rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第28节

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　〃And　if　the　situation　were　reversed；　General？〃　Smith　asked。　〃If　the　destination　wasn't　Zurich；　Paris；　or　London；　but　Moscow？　Wouldn't　you　want　to　know？　Or　would　you　be　okay　with　the　'odds'？　〃
　Kirov　stared　at　him；　nodded；　then　reached　for　the　phone。
　
　Kirov　was　closer　to　the　truth　than　he　realized：　Beria　had　gotten　out　of　the　airport；　and　he　was　still　in　Moscow。　But　not　for　much　longer。
　Beria　had　left　the　airport　the　way　he'd　arrived…　by　shuttle　bus。　Except　this　one　took　him　directly　to　Moscow's　central　bus　depot。
　Entering　the　chilly；　dilapidated　building；　Beria　went　directly　to　the　counter　and　purchased　a　one…way　ticket　to　St。　Petersburg。　With　twenty　minutes　to　spare；　he　went　into　a　washroom　that　smelled　of　urine　and　industrial　cleaner　and　splashed　water　on　his　face。　When　he　came　out；　he　bought　several　greasy　pastries　from　a　woman　behind　a　stall　and　wolfed　them　down　with　a　glass　of　tea。　Fortified；　he　joined　the　line　of　passengers　waiting　at　the　departure　bay。
　Beria　scanned　the　faces　around　him。　They　belonged　mainly　to　older　people；　some　of　whom；　he　guessed；　were　traveling　with　all　their　worldly　possessions　packed　into　cardboard　suitcases　or　taped…up　packages。　Beaten　down　by　circumstances；　invisible　to　the　new　moneyed　class；　they　were　less　than　anonymous。　No　militia　would　ever　bother　checking　their　papers；　no　cameras　would　record　their　departure。　Best　of　all；　everyone　would　keep　to　themselves；　not　wanting　to　borrow　from　their　neighbor's　hardship。
　Beria　slipped　to　the　back　of　the　bus；　to　the　long　seat　that　ran　the　width　of　the　vehicle。　He　huddled　in　the　corner　and　listened　to　the　grinding　of　the　transmission　as　the　driver　backed　out。　Soon　afterward；　the　roar　of　the　engine　diminished；　the　traffic　beyond　the　window　stilled；　and　at　last；　he　slept。
　
　It　took　Smith　and　Kirov　thirty　minutes　to　review　the　jetway　tapes　of　the　passengers　who'd　boarded　the　three　flights　to　Europe。
　〃Four　possibles；〃　Smith　said。　〃That's　what　I　e　up　with。〃
　Kirov　nodded。　〃No　distinct　resemblance　to　Beria；　just　faces　we　couldn't　quite　define。〃
　Smith　checked　the　clock　in　the　security　mand　post。　〃The　first　plane；　Swissair　101；　will　reach　Zurich　in　two　hours。〃
　〃Let's　make　the　calls；〃　Kirov　said　heavily。
　Ever　since　the　golden　age　of　terrorism　in　the　early　1980s；　plans　have　been　in　place　to　deal　not　only　with　aerial　hijackers　carrying　explosives　but　with　those　armed　with　chemical…biological　weapons。　Kirov　got　on　the　line　to　his　counterparts　in　Swiss　Internal　Security；　the　French　Deuxieme；　and　England's　MI5。　When　representatives　of　the　three　agencies　were　ready；　he　motioned　to　Smith；　who　was　talking　to　Nathaniel　Klein　on　a　separate　line。　He　then　patched　Klein　into　the　conference　call　without　informing　the　others　that　the　American　was　listening　in。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　opened。　〃We　have　a　developing　problem。〃
　Kirov　did　not　dwell　on　the　background　of　the　crisis；　he　told　his　listeners　what　they　needed　to　know　at　that　moment。　Every　minute　that　passed　meant　that　much　less　time　to　prepare。
