thedestroyer.deathcheck-第16部分

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　〃Yes。〃
　〃He　does　not。　That　is　a　lie。　Leave　me　alone。〃
　〃After　you　talk　to　mei〃
　He　heard　footsteps　pad　to　the　door。　It　opened；　and　Deborah　Hirshbloom　stood　before　him　with　the　unamused　tolerance　of　a　parent　declining　to　be　manipulated　by　the　antics　of　a　child。　Her　face　was　set；　but　calm；　enhancing　its　fine　smooth　lines。　Her　eyes　were　black　jewels　hi　a　setting　of　smooth；　milky　skin　garnished　with　the　joy　of　freckles。　Her　lips；　unpainted；　were　tight；　allowing　nothing　for　Remo　standing　before　her。
　〃All　right。　What？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　talk　to　you。　May　I　e　in？〃
　〃It's　late。〃
　〃I　know。　May　I　e　in？〃
　She　shrugged　and　beckoned　Remo　to　enter。　She　wore　a　plain　khaki　blouse　with　plain　khaki　shorts。　She　was　barefoot；　and　her　cottage　office　was　just　as　bare；　except　for　the　books　stacked　to　the　ceiling　and　a　chess　set　open　on　the　small　table；　near　the　lamp。　There　was　a　metal　cot　and　two　chairs。　She　sat　on　the　cot；　but　with　such　stiffness　that　it　obviously　was　not　an　invitation。
　〃May　I　sit　down？〃　Remo　asked；　nodding　to　the　chair。
　She　allowed　it。
　〃As　you　know；　the　other　department　heads　of　the　forum　have　been　interviewing　me。〃　She　did　not　respond。　Remo　continued：　〃And　I　wondered　why　you　had　not。〃
　〃Because　I'm　not　interested。〃
　〃I　was；　well；　sort　of　wondering　why。〃　
　〃Because　one　man　beating　up　seven　ridiculous　hoodlums　is　not　exactly　the　aweinspking　scientific　phenomena　my　colleagues　obviously　believe　it　to　be。〃
　〃Then　you　know　something　about　violence。〃
　〃I　am　learning　from　you；　and　I　like　no　part　of　it。　I　know　Hawkins　came　down　with　your　chute　and　you　with　his。　I　know　he　tried　to　kill　you　and　died　for　it。〃
　〃You're　Israeli；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　You　know　that。〃
　〃And　violence　offends　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Don't　all　Israelis　have　to　serve　in　the　Army？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　violence　still　offends　you？〃
　〃Of　course；　why　not？〃
　〃Because　you　people　couldn't　survive　without　violence。　Without　being　tough。　The　Arabs　could　have　peace　by　not　firing　a　shot。　You　people　would　have　another　holocaust。〃
　〃Mr。　Pelham；　what　are　you　driving　at？　That　because　we　are　outnumbered　one…hundred…fifty　to　one　by　people　who　unfortunately　have　made　our　annihilation　a　national　goal；　that　I　should　like　what　I　must　do　to　survive？　One　must　dig　latrines；　too；　for　survival。　But　you　do　not　have　to　like　digging　latrines。　What　do　you　really　want？　You　do　not　care　that　violence　offends　〃e。　This　does　not　interest　you。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Well；　I　have　a　problem　and　you　contribute　to　it。　You　see；　I'm　responsible　for　the　protection　of　everyone　here。　And　everyone　moves　around　so　much；　especially　you；　that　to　really　make　sure　I　can　provide　the　proper　security；　I　have　to　know　generally　where　I　can　reach　you　when　I　need　you。　That　attack　on　the　forum　by　the　motorcycle　gang　could　be　a　portent　of　things　to　e。　I'm　not　sure　they　will；　but　if　those　people　try　again；　I　want　to　make　sure　they　can't　reach　any　of　the　top　staff。〃
　〃There　is　a　word　in　English；　Mr。　Pelham；　that　describes　beautifully　what　you　have　just　said。　It　is　both　sharp　in　definition　and　meaningful　in　substance。〃
　Remo　knew　he　was　opening　a　door。　〃What　word？〃　he　said；　preparing　himself　for　the　deserved　consequences。
　〃Bullshit；〃　said　Dr。　Hirshbloom　sweetly。
　〃That's　unfair；　Deborah。〃
　〃That　is　your　name；　Remo；　it　is　bullshit　should　you　deny　it　to　your　grave。　They　called　for　you。　They　challenged　you。　And　they　got　you。　Or；　as　you　will；　you　got　them。〃
　〃They　went　for　me　first　so　that　they　could　get　to　you。　Certainly　you　are　aware　of　a　situation　like　that。　Russia　attacking　us　through　Israel。〃
