cc.themediterraneancaper2-第40部分

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l；　Zacynthus　gave　it　a　good　try；　but　his　plan　was　headed　for　failure　right　from　the　start。　He　hid　the　genuine　niece　away　in　a　safe　place　in　England　and　found
　another　girl　who　resembled　her。　They　hardly　had　to　be
　exact　doubles　since　you　hadn't　laid　eyes　on　the　real　Teri　in　over　twenty　years。　Zacynthus　also　carefully　planned　his　Mata　Hari's　cross　country　vacation　to　look　like　nothing　more　than　an　innocent　surprise　holiday　visit　by　a　loving　relative。〃
　Darius　stared　at　von　Till；　his　massive　jaw　seeming　to　grind　Pitt's　revelation　to　pieces；　Von　Till's　expression　didn't　change。　He　just　slowly　nodded　in　apparent　understanding。
　〃Too　bad；〃　Pitt　said；　〃it　was　all　for　nothing。　You　weren't　the　least　bit　surprised。　Darius　had　seen　to　that。
　At　that　point；　you　had　two　choices；　you　could　either　expose　the　girl　as　an　impostor　and　throw　her　out；　or　you　could　play　along　and　feed　her　false　information。　Quite　naturally　your　devious　mind　chose　the　latter。　You　were　in　your　element。　You　felt　like　a　puppeteer　pulling　strings。　You　could　now　play　the　girl　and　Darius　on　the　ends　against　Zacynthus　and　Zeno　in　the　middle。〃
　〃An　irresistible　situation；〃　said　von　Till。　〃Do　you　agree？〃
　〃You　couldn't　miss；〃　Pitt　went　on　calmly　〃From　the　time　of　her　arrival　until　Giordino　and　I　grabbed　her　from　the　villa；　the　girl's　every　move　was　closely　watched　by　your　chauffeur。　Under　the　guise　of　a　sort　of　bodyguard；　Willie　stuck　with　her　like　a　leech。　It　must　have　been　entertaining　work；　especially　when　she　sunbathed　on　the　beach。　At　that；　her　passion　for　early　morning　swimming　was　nothing　but　a　means　of　making　contact　with　Zacynthus。　It　was　the　only　opportunity　you　gave　her　to　pass　him　information；　all　of　it　worthless。　How　you　must　have　laughed；　knowing　she　was　swallowing　every　bit　of　crap　you　fed　her。　Then　something　happened　and　Zacynthus　began　to　get　wise。　Arriving　late　for　their　rendezvous　one　morning；　he　probably　spotted　Willie　lurking　in　the　bushes；　both　eyes　unerringly　focused　on　the　girl　in　her　bikini。　Zacynthus　couldn't　help　wondering　if　Willie　had　been　there　observing　all　the　other　predawn　meetings。　Suddenly　he　saw　his　well…conceived　plan　going　down　the　drain。　It　looked　as　though　you　had　outsmarted　him　again。〃
　〃We　could　have　regained　the　advantage；〃　Darius　sputtered　in　pure　rage；　〃except　for　you。〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃Enter　our　hero；　yours　truly；　who　blundered　onto　the　stage；　little　knowing　he　would　get　clawed；　beaten　and　shot　before　the　final　curtain。　My　life　would　have　been　far　less　plicated　if　only　I'd　stayed　in　bed　that　morning　instead　of　taking　an　early　swim。　When　Teri　discovered　me；　I　was　taking　a　nap　on　the　tideline。　It　was　still　dark；　and　she　mistook　me　for　Zacynthus；　thinking　one　of　your　men　had　murdered　him。　She　damn　near　went　into　shock　when　my　apparently　lifeless　body　suddenly　sat　upright　and　started　a　light　conversation？
　The　pain　wave　hit　him　again　and　he　gripped　his　leg　as　if　trying　to　squeeze　the　agony　away。　He　forced　himself　to　go　on；　his　words　strained　through　gritted　teeth。
　〃Something　had　gone　very…very　wrong。　Zacynthus　failed　to　show；　and　here　was　a　total　stranger　who　seemingly　knew　nothing　about　what　was　going　on…add　to　that　the　staggering　odds　against　an　outsider　accidentally　swimming　on　that　particular　deserted　beach　at　four　in　the　morning；　and　you　have　one　confused　girl。　I'll　give　her　credit；　she's　a　fast　thinker。　Considering　the　circumstances；　she　grabbed　at　the　only　conclusion　open　to　her。
