cc.themediterraneancaper2-第23节

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led　their　eardrums；　only　a　small　indefinable　thump。
　Swiftly；　in　a　silence　bred　of　expectancy；　they　leaped　to　their　feet　and　rushed　back　to　the　iron　gate。　The　two　balls　of　tape　were　torn　and　smoldering；　smelling　like　the　burned　out　pungent　odor　of　frizzled　firecrackers。　A　tiny　curl　of　smoke　wound　in　a　wake…like　trail　between　the　grill　and　disappeared　into　the　damp　darkness　of　the　interior　passage。　The　bar　was　still　in　place。
　Pitt　looked　questioningly　at　Giordino。　〃Not　enough　punch？〃
　〃It　was　ample；〃　Giordino　said　confidently。　〃The　charges　were　the　right　size　to　do　the　job。　Please　observe〃　He　gave　the　bar　a　vigorous　kick　with　his　heel。　It　remained　solid；　unyielding。　He　kicked　it　again；　this　time　harder；　his　mouth　tight　from　jolting　pain　in　his　heel　and　sole。　The　top　end　of　the　bar　broke　loose；　bending　its　jagged　and　torn　tip　inward　until　it　lay　on　a　horizontal　plane。　A　tense　smile　creased　Giordino's　mouth　and　his　teeth　slowly　spread　into　view。。　〃And　now　for　my　next　trick。　。
　〃Never　mind；〃　Pitt　snapped　brusquely。　〃Let's　get　the　hell　going。　We've　got　to　get　to　the　villa　and　back　in　time　to　join　the　next　tour。〃
　〃How　long　will　it　take　to　get　there？〃
　Pitt　was　already　climbing　through　the　opening　in　the　gate。　〃Last　night　it　took　me　eight　hours　to　get　out；　we　can　get　in　in　eight　minutes。〃
　〃How；　you　got　a　map？〃
　〃Something　even　better；〃　Pitt　said　quietly；　almost　grimly；　pointing　at　the　flight　bag。　〃Pass　me　the　light。〃
　Giordino　reached　into　the　bag。　pulled　out　a　large　yellow　light；　nearly　six　inches　in　diameter；　and　passed　it　through　the　opening。　〃It's　big　enough。　What　is　it？〃
　〃Alien　Dive　Bright　Aluminum　casing　is　waterproof　to　a　nine　hundred　foot　depth。　We're　not　going　diving；　but　it's　rugged　and　throws　out　a　long　narrow　beam；　backed　by　one　hundred　and　eight　thousand　candlepower。　That's　why　I　borrowed　it　from　the　ship。〃
　Giordino　said　no　more；　merely　shrugged　and　slipped　between　the　bars；　following　Pitt　into　the　passage。　〃Hold　on　a　second　till　I　remove　the　evidence。〃
　Giordino's　stubby　hands　nimbly　unwound　the　shredded　wrappings…a　pile　of　old　fallen　stones　covered　the　smoldering　remains…before　he　turned　to　face　Pitt；　squinting　his　eyes　until　they　became　accustomed　to　the　dim　light。
　Pitt　played　his　light　into　the　darkness。　〃Look　there　on　the　ground。　See　why　I　don't　need　the　services　of　a　detailed　map？〃
　The　powerful　beam　spotlighted　a　broken　trail　of　dried　and　caked　blood　leading　down　the　steep　uneven　stairway。　In　a　few　places　the　red　stains　lay　in　scattered　clusters；　separated　by　occasional　tiny　round　specks。　Pitt　descended　the　steps　shivering；　not　so　much　from　the　sight　of　his　old　and　discarded　blood；　but　from　the　sudden　change　in　temperature　from　the　outside　afternoon　heat　to　the　damp　chill　of　the　musty　labyrinth。　At　the　bottom　he　took　off　at　a　half　trot；　the　swaying　light　in　his　hand　casting　a　series　of　bouncing　shadows　that　leaped　from　the　crack…lined　ceiling　to　the　rough　hewn　rock　floor。　The　loneliness　and　the　fear　that　gripped　him　the　night　before　was　not　present。　Giordino；　that　indestructible　sawed…off　package　of　muscle；　a　trusted　friend　for　many　years；　was　beside　him　now。　Damned　if　anyone　or　any　barrier　would　stop　him　this　time；　he　thought　doggedly。
