cc.vixen03-第43节

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　〃Yes？〃
　A　thousand　insults　swirled　in　Pitt's　mind；　but　he　could　not　sort　out　any　one　in　particular。　Finally；　as　Mapes's　expectant　expression　turned　to　puzzlement；　Pitt　spoke。
　〃How　many　men　did　your　merchandise　kill　and　maim　last　year；　and　the　year　before　that？〃
　〃I　do　not　concern　myself　with　what　others　do　with　my　goods；〃　Mapes　said　offhandedly。
　〃If　one　of　those　gas　shells　went　off；　you'd　be　responsible　for　perhaps　millions　of　deaths。〃
　〃Millions；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　Mapes's　eyes　hardened。　〃To　me　the　term　is　merely　a　statistic。〃
　
　46
　
　Steiger　set　the　Spook　F…140　jet　fighter　down　lightly　on　the　airstrip　at　Sheppard　Air　Force　Base；　outside　Wichita　Falls；　Texas。　After　checking　in　with　the　flight…operations　officer；　he　signed　out　a　car　from　the　base　motor　pool　and　drove　north　across　the　Red　River　into　Oklahoma。　He　turned　onto　State　Highway　Fifty…three　and　pulled　over　to　the　side　of　the　road；　he　felt　a　sudden　urge　to　relieve　himself。　Though　it　was　a　few　minutes　past　one　in　the　afternoon；　no　car；　no　sign　of　life；　was　visible　for　miles。
　Steiger　could　not　remember　seeing　such　flat　and　desolate　farm　coun…try。　The　wind…swept　landscape　was　barren　except　for　a　distant　shed　and　an　abandoned　hay　rake。　It　was　a　depressing　sight。　If　someone　had　placed　a　gun　in　Steiger's　hand；　he'd　have　been　tempted　to　shoot　himself　out　of　sheer　melancholy。　He　zipped　up　his　fly　and　returned　to　the　car。
　Soon　a　water　tower　appeared　beside　the　arrow…straight　road　and　grew　larger　through　the　windshield。　Then　a　small　town　with　precious　few　trees　materialized　and　he　passed　a　sign　weling　him　to　Dayton　City；　Queen　City　of　the　Wheat　Belt。　He　pulled　into　a　dingy　old　gas　station　that　still　sported　glass　tanks　above　its　pumps。
　An　elderly　man　in　mechanic's　coveralls　emerged　from　a　grease　pit　and　shuffled　up　to　the　passenger　window。　〃Can　I　help　ya？〃
　〃I'm　looking　for　VFW　Post　Ninety…nine　seventy…four；〃　said　Steiger。
　〃If　yer　speakin'　at　the　luncheon；　yer　late；〃　admonished　the　old　man。
　〃I'm　here　on　other　business；〃　Steiger　said；　smiling。
　The　Oklahoman　was　unimpressed。　He　took　an　oily　rag　from　his　pocket　and　wiped　his　equally　oily　hands。　〃Go　to　the　stop　sign　in　the　middle　of　town　and　turn　left。　Ya　can't　miss　it。〃
　Steiger　followed　the　instructions　and　pulled　into　the　gravel　parking　lot　of　a　building　strikingly　modern　pared　to　others　in　the　town。　Several　cars　were　leaving　the　area；　trailing　clouds　of　red　dust　behind　their　bumpers。　The　luncheon　was　over；　Steiger　surmised。　He　entered　and　stood　for　a　moment　at　the　edge　of　a　large　room　with　a　hardwood　floor。　The　dishes　on　several　tables　still　bore　the　wreckage　of　fried　chicken。　A　group　of　three　men　noticed　his　presence　and　waved。　A　tall；　gangly　individual　about　fifty　years　of　age　and　at　least　six　feet　five　inches　tall　separated　from　the　rest　and　sauntered　over　to　Steiger。　He　had　a　ruddy　face　and　short…clipped　shiny　hair　parted　down　the　middle。　He　offered　his　hand。
　〃Good　afternoon；　Colonel。　What　brings　you　to　Dayton　City？〃
　〃I'm　looking　for　the　post　mander；　a　Mr。　Billy　Lovell。〃
