tc.patriotgames-第87节

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he　Soviet　Embassy。　Perhaps　my　photograph　at　Langley　does　not　do　me　justice。〃　
　　　　A　Russian　　Ryan　tried　not　to　look　too　surprised　　who　knows　I've　been　working　at　CIA。　Third　Secretary　could　easily　mean　that　he　was　KGB；　perhaps　a　diplomatic　intelligence　specialist；　or　maybe　a　member　of　the　CPSU's　Foreign　Department　　as　though　it　made　a　difference。　A　〃legal〃　intelligence　officer　with　a　diplomatic　cover。　What　do　I　do　now？　For　one　thing；　he　knew　that　he'd　have　to　write　up　a　contact　report　for　CIA　tomorrow；　explaining　how　they'd　met　and　what　they'd　talked　about；　perhaps　an　hour's　work。　It　took　an　effort　to　remain　polite。
　　　　〃You　must　have　the　wrong　guy；　Mr。　Platonov。　I'm　a　history　teacher。　I　work　at　the　Naval　Academy　in　Annapolis。　I　was　invited　to　this　because　I　got　my　degree　here。〃
　　　　〃No；　no。〃　The　Russian　shook　his　head。　〃I　recognize　you　from　the　photograph　on　your　book　jacket。　You　see；　I　purchased　ten　copies　of　it　last　summer。〃
　　　　〃Indeed。〃　Jack　was　surprised　again　and　unable　to　conceal　it。　〃My　publisher　and　I　thank　you；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Our　Naval　Attache　was　much　taken　by　it。　Doctor　Ryan。　He　felt　that　it　should　be　brought　to　the　attention　of　the　Frunze　Academy；　and；　I　think；　the　Grechko　Naval　Academy　in　Leningrad。〃　Platonov　applied　his　considerable　charm。　Ryan　knew　it　for　what　it　was；　but　。　。　。　〃To　be　honest；　I　merely　skimmed　the　book　myself。　It　seemed　quite　well　organized；　and　the　Attache　said　that　your　analysis　of　the　way　decisions　are　made　in　the　heat　of　battle　was　highly　accurate。〃
　　　　〃Well。〃　Jack　tried　not　to　be　overly　flattered；　but　it　was　hard。　Frunze　was　the　Soviet　staff　academy；　the　finishing　school　for　young　field…grade　officers　who　were　tagged　for　stardom。　The　Grechko　Academy　was　only　slightly　less　prestigious。
　　　　〃Sergey　Nikolay'ch；〃　boomed　a　familiar　voice；　〃it　is　not　kulturny　to　prey　upon　the　vanity　of　helpless　young　authors。〃　Father　Timothy　Riley　joined　them。　A　short；　plump　Jesuit　priest；　Riley　had　headed　the　history　department　at　Georgetown　while　Ryan　had　gotten　his　doctorate。　He　was　a　brilliant　intellect　with　a　series　of　books　to　his　credit；　including　two　penetrating　works　on　the　history　of　Marxism　　neither　of　which；　Ryan　was　certain；　had　found　their　way　into　the　library　at　Frunze。　〃How's　the　family；　Jack？〃
　　　　〃Cathy's　back　to　work；　Father。　They　moved　Sally　over　to　Hopkins。　With　luck　we'll　have　her　home　early　next　week。〃　
　　　　〃She　will　recover　fully；　your　little　daughter？〃　Platonov　asked。　〃I　read　about　the　attack　on　your　family　in　the　newspaper。〃　
　　　　〃We　think　so。　Except　for　losing　her　spleen；　there　seems　to　be　no　permanent　damage。　The　docs　say　she's　recovering　nicely；　and　with　her　at　Hopkins；　Cathy's　able　to　see　her　every　day；〃　Ryan　said　more　positively　than　he　felt。　Sally　was　a　different　child。　Her　legs　weren't　fully　healed　yet；　but　worst　of　all；　his　bouncing　little　girl　was　a　sad　thing　now。　She'd　learned　a　lesson　that　Ryan　had　hoped　to　hold　off　for　at　least　ten　more　years　　that　the　world　is　a　dangerous　place　even　when　you　have　a　mother　and　a　father　to　take　care　of　you。　A　hard　lesson　for　a　child；　it　was　harder　still　for　a　parent。　But　she's　alive；　Jack　told　himself；　unaware　of　the　expression　on　his　face。　With　time　and　love；　you　can　recover　from　anything；　except　death。　The　doctors　and　nurses　at　Hopkins　were　taking　care　of　her　like　one　of　their　own。　That　was　a　tangible　advantage　of　having　a　doctor　in　the　family。
