cc.iceberg-第50部分

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he　pirates。　He　felt　helpless；　the　mannequins　all　began　to　look　alike；　and　the　action　on　the　bridge　had　happened　with　such　speed　that　he　hadn't　been　able　to　perceive　any　details　of　the　man's　costume。
　
　Almost　frantically；　he　tried　to　plan　the　next　step。
　
　There　was　no　more　chance　in　the　world　for　surprise　on　his　part…the　human　pirate　knew　what　Pitt　looked　like；　while　he　was　helpless　to　detect　the　real　from　the　fake　and　had　now　lost　the　opportunity　to　move　first。　Even　as　these　thoughts　flashed　through　Pitts　mind；　he　knew　he　must　act。
　
　A　second　later；　he　was　half　running；　half　stumbling　along　the　quay；　gasping　at　every　step　as　waves　of　pain　shot　through　every　tendon　of　his　body。　He　burst　through　a　black　curtain　and　into　the　next　stage　set。　It　had　a　huge　domed　chamber　dimly　lit　for　a　nighttime　scene。
　
　Built　into　the　far　wall；　a　scaled…down　version　of　a　pirate's　corsair　ship；　plete　with　dummy　crew　and　Jolly　Roger　rippling　in　a　breeze　urged　on　by　a　hidden　electric　fan；　fired　stimulated　broadsides　from　replica　cannon　across　fifty　feet　of　water　and　over　the　heads　of　the　people　in　the　excursion　boat　at　a　miniature　fortress　sitting　high　atop　a　jagged　cliff　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　cavernous　chamber。
　
　It　was　too　dark　to　make　out　any　details　on　the　excursion　boat。　Pitt　could　detect　no　movement　at　the　stern　and　he　felt　certain　that　Kippmann　and　Lazard　had　everything　under　their　mand。　Everything；　that　is；　that　was　within　their　reach。　As　his　eye；　began　to　penetrate　the　heavy　darkness；　of　the　simulated　nighttime　harbor　between　the　ship　and　the　fortress；　he　saw　that　the　bodies　in　the　boat　were　all　huddled　below　the　sides　of　the　hull。
　
　He　was　about　halfway　up　the　maintenance　ramp　to　the　deck　of　the　corsair　ship　when　he　knew　why；　when　he　heard　a　strange　sound；　the　almost　silent　thump　of　a　gun　with　a　silencer。　And　then　suddenly　he　was　standing　in　back　of　a　form　in　a　pirate　costume　who　was　holding　something　in　his　hand　and　pointing　it　at　the　little　boat　in　the　water。
　
　Pitt　looked　at　him　curiously；　with　only　a　detached　sort　of　interest。　He　raised　the　cutlass　and　brought　the　flat　side　of　the　blade　down　on　the　pirate's　wrist。
　
　The　gun　dropped　from　the　man's　wristover　the　railing　and　into　the　water　below。　The　pirate　swung　around；　the　white　hair　falling　from　under　a　scarlet　bandanna　that　was　knotted　around　his　head；　the　cold　blue…gray　eyes　flashing　with　anger　and　frustration；　the　lines　about　the　mouth　deeply　etched。　He　searched　the　ical　figure　that　had　so　coolly　killed　two　of　his　rades。　His　voice　was　hard　and　metallic。
　〃It　seems　I　am　your　prisoner。〃
　
　Pitt　wasn't　fooled　for　an　instant。　The　words　were　only　a　stall；　a　curtain　to　shield　the　lighg　move　that　would　surely　e。　The　man　behind　the　voice　was　dangerous　and　he　was　playing　for　high　stakes。　But　Pitt　had　more　than　an　edged　weapon…he　had　a　newly　found　strength　that　was　suddenly　coursing　through　his　body　like　a　gathering　tidal　wave。　He　began　to　smile。
　〃Ah…so　it　is　you；　Oskar。〃
　
　Pitt　paused　significantly；　watching　Rondheim　like　a　cat。　Holding　Hermit　Limited's　chief　executioner　on　the　end　of　the　cutlass。　Pitt　pulled　off　the　rubber　wolf's　head。　Rondheim's　face　was　still　set　and　hard；　but　the　eyes　betrayed　total　inprehension。　Pitt　dropped　the　mask；　bracing　himself　for　the　moment　he　had　planned　for　but　never　really　believed　would　happen。　Slowly；　he　unwrapped　the　bandages　with　one　hand；　letting　the　gauze　fall　to　the　deck　in　little　unraveled　piles；　building　the　suspense。　When　he　finished；　he　gazed　steadily　at　Rondheim　and　stood　back。　Rondheim's　lips　began　to　work　in　a　half…formed　question　and　dazed　expression　spread　across　his　features。
