rl.thebourneultimatum-第7章

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　〃Christ；　what　have　I　done？〃　exclaimed　the　psychiatrist。
　〃Nothing　anybody　else　in　your　place　wouldn't　have　done；〃　replied　Alex。　〃You　get　a　message　at　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　from　someone　you　care　about；　someone　in　trouble；　you　call　back　as　fast　as　you　can。　Now　we　have　to　reach　him　as　fast　as　we　can。　So　it's　not　Carlos；　but　somebody　with　a　lot　of　firepower　is　still　closing　in；　making　breakthroughs　we　thought　were　impossible。〃
　〃Use　the　phone　in　my　car；〃　said　Holland。　〃I'll　put　it　on　override。　There'll　be　no　record；　no　log。〃
　〃Let's　go！〃　As　quickly　as　possible；　Conklin　limped　across　the　lawn　toward　the　Agency　vehicle。
　〃David；　it's　Alex。〃
　〃Your　timing's　pretty　scary；　friend；　we're　on　our　way　out　the　door。　If　Jamie　hadn't　had　to　hit　the　potty　we'd　be　in　the　car　by　now。〃
　〃At　this　hour？〃
　〃Didn't　Mo　tell　you？　There　was　no　answer　at　your　place；　so　I　called　him。〃
　〃Mo's　a　little　shook　up。　Tell　me　yourself。　What's　happening？〃
　〃Is　this　phone　secure？　I　wasn't　sure　his　was。〃
　〃None　more　so。〃
　〃I'm　packing　Marie　and　the　kids　off　south…way　south。　She's　screaming　like　hell；　but　I　chartered　a　Rockwell　jet　out　of　Logan　Airport；　everything　precleared　thanks　to　the　arrangements　you　made　four　years　ago。　The　puters　spun　and　everyone　cooperated。　They　take　off　at　six　o'clock；　before　it's　light…I　want　them　out。〃
　〃And　you；　David？　What　about　you？〃
　〃Frankly；　I　thought　I'd　head　to　Washington　and　stay　with　you。　If　the　Jackal's　ing　for　me　after　all　these　years；　I　want　to　be　in　on　what　we're　doing　about　it。　I　might　even　be　able　to　help。　。。。　I'll　arrive　by　noon。〃
　〃No；　David。　Not　today　and　not　here。　Go　with　Marie　and　the　children。　Get　out　of　the　country。　Stay　with　your　family　and　Johnny　St。　Jacques　on　the　island。〃
　〃I　can't　do　that；　Alex；　and　if　you　were　me　you　couldn't；　either。　My　family's　not　going　to　be　free…really　free…until　Carlos　is　out　of　our　lives。〃
　〃It's　not　Carlos；〃　said　Conklin；　interrupting。
　〃What？　Yesterday　you　told　me…〃
　〃Forget　what　I　told　you；　I　was　wrong。　This　is　out　of　Hong　Kong；　out　of　Macao。〃
　〃That　doesn't　make　sense；　Alex！　Hong　Kong's　finished；　Macao's　finished。　They're　dead　and　forgotten　and　there's　no　one　alive　with　a　reason　to　e　after　me。〃
　〃There　is　somewhere。　A　great　taipan；　'the　greatest　taipan　in　Hong　Kong；'　according　to　the　most　recent　and　most　recently　dead　source。〃
　〃They're　gone。　That　whole　house　of　Kuomintang　cards　collapsed。　There's　no　one　left！〃
　〃I　repeat；　there　is　somewhere。〃
　David　Webb　was　briefly　silent；　then　Jason　Bourne　spoke；　his　voice　cold。　〃Tell　me　everything　you've　learned；　every　detail。　Something　happened　tonight。　What　was　it？〃
　〃All　right；　every　detail；〃　said　Conklin。　The　retired　intelligence　officer　described　the　controlled　surveillance　engineered　by　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency。　He　explained　how　he　and　Morris　Panov　spotted　the　old　men　who　followed　them；　picking　each　up　in　sequence　as　they　made　their　separate　ways　to　the　Smithsonian；　none　showing　himself　in　the　light　until　the　confrontation　on　a　deserted　path　on　the　Smithsonian　grounds；　where　the　messenger　spoke　of　Macao　and　Hong　Kong　and　a　great　taipan。　Finally；　Conklin　described　the　shattering　gunfire　that　silenced　the　two　aged　Orientals。　〃It's　out　of　Hong　Kong；　David。　The　reference　to　Macao　confirms　it。　It　was　your　impostor's　base　camp。〃
　Again　there　was　silence　on　the　line；　only　Jason　Bourne's　steady　breathing　audible。　〃You're　wrong；　Alex；〃　he　said　at　last；　his　voice　pensive；　floating。　〃It's　the　Jackal…by　way　of　Hong　Kong　and　Macao；　but　it's　still　the　Jackal。〃
　〃David；　now　you're　not　making　sense。　Carlos　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　taipans　or　Hong　Kong　or　messages　from　Macao。　Those　old　men　were　Chinese；　not　French　or　Italian　or　German　or　whatever。　This　is　out　of　Asia；　not　Europe。〃
