rl.thebourneultimatum-第114章

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　〃For　Christ's　sake；　check　with　your　vehicle　bureau；　or　whatever　you　call　it！〃
　〃Take　time。　Also　in　Moskva；　automobiles　under　different　names；　different　tag　plates…Leningrad；　Smolensk；　who　knows…all　to　not　look　for　automobile　laws　broken。〃
　〃What　the　hell　is　he　talking　about？〃　shouted　Jason。
　〃Automobile　ownership　is　regulated　by　the　state；〃　explained　Krupkin　weakly　from　the　table。　〃Each　major　center　has　its　own　registration　and　is　frequently　reluctant　to　cooperate　with　another　center。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Individual　ownership　under　different　family　names…even　nonfamily　names。　It's　forbidden。　There　are　only　so　many　vehicles　available　for　purchase。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃Local　bribery　is　a　fact　of　life。　No　one　in　Leningrad　wants　a　finger　pointed　at　him　from　a　bureaucrat　in　Moscow。　He's　telling　you　that　it　could　take　several　days　to　learn　what　automobile　the　Jackal's　driving。〃
　〃That's　crazy！〃
　〃You　said　it；　Mr。　Bourne；　I　didn't。　I'm　an　upstanding　citizen　of　the　Soviet　Union；　please　remember　that。〃
　〃But　what's　it　all　got　to　do　with　Novgorod…that　is　what　he　said；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Novgorod。　Shto　eto　znachit？〃　said　Krupkin　to　the　KGB　official。　In　rapid；　clipped　Russian；　the　peasant　missar　gave　the　pertinent　details　to　his　colleague　from　Paris。　Krupkin　turned　his　head　on　the　table　and　translated　in　English。　〃Try　to　follow　this；　Jason；〃　he　said；　his　voice　intermittently　fading；　his　breathing　being　increasingly　more　labored。　〃Apparently　there　is　a　walk…around　gallery　above　the　armory's　arena。　He　used　it　and　saw　you　through　a　window　on　the　road　by　the　hedges　and　came　back　to　the　weapons　room　screaming　like　the　maniac　he　is。　He　shouted　to　his　bound　hostages　that　you　were　his　and　you　were　dead。　。。。　And　there　was　only　one　last　thing　he　had　to　acplish。〃
　〃Novgorod；〃　interrupted　Conklin；　whispering；　his　head　rigid；　staring　at　the　ceiling。
　〃Precisely；〃　said　Krupkin；　his　eyes　focused　on　Alex's　profile　beside　him。　〃He's　going　back　to　the　place　of　his　birth　。。。　where　Ilich　Ramirez　Sanchez　became　Carlos　the　Jackal　because　he　was　disinherited；　marked　for　execution　as　a　madman。　He　held　his　gun　against　everyone's　throat；　quietly　demanding　to　know　the　best　roads　to　Novgorod；　threatening　to　kill　whoever　gave　him　the　wrong　answer。　None　did；　of　course；　and　all　who　knew　told　him　it　was　five　to　six　hundred　kilometers　away；　a　full　day's　drive。〃
　〃Drive？〃　interjected　Bourne。
　〃He　knows　he　cannot　use　any　other　means　of　transportation。　The　railroads；　the　airports…even　the　small　airfields…all　will　be　watched；　he　understands　that。〃
　〃What　will　he　do　in　Novgorod？〃　asked　Jason　quickly。
　〃Dear　God　in　heaven；　which；　of　course；　there　is　neither；　who　knows？　He　intends　to　leave　his　mark；　a　highly　destructive　memorial　to　himself；　no　doubt；　in　answer　to　those　he　believes　betrayed　him　thirty…odd　years　ago；　as　well　as　the　poor　souls　who　fell　under　his　gun　this　morning　in　the　Vavilova。　。。。　He　took　the　papers　from　our　agent　trained　at　Novgorod；　he　thinks　they'll　get　him　inside。　They　won't…we'll　stop　him。〃
　〃Don't　even　try；〃　said　Bourne。　〃He　may　or　may　not　use　them；　depending　upon　what　he　sees；　what　he　senses。　He　doesn't　need　papers　to　get　in　there　any　more　than　I　do；　but　if　he　senses　something　wrong；　and　he　will；　he'll　kill　a　number　of　good　men　and　still　get　inside。〃
　〃What　are　you　driving　at？〃　asked　Krupkin　warily；　eyeing　Bourne；　the　American　with　alternate　identities　and　apparently　conflicting　life…styles。
　〃Get　me　inside　ahead　of　him　with　a　detailed　map　of　the　whole　plex　and　some　kind　of　document　that　gives　me　free　access　to　go　wherever　I　want　to　go。〃
　〃You've　lost　your　senses！〃　cried　Dimitri。　〃A　nondefecting　American；　an　assassin　hunted　by　every　NATO　country　in　Europe；　inside　Novgorod？〃