　I　had　to　be　on　your　payroll；　von　Till。　So　she　went　through　her　carefully　rehearsed　biography　routine　and　invited　me　to　the　villa　for　dinner；　expecting　to　throw　you　a　curve　by　innocently　introducing　you　to　your　own　hired　man。〃
　Von　Till　smiled；　〃I　am　afraid　you　cooked　your　own　goose；　my　dear　Pitt；　with　your　ridiculous　tale　about　being　in　charge　of　garbage　collecting。　She　didn't　really　believe　it；　but　oddly　enough　I　did。〃
　〃Not　as　odd　as　it　seems；〃　Pitt　said。　〃No　trained　agent　in　his　right　mind　would　ever　use　a　cover　as　hokey　as　that　one。　You　knew　that。　Besides；　you　had　no　cause　for　alarm；　there　was　no　warning　from　Darius。　It　was　really　only　a　joke　on　my　part…one　that　backfired　with　rather　painful　results。〃
　Pitt　hesitated；　adjusting　the　belt　covering　his　wound。
　〃When　I　appeared　at　your　door　wearing　the　oak　leaves　of　a　major。　you　immediately　figured　I　was　one　of　Zacynthus'　agents；　whom　he　slipped　into　the　act　without　Darius'　knowledge。　Unwittingly　I　added　fuel　to　your　suspicions　by　damn　near　ing　out　and　accusing　you　of　enginering　the　raid　on　Brady　Field。　I　was　getting　warm；　too　warm　to　suit　you；　von　Till。　Your　solution　was　to　play　Houdini　and　make　me　disappear。　The　risk　of　exposure　was　small；　the　chances　were　that　my　body；　or　what　was　left　of　it；　would　never　be　found　in　the　labyrinth　By　this　time　the　girl　caught　onto　the　fact　that　she　had　made　a　terrible　mistake。　I　really　was　an　
　innocent　bystander　who　really　happened　to　be　swimming　on　that　particular　beach　at　four　in　the　morning。　It　was　too　late；　the　damage　was　done。　She　could　do　nothing　but　stand　by　helplessly　and　keep　her　mouth　shut　while　you　disposed　of　me。〃
　Von　Till　looked　thoughtful。　〃I　think　l　see；　I　see　indeed。　You　still　assumed　the　girl　was　my　niece；　and　you　kidnapped　her　out　of　revenge。〃
　〃You're　half　right；〃　Pitt　came　back。　〃Information　was　my　other　motive。　When　someone　tries　to　kill　me；　I　like　to　know　why。　Except　for　you；　my　only　source　for　the　answer　was　the　girl。　But　Colonel　Zeno　appeared　outside　the　labyrinth　and　put　a　crimp　in　my　plan　before　I　had　a　chance　to　question　her　Even　so；　as　matters　turned　out；　I　did　Inspector　Zacynthus　a　big　favor。〃
　〃I　fail　to　understand；〃　Darius　said　icily。
　〃For　Zacynthus　the　abduction　was　made　to　order；　the　girl's　usefulness　was　over；　and；　as　long　as　she　continued　to　play　the　role　of　your　niece。　her　life　wasn't　worth　two　cents。　Somehow；　he　had　to　discreetly　slip　her　away　from　the　villa　and　off　the　island。　As　it　turned　out；　I　played　into　his　hands　and　laid　her　at　his　feet　on　a　silver　platter。　However；　Zacynthus　wasn't　out　of　the　woods　yet。　A　new　and　totally　unexpected　pair　of　problems　faced　him：　Giordino　and　myself。　He　knew　we　were　out　to　get　your　scalp；　and；　as　much　as　he　liked　the　idea；　he　still　had　to　stop　us。　Legally；　he　had　no　jurisdiction　and　couldn't　detain　us　by　force。　So　be　did　the　next　best　thing　and　asked　us　to　cooperate　with　INTERPOL　That　way　be　could　watch　us　like　a　hawk。〃
　〃You　are　quite　correct。　Major。〃　Von　Till　ran　a　hand　over　his　hairless　pate；　wiping　the　moisture　from　the　gleaming　skin。　〃I　had　every　intention　of　killing　the　girl。〃
　Pitt　nodded。　〃I　wondered　why　Zacynthus　was　so　insistent　that　I　keep　Teri　on　board　the　First　Attempt。　She'd　be　safe　from　you；　and　could　keep　an　eye　on　Giordino　and　me。　It　didn't　dawn　on　me　until　this　morning　what　game　the　girl　was　playing　and　whose　side　she　was　on。〃
