rl.thebourneultimatum-第46节

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ng　him。　〃HQ　said　he　was　uptight　as　hell。　We're　responding；　but　like　I　told　dispatch；　there've　been　some　pretty　wild　parties　out　here；　no　criticism　intended；　sir。　We　all　like　a　good　time　now　and　then；　right？〃
　〃Absolutely　right；　Officer；〃　replied　Jason；　trying　his　utmost　to　control　the　painful　heaving　in　his　chest；　his　eyes　straying　to　the　wounded　killer…he　had　disappeared！　〃There　was　a　momentary　shortage　in　electricity　that　somehow　interfered　with　the　telephone　lines。〃
　〃Happens　a　lot；〃　confirmed　the　younger　patrolman。　〃Sudden　showers　and　summer　heat　lightnin'。　Someday　they'll　put　all　them　cables　underground。　My　folks　got　a　place…〃
　〃The　point　is；〃　interrupted　Bourne；　〃everything's　getting　back　to　normal。　As　you　can　see；　some　of　the　lights　in　the　house　are　back　on。〃
　〃I　can't　see　nothin'　through　them　flares；〃　said　the　young　police　officer。
　〃The　general　always　takes　the　ultimate　precautions；〃　explained　Jason。　〃I　guess　he　feels　he　has　to；〃　added　Bourne；　somewhat　lamely。　〃Regardless；　everything's…as　I　said…getting　back　to　normal。　Okay？〃
　〃Okay　by　me；〃　answered　the　older　patrolman；　〃but　I　got　a　message　for　someone　named　Webb。　He　in　there？〃
　〃I'm　Webb；〃　said　Jason　Bourne；　alarmed。
　〃That　makes　things　easier。　You're　supposed　to　call　a　'Mister　Conk'　right　away。　It's　urgent。〃
　〃Urgent？〃
　〃An　emergency；　we　were　told。　It　was　just　radioed　to　us。〃
　Jason　could　hear　the　rattling　of　the　fence　on　the　perimeter　of　Swayne's　property。　The　killer　was　getting　away！　〃Well；　Officer；　the　phones　are　still　out　here。　。。。　Do　you　have　one　in　your　car？〃
　〃Not　for　personal　use；　sir。　Sorry。〃
　〃But　you　just　said　it　was　an　emergency。〃
　〃Well；　I　suppose　since　you're　a　guest　of　the　general's　I　could　permit　it。　If　it's　long　distance；　though；　you'd　better　have　a　credit　card　number。〃
　〃Oh；　my　God。〃　Bourne　unlocked　the　gate　and　rushed　to　the　patrol　car　as　the　siren…alarm　was　activated　back　at　the　house…activated　and　then　instantly　shut　off。　The　remaining　brother　had　apparently　found　Cactus。
　〃What　the　hell　was　that？〃　yelled　the　young　policeman。
　〃Forget　it！〃　screamed　Jason；　jumping　into　the　car　and　yanking　an　all　too　familiar　patrol　phone　out　of　its　cradle。　He　gave　Alex's　number　in　Virginia　to　the　police　switchboard　and　kept　repeating　the　phrase：　〃It's　an　emergency；　it's　an　emergency！〃
　〃Yes？〃　answered　Conklin；　acknowledging　the　police　operator。
　〃It's　me！〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃Too　involved　to　go　into。　What's　the　emergency？〃
　〃I've　got　you　a　private　jet　out　of　the　Reston　airport。〃
　〃Reston？　That's　north　of　here…〃
　〃The　field　in　Manassas　doesn't　have　the　equipment。　I'm　sending　a　car　for　you。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Tranquility。　Marie　and　the　kids　are　okay；　they're　okay！　She's　in　charge。〃
　〃What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃
　〃Get　to　Reston　and　I'll　tell　you。〃
　〃I　want　more！〃
　〃The　Jackal's　flying　in　today。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃
　〃Wrap　things　up　there　and　wait　for　the　car。〃
　〃I'll　take　this　one！〃
　〃No！　Not　unless　you　want　to　blow　everything。　We've　got　time。　Wrap　it　up　out　there。〃
