cc.vixen03-第14部分

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nts　that　had　been　carelessly　kicked　into　a　rain…eroded　rut。　There　were　parallel　tire　marks　that　curved　at　the　lip　of　the　ravine。　And　the　other；　most　tangible　evidence　of　something　danger…ously　wrong　was　the　reflection　in　the　side　mirror　of　the　two　boys　charging　toward　his　rear。　One；　a　fat；　lumbering　youth；　was　pointing　an　old　bolt…action　rifle。　The　other　swung　a　rusty　machete　above　his　head。
　My　God；　Fawkes's　mind　flashed。　I'm　being　ambushed　by　schoolchildren。
　His　only　weapon　was　the　hunting　knife　in　the　glove　partment。　His　family　had　hustled　him　on　his　way　so　quickly　that　he　had　forgotten　to　pack　his　favorite　。44　Magnum　revolver。
　Wasting　no　time　by　cursing　his　laxity；　he　crammed　the　Bushmaster　into　reverse　and　mashed　down　on　the　gas。　The　tires　bit　and　jerked　the　four…wheel…drive　backward；　missing　the　boy　carrying　the　machete　but　clipping　the　one　with　the　gun；　sending　him　spinning　into　the　swamp。　Fawkes　then　braked　and　shoved　the　gearshift　into　first　and　spun　wheels　toward　the　boy　who　stood　poised　to　throw　both　spear　and　rock。
　There　was　no　hint　of　fear　in　the　black　teenager's　eyes　as　he　rooted　his　bare　feet　and　pitched　both　arms　in　unison。　At　first　Fawkes　thought　the　boy's　aim　was　high；　he　heard　the　spear　clatter　and　ricochet　off　the　roof。　Then　the　windshield　dissolved　in　a　hail　of　glittering　slivers　and　the　rock　was　in　the　front　seat；　beside　him。　Fawkes　felt　the　glass　particles　slice　his　face；　but　the　only　thing　he　remembered　afterward　was　the　cold　look　of　hatred　in　his　assailant's　eyes。
　The　impact　lifted　the　boy　off　his　feet　like　an　elastic　doll　and　flung　him　under　the　front　wheels。　Fawkes　stomped　on　the　brake　pedal　but　suc…ceeded　only　in　making　the　injuries　worse。　The　locked　tires　bounced　and　skidded　over　pliant　flesh；　tearing　skin　from　sinew。
　Fawkes　eased　from　behind　the　wheel　and　cautiously　walked　back。　The　boy　was　dead；　his　skull　crushed　nearly　flat；　his　skinny　legs　mangled　chunks　of　crimson。　The　fat　boy　with　the　gun　lay　half　in　the　algae…coated　swamp　water；　half　on　the　sloping　bank。　His　head　had　been　wrenched　backward　until　it　touched　his　spine。　There　was　no　sight　of　his　pan…ion；　he　had　vanished　into　the　swamp。
　Fawkes　picked　up　the　rifle。　The　breech　was　open　and　a　cartridge　was　jammed　in　the　receiver。　He　pried　it　out　and　studied　the　problem。　The　reason　the　fat　boy　had　not　fired　was　that　the　rifle　could　not。　The　firing　pin　was　too　badly　bent。　Fawkes　threw　the　old　gun　as　hard　as　he　could　into　the　deepest　part　of　the　mire；　watching　it　splash　and　gurgle　out　of　sight。
　A　small　lorry　lay　upside　down　in　the　ravine。　Two　bodies　sprawled　from　the　gaping；　twisted　doors。　A　man　and　a　woman；　brutally　mutilated；　were　shrouded　in　swarms　of　flies。
　It　was　obvious　the　three　African　boys　had　stoned　the　unsuspecting　travelers；　wounding　the　driver　and　sending　the　lorry　hurtling　into　the　ravine；　where　they　had　hacked　to　death　the　trapped　survivors。　Then；　flushed　and　overconfident　with　their　easy　victory；　they　had　settled　down　to　await　their　next　victim。
　〃Stupid　kids；〃　he　muttered　amid　the　stillness　of　death。　〃Damn　stupid　kids。〃
