tc.patriotgames-第107节

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ortant　to　you；　boy；　but　it's　fucking　well　important　to　me。　You　dig？〃　
　　　　〃Very　well；　Alex。〃　Sean　decided　then　and　there　that　Alex　would　not　see　the　end　of　this　operation。　It　shouldn't　be　too　hard　to　arrange。　With　his　absurd　sentimentality；　he　was　unfit　to　be　a　revolutionary。　You'll　die　a　brave　death。　At　least　we　can　make　a　martyr　of　you。
　　　　Two　hours　later　Miller　admitted　to　himself　that　this　was　unfortunate。　The　man　did　have　a　flair　for　operations。

　　　　The　security　people　were　late　enough　that　Ryan　pulled　into　the　driveway　right　behind　them。　There　were　three　of　them；　led　by　Chuck　Avery　of　the　Secret　Service。
　　　　〃Sorry；　we　got　held　up；〃　Avery　said　as　he　shook　hands。　〃This　is　Bert　Longley　and　Mike　Keaton；　two　of　our　British　colleagues。〃　
　　　　〃Hello；　Mr。　Longley；〃　Cathy　called　from　the　door。
　　　　His　eyes　went　wide　as　he　saw　her　condition。　〃My　goodness；　perhaps　we　should　bring　a　physician　in　with　us！　I'd　no　idea　you　were　so　far　along。〃
　　　　〃Well；　this　one　will　be　part　English。〃　Jack　explained。　〃e　on　in。〃
　　　　〃Mr。　Longley　arranged　our　escort　when　you　were　in　the　hospital；〃　Cathy　told　her　husband。　〃Nice　to　see　you　again。〃　
　　　　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　Longley　asked。　
　　　　〃A　little　tired；　but　okay；〃　Cathy　allowed。
　　　　〃Have　you　cleared　the　problem　about　Robby？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃Yes；　we　have。　Please　excuse　Mr。　Bennett。　I'm　afraid　he　took　his　instructions　a　bit　too　literally。　We　have　no　problems　with　a　naval　officer。　In　fact；　His　Highness　is　looking　forward　to　meeting　him。　So；　may　we　look　around？〃
　　　　〃If　it's　all　right　with　you；　I　want　to　see　that　cliff　of　yours；〃　Avery　said。
　　　　〃Follow　me；　gentlemen。〃　Jack　led　the　three　through　the　sliding…glass　doors　onto　the　deck　that　faced　Chesapeake　Bay。　
　　　　〃Magnificent！〃　Longley　observed。
　　　　〃The　only　thing　we　did　wrong　is　that　the　living　and　dining　room　aren't　separated；　but　that's　how　the　design　was　drawn；　and　we　couldn't　figure　a　graceful　way　to　change　it。　But　all　those　windows　do　give　us　a　nice　view；　don't　they？〃
　　　　〃Indeed；　also　one　that　gives　our　chaps　good　visibility；〃　Keaton　observed；　surveying　the　area。
　　　　Not　to　mention　decent　fields　of　fire；　Ryan　thought。　
　　　　〃How　many　people　will　you　be　bringing？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃I'm　afraid　that's　not　something　we　can　discuss；〃　Longley　replied。
　　　　〃More　than　twenty？〃　Jack　persisted。　〃I　plan　to　have　coffee　and　sandwiches　for　your　troops。　Don't　worry；　I　haven't　even　told　Robby。〃
　　　　〃Enough　for　twenty　will　be　more　than　ample；〃　Avery　said　after　a　moment。　〃Just　coffee　will　be　fine。〃　They'd　be　drinking　a　lot　of　coffee；　the　Secret　Service　man　thought。
　　　　〃Okay；　let's　see　the　cliff。〃　Jack　went　down　the　steps　from　the　deck　to　the　grass。　〃You　want　to　be　very　careful　here；　gentlemen。〃　
　　　　〃How　unstable　is　it？〃　Avery　asked。
　　　　〃Sally　has　been　past　where　the　fence　is　twice。　Both　times　she　got　smacked　for　it。　The　problem's　erosion。　The　cliff's　made　out　of　something　real　soft　　sandstone；　I　think。　I've　been　trying　to　stabilize　it。　The　state　conservation　people　talked　me　into　planting　this　damned　kudzu；　and　　stop　right　there！〃　
