scoonts.theminotaur-第72章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃His　strategy；　apparently；　is　to　get　the　A…12　defeated。　The　story　I　hear　from　a　couple　aides　is　that　Athena　is　such　a　revolutionary　new　technology；　it　needs　to　be　produced　and　evaluated　before　the　navy　buys　any　stealth　airplanes…i。e。；　neither　prototype　will　be　purchased。　Then　Consolidated　can　participate　in　another　petition　for　a　more　conventional　design　that　makes　full　use　of　Athena's　capabilities。　The　argument　is　that　a　more　conventional　airplane　that　uses　Athena　exclusively　for　stealth　protection　will　save　the　government　several　billions。〃
　〃Is　he　going　to　try　this　out　on　Caplinger？〃
　〃Nope。　He's　going　to　let　Caplinger　and　Dunedin　testify；　then　wring　the　juice　out　of　Dodgers　and　dump　it　all　in　your　lap　in　the　hope　you'll　blow　it。〃
　〃Has　he　got　the　votes？〃
　〃Not　yet。　There　are　enough　fence　sitters　so　that　the　issue　is　very　much　up　in　the　air。　We　had　the　A…12　sold　to　the　Senate　and　the　House　mittees　until　Athena　came　along；　but　with　the　headlines　lately…and　the　budget　deficit…any　way　they　can　save　money　looks　better　and　better。〃
　Jake　knew　the　headlines　Knight　was　referring　to。　The　Soviets　under　Mikhail　Gorbachev　had　renounced　world　domination；　and　the　aftershocks　were　being　felt　in　capitals　around　the　world。　Gorbachev　was　well　on　his　way　to　being　the　most　popular　and　overexposed　human　on　the　planet；　eclipsing　rock　stars；　athletes；　and；　in　some　places；　even　God。　The　Cold　War　was　over；　according　to　some　mentators　and　politicians　with　their　own　agendas。　True　or　not；　the　perception　of　great　change　taking　place　in　the　〃evil　empire〃　had　profound　consequences　for　the　foreign　and　domestic　policy　of　every　Western　democracy；　and　none　more　so　than　the　United　States。
　The　two　officers　spent　the　morning　going　over　the　cost　projections　of　the　A…12；　which　were　based　on　an　optimum　purchase　schedule。　Any　proposal　that　kept　the　A…6　in　service　for　more　years　than　already　planned　would　also　have　to　include　the　escalating　costs　of　maintaining　and　repairing　this　aging　airframe。　These　costs　were　also　calculated。　Finally；　any　new　proposal　for　another　design　would　incur　huge　upfront　costs；　as　the　A…12　program　had；　and　to　kill　the　A…12　now　would　mean　all　the　money　spent　to　date　would　be　wasted。
　After　lunch　Knight；　an　officer　from　the　Office　of　Legislative　Affairs；　and　Jake's　staff　gathered　in　the　conference　room　and　pretended　to　be　a　congressional　panel。　They　spent　the　afternoon　grilling　him。　By　five　o'clock　he　was　drained　and　hoarse。
　
　Callie　was　reading　Amy　a　bedtime　story　when　the　telephone　rang。　The　girl　leaped　for　the　phone；　then　held　it　out　to　Jake。　〃Captain　Grafton。〃
　〃This　is　Luis　Camacho。　Do　you　have　a　Robert　E。　Tarkington　working　for　you？〃
　〃What's　he　done　now？〃　Tarkington　had　been　on　the　mock　panel　this　afternoon　and　had　done　a　terrible　job。　His　heart　had　obviously　not　been　in　it
　〃Well；　he's　not　at　home；　for　one　thing。　His　car　is　sitting　outside　an　apartment　building　in　Momingside　and　we　think　he's　in　it。　It's　the　building　that　mander　Judy　lives　in。　He's　right　smack…dab　in　the　middle　of　our　surveillance。〃
　〃So　run　him　off。〃
　〃Well；　that　might　produce　sticky　plications。　I　understand　he　has　reason　to　bear　Judy　a　grudge　concerning　his　wife's　injuries　a　couple　months　ago。　He　might　be　armed。　If　so；　be　might　be　arrested　on　a　concealed　weapons　charge；　which　I　suppose　wouldn't　do　his　navy　career　much　good。〃
　〃It　wouldn't。　What　if　I　ran　him　off？〃
　〃Would　you？　Here's　the　address。〃　Camacho　gave　it；　said　goodbye；　then　hung　up。
　Came　looked　at　Jake　with　raised　eyebrows。　〃Would　you　ladies　like　to　go　for　a　ride　before　bedtime？　Maybe　get　some　frozen　yogurt？〃
