scoonts.theminotaur-第50部分

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site。
　〃Hitchhiking　today；　Ms。　DeCrescentis？〃
　〃She's　here　to　take　the　tour　with　us；〃　Caplinger　said。
　〃Could　I　talk　to　you　privately　for　a　moment；〃　Jake　said；　not　a　question；　and　walked　away　from　the　group。
　Twenty　paces　or　so　away　Jake　turned　around。　Caplinger　was　right　behind。　Jake　let　him　have　it：　〃Ludlow　said　you　were　ing　for　a　briefing　with　a　senator；　even　though　this　project　is　classified　to　the　hilt。　But　I'm　not　about　to　let　a　vice　president　of　a　defense　contractor　that　is　going　to　be　bidding　on　the　ATA　have　a　look　at　Athena　or　be　a　party　to　any　conversation　on　the　subject。　She　has　no　bona　fide　need　to　know　at　this　stage　of　the　game。　She　doesn't　have　access。　Not　only　no；　but　hell　no。　Sir。〃
　〃My　responsibility；〃　Caplinger　said；　then　clamped　his　lips　into　a　thin　line。
　〃No；　sir。　Ludlow　didn't　mention　any　defense　contractors；　and　even　if　he　had；　I'd　have　to　clear　this　with　Admiral　Dunedin。　I　take　orders　from　him。　He'd　probably　have　to　talk　to　CNO。　Her　presence　would　violate　a　couple　dozen　reg…〃
　〃Call　him。〃
　〃Now？〃
　〃Yes；　goddamnit；　right　fucking　now。　We'll　wait　in　the　lounge。〃　Caplinger　stalked　for　the　blue　carpet　that　led　inside；　followed　by　Jake　Grafton。　The　base　CO　led　the　others　inside。
　Jake　used　the　phone　in　the　operations　officer's　office　on　the　second　deck。
　He　reached　Dunedin　at　his　office　in　Crystal　City　on　the　first　try　and　outlined　the　situation。　〃Fuck！〃　said　the　admiral。
　〃Yessir。〃
　〃I'll　call　Ludlow。　If　that　goes　sour　I'll　call　CNO。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Jake　gave　him　the　phone　number　where　he　could　be　reached。
　〃You're　really　sticking　your　neck　out；　Jake。〃
　〃So　fire　me。〃
　〃I'll　call　you　back。〃
　Thirty　minutes　went　by。　Jake　stared　out　the　window　at　the　little　passenger　jet　and　watched　the　men　with　the　gas　truck　refuel　it　as　heat　waves　rose　off　the　tarmac。　Blue　mountains　lay　on　the　horizon。　Not　a　single　airplane　stirring　this　Sunday　morning。　After　a　while　he　examined　the　photos　and　mementos　the　ops　boss　had　arranged　on　his　walls。　He　recognized　some　of　the　names　and　faces　in　the　group　pictures。
　He　was　sitting　behind　the　desk　with　his　feet　propped　on　it　and　doodling　on　a　scratch　pad　when　the　phone　rang。　〃Captain　Grafton。〃
　〃George　Ludlow。　Admiral　Dunedin　tells　me　there's　a　problem。〃
　〃Yessir。　Caplinger　and　Duquesne　arrived　here　a　while　ago　with　a　vice　president　of　Consolidated　Technologies　tagging　along。　They　want　her　to　see　Athena。　It's　classified　special　access；　above　top　secret；　and　she's　getting　an　unfair　advantage　over　the　other　contractors。　I　said　no。〃
　〃What　did　Caplinger　say？〃
　〃He　wasn't　happy。〃
　〃Do　you　understand　that　Hiram　Duquesne　is　chairman　of　the　Senate　Armed　Services　mittee？　We　have　to　have　his　support　if　we're　going　to　get　a　replacement　aircraft　for　the　A…6。　Without　it　we're　pissing　up　a　rope。〃
　〃I　understand　that。　And　I　understand　that　you　chose　me　for　this　job　because　I　can　wear　a　Medal　of　Honor　on　my　shirt　and　because　I'm　expendable。　You're　going　to　have　me　make　a　remendation　on　which　plane　to　buy　based　on　a　short　operational　evaluation　fly…off；　and　if　you　like　it；　I'll　have　to　go　over　to　Congress　and　defend　it。　You　can　disavow　me　anytime。　I　understand　all　of　that。　I　took　the　job　anyway。　Now　I'm　telling　you；　I　can't　go　over　to　the　Hill　and　make　a　remendation　if　five　or　six　senators　and　congressmen　are　out　to　cut　my　balls　off　with　a　scalping　knife　because　I　let　Consolidated　in　on　the　ground　floor　in　violation　of　the　law　and　DOD　regulations。　I　won't　be　able　to　hide　behind　Royce　Caplinger　over　there。　That　little　shit　is　too　goddamn　small　to　hide　behind。〃
