tc.patriotgames-第56章

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tional　responded。　The　5101　squawk　number　was　clear　on　his　scope；　and　medical　emergencies　had　unconditional　priority。
　　　　〃Hopkins　Emergency；　this　is　Trooper…1；　inbound　with　a　white　female　child　accident　victim。〃
　　　　〃Trooper…1；　Hopkins。　Divert　to　University。　We're　full　up　here。〃
　　　　〃Roger。　University；　Trooper…1；　do　you　copy；　over。〃　
　　　　〃Trooper…1；　this　is　University；　we　copy；　and　we're　ready　for　you。〃　
　　　　〃Roger；　ETA　five　minutes。　Out。〃

　　　　〃Gunny；　this　is　Cummings　at　Gate　Three；〃　the　Sergeant　called　on　the　telephone。
　　　　〃What　is　it；　Sergeant？〃　Breckenridge　asked。
　　　　〃There's　this　guy；　he's　been　standing　on　the　corner　across　the　street　for　about　forty…five　minutes。　It　just　feels　funny；　you　know？　He's　off　the　grounds；　but　it　doesn't　feel　right。〃　
　　　　〃Call　the　cops？〃　the　Sergeant　Major　asked。
　　　　〃What　for？〃　Cummings　asked　reasonably。　〃He　ain't　even　spit　far　as　I　can　tell。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　I'll　walk　on　up。〃　Breckenridge　stood。　He　was　bored　anyway。　The　Sergeant　Major　donned　his　cap　and　walked　out　of　the　building；　heading　north　across　the　campus。　It　took　five　minutes；　during　which　he　saluted　six　officers　and　greeted　a　larger　number　of　mids。　He　didn't　like　the　cold。　It　had　never　been　like　this　during　his　childhood　on　a　Mississippi　dirt　farm。　But　spring　was　ing。　He　was　careful　not　to　look　too　obviously　out　of　the　gate　as　he　crossed　the　street。
　　　　He　found　Cummings　in　the　guardhouse；　standing　inside　the　door。　A　good　young　sergeant；　Cummings　was。　He　had　the　new　look　of　the　Corps。　Breckenridge　was　built　along　the　classic　John　Wayne　lines；　with　broad　shoulders　and　imposing　bulk。　Cummings　was　a　black　kid；　a　runner　who　had　the　frame　of　a　Frank　Shorter。　The　boy　could　run　all　day；　something　that　the　Gunny　had　never　been　able　to　do。　But　more　than　all　of　that；　Cummings　was　a　lifer。　He　understood　what　the　Marine　Corps　was　all　about。　Breckenridge　had　taken　the　young　man　under　his　wing；　imparting　a　few　important　lessons　along　the　way。　The　Sergeant　Major　knew　that　he　would　soon　be　part　of　the　Corps'　past。　Cummings　was　its　future；　and　he　told　himself　that　the　future　looked　pretty　good。　
　　　　〃Hey；　Gunny；〃　the　Sergeant　greeted　him。　
　　　　〃The　guy　in　the　doorway？〃
　　　　〃He's　been　there　since　a　little　after　four。　He　don't　live　here。〃　Cummings　paused　for　a　moment。　He　was；　after　all；　only　a　〃buck〃　sergeant　with　no　rockers　under　his　stripes；　talking　to　a　man　whom　generals　addressed　with　respect。　〃It　just　feels　funny。〃　
　　　　〃Well；　let's　give　him　a　few　minutes；〃　Breckenridge　thought　aloud。

