cc.themediterraneancaper2-第39节

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ir　parents　arms　and　who　finished　their　adolescence　on　a　filthy；　lice　ridden　pile　of　straw　in　a　North　African　whorehouse。〃
　She　jumped　to　her　feet　〃Things　like　that　don't　happen　any　more。　You're　lying；　you're　lying。　you're　making　this　up。〃　She　was　scared　now；　but　playing　a　magnificent　scene；　Pitt　thought。　〃I　told　you　the　truth。　I　know　nothing。　Nothing！〃
　〃Nothing？　You　knew　von　Till　was　planning　to　murder　me　at　the　villa。　Your　tearful　little　act　on　the　terrace；　I　admit；　had　me　fooled。　But　not　for　long。　You　missed　your　calling…you　should　have　been　an　actress。〃
　〃I　didn't　know。〃　Her　voice　was　low　and　desperate。　〃I　swear　I　didn't…〃
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　buy　it。　You　gave　yourself　away　outside　the　labyrinth　when　we　were　arrested　by　the　tourist　guide。　You　weren't　just　surprised　to　see　me；　you　were　goddamned　shocked　to　see　me　in　one　piece。〃
　She　came　over　and　knelt　beside　him　and　held　his　hands　in　hers。　〃Please；　please。　。　。　Oh　God！　What　must　I　do　to　make　you　believe　me？〃
　〃You　might　begin　by　offering　me　facts。〃　He　raised　up　from　the　chair　and　stood　directly　over　her。　Then　he　tore　the　soggy　bandages　from　his　chest　and　dropped　them　in　her　lap。　〃Look　at　me。　This　is　what　I　got　for　accepting　your　invitation　to　dinner。　I　was　set　up　as　the　main　course　for　your　uncle's　man…eating　dog。　Look　at　me！〃
　She　looked。　〃I　think　I'm　going　to　be　sick。〃
　Pitt　ached　to　take　her　in　his　arms　and　kiss　away　the　tears　that　welled　in　her　eyes；　and　to　softly；　gently　tell　her　how　sorry　he　was。　Instead；　he　fought　to　keep　his　voice　firm　and　even。
　She　turned　and　gazed　blankly　at　the　metal　sink　in　the　head；　wondering　if　she　were　going　to　be　sick　or　not；　then　she　forced　her　tear…brimmed　eyes　back　on　Pitt　and　spoke　in　a　whisper。　〃You're　a　devil。　You　talk　about　Uncle　Bruno。　You're　worse；　much　worse。　I　wish　you　would　have　been　killed。〃
　The　hate　should　have　been　there；　but　Pitt　could　only　feel　a　touch　of　sadness。　〃Until　I　say　otherwise　you'll　remain　on　this　ship。〃
　〃You　can't　keep　me　here；　you　have　no　right〃
　〃I　have　no　right；　true；　but　I　can　keep　you　here。　And　while　we're　on　the　subject；　don't　get　it　in　your　pretty　head　to　try　and　escape。　The　men　on　this　ship　are
　expert　swimmers。　You　wouldn't　get　fifty　yards　even　if　you　tried　real　hard。〃
　〃You　can't　keep　me　a　prisoner　forever。〃　Her　face　twisted　with　loathing。　A　woman　had　never　looked　at　Pitt　like　that。　It　made　him　feel　uneasy。
　〃If　my　little　caper　es　off　as　planned　this　afternoon；　you'll　be　out　of　my　hair　and　in　the　hands　of　the　gendarmerie　by　suppertime。〃
　Suddenly　Teri　stared　at　him　speculatively。　〃Is　that　why　you　disappeared　last　night？〃
　Pitt　was　ever　amazed　at　the　way　her　huge　brown　eyes…her　devastatingly　beautiful　eyes…could　run　through　so　many　emotions　in　one　blink。　〃Yes；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　I　sneaked　on　board　one　of　your　uncle's　ships　just　before　dawn。　It　was　a　most　instructive　excursion。　You'll　never　guess　what　I　found。〃
　He　watched　her　closely；　mentally　predicting　what　the　next　blink　would　bring。
　〃I　couldn't　imagine；〃　she　said　dully。　〃The　only　ships　I've　ever　been　on　were　ferrys。〃
