rl.thebourneultimatum-第31部分

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de。　That's　where　I　met　the　Big　Boy　and　I　married　him；　but　I　didn't　have　no　illusions　from　day　one。　'Specially　when　he　got　back　from　'Nam；　y'know　what　I　mean？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　do；　Rachel。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　explain　nothin'　kiddo！〃　roared　Flannagan。
　〃No；　I　wanna；　Eddie！　I'm　sick　of　the　whole　shit；　okay？〃
　〃You　watch　your　tongue！〃
　〃The　point　is；　I　don't　know　nothin'；　Mr。　Delta。　But　I　can　figure　things；　y'know　what　I　mean？〃
　〃Stop　it；　Rachel！〃　cried　the　dead　general's　aide。
　〃Fuck　off；　Eddie！　You're　not　too　bright　either。　This　Mr。　Delta　could　be　our　way　out。　。。。　Back　to　the　islands；　right？〃
　〃Absolutely　right；　Mrs。　Swayne。〃
　〃You　know　what　this　place　is…？〃
　〃Shut　up！〃　yelled　Flannagan；　awkwardly　plodding　forward；　stopped　by　the　sudden　ear…shattering　explosion　of　Bourne's　gun；　the　bullet　searing　into　the　floor　between　the　sergeant's　legs。
　The　woman　screamed。　When　she　stopped；　Jason　continued：　〃What　is　this　place；　Mrs。　Swayne？〃
　〃Hold　it；〃　the　master　sergeant　again　interrupted；　but　his　objection　was　not　shouted　now；　instead；　it　was　a　plea；　a　strong　man's　plea。　He　looked　at　the　general's　wife　and　then　back　at　Jason。　〃Listen；　Bourne　or　Delta　or　whoever　you　are；　Rachel's　right。　You　could　be　our　way　out…there's　nothing　left　for　us　over　here…so　what　have　you　got　to　offer？〃
　〃For　what？〃
　〃Say　we　tell　you　what　we　know　about　this　place　。。。　and　I　tell　you　where　you　can　start　looking　for　a　lot　more。　How　can　you　help　us？　How　can　we　get　out　of　here　and　back　to　the　Pac　Islands　without　being　hassled；　our　names　and　faces　all　over　the　papers？〃
　〃That's　a　tall　order；　Sergeant。〃
　〃Goddamn　it；　she　didn't　kill　him…we　didn't　kill　him；　you　said　so　yourself！〃
　〃Agreed；　and　I　couldn't　care　less　whether　you　did　or　not；　whether　you　were　responsible　or　not。　I've　got　other　priorities。〃
　〃Like　getting　'caught　up　with　some　old　rades'　or　whatever　the　hell　it　was？〃
　〃That's　right；　I'm　owed。〃
　〃I　still　can't　figure　you…〃
　〃You　don't　have　to。〃
　〃You　were　dead！〃　broke　in　the　perplexed　Flannagan；　the　words　rushing　out。　〃Delta　One　from　the　illegals　was　Bourne；　and　Bourne　was　dead　and　Langley　proved　it　to　us！　But　you're　not　dead…〃
　〃I　was　taken；　Sergeant！　That's　all　you　have　to　know…that　and　the　fact　that　I'm　working　alone。　I've　got　a　few　debts　I　can　call　in；　but　I'm　strictly　solo。　I　need　information　and　I　need　it　quickly！〃
　Flannagan　shook　his　head　in　bewilderment。　〃Well　。。。　maybe　I　can　help　you　there；〃　he　said　quietly；　tentatively；　〃better　than　anyone　else　would。　I　was　given　a　special　assignment；　so　I　had　to　learn　things；　things　someone　like　me　wouldn't　normally　be　told。〃
　〃That　sounds　like　the　opening　notes　of　a　con　song；　Sergeant。　What　was　your　special　assignment？〃
　〃Nursemaid。　Two　years　ago　Norman　began　to　fall　apart。　I　controlled　him；　and　if　I　couldn't　I　was　given　a　number　to　call　in　New　York。〃
　〃Said　number　being　part　of　the　help　you　can　give　me。〃
　〃That　and　a　few　license…plate　ID's　I　wrote　down　just　in　case…〃
　〃In　case；〃　pleted　Bourne；　〃someone　decided　your　nursemaid's　services　were　no　longer　required。〃
　〃Something　like　that。　Those　pricks　never　liked　us…Norman　didn't　see　it　but　I　did。〃
　〃Us？　You　and　Rachel　and　Swayne？〃
　〃The　uniform。　They　look　down　their　rich　civilian　noses　at　us　like　we're　necessary　garbage；　and　they're　right　about　the　necessary。　They　needed　Norman。　With　their　eyes　they　spat　on　him；　but　they　needed　him。〃
