tc.patriotgames-第8章

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　　　　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　adjoining　St。　James's　Palace。　The　terrorists　picked　a　bad　time　　or　perhaps　a　bad　place　　for　their　attack。　There　is　a　guard　post　at　the　southwest　corner　of　the　building。　The　guard　changes　every　two　hours。　When　the　attack　took　place；　the　change　was　just　under　way。　That　meant　that　four　soldiers　were　there　at　the　time；　not　just　one。　The　police　on　duty　at　the　Palace　heard　the　explosion　and　automatic　fire。　The　Sergeant　in　charge　ran　to　the　gate　to　see　what　was　going　on　and　yelled　for　a　guardsman　to　follow。〃
　　　　〃He's　the　one　who　sounded　the　alarm；　right？　That's　how　the　rest　of　them　arrived　so　fast？〃
　　　　〃Charlie　Winston；〃　Owens　said。　〃The　Rolls　has　an　electronic　attack　alarm　　you　don't　need　to　tell　anyone　that。　That　alerted　headquarters。　Sergeant　Price　acted　entirely　on　his　own　initiative。　Unfortunately　for　him；　the　guardsman　was　a　hurdler　　the　lad　runs　track　and　field　　and　vaulted　the　barriers　there。　Price　tried　to　do　it　also；　but　he　fell　down　and　broke　his　nose。　He　had　a　devil　of　a　time　catching　up；　plus　sending　out　his　own　alarm　on　his　portable　radio。〃
　　　　〃Well；　I'm　glad　he　caught　up　when　he　did。　That　trooper　scared　the　hell　out　of　me。　I　hope　your　Sergeant　gets　a　pat　on　the　head；　too。〃
　　　　〃The　Queen's　Police　Medal　for　starters；　and　the　thanks　of　Her　Majesty；〃　Ashley　said。　〃One　thing　that　has　confused　us。　Doctor　Ryan。　You　left　the　military　with　a　physical　disability；　yet　you　evidenced　none　of　this　yesterday。〃
　　　　〃You　know　that　after　I　left　the　Corps；　I　went　into　the　brokerage　business。　I　made　something　of　a　name　for　myself；　and　Cathy's　father　came　down　to　talk　to　me。　That's　when　I　met　Cathy。　I　passed　on　the　invitation　to　move　to　New　York；　but　Cathy　and　I　hit　it　right　off。　One　thing　led　to　another；　and　pretty　soon　we　were　engaged。　I　wore　a　back　brace　then；　because　every　so　often　my　back　would　go　bad　on　me。　Well；　it　happened　again　right　after　we　got　engaged；　and　Cathy　took　me　into　Johns　Hopkins　to　have　one　of　her　teachers　check　me　out。　One　was　Stanley　Rabinowisz；　professor　of　neurosurgery　there。　He　ran　me　through　three　days　of　tests　and　said　he　could　fix　me　good　as　new。
　　　　〃It　turned　out　that　the　docs　at　Bethesda　had　goofed　my　myelogram。　No　reflection　on　them；　they　were　sharp　young　docs；　but　Stan's　about　the　best　there　is。　Good　as　his　word；　too。　He　opened　me　up　that　Friday；　and　two　months　later　I　was　almost　as　good　as　new；〃　Ryan　said。　〃Anyway；　that's　the　story　of　Ryan's　back。　I　just　happened　to　fall　in　love　with　a　pretty　girl　who　was　studying　to　be　a　surgeon。〃
　　　　〃Your　wife　is　certainly　a　most　versatile　and　petent　woman；〃　Owens　agreed。
　　　　〃And　you　found　her　pushy；〃　Ryan　observed。
　　　　〃No；　Doctor　Ryan。　People　under　stress　are　never　at　their　best。　Your　wife　also　examined　Their　Royal　Highnesses　on　the　scene；　and　that　was　most　useful　to　us。　She　refused　to　leave　your　side　until　you　were　under　petent　medical　care；　one　can　hardly　fault　her　for　that。　She　did　find　our　identification　procedures　a　touch　longwinded；　I　think；　and　she　was　quite　naturally　anxious　about　you。　We　might　have　moved　things　along　more　quickly　〃　
　　　　〃No　need　to　apologize；　sir。　My　dad　was　a　cop。　I　know　the　score。　I　understand　you　had　trouble　identifying　us。〃　
