cc.vixen03-第30部分

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p　before　she　leaves　Chesapeake　Bay。〃
　Dugan　eased　his　buttocks　onto　a　massive　capstan。　He　looked　down　the　length　of　the　ship。　Her　great　mass　of　steel　seemed　cold　and　malevolent；　it　was　as　though　she　were　holding　her　breath；　waiting　for　some　silent　mand　to　unleash　her　awesome　power。
　〃This　whole　act　stinks；〃　Dugan　said　finally。　〃I　only　hope　to　God　we're　not　doing　anything　we'll　regret。〃
　Fawkes　examined　the　markings　on　a　well…creased　set　of　navigation　charts。　First　he　puted　the　known　velocity　and　fluctuations　of　the　current；　then　the　range　of　tidal　conditions。　Satisfied　with　the　figures；　he　next　traced　a　mile…by…mile　course　to　his　destination；　memorizing　every　buoy；　every　beacon　and　channel　marker；　until　he　could　picture　them　all　in　his　mind's　eye　without　confusion　as　to　their　exact　sequence。
　The　task　before　him　seemed　impossible。　Even　with　precise　analysis　of　every　obstacle　and　its　successful　conquest；　there　were　still　too　many　variables　that　had　to　be　left　to　chance。　There　was　no　way　he　could　predict　the　weather　on　a　given　day　still　weeks　away。　The　odds　of　colliding　with　another　ship　also　reared　their　numerical　heads。　These　unknowns　he　did　not　take　lightly；　and　yet　the　possibility　that　he　might　be　found　out　and　stopped　was　refused　entrance　into　his　mind。　He　had　even　steeled　himself　to　ignore　any　second　thoughts　from　De　Vaal；　who　might　order　the　mission　to　be　scrapped。
　At　ten　minutes　to　midnight　Fawkes　removed　his　glasses　and　rubbed　his　tired　eyes。　He　took　a　small　photo　holder　from　his　breast　pocket　and　looked　into　the　long…ago　faces　of　his　family。　Then　he　sighed　and　propped　the　holder　on　a　small　packing　crate　set　beside　the　cot　he　maintained　in　the　control　room　of　the　ship。　The　first　week　he　had　slept　in　the　captain's　quarters；　but　the　fortable　acmodations　were　gone　now；　furnish…ings；　facilities；　even　the　bulkheads　that　once　enclosed　the　cabin；　had　been　torched　away。
　Fawkes　undressed　and　slid　his　huge　frame　inside　a　sleeping　bag；　taking　a　final　look　at　the　photo。　Then　he　clicked　off　the　drop…cord　light　and　became　smothered　in　the　darkness　of　his　loneliness　and　unrelenting　hatred。
　
　35
　
　De　Vaal　rolled　a　cigarette　between　his　slender　fingers。　〃Will　Fawkes　meet　his　schedule；　do　you　think？〃
　〃One　of　my　operatives　reports　that　he　is　driving　the　shipyard　workers　like　a　sadist；〃　replied　Zeegler。　〃I　cannot　help　but　think　the　good　captain　will　launch　Wild　Rose　at　the　required　time。〃
　〃What　of　his　black　crew？〃
　〃They　are　under　tight　security　on　a　cargo　freighter　moored　off　a　remote　island　in　the　Azores。〃　Zeegler　sat　down　across　from　De　Vaal　before　continuing。　〃When　all　is　in　readiness；　the　crew　will　be　smuggled　on　board　Fawkes's　ship。〃
　〃Will　they　be　familiar　with　the　operation　of　the　vessel？〃
　〃Training　is　being　conducted　with　mock…ups　on　the　freighter。　Each　man　will　know　his　job　when　Fawkes　casts　off　the　mooring　lines。〃
　〃What　have　the　men　been　told？〃
　〃They　think　they　have　been　recruited　to　pick　up　the　ship　for　sea　trials　and　gunnery　practice　before　sailing　it　on　to　Cape　Town。〃
