rl.thebourneultimatum-第123章

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　〃Glass？〃　asked　a　bewildered　Jason。
　〃At　each　end　of　the　tunnel；　five…inch…thick　walls　of　glass；　locked　and　sealed。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　It　was　not　necessary　for　the　young　Russian　to　explain。　Suddenly；　like　a　series　of　gigantic　waves　crashing　against　the　walls　of　a　huge　aquarium；　the　tunnel　was　being　filled　with　the　waters　of　the　Volkhov　River。　Then　within　the　violence　of　the　growing；　swirling　liquid　mass；　there　was　an　object　。。。　a　thing；　a　form；　a　body！　Bourne　stared　in　shock；　his　eyes　bulging；　his　mouth　gaped；　frozen　in　place；　unable　to　disgorge　the　cry　that　was　in　him。　He　summoned　what　strength　he　had　left；　running　unsteadily；　twice　falling　to　his　knees；　but　gathering　speed　with　each　stride；　and　raced　to　the　massive　wall　of　glass　that　sealed　the　entrance　beyond　it。　Breathlessly；　his　chest　heaving；　he　placed　his　hands　against　the　glass　wall　and　leaned　into　it；　bearing　witness　to　the　macabre　scene　barely　inches　in　front　of　him。　The　grotesquely　uniformed　corpse　of　Carlos　the　Jackal　kept　crashing　back　and　forth　into　the　steel　bars　of　the　gate；　his　dark　features　twisted　in　hate；　his　eyes　two　glass　orbs　reviling　death　as　it　overtook　him。
　The　cold　eyes　of　Jason　Bourne　watched　in　satisfaction；　his　mouth　taut；　rigid；　the　face　of　a　killer；　a　killer　among　killers；　who　had　won。　Briefly；　however；　the　softer　eyes　of　David　Webb　intruded；　his　lips　parted；　forming　the　face　of　a　man　for　whom　the　weight　of　a　world　he　loathed　had　been　removed。
　〃He's　gone；　Archie；〃　observed　Benjamin　at　Jason's　side。　〃That　bastard　can't　e　back。〃
　〃You　flooded　the　tunnel；〃　said　Bourne　simply。　〃How　did　you　know　it　was　him？〃
　〃You　didn't　have　an　automatic　weapon；　but　he　did。　Frankly；　I　thought　Krupkin's　prophecy　was…shall　we　say…borne　out？　You　were　dead；　and　the　man　who　killed　you　would　take　the　quickest　way　out。　This　was　it　and　the　uniform　confirmed　it。　Everything　suddenly　made　sense　from　the　'Spanish'　pound　down。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　that　crowd　away？〃
　〃I　told　them　barges　were　being　sent　to　take　them　across　the　river…about　two　miles　north。　。。。　Speaking　of　Krupkin；　I've　got　to　get　you　out　of　here。　Now。　e　on；　the　helicopter　pad's　about　a　half　a　mile　away。　We'll　use　the　jeep。　Hurry　up；　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃Krupkin's　instructions？〃
　〃Choked　from　his　hospital　bed；　in　as　much　anger　as　in　shock。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃You　might　as　well　know。　Someone　up　in　the　rarefied　circle…Krupkin　doesn't　know　who…issued　the　order　that　you　weren't　to　leave　here　under　any　conditions。　Put　plainly；　it　was　unthinkable；　but　then　no　one　ever　thought　that　the　whole　goddamned　Novgorod　would　go　up　in　flames；　either；　and　that's　our　cover。〃
　〃Ours？〃
　〃I'm　not　your　executioner；　somebody　else　is。　The　word　never　reached　me　and　in　this　mess　it　won't　now。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute！　Where's　the　chopper　taking　me？〃
　〃Cross　your　fingers；　Professor；　and　hope　Krupkin　and　your　American　friend　know　what　they're　doing。　The　helicopter　takes　you　to　Yelsk；　and　from　there　a　plane　to　Zomosc　across　the　Polish　border；　where　an　ungrateful　satellite　has　apparently　permitted　a　CIA　listening　post。〃
　〃Christ；　I'll　still　be　in　Soviet　bloc　territory！〃
　〃The　implication　was　that　your　people　are　ready　for　you。　Good　luck。〃
　〃Ben；〃　said　Jason；　studying　the　young　man。　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？　You're　disobeying　a　direct　order…〃
　〃I　received　no　order！〃　broke　in　the　Russian。　〃And　even　if　I　had；　I'm　no　unthinking　robot。　You　had　an　arrangement　and　you　fulfilled　your　end。　。。。　Also；　if　there's　a　chance　for　my　mother…〃
　〃There's　more　than　a　chance；〃　interrupted　Bourne。
　〃e　on；　let's　go！　We're　wasting　time。　Yelsk　and　Zomosc　are　only　the　beginning　for　you。　You　face　a　long　and　dangerous　journey；　Archie。〃