　He　walked　over　and　sat　down　in　the　bunk。　The　soft　mattress　felt　good。　He　leaned　back　and　crossed　his　arms　behind　his　head。　Then　he　yawned　long　and　slowly。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon。　That　was　rude　of　me。〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃Well　what？〃
　〃You　were　going　to　tell　me　what　you　found　on　Uncle　Bruno's　ship。〃
　Pitt　shook　his　head　and　grinned。　〃Female　curiosity；　once　piqued　it's　insatiable。　Since　you　insist；　I　found　a　map　to　an　underwater　cave。〃
　〃A　cave？〃
　〃Of　course。　Where　else　do　you　think　your　good　uncle　conducts　his　slimey　business　from？〃
　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　these　stories？'　The　hurt　look　was　back。　〃None　of　them　can　be　true。〃
　〃Oh　good　God；　get　some　sense　in　your　head。　I'm　not　telling　you　anything　new。　Von　Till　may　have　hoodwinked　INTERPOL；　the　gendarmerie　and　the　Bureau　of　Narcotics；　but　he　didn't　fool　yours　truly。〃
　〃You're　talking　nonsense；〃　she　said　slowly。
　〃Am　I？〃　he　asked　thoughtfully。　〃At　precisely　4：30　this　morning　your　uncle's　ship；　the　Queen　Artemisia；　anchored　off　the　coast　below　the　villa。　The　ship　was　loaded　to　the　gills　with　heroin。　Surely　you　must　know　about　the　heroin。　Everyone　else　does。　It　has　to　be　the　worst　kept　secret　of　the　year。　I've　got　to　hand　it　to　your　uncle；　he's　a　master　of　the　old　magician's　routine；　dazzle　the　audience　with　one　hand　while　you　perform　the　trick　with　the　other。　His　little　act　is　about　to　end；　however。　I　have　a　little　trick　of　my　own　that　will　bring　down　the　curtain。〃
　She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃What　any　red…blooded　All　American　boy　would　do。　I'm　going　to　take　Giordino　and　a　couple　of　other　men　and　dive　along　the　shore　until　I　find　the　cave。　It　most　likely　lies　at　the　base　of　the　cliffs　directly　under　the　villa。　once　we　discover　the　entrance　we　will　enter；　seize　any　equipment　and　evidence；　make　a　citizen's　arrest　of　your　uncle；　and　then　call　the；　gendarmerie。〃
　〃You're　insane；〃　she　said　again；　only　with　much　more　feeling　this　time。　〃The　whole　caper；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　is　idiotic。　You　can't　go　through　with　it。　Please；　please　believe　me。　It　won't　work。〃
　〃It's　no　use　begging。　You　can　kiss　your　uncle　and　his　rotten　money　goodbye。　We　hit　the　water　at　1：00。〃　Pitt　yawned　again。　〃Now　if　you　will　kindly　excuse　me；　I'd　like　to　get　a　little　shuteye。〃
　The　tears　were　back。　She　shook　her　head　slowly　from　side　to　side。　〃It's　idiotic；〃　she　whispered　over　and　over；　turned　and　walked　into　the　head；　slamming　the　door　behind　her。
　Pitt　lay　there；　staring　at　the　overhead。　She　was　right；　of　course；　he　thought。　It　did　sound　like　an　idiotic　caper。　But　then；　what　else　could　she　think；　she　only　knew　the　half　of　it。
　　16
　　The　restless　sea　curled　to　a　tall　crest　and　beckoned　like　the　ominous　finger　of　doom　before　it　rammed　into　the　unyielding　gray　cliffs。　The　air　was　warm　and　clear　and　stirred　by　a　faint　breath　from　the　southwest。　A　ghost；　or　so　the　First　Attempt　seemed…a　white　steel　ghost…　glided　at　slow　speed　closer　and　closer　to　the　boiling　caldron；　until　it　looked　like　disaster　was　inevitable。　At　the　last　instant；　no　sooner；　Gunn　spun　the　helm　to　starboard；　sending　the　First　Attempt　on　a　parallel　course　to　the　rocky　cliff　base。　He　kept　glancing　warily　from　the　needle；　traveling　across　the　fathometer's　graph　paper；　to　the　surfline；　a　scant　fifty　yards　away；　and　back　again。