　〃You　say　that　it's　possible；　but　by　no　means　certain；　that　this　Beria　character　is　onboard　our　flight；〃　the　Frenchman　said。　〃Is　there　any　way　you　can　confirm　this？〃
　〃I　wish　that　were　possible；〃　Kirov　replied。　〃But　unless　I　find　Beria　in　the　next　two　hours；　we　must　work　on　the　assumption　that　he　made　it　onboard　one　of　those　aircraft。〃
　〃What　about　his　file？〃　the　deputy　director　of　MI5　asked。　〃I'm　told　that　we；　for　one；　have　precious　little　on　this　creature。〃
　〃Everything　we　have　is　being　shipped　via　secure　E…mail；〃　Kirov　responded。
　〃Does　Beria　know　you　followed　him　to　the　airport？〃　the　Swiss　asked。　〃Is　it　possible　that　he　already　suspects　that　he　might　be　apprehended？　I　ask　because　it　is　imperative　we　know　what　we're　dealing　with：　does　Beria　have　any　reason　to　unleash　this　bioweapon　in　midair？〃
　〃Beria　is　acting　as　a　courier；　not　as　a　terrorist；〃　Kirov　told　him。　〃It　is　in　his　financial　interest　to　deliver　what　was　stolen　from　Bioaparat。　He　is　not　an　ideologue　or　a　martyr。〃
　The　three　Europeans　on　the　line　began　to　discuss　how　best　to　react　to　the　crisis　hurtling　toward　them。　Their　options　were　few；　the　choice　predictable。
　〃Since　the　first　flight　lands　on　our　soil；　it　begins　with　us；〃　the　Swiss　said。　〃We　will　treat　this　as　a　potential　terrorist　threat　and　take　appropriate　measures。　If　Beria　is　on　that　plane；　he　will　be　rendered　harmless　by　all　available　means。　We　will　have　personnel　and　equipment　ready　to　secure　the　smallpox。〃　He　paused。　〃Or　to　deal　with　it　as　best　we　can　should　contamination　occur。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　we　find　that　Beria　is　not　onboard；　we　will　let　everyone　know　immediately。〃
　〃Even　sooner　than　that；　mon　vieux；〃　the　Frenchman　said。　〃Air　France　arrives　in　Paris　seventy…five　minutes　after　the　Zurich　flight。〃
　〃I　remend　that　an　open　line　be　established　to　monitor　events　as　they　develop；〃　the　Englishman　interjected。　〃That　way；　we　can　follow　the　process　of　elimination…　if　there　is　one。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　remind　you　of　one　thing；　London；〃　Kirov　spoke　up。　〃The　flight　is　headed　for　your　capital；　but　it's　an　American　crew　and　plane。　I　have　an　obligation　to　inform　the　ambassador。〃
　〃As　long　as　that　doesn't　result　in　a　jurisdictional　squabble　here；〃　London　replied。
　〃I'm　sure　it　won't；〃　Kirov　said。　〃Now；　if　there　are　no　further　ments　or　suggestions；　I　remend　that　we　terminate　this　call　to　allow　you　to　deploy　your　resources。〃
　There　were　none。　One　by　one；　the　parties　hung　up　until　only　Klein　remained　on　the　line。
　〃Are　you　ing　home；　Jon？〃　he　asked。
　〃A　suggestion；　sir？〃
　〃Go　ahead。〃
　〃I　think　it'd　be　better　for　me　to　remain　in　the　arena；　sir。　If　General　Kirov　can　provide　me　with　transportation；　I　can　be　in　European　airspace　before　the　Swissair　flight　touches　down。　I　can　monitor　the　situation　in…flight；　then　direct　the　pilot　to　whichever　city　the　target　plane　lands　in。　I'll　be　at　ground　zero；　giving　both　of　you　real…time　reports。〃
　〃What　do　you　think；　General？〃　Klein　asked。
　〃I　like　the　idea　of　having　our　own　bioweapons　expert　on…site；〃　the　Russian　replied。　〃I'll　arrange　for　transportation　immediately。〃
