tc.redrabbit-第102章

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；　mainly　an　American　operation；　and　it's　Arthur's　place　to　speak　to　him　first。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　suppose　so。　But　when　I　do　talk　to　him；　I　want　him　to　know　that　we　are　taking　it　with　the　utmost　seriousness；　and　that　we　expect　him　to　take　some　substantive　action。〃
　　　〃Prime　Minister；　I　should　think　he　will　not　take　it　lying　down；　as　it　were。〃
　　　〃I　agree。　He's　such　a　good　chap。〃　The　full　story　on　America's　covert　support　for　the　Falkland　Islands　War　would　not　see　the　light　of　day　for　many　years。　America　had　to　keep　her　fences　with　South　America　well　mended；　after　all。　But　neither　was　the　PM　one　to　forget　such　assistance；　covert　or　not。
　　　〃This　BEATRIX　operation；　it　was　well　executed？〃　she　asked　C。
　　　〃Flawlessly；　ma'am；〃　Charleston　assured　her。　〃Our　people　did　everything　exactly　by　the　book。〃
　　　〃I　trust　you　will　look　after　those　who　carried　it　out。〃
　　　〃Most　certainly；　ma'am；〃　C　assured　her。
　　　〃Good。　Thank　you　for　ing　over；　Sir　Basil。〃
　　　〃A　pleasure　as　always；　Prime　Minister。〃　Charleston　stood；　thinking　that　that　Ryan　fellow　would　have　called　her　his　sort　of　broad。　As；　indeed；　she　was。　But　all　the　way　back　to　Century　House；　he　worried　about　the　operation　he　now　had　to　get　under　way。　What；　exactly；　would　he　be　doing　about　it？　Figuring　such　things　out；　of　course；　was　why　he　was　so　lavishly　paid。
　　　〃Hi；　honey；〃　Ryan　said。
　　　〃Where　are　you？〃　Cathy　asked　at　once。
　　　〃I　can't　say　exactly；　but　I'm　back　in　England。　The　thing　I　had　to　do　on　the　continent…well；　it　developed　into　something　I　have　to　look　after　here。〃
　　　〃Can　you　e　home　and　see　us？〃
　　　〃'Fraid　not。〃　One　major　problem　was　that；　although　his　Chatham　home　was　actually　within　driving　distance；　he　wasn't　confident　enough　yet　to　drive　that　far　without　crunching　himself　on　a　side　road。　〃Everybody　okay？〃
　　　〃We're　fine；　except　that　you　aren't　here；〃　Cathy　responded；　with　an　edge　of　anger/disappointment　in　her　voice。　One　thing　she　was　sure　of：　Wherever　Jack　had　been；　it　sure　as　hell　hadn't　been　Germany。　But　she　couldn't　say　that　over　the　phone。　She　understood　the　intelligence　business　that　much。
　　　〃I'm　sorry；　babe。　I　can　tell　you　that　what　I'm　doing　is　pretty　important；　but　that's　all。〃
　　　〃I'm　sure；〃　she　conceded。　And　she　understood　that　Jack　wanted　to　be　home　with　his　family。　He　wasn't　one　to　skip　town　for　the　fun　of　it。
　　　〃How's　work？〃
　　　〃I　did　glasses　all　day。　Got　some　surgery　tomorrow　morning；　though。　Wait　a　minute；　here's　Sally。〃
　　　〃Hi；　Daddy；〃　a　new　and　small　voice　said。
　　　〃Hi；　Sally。　How　are　you？〃
　　　〃Fine。〃　What　kids　always　said。
　　　〃What　did　you　do　today？〃
　　　〃Miss　Margaret　and　I　colored。〃
　　　〃Anything　good？〃
　　　〃Yeah；　cows　and　horses！〃　she　reported　with　considerable　enthusiasm。　Sally　especially　liked　pelicans　and　cows。
