rl.thebourneultimatum-第17章

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；'　he　called　him…that　ever　worked　for　the　Americans。〃
　〃You　don't　understand；　Johnny！〃　cried　Marie；　trying　to　control　her　voice　and　emotions；　her　wide　eyes　denying　the　attempt。　〃David　never　said　that；　David　Webb　never　knew　that！　Jason　Bourne　said　it；　and　he's　back！　。。。　That　ice…cold　calculating　monster　they　created　is　back　in　David's　head。　You　don't　know　what　it's　like。　With　a　look　in　those　unfocused　eyes　that　see　things　I　can't　see…or　with　a　tone　of　voice；　a　quiet　freezing　voice　I　don't　know…and　I'm　suddenly　with　a　stranger。〃
　St。　Jacques　held　up　his　free　hand　telling　her　to　stop。　〃e　on；〃　he　said　softly。
　〃The　children？　Jamie。。。？〃　She　looked　frantically　around。
　〃No；　you。　What　do　you　expect　David　to　do？　Crawl　inside　a　Wing　or　Ming　dynasty　vase　and　pretend　his　wife　and　children　aren't　in　danger…that　only　he　is？　Whether　you　ladies　like　it　or　not；　we　boys　still　think　it's　up　to　us　to　keep　the　big　cats　from　the　cave。　We　honestly　believe　we're　more　equipped。　We　revert　to　those　strengths；　the　ugliest　of　them；　of　course；　because　we　have　to。　That's　what　David's　doing。〃
　〃When　did　little　brother　get　so　philosophical？〃　asked　Marie；　studying　John　St。　Jacques's　face。
　〃That　ain't　philosophy；　girl；　I　just　know　it。　Most　men　do…apologies　to　the　feminist　crowd。〃
　〃Don't　apologize；　most　of　us　wouldn't　have　it　any　other　way。　Would　you　believe　that　your　big　scholarly　sister　who　called　a　lot　of　economic　shots　in　Ottawa　still　yells　like　hell　when　she　sees　a　mouse　in　our　country　kitchen；　and　goes　into　panic　if　it's　a　rat？〃
　〃Certain　bright　women　are　more　honest　than　others。〃
　〃I'll　accept　what　you　say；　Johnny；　but　you're　missing　my　point。　David's　been　doing　so　well　these　last　five　years；　every　month　just　a　little　bit　better　than　the　last。　He'll　never　be　totally　cured；　we　all　know　that…he　was　damaged　too　severely…but　the　furies；　his　own　personal　furies；　have　almost　disappeared。　The　solitary　walks　in　the　woods　when　he'd　e　back　with　hands　bruised　from　attacking　tree　trunks；　the　quiet；　stifled　tears　in　his　study　late　at　night　when　he　couldn't　remember　what　he　was　or　what　he'd　done；　thinking　the　worst　of　himself…they　were　gone；　Johnny！　There　was　real　sunlight；　do　you　know　what　I　mean？〃
　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　the　brother　solemnly。
　〃What's　happening　now　could　bring　them　all　back；　that's　what's　frightening　me　so！〃
　〃Then　let's　hope　it's　over　quickly。〃
　Marie　stopped；　once　again　studying　her　brother。　〃Hold　it；　little　bro；　I　know　you　too　well。　You're　pulling　back。〃
　〃Not　a　bit。〃
　〃Yes；　you　are。　。。。　You　and　David…I　never　understood。　Our　two　older　brothers；　so　solid；　so　on　top　of　everything；　perhaps　not　intellectually　but　certainly　pragmatically。　Yet　he　turned　to　you。　Why；　Johnny？〃
　〃Let's　not　go　into　it；〃　said　St。　Jacques　curtly；　removing　his　hand　from　his　sister's。
　〃But　I　have　to。　This　is　my　life；　he's　my　life！　There　can't　be　any　more　secrets　where　he's　concerned…I　can't　stand　any　more！　。。。　Why　you？〃
　St。　Jacques　leaned　back　in　the　patio　chair；　his　stretched　fingers　now　covering　his　forehead。　He　raised　his　eyes；　an　unspoken　plea　in　them。　〃All　right；　I　know　where　you're　ing　from。　Do　you　remember　six　or　seven　years　ago　I　left　our　ranch　saying　I　wanted　to　try　things　on　my　own？〃
　〃Certainly。　I　think　you　broke　both　Mom's　and　Dad's　hearts。　Let's　face　it；　you　were　always　kind　of　the　favorite…〃
　〃I　was　always　the　kid！〃　interrupted　the　youngest　St。　Jacques。　〃Playing　out　some　moronic　Bonanza　where　my　thirty…year…old　brothers　were　blindly　taking　orders　from　a　pontificating；　bigoted　French　Canadian　father　whose　only　smarts　came　with　his　money　and　his　land。〃
　〃There　was　more　to　him　than　that；　but　I　won't　argue…from　a　'kid's'　viewpoint。〃
　〃You　couldn't；　Mare。　You　did　the　same　thing；　and　sometimes　you　didn't　e　home　for　over　a　year。〃
