cc.themediterraneancaper2-第6部分

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　〃I　always　prescribe　seduction。　It's　guaranteed　to　cure　any　and　all　rare　maladies　　and　mon　ailments。〃
　〃And　what　is　your　fee；　doctor？〃　she　said；　acpanied　with　a　feminine　giggle。
　〃Consider　it　paid　in　full。〃
　〃You're　not　going　to　get　off　that　easily。　I　must　insist　you　e　to　my　uncle's　　house　for　dinner　tonight。〃
　〃I　shall　consider　it　an　honor；〃　he　said。　〃What　time　and　how　do　I　get　there？〃
　〃I'll　have　my　uncle's　driver　pick　you　up　at　the　entrance　to　Brady　Field　at　6　　o'clock。〃
　Pitt's　eyebrows　raised。　〃What　makes　you　think　I'm　stationed　at　Brady　Field？〃
　〃You're　obviously　an　American　and　that's　where　all　the　Americans　on　the　island　　are。〃　Teri　grasped　his　hand　and　pressed　it　to　her　face。　〃Tell　me　about　　your…self。　What　type　of　job　do　you　perform　in　your　Air　Force？　Do　you　fly？　Are　　you　an　officer？〃
　Pitt　did　his　best　to　look　serious。　〃I'm　the　base　garbage　collector。〃
　Her　eyes　opened　wide　in　surprise。　〃Are　you　really？　You're　much　too　intelligent　　to　be　a　garbage　collector。〃
　She　looked　into　his　strong　tan　face　and　his　intense　green　eyes。　〃Oh　well；　I　　won't　hold　your　occupation　against　you。　Have　you　been　promoted　to　sergeant　yet？'
　〃No。　I've　never　been　a　sergeant〃
　Suddenly　a　bright　flash　in　the　rocks　about　two　hundred　feet　away　caught　Pitt's　　attention。　A　shiny　object　reflected　the　sun's　rays　for　a　brief　instant　He　　watched　the　area　where　the　glint　had　shown　but　could　detect　no　further　flash　or　　movement。
　Teri　felt　him　tense。　〃Is　something　the　matter？〃　she　asked。
　〃No；　nothing；〃　Pitt　lied。　〃I　thought　I　saw　something　floating　in　the　water；　but　　it's　disappeared　now。　He　looked　at　her　upraised　face；　and　his　eyes　turned　　devilish。　〃Well　I'd　better　be　getting　back　to　the　base；　I've　got　a　lot　of　　garbage　to　collect〃
　〃I　should　return　also。　My　uncle　will　probably　wonder　what　happened　to　me。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　him？〃
　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　she　laughed。　She　stood　up　and　brushed　the　sand　from　her　body　　and　adjusted　the　bikini。
　Pitt　smiled；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃Why　is　it　women　always　seem　so　shy　and　demure　　before　they've　been　laid　yet　so　sparkling　and　carefree　after？〃
　She　shrugged　lightheartedly。　〃I　guess　it's　because　sex　releases　all　our　　frustrations　and　makes　us　feel　earthy。〃　Her　brown　eyes　flashed　with　intensity。　〃You　see；　we　women　have　animal　instincts　too。〃
　Pitt　playfully　slapped　her　on　the　buttocks。　〃e　on；　I'll　walk　you　home。〃
　〃You've　got　a　long　walk。　My　uncle's　villa　is　in　the　mountains　behind　Liminas。〃
　〃Where　are　the　mountains　and　where　is　Liminas？〃
　〃Liminas　is　a　small　village　about　six　miles　up　the　road；〃　she　said　pointing　　north。　〃But　I　don't　understand　what　you　mean　by　asking　about　the　mountains？　Her　　pointing　hand　swung　toward　the　inland　slopes　a　mile　behind　the　road。　〃What　do　　you　call　those？〃
　〃In　California；　where　I　e　from；　we　call　anything　under　three　thousand　feet　of　　　elevation　hills。〃
　〃You　Yanks　are　always　bragging。〃
　〃It's　a　great　American　pastime。〃
　They　leisurely　walked　up　the　path　from　the　cove。
　On　the　shoulder；　off　to　one　side　of　the　blacktop；　sat　a　sporty　little　open…top　　Mini…Cooper。　The　British　racing　green　paint　on　the　tiny　car　was　barely　visible　　beneath　an　outer　coating　of　Thasas　dust
　〃How　do　you　like　my　smashing　Grand　Prix　racing　car？〃　Teri　asked　proudly。　Pitt　laughed；　not　so　much　at　her　exaggerated　statement　but　rather　the　British　　use　of　the　word　smashing　in　reference　to　a　car。　〃By　jove；　that's　a　bit　of　all　　right；〃　he　said；　mimicking　her　native　terminology。　〃Is　it　yours？〃
