cc.themediterraneancaper2-第36节

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　as　a　City　park　statue。
　A　tiny　gun；　no　larger　than　an　ordinary　cap　pistol；　had　suddenly　materialized　in　Giordino's　hand；　the　pencil　thin　muzzle　pointed　directly　at　the　spot　between　Zacynthus'　eyebrows。　Even　Pitt　was　caught　off　guard。　Pure　logic　told　him　that　Giordino　had　been　bluffing；　the　last　thing　he　or　anyone　else　expected　was　for　Giordino　to　produce　an　honest…to…god　firearm。
　　　　15
　　A　gun；　no　matter　if　it　looks　small　and　insignificant　or　massive　and　downright　mean；　is　always　a　perfect　attention　getter。　To　say　that　Giordino　was　the　center　of　attraction　would　be　a　classic　understatement　He　played　the　role　to　the　hilt；　the　automatic　held　at　full　arm's　length；　a　grim　smile　on　the　face。　If　academy　awards　were　given　for　sheer　bravado；　'he'd　have　won　at　least　three。
　For　a　long　moment　no　one　spoke。　Then　finally　Zeno　rammed　a　fist　into　one　hand。　A　wane　smile　etched　his　swarthy　face。　〃It　was　I　who　said　you　two　men　were　cunning　and　dangerous；　and　yet；　I　am　foolish　enough　to　keep　offering　you　new　opportunities　to　prove　it。〃
　〃We　don't　relish　these　embarrassing　little　scenes　any　more　than　you　do；〃　Pitt　said　equably。　〃Now　if　you　gentlemen　will　excuse　us；　we'll　close　up　shop　and　go　home。〃
　〃No　sense　getting　shot　in　the　back。〃　Giordino　Waved　the　baby　automatic　negligently　at　the　three　narcotics　officers。　〃We'd　better　borrow　their　guns　before　We　exit　stage　right。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Pitt　said。　〃No　one　is　going　to　pull　any　triggers。〃　He　looked　into　Zacythus'　eyes；　then　into　Zeno's…and　found　them　thoughtful　and　speculative。　〃It's　really　a　stand　off。　You're　tempted；　but　you　won't　shoot　us　from　behind　because　you're　all　honorable　men。　Besides；　it　wouldn't　be　practical；　the　investigation　of　our　deaths　would　only　prove　to　be　a　messy　affair。　Von　Till　would　love　that。　On　the　other　hand；　you　know　damn　well　we　won't　shoot　back　because　we　don't　have　nearly　enough　at　stake　to　kill　any　one　of　you。
　〃Patience；　I　ask　nothing　but　patience　on　your　parts
　for　the　next　ten　hours。　I　promise　you　Zac；　we　will　meet　again　before　sunset；　and　on　much　friendlier　terms。〃
　Pitt's　voice　seemed　strangely　prophetic；　and　the　speculative　look　in　Zacynthus'　eyes　changed　to　blank　puzzlement。
　Pitt　was　briefly　tempted　to　prolong　the　game　of　cat　and　mouse；　then　he　thought　better　of　it　Zacynthus　and　Zeno　appeared　resigned　to　defeat；　but　not　Darius。　The　huge　brute　moved　two　steps　forward；　his　face　was
　flushed　with　anger　and　his　fists　opened　and　closed　like　the　shells　of　two　giant　South　Pacific　clams。　It　was　clearly　the　time　to　beat　a　quick　and　orderly　retreat。
　Pitt　moved　slowly　around　the　front　of　the　truck；　using　the　hood　and　fenders　as　a　barrier　between　him　and　Darius。　He　climbed　behind　the　steering　wheel；　wincing　slightly　as　the　sun　splashed　seat　burned　his　naked　thighs　and　back；　and　started　the　engine。　Giordino　followed　him　into　the　cab；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　the　men　beside　the　Mercedes；　the　gun　very　level　in　his　hand。　Then　calmly；　without　any　sign　of　desperate　speed；　Pitt　smoothly　shifted　gears　and　aimed　the　truck　toward　Brady　Field　and　the　First　Attempt's　whaleboat　dock。　He　glanced　in　the　rearview　mirror；　then　to　the　road　and　back　to　the　mirror　again　several　times　until　the　three　figures　in　the　road　disappeared　when　the　truck　rounded　a　curve　through　an　ancient　grove　of　olive　trees。
