cc.themediterraneancaper2-第16部分

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　The　early　morning　turned　cool；　and　dew　was　beginning　to　dampen　the　forest　trimmed　meadows　when　at　last　Pitt　reached　the　outskirts　of　Liminas。　Liminas　was　an　average　Greek　coastal　village；　a　unique　blend　of　modern　construction　built　on　the　site　of　an　ancient　city；　whose　ruins　rise　hero　and　there　among　the　more　recent　tile…roofed　houses。　On　the　shoreline；　jutting　into　the　town　with　a　jagged　half…moon　curve；　a　harbor　full　of　flat…beamed　fishing　boats　offered　a　picturesque　travel　folder　scene　with　the　smells　of　salt　air；　fish　and　diesel　oil　thrown　in。　The　wooden　hulled　boats　lay　dead　along　the　beach　like　a　pack　of　beached　whales；　their　masts　carefully　stowed　along　the　gunnels　and　their　anchor　ropes　stretched　loosely　to　seaward。　In　rows；　behind　the　white　sand　beach；　high　vertical　poles　stood；　supporting　long　fences　of　stinking　brown　fish　nets。　And；　behind　those　again　was　the　main　street　of　the　village；　whose　shuttered　little　doors　and　windows　offered　no　sign　of　life　to　the　bedraggled　Pitt　and　his　plodding　four…legged　transportation。　The　white　plastered　houses　with　their　tiny　balconies　made　a　restful　real…life　painting　in　the　moonlight；　a　painting　that　had　little　bearing　on　the　events　which　had　brought　Pitt　to　the　village。
　At　a　narrow　intersection　Pitt　slid　off　the　donkey　and　tied　it　to　a　mailbox。　Then　he　took　an　American　ten　dollar　bill　from　his　wallet　and　wrapped　it　into　the　halter。
　〃Thanks　for　the　lift；　Athena；　and　keep　the　change。〃
　He　patted　the　animal　affectionately　on　the　soft　rounded　nose　and；　hitching　up　his　disreputable　looking　pants；　walked　unsteadily　down　the　street　toward　the　beach。
　Pitt　looked　for　the　tell…tale　lines　of　a　telephone；　but　could　see　none。　There　were　no　cars　or　other　vehicles　parked　along　the　streets　either；　only　a　bicycle；　but　he　was　too　physically　drained　to　consider　pedaling　the　seven　miles　back　to　Brady　Field。　A　lot　of　good　it　would　do；　he　thought；　even　if　he　could　find　a　phone　or　someone　who　owned　a　car；　he　couldn't　speak　Greek。
　The　glowing　arms　and　numbers　on　the　Omega　said　3：59。　Another　hot　dawn　would　hit　the　island　in　forty…one　minutes。　Forty…one　minutes　to　warn　Gunn　and　the　men　on　the　First　Attempt。　Pitt　looked　across　the　sea；　following　the　inward　curve　of　the　Island。　If　it　was　seven　miles　to　Brady　Field　by　land；　then　it　was　only　four　miles　in　a　direct　line　across　the　water　to　the　ship。　There　was　no　time　left　to　loiter；　he　would　simply　have　to　steal　a　boat。　Why　not？　he　reasoned。　If　he　could　kidnap　a　donkey　he　could　pirate　a　boat。
　Within　a　few　minutes　he　found　a　well…used　dory　with　a　high　flaring　Carvel　hull　and　a　rust…coated　one　cylinder　gasoline　engine。　Fumbling　in　the　gloom　his　fingers　found　the　throttle　linkage　and　the　ignition　switch。：
　The　flywheel　was　massive　and　it　was　all　Pitt　could　do　to　crank　it　over。　Every　aching　muscle　strained　at　each　silent　revolution。　Sweat　broke　from　his　forehead　and　dripped　on　the　engine。　His　head　throbbed　and　blurriness　crept　into　his　vision。　Time　after　time　he　pulled　the　crank　handle　rubbing　the　flesh　from　his　hands。　It　seemed　hopeless；　the　engine　would　not　fire。
