cc.iceberg-第56节

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　〃I　misled　you；　Oskar。　Round　one　was　an　unequal　contest。　You　had　the　numbers；　the　planning　and　the　initiative　from　the　beginning。　How　are　you　alone；　Oskar；　without　your　paid　help　to　prop　your　victims？　How　are　you　when　you're　on　strange　ground？　You　still　have　time　to　escape。　Nothing　stands　between　you　and　a　chance　for　freedom　except　me。
　
　But　there's　the　rub；　；　Oskar。　You　have　to　get　by　me。〃
　
　Rondheim's　teeth　showed。　〃I　don't　need　anyone　to　break　you；　Pitt。
　
　My　only　regret　is　that　I　don't　have　the　time　to　stretch　out　your　next　lesson　in　pain。〃
　〃Okay；　Oskar；　so　much　for　the　psychological　bullshit；〃　Pitt　said　calmly。　He　knew　exactly　what　he　was　going　to　do。　True；　he　was　still　weak　and　dead　tired；　but　that　was　more　than　canceled　out　by　the　selfdetermination；　the　invisible　figures　of　Lillie；　Tidi；　Sam　Kelly；　Hunnewell　and　the　rest　who　stood　at　his　side　giving　him　strength　he　could　have　never　possessed　alone。
　
　An　uncertain　smile　came　to　Rondheim's　mouth　as　he　crouched　in　a　karate　stance。　The　smile　didn't　last。
　
　Pitt　hit　him。　He　hit　Rondheim　with　a　right　cross；　a　perfectly　timed　punch　that　jerked　Rondheim's　head　sideways　and　staggered　him　into　the　ship's　main　mast。
　
　Deep　down　Pitt　had　known　that　he　had　little　chance　of　taking　Rondheim　in　a　prolonged　fight；　that　he　couldn't　hold　the　other　man　off　for　more　than　a　few　minutes；　but　he　had　schemed　and　timed　for　the　element　of　surprise；　the　one　advantage　that　played　on　his　side　before　the　karate　blows　could　lash　his　face　again。　As　it　turned　out；　the　advantage　was　a　small　one。
　
　Rondheim　was　incredibly　tough；　he　had　taken　a　hard　blow；　yet　he　was　already　recovering。　He　sprang　from　the　mast　and　threw　a　kick　to　Pitts　head；　missing　by　a　scant　inch　as　Pitt　ducked　easily　away。　The　ill　timing　cost　him。　Pitt　caught　Rondheim　with　a　series　of　left　jabs　and　another　short；　hard　right　that　sent　him　to　his　knees　on　the　deck；　holding　a　hand　to　a　broken；　bleeding　nose。
　〃You've　improved；〃　Rondheim　whispered　through　the　streaming　blood。
　〃I　said　I　misled　you。〃　Pitt　was　hanging　back　tensed　in　a　half　boxing；　half　judo　position；　waiting　for　Rondheim's　next　move。　〃In　reality；　I'm　about　as　queer　as　Carzo　Butera。〃
　
　With　the　sound　of　his　true　name；　Rondheim　could　see　death's　fingers　reaching　out　to　touch　him；　but　he　kept　his　voice　under　iron　control；　his　bleeding　face　an　expressionless　mask。　〃It　seems　I　underestimated　you；　Major。〃
　〃You　were　an　easy　man　to　lead　astray；　Oskar；　or　should　I　call　you　by　the　name　on　your　birth　certificate？
　
　No　matter；　your　run　has　played　out。〃
　
　Mouthing　a　string　of　curses　through　blood…speck　lips；　his　face　now　frozen　in　insane　hate；　Rondheim　flung　himself　at　Pitt。　He　hadn't　taken　a　second　step　when　Pitt　brought　an　uppercut　from　the　deck　and　rammed　it　as　solidly　as　a　sledgehammer　into　Rondheim's　teeth。　Pitt　had　given　it　everything　he　had；　thrown　his　shoulder　and　body　into　it　with　such　force　that　his　ribs　screamed　in　agony　and　he　knew　even　as　he　did　it　that　he　could　never　marshal　the　strength　to　do　it　again。
　
