tc.patriotgames-第71章

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an。　There　was　always　someone　who　didn't　get　the　word。
　　　　〃Super。　So　call　it　off。　Let　him　get　the　flu　or　something　when　the　time　es；〃　Murray　suggested。
　　　　〃His　Highness　won't　do　that。　He's　bee　quite　adamant　on　the　subject。　He　won't　allow　a　terrorist　threat　to　affect　his　life　in　any　way。〃　
　　　　Murray　grunted。　〃You　gotta　admire　the　kid's　guts；　but　〃　
　　　　〃Quite　so；〃　Owens　agreed。　He　didn't　really　care　for　having　his　next　king　referred　to　as　〃the　kid；〃　but　he'd　long　since　gotten　used　to　the　American　way　of　expressing　things。　〃It　doesn't　make　our　job　any　easier。〃
　　　　〃How　firm　are　the　travel　plans？〃　Murray　asked；　getting　back　to　business。
　　　　〃Several　items　on　the　itinerary　are　tentative；　of　course；　but　most　are　set　in　stone。　Our　security　people　will　be　meeting　with　yours　in　Washington。　They're　flying　over　next　week。〃　
　　　　〃Well；　you　know　that　you'll　get　all　the　cooperation　you　want；　Secret　Service；　the　Bureau；　local　police；　everything。　We'll　take　good　care　of　him　for　you；〃　Murray　assured　him。　〃He　and　his　wife　are　pretty　popular　back　home。　Will　they　be　taking　the　baby　with　them？〃　
　　　　〃No。　We　were　able　to　prevail　on　him　about　that。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。　I'll　call　Washington　tomorrow　and　get　things　rolling。　What's　happening　with　our　friend　Ned　Clark？〃
　　　　〃Nothing　as　yet。　His　colleagues　are　evidently　giving　him　rather　a　bad　time；　but　he's　too　bloody　stupid　to　break。〃　
　　　　Murray　nodded。　He　knew　the　type。

　　　　Well；　they　wanted　me　to　take　off　early；　Ryan　thought。　He　decided　to　accept　an　invitation　to　a　lecture　at　Georgetown　University。　Unfortunately；　it　was　something　of　a　disappointment。　Professor　David　Hunter　was　Columbia's　enfant　terrible；　America's　ranking　authority　on　political　affairs　in　Eastern　Europe。　His　book　of　the　previous　year；　'Revolution　Postponed'；　had　been　a　penetrating　study　of　the　political　and　economic　problems　of　the　Soviet's　unsteady　empire；　and　Ryan；　like　others；　had　been　eager　to　hear　his　new　information　on　the　subject。　The　speech　had　turned　out　to　be　little　more　than　a　rehash　of　the　book；　with　the　rather　startling　suggestion　at　the　end　that　the　NATO　countries　should　be　more　aggressive　in　trying　to　separate　the　Soviet　Union　from　her　captives。　Ryan　considered　that　to　be　lunacy；　even　if　it　did　guarantee　lively　discussions　at　the　reception。
　　　　At　the　end　of　the　talk；　Ryan　moved　quickly　to　the　reception。　He'd　skipped　dinner　to　make　it　here　on　time。　There　was　a　wide　table　of　hors　d'oeuvres；　and　Jack　filled　his　plate　as　patiently　as　he　could　before　drifting　off　to　a　sedate　corner　by　the　elevators。　He　let　others　form　knots　of　conversation　around　Professor　Hunter。　On　the　whole；　it　was　nice　to　be　back　at　Georgetown；　if　only　for　a　few　hours。　The　〃Galleria〃　in　the　Intercultural　Center　was　quite　a　contrast　to　the　CIA　institutional　drab。　The　four…story　atrium　of　the　language　building　was　lined　with　the　glass　windows　of　offices；　and　a　pair　of　potted　trees　reached　toward　the　glass　roof。　The　plaza　outside　was　paved　with　bricks；　and　known　to　the　students　as　Red　Square。　To　the　west　was　the　old　quadrangle；　and　the　cemetery　where　rested　the　priests　who　had　taught　here　for　nearly　two　hundred　years。　It　was　a　thoroughly　civilized　setting；　except　for　the　discordant　shriek　of　jets　ing　out　of　National　Airport；　a　few　miles　downriver。　Someone　jostled　Ryan　just　as　he　was　finishing　his　snacks。
　　　　〃Excuse　me；　Doctor。〃　Ryan　turned　to　see　a　man　shorter　than　himself。　He　had　a　florid　plexion　and　was　dressed　in　a　cheap…looking　suit。　His　blue　eyes　seemed　to　sparkle　with　amusement。　His　voice　had　a　pronounced　accent。　〃Did　you　enjoy　the　lecture？〃　
　　　　〃It　was　interesting；〃　Ryan　said　diffidently。
