wt.theyearofthequietsun-第25节

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　　Booming　echoes；　and　then　silence。　The　mander　was　emerging　from　the　vehicle　at　home　base。
　　〃Listen　to　the　word　from　the　ivory　tower；　Saltus！　Listen　to　me！　What　do　you　want　to　bet　the　President　didn't　risk　his　precious　skin　under　a　dining　room　table？　What　do　you　want　to　bet　that　he　sent　a　double　to　Camp　David？　He's　no　Greatheart；　no　Bayard；　he　couldn't　be　certain　of　the　oute。〃　Chaney　stepped　into　the　corridor。
　　〃We　tipped　him　off；　you　idiot…we　passed　the　word。　We　told　him　of　the　plot　and　of　his　re…election。　Do　you　really　think　he　has　the　guts　to　expose　himself？　Knowing　that　he　would　be　re…elected　the　next　day　for　another　four…year　ride？　Do　you　think　that；　Saltus？〃
　　Monitoring　cameras　looked　at　him　under　bright　lights。
　　In　the　closed…off　operations　room；　the　TDV　came　back　for　him　with　an　explosive　burst　of　air。
　　Chaney　turned　on　his　heel　and　walked　into　the　shelter。　The　newspapers　were　stacked；　the　gear　was　stored　away；　the　clothing　was　neatly　hung　on　racks。　He　had　arrived　and　was　preparing　to　leave　with　scarcely　a　trace　of　his　passage。
　　The　torn　envelope　caught　his　eye…the　instructions　from　Katrina；　and　his　identification　papers；　his　gate　pass。　Cool；　impersonal；　distant…impassive；　reserved。　The　wife　of　Arthur　Saltus　giving　him　last　minute　instructions　for　the　field　trial。　She　still　lived　on　station；　she　still　worked　for　the　Bureau　and　the　secret　project…and　unless　the　mander　had　been　reassigned　to　the　war　theater　he　was　living　with　her。
　　But　the　barracks　were　dark；　padlocked。
　　Brian　Chaney　knew　the　strong　conviction　that　he　was　gone…that　he　and　the　Major　had　left　the　station。　He　didn't　believe　in　crystal　balls；　in　clairvoyance；　hunches；　precognition…Major　Moresby　could　have　all　that　claptrap　to　add　to　his　library　of　phony　prophets；　but　this　one　conviction　was　deeply　fixed　in　his　mind。
　　He　was　not　here　in　November；　1980。
　　
　　
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　　Chaney　sensed　a　subtle　change　in　relationships。　It　was　nothing　he　could　clearly　identify；　mark；　pin　down；　but　a　shade　of　difference　was　there。
　　Gilbert　Seabrooke　had　sponsored　a　victory　party　on　the　night　of　their　return；　and　the　President　telephoned　from　the　White　House　to　offer　his　congratulations　on　a　good　job　well　done。　He　spoke　of　an　award；　a　medal　to　convey　the　grateful　appreciation　of　a　nation…even　though　the　nation　could　not　be　informed　of　the　stunning　breakthrough。　Brian　Chaney　responded　with　a　polite　thank　you；　and　held　his　tongue。　Seabrooke　hovered　nearby；　watchful　and　alert。
　　The　party　wasn't　as　successful　as　it　might　have　been。　Some　indefinable　element　of　spontaneity　was　missing；　some　elusive　spark　which；　when　struck；　changes　over　an　ordinary　party　into　a　memorable　evening　of　pleasure。　Chaney　would　remember　the　celebration；　but　not　with　heady　delight。　He　passed　over　the　champagne　in　favor　of　bourbon；　but　drank　that　sparingly。　Major　Moresby　seemed　withdrawn；　troubled；　brooding　over　some　inner　problem；　and　Chaney　guessed　he　was　already　preoccupied　with　the　startling　power　struggle　which　was　yet　two　years　away。　Moresby　had　made　a　stiff；　awkward　little　speech　of　thanks　to　the　President；　striving　to　assure　him　without　words　of　his　continued　loyalty。　Chaney　was　embarrassed　for　him。
