rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第39部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　ever　since　she　had　arrived　at　NASA；　over　time；　she'd　e　to　think　of　him　as　a　friend。　Then　she　remembered　Adam　Treloar；　the　missing　smallpox；　and　the　desperate　search　that　was　secretly　under　way。　Klein's　directive　had　been　unequivocal：　she　was　to　report　anything　suspicious。　Although　Megan　was　certain　that　there　was　a　perfectly　innocent　explanation　for　Reed's　behavior；　she　nonetheless　reached　for　the　phone。
　
　At　six…thirty；　the　crew　entered　the　clean　room　to　suit　up。　Since　Megan　was　the　only　woman　on　the　mission；　she　had　a　cubicle　to　herself。　Closing　the　door；　she　cast　a　critical　eye　over　her　launch/entry　suit　or　LES。　Made　to　measure　and　weighing　a　hefty　ninety　pounds；　it　was　prised　of　more　than　fifteen　individual　pieces；　including　a　flotation　device；　gravity　pants；　and　a　diaper。　Megan　had　questioned　the　need　for　the　latter　until　Reed　had　explained　to　her　exactly　how　much　pressure　was　exerted　on　the　body　during　the　entry　into　orbit。　It　was　virtually　impossible　for　the　bladder　not　to　void。
　〃Looking　very　stylish；　Megan；〃　Frank　Stone；　the　mission　pilot；　mented　when　she　stepped　into　the　men's　changing　area。
　〃I　like　the　patches　best；〃　Megan　replied。
　〃Tell　my　wife　that；〃　Bill　Karol；　the　mander　piped　up。　〃She　designed　them。〃
　Each　mission　had　a　unique　patch；　designed　either　by　the　crewmembers　or　their　relatives。　This　one　depicted　the　shuttle　racing　into　space。　Inside　the　round　borders　were　stitched　the　names　of　the　crew。
　The　crew　paired　off　to　check　each　other's　suits；　making　sure　that　every　piece　was　snug　and　secure。　Then　one　of　the　mission　specialists；　David　Carter；　led　the　group　in　a　brief　prayer。　The　moment　helped　lift　the　pall　created　by　Adam　Treloar's　untimely　death。
　With　a　little　over　three　hours　to　liftoff；　they　trooped　out　of　their　quarters　and　into　a　blaze　of　camera　lights。　The　walkout　was　the　last　chance　for　outside　observers；　all　carefully　screened　and　wearing　special　passes；　to　see　the　astronauts。　Passing　through　the　gauntlet；　Megan　waved　briefly　for　the　media。　When　she　smiled；　a　reporter　called　out；　〃One　more！　Just　like　that。〃
　The　ride　to　the　gantry　in　the　UPS…style　van　took　only　a　few　minutes。　Once　there；　the　crew　boarded　an　elevator　that　took　them　up　195　feet　to　the　white　room；　the　final　staging　area　where　they　put　on　their　parachutes；　harnesses；　munications　hats；　helmets；　and　gloves。
　〃How　are　you　holding　up？〃
　Megan　turned　to　see　Reed　beside　her；　dressed　and　ready。
　〃Okay；　I　guess。〃
　〃Preflight　butterflies？〃
　〃Is　that　what's　going　on　inside　my　stomach？〃
　He　leaned　closer。　〃Don't　go　spreading　this；　but　I　get　them　too。〃
　〃Not　you！〃
　〃Especially　me。〃
　Maybe　it　was　the　way　she　was　looking　at　him　that　brought　out　his　next　words：　〃Is　anything　wrong？　You　look　like　you　want　to　ask　me　something。〃
　Megan　brushed　the　air　with　her　hand。　〃It's　the　moment；　I　guess。　You　dream　and　train　and　work　for　it；　and　then　one　day；　it's　there。〃
　Reed　patted　her　shoulder。　〃You'll　do　fine。　Just　remember　what　Allenby　said：　we're　all　counting　on　those　experiments　you　have　scheduled。〃
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　it's　that　time；〃　one　of　the　prep　crew　called　out。
　Megan　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　as　Reed　turned　away。　During　her　telephone　conversation　with　Klein；　the　head　of　Covert…One　said　that　he　would　immediately　check　on　Reed's　mysterious　visitor；　try　to　establish　a　solid　ID；　and　get　back　to　her。　Since　she　hadn't　heard　from　him；　Megan　assumed　that　Klein　was　either　still　checking　or　that　he　had　e　up　with　a　perfectly　satisfactory　answer　that　he　hadn't　been　able　to　relay　to　her。
