tc.patriotgames-第89章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　They'd　almost　done　it。　They'd　almost　won　that　one　battle；　and　they　had　helped　others　win　another。　He　could　fight　back；　and　he　knew　that　he　could　do　it　best　by　working　at　that　desk　in　Langley；　by　joining　the　team　full…time。　He　would　not　be　the　master　of　his　fate；　but　at　least　he　could　play　a　part。　He　had　played　a　part。　It　had　been　important　enough　　if　only　an　accident　　to　Francoise　Theroux；　that　pretty；　malignant　thing　now　dead。　And　so　the　decision　was　made。　The　people　with　guns　would　play　their　part；　and　the　man　behind　the　desk　would　play　his。　Jack　would　miss　the　Academy；　miss　the　eager　young　kids；　but　that　was　the　price　he'd　have　to　pay　for　getting　back　into　the　game。　Jack　got　a　drink　of　water　before　going　back　to　bed。

　　　　Plebe　Summer　started　on　schedule。　Jack　watched　with　impassive　sympathy　as　the　recently　graduated　high　school　seniors　were　introduced　to　the　rigors　of　military　life。　The　process　was　consciously　aimed　at　weeding　out　the　weak　as　early　as　possible；　and　so　it　was　largely　in　the　hands　of　upperclassmen　who　had　only　recently　been　through　the　same　thing。　The　new　youngsters　were　at　the　debatable　mercy　of　the　older　ones；　running　around　with　their　closely　cropped　hair　to　the　double…time　cadence　of　students　only　two　years　their　senior。
　　　　〃Morning；　Jack！〃　Robby　came　over　to　watch　with　him　from　the　parking　lot。
　　　　〃You　know；　Rob；　Boston　College　was　never　like　this。〃　
　　　　〃If　you　think　this　is　a　Plebe　Summer；〃　Jackson　snorted；　〃you　should　have　seen　what　it　was　like　when　I　was　here！〃　
　　　　〃I　bet　they've　been　saying　that　for　a　hundred　years；〃　Jack　suggested。
　　　　〃Probably　so。〃　The　white…clad　plebes　passed　like　a　herd　of　buffalo；　all　gasping　for　air　on　the　hot；　humid　morning。　〃We　kept　better　formations；　though。〃　
　　　　〃The　first　day？〃　
　　　　〃The　first　few　days　were　a　blur；〃　Jackson　admitted。　
　　　　〃Packing　up？〃
　　　　Jackson　nodded。　〃Most　of　the　gear's　already　in　boxes。　I　have　to　get　my　relief　settled　in。〃　
　　　　〃Me；　too。〃　
　　　　〃You're　leaving？〃　Robby　was　surprised。　
　　　　〃I　told　Admiral　Greer　that　I　wanted　in。〃
　　　　〃Admiral　　oh；　the　guy　at　CIA。　You're　going　to　do　it；　eh？　How　did　the　department　take　it？〃
　　　　〃I　think　you　can　say　that　they　managed　to　restrain　their　tears。　The　boss　isn't　real　happy　about　all　the　time　I　missed　this　year。　So　it　looks　like　we're　both　having　a　going…away　dinner。〃　
　　　　〃Jeez；　it's　this　Friday；　isn't　it？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah。　Can　you　show　up　about　eight…fifteen？〃　
　　　　〃You　got　it。　You　said　not　dressy；　right？〃　
　　　　〃That's　right。〃　Jack　smiled。　Gotcha。

