cc.iceberg-第57节

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　It　was　a　pleasant　Southern　California　evening。　The　day's　smog　had　cleared　away　and　a　cool　breeze　from　the　west　carried　the　strong；　clean　smell　of　the　Pacific　Ocean　through　the　center　garden　of　the　Disneyland　Hotel；　soothing　the　soreness　of　Pitts　injuries　and　tranquilizing　his　mind　for　the　task　ahead。　He　stood　silent；　waiting　for　the　glass…enclosed　elevator　to　descend　along　the　exterior　of　the　building。
　
　The　elevator　hummed　and　stopped　and　the　doors　slid　open。　He　scratched　an　imaginary　itch　in　his　eye　and　lowered　his　head；　shielding　his　face　as　a　young　man　and　woman；　arm　in　arm；　laughing　gaily　to　themselves；　stepped　past　him　without　noticing　his　worse…for…wear　features　or　the　arm　enclosed　in　a　plaster　cast　and　supported　by　a　black　cloth　sling。
　
　He　entered　and　pushed　the　button　marked　six。　The　elevator　rose　swiftly；　and　he　turned　and　looked　through　the　windows　at　the　skyline　of　Orange　County。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　slowly　exhaled；　watching　the　sparkling　carpet　of　lights　spread　and　widen　toward　the　dark　horizon　as　the　first　three　floors　slid　by。　The　lights　blinked　in　the　crystal　air；　reminding　him　of　a　jewel　box。
　
　It　hardly　seemed　like　two　hours　since　the　park　doctor　had　set　his　wrist　and　Pitt　had　showered　and　shaved　and　eaten　his　first　solid　meal　since　leaving　Iceland。
　
　The　doctor　was　quite　definite　that　he　go　to　a　hospital　but　Pitt　wouldn't　hear　of　it。
　
　The　doctor　had　said　sternly；　〃You're　a　fool；　you're　damn　near　dead　on　your　feet。　You　should　have　given　up　and　collapsed　hours　ago。　If　you　don't　get　your　butt　between　the　sheets　of　a　hospital　bed；　you're　going　to　experience　a　first…class　breakdown。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　Pitt　had　said　shortly。　〃I'm　grateful　for　your　professional　concern；　but　there's　one　more　act　to　play　out。　Two　hours…no　more…then　I'll　dedicate　what's　left　of　my　body　to　medical　science。〃
　
　The　elevator　slowed　and　stopped；　the　door　opened　and　Pitt　stepped　onto　the　soft　red　carpet　of　the　sixth　floor　foyer。　He　abruptly　halted　in　midstep　to　keep　from　colliding　with　three　men　who　were　waiting　to　go　down。
　
　Two　of　the　men　he　took　to　be　Kippmann's　agents。　Of　the　third　man；　the　one　slumped　head　downward　in　the　middle；　there　was　no　doubt；　it　was　F。　James　Kelly。
　
　Pitt　stood　there　blocking　their　way。　Kelly　slowly　lifted　his　head　and　stared　at　Pitt　vacantly；　unrecognizing。　Finally　Pitt　broke　the　uneasy　silence。
　〃I'm　almost　sorry　your　grand　scheme　failed；　Kelly。
　〃In　theory；　it　was　glorious。　In　execution；　it　was　impossible。〃
　
　Kelly's　eyes　widened　by　slow　degrees　and　the　color　drained　from　his　face。　〃My　God　。　。　。　is　that　you；　Major　Pitt？　But　no　。　。　。　you're　。　。　。〃
　〃Supposed　to　be　dead？〃　Pitt　finished；　as　if　it　no　longer　mattered　too　much　except　to　himself。
　〃Oskar　swore　he　killed　you。〃
　〃I　managed　to　leave　the　party　early；〃　Pitt　said　coldly。
　
　Kelly　shook　his　head　back　and　forth。　〃Now　I　understand　why　my　plan　failed。　It　seems；　Major；　that　fate　cast　you　in　the　role　of　my　avenging　nemesis。〃
　〃Purely　a　matter　of　my　being　at　the　wrong　place　at　the　wrong　time。〃
