tc.patriotgames-第31节

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　　　　Jack　didn't　hear　the　gates　close；　but　a　few　minutes　later　the　sound　of　the　keys　returned；　and　he　glimpsed　the　returning　guards　in　the　irregular　splashes　of　light。　For　some　reason　the　scene　was　overpoweringly　romantic。　Ryan　reached　around　his　wife's　waist　and　pulled　her　close。　She　looked　up。
　　　　Love　you；　he　said　with　his　lips　as　the　keys　approached　again。　Her　eyes　answered。
　　　　To　their　right；　the　sentry　snapped　to　on…guard：　〃Halt！　Who　goes　there？〃　His　words　reverberated　down　the　corridor　of　ancient　stone。
　　　　The　advancing　men　stopped　at　once；　and　Tom　Hughes　answered　the　challenge：　〃The　keys！〃　
　　　　〃Whose　keys？〃　the　sentry　demanded。　
　　　　〃Queen　Anne's　keys！〃
　　　　〃Pass；　Queen　Anne's　keys！〃　The　sentry　brought　his　rifle　to　present…arms。
　　　　The　sentries；　with　Hughes　in　their　midst；　resumed　their　march　and　turned　left；　up　the　slope　to　the　Tower　Green。　Ryan　and　his　wife　followed　close　behind。　At　the　steps　that　capped　the　upward　slope　waited　a　squad　of　riflemen。　Hughes　and　his　escort　stopped。　The　squad　on　the　steps　came　to　present…arms；　and　the　Chief　Warder　removed　his　uniform　bonnet。　
　　　　〃God　preserve　Queen　Anne！〃　
　　　　〃Amen！〃　the　guard　force　replied。
　　　　Behind　them；　a　bugler　stood。　He　blew　Last　Post；　the　British　version　of　Taps。　The　notes　echoed　against　the　stones　in　a　way　that　denoted　the　end　of　day；　and　when　necessary；　the　end　of　life。　Like　the　circular　waves　that　follow　a　stone's　fall　into　the　water；　the　last　mournful　note　lingered　until　it　faded　to　nothingness　in　the　still　air。　Ryan　bent　down　to　kiss　his　wife。　It　was　a　magical　moment　that　they　would　not　soon　forget。
　　　　The　Chief　Warder　proceeded　up　the　steps　to　secure　the　keys　for　the　night；　and　the　crowd　withdrew。　
　　　　〃Every　night　since　1240；　eh？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃The　ceremony　was　interrupted　during　the　Blitz。　A　German　bomb　fell　into　the　Tower　grounds　while　things　were　under　way。　The　warder　was　bowled　over　by　the　blast；　and　the　candle　in　his　lantern　was　extinguished。　He　had　to　relight　it　before　he　could　continue；〃　Evans　said。　That　the　man　had　been　wounded　was　irrelevant。　Some　things　are　more　important　than　that。　〃Shall　we　return　to　the　pub？〃
　　　　〃We　don't　have　anything　like　this　at　home；〃　Cathy　said　quietly。
　　　　〃Well；　America　isn't　old　enough；　is　she？〃
　　　　〃It　would　be　nice　if　we　had　something　like　this；　maybe　at　Bunker　Hill　or　Fort　McHenry；〃　Jack　said　quietly。
　　　　Murray　nodded　agreement。　〃Something　to　remind　us　why　we're　here。〃
　　　　〃Tradition　is　important；〃　Evans　said。　〃For　a　soldier；　tradition　is　often　the　reason　one　carries　on　when　there　are　so　many　reasons　not　to。　It's　more　than　just　yourself；　more　than　just　your　mates　　but　it's　not　just　something　for　soldiers；　is　it？　It　is　true　　or　should　be　true　　of　any　professional　munity。〃
　　　　〃It　is；〃　Cathy　said。　〃Any　good　medical　school　beats　that　into　your　head。　Hopkins　sure　did。〃
　　　　〃So　does　the　Corps；〃　Jack　agreed。　〃But　we　don't　express　it　as　well　as　you　just　did。〃
　　　　〃We've　had　more　practice。〃　Evans　opened　the　door　to　the　pub。　〃And　better　beer　to　aid　in　our　contemplation。〃
