cc.iceberg-第52节

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l　on　the　morning　of　the　same　day　he　left　Iceland　when　a　bleary…eyed　Pitt　yawned；　stretched　in　the　confined　limitations　of　the　tiny　cabin；　and　looking　idly　out　the　navigator's　side　window；　watched　the　tiny　shadow　of　the　aircraft　dart　across　the　green　slopes　of　the　Sierra　Madre　mountains。
　
　And　what　now？　Pitt　smiled　wryly　back　at　his　reflection　in　the　（tiass　as　the　bomber　now　swung　out　of　the　foothills　and　across　the　smog…blanketed　San　Gabriel　Valley。　Gazing　down　at　the　Pacific　Ocean　as　it　came　into　view；　he　cleared　his　mind　of　the　past　and　directed　it　on　the　immediate　future。　He　didn't　know　how　nor　did　he　have　even　a　remote　scrap　for　a　plan；　but　he　knew；　no　matter　the　obstacles；　he　knew　he　was　going　to　kill　Oskar　Rondheim。
　
　His　mind　abruptly　returned　to　the　present　as　the　landing　gear　thumped　down　and　locked　into　place　at　the　same　moment　that　Dean　Kippmann　nudged　him　on　the　arm。
　〃Have　a　nice　nap？〃
　〃Slept　like　the　dead。〃
　
　The　B…92　touched　down　and　the　engines　screamed　as　the　pilot　threw　the　thrust　into　reverse。　The　day　outside　looked　warm　and　fortable　and　the　California　sun　gleamed　blindingly　on　the　long　rows　of　military　jets　parked　along　the　taxiways。　Pitt　read　the　twelve…foot…high　letters　painted　across　a　giant　hangar：　WELE　TO　EL　TORO　MARINE　AIR　STATION。
　
　The　bomber's　engines　slowly　died　and　an　automobile　sped　over　the　apron　as　Pitt；　Kippmann　and　the　Air　Force　crew　climbed　down　a　narrow　ladder　to　the　concrete。　Two　men　unreeled　from　a　blue　Ford　stationwagon　and　approached　Kippmann。　Greetings　and　handshakes　were　exchanged。　'Then　they　all　walked　back　to　the　car。　Pitt；　left　standing　with　nothing　to　do；　followed　them。
　
　Beside　an　open　car　door　the　three　men　huddled　together　and　conversed　in　undertones　while　Pitt　stood　several　feet　away　and　enjoyed　a　cigarette。　Finally　Kippmann　turned　and　came　over。
　〃It　seems　we're　about　to　crash　a　family　reunion。〃
　〃Meaning？
　
　〃They're　all　here。　Kelly；　Marks；　Rondheim；　the　whole　lot。〃
　〃Here　in　California？〃　Pitt　asked　incredulously。
　〃Yes；　we　had　them　traced　as　soon　as　they　left　Iceland。　The　serial　number　you　found　on　that　black　…；jet　came　home　a　winner。　Hermit　Limited　purchased　six　of　the　same　model　with　consecutive　numbers　from　the　factory。　We　have　every　one　of　the　remaining　five　planes　under　surveillance　at　this　moment。〃
　〃I'm　impressed。　That　was　fast　work。〃
　
　Kippmann　dropped　a　smile。　〃Not　all　that　tough。　it　might　have　been　if　the　planes　had　been　scattered　around　the　globe；　but　as　it　is；　they're　all　sitting　neatly　side　by　side　exactly　eight　miles　from　here　at　the　Orange　County　Airport。〃
　〃Then　Kelly's　headquarters　must　be　nearby。〃
　〃In　the　hills　behind　Laguna　Beach；　a　fifty…acre　plex；〃　Kippmann　said；　pointing　in　a　southwesterly　direction。　〃Incidentally；　Hermit　Limited　has　over　three　hundred　employees　on　the　payroll　who　they're　doir；　classified　political　anaivsis　for　their　own　government。〃
　〃Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃
　
　Kippmann　motioned　Pitt　into　the　car。　〃Disney　land；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃to　stop　a　double　murder。〃
