cc.vixen03-第47部分

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t　women　thought　a　hand…some　man；　with　a　solid　face　and　a　neatly　styled　mass　of　prematurely　gray　hair。
　Loren　flashed　a　provocative　expression　at　him。　〃Would　you　like　to　open　my　apartment　door　for　me？　The　lock　always　seems　to　stick。〃
　He　smiled。　〃How　can　I　refuse？〃
　They　got　out　of　the　car　and　strolled　through　the　garden　entrance　in　silence。　The　sidewalk　was　wet　and　reflected　the　glow　from　the　street…lights。　Loren　nestled　against　his　body　as　the　cold　drizzle　attacked　their　hair　and　clothes。　The　doorman　greeted　them　and　held　the　elevator　open。　At　her　door　she　fished　in　her　purse　and　handed　Sawyer　the　key。　He　turned　the　lock　and　they　entered。
　〃Fix　yourself　a　drink；〃　she　said；　shaking　out　her　damp　hair。　〃I'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃
　Loren　slipped　into　the　bedroom　and　Sawyer　went　over　to　a　small　portable　bar　and　poured　himself　a　cognac。　He　was　on　his　second　when　Loren　came　back　into　the　room。　She　was　wearing　pajamas　with　a　silvery…gray　wrap　top　and　pants　that　were　lace　edged。　As　she　came　through　the　doorway；　the　light　from　the　bedroom　silhouetted　her　lithe　figure　through　the　vaporous　nylon。　The　bination　of　the　pajamas；　her　cinnamon　hair；　and　her　violet　eyes　suddenly　made　Sawyer　feel　like　a　confused　adolescent。
　〃You　look　ravishing；〃　he　managed　to　say。
　〃Thank　you。〃　She　poured　a　Galliano　for　herself　and　sat　down　next　to　him　on　the　couch。　〃It　was　a　lovely　dinner；　Phil。〃
　〃My　pleasure。〃
　She　moved　closer　and　lightly　caressed　his　hand。　〃You　seem　different　tonight。　I've　never　known　you　to　be　so　relaxed。　Not　once　did　you　mention　the　President。〃
　〃Six　weeks　and　three　days　from　now　the　new　President…elect　takes　the　oath　and　my　eight…year　battle　with　the　gentlemen　and　ladies　of　the　news　media　es　to　an　end。　God；　I　never　thought　I　would　feel　good　about　being　part　of　a　lame…duck　administration。〃
　〃What　are　your　plans　after　the　inauguration？〃
　〃My　boss　has　the　right　idea。　As　soon　as　he　turns　over　the　reins　of　office；　he's　sailing　a　forty…foot　ketch　to　the　South　Pacific；　where　he　says　he's　going　to　drink　and　screw　himself　to　death。〃　Sawyer　lowered　his　glass　and　stared　into　Loren's　eyes。　〃Now；　me；　I　prefer　the　Caribbean；　particu…larly　for　a　honeymoon。〃
　An　edge　of　anticipation　began　to　form　inside　Loren。　〃Anyone　special　in　mind？〃
　Sawyer　set　down　their　glasses　and　took　Loren's　hands　in　his。　〃Con…gresswoman　Smith；〃　he　said　with　mock　seriousness。　〃I　respectfully　implore　you　to　cast　your　vote　in　favor　of　marriage　to　Phil　Sawyer。〃
　Loren's　eyes　grew　somber　and　thoughtful。　Though　she'd　been　sure　this　moment　would　eventually　e；　she　was　still　uncertain　of　her　answer。　Sawyer　misread　Loren's　hesitancy。
　〃I　know　what's　going　through　your　mind；〃　he　said　gently。　〃You're　wondering　what　life　would　be　like　with　an　unemployed　presidential　press　secretary；　right？　Well；　rest　your　fears。　I　have　it　on　good　authority　the　party　leaders　want　me　to　run　for　senator　from　my　home　state　in　the　next　election。〃
　〃In　that　case；〃　she　said　resolutely；　〃the　ayes　have　it。〃
