cc.iceberg-第41节

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s　beginning　to　get　to　him　now；　but　his　mind　was　still　running　with　the　smoothness　of　a　generator。
　〃Then　Hunnewell　no　longer　served　a　useful　purpose。　Your　data…proces！zing　brains　discovered　the　secret　of　producing　celtinium…279。〃
　〃I　pliment　you。　Major　Pitt。　You　possess　a　penetrating　discernment。〃　Kelly　glanced　impatiently　at　his　watch　and　nodded　to　Rondheim。　Then　he　turned　and　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　but　I'm　afraid　the　time　has　e；　gentlemen。　The　party　is　over。〃
　〃What　do　you　intend　on　doing　with　us；　James？〃
　
　Sam's　eyes　burned　into　Kelly's　until　the　billionaire　turned　and　avoided　the　stare。　〃It's　obvious　you　told　us　your　secrets　as　a　courtesy　to　our　curiosity。　It's　also　obvious　you　can　never　let　us　walk　from　this　house　with　those　secrets　in　our　heads。〃
　〃It's　true。〃　Kelly　looked　at　the　men　standing　opposite　the　fireplace。　〃None　of　you　can　be　permitted　to　tell　what　you　heard　here　tonight。〃
　〃But　why？〃　old　Sam　asked　philosophically。　〃Why　expose　us　to　your　clandestine　operation　and　thereby　seal　our　death　warrants？〃
　
　Kelly　tiredly　rubbed　his　eyes　and　leaned　back　in　a　large　overstuffed　leather　chair。　〃The　moment　of　truth；　the　denouement。〃　He　sadly　searched　the　faces　across　the　room。　They　were　pale　with　shock　and　disbelief。
　〃It　is　now　eleven　o'clock。　In　exactly　forty…two　hours　and　ten　minutes；　Hermit　Limited　will　open　its　doors　for　business。　Twenty…four　hours　later　we　will　be　running　the　affairs　of　our　first　client；　or　country；　if　you　prefer。　In　order　to　make　this　historical　event　as　inauspicious　as　possible；　we　need　a　diversion。　A　disaster　that　will　attract　headlines　and　cause　anxious　concern　among　the　leaders　of　world　governments　while　our　plan　is　carried　off　practically　unnoticed。〃
　〃And　we　are　your　diversion；〃　said　the　tall　white　haired　man　with　the　solemn　eyes。
　
　After　a　long　wordless　stare；　Kelly　simply　said；　〃Yes。
　〃The　innocent　victims　of　a　disaster　spawned　by　puters　to　make　headlines。　God；　it's　barbaric！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Kelly　repeated；　〃but　necessary。　In　your　own　ways；　to　your　own　countries；　you　are　important　men。
　
　You　represent　the　industry；　government　and　science　of　five　different　nations。　Your　bined　loss　will　be　considered　a　worldwide　tragedy。〃
　〃This　must　be　some　sort　of　insane　joke；〃　Tamareztov　shouted。　〃You　cannot　simply　shoot　two　dozen　men　and　their　wives　down　like　animals。〃
　〃Your　wives　will　be　returned　to　your　lodgings　safe　and　unharmed；　and　unknowing。〃　Kelly　set　his　glass　on　the　mantel。　〃We　have　no　intention　of　shooting　anyone。
　
　We　intend　to　rely　on　Mother　Nature　to　do　the　job；　with　a　little　help；　of　course。　After　all；　shootings　can　be　traced；　accidents　merely　regretted。〃
　
　Rondheim　motioned　the　black　coveralled　men　with　the　guns　to　move　in　closer。　〃If　you　please；　gentlemen；　roll　up　one　of　your　sleeves。〃
　
　As　if　on　cue；　Kirsti　left　the　room　and　quickly　returned　carrying　a　small　tray　set　with　bottles　and　hypodermic　syringes。　She　set　the　tray　down　and　began　filling　the　syringes。
