tc.patriotgames-第14部分

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derful。〃　
　　　　〃Thanks。　How　do　you　like　being　a　daddy？〃　
　　　　〃The　first　time　you　hold　your　newborn　child　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Jack　said。　〃Sir；　that's　what　it's　all　about。〃　He　stopped　talking　abruptly。
　　　　Bingo；　Ryan　thought。　A　four…month…old　baby。　If　they　kidnap　the　Prince　and　Princess；　well；　no　government　can　cave　in　to　terrorism。　The　politicians　and　police　have　to　have　a　contingency　plan　already　set　up　for　this；　don't　they？　They'd　take　this　town　apart　one　brick　at　a　time；　but　they　wouldn't　　couldn't　　negotiate　anything；　and　that　was　just　too　bad　for　the　grown…ups；　but　a　little　baby　。　。　。　damn；　there's　a　bargaining　chip！　What　kind　of　people　would　　
　　　　〃Bastards；〃　Ryan　whispered　to　himself。　Wilson　blanched；　but　the　Prince　suspected　what　Jack　was　thinking　about。　
　　　　〃Excuse　me？〃
　　　　〃They　weren't　trying　to　kill　you。　Hell；　I　bet　you　weren't　even　the　real　objective　。　。　。　〃　Ryan　nodded　slowly。　He　searched　his　mind　for　the　data　he'd　seen　on　the　ULA。　There　hadn't　been　much　　it　hadn't　been　his　area　of　focus　in　any　case　　a　few　tidbits　of　shadowy　intelligence　reports；　mixed　with　a　lot　of　pure　conjecture。　〃They　didn't　want　to　kill　you　at　all；　I　bet。　And　when　you　covered　the　wife　and　kid；　you　burned　their　plan　。　。　。　maybe；　or　maybe　you　just　　yeah；　maybe　you　just　threw　them　a　curve；　and　that　blew　their　timing　a　little　bit。〃　
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　the　Prince　asked。
　　　　〃Goddamned　medications　slow　your　brain　down；〃　Ryan　said　mainly　to　himself。　〃Have　the　police　told　you　what　the　terrorists　were　up　to？〃　
　　　　His　Highness　sat　upright　in　the　chair。　〃I　can't　〃　
　　　　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　Ryan　cut　him　off。　〃Did　they　tell　you　that　what　you　did　definitely　　definitely　　saved　all　of　you？〃　
　　　　〃No；　but　〃　
　　　　〃Tony？〃　
　　　　〃They　told　me　you　were　a　very　clever　chap。　Jack；〃　Wilson　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　ment　further。　Your　Royal　Highness；　Doctor　Ryan　maybe　correct　in　his　assessment。〃　
　　　　〃What　assessment？〃　The　Prince　was　puzzled。　
　　　　Ryan　explained。　It　only　took　a　few　minutes。　
　　　　〃How　did　you　arrive　at　this　conclusion。　Jack？〃　
　　　　Ryan's　mind　was　still　churning　through　the　hypothesis。　〃Sir；　I'm　an　historian。　My　business　is　figuring　things　out。　Before　that　I　was　a　stockbroker　　doing　essentially　the　same　thing。　It's　not　all　that　hard　when　you　think　about　it。　You　look　for　apparent　inconsistencies　and　then　you　try　to　figure　out　why　they're　not　really　inconsistent。〃　He　concluded；　〃It's　all　speculation　on　my　part；　but　I'm　willing　to　bet　that　Tony's　colleagues　are　pursuing　it。〃　Wilson　didn't　say　anything。　He　cleared　his　throat　　which　was　answer　enough。
　　　　The　Prince　looked　deep　into　his　coffee　cup。　His　face　was　that　of　a　man　who　had　recovered　from　fear　and　shame。　Now　he　contemplated　cold　anger　at　what　might　have　been。　
　　　　〃Well；　they've　had　their　chance；　haven't　they？〃　

　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　I　imagine　if　they　ever　try　again；　it'll　be　a　lot　harder。　Right；　Tony？〃
