rl.thebourneultimatum-第28节

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　direction　and　heading　straight　for　the　main　plex。　As　he　had　done　so　many　times　over　the　past　thirty　years；　he　was　forced　to　think　quickly　on　his　feet…usually　running　feet…building　plausible　explanations　that　would　support　a　number　of　obvious　possibilities　as　well　as　others　not　so　obvious。　He　had　just　mitted　an　unavoidable　yet　stupid　error；　unavoidable　because　he　was　not　prepared　to　give　Tranquility　Inn's　desk　a　false　name　in　case　identification　was　required；　and　stupid　because　he　had　given　a　false　name　to　the　hero　of　France。　。。。　Well；　not　stupid；　the　similarity　of　their　surnames　might　have　led　to　unwanted　plications　where　the　purpose　of　his　trip　to　Montserrat　was　concerned；　which　was　quite　simply　extortion…to　learn　what　so　frightened　Randolph　Gates　that　he　would　part　with　fifteen　thousand　dollars；　and　having　learned　it　perhaps　collect　a　great　deal　more。　No；　the　stupidity　was　in　not　taking　the　precautionary　step　he　was　about　to　take。　He　approached　the　front　desk　and　the　tall；　slender　clerk　behind　it。
　〃Good　evening；　sir；〃　fairly　yelled　the　inn's　employee；　causing　the　judge　to　look　around；　grateful　that　there　were　very　few　guests　in　the　lobby。　〃However　I　may　assist　you；　be　assured　of　my　perfection！〃
　〃I'd　rather　be　assured　of　your　keeping　your　voice　down；　young　man。〃
　〃I　shall　whisper；〃　said　the　clerk　inaudibly。
　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃How　may　I　help　you？〃　intoned　the　man；　now　sotto　voce。
　〃Let's　just　talk　quietly；　all　right？〃
　〃Certainly。　I　am　so　very　privileged。〃
　〃You　are？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Prefontaine。　〃I　have　a　favor　to　ask　of　you…〃
　〃Anything！〃
　〃Shhh！〃
　〃Naturally。〃
　〃Like　many　men　of　advanced　age　I　frequently　forget　things；　you　can　understand　that；　can't　you？〃
　〃A　man　of　your　wisdom　I　doubt　forgets　anything。〃
　〃What？　。。。　Never　mind。　I'm　traveling　incognito；　you　do　know　what　I　mean。〃
　〃Most　assuredly；　sir。〃
　〃I　registered　under　my　name；　Prefontaine…〃
　〃You　certainly　did；〃　interrupted　the　clerk。　〃I　know。〃
　〃It　was　a　mistake。　My　office　and　those　I've　told　to　reach　me　expect　to　ask　for　a　'Mr。　Patrick；'　my　middle　name。　It's　harmless　subterfuge　to　allow　me　some　much　needed　rest。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　said　the　clerk　confidentially；　leaning　over　the　counter。
　〃You　do？〃
　〃Of　course。　If　such　an　eminent　person　as　yourself　were　known　to　be　a　guest　here；　you　might　find　little　rest。　As　another；　you　must　have　plete　privvissy！　Be　assured；　I　understand。〃
　〃　'Privvissy'？　Oh；　good　Lord。　。。。〃
　〃I　shall　myself　alter　the　directory；　Judge。〃
　〃Judge。。。？　I　said　nothing　about　being　a　judge。〃　Consternation　was　apparent　on　the　man's　embarrassed　face。　〃A　slip　born　of　wishing　to　serve　you；　sir。〃
　〃And　of　something　else…someone　else。〃
　〃On　my　word；　no　one　here　other　than　the　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn　is　aware　of　the　confidential　nature　of　your　visit；　sir；〃　whispered　the　clerk；　again　leaning　over　the　counter。　〃All　is　total　privvissy！〃
　〃Holy　Mary；　that　asshole　at　the　airport…〃
