Dragon (Dirk Pitt 10)

"A nuclear bomb," Pitt answered.

"Where?"

"In an automobile."

"Expecting one to be smuggled across the border?" inquired Percy intuitively.

"Something like that."

"By land or by sea?"

"Sea."

"This have anything to do with the explosion in the Pacific couple of days ago?"

"I can't say."

"My boy, I'm unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit. I also keep up on nuclear affairs. And you know, of course, that, except for the President, I've carried the highest security clearance they've got.

"You're trying to tell me something, uncle?"

"Would you believe I was the first one Ray Jordan consulted after the Pacific detonation?"

Pitt smiled in defeat. "Then you know more than I do."

"That Japan is hiding nuclear weapons around the country in automobiles, yes, I know that much. But Jordan didn't see fit to enlist an old man for his operation, so he merely picked my brains and sent me packing."

"Consider yourself hired. You've just become a dues-paying member of Team Stutz. You too, Hiram."

"You'll catch hell when Jordan finds out you've taken on reinforcements."

"If we're successful, he'll get over it."

"What's this about Japanese bombs in cars?" asked an incredulous Yaeger.

Percy put a hand on his shoulder. "What we're about to attempt here, Hiram, must be held in strict security."

"Hiram carries a Beta-Q clearance," said Pitt.

"Then we're ready to begin the hunt."

"I'd appreciate a little background," said Yaeger, looking at Percy steadily.

The old atomic expert met his eyes. "In the nineteen-thirties, Japan went to war to build a self-reliant economic empire. Now, fifty years later, they're willing to fight again, only this time to protect it. With utmost secrecy they built their nuclear weapons arsenal long before anyone thought of verifying its existence. The weapons-grade plutonium and uranium were spirited from civilian nuclear facilities. The fact they had the bomb was also overlooked because they didn't have a delivery system such as long-range missiles, cruise systems, bombers, or missile-carrying submarines."

"I thought the Japanese were committed to nuclear nonproliferation," said Yaeger.

"True, the government and the majority of the people are totally against atomic weapons. But forces deep beneath the mainstream of their bureaucracy clandestinely constructed a nuclear force. The arsenal was built more for defense against economic threat than as a military deterrent. Their concept was the bombs could be used as extortion in the event of an all-out trade war and a ban on their export goods into the United States and Europe. Or if worse came to worse, a naval blockade on the home islands."

Yaeger was disturbed. Pitt could see it.

"You're telling me we may be sitting on a nuclear bomb?"

"Probably within a few blocks of one," said Pitt.

"It's unthinkable," Yaeger muttered angrily. "How many have they smuggled into the country?"

"We don't know yet," Pitt replied. "It could be as many as a hundred. Also, we're not the only country.