alistairmaclean.seawitch-第18部分

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els；　then　it's　time　you　got　yourselves　a　new　intelligence　service。〃
　General　Zweicker　said：　〃We　are　aware　of　those　movements。　But　as　yet　we　see　no　justification　for　taking　any　kind　of　action。　You　have　no　proof　that　what　you　claim　is　true。　Suspicions；　no　more。　Do　you　seriously　expect　us　to　alert　naval　units　and　a　squadron　of　fighter…bombers　on　the　unproven　and　what　may　well　be　the　unfounded　suspicions　of　a　private　citizen？〃
　〃That's　it　in　a　nutshell；〃　Howell　said。　〃And　I　would　remind　you；　Lord　Worth；　that　you're　not　even　an　American　citizen。〃
　〃　'Not　even　an　American　citizen。'　〃　He　turned　to　the　stenographer。　〃I　trust　you　made　a　note　of　that。〃　He　lifted　his　hand　as　Howell　made　to　speak。　〃Too　late；　Howell。　Too　late　to　retrieve　your　blunder…a　blunder；　I　may　say；　of　classical　proportions。　Not　an　American　citizen？　I　would　point　out　that　I　paid　more　taxes　last　year　than　all　your　precious　oil　panies　in　the　States　bined…this　apart　from　supplying　the　cheapest　oil　to　the　United　States。　If　the　level　of　petence　of　the　State　Department　is　typical　of　the　way　this　country　is　run；　then　I　can　only　rejoice　in　the　fact　that　I　still　retain　a　British　passport。　One　law　for　Americans；　another　for　the　heathen　beyond　the　pale。　Even…handed　justice。　'Not　an　American　citizen。'　This　should　make　a　particularly　juicy　tidbit　for　the　news　conference　I〃　intend　to　hold　immediately　after　I　leave。〃
　〃A　news　conference？〃　HoweU…　betrayed　unmistakable　signs　of　agitation；
　〃Certainly。〃　Lord　Worth's　tone　was　as　grim　as　his　face。　〃If　you　people　won't　protect　me；　then；　by　God；　Til　protect　myself。〃
　Howell　looked　at　the　general；　then　back　to　Lord　Worth。　He　strove　to　inject　an　official　and　intimidating　note　into　his　voice。　〃I　would　remind　you　that　any　discussions　that　take　place　here　are　strictly　confidential。〃
　Lord　Worth　eyed　him　coldly。　〃It's　always　sad　to　see　a　man　who　has　missed　his　true　vocation。　You　should　have　been　a　edian；　Howell；　not　a　senior　member　of　government。　Confidential。　That's　good。　How　can　you　remind　me　of　something　you　never　even　mentioned　before？　Confidential。　If　there　wasn't　a　lady　present　Fd　tell　you　what　I　really　think　of　your　asinine　remark。　God；　it's　rich；　a　statement　like　that　ing　from　the　number　two　in　a　government　department　with　so　splendid　a　record　of　leaking　state　secrets　to　muckraking　journalists；　doubless　in　return　for　a　suitable　quid　pro　quo。　I　cannot　abide　hypocrisy。　And　this　makes　another　juicy　tidbit　for　the　press　conference…the　State　Department　tried　to　gag　me。　Classical　blunder　number　two；　Howell。〃
　Howell　said　nothing。　He　looked　as　if　he　were　considering　the　advisability　of　wringing　his　hands。
　〃I　shall　inform　the　press　conference　of　the　indecision；　reluctance；　inaction；　inpetence　and　plain　running…scared　vacillation　of　a　State　Department　which　will　be　responsible　for　the　loss　of　a　hundred…million…dollar　oil　rig；　the　stopping　of　cheap　supplies　of　fuel　to　the　American　people；　the　biggest　oil　slick　in　history；　and　the　possible…no；　I　would　say　probable…beginnings　of　a　third　major　war。　In　addition　to　holding　this　news　conference；　I　shall　buy　TV　and　radio　time；　explain　the　whole　situation；　and　further　explain　that　I　am　forced　to　go　to　those　extraordinary　lengths　because　of　the　refusal　and　inability　of　the　State　Department　to　protect　me。〃　He　paused。　〃That　was　rather　silly　of　me。　I　have　my　own　TV　and　radio　stations。　It's　going　to　be　such　a　burning…hot　topic　that　the　big　three　panies　will　jump　at　it　and　it　won't　cost　me　a　cent。　By　tonight　I'll　have　the　name　of　the　State　Department；　particularly　the　names　of　you　and　your　boss；　if　not　exactly　blackened；　at　least　tarnished　across　the　country。　I'm　a　desperate　man；　gentlemen；　　　and　　　I'm　　prepared　　　to　　　adopt　　　desperate　methods。〃
　He　paused　for　their　reactions。　Facially　they　were　all　he　could　have　wished。　Howell；　his　assistant　and　the　general　all　too　clearly　realized　that　Lord　Worth　meant　every　word　he　said。　The　implications　were　too　horrendous　to　contemplate；　But　no　one　said　anything；　so　Lord　Worth　took　up　the　conversational　burden　again。
