tc.patriotgames-第4章

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　　　　〃Easy；　babe。　I'm　going　to　live；　remember？〃　
　　　　〃I　know；　I　know。〃　
　　　　〃It's　going　to　hurt；　isn't　it？〃
　　　　Another　smile。　〃Just　a　bit。　Well。　I've　got　to　put　Sally　down。　I'll　be　back　tomorrow。〃　She　bent　down　to　kiss　him。　Skin　full　of　drugs；　oxygen　tube；　dry　mouth；　and　all；　it　felt　good。　God；　he　thought；　God；　how　I　love　this　girl。　Cathy　squeezed　his　hand　one　more　time　and　left。
　　　　The　Bette　Davis　nurse　came　back。　It　was　not　a　satisfactory　trade。
　　　　〃I'm　'Doctor'　Ryan；　too；　you　know；〃　Jack　said　warily。
　　　　〃Very　good；　Doctor。　It　is　time　for　you　to　get　some　rest。　I'll　be　here　to　look　after　you　all　night。　Now　sleep。　Doctor　Ryan。〃　
　　　　On　this　happy　note　Jack　closed　his　eyes。　Tomorrow　would　be　a　real　bitch；　he　was　sure。　It　would　keep。

Chapter　2　Cops　and　Royals

　　　　Ryan　awoke　at　6：35　A。M。　He　knew　that　because　it　was　announced　by　a　radio　disc　jockey　whose　voice　faded　to　an　American　Country　&　Western　song　of　the　type　which　Ryan　avoided　at　home　by　listening　to　all…news　radio　stations。　The　singer　was　admonishing　mothers　not　to　allow　their　sons　to　bee　cowboys；　and　Ryan's　first　muddled　thought　of　the　day　was。　Surely　they　don't　have　that　problem　over　here　。　。　。　do　they？　His　mind　drifted　along　on　this　tangent　for　half　a　minute；　wondering　if　the　Brits　had　CAW　bars　with　sawdust　on　the　floors；　mechanical　bull　rides；　and　office　workers　who　strutted　around　with　pointy…toed　boots　and　five…pound　belt　buckles　。　。　。　Why　not？　he　concluded。　Yesterday　I　saw　something　right　out　of　a　Dodge　City　movie。
　　　　Jack　would　have　been　just　as　happy　to　slide　back　into　sleep。　He　tried　closing　his　eyes　and　willing　his　body　to　relax；　but　it　was　no　use。　The　flight　from　Dulles　had　left　early　in　the　morning；　barely　three　hours　after　he'd　awakened。　He　hadn't　slept　on　the　plane　　it　was　something　he　simply　could　not　do　　but　flying　always　exhausted　him；　and　he'd　gone　to　bed　soon　after　arriving　at　the　hotel。　Then　how　long　had　he　been　unconscious　in　the　hospital？　Too　long；　he　realized。　Ryan　was　all　slept　out。　He　would　have　to　begin　facing　the　day。
　　　　Someone　off　to　his　right　was　playing　a　radio　just　loudly　enough　to　hear。　Ryan　turned　his　head　and　was　able　to　see　his　shoulder　　
　　　　Shoulder；　he　thought；　that's　why　I'm　here。　But　where's　here？　It　was　a　different　room。　The　ceiling　was　smooth　plaster；　recently　painted。　It　was　dark；　the　only　illumination　ing　from　a　light　on　the　table　next　to　the　bed；　perhaps　enough　to　read　by。　There　seemed　to　be　a　painting　on　the　wall　　at　least　a　rectangle　darker　than　the　wall；　which　wasn't　white。　Ryan　took　this　in；　consciously　delaying　his　examination　of　his　left　arm　until　no　excuses　remained。　He　turned　his　head　slowly　to　the　left。　He　saw　his　arm　first　of　all。　It　was　sticking　up　at　an　angle；　wrapped　in　a　plaster　and　fiberglass　cast　that　went　all　the　way　to　his　hand。　His　fingers　stuck　out　like　an　afterthought；　about　the　same　shade　of　gray　as　the　plaster…gauze　wrappings。　There　was　a　metal　ring　at　the　back　of　the　wrist；　and　in　the　ring　was　a　hook　whose　chain　led　to　a　metal　frame　that　arced　over　the　bed　like　a　crane。