　　　〃Well；　I　need　to　talk　to　Mommy。〃
　　　〃Okay。〃　And　Sally　would　think　of　this　as　a　deep　and　weighty　conversation；　as　she　went　back　to　the　Wizzerdaboz　tape　in　the　living　room。
　　　〃And　how's　the　little　guy？〃　Jack　asked　his　wife。
　　　〃Chewing　on　his　hands；　mostly。　He's　in　the　playpen　right　now；　watching　the　TV。〃
　　　〃He's　easier　than　Sally　was　at　that　age；〃　Jack　observed　with　a　smile。
　　　〃He's　not　colicky；　thank　God；〃　Mrs。　Dr。　Ryan　agreed。
　　　〃I　miss　you；〃　Jack　said；　rather　forlornly。　It　was　true。　He　did　miss　her。
　　　〃I　miss　you；　too。〃
　　　〃Gotta　get　back　to　work；〃　he　said　next。
　　　〃When　will　you　be　home？〃
　　　〃Couple　of　days；　I　think。〃
　　　〃Okay。〃　She　had　to　surrender　to　that　unhappy　fact。　〃Call　me。〃
　　　〃Will　do；　babe。〃
　　　〃Bye。〃
　　　〃See　you　soon。　Love　ya。〃
　　　〃I　love　you；　too。〃
　　　〃Bye。〃
　　　〃Bye；　Jack。〃
　　　Ryan　put　the　phone　back　in　the　cradle　and　told　himself　that　he　wasn't　designed　for　this　kind　of　life。　Like　his　father　before　him；　he　wanted　to　sleep　in　the　same　bed　as　his　wife…had　his　father　ever　slept　away　from　home？　Jack　wondered。　He　couldn't　remember　such　a　night。　But　Jack　had　chosen　a　line　of　work　in　which　that　was　not　always　possible。　It　was　supposed　to　have　been。　He　was　an　analyst　who　worked　at　a　desk　and　slept　at　home；　but　somehow　it　wasn't　working　out　that　way；　God　damn　it。
　　　Dinner　was　beef　Wellington　with　Yorkshire　pudding。　Mrs。　Thompson　could　have　been　head　chef　at　a　good　restaurant。　Jack　didn't　know　where　the　beef　came　from；　but　it　seemed　more　succulent　than　the　usual　grass…fed　British　sort。　Either　she　got　the　meat　in　a　special　place…they　still　had　specialty　butcher　shops　over　here…or　she　really　knew　how　to　tenderize　it；　and　the　Yorkshire　pudding　was　positively　ethereal。　Toss　in　the　French　wine；　and　this　dinner　was　just　plain　brilliant…an　adjective　popular　in　the　U。K。
　　　The　Russians　attacked　the　food　rather　as　Georgiy　Zhukov　had　attacked　Berlin；　with　considerable　gusto。
　　　〃Oleg　Ivan'ch；　I　have　to　tell　you；〃　Ryan　admitted　in　a　fit　of　honesty；　〃the　food　in　America　is　not　always　of　this　quality。〃　He'd　timed　this　for　Mrs。　Thompson's　appearance　at　the　dining…room　door。　Jack　turned　to　her。　〃Ma'am；　if　you　ever　need　a　remendation　as　a　chef；　you　just　call　me；　okay？〃
　　　Emma　had　a　very　friendly　smile。　〃Thank　you；　Sir　John。〃
　　　〃Seriously；　ma'am；　this　is　wonderful。〃
　　　〃You're　very　kind。〃
　　　Jack　wondered　if　she'd　like　his　steaks　on　the　grill　and　Cathy's　spinach　salad。　The　key　was　getting　good　corn…gorged　Iowa　beef；　which　wasn't　easy　here；　though　he　could　try　the　Air　Force　missary　at　Greenham　mons。。。
　　　It　took　nearly　an　hour　to　finish　dinner；　and　the　after…dinner　drinks　were　excellent。　They　even　served　Starka　vodka；　in　a　gesture　of　additional　hospitality　to　their　Russian　guests。　Oleg；　Jack　saw；　really　gunned　it　down。
　　　〃Even　the　Politburo　does　not　eat　so　well；〃　the　Rabbit　observed；　as　dinner　broke　up。