　〃Why　must　you　put　everything　on　an　international　level？　You're　sitting　here；　asking　my　schedule；　obviously　not　to　protect　me　because　you　know　I　do　not　need　your　protection。　So　why　else　would　you　want　to　know　where　you　can　reach　me；　except　to　do　me　harm？　Right？〃
　〃Bullshit。〃
　〃Hah。　Mr。　Pelham。。。。〃
　〃Remo；　remember。〃
　〃All　right；　Remo。　Good　night。〃
　〃Deborah；　I　would　like　to　see　you　again。〃
　〃I'm　certain　you　will。　But；　please。　Not　in　such　frightening　fashion　as　the　other　day；　or　such　annoying　fashion　as　tonight。〃
　〃Frightening？　You　were　frightened？　You　didn't　seem　frightened？〃
　〃Now　I　am　terrified　because　now　T　know　you　even　had　time　to　look　around　at　me　and　the　other　scenery。〃　Deborah　sat　calm；　but　a　cool　formal　smile　set　it。　It　did　not　change；　and　Remo　recognized　the　personal　control　people　develop　when　they　are　faced　frequently　with　danger。　They　develop　it；　or　they　die；　or　they　are　incredibly　lucky。
　〃All　right。　I　had　time　to　look　around。　Suppose　that　is　so。　Suppose　my　defense　was　really　an　attack。　Suppose　all　those　things。〃
　〃Then　suppose；　Mr。　Pelham；　you're　not　a　policeman。〃
　〃All　right；　suppose　that。〃
　〃Then　you　must　be　something　else。〃
　〃Then　I'm　something　else。〃
　〃Then　I　don't　feel　fortable。　I　do　not　feel　fortable；　seeing　an　approach　to　attack　which　I　recognize；　and　then　seeing　added　an　awesome　ability　to　do　things　that　I　do　not　recognize　at　all。　I　was　truly　afraid　the　other　afternoon；　Mr。　Pelham。　And　I　was　afraid　of　you。　I　am　afraid　of　you　now。〃
　〃Strange　for　a　psychiatrist。〃
　〃I　am　tired　also；　Mr。　Pelham。　Good　night。　I　do　not　know　what　you　are　really　here　for。　Perhaps　it　is　even　to　be；　as　you　say；　a　security　officer。　But　I　have　seen　your　like　before。　When　I　was　a　little　girl；　a　volunteer　from　America。　He　taught　us　that　set；　and　two　days　ago　I　saw　it　on　you。〃
　Chiun　in　Israel？　Impossible。　The　set？　It　was　not　Chiun　who　taught　the　set；　the　apparently　awkward　foot　alignment　that　made　you　look　as　if　you　were　about　to　step　backward　when　really　you　moved　forward。　That　was　not　Chiun。　The　first　days　of　training　after　the　electrocution　were。。。。　Of　course；　the　set。　Conn　MacCleary。　Conn　MacCleary　in　Israel？
　Deborah　rose　to　usher　Remo　to　the　door。　Remo　remained　seated。
　〃This　man；　did　you　like　him？〃　Remo　asked。
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　whole　village　loved　him。　But　he　is　dead　now；　a　fate　that　awaits　us　all。　It　is　really　only　a　question　of　when。　And　toward　extending　that　when；　we　are　all　devoted；　no？〃
　　　〃Where　did　this　man　die？〃
　　　〃You　seem　very　interested　in　this　man。　Why？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　I　knew　him。〃
　〃If　you　did　I　would　not　have　to　fear　you　anymore　because　he　was　a　good　man。　That　is　what　we　all　remem　…　〃bered　about　him　most。　He　was　a　good　man。　What　he　did　for　his　livelihood　does　not　attract　good　men　that　often。　He　was　rare。　And　he　died。　And　I　believe　he　probably　died　sooner　than　he　should。　Because　good　men　do　not　often　live　long　lives　in　some　situations。〃
　Her　voice　was　softer　now　and　Remo　detected　a　break；　the　quiver　of　emotion　stronger　than　one　expects；　a　memory　that　remains　forever　too　fresh。
　〃This　good　man；〃　Remo　said；　〃had　he　lost　a　hand？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Deborah。
　〃And　was　his　name　Conn　MacCleary？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Deborah；　and　she　shut　the　door　she　had　opened。　〃You　knew　him　then？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Remo。　〃I　knew　him。〃
　〃You　were　in　the　American　intelligence　then？〃
　〃No；　no；〃　Remo　said。　〃I　knew　him。　I　knew　him　once。〃
　〃Do　you　know　how　he　died？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃They　said　it　was　in　a　hospital。〃
　〃It　was。　It　was。　In　a　hospital。〃
　And　Deborah's　face　became　a　smile　and　warmth　and　tenderness；　a　delicate　joy　that　people　who　can　understand　beautiful　things　bestow　upon　their　surroundings。
　〃It　is　funny；　and　since　you　remember　Conn；　so　typical；〃　she　said；　taking　the　chair　facing　Remo。　〃When　he　came　to　our　village；　it　was　just　before　independence　when　the　five　Arab　armies　attacked；　and　we　had；　I　think；　one　rifle　for　five　men　in　our　village；　or　something　like　that。　I　was　very　young。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Remo　said。
