tc.patriotgames-第17章

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the　killing　is　purely　random　now。　Maybe　a　third　of　the　kills　are　people　who　were　walking　down　the　wrong　street。　The　process　feeds　on　itself；　and　there's　not　much　of　a　middle　ground　left　anymore。　Except　the　cops　　I　know；　the　RUC　used　to　be　the　bad　guys；　too；　but　they've　just　about　ended　that　crap。　The　Law　has　got　to　be　the　Law　for　everyone　　but　that's　too　easy　to　forget　sometimes；　like　in　Mississippi　back　in　the　sixties；　and　that's　essentially　what　happened　in　Northern　Ireland。　Sir　Jack　Hermon　is　trying　to　turn　the　RUC　into　a　professional　police　force。　There　are　plenty　of　people　left　over　from　the　bad　old　days；　but　the　troops　are　ing　around。　They　must　be。　The　cops　are　taking　casualties　from　both　sides；　the　last　one　was　killed　by　prods。　They　firebombed　his　house。〃　Murray　shook　his　head。　〃It's　amazing。　I　was　just　over　there　two　weeks　ago。　Their　morale's　great；　especially　with　the　new　kids。　I　don't　know　how　they　do　it　　well；　I　do　know。　They　have　their　mission；　too。　The　cops　and　the　courts　have　to　reestablish　justice；　and　the　people　have　to　see　that　they're　doing　it。　They're　the　only　hope　that　place　has；　them　and　a　few　of　the　church　leaders。　Maybe　mon　sense'll　break　out　someday；　but　don't　hold　your　breath。　It's　going　to　take　a　long　time。　Thank　God　for　Tom　Jefferson　and　Jim　Madison；　bub。　Sometimes　I　wonder　how　close　we　came　to　that　sectarian　stuff。　It's　like　a　Mafia　war　that　everybody　can　play　in。〃

　　　　〃Well；　Judge？〃　Admiral　James　Greer　hit　the　off　switch　on　the　remote　control　as　the　Cable　News　Network　switched　topics。　The　Director　of　Central　Intelligence　tapped　his　cigar　on　the　cut…glass　ashtray。
　　　　〃We　know　he's　smart；　James；　and　it　looks　like　he　knows　how　to　handle　himself　with　reporters；　but　he's　impetuous；〃　Judge　Arthur　Moore　said。
　　　　〃e　on；　Arthur。　He's　young。　I　want　somebody　in　here　with　some　fresh　ideas。　You　going　to　tell　me　now　that　you　didn't　like　his　report？　First　time　at　bat；　and　he　turns　out　something　that　good！〃
　　　　Judge　Moore　smiled　behind　his　cigar。　It　was　drizzling　outside　the　seventh…floor　window　of　the　office　of　the　Deputy　Director；　Intelligence；　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency。　The　rolling　hills　of　the　Potomac　Valley　prevented　his　seeing　the　river；　but　he　could　spy　the　hills　a　mile　or　so　away　on　the　far　side。　It　was　a　far　prettier　view　than　that　of　the　parking　lots。　
　　　　〃Background　check？〃
　　　　〃We　haven't　done　a　deep　one　yet；　but　I'll　bet　you　a　bottle　of　your　favorite　bourbon　that　he　es　up　clean。〃
　　　　〃No　bet；　James！〃　Moore　had　already　seen　Jack's　service　record　from　the　Marine　Corps。　Besides；　he　hadn't　e　to　the　Agency。　They　had　gone　to　him　and　he'd　turned　them　down　on　the　first　offer。　〃You　think　he　can　handle　it；　eh？〃
　　　　〃You　really　ought　to　meet　the　kid；　Judge。　I　had　him　figured　out　the　first　ten　minutes　he　was　in　here　last　July。〃　
　　　　〃You　arranged　the　leak？〃
　　　　〃Me？　Leak？〃　Admiral　Greer　chuckled。　〃Nice　to　know　how　he　can　handle　himself；　though；　isn't　it？　Didn't　even　blink　when　he　fielded　the　question。　The　boy　takes　his　clearance　seriously；　and〃　　Greer　held　up　the　telex　from　London　　〃he's　asking　good　questions。　Emil　says　his　man　Murray　was　fairly　impressed；　too。　It's　just　a　damned　shame　to　waste　him　teaching　history。〃　
　　　　〃Even　at　your　alma　mater？〃
　　　　Greer　smiled。　〃Yes；　that　does　hurt　a　little。　I　want　him；　Arthur。　I　want　to　teach　him；　I　want　to　groom　him。　He's　our　kind　of　people。〃　
　　　　〃But　he　doesn't　seem　to　think　so。〃　
　　　　〃He　will。〃　Greer　was　quietly　positive。
　　　　〃Okay；　James。　How　do　you　want　to　approach　him？〃　
　　　　〃No　hurry。　I　want　a　very　thorough　background　check　done　first　　and　who　knows？　Maybe　he'll　e　to　us。〃　
　　　　〃No　chance；〃　Judge　Moore　scoffed。
　　　　〃He'll　e　to　us　requesting　information　on　this　ULA　bunch；〃　Greer　said。
