tc.patriotgames-第25节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　It　struck　Ryan　that　this　was　probably　the　kindest　thing　he'd　ever　been　told。　Perhaps　nobility　was　supposed　to　be　a　state　of　mind　rather　than　an　institution。　His　father…in…law　could　learn　from　that；　Ryan　thought。　His　father…in…law　could　learn　from　a　lot　of　things。

　　　　Three　hours　later　Jack　followed　his　wife　into　their　room。　There　was　a　sitting　room　off　to　the　right。　In　front　of　him　the　bed　had　already　been　turned　down。　He　pulled　the　tie　loose　from　his　collar　and　undid　the　button；　then　let　out　a　long；　audible　breath。　
　　　　〃You　weren't　kidding　about　turning　into　pumpkins。〃　
　　　　〃I　know；〃　his　wife　said。
　　　　Only　a　single　dim　light　was　lit；　and　his　wife　switched　it　off。　The　only　illumination　in　the　room　was　from　distant　streetlights　that　filtered　through　the　heavy　curtains。　Her　white　dress　stood　out　in　the　darkness；　but　her　face　showed　only　the　curve　of　her　lips　and　the　sparkle　of　her　eyes　as　she　turned　away　from　the　light。　Her　husband's　mind　filled　in　the　remaining　details。　Jack　wrapped　his　good　arm　around　his　wife　and　cursed　the　monstrosity　of　plaster　that　encased　his　left　side　as　he　pulled　her　in　close。　She　rested　her　head　on　his　healthy　shoulder；　and　his　cheek　came　down　to　the　softness　of　her　fine　blond　hair。　Neither　said　anything　for　a　minute　or　two。　It　was　enough　to　be　alone；　together　in　the　quiet　darkness。　
　　　　〃Love　ya；　babe。〃
　　　　〃How　are　you　feeling；　Jack？〃　The　question　was　more　than　a　simple　inquiry。
　　　　〃Not　bad。　Pretty　well　rested。　The　shoulder　doesn't　hurt　very　much　anymore。　Aspirin　takes　care　of　the　aches。〃　This　was　an　exaggeration；　but　Jack　was　used　to　the　disfort。
　　　　〃Oh；　I　see　how　they　did　it。〃　Cathy　was　exploring　the　left　side　of　his　jacket。　The　tailors　had　put　snap　closures　on　the　underside　so　that　it　would　not　so　much　conceal　the　cast　as　make　it　look　dressed。　His　wife　removed　the　snaps　quickly　and　pulled　the　coat　off。　The　shirt　went　next。
　　　　〃I　am　able　to　do　this　myself；　you　know。〃
　　　　〃Shut　up；　Jack。　I　don't　want　to　have　to　wait　all　night　for　you　to　undress。〃　He　next　heard　the　sound　of　a　long　zipper。　
　　　　〃Can　I　help？〃
　　　　There　was　laughter　in　the　darkness。　〃I　might　want　to　wear　this　dress　again。　And　be　careful　where　you　put　that　arm。〃　
　　　　〃I　haven't　crunched　anyone　yet。〃
　　　　〃Good。　Let's　try　to　keep　a　perfect　record。〃　A　whisper　of　silk。　She　took　his　hand。　〃Let's　get　you　sitting　down。〃　
　　　　After　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　the　rest　came　easy。　Cathy　sat　beside　him。　He　felt　her；　cool　and　smooth　at　his　side；　a　hint　of　perfume　in　the　air。　He　reached　around　her　shoulder；　down　to　the　soft　skin　of　her　abdomen。
　　　　It's　happening　right　now；　growing　away　while　we　sit　here。　〃You're　going　to　have　my　baby；〃　Jack　said　softly。　There　really　is　a　God；　and　there　really　are　miracles。
　　　　Her　hand　came　across　his　face。　〃That's　right。　I　can't　have　anything　to　drink　after　tonight　　but　I　wanted　to　enjoy　tonight。〃　
　　　　〃You　know；　I　really　do　love　you。〃　
　　　　〃I　know；〃　she　said。　〃Lie　back。〃

Chapter　6　Trials　and　Troubles

