tc.patriotgames-第75章

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　　　　〃And　you　want　to　e　out　with　us？〃　
　　　　Dobbens　nodded。　〃It　might　be　necessary。〃
　　　　〃I　think　we　can　avoid　that。　It　just　means　eliminating　all　the　people　who　see　your　faces。〃
　　　　You're　a　cold　little　cocksucker；　Dobbens　thought；　though　his　words　made　perfect　sense。　Dead　men　told　no　tales。
　　　　〃Very　well。　All　we　have　to　do　now　is　find　a　way　to　make　the　security　people　relax　a　bit；〃　the　Irishman　said。　〃I'd　prefer　to　avoid　brute　force。〃
　　　　〃I've　been　thinking　about　that。〃　Alex　took　a　moment　before　going　on。　〃How　do　armies　succeed？〃
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Miller　asked。
　　　　〃I　mean；　the　great　plans；　the　ones　that　really　work。　They　all　work　because　you　show　the　other　guy　something　he　expects　to　see；　right？　You　make　him　go　for　the　fake；　but　it's　gotta　be　a　really　good　fake。　We　have　to　make　them　look　for　the　wrong　thing　in　the　wrong　place；　and　they　have　to　put　the　word　out。〃　
　　　　〃And　how　do　we　do　that？〃　After　two　minutes：　〃Ah。〃
　　　　Alex　retired　to　his　bedroom　a　few　minutes　later；　leaving　Miller　in　front　of　the　television　to　go　over　his　material。　On　the　whole；　it　had　been　a　very　useful　trip。　The　plan　was　already　beginning　to　take　shape。　It　would　require　a　lot　of　people；　but　that　came　as　no　surprise。
　　　　Curiously；　his　respect　for　Alex　was　now　diminished。　The　man　was　petent；　certainly；　even　brilliant　in　his　plan　for　a　diversion　　but　that　absurd　sentimentality！　It　was　not　that　Miller　reveled　in　the　idea　of　hurting　children；　but　if　that　was　what　the　revolution　took；　then　it　was　a　necessary　price　to　pay。　Besides；　it　got　people's　attention。　It　told　them　that　he　and　his　organization　were　serious。　Until　Alex　got　over　that；　he'd　never　be　successful。　But　that　wasn't　Miller's　problem。　Part　One　of　the　operation　was　now　outlined　in　his　mind。　Part　Two　was　already　drawn　up；　already　had　been　aborted　once。　But　not　this　time。　Miller　promised　himself。
　　　　By　noon　the　following　day；　Alex　had　handed　him　the　photos　and　driven　him　to　an　outlying　station　of　the　D。C。　Metro。　Miller　took　the　subway　train　to　National　Airport　to　catch　the　first　of　four　flights　that　would　take　him　home。

　　　　Jack　walked　into　Sally's　bedroom　just　before　eleven。　The　dog　　his　daughter　had　named　him　Ernie　　was　an　invisible　shape　in　the　corner。　This　was　one　of　the　smartest　things　he　had　ever　done。　Sally　was　too　much　in　love　with　Ernie　to　dwell　on　her　injuries；　and　she　chased　after　him　as　fast　as　her　weakened　legs　would　allow。　That　was　enough　to　make　her　father　overlook　the　chewed　shoes　and　occasional　mistakes　with　which　the　dog　was　littering　the　house。　In　a　few　weeks　she'd　be　back　to　normal。　Jack　adjusted　the　covers　slightly　before　leaving。　Cathy　was　already　in　bed　when　he　got　there。　
　　　　〃Is　she　okay？〃　
　　　　〃Sleeping　like　an　angel；〃　Jack　replied　as　he　slid　in　beside　her。　
　　　　〃And　Ernie？〃
　　　　〃He's　in　there　somewhere。　I　could　hear　his　tail　hitting　the　wall。〃　He　wrapped　his　arms　around　her。　It　was　hard　getting　close　to　her　now。　He　ran　one　hand　down　to　her　abdomen；　feeling　the　shape　of　his　unborn　child。　〃How's　the　next　one？〃　
　　　　〃Quiet；　finally。　God；　he's　an　active　one。　Don't　wake　him　up。〃　
　　　　It　struck　Jack　as　an　absurd　idea　that　babies　were　awake　before　they　were　born；　but　you　couldn't　argue　with　a　doctor。　〃He？〃　
　　　　〃That's　what　Madge　says。〃
　　　　〃What's　she　say　about　you？〃　He　felt　her　ribs　next。　They　were　too　prominent。　His　wife　had　always　been　slender；　but　this　was　too　much。
　　　　〃I'm　gaining　the　weight　back；〃　Cathy　answered。　〃You　don't　have　to　worry。　Everything's　fine。〃　
　　　　〃Good。〃　He　kissed　her。
　　　　〃Is　that　all　I　get？〃　he　heard　from　the　darkness。　
　　　　〃You　think　you　can　handle　more？〃　
　　　　〃Jack；　I　don't　have　to　go　to　work　tomorrow；〃　she　pointed　out。
　　　　〃But　some　of　us　do；〃　he　protested；　but　soon　found　that　his　heart　wasn't　in　it。

