cc.iceberg-第44节

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　of　optimism　in　the　eyes　of　the　men　who　knew　death　was　only　a　few　hours　away；　forced　him　to　ignore　the　pain。
　〃A　few　can　walk；〃　Lillie　answered。　〃But　with　broken　arms；　they'll　never　make　it　to　the　top　of　the　ravine。
　〃Then　I　guess　I'm　elected。〃
　〃You're　elected。〃　Lillie　smiled　faintly。　〃If　it's　any　consolation；　you　have　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　Rondheim　is　up　against　a　tougher　man　than　his　puters　projected。〃
　
　The　encouragement　in　Lillie's　eyes　became　the　extra　impetus　Pitt　needed。　He　rose　unsteadily　to　his　feet　and　looked　down　at　the　figure　lying　stiffly　on　the　ground。
　〃Where　did　Rondheim　bust　you？〃
　〃Both　shoulders　and…I'm　guessing…my　pelvis。〃
　
　Lillie's　tone　was　as　calm　as　if　he　were　describing　the　fractured　surface　of　the　moon。
　〃Kind　of　makes　you　wish　you　were　back　in　St。　Louis　running　the　brewery；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Not　really。　Dear　old　Dad　never　had　much　confidence　in　his　only　son。　If　I　。　。　。　if　I'm　not　alive　and　kicking　when　you　e　back；　tell　him…〃
　〃Read　him　the　riot　act　yourself。　Besides；　my　heart　wouldn't　be　in　it。〃　Pitt　had　to　fight　to　keep　his　voice　from　faltering。　'I　never　liked　Lillie　beer　anyway。〃
　
　He　turned　away　and　knelt　over　Tidi。
　〃Where　did　they　hurt　you；　dearheart？〃
　〃My　ankles　are　a　little　off　center。〃　She　smiled　gamely。　〃Nothing　serious。　I'm　just　lucky；　I　guess。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Pitt　said。　〃You　wouldn't　be　lying　here　if　it　wasn't　for　my　bungling。〃
　
　She　took　his　hand　and　squeezed　it。　〃It's　more　exciting　than　taking　dictation　and　typing　the　admiral's　letters。〃
　
　Pitt　bent　over　and　lifted　her　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　tenderly　a　few　feet　and　laid　her　beside　Lillie。
　〃Here's　your　big　chance；　you　little　gold　digger。　A　real　live　millionaire。　And　for　the　next　few　hours　he's　a　captive　audience。　Mr。　Jerome　P。　Lillie；　may　I　present　Miss　Tidi　Royal；　the　darling　of　the　National　Underwater　Marine　Agency。　May　you　both　live　happily　ever　after。〃
　
　Pitt　kissed　her　lightly　on　the　forehead；　stumbled　awkwardly　once　more　to　his　feet　and　walked　unsteadily　over　the　water…soaked　ground　to　the　old　man　he　knew　simply　as　Sam。　He　thought　of　the　distinguished　manner；　the　warm；　piercing　eyes　he　had　seen　in　the　trophy　room　as　he　stared　down　and　saw　the　legs；　twisted　outwards　like　the　crooked　branches　of　an　oak　tree；　the　blue　eyes　dulled　by　pain；　and　he　forced　himself　to　smile　a　confident；　hopeful　smile。
　〃Hang　in　there；　Sam。〃　Pitt　leaned　over　and　gently　grasped　the　old　man's　shoulder。　〃I'll　be　back　with　the　prettiest　nurse　in　Iceland　before；　lunchtime。〃
　
　Sam's　lips　gave　the　barest　hint　of　a　grin。　〃To　a　man　my　age；　a　cigar　would　prove　much　more　practical。〃
　〃A　cigar　it　is。〃
　
　Pitt　leaned　over　and　shook　Sam's　hand。　The　blue　eyes　suddenly　came　to　life　and　the　old　man　raised　up；　griPPing　Pitts　outstretched　hand　with　an　intensity　that　Pitt　didn't　think　was　possible；　and　the　lines　of　the　tired；　drawn　face　lightened　into　determined　hardness。
