rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第18章

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an。
　〃You　don't　leave　for　another　three　minutes。〃
　〃This　train　leaves　when　I　say　it　does；　and　to　hell　with　you！〃
　The　conductor　was　about　to　step　off　the　platform　when；　without　warning；　he　found　himself　slammed　up　against　the　train　car's　steel　flank。　The　voice　in　his　ear　was　as　soft　as　a　serpent's　tongue。
　〃The　schedule　has　changed！〃
　The　conductor　felt　something　being　jammed　into　his　hand。　When　he　dared　to　glance　down；　he　discovered　a　roll　of　American　dollars　in　his　fist。
　〃Go　give　the　engineer　whatever　he　needs；〃　Beria　whispered。　〃I'll　tell　you　when　we　leave。〃
　He　pushed　the　conductor　away；　watched　him　half　run；　half　stumble　toward　the　lootive。　He　checked　his　watch。　The　man　from　Bioaparat　was　late；　even　the　bribe　would　not　delay　the　train　for　very　long。
　Beria　had　arrived　in　Vladimir　earlier　in　the　week。　His　principal　had　told　him　to　expect　a　man　ing　out　of　Bioaparat。　Beria　was　to　guarantee　safe　passage　of　both　the　man　and　what　he　was　carrying　to　Moscow。
　Beria　had　waited　patiently；　staying　mostly　in　a　cold　little　room　in　the　town's　better　hotel。　The　call　he'd　been　expecting　had　e　only　a　few　hours　ago。　His　principal　spoke　of　a　change　in　plans；　a　need　to　improvise。　Beria　had　listened　and　assured　the　principal　that　he　could　a　acmodate　these　unforeseen　developments。
　He　checked　his　watch。　The　train　should　have　left　five　minutes　ago。　There　was　the　fat　conductor；　waddling　back　from　the　lootive。　He；　too；　was　looking　at　a　watch。
　Beria　recalled　the　armored　column　he　had　heard　and　glimpsed　earlier　that　evening。　Thanks　to　his　principal；　he　knew　everything　he　needed　to　about　the　Special　Forces；　where　they　were　headed；　and　why。　If　the　man　from　Bioaparat　hadn't　made　it　out　of　the　pound…
　He　heard　the　pounding　of　heavy　boots　on　the　platform。　His　hand　dipped　into　his　coat　pocket；　his　fingers　curling　around　the　butt　of　his　Taurus　9mm。　He　relaxed　his　grip　as　the　figure　ran　under　a　pool　of　light。　He　recognized　the　features　that　had　been　described　to　him。
　〃Yardeni？〃
　The　lieutenant's　chest　was　heaving　with　exertion。　〃Yes！　And　you　are…〃
　〃The　one　you　were　told　would　meet　you。　Otherwise；　how　would　I　know　your　name？　Now　get　in。　We're　late。〃
　Beria　pushed　the　young　guard　up　the　train　car's　platform。　When　the　conductor　came　up；　wheezing；　he　held　more　money　under　his　nose。
　〃This　is　only　for　you。　I　want　privacy。　And　if　there　are　any　delays　on　the　way　to　Moscow；　you　will　tell　me　at　once。　Understand？〃
　The　conductor　snatched　the　money。
　The　train　was　moving　even　as　Beria　steered　Yardeni　down　the　narrow　corridor　of　the　car　and　into　a　first…class　partment。　The　seats　had　been　converted　to　sleeperettes；　plete　with　small　soiled　pillows　and　threadbare　blankets。
　〃You　have　something　for　me；〃　Beria　said；　locking　the　door　and　pulling　down　the　shade。
　Yardeni　took　his　first　good　look　at　his　contact。　Yes；　the　sepulchral　voice　on　the　phone　could　have　belonged　to　someone　like　this。　Suddenly　he　was　very　glad　that　he　was　younger；　bigger；　and　stronger　than　the　monklike　figure　wrapped　in　black。
　〃I　was　told　that　you　would　have　something　for　me；〃　he　replied。
　Beria　pulled　out　a　sealed　envelope；　watching　as　Yardeni　opened　it　and　examined　the　contents：　a　Canadian　passport；　an　Air　Canada　ticket；　cash；　several　credit　cards。
　〃Is　everything　in　order？〃　he　asked。
　Yardeni　nodded；　then　reached　into　his　jacket　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　aluminum　canister。
　〃Be　careful。　It's　very　cold。〃
　Beria　did　not　touch　the　cylinder　until　he'd　put　on　gloves。　He　held　it　for　a　moment；　like　a　money　trader　hefting　a　pouch　of　gold　dust；　then　set　it　aside。　He　brought　out　an　identical　container　and　handed　it　to　Yardeni。
　〃What's　this？〃　the　young　guard　demanded。
