scoonts.theminotaur-第39部分

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with　him　all　day；　escort　him　to　the　head；　take　him　back　to　the　BOQ；　eat　with　him；　see　that　he　talks　to　no　one　but　them。　And　I　mean　no　one。〃
　After　discussing　the　details；　mander　Bonnet　departed。　Jake　Grafton　explained　to　Rita　and　Toad　exactly　what　he　expected　of　his　flight　crew。　He　finished　with　a　caution。　〃This　device；　the　project　name；　everything；　is　classified　to　the　hilt。　Admiral　Dunedin　tells　me　he　has　cells　reserved　at　Leavenworth　for　anyone　who　violates　the　security　regs。　I　don't　want　you　to　even　whisper　about　this　in　your　sleep。〃
　〃I　love　secrets；〃　Toad　said。
　〃I　know。　Just　my　luck；　I　get　one　of　the　world's　great　secret　lovers。　Keep　it　zipped；　Toad。〃
　Jake　went　back　to　watch　the　installation　process；　so　Toad　and　Rita　set　out　on　foot　for　base　ops　to　plan　their　nights　to　and　from　Fallen；　Nevada。　As　they　walked　along；　Rita　asked；　〃What　was　it　that　Captain　Grafton　wanted　you　to　keep　zipped；　Toad？　Your　mouth　or…〃
　〃Never　ask　a　question　if　you　think　you　might　not　like　the　answer。　That's　Tarkington's　Golden　Rule　for　survival　in　Uncle　Sam's　navy。〃
　They　grinned　at　each　other。　Her　hand　slipped　into　his　for　a　fleeting　squeeze。　Instinctively　they　both　knew　to　play　it　cool。　No　hand…holding　or　huggy…squeezy　or　deep　eye　contact　during　duty　hours。　No　winks　or　sighs　or　casual　touching。　If　Captain　Grafton　saw　any　of　that；　the　roof　would　fall　in。
　As　Toad　walked　his　shoulders　were　back　and　his　head　up。　He　was　acutely　conscious　of　how　good　he　felt；　how　pungently　vigorous　and　healthy。　Takes　a　woman　to　do　that　for　you；　he　told　himself；　and　began　whistling　a　lively　little　tune　that　seemed　appropriate。　Life　is　good。
　Toad's　feeling　of　euphoric　bonhomie　lasted　precisely　one　hour　and　thirty…seven　minutes；　just　the　length　of　time　it　took　to　plan　the　flights　to　and　from　the　Electronic　Warfare　Range　near　Fallen；　Nevada；　fill　out　the　flight　plans；　visit　casually　with　the　weather　briefer　about　the　long…range　forecast　for　the　next　three　or　four　days　and　make　a　pit　stop　in　the　head。　On　the　walk　back　to　the　hangar　where　Grafton　and　the　wizards　labored；　Rita　was　quieter；　more　subdued　than　she　had　been　the　last　few　days。
　〃Do　you　like　me？〃　she　asked　finally；　wearing　a　gentle　semiserious　look　that　Toad　Tarkington；　man　of　the　world；　recognized　as　trouble。
　His　jovial　mood　returned　to　earth　with　an　unpleasant　splat。　mitment　time！　It's　their　hormones；　biology　maybe；　something　to　do　with　genes；　〃Sure。　You're　a　very　nice　lady　who's　fun　to　be　with。〃
　〃Oh。〃
　〃You　know　what　I　mean。　You're　not　one　of　those　girls　who　write　poetry　until　two　in　the　morning　and　read　Albert　Camus　in　the　cafeteria。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃You're〃…and　here　Toad　grinned　broadly　and　arranged　his　features　in　what　he　always　thought　was　his　most　sincere；　let's…fuck…tonight　look…〃you're　the　kind　of　girl　a　guy　likes　to　be　around。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Rita　said；　nodding。　〃You　like　girls　who　open　zippers　with　their　teeth　and　wear　crotchless　panties。〃
　He　didn't　like　the　way　she　said　that；　with　lips　parted　but　almost　immobile；　her　eyes　narrowing　ever　so　slightly。
　〃Rita；　I　try　to　avoid　discussing　serious　relationships　at　mid…afternoon　in　parking　lots。〃
　〃Maybe　if　I　shave　my　pussy　and　put　four　or　five　earrings　in　my　left　ear？〃
　Oh；　so　she　wanted　a　little　blood；　huh？　〃Right　ear。　Left　ear　is　for　lesbi…〃
　〃You　asshole！〃　She　stalked　away；　her　head　down；　braced　against　the　hurricane。
