cc.vixen03-第7节

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　The　skids　sank　into　the　soft　brown　grass　and　the　blades　ceased　their　thump　and　idled　to　a　stop。　Pitt　unclasped　his　safety　belt；　opened　the　door；　and　climbed　out；　luxuriating　in　a　series　of　muscle　stretches。
　〃Same　time　tomorrow；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　The　pilot　had　an　Oklahoma　twang；　and　a　short…cropped　haircut　to　go　with　it。
　Pitt　nodded。　〃We'll　angle　south　and　try　the　lower　end　of　the　valley。〃　〃You　figuring　on　skipping　the　slopes　above　timberline？〃　〃If　a　plane　crashed　in　the　open；　it　wouldn't　go　missing　for　thirty　years。〃　〃You　can　never　tell。　I　remember　an　Air　Force　jet　trainer　that　smacked　the　side　of　a　mountain　down　in　the　San　Juans。　The　impact　caused　an　avalanche　and　the　plane's　debris　was　buried。　The　victims　are　still　under　the　rock。〃
　〃I　suppose　that's　a　remote　possibility；〃　Pitt　said　wearily。
　〃If　you　want　my　opinion；　sir；　that's　the　only　possibility。〃　The　pilot　paused　to　blow　his　nose。　〃A　small；　light　plane　might　fall　through　the　trees　and　bee　hidden　till　eternity；　but　not　a　four…engine　airliner。　No　way　pine　and　aspen　could　conceal　wreckage　that　size。　And　even　if　it　did　happen；　some　hunter　would　have　surely　stumbled　on　it　by　now。〃
　〃I'm　open　to　any　theory　that　pans　out；〃　said　Pitt。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　Loren　running　across　the　meadow　from　the　cabin。　He　slammed　the　door　and　waved　off　the　pilot；　turning　and　not　bothering　to　look　back　as　the　engine　whined　into　life。　The　craft　lifted　and　droned　over　the　tops　of　the　surrounding　trees。
　Loren　leaped　into　his　arms；　breathless　from　her　dash　in　the　thin　air。　She　looked　alive　and　vibrant　in　tight　white　slacks　and　red　turtleneck　sweater。　Her。elegantly　molded　face　seemed　to　glow　in　the　late…afternoon　sun；　the　slanted　light　heightening　the　effect　by　tinting　her　skin　to　gold。　He　twirled　her　around　and　pressed　his　tongue　through　her　lips；　staring　into　a　pair　of　liquid　violet　eyes　that　stared　right　back。　It　never　failed　to　amuse　Pitt　that　Loren　forever　kept　her　eyes　open　when　kissing　or　making　love；　claiming　that　she　didn't　want　to　miss　anything。
　At　last　she　came　up　for　air　and　pushed　him　away；　wrinkling　her　nose。　〃Whew；　you　stink。〃
　〃Sorry　about　that；　but　sitting　behind　the　plastic　bubble　of　a　helicopter　all　day　is　like　dehydrating　in　a　greenhouse。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　make　excuses。　There's　something　about　a　mas…culine　musk　smell　that　turns　women　on。　Of　course；　the　fact　that　you　also　reek　of　gas　and　oil　doesn't　help　any。〃
　〃Then　I　shall　immediately　pass　Go　and　proceed　to　the　shower。〃
　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃Later。　If　we　hurry；　you　might　still　catch　him。〃
　〃Catch　who？〃
　〃Harvey　Dolan。　He　called。〃
　〃How？　You　have　no　telephone。〃
　〃All　I　know　is　a　forest　ranger　came　by　and　said　you　were　supposed　to　call　Dolan　at　his　office。　It　was　important。〃
　〃Where　do　we　find　a　phone？〃
　〃Where　else？　The　Rafertys'。〃
　Lee　was　in　town；　but　Maxine　was　only　too　happy　to　show　Pitt　to　the　telephone。　She　sat　him　down　at　an　old…fashioned　rolltop　desk　and　handed　him　the　receiver。　The　operator　was　efficient；　and　in　less　than　ten　seconds　Dolan　was　on　the　other　end　of　the　line。
