tc.patriotgames-第76部分

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　a　recruit。　He'd　e　south　because　one　of　his　friends　from　the　H…blocks　had　e。　O'Donnell　had　thought　him　of　possible　use；　since　they　had　no　experienced　work…alone　assassins。　But　Clark　was　stupid。　His　motivations　came　from　emotion　rather　than　ideology。　He　was；　in　fact；　a　typical　PIRA　thug；　little　different　from　those　in　the　UVF　for　that　matter；　useful　in　the　same　sense　that　a　trained　dog　was　useful；　Kevin　told　himself。　He　knew　but　a　few　names　and　faces　within　the　Organization。　Most　damning　of　all；　he　had　failed。　Clark's　one　redeeming　characteristic　was　his　doglike　loyalty。　He　hadn't　broken　in　Long　Kesh　prison　and　he　probably　wouldn't　break　now。　He　lacked　the　imagination。
　　　　〃Very　well；〃　Kevin　O'Donnell　said　after　a　moment's　reflection。　Clark　would　be　remembered　as　a　martyr；　gaining　greater　respect　in　failure　than　he　had　managed　to　earn　in　success。　〃The　rest？〃
　　　　〃Perfect。　I　saw　the　wife　and　child　die；　and　Alex's　people　got　us　away　cleanly。〃　Miller　smiled　and　poured　some　whiskey　to　follow　his　liter　of　ice　water。
　　　　〃They're　not　dead；　Sean；〃　O'Donnell　said。
　　　　〃What？〃　Miller　had　been　on　an　airplane　less　than　three　hours　after　the　shooting；　and　hadn't　seen　or　heard　a　snippet　of　news　since。　He　listened　to　his　boss's　explanation　in　incredulous　silence。
　　　　〃But　it　doesn't　matter；〃　O'Donnell　concluded。　He　explained　that；　too。　The　AP　story　that　had　originated　in　the　Boston　Globe　had　been　picked　up　by　the　Irish　Times　of　Dublin。　〃It　was　a　good　plan　after　all；　Sean。　Despite　everything　that　went　wrong；　the　mission　is　acplished。〃
　　　　Sean　didn't　allow　himself　to　react。　Two　operations　in　a　row　had　gone　wrong　for　him。　Before　the　fiasco　in　London；　he'd　never　failed　at　all。　He'd　written　that　off　to　random　chance；　pure　luck；　nothing　more。　He　didn't　even　think　of　that　in　this　case。　Two　in　a　row；　that　wasn't　luck。　He　knew　that　Kevin　would　not　tolerate　a　third　failure。　The　young　operations　officer　took　a　deep　breath　and　told　himself　to　be　objective。　He'd　allowed　himself　to　think　of　Ryan　as　a　personal　target；　not　a　political　one。　That　had　been　his　first　mistake。　Though　Kevin　hadn't　said　it；　losing　Ned　had　been　a　serious　mistake。　Miller　reviewed　his　plan；　rethinking　every　aspect　of　the　operation。　Just　going　after　the　wife　and　child　would　have　been　simple　thuggery；　and　he'd　never　approved　of　that；　it　was　not　professional。　Just　going　after　Ryan　himself；　however；　would　not　have　carried　the　same　political　impact；　which　was　the　whole　point　of　the　operation。　The　rest　of　the　family　was　　had　been　necessary。　So　his　objectives　had　been　sound　enough；　but　。　。　。
　　　　〃I　should　have　taken　more　time　on　this　one；〃　he　said　finally。　〃I　tried　to　be　too　dramatic。　Perhaps　we　should　have　waited。〃　
　　　　〃Yes；〃　his　boss　agreed；　pleased　that　Sean　saw　his　errors。

