scoonts.theminotaur-第76章

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　〃Your　admiration　for　Chairman　Gorbachev　is　in　many　ways　reminiscent　of　Neville　Chamberlain's　warm　regard　for　Adolf　Hitler。　I　hope　you　don't　have　reason　later　on　to　regret　your　enthusiasm；　as　Chamberlain　did。〃
　Toad's　shoe　smacked　on　his　shin　again　as　Strader　snarled；　〃I　deeply　resent　that　remark；　Captain。　I…〃
　The　chairman　cut　her　off。　〃Congresswoman　Strader；　this　is　not　the　time　and　place　for　a　political　colloquy　with　Captain　Grafton。　Please　address　your　questions　to　the　issue　at　hand。　I　must　insist。〃
　Strader　stared　at　Grafton。　She　was　furious。　〃Why　is　the　A…12　a　black　project？〃
　〃The　technology　involved　is…〃
　〃No！　I　reject　that。　The　air　force　used　that　explanation　for　the　B…2　bomber…516　million　each…and　going　higher…and　the　F…117A…62　million　each。　They've　acquired　unproven　airplanes　with　limited　capabilities；　airplanes　that　must　be　operated　from　paved　runways　that　will　be　the　Soviets'　first　nuclear　targets　in　the　event　of　war。　No；　Captain　Grafton。　Public　debate　is　what　the　administration　and　the　Pentagon　seek　to　avoid。〃　Her　gaze　shifted　to　the　chairman。　〃Public　debate　is　what　you　wish　to　avoid；　Mr。　Chairman；　so　that　your　state　can　secure　another　bloated；　outrageous　defense　contract　for　technology　that　may　well　not　do　what　those　hogs　at　the　Pentagon…〃
　〃Time's　up。〃　The　chairman　smacked　his　gavel。
　Strader　was　just　getting　up　steam。　〃。。。that　those　money…hungry　swine　at　the　Pentagon　have　carefully　steered　to　your　state　so　that…〃
　〃You're　out　of　time；　Congresswoman；〃　the　chairman　said；　his　voice　rising；　〃and　out　of　order。　Thank　you　for　your　testimony；　Captain　Grafton。　You're　excused。〃
　Strader　kept　talking。　Jake　packed　his　briefcase　and　handcuffed　it　to　his　wrist　〃。。。these　machines　are　being　purchased　to　fight　wars　that　everyone　knows　will　never　occur。　Billions　of　dollars　down　the　sewer！　It's　obscene。〃
　Jake　rose　and　walked　for　the　door　with　Tarkington　at　his　elbow。　Behind　him　Strader　and　the　chairman　were　shouting　at　each　other。
　〃You　ever　kick　me　again；　Tarkington；　and　you'll　need　a　proctologist　to　surgically　remove　that　shoe。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　When　the　door　closed　behind　them　and　they　were　walking　down　the　corridor；　Jake　said；　〃I　really　lost　it　in　there；　didn't　I？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　You　did。〃
　〃Well；　if　they'll　just　vote　the　funds　now；　we've　done　the　navy　a　pretty　good　job。〃
　〃I　suppose。〃
　As　they　went　down　the　outside　steps　of　the　Capitol；　Jake　said；　〃I　hope　she's　right。　I　hope　the　wars　never　occur。〃
　〃Yeah。　And　I　hope　I　live　forever；〃　Toad　Tarkington　said；　and　signaled　to　the　transportation　pool　driver；　who　was　standing　beside　the　car　a　hundred　yards　away。
　As　the　car　pulled　up；　Toad　climbed　into　the　front　seat；　Jake　into　the　back。　They　had　just　pulled　the　doors　shut　when　the　rear　door　opened　again。　Jake　looked　up。　The　man　standing　there　had　a　pistol　pointed　at　him。　〃Slide　over；　Captain。〃
　Jake　hesitated　for　just　a　second　and　glanced　into　the　front　seat。　The　driver　had　a　gun　pointed　at　Toad。　Jake　scooted。
　The　man　outside　took　a　seat　and　pulled　the　door　shut。
　〃Gentlemen；　as　you　can　see；　we　are　both　armed。　You　are　going　to　be　our　guests　for　a　little　while；　Mr。　Tarkington？〃
　When　Toad　didn't　respond；　the　man　beside　Jake　nudged　Toad　in　the　neck　with　the　barrel　of　his　gun。　〃Mr。　Tarkington？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃I　have　a　gun　too；　and　it　is　pointed　at　Captain　Grafton。　The　gentleman　behind　the　wheel　is　going　to　put　his　gun　in　his　pocket　and　drive。　If　you　twitch；　if　you　shout；　if　you　open　your　door　or　reach　for　the　wheel　or　ignition　key；　I　will　first　shoot　Captain　Grafton；　then　I　will　shoot　you。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Do　you　feel　heroic？〃
　〃Not　especially。〃
