scoonts.theminotaur-第73章

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pitol　As　they　huddled　at　a　tiny　table　in　a　corner　munching　bagels　smeared　with　cream　cheese　and　sipping　coffee。　Knight　filled　Jake　in　on　the　testimony　of　Royce　Caplinger　and　Vice　Admiral　Dunedin　before　the　Joint　submittee　of　the　Senate　and　House　Armed　Services　mittees　the　previous　day。　Neither　had　been　asked　about　Vice　Admiral　Henry's　death　or　Smoke　Judy；　perhaps　because　the　Director　of　the　FBI　had　spent　thirty　minutes　with　the　mittee　before　Caplinger　went　on。
　〃Dodgers　will　go　first　this　morning。　Duquesne　will　be　done　with　him　in　an　hour　or　so。　He's　going　to　question　him　very　lightly　on　just　the　technical　aspects　of　Athena；　then　praise　him　to　the　skies　as　the　intellectual　heir　of　Edison；　Bell；　and　Einstein。　That's　his　plan；　anyway。〃　Knight　grinned　impishly。
　〃You　really　enjoy　this；　don't　you？〃
　〃It's　the　ultimate　theater。　The　stakes　are　money；　the　mother's　milk　of　politics；　great　heaping　mountains　of　it。　And　the　actors　are　politicians；　without　a　doubt　the　lowest　form　of　animate　life。　Charlatans；　mountebanks；　liars；　hypocrites…they'd　cut　off　your　nuts　for　another　term　in　office；　or　even　a　favorable　article　in　a　hometown　newspaper。　If　you　rendered　the　whole　lot　of　'em；　you　couldn't　skim　enough　scruples　to　fill　a　thimble。〃
　〃They're　not　all　like　that；〃　Jake　protested。
　Knight　made　a　gesture　of　frustration。　〃I　suppose　not。〃
　〃When　do　they　want　me　there？〃
　〃Well；　you're　going　to　watch　Dodger's　performance。　You　go　after　him。　Normally　these　things　are　closed…door；　but　I　got　some　members　to　sign　two　passes。〃　He　displayed　them；　then　handed　one　to　Jake。
　They　wandered　outside；　then　across　to　the　Library　of　Congress。　On　the　second　floor　of　the　giant　anteroom　they　found　a　wooden　bench　in　a　corner　and　reviewed　the　documents　Jake　would　refer　to　if　necessary　during　his　testimony。
　After　thirty　minutes；　Jake　announced　he　was　ready　and　stowed　the　documents　in　the　briefcase　he　had　chained　to　his　wrist。
　〃Nervous？〃
　〃Yeah。　My　stomach　feels　like。。。〃
　〃Well；　that's　normal。　I've　seen　vice　admirals　preparing　for　these　soirees　sweat　like　they　were　going　to　the　gallows。〃
　〃Too　bad　about　Admiral　Henry。〃
　〃Yeah。　Think　they'll　ever　catch　Judy？〃
　〃Oh；　he'll　turn　up；　sooner　or　later。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　say　if　they　ask　you　about　him？〃
　〃The　truth。　Just　watch。〃
　〃Don't　get　rattled。　If　you　can't　remember　something；　just　say　so。　And　don't　feel　bad　about　fumbling　for　a　document　I'll　be　right　there　with　you；　and　I'll　help　you　find　it。〃
　They　chatted　for　another　five　minutes　about　this　and　that；　about　their　careers；　about　mutual　friends；　about　ships　they　had　been　on。　Finally　Knight　announced　that　it　was　time。
　They　crossed　the　street　and　walked　past　the　limos　and　congressmen's　cars　parked　in　the　Capitol's　back　lot。　They　went　up　the　marble　steps　and　into　the　rotunda。
　The　place　was　packed　with　tourists　standing　in　knots　of　thirty　or　more；　cameras　clicking；　guides　roaring　their　patter　over　the　hubbub；　the　noise　echoing　in　the　huge　open　space　above。　The　two　naval　officers　in　service…dress　blue　uniforms　threaded　their　way　through　and　turned　right；　passing　between　the　statues　into　the　main　corridor。
　They　went　up　one　flight　of　stairs　and　stopped　finally　beside　a　door　manned　by　armed　security　guards；　where　they　showed　their　passes。　The　guards　consulted　a　list　and　said　they　could　go　in。
　〃You　ready？〃　Knight　asked　again。
　〃Let's　go　to　the　head　first。〃
　〃Good　idea。〃　Knight　asked　a　guard　for　directions　to　the　nearest　men's。
　Standing　shoulder　to　shoulder　at　the　urinals。　Knight　said；　〃Think　of　all　the　great　men　who　have　relieved　themselves　here…senators；　congressmen；　generals；　tycoons；　kings。　Makes　you　humble；　doesn't　it？〃
