| 2:54a |
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From the sounds penetrating the window,
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From the sounds penetrating the window, specifically the rapid, high-pitched speech of an
announcer, the general’s aide was engrossed in a baseball gameJason scanned the room as best he
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
98
could; it was typically rustic, a profusion of browns and reds, from dark furniture to checkered
curtains, comfortable and masculine, a man’s cabin in the countryHowever, there were no
weapons in sight, not even the accepted antique rifle over the fireplace, and no general-issue 5
automatic either on the sergeant’s person or on the table beside the chairThe aide had no concerns
for his immediate safety and why should he? The estate of General Norman Swayne was totally
secure—fence, gates, patrols and disciplined roving attack dogs at all points of entryBourne stared
through the glass at the strong jowled face of the master sergeantWhat secrets did that large head
hold? He would find outMedusa’s Delta One would find out if he had to carve that skull apart
Jason pushed himself away from the window and walked around the cabin to the front doorHe
knocked twice with the knuckles of his left hand; in his right was the untraceable automatic
supplied by Alexander Conklin, the crown prince of dark operations
“It’s open, Rachel!” yelled the rasping voice from within
Bourne twisted the knob and shoved the door back; it swung slowly on its hinges and made
contact with the wall
“Jesus Christ!” roared the master sergeant, his heavy legs plunging off the ottoman as he
wriggled his massive body out of the chairYou’re a goddamned ghost! You’re dead!”
“Try again,” said Delta of Medusa“The name’s Flannagan, isn’t it? That’s what comes to
mind
“You’re dead!” repeated the general’s aide, screaming, his eyes bulging in panic“You bought it
in Hong Kong! You were killed in Hong Kong four, five years ago!”
“You kept tabs—”
“We know I know!”
“You’ve got connections in the right places, then
“You’re Bourne!”
“Obviously born again, you might say
“I don’t believe this!”
“Believe, FlannaganIt’s the ‘we’ we’re going to talk aboutSnake Lady, to be precise
“You’re the one—the one Swayne called ‘Cobra’!”
“It’s a snake
“I don’t get it—”
“It’s confu |