璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第140部分

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　counted　five　of　them　in　the　bar　…　would　be　without　a　pimp；　but　then　maybe　one　of　them　would　seize　the　opportunity　to　correct　her　life。　Unlikely；　perhaps；　but　possible。　It　was　realism　that　told　Kelly　he　couldn‘t　fix　all　the　problems　of　the　world；　it　was　idealism　that　told　him　his　inability　to　do　so　did　not　preclude　him　from　addressing　individual　imperfections。　But　all　that　took　him　away　from　the　initial　question：　What　did　he　feel　about　the　elimination　of　Pierre　Lamarck？　The　only　answer　he　could　find　was；　Nothing。　The　professional　elation　of　having　done　something　difficult　was　different　from　satisfaction；　from　the　nature　of　the　task。　In　ending　the　life　of　Pierre　Lamarck　he　had　removed　something　harmful　from　the　surface　of　the　pla。　It　had　enriched　him　not　at　all　…　taking　the　money　had　been　a　tactic；　a　camouflage　measure；　certainly　not　an　objective。　It　had　not　avenged　Pam‘s　life。　It　had　not　changed　very　much。　It　had　been　like　stepping　on　an　offensive　insect　…　you　did　it　and　moved　on。　He　would　not　try　to　tell　himself　different；　but　neither　would　his　conscience　trouble　him；　and　that　was　sufficient　to　the　moment。　His　little　experiment　had　been　a　success。　After　all　the　mental　and　physical　preparation；　he　had　proven　himself　worthy　of　the　task　before　him。　Kelly‘s　mind　focused　behind　closed　eyes　on　the　mission　before　him。　Having　killed　many　men　better　than　Pierre　Lamarck；　he　could　now　think　with　confidence　about　killing　men　worse　than　the　New　Orleans　pimp。
This　time　they　visited　him；　Greer　saw　with　satisfaction。　On　the　whole；　ClA‘s　hospitality　was　better。　James　Greer　had　arranged　parking　in　the　VIP　Visitors‘　area　…　the　equivalent　at　the　Pentagon　was　always　haphazard　and　difficult　to　use　…　and　a　secure　conference　room。　Cas　Podulski　thoughtfully　selected　a　seat　at　the　far　end；　close　to　the　air…conditioning　vent；　where　his　smoking　wouldn‘t　bother　anyone。
‘Dutch；　you　were　right　about　this　kid；‘　Greer　said；　handing　out　typed　copies　of　the　handwritten　notes　which　had　arrived　two　days　earlier。
‘Somebody　ought　to　have　put　a　gun　to　his　head　and　walked　him　into　OCS。　He　would　have　been　the　kind　of　junior　officer　we　used　to　be。‘
Podulski　chuckled　at　his　end　of　the　table。　‘No　wonder　he　got　out；‘　he　said　with　lighthearted　bitterness。
‘I‘d　be　careful　putting　a　gun　to　his　head；‘　Greer　observed　with　a　chuckle　of　his　own。　‘I　spent　a　whole　night　last　week　going　through　his　package。　This　guy‘s　a　wild　one　in　the　field。‘
‘Wild？‘　Maxwell　asked　with　a　hint　of　disapproval　in　his　voice。　‘Spirited；　you　mean；　James？‘
Perhaps　a　promise；　Greer　thought：　‘A　self…starter。　He　had　three　manders　and　they　backed　him　on　every　play　he　made　except　one。‘
‘PLASTIC　FLOWER？　The　political…action　major　he　killed？‘
‘Correct。　His　lieutenant　was　furious　about　that；　but　if　it‘s　true　about　what　he　had　to　watch；　the　only　thing　you　can　fault　was　his　judgment；　rushing　in　the　way　he　did。‘
‘I　read　through　that；　James。　I　doubt　I　could　have　held　back；‘　Cas　said；　looking　up　from　the　notes。　Once　a　fighter　pilot；　always　a　fighter　pilot。　‘Look　at　this；　even　his　grammar　is　good！‘　Despite　his　accent；　Podulski　had　been　assiduous　in　learning　his　adopted　language。
‘Jesuit　high　school；‘　Greer　pointed　out。　‘I‘ve　gone　over　our　in…house　assessment　of　KINGPIN。　Kelly‘s　analysis　tracks　on　every　major　point　except　where　he　calls　a　few　spades。‘
