cc.vixen03-第19部分

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　on　screen。
　Felicia　stood　cool　and　poised　in　green　crepe　de　chine　evening　pajamas。　The　small　strapless　top　tied　at　the　waist　and　the　matching　pants　gave　a　diaphanous　hint　of　her　shapely　legs。　She　wore　her　hair　in　a　chic　short　African　cut。
　〃Hiram　is　on　the　threshold　of　greatness；　you　know。〃
　He　smiled　at　her　high…toned　statement。　〃I　imagine　the　same　might　have　been　said　once　of　Attila　the　Hun。〃
　〃I　can　easily　see　why　Washington　correspondents　crowd　your　press　conferences；　Congressman。〃　Her　hand　remained　on　his　arm。　〃Your　tongue　stabs。〃
　〃I　believe　they　refer　to　it　as　'Daggat's　shaft。'　〃
　〃The　better　to　screw　the　white　establishment　with；　perhaps？〃
　He　took　her　hand　and　exerted　an　increasing　pressure　until　there　was　a　tiny　widening　of　her　huge　mahogany　eyes。　〃Tell　me；　Ms。　Collins；　what　brings　a　beautiful　and　renowned　black　entertainer　to　the　jungle？〃
　〃The　same　thing　that　brings　the　black　enfant　terrible　of　the　United　States　Congress；〃　she　countered。　〃To　help　a　man　who　is　fighting　to　advance　our　race。〃
　〃I'm　more　inclined　to　believe　Hiram　Lusana　is　fighting　to　advance　his　private　bank　account。〃
　Felicia　smiled　derisively。　〃You　disappoint　me；　Congressman。　If　you'd　bothered　to　do　your　homework；　you'd　know　that　is　simply　not　true。〃
　Daggat　stiffened。　The　gauntlet　had　been　thrown。
　He　released　her　hand　and　moved　until　his　face　was　only　a　few　inches　from　hers。　〃With　half　the　world　watching　the　African　nations；　waiting　and　wondering　when　they　are　going　to　get　their　circus　act　together　and　remove　the　last　bastion　of　white　supremacy；　who　should　appear　like　a　messiah　from　the　wilderness；　offering　a　proverb　for　every　occasion；　but　none　other　than　your　friendly　international　drug　smuggler　Hiram　Lusana。　Like　a　revelation　in　the　night；　he　unloads　his　thriving　operation　and　takes　up　the　cause　of　the　poor　foul…smelling　black　rabble　of　South　Africa。
　〃Reinforced　now　by　gullible　black　opinion　and　touted　by　a　world　press　hungry　for　a　personality；　any　personality；　handsome　Hiram　suddenly　finds　his　smiling　face　on　the　covers　of　no　fewer　than　fourteen　magazines　with　a　bined　circulation　of　over　sixty　million。　Thus　the　sun　shines　down　from　heaven　and　Hiram　Lusana　is　adored　by　Bible　beaters　everywhere　for　his　devout　piety；　foreign　state　departments　vie　for　his　presence　at　parties；　he　demands　and　receives　fabulous　fees　on　the　lecture　circuit；　and　suckers　like　you；　Ms。　Collins；　from　the　entertain…ment　world；　kiss　his　ass　and　scratch　for　a　percentage　of　the　box…office　limelight。〃
　Anger　flared　in　Felicia's　lovely　features。　〃You're　being　deliberately　offensive。〃
　〃Nakedly　honest；　perhaps。〃　Daggat　paused　and　enjoyed　Felicia's　uneasiness　for　a　moment。　〃And　what　do　you　think　will　happen　if　Lusana　should　win　his　war　and　the　white　racist　government　in　South　Africa　surrenders？　Will　he；　like　Cincinnatus；　renounce　his　generalship　and　return　to　the　plow？　Not　likely。　There　is　little　doubt　in　my　mind　that　he'll　proclaim　himself　president　and　launch　a　virtual　dictatorship。　Then；　with　the　enormous　resources　of　Africa's　most　advanced　country　in　his　pock…et；　he'll　shift　the　grand　crusade　into　reverse　and　either　by　force　or　by　subterfuge　gobble　up　the　weaker　black　nations。〃
