inca.gold-第69部分

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　the　top　of　the　mountain。　From　there；　you'll　need　a　heavy　transport　helicopter　just　to　carry　the　golden　chain。〃
　　　　〃You're　talking　a　major　operation；〃　said　Rodgers。
　　　　Pitt　held　his　light　on　the　great　coiled　chain。　〃Nobody　said　it　was　going　to　be　easy。　Besides；　bringing　out　the　treasure　isn't　our　problem。〃
　　　　Shannon　gave　him　a　questioning　stare。　〃Oh；　no？　Then　who　do　you　expect　to　do　it？〃
　　　　Pitt　stared　back。　〃Have　you　forgotten？　We're　supposed　to　stand　aside　and　hand　it　over　to　our　old　pals　from　the　Solpemachaco。〃
　　　　The　repulsive　thought　had　slipped　her　mind　after　gazing　enthralled　at　the　wealth　of　golden　artifacts。　〃An　outrage；〃　Shannon　said　furiously；　her　self…esteem　blossoming　once　more；　〃a　damned　outrage。　The　archaeological　discovery　of　the　century；　and　I　can't　direct　the　recovery　program。〃
　　　　〃Why　don't　you　lodge　a　plaint？〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　She　glared　at　him；　puzzled。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　　　〃Let　the　petition　know　how　you　feel。〃
　　　　〃How？〃
　　　　〃Leave　them　a　message。〃
　　　　〃You're　crazy。〃
　　　　〃That　observation　has　been　cropping　up　quite　a　bit　lately；〃　said　Giordino。
　　　　Pitt　took　the　rope　slung　over　Giordino's　shoulder　and　made　a　loop。　Then　he　twirled　the　rope　like　a　lariat　and　threw　the　loop　across　the　water；　smiling　triumphantly　as　it　settled　over　the　head　of　a　small　golden　monkey　on　a　pedestal。
　　　　〃Ah；　ha！〃　he　uttered　proudly。　〃Will　Rogers　had　nothing　on　me。〃

　　　　Pitt's　worst　fears　were　confirmed　when　he　hovered　the　helicopter　above　the　Alhambra。　No　one　stood　on　the　deck　to　greet　the　craft　and　its　passengers。　The　ferry　looked　deserted。　The　auto　deck　was　empty；　as　was　the　wheelhouse。　The　boat　was　not　riding　at　anchor；　nor　was　she　drifting。　Her　hull　was　resting　lightly　in　the　water　only　two　meters　above　the　silt　of　the　shallow　bottom。　To　all　appearances；　she　looked　like　a　ship　that　had　been　abandoned　by　her　crew。
　　　　The　sea　was　calm　and　there　was　no　pitch　or　roll。　Pitt　lowered　the　helicopter　onto　the　wood　deck　and　shut　down　the　engines　as　soon　as　the　tires　touched　down。　He　sat　there　as　the　sound　of　the　turbine　and　rotor　blades　slowly　died　into　a　morbid　silence。　He　waited　a　full　minute　but　no　one　appeared。　He　opened　the　entry　door　and　dropped　to　the　deck。　Then　he　stood　there　waiting　for　something　to　happen。
　　　　Finally；　a　man　stepped　from　behind　a　stairwell　and　approached；　ing　to　a　halt　about　5　meters　（16　feet）　from　the　chopper。　Even　without　the　phony　white　hair　and　beard；　Pitt　easily　recognized　the　man　who　had　impersonated　Dr。　Steven　Miller　in　Peru。　He　was　smiling　as　if　he'd　caught　a　record　fish。
　　　　〃A　little　off　your　beat；　aren't　you？〃　said　Pitt；　unruffled。
　　　　〃You　seem　to　be　my　never…ending　nemesis；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　　　　〃A　quality　that　thrills　me　no　end。　What　name　are　you　going　under　today？〃
　　　　〃Not　that　it's　of　use　to　you；　but　I　am　Cyrus　Samson。〃
　　　　〃I　can't　say　I'm　pleased　to　see　you　again。〃
　　　　Sarason　moved　closer；　peering　over　Pitt's　shoulder　at　the　interior　of　the　helicopter。　His　face　lost　the　gloating　smile　and　twisted　into　tense　concern。　〃You　are　alone？　Where　are　the　others？〃
　　　　〃What　others？〃　Pitt　asked　innocently。
　　　　〃Dr。　Kelsey；　Miles　Rodgers；　and　your　friend；　Albert　Giordino。〃
　　　　〃Since　you　have　the　passenger　list　memorized；　you　tell　me。〃
　　　　Please；　Mr。　Pitt；　you　would　do　well　not　to　toy　with　me；〃　Sarason　warned　him。
　　　　〃They　were　hungry；　so　I　dropped　them　off　at　a　seafood　restaurant　in　San　Felipe。〃
