ssheldon.doomsdayconspiracy-第4部分

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　What　the　hell　does　he　mean？　　Robert　wondered。　　He　decided　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。
　
　Thornton　looked　up。
　〃I　don't　know　how　Admiral　Whittaker　ran　this　office　when　he　was　in　charge；　but　from　now　on　we're　doing　everything　by　the　book。　　I　expect　my　orders　to　be　carried　out　to　the　letter。　　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　
　Jesus；　Robert　thought；　what　the　hell　are　we　in　for　here？
　
　〃Do　I　make　myself　clear；　mander？〃
　〃Yes。　　You　expect　your　orders　to　be　carried　out　to　the　letter。〃　　He　wondered　whether　he　was　expected　to　salute。
　〃That's　all。〃
　
　But　it　was　not　all。
　
　A　month　later；　Robert　was　sent　to　East　Germany　to　bring　in　a　scientist　who　wanted　to　defect。　　It　was　a　dangerous　assignment　because　Stasi；　the　East　German　secret　police；　had　learned　about　the　proposed　defection　and　was　watching　the　scientist　closely。　　In　spite　of　that；　Robert　had　managed　to　smuggle　the　man　across　the　border；　to　a　safe　house。　　He　was　making　arrangements　to　bring　him　to　Washington　when　he　received　a　call　from　Dustin　Thornton　telling　him　that　the　situation　had　changed　and　that　he　was　to　drop　the　assignment。
　〃We　can't　just　dump　him　here；〃　Robert　had　protested。
　〃They'll　kill　him。〃
　〃That's　his　problem；〃　Thornton　had　replied。
　〃Your　orders　are　to　e　back　home。〃　　Screw　you；　Robert　thought。　I'm　not　going　to　abandon　him。　　He　had　called　a　friend　of　his　in　M16；　British　Intelligence；　and　explained　the　situation。
　〃If　he　goes　back　to　East　Germany；〃　Robert　said；　〃they'll　chop　him。
　
　Will　you　take　him？〃
　〃I'll　see　what　can　be　done；　old　chap。　　Bring　him　along。〃　　And　the　scientist　had　been　given　haven　in　England。
　
　Dustin　Thornton　never　forgave　Robert　for　disobeying　his　instructions。　From　that　point　on；　there　was　open　animosity　between　the　two　men。　Thornton　had　discussed　the　incident　with　his　father…in…law。
　〃Loose　cannons　like　Bellamy　are　dangerous；〃　Willard　Stone　warned。　〃They're　a　security　hazard。　　Men　like　that　are　expendable。　Remember　that。〃　　And　Thornton　had　remembered。
　
　Now；　walking　down　the　corridor　toward　Dustin　Thornton's　office；　Robert　could　not　help　thinking　about　the　difference　between　Thornton　and　Whittaker。　　In　a　job　like　his；　trust　was　the　sine　qua　non。　　He　did　not　trust　Dustin　Thornton。
　
　Thornton　was　seated　behind　his　desk　when　Robert　walked　into　his　office。
　〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃
　〃Yes。　　Sit　down；　mander。〃　　Their　relationship　had　never　reached　the　〃Robert〃　phase。
　〃I've　been　told　you've　been　temporarily　transferred　to　the　National　Security　Agency。　　When　you　e　back；　I　have　a…〃
　〃I'm　not　ing　back。　　This　is　my　last　assignment。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I'm　quitting。〃
　
　Thinking　about　it　later；　Robert　was　not　sure　exactly　what　reaction　he　had　expected。　　Some　kind　of　scene。　　Dustin　Thornton　could　have　shown　surprise；　or　he　could　have　argued；　or　been　angry；　or　relieved。　　Instead；　he　had　merely　looked　at　Robert　and　nodded。
　〃That's　it　then；　isn't　it？〃
　
　When　Robert　returned　to　his　own　office；　he　said　to　his　secretary；　〃I'm　going　to　be　away　for　a　while。　　I'll　be　leaving　in　about　an　hour。〃
　〃Is　there　some　place　where　you　can　be　reached？〃
　
　Robert　remembered　General　Hilliard's　orders。
　〃No。〃
　〃There　are　some　meetings　you…〃
　〃Cancel　them。〃　　He　looked　at　his　watch。　　It　was　time　to　meet　Admiral　Whittaker。
　
