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s； what a challenge to Carles。 What an irresistible trap it was！ Only we were your pawns too； and as a responsible member of the Security Council I resent it deeply！ You're all alike。 Who elected you God so you could break the rules …no； not just the rules； the laws … and make us look like fools？'
〃There was no other way；' said the old man wearily； his face a drawn mass of crevices in the dim light。 'How many know？ Tell me the truth。'
'I've contained it。 I gave you that。'
'It may not be enough。 Oh； Christ！'
'It may not last； period；' said the bureaucrat emphatically。 〃I want to know what happened。'
'What happened？'
To this grand strategy of yours。 It seems to be。。。 falling apart at the seams。'
'Why do you say that？'
'It's perfectly obvious。 You've lost Bourne； you can't find him。 Your Cain has disappeared with a fortune banked for him in Zurich。'
Abbott was silent for a moment。 'Wait a minute。 What put you onto it？'
'You；' said Gillette quickly； the prudent man rising to the baited question。 'I must say I admired your control when that ass from the Pentagon spoke so knowingly of Operation Medusa。。。 sitting directly across from the man who created it。'
'History。' The old man's voice was strong now。 〃That wouldn't have told you anything。'
'Let's say it was rather unusual for you not to say anything。 I mean； who at that table knew more About Medusa than you？ But you didn't say a word and that started me thinking。 So I objected strenuously to the attention being paid to this assassin； Cain。 You couldn't resist； David。 You had to offer a very plausible reason to continue the search for Cain。 You threw Carlos into the hunt。'
'It was the truth；' interrupted Abbott。
'Certainly it was； you knew when to use it； and I knew when to spot it。 Ingenious。 A snake pulled out of Medusa's head； groomed for a mythical title。 The contender jumps into the champion's ring to draw the champion out of his corner。'
'It was sound； sound from the beginning。'
'Why not？ As I say； it was ingenious； even down to every move made by his own people against Cam。 Who better to relay those moves to Cain than the one man on the Forty mittee who is given reports on every covert operations conference。 You used us all！'
The Monk nodded。 〃Very well。 To a point you're right； there've been degrees of abuse … in my opinion； totally justified … but it's not what you think。 There are checks and balances； there always are； I wouldn't have it any other way。 Treadstone is prised of a small group of men among the most trustworthy in the government。 They range from Army G…Two to the Senate； from the C。I。A。 to Naval Intelligence； and now； frankly； the White House。 Should there be any true abuse； there's not one of them that would hesitate to put a stop to the operation。 None has ever seen fit to do so； and I beg you not to do so； either。'
'Would I be made part of Treadstone？'
'You are part of it now。'
'I see。 What happened？ Where is Bourne？'
'I wish to God we knew。 We're not even sure it is Bourne。'
'You're not even sure of what？'
I see。 What happened？ Where is Bourne？'
I wish to God we knew。 We're not even sure it is Bourne。'
'You're not even sure of what？'
The European reached for the switch on the dashboard and snapped it off。 'That's it；' he said。 That's what we had to know。' He turned to the chauffeur beside him。 'Quickly； now。 Get back behind the staircase。 Remember； if one of them es out； you have precisely three seconds before the door is closed。 Work fast。'
The uniformed man got out first； he walked up the pavement towards Treadstone Seventy…one。 From one of the adjacent brownstones； a middle…aged couple were saying loud good…byes to their hosts； the chauffeur slowed down； reached into his pocket for a cigarette and stopped to light it He was now a bored driver； whiling away the hours of a tedious vigil。 The European watched； then unbuttoned his raincoat and withdrew a long； thin revolver； its barrel enlarged by a silencer。 He released the safety catch； shoved the weapon back into his holster； got out of the car and walked across the street towards the limousine。 The mirrors had been angled so that； by staying in the blind spot； there was no way either man inside could see him approach。 The European paused briefly beside the boot； then swiftly； hand extended； lunged for the right front door； opened it and spun inside； levelling his weapon over the seat。
Alfred Gillette gasped； his left hand surging for the door handle； the European snapped the four…way lock。 David Abbott remained immobile； staring at the invader。
