cussler.blueandgold-第44节

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　Even　with　a　map　it　was　hard　to　find　the　place　they　were　looking　for。　Austin　stopped　at　a　gas　station…general　store；　and　Buzz　went　in　for　directions。　When　he　came　out　he　was　clearly　excited。
　
　〃The　old…timer　in　there　says　he's　known　Bucky　Martin　for　years。　'Nice　fella。　Pretty　much　keeps　to　himself。'　Go　up　this　road　a　half　a　mile　and　turn　left。　The　farm　is　about　five　miles　from　there。〃
　
　The　road　became　narrow　and　bumpy；　the　tarmac　almost　an　afterthought。　The　farms　alternated　with　thick　patches　of　woods；　and　they　almost　missed　the　turnoff。　The　only　marker　was　an　aluminum　mailbox　with　no　name　or　number　on　it。　A　dirt　driveway；　past　the　mailbox　into　the　woods。　They　turned　onto　the　driveway。　
　and　passed　through　a　copse　of　trees　that　shielded　the　house　from　the　highway。　Eventually　the　trees　gave　way　to　pastures　where　small　herds　of　cows　grazed。　Finally；　at　least　a　half　a　mile　from　the　road；　they　came　upon　the　farmhouse。
　
　The　big　two…story　building　was　built　in　an　era　when　three　generations　lived　together　to　work　a　farm。　The　decorative　windows　and　stained　glass　indicated　that　the　owner　had　been　successful　enough　to　afford　extra　touches。　A　porch　ran　across　the　front。　Behind　the　house　was　a　red　barn　and　silo。　Next　to　the　barn　was　a　corral　with　two　horses　in　it。　A　fairly　new　pickup　truck　was　parked　in　the　yard。
　
　Austin　swung　into　the　circular　driveway　and　parked　in　front　of　the　house。　No　one　came　out　to　greet　them。　There　was　no　curious　face　in　the　windows。
　
　〃Maybe　you　should　let　me　go　first；〃　Austin　suggested。　〃It　might　help　if　I　do　a　little　prep　work　before　you　meet　face…to　face。〃
　
　〃That's　fine；〃　Buzz　said。　〃I'm　losing　courage　fast。〃
　
　Austin　squeezed　Martin's　arm。　〃You'll　be　fine。〃　He　didn't　know　what　he　would　have　done　in　the　man's　place。　He　doubted　he　would　have　been　as　calm。　〃I'll　check　him　out　and　break　it　to　him　gradually。〃
　
　〃I　appreciate　that；〃　Martin　said。
　
　Austin　left　the　car；　went　up　to　the　front　door；　and　knocked　several　times。　No　one　answered。　Nor　was　there　a　response　when　he　twisted　the　knob　of　the　old　doorbell。　He　turned　around　and　threw　his　hands　apart　so　Martin　could　see。　He　descended　the　porch　and　walked　behind　the　house　to　the　barn。　The　only　sound　was　the　soft　clucking　of　chickens　and　the　occasional　grunt　from　a　rooting　pig。
　
　The　barn　door　was　open。　He　walked　inside；　thinking　that　barns　smelled　the　same　the　world　over；　an　unmistakable　bination　of　manure；　hay；　and　big　animals。　A　horse　snorted　as　he　walked　by　its　stall；　maybe　thinking　he　was　bringing　it　sugar；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　Martin。　He　called　out　a　hello　and　when　there　was　no　response　walked　out　the　back　door。　The　chickens　under　Wild　Bill　Donovan。　I　was　what　they'd　call　a　hit　man　today。　I　pulled　a　few　assignments　after　the　war；　then　told　them　I　wanted　to　retire。　The　boss　said　there　was　no　way　they　could　let　me　do　that。　I　knew　too　much。　So　we　worked　out　a　deal。　They'd　keep　me　active　for　one　more　job。　The　only　problem　was；　they　didn't　know　when　the　order　would　be　carried　out。　It　could　be　five　months　or　five　years。〃　He　chuckled。　〃No　one　figured　it　would　go　on　this　long；　especially　me。〃　Austin　noticed　that　Martin　had　lost　his　folksy　farm　accent。　〃Who　were　you　supposed　to　kill？〃
