mess；　then　stared　at　the　stain　on　the　back　of　the　paper。　After　firmly　closing　the　jar；　he　stowed　it　back　in　his　desk。
　When　Dreyfus　returned　with　the　letter；　Camacho　was　at　the　window　idly　watching　the　pedestrians　on　E　Street。　He　gingerly　opened　the　plastic　bag　and　extracted　the　letter　while　Dreyfus　watched　openmouthed。　He　laid　the　fully　opened　letter　on　the　desk　and　pressed。　Then　he　turned　it　over　and　examined　the　blue　smear　on　the　back。　Satisfactory。　Not　too　much；　yet　enough　for　the　lab　to　get　a　sample。　He　refolded　the　letter　and　replaced　it　in　the　see…through　plastic　bag。
　〃Take　it　back　to　the　lab。〃
　〃Did　I　see　that？〃
　〃No。　You　are　as　ignorant　as　you　look。〃
　〃You're　the　boss。〃
　〃Indeed。　And　while　you're　at　it；　see　if　this　word　is　encoded　in　the　text。〃　Camacho　seized　a　piece　of　scratch　paper　and　carefully　printed　a　word。　〃Kilderkin。〃　He　passed　the　paper　to　Dreyfus。
　〃Anything　else？〃　Dreyfus　asked　hopefully。
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃Oh；　I　dunno。　I've　got　the　feeling　that　neat　and　wonderful　wheels　are　turning　like　crazy；　though　I　haven't　the　foggiest　idea　why。　Or　where　the　wheels　will　take　us。〃
　〃What　do　you　want？　A　Tuesday…morning　miracle？〃
　〃It　doesn't　have　to　be　a　miracle。　A　tiny　little　sleight　of　hand　would　be　wele。　Or　a　very　brief　explanation。〃
　Camacho　shot　his　cuffs。　〃See。　Nothing　up　my　sleeves。　No　hat；　so　no　rabbit。〃
　Dreyfus　stood　and　ambled　toward　the　door。　〃Kilderkin；　huh？　You　know；　I　get　the　impression　that…〃
　〃Never　trust　your　impressions。　Wait　for　evidence。〃
　〃So　what　do　we　do　with　the　original　letter　when　the　lab's　through　with　it？〃　The　agent　fluttered　the　plastic　bag　gently。
　〃The　usual。　Stick　it　back　in　the　envelope　and　let　the　post　office　deliver　it。　I'm　sure　the　ambassador　will　convey　the　writer's　advice　to　the　members　of　the　Politburo　at　his　earliest　opportunity。　This　may　be　the　great　watershed　in　U…S。…Soviet　re…〃　He　stopped　because　Dreyfus　was　already　out　the　door　and　had　closed　it　behind　him…
　At　ten　o'clock　Dreyfus　was　back。　He　waited　patiently　until　Camacho　was　off　the　phone；　then　said；　〃Okay；　how'd　you　know？〃
　〃Know　what？〃
　〃That　that　antique　word　from　merry　ol'　England　would　crack　it？〃
　〃Kilderkin？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Elementary；　my　dear　Watson。　A　kilderkin　is　a　barrel　or　cask。　It　contains　something；　as　that　letter　did。〃
　〃Shit。〃
　Camacho　extended　his　hand。　Dreyfus　passed　him　a　small　piece　of　white　paper　containing　the　three　words　from　the　message　and　waited　white　he　examined　it。　The　second　word　was　〃kilderkin。〃
　〃That's　all；〃　Camacho　said；　looking　up　as　he　folded　the　small　page　and　stuck　it　into　his　shirt　pocket。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Always　a　pleasure；　Holmes。〃
　When　he　was　again　alone；　Camacho　dialed　a　telephone　number　from　memory　and　identified　himself　to　the　woman　who　answered。　In　a　moment　the　person　he　wanted　was　on　the　line　and　he　said：　〃Let's　have　lunch。〃
　〃Can't　today。　Pretty　busy。〃
　〃Appointments？〃
　〃Yep。〃
　〃Cancel　them。〃
　〃Where　and　when？〃
　〃On　the　mall；　in　front　of　the　Air　and　Space　Museum。　Twelve　or　so。〃
　The　line　went　dead　in　Camacho's　ear。　He　cradled　the　instrument。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　out　his　little　window　at　the　buildings　on　the　other　side　of　E　Street。　He　pursed　his　lips　and　breathing　deeply　in　and　out；　gently　massaged　his　head　with　one　hand。
　An　hour　later　he　was　out　on　the　sidewalk　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　striding　along。　He　had　left　his　pistol　locked　in　his　desk　drawer；　his　jacket　and　tie　over　the　back　of　his　chair。　He　was　violating　FBI　policy　but　so　be　it。　The　summer　heat　was　palpable；　a　living；　breathing　monster　no　doubt　goaded　by　the　sheer　numbers　of　humans　who　were　defying　it　this　midday。　Where　did　all　these　people　e　from？　The　streets　were　packed　with　cars；