scoonts.theminotaur-第56章

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Where　did　all　these　people　e　from？　The　streets　were　packed　with　cars；　taxis；　snorting　buses　and　trucks；　the　sidewalks　covered　with　swarming　humanity。
　Overhead　the　summer　haze　made　the　sky　appear　a　gauzy；　indistinct　white；　but　it　failed　to　soften　the　sun's　fierce　glare。　Camacho's　shirt　wilted　swiftly　and　glued　itself　to　the　small　of　his　back。　He　could　fed　the　perspiration　soaking　into　his　socks。　Little　beads　of　sweat　congealed　around　the　hairs　on　the　back　of　his　hands；　and　he　automatically　wiped　the　palms　on　his　trousers　as　he　walked。
　Every　shady　circle　under　the　mall　trees　was　home　to　office　workers　and　tourists　who　could　no　longer　stay　on　their　feet。　Children　sprawled　and　played　on　the　hard…packed　dirt。　The　grass　that　had　grown　under　the　trees　so　profusely　this　spring　had　succumbed　weeks　ago　under　the　impact　of　infinite　feet。　An　endless　stream　of　joggers　and　serious　runners　pounded　up　and　down　the　gravel　paths　of　the　mall；　little　dust　spurts　rising　from　the　thud　of　each　foot。　The　bined　effect　was　a　thin　brown　curtain　of　dust　that　rose　into　the　air　and　tilted　away　toward　the　monolithic　art　museums　that　lined　the　northern　side　of　the　open　expanse。
　The　street　in　front　of　the　Air　and　Space　Museum　was　bumper　to　bumper　with　tour　buses。　As　he　came　closer；　Luis　Camacho　threaded　his　way　through　the　hordes　of　teenagers　and　middle…aged　pink　people　in　shorts　and　cutesy　T…shirts。
　The　great　American　sightseeing　excursion　was　in　full　swing。　Herds　of　Japanese　tourists　clad　in　the　requisite　button…down　short…sleeved　shirts　clustered　near　some　of　the　buses　and　busily　snapped　their　cameras　at　each　other；　the　huge　windowless　museums　to　the　north；　the　distant　Washington　Monument　and　the　dome　of　the　Capitol　rising　in　the　east　like　a　corpulent　moon。　In　spite　of　the　oppressive　heat；　the　mood　was　cheerful；　gay。
　Camacho　found　a　spot　in　the　shade　near　a　tree　and　sat　down　gratefully。　Cigarette　butts　and　candy…bar　wrappers　littered　the　ground。　He　didn't　care。　To　his　left　a　souvenir　stand　was　doing　a　land…office　business　in　film；　soft　drinks　and　ice…cream　bars。　Squalling　youngsters　and　frisky　youths　queued　like　soldiers　in　the　sun　as　they　waited　for　their　turn　to　surrender　their　money　to　the　happy　merchant。
　Derelicts　shuffled　slowly　through　the　human　forest。　They　were　blithely　ignored　as　they　mined　the　trash　bins　for　pop　cans。　A　couple　of　alkies　snoozed　further　away　from　the　street　in　the　shade　cast　by　the　treetops；　out　where　the　grass　still　survived：　their　day　had　apparently　ended　some　hours　ago　when　the　critical　intoxication　level　had　been　reached　and　surpassed。
　He　had　been　there　no　more　than　five　minutes　when　he　spotted　the　man　he　had　e　to　meet　feeling　his　way　through　the　crowd；　looking　about　him。　Camacho　stood　and　walked　toward　him。
　〃Morning；　Admiral。〃
　〃Let's　get　the　hell　out　of　this　crowd；〃　Tyler　Henry　growled。　〃Next　time　pick　a　quieter　spot。〃　Henry　was　clad　in　beige　slacks　and　a　yellow　pullover　with　a　little　fox　on　the　right　breast　His　eyes　were　hidden　behind　the　naval　aviator's　de　rigueur　sunglasses。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　two　men　walked　east；　toward　the　duck　pond　at　the　base　of　Capitol　Hill。　When　they　were　out　of　earshot　of　the　tourists　and　drunks。　Henry　said；　〃Okay。　I　haven't　got　much　time　today。　What　d'ya　want？〃
　〃We　intercepted　another　letter　from　the　Minotaur　this　morning。　Thought　you'd　be　interested。　Here's　the　coded　message　it　contained。〃　The　FBI　agent　passed　him　the　little　square　of　words　with　the　three　words　penciled　on　it。
　Admiral　Henry　stopped　dead　and　stared　at　the　words　on　the　paper。　〃Kilderkin。　Holy　rock！　The　damned　Minotaur　is　giving　away　Athena！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Awww；　goddamn！　A。。〃
