tc.patriotgames-第49章

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l　operations　were　things　the　PIRA　had　already　looked　at　and　set　aside　for　one　reason　or　another。　That's　why　the　Brits　thought　they　were　actually　part　of　the　PIRA　to　begin　with；　Marty。〃　
　　　　〃You　said　you　didn't　find　anything　important；〃　Cantor　said。　〃This　sounds　like　pretty　sharp　analysis　to　me。〃
　　　　〃Maybe。　All　I　did　was　reorder　stuff　you　already　had。　Nothing　new　is　in　here；　and　I　still　haven't　answered　my　own　question。　I　don't　have　much　of　an　idea　what　they're　really　up　to。〃　Ryan's　hand　flipped　through　the　pages　of　manuscript。　His　voice　showed　his　frustration。　Jack　was　not　accustomed　to　failure。　〃We　still　don't　know　where　these　bastards　are　ing　from。　They're　up　to　something；　but　damned　if　I　know　what　it　is。〃　
　　　　〃American　connections？〃
　　　　〃None　　none　at　all　that　we　know　of。　That　makes　me　feel　a　lot　better。　There's　no　hint　of　a　contact　with　American　organizations；　and　lots　of　reasons　for　them　not　to　have　any。　O'Donnell　is　too　slick　to　play　with　his　old　PIRA　contacts。〃　
　　　　〃But　his　recruiting　〃　Cantor　objected。　Jack　cut　him　off。
　　　　〃Over　here；　I　mean。　As　chief　of　internal　security；　he　could　know　who　was　who　in　Belfast　and　Londonderry。　But　the　American　connections　to　the　Provisionals　all　run　through　Sinn　Fein；　the　Proves'　political　wing。　He'd　have　to　be　crazy　to　trust　them。　Remember；　he　did　his　best　to　restructure　the　political　leanings　in　the　outfit　and　failed。〃
　　　　〃Okay。　I　see　what　you　mean。　Possible　connections　with　other　groups？〃
　　　　Ryan　shook　his　head。　〃No　evidence。　I　wouldn't　bet　against　contact　with　some　of　the　European　groups；　maybe　some　of　the　Islamic　ones　even；　but　not　over　here。　O'Donnell's　a　smart　cookie。　To　e　over　here　means　too　many　plications　　hey；　they　don't　like　me；　I　can　dig　that。　The　good　news　is　that　the　FBI's　right。　We're　dealing　with　professionals。　I　am　not　a　politically　significant　target。　ing　after　me　has　no　political　value；　and　these　are　political　animals；〃　Jack　observed　confidently。　〃Thank　God。〃
　　　　〃Did　you　know　that　the　PIRA　　well；　Sinn　Fein　　has　a　delegation　ing　over　day　after　tomorrow？〃　
　　　　〃What　for？〃
　　　　〃The　thing　in　London　hurt　them　in　Boston　and　New　York。　They've　denied　involvement　about　a　hundred　times；　and　they　have　a　bunch　ing　over　for　a　couple　of　weeks　to　tell　the　local　Irish　munities　in　person。〃
　　　　〃Aw；　crap！〃　Ryan　snarled。　〃Why　not　keep　the　bastards　out　of　the　friggin'　country？〃
　　　　〃Not　that　easy。　The　people　ing　over　aren't　on　the　Watch　List。　They've　been　here　before。　They're　clean；　technically。　We　live　in　a　free　democracy。　Jack。　Remember　what　Oliver　Wendell　Holmes　said：　the　Constitution　was　written　for　people　of　fundamentally　differing　views　　or　something　like　that。　The　short　name　is　Freedom　of　Speech。〃
　　　　Ryan　had　to　smile。　The　outside　view　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency　people　was　often　one　of　bumbling　fascists；　threats　to　American　freedom；　corrupt　but　inpetent　schemers；　a　cross　between　the　Mafia　and　the　Marx　brothers。　In　fact；　Ryan　had　found　them　to　be　politically　moderate　　more　so　than　he　was。　If　the　truth　ever　got　out；　of　course；　the　press　would　think　it　was　a　sinister　ruse。　Even　he　found　it　very　odd。
　　　　〃I　hope　somebody　will　keep　an　eye　on　them；〃　Jack　observed。
　　　　〃The　FBI　will　have　people　in　every　bar；　swilling　their　John　Jameson　and　singing　'The　Men　Behind　the　Wire。'　And　keeping　an　eye　on　everything。　The　Bureau's　pretty　good　at　that。　They've　just　about　ended　the　gun…running。　The　word's　gotten　out　on　that　　must　be　a　half…dozen　people　who　got　sent　up　the　river　for　sending　guns　and　explosives　over。〃
　　　　〃Fine。　So　now　the　bad　guys　use　Kalashnikovs；　or　Armalites　made　in　Singapore。〃　
　　　　〃That；〃　Cantor　said；　〃is　not　our　responsibility。〃　
