rl.thebourneidentity-第70章

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　'What　do　you　mean？'
　'Our　couple　was　out　and　the　phone　rang　twice。　Both　times　she　asked　me　to　answer　it。　She　really　wasn't　up　to　talking。'
　'Who　called？'
　'The　chemist　about　a　prescription　and　a　journalist　requesting　an　interview。　She　couldn't　have　known　either。'
　'Did　you　get　the　impression　she　was　trying　to　put　you　off　by　asking　you　to　take　the　calls？'
　Villiers　paused；　his　reply　laced　with　anger。　'It　was　there；　the　effect　less　than　subtle　in　so　far　as　she　mentioned　she　might　be　having　lunch　out　She　said　she　had　a　reservation　at　the　Georges　Cinq；　and　I　could　reach　her　there　if　she　decides　to　go。'
　'If　she　does；　I　want　to　get　there　first。'
　'I'll　let　you　know。'
　'You　said　she's　not　being　contacted　by　phone。　〃Not　at　least　by　telephone；〃　I　think　you　said。　Did　you　mean　something　by　that？'
　'Yes。　Thirty　minutes　ago　a　woman　came　to　the　house。　My　wife　was　reluctant　to　see　her　but；　nevertheless；　did　so。　I　only　saw　her　face　for　a　moment　in　the　parlour；　but　it　was　enough。　The　woman　was　in　panic。'
　'Describe　her。'
　Villiers　did。
　'Jacqueline　Lavier；'　said　Jason。
　'I　thought　it　might　be。　From　the　look　of　her；　the　wolfpack　was　eminently　successful；　it　was　obvious　she　had　not　slept。　Before　taking　her　into　the　library；　my　wife　told　me　she　was　an　old　friend　in　a　marriage　crisis。　A　fatuous　lie；　at　her　age　there　are　no　crises　left　in　marriage；　only　acceptance　and　extraction。〃
　'I　can't　understand　her　going　to　your　house。　It's　too　much　of　a　risk。　It　doesn't　make　sense。。。　Unless　she　did　it　on　her　own；　knowing　that　no　further　calls　were　to　be　made。'
　These　things　occurred　to　me；'　said　the　soldier。　'So　I　felt　the　need　of　a　little　air；　a　stroll　around　the　block。　My　aide　acpanied　me　…　a　doddering　old　man　taking　his　limited　constitutional　under　the　watchful　eye　of　an　escort。　But　my　eyes；　too；　were　watchful。　Lavier　was　followed。　Two　men　were　seated　in　a　car　four　houses　away；　the　vehicle　equipped　with　a　radio。　Those　men　did　not　belong　to　the　street。　It　was　in　their　faces；　in　the　way　they　watched　my　house。'
　'How　do　you　know　she　didn't　e　with　them？〃
　'We　live　on　a　quiet　street。　When　Lavier　arrived；　I　was　in　the　sitting…room　having　coffee　and　heard　her　running　up　the　steps。　I　went　to　the　window　in　time　to　see　a　taxi　drive　away。　She　came　in　a　taxi；　she　was　followed。'
　'When　did　she　leave？'
　'She　hasn't。　And　the　men　are　still　outside。'
　'What　kind　of　car　are　they　in？'
　'Citroen。　Grey。　The　first　three　letters　of　the　licence　plate　are
　N。Y。R。'
　'Birds　in　the　air；　following　a　contact。　Where　do　the　birds　e　from？'
　'I　beg　your　pardon。　What　did　you　say？'
　Jason　shook　his　head。　'I'm　not　sure。　Never　mind。。。　I'm　going　to　try　to　get　to　your　house　before　Lavier　leaves。　Do　what　you　can　to　help　me。　Interrupt　your　wife；　say　you　have　to　speak　to　her　for　a　few　minutes。　Insist　her　〃old　friend〃　stay；　say　anything；　just　make　sure　she　doesn't　leave。'
　'I　will　do　my　best。'
　Bourne　hung　up　and　looked　at　Marie；　standing　by　the　window　across　the　room。　'It's　working。　They're　starting　to　distrust　each　other。　Lavier　went　to　Pare　Monceau　and　she　was　followed。　They're　beginning　to　suspect　their　own。'
　'Birds　in　the　air；〃'　said　Marie。　'What　did　you　mean？'
　'I　don't　know；　it's　not　important。　There　isn't　time。〃
　'I　think　it　is　important；　Jason。'
　'Not　now。'　Bourne　walked　to　the　chair　where　he　had　dropped　his　overcoat　and　hat。　He　put　them　on　quickly　and　went　to　the　bureau；　opened　the　drawer　and　took　out　the　gun。　He　looked　at　it　for　a　moment；　remembering。　The　images　were　there；　the　past　that　was　his　whole　yet　not　his　whole　at　all。　Zurich。　The　Bahn…hofstrasse　and　the　Carillon　du　Lac；　the　Drei　Alpenhauser　and　the　Lowenstrasse；　a　filthy　boarding　house　on　Steppdeckstrasse　and　the　Guisan　Quai。　The　gun　symbolized　them　all；　for　it　had　once　nearly　taken　his　life　in　Zurich。
