tc.patriotgames-第22部分

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Sir　John。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you。　Your　Majesty；　and　thank　you　for　a　lot　of　things。　We'll　never　be　able　to　repay　you　for　all　your　kindness。〃　
　　　　The　Christmas…tree　smile　again。　〃It　is　we　who　are　repaying　you。　From　what　Caroline　tells　me；　you　will　now　have　at　least　one　positive　reminder　of　your　visit　to　our　country。〃
　　　　〃Indeed；　ma'am；　but　more　than　one。〃　Jack　was　learning　how　the　game　was　played。
　　　　〃Caroline；　is　he　always　so　gallant？〃
　　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　ma'am；　no。　We　must　have　caught　him　at　a　weak　moment；〃　Cathy　said。　〃Or　maybe　being　over　here　is　a　civilizing　influence。〃
　　　　〃That　is　good　to　know；　after　all　the　horrid　things　he　said　about　your　little　Olivia。　Do　you　know　that　she　refused　to　go　to　bed　without　kissing　me　goodnight？　Such　a　lovely；　charming　little　angel。　And　he　called　her　a　menace！〃
　　　　Jack　sighed。　It　wasn't　hard　for　him　to　get　the　picture。　After　three　weeks　in　this　environment；　Sally　was　probably　doing　the　cutest　curtsies　in　the　history　of　Western　Civilization。　By　this　time　the　Palace　staff　was　probably　fighting　for　the　right　to　look　after　her。　Sally　was　a　true　daddy's　girl。　The　ability　to　manipulate　the　people　around　her　came　easily。　She'd　practiced　on　her　father　for　years。
　　　　〃Perhaps　I　exaggerated；　ma'am。〃
　　　　〃Libelously。〃　The　Queen's　eyes　flared　with　amusement。　〃She　has　not　broken　a　single　thing。　Not　one。　And　I'll　have　you　know　that　she's　turning　into　the　best　equestrienne　we　have　seen　in　years。〃　
　　　　〃Excuse　me？〃　
　　　　〃Riding　lessons；〃　Cathy　explained。　
　　　　〃You　mean　on　a　horse？〃
　　　　〃What　else　would　she　ride？〃　the　Queen　asked。
　　　　〃Sally；　on　a　horse？〃　Ryan　looked　at　his　wife。　He　didn't　like　that　idea　very　much。
　　　　〃And　doing　splendidly。〃　The　Queen　sprang　to　Cathy's　defense。　〃It's　quite　safe；　Sir　John。　Riding　is　a　fine　skill　for　a　child　to　learn。　It　teaches　discipline；　coordination；　and　responsibility。〃　
　　　　Not　to　mention　a　fabulous　way　to　break　her　pretty　little　neck；　Ryan　thought。　Again　he　remembered　that　one　does　not　argue　with　a　queen；　especially　under　her　own　roof。
　　　　〃You　could　even　try　to　ride　yourself；〃　the　Queen　said。　〃Your　wife　rides。〃
　　　　〃We　have　enough　land　now。　Jack；〃　Cathy　said。　〃You'd　love　it。〃
　　　　〃I'd　fall　off；〃　Ryan　said　bleakly。
　　　　〃Then　you　climb　back　on　again　until　you　get　it　right；〃　said　a　woman　with　over　fifty　years　of　riding　behind　her。
　　　　It's　the　same　with　a　bike；　except　you　don't　fall　as　far　off　a　bike；　and　Sally's　too　little　for　a　bike；　Ryan　told　himself。　He　got　nervous　watching　Sally　move　her　Hotwheel　trike　around　the　driveway。　For　God's　sake；　she's　so　little　the　horse　wouldn't　even　know　if　she　was　there　or　not。　Cathy　read　his　mind。
　　　　〃Children　do　have　to　grow　up。　You　can't　protect　her　from　everything；〃　his　wife　pointed　out。
　　　　〃Yes；　dear；　I　know。〃　The　hell　I　can't。　That's　my　job。
　　　　A　few　minutes　later　everyone　headed　out　the　room　for　dinner。　Ryan　found　himself　in　the　Blue　Drawing　Room；　a　breathtaking　pillared　hall；　and　then　passed　through　mirrored　double　doors　into　the　State　Dining　Room。
　　　　The　contrast　was　incredible。　From　a　room　of　muted　blue　they　entered　one　ablaze　with　scarlet；　fabric…covered　walls。　Overhead　the　vaulted　ceiling　was　ivory　and　gold；　and　over　the　snow…white　fireplace　was　a　massive　portrait　　of　whom？　Ryan　wondered。　It　had　to　be　a　king；　of　course；　probably　18th　or　19th　century；　judging　by　his　white　。　。　。　pantyhose；　or　whatever　they'd　called　them　then；　plete　with　garter。　Over　the　door　they'd　entered　was　the　royal　cipher　of　Queen　Victoria；　VR；　and　he　wondered　how　much　history　had　passed　through　　or　been　made　right　in　this　single　room。　
