rl.thebourneultimatum-第48部分

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ng。　Carlos　had　mounted　an　elaborate　trap　and　the　Chameleon　had　reversed　it；　Medusa's　Delta　had　turned　it　around！　Behind　one　of　those　two　draped　archways　was　the　assassin　from　Paris。
　Bourne　got　to　his　feet；　his　back　pressed　against　the　right　wall；　and　raised　his　gun。　He　fired　twice　into　the　left　archway；　the　drapes　fluttering　with　each　shot；　as　he　sprang　behind　the　last　row；　scrambling　to　the　far　side；　getting　to　his　knees　and　firing　twice　more　into　the　archway　on　the　right。
　A　figure　lunged　in　panic　through　the　drapes；　clutching　the　cloth　as　it　fell　forward；　the　dark　red　fabric　ripped　from　the　hooks；　bunched　around　the　target's　shoulders　as　he　fell　to　the　floor。　Bourne　rushed　forward；　screaming　Carlos's　name；　firing　again　and　again　until　the　automatic's　magazine　was　empty。　Suddenly；　from　above　there　was　an　explosion；　blowing　out　a　whole　section　of　stained　glass　high　on　the　left　wall。　As　the　colored　fragments　shot　through　the　air　and　down　onto　the　floor；　a　man　on　a　ledge　outside　moved　into　the　center　of　the　open　space　above　the　hissing；　blinding　flare。
　〃You're　out　of　bullets；〃　said　Carlos　to　the　stunned　Jason　Bourne　below。　〃Thirteen　years；　Delta；　thirteen　loathsome　years。　But　now　they'll　know　who　won。〃
　The　Jackal　raised　his　gun　and　fired。
　
　17
　The　searing　ice…cold　heat　ripped　through　his　neck　as　Bourne　lunged　over　the　pews；　crashing　down　between　the　second　and　third　rows；　smashing　his　head　and　his　hips　on　the　glistening　brown　wood　as　he　clawed　at　the　floor。　His　vision　spun　out　of　control　as　a　cloud　of　darkness　enveloped　him。　In　the　distance；　far；　far　away；　he　heard　the　sound　of　voices　shouting　hysterically。　Then　the　darkness　was　plete。
　〃David。〃　There　was　no　shouting　now；　the　single　voice　was　low　and　urgent　and　used　a　name　he　did　not　care　to　acknowledge。　〃David；　can　you　hear　me？〃
　Bourne　opened　his　eyes；　instantly　aware　of　two　facts。　There　was　a　wide　bandage　around　his　throat　and　he　was　lying　fully　clothed　on　a　bed。　To　his　right；　the　anxious　face　of　John　St。　Jacques　came　into　focus；　on　his　left　was　a　man　he　did　not　know；　a　middle…aged　man　with　a　level；　steady　gaze。　〃Carlos；〃　Jason　managed　to　say；　finding　his　voice。　〃It　was　the　Jackal！〃
　〃Then　he's　still　on　the　island…this　island。〃　St。　Jacques　was　emphatic。　〃It's　been　barely　an　hour　and　Henry's　got　Tranquility　ringed。　Patrols　are　hovering　offshore；　roving　back　and　forth；　all　in　visual　and　radio　contact。　He's　calling　it　a　'drug　exercise；'　very　quiet　and　very　official。　A　few　boats　e　in；　but　none　go　out　and　none　will　go　out。〃
　〃Who's　he？〃　asked　Bourne；　looking　at　the　man　on　his　left。　〃A　doctor；〃　answered　Marie's　brother。　〃He's　staying　at　the　inn　and　he's　a　friend　of　mine。　I　was　a　patient　of　his　in…〃
　〃I　think　we　should　be　circumspect　here；〃　interrupted　the　Canadian　doctor　firmly。　〃You　asked　for　my　help　and　my　confidence；　John；　and　I　give　both　gladly；　but　considering　the　nature　of　the　events　and　the　fact　that　your　brother…in…law　won't　be　under　my　professional　care；　let's　dispense　with　my　name。〃
　〃I　couldn't　agree　with　you　more；　Doctor；〃　added　Jason；　wincing；　then　suddenly　snapping　his　head　up；　his　eyes　wide　in　an　admixture　of　pleading　and　panic。　〃Ishmael！　He's　dead…I　killed　him！〃
　〃He　isn't　and　you　didn't；〃　said　St。　Jacques　calmly。　〃He's　a　goddamned　mess　but　he's　not　dead。　He's　one　tough　kid；　like　his　father；　and　he'll　make　it。　We're　flying　him　to　the　hospital　in　Martinique。〃
　〃Christ；　he　was　a　corpse！〃
