tc.redrabbit-第111部分
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n't last forever。 They did have tickets to the concert that night。 They had to go back to the hotel； try to get a sitter for zaichik； get dressed； and go to the concert hall。 Even Irina would appreciate that。
Probably； Oleg Ivan'ch thought bleakly。 As though he didn't have enough to worry about。 But his little girl wasn't concerned about a thing； Oleg saw。 She ate her ice cream and looked around at this different place with its different sights。 There was much to be said for a child's innocence。 A pity one lost it…and why； then； did children try so hard to grow up and leave their innocence behind？ Didn't they know how wonderful the world was for them alone？ Didn't they know that； with understanding； the wonders of the world only became burdens？ And pain。
And doubts； Zaitzev thought。 So many doubts。
But no； zaichik didn't know that； and by the time she found out； it would be too late。
Finally； Irina walked outside； with a beaming smile such as she'd not had since delivering their daughter。 Then she really surprised him…she came up to him for a hug and a kiss。
〃Oh； Oleg； you are so good to me！〃 And another passionate kiss of a woman sated by shopping。 Even better than one sated by sex； her husband suddenly thought。
〃Back to the hotel； my dear。 We must dress for the concert。〃 The easy part was the ride on the metro； then into the Astoria and up to Room 307。 Once there； they decided more or less by default to take Svetlana with them。 Getting a sitter would have been an inconvenience…Oleg had thought about a female KGB officer from the Culture and Friendship House across the street； but neither he nor his wife felt fortable with such arrangements； and so zaichik would have to behave herself during the concert。 His tickets were in the room； Orchestra Row 6； seats A； B； and C； which put him right on the aisle； where he preferred to be。 Svetlana would wear her new clothes this evening； which； he hoped； would make her happy。 It usually did； and these were the best clothes she'd ever had。
The bathroom was crowded in their room。 Irina worked hard and long to get her face right。 It was easier for her husband； and easier still for their daughter； for whom a wet washcloth across her grimacing face was enough。 Then they all got dressed in their best clothing。 Oleg buckled his little girl's shiny black shoes over the white tights to which she'd taken an immediate love。 Then she put on the red coat with the black collar； and the little Bunny was all ready for the adventures of the evening。 They took the elevator down to the lobby and caught a cab outside。
For Trent it was a little awkward。 Staking out the lobby ought to have been difficult； but the hotel staff seemed not to notice him； and so when the package left； it was a simple matter of walking out to his car and following their cab to the concert hall； just a mile down the street。 Once there； he found a parking place close by and walked quickly to the entrance。 Drinks were being served there； and the Zaitzevs availed themselves of what looked like Tokaji before heading in。 Their little girl was as radiant as ever。 Lovely child； Trent thought。 He hoped she'd like life in the West。 He watched them head into the theater to their seats； and then he turned to go up the stairs to his box。
Ryan and Hudson were already there； sitting on the old chairs with their velvet cushions。
〃Andy； Jack；〃 Trent said in greeting。 〃Sixth row； left side of center； just on the aisle。〃
Then the houselights started flickering。 The curtain drew back； the meandering tones of musicians tuning their various instruments trailed off； and the conductor； Jozsef Rozsa； appeared from stage right。 The initial applause was little more than polite。 It was his first concert in the series； and he was new to this audience。 That struck Ryan as odd…he was a Hungarian； a graduate of their own Franz Liszt Academy。 Why wasn't their greeting more enthusiastic？ He was a tall and thin guy with black hair and the face of an aesthete。 He bowed politely to the audience and turned back to the orchestra。 His little baton stick…whatever it was called； Ryan didn't know…was there on the little stand； and when he lifted it； the room went dead still； and then his right arm shot out to the string section of the Hungarian State Railroad Orchestra #1。