　　　　Preliminary　testimony　lasted　for　about　two　hours　while　Ryan　sat　on　a　marble　bench　outside　Old　Bailey's　number　two　courtroom。　He　tried　to　work　on　his　puter；　but　he　couldn't　seem　to　keep　his　mind　on　it；　and　found　himself　staring　around　the　hundred…sixty…year…old　building。
　　　　Security　was　incredibly　tight。　Outside；　numerous　uniformed　police　constables　stood　about　in　plain　sight；　small　zippered　pistol　cases　dangling　from　their　hands。　Others；　uniformed　and　not；　stood　on　the　buildings　across　Newgate　Street　like　falcons　on　the　watch　for　rabbits。　Except　rabbits　don't　carry　machine　guns　and　RPG…7　bazookas；　Ryan　thought。　Every　person　who　entered　the　building　was　subjected　to　a　metal　detector　sensitive　enough　to　ping　on　the　foil　inside　a　cigarette　pack；　and　nearly　everyone　was　given　a　pat…down　search。　This　included　Ryan；　who　was　surprised　enough　at　the　intimacy　of　the　search　to　tell　the　officer　that　he　went　a　bit　far　for　a　first　date。　The　grand　hall　was　closed　off　to　anyone　not　connected　with　the　case；　and　less　prominent　trials　had　been　switched　among　the　building's　nineteen　courtrooms　to　acmodate　Crown　v　Miller。
　　　　Ryan　had　never　been　in　a　courthouse　before。　He　was　amused　by　the　fact　that　he'd　never　even　had　a　speeding　ticket；　his　life　had　been　so　dull　until　now。　The　marble　floor　　nearly　everything　in　sight　was　marble　　gave　the　hall　the　aspect　of　a　cathedral；　and　the　walls　were　decorated　with　aphorisms　such　as　Cicero's　THE　WELFARE　OF　THE　PEOPLE　IS　THE　HIGHEST　LAW；　a　phrase　he　found　curiously　　or　at　least　potentially　　expedient　in　what　was　certainly　designed　as　a　temple　to　the　idea　of　law。　He　wondered　if　the　members　of　the　ULA　felt　the　same　way；　and　justified　their　activities　in　accordance　with　their　view　of　the　welfare　of　the　people。　Who　doesn't？　Jack　asked　himself。　What　tyrant　ever　failed　to　justify　his　crimes？　Around　him　were　a　half…dozen　other　witnesses。　Jack　didn't　talk　with　them。　His　instructions　were　quite　specific：　even　the　appearance　of　conversation　might　give　cause　to　the　defense　attorneys　to　speculate　that　witnesses　had　coached　one　another。　The　prosecution　team　had　bent　every　effort　to　make　their　case　a　textbook　example　of　correct　legal　procedure。
　　　　The　case　was　being　handled　on　a　contradictory　basis。　The　ambush　had　taken　place　barely　four　weeks　ago；　and　the　trial　was　already　under　way　　an　unusually　speedy　process　even　by　British　standards。　Security　was　airtight。　Admittance　to　the　public　gallery　（visitors　entered　from　another　part　of　the　building）　was　being　strictly　controlled。　But　at　the　same　time；　the　trial　was　being　handled　strictly　as　a　criminal　matter。　The　name　〃Ulster　Liberation　Army〃　had　not　been　mentioned。　The　prosecutor　had　not　once　used　the　word　terrorist。　The　police　ignored　　publicly　　the　political　aspects　of　the　case。　Two　men　were　dead；　and　this　was　a　trial　for　first…degree　murder　　period。　Even　the　press　was　playing　along；　oh　the　theory　that　there　was　no　more　contemptuous　way　to　treat　the　defendant　than　to　call　him　a　simple　criminal；　and　not　sanctify　him　as　a　creature　of　politics。　Jack　wondered　about　additional　political　or　intelligence…related　motives　in　this　treatment；　but　no　one　was　talking　along　those　lines；　and　the　defense　attorney　certainly　couldn't　defend　his　client　better　by　calling　him　a　member　of　a　terrorist　group。　In　the　media；　and　in　the　courtroom；　this　was　a　case　of　murder。
