tc.patriotgames-第32节

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Ryan　there　was　something　outrageous　about　flying；　something　unnatural。
　　　　Fine；　Jack。　Why　not　go　back　to　living　in　caves　and　hunting　bear　with　a　pointed　stick？　What's　natural　about　teaching　history；　or　watching　TV；　or　driving　a　car？　Idiot。　
　　　　But　I　hate　to　fly；　Ryan　reminded　himself。
　　　　〃There　has　never　been　an　accident　in　the　Concorde；〃　Murray　pointed　out。　〃And　Jimmy　Owens's　troops　gave　the　bird　a　plete　checkout。〃　The　possibility　of　a　bomb　on　that　pretty　white　bird　was　a　real　one。　The　explosives　experts　from　C…13　had　spent　over　an　hour　that　morning　making　sure　that　nobody　had　done　that；　and　now　police　dressed　as　British　Airways　ground　crewmen　stood　around　the　airliner。　Jack　wasn't　worried　about　a　bomb。　Dogs　could　find　bombs。
　　　　〃I　know；〃　Jack　replied　with　a　wan　smile。　〃Just　a　basic　lack　of　guts　on　my　part。〃
　　　　〃It's　only　lack　of　guts　if　you　don't　go；　ace；〃　Murray　pointed　out。　He　was　surprised　that　Ryan　was　so　nervous；　though　he　concealed　it　well；　the　FBI　agent　thought。　Murray　enjoyed　flying。　An　Air　Force　recruiter　had　almost　convinced　him　to　bee　a　pilot；　back　in　his　college　days。
　　　　No；　it's　tack　of　brains　if　I　do；　Jack　told　himself。　You　really　are　a　wimp；　another　part　of　his　brain　informed　him。　Some　Marine　you　turned　out　to　be！
　　　　〃When　do　we　blast　off。　Daddy？〃　Sally　asked。
　　　　〃One　o'clock；〃　Cathy　told　her　daughter。　〃Don't　bother　Daddy。〃
　　　　Blast　off。　Jack　thought　with　a　smile。　Dammit；　there　is　nothing　to　be　afraid　of　and　you　know　it！　Ryan　shook　his　head　and　sipped　at　his　drink　from　the　plimentary　bar。　He　counted　four　security　people　in　the　lounge；　all　trying　to　look　inconspicuous。　Owens　was　taking　no　chances　on　Ryan's　last　day　in　England。　The　rest　was　up　to　British　Airways。　He　wasn't　even　being　billed　for　the　extra　cost。　Ryan　wondered　if　that　was　good　luck　or　bad。
　　　　A　disembodied　female　voice　announced　the　flight。　Jack　finished　off　the　drink　and　rose　to　his　feet。　
　　　　〃Thanks　for　everything；　Dan。〃
　　　　〃Can　we　go　now；　Daddy？〃　Sally　asked　brightly。　Cathy　took　her　daughter's　hand。
　　　　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　Murray　stooped　down　to　Sally。　〃Don't　I　get　a　hug　and　a　kiss？〃
　　　　〃Okay。〃　Sally　obliged　with　enthusiasm。　〃G'bye；　Mr。　M'ray。〃　
　　　　〃Take　good　care　of　our　hero；〃　the　FBI　man　told　Cathy。　
　　　　〃He'll　be　all　right；〃　she　assured　him。
　　　　〃Enjoy　the　football；　ace！〃　Murray　nearly　crushed　Jack's　hand。　That's　the　one　thing　I　really　miss。〃　
　　　　〃I　can　send　you　tapes。〃　
　　　　〃It's　not　the　same。　Back　to　teaching　history；　eh？〃　
　　　　〃That's　what　I　do；〃　Ryan　said。
　　　　〃We'll　see；〃　Murray　observed　cryptically。　〃How　the　hell　do　you　walk　with　that　thing　on？〃
　　　　〃Badly；〃　Ryan　chuckled。　〃I　think　the　doc　installed　some　lead　weights；　or　maybe　he　left　some　tools　in　there　by　mistake。　Well；　here　we　are。〃　They　reached　the　entrance　to　the　Jetway。　
　　　　〃Break　a　leg。〃　Murray　smiled　and　moved　off。
　　　　〃Wele　aboard。　Sir　John；〃　a　flight　attendant　said。　〃We　have　you　in　1…D。　Have　you　flown　Concorde　before？〃　
　　　　〃No。〃　It　was　all　Jack　could　muster。　Ahead　of　him；　Cathy　turned　and　grinned。　The　tunnel…like　Jetway　looked　like　the　entrance　to　the　grave。
