rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第20章

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　Beria　slipped　his　hand　into　his　coat　pocket；　to　his　Taurus　9mm；　when　his　eyes　registered　the　anomaly：　a　man　wearing　overalls；　like　a　sanitation　worker；　was　in　the　process　of　emptying　a　bin　into　his　push　cart。　The　only　problem　was　that　as　soon　as　he　saw　Yardeni；　he　forgot　all　about　the　garbage。
　Where　there's　one；　there　are　more。
　Beria　slipped　around　the　pillar　so　that　Yardeni　wouldn't　spot　him　and　quickly　surveyed　the　station。　Within　seconds　he　picked　out　two　more　men　who　were　out　of　place：　a　deliveryman　hauling　bread；　and　one　who　tried　to　pass　himself　off　as　an　electrician。
　Beria　knew　a　great　deal　about　the　Federal　Security　Service。　He　was　aware　that　the　interest　was　both　reciprocal　and　intense。　But　he　could　not　believe　they　were　there　for　him。　Clearly　the　object　of　their　attention　was　Yardeni。
　Recalling　what　Yardeni　had　told　him　about　his　clean　getaway　from　Bioaparat；　Beria　cursed。　The　guard　would　pay　dearly　for　his　lies。
　Beria　watched　him　stroll　among　the　benches　toward　the　kiosks。　The　three　plainclothes　agents　trailed；　forming　a　rough　triangle　behind　him。　One　was　speaking　into　a　wrist　mike。
　Then　Beria　noticed　a　tall；　rangy　man　e　through　the　doors　to　the　platforms。　This　was　no　Russian；　though　the　one　following　him　certainly　was。　The　face　of　Major…General　Kirov　was　indelibly　printed　in　Beria's　memory。
　Beria　noted　that　the　foot　traffic　in　the　station　had　picked　up。　Good。　He　would　need　as　much　cover　as　possible。　Beria　stepped　out　from　behind　the　pillar　just　long　enough　for　Yardeni　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　him。　He　didn't　think　that　Yardeni's　shadows　could　have　discerned　exactly　what　Yardeni　had　seen　to　make　him　move　in　that　direction；　but　they　would　surely　follow。
　Beria　counted　off　the　seconds；　then　slipped　out　from　behind　the　pillar　again。　Yardeni　was　less　than　fifteen　feet　away。　Beria　had　his　hand　on　his　gun；　ready　to　draw　it；　when；　without　warning；　Yardeni　stumbled；　teetered；　then　crashed　to　the　floor。　Immediately；　the　shadows　closed　in。
　〃Help　me。。。〃
　Yardeni　had　no　idea　what　was　happening　to　him。　First　his　chest　had　felt　like　it　was　on　fire；　now　it　seemed　to　be　caught　in　the　jaws　of　a　giant　vise　that　was　mercilessly　squeezing　the　life　out　of　him。
　As　he　thrashed　on　the　cold　marble　floor；　his　vision　began　to　blur。　But　he　could　still　make　out　the　features　of　the　man　who　had　brought　him　this　far。　Instinctively；　he　reached　out　to　him。
　〃Help　me。。。〃
　Beria　didn't　hesitate。　Putting　on　a　concerned　expression；　he　moved　directly　to　the　stricken　man　and　the　undercover　agents。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　one　of　them　demanded。　〃Do　you　know　this　man？〃
　〃We　met　on　the　train；〃　Beria　replied。　〃Maybe　he　remembers　me。　God；　look　at　him。　He's　delirious！〃
　The　poison　was　causing　Yardeni　to　foam　at　the　mouth；　cutting　off　his　speech。　Beria　was　very　close　now；　kneeling。
　〃You'll　have　to　e　with…〃　one　of　the　agents　began。
　He　got　no　further。　Beria's　first　shot　tore　away　his　throat。　His　second　caught　another　agent　in　the　temple。　The　third　found　the　remaining　man's　heart。
　〃Shoot　him！〃
　The　booming　words　startled　Beria。　He　rose　to　discover　travelers　lying　on　the　floor；　hiding　as　best　they　could　under　the　benches。　But　at　the　doors　was　Kirov；　pointing　at　him；　shouting　to　a　young　woman　who　had　e　up　on　Beria's　blind　side。
　〃Lara；　shoot　him！〃
　Beria　whipped　around　to　face　Lara　Telegin；　who　had　her　gun　leveled　at　him。　His　peripheral　vision　caught　three　more　figures　racing　a　toward　them。
　〃Go！〃　she　called　out　softly。
　Beria　didn't　hesitate。　He　ducked　behind　the　woman　and　raced　for　the　exits。
　After　making　sure　that　Beria　was　safely　away；　Telegin　braced　herself　in　the　shooter's　classic　stance。　As　calmly　as　if　she　were　on　the　practice　range；　she　shot　the　remaining　members　of　the　undercover　team。　Then；　without　pause；　she　wheeled　around　to　face　a　disbelieving　Kirov。
