scoonts.theminotaur-第80章

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　〃Pooh。〃　Tarkington　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　not　buying　it。　Those　three　agents　may　have　turned；　exactly　like　Camacho。　If　the　Soviets　ever　try　to　use　them；　those　guys　may　run　straight　to　the　FBI。　The　Russians　may　not　even　know　where　they　are　now。〃
　〃You　are　a　very　young　man；　Lieutenant。〃　Caplinger　was　scathing。　〃You　have　a　lot　to　learn。　The　deep　plants　are　valuable　to　the　Soviets　as　chips　in　the　Cold　War　poker　games；　at　home　and　abroad。　They　are　valuable　in　exactly　the　same　way　that　thermonuclear　weapons　are　valuable；　ICBMs；　boomer　submarines…I　could　go　on。　Those　three　buried　agents　are　hole　cards。　Lieutenant。　They　may　even　be　dead。　Yet　we　can　never　afford　to　ignore　them。　Do　you　begin　I　to　understand？〃
　〃Yessir。〃　Toad　looked　miserable。　〃But…〃
　〃There　are　layers　and　layers　and　layers。〃
　〃But　listen；〃　Toad　objected　reasonably。　〃We　didn't　even　know　these　men　existed　until　four　years　ago。　What　if　they　don't？〃
　〃Aha！　The　light　bees　a　glow！〃
　Caplinger　leaped　from　his　chair；　galvanized。　〃Perhaps　they　don't　exist！　Perhaps　the　defection　of　a　mid…level　KGB　officer　was　a　ploy；　and　the　list　was　bait　to　make　us　think　they　had　three　agents。　They　write　the　list；　they　leave　it　where　a　man　of　dubious　professional　acplishments；　a　man　of　dubious　loyalty　and　dubious　value；　will　see　it。　Very　convenient；　you　must　admit！　And　in　the　fullness　of　time　he　is　given　an　opportunity　to　defect；　which　he；　no　fool；　takes　as　the　best　of　a　poor　range　of　options。〃
　Caplinger's　voice　rose　to　a　shout。　〃And　he　gets　here　and　tells　us　his　little　tale。　We　give　it　credence。　We　must！　We　have　no　other　choice。〃
　〃I'm　slightly　baffled；　Mr。　Secretary；〃　Jake　said　dryly。　〃Just　how　did　the　Minotaur　succeed；　if　that　word　can　even　be　used　in　these　kinds　of…what　the　hell　are　they？…games？〃
　Royce　Caplinger　began　to　walk　back　and　forth；　lost　in　thought。　〃The　Soviet　Union　today　is　a　nation　in　transition。　Their　system　is　against　the　wall。　The　Soviet　people　want　good　wages　and　housing　and　food　to　eat。　The　generals　want　to　maintain　their　privileged　positions。　The　politicians　want　to　stay　in　power。　（That's　human　enough。　Ours　will　sell　their　soul　for　another　term　in　office。）　To　do　all　of　this　the　Soviets　need　money；　vast　quantities　of　it；　money　that　does　not　exist。
　〃So　the　government　is　scrambling　for　money。　What　the　Minotaur　did　was　prove　beyond　a　shadow　of　a　doubt　that　the　amount　they　have　been　spending　for　defense　was　nowhere　near　enough。　The　Soviets　have　spent　as　much　money　in　real　terms　as　we　have　for　defense　over　the　years；　but　it's　a　much　larger　percentage　of　their　Gross　National　Product。　Only　a　dictatorship　can　maintain　that　level　of　defense　spending。〃　He　stopped　his　pacing　and　spread　his　arms。　〃The　Minotaur　put　the　spotlight　on　the　Soviet　system's　failings。　The　Soviet　economy；　if　it　can　be　called　that；　is　an　abject　debacle：　food　must　be　purchased　from　abroad；　there　is　nothing　in　the　stores　to　buy；　the　prosperity　of　the　other　industrial　nations　has　eluded　them。　And　now　the　military　needs　many　more　billions　to　replace　hardware　it　has　spent　billions　to　obtain　which　is　now　obsolete；　years　and　years　before　the　Soviets　planned　to　replace　it。〃
　He　examined　the　faces　of　his　listeners。　〃Don't　you　read　newspapers？　Where　have　you　been？　Gorbachev　has　been　talking　perestroika　and　glasnost　for　years。　Why？　The　threat　of　Star　Wars　technology　was　a　major　impetus。　There　was　no　way　they　could　match　it　Under　no　conceivable　circumstances　could　enough　rubles　be　printed　or　squeezed　from　the　people　to　fund　such　a　program。　The　generals　lost　power。　The　politicians　gained　it。　Through　diplomacy　the　threat　of　Star　Wars　could　be　blunted；　perhaps　even　eliminated。　Soviet　foreign　policy　changed　course　dramatically；　arms　reduction　treaties　were　agreed　to　and　signed；　mutual　verification　was　at　last　swallowed　with　good　grace。　Then　came　the　Minotaur's　revelations。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Jake　said；　rubbing　his　chin　and　glancing　at　Toad。
