tc.patriotgames-第68节

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wore；　finally。　The　voters　would　have　been　shocked　at　his　language。

　　　　Trooper…1　was　sitting　on　the　Severn　River　bridge；　its　rotor　turning　rapidly　to　stay　above　the　concrete　barriers。　The　paramedic；　Trooper　Waverly；　and　a　motorist　who　turned　out　to　be　a　volunteer　fireman；　were　loading　the　two　accident　victims　into　Stokes　litters　for　transport　on　the　helicopter。　The　other　motorist　who　had　assisted　was　standing　alone　by　the　police　car；　over　a　puddle　of　his　own　vomit。　A　fire　engine　was　pulling　up　to　the　scene；　and　two　more　state　troopers　were　preparing　to　get　traffic　moving；　once　the　helicopter　took　off。　The　highway　was　already　backed　up　at　least　four　miles。　As　they　prepared　to　start　directing　traffic；　they　heard　on　their　radios　what　had　happened　to　J…19　and　its　driver。　The　police　officers　exchanged　looks；　but　no　words。　They　would　e　later。
　　　　As　first　officer　on　the　scene；　Waverly　took　the　driver's　purse　and　started　looking　for　identification。　He　had　lots　of　forms　to　fill　out；　and　people　to　notify。　Inside　the　purse；　he　saw；　was　some　kind　of　finger　painting。　He　looked　up　as　the　little　girl's　litter　was　loaded　into　the　top　rack　of　the　helicopter's　passenger　bay。　The　paramedic　went　in　behind　it；　and　less　than　thirty　seconds　later；　Waverly's　face　stung　with　the　impact　of　gravel；　thrown　up　by　the　helicopter's　rotor。　He　watched　it　lift　into　the　air；　and　whispered　a　prayer　for　the　little　girl　who'd　done　a　painting　of　something　that　looked　like　a　blue　cow。　Back　to　work；　he　told　himself。　The　purse　had　a　red　address　book。　He　checked　the　driver's　license　to　get　a　name；　then　looked　in　the　book　under　the　same　letter。　Someone　with　the　first　name　of　Jack；　but　no　last　name　written　in；　had　a　number　designated　〃work。〃　It　was　probably　her　husband's。　Somebody　had　to　call　him。

　　　　〃Baltimore　Approach；　this　is　Trooper…1　on　a　medivac　inbound　to　Baltimore。〃
　　　　〃Trooper…1；　roger；　you　are　cleared　for　direct　approach；　e　left　to　course　three…four…seven　and　maintain　current　altitude；〃　the　air　controller　at　Baltimore…Washington　International　responded。　The　5101　squawk　number　was　clear　on　his　scope；　and　medical　emergencies　had　unconditional　priority。
　　　　〃Hopkins　Emergency；　this　is　Trooper…1；　inbound　with　a　white　female　child　accident　victim。〃
　　　　〃Trooper…1；　Hopkins。　Divert　to　University。　We're　full　up　here。〃
　　　　〃Roger。　University；　Trooper…1；　do　you　copy；　over。〃　
　　　　〃Trooper…1；　this　is　University；　we　copy；　and　we're　ready　for　you。〃　
　　　　〃Roger；　ETA　five　minutes。　Out。〃