　　　　The　RAF　VC…10　aircraft　touched　down　at　Andrews　Air　Force　Base　at　eight　in　the　evening　and　taxied　to　the　same　terminal　used　by　Air　Force　One。　The　reporters　noted　that　security　was　very　tight；　with　what　looked　to　be　a　full　pany　of　Air　Police　in　view；　plus　the　plainclothes　Secret　Service　agents。　They　told　themselves　that　security　at　this　particular　part　of　the　base　was　always　strict。　The　plane　came　to　a　halt　at　exactly　the　right　place；　and　the　stairs　were　rolled　to　the　forward　door；　which　opened　after　a　moment。
　　　　At　the　foot　of　the　stairs　waited　the　Ambassador　and　officials　from　the　State　Department。　Inside　the　aircraft；　security　men　made　a　final　check　out　the　windows。　Finally　His　Highness　appeared　in　the　doorway；　joined　by　his　young　wife；　waving　to　the　distant　spectators；　and　descending　the　stairs　gingerly　despite　legs　that　were　stiff　from　the　flight。　At　the　bottom　a　number　of　military　officers　from　two　nations　saluted；　and　the　State　Department　protocol　officer　curtsied。　This　would　earn　her　a　reprimand　from　the　Washington　Post's　arbiter　of　manners　in　the　morning　edition。　The　six…year…old　granddaughter　of　the　base　mander　presented　Her　Highness　with　a　dozen　yellow　roses。　Strobes　flashed；　and　both　royal　personages　smiled　dutifully　at　the　cameras　while　they　took　the　time　to　say　something　pleasant　to　everyone　in　the　receiving　line。　The　Prince　shared　a　joke　with　a　naval　officer　who　had　once　manded　him；　and　the　Princess　said　something　about　the　oppressive；　muggy　weather　that　had　persisted　into　the　evening。　The　Ambassador's　wife　pointed　out　that　the　climate　here　was　such　that　Washington　D。C。　had　once　been　considered　a　hazardous…duty　station。　The　malarial　mosquitoes　were　long　gone；　but　the　climate　hadn't　changed　very　much。　Fortunately；　everyone　had　air　conditioning。　Reporters　noted　the　color；　style；　and　cut　of　the　Princess's　outfit；　especially　her　〃daring〃　new　hat。　She　stood　with　the　poise　of　a　professional　model　while　her　husband　looked　as　casual　as　a　Texas　cowboy；　as　incongruous　as　that　might　have　seemed；　one　hand　in　his　pocket　and　a　relaxed'　grin　on　his　face。　The　Americans　who'd　never　met　the　couple　before　found　him　wonderfully　easygoing；　and　of　course　every　man　there　had　long　since　fallen　in　love　with　the　Princess；　along　with　most　of　the　Western　world。
　　　　The　security　people　saw　none　of　this。　They　all　had　their　backs　to　the　scene；　their　eyes　scanning　the　crowd；　their　faces　stamped　into　the　same　serious　expression　while　each　with　various　degrees　of　emphasis　thought：　Please；　God；　not　while　I'm　on　duty。　Every　one　had　a　radio　earpiece　constantly　providing　information　that　their　brains　monitored　while　their　eyes　were　otherwise　occupied。
　　　　Finally　they　moved　to　the　embassy's　Rolls…Royce；　and　the　motorcade　formed　up。　Andrews　had　a　number　of　gates；　and　the　one　they　took　had　been　decided　upon　only　an　hour　before。　The　route　into　town　was　its　own　traffic　jam　of　marked　and　unmarked　cars。　Two　additional　Rolls…Royce　automobiles；　of　exactly　the　same　model　and　color；　were　dispersed　through　the　procession；　each　with　a　lead…　and　chase…car；　and　a　helicopter　was　overhead。　If　anyone　had　taken　the　time　to　count　the　firearms　present；　the　total　would　have　been　nearly　a　hundred。　The　arrival　had　been　timed　to　allow　swift　passage　through　Washington；　and　twenty…five　minutes　later　the　motorcade　got　to　the　British　Embassy。　A　few　minutes　after　that；　Their　Highnesses　were　safely　in　the　building；　and　for　the　moment　the　responsibility　of　someone　else。　Most　of　the　local　security　people　dispersed；　heading　back　to　their　homes　or　stations；　but　ten　men　and　women　stayed　around　the　building；　most　invisibly　hidden　in　cars　and　vans；　while　a　few　extra　uniformed　police　walked　the　perimeter。

　　　　〃America；〃　O'Donnell　said。　〃The　land　of　opportunity。〃　The　television　news　coverage　came　on　at　eleven；　and　had　tape　of　the　arrival。
　　　　〃What　do　you　suppose　they're　doing　now？〃　Miller　asked。
　　　　〃Working　on　their　jet　lag；　I　imagine；〃　his　chief　observed。　〃Getting　a　good　night's　sleep。　So；　all　ready　here？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　the　safehouse　is　all　prepared　for　tomorrow。　Alex　and　his　people　are　ready；　and　I've　gone　over　the　changes　in　the　plan。〃　
　　　　〃They're　from　Alex；　too？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　and　if　I　hear　one　more　bit　of　advice　from　that　arrogant　bastard　〃
　　　　〃He　is　one　of　our　revolutionary　brethren；〃　O'Donnell　noted　with　a　smile。　〃But　I　know　what　you　mean。〃　
　　　　〃Where's　Mike？〃　
　　　　〃Belfast。　He'll　run　Phase　Two。〃　
　　　　〃The　timing　is　all　set？〃
　　　　〃Yes。　Both　brigade　manders；　and　the　whole　Army　Council。　We　should　be　able　to　get　them　all　。　。　。〃　O'Donnell　finally　revealed　his　plan　in　toto。　McKenney's　penetration　agents　either　worked　closely　with　all　of　the　senior　PIRA　people　or　knew　those　who　did。　On　mand　from　O'Donnell；　they　would　assassinate　them　all；　pletely　removing　the　Provisionals'　military　leadership。　There　would　be　no　one　left　to　run　the　Organization　。　。　。　except　one　man　whose　masterstroke　mission　would　catapult　him　back　to　respectability　with　rank…and…file　Provos。　With　his　hostages；　he'd　get　the　release　of　all　the　men　〃behind　the　wire〃　even　if　it　meant　mailing　the　Prince　of　Wales　to　Buckingham　Palace　one　cubic　centimeter　at　a　time。　O'Donnell　was　certain　of　this。　For　all　the　brave；　pious　talk　in　Whitehall；　it　was　centuries　since　an　English　king　had　faced　death；　and　the　idea　of　martyrdom　sat　better　with　revolutionaries　than　with　those　in　power。　Public　pressure　would　see　to　that。　They　would　have　to　negotiate　to　save　the　life　of　the　heir　to　the　throne。　The　scope　of　this　operation　would　enliven　the　Movement；　and　Kevin　Joseph　O'Donnell　would　lead　a　revolution　reborn　in　boldness　and　blood　。　。　。　

