cc.themediterraneancaper2-第30部分

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　〃Not　yet。〃　Giordino　trained　the　binoculars　on　von　Till's　villa。　〃He　and　Zeno　took　a　platoon　of　the　local　gendarmerie　and　staked　out　von　Till's　baronial　estate。
　Darius　stayed　on　the　radio　at　the　warehouse；　traversing　wave　lengths　in　case　there　was　any　transmission　between　the　shore　and　ship。〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　thorough　effort；　but　unfortunately　a　waste　of　time。〃　Pitt　toweled　his　black　hair；　then　ran　a　b　through　it。　〃Where　can　a　man　find　a　drink　and　a　cigarette　around　here？〃
　Giordino　nodded　toward　the　truck　cab。　〃I　can't　help　you　on　the　drink；　but　there's　a　pack　of　Greek　cancer　sticks　on　the　front　seat〃
　Pitt　leaned　in　the　truck　cab　and　removed　an　oval　shaped　cigarette　from　a　black　and　gold　box　of　Hellas　Specials。　He'd　never　tried　one　before　and　was　surprised　at　the　mildness。　After　his　ordeal　of　the　past　two　hours；　rolled　seaweed　would　have　tasted　good。
　〃Someone　kick　you　in　the　shins？〃　Giordino　asked　matter…of…factly。
　Pitt　exhaled　a　cloud　of　smoke　and　peered　down　at　his　leg　There　was　a　deep　red　gash　below　the　right　knee　and　blood　was　oozing　slowly　along　its　entire　length。　For　two　inches　in　every　direction　the　skin　was　a　colorful　bination　of　green；　blue　and　purple。
　〃I　had　a　bit　of　bad　luck；　a　run　in　with　a　bulkhead　door。〃
　〃I'd　better　fix　that　for　you。〃　Giordino　turned　and　pulled　an　Air　Force　issue　first　aid　kit　from　the　glove　partment。　〃A　minor　operation　like　this　is　mere　child's　play　for　Doctor　Giordino；　the　world　renowned　brain　surgeon。　I　don't　mean　to　brag；　but　I'm　rather　good　at　heart　transplants　too。〃
　Pitt　tried　to　suppress　a　laugh；　but　failed。　〃Just　make　sure　you　put　the　gauze　on　before；　not　after　the　tape。〃
　Giordino　feigned　a　pained　expression。　〃Such　a　terrible　thing　to　say。〃　The　sly　look　returned。　〃You'll　change　your　tune　when　you　get　my　bill〃
　There　was　no　choice　left　for　Pitt　except　to　shrug　in　resignation　and　place　his　bruised　leg　in　Giordino's　hands。　Nothing　more　was　said　for　the　next　few　minutes。　Pitt　sat　and　absorbed　the　silence；　gazing　at　the　sky…dyed　blue　water　and　the　shoreline　that　rested　under　the　white　sands　of　antiquity。。　The　narrow　beach　below　the　road　stretched　southward　for　six　miles　before　it　faded　into　a　thin　line　and　disappeared　behind　the　western　tip　of　the　island。　There　wasn't　a　soul　to　be　seen　anywhere　along　the　surf's　edge；　the　emptiness　possessed　all　the　mystic　allure　and　romantic　charm　so　often　pictured　on　South　Seas　travel　posters。　It　was　indeed　a　fragment　of　paradise。
　Pitt　noted　that　the　surf　was　running　at　two　feet　with　eight　second　intervals　between　crests。　The　waves　broke　low　and　at　least　one　hundred　yards　out。　Then　in　a　final　burst　of　fury；　they　surged　forward　in　majestic　Spray　plumed　rows；　only　to　slowly　dissolve　and　die　in　small　eddys　at　the　tideline。　To　a　swimmer；　the　conditions　were　perfect；　to　a　surfer；　they　were　fair；　but　to　a　diver；　the　shallow　sandy　bottom　and　the　dark　blue　water　spelled　barren　waste。　For　sheer　underwater　adventure　it　is　the　greener；　reef　strewn　waters　that　attract　the　diver；　for　it　is　there　that　the　beauty　of　sea　life　abounds。　Pitt　panned　his　eyes　a　hundred　and　eighty　degrees　and　looked　to　the　north。　Here　it　was　a　different　story。　High　craggy　cliffs；　barren　of　all　vegetation；　rose　out　of　the　sea；　their　faces　worn　and　etched　by　the　endless　onslaught　of　the　breakers。　Great　fallen　rocks　and　yawning　fissures　bore　mute　testimony　to　what　old　mother　nature　could　do　when　given　the　tools　of　her　trade　to　work　with。　There　was　one　particular　stretch　of　rugged　cliffline　that　intrigued　Pitt。
