@@@@@ “That old man made a lot of money during
@@@@@
“That old man made a lot of money during those years; he was special
“Every officer in Command Headquarters who was connected to Medusa had oneThey were
like manic kids who’d found secret code rings in cereal boxes
“They weren’t kids, AlexManic, you can bet your ass on it, but not kidsThey were infected
with a rotten virus called unaccountability, and more than a few millionaires were made in the
ubiquitous Command SaigonThe real kids were being maimed and killed in the jungles while a lot
of pressed khaki in the South had personal couriers routed through Switzerland and the banks on
Zurich’s BahnhofstrasseYou could be speaking of some very important people in our government
“Who are they?” asked Webb quietly, his glass poised in front of him
“The ones I knew who were up to their necks in garbage I made damn sure faded after Saigon
fellBut I was out of the field a couple of years before then, and nobody talks very much about
those months and nothing at all about Snake Lady
“Still, you’ve got to have some ideas
“Sure, but nothing concrete, nothing even close to proofJust possibilities based on life-styles,
on real estate they shouldn’t have or places they go they shouldn’t be able to afford or the positions
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
36
some hold or held in corporations justifying salaries and stock options when nothing in their
backgrounds justified the jobs
“You’re describing a network,” said David, his voice now tight, the voice of Jason Bourne
“If it is, it’s very tight,” agreed Conklin
“Draw up a list, Alex
“It’d be filled with holes
“Then keep it at first to those important people in our government who were attached to
Command SaigonMaybe even further to the ones who have real estate they shouldn’t have or who
held high-paying jobs in the private sector they shouldn’t have gotten
“I repeat, any such list could be worthless
“Not with your instincts
“David, what the hell has any of this to do with Carlos?”
“Part of the truth, AlexA dangerous part, I grant you, but foolproof and irresistible to the
Jackal
Stunned, the former field officer stared at his fr