　
　〃The　government　had　this　big　secret　they　didn't　want　any　one　to　know　about。　They　devised　a　system　so　that　if　anyone　started　snooping　and　got　too　close；　the　protocol　would　be　activated。　Here's　the　real　clever　thing。　They　would　make　potential　opposition　e　to　me。　They　set　me　up　here　in　the　middle　of　nowhere。　When　you　started　poking　around；　it　triggered　a　series　of　mands。　One　would　tell　you　where　I　was。　The　last　would　tell　me　to　carry　out　the　original　sanction　against　the　speaker　of　the　House。　Seems　he　heard　about　the　government's　secret　and　was　going　to　blow　the　whistle。〃
　
　〃This　protocol　you're　talking　about　must　be　fifty　years　old　The　congressman　you　were　supposed　to　kill　has　been　dead　for　years。〃
　
　〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　he　said　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃I'm　still　under　orders。　Sad　thing；　that　secret's　so　old　it　probably　doesn't　make　a　difference　one　way　or　the　other。〃　He　lapsed　back　into　his　farm　accent；　and　the　blue　eyes　grew　hard　and　cold。　〃Sure　glad　you　came；　son。　I'm　officially　retired　after　this。〃
　
　The　gun　came　up。　Austin　braced　himself　for　the　deafening　blast。　He　tensed　his　stomach　muscles　as　if　by　sheer　will　he　could　prevent　the　slug　from　tearing　into　his　rib　cage。　Had　he　time　~o　think　about　it；　he　would　have　ruminated　on　the　irony；　after　surviving　countless　near…fatal　assignments；　of　dying　at　the　hands　of　a　half…deaf；　near…blind；　octogenarian　assassin。
　
　A　figure　suddenly　materialized　behind　Martin。　It　was　Buzz。　The　old　man's　sight　was　still　keen　enough　for　him　to　detect　an
　involuntary　change　in　Austin's　expression。　He　whirled　around　as　Buzz　cried　out　in　surprise。　〃You're　not　my　father！〃
　
　　The　old　man's　body　had　shielded　the　shotgun；　but　now　Buzz's　eyes　dropped　from　Martin's　face　to　the　weapon　in　his　arms。　The　farmer　brought　his　gun　up　to　his　shoulder；　but　his　reflexes　were　dulled　by　the　years。　Austin　had　to　make　a　split　second　decision。　He　could　put　his　head　down　and　crash　into　the　man's　backside　like　an　enraged　bull。　Not　enough　time；　he　decided
　
　〃Martin！〃　he　yelled；　at　the　same　time　yanking　the　pitchfork　from　the　bale。
　
　The　farmer　turned　back　to　Austin；　who　whipped　the　pitchfork　at　him　like　a　javelin。　He　was　aiming　for　Martin's　shooting　side；　but　the　old　man　stepped　into　the　oning　pitchfork　and　the　tines　perforated　his　heart　and　lungs。　He　cried　out　in　pain；　and　the　shotgun　went　off；　barrel　pointed　toward　the　roof。　The　horse　went　crazy　and　tried　to　kick　down　its　stall。　The　gun　fell　from　Martin's　fingers。　His　eyes　rolled　into　his　head；　and　he　crumpled　to　the　wooden　floor。
　
　Austin　kicked　the　shotgun　out　of　reach　more　out　of　habit　than　necessity。　Buzz　had　been　frozen　with　shock；　but　now　he　came　over　and　knelt　by　the　body。　Austin　turned　it　over　so　they　could　see　the　face。
　
