rl.thebourneultimatum-第49部分

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　〃And　the　Crown　governor？〃
　〃He's　just　an　ass。〃
　〃Does　Henry　know　that？〃
　〃Sure；　he　does。　He　didn't　get　to　be　a　brigadier　on　his　looks；　potbelly　and　all。　He's　not　only　a　good　soldier；　he's　a　good　administrator。　He　covers　for　a　lot　around　here。〃
　〃And　you're　certain　he　hasn't　been　in　touch　with　the　CG。〃
　〃He　told　me　he'd　let　me　know　before　he　reached　the　pompous　idiot　and　I　believe　him。〃
　〃I　sincerely　hope　you're　right…because　that　pompous　idiot　is　the　Jackal's　contact　in　Montserrat。〃
　〃What？　I　don't　believe　it！〃
　〃Believe。　It's　confirmed。〃
　〃It's　incredible！〃
　〃No；　it's　not。　It's　the　way　of　the　Jackal。　He　finds　vulnerability　and　he　recruits　it；　buys　it。　There　are　very　few　in　the　gray　areas　beyond　his　ability　to　purchase　them。〃
　Stunned；　St。　Jacques　wandered　aimlessly　to　the　balcony　doors　ing　to　terms　with　the　unbelievable。　〃I　suppose　it　answers　a　question　a　lot　of　us　have　asked　ourselves。　The　governor's　old…line　landed　gentry　with　a　brother　high　up　in　the　Foreign　Office　who's　close　to　the　prime　minister。　Why　at　his　age　was　he　sent　out　here；　or；　maybe　more　to　the　point；　why　did　he　accept　it？　You'd　think　he'd　settle　for　nothing　less　than　Bermuda　or　the　British　Virgins。　Plymouth　can　be　a　stepping…stone；　not　a　final　post。〃
　〃He　was　banished；　Johnny。　Carlos　probably　found　out　why　a　long　time　ago　and　has　him　on　a　list。　He's　been　doing　it　for　years。　Most　people　read　newspapers　and　books　and　magazines　for　diversion；　the　Jackal　pores　over　volumes　of　in…depth　intelligence　reports　from　every　conceivable　source　he　can　unearth；　and　he's　unearthed　more　than　the　CIA；　the　KGB；　MI…Five　and　Six；　Interpol　and　a　dozen　other　services　even　want　to　think　about。　。。。　Those　seaplanes　flew　in　four　or　five　times　after　I　got　back　here　from　Blackburne。　Who　was　on　them？〃
　〃Pilots；〃　answered　St。　Jacques；　turning　around。　〃They　were　taking　people　out；　not　bringing　anyone　in；　I　told　you　that。〃
　〃Yes；　you　told　me。　Were　you　watching？〃
　〃Watching　who？〃
　〃Each　plane　when　it　came　in。〃
　〃Hey；　e　on！　You　had　me　doing　a　dozen　different　things。〃
　〃What　about　the　two　black　mandos？　The　ones　you　trust　so　much。〃
　〃They　were　checking　and　positioning　the　other　guards；　for　Christ's　sake。〃
　〃Then　we　don't　really　know　who　may　have　e　in　on　those　planes；　do　we？　Maybe　slipping　into　the　water　over　the　pontoons　as　they　taxied　through　the　reefs…perhaps　before　the　sandbar。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　David；　I've　known　those　charter　jocks　for　years。　They　wouldn't　let　anything　like　that　happen。　No　way！〃
　〃You　mean　it's　kind　of　unbelievable。〃
　〃You　bet　your　ass。〃
　〃Like　the　Jackal's　contact　in　Montserrat。　The　Crown　governor。〃
　The　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn　stared　at　his　brother…in…law。　〃What　kind　of　world　do　you　live　in？〃
　〃One　I'm　sorry　you　ever　became　a　part　of。　But　you　are　now　and　you'll　play　by　its　rules；　my　rules。〃　A　fleck；　a　flash；　an　infinitesimal　streak　of　deep　red　light　from　the　darkness　outside！　Infrared！　Arms　extended；　Bourne　lunged　at　St。　Jacques；　propelling　him　off　his　feet；　away　from　the　balcony　doors。　〃Get　out　of　there！〃　Jason　roared　in　midair　as　both　crashed　to　the　floor；　three　successive　snaps　crackling　the　space　above　them　as　bullets　thumped　with　finality　into　the　walls　of　the　villa。
　〃What　the　hell…〃
