cc.themediterraneancaper2-第10节

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ent　groups　of　distantly　spaced　explosives　at　he　same　time。　It　reacts　like　　a　burning　fuse　except　that　it　moves　and　bursts　rapidly；　almost　with　the　speed　of　　light。〃
　〃But　how　could　anyone　plant　explosives　under　the　ship　without　being　seen。。　The　　water　is　crystal　clear　in　this　area。　Visibility　is　over　one　hundred　feet。　One　of　　the　scientists　or　crew　members　would　have　seen　any　intruder。　。　。　Not　to　mention　　hearing　the　sound　of　an　explosion。〃
　〃Before　I　attempt　to　answer　that；　let　me　ask　you　two　questions。　What　equipment　　was　attached　to　the　cable　when　it　parted？　And　at　what　time　did　you　discover　the　　break？〃
　〃The　cable　was　connected　to　the　underwater　depression　chamber。　The　divers　　have　been　working　at　one　hundred　and　eighty　feet　and　it　has　bee　necessary　to　　begin　depression　underwater　for　long　periods　of　time　to　prevent　the　bends。　We　　discovered　the　broken　cable　at　about　0700　in　the　morning　right　after　breakfast。〃　〃I　take　it　that　you　left　the　chamber　in　the　water　overnight？〃
　〃No；〃　replied　Gunn。　〃It's　our　habit　to　lower　the　chamber　before　dawn　so　it'll　be　　in　place　and　ready　to　receive　the　divers　in　case　of　an　early　morning　emergency。〃
　〃There's　your　answer！〃　Pitt　exclaimed。　〃Someone　swam　under　cover　of　the　predawn　　darkness　to　the　cable　and　set　off　the　Primacord。　Visibility　may　be　one。　hundred　　feet　after　the　sun　es　up　but　at　night　it's　less　than　one　foot。〃
　〃And　the　noise　from　the　blast？〃
　〃Elementary　my　dear　Gunn；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃I　should　guess　that　a　small　amount　of　　Primacord　detonating　at　approximately　eighty　feet　of　depth　would　sound　very　　similar　to　a　sonic　boom　from　one　of　Brady　Field's　F…105　Starfires。〃
　Guns　looked　at　Pitt　with　respect。　It　was　basically　a　sound　theory；　and　obviously　　there　was　little　he　could　think　of　to　debate　about　His　forehead　creased；　〃Where　　do　we　go　from　here？〃
　Pitt　downed　the　scotch　and　banged　the　glass　onto　Gunn's　desk。　〃You　just　stay　in　the　briny　and　fish　for　your　Teaser。　I'm　going　back　to　the　island　and　try　my　hand　at　a　little　hunting。　　There　may　be　a　tie…in　with　your　disruptions　and　the　attack　on　Brady　yesterday；　　and　the　next　step　will　be　to　find　who's　behind　this　mess　and　what　their　motives　　are。〃
　Suddenly　the　door　burst　open　and　a　man　leaped　into　the　cabin。　He　wore　only　a　　pair　of　abbreviated　swim　trunks　and　a　wide　belt；　containing　a　knife　and　a　nylon　　net　bag。　His　wet；　sun…bleached　hair　was　streaked　with　whitish　yellow　and　　freckles　dotted　his　nose　and　chest。
　As　he　stood　there；　the　water　dripped　to　the　carpet　around　his　feet　in　spreading　　dark　stains。　〃mander　Gunn；〃　he　shouted　excitedly。　〃I've　seen　one！　I've　　actually　seen　a　Teaser；　not　more　than　ten　feet　in　front　of　my　mask。〃
　Guns　jumped　to　his　feet。　〃Are　you　sure？　Did　you　get　a　close　look　at　him？〃
　〃Better　than　that；　sir；　I　took　a　picture　of　him。〃
　The　freckle…nosed　man　stood　there；　grinning　with　every　available　tooth。　〃If　only　　I　had　a　spear　gun；　I　might　have　got　him；　but　I　was　shooting　coral　formations　　with　my　camera　instead。〃
