tc.patriotgames-第22章

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I　was　in　was　supposed　to　be　as　much　a　learning　experience　as　a　mand　slot。　I　mean；　in　business　it's　called　an　entry…level　position。　You　don't　start　shaking　the　world　your　first　day　on　the　job　in　any　business。〃　
　　　　Atkinson　frowned　a　bit。　This　was　not　going　as　he'd　expected。
　　　　〃Ah；　then；　Sir　John；　a　leftenant　of　American　Marines　is　really　a　leader　of　Boy　Scouts。　Surely　you　don't　mean　that？〃　he　asked；　a　sarcastic　edge　on　his　voice。
　　　　〃No；　sir。　Excuse　me；　I　did　not　mean　to　give　that　impression；　but　we're　not　a　bunch　of　hyperaggressive　barbarians　either。　My　job　was　to　carry　out　orders；　to　be　as　aggressive　as　the　situation　called　for；　and　to　exercise　some　amount　of　judgment；　like　any　officer。　But　I　was　only　there　three　months；　and　I　was　still　learning　how　to　be　an　officer　when　I　was　injured。　Marines　follow　orders。　Officers　give　orders；　of　course；　but　a　second　lieutenant　is　the　lowest　form　of　officer。　You　take　more　than　you　give。　I　guess　you've　never　been　in　the　service；〃　Ryan　tagged　on　the　barb　at　the　end。
　　　　〃So；　what　sort　of　training　did　they　give　you？〃　Atkinson　demanded；　either　angry　or　feigning　it。
　　　　Richards　looked　up　to　Ryan；　a　warning　broadcast　from　his　eyes。　He'd　emphasized　several　times　that　Jack　shouldn't　cross　swords　with　Red　Charlie。
　　　　〃Really；　basic　leadership　skills。　They　taught　us　how　to　lead　men　in　the　field；〃　Ryan　replied。　〃How　to　react　to　a　given　tactical　situation。　How　to　employ　the　platoon's　weapons；　and　to　a　lesser　extent；　the　weapons　in　a　rifle　pany。　How　to　call　in　outside　support　from　artillery　and　air　assets　〃　
　　　　〃To　react？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　that　is　part　of　it。〃　Ryan　kept　his　answers　as　long　as　he　thought　he　could　get　away　with；　careful　to　keep　his　voice　even；　friendly；　and　informative。　〃I've　never　been　in　anything　like　a　bat　situation　　unless　you　count　this　thing　we're　talking　about；　of　course　　but　our　instructors　were　very　clear　about　telling　us　that　you　don't　have　time　to　think　very　much　when　bullets　are　flying。　You　have　to　know　what　to　do；　and　you　have　to　do　it　fast　　or　you　get　your　own　people　killed。〃
　　　　〃Excellent；　Sir　John。　You　were　trained　to　react　quickly　and　decisively　to　tactical　stimuli；　correct？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Ryan　thought　he　saw　the　ambush　ing。
　　　　〃So；　in　the　unfortunate　incident　before　this　court；　when　the　initial　explosion　took　place；　you　have　testified　that　you　were　looking　in　the　wrong　direction？〃　
　　　　〃I　was　looking　away　from　the　explosion；　yes；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃How　soon　afterwards　did　you　turn　to　see　what　was　happening？〃
　　　　〃Well；　sir；　as　I　said　earlier；　the　first　thing　I　did　was　to　get　my　wife　and　daughter　down　under　cover。　Then　I　looked　up。　How　long　did　that　take？〃　Ryan　cocked　his　head。　〃At　least　one　second；　sir；　maybe　as　many　as　three。　Sorry；　but　as　I　said　earlier；　it's　hard　to　recall　that　sort　of　thing　　you　don't　have　a　stopwatch　on　yourself；　I　mean。〃
　　　　〃So；　when　you　finally　did　look　up；　you　had　not　seen　what　had　immediately　transpired？〃　
　　　　〃Correct；　sir。〃　Okay；　Charlie；　ask　the　next　question。
　　　　〃You　did　not；　therefore；　see　my　client　fire　his　pistol；　nor　throw　a　hand　grenade？〃
　　　　Cute；　Ryan　thought；　surprised　that　he'd　try　this　ploy。　Well；　he　has　to　try　something；　doesn't　he？　〃No；　sir。　When　I　first　saw　him；　he　was　running　around　the　corner　of　the　car；　from　the　direction　of　the　other　man；　the　one　who　was　killed　　the　one　with　the　rifle。　A　moment　later　he　was　at　the　right…rear　corner　of　the　Rolls；　facing　away　from　me；　with　the　pistol　in　his　right　hand；　pointed　forward　and　down；　as　if　〃
　　　　〃Assumption　on　your　part；〃　Atkinson　interrupted。　〃As　if　what？　It　could　have　been　any　one　of　several　things。　But　what　things？　How　could　you　tell　what　he　was　doing　there？　You　did　not　see　him　get　out　of　the　car；　which　later　drove　off。　For　all　you　know　he　might　have　been　another　pedestrian　racing　to　the　rescue；　just　as　you　did；　mightn't　he？〃　
