Robert Ludlum - The Parcifal Mosaic.txt

by The Parcifal Mosaic [lit]

  you call Parsifal but seeing others, addressing others. Russian generals

  and scientists who weren't there ' Chinese army commanders and commissars

  halfway across the globe. During those moments he saw them, they were

  there. It was a running pattern of self-induced s6ances, therapy of the

  most destructive kind. And each time he came out of it he was a little bit

  worse his eyes guarded by those tortoiseshell glasses a little less &Zed.

  He was a man who'd been on some sort of drug trip, his mind a touch less

  clear

  662 RoBERT LuDLum

  for it. It was progressive, but he could still function in both worlds....

  I saw it all, wrote it all."

  "When did I come up?" asked Havelock. "Why me?"

  "You were there all the time, photographs of you were on his desk, his

  bureau ... in the Woodshed. An album of the two of you on a camping trip

  through the Canadian far west."

  "I'd forgotten," said Michael. "It was so long ago. I was in graduate

  school, Anton was my adviser."

  "Far more than that. You were the son he never bad, speaking to him in his

  native language, recalling another place, another time." Alexander raised

  his head from the cradle of his chest, riveting his eyes on Havelock.

  "Above all, you were the son who refused to believe that his visions, his

  solutions for the world, were the right ones. He couldn't convince you.

  Your voice kept telling him he was wrong, and he couldn't stand that. He

  couldn't stand being told he was wrong, especially by you."

  "He was. He knew I'd tell him."

  'His eyes would stray to your pictures, and suddenly be would see you and

  be talking with you, tormented by your arguments, your anger. He was afraid

  of you, really ... and the work would stop."

  "So I had to be put out of reach."

  'Where you could no longer judge him, I think. You were part of his

  everyday reality, the Department of State. You bad to be separated from

  that reality. It began to consume him; be couldn't tolerate your

  interference. You had to go; he wouldn't have it any other way."

  "And Parsifal knew bow to do it," said Michael bitterly. "He knew the mole

  at State. He reached him and told him what to do."

  "I bad no part of that. I knew it was being done, but I diddt know bow....

  You had spoken to Anton about Miss Karas. About your devotion to her and

  bow after the long years of your own inner turmoil-going back to your

  childhood-you were ready to come out. With her. Getting out was very

  important to you. Your decision had been made."

  "You thought I'd come out without her? Why?-

  "Because Parsifal was experienced in such matters," said Jenna. She

  selected one of the photographs and handed it to

  THE PARSIFAL MOSAIC663

  Michael. "A clinical psychologist attached to the KGB. A man named Alexei

  Kalyazin-4he face that struck a chord with you."

  "I donI know himl- shouted Havelock, getting out of the chair and turning

  to Raymond Alexander. "Who is he?"

  'I)on't ask me to say the name," whispered the journalist, Shaking his head

  and pulling back into the chair. "Don't ask me. I can't be involved."

  "Goddamn you, you are involvedl" yelled Michael, throwing the photograph on

  Alexander's lap. "You're the Boswelll ... Wait a minutel" Michael looked at

  Jenna and said, "He was a defector. Forget the fact that he was a plant, he

  was a defector. He had to be listedl"

  "All references to the defection of Alexei Kalyazin were expurgated," said

  Alexander quietly. "All files were removed~ a -an with another name simply

  disappeared."

  "Naturally. So the great man couldn't possibly be tar

  nishedi" Havelock approached Alexander's chair; he reached

  dd, gripping the lapels of the journalist's jacket,

  y =him up. "Who is he? TeU mel"

  "Look at the photograph." Alexandees body was trembling. "Look at it.

  Remove much of the hair, the eyebrows as well. Give him many lines around

  his face, his eyes a small white beard, speckled with gray."

  Michael grabbed the photograph and stared at it. "Lelienski-Leon

  Zelienskil"

  "I thought you'd see, I thought you'd understand. Without me. The ultimate

  chess game ... the finest chess player Anton knew.-

  "He isn't Russian, he's a Polel A retired professor of history from

  Berkeley . . . brought over here years ago from the University of Warsawl"

  "A new identity, a new life, papers in place and locations obscured. Uving

  on a backeountry road less than two miles from Matthias. Anton always knew

  where he was."

  Havelock brought his hands to his temples, trying to contain the racking

  pain in his head. "You ... you and Zelienski. Two denwnted old menl Do you

  know what you've done?"

  "It's out of control. Everything's out of control."

  "You never had it in controll The instant Zelienski reached the mole, you

  lostl We all lostl Couldn't you see what was

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  happening? Did you think it would end with a goddamn menage? Couldn't you

  stop him? You knew Matthias was at Poole's Island ... how did you know?"

  "A source. One of the doctors-Ws frightened."

  "Then you knew he'd been diagnosed insanel How could you let it go on?"

  "You just said it. I couldn't stop him. He wouldn't listen to me-he woWt

  listen to me. I caWt stop himl He's as crazed as Anton now. He has a Christ

  complex-his is the only light, theonly way."

