cc.themediterraneancaper2-第34节

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　〃I've　given　it　some　thought。〃
　〃Screw　your　code　of　justice。〃　Giordino　seemed　vexed。　〃Let　me　stick　a　limpet　mine　on　that　old　tub's　hull　and　bang；〃　he　formed　a　blast　cloud　with　his　hands。　〃The　fish　inherit　the　drugs。〃
　Zacynthus　nodded　slowly。　〃You　have　a　direct　approach；　but　a…〃
　〃Simple　mind；〃　Pitt　interrupted　again。　He　grinned　at　Giordino's　scornful　glance。
　〃Believe　me；　I　would　much　prefer　to　see　a　hundred　schools　of　doped…up　fish　than　one　drug　crazed　school　boy。〃　Zacynthus'　voice　was　grim。　〃Destroying　that　ship　would　only　solve　the　immediate　problem；　it's　like　cutting　off　one　tentacle　of　an　octopus。　We'd　still　be　left　with　von　Till　and　his　able　gang　of　sea…going　smugglers；　not　to　mention　the　unanswered　riddle　of　his…I　am　forced　to　admit…ingenious　operation。　No；　we　must　be　patient　The　Queen　Artemisia　hasn't　docked　at　Chicago　yet　We'll　get　another　chance　at　her　Marseille。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you'll　have　any　better　luck　in　Marseille；〃　Pitt　said　doubtfully。　〃Even　if　one　of　your　phony　French　dockworkers　slips　on　board；　you　have　the　gilt…edged　Pitt　guarantee　that　he　won't　find　anything　worth　writing　home　about。〃
　〃How　would　you　know　that　for　certain？〃　Zacynthus　suddenly　looked　up；　surprised。　〃Unless。　。　。　unless。　you　somehow　searched　the　ship　yourself。〃
　〃With　him；　anything's　possible；〃　Giordino　murmured。　〃He　was　seaward　of　the　ship　when　it　anchored。　I　lost　him　through　the　night　glasses　for　almost　half　an　hour。〃
　Now　all　four　men　looked　at　Pitt　questioningly。
　Pitt　laughed　and　flipped　his　cigarette　over　the　embankment。　〃The　time　has　e；　the　walrus　said；　to　speak　of　many　things。　Gather　round　gentlemen　and　listen　to　the　cloak　and　dagger　adventures　of　Dirk　Pitt；　the　naked　cat　burglar。〃
　Pitt　finally　leaned　back　against　the　truck　and　became　silent。　For　a　long　moment　he　stared　at　the　thoughtful　faces　in　front　of　him。
　〃There　you　have　it。　As　neat　a　little　set…up　as　you　can　find。〃　He　smiled　wryly。　〃The　Queen　Artemisia　is　in　reality　nothing　but　a　false　front。　Oh　sure；　it　sails　the　briny　blue；　picking　up　and　delivering　cargo。　That's　where　any　similarity　between　a　bona　fide　cargo　freighter　and　Queen　ends。　She's　an　old　ship；　true；　but　beneath　her　steel　skin　beats　a　plete　up…to…date　centralized　control　system。　I　saw　the　same　equipment　on　an　old　ship　in　the　Pacific　just　last　year。　No　large　crew　is　required。　Six　or　seven　men　can　handle　her　easily。〃
　〃No　fuss；　no　muss；〃　Giordino　said　admiringly。
　〃Precisely；〃　Pitt　nodded。　〃Each　partment；　each　cabin　is　set　up　as　a　stage　prop。　When　the　ship　reaches　port　the　crew　materializes　from　the　wings　and　turns　into　a　cast　of　actors。〃
　〃Pardon　this　humble　man's　blind　perception；　Major。〃　The　peasant　choice　of　words　failed　to　mask　the　Oxford　accent　of　Zeno's　voice。　〃I　do　not　understand　how　the　Queen　Artemisia　can　engage　in　mercial　shipping　without　the　necessary　maintenance　during　long　voyages。〃
　'It's　like　a　historical　landmark；〃　Pitt　explained。