　
　42
　Sundown；　and　the　out　islands　of　Montserrat　were　growing　darker；　being　patches　of　deep　green　surrounded　by　a　shimmering　blue　sea　and　never…ending　sprays　of　white　foam　erupting　from　coral　reefs　off　the　shorelines；　all　were　bathed　in　the　diaphanous　orange　of　the　Caribbean　horizon。　On　Tranquility　Isle；　lamps　were　gradually　turned　on　inside　the　last　four　villas　in　the　row　above　the　beach　at　Tranquility　Inn；　and　figures　could　be　seen；　by　and　large　walking　slowly　between　the　rooms　and　out　on　the　balconies　where　the　rays　from　the　setting　sun　washed　over　the　terraces。　The　soft　breezes　carried　the　scents　of　hibiscus　and　poinciana　across　the　tropical　foliage　as　a　lone　fishing　boat　weaved　its　way　through　the　reefs　with　its　late…afternoon　catch　for　the　inn's　kitchen。
　Brendan　Patrick　Pierre　Prefontaine　carried　his　Perrier　out　to　the　balcony　of　Villa　Seventeen；　where　Johnny　St。　Jacques　stood　by　the　railing　sipping　a　rum　and　tonic。　〃How　long　do　you　think　it　will　take　before　you　reopen？〃　asked　the　former　judge　of　the　Boston　court；　sitting　down　at　the　white　wrought…iron　table。
　〃The　structural　damage　can　be　repaired　in　a　matter　of　weeks；〃　replied　the　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn；　〃but　the　aftertaste　of　what　happened　here　will　take　longer；　a　lot　longer。〃
　〃Again；　how　long？〃
　〃I'll　give　it　four　or　five　months　before　I　send　out　the　initial　brochures…it'll　be　late　for　the　season's　bookings；　but　Marie　agrees。　To　do　anything　earlier　would　not　only　be　tasteless；　but　the　urgency　would　fuel　all　the　gossip　again。　。。。　Terrorists；　drug　runners；　corrupt　island　government…we　don't　need　that　and　we　don't　deserve　it。〃
　〃Well；　as　I　mentioned；　I　can　pay　my　freight；〃　said　the　once　honorable　justice　of　the　federal　district　court　in　Massachusetts。　〃Perhaps　not　to　the　extent　of　your　highest　seasonal　prices；　dear　man；　but　certainly　sufficient　to　cover　the　costs　of　a　villa；　plus　a　little　for　the　inn's　kitty。〃
　〃I　told　you；　forget　it。　I　owe　you　more　than　I　can　ever　repay。　Tranquility's　yours　as　long　as　you　want　to　stay。〃　St。　Jacques　turned　from　the　railing；　his　eyes　lingering　on　the　fishing　boat　below；　and　sat　down　opposite　Prefontaine。　〃I　worry　about　the　people　down　there；　in　the　boats　and　on　the　beach。　I　used　to　have　three　or　four　boats　bringing　in　the　freshest　fish。　Now　I've　only　got　one　ing　in　for　us　and　what's　left　of　the　staff　all　of　whom　are　on　half　salary。〃
　〃Then　you　need　my　money。〃
　〃e　on；　Judge；　what　money？　I　don't　want　to　appear　intrusive；　but　Washington　gave　me　a　pretty　plete　rundown　on　you。　You've　been　living　off　the　streets　for　years。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；　Washington；〃　pronounced　Prefontaine；　raising　his　glass　to　the　orange…and…azure　sky。　〃As　usual；　it　is　twelve　steps　behind　the　crime…twenty　steps　where　its　own　criminality　is　concerned。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Randolph　Gates；　that's　what　I'm　talking　about…who　I'm　talking　about。〃
　〃That　bastard　from　Boston？　The　one　who　put　the　Jackal　on　David's　trail？〃
　〃The　touchingly　reformed　Randolph　Gates；　Johnny。　Reformed　in　all　ways　but　monetary　restitution；　I　might　add。　。。。　Still；　nevertheless；　with　the　mind　and　the　conscience　that　I　knew　at　Harvard　years　ago。　Not　the　brightest；　not　the　best；　but　with　the　literary　and　oratorical　skills　that　camouflaged　a　brilliance　that　was　never　really　there。〃
　〃Now　what　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃I　visited　him　the　other　day　at　his　rehabilitation　center　in　Minnesota；　or　Michigan；　I　can't　actually　remember　which；　for　I　flew　first　class　and　the　drinks　were　delivered　on　request。　Regardless；　we　met　and　our　arrangement　was　concluded。　He's　changing　sides；　Johnny。　He's　now　going　to　fight…legally…for　the　people；　not　for　the　conglomerates　who　buy　and　sell　on　paper。　He　told　me　he's　going　after　the　raiders　and　the　merger　brokers　who　make　billions　in　the　markets　and　cost　thousands　upon　thousands　in　jobs。〃