　〃He　must　be　stopped；　Major　Pitt。〃　The　voice　was　low；　almost　an　insistent　whisper。　〃James　must　not　be　allowed　to　go　through　with　this　terrible　thing。　His　purpose　glories　in　goodness；　but　the　people　he　has　surrounded　himself　with；　glory　only　in　greed　and　power。〃
　
　Pitt　only　nodded　without　speaking。
　〃I　forgive　James　for　what　he　has　done。〃　Sam　was　talking；　almost　rambling　to　himself。　〃Tell　him　his　brother　forgives…〃
　〃My　God！〃　Pitts　shock　showed　in　his　face。
　〃You're　brothers？〃
　〃Yes；　James　is　my　younger　brother。　I　remained　in　the　background　these　many　years；　handling　the　financial　details　and　problems　that　plague　a　giant　multinational　corporation。　James；　a　master　at　wheeling　and　dealing；　enjoyed　the　center　of　attraction。　Until　now；　we　were　a　pretty　successful　bination。〃　Sam　Kelly　bowed　his　head　in　a　barely　perceptible　sign　of　farewell。
　〃God　bring　you　luck。〃　And　then　a　smile　slowly　stretched　across　his　face。　〃Don't　forget　my　cigar。〃
　〃You　can　count　on　it；〃　Pitt　murmured。　He　turned　away；　his　mind　swirling　with　conflicting　images　and　emotions；　then　slowly　clearing　and　settling　on　one　permanent　irresistible　purpose　that　held　his　mental　processes　in　a　viselike　grip。　The　driving　force；　the　hatred　that　had　been　smoldering　within　him　since　Rondheim　lashed　out　with　the　first　crippling　blow；　now　exploded　into　an　intense　burning　flame　that　consumed　his　mind　to　the　expulsion　of　all　else；　but　then　his　thoughts　were　pulled　back　to　reality　by　the　low　voice　of　the　Russian　diplomat；　Tamareztov。
　〃The　heart　of　a　good　munist　goes　with　you；　Major　Pitt。〃
　
　Pitt　barely　paused　to　reply。　〃I'm　honored。　It's　not　often　a　munist　has　to　rely　on　a　capitalist　to　save　his　life。〃
　〃It　is　not　an　easy　pill　to　swallow。〃
　
　Pitt　stopped　and　looked　down　at　Tamareztov　in　slow　speculation；　noting　the　arms　lying　limply　on　the　ground；　the　unnatural　angle　of　the　left　leg。　Then　his　face　softened。
　〃If　you　promise　not　to　hold　any　party　indoctrination　lectures　while　I'm　gone；　I'll　bring　you　back　a　bottle　of　vodka。〃；　Tamareztov　stared　back　at　Pitt　curiously。　〃A　display　of　Yankee　humor；　Major？　But　I　think　you　really　mean　what　you　say　about　the　vodka。〃
　
　A　grin　touched　the　corners　of　Pitts　lips。　〃Don't　misread　my　intentions。　Since　I'm　already　taking　a　short　walk　to　the　corner　liquor　store；　I　merely　thought　I'd　save　you　the　trip。〃　Then；　before　the　unprehending　Russian　could　reply；　Pitt　turned　and　began　climbing　the　embankment　toward　the　top　of　the　ravine。
　
　Cautiously　at　first；　a　few　inches　at　a　time；　trying　to　move　at　a　pace　that　favored　his　cracked　ribs；　Pitt　clawed　at　the　soft；　slippery　earth　and　pulled　himself　upward　without　looking　in　any　direction　except　straight　ahead。　The　first　twenty　feet　were　easy。　Then　the　slope　steepened　and　the　soil　became　more　firm；　making　it　difficult　to　dig　the　shallow　hand　and　toeholds　which　afforded　his　only　source　of　support。
　
　The　climb　itself　became　a　purgatory；　unctuated　by　the　agony　of　his　injuries。　All　emotion　had　drained　away；　his　movements　became　mechanical；　dig　and　pull；　dig　and　pull。　He　tried　to　keep　count　of　each　foot　gained　but　lost　track　after　thirty；　his　mind　totally　void　of　all　mental　function。
　
