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o concentrate。
'Just turn left out of the exit； sir。 Stay on the Uto Quai for about six kilometres； until you reach a large pier； then turn right。 It will take you into the Falkenstrasse。 Once you pass Seefeld； you can't miss the street or the restaurant。 There's a sign on the corner。'
'Thank you。 Will you be here a few hours from now； when we return？'
'I'm on duty until two this morning； sir。！
'Good。 I'll look for you and express my gratitude more concretely。'
'Thank you； sir。 May I get your car for you？'
'You've done enough； thanks。 A little more walking is required。' The attendant saluted； and started for the front of the hotel。 Jason led Marie St Jacques towards the coupe； limping beside her。 'Hurry up。 The keys are under the seat。'
'If they stop us； what will you do？ That attendant will see the car go out； he'll know you've stolen it！！
'I doubt it。 Not if we leave right away； the minute he's back in that crowd。'
'Suppose he does！'
'Then I hope you're a fast driver；〃 said Bourne； pushing her towards the door。 'Get in。' The attendant had turned the corner； he suddenly hurried his pace！ Jason took out the gun； and limped rapidly around the bonnet of the coupe〃； supporting himself on it while pointing the pistol at the windscreen。 He opened the passenger door and climbed in beside her。 'Goddamn it； I said get the keys！'
'All right。。。 I can't think。'
'Try harder！'
'Oh； God。。。' She reached below the seat； stabbing her hand around the carpet until she found the small leather case。
'Start the engine； but wait until I tell you to back out。' He watched for headlight beams to shine into the area from the circular drive； it would be a reason for the attendant to have suddenly broken into a near run； a car to be parked。 They did not e； the reason could be something else。 Two unknown people in the parking area。 'Go ahead。 Quickly。 I want to get out of here。〃 She threw the gear into reverse； seconds later they approached the exit into the lakeshore drive。 'Slow down；〃 he manded。 A taxi was swinging into the curve in front of them。
Bourne held his breath and looked through the opposite window at the Carillon du Lac's entrance； the scene under the canopy explained the attendant's sudden decision to hurry。 An argument had broken out between the police and a group of hotel guests。 A queue had formed for names to be checked before leaving the hotel； the resulting delays angered the innocent。
'Let's go；' said Jason； wincing again； the pain shooting through his chest。 'We're clear。'
It was a numbing sensation； eerie and uncanny。 The three triangles were as he had pictured them： thick dark wood raised in bas…relief on white stone。 Three equal triangles； abstract renditions of chalet roofs in a valley of snow so deep the lower storeys were obscured。 Above the three points was the restaurant's name in Germanic letters。 Drei Alpenhauser。 Below the base line of the centre triangle was the entrance； double doors that together formed a cathedral arch； the hardware massive rings of iron mon to Alpine chateaux。
The surrounding buildings on both sides of the narrow brick street were restored structures of a Zurich and a Europe long past。 It was not a street for cars； instead one pictured elaborate coaches drawn by horses； drivers sitting high in mufflers and top hats； and gas lamps everywhere。 It was a street filled with the sights and sounds of forgotten memories； thought the man who had no memory to forget。
Yet he had had one； vivid and disturbing。 Three dark triangles； heavy beams and candlelight。 He had been right； it was a memory of Zurich。 But in another life。
'We're here；' said the woman。
'I know。'
Tell me what to do；' she cried。 'We're going past it'
'Go to the next corner and turn left Go round the block； then drive back through here。'
'Why？'
'I wish I knew。！
'What？'
'Because I said so。' Someone was there。。。 at that restaurant。 Why didn't other images e？ Another image。 A face。
They drove down the street past the restaurant twice more。 Two separate couples and a foursome went inside； a single man came out； heading for the Falkenstrasse。 To judge from the cars parked on the kerb； there was a medium…sized crowd at the Drei Alpenhauser。 It would grow in number as the next two hours passed； most of Zurich preferring its evening meal nearer ten…thirty than eight There was no point in delaying any longer； nothing further came to Bourne。 He could only sit and watch and hope something would e。 Something。 For something had； a book of matches had evoked an image of reality。 Within that reality there was a truth he had to discover。
'Pull over to your right； in front of the last car。 We'll walk back。'
Silently； without ment or protest； the St Jacques woman did as she was told。 Jason looked at her； her reaction was too docile； inconsistent with her previous behaviour。 He understood。 A lesson had to be taught。 Regardless of what might happen inside the Drei Alpenhauser； he needed her for a final contribution。 She had to drive him out of Zurich。
The car came to a stop； tyres scraping the kerb。 She turned off the engine and began to remove the keys； her movement slow； too slow。 He reached over and held her wrist； she stared at him in the shadows without breathing。 He slid his fingers over her hand until he felt the key case。
'I'll take those；' he said。
'Naturally；' she replied； her left hand unnaturally at her side； poised by the panel of the door。
'Now get out and stand by the bonnet；' he continued。 'Don't do anything foolish。'
'Why should I？ You'd kill me。'
'Good。' He reached for the handle of the door exaggerating the difficulty。 The back of his head was to her； he snapped the handle down。
The rustle of fabric was sudden； the rush of air more sudden still； her door crashed open； the woman half out into the street。 But Bourne was ready； a lesson had to be taught。 He spun around； his left arm an uncoiling spring； his hand a claw； gripping the silk of her dress between her shoulder blades。 He pulled her back into the seat and； grabbing her by the hair； yanked her head towards him until her neck was stretched； her face against his。
