rl.thebourneidentity-第17部分

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　They　drove　down　the　street　past　the　restaurant　twice　more。　Two　separate　couples　and　a　foursome　went　inside；　a　single　man　came　out；　heading　for　the　Falkenstrasse。　To　judge　from　the　cars　parked　on　the　kerb；　there　was　a　medium…sized　crowd　at　the　Drei　Alpenhauser。　It　would　grow　in　number　as　the　next　two　hours　passed；　most　of　Zurich　preferring　its　evening　meal　nearer　ten…thirty　than　eight　There　was　no　point　in　delaying　any　longer；　nothing　further　came　to　Bourne。　He　could　only　sit　and　watch　and　hope　something　would　e。　Something。　For　something　had；　a　book　of　matches　had　evoked　an　image　of　reality。　Within　that　reality　there　was　a　truth　he　had　to　discover。
　'Pull　over　to　your　right；　in　front　of　the　last　car。　We'll　walk　back。'
　Silently；　without　ment　or　protest；　the　St　Jacques　woman　did　as　she　was　told。　Jason　looked　at　her；　her　reaction　was　too　docile；　inconsistent　with　her　previous　behaviour。　He　understood。　A　lesson　had　to　be　taught。　Regardless　of　what　might　happen　inside　the　Drei　Alpenhauser；　he　needed　her　for　a　final　contribution。　She　had　to　drive　him　out　of　Zurich。
　The　car　came　to　a　stop；　tyres　scraping　the　kerb。　She　turned　off　the　engine　and　began　to　remove　the　keys；　her　movement　slow；　too　slow。　He　reached　over　and　held　her　wrist；　she　stared　at　him　in　the　shadows　without　breathing。　He　slid　his　fingers　over　her　hand　until　he　felt　the　key　case。
　'I'll　take　those；'　he　said。
　'Naturally；'　she　replied；　her　left　hand　unnaturally　at　her　side；　poised　by　the　panel　of　the　door。
　'Now　get　out　and　stand　by　the　bonnet；'　he　continued。　'Don't　do　anything　foolish。'
　'Why　should　I？　You'd　kill　me。'
　'Good。'　He　reached　for　the　handle　of　the　door　exaggerating　the　difficulty。　The　back　of　his　head　was　to　her；　he　snapped　the　handle　down。
　The　rustle　of　fabric　was　sudden；　the　rush　of　air　more　sudden　still；　her　door　crashed　open；　the　woman　half　out　into　the　street。　But　Bourne　was　ready；　a　lesson　had　to　be　taught。　He　spun　around；　his　left　arm　an　uncoiling　spring；　his　hand　a　claw；　gripping　the　silk　of　her　dress　between　her　shoulder　blades。　He　pulled　her　back　into　the　seat　and；　grabbing　her　by　the　hair；　yanked　her　head　towards　him　until　her　neck　was　stretched；　her　face　against　his。
　'I　won't　do　it　again！'　she　cried；　tears　welling　at　her　eyes。　'I　swear　to　you　I　won't　I'
　He　reached　across　and　pulled　the　door　shut；　then　looked　at　her　closely；　trying　to　understand　something　in　himself。　Thirty　minutes　ago　in　another　car　he　bad　experienced　a　degree　of　nausea　when　he　had　pressed　the　barrel　of　the　gun　into　her　cheek；　threatening　to　take　her　life　if　she　disobeyed　him。　There　was　no　such　revulsion　now；　with　one　overt　action　she　had　crossed　over　into　another　territory。　She　had　bee　an　enemy；　a　threat；　he　could　kill　her　if　he　had　to；　kill　her　without　emotion　because　it　was　the　practical　thing　to　do。
　'Say　something！'　she　whispered。　Her　body　went　into　a　brief　spasm；　her　breasts　pressing　against　the　dark　silk　of　her　dress；　rising　and　falling　with　the　agitated　movement。　She　gripped　her　own　wrist　in　an　attempt　to　control　herself；　she　partially　succeeded。　She　spoke　again；　the　whisper　replaced　by　a　monotone。　'I　said　I　wouldn't　do　it　again　and　I　won't。'
　'You'll　try；'　he　replied　quietly。　'There'll　e　a　moment　when　you　think　you　can　make　it；　and　you'll　try。　Believe　me　when　I　tell　you　you　can't；　but　if　you　try　again　I　will　have　to　kill　you。　I　don't　want　to　do　that；　there's　no　reason　for　it；　no　reason　at　all。　Unless　you　bee　a　threat　to　me；　and　in　running　away　before　I　let　you　go　you　do　just　that。　I　can't　allow　it'
