tc.patriotgames-第60章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ly。
　　　　She's　right；　Robby　admitted　reluctantly　to　himself。　He　didn't　like　it；　but　she　was　right。　Damn。
　　　　〃Would　it　make　you　feel　any　better　to　know　that　I　do　have　a　kid　about　that　age？　Mine's　a　boy；〃　she　said。　The　reporter　actually　seemed　sympathetic。
　　　　Jackson　searched　for　something　to　dislike　about　her。　〃Answer　me　this：　if　you　have　a　chance　to　interview　the　people　who　did　this；　would　you　do　it？〃
　　　　〃That's　my　job。　We　need　to　know　where　they're　ing　from。〃
　　　　〃Where　they're　in'　from；　lady；　is　they　kill　people　for　the　fun　of　it。　It's　all　part　of　their　game。〃　Robby　remembered　intelligence　reports　he'd　seen　while　in　the　Eastern　Med。　〃Back　a　couple　of　years　ago　　you　never　heard　this　from　me；　okay？〃　
　　　　〃Off　the　record；〃　she　said　solemnly。
　　　　〃I　was　on　a　carrier　off　Beirut；　okay？　We　had　intelligence　reports　　and　pictures　　of　people　from　Europe　who　flew　in　to　do　some　killing。　They　were　mainly　kids；　musta　been　from　good　families　　I　mean；　from　the　way　they　dressed。　No　shit；　this　is　for　real；　I　saw　the　friggin'　pictures。　They　joined　up　with　some　of　the　crazies；　got　guns；　and　just　started　blasting　away；　at　random；　for　the　pure　hell　of　it。　They　shot　from　those　high…rise　hotels　and　office　buildings　into　the　streets。　With　a　rifle　you　can　hit　from　a　thousand　yards　away。　Something　moves　　boom；　they　blast　it　with　automatic　weapons　fire。　Then　they　got　to　go　home。　They　were　killing　people；　for　fun！　Maybe　some　of　them　grew　up　to　be　real　terrorists；　I　don't　know。　It　was　pretty　sickening　stuff；　not　the　sort　of　thing　you　forget。　That's　the　kind　of　people　we're　talking　about　here；　okay？
　　　　〃I　don't　give　a　good　goddamn　about　their　point　of　view；　lady！　When　I　was　a　little　kid　in　Alabama；　we　had　problems　with　people　like　that；　those　assholes　in　the　Klan。　I　don't　give　a　damn　about　their　point　of　view；　either。　The　only　good　thing　about　the　Klan　was　they　were　idiots。　The　terrorists　we　got　running　around　now　are　a　lot　more　efficient。　Maybe　that　makes　them　more　legitimate　in　your　eyes；　but　not　mine。〃
　　　　〃That　thing　in　Beirut　never　made　the　papers；〃　the　reporter　said。
　　　　〃I　know　for　a　fact　that　one　reporter　saw　it。　Maybe　he　figured　that　nobody　would　believe　it。　I　don't　know　that　I　would　have　without　the　photos。　But　I　saw　'em。　You　got　my　word　on　that；　lady。〃　
　　　　〃What　kind　of　pictures？〃
　　　　〃That　I　can't　say　　but　they　were　good　enough　to　see　their　shiny　young　faces。〃　The　photos　had　been　made　by　U。S。　and　Israeli　reconnaissance　aircraft。　
　　　　〃So　what　do　you　do　about　it？〃
　　　　〃If　you　could　arrange　to　have　all　these　bastards　in　one　place；　I　think　we　and　the　Marines　could　figure　something　out；〃　Robby　replied；　voicing　a　wish　mon　to　professional　soldiers　throughout　the　world。　〃We　might　even　invite　you　newsies　to　the　wake。　Who　the　hell　is　that？〃　Two　new　people　came　into　the　room。
　　　　Jack　was　too　tired　to　be　fully　coherent。　The　news　that　Sally　was　out　of　immediate　danger　had　been　like　a　giant　weight　leaving　his　shoulders；　and　he　was　waiting　for　the　chance　to　see　his　wife；　who　would　soon　be　moved　to　a　regular　hospital　floor。　A　few　feet　away；　Wayson；　the　British　security　officer；　watched　with　unconcealed　contempt；　refusing　even　to　give　his　name　to　the　reporters　who　asked。　The　State　Police　officers　were　unable　to　keep　the　press　away；　though　hospital　personnel　flatly　refused　to　let　the　TV　equipment　in　the　front　door；　and　were　able　to　make　that　stick。　The　question　that　kept　repeating　was。　Who　did　it？　Jack　said　he　didn't　know；　though　he　thought　he　did。　It　was　probably　the　people　he'd　decided　not　to　worry　about。
　　　　It　could　have　been　worse；　he　told　himself。　At　least　it　was　now　probable　that　Sally　would　be　alive　at　the　end　of　the　week。　His　daughter　was　not　dead　because　of　his　misjudgment。　That　was　some　consolation。
