scoonts.theminotaur-第77章

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　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　driver　went。
　〃Are　you　the　Minotaur？〃　Toad　asked。
　The　stocky　man　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　〃That　is　good。　Very　good。　You　are　a　real　edian。〃
　〃He's　not　the　Minotaur；〃　Jake　said。
　〃Ah；　Captain。　What　makes　you　say　that？〃
　Jake　didn't　answer。
　〃A　captain　in　the　U。S。　Navy　knows　the　identity　of　the　Minotaur。　Or　at　least　knows　who　he　is　not。　Interesting。　Instructive。　I'll　bet　you　are　a　fount　of　interesting　information；　Captain。　No　doubt　we'll　have　time　later　this　evening　to　elicit　some　of　it。〃
　He　walked　toward　Jake　with　his　back　toward　Toad。　Jake　tried　to　keep　his　eyes　on　the　gunman；　yet　still　he　saw　Toad　bend　down　and　grasp　the　table　leg。　It　came　off　the　floor。　Even　as　it　did　the　gunman　whirled　with　his　pistol　at　arm's　length；　leveled　in　both　hands；　pointed　straight　at　Toad's　face。　〃What　makes　you　think；〃　he　asked　easily；　〃that　I　need　you　alive？〃
　Toad　let　the　table　leg　go　back　down　to　the　floor。　〃Oh；〃　he　said　lightly；　trying　to　snule　and　not　succeeding；　〃I　thought　you　liked　my　witty　repartee。〃
　〃I　do　like　you。　With　a　mouth　like　yours　you　should　be　in　Hollywood　in　the　movies；　not　pushing　paper　at　the　Pentagon。〃　The　gunman　lowered　the　gun　and　took　the　seat　on　the　couch　that　the　driver　had　vacated；　a　place　where　he　could　watch　both　men　with　a　minimum　of　effort。　〃Now　I　think　we　will　sit　silently；　not　saying　a　word。　Like　mice。〃
　〃You're　a　cocksucker；〃　Toad　said。
　The　gunman　looked　at　him　and　pursed　his　lips　slightly。
　〃A　genuine　cocksucker。　A　cheap　dick…sucking　spook　with　a　gun；　a　man　who　thinks　everybody　should　faint　dead　away　when　he　pulls　out　his　weapon。　Is　that　what　they　do　when　you　whip　out　your　dick？　Is　that…〃
　The　gunman　was　very　quick。　He　was　moving　and　chopping　with　the　pistol　all　in　one　motion。
　Toad　Tarkington　was　just　as　quick。　He　came　off　the　chair　and　kicked　mightily　with　his　right　leg。　It　caught　the　man　in　the　knee　and　he　lost　his　balance。　Toad　was　erect　now；　the　table　banging　from　his　cuffs；　his　leg　swinging　again。　This　kick　hit　the　gunman　in　the　arm。　The　pistol　went　flying。
　Jake　leaped　from　the　chair；　dragging　it。　The　lamp　fell　over。　He　dragged　the　heavy　chair　toward　the　pistol　on　the　floor。　Toad　was　still　kicking。
　He　was　almost　to　the　gun　when　he　heard　the　shot　and　saw　a　chunk　fly　from　the　carpet　just　in　front　of　him。
　He　froze。　The　driver　came　down　the　stairs　with　the　gun　leveled。　〃Get　back。〃　He　gestured　threateningly　at　Toad；　who　seemed　to　shrink　as　his　muscles　relaxed。　Tarkington　exhaled　convulsively；　then　turned　slightly　to　find　the　chair　he　had　been　sitting　on。　At　that　moment　the　driver　hit　him　a　vicious　blow　in　the　back　of　the　head　with　the　gun　and　he　fell　heavily；　overturning　the　table。
　The　second　man　helped　the　stocky　man　to　the　couch。　He　was　still　holding　his　stomach。　He　had　blood　on　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　Apparently　one　of　Toad's　kicks　had　taken　him　in　the　face。
　〃Upstairs。　Get　back　upstairs。　Get　me　my　gun　first。〃
　The　second　man　obeyed；　then　went　back　up　the　stairs。
　〃Sit　in　the　chair；　Captain；　right　where　you　are。　Sit！　One　move；　just　one；　and　I'll　kill　you　and　the　lieutenant。　Understand？〃
　Jake　made　the　smallest　of　head　nods。　He　sat。
　Time　passed。　Minute　by　minute。　The　gunman　on　the　couch　massaged　his　arm　and　leg。　Toad　had　really　connected。　Twice　the　man　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　face　with　his　shirttail。
　Toad　stirred　once。　The　table　was　on　end　beside　him。　He　lay　amid　the　magazines　and　newspapers　that　had　gone　flying　when　he　jerked　the　table　off　the　floor。　Toad　seemed　to　be　breathing　easily。
　Jake　heard　the　shuffling　on　the　floor　above　him。　and　faintly　the　sound　of　a　door　closing。　In　seconds　he　heard　someone　walking　above；　then　steps　on　the　stair。　He　turned　his　head。　Legs　descending。
