tc.patriotgames-第6章

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at　is；　you　want　to　remain　in　hospital　for　several　months？〃　
　　　　〃Message　received；　Sir　Charles。〃
　　　　〃Right。〃　The　surgeon　smiled。　〃If　you　should　feel　the　need　for　something　stronger；　I　shall　be　here　all　day。　Just　ring　nurse　Miss　Kittiwake　here。〃　The　girl　beamed　in　anticipation。　
　　　　〃How　about　something　to　eat？〃　
　　　　〃You　think　you　can　keep　something　down？〃
　　　　If　not；　Kittiwake　will　probably　love　to　help　me　throw　up。　〃Doc；　in　the　last　thirty…six　hours　I've　had　a　continental　breakfast　and　a　light　lunch。〃
　　　　〃Very　well。　We'll　try　some　soft　foods。〃　He　made　another　notation　on　the　chart　and　flashed　a　look　to　Kittiwake：　Keep　an　eye　on　him。　She　nodded。
　　　　〃Your　charming　wife　told　me　that　you　are　quite　obstinate。　We'll　see　about　that。　Still　and　all　you　are　doing　rather　nicely。　You　can　thank　your　physical　condition　for　that　　and　my　outstanding　surgical　skill；　of　course。〃　Scott　chuckled　to　himself。　〃After　breakfast　an　orderly　will　help　you　freshen　up　for　your　more；　ah；　official　visitors。　Oh；　don't　expect　to　see　your　family　soon。　They　were　quite　exhausted　last　night。　I　gave　your　wife　something　to　help　her　sleep；　I　hope　she　took　it。　Your　darling　little　daughter　was　all　done　in。〃　Scott　gave　Ryan　a　serious　look。　〃I　was　not　misleading　you　earlier。　Disfort　will　slow　your　recovery。　Do　what　I　tell　you　and　we'll　have　you　out　of　that　bed　in　a　week；　and　discharged　in　two　　perhaps。　But　you　must　do　exactly　as　I　say。〃　
　　　　〃Understood；　sir。　And　thanks。　Cathy　said　you　did　a　good　job　on　the　arm。〃
　　　　Scott　tried　to　shrug　it　off。　The　smile　showed　only　a　little。　〃One　must　take　proper　care　of　one's　guests。　I'll　be　back　late　this　afternoon　to　see　how　you　are　progressing。〃　He　left；　mumbling　instructions　to　the　nurse。

　　　　The　police　arrived　in　force　at　8：30。　By　this　time　Ryan　had　been　able　to　eat　his　hospital　breakfast　and　wash　up。　Breakfast　had　been　a　huge　disappointment；　with　Wilson　collapsing　in　laughter　at　Ryan's　ment　on　its　appearance　　but　Kittiwake　had　been　so　downcast　from　this　that　Ryan　had　felt　constrained　to　eat　all　of　it；　even　the　stewed　prunes　that　he'd　loathed　since　childhood。　Only　after　finishing　had　he　realized　that　her　demeanor　had　probably　been　a　sham；　a　device　to　get　him　to　eat　all　the　slop。　Nurses；　he　reminded　himself；　are　tricky。　At　eight　the　orderly　had　arrived　to　help　him　clean　up。　Ryan　shaved　himself；　with　the　orderly　holding　the　mirror　and　clucking　every　time　he　nicked　himself。　Four　nicks　　Ryan　customarily　used　an　electric　shaver；　and　hadn't　faced　a　bare　blade　in　years。　By　8：30　Ryan　felt　and　looked　human　again。　Kittiwake　had　brought　in　a　second　cup　of　coffee。　It　wasn't　very　good；　but　it　was　still　coffee。
　　　　There　were　three　police　officers；　very　senior　ones；　Ryan　thought；　from　the　way　Wilson　snapped　to　his　feet　and　scurried　about　to　arrange　chairs　for　them　before　excusing　himself　out　the　door。
　　　　James　Owens　appeared　to　be　the　most　senior；　and　inquired　as　to　Ryan's　condition　　politely　enough　that　he　probably　meant　it。　He　reminded　Ryan　of　his　own　father；　a　craggy；　heavyset　man；　and；　judging　from　his　large；　gnarled　hands；　one　who　had　earned　his　way　to　mander's　rank　after　more　than　a　few　years　of　walking　the　streets　and　enforcing　the　law　the　hard　way。
　　　　Chief　Superintendent　William　Taylor　was　about　forty；　younger　than　his　Anti…Terrorist　Branch　colleague；　and　neater。　Both　senior　detectives　were　well　dressed；　and　both　had　the　red…rimmed　eyes　that　came　from　an　uninterrupted　night's　work。
　　　　David　Ashley　was　the　youngest　and　best　dressed　of　the　three。　About　Ryan's　size　and　weight；　perhaps　five　years　older。　He　described　himself　as　a　representative　of　the　Home　Office；　and　he　looked　a　great　deal　smoother　than　either　of　the　others。
　　　　〃You're　quite　certain　you're　up　to　this？〃　Taylor　asked。　
　　　　Ryan　shrugged。　〃No　sense　waiting。〃
