Robert Ludlum - Aquatain Progression.txt
Page 59
glass booth, was preferable to being out in the open.
He felt his pulse accelerating; it seemed to explode
when the bell rang.
"Saint-Pierre, Nelli, et Mattilon," said the female
voice in Paris.
"Monsieur Mattilon, please s'il vous plait."
"Votre. . . ?" The woman stopped, undoubtedly
recoginzing an American's abysmal attempt at
French. "Who may I say is calling, please?"
"His friend from New York. He'll know. I'm a
client."
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 377
Rene did know. After several clicks his strained
voice came on the line. 'Joel?" he whispered. "I don't
believe itI"
' Don't," said Converse. "It's not true not what
they say about Geneva or Bonn, not even what you
said. I had nothing to do with those killings, and
Paris was an accident. I had every reason to think I
did think that man was reaching for a gun.'
"Why didn't you stay where you were, then, my
friend?"
"Because they wanted to stop me from going on.
It's what I honestly believed, and I couldn't let them
do that. Let me tally.... At the George Cinq you
asked me questions and I gave you evasive answers
and I think you saw through me. But you were kind
and went along. You have nothing to be sorry about,
take my word for it my very sane word. Bertholdier
came to me that evening in my room; we talked and
he panicked. Six days ago I saw him again here in
Bonn only, this time it was different. He was
ordered to be there, along with three other very
powerful men, two generals and a former field
marshal. It's a cabal, Rene, an international cabal,
and they can pull it off. Everything's secret and
moving fast. They've recruited key military personnel
all over Europe, the Mediterranean, Canada, and the
U.S. There's no way to tell who's with them and who
isn't and there isn't time to make a mistake.
They've got millions at their disposal, warehouses all
over filled with munitions ready to ship to their
people when the moment comes."
"The moment?" Mattilon broke in. "What moment?"
"Please," insistedJoel, rushing ahead. "They've
been funneling weapons and explosives to maniacs
everywhere terrorists, proves, certified
lunatics with one purpose only: destabilisation
through violence. It's their excuse to move in. Right
now they're blowing up Northern Ireland."
"The madness in Ulster?" interrupted the
Frenchman again. "The horrors going on "
"It's their horror! It's a trial run. They did it with
one massive shipment from the States to prove they
can do it! But Ireland's only a test, a minor exercise.
The big explosion's coming in a matter of days, a few
weeks at most. I've got to reach the people who can
stop them, and I can't do that if I'm dead!" Converse
paused, only to catch his breath, giving Mattilon no
chance to speak. "These are the men I was after,
Rene after legally, to build a few cases against
them, expose
378 R08ERT IUDLUM
them in the courts before they got anywhere. But
then, I found out. They're already there. I was too
late."
"But why you?"
'it in Geneva with Halliday, the man who was
shot to death. He was killed by their gunmen, but
not before he recruited me. You asked me about
Geneva and I lied to you, but that's the truth. Now,
you'll either help me, or try to help me, or you
won't. Not for me I'm insignificant but what I got
roped into isn't. And I was roped into it, I know
that now. But I've seen them, talked to them, and
they're so goddamned logical, so bucking persuasive,
they'll turn all Europe fascist; they'll set up a
military federation with my country the progenitor.
Because it started in my country, it started in San
Francisco with a man named Delavane."
"Saigon? The Mad Marcus of Saigon?"
"Alive and well and living in Palo Alto, pushing
his military buttons all over the place. He's still a
magnet and they're drawn to him like flies to a pig."
"Joel, are you . . . are you . . . all right?"
"Let's put it this way, Rene. I took a lousy watch
offa man who guarded me a paranoid who
nevertheless was nice to me and it's got a sweep
hand. You've got thirty seconds to think about what
I've told you, then I'll hang up. Now, old friend,
twenty-nine seconds."
Ten passed and Mattilon spoke. "An insane man
does not deliver such a precise explanation so
precisely. Very well, perhaps I am mad, too, but
what you speak of God knows the times are right,
what else can I say? Everything is crazy'"
"I've got to get back to the States alive, to
Washington. I know people there. If I can reach
them and show myself for what I am, they'll listen
to me. Can you help?"
