He took out a pack of Gauloise cigarettes and... 314
He took out a pack of Gauloise cigarettes and leaned against the wall,
lighting one with a match, holding the flame longer than necessary before he blew it outHis
thoughts returned to the enigmatic Santos, the premier conduit in Carlos?s army, the most trusted
satellite in the Jackal?s orbit, a man whose French might have been formed at the Sorbonne, yet
Santos was a Latin AmericanA Venezuelan, if Bourne?s instincts had meritAnd
Santos wanted to see him ?with peace in his heart Bravo, amigo, thought JasonSantos had
reached a terrified ambassador in London with a question so loaded it made a political party?s
private poll look like the essence of nonpartisan neutralityAtkinson had no choice but to state
emphatically, if not in panic, that whatever instructions Snake Lady issued were to be carried out
The power of Snake Lady was the ambassador?s only protection, chanel jumbo his ultimate refuge
So Santos could bend; that decision was rooted in intellect, not loyalty, not obligationThe
conduit wanted to crawl out of his sewer, and with three million francs in the offing, combined with
a multitude of faraway places across the globe to choose from, the conduit?s mind told him to
listen, to considerThere were alternatives in life if opportunities were presentedOne had been
presented to Santos, vassal to Carlos, whose fealty to his lord had perhaps run its suffocating
courseIt was this instinctive projection that made Bourne include in his plea?calmly but firmly,
the emphasis in understatement?such phrases as You could travel, disappear a wealthy man,
free of care and unpleasant drudgeryThe key words were ?free? and ?disappear,? and Santos?s
eyes had respondedHe was ready to take the three-million-franc bait, and Bourne was perfectly
happy omega deville watch to let him break the line and swim with it
Jason looked at his watch; fifteen minutes had passedNo doubt Santos?s minions were checking
the streets, a final inspection before the high priest of conduits appearedBourne thought briefly of
Marie, of the sensations he felt at the Trocad?ro, remembering old Fontaine?s words when the two
of them watched the paths of Tranquility Inn from the high storage room, waiting for CarlosHe?s
near, I feel itLike the approach of distant thunderIn a different?far different?way Jason had
like feelings at the Trocad?roEnough! Santos! The Jackal!
His watch read one o?clock, and the two messengers from the Pont-Royal walked out of the
alley and across the street to the gates of the old refinery
?Santos will see you now,? said the voluble one
?You are to come with usHe does not leave Le Coeur du Soldat
?Why do I find that not to my prada logo liking??
?There?s no reason for such feelingsHe has peace in his heart
?What about his knife??
?He has no knife, no weaponHe never carries either
?That?s nice to hear
?He has no need for such weapons,? added the messenger, disquietingly
He was escorted down the alley, past the neon-lit entrance, to a barely negotiable break in the
buildingsOne by one, Jason between the two, men, they made their way to the rear of the caf?,
where there was just about the last thing Bourne expected to see in this run-down section of the
citywell, an English gardenA plot of ground perhaps thirty feet in length, twenty in
depth, and trellises supporting a variety of flowering vines, a barrage of color in the French
moonlight
?That?s quite a sight,? commented Jason?It didn?t come about through neglect
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
253
?Ah, it is a passion with Santos! No one replica chanel earrings understands it, but no one touches a single flower,
either
Bourne was led to a small outside elevator whose steel frame was attached to the stone wall of
the buildingThere was no other access in sightThe conveyance barely held the three of them, and
once the iron gate was closed, the silent messenger pressed a button in the darkness and spoke?We
are here, Santos
?Camellia?? asked Jason
?He knows everything is all rightIf not, my friend might have said ?lily? or ?rose ?
?What would happen then??
?You don?t want to think about itI don?t care to think about it
The outside elevator stopped with a disturbing double jerk, and the quiet messenger opened a
thick steel door that required his full weight to openBourne was led into the familiar room with
the tasteful, expensive furniture, the bookcases and the single floor lamp that illuminated Santos in
his outsized spy bag replica armcha
