nd herself on her back； her knees pointed at the ceiling。
〃Third mission and I still can't get used to these seats；〃 Carter grumbled as he slipped into the chair beside hers。
〃That's because you keep putting on the pounds； my man；〃 Wallace needled him。 〃All that home cooking。〃
〃At least I have a home to e back to；〃 Carter shot back。
Tapping an imaginary cigar； Wallace did his imitation of Groucho Marx。 〃Must be love。〃
The banter died as the prep crew came in and strapped the astronauts into the seats。
〃Mikes？〃
Megan tested hers and nodded as much as she could； given the tight leeway。 As her mates were strapped in； she listened to the orbiter crew going through the liftoff checklist with mission control。
Their work finished； the prep crew stepped back。 Although Megan couldn't see them； she imagined how solemn their expressions were。
〃Ladies and gentlemen； Godspeed。 e home safely。〃
〃Amen to that；〃 Carter muttered。
〃I should have brought a good book to read；〃 Wallace mused。 〃Megan； how are you doing there？〃
〃Just peachy； thank you。 Now if you boys don't mind； I have my own checklist to review。〃
Several hundred miles to the northeast； Jon Smith finished his second cup of coffee and checked his watch。 By now； Kirov would have had enough time to settle into position in Dupont Circle。 On his way out； Smith took one last look at the monitors connected to the exterior security cameras。 Located on a corner lot； his house was bordered by tall trees that effectively hid it from its neighbors。 The backyard was all lawn； with no bushes or shrubs where an intruder could hide。 Motion sensors embedded in the stone walls of the house continually scanned the area。
If someone managed to get past the sensors； he would discover a sophisticated alarm system built into the dual…pane windows and the door locks。 If these were somehow breached； pressure pads throughout the house would activate； triggering both an alarm and an incapacitating gas through the sprinkler system。 Tested in federal prisons； the gas took down its targets in less than ten seconds； which was why Smith kept a gas mask in his night…table cabinet。
Although Smith believed that Beria would not attempt to kill him with a long…range shot； he thought it prudent to double…check the perimeter。 Satisfied that it was secure； Smith went back through the kitchen that connected directly to the garage。 He was reaching to shut off the small television perched on the counter when he saw an image that made him stop。 He hesitated briefly； then smiled and reached for the phone。
At twenty…one minutes to liftoff； the voice of the flight director； Harry Landon； came over the crew's headsets。
〃Folks；〃 he said in his Oklahoma twang； 〃seems we got ourselves an unexpected development。〃
Even though they were aware that three hundred people at mission control were listening to every sound they made； the crew could not contain a collective groan。
〃Don't tell me we're going to have to do this all over again；〃 Carter groused。
〃What's the problem； mission control？〃 the pilot asked crisply。
〃Did I say a problem？ No。 I said a development。〃 There was a brief pause。 〃Olson； are you all done with your flight check？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 Megan replied； her heart racing。
Don't tell me I screwed up。 Anything but that。
〃In that case； do you want to take this call？〃
Involuntarily； Megan tried to sit up but got nowhere。 Who could be calling her？ Oh； Jesus！
〃Harry；〃 she said in panicky voice。 〃I don't know if that's such a good idea。〃
〃Now don't you fret。 I'll patch it through only to you。〃
The last thing she heard before the static was Carter's 〃Rats！〃
〃Megan？〃
Her pulse quickened。 〃Jon？ Is that you？〃
〃I couldn't let you leave without saying good luck。〃
〃Jon； how did you。。。。 ？ I mean； how could you…〃
〃No time to explain。 Are you okay？ Are you ready？〃
〃Ready； yes。 Okay？ Well； I'm still getting used to sitting on a ton of liquid fuel。〃
〃I wanted to wish you well。。。。 Make sure you e home safe and sound。〃
Megan smiled。 〃I will。〃
〃Sorry； folks；〃 Landon broke in。 〃Time's up。〃
〃Thanks； Harry；〃 Megan said。
〃I'm going to put you back in the loop。 Ready？〃
〃Go ahead。〃
Megan steeled herself for some gentle ribbing； which never materialized。 In the fifteen minutes to countdown； the rest of the crew were busy exchanging instructions and details。 Closing her eyes； she whispered a few words from the Twenty…fourth Psalm。 She had barely finished when the shuttle shifted a little。 An instant later； the ignition procedure for the solid boosters kicked in and a loud； low rumble enveloped the craft。
Through the chatter of ground control double…checking liftoff； Megan heard： 〃Houston； we have Discovery liftoff！〃
As the external tank fed the shuttle's main engines； Megan felt as though she were strapped to a bone…jarring roller coaster… except that there was no stopping this ride。 Two minutes and six seconds after liftoff； the solid boosters separated from the orbiter； falling away to the ocean； where they would be retrieved。 Powered by the fuel from the external tank that fed her main engines； Discovery struggled to break free of gravity。 The higher and faster she ascended； the closer the crew got to the maximum 3…G pressure。 Megan had been warned that it would be like having a gorilla strapped to your chest。
Wrong。 More like an elephant。
Six minutes later； at an altitude of 184 miles； the main engines stopped firing。 Its job done； the external fuel tank separated and fell away。 Megan was amazed by the sudden silence and by how smooth the ride had suddenly bee。 Turning her head； she understood why： beyond the sliver of a window in her line of sight were the stars。 She and Discovery were in orbit。
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The preceding evening； Ivan Beria had rendezvoused with the driver of the Lincoln outside the Metro stop at Q Street and Connecticut Avenue。 The driver had further information and instructions for Beria； who studied them as the car wended its way out of the city toward Bethesda。
The driver was necessary because Beria could not afford to be seen on the streets… and because he had only the most rudimentary driving skills。 A killer who could carve a man up in seconds； he was lost in and confused by the traffic streaming in and out of the city。 In an emergency； he could not be sure of executing an escape。 There was one other advantage to the car besides transport： it was perfect for surveillance。 Washington was filled with executive sedans。 This one would not look out of place in a neighborhood such as Bethesda。
Approaching Smith's house； the driver slowed as though searching for a particular number。 Beria got a good look at the rambling ranchstyle house； set well back from the street。 He noted the trees that ran along the property line and that； he surmised； continued around the back。 There were lights in the windows but no shadows indicating movement。
〃e around again；〃 Beria told the driver。
Next time； Beria looked closely at the other houses on the block。 Most had toys and bicycles on the front lawn； a basketball hoop over the garage door； a small powerboat perched on a trailer chocked in the driveway。 By contrast； Smith's house looked vacant； brooding。 It was； Beria thought； the house of a man who lives alone and prefers it that way； whose work demands solitude and secrecy。 Such a house would have a far more sophisticated… and deadly… warning system than anything advertised by the security pany patches on the doors of the other homes。
〃I have seen enough；〃 he told the driver。 〃We will e back tomorrow morning。〃'
Now； a few minutes after nine o'clock in the next morning； Beria was in the backseat of the Lincoln as it idled at the far corner of Smith's street。 The driver was standing outside； smoking。 To passing joggers and dog walkers； he appeared to be waiting for a client。
In the cool stillness of the interior； Beria reviewed all the information on Smith。 His principal wanted the American doctor out of the way quickly。 But there were obstacles。 Smith did not go to an office。 His home appeared to have good security。 Therefore； the execution would have to be done out in the open