danbrown.deceptionpoint-第70部分

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　Sexton　looked　intrigued　and　amused。　〃You　can't　afford　Davide；　Gabrielle。〃
　〃So　you're　saying　you're　chicken？〃
　Sexton　appeared　almost　sorry　for　her　as　he　accepted　the　challenge。　〃Ten　seconds？〃　He　logged　off　and　motioned　for　Gabrielle　to　sit　down　and　give　it　a　try。　〃You　know　I　only　order　the　saltimbocca　at　Davide。　And　that　ain't　cheap。〃
　She　shrugged　as　she　sat　down。　〃It's　your　money。〃
　ENTER　PASSWORD：
　〃Ten　seconds；〃　Sexton　reminded。
　Gabrielle　had　to　laugh。　She　would　need　only　two。　Even　from　the　doorway　she　could　see　that　Sexton　had　entered　his　three…key　password　in　very　rapid　succession　using　only　his　index　finger。　Obviously　all　the　same　key。　Not　wise。　She　could　also　see　that　his　hand　had　been　positioned　over　the　far　left　side　of　his　keyboard…cutting　the　possible　alphabet　down　to　only　about　nine　letters。　Choosing　the　letter　was　simple；　Sexton　had　always　loved　the　triple　alliteration　of　his　title。　Senator　Sedgewick　Sexton。
　Never　underestimate　the　ego　of　a　politician。
　She　typed　SSS；　and　the　screensaver　evaporated。
　Sexton's　jaw　hit　the　floor。
　That　had　been　last　week。　Now；　as　Gabrielle　faced　his　puter　again；　she　was　certain　Sexton　would　not　have　taken　time　yet　to　figure　out　how　to　set　up　a　different　password。　Why　would　he？　He　trusts　me　implicitly。
　She　typed　in　SSS。
　INVALID　PASSWORD…ACCESS　DENIED
　Gabrielle　stared　in　shock。
　Apparently　she　had　overestimated　her　senator's　level　of　trust。
　
　　
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　The　attack　came　without　warning。　Low　out　of　the　southwest　sky　above　the　Goya；　the　lethal　silhouette　of　a　gunship　helicopter　bore　down　like　a　giant　wasp。　Rachel　had　no　doubt　what　it　was；　or　why　it　was　here。
　Through　the　darkness；　a　staccato　burst　from　the　nose　of　the　chopper　sent　a　torrent　of　bullets　chewing　across　the　Goya's　fiberglass　deck；　slashing　a　line　across　the　stern。　Rachel　dove　for　cover　too　late　and　felt　the　searing　slash　of　a　bullet　graze　her　arm。　She　hit　the　ground　hard；　then　rolled；　scrambling　to　get　behind　the　bulbous　transparent　dome　of　the　Triton　submersible。
　A　thundering　of　rotors　exploded　overhead　as　the　chopper　swooped　past　the　ship。　The　noise　evaporated　with　an　eerie　hiss　as　the　chopper　rocketed　out　over　the　ocean　and　began　a　wide　bank　for　a　second　pass。
　Lying　trembling　on　the　deck；　Rachel　held　her　arm　and　looked　back　at　Tolland　and　Corky。　Apparently　having　lunged　to　cover　behind　a　storage　structure；　the　two　men　were　now　staggering　to　their　feet；　their　eyes　scanning　the　skies　in　terror。　Rachel　pulled　herself　to　her　knees。　The　entire　world　suddenly　seemed　to　be　moving　in　slow　motion。
　Crouched　behind　the　transparent　curvature　of　the　Triton　sub；　Rachel　looked　in　panic　toward　their　only　means　of　escape…the　Coast　Guard　helicopter。　Xavia　was　already　climbing　into　the　chopper's　cabin；　frantically　waving　for　everyone　to　get　aboard。　Rachel　could　see　the　pilot　lunging　into　the　cockpit；　wildly　throwing　switches　and　levers。　The　blades　began　to　turn。。。　ever　so　slowly。
　Too　slowly。
　Hurry！
　Rachel　felt　herself　standing　now；　preparing　to　run；　wondering　if　she　could　make　it　across　the　deck　before　the　attackers　made　another　pass。　Behind　her；　she　heard　Corky　and　Tolland　dashing　toward　her　and　the　waiting　helicopter。　Yes！　Hurry！
　Then　she　saw　it。
　A　hundred　yards　out；　up　in　the　sky；　materializing　out　of　empty　darkness；　a　pencil…thin　beam　of　red　light　slanted　across　the　night；　searching　the　Goya's　deck。　Then；　finding　its　mark；　the　beam　came　to　a　stop　on　the　side　of　the　waiting　Coast　Guard　chopper。
