p&c.brimstone-第101节

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n。　The　chill　evaporated　before　the　furious；　carefully　controlled　anger　that　burned　within　him。　D'Agosta　tried　to　channel　that　anger：　he'd　need　it　for　the　encounter　to　e。　The　maddening；　excruciating　twelve…hour　delay　was　finally　over。　The　paperwork；　the　warrant；　had　finally　e　through；　the　bureaucracy　had　been　satisfied。　Now　he　was　back　here；　on　the　enemy's　home　ground。　He　had　to　stay　calm；　stay　in　control。　He　knew　he　had　only　one　shot　to　save　Pendergast…if　indeed　Pendergast　was　still　alive…and　he　wasn't　going　to　blow　it　by　losing　his　cool。　
　Colonnello　Esposito；　sitting　beside　him；　took　a　last　deep　drag　on　his　cigarette；　then　ground　it　out　in　an　ashtray。　He'd　been　quiet　during　the　drive；　moving　only　occasionally　to　light　a　new　cigarette。　Now　he；　too；　glanced　out　the　window。　
　〃A　most　formidable　residence；〃　he　said。　
　D'Agosta　nodded。　
　Esposito　pulled　out　a　fresh　cigarette；　reconsidered；　replaced　it；　and　turned　to　D'Agosta。　〃This　Fosco　you　describe　seems　a　shrewd　character。　It　will　be　necessary　to　catch　him　red…handed；　secure　the　evidence　ourselves。　We　will　therefore　go　in　fast。〃　
　〃Yes。　Good。〃　
　Esposito　ran　a　hand　over　his　brushed…back　gray　hair。　〃He　is　also　clearly　one　who　leaves　nothing　to　chance。　I　worry　that　Pendergast　may　be　。　。　。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　
　〃If　we　hadn't　waited　twelve　hours…〃　
　Thecolonnello　shook　his　head。　〃One　cannot　change　the　way　things　are。〃　He　fell　silent　while　the　cars　passed　the　castle's　ruined　outer　gate　and　made　their　way　along　the　avenue　of　cypress　trees。　Then　he　stirred　again。　〃One　request；　Sergeant。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃Let　me　do　the　talking；　if　you　please。　I　will　make　sure　the　conversation　is　in　English。　Fosco　speaks　English　well？〃　
　〃Perfectly。〃　
　D'Agosta　was　more　exhausted　than　he　ever　remembered　being。　Every　limb　ached；　and　his　skin　was　scratched　and　torn　in　countless　places。　Only　his　iron　resolve　to　rescue　Pendergast；　his　fear　about　what　his　friend　might　be　undergoing　at　the　hands　of　the　count；　kept　him　going。Maybe　he's　still　alive；　he　thought。Back　in　the　same　cell。　Of　course　he　is。　He　must　be。　
　D'Agosta　prayed　briefly；　fervently；　that　this　would　prove　the　case。　The　alternative　was　too　dreadful　to　contemplate。　
　The　cars　pulled　into　the　graveled　parking　area　just　outside　the　inner　wall。　Here；　in　the　deep　shadow　of　the　stone　buttresses；　it　was　chilly。　D'Agosta　opened　the　car　door　and　stepped　out　briskly　despite　his　aches　and　pains。　
　
　〃The　Fiat；〃　he　said。　〃Our　rented　car。　It's　gone。〃　
　〃What　model？〃　Esposito　asked。　
　〃A　Stylo；　black。　License　IGP　223。〃　
　Esposito　turned　to　one　of　his　men　and　barked　an　order。　
　The　castle　seemed　deserted；　almost　preternaturally　quiet。　Thecolonnello　nodded　to　his　men；　then　led　the　way　quickly　up　the　stone　steps　to　the　banded　doors。　
　This　time；　the　doors　to　the　inner　ward　did　not　open　by　themselves。　In　fact；　it　took　five　minutes…and　increasingly　agitated　raps　by　thecolonnello　…before　they　groaned　slowly　open。　There；　on　the　far　side；　stood　Fosco。　His　gaze　traveled　over　the　knot　of　policemen；　ing　to　rest　at　last　on　D'Agosta。　He　smiled。　
