rl.thebourneidentity-第65章

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yourself　that　you're　right。　As　one　grows　old　it　is　easier　still
　'What　fell　into　place　for　you？'
　'The　very　help　she　gave　me；　the　very　trust　I　placed　in　her。〃　Villiers　turned　and　looked　at　Jason。　'You　have　extraordinary　knowledge　about　Carlos。　I've　studied　those　files　as　closely　as　any　man　alive；　for　I　would　give　more　than　any　man　alive　to　see　him　caught　and　executed；　I　alone　the　firing　squad。　And　swollen　as　they　are；　those　files　do　not　approach　what　you　know。　Yet　your　concentration　is　solely　on　his　kills；　his　methods　of　assassination。　You've　overlooked　the　other　side　of　Carlos。　He　not　only　sells　his　gun；　he　sells　a　country's　secrets。'
　'I　know　that；'　Bourne　said。　'It's　not　the　side。。。'
　'For　example；'　continued　the　general；　as　if　he　had　not　heard　Jason。　'I　have　access　to　classified　documents　dealing　with　France's　military　and　nuclear　security。　Perhaps　five　other　men　…　all　above　suspicion　…　share　that　access。　Yet　with　damning　regularity　we　find　that　Moscow　has　learned　this；　Washington　that；　Peking　something　else。'
　'You　discussed　those　things　with　your　wife？'　asked　Bourne；　surprised。
　'Of　course　not。　Whenever　I　bring　such　papers　home；　they　are　placed　in　a　vault　in　my　office。　No　one　may　enter　that　room　except　in　my　presence。　There　is　only　one　other　person　who　has　a　key；　one　other　person　who　knows　the　whereabouts　of　the　alarm　switch。　My　wife。〃
　'I'd　think　that　would　be　as　dangerous　as　discussing　the　material。　Both　could　be　forced　from　her。'
　'There　was　a　reason。　I'm　at　the　age　when　the　unexpected　is　a　daily　occurrence；　I　mend　you　to　the　obituary　pages。　If　anything　happened　to　me　she　is　instructed　to　telephone　the　Brevet　Militaire；　go　down　to　my　office　and　stay　by　that　vault　until　the　security　personnel　arrive。'
　'Couldn't　she　simply　stay　by　the　door？'
　'Men　of　my　years　have　been　known　to　pass　away　at　their　desks。'　Villiers　closed　his　eyes。　'All　along　it　was　she。　The　one　house；　the　one　place　no　one　believed　possible。'
　'Are　you　sure？〃
　'More　than　I　dare　admit　to　myself。　She　was　the　one　who　insisted　on　the　marriage。　I　repeatedly　brought　up　the　disparity　of　our　ages　but　she　would　have　none　of　it。　It　was　the　years　together；　she　claimed；　not　those　that　separated　our　birth　dates。　She　offered　to　sign　an　agreement　renouncing　any　claim　to　the　Villiers　estate　and；　of　course；　I　would　have　none　of　that；　for　it　was　proof　of　her　mitment　to　me。　The　adage　is　quite　right：　the　old　fool　is　the　plete　fool。。。。　Yet　there　were　always　the　doubts；　they　came　with　the　trips；　with　the　unexpected　separations。'
　'Unexpected？'
　'She　has　many　interests；　forever　demanding　her　attention。　A　Franco…Swiss　museum　in　Grenoble；　a　fine　arts　gallery　in　Amsterdam；　a　monument　to　the　Resistance　in　Boulogne…sur…Mer；　an　idiotic　oceanography　conference　in　Marseilles。　We　had　a　heated　argument　over　that　one。　I　needed　her　in　Paris；　there　were　diplomatic　functions。　I　had　to　attend　and　I　wanted　her　with　me。　She　would　not　stay。　It　was　as　though　she　were　being　ordered　to　be　here　and　there　and　somewhere　else　at　a　given　moment。'
　Grenoble　…　near　the　Swiss　border；　an　hour　from　Zurich。　Amsterdam。　Boulogne…sur…Mer　…　on　the　Channel；　an　hour　from　London。　Marseilles。。。　Carlos。
　'When　was　the　conference　in　Marseilles？〃　asked　Jason。
　'Last　August；　I　believe。　Towards　the　latter　part　of　the　month。'
　'On　24　August　at　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　Ambassador　Howard　Leland　was　assassinated　on　the　Marseilles　waterfront。'
　'Yes；　I　know；'　said　Villiers。　'You　spoke　of　it　before。　I　mourn　the　passing　of　the　man；　not　his　judgments。'　The　old　soldier　stopped；　he　looked　at　Bourne。　'My　God'　he　whispered。　'She　had　to　be　with　him。　Carlos　summoned　her　and　she　came　to　him。　She　obeyed。'
