rl.thebourneultimatum-第98章

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　〃Why　not？　He's　a　loser　named　Bourne；　Jason　Bourne；　who's　blackmailing　our　clients。〃
　〃Ecco；〃　said　the　husband　quietly。
　〃Ultimo；〃　added　the　wife。　〃What　do　you　know　of　this　Bourne？〃　she　asked。
　〃What　I　told　you。　He　went　out　under　cover　for　the　government　and　got　shafted　by　the　big　boys　in　Washington。　He　gets　pissed　off；　so　he　ends　up　shafting　our　clients。　A　real　slime。〃
　〃You've　never　heard　of　Carlos　the　Jackal？〃　said　the　count；　leaning　back　in　the　chair；　studying　the　capo　supremo。
　〃Oh；　yeah；　sure；　I　heard　of　him；　and　I　see　what　you　mean。　They　say　this　Jackal　character　has　a　big　thing　against　this　Bourne　and　vice　versa；　but　it　don't　cut　no　ice　with　me。　You　know；　I　thought　that　fox…cat　was　just　in　books；　in　the　movies；　you　know　what　I　mean？　Then　they　tell　me　he's　a　real　hit　man；　wadda　y'　know？〃
　〃Very　real；〃　agreed　the　countess。
　〃But；　like　I　said；　him　I　couldn't　care　less　about。　I　want　the　Jew　shrink；　the　cripple；　and　this　rot…gut　Bourne；　that's　all。　And　I　really　want　them。〃
　The　diplomat　and　his　wife　looked　at　each　other；　they　shrugged　in　mild　astonishment；　then　the　contessa　nodded；　deferring　to　her　husband。　〃Your　sense　of　fiction　has　been　shattered　by　reality；〃　said　the　count。
　〃e　again？〃
　〃There　was　a　Robin　Hood；　you　know；　but　he　wasn't　a　noble　of　Locksley。　He　was　a　barbaric　Saxon　chief　who　opposed　the　Normans；　a　murdering；　butchering　thief；　extolled　only　in　legends。　And　there　was　an　Innocent　the　Third；　a　pope　who　was　hardly　innocent　and　who　followed　the　savage　policies　of　a　predecessor；　Saint　Gregory　the　Seventh；　who　was　hardly　a　saint。　Between　them　they　split　Europe　asunder；　into　rivers　of　blood　for　political　power　and　to　enrich　the　coffers　of　the　'Holy　Empire。'　Centuries　before；　there　was　the　gentle　Quintus　Cassius　Longinus　of　Rome；　beloved　protector　of　the　Further　Spain；　yet　he　tortured　and　mutilated　a　hundred　thousand　Spaniards。〃
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　talkin'　about？〃
　〃These　men　were　fictionalized；　Signor　DeFazio；　into　many　different　shadings　of　what　they　may　actually　have　been；　but　regardless　of　the　distortions；　they　were　real。　Just　as　the　Jackal　is　real；　and　is　a　deadly　problem　for　you。　As；　unfortunately；　he　is　a　problem　for　us；　for　he's　a　plication　we　cannot　accept。〃
　〃Huh？〃　The　capo　supremo；　mouth　gaping；　stared　at　the　Italian　aristocrat。
　〃The　presence　of　the　Soviets　was　both　alarming　and　enigmatic；〃　continued　the　count。　〃Then　finally　we　perceived　a　possible　connection；　which　you　just　confirmed。　。。。　Moscow　has　been　hunting　Carlos　for　years；　solely　for　the　purpose　of　executing　him；　and　all　they've　gotten　for　their　efforts　is　one　dead　hunter　after　another。　Somehow…God　knows　how…Jason　Bourne　negotiated　with　the　Russians　to　pursue　their　mon　objective。〃
　〃For　Christ's　sake；　speak　English　or　Italian；　but　with　words　that　make　sense！　I　didn't　exactly　go　to　Harvard　City　College；　gumball。　I　didn't　have　to；　capisce？〃
　〃The　Jackal　stormed　that　country　inn　yesterday。　He's　the　one　hunting　down　Jason　Bourne；　who　was　foolish　enough　to　e　back　to　Paris　and　persuade　the　Soviets　to　work　with　him。　Both　were　stupid；　for　this　is　Paris　and　Carlos　will　win。　He'll　kill　Bourne　and　your　other　targets　and　laugh　at　the　Russians。　Then　he'll　proclaim　to　the　clandestine　departments　of　all　governments　that　he　has　won；　that　he's　the　padrone；　the　maestro。　You　in　America　have　never　been　exposed　to　the　whole　story；　only　bits　and　pieces；　for　your　interest　in　Europe　stops　at　the　money　line。　But　we　have　lived　through　it；　watching　in　fascination；　and　now　we　are　mesmerized。　Two　aging　master　assassins　obsessed　with　hatred；　each　wanting　only　to　cut　the　other's　throat。〃
　〃Hey；　back　up；　gumball！〃　shouted　DeFazio。　〃This　slime　Bourne's　a　fake；　a　contraffazione。　He　never　was　an　executioner！〃