　〃That　is　very　good。　You　and　your　captain　may　live　through　this　experience　if　you　do　exactly　as　I　say；　when　I　say　it。〃
　Tarkington　said　nothing。
　〃Put　on　your　seat　belts　and　lock　your　doors。〃
　Jake　and　Toad　obeyed。
　〃Okay；　if　everyone　understands　the　ground　rules；　we　go。〃
　The　driver　put　the　transmission　in　drive　and　fed　gas。
　The　gunman　in　the　backseat　was　in　his　fifties；　with　short　hair。　He　was　tanned；　stocky；　and　wore　a　well…fitting　dark　suit。
　〃Where　is　the　sailor　who　was　driving　this　car？〃
　〃Captain；　I　warn　you　for　the　last　time。　You　will　sit　absolutely　quiet。　One　word；　just　one　more　word；　and　I　will　hurt　you　very　badly。〃
　Jake　Grafton　looked　at　the　gunman；　then　at　the　back　of　the　driver's　head。　Toad　sat　rigid；　staring　straight　ahead。
　The　car　went　out　onto　Independence　Avenue　and　crept　west　in　stop…and…go　traffic。　Jake　eased　the　briefcase　on　his　lap　and　felt　the　gun　dig　into　his　side。　He　sat　very　still　and　eventually　the　gun　went　away。
　Okay；　so　he　wasn't　going　to　whack　this　guy　with　the　briefcase　and　bail　out　of　the　car。　That　stuff　only　works　in　movies。　He　was　going　to　sit　very　still　and　hope　this　guy　didn't　blow　his　brains　out；　or　Tarkington's。
　In　spite　of　the　air　conditioning；　Jake　was　perspiring　profusely。　He　felt　the　moisture　form　rivulets　on　his　face。
　He　tried　to　think。　Here　he　was　in　the　backseat　of　a　navy　Ford　Fainnont　sedan　rolling　through　the　streets　of　Washington。　At　the　curbs　buses　were　loading　and　unloading　tourists；　hordes　of　people　from　Nashville　and　Little　Rock　and　Tokyo。　People　in　cars　with　plates　from　the　Midwest　and　South　rubbernecked；　and　the　drivers　ignored　the　traffic　signs；　seeming　to　delight　in　suicidal　lane　changes　and　illegal　turns　onto　one…way　streets。　Kids　were　running　and　shoving　and　demanding　pop；　mothers　were　calming　squealing　infants。　and　everyone　was　waiting　in　line　or　looking　for　a　restroom。　Yet　in　the　middle　of　it　all　Jake　Grafton　and　Toad　Tarkington　had　guns　in　their　ribs。
　Maybe　this　guy　was　the　Minotaur。　Maybe　he　was　an　Ivy　League　political　appointee　who　had　sold　out　for　some　reason　only　a　psychiatrist　would　understand。　Yet　the　way　he　handled　that　pistol…Jake　knew　petence　with　a　weapon　when　he　saw　it。
　The　driver　swung　left　on　Fourteenth　Street　and　began　to　accelerate　as　he　jockeyed　with　traffic。　He　crossed　the　Potomac　on　the　George　Mason　Memorial　Bridge　and　took　the　ramp　down　onto　George　Washington　Parkway　northbound。
　〃You　can　drop　us　anywhere　along　here；〃　Toad　said；　〃and　we'll　walk　back　to　the　office。〃
　Jake　winced　at　the　sound　of　his　voice。　The　gunman　beside　him　paid　no　attention。
　〃Glad　we　could　give　you　guys　a…〃　The　driver's　right　hand　flicked　into　Toad's　face　with　a　sickening　smack；　which　knocked　his　hat　off。　The　car　didn't　even　swerve。
　Toad　sagged　against　the　window；　then　slowly　raised　his　head。
　The　car　continued　up　the　parkway。　The　river　was　visible　between　the　trees　on　the　right。　They　passed　the　entrance　to　the　CIA　plex　at　Langley　and　continued　on　at　fifty…five　miles　per　hour；　the　traffic　flowing　around　them　at　least　ten　miles　over　the　speed　limit
　Traffic　on　the　beltway　was　thickening　as　the　first　surge　of　rush　hour　emptied　from　the　city。　The　man　at　the　wheel　kept　the　car　in　the　middle　lane。　On　and　on　they　rolled；　past　the　Frederick　cutoff；　east　now　across　the　northern　edges　of　the　city。
　Jake　Grafton　was　bitterly　regretting　the　impulse　that　had　made　him　mail　two　letters　to　the　Minotaur　when　the　driver　finally　edged　into　a　gap　in　the　right　lane　and　took　the　ramp　down　to　New　Hampshire　Avenue；　where　he　caught　the　green　light　and　turned　left；　northward。　They　passed　the　Naval　Surface　Weapons　Center　and　turned　left；　into　a　residential　area。　After　four　or　five　turns　down　shady　streets　with　cars　parked　at　the　curbs　and　in　driveways；　the　man　at　the　wheel　slowed。　From　a　pocket　he　produced　a　garage…door　opener。　He　aimed　it　as　he　swung　left　into　a　driveway。　The　door　rose　obediently。　The　car　coasted　to　a　stop　inside　the　garage　and　the　driver　triggered　the　remote…control　device　again。　The　garage　got　very　dark　as　the　closing　door　shut　out　the　light。