　　　　〃Well；　this　here's　all　that　I　was　able　to　e　up　with；　Marty。　Unless　there's　other　data　around；　that's　all　I　can　give　you。〃　Jack　tossed　the　report　in　Cantor's　lap。
　　　　〃I'll　read　this　over　and　get　back　to　you。　Back　to　teaching　history？〃
　　　　〃Yep。〃　Ryan　stood　and　got　his　coat　from　the　back　of　the　chair。　He　paused。　〃What　if　something　about　these　guys　turns　up　in　a　different　place？〃　
　　　　〃This　is　the　only　partment　you　can　see。　Jack　〃　
　　　　〃I　know　that。　What　I'm　asking　is；　the　way　this　place　is　set　up；　how　do　you　connect　things　from　different　partments？〃　
　　　　〃That's　why　we　have　supervisory　oversight　teams；　and　puters；〃　Cantor　answered。　Not　that　the　system　always　works　。　。　。　
　　　　〃If　anything　new　turns　up　〃
　　　　〃It's　flagged；〃　Cantor　said。　〃Both　here　and　at　the　FBI。　If　we　get　any　sort　of　twitch　on　these　fellows；　you'll　be　warned　the　day　we　get　it。〃
　　　　〃Fair　enough。〃　Ryan　made　sure　his　pass　was　hanging　in　plain　view　before　going　out　into　the　corridor。　〃Thanks　　and　please　thank　the　Admiral　for　me。　You　guys　didn't　have　to　do　this。　I　wouldn't　feel　this　good　if　somebody　else　had　told　me　what　I　saw　for　myself。　I　owe　you。〃　
　　　　〃You'll　be　hearing　from　us；〃　Cantor　promised　him。
　　　　Ryan　nodded　and　went　out　the　door。　He'd　be　hearing　from　them；　all　right。　They'd　make　the　offer　again；　and　he'd　turn　it　down　again　　with　the　greatest　reluctance；　of　course。　He'd　gone　out　of　his　way　to　be　humble　and　polite　with　Cantor。　In　truth；　he　thought　his　sixty…page　report　did　a　pretty　good　job　of　organizing　what　data　they　did　have　on　the　ULA。　That　squared　matters。　He　didn't　really　think　he　owed　anybody。

　　　　Caroline　Muller　Ryan；　MD；　FACS；　lived　a　very　controlled　and　structured　life。　She　liked　it　that　way。　In　surgery　she　always　worked　with　the　same　team　of　doctors；　nurses；　and　technicians。　They　knew　how　she　liked　to　work；　how　she　liked　her　instruments　arranged。　Most　surgeons　had　their　peculiarities；　and　the　ophthalmic　specialists　were　unusually　fastidious。　Her　team　tolerated　it　because　she　was　one　of　the　best　technical　surgeons　of　her　age　group　and　also　one　of　the　easiest　to　like。　She　rarely　had　problems　with　her　temper；　and　got　along　well　with　her　nurses　　something　that　female　doctors　often　had　trouble　with。　Her　current　problem　was　her　pregnancy；　which　forced　her　to　limit　her　exposure　to　certain　operating…room　chemicals。　Her　swelling　abdomen　was　beginning　to　alter　her　stance　at　the　table　　actually　eye　surgeons　usually　sit；　but　the　principle　was　the　same。　Cathy　Ryan　had　to　reach　a　little　farther　now；　and　joked　about　it　constantly。
　　　　These　traits　carried　over　to　her　personal　life　also。　She　drove　her　Porsche　with　mechanistic　precision；　always　shifting　the　gears　at　exactly　the　right　RPM　setting；　taking　corners　on　a　line　as　regular　as　a　Formula　One　driver's。　Doing　things　the　same　way　every　time　wasn't　a　rut　for　Cathy　Ryan；　it　was　perfection。　She　played　the　piano　that　way　also。　Sissy　Jackson；　who　played　and　taught　professionally；　had　once　remarked　that　her　playing　was　too　perfect；　lacking　in　soul。　Cathy　took　that　as　a　pliment。　Surgeons　don't　autograph　their　work；　they　do　it　the　right　way；　every　time。
　　　　Which　was　why　she　was　annoyed　with　life　at　the　moment。　It　was　a　minor　annoyance　having　to　take　a　slightly　different　route　to　work　every　day　　in　fact　it　was　something　of　a　challenge；　since　she　gave　herself　the　goal　of　not　allowing　it　to　affect　her　schedule。　Driving　to　and　from　work　never　took　more　than　fifty…seven　minutes；　nor　less　than　forty…nine　（unless　she　came　in　on　a　weekend；　when　different　traffic　rules　applied）。　She　always　picked　up　Sally　at　exactly　quarter　to　five。　Taking　new　routes；　mainly　inside　Baltimore；　threatened　to　change　this　segment　of　her　life；　but　there　weren't　many　driving　problems　that　a　Porsche　911　couldn't　solve。
