atlantis.found-第95部分

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　　　　　His　face　repaired　by　a　medical　team　flown　in　to　tend　and　evacuate　the　wounded；　Pitt；　along　with　Giordino；　greeted　Dad　Cussler　when　he　and　his　crew　arrived　to　disassemble　the　remains　of　the　Snow　Cruiser　for　shipment　back　to　a　restoration　shop　in　the　States。　They　acpanied　him　to　the　control　center　and　then　stood　back　with　heavy　misgivings　as　he　examined　the　vehicle　for　the　first　time　since　it　had　left　Little　America　VI。
　　　　　The　old　man　stared　solemnly　and　sadly　at　the　great　red　vehicle　that　was　battered　to　a　pulp；　riddled　with　bullet　holes；　tires　shredded　and　flat；　the　windows　in　the　control　cabin　shot　to　shards。　Nearly　three　full　minutes　passed　as　he　walked　around　the　wreckage；　examining　the　damage。　Finally；　he　looked　up　and　made　a　crooked　grin。
　　　　　〃Nothing　that　can't　be　fixed；〃　he　said；　pulling　at　his　gray　beard。
　　　　　Pitt　stared　at　him　bleakly。　〃You　really　believe　it　can　be　rebuilt？〃
　　　　　〃I　know　so。　Might　take　a　couple　of　years；　but　I　think　we　can　put　her　back　together　as　good　as　new。〃
　　　　　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible；〃　said　Giordino；　shaking　his　head。
　　　　　〃You　and　I　aren't　seeing　the　same　thing；〃　said　Cussler。　〃You　see　a　pile　of　junk。　I　see　a　magnificent　machine　that　will　one　day　be　admired　by　millions　of　people　at　the　Smithsonian。〃　His　blue…green　eyes　gleamed　as　he　spoke。　〃What　you　don't　realize　is　that　you　took　a　mechanical　failure　and　turned　it　into　an　astonishing　success。　Before；　the　Snow　Cruiser's　only　distinction　was　that　it　was　a　fiasco　and　didn't　e　close　to　achieving　what　it　was　designed　to　do。　And　that　was　to　carry　a　crew　in　fort　five　thousand　miles　over　the　ice　of　the　Antarctic。　It　floundered　almost　immediately　after　ing　off　the　boat　in　1930　and　lay　buried　for　seventy　years。　You　two　not　only　proved　her　a　triumph　of　early…twentieth…century　engineering　by　driving　her　sixty　miles　across　the　ice　shelf　in　the　middle　of　a　blizzard；　but　you　used　her　brute　size　and　power　to　prevent　a　worldwide　cataclysm。　Now；　thanks　to　you；　she's　a　priceless　and　treasured　piece　of　history。〃
　　　　　Pitt　gazed　at　the　huge　mutilated　vehicle　as　if　it　were　a　wounded　animal。　〃But　for　her；　none　of　us　would　be　standing　here。〃
　　　　　〃Someday；　I　hope　you'll　tell　me　the　entire　story。〃
　　　　　Giordino　looked　at　the　old　man　oddly。　〃Somehow；　I　think　you　already　know　it。〃
　　　　　〃When　she's　put　on　display；〃　said　Dad；　slapping　Pitt　on　the　back；　〃I'll　send　you　both　invitations　to　the　ceremony。〃
　　　　　〃Al　and　I　will　look　forward　to　it。〃
　　　　　〃That　reminds　me。　Could　you　point　out　whoever　is　in　charge　here。　During　our　crossing　from　the　ice　station；　my　crew　and　I　ran　across　three　frozen　bodies　about　a　half　a　mile　from　the　runway。　It　looked　like　they　were　trying　to　cross　over　the　security　fence　before　the　cold　caught　up　with　them。　I'd　better　report　it　so　the　remains　can　be　recovered。〃
　　　　　〃A　man　and　two　women？〃　Pitt　asked　innocently。
　　　　　Dad　nodded。　〃Funny　thing。　They　were　dressed　more　like　they　were　going　to　a　football　game　in　Philadelphia　than　to　survive　the　Antarctic。〃
　　　　　〃Some　people　just　don't　respect　the　hazards　of　frigid　climates。〃
　　　　　Dad　lifted　an　eyebrow；　then　reached　in　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　red　bandanna　half　the　size　of　a　pup　tent　and　blew　his　nose。　〃Yeah；　ain't　it　the　truth。〃
　