　　Arthur　Saltus　danced。　He　monopolized　Katrina；　even　to　the　point　of　ignoring　her　whispered　suggestions　that　he　give　unequal　time　to　Chaney　and　the　Major。　Chaney　didn't　want　to　cut　in。　On　another　evening；　another　party　before　the　field　trials；　he　could　have　cut　in　as　often　as　he　dared；　but　now　he　sensed　the　same　subtle　change　in　Kathryn　van　Hise　which　was　sensed　in　the　others。　The　mountain　of　information　brought　back　from　Joliet；　November　1980；　had　altered　many　viewpoints　and　the　glossy　overlay　of　the　party　could　not　conceal　that　alteration。
　　There　was　a　stranger　at　the　party；　the　liaison　agent　dispatched　by　the　Senate　submittee。　Chaney　discovered　the　man　surreptitiously　watching　him。
　　
　　
　　The　briefing　room　offered　the　familiar　tableau。
　　Major　Moresby　was　again　studying　a　map　of　the　Chicago　area。　He　used　a　finger　to　mark　the　several　major　routes　and　backroads　between　Joliet　and　the　metropolis；　the　finger　also　traced　the　rail　line　through　the　Chicago　suburbs　to　the　Loop。　Arthur　Saltus　was　studying　the　photographs　he'd　brought　back　from　Joliet。　He　seemed　particularly　pleased　with　a　print　of　an　attractive　girl　standing　on　a　windy　street　corner；　half　watching　the　cameraman　and　half　watching　for　a　car　or　a　bus　ing　along　the　street　behind。　The　print　revealed　an　expert's　hand　in　position　and　cropping；　with　the　girl　limned　in　sunny　backlighting。
　　Kathryn　van　Hise　said：　〃Mr。　Chaney？〃
　　He　swung　around　to　face　her。　〃Yes；　Miss　van　Hise？〃
　　〃The　engineers　have　given　me　firm　assurance　that　mistake　will　not　happen　again。　They　have　used　the　time　since　your　return　to　rebuild　the　gyroscope。　The　cause　has　been　traced　to　a　vacuum　leakage　but　that　has　been　repaired。　The　error　is　to　be　regretted；　but　it　will　not　happen　again。〃
　　〃But　I　like　getting　there　first；〃　he　protested。　〃That's　the　only　way　I　can　assert　seniority。〃
　　〃It　will　not　happen　again；　sir。〃
　　〃Maybe。　How　do　they　know　it　won't？〃
　　Katrina　studied　him。
　　〃The　next　targets　will　each　be　a　year　apart；　sir；　to　obtain　a　wider　coverage。　Would　you　care　to　suggest　a　tentative　date？〃
　　He　betrayed　surprise。　〃We　may　choose？〃
　　〃Within　reason；　sir。　Mr。　Seabrooke　has　invited　each　of　you　to　suggest　an　appropriate　date。　The　original　plan　of　the　survey　must　be　followed；　of　course；　but　he　would　wele　your　ideas。　If　you　would　rather　not　suggest　a　date；　Mr。　Seabrooke　and　the　engineers　will　select　one。〃
　　Chaney　looked　down　the　table　at　Major　Moresby。
　　〃What　did　you　take？〃
　　Promptly：　〃The　Fourth　of　July；　1999。〃
　　〃Why　that　one？〃
　　〃It　has　significance；　after　all！〃
　　〃I　suppose　so。〃　He　turned　to　Saltus。　〃And　you？〃
　　〃My　birthday；　civilian：　November　23rd；　2000。　A　nice　round　number；　don't　you　think？　I　thought　so　anyway。　That　will　be　my　fiftieth　birthday；　and　I　can't　think　of　a　better　way　to　celebrate。〃　His　voice　dropped　to　a　conspiratorial　whisper。　〃I　might　take　a　jug　with　me。　Live　it　up！〃
　　Chaney　considered　the　possibilities。