　〃Yes；　Captain。　We　are　having　a　major　technological　revolution　in　America　just　now。　The　research　of　the　space　programs　has　borne　fruit。　Ever　smaller；　ever　more　powerful　puters；　lasers；　missiles；　fiber　optics；　new　manufacturing　techniques　that　allow　us　to　build　structures　and　engines　with　capabilities　undreamed　of　ten　years　ago：　last　year's　cutting…edge　designs　are　obsolete　before　we　can　get　them　into　production　f　It's　like　something　out　of　science　fiction。　This　must　have　struck　you　these　past　six　months？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Caplinger　nodded　as　he　seated　himself　behind　the　desk。　He　just　couldn't　stay　still　for　any　length　of　time；　Jake　thought。　〃It　struck　me　five　years　ago　when　I　became　SECDEF。　I　listened　to　the　briefings　in　awe。　This　black　magic　was　real。　It's　not　just　Star　Wars；　it's　everything。　Jet　engines　with　over　three　times　the　thrust　per　pound　of　Soviet　engines　are　real；　ready　for　deployment。　Stealth　obsoletes　their　radar　systems。　America　is　preparing　to　deploy　a　new　generation　of　weaponry　that　will　make　obsolete　everything　the　Russian　generals　have　bled　the　Soviet　Union　to　get　for　the　last　forty　years。　They　have　reached　the　end　of　their　string。　If　this　is　table　stakes；　they　have　bet　their　last　ruble；　and　we　have　raised。〃
　〃The　Minotaur；〃　Jake　said　slowly；　〃gave　them　the　awful　truth。〃
　〃Chapter　and　verse。　Imagine　the　horror　in　Moscow　as　the　true　dimensions　of　their　dilemma　sank　in。　The　rumors　and　hints　they　had　heard　were　all　true！　The　United　States　was　even　farther　ahead　technologically　than　the　worst　pessimists　predicted。　It　was　a　nightmare。〃
　〃They　could　have　ordered　a　first　strike；〃　Tarkington　said。　〃Started　World　War　III　before　their　military　situation　became　hopeless。〃
　〃Yes。　But　they　didn't。　They　are；　after　all；　sane。〃
　〃Jee…sus！〃　Tarkington　came　out　of　his　chair　like　a　coiled　spring。　He　planted　himself　in　front　of　Caplinger's　desk。　〃What　if　they　had？〃
　〃Then　none　of　us　would　be　alive　now；　would　we；　Lieutenant？　Please　sit　down。〃
　〃Who　missioned　you　to　play　God　with　the　universe；　Caplinger？　Where　does　it　say　in　the　Constitution　that　you　have　the　right　to　bet　the　existence　of　every　living　thing　on　this　planet；　for　whatever　reason？〃
　Caplinger　rose　from　his　chair　and　leaned　across　the　desk；　until　his　face　was　only　a　foot　from　Toad's。　〃What　ivory　tower　did　you　crawl　down　from？　You　think　we　should　just　strum　our　banjos　and　sing　folk　songs　and　pray　that　nuclear　war　never　happens？　Sit　down　and　shut　the　fuck　up！〃
　Tarkington　obeyed。　The　cords　in　his　neck　were　plainly　visible。
　〃What　is　he；　Captain？〃　Caplinger　jerked　a　thumb　at　Toad。　〃Your　conscience　that　you　drag　around？〃
　〃He's　a　man　who　cares；〃　Jake　Grafton　said　slowly。　〃He　sincerely　cares。〃
　〃We　all　do；〃　Caplinger　replied；　cooling　down　and　taking　his　seat　again。　He　rubbed　his　hand　across　his　balding　dome　several　times。　〃We　all　care；　Tarkington。　You　think　I　enjoy　this？〃
　〃Yep。　That's　precisely　what　I　think。〃
　Caplinger　rubbed　his　face。　〃Maybe　you're　right。〃　He　toyed　with　a　pen　on　his　desk。　〃Yeah。　I　guess　'enjoy'　isn't　the　right　word。　But　I　do　get　satisfaction　from　it。　Yes；　I　do。〃　He　looked　at　Tarkington。　〃This　is　my　contribution。　Is　that　so　terrible？〃
　〃That　retired　woman　that　Albright　killed…I'll　bet　she　enjoyed　her　little　walk…on　role　in　your　drama。　Didn't　she　have　any　rights？〃
　Caplinger　looked　away。
　Toad　pressed。　〃You　just　chopped　her　like　she　was　nothing。　Is　that　what　we　are　to　you？　Pawns？　Rita…you　have　the　right　to　stuff　my　wife　through　the　meat　grinder　for　the　greater　good？　You　asshole！〃