　　　　　Aircraft　were　landing　with　frequency；　unloading　scientists　and　military　personnel；　then　loading　Cleary's　wounded　along　with　the　injured　Wolf　security　guards　and　airlifting　them　to　hospitals　in　the　United　States。　Not　to　be　left　out；　the　nuclear　submarine　Tucson　navigated　her　way　through　the　cavern　into　the　ice…enclosed　harbor　and　moored　next　to　the　old　Nazi　U…boats。
　　　　　Captain　Evan　Cunningham　was　a　bantam　cock　of　a　man；　short　and　wiry；　who　moved　his　arms　and　legs　as　if　jerked　on　strings。　He　had　a　smooth　face　with　a　sharp　chin　and　Prussian　blue　eyes　that　seemed　constantly　in　motion。　He　met　with　Colonel　Wittenberg　and　General　Bill　Guerro；　who　had　been　sent　to　Okuma　Bay　from　Washington　to　take　mand　from　Wittenberg　and　oversee　the　growing　plexity　of　the　discovery。　Cunningham　offered　the　services　of　his　ship　and　crew　as　authorized　by　the　naval　chief　of　staff。
　　　　　Wittenberg　had　described　Pitt　to　Cunningham；　and　the　mander　had　sought　out　the　man　from　NUMA。　He　approached　and　introduced　himself。　〃Mr。　Pitt；　we've　talked　over　the　radio；　but　haven't　actually　met。　I'm　Evan　Cunningham；　captain　of　the　Tucson。〃
　　　　　〃A　privilege　to　meet　you；　Captain。　Now　I　can　properly　express　my　thanks　for　your　timely　rescue　of　the　Polar　Storm　and　everyone　on　board。〃
　　　　　‘A　lucky　case　of　being　in　the　right　place　at　the　right　time。〃　He　grinned　broadly。　〃Not　every　sub　mander　in　today's　navy　can　say　he　sank　a　U…boat。〃
　　　　　〃Certainly　not　unless　they've　retired　to　a　nursing　home。〃
　　　　　〃Speaking　of　U…boats；　did　you　know　there　are　four　more　docked　in　the　ice　harbor？〃
　　　　　Pitt　nodded。　〃I　took　a　quick　look　at　them　this　morning。　They're　as　pristine　as　the　day　they　came　out　of　the　factory。〃
　　　　　〃My　engine…room　crew　went　on　board　to　study　them。　They　were　mighty　impressed　with　the　high　quality　of　engineering　created　when　their　grandparents　were　still　in　junior　high　school。〃
　　　　　〃To　anyone　born　after　1980；　World　War　Two　must　seem　as　distant　as　the　Civil　War　was　to　our　parents。〃
　　　　　Pitt　excused　himself　as　he　glanced　at　the　passengers　stepping　down　the　boarding　ladder　of　a　Boeing　737　that　had　taxied　up　to　the　hangar。　A　woman　wearing　a　knit　cap　with　red　hair　flowing　from　under　it　like　a　fiery　waterfall　stopped　for　a　moment　and　looked　around　the　hangar；　marveling　at　the　busy　activity。　Then　she　looked　in　his　direction　and　her　face　lit　up。
　　　　　Pitt　began　to　walk　toward　her；　but　was　overtaken　by　Giordino；　who　ran　past　him；　took　Pat　O'Connell　in　his　muscular　arms；　lifted　her　off　the　ground　as　easily　as　if　she　were　a　down　pillow；　and　swung　her　around　in　a　circle。　Then　they　kissed　passionately。
　　　　　Pitt　watched　them；　mystified。　When　Giordino　set　Pat　on　her　feet　again；　she　looked　over　and　waved。　Pitt　kissed　her　lightly　on　one　cheek；　stood　back；　and　said；　〃Have　I　been　missing　something　or　do　you　two　have　a　thing　for　each　other？〃
　　　　　Pat　laughed　gaily。　〃Al　and　I　looked　into　each　other's　eyes　when　we　were　in　Buenos　Aires　and　something　beautiful　happened　between　us。〃
　　　　　He　looked　at　Giordino　dryly。　〃Like　what？〃
　　　　　〃Like　we　fell　in　love。〃
　　　　　Pitt　was　no　longer　mystified。　He　was　dumbfounded。　〃You　fell　in　love？〃
　　　　　Giordino　shrugged　and　smiled。　〃I　can't　explain　it。　I've　never　felt　this　way　before。〃
　　　　　〃Does　this　mean　you're　breaking　up　the　act？〃
　　　　　〃My　friend；　you　and　I　have　been　through　a　lot　together；　more　wild　ventures　than　I　care　to　remember。　It's　a　miracle　we're　still　alive；　and　we　have　more　than　our　share　of　scars　to　prove　it。　We　have　to　face　reality。　We're　not　getting　any　younger。　My　joints　are　beginning　to　creak　when　I　get　up　in　the　morning。　We've　got　to　think　about　slowing　down。〃　He　paused　and　grinned。　〃And　then；　of　course；　there's　Mama　Giordino　to　consider。〃