　〃My　astute　uncle；〃　continued　the　clerk；　overriding　and　not　hearing　Prefontaine's　soft　monotone；　〃made　it　pletely　clear　that　we　were　privileged　to　be　dealing　with　illustrious　men　who　required　total　confidentiality。　You　see；　he　called　me　in　that　spirit…〃
　〃All　right；　all　right；　young　man；　I　understand　now　and　appreciate　everything　you're　doing。　Just　make　sure　that　the　name　is　changed　to　Patrick；　and　should　anyone　here　inquire　about　me；　he　or　she　is　to　be　given　that　name。　Do　we　understand　each　other？〃
　〃With　clairvoyance；　honored　Judge！〃
　〃I　hope　not。〃
　Four　minutes　later　the　harried　assistant　manager　picked　up　the　ringing　telephone。　〃Front　desk；〃　he　intoned；　as　if　giving　a　benediction。
　〃This　is　Monsieur　Fontaine　in　Villa　Number　Eleven。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　The　honor　is　mine　。。。　ours　。。。　everyone's！〃
　〃Merci。　I　wondered　if　you　might　help　me。　I　met　a　charming　American　on　the　path　perhaps　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago；　a　man　about　my　own　age　wearing　a　white　walking　cap。　I　thought　I　might　ask　him　for　an　aperitif　one　day；　but　I'm　not　sure　I　heard　his　name　correctly。〃
　He　was　being　tested；　thought　the　assistant　manager。　Great　men　not　only　had　secrets　but　concerned　themselves　with　those　guarding　them。　〃I　would　have　to　say　from　your　description；　sir；　that　you　met　the　very　charming　Mr。　Patrick。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；　I　believe　that　was　the　name。　An　Irish　name；　indeed；　but　he's　American；　is　he　not？〃
　〃A　very　learned　American；　sir；　from　Boston；　Massachusetts。　He's　in　Villa　Fourteen；　the　third　west　of　yours。　Simply　dial　seven…one…four。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　thank　you　so　much。　If　you　see　Monsieur　Patrick；　I'd　prefer　you　say　nothing。　As　you　know；　my　wife　is　not　well　and　I　must　extend　the　invitation　when　it　is　fortable　for　her。〃
　〃I　would　never　say　anything；　great　sir；　unless　told　to　do　so。　Where　you　and　the　learned　Mr。　Patrick　are　concerned；　we　follow　the　Crown　governor's　confidential　instructions　to　the　letter。〃
　〃You　do？　That's　most　mendable。　。。。　Adieu。〃
　He　had　done　it！　thought　the　assistant　manager；　hanging　up　the　phone。　Great　men　understood　subtleties；　and　he　had　been　subtle　in　ways　his　brilliant　uncle　would　appreciate。　Not　only　with　the　instant　offering　of　the　Patrick　name；　but；　more　important；　by　using　the　word　〃learned〃　which　conveyed　that　of　a　scholar…or　a　judge。　And；　finally；　by　stating　that　he　would　not　say　anything　without　the　Crown　governor's　instructions。　By　the　use　of　subtlety　he　had　insinuated　himself　into　the　confidentiality　of　great　men。　It　was　a　breathtaking　experience；　and　he　must　call　his　uncle　and　share　their　bined　triumph。
　Fontaine　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　the　telephone　in　its　cradle　yet　still　in　his　hand；　staring　at　his　woman　out　on　the　balcony。　She　sat　in　her　wheelchair；　her　profile　to　him；　the　glass　of　wine　on　the　small　table　beside　the　chair；　her　head　bent　down　in　pain。　。。。　Pain！　The　whole　terrible　world　was　filled　with　pain！　And　he　had　done　his　share　inflicting　it；　he　understood　that　and　expected　no　quarter；　but　not　for　his　woman。　That　was　never　part　of　the　contract。　His　life；　yes；　of　course；　but　not　hers；　not　while　she　had　breath　in　her　frail　body。　Non；　monseigneur。　Je　refuse！　Ce　nest　pas　le　contrat！