　〃Of　course；〃　Deborah　laughed。　〃Well；　he　had　volunteered　to　give　special　training　to　people；　I　am　not　at　liberty　to　disclose　what；　and　we　were　all　waiting　for　him。　Anxious。　Everybody　was　anxious。　My　uncle　would　say：　'When　the　American　arrives　here；　he　will　show　you　all　what　technology　is。　Wait　and　see。　American　organization。'　So　it　is　supposed　to　be　a　big　secret　and　so　naturally　everybody　knows　about　it　and　is　waiting　for　his　arrival。　Like　a　weling　mittee　for　his　secret　entrance　into　our　village。　Well；　he　is　driven　up　in　the　back　of　a　car；　and　I　do　not　know　if　you　know　how　valuable　a　car　was　to　us　then；　but　you　can　imagine；　and　Conn　is　in　the　back　seat　and　you　will　never　guess。。。。〃
　〃He　was　drunk；〃　Remo　supplied　matter　of　factly。
　Deborah　guffawed　and　slapped　Remo's　knee。　Tears　began　to　form　in　her　eyes　and　she　struggled　to　talk　through　the　laughter。
　Remo　added　quickly：　〃Sure。　I　told　you　I　knew　Conn　MacCleary。〃
　And　his　casual　way　of　saying　this　threw　Deborah　into　an　hysterical　reach　for　the　table　to　steady　herself。　〃Drunk；〃　she　finally　said。　〃He　was　passed　out　drunk。　You　should　have　seen　the　look　on　Uncle　David's　face。　He　kept　asking　the　driver　if　this　was　the　right　man　and　the　driver　kept　nodding。　We　found　out　later　he　had　been　drinking　since　Tokyo　where　he　had　been　mustered　out；　I　think　it　was　a　month　before。　Drunk？　He　reaked。　I　mean　when　they　carried　him　out　everyone　stepped　back　he　smelled　so　badly。〃
　〃Conn　MacCleary；〃　Remo　said。　
　〃He　was　one　of　a　kind。　It　took　him　three　days　to　realize　where　he　was。〃
　〃There　must　have　been　a　lot　of　pressure　then。〃
　〃Well；　not　really　so　much　for　us。　Our　training　thing　was　for　something　else。　I　think　we　all　believed　that　we　would　win。　Although　it　was　frightening　and　I　was；　at　the　time。。。。〃
　〃After　all；　a　young　girl。〃
　〃Of　course。　Otherwise　I　would　be　an　old　woman　instead　of　the　incredibly　attractive；　beautiful　young　woman　that　I　am　now。〃
　〃Of　course。　You　know　you　are　beautiful。〃
　〃e。　Stop　that。　I　gave　you　a　MacCleary　story。　Now　you　give　me　one。〃
　〃Well；　the　first　time　I　saw　Conn；〃　Remo　said；　conveniently　planning　to　leave　out　details；　〃was。。。。　No；　let　me　see。　The　first　time。〃
　〃No。　The　second　time；〃　Deborah　said。　〃The　first　you　won't　tell　me　and　that's　all　right。　So　tell　me　the　second　tune。〃
　Okay。　So　she　believed　he　was　with　the　CIA　or　the　FBI。　So　what？　That　was　to　be　expected　from　the　kind　of　work　they　were　doing　here　anyway。　He　had　used　CIA　as　a　cover　before　anyhow。
　〃Okay；〃　Remo　said。　〃I　was　ing…to　in　a　hospital　bed　and　he　was　wheeling　hi　this　great　dinner　with　lobster　and　booze。〃
　〃For　someone　in　a　hospital　bed？〃
　〃This　is　Conn　MacCleary　we're　talking　about。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Deborah　agreed　with　a　nod。
　〃And　he　lays　out　this　beautiful　spread；　abuses　the　doctor　and　nurse；　tells　me　to　eat　up。　And　he　drinks　all　the　booze。〃
　〃Conn　MacCleary；〃　Deborah　said　in　punctuation。　
　〃But　that's　not　the　half　of　it。　I　never　knew　the　man　to　be　away　from　a　bottle　for　long。　It's　a　wonder　he　lived　past　twenty…one。〃
　〃The　Egyptians　are　making　a　push　up　through　the　Negev。　We're　near　there。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Never　mind。　Will　you　let　me　finish？　Besides；　none　of　that　stuff　about　wheres。　Read　my　official　biography　if　you　want　to　know　wheres。〃
　〃I　bet　they're　the　wrong　wheres。〃
　〃Stop　that　shit；　Remo。　Just　stop　and　listen。　Because　if　you　want　to　play　question　and　answer　with　me；　I　can　go　to　Dr。　Brewster　and　plain　about　nasty　interference　from　you　agents…kind…bf…people；　and　he'll　beat　you　within　an　inch　of　your　life。　Hah。〃
　〃Okay。　No　more　shit。〃
　〃Okay。　We　are　near　the　action　and　Conn　is　desperately　gathering　copper　tubing。　Uncle　David　says；　'Hah。　You　see。　Secret　weapon。　I　told　you。　Technology