　　　　First　things　first。　Ryan　tried　to　wiggle　his　fingers。　It　took　several　seconds　before　they　acknowledged　their　subservience　to　his　central　nervous　system。　Ryan　let　out　a　long　breath　and　closed　his　eyes　to　thank　God　for　that。　About　where　his　elbow　was；　a　metal　rod　angled　downward　to　join　the　rest　of　the　cast；　which；　he　finally　appreciated；　began　at　his　neck　and　went　diagonally　to　his　waist。　It　left　his　arm　sticking　out　entirely　on　its　own　and　made　Ryan　look　like　half　a　bridge。　The　cast　was　not　tight　on　his　chest；　but　touched　almost　everywhere；　and　already　he　had　itches　where　he　couldn't　scratch。　The　surgeon　had　said　something　about　immobilizing　the　shoulder；　and；　Ryan　thought　glumly；　he　hadn't　been　kidding。　His　shoulder　ached　in　a　distant　sort　of　way　with　the　promise　of　more　to　e。　His　mouth　tasted　like　a　urinal；　and　the　rest　of　his　body　was　stiff　and　sore。　He　turned　his　head　the　other　way。　
　　　　〃Somebody　over　there？〃　he　asked　softly。
　　　　〃Oh；　hello。〃　A　face　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the　bed。　Younger　than　Ryan；　mid…twenties　or　so；　and　lean。　He　was　dressed　casually；　his　tie　loose　in　his　collar；　and　the　edge　of　a　shoulder　holster　showed　under　his　jacket。　〃How　are　you　feeling；　sir？〃　
　　　　Ryan　attempted　a　smile；　wondering　how　successful　it　was。　〃About　how　I　look；　probably。　Where　am　I；　who　are　you　　first；　is　there　a　glass　of　water　in　this　place？〃
　　　　The　policeman　poured　ice　water　from　a　plastic　jug　into　a　plastic　cup。　Ryan　reached　out　with　his　right　hand　before　he　noticed　that　it　wasn't　tied　down　as　it　had　been　the　last　time　he　awoke。　He　could　now　feel　the　place　where　the　IV　catheter　had　been。　Jack　greedily　sucked　the　water　from　the　straw。　It　was　only　water；　but　no　beer　ever　tasted　better　after　a　day's　yardwork。　〃Thanks；　pal。〃　
　　　　〃My　name　is　Anthony　Wilson。　I'm　supposed　to　look　after　you。　You　are　in　the　VIP　suite　of　St。　Thomas's　Hospital。　Do　you　remember　why　you're　here；　sir？〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　I　think　so；〃　Ryan　nodded。　〃Can　you　unhook　me　from　this　thing？　I　have　to　go。〃　The　other　reminder　of　the　IV。
　　　　〃I'll　ring　the　sister　　here。〃　Wilson　squeezed　the　button　that　was　pinned　to　the　edge　of　Ryan's　pillow。
　　　　Less　than　fifteen　seconds　later　a　nurse　came　through　the　door　and　flipped　on　the　overhead　lights。　The　blaze　of　light　dazzled　Jack　for　a　moment　before　he　saw　it　was　a　different　nurse。　Not　Bette　Davis；　this　one　was　young　and　pretty；　with　the　eager；　protective　look　mon　to　nurses。　Ryan　had　seen　it　before；　and　hated　it。
　　　　〃Ah；　we're　awake；〃　she　observed　brightly。　〃How　are　we　feeling？〃
　　　　〃Great；〃　Ryan　grumped。　〃Can　you　unhook　me？　I　have　to　go　to　the　john。〃