　
　They　pulled　onto　the　Santa　Ana　Freeway　and　headed　north；　weaving　in　and　out　of　the　light　morning　traffic。　As　they　passed　the　Newport　Beach　tumor；　Pitt　couldn't　help　wondering　if　the　beautiful　redhead　he　had　met　on　the　beach　just　a　few　days　ago　would　still　be　there　waiting　at　the　New　'　Porter　Inn。
　
　Kippmann　produced　two　photographs　and　shoved　them　in　front　of　Pitt。　〃Here　are　the　men　we're　trying　to　save。〃
　
　Pitt　tapped　the　face　in　one　of　the　photos。　〃This　is　Pablo　Castile；　President　of　the　Dominican　Republic。〃
　
　Kippmann　nodded。　〃A　brilliant　economist　and　one　of　the　leading　members　of　the　Latin　American　right　Since　his　inauguration　he　has　begun　an　ambitious　program　of　reforms。　For　the　first　time　the　people　of　his　country　are　projecting　an　atmosphere　of　confidence　and　optimism。　Our　state　department　would　hate　like　hell　to　see　Kelly　screw　things　ut）　just　when　there's　hope　of　the　Dominican　Republic　being　economically　stable。〃
　
　Pitt　held　up　the　other　photo。　〃I　can't　place　him。〃
　
　Juan　De　Croix；〃　Kippmann　said。　〃A　highly　successful　doctor　of　East　Indian　ancestry。　Leader　of　the　People's　Progressive　Party…won　the　election　only　six　months　ago；　Now　President　of　French　Guiana。〃
　〃If　I　remember　my　current　events；　he's　got　problems。〃
　〃He's　got　problems；　all　right；〃　Kippmann　agreed。
　〃French　Guiana　is　less　prosperous　than　the　British　or　Dutch　Guianas。　A　movement　for　independence　developed　five　years　ago；　but　it　was　only　under　the　threat　of　a　revolution　that　the　French　permitted　a　new　constitution　and　a　general　election。　De　Croix；　of　course；　walked　off　with　the　votes　and　oroclaimed　total　independence。
　
　He's　got　an　uphill　battle。　His　country　suffers　from　tropical　diseases　of　every　type　and　from　chronic　shortages　of　domestic　food。　I　don't　envy　him；　no　one　does。〃
　〃De　Croix's　government　is　vulnerable；〃　…aid　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃But　what　of　Catde's　cabinet；　aren't　his　ministers　strong　enough　to　survive　his　death？〃
　〃With　the　people；　maybe。　But　the　Dominican　army　isn't　too　faithful。　A　military　junta　would　no　doubt　take　over；　except　in　this　case　Kelly　has　obviously　bought　off　the　generals。〃
　〃How　is　it　both　of　these　men　are　at　the　same　place　at　the　same　time？〃
　〃If　you'd　read　the　papers；　you'd　know　the　leaders　of　the　Western　Hemisphere　have　just　finished　a　conference　in　San　Francisco　for　the　Alliance　of　Economic　and　Agricultural　Progress。　De　Croix；　Castile　and　several　other　Latin　leaders　are　doing　a　little　sightseeing　on　the　way　home。　it's　that　simple。〃
　
　Why　didn't　you　stop　them　from　entering　the　park？
　
　〃I　tried；　but　by　the　time　our　internal　security　forces　could　act；　it　was　too　late。　De　Croix　and　Castile　have　already　been　in　the　park　for　two　hours　and　both　refuse　to　leave。　We　can　only　keep　our　fingers　crossed　that　Rondheim's　killers　stick　to　their　time　schedule。〃
　〃Cutting　it　a　bit　fine；　aren't　you？〃　Pitt　said　slowly。
　
　Kippmann　shrugged　indifferently。　〃Some　things　YOU　can　Control；　others　you　can　only　stand　by　and　watch。〃
　
