jamesclavell.noblehouse-第91章

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rated。
　〃Out　of　the　question；〃　Crosse　said　again。
　〃Then　what　the　hell　do　we　do？　Sit　on　our　goddamn　lard　till　Friday？〃
　〃Yes。　We　wait。　We've　been　ordered　to　wait。　Even　if　Dunross　has　torn　out　pages；　or　sections；　or　disposed　of　whole　files；　we　can't　put　him　in　prison　…　or　force　him　to　remember　or　tell　us　anything。〃
　〃If　the　director　or　Source　decide　he　should　be　leaned　on；　there're　ways。　That's　what　the　enemy'd　do。〃
　Crosse　and　Armstrong　stared　at　Rosemont。　At　length　Armstrong　said　coldly；　〃But　that　doesn't　make　it　right。〃
　〃That　doesn't　make　it　wrong　either。　Next：　For　your　ears　only；　Rog。〃
　At　once　Armstrong　got　up　but　Crosse　motioned　him　to　stay。　〃Robert's　my　ears。〃　Armstrong　hid　the　laughter　that　permeated　him　at　so　ridiculous　a　statement。
　〃No。　Sorry；　Rog；　orders　…　your　brass　and　mine。〃
　Armstrong　saw　Crosse　hesitate　perfectly。　〃Robert；　wait　outside。　When　I　buzz　e　back　in。　Check　on　Brian。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Armstrong　went　out　and　closed　the　door；　sorry　that　he　would　not　be　present　for　the　kill。
　〃Well？〃
　The　American　lit　another　cigarette。　〃Top　secret。　At　0400　today　the　whole　Ninety…second　Airborne　dropped　into　Azerbaijan　supported　by　large　units　of　Delta　Force　and　they've　fanned　out　all　along　the　Iran…Soviet　border。〃　Crosse's　eyes　widened。　〃This　was　at　the　direct　request　of　the　Shah；　in　response　to　massive　Soviet　military　preparations　just　over　the　border　and　the　usual　Soviet…sponsored　riots　all　over　Iran。　Jesus；　Rog；　can't　you　get　some　air　conditioning　in　here？〃　Rosemont　mopped　his　brow。　〃There's　a　security　blanket　all　over　Iran　now。　At　0600　support　units　landed　at　Teheran　airport。　Our　Seventh　Fleet's　heading　for　the　Gulf；　the　Sixth　…　that's　the　Mediterranean　…　is　already　at　battle　stations　off　Israel；　the　Second；　Atlantic；　is　heading　for　the　Baltic；　NORAD's　alerted；　NATO's　alerted；　and　all　Poseidons　are　one　step　from　Red。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ；　what　the　hell's　going　on？〃
　〃Khrushchev　is　making　another　real　play　for　Iran　…　always　an　optimum　Soviet　target　right？　He　figures　he　has　the　advantage。　It's　right　on　his　own　border　where　his　own　lines　of　munication're　short　and　ours　huge。　Yesterday　the　Shah's　security　people　uncovered　a　'democratic　socialist'　insurrection　scheduled　to　explode　in　the　next　few　days　in　Azerbaijan。　So　the　Pentagon's　reacting　like　mashed　cats。　If　Iran　goes　so　does　the　whole　Persian　Gulf；　then　Saudi　Arabia　and　that　wraps　up　Europe's　oil　and　that　wraps　up　Europe。〃
　〃The　Shah's　been　in　trouble　before。　Isn't　this　more　of　your　overreacting？〃
　The　American　hardened。　〃Khrushchev　backed　down　over　Cuba　…　first　goddamn　time　there's　been　a　Soviet　backoff　…　because　JFK　wasn't　bluffing　and　the　only　thing　mies　understand　is　force。　Big…massive…honest…to…goddamn　force！　The　Big　K　better　back　off　this　time　too　or　we'll　hand　him　his　head。〃
