rl.thebourneultimatum-第117部分

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ing。　The　brown　sedan　sped　down　the　country　road；　racing　past　overgrown　fields；　the　driver　maniacally　gripping　the　wheel　and　sporadically　glancing　at　his　bound　prisoner；　a　young　man　who　kept　straining　at　his　wire…bound　hands　and　feet；　his　rope…strapped　face　causing　him　enormous　pain；　attested　to　by　his　constant　grimace　and　his　bulging　frightened　eyes。
　In　the　rear　seat；　the　upholstery　covered　with　blood；　were　the　corpses　of　General　Grigorie　Rodchenko　and　the　KGB　Novgorod　graduate　who　headed　the　old　soldier's　surveillance　team。　Suddenly；　without　slowing　down　the　car　or　giving　any　indication　of　his　action；　the　Jackal　saw　what　he　was　looking　for　and　swerved　off　the　road。　Tires　shrieking　in　the　side…winding　turn；　the　sedan　plunged　into　a　field　of　tall　grass　and　in　seconds　came　to　a　shatteringly　abrupt　stop；　the　bodies　in　the　rear　crashing　into　the　back　of　the　front　seat。　Carlos　opened　his　door　and　lurched　outside；　he　proceeded　to　yank　the　blood…drenched　corpses　from　their　upholstered　crypts　and　dragged　them　into　the　high　grass；　leaving　the　general　partially　on　top　of　the　Komitet　officer；　their　life　fluids　now　mingling　as　they　soiled　the　ground。
　He　returned　to　the　car　and　brutally　pulled　the　young　KGB　agent　out　of　the　front　seat　with　one　hand；　the　glistening　blade　of　a　hunting　knife　in　his　other。
　〃We　have　a　lot　to　talk　about；　you　and　I；〃　said　the　Jackal　in　Russian。　〃And　you　would　be　foolish　to　withhold　anything。　。。。　You　won't；　you're　too　soft；　too　young。〃　Carlos　whipped　the　man　to　the　ground；　the　tall　grass　bending　under　the　fall。　He　withdrew　his　flashlight　and　knelt　beside　his　captive；　the　knife　going　toward　the　agent's　eyes。
　The　bloodied；　lifeless　figure　below　had　spoken　his　last　words；　and　they　were　words　that　reverberated　like　kettledrums　in　the　ears　of　Ilich　Ramirez　Sanchez。　Jason　Bourne　was　in　Moscow！　It　had　to　be　Bourne；　for　the　terrified；　youthful　KGB　surveillant　had　blurted　out　the　information　in　a　gushing；　panicked　stream　of　phrases　and　half　phrases；　saying　anything　and　everything　that　might　possibly　save　his　life。　rade　Krupkin…two　Americans；　one　tall；　the　other　with　a　limp！　We　took　them　to　the　hotel；　then　to　the　Sadovaya　for　a　conference。
　Krupkin　and　the　hated　Bourne　had　turned　his　people　in　Paris…in　Paris；　his　impenetrable　armed　camp！…and　had　traced　him　to　Moscow。　How？　Who？　。。。　It　did　not　matter　now。　All　that　mattered　was　that　the　Chameleon　himself　was　at　the　Metropole；　the　traitors　in　Paris　could　wait。　At　the　Metropole！　His　enemy　of　enemies　was　barely　an　hour　away　back　in　Moscow；　no　doubt　sleeping　the　night　away；　without　any　idea　that　Carlos　the　Jackal　knew　he　was　there。　The　assassin　felt　the　exhilaration　of　triumph…over　life　and　death。　The　doctors　said　he　was　dying；　but　doctors　were　as　often　wrong　as　they　were　right；　and　at　this　moment　they　were　wrong！　The　death　of　Jason　Bourne　would　renew　his　life。
　However；　the　hour　was　not　right。　Three　o'clock　in　the　morning　was　not　the　time　to　be　seen　prowling　the　streets　or　the　hotels　in　search　of　a　kill　in　Moscow；　a　city　in　the　grip　of　permanent　suspicion；　darkness　itself　contributing　to　its　wariness。　It　was　mon　knowledge　that　the　night…floor　stewards　in　the　major　hotels　were　armed；　selected　as　much　for　their　marksmanship　as　for　their　aptitude　for　service。　Daylight　brought　a　relaxation　of　the　night's　concerns；　the　bustling　activity　of　the　early　morning　was　the　time　to　strike…and　strike　he　would。