　〃Let's　say　a　famous　castle　where　the　fires　in　the　fireplaces　still　burn；　the　plumbing　still　works；　and　the　grounds　are　always　trimmed　and　neat。　Five　days　out　of　the　week　the　castle　is　closed；　but　on　the　weekends　it　opens　for　the　tourists；　or；　in　this　case；　the　Customs　Inspectors。〃
　〃And　the　caretakers？〃　Zeno　asked　quizzically。
　〃The　caretakers；〃　Pitt　murmured；　〃live　in　the　cellar。〃
　〃Only　rats　live　in　cellars；〃　Darius　ventured　dryly。
　〃A　very；　appropriate　observation；　Darius；〃　Pitt　said　approvingly。　〃Particularly　when　you　consider　the　two…legged　variety　we're　dealing　with。〃
　〃Cellars；　stage　props；　castles。　A　crew　buried　somewhere　in　the　hull。　What　are　you　driving　at？〃　Zacynth　demanded。　〃Please　get　to　the　point〃
　〃I'm　ing　to　it。　To　begin　with；　the　crew　isn't　quartered　in　the　hull。　They're　quartered　under　it。〃
　Zacynthus'　eyes　narrowed。　〃That's　not　possible。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃It　would　be　entirely　possible　if　the　good　Queen　Artemisia　was　pregnant。〃
　There　was　a　brief　incredulous　silence。　All　four　stared　at　Pitt　in　blank　skepticism。　Giordino　broke　the　silence　first。
　〃You're　trying　to　tell　us　something；　but　I'll　be　damned　if　you're　getting　through。〃
　〃Zac　admitted　that　von　Till's　method　of　smuggling　is　ingenious；〃　Pitt　said。　〃And　he's　right。　The　ingenuity　lies　in　the　simplicity。　The　Queen　Artemisia　and　the　other　Minerva　ships　can　operate　independently　or　they　can　be　controlled　by　a　satellite　vessel　attached　to　their　hulls。　Think　about　it　for　a　minute。　It's　not　as　ridiculous　as　it　sounds。〃　Pitt　spoke　with　a　calm　surety　about　him　that　began　to　crack　any　doubts。　〃The　Queen　didn't：'　cruise　two　days　off　her　course　just　to　blow　kisses　at　von　Till。　Contact　must　have　been　made　somehow。〃　He　turned　to　Zacynthus　and　Zeno；　〃You　and　your　men；　watched　the　villa　and　saw　no　sign　of　a　signal。〃
　〃Nor　did　anyone　enter　or　leave；〃　Zeno　added。
　〃Same　goes　for　the　ship；〃　said　Giordino　eyeing　Pitt　curiously。　〃No　one　set　foot　on　the　beach　except　you。〃'
　〃Darius　and　I　make　it　unanimous；〃　said　Pitt。　〃He　heard　no　radio　transmissions　and　I　found　the　radio　cabin　deserted。〃
　〃I'm　beginning　to　see　your　point；〃　Zac　said　thoughtfully。　〃Any　munication　between　the　ship　and　von　Till　could　only　have　taken　place　underwater。　But　I'm　still　not　sure　I　buy　your　satellite　vessel　theory。〃
　〃Try　this　one。〃　Pitt　paused。　〃What　travels　long　distances　under　water；　carries　a　crew；　has　the　capacity　to　hold　a　hundred　and　thirty　tons　of　heroin；　and　would　never　be　searched　by　Customs　or　the　Bureau　of　Narcotic　Inspectors？　The　only　logical　answer　Is　a　full　scale　submarine。〃
　〃Nice　try；　but　it　won't　pass。〃　Zac　shook　his　head。
　'We've　had　divers　search　beneath　the　waterline　of　every　Minerva　ship　at　least　a　hundred　times。　They　have　yet　to　discover　a　submarine。〃
　〃They　most　likely　never　will。〃　Pitt's　mouth　felt　dry　and　his　cigarette　tasted　like　burnt　cardboard。　He　flipped　the　butt　out　into　the　middle　of　the　road　and　watched　it　smoke　until　the　tar　beneath　the　glowing　ember　melted　into　a　tiny　black　pool。　〃It's　not　the　method　that's　at　fault。　Your　divers　are　missing　the　boat…if　you'll　forgive　the　pun…because　of　timing。〃
　〃Are　you　suggesting　the　sub　is　released　before　the　ships　dock？〃　Zacynthus　asked。