　　　　〃Just　over　three　hours　　a　timing　problem；　you　see。　We　had　your　passport　out　of　your　coat；　and　your　driving　license；　which；　we　were　glad　to　see；　had　your　photograph。　Our　initial　request　to　your　Legal　Attache　was　just　before　five；　and　that　made　it　noon　in　America。　Lunchtime；　you　see。　He　called　the　FBI's　Baltimore　field　office；　who　in　turn　called　their　Annapolis　office。　The　identification　business　is　fairly　straightforward　　first　they　had　to　find　some　chaps　at　your　Naval　Academy　who　knew　who　you　were；　when　you　came　over；　and　so　forth。　Next　they　found　the　travel　agent　who　booked　your　flight　and　hotel。　Another　agent　went　to　your　motor　vehicle　registration　agency。　Many　of　these　people　were　off　eating　lunch；　and　we　reckon　that　cost　us　roughly　an　hour。　Simultaneously　he　　the　Attache　　sent　a　query　to　your　Marine　Corps。　Within　three　hours　we　had　a　fairly　plete　history　on　you　　including　fingerprints。　We　had　your　fingerprints　from　your　travel　documents　and　the　hotel　registration；　and　they　matched　your　military　records；　of　course。〃
　　　　〃Three　hours；　eh？〃　Dinnertime　here；　and　lunchtime　at　home；　and　they　did　it　all　in　three　hours。　Damn。
　　　　〃While　all　that　was　going　on　we　had　to　interview　your　wife　several　times　to　make　sure　that　she　related　everything　she　saw　〃　
　　　　〃And　she　gave　it　to　you　exactly　the　same　way　every　time；　right？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃Correct；〃　Owens　said。　He　smiled。　〃That　is　quite　remarkable；　you　know。〃
　　　　Ryan　grinned。　〃Not　for　Cathy。　Some　things；　medicine　especially；　she's　a　real　machine。　I'm　surprised　she　didn't　hand　you　a　roll　of　film。〃
　　　　〃She　said　that　herself；〃　Owens　replied。　〃The　photographs　in　the　paper　are　from　a　Japanese　tourist　　that's　a　cliche；　isn't　it？　　half　a　block　away　with　a　telephoto　lens。　You　might　be　interested　to　know　that　your　Marine　Corps　thinks　rather　highly　of　you；　by　the　way。〃　Owens　consulted　his　notes。　〃Tied　for　first　in　your　class　at　Quantico；　and　your　fitness　reports　were　excellent。〃　
　　　　〃So；　you're　satisfied　I'm　a　good　guy？〃　
　　　　〃We　were　convinced　of　that　from　the　first　moment；〃　Taylor　said。　〃One　must　be　thorough　in　major　felony　cases；　however；　and　this　one　obviously　had　more　than　its　share　of　plications。〃　
　　　　〃There's　one　thing　that　bothers　me；〃　Jack　said。　There　was　more　than　one；　but　his　brain　was　working　too　slowly　to　classify　them　all。
　　　　〃What's　that？〃　Owens　asked。
　　　　〃What　the　hell　were　they　　the　Royals；　you　call　them？　　doing　out　on　the　street　with　only　one　guard　　wait　a　minute。〃　Ryan's　head　cocked　to　one　side。　He　went　on；　speaking　rather　slowly　as　his　mind　struggled　to　arrange　his　thoughts。　〃That　ambush　was　planned　　this　wasn't　any　accidental　encounter。　But　the　bad　guys　caught　'em　on　the　fly　。　。　。　They　had　to　hit　a　particular　car　in　a　particular　place。　Somebody　timed　this　one　out。　There　were　some　more　people　involved　in　this；　weren't　there？〃　Ryan　heard　a　lot　of　silence　for　a　moment。　It　was　all　the　answer　he　needed。　〃Somebody　with　a　radio　。　。　。　those　characters　had　to　know　that　they　were　ing；　the　route　they'd　take；　and　exactly　when　they　got　into　the　kill　zone。　Even　then　it　wouldn't　be　all　that　easy；　'cause　you　have　to　worry　about　traffic　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃Just　an　historian。　Doctor　Ryan？〃　Ashley　asked。
　　　　〃They　teach　you　how　to　do　ambushes　in　the　Marines。　If　you　want　to　ambush　a　specific　target　。　。　。　first；　you　have　to　have　intelligence　information；　second；　you　choose　your　ground；　third；　you　put　your　own　security　guys　out　to　tell　you　when　the　target　is　ing　　that's　just　the　bare…bones　requirements。　Why　here　　why　St。　James's　Park；　The　Mall？〃　The　terrorist　is　a　political　creature。　The　target　and　the　place　are　chosen　for　political　effect；　Ryan　told　himself。　〃You　didn't　answer　my　question　before：　was　this　an　assassination　or　an　attempted　kidnapping？〃　
　　　　〃We　are　not　entirely　sure；〃　Owens　answered。
　　　　Ryan　looked　over　his　guests。　He'd　just　touched　an　open　nerve。　They　disabled　the　car　with　an　antitank　rifle…grenade；　and　both　of　them　had　the　hand…thrown　kind；　too。　If　they　just　wanted　to　kill　。　。　。　the　grenades　would　defeat　any　armor　on　the　car；　why　use　guns　at　all？　No；　if　this　was　a　straight　assassination　attempt；　they　would　not　have　taken　so　long；　would　they？　You　just　fibbed　to　me；　Mr。　Owens。　This　was　definitely　a　kidnap　attempt　and　you　know　it。