　　　　〃Gunny；　this　is　Cummings　at　Gate　Three；〃　the　Sergeant　called　on　the　telephone。
　　　　〃What　is　it；　Sergeant？〃　Breckenridge　asked。
　　　　〃There's　this　guy；　he's　been　standing　on　the　corner　across　the　street　for　about　forty…five　minutes。　It　just　feels　funny；　you　know？　He's　off　the　grounds；　but　it　doesn't　feel　right。〃　
　　　　〃Call　the　cops？〃　the　Sergeant　Major　asked。
　　　　〃What　for？〃　Cummings　asked　reasonably。　〃He　ain't　even　spit　far　as　I　can　tell。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　I'll　walk　on　up。〃　Breckenridge　stood。　He　was　bored　anyway。　The　Sergeant　Major　donned　his　cap　and　walked　out　of　the　building；　heading　north　across　the　campus。　It　took　five　minutes；　during　which　he　saluted　six　officers　and　greeted　a　larger　number　of　mids。　He　didn't　like　the　cold。　It　had　never　been　like　this　during　his　childhood　on　a　Mississippi　dirt　farm。　But　spring　was　ing。　He　was　careful　not　to　look　too　obviously　out　of　the　gate　as　he　crossed　the　street。
　　　　He　found　Cummings　in　the　guardhouse；　standing　inside　the　door。　A　good　young　sergeant；　Cummings　was。　He　had　the　new　look　of　the　Corps。　Breckenridge　was　built　along　the　classic　John　Wayne　lines；　with　broad　shoulders　and　imposing　bulk。　Cummings　was　a　black　kid；　a　runner　who　had　the　frame　of　a　Frank　Shorter。　The　boy　could　run　all　day；　something　that　the　Gunny　had　never　been　able　to　do。　But　more　than　all　of　that；　Cummings　was　a　lifer。　He　understood　what　the　Marine　Corps　was　all　about。　Breckenridge　had　taken　the　young　man　under　his　wing；　imparting　a　few　important　lessons　along　the　way。　The　Sergeant　Major　knew　that　he　would　soon　be　part　of　the　Corps'　past。　Cummings　was　its　future；　and　he　told　himself　that　the　future　looked　pretty　good。　
　　　　〃Hey；　Gunny；〃　the　Sergeant　greeted　him。　
　　　　〃The　guy　in　the　doorway？〃
　　　　〃He's　been　there　since　a　little　after　four。　He　don't　live　here。〃　Cummings　paused　for　a　moment。　He　was；　after　all；　only　a　〃buck〃　sergeant　with　no　rockers　under　his　stripes；　talking　to　a　man　whom　generals　addressed　with　respect。　〃It　just　feels　funny。〃　
　　　　〃Well；　let's　give　him　a　few　minutes；〃　Breckenridge　thought　aloud。

　　　　〃God；　I　hate　grading　quizzes。〃　
　　　　〃So　go　easy　on　the　boys　and　girls；〃　Robby　chuckled。　
　　　　〃Like　you　do？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃I　teach　a　difficult；　technical　subject。　I　have　to　give　quizzes。〃　
　　　　〃Engineers！　Shame　you　can't　read　and　write　as　well　as　you　multiply。〃　
　　　　〃You　must　have　taken　a　tough…pill　this　afternoon。　Jack。〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；　well　〃　The　phone　rang。　Jack　picked　it　up。　〃Doctor　Ryan。　Yes　　who？〃　His　face　changed；　his　voice　became　guarded。
　　　　〃Yes；　that's　right。〃　Robby　saw　his　friend　go　stiff　in　the　chair。　〃Are　you　sure？　Where　are　they　now？　Okay　　ah；　okay；　thank　you　。　。　。　I；　uh；　thank　you。〃　Jack　stared　at　the　phone　for　a　second　or　two　before　hanging　it　up。
　　　　〃What's　the　matter；　Jack？〃　Robby　asked。
　　　　It　took　him　a　moment　to　answer。　〃That　was　the　police。　There's　been　an　accident。〃　
　　　　〃Where　are　they？〃　Robby　said　immediately。
　　　　〃They　flew　them　　they　flew　them　to　Baltimore。〃　Jack　stood　shakily。　〃I　have　to　get　there。〃　He　looked　down　at　his　friend。　〃God；　Robby　。　。　。　〃
　　　　Jackson　was　on　his　feet　in　an　instant。　〃e　on；　I'll　take　you　up　there。〃　
　　　　〃No；　I'll　〃
　　　　〃Stuff　it；　Jack。　I'm　driving。〃　Robby　got　his　coat　and　tossed　Jack's　over　the　desk。　〃Move　it；　boy！〃　
　　　　〃They　took　them　by　helicopter　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃Where？　Where　to；　Jack？〃　
　　　　〃University；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃Get　it　together；　Jack。〃　Robby　grabbed　his　arm。　〃Settle　down　some。〃　The　flyer　led　his　friend　down　the　stairs　and　out　of　the　building。　His　red　Corvette　was　parked　a　hundred　yards　away。

　　　　〃Still　there；〃　the　civilian　guard　reported　when　he　came　back　in。
　　　　〃Okay；〃　Breckenridge　said；　standing。　He　looked　at　the　pistol　holster　hanging　in　the　corner；　but　decided　against　that。　〃This　is　what　we're　going　to　do。〃

