danbrown.deceptionpoint-第83部分

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　The　Washington　morning　was　clear　and　crisp。
　A　breeze　sent　eddies　of　leaves　skittering　around　the　base　of　the　Washington　Monument。　The　world's　largest　obelisk　usually　awoke　to　its　own　peaceful　image　in　the　reflecting　pool；　but　today　the　morning　brought　with　it　a　chaos　of　jostling　reporters；　all　crowding　around　the　monument's　base　in　anticipation。
　Senator　Sedgewick　Sexton　felt　larger　than　Washington　itself　as　he　stepped　from　his　limousine　and　strode　like　a　lion　toward　the　press　area　awaiting　him　at　the　base　of　the　monument。　He　had　invited　the　nation's　ten　largest　media　networks　here　and　promised　them　the　scandal　of　the　decade。
　Nothing　brings　out　the　vultures　like　the　smell　of　death；　Sexton　thought。
　In　his　hand；　Sexton　clutched　the　stack　of　white　linen　envelopes；　each　elegantly　wax…embossed　with　his　monogrammed　seal。　If　information　was　power；　then　Sexton　was　carrying　a　nuclear　warhead。
　He　felt　intoxicated　as　he　approached　the　podium；　pleased　to　see　his　improvised　stage　included　two　〃fameframes〃…large；　free…standing　partitions　that　flanked　his　podium　like　navy…blue　curtains…an　old　Ronald　Reagan　trick　to　ensure　he　stood　out　against　any　backdrop。
　Sexton　entered　stage　right；　striding　out　from　behind　the　partition　like　an　actor　out　of　the　wings。　The　reporters　quickly　took　their　seats　in　the　several　rows　of　folding　chairs　facing　his　podium。　To　the　east；　the　sun　was　just　breaking　over　the　Capitol　dome；　shooting　rays　of　pink　and　gold　down　on　Sexton　like　rays　from　heaven。
　A　perfect　day　to　bee　the　most　powerful　man　in　the　world。
　〃Good　morning；　ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　Sexton　said；　laying　the　envelopes　on　the　lectern　before　him。　〃I　will　make　this　as　short　and　painless　as　possible。　The　information　I　am　about　to　share　with　you　is；　frankly；　quite　disturbing。　These　envelopes　contain　proof　of　a　deceit　at　the　highest　levels　of　government。　I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　the　President　called　me　half　an　hour　ago　and　begged　me…yes；　begged　me…not　to　go　public　with　this　evidence。〃　He　shook　his　head　with　dismay。　〃And　yet；　I　am　a　man　who　believes　in　the　truth。　No　matter　how　painful。〃
　Sexton　paused；　holding　up　the　envelopes；　tempting　the　seated　crowd。　The　reporters'　eyes　followed　the　envelopes　back　and　forth；　a　pack　of　dogs　salivating　over　some　unknown　delicacy。
　The　President　had　called　Sexton　a　half　hour　ago　and　explained　everything。　Herney　had　talked　to　Rachel；　who　was　safely　aboard　a　plane　somewhere。　Incredibly；　it　seemed　the　White　House　and　NASA　were　innocent　bystanders　in　this　fiasco；　a　plot　masterminded　by　William　Pickering。
　Not　that　it　matters；　Sexton　thought。　Zach　Herney　is　still　going　down　hard。
　Sexton　wished　he　could　be　a　fly　on　the　wall　of　the　White　House　right　now　to　see　the　President's　face　when　he　realized　Sexton　was　going　public。　Sexton　had　agreed　to　meet　Herney　at　the　White　House　right　now　to　discuss　how　best　to　tell　the　nation　the　truth　about　the　meteorite。　Herney　was　probably　standing　in　front　of　a　television　at　this　very　moment　in　dumbfounded　shock；　realizing　that　there　was　nothing　the　White　House　could　do　to　stop　the　hand　of　fate。
　〃My　friends；〃　Sexton　said；　letting　his　eyes　connect　with　the　crowd。　〃I　have　weighed　this　heavily。　I　have　considered　honoring　the　President's　desire　to　keep　this　data　secret；　but　I　must　do　what　is　in　my　heart。〃　Sexton　sighed；　hanging　his　head　like　a　man　trapped　by　history。　〃The　truth　is　the　truth。　I　will　not　presume　to　color　your　interpretation　of　these　facts　in　any　way。　I　will　simply　give　you　the　data　at　face　value。〃