‘Who　did　the　CIA　assessment　？‘　Maxwell　asked。
‘Robert　Ritter。　He‘s　a　European　specialist　they　brought　in。　Good　man；　a　little　terse；　knows　how　to　work　the　field；　though。‘
‘Operations　guy？‘　Maxwell　asked。
‘Right。‘　Greer　nodded。　‘Did　some　very　nice　work　working　Station　Budapest。‘
‘And　why；‘　Podulski　asked；　‘did　they　bring　in　a　guy　from　that　side　of　the　house　to　look　over　the　KINGPIN　operation？‘
‘I　think　you　know　the　answer；　Cas；‘　Maxwell　pointed　out。
‘If　BOXWOOD　GREEN　goes；　we　need　an　Operations　guy　from　this　house。　We　have　to　have　it。　I　don‘t　have　the　juice　to　do　everything。　Are　we　agreed　on　that？‘　Greer　looked　around　the　table；　seeing　the　reluctant　nods。　Podulski　looked　back　down　at　his　documents　before　saying　what　they　all　thought。
‘Can　we　trust　him？‘
‘He‘s　not　the　one　who　burned　KINGPIN。　Cas；　we　have　Jim　Angleton　looking　at　that。　It　was　his　idea　to　bring　Ritter　onboard。　I‘m　new　here；　people。　Ritter　knows　the　bureaucracy　here　better　than　I　do。　He‘s　an　operator；　I‘m　just　an　analyst…type。　And　his　heart‘s　in　the　right　place。　He　damned　near　lost　his　job　protecting　a　guy　…　he　had　an　agent　working　inside　GRU；　and　it　was　time　to　get　him　out。　The　decision…weenies　upstairs　didn‘t　like　the　timing；　with　the　arms　talks　going　on；　and　they　told　him　no。　Ritter　brought　the　guy　out　anyway。　It　turned　out　his　man　had　something　State　needed；　and　that　saved　Ritter‘s　career。‘　It　hadn‘t　done　much　for　the　martini…mixer　upstairs；　Greer　didn‘t　add；　but　that　was　a　person　CIA　was　doing　rather　well　without。
‘Swashbuckler？‘　Maxwell　asked。
‘He　was　loyal　to　his　agent。　Sometimes　people　here　forget　about　that；‘　Greer　said。
Admiral　Podulski　looked　up　the　table。　‘Sounds　like　our　kind　of　guy。‘
‘Brief　him　in；‘　Maxwell　ordered。　‘But　you　tell　him　that　if　I　ever　find　out　some　civilian　in　the　building　fucked　up　our　chance　to　get　these　men　out；　I　will　personally　drive　down　to　Pax　River；　personally　check　out　an　A…4；　and　personally　napalm　his　house。‘
‘You　should　let　me　do　that；　Dutch；‘　Cas　added　with　a　smile。　‘I‘ve　always　had　a　better　hand　for　dropping　things。　Besides；　I　have　six　hundred　hours　in　the　Scooter。‘
Greer　wondered　how　much　of　that　was　humor。
‘What　about　Kelly？‘　Maxwell　asked。
‘His　CIA　identity　is　"；Clark"；　now。　If　we　want　him　in；　we　can　utilize　him　better　as　a　civilian。　He‘d　never　get　over　being　a　chief；　but　a　civilian　doesn‘t　have　to　worry　about　rank。‘
‘Make　it　so；‘　Maxwell　said。　It　was　convenient；　he　thought；　to　have　a　naval　officer　seconded　to　CIA；　wearing　civilian　clothes　but　still　subject　to　military　discipline。
‘Aye　aye；　sir。　If　we　get　to　training；　where　will　it　be　done？‘
‘Quantico　Marine　Base；‘　Maxwell　replied。　‘General　Young　is　a　pal　from　the　old　days。　Aviator。　He　understands。‘
‘Marty　and　I　went　through　test…pilot　school　together；‘　Podulski　explained。　‘From　what　Kelly　says；　we　don‘t　need　that　many　troops。　I　always　figured　KINGPIN　was　overmanned。　You　know；　if　we　bring　this　off；　we　have　to　get　Kelly　his　Medal。‘
‘One　thing　at　a　time；　Cas。‘　Maxwell　set　that　aside；　looking　back　to　Greer　as　he　stood。　‘You　will　let　us　know　if　Angleton　finds　out　anything？‘
‘Depend　on　it；‘　Greer　promised。　‘If　there‘s　a　bad　guy　inside；　we‘ll　get　his　ass。　I‘ve　fished　with　the　guy。　He　can　pull　a　brook　trout　out　of　thin　air。‘　After　they　left　he　set　an　afternoon　meeting　with　Robert　Ritter。　It　meant　putting　Kelly　off；　but　Ritter　was　more　important　now；　and　while　there　was　a　rush　on　the　mission；　it　wasn‘t　all　that　great　a　rush。