　〃He　was　savagely　beaten；〃　explained　the　doctor。　〃Both　arms　were　broken；　along　with　multiple　lacerations；　contusions；　I　suspect　internal　injuries　and　a　severe　concussion。　However；　as　John　accurately　described　the　young　man；　he's　one　tough　kid。〃
　〃I　want　the　best　for　him。〃
　〃Those　were　my　orders。〃
　〃Good。〃　Bourne　moved　his　eyes　to　the　doctor。　〃How　damaged　am　I？〃
　〃Without　X　rays　or　seeing　how　you　move…symptomatically；　as　it　were…I　can　only　give　you　a　cursory　judgment。〃
　〃Do　that。〃
　〃Outside　of　the　wound；　I'd　say　primarily　traumatic　shock。〃
　〃Forget　it。　That's　not　allowed。〃
　〃Who　says？〃　said　the　doctor；　smiling　kindly。
　〃I　do　and　I'm　not　trying　to　be　funny。　The　body；　not　the　head。　I'll　be　the　judge　of　the　head。〃
　〃Is　he　a　native？〃　asked　the　doctor；　looking　at　the　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn。　〃A　white　but　older　Ishmael？　I'll　tell　you　he's　not　a　physician。〃
　〃Answer　him；　please。〃
　〃All　right。　The　bullet　passed　through　the　left　side　of　your　neck；　missing　by　millimeters　several　vital　spots　that　would　certainly　have　rendered　you　voiceless　and　probably　dead。　I've　bathed　the　wound　and　sutured　it。　You'll　have　difficulty　moving　your　head　for　a　while；　but　that's　only　a　superficial　opinion　of　the　damage。〃
　〃In　short　words；　I've　got　a　very　stiff　neck；　but　if　I　can　walk　。。。　well；　I　can　walk。〃
　〃In　shorter　words；　that's　about　it。〃
　〃It　was　the　flare　that　did　it；　after　all；〃　said　Jason　softly；　carefully　moving　his　neck　back　over　the　pillow。　〃It　blinded　him　just　enough。〃
　〃What？〃　St。　Jacques　leaned　over　the　bed。
　〃Never　mind。　。。。　Let's　see　how　well　I　walk…symptomatically；　that　is。〃　Bourne　slid　off　the　bed；　swinging　his　legs　cautiously　to　the　floor；　shaking　his　head　at　his　brother…in…law；　who　started　to　help　him。　〃No　thanks；　Bro。　This　has　got　to　be　me　on　me。〃　He　stood　up；　the　inhibiting　bandage　around　his　throat　progressively　being　more　unfortable。　He　stepped　forward；　pained　by　the　bruises　on　his　thighs；　but　they　were　bruises…they　were　minor。　A　hot　bath　would　reduce　the　pain；　and　medication；　extra…strength　aspirin　and　liniment；　would　permit　more　normal　mobility。　It　was　the　goddamned　dressing　around　his　neck；　it　not　only　choked　him　but　forced　him　to　move　his　shoulders　in　order　to　look　in　any　direction。　。。。　Still；　he　considered；　he　was　far　less　incapacitated　than　he　might　have　been…for　a　man　of　his　age。　Damn。　〃Can　we　loosen　this　necklace；　Doctor？　It's　strangling　me。〃
　〃A　bit；　not　much。　You　don't　want　to　risk　rupturing　those　sutures。〃
　〃What　about　an　Ace　bandage？　It　gives。〃
　〃Too　much　for　a　neck　wound。　You'd　forget　about　it。〃
　〃I　promise　not　to。〃
　〃You're　very　amusing。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　remotely　amusing。〃
　〃It's　your　neck。〃
　〃It　certainly　is。　Can　you　get　one；　Johnny？〃
　〃Doctor？〃　St。　Jacques　looked　at　the　physician。
　〃I　don't　think　we　can　stop　him。〃
　〃I'll　send　someone　to　the　pro　shop。〃
　〃Excuse　me；　Doctor；〃　said　Bourne　as　Marie's　brother　went　to　the　telephone。　〃I　want　to　ask　Johnny　a　few　questions　and　I'm　not　sure　you　want　to　hear　them。〃
　〃I've　heard　more　than　I　care　to　already。　I'll　wait　in　the　other　room。〃　The　doctor　crossed　to　the　door　and　let　himself　out。
　While　St。　Jacques　talked　on　the　phone；　Jason　moved　about　the　room　raising　and　lowering　his　arms　and　shaking　his　hands　to　check　the　functioning　of　his　motor　controls。　He　crouched；　then　rose　to　his　feet　four　times　in　succession；　each　movement　faster　than　the　previous　one。　He　had　to　be　ready…he　had　to　be！
