rl.thebourneultimatum-第41部分

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；　possibly　waking　the　drugged　dogs；　bewildering　them；　infuriating　them…Do　it！　Hurry。
　Jason　scrambled　across　the　lawn；　his　eyes　darting　everywhere；　wondering　where　the　stalking　killer　was　and　how　the　innocent　quarry　that　Cactus　had　enlisted　was　evading　him。　One　was　experienced；　the　other　not；　and　Bourne　could　not　permit　the　latter's　life　to　be　wasted。
　It　happened！　He　had　been　spotted！　Two　cracks　on　either　side　of　him；　bullets　from　a　silenced　pistol　slicing　the　air。　He　reached　the　south　leg　of　the　paved　drive　and；　racing　across　it；　dived　into　the　foliage。　Ripping　a　flare　from　his　pocket；　he　put　down　the　weapon；　snapped　up　the　flame　of　his　lighter；　ignited　the　fuse　and　threw　the　sizzling　candle　to　his　right。　It　landed　on　the　road；　in　seconds　it　would　spew　out　the　blinding　fire。　He　ran　to　his　left　beneath　the　pine　trees　toward　the　rear　of　the　estate；　his　lighter　and　the　second　flare　in　one　hand；　the　automatic　in　the　other。　He　was　parallel　to　the　kennels；　the　flare　in　the　road　exploded　into　bluish…white　flames。　He　ignited　the　second　and　threw　it　end　over　end；　arcing　it　forty　yards　away　to　the　front　of　the　kennels。　He　waited。
　The　second　flare　burst　into　sputtering　fire；　two　balls　of　blinding　white　light　eerily　illuminating　the　house　and　grounds　of　the　estate's　south　side。　Three　of　the　dogs　began　to　wail；　then　made　feeble　attempts　to　howl；　soon　their　confused　anger　would　be　heard。　A　shadow。　Against　the　west　wall　of　the　white　house…it　moved；　caught　in　the　light　between　the　flare　by　the　kennels　and　the　house。　The　figure　darted　for　the　protection　of　the　shrubbery；　it　crouched；　an　immobile　but　intrusive　part　of　the　silhouetted　foliage。　Was　it　the　killer　or　the　killer's　target；　the　last　〃brother〃　recruited　by　Cactus？　。。。　There　was　one　way　to　find　out；　and　if　it　was　the　former　and　he　was　a　decent　marksman；　it　was　not　the　best　tactic；　but　still　it　was　the　quickest。
　Bourne　leaped　up　from　the　underbrush；　yelling　in　full　view　as　he　lunged　to　his　right；　at　the　last　half　second　plunging　his　foot　into　the　soft　dirt　and　pivoting；　lowering　his　body　and　diving　to　his　left。　〃Head　for　the　cabin！〃　he　roared。　And　he　got　his　answer。　Two　more　spits；　two　more　cracks　in　the　air；　the　bullets　digging　up　the　earth　to　his　right。　The　killer　was　good；　perhaps　not　an　expert　but　good　enough。　A　。357　held　six　shells；　five　had　been　fired；　but　there　had　been　sufficient　time　to　reload　the　emptied　cylinder。　Another　strategy…quickly！
　Suddenly　another　figure　appeared；　a　man　running　up　the　road　toward　the　rear　of　Flannagan's　cabin。　He　was　in　the　open…he　could　be　killed！
　〃Over　here；　you　bastard！〃　screamed　Jason；　jumping　up　and　firing　his　automatic　blindly　into　the　shrubbery　by　the　house。　And　then　he　got　another　answer；　a　wele　one。　There　was　a　single　spit；　a　single　crack　in　the　air　and　then　no　more。　The　killer　had　not　reloaded！　Perhaps　he　had　no　more　shells…whatever；　the　primary　target　was　now　on　the　high　ground。　Bourne　raced　out　of　the　bushes　and　across　the　lawn　through　the　opposing　light　of　the　flares；　the　dogs　were　now　really　aroused；　the　yelps　and　throated　growls　of　attack　being　louder。　The　killer　ran　out　of　the　shrubbery　and　into　the　road；　racing　through　shadows　toward　the　front　gates。　Jason　had　the　bastard；　he　knew　it。　The　gates　were　closed；　the　Medusan　was　cornered。　Bourne　roared：　〃There's　no　way　out；　Snake　Lady！　Make　it　easy　on　yourself…〃
