tc.patriotgames-第14部分

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ey　hurt　but　they　heal。〃
　　　　Doctors　are　so　wonderfully　objective；　Ryan　told　himself；　even　the　ones　you　marry。　Next　thing；　she'll　say　the　pain　is　good　for　me。
　　　　〃Nice　thing　about　pain；〃　Cathy　went　on。　〃It　tells　you　the　nerves　are　working。〃
　　　　Jack　closed　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head。　He　opened　them　when　he　felt　Cathy　take　his　hand。　
　　　　〃Jack；　I'm　so　proud　of　you。〃　
　　　　〃Nice　to　be　married　to　a　hero？〃　
　　　　〃You've　always　been　a　hero　to　me。〃
　　　　〃Really？〃　She'd　never　said　that　before。　What　was　heroic　about　being　an　historian？　Cathy　didn't　know　the　other　stuff　he　did；　but　that　wasn't　especially　heroic　either。
　　　　〃Ever　since　you　told　Daddy　to　　well；　you　know。　Besides；　I　love　you；　remember？〃　
　　　　〃I　seem　to　recall　a　reminder　of　that　the　other　day。〃　
　　　　Cathy　made　a　face。　〃Better　get　your　mind　off　that　for　a　while。〃　
　　　　〃I　know。〃　Ryan　made　a　face　of　his　own。　〃The　patient　must　conserve　his　energy　　or　something。　What　ever　happened　to　that　theory　about　how　a　happy　attitude　speeds　recovery？〃　
　　　　〃That's　what　I　get　for　letting　you　read　my　journals。　Patience；　Jack。〃
　　　　Nurse　Kittiwake　came　in；　saw　the　family；　and　made　a　quick　exit。
　　　　〃I'll　try　to　be　patient；〃　Jack　said；　and　looked　longingly　at　the　closing　door。

　　　　〃You　turkey；〃　Cathy　observed。　〃I　know　you　better　than　that。〃　
　　　　She　did；　Jack　knew。　He　couldn't　even　make　that　threat　work。　Oh；　well　　that's　what　you　get　for　loving　your　wife。
　　　　Cathy　stroked　his　face。　〃What　did　you　shave　with　this　morning；　a　rusty　nail？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah　　I　need　my　razor。　Maybe　my　notes；　too？〃　
　　　　〃I'll　bring　them　over　or　have　somebody　do　it。〃　She　looked　up　when　Wilson　came　back　in。
　　　　〃Tony；　this　is　Cathy；　my　wife；　and　Sally；　my　daughter。　Cathy；　this　is　Tony　Wilson。　He's　the　cop　who's　baby…sitting　me。〃　
　　　　〃Didn't　I　see　you　last　night？〃　Cathy　never　forgot　a　face　　so　far　as　Jack　could　tell；　she　never　forgot　much　of　anything。
　　　　〃Possibly；　but　we　didn't　speak　　rather　a　busy　time　for　all　of　us。　You　are　well；　Lady　Ryan？〃　
　　　　〃Excuse　me？〃　Cathy　asked。　〃Lady　Ryan？〃　
　　　　〃They　didn't　tell　you？〃　Jack　chuckled。　
　　　　〃Tell　me　what？〃　
　　　　Jack　explained。　〃How　do　you　like　being　married　to　a　knight？〃　
　　　　〃Does　that　mean　you　have　to　have　a　horse。　Daddy？〃　Sally　asked　hopefully。　〃Can　I　ride　it？〃　
　　　　〃Is　it　legal；　Jack？〃
　　　　〃They　told　me　that　the　Prime　Minister　and　the　President　would　discuss　it　today。〃
　　　　〃My　God；〃　Lady　Ryan　said　quietly。　After　a　moment；　she　started　smiling。
　　　　〃Stick　with　me；　kid。〃　Jack　laughed。　
　　　　〃What　about　the　horse；　Daddy！〃　Sally　insisted。
　　　　〃I　don't　know　yet。　We'll　see。〃　He　yawned。　The　only　practical　use　Ryan　acknowledged　for　horses　was　running　at　tracks　　or　maybe　tax　shelters。　Welt；　I　already　have　a　sword；　he　told　himself。
　　　　〃I　think　Daddy　needs　a　nap；〃　Cathy　observed。　〃And　I　have　to　buy　something　for　dinner　tonight。〃　
　　　　〃Oh；　God！〃　Ryan　groaned。　〃A　whole　new　wardrobe。〃　
　　　　Cathy　grinned。　〃Whose　fault　is　that。　Sir　John？〃

　They　met　at　Flanagan's　Steakhouse　on　O'Connell　Street　in　Dublin。　It　was　a　well…regarded　establishment　whose　tourist　trade　occasionally　suffered　from　being　too　close　to　a　McDonald's。　Ashley　was　nursing　a　whiskey　when　the　second　man　joined　him。　A　third　and　fourth　took　a　booth　across　the　room　and　watched。　Ashley　had　e　alone。　This　wasn't　the　first　such　meeting；　and　Dublin　was　recognized　　most　of　the　time　　as　neutral　ground。　The　two　men　on　the　other　side　of　the　room　were　to　keep　a　watch　for　members　of　the　Garda；　the　Republic's　police　force。
