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this juncture； what do you feel you can tell us about Hong Kong？〃
Alex gripped his cane and held it firmly； his knuckles white as he replied。 〃Hong Kong was both the filthiest black operation ever conceived in this town and without question the most extraordinary I've ever heard of。 And to my profound relief we here at Langley had nothing to do with the initial strategy； the plaudits can go to hell。 I came in late and what I found turned my stomach。 It sickened McAllister； too； for he was in at the beginning。 It was why he was willing to risk his life； why he damn near ended up a corpse across the Chinese border in Macao。 His intellectualized morality couldn't let a decent man be killed for the strategy。〃
〃That's a hell of an indictment；〃 offered Casset。 〃What happened？〃
〃Our own people arranged to have Bourne's wife kidnapped； the woman who had led that man without a memory back to us。 They left a trail that forced him to go after her…to Hong Kong。〃
〃Jesus； why？〃 cried Valentino。
〃The strategy； it was perfect； and it was also abominable。 。。。 I told you the 'assassin' called Jason Bourne had bee a legend in Asia。 He disappeared in Europe； but he was no less a legend for that in the Far East。 Then suddenly； out of nowhere； a new enterprising killer operating out of Macao revived that legend。 He took the name of 'Jason Bourne' and the killings for hire started all over again。 A week rarely went by； often only days； when another hit was made； the same evidence planted； the same taunting of the police。 A false Bourne was back in business； and he had studied every trick of the original。〃
〃So who better to track him down than the one who invented those tricks…the original； your original；〃 interjected the director。 〃And what better way to force the original Bourne into the hunt than by taking his wife from him。 But why？ Why was Washington so consumed？ There were no longer any ties to us。〃
〃There was something much worse。 Among the new Jason Bourne's clients was a madman in Beijing； a Kuomintang traitor in the government who was about to turn the Far East into a firestorm。 He was determined to destroy the Sino…British Hong Kong Accords； shutting down the colony； leaving the whole territory in chaos。〃
〃War；〃 said Casset quietly。 〃Beijing would march into Hong Kong and take over。 We'd all have to choose sides。 。。。 War。〃
〃In the nuclear age；〃 added the director。 〃How far had it all progressed； Mr。 Conklin？〃
〃A vice premier of the People's Republic was killed in a private massacre in Kowloon。 The impostor left his calling card。 'Jason Bourne。' 〃
〃Good God； he had to be stopped！〃 exploded the DCI； gripping his pipe。
〃He was；〃 said Alex； releasing his cane。 〃By the only man who could hunt him down。 Our Jason Bourne。 。。。 That's all I'll tell you for now； except to repeat that that man is back here with his wife and children； and Carlos is closing in。 The Jackal won't rest until he knows the only person alive who can identify him is dead。 So call in every debt that's owed to us in Paris； London； Rome； Madrid … especially Paris。 Someone's got to know something。 Where is Carlos now？ Who are his points over here？ He's got eyes here in Washington； and whoever they are； they found Panov and me！〃 The former field officer again absently gripped his cane； staring at the window。 〃Don't you see？〃 he added quietly； as if talking to himself。 〃We can't let it happen。 Oh； my God； we can't let it happen！〃
Once more the emotional moment passed in silence as the men of the Central Intelligence Agency exchanged glances。 It was as though a consensus had been reached among them without a word being said； three pairs of eyes fell on Casset。 He nodded； accepting his selection as the one closest to Conklin； and spoke。
〃Alex； I agree that everything points to Carlos； but before we start spinning our wheels in Europe； we have to be sure。 We can't afford a false alarm because we'd be handing the Jackal a grail he'd have to go after； showing him how vulnerable we were where Jason Bourne is concerned。 From what you've told us； Carlos would pick up on a long…dormant operation known as Treadstone Seventy…one if only because none of our agents or subagents has been in his personal neighborhood for over a decade。〃
The retired Conklin studied Charles Casset's pensive sharp…featured face。 〃What you're saying is that if I'm wrong and it isn't the Jackal； we're ripping open a thirteen…year…old wound and presenting him with an irresistible kill。〃
〃I guess that's what I'm saying。〃
〃And I guess that's pretty good thinking； Charlie。 。。。 I'm operating on externals； aren't I？ They're triggering instincts； but they're still externals。〃
〃I'd trust those instincts of yours far more than I would any polygraph…〃
〃So would I；〃 interrupted Valentino。 〃You saved our personnel in five or six sector crises when all the indicators said you were wrong。 However； Charlie's got a legitimate query。 Suppose it isn't Carlos？ We not only send the wrong message to Europe； but； more important； we've wasted time。〃
〃So stay out of Europe；〃 mused Alex softly； again as if to himself。 〃At least for now。 。。。 Go after the bastards here。 Draw them out。 Pull them in and break them。 I'm the target； so let them e after me。〃
〃That would entail far looser protection than I envisage for you and Dr。 Panov； Mr。 Conklin；〃 said the director firmly。
〃Then disenvisage； sir。〃 Alex looked back and forth at Casset and Valentino； suddenly raising his voice。 〃We can do it if you two will listen to me and let me mount it！〃
〃We're in a gray area；〃 stated Casset。 〃This thing may be foreign…oriented； but it's domestic turf。 The Bureau should be brought in…〃
〃No way；〃 exclaimed Conklin。 〃Nobody's brought in outside of this room！〃
〃e on； Alex；〃 said Valentino kindly； slowly shaking his head。 〃You're retired。 You can't give orders here。〃
〃Good； fine！〃 shouted Conklin； awkwardly getting out of the chair and supporting himself on his cane。 〃Next stop the White House； to a certain chairman of the NSA named McAllister！〃
〃Sit down；〃 said the DCI firmly。
〃I'm retired！ You can't give orders to me。〃
〃I wouldn't dream of it； I'm simply concerned for your life。 As I read the scenario； what you're suggesting is based on the questionable supposition that whoever fired at you last night in tended to miss； not caring whom he hit； only determined to take you alive during the subsequent chaos。〃
〃That's a couple of leaps…〃
〃Based on a couple of dozen operations I've been involved with both here and at the Department of the Navy and in places you couldn't pronounce or know anything about。〃 The director's elbows were planted on the arms of his chair； his voice suddenly harsh； manding。 〃For your information； Conklin； I didn't suddenly bloom as a gold…braided admiral running naval intelligence。 I was in the SEALs for a few years and made runs off submarines into Kaesong and later into Haiphong harbor。 I knew a number of those Medusa pricks； and I can't think of one that I didn't want to put a bullet in his head！ Now you tell me there was one； and he became your Jason Bourne' and you'll break your balls or bust open your heart to see that he stays alive and well and ou