tc.redrabbit-第107章

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　　　〃One　more　man　to　camp　out　in　the　street　that　way。　Our　bird　will　probably　have　a　car　to　skip　town　with；　and　that's　where　I'd　park　it。〃
　　　〃A　little　too　convenient；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　〃Hey；　I'm　an　ex…Marine；　not　a　chess　master；〃　Ryan　replied。　But　it　was　good　to　have　somebody　second…guessing　him。　There　were　a　lot　of　tactical　possibilities　here；　and　everybody　read　a　map　a　little　differently；　and　Bulgarians　might　well　study　out　of　a　different　playbook　altogether。
　　　〃It's　a　pig　of　a　mission　they've　given　us。　Best　hope　is　that　this　Strokov　fellow　doesn't　show　up。　Oh；　here　he　is；〃　King　said；　handing　Ryan　an　envelope。
　　　It　was　full　of　eight…by…ten　prints；　actually　of　pretty　good　quality。
　　　〃Nick　Thompson　told　me　he　has　lifeless　eyes；〃　Ryan　said；　looking　at　one　of　them。
　　　〃Does　seem　rather　a　cold　chap；　doesn't　he？〃
　　　〃When　we　e　here　Wednesday；　we　going　to　be　carrying？〃
　　　〃I　certainly　shall　be；〃　King　said　positively。　〃Nine…millimeter　Browning。　There　ought　to　be　a　few　more　at　the　embassy。　I　know　you　can　shoot　accurately　under　pressure；　Sir　John；〃　he　added；　with　casual　respect。
　　　〃It　doesn't　mean　I　like　to；　pal。〃　And　the　best　engagement　range　for　any　pistol　was　contact　range；　holding　the　gun　right　against　the　other　bastard。　Kinda　hard　to　miss　that　way。　It　would　even　cut　the　noise　down；　too。　Plus；　it　was　a　hell　of　a　good　way　to　tell　someone　not　to　do　anything　untoward。
　　　For　the　next　two　hours；　the　five　men　walked　the　piazza；　but　they　kept　ing　back　to　the　same　place。
　　　〃We　can't　cover　it　all；　not　without　a　hundred　men；〃　Mick　King　finally　said。　〃And　if　you　can't　be　strong　everywhere；　you　might　as　well　pick　one　place　and　be　strong　there。〃
　　　Jack　nodded；　remembering　how　Napoleon　had　ordered　his　generals　to　e　up　with　a　plan　for　protecting　France　from　invasion；　and　when　a　senior　officer　had　spread　his　troops　evenly　along　the　borders；　he'd　heartlessly　inquired　if　the　guy　was　trying　to　protect　against　smuggling。　So；　yeah；　if　you　couldn't　be　strong　everywhere；　then　you　planned　to　be　strong　somewhere；　and　prayed　that　you'd　picked　the　right　spot。　The　key；　as　always；　was　to　put　yourself　into　the　other　guy's　head；　just　as　they'd　taught　him　to　do　as　an　intelligence　analyst。　Think　the　way　your　adversary　thinks；　and　stop　him　that　way。　It　sounded　so　good　and　so　easy　theoretically。　It　was　rather　different　in　the　field；　however。
　　　They　caught　Tom　Sharp　walking　into　the　basilica；　and　together　they　went　off　to　a　restaurant　for　lunch　and　a　talk。
　　　〃Sir　John　is　right；〃　King　said。　〃The　best　spot　is　over　on　the　left　side。　We　have　photos　of　the　bugger。　We　put　you；　John〃…he　said　to　Sparrow…〃atop　the　colonnade　with　your　cameras。　Your　job　will　be　to　sweep　the　crowd　and　try　to　spot　the　bastard；　and　radio　your　information　to　us。〃
　　　Sparrow　nodded；　but　his　face　showed　what　he　thought　of　the　job　as　the　beers　arrived。
　　　〃Mick；　you　had　it　right　from　the　beginning；〃　Sparrow　said。　〃It's　a　pig　of　a　job。　We　ought　to　have　the　whole　bloody　SAS　regiment　here；　and　even　that　would　not　be　enough。〃　The　22nd　Special　Air　Service　Regiment　was　actually　just　a　pany　or　two　in　size；　brilliant　troopers　that　they　were。
　　　〃Ours　is　not　to　reason　why；　lad；〃　Sharp　told　them　all。　〃So　good　to　know　that　Basil　knows　his　Tennyson。〃　The　resulting　snorts　around　the　lunch　table　told　the　tale。
　　　〃What　about　radios？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　〃On　the　way　by　courier；〃　Sharp　answered。　〃Small　ones；　they'll　fit　in　a　pocket；　and　they　have　ear　pieces；　but　not　small　microphones；　unfortunately。〃
　　　〃Shit；〃　Ryan　observed。　The　Secret　Service　would　have　exactly　what　they　needed　for　this　mission；　but　you　couldn't　just　call　them　up　and　have　them　delivered。　〃What　about　the　Queen's　protective　detail？　Who　does　that？〃