　　　　Jack　was　supposed　to　be　surprised　by　this。
　　　　〃Assumption；　sir？　No；　I'd　call　it　a　judgment。　For　him　to　have　been　racing　to　the　rescue　as　you　suggest；　he　would　have　had　to　e　from　across　the　street。　I　doubt　that　anyone　could　have　reacted　anywhere　near　fast　enough　to　do　that　at　all；　not　to　mention　the　fact　that　there　was　a　guy　there　with　a　machine　gun　to　make　you　think　twice　about　it。　Also；　the　direction　I　saw　him　running　from　was　directly　away　from　the　guy　with　the　AK…47。　If　he　was　running　to　the　rescue；　why　away　from　him？　If　he　had　a　gun；　why　not　shoot　him？　At　the　time　I　never　considered　this　possibility；　and　it　seems　pretty　unlikely　now；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Again；　a　conclusion。　Sir　John；〃　Atkinson　said　as　though　to　a　backward　child。
　　　　〃Sir；　you　asked　me　a　question；　and　I　tried　to　answer　it；　with　the　reasons　to　back　up　my　answer。〃
　　　　〃And　you　expect　us　to　believe　that　all　this　flashed　through　your　mind　in　a　brief　span　of　seconds？〃　Atkinson　turned　back　to　the　jury。
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　it　did；〃　Ryan　said　with　conviction。　〃That's　all　I　can　say　　it　did。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　suppose　you've　been　told　that　my　client　has　never　been　arrested；　or　accused　of　any　crime？〃　
　　　　〃I　guess　that　makes　him　a　first　offender。〃
　　　　〃It's　for　the　jury　to　decide　that；〃　the　lawyer　snapped　back。　〃You　did　not　see　him　fire　a　single　shot；　did　you？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir；　but　his　automatic　had　an　eight…shot　clip；　and　there　were　only　three　rounds　in　it。　When　I　fired　my　third　shot；　it　was　empty。〃
　　　　〃So　what？　For　all　you　know　someone　else　could　have　fired　that　gun。　You　did　not　see　him　fire；　did　you？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir。〃
　　　　〃So　it　might　have　been　dropped　by　someone　in　the　car。　My　client　might　have　picked　it　up　and；　I　repeat；　been　doing　the　same　thing　you　were　doing　　this　could　all　be　true；　but　you　have　no　way　of　knowing　this；　do　you？〃
　　　　〃I　cannot　testify　about　things　I　didn't　see；　sir。　However；　I　did　see　the　street；　the　traffic；　and　the　other　pedestrians。　If　your　client　did　what　you　say；　where　did　he　e　from？〃　
　　　　〃Precisely　　you　don't　know；　do　you？〃　Atkinson　said　sharply。
　　　　〃When　I　saw　your　client；　sir；　he　was　ing　from　the　direction　of　the　stopped　car。〃　Jack　gestured　to　the　model　on　the　evidence　table。　〃For　him　to　have　e　off　the　sidewalk；　then　gotten　the　gun；　and　then　appeared　where　I　saw　him　　there's　just　no　way　unless　he's　an　Olympic…class　sprinter。〃
　　　　〃Well；　we'll　never　know；　will　we　　you　fixed　that。　You　reacted　precipitously；　didn't　you？　You　reacted　as　you　were　trained　to　by　the　U。S。　Marines；　never　stopping　to　assess　the　situation。　You　raced　into　the　fray　quite　recklessly；　attacked　my　client　and　knocked　him　unconscious；　then　tried　to　kill　him。〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir；　I　did　not　try　to　kill　your　client。　I've　already　〃　
　　　　〃Then　why　did　you　shoot　an　unconscious；　helpless　man？〃　
　　　　〃My　Lord；〃　prosecutor　Richards　said；　standing　up；　〃we　have　already　asked　that　question。〃
　　　　〃The　witness　may　answer　on　further　reflection；〃　Justice　Wheeler　intoned　No　one　would　say　that　this　trial　was　unfair。
　　　　〃Sir；　I　did　not　know　he　was　unconscious；　and　I　didn't　know　how　long　it　would　be　before　he　got　up。　So；　I　shot　to　disable　him。　I　just　didn't　want　him　to　get　back　up　for　a　while。〃　
　　　　〃I'm　sure　that's　what　they　said　at　My　Lai。〃　
　　　　〃That　wasn't　the　Marines；　Mr。　Atkinson；〃　Ryan　shot　back。
　　　　The　lawyer　smiled　up　at　Jack。　〃I　suppose　your　chaps　were　better　trained　at　keeping　quiet。　Indeed；　perhaps　you　yourself　have　been　trained　in　such　things　。　。　。　〃
　　　　〃No；　sir；　I　have　not。〃　He's　making　you　angry；　Jack。　He　took　his　handkerchief　out　and　blew　his　nose　again。　The　two　deep　breaths　helped。　〃Excuse　me。　I'm　afraid　the　local　weather　has　given　me　a　〃bit　of　a　head　cold。　What　you　just　said　　if　the　Marines　trained　people　in　that　sort　of　stuff；　the　newspapers　would　have　plastered　it　on　their　front　pages　years　ago。　No；　moral　issues　aside　for　the　moment；　the　Corps　has　a　much　better　sense　of　public　relations　than　that；　Mr。　Atkinson。〃