　　　　〃I　seriously　doubt　that　they　will　ever　try　again；〃　Wilson　replied。　〃We　should　develop　some　rather　good　intelligence　from　this　incident。　The　ULA　have　stepped　over　an　invisible　line。　Politically；　success　might　have　enhanced　their　position；　but　they　didn't　succeed；　did　they？　This　will　harm　them；　harm　their　'popular'　support。　Some　people　who　know　them　will　now　consider　talking　　not　to　us；　you　understand；　but　some　of　what　they　say　will　get　to　us　in　due　course。　They　were　outcasts　before；　they　will　be　outcasts　even　more　now。〃
　　　　Will　they　learn　from　this？　Ryan　wondered；　if　so；　what　will　they　have　learned？　There's　a　question。　Jack　knew　that　it　had　only　two　possible　answers；　and　that　those　answers　were　diametrically　opposed。　He　made　a　mental　note。　He'd　follow　up　on　this　when　he　got　home。　It　wasn't　a　merely　academic　exercise　now。　He　had　a　bullet　hole　in　his　shoulder　to　prove　that。
　　　　The　Prince　rose　to　his　feet。　〃You　must　excuse　me。　Jack。　I'm　afraid　I　have　rather　a　full　day　ahead。〃　
　　　　〃Going　back　out；　eh？〃
　　　　〃If　I　hide；　they've　won。　I　understand　that　fact　better　now　than　when　I　came　in　here。　And　I　have　something　else　to　thank　you　for。〃
　　　　〃You　would　have　figured　it　out　sooner　or　later。　Better　it　should　be　sooner；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　　〃We　must　see　more　of　each　other。〃　
　　　　〃I'd　like　that；　sir。　Afraid　I'm　stuck　here　for　a　while；　though。〃　
　　　　〃We　are　traveling　out　of　the　country　soon　　the　day　after　tomorrow。　It's　a　state　visit　to　New　Zealand　and　the　Solomon　Islands。　You　may　be　gone　before　we　get　back。〃　
　　　　〃Is　your　wife　up　to　it。　Your　Highness？〃
　　　　〃I　think　so。　A　change　of　scenery；　the　doctor　said；　is　just　the　ticket。　She　had　a　very　bad　experience　yesterday；　but〃　　he　smiled　　〃I　think　it　was　harder　on　me　than　on　her。〃　
　　　　I'll　buy　that；　Ryan　thought。　She's　young；　she'll　bounce　back；　and　at　least　she　has　something　good　to　remember。　Putting　your　body　between　your　family　and　the　bullets　ought　to　firm　up　any　relationship。　〃Hey；　she　sure　as　hell　knows　you　love　her；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃I　do；　you　know；〃　the　Prince　said　seriously。
　　　　〃It's　the　customary　reason　to　get　married；　sir；〃　Jack　replied；　〃even　for　us　mon　folk。〃　
　　　　〃You're　a　most　irreverent　chap。　Jack。〃　
　　　　〃Sorry　about　that。〃　Ryan　grinned。　So　did　the　Prince。
　　　　〃No；　you're　not。〃　His　Highness　extended　his　hand。　〃Thank　you；　Sir　John；　for　many　things。〃　
　　　　Ryan　watched　him　leave　with　a　brisk　step　and　a　straight　back。
　　　　〃Tony；　you　know　the　difference　between　him　and　me？　I　can　say　that　I　used　to　be　a　Marine；　and　that's　enough。　But　that　poor　guy's　got　to　prove　it　every　damned　day；　to　everybody　he　meets。　I　guess　that's　what　you　have　to　do　when　you're　in　the　public　eye　all　the　time。〃　Jack　shook　his　head。　〃There's　no　way　in　hell　they　could　pay　me　enough　to　take　his　job。〃　
　　　　〃He's　born　to　it；〃　Wilson　said。
　　　　Ryan　thought　about　that。　〃That's　one　difference　between　your　country　and　mine。　You　think　people　are　born　to　something。　We　know　that　they　have　to　grow　into　it。　It's　not　the　same　thing；　Tony。〃　
　　　　〃Well；　you're　part　of　it　now。　Jack。〃

　　　　〃I　think　I　should　go。〃　David　Ashley　looked　at　the　telex　in　his　hand。　The　disturbing　thing　was　that　he'd　been　requested　by　name。　The　PIRA　knew　who　he　was；　and　they　knew　that　he　was　the　Security　Service　executive　on　the　case。　How　the　hell　did　they　know　that。'
