cc.themediterraneancaper2-第11部分

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heel。　〃I　think　　you're　waiting　for　me。　My　name　is　Pitt。〃
　The　yellow　haired　driver　did　not　bother　to　return　Pitt's　stare。　He　merely　　flipped　his　cigarette　over　Pitt's　shoulder　onto　the　road；　sat　up　straight　and　　turned　the　ignition　switch。　〃if　you　are　the　American　garbage　receiver；〃　he　said　　in　a　heavy　German　accent；　〃you　may　get　in。〃
　Pitt　grinned　and　his　eyes　hardened。　〃Up　front　with　the　foul　smelling　rabble　or　in　back　with　the　gentry？
　〃Wherever　you　choose；〃　the　driver　said。　His　face　turned　crimson　but　he　still　did　not　turn　or　look　up。
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Pitt　smoothly。　〃I'll　take　the　back。〃　He　pushed　down　on　a　huge　chrome　handle；　swung　the　vault…like　door　open　and　climbed　into　the　town　car。　An　old　roll　style　curtain　perched　over　the　partition　window　and　Pitt　pulled　it　down；　closing　off　all　sight　of　the　driver　In　front。　Then　be　settled　back　fortably　into　the　soft　and　luxurious　morocco　leather　upholstery；　lit　a　cigarette　and　prepared　to　enjoy　the　early　evening　ride　across　Thasos。
　The　Maybach's　engine　quietly　came　to　life　and　the　driver　shifted　through　the　whisper　silent　gears；　moving　the　Immense　car　over　the　road　in　the　direction　of　Liminas。
　Pitt　rolled　down　a　door　window　and　studied　the　fir　and　chestnut　trees　dotting　the　mountain　slopes；　and　the　age…old　olive　trees　lining　the　narrow　beaches。　Every　so　often；　small　fields　of　tobacco　and　wheat　broke　the　uneven　landscape　and　reminded　him　of　the　small　farms　he　had　often　seen　when　flying　over　the　southern　United　States。
　Soon　the　car　cruised　through　the　picturesque　village　of　Panaghia；　splashing　an　occasional　puddle　that　marred　the　elderly　cobbled　streets。　Most　of　the　houses　Were　painted　white　to　reflect　the　summer　heat。　The　roofs　rose　into　the　fading　sky　and　nearly　touched　as　their　eaves　leaned　toward　each　other　over　the　narrow　Streets。　In　a　few　minutes　Panaghia　was　left　behind　the　Liminas　soon　came　into　view。　Then　the　car　abruptly　turned；　skirting　the　main　section　of　the　little　city；　and　pointed　its　dinosaurian　hood　up　a　dusty　cliff　road。　The　incline　was　gradual　at　first；　but　quickly　wormed　into　a　series　of　steep　hairpin　curves。
　Pitt　could　sense　the　driver　struggling　at　the　wheel　of　the　Maybach；　the　lumbering　town　car　was　designed　more　for　casual　rides　on　the　Unter　den　Linden　than　spring…breaking　tours　up　mule　trails。　He　looked　over　sheer　precipices　at　the　sea　and　wondered　what　would　happen　if　another　car　came　from　the　opposite　direction。
　Then　he　could　see　it　ahead；　a　huge　white　square　against　the　darkening　gray　cliffs。　At　last　the　curves　ceased　and　the　big　diamond　treaded　tires　slid　smoothly　onto　the　hard　surface　of　a　drive。
　Pitt　was　adequately　impressed。　In　size；　the　villa　nearly　matched　the　splendor　of　a　Roman　Forum。　The　grounds　were　well　kept　and　there　was　an　atmosphere　of　wealth　and　good　taste。　The　entire　estate　nestled　in　a　valley　between　two　high　mountain　peaks　and　overlooked　a　sweeping　panorama　of　the　Aegean　Sea。　The　main　gate　of　a　high　wall　opened　mysteriously；　apparently　pulled　by　someone　unseen；　and　the　
　chauffeur　drove　up　a　neat　fir…lined　drive　without　ceremony　and　braked　at　a　flight　of　marble　steps。　In　the　center　of　the　stairway　a　large　archaic　statue　of　a　woman　carrying　a　child　stared　down　mutely；　greeting　Pitt　as　he　stepped　from　the　Maybach。
　He　started　to　climb　the　steps　when　he　stopped　suddenly　and　returned　to　the　car。