'I won't do it again！' she cried； tears welling at her eyes。 'I swear to you I won't I'
He reached across and pulled the door shut； then looked at her closely； trying to understand something in himself。 Thirty minutes ago in another car he bad experienced a degree of nausea when he had pressed the barrel of the gun into her cheek； threatening to take her life if she disobeyed him。 There was no such revulsion now； with one overt action she had crossed over into another territory。 She had bee an enemy； a threat； he could kill her if he had to； kill her without emotion because it was the practical thing to do。
'Say something！' she whispered。 Her body went into a brief spasm； her breasts pressing against the dark silk of her dress； rising and falling with the agitated movement。 She gripped her own wrist in an attempt to control herself； she partially succeeded。 She spoke again； the whisper replaced by a monotone。 'I said I wouldn't do it again and I won't。'
'You'll try；' he replied quietly。 'There'll e a moment when you think you can make it； and you'll try。 Believe me when I tell you you can't； but if you try again I will have to kill you。 I don't want to do that； there's no reason for it； no reason at all。 Unless you bee a threat to me； and in running away before I let you go you do just that。 I can't allow it'
He had spoken the truth as he understood the truth。 The simplicity of the decision was as astonishing to him as the decision itself。 Killing was a practical matter； nothing else。
'You say you'll let me go；' she said。 'When？'
'When I'm safe；' he answered。 'When it doesn't make any difference what you say or do。〃
'When will that be？'
'An hour or so from now。 When we're out of Zurich and I'm on my way to somewhere else。 You won't know where or how。'
'Why should I believe you？'
'I don't care whether you do or not。' He released her。 'Pull yourself together。 Dry your eyes and b your hair。 We're going inside。'
'What's in there？'
'I wish I knew；' he said； glancing through the rear window at the door of the Drei Alpenhauser。
'You said that before。'
He looked at her； at the wide brown eyes that were searching his。 Searching in fear； in bewilderment。 'I know。 Hurry up。'
There were thick beams running across the high Alpine ceiling； tables and chairs of heavy wood； deep booths and candlelight everywhere。 An accordion player moved through the crowd； muted strains of Bavarian Music ing from his instrument
He had seen the large room before； the beams and the candlelight printed somewhere in his mind； the sounds recorded also。 He had e here in another life。 They stood in the shallow foyer in front of the maitre d's hotel's station； he greeted them。
'Haben Sie einen Plats reserviert； mein Herr？
'If you mean have I a reservation； I'm afraid not But you were highly remended。 I hope you can fit us in。 A booth； if possible。'
'Certainly； sir。 It's the early sitting； we're not yet crowded。 This way； please。'
They were taken to a booth in the nearest corner； a flickering candle in the centre of the table。 Bourne's limp and the fact that he held on to the woman； dictated the closest available location。 Jason nodded to Marie St Jacques； she sat down； and he slid into the booth opposite her。
'Move against the wall；' he said； after the maitre had left 'Remember； the gun's in my pocket and all I have to do is raise my foot and you're trapped。'
'I said I wouldn't try。'
'I hope you don't Order a drink； there's no time to eat！
'I couldn't eat！ She gripped her wrist again； her hands visibly trembling。 'Why isn't there time？ What are you waiting for？'
'I don't know。'
'Why do you keep saying that？ 〃I don't know。〃 〃I wish I knew。〃 Why did you e here？'
'Because I've been here before。'
'That's no answer！'
There's no reason for me to give you one。'
A waiter approached。 The St Jacques woman asked for wine； Bourne ordered Scotch； needing the stronger drink。 He looked round the restaurant； trying to concentrate 'on everything and nothing'。 A sponge。 But there was only nothing。 No images filled his mind； no thoughts intruded on his absence of thought。 Nothing。
And then he saw the face across the room。 It was a large face set in a large head； above an obese body pressed against the wall of an end booth； next to a closed door。 The fat man stayed in the shadows of his observation point as if they were his protection； the unlit section of the floor his sanctuary。 His eyes were riveted on Jason； equal parts fear and disbelief in his stare。 Bourne did not know the face； but the face knew him。 The man brought his ringers to his lips and wiped the corners of his mouth； then shifted his eyes； taking in each diner at every table。 Only then did he begin what was obviously a painful journey around the room towards their booth。
A man's ing over here；' he said over the flame of the candle。 'A fat man； and he's afraid。 Don't say anything。 No matter what he says； keep your mouth shut。 And don't look at him； raise your hand； rest your head oh your elbow casually。 Look at the wall； not him。'
The woman frowned； bringing her right hand to her face； her fingers trembled。 Her lips formed a question； but no words came。 Jason answered the unspoken。
'For your own good；' he said。 'There's no point in his being able to identify you。'
The fat man edged round the corner of the booth。 Bourne blew out the candle； throwing the table into relative darkness。 The man stared him down and spoke in a low； strained voice。
'Lieber Gott！ Why did you e here？ What have I done that you should do this to me？'
'I enjoy the food； you know that！
'Have you no feelings！ I have a family； a wife and children。 I did only as I was told。 I gave you the envelope； I did not look inside； I know nothing！！
'But you were paid； weren't you？' asked Jason instinctively。
'Yes； but I said nothing。 We never met； I never described you。 I spoke to no one！'
Then why are you afraid？ I'm just an ordinary patron about to order dinner。'
'I beg you。 Leave。'
'Now I'm angry。 You'd better tell me why。'
The fat man brought his hand