ssheldon.doomsdayconspiracy-第15部分

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thout　any　assistance。
　〃There's　one　more　thing　I　want　to　discuss　today。　　Coincidence。　　In　our　work；　there　is　no　such　animal。　　It　usually　spells　danger。　　If　you　keep　running　into　the　same　person　again　ahd　again；　or　you　keep　spotting　the　same　automobile　when　you're　on　the　move；　cover　your　ass。　　You're　probably　in　trouble。
　〃I　think　that's　enough　for　today；　gentlemen。　　We　will　take　up　where　we　left　off'　tomorrow。〃
　
　From　time　to　time；　Colonel　Johnson　called　Robert　into　his　office　〃to　have　a　chat；〃　as　he　put　it。　　The　conversations　were　deceptively　casual；　but　Robert　was　aware　of　an　underlying　probing　being　carried　on。
　〃I　understand　you're　happily　married；　Robert。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　
　They　spent　the　next　half　hour　talking　about　marriage；　fidelity；　and　trust。
　
　Another　time：　〃Admiral　Whittaker　thinks　of　you　as　a　son；　Robert。　Did　you　know　that？〃
　〃Yes。〃　　The　pain　of　Edward's　death　was　something　that　would　never　go　away。
　
　They　talked　about　loyalty　and　duty　and　death。
　〃You've　faced　death　more　than　once；　Robert。　　Are　you　afraid　to　die？〃
　〃No。〃　　But　to　die　for　a　good　reason；　Robert　thought。　　Not　senselessly。
　
　The　meetings　were　frustrating　to　Robert　because　they　were　like　looking　into　a　trick　mirror。　　Colonel　Johnson　could　see　him　clearly；　but　the　colonel　remained　invisible；　an　enigma　cloaked　in　secrecy。
　
　The　course　lasted　sixteen　weeks；　and　during　that　time；　none　of　the　men　was　permitted　to　municate　with　the　outside　world。　　Robert　missed　Susan　desperately。　　It　was　the　longest　they　had　ever　been　apart。　　When　the　four　months　were　up；　Colonel　Johnson　called　Robert　into　his　office。
　〃This　is　goodbye。　　You've　done　an　excellent　job；　mander。　　I　think　you're　going　to　find　your　future　very　interesting。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。　　I　hope　so…〃
　〃Good　luck。〃
　
　Colonel　Johnson　watched　Robert　leave。　　He　sat　there　for　five　minutes　without　moving；　then　reached　a　decision。　　He　walked　over　to　the　door　and　locl：：ed　it。　　Then　he　picked　up　the　telephone　and　made　a　call。
　
　Susan　was　waiting　for　him。　　She　opened　the　door　of　their　apartment；　wearing　a　sheer　negligee　that　concealed　nothing。　　She　flew　into　his　arms　and　held　him　close。
　〃Hi；　sailor。　　Want　to　have　a　good　time？〃
　〃I'm　having　one；〃　Robert　said　happily；　'yust　holding　you。〃
　〃God；　I　missed　you　so　much！〃　　Susan　drew　back　and　said　fiercely；　〃If　anything　ever　happened　to　you；　I　think　I　would　die。〃
　〃Nothing　is　ever　going　to　happen　to　me。〃
　〃Promise？〃
　〃Promise。〃
　
　She　studied　him　a　moment；　concerned。
　〃You　look　so　tired。〃
　〃It　was　a　pretty　intensive　course；〃　Robert　admitted。
　
　He　was　understating　it。　　With　all　the　texts　and　manuals　to　study；　in　addition　to　the　practical；　hands…on　lessons；　none　of　the　recruits　had　been　able　to　sleep　more　than　a　few　hours　a　night。　　There　was　little　grumbling　for　a　very　simpIe　reason：　They　were　well　aware　that　what　they　were　learning　could　one　day　save　their　lives。
　〃I　know　exactly　what　you　need；〃　Susan　decided。　　Robert　grinned。
　〃I'll　say。〃　　He　reached　for　her。
　〃Wait。　　Give　me　five　minutes。　　Get　undressed。〃　　He　watched　her　walk　away　and　thought；　How　damned　lucky　can　a　man　get？　　He　began　to　get　undressed。
　
　Susan　returned　a　few　minutes　later。　　She　said　softly；　〃Umm。　　I　like　you　naked。〃
　
　He　heard　his　instructor's　voice；　saying；　〃Some　of　you　will　be　operating　naked。　　It　means　you're　alone　and　without　any　assistance。〃　What　have　I　gotten　into？　　What　have　I　gotten　Susan　into？