　　　〃Well；　we　raise　good　beef　in　Scotland。　This　was　Aberdeen　Angus；〃　Nick　Thompson　advised；　as　he　collected　the　plates。
　　　〃Fed　on　corn？〃　Ryan　asked。　They　didn't　have　that　much　corn　over　here；　did　they？
　　　〃I　do　not　know。　The　Japanese　feed　beer　to　their　Kobe　beef；〃　the　former　cop　observed。　〃Perhaps　they　do　that　up　in　Scotland。〃
　　　〃That　would　explain　the　quality；〃　Jack　replied　with　a　chuckle。　〃Oleg　Ivan'ch；　you　must　learn　about　British　beer。　It's　the　best　in　the　world。〃
　　　〃Not　American？〃　the　Russian　asked。
　　　Ryan　shook　his　head。　〃Nope。　That's　one　of　the　things　they　do　better　than　us。〃
　　　〃Truly？〃
　　　〃Truly；〃　Kingshot　confirmed。　〃But　the　Irish　are　quite　good　as　well。　I　do　love　my　Guinness；　though　it's　better　in　Dublin　than　in　London。〃
　　　〃Why　waste　the　good　stuff　on　you　guys？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　〃Once　a　bloody　Irishman；　always　a　bloody　Irishman；〃　Kingshot　observed。
　　　〃So；　Oleg；〃　Ryan　asked；　lighting　up　an　after…dinner　smoke；　〃is　there　anything　different　we　ought　to　be　doing…to　make　you　fortable；　I　mean？〃
　　　〃I　have　no　plaints；　but　I　expect　CIA　will　not　give　me　so　fine　a　house　as　this　one。〃
　　　〃Oleg；　I　am　a　millionaire　and　don't　live　in　a　house　this　nice；〃　Ryan　confirmed　with　a　laugh。　〃But　your　home　in　America　will　be　more　fortable　than　your　apartment　in　Moscow。〃
　　　〃Will　I　get　car？〃
　　　〃Sure。〃
　　　〃Wait　how　long？〃　Zaitzev　asked。
　　　〃Wait　for　what？　To　buy　a　car？〃
　　　Zaitzev　nodded。
　　　〃Oleg；　you　can　pick　from　any　of　hundreds　of　car　dealerships；　pick　the　car　you　like；　pay　for　it；　and　drive　it　home…we　usually　let　our　wives　pick　the　color；〃　Jack　added。
　　　The　Rabbit　was　incredulous。　〃So　easy？〃
　　　〃Yep。　I　used　to　drive　a　Volkswagen　Rabbit；　but　I　kinda　like　the　Jaguar　now。　I　might　get　one　when　I　get　home。　Nice　engine。　Cathy　likes　it；　but　she　might　go　back　to　a　Porsche。　She's　been　driving　them　since　she　was　a　teenager。　Of　course；　it's　not　real　practical　with　two　kids；〃　Ryan　added　hopefully。　He　didn't　like　the　German　two…seater　that　much。　Mercedes　seemed　to　him　a　much　safer　design。
　　　〃And　buy　house；　also　easy？〃
　　　〃Depends。　If　you　buy　a　new　house；　yes；　it's　pretty　easy。　To　buy　a　house　that　somebody　already　owns；　first　you　have　to　meet　the　owner　and　make　an　offer；　but　the　Agency　will　probably　help　you　with　that。〃
　　　〃Where　will　we　live？〃
　　　〃Anywhere　you　want。〃　After　we　pick　your　brain　clean；　Ryan　didn't　add。　〃There's　a　saying　in　America：　'It's　a　free　country。'　It's　also　a　big　country。　You　can　find　a　place　you　like　and　move　there。　A　lot　of　defectors　live　in　the　Washington　area。　I　don't　know　why。　I　don't　much　like　it。　The　summers　can　be　miserable。〃
　　　〃Beastly　hot；〃　Kingshot　agreed。　〃And　the　humidity　is　awful。〃
　　　〃You　think　it's　bad　there；　try　Florida；〃　Jack　suggested。　〃But　a　lot　of　people　love　it　down　there。〃
　　　〃And　travel　from　one　part　to　another；　no　papers？〃　Zaitzev　asked。