　If　the　need　for　speed　had　been　vital　before；　it　was　desperate　now。　Precious　minutes　were　running　down　the　drain　as　he　attempted　to　get　the　balky　engine　into　action。　Pitt　reached　deep；　drawing　from　the　last　untapped　reservoir　of　his　strength。　Clenching　his　teeth　he　gave　a　mighty　pull　the　engine　popped　briefly　and　died。　He　pulled　the　crank　again　and　slumped　exhausted　into　the　oily　bilge　water。　The　engine　coughed　once；　then　twice；　wheezed；　coughed　again；　caught　and　settled　down　to　a　popping　thump　as　the　solitary　piston　began　to　ram　up　and　down　inside　its　ring…worn　sleeve。　Too　tired　to　rise；　Pitt　leaned　over　and　cut　the　line　with　the　faithful　paring。
　knife　and　kicked　the　gear　lever　in　reverse。　The　shabby　little　boat；　its　paint　peeling　down　the　hull　in　scaly　sheets；　chugged　backward　into　the　harbor；　circled　in　a　hundred　and　eighty　degree　arc　past　the　old　Roman　breakwater　and　headed　out　to　sea。
　Pitt　jammed　the　throttle　full　against　its　stop　as　the　dory　reeled　through　the　low　swells；　making　perhaps　a　top　speed　of　seven　knots。　He　hauled　himself　erect　in　the　stern　seat；　clutching　the　tiller　tightly　between　his　hands；　bleeding　from　the　harsh　rasping　caused　by　the　rusty　crank　handle。
　A　half　hour　passed；　an　interminable　lapse　of　time　under　a　cloudless　sky　and　a　brightening　east　horizon；　and　still　the　boat　chugged　steadily　around　the　island。　The　progress　seemed　agonizingly　slow　to　Pitt。　But　every　foot　gained　was　a　foot　closer　to　the　First　Attempt。　He　caught　himself　dozing　off　from　time　to　time；　head　dropping　on　his　chest；　then　reawakening　with　a　start。　He　urged　his　hazy　mind　on；　driving　it　with　a　frenzy　he　didn't　know　he　possessed。
　Then　his　dulled　eyes　saw　it；　a　low；　gray　shape；　resting　beyond　the　next　small　point　of　land；　just　over　a　mile　away。　He　recognized　the　two　white；　thirty…two　point　lights　on　bow　and　stern　that　signified　a　ship　at　anchor。　The　probing　rays　of　the　sun　were　rapidly　stretching　into　the　sky；　clearly　silhouetting　the　First　Attempt　against　the　eastern　horizon；　first　the　superstructure；　then　the　crane　and　radar　mast；　then　the　indiscriminate　piles　of　scientific　equipment　scattered　around　the　deck。
　Pitt　talked　to　the　noisy　old　engine；　begging　it　for　more　revolutions。　The　lone　cylinder　snapped；　crackled　and　popped　in　reply；　turning　the　warped　and　bent　propeller　shaft　until　it　rumbled　ominously　inside　worn　and　exhausted　bearings。　The　race　against　the　dawn　was　going　to　be　close。
　The　hot；　orange　ball　of　the　sun　was　barely　poking　its　dome　over　the　watery　horizon　when　Pitt　abruptly　slowed　the　little　engine；　tardily　jammed　the　throttle　in　reverse　and　bored　clumsily　into　the　side　of　the　First　Attempt。
　〃Hello　the　ship？〃　Pitt　shouted　weakly；　too　fatigued　to　move。
　〃You　dumb　ass；〃　returned　an　irate　voice。　〃Why　don't　you　watch　where　you're　going？〃　A　shadowed　face　appeared　over　the　rail　and　peered　down　at　the　dory；　bumping　against　the　big　ship's　hull。　〃Next　time　let　us　know　when　you're　ing　so　we　can　paint　a　target　on　the　side。〃
　In　spite　of　the　tension　and　fiery　agony　of　his　wounds；　Pitt　could　not　help　
　smiling。　〃It's　too　early　in　the　morning　for　jokes。　Can　the　wisecracks　and　get　down　here　and　give　me　a　hand。〃
　〃Why　should　I？〃　said　the　lookout；　straining　his　eyes　in　the　early　shadows。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　〃I'm　Pitt　and　I'm　injured。　Now　stop　screwing　around　and　hurry。〃
　〃Is　it　really　you；　Major？〃　the　lookout　asked　hesitantly。
　〃What　the　Goddamn　hell　do　you　want？'　snapped　Pitt；　〃a　birth　certificate？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃　The　lookout　vanished　behind　the　railing　and　a　moment　later　reappeared　on　the　boarding　ladder　with　a　boathook　in　one　hand。　He　caught　the　dory　on　the　aft　port　gunnel　and　pulled　it　to　the　ladder。　Securing　a　line　to　the　little　boat's　stern；　he　leaped　on　board；　caught　his　foot　on　a　cleat　and　fell　sprawling　on　top　of　Pitt。
