cc.themediterraneancaper2-第7部分

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　〃You　must　have　lived　near　the　water；〃　said　the　young　crewman。
　〃Newport　Beach；　California。〃
　〃That's　a　great　place。　I　used　to　drive　up　there　all　the　time　when　I　was　taking　　post　graduate　courses　at　Scripps　in　LaJolla。〃　The　young　crewman　cracked　a　　crooked　smile；　〃Man　oh　man；　was　that　ever　a　great　place　for　girls。　You　must　have　　had　a　ball　growing　up　there。〃
　〃I　could　think　of　worse　places　to　go　through　puberty。〃　As　long　as　the　young　man　　was　talking　freely；　Pitt　switched　the　subject。　〃Tell　me；　what　sort　of　trouble　　have　you　been　having　on　the　project？〃
　〃Everything　went　fine　for　the　first　couple　of　weeks；　but　as　soon　as　we　found　a　　promising　location　to　investigate；　things　turned　sour　and　we've　had　nothing　but　　rotten　luck　since。〃
　〃For　instance？〃
　〃Mostly　equipment　failure；　broken　cables；　missing　and　damaged　parts；　generator　　break…downs；　you　know；　things　like　that。〃
　They　were　nearing　the　First　Attempt　now　and　the　Young　crewman　turned　back　to　the　　helm　and　maneuvered　the　small　boat　along　side　of　the　boarding　ladder。
　Pitt　stood　and　looked　up　at　the　larger　vessel；　surveying　its　outward　appearance。　By　maritime　standards　she　was　a　small　ship；　eight　hundred　twenty　tons；　one　　hundred　fifty…two　feet　in　length　overall。　Her　keel　was　originally　laid　on　an　　ocean…going　tug　in　the　Dutch　shipyards　of　Rotterdam　before　World　War　II。　Immediately　after　the　Germans　invaded　the　lowlands；　her　crew　Slipped　her　away　to　　England　where　she　performed　outstanding　and　meritorious　service　throughout　the　　war；　towing　torpedoed　and　crippled　ships　into　the　British　port　of　Liverpool　　under　the　noses　of　Nazi　U…boats。　After　the　end　of　European　hostilities；　her　　tired　and　battered　hull　was　traded　by　the　Dutch　Government　to　the　U。S。　Navy；　who　　promptly　enlisted　her　in　the　mothball　fleet　at　Olympia；　Washington。　There　she　　sat　for　twenty…five　long　years；　sleeping　under　a　gray　plastic　cocoon。　Then　the　　newly　formed　National　Underwater　Marine　Agency　purchased　her　remains　from　the　　Navy　and　converted　her　to　a　modern　oceanographic　vessel；　rechristening　her　the　　First　Attempt。
　Pitt　squinted　from　the　bright　glare　of　the　white　paint；　coating　the　ship　from　　stem　to　stern　staff。　He　climbed　the　boarding　ladder　and　was　greeted　on　the　deck　　by　an　old　friend；　mander　Rudi　Gunn；　the　skipper　and　project　director　of　the　　ship。
　〃You　look　healthy；〃　said　Gunn　unsmilingly；　〃except　for　your　blood…shot　eyes。〃　He　　reached　for　a　cigarette。　Before　he　lit　it；　he　offered　one　to　Pitt；　who　shook　his　　head　and　held　up　one　in　his　hand。
　〃I　hear　you've　got　problems；〃　said　Pitt。
　Gunn's　face　turned　grim。　〃You're　damn　right　I　do；〃　he　snapped。　〃I　didn't　ask　　Admiral　Sandecker　to　send　you　all　the　way　from　Washington　just　for　fun　and　　games。〃
　Pitt's　eyebrows　went　up　in　surprise。　This　sudden　harshness　did　not　fit　Gunn。　Under　normal　circumstances　the　little　mander　was　a　warm　and　humorous　person。　〃Take　it　easy；　Rudi；〃　said　Pitt　softly。　〃Let's　get　out　of　the　sun；　and　you　can　　brief　me　on　what　this　mess　is　all　about〃
　Gunn　removed　his　horned　rimmed　glasses　and　rubbed　a　wrinkled　handkerchief　across　　his　forehead。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Dirk；　it's　just　that　I've　never　seen　so　many　things　go　wrong　at　one　　time。　It's　highly　frustrating　after　all　the　planning　that　went　into　this　　project。　I　guess　it's　beginning　to　make　me　irritable　as　hell。　Even　the　crew　has　　noticeably　avoided　me　the　last　three　days。〃
