rl.thebourneidentity-第54部分

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an　acplice；　her　expertise　necessary　to　the　massive　theft。　And　there　was　a　male　suspect；　she　was　reported　to　have　been　seen　in　his　pany　at　the　Carillon　du　Lac。
　Marie　finished　the　article　first　and　let　the　paper　drop　to　the　floor。　At　the　sound；　Bourne　looked　over　from　the　edge　of　the　bed。　She　was　staring　at　the　wall；　a　strange　pensive　serenity　having　e　over　her。　It　was　the　last　reaction　he　expected。　He　finished　reading　quickly；　feeling　depressed　and　hopeless　…　for　a　moment；　speechless。　Then　he　found　his　voice　and　spoke。
　'Lies；'　he　said；　'and　they　were　made　because　of　me；　because　of　who　and　what　I　am。　Smoke　you　out；　they　find　me。　I'm　sorry；　sorrier　than　I　can　ever　tell　you。'
　Marie　shifted　her　eyes　from　the　wall　and　looked　at　him。　'It　goes　much　deeper　than　lies；　Jason；'　she　said。　〃There's　too　much　truth　for　lies　alone。'
　'Truth？　The　only　truth　is　that　you　were　in　Zurich！　You　never　touched　a　gun；　you　were　never　in　an　alley　near　the　Steppdeckstrasse；　you　didn't　lose　a　hotel　key；　and　you　never　went　near　the　Gemeinschaft。'
　'Agreed；　but　that's　not　the　truth　I'm　talking　about。'
　Then　what　is？'
　'The　Gemeinschaft；　Treadstone　Seventy…one；　Apfel。　Those　are　true　and　the　fact　that　any　of　them　were　mentioned　…　especially　Apfel's　acknowledgment　…　is　incredible。　Swiss　bankers　are　cautious　men。　They　don't　defy　the　law；　not　this　way；　the　sentences　are　too　severe。　The　statutes　pertaining　to　banking　confidentiality　are　among　the　most　sacrosanct　in　Switzerland。　Apfel　could　go　to　prison　for　years　for　saying　what　he　did；　for　even　alluding　to　such　an　account；　much　less　confirming　it　by　name。　Unless　he　was　ordered　to　say　what　he　did　by　an　authority　powerful　enough　to　contravene　the　laws。'　She　stopped；　her　eyes　straying　to　the　wall　again。　'Why？　Why　was　the　Gemeinschaft　or　Treadstone　or　Apfel　ever　made　part　of　the　story？'
　'I　told　you。　They　want　me　and　they　know　we're　together。　Carlos　knows　we're　together。　Find　you；　he　finds　me。'
　'No；　Jason；　it　goes　beyond　Carlos。　You　really　don't　understand　the　laws　in　Switzerland。　Not　even　a　Carlos　could　cause　them　to　be　flouted　this　way。'　She　looked　at　him；　but　her　eyes　did　not　see　him；　she　was　peering　through　her　own　mists。　This　isn't　one　story；　it's　two。　Both　are　constructed　out　of　lies；　the　first　connected　to　the　second　by　tenuous　speculation　…　public　speculation　…　on　a　banking　crisis　that　would　never　be　made　public；　unless　and　until　a　thorough　and　private　investigation　proved　the　facts。　And　that　second　story　…　the　patently　false　statement　that　millions　were　stolen　from　the　Gemeinschaft　was　tacked　on　to　the　equally　false　story　that　I'm　wanted　for　killing　three　men　in　Zurich。　It　was　added。　Deliberately。'　'Explain　that；　please。'
　'It's　there；　Jason。　Believe　me　when　I　tell　you　that；　it's　right　in　front　of　us。'　'What　is？'　'Someone's　trying　to　send　us　a　message。'
　The　heavy　army　car　sped　south　on　Manhattan's　East　River　Drive；　headlights　illuminating　the　swirling　remnants　of　a　March　snowfall。　The　major　in　the　back　seat　dozed；　his　long　body　angled　into　the　corner；　his　legs　stretched　out　diagonally　across　the　floor。　In　his　lap　was　a　briefcase；　a　thin　nylon　cord　attached　to　the　handle　by　a　metal　clamp；　the　cord　itself　strung　through　his　right　sleeve　and　down　his　inner　tunic　to　his　belt。　The　security　device　had　been　removed　only　twice　in　the　past　nine　hours。　Once　during　the　major's　departure　from　Zurich；　and　again　with　his　arrival　at　Kennedy　Airport。　In　both　places；　however；　U。　S。　government　personnel　had　been　watching　the　customs　clerks　more　precisely；　watching　the　briefcase。　They　were　not　told　why；　they　were　simply　ordered　to　observe　the　inspections；　and　at　the　slightest　deviation　from　normal　procedures　…　which　meant　any　undue　interest　in　the　briefcase　…　they　were　to　intervene。　With　weapons；　if　necessary。