　It　took　Smith　only　a　split　second　to　realize　that　Telegin's　treachery　had　frozen　the　general　in　her　crosshairs。　Without　thinking；　he　launched　himself　at　the　Russian　an　instant　before　he　heard　the　shot。　Kirov　cried　out　once　as　he　and　Smith　went　down。
　Smith　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　squeezed　off　two　quick　shots。　Telegin　screamed　as　the　bullets　tore　into　her；　slamming　her　body　against　a　pillar。　For　an　instant；　she　hung　like　that；　her　head　lolling　to　one　side。　Then　her　gun　clattered　to　the　floor；　her　knees　gave　way；　and　she　slid　down；　lifeless　as　a　broken　marionette。
　Smith　turned　to　Kirov；　who　had　propped　himself　up　against　a　door。　He　ripped　open　his　jacket；　pulled　down　the　sleeve；　and　saw　the　bloodied　flesh　where　Telegin's　bullet　had　struck　his　upper　arm。
　Kirov　clenched　his　teeth。　〃It's　a　through…and…through。　I'll　live。　Get　over　to　Yardeni。〃
　〃Telegin…〃
　〃To　hell　with　her！　I　just　hope　that　you　aren't　a　good　shot。　I　have　a　lot　of　questions　for　her。〃
　Smith　zigzagged　through　the　cowering　crowd；　making　his　way　around　the　bodies　of　Kirov's　fallen　men。　When　he　reached　Telegin；　one　look　told　him　that　she　would　never　be　answering　any　more　questions。　Quickly；　he　turned　to　Yardeni　and　realized　that　the　same　was　true　for　him。
　Militiamen　and　police　were　flooding　the　station。　Kirov　was　on　his　feet；　unsteady　and　in　pain；　but　strong　enough　to　bark　out　orders。　Within　minutes；　travelers　were　being　herded　out　of　the　area。
　Brushing　aside　a　medic；　Kirov　went　over　to　Smith　and　knelt　down　by　the　two　bodies。
　〃The　foam　around　his　mouth。。。？〃
　〃Poison。〃
　Kirov　stared　at　Lara　Telegin's　glassy　eyes；　then　reached　out　and　closed　the　lids。　〃Why？　Why　was　she　working　with　him？〃
　Smith　shook　his　head。　〃With　Yardeni？〃
　〃Him；　too；　probably。　But　I　meant　Ivan　Beria。〃
　Then　Smith　remembered　the　man　in　the　black　overcoat；　nowhere　to　be　seen　now。　〃Who　is　he？〃
　Kirov　winced　as　the　medic　firmly　sat　him　down　and　went　to　work　on　his　wound。
　〃Ivan　Beria。　A　Serb　freelance　operator。　He　has　a　long　and　bloody　history　in　the　Balkans。〃　He　hesitated。　〃He　was　also　a　KGB　favorite。　Most　recently　he's　been　contracting　out　his　skills　to　the　mafiya　and　certain　Western　interests。〃
　Smith　caught　something　in　Kirov's　tone。　〃It's　personal；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Two　of　my　best　undercover　agents　in　the　mafiya　were　murdered　in　a　particularly　brutal　fashion；〃　Kirov　replied　flatly。　〃Beria's　fingerprints　were　all　over　that　job。　I'm　going　to　put　an　alert…〃
　〃No；　don't　touch　him！〃　Smith　yelled　as　the　medic　was　reaching　for　Yardeni's　body。　Stepping　over　to　the　corpse；　he　felt　gently　along　the　inside　folds　of　the　parka。
　〃Travel　documents；〃　he　said；　producing　Yardeni's　passport　and　air　tickets。
　His　fingers　continued　to　work　inside　the　parka。　Suddenly；　something　very　cold　brushed　his　fingertips。
　〃Get　me　some　gloves！〃　he　called　to　the　medic。
　Seconds　later；　Smith　eased　out　the　shiny　metal　container　and　carefully　laid　it　on　the　floor。
　〃I　need　ice！〃
　Kirov　moved　in　for　a　better　look。　〃It's　intact；　thank　God！〃
　〃Do　you　recognize　the　container　design？〃'
　〃It's　standard　issue　for　the　transport　of　ampoules　from　the　Bioaparat　safe　to　the　laboratories。〃　He　spoke　briefly　into　his　mike；　then　looked　at　Smith。　〃The　biohazard　unit　will　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　While　Kirov　issued　orders　for　the　station　to　be　cleared；　Smith　placed　the　container　into　a　bucket　of　ice　that　the　medic　had　managed　to　find。　The　nitrogen　in　the　thermal　layer　kept　the　container　at　just　above　freezing；　rendering　the　virus　inactive。　But　Smith　had　no　idea　how　long　the　charge　would　last。　Keeping　the　canister　on　ice　would　provide　some　measure　of　safety　until　the　biohazard　team　arrived。