　〃That　would　have　been　my　remendation；　too。　Good　luck；　Jon。　Keep　us　posted。〃
　
　Twenty　minutes　later；　Jon　Smith　was　being　escorted　into　Kirov's　apartment。　Under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　security　man；　he　went　into　the　kitchen；　where　he　found　the　laptop　and　the　cell　phone　that　had　belonged　to　Lara　Telegin。
　The　escort　drove　Smith　to　the　embassy；　watching　as　he　cleared　the　marine　guard　post　and　disappeared　behind　the　gates。　Driving　off；　what　he　didn't　see　was　Smith　doubling　back。
　Smith　walked　fast　to　the　arcade；　only　a　mile　away　from　the　embassy。　He　was　relieved　to　see　Randi　as　soon　as　he　stepped　through　the　front　door。
　〃Why　is　it　I　expected　to　see　you　today？〃　she　asked　quietly。
　〃We　need　to　talk；　Randi。〃
　Smith's　arrival　drew　amused　smiles　from　the　staff；　in　particular　a　redheaded　boy　whose　look　made　Randi　blush。
　〃They　think　you're　my　lover；〃　she　told　Smith　after　they　were　in　her　office。
　〃Oh。。。〃
　She　laughed　at　having　caught　him　off…guard。　〃It's　not　the　worst　thing　people　could　think　of　you；　Jon。〃
　〃Actually；　I'm　flattered。〃
　〃Now　that　we've　gotten　that　out　of　the　way；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　Smith　brought　out　the　videotape；　laptop；　and　cell　phone。
　〃As　you　probably　heard；　there's　a　situation　at　the　airport。〃
　〃A　'situation'　as　in　the　Russians　are　shutting　it　down。〃
　〃Randi；　all　I　can　tell　you　is　that　they're　looking　for　someone。　Believe　me；　it's　important　to　us　that　they　find　him。〃
　He　explained　the　problem　with　the　videotape。　〃It's　a　question　of　enhancement。　The　Russians　just　don't　have　the　software　and　expertise　to　do　it　fast。〃
　Randi　pointed　to　the　laptop　and　phone。　〃What　about　those？〃
　〃The　massacre　at　the　railroad　station　and　the　situation　at　Sheremetevo　are　direct　results　of　munications　between　two　conspirators；〃　Smith　replied。　〃I　don't　expect　the　phone　to　give　up　much。　But　the　laptop。。。　Maybe　E…mails　were　exchanged。　I　don't　know。〃
　〃If　your　conspirators　were　professionals…　and　I　assume　they　were…　they'd　be　using　encryption　and　firewalls。　It　could　take　a　while　to　crack　them。〃
　〃I'd　appreciate　your　taking　a　shot。〃
　〃Which　brings　us　to　the　next　problem。　You　don't　think　that　I　can　just　waltz　this　stuff　into　the　embassy；　do　you？　I'm　here　on　nonofficial　cover。　My　contact　with　the　CIA　station　chief　is　nonexistent。　I'd　have　to　contact　Langley　and　have　them　alert　the　SC。　The　minute　I　do　that；　headquarters　will　want　to　know　why　I'm　hitting　the　panic　button。〃
　She　paused。　〃Going　that　route　means　you　have　to　tell　me　a　whole　lot　more　than　I　think　you　want　to…　or　can。〃
　Smith　shook　his　head　in　frustration。　〃Okay；　I　understand。　I　thought　that　maybe…〃
　〃I　didn't　say　there　wasn't　an　alternative。〃　Quickly；　Randi　went　on　to　tell　him　about　Sasha　Rublev。
　〃I　don't　know。。。〃　Smith　said。
　〃Jon；　I　know　what　you're　thinking。　But　consider　this：　the　FBI　hires　teenage　hackers　to　help　track　down　cyber　terrorists。　And　I'd　be　looking　over　Sasha's　shoulder　every　minute。〃
　〃You　trust　the　kid　that　much？〃
　〃Sasha　is　part　of　the　new　Russia；　Jon；　a　Russia　that　looks　out　to　the　world；　not　one　that　keeps　it　at　bay。　As　for　politics；　to　Sasha　it's　the　most　boring　thing　in　the　world。　Be