　〃Cactus　。。。　he's　hurt…shot。〃
　〃I'll　call　Ivan。　He'll　get　back　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃There's　one　brother　left…only　one；　Alex。　I　killed　the　other　two…I　was　responsible。〃
　〃Cut　that　out。　Stop　it。　Do　what　you　have　to　do。〃
　〃Goddamn　you；　I　can't。　Someone's　got　to　be　here　and　I　won't　be！〃
　〃You're　right。　There's　too　much　to　keep　under　wraps　out　there　and　you've　got　to　be　in　Montserrat。　I'll　drive　out　with　the　car　and　take　your　place。〃
　〃Alex；　tell　me　what　happened　on　Tranquility！〃
　〃The　old　men　。。。　your　'old　men　of　Paris；'　that's　what　happened。〃
　〃They're　dead；〃　said　Jason　Bourne　quietly；　simply。
　〃Don't　be　hasty。　They've　turned…at　least　I　gather　the　real　one　turned　and　the　other's　a　God…given　mistake。　They're　on　our　side　now。〃
　〃They're　never　on　anyone's　side　but　the　Jackal's；　you　don't　know　them。〃
　〃Neither　do　you。　Listen　to　your　wife。　But　now　you　go　back　to　the　house　and　write　out　everything　I　should　know。　。。。　And　Jason；　I　must　tell　you　something。　I　hope　to　Christ　you　can　find　your　solution…our　solution…on　Tranquility。　Because　all　things　considered；　including　my　life；　I　can't　keep　this　Medusa　on　our　level　much　longer。　I　think　you　know　that。〃
　〃You　promised！〃
　〃Thirty…six　hours；　Delta。〃
　In　the　woods　beyond　the　fence　a　wounded　man　crouched；　his　frightened　face　against　the　green　links。　In　the　bright　wash　of　the　headlights；　he　observed　the　tall　man　who　had　gone　into　the　patrol　car　and　now　came　out；　awkwardly；　nervously　thanking　the　policemen。　He　did　not；　however；　permit　them　inside。
　Webb。　The　killer　had　heard　the　name　〃Webb。〃
　It　was　all　they　had　to　know。　All　Snake　Lady　had　to　know。
　
　15
　〃God；　I　love　you！〃　said　David　Webb；　leaning　into　the　pay　phone　in　the　preboarding　room　at　the　private　airfield　in　Reston；　Virginia。　〃The　waiting　was　the　worst　part；　waiting　to　talk　to　you；　to　hear　from　you　that　you　were　all　all　right。〃
　〃How　do　you　think　I　felt；　darling？　Alex　said　the　telephone　lines　had　been　cut　and　he　was　sending　the　police　when　I　wanted　him　to　send　the　whole　damned　army。〃
　〃We　can't　even　allow　the　police；　nothing　official　anywhere　at　the　moment。　Conklin's　promised　me　at　least　another　thirty…six　hours。　。。。　We　may　not　need　that　now。　Not　with　the　Jackal　in　Montserrat。〃
　〃David；　what　happened？　Alex　mentioned　Medusa…〃
　〃It's　a　mess　and　he's　right；　he　has　to　go　higher　up　with　it。　Him；　not　us。　We　stay　out。　Far　away　out。〃
　〃What　happened？〃　repeated　Marie。　〃What's　the　old　Medusa　got　to　do　with　anything？〃
　〃There's　a　new　Medusa…an　extension　of　the　old　one；　actually…and　it's　big　and　ugly　and　it　kills；　they　kill。　I　saw　that　tonight；　one　of　their　guns　tried　to　kill　me　after　thinking　he'd　killed　Cactus　and　murdering　two　innocent　men。〃
　〃Good　God！　Alex　told　me　about　Cactus　when　he　called　me　back；　but　nothing　else。　How　is　your　Uncle　Remus？〃
　〃He'll　make　it。　The　Agency　doctor　came　out　and　took　him　and　the　last　brother　away。〃
　〃　'Brother'？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　when　I　see　you。　。。。　Conklin's　out　there　now。　He'll　take　care　of　everything　and　have　the　telephone　fixed。　I'll　call　him　from　Tranquility。〃
　〃You're　exhausted…〃
