rl.thebourneultimatum-第51节

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　〃He　removed　himself　to　the　gradins…how　is　it　said？〃
　〃The　bleachers。　He's　out　of　the　game；　only　an　observer。〃
　〃I've　known　many　like　him。　They　want　Carlos　to　lose；　he　wants　Carlos　to　lose。　It's　his　only　way　out；　but　he's　too　terrified　to　raise　a　hand　against　the　Jackal。〃
　〃Then　how　could　we　turn　him？〃　Jason　buttoned　the　tunic　as　Fontaine　manipulated　the　belt　and　the　cloth　behind　him。
　〃Le　Chameleon　asks　such　a　question？〃
　〃I've　been　out　of　practice。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　the　Frenchman；　yanking　the　belt　firmly。　〃That　man　I've　appealed　to。〃
　〃Just　shut　up。　。。。　How？〃
　〃Très　simple；　monsieur。　We　tell　him　the　Jackal　already　knows　he's　turned…I　tell　him。　Who　better　than　the　monseigneur's　emissary？〃
　〃You　are　good。〃　Bourne　held　in　his　stomach　as　Fontaine　turned　him　around；　pressing　the　lapels　and　the　ribbons　of　the　jacket。
　〃I'm　a　survivor；　neither　better　nor　worse　than　others…except　with　my　woman。　Then　I　was　better　than　most。〃
　〃You　loved　her　very　much；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Love？　Oh；　I　imagine　that's　taken　for　granted　although　rarely　expressed。　Perhaps　it's　the　fort　of　being　familiar；　although；　again；　hardly　with　grand　passion。　One　does　not　have　to　finish　a　sentence　to　be　understood；　and　a　look　in　the　eyes　will　bring　on　laughter　without　a　word　being　said。　It　es　with　the　years；　I　suppose。〃
　Jason　stood　motionless　for　a　moment；　staring　strangely　at　the　Frenchman。　〃I　want　the　years　you　had；　old　man；　I　want　them　very；　very　much。　The　years　I've　had　with　my　。。。　woman　。。。　are　filled　with　scars　that　won't　heal；　can't　heal；　until　something　inside　is　changed　or　cleansed　or　goes　away。　That's　the　way　it　is。〃
　〃Then　you　are　too　strong；　or　too　stubborn　or　too　stupid！　。。。　Don't　look　at　me　that　way。　I　told　you；　I'm　not　afraid　of　you；　I'm　not　afraid　of　anyone　any　longer。　But　if　what　you　say　is　true；　that　this　is　the　way　things　really　are　with　you；　then　I　suggest　you　leave　aside　all　thoughts　of　love　and　concentrate　on　hatred。　Since　I　cannot　reason　with　David　Webb；　I　must　prod　Jason　Bourne。　A　Jackal　filled　with　hate　must　die；　and　only　Bourne　can　kill　him。　。。。　Here　are　your　hat　and　sunglasses。　Stay　against　a　wall　or　you'll　look　like　a　military　peacock；　your　khaki　tail　raised　for　the　purpose　of　passing　merde。〃
　Without　speaking；　Bourne　adjusted　the　visored　hat　and　sunglasses；　walked　to　the　door　and　let　himself　out。　He　crossed　to　the　solid　wood　staircase　and　started　rapidly　down；　nearly　colliding　with　a　white　jacketed　black　steward　carrying　a　tray　out　of　the　second…floor　exit。　He　nodded　to　the　young　man；　who　backed　away；　allowing　him　to　proceed；　when　a　quiet；　ziplike　noise　along　with　a　sudden　movement　caught　in　the　corner　of　his　eyes　caused　him　to　turn。　The　waiter　was　pulling　an　electronic　beeper　out　of　his　pocket！　Jason　spun　around；　lurching　up　the　steps；　his　hands　lunging　into　the　youngster's　body；　ripping　the　device　out　of　his　grip　as　the　tray　crashed　to　the　floor　of　the　landing。　Straddling　the　youth；　with　one　hand　on　the　beeper　and　the　other　grasping　the　steward's　throat；　he　spoke　breathlessly；　quietly。　〃Who　had　you　do　this？　Tell　me！〃