　　　　〃You're　lying。〃
　　　　Pitt　didn't　take　his　gaze　off　Sarason　to　scan　the　decks　of　the　ferry。　Guns　were　trained　on　him。　That　was　a　certainty　he　knew　without　question。　He　stood　his　ground　and　faced　Miller's　killer　as　if　he　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world。
　　　　〃So　sue　me；〃　Pitt　retorted；　and　laughed。
　　　　〃You're　hardly　in　a　position　to　be　contemptuous；〃　Sarason　said　coldly。　〃Perhaps　you　don't　realize　the　seriousness　of　your　situation。〃
　　　　〃I　think　I　do；〃　said　Pitt；　still　smiling。　〃You　want　Huascar's　treasure；　and　you'd　murder　half　the　good　citizens　of　Mexico　to　get　it。〃
　　　　〃Fortunately；　that　won't　be　necessary。　I　do　admit；　however；　two…thirds　of　a　billion　dollars　makes　an　enticing　incentive。〃
　　　　〃Aren't　you　interested　in　knowing　how　and　why　we　were　conducting　our　search　at　the　same　time　as　yours？〃　asked　Pitt。
　　　　It　was　Sarason's　turn　to　laugh。　〃After　a　little　persuasion；　Mr。　Gunn　and　Congresswoman　Smith　were　most　cooperative　in　telling　me　about　Drake's　quipu。〃
　　　　〃Not　very　smart；　torturing　a　United　States　legislator　and　the　deputy　director　of　a　national　science　agency。〃
　　　　〃But　effective；　nonetheless。〃
　　　　〃Where　are　my　friends　and　the　ferry's　crew？〃
　　　　〃I　wondered　when　you'd　get　around　to　that　question。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　want　to　work　out　a　deal？〃　Pitt　didn't　miss　the　predator's　eyes　staring　unblinkingly　in　an　attempt　to　intimidate。　He　stared　back　piercingly。　〃Or　do　you　want　to　strike　up　the　music　and　dance？〃
　　　　Sarason　shook　his　head。　〃I　see　no　reason　why　I　should　bargain。　You　have　nothing　to　trade。　You're　obviously　not　a　man　I　can　trust。　And　I　have　all　the　chips。　In　short；　Mr。　Pitt；　you　have　lost　the　game　before　you　draw　your　cards。〃
　　　　〃Then　you　can　afford　to　be　a　magnanimous　winner　and　produce　my　friends。〃
　　　　Sarason　made　a　thoughtful　shrug；　raised　his　hand；　and　made　a　beckoning　gesture。　〃The　least　I　can　do　before　I　hang　some　heavy　weights　on　you　and　drop　you　over　the　side。〃
　　　　Four　burly　dark…skinned　men；　who　looked　like　bouncers　hired　from　local　cantinas；　prodded　the　captives　from　the　passageway　with　automatic　rifles；　and　lined　them　up　on　the　deck　behind　Sarason。
　　　　Gordo　Padilla　came　first；　followed　by　Jesus；　Gato；　and　the　assistant　engineer　whose　name　Pitt　could　not　recall　ever　hearing。　The　bruises　and　dried　blood　on　their　faces　showed　that　they　had　been　knocked　around　but　were　not　hurt　seriously。　Gunn　had　not　gotten　off　so　lightly。　He　had　to　be　half　dragged　from　the　passageway。　He　had　been　badly　beaten；　and　Pitt　could　see　the　blotches　of　blood　on　his　shirt　and　the　crude　rags　wrapped　around　his　hands。　Then　Loren　was　standing　there；　her　face　drawn　and　her　lips　and　cheeks　swollen　and　puffed　up　as　though　stung　by　bees。　Her　hair　was　disheveled　and　purplish　bruises　showed　on　her　arms　and　legs。　Yet　she　still　held　her　head　proudly　and　shook　off　the　guards'　hands　as　they　roughly　pushed　her　forward。　Her　expression　was　one　of　defiance　until　she　saw　Pitt　standing　there。　Then　it　turned　to　cruel　disappointment；　and　she　moaned　in　despair。
　　　　〃Oh；　no；　Dirk！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃They've　got　you　too。〃
　　　　Gunn　painfully　raised　his　head　and　muttered　through　lips　that　were　split　and　bleeding。　〃I　tried　to　warn　you；　but。　。　。〃　His　voice　went　too　soft　to　be　understood。
　　　　Sarason　smiled；　unfeeling。　〃I　think　what　Mr。　Gunn　means　to　say　is　that　he　and　your　crew　were　overpowered　by　my　men　after　they　kindly　allowed　us　to　board　your　ferry　from　a　chartered　fishing　boat　after　begging　to　borrow　your　radio。〃