　　　　〃God；　I　hate　grading　quizzes。〃　
　　　　〃So　go　easy　on　the　boys　and　girls；〃　Robby　chuckled。　
　　　　〃Like　you　do？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃I　teach　a　difficult；　technical　subject。　I　have　to　give　quizzes。〃　
　　　　〃Engineers！　Shame　you　can't　read　and　write　as　well　as　you　multiply。〃　
　　　　〃You　must　have　taken　a　tough…pill　this　afternoon。　Jack。〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；　well　〃　The　phone　rang。　Jack　picked　it　up。　〃Doctor　Ryan。　Yes　　who？〃　His　face　changed；　his　voice　became　guarded。
　　　　〃Yes；　that's　right。〃　Robby　saw　his　friend　go　stiff　in　the　chair。　〃Are　you　sure？　Where　are　they　now？　Okay　　ah；　okay；　thank　you　。　。　。　I；　uh；　thank　you。〃　Jack　stared　at　the　phone　for　a　second　or　two　before　hanging　it　up。
　　　　〃What's　the　matter；　Jack？〃　Robby　asked。
　　　　It　took　him　a　moment　to　answer。　〃That　was　the　police。　There's　been　an　accident。〃　
　　　　〃Where　are　they？〃　Robby　said　immediately。
　　　　〃They　flew　them　　they　flew　them　to　Baltimore。〃　Jack　stood　shakily。　〃I　have　to　get　there。〃　He　looked　down　at　his　friend。　〃God；　Robby　。　。　。　〃
　　　　Jackson　was　on　his　feet　in　an　instant。　〃e　on；　I'll　take　you　up　there。〃　
　　　　〃No；　I'll　〃
　　　　〃Stuff　it；　Jack。　I'm　driving。〃　Robby　got　his　coat　and　tossed　Jack's　over　the　desk。　〃Move　it；　boy！〃　
　　　　〃They　took　them　by　helicopter　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃Where？　Where　to；　Jack？〃　
　　　　〃University；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃Get　it　together；　Jack。〃　Robby　grabbed　his　arm。　〃Settle　down　some。〃　The　flyer　led　his　friend　down　the　stairs　and　out　of　the　building。　His　red　Corvette　was　parked　a　hundred　yards　away。

　　　　〃Still　there；〃　the　civilian　guard　reported　when　he　came　back　in。
　　　　〃Okay；〃　Breckenridge　said；　standing。　He　looked　at　the　pistol　holster　hanging　in　the　corner；　but　decided　against　that。　〃This　is　what　we're　going　to　do。〃

