tc.redrabbit-第93章

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　　　Back　at　the　British　Embassy；　sergeants　Bob　Small　and　Rod　Truelove　lifted　the　plastic　bags　and　carried　them　to　the　embassy's　nondescript　truck…the　license　tags　had　already　been　switched。　Both　tried　to　ignore　the　contents；　then　went　back　to　get　the　alcohol　containers；　plus　a　candle　and　a　cardboard　milk　carton。　Then　they　were　ready。　Neither　had　so　much　as　a　glass　of　beer　that　night；　though　both　wished　otherwise。　They　drove　off　just　after　midnight；　planning　to　take　their　time　to　scout　the　objective　before　mitting　to　a　course　of　action。　The　hard　part　would　be　getting　the　right　parking　place；　but；　with　more　than　hour　to　pick　it；　they　were　confident　that　one　would　appear　in　due　course。
　　　The　bar　was　emptying　out；　and　Hudson　didn't　wish　to　be　the　last　one　in　there。　The　bar　bill　was　fifty　forints；　which　he　paid；　not　leaving　a　tip；　because　it　wasn't　the　local　custom；　and　it　wouldn't　do　to　be　remembered。　He　motioned　to　Ryan　and　headed　out　but；　on　second　thought；　made　his　way　to　the　loo。　The　thought　struck　Ryan　as　very　practical；　too。
　　　Outside；　Ryan　asked　what　came　next。
　　　〃We　take　a　stroll　up　the　street；　Sir　John；〃　Hudson　answered；　using　the　knightly　title　as　an　unfair　barb。　〃Thirty…minute　stroll　to　the　hotel；　I　think；　will　be　about　right。〃　The　exercise　would　also　give　them　a　chance　to　make　sure　they　weren't　being　followed。　If　the　opposition　were　onto　their　operation；　they'd　be　unable　to　resist　the　temptation　to　shadow　the　two　intelligence　officers；　and；　on　mainly　empty　city　streets；　it　wouldn't　be　too　difficult　to　〃make〃　them　along　the　way。。。　unless　the　opposition　consisted　of　KGB。　They　were　cleverer　than　the　locals　by　a　sizable　margin。
　　　Zaitzev　and　his　wife　had　the　fortable　glow　of　three　very　stiff　drinks　each。　Oddly；　his　wife　showed　little　sign　of　approaching　sleep；　however。　Too　excited　by　the　night's　fine　entertainment；　Oleg　thought。　Maybe　it　was　for　the　better。　Just　that　one　more　worry　to　go…except　for　how　the　CIA　planned　to　get　them　out　of　Hungary。　What　would　it　be？　A　helicopter　near　the　border；　flying　them　under　Hungarian　radar　coverage？　That　was　what　he　would　have　chosen。　Would　CIA　be　able　to　hop　them　from　inside　Hungary　to　Austria？　Just　how　clever　were　they？　Would　they　let　him　know？　Might　it　be　something　really　clever　and　daring？　And　frightening？　he　wondered。
　　　Would　it　succeed？　If　not。。。　well；　the　consequences　of　failure　did　not　bear　much　contemplation。
　　　But　neither　would　they　go　entirely　away。　Not　for　the　first　time；　Oleg　considered　that　his　own　death　might　result　from　this　adventure；　and　prolonged　misery　for　his　wife　and　child。　The　Soviets　would　not　kill　them；　but　it　would　mark　them　forever　as　pariahs；　doomed　to　a　life　of　misery。　And　so　they　were　hostages　to　his　conscience　as　well。　How　many　Soviets　had　stopped　short　of　defection　just　on　that　basis？　Treason；　he　reminded　himself；　was　the　blackest　of　crimes；　and　the　penalties　for　it　were　equally　forbidding。
　　　Zaitzev　poured　out　the　remainder　of　the　vodka　and　gunned　it　down；　waiting　the　last　half　hour　before　the　CIA　arrived　to　save　his　life。。。
　　　Or　whatever　they　planned　to　do　with　him　and　his　family。　He　kept　checking　his　watch　while　his　wife　finally　dozed　off　and　back；　smiling　and　humming　the　Bach　concert　with　a　head　that　lolled　back　and　forth。　At　least　he'd　given　her　as　fine　a　night　as　he'd　ever　managed　to　do。。。
　　　There　was　a　parking　place　just　by　the　hotel's　side　door。　Small　drove　up　to　it　and　backed　in　neatly。　Parallel　parking　is　an　art　form　in　England　that　he　still　remembered　how　to　perform。　Then　they　sat；　Small　with　a　cigarette　and　Truelove　with　his　favorite　briar　pipe；　looking　out　at　empty　streets；　just　a　few　pedestrians　in　the　distance；　with　Small　keeping　an　eye　on　the　rearview　mirror　for　activity　at　the　KGB　residency。　There　were　some　lights　on　up　on　the　second　floor；　but　nothing　moving　that　he　could　see。　Probably　some　KGB　chap　had　just　forgotten　to　flip　the　switch　on　the　way　out。
