tc.patriotgames-第11章

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ops　and　troops　around。　So　you　know　that　time　is　on　your　side　if　you　can　survive　for　a　couple　of　minutes。　In　the　meantime　you　try　to　protect　your　family　as　best　you　can。　You　get　them　down　on　the　floor　of　the　car　and　get　overtop　of　them　so　the　only　way　the　terrorists　can　get　them　is　to　go　through　you　first。　And　that；　my　friend；　is　what　you　did。〃　Ryan　paused　for　a　moment　to　let　him　absorb　this。
　　　　〃You　did　exactly　the　right　thing；　dammit！〃　Ryan　leaned　forward　until　his　shoulder　pulled　him　back　with　a　gasp。　It　wasn't　all　that　much　of　a　pain　medication。　〃Jesus；　this　hurts。　Look；　sir；　you　were　stuck　out　in　the　open　　with　a　lousy　set　of　alternatives。　But　you　used　your　head　and　took　the　best　one　you　had。　From　where　I　sit；　you　could　not　have　done　any　better　than　you　did。　So　there　is　nothing；　repeat　nothing；　for　you　to　feel　bad　about。　And　if　you　don't　believe　me；　ask　Wilson。　He's　a　cop。〃　The　Prince　turned　his　head。
　　　　The　Anti…Terrorist　Branch　officer　cleared　his　throat。　〃Excuse　me。　Your　Royal　Highness；　but　Doctor　Ryan　is　quite　correct。　We　were　discussing　this；　this　problem　yesterday；　and　we　reached　precisely　the　same　conclusion。〃
　　　　Ryan　looked　over　to　the　cop。　〃How　long　did　you　fellows　kick　the　idea　around；　Tony？〃　
　　　　〃Perhaps　ten　minutes；〃　Wilson　answered。
　　　　〃That's　six　hundred　seconds；　Your　Highness。　But　you　had　to　think　and　act　in　　what？　Five？　Maybe　three？　Not　much　time　to　make　a　life…and…death　decision　is　it？　Mister；　I'd　say　you　did　damned　well。　All　that　training　you've　picked　up　along　the　line　worked。　And　if　you　were　evaluating　someone　else's　performance　instead　of　your　own；　you'd　say　the　same　thing；　just　like　Tony　and　his　friends　did。〃　
　　　　〃But　the　press　〃
　　　　〃Oh；　screw　the　press！〃　Ryan　snapped　back；　wondering　if　he'd　gone　too　far。　〃What　do　reporters　know　about　anything？　They　don't　do　anything；　for　crying　out　loud；　they　just　report　what　other　people　do。　You　can　fly　an　airplane；　you've　jumped　out　of　them　　flying　scares　the　hell　out　of　me；　I　don't　even　want　to　think　about　jumping　out　of　one　　and　manded　a　ship。　Plus　you　ride　horses　and　keep　trying　to　break　your　neck　　and　now；　finally；　you're　a　father；　you　got　a　kid　of　your　own　now；　right？　Isn't　that　enough　to　prove　to　the　world　that　you've　got　balls？　You're　not　some　dumb　kid；　sir。　You're　a　trained　pro。　Start　acting　like　one。〃　
　　　　Jack　could　see　his　mind　going　over　what　he'd　just　been　told。　His　Highness　was　sitting　a　little　straighter　now。　The　smile　that　began　to　form　was　an　austere　one；　but　at　least　it　had　some　conviction　behind　it。
　　　　〃I　am　not　accustomed　to　being　addressed　so　forcefully。〃　
　　　　〃So　cut　my　head　off。〃　Ryan　grinned。　〃You　looked　like　you　needed　a　little　straightening　out　　but　I　had　to　get　your　attention　first；　didn't　I？　I'm　not　going　to　apologize；　sir。　Instead；　why　don't　you　look　in　that　mirror　over　there。　I　bet　the　guy　you　see　now　looks　better　than　the　one　who　shaved　this　morning。〃　
　　　　〃You　really　believe　what　you　said？〃
　　　　〃Of　course。　All　you　have　to　do　is　look　at　the　situation　from　the　outside；　sir。　The　problem　you　had　yesterday　was　tougher　than　any　exercise　I　had　to　face　at　Quantico；　but　you　gutted　it　out。　Listen；　I'll　tell　you　a　story。
　　　　〃My　first　day　at　Quantico；　first　day　of　the　officer's　course。　They　line　us　up；　and　we　meet　our　Drill　Instructor；　Gunnery　Sergeant　Willie　King　　humongous　black　guy；　we　called　him　Son　of　Kong。　Anyway；　he　looks　us　up　and　down　and　says；　'Girls；　I　got　some　good　news；　and　I　got　some　bad　news。　The　good　news　is；　if　you　prove　that　you're　good　enough　to　get　through　this　here　course；　you　ain't　got　nothin'　left　to　prove　as　long　as　you　live。'　And　he　waits　for　a　couple　of　seconds。　'The　bad　news　is；　you　gotta　prove　it　to　me！'　〃
　　　　〃You　were　top　in　your　class；〃　the　Prince　said。　He'd　been　briefed；　too。