　　　　〃A　terrible　thing。〃　Platonov　shook　his　head　in　what　seemed　to　be　genuine　disgust。　〃A　terrible　thing　to　attack　innocent　people　for　no　reason。〃
　　　　〃Indeed；　Sergey；〃　Riley　said　in　the　astringent　voice　that　Ryan　had　known　so　well。　When　he　wanted；　〃Father　Tim〃　had　a　tongue　that　could　saw　through　wood。　〃I　seem　to　recall　that　V。　I。　Lenin　said　the　purpose　of　terrorism　is　to　terrorize；　and　that　sympathy　in　a　revolutionary　is　as　reprehensible　as　cowardice　on　the　field　of　battle。〃
　　　　〃Those　were　hard　times；　good　Father；〃　Platonov　said　smoothly。　〃My　country　has　no　business　with　those　IRA　madmen。　They　are　not　revolutionaries；　however　much　they　pretend　to　be。　They　have　no　revolutionary　ethic。　It　is　madness；　what　they　do。　The　working　classes　should　be　allies；　contesting　together　against　the　mon　enemy　that　exploits　them　both；　instead　of　killing　one　another。　Both　sides　of　the　conflict　are　victimized　by　bosses　who　play　them　off　against　each　other；　but　instead　of　recognizing　this　they　kill　one　another　like　mad　dogs；　and　with　as　little　point。　They　are　bandits；　not　revolutionaries；〃　he　concluded　with　a　distinction　lost　on　the　other　two。
　　　　〃Maybe　so；　but　if　I　ever　get　my　hands　on　them；　I'll　give　them　a　lesson　in　revolutionary　justice。〃　It　was　good　to　let　his　hatred　out　in　the　open　for　once。
　　　　〃You　have　no　sympathy　for　them；　either　of　you？〃　Platonov　bailed　them。　〃After　all；　you　are　both　related　to　the　victims　of　British　imperialism。　Did　not　both　your　families　flee　to　America　to　escape　it？〃
　　　　Ryan　was　caught　very　short　by　that　remark。　It　seemed　an　incredible　thing　to　say　until　he　saw　that　the　Russian　was　watching　for　his　reaction。
　　　　〃Or　perhaps　the　direct　victim　of　Soviet　imperialism；〃　Jack　responded　with　his　own　look。　〃Those　two　guys　in　London　had　Kalashnikov　rifles。　So　did　the　ones　who　attacked　my　wife；〃　he　lied。　〃You　don't　buy　one　of　those　at　the　local　hardware　store。　Whether　you　choose　to　admit　it　or　not；　most　of　the　terrorists　over　there　profess　to　be　Marxists。　That　makes　them　your　allies；　not　mine；　and　it　makes　it　appear　more　than　a　coincidence　that　they　use　Soviet　arms。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　know　how　many　countries　manufacture　weapons　of　Soviet　design？　It　is　sadly　inevitable　that　some　will　fall　into　the　wrong　hands。〃
　　　　〃In　any　case；　my　sympathy　for　their　aim　is；　shall　we　say；　limited　by　their　choice　of　technique。　You　can't　build　a　civilized　country　on　a　foundation　of　murder；〃　Ryan　concluded。　〃Much　as　some　people　have　tried。〃
