Steal The Sun(战争间谍)-第47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！

tiny　mountain　in　a　silver　pail。　As　he　staggered；　the　mountain　grew；　a　silent　expansion　that
consumed　his　strength。　The　pain　crinkled；　turned　scarlet　and　peeled　away；　revealing　the　white
shine　of　the　growing　mountain。　Too　heavy　for　his　arms；　he　had　to　carry　the　mountain　on　his
shoulders；　his　body　bent　and　twisted　and　the　mountain　swelling　as　silently；　as　irrevocably；　as　the
dawn。
He　was　outside　himself；　watching　himself　struggle；　straining　to　balance　a　mountain　as　big　as
Japan　on　his　back。　The　mountain　continued　to　grow；　snow…topped；　conical；　an　immense　volcano
wrapped　in　its　own　perfection；　waiting　for　the　annihilating　instant　of　release。　His　body　and　the
mountain　trembled。　The　world　exploded　into　a　column　of　brilliant　white　silence。
He　screamed；　and　the　column　answered　in　a　burst　of　rolling　thunder　that　was　also　white；　the
flawless　white　of　death。
Kestrel　awoke；　feeling　the　last　of　his　dream　in　the　sweat　that　gathered　on　his　flesh。　He　was　very
thirsty。　He　rolled　onto　his　side　and　looked　around　the　tiny；　bare　corner　divided　from　the　rest　of
Page　141
the　apartment　by　two　sheets。　A　small　window　with　four　panes　of　glass　looked　out　onto　the　blank
wall　of　another　barracks。　The　curtain　had　been　washed　so　many　times　it　was　nearly　transparent。
An　origami　bird　and　two　pictures　clipped　out　of　a　magazine　were　all　that　decorated　the
plywood　walls。　Dust　sifted　through　the　ill…fitted　window；　coating　a　floor　bleached　by　repeated
scrubbings。　Near　the　bed；　a　pitcher　of　water　and　a　glass　made　intersecting　rings　on　the　floor。
Kestrel　lifted　himself　on　one　elbow　and　poured　a　glass　of　water。　He　drank　slowly；　despite　his
hot　thirst。　His　stomach　and　bowels　accepted　the　water　without　rebellion。　Feeling　stronger；　he　lay
back　and　tried　to　sleep；　but　something　kept　intruding　into　his　awareness。
Quiet。　It　was　too　quiet。　He　had　gone　to　sleep　with　the　murmur　of　Ana’s　family　in　his　ears；　but
now　there　was　nothing。　Even　if　everyone　was　asleep；　there　should　be　a　multitude　of　small　noises；
breathing　and　the　rustle　of　sheets；　the　random　sounds　of　people　in　the　grip　of　dreams。
But　there　was　only　the　wind。
Beyond　the　sheet　dividers；　footsteps　suddenly　sounded；　crossing　the　floor；　coming　closer。　One
sheet　was　pulled　aside。　A　man　stepped　into　Kestrel’s　small　room。　In　one　hand　the　man　carried　a
black　box　set　with　dials。　In　the　other　was　a　gun。
Kestrel　recognized　Finn　immediately；　not　from　his　height　or　race；　but　from　the　way　he　moved　–
like　a　hunting　cat；　utterly　controlled。
Finn　tore　down　the　sheet　dividers　with　two　hard　jerks。　He　cataloged　the　area　in　a　glance；　from
the　thin　curtains　and　the　fresh　water…rings　on　the　floor；　to　the　calm；　powerful　man　lying　on　the
bed；　watching　him　with　the　opaque　black　eyes　he　had　last　seen　across　a　cockfighting　pit　in　Juarez。
“Kestrel。”
Finn’s　statement　was　barely　louder　than　the　wind。　Kestrel　knew　he　could　deny　the　name；　and
knew　that　denial　would　be　futile。　There　had　been　no　doubt　in　Finn’s　tone。
Cautiously　Finn　approached　the　bed。　He　stopped　just　beyond　arm’s　reach。　The　Japanese　smiled
and　opened　his　hands　on　top　of　the　Army　blanket。
“You　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me；”　said　Kestrel　in　Japanese。　“I　am　ill；　a　scabbard　without　a
sword；　harmless。”
“You　are　samurai；”　answered　Finn　in　the　same　language。　“Like　fire；　you　are　always　armed；
always　dangerous。”
“Ana　was　right　to　fear　you；”　murmured　Kestrel。　With　subtle　movements；　he　gathered　himself
for　the　fight　that　must　come。
Finn　glanced　quickly　around　the　room；　missing　nothing。　If　the　uranium　was　here；　it　was　hidden
beneath　the　floor。　With　his　left　hand　he　set　down　the　radiation　counter　and　switched　it　on。　The