　The　soldier　boys　couldn't　run　with　it。　Albert　Armbruster；　chairman　of　the　Federal　Trade　mission。　Medusa…the　civilian　inheritors。
　〃When　you　say　you　wrote　down　the　license…plate　numbers；　I　assume　that　means　you　weren't　part　of　the　meetings　that　took　place…take　place…here　on　a　fairly　regular　basis。　That　is；　you　didn't　mingle　with　the　guests；　you　weren't　one　of　them。〃
　〃Are　you　crazy？〃　screeched　Rachel　Swayne；　in　her　own　succinct　way　answering　Jason's　question。　〃Whenever　there　was　a　real　meeting　and　not　a　lousy　drunken　dinner　party；　Norm　told　me　to　stay　upstairs；　or　if　I　wanted　to；　go　over　to　Eddie's　and　watch　television。　Eddie　couldn't　leave　the　cabin。　We　weren't　good　enough　for　his　big　fancy　asshole　friends！　It's　been　that　way　for　years。　。。。　Like　I　said；　he　threw　us　together。〃
　〃I'm　beginning　to　understand…at　least；　I　think　I　am。　But　you　got　the　license　numbers；　Sergeant。　How　did　you　do　that？　I　gather　you　were　confined　to　quarters。〃
　〃I　didn't　get　'em；　my　guards　did。　I　called　it　a　confidential　security　procedure。　No　one　argued。〃
　〃I　see。　You　said　Swayne　began　to　fall　apart　a　couple　of　years　ago。　How？　In　what　way？〃
　〃Like　tonight。　Whenever　something　out　of　the　ordinary　happened；　he'd　freeze；　he　didn't　want　to　make　decisions。　If　it　even　smacked　of　Snake　Lady；　he　wanted　to　bury　his　head　in　the　sand　until　it　went　away。〃
　〃What　about　tonight？　I　saw　you　two　arguing　。。。　it　seemed　to　me　the　sergeant　was　giving　the　general　his　marching　orders。〃
　〃You're　damn　right　I　was。　Norman　was　in　a　panic…over　you；　over　the　man　they　called　Cobra　who　was　bringing　out　this　heavy　business　about　Saigon　twenty　years　ago。　He　wanted　me　to　be　with　him　when　you　got　here；　and　I　told　him　no　way。　I　said　I　wasn't　nuts　and　I'd　have　to　be　nuts　to　do　that。〃
　〃Why？　Why　would　it　be　nuts　for　an　aide　to　be　with　his　superior　officer？〃
　〃For　the　same　reason　nons　aren't　called　into　situation　rooms　where　the　stars　and　the　stripers　are　figuring　out　strategy。　We're　on　different　levels；　it　isn't　done。〃
　〃Which　is　another　way　of　saying　there　are　limits　to　what　you　should　know。〃
　〃You　got　it。〃
　〃But　you　were　part　of　that　Saigon　twenty　years　ago；　part　of　Snake　Lady…hell；　Sergeant；　you　were　Medusa；　you　are　Medusa。〃
　〃Nickels　and　dimes'　worth；　Delta。　I　sweep　up　and　they　take　care　of　me；　but　I'm　only　a　sweeper　in　a　uniform。　When　my　time　es　to　turn　in　that　uniform；　I　go　quietly　into　a　nice　distant　retirement　with　my　mouth　shut；　or　I　go　out　in　a　body　bag。　It's　all　very　clear。　I'm　expendable。〃
　Bourne　watched　the　master　sergeant　closely　as　he　spoke；　noting　Flannagan's　brief　glances　at　the　general's　wife；　as　if　he　expected　to　be　applauded　or；　conversely；　to　be　told　with　a　look　to　shut　up。　Either　the　huge　military　aide　was　telling　the　truth　or　he　was　a　very　convincing　actor。　〃Then　it　strikes　me；〃　said　Jason　finally；　〃that　this　is　a　logical　time　to　move　up　your　retirement。　I　can　do　that；　Sergeant。　You　can　fade　quietly　with　your　mouth　shut　and　with　whatever　rewards　you're　given　for　sweeping　up。　A　devoted　general's　aide　with　over　thirty　years'　service　opts　for　retirement　when　his　friend　and　superior　tragically　takes　his　own　life。　No　one　will　question　you。　。。。　That's　my　offer。〃
　Flannagan　again　looked　at　Rachel　Swayne；　she　nodded　sharply　once；　then　stared　at　Bourne。　〃What's　the　guarantee　that　we　can　pack　up　our　stuff　and　get　out？〃　asked　the　woman。
　〃Isn't　there　a　little　matter　of　Sergeant　Flannagan's　discharge　and　his　army　pension？〃
