rl.thebourneultimatum-第38章

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　〃What　the　hell　was　that？〃　yelled　the　young　policeman。
　〃Forget　it！〃　screamed　Jason；　jumping　into　the　car　and　yanking　an　all　too　familiar　patrol　phone　out　of　its　cradle。　He　gave　Alex's　number　in　Virginia　to　the　police　switchboard　and　kept　repeating　the　phrase：　〃It's　an　emergency；　it's　an　emergency！〃
　〃Yes？〃　answered　Conklin；　acknowledging　the　police　operator。
　〃It's　me！〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃Too　involved　to　go　into。　What's　the　emergency？〃
　〃I've　got　you　a　private　jet　out　of　the　Reston　airport。〃
　〃Reston？　That's　north　of　here…〃
　〃The　field　in　Manassas　doesn't　have　the　equipment。　I'm　sending　a　car　for　you。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Tranquility。　Marie　and　the　kids　are　okay；　they're　okay！　She's　in　charge。〃
　〃What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃
　〃Get　to　Reston　and　I'll　tell　you。〃
　〃I　want　more！〃
　〃The　Jackal's　flying　in　today。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃
　〃Wrap　things　up　there　and　wait　for　the　car。〃
　〃I'll　take　this　one！〃
　〃No！　Not　unless　you　want　to　blow　everything。　We've　got　time。　Wrap　it　up　out　there。〃
　〃Cactus　。。。　he's　hurt…shot。〃
　〃I'll　call　Ivan。　He'll　get　back　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃There's　one　brother　left…only　one；　Alex。　I　killed　the　other　two…I　was　responsible。〃
　〃Cut　that　out。　Stop　it。　Do　what　you　have　to　do。〃
　〃Goddamn　you；　I　can't。　Someone's　got　to　be　here　and　I　won't　be！〃
　〃You're　right。　There's　too　much　to　keep　under　wraps　out　there　and　you've　got　to　be　in　Montserrat。　I'll　drive　out　with　the　car　and　take　your　place。〃
　〃Alex；　tell　me　what　happened　on　Tranquility！〃
　〃The　old　men　。。。　your　'old　men　of　Paris；'　that's　what　happened。〃
　〃They're　dead；〃　said　Jason　Bourne　quietly；　simply。
　〃Don't　be　hasty。　They've　turned…at　least　I　gather　the　real　one　turned　and　the　other's　a　God…given　mistake。　They're　on　our　side　now。〃
　〃They're　never　on　anyone's　side　but　the　Jackal's；　you　don't　know　them。〃
　〃Neither　do　you。　Listen　to　your　wife。　But　now　you　go　back　to　the　house　and　write　out　everything　I　should　know。　。。。　And　Jason；　I　must　tell　you　something。　I　hope　to　Christ　you　can　find　your　solution…our　solution…on　Tranquility。　Because　all　things　considered；　including　my　life；　I　can't　keep　this　Medusa　on　our　level　much　longer。　I　think　you　know　that。〃
　〃You　promised！〃
　〃Thirty…six　hours；　Delta。〃
　In　the　woods　beyond　the　fence　a　wounded　man　crouched；　his　frightened　face　against　the　green　links。　In　the　bright　wash　of　the　headlights；　he　observed　the　tall　man　who　had　gone　into　the　patrol　car　and　now　came　out；　awkwardly；　nervously　thanking　the　policemen。　He　did　not；　however；　permit　them　inside。
　Webb。　The　killer　had　heard　the　name　〃Webb。〃
　It　was　all　they　had　to　know。　All　Snake　Lady　had　to　know。
　
　15
　〃God；　I　love　you！〃　said　David　Webb；　leaning　into　the　pay　phone　in　the　preboarding　room　at　the　private　airfield　in　Reston；　Virginia。　〃The　waiting　was　the　worst　part；　waiting　to　talk　to　you；　to　hear　from　you　that　you　were　all　all　right。〃
　〃How　do　you　think　I　felt；　darling？　Alex　said　the　telephone　lines　had　been　cut　and　he　was　sending　the　police　when　I　wanted　him　to　send　the　whole　damned　army。〃
　〃We　can't　even　allow　the　police；　nothing　official　anywhere　at　the　moment。　Conklin's　promised　me　at　least　another　thirty…six　hours。　。。。　We　may　not　need　that　now。　Not　with　the　Jackal　in　Montserrat。〃
　〃David；　what　happened？　Alex　mentioned　Medusa…〃
　〃It's　a　mess　and　he's　right；　he　has　to　go　higher　up　with　it。　Him；　not　us。　We　stay　out。　Far　away　out。〃
　〃What　happened？〃　repeated　Marie。　〃What's　the　old　Medusa　got　to　do　with　anything？〃
　〃There's　a　new　Medusa…an　extension　of　the　old　one；　actually…and　it's　big　and　ugly　and　it　kills；　they　kill。　I　saw　that　tonight；　one　of　their　guns　tried　to　kill　me　after　thinking　he'd　killed　Cactus　and　murdering　two　innocent　men。〃