　〃Showtime；〃　Reed　announced。　He　gestured　at　Megan。　〃After　you；　ma'am。〃
　Megan　took　a　deep　breath；　crouched；　and　ducked　through　the　flight…deck　hatch。　Making　her　way　to　the　ladder；　she　descended　to　the　mid…deck　where；　in　addition　to　the　sleep　stations；　food　and　storage　lockers；　and　the　bathroom；　were　three　special　liftoff　chairs　for　her；　Randall　Wallace；　another　mission　specialist；　and　David　Carter；　the　payload　specialist。
　Settling　herself　in　the　take…down　chair；　which　would　be　folded　and　stored　after　liftoff；　Megan　found　herself　on　her　back；　her　knees　pointed　at　the　ceiling。
　〃Third　mission　and　I　still　can't　get　used　to　these　seats；〃　Carter　grumbled　as　he　slipped　into　the　chair　beside　hers。
　〃That's　because　you　keep　putting　on　the　pounds；　my　man；〃　Wallace　needled　him。　〃All　that　home　cooking。〃
　〃At　least　I　have　a　home　to　e　back　to；〃　Carter　shot　back。
　Tapping　an　imaginary　cigar；　Wallace　did　his　imitation　of　Groucho　Marx。　〃Must　be　love。〃
　The　banter　died　as　the　prep　crew　came　in　and　strapped　the　astronauts　into　the　seats。
　〃Mikes？〃
　Megan　tested　hers　and　nodded　as　much　as　she　could；　given　the　tight　leeway。　As　her　mates　were　strapped　in；　she　listened　to　the　orbiter　crew　going　through　the　liftoff　checklist　with　mission　control。
　Their　work　finished；　the　prep　crew　stepped　back。　Although　Megan　couldn't　see　them；　she　imagined　how　solemn　their　expressions　were。
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　Godspeed。　e　home　safely。〃
　〃Amen　to　that；〃　Carter　muttered。
　〃I　should　have　brought　a　good　book　to　read；〃　Wallace　mused。　〃Megan；　how　are　you　doing　there？〃
　〃Just　peachy；　thank　you。　Now　if　you　boys　don't　mind；　I　have　my　own　checklist　to　review。〃
　
　Several　hundred　miles　to　the　northeast；　Jon　Smith　finished　his　second　cup　of　coffee　and　checked　his　watch。　By　now；　Kirov　would　have　had　enough　time　to　settle　into　position　in　Dupont　Circle。　On　his　way　out；　Smith　took　one　last　look　at　the　monitors　connected　to　the　exterior　security　cameras。　Located　on　a　corner　lot；　his　house　was　bordered　by　tall　trees　that　effectively　hid　it　from　its　neighbors。　The　backyard　was　all　lawn；　with　no　bushes　or　shrubs　where　an　intruder　could　hide。　Motion　sensors　embedded　in　the　stone　walls　of　the　house　continually　scanned　the　area。
　If　someone　managed　to　get　past　the　sensors；　he　would　discover　a　sophisticated　alarm　system　built　into　the　dual…pane　windows　and　the　door　locks。　If　these　were　somehow　breached；　pressure　pads　throughout　the　house　would　activate；　triggering　both　an　alarm　and　an　incapacitating　gas　through　the　sprinkler　system。　Tested　in　federal　prisons；　the　gas　took　down　its　targets　in　less　than　ten　seconds；　which　was　why　Smith　kept　a　gas　mask　in　his　night…table　cabinet。
　Although　Smith　believed　that　Beria　would　not　attempt　to　kill　him　with　a　long…range　shot；　he　thought　it　prudent　to　double…check　the　perimeter。　Satisfied　that　it　was　secure；　Smith　went　back　through　the　kitchen　that　connected　directly　to　the　garage。　He　was　reaching　to　shut　off　the　small　television　perched　on　the　counter　when　he　saw　an　image　that　made　him　stop。　He　hesitated　briefly；　then　smiled　and　reached　for　the　phone。
　
　At　twenty…one　minutes　to　liftoff；　the　voice　of　the　flight　director；　Harry　Landon；　came　over　the　crew's　headsets。