　　　　〃I　was　third　in　that　one。　I　tied　for　first　in　the　Basic　Officer's　Course　later　on。　Yeah；　I　did　okay。　That　course　was　a　gold…plated　sonuvabitch。　The　only　easy　thing　was　sleeping　　by　the　time　your　day　was　finished；　falling　asleep　was　easy　enough。　But；　you　know；　Son　of　Kong　was　almost　right。
　　　　〃If　you　make　it　through　Quantico；　you　know　you've　done　something。　After　that　there　was　only　one　more　thing　left　for　me　to　prove；　and　the　Corps　didn't　have　anything　to　do　with　that。〃　Ryan　paused　for　a　moment。　〃Her　name　is　Sally。　Anyway；　you　and　your　family　are　alive；　sir。　Okay；　I　helped　　but　so　did　you。　And　if　any　reporter…expert　says　different；　you　still　have　the　Tower　of　London；　right？　I　remember　that　stuff　in　the　press　about　your　wife　last　year。　Damn；　if　anybody'd　talked　that　way　about　Cathy　I'd　have　changed　his　voice　for　him。〃　
　　　　〃Changed　his　voice？〃　His　Highness　asked。
　　　　〃The　hard　way！〃　Ryan　laughed。　〃I　guess　that's　a　problem　with　being　important　　you　can't　shoot　back。　Too　bad。　People　in　that　business　could　use　some　manners；　and　people　in　your　business　are　entitled　to　some　privacy；　just　like　the　rest　of　us。〃　
　　　　〃And　what　of　your　manners；　Sir　John？〃　A　real　smile　now。　
　　　　〃Mea　maxima　culpa；　my　Lord　Prince；　you　got　me　there。〃　
　　　　〃Still；　we　might　not　be　here　except　for　you。〃
　　　　〃I　couldn't　just　sit　there　and　watch　some　people　get　murdered。　If　situations　had　been　reversed；　I'll　bet　you'd　have　done　the　same　thing　I　did。〃　
　　　　〃You　really　think　so？〃　His　Highness　was　surprised。
　　　　〃Sir；　are　you　kidding？　Anybody　dumb　enough　to　jump　out　of　an　airplane　is　dumb　enough　to　try　anything。〃
　　　　The　Prince　stood　and　walked　over　to　the　mirror　on　the　wall。　Clearly　he　liked　what　he　saw　there。　〃Well；〃　he　murmured　to　the　mirror。　He　turned　back　to　voice　his　last　self…doubt。　
　　　　〃And　if　you　had　been　in　my　place？〃
　　　　〃I'd　probably　just've　wet　my　pants；〃　Ryan　replied。　〃But　you　have　an　advantage　over　me；　sir。　You've　thought　about　this　problem　for　a　few　years；　right？　Hell；　you　practically　grew　up　with　it；　and　you've　been　through　basic　training　　Royal　Marines；　too；　maybe？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　I　have。〃
　　　　Ryan　nodded。　〃Okay；　so　you　had　your　options　figured　out　beforehand；　didn't　you？　They　caught　you　by　surprise；　sure；　but　the　training　shows。　You　did　all　right。　Honest。　Sit　back　down；　and　maybe　Tony　can　pour　us　some　coffee。〃
　　　　Wilson　did　so；　though　he　was　clearly　uneasy　to　be　close　to　the　heir。　The　Prince　of　Wales　sipped　at　his　cup　while　Ryan　lit　up　one　of　Wilson's　cigarettes。　His　Highness　looked　on　disapprovingly。　
　　　　〃That's　not　good　for　you；　you　know；〃　he　pointed　out。
　　　　Ryan　just　laughed。　〃Your　Highness；　since　I　arrived　in　this　country；　I　nearly　got　run　over　by　one　of　those　two…story　buses；　I　almost　got　my　head　blown　off　by　a　damned　Maoist；　then　I　nearly　get　myself　shish…kabobed　by　one　of　your　redcoats。〃　Ryan　waved　the　cigarette　in　the　air。　〃This　is　the　safest　damned　thing　I've　done　since　I　got　here！　What　a　vacation　this's　turned　out　to　be。〃
　　　　〃You　do　have　a　point；〃　the　Prince　admitted。　〃And　quite　a　sense　of　humor；　Doctor　Ryan。〃
　　　　〃I　guess　the　valium　　or　whatever　they're　giving　me　　helps。　And　the　name's　Jack。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　The　Prince　took　it。
　　　　〃I　was　able　to　meet　your　wife　and　daughter　yesterday　　you　were　unconscious　at　the　time。　I　gather　that　your　wife　is　an　excellent　physician。　Your　little　daughter　is　quite　wonderful。〃　
　　　　〃Thanks。　How　do　you　like　being　a　daddy？〃　
　　　　〃The　first　time　you　hold　your　newborn　child　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Jack　said。　〃Sir；　that's　what　it's　all　about。〃　He　stopped　talking　abruptly。
　　　　Bingo；　Ryan　thought。　A　four…month…old　baby。　If　they　kidnap　the　Prince　and　Princess；　well；　no　government　can　cave　in　to　terrorism。　The　politicians　and　police　have　to　have　a　contingency　plan　already　set　up　for　this；　don't　they？　They'd　take　this　town　apart　one　brick　at　a　time；　but　they　wouldn't　　couldn't　　negotiate　anything；　and　that　was　just　too　bad　for　the　grown…ups；　but　a　little　baby　。　。　。　damn；　there's　a　bargaining　chip！　What　kind　of　people　would　　