　　　　〃Now；　if　you　guys　could　only　learn　how　to　fix　beef　properly　。　。　。　〃　Jack　said　to　Evans。
　　　　〃That's　telling　'em；　ace；〃　the　FBI　agent　chuckled。
　　　　〃Another　beer　for　a　brother　Marine。〃　A　glass　was　handed　to　Ryan　by　another　of　the　warders。　〃Surely　you've　had　enough　of　this　para　prima　donna　by　now。〃　
　　　　〃Bert's　one　of　the　Marines　I　told　you　about；〃　Evans　explained。
　　　　〃I　never　say　bad　things　about　somebody　who　buys　the　drinks；〃　Ryan　told　Bert。
　　　　〃That　is　an　awfully　sensible　attitude。　Are　you　sure　you　were　only　a　lieutenant？〃
　　　　〃Only　for　three　months。〃　Jack　explained　about　the　helicopter　crash。
　　　　〃That　was　bad　luck。　Bloody　training　accidents；〃　Evans　said。　〃More　dangerous　than　bat。〃　
　　　　〃So　you　guys　work　as　tour　guides　here？〃
　　　　〃That's　part　of　it；〃　the　other　warder　said。　〃It's　a　good　way　to　keep　one's　hand　in；　and　also　to　educate　the　odd　lieutenant。　Just　last　week　I　spoke　to　one　of　the　Welsh　Guards　chaps　　he　was　having　trouble　getting　things　right；　and　I　gave　him　a　suggestion。〃　
　　　　〃The　one　thing　you　really　miss；〃　Evans　agreed。　〃Teaching　those　young　officers　to　be　proper　soldiers。　Who　says　the　best　diplomats　work　at　Whitehall？〃
　　　　〃I　never　got　the　feeling　that　I　was　pletely　useless　as　a　second　lieutenant；〃　Jack　observed　with　a　smile。
　　　　〃All　depends　on　one's　point　of　view；〃　the　other　yeoman　said。　〃Still　and　all；　you　might　have　worked　out　all　right；　judging　by　what　you　did　on　The　Mall。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know；　Bert。　A　lieutenant　with　a　hero　plex　is　not　the　sort　of　chap　you　want　to　be　around。　They　keep　doing　the　damnedest　things。　But　I　suppose　the　ones　who　survive；　and　learn；　do　work　out　as　you　say。　Tell　me。　Lieutenant　Ryan；　what　have　you　learned？〃　
　　　　〃Not　to　get　shot。　The　next　time　I'll　just　shoot　from　cover。〃　
　　　　〃Excellent。〃　Bob　Hallston　rejoined　them。　〃And　don't　leave　one　alive　behind　you；〃　he　added。　The　SAS　wasn't　noted　for　leaving　people　alive　by　accident。
　　　　Cathy　didn't　like　this　sort　of　talk。　〃Gentlemen；　you　can't　just　kill　people　like　that。〃
　　　　〃The　Lieutenant　took　rather　a　large　chance；　ma'am；　not　the　sort　of　chance　that　one　will　walk　away　from　very　often。　If　there　is　ever　a　next　time　　and　there　won't　be；　of　course。　But　if　there　is；　you　can　act　like　a　policeman　or　a　soldier；　but　not　both。　You're　very　lucky　to　be　alive；　young　man。　You　have　that　arm　to　remind　you　just　how　lucky　you　are。　It　is　good　to　be　brave；　Lieutenant。　It　is　better　to　be　smart；　and　much　less　painful　for　those　around　you；〃　Evans　said。　He　looked　down　at　his　beer。　〃Dear　God；　how　many　times　have　I　said　that！〃
　　　　〃How　many　times　have　we　all　said　it？〃　Bert　said　quietly。　〃And　the　pity　is；　so　many　of　them　didn't　listen。　Enough　of　that。　This　lovely　lady　doesn't　want　to　hear　the　ramblings　of　tired　old　men。　Bob　tells　me　that　you　are　expecting　another　child。　In　two　months；　I　shall　be　a　grandfather　for　the　first　time。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　he　can　hardly　wait　to　show　us　the　pictures。〃　Evans　laughed。　〃A　boy　or　a　girl　this　time？〃