　　　　〃Mr。　Ryan？〃　one　of　the　new　visitors　asked。
　　　　〃Yeah？〃　Jack　was　too　exhausted　to　look　up。　He　was　awake　only　because　of　adrenaline　now。　His　nerves　were　too　ragged　to　allow　him　sleep；　much　as　he　needed　it。
　　　　〃I'm　Special　Agent　Ed　Donoho；　Boston　Field　Office　of　the　FBI。　I　have　somebody　who　wants　to　say　something　to　you。〃
　　　　Nobody　ever　said　that　Paddy　O'Neil　was　stupid；　Donoho　thought。　As　soon　as　the　report　had　made　the　Eleven　O'clock　News；　the　man　from　Sinn　Fein　had　asked　his　FBI　〃escort〃　if　he　might　fly　down　to　Baltimore。　Donoho　was　in　no　position　to　deny　him　the　right；　and　had　been　co…opted　into　bringing　the　man　himself　on　the　first　available　plane　into　BWI。
　　　　〃Mr。　Ryan；〃　O'Neil　said　with　a　voice　that　dripped　sympathy；　〃I　understand　that　the　condition　of　your　child　has　been　upgraded。　I　hope　that　my　prayers　had　something　to　do　with　it；　and　。　。　。〃　
　　　　It　took　Ryan　over　ten　seconds　to　recognize　the　face　that　he'd　seen　a　few　days　before　on　TV。　His　mouth　slowly　dropped　open　as　his　eyes　widened。　For　some　reason　he　didn't　hear　what　the　man　was　saying。　The　words　came　through　his　ears；　but；　as　though　they　were　in　some　unknown　tongue；　his　brain　did　not　assemble　them　into　speech。　All　he　saw　was　the　man's　throat；　five　feet　away。　Just　about　five　feet；　was　what　his　brain　told　him。
　　　　〃Uh…oh；〃　Robby　said　on　the　other　side　of　the　room。　He　stood　as　his　friend　went　beet…red。　Two　seconds　later；　Ryan's　face　was　as　pale　as　the　collar　on　his　white　cotton　shirt。　Jack's　feet　shifted；　sliding　straight　beneath　his　body　as　he　leaned　forward　on　the　couch。
　　　　Robby　pushed　past　the　FBI　agent　as　Ryan　launched　himself　from　the　couch；　hands　stretching　out　for　O'Neil's　neck。　Jackson's　shoulder　caught　his　friend's　chest；　and　the　pilot　wrapped　Jack　up　in　a　bear　hug；　trying　to　push　him　backward　as　three　photographers　recorded　the　scene。　Jack　didn't　make　a　sound；　but　Robby　knew　exactly　what　he　wanted　to　do。　Jackson　had　leverage　going　for　him；　and　pushed　Ryan　back；　hurling　him　onto　the　couch。　He　turned　quickly。
　　　　〃Get　that　asshole　outa　here　before　I　kill　him！〃　Jackson　was　four　inches　shorter　than　the　Irishman；　but　his　rage　was　scarcely　less　than　Ryan's。　〃Get　that　terrorist　bastard　out　of　here！〃　
　　　　〃Officer！〃　Special　Agent　Donoho　pointed　to　a　state　trooper；　who　grabbed　O'Neil　and　dragged　him　from　the　room　in　an　instant。　For　some　reason　the　reporters　followed　as　O'Neil　loudly　protested　his　innocence。
　　　　〃Are　you　out　of　your　fucking　mind！〃　Jackson　snarled　at　the　FBI　agent。
　　　　〃Cool　down；　mander。　I'm　on　your　side；　okay？　Cool　it　down　some。〃
　　　　Jackson　sat　down　beside　Ryan；　who　was　breathing　like　a　horse　at　the　end　of　a　race　while　he　stared　at　the　floor。　Donoho　sat　down　on　the　other　side。
　　　　〃Mr。　Ryan；　I　couldn't　keep　him　from　ing　down。　I'm　sorry；　but　we　can't　do　that。　He　wanted　to　tell　you　　shit；　all　the　way　down　on　the　plane；　he　told　me　that　his　outfit　had　nothing　to　do　with　this；　that　it　would　be　a　disaster　for　them。　He　wanted　to　extend　his　sympathy；　I　guess。〃　The　agent　hated　himself　for　saying　that；　even　though　it　was　true　enough。　He　hated　himself　even　more　because　he'd　almost　started　to　like　Paddy　O'Neil　over　the　past　week。　The　front　man　for　Sinn　Fein　was　a　person　of　considerable　charm；　a　man　with　a　gift　for　presenting　his　point　of　view　in　a　reasonable　way。　Ed　Donoho　asked　himself　why　he'd　been　assigned　to　this　job。　Why　couldn't　they　have　picked　an　Italian？　He　knew　the　answer　to　that；　of　course；　but　just　because　there　was　a　reason　didn't　mean　that　he　had　to　like　it。　〃I'll　make　sure　he　doesn't　bother　you　anymore。〃　
　　　　〃You　do　that；〃　Robby　said。
