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los was not crazy！ It did not make sense。 Nor did Bourne have the time to speculate； he had to get out of the trap。。。 the reverse trap。 He had to get to that phone。 Carlos was here！ At the doors of Treadstone！ He had brought him back。 He had actually brought him back！ It was his proof！
He got to his feet and began running； weaving in and out of the groups of pedestrians。 He reached the corner and turned right； the box was twenty feet away； but it was also a target。 He could not use it。
Across the street was a delicatessen； a small rectangular sign above the door。 Telephone。 He stepped off the kerb and started running again； dodging the lurching cars。 One of them might do the job Carlos had reserved for himself。 That irony； too； was macabre。
The Central Intelligence Agency； sir； is fundamentally a fact…finding organization；' said the man on the line condescendingly。 'The sort of activities you describe are the rarest part of our work； and frankly blown out of proportion by films and misinformed writers。'
'Goddamn it； listen to me！' said Jason； cupping the mouthpiece in the crowded delicatessen。 'Just tell me where Conklin is。 It's an emergency！'
'His office already told you； sir。 Mr。。 Conklin left yesterday afternoon and is expected back at the end of the week。 Since you say you know Mr。。 Conklin； you're aware of his service…related injury。 He often goes for physical therapy。。。'
'Will you stop it！ I saw him in Paris … outside Paris … two nights ago。 He flew over from Washington to meet me。〃
'As to that；' interrupted the man in Langley； 'when you were transferred to this office； we'd already checked。 There's no record of Mr。。 Conklin having left the country in over a year。'
'Then it's buried！ He was there！
'You're looking for codes；' said Bourne desperately。 'I don't have them。 But someone working with Conklin will recognize the words。 Medusa； Delta； Cain。。。 Treadstone！ Someone has to！'
〃No one does。 You were told that。'
'By someone who doesn't。 There are those who do。 Believe me！'
'I'm sorry。 I really。。。'
'Don't hang up！' There was another way； one he did not care to use but there was nothing else。 'Five or six minutes ago I got out of a taxi on Seventy…first Street I was spotted and someone tried to take me out。'
'Take。。。 you out？'
'Yes。 The driver spoke to me and I bent down to listen。 That movement saved my life； but the driver's dead； a bullet in his skull。 That's the truth and I know you have ways of checking。 There are probably half a dozen police cars on the scene by now。 Check it out。 That's the strongest advice I can give you。'
There was a brief silence from Washington。 'Since you asked for Mr。。 Conklin … at least used his name … I'll follow this up。 Where can I reach you？'
'I'll stay on。 This call's on an international credit card。 French issue； name of Chambord。'
'Chambord？ You said。。。'
'Please。'
'I'll be back。'
The waiting was intolerable； made worse by a stem Hassidim glaring at him； fingering coins in one hand； a roll in another； and crumbs in his stringy； unkempt beard。 A minute later the man in Langley was on the line； anger replacing promise。
'I think this conversation has e to an end； Mr。 Bourne or Chambord； or whatever you call yourself。 The New York police were reached； there's no such incident as you described on Seventy…first Street。 And you were right。 We do have ways of checking。 I advise you that there are laws about such calls as this； strict penalties involved。 Good day； sir。'
There was a click； the line went dead。 Bourne stared at the dial in disbelief。 For six months the men in Washington had searched for him； wanted to kill him for the silence they could not understand。 Now； when he presented himself … presented them with the sole objective of his three…year agreement … he was dismissed。 They still would not listen！。。。 But that man had listened。 And he had e back on the line denying a death that had taken place only minutes ago。 It could not be。。。 it was insane。 It had happened！
Jason put the phone back on the hook； tempted to bolt from the crowded delicatessen。 Instead； he walked calmly towards the door excusing himself through the rows of people lined up at the counter； his eyes on the glass front； scanning the crowds on the pavement。 Outside he removed his overcoat； carrying it over his arm； and replaced the sunglasses with his tortoise…shells。 Minor alterations； but he would not be where he was going long enough for them to be a major mistake。 He hurried across the intersection towards Seventy…first Street。
At the far corner he fell in with a group of pedestrians waiting for the light。 He turned his； head to the left； his chin pressed down into his collar bone。 The traffic was moving but the taxi was gone。 It had been removed from the scene with surgical precision； a diseased； ugly organ cut from the body； the vital functions in normal process。 It showed the precision of a master assassin； who knew precisely when to go in swiftly with a knife。
Bourne turned quickly； reversing his direction； and began walking south。 He had to find a shop； he had to change his outer skin。 The chameleon could not wait
Marie St Jacques was angry as she held her place across the room from Brigadier…General Irwin Arthur Crawford in the suite at the Pierre Hotel。 'You wouldn't listen！' she accused。 'None of you would listen。 Have you any idea what you've done to him？〃
'All too well；' replied the officer； the apology in his acknowledgment not his voice。 'I can only repeat what I've told you。 We didn't know what to listen for。 The difference between the appearance and the reality were beyond our understanding； obviously beyond his own。 And if beyond his； why not ours？'
'He's been trying to reconcile the appearance and reality； as you call it； for six months！ And all you could do was send out men to kill him！ He tried to tell you。 What kind of people are you？'
'Flawed； Miss St Jacques。 Flawed but decent； I think。 It's why I'm here。 The time span's begun and I want to save him if I can； if we can。〃
'God； you make me sick！' Marie stopped； she shook her head and continued softly。 'I'll do whatever you ask； you know that。 Can you reach this Conklin？'
'I'm sure I can。 I'll stand on the steps of that house until he has no choice but to reach me。 He may not be our concern； however。'
'Carlos？'
'Perhaps others。〃
'What do you mean？'
'I'll explain on the way。 Our main concern now … our only concern now is to reach Delta。'
'Jason？'
'Yes。 The man you call Jason Bourne。'
'And he's been one of you from the beginning；' said Marie。 There were no slates to clean； no payments or pardons bargained for？'
'None。 You'll be told everything in time； but this is not the time。 I've made arrangements for you to be in an unmarked government car diagonally across from the house。 We have binoculars for you； you know him better than anyone now。 Perhaps you'll spot him。 I pray to God you do。'
Marie went quickly to the cupboard and got her coat。 'He said one night that he was a chameleon。。。' 'He remembered？' interrupted Crawford。 〃Remembered what？〃
'Nothing。 He had a talent for moving in and out of difficult situations without being s