cc.iceberg-第22节

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n　meeting　you　〃She's　beginning　to　sound　like　a　cross　between　Catherine　the　Great　and　Aimee　Semple　McPherson；〃　Tidi　said　sarcastically。
　〃I　can't　wait　to　meet　my　new　boss　face　to　face；〃　Pitt　said。　Sandecker　nodded。　〃You　can　in　precisely　five　seconds…she　just　walked　in。〃
　
　Pitt　turned；　and　so　did　every　other　male　head　in　the　restaurant。　She　stood　in　the　foyer　very　tall　and　very　blond；　like　a　fantasy　of　womanly　perfection；　incredibly　beautiful；　as　if　caught　in　the　perfect　pose　by　the　lens　of　a　fashion　photographer's　camera。　Her　statuesque　figure　was　encased　in　a　long　violet…colored　dress　of　velvet　with　peasant　embroidery　on　the　sleeves　and　hem。　Now　she　caught　Sandecker's　wave。　and　she　walked　over　to　the　table；　moving　with　a　graceful　flowing　motion　that　possessed　all　the　suppleness　of　a　ballerina　and　more　than　the　suggestion　of　a　natural　athlete。　By　this　time　all　the　women　in　the　restaurant　were　eyeing　her　with　instinctive　envy。
　
　Pitt　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose　and　studied　her　face　as　she　approached。　It　was　her　tan　that　intrigued　him。　The　delicately　clear　tanned　plexion　somehow　seemed　foreign　to　an　Icelandic　woman；　even　one　who　spent　a　good　portion　of　her　life　in　the　back　country　of　New　Guinea。　The　total　effect　was　striking。　The　blond　hair；　a　carefree　casual　look　with　a　controlled　tousled　effect；　the　deep　violet　eyes　tbal　matched　the　color　of　her　dress；　she　was　hardly　what　Pitt　had　imagined；　to　say　the　least。
　〃My　dear　Miss　Fyrie；　I'm　honored　that　you　could　dine　with　us。〃　Admiral　Sandecker　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it。　Then　he　turned　to　Tidi；　who　wore　a　mask　of　friendliness。　〃May　I　introduce　my　secretary；　miss　Tidi　Royal。〃
　
　The　two　women　exchanged　polite　but　typically　cool　feminine　greetings。
　
　Then　Sandecker　turned　to　Pitt。　〃And　this　is　Major　Dirk　Pitt；　the　real　driving　force　behind　my　agency's　projects。〃
　〃So　this　is　the　brave　gentleman　you've　told　me　so　much　about；　Admiral。〃　Her　voice　came　across　husky　and　terribly　。　sexy。　〃I　am　deeply　sorry　for　the　tragic　loss　of　Dr。　Hunnewell。　My　brother　thought　very　highly　of　him。〃
　〃We're　sorry　too〃　Pitt　said。
　
　There　was　a　pause　while　they　looked　at　each　other；　Kirsti　Fyrie　with　a　touch　of　speculation　in　her　eyes；　and　with　what　might　have　been　more　than　friendly　interest。
　
　Pitt　with　analytical　male　appraisal。
　
　He　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。　〃If　I　sit　here　staring；　Miss　Fyrie；　it's　because　Admiral　Sandecker　failed　to　warn　me　that　the　head　of　Fyrie　Limited　had　such　mystic　eyes。〃
　〃I　have　been　paid　pliments　by　men　before；　Major　Pitt；　but　you　are　the　first　to　describe　my　eyes　as　mystic。〃
　〃Purely　academic；〃　Pitt　said。　〃The　eyes　are　doors　to　the　secrets　a　person　hides　from　within。〃
　〃And　what　deep；　dark　shadows　do　you　see　lurking　within　my　soul？〃
　Pitt　laughed。　〃A　gentleman　never　reveals　a　lady's　private　thoughts。〃　He　offered　her　a　cigarette；　but　she　shook　her　head。　〃Seriously；　our　eyes　have　something　in　mon。〃
　〃Miss　Fyrie's　eyes　are　deep　blue；〃　Tidi　said；　yours　are　green。　What　could　they　possibly　have　in　mon？〃
