rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第10章

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　Klein　shook　his　head。　〃That's　a　hell　of　a　gamble；　Jon。　I　don't　like　sending　men　in　on　a　wing　and　a　prayer。〃
　〃A　prayer　is　all　we　have　right　now；　sir；〃　Smith　said　somberly。　〃There's　something　else　you　might　want　to　tell　him。　We　stopped　manufacturing　smallpox　vaccine　years　ago。　Right　now；　all　we　have　are　a　hundred　thousand　inoculations…　at　USAMRIID；　strictly　for　military　use。　We　couldn't　inoculate　even　a　fraction　of　our　population。〃　He　paused。　〃There's　even　a　lousier　scenario：　if　someone　is　stealing　smallpox　because　they　can't　do　Stage　Two　development　in　Russia；　they're　bringing　it　here　because　they　can…　something's　already　waiting　for　the　courier　on　this　end。　If　that's　the　case；　and　the　object　is　not　only　to　create　a　mutant　strain　but　to　disperse　it　in　this　country；　then　we're　defenseless。　We　could　manufacture　all　the　vaccine　in　the　world；　but　none　of　it　would　be　effective　against　a　new　strain　of　variola。〃
　Klein's　eyes　locked　on　Smith。　His　voice　was　low　and　harsh。
　〃Go　and　find　out　what　kind　of　hell　the　Russians　are　letting　loose。　Find　out　fast！〃
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　　
　Megan's　heels　echoed　smartly　off　the　polished　concrete　floor　as　she　walked　through　the　giant　hangar　and　into　daylight。　Although　she'd　been　in　Houston　for　almost　two　months；　she　still　wasn't　used　to　its　climate。　It　was　April　but　already　the　air　was　humid。　She　was　glad　her　training　wouldn't　extend　into　the　summer。
　Sandwiched　between　buildings　G…3　and　G…4　was　the　new　visitors'　center。　Megan　walked　past　the　flotilla　of　NASA　buses；　which　ferried　guests　from　the　main　gates　into　the　pound；　and　entered　the　atrium…style　lobby。　Suspended　from　the　overhead　girders　was　a　halfsize　mock…up　of　the　shuttle。　Slipping　around　groups　of　schoolchildren　who　were　staring　wide…eyed　at　the　mock…up；　she　headed　for　the　security　desk。　Visitors　to　NASA；　as　well　as　their　destinations　within　the　facility；　were　logged　into　a　puter。　Megan　was　wondering　where　she　would　find　Jon　Smith　when　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　him　walking　beneath　the　mock…up。
　〃Jon！〃
　Smith　was　startled　to　hear　his　name；　but　his　frown　turned　into　a　smile　when　he　saw　Megan。
　〃Megan。。。　How　wonderful　to　see　you　again。〃
　Megan　came　up　to　him　and　took　his　arm。　〃You　look　like　a　man　on　a　mission…　all　so　serious。　Don't　tell　me　you　weren't　even　going　to　look　me　up。〃
　Smith　hesitated。　His　thoughts　had　wandered　to　Megan　Olson　but　nothing　had　prepared　him　for　actually　running　into　her。
　〃I　wouldn't　have　known　where　to　begin　to　look　for　you；〃　he　replied　truthfully。
　〃And　you　being　such　a　resourceful　man；〃　Megan　teased　him。　〃What　are　you　doing　down　here？　Did　you　e　in　with　the　president's　party？〃
　〃Hardly。　I　had　a　meeting；　something　that　came　up　at　the　last　minute。〃
　〃Uh…huh。　And　now　you're　galloping　off。　Do　you　at　least　have　time　for　a　drink　or　a　cup　of　coffee？〃
　Although　he　was　anxious　to　get　back　to　Washington；　Smith　decided　he　didn't　want　to　raise　any　suspicions；　especially　since　Megan　seemed　to　have　accepted　his　vague　explanation　for　his　presence　at　NASA。
　〃I'd　love　a　drink；〃　he　said；　then　added；　〃You　seemed　to　be　looking　for　me…　or　am　I　imagining　things？〃
　〃I　was；〃　Megan　replied；　leading　them　toward　the　elevators。　〃Actually；　a　friend　of　yours；　Dylan　Reed；　mentioned　that　he'd　heard　you　were　on…site。〃
　〃Dylan。。。　I　see。〃
　〃Where　do　you　know　him　from？〃
　〃Dylan　and　I　worked　together　when　NASA　and　USAMRIID　were　retooling　the　biochem　program　for　the　shuttle。　That　was　a　while　back。　I　haven't　seen　him　since。〃
　Which　begs　the　question：　how　the　hell　would　Reed　or　anyone　else　know　that　I　was　here？
　Since　the　air　space　around　NASA　was　restricted；　the　Gulfstream　pilot　would　have　filed　a　crew/passenger　manifest　with　the　NASA　controllers；　who　would　have　passed　it　on　to　security。　But　that　information　should　have　remained　confidential…unless　someone　was　monitoring　flight　arrivals。
　Megan　slid　a　card　key　into　the　slot　of　the　glass…enclosed　elevator　that　went　up　to　the　private　dining　room。　Upstairs；　she　and　Smith　walked　past　the　dining　room's　floor…to…ceiling　windows　that　offered　a　panoramic　view　of　the　center's　air…training　facilities。　Megan　couldn't　help　but　smile　when　she　saw　a　KC…135；　a　converted　aerial　tanker；　lumber　down　the　runway。
