cyclops-第5部分

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　　　　〃Too　many　black　ants；〃　Salazar　replied　with　an　elastic　grin。
　　　　〃Black　ants？〃
　　　　〃Everyone　wear　dark　suits　and　run　crazy。　All　they　make　is　paper　and　wave　tongues。　Me；　I'd　write　law　saying　congresspeople　could　only　meet　every　other　year。　That　way　they'd　cause　less　trouble。〃
　　　　The　President　laughed。　〃I　can　think　of　at　least　two　hundred　million　voters　who　would　applaud　your　idea。〃
　　　　They　continued　along　the　course；　followed　at　a　discreet　distance　by　two　Secret　Service　agents　in　a　golf　cart　while　at　least　a　dozen　others　prowled　the　course　grounds。　The　banter　remained　cheerful　as　the　President's　game　went　smoothly。　After　he　retrieved　the　ball　from　the　cup　on　the　ninth　green；　his　score　tallied　thirty…nine。　He　considered　it　a　minor　triumph。
　　　　〃Let's　take　a　break　before　we　attack　the　back　nine；〃　said　the　President。　〃I'm　going　to　celebrate　with　a　beer。　Care　to　join　me？〃
　　　　〃No；　thank　you；　sir。　I'll　use　the　time　to　clean　grass　and　dirt　from　your　clubs。〃
　　　　The　President　handed　him　the　putter。　〃Suit　yourself。　But　I　must　insist　you　join　me　for　a　drink　after　we　finish　the　eighteenth。〃
　　　　Salazar　beamed　like　a　lighthouse。　〃An　honor；　Mr。　President。〃　Then　he　trotted　off　toward　the　caddy　shack。
　　　　Twenty　minutes　later；　after　returning　a　call　from　his　chief　of　staff　and　downing　a　bottle　of　Coors；　the　President　left　the　clubhouse　and　joined　Salazar；　who　was　sitting　slouched　in　a　golf　cart　on　the　tenth　tee；　the　wide　brim　of　his　straw　hat　pulled　low　over　his　forehead。　His　hands　hung　loosely　draped　on　the　steering　wheel　and　were　now　encased　in　a　pair　of　leather　work　gloves。
　　　　〃Well；　let's　see　if　I　can　break　eighty；〃　said　the　President；　his　eyes　glistening　in　anticipation　of　a　good　game。
　　　　Salazar　said　nothing　and　simply　held　out　a　driver。
　　　　The　President　took　the　club　and　looked　at　it；　puzzled。　〃This　is　a　short　hole。　Don't　you　think　a　number　three　wood　should　do　the　job？〃
　　　　Staring　at　the　ground；　the　hat　hiding　any　facial　expression；　Salazar　silently　shook　his　head。
　　　　〃You　know　best；〃　the　President　said　agreeably。　He　approached　the　ball；　flexed　his　hands　on　the　club；　arched　into　a　back　swing；　and　brought　the　head　down　gracefully　but　entered　into　a　rather　awkward　follow…through。　The　ball　sailed　straight　over　the　fairway　and　landed　a　considerable　distance　beyond　the　green。
　　　　A　perplexed　expression　spread　across　the　President's　face　as　he　retrieved　his　tee　and　climbed　in　the　seat　of　the　electric　cart。　〃That's　the　first　time　I've　ever　see　you　call　the　wrong　club。〃
　　　　The　caddy　did　not　reply。　He　pressed　the　battery　pedal　and　steered　the　cart　toward　the　tenth　green。　About　halfway　down　the　fairway　he　reached　over　and　placed　a　small　package　on　the　dashboard　shelf　directly　in　front　of　the　President。
　　　　〃Bringing　along　a　snack　in　case　you　get　hungry？〃　asked　the　President　good…naturedly。
　　　　〃No；　sir；　it's　a　bomb。〃
　　　　The　President's　eyebrows　pinched　a　fraction　in　irritation。　〃Not　a　funny　joke；　Reggie〃

　　　　His　words　suddenly　choked　off　as　the　straw　hat　rose　and　he　found　himself　staring　into　the　indigo…blue　eyes　of　a　total　stranger。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　



　　　　〃Please　keep　your　arms　in　their　present　position；〃　said　the　stranger　conversationally。　〃I　am　aware　of　the　hand　signal　you　were　advised　to　give　your　Secret　Service　people　if　you　thought　your　life　was　endangered。〃
