cc.vixen03-第31节

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　〃I　know。〃
　〃We　parted　pany　only　last　month　in　Africa；〃　Felicia　said　as　if　Loren　had　not　spoken。　〃I　wonder　if　my　life　has　been　one　big　downer；　chasing　after　every　liberal　cause　that　pops　on　stage；　taking　up　with　any　stud　who　promises　to　save　the　human　race。〃
　Loren　motioned　to　the　waiter　to　bring　them　two　more　drinks。　〃You　can't　blame　yourself　for　believing　in　people。〃
　〃I　haven't　got　a　hell　of　a　lot　to　show　for　it。　Every　crusade　I've　ever　joined；　I　screwed　up。〃
　〃I　don't　mean　to　pry；　but　did　you　and　Lusana　have　personal　differ…ences；　or　was　it　political？〃
　〃Strictly　personal；〃　Felicia　said。　She　felt　her　chest　tighten　as　Loren　circled　the　bait。　〃I　no　longer　mattered　to　him。　His　only　love　was　his　fight。　I　think　at　first；　deep　inside　him；　there　was　a　feeling　for　me；　but　as　the　struggle　expanded　and　his　pressures　grew；　he　became　distant。　I　know　now　that　he　had　taken　all　he　ever　wanted　from　me。　It　was　as　though　I　was　as　expendable　as　one　of　his　soldiers　on　the　battlefield。〃
　Loren　saw　the　tears　start　to　e　to　Felicia's　eyes。　〃How　you　must　hate　him。〃
　Felicia　looked　up；　surprised。　〃Hate　Hiram？　Oh　no；　you　don't　under…stand。　I　was　unfair　with　him。　I　let　my　own　desires　stand　between　us。　I　should　have　been　patient。　Perhaps　when　his　war　to　give　majority　rule　to　blacks　in　South　Africa　is　won；　he　will　look　upon　me　differently。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　hold　my　breath　if　I　were　you。　I　know　his　history。　Lusana　uses　people　like　the　rest　of　us　use　toothpaste。　He　squeezes　every　dab　and　throws　away　the　empties。〃
　An　angered　frown　crossed　Felicia's　face。　〃You　only　see　in　Hiram　what　you　want　to　see。　The　good　outweighs　the　bad。〃
　Loren　sighed　and　leaned　back　as　the　waiter　brought　their　second　round。　〃It's　wrong　for　old　friends　to　argue　after　being　so　long　apart；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Let's　change　the　subject。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Felicia　said；　her　mood　changing。　〃What　about　you；　Loren？　Are　there　any　men　in　your　life？〃　。　　　〃Two；　at　the　moment。〃
　Felicia　laughed。　〃It's　mon　Washington　gossip：　one　is　Phil　Sawyer；　the　President's　press　secretary。　Who's　the　other？〃
　〃He's　a　director　at　NUMA。　His　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　〃You　serious　about　either　one　of　them？〃
　〃Phil　is　the　sort　you　marry：　loyal；　true　blue；　sets　you　on　a　gilded　pedestal　and　wants　you　to　be　the　mother　of　his　children。〃
　Felicia　made　a　face。　〃He　sounds　perfectly　mundane。　What　about　this　Pitt？〃
　〃Dirk？　Sheer　animal　power。　He　makes　no　demands；　he　es　and　goes　like　an　alley　cat。　Dirk　can　never　be　truly　owned　by　a　woman；　and　yet　he's　always　there　when　you　need　him。　The　lover　who　turns　you　on　but　won't　stand　still　long　enough　for　you　to　grow　old　with。〃
　〃He　sounds　more　my　type。　Send　him　my　way　when　the　affair　crashes。〃　Felicia　sipped　at　her　drink。　〃It　must　be　tricky；　maintaining　your　political　purity　in　front　of　the　voters　while　seeing　a　lover　on　the　side。〃
　Loren's　cheeks　turned　crimson。　〃It　is　difficult；〃　sRe　admitted。　〃I　never　was　very　good　at　intrigue。〃
　〃You　could　say　to　hell　with　what　people　think。　Most　women　do　these　days。〃
