scoonts.theminotaur-第7部分

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　eyebrows　danced。
　〃And　that；　my　friend；　is　the　secret〃
　The　admiral　smacked　his　hand　on　the　desk。　The　gold　rings　encircling　his　sleeve　attracted　Jake's　eye。　〃The　Russians　don't　know　about　it。　Yet。　If　we　can　get　this　thing　to　sea　before　they　steal　the　technology　and　figure　out　how　to　counter　it；　we've　pretty　well　guaranteed　that　there　won't　be　a　conventional　war　with　the　Soviets　for　at　least　the　next　ten　years。　Their　ships　would　be　defenseless　against　a　stealth　Intruder。〃
　Admiral　Henry　sighed。　〃We're　trying　to　build　one　of　these　things；　anyway。　You're　replacing　Captain　Harold　Strong；　who　was　killed　in　a　car　wreck　a　month　ago。　We　had　to　wait　to　get　you；　but　now；　by　God；　your　ass　is　ours。〃
　Jake　Grafton　sat　stunned。　〃But　how…all　the　weapons　will　have　to　be　carried　externally　and　they'll　reflect　energy…how　will　you　get　around　that？〃
　The　corners　of　Henry's　lips　turned　up　until　his　mouth　formed　a　V　and　his　eyebrows　danced。　〃You're　going　to　enjoy　this　job；　Captain。〃
　〃A　real　job；〃　Jake　said；　his　relief　obvious。　〃And　I　thought　I　was　just　going　to　be　designing　fitness　report　forms。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Henry　boomed。　〃If　you　want　you　can　work　on　that　in　your　spare　time。　Don't　know　when　you'd　sleep；　though。〃　He　turned　serious。　〃Things　are　really　starting　to　move。　We've　got　two　prototypes　about　ready　to　fly…constructed　by　two　different　manufacturers…and　we　must　get　them　evaluated　and　award　the　production　contract。　We've　got　to　quit　noodling　and　get　this　show　on　the　road。　We　need　airplanes。　That's　why　you're　here。〃
　After　a　glance　at　his　watch；　Henry　reached　for　his　inter。　His　hand　hovered　near　it。　〃Start　checking　in；〃　he　said　hurriedly。　〃Go　get　your　paperwork　done。　They've　got　some　orders　for　you　someplace；　you'll　have　to　find　them。　Maybe　at　NAVAIR；　which　is　over　at　Crystal　City。　Then　you　might　go　around　the　corner　and　introduce　yourself　to　the　project　coordinator。　mander　Rob　Knight。　He's　here　today；　I　think。　I'll　see　you　at　nine　tomorrow　morning。　And　then　I　want　to　hear　all　about　the　attack　on　United　States　and　how　you　started　El　Hakim　on　the　road　to　Paradise。〃
　He　keyed　the　inter　and　started　talking　as　he　shooed　Jake　out　with　his　left　hand。　Jake　didn't　even　get　a　chance　to　say　thanks。
　Crystal　City；　Jake　was　informed　by　Henry's　aide；　was　across　the　Pentagon's　south　parking　lot；　on　the　other　side　of　the　highway；　southeast　of　the　Pentagon。　NAVAIR　was　in　buildings　JP…1　and　JP…2；　in　the　northern　portion　of　the　Crystal　City　office　plex。　He　wandered　out　into　the　corridors　and　walked　along　slightly　dazed。　A　real　job！　A　big　job！
　Although　the　aide　had　suggested　the　shuttle　bus；　Jake　decided　to　walk。　After　asking　an　air　force　officer　in　the　parking　lot　which　set　of　tall　buildings　was　which　and　getting　a　careful　sighting　across　a　pointing　finger；　Jake　began　walking。　The　wind　was　chilly；　but　not　intolerably　so。　Under　1…395；　across　a　four…lane　boulevard　dodging　traffic；　under　U。S。　Route　1；　the　hike　took　about　ten　minutes。　He　accosted　a　pedestrian　and　building　Jefferson　Plaza　1　was　pointed　out。　In　he　went；　punched　the　elevator　button　and　after　waiting　what　seemed　to　be　an　inordinately　long　time；　rode　to　the　twelfth　floor；　the　top　one。
