rl.thebourneultimatum-第58章

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　〃They　came　here　to　pray　so　the　bad　things　will　stop…no　more　obeah。　But　what's　important　to　me　is　that　I　must　speak　to　one　of　them　alone。　When　they　leave　the　lobby；　this　priest　I　have　to　see　may　break　away　from　the　others　to　be　by　himself　。。。　or　possibly　to　meet　someone　else。　Do　you　think　you　could　follow　him　without　his　seeing　you？〃
　〃Would　Mr。　Saint　Jay　tell　me　to　do　that？〃
　〃Suppose　I　have　him　look　over　at　you　and　nod　his　head。〃
　〃Then　I　can　do　it。　I　am　faster　than　the　mongoose　and；　like　the　mongoose；　I　know　every　foot　trail　on　Tranquility。　He　goes　one　way；　I　know　where　he's　going　and　will　be　there　first。　。。。　But　how　will　I　know　which　priest？　More　than　one　may　go　off　by　himself。〃
　〃I'll　talk　to　all　four　separately。　He'll　be　the　last　one。〃
　〃Then　I　will　know。〃
　〃That's　pretty　fast　thinking；〃　said　Bourne。　〃You're　right；　they　could　separate。〃
　〃I　think　good；　mon。　I　am　fifth　in　my　class　at　'Serrat's　Technical　Academy。　The　four　ahead　of　me　are　all　girls；　so　they　don't　have　to　work。〃
　〃That's　an　interesting　observation…〃
　〃In　five　or　six　years　I'll　have　the　money　to　attend　the　university　in　Barbados！〃
　〃Maybe　sooner。　Go　on　now。　Walk　into　the　lobby　and　head　for　the　door。　Later；　after　the　priests　leave；　I'll　e　out　looking　for　you；　but　I　won't　be　in　this　uniform；　from　any　distance　you　won't　know　me。　If　I　don't　find　you；　meet　me　in　an　hour…　Where？　Where's　a　quiet　place？〃
　〃Tranquility　Chapel；　sir。　The　path　in　the　woods　above　the　east　beach。　No　one　ever　goes　there；　even　on　the　Sabbath。〃
　〃I　remember　it。　Good　idea。〃
　〃There　is　a　remaining　subject；　sir…〃
　〃Fifty　dollars；　American。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir！〃
　Jason　waited　by　the　door　for　ninety　seconds；　then　opened　it　barely　an　inch。　Ishmael　was　in　place　by　the　entrance；　and　he　could　see　John　St。　Jacques　talking　with　the　four　priests　several　feet　to　the　right　of　the　front　desk。　Bourne　tugged　at　his　jacket；　squared　his　shoulders　in　military　fashion；　and　walked　out　into　the　lobby　toward　the　priests　and　the　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn。
　〃It's　an　honor　and　a　privilege；　Fathers；〃　he　said　to　the　four　black　clerics　as　a　surprised　and　curious　St。　Jacques　watched　him。　〃I'm　new　here　in　the　islands　and　I　must　say　I'm　very　impressed。　The　government　is　particularly　pleased　that　you　saw　fit　to　help　calm　our　troubled　waters；〃　continued　Jason；　his　hands　clasped　firmly　behind　his　back。　〃For　your　efforts；　the　Crown　governor　has　authorized　Mr。　St。　Jacques　here　to　issue　you　a　check　in　the　amount　of　one　hundred　pounds　for　your　church…to　be　reimbursed　by　the　treasury；　of　course。〃
　〃It　is　such　a　magnificent　gesture；　I　hardly　know　what　to　say；〃　intoned　the　vicar；　his　high　lilting　voice　sincere。
　〃You　could　tell　me　whose　idea　it　was；〃　said　the　Chameleon。　〃Most　touching；　most　touching；　indeed。〃
　〃Oh；　I　cannot　take　the　credit；　sir；〃　replied　the　vicar；　looking；　as　the　two　others　did；　at　the　fourth　man。　〃It　was　Samuel's。　Such　a　good　and　decent　leader　of　our　flock。〃
　〃Good　show；　Samuel。〃　Bourne　stared　briefly；　his　eyes　penetrating；　at　the　fourth　man。　〃But　I　should　like　to　thank　each　of　you　personally。　And　know　your　names。〃　Jason　went　down　the　line　shaking　the　three　hands　and　quietly　exchanging　pleasantries。　He　came　to　the　last　priest；　whose　eyes　kept　straying　away　from　his。　〃Of　course　I　know　your　name；　Samuel；〃　he　said；　his　voice　even　lower；　barely　audible。　〃And　I　should　like　to　know　whose　idea　it　was　before　you　took　the　credit。〃
　〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　whispered　Samuel。
　〃Certainly　you　do…such　a　good　and　decent　man…you　must　have　received　another　very　generous　contribution。〃
　〃You　mistake　me　for　someone　else；　sir；〃　mumbled　the　fourth　priest；　his　dark　eyes　for　an　instant　betraying　deep　fear。
　〃I　don't　make　mistakes；　your　friend　knows　that。　I'll　find　you；　Samuel。　Maybe　not　today；　but　surely　tomorrow　or　the　day　after　that。〃　Bourne　raised　his　voice　as　he　released　the　cleric's　hand。　〃Again；　the　government's　profound　thanks；　Fathers。　The　Crown　is　most　grateful。　And　now　I　must　be　on　my　way；　a　dozen　telephone　calls　should　be　answered。　。。。　Your　office；　St。　Jacques？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course；　General。〃
