cc.themediterraneancaper2-第10部分

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was　to　see　your　old　bird　e　thundering　down　out　of　the　sun。〃
　〃It　must　have　surprised　our　friend　in　the　Albatros　too；〃　Giordino　grinned。　〃You　　should　have　seen　his　jaw　drop　when　he　turned　and　saw　us　for　the　first　time。〃Pitt　finished　knotting　his　tie。　〃No　one　expected　us　because　my　flight　plan　did　　not　include　Brady　Field。　I　originally　planned　to　set　down　in　the　sea　next　to　the　　First　Attempt。　That's　why　our　flying　ghost　and　Brady　Control　were　both　unaware　　of　our　ETA。〃　He　paused；　reflecting　as　he　looked　down　at　Lewis。　〃I　strongly　　suggest；　Colonel；　that　you　take　extreme　defensive　measures。　I've　a　feeling　we　　haven't　seen　the　last　of　the　yellow　Albatros。〃
　Lewis　stared　up　at　Pitt　curiously。　〃What　makes　you　so　certain　he'll　return？〃
　Pitt's　eyes　glinted。　〃He　had　a　definite　purpose　for　attacking　the　field；　and　it　　wasn't　to　kill　men　or　destroy　aircraft　belonging　to　the　United　States。　His　plan　　was　simply　to　throw　you　into　a　panic。〃
　〃What　would　he　gain　by　that？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃Stop　and　think　about　it　for　a　moment。〃　Pitt　glanced　at　his　watch；　then　to　　Lewis。　〃If　this　situation　looked　truly　threatening　and　perilous；　Colonel；　you'd　　have　to　evacuate　all　American　civilians　to　the　mainland。〃
　〃Yes；　that's　true；〃　admitted　Lewis。　〃But　at　the　moment　I　see　no　reason　to　take　　such　steps。　The　Greek　government　has　assured　me　they're　offering；　their　plete　　cooperation　in　finding　the　pilot　and　plane。〃
　〃But　if　you　thought　you　had　reason；〃　pressed　Pitt。　〃Wouldn't　you　also　order　　mander　Gunn　to　remove　the　First　Attempt　from　the　Thasos　area？〃
　Lewis'　eyes　narrowed。　〃As　a　safety　precaution；　of　course。　That　white　ship　makes　　one　hell　of　an　inviting　target　for　an　aerial　sniper。〃
　Pitt　flicked　his　Zippo　and　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Believe　It　or　not；　sir；　that's　your　　answer。〃
　Giordino　and　Lewis　looked　at　each　other　and　then　at　Pitt；　puzzled。
　Pitt　continued。　〃As　you　know；　Colonel；　Admiral　Sandecker　ordered　Giordino　and　　myself　to　Thasos　to　investigate　the　strange　mishaps　that　have　occurred　during　　the　NUMA's　offshore　operations。　This　morning；　while　conversing　with　mander　　Gunn；　I　discovered　evidence　of　a　sabotage　which　leads　me　to　believe　that　there's　　a　definite　connection　between　the　raid　and　the　accidents　aboard　the　First　　Attempt。　Now；　if　we　take　this　assumption　one　step　further；　we　begin　to　see　that　　Brady　Field　was　not　the　main　objective　of　our　reincarnated　adversary。　The　raid　　was　only　an　indirect　means　of　removing　mander　Gunn　and　the　First　Attempt　from　　Thasos。〃
　Lewis　looked　at　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃I　suppose　the　next　question　is　why？〃
　〃I　don't　have　an　answer　yet；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I'm　certain　our　mysterious　friend　　and　his　flair　for　dramatics　has　a　high　powered　reason　behind　his　game。　He　wouldn't　go　to　such　devious　lengths　for　penny　ante　stakes。　He's　most　likely　　hiding　something　of　great　value　and　the　NUMA　researchers　on　the　ship　are　in　a　　position　to　stumble　onto　it。〃
　〃That　something　you　speak　of　could　be　sunken　treasure；〃　Lewis'　lips　gleamed　wetly。
　Pitt　pulled　an　overseas　cap　out　of　his　suitcase　and　set　it　jauntily　on　his　head。　〃That's　one　obvious　conclusion。〃
　A　faraway　look　came　Into　Lewis'　eyes　and　he　said　softly；　〃I　wonder　what　it　could　　be　and　how　much　it's　worth？〃
