cc.fireice-第25部分

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　Sandecker　slipped　into　his　seat　to　the　president's　left。　Sandecker　knew　his　placement　at　the　president's　elbow　was　no　accident　and　was　meant　to　flatter　him。　Despite　a　folksy　manner　that　made　him　sound　at　times　like　the　actor　Andy　Griffith；　Wallace　was　a　shrewd　politician。　As　always；　Vice　President　Sid　Sparkman　was　seated　on　the　president's　right。
　
　The　president　sat　down　and　grinned。　〃I　was　telling　the　boys　here　about　the　one　that　got　away。　Hooked　a　grandpappy　trout　as　big　as　a　whale　the　last　time　I　was　out　west。　Snapped　my　rod　in　half。　Guess　that　ol'　fellow　didn't　know　he　was　dealing　with　the　mander　in　chief　of　the　USA。〃
　
　The　men　at　the　table　responded　to　the　witticism　with　loud　laughter；　the　loudest　ing　from　the　vice　president。　Sandecker　chuckled　dutifully。　He'd　had　warm　relations　with　all　those　who　occupied　the　White　House　during　his　tenure　at　NUMA。　Whatever　their　political　persuasion；　every　president　he　dealt　with　respected　his　power　in　Washington　and　his　influence　with　universities　and　corporations　around　the　country　and　world。　Sandecker　was　not　universally　loved；　but　even　his　adversaries　admired　his　hard…driving　honesty。
　
　Sandecker　exchanged　smiles　with　the　vice　president。　Older　than　Wallace　by　several　years；　the　vice　president　was　the　йminence　grise　at　the　White　House；　wielding　his　power　out　of　sight　of　the　public；　covering　his　Machiavellian　machinations　and　hard…knuckle　style　with　jovial　bonhomie。　The　former　college　football　player　was　a　self…made　millionaire。　Sandecker　knew　the　vice　president　secretly　held　Wallace　in　the　contempt　that　men　who　have　achieved　success　on　their　own　sometimes　have　for　those　who　have　inherited　their　wealth　and　connections。
　
　〃Hope　you　gentlemen　don't　mind　if　we　get　down　to　business；〃　said　the　president；　who　was　dressed　casually　in　a　plaid　shirt；　navy　blazer　and　khaki　slacks。　〃Air　Force　One　is　all　gassed　up　to　take　me　to　Montana　for　another　crack　at　that　trout。〃　He　made　a　show　of　glancing　at　his　watch。　〃I'm　turning　the　meeting　over　to　the　secretary　of　state　to　fill　you　in。〃
　
　A　tall　hawk…faced　man；　with　his　white　hair　so　carefully　coifed　that　it　looked　like　a　helmet；　gazed　around　the　room　with　piercing　eyes。　Nelson　Tingley　reminded　Sandecker　of　what　an　astute　observer　had　said　about　Daniel　Webster；　that　Webster　looked　too　good　to　be　true。　Tingley　hadn't　been　a　bad　senator；　but　he　had　let　his　Cabinet　position　go　to　his　head。　The　secretary　saw　himself　playing　the　role　of　Bismarck　to　Wallace's　Frederick　the　Great。　In　truth；　he　seldom　got　the　president's　ear　because　he　had　to　go　through　Sparkman。　As　a　consequence；　he　tended　to　grandstand　when　he　got　the　chance。

　
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　President；〃　he　said　in　the　sonorous　voice　that　for　years　had　echoed　across　the　floor　of　the　U。S。　Senate。　〃I'm　sure　you　gentlemen　all　know　the　severity　of　the　situation　in　Russia。　Within　the　next　few　weeks　or　possibly　days；　we　can　expect　the　fall　of　that　country's　legally　elected　president。　Their　economy　is　at　an　all…time　low；　and　Russia　is　expected　to　default　on　its　obligations　around　the　world。〃
　〃Tell　'em　what　you　said　about　the　army；〃　the　president　suggested。
　
　〃I'd　be　happy　to；　Mr。　President。　The　Russian　forces　are　up　for　grabs。　The　public　is　sick　of　the　corruption　in　government　and　of　the　power　of　organized　crime。　Nationalist　sentiment　and　antagonism　toward　the　United　States　and　Europe　are　at　an　all…time　high。　In　short；　Russia　is　a　tinderbox　that　can　be　touched　off　at　any　time　by　the　slightest　of　incidents。〃　He　paused　to　let　his　words　sink　in　and　glanced　in　Sandecker's　direction。　Sandecker　knew　the　secretary　was　famous　for　his　filibusters　and　wasn't　about　to　subject　himself　to　a　long…winded　lecture。　He　cut　the　secretary　off　at　the　oratorical　pass。
　
　〃I　assume　you're　talking　about　the　Black　Sea　incident　involving　NUMA；〃　Sandecker　said　pleasantly。
　
　The　secretary　was　derailed；　but　not　discouraged。　〃With　all　due　respect；　Admiral；　I　would　hardly　describe　an　incursion　into　a　country's　air　and　sea　space　and　unauthorized　invasion　of　its　sovereign　territory　as　an　incident。〃
