scoonts.theminotaur-第105部分

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n　light　and　turned　left；　northward。　They　passed　the　Naval　Surface　Weapons　Center　and　turned　left；　into　a　residential　area。　After　four　or　five　turns　down　shady　streets　with　cars　parked　at　the　curbs　and　in　driveways；　the　man　at　the　wheel　slowed。　From　a　pocket　he　produced　a　garage…door　opener。　He　aimed　it　as　he　swung　left　into　a　driveway。　The　door　rose　obediently。　The　car　coasted　to　a　stop　inside　the　garage　and　the　driver　triggered　the　remote…control　device　again。　The　garage　got　very　dark　as　the　closing　door　shut　out　the　light。
　〃Okay；　gentlemen。　We　are　here。　We　will　sit　here　very　quiet　and　still　while　the　driver　checks　out　the　house。〃　The　driver　was　already　out　of　the　car。　He　fiddled　with　the　knob　on　the　inside　door；　used　a　key　or　pick；　and　had　it　open　in　a　few　seconds。　Before　he　entered　he　took　out　his　pistol。　In　about　a　minute　he　was　back。　He　nodded。
　Toad　went　first；　walking　around　the　car　while　the　driver　in　the　doorway　held　a　pistol　on　him。
　Then　it　was　Jake's　turn。　From　the　garage　he　entered　a　kitchen。　Through　the　sliding　glass　door　he　could　see　a　backyard　swing。
　〃The　basement。〃
　Jake　went　down　the　stairs。　The　slanted　ceiling　was　so　low　he　had　to　tilt　his　head。
　The　older　of　the　two　men；　the　man　who　had　ridden　in　the　backseat　with　Jake；　held　out　his　hand　toward　Toad。　〃The　handcuff　key。〃
　Toad　extracted　it　from　his　pocket　and　passed　it　across。　The　man　used　it　to　unlock　the　briefcase　from　Jake's　wrist　and　cuff　him　to　a　chair。　The　driver　produced　a　set　of　cuffs　from　a　trouser　pocket　and　cuffed　Tarkington　to　a　table。
　As　the　driver　sat　on　the　couch　with　his　pistol　on　his　lap　and　lit　a　cigarette；　the　older　man　examined　the　lock　on　the　briefcase。　He　glanced　at　Jake。　〃The　bination？〃
　〃Fuck　you。〃
　〃Ah；　Captain。　Do　you　honestly　think　I　couldn't　open　the　case　without　it？　I　merely　wished　to　save　myself　several　minutes　of　effort。〃
　Jake　told　him　the　bination。　The　man　had　it　open　in　thirty　seconds；　scooped　out　the　documents；　and　after　glancing　at　his　watch；　sat　down　on　the　couch　to　read　them。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Toad　asked。
　〃Does　it　matter？〃　the　reader　asked　without　looking　up。
　〃Not　right　now。　But　I'd　like　a　name　to　give　to　the　FBI。〃
　The　man　just　chuckled　dryly　and　continued　reading。
　After　a　while…Jake　wasn't　sure　how　long；　since　he　couldn't　see　his　watch…the　man　said；　〃This　Athena　device；　a　superconductive　puter　with　multiple　CPUs；　do　you　think　it　can　be　successfully　produced　in　three　years？〃
　Jake　said　nothing。　His　stomach　felt　like　he　had　swallowed　a　stone。
　〃Oh　well；　I　don't　have　the　time　to　get　the　answers；　and　I　doubt　that　you　would　be　forthright　in　any　event。　But　it　certainly　is　an　interesting　technological　development。　You　Americans！　A　nation　of　tinkerers。　What　will　you　think　of　next？〃
　He　went　back　through　the　documents　slowly；　taking　his　time；　studying　them。　His　pistol　lay　on　the　table　beside　him；　within　easy　reach。　Twice　he　glanced　at　his　watch。
　Jake　looked　around　the　room。　The　driver　kept　his　eyes　on　him　or　Toad　all　the　time。　His　pistol　lay　in　his　lap。　Toad　had　both　wrists　cuffed　together　around　the　leg　of　a　rather　large　table。　Still；　given　a　few　seconds；　he　could　lift　the　leg　and　be　free　of　the　table。　Obviously　that　possibility　did　not　concern　the　two　gunmen　very　much。　If　Toad　tried　it；　he　would　be　shot　or　pistol…whipped　within　seconds。
　Jake's　cuffs　went　through　the　arm　of　a　chair。　Beside　the　chair　sat　a　floor　lamp；　but　to　reach　it　with　his　right　hand；　he　would　need　to　stick　his　left　hand　under　this　chair　arm。　It　was　temptingly　close；　but　he　would　need　an　opportunity。　And　if　he　got　it；　what　then？
　What　did　those　instructors　always　say　at　SERE…Survival；　Evasion；　Resistance；　and　Escape…school？　Never　give　up。　Stay　ready。　Your　chance　will　e。
　These　guys　were　waiting　for　someone。　That　much　was　obvious。　Who？　The　Minotaur？
　They　had　been　in　the　basement　for　almost　an　hour　when　the　stocky　man　spoke　to　the　driver。　〃Upstairs　now；　I　think。　Be　sure　to　unplug　the　garage…door　opener。〃
　〃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　t