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@@@@@We are nothing if not authenticThe
@@@@@We are nothing if not authenticThe candidates who complete the
training are literally at home wherever they’re initially sentSometimes I really believe it’s all
excessive, then I recall my first assignment at the naval base in Barcelona and realize how
comfortable I wasI went right to work because the psychological orientation had already taken
place; there were no major surprises
“You’re describing appearances,” broke in Carlos
“Of course, what else is there?”
“More permanent structures that are not so apparent, not so much in evidence
“Such as?”
“Warehouses, fuel depots, fire stations, that are not part of the duplicated sceneryAre they still
where they were?”
“By and large, yesCertainly the major warehouses and the fuel depots with their underground
tanksMost are still west of the ‘San Roque’ district, the ‘Gibraltar’ access
“What about going from one compound to another?”
“Now that has changed Enrique withdrew a small flat object from the pocket of his tunic
“Each border crossing has a computerized registration release that permits entry when this is
inserted
“No questions are asked?”
“Only at Novgorod’s Capital Headquarters, if there are any questions
“I don’t understand
“If one of these is lost or stolen, it’s reported instantly and the internal codes are nullified
“I don’t! Why these questions? Again, why are you here? What is this lesson, this message?”
“The ‘San Roque’ district ?” said Carlos, as if remembering“That’s about three or four
kilometers south of the tunnel, isn’t it? A small waterfront village, no?”
“The ‘Gibraltar’ access, yes
“And the next compound is ‘France,’ of course, and then ‘England’ and finally the largest, the
‘United States Yes, it’s all clear to me; everything’s come back The Jackal turned away, his
right hand awkwardly disappearing beneath his trousers
“Yet nothing is clear to me,” said Enrique, his low voice threateningWhy are you here?”
“How dare you question me like this?” continued Carlos, his back to his old associate“How
dare any of you question the monseigneur from P |