tc.patriotgames-第112节

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Captain；　if　you've　got　the　time；　I've　got　the　bird。〃　
　　　　〃I'd　love　to　be　there。　We　do　have　a　little　free　time　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃Then　let's　do　it；〃　Jackson　said。　
　　　　〃I　see　you　two　are　getting　along。〃
　　　　〃Indeed；〃　the　Prince　replied。　〃I've　wanted　to　meet　an　F…14　pilot　for　years。　Now；　you　say　that　telescopic　camera　arrangement　is　really　effective？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　sir！　It's　not　that　big　a　deal。　It's　a　ten…power　lens　on　a　dinky　little　TV　camera。　You　can　identify　your　target　fifty　miles　out；　and　it's　Phoenix　time。　If　you　play　it　right；　you　can　splash　the　guy　before　he　knows　you're　in　the　same　county；　and　that's　the　idea；　isn't　it？〃　
　　　　〃So　you　try　to　avoid　the　dogfight？〃
　　　　〃ACM；　you　mean　　air…bat　maneuvering；　Jack；〃　Robby　explained　to　the　ignorant　bystander。　〃That'll　change　when　we　get　the　new　engines；　Cap'n；　but；　yeah；　the　farther　away　you　can　take　him；　the　better；　right？　Sometimes　you　have　to　get　wrapped　up　in　the　fur…ball；　but　if　you　do　that　you're　giving　away　your　biggest　advantage。　Our　mission　is　to　engage　the　other　guy　as　far　from　the　boat　as　we　can。　That's　why　we　call　it　the　Outer　Air　Battle。〃　
　　　　〃It　would　have　been　rather　useful　at　the　Falklands；〃　His　Highness　observed。
　　　　〃That's　right。　If　you　engage　the　enemy　over　your　own　decks；　he's　already　won　the　biggest　part　of　the　battle。　We　want　to　start　scoring　three　hundred　miles　out；　and　hammer　their　butts　all　the　way　in。　If　your　Navy'd　had　a　full…size　carrier；　that　useless　little　war　never　would　have　happened。　Excuse　me；　sir。　That　wasn't　your　fault。〃
　　　　〃Can　I　show　you　around　the　house？〃　Jack　asked。　It　always　seemed　to　happen。　You　worked　to　have　one　of　your　guests　meet　another；　and　all　of　a　sudden　you　were　cut　out　of　the　conversation。　
　　　　〃How　old　is　it；　Jack？〃　
　　　　〃We　moved　in　a　few　months　before　Sally　was　born。〃　
　　　　〃The　woodwork　is　marvelous。　Is　that　the　library　down　there？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　way　the　house　was　laid　out；　you　could　look　down　from　the　living　room　into　the　library。　The　master　bedroom　was　perched　over　it。　There　had　been　a　rectangular　hole　in　the　wall；　which　allowed　someone　in　there　to　see　into　the　living　room；　but　Ryan　had　placed　a　print　over　it。　The　picture　was　mounted　on　a　rail　and　could　be　slid　aside；　Jackson　noticed。　The　purpose　of　that　was　clear　enough。　Jack　led　them　to　his　library　next。　Everyone　liked　that　the　only　window　was　over　his　desk　and　looked　out　over　the　bay。
　　　　〃No　servants。　Jack？〃
　　　　〃No；　sir。　Cathy's　talking　about　getting　a　nanny；　but　she　hasn't　sold　me　on　that　idea　yet。　Is　everyone　ready　for　dinner？〃　
　　　　The　response　was　enthusiastic。　The　potatoes　were　already　in　the　oven；　and　Cathy　was　ready　to　start　the　corn。　Jack　took　the　steaks　from　the　refrigerator　and　led　the　menfolk　outside。　
　　　　〃You'll　like　this；　Cap'n。　Jack　does　a　mean　steak。〃　
　　　　〃The　secret's　in　the　charcoal；〃　Ryan　explained。　He　had　six　gorgeous…looking　sirloins；　and　a　hamburger　for　Sally。　〃It　helps　to　have　good　meat；　too。〃　
　　　　〃I　know　it's　too　late　to　ask；　Jack；　but　where　do　you　get　those？〃　