　He　had　spoken　the　truth　as　he　understood　the　truth。　The　simplicity　of　the　decision　was　as　astonishing　to　him　as　the　decision　itself。　Killing　was　a　practical　matter；　nothing　else。
　'You　say　you'll　let　me　go；'　she　said。　'When？'
　'When　I'm　safe；'　he　answered。　'When　it　doesn't　make　any　difference　what　you　say　or　do。〃
　'When　will　that　be？'
　'An　hour　or　so　from　now。　When　we're　out　of　Zurich　and　I'm　on　my　way　to　somewhere　else。　You　won't　know　where　or　how。'
　'Why　should　I　believe　you？'
　'I　don't　care　whether　you　do　or　not。'　He　released　her。　'Pull　yourself　together。　Dry　your　eyes　and　b　your　hair。　We're　going　inside。'
　'What's　in　there？'
　'I　wish　I　knew；'　he　said；　glancing　through　the　rear　window　at　the　door　of　the　Drei　Alpenhauser。
　'You　said　that　before。'
　He　looked　at　her；　at　the　wide　brown　eyes　that　were　searching　his。　Searching　in　fear；　in　bewilderment。　'I　know。　Hurry　up。'
　There　were　thick　beams　running　across　the　high　Alpine　ceiling；　tables　and　chairs　of　heavy　wood；　deep　booths　and　candlelight　everywhere。　An　accordion　player　moved　through　the　crowd；　muted　strains　of　Bavarian　Music　ing　from　his　instrument
　He　had　seen　the　large　room　before；　the　beams　and　the　candlelight　printed　somewhere　in　his　mind；　the　sounds　recorded　also。　He　had　e　here　in　another　life。　They　stood　in　the　shallow　foyer　in　front　of　the　maitre　d's　hotel's　station；　he　greeted　them。
　'Haben　Sie　einen　Plats　reserviert；　mein　Herr？
　'If　you　mean　have　I　a　reservation；　I'm　afraid　not　But　you　were　highly　remended。　I　hope　you　can　fit　us　in。　A　booth；　if　possible。'
　'Certainly；　sir。　It's　the　early　sitting；　we're　not　yet　crowded。　This　way；　please。'
　They　were　taken　to　a　booth　in　the　nearest　corner；　a　flickering　candle　in　the　centre　of　the　table。　Bourne's　limp　and　the　fact　that　he　held　on　to　the　woman；　dictated　the　closest　available　location。　Jason　nodded　to　Marie　St　Jacques；　she　sat　down；　and　he　slid　into　the　booth　opposite　her。
　'Move　against　the　wall；'　he　said；　after　the　maitre　had　left　'Remember；　the　gun's　in　my　pocket　and　all　I　have　to　do　is　raise　my　foot　and　you're　trapped。'
　'I　said　I　wouldn't　try。'
　'I　hope　you　don't　Order　a　drink；　there's　no　time　to　eat！
　'I　couldn't　eat！　She　gripped　her　wrist　again；　her　hands　visibly　trembling。　'Why　isn't　there　time？　What　are　you　waiting　for？'
　'I　don't　know。'
　'Why　do　you　keep　saying　that？　〃I　don't　know。〃　〃I　wish　I　knew。〃　Why　did　you　e　here？'
　'Because　I've　been　here　before。'
　'That's　no　answer！'
　There's　no　reason　for　me　to　give　you　one。'
　A　waiter　approached。　The　St　Jacques　woman　asked　for　wine；　Bourne　ordered　Scotch；　needing　the　stronger　drink。　He　looked　round　the　restaurant；　trying　to　concentrate　'on　everything　and　nothing'。　A　sponge。　But　there　was　only　nothing。　No　images　filled　his　mind；　no　thoughts　intruded　on　his　absence　of　thought。　Nothing。
　And　then　he　saw　the　face　across　the　room。　It　was　a　large　face　set　in　a　large　head；　above　an　obese　body　pressed　against　the　wall　of　an　end　booth；　next　to　a　closed　door。　The　fat　man　stayed　in　the　shadows　of　his　observation　point　as　if　they　were　his　protection；　the　unlit　section　of　the　floor　his　sanctuary。　His　eyes　were　riveted　on　Jason；　equal　parts　fear　and　disbelief　in　his　stare。　Bourne　did　not　know　the　face；　but　the　face　knew　him。　The　man　brought　his　ringers　to　his　lips　and　wiped　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　then　shifted　his　eyes；　taking　in　each　diner　at　every　table。　Only　then　did　he　begin　what　was　obviously　a　painful　journey　around　the　room　towards　their　booth。
