rl.thebourneidentity-第61节

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　'How　good　of　you　to　drop　by；　Major。　Jeremy　wrote　us　that　you　might　Do　e　in。　It's　such　a　pleasure　to　see　you　again。'
　'It's　good　to　see　you　again；　too；'　replied　Webb；　stepping　into　the　tasteful　foyer；　finishing　his　statement　when　the　door　was　closed；　'but　I'm　not　sure　where　it　was　we　met　before。'
　The　woman　laughed。　'Oh；　we've　had　dinner　ever　so　many　times。'
　'With　Jeremy？'
　'Of　course。'
　'Who's　Jeremy？'
　'A　devoted　nephew　who's　also　your　devoted　friend。　Such　a　nice　young　man；　it's　a　pity　he　doesn't　exist。'　She　took　his　elbow　as　they　walked　down　a　long　hallway。　'It's　all　for　the　benefit　of　neighbours　who　might　be　strolling　by。。。　e　along　now；　they're　waiting。'
　They　passed　an　archway　that　led　to　a　large　living…room；　the　major　looked　inside。　There　was　a　grand　piano　by　the　front　windows；　harp　beside　it；　and　everywhere　…　on　the　piano　and　on　polished　tables　glistening　under　the　spill　of　subdued　lamps　were　silver…framed　photographs；　mementos　of　a　past　filled　with　wealth　and　grace。　Sailing　boats；　men　and　women　on　the　decks　of　ocean　liners；　several　military　portraits。。。　and　yes；　two　candid　shots　of　someone　mounted　for　a　polo　match。　It　was　a　room　that　belonged　in　a　brownstone　on　this　street。
　They　reached　the　end　of　the　hallway；　there　was　a　large　mahogany　door；　bas…relief　and　iron　ornamentation　part　of　its　design；　part　of　its　security。　If　there　was　an　infra…red　camera；　Webb　could　not　detect　the　whereabouts　of　the　lens。　The　grey…haired　woman　pressed　an　unseen　bell；　the　major　could　hear　a　slight　hum。
　'Your　friend　is　here；　gentlemen。　Stop　playing　poker　and　go　to　work。　Snap　to；　Jesuit。'
　'Jesuit？'　asked　Webb；　bewildered。
　'An　old　joke；'　replied　the　woman。　'It　goes　back　to　when　you　were　probably　playing　marbles　and　snarling　at　little　girls。'
　The　door　opened　and　the　aged　but　still　erect　figure　of　David　Abbott　was　revealed。　'Glad　to　see　you；　Major；'　said　the　one…time　Silent　Monk　of　Clandestine　Services；　extending　his　hand。
　'Good　to　be　here；　sir。'　Webb　shook　hands。　Another　elderly；　imposing…looking　man　came　up　beside　Abbott。
　'A　friend　of　Jeremy's；　no　doubt；'　said　the　man；　his　deep　voice　edged　with　humour。　'Dreadfully　sorry　time　precludes　proper　introductions；　young　fellow。　e　along；　Margaret。　There's　a　lovely　fire　upstairs。'　He　turned　to　Abbott　'You'll　let　me　know　when　you're　leaving；　David？'
　'Usual　time　for　me；　I　expect；'　replied　the　Monk。　I'll　show　these　two　how　to　ring　you。'
　It　was　then　that　Webb　realized　there　was　a　third　man　in　the　room；　he　was　standing　in　the　shadows　at　the　far　end；　and　the　major　recognized　him　…instantly。　He　was　Elliot　Stevens；　senior　aide　to　the　President　of　the　United　States　…　some　said　his　alter　ego。　He　was　in　his　early　forties；　slender；　wore　glasses　and　had　the　bearing　of　unpretentious　authority　about　him。
　'。。。　it'll　be　fine。'　The　imposing　older　man　who　had　not　found　time　to　introduce　himself　had　been　speaking；　Webb　had　not　heard　him；　his　attention　on　the　White　House　aide。　I'll　be　waiting。〃
