tc.redrabbit-第61章

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　　　〃Who？〃　And　she　had　to　ask　that　one；　too。
　　　〃That　I　will　tell　you　when　I　am　in　the　West。〃
　　　〃That　is　a　fair　response；〃　she　had　to　say　in　reply。　Playing　a　little　cagey；　aren't　we？
　　　〃One　other　thing；〃　he　added。
　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　〃Be　very　careful　what　items　you　transmit　to　your　headquarters。　There　is　reason　to　believe　your　munications　are　promised。　You　should　use　one…time　pads；　as　we　do　at　The　Centre。　Do　you　understand　what　I　am　telling　you？〃
　　　〃All　munications　about　you　were　first　encrypted　and　then　dispatched　by　Diplomatic　Bag　to　Washington。〃　When　she　said　that；　the　relief　on　his　face　was　real；　much　as　he　tried　to　hide　it。　And　the　Rabbit　had　just　told　her　something　of　very　great　importance。　〃Are　we　penetrated？〃
　　　〃That；　also；　is　something　I　will　discuss　only　in　the　West。〃
　　　Oh；　shit；　Mary　Pat　thought。　They　have　a　mole　somewhere；　and　he　might　be　in　the　White　House　Rose　Garden　for　all　we　know。　Oh；　shit。。。
　　　〃Very　well；　we　will　take　the　utmost　security　with　your　case；〃　she　promised。　But　that　meant　that　there'd　be　a　two…day　minimum　turnaround　time　for　important　signals。　It　was　back　to　World　War　One　procedures　with　this　guy。　Ritter　would　just　love　that。　〃Can　you　tell　me　what　methods　might　be　safe？〃
　　　〃The　British　changed　their　cipher　machines　about　four　months　ago。　We　have　as　yet　had　no　success　in　cracking　them。　That　I　know。　Exactly　which　of　your　signals　are　promised；　I　do　not　know；　but　I　do　know　that　some　are　fully　penetrated。　Please　keep　this　in　mind。〃
　　　〃That　I　will　do；　Oleg　Ivan'ch。〃　This　guy　had　information　that　CIA　needed…big…time。　Cracked　munications　were　the　most　dangerous　things　that　could　happen　to　any　covert　agency。　Wars　had　been　won　and　lost　over　such　things　as　that。　The　Russians　lacked　American　puter　technology；　but　they　did　have　some　of　the　world's　finest　mathematicians；　and　the　brain　between　a　person's　ears　was　the　most　dangerous　instrument　of　all；　and　a　damned　site　more　petent　that　the　ones　that　sat　on　a　desk　or　a　floor。　Did　Mike　Russell　have　any　of　the　old　one…time　pads　at　the　embassy？　CIA　had　used　them　once　upon　a　time；　but　their　cumbersome　nature　had　caused　them　to　be　discarded。　NSA　told　everybody　who'd　listen　that　on　his　best　day；　Seymour　Cray　couldn't　brute…force　their　ciphers；　even　with　his　brand…new　CRAY…2　superputer　on　amphetamines。　If　they　were　wrong；　it　could　hurt　America　in　ways　too　vast　to　prehend。　But　there　were　many　cipher　systems；　and　those　who　cracked　one　could　not　necessarily　crack　another。　Or　so　everybody　said。。。　but　munications　security　was　not　her　area　of　expertise。　Even　she　had　to　trust　someone　and　something　once　in　a　while。　But　this　was　like　being　shot　in　the　back　by　the　starting　gun　in　a　hundred…meter　race　and　having　to　run　for　the　tape　anyway。　Damn。
