on two concrete benches beneath a cherry tree, Lin leaning forward, by his expression, mesmerized. McAllister could not help it; he broke into a run, out of breath when he reached the tree, staring at the major from Special Branch, MI6.
'Lin! When Webb's wife took the call from her husband -the call you terminated - what exactly did she say?'
'She began talking about a street in Paris where there was a row of trees, her favourite trees, I think she said,' replied Lin, bewildered. 'She was obviously trying to tell him where she was, but she was totally wrong.'
'She was totally right! When I questioned you, you also said that she told Webb that "things had been terrible" on that street in Paris, or something like that-'
'That's what she said,' interrupted the major.
'But that they'd be better over here.'
That is what she said.'
'In Paris, a man was killed at the embassy, a man who tried to help them both!'
'What are you trying to say, McAllister?' interrupted Havilland.
The row of trees is insignificant, Mr Ambassador, but not her favourite tree. The maple tree, the maple leaf. Canada's symbol! There is no Canadian embassy in Hong Kong, but there is a consulate. That's their meeting ground. It's the pattern! It's Paris all over again!'
'Goddamn it!' exploded the undersecretary of state. 'What the hell was I going to say! I'm under an oath of silence, remember, sir!'
'You're quite right. The rebuke is deserved.'
'You cannot tie all our hands, Mr Ambassador,' said Lin. 'You are a person I respect greatly but a few of us, too, must be given a measure of respect if we are to do our jobs. The same respect you just gave me in your telling me of this most frightening thing. Sheng Chou Yang. Incredible!'
'Discretion must be absolute.'
'It will be,' said the major.
The Canadian consulate,' said Havilland. 'Get me the roster of its entire personnel.'
Chapter Sixteen
16
The call had come at five o'clock in the afternoon and Bourne was ready for it. No names were exchanged.
'It is arranged,' said the caller. 'We are to be at the border shortly before twenty-one hundred hours when the guard changes shifts. Your Shenzhen visa will be scrutinized and rubber stamps will fly, but none will touch it. Once inside you are on your own, but you did not come through Macao.'
'What about getting back out? If what you told me is true and things go right, there'll be someone with me.'
'It will not be me. I will see you over and to the location. After that, I leave you.'
That doesn't answer my question.'
'It is not so difficult as getting in, unless you are searched and contraband is found.'
There won't be any.'
Then I would suggest drunkenness. It is not uncommon. There is an airfield outside Shenzhen used by special-'
'I know it.'
'You were on the wrong aeroplane, perhaps, that too is not uncommon. The schedules are very bad in China.'
'How much for tonight?'
'Four thousand, Hong Kong, and a new watch.'
'Agreed.'
Some ten miles north of the village of Gongbei the hills rise, soon becoming a minor range of densely forested small mountains. Jason and his former adversary from the alley in Macao walked along the dirt road. The Chinese stopped and looked up at the hills above.
'Another five or six kilometres and we will reach a field. We will cross it and head up into the second level of woods. We must be careful.'
'You're sure they'll be there?'
'I carried the message. If there is a campfire, they will be there.'
'What was the message?'
'A conference was demanded.'
'Why across the border?'
'It could only be across the border. That, too, was part of the message.'
'But you don't know why.'
'I am only the messenger. Things are not in balance.'
'You said that last night. Can't you explain what you mean?'
'I cannot explain it to myself.'
'Could it be because the conference had to take place over here? In China?'
That is part of it, certainly.'
There's more?'
' Wen fi',' said the guide. 'Questions that arise from feelings.'
'I think I understand.' And Jason did. He had had the same questions, the same feelings, when it became clear to him that the assassin who called himself Bourne was riding in an official vehicle of the People's Republic.
'You were too generous with the guard. The watch was too expensive.'
'I may need him.' 'He may not be in the same post.'
'I'll find him.'
'He'll sell the watch.'
'Good. I'll bring him another.'
Crouching, they ran through the tall grass of the field one