cc.vixen03-第50部分

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neck。　Her　briefcase　was　covered　with　the　same　material　as　the　suit。
　Daggat's　chauffeur　opened　the　door　for　her。　She　slipped　beside　Felicia　as　Daggat　gallantly　took　one　of　the　jump　seats。　〃You　look　lovely；　Loren；〃　Daggat　said　familiarly…too　familiarly。　〃It　was　obvious　the　minds　of　my　male　colleagues　were　elsewhere　when　you　stood　up　on　the　House　floor　in　that　outfit。〃
　〃Being　a　woman　has　its　advantages　during　debate；〃　she　said　coolly。　〃You　look　stylish；　Felicia。〃
　A　strange　look　flashed　over　Felicia's　face。　The　last　thing　she　expected　from　Loren　was　a　pliment。　She　smoothed　the　skirt　of　her　creamy　white　jersey　dress　and　avoided　Loren's　eyes。
　〃It's　good　of　you　to　see　us；〃　she　said　quietly。
　〃Did　I　have　a　choice？〃　Loren's　face　was　a　mask　of　resentment。　〃I'm　afraid　to　ask　what　you　demand　of　me　this　time。〃
　Daggat　raised　the　window　behind　the　chauffeur。　〃The　vote　es　up　tomorrow　on　whether　or　not　to　grant　aid　to　the　African　Army　of　Revolu…tion。〃
　〃So　you　two　poked　your　heads　above　the　slime　to　see　if　I　was　still　in　the　fold；〃　Loren　said　bitterly。
　〃You　refuse　to　understand；〃　said　Felicia。　〃There　is　nothing　personal　in　this。　Frederick　and　I　do　not　stand　to　gain　financially。　Our　only　reward　is　the　advancement　of　our　race。〃
　Loren　stared　at　her。　〃So　you　sink　to　blackmail　to　further　your　great　moral　cause。〃
　〃If　it　means　saving　countless　thousands　of　lives；　yes。〃　Daggat　spoke　as　though　he　were　lecturing　a　child。　〃Each　day　the　war　continues　brings　a　hundred　deaths。　The　blacks　will　eventually　win　in　South　Africa。　A　foregone　conclusion。　It　is　the　manner　in　which　they　win　that　is　impor…tant。　Hiram　Lusana　is　not　a　murderous　psychopath　like　Idi　Amin　was。　He　has　assured　me　that　when　he　bees　Prime　Minister；　the　only　major　change　he　seeks　is　equal　rights　for　South　Africa's　black　people。　All　democratic　principles　the　present　government　was　founded　upon　will　remain　in　effect。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　fool　enough　to　accept　the　word　of　a　criminal？〃　asked　Loren。
　〃Hiram　Lusana　grew　up　in　one　of　the　worst　slums　in　the　nation；〃　Daggat　continued　patiently。　〃His　father　deserted　his　mother　and　nine　children　when　he　was　eight。　I　don't　expect　you　to　understand　what　it's　like　to　pimp　for　your　own　sisters　in　order　to　put　food　on　the　table；　Congresswoman　Smith。　I　don't　expect　you　even　to　imagine　living　in　a　fifth…floor　tenement　with　newspapers　stuffed　in　the　cracks　to　keep　out　blowing　snow；　with　overflowing　toilets　because　there　is　no　water；　with　an　army　of　rats　waiting　to　scavenge　when　the　sun　goes　down。　If　crime　is　your　only　means　to　exist；　then　you　embrace　it　with　open　arms。　Yes；　Lusana　was　a　criminal。　But　when　his　opportunity　came　to　rise　above　the　filth；　he　snatched　it　and　turned　his　energies　toward　fighting　the　very　circumstances　that　cursed　him。〃
　〃Then　why　play　God　in　Africa？〃　Loren　said　defiantly。　〃Why　doesn't　he　fight　to　improve　conditions　for　blacks　in　his　own　country？〃
　〃Because　Hiram　fervently　believes　our　race　must　have　a　firm　base　to　rise　from。　The　Jews　look　with　pride　toward　Israel；　you　Anglo…Saxons　have　a　rich　British　heritage。　Our　homeland；　on　the　other　hand；　is　still　struggling　to　emerge　from　a　primitive　society。　It's　no　secret　the　blacks　who　have　taken　over　most　of　Africa　have　made　an　unholy　mess　of　it。　Hiram　Lusana　is　our　one　hope　to　steer　the　black　race　in　the　right　direction。　He　is　our　Moses　and　South　Africa　is　our　Promised　Land。〃
　〃Aren't　you　overly　optimistic？〃
　Daggat　looked　at　her。　〃Optimistic？〃
　〃According　to　the　latest　military　reports　from　South　Africa；　their　Defence　Forces　crossed　into　Mozambique　and　destroyed　the　AAR　and　its　headquarters。〃
　〃I　read　the　same　reports；〃　said　Daggat；　〃and　nothing　has　changed。　A　temporary　setback；　perhaps；　nothing　more。　Hiram　Lusana　is　still　alive。　He　will　raise　a　new　army；　and　I　intend　to　do　all　in　my　power　to　aid　him。〃
　〃Amen；　brother；〃　Felicia　added。
　The　three　of　them　were　too　wrapped　up　in　their　own　thoughts　to　notice　a　car　pulling　in　front　of　the　limousine　and　then　slowing　down。　At　the　next　stoplight　the　driver　swung　the　car　to　the　curb　and　leaped　out。　Before　Daggat's　chauffeur　could　react；　the　man　ran　up　to　the　limousine；　jerked　open　the　right　rear　door；　and　climbed　in。