　　　　〃So。　I　see　that　capitalists　can　lie　as　well　as　we　poor　socialists。〃　The　man　had　a　jolly；　overpowering　laugh；　but　Jack　decided　that　his　eyes　were　sparkling　with　something　other　than　amusement。　They　were　measuring　eyes；　playing　yet　another　variation　of　the　game　he'd　been　part　of　in　England。　Already　Ryan　disliked　him。　
　　　　〃Have　we　met？〃
　　　　〃Sergey　Platonov。〃　They　shook　hands　after　Ryan　set　his　plate　on　a　table。　〃I　am　Third　Secretary　of　the　Soviet　Embassy。　Perhaps　my　photograph　at　Langley　does　not　do　me　justice。〃　
　　　　A　Russian　　Ryan　tried　not　to　look　too　surprised　　who　knows　I've　been　working　at　CIA。　Third　Secretary　could　easily　mean　that　he　was　KGB；　perhaps　a　diplomatic　intelligence　specialist；　or　maybe　a　member　of　the　CPSU's　Foreign　Department　　as　though　it　made　a　difference。　A　〃legal〃　intelligence　officer　with　a　diplomatic　cover。　What　do　I　do　now？　For　one　thing；　he　knew　that　he'd　have　to　write　up　a　contact　report　for　CIA　tomorrow；　explaining　how　they'd　met　and　what　they'd　talked　about；　perhaps　an　hour's　work。　It　took　an　effort　to　remain　polite。
　　　　〃You　must　have　the　wrong　guy；　Mr。　Platonov。　I'm　a　history　teacher。　I　work　at　the　Naval　Academy　in　Annapolis。　I　was　invited　to　this　because　I　got　my　degree　here。〃
　　　　〃No；　no。〃　The　Russian　shook　his　head。　〃I　recognize　you　from　the　photograph　on　your　book　jacket。　You　see；　I　purchased　ten　copies　of　it　last　summer。〃
　　　　〃Indeed。〃　Jack　was　surprised　again　and　unable　to　conceal　it。　〃My　publisher　and　I　thank　you；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Our　Naval　Attache　was　much　taken　by　it。　Doctor　Ryan。　He　felt　that　it　should　be　brought　to　the　attention　of　the　Frunze　Academy；　and；　I　think；　the　Grechko　Naval　Academy　in　Leningrad。〃　Platonov　applied　his　considerable　charm。　Ryan　knew　it　for　what　it　was；　but　。　。　。　〃To　be　honest；　I　merely　skimmed　the　book　myself。　It　seemed　quite　well　organized；　and　the　Attache　said　that　your　analysis　of　the　way　decisions　are　made　in　the　heat　of　battle　was　highly　accurate。〃
　　　　〃Well。〃　Jack　tried　not　to　be　overly　flattered；　but　it　was　hard。　Frunze　was　the　Soviet　staff　academy；　the　finishing　school　for　young　field…grade　officers　who　were　tagged　for　stardom。　The　Grechko　Academy　was　only　slightly　less　prestigious。
　　　　〃Sergey　Nikolay'ch；〃　boomed　a　familiar　voice；　〃it　is　not　kulturny　to　prey　upon　the　vanity　of　helpless　young　authors。〃　Father　Timothy　Riley　joined　them。　A　short；　plump　Jesuit　priest；　Riley　had　headed　the　history　department　at　Georgetown　while　Ryan　had　gotten　his　doctorate。　He　was　a　brilliant　intellect　with　a　series　of　books　to　his　credit；　including　two　penetrating　works　on　the　history　of　Marxism　　neither　of　which；　Ryan　was　certain；　had　found　their　way　into　the　library　at　Frunze。　〃How's　the　family；　Jack？〃
　　　　〃Cathy's　back　to　work；　Father。　They　moved　Sally　over　to　Hopkins。　With　luck　we'll　have　her　home　early　next　week。〃　
　　　　〃She　will　recover　fully；　your　little　daughter？〃　Platonov　asked。　〃I　read　about　the　attack　on　your　family　in　the　newspaper。〃　
　　　　〃We　think　so。　Except　for　losing　her　spleen；　there　seems　to　be　no　permanent　damage。　The　docs　say　she's　recovering　nicely；　and　with　her　at　Hopkins；　Cathy's　able　to　see　her　every　day；〃　Ryan　said　more　positively　than　he　felt。　Sally　was　a　different　child。　Her　legs　weren't　fully　healed　yet；　but　worst　of　all；　his　bouncing　little　girl　was　a　sad　thing　now。　She'd　learned　a　lesson　that　Ryan　had　hoped　to　hold　off　for　at　least　ten　more　years　　that　the　world　is　a　dangerous　place　even　when　you　have　a　mother　and　a　father　to　take　care　of　you。　A　hard　lesson　for　a　child；　it　was　harder　still　for　a　parent。　But　she's　alive；　Jack　told　himself；　unaware　of　the　expression　on　his　face。　With　time　and　love；　you　can　recover　from　anything；　except　death。　The　doctors　and　nurses　at　Hopkins　were　taking　care　of　her　like　one　of　their　own。　That　was　a　tangible　advantage　of　having　a　doctor　in　the　family。
