Eagle in the Sky - Smith Wilbur - Страница 37

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military intelligence film, and the subject is a new ground-to-air

missile system that has been delivered by the Soviet Army to the armies

of the Arab Union.  The code name for the system is "Serpent" and it

updates the existing "Sam IIP system.  As far as we know, the system has

been installed and is operative in the Syrian defensive perimeter, and

will shortly be installed by the Egyptians.  It is manned at present by

Russian instructors.  As the colonel went on talking, the Brig sat back

in his chair and watched their faces in the silver reflection from the

screen.  They were intent and serious, men looking for the first time on

the terrible machines that might be the instrument of their own deaths.

The missile is fired from a tracked vehicle.  Here you see aerial

reconnaissance shots of a mobile column.

Notice that each vehicle carries a pair of missiles, and you will

realize that they constitute an enormous threat - The Brig picked out

the marvellously pure profile of David Morgan as he leaned forward to

study the screen, and he felt a pang of sympathy and sorrow for him and

yet this was underlined by a new respect, a realignment of judgement.

The boy had proved himself to be constant, capable of embracing an ideal

and remaining loyal to it.

The improvements in design of the "Serpent" are not certain, but it is

believed that the missile is capable of greater speeds, probably in the

order of mach 2.  5, and that the guidance system is a combination of

both infrared heat seeker and computerized radar control.  Watching the

handsome young face, he wondered if Debra had not misjudged his

reserves.  It was possible that he would have been capable of, no, the

Brig shook his head and groped for a cigarette.  He was too young, too

greedy for life, spoiled by good looks and riches.  He would not be

capable of it.  Debra was right, as so often was the case.  She had

chosen the correct course.  She could never hold him, she must set him

free.

It is expected that the "Serpent" is capable of engaging targets at

altitudes between 1500 it.  and 75, 000 it.  There was a stir amongst

the listeners, as they assessed the threat of this new weapon.

The warhead delivers a quarter of a ton of explosive and it is armed

with a proximity fuse which is set to fire if the target is passed at

range less than 150 feet.

Within these limits the "Serpent" is lethal.  The Brig was still

watching David.  Ruth and he had not seen the boy at their home for many

months.  He had come with Joe to spend the Sabbath evening with them

twice after the outrage.  However, the atmosphere had been stiff and

artificial, everybody carefully avoiding mention of Debra's name.  He

had not come again after the second time, nearly six months ago.

Evasive tactics at this stage will be the same as for

"Sam III".

Prayer and good luck!  someone interjected and that raised a laugh.

maximum-rate turn towards the missile, to screen the radiation from your

jet blasts, and attempt to force the "Serpent" to overshoot.  In the

event that the missile continues to track, you should climb into the sun

and then make another maximum-rate turn.  The missile may then accept

the sun's infra-red radiation as a more tempting target And if that

doesn't work?  a voice called, and another answered flippantly, Repeat

the following: "Hear Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  " But

this time nobody laughed at the old blasphemy.

The Brig timed his departure from the briefing-room to fall in beside

David.

When are we going to see you, David?  It's been a long time.  'I'm

sorry, sir.  I hope Joe made my apologies Yes, of course.  But why don't

you come with Joe this evening?  God knows, there will be enough food

I'll be very busy tonight, sir, David declined lamely.

I understand.  And as they reached the door of the O.C.'Is office the

Brig paused, Remember you are always welcome, and he turned away.

Sir!  the Brig stopped and looked back at him.  David spoke rapidly,

almost guiltily.

How is she, sir?  and then again, how is Debra?  Have you see her, I

mean, recently?  She is well, the Brig answered heavily.

As well as she can be.  'Will you tell her I asked?

No, answered the Brig, ignoring the pleading in the dark blue eyes.  No.

You know I can't do that David nodded and turned away.  For a moment the

Brig looked after him and then with a frown he went on into the

colonel's office.

David dropped Joe in Em Karem, at the entrance to the lane, and then he

drove on into the main shopping area of East Jerusalem and parked

outside the big new supermarket in Melech George !  to do his shopping

for the weekend ahead.

He was hanging over the freezer tray pondering the delicate choice

between lamb cutlets and steak, when he became aware that he was being

watched.

David looked up quickly and saw that she was a statuesque woman with a

thick mane of blond curls.  She stood beside the shelves farther down

the aisle.  Her hair was dyed, he could see the dark shadow of the

roots, and she was older than he was, with a womanly heaviness in her

hips and bosom and tiny lines at the corners of her eyes.  She was

eyeing him, a steady appraisal so unashamedly sensual that he felt the

check in his breathing and the quick stirring of his loins.  He looked

back at the meat in the freezer, guilty and angry with the treachery of

his body.  It had been so long, so very long since he had experienced

sexual awareness.  He had believed that he never would again.  He wanted

to throw the pack of steak back into the freezer and leave, but he stood

rooted with the breathless feeling squeezing his lungs, and he was aware

of the woman's presence at his side.  He could feel the warmth of her on

his arm, and smell her, the flowery perfume mingled with the natural

musky odour of the sexually aroused female.

The steak is very good, she said.  She had a light sweet voice and he

recognized the same breathless quality as his own.  He looked at her.

Her eyes were green, and her teeth were a little crooked but white.  She

was even older than he had thought, almost forty.  She wore her dress

low in front, he could see the crepe effect of the skin between her

breasts.  The breasts were big and motherly, and suddenly David wanted

to lay his head against them.  They looked so soft and warm and safe.

You should cook it rare, with mushrooms and garlic and red wine, she

said.  It's very good that way.  'Is it?  he asked hoarsely.

Yes, she nodded, smiling.  Who will cook it for you?

Your wife?  Your mother?  No, said David.  I will cook it myself.  I

live alone, and she leaned a little closer to him, her breast touching

his arm.

David was dizzy and hot with the brandy.  He had bought a bottle of it

at the supermarket, and he had drunk it mixed with ginger ale to mask

the spiritous taste.  He had drunk it fast, and now he leaned over the

basin in the bathroom and felt the house rock and sway about him.  He

steadied himself, gripping the edge of the basin.

He splashed cold water on to his face and shook off the drops, then he

grinned stupidly at himself in the mirror above the basin.  His hair was

damp and hung on to his forehead; he closed one eye and the wavering

image in the mirror hardened and squinted back at him.

Hi there, boy, he muttered and reached for the towel.

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