The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

efficient.'
The Master Shipwright nodded grumpily. 'They have a vast industry concerned with
environmental engineering. We do not have the infrastructure to do the proper
research yet.'
'They have a much hotter climate. I was in Washington once, in July. Hell could
scarcely be worse.'
'That bad?'
'The embassy chap who took me around said it was once a malarial swamp. They've
even had Yellow Fever epidemics there. Miserable climate.'
'I didn't know that.'
'Thirty percent,' the engineer called.
'When were you there?' the Admiral asked.
'Over ten years ago, for the Incidents at Sea negotiations. My first and last
diplomatic adventure. Some headquarters fool thought they needed a submariner. I
was drafted out of Frunze for it. Total waste of time,' Dubinin added.
'How was it?'
'Dull. The American submarine types are arrogant. Not very friendly back then.'
Dubinin paused. 'No, that's not fair. The political climate was very different.
The hospitality was cordial, but reserved. They took us to a baseball game.'
'And?' the Admiral asked.
The captain smiled. 'The food and beer were enjoyable. The game was
incomprehensible, and their explanations just made things worse.'
'Forty percent.'
'Twelve knots,' Dubinin said. 'The noise is picking up . . .'
'But?'
'But it's a fraction of what the old pump put out. My men have to wear ear
protection in here. At full speed the noise is terrible.'
'We'll see. Did you learn anything interesting in Washington?'
Another grunt. 'Not to walk the streets alone. I went out for a stroll and saw
some poor woman attacked by a street hooligan, and, you know, that was only a
few blocks from the White House!'
'Really?'
'The young crook tried to run right past me with her purse. Like something from
a film. It was quite amazing.'
'Tried to?'
'Did I ever tell you I was a good football player? I tackled him, a little too
enthusiastically. Broke his kneecap, as a matter of fact.' Dubinin smiled,
remembering the injury he'd inflicted on the worthless bastard. Concrete
sidewalks were so much harder than a grassy football pitch . . .
'Fifty percent.'
'Then what happened?'
'The embassy people went mad about it. The ambassador screamed a lot. Thought
they'd send me right home. But the local police talked about giving me a medal.
It was hushed up, and I was never asked to be a diplomat again.' Dubinin laughed
out loud. 'I won. Eighteen knots.'
'Why did you interfere?'
'I was young and foolish,' Dubinin explained. 'Never occurred to me that it