tc.patriotgames-第74章

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　and　the　guard　detail。　A　police　officer　opened　the　door　for　the　procession。　It　was　a　windy　March　day；　but　the　family　wagon　was　parked　just　outside。　Jack　scooped　up　his　daughter　in　both　arms　while　Cathy　thanked　the　nurses。　He　made　sure　she　was　in　her　safety　seat　and　buckled　the　belt　himself。　The　bear　had　to　go　in　the　back。　
　　　　〃Ready　to　go　home；　Sally？〃
　　　　〃Yes。〃　Her　voice　was　listless。　The　nurses　reported　that　she　still　cried　out　in　her　sleep。　Her　legs　were　fully　healed；　finally。　She　could　walk　again；　badly　and　awkwardly；　but　she　could　walk。　Except　for　the　loss　of　her　spleen；　she　was　whole　again。　Her　hair　was　trimmed　short　to　pensate　for　what　had　been　shaved；　but　that　would　grow　out　soon　enough。　Even　the　scars；　the　surgeons　said；　would　fade；　and　the　pediatricians　assured　him　that　in　a　few　months　the　nightmares　would　end。　Jack　turned　to　run　his　hand　along　the　little　face；　and　got　a　smile　for　his　efforts。　It　wasn't　the　smile　he　was　accustomed　to　getting。　Behind　his　own　smile；　Ryan's　mind　boiled　with　rage　yet　again；　but　he　told　himself　that　this　wasn't　the　time。　Sally　needed　a　father　now；　not　an　avenger。　
　　　　〃We　have　a　surprise　waiting　for　you；〃　he　said。　
　　　　〃What？〃　Sally　asked。
　　　　〃If　I　told　you；　it　wouldn't　be　a　surprise；〃　her　father　pointed　out。
　　　　〃Daddy！〃　For　a　moment　his　little　girl　was　back。　
　　　　〃Wait　and　see。〃　
　　　　〃What's　that？〃　Cathy　asked　on　getting　in　the　car。　
　　　　〃The　surprise。〃　
　　　　〃What　surprise？〃
　　　　〃See；〃　Jack　told　his　daughter。　〃Mommy　doesn't　know　either。〃　
　　　　〃Jack；　what's　going　on？〃
　　　　〃Doctor　Schenk　and　I　had　a　little　talk　last　week；〃　was　all　Ryan　would　say。　He　released　the　parking　brake　and　headed　off　onto　Broadway。
　　　　〃I　want　my　bear；〃　Sally　said。
　　　　〃He's　too　big　to　sit　there；　honey；〃　Cathy　responded。　
　　　　〃But　you　can　wear　his　Smokey　hat。　He　said　it　was　okay。〃　Jack　handed　it　back。　The　wide…brimmed　campaign　hat　dropped　over　her　head。
　　　　〃Did　you　thank　the　people　for　the　bear？〃　Cathy　asked。
　　　　〃You　bet。〃　Ryan　smiled　for　a　moment。　〃Nobody　flunks　this　term。　But　don't　tell　anybody　that。〃　Jack　had　a　reputation　as　a　tough　marker。　That　might　not　survive　this　semester。　Principles　be　damned；　he　told　himself。　The　mids　in　his　classes　had　sent　Sally　a　steady　stream　of　flowers；　toys；　puzzles；　and　cards　that　had　entertained　his　little　girl；　then　circulated　around　the　pediatric　floor　and　brightened　the　days　of　fifty　more　sick　kids。　Smokey　Bear　was　the　crowning　achievement。　The　nurses　had　told　Cathy　that　it　had　made　a　difference。　The　monster　toy　had　often　sat　at　the　top　of　Sally's　bed；　with　the　little　girl　clinging　to　it。　It　would　be　a　tough　act　to　follow；　but　Jack　had　that　one　figured　out。　Skip　Tyler　was　making　the　final　arrangements　now。
