cc.vixen03-第41节

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　The　green　and　brown　of　the　helicopter's　camouflage　blurred　into　Machita's　view　for　an　instant；　disappearing　above　the　headquarters　building　housing　his　cell。
　He　braced　his　pain…wracked　body　against　the　inevitable　explosion。　The　concussion　was　two；　three　times　what　he　expected。　The　breath　was　pounded　from　his　lungs　as　if　by　ajackhammer。　Then　the　ceiling　of　his　cell　closed　down　on　him　and　his　tiny　world　went　black。
　〃They're　ing　in　now；　sir；〃　said　a　sergeant；　saluting　smartly。
　Pieter　De　Vaal　acknowledged　the　message　with　a　methodical　wave　of　his　swagger　stick。　〃Then　I　think　we　should　extend　them　the　courtesy　of　greeting；　don't　you？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　sergeant　opened　the　car　door　and　stood　aside　as　De　Vaal　unlimbered　himself　from　the　blackness　of　the　backseat；　meticu…lously　straightened　his　tailored　uniform；　and　began　walking　toward　the　grass　landing　pad。
　They　both　stood　there　for　a　minute　and　screwed　up　their　eyes　as　the　bright　glare　of　the　helicopter's　landing　lights　cut　the　evening　darkness。　Then　the　gust　from　the　approaching　rotor　blades　forced　them　to　clamp　their　hands　to　their　caps　and　turn　away　as　small　pebbles　blown　from　the　pad　pelted　their　backs。
　With　perfect　precision　the　Defence　Forces　copters　hovered　in　se…quence　until　all　twelve　were　aligned。　Then；　on　order　from　the　squadron　mander；　they　eased　gracefully　to　the　ground　as　one　unit　and　the　lights　blinked　out。　Zeegler　emerged　from　the　lead　craft　and　trotted　over　to　De　Vaal。
　〃How　did　it　go？〃　the　Defence　Minister　asked。
　？　Zeegler's　grin　was　barely　visible　in　the　darkness。　〃One　for　the　history　books；　Minister。　An　incredible　exploit。　There　are　no　other　words　to　describe　it。〃
　〃Casualties？〃
　〃Four　wounded；　none　seriously。〃
　〃And　the　rebels？〃
　Zeegler　paused　for　。effect。　〃The　body　count　tallied　at　twenty…three　hundred　and　ten。　At　least　another　two　hundred　lie　buried　in　the　rubble　of　the　destroyed　buildings。　No　more　than　a　handful　could　have　escaped　into　the　bush。〃
　〃Good　God！〃　De　Vaal　was　shocked。　〃Are　you　serious？〃
　〃I　checked　the　body　count　twice。〃
　〃In　our　wildest　expectations　we　conceived　no　more　than　a　few　hundred　rebel　dead。〃
　〃A　windfall；〃　said　Zeegler。　〃The　camp　was　lined　up　for　inspection。　It　was　what　the　Americans　would　call　a　turkey　shoot。　Colonel　Randolph　Jumana　was　cut　down　by　the　first　salvo。〃
　〃Jumana　was　an　idiot；〃　De　Vaal　snapped。　〃His　days　were　numbered。　Thomas　Machita…there's　the　cagey　one。　Machita　is　the　only　bastard　in　the　AAR　who　could　fill　Lusana's　boots。〃
　〃We　identified　several　officers　on　Lusana's　staff；　including　Colonel　Due　Phon　Lo；　his　Vietnamese　military　adviser；　but　Machita's　body　did　not　turn　up。　I　believe　I'm　safe　in　saying　his　remains　are　buried　under　tons　of　debris。〃　Zeegler　paused　and　stared　De　Vaal　in　the　eyes。　〃In　view　of　our　success；　Herr　Minister；　it　might　be　wise　to　scratch　Operation　Wild　Rose。〃
　〃Why　not　quit　while　we're　ahead…is　that　it？〃
　Zeegler　silently　nodded。