　　　　〃Any　help　we　can　give　you；〃　Owens　said；　〃is　yours。　You　know　that；　Dan。〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　well；　this　has　attracted　some　high…level　interest。〃　Murray　held　a　cable　from　Director　Emil　Jacobs　himself。　〃Well；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time。　It　had　to　happen　sooner　or　later。〃　And　if　we　don't　bag　these　sons　of　bitches；　he　thought；　it'll　happen　again。　The　ULA　just　proved　that　terrorists　could　operate　in　the　U。S。　The　emotional　shock　of　the　event　had　e　as　a　surprise　to　Murray。　As　a　professional　in　the　field；　he　knew　that　it　was　mere　luck　that　it　hadn't　happened　already。　The　inept　domestic　terrorist　groups　had　set　off　some　bombs　and　murdered　a　few　people；　but　the　Bureau　had　experienced　considerable　success　running　them　to　ground。　None　of　them　had　ever　gotten　much　in　the　way　of　foreign　support。　But　that　had　changed；　too。　The　helicopter　pilot　had　identified　one　of　the　escaping　terrorists　as　black；　and　there　weren't　many　of　them　in　Ireland。
　　　　It　was　a　new　ball　game；　and　for　all　his　experience　in　the　FBI；　Murray　was　worried　about　how　well　the　Bureau　would　be　able　to　handle　it。　Director　Jacobs　was　right　on　one　thing：　this　was　a　top…priority　mission。　Bill　Shaw　would　run　the　case　personally；　and　Murray　knew　him　to　be　one　of　the　best　intellects　in　the　business。　The　thirty　agents　initially　assigned　to　the　case　would　treble　in　the　next　few　days；　then　treble　again。　The　only　way　to　keep　this　from　happening　again　was　to　demonstrate　that　America　was　too　dangerous　a　place　for　terrorists。　In　his　heart；　Murray　knew　that　this　was　impossible。　No　place　was　too　dangerous；　certainly　no　democracy。
　　　　But　the　Bureau　did　have　formidable　resources；　and　it　wouldn't　be　the　only　agency　involved。

Chapter　17　Recriminations　and　Decisions

　　　　Ryan　awoke　to　find　Robby　waving　a　cup　of　coffee　under　his　nose。　Jack　had　managed　to　sleep　without　dreams　this　time；　and　the　oblivion　of　undisturbed　slumber　had　worked　wonders　on　him。
　　　　〃Sissy　was　over　the　hospital　earlier。　She　says　Cathy　looks　all　right；　considering。　It's　all　set　up　so　you　can　get　in　to　see　Sally。　She'll　be　asleep；　but　you　can　see　her。〃　
　　　　〃Where　is　she？〃　
　　　　〃Sissy？　She's　out　runnin'　some　errands。〃　
　　　　〃I　need　a　shave。〃
　　　　〃Me；　too。　She's　getting　what　we　need。　First　I'm　gonna　get　some　food　in　ya'；〃　Robby　said。
　　　　〃I　owe　you；　man；〃　Jack　said　as　he　stood。
　　　　〃Give　it　a　rest；　Jack。　That's　what　the　Lord　put　us　here　for；　like　my　pappy　says。　Now；　eat！〃　Robby　manded。
　　　　Jack　realized　that　he'd　not　eaten　anything　for　a　long　time；　and　once　his　stomach　reminded　itself　of　this；　it　cried　out　for　nourishment。　Within　five　minutes　he'd　disposed　of　two　eggs；　bacon；　hash…browns；　four　slices　of　toast；　and　two　cups　of　coffee。
　　　　〃Shame　they　don't　have　grits　here；〃　Robby　observed。　A　knock　came　to　the　door。　The　pilot　answered　it。　Sissy　breezed　in　with　a　shopping　bag　in　one　hand　and　Jack's　briefcase　in　the　other。
　　　　〃You　better　freshen　up；　Jack；〃　she　said。　〃Cathy　looks　better　than　you　do。〃
　　　　〃Nothing　unusual　about　that；〃　Jack　replied　　cheerfully；　he　realized　with　surprise。　Sissy　had　bailed　him　into　it。
　　　　〃Robby？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah？〃　
　　　　〃What　the　hell　are　grits？〃　
　　　　〃You　don't　want　to　know；〃　Cecilia　Jackson　answered。
　　　　〃I'll　take　your　word　for　it。〃　Jack　walked　into　the　bathroom　and　started　the　shower。　By　the　time　he　got　out；　Robby　had　shaved；　leaving　the　razor　and　cream　on　the　sink。　Jack　scraped　his　beard　away　and　patched　the　bloody　spots　with　toilet　paper。　A　new　toothbrush　was　sitting　there　too；　and　Ryan　emerged　from　the　room　looking　and　feeling　like　a　human　being。　