　But　this　was　Paris。　And　everything　started　in　Zurich　was　in　motion。
　Find　Carlos。　Trap　Carlos。　Cain　is　for　Charlie　and　Delta　is　for　Cain。
　False！　Goddamn　you；　false！
　Find　Treadstone！　Find　a　message！　Find　a　man！
　Jason　remained　in　the　far　corner　of　the　back　seat　as　the　taxi　entered　Villiers's　block　in　Pare　Monceau。　He　scanned　the　cars　lining　the　kerb；　there　was　no　grey　Citroen；　no　licence　plate　with　the　letters　NYR。
　But　there　was　Villiers。　The　old　soldier　was　standing　alone　on　the　pavement；　four　doors　away　from　his　house。
　Two　men。。。　in　a　car　four　houses　away。
　Villiers　was　standing　now　where　that　car　had　stood；　it　was　a　signal。
　'Arretez；　s'il　vous　plait'　said　Bourne　to　the　driver。　'Le　vieux　Horace。　Je　demande　a　lui。'　He　rolled　down　the　window　and　leaned　forward。　'Monsieur？'
　'In　English；'　replied　Villiers；　walking　towards　the　taxi；　an　old　man　summoned　by　a　stranger。
　'What　happened？'　asked　Jason。
　'I　could　not　detain　them。'
　Them？'
　'My　wife　left　with　the　Lavier　woman。　I　was　adamant；　however。　I　told　her　to　expect　my　call　at　the　Georges　Cinq。　It　was　a　matter　of　the　utmost　importance　and　I　required　her　council。'
　'What　did　she　say？'
　That　she　wasn't　sure　she'd　be　at　the　Georges　Cinq。　That　her　friend　insisted　on　seeing　a　priest　in　Neuilly…sur…Seine；　at　the　Church　of　the　Blessed　Sacrament。　She　said　she　felt　obliged　to　acpany　her。'
　'Did　you　object？'
　'Strenuously。　And　for　the　first　time　in　our　life　together；　she　stated　the　thoughts　in　my　own　mind。　She　said；　〃If　it's　your　desire　to　check　up　on　me；　Andrel；　why　not　call　the　parish？　I'm　sure　someone　might　recognize　me　and　bring　me　to　a　telephone。〃　Was　she　testing　me？'
　Bourne　tried　to　think。　'Perhaps。　Someone　would　see　her　there；　she'd　make　sure　of　it。　But　bringing　her　to　a　phone　might　be　something　else　again。　When　did　they　leave？'
　'Less　than　five　minutes　ago。　The　two　men　in　the　Citroen　followed　them。'
　'Were　they　in　your　car？'
　'No。　My　wife　called　a　taxi。
　'I'm　going　out　there；'　said　Jason。
　'I　thought　you　might；'　said　Villiers。　'I　looked　up　the　address　of　the　church。'
　Bourne　dropped　a　fifty…franc　note　over　the　back　of　the　front　seat。　The　driver　grabbed　it。　'It's　important　to　me　to　reach　Neuilly…sur…Seine　as　fast　as　possible；'　said　Jason；　'to　the　Church　of　the　Blessed　Sacrament。　Do　you　know　where　it　is？'
　'But　of　course；　Monsieur。　It　is　the　most　beautiful　church　in　the　district。'
　'Get　there　quickly　and　there'll　be　another　fifty　francs。'
　'We　shall　fly　on　the　wings　of　blessed　angels；　Monsieur！'
　They　flew；　the　flight　plan　jeopardizing　most　of　the　traffic　in　their　path。
　There　are　the　spires　of　the　Blessed　Sacrament；　Monsieur；'　said　the　victorious　driver　twelve　minutes　later；　pointing　at　three　soaring　towers　of　stone　through　the　windscreen。　'Another　minute；　perhaps　two　if　the　idiots　who　should　be　taken　off　the　streets　will　permit。。。'
　'Slow　down；'　interrupted　Bourne；　his　attention　not　on　the　spires　of　the　church　but　on　a　car　several　vehicles　ahead。　They　had　taken　a　corner　and　he　had　seen　it　during　the　turn；　it　was　a　grey　Citroen；　two　men　in　the　front　seat。
　They　came　to　a　traffic　light；　the　cars　stopped。　Jason　dropped　a　second　fifty…franc　note　over　the　seat　and　opened　the　door。　'I'll　be　right　back。　If　the　light　changes；　drive　forward　slowly　and　I'll　jump　in。'
　Bourne　got　out；　keeping　his　body　low；　and　rushed　between　the　cars　until　he　saw　the　letters。　NYR；　the　numbers　following　768；　but　for　the　moment　they　were　inconsequential。　The　taxi　driver　had　earned　his　money。
　The　light　changed　and　the　row　of　vehicles　lurched　forward　like　an　elongated　insect　pulling　its　shelled　parts　together。　The　taxi　drew　alongside；　Jason　opened　the　door　and　climbed　in。　'You　do　good　work；'　he　said　to　the　driver。
