tc.patriotgames-第15部分

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who　　well；　you　can　guess。　He　was　talking　with　me　over　a　jar　in　Derry　and　said　that　Kevin　had　a　bloody　good　new　intelligence　source。　Next　day　he　was　dead。　The　day　after；　Kevin　managed　to　escape　us　by　an　hour。　We　haven't　seen　him　since。　If　we　find　Kevin　again；　Mr。　Ashley；　we'll　do　your　work　for　you；　and　leave　the　body　for　your　SAS　assassins　to　collect。　Would　that　be　fair　enough；　now？　We　cannot　exactly　tout　to　the　enemy；　but　he's　on　our　list；　too；　and　if　you　manage　to　find　the　lad；　and　you　don't　wish　to　bring　him　in　yourselves；　we'll　handle　the　job　for　you　　assuming；　of　course；　that　you　don't　interfere　with　the　lads　who　do　the　work。　Can　we　agree　on　that？〃

　　　　〃I'll　pass　that　along；〃　Ashley　said。　〃If　I　could　approve　it　myself；　I　would。　Mr。　Murphy；　I　think　we　can　believe　you　on　this。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Ashley。　That　wasn't　so　painful；　was　it？〃　Dinner　was　excellent。

Chapter　4　Players

　　　　Ryan　tried　to　blink　away　the　blue　dots　that　swirled　around　his　eyes　as　the　television　crews　set　up　their　own　lights。　Why　the　newspaper　photographers　couldn't　wait　for　the　powerful　TV　lights；　he　didn't　know；　and　didn't　bother　asking。　Everyone　was　kind　enough　to　ask　how　he　felt　　but　nothing　short　of　respiratory　arrest　would　have　gotten　them　out　of　the　room。
　　　　It　could　have　been　worse；　of　course。　Dr。　Scott　had　told　the　newspeople　rather　forcefully　that　his　patient　needed　rest　to　recover　speedily；　and　Nurse　Kittiwake　was　there　to　glower　at　the　intruders。　So　press　access　to　Ryan　was　being　limited　to　no　more　than　the　number　of　people　who　would　fit　into　his　room。　This　included　the　TV　crew。　It　was　the　best　sort　of　bargain　Jack　could　get。　The　cameramen　and　sound　technicians　took　up　space　that　would　otherwise　be　occupied　by　more　inquisitorial　reporters。
　　　　The　morning　papers　　Ryan　had　been　through　the　Times　and　the　Daily　Telegraph　　had　carried　reports　that　Ryan　was　a　former　（or　current）　employee　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency；　something　that　was　technically　not　true；　and　that　Jack　had　not　expected　to　bee　public　in　any　case。　He　found　himself　remembering　what　the　people　at　Langley　said　about　leaks；　and　how　pleased　they'd　been　with　his　offhand　invention　of　the　Canary　Trap。　A　pity　they　couldn't　use　it　in　my　case；　Ryan　told　himself　wryly。　I　really　need　this　plication　to　my　life；　don't　I？　For　crying　out　loud；　I　turned　their　offer　down。　Sort　of。
　　　　〃All　ready　here；〃　the　lighting　technician　said。　A　moment　later　he　proved　this　was　true　by　turning　on　the　three　klieg　lights　that　brought　tears　to　Jack's　squinted　eyes。
　　　　〃They　are　awfully　bright；　aren't　they？〃　a　reporter　sympathized；　while　the　still　photographers　continued　to　snap…and…whir　away　with　their　strobe…equipped　Nikons。
　　　　〃You　might　say　that；〃　Jack　replied。　A　two…headed　mike　was　clipped　to　his　robe。
　　　　〃Say　something；　will　you？〃　the　sound　man　asked。
　　　　〃And　how　are　you　enjoying　your　first　trip　to　London；　Doctor　Ryan？〃
　　　　〃Well；　I　better　not　hear　any　plaints　about　how　American　tourists　are　staying　away　due　to　panic　over　the　terrorism　problem！〃　Ryan　grinned。　You　jerk。
　　　　〃Indeed；〃　the　reporter　laughed。　〃Okay？〃　
　　　　The　cameraman　and　sound　man　pronounced　themselves　ready。　　　　　Ryan　sipped　at　his　tea　and　made　certain　that　the　ashtray　was　out　of　sight。　One　print　journalist　shared　a　joke　with　a　colleague。　A　TV　correspondent　from　NBC　was　there；　along　with　the　London　correspondent　of　the　Washington　Post；　but　all　the　others　were　British。　Everything　would　be　pooled　with　the　rest　of　the　media；　it　had　been　agreed。　There　just　wasn't　room　here　for　a　proper　press　conference。　The　camera　started　rolling　tape。
