danbrown.deceptionpoint-第78部分

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some　very　troubling　news。　I've　just　received　word　that　your　daughter　Rachel　is　in　extreme　danger。　I　have　a　team　trying　to　help　her　as　we　speak。　I　cannot　talk　in　detail　about　the　situation　on　the　phone；　but　I　was　just　informed　she　may　have　faxed　you　some　data　relating　to　the　NASA　meteorite。　I　have　not　seen　the　data；　nor　do　I　know　what　it　is；　but　the　people　threatening　your　daughter　have　just　warned　me　that　if　you　or　anyone　goes　public　with　the　information；　your　daughter　will　die。　I'm　sorry　to　be　so　blunt；　sir；　I　do　it　for　clarity's　sake。　Your　daughter's　life　is　being　threatened。　If　she　has　indeed　faxed　you　something；　do　not　share　it　with　anyone。　Not　yet。　Your　daughter's　life　depends　on　it。　Stay　where　you　are。　I　will　be　there　shortly。〃　He　paused。　〃With　luck；　senator；　all　of　this　will　be　resolved　by　the　time　you　wake　up。　If；　by　chance；　you　get　this　message　before　I　arrive　at　your　office；　stay　where　you　are　and　call　no　one。　I　am　doing　everything　in　my　power　to　get　your　daughter　back　safely。〃
　Pickering　hung　up。
　Gabrielle　was　trembling。　〃Rachel　is　a　hostage？〃
　Sexton　sensed　that　even　in　her　disillusionment　with　him；　Gabrielle　felt　a　pained　empathy　to　think　of　a　bright　young　woman　in　danger。　Oddly；　Sexton　was　having　trouble　mustering　the　same　emotions。　Most　of　him　felt　like　a　child　who　had　just　been　given　his　most　wanted　Christmas　present；　and　he　refused　to　let　anyone　yank　it　out　of　his　hands。
　Pickering　wants　me　to　be　quiet　about　this？
　He　stood　a　moment；　trying　to　decide　what　all　of　this　meant。　In　a　cold；　calculating　side　of　his　mind；　Sexton　felt　the　machinery　beginning　to　turn…a　political　puter；　playing　out　every　scenario　and　evaluating　each　oute。　He　glanced　at　the　stack　of　faxes　in　his　hands　and　began　to　sense　the　raw　power　of　the　images。　This　NASA　meteorite　had　shattered　his　dream　of　the　presidency。　But　it　was　all　a　lie。　A　construct。　Now；　those　who　did　this　would　pay。　The　meteorite　that　his　enemies　had　created　to　destroy　him　would　now　make　him　powerful　beyond　anyone's　wildest　imagination。　His　daughter　had　seen　to　that。
　There　is　only　one　acceptable　oute；　he　knew。　Only　one　course　of　action　for　a　true　leader　to　take。
　Feeling　hypnotized　by　the　shining　images　of　his　own　resurrection；　Sexton　was　drifting　through　a　fog　as　he　crossed　the　room。　He　went　to　his　copy　machine　and　turned　it　on；　preparing　to　copy　the　papers　Rachel　had　faxed　him。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Gabrielle　demanded；　sounding　bewildered。
　〃They　won't　kill　Rachel；〃　Sexton　declared。　Even　if　something　went　wrong；　Sexton　knew　losing　his　daughter　to　the　enemy　would　only　make　him　more　powerful　still。　Either　way　he　would　win。　Acceptable　risk。
　〃Who　are　those　copies　for？〃　Gabrielle　demanded。　〃William　Pickering　said　not　to　tell　anyone！〃
　Sexton　turned　from　the　machine　and　looked　at　Gabrielle；　amazed　by　how　unattractive　he　suddenly　found　her。　In　that　instant；　Senator　Sexton　was　an　island。　Untouchable。　Everything　he　needed　to　acplish　his　dreams　was　now　in　his　hands。　Nothing　could　stop　him　now。　Not　claims　of　bribery。　Not　rumors　of　sex。　Nothing。
　〃Go　home；　Gabrielle。　I　have　no　more　use　for　you。〃
　
　　
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　It's　over；　Rachel　thought。
　She　and　Tolland　sat　side　by　side　on　the　deck　staring　up　into　the　barrel　of　the　Delta　soldier's　machine　gun。　Unfortunately；　Pickering　now　knew　where　Rachel　had　sent　the　fax。　The　office　of　Senator　Sedgewick　Sexton。