　He　was　like　a　blind　man　moving　through　the　daylight　in　a　blind　world；　and　the　only　sense　he　still　possessed　was　the　sense　of　touch。　Then　for　the　first　time　fear　came　to　him…not　fear　of　falling　or　fear　of　injury；　but　the　honest；　cold　fear　of　failing　over　twenty　people　whose　lives　depended　on　his　reaching　that　line　between　earth　and　sky　that　seemed　so　far　above　him。　Minutes　passed　that　seemed　like　hours。　How　many？　He　didn't　know；　would　never　know。　Time　as　a　means　of　measurement　no　longer　existed。　His　body　was　simply　a　robot　going　through　repeated　motions　without　the　benefit　of　constant　mands　from　the　mind。
　
　He　began　counting　again；　only　this　time　he　stopped　at　ten。　Then　one　minute　of　rest；　he　told　himself；　no　more；　and　he　began　again。　His　breath　was　ing　in　heaving　gulps　now；　his　fingers　were　raw；　the　ends　of　the　nails　jagged　and　spotted　with　blood；　his　arm　muscles　aching　from　the　continuous　effort…a　sure　sign　his　body　was　about　spent。　Sweat　trickled　down　his　face；　but　the　irritating　tickle　could　not　be　felt　through　'his　agonized　flesh。　He　paused　and　looked　up；　seeing　little　through　the　swollen　slits　that　were　his　eyes。　The　edge　of　the　ravine　blended　into　a　nebulous　line　of　angles　and　shadowy　profiles　that　defied　any　judgment　of　distance。
　
　And　then　suddenly；　almost　with　a　sense　of　surprise；　Pitts　hands　found　the　soft；　crumbling　edge　of　the　slope。　With　strength　he　didn't　think　was　possible；　he　pulled　himself　up　onto　flat　ground　and　rolled　over　on　his　back；　laying　inert　and　to　all　appearances；　dead。
　
　For　nearly　five　minutes；　Pitt　lay　rigid；　only　his　chest　moving　with　the　pulsating　rise　and　fall　of　his　breath。　Slowly；　as　the　waves　of　total　exhaustion　receded　to　a　level　of　sufferable　tolerance；　he　pulled　himself　to　his　feet　and　peered　into　the　bottom　of　the　narrow　chasm　at　the　tiny　figures　below。　He　cupped　his　hands　to　yell；　then　decided　against　it。　There　were　no　words　he　could　think　of　to　shout　that　had　any　meaning；　any　encouragement。　All　the　people　below　could　see　was　his　head　and　shoulders　over　the　level　of　the　steep　cliff。　Then　with　a　wave　of　the　hand；　he　was　gone。
　
　Chapter　17
　
　Pitt　stood　like　a　solitary　tree　on　a　great　empty　plain。　A　dark　green　mosslike　vegetation　spread　in　every　direction　as　far　as　he　could　see；　edged　on　one　horizon　by　a　range　of　high　hills　and　cloaked　by　a　sun…whitened　mist　on　two　others。　Except　for　a　few　small　rises　dotting　the　desolate　landscape；　most　of　the　ground　was　nearly　flat。　At　first　he　thought　he　was　pletely　alone。　But　then　he　saw　a　tiny　snipe　that　soared　across　the　sky　like　a　dart　in　search　of　an　unseen　target。　It　came　closer；　and　from　a　height　of　two　hundred　feet　it　circled　and　looked　down　at　Pitt；　as　if　curiously　inspecting　the　strange　animal　that　stood　out　so　vividly　in　red　and　yellow　plumage　against　the　center　of　the　unending　green　carpet。　After　three　cursory　sweeps；　the　little　bird's　inquisitiveness　waned　and　it　fluttered　its　wings　against　the　air　and　continued　on　its　seeming　flight　to　nowhere。
　
　As　if　perceiving　the　bird's　thoughts；　Pitt　stared　down　at　his　offbeat　clothing　and　murmured　vaguely　to　himself；　〃I've　heard　of　being　all　dre