　But　the　hour　was　right　for　another　kind　of　strike；　at　least　the　prelude　to　it。　The　time　had　e　to　call　together　his　disciples　in　the　Soviet　government　and　let　them　know　the　monseigneur　had　arrived；　that　their　personal　messiah　was　here　to　set　them　free。　Before　leaving　Paris　he　had　collected　the　dossiers；　and　the　dossiers　behind　those　dossiers；　all　seemingly　innocuous　pages　of　blank　paper　in　file　folders　until　they　were　exposed　to　infrared　light；　the　heat　waves　bringing　up　the　typewritten　script。　He　had　selected　a　small　deserted　store　in　the　Vavilova　for　his　meeting　ground。　He　would　reach　each　of　his　people　by　public　telephone　and　instruct　them　to　be　there　by　5：30；　all　taking　back　streets　and　alleyways　to　the　rendezvous。　By　6：30　his　task　would　be　finished；　each　disciple　armed　with　the　information　that　would　elevate　him…and　her…to　the　highest　ranks　of　Moscow's　elite。　It　was　one　more　invisible　army；　far　smaller　than　Paris；　but　equally　effective　and　as　dedicated　to　Carlos；　the　unseen　monseigneur　who　made　life　infinitely　more　fortable　for　his　converts。　And　by　7：30；　the　mighty　Jackal　would　be　in　place　at　the　Metropole；　ready　for　the　early　movements　of　awakening　guests；　the　time　for　the　rushing　trays　and　tables　of　room…service　waiters　and　the　hectic　confusion　of　a　lobby　alive　with　chatter；　anxiety　and　bureaucracy。　It　was　at　the　Metropole　where　he　would　be　ready　for　Jason　Bourne。
　One　by　one；　like　wary　stragglers　in　the　early　light；　the　five　men　and　three　women　arrived　at　the　run…down　entrance　of　the　abandoned　store　in　the　back　street　known　only　as　the　Vavilova。　Their　caution　was　understandable；　it　was　a　district　to　be　avoided；　although　not　necessarily　because　of　unsavory　inhabitants；　for　the　Moscow　police　were　ruthlessly　thorough　in　such　areas；　but　because　of　the　stretch　of　decrepit　buildings。　The　area　was　in　the　process　of　renovation；　however；　like　similar　projects　in　urban　blights　the　world　over；　the　progress　had　two　speeds：　slow　and　stop。　The　only　constant；　which　was　at　best　a　dangerous　convenience；　was　the　existence　of　electricity；　and　Carlos　used　it　to　his　advantage。
　He　stood　at　the　far　end　of　the　bare　concrete　room；　a　lamp　on　the　floor　behind　him；　silhouetting　him；　leaving　his　features　undefined　and　further　obscured　by　the　upturned　collar　of　his　black　suit。　To　his　right　was　a　wreck　of　a　low　wooden　table　with　file　folders　spread　across　the　top；　and　to　his　left；　under　a　pile　of　newspapers；　unseen　by　his　〃disciples；〃　was　a　cut…down　Type　56；　AK…47　assault　weapon。　A　forty…round　magazine　was　inserted；　a　second　magazine　in　the　Jackal's　belt。　The　only　reason　for　the　weapon　was　the　normal　custom　of　his　trade；　he　expected　no　difficulty　whatsoever。　Only　adoration。
　He　surveyed　his　audience；　noting　that　all　eight　kept　glancing　furtively　at　one　another。　No　one　talked；　the　dank　air　in　the　eerily　lit　abandoned　store　was　tense　with　apprehension。　Carlos　understood　that　he　had　to　dispel　that　fear；　that　furtiveness；　as　rapidly　as　possible；　which　was　why　he　had　gathered　eight　distressed　chairs　from　the　various　deserted　office　rooms　in　the　rear　of　the　store。　Seated；　people　were　less　tense；　it　was　a　truism。　However；　none　of　the　chairs　was　being　used。
　〃Thank　you　for　ing　here　this　morning；〃　said　the　Jackal　in　Russian；　raising　his　voice。　〃Please；　each　of　you　take　a　chair　and　sit　down。　Our　discussion　will　not　be　long；　but　will　require　the　utmost　concentration。　。。。　Would　the　rade　nearest　the　door　close　it；　please。　Everyone　is　here。〃
