tc.redrabbit-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　didn't　understand　baseball。　Probably　too　sophisticated　for　the　muzhiks。　All　those　pitches　to　choose　from。。。
　　　〃It's　not　real　big；〃　Mary　Pat　observed；　looking　at　one　cracked　window。　They　were　on　the　sixth　floor。　At　least　the　traffic　noise　wouldn't　be　too　bad。　The　foreigners'　pound…ghetto…was　walled　and　guarded。　This　was　for　their　protection；　the　Russians　insisted；　but　street　crime　against　foreigners　wasn't　a　problem　in　Moscow。　The　average　Russian　citizen　was　forbidden　by　law　to　have　foreign　currency　in　his　possession；　and　there　was　no　convenient　way　to　spend　it　in　any　case。　So　there　was　little　profit　in　mugging　an　American　or　Frenchman　on　the　streets；　and　there　was　no　mistaking　them…their　clothing　marked　them　about　as　clearly　as　peacocks　among　crows。
　　　〃Hello！〃　It　was　an　English　accent。　The　florid　face　appeared　a　moment　later。　〃We're　your　neighbors。　Nigel　and　Penny　Haydock；〃　the　face's　owner　said。　He　was　about　forty…five；　tall　and　skinny；　with　prematurely　gray　and　thinning　hair。　His　wife；　younger　and　prettier　than　he　probably　deserved；　appeared　an　instant　later　with　a　tray　of　sandwiches　and　some　weling　white　wine。
　　　〃You　must　be　Eddie；〃　the　flaxen…haired　Mrs。　Haydock　observed。　That's　when　Ed　Foley　noticed　the　maternity　dress。　She　was　about　six　months　gone；　by　the　look　of　her。　So　the　briefings　had　been　right　in　every　detail。　Foley　trusted　CIA；　but　he'd　learned　the　hard　way　to　verify　everything；　from　the　names　of　people　living　on　the　same　floor　to　whether　the　toilet　flushed　reliably。　Especially　in　Moscow；　he　thought；　heading　for　the　bathroom。　Nigel　followed。
　　　〃The　plumbing　works　reliably　here；　but　it　is　noisy。　No　one　plains；〃　Haydock　explained。
　　　Ed　Foley　flipped　the　handle　and；　sure　enough；　it　was　noisy。
　　　〃Fixed　that　myself。　Bit　of　a　handyman；　you　see；〃　he　said。　Then；　more　quietly；　〃Be　careful　where　you　speak　in　this　place；　Ed。　Bloody　bugs　everywhere。　Especially　the　bedrooms。　The　bloody　Russians　like　to　count　our　orgasms；　so　it　seems。　Penny　and　I　try　not　to　disappoint。〃　A　sly　grin。　Well；　to　some　cities　you　brought　your　own　nightlife。
　　　〃Two　years　here？〃　The　toilet　seemed　to　run　forever。　Foley　was　tempted　to　lift　the　tank　cover　to　see　if　Haydock　had　replaced　the　plumbing　hardware　inside　with　something　special。　He　decided　he　didn't　have　to　look　to　check　that。
　　　〃Twenty…nine　months。　Seven　to　go。　It's　a　lively　place　to　work。　I'm　sure　they　told　you；　everywhere　you　go；　you'll　have　a　'friend'　handy。　Don't　underestimate　them；　either。　The　Second　Directorate　chaps　are　thoroughly　trained。。。〃　The　toilet　ran　its　course；　and　Haydock　changed　his　voice。　〃The　shower…the　hot　water　is　pretty　reliable；　but　the　spray　pipe；　it　rattles；　just　like　the　one　in　our　flat。。。〃　He　turned　the　faucet　to　demonstrate。　Sure　enough；　it　rattled。　Had　someone　worked　on　the　wall　to　loosen　it？　Ed　wondered。　Probably。　Probably　this　very　handyman　with　him。
　　　〃Perfect。〃
　　　〃Yes；　you　will　get　a　lot　of　work　done　in　here。　Shower　with　a　friend　and　save　water…isn't　that　what　they　say　in　California？〃
　　　Foley　managed　his　first　laugh　in　Moscow。　〃Yeah；　that's　what　they　say；　all　right。〃　He　gave　his　visitor　a　look。　He　was　surprised　that　Haydock　had　introduced　himself　so　early；　but　maybe　it　was　just　reverse…English　tradecraft　to　be　so　obvious。　The　business　of　espionage　had　all　manner　of　rules；　and　the　Russians　were　rule…followers。　So；　Bob　Ritter　had　told　him；　toss　away　part　of　the　rulebook。　Stick　to　your　cover　and　be　a　dumbass　unpredictable　American　every　chance　you　get。　He'd　also　told　the　Foleys　that　Nigel　Haydock　was　one　guy　they　could　trust。　He　was　the　son　of　another　intelligence　officer…a　man　betrayed　by　Kim　Philby　himself；　one　of　the　poor　bastards　who'd　parachuted　into　Albania　into　the　waiting　arms　of　the　KGB　reception　mittee。　