　　　　Ned　Clark　hadn't　liked　the　mission　from　the　first　moment。　Sean　was　too　eager　on　this　one。　But　he　hadn't　said　so。　Sean　had　masterminded　the　prison　break　that　had　made　him　a　free　man。　If　nothing　else；　Ned　Clark　was　loyal　to　the　Cause。　He　was　exposed　here　and　didn't　like　that　either。　His　briefing　had　told　him　that　the　guards　at　the　Academy　gate　were　lax；　and　he　could　see　that　they　were　unarmed。　They　had　no　authority　at　all　off　the　grounds　of　the　school。
　　　　But　it　was　taking　too　long。　His　target　was　thirty　minutes　late。　He　didn't　smoke；　didn't　do　anything　to　make　himself　conspicuous；　and　he　knew　that　he'd　be　hard　to　spot。　The　doorway　of　the　tired　old　apartment　building　had　no　light　　one　of　Alex's　people　had　taken　care　of　that　with　a　pellet　gun　the　previous　night。
　　　　Ought　to　call　this　one　off；　Clark　told　himself。　But　he　didn't　want　to　do　that。　He　didn't　want　to　fail　Sean。　He　saw　a　pair　of　men　leave　the　Academy。　Bootnecks；　bloody　Marines　in　their　Sunday　clothes。　They　looked　so　pretty　without　their　guns；　so　vulnerable。
　　　　〃So　the　Captain；　he　says；〃　the　big　one　was　saying　loudly；　〃get　that　goddamned　gook　off　my　chopper！〃　And　the　other　one　started　laughing。
　　　　〃I　love　it！〃
　　　　〃How　about　a　couple　of　beers？〃　the　big　one　said　next。　They　crossed　the　street；　heading　his　way。　
　　　　〃Okay　by　me；　Gunny。　You　buyin'？〃
　　　　〃My　turn；　isn't　it？　I　have　to　get　some　money　first。〃　The　big　one　reached　in　his　pocket　for　some　keys　and　turned　toward　Clark。　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　can　I　help　you？〃　His　hand　came　out　of　his　pocket　without　any　keys。
　　　　Clark　reacted　quickly；　but　not　quickly　enough。　The　right　hand　inside　his　overcoat　started　moving　up；　but　Breckenridge's　own　right　grabbed　it　like　a　vise。
　　　　〃I　asked　if　I　could　help　you；　sir；〃　the　Sergeant　Major　said　pleasantly。　〃What　do　you　have　in　that　hand？〃　Clark　tried　to　move；　but　the　big　man　pushed　him　against　the　brick　wall。　
　　　　〃Careful；　Tom；〃　Breckenridge　warned。
　　　　Cummings'　hand　searched　downward　and　found　the　metallic　shape　of　a　pistol。　〃Gun；〃　he　said　sharply。
　　　　〃It　better　not　go　off；〃　the　Gunny　announced；　his　left　arm　across　Clark's　throat。　〃Let　the　man　have　it；　sonny；　real　careful；　like。〃
　　　　Clark　was　amazed　at　his　stupidity；　letting　them　get　so　close　to　him。　His　head　tried　to　turn　to　look　up　the　street；　but　the　man　waiting　for　him　in　the　car　was　around　the　corner。　Before　he　could　think　of　anything　to　do；　the　black　man　had　disarmed　him　and　was　searching　his　pockets。　Cummings　removed　the　knife　next。
　　　　〃Talk　to　me；〃　Breckenridge　said。　Clark　didn't　say　anything；　and　the　forearm　slid　roughly　across　his　throat。　〃Please　talk　to　me；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Get　your　bloody　hands　off　of　me！　Who　do　you　think　you　are？〃
　　　　〃Where　you　from；　boy？〃　Breckenridge　didn't　need　an　answer　to　that　one。　The　Sergeant　wrenched　Clark's　arm　out　of　the　pocket　and　twisted　it　behind　his　back。　〃Okay；　sonny；　we're　going　to　walk　through　that　gate　over　yonder；　and　you're　gonna　sit　down　and　be　a　good　boy　while　we　call　the　police。　If　you　make　any　trou