　In　the　distance；　Sexton　heard　the　beating　of　huge　helicopter　rotors。　For　a　moment；　he　wondered　if　maybe　the　President　were　flying　over　from　the　White　House　in　a　panic；　hoping　to　halt　the　press　conference。　That　would　be　the　icing　on　the　cake；　Sexton　thought　mirthfully。　How　guilty　would　Herney　appear　THEN？
　〃I　do　not　take　pleasure　in　doing　this；〃　Sexton　continued；　sensing　his　timing　was　perfect。　〃But　I　feel　it　is　my　duty　to　let　the　American　people　know　they　have　been　lied　to。〃
　The　aircraft　thundered　in；　touching　down　on　the　esplanade　to　their　right。　When　Sexton　glanced　over；　he　was　surprised　to　see　it　was　not　the　presidential　helicopter　after　all；　but　rather　a　large　Osprey　tilt…rotor　airplane。
　The　fuselage　read：　UNITED　STATES　COAST　GUARD。
　Baffled；　Sexton　watched　as　the　cabin　door　opened　and　a　woman　emerged。　She　wore　an　orange　Coast　Guard　parka　and　looked　disheveled；　like　she'd　been　through　a　war。　She　strode　toward　the　press　area。　For　a　moment；　Sexton　didn't　recognize　her。　Then　it　hit　him。
　Rachel？　He　gaped　in　shock。　What　the　hell　is　SHE　doing　here？
　A　murmur　of　confusion　went　through　the　crowd。
　Pasting　a　broad　smile　on　his　face；　Sexton　turned　back　to　the　press　and　raised　an　apologetic　finger。　〃If　you　could　give　me　just　one　minute？　I'm　terribly　sorry。〃　He　heaved　the　weary；　good…natured　sigh。　〃Family　first。〃
　A　few　of　the　reporters　laughed。
　With　his　daughter　bearing　down　fast　from　his　right；　Sexton　had　no　doubt　this　father…daughter　reunion　would　best　be　held　in　private。　Unfortunately；　privacy　was　scarce　at　the　moment。　Sexton's　eyes　darted　to　the　large　partition　on　his　right。
　Still　smiling　calmly；　Sexton　waved　to　his　daughter　and　stepped　away　from　the　microphone。　Moving　toward　her　at　an　angle；　he　maneuvered　such　that　Rachel　had　to　pass　behind　the　partition　to　get　to　him。　Sexton　met　her　halfway；　hidden　from　the　eyes　and　ears　of　the　press。
　〃Honey？〃　he　said；　smiling　and　opening　his　arms　as　Rachel　came　toward　him。　〃What　a　surprise！〃
　Rachel　walked　up　and　slapped　his　face。
　　
　Alone　with　her　father　now；　ensconced　behind　the　partition；　Rachel　glared　with　loathing。　She　had　slapped　him　hard；　but　he　barely　flinched。　With　chilling　control；　his　phony　smile　melted　away；　mutating　into　an　admonishing　glower。
　His　voice　turned　to　a　demonic　whisper。　〃You　should　not　be　here。〃
　Rachel　saw　wrath　in　his　eyes　and　for　the　first　time　in　her　life　felt　unafraid。　〃I　turned　to　you　for　help；　and　you　sold　me　out！　I　was　almost　killed！〃
　〃You're　obviously　fine。〃　His　tone　was　almost　disappointed。
　〃NASA　is　innocent！〃　she　said。　〃The　President　told　you　that！　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　Rachel's　short　flight　to　Washington　aboard　the　Coast　Guard　Osprey　had　been　punctuated　by　a　flurry　of　phone　calls　between　herself；　the　White　House；　her　father；　and　even　a　distraught　Gabrielle　Ashe。　〃You　promised　Zach　Herney　you　were　going　to　the　White　House！〃
　〃I　am。〃　He　smirked。　〃On　election　day。〃
　Rachel　felt　sickened　to　think　this　man　was　her　father。　〃What　you're　about　to　do　is　madness。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Sexton　chuckled。　He　turned　and　motioned　behind　him　to　the　podium；　which　was　visible　at　the　end　of　the　partition。　On　the　podium；　a　stack　of　white　envelopes　sat　waiting。　〃Those　envelopes　contain　information　you　sent　me；　Rachel。　You。　The　President's　blood　is　on　your　hands。〃
