cc.themediterraneancaper2-第24部分

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is　feet　dug　firmly　into　the　coarse　grained　wood　of　the　floor；　he　thrust　his　head　and　shoulders　like　a　battering　ram；　backed　with　every　driving　ounce　of　power　his　muscular　legs　and　one　hundred　and　ninety　pounds　could　muster。　At　the　instant　before　impact；　he　drove　upward；　catching　Darius　in　the　unprotected　stomach　just　above　the　beltline。　It　was　like　running　at　full　speed　into　a　brick　wall；　and　Pitt　gasped　at　the　shock：　it　felt　as　if　his　neck　was　broken。
　In　football　terminology　it　was　called　a　running　block；　a　vicious；　maiming　block；　and　it　would　have　put　most　unprepared　men　in　a　hospital　bed：　all　others　it　would　have　left　on　the　ground　in　momentary　stunned　helplessness…all　others；　that　is；　except　Darius。　The　giant　merely　grunted；　doubled　over　slightly　from　the　force　of　the　blow；　and　grabbed　Pitt　by　the　biceps；　lifting　him　off　the　floor。
　Pitt　went　numb。　The　shock　and　the　pain　that　erupted　from　his　arms　and　neck　gave　way　to　utter　surprise　that　any　man　could　not　only　take　such　a　charge　and　remain　standing　but　shake　it　off　like　a　love　tap。　Darius　pushed　him　against　the　wall；　slowly　bending　Pitt's　body；　like　a　vertical　pretzel；　around　an　upright　support　post。　The　pain　really　began　to　e　now。　Pitt　clenched　his　teeth　and　stared　into　Darius's　expressionless　face；　only　a　few　inches　away。　His　spine　felt　as　if　it　would　snap　at　any　second。　His　vision　began　to　fade。
　Darius　just　stood　there；　eyes　gleaming；　and　increased　the　pressure。
　Suddenly　the　pressure　stopped　and　Pitt　dimly　perceived　Darius　staring　back；　his　lips　working；　fighting　for　breath。　Mutely　Darius　mouthed　an　agonized　groan　and　sank　to　his　knees；　weaving　silently　from　side　to　side。
　Giordino；　blocked　by　Pitt's　frontal　assault；　was　forced　to　stand　by　helplessly　till　Darius　swung　sideways；　pinning　Pitt　to　the　wall。　Then；　without　hesitation；　he　hurled　himself　across　the　room；　his　legs　jackknifing　open；　his　feet　imbedded　in　Darius'　kidneys。　He　braced　himself；　half　expecting　the　giant's　body　to　absorb　most　of　the　force　from　the　violent　blow。　It　didn't　work　out　that　way。　It　was　if　a　handball　had　struck　a　backstop：
　Giordino　rebounded　off　Darius　with　a　tooth　loosening　jolt　and　crashed　jarringly　to　the　floor；　badly　stunned。　For　a　moment　he　lay　quite　still；　then　dazedly　he　began　struggling　to　his　hands　and　knees；　shaking　his　bead　back　and　forth　to　clear　the　waves　of　blackness　that　threatened　to　engulf　his　conscious　mind。
　It　was　too　late。　Darius　was　the　first　to　recover；　triumph　etched　in　every　scar　of　his　ugly　face。　He　lunged　at　Giordino；　the　great　mass　of　his　weight　crushing　the　smaller　man　beneath　him。　There　was　an　evil　grin　on　Darius'　face　now；　a　sadistic　sign　of　the　violence　yet　to　e。　Iron　hands　clasped　together；　fingers　interlocking；　around　Giordino's　head　and　squeezed…squeezed　with　the　unrelenting　pressure　of　a　closing　vise。
　For　what　seemed　like　unending　seconds　Giordino　lay　inert；　fighting　off　the　shooting　pain　that　burst　in　his　skull　from　the　crushing　palms。　Then　he　stirred；　slowly　raised　his　hands　and　grabbed　Darius　around　the　thumbs　and　pulled　downward。　For　his　size　Giordino　was　strong　as　an　ox；　but　he　was　no　match　for　the　man　who　towered　above　him。　Darius；　seemingly　oblivious　to　the　bone　twisting　pull；　hunched　his　shoulders　and　exerted　an　even　greater　effort。
