rl.thebourneultimatum-第74章

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dures。〃
　What　aggressive　procedures？　screamed　Bourne　into　the　silent　void　of　his　mind。　You've　lost　him。　I've　lost　him。　Insanity！　Who？　Why？
　The　door　at　the　top　of　the　brick　steps　on　the　left　side　of　the　building　opened　first。　A　petrified　man；　short；　obese；　in　an　undershirt；　his　trousers　held　up　by　suspenders；　cautiously　walked　out　into　the　flood　of　the　searchlight；　spreading　his　hands　in　front　of　his　face　and　turning　his　head　away　from　the　blinding　beam。　〃What　is　it；　messieurs？〃　he　cried；　his　voice　tremulous。　〃I　am　merely　a　baker…a　good　baker…but　I　know　nothing　about　this　street　except　that　the　rent　is　cheap！　Is　that　a　crime　to　the　police？〃
　〃Our　concerns　are　not　with　you；　monsieur；〃　continued　the　amplified　voice。
　〃Not　with　me；　you　say？　You　arrive　here　like　an　army；　frightening　my　wife　and　children　into　thinking　it　is　their　last　minutes　on　earth；　and　yet　you　say　we　don't　concern　you？　What　kind　of　reasoning　is　that？　We　live　among　fascists？〃
　Hurry　up！　thought　Jason。　For　God's　sake；　hurry！　Every　second　is　a　minute　in　escape　time；　an　hour　for　the　Jackal！
　The　door　above　the　flight　of　brick　steps　on　the　right　now　opened；　and　a　nun　in　the　full　flowing　black　robe　of　a　religious　habit　appeared。　She　stood　defiantly　in　the　frame；　no　fear　whatsoever　in　her　almost　operatic　voice。　〃How　dare　you？〃　she　roared。　〃These　are　the　hours　of　vespers　and　you　intrude。　Better　you　should　be　asking　forgiveness　for　your　sins　than　interrupting　those　who　plead　with　God　for　theirs！〃
　〃Nicely　said；　Sister；〃　intoned　the　unimpressed　police　officer　over　the　loudspeaker。　〃But　we　have　other　information　and　we　respectfully　insist　on　searching　your　house。　If　you　refuse；　we　shall　disrespectfully　carry　out　our　orders。〃
　〃We　are　the　Magdalen　Sisters　of　Charity！〃　exclaimed　the　nun。　〃These　are　the　sacrosanct　quarters　of　women　devoted　to　Christ！〃
　〃We　respect　your　position；　Sister；　but　we　are　still　ing　inside。　If　what　you　say　is　so；　I'm　sure　the　authorities　will　make　a　generous　contribution　to　your　cause。〃
　You're　wasting　time！　screamed　Bourne　to　himself。　He's　getting　away！
　〃Then　may　your　souls　be　damned　for　transgression；　but　e　ahead　and　invade　this　holy　ground！〃
　〃Really；　Sister？〃　asked　another　official　over　the　loudspeaker。　〃I　don't　believe　there's　anything　in　the　canons　that　gives　you　the　right　to　condemn　souls　to　hell　on　such　a　flimsy　excuse。　。。。　Go　ahead；　Monsieur　Inspector。　Under　the　habit；　you　may　find　lingerie　more　suited　to　the　Faubourg。〃
　He　knew　that　voice！　It　was　Bernardine！　What　had　happened？　Was　Bernardine　no　friend　after　all？　Was　it　all　an　act；　the　smooth　talk　of　a　traitor？　If　so；　there　would　be　another　death　that　night！
　The　black…uniformed　squad　of　antiterrorists；　their　automatic　weapons　bolted　into　firing　mode；　raced　to　the　base　of　the　brick　steps　as　the　gendarmes　blocked　off　the　boulevard　Lefebvre；　north　and　south；　while　the　red　and　blue　lights　of　the　patrol　cars　incessantly　blinked　their　bright　warnings　to　all　beyond　the　area：　Stay　away。
　〃May　I　go　inside？〃　screamed　the　baker。　No　one　replied；　so　the　obese　man　ran　through　his　door　clutching　his　trousers。
　An　official　in　civilian　clothes；　the　obvious　leader　of　the　assault；　joined　his　invading　unit　on　the　pavement　below　the　steps。　With　a　nod　of　his　head；　he　and　his　men　raced　up　the　brick　staircase　through　the　door　held　open　by　the　defiant　nun。
　Jason　held　his　place　at　the　edge　of　the　building；　his　body　pressed　against　the　stone；　the　sweat　pouring　from　his　hairline　and　his　neck；　his　eyes　on　the　inprehensible　scene　being　played　out　on　the　Lefebvre。　He　knew　the　who　now；　but　why？　Was　it　true？　Was　the　man　most　trusted　by　Alex　Conklin　and　himself　in　reality　another　pair　of　eyes　and　ears　for　the　Jackal？　Christ；　he　did　not　want　to　believe　it！
