tc.patriotgames-第7章

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bout；　oh；　three…forty　or　so。　They　were　early；　too。〃
　　　　〃And　how　had　she　spent　her　day？〃　Ashley　inquired。　Ryan　was　certain　that　they　had　this　information　already。
　　　　〃Shopping；　mainly。　Cathy's　been　over　here　a　few　times；　and　likes　to　shop　in　London。　She　was　last　here　about　three　years　ago　for　a　surgical　convention；　but　I　couldn't　make　the　trip。〃　
　　　　〃Left　you　with　the　little　one？〃　Ashley　smiled　thinly　again。　Ryan　sensed　that　Owens　was　annoyed　with　him。
　　　　〃Grandparents。　That　was　before　her　mom　died。　I　was　doing　ps　for　my　doctorate　at　Georgetown；　couldn't　get　out　of　it。　As　it　was　I　got　my　degree　in　two　and　a　half　years；　and　I　sweated　blood　that　last　year　between　the　university　and　seminars　at　the　Center　for　Strategic　and　International　Studies。　This　was　supposed　to　be　a　vacation。〃　Ryan　grimaced。　〃The　first　real　vacation　since　our　honeymoon。〃
　　　　〃What　were　you　doing　when　the　attack　took　place？〃　Owens　got　things　back　on　track。　All　three　inquisitors　seemed　to　lean　forward　in　their　seats。
　　　　〃Looking　the　wrong　way。　We　were　talking　about　what　we'd　do　for　dinner　when　the　grenade　went　off。〃　
　　　　〃You　knew　it　was　a　grenade？〃　Taylor　asked。
　　　　Ryan　nodded。　〃Yeah。　They　make　a　distinctive　sound。　I　hate　the　damned　things；　but　that's　one　of　the　little　toys　the　Marines　trained　me　to　use　at　Quantico。　Same　thing　with　the　machine…gunner。　At　Quantico　we　were　exposed　to　East　Bloc　weapons。　I've　handled　the　AK…47。　The　sound　it　makes　is　different　from　our　stuff；　and　that's　a　useful　thing　to　know　in　bat。　How　e　they　didn't　both　have　AKs？〃
　　　　〃As　near　as　we　can　determine；〃　Owens　said；　〃the　man　you　wounded　disabled　the　car　with　a　rifle…launched　antitank　grenade。　Forensic　evidence　points　to　this。　His　rifle；　therefore；　was　probably　one　of　the　new　AK…74s；　the　small…caliber　one；　fitted　to　launch　grenades。　Evidently　he　didn't　have　time　to　remove　the　grenade…launcher　assembly　and　decided　to　press　on　with　his　pistol。　He　had　a　stick　grenade　also；　you　know。〃　Jack　didn't　know　about　the　rifle　grenade；　but　the　type　of　hand　grenade　he'd　seen　suddenly　leaped　out　of　his　memory。
　　　　〃The　antitank　kind？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃You　know　about　that；　do　you？〃　Ashley　responded。
　　　　〃I　used　to　be　a　Marine；　remember？　Called　the　RKG…something；　isn't　it？　Supposed　to　be　able　to　punch　a　hole　in　a　light　armored　vehicle　or　rip　up　a　truck　pretty　good。〃　Where　the　hell　did　they　get　those　little　rascals　　and　why　didn't　they　use　them　。　。　。？　You're　missing　something。　Jack。　
　　　　〃Then　what？〃　Owens　asked。
　　　　〃First　thing；　I　got　my　wife　and　kid　down　on　the　deck。　The　traffic　stopped　pretty　quick。　I　kept　my　head　up　to　see　what　was　happening。〃　
　　　　〃Why？〃　Taylor　inquired。
