danbrown.deceptionpoint-第43部分

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　〃Someone　on　the　inside　just　leaked　that　the　press　conference　is　NASA…related。〃
　Gabrielle　sat　up　suddenly。　〃NASA？〃
　Yolanda　winked。　〃This　could　be　your　lucky　night。　My　bet　is　President　Herney　is　feeling　so　much　pressure　from　Senator　Sexton　that　he's　decided　the　White　House　has　no　choice　but　to　pull　the　plug　on　the　International　Space　Station。　That　explains　all　the　global　media　coverage。〃
　A　press　conference　killing　the　space　station？　Gabrielle　could　not　imagine。
　Yolanda　stood　up。　〃That　Tench　attack　this　afternoon？　It　was　probably　just　a　last…ditch　effort　to　get　a　foothold　over　Sexton　before　the　President　had　to　go　public　with　the　bad　news。　Nothing　like　a　sex　scandal　to　take　the　attention　away　from　another　presidential　flop。　Anyhow；　Gabs；　I've　got　work　to　do。　My　advice　to　you…get　yourself　a　cup　of　coffee；　sit　right　here；　turn　on　my　television；　and　ride　this　out　like　the　rest　of　us。　We've　got　twenty　minutes　until　show　time；　and　I'm　telling　you；　there　is　no　way　the　President　is　going　Dumpster…diving　tonight。　He's　got　the　whole　world　watching。　Whatever　he　has　to　say　carries　some　serious　weight。〃　She　gave　a　reassuring　wink。　〃Now　give　me　the　envelope。〃
　〃What？〃
　Yolanda　held　out　a　demanding　hand。　〃These　pictures　are　getting　locked　in　my　desk　until　this　is　over。　I　want　to　be　sure　you　don't　do　something　idiotic。〃
　Reluctantly；　Gabrielle　handed　over　the　envelope。
　Yolanda　locked　the　photos　carefully　in　a　desk　drawer　and　pocketed　the　keys。　〃You'll　thank　me；　Gabs。　I　swear　it。〃　She　playfully　ruffled　Gabrielle's　hair　on　her　way　out。　〃Sit　tight。　I　think　good　news　is　on　the　way。〃
　Gabrielle　sat　alone　in　the　glass　cubicle　and　tried　to　let　Yolanda's　upbeat　attitude　lift　her　mood。　All　Gabrielle　could　think　of；　though；　was　the　self…satisfied　smirk　on　the　face　of　Marjorie　Tench　this　afternoon。　Gabrielle　could　not　imagine　what　the　President　was　about　to　tell　the　world；　but　it　was　definitely　not　going　to　be　good　news　for　Senator　Sexton。
　
　　
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　Rachel　Sexton　felt　like　she　was　being　burned　alive。
　It's　raining　fire！
　She　tried　to　open　her　eyes；　but　all　she　could　make　out　were　foggy　shapes　and　blinding　lights。　It　was　raining　all　around　her。　Scalding　hot　rain。　Pounding　down　on　her　bare　skin。　She　was　lying　on　her　side　and　could　feel　hot　tiles　beneath　her　body。　She　curled　more　tightly　into　the　fetal　position；　trying　to　protect　herself　from　the　scalding　liquid　falling　from　above。　She　smelled　chemicals。　Chlorine；　maybe。　She　tried　to　crawl　away；　but　she　could　not。　Powerful　hands　pressed　down　on　her　shoulders；　holding　her　down。
　Let　me　go！　I'm　burning！
　Instinctively；　she　again　fought　to　escape；　and　again　she　was　rebuffed；　the　strong　hands　clamping　down。　〃Stay　where　you　are；〃　a　man's　voice　said。　The　accent　was　American。　Professional。　〃It　will　be　over　soon。〃
　What　will　be　over？　Rachel　wondered。　The　pain？　My　life？　She　tried　to　focus　her　vision。　The　lights　in　this　place　were　harsh。　She　sensed　the　room　was　small。　Cramped。　Low　ceilings。
　〃I'm　burning！〃　Rachel's　scream　was　a　whisper。
　〃You're　fine；〃　the　voice　said。　〃This　water　is　lukewarm。　Trust　me。〃
　Rachel　realized　she　was　mostly　undressed；　wearing　only　her　soaked　underwear。　No　embarrassment　registered；　her　mind　was　filled　with　too　many　other　questions。
