scoonts.theminotaur-第44节

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！


fuel　state　would　be　when　she　arrived　over　the　Electronic　Warfare　range。　Jake　asked　everyone　present　if　they　had　been　to　NAS　Fallen；　and　proceeded　to　tell　anecdotes　of　his　many　visits　there　throughout　his　career。　Toad　Tarkington　knew　Grafton　was　going　to　monopolize　the　conversation　through　dessert　just　so　he　wouldn't　have　to　listen　to　Dodgers'　preaching。　Apparently　no　one　had　ever　told　the　physicist　that　three　things　were　never　discussed　at　a　wardroom　table…women；　politics　and　religion。
　Grafton　was　going　easily　from　anecdote　to　anecdote　when　Rita　finished　eating　and　excused　herself。　Toad　lingered；　engrossed　in　the　captain's　tales。　The　younger　Dodgers　ordered　dessert　and　asked　several　questions：　even　his　old　man　seemed　somewhat　amused　by　Grafton's　tales　of　ten…cent　craps　in　Mom's　saloon　and　midnight　motorcycle　rides　through　the　desert　by　half…drunk　fliers　trying　to　sober　up　so　they　could　fly　at　5　A。M。
　Dr。　Fritsche　lit　a　cigar　and　sighed　contentedly。　He　too　seemed　to　find　Grafton's　tales　of　his　younger　days　very　pleasant　this　warm　evening　in　a　navy　wardroom　a　hundred　miles　from　the　sea。
　Like　Jake　Grafton；　I　love　this　life；　Toad　found　himself　thinking。　As　he　listened　he　recalled　his　first　two…week　weapons　deployment　with　his　squadron　to　Fallen；　before　his　first　cruise。　It　was　in　Fallen　that　the　ties　to　wives　and　girlfriends　were　temporarily　broken　and　the　twenty…four…hour…a…day　camaraderie　began　to　weld　friendships　among　the　junior　officers　that　would　last　a　lifetime。　The　challenge　was　to　fly　the　planes　as　weapons；　two　or　three　flights　a　day；　and　on　liberty　to　play　as　hard　as　they　flew。　As　Jake　Grafton　described　it　and　Toad　remembered　it；　it　was　a　gay；　carefree；　exciting　life；　the　perfect　existence　for　a　youngster　growing　into　manhood。
　When　Jake　wound　down；　Toad　smiled　at　everyone　and　excused　himself。　Walking　toward　the　BOQ　he　found　himself　whistling　again。　I'm　doing　a　lot　of　that　lately；　he　thought；　and　laughed　aloud。　He　was　spending　his　life　wisely　and　well。　He　liked　the　thought　so　much　he　roared　heartily；　and　then　chuckled　contentedly　at　his　own　foolishness；　his　animosity　toward　Rita　this　afternoon　forgotten。
　There　was　no　answer　when　he　tapped　on　Rita's　door。　Perhaps　she　was　in　the　head　or　down　in　the　laundry　room。　Oh　well；　he　would　try　to　call　her　later。
　When　he　opened　the　door　to　his　room　the　lights　were　on　and　Rita　was　sitting　in　the　chair　by　the　small　desk。　Her　hair　was　down　over　her　shoulders　and　she　was　wearing　only　a　teddy；　a　filmy　little　thing　that。。。　Toad　gawked。
　〃Well；　close　the　door　before　everyone　in　the　building　stops　by　to　visit。〃
　〃How'd　you　get　in？〃　Toad　asked；　still　staring。
　〃Just　asked　for　a　key　at　the　desk。〃
　He　got　the　door　closed　and　latched　and　sat　down　on　the　end　of　the　bed；　close　to　her。　The　furniture　was　early　Conrad　Hilton；　and　there　wasn't　much　of　it。
　He　cleared　his　throat　as　she　stared　straight　into　his　eyes。
　〃I　was　writing　a　letter；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　never　wavering　from　his。　〃To　you。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃I　can　finish　it　later。〃
