rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第35章

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　Beria　thanked　the　banker　and　hung　up。　The　Americans　are　in　a　hurry。
　
　
　Naked；　Dr。　Karl　Bauer　stepped　out　of　the　final　decontamination　room。　On　the　bench　of　the　changing　room　were　underclothes；　socks；　and　a　shirt。　A　freshly　pressed　suit　hung　on　the　door　hook。
　A　few　minutes　later；　Bauer　was　dressed　and　on　his　way　to　the　glass…enclosed　mezzanine　where　his　chief　of　staff；　Maus　Jaunich；　waited。
　Jaunich　gave　a　slight　bow　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃Magnificent　work；　Herr　Direktor。　I　have　never　seen　anything　like　it。〃
　Bauer　shook　his　hand　and　acknowledged　the　pliment。　〃Nor　are　we　likely　to　witness　something　like　that　ever　again。〃
　After　resting；　Bauer　had　returned　to　the　laboratory。　Even　though　he　had　worked　through　most　of　the　night；　he　felt　elated　and　full　of　energy。　He　knew　from　experience　that　this　was　only　the　adrenaline　flowing　through　his　system　and　that　fatigue　would　inevitably　catch　up　to　him。　Nonetheless；　Jaunich　was　right：　it　had　been　magnificent　work。　Using　his　laserlike　concentration；　he　had　applied　a　lifetime　of　knowledge　and　experience　into　taking　the　first　steps　that　would　transform　an　already　deadly　virus　into　an　unstoppable；　microscopic　firestorm。　Now　he　felt　almost　cheated　because　he　would　be　unable　to　take　those　last　few　steps　toward　pletion。
　〃We　knew　from　the　beginning；　didn't　we；　Klaus；〃　he　said；　voicing　his　thought。　〃That　we　would　never　be　able　to　see　this　creation　through　to　the　end。　The　physics　of　this　earth　deny　me　my　ultimate　triumph。　To　plete　it；　I　must　give　it　away。〃　He　paused。　〃Now　it　will　be　up　to　Reed　to　go　where　we　cannot。〃
　〃So　much　trust　in　one　man；〃　Jaunich　murmured。
　〃He　will　do　what　he's　told；〃　Bauer　replied　sharply。　〃And　when　he　returns；　we　will　have　what；　until　now；　we've　only　dreamed　of。〃
　He　patted　the　big　man　on　the　shoulder。　〃It　will　be　all　right；　Klaus。　You'll　see。　Now；　the　transport？〃
　〃The　sample　is　ready　for　shipment；　Herr　Direktor。　The　aircraft　is　standing　by。〃
　Bauer　clapped　his　hands。　〃Good！　Then　you　and　I　must　have　a　celebratory　drink　before　I　leave。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY
　　
　Beneath　the　blaze　of　lights；　she　looked　like　a　sculpture　heralding　in　the　new　millennium。　From　her　vantage　point　three　miles　away；　Megan　Olson　stared　in　awe　at　the　space　shuttle；　mated　to　the　giant　external　tank　and　the　two　slightly　smaller　solid　rocket　boosters。
　It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　on　a　windless；　moonlit　night　at　Cape　Canaveral。　Megan's　nose　tingled　from　the　briny　air　and　her　nerves　trilled　with　anticipation。　Usually；　the　crew　was　up　and　about　by　three　o'clock；　but　Megan　had　been　unable　to　sleep　much　past　midnight。　The　thought　that　in　fewer　than　eight　hours　she　would　be　onboard　the　shuttle；　boring　into　space；　left　her　breathless。
　Megan　turned　and　walked　the　length　of　the　path　that　ran　by　the　ground　floor　of　the　building　where　the　crew　was　quartered。　A　hundred　yards　away；　razor　wire　glittered　atop　the　Cyclone　fence　surrounding　the　pound。　She　heard　the　distant　cough　of　a　security　Jeep　as　it　ground　its　way　around　the　perimeter。　The　security　at　the　Cape　was　both　impressive　and　unobtrusive。　The　uniformed　air　police　were　the　most　visible；　always　a　magnet　for　the　television　cameras。　But　beyond　them　were　the　plainclothes　detachments　that　roved　the　entire　facility　twenty…four　hours　a　day；　making　sure　that　no　one　and　nothing　interfered　with　the　launch。
　Megan　was　about　to　head　back　to　her　room　when　she　heard　footsteps　nearby。　Turning；　she　saw　a　figure　move　from　the　shadows　of　the　building　into　the　light。
　Dylan　Reed？
　It　was　a　standing　joke　that　not　only　did　Reed　not　hear　his　alarm　clock；　but　that　he　could　sleep　through　liftoff　if　allowed　to　do　so。　So　what　was　he　doing　up　and　about　an　hour　before　roll　call？