　〃I'm　Billy　Lovell。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃How　do　you　do；〃　said　Steiger　politely。　〃My　name　is　Steiger；　Abe　Steiger。　I've　e　from　Washington　on　a　rather　urgent　matter。〃
　Lovell　stared　at　Steiger；　his　eyes　friendly　but　speculative。　〃You're　putting　me　on；　Colonel。　I　suppose　you're　going　to　tell　me　a　top…secret　Russian　spy　satellite　came　down　in　a　field　somewhere　near　town。〃
　Steiger　gave　a　casual　tilt　of　his　head。　〃Nothing　that　dramatic。　I'm　looking　for　a　couple　of　naval　shells　your　post　purchased　from　Phalanx　Arms。〃
　〃Oh；　them　two　duds？〃
　〃Duds？〃
　〃Yeah；　we　were　going　to　blow　'em　up　during　the　Veterans　Day　picnic。　Set　'em　on　an　old　tractor　and　popped　away　all　afternoon；　but　they　didn't　go　off。　We　tried　to　get　Phalanx　to　replace　'em。〃　Lovell　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃They　refused。　Claimed　all　sales　was　final。〃
　A　chilling　thought　passed　through　Steiger's　mind。　〃Perhaps　they're　not　the　self…detonating　type　of　ordnance。〃
　〃Nope。〃　Lovell　shook　his　head。　〃Phalanx　guaranteed　they　was　live　battleship　shells。〃
　〃Do　you　still　have　them？〃
　〃Sure；　right　outside。　You　passed　'em　ing　in。〃
　Lovell　led　Steiger　outside。　The　two　shells　bordered　the　entrance　to　the　post。　They　were　painted　white；　and　welded　to　their　sides　were　chains　that　stretched　along　the　walkway。
　Steiger　sucked　in　his　breath。　The　tips　of　the　shells　were　rounded。　They　were　two　of　the　missing　gas　shells。　His　knees　suddenly　turned　to　rubber；　and　he　had　to　sit　down　on　the　steps。　Lovell　stared　questioningly　at　Steiger's　dazed　expression。
　〃Somethin'　wrong？〃
　〃You　shot　at　these　things？〃　Steiger　asked　incredulously。
　〃Pumped　close　to　a　hundred　rounds　at　'em。　Nicked　the　heads　some；　but　that's　all。〃
　〃It's　a　miracle　。　。　。〃　Steiger　murmured。
　〃A　what？〃
　〃Those　are　not　explosive　shells；〃　Steiger　explained。　〃They're　gas　shells。　Their　firing　mechanisms　will　not　self…activate　until　the　parachutes　are　released。　Your　bullets　had　no　effect　because　unlike　ordinary　explo…sive　projectiles；　they　had　not　been　preset　to　detonate。〃
　〃Whooee！〃　gasped　Lovell。　〃You　mean　them　things　has　poison　gas　in　'em？〃
　Steiger　merely　nodded。
　〃My　Gawd；　we　might　have　wiped　out　half　the　county。〃
　〃And　then　some；〃　Steiger　muttered　under　his　breath。　He　rose　from　the　steps。　〃I'd　like　to　borrow　your　John　and　a　telephone；　in　that　order。〃
　〃Sure；　you　e　along。　The　John　is　down　the　hall　to　your　left　and　there's　a　phone　in　my　office。〃　Lovell　stopped　and　his　eyes　turned　canny。　〃If　we　give　you　them　shells　。　。　。　well；　I　was　wonderin'　。　。　。〃
　〃I　promise　you　and　your　post　will　receive　ten　sixteen…inch　shells　in　prime　explosive　condition；　enough　to　give　your　next　Veterans　Day　picnic　a　super　bang。〃
　Lovell　grinned　from　ear　to　ear。　〃You're　on；　Colonel。〃
　In　the　rest　room　Steiger　ran　cold　water　over　his　face。　The　eyes　that　stared　back　in　the　mirror　were　red　and　tired；　but　they　also　radiated　hope。　He　had　successfully　tracked　down　two　of　the　Quick　Death　warheads。　He　could　only　pray　that　Pitt　was　as　fortunate。
　Steiger　picked　up　the　phone　in　Lovell's　office　and　asked　the　operator　to　put　through　a　collect　long…distance　call。