　
　Kelly　smiled　thinly　and　nodded　to　the　two　agents。　The　three　of　them　entered　the　waiting　elevator。
　
　Pitt　stood　aside；　then　suddenly　said；　〃Sam　left　you　a　message。〃
　
　Kelly　took　seconds　to　recover。　〃Is　Sam…〃
　〃Sam　died　out　on　the　tundra；〃　Pitt　finished。　〃Near　the　end　he　wanted　you　to　know　he　forgave　you。〃
　〃Oh；　God　。　。　。　oh；　Cod；〃　Kelly　moan　in　agony；　his　fingers　covering　his　eyes。　For　many　years　afterward；　Pitt　carried　the　mental　picture　of　Kelly's　face　just　before　the　elevator　door　closed…　The　stricken　lines；　the　dull；　lifeless　eyes；　the　ashen　skin。　It　was　the　face　of　a　man　who　looked　as　if　he　was　strangling。
　
　Pitt　tried　the　door　with　the　numerals　605。　It　was　locked。　He　walked　to　the　door　of　607　and　twisted　the　knob。　It　opened。　He　quietly　stepped　over　the　threshold　and　eased　the　door　closed。　The；　room　was　cool　and　dark。　The　smell　of　stale　cigar　butts　invaded　his　nostrils　before　he　passed　through　the　entry　hall。　The　odor　was　all　he　needed　to　know　it　was　Rondheim's　room。
　
　Moonlight　filtered　through　the　drapes；　casting　long　shapeless　shadows　as　he　searched　through　the　bedroom；　nothing　but　Rondheim's　clothes　and　luggage　was　undisturbed。　Kippmann　had　kept　his　word。　His　men　had　been　careful　not　to　alert　Kirsti　Fyrie　or　give　her　the　slightest　warning　of　Rondheim's　fate　or　the　sudden　demise　of　Hermit　Limited。
　
　He　moved　toward　a　shaft　of　yellow　light　that　split　the　half…open　door　to　the　adjoining　room。　He　entered；　treading　softly；　noiselessly　like　a　night　animal　ready　to　spring。　It　could　hardly　be　called　a　room；　a　plush　suite　would　have　been　a　fairer　description。　it　consisted　of　a　hall；　a　living　room　with　an　amply　stocked　bar；　a　bathroom　and　a　bedroom；　edged　on　one　side　by　a　large　sliding　glass　door　that　led　to　a　small　balcony。
　
　All　the　rooms　were　empty　except　the　bathroom；　the　sound　Of　running　water　told　him　that　Kirsti　was　in　the　shower。　Pitt　walked　over　to　the　bar；　casually　poured　himself　a　scotch　on　the　rocks　and　just　as　casually　eased　into　a　long　fortable　sofa。　Twenty　minutes　and　two　drinks　later；　Kirsti　emerged　from　the　bathroom。　She　was　wearing　a　green　silk　kimono；　loosely　sashed　at　the　waist。　Her　golden　hair　danced　around　her　head　like　a　silver…colored　halo。　She　looked　incredibly　fresh　and　lovely。
　
　She　walked　through　the　bedroom　into　the　living　room　and　was　in　the　midst　of　mixing　herself　a　drink　when　she　saw　Pitts　reflection　in　the　mirror　behind　the　bar。　She　stood　there　as　if　suddenly　struck　by　paralysis；　very　pale；　with　an　expression　of　uncertainty　on　her　face。
　〃I　suppose；〃　Pitt　said　quietly；　〃the　appropriate　thing　for　a　gentleman　to　say　when　a　beautiful　woman　leaves　her　bath　is；　Behold；　Venus　arises　from　the　waves。〃
　
　She　turned　and　the　look　of　uncertainty　slowly　turned　to　one　of　curiosity。　〃Do　I　know　you？〃
　〃We've　met。〃
　
　She　clutched　the　edge　of　the　bar；　silent；　her　eyes　searching　him。　〃Dirk！〃　she　whispered　softly。　〃It's　you。　It's　really　you。　Thank　God；　you're　still　alive。〃
　〃Your　concern　for　my　welfare　es　a　little　late。〃
　
　They　stared　at　each　other；　green　eyes　locked　on　violet。
　〃Elsa　Koch；　Bonny　Parker　and　Lucretia　Borgia；〃　he　said；　〃all　could　have　taken　lessons　from　you　on　how　to　kill　friends　and　influence　enemies。〃