　〃Yes；　I　purchased　it　new　in　London　just　last　month　and　drove　it　all　the　way　from　　Le　Havre。〃
　〃How　long　will　you　be　staying　with　your　uncle？
　〃I　took　a　three　month　holiday　so　I'll　be　here　at　least　another　six　weeks。　Then　　I'm　going　to　return　home　by　boat。　The　drive　across　the　continent　was　fun　but　far　　too　tiring。〃
　Pitt　opened　the　door　for　her；　and　she　slid　behind　the　steering　wheel。　She　groped　　under　the　front　seat　for　a　moment　and　pulled　out　a　set　of　keys。　She　inserted　one　　in　the　ignition　and　started　the　engine。　The　exhaust　coughed　once　and　then　　blasted　forth　with　a　nasty　little　growl。
　He　leaned　on　the　dusty　door　and　lightly　kissed　her。
　〃I　hope　your　uncle　won't　be　waiting　for　me　with　a　shotgun。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　he'll　probably　talk　your　arm　off。　He　likes　Air　Force　men。　He　was　a　　flyer　in　the　First　World　War。〃
　〃Don't　tell　me；〃　Pitt　said　sarcastically。　〃I　bet　he　claims　to　have　flown　with　　Richthofen。〃
　〃Oh　no；　he　was　never　in　France。　He　fought　right　here　in　Greece。〃
　Pitt's　sarcasm　vanished　and　a　cold；　eerie　feeling　came　over　him。　He　gripped　the　　doorframe　until　his　knuckles　turned　white。　〃Has　your　uncle　ever　mentioned　。　。　。　Kurt　Heibert？
　〃Many　times。　They　used　to　fly　patrols　together。〃　She　shoved　the　gearshift　into　　first。　Then　she　smiled　and　waved。　〃See　you　tonight。　Now　don't　be　late；　cheery　　bye。〃
　Before　Pitt　could　say　another　word；　the　midget　car　leapt　up　the　road。　He　watched　　it　snarl　off　into　the　distance　toward　the　north。　The　dusty　green　blur　passed　　over　a　crest　of　pavement　and　the　last　thing　he　saw　was　Teri's　black　hair　　whipping　in　the　wind。　Already　it　was　beginning　to　get　unfortably　hot。　Idly；　he　turned　and　began　　walking　back　to　the　airfield。　He　stepped　on　a　sharp　object　with　his　bare　foot　　and　Cursed　under　his　breath　while　he　hopped　about　on　one　leg　trying　to　remove　a　　small　burr。　Jerking　it　from　his　heel　angrily；　he　flipped　it　in　a　roadside　bush。　　He　was　carefully　watching　the　ground　to　avoid　another　sting　when　he　noticed　a　　set　of　footprints。　Whoever　made　them　had。　been　wearing　hobnailed　soles。
　Pitt　knelt　and　studied　the　indentations。　He　could　easily　distinguish　his　and　　Teri's　prints　since　they　had　both　been　barefoot。　His　mouth　twisted　grimly。　In　　several　places；　the　shoe　prints　covered　the　bare　ones。　Someone　had　followed　Teri　　toward　the　beach；　he　reasoned。　He　raised　one　hand；　and　shielded　his　eyes；　　looking　at　the　sun。　It　was　still　quite　early　so　he　decided　to　pursue　the　trail。　The　tracks　led　half…way　down　the　path　and　then　veered　off　in　the　direction　of　　the　rocks。　Here　the　trail　ended　so　he　scrambled　over　the　hard　craggy　surface　and　　picked　up　the　scent　again　on　the　other　side。　The　tracks　angled　back　to　the　road；　　only　further　away　from　the　path　this　time。　A　branch　scraped　a　thorny　limb　across　　Pitt's　arm；　drawing　thin　lines　of　blood；　but　he　was　not　aware　of　it。　He　was　　beginning　to　sweat　when　he　stepped　back　on　the　road。　At　last　the　hobnailed　　prints　ended　and　heavy　tire　tracks　began。　The　tire's　tread　left　a　peculiar　set　　of　diamond…shaped　patterns　in　the　dirt　beside　the　pavement。　There　was　no　traffic　visible　in　either　direction　so　Pitt　calmly　laid　the　towel　　down　in　the　center　of　the　road；　sat　on　it　and　began　to　re…enact　the　scene　in　his　　mind。