　〃Nor　would　I　describe　it　as　an　invasion；　Mr。　Secretary。　As　you　know；　I　considered　the　encounter　important　enough　to　submit　a　full　report　immediately　to　the　State　Department；　so　they　would　not　be　caught　by　surprise　in　the　event　the　Russian　government　plained。　But　let's　look　at　the　facts；　shall　we？〃　Sandecker　seemed　as　calm　as　a　Buddhist　at　repose。　〃An　American　television　crew　had　its　boat　shot　out　from　under　it；　and　a　Turkish　fisherman　whom　they　hired　was　killed。　They　had　no　choice　but　to　swim　to　shore。　They　were　about　to　be　attacked　by　bandits　when　a　NUMA　engineer　who　had　been　looking　for　them　went　to　their　aid。　Later　he　and　the　television　people　were　rescued　by　a　NUMA　ship。〃
　〃All　done　without　going　through　the　proper　channels；〃　the　secretary　countered。
　
　〃I'm　not　unaware　of　the　incendiary　situation　in　Russia；　but　I　hope　we　aren't　blowing　this　out　of　proportion。　The　whole　incident　took　less　than　a　few　hours。　The　television　crew　was　remiss　in　venturing　within　national　waters；　but　there　was　no　harm　done。〃
　
　The　secretary　made　a　show　of　opening　a　folder　emblazoned　with　the　State　Department　emblem。　〃Not　according　to　this　report　from　your　agency。　In　addition　to　the　Turkish　fisherman；　at　least　one　Russian　national　was　killed　and　others　may　have　been　injured　in　this　so…called　incident。〃
　〃Has　the　Russian　government　delivered　a　protest　through　the　'proper　channels'　you　mentioned？〃
　
　The　national　security　advisor；　a　man　named　Rogers；　leaned　forward。　〃There　has　been　no　word　from　the　Russians　or　the　Turks　to　date。〃
　〃Then　I　suggest　this　is　a　tempest　in　a　teapot；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃If　the　Russians　plain　about　a　breach　in　their　national　sovereignty；　I　will　be　glad　to　layout　the　facts；　apologize　personally　to　the　Russian　ambassador；　whom　I　know　quite　well　through　NUMA's　joint　ventures　with　his　country；　and　assure　him　it　won't　happen　again。〃
　
　Secretary　Tingley　addressed　Sandecker；　but　he　was　looking　at　the　president　when　he　spoke；　his　words　dripping　with　acid。　〃I　hope　you　won't　take　this　personally；　Admiral；　but　we're　not　going　to　have　a　bunch　of　ocean　groupies　dictating　the　foreign　policy　of　the　United　States。〃
　
　The　tart　ment　was　meant　to　be　funny；　but　no　one　laughed；　least　of　all　Sandecker；　who　didn't　take　kindly　to　having　NUMA　described　as　〃a　bunch　of　ocean　groupies。〃
　
　Sandecker　flashed　a　barracuda　smile；　but　an　icy　coldness　crept　into　his　authoritative　blue　eyes　as　he　prepared　to　rip　Tingley　to　shreds。
　
　The　vice　president　saw　what　was　ing　and　rapped　his　knuckles　on　the　table。　〃It　seems　you　gentlemen　have　stated　your　case　with　the　usual　conviction。　We　don't　want　to　take　up　any　more　of　the　president's　valuable　time。　I'm　sure　the　admiral　considers　the　secretary's　points　well　taken　and　that　Secretary　Tingley　accepts　NUMA's　explanation　and　assurances。〃
　
　Tingley　opened　his　mouth　to　reply；　but　Sandecker　deftly　took　advantage　of　the　exit　door　Sparkman　had　opened。　〃I'm　glad　the　secretary　and　I　were　able　to　settle　our　differences　amicably；〃　he　interjected。
　
　The　president；　who　was　known　to　dislike　confrontation；　had　been　listening　with　a　pained　expression　on　his　face。　He　smiled　and　said；　〃Thank　you；　gentlemen。　Now　that　that's　settled；　I've　got　a　more　important　matter　I'd　like　to　bring　up。〃
　〃The　disappearance　of　the　NR…1　submarine？〃　Sandecker　said。
　
　The　president　stared　at　Sandecker　in　disbelief；　then　burst　into　laughter。　〃I've　always　heard　you've　got　eyes　in　the　back　of　your　head；　Admiral。　How'd　you　hear　about　that？　I　was　told　the　matter　was　top　secret。〃　He　glanced　around　reprovingly　at　his　staff。　〃Real　graveyard　stuff。〃
　〃Nothing　mysterious　about　it；　Mr。　President。　Many　of　our　people　are　in　daily　close　contact　with　the　navy；　which　owns　the　NR…1；　and　some　of　the　men　on　board　have　worked　with　NUMA。　Captain　Logan's　father　is　a　friend　and　former　colleague　of　mine。　Family　members　who　were　concerned　for　the　safety　of　their　loved　ones　contacted　me　to　ask　what　was　being　done。　They　assumed　I　was　aware　of　the　sub's　project。〃
　〃We　owe　you　an　apology；〃　the　president　said。　〃We　were　trying　to　keep　this　matter　contained　until　we　made　some　progress。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Sand