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〃It wasn't the Jackal…the Jackal；〃 said Conklin； abruptly resuming a conversational tone as the roar of the aircraft became a hum in the distance。
〃Of course it wasn't him…he's here。 It was his goons following orders。〃
〃Not his goons； not his orders。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃
〃We'll go into it later。 Let's get out of here。〃
〃Wait。〃 Krupkin arched his brows。 〃We'll talk first…and first； wele to Mother Russia。 Second； it would be most appreciated if you would refrain from discussing certain aspects of my life…style while in the service of my government in the hostile； war…mongering West with anyone you might meet。〃
〃You know； Kruppie； one of these days they'll catch up with you。〃
〃Never。 They adore me； for I feed the Komitet more useful gossip about the upper ranks of the debauched； so…called free world than any other officer in a foreign post。 I also entertain my superiors in that same debauched world far better than any other officer anywhere。 Now； if we corner the Jackal here in Moscow； I'll no doubt be made a member of the Politburo； hero status。〃
〃Then you can really steal。〃
〃Why not？ They all do。〃
〃If you don't mind；〃 interrupted Bourne curtly； lowering the two flight bags to the ground。 〃What's happened？ Have you made any progress in Dzerzhinsky Square？〃
〃It's not inconsiderable for less than thirty hours。 We've narrowed down Carlos's mole to thirteen possibles； all of whom speak French fluently。 They're under total surveillance； human and electronic； we know exactly where they are every minute； also who they meet and who they talk to over the telephone。 。。。 I'm working with two ranking missars； neither of whom can remotely speak French…they can't even speak literate Russian； but that's the way it is sometimes。 The point is they're both failsafe and dedicated； they'd rather be instrumental in capturing the Jackal than re…fight the Nazi。 They've been very cooperative in mounting surveillance。〃
〃Your surveillance is rotten and you know it；〃 said Alex。 〃They fall over toilet seats in the women's room when they're chasing a guy。〃
〃Not this time； for I chose them myself；〃 insisted Krupkin。 〃Outside of four of our own people； each trained in Novgorod； they're defectors from the UK； America； France and South Africa…all with intelligence backgrounds who could lose their dachas if they screw up； as you Westerners say。 I really would like to be appointed to the Presidium； perhaps even the Central mittee。 I might be posted to Washington or New York。〃
〃Where you could really steal；〃 said Conklin。
〃You're wicked； Aleksei； very； very wicked。 Still； after a vodka or six； remind me to tell you about some real estate our chargé d'affaires picked up in Virginia two years ago。 For a song； and financed by his lover's bank in Richmond。 Now a developer wants the property at ten times the price！ 。。。 e； the car。〃
〃I don't believe this conversation；〃 said Bourne； picking up the flight bags。
〃Wele to the real world of high…tech intelligence；〃 explained Conklin； laughing quietly。 〃At least from one point of view。〃
〃From all points of view；〃 continued Krupkin as they started toward the limousine。 〃However； we will dispense with this conversation while riding in an official vehicle； won't we； gentlemen？ Incidentally； you have a two…bedroom suite at the Metropole on the Marx Prospekt。 It's convenient and I've personally shut down all listening devices。〃
〃I can understand why； but how did you manage it？〃
〃Embarrassment； as you well know； is the Komitet's greatest enemy。 I explained to internal security that what might be recorded could prove most embarrassing to the wrong people； who would undoubtedly transfer any who overheard the tapes to Kamchatka。〃 They reached the car； the left rear door opened by a driver in a dark brown business suit identical with the one worn by Sergei in Paris。 〃The fabric's the same；〃 said Krupkin in French； noting his panions' reaction to the similar apparel。 〃Unfortunately the tailoring is not。 I insisted Sergei have his refitted in the Faubourg。〃
The Hotel Metropole is a renovated； prerevolutionary structure built in the ornate style of architecture favored by the czar who had visited fin…de…siècle Vienna and Paris。 The ceilings are high； the marble profuse； and the occasional tapestries priceless。 Intrinsic to the elaborate lobby is a defiance aimed at a government that would permit so many shabby citizens to invade the premises。 The majestic walls and the glittering； filigreed chandeliers seem to stare at the unworthy trespassers with disdain。 These impressions； however； did not apply to Dimitri Krupkin； whose baronial figure was very much at ease and at home in the surroundings。
〃rade！〃 cried the manager sotto voce as the KGB officer acpanied his guests to the elevators。 〃There is an urgent message for you；〃 he continued； walking rapidly up to Dimitri and thrusting a folded note into Krupkin's hand。 〃I was told to deliver it to you personally。〃
〃You have done so and I thank you。〃 Dimitri watched the man walk away； then opened the paper as Bourne and Conklin stood behind him。 〃I must reach Dzerzhinsky immediately；〃 he said； turning。 〃It's the extension of my second missar。 e； let us hurry。〃
The suite； like the lobby； belonged to another time； another era； indeed another country； marred only by the faded fabrics and the less than perfect restoration of the original moldings。 These imperfections served to accentuate the distance between the past and the present。 The doors of the two bedrooms were opposite each other； the space between a large sitting room plete with a copper dry bar and several bottles of spirits rarely seen on Moscow shelves。
〃Help yourselves；〃 said Krupkin； heading for a telephone on an ersatz antique desk that appeared to be a cross between Queen Anne and a later Louis。 〃Oh； I forgot； Aleksei； I'll order some tea or spring water…〃
〃Forget it；〃 said Conklin； taking his flight bag from Jason and heading into the left bedroom。 〃I'm going to wash up； that plane was filthy。〃
〃I trust you found the fare agreeable；〃 responded Krupkin； raising his voice and dialing。 〃Incidentally； you ingrate； you'll find your weapons in your bedside table drawers。 Each is a 。38 caliber Graz Burya automatic。 。。。 e； Mr。 Bourne；〃 he added。 〃You're not abstemious and it was a long trip…this may be a long conversation。 My missar number two is a windy fellow。〃
〃I think I will；〃 said Jason； dropping his bag by the door to the other bedroom。 He crossed to the bar and chose a familiar bottle； pouring himself a drink as Krupkin began talking in Russian。 It was not a language he understood； so Bourne walked to a pair of tall cathedral windows overlooking the wide avenue known as the Marx Prospekt。
〃Dobryi dyen。 Da； da pochemu？ 。。。 Sadovaya togda。 Dvadtsat minus。〃 Krupkin shook his head in weary irritation as he hung up the telephone。 The movement caused Jason to turn toward the Soviet。 〃My second missar was not talkative on this occasion； Mr。 Bourne。 Haste and orders took precedent。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃We must leave immediately。〃 Krupkin glanced at the bedroom to the left and raised his voice。 〃Aleksei； e out here！ Quickly！ 。。。 I tried to