"Destroyer - 006 - Death Therapy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Murphy Warren)

"Good," Porter said. "See you in a few days. Miss Wilkens. Bye."

And because Miss T. L. Wilkens had indeed read the entire memorandum, she proceeded directly to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and would not leave the President's outer office until at 11:00 that night, at her urgent insistence, the President agreed to see the secretary of the undersecretary of the treasury for two minutes. He spoke with her for two hours. Then he said:

"I wish I could offer you the protection of the White House, but as you know that may not be worth all that much anymore. It's probably the worst place. Do you have any money for travel?"

"I have credit cards."

"I wouldn't use them if I were you. Wait a minute. I haven't carried cash for years. A strange job." The President rose from his seat and went to an outer office. He was back in a few minutes with an envelope.

"There's a few thousand in there. It should last you for a couple of months. And by then you'll know if you can surface again."

"Probably never, sir. It looks pretty bleak."

"Miss Wilkens, we're not out of the box yet. Not by a long shot. We're going to win."

And he ushered the surprised woman to the door and wished her good luck. She was surprised because of his confidence, and in her Iowa farmer's way, she wondered if he were not just acting for her benefit.

But what she could not know was that someone's brilliant, perfect and thorough plan had a flaw. Precautions had been taken to prevent every existing American agency that could stand in the way of success from even reaching the President's office. But the plan could not take into account an organization that did not existЧand a man who was officially dead.

And now, if the President faced danger from unknown quarters and was unable to trust anyone, let his enemies be blissfully unaware. Because he was still able to unleash upon them the most awesome human force in the nation's arsenal.

The President bounded from his office with new energy and soaring confidence. He went to his bedroom but instead of getting undressed for bed, he took a red telephone from a drawer in his dresser. He dialed a seven-digit number, just as if it were an ordinary telephone.

"Doctor Smith here."

"It's me," the President said.

"I assumed as much."

"You must see me as soon as possible here. I will leave word that you are to be brought in to me as soon as you arrive."

"I don't think that's wise, sir. We could eventually be compromised and knowledge of us could compromise the government."

"That might not matter very much anymore," the President said. "You must see me immediately. Your group may be the last hope of this government."

"I see."

"I guess you'll be putting that person on alert, Dr. Smith?"

"I'll have to see what we're dealing with first, sir."

"This is the greatest national emergency we have ever faced. You will find that out as soon as you arrive. Now, put that man on alert."

"You are talking to me, sir, as if I work for you. I don't. And in the agreement that established us and the ensuing modifications, you cannot order the use of that person."

"I know you will agree," the President said.

"We'll see in a few hours. I will leave immediately. Is there anything else?"