　Suddenly　Smith　realized　how　quiet　the　station　had　bee。　Looking　around；　he　discovered　that　all　the　militia　had　pulled　back；　taking　the　last　of　the　travelers　and　station　workers　with　them。　Only　he　and　Kirov　were　left；　surrounded　by　bodies。
　〃Have　you　been　in　bat；　Dr。　Smith？〃　Kirov　asked。
　〃Call　me　Jon。　And　yes；　I　have。〃
　〃Then　you're　familiar　with　this　silence。。。　after　the　gunfire　and　screaming　are　over。　It's　only　the　survivors　who　get　to　see　what　they've　wrought。〃　He　paused。　〃It's　the　survivor　who　can　thank　the　man　who　saved　his　life。〃
　Smith　nodded。　〃I　know　you　would　have　done　the　same。　Tell　me　more　about　Beria。　How　does　he　fit　in？〃
　〃Beria　is　not　only　an　executioner；　he　is　a　facilitator。　If　you　want　something　delivered　or　spirited　out　of　the　country；　he's　the　man　who'll　guarantee　it　gets　done。〃
　〃You　don't　think　that　he　and　Yardeni…　with　Telegin's　help…　planned　and　executed　the　theft　themselves；　do　you？〃
　〃Executed；　yes。　Planned；　no。　Beria's　forte　is　not　in　strategy。　He　is…　how　would　you　put　it？…　a　hands…on　operator。　His　job　would　have　been　to　shepherd　Yardeni　after　he　got　out　of　Bioaparat。〃
　〃Shepherd　him　where？〃
　Kirov　held　up　the　Canadian　passport。　〃The　American…Canadian　border　is　porous。　Yardeni　wouldn't　have　had　any　problem　smuggling　the　smallpox　into　your　country。〃
　The　idea　made　Smith's　flesh　crawl。　〃You're　saying　that　Yardeni　was　a　thief　and　a　courier？〃
　〃A　man　like　Yardeni　does　not　have　the　wherewithal　to　provide　himself　with　a　new　passport；　much　less　pay　for　the　services　of　Beria。　But　someone　did。　Someone　wanted　to　get　his　hands　on　a　smallpox　sample　and　was　willing　to　pay　mightily　for　the　privilege。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　I　have　to　ask：　where　does　Telegin　fit　in？〃
　Kirov　looked　away；　feeling　torn　by　her　betrayal。
　〃You　don't　strike　me　as　a　man　who　believes　in　coincidence；　Jon。　Consider　this：　Yardeni　has　been　in　place　for　some　time。　But　his　masters　choose　this　particular　moment　to　activate　him。　Why　should　it　have　coincided　with　your　arrival　in　Moscow？　Did　they　know　you　were　ing？　If　so；　they　would　have　deduced　that　they　had　one　last　chance　to　steal　from　Bioaparat。　And　why　was　Yardeni　told　to　proceed　with　the　theft？　Because　someone　tipped　him　off　that　the　Special　Forces　were　on　their　way。〃
　〃Telegin　warned　Yardeni？〃
　〃Who　else　could　it　have　been？〃
　〃But　she　wasn't　acting　on　her　own。。。。〃
　〃I　think　Lara　was　the　eyes　and　ears　of　whoever　planned　this。　As　soon　as　she　knew　you　were　in　Moscow　she　contacted　her　principals；　who　told　her　to　go　ahead　and　have　Yardeni　execute　the　theft。　They　could　not　afford　to　risk　the　access　that　Yardeni　provided　them。〃
　He　paused　and　glanced　at　the　body　of　his　lover。　〃Think　about　it；　Jon。　Why　would　Lara　have　risked　everything…　her　career；　future。。。　love…　if　the　rewards　were　not　overwhelming？　She　would　never　have　found　such　bounty　in　Russia。〃
　Kirov　looked　up　as　the　station　doors　opened　and　the　biohazard　team；　dressed　in　full　antiplague　suits；　came　through。　Within　minutes；　the　container　that　Telegin　and　Yardeni　had　died　for　was　being　sealed　in　a　stainless…steel　box　and　wheeled　to　a　vaultlike　truck；　ready　to　be　removed　to　Moscow's　premier　research　facility；　the　Serbsky　Institute。
　〃I'm　going　to　initiate　the　search　for　Beria；〃　Kirov　said　as　he　and　Smith　walked　out　of　the　station。
　Smith　watched　the　virus　hunters'　truck　pull　away　from　the　station；　escorted　by　motorcycle　outriders。
　〃Something　you　said；　General。　About　Beria　being　a　facilitator。　What　if　Yardeni　wasn't　his　primary　responsibility？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Yardeni　was　important…　pivotal…　in　that　he　was　the　inside　man。　He　was　the　one　who　actually　had　to　go　in　and　get　the　sample。　But　how　valuable　was　he　to　anyone　after　that？　A　liability　is　more　like　it。　Yardeni　didn't　die　from　a　gunshot　wound。　Beria　poisoned　him。〃
　〃What　a