　　　　Owens　took　a　cassette　tape　recorder　from　his　portfolio　and　set　it　on　the　bedstand。　He　plugged　in　two　microphones；　one　facing　Ryan；　the　other　toward　the　officers。　He　punched　the　record　button　and　announced　the　date；　time；　and　place。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；〃　Owens　asked　formally；　〃do　you　know　that　this　interview　is　being　recorded？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃And　do　you　have　any　objection　to　this？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir。　May　I　ask　a　question？〃　
　　　　〃Certainly；〃　Owens　answered。
　　　　〃Am　I　being　charged　with　anything？　If　so；　I　would　like　to　contact　my　embassy　and　have　an　attor　〃　Ryan　was　more　than　a　little　uneasy　to　be　the　focus　of　so　much　high…level　police　attention；　but　was　cut　off　by　the　chuckles　of　Mr。　Ashley。　He　noted　that　the　other　police　officers　deferred　to　him　for　the　answer。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；　you　may　just　have　things　the　wrong　way　'round。　For　the　record；　sir；　we　have　no　intention　whatever　of　charging　you　with　anything。　Were　we　to　do　so；　I　dare　say　we'd　be　looking　for　new　employment　by　day's　end。〃
　　　　Ryan　nodded；　not　showing　his　relief。　He'd　not　yet　been　sure　of　this；　sure　only　that　the　law　doesn't　have　to　make　sense。　Owens　began　reading　his　questions　from　a　yellow　pad。　
　　　　〃Can　you　give　us　your　name　and　address；　please？〃　
　　　　〃John　Patrick　Ryan。　Our　mailing　address　is　Annapolis；　Maryland。　Our　home　is　at　Peregrine　Cliff；　about　ten　miles　south　of　Annapolis　on　the　Chesapeake　Bay。〃
　　　　〃And　your　occupation？〃　Owens　checked　off　something　on　his　pad。
　　　　〃I　guess　you　could　say　I　have　a　couple　of　jobs。　I'm　an　instructor　in　history　at　the　U。S。　Naval　Academy　in　Annapolis。　I　lecture　occasionally　at　the　Naval　War　College　in　Newport；　and　from　time　to　time　I　do　a　little　consulting　work　on　the　side。〃　
　　　　〃That's　all？〃　Ashley　inquired　with　a　friendly　smile　　or　was　it　friendly？　Ryan　asked　himself。　Jack　wondered　just　how　much　they'd　managed　to　find　out　about　him　in　the　past　　what？　fifteen　hours　or　so　　and　exactly　what　Ashley　was　hinting　at。　You're　no　cop；　Ryan　thought。　What　exactly　are　you？　Regardless；　he　had　to　stick　to　his　cover　story；　that　he　was　a　part…time　consultant　to　the　Mitre　Corporation。
　　　　〃And　the　purpose　of　your　visit　to　this　country？〃　Owens　went　on。
　　　　〃bination　vacation　and　research　trip。　I'm　gathering　data　for　a　new　book；　and　Cathy　needed　some　time　off。　Sally　is　still　a　preschooler；　so　we　decided　to　head　over　now　and　miss　the　tourist　season。〃　Ryan　took　a　cigarette　from　the　pack　Wilson　had　left　behind。　Ashley　lit　it　from　a　gold　lighter。　〃In　my　coat　　wherever　that　is　　you'll　find　letters　of　introduction　to　your　Admiralty　and　the　Royal　Naval　College　at　Dartmouth。〃
　　　　〃We　have　the　letters；〃　Owens　replied。　〃Quite　illegible。　I'm　afraid；　and　I　fear　your　suit　is　a　total　loss　also。　What　the　blood　did　not　ruin；　your　wife　and　our　sergeant　finished　off　with　a　knife。　So　when　did　you　arrive　in　Britain？〃
　　　　〃It's　still　Thursday；　right？　Well；　we　got　in　Tuesday　night　from　Dulles　International　outside　Washington。　Arrived　about　seven…thirty；　got　to　the　hotel　about　nine…thirty　or　so；　had　a　snack　sent　up；　and　went　right　to　sleep。　Flying　always　messes　me　up　　jet　lag；　whatever。　I　conked　right　out。〃　That　was　not　exactly　true；　but　Ryan　didn't　think　they　needed　to　know　everything。
　　　　Owens　nodded。　They　had　already　learned　why　Ryan　hated　flying。　〃And　yesterday？〃
　　　　〃I　woke　up　about　seven；　I　guess；　had　breakfast　and　a　paper　sent　up；　then　just　kinda　lazed　around　until　about　eight…thirty。　I　arranged　to　meet　Cathy　and　Sally　in　the　park　around　four；　then　caught　a　cab　to　the　Admiralty　building　　close；　as　it　turned　out；　I　could　have　walked　it。　As　I　said；　I　had　a　letter　of　introduction　to　see　Admiral　Sir　Alexander　Woodson；　the　man　in　charge　of　your　naval　archives　　he's　retired；　actually。　He　took　me　down　to　a　musty　sub…sub…basement。　He　had　the　stuff　I　wanted　all　ready　for　me。