　So　the　Jackal's　army　of　very　old　men　now　extended　to　America…it　was　to　be　expected。　And　an　old　Irish　American　in　a　foolish　white　cap；　a　learned　man　who　for　one　reason　or　another　had　embraced　the　cult　of　the　terrorist；　was　to　be　their　executioner。　A　man　who　had　studied　him　and　pretended　to　speak　no　French；　who　had　the　sign　of　the　Jackal　in　his　eyes。　Where　you　and　the　learned　Mr。　Patrick　are　concerned；　we　follow　the　instructions　of　the　Crown　governor。　The　Crown　governor　who　took　his　instructions　from　a　master　of　death　in　Paris。
　A　decade　ago；　after　five　productive　years　with　the　monseigneur；　he　had　been　given　a　telephone　number　in　Argenteuil；　six　miles　north　of　Paris；　that　he　was　never　to　use　except　in　the　most　extreme　emergency。　He　had　used　it　only　once　before；　but　he　would　use　it　now。　He　studied　the　international　codes；　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed。　After　the　better　part　of　two　minutes；　a　voice　answered。
　〃Le　Coeur　du　Soldat；〃　said　a　flat　male　voice；　martial　music　in　the　background。
　〃I　must　reach　a　blackbird；〃　said　Fontaine　in　French。　〃My　identity　is　Paris　Five。〃
　〃If　such　a　request　is　possible；　where　can　such　a　bird　reach　you？〃
　〃In　the　Caribbean。〃　Fontaine　gave　the　area　code；　the　telephone　number　and　the　extension　to　Villa　Eleven。　He　hung　up　the　phone　and　sat　despondent　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　In　his　soul　he　knew　that　this　might　be　his　and　his　woman's　last　few　hours　on　earth。　If　so；　he　and　his　woman　could　face　their　God　and　speak　the　truth。　He　had　killed；　no　question　about　that；　but　he　had　never　harmed　or　taken　the　life　of　a　person　who　had　not　mitted　greater　crimes　against　others…with　a　few　minor　exceptions　that　might　be　called　innocent　bystanders　caught　in　the　heat　of　fire　or　in　an　explosion。　All　life　was　pain；　did　not　the　Scriptures　tell　us　that？　。。。　On　the　other　hand；　what　kind　of　God　allowed　such　brutalities？　Merde！　Do　not　think　about　such　things！　They　are　beyond　your　understanding。
　The　telephone　rang　and　Fontaine　grabbed　it；　pulling　it　to　his　ear。　〃This　is　Paris　Five；〃　he　said。
　〃Child　of　God；　what　can　be　so　extreme　that　you　would　use　a　number　you　have　called　only　once　before　in　our　relationship？〃
　〃Your　generosity　has　been　absolute；　monseigneur；　but　I　feel　we　must　redefine　our　contract。〃
　〃In　what　way？〃
　〃My　life　is　yours　to　do　with　as　you　will；　as　mercifully　as　you　will；　but　it　does　not　include　my　woman。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃A　man　is　here；　a　learned　man　from　the　city　of　Boston　who　studies　me　with　curious　eyes；　eyes　that　tell　me　he　has　other　purposes　in　mind。〃
　〃That　arrogant　fool　flew　down　to　Montserrat　himself？　He　knows　nothing！〃
　〃Obviously　he　does；　and　I　beg　you；　I　shall　do　as　you　order　me　to　do；　but　let　us　go　back　to　Paris　。。。　I　beg　of　you。　Let　her　die　in　peace。　I　will　ask　no　more　of　you。〃
　〃You　ask　of　me？　I've　given　you　my　word！〃
　〃Then　why　is　this　learned　man　from　America　here　following　me　with　a　blank　face　and　inquisitive　eyes；　monseigneur？〃
　The　deep；　hollow　roll　of　a　throated　cough　filled　the　silence；　and　then　the　Jackal　spoke。　〃The　great　professor　of　law　has　transgressed；　inserted　himself　where　he　should　not　be。　He's　a　dead　man。〃
　Edith　Gates；　wife　of　the　c