　〃Hold　on　to　it。　That's　all　you　need　to　know　for　now。〃　He　paused。　〃Tell　me　what　happened　at　Bioaparat。〃
　〃Nothing　happened。　I　went　in；　got　the　material；　and　came　out。〃
　〃You　were　on…camera　the　whole　time？〃
　〃There　was　nothing　I　could　do　about　that。　I　told　your　people…〃
　〃When　are　tapes　reviewed？〃
　〃At　the　beginning　of　the　new　shift；　about　four　hours　from　now。　What　does　it　matter？　It's　not　like　I'll　be　going　back。〃
　〃There　was　no　problem　at　the　gate？〃
　Yardeni　was　a　very　smooth　liar；　he　just　didn't　know　the　kind　of　man　he　was　up　against。
　〃None。〃
　〃I　see。　And　you　managed　to　get　out　before　the　Special　Forces　arrived。〃
　Yardeni　couldn't　hide　his　surprise。　〃I'm　here；　aren't　I？〃　he　barked。　〃Listen；　I'm　tired。　You　have　anything　to　drink？〃
　Silently；　Beria　withdrew　a　pint　of　brandy　and　handed　it　to　Yardeni；　who　examined　the　label。
　〃French；〃　he　remarked　as　he　tore　off　the　foil　seal。
　Yardeni　raised　the　bottle；　took　a　generous　swallow；　then　sighed。　After　unlacing　his　boots；　he　removed　his　parka　and　folded　it　into　a　pillow。　As　he　stretched　out；　Beria　stood　up。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Yardeni　asked。
　〃To　the　bathroom。　Don't　worry。　I　won't　wake　you　when　I　return。〃　Beria　stepped　into　the　corridor；　locked　the　door　behind　him；　and　walked　to　the　end　of　the　car。　He　lowered　the　top　half　of　a　window　just　enough　so　that　the　antenna　on　his　cell　phone　would　protrude　through　the　crack。　Seconds　later；　the　connection　to　Moscow　was　established；　the　voice　on　the　other　end　as　clear　as　if　the　party　was　standing　next　to　him。
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　　
　The　pounding　on　the　door　wrenched　Smith　out　of　a　light　sleep。　He　fumbled　for　the　bedside　lamp　as　two　militiamen　burst　in；　followed　by　Lara　Telegin。
　〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃　he　demanded。
　〃Please　e　with　me；　Doctor；〃　Telegin　replied。　Stepping　closer；　she　lowered　her　voice。　〃There　have　been　developments。　The　general　needs　to　see　you　in　his　office　immediately。　We'll　be　waiting　outside。〃
　Smith　dressed　quickly　and　followed　Telegin　to　a　waiting　elevator。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃The　general　will　brief　you；〃　Telegin　said。
　They　walked　through　an　empty　lobby　to　a　sedan　idling　at　the　curb　outside。　The　ride　to　Dzerzhinsky　Square　took　less　than　ten　minutes。　Smith　detected　no　unusual　activity　in　the　building　until　they　reached　the　fifteenth　floor。　The　halls　were　filled　with　uniformed　personnel　rushing　from　office　to　office；　dispatches　in　hand。　In　the　cubicles；　young　men　and　women　were　hunched　over　puter　keyboards；　talking　quietly　into　headsets。　A　keen　urgency　crackled　in　the　air。
　〃Dr。　Smith。　I　would　say　good　morning　except　it　is　anything　but　that。　Lara；　close　the　door；　would　you？〃
　Smith　took　stock　of　Kirov；　thinking　that　he　too　must　have　been　rousted　from　his　bed　not　long　ago。
　〃What　do　you　have？〃
　Kirov　passed　him　a　glass　of　tea　set　in　a　filigree　metal　holder。　〃Earlier　this　morning；　President　Potrenko　ordered　the　Special　Forces　contingent　outside　Vladimir　to　surround　the　Bioaparat　plex　and　establish　a　cordon　sanitaire。　This　was　done　without　incident。
　〃For　the　next　several　hours；　everything　was　quiet。　However；　thirty　minutes　ago；　a　roving　patrol　reported　that　two　guards　had　been　found　dead…　murdered…　at　their　post。〃
　Smith　felt　a　cold　sensation　deep　in　his　stomach。　〃Did　the　Special　Forces　intercept　anyone　ing　out？〃
　Kirov　shook　his　head。　〃No。　Nor　did　anyone　try　to　get　in。〃
　〃What　about　the　security　inside　the　plex…　specifically　Building　103？〃
　Kirov　turned　to　Telegin。　〃Play　the　tape。〃
　She　aimed　the　remote　at　a　wall…mounted　monitor。　〃This　is　the　video　from　the　security　cameras　inside　103。　Please　note　the　time　stamp　in　the　lower…right　corner。〃
　Smith　watched　the　black…and…white　images　on　the　screen。　A　big；　uniformed　guard　walked　down　a　corridor　and　disappeared　into　Zone　Two。　Another　set　of　cameras　picked　him　up　in　the　changing　rooms　in　the　decontamination　areas。
