rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第31章

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　would　feel　safe　because　they'd　think　they　knew　exactly　what　law　enforcement's　next　step　would　be。
　〃Plus；　if　we　hunt　Beria　without　publicity；　and　the　conspirators　have　no　idea　what　it　is　we're　doing；　they　might　believe　that　the　threat　of　his　capture　outweighs　his　usefulness；〃　Smith　added。　〃In　which　case；　he'd　end　up　like　Yardeni　and　Treloar。〃
　〃Point　taken；　Mr。　Smith；〃　the　president　agreed。　〃I　presume　you　have　a　plan　for　Beria？〃
　〃Yes；　I　do；　sir；〃　Smith　replied　quietly；　and　began　to　describe　it。
　
　Inspector　Marco　Dionetti　of　the　Venice　Questura　stepped　nimbly　from　the　police　launch　to　the　dock　in　front　of　his　palazzo。　He　returned　the　constable's　salute　and　watched　the　boat　as　it　disappeared　into　the　passing　canal　traffic；　the　vessels　lit　up　from　bow　to　stern。
　At　the　front　door　Dionetti　deactivated　the　security　system　before　entering。　His　cook　and　servant　were　both　old　women　who　had　been　in　his　household　for　decades。　Neither　was　any　match　for　a　burglar；　and　since　the　palazzo　had　enough　treasures　to　fill　a　small　museum；　precautions　were　necessary。
　Dionetti　picked　up　the　mail　waiting　for　him　in　the　foyer。　Proceeding　to　the　drawing　room；　he　settled　into　a　club　chair　and　slit　open　the　letter　from　the　Offenbach　Bank　in　Zurich。　He　sipped　his　aperitif　and　nibbled　on　black　Kalamata　olives　while　scrutinizing　the　balance　in　his　account。　The　Americans　might　be　many　things…　none　of　them　good…　but　they　never　missed　a　payment。
　Marco　Dionetti　did　not　concern　himself　with　the　big　picture。　He　did　not　care　why　the　Rocca　brothers　had　to　kill　or　why　they　had　to　die。　True；　his　conscience　had　been　pricked　when　he'd　sold　Peter　Howell。　But　Howell　had　traveled　to　Sicily　and　would　never　be　heard　from　again。　In　the　meantime；　the　Dionetti　legacy；　courtesy　of　American　dollars；　would　continue　to　flourish。
　After　a　refreshing　shower；　Dionetti　took　his　solitary　meal　at　the　great　table　that　could　seat　thirty。　When　coffee　and　dessert　had　been　served　he　dismissed　the　servants；　who　retired　to　their　quarters　on　the　fourth　floor。　Lost　in　thought；　Dionetti　nibbled　on　strawberries　drenched　in　Cointreau　and　daydreamed　of　where　he　might　vacation；　courtesy　of　American　largesse。
　〃Good　evening；　Marco。〃
　Dionetti　choked　on　the　fruit　in　his　mouth。　He　stared　in　disbelief　as　Peter　Howell　entered　the　room　as　calmly　as　if　he　were　an　invited　guest　and　took　a　seat　at　the　other　end　of　the　long　table。
　From　inside　his　smoking　jacket　Dionetti　whipped　out　a　Beretta；　leveling　it　across　twenty　feet　of　ancient　cherrywood。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　demanded　hoarsely。
　〃Why；　Marco？　Was　I　supposed　to　be　dead？　Is　that　what　they　told　you？〃
　Dionetti's　mouth　worked　like　that　of　a　landed　fish。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about！〃
　〃Then　why　hold　a　gun　on　me？〃
　Very　carefully　Howell　opened　his　palm　and　placed　a　small　vial　on　the　table。
　〃Did　you　enjoy　your　dinner；　Marco？　The　risotto　di　mare　smelled　excellent。　And　the　strawberries…　are　you　enjoying　them？〃
　Dionetti　stared　at　the　vial；　then　at　the　few　berries　at　the　bottom　of　his　bowl。　He　tried　to　push　away　the　dark　thoughts　crowding　his　mind。
　〃Are　you　guessing　that　I　somehow　managed　to　poison　the　fruit；　Marco？　After　all；　I　got　past　your　security。　Your　servants　never　suspected　there　was　anyone　in　the　house。　Would　it　have　been　so　difficult　to　drop　a　little　atropine　into　the　dessert？〃
　The　gun　barrel　began　to　waver　as　Dionetti　absorbed　what　Howell　was　saying。　Atropine　was　an　organic　poison　found　in　the　belladonna　family。　Tasteless；　odorless；　it　killed　by　attacking　the　central　nervous　system。　Frantically　Dionetti　tried　to　remember　how　fast　the　poison　worked。