　　　　The　truth　was　different；　of　course；　and　everyone　knew　it。　But　Ryan　knew　enough　about　the　law　to　remember　that　lawyers　rarely　concern　themselves　with　truth。　The　rules　were　far　more　important。　There　would　therefore　be　no　official　speculation　on　the　goal　of　the　criminals；　and　no　involvement　of　the　Royal　Family；　aside　from　depositions　that　they　could　not　identify　the　living　conspirator　and　hence　had　no　worthwhile　evidence　to　offer。
　　　　It　didn't　matter。　From　the　press　coverage　of　the　evidence　it　seemed　clear　enough　that　the　trial　was　as　airtight　as　was　possible　without　a　videotape　of　the　entire　event。　Similarly；　Cathy　was　not　to　testify。　In　addition　to　forensic　experts　who　had　testified　the　day　before；　the　Crown　had　eight　eyewitnesses。　Ryan　was　number　two。　The　trial　was　expected　to　last　a　maximum　of　four　days。　As　Owens　had　told　him　in　the　hospital；　there　would　be　no　mucking　about　with　this　lad。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan？　Would　you　please　follow　me；　sir？〃　The　VIP　treatment　continued　here　also。　A　bailiff　in　short　sleeves　and　tie　came　over　and　led　him　into　the　courtroom　through　a　side　door。　A　police　officer　took　his　puter　after　opening　the　door。　〃Show…time；〃　Ryan　whispered　to　himself。
　　　　Old　Bailey　#2　was　an　extravagance　of　19th…century　woodworking。　The　large　room　was　paneled　with　so　much　solid　oak　that　the　construction　of　a　similar　room　in　America　would　draw　a　protest　from　the　Sierra　Club　for　all　the　trees　it　required。　The　actual　floorspace　was　surprisingly　small；　scarcely　as　much　as　the　dining　room　in　his　house；　a　similarity　made　all　the　more　striking　by　a　table　set　in　the　center。　The　judge's　bench　was　a　wooden　fortress　adjacent　to　the　witness　box。　The　Honorable　Mr。　Justice　Wheeler　sat　in　one　of　the　five　high…backed　chairs　behind　it。　He　was　resplendent　in　a　scarlet　robe　and　sash；　and　a　horsehair　wig；　called　a　〃peruke；〃　Ryan　had　been　told；　that　fell　to　his　narrow　shoulders　and　clearly　looked　like　something　from　another　age。　The　jury　box　was　to　Ryan's　left。　Eight　women　and　four　men　sat　in　two　even　rows；　each　face　full　of　anticipation。　Above　them　was　the　public　gallery；　perched　like　a　choir　loft　and　angled　so　that　Ryan　could　barely　see　the　people　there。　The　barristers　were　to　Ryan's　right；　across　the　small　floorspace；　wearing　black　robes；　18th…century　cravats；　and　their　own；　smaller　wigs。　The　net　effect　of　all　this　was　a　vaguely　religious　atmosphere　that　made　Ryan　slightly　uneasy　as　he　was　sworn　in。
　　　　William　Richards；　QC；　the　prosecutor；　was　a　man　of　Ryan's　age；　similar　in　height　and　build。　He　began　with　the　usual　questions：　your　name；　place　of　residence；　profession；　when　did　you　arrive；　for　what　purpose？　Richards　predictably　had　a　flair　for　the　dramatic；　and　by　the　time　the　questions　carried　them　to　the　shooting；　Ryan　could　sense　the　excitement　and　anticipation　of　the　audience　without　even　looking　at　their　faces。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；　could　you　describe　in　your　own　words　what　happened　next？〃