　〃You're　blind；〃　she　said　harshly。　〃Hiram　guides　his　life　by　high　mor…als。　I　find　it　unthinkable　that　he　would　ever　consider　selling　out　his　ideals　for　personal　gain。〃
　Felicia　did　not　see　the　caution　in　Daggat's　eyes。　〃I　can　prove　it；　Ms。　Collins；　and　all　it　will　cost　you…financially；　that　is…if　you　lose　is　one　Yankee　dollar。〃
　〃You're　fishing　in　a　barren　lake；　Congressman。　You　obviously　do　not　know　the　general。〃
　〃Bet　me。〃
　She　thought　a　moment　and　then　looked　up。　〃You're　on。〃
　Daggat　bowed　gallantly　and　escorted　her　to　where　Lusana　was　talking　tactics　with　an　officer　of　the　Mozambique　Army。　Lusana　broke　off　his　conversation　at　their　approach　and　greeted　them。　〃Ah；　my　two　fellow　Americans。　I　see　you've　met。〃
　〃May　I　talk　with　you　and　Ms。　Collins　alone　for　a　moment；　General？〃　asked　Daggat。
　〃Why；　yes；　of　course。〃
　Lusana　excused　himself　from　the　Army　officer　and　led　the　way　into　a　small　study　fortably　furnished　in　an　Afro…modern　motif。
　〃Very　nice；〃　said　Daggat。
　〃My　favorite　style　of　decor。〃　Lusana　motioned　them　to　sit　down。　〃And　why　not？　Is　it　not　based　on　our　ancestral　native　designs？〃
　〃Personally；　I　prefer　the　new　Egyptian　creations；〃　said　an　indifferent　Daggat。
　〃What　is　it　you　wish　to　discuss？〃　asked　Lusana。
　Daggat　came　straight　to　the　point。　〃If　I　may　be　frank；　General；　the　only　reason　you　put　on　this　dog　and　pony　show　tonight　was　in　the　hope　of　conning　me　into　exerting　my　influence　with　the　House　Foreign　Affairs　mittee　on　behalf　of　the　AAR。　Agreed？〃
　Lusana　could　not　conceal　a　cornered　look；　but　he　remembered　to　be　courteous。　〃My　apologies；　Congressman。　I　did　not　mean　to　be　so　obvi…ous。　Yes；　I　did　hope　to　persuade　you　to　lend　your　support　to　our　cause。　But　a　con　job？　No　way。　I　am　not　fool　enough　to　attempt　to　stuff　cotton　in　the　ears　of　a　man　with　your　reputation　for　shrewdness。〃
　〃So　much　for　preliminaries。　What's　in　it　for　me？〃
　Lusana　stared　at　Daggat　with　fascination。　Such　directness　was　hardly　what　he'd　expected。　His　plans　called　for　a　more　circuitous　seduction。　Now　he　was　caught　off　guard。　An　out…and…out　request　for　graft　left　him　stunned。　He　decided　to　play　coy　in　order　to　gain　time　to　think。
　〃I　miss　your　point；　Congressman。〃
　〃No　big　deal；　really。　If　you　want　me　on　your　team；　it's　going　to　cost　you。〃
　〃I　still　don't　understand。〃
　〃Cut　the　jive；　General。　You　and　I　came　from　the　same　gutter。　We　haven't　shoved　aside　poverty　and　discrimination　to　get　where　we　are　without　picking　up　any　smarts　along　the　way。〃
　Lusana　turned　away　and　slowly；　meticulously　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Do　you　wish　me　to　open　the　negotiations　with　an　offer　for　your　services？〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary。　I　already　have　a。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　figure　in　mind。〃
　〃Please　name　it。〃
　A　smile　lifted　the　corners　of　Daggat's　lips。　〃Ms。　Collins。〃
　Lusana　looked　up；　puzzled。　〃And　a　very　ely　figure　at　that。　But　I　fail　to　see　what　she…〃
　〃You　give　me　Felicia　Collins　and　I'll　see　to　it　my　mittee　votes　favorably　on　funding　an　arms　program　for　your　revolution。〃