　〃You'll　risk　blowing　up　the　whole　bloody　world　over　some　illiterate；　rioting；　fanatic　nutheads　who've　probably　got　some　right　on　their　side　anyway？〃
　〃I'm　not　into　politics；　Rog；　only　into　winning。　Iran　oil；　Persian　Gulf　oil；　Saudi　oil're　the　West's　jugular。　We're　not　gonna　let　the　enemy　get　it。〃
　〃If　they　want　it　they'll　take　it。〃
　〃Not　this　time；　they　won't。　We're　calling　the　operation　Dry　Run。　The　idea's　to　go　in　heavy；　frighten　'em　off　and　get　out　fast；　quietly；　so　no　one's　the　wiser　except　the　enemy；　and　particularly　no　goddamn　liberal　fellow…traveler　congressman　or　journalist。　The　Pentagon　figures　the　Soviets　don't　believe　we　could　possibly　respond　so　fast；　so　massively　from　so　far　away；　so　they'll　go　into　shock　and　run　for　cover　and　close　everything　down　…　until　next　time。〃
　The　silence　thickened。
　Crosse's　fingers　drummed。　〃What　am　I　supposed　to　do？　Why're　you　telling　me　this？〃
　〃Because　the　brass　ordered　me　to。　They　want　all　allied　chief　SIs　to　know　because　if　the　stuff　hits　the　fan　there'll　be　sympathy　riots　all　over；　as　usual；　well…coordinated　rent…a…mob　riots；　and　you'll　have　to　be　prepared。　AMG's　papers　said　that　Sevrin　had　been　activated　here　…　maybe　there's　a　tie…in。　Besides；　you　here　in　Hong　Kong　are　vital　to　us。　You're　the　back　door　to　China；　the　back　door　to　Vladivostok　and　the　whole　of　east　Russia　…　and　our　best　shortcut　to　their　Pacific　naval　and　atomic…sub　bases。〃　Rosemont　took　out　another　cigarette；　his　fingers　shaking。　〃Listen；　Rog；〃　he　said；　controlling　his　grumbling　anger；　〃let's　forget　all　the　interoffice　shit；　huh？　Maybe　we　can　help　each　other。〃
　〃What　atomic　subs？〃　Crosse　said　with　a　deliberate　sneer；　baiting　him。　〃They　haven't　got　atomic　subs　yet　an…　〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃　Rosemont　flared。　〃You　guys've　got　your　heads　up　your　asses　and　you　won't　listen。　You　spout　détente　and　try　to　muzzle　us　and　they're　laughing　their　goddamn　heads　off。　They　got　nuclear　subs　and　missile　sites　and　naval　bases　all　over　the　Sea　of　Okhotsk！〃　Rosemont　got　up　and　went　to　the　huge　map　of　China　and　Asia　that　dominated　one　wall　and　stabbed　the　Kamchatka　peninsula；　north　of　Japan。　〃。。。　Petropavlovsk；　Vladivostok　。。。　they've　giant　operations　all　along　this　whole　Siberian　coast；　here　at　Komsomolsk　at　the　mouth　of　the　Amur　and　on　Sakhalin。　But　Petropavlovsk's　the　big　one。　In　ten　years；　that'll　be　the　greatest　war…port　in　Asia　with　support　airfields；　atomic…protected　subpens　and　atomic…safe　fighter　strips　and　missile　silos。　And　from　there　they　threaten　all　Asia　…　Japan；　Korea；　China；　the　Philippines　…　not　forgetting　Hawaii　and　our　West　Coast。〃
　〃U。S。　forces　are　preponderant　and　always　will　be。　You're　overreacting　again。〃
　Rosemont's　face　closed。　〃People　call　me　a　hawk。　I'm　not。　Just　a　realist。　They're　on　a　war　footing。　Our　Midas　III's　have　pinpointed　all　kinds　of　crap；　our　。。。〃　He　stopped　and　almost　kicked　himself　for　letting　his　mouth　run　on。　〃Well；　we　know　a　lot　of　what　they're　doing　right　now；　and　they're　not　making　goddamn　ploughshares。〃
