cc.iceberg-第49节

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　Tidi　pressed　her　face　against　Pitts　hand　and　began　to　sob；　her　breath　ing　in　convulsive　shudders；　the　shock；　the　pain；　and　the　relief　washing　over　her　in　rolling　waves。　He　held　her　tightly　saying　nothing。　He　was　still　holding　her　shivering　body　and　stroking　her　hair　as　the　would　a　little　girl　when　Captain　HUH　approached。
　〃Take　the　girl　first；〃　pitt　said。　〃Her　ankles　are　broken。〃
　〃My　men　have　set　up　an　aid　tent　above　the　slopes。
　
　There's　a　stove　warming　in　it　now。　She'll　be　fortable　there　until　the　Icelandic　Search　and　Rescue　Team　can　transport　her　to　Reykjavik。〃　Hull　wiped　his　eyes　tiredly。
　〃Their　cross…country　vehicles　are　homing　in　on　our　radio　signals　now。〃
　〃Can't　you　airlift　her　out？〃
　
　Hull　shook　his　head。　〃Sorry；　Major。　That　old　trimotor　can　only　carry　eight　stretcher　cases　on　one　trip。
　
　I'm　afraid　the　first　load　will　have　to　be　the　most　critically　injured。　This　is　one　occasion　where　the　ladies　will　have　to　go　last。〃　He　nodded　down　at　Lillie。　〃How　bad　is　this　one？〃
　〃Fractured　shoulders　and　pelvis。〃
　
　Two　of　Hull's　men　appeared　carrying　an　aluminum　basket　stretcher。　〃Take　the　man　first；〃　he　ordered。
　〃And　see　that　you　handle　him　gently。　This　one　is　a　back　injury。〃
　
　The　paramedics　carefully　eased　Lillie's　inert　form　into　the　stretcher　and　attached　the　ropes　for　the　ascent　to　the　treacherous　ravine。　Pitt　couldn't　help　but　be　impressed　and　thankful　for　the　efficiency　and　smoothness　of　the　lifting　lines。　Just　three　minutes　later　Hull　had　returned　for　Tidi。
　〃Okay；　Major。　I'll　take　the　little　lady。〃
　〃Handle　her　with　care；　Captain。　She　happens　to　be　Admiral　Sandecker's　private　secretary。〃
　
　Apparently　nothing　startled　Hull　for　long。　The　surprise　only　flickered　in　his　eyes　for　an　instant。　〃Well；　well；〃　he　boomed。　〃In　that　case；　I'll　escort　the　lady　myself。〃
　
　Hull　tenderly　picked　Tidi　up　in　his　massive　arms　and　carried　her　to　a　waiting　basket。　Then　true　to　his　word；　he　climbed　along　beside　her　all　the　way　to　the　top　of　the　slope　and　saw　her　fortably　bedded　down　inside　the　warm　tent　before　he　returned　to　direct　the　rescue　operation。
　
　Pitt　pulled　the　package　from　under　his　arm　and　moved　slowly　across　the　broken　bottom　of　the　ravine　until　he　stood　over　the　Russian　diplomat。　〃Mr。　Tamareztov；　how　are　you　getting　along？〃
　〃A　Russian　relishes　the　cold；　Major　Pitt。〃　He　cupped　a　small　handful　of　snow　that　had　fallen　across　his　chest。　〃Moscow　would　not　be　Moscow　without　a　season　of　snow。　To　me　it　is　the　same　as　desert　sand　to　an　Arab　a　curse　that　is　part　of　one's　very　existence。〃
　〃Are　you　in　pain？〃
　〃An　old　Bolshevik　never　admits　to　pain。〃
　〃A　pity；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃A　pity？〃　Tainareztov　repeated。　He　looked　at　Pitt　suspiciously。
　〃Yes；　I　was　about　to　offer　you　a　little　something　that's　guaranteed　to　relieve　disfort　caused　by　hay　fever；　headache　and　indigestion。〃
　〃More　Yankee　humor；　Major？〃
　
　Pitt　let　a　slight　grin　touch　his　face。　〃Yankee　sarcasm；〃　he　said。