　After　a　while　Caplinger　said；　〃We　took　big　risks；　but　the　reward　was　worth　it。〃　He　set　his　jaw。　〃It　was　worth　it；〃　he　insisted。
　Neither　officer　replied。
　Caplinger　examined　both　their　faces。　〃e；　gentlemen。　Let's　have　another　cup　of　coffee。〃　Toad　didn't　get　out　of　his　chair。　He　had　the　corncob　pipe　in　his　hands　as　the　other　two　men　left　the　room。
　In　the　kitchen　Jake　said；　〃Somebody's　liable　to　shoot　Gorbachev；　you　know。　He's　threatening　to　break　a　lot　of　rice　bowls。　Revolutions　from　the　top　rarely　work。〃
　〃Even　if　Gorbachev　dies；　the　Soviet　Union　will　never　be　the　same。　If　the　old　guard　tries　to　clamp　down；　sooner　or　later　there'll　be　another　Russian　Revolution；　from　the　bottom　next　time。　There's　going　to　be　another　revolution　in　China；　sooner　or　later。　The　munists　can't　go　backwards；　though　they　can　sure　try。〃
　〃Why　were　they　so　concerned　about　the　Minotaur's　identity？〃
　〃'They'　is　a　very　broad　term。　The　GRU　wanted　evidence　that　the　Minotaur's　revelations　were　false；　to　discredit　them。　When　Camacho　gave　them　the　name　of　the　Secretary　of　Defense；　they　were　left　with　an　empty　bag。　The　men　in　the　Politburo　realized　that　it　was　entirely　possible　the　United　States　government　was　providing　the　information　as　a　matter　of　policy。　That　possibility　had　to　be　weighed。
　〃The　implications　are　difficult；〃　he　added；　searching　for　words。　〃Perhaps　the　best　way　to　say　it　is　this：　Some　of　the　Soviet　decision　makers　saw　America；　maybe　for　the　first　time；　as　we　see　ourselves…strong　and　confident；　with　excellent　reasons　for　being　confident。　Frightened　men　start　wars；　and　we　aren't　frightened。〃
　Back　in　the　den；　Jake　asked；　〃So　we　still　don't　know　the　identity　of　the　three　deep　moles；　the　sleepers？〃
　〃Let's　say　we're　resigned　to　the　fact　that；　if　the　agents　exist；　they　will　probably　not　be　revealed。　But　we　achieved　so　much！　The　changes　in　the　Soviet　Union　the　last　three　years　have　been　profound。〃
　〃You　play　your　fucking　games；〃　Toad　murmured；　〃and　the　little　guys　get　left　holding　the　bag。　Like　Camacho。〃
　〃Ah；　I　hear　the　voice　of　the　eternal　private　plaining　because　the　generals　are　willing　to　sacrifice　him　to　achieve　a　military　objective。〃
　〃Sorry；　I　didn't　read　about　your　little　war　in　the　papers。　And　I　didn't　volunteer　to　fight　it。〃
　〃America　was　Luis　Camacho's　adopted　home。　He　loved　this　country　and　he　loved　its　people。　He　knew　exactly　what　he　was　doing　every　step　of　the　way。　Like　you　and　your　wife　when　you　fly；　he　knew　the　risks。　You　think　his　job　was　easy？　Having　Albright　right　next　door？　Camacho　had　a　wife　and　kid。　You　think　he　had　no　nerves？〃
　Toad　sat　silently　with　his　arms　folded　across　his　chest；　staring　out　the　window。　Jake　and　Caplinger　talked　a　while　longer。　It　was　almost　4　P。M。　when　Caplinger　said；　〃By　the　way；　Captain；　you　did　an　excellent　job　presenting　the　TRX　plane　and　Athena　to　Congress。　I'm　looking　forward　to　getting　a　ride　in　an　A…12　someday。〃
　〃That　makes　two　of　us。〃
　Toad　picked　up　the　corncob　pipe　from　the　pipe　stand　again　and　examined　it　idly。　〃Why　did　Camacho　admit　his　past？〃
　Caplinger　smiled。　〃Who　knows　the　human　heart？　His　explanation；　which　I　read　very　carefully　after　Albright　approached　him　a　year　or　so　ago；　was　that　America　is　a　country　that　cares　about　people。　You　see；　he　was　a　cop。　A　cop　in　J。　Edgar　Hoover's　FBI。　But　in　spite　of　Hoover's　paranoid　insanities；　Luis　saw　that　the　vast　majority　of　the　agents　there　were　trying　their　best　to　enforce　the　laws　in　an　even；　fair　manner；　with　due　regard　to　the　rights　of　their　fellow　citizens。　Camacho　came　from　a　country　where　the　police　have　no　such　mission。　The　police　there　are　not　honest；　honorable　men。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Luis　Camacho　instinctively　understood　Hoover。　He　had　grown　up　in　a　nation　ruled　by　such　men。　But　Camacho　came　to　see　himself　as　a　public　servant　He　became　an　American。〃
　〃Thanks　for　your　time　today；　Mr。　Secretar