　　　　The　President　sat　like　a　dead　tree；　disbelieving；　more　curious　than　afraid。　He　couldn't　trust　himself　to　speak　at　first；　to　assemble　the　right　words。　His　eyes　remained　locked　on　the　package。
　　　　〃A　stupid　act；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　won't　live　to　enjoy　it。〃
　　　　〃This　is　not　an　assassination。　You　will　not　be　harmed　if　you　follow　my　instructions。　Do　you　accept　that？〃
　　　　〃You've　got　guts；　mister。〃
　　　　The　stranger　ignored　the　remark　and　kept　talking　in　the　tone　of　a　schoolteacher　reciting　class　rules　of　conduct。　〃The　bomb　is　a　fragmentation　type　that　will　shred　any　flesh　and　bone　within　twenty　yards。　If　you　attempt　to　alert　your　bodyguards　I　will　detonate　it　with　an　electronic　control　strapped　to　my　wrist。　Please　continue　your　golf　game　as　if　nothing　is　out　of　the　ordinary〃
　　　　He　stopped　the　cart　several　feet　from　the　ball；　stepped　to　the　grass；　and　glanced　warily　at　the　Secret　Service　agents；　satisfying　himself　that　they　appeared　more　intent　on　scanning　the　woods　around　the　course。　Then　he　reached　in　the　bag　and　pulled　out　a　six　iron。
　　　　〃It's　obvious　you　don't　know　crap　about　golf；〃　said　the　President；　mildly　pleased　at　gaining　a　small　measure　of　control。　〃This　calls　for　a　chip　shot。　Hand　me　a　nine　iron。〃
　　　　The　intruder　obliged　and　stood　by　while　the　President　chipped　onto　the　green　and　putted　into　the　cup。　When　they　set　off　for　the　next　tee；　he　studied　the　man　seated　beside　him。
　　　　The　few　strands　of　gray　hair　that　strayed　beneath　the　straw　hat　and　the　lines　bordering　the　eyes　revealed　an　age　in　the　late　fifties。　The　body　was　slender；　almost　frail；　the　hips　slim；　a　good　match　for　Reggie　Salazar　except　this　man　was　a　good　three　inches　taller。　The　facial　features　were　narrow　and　vaguely　Scandinavian。　The　voice　was　educated；　the　cool　manner　and　the　squared　shoulders　suggested　someone　who　was　used　to　authority；　yet　there　was　no　hint　of　viciousness　or　evil。
　　　　〃I　get　the　crazy　impression；〃　said　the　President　calmly；　〃that　you　staged　this　intrusion　to　make　a　point。〃
　　　　〃Not　so　crazy。　You're　very　astute。　But　I　would　expect　no　less　from　a　man　with　your　power。〃
　　　　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　　　　〃For　the　sake　of　conversation　call　me　Joe。　And　I'll　save　you　asking　what　this　is　all　about　as　soon　as　we　reach　the　tee。　There　is　a　restroom　there。〃　He　paused　and　removed　a　folder　from　inside　his　shirt；　sliding　it　across　the　seat　to　the　President。　〃Enter　and　quickly　scan　the　contents。　Take　no　more　than　eight　minutes。　Linger　beyond　that　time　and　you　might　arouse　the　suspicions　of　your　bodyguards。　I　needn't　describe　the　consequences。〃
　　　　The　electric　cart　slowly　eased　to　a　halt。　Without　a　word　the　President　entered　the　restroom；　sat　down　on　the　john；　and　began　reading。　Precisely　eight　minutes　later　he　came　out；　his　face　a　mask　of　confusion。
　　　　〃What　kind　of　insane　trick　have　you　hatched？〃
　　　　〃No　trick。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　understand　why　you　went　to　such　elaborate　lengths　to　force　me　to　read　ic…book　science　fiction。〃
　　　　〃Not　fiction。〃
　　　　〃Then　it　has　to　be　some　sort　of　con　job。〃
　　　　〃The　Jersey　Colony　exists；〃　said　Joe　patiently。
　　　　〃Yes；　and　so　does　Atlantis。〃
　　　　Joe　smiled　wryly。　〃You've　just　been　inducted　into　a　very　exclusive　club。　You're　only　the　second　President　ever　to　be　briefed　on　the　project。　Now　I　suggest　you　tee　off　and　I'll　flesh　out　the　picture　as　you　continue　playing　around　the　course。　It　won't　be　a　plete　picture　because　there　is　too　little　time。　Also；　some　details　are　not　necessary　for　you　to　know。〃