　They　had　breakfast　in　the　center　yard　of　the　Pentagon　at　the　Ground　Zero　Cafe；　so　named　because　it　was　once　thought　that　the　Pentagon　was　where　the　first　nuclearbomb　attack　against　the　United　States　would　take　place。　Robert　had　arranged　for　a　corner　table　where　they　would　have　a　degree　of　privacy。　　Admiral　Whittaker　was　punctual；　and　as　Robert　watched　him　approach　the　table；　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　admiral　looked　older　and　smaller；　as　though　semiretirement　had　somehow　aged　and　shrunk　him。　　He　was　still　a　striking…looking　man　with　strong　features；　a　Roman　nose；　good　cheekbones；　and　a　crown　of　silvered　hair。　　Robert　had　served　under　the　admiral　in　Vietnam　and　later　in　the　Office　of　Naval　Intelligence；　and　he　had　a　high　regard　for　him。　　More　than　a　high　regard；　Robert　admitted　to　himself。　　Admiral　Whittaker　was　his　surrogate　father。
　
　The　admiral　sat　down。
　〃Good　morning；　Robert。　　Well；　did　they　transfer　you　to　the　NSA？〃
　
　Robert　nodded。
　〃Temporarily。〃
　
　The　waitress　arrived；　and　the　two　men　studied　the　menu。
　〃I　had　forgotten　how　bad　the　food　here　was；〃　Admiral　Whittaker　said；　smiling。　　He　looked　around　the　room；　his　face　reflecting　an　unspoken　nostalgia。　　He　wishes　he　were　back　here；　Robert　thought。　　Amen。
　
　They　ordered。　　When　the　waitress　was　out　of　earshot；　Robert　said；　〃Admiral；　General　Hilliard　is　sending　me　on　an　urgent　three…thousand…mile　trip　to　locate　some　witnesses　who　saw　a　weather　balloon　crash。　　I　find　that　strange。　　And　there's　something　else　that's　even　stranger。　　'Time　is　of　the　essence；'　to　quote　the　general；　but　I've　been　ordered　not　to　use　any　of　my　intelligence　contacts　abroad　to　help　me。〃
　
　Admiral　Whittaker　looked　puzzled。
　〃I　suppose　the　general　must　have　his　reasons。〃
　
　Robert　said；　〃I　can't　imagine　what　they　are。〃　　Admiral　Whittaker　studied　Robert。　　mander　Bellamy　had　served　under　him　in　Vietnam　and　had　been　the　best　pilot　in　the　squadron。　　The　admiral's　son；　Edward；　had　been　Robert's　bombardier；　and　on　the　terrible　day　their　plane　had　been　shot　down；　Edward　had　been　killed。　　Robert　had　barely　survived。　　The　admiral　had　gone　to　the　hospital　to　visit　him。
　〃He's　not　going　to　make　it；〃　the　doctors　had　told　him。　　Robert；　lying　there　in　agonizing　pain；　had　whispered；　〃I'm　sorry　about　Edward。　。。。　I'm　so　sorry。〃
　
　Admiral　Whittaker　had　squeezed　Robert's　hand。
　〃I　know　you　did　everything　you　could。　　You've　got　to　get　well；　now。　You're　going　to　be　fine。〃　　He　wanted　desperately　for　Robert　to　live。　　In　the　admiral's　mind；　Robert　was　his　son；　the　son　who　would　take　Edward's　place。　　And　Robert　had　pulled　through。
　〃Robert〃
　〃Yes；　Admiral？〃
　〃I　hope　your　mission　to　Switzerland　is　successful。〃
　〃So　do　I。　It's　my　last　one。〃
　〃You're　still　determined　to　quit？〃
　
　The　admiral　was　the　only　one　Robert　had　confided　in。
　〃I've　had　enough。〃
　〃Thornton？〃
　〃It's　not　just　him。　　It's　me。　　I'm　tired　of　interfering　with　other　people's　lives。〃　　I'm　tired　of　the　lies　and　the　cheating；　and　the　broken　promises　that　were　never　meant　to　be　kept。　　I'm　tired　of　manipulating　people　and　of　being　manipulated。　　I'm　tired　of　the　games　and　the　danger　and　the　betrayals。　　It's　cost　me　everything　I　ever　gave　a　damn　about。
　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　you're　going　to　do？〃
　〃I'll　try　to　find　something~useful　to　do　with　my　life；　something　positive。〃
　〃What　if　they　won't　let　you　go？〃
　
　Robert　said；　〃They　have　no　choice；　have　they？〃
　
　The　limousine　was　waiting　at　the　river…entrance　parking　lot。