　　　〃It　is　an　inconvenience；　but　we　will　do　what　is　necessary　to　protect　you。　You　want　to　be　taken　out　soon。〃
　　　〃This　week　would　be　very　helpful…not　so　much　for　my　needs　as　for　the　needs　of　a　man　whose　life　is　in　danger。〃
　　　〃I　see；〃　she　said；　not　quite　seeing。　This　guy　might　be　laying　a　line　on　her；　but　if　so；　he　was　doing　it　like　a　real　pro；　and　she　wasn't　getting　that　signal　from　this　guy。　No；　he　didn't　read　like　an　experienced　field　spook。　He　was　a　player；　but　not　her　kind　of　player。
　　　〃Very　well。　When　you　get　to　work　tomorrow；　make　a　contact　report；〃　she　told　him。
　　　That　one　surprised　him：　〃Are　you　serious？〃
　　　〃Of　course。　Tell　your　supervisor　that　you　met　an　American；　the　wife　of　a　minor　embassy　official。　Describe　me　and　my　son…〃
　　　〃And　tell　them　you　are　a　pretty　but　shallow　American　female　who　has　a　handsome　and　polite　little　boy；〃　he　surmised。　〃And　your　Russian　needs　a　little　work；　shall　we　say？〃
　　　〃You　learn　quickly；　Oleg　Ivan'ch。　I　bet　you　play　a　good　game　of　chess。〃
　　　〃Not　good　enough。　I　will　never　be　a　Grand　Master。〃
　　　〃We　all　have　our　limitations；　but　in　America　you　will　find　them　far　more　distant　than　they　are　in　the　Soviet　Union。〃
　　　〃By　the　end　of　the　week？〃
　　　〃When　my　husband　wears　his　bright　red　tie；　you　set　the　time　and　place　for　a　meeting。　Possibly　by　tomorrow　afternoon　you　will　get　your　signal；　and　we　will　make　the　arrangements。〃
　　　〃Good　day　to　you；　then。　Where　did　you　learn　your　Russian？〃
　　　〃My　grandfather　was　equerry　to　Aleksey　Nikolayevich　Romanov；〃　she　explained。　〃In　my　childhood；　he　told　me　many　stories　about　the　young　man　and　his　untimely　death。〃
　　　〃So；　your　hatred　for　the　Soviet　Union　runs　deep；　eh？〃
　　　〃Only　for　your　government；　Oleg。　Not　for　the　people　of　this　country。　I　would　see　you　free。〃
　　　〃Someday；　perhaps；　but　not　soon。〃
　　　〃History；　Oleg　Ivan'ch；　is　made　not　of　a　few　big　things　but　of　many　small　things。〃　That　was　one　of　her　core　beliefs。　Again；　for　the　cameras　that　might　be　there　or　not；　she　shook　his　hand　and　called　her　son。　They　walked　around　the　park　for　another　hour　before　heading　back　home　for　lunch。
　　　But　for　lunch　instead　they　all　drove　to　the　embassy；　talking　on　the　way　about　nothing　more　sensitive　than　the　admirably　clear　weather。　Once　there；　they　all　had　hot　dogs　in　the　embassy　canteen；　and　then　Eddie　went　to　the　day…care　room。　Ed　and　Mary　Pat　went　to　his　office。
　　　〃He　said　what？〃　the　Chief　of　Station　snapped。
　　　〃He　said　his　wife…named　Irina；　by　the　way…doesn't　know　his　plans；〃　Mary　Pat　repeated。
　　　〃Son　of　a　bitch！〃　her　husband　observed　at　once。
　　　〃Well；　it　does　simplify　some　of　our　exposure。　At　least　she　can't　let　anything　slip。〃　His　wife　was　always　the　optimist；　Ed　saw。
　　　〃Yeah；　baby；　until　we　try　to　make　the　exfiltration；　and　she　decides　not　to　go　anywhere。〃
　　　〃He　says　she'll　do　what　he　says。　You　know；　the　men　here　like　to　rule　the　roost。〃