　　　　Donoho　went　back　into　the　hall；　and　unsurprisingly　found　O'Neil　giving　his　spiel　to　the　reporters。　Mr。　Ryan　is　distraught；　he　was　saying；　as　any　family　man　would　be　in　similar　circumstances。　His　first　exposure　to　the　man　the　previous　week　had　given　him　a　feeling　of　distaste。　Then　he'd　started　to　admire　his　skill　and　charm。　Now　Donoho's　reaction　to　the　man's　words　was　one　of　loathing。　An　idea　blinked　on　in　his　head。　He　wondered　if　the　Bureau　would　approve　and　decided　it　was　worth　the　risk。　First　the　agent　grabbed　a　state　trooper　by　the　arm　and　made　sure　that　the　man　wouldn't　get　close　to　Ryan　again。　Next　he　got　hold　of　a　photographer　and　talked　to　him　briefly。　Together　they　found　a　doctor。
　　　　〃No；　absolutely　not；〃　the　surgeon　replied　to　the　initial　request。
　　　　〃Hey；　Doc；〃　the　photojournalist　said。　〃My　wife's　pregnant　with　our　first。　If　it'll　help　this　guy；　I'm　for　it。　This　one　doesn't　make　the　papers。　You　got　my　word。　Doc。〃　
　　　　〃I　think　it'll　help；〃　the　FBI　agent　said。　〃I　really　do。〃　
　　　　Ten　minutes　later　Donoho　and　the　photographer　stripped　off　their　scrub　clothing。　The　FBI　agent　took　the　film　cassette　and　tucked　it　in　his　pocket。　Before　he　took　O'Neil　back　to　the　airport；　he　made　a　call　to　headquarters　in　Washington；　and　two　agents　drove　out　to　Ryan's　home　on　Peregrine　Cliff。　They　didn't　have　any　problem　with　the　alarm　system。

　　　　Jack　had　been　awake　for　more　than　twenty…four　hours　now。　If　he'd　been　able　to　think　about　it；　he　would　have　marveled　at　the　fact　that　he　was　awake　and　functional；　though　the　latter　observation　would　have　been　a　matter　of　dispute　to　anyone　who　saw　him　walking。　He　was　alone　now。　Robby　was　off　attending　to　something　that　he　couldn't　remember。
　　　　He　would　have　been　alone　in　any　case。　Twenty　minutes　earlier；　Cathy　had　been　moved　into　the　main　University　Hospital　plex；　and　Jack　had　to　go　see　her。　He　walked　like　a　man　facing　execution　down　a　drab　corridor　of　glazed　institutional　brick。　He　turned　a　corner　and　saw　what　room　it　had　to　be。　A　pair　of　state　troopers　was　standing　there。　They　watched　him　approach；　and　Jack　watched　their　eyes　for　a　sign　that　they　knew　all　of　this　was　his　fault；　that　his　wife　and　daughter　had　nearly　died　because　he'd　decided　that　there　was　nothing　to　worry　about。　Not　once　in　his　life　had　Jack　experienced　failure；　and　its　bitter　taste　made　him　think　that　the　whole　world　would　hold　him　in　the　same　contempt　he　felt　for　himself。
　　　　You're　so　fucking　smart。
　　　　It　seemed　to　his　senses　that　he　did　not　so　much　approach　the　door　　it　approached　him；　looming　ever　larger　in　his　sight。　Behind　the　door　was　the　woman　he　loved。　The　woman　who　had　nearly　died　because　of　his　confidence　in　himself。　What　would　she　say　to　him？　Did　he　dare　to　find　out？　Jack　stood　at　the　door　for　a　moment。　The　troopers　tried　not　to　stare　at　him。　Perhaps　they　felt　sympathy；　Jack　thought；　knowing　that　he　didn't　deserve　it。　The　doorknob　was　cold；　accusing　metal　in　his　hand　as　he　entered　the　room。
　　　　Cathy　was　lying　in　her　single…bed　room。　Her　arm　was　in　a　cast。　An　enormous　purple　bruise　covered　the　right　side　of　her　face　and　there　was　a　bandage　over　half　her　forehead。　Her　eyes　were　open　but　almost　lifeless；　staring　at　a　television　that　wasn't　on。　Jack　moved　toward　her　as　though　asleep。　A　nurse　had　set　a　chair　alongside　the　bed。　He　sat　in　it；　and　took　his　wife's　hand　while　he　tried　to　think　of　something　he　could　say　to　the　wife　he　had　failed。　Her　face　turned　toward　his。　Her　eyes　were　blackened　and　full　of　tears。
　　　　〃I'm　sorry。　Jack；〃　she　whispered。　
　　　　〃What？〃
　　　　〃I　knew　she　was　fooling　with　the　seat　belt；　but　I　didn't　do　anything　because　I　was　in　a　hurry　　and　then　that　truck　came；　and　I　didn't　have　time　to　　if　I　had　made　sure　she　was　strapped　in；　Sally　would　be　fine　。　。　。　but　I　was　in　a　hurry；〃　she　finished；　and　looked　away。　〃Jack；　I'm　so　sorry。〃　
　　　　My　God；　she　thinks　it's　her　fault　。　。　。　what　do　I　say　now？
　　　　〃She's　going　to　be　okay；　babe；〃　Ryan　managed　to　say；　stunned　at　what　he'd