　　　　〃We're　not　supposed　to　move　just　yet。　Doctor　Ryan。　Let　me　fetch　you　something。〃　She　disappeared　out　the　door　before　he　could　object。　Wilson　watched　her　leave　with　an　appraising　look。　Cops　and　nurses；　Ryan　thought。　His　dad　had　married　a　nurse；　he'd　met　her　after　bringing　a　gunshot　victim　into　the　emergency　room。
　　　　The　nurse　　her　name　tag　said　KITTIWAKE　　returned　in　under　a　minute　bearing　a　stainless　steel　urinal　as　though　it　were　a　priceless　gift；　which　under　the　circumstances；　it　was；　Ryan　admitted　to　himself。　She　lifted　the　covers　on　the　bed　and　suddenly　Jack　realized　that　his　hospital　gown　was　not　really　on；　but　just　tied　loosely　around　his　neck　　worse；　the　nurse　was　about　to　make　the　necessary　adjustments　for　him　to　use　the　urinal。　Ryan's　right　hand　shot　downward　under　the　covers　to　take　it　away　from　her。　He　thanked　God　for　the　second　time　this　morning　that　he　was　able；　barely；　to　reach　down　far　enough。
　　　　〃Could　you；　uh；　excuse　me　for　a　minute？〃　Ryan　willed　the　girl　out　of　the　room；　and　she　went；　smiling　her　disappointment。　He　waited　for　the　door　to　close　pletely　before　continuing。　In　deference　to　Wilson　he　stifled　his　sigh　of　relief。　Kittiwake　was　back　through　the　door　after　counting　to　sixty。
　　　　〃Thank　you。〃　Ryan　handed　her　the　receptacle　and　she　disappeared　out　the　door。　It　had　barely　swung　shut　when　she　was　back　again。　This　time　she　stuck　a　thermometer　in　his　mouth　and　grabbed　his　wrist　to　take　his　pulse。　The　thermometer　was　one　of　the　new　electronic　sort；　and　both　tasks　were　pleted　in　fifteen　seconds。　Ryan　asked　for　the　score；　but　got　a　smile　instead　of　an　answer。　The　smile　remained　fixed　as　she　made　the　entries　on　his　chart。　When　this　task　was　fulfilled；　she　made　a　minor　adjustment　in　the　covers；　beaming　at　Ryan。　Little　Miss　Efficiency；　Ryan　told　himself。　This　girl　is　going　to　be　a　real　pain　in　the　ass。
　　　　〃Is　there　anything　I　might　get　you；　Doctor　Ryan？〃　she　asked。　Her　brown　eyes　belied　the　wheat…colored　hair。　She　was　cute。　She　had　that　dewy　look。　Ryan　was　unable　to　remain　angry　with　pretty　women；　and　hated　them　for　it。　Especially　young　nurses　with　that　dewy　look。
　　　　〃Coffee？〃　he　asked　hopefully。
　　　　〃Breakfast　is　not　for　another　hour。　Can　I　fetch　you　a　cup　of　tea？〃
　　　　〃Fine。〃　It　wasn't；　but　it　would　get　rid　of　her　for　a　little　while。　Nurse　Kittiwake　breezed　out　the　door　with　her　ingenuous　smile。　
　　　　〃Hospitals？〃　Ryan　snarled　when　she　was　gone。
　　　　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　Wilson；　observed；　the　image　of　Nurse　Kittiwake　fresh　in　his　mind。
　　　　〃You　ain't　the　one　getting　your　diapers　changed。〃　Ryan　grunted　and　leaned　back　into　the　pillow。　It　was　useless　to　fight　it；　he　knew。　He　smiled　in　spite　of　himself。　Useless　to　fight　it。　He'd　been　through　this　twice　before；　both　times　with　young；　pretty　nurses。　Being　grumpy　only　made　them　all　the　more　eager　to　be　overpoweringly　nice　　they　had　time　on　their　side；　time　and　patience　enough　to　wear　anyone　down。　He　sighed　out　his　surrender。　It　wasn't　worth　the　waste　of　energy。　〃So；　you're　a　cop；　right？　Special　Branch？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir。　I'm　with　C…13；　Anti…Terrorist　Branch。〃　