　　　〃That　wouldn't　work　with　you；〃　the　Chief　of　Station　pointed　out。　For　several　reasons；　not　the　least　of　which　was　that　her　balls　were　every　bit　as　big　as　his。
　　　〃I'm　not　Russian；　Eddie。〃
　　　〃Okay；　what　else　did　he　say？〃
　　　〃He　doesn't　trust　our　ms。　He　thinks　some　of　our　systems　are　promised。〃
　　　〃Jesus！〃　He　paused。　〃Any　other　good　news？〃
　　　〃The　reason　he's　skipping　town　is　that　KGB　wants　to　kill　somebody　who；　he　says；　doesn't　deserve　to　be　killed。〃
　　　〃Did　he　say　who？〃
　　　〃Not　until　he　breathes　free　air。　But　there　is　good　news。　His　wife　is　a　classical　music　buff。　We　need　to　find　a　good　conductor　in　Hungary。〃
　　　〃Hungary？〃
　　　〃I　was　thinking　last　night。　Best　place　to　get　him　out　from。　That's　Jimmy　Szell's　station；　isn't　it？〃
　　　〃Yeah。〃　They　both　knew　Szell　from　time　at　The　Farm；　CIA's　training　installation　in　Tidewater；　Virginia；　off　Interstate　64；　a　few　miles　from　Colonial　Williamsburg。　〃I　always　thought　he　deserved　something　bigger。〃　Ed　took　a　second　to　think。　〃So；　out　of　Hungary　via　Yugoslavia；　you're　thinking？〃
　　　〃I　always　knew　you　were　smart。〃
　　　〃Okay。。。〃　His　eyes　fixed　on　a　blank　part　of　the　wall　while　his　brain　went　to　work。　〃Okay；　we　can　make　that　work。〃
　　　〃Your　flag　signal's　a　red　tie　on　the　metro。　Then　he　slips　you　the　meeting　arrangement；　we　do　that；　and　the　Rabbit　skips　out　of　town；　along　with　Mrs。　Rabbit　and　the　Bunny…oh；　you'll　love　this；　he　already　calls　his　daughter　zaichik。〃
　　　〃Flopsy；　Mopsy；　and　Cotton…tail？〃　Ed　exercised　his　sense　of　humor。
　　　〃I　like　that。　Call　it　Operation　BEATRIX；〃　she　suggested。　Both　of　them　had　read　Mrs。　Potter's　Peter　Rabbit　as　kids。　Who　hadn't？
　　　〃The　problem's　going　to　be　getting　Langley's　approval。　If　we　can't　use　normal　m　channels；　coordinating　everything　is　going　to　be　a　major　pain　in　the　ass。〃
　　　〃They　never　told　us　at　The　Farm　that　this　job　was　easy。　So　remember　what　John　Clark　told　us。　Be　flexible。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　like　linguine。〃　He　let　out　a　long　breath。　〃With　the　munications　limitations；　it　essentially　means　we　plan　it　and　run　it　out　of　this　office；　with　no　help　from　the　Home　Office。〃
　　　〃Ed；　that's　the　way　it's　supposed　to　be　anyway。　All　Langley　does　is　tell　us　we　can't　do　what　we　want　to　do〃…which　was；　after　all；　the　function　of　every　home　office　in　every　business　in　the　world。
　　　〃Whose　ms　can　we　trust？〃
　　　〃The　Rabbit　says　the　Brits　just　set　up　a　new　system　they　can't　crack…yet；　anyway。　Do　we　have　any　one…time　pads　left　here？〃
　　　The　COS　shook　his　head。　〃Not　that　I　know　of。〃　Foley　lifted　his　phone　and　punched　the　right　numbers。　〃Mike？　You're　in　today？　Want　to　e　over　here？　Thanks。〃
　　　Russell　arrived　in　a　couple　minutes。　〃Hey；　Ed…hello；　Mary。　What　are　you　doing　in　the　shop　today？〃
　　　〃Got　a　question。〃
　　　〃Okay。〃
　　　〃Got　any　one…timers　left？〃
　　　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　　　〃We　just　like　the　extra　security；〃　she　replied。　The　studiedly　casual　reply　didn't　work。
