scoonts.theminotaur-第67章

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　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　we　have　Guinness；　Watney's；　Steinlager…〃
　〃Gimme　a　Bud。　In　a　bottle。〃
　He　saw　Harlan　Albright　e　in　about　fifteen　minutes　later　and　grab　an　empty　stool　on　the　far　end。　Albright　was　carrying　a　gym　bag。
　Nice　touch　that；　Judy　decided。　Half　the　people　in　the　place；　men　and　women；　had　a　gyro　bag　with　them　or　were　wearing　exercise　clothes。　Not　sweaty　tank　tops　and　grungy　shorts；　mind　you；　but　stuff　that　looked　like　it　came　from　Saks　and　routinely　visited　a　dry…cleaning　plant。
　When　the　man　beside　Judy　left　to　visit　a　woman　who　had　just　slipped　into　a　booth；　Albright　came　over　and　sat　on　the　vacant　stool。
　〃Ever　been　here　before？〃
　〃Nope。　Gonna　e　back；　though。　This　is　a　real　meat　market。　And　on　a　Monday　evening　too！〃
　〃Next　Monday。　A　week　from　today；　same　time；　right　here。〃　Albright　signaled　the　bartender；　laid　a　five　on　the　wood　and　left。　Smoke　nursed　his　second　beer。　The　mirror　behind　the　bar　gave　him　an　excellent　view　of　the　Lycra　thighs　and　hungry　eyes　of　the　female　patrons；　most　of　whom　seemed　to　be　drinking　white　wine　or　Perrier　with　a　twist。
　Smoke　Judy；　fighter　pilot；　took　a　last　swallow　and　counted　his　change。　He　left　a　dollar　tip。　With　a　final　glance　around；　he　hoisted　the　gym　bag　and　walked　out；　right　past　some　sweet　little　piece　in　spandex　on　her　way　in。
　
　Tuesday　evening　Rita　grinned　as　Toad　entered　her　room。　She　had　been　moved　from　the　ICU　and　was　in　a　semiprivate　room；　but　the　other　bed　was　empty。　The　respirator　and　heart　monitor　had　not　acpanied　her。
　Toad　closed　the　door　behind　him　and　kissed　her。　〃How　you　feeling？〃
　〃Like　I　got　hit　by　a　truck。〃　Her　voice　was　soft；　almost　a　whisper。
　〃I've　been　talking　to　the　doctor。　They're　going　to　medevac　you　to　Bethesda　on　Thursday　if　you　keep　improving。　Being　as　how　I'm　next　of　kin；　I　get　to　ride　along。〃
　〃Good；〃　she　said；　and　continued　to　grin　with　her　eyes　on　him。
　〃So；〃　he　said；　returning　her　smile。　〃So。〃
　〃I've　read　a　little　bit。〃　Her　grin　broadened。
　〃I　thought　you　couldn't　focus　very　well　yet。〃
　〃I　can't。　Read　a　little　here；　a　little　there。　The　Adventures　of　Tarkington。　You're　a　pretty　good　writer。〃
　〃You're　a　poor　critic。〃
　〃I'm　glad　I　married　you。〃
　〃I'm　damn　glad　you　did。〃
　The　air　force　roedevac　plane；　a　C…141；　landed　at　Andrews　AFB。　Rita　traveled　the　rest　of　the　way　to　Bethesda　in　an　ambulance。　That　evening；　when　she　awoke　from　her　nap；　Toad　was　waiting　with　her　parents；　whom　he　had　driven　straight　to　the　hospital　from　National　Airport。
　Mrs。　Moravia　was　teary　but　determined　to　maintain　a　stiff　upper　lip。　Five　minutes　after　she　arrived　she　launched　into　a　speech　that　she　had　apparently　been　rehearsing　for　weeks：
　〃It's　time；　Rita。　It's　time。　You've　got　a　fine　husband　and　it's　time　you　stopped　this　flying　business。　Why；　Sarah　Bames…you　remember　Sarah；　the　cheerleader　who　went　to　Bryn　Mawr？　Such　a　sweet　girl！　I　can't　think　of　her　new　married　name。。。　Sarah　just　had　her　second　baby；　a　perfectly　darling　little　boy。　Her　husband's　a　med　student　who's　going　into　pediatrics。　And　Nancy　Stroh；　who　married　that　new　dentist　from　Newport…you　knew　about　that；　a　perfectly　gorgeous　wedding　in　May…her　mother　told　me　just　last　week　that　Nancy's　practically　pregnant。　And　Kimberly　Hyer。。。〃
　Mr。　Moravia　slipped　out　into　the　hallway　and　Toad　followed…
　〃She　looks　very　tired。〃
　〃She's　had　a　long　day；〃　Toad　said。
　〃Is　she　going　to　recover　pletely？〃
　〃No　way　to　tell。　The　physical　therapy　will　start　in　a　few　weeks　and　we'll　know　more　then。　Right　now　she's　pretty　desperate　to　get　out　of　that　lower…body　cast。　The　itching　and　all　is　driving　her　nuts。　That's　a　good　sign；　I　think。〃