　〃Nothing　like　a　gun　to　even　the　odds；〃　Giordino　sighed；　leaning　back　fortably　against　the　seat。
　〃Let's　see　that　popgun。〃
　Giordino　passed　it　butt　first。　〃You'll　have　to　admit；　it　came　in　damn　handy。〃
　Pitt　studied　the　Lilliputian　gun；　looking　up　from　time　to　time　to　dodge　potholes　in　the　road。　He　recognized　it　as　a　vest　pocket　Mauser；　twenty…five　caliber；　the　type　European　women　favored　for　protection；　it　could　easily　be　concealed　in　a　purse　or　garter。　It　was　only　good　for　close…in　work；　past　ten　feet　the　accuracy；　even　in　the　hands　of　an　expert　was　hopeless。
　〃We　must　consider　ourselves　extremely　lucky。〃
　〃Lucky　hell。〃　Giordino　grunted　flatly。　〃That　little　baby　evened　the　odds　Why　do　you　think　the　old　time　gangsters　called　a　gun　an　equalizer。〃
　'Would　you　have　pulled　the　trigger　if　Zac　and　his　boys　had　decided　not　to　cooperate？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃Without　hesitation；〃　Giordino　replied　confidently。　〃I'd　have　only　winged　them　in　the　arms　or　legs。
　No　sense　in　killing　someone　who　keeps　you　supplied　with　Metaxa　brandy。〃
　〃I　can　see　you　have　a　lot　to　learn　about　German　automatics。〃
　Giordino's　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃
　Pitt　slowed　to　pass　a　small　boy　who　was　leading　a　heavily　laden　donkey。　〃Two　things。　First；　a　twenty…five　caliber　gun　is　hardly　a　man　stopper。　You　could　have　emptied　the　clip　into　Darius；　but　without　a　killing　shot　to　the　heart　or　head　you'd　never　have　even　slowed　him　down。　And　second；　the　expression　on　your　face　when　you　squeezed　off　the　first　shot　would　have　been　a　sight　to　behold。〃　Pitt　casually　tossed　the　gun　onto　Giordino's　lap。　〃The　safety　catch　is　still　on。〃
　Pitt　glanced　briefly　across　the　truck　cab　at　Giordino。　Glordino's　eyes　fell　
　blankly　to　the　gun　in　his　lap。　He　made　no　attempt　to　pick　it　up。　His　face　was　expressionless；　but　Pitt　knew　him　well　enough　to　recognize　an　acute　case　of　bafflement
　Giordino　shrugged　and　gave　Pitt　a　thin　smile。　〃Kind　of　looks　like　Giordino　the　Kid　just　won　the　idiot　award　of　the　year。　I　just　plumb　forgot　about　the　safety。〃
　〃You've；　never　owned　a　Mauser。　Where　did　you　get　it？〃
　〃It　belonged　to　your　little　playmate　of　the　month。　I　discovered　it　when　I　was　lugging　her　through　the　tunnel。　She　had　it　taped　to　her　leg。〃
　〃You　little　bastard；〃　Pitt　said　evenly。　〃You　mean　you　had　it　all　the　time　we　were　having　our　brains　beat　out　by　Darius？'
　〃Sure；〃　Giordino　nodded。　〃I　concealed　it　inside　one　of　my　socks。　I　never　had　a　chance　to　use　it。　You　jumped　Frankenstein　before　I　was　ready。　After　that；　the　brawl　happened　too　fast。　The　next　thing　I　knew　I　was　flat　on　my　back　getting　my　head　crushed。　Then　it　was　too　late；　I　couldn't　reach　the　peashooter。〃