　〃Nyet；　nyet；　nyet！〃　roared　the　Komitet　missar。　〃I　understand　good；　okay？　You　are　lunatic；　okay？〃
　〃Do　you　want　the　Jackal？〃
　〃Naturally；　but　there　are　limits　to　the　cost。〃
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　interest　in　Novgorod　or　in　any　of　the　pounds…you　should　know　that　by　now。　Your　little　infiltrating　operations　and　our　little　infiltrating　operations　can　go　on　and　on　and　it　doesn't　matter　because　none　of　it　means　a　goddamned　thing　in　the　long　run。　It's　all　adolescent　game　playing。　We　either　live　together　on　this　planet　or　there　is　no　planet。　。。。　My　only　concern　is　Carlos。　I　want　him　dead　so　I　can　go　on　living。〃
　〃Of　course；　I　personally　agree　with　much　of　what　you　say；　although　the　adolescent　games　do　keep　some　of　us　rather　gracefully　employed。　However；　there's　no　way　I　could　convince　my　more　rigid　superiors；　starting　with　the　one　standing　above　me。〃
　〃All　right；〃　said　Conklin　from　his　table；　his　eyes　still　on　the　ceiling。　〃Down　and　dirty…we　deal。　You　get　him　into　Novgorod　and　you　keep　Ogilvie。〃
　〃We've　already　got　him；　Aleksei。〃
　〃Not　clean；　you　haven't。　Washington　knows　he's　here。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃So　I　can　say　you　lost　him　and　they'll　believe　me。　They'll　take　my　word　for　it　that　he　flew　out　of　your　nest　and　you're　mad　as　hell；　but　you　can't　get　him　back。　He's　operating　from　points　unknown　or　unreachable；　but　obviously　under　the　sovereign　protection　of　a　United　Nations　country。　As　a　matter　of　conjecture；　I　suspect　that's　how　you　got　him　over　here　in　the　first　place。〃
　〃You're　cryptic；　my　fine　old　enemy。　To　what　purpose　should　I　entertain　your　suggestion？〃
　〃No　World　Court　embarrassments；　no　charges　of　harboring　an　American　accused　of　international　crimes。　。。。　You　win　the　stakes　in　Europe。　You　take　over　the　Medusa　operation　with　no　plications…in　the　person　of　one　Dimitri　Krupkin；　a　proven　sophisticate　from　the　cosmopolitan　world　of　Paris。　Who　better　to　guide　the　enterprise？　。。。　The　newest　hero　of　the　Soviet；　a　member　of　the　inner　economic　council　of　the　Presidium。　Forget　the　lousy　house　in　Geneva；　Kruppie；　how　about　a　mansion　on　the　Black　Sea？〃
　〃It　is　a　most　intelligent　and　attractive　offer；　I　grant　you；〃　said　Krupkin。　〃I　know　two　or　three　men　on　the　Central　mittee　whom　I　can　reach　in　a　matter　of　minutes…everything　confidential；　of　course。〃
　〃Nyet；　nyet！〃　shouted　the　KGB　missar；　slamming　his　fist　down　on　Dimitri's　table。　〃I　understand　some…you　talk　too　fast…but　all　is　lunatic！〃
　〃Oh；　for　God's　sake；　shut　up！〃　roared　Krupkin。　〃We're　discussing　things　far　beyond　your　grasp！〃
　〃Shto？〃　Like　a　young　child　reprimanded　by　an　adult；　the　Komitet　officer；　his　puffed　eyes　widened；　was　both　astonished　and　frightened　by　his　subordinate's　inprehensible　rebuke。
　〃Give　my　friend　his　chance；　Kruppie；〃　said　Alex。　〃He's　the　best　there　is　and　he　may　bring　you　the　Jackal。〃
　〃He　may　also　bring　about　his　own　death；　Aleksei。〃
　〃He's　been　there　before。　I　believe　in　him。〃
　〃Belief；〃　whispered　Krupkin；　his　own　eyes　now　on　the　ceiling。　〃Such　a　luxury　it　is。　。。。　Very　well；　the　order　will　be　issued　secretly；　its　origins　untraceable；　of　course。　You'll　enter　your　own　American　pound。　It's　the　one　least　understood。〃
　〃How　fast　can　I　get　there？〃　asked　Bourne。　〃There's　a　lot　I　have　to　put　together。〃
　〃We　have　an　airport　in　Vnokova　under　our　control；　no　more　than　an　hour　away。　First；　I　must　make　arrangements。　Hand　me　a　telephone。　。。。　You；　my　imbecilic　missar！　I　will　hear　no　more　from　you！　A　telefone！〃　The　once　all…powerful；　now　subdued　superior；　who　had　really　understood　only　such　words　as　〃Presidium〃　and　〃Central　mittee；〃　moved　with　alacrity；　bringing　an　extension　phone　to　Krupkin's　table。
