scoonts.theminotaur-第21部分

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　〃Verify　please。〃　The　voice　was　hard；　exasperated。
　〃The　Bullets　play　the　Celtics　tomorrow　night　at　Capital　Centre。〃
　〃I'll　call　you　back。　Where　are　you？〃
　〃Seven…two…nine；　seven…four…oh…one。〃
　〃You're　at　home？〃　The　voice　was　incredulous；　outraged。
　〃Yeah；　I…〃　He　stopped　when　he　realized　he　was　talking　to　a　dead　instrument。
　Shit。　He　would　have　to　call　again。　He　had　to　find　out　what　the　hell　was　going　on。　A　pay　phone。　Lucy　was　going　to　e　sweet…Jesus　holy…hell　screaming　unglued。　What　a　night！　He　picked　up　his　jacket　and　eased　the　front　door　shut　behind　him。
　
　From　her　seat　on　the　top　of　the　stairs；　Lucy　heard　the　door　close。　She　had　started　to　e　down　earlier　but　stopped　when　she　heard　him　enter　the　kitchen　and　pick　up　the　phone。　She　had　heard　his　side　of　the　conversation　and　she　sat　now　trying　to　figure　it　out。　〃Poor　Richard〃　he　had　called　himself。　It　wasn't　there。　The　Bullets　play　the　Celtics？　A　code　of　some　sort？
　What　is　he　into？　she　asked　herself；　her　horror　growing。　He　had　looked　so　stunned　when　she　said　she　knew。　That　look　was　the　verification　she　needed　that　he　was　cheating　on　her。　But　how　did　that　fit　with　a　code　and　nonsense　sentences？　Was　he　placing　bets　with　a　bookie？　No；　he　wasn't　spending　money　she　didn't　know　about。　Something　to　do　with　his　job　at　the　Pentagon？　Could　he　be　spying；　like　those　Walkers　several　years　ago？　No；　that　wasn't　possible。　Or　was　it？　He　would　do　it　if　he　could　get　away　with　it；　she　decided。　In　their　eleven　years　of　marriage　she　had　found　him　a　man　who　always　put　himself　first。
　What　else　could　it　be？　My　God；　what　other　possibilities　were　there？
　
　The　sun　was　still　embedded　in　the　gray　scud　over　the　ocean　on　Saturday　morning　when　Jake　and　Callie　walked　through　the　gap　in　the　low　dune　on　their　way　to　the　beach。　Callie　trailed　along　behind　him　on　the　narrow　path；　her　hands　tucked　into　the　pockets　of　her　windbreaker。
　He　strolled　as　he　always　did；　his　eyes　moving　restlessly　across　the　sky　and　the　sea　and　the　naked　sand　and　ing　to　rest　often　on　her。　Whenever　she　was　with　him　she　drew　his　eyes。　It　had　been　that　way　since　they　first　met；　one　of　the　little　unconscious　things　he　did　that　told　her　without　words　what　she　meant　to　him。　This　morning　walking　beside　him　she　was　acutely　aware　of　his　glances。
　〃How　did　your　little　interview　with　the　soul　stripper　go　yesterday？〃
　〃He　says　I　have　to　e　to　grips　with　your　decision　to　ram　that　transport　in　the　Med　last　fall。〃
　Jake　stopped　and　turned　to　face　her。　He　looked　bewildered。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　worrying　about　that　for？〃
　〃For　a　week　I　was　a　widow。〃
　He　turned　away　and　looked　out　to　sea。　It　was　a　moment　before　he　spoke。　〃You　may　be　again　someday。〃　He　faced　her。　〃Women　live　longer　than　men　these　days。　I　don't　have　a　crystal　ball；　Callie。　Jesus；　we　can't　stop　living　because　we're　mortal。〃　He　gestured　angrily。　〃I　may　get　hit　by　a　meteor　ten　seconds　from　now。　I　may　get　run　over　by　some　drunk　when　I　step　off　the　curb　at…〃
　He　stopped　because　she　was　walking　away　from　him；　along　the　beach；　her　arms　wrapped　around　her　cheat。
　He　hurried　after　her。　〃Hey…〃
　〃For　a　whole　week　you　were　dead！　You　had　killed　yourself　chasing　those　damned　Arabs　and　I　was　left　here　all　alone！〃　He　put　his　hand　on　her　arm　and　she　jerked　away；　whirling　to　face　him。　〃You　knew　how　much　I　loved　you　and。。。　and。。。　when　they　called　and　said　you　were　alive；　the　memorial　service　was　scheduled　for　the　next　morning。　I　was　going　to　bury　you。　You　were　dead！〃　He　enveloped　her　in　his　arms　and　she　pressed　her　face　against　his　shoulder。
