cc.themediterraneancaper2-第32部分

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he　rugged　face　beneath　the　wavy　black　hair　intense　with　concentration。　He　breathed　deeply。　drawing　in　the　salt　scented　air　of　the　Aegean；　and　he　was　lost　for　long　seconds　at　the　wonder　of　the　intoxicating　sensation。　With　effort　he　shook　his　mind　back　to　the　cold　reality　of　the　moment；　and　when　he　spoke　he　knew　there　was　something　he　had　to　do。
　〃Zac；　I　need　ten　good　men　and　an　old　seadog　who　is　familiar　with　the　waters　around　Thasos。〃
　〃Why？'　Zacynthus　asked　simply。
　〃It　stands　to　reason　that　if　von　Till　carries　out　his　smuggling　activities　from　the　villa　and　municates　with　his　ships　under　water　he　must　have　a　hidden　base　of　operations　somewhere　along　this　coastline。〃
　〃And　it　is　your　intention　to　find　it〃
　〃That's　the　general　idea；〃　Pitt　stated　flatly。　He　looked　Zacynthus　straight　in　the　face。　〃Well？〃
　Zacynthus　thoughtfully　toyed　with　his　pipe　before　answering。　〃Impossible。〃　The　voice　was　firm。　〃I　cannot　allow　it。　You're　a　talented　man；　Major。　Up　to　now　your　judgment　rang　with　practical　logic。　And　nobody　appreciates　more　than　me　the　great　help　you　have　been　to　us。　However；　I　cannot　take　any　chances　of　alarming　von　Till。　I　repeat；　the　ship　and　the　heroin　must　reach　Chicago　without　interference。〃
　〃Von　Till　is　already　alarmed。〃　Pitt　was　Very　definite。　〃He　can't　help　but　be　wise　to　you。　The　British　destroyer　and　the　Turkish　aircraft　that　shadowed　the　Queen　Artemisia　from　Ceylon　to　the　Aegean　were　a　dead　give　away　that　INTERPOL　was　on　to　the　heroin。　I　say　stop　him　now；　before　anymore　of　his　ships　load　or　unload　Illegal　cargo！〃
　〃Until　that　ship　deviates　from　its　set　course；　and　not　before；　I　insist　on　a　hands　off　policy　regarding　von　Till〃　Zacynthus　broke　off　for　a　few　seconds；　then　he　went　on　quietly。　〃You　must　understand：　Colonel　Zeno；　Captain　Darius　and　myself　are　narcotics　men。　If　we　are　to　do　our　job　efficiently　we　cannot　concern　ourselves　with　white　slavery；　stolen　gold　or　illegal　transportation　of　known　criminals。　It　sounds　cruel　and　heartless；　I　admit；　but　INTERPOL　has　other　good　men　and　departments　who　specialize　in　these　crimes。　And　they　would　say　the　same　thing　if　this　particular　ship　carried　a　cargo　that　was　under　their　jurisdiction。　No；　I'm　sorry；　we　may　lose　von　Till　in　the　end；　but　at　that　we'll　lock　up　the　biggest　illegal　drug　distributors　in　North　America；　not　to　mention；　drastically　cut　the　outside　flow　of　heroin。〃
　There　was　a　short　period　of　silence；　then　Pitt　exploded　angrily。
　〃Bull…shit！　If　you　round　up　the　heroin；　the　submarine　and　its　crew；　and　every　dope　peddler　in　the　States；　you　still　won't　stop　von　Till　The　minute　he　finds　new　buyers　he'll　be　back　with　another　boatload　of　drugs。〃　Pitt　waited　for　a　reaction。　There　was　none。
　〃You　have　no　authority　over　Giordino　and　me；〃　Pitt　continued。　〃Whatever　we　have　to　do　from　here　on　in；　we'll　do　it　without　any　cooperation　from　you。〃
　Zacynthus'　lips　were　pressed　tightly　together。　His　eyes　stared　fiercely　at　Pitt；　then　he　glanced　at　his　watch。。　〃We're　wasting　time。　I　have　only　one　hour　to　get　to　the　Kavalla　Airport　and　catch　the　morning　flight　for　Athens。〃　He　pointed　his　pipe　at　Pitt　like　a　gun。　〃I　dislike　losing　arguments　but　you　leave　me　no　alternative。　My　regrets；　Major。　Though　I　am　deeply　in　your　debt；　I　must　once　again　place　you　and　Captain　Giordino　in　custody。〃
　〃The　hell　you　will；〃　Pitt　said　coldly。　〃We're　not　going　to　oblige。〃