　〃What's　it　going　to　be　about？〃
　〃I'm　sorry　about　the　scene　today　in　the　parking　lot。　I　just　wanted…oh；　I…let's　forget　it；　shall　we？〃
　〃Sure；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　only　a　little　pothole　on　the　hard；　righteous　road。〃　His　gaze　was　drifting　lower　and　lower。　〃Not　enough　to　get　us　sidetracked　onto　that　short；　steep　road　that　leads　down。。。　down　straight。。。〃　Her　nipples　were　visible　through　the　lace　of　the　teddy；　ripe；　red。。。
　Rita　stood　in　one　smooth；　fluid　motion。　〃I　want　to　make　love　to　you；〃　she　murmured　as　she　peeled　off　the　teddy；　〃but　I　don't　want　to　be　too　forward。〃
　He　pursed　his　lips　and　nodded。　〃Uh…huh。〃　He　reached　out　and　she　slid　into　his　arms；　her　skin　all　silky　and　smooth。
　〃Should　we　turn　off　the　lights？〃　she　suggested　as　he　caressed　her　breasts　with　his　lips。
　〃You're　pretty　enough　for　lights；〃　he　said；　and　pulled　her　down　on　the　bed　beside　him。
　〃I　don't　want　you　to　get　the　idea　that　I　just　want　you　for　sex；〃　she　said　tentatively。
　His　mouth　was　full　of　breast；　so　the　best　he　could　manage　was　a　reassuring　noise。
　〃The　sex　is　great；　of　course；　but　I　want　us　to　have　something　else。〃　She　ran　her　fingers　through　his　hair；　then　smoothed　the　stray　locks。　〃You're　a　pretty　terrific　guy；　and　it's　more　than　sex。　That's　what　I　was　trying　to　get　at　this　afternoon　in　the　parking　lot。〃
　Toad　reluctantly　took　a　last　lick　at　that　swollen　nipple；　then　shifted　his　body　until　his　eyes　were　inches　from　hers。　〃Are　you　trying　to　tell　me　you're　in　love　with　me？〃
　She　frowned。　〃I　suppose。　It　hasn't　happened　quite　the　way　I　always　dreamed　it　would。　Girls　have　their　fantasies。〃　She　took　a　tiny　little　nip　on　her　lower　lip。　〃I　hope　I'm　saying　this　right。　You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃
　〃I'm　delighted。　I'm　falling　in　love　with　you　and　I'm　glad　you　feel　the　same　way。〃
　〃I　love　you；〃　Rita　Moravia　said　softly；　savoring　it；　then　gently　pulled　his　mouth　onto　hers。
　When　she　was　asleep；　Toad　eased　out　of　bed　and　peered　through　the　curtain。　He　was　restless。　Why　had　he　said　that…that　falling…in…love　stuff？　Only　a　cretin　tells　a　woman　that　just　before　he　beds　her。　He　sat　in　a　chair　and　worried　a　fingernail。　He　was　getting　in　over　his　head　again　and　he　had　his　doubts。　Was　he　just　scared？　Nah；　a　little　frightened　maybe；　nervous；　but　not　scared。　Why　is　it　all　women　want　to　fall　in　love？　He　wondered　what　Samuel　Dodgers　would　say　on　that　subject。
　
　Dreyfus　laid　it　on　Camacho's　desk　and　sat　down　to　light　his　pipe。　Camacho　knew　what　it　was：　his　boss　had　called　him。　It　was　a　copy　of　a　letter。　The　original　was　at　the　lab。　He　opened　the　folder　that　the　lab　technicians　used　for　copies　and　glanced　at　it。　There　was　no　date。　The　envelope　was　postmarked　Bakersfield；　California；　three　days　ago。　The　message　was　in　florid　longhand；　yet　quite　legible。
　
　Dear　Sir；
　I　think　it's　my　duty　to　inform　you　that　my　daughter's　husband；　Petty　Officer　First　Class　Terry　Franklin　USN；　is　a　spy。　He　works　at　the　Pentagon。　puters；　or　something　like　that。　I　don't　know　how　long　he　has　been　a　spy；　but　he　is。　My　daughter　Lucy　is　sure　he　is　and　so　am　I。　He　got　a　funny　phone　call　once　that　Lucy　overheard　and　he　got　really　really　mad　when　he　found　out　Lucy　mentioned　her　suspicions　to　a　neighbor。　Lucy　is　afraid　of　him　and　so　am　I。　He　is　crazy。　He　is　a　spy　like　that　Walker　fellow。