　〃He's　out　there　and　he　wants　me　to　know　it！〃　said　Bourne；　shoving　his　brother…in…law　into　the　lower　molding；　crawling　beside　him；　and　reaching　into　the　pocket　of　his　guayabera。　〃He　knows　who　you　are；　so　you're　the　first　corpse；　the　one　he　realizes　will　drive　me　to　the　edge　because　you're　Marie's　brother…you're　family　and　that's　what　he's　holding　over　my　head。　My　family！〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！　What　do　we　do？〃
　〃I　do！〃　replied　Jason；　pulling　the　second　flare　out　of　his　pocket。　〃I　send　him　a　message。　The　message　that　tells　him　why　I'm　alive　and　why　I　will　be　when　he's　dead。　Stay　where　you　are！〃　Bourne　pulled　his　lighter　out　of　his　right　pocket　and　ignited　the　flare。　Scrambling；　he　raced　across　the　balcony　doors　hurling　the　hissing；　blinding　missile　out　into　the　darkness。　Two　snaps　followed；　the　bullets　ricocheting　off　the　tiled　ceiling　and　shattering　the　mirror　of　a　dressing　table。　〃He's　got　a　MAC…ten　with　a　silencer；〃　said　Medusa's　Delta；　rolling　into　the　wall；　grabbing　his　inflamed　neck　as　he　did　so。　〃I　have　to　get　out　of　here！〃
　〃David；　you're　hurt！〃
　〃That's　nice。〃　Jason　Bourne　got　to　his　feet　and　raced　to　the　door；　slamming　it　back；　he　rushed　into　the　villa's　living　room；　only　to　face　a　frowning　Canadian　physician。
　〃I　heard　some　noise　in　there；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Is　everything　all　right？〃
　〃I　have　to　leave。　Get　to　the　floor。〃
　〃Now；　see　here！　There's　blood　on　your　bandage；　the　sutures…〃
　〃Get　your　ass　on　the　floor！〃
　〃You're　not　twenty…one；　Mr。　Webb…〃
　〃Get　out　of　my　life！〃　shouted　Bourne；　running　to　the　entrance；　letting　himself　outside；　and　rushing　up　the　lighted　path　toward　the　main　plex；　suddenly　aware　of　the　deafening　steel　band；　its　sound　amplified　throughout　the　grounds　by　a　score　of　speakers　nailed　to　the　trees。
　The　undulating　cacophony　was　overwhelming；　and　that　was　not　to　his　disadvantage；　thought　Jason。　Angus　McLeod　had　been　true　to　his　word。　The　huge　glass…enclosed　circular　dining　room　held　the　few　remaining　guests　and　the　fewer　staff；　and　that　meant　the　Chameleon　had　to　change　colors。　He　knew　the　mind　of　the　Jackal　as　well　as　he　knew　his　own；　and　that　meant　that　the　assassin　would　do　exactly　what　he　himself　would　do　under　the　circumstances。　The　hungry；　salivating　wolf　went　into　the　cave　of　its　confused；　rabid　quarry　and　pulled　out　the　prized　piece　of　meat。　So　would　he；　shedding　the　skin　of　the　mythical　chameleon；　revealing　a　much　larger　beast　of　prey…say；　a　Bengal　tiger…which　could　rip　a　jackal　apart　in　his　jaws。　。。。　Why　were　the　images　important？　Why？　He　knew　why；　and　it　filled　him　with　a　feeling　of　emptiness；　a　longing　for　something　that　had　passed…he　was　no　longer　Delta；　the　feared　guerrilla　of　Medusa；　nor　was　he　the　Jason　Bourne　of　Paris　and　the　Far　East。　The　older；　much　older；　David　Webb　kept　intruding；　invading；　trying　to　find　reason　within　insanity　and　violence。
　No！　Get　away　from　me！　You　are　nothing　and　I　am　everything！　。。。　Go　away；　David；　for　Christ's　sake；　go　away。
　Bourne　spun　off　the　path　and　ran　across　the　harsh；　sharp　tropical　grass　toward　the　side　entrance　of　the　inn。　Instantly；　breathlessly；　he　cut　his　pace　to　a　walk　at　the　sight　of　a　figure　ing　through　the　door；　then　upon　recognizing　the　man；　he　resumed　running。　It　was　one　of　the　few　members　of　Tranquility's　staff　he　remembered　and　one　of　the　few　he　wished　he　could　forget。　The　insufferable　snob　of　an　assistant　manager　named　Pritchard；　a　loquacious　bore；　albeit　hardworking；　who　never　let　anyone　forget　his　family's　importance　in　Montserrat…especially　an　uncle　who　was　deputy　director　of　immigration；　a　not　so　incidental　plus　for　Tranquility　Inn；　David　Webb　suspected。