　De　Vaal　sat　in　concentration　for　a　moment。　〃A　pity　we　can't　have　Lusana　as　a　passenger。〃
　〃The　possibility　exists；〃　said　Zeegler。
　De　Vaal　looked　up。　〃Are　you　serious？〃
　〃My　sources　say　he　has　left　for　the　United　States；〃　Zeegler　replied。　〃Trailing　him　through　Africa　and　knowing　his　exact　traveling　schedule　in　advance　is　next　to　impossible。　He　can　slip　out　of　the　continent　virtually　undetected　at　will。　But　he　cannot　slip　in　without　showing　himself。　When　he　leaves　the　States；　I　will　be　waiting。〃
　〃Abduction。〃　De　Vaal　said　the　word　slowly；　savoring　each　syllable。　〃The　very　bonus　that　would　make　Operation　Wild　Rose　virtually　fool…proof。〃
　
　36
　
　The　BEZA…Mozambique　overseas　airliner　pivoted　off　the　main　runway　onto　a　seldom…used　taxi　strip　and　dipped　its　nose　as　the　pilot　applied　the　brakes。　The　boarding　hatch　swung　open　and　a　baggage　handler　wearing　white　coveralls　and　a　red　baseball　cap　stepped　from　the　evening　dark…ness　and　attached　an　aluminum　ladder　to　the　fuselage。　A　figure　stooped　in　the　light　streaming　from　the　interior　of　the　plane；　dropped　a　large　suitcase　to　the　man　on　the　ground；　and　climbed　down　after　it。　Then　the　hatch　closed　and　the　ladder　was　removed。　The　engines　picked　up　their　whine　and　the　plane　rolled　off　in　the　direction　of　the　Dulles　Airport　international　terminal。
　No　conversation　was　exchanged　as　the　baggage　handler　passed　the　stranger　a　spare　set　of　coveralls；　which　were　quickly　donned。　They　climbed　aboard　a　small　tractor　that　had　four　empty　carrier　carts　attached　to　its　rear　hitch　and　steered　a　course　to　the　maintenance　section　of　the　field。　After　a　few　minutes　of　dodging　parked　aircraft；　the　tractor　pulled　up　to　a　floodlit　gate。　A　guard　leaned　out　at　their　approach　and；　upon　recognizing　the　driver；　stifled　a　yawn　and　waved　them　through。　The　baggage　handler　waved　back　and　drove　to　the　employees'　parking　lot；　stopping　beside　a　door　held　open　by　the　chauffeur　of　a　large　dark…blue　limousine。　Still　without　a　word；　the　man　from　the　airplane　stepped　into　the　backseat　of　the　car。　The　chauffeur　took　the　suitcase；　lifted　it　into　the　trunk；　and　the　baggage　handler　drove　his　empty　caravan　back　toward　the　cargo　terminal。
　It　wasn't　until　the　car　entered　the　outskirts　of　Georgetown　that　Lusana　relaxed　and　slipped　out　of　the　coveralls。　In　past　years　he　would　have　entered　the　States　like　any　other　traveler　ing　from　overseas。　But　those　were　the　days　before　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry　took　him　seriously。　Lusana's　fears　of　assassination　were　well　founded。　With　a　sense　of　relief　he　watched　the　chauffeur　stop　in　front　of　a　house　whose　downstairs　windows　were　lit。　At　least　someone　was　home。
　The　chauffeur　carried　his　suitcase　to　the　doorstep　and　silently　de…parted。　A　faint　murmur　from　the　TV　set　came　through　the　open　win…dows。　He　pressed　the　bell。
　The　porch　light　came　on；　the　door　opened　a　crack；　and　a　familiar　voice　said；　〃Who　is　it？〃
　He　moved　under　the　light　so　that　it　illuminated　his　face。　〃It's　me；　Felicia。〃
　〃Hiram？〃　Her　voice　was　stunned。
　〃Yes。〃
