rl.thebourneultimatum-第59部分

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　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　driver　closed　the　door。　〃Would　you　like　assistance；　sir？〃
　〃Hell；　no。　Get　out　of　here。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　government　chauffeur　climbed　into　the　front　seat；　the　sudden　roar　of　his　engine　was　not　meant　as　a　courteous　exit　as　he　sped　down　the　street。
　Armbruster　climbed　the　stone　staircase；　his　stomach　and　chest　heaving　with　each　step；　cursing　under　his　breath　at　the　sight　of　his　wife's　silhouette　beyond　the　glass　door　of　their　Victorian　entrance。　〃Shit…kicking　yapper；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he　neared　the　top；　gripping　the　railing　before　facing　his　adversary　of　thirty　years。
　A　spit　exploded　out　of　the　darkness　from　somewhere　within　the　grounds　of　the　property　next　door。　Armbruster's　arms　flew　up；　his　wrists　bent　as　if　trying　to　locate　the　bodily　chaos；　it　was　too　late。　The　chairman　of　the　Federal　Trade　mission　tumbled　back　down　the　stone　staircase；　his　thumping　dead　weight　landing　grotesquely　on　the　pavement　below。
　Bourne　changed　into　the　French　denim　trousers；　slipped　on　a　dark　short…sleeved　shirt　and　the　cotton　safari　jacket；　put　his　money；　his　weapon　and　all　his　IDs…authentic　and　false…into　his　pockets　and　left　the　Pont…Royal。　Before　doing　so；　however；　he　stuffed　the　bed　with　pillows；　and　hung　his　traveling　clothes　in　clear　view　over　the　chair。　He　walked　casually　past　the　ornate　front　desk；　and　once　outside　on　Montalembert　ran　to　the　nearest　telephone　kiosk。　He　inserted　a　coin　and　dialed　Bernardine's　home。
　〃It's　Simon；〃　he　said。
　〃I　thought　so；〃　replied　the　Frenchman。　〃I　was　hoping　so。　I've　just　heard　from　Alex　and　told　him　not　to　tell　me　where　you　were；　one　cannot　reveal　what　one　does　not　know。　Still；　if　I　were　you；　I'd　go　to　another　place；　at　least　for　the　night。　You　may　have　been　spotted　at　the　airport。〃
　〃What　about　you？〃
　〃I　intend　to　be　a　canard。〃
　〃A　duck？〃
　〃The　sitting　variety。　The　Deuxième　has　my　flat　under　watch。　Perhaps　I'll　have　a　visitor；　it　would　be　convenient；　n'est…ce　pas？〃
　〃You　didn't　tell　your　office　about…〃
　〃About　you？〃　interrupted　Bernardine。　〃How　could　I；　monsieur；　when　I　don't　know　you？　My　protective　Bureau　believes　I　had　a　threatening　call　from　an　old　adversary　known　to　be　a　psychopath。　Actually　I　removed　him　in　the　Maritimes　years　ago　but　I　never　closed　the　file…〃
　〃Should　you　be　telling　me　this　on　your　telephone？〃
　〃I　thought　I　mentioned　that　it　was　a　unique　instrument。〃
　〃You　did。〃
　〃Suffice　it　to　say　it　cannot　be　tapped　and　still　function。　。。。　You　need　rest；　monsieur。　You　are　no　good　to　anyone；　least　of　all　yourself；　without　it。　Find　a　bed；　I　cannot　help　you　there。〃
　〃　'Rest　is　a　weapon；'　〃　said　Jason；　repeating　a　phrase　he　had　e　to　believe　was　a　vital　truth；　vital　for　survival　in　a　world　he　loathed。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　〃Nothing。　I'll　find　a　bed　and　call　you　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Tomorrow　then。　Bonne　chance；　mon　ami。　For　both　of　us。〃
　He　found　a　room　at　the　Avenir；　an　inexpensive　hotel　on　the　rue　Gay…Lussac。　Registering　under　a　false　name；　promptly　forgotten；　he　climbed　the　stairs　to　his　room；　removed　his　clothes；　and　fell　into　the　bed。　〃Rest　is　a　weapon；〃　he　said　to　himself；　staring　at　the　ceiling；　at　the　flickering　lights　of　the　Paris　streets　as　they　traveled　across　the　plaster。　Whether　rest　came　in　a　mountain　cave　or　a　rice　paddy　in　the　Mekong　Delta；　it　did　not　matter；　it　was　a　weapon　frequently　more　powerful　than　firepower。　That　was　the　lesson　drummed　into　his　head　by　d'Anjou；　the　man　who　had　given　his　life　in　a　Beijing　forest　so　that　Jason　Bourne　might　live。　Rest　is　a　weapon；　he　considered；　touching　the　bandage　around　his　neck　yet　not　really　feeling　it；　its　constricting　presence　fading　as　sleep　came。