　Strangely　enough；　this　one　sector　was　not　pounded　like　the　others。　The　waters　below　the　sheer；　straight　up　and　down　rock　mass　were　calm　and　flat；　a　garden　pond　bordered　on　three　sides　by　foaming　swirling　waters。　For　a　hundred　square　yards　the　sea　was　green　and　still；　the　boiling　white　ceased　to　exist　It　seemed　unreal。
　Pitt　speculated　on　what　wonders　a　diver　might　find　there。　Only　God　alone　could　have　observed　the　ageless　formation　of　the　island；　the　ing　and　going　of　the　great　ice　ages；　the　changing　levels　of　the　ancient　sea。　Maybe；　he　thought；　just　maybe　the　mountainous　breakers　carved　their　fury　into　the　sides　of　these　cliffs；　creating　an　underwater　pockmarked　surface　of　sea　caves。
　〃There　you　are；〃　Giordino　said　in　a　humorous　tone。　〃Another　triumph　for　medical　science　by　the　great；　Giordino。〃　Pitt　wasn't　fooled　for　a　second　by　the　outward　display　of　exaggerated　vanity。　Giordino's　ic　dialogue　was　forever　used　to　camouflage　his　genuine　concern　for　Pitt。　Giordino　stood　up；　running　his　eyes；　over　Pitt's　body；　and　shook　his　head　in　mild　wonder。　〃With　all　those　bandages　on　your　nose；　chest　and　leg　you're　beginning　to　look　like　a　spare　tire　out　of　a　nineteen　thirties；　depression　era　ic　strip。〃
　〃You're　right。〃　Pitt　took　a　few　steps　to　relieve　increasing　stiffness　in　his　leg。　〃I　feel　more　like　a　bum　tire　on　a　tugboat〃
　〃Here　es　Zac；〃　Giordino　said　pointing。　Pitt　twisted　and　looked　in　the　direction　of　Giordino's　ex　tended　finger。
　The　black　Mercedes　was　approaching　down　a　trail　from　the　mountains；　pulling　a　cloud　of　brown　dust　behind　its　rear　bumper。　A　quarter　of　a　mile　away　swung　onto　the　paved　coastal　road；　dropping　the　dust　cloud；　and　soon　Pitt　could　hear　the　steady　purr　of　the　diesel　engine　above　the　beat　from　the　surf　below。　The　car　rolled　to　a　stop　beside　the　truck　and　Zacynthus　and　Zeno　unreeled　from　the　front　seat。　They　were　followed　by　Darius；　who　made　no　attempt　to　disguise　a　painful　limp。　Zacynthus　was　dressed　in　old　faded　army　fatigues；　and　his　eyes　were　tired　and　bloodshot　He　gave　the　impression　of　a　man　who　had　spent　a　dismal　and　sleepless　night。　Pitt　grinned　sympathetically　at　him。
　〃Well　Zac；　how　did　it　go？　See　anything　interesting？〃
　Zacynthus　didn't　seem　to　hear　him。　He　wearily　pulled　his　pipe　from　a　pocket；　filled　the　bowl　and　lit　it。　Then　he　sank　slowly　to　the　ground；　stretching　out　and　leaning　on　one　elbow。
　〃The　bastards；　the　dirty　cunning　bastards；〃　he　swore　bitterly。　〃We　spent　the　whole　night　straining　our　eyes　and　sneaking　around　trees　and　boulders；　with　mosquitoes　attacking　us　at　every　turn。　And　what　did　we　find？〃　He　took　a　deep　breath　to　answer　his　own　question；　but　Pitt　beat　him　to　it。
　〃You　found　nothing；　you　saw　nothing　and　you　heard　nothing。〃
　Zacynthus　managed　a　faint　smile。　〃Does　it　show　that　much？〃
　〃It　shows；〃　Pitt　replied　briefly。
　〃This　whole　business　is　exceedingly　exasperating。〃　Zacynthus　accented　his　words　by　pounding　his　fist　into　the　soft　earth。
　〃Exceedingly　exasperating？〃　Pitt　echoed。　〃Is　that　the　best　you　can　do？〃
　Zacynthus　sat　up　and　shrugged　his　shoulders　helplessly。　〃I've　just　about　reached　the　end　of　my　rope。　I　feel　as　though　I've　just　clawed　my　way　up　a　steep　mountain；　only　to　find　the　peak　enshrouded　in　fog。　Possibly　you　understand；　I　don't　know；　but　I've　dedicated　my　life　to　tracking　down　scum　like　von　Till。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment；　then　went　on　very　quietly。　〃I've　never　failed　to　crack　a　case。　I　can't　give　up　now。　That　ship　must　be　stopped；　and　yet；　thanks　to　our　lily　white　code　of　justice；　it　can't　be　stopped。　God；　can　you　imagine
