atlantis.found-第69部分

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t。　The　man　wore　a　tuxedo　with　a　maroon　brocade　vest；　and　a　gold　watch　chain　hung　across　the　front。　The　woman　was　dressed　in　a　black　silk　velvet　jacket　over　a　slim…fitting；　black　silk　ankle…length　gown；　slit　on　the　sides。　A　crystal…beaded　choker　adorned　her　slender　neck。
　　　　　They　approached　the　Wolfs　and　stopped。　〃How　nice　to　see　you　again；　Elsie；〃　said　Pitt　cordially。　Before　she　could　answer；　he　turned　to　Wolf。　〃You　must　be　the　infamous　Karl　Wolf　I've　heard　so　much　about〃　He　paused　and　turned　to　Pat。　〃May　I　introduce　Dr。　Patricia　O'Connell？〃
　　　　　Wolf　gazed　at　Pitt　as　a　cutter　might　study　a　diamond　before　lifting　his　mallet　to　strike　his　wedge　and　cleave　a　stone。　Though　he　didn't　seem　to　recognize　Pitt；　Pat　felt　a　chill　ripple　up　her　spine。　The　billionaire　was　extremely　handsome；　but　he　stared　from　eyes　that　were　cold　and　threatening。　There　was　a　hardness　about　him　that　suggested　an　underlying　savagery。　If　he　knew　who　she　was；　he　showed　no　sign　of　recognition　at　hearing　her　name；　nor　did　he　display　gentlemanly　grace　by　rising　from　his　chair。
　　　　　〃Though　we　have　never　met；〃　Pitt　continued　in　a　friendly　fashion；　〃I　feel　as　if　I　know　you。〃
　　　　　〃I　have　no　idea　who　you　are；〃　said　Wolf　in　perfect　English；　with　just　a　trace　of　a　Teutonic　accent。
　　　　　〃My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　　　　　For　a　brief　moment；　there　was　inprehension　in　Wolf's　eyes；　then　his　face　slowly　took　on　a　look　of　pure　animosity。　〃You　are　Dirk　Pitt？〃　he　asked　coldly。
　　　　　〃None　other。〃　He　smiled　at　Elsie。　〃You　look　surprised　to　see　me。　You　left　Washington　quite　suddenly　before　we　had　a　chance　to　chat　again。〃
　　　　　〃Where　did　you　e　from？〃　she　snarled。
　　　　　〃From　the　Ulrich　Wolf；〃　Pitt　answered　politely。　〃After　taking　a　tour　of　the　ship；　Pat　and　I　found　ourselves　in　Buenos　Aires　and　thought　we'd　drop　by　and　say　hello。〃
　　　　　If　her　eyes　were　lasers；　Pitt　would　have　been　fried　and　grilled。　〃We　can　have　you　killed。〃
　　　　　〃You've　tried；　and　it　didn't　work　out；〃　Pitt　replied　casually。　〃I　don't　advise　you　to　try　again；　certainly　not　inside　the　British　Embassy　in　front　of　all　these　people。〃
　　　　　〃When　you　reach　the　street；　Mr。　Pitt；　you　will　be　in　my　country；　not　yours。　You　will　be　helpless　to　protect　yourselves。〃
　　　　　〃Not　a　good　idea；　Karl。　You'd　only　upset　the　United　States　Marines　who　escorted　us　here　tonight　under　the　protection　of　the　American　ambassador；　John　Horn。〃
　　　　　One　of　Wolf's　hefty　bodyguards　moved　forward　then　as　if　to　assault　Pitt；　but　suddenly　Giordino　stepped　from　behind　and　stood　toe…to…toe　with　the　guard；　blocking　any　movement。　The　guard；　who　outweighed　Giordino　by　a　good　fifty　pounds　and　stood　ten　inches　taller；　looked　down　contemptuously　and　said；　〃What　makes　you　think　you're　so　tough；　little　man？〃
　　　　　Giordino　grinned　condescendingly。　〃Would　you　be　impressed　if　I　told　you　that　I'd　just　exterminated　half　a　dozen　of　your　fellow　vermin？〃
　　　　　〃He's　not　kidding；〃　said　Pitt。
　　　　　The　guard's　reaction　was　amusing。　He　didn't　know　whether　to　be　mad　or　wary。　Wolf　raised　a　hand　and　idly　waved　off　his　bodyguard。　〃I　congratulate　all　of　you　on　your　escape　from　the　Ulrich　Wolf。　My　security　forces　proved　most　inpetent。〃
　　　　　〃Not　at　all；〃　Pitt　replied　amicably。　〃They　were　really　quite　good。　We　were　very　lucky。〃
　　　　　〃From　the　report　I　received；　luck　had　very　little　to　do　with　it。〃
