demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第46部分

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r　about　betrayal；　that　Ann　Campbell's　life　and　unhappiness　needed　to　be　understood。
　I　took　a　shot　in　the　dark　and　said　to　him；　〃I　understand　that　when　you　and　Captain　Campbell　were　in　the　Gulf；　you　proposed　a　psy…ops　program　called　Operation　Bonkers。〃
　He　replied；　〃I'm　not　at　liberty　to　discuss　that。〃
　〃Captain　Campbell　had　great　faith　in　the　power　of　sex　as　a　means　to　achieve　apparently　unrelated　goals。　Correct？〃
　〃I　。。。　Yes；　she　did。〃
　〃As　I　said；　I've　seen　her　psy…ops　lecture　series　on　video；　and　I　can　see　where　she　was　ing　from。　Now；　while　I　don't　deny　the　power　of　sex；　I　see　it　as　a　force　for　good；　as　an　expression　of　love　and　caring。　But　somehow；　Ann　Campbell　got　it　wrong。　Would　you　agree　with　that？〃
　He　may　have；　but　he　replied；　〃Sex　is　neither　good　nor　bad　in　itself。　But　it　is　true　that　some　people…mostly　women…use　it　as　a　tool；　a　weapon；　to　achieve　their　goals。〃
　I　turned　to　Cynthia。　〃Do　you　agree　with　that？〃
　She　seemed　a　little　annoyed；　though　I　don't　know　whom　she　was　annoyed　at。　She　replied；　however；　〃I　agree　that　some　women　use　sex；　sometimes；　as　a　weapon；　but　that　is　understood　to　be　unacceptable　behavior。　In　the　case　of　Ann　Campbell；　she　may　have　seen　sex　as　her　only　weapon　against　some　injustice；　or　against　her　feelings　of　powerlessness。　I　think；　Colonel　Moore；　if　you　knew　she　was　doing　that；　it　was　your　ethical　duty；　not　to　mention　your　duty　as　her　manding　officer；　to　try　to　stop　it。〃
　Moore　sort　of　stared　at　Cynthia　with　those　beady　little　eyes　and　said；　〃I　was　not　in　a　position　to　stop　anything。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　she　shot　back。　〃Are　you　an　officer　or　a　cabin　boy？　Were　you　her　friend　or　not？　And　surely；　since　you　weren't　seduced　by　her　charms；　you　could　have　reasoned　with　her。　Or　did　you　find　her　sexual　experiments　interesting　in　a　clinical　way？　Or　perhaps　you　were　titillated　by　the　knowledge　that　she　had　sex　with　multiple　partners？〃
　Moore　looked　at　me　and　said；　〃I　refuse　to　answer　that　or　to　speak　to　this　woman。〃
　I　informed　him；　〃You　can't　stand　behind　the　Fifth　Amendment　until　we　read　you　your　rights　as　an　accused；　which　I　have　no　intention　of　doing　at　this　time。　It's　frustrating；　I　know。　But　we'll　let　the　question　pass　for　now；　and　I　promise　you　that　Ms。　Sunhill　will　try　to　phrase　her　questions　so　that　you　don't　mistake　them　for　insubordination。〃
　Colonel　Moore　seemed　to　see　no　advantage　in　keeping　up　the　moral　indignation　routine；　so　he　nodded　and　sat　back　in　his　chair。　The　body　language　said；　〃You're　both　beneath　my　contempt。　Fire　away。〃
　Cynthia　got　herself　under　control；　and；　in　a　non…adversarial　tone　of　voice；　asked　him；　〃When　would　Ann　Campbell　have　considered　the　score　even？〃
　Moore　didn't　look　at　Cynthia　or　at　me；　but　replied　in　a　toneless；　professional　voice；　〃Unfortunately；　only　she　knew　that。　Apparently；　what　she　was　doing　to　him　was　not　enough　to　satisfy　her。　Part　of　the　problem　was　General　Campbell　himself。〃　Moore　smiled；　but　it　was　more　of　a　sneer；　and　said；　〃This　is　a　general　who　will　not　admit　he's　being　damaged；　let　alone　admit　he's　beaten　and　raise　the　white　flag。　To　the　best　of　my　knowledge；　he　never　asked　for　a　cease…fire；　to　continue　the　military　metaphor；　nor　did　he　ever　ask　for　peace　talks。　He　apparently　felt　that　whatever　he　had　done　to　her　was　canceled　out　by　what　she　was　doing　to　him。〃
　〃In　other　words；〃　Cynthia　said；　〃they　were　too　stubborn　to　negotiate。　He　never　apologized　for　his　initial　betrayal。〃