　〃I'll　be　damned　if　you'll　stick　a　needle　in　my　arm；〃　one　of　the　men　in　Pitts　group　exploded。　〃Shoot　me　now　and　get　it　over…〃　His　eyes　went　glassy　as　a　guard's　rifle　butt　caught　him　behind　the　ear　and　he　slumped　to　the　floor。
　〃Let　us　have　no　further　arguments；〃　Rondheim　said　grimly。　He　turned　to　Pitt。　〃e　into　the　next　room；　Major。　In　your　instance；　I　shall　deal　with　you　on　a　personal　basis。〃　He　waved　the　gun　he　had　taken　from　Kirsti　toward　a　doorway。
　
　Rondheim；　followed　by　two　of　his　guards；　escorted　Pitt　along　a　wide　hall；　down　a　circular　flight　of　stairs　into　another　hall；　then　shoved　roughly　through　the　second　of　several　doorways　lining　both　sides　of　the　serond　passageway。　Pitt；　letting　himself　go　loose；　stumbled　awkwardly；　fell　to　the　floor；　then　scanned　the　room。
　
　It　was　an　immense　room；　painted　stark　white；　a　large　pad　lay　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　surrounded　by　an　array　of　body…building　equipment；　brightly　lit　by　long　rows　of　fluorescent　light　fixtures。　The　room　was　a　gymnasium；　better　and　more　expensively　equipped　than　any　Pitt　had　ever　seen。　The　walls　were　decorated　with　at　least　fifty　posters　depicting　the　many　karate；　movements。　Pitt　silently　acknowledged　a　well…conceived　and　laid…out　training　room。
　
　Rondheim　passed　the　small　automatic　to　one　of　the　guards。　〃I　must　leave　you　for　a　moment；　Major；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃Please　make　yourself　fortable　until　I　return。　Perhaps　you　would　care　to　loosen　up　your　muscles。　May　I　suggest　the　parallel　bars。〃　With　that　he；　laughed　loudly　and　left　the　room。
　
　Pitt　stayed　where　he　was　on　the　floor　and　studied　the　two　guards。　One　was　a　tall；　ice…faced　and　hard…eyed　giant　nearly　six　feet　four。　The　dark　hair　circling　his　prematurely　bald　head　made　him　look　like　a　monk；　an　illusion　shattered　by　the　semi…automatic　rifle　cradled　in　a　pair　of　huge；　hairy　hands。　He　returned　Pitts　stare　with　a　look　that　dared　Pitt　to　try　and　escape；　a　possibility　made　one　hundred　percent　hopeless　by　the　second　guard。　He　stood　and　filled　up　the　door　to　the　hallway；　his　shoulders　ing　within　an　inch　of　touching　both　sides　of　the　vertical　framework。　Except　for　a　big；　red　face；　heavily　moustached；　he　could　have　passed　inspection　with　an　army　of　apes。　He　let　his　rifle　hang　loosely　in　a　hand　that　came　nearly　to　his　knees。
　
　Five　minutes　passe…five　minutes　during　which　Pitt　carefully　planned　his　next　move；　five　minutes　in　which　the　guard's　hard　eyes　never　left　him。　Then　suddenly；　the　door　on　the　far　side　of　the　gym　opened　and　Rondheim　walked　in。　He　had　changed　from　his　dinner　jacket　into　the　white；　loose…fitting　attire　of　a　karate　disciple；　clothing　that　Pitt　knew　was　called　a　gi。　Rondheim　stood　there　for　a　moment；　an　assured；　confident　smile　taut　on　his　thin　lips。　Then　he　walked　softly　across　the　floor　on　bare　feet　and　stepped　onto　the　heavy　mat；　facing　Pitt。
　〃Tell　me；　Major。　Are　you　familiar　with　karate　or　Kung…Fu？〃
　
　Pitt　uneasily　eyed　the　narrow　black　belt　that　was　knotted　around　Rondheim's　waist　and　fervently　prayed　that　the　warm　glow　of　the　brandy　would　ease　the　beating　he　felt　certain　was　ing。　He　simply　shook　his　head。
　〃Perhaps　judo？〃
　〃No；　I　abhor　physical　violence。〃
