cc.vixen03-第57节

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c　motors。　The　sounds　seemed　to　e　from　above。　Cautiously；　Pitt　stepped　over　the　sill。
　The　tall　armor…piercing　shells　were　neatly　stacked　on　their　bases　around　the　hoist　tube；　their　conical　heads　gleaming　menacingly　under　two　yellow　light　bulbs。　Pitt　eased　past　the　shells　and　looked　upward。
　On　the　deck　overhead　two　black　men　were　leaning　in　the　hoist…tube　access　doors　and　hammering　and　cursing　at　the　elevator　cradle。　The　explosions　that　rocked　the　ship　had　jammed　the　mechanism。　Pitt　pulled　back　from　the　opening　and　began　examining　the　shells。　There　was　a　total　of　thirty…one；　and　only　one　shell　had　a　rounded　head。
　The　second　QD　warhead　was　not　present。
　Pitt　took　a　tool　kit　from　his　belt　and　handed　the　flashlight　to　Lusana。　〃Hold　this　steady　while　I　operate。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃Deactivate　a　shell。〃
　〃If　I　am　to　be　blown　to　smithereens；〃　said　Lusana；　〃may　I　know　why？〃
　〃No！〃　Pitt　snapped。　He　hunched　down　and　motioned　for　the　light。　His　hands　circled　the　cone　of　the　shell　as　lightly　as　those　of　a　safecracker　fingering　a　tumbler　dial。　Locating　the　locking　screws；　he　carefully　undid　them　with　a　screwdriver。　The　threads　were　frozen　with　age　and　they　fought　his　every　twist。　Time；　Pitt　thought　desperately；　he　needed　time　before　Fawkes's　crew　repaired　the　hoist　and　returned　to　the　projectile…storage　partment。
　Suddenly；　unexpectedly；　the　last　of　the　screws　sheared　off　and　the　nose　cone　came　loose　in　his　hands。　Tenderly；　as　though　it　were　a　sleeping　baby；　he　set　it　aside　and　looked　inside　the　warhead。
　Then　Pitt　began　to　disconnect　the　explosive　charge　that　was　set　to　split　the　warhead　and　release　the　cluster　of　bomblets　containing　the　QD　organism。　There　was　nothing　tricky　or　particularly　hazardous　about　the　procedure。　Working　on　the　theory　that　too　much　concentration　makes　the　hands　tremble；　Pitt　idly　whistled　under　his　breath；　thankful　that　Lusana　wasn't　plying　him　with　questions。
　Pitt　cut　the　wires　leading　to　the　radar　altimeter　and　removed　the　explosive　detonator。　He　paused　for　a　moment　and　took　a　small　money　sack　from　his　coat　pocket。　Lusana　was　mildly　amused　to　see　that　the　lettering　on　the　soiled　canvas　read　WHEATON　SECURITY　BANK。
　〃I've　never　admitted　this　to　a　soul；〃　Lusana　said；　〃but　I　once　robbed　an　armored　truck。〃
　〃Then　you　should　feel　right　at　home；〃　replied　Pitt。　He　lifted　the　QD　bomblets　from　the　warhead　and　gently　deposited　them　in　the　money　bag。
　〃Damned　clever　smuggling　method；〃　Lusana　said；　smiling　tightly。　〃Heroin；　or　diamonds？〃
　〃I'd　be　interested　in　knowing　that　myself；〃　Patrick　Fawkes　said　as　he　ducked　under　the　door　frame　into　the　partment。
　
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　Lusana's　first　reflex　was　to　shoot　Fawkes。　He　spun　around　in　a　firing　crouch　and　threw　up　the　Colt；　confident　he　couldn't　miss　such　a　massive　target；　dead　certain　the　captain　had　the　split…second　advantage　of　a　first　shot。
　Lusana　barely　caught　himself　in　time。　Fawkes's　hands　were　empty。　He　was　unarmed。