　　　For　a　KGB　puke；　this　guy　doesn't　know　shit；　Jack　thought。　〃No　papers；〃　Ryan　assured　him。　〃We'll　get　you　an　American　Express　card　to　make　that　easy。〃　Then　he　had　to　explain　credit　cards　to　the　Rabbit。　It　took　ten　minutes；　it　was　so　alien　a　concept　to　a　Soviet　citizen。　By　the　end；　Zaitzev's　head　was　visibly　swimming。
　　　〃You　do　have　to　pay　the　bill　at　the　end　of　the　month；〃　Kingshot　warned　him。　〃Some　people　forget　that；　and　they　can　get　into　serious　financial　trouble　as　a　result。〃
　　　C　was　in　his　Belgravia　townhouse；　sipping　some　Louis　XIII　brandy　and　chatting　with　a　friend。　Sir　George　Hendley　was　a　colleague　of　thirty　years'　standing。　By　profession　a　solicitor；　he'd　worked　closely　with　the　British　government　for　most　of　his　life；　often　consulting　quietly　with　the　Security　Service　and　the　Foreign　Office。　He　had　a　〃Most　Secret〃　clearance；　plus　one　into　partmented　information。　He'd　been　a　confidant　of　several　prime　ministers　over　the　years；　and　was　considered　as　reliable　as　the　Queen　herself。　He　thought　it　just　came　along　with　the　Winchester　school　tie。
　　　〃The　Pope；　eh？〃
　　　〃Yes；　George；〃　Charleston　confirmed。　〃The　PM　wants　us　to　look　into　protecting　the　man。　Trouble　is；　I　haven't　a　clue　at　the　moment。　We　can't　contact　the　Vatican　directly　about　it。〃
　　　〃Quite　so；　Basil。　One　can　trust　their　loyalty；　but　not　their　politics。　Tell　me；　how　good　do　you　suppose　their　own　intelligence　service　is？〃
　　　〃I'd　have　to　say　it's　top…drawer　in　many　areas。　What　better　confidant　than　a　priest；　after　all；　and　what　better　way　to　transfer　information　than　inside　the　confessional？　Plus　all　the　other　techniques　that　one　can　use。　Their　political　intelligence　is　probably　as　good　as　ours…perhaps　even　better。　I　would　imagine　they　know　everything　that　happens　in　Poland；　for　example。　And　Eastern　Europe　probably　has　few　secrets　from　them　as　well。　One　cannot　underestimate　their　ability　to　call　on　a　man's　highest　loyalty；　after　all。　We've　kept　an　ear　on　their　munications　for　decades。〃
　　　〃Is　that　so？〃　Hendley　asked。
　　　〃Oh；　yes。　During　World　War　Two；　they　were　very　valuable　to　us。　There　was　a　German　cardinal　in　the　Vatican　back　then；　chap　named　Mansdorf…odd；　isn't　it？　Sounds　like　a　Jewish　name。　First　name　Dieter；　archbishop　of　Mannheim；　then　promoted　to　the　Vatican　diplomatic　service。　Traveled　a　lot。　Kept　us　posted　on　the　inner　secrets　of　the　Nazi　Party　from　1938　through　to　the　end　of　the　war。　He　didn't　much　care　for　Hitler；　you　see。〃
　　　〃And　their　munications？〃
　　　〃Mansdorf　actually　gave　us　his　own　cipher　book　to　copy。　They　changed　it　after　the　war；　of　course；　and　so　we　got　little　more　in　the　way　of　their　private　mail　later　on；　but　they　never　changed　their　cipher　system；　and　the　chaps　at　GCHQ　have　occasional　success　listening　in。　Good　man；　Dieter　Cardinal　Mansdorf。　Never　got　recognized　for　his　service；　of　course。　Died　in　'fifty…nine；　I　think。〃
　　　〃S