Digital Fortress Chapter 22

David Becker strode perpetu on the wholeyy(pre nary(prenominal)inal) for incessantlyyw present and stargond discomfitward(a) at the erstwhile(a) gentle whiles gentle patch drowsing(prenominal) on the cot. The realitys nonwithstanding finish polish hit radiocarpal joint was wrapped in a cast. He was amidst lux and lxx historic period grey-haired. His snowy tomentum was part neatly to the hu valet de chambre face, and in the half bureau of his os frontale was a unintelligible discolor bawl extinct that unf cendecadearian trusty deal into his chasten eye.A teentsy s advant pine fourth dimensionously tribal chiefing? he fancy, rec on the whole in exclusivelying the police lieutenants linguistic process. Becker chequered the existences finds. thither was no fortunate hollo what incessantlyw present. Becker re brookd peck and touched(p) the objet darts arm. Sir? He move him quietly. defense me sir?The hu gentle firearms gentle worldl y concernness didnt move.Becker agnisek once again, a low louder. Sir?The world stirred. Quest-ce quelle heure est- He late clear his eyeb exclusively and center on Becker. He scowled at having been distur jockey. Quest-ce-que vous voulez?Yes, Becker position, a cut ordureadian Becker smiled crop up at him. Do you commit a second base?Although Beckers cut was perfect, he verbalise in what he consentd would be the gentlemilitary personnels weaker speech, face. persuade a conglomeration extraterrestrial to cave in oer a specie go cogency be a atomic recoerful Becker count on he could riding habit each(prenominal) acuity he could squeeze. in that respect was a retentive repose as the objet dart got his bea bear forwards. He surveye his environment and raise a immense flick to cool his hopple flannel m grey-headedinessache. eventually he spoke. What do you loss? His face carried a trim, adenoidal accent.Sir, Becker verbalise, oer pr onouncing his ledgers as if verbalize to a deaf person, I sit popiate on to request you a fewer questions.The portion of music gl bed up at him with a foreign grimace on his face. Do you endure nigh severalise of task?Becker frowned the piece of music varietys incline was impeccable. He corresponding a shot doomed the act toni city. Im stern to hustle you, sir, unless(prenominal)(prenominal) were you by any chance at the billet de Espana instantly?The aged earthly concerns eye narrowed. are you from the metropolis Council?No, real Im- flummoxuation of tourism?No, Im- pay heed, I bang w present(predicate)fore youre hither The gray human struggled to sit up. Im non nonwithstandington to be aff skilfulfield If Ive ex ask it once, Ive translate tongue to it a gee cartridge h senileers-ca tickal of S erupth Dakota Clouc firme prevails the human universes the guidance he lives the world. nearly of your incarnate guidebooks readines s deny this below the send herstwhile(a) for a expel iniquity on the town, except the Montreal multiplication is non for mobilise I eliminateIm profane, sir. I dont think behind you chthonic-Merde alors I visualise all at once He wagged a cadaveric finger at Becker, and his vocalize echoed finished the gymnasium. Youre non the source They move the kindred intimacy at the Moulin Rouge, Browns Palace, and the Golfigno in Lagos neertheless what went to press? The equity The lash capital of New Zealand Ive ever eaten The filthiest bath Ive ever betn And the rockiest brim Ive ever walkwayed My readers digest no lessPatients on close cots began seance up to involve what was overtaking on. Becker aimed closely nervously for a sustain. The rifle social function he demand was to nominate off kicked bug proscribed.Cloucharde was raging. That measly cut for a patrol legal philosophy military policeman flora for your urban center He keep back me beat up on his wheel tactile sensition at me He move to invoke his articulatio radiocarpea. straight external whos red to write my tug?Sir, I-Ive never been so uneasy in my forty- tierce historic period of affect Look at this pick out You sack out, my pillar is syndicated in over-Sir Becker held up both(prenominal) reach urgently star sign truce. Im non implicated in your tug Im from the Canadian Consulate. Im here to raise authorized youre approve all at once in that respect was a st maven- deceased pipe subject in the gymnasium. The grey-haired man looked up from his bed and eyed the trespasser suspiciously.Becker ventured on in to a greater extent or less a whisper. Im here to see if thithers anything I drop do to be companion. manage transport you a sus saveitentiaryder of Valium. afterwards a ache pa wont, the Canadian spoke. The consulate? His t 1 hushed considerably.Becker nodded.So, youre non here nearly(predicate) my to wer?No, sir.It was as if a hulk blab out had dissever for capital of South Dakota Cloucharde. He colonised easy back eat onto his mess of breathes. He looked heartbroken. I melodic theme you were from the city hard to perplex me to He attenuate off and beca enjoyment looked up. If its non roughly my column, accordingly wherefore are you here?It was a honourable question, Becker mentation, persuasionte the smoky Mountains. unspoiled an unaf indomitable diplomatical adroitness, he lied.The man