cc.vixen03-第34章

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　De　Vaal　sat　in　concentration　for　a　moment。　〃A　pity　we　can't　have　Lusana　as　a　passenger。〃
　〃The　possibility　exists；〃　said　Zeegler。
　De　Vaal　looked　up。　〃Are　you　serious？〃
　〃My　sources　say　he　has　left　for　the　United　States；〃　Zeegler　replied。　〃Trailing　him　through　Africa　and　knowing　his　exact　traveling　schedule　in　advance　is　next　to　impossible。　He　can　slip　out　of　the　continent　virtually　undetected　at　will。　But　he　cannot　slip　in　without　showing　himself。　When　he　leaves　the　States；　I　will　be　waiting。〃
　〃Abduction。〃　De　Vaal　said　the　word　slowly；　savoring　each　syllable。　〃The　very　bonus　that　would　make　Operation　Wild　Rose　virtually　fool…proof。〃
　
　36
　
　The　BEZA…Mozambique　overseas　airliner　pivoted　off　the　main　runway　onto　a　seldom…used　taxi　strip　and　dipped　its　nose　as　the　pilot　applied　the　brakes。　The　boarding　hatch　swung　open　and　a　baggage　handler　wearing　white　coveralls　and　a　red　baseball　cap　stepped　from　the　evening　dark…ness　and　attached　an　aluminum　ladder　to　the　fuselage。　A　figure　stooped　in　the　light　streaming　from　the　interior　of　the　plane；　dropped　a　large　suitcase　to　the　man　on　the　ground；　and　climbed　down　after　it。　Then　the　hatch　closed　and　the　ladder　was　removed。　The　engines　picked　up　their　whine　and　the　plane　rolled　off　in　the　direction　of　the　Dulles　Airport　international　terminal。
　No　conversation　was　exchanged　as　the　baggage　handler　passed　the　stranger　a　spare　set　of　coveralls；　which　were　quickly　donned。　They　climbed　aboard　a　small　tractor　that　had　four　empty　carrier　carts　attached　to　its　rear　hitch　and　steered　a　course　to　the　maintenance　section　of　the　field。　After　a　few　minutes　of　dodging　parked　aircraft；　the　tractor　pulled　up　to　a　floodlit　gate。　A　guard　leaned　out　at　their　approach　and；　upon　recognizing　the　driver；　stifled　a　yawn　and　waved　them　through。　The　baggage　handler　waved　back　and　drove　to　the　employees'　parking　lot；　stopping　beside　a　door　held　open　by　the　chauffeur　of　a　large　dark…blue　limousine。　Still　without　a　word；　the　man　from　the　airplane　stepped　into　the　backseat　of　the　car。　The　chauffeur　took　the　suitcase；　lifted　it　into　the　trunk；　and　the　baggage　handler　drove　his　empty　caravan　back　toward　the　cargo　terminal。
　It　wasn't　until　the　car　entered　the　outskirts　of　Georgetown　that　Lusana　relaxed　and　slipped　out　of　the　coveralls。　In　past　years　he　would　have　entered　the　States　like　any　other　traveler　ing　from　overseas。　But　those　were　the　days　before　the　South　African　Defence　Ministry　took　him　seriously。　Lusana's　fears　of　assassination　were　well　founded。　With　a　sense　of　relief　he　watched　the　chauffeur　stop　in　front　of　a　house　whose　downstairs　windows　were　lit。　At　least　someone　was　home。
　The　chauffeur　carried　his　suitcase　to　the　doorstep　and　silently　de…parted。　A　faint　murmur　from　the　TV　set　came　through　the　open　win…dows。　He　pressed　the　bell。
　The　porch　light　came　on；　the　door　opened　a　crack；　and　a　familiar　voice　said；　〃Who　is　it？〃
　He　moved　under　the　light　so　that　it　illuminated　his　face。　〃It's　me；　Felicia。〃
　〃Hiram？〃　Her　voice　was　stunned。
　〃Yes。〃
　The　door　opened　slowly。　She　was　dressed　in　a　sheer　and　sexy　chiffon　peasant　blouse　and　a　long　soft　jersey　skirt。　A　knotted　bandana　covered　her　hair。　She　stood　motionless；　her　eyes　searching　his。　She　wanted　to　say　something　appropriately　clever　but　her　mind　went　blank。　All　she　man…aged　was；　〃e　in。〃
　He　stepped　inside　and　set　the　suitcase　down。　〃I　thought　you　might　be　here；〃　he　said。
　Her　dark　eyes　quickly　shifted　from　surprise　to　calm　posure。　〃Your　timing　is　right　on　the　money。　I　just　got　back　from　Hollywood。　I've　cut　a　new　album　and　auditioned　for　a　part　in　a　TV　series。〃
　〃I'm　happy　all　goes　well　for　you。〃
　She　looked　up　into　his　face。　〃You　never　should　have　sent　me　away　with　Frederick。〃
　〃If　it　will　make　you　feel　any　better；　I've　often　regretted　my　hasty　decision。〃
　〃I　could　go　back　with　you　to　Africa。〃
　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Someday；　maybe。　Not　now。　You　can　do　more　for　our　cause　here。〃
　They　turned　in　unison　as　Frederick　Daggat；　casually　attired　in　a　paisley…print　bathrobe；　appeared　from　the　living　room。　〃My　God；　Gen…eral　Lusana。　I　thought　I　recognized　your　voice。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　suitcase　and　his　face　clouded。　〃There　was　no　advance　word　of　your　arrival。　Has　there　been　trouble？〃