　〃You　will　suffer　the　indignity　of　forcible　arrest　if　you　don't〃　Zacynthus　patted　a　holstered　forty…five　automatic　that　clung　to　his　hip。
　Giordino　lazily　rose　from　the　ground　and　grabbed　Pitt　by　the　arm。　He　was　grinning　〃Don't　you　think　this　would　be　a　pretty　good　time　for　Giordino　the　Kid　to　practice　his　quick　draw？〃
　Giordino　was　wearing　a　tee　shirt　and　khaki　pants；　there　was　no　sign　of　a　tell…tale　bulge。　Pitt　was　mystified；　but　his　confidence　in　his　old　friend　was　firm。　He　looked　at　Giordino　with　a　mixture　of　hope　and　suspicion　in　his　eyes。
　〃I　doubt　if　you'd　ever　find　a　more　opportune　moment。〃
　Zacynthus　unsnapped　the　holster　flap　over　the　forty…five。　〃What　the　devil　have　you　got　up　your　sleeve　this　time？　I　must　warn　you…〃
　〃Wait。〃　The　rasping　voice　came　from　Darius。　〃If　you　please；　Inspector。〃　The　murderous　intent。　〃I　have　an　account　to　settle　with　these　two。〃
　Giordino　was　not　to　be　hurried。　He　ignored　the　threat　from　Darius　and　spoke　as　calmly　as　if　he　were　asking　Pitt　to　pass　the　potatoes。　〃My　cross　draw　is　sheer　art；　but　actually　I'm　faster　from　the　hip。　Which　would　you　like　to　see　first？〃
　〃About　now；〃　Pitt　said　more　curious　than　amused；　〃I'd　settle　for　a　fast　draw　from　the　crotch。〃
　〃Stop！　Enough！〃　Zacynthus　gestured　his　pipe　irritably。　〃I　suggest　you　be　sensible　and　cooperate。〃
　〃How　do　you　intend　to　keep　us　on　ice　for　three　weeks？〃　Pitt　asked。
　Zacynthus　shrugged。　〃The　jail　on。　the　mainland　has　excellent　acmodations　for　political　prisoners。　Colonel　Zeno　here　might　be　persuaded　to　use　his　influence　and　get　you　a　cell　overlooking　the…〃　Zacynthus'　mouth　abruptly　dropped　open　in　midsentence；　his　brown　eyes　narrowed　in　helpless　rage　and　he　froze　as　immobile　
　as　a　City　park　statue。
　A　tiny　gun；　no　larger　than　an　ordinary　cap　pistol；　had　suddenly　materialized　in　Giordino's　hand；　the　pencil　thin　muzzle　pointed　directly　at　the　spot　between　Zacynthus'　eyebrows。　Even　Pitt　was　caught　off　guard。　Pure　logic　told　him　that　Giordino　had　been　bluffing；　the　last　thing　he　or　anyone　else　expected　was　for　Giordino　to　produce　an　honest…to…god　firearm。
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　　A　gun；　no　matter　if　it　looks　small　and　insignificant　or　massive　and　downright　mean；　is　always　a　perfect　attention　getter。　To　say　that　Giordino　was　the　center　of　attraction　would　be　a　classic　understatement　He　played　the　role　to　the　hilt；　the　automatic　held　at　full　arm's　length；　a　grim　smile　on　the　face。　If　academy　awards　were　given　for　sheer　bravado；　'he'd　have　won　at　least　three。
　For　a　long　moment　no　one　spoke。　Then　finally　Zeno　rammed　a　fist　into　one　hand。　A　wane　smile　etched　his　swarthy　face。　〃It　was　I　who　said　you　two　men　were　cunning　and　dangerous；　and　yet；　I　am　foolish　enough　to　keep　offering　you　new　opportunities　to　prove　it。〃
　〃We　don't　relish　these　embarrassing　little　scenes　any　more　than　you　do；〃　Pitt　said　equably。　〃Now　if　you　gentlemen　will　excuse　us；　we'll　close　up　shop　and　go　home。〃
　〃No　sense　getting　shot　in　the　back。〃　Giordino　Waved　the　baby　automatic　negligently　at　the　three　narcotics　officers。　〃We'd　better　borrow　their　guns　before　We　exit　stage　right。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Pitt　said。　〃No　one　is　going　to　pull　any　triggers。〃　He　looked　into　Zacythus'　eyes；　then　into　Zeno's…and　found　them　thoughtful　and　speculative。　〃It's　really　a　stand　off。　You're　tempted；　but　you　won't　shoot　us　from　behind　because　you're　all　honorable　men。　Besides；　it　wouldn't　be　practical；　the　investigation　of　our　deaths　would　only　prove　to　be　a　messy　affair。　Von　Till　would　love　that。　On　the　other　hand；　you　know　damn　well　we　won't　shoot　back　because　we　don't　have　nearly　enough　at　stake　to　kill　any　one　of　you。