　〃Are　you　ready；　mander？〃　Captain　Dougherty　asked。
　
　As　ready　as　I'll　ever　be；　Robert　thought。
　〃Yes。〃　　Captain　Dougherty　acpanied　Robert　to　his　apartment　so　he　could　pack。　　Robert　had　no　idea　how　many　days　he　would　be　gone。　　How　long　does　an　impossible　assignment　take？　　He　packed　enough　clothes　for　a　week　and；　at　the　last　minute；　put　in　a　framed　photograph　of　Susan。　　He　stared　at　it　for　a　long　time　and　wondered　if　she　were　enjoying　herself　in　Brazil。　　He　thought；　I　hope　not。　　I　hope　she's　having　a　lousy　time。　And　was　immediately　ashamed　of　himself。
　
　When　the　limousine　arrived　at　Andrews　Air　Force　Base；　the　plane　was　waiting。　　It　was　a　C20A；　an　Air　Force　jet。
　
　Captain　Dougherty　held　out　his　hand。
　〃Good　luck；　mander。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　　I'll　need　it。　　Robert　walked　up　the　steps　to　the　cabin。　The　crew　was　inside　finishing　the　preflight　check。
　
　There　was　a　pilot；　a　copilot；　a　navigator；　and　a　steward；　all　in　Air　Force　uniforms。　　Robert　was　familiar　with　the　plane。　　It　was　loaded　with　electronic　equipment。　　On　the　outside　near　the　tail　was　a　high…frequency　antenna　that　looked　like　an　enormous　fishing　pole。　Inside　the　cabin　were　twelve　red　telephones　on　the　walls　and　a　white；　unsecured　phone。
　
　Radio　transmissions　were　in　code；　and　the　plane's　radar　was　on　a　military　frequency。　　The　primary　color　inside　was　air　force　blue；　and　the　cabin　was　furnished　with　fortable　club　chairs。
　
　Robert　found　that　he　was　the　only　passenger。　　The　pilot　greeted　him。
　〃Wele　aboard；　mander。　　If　you'll　put　on　your　seat　belt；　we　have　clearance　to　take　off〃
　
　Robert　strapped　himself　in　and　leaned　back　in　his　seat　as　the　plane　taxied　down　the　runway。　　A　minute　later；　he　felt　the　familiar　pull　of　gravity　as　the　jet　screamed　into　the　air。　　He　had　not　piloted　a　plane　since　his　crash；　when　he　had　been　told　he　would　never　be　able　to　fly　again。　　Fly　again；　hell；　Robert　thought；　they　said　I　wouldn't　live。　　It　was　a　miracleNo；　it　was　Susan。　　。。。　　Vietnam。　　He　had　been　sent　there　with　the　rank　of　lieutenant　mander；　stationed　on　the　aircraft　carrier　Ranger　as　a　tactics　officer；　responsible　for　training　fighter　pilots　and　planning　attack　strategy。　　He　had　led　a　bomber　squadron　of　A…6A　Intruders；　and　there　was　very　little　time　away　from　the　pressures　of　battle。　　One　of　the　few　leaves　he　had　was　in　Bangkok　for　a　week　of　R　and　R；　and　during　that　time　he　never　bothered　to　sleep。　　The　city　was　a　Disneyland　designed　for　the　pleasure　of　the　male　animal。　　He　had　met　an　exquisite　That　girl　his　first　hour　in　town；　and　she　had　stayed　at　his　side　the　whole　time　and　taught　him　a　few　That　phrases。　　He　had　found　the　language　soft　and　mellifluous。
　
　Good　morning。　　Arun　sawasdi。　　Where　are　you　from？　　Khun　na　chak　nai？　Where　are　you　going　now？　　Khun　kamrant　chain　pai？
　
　She　taught　him　other　phrases　too；　but　she　would　not　tell　him　what　they　meant；　and　when　he　said　them；　she　giggled。
　
　When　Robert　returned　to　the　Ranger；　Bangkok　seemed　like　a　faraway　dream。　The　war　was　the　reality　and　it　was　a　horror。　　Someone　showed　him　one　of　the　leaflets　the　marines　dropped　over　North　Vietnam。　　It　read：　Dear　Citizens：　The　U。S。　　Marines　are　fighting　alongside　South　Vietnamese　forces　in　Duc　Pho　in　order　to　give　the　Vietnamese　people　a　chance　to　live　a　free；　happy　life；　without　fear　of　hunger　and　suffering。　　But　many　Vietnamese　have　paid　with　their　lives；　and　their　homes　have　been　destroyed　because　they　helped　the　Vietcong。
　
　The　hamlets　of　Hai　Mon；　Hai