　〃Finally；　gentlemen；　you　base　your　pusillanimous　refusal　to　act　on　the　fact　that　I　have　no　proof　of　evil　intent。　I　do；　in　fact；　possess　such　proof；　and　it's　cast　iron。　I　will　not　lay　this　proof　before　you　because　it　is　apparent　that　I　will　achieve　nothing　here。　I　require　a　decision…maker；　and　the　Secretary　has　the　reputation　for　being　just　that。　I　suggest　you　get　him　here。〃
　〃Get　the　Secretary？〃　HowelTs　ears　were　clearly　appalled　by　this　suggested　lse　majeste。　〃One　doesn't　'get'　the　Secretary。　People　make　appointments　days；　even　weeks；　in　advance。　Besides；　he　is　in　a　very　important　conference。〃
　Lord　Worth　remained　unmoved。　〃Get　him。　This　conference　he'd　better　have　with　me　will　be　the　most　important　of　his　life。　If　he　elects　not　to　e；　then　he's　probably　holding　the　last　conference　of　his　political　career。　I　know　he's　not　twenty　yards　from　here。　Get　him。〃　〃I…I　don't　really　think…〃　Lord　Worth　rose。　〃I　hope　your　immediate　successors…and　the　operative　word　is　'immediate'…win；　for　the　country's　sake；　display　more　mon　sense　and　intestinal　fortitude　than　you　have。　Tell　the　man　who；　through　your　gross　negligence　and　cowardly　refusal　to　face　facts；　will　be　held　primarily　responsible　for　the　outbreak　of　the　next　war；　to　watch　TV　tonight。　You　have　had　your　chance…as　your　stenographer's　notebook　will　show…and　you've　thrown　it　away。〃　Lord　Worth　shook　his　head；　almost　in　sadness。　〃There　are　none　so　blind　as　those　who　will　not　see…　especially　a　spluttering　fuse　leading　to　a　keg　of　dynamite。　I　bid　you　good　day；　gentlemen。〃
　〃No！　No！〃　Howell　was　in　a　state　of　very　considerable　agitation。　〃Sit　down！　Sit　down！　I'll　see　what　I　can　do。〃
　He　practically　ran　from　the　room。
　During　his　rather　protracted　absence…he　was　gone　for　exactly　thirteen　minutes…conversation　in　the　room　was　minimal。
　Zweicker　said：　〃You　really　mean　what　you　say；　don't　you？〃
　〃Do　you　doubt　me；　General？〃
　〃Not　any　more。　You　really　intend　to　carry　out　those　threats？〃
　〃I　think　the　word　you　want　is　'promises/　〃
　After　this　effective　conversation…stopper　an　unfortable　silence　fell　on　the　room。　Only　Lord　Worth　appeared　hi　no　way　disforted。　He　was；　or　appeared　to　be；　calm　and　relaxed；　which　was　quite　a　feat；　because　he　knew　that　the　appearance　or　nonappearance　of　the　Secretary　meant　whether　he　had　won　or　lost。
　He'd　won。　The　Secretary；　John　Benton；　when　Howell　nervously　ushered　him　in；　didn't　look　at　all　like　his　reputation…which　was　that　of　a　tough；　shrewd…minded；　hard…nosed　negotiator；　ruthless　when　the　situation　demanded　and　not　much　given　to　consulting　his　cabinet　colleagues　when　it　came　to　decision…making。　He　looked　like　a　prosperous　farmer　and　exuded　warmth　and　geniality…which　deceived　Lord　Worth；　a　man　who　specialized　in　warmth　and　geniality　not　a　whit。　Here；　indeed；　was　a　very　different　kettle　of　fish　from　Howell；　a　man　worthy　of　Lord　Worth's　mettle。　Lord　Worth　rose。
　Benton　shook　his　hand　warmly。　〃Lord　Worth！　This　is　a　rare　privilege…to　have；　if　I　may　be　forgiven　the　unoriginal　turn　of　speech；　to　have　America's　top　oil　tycoon　calling　on　us。〃
　Lord　Worth　was　courteous　but　not　deferential。　〃I　wish　it　were　under　happier　circumstances。　My　pleasure；　Mr。　Secretary。　It's　most　kind　of　you　to　spare　a　few　moments。　Well；　five　minutes；　no　more。　My　promise。〃
　〃Take　as　long　as　you　like。〃　Benton　smiled。　〃You　have　the　reputation　for　not　bandying　words。　I　happen　to　share　that　sentiment。〃
　'Thank　you。〃　He　looked　at　Howell。　〃Thirteen　minutes　to　cover　forty　yards。〃　He　looked　back　at　the　Secretary。　〃Mr。　Howell　will　have…ah…　apprised　you　of　the　situation？〃
　〃I　have　been　fairly　well　briefed。　What　do　you　require　of　us？〃　Lord　Worth　refrained　from　beaming：　here　was　a　man　after　his　own　heart。　John　Benton　continued：　〃We　can；　of　course；　approach　the　Soviet　and　Venezuelan　ambassadors；　but　that's　like　approaching　a　pair　of　powderpuffs。　All　they　can　do　is　report　our　suspicions　and　veiled　threats　to　their　respective　governments。　They're　powerless；　really。　Even　ten　years　ago　ambassadors　carried　weight。　They　could　negotiate　and　make　decisions。　Not　any　more。　They　have　bee；　through　no　fault　of　their　own；　faceless　and　empty　people　who　are　consistently　bypassed　in　state…to…state　negotiations。　Eve