　〃I　was　busy。〃
　〃So　was　I。〃
　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　killed　two　men。　Two　animals　who'd　killed　a　friend　of　mine…raped　her　and　killed　her。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Keep　your　voice　down…〃
　〃My　God；　what　happened？〃
　〃I　didn't　want　to　call　home；　so　I　reached　your　husband　。。。　my　friend；　David；　who　didn't　treat　me　like　a　brain…damaged　kid。　At　the　time　it　seemed　like　a　logical　thing　to　do　and　it　was　the　best　decision　I　could　have　made。　He　was　owed　favors　by　his　government；　and　a　quiet　team　of　bright　people　from　Washington　and　Ottawa　flew　up　to　James　Bay　and　I　was　acquitted。　Self…defense；　and　it　was　just　that。〃
　〃He　never　said　a　word　to　me…〃
　〃I　begged　him　not　to。〃
　〃So　that's　why。　。。。　But　I　still　don't　understand！〃
　〃It's　not　difficult；　Mare。　A　part　of　him　knows　I　can　kill；　will　kill；　if　I　think　it's　necessary。〃
　A　telephone　rang　inside　the　house　as　Marie　stared　at　her　younger　brother。　Before　she　could　get　her　voice　back；　an　elderly　black　woman　emerged　from　the　door　to　the　kitchen。　〃It's　for　you；　Mr。　John。　It's　that　pilot　over　on　the　big　island。　He　says　it's　real　important；　mon。〃
　〃Thanks；　Mrs。　Cooper；〃　said　St。　Jacques；　getting　out　of　the　chair　and　walking　rapidly　down　to　an　extension　phone　by　the　pool。　He　spoke　for　several　moments；　looked　up　at　Marie；　slammed　down　the　telephone　and　rushed　back　up　to　his　sister。　〃Pack　up。　You're　getting　out　of　here！〃
　〃Why？　Was　that　the　man　who　flew　us…〃
　〃He's　back　from　Martinique　and　just　learned　that　someone　was　asking　questions　at　the　airport　last　night。　About　a　woman　and　two　small　children。　None　of　the　crews　said　anything；　but　that　may　not　last。　Quickly。〃
　〃My　God；　where　will　we　go？〃
　〃Over　to　the　inn　until　we　think　of　something　else。　There's　only　one　road　and　my　own　Tonton　Macoute　patrols　it。　No　one　gets　in　or　out。　Mrs。　Cooper　will　help　you　with　Alison。　Hurry！〃
　The　telephone　started　ringing　again　as　Marie　dashed　through　the　bedroom　door。　St。　Jacques　raced　down　the　steps　to　the　pool　extension；　reaching　it　as　Mrs。　Cooper　once　more　stepped　out　of　the　kitchen。　〃It's　Government　House　over　in　'Serrat；　Mr。　John。〃
　〃What　the　hell　do　they　want。。。？〃
　〃Shall　I　ask　them？〃
　〃Never　mind；　I'll　get　it。　Help　my　sister　with　the　kids　and　pack　everything　they　brought　with　them　into　the　Rover。　They're　leaving　right　away！〃
　〃Oh；　a　bad　time　pity；　mon。　I　was　just　getting　to　know　the　little　babies。〃
　〃　'Bad　time　pity'　is　right；〃　mumbled　St。　Jacques；　picking　up　the　telephone。　〃Yes？〃
　〃Hello；　John？〃　said　the　chief　aide　to　the　Crown　governor；　a　man　who　had　befriended　the　Canadian　developer　and　helped　him　through　the　maze　of　the　colony's　Territorial　Regulations。
　〃Can　I　call　you　back；　Henry？　I'm　kind　of　harried　at　the　moment。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　there's　no　time；　chap。　This　is　straight　from　the　Foreign　Office。　They　want　our　immediate　cooperation；　and　it　won't　do　you　any　harm；　either。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃It　seems　there's　an　old　fellow　and　his　wife　arriving　on　Air　France's　connecting　flight　from　Antigua　at　ten…thirty　and　Whitehall　wants　the　red…carpet　treatment。　Apparently　the　old　boy　had　a　splendid　war；　with　a　slew　of　decorations；　and　worked　with　a　lot　of　our　chaps　across　the　Channel。〃
　〃Henry；　I'm　really　in　a　hurry。　What's　any　of　this　got　to　do　with　me？〃
　〃Well；　I　rather　assumed　you　might　have　more　of　an　idea　about　that　than　we　do。　Probably　one　of　your　rich　Canadian　guests；　perhaps　a　Frenchie　from　Montreal　who　came　out　of　the　Résistance　and　who　thought　of　you…〃
　〃Insults　will　only　get　you　a　bottle　of　superior　French　Canadian　wine。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Put　up　our　hero　and　his　lady　in　the　finest　acmodations　you've　got；　with　a　room　for　the　French…speaking　nurse　we've　assigned　to　them。〃