　Daggat's　mouth　dropped　open　in　surprise。　Felicia　froze；　her　mouth　tensed。　Only　Loren　seemed　mildly　puzzled。
　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃　Daggat　demanded。　Over　the　stranger's　shoulder　he　saw　the　chauffeur　reach　into　the　glove　partment　for　a　gun。
　〃How　unobservant　of　you　not　to　recognize　me　from　my　pictures；〃　the　man　said；　laughing。
　Felicia　tugged　at　Daggat's　sleeve。　〃It's　him；〃　she　whispered。

　〃Him　who？〃　shouted　Daggat；　visibly　upset。
　〃Pitt。　My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　Loren　looked　at　Pitt　intently。　She　had　not　seen　him　for　several　days　and　she　scarcely　associated　this　man　with　the　one　who　had　made　love　to　her。　His　eyes　were　ringed　from　lack　of　sleep　and　his　chin　was　stubbled　with　beard。　There　were　creases　in　his　face　she　had　never　noticed　before；　creases　of　stress　and　exhaustion。　She　reached　over　and　squeezed　his　hand。
　〃Where　did　you　e　from？〃　Loren　asked。
　〃Coincidence；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃I　was　ing　to　see　you　and　happened　to　be　passing　by　the　Capitol　steps　when　I　noticed　you　entering　this　car。　As　I　drove　alongside；　I　spotted　Congressman　Daggat　in　the　back。〃
　The　chauffeur　had　lowered　the　window　behind　him　and　was　holding　a　small　revolver　inches　from　the　back　of　Pitt's　head。　Daggat　relaxed　noticeably。　He　felt　in　control　again。
　〃Perhaps　it's　time　we　met；　Mr。　Pitt。〃　He　made　a　slight　wave　of　his　hand。　The　chauffeur　nodded　and　lowered　the　gun。
　〃My　very　thoughts；〃　said　Pitt；　smiling。　〃In　fact；　it　saves　me　a　trip　to　your　office。〃
　〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃
　〃Yes；　I've　decided　to　order　some　reprints。〃　Pitt　produced　a　small　stack　of　photographs　and　fanned　them　in　one　hand。　〃I've　seen　better　results；　of　course。　But　then；　these　weren't　exactly　shot　under　ideal　studio　condi…tions。〃
　Loren　knotted　one　hand　against　her　mouth。　〃You　know　about　those　awful　pictures？　I　tried　to　keep　you　out　of　it。〃
　〃Let　me　see；〃　Pitt　said；　as　if　Loren　hadn't　spoken。　He　began　dropping　the　photographs　in　Daggat's　lap　one　by　one。　〃I'll　take　a　dozen　of　these；　and　five　of　those…〃
　〃I　do　not　appreciate　your　pathetic　attempt　at　humor；〃　Daggat　said；　interrupting　him。
　Pitt　gave　him　an　innocent　look。　〃I　thought　as　long　as　you　were　in　the　dirty…picture…taking　business；　you　wouldn't　mind　serving　your　clients…or　should　I　say　'models。'　Naturally；　I　expect　a　discount。〃
　〃What's　your　game；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　asked　Felicia。
　〃Game？〃　Pitt　looked　amused。　〃There　is　no　game。〃
　〃He　can　politically　ruin　your　father　and　me；〃　said　Loren。　〃As　long　as　he　holds　the　negatives　of　the　photographs；　he　can　call　the　shots。〃
　〃e　now；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling　at　her。　〃Congressman　Daggat　is　about　to　retire　from　the　blackmail　profession。　He　has　no　talent　for　it　anyway。　He　wouldn't　last　ten　minutes　against　a　tried　and　true　professional。〃
　〃Like　yourself？〃　said　Daggat　menacingly。
　〃No；　like　my　father。　I　believe　you　know　of　him。　Senator　George　Pitt。　When　I　explained　your　little　operation；　he　jokingly　asked　for　a　set　of　photos　as　a　memento。　You　see；　he's　never　seen　his　fair…haired　boy　in　action　before。〃
　〃You're　insane；〃　Felicia　hissed。
　〃You　told　your　father？〃　Daggat　murmured。　He　looked　slightly　dazed。　〃I　don't　believe　you。〃
　〃The　moment　of　truth；〃　Pitt　said；　the　smile　still　tugging　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃Does　the　name　Sam　Jackson　ring　a　bell　with　you？〃
　Daggat　sucked　in　his　breath。　〃He　talked。　The　bastard　talked！〃
　〃Sang　like　a　superstar。　Hates　your　guts；　by　the　way。　Sam　can't　wait　to　testify　against　you　at　the　House　Ethics　mittee　hearing。〃
　A　trace　of　fear　edged　Daggat's　voice。　〃You　wouldn't　dare　expose　those　pictures　to　an　investigation。〃
　〃What　in　hell　have　I　got　to　lose？〃　Pitt　said。　〃My　father　is　getting　ready　to　retire　next　year　anyway。　Take　my　case：　once　those　photos　are　distrib…uted；　I'll　probably　have　to　beat　half　the　secretaries　in　town　off　with　a　club。〃
　〃You　egotistical　pig；〃　Felicia　said。　〃You　don't　care　about　what　hap…pens　to　Loren。〃
　〃I　care；〃　Pitt　said　softly。　〃Being　a　woman；　she'll　suffer　embarrass…ment；　but　that　will　be　a　small　price　to　pay　so　our　friend　Daggat　here　can　spend　a　few　years　making　license　plat