　〃Hey；　Ginger。。。〃　Ginger　was　her　nickname；　what　the　other　aviators　called　her。　She　even　had　it　on　the　name　tag　of　her　flight　suit。
　She　spun　around　to　face　him；　her　hands　clenched　at　her　sides。　〃Don't　you　ever　call　me　that；　Tarkington。　Not　ever。　Not　you。〃
　〃Hey…〃　he　said；　but　he　was　talking　to　her　back。　He　raised　his　voice　and　shouted；　〃I'd　like　to　get　to　know　you。　But　I'm　not　getting　engaged　in　a　parking　lot；　not　even　if　you're　the　Queen　of　Sheba。〃
　When　she　was　fifty　feet　away；　she　turned　to　face　him。　〃I　wasn't　asking　you　to　get　engaged；〃　she　shouted　back。
　〃Oh　yes　you　were！　Crotchless　panties；　shaved　pussies；　what　the　hell　is　wrong　with　you？〃
　She　was　walking　away　again。　Toad　turned　back　toward　base　ops。　Ten　feet　away　a　lieutenant　mander　stood　looking　at　him；　shaking　his　head。
　〃You　know；　Lieutenant；　when　I　discuss　intimate　apparel　or　personal　hygiene　with　a　lady　friend；　I　usually　try　to　find　a　slightly　more　private　place。〃
　Toad　turned　beet　red。　〃Yessir；〃　he　mumbled　through　clenched　teeth　and　stalked　by　with　his　head　down。
　Samuel　Dodgers　forked　his　food　without　wasting　an　erg　of　precious　energy。　The　utensil　bit　into　the　mashed　potatoes　and　peas　in　one　swift；　brutal　motion；　then　soared　aloft　by　the　most　direct　route　to　the　waiting　depository；　where　it　was　wiped　clean　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　and　dispatched　down　for　another　load。　A　man　working　this　hard　should　devote　his　attention　to　the　job　at　hand；　and　Dodgers　wisely　did　so。　If　he　heard　the　conversation　around　him；　he　gave　no　sign。
　Toad　Tarkington　gave　Rita　a　hopeful　wink　when　her　eyes　shifted　to　him　from　Dodgers　and　his　rapidly　emptying　plate。　Her　eyes　mapped　down　to　her　food。　She　pressed　her　lips　firmly　together　and　inhaled　deeply　through　her　nose；　which　strained　the　cloth　and　buttons　on　her　khaki　shirt。　Toad　sourly　noted　that　the　younger　Dodgers　shared　his　interest　in　the　physics　of　Rita's　bust　expansion。　It　wasn't　that　she　was　extraordinarily　endowed；　but　rather　that　she　was　so　perfectly　proportioned。　Her　gorgeous　breasts　formed　symmetrical　mounds　that　seemed。。。　just　so　exactly；　perfectly　right；　with　the　gentle　swelling　just　visible　in　the　deep　V　formed　by　the　neckline　of　her　shirt。　Toad　gave　those　twin　masterpieces　yet　another　glance　as　he　sliced　more　meat　from　his　pork　chop　and　pondered　the　vicissitudes　of　love。
　〃Well；　Toad；〃　he　heard　Jake　Grafton　say；　〃are　you　satisfied　with　this　tour　of　duty？〃
　〃Yessir。　You　bet。〃　The　captain　was　looking　at　him　with　an　amused　expression　on　his　face。　〃Just　challenging　as　hell；　sir。〃
　This　remark　drew　a　grunt　from　the　gourmet　at　the　other　end　of　the　table；　who　appeared　to　be　finished　anyway。　Dodgers　laid　down　his　fork　and　used　his　napkin　on　his　mouth。　As　far　as　Toad　could　see；　he　hadn't　missed　with　a　single　gram。　〃The　road　to　hell　may　be　challenging；　sir；　but　the　road　to　heaven　is　more　so。〃
　〃Uh…huh；〃　Toad　Tarkington　said；　and　attacked　the　remnants　of　his　chop。
　〃The　pathway　of　the　righteous　is　narrow　and　difficult；　and　many　there　are　who　find　the　way　too　treacherous；　too　steep；　too　rigorous。〃　Dodgers　was　rolling；　his　phrases　sonorous　and　heartfelt。　〃The　pathway　of　the　righteous　is　strewn　with　the　temptations　of　the　flesh；　of　the　spirit　and　of　the　heart；　all　exits　from　the　difficult；　righteous　way；　all　exits　to　that　short；　smooth　road　that　leads　down　straight　to　hell。〃
　〃A　soul　freeway　for　the　pink　Cadillac。　Amen；〃　Toad　muttered；　and　didn't　even　glance　at　Rita　when　she　kicked　him　in　the　shin。