　　　　〃Wele　to　Dublin；　Mr。　Ashley；〃　said　the　representative　of　the　Provisional　Wing　of　the　Irish　Republican　Army。
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Murphy；〃　the　counterintelligence　officer　answered。　〃The　photograph　we　have　in　the　file　doesn't　do　you　justice。〃
　　　　〃Young　and　foolish；　I　was。　And　very　vain。　I　didn't　shave　very　much　then；〃　Murphy　explained。　He　picked　up　the　menu　that　had　been　waiting　for　him。　〃The　beef　here　is　excellent；　and　the　vegetables　are　always　fresh。　This　place　is　full　of　bloody　tourists　in　the　summer　　those　who　don't　want　French　fries　　driving　prices　up　as　they　always　do。　Thank　God　they're　all　back　home　in　America　now；　leaving　so　much　money　behind　in　this　poor　country。〃　
　　　　〃What　information　do　you　have　for　us？〃　
　　　　〃Information？〃
　　　　〃You　asked　for　the　meeting；　Mr。　Murphy；〃　Ashley　pointed　out。
　　　　〃The　purpose　of　the　meeting　is　to　assure　you　that　we　had　no　part　in　that　bloody　fiasco　yesterday。〃　
　　　　〃I　could　have　read　that　in　the　papers　　I　did；　in　fact。〃　
　　　　〃It　was　felt　that　a　more　personal　munique　was　in　order；　Mr。　Ashley。〃
　　　　〃Why　should　we　believe　you？〃　Ashley　asked；　sipping　at　his　whiskey。　Both　men　kept　their　voices　low　and　level；　though　neither　man　had　the　slightest　doubt　as　to　what　they　thought　of　each　other。
　　　　〃Because　we　are　not　as　crazy　as　that；〃　Murphy　replied。　The　waiter　came；　and　both　men　ordered。　Ashley　chose　the　wine；　a　promising　Bordeaux。　The　meal　was　on　his　expense　account。　He　was　only　forty　minutes　off　the　flight　from　London's　Gatwick　airport。　The　request　for　a　meeting　had　been　made　before　dawn　in　a　telephone　call　to　the　British　Ambassador　in　Dublin。
　　　　〃Is　that　a　fact？〃　Ashley　said　after　the　waiter　left；　staring　into　the　cold　blue　eyes　across　the　table。
　　　　〃The　Royal　Family　are　strictly　off　limits。　As　marvelous　a　political　target　as　they　all　are〃　　Murphy　smiled　　〃we've　known　for　some　time　that　an　attack　on　them　would　be　counterproductive。〃　
　　　　〃Really？〃　Ashley　pronounced　the　word　as　only　an　Englishman　can　do　it。　Murphy　flushed　angrily　at　this　most　elegant　of　insults。
　　　　〃Mr。　Ashley；　we　are　enemies。　I　would　as　soon　kill　you　as　have　dinner　with　you。　But　even　enemies　can　negotiate；　can't　they；　now？〃　
　　　　〃Go　on。〃　
　　　　〃We　had　no　part　of　it。　You　have　my　word。〃
　　　　〃Your　word　as　a　Marxist…Leninist？〃　Ashley　inquired　with　a　smile。
　　　　〃You　are　very　good　at　provoking　people；　Mr。　Ashley。〃　Murphy　ventured　his　own　smile。　〃But　not　today。　I　am　here　on　a　mission　of　peace　and　understanding。〃
　　　　Ashley　nearly　laughed　out　loud；　but　caught　himself　and　grinned　into　his　drink。
　　　　〃Mr。　Murphy；　I　would　not　shed　a　single　tear　if　our　lads　were　to　catch　up　with　you；　but　you　are　a　worthy　adversary；　I'll　say　that。　And　a　charming　bastard。〃
　　　　Ah；　the　English　sense　of　fair　play。　Murphy　reflected。　That's　why　we'll　win　eventually；　Mr。　Ashley。

　　　　No；　you　won't。　Ashley　had　seen　that　look　before。　
　　　　〃How　can　I　make　you　believe　me？〃　Murphy　asked　reasonably。　
　　　　〃Names　and　addresses；〃　Ashley　answered　quietly。　
　　　　〃No。　We　cannot　do　that　and　you　know　it。〃
　　　　〃If　you　wish　to　establish　some　sort　of　quid　pro　quo；　that's　how　you　must　go　about　it。〃
　　　　Murphy　sighed。　〃Surely　you　know　how　we　are　organized。　Do　you　think　we　can　punch　up　a　bloody　puter　mand　and　print　out　our　roster？　We're　not　even　sure　ourselves　who　they　are。　Some　men；　they　just　drop　out。　Many　e　south　and　simply　vanish；　more　afraid　of　us　than　of　you；　they　are　　and　with　reason；〃　Murphy　added。　〃The　one　you　have　alive；　Sean　Miller　　we've　never　even　heard　the　name。〃　