　〃The　prime　reason　why　we're　so　often　misunderstood　by　people　of　other　countries。　The　average　American　has　a　sarcastic　streak　down　his　back　that　defies　intellicent　prehension。〃　He　sat　down　next　to　Tamareztov　and　produced　the　bottle　of　vodka。　〃For　example；　you　before　you　the　fruits　of　my　trip　to　the　corner　liquor　store。〃
　
　Tamareztov　could　only　stare　incredulously。
　
　A　promise　made　is　a　promise　kept。〃　pit　cradled　the　injured　Russian's　head　and　tilted　the　bottle　to　the　man's　lips。　〃Here；　drink　some　of　this。〃
　
　Tamareztov　easily　drained　a　quarter　of　the　bottle　before　Pitt　eased　it　away。　He　nodded　his　head　and　mumbled　his　thanks。　Then　his　eyes　took　on　a　warm　penetrating　expression。　〃Domestic；　true　Soviet　domestic…　How　in　the　world　did　you　manage　that？〃　he　asked。
　
　Pitt　tucked　the　bottle　in　Tamareztov's　armpit。　；it　was　on　sale；〃　he　said。　Then　he　rose　and　turned　to　leave。
　〃Major　Pitt。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Thank　You；〃　Tamareztov　said　simply。
　
　He　was　white　with　snow；　lying　there　vacantly　staring　at　the　clouds　when　Pitt　found　him。　His　face；　calm　and　serene；　had　the　expression　of　a　man　untouched　by　pain；　a　man　who　was　happy　and　content　and　at　last　at　peace　with　himself。　A　medic　was　bending　over；　examining　him。
　〃Heart？〃　Pitt　asked　softly；　somehow　afraid　he　might　wake　him。
　〃Considering　his　age；　that's　as　safe　a　bet　as　any；　sir。〃　The　medic　turned　and　motioned　to　Hull；　who　was　standing　but　a　few　feet　away。
　〃Shall　we　evacuate　him；　now；　Captain？〃
　〃Leave　him　lay；〃　Hull　said。　〃It's　our　job　to　save　the　living。　This　man　is　dead。　As　long　as　there　is　a　chance　to　keep　any　one　of　these　people　from　joining　him；　our　attention　must　go　to　them。〃
　〃You're　right；　of　course；〃　Pitt　said　wearily。　〃This　is　your　show；　Captain。　Hull's　tone　softened。　〃You　know　this　man；　sir？〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　known　him　better。　His　name　is　Sam　Kelly。
　
　The　name　obviously　meant　nothing　to　Hull。　'y　don't　you　let　us　take　you　topside；　Major。　You're　in　a　pretty　bad　way　yourself　。〃　。〃
　
　Pitt　reached　over　〃No；　I'll　stay　with　Sam　here　and　gently　closed　Kelly's　eyes　for　the　final　time　and　lightly　brushed　the　snowflakes　from　the　old　wrinkled　face。　Then　he　took　a　cigar　he　recognized　as　Sandecker's　special　brand　from　the　box　and　slipped　it　into　Kelly's　breast　pocket。
　
　Hull　stood　unmoving　for　nearly　a　minute；　groping　for　words。　He　started　to　say　something　but　thought　better　of　it　and　instead　simply　nodded　his　head　in　silent　understanding。　Then　he　turned　and　plunged　back　to　work。
　
　Sandecker　closed　the　file　and　put　it　down　and　leaned　forward　as　if　he　were　about　to　spring。　〃If　you're　asking　for　my　permission；　the　answer　is　an　unequivocal　no！〃
　〃You　plac　me　in　an　awkward　position；　Admiral。〃
　
　The　words　came　from　a　man　who　sat　facing　Sandecker。
　
　He　was　short　and　seemed　almost　as　broad　as　the　chair。
　
　He　wore　a　nondescript　black　suit　with　a　white　shirt　decorated　by　a　black　silk　tie。　Unconsciously；　every　so　often；　he　ran　his　hand　over　a　bald　head　as　if　searching　for　hair　that　once　might　have　existed；　and　he　peered　through　gray　eyes　that　never　blinked　under　Sandecker's　blazing　stare。　〃I　had　sincerely　hoped　we　would　have　no　disagreement。　However；　since　that　is　not　to　be；　I　must　inform　you　that　my　presence　here　is　purely　an　act　of　courtesy。　I　already　possess　the　orders　for　Major　Pitts　reassignment。〃