　〃The　pathway　of　the　wicked　is　that　straight；　steep　ro…〃
　〃I'm　sure；〃　Jake　Grafton　interrupted　firmly。　Looking　at　Rita；　he　asked；　〃Have　you　got　the　flight　to　Fallen　planned？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　She　described　the　route；　mentioning　navigation　aids；　time　en　route　and　her　estimate　of　what　her　fuel　state　would　be　when　she　arrived　over　the　Electronic　Warfare　range。　Jake　asked　everyone　present　if　they　had　been　to　NAS　Fallen；　and　proceeded　to　tell　anecdotes　of　his　many　visits　there　throughout　his　career。　Toad　Tarkington　knew　Grafton　was　going　to　monopolize　the　conversation　through　dessert　just　so　he　wouldn't　have　to　listen　to　Dodgers'　preaching。　Apparently　no　one　had　ever　told　the　physicist　that　three　things　were　never　discussed　at　a　wardroom　table…women；　politics　and　religion。
　Grafton　was　going　easily　from　anecdote　to　anecdote　when　Rita　finished　eating　and　excused　herself。　Toad　lingered；　engrossed　in　the　captain's　tales。　The　younger　Dodgers　ordered　dessert　and　asked　several　questions：　even　his　old　man　seemed　somewhat　amused　by　Grafton's　tales　of　ten…cent　craps　in　Mom's　saloon　and　midnight　motorcycle　rides　through　the　desert　by　half…drunk　fliers　trying　to　sober　up　so　they　could　fly　at　5　A。M。
　Dr。　Fritsche　lit　a　cigar　and　sighed　contentedly。　He　too　seemed　to　find　Grafton's　tales　of　his　younger　days　very　pleasant　this　warm　evening　in　a　navy　wardroom　a　hundred　miles　from　the　sea。
　Like　Jake　Grafton；　I　love　this　life；　Toad　found　himself　thinking。　As　he　listened　he　recalled　his　first　two…week　weapons　deployment　with　his　squadron　to　Fallen；　before　his　first　cruise。　It　was　in　Fallen　that　the　ties　to　wives　and　girlfriends　were　temporarily　broken　and　the　twenty…four…hour…a…day　camaraderie　began　to　weld　friendships　among　the　junior　officers　that　would　last　a　lifetime。　The　challenge　was　to　fly　the　planes　as　weapons；　two　or　three　flights　a　day；　and　on　liberty　to　play　as　hard　as　they　flew。　As　Jake　Grafton　described　it　and　Toad　remembered　it；　it　was　a　gay；　carefree；　exciting　life；　the　perfect　existence　for　a　youngster　growing　into　manhood。
　When　Jake　wound　down；　Toad　smiled　at　everyone　and　excused　himself。　Walking　toward　the　BOQ　he　found　himself　whistling　again。　I'm　doing　a　lot　of　that　lately；　he　thought；　and　laughed　aloud。　He　was　spending　his　life　wisely　and　well。　He　liked　the　thought　so　much　he　roared　heartily；　and　then　chuckled　contentedly　at　his　own　foolishness；　his　animosity　toward　Rita　this　afternoon　forgotten。
　There　was　no　answer　when　he　tapped　on　Rita's　door。　Perhaps　she　was　in　the　head　or　down　in　the　laundry　room。　Oh　well；　he　would　try　to　call　her　later。
　When　he　opened　the　door　to　his　room　the　lights　were　on　and　Rita　was　sitting　in　the　chair　by　the　small　desk。　Her　hair　was　down　over　her　shoulders　and　she　was　wearing　only　a　teddy；　a　filmy　little　thing　that。。。　Toad　gawked。
　〃Well；　close　the　door　before　everyone　in　the　building　stops　by　to　visit。〃
　〃How'd　you　get　in？〃　Toad　asked；　still　staring。
　〃Just　asked　for　a　key　at　the　desk。〃
　He　got　the　door　closed　and　latched　and　sat　down　on　the　end　of　the　bed；　close　to　her。　The　furniture　was　early　Conrad　Hilton；　and　there　wasn't　much　of　it。
　He　cleared　his　throat　as　she　stared　straight　into　his　eyes。
　〃I　was　writing　a　letter；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　never　wavering　from　his。　〃To　you。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃I　can　finish　it　later。〃
　〃What's　it　going　to　be　about？〃
　〃I'm　sorry　about　the　scene　today　in　the　parking　lot。　I　just　wanted…oh；　I…let's　forget　it；　sh