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〃You're full of tact。 And what did he say to that？〃
〃Actually； he laughed。 Then he explained that his place had twenty guards who could take out one of my balls at four hundred yards； along with a kitchen and room service and television for the kids that I couldn't match。〃
〃That's pretty persuasive。〃
〃Well； he said something else that was even more persuasive that I really couldn't match。 He told me there was no public access to the place； that it was an old estate in Fairfax turned over to the government by a rich ambassador who had more money than Ottawa； with its own airfield and an entrance road four miles from the highway。〃
〃I know the place；〃 said Bourne； wincing at the noise of the pвtisserie。 〃It's the Tannenbaum estate。 He's right； it's the best of the sterile houses。 He likes us。〃
〃I asked you before…where's Marie？〃
〃She's with me。〃
〃She found you！〃
〃Later； Johnny。 I'll reach you in Fairfax。〃 Jason hung up the phone as his wife awkwardly made her way through the crowd and handed him a pink plastic cup with a blue plastic spoon plunged into a mound of dark brown。
〃The children？〃 she asked； raising her voice to be heard； her eyes on fire。
〃Everything's fine； better than we might have expected。 Alex reached the same conclusion about the Jackal as I did。 Peter Holland's flying them all up to a safe house in Virginia； Mrs。 Cooper included。〃
〃Thank God！〃
〃Thank Alex。〃 Bourne looked at the pink plastic cup with the thin blue spoon。 〃What the hell is this？ They didn't have vanilla？〃
〃It's a hot fudge sundae。 It was meant for the man beside me but he was yelling at his wife； so I took it。〃
〃I don't like hot fudge。〃
〃So yell at your wife。 e on； we've got to buy clothes。〃
The early afternoon Caribbean sun burned down on Tranquility Inn as John St。 Jacques descended the staircase into the lobby carrying a LeSport duffel bag in his right hand。 He nodded to Mr。 Pritchard； whom he had spoken to over the phone only moments ago； explaining that he was leaving for several days and would be in touch within hours after he reached Toronto。 What remained of the staff had been apprised of his sudden； quite necessary departure； and he had full confidence in the executive manager and his valuable assistant； Mr。 Pritchard。 He assumed that no problems would arise beyond their bined expertise。 Tranquility Inn； for all intents and purposes； was virtually shut down。 However； Sir Henry Sykes at Government House on the big island should be contacted in the event of difficulties。
〃There shall be none beyond my expertise！〃 Pritchard had replied。 〃The repair and maintenance crews will work every bit as hard in your absence。〃
St。 Jacques walked out the glass doors of the circular building toward the first villa on the right； the one nearest the stone steps to the pier and the two beaches。 Mrs。 Cooper and the two children waited inside for the arrival of the United States Navy long…range seagoing helicopter that would take them to Puerto Rico； where they would board a military jet to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington。
Through the huge glass windows； Mr。 Pritchard watched his employer disappear through the doors of Villa One。 At that same moment he heard the growing sounds of a large helicopter's rotors thumping in the air above the inn。 In minutes it would circle the water beyond the pier and descend； awaiting its passengers。 Apparently； those passengers heard what he had heard； thought Mr。 Pritchard as he saw St。 Jacques； gripping his young nephew's hand； and the insufferably arrogant Mrs。 Cooper； who was holding a blanketed infant in her arms； e out of the villa； followed by the two favorite guards carrying their luggage。 Pritchard reached below the counter for the telephone that bypassed the switchboard。 He dialed。
〃This is the office of the deputy director of immigration； himself speaking。〃
〃Esteemed Uncle…〃
〃It is you？〃 broke in the official from Blackburne Airport； abruptly lowering his voice。 〃What have you learned？〃
〃Everything is of immense value； I assure you。 I heard it all on the telephone！〃
〃We shall both be greatly rewarded； I have that on the highest authority。 They may all be undercover terrorists； you know； St。 Jacques himself the leader。 It is said they may even fool Washington。 What can I pass on； brilliant Nephew？〃
〃They are being taken to what is called a 'safe' house in Virginia。 It is known as the Tannenbaum estate and has its own airport； can you believe such a thing？〃
〃I can believe anything where these animals are concerned。〃
〃Be sure to include my name and position； esteemed Uncle。〃
〃Would I do otherwise； could I do otherwise？ We shall be the heroes of Montserrat！ 。。。 But remember； my intelligent Nephew； everything must be kept in utmost secrecy。 We are both sworn to silence； never forget that。 Just think！ We've been selected to render service to a great international organization。 Leaders the world over will know of our contributions。〃
〃My heart bursts with pride。 。。。 May I know what this august organization is called？〃
〃Shhh！ It has no name； that is part of the secrecy。 The money was wired through a bank puter transfer directly from Switzerland； that is the proof。〃
〃A sacred trust；〃 added Mr。 Pritchard。
〃Also well paid； trusted Nephew； and it is only the beginning。 I myself am monitoring all aircraft arriving here and sending the manifests on to Martinique； to a famous surgeon； no less！ Of course； at the moment all flights are on hold； orders from Government House。〃
〃The American military helicopter？〃 asked the awed Pritchard。
〃Shhh！ It； too； is a secret； everything is secret。〃
〃Then it is a very loud and apparent secret； my esteemed Uncle。 People are on the beach watching it now。〃
〃What？〃
〃It's here。 Mr。 Saint Jay and the children are boarding as we speak。 Also that dreadful Mrs。 Cooper…〃
〃I must call Paris at once；〃 interrupted the immigration officer； disconnecting the line。
〃Paris？〃 repeated Mr。 Pritchard。 〃How inspiring！ How privileged we are！〃
〃I didn't tell him everything；〃 said Peter Holland quietly； shaking his head as he spoke。 〃I wanted to…I intended to…but it was in his eyes； in his own words actually。 He said that he'd louse us up in a minute if it would help Bourne and his wife。〃
〃He would； too。〃 Charles Casset nodded； he sat in the chair in front of the director's desk； a puter printout of a long…buried classified file in his hand。 〃When you read this you'll understand。 Alex really did try to kill Bourne in Paris years ago…his closest friend and he tried to put a bullet in his head for all the wrong reasons。〃
〃Conklin's on his way to Paris now。 He and Morris Panov。〃
〃That's on your head； Peter。 I wouldn't have done it； not without strings。〃
〃I couldn't refuse him。〃
〃Of course you could。 You didn't want to。〃
〃We owed him。 He brought us Medusa…and from here on； Charlie； that's all that concerns us。〃
〃I understand； Director Holland；〃 said Casset coldly。 〃And I assume that due to foreign entanglements you're working backwards into a domestic conspiracy that should be incontestably established before you alert the guardians of domestic accord； namely； the Federal Bureau