　　　〃The　Metropolitan　Police；　I　believe。　Why…〃
　　　〃Lapel　mikes；〃　Ryan　answered。　〃It's　what　the　Secret　Service　uses　at　home。〃
　　　〃I　can　ask；〃　Sharp　responded。　〃Good　idea；　Jack。　They　might　well　have　what　we　need。〃
　　　〃They　ought　to　cooperate　with　us；〃　Mick　King　thought　aloud。
　　　〃I'll　see　to　it　this　afternoon；〃　Sharp　promised。
　　　Yeah；　Ryan　thought；　we'll　be　the　best…equipped　guys　ever　to　blow　a　mission。
　　　〃They　call　this　beer？〃　Sparrow　asked　after　his　first　sip。
　　　〃Better　than　American　canned　piss；〃　another　of　the　new　arrivals　thought　aloud。
　　　Jack　didn't　rise　to　the　bait。　Besides；　you　went　to　Italy　for　the　wine；　not　the　beer。
　　　〃What　do　we　know　about　Strokov？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　〃They　faxed　me　the　police　file　on　him；〃　Sharp　reported。　〃Read　it　this　morning。　He's　five…eleven；　about　fifteen　stone。　Evidently；　he　likes　to　eat　too　much。　So；　not　an　athlete…certainly　not　a　sprinter。　Brown　hair；　fairly　thick。　Good　language　skills。　Speaks　accented　English；　but　reportedly　speaks　French　and　Italian　like　a　native。　Thought　to　be　an　expert　with　small　arms。　He's　been　in　the　business　twenty　years…age　forty…three　or　so。　Selected　for　the　special　DS　assassination　unit　about　fifteen　years　ago；　with　eight　kills　attributed　to　him；　possibly　more…we　don't　have　good　information　on　that。〃
　　　〃Delightful　chap；　sounds　like；〃　Sparrow　thought　aloud。　He　reached　for　one　of　the　photos。　〃Ought　not　to　be　difficult　to　spot。　Better　to　get　some　of　these　prints　reduced　to　pocket　size；　so　that　we　can　all　carry　them　with　us。〃
　　　〃Done；〃　Sharp　promised。　The　embassy　had　its　own　little　photo　lab；　mainly　for　his　use。
　　　Ryan　looked　around　the　table。　At　least　it　was　good　to　be　surrounded　by　professionals。　Given　the　chance　to　perform；　they　probably　wouldn't　blow　it…like　a　good　bunch　of　Marines。　It　was　not　all　that　much；　but　it　was　something。
　　　〃What　about　side　arms？〃　Ryan　asked　next。
　　　〃All　the　nine…millimeter　Brownings　we　need；〃　Tom　Sharp　assured　him。
　　　Ryan　wanted　to　ask　if　they　had　hollow…point　ammunition；　but　they　probably　just　had　military…issue　hardball。　That　Geneva　Convention　bullshit。　The　nine…millimeter　Parabellum　cartridge　was　thought　by　Europeans　to　be　powerful；　but　it　was　hardly　a　BB　pared　to　the　。45　Colt　with　which　he'd　been　trained。　So；　then；　why　did　he　own　a　Browning　Hi…Power？　Jack　asked　himself。　But　the　one　he　had　at　home　was　loaded　with　Federal　147…grain　hollow…points；　regarded　by　the　American　FBI　as　the　only　useful　bullet　to　shoot　out　of　the　thing；　good　both　for　penetration　and　for　expanding　to　the　diameter　of　a　dime　inside　the　target's　body；　to　make　him　bleed　out　in　a　hurry。
　　　〃He'd　better　be　bloody　close；〃　Mick　King　announced。　〃I　haven't　fired　one　of　the　things　in　years。〃　Which　reminded　Jack　that　England　did　not　have　the　gun　culture　America　has；　even　in　their　security　services。　James　Bond　was　someone　from　the　movies；　Ryan　had　to　remember。　Ryan　himself　was　probably　the　best　pistol　shot　in　the　room；　and　he　was　a　long　way　from　being　an　expert。　The　pistols　Sharp　would　hand　out　would　be　military…issue；　the　ones　with　invisible　sights　and　crummy　grips。　The　one　Ryan　owned　had　Pachmayr　grips　that　fit　his　hand　so　nicely　that　it　might　have　been　a　custom…made　glove。　Damn；　nothing　about　this　job　was　going　to　be　easy。
　　　〃Okay。　John；　you'll　be　atop　the　colonnade。　Find　out　how　you　get　there；　and　arrange　to　get　up　there　Wednesday　morning　early。〃
　　　〃Right。〃　He　had　press　credentials　to　make　that　easy。　〃I'll　recheck　the　timing　for　everything　as　well。〃
　　　〃Good；〃　Sharp　replied。　〃We'll　spend　the　afternoon　going　over　the　ground　more。　Look　for　things　we　may　have　overlooked。　I'm　thinking　we　put　one　man　over　on　the　side　street　to　try　and　spot　our　friend　Strokov　ing　in。　If　we　spot　him；　we　shadow　him　all　the　way　in。〃
