tc.redrabbit-第80章

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looked　and　felt　real。　But　then；　so　did　good　Directorate　Two　people；　didn't　they？　His　last　stop　was　at　munications　to　get　a　quick　message　off　to　SIS　Headquarters　that　an　important　message　was　en　route　via　courier　on　Operation　BEATRIX。　That　would　perk　up　everyone's　eyeballs；　and　an　SIS　man　would　be　waiting　at　the　mailroom　in　Whitehall　for　this　particular　envelope。　As　laggardly　as　a　government　bureaucracy　could　be；　Haydock　thought；　when　you　had　something　important　to　do；　it　usually　got　done　quickly；　at　least　in　the　SIS。
　　　The　flight　took　two　hours　and　twenty　minutes…a　little　late　due　to　adverse　winds…before　arriving　at　Heathrow's　Terminal　Three。　There；　a　Foreign　Office　representative　whisked　the　courier　off　to　downtown　London　in　a　black　Jaguar　saloon　car；　and　the　Queen's　Messenger　made　his　delivery　and　went　off　to　his　own　office。　Before　he　even　got　there；　an　SIS　officer　had　taken　the　package　and　hustled　down　to　Westminster　Bridge　and　across　the　Thames。
　　　〃You　have　it？〃　Sir　Basil　asked。
　　　〃Here；　sir。〃　The　messenger　passed　over　the　envelope。　Charleston　checked　the　closures　and；　satisfied　that　it　had　not　been　tampered　with；　slit　it　open　with　his　paper　knife。　Then；　for　the　first　time；　he　saw　what　the
　　　Rabbit　looked　like。　Three　minutes　later；　Alan　Kingshot　walked　in。　C　handed　over　the　color　prints。
　　　Kingshot　took　the　top　photo　and　gave　it　a　long　look。　〃So；　this　is　our　Rabbit；　is　it？〃
　　　〃Correct；　Alan；〃　Sir　Basil　confirmed。
　　　〃He　looks　ordinary　enough。　His　wife；　as　well。　The　little　girl　is　rather　cute；〃　the　senior　field　spook　thought　out　loud。　〃On　the　way　to　Budapest　now；　are　they？〃
　　　〃Left　Kiev　Station　five　and　a　half　hours　ago。〃
　　　〃Fast　work　from　Nigel。〃　Kingshot　gave　the　faces　a　closer　look；　wondering　what　information　lay　in　the　brain　behind　the　man's　face；　and　whether　or　not　they'd　get　to　use　it。　〃So；　BEATRIX　goes　forward。　Do　we　have　the　bodies？〃
　　　〃The　male　from　York　is　close　enough。　We'll　need　to　burn　his　face　off；　I'm　afraid；〃　C　observed　distastefully。
　　　〃No　surprise　there；　sir；〃　Kingshot　agreed。　〃What　about　the　other　two？〃
　　　〃Two　candidates　from　America。　Mother　and　daughter　killed　in　a　house　fire　in　Boston；　I　believe。　The　FBI　is　working　on　that　as　we　speak。　We　need　to　get　this　photo　to　them　at　once　to　make　sure　the　bodies　match　up　properly。〃
　　　〃I'll　take　care　of　that　now　if　you　wish；　sir。〃
　　　〃Yes；　Alan；　please　do　that。〃
　　　The　machine　downstairs　was　a　color…photo　transmitter　like　the　one　used　by　newspapers…relatively　new　and；　its　operator　told　Kingshot；　very　easy　to　use。　He　gave　the　photo　only　a　cursory　look。　Transmission　to　an　identical　machine　made　by　Xerox　and　located　at　Langley　took　less　than　two　minutes。　Kingshot　took　the　photo　back　and　returned　to　C's　office。
　　　〃Done；　sir。〃　Sir　Basil　waved　him　to　a　seat。