　　　　〃One　of　my　old　stock　clients　has　a　restaurant…supply　business。　These　are　Kansas　City　strips。〃　Jack　transferred　them　to　the　grill　with　a　long…handled　fork。　A　gratifying　sizzle　rose　to　their　ears。　He　brushed　some　sauce　on　the　meat。
　　　　〃The　view　is　spectacular；〃　His　Highness　observed。
　　　　〃It's　nice　to　be　able　to　watch　the　boats　go　by；〃　Jack　agreed。　〃Looks　a　little　thin　now；　though。〃
　　　　〃They　must　be　listening　to　the　radio；〃　Robby　observed。　〃There's　a　severe…thunderstorm　warning　on　for　tonight。〃　
　　　　〃I　didn't　hear　that。〃
　　　　〃It's　the　leading　edge　of　that　cold　front。　They　develop　pretty　fast　over　Pittsburgh。　I'm　going　up　tomorrow；　like　I　said；　and　I　called　Pax　Weather　right　before　we　left。　They　told　me　that　the　storms　look　pretty　ferocious　on　radar。　Heavy　rain　and　gusts。　Supposed　to　hit　around　ten　or　so。〃　
　　　　〃Do　you　get　many　of　those　here？〃　His　Highness　asked。
　　　　〃Sure　do；　Captain。　We　don't　get　tornadoes　like　in　the　Midwest；　but　the　thunder…boomers　we　get　here'll　curl　your　hair。　I　was　bringing　a　bird　back　from　Memphis　last　　no；　two　years　ago；　and　it　was　like　being　on　a　pogo　stick。　You　just　don't　have　control　of　the　airplane。　Those　suckers　can　be　scary。　Down　at　Pax；　they're　taking　all　the　birds　they　can　inside　the　hangars；　and　they'll　be　tying　the　rest　down　tight。〃
　　　　〃It'll　be　worth　it　to　cool　things　off；〃　Jack　said　as　he　turned　the　steaks。
　　　　〃Roger　that。　It's　just　your　basic　thunderstorm。　Captain。　We　get　the　big　ones　three　or　four　times　a　year。　It'll　knock　down　some　trees；　but　as　long　as　you're　not　in　the　air　or　out　in　a　small　boat；　it's　no　big　deal。　Down　in　Alabama　with　this　kind　of　storm　ing　across；　we'd　be　sweating　tornadoes。　Now　that's　scary！〃　
　　　　〃You've　seen　one？〃
　　　　〃More　'n　one；　Cap'n。　You　get　those　mostly　in　the　spring　down　home。　When　I　was　ten　or　so；　I　watched　one　e　across　the　road；　pick　up　a　house　like　it　was　part　of　a　Christmas　garden；　and　drop　it　a　quarter　mile　away。　They're　weird；　though。　It　didn't　even　take　the　weathervane　off　my　pappy's　church。　They're　like　that。　It's　something　to　see；　all　right　　but　you　want　to　do　it　from　a　safe　distance。〃　
　　　　〃Turbulence　is　the　main　flying　hazard；　then？〃　
　　　　〃Right。　But　the　other　thing　is　water。　I　know　of　cases　where　jets　have　ingested　enough　water　through　the　intakes　to　snuff　the　engines　right　out。〃　Robby　snapped　his　fingers。　〃All　of　a　sudden　you're　riding　in　a　glider。　Definitely　not　fun。　So　you　keep　away　from　them　when　you　can。〃　
　　　　〃And　when　you　can't？〃　
　　　　〃Once；　Cap'n；　I　had　to　land　on　a　carrier　in　one　　at　night。　That's　about　as　close　as　I've　e　to　wetting　my　pants　since　I　was　two。〃　He　even　threw　in　a　shudder。
　　　　〃Your　Highness；　I　have　to　thank　you　for　getting　all　of　this　out　of　Robby。　I've　known　him　for　over　a　year　and　he's　never　admitted　to　being　mildly　nervous　up　there。〃　Jack　grinned。
　　　　〃I　didn't　want　to　spoil　the　image；〃　Jackson　explained。　〃You　have　to　put　a　gun　to　Jack's　head　to　get　him　aboard　a　plane；　and　I　didn't　want　to　scare　him　any　more　than　he　already　is。〃　Zing！　And　Robby　took　the　point。
