rl.thebourneidentity-第114部分

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　'How？　What　are　you　going　to　say？　〃The　man　known　to　me　as　Jason　Bourne　has　no　pact　with　Carlos。　I　know　this　because　he　exposed　Carlos's　mistress　to　me；　and　that　woman　was　my　wife；　the　wife　I　choked　to　death　so　as　not　to　bring　dishonour　to　my　name！　I'm　about　to　call　the　Surete　and　confess　my　crime　…　although；　of　course；　I　won't　tell　them　why　I　killed　her。　Or　why　I'm　going　to　kill　myself。〃。。。　Is　that　it；　General？　Is　that　what　you're　going　to　say？'
　The　old　man　stared　silently　at　Bourne；　the　fundamental　contradiction　clear　to　him。　'I　cannot　help　you　then。〃
　'Good。　Fine！　Carlos　wins　it　all！　She　wins！　You　lose。　Your　son　loses。　Go　on！　Call　the　police；　then　put　the　barrel　of　the　gun　in　your　goddamn　mouth　and　blow　your　goddamn　head　off！　Go　on！　That's　what　you　want！　Take　yourself　out；　lie　down　and　die！　You're　not　good　for　anything　else　any　more！　You're　a　self…pitying　old；　old　man！。　God　knows　you're　no　match　for　Carlos！　No　match　for　the　man　who　placed　five　sticks　of　dynamite　in　rue　du　Bac　and　killed　your　son！'
　Villiers's　hands　shook；　the　trembling　spread　to　his　head。　'Do　not　do　this。　I'm　telling　you；　do　not　do　this。'
　〃Telling〃　me？　You　mean　you're　giving　me　an　order〃｝　The　little　old　man　with　the　big　brass　buttons　is　issuing　a　mand？　Well；　forget　it！　I　don't　take　orders　from　men　like　you！　You're　frauds！　You're　worse　than　all　the　people　you　attack；　at　least　they　have　the　stomachs　to　do　what　they　say　they're　going　to　do！　You　don't。　All　you've　got　is　wind。　Words　and　wind　and　self…serving　bromides。　Lie　down　and　die；　old　man！　But　don't　give　me　an　order！'
　Villiers　unclasped　his　hands　and　shot　out　of　the　chair；　his　racked　body　now　trembling。　'I　told　you。　No　more＇'
　'I'm　not　interested　in　what　you　tell　me。　I　was　right　the　first　time　I　saw　you。　You　belong　to　Carlos。　You　were　his　lackey　alive；　and　you'll　be　his　lackey　dead。'
　The　old　soldier's　face　grimaced　in　pain。　He　pulled　out　his　gun；　the　gesture　pathetic；　the　threat；　however；　real。　'I've　killed　many　men　in　my　time。　In　my　profession　it　was　unavoidable；　often　disturbing。　I　don't　want　to　kill　you　now；　but　I　will　if　you　disregard　my　wishes。　Leave　me。　Leave　this　house。'
　That's　terrific。　You　must　be　wired　into　Carlos's　head。　You　kill　me；　he　sweeps　the　board　I'　Jason　took　a　step　forward；　aware　of　the　fact　that　it　was　the　first　movement　he　had　made　since　entering　the　room。　He　saw　Villiers's　eyes　widen；　the　gun　shook；　its　oscillating　shadow　cast　against　the　wall。　A　single　half　ounce　of　pressure　and　the　hammer　would　plunge　forward；　the　bullet　finding　its　mark。　For　in　spite　of　the　madness　of　the　moment；　the　hand　that　held　that　weapon　had　spent　a　lifetime　gripping　steel；　it　would　be　steady　when　the　instant　came。　If　it　came。　That　was　the　risk　Bourne　had　to　take。　Without　Villiers；　there　was　nothing；　the　old　man　had　to　understand。　Jason　suddenly　shouted。　'Go　on！　Fire。　Kill　me。　Take　your　orders　from　Carlos！　You're　a　soldier！　You've　got　your　orders。　Carry　them　out！'
　The　trembling　in　Villiers's　hand　increased；　the　knuckles　white　as　the　gun　rose　higher；　its　barrel　now　levelled　at　Bourne's　head。　And　then　Jason　heard　the　whisper　from　an　old　man's　throat。
　'　〃Vous　etes　soldat。。。　arretez。。。　Arretez！〃'
　'What？'
　'I　am　a　soldier。　Someone　said　that　to　me　recently；　someone　very　dear　to　you。'　Villiers　spoke　quietly。　'She　shamed　an　old　warrior　into　remembering　who　he　was。。。　who　he　had　been。　〃On　dit　que　vous　etes　un　geant。　Je　le　crois。〃　She　had　the　grace；　the　kindness　to　say　that　to　me　also。　She　had　been　told　I　was　a　giant；　and　she　believed　it。　She　was　wrong　…　Almighty　God；　she　was　wrong　…　but　I　shall　try。'　Andrel　Villiers　lowered　the　gun；　there　was　dignity　in　the　submission。　A　soldier's　dignity。　A　giant。　'What　would　you　have　me　do？'
　Jason　breathed　again。　'Force　Carlos　into　ing　after　me。　But　not　here；　not　in　Paris。　Not　even　in　France。'
　'Where　then？'
　Jason　held　his　place。　'Can　you　get　me　out　of　the　country？　I　should　tell　you；　I'm　wanted。　My　name　and　description　by　now　are　on　every　immigration　desk　and　border　check　in　Europe。'
　'For　the　wrong　reasons？'
　'For　the　wrong　reasons。'