　　　　〃Thanks；　guys；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃I'll　take　you　home　tonight；〃　Robby　said。　〃I　have　to　teach　class　tomorrow。　You　don't。　I　fixed　it　with　the　department。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。〃
　　　　Sissy　left　for　home。　Jack　and　Robby　walked　over　to　the　hospital。　Visiting　hours　were　under　way　and　they　were　able　to　walk　right　up　to　Cathy's　room。
　　　　〃Well；　if　it　isn't　our　hero！〃　Joe　Muller　was　Cathy's　father。　He　was　a　short；　swarthy　man　　Cathy's　hair　and　plexion　came　from　her　mother；　now　dead。　A　senior　VP　with　Merrill　Lynch；　he　was　a　product　of　the　Ivy　League；　and　had　started　in　the　brokerage　business　much　as　Ryan　had；　though　his　brief　stint　in　the　military　had　been　two　years　of　drafted　service　in　the　Army　that　he'd　long　since　put　behind　him。　He'd　once　had　big　plans　for　Jack　and　had　never　forgiven　him　for　leaving　the　business。　Muller　was　a　passionate　man　who　was　also　well　aware　of　his　importance　in　the　financial　munity。　He　and　Jack　hadn't　exchanged　a　civil　word　in　over　three　years。　It　didn't　look　to　Jack　as　though　that　was　going　to　change。
　　　　〃Daddy；〃　Cathy　said；　〃we　don't　need　that。〃
　　　　〃Hi；　Joe。〃　Ryan　held　out　his　hand。　It　hung　there　for　five　seconds；　all　by　itself。　Robby　excused　himself　out　the　door；　and　Jack　went　to　kiss　his　wife。　〃Lookin'　better；　babe。〃　
　　　　〃What　do　you　have　to　say　for　yourself？〃　Muller　demanded。
　　　　〃The　guy　who　wanted　to　kill　me　was　arrested　yesterday。　The　FBI　has　him；〃　Jack　said　carefully。　He　amazed　himself　by　saying　it　so　calmly。　Somehow　it　seemed　a　trivial　matter　pared　with　his　wife　and　daughter。
　　　　〃This　is　all　your　fault；　you　know。〃　Muller　had　been　rehearsing　this　for　hours。
　　　　〃I　know；〃　Jack　conceded　the　point。　He　wondered　how　much　more　he　could　back　up。
　　　　〃Daddy　〃　Cathy　started　to　say。
　　　　〃You　keep　out　of　this；〃　Muller　said　to　his　daughter；　a　little　too　sharply　for　Jack。
　　　　〃You　can　say　anything　you　want　to　me；　but　don't　snap　at　her；〃　he　warned。
　　　　〃Oh；　you　want　to　protect　her；　eh？　So　where　the　hell　were　you　yesterday！〃　
　　　　〃I　was　in　my　office；　just　like　you　were。〃
　　　　〃You　had　to　stick　your　nose　in　where　it　didn't　belong；　didn't　you？　You　had　to　play　hero　　and　you　damned　near　got　your　family　killed；〃　Muller　went　on　through　his　lines。
　　　　〃Look；　Mr。　Muller。〃　Jack　had　told　himself　all　these　things　before。　He　could　accept　the　punishment　from　himself。　But　not　from　his　father…in…law。　〃Unless　you　know　of　a　pany　on　the　exchange　that　makes　a　time　machine；　we　can't　very　well　change　that；　can　we？　All　we　can　do　now　is　help　the　authorities　find　the　people　who　did　this。〃　
　　　　〃Why　didn't　you　think　about　all　this　before；　dammit！〃　
　　　　〃Daddy；　that's　enough！〃　Cathy　rejoined　the　conversation。　
　　　　〃Shut　up　　this　is　between　us！〃
　　　　〃If　you　yell　at　her　again；　mister；　you'll　regret　it。〃　Jack　needed　a　release。　He　hadn't　protected　his　family　the　previous　day；　but　he　could　now。
　　　　〃Calm　down；　Jack。〃　His　wife　didn't　know　that　she　was　making　things　worse；　but　Jack　took　the　cue　after　a　moment。　Muller　didn't。
　　　　〃Y