　　　　Jack　took　his　time；　driving　as　though　he　were　carrying　a　cargo　of　cracked　eggs。　His　recent　habits　at　CIA　made　him　yearn　for　a　cigarette；　but　he　knew　that　he'd　have　to　stop　that　now；　with　Cathy　home　all　the　time。　He　was　careful　to　avoid　the　route　Cathy　had　taken　the　day　that　　His　hands　tightened　on　the　wheel　as　they　had　for　weeks　now。　He　knew　he　had　to　stop　thinking　about　it　so　much。　It　had　bee　an　obsession；　and　that　wasn't　going　to　help　anything。
　　　　The　scenery　had　changed　since　the　。　。　。　accident。　What　had　been　bare　trees　now　had　the　green　edges　of　buds　and　leaves　with　the　beginning　of　spring。　Horses　and　cows　were　out　on　the　farms。　Some　calves　and　colts　were　visible；　and　Sally's　nose　pressed　against　the　car　window　as　she　looked　at　them。　As　it　did　every　year；　life　was　renewing　itself；　Ryan　told　himself。　His　family　was　whole　again；　and　he'd　keep　it　that　way。　The　last　turn　onto　Falcon's　Nest　Road　finally　came。　Jack　noted　that　the　utility　trucks　were　still　around；　and　he　wondered　briefly　what　they　had　been　up　to　as　he　turned　left　into　his　driveway。　
　　　　〃Skip's　here？〃　Cathy　asked。
　　　　〃Looks　like　it；〃　Jack　replied　with　a　suppressed　grin。

　　　　〃They're　home；〃　Alex　said。
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Louis　noted。　Both　men　were　perched　at　the　top　of　the　utility　pole；　ostensibly　stringing　new　power　lines　to　acmodate　the　experimental　transformer。　〃You　know；　the　day　after　the　job；〃　the　lineman　said；　〃there　was　a　picture　of　the　lady　in　the　papers。　Some　kid　went　through　a　window　and　got　his　face　all　cut　up。　It　was　a　little　brother；　Alex。　The　lady　saved　his　eyes；　man。〃
　　　　〃I　remember；　Louis。〃　Alex　raised　his　camera　and　snapped　off　a　string　of　shots。
　　　　〃An'　I　don't　like　fucking　with　kids；　man；〃　Louis　said。　〃A　cop's　a　different　thing；〃　he　added　defensively。　He　didn't　have　to　say　that　so　was　the　kid's　father。　That　was　business。　Like　Alex；　he　had　a　few　remaining　scruples；　and　hurting　children　was　not　something　he　could　do　without　some　internal　turmoil。
　　　　〃Maybe　we　were　all　lucky。〃　Alex　knew　objectively　that　this　was　a　stupid　way　for　a　revolutionary　to　think。　Sentimentality　had　no　place　in　his　mission；　it　got　in　the　way　of　what　he　had　to　do；　prolonging　the　task　and　causing　more　deaths　in　the　process。　He　also　knew　that　the　taboos　against　injuring　children　were　part　of　the　genetic　programming　of　any　human　being。　Mankind　had　progressed　in　its　knowledge　since　Marx　and　Lenin。　So　whenever　possible　he'd　avoid　injuring　kids。　He　rationalized　that　this　would　enhance　his　sympathy　in　the　munity　he　was　seeking　to　liberate。
　　　　〃Yeah。〃　
　　　　〃So　what　have　you　seen？〃
　　　　〃They　got　a　maid　　black　o'course。　Fine…lookin'　woman；　drives　a　Chevy。　There's　somebody　else　in　there　now。　He's　a　white　dude；　big　guy；　an'　he　walks　funny。〃
　　　　〃Right。〃　Alex　made　note　of　the　former　and　dismissed　the　latter。　The　man　was　probably　a　family　friend。
