jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第68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！


　Gogh's　last　sentence　was　spoken　as　if　from　a　pulpit。　The　President's　eyes　looked　glassy　and　he　seemed　to　be　uninterested　in　the　discussion；　as　if　he'd　expected　some　disagreement　and　was　letting　it　run　its　course。　Elizabeth　looked　encouragingly　at　Nick；　so　he　took　another　approach。
　〃It　won't　work。　You　won't　be　able　to　identify　enough　identical　time　periods　to　drop　the　bombs　into。　Besides；　even　if　you　could；　the　time　displacement　would　end　up　taking　place　sometime　in　our　future　and　past；　depending　on　how　far　apart　the　detonations　are　at　the　various　sites。〃
　〃True。　That　is　why　we　intend　to　detonate　all　the　bombs　in　the　same　displacement　at　the　same　time。　The　simultaneous　explosions　will　create　the　effect　immediately。〃
　〃Immediately　in　our　past〃　Nick　corrected。
　〃Yes；　but　with　immediate　effects　in　our　present。〃
　〃On　what　do　you　base　that　conclusion？〃
　〃On　an　improved　version　of　a　theory　you　endorsed　just　a　short　time　ago。〃
　The　President's　loud　slap　on　the　table　broke　the　exchange。　〃Dr。　Paulson；　there　is　no　place　for　professional　jealousy　in　my　administration。　You　will　receive　appropriate　credit　for　your　contribution　to　solving　our　problem；　but　don't　attack　Dr。　Gogh　for　taking　your　idea　a　step　further　than　you　were　able　to　yourself。　I　asked　for　solutions　and　I　got　nothing　from　anyone　except　Arnie。　You　had　your　chance。　Now　unless　you　have　something　constructive　to　contribute　I　suggest　we　move　on。〃
　〃Mr。　President；　perhaps　no　one　offered　a　solution　because　there　is　no　solution。〃
　〃That's　defeatist。　Let's　move　on。〃
　〃This　won't　bring　your　wife　back；　sir。〃
　〃I　said　move　on！〃
　Tears　filled　the　President's　eyes　and　Nick　regretted　mentioning　Sandy。　He　knew　if　he　pushed　it　any　further　now　he　would　risk　losing　his　seat　at　the　Security　Council　and　his　chance　to　influence　the　oute。　
　The　rest　of　the　meeting　was　a　discussion　of　possible　detonation　sites。　The　one　chosen　could　not　have　any　evidence　of　human　presence；　or　any　signs　of　civilization。　They　did　not　want　to　risk　killing　people　from　the　past；　since　that　might　set　off　a　chain　of　events　that　would　alter　the　present。　Since　munication　across　the　country　was　disrupted；　they　had　very　little　information　to　work　with；　and　as　a　result　the　list　of　potential　sites　was　small。　There　was　an　Alaskan　site　southeast　of　Nome　described　as　having　sparse　vegetation。　It　was　on　the　list　because　of　unconfirmed　reports　that　a　pack　of　dinosaurs　was　attacking　a　herd　of　elk　there。
　The　second　site　was　in　northeastern　Washington；　where　a　huge　glacier　now　covered　parts　of　Washington；　Idaho；　and　Canada。　However；　the　detonation　site　was　unfortably　near　the　Canadian　border。　The　third　site　was　what　had　been　Portland；　Oregon。　Gogh　announced　that　they　were　expecting　aerial　photos　any　minute　to　confirm　the　eyewitness　reports；　but　so　far　it　appeared　to　be　a　displacement　populated　by　dinosaurs。
　The　discussion　moved　on　to　the　preparation　efforts。　The　military　was　using　overflights　of　the　potential　sites　to　develop　the　bit　maps　that　would　guide　the　cruise　missiles　to　their　target　area。　Since　the　missiles　would　be　launched　by　both　ships　and　B…l　bombers　and　would　have　to　travel　different　distances　over　a　variety　of　terrain；　timing　would　be　tricky　and　need　highly　accurate　maps。
