Robert Ludlum - The Parcifal Mosaic.txt

by The Parcifal Mosaic [lit]

  a knife, something else. He leaped back and grabbed the hand, twisting yet

  not twisting-to cause her further pain was not in him. He could not hurt

  her.

  SWU kiU you it she can. Broussac.

  Jenna rolled off the bed, her left leg bent, her knee crashing into his

  kidney, her sharp fingernails clawing his neck, digging into his skin. He

  could not strike her, he could not do it. She grabbed his hair, pulling his

  face down, and her right knee smashed Into the bridge of his nose. The

  darkness was splintered into fragments of white light.

  "Cungl' she cried in a muted voice, made guttural by her fury.

  He understood; he had taught her well. Use an enemy. KiU him only if you

  must. But use him first. Escape was her intent; it accounted for the

  disheveled clothes, the skirt pulled up to expose her thigh. He had

  attributed it all to exhaustion, but he had been wrong; it was a sight for

  a prase peering through a slot in the cell door.

  "Stilir he whispered harshly as he held her, twisting nothing, damaging

  nothing. "TU m6r he freed his left hand and pulled her writhing body across

  the small room to the lamp. He reached over and found the switch; he

  snapped it on, her face in front of his.

  She stared at him, her wide brown eyes bursting from their sockets with

  that strange admixture of fear and loathing

  THE PARSIFAL MOSAIC365

  he had seen in the window of the small plane in Col des Moulinets. The cry

  that was wrenched from her throat came also from the center of her life; the

  scream that grew from it was prolonged and horrible-a child in a cellar of

  terror, a woman who faced the return of infinite pain. She kicked wildly,

  and spun away, breaking his grip, and threw herself across the bed and

  against the wall. She whipped her hand back and forth, slashing madly, a

  crazed animal cornered, with nothing left but to end its life screaming,

  clawing, thrashing as the trap snapped shut. In her hand she grasped the

  instrument that had been her only hope for freedom; it was a fork, its tines

  tirited with his blood.

  "Listen to mel" he whispered sharply again. "It was done to both of usl les

  what I've come to tell you, what I tried to tell you at Col des Mouhnetsl"

  "It was done to mel You tried to kill me ... bow many times? If I'm to die,

  then YOU- .

  He lunged, and phu-dng her hand against the wall, her right arm under his,

  he forced her to stop writhing.

  "Broussac believed you ... but then she believed nwl Try to understand. She

  knew I told her the truthl"

  "You doet know the truthl Liar, liarl" She spat in his face; she was

  kicking, twisting, digging the nails of her trapped hand into his back.

  "They-wanted me out and. you were the wayl I don7t know why, but'I know men

  have been killed ... a woman, too. who was meant to be youl They want to

  kill us both now, they have tol"

  "Liarl'

  Mere are liars, yes, but I'm not one of theml"

  "You are, you arel You sold yourself to the zvifatal Kunnr

  "Nor, He twisted her hand, the bloodied fork protruding from her clenched

  fist. She winced in pain as he pulled her wrist down. Then she slowly

  reduced her counterpressure, her wide eyes frightened still, hating still,

  but piercing, too, with confusion. He placed the fork against his throat

  and Whispered. "You know what to do," he said carefully, clearly. "The

  windpipe. Once punctured there~s no way out for me here. . . . But there is

  for you. Pretend to go along with them; be passive, but watch the guard-as

  you know, he's a groat. The sooner you're cooperative, the sooner theYll

  find you work on the outside. Remember, all You want are Your

  366 ROBERT LuDLum

  Papers; theYre everything to you. But when they let you out, somehow get to

  a phone and reach Broussac in Paris-you can do it. Shell help you because

  she knows the truth." He stopped and took his hand away, leaving hers free.

  "Now, do it. Either kill me or believe me."

