Steal The Sun(战争间谍)-第16部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

“Good。　Now　tell　me　again　what　you’ll　do　after　I　leave。”
“I’ll　drive　to　San　Francisco；　to　my　father’s　old　flower　shop。　I’ll　be　made　up　to　look　Mexican。”
Ana’s　voice　was　a　monotone　that　did　not　wholly　conceal　her　fear。　“Refugio’s　cousins　will　give
me　one　of　their　delivery　trucks。　I’ll　drive　it　to　Oakland　and　park　at　the　transfer　point　by
midnight　of　the　15th。　I’ll　hide　in　the　back　of　the　truck　until　Refugio　comes。　Then　I’ll　drive　him
back　to　the　flower　shop。　If　you　aren’t　there　by　noon　of　the　17th；　Refugio　will…　kill　the　woman。
His　cousins　will　bury　her。　I’ll　drive　to　Refugio’s　tunnel　and　cross　into　Mexico。　If　you…　If　you　are
still　missing；　I’ll　take　the　stolen　weapon　to　Takagura。　He’ll　have　the　rest　of　Refugio’s　money。”
“Excellent；”　said　Kestrel。　Then；　“Don’t　look　so　frightened；　Ana。　No　one　will　be　looking　for　you
in　America。”
“It’s　not　that。　It’s　Finn。　You　don’t　know　him；”　she　said　in　a　rush。　“He　was　playing　with　me；
smiling　and　so　arrogant　and　–　don’t　go！　It’s　a　trap！”
“Finn　would　not　bother　to　lure　me　into　America；　question　me；　and　kill　me。　If　he　wanted　me；　he
Page　45
would　have　come　for　me　by　now；　here；　in　Mexico。”
“But　he　said　‘an　obscure　peak。’　He　must　have　wanted　you　to　know　about　Oscura　Peak。”
“Perhaps　he　underestimated　your　cleverness　at　unraveling　his　game。　Perhaps　he’s　so　confident
that　he　has　become　careless。”
“Finn？”　Ana　laughed。　“It’s　a　trap！”
“I　am　samurai。”　He　turned　away　and　washed　his　hands　in　a　basin。　He　dried　them　carefully　before
he　took　the　forged　papers　from　Ana。　He　studied　them　with　thoroughness　that　he　gave　to　all
important　things。　“Yes。　Much　better　than　I　expeced。”　He　looked　up　from　the　papers。　“And
yours？”
“I　have　papers　under　my　own　name；　as　well　as　the　name　of　Ana　Ortega。”　She　pulled　coupons
out　of　her　purse。　“For　gasoline。　Take　half　of　them。”
“Your　own　name？”　said　Kestrel；　taking　a　second　book　of　coupons　she　held　out。
“They　just　updated　my　old　papers。　No　one　is　paying　much　attention　anymore。”
Kestrel　measured　the　bitterness　in　Ana’s　voice　and　wondered　if　his　lovemaking　had　given　her
enough　to　believe　in　after　all。
“Ana；　if　there　were　any　one　but　you　to　go！”
“I　know。　That’s　not　it。　It’s　not　San　Francisco。”
“Then　what？”
“Alamogordo！　Finn　did　everything　but　give　you　a　map！”
“Ana；　Ana；”　sighed　Kestrel。　“Did　Finn　invite　you　to　see　the　sun　rise　twice；　or　were　those　your
words？”
“Finn’s。”
Kestrel　smiled　at　his　opponent’s　irony。　“Then　I　must　go。　No　samurai　could　ignore　an　invitation
from　a　man　who　is　a　poet　as　well　as　a　warrior。”
“Finn　would　know　that　about　you；”　said　Ana　bitterly。
Kestrel　nodded；　a　gesture　that　acknowledged　her　truth　and　closed　the　subject　with　one　motion。
“The　uniform。　Is　it　ready？”
Ana　unwrapped　the　package　she　had　carried　into　the　room。　“American　uniforms　are　also　a
Mexicali　specialty；”　she　said。　Then；　whispering；　“Don’t　go。”
Kestrel　did　not　answer。　He　was　busy　inspecting　the　uniform　of　a　Nisei　soldier。　Everything　was
there　–　the　proper　shoulder　patches　with　unit　designations。　He　looked　up　and　smiled。
“This　is　very　good。”
Kestrel　rewrapped　the　uniform　and　packed　it　in　a　scuffed　suitcase。　“You　must　leave　for　San
Francisco；”　he　said。　“You　have　less　than　twenty…four　hours　to　get　there。”
“And　you；”　said　Ana。　“Where　will　you　go？”
Kestrel　smiled。　“I　have　an　appointment　with　the　American　dawn。”
Los　Alamos
18　Hours　30　Minutes　Before　Trinity
（Excerpt　of　cable　received　by　Gen。　Leslie　Groves。　Decoded。）
AS　YOU　READ　THIS；　I　AM　ON　MY　WAY　TO　POTSDAM…
THE　GADGET　MUST　BE　READY　TOMORROW。　I　CAN’T　DELAY　THE
CONFERENCE　AGAIN。　IF　YOUR　BILLION　DOLLAR　TOY　DOESN’T　WORK；　WELL
GO　DOWN　AS　THE　BIGGEST　FOOLS　IN　HISTORY。
