jg.thepelicanbrief-µÚ5²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡and¡¡started¡¡wondering¡¡why¡¡he'd¡¡said¡¡all¡¡that¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Callahan¡¡stared¡¡him¡¡down£»¡¡then¡¡began¡¡pacing¡¡again¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡hangover¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡*
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡AT¡¡LEAST¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡an¡¡old¡¡farmer£»¡¡with¡¡straw¡¡hat£»¡¡clean¡¡bib¡¡overalls£»¡¡neatly¡¡pressed¡¡khaki¡¡workshirt£»¡¡boots¡£¡¡He¡¡chewed¡¡tobacco¡¡and¡¡spat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡black¡¡water¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡pier¡£¡¡He¡¡chewed¡¡like¡¡a¡¡farmer¡£¡¡His¡¡pickup£»¡¡though¡¡of¡¡recent¡¡model£»¡¡was¡¡sufficiently¡¡weathered¡¡and¡¡had¡¡a¡¡dusty¡road¡¡look¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡North¡¡Carolina¡¡plates¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡away£»¡¡parked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sand¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡midnight¡¡Monday£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Monday¡¡in¡¡October£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡thirty¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡coolness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deserted¡¡pier£»¡¡chewing¡¡pensively£»¡¡resting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡railing¡¡while¡¡staring¡¡intently¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡alone£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡planned¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¡This¡¡pier¡¡at¡¡this¡¡hour¡¡was¡¡always¡¡deserted¡£¡¡The¡¡headlights¡¡of¡¡an¡¡occasional¡¡car¡¡flickered¡¡along¡¡the¡¡shoreline£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡headlights¡¡never¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡this¡¡hour¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡He¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡red¡¡and¡¡blue¡¡channel¡¡lights¡¡far¡¡from¡¡shore¡£¡¡He¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡watch¡¡without¡¡moving¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡The¡¡clouds¡¡were¡¡low¡¡and¡¡thick£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pier¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡planned¡¡this¡¡way¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡pickup¡¡was¡¡not¡¡from¡¡North¡¡Carolina£»¡¡and¡¡neither¡¡was¡¡the¡¡farmer¡£¡¡The¡¡license¡¡plates¡¡had¡¡been¡¡stolen¡¡from¡¡a¡¡wrecked¡¡truck¡¡at¡¡a¡¡scrap¡¡yard¡¡near¡¡Durham¡£¡¡The¡¡pickup¡¡had¡¡been¡¡stolen¡¡in¡¡Baton¡¡Rouge¡£¡¡The¡¡farmer¡¡was¡¡not¡¡from¡¡anywhere£»¡¡and¡¡per¡¡formed¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thievery¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pro£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡someone¡¡else¡¡did¡¡the¡¡dirty¡¡little¡¡deeds¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Twenty¡¡minutes¡¡into¡¡the¡¡wait£»¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡object¡¡floated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡£¡¡A¡¡quiet£»¡¡muffled¡¡engine¡¡hummed¡¡and¡¡grew¡¡louder¡£¡¡The¡¡object¡¡became¡¡a¡¡small¡¡craft¡¡of¡¡some¡¡sort¡¡with¡¡a¡¡camouflaged¡¡silhouette¡¡crouching¡¡low¡¡and¡¡working¡¡the¡¡motor¡£¡¡The¡¡farmer¡¡moved¡¡not¡¡an¡¡inch¡¡in¡¡anticipation¡£¡¡The¡¡humming¡¡stopped¡¡and¡¡the¡¡black¡¡rubber¡¡raft¡¡stalled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡calm¡¡water¡¡thirty¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pier¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡headlights¡¡ing¡¡or¡¡going¡¡along¡¡the¡¡shore¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡farmer¡¡carefully¡¡placed¡¡a¡¡cigarette¡¡between¡¡his¡¡lips£»¡¡lit¡¡it£»¡¡puffed¡¡twice£»¡¡then¡¡thumped¡¡it¡¡down£»¡¡halfway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡raft¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡cigarette£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡water¡¡asked¡¡upward¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡outline¡¡of¡¡the¡¡farmer¡¡on¡¡the¡¡railing£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡the¡¡face¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Lucky¡¡Strike£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡farmer¡¡answered¡£¡¡These¡¡passwords¡¡made¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡silly¡¡game¡£¡¡How¡¡many¡¡other¡¡black¡¡rubber¡¡rafts¡¡could¡¡be¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡drift¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡and¡¡pinpoint¡¡this¡¡ancient¡¡pier¡¡at¡¡this¡¡precise¡¡hour£¿¡¡Silly£»¡¡but¡¡oh¡¡so¡¡important¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Luke£¿¡¨¡¡came¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡from¡¡the¡¡boat¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Sam£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡farmer¡£¡¡The¡¡name¡¡was¡¡Khamel£»¡¡not¡¡Sam£»¡¡but¡¡Sam¡¡would¡¡do¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡until¡¡Khamel¡¡parked¡¡his¡¡raft¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Khamel¡¡did¡¡not¡¡answer£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡required¡¡to£»¡¡but¡¡quickly¡¡started¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡and¡¡