　〃By　whose　authority？〃　Sandecker　asked。
　〃They　were　signed　by　the　Secretary　of　Defense；〃　the　other　man　replied　matter…of…factly。
　〃You　wouldn't　mind　showing　me　the　orders；〃　Sandecker　said。　He　was　playing　his　last　pawn　and　he　knew　it。
　〃Very　well。〃　His　opponent　sighed。　He　reached　into　his　briefcase　and　pulled　out　a　set　of　papers　and　handed　them　to　Sandecker。
　
　Silently　the　admiral　read　the　orders。　Then　his　lips　twisted　in　a　wry　smile。　〃I　didn't　really　stand　a　chance；　did　I？〃
　〃No；　you　didn't。〃
　
　Sandecker　looked　down　at　the　papers　in　his　hands　again　and　shook　his　head。　〃You're　asking　too　much　。　。　。　too　much。〃
　〃I　don't　enjoy　this　sort　of　thing；　but　time　is　a　modity　we　can't　afford。　This　whole　scheme；　a　naive　scheme；　spawned　by　Hermit　Limited　is　totally　impractical。　I　admit　it　sounds　inspiring　and　all　that。　Save　the　world；　build　a　paradise。　Who　knows；　maybe　F。　James　Kelly　has　the　answer　for　the　future。　But　at　the　moment；　he　is　the　leader　of　a　gang　of　maniacs　who　have　murdered　nearly　thirty　people。　And；　exactly　ten　hours　from　now；　he　plans　to　assassinate　two　heads　of　state。　Our　course　is　determined　by　one　elementary　fact…he　must　be　stopped。　And　Major　Pitt　is　the　only　one　who　is　physically　capable　of　recognizing　Kelly's　hired　killers。〃
　
　Sandecker　threw　the　papers　on　the　desk。　〃Physically　capable。　Nothing　but　goddamned　words　that　have　no　feeling。〃　He　pushed　himself　from　the　chair　and　began　pacing　the　room。　〃You're　asking　me　to　order　a　man　who　has　been　like　a　son　to　me；　a　man　who　has　been　beaten　within　an　inch　of　death；　to　get　up　from　a　hospital　bed　and　track　down　a　gang　of　vicious　killers　six　thousand　miles　from　here？〃　Sandecker　shook　his　head。
　〃You　don't　know　the　half　of　what　you're　demanding　from　human　flesh　and　blood。　There　are　limits　to　a　man's　courage。　Dirk　has　already　done　far　more　than　was　expected　of　him。〃
　〃Granted　that　courage　is　reduced　by　expenditure。
　
　And　I　agree　that　the　major　has　done　more　than　was　thought　humanly　possible。　God　knows　there　are　few　if　any　of　my　men　who　could　have　pulled　that　rescue　off。〃
　〃It　could　be　we're　arguing　over　nothing；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃Pitt　may　not　be　in　any　condition　to　leave　the　hospital。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　your　fears；　or　should　I　say　your　hopes；　are　groundless。〃　The　bald　man　checked　through　a　brown　folder。　〃I　have　here　a　few　observations　from　my　agents；　who　by　the　way　have　been　guarding　the　major。〃
　
　He　paused；　reading；　then　went　on。　〃Excellent　physique；　constitution　like　a　bull；　unique　rapport　with　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　the　nurses。
　
　Fourteen　hours　of　rest；　intensive　care　and　massive　vitamin　injections　plus　the　finest　muscle　therapy　known　by　the　top　doctors　in　Iceland。　He　has　been　stitched；　massaged　and　taped。　Fortunately；　the　only　major　damage　was　to　his　ribs　and　at　that　the　fractures　were　minor。　All　in　all；　he's　a　sorry　mess；　but　I　can't　be　particular。　I'd　take　him　if　they　were　lowerin　him　into　a　coffin。〃
　
　Sandecker's　face　was