The Ghost(英文版)- 第21部分

　　The　Edgartown　police　had　blocked　the　track　down　to　the　Rhinehart　compound　with　traffic　cones　and　quickly　pulled　them　out　of　the　way　to　let　us　through；　but　not　before　we’d　come　to　a　stop。　Demonstrators　surrounded　us；　and　a　fusillade　of　thumps　and　kicks　raked　the　side　of　the　van。　I　glimpsed　a　brilliant　arc　of　white　light　illuminating　a　figure—a　man；　cowled　like　a　monk。　He　turned　away　from　his　interviewer　to　stare　at　us；　and　I　recognized　him　dimly　from　somewhere。　But　then　he　vanished　behind　a　gauntlet　of　contorted　faces；　pounding　hands；　and　dripping　spit。

　　“They’re　always　the　really　violent　bastards；”　said　my　driver；　“peace　protesters。”　He　put　his　foot　down；　the　rear　tires　slithered　uselessly；　then　bit；　and　we　shot　forward　into　the　silent　woods。

　　AMELIA　MET　ME　INthe　passage。　She　stared　contemptuously　at　my　single　piece　of　luggage　as　only　a　woman　could。

　　“Is　that　really　everything？”

　　“I　travel　light。”

　　“Light？　I’d　saygossamer　。”　She　sighed。　“Right。　Follow　me。”

　　My　suitcase　was　one　of　those　ubiquitous　pull…alongs；　with　an　extendable　handle　and　small　wheels。　It　made　an　industrious　hum　on　the　stone　floor　as　I　trailed　after　her　down　the　passage　and　around　to　the　back　of　the　house。

　　“I　tried　to　call　you　several　times　last　night；”　she　said　without　turning　round；　“but　you　didn’t　answer。”

　　Here　it　comes；　I　thought。

　　“I　forgot　to　charge　my　mobile。”

　　“Oh？　What　about　the　phone　in　your　room？　I　tried　that　as　well。”

　　“I　went　out。”

　　“Until　midnight？”

　　I　winced　behind　her　back。　“What　did　you　want　to　tell　me？”

　　“This。”

　　She　stopped　outside　a　door；　opened　it；　and　stood　aside　to　let　me　go　in。　The　room　was　in　darkness；　but　the　heavy　curtains　didn’t　quite　meet　in　the　middle；　and　there　was　just　enough　light　for　me　to　make　out　the　shape　of　a　double　bed。　It　smelled　of　stale　clothes　and　old　ladies’　soap。　She　crossed　the　floor　and　briskly　pulled　back　the　curtains。

　　“You’ll　be　sleeping　in　here　from　now　on。”

　　It　was　a　plain　room；　with　sliding　glass　doors　that　opened　directly　onto　the　lawn。　Apart　from　the　bed；　there　was　a　desk　with　a　gooseneck　lamp；　an　armchair　covered　in　something　beige　and　thickly　woven；　and　a　wall…length　closet　with　mirrored　doors。　I　could　also　see　into　a　white…tiled　en　suite　bathroom。　It　was　neat　and　functional；　and　dismal。

　　I　tried　to　make　a　joke　of　it。　“So　this　is　where　you　put　the　granny；　is　it？”

　　“No；　this　is　where　we　put　Mike　McAra。”

　　She　slid　back　one　of　the　doors　to　the　closet；　revealing　a　few　jackets　and　shirts　on　hangers。　“I’m　afraid　we　haven’t　had　a　chance　to　clear　it　yet；　and　his　mother’s　in　a　home　for　the　elderly　so　she　doesn’t　have　the　space　to　store　it。　But　as　you　say　yourself；　you　travel　light。　And　besides；　it　will　only　be　for　a　few　days；　now　that　publication　has　been　brought　forward。”

　　I’ve　never　been　particularly　superstitious；　but　I　do　believe　that　certain　places　have　an　atmosphere；　and　from　the　moment　I　stepped　into　that　room；　I　didn’t　like　it。　The　thought　of　touching　McAra’s　clothes　filled　me　with　something　close　to　panic。

　　“I　always　make　it　a　rule　not　to　sleep　in　a　client’s　house；”　I　said；　attempting　to　keep　my　voice　light　and　offhand。　“I　often　find；　at　the　end　of　a　working　day；　it’s　vital　to　get　away。”