guided¡¡the¡¡raft¡¡along¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beach¡£¡¡Luke¡¡followed¡¡from¡¡above¡£¡¡They¡¡met¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pickup¡¡without¡¡a¡¡handshake¡£¡¡Khamel¡¡placed¡¡his¡¡black¡¡Adidas¡¡gym¡¡bag¡¡between¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡seat£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡truck¡¡started¡¡along¡¡the¡¡shoreline¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Luke¡¡drove¡¡and¡¡Khamel¡¡smoked£»¡¡and¡¡both¡¡did¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡job¡¡of¡¡ignoring¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡Their¡¡eyes¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡meet¡£¡¡With¡¡Khamel's¡¡heavy¡¡beard£»¡¡dark¡¡glasses£»¡¡and¡¡black¡¡turtleneck£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡was¡¡ominous¡¡but¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡identify¡£¡¡Luke¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡£¡¡Part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡assignment£»¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡receiving¡¡this¡¡stranger¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡refrain¡¡from¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡easy£»¡¡really¡£¡¡The¡¡face¡¡was¡¡wanted¡¡in¡¡nine¡¡countries¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Across¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡at¡¡Manteo£»¡¡Luke¡¡lit¡¡another¡¡Lucky¡¡Strike¡¡and¡¡determined¡¡they¡¡had¡¡met¡¡before¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡but¡¡precisely¡¡timed¡¡meeting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡airport¡¡in¡¡Rome£»¡¡five¡¡or¡¡six¡¡years¡¡earlier£»¡¡as¡¡best¡¡he¡¡could¡¡remember¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡introductions¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡place¡¡in¡¡a¡¡restroom¡£¡¡Luke£»¡¡then¡¡an¡¡impeccably¡¡tailored¡¡American¡¡executive£»¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡an¡¡eelskin¡¡attache¡¡case¡¡next¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡next¡¡to¡¡the¡¡washbasin¡¡where¡¡he¡¡slowly¡¡rinsed¡¡his¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡suddenly¡¡it¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡He¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manthis¡¡Khamel£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡now¡¡certainin¡¡the¡¡mirror¡£¡¡Thirty¡¡minutes¡¡later£»¡¡the¡¡attache¡¡case¡¡exploded¡¡between¡¡the¡¡legs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡British¡¡ambassador¡¡to¡¡Nigeria¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡guarded¡¡whispers¡¡of¡¡his¡¡invisible¡¡brotherhood£»¡¡Luke¡¡had¡¡often¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Khamel£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡many¡¡names¡¡and¡¡faces¡¡and¡¡languages£»¡¡an¡¡assassin¡¡who¡¡struck¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡left¡¡no¡¡trail£»¡¡a¡¡fastidious¡¡killer¡¡who¡¡roamed¡¡the¡¡world¡¡but¡¡could¡¡never¡¡be¡¡found¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡rode¡¡north¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡Luke¡¡settled¡¡low¡¡in¡¡his¡¡seat£»¡¡the¡¡brim¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡almost¡¡on¡¡his¡¡nose£»¡¡limp¡¡wrist¡¡across¡¡the¡¡wheel£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡he'd¡¡heard¡¡about¡¡his¡¡passenger¡£¡¡Amazing¡¡feats¡¡of¡¡terror¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡British¡¡ambassador¡£¡¡The¡¡ambush¡¡of¡¡seventeen¡¡Israeli¡¡soldiers¡¡on¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Bank¡¡in¡¡1990¡¡had¡¡been¡¡credited¡¡to¡¡Khamel¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡suspect¡¡in¡¡the¡¡1985¡¡car¡bomb¡¡murders¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wealthy¡¡German¡¡banker¡¡and¡¡his¡¡family¡£¡¡His¡¡fee¡¡for¡¡that¡¡one¡¡was¡¡rumored¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡three¡¡million£»¡¡cash¡£¡¡Most¡¡intelligence¡¡experts¡¡believed¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡mastermind¡¡of¡¡the¡¡1981¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡Pope¡£¡¡But¡¡then£»¡¡Khamel¡¡was¡¡blamed¡¡for¡¡almost¡¡every¡¡unsolved¡¡terrorist¡¡attack¡¡and¡¡assassination¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡blame¡¡because¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡he¡¡existed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡This¡¡excited¡¡Luke¡£¡¡Khamel¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡perform¡¡on¡¡American¡¡soil¡£¡¡The¡¡targets¡¡were¡¡unknown¡¡to¡¡Luke£»¡¡but¡¡important¡¡blood¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡shed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡*¡¡¡¡*