　　　　　It　was　as　close　to　a　pliment　as　Karl　Wolf　could　ever　give。　He　came　slowly　out　of　his　chair　and　stood　facing　Pitt。　He　was　two　inches　taller　and　relished　looking　down　at　this　thorn　in　Destiny　Enterprises'　side。　His　blue…gray　eyes　glinted；　but　their　fixed　stare　was　easily　matched　and　returned　by　Pitt；　who　was　more　interested　in　studying　his　enemy　than　engaging　in　a　childish　game　of　stare…down。
　　　　　〃You　are　making　a　regrettable　mistake　in　opposing　me；　Mr。　Pitt。　Surely　you　must　be　aware　by　now　that　I　am　dedicated　to　using　every　tool　at　my　mand　to　make　the　world　as　pure　and　as　uncontaminated　as　it　was　nine　thousand　years　ago。〃
　　　　　〃You　have　a　strange　way　of　going　about　it。〃
　　　　　〃Why　did　you　e　here　tonight？〃
　　　　　Pitt　did　not　back　off。　〃I　have　suffered　a　great　deal　of　inconvenience　because　of　your　family；　and　I　was　determined　to　meet　the　man　who's　been　scheming　to　play　master　of　the　universe。〃
　　　　　〃And　now　that　you've　met　me？〃
　　　　　〃It　seems　to　me　you've　bet　the　farm　on　a　phenomenon　that　may　not　take　place。　How　can　you　be　so　dead　certain　the　twin　of　the　et　that　wiped　out　the　Amenes　will　return　next　month　and　strike　the　earth？　How　do　you　know　it　won't　miss；　as　it　did　then？〃
　　　　　Wolf　looked　at　Pitt　speculatively　and　smiled　maliciously。　It　was　obvious　that　a　man　of　his　wealth　and　power　was　not　used　to　people　who　did　not　fear　him；　who　did　not　grovel　in　his　divine　presence。
　　　　　〃The　ing　cataclysm　is　an　established　conclusion。　The　world；　as　it　is　known　by　every　living　creature；　will　no　longer　exist。　With　the　exception　of　my　family；　everyone　in　this　room；　including　yourself；　will　surely　perish。〃　He　leaned　forward　with　a　wicked　grin。　〃But　I'm　afraid；　Mr。　Pitt；　that　it　will　happen　rather　sooner　than　you　think。　The　timetable's　been　advanced；　you　see。　The　end　of　the　world。　。　。　will　begin　precisely　four　days　and　ten　hours　from　now。〃
　　　　　Pitt　tried　to　hide　his　shock。　Less　than　five　days！　How　was　it　possible？
　　　　　Pat　didn't　bother　to　hide　her　dismay。　〃How　could　you　do　this？　Why　have　you　gone　to　so　much　trouble　to　keep　it　a　secret？〃　she　demanded　impassionedly。　〃Why　haven't　you　warned　every　living　soul　on　Earth　so　they　can　prepare　for　whatever　happens？　Have　you　and　your　precious　sisters　no　conscience？　Have　you　no　passion？　Don't　the　deaths　of　billions　of　children　torment　you；　like　any　sane　person？　You're　just　as　bad　as　your　ancestors　who　slaughtered　millions〃
　
　　　　　Elsie　shot　to　her　feet。　〃How　dare　you　insult　my　brother！〃　she　hissed。
　　　　　Pitt　slid　his　arm　around　Pat's　waist。　〃Don't　waste　your　breath　on　these　purveyors　of　slime；〃　he　said；　his　face　taut　with　anger。　The　confrontation　was　getting　too　tense。　But　he　couldn't　resist　getting　in　one　more　remark。　He　looked　at　Elsie　and　said　pleasantly；　with　a　chilling　grin；　〃You　know；　Elsie；　I'll　bet　that　making　love　to　you　and　your　sisters　is　like　making　love　to　ice　sculptures。〃
　　　　　Elsie　hauled　back　to　slap　Pitt；　but　Pat　lunged　forward　and　grabbed　her　arm。　Elsie　snatched　it　away；　shocked　that　someone　other　than　a　family　member　would　treat　her　roughly。　For　a　moment；　both　Pitt　and　Wolf　thought　the　two　women　were　going　to　go　at　it；　but　Pat　smiled　brazenly　and　turned　to　Pitt　and　Giordino。　〃I'm　bored。　Why　don't　one　of　you　gentlemen　ask　me　to　dance？〃
　　　　　Pitt　decided　it　was　wiser　to　hang　around　and　attempt　to　milk　the　Wolfs　for　more　information　while　he　had　their　attention。　He　made　a　slight　bow　to　Giordino。　〃You　first。〃
　　　　　〃My　pleasure。〃　Giordino　took　Pat's　hand　and　led　her　to　the　dance　floor；　where　the　orchestra　was　playing　〃Night　and　Day。〃
