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第104部分

scoonts.theminotaur-第104部分

小说: scoonts.theminotaur 字数: 每页4000字

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rafton; who; unless I am mistaken; doesn't vote in your district。〃
 Strader shifted her squint back to Grafton。 〃Just when will the navy's budget requests reflect the new geopolitical realities?〃
 Jake answered carefully。 〃The navy's budget requests to the administration are based on the needs of the navy in light of the mitments the government has assigned the navy。 As for geopolitical realities; I think the political ferment that is occurring in the Soviet Union is the most hopeful development in that nation in this century。 But who knows if Gorbachev will prevail? He may be assassinated。 There may be a coup。 He may just be booted out by his colleagues。 We can't sink the U。S。 Navy this year and hope for the best。〃
 〃Time will tell。 Is that your testimony? We should let the real human needs of our citizens go unmet so we can continue to fund a military establishment that is a travesty in a world seeking real peace?〃
 〃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; in

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