　Whoever　shadowed　Teri　had　parked　here；　walked　back　to　her　car　and　then　followed　　her　down　the　path。　But　before　reaching　the　beach；　the　stalker　must　have　heard　　voices　so　he　turned　and　made　his　way　In　the　darkness　to　the　rocks　where　he　hid；　　spying　on　the　girl　and　Pitt。　After　it　became　light　from　the　dawn；　the　intruder　　returned　to　the　road；　using　the　rocks　to　conceal　his　movements；　It　was　an　elementary　puzzle；　and　it　fit　neatly　together；　except　for　the　fact　　that　three　pieces　were　missing。　Why　had　Teri　been　followed　and　by　whom？　A　　thought　occurred　to　Pitt　and　he　smiled　to　himself。　The　simple　answer　was　very　　likely　a　local　peeping　tom。　If　that　were　the　case　the　observer　got　more　than　he　　bargained　for。　A　knot　formed　in　Pitt's　stomach。　It　was　the　third　missing　piece　that　bothered　　him　the　most。　Something　in　his　logical　mind　would　not　jell。　He　looked　over　at　　the　tire　tracks　again。　They　were　too　large　for　an　ordinary　car。　They　could　only　　e　from　a　more　massive　vehicle；　say　a　truck。　His　eyes　narrowed；　and　his　brain　　began　to　churn。　He　wouldn't　have　heard　Teri　drive　up　because　he　was　asleep。　And　　the　truck　had　probably　coasted　to　a　stop；　noiselessly。
　Pitt's　intent　gaze　turned　from　the　diamond　tread　tire　tracks　to　the　beach。　The　　tide　was　creeping　over　the　sand　and　erasing　all　signs　of　recent　human　activity。　　He　gauged　the　distance　from　the　road　to　the　beach　and　began　to　term　the　problem　　in　the　manner　of　a　fifth　grade　school　teacher。
　If　a　truck　is　at　point　A；　and　two　people　are　on　the　beach　250　feet　away　at　point　　B；　why　wouldn't　the　two　people　on　the　beach　hear　the　truck　start　its　engine　in　　the　silence　of　early　morning？
　The　answer　eluded　him；　so　Pitt　shrugged　and　gave　up。　He　shook　out　the　towel　and　　wrapping　it　around　his　neck；　walked　back　along　the　deserted　road　toward　the　main　　gate；　whistling；　〃It's　a　Long　Road　to　Tipperary。〃
　　　3
　The　young　blond　crewman　cast　off　the　lines；　and　the　little　twenty…six　foot　　double…ended　whaleboat　surged　sluggishly　away　from　the　makeshift　dock　near　Brady　　Field。　setting　a　course　over　the　blue　carpet　of　water　toward　the　First　Attempt。　The　throbbing　four…cylinder　Buda　engine　pushed　the　sturdy　boat　along　at　eight　　knots　and　cast　the　familiar　nautical　stink　of　diesel　fumes　over　the　deck。　It　was　　a　few　minutes　to　nine　now；　and　the　sun　was　hotter　and　even　a　slight　breeze　from　　the　sea　offered　no　relief。
　Pitt　stood　and　watched　the　shore　recede　until　the　dock　became　a　dirty　speck　on　　the　surf　line。　Then　he　hoisted　his　one　hundred　and　ninety　pounds　onto　the　high　　tubular　railing　that　circled　the　stern　and　sat　with　his　buttocks　hanging　　precariously　over　the　boat's　frothing　white　wake。　From　his　unusual　position　he　　could　feel　the　pulsations　from　the　shaft；　and　by　looking　straight　down；　he　could　　see　the　propeller　drill　its　way　through　the　water。　The　whaleboat　was　only　a　　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　First　Attempt　when　Pitt　noticed　the　young　crewman　at　　the　helm　eyeing　him　with　a　mild　look　of　respect。
　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　but　you　look　like　you've　spent　some　time　in　a　double…ender。〃　The　blond　crewman　nodded　at　Pitt's　seat　on　the　railing。　The　young　man　had　an　　academic　air　about　him　that　implied　scientific　intelligence。　Well　tanned　from　　the　Aegean　sun；　he　wore　Bermuda　shorts　and　nothing　else　except　a　long；　sparse；　　yellow　beard。
　Pitt　wrapped　a　hand　around　the　stern　light　staff　for　support　and　groped　in　a　　breast　pocket　with　his　other　hand　for　a　cigarette。　〃I　used　to　have　one　when　I　　was　in　high　school；〃　he　said　casually。
　〃You　must　have　lived　near