　Sawyer　did　not　see　the　uneasiness　in　Loren's　eyes。　He　took　her　head　in　his　hands　and　gently　kissed　her　on　the　lips。　The　room　seemed　to　blur　and　the　female　scent　that　emanated　from　her　body　closed　over　him。　He　felt　strangely　at　peace　as　he　buried　his　face　in　her　breasts。
　Afterward；　when　Sawyer　lay　spent　and　asleep；　Loren's　tears　stained　the　pillow。　She　had　tried　desperately；　with　all　her　soul。　She　had　loved　hard；　even　forcing　the　expected　animal　sounds　from　her　throat。　But　nothing　worked。　Throughout　their　violent　lovemaking　she　found　herself　paring　Sawyer　to　Pitt。　There　was　no　way　of　logically　explaining　the　difference。　They　both　felt　the　same　inside　her；　and　yet　Pitt　turned　her　into　a　savage；　demanding　animal；　whereas　Sawyer　left　her　empty　and　unfulfilled。
　She　pressed　the　pillow　against　her　face　to　muffle　the　sobs。　Damn　you；　Dirk　Pitt；　she　said　silently。　Damn　you　to　hell！
　〃I'm　not　sure　whose　story　es　off　the　craziest；　Pitt　said；　〃yours　or　mine。〃
　Jarvis　shrugged。　〃Who　can　say。　The　horror　is　that　it's　just　possible　your　Quick　Death　warheads　and　my　Operation　Wild　Rose　might　prove　a　match。〃
　〃An　attack　on　a　major　coastal　city　with　a　battleship　by　South　African　blacks　posing　as　terrorists　of　the　AAR。　It's　lunacy。〃
　〃Wrong；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃The　plan　smacks　of　genius。　A　few　bombs　placed　here　or　there；　or　another　skyjacking；　would　hardly　move　an　entire　nation　to　see　red。　But　an　old　battleship　with　flags　flying；　raining　explo…sives　on　a　helpless　population；　that's　sensationalism　at　its　best。〃
　〃What　city？〃
　〃None　was　specified。　That　part　of　the　plan　remains　a　mystery。〃
　〃Fortunately；　the　prime　ingredient　is　missing。〃
　〃A　battleship；〃　Jarvis　said。
　〃You　said　they've　all　been　removed　from　active　status。〃
　〃The　last　one　was　sold　for　scrap　months　ago。　All　the　rest　are　nonopera…tional　memorials。〃
　Pitt　stared　off　into　space　for　a　moment。　〃I　recall　seeing　a　capital　ship　docked　on　an　inlet　in　Chesapeake　Bay　only　a　few　weeks　ago。〃
　〃More　than　likely　a　heavy…missile　cruiser；〃　said　Jarvis。
　〃No；　I'm　certain　it　had　three　massive　gun　turrets；〃　Pitt　said　firmly。　〃I　was　on　a　flight　to　Savannah　and　the　plane　flew　right　over　it　before　turning　south。〃
　Jarvis　remained　unconvinced。　〃I　have　no　reason　to　doubt　the　accu…racy　of　my　information；　however；　in　the　interest　of　security；　I'll　have　your　sighting　checked　out。〃
　〃There　is　something　else；〃　Pitt　said；　rising　from　the　chair　and　search…ing　a　row　of　encyclopedias　on　a　bookshelf。　He　pulled　out　a　black…bound　volume　and　flipped　the　pages。
　〃Did　you　trigger　another　memory？〃　asked　Jarvis。
　〃Operation　Wild　Rose；〃　answered　Pitt。
　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃The　name。　Can　it　stand　for　anything？〃
　〃Code　names　seldom　have　an　ulterior　meaning；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃It　might　give　them　away。〃
　〃I'll　bet　you　a　vintage　bottle　of　wine　this　one　does。〃
　Pitt　held　out　the　book。　The　pages　were　open　at　a　map。　Jarvis　slipped　on　his　reading　glasses　and　took　a　cursory　glance　at　it。
　〃All　right；　so　Iowa　is　the　Hawkeye　State。　So　what？〃
　Pitt　pointed　to　a　spot　halfway　down　the　right…hand　page。　〃The　state　flower　of　Iowa；〃　he　said　softly；　〃is　the　wild　rose。〃
　The　color　abruptly　washed　from　Jarvis's　face。　〃But　the　battleship　Iowa　was　scrapped。〃
