按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃You're succinct。 You like him。〃
〃I adore him； as I adore you and Alex。 You've all taken such risks for us…〃
〃May we get back to what we're here for？〃 said the Chameleon angrily。 〃The past doesn't interest me； tomorrow does。〃
〃You're not only rude； my dear； you're terribly ungrateful。〃
〃So be it。 Where were we？〃
〃At the moment with Prefontaine；〃 replied Alex sharply； looking at Bourne。 〃But he may not matter because he probably won't survive Boston。 。。。 I'll call you at the inn at Barbizon tomorrow and set up a time for lunch。 Out here。 Clock yourself on the drive back so we're not hanging around like mateless snow geese。 Also； if that fat guy's right about his 'cuisine；' Kruppie will love it and tell everybody he discovered it。〃
〃Kruppie？〃
〃Relax。 I told you； we go back a long time。〃
〃And don't go into it；〃 added Panov。 〃You really don't want to hear about Istanbul and Amsterdam。 They're both a couple of thieves。〃
〃We pass；〃 said Marie。 〃Go on； Alex； what about tomorrow？〃
〃Mo and I will take a taxi out to your place； and your husband and I will drive back here。 We'll call you after lunch。〃
〃What about that driver of yours； the one Casset got you？〃 asked the Chameleon； his eyes cold； inquiring。
〃What about him？ He'll be paid double what he can make in a month with his taxi for tonight； and after he drops us off at a hotel； he'll disappear。 We won't see him again。〃
〃Will he see anyone else？〃
〃Not if he wants to live and send money to his relatives in Algeria。 I told you； Casset cleared him。 He's granite。〃
〃Tomorrow； then；〃 said Bourne grimly； looking across the table at Marie and Morris Panov。 〃After we leave for Paris； you're to stay out at Barbizon； and you're not to leave the inn。 Do you both understand that？〃
〃You know； David；〃 answered Marie； bristling and rigid on the pine banquette。 〃I'm going to tell you something。 Mo and Alex are as much a part of our family as the children； so I'll say it in front of them。 We all； all of us； humor you and in some ways pamper you because of the horrible things you went through。 But you cannot and you will not order us around as if we were inferior beings in your august presence。 Do you understand that？〃
〃Loud and clear； lady。 Then maybe you should go back to the States so you won't have to put up with my august presence。〃 Jason Bourne rose from the table； pushing the chair behind him。 〃Tomorrow's going to be a busy day； so I have to get some sleep…I haven't had much lately…and a better man than any of us here once told me that rest was a weapon。 I believe that。 。。。 I'll be in the car for two minutes。 Take your choice。 I'm sure Alex can get you out of France。〃
〃You bastard；〃 whispered Marie。
〃So be it；〃 said the Chameleon； walking away。
〃Go to him；〃 interjected Panov quickly。 〃You know what's happening。〃
〃I can't handle it； Mo！〃
〃Don't handle it； just be with him。 You're the only rope he's got。 You don't even have to talk； just be there。 With him。〃
〃He's bee the killer again。〃
〃He'd never harm you…〃
〃Of course not； I know that。〃
〃Then provide him with that link to David Webb。 It has to be there； Marie。〃
〃Oh； God； I love him so！〃 cried the wife； rushing to her feet and racing after her husband…yet not her husband。
〃Was that the right advice； Mo？〃 asked Conklin。
〃I don't know； Alex。 I just don't think he should be alone with his nightmares； none of us should。 That's not psychiatry； it's just mon sense。〃
〃Sometimes you sound like a real doctor； you know that？〃
The Algerian section of Paris lies between the tenth and eleventh arrondissements； barely three blocks； where the low buildings are Parisian but the sounds and the smells are Arabic。 The insignia of the high church small but emblazoned in gold on its doors； a long black limousine entered this ethnic enclave。 It stopped in front of a wood…framed； three…story house； where an old priest got out and walked to the door。 He selected a name on the mail plate and pressed the button that rang a bell on the second floor。
〃Oui？〃 said the metallic voice on the primitive inter。
〃I am a messenger from the American embassy；〃 answered the visitor in religious garb； his French partially ungrammatical as was all too frequent with Americans。 〃I can't leave my vehicle； but we have an urgent message for you。〃
〃I'll be right down；〃 said the French Algerian driver recruited by Charles Casset in Washington。 Three minutes later the man emerged from the building and walked out on the short narrow pavement。 〃What are you dressed like that for？〃 he asked the messenger who stood by the large automobile； covering the insignia on the rear door。
〃I'm the Catholic chaplain； my son。 Our military chargé d'affaires would like a word with you。〃 He opened the door。
〃I'll do many things for you people；〃 laughed the driver as he bent down to look inside the limousine； 〃but being drafted into your army isn't one of them。 。。。 Yes； sir； what can I do for you？〃
〃Where did you take our people？〃 asked the shadowed figure in the backseat； his features in darkness。
〃What people？〃 said the Algerian； sudden concern in his voice。
〃The two you picked up at the airport several hours ago。 The cripple and his friend。〃
〃If you're from the embassy and they want you to know； they'll call and tell you； won't they？〃
〃You'll tell me！〃 A third； powerfully built man in a chauffeur's uniform appeared from behind the trunk of the car。 He walked rapidly forward； raising his arm and crashing a thick ugly blackjack down on the Algerian's skull。 He shoved his victim inside； the old man in the guise of a chaplain climbed in behind him； pulling the door shut as the chauffeur ran around the hood to the front seat。 The limousine raced away down the street。
An hour later on the deserted rue Houdon； a block from Place Pigalle； the Algerian's bruised and bleeding corpse was disgorged from the large automobile。 Inside； the figure in shadows addressed his aged； personally ordained priest。
〃Get your car and remain outside the cripple's hotel。 Stay awake； for you'll be relieved in the morning and can rest all day。 Report any movements and go where he goes。 Don't fail me。〃
〃Never； monseigneur。〃
Dimitri Krupkin was not a tall man but he appeared taller than he was； nor was he particularly heavy yet he seemed to possess a much fuller figure than he carried。 He had a pleasant if somewhat fleshy face and a generous head held erect； his full eyebrows and well…groomed pepper…and…salt hair and chin beard bined attractively with alert blue eyes and a seemingly perpetual smile； defining a man who enjoyed his life and his work； an intellect behind both。 At the moment he was seated in a booth； facing the rear wall； in the all but empty country restaurant in Epernon staring across the table at Alex Conklin； who sat beside the unidentified Bourne and had just explained that he no longer drank alcohol。
〃The world is ing to an end！〃 exclaimed the Russian in heavily accented English。 〃You see what happens to a good man in the self…indulgent West？ Shame on your parents。 They should have stayed with us。〃
〃I don't think you want to pare the rates of alcoholism in our two countries。〃
〃Not for