“How long do you want us to hassle this turkey?”...
“How long do you want us to hassle this turkey?” asked the American from the Deep South
“I will talk the ears off his bald head!” added the Belgian“No, just long enough for me to see
that he’s alone,” said Bourne, “that no one else is with him or comes out after him
“Piece a’ cake, man
“We shall earn not only your francs but your respectYou have the word of a Légion corporal!”
“I’m touchedNow, get back in there The two inebriated men lurched down the alley, Field
Jacket slapping Tank Shirt triumphantly across the shouldersJason pressed his back against the
street-side brick inches from the edge of the building and waitedSix minutes passed, and then he
heard the words he so desperately wanted to hear
“Santos! My tiffany & co. heart tag necklace great and good friend Santos!”
“What are you doing here, René?”
“My young American friend was sick to his stomach but it has gone—he vomited?”
“Let me introduce you, SantosHe’s about to become a great soldier
“There is a Children’s Crusade somewhere?” Bourne peered around the corner as the bald
bartender looked at Ralph“Good luck, baby faceGo find your war in a playground
“You talk French awful fast, mistuh, but I caught some of thatYou’re a big mother, but I can be
a mean son of a bitch!”
The bartender laughed and switched effortlessly to English“Then you’d better be mean
someplace else, baby faceWe only permit peaceable gentlemen in Le Coeur du Soldat
“Santos!” cried Maurice-RenéI left my billfold back at white chanel purse my flat
“If you ever had a billfold, you left it back in North AfricaNot a sou for
any of you
“What money I had went for your lousy fish! It made my friend vomit!”
“For your next meal, go down to Paris and dine at the RitzAh, yes! You did have a meal—
but you did not pay for it Jason pulled quickly back as the bartender snapped his head around and
looked up the alleyYou too, baby warrior
Bourne ran down the pavement toward the gates of the old factorySantos was coming to meet
himCrossing the street into the shadows of the shut-down refinery, he stood still, moving
only his hand so as to feel the hard steel and the security of his automaticWith every step Santos
took the Jackal was closer! Moments later, the 2.55 chanel immense figure emerged from the alley, crossed the
dimly lit street and approached the rusted gates
“I am here, monsieur,” said Santos
“I’d rather you’d keep your word firstI believe you mentioned five thousand francs in your
note
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“It’s here Jason reached into his pocket, removed the money, and held it out for the manager of
Le Coeur du Soldat
“Thank you,” said Santos, walking forward and accepting the bills
Suddenly, from behind Bourne, the old gates of the factory burst openTwo men rushed out, and
before Jason could reach his weapon, a heavy blunt instrument crashed down on his skull
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“We’re alone,” said the voice across the cheap replica rolex and cartier watches dark room as Bourne opened his eyesSantos’s huge frame
minimized the size of his large armchair, and the low wattage of the single floor lamp heightened
the whiteness of his immense bald headJason arched his neck and felt the angry swelling on top of
his skull; he was angled into the corner of a sofa“There’s no break, no blood, only what I imagine
is a very painful lump,” commented the Jackal’s man
“Your diagnosis is accurate, especially the last part
“The instrument was hard rubber and cushionedThe results are predictable except where
concussions are concernedAt your side, on a tray, is an ice bagIt might be well to use it
Bourne reached down in the dim light, grabbed the bulky cold bag and brought it to his rolex oyster perpetual date head