　We　are　good　citizens　and　pay　our　taxes　and　know　you　will　do　what　has　to　be　done。　We　are　sorry　for　him　but　he　did　this　himself。　Lucy　had　absolutely　nothing　to　do　with　this　spy　thing；　and　that's　why　I　am　writing　this　letter。　I　wanted　her　to　write　it　but　she　said　she　just　couldn't；　even　though　she　knows　it　has　to　be　this　way。　Please　arrest　him　and　keep　Lucy　and　the　kids　out　of　it。　Please　don't　tell　the　newspapers　he　is　married。　His　name　is　Terry　Franklin　and　he　works　at　the　Pentagon　and　he　is　a　spy。　And　PLEASE；　whatever　you　do；　don't　tell　Terry　we　told　on　him。　He　is　crazy。
　Sincerely；
　Flora　May　Southworth
　
　〃Can　you　get　a　divorce　in　California　if　your　spouse　is　a　spy？〃
　Dreyfus　snorted。　〃You　can　get　a　divorce　in　California　if　your　spouse　farts　in　bed。〃
　〃Progressive　as　hell。〃
　〃Right　out　front。〃
　〃Better　call　out　there　and　have　an　agent　go　interview　them。　Tell　him　to　stay　all　afternoon　and　take　lots　of　notes。〃
　〃You　don't　want　them　going　to　the　press？〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　the　mittee　is　going　to　want　to　do　about　this？〃
　〃Well；　they　sure　are　gonna　have　to　do　something。　Now　we　got　the　mother…in…law　writing　us　letters。　They　probably　talked　to　their　minister　and　a　lawyer　and　every　neighbor　in　a　five…block　radius。〃
　〃Not　letters。　A　letter。　One　letter　with　no　hard　facts　and　a　variety　of　unsubstantiated　allegations。　We　get　two　dozen　letters　like　this　every　month　from　people　out　to　get　even　with　someone　in　a　sensitive　job。　I　repeat；　do　you　know　what　the　mittee…〃
　〃No。〃　He　spit　it　out。
　〃So　we　had　better　do　our　best　to　convince　Mrs。　Southworth　we　are　going　like　gangbusters　on　this　hot　tip。　Pledge　confidentiality。　Better　send　two　agents。　Tell　them　to　be　thorough。　Then　two　days　later　go　back　for　a　follow…up　interview　with　more　questions。　New　questions；　not　repeats。〃
　〃A　major　break　like　this；　maybe　you　want　to　send　me　out　there　to　see　that　they　do　it　right？　I　could　go　by　bus；　get　there　in　a　week　or　so。〃
　Camacho　ignored　him。　He　picked　up　the　letter　and　read　it　again。　Then　he　pulled　a　legal　pad　around　and　began　making　notes。　Dreyfus　got　the　message　and　left　in　a　swirl　of　smoke；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　Camacho　threw　the　legal　pad　at　the　door。
　
　14
　
　With　its　twin　engines　bellowing　a　roar　that　could　be　heard　for　several　miles；　the　Intruder　departed　the　earth　with　a　delicate　wiggle；　a　perceptible　rocking　of　the　wings　that　Rita　Moravia　automatically　smoothed　with　the　faintest　side　pressure　on　the　control　stick。　She　had　let　the　takeoff　trim　setting　rotate　the　plane's　nose　to　eight　degrees　nose…up　and　had　stopped　it　there　with　a　nudge　of　forward　stick　in　that　delicious　moment　when　the　weight　of　twenty…five　tons　of　machine　and　fuel　was　transferred　from　the　main　landing　gear　to　the　wings。　This　was　the　transition　to　flight；　a　shimmering；　imprecise　hesitation　as　the　machine　gathered　its　strength　and　the　wings　took　a　firm　bite　into　the　warm　morning　air。
　Now　safely　airborne；　Rita　slapped　t