Read Online America by Stephen Coonts - Free Book Online

off.”
    â€œI know. But it would be impolite.”
    They walked on hand in hand.
    â€œLast night was fun,” Callie said, remembering. Ilin had asked the origin of the name of the project—SuperAegis. Jake replied that the space-based missile defense system was first christened Galahad, after the good knight with the enchanted shield. “Galahad’s shield,” Jake explained, “had a marvelous property; it would protect only those pure in heart. The president thought that this close to the Clinton era, people would think the name was some kind of political joke.”
    That remark got Ilin started on political jokes. He regaled the Americans with an hour’s worth, all of which Callie forced him to repeat in Russian. Then somehow the conversation turned to grandmothers. Jake Grafton grinned as he walked the beach this morning, remembering.
    â€œMy father’s mother liked to invite her friends over for cards in the afternoon,” Callie had told her audience. “They smoked and drank gin until they were so snockered they could barely walk and thought they were so wicked. Grandmother would call me over to her and announce, ‘Callie is going to help me cheat. Look at the other ladies’ cards, honey, and tell me if you see any jacks.’ My other grandmother was also a pistol. She’s the one who taught me to pee without taking off my swimsuit.” That comment brought a gale of laughter. “She also liked to skinny-dip and would wake me up at midnight to go skinny-dipping with her in her pool. She loved splashing around naked in the darkness, listening to the crickets and frogs, speculating about what the neighbors would say if they ever found out.”
    That got Toad talking about his grandmothers. He then mimicked the way they talked. Jake and Callie had never heard him mimic other voices before, so they encouraged him. He did an excellent John Wayne, good Jimmy Stewart, Jack Benny, Bill Clinton, and a passable handful of others. Although Ilin didn’t know many of the voices, the Graftons did; Toad had them in stitches.
    â€œWhat are you grinning about?” she asked her husband this morning as they walked the sand.
    â€œBeing alive,” he shot back. “Like your grandmother, I enjoy it immensely. Come on, let’s get our feet wet.” Jake led Callie into the surf runout area. The water was cold on their ankles. In seconds a wave forced them to retreat. Back and forth they went, like children, as the surf chased them.
    Eventually he misjudged a wave, which soaked his trousers from the knees down. He grinned ruefully at his wife, who was wearing a wide smile as the cold salt water swirled around her ankles.
    They were crossing the beach, heading for the boardwalk across the dune, when Jake’s cell phone rang. He removed it from his pocket and flipped open the mouthpiece.
    â€œGrafton,” he muttered and inserted a finger into his left ear to block out the sighing of the wind and surf.
    Callie sat down on the boardwalk to put on her shoes as Jake concentrated on the telephone conversation. He didn’t say much. Callie felt her spirits sink. The cell phone was nonsecure, Callie knew, so official business could not be discussed on it. More than likely this was a summons to return to Washington. When Jake glanced at his wristwatch, she knew.
    â€œOkay,” he said and closed the phone mouthpiece. As he put the phone into his pocket he looked at her and shrugged. He looked tired, she thought.
    â€œSomeone hijacked a submarine—if you can believe that. Big meeting in Washington. They’re sending a helicopter. It’ll be here in about an hour.”
    â€œOh, Jake. I’m sorry.”
    â€œDamn!” he said. “You’ll have to drive the car back to Washington.”
    â€œA submarine?”
    â€œNew London,” he said. “This morning.”
    â€œIs there any chance you could get back here