tc.patriotgames-第26节

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　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；　could　you　describe　in　your　own　words　what　happened　next？〃
　　　　Jack　did　exactly　this　for　ten　minutes；　without　interruption；　all　the　while　half…facing　the　jury。　He　tried　to　avoid　looking　into　their　faces。　It　seemed　an　odd　place　to　get　stage　fright；　but　this　was　precisely　what　Ryan　felt。　He　focused　his　eyes　on　the　oak　panels　just　over　their　heads　as　he　ran　through　the　events。　It　was　almost　like　living　it　again；　and　Ryan　could　feel　his　heart　beating　faster　as　he　concluded。
　　　　〃And；　Doctor　Ryan；　can　you　identify　for　us　the　man　whom　you　first　attacked？〃　Richards　finally　asked。
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Ryan　pointed。　〃The　defendant；　right　there；　sir。〃　
　　　　It　was　Ryan's　first　really　good　look　at　him。　His　name　was　Sean　Miller　　not　a　particularly　Irish　name　to　Ryan's　way　of　thinking。　He　was　twenty…six；　short；　slender；　dressed　neatly　in　a　suit　and　tie。　He　was　smiling　up　at　someone　in　the　visitors'　gallery；　a　family　member　perhaps；　when　Ryan　pointed。　Then　his　gaze　shifted；　and　Ryan　examined　the　man　for　the　first　time。　What　sort　of　person；　Jack　had　wondered　for　weeks；　could　plan　and　execute　such　a　crime？　What　was　missing　in　him；　or　what　terrible　thing　lived　in　him　that　most　civilized　people　had　the　good　fortune　to　lack？　The　thin；　acne…scarred　face　was　entirely　normal。　Miller　could　have　been　an　executive　trainee　at　Merrill　Lynch　or　any　other　business　concern。　Jack's　father　had　spent　his　life　dealing　with　criminals；　but　their　existence　was　a　puzzlement　to　Ryan。　Why　are　you　different？　What　makes　you　what　you　are？　Ryan　wanted　to　ask；　knowing　that　even　if　there　were　an　answer　the　question　would　remain。　Then　he　looked　at　Miller's　eyes。　He　looked　for　。　。　。　something；　a　spark　of　life；　humanity　　something　that　would　say　that　this　was　indeed　another　human　being。　It　could　only　have　been　two　seconds；　but　for　Ryan　the　moment　seemed　to　linger　into　minutes　as　he　looked　into　those　pale　gray　eyes　and　saw　。　。　。　
　　　　Nothing。　Nothing　at　all。　And　Jack　began　to　understand　a　little。
　　　　〃The　record　will　show；〃　the　Lord　Justice　intoned　to　the　court　reporter；　〃that　the　witness　identified　the　defendant；　Sean　Miller。〃　
　　　　〃Thank　you；　My　Lord；〃　Richards　concluded。
　　　　Ryan　took　the　opportunity　to　blow　his　nose。　He'd　acquired　a　head　cold　over　the　preceding　weekend。
　　　　〃Are　you　quite　fortable；　Doctor　Ryan？〃　the　judge　inquired。　Jack　realized　that　he'd　been　leaning　on　the　wooden　rail。
　　　　〃Excuse　me；　your　hon　　My　Lord。　This　cast　is　a　little　tiring。〃　Every　time　Sally　came　past　her　father；　she　had　taken　to　singing；　〃I'm　a　little　teapot　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Bailiff；　a　stool　for　the　witness；〃　the　judge　ordered。
　　　　The　defense　team　was　seated　adjacent　to　the　prosecution；　perhaps　fifteen　feet　farther　away　in　the　same　row　of　seats；　green　leather　cushions　on　the　oak　benches。　In　a　moment　the　bailiff　arrived　with　a　simple　wooden　stool；　and　Ryan　settled　down　on　it。　What　he　really　needed　was　a　hook　for　his　left　arm；　but　he　was　gradually　being　used　to　the　weight。　It　was　the　constant　itching　that　drove　him　crazy；　though　there　was　nothing　anybody　could　do　about　that。