　〃That's　the　general　idea；〃　Pitt　agreed。
　'What　then？　Where　does　it　go？〃
　〃For　the　answers　let's　begin　with　the　Queen　Artemisia　in　Shanghai。〃　Pitt　paused　a　moment；　collecting　his　thoughts。　〃If　you　had　been　standing　on　the　wharves　of　the　Whangpoo　River；　watching　the　ship　take　on　cargo　you'd　have　seen　an　ordinary　loading　operation。　Cranes　lifting　sacks…they　would　be　easiest　to　handle　the　heroin　into　the　ship's　holds。　The　heroin　came　first；　but　It　didn't　remain　in　the　holds。　It　was　transferred　to　the　sub；　probably　through　a　hidden　hatch　that　wouldn't　show　up　on　any　Customs　detection　gear。　The　legitimate　cargo　was　then　loaded　on　board　and　the　Queen　shoved　off　for　Ceylon。　There；　the　soybeans　and　tea　were　exchanged　for　the　cocoa　and　graphite…another　legitimate　cargo。　The　detour　to　Thasos　came　next。　For　orders　from　von　Till　most　likely。　Then　on　to　Marseille　for　fuel　and　the　final　drop　in　Chicago。〃
　〃There's　something　bugging　me；〃　Giordino　murmured。
　〃Such　as？〃
　〃I'm　no　expert　on　pigboats　so　I　can't　figure　how　one　could　play　baby　kangaroo　with　a　freighter　or　where　it　could　acmodate　two　hundred　and　sixty　thousand　pounds　of　drugs。〃
　〃Modifications　had　to　be　made；〃　Pitt　acknowledged。　〃But　it　wouldn't　take　any　great　engineering　feat　to　remove　the　conning　tower　and　other　projections　until　the　top　deck　fitted　flush　against　the　mother　ship's　keel。　The　average　fleet…type　sub　of　World　War　II　had　a　displacement　of　fifteen　hundred　tons；　a　length　of　over　three　hundred　feet；　a　hull　height　of　ten　feet；　and　a　beam　of　twenty…seven　feet…roughly　twice　the　size　of　a　suburban　house。　Once　the　torpedo　rooms；　the　eighty　man　crew　quarters　and　the　unnecessary　paraphernalia　were　cleared　out　there　would　be　more　than　ample　space　to　store　the　heroin。〃
　Pitt　saw　that　Zacynthus　was　regarding　him　in　a　very　peculiar　manner：　there　was　a　deep　look　of　contemplation　on　his　face。　Then　his　features　showed　the　first　traces　of　genuine　understanding。
　〃Tell　me；　Major；〃　he　asked。　〃What　speed　could　the　Queen　Artemisia　make　with　a　sub　fastened　to　her　hull？〃
　Pitt　thought　a　moment　〃I'd　say　about　twelve　knots。　Unencumbered；　however；　the　ship's　normal　cruising　speed　would　be　closer　to　fifteen　or　sixteen。〃
　Zacynthus　turned　to　Zeno。　〃It's　quite　possible　the　Major's　on　the　right　track。〃
　〃I　know　what　you　are　thinking；　my　inspector。〃　Zeno's　teeth　parted　beneath　the　great　moustache。　〃We　have　often　concerned　our　thoughts　with　the　puzzling　variance　of　the　cruising　speeds　among　Minerva　ships。〃
　Zacynthus'　eyes　came　back　to　Pitt　〃The　heroin　drop；　when　and　how　is　it　made？〃
　〃At　night　during　high　tide。　Too　risky　during　the　day。　The　sub　could　be　spotted　from　the　air…〃
　〃That　checks。〃　Zacynthus　interrupted。　〃Von　Till's　freighters　are　always　scheduled　to　reach　port　after　sunset。〃
　〃As　to　the　drop；〃　Pitt　hadn't　even　taken　notice　of　the　interruption。　〃The　sub　is　released　immediately　after　entering　port。　Without　a　conning　tower　or　periscope　It　must　be　guided　from　the　surface　by　a　small　craft。　Here；　the　only　real　chance　of　failure　es　in；　being　rammed　in　the　dark　by　an　unsuspecting　vessel。〃
　〃No　doubt　th