　　　　〃It　would　be　well　if　the　world　worked　in　more　peaceful　ways。〃　Platonov　ignored　the　implicit　ment　on　the　Soviet　Union。　〃But　it　is　an　historical　fact　that　nations　are　born　in　blood；　even　yours。　As　countries　grow；　they　mature　beyond　such　conduct。　It　is　not　easy；　but　I　think　we　can　all　see　the　value　of　peaceful　coexistence。　For　myself；　Doctor　Ryan；　I　can　sympathize　with　your　feelings。　I　have　two　fine　sons。　We　once　had　a　daughter　also；　Nadia。　She　died　long　ago；　at　age　seven；　from　leukemia。　I　know　it　is　a　hard　thing　to　see　your　child　in　pain；　but　you　are　more　fortunate　than　I。　Your　daughter　will　live。〃　He　allowed　his　voice　to　soften。　〃We　disagree　on　many　things；　but　no　man　can　fail　to　love　his　children。
　　　　〃So。〃　Platonov　changed　gears　smoothly。　〃What　did　you　really　think　of　Professor　Hunter's　little　speech？　Should　America　seek　to　foment　counterrevolution　in　the　socialist　states　of　Europe？〃　
　　　　〃Why　don't　you　ask　the　State　Department？　That's　not　my　part　of　the　world；　remember？　I　teach　naval　history。　But　if　you　want　a　personal　opinion；　I　don't　see　how　we　can　encourage　people　to　rebel　if　we　have　no　prospect　of　helping　them　directly　when　your　country　reacts。〃
　　　　〃Ah；　good。　You　understand　that　we　must　act　to　protect　our　fraternal　socialist　brothers　from　aggression。〃
　　　　The　man　was　good；　Ryan　saw；　but　he'd　had　a　lot　of　practice　at　this。　〃I　wouldn't　call　the　encouragement　of　people　to　seek　their　own　freedom　a　form　of　aggression；　Mr。　Platonov。　I　was　a　stockbroker　before　I　got　my　history　degree；　and　that　doesn't　make　me　much　of　a　candidate　for　sympathizing　with　your　political　outlook。　What　I　am　saying　is　that　your　country　used　military　force　to　crush　democratic　feelings　in　Czechoslovakia　and　Hungary。　To　encourage　people　toward　their　own　suicide　is　both　immoral　and　counterproductive。〃
　　　　〃Ah；　but　what　does　your　government　think？〃　the　Russian　asked　with　another　jolly　laugh。
　　　　〃I'm　a　historian；　not　a　soothsayer。　In　this　town　they　all　work　for　the　Post。　Ask　them。〃
　　　　〃In　any　case；〃　the　Russian　went　on；　〃our　Naval　Attache　is　most　interested　to　meet　you　and　discuss　your　book。　We　are　having　a　reception　at　the　embassy　on　the　twelfth　of　next　month。　The　good　Father　is　ing；　he　can　watch　over　your　soul。　Might　you　and　your　wife　attend？〃
　　　　〃For　the　next　few　weeks　I　plan　to　be　at　home　with　my　family。　My　girl　needs　me　there　for　a　while。〃
　　　　The　diplomat　was　not　to　be　put　off。　〃Yes；　I　can　understand　that。　Some　other　time；　perhaps？〃
　　　　〃Sure；　give　me　a　call　sometime　this　summer。〃　Are　you　kidding？
　　　　〃Excellent。　Now　if　you　will　excuse　me；　I　wish　to　speak　to　Professor　Hunter。〃　The　diplomat　shook　hands　again　and　walked　off　to　the　knot　of　historians　who　were　hanging　on　Hunter's　every　word。
　　　　Ryan　turned　to　Father　Riley；　who'd　watched　the　exchange　in　silence　while　sipping　at　his　champagne。
　　　　〃Interesting　guy；　Sergey；〃　Riley　said。　〃He　loves　to　hit　people　for　reactions。　I　wonder　if　he　really　believes　in　his　system　or　if　he's　just　playing　the　game　for　points　。　。　。？〃
　　　　Ryan　had　a　more　immediate　question。　〃Father；　what　in　the　hell　was　that　all　about？〃　
　　　　Riley　chuckled。　〃You're　being　checked　out。　Jack。〃　
　　　　〃Why？〃
　　　　〃You　don't　need　me　to　answer　that。　You're　working　at　CIA。　If　I　guess　right；　Admiral　Greer　wants　you　on　his　personal　staff。　Marty　Cantor　is　taking　a　job　at　the　University　of　Texas　next　year；　and　you're　one　of　the　candidates　for　his　job。　I　don't　know　if　Sergey's　aware　of　th