　　　　〃Why　just　the　one　security　officer　in　the　car；　then？　You　have　to　protect　your　people　better　than　that。〃　What　was　it　Tony　said？　An　unscheduled　trip？　The　first　requirement　for　a　successful　ambush　is　good　intelligence　。　。　。　You　can't　pursue　this；　idiot！　The　mander　solved　the　problem　for　Jack。
　　　　〃Well；　I　believe　we　covered　everything　rather　nicely。　We'll　probably　be　back　tomorrow；〃　Owens　said。
　　　　〃How　are　the　terrorists　　the　one　I　wounded；　I　mean。〃　
　　　　〃He　has　not　been　terribly　cooperative。　Won't　speak　to　us　at　all；　not　even　to　tell　us　his　name　　old　story　dealing　with　this　lot。　We've　only　identified　him　a　few　hours　ago。　No　previous　criminal　record　at　all　　his　name　appeared　as　a　possible　player　in　two　minor　cases；　but　nothing　more　than　that。　He　is　recovering　quite　nicely；　and　in　three　weeks　or　so；〃　Taylor　said　coldly；　〃he　will　be　taken　before　the　Queen's　Bench；　tried　before　a　jury　of　twelve　good　men　and　true；　convicted；　and　sentenced　to　spend　the　remainder　of　his　natural　life　at　a　secure　prison。〃　
　　　　〃Only　three　weeks？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃The　case　is　clear…cut；〃　Owens　said。　〃We　have　three　photographs　from　our　Japanese　friend　that　show　this　lad　holding　his　gun　behind　the　car；　and　nine　good　eyewitnesses。　There　will　be　no　mucking　about　with　this　lad。〃　
　　　　〃And　I'll　be　there　to　see　it；〃　Ryan　observed。
　　　　〃Of　course。　You　will　be　our　most　important　witness；　Doctor。　A　formality；　but　a　necessary　one。　And　no　claim　of　lunacy　like　the　chap　who　tried　to　kill　your　President。　This　boy　is　a　university　graduate；　with　honors；　and　he　es　from　a　good　family。〃　
　　　　Ryan　shook　his　head。　〃Ain't　that　a　hell　of　a　thing？　But　most　of　the　really　bad　ones　are；　aren't　they？〃　
　　　　〃You　know　about　terrorists？〃　Ashley　asked。
　　　　〃Just　things　I've　read；〃　Ryan　answered　quickly。　That　was　a　mistake；　Jack。　Cover　it。　〃Officer　Wilson　said　the　ULA　were　Maoists。〃　
　　　　〃Correct；〃　Taylor　said。
　　　　〃That　really　is　crazy。　Hell；　even　the　Chinese　aren't　Maoists　anymore；　at　least　the　last　time　I　checked　they　weren't。　Oh　　what　about　my　family？〃
　　　　Ashley　laughed。　〃About　time　you　asked；　Doctor。　We　couldn't　very　well　leave　them　at　the　hotel；　could　we？　It　was　arranged　for　them　to　be　put　up　at　a　highly　secure　location。〃
　　　　〃You　need　not　be　concerned；〃　Owens　agreed。　〃They　are　quite　safe。　My　word　on　it。〃　
　　　　〃Where；　exactly？〃　Ryan　wanted　to　know。
　　　　〃A　security　matter；　I'm　afraid；〃　Ashley　said。　The　three　inquisitors　shared　an　amused　look。　Owens　checked　his　watch　and　shot　a　look　to　the　others。
　　　　〃Well；〃　Owens　said。　He　switched　off　the　tape　recorder。　〃We　do　not　wish　to　trouble　you　further　the　day　after　surgery。　We　will　probably　be　back　to　check　a　few　additional　details。　For　the　moment；　sir；　you　have　the　thanks　of　all　of　us　at　the　Yard　for　doing　our　job　for　us。〃　
　　　　〃How　long　will　I　have　Mr。　Wilson　here？〃
　　　　〃Indefinitely。　The　ULA　are　likely　to　be　somewhat　annoyed　with　you；〃　Owens　said。　〃And　it　would　be　most　embarrassing　for　us　if　they　were　to　make　an　attempt　on　your　life　and　find　you　unprotected。　We　do　not　regard　this　as　likely；　mind；　but　one　must　be　careful。〃
　　　　〃I　can　live　with　that；〃　Ryan　agreed。　I　make　a　hell　of　a　target　here；　don't　I？　A　third…grader　could　kill　me　with　a　Popsicle　stick。　
　　　　〃The　press　want　to　see　you；〃　Taylor　said。
　　　　〃I'm　thrilled。〃　Just　what　I　need；　Ryan　thought。　〃Could　you　hold　them　off　a　bit？〃
　　　　〃Simple　enough；〃　Owens　agreed。　〃Your　medical　condition　does　not　permit　it　at　the　moment。　But　you　should　get　used　to　the　idea。　You　are　now　something　of　a　public　figure。〃　
　　　　〃Like　hell！〃　Ryan　snorted。　〃I　like　being　obscure。〃　Then　you　should　have　stayed　behind　the　tree；　dumbass！　Just　what　have　you　got　yourself　into？
　　　　〃You　can't　refuse　to　see　them　indefinitely；　you　know