cc.iceberg-第58节

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　〃I've　met　a　few　slick　operators　in　my　short　life　span；　but　by　God；　Kirsti；　or　Kristjan；　or　whoever；　you've　got　to　be　the　shrewdest　bastard　。　。　。　or　rather；　bitch　that　ever　came　down　the　pike。　You　took　everyone。　You　conned　Admiral　Sandecker　into　thinking　you　were　going　to　turn　the　undersea　probe　over　to　our　government。　You　faked　a　thousand　men　and　their　ships　and　aircraft　into　a　wild…goose　chase；　searching　for　a　ship　that　was　never　missing。　You　beguiled　Dr。　Hunnewell；　an　old　friend；　into　identifying　a　charred　body　as　your　own。　You　used　Fyrie　Limited's　personnel…and　they　died　carrying　out　your　orders。　You　used　Rondheim。
　
　You　used　Kelly。　And　you　even　tried　to　use　me　in　the　hope　I　might　erase　Oskar。　Too　bad　the　bubble　had　to　burst。　The　first　step　to　all　frauds　is　to　cheat　oneself。　At　that　you　were　a　raving　success。〃
　
　Kirsti　had　moved　slowly　around　to　a　small　traveling　case　on　an　end　table；　lifted　out　a　tiny　Colt　twenty…five　automatic　and　leveled　it　on　Pitts　chest。　〃Your　accusations　are　not　nearly　as　neat　and　organized　as　you　think。　You're　groping；　Dirk；　you're　groping　in　the　dark　like　a　blind　man。〃
　
　Pitt　glanced　at　the　gun　and　then　nonchalantly　turned　away　and　ignored　it。　〃Suppose　you　show　me　the　light。〃
　
　She　looked　uncertainly　at　Pitt；　but　she　still　held　the　gun　as　steady　as　a　statue。　〃I　had　every　intention　of　turning　the　undersea　probe　over　to　your　country。　My　original　plan　was　to　put　my　scientists　and　engineers　on　board　the　Lax　and　send　them　to　Washington　for　the　presentation　ceremonies。　Then　on　the　voyage　across　the　North　Atlantic；　Kristjan　Fyrie　was　to　have　been　lost　overboard。〃
　〃In　the　meantime；　you　had　flown　to　Mexico　for　the　operation。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Kirsti　answered　softly。　〃But　the　totally　unexpected；　and　unforeseen　coincidence；　spelled　disaster　to　the　new　life　I　had　so　carefully　planned。　Dr。　Jesus　Ybarra　was　a　memberof　Hermit　Limited。））　9　〃So　he　blew　the　whistle　and　informed　Rondheim。
　
　Kirsti　nodded；　〃From　that　moment　on　I　was　Oskar's　slave。　He　threatened　to　expose　my　transition　to　the　world　if　I　didn't　turn　my　business　resources　over　to　him　and　Kelly。　I　had　no　choice。　If　my　secret　had　bee　known；　the　resulting　scandal　would　have　wrecked　Fyn'e　Limited　and　shattered　the　economy　of　my　country。〃
　〃Why　the　masquerade　with　the　Lax？〃
　〃Now　that　Oskar　and　Kelly　controlled　me；　they　were　not　about　to　let　the　sea　probe　out　of　their　hands。
　
　So　they　created　a　fraudulent　story　about　the　Lax's　disappearance。　You　must　admit；　it　was　an　efficient　situation。　To　the　world　the　sea　probe　was　lost　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea。〃
　〃And　so　was　Kristjan　Fyrie。〃
　〃Yes；　it　also　served　my　purpose。〃
　〃That　doesn't　explain　the　alteration　to　the　Lax's　Superstructure；〃　Pitt　persisted。　〃）〃y　wasn't　the　sea　probe　simply　removed　and　installed　on　another　ship？〃　For　the　first　time　she　smiled。　〃The　sea　probe　is　a　plicated　piece　of　equipment。　A　ship　must　literally　be　designed　around　it；　To　have　taken　it　from　the　Lax　and　reinstalled　it　in　a　nondescript　fishing　trawler　would　have　taken　months。　While　everyone　was　searching　for　her；　the　Lax　was　secretly　being　face…lifted　in　a　cove　on　the　eastern　coast　of　Greenland。〃