　〃It'll　only　be　a　few　minutes；〃　said　the　brother…in…law；　hanging　up　the　phone。　〃Pritchard　will　have　to　go　down　and　open　the　shop。　He'll　bring　different　sizes　of　tape。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Bourne　stopped　moving　and　stood　in　place。　〃Who　was　the　man　I　shot；　Johnny？　He　fell　through　the　curtains　in　that　archway；　but　I　couldn't　see　his　face。〃
　〃No　one　I　know；　and　I　thought　I　knew　every　white　man　in　these　islands　who　could　afford　an　expensive　suit。　He　must　have　been　a　tourist…a　tourist　on　assignment　。。。　for　the　Jackal。　Naturally；　there　wasn't　any　identification。　Henry's　shipped　him　off　to　'Serrat。〃
　〃How　many　here　know　what's　going　on？〃
　〃Outside　of　the　staff；　there　are　only　fourteen　guests；　and　no　one's　got　a　clue。　I've　sealed　off　the　chapel…the　word　is　storm　damage。　And　even　those　who　have　to　know　something…like　the　doctor　and　the　two　guys　from　Toronto…they　don't　know　the　whole　story；　just　pieces；　and　they're　friends。　I　trust　them。　The　others　are　heavy　into　island　rum。〃
　〃What　about　the　gunshots　at　the　chapel？〃
　〃What　about　the　loudest　and　lousiest　steel　band　in　the　islands？　Also；　you　were　a　thousand　feet　away　in　the　woods。　。。。　Look；　David；　most　everyone's　left　but　some　diehards　who　wouldn't　stay　here　if　they　weren't　old　Canadian　buddies　showing　me　loyalty；　and　a　few　casuals　who'd　probably　take　a　vacation　in　Teheran。　What　can　I　tell　you　except　that　the　bar　is　doing　a　hell　of　a　business。〃
　〃It's　like　a　mystifying　charade；〃　murmured　Bourne；　again　carefully　arching　his　neck　and　staring　at　the　ceiling。　〃Figures　in　silhouette　playing　out　disconnected；　violent　events　behind　white　screens；　nothing　really　making　sense；　everything's　whatever　you　want　it　to　be。〃
　〃That's　a　little　much　for　me；　Professor。　What's　your　point？〃
　〃Terrorists　aren't　born；　Johnny；　they're　made；　schooled　in　a　curriculum　you　won't　find　in　any　academic　catalog。　Leaving　aside　the　reasons　why　they　are　what　they　are…which　can　range　from　a　justifiable　cause　to　the　psychopathic　megalomania　of　a　Jackal…you　keep　the　charades　going　because　they're　playing　out　their　own。〃
　〃So？〃　St。　Jacques　frowned　in　bewilderment。
　〃So　you　control　your　players；　telling　them　what　to　act　out　but　not　why。〃
　〃That's　what　we're　doing　here　and　that's　what　Henry's　doing　out　on　the　water　all　around　Tranquility。〃
　〃Is　he？　Are　we？〃
　〃Hell；　yes。〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　too；　but　I　was　wrong。　I　overestimated　a　big　clever　kid　doing　a　simple；　harmless　job　and　underestimated　a　humble；　frightened　priest　who　took　thirty　pieces　of　silver。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Ishmael　and　Brother　Samuel。　Samuel　must　have　witnessed　the　torture　of　a　child　through　the　eyes　of　Torquemada。〃
　〃Turkey　who？〃
　〃The　point　is　we　don't　really　know　the　players。　The　guards；　for　instance；　the　ones　you　brought　to　the　chapel。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　fool；　David；〃　protested　St。　Jacques；　interrupting。　〃When　you　called　for　us　to　surround　the　place；　I　took　a　small　liberty　and　chose　two　men；　the　only　two　I　would　choose；　figuring　a　pair　of　Uzis　made　up　for　the　absence　of　one　man　and　the　four　points　of　the　pass。　They're　my　head　boys　and　former　Royal　mandos；　they're　in　charge　of　all　the　security　here　and；　like　Henry；　I　trust　them。〃
　〃Henry？　He's　a　good　man；　isn't　he？〃
　〃He's　a　pain　in　the　ass　sometimes；　but　he's　the　best　in　the　islands。〃
　〃And　the　Crown　governor？〃
　〃He's　just　an　ass。〃
　〃Does　Henry　know　that？〃
　〃Sure；　he　does。　He　didn't　get　to　be　a　brigadier　on