rl.thebourneultimatum-第110节

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　face；　gouging　his　cheeks　with　thumb　and　forefinger；　forcing　Treadstone　Seventy…one　to　look　at　him。　〃I'll　say　this　once；　Mr。　Bourne；　and　if　it　doesn't　sink　in；　you　may　stay　here　by　yourself　and　take　the　consequences！　But　we　must　leave。　If　you　get　hold　of　yourself；　we'll　be　in　touch　with　the　proper　officials　of　your　government　within　the　hour　from　Paris。　I've　read　the　warning　to　you　and　I　can　assure　you　your　own　people　are　capable　of　protecting　your　family…as　your　family　was　explained　to　me　by　Aleksei。　But　you；　yourself；　must　be　part　of　that　munication。　You　can　bee　rational；　Mr。　Bourne；　or　you　can　go　to　hell。　Which　will　it　be？〃
　The　Chameleon；　straining　against　the　knees　pinning　him　to　the　ground；　exhaled　as　if　it　were　his　final　breath。　His　eyes　came　into　focus　and　he　said；　〃Get　these　bastards　off　me。〃
　〃One　of　those　bastards　saved　your　life；〃　said　Conklin。
　〃And　I　saved　one　of　theirs。　So　be　it。〃
　The　armor…plated　Citro？n　sped　down　the　country　road　toward　the　Paris　highway。　On　the　scrambled　cellular　telephone；　Krupkin　ordered　a　team　to　Epernon　for　the　immediate　removal　of　what　was　left　of　the　Russian　backup　vehicle。　The　body　of　the　slain　man　had　been　placed　carefully　in　the　Citro？n's　trunk；　and　the　official　Soviet　ment；　if　asked　for；　was　one　of　noninvolvement：　Two　lower…level　diplomatic　staff　had　gone　out　for　a　country　lunch　when　the　massacre　occurred。　Several　killers　were　in　stocking　masks；　the　others　barely　seen　as　the　staff　members　escaped　through　a　back　door；　running　for　their　lives。　When　it　was　over　they　returned　to　the　restaurant；　covering　the　victims；　trying　to　calm　the　hysterical　women　and　the　lone　surviving　man。　They　had　called　their　superiors　to　report　the　hideous　incident　and　were　instructed　to　inform　the　local　police　and　return　at　once　to　the　embassy。　Soviet　interests　could　not　be　jeopardized　by　the　accidental　presence　at　the　scene　of　an　act　of　French　criminality。
　〃It　sounds　so　Russian；〃　Krupkin　said。
　〃Will　anyone　believe　it？〃　Alex　wondered。
　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　answered　the　Soviet。　〃Epernon　reeks　of　a　Jackal　reprisal。　The　blown…apart　old　man；　two　subordinate　terrorists　in　stocking　masks…the　Sыreté　knows　the　signs。　If　we　were　involved；　we　were　on　the　correct　side；　so　they　won't　pursue　our　presence。〃
　Bourne　sat　silently　by　the　window。　Krupkin　was　beside　him　with　Conklin　in　the　jump　seat　in　front　of　the　Russian。　Jason　broke　his　angry　silence；　taking　his　eyes　off　the　rushing　scenery　and　slamming　his　fist　on　the　armrest。　〃Oh；　Christ；　the　kids！〃　he　shouted。　〃How　could　that　bastard　have　learned　about　the　Tannenbaum　house？〃
　〃Forgive　me；　Mr。　Bourne；〃　broke　in　Krupkin　gently。　〃I　realize　it's　far　easier　for　me　to　say　than　for　you　to　accept；　but　very　soon　now　you'll　be　in　touch　with　Washington。　I　know　something　about　the　Agency's　ability　to　protect　its　own；　and　I　guarantee　you　it's　maddeningly　effective。〃
　〃It　can't　be　so　goddamned　great　if　Carlos　can　penetrate　this　far！〃
　〃Perhaps　he　didn't；〃　said　the　Soviet。　〃Perhaps　he　had　another　source。〃
　〃There　weren't　any。〃
　〃One　never　knows；　sir。〃