　〃Okay；　gentlemen。　We　are　here。　We　will　sit　here　very　quiet　and　still　while　the　driver　checks　out　the　house。〃　The　driver　was　already　out　of　the　car。　He　fiddled　with　the　knob　on　the　inside　door；　used　a　key　or　pick；　and　had　it　open　in　a　few　seconds。　Before　he　entered　he　took　out　his　pistol。　In　about　a　minute　he　was　back。　He　nodded。
　Toad　went　first；　walking　around　the　car　while　the　driver　in　the　doorway　held　a　pistol　on　him。
　Then　it　was　Jake's　turn。　From　the　garage　he　entered　a　kitchen。　Through　the　sliding　glass　door　he　could　see　a　backyard　swing。
　〃The　basement。〃
　Jake　went　down　the　stairs。　The　slanted　ceiling　was　so　low　he　had　to　tilt　his　head。
　The　older　of　the　two　men；　the　man　who　had　ridden　in　the　backseat　with　Jake；　held　out　his　hand　toward　Toad。　〃The　handcuff　key。〃
　Toad　extracted　it　from　his　pocket　and　passed　it　across。　The　man　used　it　to　unlock　the　briefcase　from　Jake's　wrist　and　cuff　him　to　a　chair。　The　driver　produced　a　set　of　cuffs　from　a　trouser　pocket　and　cuffed　Tarkington　to　a　table。
　As　the　driver　sat　on　the　couch　with　his　pistol　on　his　lap　and　lit　a　cigarette；　the　older　man　examined　the　lock　on　the　briefcase。　He　glanced　at　Jake。　〃The　bination？〃
　〃Fuck　you。〃
　〃Ah；　Captain。　Do　you　honestly　think　I　couldn't　open　the　case　without　it？　I　merely　wished　to　save　myself　several　minutes　of　effort。〃
　Jake　told　him　the　bination。　The　man　had　it　open　in　thirty　seconds；　scooped　out　the　documents；　and　after　glancing　at　his　watch；　sat　down　on　the　couch　to　read　them。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Toad　asked。
　〃Does　it　matter？〃　the　reader　asked　without　looking　up。
　〃Not　right　now。　But　I'd　like　a　name　to　give　to　the　FBI。〃
　The　man　just　chuckled　dryly　and　continued　reading。
　After　a　while…Jake　wasn't　sure　how　long；　since　he　couldn't　see　his　watch…the　man　said；　〃This　Athena　device；　a　superconductive　puter　with　multiple　CPUs；　do　you　think　it　can　be　successfully　produced　in　three　years？〃
　Jake　said　nothing。　His　stomach　felt　like　he　had　swallowed　a　stone。
　〃Oh　well；　I　don't　have　the　time　to　get　the　answers；　and　I　doubt　that　you　would　be　forthright　in　any　event。　But　it　certainly　is　an　interesting　technological　development。　You　Americans！　A　nation　of　tinkerers。　What　will　you　think　of　next？〃
　He　went　back　through　the　documents　slowly；　taking　his　time；　studying　them。　His　pistol　lay　on　the　table　beside　him；　within　easy　reach。　Twice　he　glanced　at　his　watch。
　Jake　looked　around　the　room。　The　driver　kept　his　eyes　on　him　or　Toad　all　the　time。　His　pistol　lay　in　his　lap。　Toad　had　both　wrists　cuffed　together　around　the　leg　of　a　rather　large　table。　Still；　given　a　few　seconds；　he　could　lift　the　leg　and　be　free　of　the　table。　Obviously　that　possibility　did　not　concern　the　two　gunmen　very　much。　If　Toad　tried　it；　he　would　be　shot　or　pistol…whipped　within　seconds。
　Jake's　cuffs　went　through　the　arm　of　a　chair。　Beside　the　chair　sat　a　floor　lamp；　but　to　reach　it　with　his　right　hand；　he　would　need　to　stick　his　left　hand　under　this　chair　arm。　It　was　temptingly　close；　but　he　would　need　an　opportunity。　And　if　he　got　it；　what　then？
　What　did　those　instructors　always　say　at　SERE…Survival；　Evasion；　Resistance；　and　Escape…school？　Never　give　up。　Stay　ready。　Your　chance　will　e。
　These　guys　were　waiting　for　someone。　That　much　was　obvious。　Who？　The　Minotaur？
　They　had　been　in　the　basement　for　almost　an　hour　when　the　stocky　man　spoke　to　the　driver。　〃Upstairs　now；　I　think。　Be　sure　to　unplug　the　garage…door　opener。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　driver　went。
　〃Are　you　the　Minotaur？〃　Toad　asked。
　The　stocky　man　threw　back　his　head　an