　　　There　it　was；　Ryan　saw；　just　three　blocks；　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　street。
　　　Showtime。
　　　The　remaining　walk　passed　seemingly　in　an　instant。　Tom　Trent；　he　saw；　was　by　the　corner　of　the　building。　People　were　ing　out　of　the　building；　probably　from　the　basement　bar　Hudson　had　shown　him；　about　right　for　closing　time；　just　in　twos　and　threes；　nobody　leaving　alone。　Must　be　a　saloon　for　the　local　singles　crowd；　Jack　thought；　setting　up　one…night　stands　for　the　terminally　lonely。　So；　they　had　them　in　munist　countries　too；　eh？
　　　As　they　approached；　Hudson　flicked　a　finger　across　his　nose。　That　was　the　sign　for　Trent　to　go　inside　and　distract　the　desk　clerk。　How　he　did　that；　Ryan　would　never　know；　but　minutes　later　when　they　walked　in　the　door；　the　lobby　was　totally　empty。
　　　〃e　on。〃　Hudson　hurried　over　to　the　stairs；　which　wrapped　around　the　elevator　shaft。　Getting　to　the　third　floor　took　less　than　a　minute。　And　there　was　Room　307。　Hudson　turned　the　knob。　The　Rabbit　had　not　locked　it。　Hudson　opened　it　slowly。
　　　Zaitzev　saw　the　door　open。　Irina　was　mostly　asleep　now。　He　looked　at　her　to　be　sure；　then　stood。
　　　〃Hello；〃　Hudson　said　in　quiet　greeting。　He　extended　his　hand。
　　　〃Hello；〃　Zaitzev　said；　in　English。　〃You　are　travel　agent？〃
　　　〃Yes；　we　both　are。　This　is　Mr。　Ryan。〃
　　　〃Ryan？〃　Zaitzev　asked。　〃There　is　KGB　operation　by　that　name。〃
　　　〃Really？〃　Jack　asked；　surprised。　He　hadn't　heard　about　that　one　yet。
　　　〃We　can　discuss　that　later；　rade　Zaitzev。　We　must　leave　now。〃
　　　〃Da。〃　He　turned　to　shake　his　wife　awake。　She　started　violently　when　she　saw　the　two　unexpected　men　in　her　room。
　　　〃Irina　Bogdanova；〃　Oleg　said　with　a　touch　of　sternness　in　his　voice。　〃We　are　taking　an　unexpected　trip。　We　are　leaving　right　now。　Get　Svetlana　ready。〃
　　　Her　eyes　came　fully　open　in　surprise。　〃Oleg；　what　is　this？　What　are　we　doing？〃
　　　〃We　are　leaving　right　now　for　a　new　destination。　You　must　get　moving　now。〃
　　　Ryan　didn't　understand　the　words；　but　the　content　was　pretty　clear。　Then　the　woman　surprised　him　by　ing　to　her　feet　and　moving　like　an　automaton。　The　daughter　was　on　a　small　children's　bed。　Mother　Rabbit　lifted　the　sleeping　child　to　semi…wakefulness　and　got　her　clothes　organized。
　　　〃What　are　we　doing　exactly？〃　the　Rabbit　asked。
　　　〃We　are　taking　you　to　England…tonight；〃　Hudson　emphasized。
　　　〃Not　America？〃
　　　〃England　first；〃　Ryan　told　him。　〃Then　I　will　take　you　to　America。〃
　　　〃Ah。〃　He　was　in　a　very　tense　state；　Ryan　saw；　but　that　was　to　be　expected。　This　guy　had　laid　his　life　on　the　craps　table；　and　the　dice　were　still　in　the　air。　It　was　Ryan's　job　to　make　sure　they　didn't　e　up　snake　eyes。　〃What　do　I　bring？〃
　　　〃Nothing；〃　Hudson　said。　〃Not　a　bloody　thing。　Leave　all　your　papers　here。　We　have　new　ones　for　you。〃　He　held　up　three　passports　with　a　lot　of　faked　stamps　on　the　inside　pages。　〃For　now　I　will　hold　these　for　you。〃
　　　〃You　are　CIA？〃
　　　〃No；　I　am　British。　Ryan　here　is　CIA。〃
　　　〃But…why？〃
　　　〃It's　a　long　story；　Mr。　Zaitzev；〃　Ryan　said。　〃But　right　now　we　must　leave。〃
　　　The　little　girl　was　dressed　now；　but　still　sleepy；　as　Sally　had　been　on　that　horrible　night　at　Peregrine　Cliff；　Jack　saw。
　　　Hudson　looked　around；　suddenly　delighted　to　see　the　empty　vodka　bottle　on　the　night　table。　Bloody　good　luck　that　was。　Mother　Rabbit　was　still　confused；　by　the　bination　of　three　or　four　drinks　and　the　post…midnight　earthquake　that　had　exploded　around　her。　It　had　taken　less　than　five　minutes　and　everyone　looked　ready　to　leave。　Then　she　saw　her　pantyhose　bag；　and　moved　toward　it。
　　　〃Nyet；〃　Hudson　said　in　Russian。　〃Leave　them。　There　are　many　of　those　where　we　are　taking　you。〃