　Pitt　was　asleep　on　a　couch　in　his　NUMA　office　when　his　secretary；　Zerri　Pochinsky；　leaned　over　and　gently　shook　him　awake。　Her　long　fawn…colored　hair　hung　down；　framing　a　face　that　was　warm　and　pretty　and　full　of　merry　admiration。
　〃You've　got　a　visitor　and　two　calls；〃　she　said　in　a　soft　Southern　drawl。
　Pitt　pushed　aside　the　cobwebs　and　sat　up。　〃The　calls？〃　he　said。
　〃Congresswoman　Smith；〃　Zerri　answered　with　a　trace　of　acidity；　〃and　Colonel　Steiger　on　long　distance。〃
　〃And　the　visitor？〃
　〃Says　his　name　is　Sam　Jackson。　He　doesn't　have　an　appointment　but　he　insists　that　it's　important。〃
　Pitt　began　to　pull　his　sleep…fogged　mind　to　even　keel。　〃I'll　take　Steiger's　call　first。　Tell　Loren　I'll　call　her　back；　and　send　in　Jackson　as　soon　as　I'm　off　the　phone。〃
　Zerri　nodded。　〃The　colonel　is　on　line　three。〃
　He　walked　unsteadily　to　the　desk　and　punched　one　of　the　blinking　buttons。　〃Abe？〃
　〃Greetings　from　sunny　Oklahoma。〃
　〃How'd　it　go？〃
　〃Paydirt；〃　said　Steiger。　〃Scratch　two　warheads。〃
　〃Nice　work；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling　for　the　first　time　in　days。　〃Any　prob…lems？〃
　〃None。　I'll　stand　by　until　a　crew　arrives　to　pick　them　up。〃
　〃I've　got　a　NUMA　Catlin　loaded　with　a　forklift　sitting　at　Dulles。　Where　can　they　set　down？〃
　〃One　second。〃
　Pitt　could　hear　muffled　voices　as　Steiger　conversed　with　someone　at　the　other　end　of　the　line。
　〃Okay；〃　Steiger　said。　〃The　post　mander　says　there　is　a　small　private　airfield　about　eight　hundred　yards　long　a　mile　south　of　town。〃
　〃Twice　what　a　Catlin　requires；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃Any　luck　at　your　end？〃
　〃The　curator　at　the　British　Imperial　War　Museum　said　the　shell　they　purchased　from　Phalanx　for　a　World　War　Two　naval　exhibit　is　definitely　armor　piercing。〃
　〃Leaving　the　African　Army　of　Revolution　holding　the　other　two　QD　warheads。〃
　〃Thereby　hangs　a　tale；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃What　earthly　purpose　are　heavy　naval　shells　in　the　African　jungle？〃
　〃Our　riddle　for　the　day；〃　said　Pitt；　rubbing　his　reddened　eyes。　〃At　least　we're　temporarily　blessed　with　the　fact　that　they're　no　longer　in　our　backyard。〃
　〃Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃　asked　Steiger。　〃We　can't　very　well　tell　a　pack　of　terrorists　they've　got　to　give　back　the　most　horrendous　weapon　of　all　time。〃
　〃The　first　item　on　the　agenda；〃　said　Pitt；　〃is　to　pinpoint　the　warheads。
　On　that　score　Admiral　Sandecker　has　persuaded　an　old　Navy　buddy　at　the　National　Security　Agency　to　do　some　digging。〃
　〃Sounds　touchy。　Those　guys　are　no　dummies。　They　might　ask　some　embarrassing　questions。〃
　〃Not　likely；〃　said　Pitt　confidently。　〃The　admiral　came　up　with　a　classic　cover　story。　I　almost　bought　it　myself。〃
　
　47
　
　It　was　a　difficult　choice。　Dale　Jarvis　wavered　between　the　Dutch　apple　pie　and　the　calorie…laden　lemon　meringue。　Throwing　diet　to　the　winds；　he　took　both　and　set　them　on　his　tray　along　with　a　cup　of　tea。　Then　he　paid　the　girl　at　the　puter　register　and　sat　at　a　table　along　one　wall　of　the　spacious　cafeteria　in　the　NSA　headquarters　plex　at　Fort　Meade；　Maryland。
　〃One　of　these　days　you're　going　to　bust　your　gut。〃　Jarvis　paused　and　looked　up　into　the　solem