　　　　〃The　cops　　state　cops　　are　back　here　every　two　hours　minimum。　One　of　them　asked　me　what　we　were　doing　yesterday　afternoon。　They're　keeping　an　eye　on　this　place。　There's　an　extra　phone　line　into　the　house　　gotta　be　for　an　alarm　pany。　So　they　got　a　house　alarm　and　the　cops　are　always　close。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。　Keep　your　eyes　open　but　don't　be　too　obvious。〃　
　　　　〃You　got　it。〃

　　　　〃Home；〃　Ryan　breathed。　He　stopped　the　car　and　got　out；　walking　around　to　Sally's　door。　He　saw　that　the　little　girl　wasn't　playing　with　the　seat…belt　buckle。　He　took　care　of　it　himself；　then　lifted　his　daughter　out　of　the　car。　She　wrapped　her　arms　around　his　neck；　and　for　a　moment　life　was　perfect　again。　He　carried　Sally　to　the　front　door；　both　arms　clasping　her　to　his　chest。　
　　　　〃Wele　back。〃　Skip　had　the　door　open　already。　
　　　　〃Where's　my　surprise？〃　Sally　demanded。
　　　　〃Surprise？〃　Tyler　was　taken　aback。　〃I　don't　know　about　any　surprise。〃
　　　　〃Daddy！〃　Her　father　got　an　accusing　look。
　　　　〃e　on　in；〃　Tyler　said。　　　　　Mrs。　Hackett　was　there；　too。　She'd　gotten　lunch　ready　for　everyone。　A　single　mother　of　two　sons；　she　worked　hard　to　support　them。　Ryan　set　his　girl　down；　and　she　walked　to　the　kitchen。　Skip　Tyler　and　her　father　watched　her　stiff　legs　negotiate　the　distance。
　　　　〃God；　it's　amazing　how　kids　heal；〃　Tyler　observed。　
　　　　〃What？〃　Jack　was　surprised。
　　　　〃I　broke　a　leg　playing　ball　once　　damned　if　I　bounced　back　that　fast。　e　on；〃　Tyler　beckoned　Jack　out　the　door。　First　he　checked　out　the　stuffed　animal　in　the　car。　〃I　heard　it　was　some　kind　of　bear。　That　one　must　have　played　in　Chicago！〃　
　　　　Then　they　went　into　the　trees　north　of　Ryan's　house。　Here　they　found　the　surprise；　tied　to　a　tree。　Jack　loosed　the　chain　and　picked　him　up。
　　　　〃Thanks　for　bringing　him　over。〃　
　　　　〃Hey；　no　big　deal。　It's　good　to　see　her　home；　pal。〃　
　　　　The　two　men　walked　back　into　the　house。　Jack　peeked　around　the　corner　and　saw　that　Sally　was　already　demolishing　a　peanut…butter　sandwich。
　　　　〃Sally　。　。　。〃　he　said。　His　wife　was　already　looking　at　him　with　an　open　mouth。　His　daughter's　head　came　around　just　as　Jack　set　the　puppy　on　the　floor。
　　　　It　was　a　black　Labrador；　just　old　enough　to　be　separated　from　his　mother。　The　puppy　needed　a　single　look　to　know　to　whom　he　belonged。　He　scampered　across　the　floor；　mostly　sideways；　with　his　tail　gyrating　wildly。　Sally　was　on　the　floor；　and　grabbed　him。　A　moment　later；　the　dog　was　cleaning　her　face。
　　　　〃She's　too　little　for　a　puppy；〃　Cathy　said。
　　　　〃Okay；　you　can　take　him　back　this　afternoon；〃　Jack　replied　quietly。　The　remark　got　him　an　angry　look。　His　daughter　squealed　when　the　dog　started　chewing　on　the　heel　of　one　shoe。　〃She's　not　big　enough　for　a　pony　yet；　but　I　think　this　is　just　the　right　thing。〃　
　　　　〃You　train　it！〃
　　　　〃That'll　be　easy。　He　es　from　good　stock。　Champion　Chesapeake's　Victor　Hugo　Black　for　a　father；　would　you　believe？　The　Lab's　got　a　soft　mouth；　and　they　like　kids；〃　Jack　went　on。　〃I've　already　scheduled　him　for　classes。〃　