　〃Hey；　mon；　I　fight　you！〃　cried　the　youngster；　writhing；　freeing　his　right　hand　and　smashing　a　fist　into　Bourne's　left　cheek。　〃We　don't　want　no　bad　mon　here！　Our　boss…mon　the　best！　You　don't　scare　me！〃　The　steward　crashed　his　knee　into　Jason's　groin。
　〃You　young　son　of　a　bitch！〃　cried　Le　Chameleon；　slapping　the　youngster's　face　back　and　forth　while　grabbing　his　aching　testicles　with　his　left　hand。　〃I'm　his　friend；　his　brother！　Will　you　cut　it　out？　。。。　Johnny　Saint　Jay's　my　brother！　In…law；　if　it　makes　any　goddamned　difference！〃
　〃Oh？〃　said　the　large；　youthful；　obviously　athletic　steward；　a　touch　of　resentment　in　his　wide；　embarrassed　brown　eyes。　〃You　are　the　mon　with　Boss　Saint　Jay's　sister？〃
　〃I'm　her　husband。　Who　the　fuck　are　you？〃
　〃I　am　first　head　steward　of　the　second　floor；　sir！　Soon　I　will　be　on　the　first　floor　because　I　am　very　good。　I　am　also　a　very　fine　fighter…my　father　taught　me；　although　he　is　old　now；　like　you。　Do　you　wish　to　fight　more？　I　think　I　can　beat　you！　You　have　gray　in　your　hair…〃
　〃Shut　up！　。。。　What's　the　beeper　all　about？〃　asked　Jason；　holding　up　the　small　brown　plastic　instrument　as　he　crawled　off　the　young　waiter。
　〃I　don't　know；　mon…sir！　Bad　things　have　happened。　We　are　told　that　if　we　see　men　running　on　the　staircases　we　should　press　the　buttons。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃The　lifts；　sir。　Our　very　fast　elevators。　Why　would　guests　use　the　stairs？〃
　〃What's　your　name？〃　asked　Bourne；　replacing　his　hat　and；　sunglasses。
　〃Ishmael；　sir。〃
　〃Like　in　Moby　Dick？〃
　〃I　do　not　know　such　a　person；　sir。〃
　〃Maybe　you　will。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure。　You're　a　very　good　fighter。〃
　〃I　see　no　connection；　mon…sir。〃
　〃Neither　do　I。〃　Jason　got　to　his　feet。　〃I　want　you　to　help　me；　Ishmael。　Will　you？〃
　〃Only　if　your　brother　permits　it。〃
　〃He　will。　He　is　my　brother。〃
　〃I　must　hear　it　from　him；　sir。〃
　〃Very　good。　You　doubt　me。〃
　〃Yes；　I　do；　sir；〃　said　Ishmael；　getting　to　his　knees　and　reassembling　the　tray；　separating　the　broken　dishes　from　the　whole　ones。　〃Would　you　take　the　word　of　a　strong　man　with　gray　in　his　hair　who　runs　down　the　stairs　and　attacks　you　and　says　things　anyone　could　say？　。。。　If　you　wish　to　fight；　the　loser　must　speak　the　truth。　Do　you　wish　to　fight？〃
　〃No；　I　do　not　wish　to　fight　and　don't　you　press　it。　I'm　not　that　old　and　you're　not　that　good；　young　man。　Leave　the　tray　and　e　with　me。　I'll　explain　to　Mr。　St。　Jacques；　who；　I　remind　you；　is　my　brother…my　wife's　brother。　To　hell　with　it；　e　on！〃
　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　sir？〃　asked　the　steward；　getting　to　his　feet　and　following　Jason。
　〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　Bourne；　stopping　and　turning　on　the　steps　above　the　first…floor　landing。　〃Go　ahead　of　me　into　the　lobby　and　walk　to　the　front　door。　Empty　ashtrays　or　something　and　look　busy；　but　keep　glancing　around。　I'll　e　out　in　a　few　moments　and　you'll　see　me　go　over　and　talk　to　Saint　Jay　and　four　priests；　who'll　be　with　him…〃
　〃Priests？〃　interrupted　the　astonished　Ishmael。　〃Men　of　the　cloth；　sir？　Four　of　them？　What　they　doing　here；　mon？　More　bad　things　happen？　The　obeah？〃
