danbrown.deceptionpoint-第63部分

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　Aviation　Administration　Technical　Center　at　the　Atlantic　City　International　Airport。　The　group's　area　of　responsibility　includes　the　Atlantic　seaboard　from　Asbury　Park　to　Cape　May。
　Rachel　Sexton　jolted　awake　as　the　plane's　tires　screeched　down　on　the　tarmac　of　the　lone　runway　nestled　between　two　enormous　cargo　buildings。　Surprised　to　find　she　had　fallen　asleep；　Rachel　groggily　checked　her　watch。
　2：13　A。M。　She　felt　like　she'd　been　asleep　for　days。
　A　warm　onboard　blanket　was　tucked　carefully　around　her；　and　Michael　Tolland　was　also　just　waking　up　beside　her。　He　gave　her　a　weary　smile。
　Corky　staggered　up　the　aisle　and　frowned　when　he　saw　them。　〃Shit；　you　guys　are　still　here？　I　woke　up　hoping　tonight　had　been　a　bad　dream。〃
　Rachel　knew　exactly　how　he　felt。　I'm　headed　back　out　to　sea。
　The　plane　taxied　to　a　stop；　and　Rachel　and　the　others　climbed　out　onto　a　barren　runway。　The　night　was　over…cast；　but　the　coastal　air　felt　heavy　and　warm。　In　parison　to　Ellesmere；　New　Jersey　felt　like　the　tropics。
　〃Over　here！〃　a　voice　called　out。
　Rachel　and　the　others　turned　to　see　one　of　the　Coast　Guard's　classic；　crimson…colored　HH…65　Dolphin　helicopters　waiting　nearby。　Framed　by　the　brilliant　white　stripe　on　the　chopper's　tail；　a　fully　suited　pilot　waved　them　over。
　Tolland　gave　Rachel　an　impressed　nod。　〃Your　boss　certainly　gets　things　done。〃
　You　have　no　idea；　she　thought。
　Corky　slumped。　〃Already？　No　dinner　stop？〃
　The　pilot　weled　them　over　and　helped　them　aboard。　Never　asking　their　names；　he　spoke　exclusively　in　pleasantries　and　safety　precautions。　Pickering　had　apparently　made　it　clear　to　the　Coast　Guard　that　this　flight　was　not　an　advertised　mission。　Nonetheless；　despite　Pickering's　discretion；　Rachel　could　see　that　their　identities　had　remained　a　secret　for　only　a　matter　of　seconds；　the　pilot　failed　to　hide　his　wide…eyed　double　take　upon　seeing　television　celebrity　Michael　Tolland。
　Rachel　was　already　feeling　tense　as　she　buckled　herself　in　beside　Tolland。　The　Aerospatiale　engine　overhead　shrieked　to　life；　and　the　Dolphin's　sagging　thirty…nine…foot　rotors　began　to　flatten　out　into　a　silver　blur。　The　whine　turned　to　a　roar；　and　it　lifted　off　the　runway；　climbing　into　the　night。
　The　pilot　turned　in　the　cockpit　and　called　out；　〃I　was　informed　you　would　tell　me　your　destination　once　we　were　airborne。〃
　Tolland　gave　the　pilot　the　coordinates　of　an　offshore　location　about　thirty　miles　southeast　of　their　current　position。
　His　ship　is　twelve　miles　off　the　coast；　Rachel　thought；　feeling　a　shiver。
　The　pilot　typed　the　coordinates　into　his　navigation　system。　Then　he　settled　in　and　gunned　the　engines。　The　chopper　tipped　forward　and　banked　southeast。
　As　the　dark　dunes　of　the　New　Jersey　coast　slipped　away　beneath　the　aircraft；　Rachel　turned　her　eyes　away　from　the　blackness　of　the　ocean　spreading　out　beneath　her。　Despite　the　wariness　of　being　back　over　the　water　again；　she　tried　to　take　fort　in　knowing　she　was　acpanied　by　a　man　who　had　made　the　ocean　a　lifetime　friend。　Tolland　was　pressed　close　beside　her　in　the　narrow　fuselage；　his　hips　and　shoulders　touching　hers。　Neither　made　any　attempt　to　shift　positions。
　〃I　know　I　shouldn't　say　this；〃　the　pilot　sputtered　suddenly；　as　if　ready　to　burst　with　excitement；　〃but　you're　obviously　Michael　Tolland；　and　I've　got　to　say；　well；　we've　been　watching　you　on　TV　all　night！　The　meteorite！　It's　absolutely　incredible！　You　must　be　in　awe！〃
