rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第21章

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。　Beria　poisoned　him。〃
　〃What　are　you　getting　at？〃
　〃That　Beria's　directive　was　to　protect　the　smallpox；　not　Yardeni。〃
　〃But　Yardeni　was　carrying　the　samples。　You　saw　the　container。〃
　〃Did　I；　General？　All　I　saw　was　a　container。　Don't　you　want　to　know　what's　inside？〃
　
　
　The　shuttle　bus　from　the　train　station　rolled　through　the　thickening　Moscow　traffic。　Because　of　the　hour；　Ivan　Beria　was　one　of　only　six　passengers　on　board。　Sitting　by　the　rear　exit　doors；　he　watched　a　stream　of　militia　cars　wail　down　the　boulevard　to　the　station　and　listened　as　the　other　passengers　speculated　about　what　was　happening。
　If　they　only　knew。。。
　Beria　was　not　concerned　that　the　bus　might　be　stopped。　Not　even　Major…General　Kirov；　the　man　who　had　placed　a　hundred…thousand…ruble　reward　on　his　head；　could　organize　so　thorough　a　search　in　so　short　a　time。　Kirov's　first　act　would　be　to　check　with　the　taxi　dispatchers。　Police　at　the　train　station　would　be　shown　a　photograph　and　asked　if　anyone　answering　that　description　had　gotten　into　a　private　car。　Kirov　might　eventually　think　about　the　bus；　but　not　soon　enough　to　do　him　any　good。
　The　bus　clattered　across　streetcar　tracks；　then　struggled　up　a　ramp　onto　the　circular　highway　that　rings　the　city。　He　checked　to　make　sure　that　the　container　he'd　taken　from　Yardem　was　secure　in　his　pocket。　Confusion　and　misdirection　were　his　allies：　they　would　buy　him　the　time　he　needed。　As　soon　as　Kirov　checked　Yardeni's　corpse；　he　would　discover　the　container　Beria　had　given　the　Bioaparat　guard。　Kirov　would　believe　that　it　held　the　smallpox　samples　stolen　from　Building　103。　His　first　thought　would　be　to　get　them　to　a　secure　location；　but　he　would　have　no　reason　to　check　them。　By　the　time　that　was　done；　the　smallpox　would　be　safely　in　the　West。
　Beria　smiled　and　turned　to　the　windows　as　the　sprawling　plex　of　Sheremetevo　Airport　came　into　view。
　
　The　outriders　peeled　away　as　the　truck　carrying　Yardeni's　container　turned　into　the　underground　garage　of　the　Serbsky　Institute。　The　sedan　with　Kirov　and　Smith　pulled　up　close　enough　to　the　truck　for　the　two　men　to　observe　the　unloading　of　the　stainless…steel　biohazard　safe。
　〃It'll　be　taken　to　the　Level　Four　labs　two　stories　below；〃　Kirov　told　Smith。
　〃How　long　before　we　know　what　we　have？〃
　〃Thirty　minutes。〃　Kirov　paused。　〃I　wish　it　could　be　faster；　but　procedures　must　be　followed。〃
　Smith　had　no　quarrel　with　that。
　Acpanied　by　a　squad　of　newly　arrived　Federal　Security　Service　agents；　they　took　an　elevator　to　the　second　floor。　The　institute's　director；　a　thin；　birdlike　man；　blinked　rapidly　when　Kirov　informed　him　that　his　office　was　now　a　central　mand　post。
　〃Let　me　know　the　instant　the　test　results　are　available；〃　Kirov　told　him。
　The　director　snatched　his　lab　smock　off　the　coat　rack　and　beat　a　hasty　retreat。
　Kirov　turned　to　Smith。　〃Jon。　Under　the　circumstances　it's　time　you　told　me　exactly　why　you　came　here　and　who　you're　working　for。〃
　Smith　considered　the　general's　words。　Given　the　possibility　that　the　Russians　had　not　been　able　to　contain　the　smallpox　theft　within　their　borders；　he　had　no　choice　but　to　contact　Klein　immediately。
　〃Can　you　set　me　up　with　munications？〃
　Kirov　gestured　at　the　telephone　console　on　the　desk。　〃All　the　lines　are　secured　satellite　links。　I'll　wait　out…〃
　〃No；〃　Smith　interrupted。　〃You　need　to　hear　this。〃
　He　dialed　the　number　that　magically　always　connected　him　to　Klein。　The　voice　on　the　other　end　was　crisp　and　clear。
　〃Klein　here。〃
　〃Sir；　it's　me。　I'm　in　the　director's　office　at　the　Serbsky　Institute。　Major…General　Kirov　is　with　me。　I　need　to　bring　you　up　to　speed；　sir。〃
　〃Go　ahead；　Jon。〃