　　“But　now　you　can　have　constant　access　to　the　manuscript。　Isn’t　that　what　you　want？”　She　gave　me　her　smile；　and　for　once　there　was　genuine　merriment　in　it。　She　had　me　exactly　where　she　wanted　me；　literally　and　figuratively。　“Besides；　you　can’t　keep　running　the　media　gauntlet。　Sooner　or　later　they’ll　discover　who　you　are；　and　then　they’ll　start　pestering　you　with　questions。　That　would　be　horrid　for　you。　This　way　you　can　work　in　peace。”

　　“Isn’t　there　another　room　I　could　use？”

　　“There　are　only　six　bedrooms　in　the　main　house。　Adam　and　Ruth　have　one　each。　I　have　one。　The　girls　share。　The　duty　policemen　have　the　use　of　one　for　the　overnight　shift。　And　the　guest　block　is　entirely　taken　over　by　Special　Branch。　Don’t　be　squeamish：　the　sheets　have　been　changed。”　She　consulted　her　elegant　gold　watch。　“Look；　Sidney　Kroll　will　be　arriving　any　minute。　We’re　due　to　get　the　ICC　announcement　in　less　than　thirty　minutes。　Why　don’t　you　settle　in　here　and　then　come　up　and　join　us。　Whatever’s　decided　will　affect　you。　You’re　practically　one　of　us　now。”

　　“I　am？”

　　“Of　course。　You　drafted　the　statement　yesterday。　That　makes　you　an　accomplice。”

　　After　she’d　gone；　I　didn’t　unpack。　I　couldn’t　face　it。　Instead　I　sat　gingerly　on　the　end　of　the　bed　and　stared　out　of　the　window　at　the　wind…blasted　lawn；　the　low　scrub；　and　the　immense　sky。　A　small　blaze　of　brilliant　white　light　was　traveling　quickly　across　the　gray　expanse；　swelling　as　it　came　closer。　A　helicopter。　It　passed　low　overhead；　shaking　the　heavy　glass　doors；　and　then；　a　minute　or　two　later；　reappeared；　hovering　a　mile　away；　just　above　the　horizon；　like　a　sinister　and　portentous　comet。　It　was　a　sign　of　how　serious　things　had　become；　I　thought；　if　some　hard…pressed　news　manager　on　a　trimmed　budget　was　willing　to　hire　a　chopper　in　the　hope　of　catching　a　fleeting　shot　of　the　former　British　prime　minister。　I　pictured　Kate；　smugly　watching　the　live　coverage　in　her　office　in　London；　and　was　seized　by　a　fantastic　desire　to　run　out　and　start　twirling；　like　Julie　Andrews　at　the　start　ofThe　Sound　of　Music　：　Yes；　darling；　it’s　me！　I’m　here　with　the　war　criminal！　I’m　anaccomplice　！

　　I　sat　there　for　a　while；　until　I　heard　the　noise　of　the　minivan　pulling　up　to　the　front　of　the　house；　followed　by　a　commotion　of　voices　in　the　hall；　and　then　a　small　army　of　footsteps　thudding　up　the　wooden　staircase：　I　reckoned　that　must　be　the　sound　of　a　thousand　dollars　an　hour　in　legal　fees　on　the　hoof。　I　gave　Kroll　and　his　client　a　couple　of　minutes　for　handshakes；　condolences；　and　general　expressions　of　confidence；　then　wearily　left　my　dead　man’s　room　and　went　up　to　join　them。

　　KROLL　HAD　FLOWN　INby　private　jet　from　Washington　with　two　young　paralegals：　an　exquisitely　pretty　Mexican　woman　he　introduced　as　Encarnacion　and　a　black　guy　from　New　York　called　Josh。　They　sat　on　either　side　of　him；　their　laptops　open；　on　a　sofa　that　placed　their　backs　to　the　ocean　view。　Adam　and　Ruth　Lang　had　the　couch　opposite；　Amelia　and　I　an　armchair　each。　A　cinema…size　flat…screen　TV　next　to　the　fireplace　was　showing　the　aerial　shot　of　the　house；　as　relayed　live　from　the　helicopter　we　could　hear　buzzing　faintly　outside。　Occasionally　the　news　station　cut　to　the　waiting　journalists　in　the　large　chandeliered　room　in　The　Hague　where　the　press　conference　was　due　to　be　held。　Each　time　I　saw　the　empty　podium　with　its　ICC　logo　in　tasteful　UN　blue—laurel　boughs　and　scales　of　justice—I　felt　a　little　more　sick　with　nerves。　But　Lang　himself　seemed　cool。　He　was　jacketless；　wearing　a　white　shirt　and　a　dark　blue　tie。　It　was　the　sort　of　high…pressure　occasion　his　metabolism　was　built　for。