　Ludlow　chuckled；　a　dry　sound　that　lasted　three　or　four　seconds。　〃Go　get　Caplinger。　I'll　talk　to　him。〃
　Jake　left　the　phone　lying　on　the　desk　and　went　downstairs　to　the　VIP　lounge。　〃Mr。　Secretary；　you　have　a　phone　call　upstairs。〃
　Duquesne's　face　was　still　red　and　mottled。　DeCrescentis　looked　like　she　could　chew　up　all　of　them　and　spit　hamburger。　The　base　CO　was　nowhere　in　sight。　He　had　probably　attacked　in　another　direction；　maybe　toward　the　golf　course。
　Jake　followed　the　Defense　Secretary　back　up　the　stairs。
　As　soon　as　Caplinger　recognized　his　son…in…law's　voice；　he　shooed　Jake　from　the　office。　Jake　could　hear　his　voice　booming　through　the　door。　It　wasn't　just　the　Advanced　Tactical　Aircraft　he　was　concerned　about…it　was　the　entire　defense　budget。　As　he　roared　at　Ludlow：　〃。。。you　and　I　both　know　that　Grafton　will　probably　remend　the　TRX　plane。　With　Athena；　it's　the　obvious　choice。　But　that　leaves　Duquesne　in　political　trouble　at　home　and　we　need　his　support。　Jesus　fucking　Christ；　George；　you　people　have　an　aircraft　carrier　up　for　funding；　three　Aegis　cruisers；　two　boomer　boats；　the　air　force　wants　more　F…l　17s　and　some　B…2s；　and　army　wants　more　tanks。　SDI　is　desperate　for　money。　And　Congress　is　trying　to　cut　the　deficit！　Don't　tell　me　to　tell　Duquesne　to　fuck　off！〃
　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　when　he　spoke　again　his　voice　was　low　and　Grafton　couldn't　hear　the　words。　He　knew　Ludlow　well　enough　to　know　how　it　was　going；　however。　Let　Grafton　take　the　heat；　the　Secretary　of　the　Navy　was　probably　saying。　Make　Grafton　the　villain。
　And　that　was　how　it　went。　When　Caplinger　came　out　of　the　office　he　buttonholed　Jake。　〃You're　going　downstairs　and　explain　to　the　senator　that　you　personally　must　put　DeCrescentis　back　on　that　plane。　You　will　brief　me　and　the　senator　this　afternoon　on　Athena　and　we'll　see　it　in　operation　tomorrow。　But　you　are　going　to　insist　that　woman　goes　home　now；　and　you　are　going　to　make　Duquesne　like　it。　Got　it？〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　senator　didn't　like　it；　of　course；　and　DeCrescentis　liked　it　even　less；　but　when　Grafton　made　it　clear　that　the　law　was　going　to　be　obeyed　regardless　and　he　was　the　man　insisting；　both　of　them　gave　ground　with　what　grace　they　could　muster。　Duquesne　had　more　of　it　than　the　corporate　vice　president　did；　perhaps　because　he　knew　that　even　Caesar　had　to　retreat　occasionally。
　After　an　hour　with　Samuel　Dodgers　in　the　hangar；　it　appeared　Hiram　Duquesne　wished　he　had　joined　DeCrescentis　on　the　plane。
　Dodgers　gave　Athena　no　more　than　half　his　air　and　used　the　rest　to　blast　away　at　Congress；　corporations　and　the　munist…Jew…nigger　conspiracy。　Finally　Jake　told　him　to　shut　up。　It　didn't　take。　Jake　told　him　again　in　terms　and　tones　that　would　have　stopped　a　rock　band　in　full　screech。　Dodgers　stormed　off；　leaving　Caplinger　and　Duquesne　gaping　foolishly　at　each　other。
　Jake　Grafton　took　a　deep　breath；　made　his　excuses　to　the　two　politicians；　and　left　them　in　the　care　of　a　stunned　Helmut　Fritsche。
　In　the　parking　lot；　he　caught　up　with　Dodgers；　trembling　with　outrage。　〃You　owe　me　an　apology；〃　the　scientist　spluttered；　holding　himself　rigid；　his　fists　clenched。
　〃No；　sir；〃　Grafton　said　in　a　normal　voice。　〃You　owe　me　one。　And　you　owe　apologies　to　all　three　of　those　men　in　there。〃