counter　clicked　excitedly。　He　pointed　the　probe　toward　Kestrel。　A　sound　like　cloth　ripping
filled　the　room。
“Get　out　of　bed；　slowly。”
Finn　spoke　in　English；　but　Kestrel　responded　immediately。　He　sat　up　in　stages；　feigning　more
weakness　than　he　felt。　Fever　had　dulled　his　reflexes；　until　he　knew　the　extent　of　his　weakness；　he
would　not　attack。　Nor　would　he　acknowledge　despair。　That　would　drain　his　strength　as　surely　as
fever。
“Lie　down　on　your　stomach；”　said　Finn；　pointing　toward　the　opposite　corner　of　the　room。
“Turn　your　face　to　the　wall　and　put　your　hands　behind　your　head。”
Kestrel　looked　at　the　perfect；　circular　eye　of　the　gun　that　followed　each　of　his　movements。　He
stretched　out　on　the　cold　floor　as　Finn　had　ordered。
“Lie　very　still。”
With　quick；　wary　glances　back　at　Kestrel；　Finn　shook　out　the　bedclothes。　When　he　was　sure
there　were　no　hidden　weapons；　he　swept　the　probe　over　the　bed　Kestrel　had　occupied。　There
was　radiation；　but　not　as　much。　Kestrel；　not　hidden　uranium；　was　the　source　of　the　counter’s
excitement。　Finn　controlled　his　disappointment　with　an　effort。　To　be　so　close　and　not　to　find　it

“Where　is　the　uranium？”
Kestrel　did　not　answer。
He　measured　Kestrel　with　pale　eyes。　The　Japanese　was　ill；　but　hardly　incapacitated。　Kestrel
would　be　more　difficult　to　break　than　the　Mexican　at　the　winery。　Finn　did　not　have　enough
hours　to　try　Kestrel’s　threshold　of　pain；　and　then　to　separate　lies　from　half…truths　and　misleading
truths。
“Where　is　Ana？”
Kestrel　said　nothing；　merely　watched　Finn　and　waited　for　an　instant　of　carelessness。　Finn　swept
the　probe　over　Kestrel　as　he　lay　on　the　floor。　The　counter　shrieked。　He　stepped　back；　set　down
the　counter；　and　turned　it　off。　In　the　drafty　corner；　Kestrel　shivered　and　tried　to　suppress　the
metallic　taste　of　defeat。
“You　can　get　back　in　bed。”
Kestrel　went　to　the　bed。　He　pulled　the　thin　Army　blanket　around　his　shoulders　and　sat；　watching
his　enemy；　waiting　for　the　chance　to　win　or　die。
“How　much　do　you　know　about　what　you　stole？”　asked　Finn。
“I’m　a　physicist。”
“I　see。”　Finn’s　voice　was　almost　gentle；　Kestrel　must　know　he　had　absorbed　too　much　radiation。
Finn’s　eyes　measured　the　Japanese　spy；　wondering　what　was　the　quickest　way　to　break　him。　How
do　you　threaten　a　man　who　might　already　be　dying？　Kestrel　stared　back；　measuring　Finn　in　turn。
With　a　quickness　that　was　not　lost　on　Kestrel；　Finn　holstered　his　。45　and　faced　the　Japanese　with
empty　hands。
“You　could　trade　the　uranium　for　a　hospital　bed　or　safe…passage　home。”
“No。”
Finn　accepted　it。　He　had　expected　no　less。
“What　do　you　think　you　can　do　with　the　uranium？　Japan　doesn’t　have　the　ability　to　turn　it　into　a
bomb。”
For　a　long　moment　Kestrel　said　nothing。　Then；　“The　uranium　will　be　returned　to　America　when
Japan　is　offered　something　less　degrading　than　unconditional　surrender。”
“That　won’t　happen。”
Kestrel　became　very　still；　his　expression　as　opaque　as　his　eyes。
“I’m　not　taunting　you；”　said　Finn；　switching　to　Japanese。　“I’m　merely　weighing　time　against　the
fall　of　cherry　blossoms。　The　world　has　moved　much　faster　since　you　saw　two　dawns　rise　over
Jornada　del　Muerto。　The　bomb　may　be　more　merciful　than　any　other　choice　your　nation　has。”
Wind　hissed　through　the　silence。
“Listen　to　me。”　Finn　spoke　in　English　now；　his　words　as　plain　as　the　rings　of　water　next　to
Kestrel’s　bed。　“If　the　uranium　is　not　in　my　possession　before　dawn；　America　will　be　committed
to　invading　Japan。”
Finn　paused；　but　Kestrel　neither　moved　nor　spoke。
“Japan　will　fight　to　the　last　child；　hoping　to　drive　the　cost　of　unconditional　surrender　so　high
that　America　will　accept　a　lesser　peace；　one　with　room　for　Japanese　pride。　But　that　won’t
happen。”　He　paused　momentarily；　remembering　Okinawa；　green　jungle　and　sea　and　dying