　Like　a　marathon　runner　who　had　dropped　out　of　the　race　a　mile　from　the　finish；　Fawkes　ached　with　exhaustion　and　regret。　Slowly　he　returned　to　the　Bushmaster；　sopping　with　a　handkerchief　the　trickles　of　blood　that　ran　down　his　cheek。　He　reached　inside　the　door；　set　the　frequency　dial　on　the　mobile　radio；　and　hailed　the　Pembroke　constable。　When　he　finished　his　report；　he　stood　and　cursed　and　tossed　poorly　aimed　stones　at　the　arriving　vultures。
　
　14
　
　〃He's　late；〃　Pieter　De　Vaal；　Minister　of　the　South　African　Defence　Forces；　said　in　Afrikaans。　He　lifted　the　window　of　the　coach　and　leaned　out；　searching　the　road　bordering　the　railroad　siding。　His　words　were　directed　at　a　tall；　slender　man　with　pelling　blue　eyes　and　dressed　in　the　uniform　of　an　army　colonel。
　〃If　Patrick　Fawkes　is　late；〃　the　colonel　said；　swirling　the　drink　in　his　hand；　〃there　must　be　a　good　reason　for　it。〃　。
　De　Vaal　turned　from　the　open　window　and　brushed　both　hands　through　a　thicket　of　gray　wavy　hair。　He　looked　more　like　a　professor　of　ancient　languages　than　like　the　iron…willed　head　of　the　second　largest　j　military　power　on　the　continent。　Not　that　he　had　exactly　inherited　a　plum　job。　De　Vaal　was　the　fifth　defense　minister　in　seven　years。　His　pre…decessor　had　lasted　less　than　five　months。
　〃Typical　English　performance；〃　he　said　impatiently。　〃An　Englander　lives　only　for　gin；　the　queen；　and　a　practiced　air　of　indifference。　They　cannot　be　relied　upon。〃
　〃If　you　so　much　as　even　imply　to　his　face　that　he　is　English；　Heer　Minister；　Fawkes　will　bee　most　uncooperative。〃　Colonel　Joris　Zeegler　downed　his　drink　and　poured　another。　〃Fawkes　is　a　Scotsman。　I　respectfully　suggest；　sir；　that　you　try　not　to　forget　that。〃
　De　Vaal　made　no　show　of　anger　at　Zeegler's　insubordinate　tone。　He　regarded　advice　from　his　intelligence　chief　seriously。　It　was　no　secret　within　the　Ministry　that　De　Vaal's　success　in　smashing　the　advances　by　outside　terrorists　and　suppressing　local　uprisings　was　due　largely　to　the　ingenious　infiltration　of　the　insurgent　organizations　by　Zeegler's　highly　trained　operatives。
　〃Englander；　Scotsman…I　would　prefer　dealing　with　an　Afrikaner。〃　〃I　agree；〃　said　Zeegler。　〃But　Fawkes　is　the　best　qualified　to　offer　an　opinion　on　the　project。　A　month…long　puter　search　of　experienced　military　personnel　proved　that。〃　He　opened　a　file　folder。　〃Twenty…five　years　Royal　Navy。　Fifteen　of　them　in　ship's　engineering。　Two　years　captain　of　HMS　Audacious。　Final　time　in　service　spent　as　engineering　director　of　the　Grimsby　Royal　Navy　Shipyard。　Purchased　a　farm　in　northern　Natal　and　retired　there　eleven　years　ago。〃
　〃And　what　does　your　puter　make　of　the　fact　that　he　coddles　his　Bantu　workers？〃
　〃I　must　admit　that　offering　his　blacks　and　coloreds　shares　of　his　farm　profits　is　the　gesture　of　a　liberal。　But　there　can　be　no　denying　Fawkes　has　built　up　the　finest　estate　in　northern　Natal　in　an　extremely　short　length　of　time。　His　people　are　loyal　beyond　belief。　Woe　to　the　radical　who　tries　to　stir　up　trouble　on　the　Fawkes　farm。〃
　De　Vaal　was　in　the　midst　of　formulating　another　pessimistic　statement　when　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　A　young　officer　entered　and　came　to　attention。