　〃Most　women　are　not　members　of　Congress。〃
　〃The　old　double　standard　again。　Congressmen　can　get　away　with　anything　as　long　as　it　doesn't　show　up　on　their　expense　account。〃
　〃Sad；　but　true；〃　said　Loren。　〃And　in　my　case；　I　represent　a　district　that　is　heavily　rural。　The　voters　still　believe　in　the　Sears　catalogue；　Coors'　beer；　and　the　Eleven　mandments。〃
　〃What's　the　eleventh？〃
　〃Ttiy　Congresswoman　shalt　not　screw　around　if　she　expects　to　win　the　next　election。〃
　〃Where　do　you　and　Pitt　meet？〃
　〃I　can't　take　the　chance　of　a　male's　being　seen　leaving　my　apartment　along　with　the　milkman；　so　we　meet　at　his　place　or　drive　to　some　little　out…of…the…way　country　inn。〃
　〃You　make　it　sound　like　a　bus…stop　romance。〃
　〃As　I　said；　it's　difficult。〃
　〃I　think　I　can　eliminate　all　the　bullshit　for　you。〃
　Loren　looked　at　Felicia　quizzically。　〃How？〃
　Felicia　fished　in　her　purse　and　came　up　with　a　key。　She　pressed　it　into　Loren's　hand。　〃Here；　take　this。　The　address　is　taped　to　the　top。〃
　〃What　is　it　for？〃
　〃A　pad　I　leased　over　in　Arlington。　It's　yours　anytime　you　get　horny。〃
　〃But　what　about　you？　I　can't　expect　you　to　get　lost　on　a　moment's　notice。〃
　〃You　won't　be　imposing；〃　Felicia　said；　smiling。　〃I'm　the　houseguest　of　a　dude　across　town。　No　more　protests。　Okay？〃
　Loren　studied　the　key。　〃God；　I　feel　like　a　hooker。〃
　Felicia　reached　over　and　folded　Loren's　hand　over　the　key。　〃If　just　thinking　about　it　gives　you　a　deliciously　obscene　feeling；　wait　until　you　take　a　shot　of　the　upstairs　bedroom。〃
　
　37
　
　〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　asked　Daggat。　He　was　seated　at　his　desk。　Hiram　Lusana　stood　across　the　room　and　leaned　over　a　high…backed　chair；　his　expression　anxious。
　Dale　Jarvis；　director　of　the　National　Security　Agency；　pondered　a　few　moments　before　answering。　He　looked　up　with　a　friendly；　almost　fatherly　face。　His　brown　hair　was　streaked　with　gray　and　he　wore　it　in　a　crew　cut。　He　was　dressed　in　a　tweed　suit　and　the　large　red　bow　tie　beneath　his　Adam's　apple　drooped　as　though　it　were　melting。
　〃My　guess　is　that　this　Operation　Wild　Rose　is　a　game。〃
　〃A　game！〃　Lusana　rasped。　〃That's　crap！〃
　〃Not　really；〃　Jarvis　said　calmly。　〃Every　nation　with　a　sophisticated　military　establishment　has　a　department　whose　function　is　solely　to　dream　up　what　is　generally　referred　to　in　the　trade　as　'feasibility　games。'　Improbable　schemes；　ultra　crepidam；　beyond　the　depth　or　grasp　of　likelihood。　Strategic　and　tactical　studies　invented　to　bat　unforeseen　events。　Then　shelved　against　the　unlikely　day　they　are　dusted　off　and　put　into　action。〃
　〃And　that's　your　opinion　of　Wild　Rose？〃　Lusana　asked　with　a　certain　acidity。
　〃Without　knowing　all　the　details；　yes；〃　answered　Jarvis。　〃I　daresay　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry　has　contingency　plans　for　phony　insurgent　raids　on　half　the　nations　of　the　globe。〃
　〃Do　you　really　believe　that？〃
　〃I　do；〃　Jarvis　said　firmly。　〃Don't　quote　me；　but　nestled　in　some　deep；　dark　crevasse　of　our　own　government　you'll　find　some　of　the　wildest　scripts　ever　devised　by　man　and　puter：　conspiracies　to　undermine　every　nation　on　the　globe；　including　our　Western　friendlies；　measures　to　plant　nuclear　bombs　in　the　ghettos　in　case　of　mass　uprisings　by　minorities；　battle　plots　to　counter　invasions　from　Mexico　and　Canada。　Not　one　in　ten　thousand　will　ever　be　utilized；　but　they're　there；　waiting；　just　in　case。〃