　〃Why；　my　heavens！　It's　Sergeant　D'Agosta。　How　are　you　finding　Italy？〃　
　D'Agosta　did　not　reply。　Just　the　sight　of　the　grotesque　count　brought　on　a　rush　of　loathing。Keep　it　cool；　he　reminded　himself。　
　Fosco　was　puffing　just　a　bit　but　otherwise　seemed　his　jovial；　unflappable　self。　〃Please　excuse　my　delay　in　responding。　I　wasn't　expecting　any　pany　today。〃　Then　he　turned　toward　thecolonnello　。　〃But　we　haven't　yet　been　introduced。　I　am　Fosco。〃　
　〃I　am　Colonnello　Orazio　Esposito　of　the　Nucleo　Investigativo；〃　Esposito　said　brusquely。　〃We　have　a　warrant　to　search　these　premises。　I　would　ask　you　to　step　aside；　sir。〃　
　〃A　warrant！〃　Surprise　bloomed　on　the　count's　face。　〃What's　it　about？〃　
　Esposito　ignored　him；　walking　past；　barking　orders　to　his　men。　He　turned　to　the　count。　〃My　men　will　need　access　to　all　parts　of　the　castle。〃　
　〃Of　course！〃　The　count　hastened　across　the　lawn　of　the　inner　ward；　past　the　purling　fountain；　and　into　the　fastness　of　the　dark　and　brooding　keep；　putting　on　a　remarkable　front　of　surprise　and　alarm；　mingled　with　subservient　cooperation。　
　D'Agosta　maintained　a　stony　silence；　keeping　his　canvas　bag　well　away　from　Fosco。　He　noticed　that；　this　time；　none　of　the　massive　doors　scraped　closed　behind　them。　
　The　count　led　the　way　down　the　central　gallery　and　into　a　room　D'Agosta　hadn't　seen　before：　a　large　and　elegant　library；　its　walls　covered　with　ancient　volumes；　leather　spines　stamped　and　gilded。　A　fire　crackled　merrily　on　the　hearth。　
　〃Please；　gentlemen；〃　Fosco　said；　ushering　them　in。　〃Have　a　seat。　Can　I　offer　you　sherry？　A　cigar？〃　
　〃I'm　afraid　there　is　no　time　for　pleasantries；〃　Esposito　said。　He　reached　into　his　pocket；　withdrew　a　sheet　of　paper　bearing　official　stamps；　laid　it　on　the　table。　〃Here　is　the　warrant。　We　will　search　the　basements　and　cellars　first；　then　work　our　way　up。〃　
　The　count　had　taken　a　cigar　from　a　carved　wooden　box。　〃Of　course　I　shall　cooperate；　but　I'd　like　to　know　what　it's　about。〃　
　〃Sergeant　D'Agosta　has　leveled　very　grave　charges　against　you。〃　
　〃Againstme　？〃　the　count　said。　He　glanced　at　D'Agosta。　〃Whatever　are　you　talking　about？〃　
　〃Kidnapping；　attempted　murder…and　the　accusation　that　you　are　still　holding　Pendergast。〃　
　The　surprise　on　Fosco's　face　deepened。　〃But　this…this　is　outrageous！〃　He　lowered　the　cigar；　looking　from　D'Agosta　to　Esposito　and　back　again。　〃Sergeant；　is　this　true？　Do　you　make　such　accusations？〃　
　〃Let's　go；〃　said　D'Agosta　impatiently。　Although　he　kept　his　tone　level；　he　seethed　inwardly　at　the　masterful　acting。　The　count　truly　looked　like　a　man　struggling　with　shock　and　disbelief。　
　〃Well。　If　that　is　the　case；　who　am　I　to　protest？〃　Fosco　examined　the　cigar；　snipped　off　the　end　with　a　tiny　silver　clipper；　lit　it。　〃But　you　may　put　away　that　warrant；　Officer。　I　give　you　and　your　men　free　run　of　the　castle。　Every　door　is　open　to　you。　Search　where　you　will。　Please　allow　me　to　assist　you　in　any　way　I　can。〃　
　Esposito　turned　briskly　to　some　of　the　carabinieri；　speaking　in　Italian。　The　men　saluted；　fanned　out；　disappeared。　