  Her stare was to him a scream echoing in the dark regions of his mind and

  hurling him into the horror of a thousand memories. Her lips trembled, and

  slowly it happened. Fear and bewilderment remained in her eyes, but the

  hatred was receding. Then the tears came, welling up slowly; they were the

  balm that meant the healing could begin.

  Jenna dropped her hand and he took it, holding it in his own. The fork fell

  from her unclenebed hand, and her body went limp, as the deep, terrible

  sobs came.

  He held her. It was all he could do, all he wanted to do.

  The sobs subsided and the minutes went by in silence. All they could hear

  was their own breathing, all they felt was each other as they clung

  together. Finally he whispered, "We're getting out, but it won1 be clean.

  Did you meet Kohoutek?"

  "Yes, a horrible man."

  "Ws going with us, supposedly to pick up a final payment for you."

  "But there iset any," said Jenna, pulling her face back, studying his, her

  eyes absorbing him, enveloping him. "Let me look at you, just look at you."

  "There isn't time---7

  "Shhh." She placed her fingers on his lips. "There must be time, because

  there's nothing else."

  "I thought the same when I was walking over here, and when I was looking

  down at you." He smiled as he stroked her bair and gently caressed her

  lovely face. "You played well, prArdszJ."

  "I've hurt you."

  "A minor cut and a few major scratches. Doet be insulted."

  "Yoere bleeding ... your neck."

  "And my, back, and a fork scrape-1 guess you'd call it-on my stomach," said

  Michael. "You can nurse me later and I'll be grateful, but right now it

  fits the picture they have. rm bringing you back on Aeroflot."

  "Do I continue fightingr

  THE PAusrFAL MosAic367

  "No, Just be hostile. You're resigned; you know you can7t win. Itll go

  harder for you if you struggle."

  "And Kohoutek?"

  "He says you're to stay in the back seat with him. Hell have us both under

  a gun."

  "Then I shall smoke a great deal. His hand will drop."

  "Something like that. It's a long trip, a lot can happen. A gas station, a

  breakdown, no lights. He may be a mountain bull but he's close to seventy."

  Havelock held her shoulders. "He may decide to drug you. If he does, III

  try to stop him."

  . He won't give me anything dangerous; he wants his money. I'm not

  concerned. r1l. know you~re there and I know what you can do."

  "Come on."

  "Mikhail." She gripped his hands. "What happened? To me ... to you? They

  said such dreadful things, such tertible thingsl I coul&1 believe them, yet

  I had to believe. It was therel"

  "It was all there. Down to my watching you die~"

  "Oh, God. . ."

  "I've been running away ever since, until that night in Rome. Then I

  started running in a different direction. After you, after them-after the

  liars who did this to us."

  "How did they do it?"

  "There's no time now. III tell you everything I can later, and then I want

  to hear you. Everything. You have the names, you know the people. Later
."

  They stood up and embraced, holding each other briefly, feeling the warmth

  and the hope each gave the other. Michael pulled a handkerchief from his

  breast pocket and held it against his neck. Jenna took his hand away and

  blotted the deep scratches herself; she touched the bridge of his nose,

  where she had struck him with her knee, then smoothed his hair at the

  temples.

  "Treat me

  "Remember, my darling," she whispered. sternly. Push me and shove me and

  grab my arm firmly as you do it. A man who's been scratched by a woman,

  whether she's his enemy or not, is an angry man. Especially among other

  men; his masculinity suffers more than the wounds."

  "Thank you, Sigmund Freud. Lees go."

  The guard in the black leather jacket smiled at the sight of Havelock's

  bleeding neck while the Cuban nodded his head,

  368 RoiBERT LuDLum

  his expression confirming a previous judgment. As instructed, Michael held

  Jenna's arm in a viselike grip, propelling her forward at his side, his

  mouth set, his eyes controlled but furious.

  "I want to go back to Kohoutek and get out of herel" he said angrily. "And

  I don't care for anydicussion, is that understood?"