　〃I'm　tired；　but　I'm　not　sure　why。　Cactus　insisted　I　get　some　sleep　and　I　must　have　had　all　of　twelve　minutes。〃
　〃My　poor　darling。〃
　〃I　like　the　tone　of　your　voice；〃　said　David。　〃The　words　even　better；　except　I'm　not　poor。　You　took　care　of　that　in　Paris　thirteen　years　ago。〃　Suddenly　his　wife　was　silent　and　Webb　was　alarmed。　〃What　is　it？　Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　answered　Marie　softly；　but　with　a　strength　that　was　the　result　of　thought；　not　feeling。　〃You　say　this　new　Medusa　is　big　and　ugly　and　it　tried　to　kill　you…they　tried　to　kill　you。〃
　〃They　didn't。〃
　〃Yet　they；　or　it；　wanted　you　dead。　Why？〃
　〃Because　I　was　there。〃
　〃You　don't　kill　a　man　because　he　was　at　someone's　house…〃
　〃A　lot　happened　at　that　house　tonight。　Alex　and　I　penetrated　its　circle　of　secrets　and　I　was　seen。　The　idea　was　to　bait　the　Jackal　with　a　few　rich　and　all　too　famous　bandits　from　the　old　Saigon　who　would　hire　him　to　e　after　me。　It　was　a　hell　of　a　strategy　but　it　spiraled　out　of　control。〃
　〃My　God；　David；　don't　you　understand？　You're　marked！　They'll　e　after　you　themselves！〃
　〃How　can　they？　The　hit　man　from　Medusa　who　was　there　never　saw　my　face　except　while　I　was　running　in　shadows；　and　they　have　no　idea　who　I　am。　I'm　a　nonperson　who'll　simply　disappear。　。。。　No；　Marie；　if　Carlos　shows　up　and　if　I　can　do　what　I　know　I　can　do　in　Montserrat；　we'll　be　free。　To　borrow　a　phrase；　'free　at　last。'　〃
　〃Your　voice　changes；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃My　what　does　which？〃
　〃It　really　does。　I　can　tell。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　said　Jason　Bourne。　〃I'm　being　signaled。　The　plane's　here。　Tell　Johnny　to　keep　those　two　old　men　under　guard！〃
　
　The　whispers　spread　through　Montserrat　like　rolling　pockets　of　mist。　Something　terrible　had　happened　on　the　out　island　of　Tranquility。　。。。　Bad　times；　mon。〃　。。。　〃The　evil　obeah　e　across　the　Antilles　from　Jamaic'　and　there　was　death　and　madness。〃　。。。　〃And　blood　on　the　walls　of　death；　mon；　a　curse　put　on　the　family　of　an　animal。〃　。。。　〃Sshh！　There　was　a　cat　mother　and　two　cat　children　。。。　！〃
　And　there　were　other　voices。　。。。　〃Dear　God；　keep　it　quiet！　It　could　ruin　what　tourism　we've　built！〃　。。。　〃Never　anything　like　this　before…an　isolated　incident；　obviously　drug　related；　brought　over　from　another　island！　。。。　〃All　too　true；　mon！　I　hear　it　was　a　madman；　his　body　filled　with　dope。〃　。。。　〃I'm　told　a　fast　boat　running　like　the　wind　of　a　hurricane　took　him　out　to　sea。　He's　gone！　。。。　Keep　it　quiet；　I　say！　Remember　the　Virgins？　The　Fountainhead　massacre？　It　took　them　years　to　recover。　Quiet！〃
　And　a　single　voice。　〃It's　a　trap；　sir；　and　if　successful；　as　we　believe　it　will　be；　we'll　be　the　talk　of　the　West　Indies；　the　heroes　of　the　Caribbean。　It'll　be　positively　marvelous　for　our　image。　Law　and　order　and　all　that。〃
　〃Thank　heavens！　Was　anyone　actually　killed？〃
　〃One　person；　and　she　was　in　the　act　of　taking　another's　life。〃
　〃She？　Good　God；　I　don't　want　to　hear　another　word　until　it's　all　over。〃
　〃It's　better　that　you　not　be　available　for　ment。〃
　〃Damned　good　idea。　I'll　go　out　on　the　boat；　the　fish　are　running　well　after　the　storm。〃
　〃Excellent；　sir。　And　I'll　stay　in