　There　was　a　sudden；　quiet　ringing；　the　major　snapped　his　eyes　open　and　brought　his　left　hand　up　in　front　of　his　face。　The　sound　was　a　wrist　alarm；　he　pressed　the　button　on　his　watch　and　squinted　at　the　second　radium　dial　of　his　two…zoned　instrument。　The　first　was　on　Zurich　time；　the　second；　New　York；　the　alarm　had　been　set　twenty…four　hours　ago；　when　the　officer　had　received　his　cabled　orders。　The　transmission　would　e　within　the　next　three　minutes。　That　is；　thought　the　major；　it　would　e　if　Iron　Ass　was　as　precise　as　he　expected　his　subordinates　to　be。　The　officer　stretched；　awkwardly　balancing　the　briefcase；　and　leaned　forward；　speaking　to　the　driver。
　'Sergeant；　turn　on　your　scrambler　to　fourteen…thirty　megahertz；　will　you　please？'
　'Yes；　sir。'　The　sergeant　flipped　two　switches　on　the　radio　panel　beneath　the　dashboard；　then　twisted　the　dial　to　the　1430　frequency。　〃There　it　is；　Major。'
　Thanks。　Will　the　microphone　reach　back　here？'
　'I　don't　know。　Never　tried　it；　sir。'　The　driver　pulled　the　small　plastic　microphone　from　its　cradle　and　stretched　the　spiral　cord　over　the　seat。　'Guess　it　does；'　he　concluded。
　Static　erupted　from　the　speaker；　the　scrambling　transmitter　electronically　scanning　and　jamming　the　frequency。　The　message　would　follow　in　seconds。　It　did。
　Treadstone？　Treadstone；　confirm；　please。'
　Treadstone　receiving；'　said　Major　Gordon　Webb。　'You're　clear。　Go　ahead。'
　'What's　your　position？'
　'About　a　mile　south　of　the　Triboro；　East　River　Drive；'　said　the　major。
　'Your　timing　is　acceptable；'　came　the　voice　from　the　speaker。　'Glad　to　hear…it。　It　makes　my　day。。。　sir。'　There　was　a　brief　pause；　the　major's　ment　not　appreciated。　'Proceed　to　one…four…zero；　Seven…one　East。　Confirm　by　repeat。'
　'One…four…zero；　East　Seventy…first。'　'Keep　your　vehicle　out　of　the　area。　Approach　on　foot。'　'Understood。'　'Out。'
　'Out。'　Webb　snapped　the　transmission　button　in　place　and　handed　the　microphone　back　to　the　driver。　'Forget　that　address；　Sergeant。　Your　name's　on　a　very　short　file　now。'
　'Gotcha；　Major。　Nothing　but　static　on　that　thing　anyway。　But　since　I　don't　know　where　it　is　and　these　wheels　aren't　supposed　to　go　there；　where　do　you　want　to　be　dropped　off？〃
　Webb　smiled。　'No　more　than　two　blocks　away。　I'd　go　to　sleep　in　the　gutter　if　I　had　to　walk　any　further　than　that。'　'How　about　Lex　and　Seventy…second？'　'Is　that　two　blocks？'　'No　more　than　three。'　'If　it's　three　you're　a　private。'
　Then　I　couldn't　pick　you　up　later；　Major。　Privates　aren't　cleared　for　this　duty。'
　'Whatever　you　say；　Captain。'　Webb　closed　his　eyes。　After　two　years；　he　was　about　to　see　Treadstone　Seventy…one　for　himself。　He　knew　he　should　feel　a　sense　of　anticipation；　he　did　not。　He　felt　only　a　sense　of　weariness；　of　futility。　What　had　happened？