　It　took　Smith　ten　minutes　to　give　a　plete　account　of　events。　〃Sir；　we　expect　to　have　test　results　in〃　…he　checked　his　watch…　〃fifteen　minutes。〃
　〃Put　me　on　the　speaker；　please；　Jon。〃
　A　moment　later；　Klein's　voice　flooded　the　room。　〃General　Kirov？〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃My　name　is　Nathaniel　Klein。　I　do　the　same　work　that　Valeri　Antonov　does　for　your　government。　In　fact；　I　know　Valeri　quite　well。〃
　Smith　watched　the　color　drain　from　Kirov's　face。
　〃General？〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　here。　I。。。　I　understand　what　you're　telling　me；　Mr。　Klein。〃
　Kirov　understood　all　too　well。　Valeri　Antonov　was　more　a　shadow　than　a　man。　Rumored　to　be　Potrenko's　most　trusted　adviser；　he　was　never　seen　at　council　meetings。　In　fact；　few　people　had　ever　seen　him。　Yet　his　influence　was　undeniable。　That　Klein　knew　of　Antonov's　existence…　that　he　knew　him　quite　well…　spoke　volumes。
　〃General；〃　Klein　said。　〃I　remend　that　until　we　have　more　information；　you　do　not　alert　any　of　your　state　security　organizations。　Mention　plague　and　you'll　have　a　panic　on　your　hands　that　Beria　will　use　to　his　advantage。〃
　〃I　agree；　Mr。　Klein。〃
　〃Then　please　take　what　I'm　about　to　say　in　the　spirit　it's　offered：　is　there　anything　that　I　or　any　U。S。　agency　can　do　to　help　you？〃
　〃I　appreciate　the　offer…　sincerely；〃　Kirov　replied。　〃But　right　now；　this　is　an　internal　Russian　matter。〃
　〃Are　there　any　standby　measures　you'd　suggest　we　take？〃
　Kirov　looked　at　Smith；　who　shook　his　head。　〃No；　sir。　Not　at　this　time。〃
　A　second　line　on　the　console　buzzed。　〃Mr。　Klein；　please　excuse　me　for　a　moment。〃
　Kirov　picked　up　the　other　call　and　listened　intently。　After　speaking　a　few　words　in　Russian；　he　turned　to　Smith。
　〃The　test　results　on　the　contents　of　the　first　ampoule　are　plete；〃　he　said　tonelessly。　〃It　is　tea；　not　smallpox。〃
　Klein's　breath　whistled　across　the　ether。　〃How　many　ampoules　are　there？〃
　〃Five。　There　is　no　reason　to　think　that　the　other　results　will　be　any　different。〃
　〃Beria　made　a　switch！〃　Smith　said。　〃He　took　Yardeni's　container　and　gave　him　a　dummy　to　carry。〃　He　paused。　〃That's　why　Yardeni　was　poisoned。　Beria　wanted　us　to　find　what　he　was　carrying；　to　think　that　we'd　caught　the　thief　in　time。〃
　〃That　makes　sense；〃　Kirov　said。　〃If　Beria's　original　plan　had　stood；　we　would　have　discovered　the　theft　later。　By　then；　Yardeni　would　have　died；　but　identifying　the　body　would　have　taken　time。　The　pieces　of　the　puzzle　would　have　been　scattered　all　over　Moscow。　Beria　would　have　had　ample　time　to　finish　his　mission。〃
　〃What　exactly　is　his　mission？〃　Klein　spoke　up。
　〃To　spirit　the　smallpox　out　of　the　country；〃　Smith　said　slowly。
　Kirov　looked　at　Smith。　〃The　airport！　Beria's　carrying　the　smallpox；　headed　straight　for　Sheremetevo！〃
　The　implications　of　Kirov's　conclusion　stilled　the　conversation。　Smallpox　on　a　mercial　airliner　bound　for　God　knows　where　。。。。　It　was　insane！
　〃Why　Sheremetevo；　General？〃　Smith　asked。
　〃It's　the　only　logical　place　to　go。　How　else　could　he　hope　to　get　the　virus　out　of　the　country？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　he's　right；　Jon。　General；　is　there　any　way　you　can　get　to　Beria　before　he　gets　to　Sheremetevo？〃
　〃Given　his　head　start；　no　chance。　The　best　I　can　do　is　call　President　Potrenko　and　have　him　shut　it　down。〃
　〃I　suggest　you　do　that　immediately。　If　a　plane　with　Beria　onboard　gets　off　the　ground；　we　have　the　makings　of　a　holocaust！〃
　
　Ivan　Beria　got　off　the　bus　after　it　had　pulled　into　the　departures　area　of　the　international　terminal。　Because　of　the　time　difference　between　Moscow　and　Western　capitals；　most　flights　left　early　in　the　morning。　Those　having　business　in　Zurich；　Paris；　London；　or　even　New　York　would　arrive　just　as　the　wheels　of　merce　in　those　cities　started　to　churn。