　〃The　old　men；　they're　the　only　ones　he　trusts；〃　continued　David　Webb；　his　voice　still　low　and　cold；　the　voice　of　Jason　Bourne。　〃　'The　old　men　of　Paris；'　that's　what　they　were　called。　They　were　his　network；　his　couriers　throughout　Europe。　Who　suspects　decrepit　old　men；　whether　they're　beggars　or　whether　they're　just　holding　on　to　the　last　remnants　of　mobility？　Who　would　think　of　interrogating　them；　much　less　putting　them　on　a　rack。　And　even　then　they'd　stay　silent。　Their　deals　were　made…are　made…and　they　move　with　impunity。　For　Carlos。〃
　For　a　moment；　hearing　the　strange；　hollow　voice　of　his　friend；　the　frightened　Conklin　stared　at　the　dashboard；　unsure　of　what　to　say。　〃David；　I　don't　understand　you。　I　know　you're　upset…we're　all　upset…but　please　be　clearer。〃
　〃What？　。。。　Oh；　I'm　sorry；　Alex；　I　was　going　back。　To　put　it　simply；　Carlos　scoured　Paris　looking　for　old　men　who　were　either　dying　or　knew　they　hadn't　long　to　live　because　of　their　age；　all　with　police　records　and　with　little　or　nothing　to　show　for　their　lives；　their　crimes。　Most　of　us　forget　that　these　old　men　have　loved　ones　and　children；　legitimate　or　not；　that　they　care　for。　The　Jackal　would　find　them　and　swear　to　provide　for　the　people　his　about…to…die　couriers　left　behind　if　they　swore　the　rest　of　their　lives　to　him。　In　their　places；　with　nothing　to　leave　those　who　survive　us　but　suspicion　and　poverty；　which　of　us　would　do　otherwise？〃
　〃They　believed　him？〃
　〃They　had　good　reason　to…they　still　have。　Scores　of　bank　checks　are　delivered　monthly　from　multiple　unlisted　Swiss　accounts　to　inheritors　from　the　Mediterranean　to　the　Baltic。　There's　no　way　to　trace　those　payments；　but　the　people　receiving　them　know　who　makes　them　possible　and　why。　。。。　Forget　your　buried　file；　Alex。　Carlos　dug　around　Hong　Kong；　that's　where　his　penetration　was　made；　where　he　found　you　and　Mo。〃
　〃Then　we'll　do　some　penetrating　ourselves。　We'll　infiltrate　every　Oriental　neighborhood；　every　Chinese　bookie　joint　and　restaurant；　in　every　city　within　a　fifty…mile　radius　of　D。C。〃
　〃Don't　do　anything　until　I　get　there。　You　don't　know　what　to　look　for；　I　do。　。。。　It's　kind　of　remarkable；　really。　The　Jackal　doesn't　know　that　there's　still　a　great　deal　I　can't　remember；　but　he　just　assumed　that　I'd　forgotten　about　the　old　men　of　Paris。〃
　〃Maybe　he　didn't；　David。　Maybe　he's　counting　on　the　fact　that　you'd　remember。　Maybe　this　whole　charade　is　a　prelude　to　the　real　trap　he's　setting　for　you。〃
　〃Then　he　made　another　mistake。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃I'm　better　than　that。　Jason　Bourne's　better　than　that。〃
　
　4
　David　Webb　walked　through　the　National　Airport　terminal　and　out　the　automatic　doors　onto　the　crowded　platform。　He　studied　the　signs　and　proceeded　across　the　walkway　leading　to　the　Short…Term　Parking　area。　According　to　plan；　he　was　to　go　to　the　farthest　aisle　on　the　right；　turn　left；　and　continue　down　the　row　of　parked　cars　until　he　saw　a　metallic　gray　1986　Pontiac　LeMans　with　an　ornamental　crucifix　suspended　from　the　rearview　mirror。　A　man　would　be　in　the　driver's　seat　wearing　a　white　cap；　the　window　lowered。　Webb　was　to　approach　him　and　say；　〃The　flight　was　very　smooth。〃　If　the　man　removed　his　cap　and　started　the　engine；　David　was　to　climb　in　the　backseat。　Nothing　more　would　be　said。
　Nothing　more　was　said；　not　between　Webb　and　the　driver。　However；　the　latter　reached　under　the　dashboard；　removed　a　microphone　and　spoke　quietly　but　clearly。　〃Our　cargo's　on　board。　Please　mence　rotating　vehicle　cover。〃
