tc.redrabbit-第89章

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　　　It　wasn't　that　she　was　unable　to　cope。　She　had　to　cope　on　a　daily　basis　with　worse　tribulations　than　this　one。　Nor　was　she　concerned　that　Jack　might　be　getting　a　little　on　the　side　while　he　was　away。　She'd　often　enough　wondered　that　about　her　father　on　his　trips…her　parents'　marriage　had　occasionally　been　a　rocky　one…and　didn't　know　what　her　mother　（now　deceased）　had　wondered　about。　But　with　Jack；　no；　that　ought　not　to　be　a　problem。　But　she　loved　him；　and　she　knew　that　he　loved　her；　and　people　in　love　were　supposed　to　be　together。　Had　they　met　while　he　was　still　an　officer　in　the　Marine　Corps；　it　would　have　been　a　problem　with　which　she　would　have　had　to　deal…and　worse；　she　might　someday　have　had　to　deal　with　a　husband　who'd　gone　in　harm's　way；　and　that；　she　was　sure；　was　the　purest　form　of　hell　to　live　with。　But　no；　she'd　not　met　him　until　after　all　that。　Her　own　father　had　taken　her　to　dinner；　bringing　Jack　along　as　an　afterthought；　a　bright　young　broker　with　keen　instincts；　ready　to　move　from　the　Baltimore　office　up　to　New　York；　only　to　be　surprised…pleasantly　at　first…by　the　interest　they'd　instantly　found　in　each　other；　and　then　had　e　the　revelation　that　Jack　wanted　to　take　his　money　and　go　back　to　teaching　history；　of　all　things。　It　was　something　she　had　to　deal　with　more　than　Jack；　who　barely　tolerated　Joseph　Muller；　Senior　Vice　President　of　Merrill　Lynch　Pierce　Fenner　and　Smith；　plus　whatever　acquisitions　they'd　made　in　the　past　five　years。　Joe　was　still　〃Daddy〃　to　her　and　〃him〃　（which　translated　to　〃that　pain　in　the　ass〃）　to　Jack。
　　　What　the　hell　is　he　working　on？　she　wondered。　Bonn？　Germany？　NATO　stuff？　The　goddamned　intelligence　business；　looking　at　secret　stuff　and　making　equally　secret　observations　on　it　that　went　to　other　people　who　might　or　might　not　read　it　and　think　about　it。　She；　at　least；　was　in　an　honest　line　of　work；　making　sick　people　well；　or　at　least　helping　them　to　see　better。　But　not　Jack。
　　　It　wasn't　that　he　did　useless　things。　He'd　explained　it　to　her　earlier　in　the　year。　There　were　bad　people　out　there；　and　somebody　had　to　fight　against　them。　Fortunately；　he　didn't　do　that　with　a　loaded　gun…Cathy　hated　guns；　even　the　ones　that　had　prevented　her　kidnapping　and　murder　at　their　home　in　Maryland　on　the　night　that　had　ended　blessedly　with　Little　Jack's　birth。　She'd　treated　her　share　of　gunshot　wounds　in　the　emergency　room　during　her　internship；　enough　to　see　the　harm　they　inflicted；　though　not　the　harm　they　might　have　prevented　in　other　places。　Her　world　was　somewhat　circumscribed　in　that　respect；　a　fact　she　appreciated；　which　was　why　she　allowed　Jack　to　keep　a　few　of　the　damned　things　close　by；　where　the　kids　could　not　reach　them；　even　standing　on　a　chair。　He'd　once　tried　to　teach　her　how　to　use　them；　but　she'd　refused　even　to　touch　the　things。　Part　of　her　thought　that　she　was　overreacting；　but　she　was　a　woman；　and　that　was　that。。。　And　Jack　didn't　seem　to　mind　that　very　much。
　　　But　why　isn't　he　here？　Cathy　asked　herself　in　the　darkness。　What　could　be　so　damned　important　as　to　take　her　husband　away　from　his　wife　and　children？
　　　He　couldn't　tell　her。　And　that　really　made　her　angry。　But　there　was　no　fighting　it；　and　it　wasn't　as　if　she　were　dealing　with　a　terminal　cancer　patient。　And　it　wasn't　as　if　he　were　boffing　some　German　chippie　on　the　side。　But。。。　damn。　She　just　wanted　her　husband　back。