　After　a　while　she　stopped　trembling　and　he　murmured；　〃Still　love　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃A　little　bit　or　a　whole　lot？〃
　〃I　haven't　decided。〃
　With　his　arm　around　her　shoulder；　he　started　them　walking　north　again。　In　a　moment　he　paused　and　kissed　her；　then　they　resumed　their　journey　with　their　arms　locked　together。
　
　Something　white。　Whatever　it　was　that　blocked　Toad's　gaze；　it　was　white。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　the　pain　and　nausea　washed　over　him；　enveloping　him。　Ye　gods。。。　Something　hard　and　cold　against　his　cheek…he　opened　his　eyes　again…and　white。　Lotta　light。。。　He　moved。　Shit！　He　was　lying　in　a　fucking　bathtub。
　He　raised　himself　slowly。　His　head　felt　like　it　was　ing　off。　He　was　still　dressed　in　his　khaki　uniform；　but　it　was　wrinkled　and　had　vomit　on　it。　He　still　had　his　shoes　on。　Oh　God；　he　felt　worse　than　he　had　ever　felt　in　his　entire　twenty…eight　years；　felt　like　he　had　been　dead　for　a　week　or　two。　He　sat　up　slowly。　His　head　was　being　hammered　on　by　an　angry　King　Kong。　After　a　moment　he　grasped　the　shower　handles　and　faucet　and　hauled　himself　erect　He　swayed　as　the　blood　pounded　in　his　temples　with　every　beat　of　his　heart。　Then　he　tried　to　step　out　of　the　tub。　He　tripped　and　sprawled　heavily　on　the　Boor；　striking　his　head　against　the　bottom　of　the　sink　cabinet　He　lay　there；　too　sick　and　dazed　to　move。
　Amid　the　pain　he　heard　the　door　open。　〃Good　morning。〃　A　woman's　voice。
　Toad　flopped　over　and　squinted　against　the　ceiling　light。　Rita　Moravia！
　What　had　he　done　to　deserve　this？　It's　true；　life　is　all　misery　and　pain。
　〃I'd　appreciate　it　if　you　would　transport　yourself　to　your　own　room；　Tarkington。　Now。　I　don't　want　anybody　to　get　the　wrong　idea　about　you　and　me。〃
　He　tried　to　speak。　His　mouth　was　dry　and　tasted　of　sour　vomit。　He　cleared　his　throat　and　licked　his　lips。　〃How'd　I　get　here？〃
　〃Four　men　carried　you　in　here　last　night。　We　thought　someone　should　keep　an　eye　on　you　during　the　night。　I　volunteered。〃
　〃Aren't　you　a　sweetie。〃
　〃I　want　you　out　of　here；　Tarkington。〃
　He　hoisted　himself　up　and　staggered　past　her。　He　was　going　to　have　to　find　another　bathroom　pretty　damn　quick。　He　went　through　the　little　sitting　room　and　got　the　door　open　and　was　hustling　down　the　hall　when　he　heard　her　voice　behind　him。　〃We're　flying　at　two　this　afternoon。　Meet　you　in　the　lobby　at　ten　till　twelve。〃
　
　Jake　sat　on　the　crest　of　the　low　dune　and　watched　the　glider　moving　north；　away　from　him　above　the　dune。　He　had　its　nose　pointed　obliquely　forty…five　degrees　out　to　sea；　but　the　velocity　of　the　ining　wind　was　such　that　the　plane　stayed　more　or　less　over　the　dune。　He　was　holding　her　low；　only　eight　or　ten　feet　up；　to　take　advantage　of　the　upward　vector　of　the　breeze　as　it　crossed　the　low　sand　hill。
　〃Better　turn　her　back　this　way；〃　advised　the　eleven…year…old　aviation　expert　from　up　the　street。
　Jake　banked　the　plane。　〃Keep　the　nose　up；〃　David　urged；　his　voice　rising。　Jake　fed　in　back　stick。　Too　late。　The　right　wingtip　kissed　the　sand　and　she　cartwheeled。　David　was　up　and　running　instantly。
　The　boy　was　examining　the　wreckage　when　Jake　reached　him。　The　rubber　bands　that　held　the　wings　to　the　fuselage　had　popped　off；　which　undoubtedly　minimized　the　damage。　〃A　hole　in　the　wing　Monokote　and　a　busted　spar　in　the　right　horizontal　stabilizer；〃　the　youngster　advised　cheerfully。　〃Not　bad。　Yippy…skippy！　You　gotta　remember　to　feed　in　a　little　back　stick　on　the　turns。〃