　They　did　have　a　set　of　orders。　It　took　the　civilian　secretary　five　minutes　to　find　them；　and　in　the　interim　Jake　visited　with　three　officers　he　knew　from　his　shipboard　days。　With　the　orders　in　his　hand；　the　secretary　called　a　yeoman；　who　put　the　captain　to　work　filling　out　forms。
　Jake　was　eating　lunch　in　Gus's　Place；　a　mercial　cafeteria　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　plex；　when　Toad　Tarkington　spotted　him。　Toad　came　over；　tray　in　hand。　〃Saw　you　sitting　over　here　by　yourself；　CAG。　May　I　join　you？〃
　Jake　moved　his　tray　and　Toad　off…loaded　his　food　onto　the　table。
　A　group　of　junior　officers　twenty　feet　away　began　to　whisper　and　glance　in　their　direction。　〃How　has　your　morning　gone？〃
　〃Same　old　stuff；〃　Toad　announced　as　he　placed　his　large　brown　manila　envelope　full　of　orders　and　forms　on　his　chair　and　carefully　sat　on　it。　〃Got　my　picture　taken　for　my　permanent　building　pass；　which　I'm　supposed　to　pick　up　this　afternoon。　I　must　have　signed　my　name　fifty　times　this　morning。　Every　naval　activity　between　here　and　Diego　Garcia　will　soon　receive　notification　in　triplicate　that　I　can　be　found　sitting　on　the　bull's…eye　at　this　critical　nerve　center　of　the　nation's　defenses；　ready　to　save　the　free　world　from　the　forces　of　evil。〃　Toad　made　a　gesture　of　modesty　and　slowly　unfolded　his　napkin。
　〃I　hear　we're　going　to　be　putting　that　new　officer　fitness　report　form　together；　though　just　why　the　heck　they　got　the　two　greatest　aerial　warriors　of　the　age　over　here　at　NAVAIR　to　do　that　sort　of　beats　me。　Ours　not　to　reason　why。。。〃　He　glanced　at　Jake　to　get　his　reaction　as　he　smoothed　the　napkin　on　his　lap。
　Grafton　sipped　his　coffee；　then　took　another　bite　of　tuna　salad。　〃But　what　the　hell；〃　Toad　continued　cheerfully。　〃Plying；　walking；　or　sitting　on　my　ass；　they　pay　me　just　the　same。　Do　you　know　there　are　3。4　women　in　Washington　for　every　man？　This　is　the　place。　Bachelor　city。　Sodom　on　the　Potomac。　A　studly　young　lad　ought　to　be　able　to　do　pretty　well　with　all　these　lonely　females　seeking　to　satisfy　their　social　and　sexual　needs。　Mr。　Acmodation；　that's　me。　I　figure　with　my　salary…〃
　〃The　sexual　revolution　is　over；〃　Jake　muttered　as　he　forked　more　tuna　salad。　〃You　missed　it。〃
　〃Been　carrying　on　a　guerrilla　campaign；　sir。　Indomitable　and　unconquerable；　that's　the　ol'　Horny　Toad；　even　in　the　age　of　latex。　I　just　dress　up　like　the　Micbehn　man　and　go　for　it。　A　fellow　could　always　spring　a　leak；　I　guess；　but　the　bee　must　go　from　flower　to　flower。　That's　the　natural　order　of　things。〃　He　chewed　thoughtfully。　〃Have　you　noticed　how　those　people　over　Acre　keep　weaking　looks　at　us？〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Jake　didn't　look　around。　Although　the　room　was　wed　with　civilians　and　uniformed　men　and　women　eating　and　carrying　trays　and　visiting　over　coffee；　the　tow　junior　officers　two　tables　away　had　been　glancing　over　and　speaking　softly　since　Jake　sat　down。
