Carlos

Lore & Background

Carlos is the terrorist leader whom Jason Bourne is compelled to hunt. In the novel, Bourne learns that his attackers' leader may be Carlos. Bourne follows clues that bring him closer to Carlos, leading him to places such as a designer clothing store used as a relay for Carlos. Though Bourne twice briefly sees Carlos, he does not manage to catch or kill him.

It is revealed that Bourne had assumed the alias "Cain" to hunt down Carlos as part of a top-secret American plot called Treadstone Seventy-One. Carlos frames Bourne for the murders of Treadstone operatives by having two of his operatives storm the building and kill those inside. In New York, Bourne is confronted by Carlos; they wound each other, but when Carlos is on the verge of killing Bourne, remaining Treadstone members arrive and force Carlos to retreat.

At the novel's end, Bourne remains the only one to have ever seen the face of Carlos and may be able to recognize him, but is unable to do so due to his erratic memory.

Reader's Guide

Carlos is the primary antagonist in the novel The Bourne Identity. He is a terrorist leader responsible for numerous killings across many countries and is well connected in the highest government circles. Bourne is compelled to hunt him, following clues to locations such as a designer clothing store used as a relay. Bourne twice briefly sees Carlos but does not catch or kill him. Carlos frames Bourne for the murders of Treadstone operatives. In the climax, Carlos confronts Bourne in New York; they wound each other, but Carlos is forced to retreat when Treadstone members arrive. At the novel's end, Bourne is the only one to have seen Carlos's face, but his erratic memory prevents identification.