cc.iceberg-第30节

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ats　had　raced　past　each　other　and　the　hydroplane　was　gone。
　
　Pitt　had　no　time　to　reflect。　Quickly　he　lit　the　wick　on　one　of　the　gas　cans　as　Sandecker　swept　The　Grimsi　on　a　hard…a…port；　hundred…and…eighty…degree　swing　into　the　hydroplane's　wake。　The　worm　had　turned。　The　hydroplane　had　slowed；　and　a　pulsating　yellowish…red　glow　could　be　easily　seen　through　the　gray　mist。　The　admiral　headed　straight　for　it。　He　was　standing　straight　as　a　ramrod　now。　It　was　certain　that　anybody　who　might　have　been　shooting　at　The　Grimsi　thirty　seconds　ago　would　not　be　standing　on　a　flaming　deck　in　the　hope　of　drilling　an　old　scow　full　of　holes。　Nor　was　there　now　any　possibility　of　the　hydroplane　ramming　anything　until　the　fire　was　out。　〃hit　'em　again；〃　he　yelled　to　Pitt　through　the　shattered　forward　window　of　the　wheelhouse。　〃Give　the　bastards　a　taste　of　their　own　medicine。〃
　
　Pitt　didn't　answer。　He　barely　had　time　to　throw　the　flaming　can　before　Sandecker　spun　the　wheel　and　turned…across　the　hydroplane's　bow　for　a　third　running　attack。　Twice　more　they　raced　from　the　fog；　and　twice　more　Pitt　lobbed　his　dented　cans　of　searing　destruction　until　his　makeshift　arsenal　was　used　up。
　
　And　then　it　hit　The　Grimsi；　a　thunderous　shock　wave　that　knocked　Pitt　to　the　deck　and　blew　out　what　glass　was　left　in　the　windows　around　Sandecker。　The　hydroplane　had　erupted　in　a　volcanic　roar　of　fire　and　flaming　debris；　instantly　being　a　blazing　inferno　from　end　to　end。
　
　The　echoes　had　returned　from　the　cliffs　on　shore　and　left　again　when　Pitt　pushed　himself　shakily　to　his　feet　and　stared　incredulously　at　the　hydroplane。　What　had　once　been　a　superbly　designed　boat　was　now　a　shambles　and　burning　furiously　down　to　the　water's　edge。　He　staggered　to　the　wheelhouse…his　sense　of　balance　temporarily　crippled　by　the　ringing　in　his　ears　from　the　concussion…as　Sandecker　slowed　The　Grimsi　and　drifted　past　the　fiery　wreck。
　〃See　any　survivors？〃　Sandecker　asked。　He　had　a　thin　slice　on　one　cheek　that　trickled　blood。
　
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃They've　had　it；〃　he　said　callously。　〃Even　if　any　of　the　crew　made　it　to　the　water　alive；　they'd　die　of　exposure　before　we　could　find　them　in　this　soup。〃
　
　Tidi　entered　the　wheelhouse；　one　hand　nursing　a　purplish　bruise　on　her　forehead；　her　expression　one　of　total　bewilderment。　〃What　。　。　。　what　happened？〃　was　all　she　could　stamner。
　〃It　wasn't　the　fuel　tanks；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃Of　that　much　I'm　certain。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Pitt　said　grimly。　〃They　must　have　had　explosives　lying　above　decks　that　got　in　the　way　of　my　last　homemade　firebomb。〃
　〃Rather　careless　of　them。〃　Sandecker's　voice　was　almost　cheerful。　〃The　unexpected　move；　that's　what　you　said；　and　you　were　right。　It　never　occurred　to　the　dumb　bastards　that　cornered　mice　would　fight　like　tigers。〃