　Twelve　minutes　passed；　and　with　the　reemergence　of　Paris's　version　of　a　SWAT　team　and　its　leader；　several　members　bowing　and　kissing　the　hand　of　the　real　or　would…be　abbess；　Bourne　understood　that　his　and　Conklin's　instincts　had　been　on　true　course。
　〃Bernardine！〃　screamed　the　official　approaching　the　first　patrol　car。　〃You　are　finished！　Out！　Never　are　you　to　talk　to　the　lowest　recruit　in　the　Deuxième；　even　the　man　who　cleans　the　toilets！　You　are　ostracized！　。。。　If　I　had　my　way；　you'd　be　shot！　。。。　International　murder　in　the　boulevard　Lefebvre！　A　friend　of　the　Bureau！　An　agent　we　must　protect！　。。。　A　fucking　nunnery；　you　miserable　son　of　a　bitch！　Shit！　A　nunnery！　。。。　Get　out　of　my　car；　you　smelly　pig。　Get　out　before　a　weapon　goes　off　by　mistake　and　your　stomach's　on　the　street；　where　it　belongs！〃
　Bernardine　lurched　out　of　the　patrol　car；　his　old　unsteady　legs　barely　able　to　maintain　balance；　twice　falling　into　the　street。　Jason　waited；　wanting　to　rush　to　his　friend；　but　knowing　he　had　to　wait。　The　patrol　cars　and　the　van　raced　away；　still　Bourne　had　to　wait；　his　eyes　alternately　watching　Bernardine　and　the　front　entrance　of　the　Jackal's　house。　And　it　was　the　Jackal's　house；　the　nun　proved　it。　Carlos　could　never　let　go　of　his　lost　faith；　he　consistently　used　it　as　a　viable　cover；　but　it　was　much　more　than　that。　Much　more。
　Bernardine　staggered　into　the　shadows　of　a　long…abandoned　storefront　across　from　the　house　on　the　boulevard　Lefebvre。　Jason　breached　the　corner　and　ran　down　the　pavement；　racing　into　the　recess　and　grabbing　the　Deuxième　veteran　as　he　leaned　against　a　long　glass　window；　breathing　heavily。
　〃For　God's　sake；　what　happened？〃　cried　Bourne；　supporting　Bernardine　by　both　shoulders。
　〃Easy；　mon　ami；〃　choked　Bernardine。　〃The　pig　I　sat　next　to…a　politician；　no　doubt；　looking　for　an　issue…punched　me　in　the　chest　before　he　threw　me　out　of　the　car。　。。。　I　told　you；　I　don't　know　all　the　new　people　who　attach　themselves　to　the　Bureau　these　days。　You　have　the　same　problems　in　America；　so；　please；　do　not　give　me　a　lecture。〃
　〃It's　the　last　thing　I'm　about　to　do。　。。。　This　is　the　house；　Bernardine。　Right　here；　right　in　front　of　us！〃
　〃This　is　also　a　trap。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Alex　and　I　confirmed　it。　The　telephone　numbers　were　different。　I　gather　you　did　not　make　your　call　to　Carlos；　as　he　instructed　you　to。〃
　〃No。　I　had　the　address　and　I　wanted　him　stretched。　What's　the　difference？　This　is　the　house！〃
　〃Oh；　this　is　where　your　Mr。　Simon　was　to　go；　and　if　he　was　truly　Mr。　Simon；　he　would　be　taken　to　another　rendezvous。　But　if　he　was　not　Monsieur　Simon　but　someone　else；　then　he　would　be　shot…proof…another　corpse　in　search　of　the　Jackal。〃
　〃You're　wrong！〃　insisted　Jason；　shaking　his　head　and　speaking　quietly；　rapidly。　〃This　may　be　a　detour；　but　Carlos　is　still　on　the　switch。　He's　not　going　to　allow　anyone　to　waste　me　but　himself。　That's　his　mandment。〃
　〃As　yours　is　regarding　him？〃
　〃Yes。　I　have　a　family；　he　has　a　borderline　legend。　Mine　is　plete　for　me；　but　his　is　a　vacuum…without　any　real　meaning　for　him　any　longer。　He's　gone　as　far　as　he　can　go。　The　only　way　he　can　go　further　is　to　move　into　my　territory…David　Webb's　territory…and　eliminate　Jason　Bourne。〃
　〃Webb？　David　Webb？　Who　in　the　name　of　almighty　God　is　that？〃
　〃Me；〃　replied　Bourne；　smiling　forlornly　and　leaning　beside　Bernardine　against　the　window。　〃It's　nuts；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Nuts！〃　cried　the　former　Deuxième。　〃It　is　fou！　Insane；　not　to　be　believed！〃
　〃Believe　it。〃
　〃You　are　a　family　man　with　children　and　you　do　this　work？〃
　〃Alex　never　told　you？〃
　〃If　he　did　so；　I　passed　it　off　as　a　cover…one　goes　along　with　anything。〃　Shaking　his　head；　the　older　man　looked　up　at　his　taller　panion。　〃You　really　have　a　family　whom　you　do　not　wish　to　escape　from？〃
