el.angeleyes-第122节

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　in　the　Lenin　Hills；　the　KGB　leaders　in　the　Lubyanka　and　Lefortovo。　You　see；　our　people　are　highly　placed；　and　they　need　only　go　that　far。〃
　He　bent　down；　retrieved　the　Kalishnikov　that　Irina　had　dropped。　〃Of　course　it　won't　be　as　straightforward　as　that。　It　never　is。　There　will　inevitably　be　plications；　and　before　it's　over；　some　of　us　may　die。　Which　is　why　I　must　go。　I　must　see　that　none　of　the　generals　slip　our　net。　And　then　I　must　confront　the　president；　to　give　him　an　account　of　this　treachery　firsthand。〃
　〃Isn't　there　anything　we　can　do？〃　Russell　asked。
　Valeri　smiled。　〃You　and　Miss　Nunn　have　already　done　your　part。　Now　you　must　stand　aside　and　let　us　do　ours。　At　this　stage；　it　would　not　be　helpful　to　anyone　if　news　got　out　of　American　agents　being　involved　in　this　crisis。〃
　〃What　will　happen　here？〃　Tori　said。
　〃I　don't　know。　No　one　does；〃　Valeri　admitted。　〃But　it　is　clear　that　some　form　of　promise　between　the　Russians　and　the　national　minorities　must　be　hammered　out。　A　good　degree　of　national　autonomy　is　needed；　but　no　one　in　White　Star　wants　to　cripple　this　country。　We　just　want　the　repression　and　prejudice　against　us　to　end。〃
　After　Greg　was　finished　on　the　shortwave；　Russell　took　over　to　send　a　coded　signal　via　the　Berlin　station　to　Mail　Central。　Irina　took　Tori　into　the　shower　and　changing　room；　showed　her　where　Tatiana　and　Lara　kept　their　clothes。
　Irina　was　in　the　shower；　and　Tori　was　just　finishing　dressing；　when　Greg　wheeled　himself　in。
　〃It's　good　to　see　you；　Tori。　You　can't　know　how　good。〃
　Tori　knelt　in　front　of　him。　〃What's　happened　to　you；　Greg？　Mom　and　Dad　will　be　so　frightened　when　they　see　you。〃
　He　looked　into　her　eyes；　said；　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　''What　do　you　mean？''
　Greg　reached　out；　gripped　her　shoulders。　〃They　know；　Tori。〃
　〃Mom　and　Dad　know　you're　alive？〃　Her　face　was　a　mask　of　shock。　〃But　how？〃
　Then　something　flashed　in　her　mind。　Russell　saying。　Haw　the　devil　is　Bernard　getting　the　funds　to　buy　these　nuclear　weapons？　And；　with　fingers　half　paralyzed；　she　fumbled　out　the　photo　that　Ariel　had　pressed　into　her　hands　at　the　point　of　death。　But　there　must　be　something　more　to　this　photo。　What's　so　incriminating　about　it？　Russell　had　said。　Bernard　could　have　gone　to　San　Francisco/or　any　one　of　a　million　reasons。
　Tori　looked　past　Ariel　in　the　foreground；　the　bronze　sundial；　the　little　girl　playing　in　the　park。　She　saw　Bernard　in　the　lower　left…hand　corner　of　the　frame；　and　then；　ing　toward　him；　ing　to　meet　him；　the　couple。
　She　peered　through　the　gloom。　Could　it　be？　Did　the　photo　show　Tori's　mother　and　father　meeting　Bernard　Godwin　in　a　San　Francisco　park？　To　discuss　financing？　Were　Ellis　and　Laura　Nunn　financing　White　Star？　Was　it　their　money　that　Bernard　used　to　buy　the　MANDs　from　the　Japanese　coalition？
　And　then　it　all　clicked　together。
　Tori　said　with　a　bit　of　wonder　in　her　voice；　''Valeri　contacted　Bernard　and　told　him　about　you；　didn't　he；　Greg？　And　then　Bernard　went　to　Dad。　He　told　him　you　were　alive；　that　this　was　Dad's　chance　to　help　free　the　people　of　the　Soviet　Union。〃