　The　door　opened　slowly。　She　was　dressed　in　a　sheer　and　sexy　chiffon　peasant　blouse　and　a　long　soft　jersey　skirt。　A　knotted　bandana　covered　her　hair。　She　stood　motionless；　her　eyes　searching　his。　She　wanted　to　say　something　appropriately　clever　but　her　mind　went　blank。　All　she　man…aged　was；　〃e　in。〃
　He　stepped　inside　and　set　the　suitcase　down。　〃I　thought　you　might　be　here；〃　he　said。
　Her　dark　eyes　quickly　shifted　from　surprise　to　calm　posure。　〃Your　timing　is　right　on　the　money。　I　just　got　back　from　Hollywood。　I've　cut　a　new　album　and　auditioned　for　a　part　in　a　TV　series。〃
　〃I'm　happy　all　goes　well　for　you。〃
　She　looked　up　into　his　face。　〃You　never　should　have　sent　me　away　with　Frederick。〃
　〃If　it　will　make　you　feel　any　better；　I've　often　regretted　my　hasty　decision。〃
　〃I　could　go　back　with　you　to　Africa。〃
　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Someday；　maybe。　Not　now。　You　can　do　more　for　our　cause　here。〃
　They　turned　in　unison　as　Frederick　Daggat；　casually　attired　in　a　paisley…print　bathrobe；　appeared　from　the　living　room。　〃My　God；　Gen…eral　Lusana。　I　thought　I　recognized　your　voice。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　suitcase　and　his　face　clouded。　〃There　was　no　advance　word　of　your　arrival。　Has　there　been　trouble？〃
　Lusana　grinned　wryly。　〃The　world　is　not　safe　for　revolutionaries。　I　thought　it　expedient　to　return　to　the　Land　of　the　Free　as　inconspicuously　as　possible。〃
　〃But　surely　the　airlines　。　。　。　customs　。　。　。　someone　must　have　an…nounced　your　presence。〃
　Lusana　shook　his　head。　〃I　sat　in　the　pilot's　cabin　on　the　flight　from　Africa。　Arrangements　were　made　for　me　to　leave　the　plane　after　landing　and　bypass　the　Dulles　terminal。〃
　〃We　have　laws　that　frown　on　illegal　entry。〃
　〃I　am　a　citizen。　What　difference　does　it　make？〃
　Daggat's　expression　softened。　He　placed　his　hands　on　Lusana's　shoulders。　〃If　there　is　any　fuss；　my　staff　will　take　care　of　it。　You're　here；　and　that's　all　that　counts。〃
　〃But　why　all　the　subterfuge？〃　asked　Felicia。
　〃For　good　reason。〃　Lusana's　voice　was　very　cold。　〃My　intelligence　people　have　uncovered　a　sensitive　piece　of　information　that　can　prove　highly　embarrassing　to　the　South　African　minority　government。〃
　〃That's　a　serious　charge；〃　said　Daggat。
　〃It's　a　serious　threat；〃　retorted　Lusana。
　Daggat's　eyes　registered　a　mixture　of　confusion　and　curiosity。　He　nodded　toward　the　living　room。　〃e　in　and　sit　down；　General。　We　have　much　to　talk　over。〃
　〃Every　time　I　see　you　it's　like　looking　at　an　old　photograph。　You　never　change。〃
　Felicia　returned　Loren's　admiring　look。　〃Flattery　from　another　woman　is　flattery　indeed。〃　She　idly　stirred　the　ice　in　her　drink。　〃It's　amazing　how　time　evaporates。　How　long　has　it　been…three；　maybe　four　years？〃
　〃The　last　inaugural　ball。〃
　〃I　remember；〃　Felicia　said；　smiling。　〃We　went　to　that　little　dive　down　by　the　river　afterward　and　got　smashed。　You　were　with　a　tall；　sad…looking　dude　with　spaniel　eyes。〃
　〃Congressman　Louis　Carnady。　He　was　defeated　in　the　next　election。〃
　〃Poor　Louis。〃　Felicia　lit　a　cigarette。　〃My　date　was　Hiram　Lusana。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃We　parted　pany　only　last　month　in　Africa；〃　Felicia　said　as　if　Loren　had　not　spoken。　〃I　wonder　if　my　life　has　been　on