Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE...
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“Beware the sanctimonious reformer Jason started for the door and the beribboned military
tunic that hung on an old coatrack alongside the visored officer’s hat“Among other things he’s a
bore
“Shouldn’t you be watching the path below while the priests are detained? It will take some time
for StJacques to get the items you asked for
Bourne stopped and turned, his eyes cold on the verbose old FrenchmanHe wanted to leave, to
get away from this old, old man who talked too much—said too much! But Fontaine was rightIt
would be stupid not to watch what happened belowAn awkward, unusual reaction on the part of
someone, an abrupt, startled glance by someone in an unexpected direction—it was the little things,
the sudden involuntary, precisely imprecise small motions that so often pointed to the concealed
string that was the fuse leading to the explosive trapIn silence, Jason walked back to the window,
picked up the binoculars and put them to his face
A police officer in the tan-and-scarlet uniform of Montserrat approached the procession of four
priests on the path; he was obviously as bewildered as he was deferential, nodding courteously as
the four gathered together to listen, rolex submariner watches gesturing politely toward the glass doors of the lobbyBourne’s
eyes shifted within the frame of vision, studying the black features of each cleric, one after another
in rapid successionHe spoke quietly to the Frenchman“Do you see what I see?”
“The fourth one, the priest who was last,” replied Fontaine“He’s alarmed, but the others are
not
“Thirty pieces of silver,” agreed the Frenchman“You’ll go down and take him, of course
“Of course not,” corrected Jason“He’s right where I want him to be Bourne grabbed the radio
off the sillI’ll be up in a few minutes—”
“Those priests, do you know them?”
“Only the one who calls himself the ‘vicar’; he comes around for contributionsAnd they’re not
really priests, David, they’re more like ‘ministers’ in a religious orderVery religious and very
local
“Is the vicar there?”
“YesHe’s always first in lineSlight change of plansBring the clothes to your office, then go and see the priests
Tell them an official of the government wants to meet them and make a contribution in return for
their prayers
“What?”
“I’ll explain laterI’ll see you in the lobby
“You mean my office, don’t you? I’ve got the clothes, remember?”
“They’ll come later—roughly a minute later, after I get out of this balenciaga giant brief bag uniformDo you have a
camera in your office?”
“Three or four of themGuests are always leaving them behind—”
“Put all of them with the clothes,” interrupted Jason“Get going!” Bourne shoved the radio into
his belt, then changed his mindHe pulled it out and handed it to FontaineI’ll
get another and stay in contactWhat’s happening down there?”
“Our alarmed priest looks around as they go to the lobby doorsHe’s truly frightened now
“Where’s he looking?” asked Bourne, grabbing the binoculars
“Damn!”
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“They’re at the doors now
“I’ll get ready—”
“I’ll help you The old Frenchman got off the stool and went to the coatrackHe removed the
tunic and the hat“If you are about to do what I think you intend doing, try to stay by a wall and
don’t turn aroundThe governor’s aide is somewhat stouter than you and we must bunch the jacket
in the back
“You’re pretty good at this, aren’t you?” said Jason, holding out his arms so as to be helped into
the tunic
“The German soldiers were always much fatter than we were, especially the corporals and the
sergeants—all that sausage, you know Suddenly, as if he had been shot or
seized by a convulsion, Fontaine gasped, then lurched in front of lady dior bag BourneC’est
terrible! The governor—”
“What?”
“The Crown governor!”
“What about him?”
“At the airport, it was so quick, so rapid!” cried the old Frenchman“And everything that has
happened, my woman, the killing— Still, it is unforgivable of me!”
“What are you talking about?”
“That man in the villa, the military officer whose uniform you wearHe’s his aide!”
“We know that
“What you do not know, monsieur, is that my very first instructions came from the Crown
governor
“Instructions?”
“From the Jackal! He is the contact
“Oh, my God,” whispered Bourne, rushing to the stool where Fontaine had put the radioHe
took a deep breath as he picked it up, his thoughts racing, control imperative“Johnny?”
“For Christ’s sake, my arms are full and I’m on my way to the office and those goddamned
monks are in the lobby waiting for me! What the hell do you want now?”
“Take it easy and listen very carefullyHow well do you know Henry?”
“Sykes? The CG’s man?”
“YesI’ve met him a few times but I don’t know him, Johnny
“I know him very wellYou wouldn’t have a house and I wouldn’t have Tranquility Inn if it
wasn’t for him
“Is he in touch with the governor? I mean right now, is he keeping the CG posted about what’s
going on hereThere’s a phone in that cartier pasha watch villa; he could be in contact
with Government HouseIs he?”
“You mean with the CG himself?”
“With anyone over there
“Believe me, he’s notEverything’s so quiet not even the police know what’s going onAnd as
far as the CG is concerned, he’s only been given the vaguest scenario, no names, nothing, only a
trapHe’s also out on his boat and doesn’t want to know a damn thing until it’s all overThose
were his orders
“I’ll bet they were
“Why do you ask?”
“I’ll explain laterHurry up!”
“Will you stop saying that?”
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Jason put down the radio and turned to FontaineThe governor isn’t one of the
Jackal’s army of old menHe’s a different kind of recruit, probably like that lawyer Gates in
Boston—just bought or frightened, no soul involved
“You’re certain? Your brother-in-law is certain?”
“The man’s out on his boatHe was given a bare-bones outline but that’s all, and his orders were
that he’s not to be told anything else until it’s all over
The Frenchman sighed“It’s a pity my mind is so old and so filled with saltIf I had
remembered, we could have used him
“How could we have used him?” asked Bourne, again holding out his arms
“He removed himself to the gradins—how is it said?”
“The d&g handbag bleache