　The　incessant　hum　of　the　tyres　on　the　tarmac　below　was　hypnotic；　but　the　rhythm　was　broken　by　sharp　intrusions　where　concrete　and　wheels　were　not　patible。　The　sounds　evoked　memories　of　long　ago；　of　screeching　jungle　noises　woven　into　a　single　tone。　And　then　the　night　…　that　night　…　when　blinding　lights　and　staccato　explosions　were　all　around　him；　telling　him　he　was　about　to　die。　But　he　did　not　die；　a　miracle　wrought　by　a　man　had　given　his　life　back　to　him。。。　and　the　years　went　on；　that　night；　those　days　never　to　be　forgotten。　What　the　hell　had　happened？
　'Here　we　are；　Major。'
　Webb　opened　his　eyes；　his　hand　wiping　the　sweat　that　had　formed　on　his　forehead。　He　looked　at　his　watch；　gripped　his　briefcase　and　reached　for　the　handle　of　the　door。
　I'll　be　here　between　twenty…three…hundred　and　twenty…three…thirty　hours。　Sergeant。　If　you　can't　park；　just　cruise　around　and　I'll　find　you。〃
　'Yes；　sir。'　The　driver　turned　in　his　seat。　'Could　the　major　tell　me　if　we're　going　to　be　driving　any　distance　later？'
　'Why？　Have　you　got　another　fare？'
　'e　on；　sir。　I'm　assigned　to　you　until　you　say　otherwise；　you　know　that。　But　these　heavy…plated　trucks　use　gas　like　the　old…time　Shermans。　If　we're　going　far　I'd　better　fill　it。〃
　'Sorry。'　The　major　paused。　'Okay。　You'll　have　to　find　out　where　it　is；　anyway；　because　I　don't　know。　We're　going　to　a　private　airfield　in　Madison；　New　Jersey。　I　have　to　be　there　no　later　than　one…hundred　hours。'
　'I've　got　a　vague　idea；'　said　the　driver。　'At　twenty…three…thirty；　you're　cutting　it　pretty　close；　sir。'
　'Twenty…three…hundred；　then。　And　thanks。'　Webb　got　out　of　the　car；　closed　the　door；　and　waited　until　the　brown　vehicle　entered　the　flow　of　traffic　on　Seventy…second　Street　He　stepped　off　the　kerb　and　headed　south　to　Seventy…first。
　Four　minutes　later　he　stood　in　front　of　a　well…kept　brownstone　house；　its　muted；　rich　design　in　concert　with　those　around　it　in　the　tree…lined　street。　It　was　a　quiet　street；　a　monied　street　…old　money。　It　was　the　last　place　in　Manhattan　a　person　would　suspect　of　housing　one　of　the　most　sensitive　intelligence　operations　in　the　country。　And　as　of　twenty　minutes　ago；　Major　Gordon　Webb　was　one　of　only　eight　or　ten　people　in　the　country　who　knew　of　its　existence。
　Treadstone　Seventy…one。
　He　climbed　the　steps；　aware　that　the　pressure　of　his　weight　on　the　iron　grids　embedded　in　the　stone　beneath　him　triggered　electronic　devices　that　in　turn　activated　cameras；　producing　his　image　on　screens　inside。　Beyond　this；　he　knew　little；　except　that　Treadstone　Seventy…one　never　closed；　it　was　operated　and　monitored　twenty…four　hours　a　day　by　a　select　few；　identities　unknown。
　He　reached　the　top　step　and　rang　the　bell；　an　ordinary　bell；　but　not　for　an　ordinary　door；　the　major　could　see　that。　The　heavy　wood　was　riveted　to　a　steel　plate　behind　it；　the　decorative　iron　designs　in　actuality　the　rivets；　the　large　brass　knob　disguising　a　hot…plate　that　caused　a　series　of　steel　bolts　to　shoot　across　into　steel　receptacles　at　the　touch　of　a　human　hand　when　the　alarms　were　on。　Webb　glanced　up　at　the　windows。　Each　pane　of　glass；　he　knew；　was　an　inch　thick；　capable　of　withstanding　the　impact　of。30　calibre　shells。　Treadstone　Seventy…one　was　a　fortress。
　The　door　opened　and　the　major　involuntarily　smiled　at　the　figure　standing　there；　so　totally　out　of　place　did　she　seem。　She　was　a　petite；　elegant…looking；　grey…haired　woman　with　soft　aristocratic　features　and　a　bearing　that　bespoke　monied　gentility。　Her　voice　confirmed　the　appraisal；　it　was　mid…Atlantic；　refined　in　the　better　finishing　schools　and　at　innumerable　polo　matches。
　'How　good　of　you　to　drop　by；　Major。　Jeremy　wrote　us　that　you　might　Do　e　in。　It's　such　a　pleasure　to　see　you　again。'