　Camacho　gingerly　removed　the　paper　from　the　admiral's　fingers；　refolded　it　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。
　〃And　I　suppose　you　assholes　with　badges　just　stuffed　the　fucking　letter　back　in　the　envelope　and　gave　it　to　the　postman？〃　When　he　saw　Camacho's　silent　nod；　Henry　scuffed　angrily　at　the　dirt。　He　indulged　himself　in　some　heavy　cussing。
　〃Do　you　know　what　Athena　is？　Do　you　silly　half…wit　peepers　have　any　idea　what　the　hell　Athena　is　all　about？〃
　〃Well；　you　said…〃
　〃I　know　what　I　told　you！　I'm　asking　if　any　of　your　superiors　have　even　the　slightest　glimmer　how　valuable　Athena　is。〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　The　admiral　gestured　hugely　in　exasperation。　〃Just　what　in　the　name　of　God　is　going　on；　Luis？〃
　They　had　reached　the　edge　of　the　duck　pond。　Camacho　stood　with　folded　arms　and　gazed　across　the　placid　surface；　past　the　statue　of　U。S。　Grant　on　horseback；　at　the　imposing　edifice　of　the　Capitol　building。　〃I　can　only　guess；〃　he　said　softly。
　〃But　do　they　have　any　idea　what　Athena　is…just　what　the　hell　they　are　giving　away？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　they　know。〃
　〃This　isn't　fiber　optics；　or　ring　laser　gyros；　or　any　of　that　other　magic　shit　they've　been　letting　the　Minotaur　cart　out　of　the　vault　Athena　is　the　Hope　Diamond；　the　mother　lode；　the　most　precious；　priceless　treasure　in　the　vault。　Do　those　stupid；　ignorant　inpetent　half…wit　political　pimps　have　even　the　faintest　glimmer　what　it　is　the　Minotaur　just　laid　his　filthy　hands　on？〃
　〃I　don't　know！〃
　〃Athena　will　make　radar　obsolete。　Inevitably　it　will　bee　cheaper　and　will　be　able　to　miniaturize　if　get　it　so　small　and　cheap　we　can　use　it　to　hide　tanks　and　jeeps；　not　just　ships　and　airplanes。　We　can　hide　satellites　with　it。　In　ten　years　or　so　we　can　probably　hide　submarines　with　it。　Athena　will　revolutionize　strategy；　tactics；　weaponry。　And　we've　got　it！　The　Russians　don't！　Yet！　If　we　can　keep　them　from　getting　it　for　just　a　couple　years…just　a　couple　years…I　tell　you；　Luis；　Athena　will　give　America　such　a　huge　technological　edge　that　war　will　bee　a　political　and　military　impossibility。　War　will　be　impossible！〃
　〃I　believe　you。〃
　〃Then　why？　Tell　me　that！　Why？〃
　Camacho　shrugged。
　〃What　could　be　so　goddamn　valuable　that　they　would　bet　the　ranch；　the　nation；　the　future　of　mankind？〃
　〃I　don't　know　for　sure；　and　I　couldn't　tell　you　if　I　did。〃
　The　admiral　exploded。　Thirty…some　years　in　the　navy　had　really　taught　him　how　to　swear。　Camacho　didn't　think　he　had　ever　heard　such　a　virtuoso　performance。
　Finally　Henry　stopped　spluttering。　Bitterness　had　replaced　his　exasperation。　〃I　think　there's　some　treason　going　on　over　in　your　shop；　Camacho。　That's　all　it　could　be。〃
　〃Better　go　easy　with　that　word。〃
　〃Treason。〃　Henry　spit　it　out。　〃Don't　like　it；　huh？　By　God；　if　Congress　gets　hold　of　this；　that　may　be　the　kindest　word　those　slimy　spook　bastards　ever　hear。　People　will　go　to　prison　over　this。　You　wait　and　see。〃
　Camacho　lost　his　temper。　〃I　showed　you　that　piece　of　paper　so　you　could　take　some　reasonable　steps　to　protect　Athena；　you　swabbie；〃　he　snarled。　〃Like　change　the　code　or　empty　the　file。　Not　so　you　could　shoot　your　mouth　off　about　things　you　know　nothing　about；　things　that　will　ruin　you　and　me。　Now　I've　heard　all　the　crap　from　you　that　I'm　gonna　listen　to。　I've　heard　enough。　One　more　crack　out　of　line　and　I'll　e　get　you　with　a　national　security　warrant　and　you　can　sit　in　a　padded　cell　at　St。　Elizabeth's　until　I　think　it's　safe　to　let　you　out。　That　may　be　when　you're　a　corpse。　Is　that　what　you　want？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Tyler　Henry　contritely；　aware　that　he　had　gone　too　far。
　〃Just　one　word。　Admiral；　just　one　little　slip　by　you；　and　I'll　e　after　you　with　that　goddamn　warrant。　You'd　better　believe　it！　You　and　John　Hinckley　can　spend　your　declining　years　together。〃