　〃On　an　hour's　notice？〃
　〃Well；　chap；　our　buns　could　be　in　a　collective　sling；　if　you　know　what　I　mean…and　your　so　vital　but　erratic　telephone　service　does　depend　on　a　degree　of　Crown　intervention；　if　you　also　know　what　I　mean。〃
　〃Henry；　you're　a　terrific　negotiator。　You　so　politely　kick　a　person　so　accurately　where　it　hurts。　What's　our　hero's　name？　Quickly；　please！〃
　〃Our　names　are　Jean　Pierre　and　Regine　Fontaine；　Monsieur　le　Directeur；　and　here　are　our　passports；〃　said　the　soft…spoken。　old　man　inside　the　immigration　officer's　glass…enclosed　office；　the　chief　aide　of　the　Crown　governor　at　his　side。　〃My　wife　can　be　seen　over　there；〃　he　added；　pointing　through　the　window。　〃She　is　talking　with　the　mademoiselle　in　the　white　uniform。〃
　〃Please；　Monsieur　Fontaine；〃　protested　the　stocky　black　immigration　official　in　a　pronounced　British　accent。　〃This　is　merely　an　informal　formality；　a　stamping　procedure；　if　you　like。　Also　to　remove　you　from　the　inconvenience　of　so　many　admirers。　Rumors　have　gone　throughout　the　airport　that　a　great　man　has　arrived。〃
　〃Really？〃　Fontaine　smiled；　it　was　a　pleasant　smile。
　〃Oh；　but　not　to　be　concerned；　sir。　The　press　has　been　barred。　We　know　you　want　plete　privacy；　and　you　shall　have　it。〃
　〃Really？〃　The　old　man's　smile　faded。　〃I　was　to　meet　someone　here；　an　associate；　you　might　say；　I　must　consult　with　confidentially。　I　hope　your　most　considerate　arrangements　do　not　prevent　him　from　reaching　me。〃
　〃A　small；　select　group　with　proper　standing　and　credentials　will　greet　you　in　Blackburne's　honored…guest　corridor；　Monsieur　Fontaine；〃　said　the　Crown　governor's　chief　aide。　〃May　we　proceed？　The　reception　line　will　be　swift；　I　assure　you。〃
　〃Really？　That　swift？〃
　It　was；　less　than　five　minutes　actually；　but　five　seconds　would　have　been　enough。　The　first　person　the　Jackal's　courier…killer　met　was　the　beribboned　Crown　governor　himself。　As　the　Queen's　royal　representative　embraced　the　hero　in　Gallic　style；　he　whispered　into　Jean　Pierre　Fontaine's　ear。　〃We've　learned　where　the　woman　and　her　children　were　taken。　We　are　sending　you　there。　The　nurse　has　your　instructions。〃
　The　rest　was　somewhat　anticlimactic　for　the　old　man；　especially　the　absence　of　the　press。　He　had　never　had　his　picture　in　the　newspapers　except　as　a　felon。
　Morris　Panov；　M。D。；　was　a　very　angry　man；　and　he　always　tried　to　control　his　very　angry　moments　because　they　never　helped　him　or　his　patients。　At　the　moment；　however；　sitting　at　his　office　desk；　he　was　having　difficulty　curbing　his　emotions。　He　had　not　heard　from　David　Webb。　He　had　to　hear　from　him；　he　had　to　talk　to　him。　What　was　happening　could　negate　thirteen　years　of　therapy；　couldn't　they　understand　that？　。。。　No；　of　course　they　couldn't；　it　was　not　what　interested　them；　they　had　other　priorities　and　did　not　care　to　be　burdened　by　problems　beyond　their　purview。　But　he　had　to　care。　The　damaged　mind　was　so　fragile；　so　given　to　setbacks；　the　horrors　of　the　past　were　so　capable　of　taking　over　the　present。　It　could　not　happen　with　David！　He　was　so　close　to　being　as　normal　as　he　would　ever　be　（and　who　the　hell　was　〃normal〃　in　this　fucked…up　world）。　He　could　function　wonderfully　as　a　teacher；　he　had　near…total　recall　where　his　scholarly　expertise　was　called　upon；　and　he　was　remembering　more　and　more　as　each　year　progressed。　But　it　could　all　blow　apart　with　a　single　act　of　violence；　for　violence　was　the　way　of　life　for　Jason　Bourne。　Damn！
　It　was　crippling　enough　that　they　even　permitted　David　to　stay　around；　he　had　tried　to　explain　the　potential　damage　to　Alex；　but　Conklin　had　an　irrefutable　reply：　We　can't　stop　him。　At　least　this　way　we　can　watch　him；　protect　him。　Perhaps　so。　〃They〃　did　not　stint　where　protection　was　involved…the　guards　down　the　hall　from　his　office　and　on　the　roof　of　the　building；　to　say　nothing　of　a　temporary　receptionist　beari