　Inside　the　office；　Jason　took　out　his　automatic　and　tore　off　the　uniform　as　he　separated　the　pile　of　clothing　Marie's　brother　had　brought　for　him。　He　slipped　on　a　pair　of　knee…length　gray　Bermuda　walking　shorts；　chose　a　red…and…white…striped　guayabera　jacket；　and　the　widest…brimmed　straw　hat。　He　removed　his　socks　and　shoes；　put　on　the　sandals；　stood　up　and　swore。　〃Goddamn　it！〃　He　kicked　off　the　sandals　and　shoved　his　bare　feet　back　into　his　heavy　rubber…soled　shoes。　He　studied　the　various　cameras　and　their　accessories；　choosing　the　lightest　but　most　plicated；　and　crossed　the　straps　over　his　chest。　John　St。　Jacques　walked　into　the　room　carrying　a　small　hand…held　radio。
　〃Where　the　hell　did　you　e　from？　Miami　Beach？〃
　〃Actually；　a　little　north…say；　Pompano。　I'm　not　that　gaudy。　I　won't　stand　out。〃
　〃Actually；　you're　right。　I've　got　people　out　there　who'd　swear　you　were　old…time　Key　West　conservative。　Here's　the　radio。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Jason　put　the　pact　instrument　into　his　breast　pocket。
　〃Where　to　now？〃
　〃After　Ishmael；　the　kid　I　had　you　nod　at。〃
　〃Ishmael？　I　didn't　nod　at　Ishmael；　you　simply　said　I　should　nod　my　head　at　the　entrance。〃
　〃Same　thing。〃　Bourne　squeezed　the　automatic　under　his　belt　beneath　the　guayabera　and　looked　at　the　equipment　brought　from　the　tackle　shop。　He　picked　up　the　reel　of　one…hundred…test　line　and　the　scaling　knife；　placing　both　in　his　pockets；　then　opened　an　empty　camera　case　and　put　the　two　distress　flares　inside。　It　was　not　everything　he　wanted；　but　it　was　enough。　He　was　not　who　he　was　thirteen　years　ago　and　he　was　not　so　young　even　then。　His　mind　had　to　work　better　and　faster　than　his　body；　a　fact　he　reluctantly　accepted。　Damn！
　〃That　Ishmael's　a　good　boy；〃　said　Marie's　brother。　〃He's　pretty　smart　and　strong　as　a　prize　Saskatchewan　steer。　I'm　thinking　of　making　him　a　guard　in　a　year　or　so。　The　pay's　better。〃
　〃Try　Harvard　or　Princeton　if　he　does　his　job　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Wow；　that's　a　wrinkle。　Did　you　know　his　father　was　the　champion　wrestler　of　the　islands？　Of　course；　he's　sort　of　getting　on　now…〃
　〃Get　the　hell　out　of　my　way；〃　ordered　Jason；　heading　for　the　door。　〃You're　not　exactly　eighteen；　either！〃　he　added；　turning　briefly　before　he　let　himself　out。
　〃Never　said　I　was。　What's　your　problem？〃
　〃Maybe　it's　the　sandbar　you　never　saw；　Mr。　Security。〃　Bourne　slammed　the　door　as　he　ran　out　into　the　hallway。
　〃Touchy；　touchy。〃　St。　Jacques　slowly　shook　his　head　as　he　unclenched　his　thirty…four…year…old　fist。
　Nearly　two　hours　had　passed　and　Ishmael　was　nowhere　to　be　found！　His　leg　locked　in　place　as　if　crippled；　Jason　limped　convincingly　from　one　end　of　Tranquility　Inn's　property　to　the　other；　his　eye　focused　through　the　mirrored　lens　of　the　camera；　seeing　everything；　but　no　sign　of　young　Ishmael。　Twice　he　had　gone　up　the　path　into　the　woods　to　the　isolated　square　structure　of　logs；　thatched　roof　and　stained　glass　that　was　the　multidenominational　chapel　of　the　resort；　a　sanctuary　for　meditation　built　more　for　its　quaint　appearance　than　for　utility。　As　the　young　black　steward　had　observed；　it　was　rarely　visited　but　had　its　place　in　vacation　brochures。
　The　Caribbean　sun　was　growing　more　orange；　inching　its　way　down　toward　the　water's　horizon。　Soon　the　shadows　of　sundown　would　crawl　across　Montserrat　and　the　out　islands。　Soon　thereafter　darkness　would　e；　and　the　Jackal　approved　of　darkness。　But　then；　so　did　the　Chameleon。
　〃Storage　room；　anything？〃　said　Bourne　into　his　radio。
　〃Rien；　monsieur。〃
　〃Johnny？〃
　〃I'm　up　on　the　roof　with　six　scouts　at　all　points。　Nothing。〃
　〃What　about　the　dinner；　the　party　tonight？〃
　〃Our　meteorologist　arrived　ten　minutes　ago　by　boat　from　Plymouth。　He's　afraid　to　fly。　。。。　And　Angus　tacked　a　check　for　ten　thousand　on　the　bulletin　board；　signature　and　payee　to　be　entered。　Scotty　was　right；　all　seven　couples　will　be　there。　We're　a　society　of　who…gives…a…shit　after　an　appropriate　few　minutes　of　silence。〃
　〃Tell　me　something　I　don't　know；　Bro。　。。。　Out。　I'm　heading　back　to　the　chapel。〃
　〃Glad　to　hear　somebody　goes　there。　A　travel　bastard　in　New　York　said　it'd　be　a　nice　touch；　but　I　haven't　heard　from　him　sinc