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ot the younger man that he had been in Paris； nor the more mature man in Hong Kong； Macao and Beijing； he was now fifty and he felt it； every year of it。 He would not dwell on it。 There was too much else to think about； and the twenty…eight acres of General Norman Swayne's property were not the forest primeval of the Jing Shan sanctuary。
However； as he had done on the primitive outskirts of Beijing； he drove the car off the country road deep into a mass of tall grass and foliage。 He climbed out and proceeded to cover the vehicle with bent and broken branches。 The rapidly descending darkness would plete the camouflage； and with the darkness he would go to work。 He had changed his clothes in the men's room at the gas station： black trousers below a black long…sleeved； skintight pullover； and black thick…soled sneakers with heavy tread。 These were his working apparel。 The items he spread on the ground were his equipment； the shopping he had done after leaving Georgetown。 They included a long…bladed hunting knife whose scabbard he threaded into his belt； a dual…chambered CO2 pistol； encased in a nylon shoulder holster； that silently shot immobilizing darts into attacking animals； such as pit bulls； two flares designed to assist stranded drivers in broken…down cars to attract or deter other motorists； a pair of small Zeiss Ikon 8x10 binoculars attached to his trousers by a Velcro strip； a penlight； raw…hide laces； and finally； pocket…sized wire cutters in case there was a metal fence。 Along with the automatic supplied by the Central Intelligence Agency； the gear was either lashed to his belt or concealed in his clothing。 The darkness came and Jason Bourne walked into the woods。
The white sheet of ocean spray burst up from the coral reef and appeared suspended； the dark blue waters of the Caribbean serving as a backdrop。 It was that hour of early evening； a long sundown imminent； when Tranquility Isle was bathed in alternating hot tropical colors； pockets of shadows constantly changing with each imperceptible descent of the orange sun。 The resort plex of Tranquility Inn had seemingly been cut out of three adjacent rock…strewn hills above an elongated beach sandwiched between huge natural jetties of coral。 Two rows of balconied pink villas with bright red roofs of terra…cotta extended from each side of the resort's central hub； a large circular building of heavy stone and thick glass； all the structures overlooking the water； the villas connected by a white concrete path bordered by low…cut shrubbery and lined with ground lamps。 Waiters in yellow guayabera jackets wheeled room…service tables along the path； delivering bottles and ice and canapés to Tranquility's guests； the majority of whom sat on their individual balconies savoring the end of the Caribbean day。 And as the shadows became more prominent； other people unobtrusively appeared along the beach and on the long dock that extended out over the water。 These were neither guests nor service employees； they were armed guards； each dressed in a dark brown tropical uniform and…again unobtrusively…with a MAC…10 machine pistol strapped to his belted waist。 On the opposite side of each jacket and hooked to the cloth was a pair of Zeiss Ikon 8x10 binoculars continuously used to scan the darkness。 The owner of Tranquility Inn was determined that it live up to its name。
On the large circular balcony of the villa nearest the main building and the attached glass…enclosed dining room； an elderly infirm woman sat in a wheelchair sipping a glass of Chateau Carbonnieux '78 while drinking in the splendors of sundown。 She absently touched the bangs of her imperfectly dyed red hair as she listened。 She heard the voice of her man talking with the nurse inside； then the sound of his less than emphatic footsteps as he walked out to join her。
〃My God；〃 she said in French。 〃I'm going to get pissed！〃
〃Why not？〃 asked the Jackal's courier。 〃This is the place for it。 I see everything through a haze of disbelief myself。〃
〃You still will not tell me why the monseigneur sent you here…us here？〃
〃I told you； I'm merely a messenger。〃
〃And I don't believe you。〃
〃Believe。 It's important for him but of no consequence for us。 Enjoy； my lovely。〃
〃You always call me that when you won't explain。〃
〃Then you should learn from experience not to inquire； is it not so？〃
〃It is not so； my dear。 I'm dying…〃
〃We'll hear no more of that！〃
〃It's true nevertheless； you cannot keep it from me。 I don't worry for myself； the pain will end； you see； but I worry about you。 You； forever better than your circumstances； Michel… No； no； you are Jean Pierre； I must not forget that。 。。。 Still； I must concern myself。 This place； these extraordinary lodgings； this attention。 I think you will pay a terrible price； my dear。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃
〃It's all so grand。 Too grand。 Something's wrong。〃
〃You concern yourself too deeply。〃
〃No； you deceive yourself too easily。 My brother； Claude； has always said you take too much from the monseigneur。 One day the bill will be presented to you。〃
〃Your brother； Claude； is a sweet old man with feathers in his head。 It's why the monseigneur gives him only the most insignificant assignments。 You send him out for a paper in Montparnasse he ends up in Marseilles not knowing how he got there。〃 The telephone inside the villa rang； interrupting the Jackal's man。 He turned。 〃Our new friend will get it；〃 he said。
〃She's a strange one；〃 added the old woman。 〃I don't trust her。〃
〃She works for the monseigneur。〃
〃Really？〃
〃I haven't had time to tell you。 She will relay his instructions。〃
The uniformed nurse； her light brown hair pulled severely back into a bun； appeared in the doorway。 〃Monsieur； it is Paris；〃 she said； her wide gray eyes conveying an urgency missing in her low； understated voice。
〃Thank you。〃 The Jackal's courier walked inside； following the nurse to the telephone。 She picked it up and handed it to him。 〃This is Jean Pierre Fontaine。〃
〃Blessings upon you； child of God；〃 said the voice several thousand miles away。 〃Is everything suitable？〃
〃Beyond description；〃 answered the old man。 〃It is 。。。 so grand； so much more than we deserve。〃
〃You will earn it。〃
〃However I may serve you。〃
〃You'll serve me by following the orders given to you by the woman。 Follow them precisely with no deviation whatsoever； is that understood？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Blessings upon you。〃 There was a click and the voice was no more。
Fontaine turned to address the nurse； but she was not at his side。 Instead； she was across the room； unlocking the drawer of a table。 He walked over to her； his eyes drawn to the contents of the drawer。 Side by side were a pair of surgical gloves； a pistol with a cylindrical silencer attached to the barrel； and a straight razor； the blade recessed。
〃These are your tools；〃 said the woman； handing him the key； her flat； expressionless gray eyes boring into his own； 〃and the targets are in the last villa on this row。 You are to familiarize yourself with the area by taking extended walks on the path； as old men do for circulatory purposes； and you are to kill them。 You are to do this wearing the gloves and firing