Nigel　had　been　five　years　old　then；　just　old　enough　always　to　remember　what　it　was　like　to　lose　your　father　to　the　enemy。　Nigel's　motivation　was　probably　as　good　as　Mary　Pat's；　and　that　was　pretty　damned　good。　Better　even　than　his　own；　Ed　Foley　might　admit　after　a　few　drinks。　Mary　Pat　hated　the　bastards　as　the　Lord　God　Himself　hated　sin。　Haydock　wasn't　the　Station　Chief　here；　but　he　was　the　head　bird…dog　for　the　SIS's　operation　in　Moscow；　and　that　made　him　pretty　good。　The　CIA's　Director；　Judge　Moore；　trusted　the　Brits：　after　Philby；　he'd　seen　them　go　through　SIS　with　a　flamethrower　hotter　than　even　James　Jesus　Angleton's　fly　rod　and　cauterize　every　possible　leak。　In　turn；　Foley　trusted　Judge　Moore；　and　so　did　the　President。　That　was　the　craziest　part　of　the　intelligence　business：　You　couldn't　trust　anybody…but　you　had　to　trust　somebody。
　　　Well；　Foley　thought；　checking　the　hot　water　with　his　hand；　nobody　ever　said　the　business　made　much　sense。　Like　classical　metaphysics。　It　just　was。
　　　〃When's　the　furniture　get　here？〃
　　　〃The　container　ought　to　be　on　a　truck　in　Leningrad　right　now。　Will　they　tamper　with　it？〃
　　　Haydock　shrugged。　〃Check　everything；〃　he　warned；　then　softened。　〃You　can　never　know　how　thorough　they　are；　Edward。　The　KGB　is　a　great　bloody　bureaucracy…you　don't　know　the　meaning　of　the　word　until　you　see　it　in　operation　here。　For　example；　the　bugs　in　your　flat…how　many　of　them　actually　work？　They're　not　British　Tele；　nor　are　they　AT&T。　It's　the　curse　of　this　country；　really；　and　it　works　for　us；　but　that；　too；　is　unreliable。　When　you're　followed；　you　can't　know　if　it's　an　experienced　expert　or　some　bloody　nimrod　who　can't　find　his　way　to　the　loo。　They　look　alike　and　dress　alike。　Just　like　our　people；　when　you　get　down　to　it；　but　their　bureaucracy　is　so　large　that　there's　a　greater　likelihood　it　will　protect　the　inpetent…or　maybe　not。　God　knows；　at　Century　House　we　have　our　share　of　drones。〃
　　　Foley　nodded。　〃At　Langley；　we　call　it　the　Intelligence　Directorate。〃
　　　〃Quite。　We　call　ours　the　Palace　of　Westminster；〃　Haydock　observed；　with　his　own　favorite　prejudice。　〃I　think　we've　tested　the　plumbing　enough。〃
　　　Foley　turned　off　the　faucet　and　the　two　men　returned　to　the　living　room；　where　Penny　and　Mary　Pat　were　getting　acquainted。
　　　〃Well；　we　have　enough　hot　water　anyway；　honey。〃
　　　〃Glad　to　hear　it；〃　Mary　Pat　responded。　She　turned　back　to　her　guest。　〃Where　do　you　shop　around　here？〃
　　　Penny　Haydock　smiled：　〃I　can　take　you　there。　For　special　items；　we　can　order　from　an　agency　in　Helsinki；　excellent　quality：　English；　French；　German…even　American；　for　things　like　juices　and　preserved　foods。　The　perishables　are　Finnish　in　origin；　and　they're　generally　very　good；　especially　the　lamb。　Don't　they　have　the　finest　lamb；　Nigel？〃
　　　〃Indeed　it　is…as　good　as　New　Zealand；〃　her　husband　agreed。
　　　〃The　steaks　leave　something　to　be　desired；〃　Mike　Barnes　told　them；　〃but　every　week　we　get　steaks　flown　in　from　Omaha。　Tons　of　them…we　distribute　them　to　all　our　friends。〃
　　　〃That　is　the　truth；〃　Nigel　confirmed。　〃Your　corn…fed　beef　is　superb。　I'm　afraid　we're　all　quite　addicted　to　it。〃
　　　〃Thank　God　for　the　U。S。　Air　Force；〃　Barnes　went　on。　〃They　fly　the　beef　into　all　their　NATO　bases；　and　we're　on　the　distribution　list。　They　e　in　frozen；　not　quite　as　good　as　fresh　at　Delmonico's；　but　close　enough　to　remind　you　of　home。　I　hope　you　guys　brought　a　grill。　We　tend　to　take　them　up　on　the　roof　to　cook　out。　We　import　charcoal；　too。　Ivan　just　doesn't　seem　to　understand　about　that。〃　The　apartment　had　no　balcony；　perhaps　to　protect　them　from　the　diesel　smell　that　pervaded　the　city。
　　　〃What　about　going　to　work？〃　Foley　asked。
　　　〃Better　to　take　the　metro。　It　really　is　great；〃　Barnes　told　him。