　　　　〃I　agree；〃　James　Owens　said。　〃If　they're　this　anxious　to　talk　with　us；　they　might　be　anxious　enough　to　tell　us　something　useful。　Of　course；　there　is　an　element　of　risk。　You　could　take　someone　with　you。〃
　　　　Ashley　thought　about　that　one。　There　was　always　the　chance　that　he'd　be　kidnapped；　but　。　。　。　The　strange　thing　about　the　PIRA　was　that　they　did　have　a　code　of　conduct。　Within　their　own　definitions；　they　were　honorable。　They　assassinated　their　targets　without　remorse；　but　they　wouldn't　deal　in　drugs。　Their　bombs　would　kill　children；　but　they'd　never　kidnapped　one。　Ashley　shook　his　head。
　　　　〃No；　people　from　the　Service　have　met　with　them　before　and　there's　never　been　a　problem。　I'll　go　alone。〃　He　turned　for　the　door。

　　　　〃Daddy！〃　Sally　ran　into　the　room　and　stopped　cold　at　the　side　of　the　bed　as　she　tried　to　figure　a　way　to　climb　high　enough　to　kiss　her　father。　She　grabbed　the　side　rails　and　set　one　foot　on　the　bedframe　as　if　it　were　the　monkey　bars　at　her　nursery　school　and　sprang　upward。　Her　diminutive　frame　bent　over　the　edge　of　the　mattress　as　she　scrambled　for　a　new　foothold；　and　Ryan　pulled　her　up。
　　　　〃Hi；　Daddy。〃　Sally　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。　
　　　　〃And　how　are　you　today？〃　
　　　　〃Fine。　What's　that；　Daddy？〃　She　pointed。
　　　　〃It's　called　a　cast；〃　Cathy　Ryan　answered。　〃I　thought　you　had　to　go　to　the　bathroom。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。〃　Sally　jumped　back　off　the　bed。
　　　　〃I　think　it's　in　there；〃　Jack　said。　〃But　I'm　not　sure。〃　
　　　　〃I　thought　so；〃　Cathy　said　after　surveying　Jack's　attachment　to　the　bed。　〃Okay；　e　on。　Sally。〃
　　　　A　man　had　entered　behind　his　family；　Ryan　saw。　Late　twenties；　very　athletic；　and　nicely　dressed；　of　course。　He　was　also　rather　good…looking；　Jack　reflected。
　　　　〃Good　afternoon；　Doctor　Ryan；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　William　Greville。〃　
　　　　Jack　made　a　guess。　〃What　regiment？〃　
　　　　〃Twenty…second；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Special　Air　Service？〃　Greville　nodded；　a　proud　but　restrained　smile　on　his　lips。
　　　　〃When　you　care　enough　to　send　the　very　best；〃　Jack　muttered。　〃Just　you？〃
　　　　〃And　a　driver；　Sergeant　Michaelson；　a　policeman　from　the　Diplomatic　Protection　Group。〃　
　　　　〃Why　you　and　not　another　cop？〃
　　　　〃I　understand　your　wife　wishes　to　see　a　bit　of　the　countryside。　My　father　is　something　of　an　authority　on　various　castles；　and　Her　Majesty　thought　that　your　wife　might　wish　to　have　an；　ah；　escort　familiar　with　the　sights。　Father　has　dragged　me　through　nearly　every　old　house　in　England；　you　see。〃
　　　　〃Escort〃　is　the　right　word；　Ryan　thought；　remembering　what　the　〃Special　Air　Service〃　really　was。　The　only　association　they　had　with　airplanes　was　jumping　out　of　them　　or　blowing　them　up。
　　　　Greville　went　on。　〃I　am　also　directed　by　my　colonel　to　extend　an　invitation　to　our　regimental　mess。〃
　　　　Ryan　gestured　at　his　suspended　arm。　〃Thanks；　but　that　might　have　to　wait　a　while。〃
　　　　〃We　understand。　No　matter；　sir。　Whenever　you　have　the　chance；　we'll　be　delighted　to　have　you　in　for　dinner。　We　wanted　to　extend　the　invitation　before　the　bootnecks；　you　see。〃　Greville　grinned。　〃What　you　did　was　more　our　sort　of　op；　after　a