　Slowly　lowering　the　Colt；　Lusana　looked　down　at　Pitt　to　see　how　the　jther　man　was　taking　the　situation。　As　far　as　he　could　see；　Pitt　gave　not　jthe　slightest　reaction。　He　continued　loading　the　sack　as　if　the　intrusion　lad　never　occurred。
　〃Have　I　the　honor　of　addressing　Patrick　McKenzie　Fawkes？〃　Pitt　Snally　said　without　looking　up。
　〃Aye；　I'm　Fawkes。〃　He　moved　closer；　his　expression　one　of　curiosity。　｜〃What　goes　on　here？〃
　'Excuse　me　for　not　rising；〃　Pitt　said　casually；　〃but　I'm　deactivating　a　joison…gas　warhead。〃
　Perhaps　five　seconds　passed　as　Lusana　and　Fawkes　digested　Pitt's　Drief　explanation；　staring　at　each　other　blankly　and　then　back　down　at　Jitt。
　〃You're　daft！〃　Fawkes　blurted。
　Pitt　held　up　one　of　the　bomblets。　〃Does　this　look　like　your　everyday　explosive　charge？〃　〃No；　it　does　not；〃　Fawkes　admitted。　〃Is　it　some　sort　of　nerve　gas？〃　Lusana　asked。　〃Worse；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃A　plague　organism　with　an　ungodly　po…tency。　Two　shells　containing　the　deadly　organism　were　mixed　in　with　the　shipment　sent　by　the　arms　supplier。〃　There　was　the　stunned　silence　of　incredulity。　Fawkes　hunkered　down　and　examined　the　shell　and　the　bomblet　in　Pitt's　hand。　Lusana　bent　over　and　stared；　too；　not　sure　what　he　was　supposed　to　be　looking　at。
　The　skepticism　slowly　faded　from　Fawkes's　eyes。　〃I　believe　you；〃　he　said。　〃I've　seen　enough　gas　shells　to　recognize　one。〃　Then　he　gazed　questioningly　into　Pitt's　face。　〃Mind　telling　me　who　you　are　and　how　you　came　to　be　here？〃
　〃After　we　find　and　deactivate　the　other　shell；〃　Pitt　said；　brushing　him　off。　〃Do　you　have　another　projectile…storage　area？〃
　Fawkes　shook　his　head。　〃Except　for　the　three　shells　we've　fired；　all　of　which　were　of　the　armor…piercing　variety；　this　is　the　lot…〃　He　broke　off　as　the　realization　struck　him。　〃The　turret！　All　guns　are　loaded　and　the　breeches　locked。　The　other　plague　projectile　must　be　inside　one　of　the　three　barrels。〃
　〃You　fool！〃　Lusana　shouted。　〃You　murdering　fool！〃
　The　agony　in　Fawkes's　eyes　was　apparent。　〃It's　not　too　late。　The　guns　will　not　fire　except　by　my　order。〃
　〃Captain；　you　and　I　will　find　and　neutralize　the　other　warhead；〃　Pitt　ordered。　〃Mr。　Lusana；　if　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　drop　this　over　the　side。〃　He　handed　Lusana　the　sack　bulging　with　the　QD　bomblets。
　〃Me？〃　Lusana　gasped。　〃I　don't　have　the　vaguest　idea　how　to　get　out　of　this　floating　coffin。　I'll　need　a　guide。〃
　〃Keep　making　your　way　topside；〃　Pitt　said　confidently。　〃Eventually　you'll　hit　daylight。　Then　throw　the　sack　in　the　deepest　part　of　the　river。〃
　Lusana　was　about　to　leave　when　Fawkes　placed　a　great　paw　on　his　shoulder。　〃We'll　settle　our　business　later。〃
　Lusana　stared　back　steadily。　〃I　look　forward　to　it。〃
　And　then　the　leader　of　the　African　Army　of　Revolution　melted　into　the　darkness　like　a　shadow。
　At　two　thousand　feet　Steiger　made　a　slight　adjustment　in　pitch　and　the　Minerva　dipped　over　the　Jefferson　Memorial　and　crossed　the　Tidal　Basin　on　a　course　along　Independence　Avenue。
　〃It's　crowded　up　here；〃　he　said；　motioning　to　a　bevy　of　Army　helicop…ters　hovering　from　one　end　of　the　Capitol　mall　to　the　other　like　a　swarm　of　mad　bees。