　Felicia　leaped　to　her　feet；　her　mahogany　eyes　ablaze。　〃I　don't　believe　this。〃
　〃Consider　it　as　a　small　sacrifice　on　behalf　of　a　noble　crusade；〃　said　Daggat　sarcastically。
　〃Hiram；　for　God's　sake；〃　she　snapped；　〃tell　this　turkey　to　pack　up　and　ship　out。〃
　Lusana　did　not　reply　immediately。　He　gazed　down　at　his　lap　and　brushed　off　an　imaginary　piece　of　lint　from　a　razor…creased　pant　leg。　Finally　he　spoke　in　a　soft　voice。　〃I'm　sorry；　Felicia；　but　I　can't　allow　sentimental　feelings　to　enter　into　this。〃
　〃What　crap！〃　She　stared　at　him；　her　expression　void　of　belief。　〃You're　both　mad；　raving　mad；　if　you　think　you　can　pass　me　around　like　abowl　of　grits。〃
　Lusana　rose　and　came　over　and　brushed　his　lips　across　her　forehead。　〃Do　not　hate　me。〃　He　faced　Daggat。　〃Congressman；　enjoy　your　spoils。〃
　Then　he　walked　from　the　room。
　For　a　long　moment　Felicia　stood　there；　her　face　a　study　in　mixed　hostility　and　confusion；　then　understanding　came　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　made　no　protest；　no　gesture　of　resistance；　as　Daggat　gently　pulled　her　close　and　kissed　her。
　〃You　bastard；〃　she　whispered。　〃You　rotten　bastard。　I　hope　you're　satisfied。〃
　〃Not　quite　yet。〃
　〃You've　won　your　pound　of　flesh。　What　more　do　you　want？〃
　He　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　his　breast　pocket　and　dabbed　her　misting　eyes。
　〃You　forget；〃　he　said；　grinning　sardonically。　〃You　still　owe　me　a　dollar。〃
　
　21
　
　Pieter　De　Vaal　closed　the　report　folder　on　the　Fawkes…farm　massacre。　His　face　was　drawn　and　tired　as　he　looked　up。　〃I'm　still　shocked　by　this　dreadful　tragedy。　It　was　so　senseless。〃
　Fawkes　remained　impassive。　He　sat　across　the　desk　from　the　Defence　Minister　and　tamped　the　tobacco　in　his　old　pipe。　The　room　fell　silent；　only　the　muted　noise　of　Pretoria's　traffic　seeped　through　the　large　win…dows　overlooking　Burger　Park。
　At　last　De　Vaal　slipped　the　folder　into　a　drawer　and　avoided　Fawkes's　eyes　as　he　spoke。　〃I　regret　that　our　patrols　failed　to　catch　the　savages　who　were　responsible。〃
　〃Only　one　man　was　responsible；〃　said　Fawkes　grimly。　〃The　men　who　slaughtered　my　family　were　acting　under　his　orders。〃
　〃I　know　what　y；ou　are　thinking；　Captain　Fawkes；　but　we　have　no　proof　that　Lusana　was　behind　this。〃
　〃I'm　satisfied　he　was。〃
　〃What　can　I　say？　Even　if　we　knew　for　certain；　he　is　beyond　our　borders。　There　is　no　way　we　can　touch　him。〃
　〃I　can　touch　him。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃By　volunteering　to　lead　your　Operation　Wild　Rose。〃
　De　Vaal　could　sense　the　vengeful　hate　that　seethed　within　Patrick　Fawkes。　The　Defence　Minister　rose　to　his　feet　and　stood　at　the　window；　gazing　over　the　sea　ofjacaranda　trees　that　quilted　the　city。　〃　I　sympathize　with　your　feelings；　Captain。　However；　the　answer　is　no。〃
　〃But　why；　man？〃
　〃Wild　Rose　is　a　monstrous　concept。　If　the　operation　failed；　the　conse…quences　would　prove　disastrous　to　our　government。〃
　Fawkes　rapped　his　pipe　on　the　Minister's　desk；　snapping　the　stem。　〃No；　dammit！　My　farm　was　only　the　opening　thrust。　Lusana　and　his　bloody　mob　have　got　to　be　stopped　before　the　whole　country