　　　　〃Classes　in　what？〃　Cathy　was　really　befuddled　now。　
　　　　〃The　breed　is　called　the　Labrador　Retriever；〃　Jack　noted。　
　　　　〃How　big　does　it　get？〃　
　　　　〃Oh；　maybe　seventy　pounds。〃　
　　　　〃That's　bigger　than　she　is！〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　they　love　to　swim；　too。　He　can　look　after　her　in　the　pool。〃　
　　　　〃We　don't　have　a　pool。〃
　　　　〃They　start　in　three　weeks。〃　Jack　smiled　again。　〃Doctor　Schenk　also　said　that　swimming　is　good　therapy　for　this　kind　of　injury。〃　
　　　　〃You've　been　busy；〃　his　wife　observed。　She　was　smiling　now。
　　　　〃I　was　going　to　get　a　Newfoundland；　but　they're　just　too　big　　one…fifty。〃　Jack　didn't　say　that　his　first　wish　had　been　to　get　a　dog　big　and　tough　enough　to　tear　the　head　off　anyone　who　came　close　to　his　daughter；　but　that　his　mon　sense　had　prevented　it。
　　　　〃Well；　there's　your　first　job；〃　Cathy　pointed。　Jack　got　a　paper　towel　to　clean　up　the　puddle　on　the　tile。　Before　he　could　do　it；　his　daughter　nearly　strangled　him　with　a　ferocious　hug。　It　was　all　he　could　do　to　control　himself；　but　he　had　to。　Sally　would　not　have　understood　why　her　daddy　was　crying。　The　world　was　back　in　its　proper　shape。　Now　if　we　can　just　keep　it　that　way。

　　　　〃I'll　have　the　pictures　tomorrow。　I　wanted　to　get　them　done　before　the　trees　fill　in。　When　they　do；　you　won't　be　able　to　see　the　house　from　the　road　very　well。〃　Alex　summarized　the　results　of　his　reconnaissance。
　　　　〃What　about　the　alarm？〃　
　　　　Alex　read　off　the　data　from　his　notes。　
　　　　〃How　the　bloody　hell　did　you　get　that？〃
　　　　Dobbens　chuckled　as　he　popped　open　the　beer。　〃It's　easy。　If　you　want　the　data　for　any　kind　of　burglar　alarm；　you　call　the　pany　that　did　it　and　say　you　work　for　an　insurance　pany。　You　give　them　a　policy　number　　you　make　that　up；　of　course　　and　they　give　you　all　the　information　you　want。　Ryan　has　a　perimeter　system；　and　a　backup　intruder　system　'with　keys；'　which　means　that　the　alarm　pany　has　keys　to　the　house。　Somewhere　on　the　property　they　have　infrared　beams。　Probably　on　the　driveway　in　the　trees。　This　guy　isn't　dumb；　Sean。〃　
　　　　〃It　doesn't　matter。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　I'm　just　telling　you。　One　more　thing。〃　
　　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　　〃The　kid　doesn't　get　hurt　this　time；　not　the　wife　either　if　we　can　help　it。〃
　　　　〃That　is　not　part　of　the　plan；〃　Miller　assured　him。　You　bloody　wimp。　Sean　had　learned　a　new　word　in　America。　What　sort　of　revolutionary　do　you　think　you　are？　he　didn't　say。
　　　　〃That's　from　my　people；〃　Alex　continued；　telling　only　part　of　the　truth。　〃You　gotta　understand；　Sean；　child　abuse　looks　bad　over　here。　It's　not　the　kind　of　image　we　want　to　have；　you　dig？〃　
　　　　〃And　you　want　to　e　out　with　us？〃　
　　　　Dobbens　nodded。　〃It　might　be　necessary。〃
　　　　〃I　think　we　can　avoid　that。　It　just　means　eliminating　all　the　people　who　see　your　faces。〃
　　　　You're