tc.patriotgames-第40章

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ed　like　some　kind　of　three…dimensional　crossword　puzzle。　He　didn't　know　the　number　of　blanks；　and　he　didn't　have　any　of　the　clues　to　the　words；　but　he　did　know　roughly　the　way　they　fitted　together。　That　was　something。　Given　time；　it　might　even　be　enough；　but　　
　　　　〃Damn！〃　His　hands　gripped　tight　on　the　steering　wheel　as　good　humor　again　gave　way　to　renewed　frustration。　He　could　talk　it　over　with　Owens　tomorrow　or　the　next　day；　but　the　bell　told　him　that　it　was　more　urgent　than　that。
　　　　Why　is　it　so　damned　urgent？　There　is　no　evidence　of　anything　to　get　excited　about。
　　　　Murray　reminded　himself　that　the　first　case　that　he'd　broken　more　or　less　on　his　own；　ten　months　after　hitting　the　street　as　a　special　agent；　had　begun　with　a　feeling　like　this　one。　In　retrospect　the　evidence　had　seemed　obvious　enough　once　he'd　put　the　right　twist　on　it；　but　that　twist　hadn't　occurred　to　anyone　else。　And　with　Murray　himself　it　had　begun　as　nothing　more　than　the　same　sort　of　intellectual　headache　he　was　suffering　through　in　his　car。　Now　he　was　really　mad　at　himself。
　　　　Fact：　The　ULA　broke　all　the　rules。　Fact：　No　Irish　terrorist　organization　had　ever　run　an　operation　in　the　U。S。　There　were　no　more　Facts。　If　they　ran　an　op　in　America　。　。　。　well；　they　were　undoubtedly　mad　at　Ryan；　but　they　hadn't　made　a　move　against　him　over　here；　and　that　would　have　been　a　hell　of　a　lot　easier　than　staging　one　in　the　U。S。　What　if　Miller　really　was　their　chief　of　operations　　no；　Murray　told　himself；　terrorists　don't　usually　take　things　personally。　It's　unprofessional；　and　the　bastards　are　professional。　They'd　have　to　have　a　better　reason　than　that。
　　　　Just　because　you　don't　know　what　the　reason　is　doesn't　mean　they　don't　have　one；　Danny。　Murray　found　himself　wondering　if　his　intuition　hadn't　transformed　itself　into　paranoia　with　increasing　age。　What　if　there's　more　than　one　reason　to　do　it？
　　　　〃There's　a　thought；〃　he　said　to　himself。　One　could　be　an　excuse　for　the　other　　but　what's　the　it　that　they　want　to　do？　Motive；　all　the　police　procedure　manuals　said；　was　the　main　thing　to　look　for。　Murray　didn't　have　a　clue　on　their　motive。　〃I　could　go　crazy　doing　this。〃
　　　　Murray　turned　left　off　Kensington　Road；　into　the　upscale　neighborhood　of　flats　where　he　had　his　official　residence。　Parking　was　the　usual　problem。　Even　when　he'd　been　assigned　to　the　counterespionage　section　of　the　New　York　City　Field　Office；　parking　hadn't　been　this　bad。　He　found　a　space　perhaps　two　feet　longer　than　his　car　and　spent　nearly　five　minutes　fitting　the　vehicle　into　it。
　　　　Murray　hung　his　coat　on　the　peg　beside　the　door　and　walked　right　into　the　living　room。　His　wife　found　him　dialing　the　phone；　a　ferocious　scowl　on　his　face。　She　wondered　what　was　wrong。
　　　　It　took　a　few　seconds　for　the　overseas　call　to　go　into　the　proper　office。
　　　　〃Bill；　this　is　Dan　Murray　。　。　。　we're　fine；〃　his　wife　heard　him　say。　〃I　want　you　to　do　something。　You　know　that　guy　Jack　Ryan？　Yeah；　that's　the　one。　Tell　him　　hell；　how　do　I　say　this？　Tell　him　that　maybe　he　should　watch　his　back　。　。　。　I　know　that。　Bill　。　。　。　I　can't　say；　something's　bothering　me；　and　I　can't　　something　like　that；　yeah　。　。　。　I　know　they've　never　done　it　before。　Bill；　but　it's　still　bothering　me　。　。　。　No；　nothing　specific　that　I　can　point　to；　but　Jimmy　Owens　brought　it　up；　and　now　he's　got　me　worrying　about　it。　Oh；　you　got　the　report　already？　Good；　then　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　　　　Murray　leaned　back　and　stared　at　the　ceiling　for　a　moment。　〃Call　it　feeling；　or　instinct　　call　it　anything　you　want；　it's　bothering　me。　I　want　somebody　to　act　on　it　。　。　。　Good　man。　How's　the　family？　Oh；　yeah？　Great！　Well；　I　guess　it'll　be　a　happy　new　year　for　you。　Okay。　Take　care。　'Bye。〃　He　set　the　phone　down。　〃Well；　that　feels　a　little　better；〃　he　said　quietly　to　himself。
