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ot be traced to me； and； as I say； you deserved that much； but this is where I may be forced to stop。〃
〃I see；〃 said Carlos； approaching the suitcase Enrique had placed on the sacristy table。
〃I hope you do and； further； I hope you understand。 Over the years you've been good to my family in ways that I could never be； but then I've served you well in ways that I could。 I led you to Rodchenko； fed you names in ministries where rumors abounded； rumors Rodchenko himself investigated for you。 So； my old revolutionary rade； I've not been idle on your behalf either。 However； things are different now； we're not young firebrands in search of a cause any longer； for we've lost our appetites for causes…you long before me； of course。〃
〃My cause remains constant；〃 interrupted the Jackal sharply。 〃It is myself and all those who serve me。〃
〃I've served you…〃
〃You've made that clear； as well as my generosity to you and yours。 And now that I'm here； you wonder if I deserve further assistance； that's it； isn't it？〃
〃I must protect myself。 Why are you here？〃
〃I told you。 To teach a lesson； to leave a message。〃
〃They are one and the same？〃
〃Yes。〃 Carlos opened the suitcase； it held a coarse shirt； a Portuguese fisherman's cap with the appropriate rope…belted trousers； and a seaman's shoulder…strapped canvas satchel。 〃Why these？〃 asked the Jackal。
〃They're loose…fitting and I haven't seen you in years…not since Mбlaga in the early seventies； I think。 I couldn't very well have clothes tailored for you； and I'm glad I didn't try…you are not as I remembered you； Ramirez。〃
〃You're not much larger than I remember you；〃 countered the assassin。 〃A little thicker around the stomach； perhaps； but we're still the same height； the same basic frame。〃
〃So？ What does that mean？〃
〃In a moment。 。。。 Have things changed a great deal since we were together here？〃
〃Constantly。 Photographs arrive and construction crews follow a day later。 The Prado here in 'Madrid' has new shops； new signs； even a few new sewers as they are changed in that city。 Also 'Lisbon' and the piers along the 'Bay' and 'Tagus River' have been altered to conform to the changes that have taken place。 We are nothing if not authentic。 The candidates who plete the training are literally at home wherever they're initially sent。 Sometimes I really believe it's all excessive； then I recall my first assignment at the naval base in Barcelona and realize how fortable I was。 I went right to work because the psychological orientation had already taken place； there were no major surprises。〃
〃You're describing appearances；〃 broke in Carlos。
〃Of course； what else is there？〃
〃More permanent structures that are not so apparent； not so much in evidence。〃
〃Such as？〃
〃Warehouses； fuel depots； fire stations； that are not part of the duplicated scenery。 Are they still where they were？〃
〃By and large； yes。 Certainly the major warehouses and the fuel depots with their underground tanks。 Most are still west of the 'San Roque' district； the 'Gibraltar' access。〃
〃What about going from one pound to another？〃
〃Now that has changed。〃 Enrique withdrew a small flat object from the pocket of his tunic。 〃Each border crossing has a puterized registration release that permits entry when this is inserted。〃
〃No questions are asked？〃
〃Only at Novgorod's Capital Headquarters； if there are any questions。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃If one of these is lost or stolen； it's reported instantly and the internal codes are nullified。〃
〃I see。〃
〃I don't！ Why these questions？ Again； why are you here？ What is this lesson； this message？〃
〃The 'San Roque' district 。。。 ？〃 said Carlos； as if remembering。 〃That's about three or four kilometers south of the tunnel； isn't it？ A small waterfront village； no？〃
〃The 'Gibraltar' access； yes。〃
〃And the next pound is 'France；' of course； and then 'England' and finally the largest； the 'United States。' Yes； it's all clear to me； everything's e back。〃 The Jackal turned away； his right hand awkwardly disappearing beneath his trousers。
〃Yet nothing is clear to me；〃 said Enrique； his low voice threatening。 〃And it must be。 Answer me； Ramirez。 Why are you here？〃
〃How dare you question me like this？〃 continued Carlos； his back to his old associate。 〃How dare any of you question the monseigneur from Paris。〃
〃You listen to me； Priest Piss Ant。 You answer me or I walk out of here and you're a dead monseigneur in a matter of minutes！〃
〃Very well； Enrique；〃 answered Ilich Ramirez Sanchez； addressing the paneled wall of the sacristy。 〃My message will be triumphantly clear and will shake the very foundations of the Kremlin。 Not only did Carlos the Jackal kill the weak pretender Jason Bourne on Soviet soil； he left a reminder to all Russia that the Komitet made a colossal error in not utilizing my extraordinary talents。〃
〃Really now；〃 said Enrique； laughing softly； as if humoring a far less than extraordinary man。 〃More melodramatics； Ramirez？ And how will you convey this reminder； this message； this supreme statement of yours？〃
〃Quite simply；〃 replied the Jackal； turning； a gun in his hand； the silencer intact。 〃We have to change places。〃
〃What？〃
〃I'm going to burn Novgorod。〃 Carlos fired a single shot into the upper throat of Enrique。 He wanted as little blood as possible on the tunic。
Dressed in bat fatigues with the insignias of an army major on the shoulders of his field jacket； Bourne blended in with the sporadic appearances of military personnel as they crisscrossed the American pound from one sector to another on their night patrols。 There were not many； perhaps thirty men； covering the entire acreage of the eight square miles； according to Benjamin。 In the 〃metropolitan〃 areas they were generally on foot； in pairs； in the 〃rural〃 districts they drove military vehicles。 The young trainer had requisitioned a jeep。
From the missars Suite at U。S。 headquarters they had been taken to a military warehouse west of the river where Benjamin's papers gained them entrance and the jeep。 Inside； the astonished interior guards watched as the silent Bourne was outfitted with a field uniform plete with a carbine bayonet； a standard 。45 automatic and five clips of live ammunition； this last obtained only after an authorization call was placed to Krupkin's unknowing subordinates at Capital HQ。 Once again outside； Jason plained： 〃What about the flares I wanted and at least three or four grenades？ You agreed to get me everything I needed； not half of it！〃
〃They're ing；〃 answered Benjamin； speeding out of the warehouse parking lot。 〃The flares are over at Motor Vehicles and grenades aren't part of normal ordnance。 They're in steel vaults down at the tunnel…all the tunnels…under Emergency Weapons。〃 The young trainer glanced at Bourne； a glimmering of humor seen on his face in the glow of the headlights washing over the roofless jeep。 〃In anticipation of a NATO assault； most likely。〃
〃That's stupid。 We'd e in from the sky。〃
〃Not with the air base ninety seconds' flying time away。〃
〃Hurry up； I want those grenades。 Will we have any trouble getting them？〃
〃Not if Krupkin keeps up the good work。〃 Krupkin had； w