　〃On　the　contrary；　I　want　to　get　back　to　them　as　soon　as　I　can。　They're　the　only　people　on　earth　I　really　care　about。〃
　〃But　you　are　Jason　Bourne；　the　killer　Chameleon！　The　deepest　recesses　of　the　criminal　world　tremble　at　your　name！〃
　〃Oh；　e　on；　that's　a　bit　much；　even　from　you。〃
　〃Not　for　an　instant！　You　are　Bourne；　second　only　to　the　Jackal…〃
　〃No！〃　shouted　the　suddenly　forgotten　David　Webb。　〃He's　no　match　for　me！　I'll　take　him！　I'll　kill　him！〃
　〃Very　well；　very　well；　mon　ami；〃　said　Bernardine　calmly；　reassuringly；　staring　at　the　man　he　could　not　understand。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　Jason　Bourne　turned　and　breathed　heavily　against　the　glass　window　for　several　moments…and　then　through　the　mists　of　indecision　the　Chameleon's　strategy　became　clear。　He　swung　around　and　looked　across　the　dark　street　at　the　stone　building　on　the　right。　〃The　police　are　gone；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃Of　course；　I　realize　that。〃
　〃Did　you　also　realize　that　no　one　from　the　other　two　buildings　came　outside？　Yet　there　are　lights　on　in　a　number　of　the　windows。〃
　〃I　was　preoccupied；　what　can　I　say？　I　did　not　notice。〃　Bernardine　raised　his　eyebrows　in　sudden　recollection。　〃But　there　were　faces　at　the　windows；　several　faces；　I　saw　them。〃
　〃Yet　no　one　came　outside。〃
　〃Very　understandable。　The　police　。。。　men　with　weapons　racing　around。　Best　to　barricade　oneself；　no？〃
　〃Even　after　the　police　and　the　weapons　and　the　patrol　cars　have　left？　They　all　just　go　back　to　their　television　sets　as　if　nothing　had　happened？　No　one　es　out　to　check　with　the　neighbors？　That's　not　natural；　Fran？ois；　it's　not　even　unnaturally　natural。　It's　been　orchestrated。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？　How？〃
　〃One　man　walks　out　on　the　porch　and　shouts　into　a　searchlight。　Attention　is　drawn　to　him　and　precious　seconds　of　a　minute's　warning　evaporate。　Then　a　nun　emerges　on　the　other　side　draping　herself　in　holy　indignation…more　seconds　lost；　more　hours　for　Carlos。　The　assault's　mounted　and　the　Deuxième　es　up　with　zero。　。。。　And　when　it's　all　over；　everything's　back　to　normal…an　abnormal　normalcy。　A　job　was　done　according　to　a　predesigned　plan；　so　there's　no　call　for　really　normal　curiosity…no　gathering　in　the　street；　no　excitement；　not　even　a　collective　postcrisis　indignation。　Simply　people　inside　undoubtedly　checking　with　one　another。　Doesn't　it　all　tell　you　something？〃
　Bernardine　nodded。　〃A　prearranged　strategy　carried　out　by　professionals；〃　said　the　veteran　field　officer。
　〃That's　what　I　think；　too。〃
　〃It's　what　you　saw　and　I　did　not；〃　countered　Bernardine。　〃Stop　being　kind；　Jason。　I've　been　too　long　away　from　the　cold。　Too　soft；　too　old；　too　unimaginative。〃
　〃So　have　I；〃　said　Bourne。　〃It's　just　that　the　stakes　are　so　high　for　me　that　I　have　to　force　myself　into　thinking　like　a　man　I　wanted　to　forget。〃
　〃This　is　Monsieur　Webb　speaking？〃
　〃I　guess　it　is。〃
　〃So　where　does　that　leave　us？〃
　〃With　an　irate　baker　and　an　angry　nun；　and　if　they　prove　to　be　ciphers；　several　faces　in　various　windows。　At　this　juncture　the　pickings　are　ours　but　that　won't　last　long；　I　doubt　through　the　morning。〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　〃Carlos　will　close　up　shop　here　and　he'll　do　it　quickly。　He　hasn't　got　a　choice　now。　Someone　in　his　Praetorian　guard　gave　someone　else　the　location　of　his　Paris　headquarters；　and　you　can　bet　your　pension…if　you've　still　got　one…that　he's　climbing　the　walls　trying　to　figure　out　who　betrayed　him…〃
　〃Get　back！〃　cried　Bernardine；　interrupting　and　grabbing　Jason　by　the　cloth　of　his　black　jacket；　yanking　him　into　the　farthest　recess　of　the　dark　storefront。　〃Get　out　of　sight！　Flat　on　the　pavement！〃
　Both　men　threw　themselves　down；　lying　prone　on　the　broken　concrete；　Bourne's　face　against　the　short　wall　below　the　glass；　his　head　angled　to　see　the　stree