rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第1章

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　The　caretaker　stirred　when　he　heard　the　crunch　of　tires　on　gravel。　There　was　barely　any　light　left　in　the　sky；　and　he　had　just　made　coffee　and　was　reluctant　to　get　up。　But　his　curiosity　got　the　better　of　him。　Visitors　to　Alexandria　seldom　ventured　into　the　cemetery　at　Ivy　Hill；　the　historic　town　on　the　Potomac　had　a　brace　of　other；　more　colorful　attractions　and　amusements　to　offer　the　living。　As　for　the　locals；　not　many　came　out　on　a　weekday；　fewer　still　on　a　late　afternoon　when　the　April　rains　lashed　the　sky。
　Peering　through　his　gatehouse　window；　the　caretaker　saw　a　man　get　out　of　an　ordinary…looking　sedan。　Government？　He　guessed　that　his　visitor　was　in　his　early　forties；　tall　and　very　fit。　Dressed　for　the　weather；　he　had　on　a　waterproof　jacket；　dark　pants；　and　workman's　boots。
　The　caretaker　watched　the　way　the　man　stepped　away　from　the　car　and　looked　around；　taking　in　his　surroundings。　Not　government…　military。　He　opened　the　door　and　came　out　under　the　overhang；　observing　how　his　visitor　stood　there；　gazing　through　the　gates　of　the　cemetery；　oblivious　to　the　rain　matting　his　dark　hair。
　Maybe　this　is　his　first　trip　back　here；　the　caretaker　thought。　They　were　all　hesitant　their　first　time；　loath　to　enter　a　place　associated　with　pain；　grief；　and　loss。　He　looked　at　the　man's　left　hand　and　saw　no　ring。　A　widower？　He　tried　to　remember　if　a　young　woman　had　been　interred　recently。
　〃Hello。〃
　The　voice　startled　the　caretaker。　It　was　gentle　for　such　a　big　man；　and　soft；　as　if　he'd　thrown　the　salutation　like　a　ventriloquist。
　〃Howdy。　If　you're　fixin'　to　visit；　I　got　an　umbrella　I　can　let　you　have。〃
　〃I'd　appreciate　that；　thank　you；〃　the　man　said；　but　he　didn't　move。
　The　caretaker　reached　around　the　corner　into　a　stand　made　from　an　old　watering　can。　He　gripped　the　handle　of　the　umbrella　and　stepped　toward　the　man；　taking　in　his　visitor's　high…planed　face　and　startling　navy　blue　eyes。
　〃Name's　Barnes。　I'm　the　caretaker。　If　you　tell　me　who　you're　visiting；　I　can　save　you　wandering　around　in　this　mess。〃
　〃Sophia　Russell。〃
　〃Russell；　you　say？　Doesn't　ring　a　bell。　Let　me　look　it　up。　Won't　take　but　a　minute。〃
　〃Don't　bother。　I　can　find　my　way。〃
　〃I　still　gotta　have　you　sign　the　visitors'　book。〃
　The　man　unfurled　the　umbrella。　〃Jon　Smith。　Dr。　Jon　Smith。　I　know　where　to　find　her。　Thank　you。〃
　The　caretaker　thought　he　detected　a　break　in　the　man's　voice。　He　raised　his　arm；　about　to　call　after　him；　but　the　man　was　already　walking　away；　his　strides　long　and　smooth；　like　a　soldier's；　until　he　disappeared　into　the　gray　sheets　of　rain。
　The　caretaker　stared　after　him。　Something　cold　and　sharp　danced　along　his　spine；　made　him　shudder。　Stepping　back　into　the　gatehouse；　he　closed　the　door　and　bolted　it　firmly。
　From　his　desk；　he　removed　the　visitors'　ledger；　opened　it　to　today's　date；　and　carefully　entered　both　the　man's　name　and　the　time　he　had　arrived。　Then；　on　impulse；　he　turned　to　the　back　of　the　ledger；　where　the　interred　were　listed　in　alphabetical　order。
　Russell。　。　。　Sophia　Russell。　Here　she　is：　row　17；　plot　12。　Put　into　the　ground　。　。　。　exactly　one　year　ago！
　Among　the　three　mourners　who'd　signed　the　register　was　Jon　Smith；　M。D。
　So　why　didn't　you　bring　flowers？
　
　Smith　was　grateful　for　the　rain　as　he　walked　along　the　road　that　wended　its　way　through　Ivy　Hill。　It　was　like　a　shroud；　strung　across　memories　that　still　had　the　power　to　cut　and　burn；　memories　that　had　been　his　omnipresent　panions　this　past　year；　whispering　to　him　in　the　night；　mocking　his　tears；　forcing　him　to　relive　that　terrible　moment　over　and　over　again。
　He　sees　the　cold　white　room　in　the　hospital　at　the　United　States　Army　Medical　Research　Institute　for　Infectious　Diseases　in　Frederick；　Maryland。　He　is　watching　Sophia；　his　love；　his　wife…to…be；　writhing　under　the　oxygen　tent；　gasping　for　breath。　He　stands；　only　inches　away；　yet　powerless　to　held　her。　His　screams　at　the　medical　staff　echo　off　the　walls　and　return　to　mock　him。　They　don't　know　what's　wrong　with　her。　They；　too；　are　powerless。
