tc.patriotgames-第104节

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hink　about　this。　He　wondered　how　his　father　had　felt　right　before　a　big　arrest　after　a　lengthy　investigation。　It　was　something　he'd　never　asked。　He　did　the　next　best　thing。　He　forgot　about　it；　as　he　was　supposed　to　do　with　everything　that　he　saw　at　Langley。
　　　　There　was　a　strange　car　parked　in　front　of　the　house　when　he　got　there；　just　beyond　the　nearly　pleted　swimming　pool。　On　inspection　he　saw　that　it　had　diplomatic　tags。　He　went　inside　to　find　three　men　talking　to　his　wife。　He　recognized　one　but　couldn't　put　a　name　on　him。
　　　　〃Hello；　Doctor　Ryan；　I'm　Geoffrey　Bennett　from　the　British　Embassy。　We　met　before　at　〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；　I　remember　now。　What　can　we　do　for　you？〃　
　　　　〃Their　Royal　Highnesses　will　be　visiting　the　States　in　a　few　weeks。　I　understand　that　you　offered　an　invitation　when　you　met；　and　they　wish　to　see　if　it　remains　open。〃　
　　　　〃Are　you　kidding？〃
　　　　〃They're　not　kidding。　Jack；　and　I　already　said　yes；〃　his　wife　informed　him。　Even　Ernie　was　wagging　his　tail　in　anticipation。
　　　　〃Of　course。　Please　tell　them　that　we'd　be　honored　to　have　them　down。　Will　they　be　staying　the　night？〃
　　　　〃Probably　not。　It　was　hoped　that　they　could　e　in　the　evening。〃　
　　　　〃For　dinner？　Fine。　What　day？〃　
　　　　〃Friday；　30th　July。〃　
　　　　〃Done。〃　
　　　　〃Excellent。　I　hope　you　won't　mind　if　our　security　people　　plus　your　Secret　Service　chaps　　conduct　a　security　sweep　in　the　ing　week。〃　
　　　　〃Do　I　have　to　be　home　for　that？〃　
　　　　〃I　can　do　it；　Jack。　I'm　off　work　now；　remember？〃　
　　　　〃Oh；　of　course；〃　Bennett　said。　〃When　is　the　baby　due？〃　
　　　　〃First　week　of　August　　that　might　be　a　problem　for　this；〃　Cathy　realized　belatedly。
　　　　〃If　something　unexpected　happens；　you　may　be　sure　that　Their　Highnesses　will　understand。　One　more　thing。　This　is　a　private　matter；　not　one　of　the　public　events　for　the　trip。　We　must　ask　that　you　keep　this　entirely　confidential。〃　
　　　　〃Sure；　I　understand；〃　Ryan　said。
　　　　〃If　they're　going　to　be　here　for　dinner；　is　there　anything　we　shouldn't　serve？〃　Cathy　asked。
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Bennett　responded。　
　　　　〃Well；　some　people　are　allergic　to　fish；　for　example。〃　
　　　　〃Oh；　I　see。　No；　I　know　of　nothing　along　those　lines。〃　
　　　　〃Okay；　the　basic　Ryan　dinner；〃　Jack　said。　〃I　　uh…oh。〃　
　　　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Bennett　asked。　
　　　　〃We're　having　pany　that　night。〃　
　　　　〃Oh；〃　Cathy　nodded。　〃Robby　and　Sissy。〃　
　　　　〃Can't　you　cancel？〃
　　　　〃It's　a　going…away　party。　Robby　　he's　a　Navy　fighter　pilot；　we　both　teach　at　the　Academy　　is　transferring　back　to　the　fleet。　Would　they　mind？〃　
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；　His　Highness　〃
　　　　〃His　Highness　is　a　good　guy。　So's　Robby。　He　was　there　that　night　we　met。　I　can't　cancel　him　out；　Mr。　Bennett。　He's　a　friend。　The　good　news　is。　His　Highness　will　like　him。　He　used　to　fly　fighter　planes；　too；　right？〃　
　　　　〃Well；　yes；　but　〃