　　　　They　ran　through　the　usual　questions。　The　camera　turned　to　linger　on　his　arm；　hanging　from　its　overhead　rack。　They'd　run　that　shot　with　the　voice…over　of　Jack's　story　on　when　he　was　shot；　he　was　sure。　Nothing　like　a　little　drama；　as　he'd　already　been　told。　He　wiggled　his　fingers　for　the　camera。
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；　there　are　reports　in　the　American　and　British　press　that　you　are　an　employee　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency。〃
　　　　〃I　read　that　this　morning。　It　was　as　much　a　surprise　to　me　as　it　was　to　anyone　else。〃　Ryan　smiled。　〃Somebody　made　a　mistake。　I'm　not　good…looking　enough　to　be　a　spy。〃　
　　　　〃So　you　deny　that　report？〃　asked　the　Daily　Mirror。
　　　　〃Correct。　It's　just　not　true。　I　teach　history　at　the　Naval　Academy；　in　Annapolis。　That　ought　to　be　easy　enough　to　check　out。　I　just　gave　an　exam　last　week。　You　can　ask　my　students。〃　Jack　waved　his　left　hand　at　the　camera　again。
　　　　〃The　report　es　from　some　highly　placed　sources；〃　observed　the　Post。
　　　　〃If　you　read　a　little　history；　you'll　see　that　highly　placed　folks　have　been　known　to　make　mistakes。　I　think　that's　what　happened　here。　I　teach。　I　write　books。　I　lecture　　okay；　I　did　give　a　lecture　at　CIA　once；　but　that　was　just　a　repeat　of　one　I　delivered　at　the　Naval　War　College　and　one　other　symposium。　It　wasn't　even　classified。　Maybe　that's　where　the　report　es　from。　Like　I　said；　check　it　out。　My　office　is　in　Leahy　Hall；　at　the　Naval　Academy。　I　think　somebody　just　goofed。〃　Somebody　goofed；　all　right。　〃I　can　get　you　guys　a　copy　of　the　lecture。　It's　no　big　deal。〃　
　　　　〃How　do　you　like　being　a　public　figure；　now？〃　one　of　the　Brit　TV　people　asked。
　　　　Thanks　for　changing　the　subject。　〃I　think　I　can　live　without　it。　I'm　not　a　movie　star；　either　　again；　not　good…looking　enough。〃　
　　　　〃You're　far　too　modest。　Doctor　Ryan；〃　a　female　reporter　observed。
　　　　〃Please　be　careful　how　you　say　that。　My　wife　will　probably　see　this。〃　There　was　general　laughter。　〃I　suppose　I'm　good…looking　enough　for　her。　That's　enough。　With　all　due　respect；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　I'll　be　perfectly　glad　to　descend　back　into　obscurity。〃　
　　　　〃Do　you　think　that　likely？〃
　　　　〃That　depends　on　how　lucky　I　am；　ma'am。　And　on　whether　you　folks　will　let　me。〃
　　　　〃What　do　you　think　we　should　do　with　the　terrorist；　Sean　Miller？〃　the　Times　asked。
　　　　〃That's　for　a　judge　and　jury　to　decide。　You　don't　need　me　for　that。〃　
　　　　〃Do　you　think　we　should　have　capital　punishment？〃　
　　　　〃We　have　it　where　I　live。　For　your　country；　that　is　a　question　for　your　elected　representatives。　We　both　live　in　democracies；　don't　we？　The　people　you　elect　are　supposed　to　do　what　the　voters　ask　them　to　do。〃　Not　that　it　always　works　that　way；　but　that's　the　theory　。　。　。　
　　　　〃So　you　support　the　idea？〃　the　Times　persisted。
　　　　〃In　appropriate　cases；　subject　to　strict　judicial　review；　yes。　Now　you're　going　to　ask　me　about　this　case；　right？　It's　a　moot　point。　Anyway；　I'm　no　expert　on　criminal　justice。　My　dad　was　a　cop　but　I'm　just　a　historian。〃
　　　　〃And　what　of　your　perspective；　as　an　Irish…American；　on　the　Troubles？〃　the　Telegraph　wanted　to　know。
　　　　〃We　have　enough　problems　of　our　own　in　America　without　having　to　borrow　yours。〃　
　　　　〃So　you　say　we　should　solve　it；　then？〃　
　　　　〃What　do　you　think？　Isn't　that　what　problems　are　for？〃　
　　　　〃Surely　you　have　a　suggestion。　Most　Americans　do。〃　
　　　　〃I　think　I　teach　history。　I'll　let　other　people　make　it。　It's　like　being　a　reporter。〃　Ryan　smiled。　〃I　get　to　criticize　people　long　after　they　make　their　decisions。　That　doesn't　mean　I　know　what　to　do　today。〃
　　　　〃But　you　knew　what　to　do　on　Tuesday；〃　the　Times　pointed　out。　Ryan　shrugged。