　〃And　Dr。　Hunnewell；　how　did　he　figure　in　the　picture？〃
　〃He　worked　with　me　in　developing　the　probe。〃
　〃I　know；　but　why　you？　Why　not　with　someone　in　his　own　country？〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　and　studied　his　face　for　a　long　moment。　〃I　paid　for　the　research　and　development　with　no　strings　attached。　The　technological　corporations　'm　the　United　States　wanted　to　tie　up　his　services　and　all　his　experimental　results。　Dr。　Hunnewell　despised　doing　anything　that　reeked　of　mercial　profit。〃
　〃Yet　he　became　associated　with　Kelly　and　Hermit　Limited。〃
　〃When　the　Lax　was　prospecting　the　sea　floor　off　Greenland；　the　probe　malfunctioned。　Dr。　Hunnewell　was　the　only　one　with　the　technical　knowledge　to　suggest　a　quick　repair。　Kelly　flew　him　there　from　California。　A　very　persuasive　talker；　that　F。　James　Kelly。　He　sold　Dr。　Hunnewell　on　jog　Hermit　Limited　to　save　the　world。　The　doctor　couldn't　resist。　He　was　always　what　you　Americans　call　a　do…gooder。〃　A　pained　expression　crossed　Kirsti's　face。　〃He　came　to　regret　his　decision；　and　he　died　for　it。〃
　〃That　explains　the　fire　on　the　ship；〃　Pitt　said　thoughtfully。　〃You　underestimated　Dr。　Hunnewell。　He　didn't　fall　under　the　spell　of　Kelly。　He　saw　through　the　whole　dirty　scheme。　He　didn't　like　what　he　saw　on　the　Lax…Rondheim's　crew　holding　your　scientists　prisoners。　It's　even　likely　your　people　on　the　ship　slipped　him　the　facts　on　Dr。　Matajic's　and　his　assistant's　deaths。
　
　Hunnewell　knew　then　he　had　to　do　something　to　stop　Kelly　so　he　wired　the　probe；　timing　it　to　self…destruct　after　he　was　in　the　air　and　on　his　way　back　to　the　States。　Only　he　made　a　mistake。　Something　even　he　didn't　understand　about　the　reactive　elements　of　celtinium　caused　it　to　ignite　and　not　only　destroy　the　probe　but　the　entire　ship　and　the　crew　as　well。　I　was　there　when　he　set　foot　on　the　Lax　again。　I　saw　the　stunned　expression　on　his　face　when　he　realized　what　he'd　done。〃
　〃It　was　my　fault；〃　Kirsti　said　shakuy。　〃I　am　to　blame。　I　should　have　never　divulged　Dr。　Hunnewell's　name　to　Oskar　and　Kelly。〃
　〃Kelly　guessed　what　had　happened　and　ordered　Rondheim　to　silence　Hunnewell。〃
　〃He　was　my　oldest　friend；〃　Kirsti　moaned　softly。
　〃And　I　signed　his　death　warrant。〃
　〃Did　he　know　about　you？〃
　〃No；　Oskar　simply　told　him　I　was　in　the　hospital　recuperating　from　another　illness。〃
　〃He　was　a　better　friend　than　you　knew；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃He　falsely　identified　a　body　on　the　Lax　as　yours。　Dr。　Hunnewell　did　it　so　that　Kristjan　Fyrie　he　knew　wouldn't　be　implicated　when　he　went　to　the　authorities　and　spilled　the　damning　facts　about　Hermit　Limited。　Unfortunately；　evil　triumphed　over　good。　Rondheim　got　to　him　first。〃　Pitt　shook　his　head　sadly　and　sighed。　〃Then　enter　Dirk　Pitt；　stage　left。〃
　
　Kirsti　shivered　visibly。　〃that's　why　I　insisted　on　meeting　you。　I　had　to　express　my　gratitude　for　your　attempt　to　save　his　life。　I　am　still　in　your　debt。〃
　
　Pitt　rolled　the　cool　glass　over　his　forehead。　〃Too　late；　it　makes　little　difference　now；〃　he　said　wearily。