　〃Freeze　that！〃　Smith　pointed　to　the　canister　that　the　guard；　now　in　full　biohazard　gear；　was　holding　in　his　left　hand。　〃What's　that？〃
　〃You'll　see　for　yourself　in　a　minute。　Lara？〃
　The　tape　rolled　on。　With　growing　incredulity；　Smith　watched　the　guard　enter　the　refrigerated　walk…in　safe　and　begin　removing　ampoules。
　〃Tell　me　that's　not　smallpox。〃
　〃I　wish　I　could；〃　Kirov　replied。
　The　suited…up　thief　pleted　his　work　and　returned　to　the　first　of　the　decontamination　chambers。
　〃Where　are　the　backup　security　measures？〃　Smith　demanded。　〃How　the　hell　could　he　just　walk　in　like　that？〃
　〃The　same　way　your　security　personnel　at　USAMRIID　can　walk　into　your　vaults；〃　Lara　Telegin　snapped。　〃Our　system　is　almost　a　duplicate　of　yours；　Doctor。　We　rely　just　as　heavily　on　coded　locks　and　electronic　countermeasures　as　you　do　in　order　to　reduce　the　risk　of　the　human　factor。　But　in　the　end；　it　always　es　down　to　one　man。〃　She　paused。　〃Bioaparat　guards　are　subjected　to　an　intensive　screening　procedure。　Still；　you　cannot　see　into　a　man's　soul；　can　you？〃
　Smith's　eyes　were　riveted　on　the　screen；　which　showed　a　close…up　of　Grigori　Yardem's　face。
　〃He　doesn't　care　if　the　camera　captures　him。　It's　as　though　he　knows　there's　nothing　he　can　do　about　it。〃
　〃Precisely；〃　Kirov　said；　and　quickly　explained　why　the　guards　on　duty　could　not　tamper　with　the　tapes　made　during　their　watch。
　〃If　we　hadn't　installed　this　feature；　it　would　have　taken　far　longer　to　identify　the　thief。　As　it　is…〃
　〃As　it　is；　he　knew　he　was　never　ing　back。　How　the　hell　could　he　have　gotten　through　the　quarantine？〃
　〃Please　note　the　time；〃　Kirov　said；　pointing　to　the　corner　of　the　screen。　〃The　theft　occurs　before　the　Special　Forces　are　in　position。　This　one　had　the　devil's　own　luck：　he　managed　to　get　out　only　minutes　before　Colonel　Kravchenko　began　deploying　his　troops。〃
　〃Is　that　why　he　killed　the　guards　at　the　post…　because　he　was　in　a　hurry？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure。〃　Kirov　looked　at　him　carefully。　〃What　are　you　getting　at；　Doctor？〃
　〃This　guy　had　to　have　had　a　solid　plan；〃　Smith　said。　〃Okay；　he　knew　he　was　going　to　get　caught　on　camera。　He　didn't　care；　he　must　have　made　some　provisions　for　that。　But　I　don't　believe　he　intended　to　kill　the　guards。　It　makes　no　sense。　Why　take　the　chance　that　the　bodies　might　be　discovered　before　he　pletes　his　escape？　I　think　he　had　to　act　sooner　than　he'd　anticipated；　that　he　knew　the　Special　Forces　were　on　their　way…　and　why。〃
　〃Are　you　suggesting　he　had　an　informer；　an　acplice；　on　the　outside？〃　Telegin　demanded。
　〃How　does　it　look　to　you；　Lieutenant？〃　Smith　retorted。
　〃We　will　consider　that　possibility　later；〃　Kirov　said。　〃Right　now；　we　must　track　down　this　Grigori　Yardeni。　The　amount　of　smallpox　he　took。。。〃
　Smith　closed　his　eyes。　A　hundredth　of　that　amount　could；　if　properly　dispersed；　infect　a　population　of　a　million　or　more。
　〃What　countermeasures　have　you　initiated？〃
　Kirov　pressed　a　button　on　his　desk　and　a　wall　panel　slid　back　to　reveal　a　giant　screen。　The　action　it　depicted　was　in　real　time。
　He　indicated　a　moving　red　dot。　〃An　Ilyushin　transport　from　the　Medical　Intelligence　Division…　our　virus　hunters…　is　en　route　to　Vladimir。　They　will　be　the　ones　to　enter　Bioaparat…　no　one　else。〃
　He　pointed　to　a　blue　circle。　〃This　is　the　quarantine　established　by　the　Special　Forces　team。　Here〃　…he　gestured　to　three　yellow　dots…　〃we　have　the　reinforcements　from　Sibiyarsk；　already　in　the　air。　They　consist　of　a　battle…ready　battalion　that　will　cordon　off　Vladimir。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Those　poor　people　will　wake　up　to　discover　they're　prisoners。〃
　Smith　turned　to　the　monitor；　which　still　showed　the　hulking　figure　in　the　antiplague　suit。　〃What　about　him？〃
　Tele