  "And you traded your holy name in print so he could have itl What the heU

  are you made of?"

  "Uave me something, Michael. He had me caged. Zehenski told me that if I

  went to anyone, if anyone came for hin36 a telephone call that he made

  daily from various phone booths would not be made, and those so-called

  nuclear agreements-signed by Anthony Matthias-would be on their way to

  Moscow and Peking."

  Havelock watched the uneasy green eyes of the old journalist, and looked at

  the bloated hands gripping the arms of the chair. "No, Raymond, that's only

  part of it. You couldn't stand being exposed, being wrong. You're like

  Antonfrightened by the truth of your own mistakes. The blind but omniscient

  Tiresias, seeing things others can't see, the myth to be sustained whatever

  the cost"

  "Look at mel" shouted Alexander suddenly, his whole body shaking. "rve

  lived with this-through this-for nearly a yearl What would you have done?"

  "God help me, I don~t know. I can only hope better than you ... but I don't

  know. Pour yourself a lot of brandy, Raymond. Maintain the myth; keep

  saying to yourself over and over again that you7re infallible. It may help.

  It also may not make any difference anymore. Go out with a grin on that

  pompous face of yours. just go." Michael turned to Jenna. "Lees get out of

  here," be said. "We!ve got a long drive."

  'South to North, come in.'

  "North in touch. What is it?*

  'Get to a phone and call Victor. There's movement Our people came out fast

  and spoke with the escort; they were on the grounds. Both cars raced out of

  here a few moments ago, heading west, pedals to the floor."

  THE PARMAL MOSMC 665

  'Don
't lose them."

  'No chance. The escort left the LincoTn up on the road and we placed a

  directional homer under the trunk. An earthquake couldn't move it. We've

  -got them tracked up to twenty miles and down to a hundred yards. We've got

  them"

  39

  The night sky was oddly divided-clear moonlight behind, a ceiling of

  darkness ahead. The two automobiles raced over the country roads, the men in

  the Uncoln committed to protection without understanding, and Michael and

  Jenna understanding too well and afraid.

  "There are no rules now," said Michael. "The book hasnI been written."

  "He's capable of change, that!s all you really know. He was sent here for

  one purpose and walked over to the other side."

  "Or did he stumble? Alexander and Zeliensld-Kalyazintold them he felt old

  and worn-out, the pressures too great. Maybe he just gave up and walked

  into sanctuary."

  "Until he found another commitment and accepted an entirely different set

  of pressures," said Jenna. "Exhilarating pressures for a man of his age, I

  imagine. He's over seventy, isj* her

  "Around there, rd guess."

  "Think of it. The end may not come for a long time but, stilL Ws in sight.

  And as you approach it you suddenly find you~ve discovered an extraordinary

  solution you believe the world needs desperately, a lesson it has to be

  taught. What do you do?"

  666

  THE PAmiFAL MosAic667

  Havelock glanced at her. -17haes what frightens me. Why should you move off

  center? How can I make him move?"

  "I wish I could answer that." Jenna looked up at the windshield-at the

  myriad globules of water forming over the glass. "We're heading into the

  rain,- she said.

  "Unless there's another solution," said Michael quietly, switching on the

  wipers. "Exchange one lesson for another."

  "What?"

  "rm not sure, I don't know. There arenI any rules." Havelock reached for

  the microphone and pulled it to his lips. "Escort, are you with me?"

  "About four hundred feet behind, Sterile Five."

  'Slow down and make it at least a mile and a half. We're getting into the

  area, and to a lot of people you~re an obvious government vehicle. I don't

  want any connection between us or any startled eyes. If the man I'm making

  contact with gets even a hint of you, I don't want to think about the

  consequences.

  "We don't like the distance," said the escort.

  "Sorry to offend, but it's an order. Stay out of sight. You know the

  destination; just take the mountain road as I described it. Seneca

  something or other. Go up about half a mile. Well be there."

  "Would you mind repeating the order, sir?"

  Michael did so. "Is that clear?"

  "Yes, Sterile Five. It's also on tape."

  2soa-layered car met the blanket of rain, dust and mud

  g under the downpour. The driver swung into a long curve as the red

  signal light on the powerful radio amplifier suddenly glowed.

  'Wre on a different frequency," said the man in the passenger seat as he

  reached for the microphone. He pressed the scanner for contact. "Yes?" he

  said.

  "Southr

  'Wre here."

  "It's Victor. Im approaching Warrenton on Sixty-sin Where are you?"

  The man with the microphone studied the map on his lap with a pencil fight.

  "North on Seventeen, heading into Marshall. You can pick it up in

  Warrenton."

  "Status?"

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  'Normal. We figure once they reach Marshall, they'll either continue north

  on Seventeen or head west on the Front Royal Road. The turns are getting

  hairy; we're going into the mountains."

  "Wve got men covering both routes up there. I want to know which road they

  take and the distance between Sterile Five and his escort. Use this

  channel. I should catch up with you in ten to fifteen minutes."

  "What flight plan?"

  "My own."