　There　came　a　dull　squish　sound；　mingled　with　a　muffled　cracking　noise。　Rondheim's　teeth　were　jerked　from　their　sockets　and　imbedded　in　torn　lips　as　Pitts　wrist　snapped。　For　two　or　three　seconds　Rondheim　seemed　to　straighten　and　stand　there　poised　like　a　frame　frozen　in　a　movie　projector；　then；　with　the　unbelievably　slow；　irrevocable　finality　of　a　falling　tree；　he　crumbled　to　the　deck　and　lay　still。
　
　Pitt　stood　and　panted　through　clenched　teeth；　his　right　wrist　hanging　…limply　at　his　side。　He　stared　up　at　the　little　lights　flashing　from　the　make…believe　cannon　on　the　fortress　and　then　he　noticed　that　the　next　excursion　boat　was　passing　through　the　chamber。　He　blinked　his　eyes　to　focus　more　clearly　and　the　sweat　ran　into　them　and　stung。　There　was　something　he　had　to　do。　At　first　the　thought　repulsed　him；　but　he　shook　it　aside；　determined　that　there　could　be　no　other　way。
　
　He　stepped　over　the　sprawling　legs　of　the　unconscious　man　and　bent　down；　propping　one　of　Rondheim's　arms　against　the　deck　and　the　bottom　base　of　the　railing。　Then；　riisin；g　one　of　his　feet；　he　stomped　on　it；　shuddering　inwardly　as　the　bone　broke　a　few　inches　below　the　elbow。
　
　Rondheim　stirred　sluggishly　and　moaned。
　〃That's　for　Jerome　Lillie；〃　Pitt　said；　his　voice　bitter。
　
　He　repeated　the　process　with　Rondheim's　other　arm；　noting　with　grim　satisfaction　that　his　victim's　eyes　had　opened　and　were　staring　vacantly；　pupils　enlarged；　in　a　glassy　state　of　physical　shock。
　〃Score　that　one　ior　Tidi　Royal。〃
　
　Pitt　moved　automatically　as　he　turned　Rondheim's　body　so　that　the　legs　were　pointing　in　the　opposite　direction；　propped　as　the　arms　had　been　on　the　deck　and　trained　The　thinking；　emotional　part　of　Pitts　mind　was　C；　no　longer　part　of　his　brain。　It　floated　outside　its　cranial　vault；　keeping　enouph　contact　to　pull　the　strings　that　made　the　hands　and　feet　work。　Inside　the　bruised；　cut；　and　in　some　places。　deserted　shelter；　the　machine　was　quietly；　smoothly　ticking　over。　The　deadly　exhaustion　and　pain　were　pushed　into　the　background；　forgotten　for　the　moment　until　his　mind　regained　full　control。
　
　There。　he　jumped　on　Rondheim's　left　leg。
　〃Mark　that　up　for　Sam　Kelly。〃
　
　Rondheim　screamed　a　scream　that　died　in　his　throat。　The　glazed　blue…gray　eyes　stared　upward　intg　Pitts。　〃Kill　me；〃　he　whispered。　〃why　don't　you　kill　me？〃
　〃If　you　lived　for　a　thousand　years；〃　Pitt　said　grimly；　〃you　could　never　make　up　for　all　the　pain　and　misery　you've　caused。　I　want　you　to　know　what　it's　like；　feel　the　agony　as　your　bones　part；　the　helplessness　of　lying　there　and　watching　it　happen。　I　should　break　your　spine　like　you　did　Lillie's；　watch　you　rot　your　life　away　in　a　wheelchair。　But　that　would　be　wishful　Thinking；　Oskar。　Your　trial　might　last　a　few　weeks；　even　months；　but　there　isn't　a　jury　in　the　world　that　won't　hand　you　a　death　sentence　without　leaving　the　box。　No；　I'd　be　doing　you　a　favor　by　killing　you；　and　that　would　never　do。　This　one　is　for　Willie　Hunnewell。〃
　
　There　was　no　grin　on　Pitts　face；　no　gleam　of　anticipation　in　the　deep　green　eyes。　He　leaped　for　the　fourth　and　final　time　and　the　hoarse；　horrible　scream　of　pain　rolled　over　the　ship's　decks；　echoed　through　the　chamber；　then　slowly　faded　and　died。