　〃How　can　he　do　that？〃
　〃Because　he　was　there。　He　did　it　all；　he　knows　all　the　tricks　and　is　willing　to　mit　his　considerable　talents　to　the　cause。〃
　〃Why　would　he　do　it？〃
　〃Because　he's　got　Edith　back。〃
　〃Who　in　God's　name　is　Edith？〃
　〃His　wife。　。。。　Actually；　I'm　still　in　love　with　her。　I　was　from　the　time　we　first　met；　but　in　those　days　a　distinguished　judge　with　a　wife　and　a　child；　regardless　of　how　repulsive　both　might　be；　did　not　pursue　such　longings。　Randy　the　Grand　never　deserved　her；　perhaps　now　he'll　make　up　for　all　the　lost　years。〃
　〃That's　very　interesting；　but　what's　it　got　to　do　with　your　arrangement？〃
　〃Did　I　mention　that　Lord　Randolph　of　Gates　made　great　sums　of　money　during　those　lost　but　productive　years？〃
　〃Several　times。　So？〃
　〃Well；　in　recognition　of　the　services　I　rendered　that　undoubtedly　contributed　to　the　removal　of　a　life…threatening　situation　in　which　he　found　himself；　said　threat　emanating　from　Paris；　he　saw　clearly　the　validity　of　pensating　me。　Especially　in　light　of　the　knowledge　I　possess。　。。。　You　know；　after　a　number　of　bloodletting　courtroom　battles；　I　think　he's　going　after　a　judgeship。　Far　higher　than　mine；　I　think。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃So；　if　I　keep　my　own　counsel；　get　out　of　Boston；　and　for　the　sake　of　a　loose　tongue　stay　off　the　sauce；　his　bank　will　forward　me　fifty　thousand　dollars　a　year　for　the　rest　of　my　life。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃
　〃That's　what　I　said　to　myself　when　he　agreed。　I　even　went　to　Mass　for　the　first　time　in　thirty…odd　years。〃
　〃Still；　you　won't　be　able　to　go　home　again。〃
　〃Home？〃　Prefontaine　laughed　softly。　〃Was　it　really？　No　matter；　I　may　have　found　another。　Through　a　gentleman　named　Peter　Holland　at　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency；　I　was　given　an　introduction　to　your　friend　Sir　Henry　Sykes　over　in　Montserrat；　who　in　turn　introduced　me　to　a　retired　London　barrister　named　Jonathan　Lemuel；　originally　a　native　islander。　We're　both　getting　on；　but　neither　of　us　is　ready　for　a　different　sort　of　'home。'　We　may　open　a　consulting　firm；　specialists　in　American　and　UK　laws　where　export　and　import　licensing　is　concerned。　Of　course；　we'll　have　to　do　some　boning　up；　but　we'll　manage。　I　expect　I'll　be　here　for　years。〃
　St。　Jacques　rose　quickly　from　the　table　to　replenish　his　drink；　his　eyes　warily　on　the　former；　disbarred　judge。
　Morris　Panov　walked　slowly；　cautiously　out　of　his　bedroom　and　into　the　sitting　room　of　Villa　Eighteen；　where　Alex　Conklin　sat　in　a　wheelchair。　The　bandages　across　the　psychiatrist's　chest　were　visible　under　the　light　fabric　of　his　white　guayabera；　they　extended　down　his　exposed　left　arm　below　the　elbow。　〃It　took　me　damn　near　twenty　minutes　to　lift　this　useless　appendage　through　the　sleeve！〃　he　plained　angrily　but　without　self…pity。
　〃You　should　have　called　me；〃　said　Alex；　spinning　himself　around　in　the　chair；　away　from　the　telephone。　〃I　can　still　roll　this　thing　pretty　damned　fast。　Of　course；　I　had　a　couple　of　years'　experience　prior　to　my　Quasimodo's　boot。〃
　〃Thank　you；　but　I　prefer　to　dress　myself…as　I　believe　you　preferred　to　walk　by　yourself　once　the　prosthesis　was　fitted。〃
　〃That's　the　first　lesson；　Doctor。　I　expect　there's　something　about　it　in　your　head　books。〃
　〃There　is。　It's　called　dumb；　or；　if　you　like；　obstinate　stupidity。〃
　〃No；　it's　not；〃　countered　the　retired　intelligence　officer；　his　eyes　leveled　with　Panov's　as　the　psychiatrist　lowered　himself　slowly　into　a　chair。
　〃No　。。。　it's　not；〃　agreed　Mo；　returning　Conklin's　look。　〃The　first　lesson　is　independence。　Take　as　much　as　you　can　handle　and　keep　grabbing　for　more。〃
　〃There's　a　good　side；　too；〃　said　Alex；　smiling　and　adjusting　the　bandage　around　his　throat。　〃It　gets　easier；　not　harder。　You　learn　new　tricks　every　day；　it's　surprising　what　our　little　gray　cells　e　up　wit