　The　hearing　room　was　a　disappointment　to　Jake。　He　had　expected　some　spacious　room　richly　decorated　in　a　courtroom　motif；　but　what　they　got　was　another　drab；　windowless　hearing　room　that　needed　paint　and　more　lights。　He　and　Knight　took　a　seat　against　the　back　wall　and　watched　the　elected　persons　make　their　way　in。　They　conferred　with　one　another　and　found　chairs　on　the　dais　that　dominated　the　room。　Duquesne　came　in；　nodded　at　Jake　and　placed　his　briefcase　at　the　speaker's　stand　in　the　center　of　the　dais。　Then　he　went　from　political　person　to　political　person　shaking　hands；　murmuring　softly。
　〃It　never　stops；　does　it？〃　Knight　whispered。
　〃They'll　be　shaking　hands　and　kissing　babies　at　their　own　funerals；〃　Jake　agreed。
　Dodgers　didn't　even　glance　around　when　he　was　led　in　by　two　men　that　Jake　assumed　were　senatorial　aides。　They　placed　him　at　the　little　witness　table　and　sat　down　on　either　side　of　him。
　With　a　glance　at　the　clock；　Duquesne　took　his　seat。　〃By　mutual　agreement；　this　is　a　meeting　of　the　Senate　and　House　Armed　Services　mittees'　joint　submittee　on　stealth　projects。　Dr。　Dodgers；　I　understand　you　are　here　by　subpoena。　Please　pass　it　to　the　clerk；　and　state　your　full　name。〃
　〃Samuel　Brooklyn　Dodgers。〃
　〃Is　that　his　real　name？〃　one　of　the　congresswomen　asked　Duquesne；　who　repeated　the　question　to　Dodgers。
　〃Yes。　I　had　it　legally　changed　some　years　back。〃
　〃Do　you　wish　to　make　a　statement　to　the　submittee？〃
　〃Yes；　I　do。〃
　Duquesne　looked　surprised。　〃Is　it　written？　Do　you　have　copies　with　you？〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　just　have　a　few　preliminary　remarks。〃
　〃Go　ahead　then。　You　have　five　minutes。〃
　〃As　you　know；　I　am　the　inventor　of　a　radar　suppression　device　that　the　U。S。　Navy　has　licensed　and　is　putting　into　production　under　the　code　name　Athena。　I　have　been　working　closely　with　the　navy　on　my　invention；　and　I　must　say；　they　are　very　enthusiastic；　as　I　am。　My　invention　renders　radar　obsolete；　makes　it　useless；　which　will　revolutionize　warfare　as　we　know　it。　I　feel　my　invention　is　the　greatest　instrument　for　God's　peace　ever　invented。　It　will　give　the　United　States　an　insurmountable　military　advantage　that　will　allow　us　to　lead　the　world　to　God's　new　kingdom　here　on　earth。　We　can　once　and　for　all　demand　that　the　heathen　nations…〃
　Senator　Duquesne　interrupted　as　his　colleagues　began　whispering　among　themselves。　〃Please　limit　your　remarks　to　the　subject　at　hand；　Dr。　Dodgers。〃
　〃Yessir。　Athena　will　allow　us　to　convert　the　Jews　and　Moslems　and　pagans　to　God…fearing；　righteous　Christians　who　won't　start　wars　or…〃
　〃Dr。　Dodgers；〃　Duquesne　said；　〃I　must　insist。　Your　invention　is　not　the　only　matter　before　this　joint　submittee。　We　are　short　of　time。　Ws　have　another　witness　to　follow　you。〃　Duquesne　gestured　at　Jake。　For　the　first　time　Dodgers　turned　and　saw　him。　〃We　could　get　right　to　the　questions；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃One　more　point；　sir。　The　naval　officer　who　is　in　charge　of　Athena　is　here　today。　Captain　Jake　Grafton。　I　see　him　sitting　back　there　against　the　wall。　I　wish　to　say　here　and　now　that　he　is　a　godless　sinner；　a　mouther　of　obscene　blasphemies；　an　agent　of　Satan。　I　have　plained　to　the　navy　and　various　members　of　Congress　to　no　avail。　I　am　a　man　of　God　and　a　man　of　peace。　I　cannot　continue　to　work　with　this…〃
　Duquesne　whacked　his　gavel。　〃Time！　Thank　you；　Dr。　Dodgers。　We'll　get　right　to　the　questions。〃
　The　aides　whispered　fervently　in　Dodgers'　ear。　Duquesne　gave　them　the　time。　When　Dodgers　seemed　to　be　settled　down；　Duquesne　led　him　through　a　set　of　simple　questions　about　Athena：　what　it　was；　how　it　worked；　what　Dodgers　projected　its　capabilities　as　being。
　〃Dr。　Dodgers；　does　the　Athena　device　have　to　go　on　a　stealth　airplane？〃