　〃Well；　he　did；　in　a　manner　of　speaking；　but　you　can　guess　what　sort　of　apology　you'd　get　from　such　a　man。〃
　Cynthia　observed；　〃It's　too　bad　so　many　innocent　people　had　to　be　hurt　while　these　two　fought　it　out。〃
　Moore　replied；　with　some　surprisingly　normal　insight；　〃That's　life；　that's　war。　When　has　it　been　any　different？〃
　Indeed　so；　I　thought。　Or；　as　Plato　said；　〃Only　the　dead　have　seen　an　end　to　war。〃
　Cynthia　asked　Colonel　Moore；　〃When　you　left　home　on　the　morning　of　the　murder；　did　you　notice　that　Ann　Campbell's　car　was　not　in　front　of　her　house？〃
　He　thought　a　moment；　then　said；　〃I　may　have。　Subconsciously。〃
　〃Don't　you　normally　take　note　of　her　car？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃So　you　don't　ever　know　if　your　subordinate；　neighbor；　and　friend　is　still　home　or　on　her　way　to　the　office。〃
　〃Well；　I　suppose　on　most　mornings　I　do。〃
　〃Did　you　ever　share　a　ride？〃
　〃Sometimes。〃
　〃Did　you　know　that　Captain　Campbell　had　an　appointment　for　breakfast　with　her　parents　that　morning？〃
　〃No　。。。　well；　yes；　now　that　you　mention　it。　She　did　tell　me　that。〃
　〃What　was　the　purpose　of　this　breakfast　meeting？〃
　〃Purpose？〃
　〃Did　the　Campbells　often　get　together　to　enjoy　one　another's　pany？〃
　〃I　suppose　not。〃
　Cynthia　said；　〃It's　my　understanding；　Colonel；　that　General　Campbell　gave　his　daughter　an　ultimatum　regarding　her　behavior；　and　that　Ann　Campbell's　reply　to　that　ultimatum　was　to　be　given　at　that　breakfast。　Correct？〃
　Colonel　Moore　for　the　first　time　looked　a　bit　uneasy；　probably　wondering　how　much　we　knew　and　from　whom　we　knew　it。
　〃Correct？〃
　〃I　。。。　She　did　tell　me　that　her　father　wanted　to　resolve　this　problem。〃
　Cynthia　was　getting　herself　worked　up　again　and　said　sharply；　〃Colonel；　either　she　did　or　didn't　tell　you　all　about　this。　Either　she　did　or　didn't　use　words　like　ultimatum；　court…martial；　ordered　therapy；　and　resignation　from　the　service。　Did　she　or　didn't　she　confide　pletely　in　you；　and　did　she　or　didn't　she　ask　your　advice？〃
　Colonel　Moore　was　clearly　angry　again　at　Cynthia's　tone；　but　he　was　also　uneasy　about　this　particular　question；　which　had　obviously　touched　on　something　that　frightened　him。　He　must　have　decided　that　we　could　not　possibly　know　enough　to　hammer　him　on　this；　so　he　replied；　〃I've　told　you　all　I　know。　She　never　told　me　what　he　proposed；　and　she　never　asked　my　advice。　I　told　you；　as　her　therapist　I　listened；　kept　my　questions　to　a　minimum；　and　only　gave　advice　when　asked。〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃I　don't　believe　any　man　is　capable　of　that　amount　of　self…restraint　with　a　woman　he's　known　for　six　years。〃
　〃Then　you　don't　understand　therapy；　Ms。　Sunhill。　I　certainly　offered　advice　in　terms　of　her　career；　assignments；　and　such；　and　even　personal　advice　regarding　living　quarters；　vacations；　and　so　forth。　But　the　problems　with　her　family　were　only　discussed　in　therapy　sessions…these　were　partmentalized　discussions　that　never　spilled　over　into　work　or　leisure　time。　This　was　our　firm　understanding　and　we　never　deviated　from　it。　Medical　doctors；　for　instance；　don't　appreciate　friends　asking　them　for　a　diagnosis　on　the　golf　course；　and　attorneys　have　similar　rules　about　legal　advice　in　bars。　Mental　health　workers　are　no　different。〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃Thank　you　for　that　information；　Colonel。　I　see　you've　thought　about　it。　Am　I　to　assume；　then；　that　the　deceased　never　had　the　opportunity　to　arrange　a　formal　session　with　you　to　discuss　this　ultimatum　and　deadline？〃