　Sandecker　nodded　and　said；　〃Better　keep　your　distance。　They're　liable　to　shoot　first　and　ask　questions　later。〃
　〃How　long　since　the　Iowa's　last　shot？〃
　〃Nearly　eighteen　minutes。〃
　〃Maybe　that's　the　end　of　it；　then；〃　said　Steiger。
　〃We　won't　land　until　we're　sure；〃　Sandecker　replied。　〃How's　the　fuel？〃
　〃Enough　for　nearly　four　more　hours'　flying　time。〃
　Sandecker　twisted　in　his　seat　to　relieve　his　aching　buttocks。　〃Stay　as　close　as　you　dare　to　the　National　Archives　building。　If　the　Iowa　cuts　loose　again；　you　can　bet　that's　the　target。〃
　〃I　wonder　how　Pitt　made　out？〃
　Sandecker　put　up　an　unworried　front。　〃He　knows　the　score。　Pitt　is　the　least　of　our　problems。〃　He　turned　away　and　looked　out　a　side　window　so　Steiger　couldn't　see　the　lines　of　worry　that　creased　his　face。
　〃I　should　have　been　the　one　to　go　in；〃　said　Steiger。　〃This　is　strictly　a　military　show。　A　civilian　has　no　business　risking　his　life　attempting　a　job　he　wasn't　trained　for。〃
　〃And　you　were；　I　suppose。〃
　〃You　must　admit　my　credentials　outweigh　Pitt's。〃
　Sandecker　found　himself　smiling。　〃Care　to　bet？〃
　Steiger　caught　the　admiral's　cagey　tone。　〃What　are　you　implying？〃
　〃You've　been　had；　Colonel；　pure　and　simple。〃
　〃Had？〃
　〃Pitt　carries　the　rank　of　major　in　the　Air　Force。〃
　Steiger　looked　over　at　Sandecker；　his　eyes　squinting。　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　me　he　can　fly？〃
　〃Just　about　every　aircraft　built；　including　this　helicopter。〃
　〃But　he　claimed…〃
　〃I　know　what　he　claimed。〃
　Steiger　looked　lost。　〃And　you　sat　back　and　said　nothing？〃
　〃You　have　a　wife　and　children。　Me；　I'm　too　old。　Dirk　was　the　logical　man　to　go。〃
　The　tenseness　went　out　of　Steiger's　body　and　he　sagged　into　his　seat。　〃He　better　make　it；〃　he　murmured　under　his　breath。　〃By　God；　he　better　make　it。〃
　Pitt　would　have　gladly　given　the　last　penny　in　his　savings　account　to　be　anyplace　but　climbing　a　pitch…black　stairway　deep　inside　a　ship　that　at　any　second　might　turn　into　an　inferno。　His　brow　was　clammy　and　cold　with　sweat；　as　though　he　were　running　a　fever。　Suddenly　Fawkes　stopped　and　Pitt　ran　into　him　like　a　blind　man　against　an　oak　tree。
　〃Please　remain　where　you　stand；　gentlemen。〃　The　voice　came　from　the　lightless　landing　several　steps　above。　〃You　cannot　see　me；　but　I　can　see　enough　of　you　both　to　strike　your　hearts　with　a　bullet。〃
　〃This　is　the　captain；〃　Fawkes　snapped　angrily。
　〃Ah；　Captain　Fawkes　himself。　How　convenient。　I　was　beginning　to　fear　I　had　missed　connections。　You　were　not　on　the　bridge；　as　I　sup…posed。〃
　〃Identify　yourself！〃　Fawkes　demanded。
　〃The　name　is　Emma。　Not　very　masculine；　I　admit；　but　it　serves　the　purpose。〃
　〃Stop　this　foolishness　and　let　us　pass。〃　Fawkes　made　a　move　up　two　steps　when　the　Hocker…Rodine　hissed　and　a　bullet　zinged　past　his　neck。　He　froze　in　midstep。　〃Good　God；　man；　what　is　it　you　want？〃
　〃I　admire　a　no…nonsense　approach；　Captain。〃　Emma　paused；　and　then　said；　〃I've　been　ordered　to　kill　you。〃
　Slowly；　unnoticed　by　Fawkes　and；　he　hoped；　by　the　man　on　the　landing；　Pitt　slipped　down　to　his　stomach　on　the　steps；　shielded　by　the　shadowy　bulk　of　the　captain。　Then；　fractionally；　he　began　slithering　up　the　stairs　like　a　sna