　　　　〃Well；　you　are　in　for　the　thrill　of　your　life！〃　the　stewardess　assured　him。
　　　　Thanks　a　lot！　Ryan　nearly　choked　at　the　outrage；　and　remembered　that　he　couldn't　strangle　her　with　one　hand。　Then　he　laughed。　There　wasn't　anything　else　to　do。
　　　　He　had　to　duck　to　avoid　crunching　his　head　at　the　door。　It　was　tiny　inside；　the　cabin　was　only　eight　or　nine　feet　across。　He　looked　forward　quickly　and　saw　the　flight　crew　in　impossibly　tight　quarters　　getting　into　the　pilot's　left　seat　must　have　been　like　putting　on　a　boot；　it　seemed　so　cramped。　Another　attendant　was　hanging　up　coats。　He　had　to　wait　until　she　saw　him；　and　walked　sideways；　his　plaster…encased　arm　leading　the　way　into　the　passenger　cabin。　
　　　　〃Right　here；〃　his　personal　guide　said。
　　　　Jack　got　into　the　right…side　window　seat　in　the　front　row。　Cathy　and　Sally　were　already　in　their　seats　on　the　other　side。　Jack's　cast　stuck　well　over　seat　1…C。　No　one　could　have　sat　there。　It　was　just　as　well　that　British　Airways　wasn't　charging　the　difference　between　this　and　their　L…1011　tickets；　there　would　have　been　an　extra　seat　charge。　He　immediately　tried　to　snap　on　his　seat　belt　and　found　that　it　wasn't　easy　with　only　one　hand。　The　stewardess　was　ready　for　this；　and　handled　it　for　him。　
　　　　〃You　are　quite　fortable？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Jack　lied。　I　am　quite　terrified。
　　　　〃Excellent。　Here　is　your　Concorde　information　kit。〃　She　pointed　toward　a　gray　vinyl　folder。　〃Would　you　like　a　magazine？〃
　　　　〃No　thank　you　I　have　a　book　in　my　pocket〃
　　　　〃Fine。　I'll　be　back　after　we　take　off；　but　if　you　need　anything；　please　ring。〃
　　　　Jack　pulled　the　seat　belt　tighter　as　he　looked　forward　and　left　at　the　airplane's　door。　It　was　still　open。　He　could　still　escape。　But　he　knew　he　wouldn't　do　that。　He　leaned　back。　The　seat　was　gray；　too；　a　little　on　the　narrow　side　but　fortable。　His　placement　in　the　front　row　gave　him　all　the　legroom　he　needed。　The　airplane's　inside　wall　　or　whatever　they　called　it　　was　off…white；　and　he　had　a　window　to　look　out　of。　Not　a　very　large　one；　about　the　size　of　two　paperback　books；　but　better　than　no　window　at　all。　He　looked　around。　The　flight　was　about　three…quarters　full。　These　were　seasoned　travelers；　and　wealthy　ones。　Business　types　mostly。　Jack　figured；　many　were　reading　their　copies　of　the　Financial　Times。　And　none　of　them　were　afraid　of　flying。　You　could　tell　from　their　impassive　faces。　It　never　occurred　to　Jack　that　his　face　was　set　exactly　the　same。
　　　　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　this　is　Captain　Nigel　Higgins　weling　you　aboard　British　Airways　Flight　189；　Concorde　Service　to　Washington；　D。C。；　and　Miami；　Florida。　We'll　begin　taxiing　in　approximately　five　minutes。　Weather　at　our　first　stop；　Washington's　Dulles　International　Airport；　is　excellent；　clear；　with　a　temperature　of　fifty…six　degrees。　We　will　be　in　the　air　a　total　of　three　hours　and　twenty…five　minutes。　Please　observe　that　the　no…smoking　sign　is　lighted；　and　we　ask　that　while　you　are　seated　you　keep　your　seat　belts　fastened。　Thank　you；〃　the　clipped　voice　concluded。
