rl.thebourneultimatum-第23节

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was　sandwiched　between　Canada　Cay　and　Turtle　Rock。　Two　clerks；　both　young；　one　black　and　one　white；　the　former　a　young　woman；　the　latter　a　blond…haired　man　in　his　early　twenties；　were　talking　quietly。　The　girl　approached。　〃May　I　help　you；　sir？〃
　〃I'm　not　really　sure；〃　replied　Brendan　hesitantly。　〃My　schedule's　so　unsettled；　but　it　seems　I　have　a　friend　on　Tranquility　Isle。〃
　〃At　the　inn；　sir？〃
　〃Yes；　apparently　so。　Does　it　take　long　to　fly　over　there？〃
　〃If　the　weather's　clear；　no　more　than　fifteen　minutes；　but　that　would　be　an　amphibious　charter。　I'm　not　sure　one's　available　until　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Sure；　there　is；　babe；〃　interrupted　the　young　man　with　small　gold　wings　pinned　crookedly　on　his　white　shirt。　〃I'm　running　over　some　supplies　to　Johnny　St。　Jay　pretty　soon；〃　he　added；　stepping　forward。
　〃He's　not　scheduled　for　today。〃
　〃As　of　an　hour　ago　he　is。　Pronto。〃
　At　that　instant　and　with　those　words；　Prefontaine's　eyes　fell　in　astonishment　on　two　stacks　of　cartons　moving　slowly　down　Inter…Island's　luggage　carousel　toward　the　exterior　loading　area。　Even　if　he　had　the　time　to　debate　with　himself；　he　knew　his　decision　was　made。
　〃I'd　like　to　purchase　a　ticket　on　that　flight；　if　I　may；〃　he　said；　watching　the　boxes　of　Gerber's　Assorted　Baby　Foods　and　Pampers　Medium　Diapers　disappear　into　the　hold。
　He　had　found　the　unknown　woman　with　the　small　male　child　and　the　infant。
　
　8
　Routine　secondhand　inquiries　at　the　Federal　Trade　mission　confirmed　the　fact　that　its　chairman；　Albert　Armbruster；　did；　indeed；　have　ulcers　as　well　as　high　blood　pressure　and　under　doctor's　orders　left　the　office　and　returned　home　whenever　disfort　struck　him。　Which　was　why　Alex　Conklin　telephoned　him　after　a　generally　overindulgent　lunch…also　established…with　an　〃update〃　of　the　Snake　Lady　crisis。　As　with　Alex's　initial　call；　catching　Armbruster　in　the　shower；　he　anonymously　told　the　shaken　chairman　that　someone　would　be　in　touch　with　him　later　in　the　day…either　at　the　office　or　at　home。　The　contact　would　identify　himself　simply　as　Cobra。　（〃Use　all　the　banal　trigger　words　you　can　e　up　with〃　was　the　gospel　according　to　St。　Conklin。）　In　the　meantime；　Armbruster　was　instructed　to　talk　to　no　one。　〃Those　are　orders　from　the　Sixth　Fleet。〃
　〃Oh；　Christ！〃
　Thus　Albert　Armbruster　called　for　his　chariot　and　was　driven　home　in　disfort。　Further　nausea　was　in　store　for　the　chairman；　however；　as　Jason　Bourne　was　waiting　for　him。
　〃Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Armbruster；〃　said　the　stranger　pleasantly　as　the　chairman　struggled　out　of　the　limousine；　the　door　held　open　by　the　chauffeur。
　〃Yes；　what？〃　Armbruster's　response　was　immediate；　unsure。
　〃I　merely　said　'Good　afternoon。'　My　name's　Simon。　We　met　at　the　White　House　reception　for　the　Joint　Chiefs　several　years　ago…〃
　〃I　wasn't　there；〃　broke　in　the　chairman　emphatically。
　〃Oh？〃　The　stranger　arched　his　brows；　his　voice　still　pleasant　but　obviously　questioning。
　〃Mr。　Armbruster？〃　The　chauffeur　had　closed　the　door　and　now　turned　courteously　to　the　chairman。　〃Will　you　be　needing…〃