　　　　　〃You　have　a　mother？〃　asked　Pat；　teasing。
　　　　　〃You　and　Mama　will　get　along　famously；〃　Giordino　said　approvingly。　〃Mama　said　I　can't　remain　a　bachelor　forever　if　I　want　to　give　her　little　Giordinos　to　fatten　with　her　celebrated　lasagna。〃
　　　　　〃We'd　better　hurry。〃　Pat　laughed。　〃At　thirty…five；　I　don't　have　much　time　left　to　produce　a　new　brood。〃
　　　　　〃You　have　Megan；〃　Pitt　said。
　　　　　〃Yes；　and　she　adores　Al。〃
　　　　　Pitt　shook　his　head　in　wonder。　〃Megan　approves　of　this　alien　character？〃
　　　　　〃Why　shouldn't　she？〃　Pat　said。　〃He　saved　her　life。〃
　　　　　Pitt　didn't　mention　that　he　had　a　hand　in　saving　mother　and　daughter；　too。　Nor　did　he　let　on　that　he　had　a　fondness　for　Pat　that　went　beyond　mere　friendship。　〃Well；　I　guess　there's　nothing　left　for　me　to　do　but　give　my　blessing　and　insist　on　being　the　best　man　at　your　wedding。〃
　　　　　Giordino　put　his　arm　around　Pitt's　shoulder　and　said　wistfully；　〃I　can't　think　of　another　mortal　I'd　rather　have　stand　up　for　me。〃
　　　　　〃Have　you　set　a　date？〃
　　　　　〃Not　before　six　months；〃　answered　Pat。　〃Admiral　Sandecker　arranged　for　me　to　direct　the　project　to　decipher　and　translate　the　Amenes　inscriptions　found　in　the　lost　city。　It　will　actually　take　years；　but　I　don't　think　he'll　hold　it　against　me　if　I　go　home　early　for　a　wedding　with　Al。〃
　　　　　〃No；〃　Pitt　said；　trying　to　absorb　the　unexpected　promise　of　Al　being　married。　〃I　don't　guess　he　will。〃
　　　　　Lieutenant　Miles　Jacobs　came　up　and　threw　a　casual　salute。　〃Mr。　Pitt？　Major　Wittenberg　would　like　a　word　with　you。〃
　　　　　〃Where　can　I　find　him？〃
　　　　　〃He　and　General　Guerro　have　set　up　a　mand　post　in　one　of　the　aircraft　maintenance　offices　on　the　far　end　of　the　hangar。〃
　　　　　〃I'm　on　my　way；　thank　you。〃　Pitt　turned　and　looked　at　Giordino。　〃You'd　better　get　Pat　situated　in　one　of　the　empty　storerooms　she　can　use　it　for　living　quarters　and　a　base　for　her　inscription　project。〃　Then　he　turned　and　strode　through　the　turmoil　of　activity　to　the　military　mand　post。
　　　　　Wittenberg　sat　at　his　desk　and　gestured　to　a　chair；　as　Pitt　entered　one　of　the　offices　the　Russians　slaves　had　carved　out　of　the　ice　nearly　six　decades　previously。　A　munications　center　had　been　set　up；　manned　by　two　operators。　The　place　was　a　madhouse；　with　civilians　and　military　personnel　rushing　in　and　out。　General　Guerro　sat　behind　a　large　metal　desk　in　one　corner；　surrounded　by　scientists　who　were　requesting　the　military　rush　in　special　excavation　equipment　so　they　could　begin　removing　the　ice　shroud　from　the　ancient　city。　He　did　not　look　happy　as　he　made　excuses　for　the　delay。
　　　　　〃Have　you　found　the　relics　yet？〃
　　　　　〃We've　been　too　busy　to　search；〃　answered　Wittenberg。　〃I　thought　I'd　pass　the　buck　to　you。　If　you're　successful；　let　me　know　and　I'll　schedule　a　military　transport　to　fly　you　back　to　the　States。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　get　back　to　you　shortly；〃　said　Pitt；　rising　to　his　feet。　〃I　think　I　know　where　the　Wolfs　put　them。〃
　　　　　〃One　more　thing；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Wittenberg　seriously。　〃Do　not　say　anything　to　anyone。　It's　best　the　relics　are　removed　quietly；　before　a　lot　of　crazies　get　wind　of　their　existence　and　move　heaven　and　earth　to　lay　their　hands　on　them。〃
　　　　　〃Why　not　destroy　them　and　be　done　with　it？〃
　　　　　〃Not　our　call。　The　President　personally　ordered　them　brought　to　the　White　House。〃