wt.theyearofthequietsun-第19节

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　　Moresby　muttered：　〃Give　the　civilian　a　shotgun！〃　and　stalked　away。
　　Arthur　Saltus　had　taught　him　camera　techniques。
　　Chaney　was　familiar　with　the　mon　hand　cameras　and　with　the　mounted　rigs　used　in　laboratories　to　copy　documents；　but　Saltus　introduced　him　to　a　new　world。　The　holograph　camera　was　new。　Saltus　said　that　film　had　been　relegated　to　the　cheap　cameras；　the　holograph　instruments　used　a　thin　ribbon　of　embossed　nylon　which　would　withstand　almost　any　abuse　and　yet　deliver　a　recognizable　picture。　He　scoured　a　nylon　negative　with　sandpaper；　then　made　a　good　print。　Adequate　lighting　was　no　longer　a　problem；　the　holograph　would　produce　a　satisfactory　picture　taken　in　the　rain。
　　Chaney　experimented　with　a　camera　strapped　to　his　chest；　with　the　lens　peering　through　a　buttonhole　in　his　jacket　where　a　button　should　be；　there　was　another　that　fitted　over　his　left　shoulder；　with　the　lens　appearing　to　be　a　lodge　emblem　attached　to　his　lapel…a　remote　cable　ran　down　the　inside　of　his　coat　sleeve　and　the　plunger　nestled　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。　A　fat　belt　buckle　held　a　camera。　A　bowler　hat　concealed　a　camera。　A　folded　newspaper　was　actually　a　motion　picture　camera　in　camouflage；　and　a　smart　looking　attaché　case　was　another。　Microphones　for　the　tape　recorders…worn　under　the　coat；　or　in　the　pocket…were　buttons　or　emblems　or　tie　clasps　or　stays　tucked　inside　shirt　collars。
　　He　usually　managed　a　decent　picture…it　was　difficult　to　produce　a　poor　one　with　the　holograph　instruments；　but　Saltus　was　often　dissatisfied；　pointing　out　this　or　that　or　the　other　thing　which　would　have　resulted　in　a　sharper　image　or　a　more　balanced　position。　Katrina　was　photographed　hundreds　of　times　during　the　practice。　She　appeared　to　endure　it　with　patience。
　　Chaney　expelled　a　burst　of　air　and　started　to　sink。　He　flipped　over　on　his　stomach　and　swam　under　water　to　the　edge　of　the　pool。　Grasping　the　tiled　rim；　he　hauled　himself　out　of　the　water　and　stared　up　in　surprise　at　the　grinning　face　of　Arthur　Saltus。
　　〃Morning；　civilian。　What's　new　in　ancient　Egypt？〃
　　Chaney　peered　past　him。　〃Where　is…？〃　He　stopped。
　　〃I　haven't　seen　her；〃　Saltus　responded。　〃She　wasn't　in　the　mess　hall…I　thought　she　was　here　with　you。〃
　　Chaney　wiped　his　face　with　a　towel。　〃Not　here。　I've　had　the　pool　to　myself。〃
　　〃Hah…maybe　old　William　is　beating　our　time；　maybe　he's　playing　chess　with　her　in　a　dark　corner　somewhere。〃　Saltus　grinned　at　that　thought。　〃Guess　what；　mister？〃
　　〃What　now？〃
　　〃I　read　your　book　last　night。〃
　　〃Shall　I　run　for　cover；　or　stand　up　for　a　medal？〃
　　〃No；　no；　not　that　one。　I'm　not　interested　in　those　old　scrolls。　I　mean　the　other　book　you　gave　me；　the　one　about　the　desert　tribes…old　Abraham；　and　all。　Damn　but　that　man　made　some　fine　pictures！〃　He　sat　down　beside　Chaney。　〃Remember　that　one　of　the　Nabataean　well　or　cistern　or　whatever　it　was；　down　there　at　the　foot　of　the　fortress？〃
　　〃I　remember　it。　Well　built。　It　served　the　fortress　through　more　than　one　siege。〃