　　　　Pitt's　anger　came　within　a　millimeter　of　driving　him　to　inflict　pain　on　those　who　had　brutalized　his　friends。　He　took　a　deep　breath　to　regain　control。　He　swore　under　his　breath　that　the　man　standing　in　front　of　him　would　pay。　Not　now。　But　the　time　would　surely　e　if　he　didn't　try　anything　foolish。
　　　　He　glanced　casually　toward　the　nearest　railing；　gauging　its　distance　and　height。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Sarason。
　　　　〃I　don't　like　big；　tough　men　who　beat　up　defenseless　women；〃　he　said　conversationally。　〃And　for　what　purpose？　The　location　of　the　treasure　is　no　secret　to　you。〃
　　　　〃Then　it's　true；〃　Sarason　said　with　a　pleased　expression。　〃You　found　the　beast　that　guards　the　gold　on　the　top　of　Cerro　el　Capirote。〃
　　　　〃If　you　had　dropped　for　a　closer　look　instead　of　playing　peekaboo　in　the　clouds；　you'd　have　seen　the　beast　for　yourself。〃
　　　　Pitt's　last　words　brought　a　flicker　of　curiosity　to　the　beady　eyes。
　　　　〃You　were　aware　you　were　being　followed？〃　asked　Sarason。
　　　　‘　It　goes　without　saying　that　you　would　have　searched　for　our　helicopter　after　our　chance　meeting　in　the　air　yesterday。　My　guess　is　you　checked　out　landing　fields　on　both　sides　of　the　Gulf　last　night　and　asked　questions　until　someone　it　San　Felipe　innocently　pointed　the　way　to　our　ferry。'
　　　　〃You're　very　astute。〃
　　　　〃Not　really。　I　made　the　mistake　of　overestimating　you。　I　didn't　think　you'd　act　like　a　reckless　amateur　and　begin　mutilating　the　petition。　An　act　that　was　pletely　unwarranted。〃
　　　　Puzzlement　filled　Sarason's　eyes。　〃What　goes　on　here；　Pitt？〃
　　　　〃All　part　of　the　plan；〃　answered　Pitt　almost　jovially。　〃I　purposely　led　you　to　the　jackpot。〃
　　　　〃A　barefaced　lie。〃
　　　　〃You've　been　set　up；　pal。　Get　wise。　Why　do　you　think　I　let　off　Dr。　Kelsey；　Rodgers；　and　Giordino　before　I　returned　to　the　ferry？　To　keep　them　out　of　your　dirty　hands；　that's　why。〃
　　　　Sarason　said　slowly。　〃You　couldn't　have　known　we　were　going　to　capture　your　boat　before　you　came　back。〃
　　　　〃Not　with　any　certainty。　Let's　say　my　intuition　was　working　overtime。　That　and　the　fact　my　radio　calls　to　the　ferry　went　unanswered。〃
　　　　A　shrewd　hyenalike　look　slowly　spread　across　Sarason's　face。　〃Nice　try；　Pitt。　You'd　make　an　excellent　writer　of　children's　stories。〃
　　　　〃You　don't　believe　me？〃　Pitt　asked；　as　if　surprised。
　　　　〃Not　a　word。〃
　　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　us？〃
　　　　Sarason　looked　disgustingly　cheerful。　〃You're　more　naive　than　I　gave　you　credit　for。　You　know　full　well　what's　going　to　happen　to　you。〃
　　　　〃Crowding　your　luck；　aren't　you；　Sarason？　Murdering　Congresswoman　Smith　will　bring　half　the　United　States　law　enforcement　officers　down　around　your　neck。〃
　　　　〃Nobody　will　know　she　was　murdered；〃　he　said　impassively。　〃Your　ferryboat　will　simply　go　to　the　bottom　with　all　hands。　An　unfortunate　accident　that　is　never　fully　solved。〃
　　　　〃There　is　still　Kelsey；　Giordino；　and　Rodgers。　They're　safe　and　sound　in　California；　ready　to　spill　the　story　to　Customs　and　FBI　agents。〃
　　　　〃We're　not　in　the　United　States。　We're　in　the　sovereign　nation　of　Mexico。　The　local　authorities　will　conduct　an　extensive　investigation　but　will　turn　up　no　evidence　of　foul　play　despite　unfounded　accusations　from　your　friends。〃
　　　　〃With　close　to　a　billion　dollars　at　stake；　I　should　have　known　you'd　be　generous　in　buying　the　cooperation　of　local　officials。〃
　　　　〃They　couldn't　wait　to　sign　on　board　after　we　promised　them　a　share　of　the　tre