　〃I'm　sorry　driver；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I　didn't　catch　your　name。〃
　The　driver　looked　up；　puzzled。　〃My　name　is　Willie。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Willie。　my　friend；〃　Pitt　said　seriously；　〃I　must　tell　you　something。　Will　you　step　out　of　the　car　for　a　moment？〃
　Willie's　brows　wrinkled　but　he　shrugged　and　stepped　from　the　car；　facing　Pitt。　〃Now　Herr　Pitt；　what　do　you　wish　to　tell　me？〃
　〃I　see　you　wear　jackboots；　Willie。〃
　〃Ja；　I　wear　jackboots〃
　Pitt　flashed　his　best　used　car　salesman's　smile　〃And　jackboots　have　hobnails；　don't　they？〃
　〃Ja；　jackboots　have　hobnails。〃　said　Willie　irritably。　〃Why　do　you　waste　my　time　with　such　nonsense？　I　have　duties　to　perform。　What　is　it　you　wish　to　say？〃
　Pitt's　eyes　grew　hard。　〃My　friend；　I　felt　that　if　you　want　to　earn　your　peeping…Tom　merit　badge；　it's　my　duty　to　warn　you　that　silver…rimmed　spectacles　reflect　the　sun's　rays　and　can　easily　give　your　hiding　place　away。〃
　Willie's　face　went　blank；　and　he　started　to　say　something；　but　Pitt's　fist　slammed　into　his　mouth；　cutting　off　the　words。　The　impact　jerked　Willie's　head　up　and　back；　throwing　his　cap　in　the　air。　His　eyes　turned　dull　and　empty；　and　he　slowly　swayed　like　a　falling　leaf　to　his　knees。　He　knelt　there　looking　dazed　and　lost。　A　stream　of　bloody　mucus　dropped　from　his　broken　nose　and　splattered　over　the　lapels　of　his　uniform；　creating；　what　Pitt　thought；　a　rather　artistic　effect　against　the　gray…green　material。　Then　Willie　pitched　forward　onto　the　marble　steps　and　folded　into　an　inert　heap。
　Pitt　rubbed　the　knuckles　of　his　bruised　hand；　grinning　in　cold　satisfaction。　Then　he　turned　and　jogged　up　the　steps；　taking　three　at　a　time。　At　the　top　he　passed　through　a　stone　archway　and　found　himself　In　a　circular　courtyard　with　a　glass…like　pool　in　its　center。　The　entire　courtyard　was　encircled　by　twenty　or　more　majestic　life…sized　statues　of　helmeted　Roman　soldiers。　Their　sightless　stone　eyes　somberly　stared　at　their　white　reflections　in　the　pool　as　if　searching　for　long　forgotten　memories　of　victorious　battles　and　wars　of　glory。　The　deepening　shadows　of　evening　covered　each　figure　with　a　ghostly　cloak；　giving　Pitt　the　weird　sensation　that　at　any　second　the　stone　warriors　would　e　alive　and　lay　siege　to　the　villa。
　He　hurried　around　the　pool　and　stopped　at　a　massive　double　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　courtyard。　A　large　bronze　knocker　in　the　shape　of　a　lion's　head　hung　grotesquely　on　the　door。　Pitt　raised　the　grip；　banging　it　down　hard。　He　turned　and　glanced　at　the　courtyard　again。　The　entire　setting　reminded　him　of　a　mausoleum。　All　it　lacked；　he　thought；　were　a　few　scattered　wreaths　and　some　organ　music。
　The　door　swung　open　silently。　Pitt　peered　across　the　threshold。　Seeing　no　one；　he　hesitated　a　moment。　The　moment　turned　into　a　minute　and　the　minute　into　two。　Finally；　tiring　of　hide…and…seek；　he　braced　his　shoulders；　clenched　his　fists　and　stepped　through　the　portal　into　an　ornately　decorated　anteroom。
　Tapestries　depicting　ancient　battle　scenes　hung　from　every　wall；　their　needlework　armies　marching　in　unison　toward　battle。　A　high　dome　capped　the　room；　and　from　its　arched　apex；　came　a　soft　yellowish　light。　Pitt　glanced　around　and　saw　that　he　was　alone　so　he　sat　down　in　one　of　two　carved　marble　benches　that　adorned　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　he　lit　a　cigarette。　Time　passed；　and　soon　he　began　a　futile　search　for　an　ashtray。
　Then　silently；　with　no　warning；　a　tapestry　swung　aside；　and　an　old；　heavy…set　man　entered　the　room；　acpanied　by　an　immense　white　dog。
