cc.vixen03-第44部分

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　〃One　of　these　days　you're　going　to　bust　your　gut。〃　Jarvis　paused　and　looked　up　into　the　solemn　face　of　Jack　Ravenfoot；　head　of　the　agency's　domestic　division。　Ravenfoot　was　all　muscle　and　bone；　the　only　full…blooded　Cheyenne　in　Washington　who　had　a　Phi　Beta　Kappa　key　from　Yale　and　held　the　retired　rank　of　modore。
　〃I'd　rather　consume　fattening；　savory　goodies　than　that　salted　buffalo　jerky　and　boiled　prairie　gopher　you　call　food。〃
　Ravenfoot　stared　up　at　the　ceiling。　〃e　to　think　of　it；　I　haven't　had　prairie　gopher…good　prairie　gopher；　that　is…since　the　victory　celebra…tion　after　Little　Big　Horn。〃
　〃You　guys　really　know　how　to　stick　it　to　a　paleface　where　it　hurts；〃　Jarvis　said；　grinning。　〃Pull　up　a　chair。〃
　Ravenfoot　remained　standing。　〃No　thanks。　I've　got　a　meeting　in　five　minutes。　While　I've　got　you；　John　Gossard；　in　the　Africa　Section；　mentioned　that　you　had　a　handle　on　some　far…out　project　dealing　with　battleships。〃
　Jarvis　slowly　chewed　a　piece　of　the　apple　pie。　〃Battleship；　singular。　What's　on　your　mind？〃
　〃An　old　friend　from　my　Navy　days；　James　Sandecker…〃
　〃The　director　of　NUMA？〃　Jarvis　said；　interrupting。
　〃The　same。　He　asked　me　to　track　down　a　particular　load　of　old　sixteen…inch　naval　shells。〃
　〃And　you　thought　of　me。〃
　〃Battleships　mounted　sixteen…inch　guns；〃　said　Ravenfoot。　〃I　should　know。　I　was　executive　officer　aboard　the　New　Jersey　during　the　Vietnam　orgy〃
　〃Any　idea　what　Sandecker　wants　them　for？〃　asked　Jarvis。
　〃He　claims　a　team　of　his　scientists　want　to　drop　them　on　Pacific　coral　formations。〃
　Jarvis　halted　between　bites。　〃He　what？〃
　〃They're　conducting　seismological　tests。　It　seems　armor…piercing　shells　dropped　from　a　plane　at　two　thousand　feet　on　coral　make　a　rumble　nearly　identical　to　an　earthquake！〃
　〃I　should　think　ground　explosives　would　achieve　the　same　purpose。〃
　Ravenfoot　shrugged。　〃I　can't　argue　the　point。　I'm　no　seismologist。〃
　Jarvis　dug　into　the　lemon　meringue。　〃I　see　nothing　of　interest　to　the　evaluation　section　or；　for　that　matter；　a　sinister　design　to　the　admiral's　request。　Where　does　Sandecker　figure　these　special　shells　are　stored？〃
　〃The　AAR　has　them。〃
　Jarvis　took　a　sip　of　his　coffee　and　patted　his　mouth　with　a　napkin。　〃Why　deal　with　the　AAR　when　old　naval　ordnance　can　be　picked　up　at　most　any　surplus…arms　dealer？〃
　〃An　experimental　type　developed　near　the　end　of　the　Korean　war　and　never　fired　in　anger。　Sandecker　says　they　work　far　better　than　the　standard　projectile。〃　Ravenfoot　leaned　on　the　backrest　of　a　chair。　〃I　checked　with　Gossard　on　the　AAR　involvement。　He　thinks　Sandecker　is　mistaken。　The　guerrillas　need　those　shells　like　a　high　jumper　needs　gallstones…his　exact　words。　It's　his　guess　that　the　shells　NUMA　wants　are　rusting　in　a　naval　depot　somewhere。
　〃And　if　the　AAR　actually　possessed　the　shells；　how　would　Sandecker　deal　with　them？〃
　〃Make　them　a　trade；　I　suppose；　or　buy　the　shells　at　an　inflated　price。　After　all；　it's　only　taxpayer　money。〃
　Jarvis　sat　back　and　poked　his　fork　at　the　meringue。　He　wasn't　hungry　anymore。　〃I'd　like　to　talk　to　Sandecker。　Do　you　mind？〃