  "Did the great big man get hurt by the little bitty girl?" said the guard,

  grinning.

  "Shut up, you goddamned idiod"

  "Come to think of it, she's not that little."

  Janos Kohoutek was dressed in a heavy mackinaw coat, a fur-lined cap on his

  head. He, too, smiled at the handkerchief held in place on Havelock's ne~k.

  "Perhaps this one's a witch. from the Carpathians," he said, speaking

  English, his stained teeth showing. "The old wives' tales say they have the

  strength of mountain cats and the cunning of demons."

  "Spell it with their b, p+iteli. She's a bitch." Michael pressed Jenna

  toward the door. "I want to get started; the snow will make for a longer

  trip."

  "It's not so bad, more wind than anything," said the bull, taking a roll of

  thick cord out of his pocket and walking toward Jenna. "They keep the

  turnpike clear."

  "What's that?" asked Havelock, gesturing at tfie cord.

  "Hold out her hands," ordered Kohoutek, addressing the guard. "YOU may care

  to put up with this cat, but I do not."

  "I smoke," protested Jenna. "Let me smoke, I'm very nervous. What can I

  do?"

  "Perhaps you would prefer a needle? Then there win be no thought of

  smoking."

  "My people worft accept drugs," interrupted Michael firmly. "The airports

  are watched, especially our departure gates. No narcotics."

  '"Men she'll be tied. Come, take her hand." The guard in the leather jacket

  approached Jenna; haltingly she put out her hands, so as not to be touched

  more than necessary. Kohoutek stopped. "Has she been to the toilet?" he

  asked harshly of no one, and no one answered. "Tell me, woman, have you

  been to the toilet?'

  "I'm all right," said Jenna.

  "For a number of hours? Therell be no stops, you under- THE PARSIFAL MOSMC3e9

  stand? Even to sit on the side of the road with a gun at your head, there'll

  be no stops. RozumUP"

  "I said I'm all right."

  "Tie her, and lees go." Havelock took several finpatient steps toward the

  door, passing the Moravian and glancing at Jenna. Her eyes were cool glass;

  she was magnificent. "I assume this refugee from a faldf will take us up in

  the truck."

  The guard looked angry as Kohoutek grinned. "You are not far wrong,

  Havlf6ek. He's been put away for aggravated assault several times. Yes,

  hell take us." 'Me bull pulled the cord tight around Jenna's hands, then

  turned and shouted, "Axelr

  "He has my weapon," said Michael, gesturing at the man in the leather

  jacket. 'Td like it back."

  'You shall have it. At a street c6mer in New York."

  The second guard entered the room from the hallway, the same man who had

  first seen Havelock awake on the floor.

  "Yes, Mr. Kohoutek?"

  "Yoere handling the schedules tomorrow, no?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Stay in radio contact with the north trucks and have one pick me up in

  Monongahela after my plane arrives tomorrow. I will phone from the airport

  and give you the time of the flight.-

  Mght.-

  "We go," said the mountain bull, heading for the door.

  Michael took Jenna's arm, the guard in the leather jacket following.

  Outside, the wind was stronger than before, the snow angrier, whipping in

  circles and stinging the face. With Kohoutek leading, they ran down the

  farmhouse path to the truck in the road. A third guard, wearing a white

  parka, stood by the gate fifty yards away; he saw them and walked to the

  center latch.

  The truck was enclosed; there were facing wooden benches in the van for

  transporting a cargo of five to six on each side, and coiled ropes hung on

  the walls. At the sight of the covered, windowless quarters Jenna was

  visibly shaken, and Havelock understood. Her country-his native countryhad

  seen too many such vehicles over the years, heard too many stories told in

  whispers of convoys carrying away men and women and children who were never

  seen again. This was Mason Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., but the owners and

  370 RoBERT LuDLum

  drivers of these trucks were no different from their brothers in Prague and

  Warsaw, late of Moscow-before then, Berlin.