　　　〃You　telling　me　my　systems　aren't　secure？〃　Russell　asked　in　well…hidden　alarm。
　　　〃There　is　reason　to　believe　some　of　our　encryption　systems　are　not　fully　secure；　Mike；〃　Ed　told　the　embassy　munications　Officer。
　　　〃Shit；〃　he　breathed；　then　turned　with　some　embarrassment。　〃Oh；　sorry；　Mary。〃
　　　She　smiled。　〃It's　okay；　Mike。　I　don't　know　what　the　word　means；　but　I've　heard　it　spoken　before。〃　The　joke　didn't　quite　get　to　Russell。　The　previous　revelation　was　too　earthshaking　for　him　to　see　much　humor　at　the　moment。
　　　〃What　can　you　tell　me　about　that？〃
　　　〃Not　a　thing；　Mike；〃　the　Station　Chief　said。
　　　〃But　you　think　it's　solid？〃
　　　〃Regrettably；　yes。〃
　　　〃Okay；　back　in　my　safe　I　do　have　a　few　old　pads；　eight　or　nine　years　old。　I　never　got　rid　of　them…you　just　never　know；　y'know？〃
　　　〃Michael；　you're　a　good　man。〃　Ed　nodded　his　approval。
　　　〃They're　good　for　maybe　ten　dispatches　of　about　a　hundred　words　each…assuming　they　still　have　matching　pads　at　Fort　Meade；　but　the　guys　I　report　to　don't　throw　much　away。　They　will　have　to　dig　them　out　of　some　file　drawer；　though。〃
　　　〃How　hard　to　use　them？〃
　　　〃I　hate　the　goddamned　things。　You　know　why。　Damn　it；　guys；　the　new　STRIPE　cipher　is　just　a　year　old。　The　new　Brit　system　is　an　adaptation　of　it。　I　know　the　team　in　Z…Division　who　developed　it。　I'm　talking　128…bit　keying；　plus　a　daily　key　that's　unique　to　the　individual　machines。　No　way　in　hell　you　can　crack　that。〃
　　　〃Unless　they　have　an　agent…in…place　at　Fort　Meade；　Mike；〃　Ed　pointed　out。
　　　〃Then　let　me　get　my　hands　on　him；　and　I'll　skin　the　motherfucker　alive　with　my　Buck　hunting　knife。〃　The　very　thought　had　jacked　up　his　blood　pressure　enough　that　he　didn't　apologize　to　the　lady　present　for　his　vulgarity。　This　black　man　had　killed　and　skinned　his　share　of　white…tailed　deer；　but　he　still　had　a　hankering　to　convert　a　bear　into　a　rug；　and　a　big　ol'　Russian　brown　bear　would　suit　him　just　fine。　〃Okay；　I　can't　tell　The　Fort　about　this？〃
　　　〃Not　with　STRIPE　you　can't；〃　Foley　answered。
　　　〃Well；　when　you　hear　a　big；　angry　shout　from　the　West；　you'll　know　what　it　is。〃
　　　〃Better　you　don't　discuss　this　with　anybody　right　now；　Mike；〃　Mary　Pat　thought　out　loud。　〃They'll　find　out　soon　enough　through　other　channels。〃
　　　That　told　Russell　that　the　Rabbit　signal　he'd　dispatched　the　other　day　was　about　somebody　they　wanted　to　get　out　in　a　hurry；　and　now　he　figured　he　knew　why。　Their　Rabbit　was　a　munications　specialist；　and　damned　sure　when　you　got　one　of　those；　you　got　him　the　hell　on　the　first　train　out　of　Dodge。　Soon　enough　meant　right　the　hell　now；　or　as　close　to　it　as　you　could　arrange。
　　　〃Okay；　get　me　your　signal。　I'll　encrypt　it　on　my　STRIPE　machine　and　then　one…time…pad　it。　If　they're　reading　my　signals〃…he　managed　not　to　shudder…〃will　that　tell　them　anything？〃
　　　〃You　tell　me；〃　Ed　Fol