　They　sped　through　the　streets　of　Paris　in　the　blinding　afternoon　sun　as　the　pedestrians　sweltered　in　the　summer　heat。　Finally　they　reached　the　Soviet　embassy　on　the　boulevard　Lannes　and　raced　through　the　gates；　the　guards　waving　them　on；　instantly　recognizing　Krupkin's　gray　Citro？n。　They　swung　around　the　cobblestone　courtyard；　stopping　in　front　of　the　imposing　marble　steps　and　the　sculptured　arch　that　formed　the　entrance。
　〃Stay　available；　Sergei；〃　ordered　the　KGB　officer。　〃If　there's　to　be　any　contact　with　the　Sыreté；　you're　selected。〃　Then；　as　if　it　were　an　afterthought；　Krupkin　addressed　the　aide　sitting　next　to　Sergei　in　the　front　seat。　〃No　offense；　young　man；〃　he　added；　〃but　over　the　years　my　old　friend　and　driver　has　bee　highly　resourceful　in　these　situations。　However；　you　also　have　work　to　do。　Process　the　body　of　our　loyal　deceased　rade　for　cremation。　Internal　Operations　will　explain　the　paperwork。〃　With　a　nod　of　his　head；　Dimitri　Krupkin　instructed　Bourne　and　Alex　Conklin　to　get　out　of　the　car。
　Once　inside；　Dimitri　explained　to　the　army　guard　that　he　did　not　care　for　his　guests　to　be　subjected　to　the　metal　detecting　trellises　through　which　all　visitors　to　the　Soviet　embassy　were　expected　to　pass。　As　an　aside；　he　whispered　in　English　to　his　guests。　〃Can　you　imagine　the　alarms　that　would　go　off？　Two　armed　Americans　from　the　savage　CIA　roaming　the　halls　of　this　bastion　of　the　proletariat？　Good　heavens；　I　can　feel　the　cold　of　Siberia　in　my　testicles。〃
　They　walked　through　the　ornate；　richly　decorated　nineteenth…century　lobby　to　a　typical　brass…grilled　French　elevator；　they　entered　and　proceeded　to　the　third　floor。　The　grille　opened　and　Krupkin　continued　as　he　led　the　way　down　a　wide　corridor。　〃We'll　use　an　in…house　conference　room；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　be　the　only　Americans　who　have　ever　seen　it　or　will　ever　see　it；　as　it's　one　of　the　few　offices　without　listening　devices。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　want　to　submit　that　statement　to　a　polygraph；　would　you？〃　asked　Conklin；　chuckling。
　〃Like　you；　Aleksei；　I　learned　long　ago　how　to　fool　those　idiot　machines；　but　even　if　that　were　not　so；　in　this　case　I　would　willingly　submit　it；　for　it's　true。　In　all　honesty；　it's　to　protect　ourselves　from　ourselves。　e　along　now。〃
　The　conference　room　was　the　size　of　an　average　suburban　dining　room　but　with　a　long　heavy　table　and　dark　masculine　furniture；　the　chairs　thick；　unwieldy　and　quite　fortable。　The　walls　were　covered　with　deep　brown　paneling；　the　inevitable　portrait　of　Lenin　centered　ostentatiously　behind　the　head　chair；　beside　which　was　a　low　table　designed　for　the　telephone　console　within　easy　reach。　〃I　know　you're　anxious；〃　said　Krupkin；　going　to　the　console；　〃so　I'll　authorize　an　international　line　for　you。〃　Lifting　the　phone；　touching　a　button；　and　speaking　rapidly　in　Russian；　Dimitri　did　so；　then　hung　up　and　turned　to　the　Americans。　〃You're　assigned　number　twenty…six；　it's　the　last　button　on　the　right；　second　row。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Conklin　nodded　and　reached　into　his　pocket；　pulling　out　a　scrap　of　paper　and　handing　it　to　the　KGB　officer。　〃I　need　another　favor；　Kruppie。　That's　a　telephone　number　here　in　Paris。　It's　supposed　to　be　a　direct　line　to　the　Jackal；　but　it　didn't　match　the　one　Bourne　was　given　that　did　reach　him。　We　don't　know　where　it　fits　in；　but　wherever　it　is；　it's　tied　to　Carlos。〃