  Tet in, get inf" shouted Kohoutek, now waving a large .45 automatic as the

  guard held the handle of the rear door.

  "rin not your prisonerl" yelled Havelock. "We negotiated] We have an

  agreementl"

  "And part of that agreement, pfiteli, is that you are my guest as well as

  my hostage until we reach New York. After delivery-both deliveries-I

  shall.be happy to put away the gun and buy you dinner."

  The mountain bull roared with laughter as jenna and Michael climbed into

  the van. They sat next to each other, but this was not to Kohouteles

  liking. He said, "The woman sits with me. You move across. Quickly."

  "You7re paranoid," said Havelock, moving to the other side, seeking out the

  shadows.

  The door was closed, the latch and lock manipulated by the guard. A dim

  light came through the windshield. In seconds, thought Michael, the

  headlights would be turned on, the reflected spill partially illuminating

  the van. In the darkness be pulled up his coat and reached behind him with

  his right hand, inching toward the knife clipped to his belt in the small

  of his back. If he did not remove it now, it would be infinitely more

  difficult later when he was behind the wheel of his car.

  "Whaes that?" shouted the bull, raising his gun in the shadows, pointing it

  at Havelocles head. "What are you doing?-

  '*Me bitch cat clawed my back; the blood's sticking to my shirt," said

  Michael in a normal voice. Then he yelled, "Do you want to see it, feel

  it?'

  Kohoutek grinned, glancing at jenna. "A Carpathian &rodgika. The moon's

  probably full but we can't see it." He laughed his crude mountain laugh

  once more. "I trust the Lubyanka is as tight as it ever was. She'R eat your

&nb
sp; guards UPI.

  At the mention of the word "Lubyanka," jenna gasped, shuddering. "Oh, Codl

  Oh, my "I"

  Kohoutek looked at her again, and again Havelock understood-she was

  covering for him. He quickly pulled the knife out of the scabbard and

  palmed it in his right hand. lt had all taken less than twelve seconds.

  TkE PARwAL Mosuc 371

  The driver's door opened; the guard climbed in and switched on the lights.

  He looked behind; the old bull nodded and he turned the ignition key. The

  vehicle had a powerful engine, and a minute later they had passed through

  the gate and were climbing the steep hill, the heavy-treaded tires

  crunching the snow and the soft earth beneath them, lurching, vibrating,

  rolling with the uneven pitch of the ground. They reached the wall of trees

  where the road flattened out; there was perhaps three-eighths of a winding

  mile to go before the Fourforks Pike. The guard-driver gathered speed, then

  suddenly stepped on the brake, stopping the truck instantly. A red light

  was flashing on the dashboard. He reached over for a switch, then another,

  and snapped both. There was a prolonged burst of static over the radio as

  an excited voice shouted through the eruptions: "Mr. KohoutekI Mr.

  Kohoutekl"

  "What is it?" asked the guard, grabbing a microphone from the dashboard and

  depressing a button. "You7re on the emergency channel."

  "The sparrow in New York-he's on the phonel Handelman~s deadl He heard it

  on the radiol He was shot in his apartment, and the -police are looking for

  a man . . ."

  Havelock lunged, twisting the handle of the knife into his clenched fist,

  the blade protruding downward, his left hand reaching for the barrel of the

  .45 automatic. Jenna sprang away; he gripped the long, flat steel as

  Kohoutek rose, then slamming the gun back down on the wooden bench, he

  plunged the knife through the mountain bulrs hand, the point

  embedding-through flesh and bone-in the wood, the .bloody hand impaled.

  Kohoutek screamed; the guard in the front seat spun around as Jenna threw

  herself at him, crashing her roped hands down on his neck, and pulled the

  microphone out of his grip, cutting off the transmission. Havelock swung

  the gun up into the old buIrs head; Kohoutek lurched back into the wall and

  fell forward on the floor of the van, his arm stretched out, his hand still