RUSSIAN　TROOPS　MASSING　ON　CHINESE　BORDER…　SKIRMISHES　REPORTED；
BUT　NO　“PENETRATION　IN　DEPTH”　YET。
THAT　GODDAMNED　GADGET　BETTER　WORK。　STALIN　WON’T　BE　IMPRESSED
BY　A　BUSTED　FLUSH　–　AND　NEITHER　WILL　TOJO。
HARRY　S　TRUMAN　PRESIDENT；　UNITED　STATES
Berkeley；　California
Page　46
13　Hours　Before　Trinity
The　phone　rang。　Vanessa　lifted　the　receiver　before　the　bell　could　sound　again。　“Hello；”　she　said；
then　nodded　at　Masarek。
Refugio　had　started　across　the　room　but　Masarek　motioned　him　to　stop　with　a　chopping
movement　of　his　hand。　Refugio　sat　down　very　slowly；　angered　at　being　ordered　around　in　his
own　house。
“Good；”　said　Vanessa；　too　softly　for　anyone　but　Masarek　to　hear。　“And　the　location？”　Vanessa
waited；　listening　carefully。　“Guards？”　Pause；　then　with　soft　disbelief；　“Just　one？　Are　you　sure？”
She　waited；　listening。　“After　you’re　finished；　don’t　forget　to　tell　the　guard　that　another　inspector
from　the　lab　will　check　the　container　again　before　it’s　moved。”
Suddenly；　Vanessa’s　face　became　expressionless。　“It　makes　no　difference　who　will　return；　or
e　and　the　obedience　to　you。”　There　was　a　long　silence。　“Don’t
call　here　again。　You’ll　get　a　call　at　your　home　sometime　before　midnight。　Have　the　ID　ready。”
Vanessa’s　voice　became　more　gentle；　but　her　expression　did　not　change。　“You’ve　done　very
well；　comrade。”
Vanessa　hung　up　and　said　in　Russian；　“Fool。”
“A　useful　fool；　I　trust？”　answered　Masarek　in　Russian。
“Very。　If　anyone　at　Hunters　Point　questions　your　credentials；　the　name　‘Grummin’　has　been
added　to　the　roster　of　the　Lawrence　Radiation　Laboratory　as　a　‘health　inspector。’”
“Passwords？　Guards？”
Vanessa　laughed。　“No　passwords。　One　guard。”
“Impossible！”
“No；　merely　subtle。　This　General　Groves　is　interesting；　apparently　he　understands　that　one　man
guards　a　secret　better　than　a　batallion　of　men。”　She　smiled。　“Or　maybe　it’s　just　that　the
capitalists　are　afraid　to　let　their　own　soldiers　too　close　to　one　billion　dollars　in　a　small　can。”
“One　billion　dollars！”
Vanessa　smiled；　pleased　by　Masarek’s　reaction。　“It’s　worth　more　than　that。”　She　moved　until　she
was　so　close　to　him　that　she　could　smell　the　residue　of　tobacco　smoke　on　his　skin。　“It’s　the　key
to　the　world。　Tonight　we　steal　it　and　then　we；　personally；　are　going　to　present　it　to　Stalin。”
Masarek　lit　another　cigaret；　frowning　around　the　smoke　stinging　his　eyes。　“If　the　comrade’s
information　is　good…。”He　shrugged。　“One　guard。　Can　we　trust　the　information？”
“The　comrade　was　sure。　He　said；　‘It’s　a　naval　base　What　the　hell　do　they　need　guards　for？’　“
Masarek　grunted。　“Just　like　an　intellectual。　He　thinks　because　they　are　at　war　and　wear　uniforms
they　are　soldiers。　Fool。”
Vanessa　took　Masarek’s　cigaret；　drew　a　deep　breath　and　returned　the　cigaret　to　him。　“At　least
he’s　a　well…briefed　fool。　Someone　from　the　lab　will　inspect　the？Bronx　shipment　at　midnight。　The
uranium　will　be　stored　in　Delta　warehouse　on　the　southeastern　side　of　the　base。　The　shipment
will　be　inspected　again　at　0700　of　the　16th；　after　it’s　loaded　aboard　the　Indianapolis。　That　gives
us　seven　hours　to　steal　the　uranium。”
“Why　are　they　inspecting　this　shipment　so　often　if　they　don’t　want　to　call　attention　to　it？”　asked
Masarek。
The　question　surprised　Vanessa。　She　understood　that　radioactive　materials　could　be　dangerous；
but　she　had　seen　no　need　to　explain　that　to　Masarek。　So　long　as　he　followed　her　orders；　there
was　no　need　for　him　to　worry。
“He　didn’t　say　why。”　Vanessa　paused；　then　added；　“If　it　were　important；　he　would　have　told
us。”
Masarek　cocked　his　head　as　though　listening　to　what　Vanessa　had　not　said　as　well　as　what　she
had。　Then　he　shrugged；　pulled　hard　on　the　cigaret；　and　muttered；　“I　don’t　like　depending　on