　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Ryan　said　slowly。　〃Training；　maybe。　I　wanted　to　see　what　the　hell　was　going　on　　call　it　stupid　curiosity。　I　saw　the　one　guy　hosing　down　the　Rolls　and　the　other　one　hustling　around　the　back；　like　he　was　trying　to　bag　anyone　who　tried　to　jump　out　of　the　car。　I　saw　that　if　I　moved　to　my　left　I　could　get　closer。　I　was　screened　by　the　stopped　cars。　All　of　a　sudden　I　was　within　fifty　feet　or　so。　The　AK　gunner　was　screened　behind　the　Rolls；　and　the　pistolero　had　his　back　to　me。　I　saw　that　I　had　a　chance；　and　I　guess　I　took　it。〃　
　　　　〃Why？〃　It　was　Owens　this　time；　very　quiet。
　　　　〃Good　question。　I　don't　know；　I　really　don't。〃　Ryan　was　silent　for　half　a　minute。　〃It　made　me　mad。　Everyone　I've　met　over　here　so　far　has　been　pretty　nice；　and　all　of　a　sudden　I　see　these　two　cocksuckers　mitting　murder　right　the　hell　in　front　of　me。〃　
　　　　〃Did　you　guess　who　they　were？〃　Taylor　asked。
　　　　〃Doesn't　take　much　imagination；　does　it？　That　pissed　me　off；　too。　I　guess　that's　it　　anger。　Maybe　that's　what　motivates　people　in　bat；〃　Ryan　mused。　〃I'll　have　to　think　about　that。　Anyway；　like　I　said；　I　saw　the　chance　and　I　took　it。
　　　　〃It　was　easy　　I　was　very　lucky。〃　Owens'　eyebrows　went　up　at　that　understatement。　〃The　guy　with　the　pistol　was　dumb。　He　should　have　checked　his　back。　Instead　he　just　kept　looking　at　his　kill　zone　　very　dumb。　You　always　'check…six。'　I　blindsided　him。〃　Ryan　grinned。　〃My　coach　would　have　been　proud　　I　really　stuck　him　good。　But　I　guess　I　ought　to　have　had　my　pads　on；　'cause　the　doc　says　I　broke　something　up　here　when　I　hit　him。　He　went　down　pretty　hard。　I　got　his　gun　and　shot　him　　you　want　to　know　why　I　did　that；　right？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Owens　replied。　
　　　　〃I　didn't　want　him　to　get　up。〃
　　　　〃He　was　unconscious　　he　didn't　wake　up　for　two　hours；　and　had　a　nasty　concussion　when　he　did。〃
　　　　If　I'd　known　he　had　that　grenade；　I　wouldn't　have　shot　him　in　the　ass！　〃How　was　I　supposed　to　know　that？〃　Ryan　asked　reasonably。　〃I　was　about　to　go　up　against　somebody　with　a　light　machine　gun；　and　I　didn't　need　a　bad　guy　behind　me。　So　I　neutralized　him。　I　could　have　put　one　through　the　back　of　his　head　　at　Quantico　when　they　say　'neutralize；'　they　mean　kill。　My　dad　was　the　cop。　Most　of　what　I　know　about　police　procedures　es　from　watching　TV；　and　I　know　most　of　that's　wrong。　All　I　knew　was　that　I　couldn't　afford　to　have　him　e　at　me　from　behind。　I　can't　say　I'm　especially　proud　of　it；　but　at　the　time　it　seemed　like　a　good　idea。
　　　　〃I　moved　around　the　right…rear　corner　of　the　car　and　looked　around。　I　saw　the　guy　was　using　a　pistol。　Your　man　Wilson　explained　that　to　me　　that　was　lucky；　too。　I　wasn't　real　crazy　about　taking　an　AK　on　with　a　dinky　little　handgun。　He　saw　me　e　around。　We　both　fired　about　the　same　time　　I　just　shot　straighter；　I　guess。〃
　　　　Ryan　stopped。　He　hadn't　meant　it　to　sound　like　that。　Is　that　how　it　was？　If　you　don't　know；　who　does？　Ryan　had　learned　that　in　a　crisis；　time　presses　and　dilates　　seemingly　at　the　same　time。　It　also　fools　your　memory；　doesn't　it？　What　else　could　I　have　done？　He　shook　his　head。
