cc.floodtide-第14章
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Gunn said slowly； 〃This is certainly news to me。〃
Sandecker smiled enigmatically。 〃The President's chief of staff neglected to mention the escape tubes。〃
Laird covered his surprise by pouring himself a small glass of vodka。 〃You're extraordinarily well informed； Admiral。〃
〃Escape tubes？〃 Gunn asked mechanically。
〃Shall I？〃 Sandecker asked almost apologetically。
Laird nodded and sighed。 〃It seems government secrets have a short life。〃
〃A script straight out of science…fiction movies；〃 Sandecker continued。 〃Until now； saving the President； his Cabinet and the military Chiefs of Staff during a nuclear strike by whisking them away by helicopter to an airfield or an underground operations center was a fallacy almost from the beginning。 Submarine missiles fired from a few hundred miles out at sea during a surprise attack could rain down on the city in less than ten minutes。 Not nearly enough time to carry out an emergency evacuation。〃
〃There had to be another way；〃 added Laird。 〃And there is；〃 Sandecker went on。 〃Underground tubes leading out of the city were constructed using electromagnetic technology that can hurl a convoy of canisters containing high…ranking people from the White House and classified material from the Pentagon to Andrews Air Force Base and into the basement of a hangar where an air…mand…transport version of the B…2 bomber is prepared to take off within seconds of their arrival。〃
〃I'm pleased to learn that I know something that you don't；〃 Laird said cryptically。
〃If I took a wrong turn； please set me straight。〃
〃Andrews Air Force Base is too widely known for departure and arrival of aircraft carrying high…level personnel；〃 said Laird。 〃You were quite correct about a facility for housing a B…2 modified as an airborne mand post。 But the plane is based underground at a secret site southeast of the city in Maryland。〃
〃If you'll forgive me；〃 said Gunn； 〃I don't doubt what you're saying； but it does have a ring of fantasy about it。〃
Laird cleared his throat and spoke directly to Gunn as if he was lecturing a schoolboy。 〃The American public would be knocked out of their socks if they had the slightest glimpse of the devious and circuitous maneuvers that take place around the nation's capital in the name of good government。 I know I certainly was when I came here。 I still am。〃
The bus slowed and came to a stop beside the entrance of a short passageway that led toward a steel door standing beneath two video cameras。 The forbidding starkness was heightened by recessed fluorescent lighting that illuminated the narrow chamber with an intense brilliance。 To Gunn it appeared as 〃the last mile〃 walked by condemned murderers on their way to the gas chamber。 He remained in his chair； his eyes straying into the passageway when the driver came around and opened the side panel on the bus。
〃Begging your pardon； sir； but one more question。〃 Gunn shifted his gaze to Laird。 〃I'd be grateful to learn just where it is we're meeting with the President。〃
Laird looked speculatively at Gunn for a moment。 Then at Sandecker。 〃How say you； Admiral？〃
Sandecker shrugged。 〃In this circumstance I can only rely on speculation and rumor。 I'm curious myself。〃
〃Secrets are meant to be kept；〃 said Laird seriously； 〃but since you've e this far and your history of honor in the service of your country goes unquestioned； I believe I can take it upon myself to induct you into what is a very exclusive fraternity。〃 He paused and then continued tolerantly。 〃Our short journey has taken us to Fort McNair and directly beneath what was once the base hospital until it was abandoned after World War H。〃
〃Why Fort McNair？〃 Gunn persisted。 〃It seems more convenient for the President to have met us at the White House。〃
〃Unlike former chief executives； President Wallace almost never goes near the place at night。〃 He said it as if it were a ment on the weather。
Gunn looked confused。 〃I don't understand。〃
〃It's painfully simple； mander。 We live in a Machiavellian world。 Leaders of unfriendly countries…enemies of the United States； if you will…armies of highly trained and skilled terrorists or just plain crazies； they all dream of destroying the White House and its live…in residents。 Many have tried。 We all remember the car that crashed through the gate； the lunatic who fired an automatic weapon through the fence on Pennsylvania Avenue； and the suicidal maniac who flew his plane onto the South Lawn。 Any athlete with a good throwing arm could heave a rock from the street against the Oval Office windows。 The sad fact is the White House is a tough target to miss…〃
〃That goes without saying；〃 added Sandecker。 〃The number of attempts that were nipped in the bud by our intelligence services remains a deep secret。〃
〃Admiral Sandecker is correct。 The professionals who planned to assault the Executive Mansion were apprehended before their operation could get off the ground。〃 Laird finished off his vodka and set the glass in a small sink before exiting the bus。 〃It is too dangerous for the First Family to eat and sleep in the White House。 Except for public tours； occasional press conferences； social functions for visiting dignitaries and photo opportunities of the President meeting in the Rose Garden with the public； the First Family is seldom at home。〃
Gunn found it difficult to accept the revelation。 〃You're saying the executive branch of the government conducts business someplace other than the White House？〃
〃Ninety…five feet above us； to be precise。〃
〃How long has this facade been going on？〃 asked Sandecker。
〃Since the Clinton administration；〃 answered Laird。
Gunn stared thoughtfully at the steel door。 〃When you consider the current situation at home and abroad； I guess now you see him； now you don't； does seem a practical solution。〃
〃It seems a shame；〃 said Sandecker solemnly； 〃to learn that what was once the revered home of our presidents has now been reduced to little more than a reception facility。〃
Sandecker and Gunn followed Laird out of the elevator across a circular reception room guarded by a Secret Service agent and into a library whose four walls were packed from floor to ceiling with over a thousand books。 As the door was closed behind him； Sandecker saw the President standing in the center of the room； his eyes fixed on the admiral but showing no trace of recognition。 There were three other men in the room。 One Sandecker knew； the other two were unfamiliar。 The President held a coffee cup in his left hand as Laird made the introductions。
〃Mr。 President； Admiral James Sandecker and mander Rudi Gunn。〃
The President gave the impression of being older than he was。 He looked sixty…five but was still in his late fifties。 The premature gray hair； red veins streaming through his facial skin； the beady eyes that always seemed reddened； inspired political cartoonists often to caricature him as a wino； when in fact he rarely drank anything more than an occasional glass of beer。 He was an intense man with a round face and low forehead and thin eyebrows。 He was the consummate politician。 Within days of replacing his ailing boss； no decision regarding his lifestyle or the state of the union was made without considering the potential for gathering votes for his run for office in the next election。
Dean Cooper Wallace would not bee one of Sandecker's favorite presidents。 It was no secret that Wallace detested Washington and refused to play the required social games。 He and the Congress pulled in harness together like a lion and a bear； both wanting to eat the other。 He was not an intellectual； but was adept at cutting deals and acting on intuition。 Since replacing the man who had been duly elected； he had quickly surrounded himself with aides and advisers who shared his distrust of the entrenched bureaucracy and were always looking for innovative ways to circumvent tradition。
The President extended his free hand while still holding the coffee cup。 〃Admiral Sandecker； a pleasure to finally meet you。〃
Sandecker involuntarily blinked。 The President's grip was anything but hardy； not what he expected from a politician who pressed flesh year in
