cc.vixen03-第22部分

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　〃Pack　your　things。〃
　Felicia's　neatly　plucked　brows　raised。　〃We're　leaving　Nairobi？〃
　〃We're　flying　to　Washington。〃
　She　was　taken　aback　by　his　sudden　air　of　authority。　〃Why　should　I　return　stateside　with　you？〃
　〃You　have　nothing　better　to　do。　Besides；　arriving　home　on　the　arm　of　a　respected　congressman　after　shacking　for　a　year　with　a　known　radical　revolutionary　might　go　a　long　way　in　restoring　your　image　in　the　eyes　of　your　fans。〃
　Outwardly　Felicia　pouted。　But　Daggat's　logic　made　sense。　Her　record　sales　had　fallen　off　and　calls　from　producers　had　taken　a　noticeable　downward　turn。　It　was　time；　she　quickly　deduced；　to　put　her　career　back　on　its　track。
　〃I'll　be　ready　in　half　an　hour；〃　she　said。
　Daggat　nodded　and　smiled。　An　edge　of　excitement　began　tp　form　inside　him。　If；　as　Felicia　indicated；　Lusana　was　the　odds…on　favorite　to　bee　South　Africa's　first　black　leader；　Daggat；　by　championing　a　winning　cause　on　Capitol　Hill；　could　assure　himself　of　immense　congres…sional　stature　and　voter　respect。　It　was　worth　the　gamble。　And　if　he　was　careful；　and　chose　his　words　and　programs　cleverly；　he　might　。　。　。　just　might。　。　。　stand　a　shot　at　the　vice…presidency；　the　major　stepping…stone　to　his　ultimate　goal。
　
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　Lusana　brought　his　hand　up　to　eye　level　and　then　snapped　the　rod　forward　with　a　deft　wrist　action。　The　small　wad　of　cheese　clung　to　the　hook；　plopped　daintily　into　the　river；　and　then　sank　out　of　sight。　The　fish　were　there。　Lusana's　instincts　began　to　vibrate　in　anticipation。　He　stood　thigh　deep　amid　the　shadows　of　the　trees　leaning　over　the　bank　and　slowly　reeled　in　the　line。
　On　his　eighth　cast　he　had　a　strike；　a　hard；　splashing　strike　that　nearly　tore　the　rod　from　his　relaxed　grip。　He　had　hooked　a　tiger　fish；　an　Old　World　relative　of　the　ferocious　piranha　of　the　South　American　Amazon。　He　gave　the　fish　its　head　and　eased　out　more　line。　He　had　little　choice；　the　rod　was　nearly　bent　double。　Then；　abruptly；　before　the　battle　had　a　chance　to　warm　up；　the　tiger　fish　circled　a　sunken　tree　stump；　broke　the　line；　and　escaped。
　〃I　did　not　think　it　possible　that　anyone　could　entice　a　tiger　fish　with　a　bit　of　cheese；〃　said　Colonel　Jumana。　He　was　sitting　on　the　ground；　his　back　resting　against　a　tree。　He　held　the　envelope　containing　the　brief　outline　of　Operation　Wild　Rose　in　his　hand。
　〃The　bait　is　irrelevant　if　the　prey　is　hungry；〃　said　Lusana。　He　waded　back　to　shore　and　began　tying　a　new　leader　to　his　line。
　Jumana　rolled　on　his　side　and　scanned　the　landscape　to　see　if　Lusana's　security　guards　were　properly　stationed　and　alert。　It　was　a　wasted　gesture。　No　soldiers　served　with　greater　fervor　and　loyalty。　They　were　lean　and　hard；　picked　by　Lusana　personally；　not　so　much　for　their　fearlessness　and　rugged　physiques　as　for　their　intelligence。　They　stood　poised　in　the　underbrush；　their　weapons　held　in　determined；　steady　hands。
　Lusana　turned　to　resume　his　casting。　〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　he　asked。
　Jumana　stared　at　the　envelope　and　twisted　his　face　in　a　skeptical　expression。