　〃I　made　Norman　sign　those　papers　eighteen　months　ago；〃　broke　in　the　aide。　〃I　was　posted　permanently　to　his　office　at　the　Pentagon　and　billeted　to　his　residence。　I　just　have　to　fill　in　the　date；　sign　my　own　name；　and　list　a　general　delivery　address；　which　Rachel　and　I　already　figured　out。〃
　〃That's　all？〃
　〃What's　left　is　maybe　three　or　four　phone　calls。　Norman's　lawyer；　who'll　wrap　up　everything　here；　the　kennels　for　the　dogs；　the　Pentagon　assigned…vehicle　dispatcher…and　a　last　call　to　New　York。　Then　it's　Dulles　Airport。〃
　〃You　must　have　thought　about　this　for　a　long　time；　for　years…〃
　〃Nothing　but；　Mr。　Delta；〃　confirmed　the　general's　wife；　interrupting。　〃Like　they　say；　we　paid　our　dues。〃
　〃But　before　I　can　sign　those　papers　or　make　those　calls；〃　added　Flannagan；　〃I　have　to　know　we　can　break　clean…now。〃
　〃Meaning　no　police；　no　newspapers；　no　involvement　with　tonight…you　simply　weren't　here。〃
　〃You　said　it's　a　tall　order。　How　tall　are　the　debts　you　can　call　in？〃
　〃You　simply　weren't　here；〃　repeated　Bourne　softly；　slowly；　looking　at　the　fluted　glass　ashtray　with　the　lipstick…stained　cigarette　butts　on　the　table　beside　him。　He　pulled　his　eyes　back　to　the　general's　aide。　〃You　didn't　touch　anything　in　there；　there's　nothing　to　physically　tie　you　in　with　his　suicide。　。。。　Are　you　really　prepared　to　leave…say；　in　a　couple　of　hours？〃
　〃Try　thirty　minutes；　Mr。　Delta；〃　replied　Rachel。
　〃My　God；　you　had　a　life　here；　both　of　you…〃
　〃We　don't　want　anything　from　this　life　outside　of　what　we've　got；〃　said　Flannagan　firmly。
　〃The　estate　here　is　yours；　Mrs。　Swayne…〃
　〃Like　hell　it　is。　It's　being　turned　over　to　some　foundation；　ask　the　lawyer。　Whatever　I　get；　if　I　get；　he'll　send　on　to　me。　I　just　want　out…we　want　out。〃
　Jason　looked　back　and　forth　at　the　strange　and　strangely　drawn…together　couple。　〃Then　there's　nothing　to　stop　you。〃
　〃How　do　we　know　that？〃　pressed　Flannagan；　stepping　forward。
　〃It'll　take　a　measure　of　trust　on　your　part；　but；　believe　me；　I　can　do　it。　On　the　other　hand；　look　at　the　alternative。　Say　you　stay　here。　No　matter　what　you　do　with　him；　he　won't　show　up　in　Arlington　tomorrow　or　the　next　day　or　the　day　after　that。　Sooner　or　later　someone's　going　to　e　looking　for　him。　There'll　be　questions；　searches；　an　investigation；　and　as　sure　as　God　made　little　Bobby　Woodwards；　the　media　will　descend　with　its　bellyful　of　speculations。　In　short　order　your　'arrangement'　will　be　picked　up…hell；　even　the　guards　talked　about　it…and　the　newspapers；　the　magazines　and　television　will　have　a　collective　field　day。　。。。　Do　you　want　that？　Or　would　it　all　lead　to　that　body　bag　you　mentioned？〃
　The　master　sergeant　and　his　lady　stared　at　each　other。　〃He's　right；　Eddie；〃　said　the　latter。　〃With　him　we　got　a　chance；　the　other　way　we　don't。〃
　〃It　sounds　too　easy；〃　said　Flannagan；　his　breath　ing　shorter　as　he　glanced　toward　the　door。　〃How　are　you　going　to　handle　everything？〃
　〃That's　my　business；〃　answered　Bourne。　〃Give　me　the　telephone　numbers；　all　of　them；　and　then　the　only　call　you'll　have　to　make　is　the　one　to　New　York；　and　if　I　were　you；　I'd　make　it　from　whatever　Pac　island　you're　on。〃
　〃You're　nuts！　The　minute　the　news　breaks；　I'm　on　Medusa's　rug…so's　Rachel！　They're　going　to　want　to　know　what　happened。〃
　〃Tell　them　the　truth；　at　least　a　variation　of　it；　and　I　think　you　may　even　get　a　bonus。〃
　〃You're　a　goddamned　flake！〃
　〃I　wasn't　a　flake　in　'Nam；　Sergeant。　Nor　was