　Raising　her　arm；　Megan　was　about　to　call　out　to　him　when　a　bright　headlight　appeared　around　the　corner。　Instinctively；　she　drew　back　as　a　sedan　with　the　NASA　logo　on　the　door　slipped　close　to　where　Reed　was　standing。　Staying　in　the　shadows；　Megan　watched　an　older　man　get　out　of　the　car　and　approach　Reed。
　Someone　he　was　expecting。　Who？　And　why　break　the　quarantine？
　Quarantine　was　a　vital　part　of　the　launch　process；　although　this　time　its　duration　had　been　reduced；　of　necessity；　from　the　usual　seven　days。　Allowing　an　outsider　to　e　into　direct　contact　with　a　crew　member　at　this　late　stage　was　unheard　of。
　As　the　visitor　and　Reed　moved　away　from　her　and　into　a　pool　of　light；　Megan　saw　something　around　the　man's　neck：　a　health　stabilization　card；　indicating　that　whoever　he　was；　the　visitor　had　been　given　a　clean　bill　of　health　by　NASA　doctors。
　Satisfied　that　Reed's　guest　was　cleared　to　be　in　a　restricted　area；　Megan　started　to　move　away。　But　something　in　the　back　of　her　mind　resisted。　She'd　always　relied　on　her　intuition　and　instinct；　listening　to　both　had　saved　her　life　more　than　once。　They　whispered　to　her　now　that　she　should　not　do　the　polite　thing　and　walk　away；　giving　Reed　his　privacy。
　Megan　hung　back。　Because　the　two　men　stood　facing　each　other；　she　couldn't　hear　what　they　were　saying。　But　there　was　no　mistaking　that　something　passed　from　the　visitor　to　Reed：　a　shiny；　metallic　cylinder　about　four　inches　long。　Megan　saw　it　only　for　a　split　second　before　it　disappeared　into　the　pocket　of　Reed's　overalls。
　Megan　watched　the　visitor　grip　Reed's　shoulder；　then　get　back　into　his　car　and　drive　away。　Reed　seemed　to　gaze　after　the　taillights　until　they　were　reduced　to　two　pinpricks；　then　he　turned　and　began　walking　toward　his　quarters。
　He　has　preflight　jitters；　just　like　the　rest　of　us。　Someone　close　to　him　came　out　to　see　him　off。
　But　the　explanation　rang　hollow。　Reed　was　a　veteran　of　six　shuttle　missions；　almost　nonchalant　about　the　process。　Nor　could　it　have　been　a　relative。　Once　the　quarantine　was　in　effect；　family　members　had　no　contact　with　the　crew。　They　were　relegated　to　a　special　viewing　area　three　miles　from　the　launch。
　Someone　in　the　program。　Someone　I　never　met。
　Before　heading　for　the　mess　hall　where　the　crew　would　have　their　last　real　meal　until　they　returned；　Megan　stopped　off　at　her　room。　She　considered　her　options；　one　of　which　was　to　casually　broach　the　subject　with　Reed。　After　all；　he　had　been　her　supporter　ever　since　she　had　arrived　at　NASA；　over　time；　she'd　e　to　think　of　him　as　a　friend。　Then　she　remembered　Adam　Treloar；　the　missing　smallpox；　and　the　desperate　search　that　was　secretly　under　way。　Klein's　directive　had　been　unequivocal：　she　was　to　report　anything　suspicious。　Although　Megan　was　certain　that　there　was　a　perfectly　innocent　explanation　for　Reed's　behavior；　she　nonetheless　reached　for　the　phone。
　
　At　six…thirty；　the　crew　entered　the　clean　room　to　suit　up。　Since　Megan　was　the　only　woman　on　the　mission；　she　had　a　cubicle　to　herself。　Closing　the　door；　she　cast　a　critical　eye　over　her　launch/entry　suit　or　LES。　Made　to　measure　and　weighing　a　hefty　ninety　pounds；　it　was　prised　of　more　than　fifteen　individual　pieces；　including　a　flotation　device；　gravity　pants；　and　a　diaper。　Megan　had　questioned　the　need　for　the　latter　until　Reed　had　explained　to　her　exactly　how　much　pressure　was　exerted　on　the　body　during　the　entry　into　orbit。　It　was　virtually　impossible　for　the　bladder　not　to　void。
　〃Looking　very　stylish；　Megan；〃　Frank　Stone；　the　mission　pilot；　mented　when　she　stepped　into　the　men's　changing　area。
　〃I　like　the　patches　best；〃　Megan　replied。
　〃Tell　my　wife　that；〃　Bill　Karol；　the　mander　piped　up。　〃She　designed　them。〃