　　　　It　helped　that　the　deck　was　now　in　the　shade；　and　there　was　a　slight　northerly　breeze。　Jack　manipulated　the　steaks　over　the　coals。　There　were　a　few　boats　out　on　the　bay；　but　most　of　them　seemed　to　be　heading　back　to　harbor。　Jack　nearly　jumped　out　of　his　skin　when　a　jet　fighter　screamed　past　the　cliff。　He　turned　in　time　to　see　the　white…painted　aircraft　heading　south。
　　　　〃Robby；　what　the　hell　is　that　all　about？　They've　been　doing　that　for　two　weeks。〃
　　　　Jackson　watched　the　plane's　double　tail　vanish　in　the　haze。　〃They're　testing　a　new　piece　of　gear　on　the　F…18。　What's　the　big　deal？〃　
　　　　〃The　noise！〃　Ryan　flipped　the　steaks　over。
　　　　Robby　laughed。　〃Aw；　Jack；　that's　not　noise。　That's　the　sound　of　freedom。〃　
　　　　〃Not　bad；　mander；〃　His　Highness　judged。　
　　　　〃Well；　how　about　the　sound　of　dinner？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　Robby　grabbed　the　platter；　and　Jack　piled　the　meat　on　it。　The　salads　were　already　on　the　table。　Cathy　made　a　superb　spinach　salad；　with　homemade　dressing。　Jack　noted　that　Sissy　was　bringing　the　corn　and　potatoes　out；　wearing　an　apron　to　protect　her　dress。　He　distributed　the　steaks　and　put　Sally's　hamburger　on　a　roll。　Next　he　got　their　daughter　in　a　booster　seat。　The　one　awkward　thing　was　that　nobody　was　drinking。　He'd　gotten　four　bottles　of　a　choice　California　red　to　go　with　the　steaks；　but　it　seemed　that　everyone　was　in　a　teetotaling　mood。
　　　　〃Jack；　the　electricity　is　acting　up　again；〃　his　wife　reported。　〃For　a　while　there　I　didn't　think　we'd　get　the　corn　finished。〃

　　　　The　Secret　Service　agent　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　forcing　the　van　to　stop。
　　　　〃Yes；　sir？〃　the　driver　said。
　　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　The　agent's　coat　was　unbuttoned。　No　gun　was　visible；　but　the　driver　knew　it　was　there　somewhere。　He　counted　six　more　men　within　ten　yards　of　the　van　and　another　four　readily　visible。
　　　　〃Hey；　I　just　told　the　cop。〃　The　man　gestured　backward。　The　two　State　Police　cars　were　only　two　hundred　yards　away。　
　　　　〃Could　you　tell　me；　please？〃
　　　　〃There's　a　problem　with　the　transformer　at　the　end　of　the　road。　I　mean；　you　can　see　this　is　a　BG　and　E　truck；　right？〃　
　　　　〃Could　you　wait　here；　please？〃
　　　　〃Okay　with　me；　man。〃　The　driver　exchanged　a　look　with　the　man　in　the　right…front　seat。　The　agent　returned　with　another。　This　one　held　a　radio。
　　　　〃What　seems　to　be　the　problem？〃
　　　　The　driver　sighed。　〃Third　time。　There's　a　problem　with　the　electrical　transformer　at　the　end　of　the　road。　Have　the　people　here　been　plaining　about　the　electricity？〃
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　the　second　man；　Avery；　said。　〃I　noticed；　too。　What　gives？〃
　　　　The　man　in　the　right　seat　answered。　〃I'm　Alex　Dobbens；　field　engineer。　We　have　a　new；　experimental　transformer　on　this　line。　There's　a　test　monitor　on　the　box；　and　it's　been　sending　out　some　weird　signals；　like　the　box　is　going　to　fail。　We're　here　to　check　it　out。〃　
　　　　〃Could　we　see　some　ID；　please？〃
　　　　〃Sure。〃　Alex　got　out　of　the　truck　and　walked　around。　He　handed　over　his　BG&E　identification　card。　〃What　the　hell's　going　on　here？〃
　　　　〃Can't　say。〃　Avery　examined　the　pass　and　handed　it　back。　〃You　have　a　work　order？〃
　　　　Dobbens　gave　the　man　his　clipboard。　〃Hey；　if　you　want　to　check　it　out；　you　can　call　that　number　up　top。　That's　the　fi