　'I　never　went　this　far；'　said　Jason。　'I　swear　to　you　I　thought　of　her　as　a　relay　…　a　blind　relay。　I　never　went　this　far。〃
　Suddenly；　from　the　old　man's　throat　came　a　scream　…　deep　and　filled　with　agony　and　hatred。　He　brought　his　hands　to　his　face；　his　head　arched　back　once　again　in　the　moonlight；　and　he　wept。
　Bourne　did　not　move；　there　was　nothing　he　could　do。　'I'm　sorry；'　he　said。
　The　general　regained　control　'And　so　am　I；'　he　replied　finally。　'I　apologize。'
　'No　need　to。'
　'I　think　there　is。　We　will　discuss　it　no　further。　I　shall　do　what　has　to　be　done。'
　'Which　is？'
　The　soldier　sat　erect　on　the　bench；　his　jaw　firm。　'You　can　ask　that？'
　'I　have　to　ask　it。'
　'Having　done　what　she's　done　is　no　different　from　having　killed　the　child　of　mine　she　did　not　bear。　She　pretended　to　hold　his　memory　dear。　Yet　she　was　and　is　an　acplice　to　his　murder。　And　all　the　while　she　mitted　a　second　treason　against　the　nation　I　have　served　throughout　my　life。'
　'You're　going　to　kill　her？'
　'I'm　going　to　kill　her。　She　will　tell　me　the　truth　and　she　will　die。'
　'She'll　deny　everything　you　say。'
　'I　doubt　it。'
　That's　crazy！
　'Young　man；　I've　spent　over　half　a　century　trapping　and　fighting　the　enemies　of　France；　even　when　they　were　Frenchmen。　The　truth　will　be　heard。'
　'What　do　you　think　she's　going　to　do？　Sit　there　and　listen　to　you　and　calmly　agree　that　she's　guilty？'
　'She'll　do　nothing　calmly。　But　she'll　agree；　she'll　proclaim　it。'
　'Why　would　she？'
　'Because　when　I　accuse　her　she'll　have　the　opportunity　to　kill　me。　When　she　makes　the　attempt；　I　will　have　my　explanation；　won't　I？'
　'You'd　take　that　risk？'
　'I　must　take　it。'
　'Suppose　she　doesn't　make　the　attempt；　doesn't　try　to　kill　you？'
　That　would　be　another　explanation；〃　Villiers　said。　'In　that　unlikely　event；　I　should　look　to　my　flanks　if　I　were　you；　Monsieur。'　He　shook　his　head。　'It　will　not　happen。　We　both　know　it；　I　far　more　clearly　than　you。'
　'Listen　to　me；'　insisted　Jason。　'You　say　there　was　your　son　first　Think　of　him　Go　after　the　killer；　not　the　acplice。
　She's　an　enormous　wound　for　you；　but　he's　a　greater　wound。　Get　the　man　who　killed　your　son！　In　the　end；　you'll　get　both。　Don't　confront　her；　not　yet！　Use　what　you　know　against　Carlos。　Hunt　him　with　me。　No　one's　ever　been　this　close。'
　'You　ask　more　than　I　can　give；'　said　the　old　man。
　'Not　if　you　think　about　your　son。　If　you　think　of　yourself；　it　is！　But　not　if　you　think　of　the　rue　du　Bac！'
　'You　are　excessively　cruel；　Monsieur。'
　'I'm　right　and　you　know　it。'
　A　high　cloud　floated　by　in　the　night　sky；　briefly　blocking　the　light　of　the　moon。　Darkness　was　plete；　Jason　shivered。　The　old　soldier　spoke；　resignation　in　his　voice。
　'Yes；　you　are　right；'　he　said。　'Excessively　cruel　and　excessively　right。　It's　the　killer；　not　the　whore；　who　must　be　stopped。　How　do　we　work　together？　Hunt　together？'
　Bourne　closed　his　eyes　briefly　in　relief。　'Don't　do　anything。　Carlos　must　be　looking　for　me　all　over　Paris。　I've　killed　his　men；　uncovered　a　drop；　found　a　contact。　I'm　too　close　to　him。　Unless　we're　both　mistaken　your　telephone　will　bee　busier　and　busier。　I'll　make　sure　of　it。'
　'How？'
　'I'll　intercept　a　half　a　dozen　employees　of　Les　Classiques。'　Several　clerks；　the　Lavier　woman；　Bergeron　maybe；　and　certainly　the　man　at　the　switchboard。　They'll　talk。　And　so　will　I。　That　phone　of　yours　will　be　busy　as　hell。'
　'But　what　of　me？　What　do　I　do？'
　'Stay　at　home。　Say　you're　not　feeling　well。　And　whenever　that　phone　rings；　stay　near　whoever　else　answers。　Listen　to　the　conversation；　try　to　pick　up　codes；　question　the　servants　as　to　what　was　said　to　them。　You　could　even　listen　in。　If　you　hear　something；　fine；　but　you　probably　won't。　Whoever's　on　the　line　will　know　you're　there。　Still；　you'll　frustrate　the　relay。　And　depending　upon　where　your　wife　is。。。'