　　〃Sure。　The　guy　made　that　one　with　natural　lighting。　No　flash；　no　sun　reflectors；　nothing；　just　natural　light；　you　can　see　the　detail　of　the　stonework　and　the　water　level。　And　it　was　on　film；　too…he　wasn't　using　nylon。〃
　　〃You　can　determine　that　by　examination？〃
　　〃Well；　of　course！　I　can。　Listen；　mister；　that's　good　photography。　That　man　is　good。〃
　　〃Thank　you。　I'll　tell　him　next　time　I　see　him。〃
　　Saltus　said：　〃Maybe　I'll　read　your　book　someday。　Just　to　find　out　why　they're　shooting　at　you。〃
　　〃It　doesn't　have　pictures。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　can　read　all　the　easy　words。〃　He　stretched　out　his　legs　and　stared　up　at　the　underside　of　the　gaudy　beach　umbrella。　A　spider　was　beginning　a　web　between　the　metal　braces。　〃This　place　is　dead　this　morning。〃
　　〃What's　to　do？　Other　than　a　rousing　game　with　the　Major；　or　another　session　at　the　rifle　range？〃
　　Saltus　laughed。　〃Shoulder　hurt？　That　will　wear　away。　Say；　if　I　could　find　Katrina；　I'd　throw　her　into　the　pool　and　then　jump　in　with　her…that's　where　the　action　is！〃
　　Chaney　thought　it　wisest　not　to　answer。　His　gaze　went　back　to　the　sun…bright　waters　of　the　pool；　now　empty　of　swimmers　and　slowly　regaining　placidity。　He　remembered　the　manner　in　which　Saltus　had　played　there　with　Katrina；　but　the　memory　wasn't　a　pleasant　one。　He　hadn't　joined　in　the　play　because　he　felt　self…conscious　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　because　his　physique　was　a　poor　one　pared　to　the　muscular　body　of　the　mander；　because　the　woman　seemed　to　prefer　the　younger　man's　pany　to　his。　That　was　hurtful　to　admit。
　　Chaney　caught　a　quick　movement　at　the　gate。
　　〃The　Major　has　found　us。〃
　　Major　Moresby　hustled　into　the　recreation　area　and　strode　toward　the　pool；　seeking　them。　Halfway　across　the　patio　he　found　them　beneath　the　umbrella　and　turned　hard。　He　was　breathing　heavily　and　his　face　flushed　with　excitement。
　　〃Get　up　off　your　duff！〃　he　barked　at　the　mander。　And　to　Chaney：　〃Get　your　clothes　on。　Urgent。　They　want　us　in　the　briefing　room　now。　I　have　a　car　waiting。〃
　　〃Hey…what　goes？〃　Saltus　was　out　of　the　chair。
　　〃We　do。　Somebody　has　made　the　big　decision。　Damn　it；　Chaney；　move！〃
　　〃The　field　trials？〃　Saltus　demanded。　〃The　field　trials？　This　morning？　Now？〃
　　〃This　morning；　now；〃　Moresby　acknowledged。　〃Gilbert　Seabrooke　brought　the　decision；　they　roused　me　out　of　bed。　We're　moving　up；　after　all！〃　He　turned　on　Chaney。　〃Will　you　haul　your　ass　out　of　that　chair；　civilian？　Move　it！　I'm　waiting；　everybody　is　waiting；　the　vehicle　is　cranked　up　and　waiting。〃
　　Chaney　jumped　from　the　chair；　heart　pounding　against　his　rib　cage。
　　Moresby：　〃Katrina　said　to　use　the　car。　You　are　not　to　waste　time　walking；　and　that　is　an　order。〃
　　Chaney's　reflexes　were　slower；　but　he　was　already　racing　for　the　bath　house　to　change。　They　ran　with　him。　〃I'm　not　walking。〃
　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Saltus　demanded　breathlessly。　〃I　mean　when？　When　in　Joliet？　Did　you　get　the　word？〃
　　〃Katrina　gave　the　word。　You　won't　like　it；　Art。〃
　　Arthur　Saltus　stopped　abruptly　in　the　doorway　and　Chaney　collided　with　him。