　〃Miss　Fyrie's　eyes；　like　mine；　have　rays　that　spread　from　the　pupil　into　the　iris；〃　Pitt　said。　〃They're　sometimes　called　flashes。〃　He　paused　to　light　a　cigarette。　〃I　have　it　from　the　best　authority；　flashes　are　a　sign　of　psychic　powers。〃
　〃Are　you　clairvoyant？〃　Kirsti　asked。
　〃I　admit　to　being　a　failure；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃I　always　lose　at　poker　because　I　have　yet　to　read　my　opponent's　cards　or　mind。　How　about　you；　Miss　Fyrie；　can　you　see　into　the　future？〃
　He　saw　a　fleeting　shadow　across　her　eyes。
　〃I　know　my　destiny；　therefore　I　can　control　it。〃
　
　Pitts　dark；　grinning　features　gave　nothing　away　as　he　began　to　enter　into　the　spirit　of　the　eternal　chase。　He　leaned　across　the　table　until　only　a　few　inches　separated　their　eyes…green　stared　into　violet。
　〃I　take　it　you　usually　expect　to　get　what　you　want？〃
　〃Yes！〃　Her　answer　came　without　an　instants　hesitation。
　
　Then　suppose　I　told　you　that　under　no　circumstances　would　I　ever　attempt　to　make　love　to　you？〃
　〃I　know　the　sort　of　thing　you　expect　me　to　say；　Major。〃　An　expression　of　defiant　determination　animated　her　face。　〃But　If　I　really　desired　you　and　demanded　your　attention；　I　would　be　playing　into　your　hands；　Eternally。　No；　I　seldom　bother　with　something　I　do　not　want。　I　shant　totally　impore　your　empty　rejection。〃
　
　Pitt　acted　as　if　he　were　unconscious　of　any　static　in　the　atmosphere。　〃Why；　Miss　Fyrie；　I　hardly　figured　you　for　a　cop…out　artist。〃
　
　She　looked　blank。　〃A　cop…out　artist？〃
　〃That's　American　for　chicken；〃　Tidi　said　with　a　razor…sharp　tongue　coated　with　several　layers　of　sugar。
　Admiral　Sandecker　cleared　his　throat。　He　was　thinking　of　what　might　happen　if　this　trend　in　the　conversation　were　to　continue。
　〃I　see　no　reason　for　an　old　man　to　sit　here　and　listen　to　all　this　lighthearted　talk　while　he's　starving。
　
　Particularly　when　several　square　yards　of　delicious…looking　food　sits　begging　for　attention　only　ten　feet　away。〃
　〃Please　allow　me　to　introduce　you　to　our　native　buffet　dishes；〃　Kirsti　said。　〃I　trust　Major　Pitts　appetite　for　food　is　more　regulated　than　his　appetite　for　sex。〃
　〃Touche！〃　Pitt　laughed。　He　rose　and　pulled　back　Kirsti's　chair。　〃From　this　moment　forward；　my　every　move　will　be　with　moderation。〃
　
　The　varieties　of　fish　seemed　endless。　Pitt　counted　over　twenty　different　dishes　of　salmon　and　nearly　fifteen　of　cod　alone。　They　each　returned　with　their　plates　heaped　with　near　over…the…rim　helpings。
　〃I　see　you've　taken　a　fancy　to　our　cured　shark　meat；　Major。〃　Kirsti's　eyes　were　smiling。
　〃I've　heard　a　great　deal　about　the　processing；〃　Pitt　said。　〃And　now　at　last　I　have　a　chance　to　try　it。〃
　The　smile　in　her　lovely　eyes　turned　to　a　flicker　of　surprise　as　he　ate　several　slices。　〃Are　you　sure　you're　aware　of　how　we　prepare　it？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　he　answered。　〃The　species　of　shark　found　in　colder　waters　can't　be　eaten　fresh；　so　you　slice　it　in　strips　and　bury　it　in　beach　sand　for　twenty…six　days　and　then　cure　it　in　the　wind。〃
　〃You're　eating　it　raw；　you　know？〃　Kirsti　persisted。
　〃Is　there　any　other　way〃'　Pitt　said　as　he　forked　another　slice　into　his　mouth。　Didn't　have　an　easy　time　trying　to　shock　him；　Miss　Fyrie。〃
