rl.thebourneultimatum-第94章

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　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　said　Krupkin　emphatically。　〃All　the　relays　end　with　false　names　and　filthy　cafés。　Stone　walls！〃
　〃Still；　the　messages　get　through；〃　said　Alex　Conklin；　repeating　Lavier's　words。
　〃Yet　Kruppie's　correct。〃　The　aging　but　still　striking　woman　dragged　heavily；　nervously　on　her　cigarette。　〃The　routings　are　convoluted　to　the　point　of　being　untraceable。〃
　〃I　don't　care　about　that；〃　said　Alex；　squinting　at　nothing　the　others　could　see。　〃They　also　reach　Carlos　quickly；　you　made　that　clear。〃
　〃It's　true。〃
　Conklin　widened　his　eyes　and　fixed　them　on　Lavier。　〃I　want　you　to　send　the　most　urgent　message　you've　ever　relayed　to　the　Jackal。　You　must　talk　to　him　directly。　It's　an　emergency　that　you　can　entrust　to　no　one　but　Carlos　himself。〃
　〃About　what？〃　erupted　Krupkin。　〃What　could　be　so　urgent　that　the　Jackal　will　ply？　Like　our　Mr。　Bourne；　he　is　obsessed　with　traps；　and　under　the　circumstances；　any　direct　munication　smells　of　one！〃
　Alex　shook　his　head　and　limped　to　a　side　window；　squinting　again；　deep　in　thought；　his　intense　eyes　reflecting　his　concentration。　Then　gradually；　slowly；　his　eyes　opened。　He　gazed　at　the　street　below。　〃My　God；　it　could　work；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。
　〃What　could　work？〃　asked　Bourne。
　〃Dimitri；　hurry！　Call　the　embassy　and　have　them　send　over　the　biggest；　fanciest　diplomatic　limousine　you　proletarians　own。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Just　do　as　I　say！　Quickly！〃
　〃Aleksei　。。。　？〃
　〃Now！〃
　The　force　and　urgency　of　Conklin's　mand　had　its　effect。　The　Russian　walked　rapidly　to　the　mother…of…pearl　telephone　and　dialed；　his　questioning　eyes　on　Alex；　who　kept　staring　down　at　the　street。　Lavier　looked　at　Jason；　he　shook　his　head　in　bewilderment　as　Krupkin　spoke　into　the　phone；　his　Russian　a　short　series　of　clipped　phrases。
　〃It's　done；〃　said　the　KGB　officer；　hanging　up。　〃And　now　I　think　you　should　give　me　an　extremely　convincing　reason　for　doing　it。〃
　〃Moscow；〃　replied　Conklin；　still　looking　out　the　window。
　〃Alex；　for　Christ's　sake…〃
　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　roared　Krupkin。
　〃We've　got　to　get　Carlos　out　of　Paris；〃　said　Conklin；　turning。　〃Where　better　than　Moscow？〃　Before　the　astonished　men　could　respond；　Alex　looked　at　Lavier。　〃You　say　he　still　trusts　you？〃
　〃He　has　no　reason　not　to。〃
　〃Then　two　words　should　do　it。　'Moscow；　emergency；'　that's　the　basic　message　you're　sending　him。　Put　it　any　way　you　like；　but　add　that　the　crisis　is　of　such　a　nature　that　you　must　speak　only　with　him。〃
　〃But　I　never　have。　I　know　men　who　have　spoken　with　him；　who　in　drunken　moments　have　tried　to　describe　him；　but　to　me　he　is　a　plete　stranger。〃
　〃All　the　stronger　for　it；〃　broke　in　Conklin；　turning　to　Bourne　and　Krupkin。　〃In　this　city　he's　got　all　the　cards；　all　of　them。　He's　got　firepower；　an　untraceable　network　of　gunslingers　and　couriers；　and　for　every　crevice　he　can　crawl　into　and　burst　out　from；　there　are　dozens　more　available　to　him。　Paris　is　his　territory；　his　protection…we　could　run　blindly　all　over　the　city　for　days；　weeks；　even　months；　getting　nowhere　until　the　moment　es　when　he's　got　you　and　Marie　in　his　gun　sights　。。。　you　can　also　add　Mo　and　me　to　that　scenario。　London；　Amsterdam；　Brussels；　Rome…they'd　all　be　better　for　us　than　Paris；　but　the　best　is　Moscow。　Oddly　enough；　it's　the　one　place　in　the　world　that　has　a　hypnotic　hold　on　him…and　also　the　one　that's　the　least　hospitable。〃
　〃Aleksei；　Aleksei；〃　cried　Dimitri　Krupkin。　〃I　really　think　you　should　reconsider　alcohol；　for　it's　obvious　you've　lost　your　senses！　Say　Domie　actually　reaches　Carlos　and　tells　him　what　you　say。　Do　you　really　believe　that　on　the　basis　of　an　'emergency'　in　Moscow　he'll　up　and　take　the　next　plane　there？　Insanity！〃