　〃Fond　memories？〃　Smith　asked　her。
　Megan　laughed。　〃Only　in　retrospect。　That　one…thirty…five　has　been　especially　modified　to　pretest　various　experiments　and　equipment　for　the　low　gravity　of　shuttle　flights。　It　climbs　steeply　until　its　acceleration　reaches　two　Gs；　then　freefalls；　creating　a　weightless　environment　for　twenty　or　thirty　seconds。　When　I　took　my　first　ride；　I　had　no　idea　how　greatly　reduced　gravity　stresses　the　body's　internal　systems。〃　She　grinned。　〃That's　when　I　discovered　why　the　one…thirty…five　has　onboard　a　generous　supply　of　emesis　bags。〃
　〃And　why　they　call　it　the　Vomit　et；〃　Smith　added。
　Megan　was　surprised。　〃Have　you　ever　ridden　in　that　thing？〃　she　asked。
　〃Wouldn't　dream　of　it。〃
　They　took　a　table　by　the　window。　Megan　ordered　a　beer　but　Smith；　about　to　get　back　in　the　air；　chose　orange　juice。　When　their　drinks　arrived；　he　raised　his　glass。
　〃May　you　reach　the　stars。〃
　Megan　met　his　glance。　〃I　hope　so。〃
　〃I　know　so。〃
　Smith　and　Megan　glanced　up　to　find　Dr。　Dylan　Reed　standing　by　their　table。
　〃Jon；　it's　good　to　see　you　again。　I　was　waiting　for　someone　on　another　flight　when　I　saw　your　name　on　the　arrivals　roster。〃
　Smith　returned　Reed's　strong　handshake　and　invited　him　to　pull　up　a　chair。
　〃Are　you　still　with　USAMRIID？〃　Reed　asked。
　〃Still　attached。　And　you've　been　down　here　for　what；　three　years？〃
　〃Four。〃
　〃Are　you　onboard　the　next　mission？〃
　Reed　grinned。　〃Couldn't　keep　me　away。　I've　bee　a　shuttle　junkie。〃
　Smith　raised　his　glass　again。　〃To　a　safe；　successful　flight。〃
　After　the　toast；　Reed　turned　to　Megan。　〃You　never　told　me　how　you　two　met。〃
　Megan's　smile　faded。　〃Sophia　Russell　was　a　childhood　friend　of　mine。〃
　〃Sorry；〃　Reed　apologized。　〃I　heard　about　Sophia's　death；　Jon。　I'm　very　sorry。
　Smith　listened　as　Reed　and　Megan　discussed　the　morning's　exercise　in　the　mock…up；　noting　the　affectionate　way　Reed　treated　her。　Smith　wondered　if　there　was　something　more　than　just　a　professional　relationship　between　them。
　Even　if　there　is；　it's　none　of　my　business。
　Smith　felt　heat　at　the　back　of　his　neck。　Casually；　he　shifted　so　that　he　could　see　the　entire　room　in　the　reflection　of　the　windows。　Standing　by　the　hostess's　station　was　a　slightly　overweight　man　of　medium　height；　in　his　early　forties。　His　head　was　pletely　shaved；　the　scalp　shiny　beneath　the　lights。　Even　from　this　distance；　Smith　could　tell　that　the　man　was　staring　directly　at　him；　his　mouth　open　slightly。
　I　don't　know　you；　so　why　are　you　so　interested　in　me？
　〃Dylan？〃
　Smith　gestured　in　the　direction　of　the　hostess's　station。　His　motion　made　the　watcher　duck；　unsuccessfully。
　〃Are　you　expecting　someone？〃
　Reed　glanced　around。　〃Right。　That's　Adam　Treloar；　the　mission's　chief　medical　officer。〃　He　waved。　〃Adam！〃
　Smith　watched　as　Treloar　approached　reluctantly；　like　a　child　dragging　his　feet　to　the　dinner　table。
　〃Adam；　meet　Dr。　Jon　Smith；　with　USAMRIID；〃　Reed　said。
　〃My　pleasure；〃　Smith　said。
　〃Yes；　nice　to　meet　you；〃　Treloar　mumbled；　betraying　the　remnants　of　a　British　accent。
　〃Have　we　met　before？〃　Smith　inquired　pleasantly。
　He　wondered　why　the　polite　question　would　make　Treloar's　eggshaped　eyes　bulge。
　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　so。　I　would　have　remembered。〃　Hastily；　Treloar　turned　to　Reed。　〃We　have　to　go　over　the　crew's　last　physical。　And　I　must　make　that　meeting　with　Stone。〃
　Reed　shook　his　head。　〃Things　get　a　little　hectic　as　we　approach　launch　date；〃　he　apologized　to　Smith。　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　excuse　me。　Jon；　it　was　great　to　see　you。　Let's　not　leave　it　so　long；　okay？〃
　〃Definitely。〃
　〃Megan；　I'll　see　you　at　three　o'clock　in　the　biolab。〃
　Smith　watched　the　two　men　take　a　booth　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。
　〃Treloar's　a　little　strange；〃　he　mented。　Especially　since　he　wanted　to　discuss　physical　exams　but　wasn't　carrying　any　medical　files。
　〃Yes；　he　is；〃　Megan　agreed。　〃As　a　doctor；　Adam's　one　of　the　best。　Dylan　stole　him　from　Bauer…Zermatt。　But　he　is　eccentric。〃
　Smith　shrugged。　〃Tell　me　about　Dylan。　What's　he　like　t