“For Cod’s sake, Larry, I just told you what I’ve
been through! It took every minute I had to set
things up. I was going after these people this
goddamned Aquitaine and it could only be done
one way. I had to work myself in, I couldn’t waste
time!”
“That man died. Did you have anything to do with
his
“Christ, yes, I killed him! He tried to stop me,
they all tried to stop me! They found me in
Copenhagen and had me followed. They were
waiting for me at the airport here. It was a trap!”
“To stop you from reaching these men, these
generals and field marshals?”
“Yes!”
“Yet you just told me these same men invited
you to meet with them.”
“I’ll spell it all out for you in the morning,” said
Converse wearily, the tension of the last
hours days culminating in exhaustion and a
wracking headache. “By then I’ll have ev
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 343
erything down on paper, but you may have to come
over here to get it and me. The main thing is we’re
in touch. You’ve got the names, the overview, and
you know where I am. Talk with Nathan, think about
everything I’ve said and the three of us will figure
out what to do. We have contacts in Washington, but
we’ll have to be careful. We don’t know who’s with
whom. But there’s a plus here. Some of the material
I have I had could only have come from people
down there. One view is that I was set in motion by
them, that men I don’t know are watching every
move I make because I’m doing what they can’t do.”
“By yourself,” said Talbot, agreeing. “Without
Washington’s help. Without their help.”
“That’s right. They can’t show themselves; they
have to stay in the background until I bring out
something concrete. That was the plan. When you
and Nathan talk, if you have questions call me. I’m
just going to lie down for an hour or so anyway.”
“I’ve got another question now, if you don’t mind.
You know Interpol has an international warrant for
you.”
“I do.”
“And the American embassy is looking for you.”
“I know that, too.”
“I was told that word reached you to come into
the embassy.”
“You were told?”
“Why haven’t you done it, Joel?”
“Jesus, I can’t! Don’t you think I would if I could
? The place is crawling with Delavane’s people. Well,
that’s an exaggeration, but I know of three. I saw
them.”
“It’s my understanding that Ambassador
Peregrine himself got word to you, guaranteeing you
protection, confidentiality. Wasn’t that enough?”
“Your understanding . . .” The answer is no!
Peregrine hasn’t any idea what he’s got inside that
place. Or maybe he does. I saw Leifhelm’s car go
through those gates like he had a lifetime pass. At
three o’clock in the morning. Leifhelm’s a Nazi,
Larry, he’s never been anything else! So what does
that make Peregrine?”
“Come on, Joel. You’re maligning a man by
implication who doesn’t deserve it. Walter Peregrine
was one of the heroes of Bastogne. His command at
the Battle of the Bulge is
344 ROBERT LUDLUM
a legend of the war. And he was a reserve officer,
not part of the regular Army. I doubt that Nazis are
his favorite guests. ‘
“His command? Another commander? Then
maybe he knows exactly what he s got in that
embassy!”
“That’s not fair. His outspoken criticisms of the
Pentagon are a documented part of his postwar
career. He’s called them megalomaniacs with too
damn much money feeding their egos at the
taxpayers’ expense. No, you’re not being fair, Joel.
I think you should listen to him. Call him on the
phone, talk to him.”
‘ Not being fairy” said Converse softly, the
undefined feel~ng coming Into focus, now a
warning. Wait a minute! You’re the one who’s not
being fair. I was told’. . . it’s my understanding?’
What oracle have you been in touch with? Who’s
imparting these pearls of wisdom about me? On
what basis and where from?”
“All right, Joel, all right, calm down. Yes, I have
talked to people people who want to help you. A
man is dead in Paris, and now you say there’s
another in Bonn. You talk of scouts and patrols and
those horrible chemicals, and how you ran through
the woods and had to hide in the river. Don t you
understand, son? Nobody’s blaming you or even
holding you responsible. Something happened;
you’re living it all over again.”
“My God!” broke in Converse, stunned. ‘You
don’t believe a word I’ve said!”
You believe it, and that s all that matters. I saw
my share in North Africa and Italy, but nothing to
compare with what you went through later. You
have a deep, understandable hatred for war and all
things military. You wouldn’t be human if you
didn’t, not with the suffering you experienced and
the terrible things you endured.”
~Larry, everything I’ve told you is true!”
Fine, splendid. Then reach Peregrine go to the
embassy and tell them. They’ll listen to you. He’ll
listen.”
Are you denser than I think?,’ shouted Joel. 1
just told you, I can t! I’d never get to see Peregrine!
I’d get my head blown away!’
‘ 1 spoke to your wife sorry, your ex-wife. She
said you’d have these moments at night….”
‘~You spoke to Val? You brought her into this!
Christ, are you out of your mind ? Don’t you know
they trace everyone
THE AQUITAINE PROGRESSION 345
down ? It was right under your nose, counselor!
LucasAnstett Stay away from her! Stay away or
I’ll I’ll ”
“You’ll what, son?” asked Talbot quietly. “Kiln’ me,
too?”
“Oh, 1esust”
‘ Do as I say, Joel. Call Peregrine. Everything wilt be
all
Suddenly Converse heard an odd sound over the
line, odd in context but one he had heard hundreds
of times before. It was a short buzz, barely significant
but there was significance to it. It was Lawrence
Talbot’s courteous signal to his secretary to come
into his office and pick up a revised letter or a
corrected brief or a dictation tape. Joel knew what it
was now. The address of a seedy hotel in Bonn.
“All right, Larry,” he said, feigning an exhaustion
that was all too real. “I’m so damned tired. Let me lie
down for a while and maybe I will call the embassy.
Maybe I should get in touch with Peregrine.
Everything’s so confused.”
“That’s the way, son. Everything’s going to be fine
now. Just splendid.”
“Good-bye, Larry.”
“Good-bye for now, Joel. See you in a couple of
days.”
Converse slammed down the phone and looked
around the dimly lit room. What was he checking
for? He had come with nothing and he would leave
with nothing but what was on his back what he had
stolen. And he had to leave quickly. He had to run.
In minutes men would be speeding in cars from the
embassy, and at least one of those men would have
a gun and a bullet meant for him!
What in hell was happening to him? The truth
was a fantasy bolstered by lies, and the lies were his
only means of survival. Insanity!
19
He ran past the elevator to the staircase,
descending the steps two and three at a time, his
hand on the iron railing as he lurched around the
landings, and reached the lobby door four stories
below. He swung it open, suddenly gripping the
346 R06ERT IUDLUM
edge and slowing his pace so as not to call attention
to himself. He need not have been concerned. The
small band of people milling about in front of the
benches against the wall and wandering around the
warm tile floor were the neighborhoodelderly,
looking for nightly companionship, and a few drunks
walking in and out of the neon-lit door to the noisy
cafe. Oh Christ! His mind was in a frenzy. He could
walk around in the night, hiding in alleys, but a lone
man in unfamiliar streets was too easily spotted by
unofficial hunters or by the official police. He had
to get inside somewhere, somehow. Out of sight.
The cafe! His Samaritans! He pulled up the
collar of the leather jacket and forced the belt of
the trousers lower, inching down the gap around his
ankles. He then approached the door casually,
feigning a slight stagger as he pushed it open. He
was greeted by Roating levels of smoke not all of
it tobacco, by any means and adjusted his stinging
eyes to the erratically flashing lights as he tried to
block out the offending noise, a combination of
guttural roars and disco music blaring from
high-tech speakers. His Good Samaritans were
gone: he looked for the young blond girl as his focal
point, but she was not there. The table they had
occupied was taken by another foursome no, not