　〃No；　no；〃　said　Armbruster；　again　interrupting。　〃You're　relieved…I　won't　need　you　anymore　today　。。。　tonight。〃
　〃Same　time　tomorrow　morning；　sir？〃
　〃Yes；　tomorrow…unless　you're　told　otherwise。　I'm　not　a　well　man；　check　with　the　office。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　chauffeur　tipped　his　visored　cap　and　climbed　back　into　the　front　seat。
　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　said　the　stranger；　holding　his　place　as　the　limousine's　engine　was　started　and　the　automobile　rolled　away。
　〃What？　。。。　Oh；　you。　I　was　never　at　the　White　House　for　that　damned　reception！〃
　〃Perhaps　I　was　mistaken…〃
　〃Yes；　well；　nice　to　see　you　again；〃　said　Armbruster　anxiously；　impatiently；　hurrying　to　the　steps　that　led　up　to　his　Georgetown　house。
　〃Then　again；　I'm　quite　sure　Admiral　Burton　introduced　us…〃
　〃What？〃　The　chairman　spun　around。　〃What　did　you　just　say。
　〃This　is　a　waste　of　time；〃　continued　Jason　Bourne；　the　pleasantness　gone　from　his　voice　and　his　face。　〃I'm　Cobra。〃
　〃Oh；　Jesus！　。。。　I'm　not　a　well　man。〃　Armbruster　repeated　the　statement　in　a　hoarse　whisper；　snapping　his　head　up　to　look　at　the　front　of　his　house；　to　the　windows　and　the　door。
　〃You'll　be　far　worse　unless　we　talk；〃　added　Jason；　following　the　chairman's　eyes。　〃Shall　it　be　up　there？　In　your　house？〃
　〃No！〃　cried　Armbruster。　〃She　yaps　all　the　time　and　wants　to　know　everything　about　everybody；　then　blabs　all　over　town　exaggerating　everything。〃
　〃I　assume　you're　talking　about　your　wife。〃
　〃All　of　'em！　They　don't　know　when　to　keep　their　traps　shut。〃
　〃It　sounds　like　they're　starved　for　conversation。〃
　〃What。。。？〃
　〃Never　mind。　I've　got　a　car　down　the　block。　Are　you　up　to　a　drive？〃
　〃I　damn　well　better　be。　We'll　stop　at　the　drugstore　down　the　street。　They've　got　my　prescription　on　file。　。。。　Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃I　told　you；〃　answered　Bourne。　〃Cobra。　It's　a　snake。〃
　〃Oh；　Jesus！〃　whispered　Albert　Armbruster。
　The　pharmacist　plied　rapidly；　and　Jason　quickly　drove　to　a　neighborhood　bar　he　had　chosen　an　hour　before　should　one　be　necessary。　It　was　dark　and　full　of　shadows；　the　booths　deep；　the　banquettes　high；　isolating　those　meeting　one　another　from　curious　glances。　The　ambience　was　important；　for　it　was　vital　that　he　stare　into　the　eyes　of　the　chairman　when　he　asked　questions；　his　own　eyes　ice…cold；　demanding　。。。　threatening。　Delta　was　back；　Cain　had　returned；　Jason　Bourne　was　in　full　mand；　David　Webb　forgotten。
　〃We　have　to　cover　ourselves；〃　said　the　Cobra　quietly　after　their　drinks　arrived。　〃In　terms　of　damage　control　that　means　we　have　to　know　how　much　harm　each　of　us　could　do　under　the　Amytals。〃
　〃What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃　asked　Armbruster　swallowing　most　of　his　gin　and　tonic　while　wincing　and　holding　his　stomach。
　〃Drugs；　chemicals；　truth　serums。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃This　isn't　your　normal　ball　game；〃　said　Bourne；　remembering　Conklin's　words。　〃We've　got　to　cover　all　of　the　bases　because　there　aren't　any　constitutional　rights　in　this　series。〃
　〃So　who　are　you？〃　The　chairman　of　the　Federal　Trade　mission　belched　and　brought　his　glass　briefly　to　his　lips；　his　hand　trembling。　〃Some　kind　of　one…man　hit　team？　John　Doe　knows　something；　so　he's　shot　in　an　alley？〃