　A　spit；　a　crack。　The　man　had　reloaded　while　running！　Jason　fired；　the　man　fell　in　the　road。　And　as　he　did　so；　the　intermittent　silence　of　the　night　was　ripped　open　by　the　sound　of　a　powerful；　racing　engine；　the　vehicle　in　question　speeding　up　the　outside　road；　its　flashing　red　and　blue　lights　signifying　the　police。　The　police！　The　alarm　must　have　been　wired　into　the　Manassas　headquarters；　a　fact　that　had　never　occurred　to　Bourne；　he　had　assumed　that　such　a　measure　was　impossible　where　Medusa　was　concerned。　It　wasn't　logical；　the　security　was　internal；　no　external　force　could　be　permitted　for　Snake　Lady。　There　was　too　much　to　learn；　too　much　that　had　to　be　kept　secret…a　cemetery！
　The　killer　writhed　in　the　road；　rolling　over　and　over　toward　the　bordering　pine　trees。　There　was　something　clutched　in　his　hand。　Jason　approached　him　as　two　police　officers　got　out　of　the　patrol　car　beyond　the　gate。　He　lashed　his　foot　out；　kicking　the　man's　body；　releasing　whatever　it　was　in　his　grip　and　reaching　down　to　pick　it　up。　It　was　a　leather…bound　book；　one　of　a　set；　like　a　volume　of　Dickens　or　Thackeray；　the　embossed　letters　in　gold；　more　for　display　than　for　reading。　It　was　crazy！　Then　he　flipped　open　a　page　and　understood　it　was　not　crazy　at　all。　There　was　no　print　inside；　only　the　scrawl　of　handwritten　notes　on　blank　pages。　It　was　a　diary；　a　ledger！
　There　could　be　no　police！　Especially　not　now。　He　could　not　allow　them　to　be　aware　of　his　and　Conklin's　penetration　into　Medusa。　The　leather…bound　book　in　his　hand　could　not　see　the　official　light　of　day！　The　Jackal　was　everything。　He　had　to　get　rid　of　them！
　〃We　got　a　call；　mister；〃　intoned　a　middle…aged　patrolman　walking　toward　the　grilled　gate；　a　younger　associate　joining　him。　〃HQ　said　he　was　uptight　as　hell。　We're　responding；　but　like　I　told　dispatch；　there've　been　some　pretty　wild　parties　out　here；　no　criticism　intended；　sir。　We　all　like　a　good　time　now　and　then；　right？〃
　〃Absolutely　right；　Officer；〃　replied　Jason；　trying　his　utmost　to　control　the　painful　heaving　in　his　chest；　his　eyes　straying　to　the　wounded　killer…he　had　disappeared！　〃There　was　a　momentary　shortage　in　electricity　that　somehow　interfered　with　the　telephone　lines。〃
　〃Happens　a　lot；〃　confirmed　the　younger　patrolman。　〃Sudden　showers　and　summer　heat　lightnin'。　Someday　they'll　put　all　them　cables　underground。　My　folks　got　a　place…〃
　〃The　point　is；〃　interrupted　Bourne；　〃everything's　getting　back　to　normal。　As　you　can　see；　some　of　the　lights　in　the　house　are　back　on。〃
　〃I　can't　see　nothin'　through　them　flares；〃　said　the　young　police　officer。
　〃The　general　always　takes　the　ultimate　precautions；〃　explained　Jason。　〃I　guess　he　feels　he　has　to；〃　added　Bourne；　somewhat　lamely。　〃Regardless；　everything's…as　I　said…getting　back　to　normal。　Okay？〃
　〃Okay　by　me；〃　answered　the　older　patrolman；　〃but　I　got　a　message　for　someone　named　Webb。　He　in　there？〃
　〃I'm　Webb；〃　said　Jason　Bourne；　alarmed。
　〃That　makes　things　easier。　You're　supposed　to　call　a　'Mister　Conk'　right　away。　It's　urgent。〃
　〃Urgent？〃
　〃An　emergency；　we　were　told。　It　was　just　radioed　to　us。〃
　Jason　could　hear　the　rattling　of　the　fence　on　the　perimeter　of　Swayne's　property。　The　killer　was　getting　away！　〃Well；　Officer；　the　phones　are　still　out　here。　。。。　Do　you　have　one　in　your　car？〃
　〃Not　for　personal　use；　sir。　Sorry。〃
　〃But　you　just　said　it　was　an　emergency。〃
　〃Well；　I　suppose　since　you're　a　guest　of　the　general's　I　could　permit　it。　If　it's　long　distance；　though；　you'd　better　have　a　credit　card　number。〃
