rl.thebourneultimatum-第53章

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　〃That's　dumb。〃
　〃But　of　course。　It's　all　dumb。　So　why　does　Jason　Bourne　go　after　the　Jackal　here　in　Paris？　Why　doesn't　he　walk　away　and　say　Enough。　plete　protection　is　yours　for　the　asking。〃
　〃So's　prison。　Can　you　get　me　out　of　here　and　into　the　city？　I'll　find　a　hotel　and　be　in　touch　with　you。〃
　〃Before　you　are　in　touch　with　me；　reach　Alex。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Alex　wants　you　to　call　him。　Something　happened。〃
　〃Where's　a　phone？〃
　〃Not　now。　Two　o'clock；　Washington　time；　you　have　well　over　an　hour。　He　won't　be　back　before　then。〃
　〃Did　he　say　what　it　was？〃
　〃I　think　he's　trying　to　find　out。　He　was　very　upset。〃
　The　room　at　the　Pont…Royal　on　the　rue　Montalembert　was　small　and　in　a　secluded　corner　of　the　hotel；　reached　by　taking　the　slow；　noisy　brass　elevator　to　the　top　floor　and　walking　down　two　narrow　intersecting　hallways；　all　of　which　was　satisfactory　to　Bourne。　It　reminded　him　of　a　mountain　cave；　remote　and　secure。
　To　chew　up　the　minutes　before　calling　Alex；　he　walked　along　the　nearby　boulevard　Saint…Germain；　making　necessary　purchases。　Various　toiletries　joined　several　articles　of　clothing；　casual　denims　called　for　summer　shirts　and　a　lightweight　safari　jacket；　dark　socks　required　tennis　shoes；　to　be　scuffed　and　soiled。　Whatever　he　could　supply　himself　now　would　save　time　later。　Fortunately；　there　was　no　need　to　press　old　Bernardine　for　a　weapon。　During　the　drive　into　Paris　from　Orly；　the　Frenchman　had　opened　the　glove　partment　of　his　car　in　silence；　withdrawn　a　taped　brown　box　and　handed　it　to　Jason。　Inside　was　an　automatic　with　two　boxes　of　shells。　Underneath；　neatly　layered；　were　thirty　thousand　francs；　in　varying　denominations；　roughly　five　thousand　dollars；　American。
　〃Tomorrow　I　will　arrange　a　method　for　you　to　obtain　funds　whenever　necessary。　Within　limits；　of　course。〃
　〃No　limits；〃　Bourne　had　contradicted。　〃I'll　have　Conklin　wire　you　a　hundred　thousand；　and　then　another　hundred　after　that；　if　it's　necessary。　You　just　tell　him　where。〃
　〃Of　contingency　funds？〃
　〃No。　Mine。　Thanks　for　the　gun。〃
　With　both　his　hands　holding　the　looped　strings　of　shopping　bags；　he　headed　back　to　Montalembert　and　the　hotel。　In　a　few　minutes　it　would　be　two　in　the　afternoon　in　Washington；　eight　at　night　in　Paris。　As　he　walked　rapidly　down　the　street　he　tried　not　to　think　about　Alex's　news…an　impossible　demand　on　himself。　If　anything　had　happened　to　Marie　and　the　children；　he'd　go　out　of　his　mind！　Yet　what　could　have　happened？　They　were　back　on　Tranquility　by　now；　and　there　was　no　safer　place　for　them。　There　was　not！　He　was　sure　of　that。　As　he　entered　the　old　elevator　and　lowered　the　bags　in　his　right　hand　so　as　to　push　the　number　of　his　floor　and　remove　the　hotel　key　from　his　pocket；　there　was　a　stinging　sensation　in　his　neck；　he　gasped…he　had　moved　too　fast；　stretched　the　gut　of　a　suture　perhaps。　He　felt　no　warm　trickle　of　blood；　it　was　merely　a　warning　this　time。　He　rushed　down　the　two　narrow　corridors　to　his　room；　unlocked　the　door；　threw　the　shopping　bags　on　the　bed；　and　rapidly　took　the　three　necessary　steps　to　the　desk　and　the　telephone。　Conklin　was　true　to　his　word；　the　phone　in　Vienna；　Virginia；　was　picked　up　on　the　first　ring。
　〃Alex；　it's　me。　What　happened？　Marie　。。。　？〃
　〃No；〃　interrupted　Conklin　curtly。　〃I　spoke　to　her　around　noon。　She　and　the　kids　are　back　at　the　inn　and　she's　ready　to　kill　me。　She　doesn't　believe　a　word　I　told　her　and　I'm　going　to　erase　the　tape。　I　haven't　heard　that　kind　of　language　since　the　Mekong　Delta。〃
　〃She's　upset…〃
　〃So　am　I；〃　broke　in　Alex；　not　bothering　to　make　light　of　Bourne's　understatement。　〃Mo's　disappeared。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃You　heard　me。　Panov's　gone；　vanished。〃
　〃My　God；　how？　He　was　guarded　every　minute！〃