　〃How's　that　for　curb　service？〃　he　asked　without　turning。　The　voice　was　soft　and　controlled；　he　was　as　calm　as　a　fisherman　in　a　rowboat　on　a　placid　Minnesota　lake。
　〃Your　old　seamanship　instructor　at　Annapolis　Would　be　proud　of　you；〃　Pitt　replied。　Unlike　Gunn；　he　Was　staring　straight　ahead。
　〃It's　not　half　as　grim　as　it　looks；〃　Gunn　said；　gesturing　at　the　fathometer。　〃The　bottom　is　a　good　ten　fathoms　below　our　keel！〃
　〃Sixty　feet　in　less　than　a　hundred　yards；　that's　quite　a　drop…off。〃
　Gunn　lifted　one　hand　from　the　helm　and　took　off　his　gold　braided　Navy　cap；　swiping　a　few　beads　of　sweat　that　hung　from　his　hairline。
　〃It's　not　an　unmon　occurrence　in　an　area　that's　free　of　outer　reefs。〃
　〃It's　a　good　sign；〃　Pitt　said　thoughtfully。
　〃How　so？〃
　〃Plenty　of　room　for　a　sub　to　maneuver　without　surface　detection。〃
　〃At　night　maybe；〃　Gunn　said。　〃Too　obvious　during　the　day。　The　water　visibility　is　almost　a　hundred　feet。　Anyone　standing　on　the　bluffs　within　a　mile　in　either　direction　could　easily　look　down　and　spot　a　three　hundred　foot　hull　that　was　crawling　over　the　bottom。〃
　〃It　shouldn't　be　too　difficult　to　spot　a　diver　either；〃　Pitt　turned　and　gazed　up　at　the　villa；　nestled　like　a　fortress　on　the　craggy　side　of　the　mountain。
　〃You're　mad　to　take　a　chance　like　this；〃　Gunn　said　slowly。　〃Von　Till　can　see　any　movement　you　make。
　I'll　bet　a　dime　to　a　donut　that　He's　had　a　pair　of　binoculars　trained　on　us　every　second　since　we　upped　anchor。〃
　〃I'm　betting　on　it　too；〃　Pitt　murmured。　He　lost；　himself　for　a　moment　in　the　beauty　of　the　scene。　The　azure　arms　of　the　Aegean　encircled　the　ancient　island　seascape　in　a　dazzling　reflection　of　sun　and　water。　Only　the　voice　of　the　crashing　surf　answered　the　steady　hum　of　the　ship's　engines；　punctuated　occasionally　by　the　shriek　of　a　solitary　gull。　Above　the　rocky　cliffs；　a　herd　of　cattle　grazed　on　a　sloping　green　pasture；　like　tiny　immovable　shapes　in　a　Rembrandt　landscape。　And　below；　in　sheltered　coves　among　the　lesser　cliffs；　piles　of　sun…bleached　driftwood　lay　dead　and　still　on　tiny　shell　carpeted　beaches。
　Pitt　nearly　lingered　too　long。　He　tugged　his　mind　back　to　the　job　at　hand。　That　mysterious　area　of　calm　water　was　ing　up　now；　only　three　quarters　of　a　mile　away　off　the　port　bow。　He　laid　a　hand　on　Gunn's　shoulder　and　pointed。
　〃The　flat　pond。〃
　Gunn　nodded。　〃OK；　got　it。　At　our　present　speed　we　should　be　alongside　in　ten　minutes。　Is　your　team　ready？〃
　〃All　set　and　primed；〃　Pitt　answered　briefly。　〃They　know　what　to　expect。　I've　got　them　stationed　along　the　starboard　cabin　deck；　out　of　sight　to　any　prying　eyes　from　the　villa。〃
　Gunn　replaced　his　cap。　〃Be　sure　you　order　them　to　leap　plenty　clear　of　the　hull。　Getting　sucked　into　a　prop　can　be　a　very　messy　business。〃
　〃I　doubt　that　they　have　to　be　ordered；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　〃They're　all　good　men。　You　told　me　so　yourself。〃