　〃I　think　you're　wrong。　They　don't　want　war　any　more　than　we　do。〃
　〃You　want　proof？　You'll　get　it　tomorrow；　soon　as　I've　clearance！〃　the　American　said；　stung。　〃If　it's　proved；　can　we　cooperate　better？〃
　〃I　thought　we　were　cooperating　well　now。〃
　〃Will　you？〃
　〃Whatever　you　want。　Does　Source　want　me　to　react　in　any　specific　way？〃
　〃No；　just　to　be　prepared。　I　guess　this'll　all　filter　down　through　channels　today。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Crosse　was　suddenly　gentle。　〃What's　really　bothering　you；　Stanley？〃
　Rosemont's　hostility　left　him。　〃We　lost　one　of　our　best　setups　in　East　Berlin；　last　night；　a　lot　of　good　guys。　A　buddy　of　mine　got　hit　crossing　back　to　us；　and　we're　sure　it's　tied　into　AMG。〃
　〃Oh；　sorry　about　that。　It　wasn't　Tom　Owen；　was　it？〃
　〃No。　He　left　Berlin　last　month。　It　was　Frank　O'Connell。〃
　〃Don't　think　I　ever　met　him。　Sad。〃
　〃Listen；　Rog；　this　mole　thing's　the　shits。〃　He　got　up　and　went　to　the　map。　He　stared　at　it　a　long　time。　〃You　know　about　Iman？〃
　〃Sorry？〃
　Rosemont's　stubby　finger　stabbed　a　point　on　the　map。　The　city　was　inland；　180　miles　north　of　Vladivostok　at　a　rail　junction。　〃It's　an　industrial　center；　railways；　lots　of　factories。〃
　〃So？〃　Crosse　asked。
　〃You　know　about　the　airfield　there？〃
　〃What　airfield？〃
　〃It's　underground；　whole　goddamn　thing；　just　out　of　town；　built　into　a　gigantic　maze　of　natural　caves。　It's　got　to　be　one　of　the　wonders　of　the　world。　It's　atomic　capable；　Rog。　The　whole　base　was　constructed　by　Japanese　and　Nazi　slave　labor　in　'45；　'6　and　'7。　A　hundred　thousand　men　they　say。　It's　all　underground；　Rog；　with　space　for　2500　airplanes；　air　crews　and　support　personnel。　It's　bombproof　…　even　atomic　proof　…　with　eighty　runways　that　lead　out　onto　a　gigantic　airstrip　that　circles　eighteen　low　hills。　It　took　one　of　our　guys　nine　hours　to　drive　around　it。　That　was　back　in　'46　…　so　what's　it　like　now？〃
　〃Improved　…　if　it　exists。〃
　〃It's　operational　now。　A　few　guys；　intelligence；　ours　and　yours；　even　a　few　of　the　better　newspaper　guys；　knew　about　it　even　in　'46。　So　why　the　silence　now？　That　base　alone's　a　massive　threat　to　all　of　us　and　no　one　screams　a　shit。　Even　China；　and　she　sure　as　hell's　got　to　know　about　Iman。〃
　〃I　can't　answer　that。〃
　〃I　can。　I　think　that　info's　being　buried；　deliberately；　along　with　a　lot　of　other　things。〃　The　American　got　up　and　stretched。　〃Jesus；　the　whole　world's　falling　apart　and　I　got　a　backache。　You　know　a　good　chiropractor？〃
　〃Have　you　tried　Doc　Thomas　on　Pedder　Street？　I　use　him　all　the　time。〃
　〃I　can't　stand　him。　He　makes　you　wait　in　line　…　won't　give　you　an　appointment。　Thank　God　for　chiropractors！　Trying　to　get　my　son　to　be　one　instead　of　an　M。D。〃
　The　phone　rang　and　Crosse　answered　it。