　〃Quick；〃　snapped　Gunn。　〃Get　that　film　to　the　lab　and　have　it　developed。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　fellow　turned　and　dashed　out　of　the　door；　spraying　Pitt　with　a　　few　drops　of　saltwater　as　he　passed。
　Guns's　face　had　a　happy　but　determined　look。
　'My　God。　To　think　I　was　about　to　give　up；　throw　my　tail　between　my　legs　and　set　　a　course　for　home。　Now；　dammit；　I'm　going　to　stay　anchored　here　until　I　die　of　　old　age　or　catch　a　Teaser。〃　His　eyes　twinkled　as　he　glanced　at　Pitt。　'Well；　　Major；　what　do　you　think　of　that？〃
　Pitt　merely　shrugged。　〃Personally；　I　prefer　angling　for　girls。〃　With　very　little　　effort　his　mind　dropped　the　business　at　hand　and　formed　a　tantalizing　picture　of　　Teri　standing　on　the　beach　in　her　red　bikini。
　　4
　It　was　a　few　minutes　past　five　when　Pitt　arrived　back　at　his　quarters　on　Brady　　Field。　Within　seconds　of　discarding　his　sticky　clothing；　he　was　firmly　　entrenched　on　his　back　in　a　narrow　shower　stall。　It　was　a　tight　fit；　his　head　　was　crooked　into　one　corner；　his　back　pressed　flat　on　the　wet　tile　floor；　and　　his　hairy　legs　and　feet　thrust　upward　on　a　ninety　degree　angle　in　the　opposite　　corner。
　To　anyone　who　might　have　peeked；　it　looked　like　a　contorted　and　bone　torturing　　position；　but　Pitt　found　it　thoroughly　fortable　and　immensely　satisfying。　　When　time　allowed；　he　always　relaxed　in　the　shower　in　this　manner。　Sometimes　he　　dozed　off；　but　mostly　he　used　the　simulated　rainy　atmosphere　and　the　solitude　to　　think。　At　this　moment　his　mind　simmered　with　a　multitude　of　perplexing　　questions。
　He　mentally　juggled　the　facts　and　unknowns　together；　seeking　a　pattern　and　　trying　to　concentrate　on　the　most　important　problems。　It　was　no　use。　His　mind　　eluded　his　grasp　and　stubbornly　chewed　on　the　minor　and　inconsequential　riddle　　of　the　noiseless　truck　by　the　beach。
　For　some　inexplicable　reason　the　riddle　irritated　him　and　he　endeavored　vainly　　to　shake　it；　but　it　remained。　Finally　he　gave　in　to　it　and　closed　his　eyes　and　　recreated　the　scene；　hoping　to　visualize　a　sign　or　solution。
　Suddenly　a　blurred　form　appeared　on　the　other　side　of　the　shower　door。
　〃Hello　in　the　shower；〃　Giordino's　voice　rumbled　over　the　running　water。　〃You've　　been　in　there　nearly　half　an　hour。　You　must　be　thoroughly　water…logged　by　now。〃
　Pitt　resigned　himself　to　the　interruption　and　reached　up　and　turned　the　faucet　　to　off。
　〃You　better　hurry；〃　Giordino　shouted。　Then　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　water　was　　no　longer　running。　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃Colonel　Lewis　is　on　his　way　over…　　he'll　be　here　any　second。
　Pitt　sighed。　Pushing　his　body　to　a　sitting　position；　he　awkwardly　struggled　to　　his　feet；　nearly　slipping　on　the　slick　tile　floor。　A　towel　sailed　over　the　　shower　door；　falling　in　folds　around　his　head。　The　mere　thought　of　being　prodded　　and　pushed　in　order　to　impress　a　higher　ranking　officer　made　the　hairs　on　his　　neck　bristle。　He　glared　through　the　fuzzy　glass　panel。
　〃Tell　Colonel　Lewis　he　can　play　with　himself　while　he　waits。〃　His　voice　had　a　　nice　frost　to　it。　〃I'll　e　out　when　I　damn　well　feel　like　it；〃　he　said　succinctly。　〃Now　get　the　hell　out　of　my　bathroom；　you　bastard；　before　I　cram　a　　bar　of　soap　up　your　anal　canal。〃　Abruptly；　Pitt　felt　his　checks　heating。　He　　hadn't　really　meant　to　be　rude　to　his　old　friend。　Immediately　sorry。　he　felt　a　wave　of　guilt　〃I'm　sorry；　Al。　My　mind　was　elsewhere。〃