　　　　〃I　came　over　to　look　at　some　signal　digests。　Admiralty　signals　between　London　and　Admiral　Sir　James　Somerville。　He　was　mander　of　your　Indian　Ocean　fleet　in　the　early　months　of　1942；　and　that's　one　of　the　things　I'm　writing　about。　So　I　spend　the　next　three　hours　reading　over　faded　carbon　copies　of　naval　dispatches　and　taking　notes。〃
　　　　〃On　this？〃　Ashley　held　up　Ryan's　clipboard。　Jack　snatched　it　from　his　hands。
　　　　〃Thank　God！〃　Ryan　exclaimed。　〃I　was　sure　it　got　lost。〃　He　opened　it　and　set　it　up　on　the　bedstand；　then　typed　in　some　instructions。　〃Ha！　It　still　works！〃
　　　　〃What　exactly　is　that　thing？〃　Ashley　wanted　to　know。　All　three　got　out　of　their　chairs　to　look　at　it。
　　　　〃This　is　my　baby。〃　Ryan　grinned。　On　opening　the　clipboard　he　revealed　a　typewriter…style　keyboard　and　a　yellow　Liquid　Crystal　Diode　display。　Outwardly　it　looked　like　an　expensive　clipboard；　about　an　inch　thick　and　bound　in　leather。　〃It's　a　Cambridge　Datamaster　Model…C　Field　puter。　A　friend　of　mine　makes　them。　It　has　an　MC…68000　microprocessor；　and　two　megabytes　of　bubble　memory。〃　
　　　　〃Care　to　translate　that？〃　Taylor　asked。
　　　　〃Sorry。　It's　a　portable　puter。　The　microprocessor　is　what　does　the　actual　work。　Two　megabytes　means　that　the　memory　stores　up　to　two　million　characters　　enough　for　a　whole　book　　and　since　it　uses　bubble　memory；　you　don't　lose　the　information　when　you　switch　it　off。　A　guy　I　went　to　school　with　set　up　a　pany　to　make　these　little　darlings。　He　hit　on　me　for　some　start…up　capital。　I　use　an　Apple　at　home；　this　one's　just　for　carrying　around。〃
　　　　〃We　knew　it　was　some　sort　of　puter；　but　our　chaps　couldn't　make　it　work；〃　Ashley　said。
　　　　〃Security　device。　The　first　time　you　use　it；　you　input　your　user's　code　and　activate　the　lockout。　Afterward；　unless　you　type　in　the　code；　it　doesn't　work　　period。〃　
　　　　〃Indeed？〃　Ashley　observed。　〃How　foolproof？〃　
　　　　〃You'd　have　to　ask　Fred。　Maybe　you　could　read　the　data　right　off　the　bubble　chips。　I　don't　know　how　puters　work。　I　just　use　'em；〃　Ryan　explained。　〃Anyway；　here　are　my　notes。〃　
　　　　〃Getting　back　to　your　activities　of　yesterday；〃　Owens　said；　giving　Ashley　a　cool　look。　〃We　now　have　you　to　noon。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。　I　broke　for　lunch。　A　guy　on　the　ground　floor　directed　me　to　a　　a　pub；　I　guess；　two　blocks　away。　I　don't　remember　the　name　of　the　place。　I　had　a　sandwich　and　a　beer　while　I　played　with　this　thing。　That　took　about　half　an　hour。　I　spent　another　hour　at　the　Admiralty　building　before　I　checked　out。　Left　about　quarter　of　two；　I　suppose。　I　thanked　Admiral　Woodson　　very　good　man。　I　caught　a　cab　to　　don't　remember　the　address；　it　was　on　one　of　my　letters。　North　of　　Regent's　Park；　I　think。　Admiral　Sir　Roger　DeVere。　He　served　under　Somerville。　He　wasn't　there。　His　housekeeper　said　he　got　called　out　of　town　suddenly　due　to　a　death　in　the　family。　So　I　left　a　message　that　I'd　been　there　and　flagged　another　cab　back　downtown。　I　decided　to　get　out　a　few　blocks　early　and　walk　the　rest　of　the　way。〃　
　　　　〃Why？〃　Taylor　asked。
　　　　〃Mainly　I　was　stiff　from　all　the　sitting　　in　the　Admiralty　building；　the　flight；　the　cab。　I　needed　a　stretch。　I　usually　jog　every　day；　and　I　get　restless　when　I　miss　it。〃　
　　　　〃Where　did　you　get　out？〃　Owens　asked。
　　　　〃I　don't　know　the　name　of　the　street。　If　you　show　me　a　map　I　can　probably　point　it　out。〃　Owens　nodded　for　him　to　go　on。　〃Anyway；　I　nearly　got　run　over　by　a　double…decker　bus；　and　one　of　your　uniformed　cops　told　me　not　to　jaywalk　〃　Owens　looked　surprised　at　that　and　scribbled　some　notes。　Perhaps　they　hadn't　learned　of　that　encounter。　〃I　picked　up　a　magazine　at　a　street　stand　and　met　Cathy　about；　oh；　three…forty　or　so。　They　were　early；　too。〃
　　　　〃And　how　had　she　spent　her　day？〃　Ashley　inq