ssheldon.doomsdayconspiracy-第44部分

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　The　second　man　asked；　〃Is　he　here　with　you　now？〃
　〃I　don't　know　where　he　is。　　I　dropped　him　off　when　we　got　into　town；　and　he　disappeared。〃
　〃Was　your　passenger's　name　Robert　Bellamy？〃
　
　She　knitted　her　brow　in　concentration。
　〃Bellamy？　　I　don't　know。　　I　don't　think　he　told　me　his　name。〃
　〃Oh；　we　think　he　did。　　He　picked　you　up　on　the　Tor　di　Ounto；　you　spent　the　night　with　him　at　the　L'Incrocio　Hotel；　and　the　next　morning　he　bought　you　an　emerald　bracelet。　　He　sent　you　to　some　hotels　with　airline　and　train　tickets；　and　you　rented　a　car　and　came　down　to　Naples；　right？〃
　
　They　know　everything。　　Pier　nodded；　her　eyes　filled　with　fear。
　〃Is　your　friend　ing　back；　or　has　he　left　Naples？〃　　She　hesitated；　deciding　which　was　the　best　answer。　　If　she　told　them　that　Robert　had　left　town；　they　would　not　believe　her　anyway。　　They　would　wait　here　at　the　house；　and　when　he　turned　up；　they　could　accuse　her　of　lying　for　him　and　hold　her　as　an　acplice。　　She　decided　that　the　truth　would　serve　her　better。
　〃He's　ing　back；〃　Pier　said。
　〃Soon？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure。〃
　〃Well；　we'll　just　make　ourselves　fortable。　　You　don't　mind　if　we　look　around；　do　you？〃
　
　They　opened　their　jackets；　exposing　their　guns。
　〃N…no。〃
　
　They　fanned　out；　moving　through　the　house。　　Mama　walked　in　from　the　kitchen。
　〃Who　are　these　men？〃
　〃They　are　friends　of　Mr。　Jones；〃　Pier　said。
　〃They　have　e　to　see　him。〃
　
　Mama　beamed。
　〃Such　a　nice　man。　　Would　you　like　some　lunch？〃
　〃Sure；　Mama；〃　one　of　the　men　said。
　〃What　are　we　having？〃
　
　Pier's　mind　was　in　a　turmoil。　　I　have　to　call　Interpol　again；　she　thought。　　They　said　they　would　pay　flfiy　thousand　dollars。　　Meanwhile；　she　had　to　keep　Robert　away　from　the　house　until　she　could　make　arrangements　to　turn　him　in。　　But　how？　　She　suddenly　remembered　their　conversation　that　morning。
　〃If　there's　trouble　you　pull　one　shade　down　。。。　　to　warn　someone　away。〃　The　two　men　were　seated　at　the　dining　room　table　eating　a　bowl　of　capellini。
　〃It's　too　bright　in　here；〃　Pier　said。　　She　rose　and　walked　into　the　living　room　and　pulled　down　the　window　shade。　　Then　she　went　back　to　the　table。　　I　hope　Robert　remembers　about　the　warning。
　
　Robert　was　driving　toward　the　house；　reviewing　his　plan　of　escape。
　
　It's　not　perfect；　he　thought；　but　at　least　it　should　get　them　off　the　trail　long　enough　to　buy　me　some　time。　　He　was　approaching　the　house。
　
　As　he　neared　it；　he　slowed　down　and　looked　around。　　Everything　appeared　to　be　normal。　　He　would　warn　Pier　to　get　out　and　then　take　off。　As　Robert　started　to　park　in　front　of　the　house；　something　struck　him　as　odd。　　One　of　the　front　shades　was　down。　　The　others　were　up。　　It　was　probably　a　coincidence；　but　still。。。　　An　alarm　bell　sounded。　　Could　Pier　have　taken　his　little　game　seriously？　　Was　it　meant　to　be　a　warning　of　some　kind？　　Robert　stepped　on　the　accelerator　and　kept　driving。　　He　could　not　afford　to　take　any　chances；　no　matter　how　remote。　　He　drove　to　a　bar　a　mile　away　and　went　inside　to　use　the　telephone。
　
　They　were　seated　at　the　dining…room　table　when　the　telephone　rang。
　
　The　men　tensed。　　One　of　them　started　to　rise。
　〃Would　Bellamy　be　calling　here？〃
　
　Pier　gave　him　a　scornful　look。
　〃Of　course　not。　　Why　should　he？〃
　
　She　rose　and　walked　over　to　the　telephone。　　She　picked　up　the　receiver。
　〃Hello？〃