　The　memories　were　ing　back　now　in　a　torrent。　The　ice　shelf。　The　GPR。　The　attack。　Who？　Where　am　I？　She　tried　to　put　the　pieces　together；　but　her　mind　felt　torpid；　like　a　set　of　clogged　gears。　From　out　of　the　muddled　confusion　came　a　single　thought：　Michael　and　Corky。。。　where　are　they？
　Rachel　tried　to　focus　her　bleary　vision　but　saw　only　the　men　standing　over　her。　They　were　all　dressed　in　the　same　blue　jumpsuits。　She　wanted　to　speak；　but　her　mouth　refused　to　formulate　a　single　word。　The　burning　sensation　in　her　skin　was　now　giving　way　to　sudden　deep　waves　of　aching　that　rolled　through　the　muscles　like　seismic　tremors。
　〃Let　it　happen；〃　the　man　over　her　said。　〃The　blood　needs　to　flow　back　into　your　musculature。〃　He　spoke　like　a　doctor。　〃Try　to　move　your　limbs　as　much　as　you　can。〃
　The　pain　racking　Rachel's　body　felt　as　if　every　muscle　was　being　beaten　with　a　hammer。　She　lay　there　on　the　tile；　her　chest　contracting；　and　she　could　barely　breathe。
　〃Move　your　legs　and　arms；〃　the　man　insisted。　〃No　matter　what　it　feels　like。〃
　Rachel　tried。　Each　movement　felt　like　a　knife　being　thrust　into　her　joints。　The　jets　of　water　grew　hotter　again。　The　scalding　was　back。　The　crushing　pain　went　on。　At　the　precise　instant　she　thought　she　could　not　withstand　another　moment；　Rachel　felt　someone　giving　her　an　injection。　The　pain　seemed　to　subside　quickly；　less　and　less　violent；　releasing。　The　tremors　slowed。　She　felt　herself　breathing　again。
　A　new　sensation　was　spreading　through　her　body　now；　the　eerie　bite　of　pins　and　needles。　Everywhere…stabbing…sharper　and　sharper。　Millions　of　tiny　needle…point　jabs；　intensifying　whenever　she　moved。　She　tried　to　hold　motionless；　but　the　water　jets　continued　to　buffet　her。　The　man　above　her　was　holding　her　arms；　moving　them。
　God　that　hurts！　Rachel　was　too　weak　to　fight。　Tears　of　exhaustion　and　pain　poured　down　her　face。　She　shut　her　eyes　hard；　blocking　out　the　world。
　Finally；　the　pins　and　needles　began　to　dissipate。　The　rain　from　above　stopped。　When　Rachel　opened　her　eyes；　her　vision　was　clearer。
　It　was　then　that　she　saw　them。
　Corky　and　Tolland　lay　nearby；　quivering；　half…naked　and　soaked。　From　the　looks　of　anguish　on　their　faces；　Rachel　sensed　that　they　had　just　endured　similar　experiences。　Michael　Tolland's　brown　eyes　were　bloodshot　and　glassy。　When　he　saw　Rachel；　he　managed　a　weak　smile；　his　blue　lips　trembling。
　Rachel　tried　to　sit　up；　to　take　in　their　bizarre　surroundings。　The　three　of　them　were　lying　in　a　trembling　twist　of　half…naked　limbs　on　the　floor　of　a　tiny　shower　room。
　
　　
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　Strong　arms　lifted　her。
　Rachel　felt　the　powerful　strangers　drying　her　body　and　wrapping　her　in　blankets。　She　was　being　placed　on　a　medical　bed　of　some　sort　and　vigorously　massaged　on　her　arms；　legs；　and　feet。　Another　injection　in　her　arm。
　〃Adrenaline；〃　someone　said。
　Rachel　felt　the　drug　coursing　through　her　veins　like　a　life　force；　invigorating　her　muscles。　Although　she　still　felt　an　icy　hollowness　tight　like　a　drum　in　her　gut；　Rachel　sensed　the　blood　slowly　returning　to　her　limbs。
　Back　from　the　dead。
　She　tried　to　focus　her　vision。　Tolland　and　Corky　were　lying　nearby；　shivering　in　blankets　as　the　men　massaged　their　bodies　and　gave　them　injections　as　well。　Rachel　had　no　doubt　that　this　mysterious　assemblage　of　men　had　just　saved　their　lives。　Many　of　them　were　soaking　wet；　apparently　having　jumped　into　the　showers　fully　clothed　to　help。　Who　they　were　or　how　they　had　gotten　to　Rachel　and　the　others　in　time　was　beyond　her。　It　made　no　difference　at　the　moment。　We're　alive。