　After　five　minutes　of　furious　activity；　the　females　were　ready。　Jake　drove　through　the　heart　of　monumental　Washington　and　ended　up　on　the　Suitland　Parkway。　Callie　gave　him　directions　with　the　aid　of　a　map。　They　got　lost　once　but　eventually　found　the　right　street。
　Although　it　was　after　9　P。M。；　it　had　been　totally　dark　less　than　half　an　hour。　Heat　still　rose　from　the　streets　and　children　still　ran　through　yards。　Here　and　there　stickball　games　were　being　conducted　under　streetlights。　〃This　is　the　best　time　of　the　day；〃　Jake　told　Callie　as　they　sat　at　a　stoplight　listening　to　pop　music　pouring　from　the　open　windows　of　a　car　full　of　teenagers。
　Six　blocks　later　Callie　said；　〃That's　the　building；　I　think；　up　there　on　the　left。〃
　〃Keep　your　eyes　peeled　for　Toad；〃　Jake　advised　Amy。　〃He's　sitting　in　one　of　these　cars。〃
　〃Why？〃　Amy　asked。
　〃You'll　have　to　ask　him。　Now　look。〃
　His　car　was　parked　a　half　block　beyond　the　apartment　building。　Only　the　top　of　his　head　was　visible　as　Jake　drove　by　with　Amy　squealing　and　pointing。　Jake　turned　around　again　and　this　time　double…parked　just　past　his　car。　With　the　engine　running　and　the　transmission　in　park；　he　got　out　and　walked　back。
　Toad's　window　was　down。　He　stared　blankly　up　at　Jake's　face。
　〃We're　going　out　for　a　frozen　yogurt。　Wanta　e？〃
　〃How'd　you…〃
　〃Lock　your　car　and　climb　in　with　us。〃
　〃Jesus；　CAG；　I…〃
　Jake　opened　the　driver's　door　and　held　it。　〃e　on。　That's　an　order。〃
　Toad　rolled　up　the　windows　and　locked　the　car。　〃You　can　ride　in　back。〃　Toad　obediently　slipped　in　beside　Amy。　She　greeted　him　like　a　long…lost　friend。　〃How's　Rita？〃　she　demanded。
　〃Doing　okay；〃　Toad　said。　〃And　how　are　you；　Mrs。　Grafton？〃
　〃Just　fine。　Toad。　What　kind　of　frozen　yogurt　do　you　like？〃
　〃Any　kind；〃　Tarkington　said；　still　bewildered…
　〃Why　were　you　parked　out　here？〃　Amy　asked；　hanging　her　arms　around　Toad's　neck。　〃You　don't　live　here；　do　you？〃
　〃Waiting　on　a　man。　He　hasn't　shown　up。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Amy　thought　about　it。　〃When　can　we　see　Rita？〃
　〃Anytime　you　want。〃
　〃Well；　it's　only　nine　o'clock；〃　Jake　said　to　Callie。　〃No　school　tomorrow　for　you　aristocrats。　What　say　we　drive　over　to　Bethesda　and　see　if　Rita's　still　awake？　That　okay　with　you。　Toad？〃
　〃Sure；　Captain；　sure。〃
　They　stopped　at　a　mall　near　the　beltway　entrance　and　bought　cones　of　frozen　yogurt。　Everyone　got　one。　As　Amy　skipped　back　toward　the　car　and　the　adults　followed；　Toad　asked　Jake。　〃How'd　you　know　where　I　was？〃
　〃FBI　called　me。　They　don't　want　you　there。〃
　The　younger　man　bristled。　〃It's　a　public　street。　And　I　didn't　see　them　lurking　around　waiting　on　anybody。〃
　〃Oh；　they're　there。　They　saw　you；　got　your　license　number；　ran　the　plate　and　called　me。　They　really　didn't　want　to　arrest　you　on　a　felony　weapons　charge。〃
　Toad's　shoulders　sagged。
　〃You　must　get　on　with　your　life；〃　Callie　said　gently；　〃yours　and　Rita's；　for　you　are　part　of　her。〃
　〃Let's　go　see　her。〃　Jake　suggested；　and　led　the　way　toward　the　car。
　Tarkington　rode　silently　as　Amy　chattered　between　licks　on　her　cone。　He　put　his　tongue　in　motion　in　the　hospital　reception　room　after　the　woman　at　the　desk　said；　〃It's　after　visiting　hours；　Lieutenant。〃
　〃I　know；　but　I'm　her　husband。　These　are　my　folks；　just　in　from　the　Coast。　We'll　be　quiet　and　not　stay　long。〃　Toad　winked　at　her　and　gave　her　his　most　sincere　lying　smile。
　〃I　don't　suppose　a　short　visit　after　hours　will　do　any　real　harm。　For　such　close　relatives。〃
　〃Toad；〃　Amy　asked　in　the　elevator；　〃why　did　you　tell　that　lady　a　lie？〃
　〃I　didn't　really　lie；〃　Toad　explained。　〃See；　I　winked　at　her　and　she　knew　you　weren't　my　relatives；　that　I　was　just　giving　her　a　good　reason　to　bend　the　rules　a　tiny　bit。　If　I　tell　you　a　story　about　fairies　and　frogs　and　passionate　princesses；　you　know　it　isn't　true　and　so　it　isn't　a　lie；　is　it？　It's　a　story。〃
　〃Well。。。〃　Amy　said　as　she　scrunched　up　her　brows　and　tried　to　follow　Toad's　logic。