　　　　Keaton　had　stepped　over　the　low　fence。
　　　　〃Two　years　ago　I　watched　a　twenty…square…foot　piece　drop　off。　That's　why　I　planted　these　vines。　You　don't　think　somebody's　going　to　climb　that；　do　you？〃　
　　　　〃It's　one　possibility；〃　Longley　answered。
　　　　〃You'd　think　different　if　you　looked　at　it　from　a　boat。　The　cliff　won't　take　the　weight。　A　squirrel　can　make　it　up；　but　that's　all。〃　
　　　　〃How　high　is　it？〃　Avery　asked。
　　　　〃Forty…three　feet　over　there；　almost　fifty　here。　The　kudzu　vines　just　make　it　worse。　The　damned　stuffs　nearly　impossible　to　kill；　but　if　you　try　grabbing　onto　it；　you're　in　for　a　big　surprise。　Like　I　said；　if　you　want　to　check　it；　do　it　from　a　boat；〃　Ryan　said。　
　　　　〃We'll　do　that；〃　Avery　replied。
　　　　〃ing　in；　that　driveway　must　be　three　hundred　yards；〃　Keaton　said。
　　　　〃Just　over　four　hundred；　counting　the　curves。　It　cost　an　arm　and　a　leg　to　pave　it。〃
　　　　〃What　about　the　swimming　pool　people？〃　It　was　Longley　this　time。
　　　　〃The　pool's　supposed　to　be　finished　next　Wednesday。〃　
　　　　Avery　and　Keaton　walked　around　the　north　side　of　the　house。　There　were　trees　twenty　yards　from　there；　and　a　swarm　of　brambles　that　went　on　forever。　Ryan　had　planted　a　long　row　of　shrubs　to　mark　the　border。　Sally　didn't　go　in　there　either。
　　　　〃This　looks　pretty　secure；〃　Avery　said。　〃There's　two　hundred　yards　of　open　space　between　the　road　and　the　trees；　then　more　open　ground　between　the　pool　and　the　house。〃
　　　　〃Right。〃　Ryan　chuckled。　〃You　can　set　up　your　heavy　machine　guns　in　the　treeline　and　put　the　mortars　over　by　the　pool。〃　
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；　we　are　quite　serious　about　this；〃　Longley　pointed　out。
　　　　〃I'm　sure。　But　it's　an　unannounced　trip；　right？　They　can't　〃　Jack　stopped　short。　He　didn't　like　the　look　on　their　faces。
　　　　Avery　said；　〃We　always　assume　that　the　other　side　knows　what　we're　up　to。〃
　　　　〃Oh。〃　Is　that　all　of　it；　or　is　there　more？　He　knew　it　wouldn't　do　any　good　to　ask。　〃Well；　speaking　as　a　has…been　Marine；　I　wouldn't　want　to　hit　this　place　cold。　I　know　a　little　about　how　you　guys　are　trained。　I　wouldn't　want　to　mess　with　you。〃　
　　　　〃We　try；〃　Avery　assured　him；　still　looking　around。　The　way　the　driveway　came　through　the　trees；　he　could　use　his　munications　van　to　block　vehicles　out　entirely。　He　reminded　himself　that　there　would　be　ten　people　from　his　agency；　six　Brits；　a　liaison　guy　from　the　Bureau；　and　probably　two　or　three　State　Police　for　traffic　control　on　the　road。　Each　of　his　men　would　have　both　a　service　revolver　and　a　submachine　gun。　They　practiced　at　least　once　a　week。
　　　　Avery　still　was　not　happy；　not　with　the　possibility　of　an　armed　terrorist　group　running　around　loose。　But　all　the　airports　were　being　watched；　all　the　local　police　forces　alerted。　There　was　only　one　road　in　here。　The　surrounding　terrain　would　be　difficult　even　for　a　platoon　of　soldiers　to　penetrate　without　making　all　kinds　of　noise；　and　as　nasty　as　terrorists　were；　they'd　never　fought　a　set…piece　battle。　This　wasn't　London；　and　the　potential　targets　weren't　driving　blithely　about　with　a　single　armed　guard。