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous。　Anything　like　that　would　be　totally　counterproductive。　It　would　only　fuel　those　trying　to　find　us；　leave　a　trail…〃
　〃Then　what　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Saving　our　lives；　which　includes　our　reputations　and　our　life…styles。〃
　〃You're　one　cold　prick。　How　do　we　do　that？〃
　〃Let's　take　your　case；　shall　we？　。。。　You're　not　a　well　man　by　your　own　admission。　You　could　resign　under　doctor's　orders　and　we　take　care　of　you…Medusa　takes　care　of　you。〃　Jason's　imagination　floated；　making　quick　sharp　forays　into　reality　and　fantasy；　swiftly　searching　for　the　words　that　might　be　found　in　the　gospel　according　to　St。　Alex。　〃You're　known　to　be　a　wealthy　man；　so　a　villa　might　be　purchased　in　your　name；　or　perhaps　a　Caribbean　island；　where　you'd　be　pletely　secure。　No　one　can　reach　you；　no　one　can　talk　to　you　unless　you　agree；　which　would　mean　predetermined　interviews；　harmless　and　even　favorable　results　guaranteed。　Such　things　are　not　impossible。〃
　〃Pretty　sterile　existence　in　my　opinion；〃　said　Armbruster。　〃Me　and　the　yapper　all　by　ourselves？　I'd　kill　her。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　went　on　the　Cobra。　〃There'd　be　constant　distractions。　Guests　of　your　choosing　could　be　flown　to　wherever　you　are。　Other　women　also　either　of　your　choice　or　selected　by　those　who　respect　your　tastes。　Life　goes　on　much　as　before；　some　inconveniences；　some　pleasant　surprises。　The　point　is　that　you'd　be　protected；　inaccessible　and　therefore　we're　also　protected；　the　rest　of　us。　。。。　But；　as　I　say；　that　option　is　merely　hypothetical　at　this　juncture。　In　my　case；　frankly；　it's　a　necessity　because　there's　little　I　don't　know。　I　leave　in　a　matter　of　days。　Until　then　I'm　determining　who　goes　and　who　stays。　。。。　How　much　do　you　know；　Mr。　Armbruster？〃
　〃I'm　not　involved　with　the　day…to…day　operations；　naturally。　I　deal　with　the　big　picture。　Like　the　others；　I　get　a　monthly　coded　telex　from　the　banks　in　Zurich　listing　the　deposits　and　the　panies　we're　gaining　control　of…that's　about　it。〃
　〃So　far　you　don't　get　a　villa。〃
　〃I'll　be　damned　if　I　want　one；　and　if　I　do　I'll　buy　it　myself。　I've　got　close　to　a　hundred　million；　American；　in　Zurich。〃
　Bourne　controlled　his　astonishment　and　simply　stared　at　the　chairman。　〃I　wouldn't　repeat　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Who　am　I　going　to　tell？　The　yapper？〃
　〃How　many　of　the　others　do　you　know　personally？〃　asked　the　Cobra。
　〃Practically　none　of　the　staff；　but　then　they　don't　know　me；　either。　Hell；　they　don't　know　anybody。　。。。　And　while　we're　on　the　subject；　take　you；　for　instance。　I've　never　heard　of　you。　I　figure　you　work　for　the　board　and　I　was　told　to　expect　you；　but　I　don't　know　you。〃
　〃I　was　hired　on　a　very　special　basis。　My　background's　deep…cover　security。〃
　〃Like　I　said；　I　figured…〃
　〃What　about　the　Sixth　Fleet？〃　interrupted　Bourne；　moving　away　from　the　subject　of　himself。
　〃I　see　him　now　and　then　but　I　don't　think　we've　exchanged　a　dozen　words。　He's　military；　I'm　civilian…very　civilian。〃
　〃You　weren't　once。　Where　it　all　began。〃
　〃The　hell　I　wasn't。　No　uniform　ever　made　a　soldier　an