“Many years ago, Krupkin told me “Many years,”...
“Many years ago, Krupkin told me
“Many years,” agreed Jason“I wonder how much things have changed
“Technologically you could probably fill a few volumes, especially in communications and
security, but not the basicsNot the tunnels or the miles of grids in and out of the water; they’re
built for a couple of centuriesAs far as the compounds go, there’re always some minor
adjustments, but I don’t think they’d tear up the streets or the buildingsIt’d be easier to move a
dozen cities
“So whatever the changes, they’re essentially internal They reached a miniature intersection
where an argumentative driver of an early-seventies Chevrolet was being given a ticket for a traffic
violation by an equally disagreeable policeman“What’s that all about?” asked Bourne
“The purpose of the assignment is to instill a degree of contentiousness on the part of the one
driving the carIn America a person will frequently, often loudly, argue with a police officerIt’s
not the case here
“Like in dior saddle bag questioning authority, such as a student contradicting his professor? I don’t imagine
that’s too popular, either
“That’s also entirely different
“I’m glad you think so Jason heard a distant hum and looked up at the skyA light, singleengine
seaplane was flying south following the Volkhov River“My God, airborne,” he said, as if
to himself
“Forget it,” countered BenjaminOne, there’s no place to land
except patrolled helicopter pads; and two, we’re shielded by radarAn unidentified plane coming
within thirty miles of here, the air base at Belopol is alerted and it’s shot down Across the street a
small crowd had gathered, watching the disagreeable policeman and the argumentative driver, who
had slammed his hand down on the roof of the Chevrolet as the crowd vocally encouraged him
“Americans can be very foolish,” mumbled the young trainer, his embarrassment showing
“At least someone’s idea of Americans can be,” said Bourne, smiling
“Let’s go,” said Benjamin, starting to walk away“I knock off chanel earrings personally pointed out that the assignment
wasn’t very realistic, but it was explained to me that instilling the attitude was important
“Like telling a student that he can actually argue with a professor, or a citizen that he can
publicly criticize a member of the Politburo? They are strange attitudes, aren’t they?”
“Pound sand, Archie
“Relax, young Lenin,” said Jason, coming alongside the trainer“Where’s your LA cool?”
“I left it in the La Brea Tar Pits
“I want to study the maps
“It’s been arrangedAlso the other ground rules
They sat in a conference room at staff headquarters, the large rectangular table covered with
maps of the entire Novgorod complexBourne could not help himself, even after nearly four hours
of concentration, he frequently shook his head in sheer astonishmentThe series of deep-cover
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
417
training grounds along the Volkhov were more expansive and more intricate than he had thought
possibleBenjamin’s remark that it would “be chanel handbags collection easier to move a dozen cities” rather than drastically
alter Novgorod was a simple statement of fact, not too much of an exaggerationScaled-down
replicas of towns and cities, waterfronts and airports, military and scientific installations from the
Mediterranean to the Atlantic, north to the Baltic and up the Gulf of Bothnia, were represented
within its boundaries, all in addition to the American acreageYet for all the massive detail,
suggestion and miniaturization made it possible to place everything within barely thirty miles of
riverfront wilderness, at a depth ranging from three to five miles
“Egypt, Israel, Italy,” began Jason, circling the table, staring down at the maps“Greece,
Portugal, Spain, France, the UK—” He rounded the corner as Benjamin interrupted, leaning
wearily back in a chair: “Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countriesAs I
explained, most of the compounds include two separate and distinct countries, usually where there
are common boundaries, tiffany jewelry canada cultural similarities or just to conserve spaceThere are basically nine
major compounds, representing all the major nations—major to our interests—and therefore nine
tunnels, approximately seven kilometers apart starting with the one here and heading north along
the river
“Then the first tunnel next to ours is the UK, right?”
“Yes, followed by France, then Spain—which includes Portugal—then across the
Mediterranean, beginning with Egypt along with Israel—”
“It’s clear,” broke in Jason, sitting down at the end of the table, bringing his clasped hands
together in thought“Did you get word up the line that they’re to admit anyone with those papers
Carlos has, no matter what he looks like?”
“No
“What?” Bourne snapped his head toward the young trainer
“I had Comrade Krupkin do thatHe’s in a Moscow hospital, so they can’t lock him up here for
training fatigue
“How can I cross over into another compound? Quickly, if necessary
“Then you’re ready for the rest of the ground rules?”
“I’m chanel big read