　
　She　led　him　into　the　bathroom。　　The　tub　was　filled　with　warm　scented　water；　and　the　room　was　dark　except　for　four　candles　flickering　on　the　sink。
　〃Wele　home；　darling。〃　　She　slipped　out　of　her　negligee　and　stepped　into　the　bathtub。　　He　followed　her。
　〃Susan…〃
　〃Don't　talk。　　Lean　back　against　me。〃　　He　felt　her　hands　gently　caressing　his　back　and　shoulders；　and　he　felt　the　soft　curves　of　her　body　against　him；　and　he　forgot　how　tired　he　was。　　They　made　love　in　the　warm　water；　and　when　they　had　dried　themselves；　Susan　said；　〃So　much　for　the　foreplay。　　Now；　let's　get　serious。〃
　
　They　made　love　again；　and　later；　as　Robert　fell　asleep；　holding　Susan　in　his　arms；　he　thought；　It　will　always　be　like　this。　　Forever。
　
　The　following　Monday　morning；　Robert　reported　for　his　first　day　of　duty　at　the　17th　District　Office　of　Naval　Intelligence　at　the　Pentagon。
　
　Admiral　Whittaker　said　warmly；　〃Wele　home；　Robert。　　Apparently　you　impressed　the　hell　out　of　Colonel　Johnson。〃
　
　Robert　smiled。
　〃He's　quite　impressive　himself。〃　　Over　coffee；　the　admiral　asked；　〃Are　you　ready　to　go　to　work？〃
　〃Eager。〃
　〃Good。　　We　have　a　situation　in　Rhodesia　…。。〃
　
　Working　in　the　Office　of　Naval　Intelligence　was　even　more　exciting　than　Robert　had　anticipated。　　Each　assignment　was　different；　and　Robert　was　given　the　ones　classified　extremely　sensitive。　　He　brought　in　a　defector　who　revealed　Noriega's　drug…smuggling　operation　in　Panama；　exposed　a　mole　working　for　Marcos　in　the　American　Consulate　in　Manila；　and　helped　set　up　a　secret　listening　post　in　Morocco。　　He　was　sent　on　missions　to　South　America　and　to　the　East　Indies。　　The　only　thing　that　disturbed　him　was　the　long　separations　from　Susan。　　He　hated　to　be　away　from　her；　and　he　missed　her　terribly。　　He　had　the　excitement　of　his　job　to　occupy　him；　but　Susan　had　nothing。　　Robert's　case　load　kept　increasing。　　He　spent　less　and　less　time　at　home；　and　that　was　when　the　problem　with　Susan　became　serious。
　
　Whenever　Robert　came　home；　he　and　Susan　would　run　hungrily　into　each　other's　arms　and　make　passionate　love。　　But　those　times　began　to　be　further　and　further　apart。　　It　seemed　to　Susan　that　no　sooner　did　Robert　return　from　one　assignment　than　he　was　sent　away　on　another。
　
　To　make　matters　worse；　Robert　could　not　discuss　his　work　with　her。
　
　Susan　had　no　idea　where　he　went　or　what　he　was　doing。　　She　knew　only　that　whatever　he　was　involved　in　was　dangerous；　and　she　was　terrified　that　one　day　he　would　leave　and　never　return。　　She　dared　not　ask　him　questions。　　She　felt　like　a　stranger；　pletely　shut　out　of　an　important　part　of　his　life。　　Of　their　life。
　
　I　can't　go　on　like　this；　Susan　decided。
　
　When　Robert　returned　from　a　four…week　assignment　in　Central　America；　Susan　said；　〃Robert；　I　think　we　had　better　have　a　talk。〃
　〃What's　the　problem？〃
　
　Robert　asked。　　He　knew　what　the　problem　was。
　〃I'm　frightened。　　We're　slipping　away　from　each　other；　and　I　don't　want　to　lose　us。　　I　couldn't　stand　it。〃
　〃Susan…〃
　〃Wait。　　Let　me　finish。　　Do　you　know　how　much　time　we've　spent　together　in　the　last　four　months？　　Less　than　two　weeks。　　Whenever　you　e　home；　I　feel　as　though　you're　a　visitor　instead　of　my　husband。〃
　
　He　took　Susan　in　his　arms　and　held　her　tightly。
　〃You　know　how　much　I　love　you。〃
　
　She　laid　her　head　on　his　shoulder。
　〃Please　don't　let　anything　happen　to　us。〃
　〃I　won't；〃　he　promised。
　〃I'll　have　a　talk　with　Admiral　Whittaker。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃Immediately。〃
