rl.thebourneidentity-第23部分

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s　leading　up　to　recessed　doorways　washed　in　the　light　of　carriage　lamps。　Bourne　recognized　the　unremembered；　the　fact　that　he　did　so　was　not　startling；　but　something　else　was。　The　row　of　houses　evoked　another　image；　a　very　strong　image　of　another　row　of　flats；　similar　in　outline　but　oddly　different。　Weathered；　older；　nowhere　near　as　neat　or　scrubbed。。　cracked　windows；　broken　steps；　inplete　railings　…　jagged　ends　of　rusted　iron。　Farther　away；　in　another　part　of。。。　Zurich；　yes　they　were　in　Zurich。　In　a　small　district　rarely　if　ever　visited　by　those　who　did　not　live　there；　a　part　of　the　city　that　was　left　behind；　but　not　gracefully。
　'Steppdeckstrasse；'　he　said　to　himself；　concentrating　on　the　image　in　his　mind。　He　could　see　a　doorway；　the　paint　a　faded　red；　as　dark　as　the　red　silk　dress　worn　by　the　woman　beside　him。　'A　boarding　house。。。　in　the　Steppdeckstrasse。'
　'What？　Mane　St　Jacques　was　startled。　The　words　he　uttered　alarmed　her；　she　had　obviously　related　them　to　herself　and　was　terrified。
　'Nothing。'　He　took　his　eyes　off　the　dress　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　'There's　Number　37；'　he　said；　pointing　to　the　fifth　house　in　the　row。　'Stop　the　car。'
　He　got　out　first；　ordering　her　to　slide　across　the　seat　and　follow。　He　tested　his　legs　and　took　the　keys　from　her。
　'You　can　walk；'　she　said。　'If　you　can　walk；　you　can　drive'　！　I　probably　can。'
　'Then　let　me　go！　I've　done　everything　you've　wanted。'
　'And　then　some；'　he　added。
　'I　won't　say　anything；　can't　you　understand　that？　You're　the　last　person　on　earth　I　ever　want　to　see　again。。。　or　have　anything　to　do　with。　I　don't　want　to　be　a　witness；　or　get　involved　with　the　police；　or　make　statements；　or　anything！　I　don't　Want　to　be　a　pan　of　what　you're　a　part　of！　I'm　frightened　to　death。。。　that's　your　protection；　don't　you　see！　Let　me　go；　please。'
　'I　can't。'
　'You　don't　believe　me。'
　'That's　not　relevant。　I　need　you。'
　'For　what？
　'For　something　very　stupid。　I　don't　have　a　driver's　licence。　You　can't　hire　a　car　without　a　driver's　licence　and　I've　got　to　hire　a　car。〃
　'You've　got　this　car。'
　'It's　good　for　maybe　another　hour。　Someone's　going　to　walk　out　of　the　Carillon　du　Lac　and　want　it。　The　description　will　be　radioed　to　every　police　car　in　Zurich。'
　She　looked　at　him；　dead　fear　in　the　glass　of　her　eyes。　'I　don't　want　to　go　up　there　with　you。　I　heard　what　that　man　said　in　the　restaurant。　If　I　bear　any　more　you'll　kill　me。'
　'What　you　heard　makes　no　more　sense　to　me　than　it　does　to　you。　Perhaps　less。　e　on。'　He　took　her　by　the　arm；　and　put　his　free　hand　on　the　railing　so　he　could　climb　the　steps　with　a　minimum　of　pain。
　She　stared　at　him；　bewilderment　and　fear　converged　in　her　look。
　The　name　M。　Chernak　was　under　the　second　letter　box。　with　a　bell　beneath。　He　did　not　ring　it；　but　pressed　the　adjacent　four　buttons。　Within　seconds　a　cacophony　of　voices　sprang　out　of　the　small；　dotted　speakers　asking　in　Schweitzerdeutsch　who　was　there。　But　someone　did　not　answer；　he　merely　pressed　a　buzzer　which　released　the　lock。　Jason　opened　the　door；　pushing　Marie　St　Jacques　in　front　of　him。
　He　moved　her　against　the　wall　and　waited。　From　above　came　the　sounds　of　doors　opening；　footsteps　walking　towards　the　staircase。
　'Weristda'r
　'Johann？'
　'Wie　bitts？'
　Silence。　Followed　by　words　of　irritation。　Footsteps　were　heard　again；　doors　closed。
　M。　Chernak　was　on　the　second　floor；　Flat　2C。　Bourne　took　the　girl's　arm；　limped　with　her　to　the　staircase　and　started　the　climb。　She　was　right；　of　course。　It　would　be　far　better　if　he　were　alone；　but　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　that；　he　did　need　her。
　He　had　studied　road　maps　during　the　weeks　in　Port　Noir。…Lucerne　was　no　more　than　an　hour　away；　Bern　two　and　a　half　or　three。　He　could　head　for　either　one；　dropping　her　off　in　some　deserted　spot　along　the　way；　and　then　disappear。　It　was　simply　a　matter　of　timing；　he　had　the　resources　to　buy　a　hundred　connections。　He　needed　only　a　conduit　out　of　Zurich　and　she　was　it。
　But　before　he　left　Zurich　he　had　to　know；　he　had　to　talk　to　a　man　named。。。