　　　　〃Can　you　fill　me　in　on　what　happened　yesterday？　I　kinda　missed　a　few　things。〃
　　　　〃How　much　do　you　remember。　Doctor？〃　Wilson　slid　his　chair　closer。　Ryan　noted　that　he　remained　halfway　facing　the　door；　and　kept　his　right　hand　free。　　〃I　saw　　well；　I　heard　an　explosion；　a　hand　grenade；　I　think　　and　when　I　turned　I　saw　two　guys　shooting　the　hell　out　of　a　Rolls…Royce。　IRA；　I　guess。　I　took　two　of　them　out；　and　another　one　got　away　in　a　car。　The　cavalry　arrived；　and　I　passed　out　and　woke　up　here。〃
　　　　〃Not　IRA。　ULA　　Ulster　Liberation　Army；　a　Maoist　offshoot　of　the　Provos。　Nasty　buggers。　The　one　you　killed　was　John　Michael　McCrory；　a　very　bad　boy　from　Londonderry　　one　of　the　chaps　who　escaped　from　the　Maze　last　July。　This　is　the　first　time　he's　surfaced　since。　And　the　last〃　　Wilson　smiled　coldly　　〃we　haven't　identified　the　other　chap　yet。　That　is；　not　as　of　when　I　came　on　duty　three　hours　ago。〃
　　　　〃ULA？〃　Ryan　shrugged。　He　remembered　hearing　the　name；　though　he　couldn't　talk　about　that。　〃The　guy　I　　killed。　He　had　an　AK；　but　when　I　came　around　the　car　he　was　using　a　pistol。　How　e？〃
　　　　〃The　fool　jammed　it。　He　had　two　full　magazines　taped　end　to　end；　like　you　see　all　the　time　in　the　movies；　but　like　they　trained　us　specifically　not　to　do　in　the　paras。　We　reckon　he　bashed　it；　probably　when　he　came　out　of　the　car。　The　second　magazine　was　bent　at　the　top　end　　wouldn't　feed　the　rounds　properly；　you　see。　Damn　good　luck　for　you。　You　knew　you　were　going　after　a　chap　with　a　Kalashnikov？〃　Wilson　examined　Ryan's　face　closely。　
　　　　Jack　nodded。　〃Doesn't　sound　real　smart；　does　it？〃　
　　　　〃You　bloody　fool。〃　Wilson　said　this　just　as　Kittiwake　came　through　the　door　with　a　tea　tray。　The　nurse　flashed　the　cop　an　emphatically　disapproving　look　as　she　set　the　tray　on　the　bedstand　and　wheeled　it　over。　Kittiwake　arranged　things　just　so；　and　poured　Ryan　a　cup　with　delicacy。　Wilson　had　to　do　his　own。
　　　　〃So　who　was　in　the　car；　anyway？〃　Ryan　asked。　He　noted　strong　reactions。
　　　　〃You　didn't　know？〃　Kittiwake　was　dumbfounded。
　　　　〃There　wasn't　much　time　to　find　out。〃　Ryan　dropped　two　packets　of　brown　sugar　into　his　cup。　His　stirring　stopped　abruptly　when　Wilson　answered　his　question。
　　　　〃The　Prince　and　Princess　of　Wales。　And　their　new　baby。〃　
　　　　Ryan's　head　snapped　around。　〃What？〃　
　　　　〃You　really　didn't　know？〃　the　nurse　asked。
　　　　〃You're　serious；〃　Ryan　said　quietly。　They　wouldn't　kid　about　this；　would　they？
　　　　〃Too　bloody　right。　I'm　serious；〃　Wilson　went　on；　his　voice　very　even。　Only　his　choice　of　words　betrayed　how　deeply　the　affair　disturbed　him。　〃Except　for　yo