alistairmaclean.seawitch-第16章

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can　talk　too　much。　You　thinking　what　I'm　thinking？〃
　Roomer　nodded。　〃The　Seawitch。〃
　At　thirty…three　thousand　feet；　Lord　Worth　had　just　pleted　a　light　but　delicious　lunch　acpanied　by　a　splendid　Bordeaux　wine；　specially　laid　down　for　him　in　a　Rothschild　winery。　He　had　regained　his　habitual　calm。　He　had；　he　reckoned；　touched　his　nadir。　All　that　could　happen　had　happened。　In　mon　with　Larsen；　Mitchell　and　Roomer；　he　was　convinced　that　the　fates　could　touch　him　no　more。　AH　four　were　pletely　and　terribly　wrong。　The　worst　was　yet　to　e。　It　was；　in　fact；　happening　right　then。
　Colonel　Farquharson；　Lieutenant…Colonel　Dewings；　and　Major　Breckley　were　not　in　fact　the　people　their　ID　cards　claimed　they　were；　for　the　sufficient　reason　that　there　were　no　officers　of　that　rank　with　corresponding　names　in　the　U。　S。　Army。　But　then；　it　was　a　very　big　army；　and　nobody；　not　even　the　officers；　could　possibly　be　expected　to　know　the　names　of　more　than　a　tiny　fraction　of　their　fellow　officers。　Nor　were　their　faces　their　normal　faces；　although　they　could　hardly　be　described　as　being　heavily　disguised。　The　man　responsible　had　been　a　Hollywood　make…up　artist　who　preferred　subtlety　to　false　beards。　All　three　men　were　dressed　in　sober　and　well…cut　business　suits。
　Farquharson　presented　his　card　to　the　corporal　at　the　outer　reception　desk。　〃Colonel　Farquharson　to　see　Colonel　Pryce。〃　〃I'm　afraid　he's　not　here；　sir。〃　〃Then　the　officer　in　charge；　soldier。〃　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　A　minute　later　they　were　seated　before　a　young　and　apprehensive　Captain　Martin；　who　had　just　finished　a　rather　reluctant　and　very　perfunctory　scrutiny　of　the　ID　cards。
　Farquharson　said：　〃So　Colonel　Pryce　has　been　called　to　Washington。　I　can　guess　why。〃
　He　didn't　have　to　guess。　He　himself　had　put　through　the　fake　call　that　had　led　to　Pryce's　abrupt　departure。　〃And　his　second　in　mand？〃　〃Flu；　sir。〃　Martin　sounded　apologetic。　〃At　this　time　of　year？　How　inconvenient。　Especially　today。　You　can　guess　why　we're　here。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Martin　looked　slightly　unhappy。　〃Security　check。　I　had　a　phone　call　telling　me　of　the　break…ins　into　the　Florida　and　Louisiana　depots。〃　Dewings　had　put　through　that　one。　〃I'm　sure　you'll　find　everything　in　order；　sir。〃
　〃Doubtless。　I　have　already　discovered　something　that　is　not　in　order。〃
　〃Sir？〃　There　was　a　definite　apprehension　now　in　Martin's　voice　and　appearance。
　〃Security…consciousness。　Do　you　know　that　there　are　literally　dozens　of　shops　where　I　cpuld　buy；　perfectly　legally；　a　general's　uniform。　Those　are　the　specialty　shops　that　cater　primarily　to　the　film　and　stage　industries。　If　I　walked　in　dressed　in　such　a　uniform；　would　you　accept　me　for　what　my　uniform　proclaimed　me　to　be？〃
　〃I　suppose　I　would；　sir。〃
　〃Well；　don't。　Not　ever　again。〃　He　glanced　at　his　identity　card　lying　on　the　desk。　〃Forging　one　of　those　presents　no　problems。　When　a　stranger　makes　an　appearance　in　a　top　security　place　like　this；　always；　always；　check　his　identity　with　Area　mand。　And　always　talk　only　to　the　manding　officer。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Do　you　happen　to　know　his　name？　Fm　new　here。〃
　〃Major…General　Harsworth。〃
　Martin　had　the　corporal　at　the　front　desk　put　him　through。　On　the　first　ring　a　voice　answered。　〃Area　mand。〃
　The　voice　did　not　in　fact　e　from　Area　mand。　It　came　from　a　man　less　than　half　a　mile　away；　seated　at　the　base　of　a　telephone　pole。　He　had　with　him　a　battery…powered　transceiver。　An　insulated　copper　line　from　that　led　up　to　an　alligator　clip　attached　to　one　of　the　telephone　wires。
　Martin　said：　〃Netley　Rowan　Arsenal。　Captain　Martin。　I'd　like　to　speak　to　General　Harsworth。〃
　〃Hold　on；　please。〃　There　was　a　series　of　clicks；　a　pause　of　some　seconds；　then　the　same　voice　said：　〃On　the　line；　Captain。〃