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　　Pitt；　mildly　stunned；　looked　warily　at　the　gigantic　German　shepherd　and　then　into　the　face　of　the　dog's　elderly　master。　The　evil　unsmiling　features；　so　familiar　on　the　late；　late　movies　on　television；　sat　entrenched　on　a　typical　round　German　face；　plete　with　the　shaven　head；　shifty　eyes　and　no　neck。　Thin　lips　pressed　tightly　together　as　though　their　owner　suffered　from　constipation。　The　body　fit　the　villainous　image　too；　heavy　set　in　a　rotund　frame　of　solid　tissue　with　no　flab。　All　that　was　missing　was　a　riding　quirt　and　the　polished　boots。　For　an　instant　Pitt　thought；　〃the　man　you　love　to　hate；　Eric　von　Stroheim；　had　returned　to　life　and　stood　ready　to　direct　a　scene　from　Greed。〃
　〃Good　evening；〃　the　old　man　said　in　a　suspicious　guttural　tone。　〃You　are；　I　believe；　the　gentleman　my　niece　invited　to　dinner？〃
　Pitt　rose；　one　eye　on　the　huge　panting　dog。　〃Yes　sir。　Major　Dirk　Pitt　at　your　service。〃
　An　expression　of　surprise　furrowed　the　brow　below　the　tight　skinned　head。　〃My　niece　led　me　to　believe　You　were　under　the　rank　of　sergeant；　and　your　military　Occupation　was　garbage　collecting。〃
　〃You　must　forgive　my　American　humor；〃　said　Pitt；　enjoying　the　other　man's　
　confusion。　〃I　hope　my　little　deception　has　caused　you　no　inconvenience。〃
　〃No；　a　little　concern　perhaps；　but　no　inconvenience。〃　The　old　German　extended　his　hand　and　studied　Pitt　closely。　〃It　is　an　honor　to　meet　you；　Major。　I　am　Bruno　von　Till。〃
　Pitt　clasped　the　outstretched　hand　and　returned　the　stare。　〃The　honor　is　mine；　sir。〃
　Von　Till　lifted　a　tapestry；　revealing　a　doorway。　〃Please　e　this　way；　Major。　You　must　join　me　for　a　drink　while　we　wait　for　Teri　to　finish　dressing。〃
　Pitt　followed　the　flat　form　and　the　white　hound　down　a　dark　hallway　that　led　into　a　large　cavernous　study。　The　ceiling　arched　at　least　thirty　feet　high　and　was　supported　by　several　fluted　ionic　column　shafts。　The　furniture；　classic　in　its　simplicity；　sparsely　dotted　the　floor　and　lent　an　air　of　grace　to　the　imposing　chamber。　A　cart　was　already　laid　with　unusual　Greek　hors　d'oeuvres；　and　a　recessed　alcove　of　one　wall　housed　a　pletely　equipped　bar。　The　only　item　of　decor；　Pitt　noted；　that　seemed　out　of　place　was　a　model　of　a　German　submarine；　resting　on　a　shelf　above　the　bar。
　Von　Till　motioned　Pitt　to　sit　down。　〃What　will　be　your　pleasure；　Major？〃
　〃Scotch　rocks　would　be　fine；〃　replied　Pitt；　leaning　back　in　an　armless　couch。　〃Your　villa　is　most　impressive。　It　must　have　an　interesting　history。〃
　〃Yes；　it　was　originally　built　by　the　Romans　in　138　B。C。　as　a　temple　to　Minerva；　their　goddess　of　wisdom。　I　purchased　the　ruins　shortly　after　the　First　World　War　and　rebuilt　it　into　what　you　see　today。〃　He　handed　Pitt　a　glass。　〃Shall　we　drink　a　toast？〃
　〃To　whom　or　what　shall　we　drink　to？〃
　Von　Till　smiled。　〃You　may　have　the　honor；　Major。　Beautiful　women。　。　。　riches。。　。　a　long　life。　Perhaps　to　the　President　of　your　country。　The　choice　is　yours。〃
　Pitt　took　a　deep　breath。　〃In　that　case　I　propose　a　toast　to　the　courage　and　flying　skill　of　Kurt　Heibert；　The　Hawk　of　Macedonia。〃
　Von　Till's　face　went　blank。　He　slowly　eased　Into　a　chair　and　toyed　with　his　drink。〃　You　are　a　very　unusual　man；　Major。　You　pass　yourself　off　as　a　garbage　collector。　You　e　to　my　villa　and　assault　my　chauffeur；　and　then　you　astound　me　further　by　proposing　a　toast　to　my　old　flying　rade；　Kurt。〃　He　threw　a　sly　grin　over　his　drink　at　Pitt。　〃However；　your　mo