　　　　〃You　will　sit　at　my　right　hand；　Jack；〃　the　Queen　said。
　　　　Ryan　took　a　quick　look　at　the　table。　It　was　wide　enough　that　he　didn't　have　to　worry　about　clobbering　Her　Majesty　with　his　left　arm。　That　wouldn't　do。
　　　　The　worst　thing　about　the　dinner　was　that　Ryan　would　be　forever　unable　to　remember　　and　too　proud　to　ask　Cathy　　what　it　was。　Eating　one…handed　was　something　he'd　had　a　lot　of　practice　at；　but　never　had　he　had　such　an　audience；　and　Ryan　was　sure　that　everyone　was　watching　him。　After　all；　he　was　a　Yank　and　would　have　been　something　of　a　curiosity　even　without　his　arm。　He　constantly　reminded　himself　to　be　careful；　to　go　easy　on　the　wine；　to　watch　his　language。　He　shot　the　occasional　glance　at　Cathy；　sitting　at　the　other　end　of　the　table　next　to　the　Duke　and　clearly　enjoying　herself。　It　made　her　husband　slightly　angry　that　she　was　more　at　ease　than　he　was。　If　there　was　ever　a　pig　in　the　manger；　Ryan　thought　while　chewing　on　something　he　immediately　forgot；　it's　me。　He　wondered　if　he　would　be　here　now；　had　he　been　a　rookie　cop　or　a　private　in　the　Royal　Marines　who　just　happened　to　be　at　the　right　place。　Probably　not；　he　thought。　And　why　is　that？　Ryan　didn't　know。　He　did　know　that　something　about　the　institution　of　nobility　went　against　his　American　outlook。　At　the　same　time；　being　knighted　　even　honorarily　　was　something　he　liked。　It　was　a　contradiction　that　troubled　him　in　a　way　he　didn't　understand。　All　this　attention　was　too　seductive；　he　told　himself。　It'll　be　good　to　get　away　from　it。　Or　will　it？　He　sipped　at　a　glass　of　wine。　I　know　I　don't　belong　here；　but　do　I　want　to　belong　here？　There's　a　good　question。　The　wine　didn't　give　him　an　answer。　He'd　have　to　find　it　somewhere　else。
　　　　He　looked　down　the　table　to　his　wife；　who　did　seem　to　fit　in　very　nicely。　She'd　been　raised　in　a　similar　atmosphere；　a　monied　family；　a　big　house　in　Westchester　County；　lots　of　parties　where　people　told　one　another　how　important　they　all　were。　It　was　a　life　he'd　rejected；　and　that　she　had　walked　away　from。　They　were　both　happy　with　what　they　had；　each　with　a　career；　but　did　her　ease　with　this　mean　that　she　missed　。　。　。　Ryan　frowned。　
　　　　〃Feeling　all　right。　Jack？〃　the　Queen　asked。
　　　　〃Yes；　ma'am；　please　excuse　me。　I'm　afraid　it　will　take　me　a　while　to　adjust　to　all　of　this。〃
　　　　〃Jack；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃the　reason　everyone　likes　you　　and　we　all　do；　you　know　　is　because　of　who　and　what　you　are。　Try　to　keep　that　in　mind。〃
　　　　It　struck　Ryan　that　this　was　probably　the　kindest　thing　he'd　ever　been　told。　Perhaps　nobility　was　supposed　to　be　a　state　of　mind　rather　than　an　institution。　His　father…in…law　could　learn　from　that；　Ryan　thought。　His　father…in…law　could　learn　from　a　lot　of　things。

　　　　Three　hours　later　Jack　followed　his　wife　into　their　room。　There　was　a　sitting　room　off　to　the　right。　In　front　of　him　the　bed　had　already　been　turned　down。　He　pulled　the　tie　loose　from　his　collar　and　undid　the　button；　then　let　out　a　long；　audible　breath。　
　　　　〃You　weren't　kidding　about　turning　into　pumpkins。〃　
　　　　〃I　know；〃　his　wife　said。