children。　“Russia　will　conquer　China　on　the　way　to　declaring　war　on　Japan。　When　Japan　is
crushed　–　and　that　is　inevitable　–　Russia　will　demand　part　or　all　of　Japan　in　payment。　At　best；
Japan　will　be　like　Germany；　divided。　At　worst；　Japan　will　belong　to　Russia；　a　subject　race　with
neither　pride　nor　future。”
Finn　waited。　Kestrel　still　did　not　speak。　Wind　keened；　filling　the　silence。
“Do　you　believe　Russia　is　your　ally？”　asked　Finn。　“Do　you　know　that　Russia　has　refused　to
approach　America　to　sue　for　peace　on　Japan’s　behalf？　Russia　doesn’t　want　the　war　to　end　yet。
Russia　wants　America　to　invade　Japan。　If　the　war　continues　long　enough；　Russia　will　rule　the
world。”
“But　I’ve　seen　what　the　atomic　bomb　can　do！”　said　Kestrel。　He　leaned　forward；　and　his　voice
was　resonant　with　suppressed　emotion。　“Japan　will　be　bombed　into　unconditional　surrender。

How　is　that　different　from　being　subjugated　by　the　Russians？”
“If　there　is　an　invasion；　Japan　will　surrender　to　a　conquering　army。　If　there　is　an　atomic　bomb；
Japan　will　surrender　to　the　sun　–　there　can　be　no　loss　of　face　in　that。”
It　was　the　same　thing　Kestrel　had　told　his　superiors　in　Japan；　but　it　was　a　bitter　thing　to　hear　on
an　enemy’s　lips。　No　man　can　fight　the　sun。
“America　would　occupy　Japan；”　said　Kestrel；　feeling　anger　fight　with　fever　for　control　of　his
body。
“But　America　won’t　insist　on　destroying　Japan。　Even　now；　we’re　rebuilding　our　former　enemies
in　Europe。　What　is　Russia　doing？”
“Perhaps　Russia　is　wiser。　What　she　exterminates　now；　she　won’t　have　to　face　in　the　future。”
Finn　smiled　narrowly。　“I　agree。　But　which　country　would　you　rather　see　defeat　Japan？　That’s　all
that　is　left　to　you；　Kestrel　–　a　choice　of　conquerors。”
“Japan　signed　a　Neutrality　Pact　with　the　Russians。”
Finn’s　laughter　was　hard；　humorless。　“You’re　not　stupid　or　naive。　Don’t　pretend　to　be。”　Finn
looked　at　his　watch。　“You　have　three　minutes　to　choose　your　conqueror。”
“You　don’t　know　what　you　ask！　Have　you　seen　what　that　bomb　can　do？”
“I’ve　seen　Japanese　mothers　murder　their　own　children　rather　than　surrender。　Is　the　atomic
bomb　worse　than　that？”
Kestrel　closed　his　eyes；　fighting　to　control　himself。　How　could　he；　one　man；　choose　his　country’s
future？　What　Finn　asked　of　him　was　impossible。　His　anger　drained　into　an　anguish　worse　than
any　pain　he　had　known　before。　Yet　when　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　calm。
“If　I　choose　Russia　as　Japan’s　conqueror；　I　suppose　you’ll　torture　me　to　find　out　where　the
uranium　is。”　Kestrel　contempt　was　plain　in　his　smile。
“I　don’t　have　time　to　break　you；”　said　Finn　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone。　“I’ll　have　to　kill　you。”
“But　then　you　would　lose　the　uranium　forever。”
“So　would　Russia。”
For　the　first　time；　Kestrel　looked　surprised。　“Russia？”
“You　should　have　killed　Masarek’s　woman。　She’s　here；　in　Manzanar。　And；　unlike　Japan；　Russia
can　take　that　uranium　and　turn　it　into　a　bomb。”　Finn’s　smile　was　grim。　“You’re　not　the　only　one
making　choices　tonight。”
“A　choice　of　evils；”　Kestrel　hesitated。　Pain　seeped　into　his　voice。　“That’s　not　much　choice　at
all。”
“It’s　the　only　kind　men　get。”　Finn　glanced　at　his　watch。　“Two　minutes。”
Takeo’s　Apartment；　Manzanar
42　Hours　47　Minutes　After　Trinity
Ana　hesitated　in　front　of　the　barracks　door；　torn　between　the　cold　wind　and　her　father’s　anger。
She　pulled　open　the　door。
Vanessa　lunged；　grabbing　Ana’s　hair。　The　silenced　gun　was　like　a　cold　finger　laid　along　Ana’s
neck；　seeking　a　target　in　the　room　beyond。　Her　eyes　moved　quickly；　seeing　everything。
At　the　first　sound；　Finn　had　thrown　himself　aside　and　reached　for　his　gun。　He　never　heard　the
bullet　that　hit　him。　A　searing；　paralyzing　pain　went　through　his　left　shoulder。　From　the　corner　of
his　eye　he　saw　the　gun　turn　on