　Darius　stared　at　Pitt　in　bleak　puzzlement。　〃What　goes　on　here。　Major　Pitt？　You　could　not　possibly　have　known　all　this。〃
　〃Nice　girls　don't　carry　twenty…five　caliber　automatic　Mausers　taped　to　their　legs；〃　Pitt　said。　〃That's　a　sure　sign　of　a　professional。　Teri　wasn't　carrying　a　gun　when　I　met　her　on　the　beach…Giordino　discovered　it　when　he　snatched　her　off　the　couch　in　the　villa's　study。
　Obviously；　she　feared　someone　inside；　not　outside　the　villa。〃
　〃You　are　even　more　perceptive　than　I　gave　you　credit　for；〃　von　Till　said　bitterly。　〃I　may　have　slightly　underestimated　you。　But　it　makes　little　or　no　difference　on　the　oute。〃
　〃Only　slightly　underestimated？〃　Pitt　asked　consideringly。　〃I　wonder　If　I've　been　wise　to　the　girl's　deception；　why　do　you　think　I'd　stand　by　and　allow　her　to　drug　the　First　Attempt's　radio　operator　so　that　she　could　sneak　off　a　message　to　Inspector　Zacynthus；　announcing　my　intention　to　explore　the　cavern？〃
　〃The　answer　is　simple；〃　von　Till　said　smugly。　〃You　didn't　know　Darius　was　working　for　me。　He　received　the　girl's　message。　but；　unfortunately　for　you；　neglected　to　pass　it　on　to　Inspector　Zacynthus。　Face　it；　Major；　you　got　involved　with　matters　far　above　your　head。〃
　Pitt　didn't　reply　immediately。　He　sat　quite　still；　absorbing　the　pain　that　burned　in　his　leg；　wondering　if　now　was　the　right　moment。　It　would　be　impossible　to　go　on　much　longer…his　vision　was　beginning　to　blur　around　the　edges…yet　he　couldn't　overplay　his　hand。　He　turned　his　head　slightly　and　stared　dully　up　at　Darius。　The　Luger　still　aimed　at　Pitt's　navel。　This　had　to　be　it；　he　told　himself…he　hoped　to　God　his　timing　was　right。
　〃I　agree；〃　he　said　casually。　〃It　just　goes　to　prove；　you　can't　win　them　all；　can　you；　Admiral　Heibert？'
　At　first　von　Till　didn't　respond。　He　stood　there；　his　face　without　expression。　Then　the　sheen　incredibility　of　Pitt's　words　began　to　register。　He　took　a　step　toward　Pitt；　his　mouth　barely　moving。
　〃What…what　did　you　call　me？〃　he　asked　in　a　tight　whisper。
　〃Admiral　Heibert；〃　Pitt　repeated。　〃Admiral　Erich
　Heibert：　mander　of　Nazi　Germany's　transportation　fleet；　fanatical　follower　of　Adolph　Hitler；　and　brother　of　Kurt　Heibert；　the　World　War　II　ace。〃
　What　little　color　was　left　drained　from　his　face。　〃You…you　have　lost　your　senses。〃
　〃The　U…19；　that　was　your　final　mistake。〃
　〃Nonsense；　utter　nonsense。〃　The　tight　lips　spoke　low　and　unbelieving。
　〃The　model　in　your　study。　It　struck　me　as　strange　at　the　time；　why　would　an　ex…bat　pilot　display　a　replica　of　a　submarine　instead　of　the　aircraft　he　flew　during　wartime？　Pilots　are　as　sentimental　about　those　things　as　sailors。　It　didn't　figure。　The　ultimate　irony　is　that　Darius；　not　knowing　your　true　identity；　used　Inspector　Zacynthus'　radio　to　contact　the　German　naval　archives　in　Berlin　at　my　request。〃
　〃So　that　was　what　you　were　after；〃　Darius　said；　his　eyes　still　watchful。
　〃It　was　handled　as　a　routine　inquiry。　I　asked　for　a　crew　list　of　the　U…19。　I　also　contacted　an　old　friend　in　Munich…a　World　War　I　aviation　buff…and　asked　him　if　he　knew　of　any　flyer　by　the　name　of　Bruno　von　Till。　The　replies　were　most　interesting。　A　von　Till　actually　flew　for　the　German　Imperial　Air　Service　all　right　But　you　claimed　to　have　flown　with　Kurt　Heibert　in　Jasta　73　out　of　the　Xanthi　aerodrome　in　Macedonia。　The　real　von　Till　flew　with　Jasta　in　France　from　the　summer　of　1917　until　the　Armistice　in　November　of　1918；　he　never　left　the　Western　Front。　The