　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　again。　〃Maybe　I　should　have　tried　something　else。　Maybe　I　should　have　said；　'Drop　it！'　or　'Freeze！'　like　they　do　on　TV　　but　there　just　wasn't　time。　Everything　was　right　now　　him　or　me　　do　you　know　what　I　mean？　You　don't　。　。　。　you　don't　reason　all　this　out　when　you　only　have　half　a　second　of　decision　time。　I　guess　you　go　on　training　and　instinct。　The　only　training　I've　had　was　in　the　Green　Machine；　the　Corps；　They　don't　teach　you　to　arrest　people　　Christ's　sake；　I　didn't　want　to　kill　anybody；　I　just　didn't　have　a　hell　of　a　choice　in　the　matter。〃　Ryan　paused　for　a　moment。
　　　　〃Why　didn't　he　　quit；　run　away；　something！　He　saw　I　had　him。　He　must　have　known　I　had　him　cold。〃　Ryan　slumped　back　into　the　pillow。　Having　to　articulate　what　had　happened　brought　it　back　all　too　vividly。　A　man　is　dead　because　of　you。　Jack。　All　the　way　dead。　He　had　his　instincts；　too；　didn't　he？　But　yours　worked　better　　so　why　doesn't　that　make　you　feel　good？
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；〃　Owens　said　calmly；　〃we　three　have　personally　interviewed　six　people；　all　of　whom　had　a　clear　view　of　the　incident。　From　what　they　have　told　us；　you　have　related　the　circumstances　to　us　with　remarkable　clarity。　Given　the　facts　of　the　matter；　I　　we　　do　not　see　that　you　had　any　choice　at　all。　It　is　as　certain　as　such　things　can　possibly　be　that　you　did　precisely　the　right　thing。　And　your　second　shot　did　not　matter；　if　that　is　troubling　you。　Your　first　went　straight　through　his　heart。〃　
　　　　Jack　nodded。　〃Yeah；　I　could　see　that。　The　second　shot　was　pletely　automatic；　like　my　hand　did　it　without　being　told。　The　gun　came　back　down　and　zap！　No　thought　at　all　。　。　。　funny　how　your　brain　works。　It's　like　one　part　does　the　doing　and　another　part　does　the　watching　and　advising。　The　'watching'　part　saw　the　first　round　go　right　through　his　ten…ring；　but　the　'doing'　part　kept　going　till　he　went　down。　I　might　have　tried　to　squeeze　off　another　round　for　all　I　know；　but　the　gun　was　empty。〃
　　　　〃The　Marines　taught　you　to　shoot　very　well　indeed；〃　Taylor　observed。
　　　　Ryan　shook　his　head。　〃Dad　taught　me　when　I　was　a　kid。　The　Corps　doesn't　make　a　big　deal　about　pistols　anymore　　they're　just　for　show。　If　the　bad　guys　get　that　close；　it's　time　to　leave。　I　carried　a　rifle。　Anyway；　the　guy　was　only　fifteen　feet　away。〃　Owens　made　some　more　notes。
　　　　〃The　car　took　off　a　few　seconds　later。　I　didn't　get　much　of　a　look　at　the　driver。　It　could　have　been　a　man　or　a　woman。　He　or　she　was　white；　that's　all　I　can　say。　The　car　went　whippin'　up　the　street　and　turned；　last　I　saw　of　it。〃
　　　　〃It　was　one　of　our　London　taxis　　did　you　notice　that？〃　Taylor　asked。
