scoonts.theminotaur-第66章

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king　for　likely　drop　sites。　Directly　across　the　road　was　a　Methodist　church。　Three　or　four　cars　in　the　lot；　no　people　in　sight。
　He　turned　right；　toward　Fulton。　He　went　through　the　village　and　out　to　Route　29；　which　he　crossed　and　continued　on　through　Skaggsville；　across　1…95；　and　into　Laurel；　where　he　turned　around　in　the　parking　lot　of　a　convenience　store　and　began　retracing　Iris　route　as　he　watched　for　vehicles　he　had　seen　before　and　scanned　the　sky　for　airplanes。
　Exactly　thirty　minutes　later；　at　2：47　P。M。；　he　again　passed　Reservoir　Road　on　Lime　Kirn。　Someone　was　changing　a　flat　tire　on　a　van　fifty　yards　up　the　hill　on　Reservoir。　He　hadn't　seen　that　van　before。　Maybe。　It　could　be　the　FBI。　Or　it　could　be　anybody。　He　continued　past　and　slowed　for　the　stone　fountain。
　The　7…Up　can　was　still　there。　No　vehicles　in　sight。　No　people　on　the　hills　that　he　could　see。　No　choppers　or　planes　overhead。　He　kept　rolling　past　the　fountain　and　dropped　down　to　the　Brown　Bridge　Road　intersection。
　He　stopped　at　the　stop　sign　and　looked　both　ways。　No　traffic。　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　thinking　about　the　van　with　the　flat　tire；　weighing　it。
　He　turned　left。　The　road　ran　along　a　creek　that　was　dropping　toward　the　Patuxent　River。　The　little　valley　was　heavily　wooded。　Houses　sat　amid　the　trees　off　to　his　left；　but　the　steep　bank　on　his　right　was　a　forest。
　Two…tenths　of　a　mile　from　the　intersection　a　gravel　road　branched　off　to　the　right。　〃Schooley　Mill　Road；〃　the　sign　read。　He　took　it。
　The　road　was　narrow；　no　more　than　ten　feet　wide。　It　ran　just　along　the　north　side　of　the　creek；　parallel　to　the　asphalt　road；　which　was　twenty…five　feet　or　so　above　him　at　the　top　of　a　steep　embankment　on　his　left。　This　was　a　secluded　lovers'　lane；　for　a　few　hundred　yards　invisible　from　the　paved　road　above。　Apparently；　when　the　teenagers　weren't　screwing　here；　the　locals　used　this　lane　as　a　trash　depository。　Green　garbage　bags；　beer　and　soda…pop　cans　lay　abandoned　alongside　the　gravel。
　There　was　one　paved　driveway　leading　north　from　this　road；　and　it　had　a　mailbox　on　a　wooden　post。　He　passed　the　box　and　stopped　at　the　first　large　tree。　He　bolted　out　the　passenger　door；　set　the　Dr　Pepper　can　at　the　base　of　the　tree　and　jumped　back　in　the　car。
　A　tenth　of　a　mile　later　Schooley　Mill　Road　rejoined　Brown　Bridge　Road。　Two…tenths　of　a　mile　after　he　was　back　on　the　asphalt　he　crossed　Brown　Bridge；　a　modem　low　concrete　highway　bridge　across　the　Patuxent　River；　which　was　several　hundred　yards　wide　here。　Now　this　highway　became　Ednor　Road。　He　continued　the　two　miles　to　New　Hampshire　Avenue；　Maryland　Route　650；　and　turned　left。　He　had　to　be　back　at　the　drop　in　twenty…five　minutes。　He　checked　his　watch。
　Eight　thousand　feet　overhead　in　a　Cessna　172；　Agent　Clarence　Brown　laid　his　binoculars　in　his　lap　and　rubbed　his　eyes　as　he　keyed　the　mike。　〃Subject　went　down　that　Schooley　Mill　fuck　road　and　was　hidden　by　the　trees　for　about　two　minutes。　He　might　have　stopped　in　there。　You　better　check　it。〃
　Sitting　in　the　van　with　the　wheel　off　on　Reservoir　Road；　Lloyd　Dreyfus　turned　to　the　man　beside　him。　〃That　can　down　at　the　spring　wasn't　the　drop。　The　subject　was　just　testing　the　water。〃
　〃You　sure？〃
　〃Hell　no。〃　But　Dreyfus　felt　it　in　his　gut。　He　looked　at　his　map。　The　drops　were　close　together；　too　close　really。　Albright　should　have　been　more　careful。　He's　getting　careless。
　〃Think　he's　spotted　the　plane？〃
　〃No；〃　Dreyfus　said。　〃Brown's　too　high。　He　flew　right　over　us　a　couple　minutes　ago。　You　can't　hear　him　at　that　altitude　and　you　can't　see　him　unless　you　know　where　to　look。〃
　Dreyfus　keyed　the　radio　mike。　〃Stay　on　him；　Clarence。　I　want　to　know　when　he's　ing　back。〃