　〃Insurance；〃　said　Daggat。
　Jarvis　nodded。　〃Insurance　against　the　unthinkable。〃
　〃You　mean　that's　all　there　is　to　it？〃　Lusana　exploded　angrily。　〃You're　just　going　to　write　off　Operation　Wild　Rose　as　an　idiot's　nightmare？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　you've　taken　this　thing　far　too　seriously；　General。〃　Jarvis　sat　unmoved　by　Lusana's　outburst。　〃You've　got　to　face　reality。　As　my　grandfather　was　fond　of　saying；　you've　bought　yourself　a　pig　in　a　poke。〃
　〃I　refuse　to　accept　that；〃　Lusana　said　stubbornly。
　Jarvis　casually　removed　his　glasses　and　inserted　them　in　their　case。　〃You　are；　of　course；　free　to　ask　for　neutral　opinions　from　other　intelli…gence　organizations；　General；　but　I　think　I　can　safely　say　that　Wild　Rose　will　get　pretty　much　the　same　reception　wherever　you　present　it。〃
　〃I　demand　you　verify　De　Vaal's　intent　to　set　the　operation　in　motion！〃　Lusana　shouted。
　Controlling　his　rising　anger；　Jarvis　rose；　buttoned　his　jacket；　and　faced　Daggat。　〃Congressman；　if　you　will　excuse　me；　I　must　get　back　to　my　office。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Daggat　said。　He　came　out　from　behind　his　desk　and　took　Jarvis　by　the　arm。　〃Let　me　show　you　to　the　elevator。〃
　Jarvis　nodded　at　Lusana；　diplomatically　forcing　a　friendly　expression。　〃General？〃
　Lusana　stood　trembling；　his　hands　clenched　tightly；　saying　nothing。　He　turned　and　stared　out　a　window。
　As　soon　as　they　stepped　into　the　elevator　foyer；　Daggat　said　to　Jarvis；　〃I　apologize　for　the　general's　erratic　behavior。　But　you　must　understand　the　tremendous　strain　he　has　shouldered　these　past　months。　And　then　there　was　the　long　flight　from　Mozambique　last　night。〃
　〃Jet　lag　has　been　known　to　make　men　testy。〃　Jarvis　arched　an　eye…brow。　〃Or　could　it　be　he's　suffering　conscience　pangs　over　his　back…door　entry。〃
　Daggat　moistened　dry　lips。　〃You　know？〃
　Jarvis　smiled　amiably。　〃Routine。　Don't　worry；　Congressman。　Our　job　is　to　keep　tabs　on　men　like　the　general。　The　NSA　is　not　in　the　business　of　prosecuting　civil　violations。　What　Immigration　doesn't　know　in　this　case　won't　hurt　them。　A　piece　of　advice；　though。　If　I　were　you；　I　wouldn't　let　the　general　hang　around　Washington　too　long。　Befriending　a　radical　revolutionary　might　prove　embarrassing　to　a　man　of　your　reputation。〃
　〃General　Lusana　is　not　a　radical。〃
　Jarvis　shrugged；　unimpressed。　〃That　remains　to　be　seen。〃
　The　red　〃down〃　light　flashed　above　the　elevator。　Jarvis　started　to　turn。　〃There　is　one　more　thing；〃　said　Daggat。　〃A　favor。〃
　The　elevator　bell　rang　and　the　doors　parted。　The　interior　was　empty。　〃If　I　can；〃　Jarvis　said；　his　eyes　shifting　from　Daggat　to　his　only　means　of　escape。
　〃Check　out　Operation　Wild　Rose。　I'm　not　asking　for　a　maximum　effort　from　your　people；〃　Daggat　hastened　to　add。　〃Only　a　few　probes　that　may　or　may　not　confirm　its　validity。〃
　The　doors　began　to　close。　Jarvis　held　them　open；　one　foot　in；　one　foot　still　on　the　foyer　floor。