　
　With　a　feeling　of　emptiness；　almost　sadness；　Pitt　sat　there　on　a　hatch　cover　and　stared　down　at　the　broken　figure　of　Rondheim。　It　wasn't　a　pretty　sight。　The　fury　within　him　had　found　its　outlet　and　now　he　felt　totally　drained　as　he　waited　for　his　lungs　and　heart　to　slow　back　to　normal。
　
　He　was　sitting　there　like　that　when　Kippmann　and　Lazard　came　charging　across　the　deck；　followed　by　a　small　army　of　security　men。　They　said　nothing。　there　was　nothing　they　could　say；　at　least　not　for　a　full　sixty　seconds；　not　until　the　full　significance　of　what　Pitt　had　done　became　clear　to　them。
　
　Finally　Kippmann　broke　the　silence。　〃A　little　rough　on　him；　weren't　you？〃
　〃He's　Oskar　Rondheim；〃　Pitt　said　vaguely。
　
　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃I　seldom　forget　a　face；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Especially　when　it　belongs　to　a　man　who　kicked　the　hell　out　of　me。〃
　
　Lazard　tur…led　to　look　at　him。　His　lips　twisted　in　a　wry　smile。　〃What　was　it　I　said　about　you　hardly　being　in　shape　for　hand…to…hand　bat？〃
　〃Sorry　I　couldn't　get　to　Rondheim　before　he　started　popping　away　with　his　silencer；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Did　he　hit　anyone？〃
　〃Castile　was　nicked　in　the　arm；〃　Lazard　said。
　〃After　we　cold…cocked　those　two　clowns　in　the　stern　seat；　I　turned　and　saw　you　playing　Errol　Flynn　on　the　bridge。　I　knew　then　we　weren't　out　of　the　woods　yet；　so　I　threw　myself　over　the　family　up　front　and　forced　them　to　the　bottom　of　the　boat。〃
　〃Likewise　with　our　visitors　from　Latin　America。〃
　
　Kippmann　smiled　and　rubbed　a　bruise　on　his　forehead。
　〃They　thought　I　was　crazy　and　gave　me　a　rough　go　for　a　minute。〃
　〃What　happens　to　Kelly　and　Hermit　Limited？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃We'll　arrest　Mr。　Kelly　along　with　his　internationally　wealthy　partners；　of　course；　but　the　chances　of　convicting　men　of　their　stature　are　almost　impossible。　I　should　imagine　the　governments　involved　will　hurt　them　where　it　hurts　them　most…in　the　pocketbook。　The　fines　they'll　probably　have　to　pay　should　build　the　Navy　a　new　aircraft　carrier。〃
　〃That's　a　small　price　to　pay　for　the　suffering　they've　caused；〃　Pitt　said　wearily。
　〃None　the　less；　it　is　a　price；〃　Kippmann　murmured。
　〃Yes　。　。　。　yes；　it　is　that。　Thank　God　they　were　stopped。〃
　
　Kippmann　nodded　to　Pitt。　〃We　have　you　to　thank；　Major　Pitt；　for　blowing　the　whistle　on　Hermit　Limited。〃
　
　Lazard　smbed　suddenly。　〃And　I'd　like　to　be　the　first　to　express　my　gratitude　for　your　Horatius…at…the…bridge　act。　Kippmann　and　I　couldn't　be　standing　here　now　if　you　hadn't　taken　the　cue　when　you　did。〃　He　put　his　hand　on　Pitts　shoulder。　〃Tell　me　something。　I'm　curious。〃
　〃About　what？〃
　〃How　did　you　know　those　pirates　on　the　bridge　were　real　flesh　and　blood？〃
　〃As　the　man　once　said；〃　Pitt　said　casually；　〃there　we　were　just　sitting　on　the　bridge　eyeball　to　eyeball　。　。　。　and　I　could　swear　I　saw　the　other　guys　blink。〃
　
　Epilogue
　
　It　was　a　pleasant　Southern　California　evening。　The　day's　smog　had　cleared　away　and　a　cool　breeze　from　the