　'The　whore　is；'　broke　in　the　old　soldier。
　'。。。　in　Carlos's　hierarchy；　we　might　even　force　him　to　e　out。'
　'Again；　how？'
　'His　lines　of　munication　will　be　disrupted。　The　secure；　unthinkable　relay　will　be　interfered　with。　He'll　demand　a　meeting　with　your　wife。〃
　'He　would　hardly　announce　the　whereabouts。'
　'He　has　to　tell　her'　Bourne　paused；　another　thought　ing　into　focus。　'If　the　disruption　is　severe　enough；　there'll　be　that　one　phone　call；　or　that　one　person　you　don't　know　ing　to　the　house；　and　shortly　after；　your　wife　will　tell　you　she　has　to　go　somewhere。　When　it　happens　insist　she　leave　a　number　where　she　can　be　reached。　Be　firm　about　it；　you're　not　trying　to　stop　her　from　going；　but　you　must　be　able　to　reach　her。　Tell　her　anything　…　use　the　relationship　she　developed。　Say　it's　a　highly　sensitive　military　matter　you　can't　talk　about　until　you　get　a　clearance。　Then　you　want　to　discuss　it　with　her　before　you　a　render　a　judgment　She　might　jump　at　it'　'What　will　it　serve？'
　'She'll　be　telling　you　where　she　is。　Maybe　where　Carlos　is。　If　not　Carlos；　certainly　others　closer　to　him。。。　Then　reach　me。　I'll　give　you　a　hotel　and　a　room　number。　The　name　on　the　register　is　meaningless；　don't　bother　about　it。'　'Why　don't　you　give　me　your　real　name？'　'Because　if　you　ever　mentioned　it　…　consciously　or　unconsciously　…　you'd　be　dead。'　'I'm　not　senile。'
　'No；　you're　not。　But　you're　a　man　who's　been　hurt　very　badly。　As　badly　as　a　person　can　be　hurt；　I　think。　You　may　risk　your　life；　I　won't。'　'You're　a　strange　man；　Monsieur。'
　'Yes。。。　If　I'm　not　there　when　you　call；　a　woman　will　answer。　She'll　know　where　I　am。　We'll　set　up　timing　for　messages。'
　'A　woman？'　The　general　drew　back。　'You've　said　nothing　about　a　woman；　or　anyone　else。'
　'There　is　no　one　else。　Without　her　I　wouldn't　be　alive。　Carlos　is　hunting　both　of　us；　he's　tried　to　kill　both　of　us。'　'Does　she　know　about　me？'
　'Yes。　She's　the　one　who　said　it　couldn't　be　true。　That　you　couldn't　be　allied　with　Carlos。'　I　thought　you　were。'　'Perhaps　I'll　meet　her。'
　'Not　likely。'　Until　Carlos　is　taken　…　if　he　can　be　taken　…　we　can't　be　seen　with　you。　Of　all　people；　not　you。　Afterwards　…　if　there　is　an　afterwards　…　you　may　not　want　to　be　seen　with　us。　With　me。　I'm　being　honest　with　you。'
　'I　understand　that　and　I　respect　it。　In　any　event；　thank　this　woman　for　me。　Thank　her　for　thinking　I　could　be　no　part　of　Carlos。'
　Bourne　nodded。　'Can　you　be　sure　your　private　line　isn't　tapped？'
　'Absolutely。　It　is　swept　on　a　regular　basis；　all　the　telephones　restricted　by　the　Brevet　are。'
　'Whenever　you　expect　a　call　from　me；　answer　the　phone　and　clear　your　throat　twice。　I'll　know　it's　you。　If　for　any　reason　you　can't　talk；　tell　me　to　call　your　secretary　in　the　morning。　I'll　call　back　in　ten　minutes。　What's　the　number？'
　Villiers　gave　it　to　him。　'Your　hotel？'　asked　the　general。
　'The　Terrasse。　Rue　de　Maistre；　Montmartre。　Room　Four…twenty。'
　'When　will　you　begin？'
　'As　soon　as　possible。　Noon　today。'
　'Be　like　a　wolf　pack；'　said　the　old　soldier；　leaning　forward；　a　mander　instructing　his　officer　corps。　'Strike　swiftly。'
　'She　was　so　charming；　I　simply　must　do　something　for　her；'　cried　Marie　in　ebullient　French　into　the　telephone。　'Also　for　the　sweet　young　man；　he　was　of　such　help。　I　tell　you；　the　dress　was　a　success　too！　I'm　so　grateful。'
　'From　your　descriptions；　Madame；'　replied　the　cultured　male　voice　on　the　switchboard　at　Les　Classiques；　'I'm　sure　you　mean　Janine　and　Claude。'
　'Yes；　of　course。　Janine　and　Claude；　I　remember　now。　I'll　drop　each　a　note　with　a　token　of　my　thanks。　Would　you　by　any　chance　know　their　last　names？　I　mean；　it　seems　so　crass　to　address　envelopes　simply　to　〃Janine〃　and　〃Claude〃。　Rather　like　sending　missives　to　servants；　don't　you　thi