　〃I　am　a　pessimist；　Colonel。　It　may　take　months；　perhaps　years；　for　the　AAR　to　recover；　but　recover　they　will。〃　De　Vaal　seemed　to　sink　into　a　private　reverie。　Then　he　shook　it　off。　〃So　long　as　South　Africa　lives　under　the　threat　of　black　rule；　we　have　no　option　but　to　use　any　method　available　to　survive。　Wild　Rose　will　take　place　as　planned。〃
　〃I'll　feel　better　when　Lusana　falls　in　our　net。〃
　De　Vaal　threw　Zeegler　an　off…kilter　grin。　〃You　haven't　heard？〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Hiram　Lusana　won't　be　ing　back　to　Africa；　ever。〃
　Machita　had　no　way　of　telling　when　he　had　recrossed　the　threshold　of　consciousness。　He　could　see　nothing　but　darkness。　Then　the　pain　began　multiplying　in　his　nerve　endings　and　he　groaned　involuntarily。　His　ears　recorded　the　sound；　but　nothing　else　registered。
　He　tried　to　raise　his　head　and　a　yellowish　ball　appeared　above　and　to　his　left。　Slowly　the　strange　object　came　into　focus　and　formed　a　frame　of　reference。　He　was　looking　at　a　full　moon。
　He　struggled　to　a　sitting　position　with　his　back　crammed　against　a　cold；　bare　wall。　In　the　light　that　sifted　through　the　wreckage　he　could　see　that　the　floor　above　had　dropped　only　two　feet　before　being　wedged　between　the　narrow　walls　of　his　cell。
　After　a　brief　rest　to　collect　his　strength；　Machita　began　pushing　away　the　rubble。　His　hands　discovered　a　short　length　of　board　and　he　used　it　to　pry　away　the　topside　flooring　until　at　last　he　forced　an　opening　large　enough　to　crawl　through。　Cautiously　he　peered　over　the　edge　into　the　chilly　night　air。　Nothing　stirred。　He　bent　his　knees　and　shoved　his　body　upward　until　his　hands　touched　the　grass　of　the　parade　ground。　A　sudden　heave　and　he　was　free。
　Machita　took　a　deep　breath　and　looked　around。　It　was　then　that　he　saw　the　miracle　of　his　salvation。　The　wall　of　the　administration　building　facing　the　parade　field　had　caved　inward；　collapsing　the　first　floor；　which　had　effectively　shielded　his　cell　from　falling　debris　and　the　deadly　wrath　of　the　South　Africans。
　No　one　greeted　Machita　as　he　staggered　to　his　feet；　because　there　was　no　one　in　sight。　The　moon　illuminated　an　eerie；　barren　landscape。　Every　facility；　every　building；　had　been　leveled。　The　field　was　empty；　the　bodies　of　the　dead　were　gone。
　It　was　as　though　the　African　Army　of　Revolution　had　never　existed。
　〃I　wish　I　could　help　you；　but　I　don't　really　see　how。〃
　Lee　Raferty　had　been　right；　Pitt　reflected。　Orville　Mapes　did　look　more　like　a　hardware　peddler　than　a　weapons　dealer。　Raferty　was　wrong　on　one　count；　though：　Mapes　was　no　longer　a　vice…president；　he　had　moved　up　to　president　and　chairman　of　the　board　of　the　Phalanx　Arms　Corporation。　Pitt　stared　back　into　the　gray　eyes　of　the　stubby　little　man。
　〃A　check　of　your　inventory　records　would　be　helpful。〃
　〃I　do　not　open　my　records　for　a　stranger　who　wanders　in　from　the　street。　My　customers　would　not　look　kindly　upon　a　supplier　who　failed　to　keep　their　transactions　confidential。〃
　〃The　law　requires　you　to　list　your　arms　sales　with　the　Defense　De…partment；　so　what's　the　big　secret？〃
　〃Are　you　with　Defense；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　asked　Mapes。
　〃Indirectly。〃
　〃Then　whom　do　you　represent？〃
　〃Sorry；　I　can't　say。〃
　Mapes　shook　his　head　irritably　and　rose。　〃I'm　a　busy　man。　I　have　no　time　for　games。　You　can　find　your　own　way　out。〃