　〃You're　quite　wrong；　signore；〃　said　the　countess。　〃He　may　not　have　entered　the　arena　with　a　gun；　but　it　became　his　favorite　instrument。　Ask　the　Jackal。〃
　〃Fuck　the　Jackal！〃　cried　DeFazio；　getting　up　from　the　chair。
　〃Lou！〃
　〃Shut　up；　Mario！　This　Bourne　is　mine；　ours！　We　deliver　the　corpse；　we　take　the　pictures　with　me…us…standing　over　all　three　with　a　dozen　ice　picks　in　their　bodies；　their　heads　pulled　up　by　the　hair；　so　nobody　can　say　it　ain't　our　kills！〃
　〃Now　you're　the　one　who's　pazzo；〃　said　the　Mafia　count　quietly；　in　counterpoint　to　the　capo　supremo's　raucous　yelling。　〃And　please　keep　your　voice　down。〃
　〃Then　don't　get　me　excited…〃
　〃He's　trying　to　explain　things；　Lou；〃　said　DeFazio's　relative；　the　killer。　〃I　want　to　hear　what　the　gentleman　has　to　say　because　it　could　be　vital　to　my　approach。　Sit　down；　Cousin。〃　Louis　sat　down。　〃Please　continue；　Count。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mario。　You　don't　object　to　my　calling　you　Mario。〃
　〃Not　at　all；　sir。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　should　visit　Rome…〃
　〃Perhaps　we　should　get　back　to　Paris；〃　again　choked　the　capo　supremo。
　〃Very　well；〃　agreed　the　Roman；　now　dividing　his　attention　between　DeFazio　and　his　cousin；　but　favoring　the　latter。　〃You　might　take　out　all　three　targets　with　a　long…range　rifle；　but　you　won't　get　near　the　bodies。　The　Soviet　guards　will　be　indistinguishable　from　any　other　people　in　the　area；　and　if　they　see　the　two　of　you　ing　in　to　the　killing　ground；　they'll　open　fire；　assuming　you're　from　the　Jackal。〃
　〃Then　we　must　create　a　diversion　where　we　can　isolate　the　targets；〃　said　Mario；　his　elbows　on　the　table；　his　intelligent　eyes　on　the　count。　〃Perhaps　an　emergency　in　the　early　hours　of　the　morning。　A　fire　in　their　lodgings；　perhaps；　that　necessitates　their　ing　outside。　I've　done　it　before；　in　the　confusion　of　fire　trucks　and　police　sirens　and　the　general　panic；　one　can　pull　targets　away　and　plete　the　assignments。〃
　〃It's　a　fine　strategy；　Mario；　but　there　are　still　the　Soviet　guards。〃
　〃We　take　them　out！〃　cried　DeFazio。
　〃You　are　only　two　men；〃　said　the　diplomat；　〃and　there　are　at　least　three　in　Barbizon；　to　say　nothing　of　the　hotel　in　Paris　where　the　cripple　and　the　doctor　are　staying。〃
　〃So　we　outmatch　the　numbers。〃　The　capo　supremo　pulled　the　back　of　his　hand　over　the　sweat　that　had　gathered　on　his　forehead。　〃We　hit　this　Barbizon　first；　right？〃
　〃With　only　two　men？〃　asked　the　countess；　her　cosmeticized　eyes　wide　in　surprise。
　〃You　got　men！〃　exclaimed　DeFazio。　〃We'll　use　a　few。　。。。　I'll　pay　additional。〃
　The　count　shook　his　head　slowly　and　spoke　softly。　〃We　will　not　go　to　war　with　the　Jackal；〃　he　said。　〃Those　are　my　instructions。〃
　〃Fairy　bastards！〃
　〃An　interesting　ment　ing　from　you；〃　observed　the　countess；　a　thin　insulting　smile　on　her　lips。
　〃Perhaps　our　dons　are　not　as　generous　as　yours；〃　continued　the　diplomat。　〃We　are　willing　to　cooperate　up　to　a　point　but　no　further。〃
　〃You'll　never　make　another　shipment　to　New　York；　or　Philly；　or　Chicago！〃
　〃We'll　let　our　superiors　debate　those　issues；　won't　we？〃
　There　was　a　sudden　knocking　at　the　door；　four　raps　in　a　row；　harsh　and　intrusive。　〃Avanti；〃　called　out　the　count；　instantly　reaching　under　his　jacket　and　ripping　an　automatic　out　of　his　belt；　he　lowered　it　beneath　the　overhang。　of　the　red　tablecloth　and　smiled　as　the　manager　of　Tetrazzim's　entered。
　〃Emergenza；〃　said　the　grossly　overweight　man；　walking　rapidly　to　the　well…tailored　mafioso　and　handing　him　a　note。
　〃Grazie。〃
　〃Prego；〃　replied　the　manager；　crossing　back　to　the　door　and　exiting　as　quickly　as　he　had　arrived。
　〃The　anxious　gods　of　Sicily　may　be　smiling　down　on　you　after　all；〃　said　the　count；　reading。　〃This　munication　is　from　the　man　following　your　targets。　They　are　outside　Paris　and　they　are　alone；　and　for　reasons　I　cannot　possibly　explain；　there　are　no　guards。　They　have　no　protection。〃