　〃Forgive　the　interruption；　Herr　Minister；　but　Captain　Fawkes　has　arrived。〃
　〃Show　him　in；〃　De　Vaal　said。
　Fawkes　ducked　his　head　under　the　low　doorway　and　entered。　De　Vaal　stared　up　at　him　in　silence。　He　had　not　expected　someone　of　such　proportions；　nor　someone　whose　face　was　freshly　cut　in　a　dozen　places。　He　extended　his　hand。
　〃Captain　Fawkes；　this　is　indeed　a　pleasure；〃　De　Vaal　said　in　Afri…kaans。　〃It　was　good　of　you　to　make　the　trip。〃
　Fawkes　crushed　De　Vaal's　hand　within　his。　〃Sorry；　sir；　but　I　do　not　speak　your　language。〃
　De　Vaal　smoothly　slipped　into　English。　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　with　a　feint　smile。　〃I　forget　that　you　Eng…ah…Scotsmen　do　not　take　to　strange　tongues。〃
　〃We're　just　dunderheaded；　I　guess。〃
　〃Pardon　me　for　saying　so；　Captain；　but　you　look　as　though　you　shaved　with　a　branch　of　thorns。〃
　〃I　encountered　an　ambush。　Bloody　little　devils　broke　my　windshield。　I　would　have　stopped　at　the　local　hospital；　but　I　was　running　late　for　our　meeting。〃
　De　Vaal　took　Fawkes　by　the　arm　and　steered　him　to　a　chair。　〃I　think　we　had　better　get　a　drink　in　you。　Joris；　will　you　do　the　honors？　Captain　Fawkes；　this　is　Colonel　Joris　Zeegler；　director　of　Internal　South　African　Defence。〃
　Zeegler　nodded　and　held　up　a　bottle。　〃I　take　it　you　prefer　whisky；　Captain？〃
　〃Aye；　that　I　do；　Colonel。〃
　De　Vaal　stepped　over　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　
　〃Lieutenant　Anders；　inform　Dr。　Steedt　that　we　have　a　patient　for　him。　I　suspect　you　will　find　him　in　his　partment；　dozing。〃
　He　closed　the　door　and　faced　the　room。　
　〃First　things　first。　Now　then；　Captain；　while　we　await　the　good　doctor；　perhaps　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　provide　us　with　a　detailed　report　of　your　ambush。〃
　The　doctor　came　and　went；　grumbling　good…naturedly　over　the　rhinoceros　hide　Fawkes　called　skin。　Except　for　two　wounds　that　called　for　three　stitches　each；　the　doctor　left　the　rest　unbandaged。　〃Lucky　for　you　those　scratch　marks　don't　match　fingernail　tracks；　or　you'd　have　a　tough　time　explaining　them　to　your　wife；〃　he　joked　as　he　snapped　shut　his　bag。
　〃You're　certain　the　attack　was　not　organized？〃　Zeegler　asked　after　the　doctor　departed。
　〃Not　likely；〃　Fawkes　replied。　〃They　were　only　ragged　bush　kids。　God　only　knows　what　devil　inspired　them　to　go　on　a　killing　spree。〃
　〃I　am　afraid　your　run…in　with　bloodthirsty　juveniles　is　not　an　isolated　occurrence；〃　De　Vaal　said　softly。
　Zeegler　nodded　in　agreement。　〃Your　story；　Captain；　fits　the　same　crude　modus　operandi；　if　you　will；　of　at　least　twelve　other　attacks　in　the　last　two　months。〃
　〃If　you　want　my　opinion；〃　Fawkes　snorted；　〃that　damned　AAR　is　in　back　of　it。〃
　〃Indirectly；　the　blame　can　be　laid　on　the　African　Army　of　Revolution's　doorstep。〃　Zeegler　drew　on　a　pencil…thin　cigar。
　〃Half　the　black　boys　between　the　ages　of　twelve　to　eighteen　from　here　to　Cape　Town　would　give　their　testicles　to　bee　an　AAR　soldier；〃　De　Vaal　injected。　〃You　might　call　it　a　form　of　hero　worship。〃
　〃You　have　to　give　the　devil　his　due；〃　said　Zeegler。