　〃Folks；〃　he　said　in　his　Oklahoma　twang；　〃seems　we　got　ourselves　an　unexpected　development。〃
　Even　though　they　were　aware　that　three　hundred　people　at　mission　control　were　listening　to　every　sound　they　made；　the　crew　could　not　contain　a　collective　groan。
　〃Don't　tell　me　we're　going　to　have　to　do　this　all　over　again；〃　Carter　groused。
　〃What's　the　problem；　mission　control？〃　the　pilot　asked　crisply。
　〃Did　I　say　a　problem？　No。　I　said　a　development。〃　There　was　a　brief　pause。　〃Olson；　are　you　all　done　with　your　flight　check？〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Megan　replied；　her　heart　racing。
　Don't　tell　me　I　screwed　up。　Anything　but　that。
　〃In　that　case；　do　you　want　to　take　this　call？〃
　Involuntarily；　Megan　tried　to　sit　up　but　got　nowhere。　Who　could　be　calling　her？　Oh；　Jesus！
　〃Harry；〃　she　said　in　panicky　voice。　〃I　don't　know　if　that's　such　a　good　idea。〃
　〃Now　don't　you　fret。　I'll　patch　it　through　only　to　you。〃
　The　last　thing　she　heard　before　the　static　was　Carter's　〃Rats！〃
　〃Megan？〃
　Her　pulse　quickened。　〃Jon？　Is　that　you？〃
　〃I　couldn't　let　you　leave　without　saying　good　luck。〃
　〃Jon；　how　did　you。。。。　？　I　mean；　how　could　you…〃
　〃No　time　to　explain。　Are　you　okay？　Are　you　ready？〃
　〃Ready；　yes。　Okay？　Well；　I'm　still　getting　used　to　sitting　on　a　ton　of　liquid　fuel。〃
　〃I　wanted　to　wish　you　well。。。。　Make　sure　you　e　home　safe　and　sound。〃
　Megan　smiled。　〃I　will。〃
　〃Sorry；　folks；〃　Landon　broke　in。　〃Time's　up。〃
　〃Thanks；　Harry；〃　Megan　said。
　〃I'm　going　to　put　you　back　in　the　loop。　Ready？〃
　〃Go　ahead。〃
　Megan　steeled　herself　for　some　gentle　ribbing；　which　never　materialized。　In　the　fifteen　minutes　to　countdown；　the　rest　of　the　crew　were　busy　exchanging　instructions　and　details。　Closing　her　eyes；　she　whispered　a　few　words　from　the　Twenty…fourth　Psalm。　She　had　barely　finished　when　the　shuttle　shifted　a　little。　An　instant　later；　the　ignition　procedure　for　the　solid　boosters　kicked　in　and　a　loud；　low　rumble　enveloped　the　craft。
　Through　the　chatter　of　ground　control　double…checking　liftoff；　Megan　heard：　〃Houston；　we　have　Discovery　liftoff！〃
　As　the　external　tank　fed　the　shuttle's　main　engines；　Megan　felt　as　though　she　were　strapped　to　a　bone…jarring　roller　coaster…　except　that　there　was　no　stopping　this　ride。　Two　minutes　and　six　seconds　after　liftoff；　the　solid　boosters　separated　from　the　orbiter；　falling　away　to　the　ocean；　where　they　would　be　retrieved。　Powered　by　the　fuel　from　the　external　tank　that　fed　her　main　engines；　Discovery　struggled　to　break　free　of　gravity。　The　higher　and　faster　she　ascended；　the　closer　the　crew　got　to　the　maximum　3…G　pressure。　Megan　had　been　warned　that　it　would　be　like　having　a　gorilla　strapped　to　your　chest。
　Wrong。　More　like　an　elephant。
　Six　minutes　later；　at　an　altitude　of　184　miles；　the　main　engines　stopped　firing。　Its　job　done；　the　external　fuel　tank　separated　and　fell　away。　Megan　was　amazed　by　the　sudden　silence　and　by　how　smooth　the　ride　had　suddenly　bee。　Turning　her　head；　she　understood　why：　beyond　the　sliver　of　a　window　in　her　line　of　sight　were　the　stars。　She　and　Discovery　were　in　orbit。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY　ONE
　　
　The　preceding　evening；　Ivan　Beria　had　rendezvoused　with　the　driver　of　the　Lincoln　outside　the　Metro　stop　at　Q　Street　and　Connecticut　Avenue。　The　driver　had　further　information　and　instructions　for　Beria；　who　studied　them　as　the　car　wended　its　way　out　of　the　city　toward　Bethesda。
　The　driver　was　necessary　because　Beria　could　not　afford　to　be　seen　on　the　streets…　and　because　he　had　only　th