　　　　Ned　Clark　hadn't　liked　the　mission　from　the　first　moment。　Sean　was　too　eager　on　this　one。　But　he　hadn't　said　so。　Sean　had　masterminded　the　prison　break　that　had　made　him　a　free　man。　If　nothing　else；　Ned　Clark　was　loyal　to　the　Cause。　He　was　exposed　here　and　didn't　like　that　either。　His　briefing　had　told　him　that　the　guards　at　the　Academy　gate　were　lax；　and　he　could　see　that　they　were　unarmed。　They　had　no　authority　at　all　off　the　grounds　of　the　school。
　　　　But　it　was　taking　too　long。　His　target　was　thirty　minutes　late。　He　didn't　smoke；　didn't　do　anything　to　make　himself　conspicuous；　and　he　knew　that　he'd　be　hard　to　spot。　The　doorway　of　the　tired　old　apartment　building　had　no　light　　one　of　Alex's　people　had　taken　care　of　that　with　a　pellet　gun　the　previous　night。
　　　　Ought　to　call　this　one　off；　Clark　told　himself。　But　he　didn't　want　to　do　that。　He　didn't　want　to　fail　Sean。　He　saw　a　pair　of　men　leave　the　Academy。　Bootnecks；　bloody　Marines　in　their　Sunday　clothes。　They　looked　so　pretty　without　their　guns；　so　vulnerable。
　　　　〃So　the　Captain；　he　says；〃　the　big　one　was　saying　loudly；　〃get　that　goddamned　gook　off　my　chopper！〃　And　the　other　one　started　laughing。
　　　　〃I　love　it！〃
　　　　〃How　about　a　couple　of　beers？〃　the　big　one　said　next。　They　crossed　the　street；　heading　his　way。　
　　　　〃Okay　by　me；　Gunny。　You　buyin'？〃
　　　　〃My　turn；　isn't　it？　I　have　to　get　some　money　first。〃　The　big　one　reached　in　his　pocket　for　some　keys　and　turned　toward　Clark。　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　can　I　help　you？〃　His　hand　came　out　of　his　pocket　without　any　keys。
　　　　Clark　reacted　quickly；　but　not　quickly　enough。　The　right　hand　inside　his　overcoat　started　moving　up；　but　Breckenridge's　own　right　grabbed　it　like　a　vise。
　　　　〃I　asked　if　I　could　help　you；　sir；〃　the　Sergeant　Major　said　pleasantly。　〃What　do　you　have　in　that　hand？〃　Clark　tried　to　move；　but　the　big　man　pushed　him　against　the　brick　wall。　
　　　　〃Careful；　Tom；〃　Breckenridge　warned。
　　　　Cummings'　hand　searched　downward　and　found　the　metallic　shape　of　a　pistol。　〃Gun；〃　he　said　sharply。
　　　　〃It　better　not　go　off；〃　the　Gunny　announced；　his　left　arm　across　Clark's　throat。　〃Let　the　man　have　it；　sonny；　real　careful；　like。〃
　　　　Clark　was　amazed　at　his　stupidity；　letting　them　get　so　close　to　him。　His　head　tried　to　turn　to　look　up　the　street；　but　the　man　waiting　for　him　in　the　car　was　around　the　corner。　Before　he　could　think　of　anything　to　do；　the　black　man　had　disarmed　him　and　was　searching　his　pockets。　Cummings　removed　the　knife　next。
　　　　〃Talk　to　me；〃　Breckenridge　said。　Clark　didn't　say　anything；　and　the　forearm　slid　roughly　across　his　throat。　〃Please　talk　to　me；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Get　your　bloody　hands　off　of　me！　Who　do　you　think　you　are？〃
　　　　〃Where　you　from；　boy？〃　Breckenridge　didn't　need　an　answer　to　that　one。　The　Sergeant　wrenched　Clark's　arm　out　of　the　pocket　and　twisted　it　behind　his　back。　〃Okay；　sonny；　we're　going　to　walk　through　that　gate　over　yonder；　and　you're　gonna　sit　down　and　be　a　good　boy　while　we　call　the　police。　If　you　make　any　trouble；　I'm　going　to　tear　this　arm　off　and　shove　it　right　up　your　ass。　Let's　go；　boy。〃
　　　　The　driver　who'd　been　waiting　for　Clark　was　standing　at　the　far　corner。　He　took　one　look　at　what　had　happened　and　walked　to　his　car。　Two　minutes　later　he　was　blocks　away。
　　　　Cummings　handcuffed　the　man　to　a　chair　while　Breckenridge　established　that　he　carried　no　identification　　aside　from　an　automatic　pistol；　which　was　ID　enough。　First　he　called　his　captain；　then　the　Annapolis　City　police。　It　started　there；　but；　though　the　Gunny　didn't　know；　it　wouldn't　stop　there。