　　　　〃Changing　of　the　guard；　Jack？〃　Marty　observed。　He；　too；　had　packed　up　his　things。　A　security　officer　would　check　the　box　before　he　left。
　　　　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　
　　　　〃Better；　but　you　can　get　tired　of　watching　daytime　TV。〃　
　　　　〃Taking　all　your　pills？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃I'll　never　forget　again；　Mom；〃　was　the　answer。　
　　　　〃I　see　there's　nothing　new　on　our　friends。〃
　　　　〃Yeah。　They　dropped　back　into　that　black　hole　they　live　in。　The　FBI　is　worried　that　they're　over　here；　of　course；　but　there　hasn't　even　been　a　hint　of　it。　Of　course；　whenever　anybody's　felt　secure　dealing　with　these　bastards；　they've　gotten　bit　on　the　ass。　Still；　about　the　only　outfit　that　isn't　on　alert　is　the　Delta　Force。　All　kinds　of　assets　are　standing　by。　If　they're　over　here　and　they　show　anybody　a　whisker；　the　whole　world　is　going　to　e　crashing　in　on　them。　'Call　in　the　whole　world。'　We　used　to　say　that　in　Vietnam。〃　Cantor　grunted。　〃I'll　be　in　Monday　and　Tuesday。　You　don't　have　to　say　goodbye　yet。　Have　a　good　weekend。〃　
　　　　〃You　too。〃　Ryan　walked　out；　with　a　new　security　pass　hanging　around　his　neck　and　his　jacket　draped　over　his　shoulder。　It　was　hot　outside；　and　his　Rabbit　didn't　have　air　conditioning。　The　drive　home　along　Route　50　was　plicated　by　all　the　people　heading　to　Ocean　City　for　the　weekend；　anything　to　get　away　from　the　heat　that　had　covered　the　area　like　an　evil　spell　for　two　weeks。　They　were　in　for　a　surprise。　Jack　thought。　A　cold　front　was　supposed　to　e　through。

　　　　〃Howard　County　Police；〃　the　Desk　Sergeant　said。　〃Can　I　help　you？〃
　　　　〃This　is　911；　right？〃　It　was　a　male　voice。
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　What　seems　to　be　the　problem？〃
　　　　〃Hey；　uh；　my　wife　said　I　shouldn't　get　involved；　you　know；　but　〃　
　　　　〃Can　you　give　me　your　name　and　phone　number；　please？〃　
　　　　〃No　way　　look；　this　house；　uh；　down　the　street。　There's　people　there　with　guns；　you　know？　Machine　guns。〃　
　　　　〃Say　that　again。〃　The　Sergeant's　eyes　narrowed。
　　　　〃Machine　guns　　no　shit；　I　saw　an　M…60　machine　gun；　like　in　the　Army　　y'know；　thirty　caliber；　feeds　off　a　belt；　heavy　bitch　to　pack　along；　a　real　friggin'　machine　gun。　I　saw　some　other　stuff；　too。〃　
　　　　〃Where？〃
　　　　The　voice　became　rapid。　〃Eleven…sixteen　Green　Cottage　Lane。　There's　maybe　　I　mean　I　saw　four　of　'em；　one　black　and　three　white。　They　were　unloading　the　guns　from　a　van。　It　was　three　in　the　morning。　I　had　to　get　up　an'　take　a　leak；　and　I　looked　out　the　bathroom　window；　y'know？　The　garage　door　was　open；　and　the　light　was　on；　and　when　they　passed　the　gun　across；　it　was　in　the　light；　like；　and　I　could　tell　it　was　a　sixty。　Hey；　I　used　to　carry　one　in　the　Army；　y'know？　Anyway；　that's　it；　man；　you　wanna　do　something　about　it；　that's　your　lookout。〃　The　line　clicked　off。　The　Sergeant　called　his　captain　at　once。
　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　The　Sergeant　handed　over　his　notes。　〃Machine　gun？　M…60？〃
　　　　〃He　said　it　was　　he　said　it　was　a　thirty…caliber　that　feeds　off　a　belt。　That's　the　M…60。　That　alert　we　got　from　the　FBI；　Captain　。　。　。　〃
　　　　〃Yeah。〃　The　Station　mander　had　visions　of　promotion　dangling　before　his　eyes　　but　also　visions　of　his　men　in　a　pitched　battle　where　the　perpetrators　had　better　weapons。　〃Get　a　c