rl.thebourneultimatum-第10部分

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onfirm　one　way　or　another。　Once　we　ascertain　who　they　are；　we　apply　pressure；　squeezing　them　in　different　ways；　delivering　the　same　basic　message：　A　former　Medusan　has　gone　over　the　edge；　a　man　who's　been　in　protective　custody　for　years　is　about　to　blow　the　head　off　Snake　Lady　and　he's　got　the　ammunition…names；　crimes；　the　locations　of　secret　Swiss　accounts；　the　whole　Caesar　salad。　Then…and　this'll　test　the　talents　of　the　old　Saint　Alex　we　all　knew　and　revered…word　is　passed　on　that　there's　someone　who　wants　this　dangerous；　disgruntled　turncoat　more　than　they　do。〃
　〃Ilich　Ramirez　Sanchez；〃　supplied　Conklin　softly。　〃Carlos　the　Jackal。　And　what　follows　is　equally　impossible：　Somehow…only　God　knows　how…word　gets　out　calling　for　a　meeting　between　the　two　interested　parties。　That　is　to　say；　interested　in　a　joint　assassination；　the　parties　of　the　first　part　unable　to　participate　actively；　due　to　the　sensitive　nature　of　their　high　official　positions；　is　that　about　it？〃
　〃Just　about；　except　that　these　same　powerful　men　in　Washington　can　gain　access　to　the　identity　and　the　whereabouts　of　this　much　desired　corpse…to…be。〃
　〃Naturally；〃　agreed　Alex；　nodding　in　disbelief。　〃They　simply　wave　a　wand　and　all　the　restrictions　applicable　to　maximum…classified　files　are　lifted　and　they're　given　the　information。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　said　David　firmly。　〃Because　whoever　meets　with　Carlos's　emissaries　has　to　be　so　high　up；　so　authentic；　that　the　Jackal　has　no　choice　but　to　accept　him　or　them。　He　can't　have　any　doubts；　all　thoughts　of　a　trap　gone　with　their　ing　forward。〃
　〃Would　you　also　like　me　to　make　baby　roses　bloom　during　a　January　blizzard　in　Montana？〃
　〃Close　to　it。　Everything's　got　to　happen　within　the　next　day　or　two　while　Carlos　is　still　stinging　from　what　happened　at　the　Smithsonian。〃
　〃Impossible！　。。。　Oh；　hell；　I'll　try。　I'll　set　up　shop　here　and　have　Langley　send　me　what　I　need。　Four　Zero　security；　of　course。　。。。　I　hate　like　hell　to　lose　whoever　it　is　at　the　Mayflower。〃
　〃We　may　not；〃　said　Webb。　〃Whoever　it　is　won't　fold　so　fast。　It's　not　like　the　Jackal　to　leave　an　obvious　hole　like　that。〃
　〃The　Jackal？　You　think　it's　Carlos　himself？〃
　〃Not　him；　of　course；　but　someone　on　his　payroll；　someone　so　unlikely　he　could　carry　a　sign　around　his　neck　with　the　Jackal's　name　on　it　and　we　wouldn't　believe　him。〃
　〃Chinese？〃
　〃Maybe。　He　might　play　that　out　and　then　he　might　not。　He's　geometric；　whatever　he　does　is　logical；　even　his　logic　seems　illogical。〃
　〃I　hear　a　man　from　the　past；　a　man　who　never　was。〃
　〃Oh；　he　was；　Alex。　He　was　indeed。　And　now　he's　back。〃
　Conklin　looked　toward　the　door　of　the　apartment；　David's　words　suddenly　provoking　another　thought。　〃Where's　your　suitcase？〃　he　asked。　〃You　brought　some　clothes；　didn't　you？〃
　〃No　clothes；　and　these　will　be　dropped　in　a　Washington　sewer　once　I　have　others。　But　first　I　have　to　see　another　old　friend　of　mine；　another　genius　who　lives　in　the　wrong　section　of　town。〃
　〃Let　me　guess；〃　said　the　retired　agent。　〃An　elderly　black　man　with　the　improbable　name　of　Cactus；　a　genius　where　false　papers　such　as　passports　and　driver's　licenses　and　credit　cards　are　concerned。〃
　〃That's　about　it。　Him。〃
　〃The　Agency　could　do　it　all。〃
　〃Not　as　well　and　too　bureaucratically。　I　want　nothing　traceable；　even　with　Four　Zero　security。　This　is　solo。〃
　〃Okay。　Then　what？〃
　〃You　get　to　work；　field　man。　By　tomorrow　morning　I　want　a　lot　of　people　in　this　town　shaken　up。〃
