"& Dirgo, Craig - Dirk Pitt - Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cussler Clive)

Can I bring you back something?"

The admiral held up a half-full glass of tomato juice.

"I'm fine, thank you." He watched as the stranger cut through thethrong to the bar. How odd, he thought.

The guy acted as if we had been pals for years, but for the life of me,he doesn't look the least bit familiar.

"Another touch of Don Julio anejo?" asked the bartender, remembering.

"Yes, if you please," replied the uninvited guest.

He glanced to his side as Senator George Pitt stepped up to the bar.

Dirk's father, the senior senator from California, and the gray-hairedman were about the same age and could have almost passed as brothers.

"Enjoying the party?" asked Senator Pitt with a cordial smile.

"Especially the people. I feel as though I'm among old friends."

"Have you had a chance to sample the food? The quail patae and ostrichtartare are excellent."

"I understand you're going to run for your seat in the Senate again,Senator."

George Pitt looked surprised. "That's news to me.

I haven't made up my mind yet."

"You will," said the stranger.

"You sound as if you know me better than I know myself."

The man smiled. "I've known you for a very long time, as it turns out.

I guess you could say we were both there when Dirk was created."

"My memory is slipping," said the senator, at a loss.

"Were you my wife's obstetrician?"

"No, nothing like that." The stranger finished off his drink and setthe glass on the bar. "I wish you the best of luck on having yourprograms passed by Congress."

"Please forgive me, sir, but I can't seem to recall your name."

"In your position you meet too many people to remember them all," Thestranger paused to glance at his watch. "Nice talking to you, Senator,but I'm afraid I must move on."

There were two more guests the gray-haired man wished to meet. He foundone of them sitting in the rear seat of a 1932 Stutz DV-32 town car. Ofall the ladies, Congresswoman Loren Smith was the gray-haired man'sfavorite. He reveled in her incredible violet eyes and long cinnamonhair tastefully styled in a Grecian coiffure. Loren was exquisitelyproportioned with broad shoulders and long legs. She possessed an airof breezy sophistication, yet one could sense a tom boyish daring behindher eyes.

The uninvited guest leaned in the open door. "Good evening, Loren.