　〃Good　God！　Alex　told　me　about　Cactus　when　he　called　me　back；　but　nothing　else。　How　is　your　Uncle　Remus？〃
　〃He'll　make　it。　The　Agency　doctor　came　out　and　took　him　and　the　last　brother　away。〃
　〃　'Brother'？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　when　I　see　you。　。。。　Conklin's　out　there　now。　He'll　take　care　of　everything　and　have　the　telephone　fixed。　I'll　call　him　from　Tranquility。〃
　〃You're　exhausted…〃
　〃I'm　tired；　but　I'm　not　sure　why。　Cactus　insisted　I　get　some　sleep　and　I　must　have　had　all　of　twelve　minutes。〃
　〃My　poor　darling。〃
　〃I　like　the　tone　of　your　voice；〃　said　David。　〃The　words　even　better；　except　I'm　not　poor。　You　took　care　of　that　in　Paris　thirteen　years　ago。〃　Suddenly　his　wife　was　silent　and　Webb　was　alarmed。　〃What　is　it？　Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　answered　Marie　softly；　but　with　a　strength　that　was　the　result　of　thought；　not　feeling。　〃You　say　this　new　Medusa　is　big　and　ugly　and　it　tried　to　kill　you…they　tried　to　kill　you。〃
　〃They　didn't。〃
　〃Yet　they；　or　it；　wanted　you　dead。　Why？〃
　〃Because　I　was　there。〃
　〃You　don't　kill　a　man　because　he　was　at　someone's　house…〃
　〃A　lot　happened　at　that　house　tonight。　Alex　and　I　penetrated　its　circle　of　secrets　and　I　was　seen。　The　idea　was　to　bait　the　Jackal　with　a　few　rich　and　all　too　famous　bandits　from　the　old　Saigon　who　would　hire　him　to　e　after　me。　It　was　a　hell　of　a　strategy　but　it　spiraled　out　of　control。〃
　〃My　God；　David；　don't　you　understand？　You're　marked！　They'll　e　after　you　themselves！〃
　〃How　can　they？　The　hit　man　from　Medusa　who　was　there　never　saw　my　face　except　while　I　was　running　in　shadows；　and　they　have　no　idea　who　I　am。　I'm　a　nonperson　who'll　simply　disappear。　。。。　No；　Marie；　if　Carlos　shows　up　and　if　I　can　do　what　I　know　I　can　do　in　Montserrat；　we'll　be　free。　To　borrow　a　phrase；　'free　at　last。'　〃
　〃Your　voice　changes；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃My　what　does　which？〃
　〃It　really　does。　I　can　tell。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　said　Jason　Bourne。　〃I'm　being　signaled。　The　plane's　here。　Tell　Johnny　to　keep　those　two　old　men　under　guard！〃
　
　The　whispers　spread　through　Montserrat　like　rolling　pockets　of　mist。　Something　terrible　had　happened　on　the　out　island　of　Tranquility。　。。。　Bad　times；　mon。〃　。。。　〃The　evil　obeah　e　across　the　Antilles　from　Jamaic'　and　there　was　death　and　madness。〃　。。。　〃And　blood　on　the　walls　of　death；　mon；　a　curse　put　on　the　family　of　an　animal。〃　。。。　〃Sshh！　There　was　a　cat　mother　and　two　cat　children　。。。　！〃
　And　there　were　other　voices。　。。。　〃Dear　God；　keep　it　quiet！　It　could　ruin　what　tourism　we've　built！〃　。。。　〃Never　anything　like　this　before…an　isolated　incident；　obviously　drug　related；　brought　over　from　another　island！　。。。　〃All　too　true；　mon！　I　hear　it　was　a　madman；　his　body　filled　with　dope。〃　。。。　〃I'm　told　a　fast　boat　running　like　the　wind　of　a　hurricane　took　him　out　to　sea。　He's　gone！　。。。　Keep　it　quiet；　I　say！　Remember　the　Virgins？　The　Fountainhead　massacre？　It　took　them　years　to　recover。　Quiet！〃
　And　a　single　voice。　〃It's　a　trap；　sir；　and　if　successful；　as　we　believe　it　will　be；　we'll　be　the　talk　of　the　West　Indies；　the　heroes　of　the　Caribbean。　It'll　be　positively　marvelous　for　our　image。　Law　and　order　and　all　that。〃
　〃Thank　heavens！　Was　anyone　actually　killed？〃
　〃One　person；　and　she　was　in　the　act　of　taking　another's　life。〃
　〃She？　Good　God；　I　don't　want　to　hear　another　word　until　it's　all　over。〃
　〃It's　better　that　you　not　be　available　for　ment。〃
　〃Damned　good　idea。　I'll　go　out　on　the　boat；　the　fish　are　running　well　after　the　storm。〃
　〃Excellent；　sir。　And　I'll　stay　in　radio　contact　with　developments。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　shouldn't。　Anything　can　be　picked　up　out　there。〃
　〃I　only　meant　so　as　to　advise　you　when　to　return…at　the　appropriate　moment　to　make　a　most　advantageous　appearance。　I'll　fill　you　in；　of　course。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。　You're　a　good　man；　Henry。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Crown　Governor。〃
