"Brown, Dale - Patrick 2 - Day of the Cheetah" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brown Dale)

Georgetown. Ken James has decided on-
He surprised everyone," Roberts went on. "We did not
even know he had applied for the Air Force Academy."
Maraklov was stunned. "The Air Force Academy?"
He received a senatorial sponsorship last winter, obviously
from his stepfather's connections," Ro erts went on. were
fortunate-we learned he had cut his scheduled vacation in Ha-
waii short by two months, and one of our operatives did some
checking to find out why. He is supposed to begin summer
orientation training in six weeks."
Maraklov's mind was beginning to catch up. "My father,"
he mumbled, then looked at Roberts. "I mean his father is
. . .was . . . a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam war.
Even without political connections he could have received
sponsorship as the son of a combat veteran. There could be a
sympathy factor too. I should have known. The possibility of
a military academy placement was always there .
"Whatever, this changes our plans for your graduation, Ken-
neth James." He was testing as he said it.
"Sir?"
"Your counterpart-target is about to enter the Air Force
Academy. We cannot risk putting an agent into the Air Force
Academy. He has a pilot-training appointment. He will be in
the United States Air Force for four years-"
Eight years, sir," Maraklov corrected him, eyes bright with
anticipation. "Pilot candidates must serve eight years after UPIT
graduation . . . "
"You have learned well, but that is not the point, Mr. James.
We have never placed a deep agent in the American air force's t
cadre. He would have little chance of surviving the security

screening. It is very intense, especially for a pilot candidate.
They check every move from present day to birth, check his
parents, his relatives, his neighbors-"
And Kenneth James will pass with flying colors," Maraklov
said excitedly.
'.But the applicant for a security clearance initiates the pro-
cess with a detailed report on his background, relatives, ad-
dresses," Roberts said nervously. "You would have to supply
DAY OF THE CHEETAH 19
every detail of James' life from memory-you could not risk
being caught with a dossier on yourself. And the process is
repeated every five years while in the service. Could you do
that?
"Of course, sir."
Roberts hesitated, but only for a moment. If any other stu-
dent had made that confident a reply he would have dismissed
it as bravado. But not Maraklov. The boy knew his counterpart
so well . it was almost frightening. Beyond any of the other
student-target linkages.