　〃Roger。〃
　To　the　man　beside　him　Dreyfus　said；　〃Have　the　guys　get　the　wheel　back　on。　Get　ready　to　roll　fast。〃　Then　he　switched　frequencies　and　began　moving　his　agents。
　
　Ten　minutes　later　when　Vastly　Pochinkov　passed　the　Methodist　church　on　Route　216　and　turned　onto　Brown　Bridge　Road；　he　was　photographed　from　a　station　wagon　parked　in　the　church　parking　lot　amid　four　other　cars。　He　never　noticed。　His　eye　was　captured　by　the　svelte　figure　of　a　woman　in　shorts　walking　toward　the　church　door。
　He　glanced　at　his　wife　in　the　passenger　seat　as　she　hunted　for　a　glove　on　the　floor。　She　had　dropped　it　and　was　feeling　blindly。　She　was　too　fat　to　bend　over　and　look　for　it。
　Why　is　it；　he　wondered；　not　for　the　first　time　that　all　Russian　women　have　figures　like　potato　sacks　while　American　women　keep　their　figures　well　past　middle　age？　You　wouldn't　know　it　to　look　at　her；　but　this　potato　bag　was　only　thirty…four　years　old　and　had　had　the　figure　of　a　ballerina　when　he　married　her　just　twelve　years　ago。　It　took　a　lot　of　vodka　these　days　to　prime　himself　for　an　expedition　between　those　padded　pillars　she　called　thighs。
　〃Get　ready；　Nadya。　Get　the　gloves　on。〃
　The　road　began　to　twist　and　descend　as　it　dropped　toward　Brown　Bridge。　Pochinkov　slowed　to　twenty…five　miles　per　hour；　watched　the　odometer　and　looked　for　Schooley　Mill　Road。
　There！
　He　saw　the　Dr　Pepper　can　when　he　was　fifty　yards　away。　He　glanced　around　as　he　braked　to　a　stop。　The　glen　was　empty。　Nadya　stepped　out；　a　green　garbage　bag　in　hand；　and　placed　it　fifteen　feet　west　of　the　tree。　While　she　was　doing　that；　Pochinkov　walked　over　to　the　Dr　Pepper　can；　glanced　around　once　and　placed　a　second　one　beside　it。
　They　got　back　in　the　car；　closed　the　door　and　rolled。
　
　The　Buick　was　climbing　the　hill　on　the　south　side　of　the　river　when　the　van　shot　out　of　Lime　Kite　Road　and　roared　the　thousand　feet　to　the　entrance　to　Schooley　Mill。　The　driver　braked　to　a　halt　and　two　men　wearing　gloves　jumped　out。　One　opened　the　green　trash　bag　while　the　other　took　flash　photos。
　Inside　the　van　Lloyd　Dreyfus　was　listening　to　Agent　Brown　in　the　Cessna。　〃Subject　is　about　a　half　mile　south　of　Ednor　Road；　northbound　on　New　Hampshire。　I'd　say　you　have　no　more　than　six　or　seven　minutes。。。　He　just　passed　the　drop　car；　which　was　southbound。〃
　The　two　men　piled　back　into　the　van　within　a　minute。　The　agent　at　the　wheel　fed　gas　when　he　heard　the　rear　door　slam。　When　he　reached　the　asphalt　of　Brown　Bridge；　he　made　a　hard　left　and　beaded　east；　back　up　the　road；　toward　Lime　Kirn。
　
　The　lane　was　empty　when　Harlan　Albright　entered　four　minutes　later。　He　didn't　even　get　out　of　the　car。　After　a　glance　at　the　soda　cans；　he　merely　braked　to　a　stop　beside　the　trash　bag　and　picked　it　up。　He　set　it　on　the　floor　in　front　of　the　empty　passenger　seat　as　he　pulled　the　door　shut　with　his　left　hand　and　took　his　foot　off　the　brake。
　Glancing　in　he　could　see　trash：　a　wadded…up　bread　wrapper；　a　couple　empty　vegetable　cans；　three　squashed　soda…pop　cans　and　an　old　meat　wrapper。　They　had；　he　knew；　been　carefully　washed　so　they　would　not　attract　dogs。　Under　the　trash　was　the　money；　200；000　in　used　twenties；　one　hundred　bundles　of　a　hundred　twenties　each。
　It　was　5　P。M。　when　he　pulled　into　his　driveway　in　Silver　Spring。　The　Sunday　Post　was　still　lying　by　the　mailbox。　He　took　it　into　the　house　with　him；　turned　on　the　television；　and　settled　back　with　the　newspaper；
　
　26
　
　Toad　Tarkington　awoke　at　four…thirty　Monday　and　went　to　the　bathroom。　He　got　back　into　bed；　but　he　wasn't　sleepy。　Still　dark　outside。　Wide　awake　and　irritated　because　he　couldn't　sleep；　he　went　to　the　window　and　peered　out　Some　clouds　with　stars　visible　between　them。　Not　too　many　stars。　though。　Funny；　but　early　in　the　morning；　just　before　dawn；　the　stars　seem　to　fade；　almost　as　if　the　weaker　ones　grow　tired　of　shining　and　are　sent　home　early。
