rl.thebourneultimatum-第87章

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re　four　drummers；　two　on　each　side；　their　snare　drums　snapping　out　the　slow　cadence　of　the　death　march；　erratically　out　of　sequence　because　of　the　unexpected　rocks　and　the　unseen　flat　grave　markers　in　the　darkness　of　the　bordering　grass。　Shaking　his　head　slowly　in　bewilderment；　Morris　Panov　watched　the　strange　nocturnal　burial　rite；　relieved　to　see　Alex　Conklin　limping；　threading　his　way　between　the　tombstones　toward　their　meeting　ground。
　〃Any　sign　of　them？〃　asked　Alex。
　〃None；〃　replied　Panov。　〃I　gather　you　didn't　do　any　better。〃
　〃Worse。　I　got　stuck　with　a　lunatic。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃A　light　was　on　in　the　gatehouse；　so　I　went　over　thinking　David　or　Marie　might　have　left　us　a　message。　There　was　a　clown　outside　who　kept　looking　into　a　window　and　said　he　was　the　watchman　and　did　I　want　to　rent　his　telephone。〃
　〃His　telephone？〃
　〃He　said　there　were　special　rates　for　the　night；　as　the　nearest　pay　phone　was　ten　kilometers　down　the　road。〃
　〃A　lunatic；〃　agreed　Panov。
　〃I　explained　that　I　was　looking　for　a　man　and　a　woman　I　was　to　meet　here　and　wondered　if　they'd　left　a　message。　There　was　no　message　but　there　was　the　telephone。　Two　hundred　francs…crazy。〃
　〃I　might　do　a　flourishing　business　in　Paris；〃　said　Mo；　smiling。　〃Did　he　by　any　chance　see　a　couple　wandering　around？〃
　〃I　asked　him　that　and　he　nodded　affirmative；　saying　there　were　dozens。　Then　he　pointed　to　that　candlelight　parade　over　there　before　going　back　to　his　goddamn　window。〃
　〃What　is　that　parade；　incidentally？〃
　〃I　asked　him　that；　too。　It's　a　religious　cult；　they　bury　their　dead　only　at　night。　He　thinks　they　may　be　gypsies。　He　said　that　while　blessing　himself。〃
　〃They're　going　to　be　wet　gypsies；〃　observed　Panov；　pulling　up　his　collar　as　the　drizzle　turned　into　rain。
　〃Christ；　why　didn't　I　think　of　it？〃　exclaimed　Conklin；　looking　over　his　shoulder。
　〃The　rain？〃　asked　the　bewildered　psychiatrist。
　〃No；　the　large　tomb　halfway　up　the　hill　beyond　the　gatehouse。　It's　where　it　happened！〃
　〃Where　you　tried　to…〃　Mo　did　not　finish　the　question；　he　did　not　have　to。
　〃Where　he　could　have　killed　me　but　didn't；〃　pleted　Alex。　〃e　on！〃
　The　two　Americans　retreated　down　the　gravel　path　past　the　gatehouse　and　into　the　darkness　of　the　rising　hill　of　grass　punctuated　by　white　gravestones　now　glistening　in　the　rain。　〃Easy；〃　cried　Panov；　out　of　breath。　〃You're　used　to　that　nonexistent　foot　of　yours；　but　I　haven't　quite　adjusted　to　my　pristine　body　having　been　raped　by　chemicals。〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　〃Mo！〃　shouted　a　woman's　voice　from　a　marble　portico　above。　The　figure　waved　her　arms　beneath　the　pillared；　overhanging　roof　of　a　grave　so　large　it　looked　like　a　minor　mausoleum。
　〃Marie？〃　yelled　Panov；　rushing　ahead　of　Conklin。