　A　man's　ing　over　here；'　he　said　over　the　flame　of　the　candle。　'A　fat　man；　and　he's　afraid。　Don't　say　anything。　No　matter　what　he　says；　keep　your　mouth　shut。　And　don't　look　at　him；　raise　your　hand；　rest　your　head　oh　your　elbow　casually。　Look　at　the　wall；　not　him。'
　The　woman　frowned；　bringing　her　right　hand　to　her　face；　her　fingers　trembled。　Her　lips　formed　a　question；　but　no　words　came。　Jason　answered　the　unspoken。
　'For　your　own　good；'　he　said。　'There's　no　point　in　his　being　able　to　identify　you。'
　The　fat　man　edged　round　the　corner　of　the　booth。　Bourne　blew　out　the　candle；　throwing　the　table　into　relative　darkness。　The　man　stared　him　down　and　spoke　in　a　low；　strained　voice。
　'Lieber　Gott！　Why　did　you　e　here？　What　have　I　done　that　you　should　do　this　to　me？'
　'I　enjoy　the　food；　you　know　that！
　'Have　you　no　feelings！　I　have　a　family；　a　wife　and　children。　I　did　only　as　I　was　told。　I　gave　you　the　envelope；　I　did　not　look　inside；　I　know　nothing！！
　'But　you　were　paid；　weren't　you？'　asked　Jason　instinctively。
　'Yes；　but　I　said　nothing。　We　never　met；　I　never　described　you。　I　spoke　to　no　one！'
　Then　why　are　you　afraid？　I'm　just　an　ordinary　patron　about　to　order　dinner。'
　'I　beg　you。　Leave。'
　'Now　I'm　angry。　You'd　better　tell　me　why。'
　The　fat　man　brought　his　hand　to　his　face；　his　fingers　again　wiping　the　moisture　that　had　formed　around　his　mouth。　He　angled　his　head；　glancing　at　the　door；　then　turned　back　to　Bourne。　'Others　may　have　spoken；　others　may　know　who　you　are。　I've　had　my　share　of　trouble　with　the　police；　they　would　e　directly　to　me。'
　The　St　Jacques　woman　lost　control；　she　looked　at　Jason；　the　words　escaping。　'The　police。。。　They　were　the　police'
　Bourne　glared　at　her；　then　turned　back　to　the　nervous　fat　man。　'Are　you　saying　the　police　would　harm　your　wife　and　children？'
　'Not　in　themselves　…　as　you　well　know。　But　their　interest　would　lead　others　to　me。　To　my　family。　How　many　are　there　that　look　for　you；　mein　Herr？　And　what　are　they　that　do？　You　need　no　answer　from　me；　they　stop　at　nothing　…　the　death　of　a　wife　or　a　child　is　nothing。　Please。　On　my　life；　I've　said　nothing。　Leave。'
　'You're　exaggerating。'　Jason　raised　his　drink　to　his　lips；　a　prelude　to　dismissal。
　'In　the　name　of　Christ；　don't　do　this！'　The　man　leaned　over；　gripping　the　edge　of　the　table。　'You　wish　proof　of　my　silence；　I　give　it　to　you。　Word　was　spread　throughout　the　Verbrecherwelt。　Anyone　with　any　information　whatsoever　should　call　a　number　set　up　by　the　Zurich　police。　Everything　would　be　kept　in　the　strictest　confidence；　they　would　not　lie　in　the　Verbrecherwelt　about　that。　Rewards　were　ample；　the　police　in　several　countries　sending　funds　through　Interpol。　Past　misunderstandings　might　be　seen　in　new　judicial　lights。'　The　conspirator　stood　up；　wiping　his　mouth　again；　his　large　bulk　hovering　above　the　wood。　'A　man　like　myself　could　profit　from　a　kinder　relationship　with　the　police。　Yet　I　did　nothing。　In　spite　of　the　guarantee　of　confidentiality；　I　did　nothing　at　all！'
　'Did　anyone　else？　Tell　me　the　truth；　I'll　know　if　you're　lying。'
　'I　know　only　Chernak。　He's　the　only　one　I've　ever　spoken　to　who　admits　having　even　seen　you。　But　you　know　that；　the　envelope　was　passed　through　him　to　me。　He'd　never　say　any