　Tolland　nodded　patiently。　〃Speechless。〃
　〃The　documentary　was　fantastic！　You　know；　the　networks　keep　playing　it　over　and　over。　None　of　tonight's　duty　pilots　wanted　this　gig　because　everyone　wanted　to　keep　watching　television；　but　I　drew　short　straw。　Can　you　believe　it！　Short　straw！　And　here　I　am！　If　the　boys　had　any　idea　I'd　be　flying　the　actual…〃
　〃We　appreciate　the　ride；〃　Rachel　interrupted；　〃and　we　need　you　to　keep　our　presence　here　to　yourself。　Nobody's　supposed　to　know　we're　here。〃
　〃Absolutely；　ma'am。　My　orders　were　very　clear。〃　The　pilot　hesitated；　and　then　his　expression　brightened。　〃Hey；　we　aren't　by　any　chance　heading　for　the　Goya；　are　we？〃
　Tolland　gave　a　reluctant　nod。　〃We　are。〃
　〃Holy　shit！〃　the　pilot　exclaimed。　〃Excuse　me。　Sorry；　but　I've　seen　her　on　your　show。　The　twin…hull；　right？　Strange…looking　beast！　I've　never　actually　been　on　a　SWATH　design。　I　never　dreamed　yours　would　be　the　first！〃
　Rachel　tuned　the　man　out；　feeling　a　rising　uneasiness　to　be　heading　out　to　sea。
　Tolland　turned　to　her。　〃You　okay？　You　could　have　stayed　onshore。　I　told　you　that。〃
　I　should　have　stayed　onshore；　Rachel　thought；　knowing　pride　would　never　have　let　her。　〃No　thanks；　I'm　fine。〃
　Tolland　smiled。　〃I'll　keep　an　eye　on　you。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Rachel　was　surprised　how　the　warmth　in　his　voice　made　her　feel　more　secure。
　〃You've　seen　the　Goya　on　television；　right？〃
　She　nodded。　〃It's　a。。。　um。。。　an　interesting…looking　ship。〃
　Tolland　laughed。　〃Yeah。　She　was　an　extremely　progressive　prototype　in　her　day；　but　the　design　never　quite　caught　on。〃
　〃Can't　imagine　why；〃　Rachel　joked；　picturing　the　ship's　bizarre　profile。
　〃Now　NBC　is　pressuring　me　to　use　a　newer　ship。　Something。。。　I　don't　know；　flashier；　sexier。　Another　season　or　two；　and　they'll　make　me　part　with　her。〃　Tolland　sounded　melancholy　at　the　thought。
　〃You　wouldn't　love　a　brand…new　ship？〃
　〃I　don't　know。。。　a　lot　of　memories　onboard　the　Goya。〃
　Rachel　smiled　softly。　〃Well；　as　my　mom　used　to　say；　sooner　or　later　we've　all　got　to　let　go　of　our　past。〃
　Tolland's　eyes　held　hers　for　a　long　moment。　〃Yeah；　I　know。〃
　
　　
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　〃Shit；〃　the　taxi　driver　said；　looking　over　his　shoulder　at　Gabrielle。　〃Looks　like　an　accident　up　ahead。　We　ain't　going　nowhere。　Not　for　a　while。〃
　Gabrielle　glanced　out　the　window　and　saw　the　spinning　lights　of　emergency　vehicles　piercing　the　night。　Several　policemen　stood　in　the　road　ahead；　halting　traffic　around　the　Mall。
　〃Must　be　a　hell　of　an　accident；〃　the　driver　said；　motioning　toward　some　flames　near　the　FDR　Memorial。
　Gabrielle　frowned　at　the　flickering　glow。　Now；　of　all　times。　She　needed　to　get　to　Senator　Sexton　with　this　new　information　about　PODS　and　the　Canadian　geologist。　She　wondered　if　NASA's　lies　about　how　they　found　the　meteorite　would　be　a　big　enough　scandal　to　breathe　life　back　into　Sexton's　campaign。　Maybe　not　for　most　politicians；　she　thought；　but　this　was　Sedgewick　Sexton；　a　man　who　had　built　his　campaign　on　amplifying　the　failures　of　others。
　Gabrielle　was　not　always　proud　of　the　senator's　ability　to　put　negative　ethical　spin　on　opponents'　political　misfortunes；　but　it　was　effective。　Sexton's　mastery　of　innuendo　and　indignity　could　probably　turn　this　one　partmentalized　NASA　fib　into　a　sweeping　question　of　character　that　infected　the　entire　space　agency…and　by　association；　the　President。
