rl.thebourneidentity-第5部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'You're provoking it now；' interrupted the man。 'We've gone over the words and the phrases time and time again。。。'
'And we'll continue to do so；' broke in Washburn； 'as long as there's progress。'
'I wasn't aware any progress had been made。' 'Not in terms of an identity or an occupation。 But we are finding out what's most fortable for you； what you deal with best It's a little frightening。'
'In what way？'
'Let me give you an example。' The doctor put the clipboard down and got out of the chair。 He walked to a primitive cupboard against the wall； opened a drawer and took out a large automatic hand gun。 The man with no memory tensed in his chair； Washburn was aware of the reaction。 'I've never used this； not sure I'd know how to； but I do live on the waterfront。' He smiled； then suddenly； without warning； threw it to the man。 The weapon was caught in midair； the catch clean； swift； and confident 'Break it down； I believe that's the phrase。'
'What？'
'Break it down。 Now。'
The man looked at the gun； and then； in silence； his hands and fingers moved expertly over the weapon。 In less than thirty seconds it was pletely dismantled。 He looked up at the doctor。
'See what I mean？' said Washburn。 'Among your skills is an extraordinary knowledge of firearms。'
'Army？。。。' asked the man； his voice intense； once more apprehensive。
'Extremely unlikely；' replied the doctor。 'When you first came out of a； I mentioned your dental work。 I assure you it's not military。 And； of course； the surgery； I'd say； would totally rule out any military association。' 'Then what？'
'Let's not dwell on it now； let's go back to what happened。 We were dealing with the mind； remember？ The psychological stress； the hysteria。 Not the physical brain but the mental pressures。 Am I being clear？' 'Goon。'
'As the shock recedes； so do the pressures； until there's no fundamental need to protect the psyche。 As this process takes place your skills and talents…will e back to you。 You'll remember certain behaviour patterns； you may live them out quite naturally； your surface reactions instinctive。 But there's a gap and everything in those pages tell me that it's irreversible。' Washburn stopped and went back to his chair and his glass。 He sat down and drank； closing his eyes in weariness。 'Go on；' whispered the man。
The doctor opened his eyes； levelling them at his patient。 'We return to the head； which we've labelled the brain。 The physical brain with its millions upon millions of cells and interacting ponents。 You've read the books； the fornix and the limbic system； the hippocampus fibres and the thalamus； the callosum and especially the lobotomic surgical techniques。 The slightest alteration can cause dramatic changes。 That's what happened to you。 The damage was physical。 It's as though blocks were rearranged； the physical structure no longer what it was。' Again Washburn stopped。
'And；' pressed the man。
'The recessed psychological pressures will allow … are allowing … your skills and talents to e back to you。 But I don't think you'll ever be able to relate them to anything in your past。'
'Why？ Why not？'
'Because the physical conduits that permit and transmit those memories have been altered。 Physically rearranged to the point where they no longer function as they once did。 For all intents and purposes； they've been destroyed。'
The man sat motionless。 'The answer's in Zurich；' he said。
'Not yet。 You're not ready； you're not strong enough。'
'I will be。'
'Yes； you will。'
The weeks passed； the verbal exercises continued as the pages grew and the man's strength returned。 It was mid…morning of the nineteenth week； the day bright； the Mediterranean calm and glistening。 As was the man's habit he had run for the past hour along the waterfront and up into the hills； he had stretched the distance to something over twelve miles daily； the pace increasing daily； the rests less frequent。 He sat in the chair by the bedroom window； breathing heavily； sweat drenching his undershirt。 He had e in through the back door； entering the bedroom from the dark hallway that passed the living…room。 It was simply easier； the living…room served as Washburn's waiting area and there were still a few patients with cuts and gashes to be repaired。 They were sitting in chairs looking frightened； wondering what le medecin's condition would be that morning。 Actually； it wasn't bad。 Geoffrey Washburn still drank like a mad Cossack； but these days he stayed on his horse。 It was as if a reserve of hope had been found in the recesses of his own destructive fatalism。 And the man with no memory understood； that hope was tied to a bank in Zurich's Bahnhof…strasse。 Why did the street e so easily to mind？ The bedroom door opened and the doctor burst in； grinning； his white coat stained with his patient's blood。
'I did it I' he said； more triumph in his words than clarification。 'I should open my own hiring hall and live on missions。 It'd be steadier。'
'What are you talking about？'
'As we agreed； it's what you need。 You've got to function on the outside； and as of two minutes ago Monsieur Jean…Pierre No…Name is gainfully employed！ At least for a week。'
'How did you do that？ I thought there weren't any openings。' 'What was about to be opened was Claude Lamouche's infected leg。 I explained that my supply of local anaesthetic was very； very limited。 We negotiated； you were the bartered coin。'
'A week？'
'If you're any good； he may keep you on。' Washburn paused。 'Although that's not terribly important； is it？'
'I'm not sure any of this is。 A month ago； maybe； but not now。 I told you。 I'm ready to leave。 I'd think you'd want me to。 I have an appointment in Zurich。'
'And I'd prefer you function the very best you can at that appointment My interests are extremely selfish； no remissions permitted。'
'I'm ready。'
'On the surface； yes。 But take my word for it； it's vital that you spend prolonged periods of time on the water； some of it at night。 Not under controlled conditions； not as a passenger； but subjected to reasonably harsh conditions … the harsher the better； in fact。'
'Another test？'
'Every single one I can devise in this primitive hole of Port Noir。 If I could conjure up a storm and a minor shipwreck for you； I would。 On the other hand； Lamouche is something of a storm himself； he's a difficult man。 The swelling in his leg will go down and he'll resent you。 So will others； you'll have to replace someone。'
Thanks a lot'
'Don't mention it We're bining two stresses。 At least one or two nights on the water； if Lamouche keeps to schedule …that's the hostile environment which contributed to your hysteria … and exposure to resentment and suspicion from men around you … symbolic of the initial stress situation。'
Thanks again Suppose they decide to throw me overboard？ That'd be your ultimate test； I suppose； but I don't know how much good it would do if I drowned。'
'Oh； there'll be nothing like that；' said Washburn； scoffing。
'I'm glad you're so confident。 I wish I were。'
'You can be。 You have the protection of my absence。 I may not be Barnard or DeBakey； but I'm all these people have。 They need me； they won't risk losing me。'
'But you want to leave。 I'm your passport out！'
'In ways unfathomable； my dear patient。 e on； now。 Lamouche wants you down at the dock so you can familiarize yourself with his equipment。 You'll be setting out at four o'clock tomorrow morning。 Consider how beneficial a week at sea will be。 Think of it as a cruise。'
There had never been a cruise like it。 The skipper of the filthy； oil…soaked fishing boat was a foul…mouthed rendering of an insignificant Captain Bligh； the crew a quartet of misfits who were undoubtedly the only men on Port Noir willing to put up with Claude Lamouche。 The regular fifth member was a brother of the chief netman； a fact impressed on the man called Jean…Pierre within minutes after leaving the harbour at four o'clock in the morning。
'You take food from my brother's table！' whispered the netman angrily between rapid puffs on an immobile cigarette。 'From the stomachs of his children。'
'It's only for a week；' protested Jean…Pierre。 It would have been easier … far easie