　He　prowled　the　little　room；　restless。　He　pulled　on　jeans　and　a　sweatshirt　and　was　sitting　in　the　easy　chair　when　the　light　began　to　spread　on　the　eastern　horizon。
　The　telephone　rang。
　〃Tarkington。〃
　〃Lieutenant；　this　is　the　shift　supervisor　at　the　hospital。　Your　wife　is　awake　and　she　asked　for　you。〃
　〃I'll　be　right　over。　You　tell　her！〃　He　dropped　the　instrument　onto　the　book　and　grabbed　for　his　shoes。
　The　sedan　refused　to　start。　He　jabbed　at　the　accelerator　and　held　the　key　over。　The　engine　ground　and　ground　and　didn't　fire。　Too　late　he　realized　he　had　probably　flooded　it。
　Heck。　It　was　only　three…quarters　of　a　mile　or　so　over　there。　He　slammed　the　door　behind　him　and　began　to　trot。　Awake！　Asking　for　him！　He　picked　up　the　pace。
　The　sun　was　about　ready　to　e　over　the　earth's　rim。　The　clouds　above　were　blue；　turning　pink。　Above　them　was　blue　sky。
　The　last　three　blocks　he　sprinted；　down　the　street　and　across　the　windswept　dirt　that　would　someday　be　a　lawn　and　across　the　empty　parking　lot　with　its　tumbleweeds　and　right　through　the　front　door。
　The　nurse　at　the　desk　was　grinning　as　he　charged　by。　He　studded　around　the　corner　and　lunged　down　the　hall　for　the　ICU。
　A　doctor　was　there　beside　her　bed；　talking　to　her　as　a　nurse　took　her　pulse。　The　doctor　stepped　back　as　Toad　skidded　to　a　halt　inside　the　door　and　walked　forward；　into　Rita's　line　of　sight。
　She　tried　to　grin。
　〃Hey；　babe。〃　He　bent　over　and　kissed　her。
　〃Yeah；　Mrs。　Moravia；　she's　out　of　the　a。　And　she　recognizes　me！　She's　asleep　right　now；　real　tired；　but　she's　out　of　the　a！〃
　〃Oh；　thank　God！〃
　〃I　really　think　she's　gonna　be　okay；　Mrs。　Moravia。　It's　like　a　miracle。　She　doesn't　remember　anything　about　the　flight　or　the　ejection；　but　she　remembers　me　and　being　in　Nevada　and　the　other　flights；　and　she　kept　asking　how　long　she's　been　in　the　hospital。　The　doctor　and　the　nurses　are　excited！　I'm　excited！〃　That　was　an　understatement　of　major　proportions。　He　was　so　worked　up　he　felt　like　he　could　fly　by　merely　flapping　his　arms。
　After　promising　to　call　again　after　his　next　visit　with　Rita；　Toad　called　his　parents。　He　called　his　sister　to　give　her　the　news。　He　called　Harriet；　Rita's　best　friend。　Due　to　the　time　difference　on　the　East　Coast；　Harriet　was　at　work。　And　he　called　Jake　Grafton。
　Captain　Grafton　was　also　at　the　office　and　he　could　hear　the　activity　in　the　background；　but　Toad　could　almost　see　Grafton　leaning　back　in　his　chair　and　propping　his　feet　on　his　middle　desk　drawer　as　if　he　had　all　the　time　in　the　world。　The　captain　kept　him　on　the　phone　almost　twenty　minutes；　making　him　tell　of　Rita's　every　word　and　gesture；　listening　as　long　as　Toad　wanted　to　talk。　Finally　Toad　realized　the　captain　must　have　something　else　to　do；　and　said　a　reluctant　goodbye。
　〃You　tell　her　I　said　to　get　well　quick。〃
　〃I　will；　sir。〃
　〃And　tell　her　Amy　asks　about　her　every　day。　Amy　and　Callie　have　been　pulling　real　hard　for　her。〃
　〃I'll　tell　her。〃
　〃Keep　the　faith；　shipmate；〃　Jake　Grafton　said；　and　was　gone。
　〃Yeah；〃　said　Toad　Tarkington；　hanging　up　the　receiver　and　wiping　his　eyes。　The　tears　wouldn't　stop。　So　he　laughed　and　cried　at　the　very　same　time。
　
　Monday　evening　after　work　mander　Smoke　Judy　went　home；　changed　clothes；　then　drove　to　a　bar　in　Georgetown。　He　had　trouble　finding　the　place；　then　he　had　to　park　six　blocks　away　and　hike　back。　The　streets　were　packed　with　the　trendy　and　the　chic。　Poodles　anointed　lampposts　and　fire　hydrants　as　their　ladies　gazed　away　with　a　studied　casualness。
　Judy　had　to　stand　by　the　door　until　a　stool　opened　at　the　bar。　He　perched　there　and　studied　the　beer　list　The　bartender　paused　across　the　polished　mahogany　bar　and　said；　〃On　draft　w