@@@@@?It didn?t come about through 948
@@@@@?It didn?t come about through neglect
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
253
?Ah, it is a passion with Santos! No one 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 armchair?You may leave, my friends,? said the large man, addressing the messengers
?Pick up your money from the faggot, and for God?s sake, tell him to give Ren? and the American
who calls himself Ralph fifty francs apiece and get them out of hereThey?re pissing in the cornersSay the money?s from their friend from last night who forgot about them
?Oh, shit!? exploded Jason
?You did forget, didn?t you?? Santos grinned
?I?ve had other things on my mind
?Yes, sir! Yes, Santos!? The two messengers, instead of heading for the back of the room and
the elevator, opened a door in the left wall and disappearedBourne looked after them, bewildered
?There is a staircase leading to our kitchen, such as it is,? said Santos, answering Jason?s
unspoken question?The door can be opened from this side, not from the steps below except by meSit down, Monsieur Simon