　He　woke　up　slowly；　cautiously；　the　noise　of　the　traffic　in　the　streets　below　pounding　up　to　his　window；　the　metallic　horns　like　the　erratic　cawing　of　angry　crows　amid　the　irregular　bursts　of　angry　engines；　full　bore　one　moment；　abrupt　quiet　the　next。　It　was　a　normal　morning　in　the　narrow　streets　of　Paris。　Holding　his　neck　rigid；　Jason　swung　his　legs　to　the　floor　from　the　inadequate　bed　and　looked　at　his　watch；　startled　at　what　he　saw；　wondering　for　an　instant　whether　he　had　adjusted　the　watch　for　Paris　time。　Of　course　he　had。　It　was　10：07　in　the　morning…Paris　time。　He　had　slept　nearly　eleven　hours；　a　fact　confirmed　by　the　rumbling　in　his　stomach。　Exhaustion　was　now　replaced　by　acute　hunger。
　Food；　however；　would　have　to　wait；　there　were　things　to　take　care　of；　and　first　on　the　list　was　to　reach　Bernardine；　and　then　to　learn　the　security　status　of　the　Pont…Royal　hotel。　He　got　to　his　feet；　stiffly；　unsteadily；　numbness　momentarily　invading　his　legs　and　arms。　He　needed　a　hot　shower；　which　was　not　to　be　had　at　the　Avenir；　then　mild　exercise　to　limber　up　his　body；　therapies　unnecessary　only　a　few　years　ago。　He　removed　his　wallet　from　his　trousers；　pulled　out　Bernardine's　card　and　returned　to　the　bed　to　use　the　telephone　beside　it；　he　dialed。
　〃Le　canard　had　no　visitors；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　the　Deuxième　veteran。　〃Not　even　the　hint　of　a　hunter；　which　I　presume　is　favorable　news。〃
　〃It's　not　until　we　find　Panov…if　we　find　him。　The　bastards！〃
　〃Yes；　that　must　be　faced。　It's　the　ugliest　part　of　our　work。〃
　〃Goddamn　it；　I　can't　dismiss　a　man　like　Mo　with　'That　must　be　faced'！〃
　〃I'm　not　asking　you　to。　I'm　only　remarking　upon　the　reality。　Your　feelings　are　meaningful　to　you；　but　they　don't　change　reality。　I　did　not　mean　to　offend　you。〃
　〃And　I　didn't　mean　to　mouth　off。　Sorry。　It's　just　that　he's　a　very　special　person。〃
　〃I　understand。　。。。　What　are　your　plans？　What　do　you　need？〃
　〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　answered　Bourne。　〃I'll　pick　up　the　car　in　the　Capucines　and　an　hour　or　so　later　I'll　know　more。　Will　you　be　home　or　at　the　Deuxième　Bureau？〃
　〃Until　I　hear　from　you　I　will　stay　in　my　flat　and　near　my　very　unique　telephone。　Under　the　circumstances　I　prefer　that　you　do　not　call　me　at　the　office。〃
　〃That's　an　astonishing　statement。〃
　〃I　don't　know　everyone　these　days　at　the　Deuxième；　and　at　my　age；　caution　is　not　merely　the　better　part　of　valor；　it's　frequently　a　substitute。　Besides；　to　call　off　my　protection　so　swiftly　might　generate　rumors　of　senility。　。。。　Speak　to　you　later；　mon　ami。〃
　Jason　replaced　the　phone；　tempted　to　pick　it　up　again　and　reach　the　Pont…Royal；　but　this　was　Paris；　the　city　of　discretion；　where　hotel　clerks　were　loath　to　give　information　over　the　telephone；　and　would　refuse　to　do　so　with　guests　they　did　not　know。　He　dressed　quickly；　went　down　to　pay　his　bill；　and　walked　out　onto　the　rue　Gay…Lussac。　There　was　a　taxi　stand　at　the　corner；　eight　minutes　later　he　walked　into　the　lobby　of　the　Pont…Royal　and　up　to　the　concierge。　〃Je　m'appelle　Monsieur　Simon；〃　he　said　to　the　man；　giving　his　room　number。　〃I　ran　into　a　friend　last　night；〃　he　continued　in　flawless　French；　〃and　I　stayed　at　her　place。　Would　you　know　if　anyone　came　around　looking　for　me；　perhaps　asking　for　me。〃　Bourne　removed　several　large　franc　notes；　his　eyes　telling　the　man　he　would　pay　generously　for　confidentiality。　〃Or　even　describing　someone　like　me；〃　he　added　softly。