　Pitt　remained　in　his　chair。　〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Mapes　。　。　。　please。〃
　Mapes　found　himself　looking　into　a　pair　of　green　eyes　that　were　as　hard　as　jade。　He　hesitated；　and　considered　challenging　the　mand；　then　slowly　did　as　he　was　asked。
　Pitt　nodded　at　the　telephone。　〃So　we　both　know　where　we　stand；　I　suggest　you　call　General　Elmer　Grosfield。〃
　Mapes　made　a　nettled　face。　〃The　Chief　Inspector　of　Foreign　Arms　Shipments　and　I　seldom　see　eye　to　eye。〃
　〃I　take　it　he　frowns　on　classified　weapons'　being　sold　to　unfriendly　nations。〃
　Mapes　shrugged。　〃The　general　is　a　narrow…minded　man。〃　Mapes　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　stared　speculatively　at　Pitt。　〃What；　may　I　ask；　is　your　connection　with　Grosfield？〃
　〃Let's　just　say　he　respects　my　judgment　more　than　he　does　yours。〃
　〃Do　I　detect　a　veiled　threat；　Mr。　Pitt？　If　I　don't　play　ball；　you　cry　foul　to　Grosfield…is　that　it？〃
　〃My　request　is　simple；〃　said　Pitt。　〃A　check　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　naval　shells　you　bought　from　Lee　Raferty　in　Colorado。〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　show　you　a　damn　thing；　mister；〃　Mapes　replied　stubbornly。　〃Not　without　a　logical　explanation　or　proper　identification；　or；　for　that　matter；　a　court　order。〃
　〃And　if　General　Grosfield　makes　the　request？〃
　〃In　that　case　I　might　be　persuaded　to　string　along。〃
　Pitt　nodded　at　the　phone　again。　〃I'll　give　you　his　private　number
　〃I　have　it；〃　Mapes　said；　fishing　through　a　small　box。　He　found　the　slotted　index　card　he　was　looking　for　and　held　it　up。　〃Not　that　I　don't　trust　you；　Mr。　Pitt。　But　if　you　don't　mind；　I　prefer　using　a　number　from　my　own　file。〃
　〃Suit　yourself；〃　said　Pitt。
　Mapes　lifted　the　receiver；　inserted　the　card　in　the　automatic…dialer　phone；　and　pressed　the　code　button。　〃It's　after　twelve　o'clock；〃　he　said。
　〃Grosfield　is　probably　out　to　lunch。〃　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃The　general　is　a　brown…bagger。　He　eats　at　his　desk。〃
　〃I　always　figured　him　for　a　cheapass；〃　Mapes　grunted。
　Pitt　smiled；　hoping　Mapes　couldn't　read　the　anxiety　behind　his　eyes。
　Abe　Steiger　rubbed　the　sweat　from　his　palms　on　his　pant　legs　and　picked　up　the　phone　on　the　third　ring；　taking　a　bite　from　a　banana　before　he　spoke。
　〃General　Grosfield　here；〃　he　mumbled。
　〃General；　this　is　Orville　Mapes；　of　Phalanx　Arms。〃
　〃Mapes；　where　are　you？　You　sound　like　you're　talking　from　the　bottom　of　a　barrel。〃
　〃You　sound　muffled　and　distant；　too；　General。〃
　〃You　caught　me　in　the　middle　of　a　peanut…butter　sandwich。　I　like　them　thick　with　gobs　of　mayonnaise。　What's　on　your　mind；　Mapes？〃
　〃Sorry　to　interrupt　your　lunch；　but　do　you　know　a　Mr。　Dirk　Pitt？〃
　Steiger　forced　a　pause　and　took　a　deep　breath　before　answering。　〃Pitt。　Yes；　I　know　Pitt。　He's　an　investigator　for　the　Senate　Armed　Forces　mittee。〃
　〃His　credentials　are　right　up　there；　then。〃
　〃They　don't　go　any　higher；〃　said　Steiger；　as　though　talking　with　a　mouthful。　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃He's　sitting　in　front　of　me；　demanding　to　inspect　my　inventory　records。〃
　〃I　wondered　when　he'd　get　around　to　you　civilians。〃　Steiger　took　anothe