　Pitt　was　still　on　his　feet；　but　just　barely。　His　back　was　a　spreading　sea　of　pain　that　flowed　to　every　part　of　his　body。　Numbly　he　stared　at　the　murderous　scene　on　the　floor。　Move　you　stupid　bastard；　he　screamed　to　himself；　move　fast。　He　clutched　the　wall　with　both　hands；　preparing　to　launch　himself　at　Darius。　Something　gave　behind　him；　and　he　swung　around；　new　hope　ablaze　in　his　eyes。
　A　wall　plank　had　torn　loose　from　the　support　post　and　was　dangling　at　a　crazy　angle；　one　end　still　held　by　rusty　nails。　Frantically　he　jerked　at　it；　first　one　way　then　the　other；　until　metal　fatigue　broke　the　nails　and　the　board；　about　four　feet　long　and　an　inch　in　thickness；　tore　free　from　the　post。　God；　if　only　it　wasn't　too　late。
　Pitt　raised　the　board　above　his　head　and；　drawing　on　the　last　of　his　ebbing　strength；　brought　it　down　on　the　back　of　Darius'　neck。
　Pitt　would　never　again　forget　the　shock　of　hopelessness　and　despair　that　flooded　through　his　mind　at　that　moment　as　the　rotted　plank　shattered　with　all　the　harmless　force　of　a　piece　of　peanut　brittle　around　the　giant's　shoulders。　Without　turning；　Darius　let　loose　of　Giordino's　temples；　giving　his　victim　a　brief　respite；　and　struck　Pitt　with　a　sweeping　backhand　blow　that　caught　him　in　the　stomach　and　sent　him　reeling　across　the　room　to　fall　limply　against　the　doorway　and　melt　slowly　down　to　the　floor。

　Somehow；　clutching　the　door　knob；　Pitt　pulled　himself　to　his　feet　and　stood　there　swaying　drunkenly；　conscious　of　nothing；　not　even　the　pain；　the　blood　that　began　to　seep　through　the　bandages　onto　his　shirt；　and　Giordino's　face；　now　turning　blue　under　the　tremendous　hands。　One　more　try；　he　told　himself；　knowing　it　would　be　his　last。　Pitt's　mind　slowed　down。　The　forgotten　words　of　a　marine　drill　sergeant；　he　once　met　in　a　Honolulu。　bar；　returned　and　pounded　into　his　brain。　〃The　biggest；　toughest；　meanest　sonovabitch　in　the　world　will　always　go　down；　and　go　down　fast；　from　a　good　swift　kick　in　the　balls。〃
　Weakly；　he　staggered　behind　the　crouching　Darius；　who　was　too　intent　on　killing　Giordino　to　notice　him。
　Pitt　aimed　and　kicked　Darius　between　the　legs。　His　toe　collided　with　bone　and　something　that　was　rubbery　and　soft。　Darius　released　Giordini's　head　and　threw　his　monstrous　hands　upward；　fingers　clawing　at　the　air。　Then　he　rolled　over　on　his　side；　twisting　about　the　floor　in　silent　agony。
　〃Wele　to　the　land　of　the　walking　dead；〃　Pitt　said；　lifting　Giordino　to　a　sitting　position。
　〃Did　we　win？〃　Giordino　asked　in　a　whisper。
　〃Just　barely。　How's　your　head？〃
　〃I　won't　know　till　I　look　for　it。〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃It's　still　attached　to　your　neck。〃
　Giordino　gently　probed　his　hairline　between　his　fingers。　〃Christ；　my　skull　feels　like　it　has　more　cracks　than　a　broken　windshield。〃
　Pitt　cast　a　wary　look　at　Darius。　The　giant；　ashen　faced　and　breathing　heavily；　'was　stretched　out　full　length　on　the　dusty　floor；　both　hands　clutched　over　his　crotch。
　〃The　party's　over；〃　Pitt　said；　helping　Giordino　to　his　feet。　〃Let's　disappear　before　Frankenstein　recovers。〃
　Suddenly；　the　ominous　click；　the　hollow　thud　of　the　door　flung　open　against　its　stop；　froze　Pitt　and　Giordino　in　their　tracks。　They　had　no　warning；　not　even　a　moment　to　brace　themselves；　nothing　except　the　knowledge　that　time　had　run　out　and　they　could　fight　no　more。
　Then　a　tall；　thin　man　with　large　sad　eyes　sauntered　easily　into　the　room；　one　hand　shoved　casually　into　the　pants　pocket　of　an　expensive　ivy…league　suit。