　〃We're　trying　to　piece　it　together；　that's　where　I　was；　over　at　the　hospital。〃
　〃Hospital？〃
　〃Walter　Reed。　He　was　in　a　psych　session　with　a　military　this　morning；　and　when　it　was　over　he　never　came　out　to　his　detail。　They　waited　twenty　minutes　or　so；　then　went　in　to　find　him　and　his　escort　because　he　was　on　a　tight　schedule。　They　were　told　he　left。〃
　〃That's　crazy！〃
　〃It　gets　crazier　and　scarier。　The　head　floor　nurse　said　an　army　doctor；　a　surgeon；　came　to　the　desk；　showed　his　ID；　and　instructed　her　to　tell　Dr。　Panov　that　there　was　a　change　of　routing　for　him；　that　he　was　to　use　the　east…wing　exit　because　of　an　expected　protest　march　at　the　main　entrance。　The　east　wing　has　a　different　hallway　to　the　psych　area　than　the　one　to　the　main　lobby；　yet　the　army　surgeon　used　the　main　doors。〃
　〃e　again？〃
　〃He　walked　right　past　our　escort　in　the　hallway。〃
　〃And　obviously　out　the　same　way　and　around　to　the　east…wing　hall。　Nothing　on…scene　unusual。　A　doctor　with　clearance　in　a　restricted　area；　in　and　out；　and　while　he's　in；　he　delivers　false　instructions。　。。。　But；　Christ；　Alex；　who？　Carlos　was　on　his　way　back　here；　to　Paris！　Whatever　he　wanted　in　Washington　he　got。　He　found　me；　he　found　us。　He　didn't　need　any　more！〃
　〃DeSole；〃　said　Conklin　quietly。　〃DeSole　knew　about　me　and　Mo　Panov。　I　threatened　the　Agency　with　both　of　us；　and　DeSole　was　there　in　the　conference　room。〃
　〃I'm　not　with　you。　What　are　you　telling　me？〃
　〃DeSole；　Brussels　。。。　Medusa。〃
　〃All　right；　I'm　slow。〃
　〃It's　not　he；　David；　it's　they。　DeSole　was　taken　out；　our　connection　removed。　It's　Medusa。〃
　〃To　hell　with　them！　They're　on　my　back　burner！〃
　〃You're　not　on　theirs。　You　cracked　their　shell。　They　want　you。〃
　〃I　couldn't　care　less。　I　told　you　yesterday；　I've　only　got　one　priority　and　he's　in　Paris；　square　one　in　Argenteuil。〃
　〃Then　I　haven't　been　clear；〃　said　Alex；　his　voice　faint；　the　tone　defeated。　〃Last　night　I　had　dinner　with　Mo。　I　told　him　everything。　Tranquility；　your　flying　to　Paris；　Bernardine　。。。　everything！〃
　A　former　judge　of　the　first　circuit　court；　residing　in　Boston；　Massachusetts；　United　States　of　America；　stood　among　the　small　gathering　of　mourners　on　the　flat　surface　of　the　highest　hill　on　Tranquility　Isle。　The　cemetery　was　the　final　resting　place…in　voce　verbatim　via　amicus　curiae；　as　he　legally　explained　to　the　authorities　on　Montserrat。　Brendan　Patrick　Pierre　Prefontaine　watched　as　the　two　splendid　coffins　provided　by　the　generous　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn　were　lowered　into　the　ground　along　with　the　absolutely　inprehensible　blessings　of　the　native　priest；　who　no　doubt　usually　had　the　neck　of　a　dead　chicken　in　his　mouth　while　intoning　his　benediction　in　voodoo　language。　〃Jean　Pierre　Fontaine〃　and　his　wife　were　at　peace。
　Nevertheless；　barbarism　notwithstanding；　Brendan；　the　quasi…alcoholic　street　lawyer　of　Harvard　Square；　had　found　a　cause。　A　cause　beyond　his　own　survival；　and　that　in　itself　was　remarkable。　Randolph　Gates；　Lord　Randolph　of　Gates；　Dandy　Randy　of　the　Courts　of　the　Elite；　was　in　reality　a　scumball；　a　conduit　of　death　in　the　Caribbean。　And　the　outlines　of　a　scheme　were　forming　in　Prefontaine's　progressively　clearer　mind；　clearer　because；　among　other　inhumane　deprivations；　he　had　suddenly　decided　to　do　without　his　four　shots　of　vodka　upon　waking　up　in　the　morning。　Gates　had　provided　the　essential　information　that　led　the　would…be　killers　of　the　Webb　family　to　Tranquility　Isle。　Why？　。。。　That　was　basically；　even　legally；　irrelevant；　the　fact　that　he　had　supplied　their　whereabouts　to　known　killers；　with　prior　knowledge　that　they　were　killers；　was　not。　That　was　acplice　to　murder；　multiple　murder。　Dandy　Randy's　testicles　were　in　a　vise；　and　as　the　plates　closed；　he　would…he　had　to…reveal　information　that　would　assist　the　Webbs；　especially　the　glorious　auburn…headed　woman　he　wished　to　almighty　God　he　had　met　fifty　years　ago。