　Pitt　placed　an　arm　on　the　shorter　man's　shoulders　and　grinned。　〃I　promise　not　to　　avoid　you　even　if　you　are　a　nasty　little　bastard。〃
　Gunn　looked　blank　for　a　moment；　and　then　a　sense　of　relief　seemed　to　flood　his　　eyes；　and　he　flung　back　his　head　and　laughed。　〃Thank　God　you're　here；〃　be　　gripped　Pitt's　arm　tightly。　〃You　may　not　solve　any　mysteries；　but　at　least　I'll　　feel　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　just　having　you　around。〃　He　turned　and　pointed　　toward　the　bow。　〃e　along；　my　cabin　is　up　forward。〃
　Pitt　followed　Gunn　up　a　steep　ladder　to　the　next　deck　and　into　a　small　cabin　　that　must　have　been　designed　by　a　closet…maker。　The　only　fort；　and　it　was　a　　large　one；　was　a　cool　blast　of　air　that　emitted　from　an　overhead　ventilator。　He　stood　in　front　of　the　opening　for　a　moment　and　soaked　in　the　cool　breeze。　Then　he　straddled　a　chair　and　leaned　his　arms　across　the　top　of　the　backrest；　waiting　for　Gunn　to　give　the　briefing。
　Gunn　closed　the　porthole　and　remained　standing。　〃Before　I　begin；　let　me　ask　you　　what　you　know　about　our　Aegean　expedition？〃
　〃I　only　heard　that　the　First　Attempt　was　researching　the　Mediterranean　for　　zoological　purposes。〃
　Gunn　stared　at　him；　shocked。　〃Didn't　the　admiral　supply　you　with　any　detailed　　data　concerning　this　project　before　you　left　Washington？〃
　Pitt　lit　another　cigarette。　〃What　makes　you　think　that　I　came　straight　from　the　　Capital？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Gunn　said　hesitantly。　〃I　only　assumed　that　you　。　。　。〃
　Pitt　stopped　him　with　a　grin。　〃I　haven't　been　anywhere　near　the　States　in　over　　four　months。〃　He　exhaled　a　puff　of　smoke　toward　the　ventilator　and　watched　the　　blue　haze　swirl　into　nothingness。　〃Sandecker's　message　to　you　simply　stated　that　　he　was　sending　me　directly　to　Thasos。　He　obviously　neglected　to　mention　where　I　　was　ing　from　and　when　I　would　arrive。　Therefore；　you　expected　me　to　e　　soaring　out　of　the　blue　sky　four　days　ago。〃
　〃Again；　I'm　sorry；〃　Gunn　said　shrugging。　〃You're　right；　of　course。　I　figured　two　　days　at　the　most　for　that　old　tin　duck　of　yours　to　fly　from　the　Capital。　When　　you　finally　flew　into　that　fiasco　at　Brady　Field　yesterday　you　were　already　four　　days　late　by　my　schedule。〃
　〃It　couldn't　be　helped。　Giordino　and　I　were　ordered　to　airlift　supplies　into　an　　ice　probe　station；　camped　on　an　ice　floe　north　of　Spitzbergen。　Right　after　we　　landed；　a　blizzard　hit　and　grounded　us　for　over　seventy…two　hours。〃
　Gunn　laughed。　〃You　certainly　flew　from　one　extreme　in　temperature　to　another。〃　Pitt　didn't　answer；　but　merely　smiled。
　Gunn　pulled　open　the　top　drawer　of　a　small　pact　desk　and　handed　Pitt　a　large　　manila　envelope　that　contained　several　drawings　of　a　strange　looking　fish。　〃You　　ever　see　anything　like　this　before？〃
　Pitt　looked　down　at　the　drawings。　Most　of　them　were　different　artist's　　conceptions　of　the　same　fish；　and　yet　each　varied　in　details。　The　first　was　an　　ancient　Greek　illustration　on　the　side　of　a　vase。　Another　had　obviously　been　　part　of　a　Roman　fresco。　He　noted　that　two　of　them　were　more　modern。　stylized　　drawings；　depicting　the　fish　in　a　series　of　movements。　The　last　was　a　photograph　　of　a　fossil　imbedded　in　sandstone。　Pitt　looked　up　at　Gunn　questioningly。
　Gunn　handed　him　a　magnifying　glass。　〃Here；　take　a　closer　look　through　this。〃　Pitt　adjusted　the　height　of　the　thick　glass　and　scrutinized　each　picture。　At　　first　glance　the　fish　looked　similar　in　size　and　shape　to　the　Bluefin　Tuna；　but　　on　closer　inspection；　the　bottom　pelvic　fins　took　on　the　appearance　of　small　　jointed　webbed　feet。　There　were　two　more　identical　limbs　located　just　in　front　　of　the　dorsal　fin。