　Pitt　turned　and　faced　Giordino。　〃Al；　contact　Admiral　Sandecker　and　ask　him　to　　research　all　possible　lost　or　sunken　treasure　troves　in　the　Aegean　Sea　within　　spitting　distance　of　Thasos　and　send　us　the　data　as　soon　as　possible。　Tell　him　　it's　urgent。〃
　〃Consider　it　done；〃　Giordino　said。　〃It's　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning　in　　Washington　so　we　should　have　an　answer　by　breakfast。〃
　〃Now　we're　getting　somewhere；〃　Lewis　boomed。
　〃The　sooner　I　get　answers；　the　sooner　I　can　get　the　Pentagon　off　my　back。　Is　　there　any　way　I　can　help？〃
　Pitt　glanced　at　his　watch　again。　〃As　the　Boy　Scouts　say…Be　Prepared。　That's　all　　we　can　do　for　the　present。　You　can　bet　Brady　Field　and　the　First　Attempt　are　　being　closely　observed。　When　it　es　apparent　no　one　is　being　evacuated　and　the　oceanography　ship　still　floats　out　there　on　the　Aegean；　we　can　expect　another　　visit　from　the　yellow　Albatros。　You've　had　your　fun；　Colonel　It's　my　guess　　mander　Gunn's　turn　is　next。〃
　〃Please　tell　the　mander；〃　said　Lewis；　〃I'll　give　him　whatever　assistance　I　　have　at　my　disposal。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I　don't　think　It　would　be　wise　to　warn　　mander　Gunn　just　yet。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　why　not？〃　gasped　Giordino。
　Pitt　grinned　coldly。　〃So　far；　all　of　this　is　pure　conjecture。　Besides；　any　　preparation　on　board　the　First　Attempt　would　be　a　dead　giveaway　of　our　　intentions。　No；　we've　got　to　bait　our　unknown　World　War　I　ghost　and　bring　him　　out　into　the　open。〃
　Giordino　looked　at　Pitt　evenly。　〃You　can't　risk　the　lives　of　the　scientists　and　　ship's　crew　without　giving　them　a　chance　to　defend　themselves。〃　〃Gunn　is　in　no　immediate　danger。　Our　ghost　pilot　will　undoubtedly　wait　at　least　　one　more　day　to　see　if　the　First　Attempt　departs　before　he　attacks　again。〃　Pitt　　smiled　until　the　mirth　lines　etched　into　the　sides　of　his　eyes。　〃In　the　　meantime；　I'll　put　my　creative　talents　to　work　on　a　plan　for　a　trap。〃
　Lewis　got　to　his　feet　and　faced　Pitt。　'For　the　sake　of　those　men　on　the　ship；　I　　hope　you　e　up　with　a　good　one。〃
　〃No　plan　is　considered　foolproof；　Colonel；〃　replied　Pitt；　〃until　after　it's　been　　applied。〃　Giordino　walked　toward　the　door。　〃I'll　run　over　to　Base　Operations　and　send　that　　message　to　the　Admiral。〃
　〃When　you've　finished；〃　said　Lewis；　〃drop　by　my　quarters　for　supper。〃　Twisting　　his　moustache；　he　turned　to　Pitt。　〃You're　invited　too。　I'll　give　you　men　a　real　　treat　and　whip　up　my　renowned　specialty：　scallops　with　mushrooms　in　white　wine　　sauce。〃
　〃It　sounds　very　appetizing；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I'm　afraid　I　must　decline。　I　have　a　　previous　dinner　engagement。　。　。　with　a　very　attractive　lady。〃
　Giordino　and　Lewis　could　only　gawk　at　him　in　dazed　amazement。　Pitt　tried　to　look　nonchalant。　〃She's　sending　a　car　to　pick　me　up　at　the　main　　gate　at　six。　I　have　just　two　minutes　and　thirty　seconds　to　get　there；　so　I'd　　best　be　leaving。　Good　evening；　Colonel；　and　thank　you　for　your　invitation。　I　　hope　you'll　give　me　a　rain　check。〃　He　faced　Giordino。　〃Al；　let　me　know　the　　minute　the　Admiral's　reply　es　in。〃　Pitt　turned　and　opened　the　door　and　left　　the　room。
　Lewis　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃Is　he　bull…shitting　or　does　he　really　have　a　date　　with　a　girl？〃
　〃I've　never　known　Dirk　to　bull…shit　about　women；　sir；〃　said　Giordino。　He　was　　beginning　to　enjoy　Lewis'　state　of　shock。
　〃But　where　did　he　meet　her？　To　my　knowledge　he　hasn't　been　anywhere　except　the　　field　and　the　ship。
　Giordino　shrugged。　〃Beats　me。　But　knowing　Pitt　as　I　do；　It　wouldn't　surprise　me　　if　he　picked　up　a　girl　on　the　hundred　yards　between　the　main　gate　and　the　First　　Attempt's　loading　dock。〃