　〃Pier？　　I　saw　the　window　shade　and…〃　All　she　had　to　do　was　say　that　everything　was　all　right；　and　he　would　e　back　to　the　house。　　The　men　would　arrest　him；　and　she　could　demand　her　reward。　　But　would　they　merely　arrest　him？　　She　could　hear　Robert's　voice；　saying；　〃If　the　police　find　me；　they　have　orders　to　kill　me。〃　　The　men　at　the　table　were　watching　her。　　There　was　so　much　she　could　do　with　fifty　thousand　dollars。　　There　were　beautiful　clothes　to　buy；　cruises　to　take；　a　pretty　little　apartment　in　Rome。。。。　　And　Robert　would　be　dead。　　Besides；　she　hated　the　goddamned　police。　　Pier　said　into　the　telephone；　〃You　have　the　wrong　number。〃
　
　Robert　heard　the　click　of　the　receiver　and　stood　there；　stunned。
　
　She　had　believed　the　tall　tales　he　had　told　her；　and　it　had　probably　saved　his　life。　　Bless　her。　　Robert　turned　the　car　around　and　headed　away　from　the　house　toward　the　docks；　but　instead　of　going　to　the　main　part　of　the　port　that　serviced　the　freighters　and　ocean　liners　leaving　Italy；　he　drove　to　the　other　side；　past　Santa　Lucia；　to　a　small　pier　where　the　sign　over　a　kiosk　read：　〃Capri　and　Ischia。〃　　Robert　parked　the　car　where　it　could　easily　be　spotted；　and　walked　up　to　the　ticket　seller。
　〃When　does　the　next　hydrofoil　leave　for　Ischia？〃
　〃In　thirty　minutes。〃
　〃And　for　Capri？〃
　〃Five　minutes。〃
　〃Give　me　a　one…way　ticket　to　Capri。〃
　〃Si；　signore。〃
　〃What's　this　'si　signore'　crap？〃
　
　Robert　said　in　a　loud　voice。
　〃Why　don't　you　people　speak　English　like　everybody　else？〃
　
　The　man's　eyes　widened　in　shock。
　〃You　goddamn　guineas　are　all　alike。　　Stupid！　　Or；　as　you　people　would　say；　stupido。〃　　Robert　shoved　some　money　at　the　man；　grabbed　the　ticket；　and　walked　toward　the　hydrofoil。
　
　Three　minutes　later　he　was　on　his　way　to　the　island　of　Capri。　　The　boat　started　out　slowly；　making　its　way　cautiously　through　the　channel。
　
　When　it　reached　the　outer　limits；　it　surged　forward；　rising　out　of　the　water　like　a　graceful　porpoise。　　The　ferry　was　full　of　tourists　from　a　variety　of　countries；　happily　chattering　away　in　different　tongues。　No　one　was　paying　any　attention　to　Robert。　　He　made　his　way　to　the　small　bar　where　they　served　drinks。　　He　said　to　the　bartender；　〃Give　me　a　vodka　and　tonic。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　
　He　watched　the　bartender　mix　the　drink。
　〃There　you　are；　signore。〃　　Robert　picked　up　the　glass　and　took　a　swallow。　　He　slammed　the　glass　back　down　on　the　bar。
　〃You　call　this　a　drink　for　Christ's　sakes？〃
　
　he　said。
　〃It　tastes　like　horse　piss。　　What's　the　matter　with　you　goddamn　Italians？〃
　
　People　around　him　were　turning　to　stare。　　The　bartender　said；　stiffly；　〃I'm　sorry；　signore；　we　use　the　best…〃
　〃Don't　give　me　that　shit！〃
　
　An　Englishman　nearby　said　stiffly；　〃There　are　women　here。　　Why　don't　you　watch　your　language？〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　watch　my　language；〃　Robert　yelled。
　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？　　I'm　mander　Robert　Bellamy。　　And　they　call　this　a　boat？　　It's　a　piece　of　junk！〃　　He　made　his　way　to　the　bow　and　sat　down。　　He　could　feel　the　eyes　of　the　other　passengers　on　him。　His　heart　was　hammering；　but　the　charade　was　not　over　yet。
　
　When　the　hydrofoil　docked　at　Capri；　Robert　walked　over　to　the　ticket　booth　at　the　entrance　to　the　funicolare。　　An　elderly　man　was　in　the　booth　selling　tickets。
　〃One　ticket；〃　Robert　yelled。
　〃And　hurry　up！　　I　don't　have　all　day。　　You're　too　old　to　be　selling　tickets；　anyway。　　You　should　stay　home。　　Your　wife　is　probably　screwing　all　your　neighbors。〃