　He　whistled　softly。　〃This　is　a　weird　specimen；　Rudi。　What　do　you　call　it？〃　〃I　can't　pronounce　the　Latin　name；　but　the　scientists　aboard　the　First　Attempt　　have　affectionately　nicknamed　it　the　Teaser。〃
　〃Why　is　that？〃
　〃Because；　by　every　law　of　nature　that　fish　should　have　bee　extinct　over　two　　hundred　million　years　ago。　But　as　you　can　see　by　the　drawings。　men　still　claim　　they　have　seen　it。　Every　fifty　or　sixty　years　there's　a　rash　of　sightings；　but　　unfortunately　for　science；　a　Teaser　has　yet　to　be　caught。〃　Gunn　glanced　at　Pitt　　and　looked　away　again。　〃If　there　is　such　a　fish；　it　must　bear　a　charmed　life。　　There　are　literally　hundreds　of　accounts　of　fishermen　and　scientists　who　look　　you　in　the　eye　with　a　straight　face　and　say　they　had　a　Teaser　on　a　hook　or　in　a　　net；　but　before　the　fish　could　be　hauled　on　board　it　escaped。　Every　zoologist　in　　the　world　would　give　his　left　testicle　to　obtain　a　live；　or　even　dead　Teaser。〃
　Pitt　mashed　out　his　cigarette　in　an　ashtray。　〃What　makes　this　particular　fish　so　important？〃
　Gunn　held　up　the　drawings。　〃Notice　that　the　artists　couldn't　agree　on　the　outer　　layer　of　skin。　They　illustrate　tiny　scales；　smooth　porpoise…like　skin；　and　one　　even　brushed　in　a　kind　of　furry　hide　like　a　sea　lion。　Now；　if　you　take　the　　possibility　of　hairy　skin；　together　with　the　limb　extensions；　it　may　be　we　have　　the　dim　beginnings　of　the　first　mammal。〃
　〃True；　but　if　the　skin　were　smooth　you'd　have　nothing　more　than　an　early　　reptile。　The　earth　was　covered　with　them　back　in　those　days。〃
　Gunn's　eyes　mirrored　a　confident　look。　〃The　next　point　to　consider　is　that　the　　Teasers　lived　in　warm　shallow　water；　and　every　recorded　sighting　took　place　no　　more　than　three　miles　from　shore；　and　they　all　occurred　right　here　in　the　　eastern　Mediterranean　where　the　average　surface　temperature　seldom　drops　below　　sixty…two　degrees　Fahrenheit。〃
　〃So　what　does　that　prove？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃Nothing　solid；　but　since　primitive　mammal　life　survives　better　in　milder　　climates；　it　lends　a　little　support　to　the　possibility　that　they　might　have　　survived　to　the　present。〃
　Pitt　stared　at　Gunn　thoughtfully。　〃I'm　sorry；　Rudi。　You　still　haven't　sold　me。〃
　〃I　knew　you　were　a　hard　head；〃　said　Gunn。
　〃That's　why　I　left　the　most　interesting　part　till　last。〃　He　paused　and　removed　　his　glasses　and　rubbed　the　lenses　With　a　piece　of　Kleenex。　Then　he　replaced　the　　black　rims　over　his　hawkish　nose。　He　continued　speaking　as　if　lost　in　a　dream。　〃During　the　Triassic　Period　in　geological　time；　and　before　the　Himalayas　and　the　　Alps　rose；　a　great　sea　swept　over　what　is　now　Tibet　and　India。　It　also　extended　　over　Central　Europe　and　ended　in　the　North　Sea。　Geologists　call　this　once　great　　body　of　water；　the　Sea　of　Tethys。　All　that　remains　of　it　today　is　the　Black；　the　　Caspian　and　the　Mediterranean　Seas。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　pardon　my　ignorance　of　geological　time　eras；〃　Pitt　interrupted；　　〃but　when　did　the　Triassic　Period　take　place？〃
　〃Between　one　hundred　eighty　and　two　hundred　thirty　million　years　ago；〃　replied　　Gunn。　〃During　this　time　an　important　evolutionary　advance　occurred　in　the　　vertebrate　animals　as　the　reptiles　demonstrated　a　great　leap　over　their　more　　primitive　ancestors。　Some　of　the　marine　reptiles　attained　a　length　of　　twenty…three　feet　and　were　very　to