　〃They　came　here　to　pray　so　the　bad　things　will　stop…no　more　obeah。　But　what's　important　to　me　is　that　I　must　speak　to　one　of　them　alone。　When　they　leave　the　lobby；　this　priest　I　have　to　see　may　break　away　from　the　others　to　be　by　himself　。。。　or　possibly　to　meet　someone　else。　Do　you　think　you　could　follow　him　without　his　seeing　you？〃
　〃Would　Mr。　Saint　Jay　tell　me　to　do　that？〃
　〃Suppose　I　have　him　look　over　at　you　and　nod　his　head。〃
　〃Then　I　can　do　it。　I　am　faster　than　the　mongoose　and；　like　the　mongoose；　I　know　every　foot　trail　on　Tranquility。　He　goes　one　way；　I　know　where　he's　going　and　will　be　there　first。　。。。　But　how　will　I　know　which　priest？　More　than　one　may　go　off　by　himself。〃
　〃I'll　talk　to　all　four　separately。　He'll　be　the　last　one。〃
　〃Then　I　will　know。〃
　〃That's　pretty　fast　thinking；〃　said　Bourne。　〃You're　right；　they　could　separate。〃
　〃I　think　good；　mon。　I　am　fifth　in　my　class　at　'Serrat's　Technical　Academy。　The　four　ahead　of　me　are　all　girls；　so　they　don't　have　to　work。〃
　〃That's　an　interesting　observation…〃
　〃In　five　or　six　years　I'll　have　the　money　to　attend　the　university　in　Barbados！〃
　〃Maybe　sooner。　Go　on　now。　Walk　into　the　lobby　and　head　for　the　door。　Later；　after　the　priests　leave；　I'll　e　out　looking　for　you；　but　I　won't　be　in　this　uniform；　from　any　distance　you　won't　know　me。　If　I　don't　find　you；　meet　me　in　an　hour…　Where？　Where's　a　quiet　place？〃
　〃Tranquility　Chapel；　sir。　The　path　in　the　woods　above　the　east　beach。　No　one　ever　goes　there；　even　on　the　Sabbath。〃
　〃I　remember　it。　Good　idea。〃
　〃There　is　a　remaining　subject；　sir…〃
　〃Fifty　dollars；　American。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir！〃
　Jason　waited　by　the　door　for　ninety　seconds；　then　opened　it　barely　an　inch。　Ishmael　was　in　place　by　the　entrance；　and　he　could　see　John　St。　Jacques　talking　with　the　four　priests　several　feet　to　the　right　of　the　front　desk。　Bourne　tugged　at　his　jacket；　squared　his　shoulders　in　military　fashion；　and　walked　out　into　the　lobby　toward　the　priests　and　the　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn。
　〃It's　an　honor　and　a　privilege；　Fathers；〃　he　said　to　the　four　black　clerics　as　a　surprised　and　curious　St。　Jacques　watched　him。　〃I'm　new　here　in　the　islands　and　I　must　say　I'm　very　impressed。　The　government　is　particularly　pleased　that　you　saw　fit　to　help　calm　our　troubled　waters；〃　continued　Jason；　his　hands　clasped　firmly　behind　his　back。　〃For　your　efforts；　the　Crown　governor　has　authorized　Mr。　St。　Jacques　here　to　issue　you　a　check　in　the　amount　of　one　hundred　pounds　for　your　church…to　be　reimbursed　by　the　treasury；　of　course。〃
　〃It　is　such　a　magnificent　gesture；　I　hardly　know　what　to　say；〃　intoned　the　vicar；　his　high　lilting　voice　sincere。
　〃You　could　tell　me　whose　idea　it　was；〃　said　the　Chameleon。　〃Most　touching；　most　touching；　indeed。〃
　〃Oh；　I　cannot　take　the　credit；　sir；〃　replied　the　vicar；　looking；　as　the　two　others　did；　at　the　fourth　man。　〃It　was　Samuel's。　Such　a　good　and　decent　leader　of　our　flock。〃
　〃Good　show；　Samuel。〃　Bourne　stared　briefly；　his　eyes　penetrating；　at　the　fourth　man。　〃But　I　should　like　to　thank　each　of　you　personally。　And　know　your　names。〃　Jason　went　down　the　line　sh