　〃Where　in　hell　do　you　get　off　calling　me　collect？〃　he　grumbled。　〃The　government　can　afford　it；〃　Pitt　said。　〃How　did　you　get　word　to　me？〃
　〃The　citizen…band　radio　in　my　car。　I　bounced　a　signal　from　the　public…munications　satellite　to　a　ranger　station　in　the　White　River　National　Forest　and　asked　them　to　relay　the　message。〃
　〃What　have　you　got？〃
　〃Some　good　news　and　some　not…so…good　news。〃
　〃Lay　it　on　me　in　that　order。〃
　〃The　good　news　is；　I　heard　from　Boeing。　The　nose　gear　was　installed　as　original　equipment　on　air…frame　number　75403。　The　not…so…good　news　is；　that　particular　aircraft　went　to　the　military。〃
　〃Then　the　Air　Force　got　her。〃
　〃It　looks　that　way。　At　any　rate；　the　National　Transportation　Safety　Board　has　no　record　of　a　missing　mercial　Stratocruiser。　I'm　afraid　that's　as　far　as　I　can　take　it。　From　here　on　in；　if　you　wish　to　pursue　your　investigation　as　a　private　citizen；　you'll　have　to　go　through　the　military。　Their　air　safety　is　out　of　our　jurisdiction。〃
　〃I'll　do　that；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃If　nothing　else；　to　settle　any　fantasies　I　have　about　ghostly　aircraft。〃
　〃I　hoped　you'd　say　something　like　that；〃　said　Dolan。　〃So　I　took　the　liberty　of　sending　a　request…in　your　name；　of　course…for　the　current　status　of　Boeing　75403　to　the　Inspector　General　for　Safety　at　Norton　Air　Force　Base；　in　California。　A　Colonel　Abe　Steiger　will　contact　you　as　soon　as　he　finds　something。〃
　〃This　Steiger；　what's　his　function？〃
　〃Basically　he's　my　military　counterpart。　He　conducts　investigations　into　the　causes　of　Air　Force　flying　accidents　in　the　Western　region。〃
　〃Then　we'll　soon　have　the　answer　to　the　riddle。〃
　〃It　would　seem　so。〃
　〃What's　your　opinion；　Dolan？〃　Pitt　asked。　〃Your　honest　opinion。〃
　〃Well。　。　。〃　Dolan　began　cautiously。　〃I　won't　lie　to　you；　Pitt。　Person…ally；　I　think　your　missing　aircraft　will　turn　up　in　the　records　of　some　wheeler…dealer　who　trades　in　government…surplus　salvage。〃
　〃And　I　thought　we　had　the　beginnings　of　a　beautiful　friendship。〃
　〃You　wanted　the　truth。　I　gave　it　to　you。〃
　〃Seriously；　Harvey；　I'm　grateful　for　all　your　help。　Next　time　I　e　to　Denver；　I'll　pop　for　lunch。〃
　〃I　never　turn　down　a　free　feed。〃
　〃Good。　Ill　look　forward　to　it。〃
　〃Before　you　hang　up〃…Dolan　took　a　deep　breath…〃if　I'm　right；　and　there's　a　down…to…earth　reason　for　the　nose　gear　being　in　Miss　Smith's　garage；　what　then？〃
　〃I　have　this　strange　feeling　that　isn't　the　case；〃　Pitt　replied。
　Dolan　set　the　receiver　back　in　its　cradle；　sat　and　stared　at　it。　A　strange　chill　crept　up　his　back　and　turned　his　skin　to　gooseflesh。　Pitt's　voice　had　sounded　as　though　it　came　from　a　tomb。
　Loren　cleared　away　the　supper　dishes　and　carried　a　tray　with　two　mugs　of　steaming　coffee　out　to　the　balcony。　Pitt　was　sitting　tilted　back　in　a　chair　with　his　feet　propped　on　the　railing。　Despite　the　cool　September…evening　air；　he　wore　a　short…sleeved　sweater。
　〃Coffee？〃　Loren　asked。
　As　if　in　a　trance；　he　turned　and　looked　up　at　her。　〃What？〃　Then；　murmuring；　〃I'm　sorry；　I　didn't　hear　you　e　out。〃