　〃At　least　we　evened　up　the　score　a　bit。〃　Pitt　should　have　felt　sick；　but　his　conscience　didn't　trouble　him。　Revenge…he　and　Sandecker　had　acted　out　of　desire　for　self…preservation　and　revenge。　They　had　made　a　down　payment　to　avenge　Hunnewell　and　the　others；　but　the　final　accounting　was　a　long　way　off。　Strange；　he　thought；　how　easy　it　was　to　kill　men　you　didn't　know；　whose　lives　you　knew　nothing　about。　〃Your　concern　for　life；　I　fear；　will　be　your　defeat；〃　Dr。　Jonsson　had　said。
　〃I　beg　you；　my　friend；　do　not　hesitate　when　the　moment　arrives。〃　Pitt　felt　a　grim　satisfaction。　The　moment　had　arrived　and　he　hadn't　hesitated。　He'd　had　no　time　even　to　think　about　the　pain　and　death　he　was　inflicting。　He　wondered　to　himself　if　this　subconscious　toleration　of　killing　a　total　stranger　was　the　factor　that　made　wars　acceptable　to　the　human　race。
　
　Tidi's　hushed　voice　broke　his　thoughts。　〃They're　dead；　they're　all　dead。〃　She　began　to　sob；　her　hands　pressed　tightly　to　her　face；　her　body　shaking　from　side　to　side。　〃You　murdered　them；　burned　them　to　death　in　cold　blood。〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　lady；〃　Pitt　said　coldly。　〃Open　your　eyes！　Take　a　good　look　around　you。　These　holes　in　the　woodwork　weren't　caused　by　woodpeckers。　To　quote　from　appropriate　cliches　from　every　western　movie　ever　made…they　drew　first；　or　we　had　no　choice；　marshal；　it　was　them　or　us。　You've　got　the　script　all　wrong；　dearheart。　We're　the　good　guys。　It　was　their　intention　to　coldbloodedly　murder　us。〃
　
　She　looked　up　into　the　lean；　determined　face；　saw　the　green　eyes　full　of　understanding；　and　suddenly　she　felt　ashamed。　〃You　two　were　warned。　I　told　you　to　gag　me　the　next　time　I　went　hysterical　and　shot　off　my　mouth。〃
　
　Pitt　met　her　gaze。　〃The　admiral　and　I　have　tolerated　you　this　far。　As　long　as　you　keep　us　in　coffee；　we　won't　plain　to　the　management。〃
　
　She　reached　up　and　kissed　Pitt　gently；　her　face　wet　With　tears　and　mist。　〃Two　coffees　ing　up。〃　She　brushed　her。eyes　with　her　fingers。
　〃And　go　rinse　your　face；〃　he　said；　grinning。　〃Your　eye　makeup　goo　is　halfway　to　your　chin。〃
　
　Obediently　she　turned　and　climbed　down　into　the　galley。　Pitt　looked　at　Sandecker　and　winked。　The　admiral　nodded　back　in　masculine　understanding　and　turned　back　to　the　blazing　boat。
　
　The　hydroplane　was　going　down　by　the　stern；　sinking　rapidly。　The　sea　crowded　over　the　gunwales　and　swamped　the　flames；　hissing　in　a　cloud　of　steam；　and　the　hydroplane　was　gone。　In　seconds；　only　a　swirling　welter　of　oily　bubbles；　unidentifiable　bits　of　flotsam；　and　dirty；　creaming　foam　remained　to　mark　the　grave。
　
　It　was　as　though　the　boat　had　been　nothing　but　a　nebulous　nightmare　that　vanished　with　the　passing　of　night。
　
　With　an　extra　effort　of　willpower；　Pitt　pulled　his　mind　back　to　practical　reality。　〃No　sense　in　hanging　around。　I　suggest　we　head　back　to　Reykjavik　as　fast　as　we　dare　through　this　fog。　The　quicker　and　the　farther　we　high　tail　it　out　of　this　area　before　the　weather　clears；　the　better　for　all　concerned。〃
　
　Sandecker　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　now　one　forty…five。　The　entire　action　had　barely　lasted　fifteen　minutes。　〃A　hot　toddy　is　looking　better　all　the　time；〃　he　said。　〃Stand　by　the　fathometer。　When　the　bottom　rises　above　a　hundred　feet；　we'll　at　least　know　we're　running　too　close　to　shore。〃
　