　　　　〃The　party　starts　at　nine；〃　his　wife　said。　She　was　used　to　his　bringing　work　home。　He　was　used　to　having　her　remind　him　of　his　social　obligations。
　　　　〃I　guess　I　better　get　dressed；　then。〃　Murray　rose　and　kissed　his　wife。　He　did　feel　better　now。　He'd　done　something　　probably　no　more　than　having　people　in　the　Bureau　wonder　what　was　happening　to　him　over　here；　but　he　could　live　with　that。　〃Bill's　oldest　is　engaged。　He's　going　to　marry　her　off　to　a　young　agent　in　the　D。C。　Field　Office。〃　
　　　　〃Anyone　we　know？〃　
　　　　〃New　kid。〃　
　　　　〃We　have　to　leave　soon。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　okay。〃　He　walked　to　the　master　bedroom　and　started　to　change　for　the　big　embassy　party。

Chapter　11　Warnings

　　　　〃As　you　see；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　the　decision　Nelson　made　in　this　case　had　the　long…term　effect　of　finally　putting　an　end　to　the　stultifying　influence　of　the　Royal　Navy's　formal　tactics。〃　Ryan　closed　his　note　folder。　〃There　is　nothing　like　a　decisive　victory　to　teach　people　a　lesson。　Questions？〃
　　　　It　was　Jack's　first　day　back　at　teaching　class。　The　room　had　forty　students；　all　third　classmen　（that　title　included　the　six　female　mids　in　the　class）；　or　sophomores　in　civilian　terms；　taking　Ryan's　introductory　course　in　naval　history。　There　were　no　questions。　He　was　surprised。　Jack　knew　he　was　a　pretty　good　teacher；　but　not　that　good。　After　a　moment；　one　of　the　students　stood　up。　It　was　George　Winton；　a　football　player　from　Pittsburgh。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；〃　he　said　stiffly；　〃I've　been　asked　to　make　a　presentation　on　behalf　of　the　class。〃
　　　　〃Uh…oh。〃　Jack　took　half　a　step　backward　and　scanned　the　body　of　students　theatrically　for　the　advancing　threat。
　　　　Mid/3　Winton　walked　forward　and　produced　a　small　box　from　behind　his　back。　There　was　a　typed　sheet　on　the　top。　The　young　man　stood　at　attention。
　　　　〃Attention　to　orders；　For　service　above　and　beyond　the　duty　of　a　tourist　　even　a　brainless　Marine　　the　class　awards　Doctor　John　Ryan　the　Order　of　the　Purple　Target；　in　the　hope　that　he　will　duck　the　next　time；　lest　he　bee　a　part　of　history　rather　than　a　teacher　of　it。　〃
　　　　Winton　opened　the　box　and　produced　a　purple　ribbon　three　inches　across　on　which　was　inscribed　in　gold：　SHOOT　ME。　Below　it　was　a　brass　bull's…eye　of　equal　size。　The　mid　pinned　it　to　Ryan's　shoulder　so　that　the　target　portion　almost　covered　where　he'd　been　shot。　The　class　stood　and　applauded　as　Ryan　shook　hands　with　the　class　spokesman。
　　　　Jack　fingered　the　〃decoration〃　and　looked　up　at　his　class。　〃Did　my　wife　put　you　up　to　this？〃　They　started　converging　on　him。
　　　　〃Way　to　go；　Doc！〃　said　an　aspiring　submarine　driver。　
　　　　〃Semper　fi！〃　echoed　a　would…be　Marine。
　　　　Ryan　held　up　his　hands。　He　was　still　getting　used　to　the　idea　of　having　his　left　arm　back。　The　shoulder　ached　now　that　he　was　really　using　it；　but　the　surgeon　at　Hopkins　had　told　him　that　the　stiffness　would　gradually　fade　away；　and　the　net　impairment　to　his　left　shoulder　would　be　less　than　five　percent。
　　　　〃Thank　you；　people；　but　you　still　have　to　take　the　exam　next　week！〃
　　　　There　was　general　laughter　as　the　kids　filed　out　of　the　room　to　their　next　class。　This　was　Ryan's　last　for　the　day。　He　gathered　up　his　books　and　notes　and　trailed　out　of　the　room　for　the　walk　uphill　to　his　office　in　Leahy　Hall。
