"James P. Hogan - The Proteus Operation" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hogan James P)

the driver was getting in. "Where to? The air base?"

Ferracini nodded without opening his eyes. "He's taking care of the papers."

"The air base," Winslade said, in a louder voice. The car moved smoothly away. "So, Harry,
how did it go this time?" Winslade inquired genially after a few seconds.

"Okay, I guess. We got set up as planned. We got them out. We brought them home."

"All of them? I counted only eight."

"The three that were supposed to come through from London didn't show up. We never found
out what happened. Pluto thinks there's a leak at that end."

"Hmm...that's unfortunate." Winslade paused and digested the information. "Does that mean
Pluto's compromised?"

"Maybe. He's closing down the operation as a precaution -- moving to Bristol and opening a
new shop there, probably inside a month."

"I see. And our dear friend, Obergruppen f?hrer Frichter? How is his health these days?"

"Lousy. He won't be hanging any more hostages."

"How tragic."

Ferracini opened his eyes at last and sat up with a sigh, at the same time pushing his cap
back off his forehead. "Look, what is this, Claud?" he demanded. "There are proper places and
procedures for mission debriefings. Why are you handling it, and why are we riding around in a
car?"

Winslade's voice remained even. "Just my personal curiosity. The regular debriefing will
be held later by the appropriate people. However, there's more pressing business to be attended to
first. To answer your other question, we're not simply riding around, but going somewhere."

Ferracini waited, but Winslade left him hanging. He sighed again. "Okay, I'll buy it.
Where?"



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"We were going to the air base, anyway -- flying to New Mexico."

"Where, specifically?"

"Classified."

Ferracini tried another approach. "Okay -- why?"