　　　〃But…but…but。。。〃
　　　〃Do　what　he　says；　Irina！〃　Oleg　snarled；　his　equilibrium　upset　by　the　drink　and　the　tension　of　the　moment。
　　　〃Everyone　ready？〃　Hudson　asked。　Next；　Irina　scooped　her　daughter　up；　her　face　a　mass　of　utter　confusion；　and　they　all　went　to　the　door。　Hudson　looked　out　into　the　corridor；　then　waved　for　the　others　to　follow。　Ryan　took　the　rear；　closing　the　door；　after　making　sure　it　was　unlocked。
　　　The　lobby　was　still　vacant。　They　didn't　know　what　Tom　Trent　had　done；　but　whatever　it　was；　it　had　worked。　Hudson　led　the　others　out　the　side　door　and　onto　the　street。　There　was　the　embassy　car　Trent　had　brought　over；　and　Hudson　had　the　spare　set　of　keys。　On　the　way；　he　waved　at　the　truck　for　Small　and　Truelove。　The　car　was　a　Jaguar；　painted　a　dark　blue；　with　left…hand　drive。　Ryan　loaded　them　into　the　backseat；　closed　the　door；　and　hopped　in　the　front。　The　big　V…8　started　instantly…the　Jag　was　lovingly　maintained　for　purposes　like　this　one…and　Hudson　started　driving。
　　　Their　taillights　were　still　visible　as　Small　and　Truelove　stepped　out　of　their　truck；　hustling　to　the　back。　Each　took　one　of　the　adult　bags　and　headed　in　the　side　door。　The　lobby　was　still　empty；　and　they　raced　up　the　stairs；　each　with　a　heavy　and　limp　burden。　The　upstairs　corridor　was　also　empty。　The　two　retired　soldiers　moved　as　stealthily　as　possible　into　the　room。　There　they　unzipped　the　bags；　and　with　gloved　hands　removed　the　bodies。　That　was　a　hard　moment　on　each　of　them。　Professional　soldiers　that　they　were；　both　with　bat　experience；　the　immediate　sight　of　a　burned　human　body　was　hard　to　take　without　a　deep　breath　and　an　inner　mand　to　take　charge　of　their　feelings。　They　laid　the　man's　and　the　woman's　bodies　from　different　countries　and　continents　side　by　side　on　the　double　bed。　Then　they　left　the　room　to　return　to　the　truck；　taking　the　empty　body　bags　with　them。　Small　got　the　smallest　of　the　bags　out　of　the　truck；　while　Truelove　got　the　rest　of　the　necessary　gear；　and　back　in　they　went。
　　　Small's　job　proved　the　hardest；　removing　the　little　girl's　body　from　the　plastic　bag　was　something　he'd　work　hard　to　erase　from　his　memory。　She　went　on　the　cot；　as　he　thought　of　it；　in　her　nearly　incinerated　nightgown。　He　might　have　patted　her　little　head　had　her　hair　not　been　entirely　burned　off　with　a　blowtorch；　and　all　he　could　do　was　whisper　a　prayer　for　her　innocent　little　soul　before　his　stomach　nearly　lost　control；　and　to　prevent　that　he　turned　abruptly　away。
　　　The　former　Royal　Engineer　was　already　into　his　own　task。　He　made　sure　they'd　left　nothing。　The　last　of　the　plastic　bags　was　folded　and　tucked　into　his　belt。　They　both　still　had　their　work　gloves；　and　so　there　was　nothing　they'd　brought　to　be　left　in　the　room。　He　took　his　time　looking　around；　and　then　waved　Small　out　into　the　corridor。
　　　Then　he　tore　the　top　off　the　milk　carton…it　had　been　washed　clean　and　dried　beforehand。　He　lit　the　candle　with　his　butane　lighter　and　dripped　a　dollop　of　hot　wax　into　the　bottom　of　the　carton；　to　make　sure　it　would　have　a　good　place　to　stand。　Then　he　blew　out　the　candle　and　made　sure　it　was　secure　in　its　place。
　　　Then　came　the　dangerous　part　Truelove　opened　the　top　of　me　alcohol　container；　first　pouring　nearly　a　quart　into　the　carton；　to　within　just　less　than　an　inch　of　the　top　of　the　candle。　Next　he　poured　the　alcohol　on　the　adult　bed；　and　more　onto　the　child's　cot。　The　remainder　went　on　the　floor；　much　of　it　around　the　milk　carton。　Finished；　he　tossed　the　empty　alcohol　container　to　Bob　Small。
　　　Okay；　Truelove　thought；　fully　a　gallon　of　pure　grain　alcohol　soaked　into　the　bedclothes　and　another　on　the　cheap　rug　on　the　floor。　A　demolitions　expert…in　fact；　he　had　many　fields　of　technical　expertise；　like　most　military　engineers…he　knew　t