　〃And　you　don't　want　to　call　it　for　fear　of　exposing　your　possession　of　the　number…initial　codes；　that　sort　of　thing。　I　understand；　of　course。　Why　send　out　an　alert　when　it's　unnecessary？　I'll　take　care　of　it。〃　Krupkin　looked　at　Jason；　his　expression　that　of　an　older；　understanding　colleague。　〃Be　of　good　and　firm　heart；　Mr。　Bourne；　as　the　czarists　would　say　facing　no　discernible　harm　whatsoever。　Despite　your　apprehensions；　I　have　enormous　faith　in　Langley's　abilities。　They've　harmed　my　not　insignificant　operations　more　than　I　care　to　dwell　upon。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you've　done　your　share　of　damage　to　them；〃　said　Jason　impatiently；　glancing　at　the　telephone　console。
　〃That　knowledge　keeps　me　going。〃
　〃Thanks；　Kruppie；〃　said　Alex。　〃In　your　words；　you're　a　fine　old　enemy。〃
　〃Again；　shame　on　your　parents！　If　they　had　stayed　in　Mother　Russia；　just　think。　By　now　you　and　I　would　be　running　the　Komitet。〃
　〃And　have　two　lakefront　houses？〃
　〃Are　you　crazy；　Aleksei？　We　would　own　the　entire　Lake　Geneva！〃　Krupkin　turned　and　walked　to　the　door；　letting　himself　out　with　quiet　laughter。
　〃It's　all　a　damned　game　with　you　people；　isn't　it？〃　said　Bourne。
　〃Up　to　a　point；〃　agreed　Alex；　〃but　not　when　stolen　information　can　lead　to　the　loss　of　life…on　both　sides；　incidentally。　That's　when　the　weapons　e　out　and　the　games　are　over。〃
　〃Reach　Langley；〃　said　Jason　abruptly；　nodding　at　the　console。　〃Holland's　got　some　explaining　to　do。〃
　〃Reaching　Langley　wouldn't　help…〃
　〃What？〃
　〃It's　too　early；　it's　barely　seven　o'clock　in　the　States；　but　not　to　worry；　I　can　bypass。〃　Conklin　again　reached　into　a　pocket　and　withdrew　a　small　notebook。
　〃Bypass？〃　cried　Bourne。　〃What　kind　of　double　talk　is　that？　I'm　close　to　the　edge；　Alex；　those　are　my　children　over　there！〃
　〃Relax；　all　it　means　is　that　I've　got　his　unlisted　home　number。〃　Conklin　sat　down　and　picked　up　the　phone；　he　dialed。
　〃Bypass；'　for　Christ's　sake。　You　relics　of　outmoded　ciphers　can't　use　the　English　language。　Bypass！〃
　〃Sorry；　Professor；　it's　habit。　。。。　Peter？　It's　Alex。　Open　your　eyes　and　wake　up；　sailor。　We've　got　plications。〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　wake　up；〃　said　the　voice　from　Fairfax；　Virginia。　〃I　just　got　back　from　a　five…mile　jog。〃
　〃Oh；　you　people　with　feet　think　you're　so　smart。〃
　〃Jesus；　I'm　sorry；　Alex。　。。。　I　didn't　mean…〃
　〃Of　course　you　didn't；　Ensign　Holland；　but　we've　got　a　problem。〃
　〃Which　means　at　least　you've　made　contact。　You　reached　Bourne。〃
　〃He's　standing　over　my　shoulder　and　we're　calling　from　the　Soviet　embassy　in　Paris。〃
　〃What？　Holy　shit！〃
　〃Not　holy；　just　Casset；　remember？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　I　forgot。　。。。　What　about　his　wife？〃
　〃Mo　Panov's　with　her。　The　good　doctor's　covering　the　medical　bases；　for　which　I'm　grateful。〃
　〃So　am　I。　Any　other　progress？〃
　〃Nothing　you　want　to　hear；　but　you're　going　to　hear　it　loud　and　clear。〃
　〃What　are　you　talk