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His anger is dangerous。
So he was watched。 By many…the uninformed; civilians and authorities alike…as a nervous Henry Sykes at Government House kept his word。 The official investigation was solely under his mand。 It was quiet; thorough…and nonexistent。
Bourne behaved far worse on the pier of Tranquility Inn; striking his own brother; the amiable Saint Jay; until the younger man subdued him and had him carried up the steps to the nearest villa。 Servants came and went bringing trays of food and drink to the porch。 Selected visitors were permitted to pay their condolences; including the chief aide to the Crown governor who wore his full military regalia; a symbol of the Crown's concern。 And an old man who knew death from the brutalities of war and who insisted on seeing the bereaved husband and father…he was acpanied by a woman in a nurse's uniform; properly topped by a hat and a dark mourning veil。 And two Canadian guests of the hotel; close friends of the owner; both of whom had met the disconsolate man when Tranquility Inn opened with great fireworks several years ago…they asked to pay their respects and offer whatever support or fort they could。 John St。 Jacques agreed; suggesting that their visit be brief and to understand that his brother…in…law remained in a corner of the darkened living room; the drapes having been drawn。
〃It's all so horrible; so meaningless!〃 said the visitor from Toronto softly to the shadowed figure in a chair across the room。 〃I hope you're a religious man; David。 I am。 Faith helps in such times as these。 Your loved ones are in the arms of Christ now。〃
〃Thank you。〃 A momentary breeze off the water rustled the drapes; permitting a narrow shaft of sunlight to flash across the room。 It was enough。
〃Wait a minute;〃 said the second Canadian。 〃You're not…good Lord; you're not Dave Webb! Dave has…〃
〃Be quiet;〃 ordered St。 Jacques; standing at the door behind the two visitors。
〃Johnny; I spent seven hours in a fishing boat with Dave and I damn well know him when I see him!〃
〃Shut up;〃 said the owner of Tranquility Inn。
〃Oh; dear God!〃 cried the aide to the Crown governor of Montserrat in a clipped British accent。
〃Listen to me; both of you;〃 said St。 Jacques; rushing forward between the two Canadians and turning to stand in front of the armchair。 〃I wish I'd never let you in here; but there's nothing we can do about that now。 。。。 I thought you'd add weight; two more observers; if anyone asked you questions; which they will; and that's exactly what you're going to do。 You've been talking to David Webb; consoling David Webb。 Do you understand that?〃
〃I don't understand a damn thing;〃 objected the bewildered visitor who had spoken of the fort of faith。 〃Who the hell is he?〃
〃He's the senior aide to the Crown governor;〃 answered St。 Jacques。 〃I'm telling you this so you will understand…〃
〃You mean the army brass who showed up in full uniform with a squad of black soldiers?〃 asked the guest who had fished with David Webb。
〃Among his duties is chief military aide…de…camp。 He's a brigadier…〃
〃We saw the bastard leave;〃 protested the fisherman。 〃From the dining room; we all saw him leave! He was with the old Frenchman and the nurse…〃
〃You saw someone else leave。 Wearing sunglasses。〃
〃Webb 。。。 ?〃
〃Gentlemen!〃 The governor's aide rose from the chair; wearing the ill…fitting jacket worn by Jason Bourne when he had flown back to Tranquility from Blackburne Airport。 〃You are wele guests on our island but; as guests; you will abide by the Crown's decisions in emergencies。 You will either abide by them; or; as we would do in extreme weather; we will be forced to place you in custody。〃
〃Hey; e on; Henry。 They're friends。 。。。〃
〃Friends do not call brigadiers 'bastards'…〃
〃You might if you were once a busted corporal; General;〃 inserted the man of faith。 〃My panion here didn't mean anything。 Long before the whole damned Canadian army needed his pany's engineers; he was a screwed…up infantry grunt。 His pany; incidentally。 He wasn't too bright in Korea。〃
〃Let's cut the crap;〃 said Webb's fishing panion。 〃So we've been in here talking to Dave; right?〃
〃Right。 And that's all I can tell you。〃
〃It's enough; Johnny。 Dave's in trouble; so what can we do?〃
〃Nothing…absolutely nothing but what's on the inn's agenda。 You all got a copy delivered to your villas an hour ago。〃
〃You'd better explain;〃 said the religious Canadian。 〃I never read those goddamn happy…hour schedules。〃
〃The inn's having a special buffet; everything on the house; and a meteorologist from the Leeward Islands Weather Control will speak for a few minutes on what happened last night。〃
〃The storm?〃 asked the fisherman; the former busted corporal and current owner of Canada's largest industrial engineering pany。 〃A storm's a storm in these islands。 What's to explain?〃
〃Oh; things like why they happen and why they're over so quickly; how to behave…the elimination of fear; basically。〃
〃You want us all up there; is that what you mean?〃
〃Yes; I do。〃
〃That'll help Dave?〃
〃Yes; it will。〃
〃Then the whole place'll be up there。 I guarantee it。〃
〃I appreciate that; but how can you?〃
〃I'll circulate another happy…hour notice that Angus MacPherson McLeod; chairman of All Canada Engineering; will award ten thousand dollars to whoever asks the most intelligent question。 How about that; Johnny? The rich always want more for nothing; that's our profound weakness。〃
〃I'll take your word for it;〃 mumbled St。 Jacques。
〃C'mon;〃 said McLeod to his religious friend from Toronto。 〃We'll circulate with tears in our eyes and spread the word。 Then; you idiot colonel…that's what you were; y' bastard…in an hour or so we'll shift gears and only talk of ten thousand dollars and a free…for…all dinner。 With the beach and the sun; people's attention spans are roughly two and a half minutes; in cold weather; no more than four。 Believe me; I've had it calculated by puter research。 。。。 You'll have a full party tonight; Johnny。〃 McLeod turned and walked toward the door。
〃Scotty;〃 cried the man of faith following the fisherman。 〃You're going off half…cocked again! Attention spans; two minutes; four minutes; puter research…I don't believe a word of it!〃
〃Really?〃 said Angus; his hand on the knob。 〃You believe in ten thousand dollars; don't you?〃
〃I certainly do。〃
〃You watch; that's my market research。 。。。 That's also why I own the pany。 And now I intend to summon those tears to my eyes; it's another reason I own the pany。〃
In a dark storage room on the third floor of Tranquility Inn's main plex; Bourne; who had shed the military tunic; and the old Frenchman sat on two stools in front of a window overlooking the east and west paths of the shoreline resort。 The villas below extended out on both sides of the stone steps leading down to the beach and the dock。 Each man held a pair of powerful binoculars to his eyes; scanning the people walking back and forth on the paths and up and down the rock staircase。 A handheld radio with the hotel's private frequency was on the sill in front of Jason。
〃He's near us;〃 said Fontaine softly。
〃What?〃 shot out Bourne; yanking the glasses from his f