　　　　〃Just　so　all　the　pieces　are　attached；　and　they　all　work。〃　There　was　general　agreement　on　the　point。　Ryan　finished　off　his　third　beer　of　the　evening。　It　was　pretty　strong　stuff；　and　he　was　getting　a　buzz　from　it。　〃Gentlemen；　if　any　of　you　e　to　America；　and　happen　to　visit　the　Washington　area；　I　trust　you　will　let　us　know。〃　
　　　　〃And　the　next　time　you　are　in　London；　the　bar　is　open；〃　Tom　Hughes　said。　The　Chief　Warder　was　back　in　civilian　clothes；　but　carrying　his　uniform　bonnet；　a　hat　whose　design　went　back　three　or　four　centuries。　〃And　perhaps　you'll　find　room　in　your　home　for　this。　Sir　John；　with　the　thanks　of　us　all。〃
　　　　〃I'll　take　good　care　of　this。〃　Ryan　took　the　hat；　but　couldn't　bring　himself　to　put　it　on。　He　hadn't　earned　that　right。
　　　　〃Now；　I　regret　to　say　that　if　you　don't　leave　now；　you'll　be　stuck　here　all　night。　At　midnight　all　the　doors　are　shut；　and　that　is　that。〃
　　　　Jack　and　Cathy　shook　hands　all　around；　then　followed　Hughes　and　Murray　out　the　door。
　　　　The　walk　between　the　inner　and　outer　walls　was　still　quiet；　the　air　still　cold；　and　Jack　found　himself　wondering　if　ghosts　walked　the　Tower　Grounds　at　night。　It　was　almost　　
　　　　〃What's　that？〃　He　pointed　to　the　outer　wall。　A　spectral　shape　was　walking　up　there。
　　　　〃A　sentry；〃　Hughes　said。　〃After　the　Ceremony　of　the　Keys；　the　guards　don　their　pattern…disruptive　clothing。〃　They　passed　the　sentry　at　the　Bloody　Tower；　now　dressed　in　camouflage　fatigues；　with　web　gear　and　ammo　pouches。
　　　　〃Those　rifles　are　loaded　now；　aren't　they？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃Not　very　much　use　otherwise；　are　they？　This　is　a　very　safe　place；〃　Hughes　replied。
　　　　Nice　to　know　that　some　places　are；　Ryan　thought。　Now　why　did　I　think　that？

Chapter　7　Speedbird　Home

　　　　The　Speedway　Lounge　at　Heathrow　Airport's　Terminal　4　was　relaxing　enough；　or　would　have　been　had　Jack　not　been　nervous　about　flying。　Beyond　the　floor…to…ceiling　windows　he　could　see　the　Concorde　he'd　be　taking　home　in　a　few　minutes。　The　designers　had　given　their　creation　the　aspect　of　a　living　creature；　like　some　huge；　merciless　bird　of　prey；　a　thing　of　fearful　beauty。　It　sat　there　at　the　end　of　the　Jetway　atop　its　unusually　high　landing　gear；　staring　at　Ryan　impassively　over　its　daggerlike　nose。
　　　　〃I　wish　the　Bureau　would　let　me　mute　back　and　forth　on　that　baby；〃　Murray　observed。
　　　　〃It's　pretty！〃　Sally　Ryan　agreed。
　　　　It's　just　another　goddamned　airplane。　Jack　told　himself。　You　can't　see　what　holds　it　up。　Jack　didn't　remember　whether　it　was　Bernoulli's　Principle　or　the　Venturi　Effect；　but　he　knew　that　it　was　something　inferred；　not　actually　seen；　that　enabled　aircraft　to　fly。　He　remembered　that　something　had　interrupted　the　Principle　or　Effect　over　Crete　and　nearly　killed　him；　and　that　nineteen　months　later　that　same　something　had　reached　up　and　killed　his　parents　five　thousand　feet　short　of　the　runway　at　Chicago's　O'Hare　International　Airport。　Intellectually　he　knew　that　his　Marine　helicopter　had　died　of　a　mechanical　failure；　and　that　mercial　airliners　were　simpler　and　easier　to　maintain　than　CH…46s。　He　also　knew　that　bad　weather　had　been　the　main　contributing　factor　in　his　parents'　case　　and　the　weather　here　was　clear　　but　to　Ryan　there　was　something　outrageous　about　flying；　something　unnatural。
　　　　Fi