　Dodgers　was　speechless。
　〃You　have　inflicted　yourself　on　everyone　within　earshot　since　the　day　I　met　you。　Now　there's　not　going　to　be　any　more　of　that　while　I'm　around。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃How　dare　you　talk　to　me　like　this！〃　When　Dodgers　got　it　out；　it　came　out　loud。
　Jake　lowered　his　voice　still　more。　〃I'm　the　officer　responsible。　That's　it　as　far　as　you're　concerned。　You　do　your　work　and　keep　your　personal　opinions　to　yourself；　and　you　and　I　will　get　along。〃
　The　scientist　spluttered。　〃I　don't　want　to　get　along　with　you；　you。。。〃　He　couldn't　find　the　word。
　〃You'd　better　reconcile　yourself　to　it　if　you　want　this　project　to　go　anywhere。〃
　〃。。。sinner。　Agent　of　Satan。〃
　〃You　want　money　for　your　church；　right？　I'm　the　man。〃　With　that　Jake　turned　his　back　on　Samuel　Dodgers。
　
　The　little　neighborhood　bar　was　fairly　well　lit　and　not　very　fancy；　with　cheap　furniture　and　oilcloth　table　covers。　A　television　high　in　one　corner　was　tuned　to　a　ball　game；　one　of　the　NCAA　tournament　semifinals。　Smoke　Judy　slid　into　an　empty　booth　and　ordered　a　draft。　The　waitress　flirted　for　a　moment　when　she　brought　it；　then　skipped　away。
　Smoke　sipped　his　beer　and　watched　the　body　posture　of　the　men　leaning　against　the　bar　and　sitting　on　the　stools。　Some　were　absorbed　in　the　game；　some　were　talking　to　a　buddy。　Most　of　them　were　doing　a　little　of　both。
　This　was　Smoke　Judy's　favorite　weekend　beer　spot；　only　a　mile　from　his　place。　He　knew　the　bartender　casually　and　they　often　exchanged　pleasantries　on　slow　days。　There　were　a　lot　worse　ways　to　make　a　living；　Smoke　decided；　than　running　a　neighborhood　bar　where　the　guys　could　stop　in　after　work　or　take　a　break　from　lawn　mowing　and　garage　cleaning。　The　crowd　was　nice　and　the　work　pleasant；　although　the　money　wouldn't　be　great。
　Maybe　he　would　get　a　place　like　this　when　he　retired　next　year。　He　had　dropped　a　hint　to　the　bartender…who　also　owned　the　place…few　weeks　back；　trying　to　find　out　if　he　had　ever　thought　of　selling；　but　the　man　didn't　get　his　drift；　or　pretended　he　didn't。
　He　was　going　to　retire　next　year；　with　twenty…two　years　in。　By　law；　as　a　mander　he　could　stay　in　the　navy　until　be　had　pleted　twenty…six　years　of　service；　but　he　wasn't　going　to　endure　the　hassle　of　staff　Job　after　staff　job　with　no　chance　of　promotion。
　The　end　of　the　line　had　been　a　tour　in　mand　of　a　training　squadron　in　Texas。　Four　of　those　damn　kids　had　crashed；　three　fatally。　Hard　to　believe。　He　had　worked　hard　and　flown　hard　and　done　it　by　the　book；　and　still　those　goddamned　kids　just　kept　smashing　themselves　into　the　ground　like　suicidal　rats。　The　accident　investigators　had　never　said　or　even　implied　he　was　at　fault；　Yet　every　crash　had　felt　like　God　whacking　him　on　the　head；　pressing　another　two　vertebrae。　He　had　gotten　punchy　toward　the　end；　a　screamer　in　the　cockpit；　afraid　to　certify　any　student　safe　for　anything。　He　left　that　for　the　lieutenants。
　The　admiral　had　been　sympathetic；　of　course；　but　he　had　no　choice。　He　said。　He　had　to　rate　Judy　the　lowest　of　all　his　squadron　manders。　After　all；　four　accidents？　Nine　million　dollars'　worth　of　airplanes　and　three　lives？　That　had　been　God's　final　whack。　Judy　would　never　be　promoted　or　given　another　mand。　All　that　remained　was　a　decision　on　when　to　retire。
　He　had　seen　it　ing；　like　something　from　a　Greek　tragedy；　after　that　second　kid　augered　in　on　a　night　instrument　solo。　A　fucking　Canoe　U。　grad　no　les