　〃Sorry　you　can't　recall　the　face；　Oskar；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　〃But　you　didn't　leave　a　great　deal　to　recognize。
　
　Rondheim　stared　at　the　swollen　eyes；　the　bruised　and　puffed　lips；　the　sutures　that　laced　the　cheekbones　and　eyebrows；　and　then　his　mouth　fell　open　and　in　a　whisper　he　breathed；　〃Pitt！〃
　
　Pitt　nodded。
　〃It's　not　possible；〃　Rondheim　gasped。
　
　Pitt　laughed。　〃I　apologize　for　ruining　your　day；　but　it　just　goes　to　prove　that　you　can't　always　trust　a　puter。〃
　
　Rondheim　looked　at　Pitt　long　and　searchingly。
　〃And　the　others？〃
　〃With　one　exception；　they're　all　alive　and　mending　the　broken　bones　you　so　generously　dispensed。〃　Pitt　focused　his　gaze　beyond　Rondheim's　shoulder　and　saw　that　the　excursion　boat　was　safely　entering　the　next　gallery。
　〃Then　it's　back　to　you　and　me　again；　Major。　Under　conditions　more　favorable　to　you　than　those　I　enjoyed　in　the　gym。　But　don't　get　your　hopes　up。〃　A　sort　of　smile　twisted　the　tight　lips。　〃fairies　are　no　match　for　men。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Pitt　returned。　He　hurled　the　cutlass　over　Rondheim's　head　into　the　water　and　stood　back。　He　looked　down　and　examined　his　hands。　They　would　have　to　do　the　job。　He　took　several　slow　deep　breaths；　ran　his　hands　through　his　wet　hair；　rubbed　them　roughly　on　the　sides　of　his　costume　and　then　gave　a　final　flex　to　his　fingers。　He　was　ready。
　〃I　misled　you；　Oskar。　Round　one　was　an　unequal　contest。　You　had　the　numbers；　the　planning　and　the　initiative　from　the　beginning。　How　are　you　alone；　Oskar；　without　your　paid　help　to　prop　your　victims？　How　are　you　when　you're　on　strange　ground？　You　still　have　time　to　escape。　Nothing　stands　between　you　and　a　chance　for　freedom　except　me。
　
　But　there's　the　rub；　；　Oskar。　You　have　to　get　by　me。〃
　
　Rondheim's　teeth　showed。　〃I　don't　need　anyone　to　break　you；　Pitt。
　
　My　only　regret　is　that　I　don't　have　the　time　to　stretch　out　your　next　lesson　in　pain。〃
　〃Okay；　Oskar；　so　much　for　the　psychological　bullshit；〃　Pitt　said　calmly。　He　knew　exactly　what　he　was　going　to　do。　True；　he　was　still　weak　and　dead　tired；　but　that　was　more　than　canceled　out　by　the　selfdetermination；　the　invisible　figures　of　Lillie；　Tidi；　Sam　Kelly；　Hunnewell　and　the　rest　who　stood　at　his　side　giving　him　strength　he　could　have　never　possessed　alone。
　
　An　uncertain　smile　came　to　Rondheim's　mouth　as　he　crouched　in　a　karate　stance。　The　smile　didn't　last。
　
　Pitt　hit　him。　He　hit　Rondheim　with　a　right　cross；　a　perfectly　timed　punch　that　jerked　Rondheim's　head　sideways　and　staggered　him　into　the　ship's　main　mast。
　
　Deep　down　Pitt　had　known　that　he　had　little　chance　of　taking　Rondheim　in　a　prolonged　fight；　that　he　couldn't　hold　the　other　man　off　for　more　than　a　few　minutes；　but　he　had　schemed　and　timed　for　the　element　of　surprise；　the　one　advantage　that　played　on　his　side　before　the　karate　blows　could　lash　his　face　again。　As　it　turned　out；　the　advantage　was　a　small　one。
　
　Rondheim　was　incredibly　tough；　he　had　taken　a　hard　blow；　yet　he　was　already　recovering。　He　sprang　from　the　mast　and　threw　a　kick　to　Pitts　head；　missing　by　a　scant　inch　as　Pitt　ducked　easily　away。　The　ill　timing　cost　him。　Pitt　caught　Rondheim　with　a　series　of　left　jabs　and　another　short；　hard　right　that　sent　him　to　his　knees　on　the　deck；　holding　a　hand　to　a　broken；　bleeding　nose。
