@@@@@ “Oh, it was, was it?” cried the former
@@@@@
“Oh, it was, was it?” cried the former brigadier of the British army“Well, let me explain
something else, shall I? You’ve been duped by an international terrorist wanted the world over! Do
you know the universal penalty for aiding and abetting such a killer? I’ll make it plain, in case it’s
escaped your attention—in your official capacity, of courseIt is death by firing squad or, less
charitably, a public hanging! Now, what’s that goddamned number in Paris?”
“Under the circumstances,” said the deputy, summoning what dignity he could despite the fact
that his trembling nephew clutched his left arm and his hand shook as he reached for his notebook
“I’ll write it out for youOne asks for a blackbirdI speak a few words, Sir
Henry
Summoned by an armed guard dressed casually as a weekend guest in white slacks and a loose,
bulky white linen jacket, John StJacques walked into the library of their new safe house, an estate
on Chesapeake BayThe guard, a muscular, medium-sized man with clean-cut Hispanic features,
stood inside the doorway; he pointed to the telephone on the large cherry-wood desk
“Thanks, Hector,” said Johnny, pausing brieflyJones stuff really necessary?”
“As necessary as ‘Hector My real name’s Roger Jacques crossed to the desk and picked up the phone“Holland?”
“That number your friend Sykes got is a blind, but useful
“As my brother-in-law would say, please speak English
“It’s the number of a café on the Marais waterfront on the SeineThe routine is to ask for a
blackbird—un oiseau noir—and somebody shouts outIf the blackbird’s there, contact is madeIf
he isn’t, you try again
“Why is it useful?”
“We’ll try again—and again and again—with a man inside
“What’s happening otherwise?”
“I can only give you a limited answer
“Goddamn you!”
“Marie can fill you in—”
“Marie?”
“She’s on her way homeShe’s mad as hell, but she’s also one relieved wife and mother
“Why is she mad?”
“I’ve booked her low-key on several long flights back—”
“For Christ’s sake, why?” broke in the brother angrily“You send a goddamned plane for her!
She’s been more valuable to you than anyone in your dumb Congress or your corkscrew
administration, and you send planes for them all over the p