cc.vixen03-第52部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lame。　My　men　were　innocent。〃
　〃Aye；　a　denial　was　to　be　expected。〃
　〃What　do　you　intend　to　do　with　me？〃　Lusana　asked；　his　eyes　without　fear。
　Fawkes　looked　out　the　bridge　windows。　It　was　pitch　dark　outside　and　a　light　mist　coated　the　glass。　There　was　a　strange　kind　of　sadness　in　his　eyes。
　He　turned　to　Lusana。　〃We're　going　to　take　a　little　trip；　you　and　I；　a　trip　with　no　return　ticket。〃
　
　50
　
　The　taxi　passed　through　a　back　gate　of　the　Washington　National　Airport　at　precisely　nine　thirty　P。M。　and　dropped　Jarvis　behind　a　solitary　hangar　that　sat　on　a　seldom…used　end　of　the　field。　Except　for　a　faint　glow　of　light　through　the　dusty　glass　of　a　side　door；　the　giant　building　seemed　bleak　and　cavernous。　He　pushed　open　the　door　and　was　mildly　surprised　not　to　hear　it　creak。　The　well…oiled　hinges　pivoted　without　a　whisper。
　The　yawning　interior　was　brilliantly　illuminated　by　overhead　fluores…cent　lighting。　A　venerable　old　Ford　trimotor　aircraft　sat　like　a　huge　goose　in　the　center　of　the　concrete　floor；　its　wings　protectively　reaching　out　over　several　antique　automobiles　in　various　stages　of　restoration。　Jarvis　walked　over　to　a　car　that　seemed　no　more　than　a　pile　of　rusted　iron。　A　pair　of　feet　protruded　from　beneath　the　radiator。
　〃You　are　Mr。　Pitt？〃　Jarvis　inquired。
　〃And　you　are　Mr。　Jarvis？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Pitt　rolled　from　under　the　car　and　sat　up。　〃I　see　you　found　my　humble　abode　all　right。〃
　Jarvis　hesitated；　taking　in　Pitt's　greasy　coveralls　and　disheveled　ap…pearance。　〃You　live　here？〃
　〃I　have　an　apartment　upstairs；〃　Pitt　said；　pointing　to　a　glass…enclosed　level　above　the　hangar　floor。
　〃You　have　a　nice　collection；〃　said　Jarvis；　gesturing　at　the　relics。　〃What　is　the　one　over　there　with　the　black　fenders　and　silver　coach　work？〃
　〃A　1936　Maybach…Zeppelin　town　car；〃　Pitt　answered。
　〃And　the　one　you're　working　on？〃
　〃A　1912　Renault　open…drive　landaulette。〃
　〃　Seems　a　bit　the　worse　for　wear；〃　said　Jarvis；　wiping　a　finger　through　a　layer　of　rust。
　Pitt　smiled　patiently。　〃She　doesn't　really　look　all　that　bad　when　you　consider　she's　been　immersed　in　the　sea　for　seventy　years。〃
　Jarvis　understood　immediately。　〃From　the　Titanic1？〃
　〃Yes。　I　was　allowed　to　keep　her　after　the　salvage　project。　Sort　of　a　prize　for　services　rendered；　so　to　speak。〃
　Pitt　led　the　way　up　a　flight　of　stairs　to　his　apartment。　Jarvis　entered　and　his　professional　eye　routinely　traveled　over　the　unusual　furnishings。　The　occupant　was　a　well…traveled　man；　he　surmised；　judging　from　the　nauti…cal　objects　decorating　the　interior。　Copper　divers'　helmets　from　another　age。　Mariners'　passes；　wooden　helms；　ships'　bells；　even　old　nails　and　bottles；　all　neatly　labeled　with　the　names　of　famous　ships　from　which　Pitt　had　salvaged　them。　It　was　like　looking　into　a　museum　of　a　man's　life。
　Jarvis　sank　into　a　leather　sofa　at　Pitt's　invitation。　He　looked　his　host　directly　in　the　eyes。　〃Do　you　know　me；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Yet　you　had　no　qualms　about　seeing　me。〃
　〃Who　can　resist　intrigue？〃　Pitt　said；　grinning。　〃It's　not　every　day　I　find　a　note　on　my　windshield　with　a　phone　number　that　turns　out　to　be　the　National　Security　Agency。〃
　〃You　guessed；　of　course；　that　you　were　being　followed。〃
　Pitt　reclined　in　a　leather　chair　and　propped　his　feet　on　an　ottoman。　〃Let's　sack　the　wordplay；　Mr。　Jarvis；　and　get　to　the　point。　What's　your　sport？〃
　〃Sport？〃
　〃Your　interest　in　me。〃
　〃Okay；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃Cards　on　the　table。　What　is　the　real　purpose　behind　NUMA's　search　for　a　special　type　of　heavy　naval　shell？〃　〃Sure　you　wouldn't　like　a　drink？〃　Pitt　countered。　〃No　thanks；〃　Jarvis　answered；　appraising　Pitt's　casual　stall。　〃If　you　know　we're　in　the　market；　then　you　know　why。〃　〃Seismological　tests　on　coral　formations？〃　Pitt　nodded。
　Jarvis　stretched　his　arms　out　on　the　sofa's　backrest。　〃When　do　you　have　the　tests　scheduled？〃