　He　stared　at　Pitt　pensively　for　a　long　moment　over　the　bowl　of　a　long…stemmed　pipe；　gripped　tenaciously　between　unmonly　even　teeth。　Like　an　account　executive　who　just　stepped　out　of　an　advertising　agency；　he　looked　suave；　neat　and　citified。　His　free　hand；　in　a　practiced　gesture；　reached　up　and　removed　the　pipe。
　〃Sorry　to　invade　your　privacy；　gentlemen。　I'm　Inspector　Zacynthus。〃
　　12
　　Zacynthus　was　hardly　what　Pitt　had　expected。　There　could　be　no　doubt　about　it；　the　slurred　accent；　the　neatly　styled　hair；　the　casual　introduction：　Zacynthus　was　an　American。
　Ten　seconds；　each　spent　scrutinizing　every　detail　of　Pitt　and　Giordino；　elapsed　before　Zacbynthus　slowly　turned　and　looked　down　at　the　moaning　Darius。　Zacynthus'　face　seemed　glacial　with　elaborate　indifference；　but　the　tone　of　his　voice　betrayed　bewilderment。
　〃Remarkable；　truly　remarkable。　I　didn't　think　it　was　possible。〃　He　looked　at　Pitt　and　Giordino　again；　this　time　with　mixed　doubt　and　admiration　written　in　his　eyes。　〃For　a　highly　trained　professional　to　even　lay　a　hand　on　Darius　is　considered　a　great　acplishment；　but　for　a　pair　of　sad　looking　underdogs　like　you　to　wipe　the　floor　with　him　is　nothing　short　of　miraculous。　Your　names；　my　friends？〃
　A　devilish　glint　flashed　in　Pitt's　green　eyes。　〃My　little　panion　is　David；　and　I'm　Jack　the　Giant　Killer。〃
　Zacynthus　smiled　a　tired　smile。　〃The　day　is　long　and　hot；　and　you've　incapacitated　one　of　my　best　men。　Please　don't　pound　my　misery　with　sick　humor。〃
　〃In　that　case；　Dirk；〃　Giordino　murmured　slyly。　〃Tell　him　the　one　about　the　nymphomaniac　and　the　guitar　player。〃
　〃e　now；〃　Zacynthus　said；　as　if　talking　to　children。　〃I　have　no　time　to　waste　on　such　drivel　information　if　you　please！　We'll　begin　with　your　correct　names。〃
　〃Screw　you；〃　Pitt　snapped　angrily。　〃We　didn't　beg　to　be　dragged　here　by　that　ape　who　calls　himself　Zeno；　and　we　didn't　ask　to　be　pushed　around　by　Earthquake　MaGoon　there　on　the　floor。　We've　done　nothing　illegal　immoral　perhaps；　but　not　illegal。　if　you　hope　to　get　any　answers　from　us；　I　suggest　you　supply　a　few　yourself。〃
　Zacynthus　stared　at　Pitt。　his　lips　pressed　tightly　together。　〃Your　arrogance　aroused　my　professional　curiosity；　he　said　tartly；　During　the　years　since　I　chose　investigation　as　my　life's　work　I've　confronted　scores　of　shrewd　and　dangerous　felons。　A　few　have　spit　in　my　face　and　threatened　revenge；　some　stood　immovable　and　silent；　still　others　begged　on　their　knees　for　mercy。　But　you；　my　bedraggled　friend；　have　to　be　different〃　He　waved　his　pipe　accusingly　at　Pitt。　〃By　God；　it's　classic；　truly　classic。　I　look　forward　to　matching　my　wits　against　yours　at　the　interrogation。〃
　He　broke　off　as　Zeno　stepped　into　the　room。　The　Greek　started　to　say　something；　but　his　mouth　hung　open　and　his　great　moustache　appeared　to　droop　in　astonishment　when　he　spied　Darius；　now　sitting　up　in　a　tight　ball　〃Great　thunderbolts　of　Zeus；　my　inspector；　what　has　happened？〃
　〃You　should　have　warned　Darius　to　be　more　careful。〃
　〃But　I　did　warn　him；〃　Zeno　explained　apologetically。　〃Even　then；　for　Darius　to　be　overpowered；　I　did　not　think　it　possible。〃
　〃My　words　exactly。〃　Zacynthus　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe。　〃See　what　you　can　do　for　our　poor　friend。　I'm　going　to　take　these　men　to　my　office　and　determine　if　they're　as　cunning　with　words　as　they　are　with　their　hands　and　feet。〃
　〃After　what　they　did　here；　do　you　think　it　wise；　my　inspector；　to　be　alone　with　them？〃
　〃I　think　they　realize　they　have　nothing　to　gain　by　further　physic