rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第46节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Smith　closed　his　eyes。　Germs。。。
　〃Do　you　know　the　name　of　the　man　you　passed　the　germs　to　at　the　Moscow　airport？〃
　〃I　think　it　was　David。　It　wasn't　his　real　name。〃
　〃Did　you　know　that　you　would　have　to　kill　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Did　Gerd　tell　you　to　do　this？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Did　Gerd　ever　mention　any　Americans？　Were　you　ever　contacted　directly　by　any　Americans？〃
　〃Only　my　driver。　But　I　don't　know　his　name。〃
　〃Did　he　ever　talk　to　you　about　Gerd　or　anyone　else？〃
　〃No。〃
　Smith　paused；　trying　to　keep　his　frustration　in　check。　Whoever　was　running　this　operation　had　constructed　seemingly　impenetrable　firewalls　between　themselves　and　the　assassin。
　〃Ivan；　I　don't　want　you　to　listen　to　this。〃
　〃All　right。〃　Beria　looked　away；　his　expression　vacant。
　〃Jon；　he's　got　nothing　left　to　give　up；〃　Kirov　said。　〃We　might　be　able　to　get　a　few　more　details；　for　what　they're　worth。〃　Kirov　spread　out　his　hands。　〃What　about　the　Lincoln？〃
　〃It's　a　NASA　fleet　vehicle。　Dozens　of　drivers　use　it。　Klein's　still　running　down　the　particulars。〃　He　paused。　〃We　should　have　snatched　the　driver。　By　now；　he's　reported　that　Beria's　missing。　The　controllers　will　assume　the　obvious。　They'll　be　much　more　careful　from　here　on　in。〃
　〃We　talked　about　that；〃　Kirov　reminded　him。　〃It　would　have　been　impossible　for　just　the　two　of　us　to　take　down　Beria　and　the　driver。　We　would　have　needed　reinforcements。〃
　〃Beria　gave　us　two　names：　the　Offenbach　Bank　and　this　Herr　Weizsel；〃　Smith　said；　and　told　Kirov　about　the　Venice　connection。
　The　Russian　looked　up。　〃Weizsel　would　have　had　to　deal　with　Gerd。　He　would　have　talked　to　him；　maybe　even　met　him。。。。〃
　Smith　pleted　the　thought：　〃So　he　would　know　Gerd's　real　name；　wouldn't　he？〃
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY　TWO
　　
　When　Ivan　Beria　failed　to　appear　within　the　allotted　time；　the　driver　of　the　Lincoln　walked　away　from　the　car。　In　that　neighborhood；　chances　were　good　that　it　would　be　stolen　within　the　next　few　hours。　After　that；　it　would　either　be　professionally　stripped　in　a　chop　shop　or　dismembered　by　petty　thieves。　Either　way；　it　would　disappear。
　Even　if　the　authorities　somehow　got　to　it　first；　the　car　would　yield　few　clues。　The　driver　always　wore　gloves；　there　would　be　few　if　any　forensics　to　link　him　to　the　car。　Nor　did　his　name　appear　on　any　NASA　paperwork。　The　car　had　been　checked　out　in　the　name　of　a　driver　currently　working　in　Pasadena；　California。
　At　the　Metro　stop　on　Connecticut　Avenue　and　Q　Street；　the　driver　called　his　principal。　Quietly；　he　explained　what　had　happened　and　suggested　that　the　assassin　had　been　taken。　The　party　on　the　other　end　instructed　the　driver　to　go　immediately　to　Dulles　Airport。
　In　a　designated　locker　he　would　find　two　overnight　bags；　one　with　money　and　identity　papers；　the　other　with　a　change　of　clothes。　There　would　also　be　a　ticket　for　Cancun；　Mexico；　where　he　was　to　stay　until　further　notice。