　Buzz　studied　the　man's　features　for　a　moment　and；　to　Austin's　relief；　softly　said；　〃No；　he's　definitely　not　my　father。　He's　too　tall；　to　begin　with。　My　father　was　stocky　like　me。　And　the　face　is　all　wrong。　Who　in　God's　name　is　he？〃
　
　〃He　called　himself　Martin；　but　that's　not　his　real　name。　I　don't　know　what　it　is。〃
　
　〃Why　was　he　trying　to　kill　you…I　mean；　both　of　us？〃
　
　〃He　didn't　really　know。　He　was　like　one　of　those　trick　bombs　the　Germans　used　to　drop。　They'd　go　off　when　the　bomb　squad　tried　to　defuse　them。　By　the　way；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　wait　in　the　car。〃
　
　〃I　tried；　but　I　had　to　get　out　and　walk。　I　went　behind　the　house；　didn't　see　anybody；　so　I　came　into　the　barn　looking　for　you。〃
　
　〃I'm　glad　you　did。〃　Austin　cocked　his　ear。　〃I　think　I　hear　something。〃　He　took　a　last　look　at　the　body。　〃Happy　retirement；　Bucky；〃　he　said；　and　walked　toward　the　door。
　
　Buzz　followed　him　out　into　the　yard　as　a　black…and…white　car　with　blue　roof　dome　flashing　burst　from　the　woods　and　squealed　to　a　stop　in　a　cloud　of　dust。　Printed　in　big　letters　on　the　car　door　was　the　word　SHERIFF。　Two　men　in　blue　uniforms　got　out。　One　was　burly　and　young；　and　the　other　was　slim　and　gray…haired。　The　younger　man　came　over　with　his　hand　on　his　holster。　His　badge　signified　he　was　a　deputy　sheriff。
　
　〃Which　one　of　you　is　Austin？〃　he　said。
　
　〃That's　me；〃　Kurt　said。
　
　The　deputy　must　have　been　prepared　for　an　evasion　because　he　didn't　seem　to　know　what　to　say　next。
　
　The　older　man　gently　pushed　his　deputy　aside。　〃I'm　Sheriff　Hastings。　Either　one　of　you　seen　Bucky　Martin？〃
　
　〃He's　in　the　barn；〃　Austin　said。
　
　The　deputy　hustled　into　the　barn；　and　when　he　came　out　a　moment　later　his　face　was　white。
　
　〃Jeezus；〃　he　said；　fumbling　for　his　sidearm；　〃Old　Bucky　is　dead。　Stuck　with　a　pitchfork。　Which　one　of　you　two　did　it？〃
　
　Hastings　gestured　for　his　deputy　to　calm　down　and　call　the　county　homicide　team。　〃Could　you　tell　me　what's　been　going　on；
　Mr。　Austin？〃
　
　〃Martin　tried　to　kill　us　with　that　shotgun　next　to　the　body。　T　had　to　kill　him。　I　was　trying　to　slow　him　down；　but　that's　not　the　way　it　worked　out。〃
　
　〃Thanks；　but　I　mean　what's　real~7y　going　on　with　this　whole　thing；　me　getting　calls　from　Washington　and　all。〃
　
　〃Washington？〃
　
　〃You　bet。　First　the　governor's　office　calls　and　tells　me　to　hold；　then　they　patch　through　this　maniac　Admiral　Sandecker　He　says　his　man　Austin　is　in　danger　and　I'd　better　get　out　to　Martin's　place　or　there　will　be　a　killing。　When　I　asked　what　makes　him　think　somebody's　going　to　be　killed；　he　promises　to　rip　me　a　new　belly　button　if　I　don't　stop　asking　dumb　questions　and　get　on　my　way。〃　He　grinned。　〃Guess　he　was　right。〃　He　turned　to　Buzz。　〃What's　your　name？〃　〃Buzz　Martin。〃
　
　The　sheriff　blinked　in　surprise。　'Any　relation　to　the　de　ceased？〃
　
　Austin　and　Martin　looked　at　each　other；　not　sure　how　to　answer　the　question。
　
　Finally　Austin　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃Hope　you've　got　time；　sheriff；　because　that's　a　long；　long　story。〃
　
　Chapter　25
　The　drums　had　been　beating　steadily　for　an　hour。　The　sound　was　cadenced　at　first；　ing　from　a　lone　drum　at　the　same　throbbing　tempo　as　a　human　heartbeat。　Then　other