　〃Tomorrow　morning。。。？　That　is　impossible！〃
　〃Not　for　you。　Not　for　Saint　Alex；　the　prince　of　dark　operations？〃
　〃Say　whatever　the　hell　you　like；　I'm　not　even　in　training。〃
　〃It　es　back　quickly；　like　sex　and　riding　a　bicycle。〃
　〃What　about　you？　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃After　I　consult　with　Cactus；　I'll　get　a　room　at　the　Mayflower　hotel；〃　answered　Jason　Bourne。
　Culver　Parnell；　hotel　magnate　from　Atlanta　whose　twenty…year　reign　in　the　hostelry　business　had　led　to　his　appointment　as　chief　of　protocol　for　the　White　House；　angrily　hung　up　his　office　phone　as　he　scribbled　a　sixth　obscenity　on　a　legal　pad。　With　the　election　and　now　the　turnover　of　White　House　personnel；　he　had　replaced　the　previous　administration's　well…born　female　who　knew　nothing　about　the　political　ramifications　of　1600's　invitation　list。　Then；　to　his　profound　irritation；　he　found　himself　at　war　with　his　own　first　assistant；　another　middle…aged　female；　also　from　one　of　the　ass…elegant　Eastern　colleges；　and；　to　make　it　worse；　a　popular　Washington　socialite　who　contributed　her　salary　to　some　la…di…da　dance　pany　whose　members　pranced　around　in　their　underwear　when　they　wore　any。
　〃Hog　damn！〃　fumed　Culver；　running　his　hand　through　his　fringed　gray　hair；　he　picked　up　the　telephone　and　poked　four　digits　on　his　console。　〃Gimme　the　Redhead；　you　sweet　thing；〃　he　intoned；　exaggerating　his　already　pronounced　Georgia　accent。
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　flattered　secretary。　〃He's　on　another　line　but　I'll　interrupt。　Just　hold　on　a　sec；　Mr。　Parnell。〃
　〃You're　the　loveliest　of　the　peaches；　lovely　child。〃
　〃Oh；　golly；　thank　you！　Now　just　hold　on。〃
　It　never　failed；　mused　Culver。　A　little　soft　oil　from　the　magnolia　worked　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　than　the　bark　of　a　gnarled　oak。　That　bitch　of　a　first　assistant　of　his　might　take　a　lesson　from　her　Southern　superiors；　she　talked　like　some　Yankee　dentist　had　bonded　her　fucking　teeth　together　with　permanent　cement。
　〃That　you；　Cull？〃　came　the　voice　of　Redhead　over　the　line；　intruding　on　Parnell's　thoughts　as　he　wrote　a　seventh　obscenity　on　the　legal　pad。
　〃You're　momma…letchin'　right；　boy；　and　we　got　a　problem！　The　fricassee　bitch　is　doin'　it　again。　I　got　our　Wall　Streeters　inked　in　for　a　table　at　the　reception　on　the　twenty…fifth；　the　one　for　the　new　French　ambassador　and　she　says　we　gotta　bump　'em　for　some　core…dee…ballet　fruitcakes…she　says　she　and　the　First　Lady　feel　mighty　strong　about　it。　Shee…it！　Those　money　boys　gotta　lot　of　French　interests　goin'　for　them；　and　this　White　House　bash　could　put　'em　on　top。　Every　frog　on　the　Bourse　will　think　they　got　the　ears　of　the　whole　town　here！〃
　〃Forget　it；　Cull；〃　broke　in　the　anxious　Redhead；　〃We　may　have　a　bigger　problem；　and　I　don't　know　what　it　means。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃When　we　were　back　in　Saigon；　did　you　ever　hear　of　something　or　someone　called　Snake　Lady？〃
　〃I　heard　a　hell　of　a　lot　about　snake　eyes；〃　chuckled　Parnell；　〃but　no　Snake　Lady。　Why？〃
　〃The　fellow　I　was　just　talking　to…he's　going　to　call　back　in　five　minutes…sounded　as　though　he　was　threatening　me。　I　mean　actually　threatening　me；　Cull！　He　mentioned　Saigon　and　implied　that　something　terrible　happened　back　then　and　repeated　the　name　Snake　Lady　several　times　as　if　I　should　have　run　for　cover。〃