'Good evening； Monk；' said the European。 'Another； whom I'm told often assumes a religious habit； sends you his congratulations。 Not only for Cain； but for your household personnel at Treadstone。 The Yachtsman； for instance。 Once a superior agent。'
Gillette found his voice； it was a mixture of a scream and a whisper。 'What is this？ Who are you？' he cried； feigning ignorance。
'Oh e now； old friend。 That's not necessary；' said the man with the gun。 'I can see by the expression on Mr。 Abbott's face that he realizes his initial doubts about you were accurate。 One should always trust one's first instincts； shouldn't one； Monk。。。？ You were right； of course。 We found another discontented man； your system reproduces them with alarming rapidity。 He； indeed； gave us the Medusa files； and they did； indeed； lead us to Bourne。'
'What are you doing？！' screamed Gillette。 'What are you saying？'
'You're a bore； Alfred。 But you were always part of a damn fine staff。 It's too bad you didn't know which staff to stay with； your kind never do。〃
'You！。。。' Gillette rose bodily off the seat； his face contorted。
The European fired his weapon； the spit echoing briefly in the soft interior of the limousine。 The bureaucrat slumped over； his body crumbling to the floor against the door； owl…eyes wide in death。
'I don't think you mourn him；' said the European。
'I don't；' said the Monk。
'It is Bourne out there； you know。 Cain turned； he broke。 The long period of silence is over。 The snake from Medusa's head decided to strike out on his own。 Or perhaps he was bought That's possible too； isn't it？ Carlos buys many men； the one at your feet now； for example。'
'You'll learn nothing from me。 Don't try。' There's nothing to learn。 We know it all。 Delta； Carlos。。。 Cain。 But the names aren't important any longer； they never were； really。 All that remains is the final isolation … removing the man…monk who makes the decisions。 You。 Bourne is trapped。 He's finished。'
There are others who make decisions。 He'll reach them。' 'If he does； they'll kill him on sight There's nothing more despicable than a man who's turned； but in order for a man to turn there has to be irrefutable proof that he was yours to begin with。 Carlos has the proof； he …was yours； his origins as sensitive as anything in the Medusa files。'
The old man frowned； he was frightened； not for his life； but for something infinitely more indispensable。 'You're out of your mind；' he said。 There is no proof。'
That was the flaw； your flaw。 Carlos is thorough； his tentacles reach into all manner of hidden recesses。 You needed a man from Medusa； someone who had lived and disappeared。 You chose a man named Bourne because the circumstances of his disappearance had been obliterated； eliminated from every existing record … or so you believed。 But you didn't consider Hanoi's own field； personnel who had infiltrated Medusa； those records exist。 On 25 March 1968； Jason Bourne was executed by an American Intelligence officer in the jungles of Tarn Quan。'
The Monk lunged forward； there was nothing left but a final gesture； a final defiance。 The European fired。
The door of the brownstone opened。 From the shadows beneath the staircase； the chauffeur smiled。 The White House aide was being escorted out by the Yachtsman； and the killer knew that meant the primary alarms were off。 The three…second span was eliminated。 'So good of you to drop by；' said the Yachtsman shaking hands。
Thank you very much； sir。〃
These were the last words either man spoke。 The chauffeur aimed above the brick…walled railing； pulling the trigger twice； the muffled reports indistinguishable from the myriad if distant sounds of the city。 The Yachtsman fell back inside； the White House aide clutched his upper chest； reeling into the door frame。 The chauffeur spun around the wall and raced up the steps； catching Stevens's body as it plummeted down。 With bullet…like strength； the killer lifted the White House man off his feet； hurling him back through the door into the foyer beyond the Yachtsman。 Then he turned to the interior border of the heavy； steel…plated door。 He knew what to look for； he found it。 Along the upper moulding； disappearing into the wall； was a thick cable； stained the colour of the doorframe。 He closed the door part way； raised his gun and fired into the cable。 The spit was followed by an eruption of static and sparks； the security cameras were blown out； screens everywhere now dark。
He opened the door to signal； it was not necessary。 The European was walking rapidly across the quiet street。 Within seconds he had climbed the steps and was inside； gla