　Lewis'　booming　laugh　cracked　across　the　room。　〃Well　e　along；　Captain。　I'm　not　　a　sexy　girl　but　at　least　I　can　cook。　How　about　some　of　my　scallops？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　said　Giordino。　〃That's　the　best　offer　I've　had　all　afternoon。〃
　　　5
　The　furnace…like　atmosphere　cooled　slightly　as　the　fading　sun　fell　to　the　west　　beyond　the　Thasos　mountains。　Long　crooked　shadows　from　the　mountains'　tree…lined　　summits　had　moved　down　the　slopes　and　were　touching　the　seaward　edge　of　Brady　　Field　when　Pitt　passed　through　the　main　gate。　He　stopped　on　the　outer　road　and　　inhaled　the　pure　Mediterranean　air；　enjoying　the　inner　sensation　of　having　his　　lungs　tingle。　The　habitual　call　for　a　cigarette　tugged　at　his　mind；　but　he　　pushed　the　urge　aside　and　took　another　deep　breath；　looking　out　to　sea。　Beyond　　the　rolling　surf；　the　setting　sun　painted　the　First　Attempt　a　colorful　golden　　orange。　The　visibility　was　crystal　clear；　and　at　a　distance　of　two　miles　his　　eyes　could　pick　out　an　amazing　amount　of　detail　on　board　the　ship。　He　stood　　quiet　and　still　for　almost　a　full　two　minutes；　lost　in　the　beauty　of　the　scene。　　Then　he　glanced　about；　looking　for　the　car　that　Teri　promised　to　send　for　him。　It　was　there；　sitting　off　to　one　side　of　the　road　like　a　palatial　and　sumptuous　　yacht　resting　at　anchor。
　〃Well　I'll　be　damned；〃　Pitt　muttered；　spotting　the　car。　He　moved　closer　and　his　face　betrayed　an　admiration　for　fine　automobiles。　It　was　a　Maybach…Zepplin　town　car；　plete　with　a　sliding　glass　partition　　separating　the　enclosed　passenger　partment　from　the　driver；　who　sat　in　the　　open　exposed　to　the　sun。　Behind　the　large　double…M　ornament　on　the　radiator；　the　hood　stretched　back　six　feet　and　ended　at　a　low　split　windshield。　giving　the　car　　an　image　of　great　brutish　power。　The　long　flowing　fenders　and　running　boards　　gleamed　black　but　the　coachwork　was　painted　a　deep　multi…coated　silver。　It　was　a　　classic　among　classics：　superb　Teutonic　craftsmanship　evident　in　every　fitting；　　every　nut　and　every　bolt。　If　the　1936　Rolls…Royce　Phantom　III　typified　the　British　ideal　of　silence　and　distinguished　　mechanical　efficiency；　then　its　German　counterpart　was　found　in　the　1936　Maybach　　Zepplin。
　Pitt　stepped　up　beside　the　car　and　ran　his　right　hand　over　a　gargantuan　spare　　tire　that　sat　solidly　mounted　in　the　front　fender　well。　He　grinned　a　grin　of　　satisfaction　and　relief　as　he　noted　the　tire's　tread　was　deeply　grooved　in　a　　diamond…shaped　pattern。　He　patted　the　big　donut…like　tire　a　couple　of　times　and　　then　turned　and　looked　into　the　front　seat。
　The　driver　sat　slouched　behind　the　wheel；　idly　drumming　his　fingers　on　the　door　　frame。　He　not　only　looked　bored；　but　he　yawned　to　prove　it　He　was　dressed　in　a　　gray…green　tunic　that　strangely　resembled　the　uniform　of　a　World　War　II　Nazi　officer。　but　the　sleeves　and　shoulders　bore　　no　insignia。　A　high　brimmed　cap　covered　his　head；　and　the　blond　color　of　his　　hair　was　betrayed　by　the　brief　hint　of　his　sideburns。　Old　fashioned　　silver…rimmed　spectacles　covered　his　eyes　and　glinted　in　the　setting　sun。　A　long　　thin　cigarette　dangled　conceitedly　from　one　corner　of　a　curled　lip。　giving　the　　driver　an　aura　of　smugness　and　arrogance；　an　image　he　made　little　effort　to　　conceal。
　Pitt　Instantly　disliked　the　driver。　Putting　a　foot　on　the　running　board；　he　　stared　penetratingly　at　the　uniformed　figure　behind　the　steering　wheel。　〃I　think　　you're　waiting　for　me。　My　name　is　Pitt。〃
　The　yellow　haired　driver　did　not　bother