　Rachel　doubted　her　father　would　ever　receive　the　phone　message　Pickering　had　just　left　him。　Pickering　could　probably　get　to　Sexton's　office　well　before　anyone　else　this　morning。　If　Pickering　could　get　in；　quietly　remove　the　fax；　and　delete　the　phone　message　before　Sexton　arrived；　there　would　be　no　need　to　harm　the　senator。　William　Pickering　was　probably　one　of　the　few　people　in　Washington　who　could　finagle　entry　to　a　U。S。　senator's　office　with　no　fanfare。　Rachel　was　always　amazed　at　what　could　be　acplished　〃in　the　name　of　national　security。〃
　Of　course　if　that　fails；　Rachel　thought；　Pickering　could　just　fly　by　and　send　a　Hellfire　missile　through　the　window　and　blow　up　the　fax　machine。　Something　told　her　this　would　not　be　necessary。
　Sitting　close　to　Tolland　now；　Rachel　was　surprised　to　feel　his　hand　gently　slip　into　hers。　His　touch　had　a　tender　strength；　and　their　fingers　intertwined　so　naturally　that　Rachel　felt　like　they'd　done　this　for　a　lifetime。　All　she　wanted　right　now　was　to　lie　in　his　arms；　sheltered　from　the　oppressive　roar　of　the　night　sea　spiraling　around　them。
　Never；　she　realized。　It　was　not　to　be。
　　
　Michael　Tolland　felt　like　a　man　who　had　found　hope　on　the　way　to　the　gallows。
　Life　is　mocking　me。
　For　years　since　Celia's　death；　Tolland　had　endured　nights　when　he'd　wanted　to　die；　hours　of　pain　and　loneliness　that　seemed　only　escapable　by　ending　it　all。　And　yet　he　had　chosen　life；　telling　himself　he　could　make　it　alone。　Today；　for　the　first　time；　Tolland　had　begun　to　understand　what　his　friends　had　been　telling　him　all　along。
　Mike；　you　don't　have　to　make　it　alone。　You'll　find　another　love。
　Rachel's　hand　in　his　made　this　irony　that　much　harder　to　swallow。　Fate　had　cruel　timing。　He　felt　as　if　layers　of　armor　were　crumbling　away　from　his　heart。　For　an　instant；　on　the　tired　decks　of　the　Goya；　Tolland　sensed　Celia's　ghost　looking　over　him　as　she　often　did。　Her　voice　was　in　the　rushing　water。。。　speaking　the　last　words　she'd　spoken　to　him　in　life。
　〃You're　a　survivor；〃　her　voice　whispered。　〃Promise　me　you'll　find　another　love。〃
　〃I'll　never　want　another；〃　Tolland　had　told　her。
　Celia's　smile　was　filled　with　wisdom。　〃You'll　have　to　learn。〃
　Now；　on　the　deck　of　the　Goya；　Tolland　realized；　he　was　learning。　A　deep　emotion　welled　suddenly　in　his　soul。　He　realized　it　was　happiness。
　And　with　it　came　an　overpowering　will　to　live。
　　
　Pickering　felt　oddly　detached　as　he　moved　toward　the　two　prisoners。　He　stopped　in　front　of　Rachel；　vaguely　surprised　that　this　was　not　harder　for　him。
　〃Sometimes；〃　he　said；　〃circumstances　raise　impossible　decisions。〃
　Rachel's　eyes　were　unyielding。　〃You　created　these　circumstances。〃
　〃War　involves　casualties；〃　Pickering　said；　his　voice　firmer　now。　Ask　Diana　Pickering；　or　any　of　those　who　die　every　year　defending　this　nation。　〃You　of　all　people　should　understand　that；　Rachel。〃　His　eyes　focused　in　on　her。　〃Iactura　paucourm　serva　multos。〃
　He　could　see　she　recognized　the　words…almost　a　cliché　in　national　security　circles。　Sacrifice　the　few　to　save　the　many。
　Rachel　eyed　him　with　obvious　disgust。　〃And　now　Michael　and　I　have　bee　part　of　your　few？〃
　Pickering　considered　it。　There　was　no　other　way。　He　turned　to　Delta…One。　〃Release　your　partner　and　end　this。〃
　Delta…One　nodded。
　Pickering　took　a　long　last　look　at　Rachel　and　then　strode　to　the　ship's　nearby　portside　railing；　staring　out　at　the　sea　racing　by。　This　was　something　he　preferred　not　to　watch。