　　　　〃Do　you　remember　the　night　we　met？　Without　Robby　I　might　not　have　gotten　through　it。　Look；　this　guy's　a　lieutenant　mander　in　the　United　States　Navy　who　happens　to　fly　a　forty…million…dollar　fighter　airplane。　He　probably　is　not　a　security　risk。　His　wife　plays　one　hell　of　a　piano。〃　Ryan　saw　that　he　hadn't　quite　gotten　through　yet。　〃Mr。　Bennett；　check　Rob　out　through　your　attache　and　ask　His　Highness　if　it's　all　right。〃　
　　　　〃And　if　he　objects？〃
　　　　〃He　won't。　I've　met　him。　Maybe　he's　a　better　guy　than　you　give　him　credit　for；〃　Jack　observed。　He　won't　object；　you　dummy。　It's　the　security　pukes　who'll　throw　a　fit。
　　　　〃Well。〃　That　remark　took　him　somewhat　aback。　〃I　cannot　fault　your　sense　of　loyalty。　Doctor。　I　will　pass　this　through　His　Highness's　office。　But　I　must　insist　that　you　do　not　tell　mander　Jackson　anything。〃
　　　　〃You　have　my　word。〃　Jack　nearly　laughed。　He　couldn't　wait　to　see　the　look　on　Robby's　face。　This　would　finally　even　the　score　for　that　kendo　match。

　　　　〃Contraction　peaks；〃　Jack　said　that　night。　They　were　practicing　the　breathing　exercises　in　preparation　for　the　delivery。　His　wife　started　panting。　Jack　knew　that　this　was　a　serious　business。　It　merely　looked　ridiculous。　He　checked　the　numbers　on　his　digital　watch。　〃Contraction　ends。　Deep；　cleansing　breath。　I　figure　steaks　on　the　grill；　baked　potatoes；　and　fresh　corn　on　the　cob；　with　a　nice　salad。〃　
　　　　〃It's　too　plain；〃　Cathy　protested。
　　　　〃Everywhere　they　go　over　here；　people　will　be　hitting　them　with　that　fancy　French　crap。　Somebody　ought　to　give　them　a　decent　American　meal。　You　know　I　do　a　mean　steak　on　the　grill；　and　your　spinach　salad　is　famous　from　here　to　across　the　road。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。〃　Cathy　started　laughing。　It　was　being　unfortable　for　her　to　do　so。　〃If　I　stand　over　a　stove　for　more　than　a　few　minutes；　I　get　nauseous　anyway。〃　
　　　　〃It　must　be　tough；　being　pregnant。〃　
　　　　〃You　should　try　it；〃　she　suggested。
　　　　Her　husband　went　on：　〃It's　the　only　hard　thing　women　have　to　do；　of　course。〃　
　　　　〃What！〃　Cathy's　eyes　nearly　popped　out。
　　　　〃Look　at　history。　Who　has　to　go　out　and　kill　the　buffalo？　The　man。　Who　has；　to　carry　the　buffalo　back？　The　man。　Who　has　to　drive　off　the　bear？　The　man。　We　do　all　the　hard　stuff。　I　still　have　to　take　out　the　garbage　every　night！　Do　I　ever　plain　about　that？〃　He　had　her　laughing　again。　He'd　read　her　mood　right。　She　didn't　want　sympathy。　She　was　too　proud　of　herself　for　that。
　　　　〃I'd　hit　you　on　the　head；　but　there's　no　sense　in　breaking　a　perfectly　good　club　over　something　worthless。〃
　　　　〃Besides；　I　was　there　the　last　time；　and　it　didn't　look　all　that　hard。〃　
　　　　〃If　I　could　move；　Jack；　I'd　kill　you　for　that　one！〃　
　　　　He　moved　from　opposite　his　wife　to　beside　her。　〃Nah；　I　don't　think　so。　I　want　you　to　form　a　picture　in　your　mind。〃　
　　　　〃Of　what？〃
　　　　〃Of　the　look　on　Robby's　face　when　he　gets　here　for　dinner。　I'm　going　to　jiggle　the　time　a　little。〃
　　　　〃I'll　bet　you　that　Sissy　handles　it　better　than　he　does。〃
　　　　〃How　much？〃
　　　　〃Twenty。〃
　　　　〃Deal。〃　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Contraction　begins。　Deep　breath。〃　A　minute　later；　Jack　was　amazed　to　see　that　he　was　breathing　the　same　way　as　his　wife。　That　got　them　both　laughing。

Chapter　24　Connections　Missed　and　Made

