"Marc Stiegler - David's Sling" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stiegler Marc)

ing whatever survivors remain in his own country."

Mayfleld waved the objection aside. "Don't be boring;

we've discussed this a million times. The Russians don t
think that way. That would be tike attitude of a madman!"

"That would be the attitude of a terrorist," came Nell's
curt reply. "With strategies based on terror, only terrorists
have a chance of winning." Her eyes swept over both
men. Jim shivered.

Nell's mouth softened into a sad smile. "And I don't see
a single terrorist in this room. I don't even see anyone
willing to speak out about clear violations of national
boundariesтАФlike the fiasco outside Yuscaran."

Jim looked speechlessly at Earl. He felt like cement
cracking under the weight of a speeding truck. "How did
you find out about that!*"

Nell laughed joylessly. "You sent me to Texas to give
Kurt McKenna his medal, remember? I have the clear-
ances, Jim, and under the circumstances, I had sufficient
need to know." She lifted her briefcase and thumped it
against the polished mahogany surface, making Jim wince.
With forceful snaps, she released the latches and removed
a flat-screen television with a tiny video player. "I think
you should see this for yourself, Jim."

He had no time to object before the tape rolled into action.

They were traveling down a twisting trail, cloaked in
jungle growth. It looked like a sticky, humid day, which
made Mayfield appreciate the cool comfort of the Oval
Office. He could hear tracks clanking in the background,
though the sound was muted. Ahead of them on the trail
was an armored vehicle. Mayfield wasn't sure, but he
thought it was probably a Bradley armored personnel car-
rier. He vaguely remembered authorizing a few for the
Hondurans.

Nell acted as commentator. "We're watching through
die gun cameras of a personnel carrier," she explained.

A dull explosion sounded, and the screen washed out in
a searing white flame. A scream came from very close by.
With a chill, Mayfield realized that there had been people
inside die machine now fuming into an, inferno.