　〃Pritchard！〃　shouted　Bourne；　approaching　the　man。　〃Have　you　got　the　bandages？〃
　〃Why；　sir！〃　cried　the　assistant　manager；　genuinely　flustered。　〃You're　here。　We　were　told　you　left　this　afternoon…〃
　〃Oh；　shit！〃
　〃Sir？　。。。　Such　condolences　of　sorrow　so　pain　my　lips…〃
　〃Just　keep　them　shut；　Pritchard。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　〃Of　course；　I　was　not　here　this　morning　to　greet　you　or　this　afternoon　to　bid　you　farewell　and　express　my　deepest　feelings；　for　Mr。　Saint　Jay　asked　me　to　work　this　evening；　through　the　night；　actually…〃
　〃Pritchard；　I'm　in　a　hurry。　Give　me　the　bandages　and　don't　tell　anyone…anyone…that　you　saw　me。　I　want　that　very　clear。〃
　〃Oh；　it　is　clear；　sir；〃　said　Pritchard；　handing　over　the　three　different　rolls　of　elasticized　tape。　〃Such　privileged　information　is　safe　with　me；　as　safe　as　the　knowledge　that　your　wife　and　children　were　staying　here…oh；　God　forgive　me！　Forgive　me；　sir！〃
　〃I　will　and　He　will　if　you　keep　your　mouth　shut。〃
　〃Sealed。　It　is　sealed。　I　am　so　privileged！〃
　〃You'll　be　shot　if　you　abuse　the　privilege。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Don't　faint；　Pritchard。　Go　down　to　the　villa　and　tell　Mr。　Saint　Jay　that　I'll　be　in　touch　with　him　and　he's　to　stay　there。　Have　you　got　that？　He's　to　stay　there。　。。。　You；　too；　for　that　matter。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　could…〃
　〃Forget　it。　Get　out　of　here！〃
　The　talkative　assistant　manager　ran　across　the　lawn　toward　the　path　to　the　east　villas　as　Bourne　raced　to　the　door　and　went　inside。　Jason　climbed　the　steps　two　at　a　time…only　years　before；　it　would　have　been　three　at　a　time…and　again；　out　of　breath；　reached　St。　Jacques's　office。　He　entered；　closed　the　door；　and　quickly　went　to　the　closet　where　he　knew　his　brother…in…law　kept　several　changes　of　clothing。　Both　men　were　approximately　the　same　size…outsized；　as　Marie　claimed…and　Johnny　had　frequently　borrowed　jackets　and　shirts　from　David　Webb　when　visiting。　Jason　selected　the　most　subdued　bination　in　the　closet。　Lightweight　gray　slacks　and　an　all…cotton　dark　blue　blazer；　the　only　shirt　in　evidence；　again　tropical　cotton；　was　thankfully　short…sleeved　and　brown。　Nothing　would　pick　up　or　reflect　light。
　He　started　to　undress　when　he　felt　a　sharp；　hot　jolt　on　the　left　side　of　his　neck。　He　looked　in　the　closet　mirror；　alarmed；　then　furious　at　what　he　saw。　The　constricting　bandage　around　his　throat　was　deep　red　with　spreading　blood。　He　tore　open　the　box　of　the　widest　tape；　it　was　too　late　to　change　the　dressing；　he　could　only　reinforce　it　and　hope　to　stem　the　bleeding。　He　unraveled　the　elasticized　tape　around　his　neck；　tearing　it　after　several　revolutions；　and　applied　the　tiny　clamps　to　hold　it　in　place。　It　was　more　inhibiting　than　ever；　it　was　also　an　impediment　he　would　put　out　of　his　mind。
　He　changed　clothes；　pulling　the　collar　of　the　brown　shirt　high　over　his　throat　and　putting　the　automatic　in　his　belt；　the　reel　of　fishing　line　in　the　blazer's　pocket。　。。。　Footsteps！　The　door　opened　as　he　pressed　his　back　against　the　wall；　his　hand　on　the　weapon。　Old　Fontaine　walked　in；　he　stood　for　a　moment；　looking　at　Bourne；　then　closed　the　door。
　〃I've　been　trying　to　find　you；　frankly　not　knowing　if　you　were　still　alive；〃　said　the　Frenchman。
　〃We're　not　using　the　radios　unless　we　have　to。〃　Jason　walked　away　from　the　wall。　〃I　thought　you　got　the　message。〃
　〃I　did　and　it　was　right。　Carlos　may　have　his　own　radio　by　now。　He's　not　alone；　you　know。　It's　why　I've　been　wande