　〃On　someone　of　your　height　and　weight；　I　should　think　about　four；　five　minutes…　given　the　amount　I　used；〃　Howell　informed　him。　He　tapped　the　vial　on　the　table。　〃But　here　is　the　antidote。〃
　〃Pietro；　you　have　to　understand…〃
　〃I　understand　that　you　betrayed　me；　Marco；〃　Howell　replied　harshly。　〃That　is　all　I　need　to　understand。　And　if　you　didn't　have　something　I　need　you'd　be　dead　by　now。〃
　〃But　I　can　kill　you　right　now！〃　Dionetti　hissed。
　Howell　shook　his　head　in　reproof。　〃You　took　a　shower；　remember？　You　left　your　gun　in　its　holster　on　the　bathroom　counter。　I　took　the　bullets；　Marco。　If　you　don't　believe　me；　shoot。〃
　Dionetti　squeezed　the　trigger。　All　he　heard　were　clicks；　like　nails　being　driven　into　his　coffin。
　〃Pietro；　I　swear…〃
　Howell　held　up　his　hand。　〃Time　is　crucial　to　you；　Marco。　I　know　that　American　soldiers　killed　the　Roccas。　Did　you　help　them？〃
　Dionetti　licked　his　lips。　〃I　told　them　how　the　Roccas　intended　to　make　their　escape。〃
　〃And　you　knew　this　how？〃
　〃I　received　my　instructions　over　the　telephone。　The　voice　was　electronically　altered。　I　was　told　to　first　help　the　Roccas；　then　the　soldiers　who　would　follow。〃
　〃And　me。〃
　Dionetti's　head　bobbed　furiously。　〃And　you；〃　he　whispered。
　His　mouth　was　dry。　His　voice　sounded　like　it　was　ing　from　very　far　away。　He　felt　his　heart　hammering　against　his　ribs。
　〃Pietro；　please！　The　antidote。。。〃
　〃Who　pays　you；　Marco？〃　Howell　asked　softly。
　It　would　be　a　waste　of　time　to　ask　Dionetti　about　the　Americans。　They　never　would　have　revealed　themselves　to　him。　Following　the　blood　money　would　be　the　best　bet。
　Howell　rapped　the　table　with　the　vial。　〃Marco。。。〃
　〃Herr　Weizsel。。。　the　Offenbach　Bank　in　Zurich。　For　God's　sakes；　Pietro；　give　me　the　antidote！〃
　Howell　slid　his　cell　phone　the　length　of　the　table。　〃Call　him。　I'm　sure　that　a　client　of　your　stature　has　his　home　number。　Make　sure　I　can　hear　the　access　codes。〃
　Dionetti　fumbled　the　phone　and　jabbed　at　the　keypad。　As　he　waited　for　the　connection　he　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　the　vial。
　〃Pietro；　please！〃
　〃All　in　good　time；　Marco。　All　in　good　time。〃
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　　
　The　Learjet　touched　down　at　Kona　Airport　on　the　Big　Island　shortly　before　twilight；　Hawaii　time。　Under　Bauer's　supervision；　three　technicians　off…loaded　the　virus　container　and　placed　it　in　a　waiting　Humvee。　The　ride　to　the　Bauer…Zermatt　pound　took　forty…five　minutes。
　Because　the　plex　had　once　been　an　army　medical　research　facility；　certain　construction　requirements　had　been　met。　Both　to　prevent　intruders　from　getting　in　and　highly　lethal　bugs　from　escaping　into　the　island　population；　the　area　between　the　sea　cliff　and　the　lava　fields　had　been　cored　out。　The　giant　pit　had　been　lined　with　thousands　of　cubic　yards　of　concrete；　creating　an　enormous；　multistory　cradle。　This　was　then　divided　into　three　levels；　or　zones；　the　deepest　one　reserved　for　the　laboratories　that　would　house　the　most　dangerous　viruses。　When　Bauer　had　taken　over　the　facility；　virtually　everything　he　needed　was　already　in　place。　After　one　year　and　a　hundred　million　dollars；　the　required　updating　had　been　pleted　and　the　operation　went　on…stream。
　Once　the　Humvee　was　safely　inside　the　massive　garage；　the　container　was　off…loaded　onto　a　mechanized　trolley；　which　took　it　to　a　waiting　elevator。　Three　floors　below；　Bauer　was　greeted　by　Klaus　Jaunich；　the　head　of　his　handpicked　research　staff。　Jaunich　and　his　team　of　six　had　been　brought　over　from　the　pany's　Zurich　headquarters　for　the　express　purpose　of　working　on　the　smallpox。　All　of　them　had　been　with　Bauer　for　years；　all　had　profited　beyond　their　wildest　dreams　from　their　association　with　him。
　And　all　understand　that　I　am　privy　to　secrets　that　could　break　them　in　an　instant；　Bauer　thought；　smiling　at　Jaunich。
　〃It's　good　to　see　you；　Klaus。〃