　〃Oh；　my　God。〃　Bourne　unlocked　the　gate　and　rushed　to　the　patrol　car　as　the　siren…alarm　was　activated　back　at　the　house…activated　and　then　instantly　shut　off。　The　remaining　brother　had　apparently　found　Cactus。
　〃What　the　hell　was　that？〃　yelled　the　young　policeman。
　〃Forget　it！〃　screamed　Jason；　jumping　into　the　car　and　yanking　an　all　too　familiar　patrol　phone　out　of　its　cradle。　He　gave　Alex's　number　in　Virginia　to　the　police　switchboard　and　kept　repeating　the　phrase：　〃It's　an　emergency；　it's　an　emergency！〃
　〃Yes？〃　answered　Conklin；　acknowledging　the　police　operator。
　〃It's　me！〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃Too　involved　to　go　into。　What's　the　emergency？〃
　〃I've　got　you　a　private　jet　out　of　the　Reston　airport。〃
　〃Reston？　That's　north　of　here…〃
　〃The　field　in　Manassas　doesn't　have　the　equipment。　I'm　sending　a　car　for　you。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Tranquility。　Marie　and　the　kids　are　okay；　they're　okay！　She's　in　charge。〃
　〃What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃
　〃Get　to　Reston　and　I'll　tell　you。〃
　〃I　want　more！〃
　〃The　Jackal's　flying　in　today。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃
　〃Wrap　things　up　there　and　wait　for　the　car。〃
　〃I'll　take　this　one！〃
　〃No！　Not　unless　you　want　to　blow　everything。　We've　got　time。　Wrap　it　up　out　there。〃
　〃Cactus　。。。　he's　hurt…shot。〃
　〃I'll　call　Ivan。　He'll　get　back　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃There's　one　brother　left…only　one；　Alex。　I　killed　the　other　two…I　was　responsible。〃
　〃Cut　that　out。　Stop　it。　Do　what　you　have　to　do。〃
　〃Goddamn　you；　I　can't。　Someone's　got　to　be　here　and　I　won't　be！〃
　〃You're　right。　There's　too　much　to　keep　under　wraps　out　there　and　you've　got　to　be　in　Montserrat。　I'll　drive　out　with　the　car　and　take　your　place。〃
　〃Alex；　tell　me　what　happened　on　Tranquility！〃
　〃The　old　men　。。。　your　'old　men　of　Paris；'　that's　what　happened。〃
　〃They're　dead；〃　said　Jason　Bourne　quietly；　simply。
　〃Don't　be　hasty。　They've　turned…at　least　I　gather　the　real　one　turned　and　the　other's　a　God…given　mistake。　They're　on　our　side　now。〃
　〃They're　never　on　anyone's　side　but　the　Jackal's；　you　don't　know　them。〃
　〃Neither　do　you。　Listen　to　your　wife。　But　now　you　go　back　to　the　house　and　write　out　everything　I　should　know。　。。。　And　Jason；　I　must　tell　you　something。　I　hope　to　Christ　you　can　find　your　solution…our　solution…on　Tranquility。　Because　all　things　considered；　including　my　life；　I　can't　keep　this　Medusa　on　our　level　much　longer。　I　think　you　know　that。〃
　〃You　promised！〃
　〃Thirty…six　hours；　Delta。〃
　In　the　woods　beyond　the　fence　a　wounded　man　crouched；　his　frightened　face　against　the　green　links。　In　the　bright　wash　of　the　headlights；　he　observed　the　tall　man　who　had　gone　into　the　patrol　car　and　now　came　out；　awkwardly；　nervously　thanking　the　policemen。　He　did　not；　however；　permit　them　inside。
　Webb。　The　killer　had　heard　the　name　〃Webb。〃
　It　was　all　they　had　to　know。　All　Snake　Lady　had　to　know。
　
　15
　〃God；　I　love　you！〃　said　David　Webb；　leaning　into　the　pay　phone　in　the　preboarding　room　at　the　private　airfield　in　Reston；　Virginia。　〃The　waiting　was　the　worst　part；　waiting　to　talk　to　you；　to　hear　from　you　that　you　were　all　all　right。〃
　〃How　do　you　think　I　felt；　darling？　Alex　said　the　telephone　lines　had　been　cut　and　he　was　sending　the　police　when　I　wanted　him　to　send　the　whole　damned　army。〃
　〃We　can't　even　allow　the　police；　nothing　official　anywhere　at　the　moment。　Conklin's　promised　me　at　least　another　thirty…six　hours。　。。