　　　　〃And　Kevin　O'Donnell？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　he's　probably　the　leader。　He　dropped　off　the　earth　four　years　ago；　as　you　well　know；　after　　ah；　you　know　the　story　as　well　as　I。〃
　　　　Kevin　Joseph　O'Donnell；　Ashley　reminded　himself。　Thirty…four　now。　Six　feet；　one　hundred　sixty　pounds；　unmarried　　this　data　was　old　and　therefore　suspect。　The　all…time　Provo　champion　at　〃own…goals。〃　Kevin　had　been　the　most　ruthless　chief　of　security　the　Proves　had　ever　had；　thrown　out　after　it　had　been　proven　that　he'd　used　his　power　as　counterintelligence　boss　to　purge　the　Organization　of　political　elements　he　disapproved　of。　What　was　the　figure　　ten；　fifteen　solid　members　that　he'd　had　killed　or　maimed　before　the　Brigade　mander'd　found　him　out？　The　amazing　thing；　Ashley　thought；　was　that　he'd　escaped　alive　at　all。　But　Murphy　was　wrong　on　one　thing；　Ashley　didn't　know　what　had　finally　tipped　the　Brigade　that　O'Donnell　was　outlaw。　
　　　　〃I　fail　to　see　why　you　feel　the　urge　to　protect　him　and　his　group。〃　He　knew　the　reason；　but　why　not　prod　the　man　when　he　had　the　chance？
　　　　〃And　if　we　turn　'grass；'　what　bees　of　the　Organization？〃　Murphy　asked。
　　　　〃Not　my　problem；　Mr。　Murphy；　but　I　do　see　your　point。　Still　and　all；　if　you　want　us　to　believe　you　〃
　　　　〃Mr。　Ashley；　you　demonstrate　the　basis　of　the　entire　problem　we　have；　don't　you？　Had　your　country　ever　dealt　with　Ireland　in　mutual　good　faith；　surely　we　would　not　be　here　now；　would　we？〃　
　　　　The　intelligence　officer　reflected　on　that。　It　took　no　more　than　a　couple　of　seconds；　so　many　times　had　he　examined　the　historical　basis　of　the　Troubles。　Some　deliberate　policy　acts；　mixed　with　historical　accidents　　who　could　have　known　that　the　onset　of　the　crisis　that　erupted　into　World　War　I　would　prevent　a　solution　to　the　issue　of　〃Home　＇or　〃Rome〃＇　Rule；〃　that　the　Conservative　Party　of　the　time　would　use　this　issue　as　a　hammer　that　would　eventually　crush　the　Liberal　Party　　and　who　was　there　to　blame　now？　They　were　all　dead　and　forgotten；　except　by　hard…core　academics　who　knew　that　their　studies　mattered　for　nothing。　It　was　far　too　late　for　that。　Is　there　a　way　out　of　this　bloody　quagmire？　he　wondered。　Ashley　shook　his　head。　That　was　not　his　brief。　That　was　something　for　politicians。　The　same　sort；　he　reminded　himself；　who'd　built　the　Troubles；　one　small　brick　at　a　time。
　　　　〃I'll　tell　you　this　much；　Mr。　Ashley　〃　The　waiter　showed　up　with　dinner。　It　was　amazing　how　quick　the　service　was　here。　The　waiter　uncorked　the　wine　with　a　flourish；　allowing　Ashley　to　smell　the　cork　and　sample　a　splash　in　his　glass。　The　Englishman　was　surprised　at　the　quality　of　the　restaurant's　cellar。
　　　　〃This　much　you　will　tell　me　。　。　。　〃　Ashley　said　after　the　waiter　left。
　　　　〃They　get　very　good　information。　So　good；　you　would　not　believe　it。　And　their　information　es　from　your　side　of　the　Irish　Sea；　Mr。　Ashley。　We　don't　know　who；　and　we　don't　know　how。　The　lad　who　found　out　died；　four　years　ago；　you　see。〃　Murphy　sampled　the　broccoli。　〃There；　I　told　you　the　vegetables　were　fresh。〃　
　　　　〃Four　years？〃
　　　　Murphy　looked　up。　〃You　don't　know　the　story；　then？　That　is　a　surprise；　Mr。　Ashley。　Yes。　His　name　was　Mickey　Baird。　He　worked　closely　with　Kevin。　He's　the　lad　who　　well；　you　can　guess。　He　was　talking　with　me　over　a　jar　in　Derry　and　said　that　Kevin　had　a　blood