　Nick　felt　dazed。　His　mind　had　not　switched　over　to　the　practical　side　of　the　plan；　he　couldn't　get　the　image　of　one　hundred　bombs　going　off　at　once　out　of　his　mind。
　Nick　paled　at　the　thought　of　the　impact　on　any　site；　but　especially　Portland。　Bombing　uninhabited　sections　of　Alaska　or　eastern　Washington　was　horrifying；　but　the　thought　of　its　effect　on　a　metropolitan　area　sickened　him。　Abruptly；　he　decided　to　risk　expulsion　from　the　council　and　broke　in　at　the　first　pause。
　〃Since　the　sites　are　unstable；　sometimes　they　are　the　present　and　sometimes　the　past。　How　will　you　be　sure　to　deliver　the　bombs　to　the　past？〃
　Gogh　smiled　at　the　question。　Clearly　he　had　thought　of　this　and　prepared　an　answer。
　〃The　missiles　are　terrain　guided。　They　will　be　programmed　with　the　terrain　from　the　past。　If　they　do　not　identify　the　terrain　as　matching　their　program　they　will　not　arm　their　warheads。　Instead；　the　missiles　will　harmlessly　pass　over　the　site；〃　Gogh　said；　and　then　swept　his　audience　with　his　eyes。　〃Thus　guaranteeing　the　detonations　will　occur　in　the　past。〃
　Nick　conceded　to　himself　that　it　could　work。　Still；　from　what　he　knew　of　the　programming　of　cruise　missiles　Gogh　wasn't　telling　the　whole　story。
　〃Dr。　Gogh；　isn't　it　true　that　under　bat　conditions　cruise　missiles　often　arrive　at　their　target　after　previous　attacks　have　significantly　altered　the　terrain？〃
　Gogh　looked　at　Nick　suspiciously；　as　if　he　knew　where　Nick　was　leading　him。
　〃Can　you　tell　the　council　how　the　missile's　programming　handles　that　contingency？〃　Nick　continued。
　He　glared　at　Nick；　leaving　unfortable　silence　in　the　room。　Finally；　Dr。　Gogh　answered　in　a　monotone。　〃When　the　missile　nears　its　termination　point；　and　the　terrain　ceases　to　match　the　digitized　map；　the　missile　can　exercise　an　option　to　use　the　last　confirmed　position　to　estimate　distance　and　direction　to　target。〃
　Many　of　those　at　the　table　began　murmuring；　but　Nick　wanted　to　make　sure　everyone　knew　full　well　what　Gogh's　missiles　would　do。
　〃In　other　words；　Dr。　Gogh；　if　the　missiles　get　lost；　they　will　guess。〃
　This　time　everyone　murmured。
　
　47。　　DEATH　FOR　DINNER
　
　Our　decoys　were　bringing　the　flock　down　and　we　were　ready　to　fire；　when　there　was　a　flash。　Suddenly；　we　were　pelted　by　roosted　ducks…burned；　feathers　and　all。
　…Reuben　Black；　Winston；　Maine；　1972
　
　Warm　Springs　Indian　Reservation；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　TUESDAY；　2：25　P。M。　PST
　
　　The　sounds　of　the　feeding　were　horrifying；　but　the　thought　of　who　was　being　eaten　was　worse。　Dr。　Piltcher　sat　in　a　crumpled　heap；　broken　by　the　thought　of　the　fate　of　his　friend。　Petra　kept　her　arm　around　his　shoulder　while　he　stared　at　his　hands　in　his　lap。　Her　words　were　no　fort　to　him；　but　Petra〃　continued　speaking　softly；　as　if　to　soothe　herself。　Colter　stood　nearby；　holding　his　spear　like　a　talisman；　but　soon　he　returned　to　the　others　and　squatted。