　Ten　minutes　later；　as　they　finished　coffees　from　a　vending　machine；　Toad　suggested；　〃Maybe　we'd　better　go　get　your　wife　and　say　good　night　to　Rita。　She　wears　down　pretty　quickly　and　she'll　need　some　sleep。〃
　〃We　can　visit　some　more　in　the　morning；〃　the　older　man　agreed。
　Walking　back　toward　the　room；　Toad　said；　〃Rita　turned　out　a　little　different　than　her　mom。〃
　〃Different　generations。〃　Mr。　Moravia　shrugged。　He　was　a　philosopher。
　〃They　want　different　things；〃　Toad　said；　probing　gently。
　〃Every　generation　does。〃
　〃Rita'll　keep　flying　if　the　doctors　let　her。〃
　〃I　believe　you。　Madeline's　just　blowing　off　steam。　Rita　knows　that。　Where　are　we　going　to　eat　tonight？〃
　The　next　morning；　a　Friday；　Toad　acpanied　the　Moravias　to　the　hospital；　then　had　Mr。　Moravia　drop　him　at　a　Metro　station。　They　were　going　to　the　National　Gallery。　Toad　went　to　the　office。
　Even　the　subways　were　stifling　in　the　August　heat。　Toad's　white　uniform　shirt　threatened　to　melt　before　he　reached　the　air…conditioned　sanctuary　of　the　lobby　in　Crystal　City。
　The　elevator　took　forever　to　respond　to　the　call　button。　He　waited　impatiently。　For　seven　weeks　now　he　had　been　speculating　on　the　cause　of　the　accident；　and　Jake　Grafton　and　Helmut　Fritsche　and　Smoke　Judy　had　all　refused　to　enlighten　him　on　the　telephone。　They　had　been　nonmittal。　〃We're　investigating。〃　That　was　the　party　line。　Toad　jabbed　the　up　button　again。　He　wanted　some　answers。
　He　gave　the　secretary　the　hi　sign　and　marched　straight　for　Grafton's　office。　The　door　was　closed；　so　he　knocked；　then　opened　it　and　stuck　his　head　in。　〃'Lo；　Captain。〃　Two　men　he　didn't　know　were　sitting　in　the　guest　chairs。
　〃Be　with　you　in　a　few　minutes；　Toad。　Good　to　see　you　back。〃
　Tarkington　went　to　his　desk　and　impatiently　pawed　the　stuff　in　his　in　basket。　Routine　read…and…initial　crap。　He　threw　his　hat　on　his　desk　and　sat　staring　at　Grafton's　closed　door。
　The　secretary　came　over　to　his　desk。　〃How's　Rita？〃
　〃She's　up　at　Bethesda。　I　think　she's　gonna　be　okay。〃
　〃It　was　big　news　around　here　that　you　two　were　married。〃　She　grinned　and　leaned　forward　conspiratorially。　〃None　of　us　had　any　idea！　It's　so　romantic。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　said　Toad　Tarkington。
　〃We're　all　just　delighted　that　she's　doing　so　well。　We've　had　her　in　our　thoughts　and　prayers　every　day。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Toad　said；　finally　pulling　his　eyes　from　Grafton's　door　and　giving　the　woman　a　smile。　〃Know　anything　about　that　accident？　Why　it　happened？〃
　〃It's　all　very　hush…hush；〃　she　confided；　her　voice　low。　She　glanced　around。　〃I　just　haven't　seen　anything　on　it；　but　it　was　so　temblor。〃
　After　he　assured　her　he　would　convey　her　good　wishes　to　Rita；　she　went　back　to　her　desk。　She　was　sitting　there　sorting　the　mail　when　Smoke　Judy　came　in。　Toad　went　over　to　him。　〃mander；　good　to　see　you。〃
　〃Hey；　Tarkington。　How's　your　wife？〃
　〃Gonna　be　okay；　I　think。　mander。　Say〃…Toad　drew　the　senior　officer　away　from　the　secretary's　desk…〃what　can　you　tell　me　about　the　accident　investigation？　What　went　wrong？〃
　〃Toad；　all　that　is　classified　special　access；　and　I　don't　know　if　you　have　access。　All　I've　seen　is　the　confidential　section　of　the　report。　You'll　have　to　talk　to　Captain　Grafton。〃
　〃Sorta　off　the　record；　it　was　the　E…PROMs；　wasn't　it？　I　figure　EMI　dicked　them　up。〃　EMI　was　Electromagnetic　Interference。
　Judy　grinned。　〃Ask　Grafton。　Give　my　best　to　your　wife。　And　congratulations！〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　Grafton's　door　opened　and　Toad　stood。　He　watched　the　two　men　in　civilian　clothes　who　came　out。　Their　eyes　swept　the　office　as　they　exited；　casually；　taking　in　everything　at　a　glance。　Toad　forgot　about　them　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　sight。　He　was　walking　toward　the　door　when　Jake　Grafton　stuck　his　head　out　and　motioned　to　him…