　〃That's　nice！〃　roared　Alex；　limping　with　difficulty　up　the　wet　slippery　grass。　〃You　hear　the　sound　of　a　female　and　suddenly　you're　unraped。　You　need　a　shrink；　you　phony！〃
　The　embraces　were　meant；　a　family　was　together。　While　Panov　and　Marie　spoke　quietly；　Jason　Bourne　took　Conklin　aside　to　the　edge　of　the　short　marble　roof；　the　rain　now　harsh。　The　former　candlelight　procession　below；　the　flickering　flames　now　gone；　was　half　scattered；　half　holding　its　position　by　a　gravesite。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　choose　this　place；　Alex；〃　said　Jason。　〃But　with　that　crowd　down　there　I　couldn't　think　of　another。〃
　〃Remember　the　gatehouse　and　that　wide　path　to　the　parking　lot？　。。。　You'd　won。　I　was　out　of　ammunition　and　you　could　have　blown　my　head　apart。〃
　〃You're　wrong；　how　many　times　have　I　told　you？　I　couldn't　have　killed　you。　It　was　in　your　eyes；　even　though　I　wasn't　able　to　see　them　clearly　I　knew　what　was　there。　Anger　and　confusion；　but；　above　all；　confusion。〃
　〃That's　never　been　a　reason　not　to　kill　a　man　who　tries　to　kill　you。〃
　〃It　is　if　you　can't　remember。　The　memory　may　be　gone　but　not　the　fragments；　not　the…well；　for　me　they　were　。。。　pulsating　images。　In　and　out；　in　and　out；　but　there。〃
　Conklin　looked　up　at　Bourne；　a　sad　grin　on　his　face。　〃The　pulsating　bit；〃　he　said。　〃That　was　Mo's　term。　You　stole　it。〃
　〃Probably；〃　said　Jason　as　both　men　in　unison　looked　back　at　Marie　and　Panov。　〃She's　talking　about　me；　you　know　that；　don't　you？〃
　〃Why　not？　She's　concerned　and　he's　concerned。〃
　〃I　hate　to　think　how　many　more　concerns　I'll　give　them　both。　You；　too；　I　imagine。〃
　〃What　are　you　trying　to　tell　me；　David？〃
　〃Just　that。　Forget　David。　David　Webb　doesn't　exist；　not　here；　not　now。　He's　an　act　I　put　on　for　his　wife；　and　I　do　it　badly。　I　want　her　to　go　back　to　the　States；　to　her　children。〃
　〃Her　children？　She　won't　do　it。　She　came　over　to　find　you　and　she　found　you。　She　remembers　Paris　thirteen　years　ago　and　she　won't　leave　you。　Without　her　then　you　wouldn't　be　alive　today。〃
　〃She's　an　impediment。　She　has　to　go。　I'll　find　a　way。〃
　Alex　looked　up　at　the　cold　eyes　of　the　creation　once　known　as　the　Chameleon　and　spoke　quietly。　〃You're　a　fifty…year…old　man；　Jason。　This　isn't　Paris　thirteen　years　ago　or　Saigon　years　before　that。　It's　now；　and　you　need　all　the　help　you　can　get。　If　she　thinks　she　can　provide　a　measure　of　it；　I　for　one　believe　her。〃
　Bourne　snapped　his　head　down　at　Conklin。　〃I'll　be　the　judge　of　who　believes　what。〃
　〃That's　a　touch　extreme；　pal。〃
　〃You　know　what　I　mean；〃　said　Jason；　softening　his　tone。　〃I　don't　want　to　have　happen　here　what　happened　in　Hong　Kong。　That　can't　be　a　problem　for　you。〃
　〃Maybe　not。　。。。　Look；　let's　get　out　of　here。　Our　driver　knows　a　little　country　restaurant　in　Epernon；　about　six　miles　from　here；　where　we　can　talk。　We've　got　several　things　to　go　over。〃