　〃The　admiral　will　see　you　now；　mander。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　
　Admiral　Whittaker　was　seated　behind　his　desk　signing　papers。　　He　looked　up　as　bellamy　entered　and　smiled。
　〃Wele　home；　Robert；　and　congradulations。　　That　was　an　excellent　job　in　El　Salvador。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　〃Sit　down。　　Can　I　offer　you　some　coffee？〃
　〃No；　thank　you；　Admiral。〃
　〃You　wanted　to　talk　to　me？　　My　secretary　said　it　was　urgent。　　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　
　It　was　difficult　to　begin。
　〃Well；　sir；　this　is　personal。
　
　I've　been　married　less　than　two　years；　and…〃
　〃You　made　a　wonderful　choice；　Robert。　　Susan's　a　fine　woman。〃
　〃Yes；　I　agree。　　The　problem　is　that　I'm　away　most　of　the　time；　and　she's　unhappy　about　it。〃　　He　added　quickly；　〃And　she　has　every　right　to　be。　It　isn't　a　normal　situation。〃
　
　Admiral　Whittaker　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　said　thoughtfully；　〃Of　course　what　you're　doing　isn't　a　normal　situation。　　Sometimes　sacrifices　have　to　be　made。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Robert　said　stubbornly；　〃but　I'm　not　prepared　to　sacrifice　my　marriage。　　It　means　too　much　to　me。〃
　
　The　admiral　studied　him　reflectively。
　〃I　see。　　What　is　it　you're　asking？〃
　〃I　was　hoping　that　you　could　find　some　assignments　for　me　where　I'm　not　away　from　home　so　much。　　This　is　such　a　large　operation；　there　must　be　a　hundred　things　I　could　do　closer　to　home。〃
　〃Closer　to　home。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　
　The　admiral　said　slowly；　〃You've　certainly　earned　that。　　I　don't　see　why　something　like　that　can't　be　arranged。〃
　
　Robert　smiled　in　relief。
　〃That's　very　good　of　you；　Admiral。　　I　would　certainly　appreciate　it。〃
　〃Yes；　I　think　we　can　definitely　arrange　that。　　Tell　Susan　for　me　that　the　problem　is　solved。〃　　Robert　stood　up；　beaming。
　〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you。
　
　Admiral　Whittaker　waved　a　hand　of　dismissal。
　〃You're　too　valuable　a　piece　of　manpower　for　me　to　let　anything　happen　to　you。　　Now　go　home　to　your　bride。〃
　
　When　Robert　told　Susan　the　news；　she　was　thrilled。
　
　She　threw　her　arms　around　him。
　〃Oh；　darling；　that's　wonderful。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　ask　him　for　a　couple　of　weeks　off　so　we　can　take　a　trip　somewhere。　　It　will　be　a　second　honeymoon。〃
　〃I've　forgotten　what　a　honeymoon　is　like；〃　Susan　murmured。
　〃Show　me。〃
　
　Robert　showed　her。
　
　*　*　Admiral　Whittaker　sent　for　Robert　the　following　morning。
　〃I　just　wanted　you　to　know　I'm　making　some　arrangements　about　the　matter　we　discussed　yesterday。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Admiral。〃　　Now　was　the　time　to　mention　taking　a　leave。
　〃Sir…〃　Admiral　Whittaker　said；　〃Something　has　e　up；　Robert。〃　The　admiral　began　to　pace。　　When　he　spoke；　there　was　a　note　of　deep　concern　in　his　voice。
　〃I've　just　been　informed　that　the　CIA　has　been　infiltrated。　　It　seems　that　there　has　been　a　steady　leak　of　top　secret　information。　　All　they　know　about　the　spy　is　that　his　code　name　is　the　Fox。　　He's　in　Argentina　right　now。　　They　need　someone　outside　the　agency　to　handle　the　operation。　　The　director　of　the　CIA　has　asked　for　you。
　
　They　would　like　you　to　track　the　man　down　and　bring　him　back。　　I　told　them　the　decision　is　up　to　you。　　Do　you　want　to　undertake　it？〃
　
　Robert　hesitated。
　〃I'm　afraid　I'll　have　to　pass　on　it；　sir。〃
　〃I　respect　your　decision；　Robert。　　You've　been　traveling　constantly　and　have　never　turned　down　an　assignment