　〃How's　Rita？〃
　〃Settled　in　at　Bethesda；　sir。　The　reason　I　wanted　to　see　you〃…Toad　carefully　closed　the　door…〃is　that　I　want　to　know　why　that　plane　went　out　of　control。　What　have　you　guys　found　out？〃
　Jake　Grafton　stood　with　his　back　to　Toad；　facing　the　window。　In　a　moment　he　rubbed　his　nose；　then　tugged　at　an　earlobe。
　〃What　have　you　found　out；　sir？〃　Toad　asked　again。
　〃Huh？　Oh。　Sorry。　The　E…PROMs　were　defective。〃
　〃EMI。　I'll　bet。〃
　〃No。　The　chips　were　defective。　Won't　happen；　can't　happen；　not　a　chance　in　a　zillion；　but　it　did。〃　Grafton　shoved　both　hands　into　his　pockets　and　turned　around　slowly。　He　stared　at　a　corner　of　his　desk。　〃Defective　when　installed。〃
　Something　was　amiss。　〃When　did　you　learn　this？〃　Toad　said。
　〃Uh；　we　knew　something　was　wrong　with　the　chips　when　we　saw　the　telemetry；　but。。。　ah。。。〃　He　gestured　vaguely　at　the　door。　〃Those　guys　who　were　just　here。。。〃
　〃Who　were　they？〃
　〃Uh。。。〃　Suddenly　the　wrinkles　disappeared　from　Jake　Grafton's　brow　and　he　looked　straight　at　Toad's　face；　as　if　seeing　him　for　the　first　time。　〃Can't　tell　you　that；〃　he　said　curtly。　〃Classified。〃
　〃CAG；　I've　got　a　wife　who　may　be　crippled　for　life。　I　need　to　know。〃
　〃You　want　to　know。　There's　a　hell　of　a　difference。　Glad　you're　back。〃
　Toad　tried　to　approach　the　subject　from　another　angle；　only　to　be　rebuffed　and　shown　the　door。
　Jake　Grafton　went　back　to　the　window　and　stared　without　seeing。　Agents　Camacho　and　Dreyfus　had　been　informative；　to　a　point。　No　doubt　it　was　a　rare　experience　for　them；　answering　the　questions　instead　of　asking　them。　And　all　those　looks　and　pauses；　searching　for　words！　A　performance！　That's　what　it　had　been…a　performance。　Produced　and　acted　because　Vice　Admiral　Henry　demanded　it。　Well；　as　little　satisfaction　as　they　gave；　they　were　still　virgins。
　So　what　did　he　know？　The　E…PROMs　were　defective。　The　data　on　the　chips　was　that　of　preliminary　engineering　work　done　several　years　ago。　Somehow。。。　No。　Someone　in　this　office　or　at　TRX　had　given　that　data　to　the　manufacturer。　The　agents　had　skated　around　that　conclusion；　but　they　didn't　challenge　it。　They　couldn't。　〃Who？〃　was　the　question　they　had　refused　to　answer。　He　had　run　through　names　to　see　if　he　could　get　a　reaction；　but　no。　They　had　just　stared　at　him。
　〃Does　this　have　anything　to　do　with　Captain　Strong's　death？〃　He　had　asked　them　that　and　they　had　discussed　the　possibilities；　in　the　end　saying　nothing　of　substance。　They　should　have　been　politicians；　not　federal　agents。
　The　only　fact　he　now　had　that　he　hadn't　had　before　was　that　the　data　on　the　chips　matched　preliminary　engineering　work。　For　that　they　had　e　at　Henry's　insistence？
　〃Why　in　hell；〃　Jake　muttered；　〃does　everything　have　to　be　so　damned　plicated？〃
　
　At　2　P。M。　Smoke　Judy　decided　to　do　it。　The　desk　beside　him　was　empty。　Les　Richards　was　at　a　meeting　and　would　be　for　another　hour；　at　least。　Most　of　the　people　in　the　office　were　busy　on　Captain　Grafton's　report　or　were　in　a　meeting　somewhere。
　He　inserted　a　formatted　disk　in　the　a…drive　of　his　terminal　and　started　tapping。　The　code　word　for　the　file　he　wanted　was　〃kilderkin。〃　He　didn't　legally　have　access　to　this　file。　The　code　word　that　Albright　had　supplied　was　a　word　he　had　never　heard　before。　Before　he　typed　it；　he　wiped　his　hands　on　his　trousers　and　adjusted　the　brightness　level　of　the　screen。
　He　had　been　debating　this　all　week。　He　had　a　hundred　grand　of　Albright's　money　plus　the　bucks　he　already　had。　He　could　walk　out　of　here　this　evening；　jump　a　plane　at　Dulles　tomorrow　and　by　7　A。M。　Monday　be　so　far　from　Washington　these　clowns　would　never　find　him。　Not　in　fifty　years；　even　if　he　lived　to　be　ninety…three。
　He　would　be　stiffing　Albright；　of　course；　but　the　man　was　a　spy　and