　〃Where？〃　cried　DeFazio；　leaping　to　his　feet。
　Without　answering；　the　diplomat　calmly　reached　for　his　gold　lighter；　ignited　it；　and　fired　the　small　piece　of　paper；　lowering　it　into　an　ashtray。　Mario　sprang　up　from　his　chair；　the　man　from　Rome　dropped　the　lighter　on　the　table　and　swiftly　retrieved　the　gun　from　his　lap。　〃First；　let　us　discuss　the　fee；〃　he　said　as　the　note　coiled　into　flaming　black　ash。　〃Our　dons　in　Palermo　are　definitely　not　as　generous　as　yours。　Please　talk　quickly；　as　every　minute　counts。〃
　〃You　motherfucking　bastard！〃
　〃My　Oedipal　problems　are　not　your　concern。　How　much；　Signor　DeFazio？〃
　〃I'll　go　the　limit；〃　replied　the　capo　supremo；　lowering　himself　into　the　chair；　staring　at　the　charred　remnants　of　the　information。　〃Three　hundred　thousand；　American。　That's　it。〃
　〃That's　excremento；〃　said　the　countess。　〃Try　again。　Seconds　bee　minutes　and　you　cannot　afford　them。〃
　〃All　right；　all　right！　Double　it！〃
　〃Plus　expenses；〃　added　the　woman。
　〃What　the　fuck　can　they　be？〃
　〃Your　cousin　Mario　is　right；〃　said　the　diplomat。　〃Please　watch　your　language　in　front　of　my　wife。〃
　〃Holy　shit…〃
　〃I　warned　you；　signore。　The　expenses　are　an　additional　quarter　of　a　million；　American。〃
　〃What　are　you；　nuts？〃
　〃No；　you're　vulgar。　The　total　is　one　million　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　dollars；　to　be　paid　as　our　couriers　in　New　York　so　instruct　you。　。。。　If　not；　you　will　be　missed　in…what　is　it？…Brooklyn　Heights；　Signor　DeFazio？〃
　〃Where　are　the　targets？〃　said　the　beaten　capo　supremo；　his　defeat　painful　to　him。
　〃At　a　small　private　airfield　in　Pontcarré；　about　forty…five　minutes　from　Paris。　They're　waiting　for　a　plane　that　was　grounded　in　Poitiers　because　of　bad　weather。　It　can't　possibly　arrive　for　at　least　an　hour　and　a　quarter。〃
　〃Did　you　bring　the　equipment　we　requested？〃　asked　Mario　rapidly。
　〃It's　all　there；〃　answered　the　countess；　gesturing　at　the　large　black　suitcase　on　a　chair　against　the　wall。
　〃A　car；　a　fast　car！〃　cried　DeFazio　as　his　executioner　retrieved　the　suitcase。
　〃Outside；〃　replied　the　count。　〃The　driver　will　know　where　to　take　you。　He's　been　to　that　field。〃
　〃e　on；　cugino。　Tonight　we　collect　and　you　can　settle　a　score！〃
　Except　for　a　single　clerk　behind　the　counter　in　the　small　one…room　terminal　and　an　air　controller　hired　to　stay　the　extra　hours　in　the　radio　tower；　the　private　airport　in　Pontcarré　was　deserted。　Alex　Conklin　and　Mo　Panov　stayed　discreetly　behind　as　Bourne　led　Marie　outside　to　the　gate　area　fronting　the　field　beyond　a　waist…high　metal　fence。　Two　strips　of　receding　amber　ground　lights　defined　the　long　runway　for　the　plane　from　Poitiers；　they　had　been　turned　on　only　a　short　time　ago。
　〃It　won't　be　long　now；〃　said　Jason。
　〃This　whole　damn　thing's　stupid；〃　retorted　Webb's　wife。　〃Everything。〃
　〃There's　no　reason　for　you　to　stay　and　every　reason　for　you　to　leave。　For　you　to　be　alone　here　in　Paris　would　be　stupid。　Alex　is　right。　If　Carlos's　people　found　you；　you'd　be　taken　hostage；　so　why　risk　it？〃
　〃Because　I'm　capable　of　staying　out　of　sight　and　I　don't　want　to　be　ten　thousand　miles　away　from　you。　You'll　forgive　me　if　I　worry　about　you；　Mr。　Bourne。　And　care　for　you。〃
　Jason　looked　at　her　in　the　shadows；　grateful　for　the　darkness；　she　could　not　clearly　see　his　eyes。　〃Then　be　reasonable　and　use　your　head；〃　he　said　coldly；　suddenly　feeling　so　old；　too　old　for　such　a　transparently　false　lack　of　feeling。　〃We　know　Carlos　is　in　Moscow　and　Krupkin　isn't　far　behind　him。　Dimitri's　flying　us　there　in　the　morning；　and　we'll　be　under　the　protection　of　the　KGB　in　the　tightest　city　in　the　world。　What　more　could　we　want？〃
　　〃You　were　under　the　protection　of　the　United　States　government　on　a　short　East　Side