　Martin　said：　〃General　Harsworth。〃
　〃Speaking。〃　The　man　by　the　telephone　pole　had　deepened　his　voice　by　an　octave。　〃Problems；　Captain　Martin？〃
　〃I　have　Colonel　Farquharson　with　me。　He　insists　that　I　check　out　his　identity　with　you。〃
　The　voice　at　the　other　end　was　sympathetic。　〃Been　getting　a　security　lecture？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I　have；　sir。〃
　〃The　colonel's　very　hot　on　security。　He's　with　Lieutenant…Colonel　Dewings　and　Major　Breck…ley？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Well；　it's　hardly　the　end　of　your　professional　career。　But　he's　right；　you　know。〃
　Farquharson　himself　took　the　wheel　of　the　car　on　the　three…mile　journey；　a　chastened；　pliant　Martin　sitting　up　front　beside　him。　A　fifteen…foot…high　electrical…warning　barbed…wire　fence　surrounded　the　arsenal；　a　squat；　gray；　windowless　building　covering　almost　half　an　acre　of　land。　A　sentry　with　a　machine　carbine　barred　the　entrance　to　the　pound。　He　recognized　Captain　Martin；　stepped　back　and　saluted。　Farquharson　drove　up　to　the　one　and　only　door　of　the　building　and　halted。　The　four　men　got　out。　Farquharson　said　to　Martin：　〃Major　Breckley　has　never　been　inside　a　TNW　installation　before。　A　few　illuminating　ments；　perhaps？〃　It　would　be　illuminating　for　Farquharson　also。　He　had　never　been　inside　an　arsenal　of　any　description　in　his　life。
　〃Yes；　sir；　TNW…Tactical　Nuclear　Warfare；　Walls　thirty…three　inches　thick；　alternating　steel　and　ferroconcrete。　Door　ten　inches　tungsten　steels。　Both　walls　and　door　capable　of　resisting　the　equivalent　of　a　fourteen…inch　armor…piercing　naval　shell。　This　glass　panel　is　recording　us　on　TV　videotape。　This　meshed　grill　is　a　two…way　speaker　which　also　records　our　voices。〃　He　pressed　a　button　sunk　in　the　concrete。
　A　voice　came　through　the　grill。　〃Identification；　please？〃
　〃Captain　Martin　with　Colonel　Farquharson　and　security　inspection。〃　〃Code？〃
　〃Geronimo。〃　The　massive　door　began　to　slide　open　and　they　could　hear　the　hum　of　a　powerful　electrical　motor。　It　took　all　of　ten　seconds　for　the　door　to　open　to　its　fullest　extent。　Martin　led　them　inside。
　A　corporal　saluted　their　entrance。　Martin　said：　〃Security　inspection　tour。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　corporal　didn't　seem　too　happy。
　Farquharson　said：　〃You　worried　about　something；　soldier？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃Then　you　should　be。〃
　Martin　said：　〃Something　wrong；　sir？〃　He　was　patently　nervous。
　〃Four　things。〃　Martin　dipped　his　head　so　that　Farquharson　couldn't　see　his　nervous　swallowing。　One　thing　would　have　been　bad　enough。
　〃In　the　first　place；　that　sentry　gate　should　be　kept　permanently　locked。　It　should　only　be　opened　after　a　phone　call　to　your　HQ　and　an　electronic　link　for　opening　the　gate　installed　in　your　office。　What's　to　prevent　a　person　or　persons　with　a　silenced　automatic　disposing　of　your　sentry　and　driving　straight　up　here？　Second；　what　would　prevent　people　walking　through　the　open　doorway　and　spraying　us　all　with　submachine　guns？　That　door　should　have　been　shut　the　moment　we　passed　through。〃　The　corporal　started　to　move　but　Farquharson　stopped　him　with　upraised　hand。
　〃Third；　all　people　who　are　not　base　personnel…such　as　we…should　be　fingerprinted　on　arrival。　I　will　arrange　to　have　your　guards　trained　in　those　techniques。　Fourth；　and　most　important；　show　me　the　controls　for　those　doors。〃
　〃This　way；　sir。〃　The　corporal　led　the　way　to　a　small　console。　〃The　red　button　opens；　the　green　one　closes。〃
　Farquharson　pressed　the　green　button。　The　massive　door　hissed　slowly　closed。　〃Unsatisfactory。　Totally。　Those　are　the　only　controls　to　operate　the　door？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Martin　looked　very　unhappy　indeed。