　〃You　leave　that　son　of　a　bitch　to　me！〃　roared　Parnell；　interrupting。　〃I　know　exactly　what　that　bastard's　talking　about！　This　is　that　snotty　bitch　first　assistant　of　mine…that's　the　fuckin'　Snake　Lady！　You　give　that　slug　worm　my　number　and　tell　him　I　know　all　about　his　horseshit！〃
　〃Will　you　please　tell　me；　Cull？〃
　〃What　the　hell；　you　were　there；　Redhead。　。。。　So　we　had　a　few　games　going；　even　a　few　mini　casinos；　and　some　clowns　lost　a　couple　of　shirts；　but　there　was　nothin'　soldiers　haven't　done　since　they　threw　craps　for　Christ's　clothes！　。。。　We　just　put　it　on　a　higher　plane　and　maybe　tossed　in　a　few　broads　who'd　have　been　walkin'　the　streets　anyway。　。。。　No；　Redhead；　that　elegant…ass；　so…called　assistant　thinks　she's　got　somethin'　on　me…that's　why　she's　goin'　through　you；　'cause　everybody　knows　we're　buddies。　。。。　You　tell　that　slime　to　call　me　and　I'll　settle　his　grits　along　with　that　bitch's　twat！　Oh；　boy；　she　made　a　wrong　move！　My　Wall　Streeters　are　in　and　her　pansies　are　out！〃
　〃Okay；　Cull；　I'll　simply　refer　him　to　you；〃　said　the　Redhead；　otherwise　known　as　the　vice　president　of　the　United　States；　as　he　hung　up　the　phone。
　It　rang　four　minutes　later　and　the　words　were　spat　out　at　Parnell。　〃Snake　Lady；　Culver；　and　we're　all　in　trouble！〃
　〃No；　you　listen　to　me；　Divot　Head；　and　I'll　tell　you　who's　in　trouble！　She's　no　lady；　she's　a　bitch！　One　of　her　thirty　or　forty　eunuch　husbands　may　have　thrown　a　few　snake　eyes　in　Saigon　and　lost　some　of　her　well…advertised　e…and…take…me　cash；　but　nobody　gave　a　shit　then　and　nobody　gives　a　shit　now。　Especially　a　marine　colonel　who　liked　a　sharp　game　of　poker　every　once　in　a　while；　and　that　man　is　sitting　in　the　Oval　Office　at　this　moment。　And　furthermore；　you　ball…less　scrotum；　when　he　learns　that　she's　trying　to　further　defame　the　brave　boys　who　wanted　only　a　little　relaxation　while　fighting　a　thankless　war…〃
　In　Vienna；　Virginia；　Alexander　Conklin　replaced　the　phone。　Misfire　One　and　Misfire　Two　。。。　and　he　had　never　heard　of　Culver　Parnell。
　The　chairman　of　the　Federal　Trade　mission；　Albert　Armbruster；　swore　out　loud　as　he　turned　off　the　shower　at　the　sound　of　his　wife's　shrieking　voice　in　the　steam…filled　bathroom。　〃What　the　hell　is　it；　Mamie？　I　can't　take　a　shower　without　you　yammering？〃
　〃It　could　be　the　White　House；　Al！　You　know　how　they　talk；　so　low　and　quiet　and　always　saying　it's　urgent。〃
　〃Shit！〃　yelled　the　chairman；　opening　the　glass　door　and　walking　naked　to　the　phone　on　the　wall。　〃This　is　Armbruster。　What　is　it？〃
　〃There's　a　crisis　that　requires　your　immediate　attention。〃
　〃Is　this　1600？〃
　〃No；　and　we　hope　it　never　goes　up　there。〃
　〃Then　who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃Someone　as　concerned　as　you're　going　to　be。　After　all　these　years…oh；　Christ！〃
　〃Concerned　about　what？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Snake　Lady；　Mr。　Chairman。〃
　〃Oh；　my　God！〃　Armbruster's　hushed　voice　was　a　sudden　involuntary　cry　of　panic。　Instantly；　he　controlled　himself　but　it　was　too　late。　Mark　One。　〃I　have　no　idea　what　you're　talking　about。　。。。　What's　a　snake　whatever…it…is？　Never　heard　of　it。〃
　〃Well；　hear　it　now；　Mr。　Medusa。　Somebody's　got　it　all；　everything。　Dates；　diversions　of　materiel；　banks　in　Geneva　and　Zurich…even　the　names　of　a　half…dozen　couriers　routed　out　of　Saigon…and　worse。　。。。　Jesus；　the　worst！　Other　names…MIAs　established　as　never　having　been　in　bat　。。。　eight　investigating　personnel　from　the　inspector　general's　office。　Everything。〃
　〃You're　not　making　sense！　You're　talking　gibberish！〃
　〃And　you're　on　the　list；　Mr。　Chairman。　That　man　must　have　spent　fiftee