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Doctor　Ryan。　We　will　check　the　cliff　out　from　the　water　side。　If　you　see　a　Coast　Guard　cutter；　that'll　be　us。〃　
　　　　〃You　know　how　to　get　to　the　station　at　Thomas　Point？　You　take　Forest　Drive　east　to　Arundel…on…the…Bay　and　hang　a　right。　You　can't　miss　it。〃　
　　　　〃Thanks；　we'll　do　that。〃

　　　　The　real　estate　agent　came　out　of　the　office　just　before　ten。　It　was　his　turn　to　shut　down。　In　his　briefcase　was　an　envelope　for　the　bank's　night　depository　and　some　contracts　he'd　go　over　the　next　morning　before　going　into　work。　He　set　the　case　on　the　seat　beside　him　and　started　the　car。　Two　headlights　pulled　right　in　behind　him。
　　　　〃Can　I　talk　to　you？〃　a　voice　called　in　the　darkness。　The　agent　turned　to　see　a　shape　ing　toward　him。
　　　　〃I'm　afraid　we're　closed。　The　office　opens　at　〃　He　saw　that　he　was　looking　at　a　gun。
　　　　〃I　want　your　money；　man。　Just　be　cool；　and　everything'll　be　okay；〃　the　gunman　said。　There　was　no　sense　terrifying　the　man。　He　might　do　something　crazy；　and　he　might　get　lucky。　
　　　　〃But　I　don't　have　any　〃
　　　　〃The　briefcase　and　the　wallet。　Slow　and　easy　and　you'll　be　home　in　half　an　hour。〃
　　　　The　man　got　his　wallet　first。　It　took　three　attempts　to　loose　the　button　on　his　hip　pocket；　and　his　hands　were　quivering　as　he　handed　it　over。　The　briefcase　came　next。　
　　　　〃It's　just　checks　　no　cash。〃
　　　　〃That's　what　they　all　say。　Lie　down　on　the　seat　and　count　to　one　hundred。　Don't　stick　your　head　up　till　you　finish；　and　everything'll　be　just　fine。　Out　loud；　so's　I　can　hear　you。〃　Let's　see；　the　heart's　right　about　there　。　。　。　He　reached　his　gun　hand　inside　the　open　window。　The　man　got　to　seven。　When　it　went　off；　the　sound　of　the　silenced　automatic　was　further　muffled　by　being　inside　the　car。　The　body　jerked　a　few　times；　but　not　enough　to　require　a　second　round。　The　gunman　opened　the　door　and　wound　up　the　window；　then　killed　the　engine　and　the　lights　before　going　back　to　his　car。　He　pulled　back　onto　the　road　and　drove　at　the　legal　limit。　Ten　minutes　later　the　empty　briefcase　and　wallet　were　tossed　into　a　shopping　center　dumpster。　He　got　back　onto　the　highway　and　drove　in　the　opposite　direction。　It　was　dangerous　to　hold　on　to　the　gun；　but　that　had　to　be　disposed　of　more　carefully。　The　gunman　drove　the　car　back　to　where　it　belonged　　the　family　that　owned　it　was　on　vacation　　and　walked　two　blocks　to　get　his　own。　Alex　was　right；　as　always；　the　gunman　thought。　If　you　plan　everything；　think　it　all　out；　and　most　important；　don't　leave　any　evidence　behind；　you　can　kill　all　the　people　you　want。　Oh；　he　remembered；　one　more　thing：　you　don't　talk　about　it。

　　　　〃Hi；　Ernie；〃　Jack　said　quietly。　The　dog　showed　up　as　a　dark　spot　on　the　light…colored　carpet　in　the　living　room。　It　was　four　in　the　morning。　Ernie　had　heard　a　noise　and　e　out　of　Sally's　room　to　see　what　it　was。　One　thing　about　dogs；　they　never　slept　the　way　people　did。　Ernie　looked　at　him　for　several　minutes；　his　tail　gyrating　back　and　forth　until　he　got　a　scratch　between　his　ears；　then　he　moved　off；　back　to　Sally's　room。　It　was　amazing；　Jack　thought。　The　dog　had　entirely　supplanted　AG　Bear。　He　found　it　hard　to　believe　that　anything　co