　She　saw　the　truth　in　Greg's　eyes。　〃Jesus　Christ；　Bernard　wasn't　content　with　roping　me　into　his　secret　world；　he　had　to　drag　Mom　and　Dad　in　after　me。〃
　''I　don't　think　it　was　quite　as　simple　as　that；''　Greg　said　softly。　〃I　think　Dad　and　Mom　decided　on　their　own…〃
　〃No；　no；〃　Tori　said　heatedly。　〃You　don't　know　Bernard　as　I've　e　to。　He　coerced　them…maybe　not　directly…Dad　isn't　so　easily　coercible。　But　even　he　has　his　weak　spot。　You。　I've　no　doubt　that　Bernard　used　you　to　get　Dad's　and　Mom's　backing。〃
　〃I　think　you're　giving　too　much　power　to　Bernard；　and　not　enough　credit　to　Mom　and　Dad。〃
　〃Bernard's　gone　too　far　this　time；〃　she　said　grimly。
　〃But　don't　you　see　the　good　he's　done？　Bernard's　opened　up　the　door；　and　for　the　first　time　in　decades　a　new　light　is　shining　in。〃
　〃But　at　what　cost？〃　Tori　said。　〃Greg；　you　don't　know　how　much　blood　has　been　spilled　because　of　him。〃
　〃I　know　how　much　blood　has　spilled　here　over　the　past　eighteen　months；　and　how　much　more　would　have　been　spilled　without　his　efforts…and　yours。〃
　Tori　knew　he　was　right…but　she　also　knew　that　Bernard　had　to　be　taught　a　lesson。　His　free　reign　above　the　law　must　be　put　to　an　end。
　〃Tori；　at　least　talk　to　Dad　before　you　make　up　your　mind；〃　Greg　said。
　〃We'll　both　talk　to　him；〃　Tori　said。　〃I'm　taking　you　home。〃
　〃No。〃　In　the　electric　silence　Greg　said；　〃I'm　not　going　back　to　America。　I　can't　leave　here；　not　now。　There's　too　much　to　do。　I've　made　too　many　friends；　bound　myself　with　too　many　unbreakable　ties。〃
　〃Greg；　you　can't　mean　it！〃
　〃But　I　do。〃　Seeing　her　stricken　look；　he　said；　〃How　can　I　explain　it　to　you？〃　He　thought　a　moment。　〃Did　Dad　ever　tell　you　the　story　of　the　Zen　Policeman？''
　〃Yes；〃　Tori　said　so　softly　he　had　to　bend　close　to　hear　her。
　〃Well；　that's　me；　Tori。　The　Zen　Policeman；　locked　away　at　the　crossroads　of　an　eerie　corridor；　in　a　strange　structure；　in　an　alien　land。　But　I've　e　there　for　a　reason…believe　me　I've　had　enough　time　to　e　to　understand　that…and　it's　a　reason　that's　larger　than　I　am　as　an　individual。〃
　〃But　what　about　our　family？　What　about　home？〃
　〃My　family　will　e　see　me；　God　willing。　And　as　far　as　home　is　concerned；　it's　no　longer　here　for　me。　I　have　another　home。　It's　inside　myself　now。〃
　Tori　began　to　cry。　〃Greg；　Greg。　I've　just　found　you。　I　don't　want　to　lose　you　again。〃
　〃Ah；　Tori。　Who　are　you　weeping　for？　Me？　Or　yourself？〃　He　put　his　hand　under　her　chin；　lifted　her　head　up。　〃Don't　you　see　that　you　can　be　through　living　in　my　shadow？''
　She　tried　to　laugh　through　her　tears。　〃But　who'll　help　me　with　Mom　and　Dad？　You　know　I　can't　cope　with　them　without　you。〃
　〃You　don't　mean　that；　Tori。　You　never　needed　me　to　intercede　with　Mom　and　Dad；　you　just　thought　you　did。　It　was　easier　to　want　my　relationship　with　them；　than　to　fight　for　your　own。''　He　kissed　her　lightly。　〃This　is　your　life。　Tori。　Have　the　courage　to　live　it。〃
　At　that　moment　Russell　stuck　his　head　into　the　room。　''What's　taking　you　so　long？　I've　gotten　a　reply　from　Bernard。　He　wants　us　back　in　the　States　right　away。〃