　　　　The　door　had　been　closed　during　the　speech；　Ryan　noted　sourly。　A　clever　distraction；　as　their　only　escape　route　was　eliminated。　He　leaned　back　and　closed　his　eyes；　resigning　himself　to　fate。　One　nice　thing　about　being　up　front　was　that　no　one　could　see　him　except　Cathy　　Sally　had　the　window　seat　　and　his　wife　understood；　or　at　least　pretended　to。　Soon　the　cabin　crew　was　demonstrating　how　to　put　on　and　inflate　life　jackets　stowed　under　the　seats。　Jack　watched　without　interest。　Concorde's　perfect　safety　record　meant　that　no　one　had　the　first　idea　on　how　to　ditch　one　safely；　and　his　position　near　the　nose；　so　far　from　the　delta…shaped　wing；　ensured　that　if　they　hit　the　water　he'd　be　in　the　part　of　the　fuselage　that　broke　off　and　sank　like　a　cement　block。　Not　that　this　would　matter。　The　impact　itself　would　surely　be　fatal。
　　　　Asshole；　if　this　bird　was　dangerous；　they　would　have　lost　one　by　now。
　　　　The　whine　of　the　jet　turbines　came　next；　triggering　the　acid　glands　in　Jack's　stomach。　He　closed　his　eyes　again。　You　can't　run　away。　He　manded　himself　to　control　his　breathing　and　relax。　That　was　strangely　easy。　Jack　had　never　been　a　white…knuckled　flier。　He　was　more　likely　to　be　limp。
　　　　Some　unseen　tractor…cart　started　pushing　the　aircraft　backward。　Ryan　looked　out　of　the　window　and　watched　the　scenery　move　slowly　forward。　Heathrow　was　quite　a　plex。　Aircraft　from　a　dozen　airlines　were　visible；　mainly　sitting　at　the　terminal　buildings　like　ships　at　a　dock。　Wish　we　could　take　a　ship　home；　he　thought；　forgetting　that　he'd　been　one　seasick　Marine　on　Guam；　years　ago。　The　Concorde　stopped　for　a　few　seconds；　then　began　moving　under　its　own　power。　Ryan　didn't　know　why　the　landing　gear　was　so　high；　but　this　factor　imparted　an　odd　sort　of　movement　as　they　taxied。　The　captain　came　on　the　inter　again　and　said　something　about；　taking　off　on　afterburners；　but　Ryan　didn't　catch　it；　instead　watching　a　Pan　Am　747　lift　off。　The　Concorde　was　certainly　prettier；　Ryan　thought。　It　reminded　him　of　the　models　of　fighter　planes　he'd　assembled　as　a　kid。　We're　going　first　class。
　　　　The　plane　made　a　sweeping　turn　at　the　end　of　the　runway　and　stopped；　bobbing　a　little　on　the　nose　gear。　Here　we　go。
　　　　〃Departure　positions；〃　the　inter　announced。　Somewhere　aft　the　cabin　crew　strapped　into　their　jump　seats。　In　1…D；　Jack　fitted　himself　into　his　seat　much　like　a　man　awaiting　electrocution。　His　eyes　were　open　now；　watching　out　the　window。
　　　　The　engine　sounds　increased　markedly；　and　Speedbird　started　to　roll。　A　few　seconds　later　the　engine　noise　appeared　to　pick　up　even　more；　and　Ryan　was　pressed　back　into　the　fabric　and　vinyl　chair。　Damn；　he　told　himself。　The　acceleration　was　impressive；　about　double　anything　he'd　experienced　before。　He　had　no　way　of　measuring　it；　but　an　invisible　hand　was　pressing　him　backward　while　another　pushed　at　his　cast　and　tried　to　turn　him　sideways。　The　stew　had　been　right。　It　was　a　thrill。　The　grass　was　racing　by　his　window；　then　the　nose　came　up　sharply。　A　final　bump　announced　that　the　main　gear　was　off　the　ground。　Jack　listened　for　its　retraction　into　the　airframe；　but　the　sheer　power　of　the　takeoff　blocked　it