　〃I　knew　you'd　understand；　sis；〃　Toad　said　as　the　elevator　door　opened。　He　led　them　off　and　along　the　corridor　toward　Rita's　room。
　Rita　was　asleep　when　they　tiptoed　into　the　room。　〃Maybe　we　should　let　her　sleep；〃　Callie　suggested。
　Toad　bent　over　and　whispered　her　name。　Her　eyes　fluttered。　Then　he　kissed　her　cheek。　〃You've　got　pany；　dearest〃
　〃Oh；　Callie！　Amy！　Captain　Grafton。　What　a　pleasant　surprise。　How　nice　of　you　to　e　by。〃
　〃Toad　brought　us；〃　Amy　said。　〃He　lied　to　the　lady　downstairs。　Said　we　were　his　family。〃　She　winked　hugely　while　Callie　rolled　her　eyes。
　Thirty　minutes　later　Jake　insisted　they　had　to　go。　He　led　his　family　down　the　corridor　while　Toad　said　a　private　goodbye　to　Rita。　Amy　was　tiring　and　talking　too　loud；　so　Callie　tried　to　hush　her；　which　made　her　whine。　Jake　picked　her　up　and　carried　her。
　In　the　car　Callie　chided　Toad。　〃You　sitting　in　that　car　in　Momingside　while　your　in…laws　are　at　your　house。　You　should　be　ashamed。〃
　〃Well。。。〃
　〃When　Rita　gets　out　of　the　hospital；　you　must　bring　her　over　to　the　beach　some　weekend。〃
　〃Sure。　You　bet；　Mrs。　Grafton。　I　will。〃
　Back　in　Momingside；　Jake　double…parked　across　the　street　and　walked　with　Toad　over　to　his　car。　Jake　waited　until　Tarkington　had　the　car　unlocked；　then　said；　〃You　have　a　beautiful　wife；　a　good　job；　and　all　of　life　before　you。　Don't　fuck　it　up　by　sitting　here　waiting　to　kill　a　man。〃
　〃You　saw　what　he　did　to　Rita。〃
　〃Yeah。　And　if　you　get　lucky　and　get　a　bullet　into　him；　the　stuff　that　will　happen　to　you　afterwards　will　hurt　her　a　lot　worse　than　the　airplane　crash　did。　You'll　be　the　one　who　twisted　the　knife。　Don't　do　that　to　her。〃
　〃Yessir。〃　Toad　shook　Jake's　hand；　then　climbed　into　the　car　and　cranked　the　window　down。
　〃Thanks；　CAG。。。〃
　〃It's　a　good　life；　kid。　Don't　throw　it　away；〃
　〃。。。for　the　frozen　yogurt。〃　Tarkington　started　his　car　and　snapped　on　the　headlights。
　〃Night；　Toad。〃
　〃Good　night；　sir。〃
　As　soon　as　Jake　got　his　car　rolling；　Amy　stretched　out　in　the　backseat。　In　a　few　minutes　he　checked　that　she　was　asleep；　then　said　to　Callie；　〃Admiral　Henry　had　a　notebook。〃　He　told　her　what　he　had　learned　from　Camacho；　that　Callie's　psychologist　was　telling　Henry　what　she　said　in　her　therapy　sessions。
　〃Oh；　Jake。〃　She　bit　her　lip。　〃I've　half　a　mind　to　write　a　letter　to　the　Medical　Board。〃
　〃He　was　just　trying　to　help　Henry。〃
　〃Damn　him。〃　He　looked　at　her。　She　was　rigid；　with　both　fists　clenched。
　He　began　to　talk。　He　told　her　about　the　Minotaur；　about　Smoke　Judy　and　Luis　Camacho　and　the　Russian　spy。　Crossing　the　Anacostia　River；　going　north　on　South　Capitol　Street；　creeping　through　the　cooling　evening　along　Independence　Avenue　by　the　Air　and　Space　Museum；　he　told　her　everything　he　knew。
　She　listened　carefully。　They　were　parked　facing　the　Lincoln　Memorial　on　Twenty…third　Street　and　watching　the　crowd　still　going　to　and　from　the　Wall　when　she　said；　〃Camacho　told　the　spy　about　Judy？〃
　〃That　Judy　was　corrupt？　Yes。　So　he　says。〃
　〃He　wanted　something　to　happen。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃He　was　trying　to　make　something　happen。〃
　〃Something　has　happened。　Judy　tried　to　steal　the　Athena　file　and　killed　Henry　getting　away。〃
　〃That　wasn't　it；〃　she　said；　speaking　with　conviction。　〃Henry　had　ordered　the　file　changed；　the　documents　moved。　You　knew…everyone　with　access　knew。　Camacho　must　have　warned　Henry。〃
　〃But　if　Camacho　knows　a　Soviet　spy　and　talks　to　him；　why　doesn't　he　arrest　him？〃
　〃Something　is　supposed　to　happen。　Something　involving　the　spy　and　the　Minotaur。　And　it　hasn't　happened　yet〃
　
　On　Friday　morning　at　7　A。M。　Jake　met　Rob　Knight　in　a　bagel　joint　on　Independence　Avenue；　two　blocks　east　of　the　Capitol　As　they　huddled　at　a　tiny　table　in　a　corner　munching　bagels　smeared　wi