　〃A　rip…off。　A　two…million…dollar　rip…off。〃
　〃You　don't　buy　it；　then？〃
　〃No；　sir。　Frankly；　I　do　not。〃　Jumana　rose　to　his　feet　and　brushed　off　his　bat　uniform。　〃I　think　this　Emma　has　fed　Major　Machita　cheap　bits　and　pieces　as　a　buildup　for　the　big　score。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃This　report　tells　us　nothing。　It　only　indicates　that　the　whites　are　going　to　launch　a　major　terrorist　strike　somewhere　in　the　world　with　a　group　of　blacks　posing　as　AAR　followers。　The　South　Africans　are　not　so　stupid　as　to　risk　international　repercussions　on　such　an　absurd　ploy。〃
　Lusana　cast　his　line。　〃But　suppose…just　suppose…Prime　Minister　Koertsmann　has　seen　the　handwriting　on　the　wall。　He　might　be　tempted　to　take　a　desperate　gamble；　a　last　throw　of　the　dice。〃
　〃But　how？〃　asked　Jumana。　〃Where？〃
　〃The　answers　to　those　questions；　my　friend；　e　only　with　two　million　Yankee　dollars。〃
　〃I　still　only　see　this　Operation　Wild　Rose　as　a　swindle。〃
　〃Actually；　the　scheme　smacks　of　genius；〃　Lusana　continued。　〃If　the　strike　involved　heavy　casualties；　the　nation　that　was　the　victim　would　then　be　provoked　into　turning　their　sympathies　away　from　our　cause　and　voting　arms　and　aid　for　Koertsmann's　government。〃
　〃The　questions　are　unending；〃　said　Jumana。　〃What　nation　is　singled　out　as　the　target？〃
　〃The　United　States　is　my　guess。〃
　Jumana　threw　the　envelope　to　the　ground。　〃Ignore　this　stupid　decep…tion；　my　General。　Put　the　money　to　better　use。　Heed　my　proposal　for　a　series　of　raids　to　throw　fear　into　the　hearts　of　the　whites。〃
　Jumana　was　met　with　a　steely　stare。　〃You　know　my　feelings　on　butchery。〃
　Jumana　pushed　ahead。　〃A　thousand　hit…and…run　assaults　on　cities；　villages；　and　farms；　from　one　end　of　the　country　to　the　other；　would　put　us　in　Pretoria　by　Christmas。〃
　〃We　will　continue　to　conduct　a　sophisticated　war；〃　Lusana　said　cold…ly。　〃We　will　not　act　like　primitive　rabble。〃
　〃In　Africa　it　is　often　necessary　to　drive　the　people　with　an　iron　hand。　They　seldom　know　what　is　best　for　them。〃
　〃Tell　me；　Colonel；　I'm　always　willing　to　learn：　who　knows　what's　best　for　the　African　people？〃
　Jumana's　face　purpled　with　controlled　anger。　〃Africans　know　what　is　best　for　Africans。〃
　Lusana　ignored　the　slur　against　his　American　blood。　He　could　sense　the　impulses　swirling　in　Jumana：　the　hatred　of　all　things　foreign；　the　driving　ambition　and　the　newly　discovered　luxury　of　power　mingled　with　a　distrust　of　modern　ways；　an　almost　childlike　acceptance　of　blood…thirsty　savagery。　Lusana　began　to　wonder　if　he　hadn't　made　an　enor…mous　error　in　appointing　Jumana　to　a　high　level　of　mand。
　Before　Lusana　could　focus　on　the　problems　that　might　arise　between　them；　the　soft　padding　sound　of　feet　emanated　from　beyond　the　lip　of　the　riverbank。
　The　security　guards　tensed　and　then　relaxed　as　Major　Machita　dog…trotted　down　the　path　into　view。　He　came　to　a　halt　in　front　of　Lusana　and　saluted。
　〃One　of　my　agents　has　just　arrived　from　Pretoria　with　Emma's　report　on　the　Fawkes…farm　raid。〃
　〃What　did　he　uncover？〃
　〃Emma　says　he　was　unable　to　find　evidence　the　Defence　Forces　had　a　hand　in　it。〃