　〃The　last　two　weeks　of　March　next　year。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Jarvis　gave　Pitt　a　benign；　fatherly　look　and　then　lunged　for　the　heart。　〃I've　talked　to　four　seismologists；　two　from　your　own　agency。　They　do　not　subscribe　to　your　idea　of　dropping　sixteen…inch　naval　shells　from　an　airplane。　In　fact；　they　found　it　downright　ludicrous。　I　was　also　informed　that　there　are　no　seismographic　tests　scheduled　by　NUMA　in　the　Pacific。　In　short；　Mr。　Pitt；　your　clever　little　dodge　won't　hold　water。〃　Pitt　closed　his　eyes　in　thought。　He　could　lie；　or　simply　offer　no　ment。　No；　he　reasoned；　his　alternatives　had　narrowed　down　to　zero。　There　was　virtually　no　hope　that　he　and　Steiger　and　Sandecker　could　negotiate　a　quick　return　of　the　QD　warheads　from　the　AAR。　They　had　carried　the　search　as　far　as　their　limited　resources　could　take　them。　The　time　had　e；　he　decided；　to　call　in　the　professionals。
　He　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　at　Jarvis。　〃　If　it　were　within　my　power　to　place　in　the　palm　of　your　hand　a　plague　organism　that　could　kill　without　interruption　for　three　hundred　years；　what　would　you　do　with　it？〃
　Pitt's　question　caught　Jarvis　off　guard。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　driving　at。〃
　〃The　question　stands；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Is　it　a　weapon？〃　；　　　　；　Pitt　nodded。
　An　uneasy　feeling　gripped　Jarvis。　〃I　know　of　no　such　weapon。　Chemi…cal　and　biological　arms　were　effectively　and　unconditionally　banned　by　every　member　of　the　United　Nations　ten　years　ago。〃　〃Please　answer　the　question；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Turn　it　over　to　our　government；　I　suppose。〃　〃Are　you　certain　that's　the　correct　course？〃
　〃Good　God；　man；　what　do　you　want？　The　case　is　purely　hypotheti…cal。〃
　〃Such　a　weapon　must　be　destroyed；〃　said　Pitt。　His　green　eyes　seemed　to　burn　into　the　back　of　Jarvis's　brain。
　There　was　a　short　silence。　Then　Jarvis　said；　〃Does　one　truly　exist？〃　〃It　does。〃
　The　pieces　were　falling　into　place；　and　for　the　first　time　in　all　the　years　he　could　remember；　Jarvis　wished　he　hadn't　been　so　damned　efficient。　He　looked　at　Pitt　and　smiled　thinly。
　〃I'll　have　that　drink　now；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃And　then　I　think　you　and　I　should　exchange　some　very　disturbing　news。〃
　It　was　past　midnight　when　Phil　Sawyer　stopped　the　car　in　front　of　Loren's　apartment　building。　He　was　what　most　women　thought　a　hand…some　man；　with　a　solid　face　and　a　neatly　styled　mass　of　prematurely　gray　hair。
　Loren　flashed　a　provocative　expression　at　him。　〃Would　you　like　to　open　my　apartment　door　for　me？　The　lock　always　seems　to　stick。〃
　He　smiled。　〃How　can　I　refuse？〃
　They　got　out　of　the　car　and　strolled　through　the　garden　entrance　in　silence。　The　sidewalk　was　wet　and　reflected　the　glow　from　the　street…lights。　Loren　nestled　against　his　body　as　the　cold　drizzle　attacked　their　hair　and　clothes。　The　doorman　greeted　them　and　held　the　elevator　open。　At　her　door　she　fished　in　her　purse　and　handed　Sawyer　the　key。　He　turned　the　lock　and　they　entered。
　〃Fix　yourself　a　drink；〃　she　said；　shaking　out　her　damp　hair。　〃I'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃
　Loren　slipped　into　the　bedroom　and　Sawyer　went　over　to　a　small　portable　bar　and　poured　himself　a　cognac。　He　was　on　his　second　when　Loren　came　back　into　the　room。　She　was　wearing　pajamas　with　a　silvery…gray　wrap　top　and　pants　that　were　lace　edged。　As　she　came　through　the　doorway；　the　light　from　the　bedroom　silhouetted　her　lithe　figure　through　the　vaporous　nylon。　The　bination　of　the　pajamas；　her　cinnamon　hair；　and　her　violet　eyes　suddenly　made　Sawyer　feel　like　a　confused　adolescent。
　〃You　look　ravishing；〃　he　managed　to　say。
　〃Thank　you。〃　She　poured　a　Galliano　for　herself　and　sat　down　next　to　him　on　the　couch。　〃It　was　a　lovely　dinner；　Phil。〃
　〃My　pleasure。〃
　She　moved　closer　and　lightly　caressed　his　hand。　〃You　seem　different　tonight。　I've　never　known　you　to　be　so　relaxed。　Not　once　did　you　mention　the　President。〃
　〃Six　weeks　and　three　days　from　now　the　new　President…elect　takes　the　oath　and　my　eight…year　battle　with　the　gentlemen　and　ladies　of　the　news　media　es　to　an　end。　God；　I　never　thought　I　would　feel　good　about　being　part　of　a　lame…duck　administration。〃
　〃What　are　your　plans　after　the　inauguration？〃
　〃My　boss　has　the　right　idea。　As　soon　as　he　turns　over　the　reins　of　office；　he's　sailing　a　forty…foot　ketch　to　the　South　Pacific；　where　he　says　he's　going　to　drink　and　screw　himself　to　death。〃　Sawyer　lowered　his　glass　and　stared　into　Loren's　eyes。　〃Now；　me；　I　prefer