　〃You　can　bet　your　last　black…market　ruble　I　do；〃　replied　Conklin。　〃That　message　is　only　to　convince　him　to　get　in　touch　with　her。　Once　he　does；　she　explodes　the　bomb。　。。。　She's　just　heard　an　extraordinary　piece　of　information　that　she　knew　should　only　be　conveyed　to　him；　not　sent　through　the　message　tunnels。〃
　〃And　what　in　God's　name　might　that　be？〃　asked　Lavier；　extracting　another　cigarette　and　instantly　lighting　it。
　〃The　KGB　in　Moscow　is　closing　in　on　the　Jackal's　man　in　Dzerzhinsky　Square。　They've　narrowed　it　down　to；　say；　ten　or　fifteen　officers　in　the　highest　ranks。　Once　they　find　him；　Carlos　is　neutralized　in　the　Komitet…worse；　he's　about　to　lose　an　informer　who　knows　far　too　much　about　him　to　the　Lubyanka　interrogators。〃
　〃But　how　would　she　know　that？〃　said　Jason。
　〃Who　would　tell　her？〃　added　Krupkin。
　〃It's　the　truth；　isn't　it？〃
　〃So　are　your　very　secret　substations　in　Beijing；　Kabul　and…forgive　my　impertinence…Canada's　Prince　Edward　Island；　but　you　don't　advertise　them；〃　said　Krupkin。
　〃I　didn't　know　about　Prince　Edward；〃　admitted　Alex。　〃Regardless；　there　are　times　when　advertisements　aren't　necessary；　only　the　means　to　convey　the　information　credibly。　A　few　minutes　ago　I　didn't　have　any　means；　only　authenticity；　but　that　gap　has　just　been　filled。　。。。　e　over　here；　Kruppie…just　you　for　the　moment；　and　stay　away　from　the　window。　Look　between　the　corner　of　the　drapes。〃　The　Soviet　did　as　he　was　told；　going　to　Conklin's　side　and　parting　the　fold　of　lace　fabric　from　the　wall。　〃What　do　you　see？〃　asked　Alex；　gesturing　at　a　shabby；　nondescript　brown　car　below　on　the　avenue　Montaigne。　〃Doesn't　do　much　for　the　neighborhood；　does　it？〃
　Krupkin　did　not　bother　to　reply。　Instead；　he　whipped　the　miniaturized　radio　from　his　pocket　and　pressed　the　transmitter　button。　〃Sergei；　there's　a　brown　automobile　roughly　eighty　meters　down　the　street　from　the　building's　entrance…〃
　〃We　know；　sir；〃　interrupted　the　aide。　〃We've　got　it　covered；　and　if　you'll　notice；　our　backup　is　parked　across　the　way。　It's　an　old　man　who　barely　moves　except　to　look　out　the　window。〃
　〃Does　he　have　a　car　telephone？〃
　〃No；　rade；　and　should　he　leave　the　automobile　he'll　be　followed；　so　there　can　be　no　outside　calls　unless　you　direct　otherwise。〃
　〃I　shall　not　direct　otherwise。　Thank　you；　Sergei。　Out。〃　The　Russian　looked　at　Conklin。　〃The　old　man；〃　he　said。　〃You　saw　him。〃
　〃Bald　head　and　all；〃　affirmed　Alex。　〃He's　not　a　fool；　he's　done　this　before　and　knows　he's　being　watched。　He　can't　leave　for　fear　of　missing　something；　and　if　he　had　a　phone　there'd　be　others　down　in　the　Montaigne。〃
　〃The　Jackal；〃　said　Bourne；　stepping　forward；　then　stopping；　remembering　Conklin's　order　to　stay　away　from　the　window。
　〃Now；　do　you　understand？〃　asked　Alex；　addressing　the　question　to　Krupkin。
　〃Of　course；〃　conceded　the　KGB　official；　smiling。　〃It's　why　you　wanted　an　ostentatious　limousine　from　our　embassy。　After　we　leave；　Carlos　is　told　that　a　Soviet　diplomatic　vehicle　was　sent　to　pick　us　up；　and　for　what　other　reason　would　we　be　here　but　to　interrogate　Madame　Lavier？　Naturally；　in　my　well…advertised　presence　was　a　tall　man　who　might　or　might　not　be　Jason　Bourne；　and　another　shorter　individual　with　a　disabled　leg…thus　confirming　that　it　was　Jason　Bourne。　。。。　Our　unholy　alliance　is　therefore　established　and　observed；　and　again；　naturally；　during　our　harsh　questioning　of　Madame　Lavier；　tempers　flared　and　references　were　made　to　the　Jackal's　informer　in　Dzerzhinsky　Square。〃
　〃Which　only　I'd　known　about　through　my　dealing　with　Santos　at　Le　Coeur　du　Soldat；〃　said　Jason　quietly。　〃So　Dominique　has　a　credible　observer…an　old　man　from　Carlos's　army　of　old　men…to　back　up　the　information　she　delivers。　。。。　I've　got　to　say　it；　Saint　Alex；　that　serpentine　brain　of　yours　hasn't　lost　its　cunning。〃
