wt.theyearofthequietsun-第6章
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nudged off the dime…every dime； every day。 He lacks initiative； lacks drive。〃 A side glance told Chaney that the Major had agreed with him on one point。 Moresby was absently nodding concurrence。
Kathryn van Hise cleared her throat。
〃To proceed。 An experimental laboratory is located in another part of this building； beneath us； and the testing of the vehicle has been underway for some time。 When the testing had reached a stage which indicated eventual success； the survey field team was recruited。 Major Moresby； mander Saltus； and you were each the first choices in your respective fields； and the only ones contacted。 As yet there is no back…up team。〃
Chaney said： 〃That's uncharacteristic of them。 The military always buys two of everything； just in case。〃
〃This is not a military operation； and their superiors were not informed why Major Moresby and mander Saltus were transferred to this station。 But I would think a back…up team will be recruited in time； and perhaps the military establishment will be informed of our operations。〃 She folded her hands； regaining posure。 〃The engineers will explain the vehicle and its operation to you； I am not well enough informed to offer a lucid explanation。 I understand only that an intense vacuum is created when the vehicle is operated； and the sound you heard was the result of an implosion of air into that vacuum。〃
〃They're making sixty…one second tests？〃
〃No； sir。 The tests may be of any duration； the longest to date has probed twelve months into the past； and the shortest only one day。 Those sixty…one seconds represent a necessary margin of safety for the passenger； the passenger may not return to his exact moment of departure； but will instead return sixty…one seconds after his departure regardless of the amount of elapsed time spent in the field。〃 But she seemed troubled by something not put into words。
Brian Chaney was certain she held something back。
She said： 〃At the present time； the laboratory is employing monkeys and mice as test passengers。 When that phase is pleted； each of you will embark on a test to familiarize yourself with the vehicle。 You will depart singly； of course； because of the smallness of the vehicle。 The engineers will explain the problems of mass and volume being propelled by means of a vacuum。〃
Chaney said： 〃I see the point。 I wouldn't like it very well if I came back from a survey and landed on top of myself。 But why sixty…one？〃
〃That figure is something of a laboratory fluke。 The engineers were intent on a minimum of sixty seconds； but； when the vehicle returned at sixty…one on two successive tests they locked it down there； so to speak。〃
〃All the tests were successful？〃
She hesitated； then said： 〃Yes； sir。〃
〃You haven't lost a monkey？ Not one？〃
〃No； sir。〃
But his suspicions were not quieted。 〃What would happen if the tests weren't successful？ What if one should still fail； after all this？〃
〃In that event； the project would be cancelled and each of you will be returned to your stations。 You would be free to return to Indiana； if you chose。〃
〃I'll be fired！〃 Arthur Saltus declared。 〃Back to that bucket in the South China Sea： diesel oil and brine。〃
〃Back to the Florida beach；〃 Chaney told him。 〃And beauteous maidens in delicious undress。〃
〃You're a cad； civilian。 You ripped off that veil。〃
〃But the maidens make that unnecessary。〃
〃Gentlemen； please。〃
Saltus wouldn't be stopped。 〃And think of our poor Katrina…back to a bureaucrat's desk； Congress will cut off our slush funds： chop。 You know how they are。〃
〃Tightfisted； except for their pet rivers and harbors。 So I suppose we must carry on for her sake； naked and shivering； up to the brink of 2000。〃 Chaney was bemused。 〃What will the ing generation think of us？〃
〃Please！〃
Chaney folded his arms and looked at her。 〃I still think someone has made a mistake； Miss van Hise。 I have no military skifis and I'm seldom able to distinguish a nut from a bolt； I can't imagine why you would want me for a field survey…despite what you say…but you'll find me a fairly placent draftee if you promise no more jolts。 Are you holding back anything else？〃
Her brown eyes locked with his； showing a first hint of anger。 Chaney grinned； hoping to erase that。 Her glance abruptly dropped away； and she slid the bulky envelopes across the table to the three men。
〃Now？〃 Saltus asked。
〃You may open them now。 This is our primary tarfield。〃 get area； together with all necessary data to enter the
Brian Chaney undid the clasp and pulled out a thick sheaf of mimeographed papers and several folded maps。 His glance went back to the face of the envelope。 A code name was typed there； under the ubiquitous Top Secret rubber stamp。 He read it a second time and looked up。
〃Project Donaghadee？〃
〃Yes； sir。 Mr。 Donaghadee is the Director of the Bureau of Standards。〃
〃Of course。 The monument is the man。〃
Chaney opened the map on the top of the pile and turned it about so that north was at the top； to read the name of the first city to catch his eye： Joliet。 It was a map of the north central section of the United States with Chicago placed precisely in the center； and showing great chunks of those states surrounding the metropolitan area： Illinois； Indiana； Michigan； Wisconsin； and the eastern tip of Iowa。 Elwood Station was indicated by a red box just south of Joliet。 He noted that the map had been prepared by Army cartographers and was stamped Top Secret。 Except for the red box it was identical to gasoline station maps。
The second map was a large one of Illinois alone and now the extra size revealed Elwood Station to be about eight miles south of Joliet； adjacent to an old route marked Alternate 66。 The third map was equally large： a detailed plan of Will County with Joliet located nearly in the center of it。 On this map； Elwood Station was a great red box of about five square miles； with several individual houses and buildings identified by a numbered key。 The station had two private service roads opening onto the highway。 The main line of the Chicago & Mobile Southern Railroad passed within hailing distance of the military reservation； and a spur of that railroad branched off to enter the enclosure。
The Major looked up from his scrutiny of the maps。 〃Katrina。 The field trials will be here on station？〃
〃Only in part； sir。 If you find the station normal when you surface； you will proceed to Joliet in transportation which will be provided。 Always keep your safety in mind。〃
Moresby seemed disappointed。 〃Joliet。〃
〃That city will be the limit of the trials； sir。 The risk must not be underestimated。 However； the actual survey will be conducted in Chicago and its suburbs if the field trials prove satisfactory。 Please study the maps carefully and memorize at least two escape routes； you may be forced to walk in the event of a motor breakdown。〃
Saltus： 〃Walk？ With cars everywhere？〃
The woman frowned。 〃Do not attempt to steal an automobile。 It may be difficult； perhaps impossible； to free you from jail。 It simply wouldn't do； mander。〃
〃Naked and forlorn in a Joliet jail；〃 Chaney mumbled。 〃I believe there is a state penitentiary there。〃
She eyed him narrowly。 〃I think that little joke has gone far enough； Mr。 Chaney。 You will be clothed in the field； of course； you will dress for the field trial and later for the full survey； but each time you must disrobe before returning in the vehicle。 You will find an adequate supply of clothing； tools； and instruments awaiting you at each point of arrival。 And the laboratory will be continuously manned； of course； engineers will always be expecting your arrival and will assist in the transits。〃
〃I thought he was pulling my leg；〃 Chaney admitted。 〃But how will you manage the clothing and the engineers…how will you have it and them up there waiting for us？〃
〃That has already been arranged； sir。 A fallout shelter and storage depot is located below us； adjacent to the laboratory。 It is stocked with everything you may possibly need for any season of the year； together with weapons and provisions。 Our program requires that the labo
