The Bourne Deception

7





GOD IN HEAVEN, its hotter than Hades in there, even without these clean suits. Delia wiped the sweat off her face. Good news. Weve recovered the black box.

Soraya, standing with Amun Chalthoum inside one of the tents his people had erected adjacent to the crash site, was grateful for the interruption. Being with Amun in such close quarters had put her nerves on overload. That there were so many layers to their relationshipprofessional, personal, ethnicwas difficult enough, but they were also frenemies, ostensibly on the same side but underneath fierce competitors for intel, bound to governments with vastly different agendas. So their dance was complex, often dizzyingly so.

What does it tell you Chalthoum said.

Delia gave him one of her Sphinx-like looks. Weve just begun analyzing the instrument data from the aircrafts last moments, but from the cockpit conversation its perfectly clear the crew didnt see an aircraft of any kind. However, the copilot saw something at the very last minute. It was small, coming at them very fast.

A missile, Soraya said while looking into Amuns face. She wondered whether he already knew this. He would if al Mokhabarat had been complicit in the incident. But Chalthoums dark face remained impassive.

Delia was nodding. A ground-to-air missile seems the likeliest scenario at this stage.

So, Chalthoum said in his native tongue even before Delia had left the tent, it seems as if the United States isnt protecting us from extremists, after all.

I think it would better serve both of us to start figuring out who was responsible, she said, rather than pointing fingers, dont you

Chalthoum watched her carefully for a moment, then nodded, and they retreated to opposite sides of the tent to update their superiors. Using the Typhon satellite phone shed brought with her, Soraya called Veronica Hart.

This is bad news, Hart said from halfway around the world. The very worst.

I can only imagine how Halliday is going to run with it. While Soraya spoke, she assumed Chalthoum was briefing the Egyptian president with the same information Delia had provided. Why do good things happen to bad people

Because life is chaos, and chaos cant distinguish between good and evil. There was a slight pause before Hart continued. Any news on the MIG She meant the Iranian militant indigenous group.

Not yet. Weve had our hands full with the crash. The scene is horrific and the conditions are next to intolerable. Besides, I havent had three minutes to myself.

This cant wait, Hart said firmly. Finding out about the Iranian indigenous group is your primary mission.


The two of you came to me, Suparwita said. Holly was extremely agitated, but she wouldnt tell you why.

Bourne stared at the spot where the body must have ended up, where his new beginning lay shattered. Why had he been so foolish to think that his past was dead and buried when, even here in a remote corner of the world, it existed like an egg waiting to hatch Another piece of his past, another death. Why was he always entwined with loss of life

He continued to stare down the three steep staircases with the undulating dragon banisters. He tried to remember that day: if hed rushed to this spot, if the woman was already a bloody heap far away as he flew down the steps. He strained to recall anything about the incident, but his mind was enclosed by a gray fog, thick as the stone dragons, fierce and implacable guardians of the temple. Was the fog protecting him from the terrible event here

The pain in his chest, his constant companion in the aftermath of the shooting, accelerated, spreading out into his entire torso.

His face must have gone gray because Suparwita said, This way.

They made their way from the lintel, from the chasm of the past, and walked back onto the temple plaza and into the cool shade of a towering wall into which was carved an army of demons being opposed by the local dragon spirits.

Bourne sat and drank water. The healer stood, hands folded together, waiting patiently. Bourne was reminded of what he liked so much about Moirano fussing, no coddling, just no-nonsense responses.

At length, Suparwita said, You came because of Holly. Shed heard about me, I suppose.

As he breathed into the pain, taking long, deep, controlled breaths, he said, Tell me what happened.

There was a shadow over her, as if shed brought something horrible with her. Suparwitas liquid eyes rested gently on Bournes face. Shed always been placid, she said. No, thats the wrong wordlacking in affect, thats better. But now she was terrified. She was up at night, she started at loud noises, she bit her nails to the quick. She told me that she never sat near windows. When you went to a restaurant shed insist on a table in the rear, where she could look out at the rest of the room. Then you said that even in the shadows, you could see that her hands shook. Shed tried to hide it by holding her glass in a death grip, but you would see it when she reached for a fork or pushed her plate away.