　〃I　faxed　you　that　information　when　I　needed　your　help！　When　I　thought　the　President　and　NASA　were　guilty！〃
　〃Considering　the　evidence；　NASA　certainly　appears　guilty。〃
　〃But　they　are　not！　They　deserve　a　chance　to　admit　their　own　mistakes。　You've　already　won　this　election。　Zach　Herney　is　finished！　You　know　that。　Let　the　man　retain　some　dignity。〃
　Sexton　groaned。　〃So　na？ve。　It's　not　about　winning　the　election；　Rachel；　it's　about　power。　It's　about　decisive　victory；　acts　of　greatness；　crushing　opposition；　and　controlling　the　forces　in　Washington　so　you　can　get　something　done。〃
　〃At　what　cost？〃
　〃Don't　be　so　self…righteous。　I'm　simply　presenting　the　evidence。　The　people　can　draw　their　own　conclusions　as　to　who　is　guilty。〃
　〃You　know　how　this　will　look。〃
　He　shrugged。　〃Maybe　NASA's　time　has　e。〃
　Senator　Sexton　sensed　the　press　was　getting　restless　beyond　the　partition；　and　he　had　no　intention　of　standing　here　all　morning　and　being　lectured　by　his　daughter。　His　moment　of　glory　was　waiting。
　〃We're　through　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　press　conference　to　give。〃
　〃I'm　asking　you　as　your　daughter；〃　Rachel　pleaded。　〃Don't　do　this。　Think　about　what　you're　about　to　do。　There's　a　better　way。〃
　〃Not　for　me。〃
　A　howl　of　feedback　echoed　out　of　the　PA　system　behind　him；　and　Sexton　wheeled　to　see　a　late…arriving　female　reporter；　huddled　over　his　podium；　attempting　to　attach　a　network　microphone　to　one　of　the　goose…neck　clips。
　Why　can't　these　idiots　arrive　on　time？　Sexton　fumed。
　In　her　haste；　the　reporter　knocked　Sexton's　stack　of　envelopes　to　the　ground。
　Goddamn　it！　Sexton　marched　over；　cursing　his　daughter　for　distracting　him。　When　he　arrived；　the　woman　was　on　her　hands　and　knees；　collecting　the　envelopes　off　the　ground。　Sexton　couldn't　see　her　face；　but　she　was　obviously　〃network〃…wearing　a　full…length　cashmere　coat；　matching　scarf；　and　low…slung　mohair　beret　with　an　ABC　press　pass　clipped　to　it。
　Stupid　bitch；　Sexton　thought。　〃I'll　take　those；〃　he　snapped；　holding　out　his　hand　for　the　envelopes。
　The　woman　scraped　up　the　last　of　the　envelopes　and　handed　them　up　to　Sexton　without　looking　up。　〃Sorry。。。　；〃　she　muttered；　obviously　embarrassed。　Hunkering　low　in　shame；　she　scurried　off　into　the　crowd。
　Sexton　quickly　counted　the　envelopes。　Ten。　Good。　Nobody　was　going　to　steal　his　thunder　today。　Regrouping；　he　adjusted　the　microphones　and　gave　a　joking　smile　to　the　crowd。　〃I　guess　I'd　better　hand　these　out　before　someone　gets　hurt！〃
　The　crowd　laughed；　looking　eager。
　Sexton　sensed　his　daughter　nearby；　standing　just　off…stage　behind　the　partition。
　〃Don't　do　this；〃　Rachel　said　to　him。　〃You'll　regret　it。〃
　Sexton　ignored　her。
　〃I'm　asking　you　to　trust　me；〃　Rachel　said；　her　voice　growing　louder。　〃It's　a　mistake。〃
　Sexton　picked　up　his　envelopes；　straightening　the　edges。
　〃Dad；〃　Rachel　said；　intense　and　pleading　now。　〃This　is　your　last　chance　to　do　what's　right。〃
　Do　what's　right？　Sexton　covered　the　microphone　and　turned　as　if　clearing　his　throat。　He　glanced　discreetly　over　at　his　daughter。　〃You're　just　like　your　mother…idealistic　and　small。　Women　simply　do　not　understand　the　true　nature　of　power。〃
　Sedgewick　Sexton　had　already　forgotten　his　daughter　by　the　time　he　turned　back　toward　the　jostling　media。　Head　held　high；　he　walked　around　the　podium　and　handed　the　stack　of　envelopes　into　the　hands　of　the　waiting　press。　He　watched　the　envelopes　disseminate　rapidly　through　the　crowd。　He　c