　〃Merci　bien；　monsieur。　。。。　I　understand。　I　will　check　further　with　the　night　concierge；　but　I'm　sure　he　would　have　left　a　note　for　my　personal　attention　if　someone　had　e　here　seeking　you。〃
　〃Why　are　you　so　sure？〃
　〃Because　he　did　leave　such　a　note　for　me　to　speak　with　you。　I've　been　calling　your　room　since　seven　o'clock　this　morning　when　I　came　on　duty。〃
　〃What　did　the　note　say？〃　asked　Jason；　his　breathing　on　hold。
　〃It's　what　I'm　to　say　to　you。　'Reach　his　friend　across　the　Atlantic。　The　man　has　been　phoning　all　night。'　I　can　attest　to　the　accuracy　of　that；　monsieur。　The　switchboard　tells　me　that　last　call　was　less　than　thirty　minutes　ago。〃
　〃Thirty　minutes　ago？〃　said　Jason；　looking　hard　at　the　concierge　and　then　at　his　watch。　〃It's　five　A。M。　over　there　。。。　all　night？〃
　The　hotel　man　nodded　as　Bourne　started　for　the　elevator。
　〃Alex；　for　Christ's　sake；　what　is　it？　They　told　me　you've　been　calling　all…〃
　〃Are　you　at　the　hotel？〃　interrupted　Conklin　quickly。
　〃Yes；　I　am。〃
　〃Get　to　a　public　phone　in　the　street　and　call　me　back。　Hurry。〃
　Again　the　slow；　cumbersome　elevator；　the　faded　ornate　lobby　now　half　filled　with　Parisians　talking　manically；　many　heading　for　the　bar　and　their　prenoon　apéritifs；　and　again　the　hot　bright　summer　street　outside　and　the　maddening　congested　traffic。　Where　was　a　telephone？　He　walked　rapidly　down　the　pavement　toward　the　Seine…where　was　a　phone？　There！　Across　the　converging　rue　du　Bac；　a　red…domed　booth　with　posters　covering　the　sides。
　Dodging　the　onslaught　of　automobiles　and　small　trucks；　all　with　furious　drivers；　he　raced　to　the　other　side　of　the　street　and　down　to　the　booth。　He　sped　inside；　deposited　a　coin；　and　after　an　agonizing　few　moments　during　which　he　explained　that　he　was　not　calling　Austria；　the　international　operator　accepted　his　AT&T　credit　number　and　put　the　call　through　to　Vienna；　Virginia。
　〃Why　the　hell　couldn't　I　talk　from　the　hotel？〃　asked　Bourne　angrily。　〃I　called　you　last　night　from　there！〃
　〃That　was　last　night；　not　today。〃
　〃Any　news　about　Mo？〃
　〃Nothing　yet；　but　they　may　have　made　a　mistake。　We　may　have　a　line　on　the　army　doctor。〃
　〃Break　him！〃
　〃With　pleasure。　I'll　take　off　my　foot　and　smash　his　face　with　it　until　he　begs　to　cooperate…if　the　line　on　him　is　rumb。〃
　〃That's　not　why　you've　been　calling　me　all　night；　though；　is　it？〃
　〃No。　I　was　with　Peter　Holland　for　five　hours　yesterday。　I　went　over　to　see　him　after　we　talked；　and　his　reaction　was　exactly　what　I　thought　it　would　be；　with　a　few　generous　broadsides　in　the　bargain。〃
　〃Medusa？〃
　〃Yes。　He　insists　you　fly　back　immediately；　you're　the　only　one　with　direct　knowledge。　It's　an　order。〃
　〃Bullshit！　He　can't　insist　I　do　anything；　much　less　give　me　an　order！〃
　〃He　can　cut　you　off；　and　I　can't　do　anything　about　it。　If　you　need　something　in　a　hurry；　he　won't　deliver。〃
　〃Bernardine's　offered　to　help。　'Whatever　you　need；'　those　were　his　words。〃
　〃Bernardine's　limited。　Like　me；　he　can　call　in　debts；　but　without　access　to　the　machine　he's　too　restricted。〃
　〃Did　you　tell　Holland　I'm　writing　down　everything　I　know；　every　statement　that　was　made　to　me；　every　answer　to　every　question　I　asked？〃
　〃Are　you？〃
　〃I　will。〃
　〃He　doesn't　buy　it。　He　w