　　
　Delta…One　felt　empowered　as　he　gripped　his　weapon　and　glanced　over　at　his　partner　dangling　in　the　clamps。　All　that　remained　was　to　close　the　trapdoors　beneath　Delta…Two's　feet；　free　him　from　the　clamps；　and　eliminate　Rachel　Sexton　and　Michael　Tolland。
　Unfortunately；　Delta…One　had　seen　the　plexity　of　the　control　panel　near　the　trapdoor…a　series　of　unmarked　levers　and　dials　that　apparently　controlled　the　trapdoor；　the　winch　motor；　and　numerous　other　mands。　He　had　no　intention　of　hitting　the　wrong　lever　and　risking　his　partner's　life　by　mistakenly　dropping　the　sub　into　the　sea。
　Eliminate　all　risk。　Never　rush。
　He　would　force　Tolland　to　perform　the　actual　release。　And　to　ensure　he　did　not　try　anything　tricky；　Delta…One　would　take　out　insurance　known　in　his　business　as　〃biological　collateral。〃
　Use　your　adversaries　against　one　another。
　Delta…One　swung　the　gun　barrel　directly　into　Rachel's　face；　stopping　only　inches　from　her　forehead。　Rachel　closed　her　eyes；　and　Delta…One　could　see　Tolland's　fists　clench　in　a　protective　anger。
　〃Ms。　Sexton；　stand　up；〃　Delta…One　said。
　She　did。
　With　the　gun　firmly　on　her　back；　Delta…One　marched　her　over　to　an　aluminum　set　of　portable　stairs　that　led　up　to　the　top　of　the　Triton　sub　from　behind。　〃Climb　up　and　stand　on　top　of　the　sub。〃
　Rachel　looked　frightened　and　confused。
　〃Just　do　it；〃　Delta…One　said。
　　
　Rachel　felt　like　she　was　moving　through　a　nightmare　as　she　climbed　up　the　aluminum　gangway　behind　the　Triton。　She　stopped　at　the　top；　having　no　desire　to　step　out　over　the　chasm　onto　the　suspended　Triton。
　〃Get　on　top　of　the　sub；〃　the　soldier　said；　returning　to　Tolland　and　pushing　the　gun　against　his　head。
　In　front　of　Rachel　the　soldier　who　was　in　the　clamps　watched　her；　shifting　in　pain；　obviously　eager　to　get　out。　Rachel　looked　at　Tolland；　who　now　had　a　gun　barrel　to　his　head。　Get　on　top　of　the　sub。　She　had　no　choice。
　Feeling　like　she　was　edging　out　onto　a　precipice　overhanging　a　canyon；　Rachel　stepped　onto　the　Triton's　engine　casing；　a　small　flat　section　behind　the　rounded　dome　window。　The　entire　sub　hung　like　a　massive　plumb　bob　over　the　open　trapdoor。　Even　suspended　on　its　winch　cable；　the　nine…ton　sub　barely　registered　her　arrival；　swinging　only　a　few　millimeters　as　she　steadied　herself。
　〃Okay；　let's　move；〃　the　soldier　said　to　Tolland。　〃Go　to　the　controls　and　close　the　trapdoor。〃
　At　gunpoint；　Tolland　began　moving　toward　the　control　panel　with　the　soldier　behind　him。　As　Tolland　came　toward　her；　he　was　moving　slowly；　and　Rachel　could　feel　his　eyes　fixing　hard　on　her　as　if　trying　to　send　her　a　message。　He　looked　directly　at　her　and　then　down　at　the　open　hatch　on　top　of　the　Triton。
　Rachel　glanced　down。　The　hatch　at　her　feet　was　open；　the　heavy　circular　covering　propped　open。　She　could　see　down　into　the　one…seater　cockpit。　He　wants　me　to　get　in？　Sensing　she　must　be　mistaken；　Rachel　looked　at　Tolland　again。　He　was　almost　to　the　control　panel。　Tolland's　eyes　locked　on　her。　This　time　he　was　less　subtle。
　His　lips　mouthed；　〃Jump　in！　Now！〃
　　
　Delta…One　saw　Rachel's　motion　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　and　wheeled　on　instinct；　opening　fire　as　Rachel　fell　through　the　sub's　hatch　just　below　the　barrage　of　bullets。　The　open　hatch　covering　rang　out　as　the　bullets　ricocheted　off　the　circular　portal；　sending　up　a　shower　of　sparks；　and　slamming　the　lid　closed　on　top　of　her。
　Tolland；　the　instant　he'd　felt　the　gun　leave　his　ba