Chapter　21　Plans

　　　　〃He　is　thorough；〃　O'Donnell　observed。　Miller　had　returned　with　the　aerial　photographs　that　Dobbens　had　copied；　topographic　maps；　and　photos　of　Ryan's　home　from　the　land　and　water　sides。　Added　to　these　were　typed　notes　of　the　observations　made　by　his　people　and　other　data　thought　to　be　of　interest。
　　　　〃Unfortunately　he　allows　his　personal　feelings　to　interfere　with　his　activities；〃　Miller　observed　coolly。
　　　　〃And　you　don't；　Sean？〃　O'Donnell　chided　gently。　
　　　　〃It　won't　happen　again；〃　his　operations　officer　promised。
　　　　〃That's　good。　The　important　thing　about　mistakes　is　that　we　learn　from　them。　So　let's　go　over　your　proposed　operation。〃　
　　　　Sean　took　out　two　other　maps　and　spent　twenty　minutes　running　through　his　ideas。　He　concluded　with　Dobbens'　suggestion　for　a　diversion。
　　　　〃I　like　it。〃　He　turned　to　his　intelligence　chief。　〃Michael？〃　
　　　　〃The　opposition　will　be　formidable；　of　course；　but　the　plan　allows　for　that。　The　only　thing　that　worries　me　is　that　it　will　take　nearly　all　of　our　people　to　do　it。〃
　　　　〃Nothing　else　looks　feasible；〃　Miller　replied。　〃It's　not　so　much　a　question　of　getting　close　enough；　but　of　leaving　the　area　after　the　mission　is　acplished。　Timing　is　crucial　〃　
　　　　〃And　when　timing　is　crucial；　simplicity　is　a　must。〃　O'Donnell　nodded。　〃Is　there　anything　else　that　the　opposition　might　try？〃　
　　　　〃I　think　not；〃　McKenney　said。　〃This　is　the　worst…case　expectation。〃
　　　　〃Helicopters；〃　Miller　said。　〃They　nearly　did　for　us　the　last　time。　No　real　problem　if　we're　prepared　for　it；　but　we　must　be　prepared。〃
　　　　〃Very　well；〃　O'Donnell　said。　〃And　the　second　part　of　the　operation？〃
　　　　〃Obviously　we　need　to　know　where　all　the　targets　will　be；〃　McKenney　said。　〃When　do　you　want　me　to　activate　our　people？〃　On　orders；　the　intelligence　chief's　penetration　agents　had　been　quiescent　for　some　weeks。
　　　　〃Not　just　yet；〃　the　mander　replied　thoughtfully。　〃Again　a　question　of　timing。　Sean？〃
　　　　〃I　think　we　should　wait　until　the　mission　is　fully　acplished　before　moving。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　it　proved　to　be　a　good　idea　the　last　time；〃　the　mander　agreed。　〃How　many　people　are　needed　for　your　operation？〃
　　　　〃No　less　than　fifteen。　I　think　we　can　depend　on　Alex　for　three　trained　men；　himself　included。　More　than　that　　no；　we　should　limit　his　participation　as　much　as　possible。〃　
　　　　〃Agreed；〃　McKenney　said。　
　　　　〃And　training？〃　O'Donnell　asked。　
　　　　〃The　most　we've　ever　done。〃　
　　　　〃To　start　when？〃
　　　　〃A　month　beforehand；〃　Miller　answered。　〃Any　more　time　would　be　a　waste　of　resources。　For　the　moment　I　have　quite　a　lot　of　work　to　do。〃