　　　　Ryan　blinked。　〃Oh；　you're　right。　I　didn't　really　think　about　that　　that's　dumb！　Hell；　you　have　a　million　of　the　damned　things　around。　No　wonder　they　used　one　of　those。〃
　　　　〃Eight　thousand　six　hundred　seventy…nine；　to　be　exact；〃　Owens　said。　〃Five　thousand　nine　hundred　nineteen　of　which　are　painted　black。〃
　　　　A　light　went　off　in　Ryan's　head。　〃Tell　me；　was　this　an　assassination　attempt　or　were　they　trying　to　kidnap　them？〃　
　　　　〃We're　not　sure　about　that。　You　might　be　interested　to　know　that　Sinn　Fein；　the　political　wing　of　the　PIRA；　released　a　statement　pletely　disowning　the　incident。〃
　　　　〃You　believe　that？〃　Ryan　asked。　With　pain　medications　still　coursing　through　his　system；　he　didn't　quite　notice　how　skillfully　Taylor　had　parried　his　question。
　　　　〃Yes；　we　are　leaning　in　that　direction。　Even　the　Proves　aren't　this　crazy；　you　know。　Something　like　this　has　far　too　high　a　political　price。　They　learned　that　much　from　killing　Lord　Mountbatten　　wasn't　even　the　PIRA　who　did　that；　but　the　INLA；　the　Irish　National　Liberation　Army。　Regardless；　it　cost　them　a　lot　of　money　from　their　American　sympathizers；〃　Taylor　said。　
　　　　〃I　see　from　the　papers　that　your　fellow　citizens　〃　
　　　　〃Subjects；〃　Ashley　corrected。
　　　　〃Whatever；　your　people　are　pretty　worked　up　about　this。〃　
　　　　〃Indeed　they　are；　Doctor　Ryan。　It　is　rather　remarkable　how　terrorists　can　always　seem　to　find　a　way　to　shock　us；　no　matter　what　horrors　have　gone　before；〃　Owens　noted。　His　voice　was　wholly　professional；　but　Ryan　sensed　that　the　chief　of　Anti…Terrorist　Branch　was　willing　to　rip　the　head　right　off　the　surviving　terrorist　with　his　bare　hands。　They　looked　strong　enough　to　do　just　that。　〃So　what　happened　next？〃
　　　　〃I　made　sure　the　guy　I　shot　　the　second　one　　was　dead。　Then　I　checked　the　car。　The　driver　　well；　you　know　about　that；　and　the　security　officer。　One　of　your　people；　Mr。　Owens？〃　
　　　　〃Charlie　was　a　friend　of　mine。　He's　been　with　the　Royal　Family's　security　detail　for　three　years　now　。　。　。　〃　Owens　spoke　almost　as　though　the　man　were　still　alive；　and　Ryan　wondered　if　they　had　ever　worked　together。　Police　make　especially　close　friendships；　he　knew。
　　　　〃Well；　you　guys　know　the　rest。　I　hope　somebody　gives　that　redcoat　a　pat　on　the　head。　Thank　God　he　took　the　time　to　think　it　all　out　　at　least　long　enough　for　your　guy　to　show　up　and　calm　him　down。　Would　have　been　embarrassing　for　everybody　if　he'd　stuck　that　bayonet　out　my　back。〃　
　　　　Owens　grunted　agreement。　〃Indeed　it　would。〃　
　　　　〃Was　that　rifle　loaded？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃If　it　was；〃　Ashley　replied；　〃why　didn't　he　shoot？〃　
　　　　〃A　crowded　street　isn't　the　best　place　to　use　a　high…powered　rifle；　even　if　you're　sure　of　your　target；〃　Ryan　answered。　〃It　was　loaded；　wasn't　it？〃　
　　　　〃We　cannot　discuss　security　matters；〃　Owens　said。
　　　　I　knew　it　was　loaded；　Ryan　told　himself。　〃Where　the　hell　did　he　e　from；　anyway？　The　Palace　is　a　good　ways　off。〃　
　　　　〃Clarence　House　　the　white　building