　　　　The　Judge　thought　about　that　one。　One　thing　about　James　Greer；　Moore　knew；　was　his　ability　to　see　into　things　and　people　as　though　they　were　made　of　crystal。　〃That　makes　sense。〃　
　　　　〃You　bet　it　does。　It'll　be　a　while　　the　Attache　says　he　has　to　stay　over　for　the　trial　and　all　　but　he'll　be　in　this　office　two　weeks　after　he　gets　back；　asking　for　a　chance　to　research　this　ULA　outfit。　If　he　does；　I'll　pop　the　offer　　if　you　agree；　Arthur。　I　also　want　to　talk　to　Emil　Jacobs　at　FBI　and　pare　files　on　these　ULA　characters。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。〃　
　　　　They　turned　to　other　matters。

Chapter　5　Perqs　and　Plots

　　　　The　day　Ryan　was　released　from　the　hospital　was　the　happiest　in　his　life；　at　least　since　Sally　had　been　born　at　Johns　Hopkins；　four　years　before。　It　was　after　six　in　the　evening　when　he　finally　finished　dressing　himself　　the　cast　made　that　a　very　tricky　exercise　　and　plopped　down　in　the　wheelchair。　Jack　had　groused　about　that；　but　it　was　evidently　a　rule　as　inviolable　in　British　hospitals　as　in　American　ones：　patients　are　not　allowed　to　walk　out　　somebody　might　think　they　were　cured。　A　uniformed　policeman　pushed　him　out　of　the　room　into　the　hall。　Ryan　didn't　look　back。
　　　　Virtually　the　whole　floor　staff　was　lined　up　in　the　hall；　along　with　a　number　of　the　patients　Ryan　had　met　the　past　week　and　a　half　as　he'd　relearned　how　to　walk　up　and　down　the　drab　corridors　　with　a　ten…degree　list　from　the　heavy　cast。　Jack　flushed　red　at　the　applause；　the　more　so　when　people　reached　out　to　shake　his　hand。　I'm　not　an　Apollo　astronaut；　he　thought。　The　Brits　are　supposed　to　be　more　dignified　than　this。
　　　　Nurse　Kittiwake　gave　a　little　speech　about　what　a　model　patient　he　was。　What　a　pleasure　and　an　honor　。　。　。　Ryan　blushed　again　when　she　finished；　and　gave　him　some　flowers；　to　take　to　his　lovely　wife；　she　said。　Then　she　kissed　him；　on　behalf　of　everyone　else。　Jack　kissed　back。　It　was　the　least　he　could　do；　he　told　himself；　and　she　really　was　a　pretty　girl。　Kittiwake　hugged　him；　cast　and　all；　and　tears　started　running　out　of　her　eyes。　Tony　Wilson　was　at　her　side　and　gave　Jack　a　surreptitious　wink。　That　was　no　surprise。　Jack　shook　hands　with　another　ten　or　so　people　before　the　cop　got　him　into　the　elevator。
　　　　〃Next　time　you　guys　find　me　wounded　in　the　street；〃　Ryan　said；　〃let　me　die　there。〃　
　　　　The　policeman　laughed。　〃Bloody　ungrateful　fellow　you　are。〃　
　　　　〃True。〃
　　　　The　elevator　opened　at　the　lobby　and　he　was　grateful　to　see　that　it　had　been　cleared　except　for　the　Duke　of　Edinburgh　and　a　gaggle　of　security　people。
　　　　〃Good　evening；　My　Lord。〃　Ryan　tried　to　stand；　but　was　waved　back　down。
　　　　〃Hello；　Jack！　How　are　you　feeling？〃　They　shook　hands；　and　for　a　moment　he　was　afraid　that　the　Duke　himself　would　wheel　him　out　the　door。　That　would　have　been　intolerable；　but　the　police　officer　resumed　his　pushing　as　the　Duke　walked　alongside。　Jack　pointed　forward。
　　　　〃Sir；　I　will　improve　at　least　fifty　percent　when　we　make　it　through　that　door。〃　
　　　　〃Hungry？〃　
　　　　〃After　hospital　food？　I　just　might　eat　one　of　your　polo　horses。〃　
　　　　The　Duke　grinned。　〃We'll　try　to　do　a　little　better　than　that。〃　
　　　　Jack　noticed　seven　security　people　in　the　lobby。　Outside　was　a　Rolls…Royce　。　。　。　and　at　least　four　other　cars；　along　with　a　number　of　people　who　did　not　look　like　ordinary　passersby。　It　was　too　dark　to　see　anyone　prowling　the　roofs；　but　they'd　be　there；　too。　Well；　Ryan　thought；　they've　learned　their　lessons　on　security。　Still　a　damned　shame；　though；　and　it　means　the　terrorists　have　won　a　victory。　If　they　make　society　change；　even　a　little；　they've　won　something。　Bastards。　The　cop　brought　him　right　to　the　Rolls。