　　　　There　was　snow　on　the　ground　this　frigid　January　day。　Jack　had　to　watch　for　patches　of　ice　on　the　brick　sidewalk。　Around　him　the　campus　of　the　Naval　Academy　was　a　beautiful　place。　The　immense　quadrangle　bordered　by　the　chapel　to　the　south；　Bancroft　Hall　to　the　east；　and　classroom　buildings　on　the　other　sides；　was　a　glistening　white　blanket　with　pathways　shoveled　from　one　place　to　another。　The　kids　　Ryan　thought　of　them　as　kids　　marched　about　as　they　always　did；　a　little　too　earnest　and　serious　for　Jack's　liking。　They　saved　their　smiles　for　places　where　no　outsiders　might　notice。　Each　of　them　had　his　（or　her）　shoes　spit…shined；　and　they　moved　about　with　straight　backs；　books　tucked　under　the　left　arm　so　as　not　to　interfere　with　saluting。　There　was　a　lot　of　that　here。　At　the　top　of　the　hill；　at　Gate　#3；　a　Marine　lance　corporal　stood　with　the　〃Jimmy　Legs〃　civilian　guard。　A　normal　day　at　the　office；　Jack　told　himself。　It　was　a　good　place　to　work。　The　mids　were　easily　the　equal　of　the　students　of　any　school　in　the　country；　always　ready　with　questions；　and；　once　you　earned　their　trust；　capable　of　some　astonishing　horseplay。　This　was　something　a　visitor　to　the　Academy　might　never　suspect；　so　serious　was　the　kids'　public　demeanor。
　　　　Jack　got　into　the　steam…heated　warmth　of　Leahy　Hall　and　bounded　up　the　steps　to　his　office；　laughing　to　himself　at　the　absurd　award　that　dangled　from　his　shoulder。　He　found　Robby　sitting　opposite　his　desk。
　　　　〃What　in　the　hell　is　that？〃　the　pilot　inquired。　Jack　explained　as　he　set　his　books　down。　Robby　started　laughing。
　　　　〃It's　nice　to　see　the　kids　can　unwind　a　little；　even　in　exam　season。　So　what's　new　with　you？〃　Jack　asked　his　friend。
　　　　〃Well；　I'm　a　Tomcat　driver　again；〃　Robby　announced。　〃Four　hours　over　the　weekend。　Oh；　man！　Jack；　I'm　telling　you；　I　had　that　baby　talking　to　me。　Took　her　offshore；　had　her　up　to　mach　one…point…four；　did　a　midair　refueling；　then　I　came　back　for　some　simulated　carrier　landings；　and　　it　was　good。　Jack；〃　the　pilot　concluded。　〃Two　more　months　and　I'll　be　back　where　I　belong。〃　
　　　　〃That　long；　Rob？〃
　　　　〃Flying　this　bird　is　not　supposed　to　be　easy　or　they　wouldn't　need　people　of　my　caliber　to　do　it；〃　Jackson　explained　seriously。　
　　　　〃It　must　be　hard　to　be　so　humble。〃
　　　　Before　Robby　could　respond；　there　came　a　knock　on　the　opened　door　and　a　man　stuck　his　head　in。　〃Doctor　Ryan？〃　
　　　　〃That's　right。　Join　us。〃
　　　　〃I'm　Bill　Shaw；　FBI。〃　The　visitor　came　all　the　way　in　and　held　up　his　ID　card。　About　Robby's　height；　he　was　a　slender　man　in　his　mid…forties　with　eyes　so　deep　set　that　they　almost　gave　him　the　look　of　a　raccoon；　the　kind　of　eyes　that　got　that　way　from　sixteen…hour　days。　A　sharp　dresser；　he　looked　like　a　very　serious　man。　〃Dan　Murray　asked　me　to　e　over　to　see　you。〃　
　　　　Ryan　rose　to　take　his　hand。　〃This　is　Lieutenant　mander　Jackson。〃　
　　　　〃Howdy。〃　Robby　shook　his　hand；　too。　
　　　　〃I　hope　I'm　not　interrupting　anything。〃
　　　　〃Not　at　all　　we're　both　finished　teaching　for　the　day。　Grab　a　chair。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　
　　　　Shaw　looked　at　Jackson　but　didn't　say　anything。
　　　　〃Well；　if　you　guys　have　to　talk；　I　can　mosey　on　over　to　the　O…Club　〃
　　　　〃Relax；　Rob。　Mr。　Shaw；　you're　among　friends。　Can　I　offer　you　anything？〃
　　　　〃No；　thank　you。〃　The　FBI　agent　pulled　the　straight…back　chair　from　next　to　the　door。　〃I　work　in　the　counterterrorism　unit　at　FBI　headquarters。　Dan　asked　me　to　　well；　you　know　that　the　ULA　rescued　their　man　Miller　from　police　custody。〃
　　　　Now　Ryan　was　pletely　serious。　〃Yeah　　I　caught　that　on　TV。　Any　idea　where　they　took　him　to？〃　
　　　　Shaw　shook　his　head。　〃They　just　disappeared。〃
　　　　〃Quite　an　operation；〃　Robby　noted。　〃They　escaped　to　seaward；　right？　Some　ship　pick　them　up　maybe？〃　This　drew　a　sharp　look。　〃You　notice　my　uniform；　Mr。　Shaw？　I　earn　my　living　out　there　on　the　water。〃　
　　　　〃We're　not　sure；　but　that　is　a　possibility。〃
　　　　〃Whose　ships　were　out　there？〃　Jackson　persisted。　This　wasn't　a　law…enforcement　problem　to　Robby。　It　was　a　naval　matter。　
　　　　〃That's　being　looked　at。〃
　　　　Jackson　and　Ryan　traded　a　look。　Robby　fished　out　one　of　his　cigars　and　lit　it。
　　　　〃I　got　a　call　last　week　from　Dan。　He's　a　little　　I　wish　to　emphasize　this；　only　a　little　　concerned　that　the　ULA　might　。　。