Chapter　15　Shock　and　Trauma

　　　　If　Jack　had　ever　doubted　that　Robby　Jackson　really　was　a　fighter　pilot；　this　would　have　cured　him。　Jackson's　personal　toy　was　a　two…year…old　Chevrolet　Corvette；　painted　candy…apple　red；　and　he　drove　it　with　a　sense　of　personal　invincibility。　The　flyer　raced　out　the　Academy's　west　gate；　turned　left；　and　found　his　way　to　Rowe　Boulevard。　The　traffic　problems　on　Route　50　west　were　immediately　apparent；　and　he　changed　lanes　to　head　east。　In　a　minute　he　was　streaking　across　the　Severn　River　bridge。　Jack　was　too　engrossed　in　his　thoughts　to　see　much　of　anything；　but　Robby　saw　what　looked　like　the　remains　of　a　Porsche　on　the　other　side　of　the　roadway。　Jackson's　blood　went　cold　as　he　turned　away。　He　cast　the　thoughts　aside　and　concentrated　on　his　driving；　pushing　the　Corvette　past　eighty。　There　were　too　many　cops　on　the　other　side　of　the　road　for　him　to　worry　about　a　ticket。　He　took　the　Ritchie　Highway　exit　a　minute　later　and　curved　around　north　toward　Baltimore。　Rush…hour　traffic　was　heavy；　though　most　of　it　was　heading　in　the　other　direction。　This　gave　him　gaps　to　exploit；　and　the　pilot　used　every　one。　He　worked　up　and　down　through　the　gears；　rarely　touching　the　brakes。
　　　　To　his　right；　Jack　simply　stared　straight　ahead；　not　seeing　much　of　anything。　He　managed　to　wince　when　Robby　paused　behind　two　tractor…trailers　running　side　by　side　　then　shot　up　right　between　them　with　scant　inches　of　clearance　on　either　side。　The　outraged　screams　of　the　two　diesel　horns　faded　irrelevantly　behind　the　racing　'Vette；　and　Jack　returned　to　the　emptiness　of　his　thoughts。

　　　　Breckenridge　allowed　his　captain；　Mike　Peters；　to　handle　the　situation。　He　was　a　pretty　good　officer；　the　Sergeant　Major　thought；　who　had　the　mon　sense　to　let　his　NCOs　run　things。　He'd　managed　to　get　to　the　guard　shack　about　two　minutes　ahead　of　the　Annapolis　City　police；　long　enough　for　Breckenridge　and　Cummings　to　fill　him　in。
　　　　〃So　what　gives；　gentlemen？〃　the　responding　officer　asked。　Captain　Peters　nodded　for　Breckenridge　to　speak。
　　　　〃Sir；　Sergeant　Cummings　here　observed　this　individual　to　be　standing　over　at　the　corner　across　the　street。　He　did　not　look　like　a　local　resident；　so　we　kept　an　eye　on　him。　Finally　Cummings　and　I　walked　over　and　asked　if　we　might　be　of　assistance　to　him。　He　tried　to　pull　this　on　us〃　　the　Gunny　lifted　the　pistol　carefully；　so　as　not　to　disturb　the　fingerprints　　〃and　he　had　this　knife　in　his　pocket。　Carrying　a　concealed　weapon　is　a　violation　of　local　law；　so　Cummings　and　I　made　a　citizen's　arrest　and　called　you。　This　character　does　not　have　any　identification　on　him；　and　he　declined　to　speak　with　us。〃　
　　　　〃What　kind　of　gun　is　that？〃　the　cop　asked。
　　　　〃It's　an　FN　nine…millimeter；〃　Breckenridge　answered。　〃It's　the　same　as　the　Browning　Hi…Power；　but　a　different　trademark；　with　a　thirteen…round　magazine。　The　weapon　was　loaded；　with　a　live　round　in　the　chamber。　The　hammer　was　down。　The　knife　is　a　cheap　piece　of　shit。　Punk　knife。〃
　　　　The　cop　had　to　smile。　He　knew　Breckenridge　from　the　department　firearms　training　unit。
　　　　〃Can　I　have　your　name；　please；〃　the　cop　said　to　Eamon　Clark。　The　〃suspect〃　just　stared　at　him。　〃Sir；　you　have　a　number　of　constitutional　rights　which　I　am　about　to　read　to　you；　but　the　law　does　not　allow　you　to　withhold　your　identity。　You　have　to　tell　me　your　name。〃
　　　　The　cop　stared　at　Clark　for　another　minute。　At　last　he　shrugged　and　pulled　a　card　from　his　clipboard。　〃Sir；　you　have　the　right　to　remain　silent　。　。　。　〃　He　read