　〃We　shall　have　another　electronic　link　established　with　your　HO；　which　will　render　those　buttons　inoperable　until　the　correct　signal　is　sent。〃　Farquharson　was　showing　signs　of　irritation。　〃I　would　have　thought　ah*　those　things　were　self…evident。〃
　Martin　smiled　weakly。　〃They　are　now；　sir。〃
　〃What　percentage　of　explosives；　bombs　and　shells　stored　here　are　conventional？〃
　〃Close　to　ninety…five　per　cent；　sir。〃
　〃Fd　like　to　see　the　nuclear　weapons　first。〃
　〃Of　course；　sir。〃　A　now　thoroughly　demoralized　Martin　led　the　way。
　The　TNW　section　was　partmented　off　but　not　sealed。　One　side　was　lined　with　what　appeared　to　be　shells；　stowed　on　racks；　the　other；　with　pear…shaped　metal　canisters　about　thirty　inches　high；　with　buttons；　a　clockface　and　a　large　knurled　screw　on　top。　Beyond　them　were　stacked　suitcases；　each　with　two　leather　handles。
　Breckley　indicated　the　pear…shaped　canisters。　〃What　are　those？　Bombs？〃
　〃Both　bombs　and　land　mines。〃　Martin　seemed　glad　to　talk　and　take　his　mind　off　his　troubles。　〃Those　controls　on　top　are　relatively　simple。　Before　you　get　at　those　two　red　switches　you　have　to　unscrew　those　two　transparent　plastic　covers。　The　switches　have　then　to　be　turned　ninety　degrees　to　the　right。　They　are　then　still　in　the　safe　position。　They　then　have　to　be　flipped　ninety　degrees　to　the　left。　This　is　the　ready…to…activate　position。
　〃Before　that　is　done；　you　have　to　put　the　time　setting　on　the　clock。　That　is　done　by　means　of　this　knurled　knob　here。　One　plete　turn　means　a　one…minute　time　delay　which　will　show　up　on　this　clockface　here。　It　registers　in　seconds；　as　you　can　see。　Total　time　delay　is　thirty　minutes…　thirty　turns。〃
　〃And　this　black　button？〃
　〃The　most　important　of　them　all。　No　cover　and　no　turning。　You　might　want　to　get　at　it　in　a　hurry。　Depressing　that　stops　the　clock　and；　in　fact；　deactivates　the　bomb。〃
　〃What's　the　area　of　damage？〃
　〃pared　to　the　conventional　atom　bomb；　tiny。　The　vaporization　area　would　be　a　quarter…mile　radius。　Perhaps　less。　The　blast；　shock　and　radiation　areas　would；　of　course；　be　considerably　greater。〃
　〃You　mean　they　can　be　used　as　both　bombs　and　mines？〃
　〃Instead　of　mines；　maybe　I　should　have　said　an　explosive　device　for　use　on　land。　As　bombs　the　setting　would　probably　be　only　six　seconds…　in　tactical　warfare　they　would　be　carried　by　low…flying　supersonic　planes。　They'd　be　about　two　　　miles　clear　by　the　time　the　bomb　went　off　and　moving　too　fast　for　the　shock　waves　to　catch　up　with　them。　For　land　use…well；　say　you　wanted　to　infiltrate　an　ammunition　dump。　You'd　check　how　long　it　would　take　you　to　infiltrate　there；　calculate　how　long　it　would　take　you　to　get　out　and　clear　of　the　blast　zone；　and　set　the　timer　accordingly。
　〃The　missiles　here…〃
　〃We've　seen　and　heard　enough；〃　Farquharson　said。　〃Kindly　put　your　hands　up。〃
　Five　minutes　later；　with　the　furiously　reluctant　assistance　of　Martin；　they　had　loaded　two　of　the　bombs；　safely　concealed　in　their　carrying　cases；　into　the　trunk　of　their　car。　In　the　process　the　purpose　of　the　two　carrying　handles　became　clear：　each　bomb　must　have　weighed　at　least　ninety　pounds。
　Farquharson　went　back　inside；　looked　indifferently　at　the　two　bound　men；　pressed　the　button　and　slipped　through　the　doorway　as　the　door　began　to　close。　He　waited　until　the　door　was　pletely　shut；　then　climbed　into　the　front　seat　beside　Martin；　who　was　at　the　wheel　this　time。　Farquharson　said：　〃Remember；　one　false　move　and　you're　a　dead　man。　We　will；　of　course；　have　to　kill　the　sentry　too。〃
　There　were　no　false　moves。　About　a　mile　from　the　building　the　car　stopped　by　a　thicket　of　stunted　trees。　Martin　was　marched　deep　into　the　thicket；　bound；　gagged　and　attached　to　a　tree　just　in　case　he　might　have　any　ideas　about　jack…knifing　his　way　down　to　the　roadside。　Farquhar…son　looked　down　at　him。
　〃Your　security　was　lousy。　We'll　phone　your　HQ　in　an　hour　or　so；　let　them　know　where　they　can　find　you。　I　trust　there　are　not　too　many　rattlesnakes　around。〃
　
　
　Chapt