　　　　〃Can　I　get　up　now？〃　The　cast　was　so　heavy　that　it　ruined　his　balance。　Ryan　stood　a　little　too　fast　and　nearly　smashed　into　the　car；　but　caught　himself　with　an　angry　shake　of　the　head　before　anyone　had　to　grab　for　him。　He　stood　still　for　a　moment；　his　left　arm　sticking　out　like　the　big　claw　on　a　fiddler　crab；　and　tried　to　figure　how　to　get　into　the　car。　It　turned　out　that　the　best　way　was　to　stick　the　cast　in　first；　then　rotate　clockwise　as　he　followed　it。　The　Duke　had　to　enter　from　the　other　side；　and　it　turned　out　to　be　rather　a　snug　fit。　Ryan　had　never　been　in　a　Rolls　before；　and　found　that　it　wasn't　all　that　spacious。　
　　　　〃fortable？〃
　　　　〃Well　　I'll　have　to　be　careful　not　to　punch　a　window　out　with　this　damned　thing。〃　Ryan　leaned　back　and　shook　his　head　with　an　eyes…closed　smile。
　　　　〃You　really　are　glad　to　be　out　of　hospital。〃
　　　　〃My　Lord；　on　that　you　can　wager　one　of　your　castles。　This　makes　three　times　I've　been　in　the　body　and　fender　shop；　and　that's　enough。〃　The　Duke　motioned　for　the　driver　to　pull　out。　The　convoy　moved　slowly　into　the　street；　two　lead　cars　and　two　chase　cars　surrounding　the　Rolls…Royce。　〃Sir；　may　I　ask　what's　happening　this　evening？〃
　　　　〃Very　little；　really。　A　small　party　in　your　honor；　with　just　a　few　close　friends。〃
　　　　Jack　wondered　what　〃a　few　close　friends〃　meant。　Twenty？　Fifty？　A　hundred？　He　was　going　to　dinner　at　。　。　。　Scotty；　beam　me　up！　〃Sir；　you　know　that　you've　really　been　too　kind　to　us。〃　
　　　　〃Bloody　rubbish。　Aside　from　the　debt　we　owe　you　　not　exactly　what　one　would　call　a　small　debt；　Jack。　Aside　from　that；　it's　been　entirely　worthwhile　to　meet　some　new　people。　I　even　finished　your　book　Sunday　night。　I　thought　it　was　excellent；　you　must　send　me　a　copy　of　your　next　one。　And　the　Queen　and　your　wife　have　got　on　marvelously。　You　are　a　very　lucky　chap　to　have　a　wife　like　that　　and　that　little　imp　of　a　daughter。　She's　a　gem；　Jack；　a　thoroughly　wonderful　little　girl。〃
　　　　Ryan　nodded。　He　often　wondered　what　he　had　done　to　be　so　lucky。　〃Cathy　says　that　she's　seen　about　every　castle　in　the　realm；　and　thanks　a　lot　for　the　people　you　put　with　her。　It　made　me　feel　much　better　about　having　them　run　all　over　the　place。〃　
　　　　The　Duke　waved　his　hand　dismissively。　It　wasn't　worth　talking　about。　〃How　did　the　research　go　on　your　new　book？〃　
　　　　〃Quite　well；　sir。〃　The　one　favorable　result　of　his　being　in　the　hospital　was　that　he'd　had　the　time　to　sift　through　all　of　it　in　detail。　His　puter　had　two　hundred　new　pages　of　notes　stored　in　its　bubble　chips；　and　Ryan　had　a　new　perspective　on　judging　the　actions　of　others。　〃I　guess　I've　learned　one　thing　from　my　little　escapade。　Sitting　in　front　of　a　keyboard　isn't　quite　the　same　as　looking　into　the　front　end　of　a　gun。　Decisions　are　a　little　different　from　that　perspective。〃　Ryan's　tone　made　a　further　statement。
　　　　The　Duke　clapped　him　on　the　knee。　〃I　shouldn't　think　that　anyone　will　fault　yours。〃
　　　　〃Maybe。　The　thing　is；　my　decision　was　made　on　pure　instinct。　If　I'd　known　what　I　was　doing　　what　if　I　had　done　the　wrong　thing　on　instinct？〃　He　looked　out　the　window。　〃Here　I　am；　supposed　to　be　an　expert　on　naval　history；　with　special　emphasis　on　how　decisions　are　made　under　stress；　and　I'm　still　not　satisfied　with　my　own。　Damn。〃　Jack　concluded　quietly：　〃Sir；　you　don't　forget　killing　somebody。　You　just　don't。〃
　　　　〃You　oughtn't　to　dwell　on　it。　Jack。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Ryan　turned　back　from　the　window。　The　Duke　was　looking　at　him　much　the　same　way　his　father　had；　years　before。　〃A　conscience　is　the　price　of　morality；　and　morality　is　the　price　of　civilization。　Dad　used　to　say　that　many　criminals　don't　have　a　conscience；　not　much　in　the　way　of　feelings　at　all。　I　guess　that's　what　makes　us　different　from　them。〃
　　　　〃Exactly。　Your　introspection　is　a　fundamentally　healthy　thing；　but　you　should　not　overdo　it。　Put　it　behind　you。　Jack。　It　was　my　impression　of　Americans　that　you　prefer　to　look　to　the　futur