　M。　Chernak。　The　name　was　to　the　right　of　the　doorbell。　He　sidestepped　away　from　the　door；　pulling　the　woman　with　him。
　'Do　you　speak　German？'　Jason　asked。
　'No。'
　'Don't　lie。'
　I'm　not。'
　Bourne　thought；　glancing　up　and　down　the　short　hallway；　'Ring　the　bell。　If　the　door　opens　just　stand　there。　If　someone　answers　from　inside；　say　you　have　a　message　…　an　urgent　message　…　from　a　friend　at　the　Drei　AlpenhSuser。！
　'Suppose　he　…　or　she　…　says　to　slide　it　under　the　door？'
　Jason　looked　at　her。　'Very　good。'
　'I　just　don't　want　any　more　violence。　I　don't　want　to　know　anything　or　see　anything。　I　just　want　to。。。'
　'I　know；'　he　interrupted。　'Go　back　to　Caesar's　taxes　and　the　Punic　Wars。。。　If　he　…　or　she　…　says　something　like　that；　explain　in　a　couple　of　words　that　the　message　is　verbal　and　can　only　be　delivered　to　the　man　who　was　described　to　you。！
　'If　he　asks　for　that　description？'　said　Marie　St　Jacques　icily；　analysis　momentarily　pre…empting　fear。
　'You've　got　a　good　mind；　Doctor；'　he　said。
　I'm　precise。　I'm　frightened；　I　told　you　that。　What　do　I　do？'
　'Say　to　hell　with　them；　someone　else　can　deliver　it　Then　start　to　walk　away。'
　She　moved　to　the　door　and　rang　the　bell　There　was　an　odd　sound　from　within。　A　scratching；　growing　louder；　constant。　Then　it　stopped　and　a　deep　voice　was　heard　through　the　wood。
　'Was　ist　los？'
　'I'm　afraid　I　don't　speak　German；'　said　the　St　Jacques　woman。
　'Englisch。　What　is　it？　Who　are　you？'
　'I　have　an　urgent　message　from　a　friend　at　the　Drei　Alpen…hauser。'
　'Shove　it　under　the　door。！
　'I　can't　do　that　It　isn't　written　down。　I　have　to　deliver　it　personally　to　the　man　who　was　described　to　me。'
　'Well；　that　shouldn't　be　difficult；'　said　the　voice。　The　lock　clicked　and　the　door　opened。
　Bourne　stepped　away　from　the　wall；　into　the　doorframe。
　'You're　insane　I'　cried　a　man　with　two　stumps　for　legs；　propped　up　in　a　wheelchair。　'Get　out！　Get　away　from　here！'
　I'm　tired　of　hearing　that；'　said　Jason；　pulling　the　girl　inside　and　closing　the　door。
　It　took　no　pressure　to　persuade　Marie　St　Jacques　to　remain　in　a　small　windowless　bedroom　while　they　talked；　she　did　So　willingly。　The　legless　Chernak　was　close　to　panic；　his　ravaged　face　chalk　white；　his　unkempt　grey　hair　matted　about　his　neck　and　forehead。
　'What　do　you　want　from　me？'　he　asked。　'You　swore　the　last　transaction　was　our　final　one！　I　can　do　no　more；　I　cannot　take　the　risk。　Messengers　have　been　here。　No　matter　how　cautious；　how　many　times　removed　from　your　sources；　they　have　been　here＇　If　one　leaves　an　address　in　the　wrong　surroundings；　I'm　a　dead　man！'
　'You've　done　pretty　well　for　the　risks　you've　taken；'　said　Bourne；　standing　in　front　of　the　wheelchair；　his　mind　racing；　wondering　if　there　was　a　word　or　a　phrase　that　could　trigger　a　flow　of　information。　Then　he　remembered　the　envelope。　II　there　was　any　discrepancy；　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　me。　A　fat　man　at　the　Drei　Alpenhauser。
　'Minor　pared　to　the　magnitude　of　those　risks。'　Chernak　shook　his　head；　his　upper　chest　heaved；　the　stumps　that　fell　over　the　chair　moved　obscenely　back　and　forth。　'I　was　content　before　you　came　into　my　life；　mein　Herr；　for　I　was　minor。　An　old　soldier　who　made　his　way　to　Zurich　…　blown　up；　a　cripple；　worthless　except　for　certain　facts　stored　away　that　former　rades　paid　meagrely　to　keep　suppressed。　It　was　a　decent　life；　not　much；　but　enough。　Then　you　found　me。。。〃
　I'm　touched；'　broke　in　Jason。　'Let's　talk　about　the　envelope　…the　envelope　you　passed　to　our　mutual　friend　at　Drei　Alpenhauser。　Who　gave　it　to　you？'
　'A　messenger。　Who　else？！
　'Where　did　it　e　from？'
　'How　would　I　know？　It　arrived　in　a　box；　just　like　the　others。　I　unpacked　It　and　sent　it　on。　It　was　you　who　wished　it　so。　You　said　you　could　not　e　here　any　longer。'
　'But　you　opened　it。'　A　statement
　'Never！'
　'Suppose　I　told　you；　there　was　money　missing。'
　'Then　it　was　not　paid；　it　was　not　in　the　envelope！'　The　legless　man's　voice　rose。　'However；　I　don't　believe　you。　If　that　were　so；　you　would　not　have　accepted　the　assignment。　But　you　did　accept　that　assignment。　So　why　are　you　here　now？'
　Because　I　have　to　know。　Because　I'm　going　out　of　my　mind。　I　see　things　and