　The　image　took　only　an　instant　to　register。　In　that　horrific　moment；　Rachel　felt　all　the　action　on　the　deck　of　the　Goya　blur　into　a　collage　of　shapes　and　sounds。　Tolland　and　Corky　dashing　toward　her…Xavia　motioning　wildly　in　the　helicopter…the　stark　red　laser　slicing　across　the　night　sky。
　It　was　too　late。
　Rachel　spun　back　toward　Corky　and　Tolland；　who　were　running　full　speed　now　toward　the　helicopter。　She　lunged　outward　into　their　path；　arms　outstretched　trying　to　stop　them。　The　collision　felt　like　a　train　wreck　as　the　three　of　them　crashed　to　the　deck　in　a　tangle　of　arms　and　legs。
　In　the　distance；　a　flash　of　white　light　appeared。　Rachel　watched　in　disbelief　and　horror　as　a　perfectly　straight　line　of　exhaust　fire　followed　the　path　of　the　laser　beam　directly　toward　the　helicopter。
　When　the　Hellfire　missile　slammed　into　the　fuselage；　the　helicopter　exploded　apart　like　a　toy。　The　concussion　wave　of　heat　and　noise　thundered　across　the　deck　as　flaming　shrapnel　rained　down。　The　helicopter's　flaming　skeleton　lurched　backward　on　its　shattered　tail；　teetered　a　moment；　and　then　fell　off　the　back　of　the　ship；　crashing　into　the　ocean　in　a　hissing　cloud　of　steam。
　Rachel　closed　her　eyes；　unable　to　breathe。　She　could　hear　the　flaming　wreckage　gurgling　and　sputtering　as　it　sank；　being　dragged　away　from　the　Goya　by　the　heavy　currents。　In　the　chaos；　Michael　Tolland's　voice　was　yelling。　Rachel　felt　his　powerful　hands　trying　to　pull　her　to　her　feet。　But　she　could　not　move。
　The　Coast　Guard　pilot　and　Xavia　are　dead。
　We're　next。
　
　　
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　The　weather　on　the　Milne　Ice　Shelf　had　settled；　and　the　habisphere　was　quiet。　Even　so；　NASA　administrator　Lawrence　Ekstrom　had　not　even　tried　to　sleep。　He　had　spent　the　hours　alone；　pacing　the　dome；　staring　into　the　extraction　pit；　running　his　hands　over　the　grooves　in　the　giant　charred　rock。
　Finally；　he'd　made　up　his　mind。
　Now　he　sat　at　the　videophone　in　the　habisphere's　PSC　tank　and　looked　into　the　weary　eyes　of　the　President　of　the　United　States。　Zach　Herney　was　wearing　a　bathrobe　and　did　not　look　at　all　amused。　Ekstrom　knew　he　would　be　significantly　less　amused　when　he　learned　what　Ekstrom　had　to　tell　him。
　When　Ekstrom　finished　talking；　Herney　had　an　unfortable　look　on　his　face…as　if　he　thought　he　must　still　be　too　asleep　to　have　understood　correctly。
　〃Hold　on；〃　Herney　said。　〃We　must　have　a　bad　connection。　Did　you　just　tell　me　that　NASA　intercepted　this　meteorite's　coordinates　from　an　emergency　radio　transmission…and　then　pretended　that　PODS　found　the　meteorite？〃
　Ekstrom　was　silent；　alone　in　the　dark；　willing　his　body　to　awake　from　this　nightmare。
　The　silence　clearly　did　not　sit　well　with　the　President。　〃For　Christ's　sake；　Larry；　tell　me　this　isn't　true！〃
　Ekstrom's　mouth　went　dry。　〃The　meteorite　was　found；　Mr。　President。　That　is　all　that's　relevant　here。〃
　〃I　said　tell　me　this　is　not　true！〃
　The　hush　swelled　to　a　dull　roar　in　Ekstrom's　ears。　I　had　to　tell　him；　Ekstrom　told　himself。　It's　going　to　get　worse　before　it　gets　better。　〃Mr。　President；　the　PODS　failure　was　killing　you　in　the　polls；　sir。　When　we　intercepted　a　radio　transmission　that　mentioned　a　large　meteorite　lodged　in　the　ice；　we　saw　a　chance　to　get　back　in　the　fight。〃
　Herney　sounded　stunned。　〃By　faking　a　PODS　discovery？〃