　　　　The　defense　attorney　　barrister　　rose　with　elegant　deliberation。　His　name　was　Charles　Atkinson；　more　monly　known　as　Red　Charlie；　a　lawyer　with　a　penchant　for　radical　causes　and　radical　crimes。　He　was　supposed　to　be　an　embarrassment　to　the　Labour　Party；　which　he　had　served　until　recently　in　Parliament。　Red　Charlie　was　about　thirty　pounds　overweight；　his　wig　askew　atop　a　florid；　strangely　thin　face　for　the　ample　frame。　Defending　terrorists　must　have　paid　well　enough；　Ryan　thought。　There's　a　question　Owens　must　be　looking　into；　Ryan　told　himself。　Where　is　your　money　ing　from；　Mr。　Atkinson？
　　　　〃May　it　please　Your　Lordship；〃　he　said　formally　to　the　bench。　He　walked　slowly　towards　Ryan；　a　sheaf　of　notes　in　his　hand。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan　　or　should　I　say　Sir　John？〃
　　　　Jack　waved　his　hand。　〃Whatever　is　convenient　to　you；　sir；〃　he　answered　indifferently。　They　had　warned　him　about　Atkinson。　A　very　clever　bastard；　they'd　said。　Ryan　had　known　quite　a　few　clever　bastards　in　the　brokerage　business。
　　　　〃You　were；　I　believe；　a　leftenant　in　the　United　States　Marine　Corps？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　that　is　correct。〃
　　　　Atkinson　looked　down　at　his　notes；　then　over　at　the　jury。　〃Bloodthirsty　mob；　the　U。S。　Marines；〃　he　muttered。
　　　　〃Excuse　me；　sir？　Bloodthirsty？〃　Ryan　asked。　〃No；　sir。　Most　of　the　Marines　I　know　are　beer　drinkers。〃
　　　　Atkinson　spun　back　at　Ryan　as　a　ripple　of　laughter　came　down　from　the　gallery。　He　gave　Jack　a　thin；　dangerous　smile。　They'd　warned　Jack　most　of　all　to　beware　his　word　games　and　tactical　skill　in　the　courtroom。　To　hell　with　it；　Ryan　told　himself。　He　smiled　back　at　the　barrister。　Go　for　it；　asshole　。　。　。
　　　　〃Forgive　me；　Sir　John。　A　figure　of　speech。　I　meant　to　say　that　the　U。S。　Marines　have　a　reputation　for　aggressiveness。　Surely　this　is　true？〃
　　　　〃Marines　are　light　infantry　troops　who　specialize　in　amphibious　assault。　We　were　pretty　well　trained；　but　when　you　get　down　to　it　we　weren't　all　that　different　from　any　other　kind　of　soldier。　It's　just　a　matter　of　specialization　in　a　particularly　tough　field；〃　Ryan　answered；　hoping　to　throw　him　a　little　off　balance。　Marines　were　supposed　to　be　arrogant；　but　that　was　mostly　movie　stuff。　If　you're　really　good；　they'd　taught　him　at　Quantico；　you　don't　have　to　be　arrogant。　Just　letting　people　know　you're　a　Marine　was　usually　enough。
　　　　〃Assault　troops？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　That's　basically　correct。〃
　　　　〃So；　you　manded　assault　troops；　then？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Try　not　to　be　too　modest；　Sir　John。　What　sort　of　man　is　selected　to　lead　such　troops。　Aggressive？　Decisive？　Bold？　Certainly　he　would　have　more　of　these　qualities　than　the　average　foot　soldier？〃
　　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　sir；　in　my　edition　of　The　Marine　Officer's　Guide；　the　foremost　of　the　qualities　that　the　Corps　looks　for　in　an　officer　is　integrity。〃　Ryan　smiled　again。　Atkinson　hadn't　don6　his　homework　on　that　score。　〃I　manded　a　platoon；　sure；　but　as　my　captain　explained　to　me　when　I　came　aboard；　my　principal　job　was　to　carry　out　the　orders　he　gave　me；　and　to　lean　on　my　gunny　　my　platoon　sergeant　　for　his　practical　experience。　The　job　I　was　in　was　supposed　to　be　as　much　a　learning　experience　as　a　mand　slot。　I　mean；　in　business　it's　called　an　entry…level　position。　You　don't　start　shaking　the　world　your　first　day　on　the　job　in　any　business。〃　