　〃Tell　me；〃　said　Bourne。　〃Why　Panov？　Why　did　you　bring　Mo　with　you？〃
　〃Because　if　I　hadn't　he　would　have　put　strychnine　in　my　flu　shot。〃
　〃What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃
　〃Exactly　what　it　says。　He's　a　part　of　us；　and　you　know　it　better　than　Marie　or　myself。〃
　〃Something　happened　to　him；　didn't　it？　Something　happened　to　him　because　of　me。〃
　〃It's　over　with　and　he's　back；　that's　all　you　have　to　know　now。〃
　〃It　was　Medusa；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　but　I　repeat；　he's　back；　and　outside　of　being　a　little　tired；　he's　okay。〃
　〃Little　。。。　？　Which　reminds　me。　A　little　country　restaurant　six　miles　from　here；　isn't　that　what　your　driver　said？〃
　〃Yes；　he　knows　Paris　and　everything　around　it　thoroughly。〃
　〃Who　is　he？〃
　〃A　French　Algerian　who's　worked　for　the　Agency　for　years。　Charlie　Casset　recruited　him　for　us。　He's　tough；　knowledgeable　and　very　well　paid　for　both。　Above　all；　he　can　be　trusted。〃
　〃I　suppose　that's　good　enough。〃
　〃Don't　suppose；　accept　it。〃
　They　sat　in　a　booth　at　the　rear　of　the　small　country　inn；　plete　with　a　worn　canopy；　hard　pine　banquettes　and　perfectly　acceptable　wine。　The　owner；　an　expansive；　florid　fat　man；　proclaimed　the　cuisine　to　be　extraordinary；　but　since　no　one　could　summon　hunger；　Bourne　paid　for　four　entrées　just　to　keep　the　proprietor　happy。　It　did。　The　owner　sent　over　two　large　carafes　of　good　vin　ordinaire　along　with　a　bottle　of　mineral　water；　and　stayed　away　from　the　table。
　〃All　right；　Mo；〃　said　Jason；　〃you　won't　tell　me　what　happened；　or　who　did　it；　but　you're　still　the　same　functioning；　overbearing；　verbose　medicine　man　with　a　chicken　in　his　mouth　we've　known　for　thirteen　years；　am　I　correct？〃
　〃Correct；　you　schizophrenic　escapee　from　Bellevue。　And　in　case　you　think　I'm　being　heroic；　let　me　make　it　absolutely　clear　that　I'm　here　only　to　protect　my　nonmedical　civil　rights。　My　paramount　interest　is　with　my　adorable　Marie；　who　I　trust　you'll　notice　is　sitting　beside　me；　not　you。　I　positively　salivate　thinking　about　her　meat　loaf。〃
　〃Oh；　how　I　do　love　you；　Mo；〃　said　David　Webb's　wife；　squeezing　Panov's　arm。
　〃Let　me　count　the　ways；〃　responded　the　doctor；　kissing　her　cheek。
　〃I'm　here；〃　said　Conklin。　〃My　name　is　Alex　and　I　have　a　couple　of　things　to　talk　about　and　they　don't　include　meat　loaf。　。。。　Although　I　should　tell　you；　Marie；　I　told　Peter　Holland　yesterday　that　it　was　terrific。〃
　〃What's　with　my　damned　meat　loaf？〃
　〃It's　the　red　sauce；〃　interjected　Panov。
　〃May　we　get　to　what　we're　here　for；〃　said　Jason　Bourne；　his　voice　a　monotone。
　〃Sorry；　darling。〃
　〃We'll　be　working　with　the　Soviets。〃　Conklin　spoke　quickly；　his　rush　of　words　countering　the　immediate　reaction　from　Bourne　and　Marie。　〃It's　all　right；　I　know　the　contact；　I've　known　him　for　years；　but　Washington　doesn't　know　I　know　him。　His　name　is　Krupkin；　Dimitri　Krupkin；　and　as　I　told　Mo；　he　can　be　bought　for　five　pieces　of　silver。〃