　〃The　pleasure　is　mine；　Herr　Direktor。〃
　Jaunich　was　a　study　in　contrasts。　A　big；　bearlike　man　in　his　late　fifties；　he　had　an　unmonly　soft　voice。　His　bearded　moon　face　bespoke　a　lumberjack；　yet　the　image　was　dispelled　as　soon　as　he　smiled；　revealing　tiny　baby　teeth。
　Jaunich　motioned　to　his　two　waiting　associates；　their　orange　containment　suits　making　them　look　like　astronauts。　They　lifted　the　container　off　the　trolley　and；　carrying　it　between　them；　proceeded　to　enter　the　first　of　four　decontamination　chambers；　waystations　to　the　laboratory　itself。
　〃Does　the　Direktor　wish　to　view　the　procedure？〃　Jaunich　inquired。
　〃Naturally。〃
　Jaunich　led　the　way　to　a　glass…enclosed　mezzanine　that　overlooked　both　the　decontamination　chambers　and　the　lab。　From　this　vantage　point；　Bauer　watched　as　the　delivery　team　moved　from　one　chamber　to　the　next。　Because　the　decontamination　procedure　was　necessary　only　when　leaving　the　lab；　going　in　took　only　a　few　minutes。
　Inside　the　lab；　the　team　opened　the　chest。　Bauer　leaned　forward　and　spoke　into　the　microphone。
　〃Be　very　careful　with　the　transfer；〃　he　cautioned　the　two　men。
　〃Ja；　Herr　Direktor；〃　came　the　tinny　response　over　the　loudspeakers。
　Bauer　tensed　as　the　pair　dipped　their　hands　into　the　cloud　of　nitrogen　and　slowly　withdrew　the　revolverlike　chamber　that　housed　the　ampoules。　In　the　background；　the　door　to　the　refrigerated　vault；　not　much　different　from　the　Coke　machine　at　Bioaparat；　opened。
　〃We　haven't　much　time；〃　Bauer　murmured。　〃Is　the　rest　of　the　team　ready？〃
　〃More　than　ready；〃　Jaunich　assured　him。　〃The　entire　process　will　be　pleted　in　less　than　eight　hours。〃
　〃You　will　start　the　procedure　without　me；〃　Bauer　said。　〃I　will　retire；　then　join　you　for　the　final　steps　in　the　rebination　process。〃
　Jaunich　nodded。　Obviously　Bauer　would　want　to　be　present　at　the　beginning　of　what　would　eventually　be　viewed　as　a　milestone　in　biochemical　engineering。　But　the　circumstances　that　had　brought　the　smallpox　here…　whatever　they　were…　had　clearly　taken　their　toll　on　the　old　scientist。　Before　venturing　into　the　tense　laboratory　atmosphere；　he　needed　to　rest。
　〃Be　assured　that　every　step　of　the　procedure　will　be　videotaped；Herr　Direktor。〃
　〃As　it　should　be；〃　Bauer　insisted。　〃What　we　will　acplish　here　today　has　never　been　attempted　before。　The　Russians　couldn't　do　it　at　Bioaparat。　The　Americans　are　too　frightened　to　even　try。　Think；　Klaus：　the　first　steps　in　the　genetic　alteration　of　one　of　mankind's　greatest　scourges；　the　beginning　of　a　transformation　that　will　render　all　past　and　present　vaccines　impotent！　The　result？　The　perfect　battlefield　weapon。〃
　〃For　which　there　is　only　one　cure；〃　Jaunich　finished。　〃Strict　quarantine。〃
　Bauer's　eyes　gleamed　with　anticipation。　〃Exactly！　Since　there　is　no　known　antidote；　whichever　country　is　infected　must　immediately　shut　down　its　borders。　Take　Iraq；　for　example。　Baghdad　pays　no　heed　to　our　warnings　to　desist　from　a　certain　course　of　action。　The　decision　is　made　to　engage　in　a　preemptive　strike。　Our　little　princess　is　introduced　into　the　water　or　food　supply。　People　contract　the　disease；　the　death　toll　mounts　swiftly　and　exponentially。　The　population　is　desperate　to　flee；　but　the　borders　are　sealed。　The　word　has　spread：　any　Iraqi　must　be　considered　infected。　Even　those　trying　to　escape　through　the　mountains　would　be　hunted　down　and　slaughtered。〃
　Bauer　opened　his　hands　like　a　magician　releasing　his　dove。　〃Poof！　In　one　fell　swoop　the　enemy　is　no　more。　He　cannot　fight　because　there's　no　longer　an　army。　He　cannot　resist　because　his　infrastructure　has　collapsed。　He　cannot　remain　in　power　because　what　is　left　of　his　people　will　turn　on　him。　The　only　option　is　unconditional　surrender。〃
　〃Or　pleas　for　a　vaccine；〃　Jaunich　observed。
　〃A　plea　that　will　fall　on　deaf　ears；　since　there　is　no