　　　　Atkinson　frowned　a　bit。　This　was　not　going　as　he'd　expected。
　　　　〃Ah；　then；　Sir　John；　a　leftenant　of　American　Marines　is　really　a　leader　of　Boy　Scouts。　Surely　you　don't　mean　that？〃　he　asked；　a　sarcastic　edge　on　his　voice。
　　　　〃No；　sir。　Excuse　me；　I　did　not　mean　to　give　that　impression；　but　we're　not　a　bunch　of　hyperaggressive　barbarians　either。　My　job　was　to　carry　out　orders；　to　be　as　aggressive　as　the　situation　called　for；　and　to　exercise　some　amount　of　judgment；　like　any　officer。　But　I　was　only　there　three　months；　and　I　was　still　learning　how　to　be　an　officer　when　I　was　injured。　Marines　follow　orders。　Officers　give　orders；　of　course；　but　a　second　lieutenant　is　the　lowest　form　of　officer。　You　take　more　than　you　give。　I　guess　you've　never　been　in　the　service；〃　Ryan　tagged　on　the　barb　at　the　end。
　　　　〃So；　what　sort　of　training　did　they　give　you？〃　Atkinson　demanded；　either　angry　or　feigning　it。
　　　　Richards　looked　up　to　Ryan；　a　warning　broadcast　from　his　eyes。　He'd　emphasized　several　times　that　Jack　shouldn't　cross　swords　with　Red　Charlie。
　　　　〃Really；　basic　leadership　skills。　They　taught　us　how　to　lead　men　in　the　field；〃　Ryan　replied。　〃How　to　react　to　a　given　tactical　situation。　How　to　employ　the　platoon's　weapons；　and　to　a　lesser　extent；　the　weapons　in　a　rifle　pany。　How　to　call　in　outside　support　from　artillery　and　air　assets　〃　
　　　　〃To　react？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　that　is　part　of　it。〃　Ryan　kept　his　answers　as　long　as　he　thought　he　could　get　away　with；　careful　to　keep　his　voice　even；　friendly；　and　informative。　〃I've　never　been　in　anything　like　a　bat　situation　　unless　you　count　this　thing　we're　talking　about；　of　course　　but　our　instructors　were　very　clear　about　telling　us　that　you　don't　have　time　to　think　very　much　when　bullets　are　flying。　You　have　to　know　what　to　do；　and　you　have　to　do　it　fast　　or　you　get　your　own　people　killed。〃
　　　　〃Excellent；　Sir　John。　You　were　trained　to　react　quickly　and　decisively　to　tactical　stimuli；　correct？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Ryan　thought　he　saw　the　ambush　ing。
　　　　〃So；　in　the　unfortunate　incident　before　this　court；　when　the　initial　explosion　took　place；　you　have　testified　that　you　were　looking　in　the　wrong　direction？〃　
　　　　〃I　was　looking　away　from　the　explosion；　yes；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃How　soon　afterwards　did　you　turn　to　see　what　was　happening？〃
　　　　〃Well；　sir；　as　I　said　earlier；　the　first　thing　I　did　was　to　get　my　wife　and　daughter　down　under　cover。　Then　I　looked　up。　How　long　did　that　take？〃　Ryan　cocked　his　head。　〃At　least　one　second；　sir；　maybe　as　many　as　three。　Sorry；　but　as　I　said　earlier；　it's　hard　to　recall　that　sort　of　thing　　you　don't　have　a　stopwatch　on　yourself；　I　mean。〃
　　　　〃So；　when　you　finally　did　look　up；　you　had　not　seen　what　had　immediately　transpired？〃　
　　　　〃Correct；　sir。〃　Okay；　Charlie；　ask　the　next　question。
　　　　〃You　did　not；　therefore；　see　my　client　fire　his　pistol；　nor　throw　a　hand　grenade？〃
　　　　Cute；　Ryan