　'I　believe　you。　There　are　ways。　The　Brevet　has　ways　and　will　do　as　I　ask。'
　'With　an　identity　that's　false？　Without　telling　them　why？'
　'My　word　is　enough。　I've　earned　it。'
　'Another　question。　That　aide　of　yours　you　talked　about。　Do　you　trust　him；　really　trust　him？'
　'With　my　life。　Above　all　men。'
　'With　another's　life？　One　you　correctly　said　was　very　dear　to　me。'
　'Of　course。　Why？　You'll　travel　alone？'
　'I　have　to。　She'd　never　let　me　go。'
　'You'll　have　to　tell　her　something。'
　'I　will。　That　I'm　underground　here　in　Paris；　or　Brussels；　or　Amsterdam。　Cities　where　Carlos　operates。　But　that　she　had　to　get　away；　our　car　was　found　in　Montmartre。　Carlos's　men　are　searching　every　street；　every　flat；　every　hotel。　You're　working　with　me　now；　your　aide　will　take　her　into　the　country　where　she'll　be　safe。　I'll　tell　her　that。'
　'I　must　ask　the　questions　now。　What　happens　if　you　don't　e　back？'
　Bourne　tried　to　keep　the　plea　out　of　his　voice。　'I'll　have　time　on　the　plane。　I'll　write　out　everything　that's　happened；　everything　that　I。。。　remember。　I'll　send　it　to　you　and　you　will　make　the　decisions。　With　her。　She　called　you　a　giant　Make　the　right　decisions。　Protect　her。'
　'　〃Vous　etes　soldat。。。　Arretez！〃　You　have　my　word。　She'll　not　be　harmed。'
　〃That's　all　I　can　ask。'
　Villiers　threw　the　gun　on　the　bed。　It　landed　between　the　twisted　bare　legs　of　the　dead　woman；　the　old　soldier　coughed　abruptly；　contemptuously；　his　posture　returning。　'To　practicalities；　my　young　wolfpack；'　he　said；　authority　ing　back　to　him　awkwardly；　but　with　definition。　'What's　this　strategy　of　yours？'
　'To　begin　with；　you're　in　a　state　of　collapse；　beyond　shock。　You're　an　automaton　walking　around　in　the　dark；　following　instructions　you　can't　understand　but　have　to　obey。'
　'Not　very　different　from　reality；　wouldn't　you　say？'　interrupted　Villiers。　'Before　a　young　man　with　truth　in　his　eyes　forced　me　to　listen　to　him。　But　how　is　this　perceived　state　brought　about？　And　why？'
　'All　you　know　…　all　you　remember　…　is　that　a　man　broke　into　your　house　during　the　fire　and　smashed　his　gun　into　your　head；　you　fell　unconscious。　When　you　woke　up　you　found　your　wife　dead；　strangled；　a　note　by　her　body。　It's　what's　in　the　note　that's　driven　you　out　of　your　mind。'
　'What　would　that　be？'　asked　the　old　soldier　cautiously。
　The　truth；'　said　Jason。　The　truth　you　can't　ever　permit　anyone　to　know。　What　she　was　to　Carlos；　what　he　was　to　her。　The　killer　who　wrote　the　note　left　a　telephone　number；　telling　you　that　you　could　confirm　what　he's　written。　Once　you　were　satisfied；　you　could　destroy　the　note　and　report　the　murder　any　way　you　like。　But　for　telling　you　the　truth　…　for　killing　the　whore　who　was　so　much　a　part　of　your　son's　death　…　he　wants　you　to　deliver　a　written　message。'
　To　Carlos？'
　'No。　He'll　send　a　relay。'
　Thank　God　for　that。　I'm　not　sure　I　could　go　through　with　it；　knowing　it　was　him。'
　The　message　will　reach　him。'
　'What　is　it？〃
　'I'll　write　it　out　for　you；　you　can　give　it　to　the　man　he　sends。　It's　got　to　be　exact；　both　in　what　it　says　and　what　it　doesn't　say。'　Bourne　looked　over　at　the　dead　woman；　at　the　swelling　in　her　throat　'Do　you　have　any　alcohol？'
　'A　drink？'
　'No。　Rubbing　alcohol。　Perfume　will　do。'
　'I'm　sure　there's　rubbing　alcohol　in　the　medicine　cabinet'
　'Would　you　mind　getting　it　for　me？　Also　a　towel；　please。〃
　'What　are　you　going　to　do？'
　'Put　my　hands　where　your　hands　were。　Just　in　case；　although　I　don't　think　anyone　will　question　you。　While　I'm　doing　that；　call　whoever　you　have　to　call　to　get　me　out　The　timing's　important　I　have　to　be　on　my　way　before　you　call　Carlos's　relay；　long　before　you　call　the　police。　They'd　have　the　airports　watched。'
　'I　can　delay　until　daybreak；　I　imagine。　An　old　man's　state　of　shock；　as　you　put　it　not　much　longer　than　that。　Where　will　you　go？'
　'New　York。　Can　you　do　it？　I　have　a　passport　identifying　me　as　a　man　named　George　Washburn。　It's　a　good　job。'
　'Making　mine　far　easier。　You'll　have　diplomatic　status。　Pre…clearance　on　both　sides　of　the　Atlantic。'
　'As　an　Englishman？　The　passport's　British。'
　'On　a　N。　A。　T。　O。　acmodation。　Brevet　channels；　you　are　part　of