　Till　next　time；'　continued　Abbott；　shifting　his　eyes　kindly　to　the　grey…haired　woman。　Thanks；　Sister　Meg。　Keep　your　habit　pressed　down。'　'You're　still　wicked；　Jesuit。'
　The　couple　left；　closing　the　door　behind　them。　Webb　stood　for　a　moment；　shaking　his　head　and　smiling。　The　man　and　woman　of　One…four…zero；　Seven…one　East　belonged　to　the　room　down　the　hall　just　as　that　room　belonged　in　the　brownstone；　all　a　part　of　the　quiet；　monied；　tree…lined　street。　'You've　known　them　a　long　time；　haven't　you？'
　'A　lifetime；　you　might　say；'　replied　Abbott。　'He　was　a　yachtsman　we　put　to　good　use　in　the　Adriatic　runs　for　Donovan's　operations　in　Yugoslavia。　Mikhailovich　once　said　he　sailed　on　sheer　nerve；　bending　the　worst　weather　to　his　will。。。　and　don't　let　Sister　Meg's　graciousness　fool　you。　She　was　one　of　Intrepid's　girls；　a　piranha　with　very　sharp　teeth。〃　'They're　quite　a　story。'
　〃It'll　never　be　told；'　said　Abbott；　closing　the　subject。　'I　want　you　to　meet　Elliot　Stevens。　I　don't　think　I　have　to　tell　you　who　he　is。　Webb；　Stevens。　Stevens；　Webb。'　…
　'That　sounds　like　a　law　firm；〃　said　Stevens　amiably　walking　across　the　room；　hand　extended。　'Nice　to　know　you；　Webb；　Have　a　good　trip？'
　'I　would　have　preferred　military　transport。　I　hate　those　damned　mercial　airlines。　I　thought　a　customs　agent　at　Kennedy　was　going　to　slice　the　lining　of　my　suitcase。'
　'You　look　too　respectable　in　that　uniform；'　laughed　the　Monk。　'You're　obviously　a　smuggler。'
　'I'm　still　not　sure　I　understand　the　uniform；'　said　the　major；　carrying　his　briefcase　to　a　long　hatch　table　against　the　wall　and　unclipping　the　nylon　cord　from　his　belt。
　'I　shouldn't　have　to　tell　you；'　answered　Abbott；　'that　the　tightest　security　is　often　found　in　being　quite　obvious　on　the　surface。　An　army　intelligence　officer；　prowling　around　undercover　in　Zurich　at　this　particular　time　could　raise　alarms。'
　'Then　I　don't　understand；　either；'　said　the　White　House　aide；　ing　up　beside　Webb　at　the　table；　watching　the　major's　manipulations　with　the　nylon　cord　and　the　lock。　'Wouldn't　an　obvious　presence　raise　even　more　shrill　alarms？　I　thought　the　assumption　of　undercover　was　that　discovery　was　less　probable。'
　'Webb's　trip　to　Zurich　was　a　routine　consulate　check；　predated　on　the　G…Two　schedules。　No　one　fools　anybody　about　those　trips；　they're　what　they　are　and　nothing　else。　Ascertaining　new　sources；　paying　off　informants。　The　Soviets　do　it　all　the　time；　they　don't　even　bother　to　hide　it。　Neither　do　we。　frankly。'
　'But　that　wasn't　the　purpose　of　his　trip；　said　Stevens；　beginning　to　understand。　'So　the　obvious　conceals　the　unobvious。'
　〃That's　it。'
　'Can　I　help？'　The　presidential　aide　seemed　fascinated　by　the　briefcase。
　'Thanks；'　said　Webb。　'Just　pull　the　cord　through。'
　Stevens　did　so。　'I　always　thought　it　was　chains　around　the　wrist；'　he　said。
　Too　many　hands　cut　off；'　explained　the　major；　smiling　at　the　White　House　man's　reaction。　'There's　a　steel　wire　running　through　the　nylon。'　He　freed　the　briefcase　and　opened　it　on　the　table；　looking　around　at　the　elegance　of　the　furnished　library…den。　At　the　rear　of　the　room　was　a　pair　of　French　windows　that　apparently　led　to　an　outside　garden；　the　outline　of　a　high　stone　wall　seen　dimly　through　the　panes　of　thick　glass。　'So　this　is　Treadstone　Seventy…one。　It　isn't　the　way　I　pictured　it。'