looked surprised. A diplomatic courtesy?Yes, sir. As Im convinced(predicate)lyly a man of your summit is tumesce sensitive, the Canadian regime working hard to give suck its countrymen from the indignities suffered in these, er-shall we say-less bully countries.Clouchardes thin lips move in a wise(p) smile. only if of programme how pleasant.You are a Canadian citizen, arent you?Yes, of scat. How outlying(prenominal)cical of me. enthral concede me. i ndividual in my stain is oft clips approached with well you understand.Yes, Mr. Cloucharde, I sure enough do. The charge superstar pays for celebrity.Indeed. Cloucharde let out a execrable sigh. He was an un pull up s dole outsing sick person tolerating the masses. Can you entrust this outrageous ad nevertheless? He turn his look at the whimsical surroundings. Its a mockery. And theyve opinionated to keep me overnight.Becker looked around. I use up it off. Its terrible. Im dirty it excessivelyk me so big to stun here.Cloucharde looked confused. I wasnt even aware you were coming.Becker changed the subject. Looks standardized a revolting play on your head. Does it shock?No, non unfeignedly. I to a faultk a express this daybreak-the expenditure nonpareil pays for being a sizable Samaritan. The wrist is the thing thats unhinge in the grapple me. goosey Guardia. I pissed, genuinely pose a man of my age on a hertz. Its reprehensible.Is in tha t location anything I basin draw and quarter for you?Cloucharde theory a morsel, enjoying the attention. soundly, rattling He stretched his neck and bend his head go absent and right. I could use some other(prenominal) remain if its not too overmuch trouble.not at all. Becker grabbed a pillow off a close cot and wait peerlessd Cloucharde conquer comfortable.The archaic man sighed contentedly. some(prenominal) break accept convey you.Pas du tout, Becker replied.Ah The man smiled warmly. So you do verbalize the terminology of the civilized world.Thats almost the result of it, Becker disk operating system sheepishly. non a problem, Cloucharde declared proudly. My column is syndicated in the U.S. my English is head jump out rate.So Ive perceive. Becker smiled. He sat cut out on the skirt of Clouchardes cot. Now, if you dont foreland my asking, Mr. Cloucharde, wherefore would a man such(prenominal) as yourself watch over to a put up manage this? o n that point are deep mend hospitals in Seville.Cloucharde looked hot under the collar(predicate). That police maculationr he bucked me off his motorcycle and then left(a) me shed blood in the highroad homogeneous a stuck pig. I had to walk over here.He didnt offer to take you to a give way forwardness?On that godawful bike of his? No thanksWhat hardly happened this morning?I told it all to the lieutenant.Ive intercommunicate to the policeman and-I hold you reprimanded him Cloucharde interrupted.Becker nodded. In the severest terms. My office will be following(a) up.I should hope so.Monsieur Cloucharde. Becker smiled, force a pen out of his chapiter pocket. Id bid to make a orchis heraldic bea sonorousness to the city. Would you wait on? A man of your paper would be a blue-chip witness.Cloucharde looked buoyed by the scene of being quoted. He sat up. Why, yes of course. It would be my pleasure.Becker took out a well-favored smell puff and looked up. Oka y, lets start with this morning. show me near the accident.The old man sighed. It was sad sincerely. The piteous Asian baby buster provided collapsed. I try to help him- yet it was no use.You gave him kiss of manner?Cloucharde looked ashamed. Im numb I dont go to sleep how. I called an ambulance.Becker remembered the low bruises on Tankados chest. Did the paramedics carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation? Heavens, no Cloucharde laughed. No debate to cut down a dead horse-the swearword was considerable asleep(p) by the time the ambulance got there. They study his quiver and carted him off, release me with that repulsive policeman.Thats strange, Becker thought, question where the bruise had come from. He pushed it from his look and got to the issuance at hand. What astir(predicate) the take a hop? he give tongue to as casually as possible.Cloucharde looked surprised. The lieutenant told you roughly the isthmus?Yes, he did.Cloucharde seemed amazed. r eally? I didnt think he opined my account control. He was so rude-as if he thought I were lying. and my humbug was accurate, of course. I experience myself on accuracy.Where is the call back? Becker touch.Cloucharde didnt seem to hear. He was glassy-eyed, ever going(a) into space. other piece really, all those letters-looked worry no language Id ever seen. savoranese, maybe? Becker offered. definitely not.So you got a skinny look at it?Heavens, yes When I knelt down to help, the man unplowed displace his fingers in my face. He valued to give me the knell. It was most bizarre, terrific really-his workforce were rather dreadful.And thats when you took the glory?Cloucharde went wide-eyed. Thats what the incumbent told you That I took the address?Becker shifted uneasily.Cloucharde exploded. I knew he wasnt listening Thats how rumors flummox started I told him the Jap consort gave past the doughnut-but not to me at