　〃That's　correct。〃
　〃So；　after　all　these　years；　when　this　heartache；　misery；　and　anger　are　about　to　e　to　a　head；　one　or　both　of　you　was　too　busy　to　talk　about　it。〃
　〃It　was　Ann　herself　who　decided　not　to　discuss　it　with　me。　We　did；　however；　decide　to　meet　after　she'd　spoken　to　her　father。　In　fact；　we　were　to　meet　yesterday　afternoon。〃
　Cynthia　said；　〃I　don't　believe　you；　Colonel。　I　think　there　is　a　connection　between　the　general's　ultimatum　and　what　happened　to　her；　and　you　know　what　that　connection　is。〃
　Colonel　Moore　stood。　〃I　will　not　be　called　a　liar。〃　Cynthia　stood　also　and　they　glared　at　each　other。　Cynthia　said；　〃We　already　know　you're　a　liar。〃
　Which　was　true。　We　knew　that　Moore　had　been　on　rifle　range　six　with　Ann　Campbell；　and　I　think　Moore　now　realized　we　knew　this。　How　else　could　we　get　away　with　abusing　a　full　colonel？　But　we　were　about　half　a　step　over　the　threshold　now；　and　that　was　far　enough。　I　stood　also。　〃Thank　you　for　your　time；　Colonel。　Don't　bother　to　plain　to　Colonel　Kent　about　us。　One　all…inclusive　plaint　is　good　enough　for　a　week　or　so。〃　I　added；　〃I'm　posting　an　MP　at　your　door；　sir；　and　if　you　attempt　to　shred　any　papers　or　carry　anything　out　of　here　with　you；　you'll　be　placed　under　restraint　and　confined　to　post。〃
　The　man　was　shaking　now；　but　I　couldn't　tell　if　it　was　from　fright　or　rage；　and　I　didn't　care。　He　said；　〃I'm　going　to　bring　formal　charges　against　both　of　you。〃
　〃I　really　wouldn't　do　that　if　I　were　you。　We　are　your　last　best　hope　to　avoid　a　noose…or　is　it　a　firing　squad？　I　have　to　check。　They　just　don't　execute　enough　people　for　me　to　remember　how　they　do　it。　But　anyway；　don't　piss　me　off。　You　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　Good　day；　Colonel。〃
　And　we　left　him　standing　there；　contemplating　his　options；　which　definitely　didn't　include　pissing　me　off。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE
　
　Cynthia　parked　in　the　provost　marshal's　parking　field　a　few　spaces　away　from　my　Blazer。　As　we　started　toward　the　provost　building；　we　saw　three　news　vans　and　a　group　of　people　outside　who　were　obviously　journalists。　They　saw　us　ing；　and　we　must　have　fit　someone's　description　of　the　detectives　in　charge；　because　they　moved　toward　us　like　a　cloud　of　locusts。　As　I　said；　Hadley　is　an　open　post；　so　you　can't　keep　the　taxpaying　citizens　out；　and　you　normally　don't　want　to；　but　I　didn't　need　this。
　The　first　reporter　to　reach　us；　a　well…dressed　young　man　with　coiffed　hair；　had　a　microphone；　and　the　grubbier　ones　around　him　had　pencils　and　pads。　I　was　aware　of　cameras　turned　on　us。　The　coiffed　one　asked　me；　〃Are　you　Warrant　Officer　Brenner？〃　then　put　the　microphone　under　my　nose。
　〃No；　sir；〃　I　replied；　〃I'm　here　to　service　the　Coke　machine。〃　We　kept　walking；　but　this　great　cloud　engulfed　us　as　we　continued　toward　the　front　doors。
　A　female　reporter　asked　Cynthia；　〃Are　you　Warrant　Officer　Sunhill？〃
　〃No；　ma'am；　I'm　with　the　Coke　guy。〃
　But　they　weren't　buying　it；　and　the　questions　rained　out　of　this　cloud　until　we　finally　got　to　the　steps　of　the　provost　building；　where　two　huge　MPs　stood　guard　with　M…16　rifles。　I　climbed　the　steps　and　turned　to　the　crowd；　who　could　go　no　further；　and　said；　〃Good　morning。〃
　The　crowd　of　journalists　became　quiet；　and　I　saw　now　three　TV　cameras　and　about　a　dozen　photographers　snapping　away。　I　said；　〃The　investigation　into　the　death　of　Captain　Ann　Campbell　is　continuing。　We　have　several　leads；　but　no　suspect