　　　Charleston　checked　his　watch；　giving　it　five　minutes　because　CIA　headquarters　was　a　large　building；　and　the　munications　people　were　in　the　basement。　Then　he　called　Judge　Arthur　Moore　on　the　secure；　dedicated　line。
　　　〃Afternoon；　Basil；〃　Moore's　voice　said　over　the　digitized　circuit。
　　　〃Hello；　Arthur。　You　have　the　photo？〃
　　　〃Just　got　here。　Looks　like　a　nice　little　family；〃　the　DCI　observed。　〃This　is　from　the　train　station？〃
　　　〃Yes；　Arthur；　they　are　en　route　as　we　speak。　They　will　arrive　in　Budapest　in　about　twenty…no；　nineteen　hours。〃
　　　〃Okay。　Ready　at　your　end；　Basil？〃
　　　〃We　soon　will　be。　There　is　the　matter　of　those　unfortunate　people　from　Boston；　however。　We　have　the　male　body。　It　appears　on　first　inspection　that　it　will　serve　our　needs　quite　well。〃
　　　〃Okay；　I'll　have　the　FBI　expedite　things　here；〃　Moore　replied。　He'd　have　to　get　this　photo　to　the　Hoover　Building　ASAP。　Might　as　well　share　this　grisly　business　with　Emil；　he　thought。
　　　〃Very　good；　Arthur。　I　shall　keep　you　posted。〃
　　　〃Great；　Bas。　See　you。〃
　　　〃Excellent。〃　Charleston　hung　up　his　phone；　then　looked　over　at　Kingshot。　〃Have　our　people　prepare　the　body　for　transport　to　Budapest。〃
　　　〃Timing；　sir？〃
　　　〃Three　days　should　be　about　right；〃　Sir　Basil　thought　out　loud。
　　　〃Right。〃　Kingshot　left　the　room。
　　　C　thought　for　a　moment　and　decided　it　was　time　to　warn　the　American。　He　punched　another　button　on　his　phone。　This　took　only　a　minute　and　a　half。
　　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Ryan　said；　entering　his　office。
　　　〃Your　trip　to　Budapest；　three　days　from　today…perhaps　four；　but　more　likely　three。〃
　　　〃Where　do　I　leave　from？〃
　　　〃There's　a　morning　British　Airways　flight　from　Heathrow。　You　can　leave　from　here；　or　just　take　a　taxi　from　Victoria　Station。　You'll　be　acpanied　on　the　flight　by　one　of　our　people；　and　met　in　Budapest　by　Andy　Hudson；　he's　our　Chief　of　Station　there。　Good　man。　Runs　a　good　little　station。〃
　　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Ryan　said；　not　knowing　what　the　hell　else　to　say　in　preparation　for　his　first　field　mission　as　a　spook。　Then　it　was　time　for　a　question。　〃What；　exactly；　is　going　to　happen；　sir？〃
　　　〃I'm　not　sure　yet；　but　Andy　has　good　connections　with　local　smugglers。　I　would　expect　him　to　arrange　a　crossing　into　Yugoslavia；　and　then　home　from　there　by　mercial　aircraft。〃
　　　Great。　More　fucking　airplanes；　Ryan　thought。　Couldn't　we　take　the　train？　But　ex…Marines　weren't　supposed　to　show　fear。　〃Okay；　I　guess　that　works。〃
　　　〃You　may　speak　with　our　Rabbit…discreetly；〃　Charleston　warned。　〃And　then　you'll　be　allowed　to　sit　in　on　our　initial　debriefing　out　in　Somerset。　Finally；　I　rather　expect　you'll　be　one　of　the　chaps　to　escort　him　back　to　the　States；　probably　on　U。S。　Air　Force　transport　out　of　RAF　Bentwaters。〃