　〃No；　sir。　It　would　work　on　any　airplane；　stealth　or　not。　It　would　work　on　a　ship；　on　a　building；　on　a　tank；　a　truck…anything　that　has　a　fixed　set　of　radar…reflective　properties　that　the　puter　can　be　programmed　to　nullify。〃
　When　Duquesne　had　finished；　he　opened　the　floor　to　questions　from　other　members。　The　chairman　of　the　House　Armed　Services　mittee；　Representative　Delman　Richardson；　from　California；　went　first。
　〃I　take　it；　Doctor；　that　you　are　convinced　your　device　can　be　put　into　production　cheaply　and　in　a　timely　manner？〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃And　it　will　work？　It　will　do　what　you　and　the　navy　say　it　will　do？〃
　〃Yes。　That　is　correct。　It　will　prevent　the　object　that　it　is　placed　upon　from　being　detected　by　radar。〃
　〃Yet；　if　I　understand　your　earlier　statement　correctly；　you　think　we　should　use　this　military　advantage　to　convert　the　peoples　of　the　world　to　Christianity？〃
　An　uproar　ensued　as　Duquesne　tried　to　rule　the　question　out　of　order　and　various　members　all　tried　to　talk　at　once。　The　issue　seemed　to　be　whether　the　members　from　the　House　could　ask　the　questions　they　could　have　asked　had　they　not　agreed　to　a　joint　hearing　to　save　time。　While　all　this　was　going　on　Rob　Knight　nudged　Jake。　〃Best　show　in　town；〃　he　whispered。
　On　the　threat　of　being　abandoned　by　the　House　submittee　members；　Duquesne　caved　in。　Dodgers　was　given　free　rein　to　state　his　views　on　religion；　sin；　and　conspiracies　by　each　and　every　minority　he　could　readily　recall。　Duquesne　took　it　like　a　man；　Jake　thought　he　should　have　known　better。　Other　mittee　members　took　it　less　well；　seeming　to　take　offense　that　they　had　to　sit　through　a　recitation　of　Dodgers'　poisonous　inanities。
　Dodgers　was　finally　silenced　by　mutual　consent　and　shown　the　door。　After　a　ten…minute　recess；　it　was　Jake's　turn。　Gazing　upward　at　the　legislators　on　the　dais；　he　immediately　understood　the　psychological　advantage　the　raised　platform　conferred　on　his　interrogators。
　〃Do　you　have　a　statement　to　make？〃　Duquesne　asked　him　when　the　preliminaries　were　pleted。
　〃No；　sir。〃
　A　chuckle　swept　the　room。　That's　a　good　start；　Jake　thought。
　A　mittee　staffer　passed　out　copies　of　Jake's　report　and　led　him　through　it；　page　by　page；　conclusion　by　conclusion。　It　took　the　rest　of　the　morning。　When　Duquesne　announced　a　lunch　break；　Jake　was　surprised　at　how　much　time　had　passed。
　He　and　Knight　walked　back　to　the　bagel　place　for　a　tuna　salad　sandwich。
　〃How　am　I　doing？〃
　〃They　haven't　even　started　on　you　yet。　Ask　me　at　five　o'clock。〃
　〃Are　we　going　to　be　here　that　long？〃
　〃Maybe。　Depends　on　Duquesne。〃
　After　lunch　the　senator　resumed　his　questioning。　〃Tell　me；　Captain；　just　what　were　your　orders　when　you　were　given　your　present　assignment？〃
　〃I　was　told　to　evaluate　the　two　prototypes　and　prepare　a　remendation　as　to　which　one　I　believed　the　navy　should　select　for　production　as　the　A…12　medium　attack　bomber。〃
　〃Did　Vice　Admiral　Henry　or　Secretary　Ludlow　tell　you…let　me　rephrase　that…did　either　of　them　suggest　which　prototype　you　should　remend？〃
　〃No。　They　didn't。〃
　〃They　didn't　even　hint　at　which　one　they　wanted？〃
　〃They　discussed　the　navy's　requirements　for　a　new　medium　attack　bomber　on　numerous　occasions　with　me；　sir；　and　they　did　make　it　clear　to　me　that　the　plane　had　to　be　able　to　meet　the　needs　of　the　navy。　But　they　did　not　tell　me　which　plane　they　thought　would　best　meet　those　needs。　Determining　that　was　the　whole　purpose　of　the　fly…off。〃
　〃So　the　conclusions　stated　in　this　report　and　the　remendations　made　are　yours？〃
　〃Yessir。　And　the　admirals　wrote　endorsements；　and　the　Secretary　of　the　Navy　wrote　one　when　he　forwarded　the　report　to　SECDEF。〃
　〃Did　you　tell　your　superiors　what　the　substance　of　your　report　would　be　before　you　wrote　it？〃
　〃Yessir。　I　kept　them　fully　informed　about　my　activities　and　my　opinions　as　I　reached　them。〃
　〃Did　they　suggest　changes　to　the　draft　document。〃