　〃Give　him　thirty…one；〃　interrupted　Bourne；　〃to　make　sure　he's　on　our　side。〃
　〃I　figured　you'd　say　that。　Do　you　have　a　ceiling？〃
　〃None。〃
　〃Not　so　fast；〃　said　Marie。　〃What's　a　negotiable　starting　point？〃
　〃Our　economist　speaks；〃　proclaimed　Panov；　drinking　his　wine。
　〃Considering　his　position　in　the　Paris　KGB；　I'd　say　around　fifty　thousand；　American。〃
　〃Offer　him　thirty…five　and　escalate　to　seventy…five　under　pressure。　Up　to　a　hundred；　if　necessary；　of　course。〃
　〃For　Christ's　sake；〃　cried　Jason；　controlling　his　voice。　〃We're　talking　about　us；　about　the　Jackal。　Give　him　anything　he　wants！〃
　〃Too　easily　bought；　too　easily　turned　to　another　source。　To　a　counteroffer。〃
　〃Is　she　right？〃　asked　Bourne；　staring　at　Conklin。
　〃Normally；　of　course；　but　in　this　case　it　would　have　to　be　the　equivalent　of　a　workable　diamond　mine。　No　one　wants　Carlos　in　the　dead　file　more　than　the　Soviets；　and　the　man　who　brings　in　his　corpse　will　be　the　hero　of　the　Kremlin。　Remember；　he　was　trained　at　Novgorod。　Moscow　never　forgets　that。〃
　〃Then　do　as　she　says；　only　buy　him；〃　said　Jason。
　〃I　understand。〃　Conklin　leaned　forward；　turning　his　glass　of　water。　〃I'll　call　him　tonight；　pay　phone　to　pay　phone；　and　get　it　settled。　Then　I'll　arrange　a　meeting　tomorrow；　maybe　lunch　somewhere　outside　of　Paris。　Very　early；　before　the　regulars　e　in。〃
　〃Why　not　here？〃　asked　Bourne。　〃You　can't　get　much　more　remote　and　I'll　know　the　way。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　agreed　Alex。　〃I'll　talk　to　the　owner。　But　not　the　four　of　us；　just…Jason　and　me。〃
　〃I　assumed　that；〃　said　Bourne　coldly。　〃Marie's　not　to　be　involved。　She's　not　to　be　seen　or　heard；　is　that　clear？〃
　〃David；　really…〃
　〃Yes；　really。〃
　〃I'll　go　over　and　stay　with　her；〃　interrupted　Panov　quickly。　〃Meat　loaf？〃　he　added；　obviously　to　lessen　the　tension。
　〃I　don't　have　a　kitchen；　but　there's　a　lovely　restaurant　that　serves　fresh　trout。〃
　〃One　sacrifices；〃　sighed　the　psychiatrist。
　〃I　think　you　should　eat　in　the　room。〃　Bourne's　voice　was　now　adamant。
　〃I　will　not　be　a　prisoner；〃　said　Marie　quietly；　her　gaze　fixed　on　her　husband。　〃Nobody　knows　who　we　are　or　where　we　are；　and　I　submit　that　someone　who　locks　herself　in　her　room　and　is　never　seen　draws　far　more　attention　than　a　perfectly　normal　Frenchwoman　who　goes　about　her　normal　business　of　living。〃
　〃She's　got　a　point；〃　observed　Alex。　〃If　Carlos　has　his　network　calling　around；　someone　behaving　abnormally　could　be　picked　up。　Besides；　Panov's　from　left　field…pretend　you're　a　doctor　or　something；　Mo。　Nobody'll　believe　it；　but　it'll　add　a　touch　of　class。　For　reasons　that　escape　me；　doctors　are　usually　above　suspicion。〃
　〃Psychopathic　ingrate；〃　mumbled　Panov。
　〃May　we　get　back　to　business？〃　said　Bourne　curtly。
　〃You're　very　rude；　David。〃
　〃I'm　very　impatient；　do　you　mind？〃
　〃Okay；　cool　it；〃　said　Conklin。　〃We're　all　uptigh