　Prefontaine　was　flying　back　to　Boston　in　the　morning；　but　he　had　asked　John　St。　Jacques　if　he　might　return　one　day。　Perhaps　not　with　a　prepaid　reservation。
　〃Judge；　my　house　is　your　house〃　was　the　reply。
　〃I　might　even　earn　that　courtesy。〃
　Albert　Armbruster；　chairman　of　the　Federal　Trade　mission；　got　out　of　his　limousine　and　stood　on　the　pavement　before　the　steep　steps　of　his　town　house　in　Georgetown。　〃Check　with　the　office　in　the　morning；〃　he　said　to　the　chauffeur；　holding　the　rear　door。　〃As　you　know；　I'm　not　a　well　man。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　driver　closed　the　door。　〃Would　you　like　assistance；　sir？〃
　〃Hell；　no。　Get　out　of　here。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　government　chauffeur　climbed　into　the　front　seat；　the　sudden　roar　of　his　engine　was　not　meant　as　a　courteous　exit　as　he　sped　down　the　street。
　Armbruster　climbed　the　stone　staircase；　his　stomach　and　chest　heaving　with　each　step；　cursing　under　his　breath　at　the　sight　of　his　wife's　silhouette　beyond　the　glass　door　of　their　Victorian　entrance。　〃Shit…kicking　yapper；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he　neared　the　top；　gripping　the　railing　before　facing　his　adversary　of　thirty　years。
　A　spit　exploded　out　of　the　darkness　from　somewhere　within　the　grounds　of　the　property　next　door。　Armbruster's　arms　flew　up；　his　wrists　bent　as　if　trying　to　locate　the　bodily　chaos；　it　was　too　late。　The　chairman　of　the　Federal　Trade　mission　tumbled　back　down　the　stone　staircase；　his　thumping　dead　weight　landing　grotesquely　on　the　pavement　below。
　Bourne　changed　into　the　French　denim　trousers；　slipped　on　a　dark　short…sleeved　shirt　and　the　cotton　safari　jacket；　put　his　money；　his　weapon　and　all　his　IDs…authentic　and　false…into　his　pockets　and　left　the　Pont…Royal。　Before　doing　so；　however；　he　stuffed　the　bed　with　pillows；　and　hung　his　traveling　clothes　in　clear　view　over　the　chair。　He　walked　casually　past　the　ornate　front　desk；　and　once　outside　on　Montalembert　ran　to　the　nearest　telephone　kiosk。　He　inserted　a　coin　and　dialed　Bernardine's　home。
　〃It's　Simon；〃　he　said。
　〃I　thought　so；〃　replied　the　Frenchman。　〃I　was　hoping　so。　I've　just　heard　from　Alex　and　told　him　not　to　tell　me　where　you　were；　one　cannot　reveal　what　one　does　not　know。　Still；　if　I　were　you；　I'd　go　to　another　place；　at　least　for　the　night。　You　may　have　been　spotted　at　the　airport。〃
　〃What　about　you？〃
　〃I　intend　to　be　a　canard。〃
　〃A　duck？〃
　〃The　sitting　variety。　The　Deuxième　has　my　flat　under　watch。　Perhaps　I'll　have　a　visitor；　it　would　be　convenient；　n'est…ce　pas？〃
　〃You　didn't　tell　your　office　about…〃
　〃About　you？〃　interrupted　Bernardine。　〃How　could　I；　monsieur；　when　I　don't　know　you？　My　protective　Bureau　believes　I　had　a　threatening　call　from　an　old　adversary　known　to　be　a　psychopath。　Actually　I　removed　him　in　the　Maritimes　years　ago　but　I　never　closed　the　file…〃
　〃Should　you　be　telling　me　this　on　your　telephone？〃
　〃I　thought　I　mentioned　that　it　was　a　unique　instrument。〃
　〃You　did。〃
　〃Suffice　it　to　say　it　cannot　be　tapped　and　still　function。　。。。　You　need　rest；　monsieur。　You　are　no　good　to　anyone；　least　of　all　yourself；　without　it。　Find　a　bed；　I　cannot　help　you　there。〃
　〃　'Rest　is　a　weapon；'　〃　said　Jason；　repeating　a　phrase　he　had　e　to　believe　was　a　vital　truth；　vital　for　survival　in　a　world　he　loathed。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　〃Nothing。　I'll　find　a　bed　and　call　you　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Tomorrow　then。　Bonne　chance；　mon　ami。　For　both　of　us。〃
　He　found　a　room　at　the　Avenir；　an　inexpensive　hotel　on　the　rue　Gay…Lussac。　Registering　under　a　false　name；　promptly　forgotten；　he　climbed　the　stairs　to　his　room；　removed　his　clothes；　and　fell　into　the　bed。　〃Rest　is　a　weapon；〃　he　said　to　himself；　staring　at　the　ceiling；　at　the　flickering　ligh