　　　　〃Bastards；〃　Ryan　whispered　to　himself。　Wilson　blanched；　but　the　Prince　suspected　what　Jack　was　thinking　about。　
　　　　〃Excuse　me？〃
　　　　〃They　weren't　trying　to　kill　you。　Hell；　I　bet　you　weren't　even　the　real　objective　。　。　。　〃　Ryan　nodded　slowly。　He　searched　his　mind　for　the　data　he'd　seen　on　the　ULA。　There　hadn't　been　much　　it　hadn't　been　his　area　of　focus　in　any　case　　a　few　tidbits　of　shadowy　intelligence　reports；　mixed　with　a　lot　of　pure　conjecture。　〃They　didn't　want　to　kill　you　at　all；　I　bet。　And　when　you　covered　the　wife　and　kid；　you　burned　their　plan　。　。　。　maybe；　or　maybe　you　just　　yeah；　maybe　you　just　threw　them　a　curve；　and　that　blew　their　timing　a　little　bit。〃　
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　the　Prince　asked。
　　　　〃Goddamned　medications　slow　your　brain　down；〃　Ryan　said　mainly　to　himself。　〃Have　the　police　told　you　what　the　terrorists　were　up　to？〃　
　　　　His　Highness　sat　upright　in　the　chair。　〃I　can't　〃　
　　　　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　Ryan　cut　him　off。　〃Did　they　tell　you　that　what　you　did　definitely　　definitely　　saved　all　of　you？〃　
　　　　〃No；　but　〃　
　　　　〃Tony？〃　
　　　　〃They　told　me　you　were　a　very　clever　chap。　Jack；〃　Wilson　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　ment　further。　Your　Royal　Highness；　Doctor　Ryan　maybe　correct　in　his　assessment。〃　
　　　　〃What　assessment？〃　The　Prince　was　puzzled。　
　　　　Ryan　explained。　It　only　took　a　few　minutes。　
　　　　〃How　did　you　arrive　at　this　conclusion。　Jack？〃　
　　　　Ryan's　mind　was　still　churning　through　the　hypothesis。　〃Sir；　I'm　an　historian。　My　business　is　figuring　things　out。　Before　that　I　was　a　stockbroker　　doing　essentially　the　same　thing。　It's　not　all　that　hard　when　you　think　about　it。　You　look　for　apparent　inconsistencies　and　then　you　try　to　figure　out　why　they're　not　really　inconsistent。〃　He　concluded；　〃It's　all　speculation　on　my　part；　but　I'm　willing　to　bet　that　Tony's　colleagues　are　pursuing　it。〃　Wilson　didn't　say　anything。　He　cleared　his　throat　　which　was　answer　enough。
　　　　The　Prince　looked　deep　into　his　coffee　cup。　His　face　was　that　of　a　man　who　had　recovered　from　fear　and　shame。　Now　he　contemplated　cold　anger　at　what　might　have　been。　
　　　　〃Well；　they've　had　their　chance；　haven't　they？〃　

　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　I　imagine　if　they　ever　try　again；　it'll　be　a　lot　harder。　Right；　Tony？〃
　　　　〃I　seriously　doubt　that　they　will　ever　try　again；〃　Wilson　replied。　〃We　should　develop　some　rather　good　intelligence　from　this　incident。　The　ULA　have　stepped　over　an　invisible　line。　Politically；　success　might　have　enhanced　their　position；　but　they　didn't　succeed；　did　they？　This　will　harm　them；　harm　their　'popular'　support。　Some　people　who　know　them　will　now　consider　talking　　not　to　us；　you　understand；　but　some　of　what　they　say　will　get　to　us　in　due　course。　They　were　outcasts　before；　they　will　be　outcasts　even　more　now。〃
　　　　Will　they　learn　from　this？　Ryan　wondered；　if　so；　what　will　they　have　learned？　There's　a　question。　Jack　knew　that　it　had　only　two　possible　answers；　and　that　those　answers　were　diametrically　opposed。　He　made　a　mental　note。　He'd　follow　up　on　this　when　he　got　home。　It　wasn't　a　merely　academic　exercise　now。　He　had　a　bullet　hole　in　his　shoulder　to　prove　that。
　　　　The　Prince　rose　to　his　feet。　〃You　must　excuse　me。　Jack。　I'm　afraid　I　have　rather　a　full　day　ahead。〃　
　　　　〃Going　back　out；　eh？〃
　　　　〃If　I　hide；　they've　won。　I　understand　that　fact　better　now　than　when　I　came　in　here。　And　I　have　something　else　to　thank　you　for。〃
　　　　〃You　would　have　figured　it　out　sooner　or　later。　Better　it　should　be　sooner；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　　〃We　must　see　more　of　each　o