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〃I did and it was right。 Carlos may have his own radio by now。 He's not alone； you know。 It's why I've been wandering around looking for you。 Then it occurred to me that you and your brother…in…law might be up here in his office； a headquarters； as it were。〃
〃It's not very smart for you to be walking around out in the open。〃
〃I'm not an idiot； monsieur。 I would have perished long before now if I were。 Wherever I walked I did so with great caution。 。。。 In truth； it's why I made up my mind to find you； assuming you were not dead。〃
〃I'm not and you found me。 What is it？ You and the judge are supposed to be in an empty villa somewhere； not wandering around。〃
〃We are； we were。 You see； I have a plan； a stratageme； I believe would interest you。 I discussed it with Brendan…〃
〃Brendan？〃
〃His name； monsieur。 He thinks my plan has merit and he's a brilliant man； very sagace…〃
〃Shrewd？ Yes； I'm sure he is； but he's not in our business。〃
〃He's a survivor。 In that sense we are all in the same business。 He thinks there is a degree of risk； but what plan under these circumstances is without risk？〃
〃What's your plan？〃
〃It is a means to trap the Jackal with minimum danger to the other people here。〃
〃That really worries you； doesn't it？〃
〃I told you why； so there's no reason to repeat it。 There are men and women together out there…〃
〃Go on；〃 broke in Bourne； irritated。 〃What's this strategy of yours； and you'd better understand that I intend to take out the Jackal if I have to hold this whole goddamned island hostage。 I'm not in a giving mood。 I've given too much。〃
〃So you and Carlos stalk each other in the night？ Two crazed middle…aged hunters obsessed with killing each other； not caring who else is killed or wounded or maimed for life in the bargain？〃
〃You want passion； go to a church and appeal to that God of yours who pisses on this planet！ He's either got one hell of a warped sense of humor or he's a sadist。 Now either talk sense or I'm getting out of here。〃
〃I've thought this out…〃
〃Talk！〃
〃I know the monseigneur； know the way he thinks。 He planned the death of my woman and me but not to coincide with yours； not in a way that would detract from the high drama of his immediate victory over you。 It would e later。 The revelation that I； the so…called hero of France； was in reality the Jackal's instrument； his creation； would be the final proof of his triumph。 Don't you see？〃
Briefly silent； Jason studied the old man。 〃Yes； I do；〃 he replied quietly。 〃Not that I ever figured on someone like you； but that approach is the basis of everything I believe。 He's a megalomaniac。 In his head he's the king of hell and wants the world to recognize him and his throne。 By his lights； his genius has been overlooked； relegated to the level of punk killers and Mafia hit men。 He wants trumpets and drums； when all he hears are tired sirens and weary questions in police lineups。〃
〃C'est vrai。 He once plained to me that almost no one in America knew who he was。〃
〃They don't。 They think he's a character out of novels or films； if they think about him at all。 He tried to make up for that thirteen years ago； when he flew over from Paris to New York to kill me。〃
〃Correction； monsieur。 You forced him to go after you。〃
〃It's history。 What's all this got to do with now； tonight 。。。 your plan？〃
〃It provides us with a way to force the Jackal to e out after me； to meet with me。 Now。 Tonight。〃
〃How？〃
〃By my wandering around the grounds very much in the open where he or one of his scouts will see me and hear me。〃
〃Why would that force him to e out after you？〃
〃Because I will not be with the nurse he had assigned to me。 I will be with someone else； unknown to him； someone who would have no reason at all to kill me。〃
Again Bourne looked at the old Frenchman in silence。 〃Bait；〃 he said finally。
〃A lure so provocative it will drive him into a frenzy until he has it in his possession…has me in his grip so he can question me。 。。。 You see； I'm vital to him…more specifically； my death is vital…and everything is timing to him。 Precision is his 。。。 his diction； how is it said？〃
〃His byword； his method of operation； I suppose。〃
〃It is how he has survived； how he has made the most of each kill； each over the years adding to his reputation as the assassin supreme。 Until a man named Jason Bourne came out of the Far East 。。。 he has never been the same since。 But you know all that…〃
〃I don't care about all that；〃 interrupted Jason。 〃The 'timing。' Go on。〃
〃After I'm gone he can reveal who Jean Pierre Fontaine； the hero of France； really was。 An impostor； his impostor； his creation； the instrument of death who was the snare for Jason Bourne。 What a triumph for him！ 。。。 But he cannot do that until I'm dead。 Quite simply； it would be too inconvenient。 I know too much； too many of my colleagues in the gutters of Paris。 No； I must be dead before he has his triumph。〃
〃Then he'll kill you when he sees you。〃
〃Not until he has his answers； monsieur。 Where is his killer nurse？ What has happened to her？ Did Le Chameleon find her； turn her； do away with her？ Have the British authorities got her？ Is she on her way to London and MI…Six with all their chemicals； to be turned over at last to Interpol？ So many questions。 。。。 No； he will not kill me until he learns what he must learn。 It may take only minutes to satisfy him； but long before then I trust that you will be at my side insuring my survival； if not his。〃
〃The nurse？ Whoever it is； she'll be shot。〃
〃No； not at all。 I'll order her away in anger； out of my sight at the first sign of contact。 As I walk with her I shall lament the absence of my new dear friend； the angel of mercy who takes such good care of my wife； wondering out loud； What has happened to her？ Where has she gone？ Why haven't I seen her all day？ Naturally； I will conceal on my person the radio； activated； of course。 Wherever I am taken…for surely one of Carlos's men will make contact first…I will ask an enfeebled old man's questions。 Why am I going here？ Why are we there？ 。。。 You will follow…in full force； I sincerely hope。 If you do so； you'll have the Jackal。〃
Holding his head straight； his neck rigid； Bourne walked to St。 Jacques's desk and sat on the edge。 〃Your friend； Judge Brendan what's…his…name； is right…〃
〃Prefontaine。 Although Fontaine is not my true name； we've decided it's all the same family。 When the earliest members left Alsace…Lorraine for America in the eighteenth century with Lafayette； they added the Pre to distinguish them from the Fontaines who spread out all over France。〃
〃He told you that？〃
〃He's a brilliant man； once an honored judge。〃
〃Lafayette came from Alsace…Lorraine？〃
〃I don't know； monsieur。 I've never been there。〃
〃He's a brilliant man。 。。。 More to the point； he's right。 Your plan has a lot of merit； but there's also considerable risk。 And I'll be honest with you； Fontaine； I don't give a damn about the risk you're taking or about the nurse； whoever it is。 I want the Jackal； and if it costs your life or the life of a woman I don't know； it doesn't matter to me。 I want you to understand that。〃
The old Frenchman stared at