　　　〃Leaving　me　with　the　car？〃　Mary　Pat　asked；　with　a　hopeful　smile。　This　was　going　exactly　to　plan。　That　was　expected；　but　anything　that　went　well　in　this　business　came　as　something　of　a　surprise；　like　the　right　presents　under　the　Christmas　tree。　You　always　hoped　Santa　got　the　letter；　but　you　could　never　be　sure。
　　　〃You　might　as　well　learn　how　to　drive　in　this　city；〃　Barnes　said。　〃At　least　you　have　a　nice　car。〃　The　previous　resident　in　this　apartment　had　left　behind　a　white　Mercedes　280　for　them；　which　was　indeed　a　nice　car。　Actually；　a　little　too　nice　at　only　four　years　old。　Not　that　there　were　all　that　many　cars　in　Moscow；　and　the　license　plates　surely　marked　it　as　belonging　to　an　American　diplomat；　and　thus　easy　to　spot　by　any　traffic　cop；　and　by　the　KGB　vehicle　that　would　follow　it　most　places　it　went。　Again；　it　was　reverse…English。　Mary　Pat　would　have　to　learn　to　drive　like　an　Indianapolis　resident　on　her　first　trip　to　New　York。　〃The　streets　are　nice　and　wide；〃　Barnes　told　her；　〃and　the　gas　station　is　only　three　blocks　that　way。〃　He　pointed。　〃It's　a　huge　one。　The　Russians　like　to　build　them　that　way。〃
　　　〃Great；〃　she　observed　for　Barnes's　benefit；　already　dropping　into　her　cover　as　a　pretty；　ditsy　blonde。　Around　the　world；　the　pretty　ones　were　supposed　to　be　the　dumb　ones；　and　blondes　most　of　all。　It　was　a　hell　of　a　lot　easier　to　play　dumb　than　to　be　smart；　after　all；　Hollywood　actors　notwithstanding。
　　　〃What　about　servicing　the　car？〃　Ed　asked。
　　　〃It's　a　Mercedes。　They　don't　break　much；〃　Barnes　assured　them。　〃The　German　embassy　has　a　guy　who　can　fix　anything　that　goes　bad。　We're　cordial　with　our　NATO　allies。　You　guys　soccer　fans？〃
　　　〃Girls'　game；〃　Ed　Foley　responded　immediately。
　　　〃That's　rather　coarse　of　you；〃　Nigel　Haydock　observed。
　　　〃Give　me　American　football　any　time；〃　Foley　countered。
　　　〃Bloody　foolish；　uncivilized　game；　full　of　violence　and　mittee　meetings；〃　the　Brit　sniffed。
　　　Foley　grinned。　〃Let's　eat。〃
　　　They　sat　down。　The　interim　furniture　was　adequate；　something　like　you'd　find　in　a　no…tell　motel　in　Alabama。　You　could　sleep　on　the　bed；　and　the　bug　spray　had　probably　done　for　all　the　crawly　things。　Probably。
　　　The　sandwiches　were　okay。　Mary　Pat　went　to　get　glasses　and　turned　on　the　taps…
　　　〃Remend　against　that　one；　Mrs。　Foley；〃　Nigel　warned。　〃Some　people　e　down　with　stomach　plaints　from　the　tap　water。。。〃
　　　〃Oh？〃　She　paused。　〃And　my　name's　Mary　Pat；　Nigel。〃
　　　Now　they　were　properly　introduced。　〃Yes；　Mary　Pat。　We　prefer　bottled　water　for　drinking。　The　tap　water　is　good　enough　for　bathing；　and　you　can　boil　it　in　a　pinch　for　coffee　and　tea。〃
　　　〃It's　even　worse　in　Leningrad；〃　Nigel　warned。　〃The　natives　are　more　or　less　immunized；　they　tell　me；　but　we　foreigners　can　get　some　serious　GI　problems　there。〃
　　　〃What　about　schools？〃　Mary　Pat　had　been　worried　about　that。
　　　〃The　American…British　school　looks　after　the　children　well；〃　Penny　Haydock　promised。　〃I　work　there　myself　part…time。　And　the　academic　program　there　is　top…drawer。〃
　　　〃Eddie's　starting　to　read　already；　isn't　he；　honey？〃　the　proud　father　announced。
　　　〃Just　'Peter　Rabbit'　and　that　sort　of　thing；　but　not　bad　for　four；〃　an　equally　pleased　mother　confirmed　for　the　rest。　For　his　part；　Eddie　had　found　the　sandwich　plate　and　was　gnawing　through　something。　It　wasn't　his　treasured　bologna；　but　a　hungry　kid　is　not　always　discriminating。　There　were　also　four　large　jars　of　Skippy's　Super　Chunk　peanut　butter　packed　away　in　a　safe　place。　His　parents　figured　they　could　get　grape　jelly　anywhere；　but　probably　not　Skippy。　The　local　bread；　everyone　said；　was　decent；　if　not　exactly　the　Wonder　Bread　that　American　children　had　been　raised　on。　And　Mary　Pat　had　a　bread…maker　in　their　cargo　container；　now　on　a　truck　or　train　between　Moscow　and　Leningrad。　A　good　cook；　she　was　a　positive　arti