　　Saltus　broke　in。　〃Now；　look　here；　mister…don't　tell　Seabrooke　you　want　to　visit　Jericho　on　the　longest　day　of　summer；　ten　thousand　years　ago！　That　will　get　you　the　boot　right　through　the　front　gate。　Play　by　the　rules。　How　would　you　like　to　spend　Christmas　in　2001？　New　Year's　Eve？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Party…pooper。　Wet　blanket。　What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃I　really　don't　care。　Anything　will　do。〃
　　〃Pick　something；〃　Saltus　urged。
　　〃Oh；　just　say　2000…plus。　It　doesn't　much　matter。〃
　　Katrina　said　anxiously：　〃Mr。　Chaney；　is　something　wrong？〃
　　〃Only　that；〃　he　said；　and　indicated　the　photographs　heaped　on　the　table　before　Arthur　Saltus；　the　new　packets　of　mimeographed　papers　neatly　stacked　before　each　chair。　〃The　future　isn't　very　attractive　right　now。〃
　　〃Do　you　wish　to　withdraw？〃
　　〃No。　I'm　not　a　quitter。　When　do　we　go　up？〃
　　〃The　launch　is　scheduled　for　the　day　after　tomorrow。　You　will　depart　at　one…hour　intervals。〃
　　Chaney　shuffled　the　papers　on　the　table。　〃I　suppose　these　will　have　to　be　studied　now。　We'll　have　to　follow　up。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　The　information　you　have　developed　on　the　trials　has　now　bee　a　part　of　the　survey；　and　it　is　desirable　that　each　segment　be　followed　to　its　conclusion。　We　wish　to　know　the　final　solutions；　of　course；　and　so　you　must　trace　these　new　developments。〃　She　hesitated。　〃Your　role　in　the　survey　has　been　somewhat　modified；　sir。〃
　　He　was　instantly　wary；　suspicious。　〃In　what　way？〃
　　〃You　will　not　go　into　Chicago。〃
　　〃Not…　But　what　the　hell　am　I　supposed　to　do？〃
　　〃You　may　visit　any　other　city　within　range　of　your　fifty…hour　limit：　Elgin；　Aurora；　Joliet；　Bloomington；　the　city　of　your　choice；　but　Chicago　is　now　closed　to　you。〃
　　He　stared　at　the　woman；　knowing　humiliation。　〃But　this　is　ridiculous！　The　problem　may　be　cleared　away；　all　but　forgotten　twenty…two　years　from　now。〃
　　〃It　will　not　be　forgotten　so　easily；　sir。　It　will　be　wise　to　observe　every　precaution。　Mr。　Seabrooke　has　decided　you　may　not　enter　Chicago。〃
　　〃I'll　resign…I'll　quit！〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；　you　may　do　that。　The　Indic　contract　will　be　returned　to　you。〃
　　〃I　won't　quit！〃　he　said　angrily。
　　〃As　you　wish。〃
　　Saltus　broke　in。　〃Civilian…sit　down。〃
　　Chaney　was　surprised　to　discover　himself　standing。　He　sat　down；　knowing　a　mixture　of　frustration　and　humbled　pride。　He　knotted　his　fingers　together　in　his　lap　and　pressed　until　they　hurt。
　　After　a　space　he　said：　〃I'm　sorry。　I　apologize。〃
　　〃Apology　accepted；〃　Saltus　agreed　easily。　〃And　don't　let　it　trouble　you。　Seabrooke　knows　what　he's　doing…he　doesn't　want　you　naked　and　shivering　in　some　Chicago　jail；　and　he　doesn't　want　some　damned　fool　chasing　you　with　a　gun。〃
　　Major　Moresby　was　eyeing　him。
　　〃I　don't　quite　read　you；　Chaney。　You've　got　more　guts　than　I　suspected；　or　you're　a　damned　fool。〃
　　〃When　I　lose　my　temper　I'm　a　damned　fool。　I　can't　help　myself。〃　He　felt　Katrina　watching　him　and　turned　back　to　her。　〃What　am　I　supposed　to　do　up　there？〃
　　〃Mr。　Seabrooke　wishes　you　to　spend　the　greater　part　of　your　time　in　a　library　copying