　The　old；　heavy　door　was　creaked　shut　by　a　stiffly　walking　bureaucrat　as　the　rest　reached　for　chairs；　each　distancing　his　and　hers　from　others　that　were　nearby。　Carlos　waited　until　the　scraping　sounds　of　wood　against　cement　subsided　and　all　were　seated。　Then；　like　a　practiced　orator…actor；　the　Jackal　paused　before　formally　addressing　his　captive　audience。　He　looked　briefly　at　each　person　with　his　penetrating　dark　eyes　as　if　conveying　to　each　that　he　or　she　was　special　to　him。　There　were　short；　successive　hand　movements；　mostly　female；　as　those　he　gazed　at　in　turn　smoothed　their　respective　garments。　The　clothes　they　wore　were　characteristic　of　the　ranks　of　upper…level　government　officials…in　the　main　drab　and　conservative；　but　well　pressed　and　spotless。
　〃I　am　the　monseigneur　from　Paris；〃　began　the　assassin　in　priestly　garb。　〃I　am　he　who　has　spent　several　years　seeking　each　of　you　out…with　the　assistance　of　rades　here　in　Moscow　and　beyond…and　sent　you　large　sums　of　money；　asking　only　that　you　silently　await　my　arrival　and　render　me　the　loyalty　I　have　shown　to　you。　。。。　By　your　faces；　I　can　anticipate　your　questions；　so　let　me　amplify。　Years　ago　I　was　among　the　elite　few　selected　to　be　trained　at　Novgorod。〃　There　was　a　quiet　yet　audible　reaction　from　the　chosen　eight。　The　myth　of　Novgorod　matched　its　reality；　it　was；　indeed；　an　advanced　indoctrination　center　for　the　most　gifted　of　rades…as　they　were　given　to　understand；　yet　none　really　understood；　for　Novgorod　was　rarely　spoken　about　except　in　whispers。　With　several　nods；　Carlos　acknowledged　the　impact　of　his　revelation　and　continued。
　〃The　years　since　have　been　spent　in　many　foreign　countries　promoting　the　interests　of　the　great　Soviet　revolution；　an　undercover　missar　with　a　flexible　portfolio　that　called　for　many　trips　back　here　to　Moscow　and　extensive　research　into　the　specific　departments　in　which　each　of　you　holds　a　responsible　position。〃　Again　the　Jackal　paused；　then　spoke　suddenly；　sharply。　〃Positions　of　responsibility　but　without　the　authority　that　should　be　yours。　Your　abilities　are　undervalued　and　under…rewarded；　for　there　is　deadwood　above　you。〃
　The　small　crowd's　reaction　was　now　somewhat　more　audible；　definitely　less　constrained。　〃pared　to　similar　departments　in　the　governments　of　our　adversaries；〃　went　on　Carlos；　〃we　here　in　Moscow　have　lagged　far　behind　when　we　should　be　ahead；　and　we　are　behind　because　your　talents　have　been　suppressed　by　entrenched　officeholders　who　care　more　for　their　office　privileges　than　they　do　for　the　functions　of　their　departments！〃
　The　response　was　immediate；　even　electric；　with　the　three　women　openly　if　softly　applauding。　〃It　is　for　that　reason；　these　reasons；　that　I　and　my　associate　rades　here　in　Moscow　have　sought　you　out。　Further；　it　is　why　I　have　sent　you　funds…to　be　used　totally　at　your　discretion…for　the　money　you've　received　is　the　approximate　value　of　the　privileges　your　superiors　enjoy。　Why　should　you　not　receive　them　and　enjoy　them　as　they　do？〃
　The　rumble　of　why　not？　and　he's　right　rippled　through　the　audience；　now　actually　looking　at　one　another；　eyes　locked；　and　heads　nodding　firmly。　The　Jackal　then　began　to　reel　off　the　eight　major　departments　in　question；　and　as　each　was　named　successively；　there　was　an　enthusiastic　nodding　of　heads。　〃The　ministries　of　Transport；　Information；　Finance；　Import/Export；　Legal　Procedures；　Military　Supply；　Scientific　Research　。。。　an