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡AT¡¡DAWN£»¡¡the¡¡stolen¡¡farm¡¡truck¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡Thirty¡first¡¡and¡¡M¡¡streets¡¡in¡¡Georgetown¡£¡¡Khamel¡¡grabbed¡¡his¡¡gym¡¡bag£»¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡sidewalk¡£¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡east¡¡a¡¡few¡¡blocks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡Seasons¡¡Hotel£»¡¡bought¡¡a¡¡Post¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lobby£»¡¡and¡¡casually¡¡rode¡¡the¡¡elevator¡¡to¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡floor¡£¡¡At¡¡precisely¡¡seven¡fifteen£»¡¡he¡¡knocked¡¡on¡¡a¡¡door¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡¡¨Yes£¿¡¨¡¡a¡¡nervous¡¡voice¡¡asked¡¡from¡¡inside¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Looking¡¡for¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Sneller£»¡¨¡¡Khamel¡¡said¡¡slowly¡¡in¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡generic¡¡American¡¡tongue¡¡as¡¡he¡¡stuck¡¡his¡¡thumb¡¡over¡¡the¡¡peephole¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Sneller£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡Edwin¡¡F¡£¡¡Sneller¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡knob¡¡did¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡or¡¡click£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡door¡¡did¡¡not¡¡open¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡seconds¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡white¡¡envelope¡¡eased¡¡from¡¡under¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡Khamel¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¨Okay£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡loud¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡Sneller¡¡or¡¡whoever¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡hear¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡next¡¡door£»¡¨¡¡Sneller¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡await¡¡your¡¡call¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡sounded¡¡like¡¡an¡¡American¡£¡¡Unlike¡¡Luke£»¡¡he'd¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡Khamel£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡no¡¡desire¡¡to£»¡¡really¡£¡¡Luke¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡twice¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡lucky¡¡to¡¡be¡¡alive¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Khamel's¡¡room¡¡had¡¡two¡¡beds¡¡and¡¡a¡¡small¡¡table¡¡near¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡The¡¡shades¡¡were¡¡drawn¡¡tightly£»¡¡no¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡sunlight¡£¡¡He¡¡placed¡¡his¡¡gym¡¡bag¡¡on¡¡one¡¡bed£»¡¡next¡¡to¡¡two¡¡thick¡¡briefcases¡£¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window¡¡and¡¡peeked¡¡out£»¡¡then¡¡to¡¡the¡¡phone¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Sneller¡£¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡about¡¡the¡¡car¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡parked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡Plain¡¡white¡¡Ford¡¡with¡¡Connecticut¡¡plates¡£¡¡The¡¡keys¡¡are¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¨¡¡Sneller¡¡spoke¡¡slowly¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Stolen£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course£»¡¡but¡¡sanitized¡£¡¡It's¡¡clean¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡leave¡¡it¡¡at¡¡Dulles¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡midnight¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡it¡¡destroyed£»¡¡okay£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡English¡¡was¡¡perfect¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Those¡¡are¡¡my¡¡instructions¡£¡¡Yes¡£¡¨¡¡Sneller¡¡was¡¡proper¡¡and¡¡efficient¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡very¡¡important£»¡¡okay£¿¡¡I¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡in¡¡the¡¡car¡£¡¡Guns¡¡leave¡¡bullets¡¡and¡¡people¡¡see¡¡cars£»¡¡so¡¡it's¡¡important¡¡to¡¡pletely¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡car¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡Understand£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Those¡¡are¡¡my¡¡instructions£»¡¨¡¡Sneller¡¡repeated¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appreciate¡¡this¡¡lecture¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡no¡¡novice¡¡at¡¡the¡¡killing¡¡game¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Khamel¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡four¡¡million¡¡was¡¡received¡¡a¡¡week¡¡ago£»¡¡a¡¡day¡¡late¡¡I¡¡should¡¡add¡£¡¡I'm¡¡now¡¡in¡¡D¡£C¡££»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡want¡¡the¡¡next¡¡three¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡wired¡¡before¡¡noon¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡the¡¡agreement¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡worried¡¡about¡¡the¡¡agreement¡£¡¡You¡¡were¡¡a¡¡day¡¡late£»¡¡remember£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡This¡¡irritated¡¡Sneller£»¡¡and¡¡since¡¡the¡¡killer¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room¡¡and¡¡not¡¡about¡¡to¡¡e¡¡out£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡sound¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡irritated¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡bank's¡¡fault£»¡¡not¡¡ours¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡This¡¡irritated¡¡Khamel¡£¡¡¡¨Fine¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡and¡¡your¡¡bank¡¡to¡¡wire¡¡the¡¡next¡¡three¡¡million¡¡to¡¡the¡¡account¡¡in¡¡Zurich¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡New¡¡York¡¡opens¡£¡¡That¡¡will¡¡be¡¡about¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡from¡¡now¡£¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡checking¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Okay¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Okay£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡want¡¡no¡¡problem¡¡when¡¡the¡¡job¡¡is¡¡finished