　〃It's　been　like　that　all　day　with　me；〃　Toad　said　with　a　hint　of　despair　in　his　voice；　then　sent　another　mouthful　of　food　down　behind　his　belt　buckle。　〃At　first　I　thought　I　had　forgotten　my　pants；　but　now　I　think　it's　the　hero　bit。　Asked　two　admirers　for　dates　this　morning　and　got　two　yeses。　Not　bad　for　a　Monday。〃
　〃It'll　pass。　Next　week　you'll　have　to　spell　your　name　twice　just　to　get　into　the　men's　head。　How's　your　leg？〃
　〃Got　a　couple　girders　in　it；　sir。　One　of　them　is　a　metal　rod　about　a　foot　long。　But　I　passed　my　flight　physical。　Those　Israeli　doctors　did　a　good　job。　Aches　some　occasionally。〃
　〃We　were　damned　lucky。〃
　〃That's　an　understatement；〃　Toad　said；　and　proceeded　to　fill　Jake　in　on　how　he　had　spent　the　last　five　months。
　After　lunch　Jake　hiked　back　across　the　streets　and　parking　lots　to　the　Pentagon。　His　temporary　pass　so　excited　the　security　cop　that　he　nodded　his　head　a　quarter　inch　as　Jake　walked　by。
　mander　Rob　Knight　was　several　years　younger　than　Jake　and　had　more　hair；　although　it　was　salt…and…pepper。　He　wore　steel…rimmed　glasses　and　beamed　when　Jake　introduced　himself。
　〃Heard　about　your　little　adventure　in　the　Med　last　year；　Captain。　It's　been　pretty　dull　without　El　Hakim　to　kick　around；〃　Knight　grinned　easily。　He　had　an　air　of　quiet　confidence　that　Jake　found　reassuring。　Like　all　career　officers　getting　acquainted；　Knight　and　Jake　told　each　other　in　broad　terms　of　their　past　tours。　Knight　had　spent　most　of　his　operational　career　in　A…6　outfits；　and　had　been　ordered　to　this　billet　after　a　tour　as　manding　officer　of　an　A…6　squadron。
　〃I　came　by　to　find　out　everything　you　know　about　the　A…12；〃　Jake　said　lightly。
　Knight　chuckled。　〃A　real　kidder；　you　are。　I've　been　soaking　up　info　for　a　year　and　a　half　and　I　haven't　even　scratched　the　surface。　And　you　see　I'm　only　one　guy。　The　A…6　coordinator　sits　here　beside　me；　and　on　the　other　side　of　the　room　we　have　the　F…14　and　F/A…18　guys。　One　for　each　airplane。　We　don't　have　a　secretary　or　a　yeoman。　We　do　our　own　mail。　We　make　our　own　coffee。　I　spend　about　a　third　of　my　time　in　this　office；　which　is　where　I　do　the　unclass　stuff　and　confidential。　Another　third　of　my　time　is　spent　upstairs　in　the　vault　working　on　classified　stuff。　I　have　a　desk　up　there　with　another　puter　and　safes。　The　rest　of　my　time　is　spent　over　at　NAVAIR；　in　your　shop；　trying　to　see　what　you　guys　are　up　to。〃
　〃Just　one　guy。〃　Jake　was　disappointed；　and　it　showed。　He　felt　a　little　like　the　kid　who　met　Santa　for　the　first　time　and　found　he　was　old　and　fat　and　smelled　of　reindeer　shit。　〃One　guy！　Just　exactly　what　is　your　job？〃
　〃I'm　the　man　with　the　money。　I　get　it　from　Rear　Admiral　Costello。　He's　the　Aviation　Plans　and　Programs　honcho。　He　tells　me　what　we　want　the　plane　to　do。　We　draw　up　the　requirements。　You　build　the　plane　we　say　we　want；　you　sell　it　to　me；　and　I　write　the　checks。　That's　it　in　a　nutshell。〃
　〃Sounds　simple　enough。〃
　〃Simple　as　brain　surgery。　There's　an　auditor　that　es　around　from　time　to　time；　and　he's　going　to　cuff　me　and　take　me　away　one　of　these　days。　I　can　see　it　in　his　eyes。〃
　They　talked　for　an　hour；　or　rather　Knight　talked　and　Jake　listened；　with　his　hands　on　his　thighs。　Knight　had　a　habit　of　tapping　aimlessly　on　the　put