　　　Eight　hundred　miles　away；　Ryan　was　already　awake；　out　of　the　shower；　shaved；　brushed；　and　ready　to　face　the　day。　Something　about　travel　made　it　easy　for　him　to　wake　up　in　the　morning。　But　now　he　had　nothing　to　do　until　the　embassy　canteen　opened。　He　looked　at　the　phone　by　his　bed　and　thought　about　calling　home；　but　he　didn't　know　how　to　dial　out　on　this　phone　system；　and　he　probably　needed　Hudson's　permission…and　assistance…to　acplish　the　mission。　Damn。　He'd　awakened　at　three　in　the　morning；　thinking　to　roll　over　and　give　Cathy　a　kiss　on　the　cheek…it　was　something　Jack　liked　to　do；　even　though　she　never　had　any　memory　of　it。　The　good　news　was　that　she　always　kissed　back。　She　really　did　love　him。　Otherwise；　the　return　kiss　would　not　have　e。　People　can't　dissimulate　while　asleep。　It　was　an　important　fact　in　Ryan's　personal　universe。
　　　There　was　no　use　turning　on　the　bedside　radio。　Hungarian…actually　Magyar…was　a　language　probably　found　on　the　planet　Mars。　For　damned　sure；　it　didn't　belong　on　Planet　Earth。　He'd　not　heard　one；　not　even　one；　word　that　he　recognized　from　English；　German；　or　Latin；　the　three　languages　he'd　studied　at　one　time　or　another　in　his　life。　The　locals　also　spoke　as　quickly　as　a　machine　gun；　adding　to　the　difficulty　on　his　part。　Had　Hudson　dropped　him　off　anywhere　in　this　city；　he　would　have　been　unable　to　find　his　way　back　to　the　British　Embassy；　and　that　was　a　feeling　of　vulnerability　he　hadn't　had　since　he　was　four　years　old。　He　might　as　well　have　been　on　an　alien　planet；　and　having　a　diplomatic　passport　wouldn't　help；　since　he　was　accredited　by　the　wrong　country　to　this　alien　world。　Somehow　he'd　not　fully　considered　that　on　the　way　in。　Like　most　Americans；　he　figured　that　with　a　passport　and　an　American　Express　card　he　could　safely　travel　the　entire　world　in　his　shorts；　but　that　world　was　only　the　capitalist　world；　where　somebody　would　speak　enough　English　to　point　him　to　a　building　with　the　American　flag　on　the　roof　and　U。S。　Marines　in　the　lobby。　Not　in　this　alien　city。　He　didn't　know　enough　to　find　the　men's　room…well；　he'd　found　one　in　a　bar　the　previous　day；　Ryan　admitted　to　himself。　The　feeling　of　helplessness　was　hovering　at　the　border　of　his　consciousness　like　the　proverbial　monster　under　the　bed；　but　he　was　a　grown…up　American　male　citizen；　over　thirty；　formerly　a　missioned　officer　in　the　U。S。　Marine　Corps。　It　wasn't　the　way　he　usually　felt　about　things。　And　so　he　watched　the　numbers　change　on　his　digital　clock　radio；　bringing　him　closer　to　his　personal　date　with　destiny；　whatever　the　hell　that　was　going　to　be；　one　red…lit　number　at　a　time。
　　　Andy　Hudson　was　already　up　and　about。　Istvan　Kovacs　was　preparing　for　one　of　his　normal　smuggling　runs；　this　time　bringing　Reebok　running　shoes　into　Budapest　from　Yugoslavia。　His　hard　cash　was　in　a　steel　box　under　his　bed；　and　he　was　drinking　his　morning　coffee　and　listening　to　music　on　the　radio　when　a　knock　on　the　door　made　him　look　up。　He　walked　to　answer　it　in　his　underwear。
　　　〃Andy！〃　he　said　in　surprise。
　　　〃Did　I　wake　you；　Istvan？〃
　　　Kovacs　waved　him　inside。　〃No；　I've　been　up　for　half　an　hour。　What　brings　you　here？〃
　　　〃We　need　to　move　our　package　tonight；〃　Hudson　replied。
　　　〃When；　exactly？〃
　　　〃Oh；　about　two　in　the　morning。〃
　　　Hudson　reached　into　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　wad　of　banknotes。　〃Here　is　half　of　the　agreed　sum。〃　There　was　no　point　in　paying　this　Hungarian　what　they　were　really　worth。　It　would　alter　the　whole　equation。
　　　〃Excellent。　Can　I　get　you　some　coffee；　Andy？〃
　　　〃Yes；　thank　you。〃
　　　Kovacs　waved　him　to　the　kitchen　table　and　poured　a　cup。　〃How　do　you　want　to　go　about　it？〃
　　　〃I　will　drive　our　package　to　near　the　border；　and　you　will　take　them　across。　I　presume　you　know　the　border　guards　at　the　crossing　point。〃
　　　〃Yes；　it　will　be　Captain　Budai　Laszlo。　I've　done　business　with　him　for　years。　And　Sergeant　Kerekes　Mihaly；　good　lad；　wants　to　go　to　university　and　be　an　engineer。　They　do　twelve…hour　shifts　at　the　crossing　point；　midnight　to　noon。　They　will　already　be　bored；　Andy；　and　open　to　negotiation。〃　He　held　up　his　hand　and　rubbed　a　thumb　over　his　forefinger。