　Each　mission　had　a　unique　patch；　designed　either　by　the　crewmembers　or　their　relatives。　This　one　depicted　the　shuttle　racing　into　space。　Inside　the　round　borders　were　stitched　the　names　of　the　crew。
　The　crew　paired　off　to　check　each　other's　suits；　making　sure　that　every　piece　was　snug　and　secure。　Then　one　of　the　mission　specialists；　David　Carter；　led　the　group　in　a　brief　prayer。　The　moment　helped　lift　the　pall　created　by　Adam　Treloar's　untimely　death。
　With　a　little　over　three　hours　to　liftoff；　they　trooped　out　of　their　quarters　and　into　a　blaze　of　camera　lights。　The　walkout　was　the　last　chance　for　outside　observers；　all　carefully　screened　and　wearing　special　passes；　to　see　the　astronauts。　Passing　through　the　gauntlet；　Megan　waved　briefly　for　the　media。　When　she　smiled；　a　reporter　called　out；　〃One　more！　Just　like　that。〃
　The　ride　to　the　gantry　in　the　UPS…style　van　took　only　a　few　minutes。　Once　there；　the　crew　boarded　an　elevator　that　took　them　up　195　feet　to　the　white　room；　the　final　staging　area　where　they　put　on　their　parachutes；　harnesses；　munications　hats；　helmets；　and　gloves。
　〃How　are　you　holding　up？〃
　Megan　turned　to　see　Reed　beside　her；　dressed　and　ready。
　〃Okay；　I　guess。〃
　〃Preflight　butterflies？〃
　〃Is　that　what's　going　on　inside　my　stomach？〃
　He　leaned　closer。　〃Don't　go　spreading　this；　but　I　get　them　too。〃
　〃Not　you！〃
　〃Especially　me。〃
　Maybe　it　was　the　way　she　was　looking　at　him　that　brought　out　his　next　words：　〃Is　anything　wrong？　You　look　like　you　want　to　ask　me　something。〃
　Megan　brushed　the　air　with　her　hand。　〃It's　the　moment；　I　guess。　You　dream　and　train　and　work　for　it；　and　then　one　day；　it's　there。〃
　Reed　patted　her　shoulder。　〃You'll　do　fine。　Just　remember　what　Allenby　said：　we're　all　counting　on　those　experiments　you　have　scheduled。〃
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　it's　that　time；〃　one　of　the　prep　crew　called　out。
　Megan　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　as　Reed　turned　away。　During　her　telephone　conversation　with　Klein；　the　head　of　Covert…One　said　that　he　would　immediately　check　on　Reed's　mysterious　visitor；　try　to　establish　a　solid　ID；　and　get　back　to　her。　Since　she　hadn't　heard　from　him；　Megan　assumed　that　Klein　was　either　still　checking　or　that　he　had　e　up　with　a　perfectly　satisfactory　answer　that　he　hadn't　been　able　to　relay　to　her。
　〃Showtime；〃　Reed　announced。　He　gestured　at　Megan。　〃After　you；　ma'am。〃
　Megan　took　a　deep　breath；　crouched；　and　ducked　through　the　flight…deck　hatch。　Making　her　way　to　the　ladder；　she　descended　to　the　mid…deck　where；　in　addition　to　the　sleep　stations；　food　and　storage　lockers；　and　the　bathroom；　were　three　special　liftoff　chairs　for　her；　Randall　Wallace；　another　mission　specialist；　and　David　Carter；　the　payload　specialist。
　Settling　herself　in　the　take…down　chair；　which　would　be　folded　and　stored　after　liftoff；　Megan　found　herself　on　her　back；　her　knees　pointed　at　the　ceiling。
　〃Third　mission　and　I　still　can't　get　used　to　these　seats；〃　Carter　grumbled　as　he　slipped　into　the　chair　beside　hers。
　〃That's　because　you　keep　putting　on　the　pounds；　my　man；〃　Wallace　needled　him。　〃All　that　home　cooking。〃
　〃At　least　I　have　a　home　to　e　back　to；〃　Carter　shot　back。
　Tapping　an　imaginary　cigar；　Wallace　did　his　imitation　of　Groucho　Marx。　〃Must　be　love。〃
　The　banter　died　as　the　prep　crew　came　in　and　strapped　the　astronauts　into　the　seats。
　〃Mikes？〃
　Megan　tested　hers　and　nodded　as　much　as　she　could；　given　the　tight　leeway。　As　her　mates　were　strapped　in；　she　listened　to　the　orbiter　crew　going　through　the　liftoff　checklist　with　mission　control。
　Their　work　finished；　the　prep　crew　stepped　back。　Although　Megan　couldn't　see　them；　she　imagined　how　solemn　their　expressions　were。
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　Godspeed。　e　home　safely。〃
　〃Amen　to　that；〃　Carter　muttered。
　〃I　should　have　brought　a　good　book　to　read；〃　Wallace　mused。　〃Megan；　how　are