　〃I　had　to　do　what　I've　done；〃　she　said　faintly'　〃But　I　swear　to　you　I　have　killed　no　one。　I　was　unwillingly　pulled　into　the　vortex　by　Oskar。　I　never　dreamed　that　his　association　with　Kelly　would　lead　to　death　for　so　many。〃
　〃You　say　you've　killed　no　one。〃
　〃Yes。
　〃You're　lying。〃
　
　She　gazed　at　him　oddly。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃You　killed　Kristjan　Fyrie！〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　now　as　if　he'd　gone　mad。　Her　lips　were　trembling；　and　her　eyes…those　lovely　violet　eyes…were　dark　with　fear。
　〃You　can't　mean　what　you're　saying；〃　she　gasped。
　〃Kristjan　died　on　the　Lax；　he　was　burned　。　。　。　burned　to　death。〃
　
　The　time　had　e；　Pitt　told　himself；　to　settle　the　account；　balance　the　entries；　tally　the　final　score。　He　leaned　forward。
　〃Kristjan　Fyrie　didn't　die　a　fiery　death　on　a　ship　in　the　North　Atlantic…he　died　under　a　surgeon's　scalpel　on　an　operating　table　in　Veracruz；　Mexico。〃
　
　Pitt　let　it　sink　in。　He　took　a　couple　of　sips　of　his　drink　and　lit　a　cigarette。　The　words　were　not　easy　for　him。　He　watched　her　without　speaking。
　
　Kirsti's　mouth　had　fallen　open。　She　closed　it　quickly　and　numbly　searched　for　something　to　say。　She　was　on　the　verge　of　tears　that　would　never　e。　Then　she　lowered　her　head　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。
　〃I　have　it　on　good　authority；〃　Pitt　continued。　〃The　operation　took　place　at　the　Sau　de　Sol　Hospital　and　the　surgeon　was　a　Dr。　Jesus　Ybarra。〃
　
　She　looked　up　with　an　expression　of　agony。　〃Then　you　know　everything。〃
　〃Almost。　There　are　still　a　couple　of　loose　ends。〃
　〃Why　do　you　torture　me　by　beating　around　the　bush？　Why　don't　you　e　out　and　say　it。〃
　
　Pitt　spoke　calmly。　〃Say　what？　That　you're　really　Kristjan　Fyrie？
　
　That　there　never　was　a　sister。　That　Kristjan　died　at　the　exact　moment　you　were　born？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃What　difference　would　it　make？　As　Kristjan　you　weren't　willing　to　accept　the　sex　your　body　had　given　you　so　you　undertook　sex　conversion　surgery　and　became　Kirsti。　You　came　into　this　world　a　transsexual。　Your　genes　crossed　you　up。　You　weren't　satisfied　with　the　hand　nature　dealt　you　so　you　made　a　change。
　
　What　more　is　there？〃
　
　She　came　from　behind　the　bar　and　leaned　against　the　leather…padded　surface。　〃You　can　never　know；　Dirk。　You　can　never　know　what　it　is　to　lead　a　frustrating　and　plicated　existence；　playing　the　strong；　virile　male　adventurer　on　the　outside　while　inside　you　are　a　woman　longing　to　be　free。〃
　〃So　you　escaped　the　shell；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Slipped　away　to　Mexico　to　a　surgeon　who　specializes　in　conversions。　You　took　hormone　injections　and　silicone　implants　for　your　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　chest。　Then　you　soaked　up　the　sun　on　a　Veracruz　beach；　getting　a　tan　while　your　incision　healed。　Later；　at　the　appropriate　time；　you　showed　up　in　Iceland　claiming　to　be　your　long…lost　sister　from　New　Guinea。
　〃What　astonishing　confidence　you　must　have　had　to　think　you　could　get　away　with　it；〃　Pitt　continued。
　〃I've　met　a　few