　Pitt　clamped　his　eyes　shut。　grunting　from　the　impact　of　the　other　man's　weight　When　he　opened　them　again　he　found　himself　staring　into　the　yellow　beard　of　Ken　Knight。
　Knight　started　to　say　something；　but　then　he　more　clearly　saw　the　bloody　and　ragged　body　beneath　him。　The　sight　of　Pitt's　condition　made　the　young　scientist　wince　and　his　face　turned　ashen。　He　sat　rock…bound　in　unbelieving　shock。
　Pitt's　lips　twisted　into　a　bemused　grin。　〃Don't　waste　time　sitting　there　like　a　broken　crutch。　Help　me　into　mander　Gunn's　cabin。〃
　〃My　God；　my　God；〃　Knight　murmured；　shaking　his　head　dazedly　and　slowly　from　side　to　side。　〃What　in　the　name　of　God　happened？〃
　〃Later；〃　Pitt　snapped。　〃When　there's　time。〃　He　swayed　forward　onto　his　hands。　〃Help　me　you　dumb　bastard　before　it's　too　late。〃　There　was　a　desperation；　a　burning　fierceness　in　Pitt's　voice　that　startled　Knight　into　action。
　Knight　half　carried；　half　dragged　Pitt　up　the　ladder　and　onto　the　deck。　He　stopped　at　Gunn's　cabin　and　kicked　at　the　door。　〃Open　up；　mander　Gunn。　It's　an　emergency。〃
　Gunn　threw　open　the　door　dressed　in　nothing　but　a　pair　of　shorts　and　his　horn…rimmed　glasses；　looking　like　a　confused　professor　who　was　just　caught　in　a　motel　room　with　the　Dean　of　the　University's　wife。　〃What's　the　meaning　。。　。〃　He　stopped　suddenly；　staring　at　the　blood…caked　apparition　supported　by　Knight　His　brown　eyes　swelled　to　Immense　proportions　behind　the　thick　lenses。　〃My　God；　Dirk；　is　that　you？　What　happened？
　Pitt　tried　to　smile　again；　but　it　was　only　a　slight　curl　of　his　upper　lip。　〃I'm　a　dropout　from　hell！〃　His　tone　was　low；　then　it　came　on　strongly。　〃Do　you　have　any　meteorological　equipment　on　board？〃
　Gunn　didn't　answer。　Instead；　he　ordered　Knight　to　get　the　ship's　doctor。　Then　the　bespectacled　little　skipper　led　Pitt　into　the　cabin　and　gently　lowered　him　on　the　bunk。　〃Just　rest　easy；　Dirk。　We'll　have　you　patched　up　in　no　time。〃
　〃That's　just　it；　Rudi；　there　is　no　time；〃　Pitt　said；　grasping　Gunn's　wrists　with　his　ripped　hands。　〃Do　you　have　any　meteorological　equipment　on　board？〃　he　repeated　urgently。
　Gunn　looked　down　at　Pitt；　his　eyes　reflecting　bewilderment。　〃Yes；　we　have　instruments　to　record　various　meteorological　data。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　Pitt's　hands　released　their　grip　and　fell　away　from　Gunn's　wrists。　A　smug　cold　smile　gripped　his　eyes　and　spread　his　lips　as　he　struggled　up　on　his　elbows。　〃This　ship　Is　going　to　be　attacked　any　minute　by　the　same　aircraft　that　raided　Brady　Field。〃
　〃You　must　be　delirious；〃　Gunn　said；　moving　for　ward　to　help　Pitt　sit　up。
　〃My　body　may　look　like　hell；　but　my　mind　at　this　minute　is　sharper　than　yours；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Now　listen；　and　listen　closely。　Here's　what　has　to　be　done。〃
　　　It　was　the　lookout　perched　on　the　great　A…frame　crane；　that　first　spotted　the　little　yellow　plane　against　its　vast　blue　background。　Then　Pitt　and　Gunn　saw　it　too；　not　more　than　two　miles　away；　flying　at　eight　hundred　feet。　They　should　have　seen　it　sooner；　but　it　was　ing　at　the　First　Attempt　straight　out　of　the　eye　of　the　sun。
　〃He's　ten　minutes　late；〃　Pitt　grunted；　holding　an　arm　aloft　for　a　white　goateed　doctor　who　worked　quickly　and　skillfully　at　bandaging　his　chest。
　The　elderly　physician；　oblivious　to　Pitt's　movements　on　the：　ship's　bridge；　cleaned　and　dressed　the　raw　cuts　without　bothering　to　turn　and　look　at　the　approaching　plane。　He　tied　the　final　knot　ti