cyclops-第59章
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〃You got that kind of clout？〃 Monfort asked incredulously。
〃That and more。〃
〃Can you tell me what's going down； Jim？〃
〃Take my word for it。 You don't want to get involved。〃
They gathered at a White House dinner party to honor the Prime Minister of India； Rajiv Gandhi； who was on a goodwill tour of the United States。 Actors and labor leaders； athletes and billionaires； they all shed their opinions； their differences； and mingled like neighbors at a Sunday social。
Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter conversed and acted as though they had never left the West Wing。 Standing in a corner filled with flowers； Secretary of State Douglas Oates swapped war stories with Henry Kissinger； while the Super Bowl champion quarterback of the Houston Oilers stood in front of the fireplace and peered openly at the breasts of ABC news anchor Sandra Malone。
The President shared a toast with Prime Minister Gandhi and then introduced him to Charles Murphy； who had recently flown over Antarctica in a hot…air balloon。 The President's wife came over； took her husband's arm； and pulled him toward the dance floor of the state dining room。
A White House aide caught Dan Fawcett's eye and nodded toward the doorway。 Fawcett went over； heard him out； then approached the President。 The chain of mand was well oiled。
〃My apologies； Mr。 President； but a courier has just arrived with a congressional bill that requires your signature before midnight。〃
The President nodded in understanding。 There was no bill to sign。 It was a code for an urgent message。 He excused himself to his wife and went across the hall to a small private office。 He paused until Fawcett closed the door before picking up the phone
〃This is the President。〃
〃Admiral Sandecker； sir。〃
〃Yes； Admiral； what is it？〃
〃I have the Chief of Naval Forces in the Caribbean on another line。 He has just informed me that one of my people； who vanished with Jessie LeBaron； has been rescued by one of our submarines。〃
〃Has he been identified？〃
〃It's Dirk Pitt。〃
〃The man must be either indestructible or very lucky；〃 the President said with a touch of relief in his voice。 〃How soon can we get him here？〃
〃Admiral Clyde Monfort is holding on the line for authorization to provide priority transport。〃
〃Can you connect me to him？〃
〃Hold on； sir。〃 There was a second's pause followed by a click。
The President said； 〃Admiral Monfort； can you hear me？〃
〃I hear you。〃
〃This is the President。 Do you recognize my voice？〃
〃Yes； sir； I do。〃
〃I want Pitt in Washington as fast as you can possibly get him here。 Understood？〃
〃I read you； Mr。 President。 I'll see that a Navy jet lands him at Andrews Air Force Base before daybreak。〃
〃Spread a security net on this affair； Admiral。 Keep the submarine at sea and place the pilots； or anyone else who es within a hundred yards of Pitt； under confinement for three days。〃
There was a slight hesitation。 〃Your orders will be carried out。〃
〃Thank you。 Now please let me speak to Admiral Sandecker。〃
〃I'm here； Mr。 President。〃
〃You heard？ Admiral Monfort will have Pitt at Andrews before dawn。〃
〃I'll personally be on hand to meet him。〃
〃Good。 Take him by helicopter to CIA headquarters in Langley。 Martin Brogan and representatives from my office and the State Department will be waiting to debrief him。〃
〃He may not be able to shed light on anything。〃
〃You're probably right；〃 said the President wearily。 〃I'm expecting too much。 I guess I always expect too much。〃
He hung up and sighed heavily。 He collected his thoughts for a moment and then shelved them in a mental niche for later retrieval； a technique mastered sooner or later by every President。 Shifting the mind from crisis to trivial routine and back again to crisis like the flick of alight switch was a requirement that went with the job。
Fawcett knew the President's every mood and patiently waited。 Finally he said； 〃It might not be a bad idea if I attended the debriefing。〃
The President looked up at him sadly。 〃You'll be going with me to Camp David at sunup。〃
Fawcett looked blank。 〃I have nothing on your schedule that includes a trip to Camp David。 Most of the morning is taken up by meetings with congressional leaders over the proposed budget。〃
〃They will have to wait。 I have a more important conference tomorrow。
〃As your chief of staff may I ask who you're conferring with？〃
〃A group of men who call themselves the ‘inner core。' 〃
Fawcett stared at the President； his mouth slowly tightening。 〃I don't understand。〃
〃You should； Dan。 You're one of them。〃
Before a dazed Fawcett could reply； the President left the office and rejoined the dinner party。
The thump of the landing wheels woke Pitt up。 Outside the twin…engined Navy jet the sky was still dark。 Through a small window he could see the first streaks of orange spearheading the new day。
The blisters caused by the friction from the bathtub made sitting almost impossible； and he had slept in a cramped position on his side。 He felt generally awful； and he was thirsty for something besides the fruit juices forced down his stomach in endless quantities by an overly concerned doctor on the submarine。
He wondered what he would do if he ever met up with Foss Gly again。 Whatever fiendish punishment he created in his mind didn't seem excessive enough。 The thought of the agony Gly was inflicting on Jessie； Giordino； and Gunn haunted him。 He felt guilty for having escaped。
The whine of the jet engines faded and the door was opened。 He walked stiffly down the stairs and was embraced by Sandecker。 The admiral rarely shook hands； and the unexpected display of affection surprised Pitt。
〃I guess what they say about a bad penny is true；〃 said Sandecker hoarsely； groping for words。
〃Better to turn up than not；〃 Pitt replied； smiling。
Sandecker took him by the arm and led him over to a waiting car。 〃They're waiting at CIA headquarters in Langley to question you。〃
Pitt suddenly stopped。 〃They're alive；〃 he announced briefly。
〃Alive？〃 said Sandecker； stunned。 〃All of them？〃
〃Imprisoned by the Russians and tortured by a defector。〃
Inprehension showed on Sandecker's face。 〃You were in Cuba？〃
〃On one of the outer islands；〃 Pitt explained。 〃We've got to apprise the Russians of my rescue as quickly as possible to stop them from〃
〃Slow down；〃 Sandecker interrupted。 〃I'm losing you。 Better yet； wait and tell the whole story when we get to Langley。 I suspect you may have fallen in the creek and e up with a pocketful of trout。〃
On the flight across the city it began to rain。 Pitt gazed through the plexiglass windshield at the 219 wooded acres surrounding the sprawling gray marble and concrete structure that was the home of America's cloak…and…dagger army。 From the air it seemed deserted； no people were visible on the grounds。 Even the parking lot was only one quarter full。 The only human shape Pitt could detect was a statue of the nation's most famous spy； Nathan Hale； who had made the mistake of getting caught and was hanged。
Two senior officials were waiting at the helipad with umbrellas。 Everyone hurried into the building； and Pitt and Sandecker were shown into a large conference room。 There were six men and one woman present。 Martin Brogan came over and shook Pitt's hand and introduced the others。 Pitt simply nodded and promptly forgot their names。
Brogan said； 〃I hear you've had a rough trip。〃
〃Not one I'd remend to tourists；〃 Pitt replied。
〃Can I get you something to eat or drink？〃 Brogan offered graciously。 〃A cup of coffee or breakfast maybe？〃
〃If you could find a bottle of cold beer。 。 。〃
〃Of course。〃 Brogan picked up the phone and said something。 〃Be here in a minute。〃
The conference room was plain by business…office standards。 The walls were a neutral beige color； the carpet the same； and the furniture looked as though it came from a discount store。 No pictures； no decorations of any kind gave it life。 A room whose only function was t