　〃Be　my　guest。　You'd　probably　do　better　working　through　his　special…projects　director；　though。　He's　the　guy　who's　heading　up　the　search。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　〃Dirk　Pitt。〃
　〃The　fellow　who　raised　the　Titanic　a　few　months　back？〃
　〃The　same。〃　Ravenfoot　held　up　his　wristwatch　and　noted　the　time。　〃I　have　to　run　along。　If　you　get　a　lead　on　those　shells；　I'd　appreciate　a　call。　Jim　Sandecker　is　an　old　friend。　I　still　owe　him　a　favor　or　two。〃
　〃Count　on　it。〃
　Jarvis　sat　for　several　minutes　after　Ravenfoot　left；　poking　his　fork　idly　at　the　pie。　Then　he　rose　and　walked　back　to　his　office；　lost　in　thought。
　Barbara　Gore　knew　the　instant　her　boss　stepped　through　the　door　that　his　intuition　was　working　overtime。　She　had　seen　that　haunted　look　of　deep　concentration　too　many　times　not　to　recognize　it。　Without　waiting　to　be　asked；　she　picked　up　her　pad　and　pencil　and　followed　Jarvis　into　his　private　office。　Then　she　sat　down；　crossed　her　magnificent　legs；　and　waited　patiently。
　He　stayed　on　his　feet　and　stared　at　the　wall。　Then　he　turned　slowly　and　his　eyes　came　back　in　focus。　〃Call　Gossard　and　set　up　a　meeting　with　his　Africa　Section　staff；　and　tell　him　I'd　like　another　look　at　the　Operation　Wild　Rose　folder。〃
　〃You've　changed　your　mind？　There　may　be　something　to　it　after　all？〃　He　didn't　answer　immediately。　〃Maybe；　just　maybe。〃　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃Yes；　ask　the　ID　department　to　send　up　whatever　they　have　on　Admiral　James　Sandecker　and　a　Dirk　Pitt。〃　〃Aren't　they　with　NUMA？〃　Jarvis　nodded。
　Barbara　gave　him　a　questioning　look。　〃Surely　you　don't　think　there　is　a　connection。〃
　〃Too　early　to　tell；〃　said　Jarvis　thoughtfully。　〃You　might　say　that　I'm　picking　up　loose　threads　to　see　if　they　run　to　the　same　spool。〃
　
　48
　
　Frederick　Daggat　and　Felicia　Collins　were　waiting　in　the　limousine　when　Loren　came　through　the　portico　of　the　Capitol。　They　watched　as　she　gracefully　skipped　down　the　steps；　her　cinnamon　curls　trailing　in　a　light　breeze。　She　wore　a　persimmon　pantsuit　with　double…buttoned　blazer　and　vest。　A　long　gray　silk　scarf　curled　around　her　neck。　Her　briefcase　was　covered　with　the　same　material　as　the　suit。
　Daggat's　chauffeur　opened　the　door　for　her。　She　slipped　beside　Felicia　as　Daggat　gallantly　took　one　of　the　jump　seats。　〃You　look　lovely；　Loren；〃　Daggat　said　familiarly…too　familiarly。　〃It　was　obvious　the　minds　of　my　male　colleagues　were　elsewhere　when　you　stood　up　on　the　House　floor　in　that　outfit。〃
　〃Being　a　woman　has　its　advantages　during　debate；〃　she　said　coolly。　〃You　look　stylish；　Felicia。〃
　A　strange　look　flashed　over　Felicia's　face。　The　last　thing　she　expected　from　Loren　was　a　pliment。　She　smoothed　the　skirt　of　her　creamy　white　jersey　dress　and　avoided　Loren's　eyes。
　〃It's　good　of　you　to　see　us；〃　she　said　quietly。
　〃Did　I　have　a　choice？〃　Loren's　face　was　a　mask　of　resentment。　〃I'm　afraid　to　ask　what　you　demand　of　me　this　time。〃
　Daggat　raised　the　window　behind　the　chauffeur。　〃The　vote　es　up　tomorrow　on　whether　or　not　to　grant　aid　to　the　African　Army　of　Revolu…tion。〃