　　　Better　and　better；　Jack　thought。　His　hatred　for　flying　was　something　he'd　have　to　get　over；　and　intellectually　he　knew　that　sooner　or　later　he'd　do　it。　It　was　just　that　he　hadn't　quite　gotten　over　it　yet。　Well；　at　least　he　wouldn't　be　flying　anywhere　in　a　CH…46　with　a　fluky　transmission。　He　drew　the　line　there。
　　　〃My　total　time　away　from　home？〃　And　sleeping　apart　from　my　wife；　Ryan　thought。
　　　〃Four　days；　perhaps　as　many　as　seven。　It　depends　on　how　things　work　out　in　Budapest；〃　C　replied。　〃That　is　difficult　to　predict。〃
　　　None　of　them　had　ever　eaten　at　sixty　miles　per　hour。　The　adventure　for　their　little　girl　just　got　better　and　better。　Dinner　was　adequate。　The　beef　was　about　average　for　the　Soviet　Union；　and　so　they　could　not　be　disappointed　by　it；　along　with　potatoes　and　greens；　and；　of　course；　a　carafe　of　vodka；　one　of　the　better　brands；　to　erase　the　pain　of　travel。　They　were　heading　into　the　setting　sun；　now　in　country　used　exclusively　for　farming。　Irina　leaned　across　the　table　to　cut　the　zaichik's　meat　for　her；　watching　their　little　angel　eat　her　dinner；　like　the　big　girl　she　proclaimed　herself　to　be；　along　with　a　glass　of　cold　milk。
　　　〃So；　looking　forward　to　the　trip　now；　my　dear？〃　Oleg　asked　his　wife。
　　　〃Yes；　especially　the　shopping。〃　Of　course。
　　　Part　of　Oleg　Ivan'ch　was　calm…in　fact；　the　calmest　he'd　been　in　weeks。　It　was　really　happening。　His　treason…part　of　his　consciousness　thought　of　it　that　way…was　under　way。　How　many　of　his　countrymen；　he　wondered…indeed；　how　many　of　his　coworkers　at　The　Centre…would　take　the　chance　if　they　had　the　courage　to　do　so？　You　couldn't　know。　He　lived　in　a　country　and　worked　at　an　office　where　everyone　concealed　their　inner　thoughts。　And　at　KGB；　even　the　Russian　custom　of　sanctifying　especially　close　friendships　by　speaking　things　that　could　put　you　in　prison；　trusting　that　a　true　friend　would　never　denounce　you…no；　a　KGB　officer　didn't　do　such　things。　KGB　was　founded　on　the　dichotomous　balance　of　loyalty　and　betrayal。　Loyalty　to　the　state　and　its　principles；　and　betrayal　of　any　who　violated　them。　But　since　he　didn't　believe　in　those　principles　anymore；　he　had　turned　to　treason　to　save　his　soul。
　　　And　now　the　treason　was　under　way。　If　the　Second　Chief　Directorate　knew　of　his　plans；　they　would　have　been　mad　to　allow　him　on　this　train。　He　could　leave　it　at　any　intermediate　stop…or　just　jump　off　the　train　when　it　slowed；　approaching　some　preplanned　point…and　escape　to　Western　hands；　which　could　be　waiting　anywhere　for　him。　No；　he　was　safe；　at　least　as　long　as　he　was　on　this　train。　And　so　he　could　be　calm　for　now；　and　he'd　let　the　days　e　as　they　would　and　see　what　happened。　He　kept　telling　himself　that　he　was　doing　the　right　thing；　and　from　that　knowledge　came　his　feeling；　however　illusory；　of　personal　safety。　If　there　were　a　God；　surely　He　would　protect　a　man　on　the　run　from　evil。