　〃That's　not　Dr。　Coombs。　I　mean　what　we're　listening　to。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　continued　to　stare　at　his　hands；　but　Petra　looked　up。
　〃What？　How　would　you　know？〃
　〃Well。　。　。　there's　just　too　much　eating　going　on。　Don't　take　this　wrong　。　。　。　but　if　that　was　Dr。　Coombs　he　would　have　been　gone　a　long　time　ago。　Know　what　I　mean？〃
　Petra　was　sickened　by　the　logic；　but　it　made　sense。　The　dinosaur　that　terrorized　them　was　so　big；　Dr。　Coombs　would　have　provided　just　a　snack；　and　the　gruesome　sounds　ahead　indicated　several　feeding　dinosaurs。　Dr。　Piltcher　remained　oblivious　to　Colter's　suggestion　until　Petra　took　his　hands　in　hers。　He　looked　up　then；　his　eyes　puffy　and　red。　Petra　was　going　to　speak　but　Colter　cut　her　off。
　〃Doc；　Dr。　Coombs　would　be　an　appetizer；　and　whatever's　up　there　is　eating　a　six…course　dinner。〃
　That　brought　Dr。　Piltcher　to　his　feet；　his　cheeks　reddening；　but　he　turned　to　Petra；　not　Colter。　When　he　spoke　his　voice　trembled。
　〃Monoclonius　was　a　herbivore。　It　wouldn't　eat　my　friend；　it　would　only　kill　him。〃　Dr。　Piltcher　paused　to　control　his　grief。　When　he　spoke　again　it　was　with　anger。　〃If　you　want　my　opinion；　somewhere　in　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　toward　the　noises；　〃is　a　pack　of　small　scavengers　making　a　meal　of　my　best　friend。〃
　〃Uh…uh。〃　Colter　argued。　〃Whatever　is　up　there　is　big；　and　they're　having　a　feast；　not　a　snack。　Let　me　make　it　plain　for　you。　If　that　was　Dr。　Coombs；　those　mono…monsters　would　be　picking　their　teeth　with　his　bones　by　now。〃
　Petra　watched　as　Dr。　Piltcher's　face　flushed　again。　This　time　he　turned　to　face　Colter；　staring　him　in　the　eye。　When　he　found　his　voice　it　came　in　a　near　shout。
　〃What　do　you　know；　Colter？　In　all　the　time　I've　known　you；　you've　shown　an　interest　in　only　one　thing。〃　He　turned　and　pointed　at　Petra；　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　then　turned　back　to　Colter。　〃Colter；　you　are　what　you　are；　an　ignorant　young　man　who's　biggest　acplishment　will　be　seducing　a　young　woman　I　admire　。　。　。　and　love。　Why　she　chose　you　。　。　。　chose　to　carry　you；　I'll　never　know。　But　I'm　telling　you；　George　。　。　。　Dr。　Coombs；　is　dead。〃
　Colter　flushed　this　time；　but　when　he　spoke　it　was　in　a　whisper。
　〃He　may　be；　Dr。　Piltcher。　I　never　said　he　wasn't　dead。　I'm　just　telling　you　what　they're　eating　up　there　isn't　him。〃　Colter　paused；　collecting　his　thoughts。　He　wasn't　angry；　but　he　was　hurt。　〃As　for　being　ignorant；　I　guess　I　am　when　I'm　back　in　the　city。　Sitting　around　discussing　all　that　crap　you　guys　think　is　so　important；　I　probably　looked　pretty　dumb。　I　admit　it；　I　wouldn't　have　been　there　if　it　wasn't　for　Petra。　But　you　tell　me；　Dr。　Piltcher；　who's　the　ignorant　one　out　here？　Who　wouldn't　let　me　go　get　a　gun？　And　who　is　whispering　and　who　was　shouting　when　there's　a　pack　of　dinosaurs　about　a　hundred　yards　away？〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　stared　back　defiantly；　but　had　no　answer。　In　the　city　his　vast　storehouse　of　the　arcane　had　given　him　cult　status　and　a　circle　of　followers　who　marveled　at　his　knowledge　and　wisdom。　But　here　in　this　strange　world；　book　learning　meant　nothing。　It　didn't　matter　whether　it　was　monoclonius　or　triceratops　that　had　impale