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ictims…that's amateur night for paid killers。 Believe me； I know…I became one in spite of myself。〃
〃So what do you think you can do by yourself； Batman？〃 asked Conklin； furiously massaging his useless leg。
〃Stalk the killer who wants to kill me…and I'll take him。〃
〃You're a fucking megalomaniac！〃
〃You're absolutely right。 It's the only way to be in the killing game。 It's the only edge you've got。〃
〃Insanity！〃 yelled Krupkin。
〃So allow me； I'm entitled to a little craziness。 If I thought the entire Russian army would ensure my survival； I'd scream for it。 But it wouldn't…it couldn't。 There's only this way。 。。。 Stop the car and let me choose the weapons。〃
39
The dark green KGB sedan rounded the final curve in the sloping road cut out of the countryside。 The descent had been gradual。 The ground below was flat and summer…green with fields of wild grass bordering the approach to the massive brown building that was the Kubinka Armory。 It seemed to rise out of the earth； a huge boxlike intrusion on the pastoral scene； an ugly man…made interruption of heavy brown wood and miserly windows reaching three stories high and covering two acres of land。 Like the structure itself； the front entrance was large； square and unadorned except for the dull bas…relief profiles above the door of three Soviet soldiers rushing into the deadly winds of battle； their rifles at port arms； about to blow one another's heads off。
Armed with an authentic Russian AK…47 and five standard thirty…round magazine clips； Bourne jumped out the far side of the silent coasting government car； using the bulk of the rolling vehicle to conceal himself in the grass directly across the road from the entrance。 The armory's huge dirt parking area was to the right of the long building； a single row of unkempt shrubbery fronted the entrance lawn； in the center of which stood a tall white pole； the Soviet flag hanging limp in the breezeless morning air。 Jason ran across the road； his body low； and crouched by the hedgerow； he had only moments to peer through the bushes and ascertain the existence or nonexistence of the armory's security procedures。 At best； they appeared lax to the point of being informal； if not irrelevant。 There was a glass window in the right wall of the entrance similar to that of a theater's box office； behind it sat a uniformed guard reading a magazine； and alongside him； less visible but seen clearly enough； was another； his head on the counter； asleep。 Two other soldiers emerged from the immense armory door…double doors…both casual； unconcerned； as one glanced at his watch and the other lighted a cigarette。
So much for Kubinka's security； no sudden assault was anticipated nor had one taken place； at least none that had set off alarms reaching the front patrols； usually the first to be alerted。 It was eerie； unnatural； beyond the unexpected。 The Jackal was inside this military installation； yet there was no sign that he had penetrated it； no indication that somewhere within the plex he was controlling a minimum of five personnel…a man impersonating him； three other men and a woman。
The parking area itself？ He had not understood the exchanges between Alex； Krupkin and the voice over the radio； but now it was clear to him that when they had spoken of people ing outside and running to the stolen car； they were not referring to the front entrance！ There had to be an exit on the parking area！ Christ； he had only seconds before the driver of the Komitet car started up the engine and roared into the huge dirt lot； circling it and racing out； both actions announcing the government vehicle's arrival and swift； calamitous departure。 If Carlos was going to make his break； it would be then！ After waiting for the standard radio backup； every moment of distance he put between himself and the armory would make it more difficult to pick up his trail。 And he； the efficient killing machine from Medusa； was in the wrong place！ Further； the sight of a civilian running across a lawn or down a road carrying an automatic weapon within a military pound was to invite disaster。 It was a small； stupid omission！ Three or four additional words translated and a less arrogant； more probing listener would have avoided the error。 It was always the little things； the seemingly insignificant that crippled gray to black operations。 Goddamn it！
Five hundred feet away the KGB sedan suddenly thundered as it swerved into the dirt parking area raising clouds of dry dust while crushing and spitting out pieces of rock from its spinning tires。 There was no time to think； time only to act。 Bourne held the AK…47 against his right leg； concealing it as much as possible as he rose to his feet； his left hand skimming the top of the low hedgerow…a gardener； perhaps； surveying an anticipated assignment； or an indolent stroller aimlessly touching the roadside shrubbery； nothing remotely threatening； just a sign of the monplace； to the casual observer； he might have been walking down that road for several minutes without being noticed。
He glanced over at the armory's entrance。 The two soldiers were laughing quietly； the one without a cigarette again looking at his watch。 Then the object of their minor conspiracy came out of the left front door； an attractive dark…haired girl； barely in her twenties。 She humorously clapped both her hands over her ears； made a grotesque face and walked rapidly to the time…conscious man in uniform； kissing him on the lips。 The threesome linked arms； the woman in the center； and started to their right； away from the entrance。
A crash！ Metal colliding with metal； glass shattering glass； the loud harsh sound ing from the distant parking area。 Something had happened to the Komitet car with Alex and Krupkin； the young driver from the assault squad had either smashed or skidded into another vehicle in the dry dirt of the lot。 Using the sound as an excuse； Jason started down the road； the image of Conklin ing instantly to his mind； producing a limp in his own rapid strides the better to keep his weapon in minimum view。 He turned his head； expecting to see the two soldiers and the woman running down the armory path toward the accident； only to realize that the three of them were running the other way； removing themselves from any involvement。 Obviously； precious breaks in a military schedule were jealously protected。
Bourne abandoned the limp； crashed through the hedgerow and raced to the concrete path that stretched to the corner of the huge building； gathering speed and breathing heavily with increasing frequency。 Jason's weapon was now in plain sight； slashing the air as he gripped it in the hand of his swinging right arm。 He reached the end of the path； his chest heaving； the veins in his neck seemingly prepared to burst as the sweat ran down his skin； drenching his face； his collar and his shirt。 Gasping； he steadied the AK…47； his back pressed against the wall of the building； then spun around the corner into the parking area； stunned by what he saw。 His pounding feet； coupled with the anxiety that caused his hair…soaked temples to throb； had blocked out all sound up ahead。 What he observed now； what sickened him now； he knew had to b