　　　　Only　a　single　dim　light　was　lit；　and　his　wife　switched　it　off。　The　only　illumination　in　the　room　was　from　distant　streetlights　that　filtered　through　the　heavy　curtains。　Her　white　dress　stood　out　in　the　darkness；　but　her　face　showed　only　the　curve　of　her　lips　and　the　sparkle　of　her　eyes　as　she　turned　away　from　the　light。　Her　husband's　mind　filled　in　the　remaining　details。　Jack　wrapped　his　good　arm　around　his　wife　and　cursed　the　monstrosity　of　plaster　that　encased　his　left　side　as　he　pulled　her　in　close。　She　rested　her　head　on　his　healthy　shoulder；　and　his　cheek　came　down　to　the　softness　of　her　fine　blond　hair。　Neither　said　anything　for　a　minute　or　two。　It　was　enough　to　be　alone；　together　in　the　quiet　darkness。　
　　　　〃Love　ya；　babe。〃
　　　　〃How　are　you　feeling；　Jack？〃　The　question　was　more　than　a　simple　inquiry。
　　　　〃Not　bad。　Pretty　well　rested。　The　shoulder　doesn't　hurt　very　much　anymore。　Aspirin　takes　care　of　the　aches。〃　This　was　an　exaggeration；　but　Jack　was　used　to　the　disfort。
　　　　〃Oh；　I　see　how　they　did　it。〃　Cathy　was　exploring　the　left　side　of　his　jacket。　The　tailors　had　put　snap　closures　on　the　underside　so　that　it　would　not　so　much　conceal　the　cast　as　make　it　look　dressed。　His　wife　removed　the　snaps　quickly　and　pulled　the　coat　off。　The　shirt　went　next。
　　　　〃I　am　able　to　do　this　myself；　you　know。〃
　　　　〃Shut　up；　Jack。　I　don't　want　to　have　to　wait　all　night　for　you　to　undress。〃　He　next　heard　the　sound　of　a　long　zipper。　
　　　　〃Can　I　help？〃
　　　　There　was　laughter　in　the　darkness。　〃I　might　want　to　wear　this　dress　again。　And　be　careful　where　you　put　that　arm。〃　
　　　　〃I　haven't　crunched　anyone　yet。〃
　　　　〃Good。　Let's　try　to　keep　a　perfect　record。〃　A　whisper　of　silk。　She　took　his　hand。　〃Let's　get　you　sitting　down。〃　
　　　　After　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　the　rest　came　easy。　Cathy　sat　beside　him。　He　felt　her；　cool　and　smooth　at　his　side；　a　hint　of　perfume　in　the　air。　He　reached　around　her　shoulder；　down　to　the　soft　skin　of　her　abdomen。
　　　　It's　happening　right　now；　growing　away　while　we　sit　here。　〃You're　going　to　have　my　baby；〃　Jack　said　softly。　There　really　is　a　God；　and　there　really　are　miracles。
　　　　Her　hand　came　across　his　face。　〃That's　right。　I　can't　have　anything　to　drink　after　tonight　　but　I　wanted　to　enjoy　tonight。〃　
　　　　〃You　know；　I　really　do　love　you。〃　
　　　　〃I　know；〃　she　said。　〃Lie　back。〃

Chapter　6　Trials　and　Troubles

　　　　Preliminary　testimony　lasted　for　about　two　hours　while　Ryan　sat　on　a　marble　bench　outside　Old　Bailey's　number　two　courtroom。　He　tried　to　work　on　his　puter；　but　he　couldn't　seem　to　keep　his　mind　on　it；　and　found　himself　staring　around　the　hundred…sixty…year…old　building。
　　　　Security　was　incredibly　tight。　Outside；　numerous　uniformed　police　constables　stood　about　in　plain　sight；　small　zippered　pistol　cases　dangling　from　their　hands。　Others；　uniformed　and　not；　stood　on　the　buildings　across　Newgate　Street　like　falcons　on　the　watch　for　rabbits。　Except　rabbits　don't　carry　machine　guns　and　RPG…7　bazookas；　Ryan　thought。　Every　person　who　entered　the　building　was　subjected　to　a　metal　detector　sensitive　enough　to　ping　on　the　foil　inside　a　cigarette　pack；　and　nearly　everyone　was　given　a　pat…down　search。　This　included　Ryan；　who　was　surprised　enough　at　the　intimacy　of　the　search　to　tell　the　officer　that　he　went　a　bit　far　for　a　first　date。　The　grand　hall　was　closed　off　to　anyone　not　connected　with　the　case；　and　less　prominent　trials　had　been　switched　among　the　building's　nineteen　courtrooms　to　acmodate　Crown　v　Miller。
　　　　Ryan　had　never　been　in　a　courthouse　before。　He　was　amused　by　the　fact　that　he'd　never　even　had　a　speeding　ticket；　his　life　had　been