　Passage　after　passage；　like　gaping　mouths　in　the　shadows　slipped　by。　Pitt　kept　his　eyes　trained　on　the　ground；　analyzing　the　dark　red　spots。　At　the　honeybed　intersections　he　paused　briefly；　studying　the　trail。　If　the　blood　led　up　a　tunnel　and　then　returned　it　meant　a　dead　end。　Wherever　the　course　indicated　a　single　line　he　pursued　it。　His　body　was　aching　and　his　vision　was　hazy　at　the　outer　edges；　a　bad　sign。　He　was　bone　tired　and　felt　it　to　the　deadening　tips　of　every　nerve　ending。　Pitt　stumbled　and　would　have　gone　down；　but　Giordino　grabbed　his　arm　in　a　wrench…like　grip；　holding　him　erect。
　〃Take　it　easy；　Dirk；〃　Giordino　said　firmly；　his　voice　followed　by　a　faint　echo。　〃No　sense　in　overdoing　it。　You're　not　in　condition　to　play　All　American　hero。〃
　〃It's　not　far；〃　Pitt　said　heavily。　〃The　dog　should　lie　around　the　next　couple　of　bends。〃
　But　the　dog　was　gone。　Only　the　hardened　blood　pools　remained　where　the　great　white　animal　had　thrashed　out　the　final　moments　of　life。　Pitt　stared　mutely　at　the　huge　stains。　The　dank　odor　of　blood　permeated　the　passageway；　adding　to；　but　not　quite　overing；　the　musty　atmosphere。　He　vividly　recreated　the。　attack　in　his　mind；　the　dog's　gleaming　eyes；　the　leap　in　the　dark；　the　knife　sinking　into　warm　flesh；　and　the　agonized　animal　howl。
　〃Keep　going；〃　Pitt　said　grimly；　all　weariness　forgotten。　〃The　entrance　is　only　another　eighty　feet。〃
　They　plunged　on　amid　the　black　depths　of　the　mountain。　Pitt　didn't　bother　to　watch　the　blood　trail；　he　knew　where　he　was　to　the　inch：　he　so　thoroughly　recalled　the　feel　of　the　walls　and　floor　that　he　would　have　been　pletely　confident　of　finding　the　door　at　a　dead　run　without　the　flashlight　and　in　absolute　darkness。　The　light　in　his　hand　swayed　in　wild　arcs　as　they　pounded　along　into　the　modern　corridor　construction。
　Suddenly　the　Dive　Brite's　beam　probed　the　massive　door；　holding　it　in　a　dazzling　circle　of　light。
　〃This　is　it；〃　Pitt　said　softly　between　labored　gasps　for　breath。
　Giordino　pushed　his　way　past　and　knelt　to　the　ground；　examining　the　inside　bolts。　He　wasted　no　time；　already　his　fingers　were　probing　the　slight　crack　that　separated　the　door　from　the　frame　molding。
　〃Goddamn；〃　he　grunted。
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Big　sliding　latch　on　the　outside。　I　don't　have　the　equipment　to　jimmy　it　from　this　side。〃
　〃Try　the　hinges；〃　Pitt　murmured。　He　aimed　the　light　toward　the　opposite　side　of　the　door。　Almost　before　he　said　it；　Giordino　had　snatched　a　short　pointed　bar　from　the　flight　bag　and　was　prying　the　long　pins　from　their　rusty　shafts。
　Giordino　laid　the　hinge　pins　lightly　on　the　ground　and　let　Pitt　ease　the　door　open。　It　swung　noiselessly；　only　an　inch；　at　his　touch。　Pitt　peeked　through　the　widening　crack；　taking　a　swift　look　around；　but　there　was　no　one　in　sight；　no　sound；　except　their　own　breathing。