　As　soon　as　he　hung　up　with　the　driver；　Anthony　Price　called　Dr。　Karl　Bauer；　who　had　returned　to　Hawaii　after　delivering　the　altered　smallpox　sample　to　Dylan　Reed　at　Cape　Canaveral。
　〃The　problem　you　sent　your　boy　to　fix？〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃Now　it's　worse　than　before。〃　After　giving　Bauer　the　scant　details；　he　added：　〃If　Beria's　been　taken；　then　you　can　bet　it's　Smith　who　has　him。　In　the　end；　Beria　will　talk…　if　he　hasn't　already。〃
　〃If　he　does；　what　of　it？〃　Bauer　demanded。　〃He　never　saw　any　of　us。　He　doesn't　know　our　names。　Treloar　is　dead。　The　trail　stops　with　him。〃
　〃The　trail　has　to　stop　with　Beria！〃　Price　snapped。　〃He　needs　to　be　dealt　with。〃
　〃While　he's　in　Smith's　custody？〃　Bauer　replied　sarcastically。　〃Pray　tell　me　how　you　propose　getting　to　him。〃
　Price　hesitated。　Smith　wouldn't　keep　Beria　in　a　federal　prison　or　holding　cell。　He'd　squirrel　him　away　where　no　one　could　find　him。
　〃Then　we　have　to　move　up　the　schedule；〃　he　said。　〃Create　a　diversion。〃
　〃Doing　so　would　endanger　Reed　and　the　entire　project。〃
　〃Not　doing　it　endangers　us！　Listen　to　me；　Karl。　Reed　was　going　to　run　the　experiment　the　day　after　tomorrow。　There's　no　reason　why　he　can't　run　it　now。〃
　〃All　the　experiments　are　on　a　fixed　schedule；〃　Bauer　replied。　〃It　might　look　suspicious　if　Reed　changes　the　sequence。〃
　〃Given　the　consequences；　a　change　in　sequence　will　be　the　last　thing　anyone　thinks　about。　The　key　is　to　get　the　mutation　down　as　quickly　as　possible…　and　cover　our　butts。〃
　There　was　silence　on　the　other　end　of　the　line。　Price　held　his　breath；　wondering　if　the　old　scientist　would　play　along。
　〃Very　well；〃　Bauer　said　at　last。　〃I　will　contact　Reed　and　tell　him　to　move　up　the　schedule。〃
　〃Tell　him　to　work　as　fast　as　possible。〃
　〃As　fast　as　is　prudent。〃
　Price　was　at　the　end　of　his　tether。　〃Don't　split　hairs　on　me；　Karl。　Just　tell　him　to　get　on　with　it。〃
　Karl　Bauer　stared　at　the　now…silent　phone。　He　thought　that　Anthony　Price　was　one　of　those　bureaucrats　who　bee　infected　with　a　Napoleon　plex；　intoxicated　with　their　seemingly　limitless　power。
　Leaving　his　office；　Bauer　took　the　elevator　to　the　sub…basement。　This　was　the　heart　of　his　munications　center；　a　room　the　size　of　an　air　traffic　control　center　where　technicians；　using　three　private　satellites；　kept　their　fingertips　on　the　electronic　pulse　of　the　Bauer…Zermatt　empire。　There　was　also　a　fourth　satellite；　which；　until　now；　had　remained　inactive。　Crossing　the　room；　Bauer　entered　his　private　chamber　and　locked　himself　in。　He　seated　himself　at　the　console；　activated　the　high…definition　screen；　and　began　typing　on　the　keyboard。　The　satellite；　built　by　the　Chinese　in　Xianpao；　launched　by　the　French　out　of　New　Guyana；　sprang　to　life。　As　hardware　went；　it　was　a　relatively　unsophisticated　piece　of　equipment；　but　then　again；　it　had　only　one　purpose　and　a　very　short　life　span。　When　its　job　was　done；　an　explosive　charge　would　destroy　any　evidence　that　it　had　ever　existed。