The soft thrum of an airplane engine could be heard briefly interrupting the bird chatter. Then all was still again. On an adjacent mountainside, thin streamers of smoke rose from the burn-off fires at the periphery of the rice paddies.

Bourne gathered himself. Perhaps she had somehow come un-hinged.

The healer nodded uncertainly. Possibly. But I can tell you that her terror came from a real source. I think you knew that, too, because you werent humoring her, you were trying your best to help her.

So she could have been running from something or someone. What happened next

I cleansed her, Suparwita said. She was entangled with demons.

Yet she died.

And so did youalmost.

Bourne thought about Moiras insistence that they see the healer; he thought about Suparwita saying, All this has happened before, and it will happen again. Death following on the heels of life. Are you saying that the two incidents are somehow connected

That wouldnt be credible. Suparwita sat beside him. But Shiva was here then, and Shiva is here now. We ignore these signs at our peril.


He was the last patient Benjamin Firth was scheduled to see that day. He was a tall, cadaverously thin New Zealander, with yellow skin and feverish eyes. He wasnt from Manggis or any of the surrounding villagesa small enough areabecause Firth knew them all. Yet he seemed familiar and when he gave his name as Ian Bowles, Firth recalled him coming in twice or three times over the past several months with massive migraines. Today he complained of stomach and bowel problems, so Firth had him lie down on the examining table.

As he took his vitals, he said, Howre your migraines

Fine, Bowles said absently, and then in a more focused tone, Better.

After palpating his stomach and abdomen, Firth said, I cant find anything wrong with you. Ill just do a blood workup and in a couple of days

I require information, Bowles said softly.

Firth stood very still. I beg your pardon.

Bowles stared up at the ceiling as if deciphering the shifting patterns of light. Forget the vampire tactics, Im right as rain.

The doctor shook his head. I dont understand.

Bowles sighed. Then sat up so abruptly, he startled Firth. He grabbed Firths wrist with a horribly fierce grip. Whos the patient youve had here for the last three months

What patient

Bowles clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Hey, Doc, I didnt come here for my health. He grinned. Youve got a patient stashed away here and I want to know about him.

Why What do you care

The New Zealander jerked even harder on Firths wrist, pulling the doctor closer to him. You operate here without interference, but all good things come to an end. His voice lowered significantly. Now listen up, you idiot. Youre wanted for negligent homicide by the Perth police.

I was drunk, Firth whispered. I didnt know what I was doing.

You operated on a patient while under the influence, Doc, and he died. Thats it in a nutshell. He shook Firth violently. Isnt it

The doctor closed his eyes and whispered, Yes.

So

I have nothing to tell you.

Bowles moved to slide off the table. Then off we go to the cops, bud. Your life is toast.

Firth, trying to squirm away, said, I dont know anything.

Never gave you a name, did he

Adam, Firth said. Adam Stone.

Thats what he said Adam Stone.

Firth nodded. I confirmed it when I saw his passport.

Bowles dug in a pocket, produced a cell phone. Doc, heres all you have to do in order to stay out of jail for life. He held out the cell. Get me a picture of this Adam Stone. A good, clear one of his face.

Firth licked his lips. His mouth was so dry he could scarcely speak. And if I do this youll leave me alone

Bowles winked. Bank on it, Doc.

Firth took the cell with a hollow feeling in his chest. What else was he to do He had no expertise with these kinds of people. He tried to comfort himself with the knowledge that at least he hadnt divulged Jason Bournes real name, but that gesture would become meaningless the moment he gave this man Bournes photo.

Bowles jumped off the table, but he still hadnt let go of Firths wrist. Dont get any stupid ideas, Doc. You tell anyone about our little arrangement and sure as Im standing here someone will put a bullet in the back of your head, follow

Firth nodded mechanically. A numbness had spread through him, rooting him to the spot.

Bowles let him go at last. Glad you could make room for me, Doc, he said in a louder voice for anyone who might be around. Tomorrow, same time. Youll have the test results by then, isnt that right