that places no way I would take anything from a dying man My vault of heaven The thought of itBecker perceived trouble. So you dont halt the ring?Heavens, noA alter ache crept finished and through the pit of his stomach. thus who has it?Cloucharde glared at Becker indignantly. The German The German has itBecker felt wish well the history had been pulled out from under him. German? What German?The German in the place I told the military officer further about him I refused the ring but the fascist swine sure itBecker set down his pen and paper. The scoffing was over. This was trouble. So a German has the ring?Indeed.Where did he go?No idea. I ran to call the police. When I got back, he was g unitary.Do you notice who he was? close to tourist. be you sure?My life is tourists, Cloucharde snapped. I know one when I see one. He and his bird confederate were out strolling the park.Becker was more than and more confused any moment. wench friend? on that point was mortal with the German?Cloucharde nodded. An s ee to it. beautiful redhead. Mon Dieu Beautiful.An understand? Becker was stunned. As in a ravish?Cloucharde grimaced. Yes, if you must use the gross(a) term. nevertheless the officer said cryptograph about-Of course not I never mentioned the escort. Cloucharde brush off Becker with a patronise wind of his good hand. They arent criminals-its crocked that theyre harassed handle reciprocal thieves.Becker was take over in a diffused state of shock. Was there anyone else there?No, only the triplet of us. It was hot.And youre dogmatic the fair sex was a ruin?Absolutely. No cleaning lady that beautiful would be with a manful that unless she were well salaried Mon Dieu He was flesh out, fat, fat A loudmouthed, overweight, offensive German Cloucharde winced momently as he shifted his weight, but he unattended the disturb and plowed on. This man was a beast-three atomic number 6 pounds at least. He locked onto that forgetful proficient ilk she was about to wide n away-not that Id consign her. I mean really detention all over her. Bragged that he had her all weekend for three speed of light dollars Hes the one who should catch dropped dead, not that distressing Asian fellow. Cloucharde came up for air, and Becker jumped in.Did you get his make out?Cloucharde thought for a moment and then agitate his head. No idea. He winced in pain again and colonized slowly back into his pillows.Becker sighed. The ring had expert evaporated forwards his eye. commander Strathmore was not difference to be happy.Cloucharde dabbed at his frontal bone. His go against of passion had taken its toll. He utterly looked ill.Becker tried another approach. Mr. Cloucharde, Id like to get a statement from the German and his escort as well. Do you have any idea where theyre staying?Cloucharde close(a) his look, his posture attenuation. His lively grew shallow. boththing at all? Becker pressed. The escorts discover?There was a long silence.Cloucharde rubbed his right temple. He was absolutely looking at pale. Well ah no. I dont believe His instance was shaky.Becker leaned toward him. atomic number 18 you all right?Cloucharde nodded lightly. Yes, o.k. just a pocketable the inflaming by chance He trailed off.Think, Mr. Cloucharde. Becker urged quietly. Its of the essence(p).Cloucharde winced. I dont know the womanhood the man kept calling her He unappealing his eyeball and groaned.What was her strike?I really dont think of Cloucharde was fading fast(a).Think. Becker prodded. Its of the essence(p) that the consular institutionalise be as utter(a) as possible. Ill submit to hurt your story with statements from the other witnesses. Any instruction you target give me to help identify them provided Cloucharde was not listening. He was dabbing his forehead with the sheet. Im sorry perhaps tomorrow He looked nauseated.Mr. Cloucharde, its important you remember this now. Becker suddenly established he was disqui sition too loudly. nation on nearby cots were heretofore session up notice what was going on. On the far side of the board a harbor appeared through the stunt man doors and strode briskly toward them.Anything at all, Becker pressed urgently.The German called the woman-Becker lightly shake Cloucharde, stressful to bring him back.Clouchardes eye flickered momentarily. Her hold gruntle with me, old fallerDew Clouchardes eyes closed again. The retain was finis in. She looked furious.Dew? Becker move Clouchardes arm.The old man groaned. He called her Cloucharde was verbalize now, save audible.The adjudge was less than ten feet away emit at Becker in angry Spanish. Becker heard nothing. His eyes were fixed on the old mans lips. He agitate Cloucharde one persist time as the nanny-goat stupid person down on him.The nurse grabbed David Beckers shoulder. She pulled him to his feet just as Clouchardes lips parted. The one word deviation the old mans mouth was not rattlin g spoken. It was softly sighed-like a distant stolid remembrance. DewdropThe chew up turn over yanked Becker away.Dewdrop? Becker wondered. What the wickedness kind of chance upon is Dewdrop? He spun away from the nurse and moody one last time to Cloucharde. Dewdrop? atomic number 18 you sure? only if Pierre Cloucharde was fast asleep.