Airports　were　useful　places；　with　their　bustling　anonymity　and　telephones。　Kelly　placed　his　call；　as　he　waited　for　his　baggage　to　appear　…　he　hoped　…　in　the　proper　place。
‘Greer；‘　the　voice　said。
‘Clark；‘　Kelly　replied；　smiling　at　himself。　It　seemed　so　James　Bond　to　have　a　cover　name。　‘I‘m　at　the　airport；　sir。　Do　you　still　want　me　in　this　afternoon？‘
‘No。　I‘m　tied　up。‘　Greer　flipped　through　his　daybook。　‘Tuesday。。。　three…thirty。　You　can　drive　in。　Give　me　your　car　type　and　license　number。‘
Kelly　did　that；　surprised　that　he‘d　been　bumped。　‘You　get　my　notes；　sir？‘
‘Yes；　and　you　did　a　fine　job；　Mr　Clark。　We‘ll　be　going　over　them　Tuesday。　We　are　very　pleased　with　your　work。‘
‘Thank　you；　sir；‘　Kelly　said　into　the　phone。
‘See　you　Tuesday。‘　The　line　clicked　off。
‘And　thanks　for　that；　too；‘　Kelly　said　after　he　hung　up。　Twenty　minutes　later　he　had　his　bags　and　was　walking　off　to　his　car。　About　an　hour　after　that　he　was　in　his　Baltimore　apartment。　It　was　lunchtime；　and　he　fixed　a　couple　of　sandwiches；　chasing　both　down　with　Coca…Cola。　He　hadn‘t　shaved　today；　and　his　heavy　beard　made　a　shadow　on　his　face；　he　saw　in　the　mirror。　He‘d　leave　it。　Kelly　headed　into　the　bedroom　for　a　lengthy　nap。
The　civilian　contractors　didn‘t　really　understand　what　they　were　up　to；　but　they　were　being　paid。　That　was　all　they　really　required；　since　they　had　families　to　feed　and　house　payments　to　make。　The　buildings　they　had　just　erected　were　well　to　the　right　of　spartan：　bare　concrete　block；　nothing　in　the　way　of　utilities；　built　to　odd　proportions；　not　like　American　construction　at　all　except　for　the　building　materials。　It　was　as　though　their　size　and　shape　had　been　taken　from　some　foreign　construction　manual。　All　the　dimensions　were　metric；　one　worker　noted；　though　the　actual　plans　were　noted　in　odd　numbers　of　inches　and　feet；　as　American　building　plans　had　to　be。　The　job　itself　had　been　simple　enough；　the　site　already　cleared　when　they‘d　first　arrived。　A　number　of　the　construction　workers　were　former　servicemen；　most　ex…Army；　but　a　few　Marines　as　well；　and　they　were　at　turns　pleased　and　unfortable　to　be　at　this　sprawling　Marine　base　in　the　wooded　hills　of　northern　Virginia。　On　the　drive　into　the　construction　site　they　could　see　the　morning　formations　of　officer　candidates　jogging　along　the　roads。　All　those　bright　young　kids　with　shaved　heads；　one　former　corporal　of　the　1st　Marines　had　thought　this　very　morning。　How　many　would　get　their　missions？　How　many　would　deploy　there？　How　many　would　e　home　early；　shipped　in　steel　boxes？　It　was　nothing　he　could　foresee　or　control；　of　course。　He‘d　served　his　time　in　hell　and　returned　unscratched；　which　was　still　remarkable　to　the　former　grunt　who‘d　heard　all　too　often　the　supersonic　crack　of　rifle　bullets。　To　have　survived　at　all　was　amazing　enough。
The　roofs　were　finished。　Soon　it　would　be　time　to　leave　the　site　for　good；　after　a　mere　three　weeks　of　well…paid　work。　Seven…day　weeks。　Plenty　of　overtime　on　every　working　day　he‘d　been　here。　Somebody　had　wanted　this　place　built　in　a　hurry。　Some　very　odd　things　about　it；　too。　The　parking　lot；　for　one。　A　hundred…slot　blacktopped　lot。　Someone　was　even　painting　the　lines。　For　buildings　with　no　utilities？　But　strangest　of　all　was　the　current　job　that　he‘d　drawn　because　the　site　foreman　liked　him。　Playground　equipment。　A　large　swing　set。　A　huge　jungle　gym。　A　sandbox；　plete　wi