　Three　hours　later　and　twenty　miles　southwest　of　Reykjavik　they　rounded　the　tip　of　the　Keflavik　peninsula　and　broke　out　of　the　fog。　Iceland's　seemingly　eternal　sun　greeted　them　in　a　dazzling　brilliance。　A　Pan　American　jet；　arising　from　the　runway　of　the　Keflavik　International　Airport；　soared　over　them；　its　polished　aluminum　skin　reflecting　the　solar　glare；　before　making　a　great　circle　toward　the　east　and　London。　Pitt　watched　it　wistfully　and　idly　wished　he　were　at　the　controls　chasing　the　clouds　instead　of　standing　on　the　deck　of　a　rolling　old　scow。　His　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　Sandecker。
　〃I　can't　begin　to　tell　you　how　sad　I　feel　about　returning　Rondheim's　boat　in　such　shabby　condition。〃　A　sly；　devilish　smile　cut　a　swath　across　Sandecker's　face。
　〃Your　solicitude　is　touching；〃　Pitt　returned　sarcastically。
　〃What　the　hell；　Rondheim　can　afford　it。〃　Sandecker　took　a　hand　off　the　wheel　and　waved　it　around　the　shattered　wheelhouse。　〃A　little　wood　putty；　a　little　paint；　new　glass　and　it'll　be　good　as　new。〃
　〃Rondheim　might　well　laugh　away　the　damage　to　The　Grimsi；　but　he　won't　exactly　roll　in　the　aisle　laughing　when　he　learns　the　fate　of　his　hydroplane　and　crew。〃
　
　Sandecker　faced　Pitt。　〃How　can　you　possibly　connect　Rondheim　with　the　hydroplane？〃
　〃The　connection　is　the　boat　we're　standing　on。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　do　better　than　that；〃　Sandecker　said　impatiently。
　
　Pitt　sat　down　on　a　bench　over　a　life　preserver　locker　and　lit　a　cigarette。　〃The　best　plans　of　mice　and　men。　Rondheim　planned　well；　but　he　overlooked　the　thousand…to…one　chance　that　we　would　swipe　his　boat。
　
　We　wondered　why　The　Grimsi　was　tied　to　the　Fyrie　dock　。　。　。　It　was　there　to　follow　us。　Shortly　after　we　were　to　cast　off　and　begin　cruising　the　harbor　in　the　luxury　of　the　cabin　cruiser；　his　crew　would　have　appeared　on　the　dock　and　eased　this　nondescript　fishing　boat　into　our　wake　to　keep　an　eye　on　us。　If　we　had　acted　suspiciously　once　we　were　at　sea；　there'd　have　been　no　way　to　shake　them。　The　cabin　cruiser's　top　speed　probably　stands　near　twenty　knots。　We　know　The　Grimsi's　to　be　closer　to　forty。〃
　〃The　expressions　on　a　few　faces　must　have　been　priceless；〃　Sandecker　said；　smiling。
　〃Panic　undoubtedly　reigned　for　a　while；〃　Pitt　agreed；　〃until　Rondheim　could　figure　out　an　alternate　plan。　I　give　him　credit；　he's　a　smart　bastard。　He's　been　more　suspicious　of　our　actions　than　we　thought。　Still；　he　wasn't　pletely　sure　of　what　we　were　up　to。　The　clincher　came　when　we　borrowed　the　wrong　boat　quite　by　accident。　After　the　shock　wore　off；　he　guessed；　mistakenly；　that　we　were　wise　to　him　and　took　it　on　purpose　to　screw　him　up。　But　he　now　knew　where　we　were　headed。〃
　〃The　black　jet；〃　Sandecker　said　positively。　〃Feed　us　to　the　fish　after　we　pinpointed　its　exact　position。
　
　That　was　the　idea？〃
　
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　it　was　his　original　intention　to　eliminate　us。　We　had　him　fooled　on　the　diving　equipment。　He　assumed　we　would　try　to　find　the　wreck　from　the　surface　and　then　e　back　later　for　the　underwater　recovery。〃
　〃What　changed　his　mind？〃
　〃The　lookout　on　the　beach。〃
　〃But　where　did　he　pop　from？〃
　〃Reykjavik　by