　〃Where。。。　are　we？〃　Rachel　managed；　the　simple　act　of　trying　to　speak　bringing　on　a　crashing　headache。
　The　man　massaging　her　replied；　〃You're　on　the　medical　deck　of　a　Los　Angeles　class…〃
　〃On　deck！〃　someone　called　out。
　Rachel　sensed　a　sudden　motion　all　around　her；　and　she　tried　to　sit　up。　One　of　the　men　in　blue　helped；　propping　her　up；　and　pulling　the　blankets　up　around　her。　Rachel　rubbed　her　eyes　and　saw　someone　striding　into　the　room。
　The　newer　was　a　powerful　African…American　man。　Handsome　and　authoritative。　His　uniform　was　khaki。　〃At　ease；〃　he　declared；　moving　toward　Rachel；　stopping　over　her　and　gazing　down　at　her　with　strong　black　eyes。　〃Harold　Brown；〃　he　said；　his　voice　deep　and　manding。　〃Captain　of　the　U。S。S。　Charlotte。　And　you　are？〃
　U。S。S。　Charlotte；　Rachel　thought。　The　name　seemed　vaguely　familiar。　〃Sexton。。。　；〃　she　replied。　〃I'm　Rachel　Sexton。〃
　The　man　looked　puzzled。　He　stepped　closer；　studying　her　more　carefully。　〃I'll　be　damned。　So　you　are。〃
　Rachel　felt　lost。　He　knows　me？　Rachel　was　certain　she　did　not　recognize　the　man；　although　as　her　eyes　dropped　from　his　face　to　the　patch　on　his　chest；　she　saw　the　familiar　emblem　of　an　eagle　clutching　an　anchor　surrounded　by　the　words　U。S。　NAVY。
　It　now　registered　why　she　knew　the　name　Charlotte。
　〃Wele　aboard；　Ms。　Sexton；〃　the　captain　said。　〃You've　gisted　a　number　of　this　ship's　recon　reports。　I　know　who　you　are。〃
　〃But　what　are　you　doing　in　these　waters？〃　she　stammered。
　His　face　hardened　somewhat。　〃Frankly；　Ms。　Sexton；　I　was　about　to　ask　you　the　same　question。〃
　Tolland　sat　up　slowly　now；　opening　his　mouth　to　speak。　Rachel　silenced　him　with　a　firm　shake　of　her　head。　Not　here。　Not　now。　She　had　no　doubt　the　first　thing　Tolland　and　Corky　would　want　to　talk　about　was　the　meteorite　and　the　attack；　but　this　was　certainly　not　a　topic　to　discuss　in　front　of　a　Navy　submarine　crew。　In　the　world　of　intelligence；　regardless　of　crisis；　CLEARANCE　remained　king；　the　meteorite　situation　remained　highly　classified。
　〃I　need　to　speak　to　NRO　director　William　Pickering；〃　she　told　the　captain。　〃In　private；　and　immediately。〃
　The　captain　arched　his　eyebrows；　apparently　unaccustomed　to　taking　orders　on　his　own　ship。
　〃I　have　classified　information　I　need　to　share。〃
　The　captain　studied　her　a　long　moment。　〃Let's　get　your　body　temperature　back；　and　then　I'll　put　you　in　contact　with　the　NRO　director。〃
　〃It's　urgent；　sir。　I…〃　Rachel　stopped　short。　Her　eyes　had　just　seen　a　clock　on　the　wall　over　the　pharmaceutical　closet。
　19：51　HOURS。
　Rachel　blinked；　staring。　〃Is。。。　is　that　clock　right？〃
　〃You're　on　a　navy　vessel；　ma'am。　Our　clocks　are　accurate。〃
　〃And　is　that。。。　Eastern　time？〃
　〃7：51　P。M。　Eastern　Standard。　We're　out　of　Norfolk。〃
　My　God！　she　thought；　stunned。　It's　only　7：51　P。M。？　Rachel　had　the　impression　hours　had　passed　since　she　passed　out。　It　was　not　even　past　eight　o'clock？　The　President　has　not　yet　gone　public　about　the　meteorite！　I　still　have　time　to　stop　him！　She　immediately　slid　down　off　the　bed；　wrapping　the　blanket　around　her。　Her　legs　felt　shaky。　〃I　need　to　speak　to　the　President　right　away。〃
　The　captain　looked　confused。　〃The　president　of　what？〃
　〃Of　the　United　States！〃
　〃I　thought　you　wanted　William　Pickering。〃
　〃I　don't　have　time。　I　need　the　President。〃
　The　captain　did　not　move；　his　huge　frame　blocking　her　way。　〃My　understanding　is　that　the　President　is　about　to　give　a　very　important　live　press　conference。　I