　Outside　the　window；　the　flames　at　the　FDR　Memorial　seemed　to　climb　higher。　Some　nearby　trees　had　caught　fire；　and　the　fire　trucks　were　now　hosing　them　down。　The　taxi　driver　turned　on　the　car　radio　and　began　channel…surfing。
　Sighing；　Gabrielle　closed　her　eyes　and　felt　the　exhaustion　roll　over　her　in　waves。　When　she'd　first　e　to　Washington；　she'd　dreamed　of　working　in　politics　forever；　maybe　someday　in　the　White　House。　At　the　moment；　however；　she　felt　like　she'd　had　enough　politics　for　a　lifetime…the　duel　with　Marjorie　Tench；　the　lewd　photographs　of　herself　and　the　senator；　all　of　NASA's　lies。。。　
　A　newscaster　on　the　radio　was　saying　something　about　a　car　bomb　and　possible　terrorism。
　I've　got　to　get　out　of　this　town；　Gabrielle　thought　for　the　first　time　since　ing　to　the　nation's　capital。
　
　　
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　The　controller　seldom　felt　weary；　but　today　had　taken　its　toll。　Nothing　had　gone　as　anticipated…the　tragic　discovery　of　the　insertion　shaft　in　the　ice；　the　difficulties　of　keeping　the　information　a　secret；　and　now　the　growing　list　of　victims。
　Nobody　was　supposed　to　die。。。　except　the　Canadian。
　It　seemed　ironic　that　the　most　technically　difficult　part　of　the　plan　had　turned　out　to　be　the　least　problematic。　The　insertion；　pleted　months　ago；　had　e　off　without　a　hitch。　Once　the　anomaly　was　in　place；　all　that　remained　was　to　wait　for　the　Polar　Orbiting　Density　Scanner　（PODS）　satellite　to　launch。　PODS　was　slated　to　scan　enormous　sections　of　the　Arctic　Circle；　and　sooner　or　later　the　anomaly　software　onboard　would　detect　the　meteorite　and　give　NASA　a　major　find。
　But　the　damned　software　didn't　work。
　When　the　controller　learned　that　the　anomaly　software　had　failed　and　had　no　chance　of　being　fixed　until　after　the　election；　the　entire　plan　was　in　jeopardy。　Without　PODS；　the　meteorite　would　go　undetected。　The　controller　had　to　e　up　with　some　way　to　surreptitiously　alert　someone　in　NASA　to　the　meteorite's　existence。　The　solution　involved　orchestrating　an　emergency　radio　transmission　from　a　Canadian　geologist　in　the　general　vicinity　of　the　insertion。　The　geologist；　for　obvious　reasons；　had　to　be　killed　immediately　and　his　death　made　to　look　accidental。　Throwing　an　innocent　geologist　from　a　helicopter　had　been　the　beginning。　Now　things　were　unraveling　fast。
　Wailee　Ming。　Norah　Mangor。　Both　dead。
　The　bold　kill　that　had　just　taken　place　at　the　FDR　Memorial。
　Soon　to　be　added　to　the　list　were　Rachel　Sexton；　Michael　Tolland；　and　Dr。　Marlinson。
　There　is　no　other　way；　the　controller　thought；　fighting　the　growing　remorse。　Far　too　much　is　at　stake。
　
　　
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　The　Coast　Guard　Dolphin　was　still　two　miles　from　the　Goya's　coordinates　and　flying　at　three　thousand　feet　when　Tolland　yelled　up　to　the　pilot。
　〃Do　you　have　NightSight　onboard　this　thing？〃
　The　pilot　nodded。　〃I'm　a　rescue　unit。〃
　Tolland　had　expected　as　much。　NightSight　was　Raytheon's　marine　thermal　imaging　system；　capable　of　locating　wreck　survivors　in　the　dark。　The　heat　given　off　by　a　swimmer's　head　would　appear　as　a　red　speck　on　an　ocean　of　black。
　〃Switch　it　on；〃　Tolland　said。
　The　pilot　looked　confused。　〃Why？　You　missing　someone？〃
　〃No。　I　want　everyone　to　see　something。〃
　〃We　won't　see　a　thing　on　thermal　from　this　high　up　unless　there's　a　burning　oil　slick。〃
　〃Just　switch　it　on；〃　Tolland　said。
　The　pilot　gave　Tolland　an　odd　look　and　then　adjusted　some　dials；　manding　the　thermal　lens　beneath　the　chopper　to　survey　a　three…mile　swatch　of　ocean　in　front　o