　〃Yeah。　Let's　take　it　over　to　my　house　and　fix　it。〃
　〃What　kind　of　planes　do　you　fly　in　the　navy？〃　David　asked　as　they　walked　down　the　beach　with　the　pieces　of　the　glider　in　their　arms。
　〃A…6s　mostly。　Last　year　I　flew　the　F…14　some。〃
　〃Wow；　those　fighters！　Did　you　see　Top　Gun？〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃My　dad　bought　that　movie　for　me。　I　must　have　watched　it　a　couple　dozen　times。　When　I　grow　up　I'm　gonna　fly　fighters。〃　He　paused；　apparently　considering　the　implications　of　this　bold　statement。　〃What's　it　really　like？〃　he　asked；　not　quite　so　confident。　Jake　was　still　trying　to　explain　when　they　rounded　the　corner　and　he　saw　the　strange　car　in　the　driveway。　When　he　saw　the　blue　Department　of　Defense　bumper　sticker　with　the　three　stars　on　it；　he　knew。　Vice　Admiral　Henry。　He　led　the　boy　inside。
　The　admiral　was　wearing　jeans　and　a　heavy　jacket　today。　He　and　another　man　in　a　coat　sat　at　the　dining　room　table　with　Callie　drinking　coffee；　David　marched　over　to　her　and　held　the　wing　so　she　could　see　it。　〃He　let　the　nose　fall　in　a　turn　and　crashed。　We　can　fix　it；　though。〃
　〃Good　morning；　Admiral。〃
　〃Jake；　I'd　like　you　to　meet　Luis　Camacho。〃
　〃Hi。〃　Jake　leaned　across　the　table…and　shook　hands。　Camacho　was　in　his　early　fifties　with　no　tan；　a　man　who　spent　his　life　indoors。　Even　though　he　wore　a　jacket　his　spare　tire　was　evident；　but　his　handshake　was　firm　and　quick。　He　didn't　smile。　Jake　got　the　impression　that　he　was　not　a　man　who　smiled　often。
　〃Nice　place　you　have　here；〃　Camacho　said。
　〃We　like　it；〃　Callie　said。　〃Would　you　all　like　a　quiet　place　to　talk？〃
　The　admiral　stood。　〃I　thought　we　could　take　a　walk　along　the　beach。　Be　a　shame　to　drive　all　the　way　over　here　from　Washington　and　not　walk　on　the　beach。〃
　The　three　men　left　David　working　on　the　glider　at　the　kitchen　table。　He　was　telling　Callie　about　servos　and　receivers　when　they　went　out　the　door。
　〃Nice　day；〃　Admiral　Henry　muttered　as　they　walked　toward　the　beach　trail　at　the　end　of　the　street。
　〃They're　all　nice　here；〃　Jake　said。　〃Raw　and　rainy　at　times；　but　nice。〃
　〃Luis　is　from　the　FBI。〃
　〃Got　credentials？〃　Camacho　produced　them　from　a　pocket　and　passed　them　to　Jake；　who　looked　the　ID　card　and　badge　over　carefully　and　returned　them　without　ment
　Henry　stopped　at　the　end　of　the　little　path　that　led　through　the　waist…high　dune　and　looked　right　and　left；　up　and　down　the　beach。　He　turned　right；　south；　and　walked　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets　toward　the　area　with　the　fewest　people。　He　didn't　even　glance　toward　the　ocean。　Out　on　the　horizon　a　large　containership　was　making　its　way　north；　perhaps　to　round　Cape　Henlopen　and　go　up　the　Delaware。
　〃Yesterday　you　wanted　to　know　what　really　happened　in　West　Virginia　after　Harold　Strong　was　killed。〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃I　told　you　the　truth；　but　I　left　a　few　things　out。　Camacho　here　was　with　me　that　morning。　We　met　with　Trooper　Keadle　and　the　local　prosecutor；　guy　named　Don　Cookman。　They　weren't　happy　campers。　They　knew　murder　when　they　saw　it　and　cooperation　smacked　of　cover…up。　So　Luis　got　on　the　phone　to　Washington　and　the　director　of　the　FBI　drove　up　along　with　the　forensic　team。　We　got　cooperation　with　a　capital　C　from　then　on。〃
　〃Go　on；〃　Jake　prompted　when　the　admiral　fell　silent。
　The　admiral　turned　to　face　him。　〃You're　asking　too　damn　much；　J