　　　　〃Yeah；　I　guess　I　did；〃　Ryan　said　on　the　television　screen。
　　　　〃You　clever　bastard；〃　Kevin　Joseph　O'Donnell　muttered　into　a　glass　of　dark　Guinness　beer。　His　base　of　operations　was　much　farther　from　the　border　than　any　might　have　suspected。　Ireland　is　a　small　country；　and　distances　are　but　relative　things　　particularly　to　those　with　all　the　resources　they　need。　His　former　colleagues　in　the　PIRA　had　extensive　safehouses　along　the　border；　convenient　to　a　quick　trip　across　from　either　direction。　Not　for　O'Donnell。　There　were　numerous　practical　reasons。　The　Brits　had　their　informers　and　intelligence　people　there；　always　creeping　about　　and　the　SAS　raiders；　who　were　not　averse　to　a　quick　snatch　　or　a　quiet　kill　　of　persons　who　had　made　the　mistake　of　being　too　well　known。　The　border　could　be　a　convenience　to　either　side。　A　more　serious　threat　was　the　PIRA　itself；　which　also　watched　the　border　closely。　His　face；　altered　as　it　was　with　some　minor　surgery　and　a　change　in　hair　color；　might　still　be　recognizable　to　a　former　colleague。　But　not　here。　And　the　border　wasn't　all　that　far　a　drive　in　a　country　barely　three　hundred　miles　long。
　　　　He　turned　away　from　the　Sony　television　and　gazed　out　the　leaded…glass　windows　to　the　darkness　of　the　sea。　He　saw　the　running　lights　of　a　car　ferry　inbound　from　Le　Havre。　The　view　was　always　a　fine　one。　Even　in　the　limited　visibility　of　an　ocean　storm；　one　could　savor　the　fundamental　force　of　nature　as　the　gray　waves　battered　the　rocky　cliff。　Now；　the　clear；　cold　air　gave　him　a　view　to　the　star…defined　horizon；　and　he　spied　another　merchant　ship　heading　eastward　for　an　unknown　port。　It　pleased　O'Donnell　that　this　stately　house　on　the　headlands　had　once　belonged　to　a　British　lord。　It　pleased　him　more　that　he'd　been　able　to　purchase　it　through　a　dummy　corporation；　that　there　were　few　questions　when　cash　and　a　reputable　solicitor　were　involved。　So　vulnerable　this　society　　all　societies　were　when　you　had　the　proper　resources　。　。　。　and　a　petent　tailor。　So　shallow　they　were。　So　lacking　in　political　awareness。　One　must　know　who　one's　enemies　are；　O'Donnell　told　himself　at　least　ten　times　every　day。　Not　a　liberal　〃democratic〃　society；　though。　Enemies　were　people　to　be　dealt　with；　promised　with；　to　be　civilized；　brought　into　the　fold；　co…opted。
　　　　Fools；　self…destructive；　ignorant　fools　who　earned　their　own　destruction。
　　　　Someday　they　would　all　disappear；　just　as　one　of　those　ships　slid　beneath　the　horizon。　History　was　a　science；　an　inevitable　process。　O'Donnell　was　sure　of　that。
　　　　He　turned　again　to　stare　into　the　fire　burning　under　the　wide；　stone　mantel。　There　had　once　been　stag　heads　hanging　over　it；　perhaps　the　lord's　favorite　fowling　piece　　from　Purdey's；　to　be　sure。　And　a　painting　or　two。　Of　horses；　O'Donnell　was　sure　　they　had　to　be　paintings　of　horses。　The　country　gentleman　who　had　built　this　house；　he　mused；　would　have　been　someone　who'd　been　given　everything　he　had。　No　ideology　would　have　intruded　in　his　empty；　useless　head。　He　would　have　sat　in　a　chair　very　like　this　one　and　sipped　his　malt　wh