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ter。 The faucet exploded； surging out of its recess into the ceiling as a powerful gush of water inundated his entire head。 Caramba！ The shock calmed him down； and he remembered that the Cable Network was scheduled to rebroadcast the hearings in full that evening。 A happy man； he called the plumber and went out and bought a new television set。
So； since that morning； whenever his own furies or the state of the world disturbed him…the world he knew…he lowered his head in a kitchen sink and let the cold water pour over his head。 He had done so this morning。 This goddamned； fucked…up morning！
DeSole！ Killed in an accident on a deserted country road in Maryland at 4：30 that morning。 What the hell was Steven DeSole； a man whose driver's license clearly stated that he was afflicted with night blindness； doing on a backcountry road outside Annapolis at 4：30 in the morning？ And then Charlie Casset； a very angry Casset； calling him at six o'clock； yelling his usually cool head off； telling Alex he was going to put the mander of NATO on the goddamned spit and demand an explanation for the buried fax connection between the general and the dead chief of clandestine reports； who was not a victim of an accident but of murder！ Furthermore； one retired field officer named Conklin had better damned well e clean with everything he knew about DeSole and Brussels and related matters； or all bets were off where said retired field agent and his elusive friend Jason Bourne were concerned。 Noon at the latest！ And then； Ivan Jax！ The brilliant black doctor from Jamaica phoned； telling him he wanted to put Norman Swayne's body back where he had found it because he did not want to be loused up by another Agency fiasco。 But it was not Agency； cried Conklin to himself； unable to explain to Ivan Jax the real reason he had asked for his help。 Medusa。 And Jax could not simply drive the corpse back to Manassas because the police； on federal orders…the orders of one retired field agent using appropriated codes he was not entitled to use…had sealed off General Norman Swayne's estate without explanation。
〃What do I do with the body？〃 Jax had yelled。
〃Keep it cold for a while； Cactus would want it that way。〃
〃Cactus？ I've been with him at the hospital all night。 He's going to be okay； but he doesn't know what the hell is going on any more than I do！〃
〃We in the clandestine services can't always explain things；〃 Alex said； wincing as he spoke the ridiculous words。 〃I'll call you back。〃
So he had gone into the kitchen and put his head under a spray of cold water。 What else could go wrong？ And naturally the telephone rang。
〃Dunkin' Donuts；〃 said Conklin； the phone to his ear。
〃Get me out of here；〃 said Jason Bourne； not a trace of David Webb in his voice。 〃To Paris！〃
〃What happened？〃
〃He got away； that's what happened； and I have to get to Paris under a cover； no immigration； no customs。 He's got them all wired and I can't give him the chance to track me。 。。。 Alex； are you listening to me？〃
〃DeSole was killed last night； killed in an accident that was no accident at four o'clock in the morning。 Medusa's closing in。〃
〃I don't give a damn about Medusa！ For me it's history； we made a wrong turn。 I want the Jackal and I've got a place to start。 I can find him； take him！〃
〃Leaving me with Medusa 。。。〃
〃You said you wanted to go higher…you said you'd only give me forty…eight hours until you did。 Shove the clock ahead。 The forty…eight hours are over； so go higher； just get me out of here and over to Paris。〃
〃They'll want to talk to you。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Peter Holland； Casset； whoever else they bring in 。。。 the attorney general； Christ； the President himself。〃
〃About what？〃
〃You spoke at length with Armbruster； with Swayne's wife and that sergeant； Flannagan。 I didn't。 I just used a few code words that triggered responses from Armbruster and Ambassador Atkinson in London； nothing substantive。 You've got the fuller picture firsthand。 I'm too deniable。 They'll have to talk to you。〃
〃And put the Jackal on a back burner？〃
〃Just for a day； two at the most。〃
〃Goddamn it； no。 Because it doesn't work that way and you know it！ Once I'm back there I'm their only material witness； shunted from one closed interrogation to another； and if I refuse to cooperate； I'm in custody。 No way； Alex。 I've got only one priority and he's in Paris！〃
〃Listen to me；〃 said Conklin。 〃There are some things I can control； others I can't。 We needed Charlie Casset and he helped us； but he's not someone you can con； nor would I want to。 He knows DeSole's death was no accident…a man with night blindness doesn't take a five…hour drive at four o'clock in the morning…and he also knows that we know a lot more about DeSole and Brussels than we're telling him。 If we want the Agency's help； and we need it for things like getting you on a military or a diplomatic flight into France； and God knows what else when you're there； I can't ignore Casset。 He'll step on us and by his lights； he should。〃
Bourne was silent； only his breathing was heard。 〃All right；〃 he said。 〃I see where we're at。 You tell Casset that if he gives us whatever we ask for now； we'll give him…no； I'll give him； keep yourself cleaner than me…enough information for the Department of Justice to go after some of the biggest fish in the government； assuming Justice isn't part of Snake Lady。 。。。 You might add that'll include the location of a cemetery that might prove enlightening。〃
It was Conklin's turn to be silent for a moment。 〃He may want more than that； considering your current pursuits。〃
〃Oh 。。。 ？ Oh； I see。 In case I lose。 Okay； add that when I get to Paris I'll hire a stenographer and dictate everything I know； everything I've learned； and send it to you。 I'll trust Saint Alex to carry it from there。 Maybe a page or two at a time to keep them cooperative。〃
〃I'll handle that part。 。。。 Now Paris； or close by。 From what I recall； Montserrat's near Dominica and Martinique； isn't it？〃
〃Less than an hour to each； and Johnny knows every pilot on the big island。〃
〃Martinique's French； we'll go with that。 I know people in the Deuxième Bureau。 Get down there and call me from the airport terminal。 I'll have made the arrangements by then。〃
〃Will do。 。。。 There's a last item； Alex。 Marie。 She and the children will be back here this afternoon。 Call her and tell her I'm covered with all the firepower in Paris。〃
〃You lying son of a bitch…〃
〃Do it！〃
〃Of course I will。 On that score and not lying； if I live through the day； I'm having dinner with Mo Panov at his place tonight。 He's a terrible cook； but he thinks he's the Jewish Julia Child。 I'd like to bring him up to date； he'll go crazy if I don't。〃
〃Sure。 Without him we'd both be in padded cells chewing rawhide。〃
〃Talk to you later。 Good luck。〃
The next day at 10：25 in the morning； Washington time； Dr。 Morris Panov； acpanied by his guard； walked out of Walter Reed Hospital after a psychiatric session with a retired army lieutenant suffering from the aftereffects of a training exercise in Georgia that took the lives of twenty…odd recruits under his mand eight weeks before。 There was not much Mo could do； the man wa