　Irina　came　out　of　the　shower　cubicle　with　a　towel　wrapped　around　her。　She　looked　from　Greg　to　Tori's　tear…streaked　face。　〃Is　everything　all　right？〃　she　asked。
　〃It's　just　the　good…byes；〃　Tori　said；　wiping　away　her　tears。　〃I　hate　long　ones。''
　She　took　Russell's　hand；　stared　once　more　into　those　angel　eyes。
　Greg　said；　〃Give　my　regards　to　Diana's　Garden；〃　as　Irina　slipped　an　arm　around　his　shoulders。　And　then；　because　he　was　anxious　for　her；　〃You'll　talk　to　Dad。　Promise　me　you　will。〃
　Tori　said；　''I'll　give　them　both　your　love。〃
　Just　before　she　turned　away；　Greg　said　enigmatically；　〃Remember　the　Zen　Policeman。〃
　Tori　saw　the　small　smile　on　his　face；　and　wondered　at　its　meaning　all　during　the　long　flight　home。
　
　

HOME

LOS　ANGELES/STAR　TOWN

　Tori　returned　to　Los　Angeles　and　Diana's　Garden　in　the　midst　of　a　dreadful　heat　wave　that　had　kept　polluted　air　inverted　over　the　sprawling　city　for　more　than　a　week。　Children　and　people　over　the　age　of　sixty…five　or　with　breathing　disorders　were　being　warned　to　stay　inside。　It　was　a　Los　Angeles　not　that　much　different　from　the　Tokyo　they　had　so　recently　left。
　Russell　told　her　he　was　staying　at　the　airport　to　wait　for　Bernard's　flight　in　from　the　East　Coast。　Tori　said　that　she　was　not　going　to　stay。　They　sat　facing　one　another　for　a　time　in　the　dimly　lit　interior　of　the　727。　They　both　seemed　in　an　emotional　as　well　as　a　physical　limbo。　They　had　slept　fitfully　on　the　flight　home；　both　still　too　tired　to　feel　the　full　extent　of　their　exhaustion。
　At　last　Russell　said；　〃Just　before　we　landed；　we　got　a　fax　from　Bernard　sending　us　his　heartiest　congratulations。〃
　''Honestly；　I　don't　know　whether　to　laugh　or　cry。''
　〃Me　neither。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃　Tori　looked　at　him。　〃After　all　that's　happened；　how　can　you　wait　for　him　here；　as　if　it's　business　as　usual？''
　〃I've　still　got　a　job　to　do。〃
　Russell　leaned　over；　poured　himself　coffee；　stirred　in　sugar。　〃After　Moscow；　we　know　it　isn't　so　cut　and　dried；　is　it？〃　He　sipped　some　coffee。　〃Is　Bernard　guilty？　And　if　so；　of　what？　And　is　it　anything　we　ourselves　aren't　guilty　of　as　well？　I'm　no　judge　in　these　matters；　Tori；　and　neither；　I　suspect；　are　you。　The　truth　is　buried　too　deeply　under　conflicting　layers　of　altruism　and　obsession。　In　any　case；　I've　got　to　work　things　out　with　Bernard　during　the　debriefing；　e　to　some　sort　of　promise；　or　I'll　have　to　quit　the　Mall。〃
　She　smiled。　''At　least　that's　not　the　career　man　I　used　to　know　talking。〃
　〃That　Russell　Slade　is　dead。〃　He　frowned。　〃But　you　should　be　here　when　Bernard　arrives。　He'll　be　here　any　minute。〃
　〃Debriefing　or　no　debriefing；　Bernard　can　wait；〃　Tori　said；　kissing　him。　〃I　can't。　My　family　es　first　now。　Besides；　I'm　not　ready　yet　to　confront　him。　I　need　some　time　to　get　this　all　in　perspective。　If　I　don't　know　how　I　feel　about　him；　I'm　sure　to　make　a　shambles　of　the　debriefing。〃
　Russell　said；　〃Sure；〃　but　something　in　his　eyes　gave　her　pause。
　〃What　is　it；　Russ？〃
　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　holding　on　to　her；　〃you're　not　going　to　pull　one　of　your　patented　stunts　and　disappear　over　the　horizon？〃
　〃No；〃　she　s