　〃It　does　to　me。　That's　why　I　saved　you　from　being　beaten　to　pieces　by　Oskar。〃　Her　voice　began　to　tremble。
　〃But　I　。　。　。　I　can't　save　you　a　second　time。　I　must　protect　myself；　Dirk。　I　am　sorry。　Please　do　not　move　and　make　me　pull　the　trigger。　You　must　wait　until　Oskar　arrives。〃
　
　Pitt　shook　his　head　again。　〃Don't　look　for　Oskar　to　e　bounding　in　here　to　rescue　you。　At　this　moment；　your　ex…slavemaster　is　lying　unconscious；　encased　in　half　a　ton　of　plaster　in　a　hospital　bed。　Surrounded；　I　might　add；　by　a　bevy　of　National　Intelligence　agents。
　
　They　may　have　to　push　him　to　the　gallows　in　a　wheelchair；　but　walk　or　ride；　he　will　surely　swing。〃
　
　The　gun　wavered　a　hair。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃It's　done；　over　with。　You're　free。　Hermit　Limited　and　its　management　just　went　belly　up。〃
　
　Strangely；　Kirsti　didn't　accuse　Pitt　of　insanity。　〃I　want　to　believe　you；　but　how　can　I？〃
　〃Pick　up　the　phone　and　call　Kelly；　Marks；　Von　Hummel；　or　your　friend　Rondheim。　Or　better　yet；　search　every　room　on　the　sixth　floor。〃
　〃And　what　do　you　expect　me　to　find？〃
　〃Nothing；　nothing　at　all。　They've　all　been　arrested。〃　Pitt　finished　the　drink　and　set　it　down。　〃You　and　I　are　the　only　ones　left。
　
　Courtesy　of　the　N。I。A。
　
　You're　my　bonus…a　little　side　gift…for　services　rendered。　Love　it　or　hate　it；　your　soul　has　passed　from　Rondheim　to　me。〃
　
　The　room　swayed　around　Kirsti　as　the　truth　of　Pitts　words　took　hold。　She　had　wondered　why　Rondheim　hael　not　contacted　her；　why　Kelly　had　not　visited　her　as　he　had　promised；　why　there　had　been　no　ring　of　the　phone；　no　knock　at　the　door　for　nearly　two　hours。
　
　She　steadied　herself；　quickly　accepting　the　realization　of　what　had　taken　place。
　〃But　。　。　。　what　of　me？　Am　I　to　be　arrested　also？〃
　〃No；　the　N。I。A。　knows　of　your　new　status。　They　put　two　and　two　together　and　figured　that　Rondheim　was　blackmailing　you。　They　considered　taking　you　in　as　an　acplice；　but　I　talked　them　out　of　it。〃
　
　The　gun　was　gently　laid　on　the　end　table。　An　awkward　silence　descended。　Finally　Kirsti　stared　at　Pitt　and　said；　〃There　is　a　price；　there　always　has　to　be　a　price。〃
　〃It's　cheap　enough　considering　your　past　mistakes　。　。　。　mistakes　you　can　never　buy　back　even　with　your　fortune。　But　you　can　clean　the　slate　and　make　a　new　life　without　outside　intrusion。　All　I　want　is　your　guarantee　for　close　and　continued　cooperation　between　Fyrie　Limited　and　NUMA。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃The　memory　banks　in　Kelly's　puters　contain　enough　data　to　build　a　new　undersea　probe。　I　speak　for　Aden　Sandecker　when　I　say　he　would　like　you　to　head　up　the　project。〃
　〃That's　all；　nothing　more？〃　she　asked　incredulously。
　〃I　said　the　price　was　cheap。〃
　
　She　gazed　levelly　at　him。　〃Tomorrow；　next　week；　the　ing　year；　how　can　I　be　sure　you　will　not　decide　to　raise　the　interest　rate？〃
　
　Pitts　eyes　turned　cold　and　his　voice　was　like　ice。
　〃Don't　put　me　in　the　same　league　with　your　other　playmates。　Mass　murder　and　extortion　have　never　turned　me　on。　Your　secret　is　safe　with　me；　and　it's　even　safer　with　the　N。I。A。…they'll　see　to　it　that　Rondheim；　Kelly　and　Ybir