　Camacho　wheeled　and　walked　away；　leaving　Henry　standing　there　staring　at　his　retreating　back。
　
　22
　
　Tyler　Henry　acpanied　the　ATA　project　crew　when　they　returned　to　Tonopah　in　July。　The　admiral　shook　hands　with　the　TRX　engineers　and　spent　three　hours　inspecting　the　plane；　which　occupied　the　hangar　where　the　Consolidated　bird　had　rested；　and　asking　questions。　At　his　request　Rita　Moravia　and　Toad　Tarkington　remained　beside　him。　Many　of　his　questions　were　directed　at　Rita；　but　when　he　wanted　to　know　something　about　the　navigation/attack　system；　he　asked　Toad。
　〃Is　that　right；　Franks？〃　the　admiral　growled　at　the　TRX　program　manager　after　he　bad　listened　carefully　to　one　of　Toad's　answers。
　Harry　Franks　nodded　his　assent。　It　looked　to　Jake　as　if　Franks　had　lost　ten　pounds　or　so；　but　the　cotton　of　his　colorful　sport　shirt　still　seemed　loaded　near　its　tensile　strength　where　it　stretched　over　his　middle。　Franks　rolled　the　stump　of　a　dead　cigar　from　one　corner　of　his　mouth　to　the　other　and　winked　at　Jake。
　With　his　shoulders　thrown　back　and　his　genial　air　of　self…assurance　and　mand；　Franks　reminded　Jake　of　the　salty　chief　petty　officers　he　had　grown　to　respect　and　admire　when　he　was　a　junior　officer。　Franks　certainly　was　no　modem　naval　officer　or　chief　in　mufti；　not　with　that　gut。　In　today's　navy　even　the　chief　petty　officers　were　slimmed　down　or　retired；　victims　of　rigid　weight　standards　enforced　with　awesome　zeal。　The　senior　admirals　liked　to　think　of　their　service　as　a　lean；　mean　fighting　machine；　which　of　course　it　was　not。　More　accurately；　the　navy　was　a　host　of　skinny　technocrats。　Not　only　were　roost　sailors　technicians；　most　of　the　officers　spent　the　vast　majority　of　their　professional　lives　as　administrators；　experts　on　instructions；　notices；　regulations；　and　budgets。　The　bureaucracy　was　mean　but　certainly　not　lean。
　Confusing；　Jake　mused；　glancing　once　again　at　Franks'　portico；　very　confusing。
　Unlike　the　trendy　and　not　so　trendy　humans　who　stood　admiring　it；　TRX's　prototype　was　exquisite　functionality。　The　mission　was　all…weather　attack。　The　plane　would　be　launched　from　the　deck　of　an　aircraft　carrier；　in　any　weather　day　or　night；　to　penetrate　the　enemy's　defenses；　find　and　destroy　the　target　without　outside　aid；　and　return　to　the　tiny　ship　in　the　vast　ocean　from　whence　it　came；　there　to　be　refueled　and　rearmed　and　launched　again。　Every　form　and　feature　had　been　carefully　crafted　for　the　rigid　demands　of　this　mission；　and　no　other。
　As　he　stood　listening　to　the　engineers　describe　their　creation；　Jake　Grafton's　eye　fell　on　Rita　Moravia　and　Toad　Tarkington；　two　intelligent　young　people　in　perfect　health　with　good　educations。　They　and　others　like　them　would　have　to　use　this　machine　as　a　weapon；　when　and　if。　The　technocrats　would　build　it　and　take　it　to　sea。　Yet　the　plane　would　never　be　anything　but　a　cunning　collection　of　glue；　diodes；　and　weird　alloys。　The　attack　must　e　from　the　hearts　of　those　who　rode　it　down　the　catapult　into　the　sky。
　The　important　things　in　war　never　change。　As　always；　victory　would　go　to　those　who　prepared　wisely；　planned　well；　and　drove　home　their　thrusts　with　a　grim；　fierce　determination。
　When　the　F…14　chase　plane　was　safely　airborne；　Rita　Moravia　smoothly　advanced　the　throttles　to　the　stops　and　let　the　two　improved　F404　engines　wind　up　to　fill！　power　as　she　checked　the　trim　setting　one　more　time。　The　cockpit　noise　level　was　higher　than　in　the　Consolidated　plane；　and　no　doubt　the　roar　of　the　engines　outside　was　also　louder。　The　exhausts　had　not　been　as　deeply　inset　above　the　wing　and　cooled　as　extensively　with　bypass　air　from　the　pressors；　consequently　more　of　the　engine's　rated　power　was　available　to　propel　the　plane　through　the　atmosphere。　And　the　noise　was　not　the　only　clue：　she　could　feel　slightly　more　vibration　and　a　perceptibly　greater　dip　of　the　nose　as　the