　David　thought　that　the　exotic　procedures　bordered　on　the　laughable；　but　since　Alex　Conklin　had　traced　him　to　the　Rockwell　jet's　departure　area　at　Logan　Airport；　and；　further；　had　reached　him　on　Director　Peter　Holland's　private　override　telephone；　he　assumed　the　two　of　them　knew　what　they　were　doing。　It　crossed　Webb's　mind　that　it　had　something　to　do　with　Mo　Panov's　call　to　him　nine　hours　ago。　It　was　all　but　confirmed　when　Holland　himself　got　on　the　phone　insisting　that　he　drive　down　to　Hartford　and　take　a　mercial　flight　out　of　Bradley　to　Washington；　adding　enigmatically　that　he　wanted　no　further　telephone　munication　or　private　or　government　aircraft　involved。
　This　particular　government…oriented　car；　however；　wasted　no　time　getting　out　of　National　Airport。　It　seemed　as　if　in　only　minutes　they　were　rushing　through　the　countryside　and；　only　minimally　less　rapidly；　through　the　suburbs　of　Virginia。　They　swung　up　to　the　private　gate　of　an　expensive　garden　apartment　plex；　the　sign　reading　VIENNA　VILLAS；　after　the　township　in　which　it　was　located。　The　guard　obviously　recognized　the　driver　and　waved　him　through　as　the　heavy　bar　across　the　entrance　was　raised。　It　was　only　then　that　the　driver　spoke　directly　to　Webb。
　〃This　place　has　five　separate　sections　over　as　many　acres；　sir。　Four　of　them　are　legitimate　condominiums　with　regular　owners；　but　the　fifth；　the　one　farthest　from　the　gate；　is　an　Agency　proprietary　with　its　own　road　and　security。　You　couldn't　be　healthier；　sir。〃
　〃I　didn't　feel　particularly　sick。〃
　〃You　won't　be。　You're　DCI　cargo　and　your　health　is　very　important　to　him。〃
　〃That's　nice　to　know；　but　how　do　you　know？〃
　〃I'm　part　of　the　team；　sir。〃
　〃In　that　case；　what's　your　name？〃
　The　driver　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　when　he　answered；　David　had　the　uneasy　feeling　that　he　was　being　propelled　back　in　time；　to　a　time　he　knew　he　was　reentering。　〃We　don't　have　names；　sir。　You　don't　and　I　don't。〃
　Medusa。
　〃I　understand；〃　said　Webb。
　〃Here　we　are。〃　The　driver　swung　the　car　around　a　circular　drive　and　stopped　in　front　of　a　two…story　Colonial　structure　that　looked　as　though　the　fluted　white　pillars　might　have　been　made　of　Carrara　marble。　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　I　just　noticed。　You　don't　have　any　luggage。〃
　〃No；　I　don't；〃　said　David；　opening　the　door。
　〃How　do　you　like　my　temporary　digs？〃　asked　Alex；　waving　his　hand　around　the　tastefully　appointed　apartment。
　〃Too　neat　and　too　clean　for　a　cantankerous　old　bachelor；〃　replied　David。　〃And　since　when　did　you　go　in　for　floral　curtains　with　pink　and　yellow　daisies？〃
　〃Wait！　You'll　see　the　wallpaper　in　my　bedroom。　It's　got　baby　roses。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　care　to。〃
　〃Your　room　has　hyacinths。　。。。　Of　course；　I　wouldn't　know　a　hyacinth　if　it　jumped　up　and　choked　me；　but　that's　what　the　maid　said。〃
　〃The　maid？〃
　〃Late　forties　and　black　and　built　like　a　sumo　wrestler。　She　also　carries　two　popguns　under　her　skirt　and；　rumor　has　it；　several　straight　razors。〃
　〃Some　maid。〃
　〃Some　high…powered　patrol。　She　doesn't　let　a　bar　of　soap　or　a　roll　of　toilet　paper　in　here　that　doesn't　e　from　Langley。　You　know；　she's　a　pay…grade　ten　and　some　of　these　clowns　leave　her　tips。〃
　〃Do　they　need　any　waiters？〃
　〃That's　good。　Our　scholar；　Webb　the　waiter。〃
　〃Jason　Bourne's　been　one。〃
　Conklin　paused；　then　spoke　seriously。　〃Let's　get　to　him；〃　he　said；　limping　to　an　armchair。　〃By　the　way；　you've　had　a　rough　day　and　it's　not　even　noon；　so　if　you　want　a　drink　there's　a　full　bar　behind　those　puce　shutters　next　to　the　window。　。。。　Don't　look　at　me　like　that；　our　black　Brunhilde　said　they　were　puce。〃
　Webb　laughed；　it　was　a　low；　genuine　laugh　as　he　looked　at　his　friend。　〃It　doesn't　bother　you　a　bit；　does　it；　Alex？〃
　〃Hell；　no；　you　know　that。　Have　you　ever　hid　any　liquor　from　me　when　I　visited　you　and　Marie？〃
　〃There　was　never　any　stress…〃
　〃Stress　is　irrelevant；〃　Conklin　broke　in。　〃I　made　a　decision　because　there　was　only　one　other　one　to　make。　Have　a　drink；　David。　We　have　to　talk　and　I　want　you　calm。　I　look　at　your　eyes　and　they　tell　me　you'