　
　The　old　man　started　to　rise　in　anger。　　Passersby　were　giving　Robert　furious　glances。　　Robert　grabbed　the　ticket　and　stepped　into　the　crowded　funicolare。　　They'll　remember　me；　he　thought　grimly。　　He　was　leaving　a　trail　that　no　one　could　mIss。
　
　When　the　funicolare　came　to　a　stop；　Robert　shoved　his　way　through　the　crowd。　　He　walked　up　the　winding　Via　Vittorio　Emanuele；　to　the　Quisisana　Hotel。
　〃I　need　a　room；〃　Robert　told　the　clerk　behind　the　desk。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　the　clerk　apologized；　〃but　we　are　fully　booked。　　There　is…〃　Robert　handed　him　sixty　thousand　lire。
　〃Any　room　will　do。〃
　〃Well；　in　that　case；　I　think　we　can　acmodate　you；　signore。
　
　Would　you　register；　please？〃
　
　Robert　signed　his　name：　mander　Robert　Bellamy。
　〃How　long　will　you　be　staying　with　us；　mander？〃
　〃One　week。〃
　〃That　will　be　fine。　　May　I　have　your　passport？〃
　〃It's　in　my　luggage。　　It'll　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　〃I　will　have　a　bellboy　show　you　to　your　room。〃
　〃Not　now。　　I　have　to　go　out　for　a　few　minutes。　　I'll　be　right　back。〃
　
　Robert　stepped　out　of　the　lobby；　into　the　street。　　Memories　hit　him　like　a　blast　of　cold　air。　　He　had　walked　here　with　Susan；　exploring　the　little　side　streets；　and　strolled　down　Via　Ignazio　Cerio　and　Via　Li　Campo。　　It　had　been　a　magic　time。　　They　visited　the　Grotta　Azzurra；　and　had　morning　coffee　at　the　Piazza　Umberto。　　They　took　the　funicolare　up　to　Anacapri；　and　rode　donkeys　to　Villa　Jovis；　Tiberius's　villa；　and　swam　in　the　emerald　green　waters　at　the　Marina　Piccola。　　They　shopped　along　Via　Vittorio　Emanuele　and　took　the　chair　lift　to　the　top　of　Monte　Solaro；　their　feet　skimming　over　the　vine　leaves　and　leafy　trees。　　Off　to　the　right；　they　could　see　the　houses　sprinkled　down　the　hillside　toward　the　sea；　flowering　yellow　broom　covering　the　ground；　an　eleven…minute　ride　through　a　colorful　fairyland　of　green　trees；　white　houses　and；　in　the　distance；　the　blue　sea。　　At　the　top；　they　had　coffee　at　the　Barbarossa　Ristorante；　and　then　went　into　the　little　church　in　Anacapri　to　thank　God　for　all　their　blessings；　and　for　each　other。
　
　Robert　had　thought　then　that　the　magic　was　Capri。　　He　had　been　wrong。
　
　The　magic　was　Susan；　and　the　magician　had　left　the　stage。　　Robert　went　back　to　the　funicolare　station　at　the　Piazza　Umberto；　and　took　the　tram　down；　quietly　mingling　with　the　other　passengers。　　When　the　funicolare　arrived　at　the　bottom；　he　walked　out；　carefully　avoiding　the　ticket　seller。　　He　went　over　to　the　kiosk　at　the　boat　landing。　　In　a　heavy　Spanish　accent；　Robert　asked；　〃…A　que　hora　sale　el　barco　a　Ischia？〃
　〃Sale　en　treinta　minutos。〃
　〃Gracias。〃　　Robert　bought　a　ticket。
　
　He　walked　into　a　bar　at　the　waterfront　and　took　a　seat　in　the　back；　where　he　nursed　a　scotch。　　By　now　they　would　have　undoubtedly　found　the　car；　and　the　hunt　for　him　would　narrow。　　He　spread　out　the　map　of　Europe　in　his　mind。　　The　logical　thing　for　him　to　do　would　be　to　head　for　England　and　find　a　way　to　get　back　to　the　States。　　It　would　make　no　sense　for　him　to　return　to　France。　　So；　France　it　Is；　Robert　thought。　　A　busy　seaport　to　leave　Italy　from。　　Civitavecchia。　　I　have　to　get　to　Civitavecchia。　　The　Halcyon。
　
　He　got　change　from　the　owner　of　the　bar　and　used　the　telephone。　　It　took　the　marine　operator　ten　minutes　to　put　his　call　through。　　Susan　was　on　the　line　almost　immediately。
　〃We've　been　waiting　to　hear　from　you。〃　　We。　He　found　tha