　　　〃What　is　the　usual　rate？〃
　　　〃For　four　people？〃
　　　〃Do　they　need　to　know　our　package　is　people？〃　Hudson　asked　in　return。
　　　Kovacs　shrugged。　〃No；　I　suppose　not。　Then　some　pairs　of　shoes。　The　Reeboks　are　very　popular；　you　know；　and　some　Western　movie　tapes。　They　already　have　all　the　tape…player　machines　they　need；〃　Kovacs　explained。
　　　〃Be　generous；〃　Hudson　suggested；　〃but　not　too　generous。〃　Mustn't　make　them　suspicious；　he　didn't　have　to　add。　〃If　they　are　married；　perhaps　something　for　their　wives　and　children。。。〃
　　　〃I　know　Budai's　family　well；　Andy。　That　will　not　be　a　problem。〃　Budai　had　a　young　daughter；　and　giving　something　for　little　Zsoka　would　cause　no　problems　for　the　smuggler。
　　　Hudson　made　a　calculation　for　distance。　Two　and　a　half　hours　to　the　Yugoslav　border　should　be　about　right　at　that　time　of　night。　They'd　be　using　a　small　truck　for　the　first　part　of　the　journey。　Istvan　would　handle　the　rest　in　his　larger　truck。　And　if　anything　went　wrong；　Istvan　would　expect　to　be　shot　by　the　British　Secret　Service　officer。　That　was　one　benefit　of　the　world…famous　James　Bond　movies。　But；　more　to　the　point；　five　thousand　d…mark　went　a　very　long　way　in　Hungary。
　　　〃I　will　be　driving　to　what　destination？〃
　　　〃I　will　tell　you　tonight；〃　Hudson　answered。
　　　〃Very　well。　I　shall　meet　you　at　Csurgo　at　two　tomorrow　morning　without　fail。〃
　　　〃That　is　very　good；　Istvan。〃　Hudson　finished　his　coffee　and　stood。　〃It　is　good　to　have　such　a　reliable　friend。〃
　　　〃You　pay　me　well；〃　Kovacs　observed；　defining　their　relationship。
　　　Hudson　was　tempted　to　say　how　much　he　trusted　his　agent；　but　that　wasn't　strictly　true。　Like　most　field　spooks；　he　didn't　trust　anybody…not　until　after　the　job　was　pleted。　Might　Istvan　be　in　the　pay　of　the　AVH？　Probably　not。　No　way　they　could　afford　five　thousand　West　German　marks　on　anything　approaching　a　regular　basis；　and　Kovacs　liked　the　good　life　too　much。　If　the　munist　government　of　this　country　ever　fell；　he'd　be　among　the　first　to　bee　a　millionaire；　with　a　nice　house　in　the　hills　of　Pest　on　the　other　side　of　the　Danube；　overlooking　Buda。
　　　Twenty　minutes　later；　Hudson　found　Ryan　at　the　front　of　the　line　in　the　embassy　canteen。
　　　〃Like　your　eggs；　I　see；〃　the　COS　observed。
　　　〃Local；　or　do　you　truck　it　in　from　Austria？〃
　　　〃The　eggs　are　local。　The　farm　products　here　are　actually　quite　good。　But　we　like　our　English　bacon。〃
　　　〃Developed　a　taste　for　it　myself；〃　Jack　reported。　〃What's　happening？〃　he　asked。　Andy's　eyes　had　a　certain　excitement　in　them。
　　　〃It's　tonight。　First　we　go　to　the　concert　hall；　and　then　we　make　our　pickup。〃
　　　〃Giving　him　a　heads…up？〃
　　　Hudson　shook　his　head。　〃No。　He　might　act　differently。　I　prefer　to　avoid　that　plication。〃
　　　〃What　if　he's　not　ready？　What　if　he　has　second　thoughts？〃　Jack　worried。
　　　〃In　that　case；　it's　a　blown　mission。　And　we　disappear　into　the　mists　of　Budapest；　and　e　tomorrow　morning　many　faces　will　be　red　in　London；　Washington；　and　Moscow。〃
　　　〃You're　pretty　cool　about　this；　buddy。〃
　　　〃In　this　job；　you　take　things　as　they　e。　Getting　excited　about　them　doesn't　help　at　all。〃　He　managed　a　smile。　〃So　long　as　I　take　the　Queen's　shilling　and　eat　the　Queen's　biscuit；　I　shall　do　the　Queen's　work。〃
　　　〃Semper　fi；　man；〃　Jack　observed。　He　added　cream　to　his　coffee　and　took　a　sip。　Not　great；　but　good　enough　for　the　moment。
　　　So　was　the　food　in　the　state…run　cafeteria　next　door　to　the　Hotel　Astoria。　Svetlana　had　chosen　and　positively　inhaled　a　cherry　Danish　pastry；　along　with　a　glass　of　whole　milk。
　　　〃The　concert　is　tonight；〃　Oleg　told　his　wife。　〃Excited？〃
　　　〃You　know　how　long　it　has　been　since　I've　been　to　a　proper　concert？〃　she　retorted。　〃Oleg；　I　shall　never　forget　this　kindness　on　your　part。〃　She　was　surprised　by　the　look　on　his　face；　but　made　no　ment　on　it。
　　　〃Well；　my　d