　〃Scrapped；　or　sold　for　scrap？〃　said　Pitt。　〃There　is　a　big　difference。〃
　A　series　of　worry　lines　grew　on　Jarvis's　forehead。
　Pitt　looked　at　Jarvis　and　let　the　worry　lengthen。　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　run　a　check　on　all　shipyards　located　on　the　western　Chesapeake　shoreline　of　Maryland。〃
　〃Your　phone。〃　It　was　more　a　mand　than　a　request。
　Pitt　silently　pointed　to　one　on　an　end　table。
　Jarvis　dialed　a　number。　Then；　as　he　waited　for　an　answer；　he　looked　at　Pitt。　〃Do　you　have　a　car　that　isn't　an　antique？〃
　〃I　have　a　NUMA　car　parked　outside。〃
　〃I　came　in　a　taxi；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃Will　you　do　the　honors？〃
　〃Give　me　a　minute　to　clean　up；〃　Pitt　replied。
　When　Pitt　emerged　from　the　bathroom；　Jarvis　was　waiting　at　the　door。　〃You　were　right；〃　he　said　evenly。　〃As　of　yesterday；　the　battleship　Iowa　was　docked　at　the　Forbes　Marine　Scrap　and　Salvage　Yard；　in　Maryland。〃
　〃I　know　the　facility；〃　said　Pitt。　〃It's　a　few　miles　below　the　bay　entrance　to　the　Patuxent　River。〃
　
　51
　
　As　Pitt　drove　through　the　rain；　Jarvis　seemed　mesmerized　by　the　flailing　windshield　wipers。　Finally　his　eyes　focused　and　he　made　a　casual　gesture　at　the　road　ahead。　〃I　make　the　next　town　to　be　Lexington　Park。〃
　〃Another　four　miles；〃　Pitt　said　without　turning。
　〃There　is　an　all…night　gas　station　on　the　outskirts；〃　Jarvis　continued。　〃Pull　up　at　the　pay　phone。〃
　Minutes　later　the　headlights　picked　out　the　Lexington　Park　city…limits　sign。　In　less　than　a　mile；　around　a　sweeping　curve；　a　brightly　lit　service　station　beckoned　through　the　soggy　night。　Pitt　turned　in　the　driveway　and　parked　beside　an　outside　phone　booth。
　The　station　attendant　sat　warm　and　dry　inside　the　office；　his　feet　propped　up　on　an　old　oil…burning　stove。　He　put　down　his　magazine　and　for　two　or　three　minutes　watched　Pitt　and　Jarvis　suspiciously　through　water…streaked　windows。　Then；　satisfied　they　weren't　acting　like　holdup　men；　he　returned　to　his　reading。　The　pay　phone's　light　blinked　out　and　Jarvis　hurriedly　ducked　back　into　the　passenger　seat。
　〃Any　late　word？〃　Pitt　asked。
　Jarvis　nodded。　〃My　staff　has　uncovered　a　piece　of　discouraging　in…formation。〃
　〃Bad　news　and　dismal　weather　go　hand　in　hand；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃The　Iowa　was　stricken　from　Navy　rolls　and　auctioned　as　surplus。　The　winning　bidder　was　an　outfit　called　the　Walvis　Bay　Investment　Corpora…tion。〃
　〃I've　never　heard　of　it。〃
　〃The　corporation　is　a　financial　front　for　the　African　Army　of　Revolu…tion。〃
　Pitt　gave　a　slight　twist　of　the　wheel　to　avoid　a　deep　puddle　in　the　road。　〃Is　it　possible　Lusana　pulled　the　rug　from　under　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry's　pipe　dreams　by　outbidding　them　for　the　ship？〃
　〃I　doubt　it。〃　Jarvis　shivered　from　the　damp　cold　and　held　his　hands　over　the　dashboard's　defroster　vents。　〃I'm　convinced　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry　bought　the　Iowa；　handling　the　transaction　under　the　guise　of　Walvis　Bay　Investment。〃
　〃You　don't　think　Lusana　is　wise？〃
　〃He　has　no　way　of　knowing；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃It's　mon　policy　to　keep　the　bidders'　names　confidential　upon　request。〃
　〃Ch