　　　Dinner　in　the　Ryan　house　was　spaghetti　again。　Cathy　had　a　particularly　good　recipe　for　sauce…from　her　mom；　who　didn't　have　a　single　drop　of　Italian　blood　in　her　veins…and　her　husband　loved　it；　especially　with　good　Italian　bread；　which　Cathy　had　found　at　a　local　bakery　in　downtown　Chatham。　No　surgery　tomorrow；　so　they　had　wine　with　dinner。　Time　to　tell　her。
　　　〃Honey；　I　have　to　travel　in　a　few　days。〃
　　　〃The　NATO　thing？〃
　　　〃'Fraid　so；　babe。　Looks　like　three　or　four　days…maybe　a　little　more。〃
　　　〃What's　it　about；　can　you　say？〃
　　　〃Nope；　not　allowed。〃
　　　〃Spook　business？〃
　　　〃Yep。〃　He　was　allowed　to　say　that。
　　　〃What's　a　spook？〃　Sally　asked。
　　　〃It's　what　daddy　does；〃　Cathy　said；　without　thinking。
　　　〃Spook；　like　in　the　Wizzerdaboz？〃　Sally　went　on。
　　　〃What？〃　her　father　asked。
　　　〃The　Cowardly　Lion　says　he　believes　in　spooks；　remember？〃　Sally　pointed　out。
　　　〃Oh；　you　mean　the　Wizard　of　Oz〃；　It　was　her　favorite　movie　so　far　this　year。
　　　〃That's　what　I　said；　Daddy。〃　How　could　her　daddy　be　so　stupid？
　　　〃Well；　no；　Daddy　isn't　one　of　those；〃　Jack　told　his　daughter。
　　　〃Then　why　did　Mommy　say　so？〃　Sally　persisted。　She　has　the　makings　of　a　good　FBI　agent；　Jack　thought　at　that　moment。
　　　It　was　Cathy's　turn。　〃Sally；　Mommy　was　just　making　a　joke。〃
　　　〃Oh。〃　Sally　went　back　to　work　on　her　pisghetti。　Jack　gave　his　wife　a　look。　They　couldn't　talk　about　his　work　in　front　of　his　daughter…not　ever。　Kids　never　kept　secrets　for　more　than　five　minutes；　did　they？　So；　he'd　learned；　never　say　anything　in　front　of　a　kid　that　you　didn't　want　on　the　first　page　of　The　Washington　Post。　Everyone　on　Grizedale　Close　thought　that　John　Patrick　Ryan　worked　at　the　U。S。　Embassy　and　was　lucky　enough　to　be　married　to　a　surgeon。　They　didn't　need　to　know　that　he　was　an　officer　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency。　Too　much　curiosity。　Too　many　jokes。
　　　〃Three　or　four　days？〃　Cathy　asked。
　　　〃That's　what　they　tell　me。　Maybe　a　little　longer；　but　not　too　much；　I　think。〃
　　　〃Important？〃　Sally　had　gotten　her　inquisitive　nature　from　her　mother；　Jack　figured。。。　and　maybe　a　little　bit　from　himself。
　　　〃Important　enough　that　they're　throwing　my　ass　on　an　airplane；　yeah。〃　That　actually　worked。　Cathy　knew　of　her　husband's　hatred　for　air　travel。
　　　〃Well；　you　have　your　Valium　prescription。　Want　a　beta…blocker；　too？〃
　　　〃No　thanks；　babe；　not　this　time。〃
　　　〃You　know；　if　you　got　airsick；　it　would　be　easier　to　understand。〃　And　easier　to　treat；　she　didn't　have　to　add。
　　　〃Babe；　you　were　there　when　my　back　went　out；　remember？　I　have　some　bad　memories　from　flying。　Maybe　when　we　go　home；　we　can　take　the　boat；〃　he　added；　with　some　hope　in　his　voice。　But；　no；　it　wouldn't　work　out　that　way。　It　never　did　in　the　real　world。
　　　〃Flying　is　fun；〃　Sally　protested。　She　definitely　got　that　from　her　mother。
　　　Travel　is　inevitably　tiring；　and　so　the　Zaitzev　family　was　agreeably　surprised　to　see　their　beds　turned　out　when　they　got　back　to　t