　〃Yes　Brian？〃　Rosemont　watched　Crosse　as　he　listened。　〃Just　a　minute；　Brian。　Stanley；　are　we　through　now？〃
　〃Sure。　Just　a　couple　of　open；　routine　things。〃
　〃Right。　Brian；　e　in　with　Robert　as　soon　as　you　e　up。〃　Crosse　put　the　phone　down。　〃We　couldn't　establish　contact　with　Fong…fong。　You're　probably　correct。　They'll　be　MPD'd　or　MPC'd　in　forty…eight　hours。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃Missing　Presumed　Dead　or　Missing　Presumed　Captured。〃
　〃Rough。　Sorry　to　bring　bad　news。〃
　〃Joss。〃
　〃With　Dry　Run　and　AMG；　how　about　pulling　Dunross　into　protective　custody？〃
　〃Out　of　the　question。〃
　〃You　have　the　Official　Secrets　Act。〃
　〃Out　of　the　question。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　remend　it。　By　the　way；　Ed　Langan's　FBI　boys　tied　Banastasio　in　with　Bartlett。　He's　a　big　shareholder　in　Par…Con。　They　say　he　supplied　the　dough　for　the　last　merger　that　put　Par…Con　into　the　big　time。〃
　〃Anything　on　the　Moscow　visas　for　Bartlett　and　Tcholok？〃
　〃Best　we　can　find　is　that　they　went　as　tourists。　Maybe　they　did；　maybe　it　was　a　cover。〃
　〃Anything　on　the　guns？〃　This　morning　Armstrong　had　told　Crosse　of　Peter　Marlowe's　theory　and　he　had　ordered　an　immediate　watch　on　Four　Finger　Wu　and　offered　a　great　reward　for　information。
　〃The　FBI're　sure　they　were　put　aboard　in　L。A。　It'd　be　easy　…　Par…Con's　hangar's　got　no　security。　They　also　checked　on　the　serial　numbers　you　gave　us。　They　were　all　out　of　a　batch　that　had　gotten　'mislaid'　en　route　from　the　factory　to　Camp　Pendleton　…　that's　the　Marine　depot　in　southern　California。　Could　be　we've　stumbled　onto　a　big　arms…smuggling　racket。　Over　seven　hundred　M14's　have　gotten　mislaid　in　the　last　six　months。　Talking　about　that　。。。〃　He　stopped　at　the　discreet　knock。　He　saw　Crosse　touch　the　switch。　The　door　opened　and　Brian　Kwok　and　Armstrong　came　back　in。　Crosse　motioned　them　to　sit。　〃Talking　about　that；　you　remember　the　CARE　case？〃
　〃The　suspected　corruption　here　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃That's　the　one。　We　might　have　a　lead　for　you。〃
　〃Good。　Robert；　you　were　handling　that　at　one　time；　weren't　you？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Robert　Armstrong　sighed。　Three　months　ago　one　of　the　vice…consuls　at　the　U。S。　Consulate　had　asked　the　CID　to　investigate　the　handling　of　the　charity　to　see　whether　some　light…fingered　administrators　were　involved　in　a　little　take…away　for　personal　profit。　The　digging　and　interviewing　was　still　proceeding。　〃What've　you　got；　Stanley？〃
　Rosemont　searched　in　his　pockets　then　pulled　out　a　typed　note。　It　contained　three　names　and　an　address：　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim　（Foreigner　Lim）；　Mr。　Tak　Chou…lan　（Big　Hands　Tak）；　Mr。　Lo　Tup…lin　（Bucktooth　Lo）；　Room　720；　Princes　Building；　Central。　〃Thomas　K。　K。　Lim　is　American；　well　heeled　and　well　connected　in　Washington；　Vietnam　and　South　America。　He's　in　business　with　the　other　two　jokers　at　that　address。