"I have contacts in the Quai d'Orsay. Let me go to
them."
"No," objected Converse. "They know we're
friends. One word to the wrong person and you'd be
killed. Forgive wee~cbaunttmaffrOedimthpotrtant,
your talking would set off alarms.
"Very well," said Mattilon. "There is a man in
Amsterdam don't ask me how I know him_who
can arrange such things. I assume you have no
passport."
"I have one but it's not mine. It's German. I
took it off a guard who was ready to put a bullet in
my head."
"Then I'm sure he's not in a position to
complain to the authorities."
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 379
"He's not."
"In your mind you really did go back, didn't you,
my friend?"
"Let's not talk about it, okay?"
"Bien. You are you. Keep that passport, it will be
useful."
"Amsterdam. How do I get there?"
"You are in Bonn, no?"
"Yes."
"There is a train to Emmerich on the Dutch
border. In Emmerich, switch to local
transport streetcars, autobuses, whatever. The
customs are lax, especially during the peak hours
when workers go back and forth. No one looks, so
just show the passport you have quickly, partially
covering the photograph, perhaps. It's good that it's
German. You should have no trouble."
"Suppose I do?"
"Then I can't help you, my friend. I'm being
honest. And then I must go to the Quai d'Orsay."
"All right. I get across, then what?"
"You'll reach Arnhem. From there you take the
train to Amsterdam."
"And then?"
"The man. His name is on a card in my bottom
drawer. Do you have something to write on write
with?"
"Go ahead," said Converse, reaching for the note
pad and the ball-point pen on the ledge beneath the
telephone.
"Here it is. Thorbecke. Cort Thorbecke. The
apartment house
is on the southwest corner of
Utrechtsestraat and Kerkstraat. The telephone
number is zero-two-zero, four-oneone-three-zero.
When you call for an appointment, tell him you are
a member of the Tabana family. Do you have that?
Tatiana. "
"Rend?" said Joel, writing. "I never would have
guessed. How come you know someone like this?"
"I told you not to ask, but on the other hand he
may probe and you should have at least vague
answers everything was always vague. Tatiana is a
Russian name, one of the Czar's daughters reputedly
executed at Ekaterinburg in 1918. I say 'reputedly'
because many believe she was spared along with her
sister Anastasia and smuggled out with a nurse who
had a fortune in jewels on her. The nurse favored
Tatiana and once free, gave everything to the child
and nothing to her sis
380 ROBERT IUDLUM
ten It's said she lived anonymously in great
wealth may even be living today but no one
knows where."
"That's what I have to know?" asked Converse.
"NO, it's merely the origins of its present
meaning. Today it is a symbol of trust given to very
few people in recent years, people who themselves
are trusted by the most suspicious men on earth,
men who cannot afford to make mistakes."
"Good Lord, who?"
"Russians, powerful Soviet commissars who have
a fond" ness for Western banking, who broker
money out of Moscow for investments. You can
understand why the circle is small. Few are called
and fewer chosen. Thorbecke is one of them and he
does an extensive business in passports. I'll reach
him and tell him to expect your call. Remember, no
name, just Tatiana. He'll have you on a KLM to
Washington in short order. You'll need money,
however, so we must think how I can "
"Money's one thing I don't need," interrupted
Converse. "Just a passport and a plane ticket to
Dulles Airport without being picked up."
"Get to Amsterdam. Thorbecke will help."
"Thank you, Rene. I wanted to count on you
and you came through. It means a lot to me. It
means my life."
"You're not in Washington yet, my friend. But
call me when you get there, no matter the hour."
"I will. Thanks, again.'
Joel hung up, put the note pad and the pen into
his pocket, and went out of the booth to the
counter. He asked for his charges, and while the
English-speaking operator was getting them he
remembered the item he had marked 2 on his list.
His attache case with the dossiers and the names of
the deci sion makers at the Pentagon and the State
Department. Das Rektorat. Through some
extraordinary oversight on Leifhelm's part, had
Connal managed to hide it somewhere? Could it
have been found perhaps by an employee at the
country inn? Converse spoke to the operator who
was handing him his bill.