　'Pull　the　curtains　again；　will　you　please；　Elliot？'　Abbott　said。　The　presidential　aide　walked　to　the　French　windows　and　did　so。　Abbott　crossed　to　a　bookcase；　opened　the　cabinet　beneath　it；　and　reached　inside。　There　was　a　quiet　whirr；　the　entire　bookcase　came　out　of　the　wall　and　slowly　revolved　to　the　left。　On　the　other　side　was　an　electronic　radio　console；　one　of　the　most　sophisticated　Gordon　Webb　had　seen。　'Is　this　more　what　you　had　in　mind？'　asked　the　Monk。
　'Jesus。。。'　The　major　whistled　as　he　studied　the　dials；　calibrations；　cable　patches　and　scanning　devices　built　into　the　panel。　The　Pentagon　war　rooms　had　far　more　elaborate　equipment；　but　this　was　the　miniaturized　equal　of　most　well…structured　intelligence　stations。
　I'd　whistle；　too；'　said　Stevens；　standing　in　front　of　the　dense　curtain。　'But　Mr　Abbott　already　gave　me　my　personal　sideshow。　That's　only　the　beginning。　Five　more　buttons　and　this　place　looks　like　a　Strategic　Air　mand　base　in　Omaha。'
　'Those　same　buttons　also　transform　this　room　back　into　a　graceful　East　Side　library。'　The　old　man　reached　inside　the　cabinet；　in　seconds　the　enormous　console　was　replaced　by　bookshelves。　He　then　walked　to　the　adjacent　bookcase；　opened　the　cabinet　beneath　and　once　again　put　his　hand　inside。　The　whirring　began；　the　bookcase　slid　out；　and　shortly　in　its　place　were　three　tall　filing　cabinets。　The。　Monk　took　out　a　key　and　pulled　out　a　file　drawer。　'I'm　not　showing　off；　Gordon。　When　we're　finished；　I　want　you　to　look　through　these。　I'll　show　you　the　switch　that'll　send　them　back。　If　you　have　any　problems；　our　host　will　take　care　of　everything。'　'What　am　I　to　look　for？'
　'We'll　get　to　it；　right　now　I　want　to　hear　about　Zurich。　What　have　you　learned？'
　'Excuse　me；　Mr。　Abbott；〃　interrupted　Stevens。　'If　I'm　slow；　it's　because　all　this　is　new　to　me。　But　I　was　thinking　about　something　you　said　a　minute　ago　about　Major　Webb's　trip。'　'What　is　it？'　'You　said　the　trip　was　predated　on　the　G…Two　schedules。'
　That's　right'
　'Why？　The　major's　obvious　presence　was　to　confuse　Zurich；　not　Washington。　Or　was　it？'
　The　Monk　smiled。　'I　can　see　why　the　President　keeps　you　around。　We've　never　doubted　that　Carlos　has　bought　his　way　into　a　circle　or　two　…　or　ten　…　in　Washington。　He　finds　the　discontented　men　and　offers　them　what　they　do　not　have。　A　Carlos　could　not　exist　without　such　people。　You　must　remember；　he　doesn't　merely　sell　death；　he　sells　a　nation's　secrets。　All　too　frequently　to　the　Soviets；　if　only　to　prove　to　them　how　rash　they　were　to　expel　him。'
　'The　President　would　want　to　know　that；'　said　the　aide。　'It　would　explain　several　things。'
　'It's　why　you're　here；　isn't　it？'　said　Abbott。
　'I　guess　it　is。'
　'And　it's　a　good　place　to　begin　for　Zurich；'　said　Webb；　taking　his　briefcase　to　an　armchair　in　front　of　the　filing　cabinets。　He　sat　down；　spreading　the　folders　inside　the　case　at　his　feet；　and　took　out　several　sheets　of　paper。　'You　may　not　doubt　Carlos　is　in　Washing