　　　　Her　route　this　day　was　down　state　Route　3；　then　across　a　secondary　road。　That　brought　her　out　onto　Ritchie　Highway；　six　miles　above　the　Giant　Steps　Nursery　School。　She　caught　the　light　just　right　and　took　the　turn　in　second　gear；　working　quickly　up　to　third；　then　fourth。　The　feline　growl　of　the　six…cylinder　engine　reached　through　the　sound　insulation　as　a　gentle　purr。　Cathy　Ryan　loved　her　Porsche。　She'd　never　driven　anything　else　until　after　she　was　married　　a　station　wagon　was　useful　for　shopping　and　family　drives；　unfortunately　　and　wondered　what　she'd　do　when　her　second　child　arrived。　That；　she　sighed；　would　be　a　problem。　It　depended　on　where　the　sitter　was；　she　decided。　Or　maybe　she　could　finally　convince　Jack　to　get　a　nanny。　Her　husband　was　a　little　too　working…class　in　that　respect。　He'd　resisted　the　idea　of　hiring　a　part…time　maid　to　help　with　the　housework　　that　was　all　the　more　crazy　since　Cathy　knew　her　husband　tended　to　be　something　of　a　slob；　slow　to　hang　up　his　clothing。　Getting　the　maid　had　changed　that　a　little。　Now；　nights　before　the　maid　was　due　in；　Jack　scurried　around　picking　things　up　so　that　she　wouldn't　think　the　Ryans　were　a　family　of　slovens。　Jack　could　be　so　funny。　Yes；　she　thought；　we'll　get　a　nanny。　After　all；　Jack's　a　knight　now。　Cathy　smiled　at　the　traffic。　Pushing　him　in　the　right　direction　wouldn't　be　all　that　hard。　Jack　was　very　easy　to　manipulate。　She　changed　lanes　and　darted　past　a　dump　truck　in　third　gear。　The　Porsche　made　it　so　easy　to　accelerate　around　things。
　　　　She　turned　right　into　the　Giant　Steps　parking　lot　two　minutes　later。　The　sports　car　bumped　over　the　uneven　driveway　and　she　brought　it　to　a　stop　in　the　usual　spot。　Cathy　locked　the　car　on　getting　out；　of　course。　Her　Porsche　was　six　years　old；　but　meticulously　maintained。　It　had　been　her　present　to　herself　on　getting　through　her　intern　year　at　Hopkins。　There　wasn't　a　single　scratch　on　the　British　Racing　Green　finish；　and　only　a　Hopkins　parking　sticker　marred　the　gleaming　chrome　bumper。　
　　　　〃Mommy！〃　Sally　met　her　at　the　door。
　　　　Cathy　bent　to　pick　her　up。　It　was　getting　harder　to　bend　over；　and　harder　still　to　stand　up　with　Sally　around　her　neck。　She　hoped　that　their　daughter　would　not　feel　threatened　by　the　arrival　of　the　baby。　Some　kids　were；　she　knew；　but　she　had　already　explained　to　the　little　girl　what　was　going　on；　and　Sally　seemed　to　like　the　idea　of　a　new　brother　or　sister。
　　　　〃So　what　did　my　big　girl　do　today？〃　Dr。　Ryan　asked。　Sally　liked　being　called　a　Big　Girl；　and　this　was　Cathy's　subterfuge　for　ensuring　that　sibling　rivalry　would　be　minimized　by　the　arrival　of　a　〃little〃　boy　or　girl。
　　　　Sally　wriggled　free　to　drop　back　to　the　floor；　and　held　up　a　finger　painting　done　on　what　looked　like　wide…carriage　puter　paper。　It　was　a　credible　abstract　work　of　purple　and　orange。　Together；　mother　and　daughter　went　to　the　back　and　got　her　coat　and　lunch　box。　Cathy　made　sure　that　Sally's　coat　was　zipped　and　the　hood　up　　it　was　only　a　few　degrees　above　freezing　outside；　and　they　didn't　want　Sally　to　get　another　cold。　It　took　a　total　of　five　minutes　from　the　time　Cathy　stopped　the　car　until　she　was　back　out　the　door；　walking　toward　it　again。
　　　　She　didn't　really　notice　the　routineness　of　her　daily　schedule。　Cathy　unlocked　the　door；　got　Sally　into　her　seat；　and　made　sure　the　seat　belt　was　fastened　snugly　before　closing　and　locking　the　door　and　going　around　to　the　left　side　of　the　car。
　　　　She　looked　up　briefly。　Across　Ritchie　Highway　was　a　small　shopping　center；　a　7…Eleven　Store；　a　cleaners；　a　video　store；　and　a　hardware　dealer。　There　was　a　blue　van　parked　at　the　7…Eleven　again。　She'd　noticed　it　twice　the　previous　week。　Cathy　shrugged　it　off。　7…Eleven　was　a　convenience　store；　and　lots　of　people　made　it　a　regular　stop　on　the　way　home。

　　　　〃Hello；　Lady　Ryan；〃　Miller　said　inside　the　van。　The　two　windows　in　the　rear　do