There's a place called Das Rektorat. It's a hotel
in the countryside where I'm not sure, but I'd like
to call it and reach the manager. I'm told he speaks
English."
'Yes, sir. Das Rektorat has splendid
accommodations, if they are available."
"I'm not looking for a reservation. A friend of
mine stayed there last week and thinks he may have
left a valuable item
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 381
in his room. He called me and asked me to check for
him, to speak with the manager. If I find the
number, would you place the call for me and get him
on the line? I'm sorry to say I don't speak German;
I'd probably reach the chef."
' Certainly, sir," replied the woman, smiling. It
would be easier for me to get the number. Return to
booth seven and I'll ring you. You can pay for both
calls when you are finished."
Inside the glass enclosure Joel lit a cigarette,
thinking about what he was going to say. He barely
had time to formulate his words when the ring came.
"This is the Vorsteher the manager of Das
Rektorat, sir," said the operator. ' And he does speak
English."
"Thank you." The operator broke off her
connection "Hello?"
"Yes, may I help you, sir?"
"I hope so. I'm an American friend of
Commander Connal Fitzpatrick, chief legal officer of
the San Diego Naval Base in California. I
understand he stayed there last week."
'Indeed he did, sir. We were so sorry we could
not have extended his visit with us, but there was a
prior reservation."
"Oh? He left unexpectedly?"
"I shouldn't put it that way. We spoke in the
morning and I believe he understood our situation.
I myself made arrangements for a taxi."
"He was alone when he left?"
"Yes, sir."
"Oh. Then if you'll tell me which hotel he went
to, I can check there as well."
'Check, sir?"
"The Commander misplaced one of his briefcases,
a flat leather type with two combination locks. The
contents are of no value except to him, but he very
much wants to find it. It was a present from his wife,
I think. Have you come across it?"
'No, sir."
"Are you sure? The commander has a habit of
concealing his legal papers, sometimes under a bed
or in the back of a closet. '
He left nothing here, sir. The room was
thoroughly examined and cleaned by our staff."
"Perhaps someone came to see him and took the
wrong
382 ROBERT LUDLUM
case." Converse knew he was pressing but there was
no reason not to.
' He had no visitors." The German paused. "Just
one moment, I do recall now."
Yes?''
"You say a flat briefcase, what is generally
referred to as an attache case?"
"Yes!"
"He carried it with him. It was in his hand when he
left."
"Oh . . . " Joel tried to recover quickly. "Then if
you'll just tell me what forwarding address he left,
what hotel he went to."
"I'm sorry, sir. There were no such instructions."
"Somebody had to make a reservation for him!
Rooms are tight in Bonul"
"Please, sir. I myself offered to try, but he
refused my aid somewhat discourteously, I might
add."
"I'm sorry." Joel was annoyed that he had lost
control. "Those legal papers were important. Then
you have no idea where he went?"
"But I do, sir, if one wishes to be humored. I
made a point of asking. He said he was going to the
Bahnhof; the train station. If anyone asked for him,
we were to say he was sleeping in a baggage locker.
I'm afraid it was also meant discourteous
The train station? A locker! It was a message!
Fitzpatrick was telling him where to look! Without
speaking further, Converse hung up the phone, left
the booth, and went to the counter. He paid for
both calls and thanked the operator, wanting to
leave her a tip but knowing it would only call at-
tension to him. "You've been very kind and, if I
may, one last favor."
"Sir?"
"Where is the train station?"
"You can't miss it. Turn left out of the building
and walk four streets, then left again for two more.
It is one of the more uncertain prides of Bonn."
"You've been very kind."
Joel hurried down the pavement, constantly
reminding himself to check his speed. Everything
depended on control now, eve~7,~thing. Every
move he made had to be normal even casual,
nothing to cause anyone to take a second glance at
him. Mattilon had told him to take a train;
Fitzpatrick had
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 383
told him to go to the train station a locker! It was
another omen! He was beginning to think that such
a thing did exist.
He walked through the large open doors of the
entrance and turned to his right toward the row of
lockers where he had left the attache case before
heading out to the Alter Zoll to meet "Avery
Fowler." He reached the locker itself; there was a