Ryan was not the student of music that his wife was； but Bach was Bach； and the concerto built in majesty almost from the first instant。 Music； like poetry or painting； Jack told himself； was a means of munication； but he'd never quite figured out what posers were trying to say。 It was easier with a John Williams movie score； where the music so perfectly acpanied the action； but Bach hadn't known about moving pictures； and so he must have been 〃talking about〃 things that his original audiences would have recognized。 But Ryan wasn't one of those； and so he just had to appreciate the wonderful harmonies。 It struck him that the piano wasn't right； and only when he looked did he see that it wasn't a piano at all； but rather an ancient harpsichord； played； it seemed； by an equally ancient virtuoso with flowing white hair and the elegant hands of。。。 a surgeon； Jack thought。 Jack did know piano music。 Their friend Sissy Jackson； a solo player with the Washington Symphony； said Cathy was too mechanical in her playing； but Ryan only noted that she never missed a key…you could always tell…and to him that was sufficient。 This guy； he thought； watching his hands and catching the notes through the wonderful cacophony； didn't miss a single note； and every one； it seemed； was precisely as loud or soft as the concert required； and so precisely timed as to define perfection。 The rest of the orchestra seemed about as well practiced as the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team； everything as precise as a series of laser beams。
The one thing Ryan couldn't tell was what the conductor was doing。 Wasn't the concerto written down？ Wasn't conducting just a matter of making sure…beforehand…that everybody knew his part and did it on time？ He'd have to ask Cathy about it； and she'd roll her eyes and remark that he really was a Philistine。 But Sissy Jackson said that Cathy was a mechanic on the keyboard； lacking in soul。 So there； Lady Caroline！
The string section was also superb； and Ryan wondered how the hell you ran a bow along a string and made the exact noise you wanted to。 Probably because they do it for a living； he told himself； and he sat back to enjoy the music。 It was only then that he watched Andy Hudson； whose eyes were on the package。 He took the moment to look that way as well。
The little girl was squirming； doing her best to be good； and maybe taking note of the music； but it couldn't be as good as a tape of The Wizard of Oz and that couldn't be helped。 Still and all； she was behaving well； the little Bunny sitting between Ma and Pa Rabbit。
Mama Rabbit was watching the concert with rapt attention。 Papa Rabbit was being politely attentive。 Maybe they should call ahead to London and get Irina a Walkman； Jack thought； along with some Christopher Hogwood tapes。。。 Cathy seemed to like him a lot； along with Nevile Marriner。
In any case； after about twenty minutes； they finished the Menuetto； the orchestra went quiet； and when Conductor Rozsa turned to face the audience。。。
The concert hall went berserk with cheering and shouts of 〃Bravo！〃 Jack didn't know what he'd done differently； but evidently the Hungarians did。 Rozsa bowed deeply to the audience and waited for the noise to subside before turning back and manding quiet again as he raised his little white stick to start Brandenberg #2。
This one started with a brass and strings； and Ryan found himself entranced by the individual musicians more than whatever the conductor had done with them。 How long do you have to study to get that good？ he wondered。 Cathy played two or three times a week at home in Maryland…their Chatham house wasn't big enough for a proper grand piano； rather to her disappointment。 He'd offered to get an upright； but she'd declined； saying that it just wasn't the same。 Sissy Jackson said that she played three hours or more every single day。 But Sissy did it for a living； while Cathy had another and somewhat more immediate passion in her professional life。
The second Brandenberg concerto was shorter than the first； ending in about twelve minutes； and the third followed at once。 Bach must have loved the violins more than any other instrument； and the local string section was pretty good。 In any other setting Jack might have given himself over to the moment and just drunk in the music； but he did have something more important planned for this evening。 Every few seconds； his eyes drifted left to see the Rabbit family。。。
BRANDENBERG #3 ended roughly an hour after #1 had begun。 The house…lights came on； and it was time for the intermission。 Ryan watched Papa Rabbit and Mrs。 Rabbit leave their seats。 The reason was plain。 The Bunny needed a trip to the little girls' room； and probably Papa would avail himself of the local plumbing as well。 Hudson saw that and leapt to his feet； back out of the box； into the private corridor； closely followed by Tom Trent； and down the steps to the lobby and into