　　　　〃Indeed。〃　The　barrister　shrugged。　〃And　what　about　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency？〃　
　　　　〃Excuse　me？〃　
　　　　〃What　of　the　press　reports　that　you've　worked　for　the　CIA？〃　
　　　　〃Sir；　the　only　times　I've　been　paid　by　the　U。S。　government；〃　Jack　said；　choosing　his　words　very　carefully；　〃the　money　came　from　the　Navy　Department；　first　as　a　Marine；　then　later　　now；　that　is；　as　an　instructor　at　the　United　States　Naval　Academy。　I　have　never　been　employed　by　any　other　government　agency；　period。〃
　　　　〃So　you　are　not　an　agent　of　the　CIA？　I　remind　you　that　you　are　under　oath。〃
　　　　〃No；　sir。　I　am　not　now；　and　I　never　have　been　any　kind　of　agent　　unless　you　count　being　a　stockbroker。　I　don't　work　for　the　CIA。〃　
　　　　〃And　these　news　reports？〃
　　　　〃I'm　afraid　that　you'll　have　to　ask　the　reporters。　I　don't　know　where　that　stuff　es　from。　I　teach　history。　My　office　is　in　Leahy　Hall　on　the　Naval　Academy　grounds。　That's　kind　of　a　long　way　from　Langley。〃　
　　　　〃Langley？　You　know　where　CIA　is；　then？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　It's　on　record　that　I　have　delivered　a　lecture　there。　It　was　the　same　lecture　I　delivered　the　month　before　at　the　Naval　War　College　at　Newport；　Rhode　Island。　My　paper　dealt　with　the　nature　of　tactical　decision…making。　I　have　never　worked　for　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency；　but　I　did；　once；　give　a　lecture　there。　Maybe　that's　where　all　these　reports　started。〃　
　　　　〃I　think　you're　lying；　Sir　John；〃　Atkinson　observed。
　　　　Not　quite；　Charlie。　〃I　can't　help　what　you　think；　sir；　I　can　only　answer　your　questions　truthfully。〃
　　　　〃And　you　never　wrote　an　official　report　for　the　government　entitled　'Agents　and　Agencies'　？〃
　　　　Ryan　did　not　allow　himself　to　react。　Where　did　you　get　that　bit　of　data；　Charlie？　He　answered　the　question　with　great　care。
　　　　〃Sir；　last　year　　that　is；　last　summer；　at　the　end　of　the　last　school　year　　I　was　asked　to　be　a　contract　consultant　to　a　private　pany　that　does　government　work。　The　pany　is　the　Mitre　Corporation；　and　I　was　hired　on　a　temporary　basis　as　part　of　one　of　their　consulting　contracts　with　the　U。S。　government。　The　work　involved　was　classified；　but　it　obviously　had　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　this　case。〃　
　　　　〃Obviously？　Why　don't　you　let　the　jury　decide　that？〃　
　　　　〃Mr。　Atkinson；〃　Justice　Wheeler　said　tiredly；　〃are　you　suggesting　that　this　work　in　which　the　witness　was　involved　has　a　direct　connection　with　the　case　before　the　court？〃　
　　　　〃I　think　we　might　wish　to　establish　that；　My　Lord。　It　is　my　belief　that　the　witness　is　misleading　the　court。〃
　　　　〃Very　well。〃　The　judge　turned。　〃Doctor　Ryan；　did　this　work　in　which　you　were　engaged　have　anything　whatever　to　do　with　a　case　of　murder　in　the　city　of　London；　or　with　any　of　the　persons　involved　in　this　case？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃You　are　quite　certain？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Are　you　now　or　have　you　ever　been　an　employee　of　any　intelligence　or　security　agency　of　the　American　government？〃　
　　　　〃Except　for　the　Marine　Corps；　no；　sir。〃
　　　　〃I　remind　you　of　your　oath　to　tell　the　truth　　the　whole；　plete　truth。　Have　you　misled　the　court　in　any　way；　Doctor　Ryan？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir；　absolutely　not。〃　
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Doctor　Ryan。　I　believe　that　question　is　now　settled。〃　Mr。　Justice　Wheeler　turned　back　to　his　right。　〃Next　question；　Mr。　Atkinson。〃
　　　　The　barrister　had　to　be　angry　at　that；　Ryan　thought；　but　he　didn't　let　it　show。　He　wondered　if　someone　had　briefed　the　judge。
　　　　〃You　say　that　you　shot　my　client　merely　in　the　hope　that　he　would　not　get　up？〃　
　　　　Richards　stood。　〃My　Lord；　the　witness　has　alre