　〃Patience；　I　ask　nothing　but　patience　on　your　parts
　for　the　next　ten　hours。　I　promise　you　Zac；　we　will　meet　again　before　sunset；　and　on　much　friendlier　terms。〃
　Pitt's　voice　seemed　strangely　prophetic；　and　the　speculative　look　in　Zacynthus'　eyes　changed　to　blank　puzzlement。
　Pitt　was　briefly　tempted　to　prolong　the　game　of　cat　and　mouse；　then　he　thought　better　of　it　Zacynthus　and　Zeno　appeared　resigned　to　defeat；　but　not　Darius。　The　huge　brute　moved　two　steps　forward；　his　face　was
　flushed　with　anger　and　his　fists　opened　and　closed　like　the　shells　of　two　giant　South　Pacific　clams。　It　was　clearly　the　time　to　beat　a　quick　and　orderly　retreat。
　Pitt　moved　slowly　around　the　front　of　the　truck；　using　the　hood　and　fenders　as　a　barrier　between　him　and　Darius。　He　climbed　behind　the　steering　wheel；　wincing　slightly　as　the　sun　splashed　seat　burned　his　naked　thighs　and　back；　and　started　the　engine。　Giordino　followed　him　into　the　cab；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　the　men　beside　the　Mercedes；　the　gun　very　level　in　his　hand。　Then　calmly；　without　any　sign　of　desperate　speed；　Pitt　smoothly　shifted　gears　and　aimed　the　truck　toward　Brady　Field　and　the　First　Attempt's　whaleboat　dock。　He　glanced　in　the　rearview　mirror；　then　to　the　road　and　back　to　the　mirror　again　several　times　until　the　three　figures　in　the　road　disappeared　when　the　truck　rounded　a　curve　through　an　ancient　grove　of　olive　trees。
　〃Nothing　like　a　gun　to　even　the　odds；〃　Giordino　sighed；　leaning　back　fortably　against　the　seat。
　〃Let's　see　that　popgun。〃
　Giordino　passed　it　butt　first。　〃You'll　have　to　admit；　it　came　in　damn　handy。〃
　Pitt　studied　the　Lilliputian　gun；　looking　up　from　time　to　time　to　dodge　potholes　in　the　road。　He　recognized　it　as　a　vest　pocket　Mauser；　twenty…five　caliber；　the　type　European　women　favored　for　protection；　it　could　easily　be　concealed　in　a　purse　or　garter。　It　was　only　good　for　close…in　work；　past　ten　feet　the　accuracy；　even　in　the　hands　of　an　expert　was　hopeless。
　〃We　must　consider　ourselves　extremely　lucky。〃
　〃Lucky　hell。〃　Giordino　grunted　flatly。　〃That　little　baby　evened　the　odds　Why　do　you　think　the　old　time　gangsters　called　a　gun　an　equalizer。〃
　'Would　you　have　pulled　the　trigger　if　Zac　and　his　boys　had　decided　not　to　cooperate？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃Without　hesitation；〃　Giordino　replied　confidently。　〃I'd　have　only　winged　them　in　the　arms　or　legs。
　No　sense　in　killing　someone　who　keeps　you　supplied　with　Metaxa　brandy。〃
　〃I　can　see　you　have　a　lot　to　learn　about　German　automatics。〃
　Giordino's　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃
　Pitt　slowed　to　pass　a　small　boy　who　was　leading　a　heavily　laden　donkey。　〃Two　things。　First；　a　twenty…five　caliber　gun　is　hardly　a　man　stopper。　You　could　have　emptied　the　clip　into　Darius；　but　without　a　killing　shot　to　the　heart　or　head　you'd　never　have　even　slowed　him　down。　And　second；　the　expression　on　your　face　when　you　squeezed　off　the　first　shot　would　have　been　a　sight　to　behold。〃　Pitt　casually　tossed　the　gun　onto　Giordino's　lap。　〃The　safety　catch　is　still　on。〃
　Pitt　glanced　briefly　across　the　truck　cab　at　Giordino。　Glordino's　eyes　fell　
　blankly　to　the　gun　in　his　lap。　He　made　no　attempt　to　pick　it　up。　His　face　was　expressionless；　but　Pitt　knew　him　well　enough　to　recognize　an　acute　case　of　bafflement