　　“So　here’s　the　score；”　said　Kroll；　when　we’d　all　taken　our　places。　“You’re　not　being　charged。　You’re　not　being　arrested。　None　of　this　is　going　to　amount　to　a　hill　of　beans；　I　promise　you。　All　that　the　prosecutor　is　asking　for　right　now　is　permission　to　launch　a　formal　investigation。　Okay？　So　when　we　go　out　of　here；　you　walk　tall；　you　look　cool；　and　you　have　peace　in　your　heart；　because　it’s　all　going　to　be　fine。”

　　“The　president　told　me　he　thought　they　might　not　even　let　her　investigate；”　said　Lang。

　　“I　always　hesitate　to　contradict　the　leader　of　the　free　world；”　said　Kroll；　“but　the　general　feeling　in　Washington　this　morning　is　they’ll　have　to。　Our　Madam　Prosecutor　is　quite　a　savvy　operator；　it　seems。　The　British　government　has　consistently　refused　to　hold　an　investigation　of　its　own　into　Operation　Tempest；　which　gives　her　a　legal　pretext　to　look　into　it　herself。　And　by　leaking　her　case　just　before　going　into　the　Pre…Trial　Chamber；　she’s　put　a　lot　of　pressure　on　those　three　judges　to　at　least　give　her　permission　to　move　to　the　investigation　stage。　If　they　tell　her　to　drop　it；　they　know　damn　well　that　everyone　will　just　say　they’re　scared　to　go　after　a　major　power。”

　　“That’s　crude　smear　tactics；”　said　Ruth。　She　was　wearing　black　leggings　and　another　of　her　shapeless　tops。　Her　shoeless　feet　were　tucked　beneath　her　on　the　sofa；　her　back　was　turned　to　her　husband。

　　Lang　shrugged。　“It’s　politics。”

　　“Exactly　my　point；”　said　Kroll。　“Treat　it　as　a　political　problem；　not　a　legal　one。”

　　Ruth　said；　“We　need　to　get　out　our　version　of　what　happened。　Refusing　to　comment　isn’t　enough　anymore。”

　　I　saw　my　chance。　“John　Maddox—”　I　began。

　　“Yeah；”　said　Kroll；　cutting　me　off；　“I　talked　to　John；　and　he’s　right。　We　really　have　to　go　for　this　whole　story　now　in　the　memoirs。　It’s　the　perfect　platform　for　you　to　respond；　Adam。　They’re　very　excited。”

　　“Fine；”　said　Lang。

　　“As　soon　as　possible　you　need　to　sit　down　with　our　friend　here”—I　realized　Kroll　had　forgotten　my　name—“and　go　over　the　whole　thing　in　detail。　But　you’ll　need　to　make　sure　it’s　all　cleared　with　me　first。　The　test　we　have　to　apply　is　to　imagine　what　every　word　might　sound　like　if　it’s　read　out　while　you’re　standing　in　the　dock。”

　　“Why？”　said　Ruth。　“I　thought　you　said　none　of　this　was　going　to　amount　to　anything。”

　　“It　won’t；”　said　Kroll　smoothly；　“especially　if　we’re　careful　not　to　give　them　any　extra　ammunition。”

　　“This　way　we　get　to　present　it　the　way　we　want；”　said　Lang。　“And　whenever　I’m　asked　about　it；　I　can　refer　people　to　the　account　in　my　memoirs。　Who　knows？　It　might　even　help　sell　a　few　copies。”　He　looked　around。　We　all　smiled。　“Okay；”　he　said；　“to　come　back　to　today。　What　am　I　actually　likely　to　be　investigated　for？”

　　Kroll　gestured　to　Encarnacion。　“Either　crimes　against　humanity；”　she　said　carefully；　“or　war　crimes。”

　　There　was　a　silence。　Odd　the　effect　such　words　can　have。　Perhaps　it　was　the　fact　that　it　was　she　who　had　said　them：　she　looked　so　innocent。　We　stopped　smiling。

　　“Unbelievable；”　said　Ruth　eventually；　“to　equate　what　Adam　did　or　didn’t　do　with　the　Nazis。”

　　“That’s