　〃One　more　thing；〃　said　Bourne。　〃Have　Tass　put　out　an　immediate　bulletin　with　heavy　coverage　in　the　newspapers；　radio　and　television　that　the　assassin　known　as　Jason　Bourne　died　of　wounds　here　in　Moscow。　Make　the　details　sketchy　but　have　them　parallel　what　happened　here　this　morning。〃
　〃That's　not　difficult。　Tass　is　an　obedient　instrument　of　the　state。〃
　〃I　haven't　finished；〃　continued　Jason。　〃I　want　you　to　include　in　those　sketchy　details　that　among　the　personal　effects　found　on　Bourne's　body　was　a　road　map　of　Brussels　and　its　environs。　The　town　of　Anderlecht　was　circled　in　red…that　has　to　appear。〃
　〃The　assassination　of　the　supreme　mander　of　NATO…very　good；　very　convincing。　However；　Mr。　Bourne　or　Webb　or　whatever　your　name　may　be；　you　should　know　that　this　story　will　splash　across　the　world　like　a　giant　tidal　wave。〃
　〃I　understand　that。〃
　〃Are　you　prepared　for　it？〃
　〃Yes；　I　am。〃
　〃What　about　your　wife？　Don't　you　think　you　should　reach　her　first；　before　the　civilized　world　learns　that　Jason　Bourne　is　dead？〃
　〃No。　I　don't　even　want　the　slightest　risk　of　a　leak。〃
　〃Jesus！〃　exploded　Alex；　coughing。　〃That's　Marie　you're　talking　about。　She'll　fall　apart！〃
　〃It's　a　risk　I'll　accept；〃　said　Delta　coldly。
　〃You　son　of　a　bitch！〃
　〃So　be　it；〃　agreed　the　Chameleon。
　John　St。　Jacques；　tears　welling　in　his　eyes；　walked　into　the　bright；　sunlit　room　at　the　sterile　house　in　the　Maryland　countryside；　in　his　hand　was　a　page　of　puter　printout。　His　sister　was　on　the　floor　in　front　of　the　couch　playing　with　an　exuberant　Jamie；　she　having　put　the　infant　Alison　back　into　the　crib　upstairs。　She　looked　worn　and　haggard；　her　face　pale　with　dark　circles　under　her　eyes；　she　was　exhausted　from　the　tension　and　the　jet　lag　of　the　long；　idiotically　routed　flights　from　Paris　to　Washington。　In　spite　of　arriving　late　last　night；　she　had　gotten　up　early　to　be　with　the　children…no　amount　of　friendly　persuasion　on　the　part　of　the　motherly　Mrs。　Cooper　could　dissuade　her　from　doing　so。　The　brother　would　have　given　years　of　his　life　not　to　do　what　had　to　be　done　during　the　next　few　minutes；　but　he　could　not　risk　the　alternatives。　He　had　to　be　with　her　when　she　found　out。
　〃Jamie；〃　said　St。　Jacques　gently。　〃Go　find　Mrs。　Cooper；　will　you　please？　I　think　she's　in　the　kitchen。〃
　〃Why；　Uncle　John？〃
　〃I　want　to　talk　to　your　mother　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　〃Johnny；　please；〃　objected　Marie。
　〃I　have　to；　Sis。〃
　〃What　。。。　？〃
　The　child　left；　and　as　children　often　do；　he　obviously　sensed　something　serious　that　was　beyond　his　understanding；　he　stared　at　his　uncle　before　heading　to　the　door。　Marie　got　to　her　feet　and　looked　hard　at　her　brother；　at　the　tears　that　began　to　roll　down　his　cheeks。　The　terrible　message　was　conveyed。　〃No　。。。　！〃　she　whispered；　her　pallid　face　growing　paler。　〃Dear　God；　no；　she　cried；　her　hands　and　then　her　shoulders　starting　to　tremble。　〃No　。。。　no！〃　she　roared。
　〃He's　gone；　Sis。　I　wanted　you　to　hear　it　from　me；　not　over　a　radio　or　a　TV　set。　I　want　to　be　with　you。〃
　〃You're　wrong；　wrong！〃　screamed　Marie；　rushing　toward　him；　grabbing　his　shirt　and　clenching　the　fabric　in　her　fists。　〃He's　protected！　。。。　He　promised　me　he　was　protected！〃
　〃This　just　came　from　Langley；〃　said　the　younger　brother；　holding　up　the　page　of　puter　printout。　〃Holland　called　me　a　few　minutes　ago　and　said　it　was　on　its　way　over。　He　knew　you　had　to　see　it。　It　was　picked　up　from　Radio　Moscow　during　the　night　and　will　be　on　all　the　broadcasts　and　in　the　morning　papers。〃
　〃Give　it　to　me！〃　she　shouted　defiantly。　He　did　so　and　gently　held　her　shoulders；　prepared　to　take　her　in　his　arms　and　give　what　fort　he　could。　She　read　the　copy　rapidly；　then　shook　off　his　hands；　frowning；　and　walked　back　to　the　couch　and　sat　down。　Her　concentration　was　absolute；　she　placed　the　paper　on　the　coffee　table　and　studied　it　as　though　it　were　an　archaeological　find；　a　scroll　perhaps。
　〃He's　gone；　Marie。　I　don't　know　what　to　say…you　know　how　I　fe