　　　　〃First；　one　question。　You　owe　me　that。〃
　　　　〃All　right。〃
　　　　〃Reggie　Salazar？〃
　　　　〃Sleeping　soundly　in　the　caddy　shack。〃
　　　　〃God　help　you　if　you're　lying。〃
　　　　〃Which　club？〃　Joe　asked　blithely。
　　　　〃A　short　hole。　Give　me　a　four　iron。〃
　　　　The　President　swung　mechanically；　but　the　ball　flew　straight　and　true；　landing　and　rolling　to　within　ten　feet　of　the　cup。　He　tossed　the　club　at　Joe　and　sat　heavily　in　the　cart；　waiting。
　　　　〃Well；　then。　。　。〃　Joe　began　as　he　accelerated　toward　the　green。　〃In　1963；　only　two　months　before　his　death；　President　Kennedy　met　with　a　group　of　nine　men　at　his　home　in　Hyannis　Port　who　proposed　a　highly　secret　leapfrog　project　to　be　developed　behind　the　scenes　of　the　fledgling　man…in…space　program。　They　were　an　‘inner　core'　of　brilliant　young　scientists；　corporate　businessmen；　engineers；　and　politicians　who　had　achieved　extraordinary　success　in　their　respective　fields。　Kennedy　bought　their　idea　and　went　so　far　as　to　launch　a　government　agency　that　acted　as　a　front　to　siphon　federal　tax　money　for　what　was　to　be　code…named　Jersey　Colony。　The　pot　was　also　sweetened　by　the　businessmen；　who　set　up　a　fund　to　match　the　government　dollar　for　dollar。　Research　facilities　were　created　in　existing　buildings；　usually　old　warehouses；　scattered　around　the　country。　Millions　were　saved　in　start…up　costs；　while　eliminating　questions　by　the　curious　over　new　construction　of　one　vast　development　center。〃
　　　　〃How　was　the　operation　kept　secret？〃　the　President　asked。　〃Surely　there　were　leaks。〃
　　　　　Joe　shrugged。　〃A　simple　technique。　The　research　teams　had　their　own　pet　projects。　Each　worked　at　a　different　location。　The　old　act　of　one　hand　not　knowing　what　the　other　was　doing。　The　hardware　was　farmed　out　to　small　manufacturers。　It　was　that　elementary。　The　difficult　part　was　coordinating　the　efforts　under　NASA's　nose　without　letting　their　people　know　what　was　going　on。　So　phony　military　officers　were　moved　into　the　space　centers　at　Cape　Canaveral　and
Houston；　also　one　at　the　Pentagon　to　backstop　any　embarrassing　probes。〃
　　　　〃Are　you　saying　the　Defense　Department　knows　nothing　of　this？〃
　　　　Joe　smiled。　〃The　easiest　part。　One　member　of　the　‘inner　core'　was　a　high…ranking　staff　officer；　whose　name　is　of　no　importance　to　you。　He　had　no　problem　burying　another　military　mission　in　the　labyrinth　of　the　Pentagon。〃
　　　　Joe　paused　as　they　pulled　up　beside　the　ball。　The　President　played　another　shot　as　if　he　were　sleepwalking。　He　returned　to　the　cart　and　stared　at　Joe。
　　　　〃Doesn't　seem　possible　NASA　could　be　so　pletely　hoodwinked。〃
　　　　〃Again；　one　of　the　Space　Administration's　key　directors　belonged　to　the　‘inner　core。'　His　vision　was　also　that　of　a　permanent　base　with　limitless　opportunity　instead　of　focusing　on　a　few　temporary　manned　landings　on　the　lunar　surface。　But　he　realized　NASA　couldn't　do　two　plicated　and　expensive　programs　at　the　same　time；　so　he　became　a　member　of　the　Jersey　Colony。　The　project　was　kept　secret　so　there　would　be　no　interference　from　the　Executive　Office；　Congress；　or　the　military。　As　things　turned　out；　it　was　a　wise　decision。〃
　　　　〃And　the　bottom　line　is　that　the　United　States　has　a　solid　foot　on　the　moon。〃
　　　　Joe　nodded　solemnly。　〃Yes；　Mr。　President；　that　is　correct。〃
　　　　The　President　could　not　fully　prehend　the　enormity　of　the　concept。　〃Incredible　that　a　project　so　vast　could　be　carried　off　behind　an　impenetrable　curtain　of　security；　unknown　and　undiscovered　for　tw