　　〃Why　won't　I　like　it？〃
　　〃Because　it's　a　political　thing；　a　damned　political　thing；　after　all！　Katrina　said　the　decision　came　down　early　this　morning　from　the　White　House…from　him。　We　should　have　expected　something　like　that。〃
　　Slow　repeat：　〃Why　won't　I　like　it？〃
　　Moresby　said　with　disdain：　〃We're　going　up　two　years　to　a　date　in　November。　November　6；　1980；　a　Thursday。　The　President　wants　to　know　if　he'll　be　re…elected。〃
　　Arthur　Saltus　stared　in　open…mouthed　astonishment。　After　a　space　of　disbelief　he　turned　to　Chaney。
　　〃What　was　that　word　again；　mister？　In　Aramaic？〃
　　Brian　Chaney　told　him。
　　
　　
　　Brian　Chaney
　　Joliet；　Illinois
　　6　November　1980
　　
　　If　we　open　a　quarrel　between　the　past
　　and　the　present；
　　We　shall　find　that　we　have　lost　the　future。
　　
　　　　…　Winston　Churchill
　　
　　NINE
　　
　　Chaney　had　no　forewarning　of　something　amiss。
　　The　red　light　blinked　out。　He　reached　up　to　unlock　the　hatch　and　throw　it　open。　The　green　light　went　dark。　Chaney　grasped　the　two　handrails　and　pulled　himself　to　a　sitting　position；　with　his　head　and　shoulders　protruding　through　the　hatchway。　He　was　alone　in　the　room；　as　he　expected　to　be。　He　struggled　through　the　hatch　and　climbed　over　the　side；　easing　himself　down　the　hull　until　his　feet　touched　the　stool。　The　vehicle　felt　icy　cold。　Chaney　reached　up　to　slam　shut　the　hatch；　then　cast　a　curious　glance　at　the　monitoring　cameras。　He　hoped　those　future　engineers　approved　his　obedience　to　the　ritual。
　　Chaney　looked　at　his　watch：　10：03。　That　was　expected。　He　had　kicked　off　less　than　a　minute　ago；　the　third　and　last　to　move　up。　He　sought　out　the　calendar　and　clock　on　the　wall　to　verify　the　date　and　the　time：　6　Nov　80。　The　clock　read　7：55。　A　thermometer　had　been　added　to　the　instrument　group　to　record　outside　temperature：　31　degrees　F。
　　Chaney　hesitated；　unsure　of　his　next　move。　The　time　was　not　right；　it　should　have　been　ten　o'clock；　plus　or　minus　eight　minutes。　He　made　a　mental　note　to　tell　the　engineers　what　he　thought　of　their　guidance　system。
　　The　first　of　the　field　trials　had　been　launched　at　a　few　minutes　past　nine；　with　Major　Moresby　claiming　his　due。　Thirty　minutes　later　Arthur　Saltus　followed　the　Major　into　the　future；　and　thirty　minutes　after　him　Chaney　climbed　into　the　bucket　and　was　kicked　off。　All　arrivals　on　target　were　supposed　to　be　identical　with　departure　times；　plus　or　minus　eight　minutes。　Chaney　had　expected　to　surface　about　ten　and　find　the　others　waiting　for　him。　They　were　scheduled　to　regroup　in　the　fallout　shelter；　equip　themselves；　and　travel　to　the　target　city　in　separate　automobiles　to　effect　a　wider　coverage　of　the　area。
　　Katrina　had　given　each　of　them　explicit　instructions　and　then　wished　them　well。
　　Saltus　had　said：　〃Aren't　you　ing　down　to　see　us　off？〃
　　She'd　replied：　〃I　will　wait　in　the　briefing　room；　sir。〃
　　The　wall　clock　moved　to　7：56。
　　Chaney　abandoned　his　irresolution。　Rounding　the　hull　of　the　vehicle；　he　opened　the　locker　and　reached　for　the　suit　hung　there　only　minutes　before。　Small　surprise。　His　suit　had　been　cleaned　and　pressed　and　was　now　hanging　in　a