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of shadows； the booths deep； the banquettes high； isolating those meeting one another from curious glances。 The ambience was important； for it was vital that he stare into the eyes of the chairman when he asked questions； his own eyes ice…cold； demanding 。。。 threatening。 Delta was back； Cain had returned； Jason Bourne was in full mand； David Webb forgotten。
〃We have to cover ourselves；〃 said the Cobra quietly after their drinks arrived。 〃In terms of damage control that means we have to know how much harm each of us could do under the Amytals。〃
〃What the hell does that mean？〃 asked Armbruster swallowing most of his gin and tonic while wincing and holding his stomach。
〃Drugs； chemicals； truth serums。〃
〃What？〃
〃This isn't your normal ball game；〃 said Bourne； remembering Conklin's words。 〃We've got to cover all of the bases because there aren't any constitutional rights in this series。〃
〃So who are you？〃 The chairman of the Federal Trade mission belched and brought his glass briefly to his lips； his hand trembling。 〃Some kind of one…man hit team？ John Doe knows something； so he's shot in an alley？〃
〃Don't be ridiculous。 Anything like that would be totally counterproductive。 It would only fuel those trying to find us； leave a trail…〃
〃Then what are you talking about？〃
〃Saving our lives； which includes our reputations and our life…styles。〃
〃You're one cold prick。 How do we do that？〃
〃Let's take your case； shall we？ 。。。 You're not a well man by your own admission。 You could resign under doctor's orders and we take care of you…Medusa takes care of you。〃 Jason's imagination floated； making quick sharp forays into reality and fantasy； swiftly searching for the words that might be found in the gospel according to St。 Alex。 〃You're known to be a wealthy man； so a villa might be purchased in your name； or perhaps a Caribbean island； where you'd be pletely secure。 No one can reach you； no one can talk to you unless you agree； which would mean predetermined interviews； harmless and even favorable results guaranteed。 Such things are not impossible。〃
〃Pretty sterile existence in my opinion；〃 said Armbruster。 〃Me and the yapper all by ourselves？ I'd kill her。〃
〃Not at all；〃 went on the Cobra。 〃There'd be constant distractions。 Guests of your choosing could be flown to wherever you are。 Other women also either of your choice or selected by those who respect your tastes。 Life goes on much as before； some inconveniences； some pleasant surprises。 The point is that you'd be protected； inaccessible and therefore we're also protected； the rest of us。 。。。 But； as I say； that option is merely hypothetical at this juncture。 In my case； frankly； it's a necessity because there's little I don't know。 I leave in a matter of days。 Until then I'm determining who goes and who stays。 。。。 How much do you know； Mr。 Armbruster？〃
〃I'm not involved with the day…to…day operations； naturally。 I deal with the big picture。 Like the others； I get a monthly coded telex from the banks in Zurich listing the deposits and the panies we're gaining control of…that's about it。〃
〃So far you don't get a villa。〃
〃I'll be damned if I want one； and if I do I'll buy it myself。 I've got close to a hundred million； American； in Zurich。〃
Bourne controlled his astonishment and simply stared at the chairman。 〃I wouldn't repeat that；〃 he said。
〃Who am I going to tell？ The yapper？〃
〃How many of the others do you know personally？〃 asked the Cobra。
〃Practically none of the staff； but then they don't know me； either。 Hell； they don't know anybody。 。。。 And while we're on the subject； take you； for instance。 I've never heard of you。 I figure you work for the board and I was told to expect you； but I don't know you。〃
〃I was hired on a very special basis。 My background's deep…cover security。〃
〃Like I said； I figured…〃
〃What about the Sixth Fleet？〃 interrupted Bourne； moving away from the subject of himself。
〃I see him now and then but I don't think we've exchanged a dozen words。 He's military； I'm civilian…very civilian。〃
〃You weren't once。 Where it all began。〃
〃The hell I wasn't。 No uniform ever made a soldier and it sure didn't with me。〃
〃What about a couple of generals； one in Brussels； the other at the Pentagon？〃
〃They were career men； they stayed in。 I wasn't and I didn't。〃
〃We have to expect leaks； rumors；〃 said Bourne almost aimlessly； his eyes now wandering。 〃But we can't permit the slightest hint of military orientation。〃
〃You mean like in junta style？〃
〃Never；〃 replied Bourne； once more staring at Armbruster。 〃That kind of thing creates whirlwinds…〃
〃Forget it！〃 whispered the chairman of the Federal Trade mission； angrily interrupting。 〃The Sixth Fleet； as you call him； calls the shots only here and only because it's convenient。 He's a blood…and…guts admiral with a whiz…bang record and a lot of clout where we want it； but that's in Washington； not anywhere else！〃
〃I know that and you know it；〃 said Jason emphatically； the emphasis covering his bewilderment； 〃but someone who's been in a protection program for over fifteen years is putting together his own scenario and that es out of Saigon…mand Saigon。〃
〃It may have e out of Saigon but it sure as hell didn't stay there。 The soldier boys couldn't run with it； we all know that。 。。。 But I see what you mean。 You tie in Pentagon brass with anything like us； the freaks are in the streets and the bleeding…heart fairies in Congress have a field day。 Suddenly a dozen submittees are in session。〃
〃Which we can't tolerate；〃 added Bourne。
〃Agreed；〃 said Armbruster。 〃Are we any closer to learning the name of the bastard who's putting this scenario together？〃
〃Closer； not close。 He's been in contact with Langley but on what level we don't know。〃
〃Langley？ For Christ's sake； we've got someone over there。 He can squelch it and find out who the son of a bitch is！〃
〃DeSole？〃 offered the Cobra simply。
〃That's right。〃 Armbruster leaned forward。 〃There is very little you don't know。 That connection's very quiet。 What does DeSole say？〃
〃Nothing； we can't touch him；〃 replied Jason； suddenly； frantically reaching for a credible answer。 He had been David Webb too long！ Conklin was right； he wasn't thinking fast enough。 Then the words came 。。。 part of the truth； a dangerous part； but credible； and he could not lose credibility。 〃He thinks he's being watched and we're to stay away from him； no contact whatsoever until he says otherwise。〃
〃What happened？〃 The chairman gripped his glass； his eyes rigid； bulging。
〃Someone in the cellars learned that Teagarten in Brussels has an access fax code directly to DeSole bypassing routine confidential traffic。〃
〃Stupid goddamned soldier boys！〃 spat out Armbruster。 〃Give 'em gold braid and they prance around like debutantes and want every new toy in town！ 。。。 Faxes； access codes！ Jesus； he probably punched the wrong numbers and got the NAACP。〃
〃DeSole says he's building a cover and can handle it； but it's no time for him to go around asking questions； especially in this area。 He'll check quietly on everything he can； and if he learns something he'll reach us； but we're not to reach him。〃
〃Wouldn't