　Esposito　turned　back　to　D'Agosta。　〃Sergeant；　perhaps　you　could　take　us　to　the　room　where　you　were　incarcerated　for　the　night。　Count；　you　will　acpany　us。〃　
　〃I　would　insist　upon　it。　The　Foscos　are　an　ancient　and　noble　family；　and　we　value　our　honor　above　all　else。　These　charges　must　be　addressed；　and　settled；　immediately。〃　He　glanced　back　at　D'Agosta　with　just　a　trace　of　indignation。　
　D'Agosta　led　the　way　down　the　gallery；　through　the　drawing　room；　and　into　the　long　procession　of　elegant　chambers。　The　count　followed；　walking　in　his　peculiar　light…footed　way；　pointing　out　various　works　of　art　and　sights　of　interest　for　thecolonnello　；　who　ignored　him。　The　remaining　two　carabinieri　brought　up　the　rear。　
　Then　came　a　point　where　D'Agosta　lost　his　way。　He　looked　around；　stepped　forward；　stopped　again。　There　had　been　a　door　in　this　stuccoed　wall…hadn't　there？　
　〃Sergeant？〃　Esposito　said。　
　〃Perhaps　I　could　be　of　assistance？〃　Fosco　volunteered。　
　D'Agosta　glanced　through　one　doorway；　backtracked；　looked　through　another。　It　had　been　less　than　twenty…four　hours；　he　couldn't　have　forgotten。　Could　he？　He　advanced；　touched　the　stucco；　but　it　was　old；　crumbling；　anything　but　fresh。　
　〃The　sergeant　said　the　apartment　where　he　was　held　prisoner　was　in　the　tower　itself；〃　thecolonnello　told　Fosco。　
　The　count　cast　a　puzzled　gaze　on　thecolonnello　；　turned　to　D'Agosta。　〃There　is　only　one　apartment　in　the　tower；　but　it　is　not　this　way。〃　
　〃Take　us　to　it。〃　
　The　count　led　them　quickly　through　a　series　of　passages　and　low；　dark　stone　rooms；　barren　of　furnishings。　
　〃This　is　the　oldest　part　of　the　castle；〃　Fosco　said。　〃Dating　back　to　the　ninth　century。　It's　rather　cold　and　depressing。　There　are　no　modern　amenities　like　electricity　or　plumbing。　I　never　e　here　myself。〃　
　Within　a　minute；　they　had　reached　the　heavy　iron　door　of　the　keep。　Fosco　opened　it　with　difficulty；　the　lock　rusty。　The　door　creaked　open；　Fosco　brushing　away　cobwebs。　He　led　the　way　up　the　staircase　beyond；　the　echo　of　feet　filling　the　stony　spaces。　Reaching　the　landing；　D'Agosta　paused　before　the　door　of　their　apartment。　It　was　ajar。　
　〃Is　this　it？〃　Esposito　asked。　
　D'Agosta　nodded。　
　Esposito　beckoned　to　his　men；　who　came　forward；　opened　the　door；　and　stepped　inside。　Esposito　followed；　D'Agosta　on　his　heels。　
　The　snug　apartment　where　he'd　spent　the　night　before　last　was　gone。　The　rugs；　bookshelves；　and　furniture　were　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Lights；　plumbing　fixtures…everything　that　had　been　retrofitted　into　the　space　was　now　gone。　Instead；　he　gazed　into　a　chill；　dark　vault　filled　with　decaying　lumber；　broken　stone　carvings；　moldering　stacks　of　heavy　draperies。　A　massive　iron　chandelier；　twisted　and　rusting；　lay　on　the　floor。　Everything　was　coated　in　a　thick　mantle　of　dust。　It　looked　like　a　storage　area　for　the　cast…off　detritus　of　past　centuries。　
　〃Sergeant…are　you　sure　this　is　the　room？〃　
　D'Agosta's　astonishment　gave　way　to　puzzlement；　then　anger。　〃Yes；　but　it　wasn't　like　this。　It　wasn't　like　this　at　all。　There　were　bedrooms；　a　bathroom…〃　
　The　room　fell　silent。　
　So　that's　the　game；D'Agosta　th