　Sandecker　cast　a　distasteful　eye　at　the　shark　meat。　〃Dirk's　hebby　is　gourmet　cooking。　His　specialty　is　fish；　and　he　is　an　expert　on　international　seafood　preparation。〃
　〃Actually；　it's　quite　good；〃　Pitt　managed　between　mouthfuls。　〃However；　I　do　think　the　Malaysian　version　has　a　better　flavor。　They　cure　the　shark　meat　wrapped　in　a　seaweed　called　echidna。　This　gives　it　a　slightly　sweeter　taste　than　the　Icelandic　delicacy。〃
　〃Americans　usually　order　steak　or　chicken；〃　Kirsti　said。　〃You　are　the　first　I　have　known　who　prefers　fish。〃
　〃Not　entirely；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Like　most　of　my　countrymen；　my　favorite　standby　is　still　a　good　double　hamburger　with　French　fries　and　a　chocolate　malt。〃
　Kirsti　looked　at　Pitt　and　smiled。　〃I　am　beginning　to　think　that　you　are　blessed　with　an　iron　stomach。〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃I　have　an　uncle　who　is　San　Francisco's　leading　bon　vivant。　In　my　own　small　way　I'm　trying　to　follow　in　his　footsteps。〃
　
　The　rest　of　the　meal　was　eaten　with　a　minimum　of　small　talk；　everyone　relaxed　and　fortable　in　the　atmosphere　of　friendliness　and　good　food。　Two　hours　later；　during　a　strawberry　and　ice　cream　flambo；　especially　concocted　by　Pitt　and　an　agreeable　chef；　Kirsti　began　to　make　apologies　for　an　early　departure。
　〃I　hope　you　will　not　think　me　rude；　Admiral　Sandecker；　but　I　am　afraid　I　must　leave　you；　Miss　Royal　and　Major　Pitt　very　shortly。　My　fiance　has　insisted　on　taking　me　to　a　poetry　reading　tonight；　and　since　I　am　only　a　woman；　it　is　difficult　to　refuse　his　wishes。〃　She　gave　Tidi　a　soft　female　look　of　understanding。　〃I'm　sure　Miss　Royal　can　appreciate　my　situation。〃
　Tidi　instantly　grasped　the　romantic　inference。　〃I　envy　you；　Miss　Fyrie。　A　fiance　who　loves　poetry　is　a　rare　catch。〃
　
　Admiral　Sandecker　beamed　a　felicitating　smile。
　〃My　sincerest　wishes　for　your　happiness；　Miss　Fyrie。　I　had　no　idea　you　were　engaged。　Who　is　the　lucky　man？〃
　
　The　admiral　held　his　posure　exceedingly　well；　Pitt　thought。　He　knew　the　Old　man　was　stunned　right　down　to　his　shoe　soles。　This　development　would　call　for　a　different　set　of　ground　rules…already　Pitt　found　himself　wondering　what　the　petition　was　like。
　〃Rondheim…Oskar　Rondheim；〃　Kristi　announced。
　〃My　brother　introduced　v；。；　in　a　letter。　Oskar　and　I　exchanged　pictures　and　corresponded　for　two　years　before　we　finally　met。〃
　Sandecker　stared　at　her。　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　think　I　know　of　him。　Isn't　he　the　one　who　owns　an　international　chain　of　canneries？　Rondheim　Industries？　A　fishing　fleet　the　size　of　Spain's　navy？　Or　am　I　thinking　of　some　other　Rondheim？〃
　〃No；　that's　right；〃　Kirsti　said。　〃His　executive　offices　are　right　here　in　Reykjavik。〃
　〃The　fishing　boats；　painted　blue；　flying　a　red　flag　with　an　albatross？〃　Pitt　inquired。
　Kirsti　nodded。　〃The　P。I'oatross　is　Oskar's　good　luck　symbol。　Do　you　know　his　boats？〃
　〃I've　had　occasion　to　fly　over　them；〃　Pitt　said。
　
　Of　course　Pitt　knew　the　boats　and　their　symbol。　So　did　every　fisherman　of　every　country　north　of　the　fortieth　parallel。　Rondheim's　fish