　The　violet　eyes　studied　him。　〃You're　like　a　man　possessed；〃　she　said　suddenly；　without　quite　knowing　why。
　〃Could　be　I'm　going　psycho；〃　he　said；　smiling　faintly。　〃I'm　beginning　to　see　aircraft　wreckage　in　my　every　thought。〃
　She　passed　him　one　cup　and　cradled　the　other　in　her　hands；　soaking　up　its　warmth。　〃That　stupid　old　junk　of　Dad's。　That's　all　you've　had　on　your　mind　since　we've　been　here。　You've　blown　its　significance　out　of　all　proportion。〃
　〃I　can't　make　any　sense　out　of　it　either。〃　He　paused　and　sipped　the　coffee。　〃Call　it　the　Pitt　curse；　I　can't　drop　a　problem　until　I　find　a　workable　solution。〃　He　turned　toward　her。　〃Does　that　sound　odd？〃
　〃I　suppose　some　people　are　pelled　to　find　answers　to　the　un…known。〃
　He　continued　to　speak　in　an　introspective　way。　〃This　isn't　the　first　time　I've　had　a　strong　intuitive　feeling　about　something。〃
　〃Are　you　always　right？〃
　He　shrugged　and　grinned。　〃To　be　honest；　my　ratio　of　success　is　about　one　in　five。〃
　〃And　if　it　is　proven　that　Dad's　salvage　did　not　e　off　an　airplane　that　crashed　near　here；　what　then？〃
　〃Then　I　forget　it　and　reenter　the　mundane　world　of　practicality。〃
　A　kind　of　stillness　settled　upon　them　and　Loren　came　over　and　sank　into　his　lap；　trying　to　absorb　his　body　heat　in　the　cool　breeze　that　drifted　down　from　the　mountains。
　〃We　still　have　twelve　more　hours　before　we　board　a　plane　back　to　Washington。　I　don't　want　anything　to　spoil　our　last　night　alone。　Please；　let's　go　in　now　and　go　to　bed。〃
　Pitt　smiled　and　kissed　her　eyes　tenderly。　He　balanced　her　weight　in　both　arms　and　rose　from　the　chair；　lifting　her　as　easily　as　he　would　a　large　stuffed　doll。　Then　he　carried　her　inside　the　cabin。
　He　wisely　decided　that　now　was　not　the　time　to　tell　her　that　she　would　be　returning　to　the　nation's　capital　alone；　that　he　would　stay　behind　and　continue　his　search。
　Two　evenings　later；　a　subdued　Pitt　sat　at　the　cabin's　dining　table　and　scrutinized　a　spread　of　topographical　maps。　He　leaned　back　in　the　chair　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　All　he　had　to　show　for　his　effort　was　a　distraught　girl　friend　and　a　hefty　bill　from　the　pany　that　had　rented　him　the　helicop…ter。
　The　sound　of　feet　thudded　up　the　stairs　to　the　front　balcony；　and　soon　a　head　that　was　pletely　shaved　and　a　face　with　friendly　hazel　eyes　and　an　enormous　Kaiser　Wilhelm　mustache　peered　through　the　window　in　the　Dutch　door。
　〃Hello；　the　house；〃　hailed　the　voice　that　seemed　to　e　from　a　pair　of　size…twelve　boots。
　〃e　in；〃　Pitt　answered　without　rising。
　The　man's　body　was　squat　and　barrel…chested　and　must　have　sagged　the　scales；　Pitt　judged；　at　close　to　two　hundred　twenty　pounds。　The　stranger　shoved　out　a　beefy　hand。
　〃You　must　be　Pitt。〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　Pitt。〃
　〃Good。　I　found　you　on　the　first　try。　I　was　afraid　of　taking　a　wrong　turn　in　the　dark。　I'm　Abe　Steiger。〃
　〃Colonel　Steiger？〃
　〃Forget　the　title。　As　you　can　see；　I　came　dressed　like　an　old　pack　rat。〃
　〃I　hardly　expected　you　to　answer　my　inquiry　in　person。　A　letter　would　have　done　just　as　well。〃
　Steiger　gave　a　wide　grin。　〃The　fact　of　the　matter　is；　I　wasn't　about　to　let　the　price　of　a　stamp　cheat　me　out　of　a　prospecting　trip