　Bauer　piggybacked　on　the　NASA　frequency；　prepared　his　message　for　the　microburst　transmission；　and　opened　the　circuits。　In　nanoseconds；　the　message　was　beamed　to　the　satellite；　which　in　turn　relayed　it　to　the　shuttle。　Its　mission　acplished；　the　satellite　immediately　went　dormant。　Even　if　the　burst　was　inadvertently　noticed；　it　would　be　almost　impossible　to　fix　not　only　its　origin　but　also　the　relay　point。　With　the　satellite　silent；　it　would　appear　that　the　burst　had　e　from　a　black　hole　in　space。
　Sitting　back　in　his　chair；　Bauer　steepled　his　fingers。　Of　course　there　would　be　no　direct　reply　from　the　shuttle。　The　only　way　Bauer　would　be　sure　that　his　transmission　was　received　would　be　to　tap　into　the　shuttle…NASA　transmissions。　When　he　heard　Reed's　voice；　he　would　know。
　
　Traveling　at　17；500　miles　per　hour　at　an　altitude　of　202　miles；　Discovery　was　on　its　fourth　orbit　around　the　earth。　Stowing　away　her　temporary　seat；　Megan　Olson　worked　her　way　out　of　her　launch/entry　suit　and　into　fortable　overalls　studded　with　Velcro…lined　pockets。　She　noted　that　her　face　and　upper　body　were　puffy。　Virtually　every　wrinkle　had　disappeared　and　her　waistline　had　shrunk　a　good　two　inches。　This　occurred　because　there　was　little　gravity　to　pull　down　blood　and　bodily　fluids。　After　four　to　six　hours；　the　excess　fluids　would　be　removed　through　the　kidneys。
　With　the　help　of　her　teammates；　Carter　and　Wallace；　Megan　activated　the　shuttle's　power；　air　conditioning；　lights；　and　munications。　The　payload　bay　doors　were　opened　to　release　the　heat　built　up　by　the　firing　of　the　solid　rocket　booster　and　main　engines　during　liftoff。　They　would　stay　open　for　the　duration　of　the　mission　and　help　regulate　the　temperature　inside　the　orbiter。
　As　she　worked；　Megan　listened　to　the　chatter　among　the　mander；　Bill　Karol；　the　pilot；　Frank　Stone；　and　mission　control。　It　was　all　routine　give…and…take　about　the　shuttle's　status；　speed；　and　position…　until　she　heard　Karol's　puzzled　voice。
　〃Dylan；　are　you　copying　this？〃
　〃Roger　that。　What's　up？〃
　〃Something　just　came　in　over　the　circuits　for　you。　But　there　was　no　mission…control　input。〃
　Megan　heard　Reed　chuckle。　〃Probably　one　of　my　lab　guys　slipped　on　a　headset。　What's　the　message？〃
　〃Apparently　there's　been　a　change　in　the　order　of　your　experiments。　Megan's　been　bumped　to　number　four。　You　take　the　opening　slot。〃
　〃Hey；　that's　not　fair；〃　Megan　spoke　up。
　〃Been　listening　in；　have　you？〃　Reed　said。　〃Don't　worry　about　it；　Megan。　You'll　make　your　bones。〃
　〃I　know。　But　why　the　change？〃
　〃I'm　checking　the　schedule　right　now。〃
　〃I'm　on　my　way　up。〃
　Drifting　in　microgravity；　Megan　maneuvered　her　way　up　the　ladder　to　the　flight　deck。　Reed　was　suspended　like　a　diver　in　neutral　buoyancy　behind　the　pilot　and　the　mander；　checking　his　log。
　Glancing　up；　he　remarked；　〃You　look　ten　years　younger。〃
　〃Please；　five　years。　And　I　feel　bloated。　What's　up？〃
　Reed　passed　her　the　log。　〃It's　a　last…minute　schedule　change　I　forgot　to　mention。　I'm　going　to　run　the　critter　tests　first　and　get　them　out　of　the　way。　Then　you　can　have　the　place　all　to　yourself　and　your　Legionnaires'　disease　microbes。〃
　〃I　was　really　hoping　to　get　into　it　first　thing；〃　Megan　replied。
　〃Yeah；　I　know。　First　trip。　All　the　excitement。　But　if　I　were　you；　I'd　grab　some　sack　time　while　I　slave　over　a　hot　petri　dish。〃
　〃Would　you　like　a　hand　with　the　tests？〃
　〃Appreciate　the