　〃You've　improved；〃　Rondheim　whispered　through　the　streaming　blood。
　〃I　said　I　misled　you。〃　Pitt　was　hanging　back　tensed　in　a　half　boxing；　half　judo　position；　waiting　for　Rondheim's　next　move。　〃In　reality；　I'm　about　as　queer　as　Carzo　Butera。〃
　
　With　the　sound　of　his　true　name；　Rondheim　could　see　death's　fingers　reaching　out　to　touch　him；　but　he　kept　his　voice　under　iron　control；　his　bleeding　face　an　expressionless　mask。　〃It　seems　I　underestimated　you；　Major。〃
　〃You　were　an　easy　man　to　lead　astray；　Oskar；　or　should　I　call　you　by　the　name　on　your　birth　certificate？
　
　No　matter；　your　run　has　played　out。〃
　
　Mouthing　a　string　of　curses　through　blood…speck　lips；　his　face　now　frozen　in　insane　hate；　Rondheim　flung　himself　at　Pitt。　He　hadn't　taken　a　second　step　when　Pitt　brought　an　uppercut　from　the　deck　and　rammed　it　as　solidly　as　a　sledgehammer　into　Rondheim's　teeth。　Pitt　had　given　it　everything　he　had；　thrown　his　shoulder　and　body　into　it　with　such　force　that　his　ribs　screamed　in　agony　and　he　knew　even　as　he　did　it　that　he　could　never　marshal　the　strength　to　do　it　again。
　
　There　came　a　dull　squish　sound；　mingled　with　a　muffled　cracking　noise。　Rondheim's　teeth　were　jerked　from　their　sockets　and　imbedded　in　torn　lips　as　Pitts　wrist　snapped。　For　two　or　three　seconds　Rondheim　seemed　to　straighten　and　stand　there　poised　like　a　frame　frozen　in　a　movie　projector；　then；　with　the　unbelievably　slow；　irrevocable　finality　of　a　falling　tree；　he　crumbled　to　the　deck　and　lay　still。
　
　Pitt　stood　and　panted　through　clenched　teeth；　his　right　wrist　hanging　…limply　at　his　side。　He　stared　up　at　the　little　lights　flashing　from　the　make…believe　cannon　on　the　fortress　and　then　he　noticed　that　the　next　excursion　boat　was　passing　through　the　chamber。　He　blinked　his　eyes　to　focus　more　clearly　and　the　sweat　ran　into　them　and　stung。　There　was　something　he　had　to　do。　At　first　the　thought　repulsed　him；　but　he　shook　it　aside；　determined　that　there　could　be　no　other　way。
　
　He　stepped　over　the　sprawling　legs　of　the　unconscious　man　and　bent　down；　propping　one　of　Rondheim's　arms　against　the　deck　and　the　bottom　base　of　the　railing。　Then；　riisin；g　one　of　his　feet；　he　stomped　on　it；　shuddering　inwardly　as　the　bone　broke　a　few　inches　below　the　elbow。
　
　Rondheim　stirred　sluggishly　and　moaned。
　〃That's　for　Jerome　Lillie；〃　Pitt　said；　his　voice　bitter。
　
　He　repeated　the　process　with　Rondheim's　other　arm；　noting　with　grim　satisfaction　that　his　victim's　eyes　had　opened　and　were　staring　vacantly；　pupils　enlarged；　in　a　glassy　state　of　physical　shock。
　〃Score　that　one　ior　Tidi　Royal。〃
　
　Pitt　moved　automatically　as　he　turned　Rondheim's　body　so　that　the　legs　were　pointing　in　the　opposite　direction；　propped　as　the　arms　had　been　on　the　deck　and　trained　The　thinking；　emotional　part　of　Pitts　mind　was　C；　no　longer　part　of　his　brain。　It　floated　outside　its　cranial　vault；　keeping　enouph　contact　to　pull　the　strings　that　made　the　hands　and　feet　work。　Inside　the　bruised；　cut；　and　in　some　places。　deserted　shelter；　the　machine　was　quietly；　smoothly　ticking　over。　The　deadly　exhaustion　and　pain　were　pushed　into　the　background；　forgotten　for　the　moment　until　his　mind　regained　full　control。
　
　There。　he　jumped　on　Rondheim's　left　leg。
　〃Mark　that　up　for　Sam　Kelly。〃
　
　Rondheim　screame