　Luis　Camacho　walked　into　the　room　with　the　driver　behind　him；　his　gun　in　Camacho's　back。　〃Hi；　Harlan。　Didn't　know　if　I　was　going　to　see　you　again。〃
　Camacho　walked　over　to　the　couch　and　seated　himself　next　to　Albright。　〃Jesus；　what　have　you　idiots　done　to　my　basement？〃
　Albright　gestured　at　Tarkington；　who　was　stirring　again。　〃That　fucker　thought　he　was　a　hero。〃
　〃Looks　like　that　table　has　a　busted　leg。　My　wife　isn't　going　to　be　happy。〃
　The　driver　stood　near　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　where　he　could　watch　everyone。　He　kept　the　pistol　leveled　at　Camacho。
　〃Well；　Captain；〃　Camacho　said。　〃You've　had　an　eventful　afternoon。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Jake　replied。　〃Who　are　these　guys？〃
　〃Well；　the　man　beside　me　goes　by　the　name　of　Harlan　Albright。　His　real　name　is　Peter　Aleksandrovich　Chistyakov。　And　this　gentleman　with　the　pistol　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs…though　I　have　never　before　had　the　pleasure…is；　I　think；　Major　Arkady　Yakov　of　the　Soviet　Army。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Albright　said；　〃thanks　for　the　introductions。〃　He　rose　from　the　couch　and　turned　Toad's　table　upright；　then　pulled　a　chair　around　and　sat　on　it；　facing　Camacho。
　〃You　know　why　I'm　here。　I　thought　since　I　was　going　to　drop　by；　I　might　as　well　help　myself　to　some　Athena　information　on　the　way。　It　was　very　interesting。　But　it　is　you　I　want。〃
　〃How　droll。　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　too。　You　should　have　called。〃
　〃You're　going　to　give　me　some　answers；　Luis。　Now。　If　you　don't；　I'm　going　to　kill　the　lieutenant。　Then　the　captain。　Then　you。　I　want　answers。〃
　〃What　will　you　do　with　them　if　you　get　them？〃
　Albright's　eyes　widened。　He　took　three　steps　across　to　the　telephone　at　the　end　of　the　couch；　picked　it　up　and　held　it　to　his　ear。　He　jiggled　the　button　on　the　cradle；　then　replaced　the　instrument。　〃Upstairs；　Yakov。　Check　the　front　and　back。〃
　The　major　took　the　stairs　two　at　a　time。
　In　about　a　minute　he　was　back。　He　spoke　to　Albright　in　a　foreign　language；　one　that　sounded　to　Jake　like　Russian。
　〃This　is　a　setup。〃
　Camacho　shrugged。　〃My　people　saw　you　drive　in。　I　thought　you　might　be　by　to　see　me　sooner　or　later。　Didn't　know　who　you　brought　with　you；　though。　Sorry；　Captain。〃
　Jake　nodded。
　Camacho　stood　and　shook　out　his　trousers。　〃Tell　you　what；　Harlan。　Let's　you　and　I　go　downtown。　We　can　talk　there。　No　sense　keeping　these　fellows　any　longer。〃
　Albright　took　his　pistol　from　his　pocket。　〃Sit。〃
　When　Camacho　obeyed；　Albright　followed　suit；　back　at　the　table。　He　rubbed　his　eyes。　〃So。〃　He　spoke　a　sentence　in　Russian。
　Camacho　waved　a　hand　irritably。　〃You　know　I　can't　handle　that　language　anymore。　English　or　nothing。〃
　〃You've　been　stringing　me　right　along；　haven't　you；　Luis？〃
　Camacho's　shoulders　moved　a　quarter　inch　up；　then　subsided。
　〃That　name　you　gave　me。　That　was　bullshit；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃No。　That　was　the　name。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃You　have　something　we　want。　At　least　we　think　you　have　it。　You're　going　to　give　it　to　me；　Harlan。　Hard　or　easy；　you're　going　to　give　it　to　me。〃
　〃Tell　me　what　you　want　and　maybe　I'll　give　it　to　you　now。〃
　Camacho　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　〃You　want　to　defect？〃
　Albright's　eyebrows　went　up。　〃Maybe。〃
　〃Then　shoot　the　major。〃
　〃Just　like　that？〃
　〃Then　we'll　talk。　That　would　be　the　easy　way。　The　hard　way　will　be　more　strenuous；　but　equally　productive；　I　think。〃
　Albright　glanced　at　the　major；　who　was　looking　straight　at　Camacho。　Still；　Jake　saw　the　major's　eyes　flick　sideways　to　catch　Albright's　glance。
　〃You　can't　get　out　of　here；　Harlan；〃　Camacho　said；　and　stretched　lazily。　〃The　place　is　pletely　surrounded；　with　helicopters　and　light　planes　overhead。　Why　don't　you　two　give　me　the　guns　and　we'll　go　upstairs　and　wave　at　Dreyfus。　Then　you　and　I　can　go　downtown　to　the　office。　I'm　sure　the　two　of　us　can　work　something　out。〃