　　　　　Pitt　said　to　Karl　Wolf；　〃Very　clever　of　you；　accelerating　the　schedule。　How　did　you　do　it？〃
　　　　　〃Ah；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　Wolf　said。　〃I　must　have　some　secrets　to　myself。〃
　　　　　Pitt　tried　a　different　tack。　〃I　pliment　you　on　your　ships。　They　are　masterworks　of　marine　architecture　and　engineering。　Only　the　Freedom；　the　sea　city　built　by　Norman　Nixon　of　Engineering　Solutions；　es　close　to　matching　their　magnificent　scale。〃
　　　　　〃That　is　true。〃　Wolf　was　intrigued；　despite　himself。　〃I　freely　admit　that　many　of　the　qualities　we　built　into　the　Ulrich　Wolf　came　from　those　designs。〃
　　　　　〃Do　you　really　think　those　immense　vessels　will　float　out　to　sea　in　the　wash　from　the　giant　tidal　wave？〃
　　　　　〃My　engineers　have　assured　me　their　calculations　are　precise。〃
　　　　　〃What　happens　if　they're　wrong？〃
　　　　　The　expression　on　Wolf's　face　suggested　that　he　never　considered　the　thought。　〃The　cataclysm　will　e　to　pass；　exactly　when　I　said　it　would；　and　our　ships　will　be　safe。〃
　　　　　〃I'm　not　sure　I'd　want　to　be　around　after　the　earth　was　devastated　and　most　of　the　humans　and　animals　became　extinct。〃
　　　　　〃That's　the　difference　between　you　and　me；　Mr。　Pitt。　You　see　it　as　the　end。　I　see　it　as　a　bold　new　beginning。　Now；　good　night。　We　have　much　to　do。〃　And　he　gathered　up　his　sister　and　walked　away。
　　　　　Pitt　desperately　wanted　to　believe　that　Wolf　was　simply　another　lunatic；　but　this　man's　passion　and　that　of　his　entire　family　went　far　beyond　mere　fanaticism。　Pitt　stood　there；　uneasy。　No　man　this　intelligent　would　build　an　empire　worth　many　billions　of　dollars　to　throw　it　away　on　a　crackpot　scheme。　There　had　to　be　an　underlying　rationality；　one　that　was　too　horrifying　to　envision。　But　what？　According　to　Wolf's　own　timetable；　Pitt　now　had　only　four　days　and　ten　hours　to　find　the　answer。　And　why　was　Wolf　so　forthing　about　the　deadline？　It　was　almost　as　if　he　didn't　care　that　Pitt　knew。　Did　he　simply　think　that　it　didn't　matter　anymore；　that　there　was　nothing　anyone　could　do　about　it？　Or　was　there　some　other　reason　in　that　devious　mind？
　　　　　Pitt　turned　and　walked　away。　He　stepped　up　to　the　bar　and　ordered　an　anejo；　100　percent　blue　agave　tequila　on　the　rocks。　Ambassador　Horn　came　and　stood　beside　him。　Horn；　a　light…haired　small　man；　had　the　look　of　a　hawk　gliding　in　a　spiral　over　a　forest；　more　interested　in　his　sovereignty　than　scanning　for　a　meal。
　　　　　〃How　did　you　and　Karl　Wolf　get　along？〃　he　inquired。
　　　　　〃Not　too　well；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃He　has　his　mind　set　on　playing　God；　and　I　never　learned　to　genuflect。〃
　　　　　〃He's　a　strange　man。　No　one　I　know　has　ever　gotten　close　to　him。　Certainly；　there's　been　no　indication　why　he　would　believe　in　this　fantastic　story　of　the　end　of　the　world。　I've　told　my　colleagues　here　and　in　Washington；　and　they　say　there's　no　evidence　at　all　of　such　an　event　ing　at　least　so　far。〃
　　　　　〃Do　you　know　much　about　him？〃
　　　　　〃Not　a　great　deal。　Only　what　I've　read　in　intelligence　reports。　His　grandfather　was　a　big　Nazi　who　escaped　Germany　at　the　end　of　the　war。　He　came　here　with　his　family　and　a　group　of　Nazi　cronies；　along　with　their　top　scientists　and　engineers。　Soon　after　arriving　in　Argentina；　they　established　a　huge　financial　conglomerate　within　less　than　two　years；　buying　and　operating　the　largest　farms　and　ranches；　banks　and　corporations　in　the　country。　Once　their　power　base　was　solidified；　they　branched　out　internationally　into　everythin