　'I'm　not　sure　I　know　the　work　I　am　doing。'
　'An　affair　of　the　heart　One　must　catch　the　betrayer　in　the　act。'
　'In　church；　Monsieur？　The　world　moves　too　swiftly　for　me。'
　'Not　in　traffic；'　said　Bourne。　They　approached　the　final　corner　before　the　Church　of　the　Blessed　Sacrament。　The　Citroen　made　the　turn；　a　single　car　between　it　and　a　taxi；　the　passengers　indistinguishable。　Something　bothered　Jason。　The　surveillance　on　the　part　of　the　two　men　was　too　open；　far　too　obvious。　It　was　as　if　Carlos's　soldiers　wanted　someone　in　that　taxi　to　know　they　were　there。
　Of　course！　Madame　Villiers　was　in　that　cab。　With　Jacque…line　Lavier。　And　the　two　men　in　the　Citroen　wanted　Villiers's　wife　to　know　they　were　behind　her。
　There　is　the　Blessed　Sacrament；'　said　the　driver；　entering　the　street　where　the　church　rose　in　minor　medieval　splendour　in　the　centre　of　a　manicured　lawn　criss…crossed　by　stone　paths　and　dotted　with　statuary。　'What　shall　I　do；　Monsieur？'
　'Pull　into　that　space；'　ordered　Jason；　gesturing　at　a　break　in　the　line　of　parked　cars。　The　taxi　with　Villiers's　wife　and　the　Lavier　woman　stopped　in　front　of　a　path　guarded　by　a　concrete　saint。　Villiers's　stunning　wife　got　out　first；　extending　her　hand　for　Jacqueline　Lavier；　who　emerged　ashen　on　the　pavement。　She　wore　large；　orange…rimmed　sunglasses　and　carried　a　white　bag；　but　she　was　no　longer　elegant。　Her　crown　of　silver…streaked　hair　fell　in　straight；　disassociated　lines　down　the　sides　of　her　death…white　mask　of　a　face；　and　her　stockings　were　torn。　She　was　at　least　three　hundred　feet　away　but　Bourne　felt　he　could　hear　the　erratic　gasping　for　breath　that　acpanied　the　hesitant　movements　of　the　once…regal　figure　stepping　forward　in　the　sunlight
　The　grey　Citroen　had　proceeded　beyond　the　taxi　and　was　now　pulling　to　the　kerb。　Neither　man　got　out；　but　a　thin　metal　rod；　reflecting　the　glare　of　the　sun；　began　rising　out　of　the　boot。
　The　radio　antenna　was　being　activated；　codes　sent　over　a　guarded　frequency。　Jason　was　mesmerized；　not　by　the　sight　and　the　knowledge　of　what　was　being　done；　but　by　something　else。　Words　came　to　him；　from　where　he　did　not　know　but　they　were　there。
　Delta　to　Almanac；　Delia　to　Almanac。　We　will　not　respond。
　Repeat；　negative；　brother。
　Almanac　to　Delta。　You　will　respond　as　ordered。　Abandon；　abandon。　That　is　final。
　Delta　to　Almanac。　You're　final；　brother。　Co　fuck　yourself。　Delta　out；　equipment　damaged。
　Suddenly　the　darkness　was　all　around　him；　the　sunlight　gone。　There　were　no　soaring　towers　of　a　church　reaching　for　the　sky；　instead　there　were　black　shapes　of　irregular　foliage　shivering　beneath　the　light　of　iridescent　clouds。　Everything　was　moving；　everything　was　moving；　he　had　to　move　with　the　movement。　To　remain　immobile　was　to　die！　Move！　For　Christ's　sake；　move！
　And　take　them　out。　One　by　one。　Crawl　in　closer；　overe　the　fear　…　the　terrible　fear　…　and　reduce　the　numbers。　That　was　all　there　was　to　it！　Reduce　the　numbers！　The　Monk　had　made　that　clear！　Knife；　wire；　knee；　thumb；　you　know　the　points　of　damage。　Of　death。
　Death　is　a　statistic　for　the　puters。　For　you　it　is　survival。
　The　Monk。
　The　Monk！
　The　sunlight　came　again；　blinding　him　for　a　moment；　his　foot　on　the　pavement；　his　gaze　on　the　grey　Citroen　a　hundred　yards　away。　But　it　was　difficult　to　see；　why　was　it　so　difficult？　Haze；　mist。。。　not　darkness　now　but　impenetrable　mist。　He　was　hot；　no；　he　was　cold。　Cold！　He　jerked　his　head　up；　suddenly　aware　of　where　he　was　and　what　he　was　doing。　His　face　had　been　pressed　against　the　window；　his　breath　had　fogged　the　glass。
　'I'm　getting　out　for　a　few　minutes；'　said　Bourne。　'Stay　here。'
　'All　day；　if　you　wish；　Monsieur。'
　Jason　pulled　up　the　lapels　of　his　overcoat；　pushed　his　hat　forward　an