intellectuals。”
“They　don’t　allow　assassins　or　even　ordinary　communists　at　the　Radiation　Laboratory；”　Vanessa
Page　47
remarked。　“The　Americans　are　narrow…minded　about　some　things。”
“And　stupid　about　others；　it　seems。　But　they　did　well　enough　against　the　Germans。”
“Only　after　one　million　Russians　died　at　Stalingrad。　Only　then　did　the　pig　shit　Americans　think　it
was　safe　to　open　the　Second　Front。　Do　they　think　that　Russians　died　so　that　Americans　could
rule　the　world？”　Vanessa’s　laugh　was　humorless。　“Tokyo　will　be　the　Americans’　Stalingrad。
Stealing　the　Bronx　shipment　will　be　the　same　as　killing　one　million　American　soldiers！”
Across　the　room；　Refugio　and　two　of　his　men　began　talking　in　Spanish。　Masarek　watched　them
for　a　moment　before　he　turned　back　to　Vanessa。
“When　do　you　want　me　to　kill　Refugio？”
“He’ll　try　to　kill　us　in　the　tunnel；”　said　Vanessa；　“or　at　least　to　hold　us　up　for　more　money。”
“Of　course。　So　when　do　you　want　him　dead？　I　could　kill　him　now；　I　suppose；　since　there　is　only
one　guard。”
“No。　Later。　After　we　steal　the　uranium。”
Masarek　nodded。　“The　transfer　point　would　be　best；”　he　said。　“I’ll　kill　the　Mexicans　when　we
change　vehicles　in　Oakland。　Then　we’ll　drive　to　the　tunnel；　cross　back　into　Mexico　and　have　the
uranium　on　the　first　ship　to　Russia。　Very　simple。”
“Refugio　is　not　as　simple　as　he　looks。”
Masarek　dropped　his　cigaret　onto　the　rug；　then　ground　out　the　ember　with　a　casual　twist　of　his
heel。
“I’ve　killed　many　like　him。　Cunning；　but　they　die　just　the　same。”　He　saw　Vanessa’s　sideways　look
at　Refugio。　The　Mexican　saw　it　also；　his　smile　was　as　insulting　as　a　hand　beneath　her　skirt。　“You
would　like　to　kill　him　yourself？”　suggested　Masarek。
“I　would　like；”　said　Vanessa；　“to　put　a　bullet　through　his　thick　black　peasant　hair　into　the　base
of　his　skull。”
Masarek　smiled　slightly。　“I　give　him　to　you。”
“What　about　his　men？”
Masarek　yawned。　“They’ll　be　dead　before　you　pull　the　trigger。”
Vanessa　smiled　and　put　her　hand　on　Masarek’s　cheek　where　the　curve　of　his　jaw　met　his　hairline。
“Be　sure　it’s　Refugio　who　opens　the　car　door　in　Oakland。　I’d　hate　to　kill　you　by　mistake。”
West　of　Trinity
4　Hours　40　Minutes　Before　Trinity
Lightning　raked　the　cloud　tops　and　the　desert　below。　Thunder　belled　so　close　that　it
overpowered　the　sound　made　by　the　C…46’s　laboring　engines。　Rain　fell　as　though　to　make　up　for
a　thousand　years　of　drought；　the　drops　made　a　continuous　drumming　sound。　The　plane　bucked
and　sideslipped　in　a　pocket　of　treacherous　air。
Finn　braced　himself　in　the　fold…down　seat　behind　the　copilot。　The　pilot　swore　in　a　monotone
and　fought　to　keep　the　plane　under　control。　Lightning　burst　in　a　sheet　of　incandescence　that
arched　from　horizon　to　horizon。　In　the　instant　before　Finn’s　eyes　reflexively　closed；　he　saw
separate　drops　of　sweat　stand　out　on　the　copilot’s　forehead。　Thunder　exploded　around　the
plane；　shaking　them　like　dice　in　a　cup。
“　–　of　a　bitch！”　The　copilot’s　yell　emerged　from　the　fading　thunder。　“You　won’t　be　able　to　see
anything　in　this　shit！”
The　radio　crackled　loudly。　Earlier；　the　copilot　had　turned　the　volume　on　full；　it　was　the　only　way
of　hearing　an　incoming　message。　Each　time　lightning　split　the　night；　the　radio　went　wild　with　a
blast　of　sound　that　reminded　Finn　of　the　radiation　counter　stowed　beneath　his　feet。
“…　me？　Over。”　The　radio’s　voice　was　thin；　as　though　it　had　been　pounded　flat　by　thunder。
The　copilot　switched　the　radio　to　transmit。　“This　is　Blue　One；”　he　shouted　into　the　mike。
“Repeat　last　message。　Repeat　last　message。　Over。”
“…　is　de…　ceed…　second…　target…　im…med…　you…　me？…”
The　pilot　and　copilot　looked　at　one　another。　The　pilot　shook　his　head。　“One　m