　　　　There　were　no　new　pictures　of　Camp…18　the　day　of　the　raid。　A　sandstorm　had　swept　over　the　area　at　the　time　of　the　satellite　pass；　and　the　cameras　couldn't　penetrate　it；　but　a　geosynchronous　weather　satellite　showed　that　the　storm　had　left　the　site。　Ryan　was　cued　after　lunch　that　day　that　the　raid　was　on；　and　spent　his　afternoon　in　fidgety　anticipation。　Careful　analysis　of　the　existing　photos　showed　that　between　twelve　and　eighteen　people　were　at　the　camp；　over　and　above　the　guard　force。　If　the　higher　number　was　correct；　and　the　official　estimate　of　the　ULA's　size　was　also　accurate；　that　represented　more　than　half　of　its　membership。　Ryan　worried　a　little　about　that。　If　the　French　were　sending　in　only　eight　paratroopers　。　。　。　but　then　he　remembered　his　own　experiences　in　the　Marine　Corps。　They'd　be　hitting　the　objective　at　three　in　the　morning。　Surprise　would　be　going　for　them。　The　assault　team　would　have　its　weapons　loaded　and　locked　　and　aimed　at　people　who　were　asleep。　The　element　of　surprise；　in　the　hands　of　elite　mandos；　was　the　military　equivalent　of　a　Kansas　tornado。　Nothing　could　stand　up　to　it。
　　　　They're　in　their　choppers　now；　Ryan　thought。　He　remembered　his　own　experience　in　the　fragile；　ungainly　aircraft。　There　you　are；　all　your　equipment　packed　up；　clean　utilities；　your　weapons　ready；　and　despite　it　all　you're　as　vulnerable　as　a　baby　in　the　womb。　He　wondered　what　sort　of　men　they　were；　and　realized　that　they　wouldn't　be　too　very　different　from　the　Marines　he'd　served　with：　all　would　be　volunteers；　doubly　so　since　you　also　had　to　volunteer　for　parachute　training。　They'd　opted　a　third　time　to　be　part　of　the　antiterror　teams。　It　would　be　partly　for　the　extra　pay　they　got　and　partly　for　the　pride　that　always　came　with　membership　in　a　small；　very　special　force　　like　the　Marine　Corps'　Force　Recon　　but　mostly　they'd　be　there　because　they　knew　that　this　was　a　mission　worth　doing。　To　a　man；　professional　soldiers　despised　terrorists；　and　each　would　dream　about　getting　them　in　an　even…up…battle　　the　idea　of　the　Field　of　Honor　had　never　died　for　the　real　professionals。　It　was　the　place　where　the　ultimate　decision　was　made　on　the　basis　of　courage　and　skill；　on　the　basis　of　manhood　itself；　and　it　was　this　concept　that　marked　the　professional　soldier　as　a　romantic；　a　person　who　truly　believed　in　the　rules。
　　　　They'd　be　nervous　in　their　helicopter。　Some　would　fidget　and　be　ashamed　of　it。　Others　would　make　a　great　show　of　sharpening　their　knives。　Some　would　joke　quietly。　Their　officers　and　sergeants　would　sit　quietly；　setting　an　example　and　going　over　the　plans。　All　would　look　about　the　helicopter　and　silently　hate　being　trapped　within　it。　For　a　moment　Jack　was　there　with　them。
　　　　〃Good　luck；　guys；〃　he　whispered　to　the　wall。　〃Bonne　chance。　〃
　　　　The　hours　crept　by。　It　seemed　to　Ryan　that　the　numbers　on　his　digital　watch　were　reluctant　to　change　at　all；　and　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　concentrate　on　his　work。　He　was　going　over　the　photos　of　the　camp　again；　counting　the　man…figures；　examining　the　ground　to　predict　for　himself　how　the　final　approach　would　be　made。　He　wondered　if　their　orders　were　to　take　the　terrorists　alive。　He　couldn't　decide　on　that　question。　From　a　legal　perspe