　〃I　may　not　know　the　fact　you　want；　Luis。〃
　〃I　think　you　do。〃
　〃You've　gone　to　an　extraordinary　lot　of　trouble　for　nothing　if　I　don't　know　it。〃
　〃Life's　like　that。〃
　〃Maybe　I　could　just　give　it　to　you　here　and　now。　If　I　know　it。〃
　Camacho　sat　silently　looking　at　Albright。　〃Three　names；〃　he　said　at　last。
　Albright　laughed；　a　long；　loud　guffaw。　〃All　of　this…for　that？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃My　hat　is　off　to　you。　I　salute　you。　Never　did　I　suspect。　Not　even　once。〃　Albright　shook　his　head　and　chuckled　silently　as　he　examined　his　pistol。
　Camacho　sat　motionless；　watching　Albright。
　〃You　do　know；〃　the　FBI　agent　said　finally；　when　all　the　laughing　had　stopped。
　〃You　found　the　bomb？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃It　was　a　warning。　I　needed　that　name。〃
　〃I　know。　Hard　or　easy。　Your　choice。〃
　〃You　mean　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃We'll　take　you　and　Captain　Grafton　as　hostages；〃　Albright　said；　rising　from　the　chair。　He　glanced　toward　Yakov　and　jerked　his　head　at　Jake。　As　Yakov　stepped　in　that　direction　Albright　shot　him…
　Yakov　spun；　firing　at　Albright。　The　bullet　hit　Albright　square　in　the　chest　and　his　pistol　sagged；　exploding　again　pointed　at　the　floor。　At　almost　the　same　instant　Toad　Tarkington　lashed　out　with　his　feet；　and　Albright　went　sideways　as　a　foot　was　kicked　out　from　under　him。　Yakov's　second　shot　hit　his　shoulder　and　he　spun　from　the　impact　as　he　fell。
　Yakov's　third　shot　came　as　he　was　falling。　It　was　aimed　at　Camacho；　who　was　still　sitting　on　the　couch。　He　hadn't　moved。
　Camacho　doubled　over　as　Yakov　hit　the　floor。
　Jake　toppled　his　chair　going　for　Yakov's　pistol。　He　wrestled　the　gun　from　the　major's　weak　grasp　and　crouched　beside　the　chair；　on　top　of　the　Russian　major　as　he　watched　Albright。
　The　whole　sequence　hadn't　taken　five　seconds。
　Toad　got　to　his　feet。　He　was　free　of　the　table。　He　bent　down　shakily　and　retrieved　the　pistol　that　Albright　had　dropped。　〃This　one's　still　alive。〃
　〃Quick；〃　Jake　said。　〃Check　Camacho。〃
　Jake　held　the　gun　on　the　major's　head　as　Toad　stretched　Camacho　on　the　couch。　〃He's　hit　lower　down；〃　Toad　said。　〃Dead　center。　Still　alive；　though。〃
　〃Go　upstairs。　Get　the　agents。〃　Toad　made　for　the　stairs。　〃Put　the　gun　in　your　pocket；〃　Jake　called　after　him。　〃Don't　let　them　shoot　you。〃
　Camacho　sat　up　on　one　elbow。
　〃Is　he　dead？〃　be　whispered　hoarsely；　looking　at　the　major。
　〃No；〃　Jake　said。　〃He's　hit　in　the　right　side；　but　he　isn't　dead。　He　may　make　it。〃
　〃Kill　him。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃He　heard　too　much。　Kill　him！〃　Camacho　coughed；　a　bubbly　gurgle。　Jake　moved　toward　Camacho；　dragging　the　chair。　Behind　him　Major　Yakov　began　to　crawl。
　〃Give　me　the　gun；〃　Camacho　said。
　〃No。〃
　〃This　isn't　a　game；　Grafton！　Give　me　the　gun！〃
　Jake　tossed　it。
　The　pistol　landed　on　the　couch。　Camacho　groped　for　it　while　Yakov　struggled　for　the　stairs。
　Yakov　jerked　as　the　first　shot　hit　him。　He　tried　again　to　crawl。　Taking　his　time；　Camacho　shot　him　four　more　times。　A　red　stain　spread　across　the　back　of　Yakov's　shirt　and　he　lay　still。
　Camacho　dropped　the　pistol　and　sagged　down　onto　the　couch。
　〃Albright！　Albright；　can　you　hear　me？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Give…me…the…names。〃　Camacho　dragged　himself　along　the　couch　so　he　could　see　the　Russian's　face…
　〃I…〃　Albright's　lips　were　moving　but　no　sound　came　out。　Then　he　ceased　to　move　at　all。
　Camacho's　head　went　down　to　rest　on　the　couch…
　〃Who　is　the　Minotaur？〃　Jake　demanded。　With　a　heave　he　got　the　chair　over　to　the　couch　and　shook　Camacho。　〃Tell　me！　Who　is　the　Minotaur？〃
　〃You　don't　want…　No！　It's　not　what　you…he's　not。。。〃
　Camacho　went　limp。　Jake　turned　his　head　so　he　could　see　his　face。　His　eyes　were　open；　staring　fixedly　at　nothing。
　Jake　sagged　down　beside　the　bloody　couch。　He　heard　the　sound　of　running　feet　upstairs。
　
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　The　sky　was　crys