　〃Forget　it。〃　Without　another　word　Giordino　shrugged　and　left　the　bathroom；　　closing　the　door　behind　him。　Pitt　briskly　dried　his　lean　body　and　then　shaved。　After　he　finished；　he　blew　the　　tiny　black　hairs　out　of　the　Cordless　electric　shaver　and　patted　his　face　with　　British　Sterling　after　shave　lotion。　When　he　stepped　into　the　bedroom；　Giordino　　and　Colonel　Lewis　were　waiting。
　Lewis　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　twisted　one　end　of　an　immense　red　handlebar　　moustache。　His　large　rosy　face　and　twinkling　blue　eyes　along　with　the　large　bush　　on　his　upper　lip　gave　him　the　appearance　of　a　jolly　lumberjack。　His　movements　　and　his　speech　were　rapid；　almost　jerky；　giving　Pitt　the　impression　that　the　　Colonel　had　a　pound　of　ground　glass　in　his　crotch。
　〃Sorry　to　break　in　on　you　like　this；〃　boomed　Lewis。　〃But　I'm　interested　in　　knowing　whether　or　not　you've　run　onto　anything　substantial　concerning　the　　attack　yesterday。〃
　Pitt　was　nude；　but　he　didn't　give　a　damn。　〃No；　nothing　positive。　I've　several　　hunches　and　a　couple　of　ideas；　but　very　few　absolute　facts　to　build　an　airtight　　case　with。〃
　〃I　was　hoping　you　might　have　stumbled　on　a　lead。　My　Air　Investigation　Squadron　　has　struck　out。〃
　〃Have　you　found　any　remains　of　the　Albatros？'　asked　Pitt。
　Lewis　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　sweaty　forehead。　〃If　that　old　crate　crashed　into　　the　sea；　it　left　no　trace；　not　even　a　small　oil　slick。　It　and　its　pilot　must　　have　vanished　into　thin　air。〃
　〃Maybe　it　reached　the　mainland；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Negative；〃　replied　Lewis。　〃We　　can't　find　a　soul　over　there　who　saw　it　going　or　ing。〃
　Giordino　nodded　in　agreement。　〃An　old　plane　painted　bright　yellow　with　a　top　　speed　of　only　one　hundred　and　three　miles　an　hour　couldn't　help　but　be　noticed　　if　it　crossed　over　the　strait　into　Macedonia。〃
　Lewis　took　out　a　package　of　cigarettes。　〃What　really　confuses　me　is　the　fact　　that　the　attack　was　well　planned　and　executed。　Whoever　raided　the　field　knew　no　　aircraft　were　scheduled　to　land　or　take　off　during　his　strafing　runs。〃
　Pitt　buttoned　his　shirt　and　adjusted　the　gold　oak　leaves　on　his　shoulders。　〃Obtaining　information　would　be　easy　since　everyone　on　Thasos　probably　knows　　that　Brady　Field　bees　a　ghost　town　on　Sundays。　Actually　this　whole　affair　is　　very　similar　in　strategy　to　the　attack　on　Pearl　Harbor　by　the　Japanese　down　to　the　detail　of　sneaking　in　through　a　pass　in　the　island　mountain　range。〃
　Lewis　lit　his　cigarette；　being　careful　not　to　singe　his　moustache。　〃You're　　right；　of　course　but　there's　no　doubt　that　your　unexpected　arrival　in　the　flying　　boat：　caught　our　attacker；　as　well　as　ourselves；　off　guard。　Our　own　radar　failed　　to　track　your　Catalina　because　you　flew　the　last　two　hundred　miles　on　the　deck。〃　　He　exhaled　a　cloud　of　smoke。　〃I　can't　begin　to　tell　you　what　a　wele　surprise　　it　was　to　see　your　old　bird　e　thundering　down　out　of　the　sun。〃
　〃It　must　have　surprised　our　friend　in