　〃A　pity。　I　had　hoped　for　a　more　worthy　opponent。
　
　But　it　is　no　less　than　I　suspected。〃　He　idly　fingered　the　Japanese　characters　embroidered　on　his　belt　〃I　have　my　doubts　about　your　masculinity；　yet　Kirsti　thinks　you　are　more　manly　than　you　act。　We　shall　soon　see。〃
　
　Pitt　forced　back　the　hate　and　projected　a　quaver　of　fear。　〃Leave　me　alone；　leave　me　alone！〃　His　voice　was　high…pitched　now；　almost　a　screech。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　hurt　me？　I've　done　nothing　to　you。〃　His　mouth　was　working　in　short　jerks　from　a　contorted　face。　〃I　lied　to　you　about　blowing　up　your　boat。　I　never　saw　it　through　the　fog…I　swear。　You　must　believe…〃　The　two　guards　looked　at　each　other　and　exchanged　sickened　expressions；　but　Rondheim's　face　went　far　beyond　mere　revulsion…he　looked　positively　nauseated。
　〃Enough！〃　he　shouted　mandingly。　〃Stop　this　drivel。　I　never　believed　for　a　moment　you　had　the　courage　to　attack　and　destroy　my　boat　and　crew。〃
　
　Pitt　stared　wildly　about　him；　a　look　of　blind　stupid　terror　in　his　eyes　that　might　have　been　painted　there。
　〃You　have　no　reason　to　kill　me。　I'll　tell　no　one　anything。　Please！　You　can　trust　me。〃　He　started　to　move　toward　Rondheim；　his　hands　upturned；　pleading。
　〃Stand　where　you　are！〃
　
　Pitt　froze。　His　planned　act　was　working。　He　could　only　hope　now　that　Rondheim　would　quickly　tire　of　a　victim　who　Put　up　no　defense；　no　resistance　at　all。
　〃A　major　in　the　United　States　Air　Force；〃　Rondheim　grimaced。　〃I'll　wager　you　are　nothing　but　a　spineless　homosexual　who　used　your　father's　influence　to　acquire　rank…the　lowest　form　of　vermin；　living　off　Your　own　excretion。　Soon　you　will　know　what　it　is　to　feel　pain　from　the　hands　and　feet　of　another　man。　A　shame　You　will　not　enjoy　the　time　to　look　back　and　reflect　on；your　most　Punishing　lesson　in　the　art　of　selfdefense。〃　Pitt　stood　there　like　a　panic…frozen　elk　about　to　be　brought　down　by　the　hounds。　He　stood　there　mumbling　incoherently　as　Rondheim　moved　to　the　middle　of　the　mat　and　assumed　one　of　the　many　opening　stances　of　Karate。
　〃No；　wait…〃　Pitt　choked　the；　words　off　in　his　throat；　threw　back　his　head　and　spun　sideways　in　one　convulsive　movement。　He　had　caught　the　tiny　shift　in　Rondheim's　eyes；　the　beginning　of　the　lightning　thrust　as　the　Icelander　came　in　with　a　reverse　punch　that　connected　on　pitt's　cheekbone；　a　half…solid　blow　that　would　have　caused　much　more　damage　than　a　bruised　swelling　if　Pitt　hadn't　rolled　with　the　impact。　He　reeled　back　two　steps　and　stood　there　as　if　stunned；　swaying　dazedly　to　and　fro　as　Rondheim　advanced　slowly；　the　trace　of　a　sadistic　smile　in　the　thin；　chiseled　features。
　
　Pitt　had　made　a　mistake　by　ducking；　had　almost　given　himself　away　by　revealing　his　quick　reflexes。　He　had　to　fight　to　keep　his　mind　turned　on　the　rules。　it　wasn't　easy。　No　normal　man　who　knows　how　to　take　care　of　himself　enjoys　standing　idle　while　being　beaten　to　a　pulp。　He　gritted　his　teeth　and　waited；　holding　his　body　low　to　absorb　the　blows　from　Rondheim's　next　attack。　He　didn't　wait　but　a　few　seconds。
　
　Rondheim　scored　with　a　roundhouse　kick　to　the　head　that　rammed　Pitt　full　in　the　face；