　〃I　hear　a　professor　I　once　knew。　。。。　I　thought　he'd　left　us。〃
　〃He　has。〃
　〃Only　for　a　while；　I　hope。〃
　〃Well　done；　Aleksei。　You　still　have　the　touch；　you　may　remain　abstemious　if　you　must；　much　as　it　pains　me。　。。。　It's　always　the　nuances；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Not　always　by　any　means；〃　disagreed　Conklin　simply；　shaking　his　head。　〃Most　of　the　time　it's　foolish　mistakes。　For　instance；　our　new　colleague　here；　'Domie；'　as　you　affectionately　call　her；　was　told　she　was　still　trusted；　but　she　wasn't；　not　pletely。　So　an　old　man　was　dispatched　to　watch　her　apartment…no　big　deal；　just　a　little　insurance　in　a　car　that　doesn't　belong　in　a　street　with　Jaguars　and　Rolls…Royces。　So　we　pay　off　on　the　small　policy；　and　with　luck　cash　in　on　the　big　one。　Moscow。〃
　〃Let　me　intellectualize；〃　said　Krupkin。　〃Although　you　were　always　far　better　in　that　department　than　I；　Aleksei。　I　prefer　the　best　wine　to　the　most　penetrating　thoughts；　although　the　latter…in　both　our　countries…invariably　leads　to　the　former。〃
　〃Merde！〃　yelled　Dominique　Lavier；　crushing　out　her　cigarette。　〃What　are　you　two　idiots　talking　about？〃
　〃They'll　tell　us；　believe　me；〃　answered　Bourne。
　〃As　has　been　reported　and　repeated　in　secure　circles　too　often　for　fort；〃　continued　the　Soviet；　〃years　ago　we　trained　a　madman　in　Novgorod；　and　years　ago　we　would　have　put　a　bullet　in　his　head　had　he　not　escaped。　His　methods；　if　sanctioned　by　any　legitimate　government；　especially　the　two　superpowers；　would　lead　to　confrontations　neither　of　us　can　ever　permit。　Yet；　withal；　in　the　beginning　he　was　a　true　revolutionary　with　a　capital　R；　and　we；　the　world's　truest　revolutionaries；　disinherited　him。　。。。　By　his　lights；　it　was　a　great　injustice　and　he　never　forgets　it。　He　will　always　yearn　to　e　back　to　the　mother's　breast；　for　that's　where　he　was　born。　。。。　Good　God；　the　people　he's　killed　in　the　name　of　'aggressors'　while　he　made　fortunes　is　positively　revolting！〃
　〃But　you　denied　him；〃　said　Jason　flatly；　〃and　he　wants　that　denial　reversed。　He　has　to　be　acknowledged　as　the　master　killer　you　trained。　That　psychopathic　ego　of　his　is　the　basis　for　every　thing　Alex　and　I　mounted。　。。。　Santos　said　he　continuously　bragged　about　the　cadre　he　was　building　in　Moscow…'Always　Moscow；　it's　an　obsession　with　him'…those　were　Santos's　words。　The　only　specific　person　he　knew　about；　and　not　by　name；　was　Carlos's　mole　high　up　in　the　KGB；　but　he　said　Carlos　claimed　to　have　others　in　key　positions　at　various　powerful　departments；　that　as　the　monseigneur　he'd　been　sending　them　money　for　years。〃
　〃So　the　Jackal　thinks　he　forms　a　core　of　supporters　within　our　government；〃　observed　Krupkin。　〃Despite　everything；　he　still　believes　he　can　e　back。　He　is；　indeed；　an　egomaniac　but　he's　never　understood　the　Russian　mind。　He　may　temporarily　corrupt　a　few　cynical　opportunists；　but　these　will　cover　themselves　and　turn　on　him。　No　one　looks　forward　to　a　stay　at　the　Lubyanka　or　a　Siberian　gulag。　The　Jackal's　Potemkin　village　will　burn　to　the　ground。〃
　〃All　the　more　reason　for　him　to　race　to　Moscow　and　put　out　the　brushfires；〃　said　Alex。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Bourne。
　〃The　burning　will　start　with　the　exposure　of　Carlos's　man　in　Dzerzhinsky　Square；　he'll　know　that。　The　only　way　to　prevent　it　is　for　him　to　reach　Moscow　and　make　a　determination。　Either　his　informer　will　elude　internal　security　or　the　Jackal　will　have　to　kill　him。〃
　〃I　forgot；〃　interrupted　Bourne。　〃Something　else　Santos　said　。。。　most　of　the　Russians　on　Carlos's　payroll　spoke　French。　Look　for　a　man　high　up　in　the　Komitet　who　speaks　French。〃
　Krupkin's　radio　again　intruded；　the　two　piercing　beeps　barely　muffled　by　his　jacket。　He　pulled　it　out　and　spoke。　〃Yes？〃
　〃I　don't　know　how　or　why；　rade；〃　said　the　tense　voice　of　Sergei；　〃but　the　ambassador's　limousine　has　just　arrived　at　the　build