　what　will　happen　if　that　cargo　of　heroin　reaches　the　States？〃
　〃I've　given　it　some　thought。〃
　〃Screw　your　code　of　justice。〃　Giordino　seemed　vexed。　〃Let　me　stick　a　limpet　mine　on　that　old　tub's　hull　and　bang；〃　he　formed　a　blast　cloud　with　his　hands。　〃The　fish　inherit　the　drugs。〃
　Zacynthus　nodded　slowly。　〃You　have　a　direct　approach；　but　a…〃
　〃Simple　mind；〃　Pitt　interrupted　again。　He　grinned　at　Giordino's　scornful　glance。
　〃Believe　me；　I　would　much　prefer　to　see　a　hundred　schools　of　doped…up　fish　than　one　drug　crazed　school　boy。〃　Zacynthus'　voice　was　grim。　〃Destroying　that　ship　would　only　solve　the　immediate　problem；　it's　like　cutting　off　one　tentacle　of　an　octopus。　We'd　still　be　left　with　von　Till　and　his　able　gang　of　sea…going　smugglers；　not　to　mention　the　unanswered　riddle　of　his…I　am　forced　to　admit…ingenious　operation。　No；　we　must　be　patient　The　Queen　Artemisia　hasn't　docked　at　Chicago　yet　We'll　get　another　chance　at　her　Marseille。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you'll　have　any　better　luck　in　Marseille；〃　Pitt　said　doubtfully。　〃Even　if　one　of　your　phony　French　dockworkers　slips　on　board；　you　have　the　gilt…edged　Pitt　guarantee　that　he　won't　find　anything　worth　writing　home　about。〃
　〃How　would　you　know　that　for　certain？〃　Zacynthus　suddenly　looked　up；　surprised。　〃Unless。　。　。　unless。　you　somehow　searched　the　ship　yourself。〃
　〃With　him；　anything's　possible；〃　Giordino　murmured。　〃He　was　seaward　of　the　ship　when　it　anchored。　I　lost　him　through　the　night　glasses　for　almost　half　an　hour。〃
　Now　all　four　men　looked　at　Pitt　questioningly。
　Pitt　laughed　and　flipped　his　cigarette　over　the　embankment。　〃The　time　has　e；　the　walrus　said；　to　speak　of　many　things。　Gather　round　gentlemen　and　listen　to　the　cloak　and　dagger　adventures　of　Dirk　Pitt；　the　naked　cat　burglar。〃
　Pitt　finally　leaned　back　against　the　truck　and　became　silent。　For　a　long　moment　he　stared　at　the　thoughtful　faces　in　front　of　him。
　〃There　you　have　it。　As　neat　a　little　set…up　as　you　can　find。〃　He　smiled　wryly。　〃The　Queen　Artemisia　is　in　reality　nothing　but　a　false　front。　Oh　sure；　it　sails　the　briny　blue；　picking　up　and　delivering　cargo。　That's　where　any　similarity　between　a　bona　fide　cargo　freighter　and　Queen　ends。　She's　an　old　ship；　true；　but　beneath　her　steel　skin　beats　a　plete　up…to…date　centralized　control　system。　I　saw　the　same　equipment　on　an　old　ship　in　the　Pacific　just　last　year。　No　large　crew　is　required。　Six　or　seven　men　can　handle　her　easily。〃
　〃No　fuss；　no　muss；〃　Giordino　said　admiringly。
　〃Precisely；〃　Pitt　nodded。　〃Each　partment；　each　cabin　is　set　up　as　a　stage　prop。　When　the　ship　reaches　port　the　crew　materializes　from　the　wings　and　turns　into　a　cast　of　actors。〃
　〃Pardon　this　humble　man's　blind　perception；　Major。〃　The　peasant　choice　of　words　failed　to　mask　the　Oxford　accent　of　Zeno's　voice。　〃I　do　not　understand　how　the　Queen　Artemisia　can　engage　in　mercial　shipping　without　the　necessary　maintenance　during　long　voyages。〃
　'It's　like　a　historical　landmark；〃　Pitt　explained。
　〃Let's　say　a　famous　castle　where　the　fires　in　the　fireplaces　still　burn；　the　plumbing　still　works；　and　the　grounds　are　always　trimmed　and　neat。　Five　days　out　of　the　week　the　castle　is　closed；　but　on　the　weekends　it　ope