　　　　〃So　here　are　the　plans；〃　Murray　said。　〃You　can　either　let　them　stay　at　your　embassy　or　we'll　put　them　in　Blair　House；　right　across　the　street　from　the　President。〃
　　　　〃With　all　due　respect　to　your　Secret　Service　chaps　〃　The　head　of　the　Diplomatic　Protection　Group　didn't　have　to　go　on。　Their　safety　was　his　responsibility　and　he　wouldn't　trust　it　to　foreigners　any　more　than　he　had　to。
　　　　〃Yeah；　I　understand。　They'll　get　a　full　security　detail　from　the　Secret　Service　plus　a　couple　of　FBI　liaison　people　and　the　usual　assistance　from　the　local　police。　Finally　we'll　have　two　HRT　groups　on　alert　the　whole　time　they're　over；　one　in　D。C。；　and　a　backup　team　at　Quantico。〃　
　　　　〃How　many　people　know？〃　Ashley　asked。
　　　　〃The　Secret　Service　and　Bureau　people　are　already　fully　briefed。　When　your　advance　men　go　over；　they　ought　to　have　most　of　the　events　scouted　for　you　already。　The　local　cops　will　not　be　notified　until　they　have　to　know。〃
　　　　〃You　said　most　of　the　locations　have　been　scouted；　but　not　all？〃　Owens　asked。
　　　　〃Do　you　want　us　to　check　out　the　unannounced　points　this　early；　too？〃
　　　　〃No。〃　The　man　from　DPG　shook　his　head。　〃It's　bad　enough　that　the　public　functions　have　to　be　exposed　this　early。　It's　still　not　official　that　they're　going；　you　know。　The　element　of　surprise　is　our　best　defense。〃
　　　　Owens　looked　at　his　colleague；　but　didn't　react。　The　head　of　the　DPG　was　on　his　suspects　list；　and　his　orders　were　not　to　allow　anyone　to　know　the　details　of　his　investigation。　Owens　thought　him　to　be　in　the　clear；　but　his　detectives　had　discovered　a　few　irregularities　in　the　man's　personal　life　that　had　somehow　gotten　past　all　the　previous　security　screenings。　Until　it　was　certain　that　he　was　not　a　possible　blackmail　risk；　he　would　not　be　allowed　to　know　that　some　possible　suspects　had　already　seen　the　itinerary。　The　mander　of　C…13　gave　Murray　an　ironic　look。
　　　　〃I　think　you're　overdoing　this；　gentlemen；　but　that's　your　business；〃　the　FBI　man　said　as　he　stood。　〃Your　people　are　flying　over　tomorrow？〃　
　　　　〃That's　right。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　Chuck　Avery　of　the　Secret　Service　will　meet　your　people　at　Dulles。　Tell　them　not　to　be　bashful　about　asking　for　things。　You　will　have　our　total　cooperation。〃　He　watched　them　leave。　Five　minutes　later　Owens　was　back。　
　　　　〃What　gives；　Jimmy？〃　Murray　wasn't　surprised。
　　　　〃What　further　progress　have　you　made　on　the　chaps　who　attacked　Ryan？〃
　　　　〃Not　a　thing　for　the　past　two　weeks；〃　Murray　admitted。　〃You？〃
　　　　〃We　have　a　possible　link　　let　me　be　precise；　we　suspect　that　there　might　be　a　possible　link。〃
　　　　The　FBI　man　grinned。　〃Yeah；　I　know　what　that's　like。　Who　is　it？〃　
　　　　〃Geoffrey　Watkins。〃　That　got　a　reaction。
　　　　〃The　foreign…service　guy？　Damn！　Anybody　else　on　the　list　that　I　know？〃
　　　　〃The　chap　you　were　just　talking　to。　Ashley's　people　discovered　that　he's　not　entirely　faithful　to　his　wife。〃
　　　　〃Boys　or　girls？〃　Murray　took　a　cue　from　the　way　Owens　had　said　that。　〃You　mean　that　he　doesn't　know；　Jimmy？〃　
　　　　〃He　doesn't　know　that　the　itinerary　has　been　leaked；　possibly　to　the　wrong　people。　Watkins　is　among　them；　but　so　is　our　DPG　friend。〃
　　　　〃Oh；　that's　real　good！　The　plans　may　be　leaked；　and　you　can't　tell　the　head　of　the　security　detail　because　he　may　be　the　one　〃　
　　　　〃It's　most　unlikely；　but　we　must　allow　for　the　possibility。〃　
　　　　〃Call　the　trip　off；　Jimmy。　If　you　have　to　break　his　leg；　call　it　the　hell　off。〃
　　　　〃We　can't。　He　won't。　I　spoke　with　His　Highness　day　before　yesterday　and　told　him　the　problem。　He　refuses　to　allow　his　life　to　be　managed　that　way。〃　
　　　　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　this？〃　Murray　rolled　his　eyes。
　　　　〃I　must　tell　someone；　Dan。　If　I　can't　tell　my　chaps；　then　。　。　。　〃　Owens　waved　his　hands。
　　　　〃You　want　us　to　call　the　trip　off　for　you；　is　that　it？〃　Murray　demanded。　He　knew　that　Owens　couldn't　answer　that　one。　〃Let's　spell　this　one　out　nice　and　clear。　You　want　our　people　to　be　alert　to　the　chance　that　an　attack　is　a　serious　possibility；　and　that　one　of　the　good　guys　might　be　a　bad　guy。〃　
　　　　〃Correct。〃　
　　　　〃This　isn't　going　to　make　our　folks　real　happy。〃　
　　　　〃I'm　not　terribly　keen　on　it　myself；　Dan；〃　Owens　replied。
　　　　〃Well；　it　gives　Bill　Shaw　something　else　to　think　about。〃　Another　thought　struck　him。　〃Jimmy；　that's　one　expensive　piece　of　live　bait　you　have　dangling　on　the　hook。〃　
　　　　〃He　knows　that。　It's　our　job　to　keep　the　sharks　away；　isn't　it？〃　
　　　　Murray　shook　his　head。　The　ideal　solution　would　be　to　find　a　way　to　cancel　the　trip；　thereby　handing　the　problem　back　to　Owens　and　Ashley。　That　meant　involving　the　State　Department。　The　boys　at　Foggy　Bottom　would　spike　that　idea；　Murray　knew。　You　couldn't　un…invite　a　future　chief　of　state　because　the　FBI　and　Secret　Service　didn't　think　they　could　guarantee　his　safety　　the　reputation　of　American　law…enforcement　would　be　laid　open　to　ridicule；　they'd　say；　knowing　that　his　protection　wasn't　the　responsibility　of　the　people　at　State。
　　　　〃Wha