　　　〃Not　stop　him　out　there？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　〃Better　to　get　him　in　closer；〃　Sharp　thought　out　loud。　〃More　of　us；　less　chance　for　him　to　bolt。　If　we're　onto　him；　Jack；　he　won't　be　doing　anything　untoward；　will　he？　We'll　see　to　that。〃
　　　〃Will　he　be　that　predictable？〃　Jack　worried。
　　　〃He's　doubtless　been　here　already。　Indeed；　we　could　just　spot　him　today　or　tomorrow；　couldn't　we？〃
　　　〃I　wouldn't　bet　the　ranch　on　it；〃　Jack　shot　back。
　　　〃We　play　the　card　we　are　dealt；　Sir　John；〃　King　said。　〃And　hope　for　luck。〃
　　　There　was　no　arguing　with　that；　Ryan　realized。
　　　〃If　I　were　planning　this　operation；　I'd　be　trying　very　hard　to　keep　it　simple。　The　most　important　preparation　he'll　be　making　is　up　here。〃　Sharp　tapped　the　side　of　his　head。　〃He；　too；　will　be　somewhat　tense；　no　matter　how　experienced　he　is　in　this　business。　Yes；　he's　a　clever　bugger；　but　he　is　not　bloody　Superman。　The　key　to　his　success　is　surprise。　Well；　he　doesn't　really　have　that；　does　he？　And　blown　surprise　is　the　worst　nightmare　of　a　field　officer。　Lose　that　and　everything　es　apart　like　a　wrecked　watch。　Remember；　if　he　sees　one　thing　that　he　doesn't　like；　he　will　probably　just　walk　away　and　plan　to　e　back　again。　There　is　no　clock　on　this　mission　from　his　point　of　view。〃
　　　〃Think　so？〃　Ryan　wasn't　the　least　bit　sure　of　that。
　　　〃Yes；　I　do。　If　there　were；　from　an　operational　standpoint；　they　would　well　have　executed　the　mission　already；　and　the　Pope　would　already　be　chatting　directly　with　God。　According　to　what　I've　heard　from　London；　this　mission　has　been　in　planning　for　more　than　six　weeks。　So；　clearly　he's　taking　his　time。　I'll　be　very　surprised　if　it　happens　day　after　tomorrow；　but　we　must　act　as　though　it　will。〃
　　　〃I　wish　I　had　your　confidence；　man。〃
　　　〃Sir　John；　field　officers　think　and　act　like　field　officers；　whatever　their　nationality；〃　Sharp　said　with　confidence。　〃Our　mission　is　a　difficult　one；　yes；　but　we　speak　his　language；　as　it　were。　If　this　were　a　balls…out　mission；　it　would　have　been　done　already。　Agreed；　gentlemen？〃　he　asked；　and　got　nods　from　around　the　table；　except　from　the　American。
　　　〃What　if　we're　missing　something？〃　Ryan　wondered。
　　　〃That　is　a　possibility；〃　Sharp　admitted；　〃but　it's　a　possibility　we　have　to　both　live　with　and　discount。　We　have　only　the　information　we　have；　and　we　must　design　our　plan　around　that。〃
　　　〃Not　much　choice　for　us；　is　it；　Sir　John？〃　Sparrow　asked。　〃We　have　only　what　we　have。〃
　　　〃True；〃　Ryan　admitted；　rather　miserably。　There　had　e　the　sudden　thought　that　other　things　might　be　happening　as　well。　What　if　there　were　a　diversion？　What　if　somebody　tossed　firecrackers…to　draw　eyes　toward　the　noise　and　away　from　the　real　action？　That；　he　suddenly　thought；　was　a　real　possibility。
　　　Damn。
　　　〃What's　this　about　Ryan？〃　Ritter　asked；　storming　into　Judge　Moore's　office。
　　　〃Basil　thought　that　since　BEATRIX　was　a　CIA　operation　from　the　get…go；　why　not　send　one　of　our　officers　down　there　to　take　a　look　at　things？　I　don't　see　that　it　can　hurt　anything；〃　Moore　told　his　DDO。
　　　〃Who　the　hell　does　Ryan　think　he's　working　for？〃
　　　〃Bob；　why　don't　you　just　settle　down？　What　the　hell　can　he　do　to　hurt　things？〃
　　　〃Damn　it；　Arthur…〃
　　　〃Settle　down；　Robert；〃　Moore　shot　back　in　the　voice　of　a　judge　used　to　having　his　own　way　on　everything　from　the　weather　on　down。
　　　〃Arthur；〃　Ritter　said；　calming　down　a　whisker；　〃it's　not　a　place　for　him。〃
　　　〃I　see　no　reason　to　object；　Bob。　None　of　us　think　anything's　going　to　happen　anyway；　do　we？〃
　　　〃Well。。。　no；　I　suppose　not；〃　the　DDO　admitted。
　　　〃So　he's　just　broadening　his　horizons；　and　from　what　he　learns；　he'll　be　a　better　analyst；　won't　he？〃
　　　〃Maybe　so；　but　I　don't　like　having　some　desk…sitter　playing　field　spook。　He　isn't　trained　for　this。〃
　　　〃Bob；　he　used　to　be　a　Marine；〃　Moore　reminded　him。　And　the　U。S。　Marine　Corps　had　its　own　cachet；　independent