　It　was　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　they　held　each　other　fiercely；　but　there　was　no　time　for　talk；　only　the　brief　fort　of　being　together；　safe　together；　secure　in　the　knowledge　that　they　knew　things　the　Jackal　did　not　know　and　that　knowledge　gave　them　an　enormous　advantage。　Still；　it　was　only　an　advantage；　not　a　guarantee；　not　where　Carlos　was　concerned。　And　both　Jason　and　John　St。　Jacques　were　adamant：　Marie　and　the　children　were　being　flown　south　to　Guadeloupe's　Basse…Terre　island。　They　would　stay　there　with　the　Webbs'　regal　maid；　Mrs。　Cooper；　all　under　guard　until　they　were　called　back　to　Montserrat。　Marie　objected；　but　her　objections　were　met　with　silence；　her　husband's　orders　were　delivered　abruptly；　icily。
　〃You're　leaving　because　I　have　work　to　do。　We　won't　discuss　it　any　further。〃
　〃It's　Switzerland　again　。。。　Zurich　again；　isn't　it；　Jason？〃
　〃It's　whatever　you　like；〃　replied　Bourne；　now　preoccupied　as　the　three　of　them　stood　at　the　base　of　the　dock；　two　seaplanes　bobbing　in　the　water　only　yards　apart　at　the　far　end。　One　had　brought　Jason　directly　to　Tranquility　from　Antigua；　the　other　was　fueled　for　the　flight　to　Guadeloupe　with　Mrs。　Cooper　and　the　children　already　inside。　〃Hurry　up；　Marie；〃　added　Bourne。　〃I　want　to　go　over　things　with　Johnny　and　then　grill　those　two　old　scumballs。〃
　〃They're　not　scumballs；　David。　Because　of　them　we're　alive。〃
　〃Why？　Because　they　blew　it　and　had　to　turn　to　save　their　asses？〃
　〃That's　not　fair。〃
　〃It's　fair　until　I　say　otherwise；　and　they're　scum　until　they　convince　me　they're　not。　You　don't　know　the　Jackal's　old　men；　I　do。　They'll　say　anything；　do　anything；　lie　and　snivel　to　hell　and　back；　and　if　you　turn　the　other　way；　they'll　shove　a　knife　in　your　spine。　He　owns　them…body；　mind　and　what's　left　of　their　souls。　。。。　Now　get　to　the　plane；　it's　waiting。〃
　〃Don't　you　want　to　see　the　children；　tell　Jamie　that…〃
　〃No；　there　isn't　time！　Take　her　out　there；　Johnny。　I　want　to　check　the　beach。〃
　〃There's　nothing　I　haven't　checked；　David；〃　said　St。　Jacques；　his　voice　on　the　edge　of　defiance。
　〃I'll　tell　you　whether　you　have　or　not；〃　shot　back　Bourne；　his　eyes　angry　as　he　started　across　the　sand；　adding　in　a　loud　voice　without　looking　around；　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　dozen　questions　for　you；　and　I　hope　to　Christ　you　can　answer　them！〃
　St。　Jacques　tensed；　taking　a　step　forward　but　stopped　by　his　sister。　〃Leave　it　alone；　Bro；〃　said　Marie；　her　hand　on　his　arm。　〃He's　frightened。〃
　〃He's　what？　He's　one　nasty　son　of　a　bitch　is　what　he　is！〃
　〃Yes；　I　know。〃
　The　brother　looked　at　his　sister。　〃That　stranger　you　were　talking　about　yesterday　at　the　house？〃
　〃Yes；　only　now　it's　worse。　That's　why　he's　frightened。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃He's　older；　Johnny。　He's　fifty　now　and　he　wonders　if　he　can　still　do　the　things　he　did　before；　years　ago…in　the　war；　in　Paris；　in　Hong　Kong。　It's　all　gnawing　at　him；　eating　into　him；　because　he　knows　he's　got　to　be　better　than　he　ever　was。〃
　〃I　think　he　can　be。〃
　〃I　know　he　will　be；　for　he　has　an　extraordinary　reason　going　for　him。　A　wife　and　two　children　were　taken　from　him　once　before。　He　barely　remembers　them；　but　they're　at　the　core　of　his　torment；　Mo　Panov　believes　that　and　I　do；　too。　。。。　Now；　years　later；　another　wife　and　two　children　are　threatened。　Every　nerve　in　him　has　to　be　on　fire。〃
　Suddenly；　from　three　hundred　feet　away　on　the　beach；　Bourne's　voice　erupted；　splitting　through　the　breezes　from　the　sea。　〃Goddamn　it；　I　told　you　to　hurry！　。。。　And　you；　Mr。　Expert；　there's　a　reef　out　here　with　the　color　of　a　sandbar　beyond　it！　Have　you　considered　that？〃
　〃Don't　answer；　Johnny。　We'll　go　out　to　the　plane。〃
　〃A　sandbar？　What　the　hell's　he　talking　about？　。。。　Oh；　my　God；　I