　Lusana　grinned　wryly。　〃The　world　is　not　safe　for　revolutionaries。　I　thought　it　expedient　to　return　to　the　Land　of　the　Free　as　inconspicuously　as　possible。〃
　〃But　surely　the　airlines　。　。　。　customs　。　。　。　someone　must　have　an…nounced　your　presence。〃
　Lusana　shook　his　head。　〃I　sat　in　the　pilot's　cabin　on　the　flight　from　Africa。　Arrangements　were　made　for　me　to　leave　the　plane　after　landing　and　bypass　the　Dulles　terminal。〃
　〃We　have　laws　that　frown　on　illegal　entry。〃
　〃I　am　a　citizen。　What　difference　does　it　make？〃
　Daggat's　expression　softened。　He　placed　his　hands　on　Lusana's　shoulders。　〃If　there　is　any　fuss；　my　staff　will　take　care　of　it。　You're　here；　and　that's　all　that　counts。〃
　〃But　why　all　the　subterfuge？〃　asked　Felicia。
　〃For　good　reason。〃　Lusana's　voice　was　very　cold。　〃My　intelligence　people　have　uncovered　a　sensitive　piece　of　information　that　can　prove　highly　embarrassing　to　the　South　African　minority　government。〃
　〃That's　a　serious　charge；〃　said　Daggat。
　〃It's　a　serious　threat；〃　retorted　Lusana。
　Daggat's　eyes　registered　a　mixture　of　confusion　and　curiosity。　He　nodded　toward　the　living　room。　〃e　in　and　sit　down；　General。　We　have　much　to　talk　over。〃
　〃Every　time　I　see　you　it's　like　looking　at　an　old　photograph。　You　never　change。〃
　Felicia　returned　Loren's　admiring　look。　〃Flattery　from　another　woman　is　flattery　indeed。〃　She　idly　stirred　the　ice　in　her　drink。　〃It's　amazing　how　time　evaporates。　How　long　has　it　been…three；　maybe　four　years？〃
　〃The　last　inaugural　ball。〃
　〃I　remember；〃　Felicia　said；　smiling。　〃We　went　to　that　little　dive　down　by　the　river　afterward　and　got　smashed。　You　were　with　a　tall；　sad…looking　dude　with　spaniel　eyes。〃
　〃Congressman　Louis　Carnady。　He　was　defeated　in　the　next　election。〃
　〃Poor　Louis。〃　Felicia　lit　a　cigarette。　〃My　date　was　Hiram　Lusana。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃We　parted　pany　only　last　month　in　Africa；〃　Felicia　said　as　if　Loren　had　not　spoken。　〃I　wonder　if　my　life　has　been　one　big　downer；　chasing　after　every　liberal　cause　that　pops　on　stage；　taking　up　with　any　stud　who　promises　to　save　the　human　race。〃
　Loren　motioned　to　the　waiter　to　bring　them　two　more　drinks。　〃You　can't　blame　yourself　for　believing　in　people。〃
　〃I　haven't　got　a　hell　of　a　lot　to　show　for　it。　Every　crusade　I've　ever　joined；　I　screwed　up。〃
　〃I　don't　mean　to　pry；　but　did　you　and　Lusana　have　personal　differ…ences；　or　was　it　political？〃
　〃Strictly　personal；〃　Felicia　said。　She　felt　her　chest　tighten　as　Loren　circled　the　bait。　〃I　no　longer　mattered　to　him。　His　only　love　was　his　fight。　I　think　at　first；　deep　inside　him；　there　was　a　feeling　for　me；　but　as　the　struggle　expanded　and　his　pressures　grew；　he　became　distant。　I　know　now　that　he　had　taken　all　he　ever　wanted　from　me。　It　was　as　though　I　was　as　expendable　as　one　of　his　soldiers　on　the　battlefield。〃
　Loren　saw　the　tears　start　to　e　to　Felicia's　eyes。　〃How　you　must　hate　him。〃
　Felicia　looked　up；　surprised。　〃Hate　Hiram？　Oh　no；　you　don't　under…stand。　I　was　unfair　with　him。　I　let　my　own　desires　stand　between　us。　I　should　have　been　patient。　Perhaps　when　his　war　to　give　majority　rule　to　blacks　in　South　Africa　is　won；　he　will　look　upon　me　differently。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　hold　my　breath　if　I　were　you。　I　know　his　history。　Lusana　uses　people　like　the　rest　of　us　use　toothpaste。　He　squeezes　every　dab　and　throws　away　the　empties。〃
　An　angered　frown　crossed　Felicia's　face。　〃You　only　see　in　Hiram　what　you　want　to　see。　The　good　outweighs　the　bad。〃
　Loren　sighed　and　leaned　back　as　the　waiter　brought　their　second　round。　〃It's　wrong　for　old　friends　to　argue　after　being　so　long　apart；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Let's　change　the　subject。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Felicia　said；　her　mood　changing。　〃What　about　you；　Loren？　Are　there　any　men　in　your　life？〃　。　　　〃Two；　at　the　moment。〃
　Felicia　laughed。　〃It's　mon　Washington　gossip：　one　is　Phil　Sawyer；　the　President's　press　secretary。　Who's　the　other？〃
　〃He's　a　director　at　NUMA。　His　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　〃You　serious　about　either　one　of　them？〃
　〃