　〃So　you　two　poked　your　heads　above　the　slime　to　see　if　I　was　still　in　the　fold；〃　Loren　said　bitterly。
　〃You　refuse　to　understand；〃　said　Felicia。　〃There　is　nothing　personal　in　this。　Frederick　and　I　do　not　stand　to　gain　financially。　Our　only　reward　is　the　advancement　of　our　race。〃
　Loren　stared　at　her。　〃So　you　sink　to　blackmail　to　further　your　great　moral　cause。〃
　〃If　it　means　saving　countless　thousands　of　lives；　yes。〃　Daggat　spoke　as　though　he　were　lecturing　a　child。　〃Each　day　the　war　continues　brings　a　hundred　deaths。　The　blacks　will　eventually　win　in　South　Africa。　A　foregone　conclusion。　It　is　the　manner　in　which　they　win　that　is　impor…tant。　Hiram　Lusana　is　not　a　murderous　psychopath　like　Idi　Amin　was。　He　has　assured　me　that　when　he　bees　Prime　Minister；　the　only　major　change　he　seeks　is　equal　rights　for　South　Africa's　black　people。　All　democratic　principles　the　present　government　was　founded　upon　will　remain　in　effect。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　fool　enough　to　accept　the　word　of　a　criminal？〃　asked　Loren。
　〃Hiram　Lusana　grew　up　in　one　of　the　worst　slums　in　the　nation；〃　Daggat　continued　patiently。　〃His　father　deserted　his　mother　and　nine　children　when　he　was　eight。　I　don't　expect　you　to　understand　what　it's　like　to　pimp　for　your　own　sisters　in　order　to　put　food　on　the　table；　Congresswoman　Smith。　I　don't　expect　you　even　to　imagine　living　in　a　fifth…floor　tenement　with　newspapers　stuffed　in　the　cracks　to　keep　out　blowing　snow；　with　overflowing　toilets　because　there　is　no　water；　with　an　army　of　rats　waiting　to　scavenge　when　the　sun　goes　down。　If　crime　is　your　only　means　to　exist；　then　you　embrace　it　with　open　arms。　Yes；　Lusana　was　a　criminal。　But　when　his　opportunity　came　to　rise　above　the　filth；　he　snatched　it　and　turned　his　energies　toward　fighting　the　very　circumstances　that　cursed　him。〃
　〃Then　why　play　God　in　Africa？〃　Loren　said　defiantly。　〃Why　doesn't　he　fight　to　improve　conditions　for　blacks　in　his　own　country？〃
　〃Because　Hiram　fervently　believes　our　race　must　have　a　firm　base　to　rise　from。　The　Jews　look　with　pride　toward　Israel；　you　Anglo…Saxons　have　a　rich　British　heritage。　Our　homeland；　on　the　other　hand；　is　still　struggling　to　emerge　from　a　primitive　society。　It's　no　secret　the　blacks　who　have　taken　over　most　of　Africa　have　made　an　unholy　mess　of　it。　Hiram　Lusana　is　our　one　hope　to　steer　the　black　race　in　the　right　direction。　He　is　our　Moses　and　South　Africa　is　our　Promised　Land。〃
　〃Aren't　you　overly　optimistic？〃
　Daggat　looked　at　her。　〃Optimistic？〃
　〃According　to　the　latest　military　reports　from　South　Africa；　their　Defence　Forces　crossed　into　Mozambique　and　destroyed　the　AAR　and　its　headquarters。〃
　〃I　read　the　same　reports；〃　said　Daggat；　〃and　nothing　has　changed。　A　temporary　setback；　perhaps；　nothing　more。　Hiram　Lusana　is　still　alive。　He　will　raise　a　new　army；　and　I　intend　to　do　all　in　my　power　to　aid　him。〃
　〃Amen；　brother；〃　Felicia　added。
　The　three　of　them　were　too　wrapped　up　in　their　own　thoughts　to　notice　a　car　pulling　in　front　of　the　limousine　and　then　slowing　down。　At　the　next　stoplight　the　driver　swung　the　car　to　the　curb　and　leaped　out。　Before　Daggat's　chau