　Pitt　pulled　the　door　aside　and　dashed　across　the　balcony；　blinking　in　the　harsh　sunlight；　and　hurried　up　the　stairway。　Giordino；　he　knew；　was　right　on　his　heels。　The　doorway　to　the　study　was　open；　the　drapes　blowing　inward　in　billowing　folds　from　an　offshore　westerly　breeze。　He　flattened　against　the　wall；　listening　for　voices。　Then　seconds　passed；　ticking　off　to　half　a　minute。　The　study　was　quiet。　Nobody　home；　he　thought；　or　if　they　are　they're　an　awfully　dead　group；　Pitt　took　a　deep　breath；　turned　quickly；　and　stepped　inside　the　room。
　The　study　seemed　quite　empty。　It　was　exactly　as　Pitt　remembered　it；　the　columns；　classic　furniture；　the　bar。　His　eyes　sped　around　the　room；　stopping　at　the　shelf　containing　the　model　submarine。　He　walked　over　and　closely　examined　the　workmanship　on　the　miniature　craft。　The　carved　black　mahogany　that　made　up　the　hull　and　conning　tower　gleamed　with　a　satin…like：　sheen。　Every　detail　from　the　rivets　to　a　tiny　embroidered　Imperial　German　battle　flag　looked　fantastically　real；　so　much　so　that　at　any　second　Pitt　half　expected　to　see　a　diminutive　crew　leap　out　of　a　hatch　and　man　the　deck　gun。　The　neatly　painted　numbers　on　the　side　of　the　conning　tower　identified　it　as　the　U…19；　a　close　sister　of　the　U…boat　that　torpedoed　the　Lusitania。
　Pitt　whirled　sharply　from　the　model　as　Giordino's　fingers　dug　deeply　in　his　arm；　as　Giordino's　head　leaned　closely　to　his　own。
　〃I　thought　I　heard　something；〃　the　voice　was　a　mere　breath。
　〃Where？〃　Pitt　asked　in　a　whisper。
　〃I'm　not　sure；　I　couldn't　get　a　good　fix　on　it。〃
　Giordino　cocked　his　head；　listening。　Then　he　shrugged。
　〃Just　imagining　things　I　guess。〃
　Pitt　turned　back　to　the　model　submarine。　〃Do　you　recall　the　number　of　the　World　War　I　sub　that　was　sunk　near　here？〃
　Giordino　hesitated。　〃Yeah。。　。　It　was　the　U…19。
　Why　ask　now？〃
　〃I'll　explain　later。　e　on；　Al；　let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here。〃
　'We　just　got　here；〃　Giordino　plained；　raising　his　voice　to　a　murmur。
　Pitt　tapped　the　model。　〃We've　found　what　we　came　for。　。　。　〃
　He　froze　into　sudden　immobility；　listening；　his　hand　motioning　a　silence　signal　to　Giordino。
　〃We've　got　pany；〃　he　said　under　his　breath。
　〃Split　up　and　circle　around　the　far　end　of　the　room　to　that　second　column。　I'll　go　along　the　windows。〃
　Giordino　nodded。　He　hadn't　even　raised　an　eyebrow。
　A　minute　later　their　stealthy　paths　met；　joining　behind　a　long　high　backed　sofa。　Both　men　approached　it　cautiously　and　peered　over　the　backrest。
　Without　moving；　without　uttering　a　word；　Pitt　stood　rooted　to　the　carpet。　He　stood　there；　it　seemed　to　Giordino；　for　an　eternity；　his　mind　absorbing　the　shock　of　seeing　Teri　peacefully　asleep　on　the　sofa。　But　it　was　no　eternity；　it　was　probably　only　five　seconds　before　Pitt　acted。
　Teri　lay　curled　in　a　ball；　her　head　resting　on　a　huge　humped　armrest；　her　black　hair　falling　in　piles；　nearly　touching　the　floor。　She　wore　a　long　red　negligee　that　fluffed　about　her　arms　and　covered　her　body　from　neck　to　toe；　teasingly　displaying　the　dark　triangle　below　her　belly　and　the　two　pink　discs　of　her　breasts　through　its　diaphanous　material　Pitt　whipped　out　his　handkerchief　and　had　it　firmly　stuffed　in　her　mouth　before　she　fully　wok