　Beria　scrutinized　the　uniformed　patrols　loitering　by　the　check…in　counters。　Detecting　no　unusual　activity　or　heightened　security；　he　walked　down　the　concourse　toward　the　duty…free　and　gift　shops。　On　the　way；　he　slowed　his　stride　a　fraction　to　glance　at　the　monitor　that　listed　the　morning's　departures。　The　flight　he'd　been　told　to　look　for　had　just　menced　boarding。
　Beria　walked　up　to　the　plate…glass　window　of　the　duty…free　shop　and　pretended　to　study　the　perfume　and　cigar　displays。　As　he　moved　closer　to　the　entrance；　he　watched　for　the　man　whom　he　was　supposed　to　meet。
　A　minute　crawled　by　as　passengers　entered　and　left　the　shop。　Beria　began　to　wonder　if　his　contact　was　inside。　There　was　no　way　to　check；　since　he　couldn't　enter　the　duty…free　area　without　a　boarding　pass。
　Then　he　saw　what　he　was　looking　for：　a　shiny；　bald　pate　sticking　out　of　the　crowd。　As　he　moved　closer；　he　noted　the　second　distinguishing　feature：　the　distinct　egg…shaped　eyes　that　gave　Adam　Treloar　his　perplexed；　slightly　startled　expression。
　〃David；〃　he　called　out　softly。
　Treloar；　who　had　been　milling　around　the　entrance　to　the　shop；　almost　fainted　when　he　heard　the　code　name。　He　looked　around；　trying　to　find　the　speaker；　then　felt　a　touch　at　his　elbow。
　〃David；　I　thought　I　had　missed　you。〃
　Treloar　stared　at　the　cold；　dark　eyes　of　the　man　standing　in　front　of　him。　The　thin　smile；　meant　to　reassure；　reminded　him　of　a　razor　slash。
　〃You're　late！〃　Treloar　whispered。　〃I've　been　waiting…〃
　He　heard　Beria's　chuckle；　then　gasped　as　an　incredibly　tight　grip　seized　his　arm。　He　offered　no　resistance　as　Beria　steered　him　to　a　refreshment　stand　and　sat　him　down　at　the　end　of　the　counter。
　〃Oranges　and　lemons。。。〃　Beria　said　in　a　singsong　tone。
　For　an　instant；　Treloar's　mind　went　blank。　Desperately；　he　tried　to　remember　the　words　that　would　plete　the　phrase。
　〃Say。。。　Say　the　bells　of　Saint　Clemens！〃
　Beria　smiled。　〃Give　me　your　carry…on。〃
　Treloar　reached　for　the　small　leather　bag　at　his　feet　and　placed　it　on　the　counter。
　〃The　liquor。〃
　Treloar　dug　out　a　small　bottle　of　plum　brandy　that　he'd　bought　at　the　hotel　gift　shop。
　Unscrewing　the　cap；　Beria　raised　the　bottle　to　his　lips　and　pretended　to　drink。　He　passed　it　to　Treloar；　who　mimicked　him。　At　the　same　time；　Beria　slipped　the　container　from　his　pocket　onto　the　counter。
　〃Smile；〃　he　said　conversationally。　〃We　are　two　friends　sharing　a　drink　before　one　of　us　has　to　leave。〃　Treloar's　eyes　bulged　as　Beria　unscrewed　the　container。　〃And　because　we　can't　finish　the　bottle；　I　give　you　the　rest　to　enjoy　during　your　flight。〃
　Carefully；　he　poured　a　few　ounces　of　brandy　into　the　container。　〃Now；　if　the　inspectors　wish　to　check；　you　open　it　and　let　them　smell　what's　inside。〃
　Pushing　back　his　stool；　Beria　gripped　Treloar's　shoulder。　〃Have　a　safe　flight。〃　He　winked。　〃And　forget　that　you　ever　saw　me。〃
　
　The　all…points　bulletin　on　Ivan　Beria　reached　Sheremetevo　security　just　as　Adam　Treloar　was　going　through　the　metal　detector。　The　guard　manning　the　scanner　noted　a　cylindrical　object　in　the　carry…on　and　asked　the　American　to　step　aside。　Another　guard　opened　the　bag；　removed　the　container；　and　unscrewed　it。　Smelling　a　distinctive　plum　odor；　he　smiled　and　closed　the　top。
　Handing　it　back　to　Treloar；　he　offered　some　advice：　〃Your　brandy　is　too　cold。　It　tastes　much　better　when　it's　warm。〃
　By　the　time　a　squad　of　militia　flooded　the　international　terminal；　Treloar　was　safely　ensconced　in　his　first…class　seat。　The　American　Airlines　767　was　pulled　back　from　the　gate　just　as　airport　security　began　reviewing　their　surveillance　tapes；　searching　for　anyone　who　resembled　Ivan　Beria。
　American　flight　1710；　nonstop　to　London　with　continuing　service　to　Washington's　Dulles　Airport；　was　number　two　for　takeoff　behind　a　Paris…bound　Air　France　Airbus。　The　call　from　the　minister　of　defense　reached　the　flight　director　in　the　cont