　Pitt　became　silent；　already　his　mind　was　on　another　subject　It　was　still　early　in　the　morning　and　the　trees　edging　the　road　threw　their　long　misproportioned　shadows　toward　the　west　He　drove　mechanically；　a'　hundred　questions；　a　hundred　doubts　circulating　through
　his　mind。　He　didn't　know　where　to　start；　and　there　was　the　plan　that　had　taken　form　back　there　overlooking　those　surf　pounded　cliffs。　The　plan　at　best　was　a　gamble；　a　long　shot　backed　by　nothing　but　an　overpowering　urge　to　carry　it　out。　And　then　he　was　automatically　depressing　the　brake　pedal；　slowing　the　truck　down　and　stopping　at　the　Brady　Field　main　gate。
　　　　Forty　minutes　later　they　were　climbing　the　boarding　ladder　of　the　First　Attempt。　The　deck　was　deserted；　but　a　chorus　of　hearty　male　laughter　acpanied　by　the　high…pitched　giggle　of　a　woman　echoed　from　the　messroom。　Pitt　and　Giordino　entered　and　found　Teri　surrounded　by　the　entire　crew　and　scientific　staff　of　the　ship。　She　was　dressed；　or　undressed；　in　a　knotted　makeshift　bikini　that　looked　as　if　it　would　e　unfurled　at　the　first　sign　of　a　passing　offshore　breeze。　She　perched　prettily　on　the　mess　table；　the　center　of　attraction；　a　queen　holding　court；　and　it　was　obvious　that　she　enjoyed　every　male　eyeball。　Pitt　bemusedly　studied　the。　men's　faces　for　a　moment　It　was　an　elementary　task　to　separate　the　scientists　from　the　professional　crewmen。　The　latter　stood　quietly　and　gazed　lecherously　at　the　generous　display　of　feminine　skin；　their　minds　throwing　pornographic　scenes　on　the　inside　walls　of　their　skulls　like　movie　projectors。　Most　of　the　vocal　activity　came　from　the　scientists。　The　marine　biologists；　the　meteorologists；　the　geologists；　each　vying　with　frantic　zeal　for　Teri's　attention　and　behaving　like　schoolboys　whose　dormitory　had　just　been　invaded　by　a　box　office　sex　queen。
　mander　Gunn　saw　Pitt　and　came　over　to　him。　〃I'm　glad　you're　back。　Our　radio　man　is　about　to　go　psycho。　Since　dawn　this　morning　he's　been　receiving　signals　faster　than　he　can　write。　Most　of　them　are　marked　for　your　attention。〃
　Pitt　nodded。　〃Ok；　let's　go　and　read　my　fan　mail。〃　He　turned　to　Giordino。　〃See　if　you　can　tear　our　queen　bee　away　from　her　ardent　admirers　for　a　few　minutes　and　escort　her　to　Gunn's　cabin。　I　want　to　ask　her　one　or　two　very　personal　questions。〃
　Giordino　grinned。　〃From　the　looks　of　that　crowd　I'll　probably　get　lynched　if　I　try。〃
　〃If　things　get　too　tough　just　flash　your　gun；〃　Pitt　said　sarcastically。　〃But　don't　forget　to　remove　the　safety。〃
　Giordino's　mouth　dropped　open　like　a　landed　fish。
　Before　he　could　recover；　Pitt　and　Gunn　had　left
　The　radio　man；　a　young　black　in　his　early　twenties；　looked　up　when　they　entered。　〃This　one　just　came　in　for　you；　sir。〃　He　handed　the　message　to　Gunn。
　Gunn　studied　it　for　a　moment；　then　his　lips　slowly　arched　into　a　wide　smile。　〃Listen　to　this。　'To　mander　Gunn；　officer　manding　NUMA　ship　First　Attempt。　What　in　the　goddamn　hell　kind　of　hornet's　nest　have　you　people　stirred　up　in　the　Aegean。　I　sent　you　out　there　to　study　sea　life；　not　play　cops　and　robbers。　You　are　hereby　ordered　to　render　every　assistance；　repeat。　every　assistance　at　your　mand　to　the　local　INTERPOL　authorities。　And　don't　return　home　without　a　goddamn　Teaser。　Admiral　James　Sandecker；　NUMA；　Washingt