　Lusana　looked　thoughtful。　〃So　it's　back　to　the　opening　play。〃
　〃It　seems　incredible　that　a　force　can　murder　nearly　fifty　people　and　go　unidentified；〃　said　Machita。
　〃Could　Emma　have　lied？〃
　〃Possibly。　But　he　would　have　no　reason　for　doing　so。〃
　Lusana　did　not　answer。　He　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　fish。　His　line　whispered　over　the　running　water。　Machita　looked　questioningly　at　Jumana；　but　the　colonel　avoided　his　gaze。　Machita　stood　there　confused　for　a　moment；　wondering　what　had　caused　the　atmosphere　of　tension　that　hovered　over　his　two　superiors。　After　a　long　uneasy　silence　he　nodded　at　the　envelope。
　〃You've　reached　a　decision　concerning　Operation　Wild　Rose；　Gen…eral？〃
　〃I　have；〃　Lusana　answered　as　he　reeled　the　line　in。
　Machita　remained　silent；　waiting。
　〃I　intend　to　pay　Emma　his　thirty　pieces　of　silver　for　the　rest　of　the　plan；〃　Lusana　finally　said。
　Jumana　raged。　〃No；　it　is　a　fraud！　Even　you；　my　General；　are　not　entitled　to　throw　our　army's　funds　away　stupidly。〃
　Machita　caught　his　breath　and　tensed。　The　colonel　had　overstepped　his　rank。　And　yet　Lusana　kept　his　back　to　the　shore　and　nonchalantly　went　about　his　fishing。　〃I'll　remind　you；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder　with　quiet　authority；　〃the　lion's　share　of　our　treasury　came　from　me。　What　is　mine　I　can　take　back　or　I　can　use　as　I　please。〃
　Jumana　clenched　his　hands　in　tight　knots　and　the　cords　in　his　neck　stood　out。　He　made　a　move　toward　the　water's　edge；　his　lips　drawn　back　over　his　teeth。　Then；　suddenly；　as　if　a　circuit　breaker　somewhere　in　his　gray　matter　had　overloaded　and　clicked　off；　all　expression　of　rage　vanished；　and　he　smiled。　His　words　came　casually；　but　with　an　under…current　of　bitterness。
　〃I　apologize　for　my　remarks。　I　am　overtired。〃
　Machita　decided　then　and　there　that　the　colonel　was　a　danger　that　bore　watching。　He　could　see　that　Jumana　would　never　fully　accept　the　posi…tion　of　number…two　man。
　〃Forget　it；〃　said　Lusana。　〃The　important　thing　now　is　to　lay　our　hands　on　Wild　Rose。〃
　〃I　will　make　arrangements　for　the　exchange；〃　said　Machita。
　〃You　will　do　more　than　that；〃　Lusana　said；　facing　the　shore　again。　〃You　will　create　a　plan　to　make　the　payoff。　Then　you　will　kill　Emma。〃
　Jumana's　mouth　hung　open。　〃　You　never　intended　to　give　away　the　two　million　dollars？〃　he　sputtered。
　Lusana　grinned。　〃Of　course　not。　If　you　had　been　patient；　you　could　have　spared　us　your　juvenile　outburst。〃
　Jumana　made　no　reply。　There　was　nothing　he　could　say。　He　widened　his　smile　and　shrugged。　It　was　then　Machita　caught　the　imperceptible　shift　of　the　eyes。　Jumana　was　not　looking　directly　at　Lusana；　his　vision　was　aimed　at　a　spot　in　the　river　ten　feet　upstream　from　the　general。
　〃Guards！〃　Machita　screamed；　pointing　frantically。　〃The　river！　Fire！　For　God's　sake；　fire！〃
　The　security　men's　reaction　time　measured　less　than　two　seconds。　Their　shots　exploded　in　Machita's　ears　and　the　water　erupted　a　few　feet　from　Lusana　in　a　hundred　shattered　geysers。
　Twenty　feet　of　hideous　brown　scale　burst　through　the　surface　and　rolled　over　and　over；　its　tail　thrashing　crazily　as　the　bullets　thudded　into　the　thick　hide