  The blond man sitting in the brown sedan in front of the Blue Ridge Diner

  slumped back in the seat, the microphone in hand ' his eyes on the road. He

  depressed the button.

  1 s the Front Royal Road," be said as the Buick coupe

  hed b y in the rain. "Right on time and in a hurry."

  "How far behind is the Lincoln?" asked the voice from the speaker.

  "No sign of it yet."

  "Yotfre sure?"

  "No headlights, and anyone damn fool enough to drive up here in this mess

  isn't going to roll in the dark.'

  "Ies not normal. I'll be right back."

  "iesyour equipment."

  The blond man lowered the microphone and reached for the cigarettes on the

  seat beside him. He jerked one out of the pack, put it to his lips, and

  snapped his butane lighter. Thirty seconds went by and still the Lincoln

  Continental had not come into view; nothing was in view but sheets of rain.

  Forty-five seconds. Nothing. A minute, and the voice, accompanied by

  static, burst out of the speaker. "Front Royal, where are you?"

  "Here and waiting. You said you'd be right back, rememberr

  "The escort. Has it gone byP"

  "Nope. If it had, I would have rung you up, pal.

  Wait. Stay there. We may have it." A stream of light came out of the curve,

  and seconds later the long, dark car roared by in the downpour. "He just

  went by, old buddy. I'll roll now." The blond man sat up and eased the sedan

  out into the road.

  "I'll be right back" said the voice.

  ThE PARsiPAL MosmcM

  'You keep repeating yourself, pal," said the blond man, stepping on the

  accelerator. Gathering speed while watching the rain-soaked road closely,

  he saw the red taillights of the Lincoln flickering in the distance through

  the downpour. He breathed easier.

  "Front Royal," erupted the voice from the speaker.

  "Right here, lil darlin%"

  "Scan to seventeen-twenty megahertz for separate instractions..

  "Scanning now." The blond man reached down and pressed the metal button;

  the digital readouts appeared on the narrow horizontal strip above the

  radio's dials. "Front Royal in position," he said.

  "Ms is the man you don't know, Front Royal."

  'Nice not to know you, old buddy."

  "How much are you being paid for tonight?" asked the new voice.

  "Since you're the man I don't know, I figure you ought to know how much."

  "How good are you?"

  'Very. How good's your money?"

  "You've been paid."

  'Not for what you want now."

  'Yoere perceptive."

  "You're kind of obvious."

  "That big fellow up ahead. He knows where the little fellow's going,

  wouldn't you agreeF'

  "Sure would. Theres a lot of space between them, 'specially for a night

  like this."

  "Do you think you could get between them?"

  "Can do. Then what?"

  "A bonus."

  "For what?"

  "The little fellows going to stop somewhere. After be does, I don't want

  the big fellow around him any longer."

  "Yoere talking about a pretty big bonus, Mr. No-Name. That ces an Abraham."

  Six figures," said the voice. "A reckless, driver. Very reckless and very

 
accurate.-

  "Yoxi7re on, lil darlin%"

  670 RoiBERT LUDLUM

  Arthur Pierce nodded through the window and the rain as he passed the old

  car four miles down the Front Royal Road. He lifted the microphone and spoke

  on the 1720 frequency.

  "All right, South, here~s the manual. You stay with me, everyone else is

  dismissed. Thank them all for their time and say we'll be in touch."

  "What about North? They travel."

  I want them back with the naval contingent. Ies theirs now; they can

  alternate. Sooner or later-tonight, tomorrow, the next day-theyll let him

  out. When they do, terminate. We don't want to hear his voice."

  Havelock stopped the car and lowered the window, he peered through the rain

  at the sign nailed to the tree, feeling certain it was the one. It was:

  BENECA'S NOTCH

  DF-AD END

  He had driven Leon Zelienski home twice, once in the afternoon when the old

  man7s car would not start, and then several years later on a night like

  tonight when Matthias was worried that Leon might get stuck in the mud.

  Zehenski had not gotten stuck, but Michael had; it had been a long, wet

  walk back to Anton's house. He remembered the roads.

  He had taken Leon Zelienski home; he was coming after Alexei Kalyazin.

  Parsifal.

  Here we go," said Havelock, turning up into the rockhewn road with only

  remnants of long-eroded tarring on its surface. "If we stay in the center

  we should make it."

  "Stay in the center," said jenna.

  They lurched and skidded up the narrow road, drenched darkness all around

  them, tires spinning, hurling loose rock behind and up into the metal

  fenders. The jarring ride did nothing to steady their nerves or set the

  tone for awesome negotiations. Michael had been brutal with Raymond Alexan-

  der, knowing he was right, but only partly right. He began to understand

  the other aspect of the journalises profound fear, fear that was driving

  him to the edge of hysteria. Zelienski's threat was clear and terrifying-

  should Alexander betray the Russian or interfere %C~ny W~y the daily tele-

  phone call that Zelienski placed m vano~s booths would

  THE PARSIFAL MOSAIC671

  not be made. The silence would be the signal for the nuclear agreements to