　　　　〃A　terrible　thing。〃　Platonov　shook　his　head　in　what　seemed　to　be　genuine　disgust。　〃A　terrible　thing　to　attack　innocent　people　for　no　reason。〃
　　　　〃Indeed；　Sergey；〃　Riley　said　in　the　astringent　voice　that　Ryan　had　known　so　well。　When　he　wanted；　〃Father　Tim〃　had　a　tongue　that　could　saw　through　wood。　〃I　seem　to　recall　that　V。　I。　Lenin　said　the　purpose　of　terrorism　is　to　terrorize；　and　that　sympathy　in　a　revolutionary　is　as　reprehensible　as　cowardice　on　the　field　of　battle。〃
　　　　〃Those　were　hard　times；　good　Father；〃　Platonov　said　smoothly。　〃My　country　has　no　business　with　those　IRA　madmen。　They　are　not　revolutionaries；　however　much　they　pretend　to　be。　They　have　no　revolutionary　ethic。　It　is　madness；　what　they　do。　The　working　classes　should　be　allies；　contesting　together　against　the　mon　enemy　that　exploits　them　both；　instead　of　killing　one　another。　Both　sides　of　the　conflict　are　victimized　by　bosses　who　play　them　off　against　each　other；　but　instead　of　recognizing　this　they　kill　one　another　like　mad　dogs；　and　with　as　little　point。　They　are　bandits；　not　revolutionaries；〃　he　concluded　with　a　distinction　lost　on　the　other　two。
　　　　〃Maybe　so；　but　if　I　ever　get　my　hands　on　them；　I'll　give　them　a　lesson　in　revolutionary　justice。〃　It　was　good　to　let　his　hatred　out　in　the　open　for　once。
　　　　〃You　have　no　sympathy　for　them；　either　of　you？〃　Platonov　bailed　them。　〃After　all；　you　are　both　related　to　the　victims　of　British　imperialism。　Did　not　both　your　families　flee　to　America　to　escape　it？〃
　　　　Ryan　was　caught　very　short　by　that　remark。　It　seemed　an　incredible　thing　to　say　until　he　saw　that　the　Russian　was　watching　for　his　reaction。
　　　　〃Or　perhaps　the　direct　victim　of　Soviet　imperialism；〃　Jack　responded　with　his　own　look。　〃Those　two　guys　in　London　had　Kalashnikov　rifles。　So　did　the　ones　who　attacked　my　wife；〃　he　lied。　〃You　don't　buy　one　of　those　at　the　local　hardware　store。　Whether　you　choose　to　admit　it　or　not；　most　of　the　terrorists　over　there　profess　to　be　Marxists。　That　makes　them　your　allies；　not　mine；　and　it　makes　it　appear　more　than　a　coincidence　that　they　use　Soviet　arms。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　know　how　many　countries　manufacture　weapons　of　Soviet　design？　It　is　sadly　inevitable　that　some　will　fall　into　the　wrong　hands。〃
　　　　〃In　any　case；　my　sympathy　for　their　aim　is；　shall　we　say；　limited　by　their　choice　of　technique。　You　can't　build　a　civilized　country　on　a　foundation　of　murder；〃　Ryan　concluded。　〃Much　as　some　people　have　tried。〃
　　　　〃It　would　be　well　if　the　world　worked　in　more　peaceful　ways。〃　Platonov　ignored　the　implicit　ment　on　the　Soviet　Union。　〃But　it　is　an　historical　fact　that　nations　are　born　in　blood；　even　yours。　As　countries　grow；　they　mature　beyond　such　conduct。　It　is　not　easy；　but　I　think　we　can　all　see　the　value　of　peaceful　coexistence。　For　myself；　Doctor　Ryan；　I　can　sympathize　with　your　feelings。　I　have　two　fine　sons。　We　once　had　a　daughter　also；　Nadia。　She　died　long　ago；　at　age　seven；　from　leukemia。　I　know　it　is　a　hard　thing　to　see　your　child　in　pain；　but　you　are　more　fortunate　than　I。　Your　daughter　will　live。〃　He　allowed　his　voice　to　soften。　〃We　disagree　on　many　things；　but　no　man　can　fail　to　love　his　children。
　　　　〃So。〃　Platonov　changed　gears　smoothly。　〃What　did　you　really　think　of　Professor　Hunter's　little　speech？　Should　America　seek　to　foment　counterrevolution　in　the　socialist　states　of　Europe？〃　
　　　　〃Why　don't　you　ask　the　State　Department？　That's　not　my　part　of　the　world；　remember？　I　teach　naval　history。　But　if　you　want　a　personal　opinion；　I　don't　see　how　we　can　encourage　people　to　rebel　if　we　have　no　prospect　of　helping　them　directly　when　your　country　reacts。〃
　　　　〃Ah；　good。　You　understand　that　we　must　act　to　protect　our　fraternal　socialist　brothers　from　aggression。〃
　　　　The　man　was　good；　Ryan　saw；　but　he'd　had　a　lot　of　practice　at　this。　〃I　wouldn't　call　the　encouragement　of　peo