　Suddenly　she　cries　out…　a　sound　Smith　still　hears　in　his　nightmares；　and　prays　never　to　hear　again。　Her　spine；　bent　like　a　bow；　arches　to　an　impossible　angle；　sweat　fours　off　her　as　if　to　rid　her　body　of　the　toxin。　Her　face　is　bright　with　fever。　For　an　instant　she　is　frozen　like　that。　Then　she　collapses。　Blood　pours　out　of　her　nose　and　throat。　From　deep　within　es　the　death　rattle；　followed　by　a　gentle　sigh；　as　her　soul；　free　at　last；　escapes　its　tortured　confines。。。。
　Smith　shivered　and　looked　around　quickly。　He　didn't　realize　that　he　had　stopped　walking。　The　rain　continued　to　drum　on　the　umbrella；　but　it　seemed　to　fall　in　slow　motion。　He　thought　he　could　hear　every　drop　as　it　spattered　off　the　nylon。
　He　wasn't　sure　how　long　he　stood　there；　like　an　abandoned；　forgotten　statue；　or　what　finally　made　him　take　a　step。　He　didn't　know　how　he　came　to　be　on　the　path　that　led　to　her　grave　or　how　he　found　himself　standing　in　front　of　it。
　
　SOPHIA　RUSSELL
　NOW　IN　THE　SHELTER　OF　THE　LORD
　
　Smith　leaned　forward　and　ran　his　fingertips　across　the　smooth　top　of　the　pink…and…white　granite　headstone。
　〃I　should　have　e　more　often；　I　know；〃　he　whispered。　〃But　I　couldn't　bring　myself　to　do　it。　I　thought　that　if　I　came　here；　I　would　have　to　admit　that　I've　lost　you　forever。　I　couldn't　do　that。。。　until　now。
　〃　'The　Hades　Project。'　That's　what　they　called　it；　Sophia；　the　terror　that　took　you　away　from　me。　You　never　saw　the　faces　of　the　men　who　were　involved；　God　spared　you　that。　But　I　want　you　to　know　that　they　have　paid　for　their　crimes。
　〃I　had　my　taste　of　revenge；　my　darling；　and　I　believed　that　it　would　bring　me　peace。　But　it　did　not。　For　months　I　have　been　asking　myself　how　I　might　earn　that　serenity；　in　the　end；　the　answer　was　always　the　same。〃
　From　his　jacket　pocket；　Smith　took　out　a　small　jeweler's　box。　Opening　the　lid；　he　stared　at　a　six…carat；　marquis…cut　diamond　in　a　platinum　setting　that　he　had　picked　out　at　Van　Cleef　&　Arpel　in　London。　It　was　the　wedding　ring　he　had　intended　to　slip　on　the　finger　of　the　woman　who　would　have　bee　his　wife。
　Smith　crouched　and　pushed　the　ring　into　the　soft　earth　at　the　base　of　the　headstone。
　〃I　love　you；　Sophia。　I　will　always　love　you。　Your　heart　is　still　the　light　of　my　life。　But　it　is　time　for　me　to　move　on。　I　don't　know　where　I'll　go　or　how　I'll　get　there。　But　I　must　go。〃
　Smith　brought　his　fingertips　to　his　lips；　then　touched　the　cold　stone。
　〃May　God　bless　you　and　look　after　you　always。〃
　He　picked　up　the　umbrella　and　took　a　step　back；　staring　at　the　headstone　as　though　imprinting　its　image　in　his　mind　for　all　time。　Then　he　heard　the　soft　footfall　behind　him　and　turned　around　fast。
　The　woman　holding　the　black　umbrella　was　in　her　mid…thirties；　tall；　with　brilliant　red　hair　pulled　back　in　a　ponytail。　A　spray　of　freckles　dotted　her　nose　and　high　cheekbones。　Her　eyes；　green　like　reef　waters；　widened　when　she　saw　Smith。
　〃Jon？　Jon　Smith？〃
　〃Megan。。。？〃
　Megan　Olson　walked　up　quickly；　took　Smith's　arm　and　squeezed　it。
　〃Is　it　really　you？　My　God；　it's　been。。。〃
　〃A　long　time。〃
　Megan　looked　past　him　at　Sophia's　grave。　〃I'm　so　sorry；　Jon。　I　didn't　know　that　anyone　would　be　here。　I　didn't　mean　to　intrude。〃
　〃It's　all　right。　I　did　what　I　came　to　do。〃
　〃I　guess　we're　both　here　for　the　same　reason；〃　she　said　softly。
　She　drew　him　under　the　shelter　of　a　massive　oak　and　looked　at　him　keenly。　The　lines　and　creases　on　his　face　were　deeper　than　she　remembered；　and　there　was　a　host　of　new　ones。　She　could　only　imagine　the　kind　of　year　Jon　Smith　had　endured。
　〃I'm　sorry　for　your　loss；　Jon；〃　she　said。　〃I　wish　I　could　have　told　you　that　sooner。〃　She　hesitated。　〃I　wish　I　had　been　here　when　you　needed　someone。〃
　〃I　tried　calling　but　you　were　away；〃　he　replied。　〃The　job。。。〃
　Megan　nodded　ruefully。　〃I　was　away；〃　she　said　vaguely。
　Sophia　Russell　and　Megan　Olson　had　both　grown　up　in　Santa　Barbara；　had　gone　to　school　there；　then　on　to　UCLA。　After　college；　their　paths　had　diverged。　Sophia　had　gone　to　plete　her　Ph。D。　in　cell　and　molecular　biology　and　had　joined　USAMRIID。　After　receiving　her　master's　in　biochemistry；　Megan　had　accepted　a　position　at　the　National　Institutes　of　Health。　B