　〃PODS　was　going　to　be　up　and　running　soon；　but　not　soon　enough　for　the　election。　The　polls　were　slipping；　and　Sexton　was　slamming　NASA；　so。。。　〃
　〃Are　you　insane！　You　lied　to　me；　Larry！〃
　〃The　opportunity　was　staring　us　in　the　face；　sir。　I　decided　to　take　it。　We　intercepted　the　radio　transmission　of　the　Canadian　who　made　the　meteorite　discovery。　He　died　in　a　storm。　Nobody　else　knew　the　meteorite　was　there。　PODS　was　orbiting　in　the　area。　NASA　needed　a　victory。　We　had　the　coordinates。〃
　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　this　now？〃
　〃I　thought　you　should　know。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　Sexton　would　do　with　this　information　if　he　found　out？〃
　Ekstrom　preferred　not　to　think　about　it。
　〃He'd　tell　the　world　that　NASA　and　the　White　House　lied　to　the　American　people！　And　you　know　what；　he'd　be　right！〃
　〃You　did　not　lie；　sir；　I　did。　And　I　will　step　down　if…〃
　〃Larry；　you're　missing　the　point。　I've　tried　to　run　this　presidency　on　truth　and　decency！　Goddamn　it！　Tonight　was　clean。　Dignified。　Now　I　find　out　I　lied　to　the　world？〃
　〃Only　a　small　lie；　sir。〃
　〃There's　no　such　thing；　Larry；〃　Herney　said；　steaming。
　Ekstrom　felt　the　tiny　room　closing　in　around　him。　There　was　so　much　more　to　tell　the　President；　but　Ekstrom　could　see　it　should　wait　until　morning。　〃I'm　sorry　to　have　woken　you；　sir。　I　just　thought　you　should　know。〃
　　
　Across　town；　Sedgewick　Sexton　took　another　hit　of　cognac　and　paced　his　apartment　with　rising　irritation。
　Where　the　hell　is　Gabrielle？
　
　　
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　Gabrielle　Ashe　sat　in　the　darkness　at　Senator　Sexton's　desk　and　gave　his　puter　a　despondent　scowl。
　INVALID　PASSWORD…ACCESS　DENIED
　She　had　tried　several　other　passwords　that　seemed　likely　possibilities；　but　none　had　worked。　After　searching　the　office　for　any　unlocked　drawers　or　stray　clues；　Gabrielle　had　all　but　given　up。　She　was　about　to　leave　when　she　spotted　something　odd；　shimmering　on　Sexton's　desk　calendar。　Someone　had　outlined　the　date　of　the　election　in　a　red；　white；　and　blue　glitter　pen。　Certainly　not　the　senator。　Gabrielle　pulled　the　calendar　closer。　Emblazoned　across　the　date　was　a　frilly；　glittering　exclamation：　POTUS！
　Sexton's　ebullient　secretary　had　apparently　glitterpainted　some　more　positive　thinking　for　him　for　election　day。　The　acronym　POTUS　was　the　U。S。　Secret　Service's　code　name　for　President　of　the　United　States。　On　election　day；　if　all　went　well；　Sexton　would　bee　the　new　POTUS。
　Preparing　to　leave；　Gabrielle　realigned　the　calendar　on　his　desk　and　stood　up。　She　paused　suddenly；　glancing　back　at　the　puter　screen。
　ENTER　PASSWORD：
　She　looked　again　at　the　calendar。
　POTUS。
　She　felt　a　sudden　surge　of　hope。　Something　about　POTUS　struck　Gabrielle　as　being　a　perfect　Sexton　password。　Simple；　positive；　self…referential。
　She　quickly　typed　in　the　letters。
　POTUS
　Holding　her　breath；　she　hit　〃return。〃　The　puter　beeped。
　INVALID　PASSWORD…ACCESS　DENIED
　Slumping；　Gabrielle　gave　up。　She　headed　back　toward　the　bathroom　door　to　exit　the　way　she　had　e。　She　was　halfway　across　the　room；　when　her　cellphone　rang。　She　was　already　on　edge；　and　the　sound　startled　her。　Stopping　short；　she　pulled　out　her　phone　and　glanced　up　to　check　the　time　on　Sexton's　prized　Jourdain　grandfather　clock。　Almost　4：00　A。M。　At　this　hour；　Gabrielle　knew　the　caller　could　only　be　Sexton。　He　was　obviously　wondering　where　the　hell　she　was。　Do　I　pick　up　or　let　it　ring？　If　she　answered；　Gabrielle　would　have　to　lie。　But　if　she　didn't；　Sexton　would　get　suspicious。
　She