　The　car　turned　off　the　freeway　onto　Harbor　Boulevard　and　soon　pulled　up　to　the　employees'　gate；　and　while　the　driver　showed　his　credentials　and　asked　directions　from　the　guard；　Pitt　leaned　out　the　window　and　watched　the　monorail　train　pass　overhead。　they　were　at　the　north　end　of　the　park　and　all　he　could　see　over　the　landscaped　mounds　that　surrounded　the　buildings　was　the　top　half　of　the　Matterhorn　and　the　turrets　on　the　Fantasyland　castle。　The　gate　was　pushed　open　and　they　were　passed　in。
　
　By　the　time　Pitt　walked　down　the　underground　hallway　to　the　park　security　offices；　he　was　beginning　to　think　how　good　that　hospital　bed　in　Reykjavik　had　felt　and　wondered　how　soon　he　could　fall　into　a　replacement。　He　wasn't　sure　what　he　expected　to　find　in　the　park　security　offices　but　he　had　hardly　envisioned　what　he　stepped　into。
　
　The　main　conference　room　was　huge；　it　looked　like　a　scaled…down　version　of　the　war　room　at　the　Pentagon。　The　main　table　ran　for　at　least　fifty　feet　and　was　circled　by　over　twenty　people。　There　was　a　radio　in　one　corner　and　the　operator　was　busily　pointing　out　locations　to　a　marker　who　stood　on　a　ramp　beneath　a　map　that　must　have　stretched　ten　feet　high　and　covered　half　the　facing　wall。　Pitt　walked　slowly　around　the　table　and　stood　under　the　beautifully　contoured　and　painted　map　of　Disneyland。　He　was　studying　the　many　colored　lights　and　the　trail　of　blue　fluorescent　tape　the　marker　was　laying　throulh　the　park　traffic　areas　when　Kippmann　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。
　〃Ready　to　go　to　work？〃
　〃My　body　is　still　running　on　Iceland　time。　It's　past　five　o'clock　there。　I　could　stand　a　little　bracer。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　sir。〃　The　words　came　from　a　big　man；　a　tall　pipe…smoking　man　whose　eyes　stared　out　at　Pitt　from　behind　fashionable　rimless　glasses。　〃Alcohol　has　never　been　permitted　in　any　area　of　the　park　since　we　opened。　And　we　intend　to　keep　it　that　way。〃
　〃Sorry　about　that；〃　Pitt　said　good…naturedly。　He　looked　at　Kippmann　expectantly。
　
　Kippmann　took　the　cue。　〃Major　Dirk　Pitt；　allow　me　to　introduce　Mr。　Dan　Lazard；　Chief　of　Park　security。〃
　
　Lazard's　grip　was　firm。　〃Mr。　Kippmann　has　filled　me　in　concerning　your　injuries。　Do　you　think　you're　up　to　this？〃
　〃I　can　handle　it；〃　Pitt　said　somberly。　〃But　we'll　have　to　do　something　about　my　bandaged　profile…it's　a　bit　conspicuous。〃　Lazard's　eyes。
　
　A　glint　of　amusement　came　into　Lazard's　eye。
　〃Think　we　can　fix　it　so　no　one　will　notice　your　bandages…not　even　the　nurse　who　taped　them。〃
　
　Later　Pitt　stoed　in　front　of　the　full…length　mirror　and　struck　a　menacing　pose。　He　was　torn　between　uttering　laughter　or　a　stream　of　four…lettered　words　from　embarrassment　as　he　stared　at　the　life…sized　figure　of　the　Big　Bad　Wolf；　who　politely　stared　back　at　him。
　〃You've　got　to　admit；〃　Kippmann　said；　fighting　back　a　chuckle；　〃your　own　mother　wouldn't　recognize　you　in　that　rig。〃
　〃I　suppose　it　is　in　keeping　with　my　character；〃　Pitt　said。　He　removed　the　wolf's　head；　sat　down　in　a　chair　and　sighed。　〃How　much　time　have　we　left？〃
　〃Another　hour　and　forty　minutes　to　go　before　Kelly's　deadline。〃
　〃Don't　you　think　I　should　be　sent　in　the　game　now？　You're　not　leaving　me　much　time　to　spo