cc.themediterraneancaper2-第24节

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terial　Pitt　whipped　out　his　handkerchief　and　had　it　firmly　stuffed　in　her　mouth　before　she　fully　woke。　Then　snatching　the　hem　of　her　negligee　he　yanked　it　above　her　head　and　knotted　it　around　the　arms；　making　her　pletely　helpless。　Teri　began　to　struggle　back　to　full　consciousness…it　was　too　late。　Before　she　could　fully　grasp　what　'was　happening；　she　was　roughly　thrown　over　Giordino's　shoulder　and　carted　off　into　the　sunlight
　〃You've　got　to　be　crazy；〃　Giordino　mumbled　irritably　when　they　reached　the　stairway。　〃All　this　hassle　to　gawk　at　a　toy　and　steal　a　broad。〃
　〃Shut　up　and　run；〃　Pitt　said　without　turning。　He　kicked　the　passage　door　aside　and　let　Giordino　enter　first　with　his　kicking　burden。　Then　Pitt　pushed　the　door　back　into　place；　aligning　the　hinge　shafts　before　inserting　the　pins。
　〃Why　bother　replacing　the　door？〃　Giordino　asked　impatiently。
　〃We　got　this　far　without　detection；〃　Pitt　replied；　grabbing　the　flight　bag。　〃I　want　to　keep　von　Till　in　the　dark　as　long　as　possible。　I'm　betting　he　saw　the　obvious　evidence　of　my　wounds　after　the　dog's　attack；　and　thinks　I　wandered　off　into　this　honeybed　maze　and　bled　to　death。〃
　Quickly；　Pitt　turned　and　ran　through　the　corridor；　holding　the　light　low　so　Giordino；　grunting　under　his　struggling　burden；　could　see　where　he　was　stepping。　The　thick　coat　of　blackness；　pierced　by　the　small　island　of　incandescence；　opened　briefly　at　their　approach　and　then　closed；　returning　the　labyrinth　back　to　its　eternal　night。　One　foot　before　the　other；　the　endless　routine　repeated　over　and　over。　Their　feet　pounded　across　the　hard　floor；　echoing　through　the　darkness　with　a　peculiar　hollow　sound。
　The　Dive　Brite　and　flight　bag　clutched　tightly　in　his　hands；　only　dimly　aware　of　the　curious　tingling　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach；　Pitt　rushed　forward。　Rapidly；　with　no　attempt　at　stealthy　caution；　no　expectancy　of　trouble；　but　with　that　strange　inner　sensation；　half…belief　of　a　man　who　has　acplished　something　he　had　thought　was　impossible。　I'm　on　the　path　of　von　Till's　secret　and　I've　got　his　niece；　Pitt　said　to　himself　again　and　again。　But　somehow　a　lingering　fear　prodded　his　mind。
　Five　minutes　later　they　reached　the　stairway。　Pitt　stepped　aside；　holding　the　light　on　the　steps；　letting　Giordino　climb　first。　Then　he　turned；　beaming　the　light　back　in　the　passage；　taking　a　last　look；　and　his　face　became　grim。　He　wondered　how　few　men　and　women　too；　had　suffered　but　escaped　from　that　honeybed　hell。　One　thing；　he　thought；　no　one　will　ever　know　fully　the　history　of　the　labyrinth。　Only　the　ghosts　lingered；　the　bodies　had　long　since　turned　to　dust。　Then　his　mouth　twisted　and　he　looked　away。　Without　another　backward　glance；　be　mounted　the　steps　for　the　last　time；　vastly　relieved　at　seeing　sunlight　again　at　the　top　landing。　He　was　half…way　through　the　rusting　bars；　vaguely　aware　that　Giordino　was　standing　oddly　quiet　with　Teri　still　slung　over　a　shoulder；　when　he　heard　a　loud　contemptuous　laugh　roar　beside　the　archway。
　〃My　pliments；　gentlemen；　on　your　exquisite　taste　in　souvenirs。　However；　I　feel　it　is　my　patriotic　duty　to　inform　you　that　the　theft　of　valuable　objects　from　historical　sites　is　strictly　forbidden　under　Greek　law。〃
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　Pitt　froze　while　his　mind　raced　to　absorb　the　shock。　He　stood　there；　one　leg　outside；　the　other　bent　awkwardly　inside　the　passage　for　what　seemed　to　him　a　lifetime。　He　threw　the　Dive　Brite　and　the　flight　bag　behind　him　down　the　stairway　and　then　squinted；　Waiting　for　his　eyes　to　adjust　to　the　bright　sunlight：　he　could　barely　discern　a　vague；　formless　shape　that　detached　itself　from　the　low　stone　wall　and　moved　in　front　of　him。
　〃I　。　。　。　I　don't　understand；〃　Pitt　mumbled　dumbly；　feigning　a　peasant　kind　of　stupidity。　〃We're　not　thieves。〃
　Again　the　resounding　laugh。　And　the　blurred　form　transformed　into　the　Greek　National　Tourist　Organization　guide　who　wore　a　broad；　white　toothed　smile　beneath　his　great　moustache；　a　swarthy　hand　gripped　a　nine　millimeter　Clisenti　automatic　pistol；　the　barrel　aimed　directly　at　Pitt's　heart。
　〃Not　thieves；〃　the　guide　said　sarcastically　in　faultless　English。　〃Then　kidnapers　perhaps？〃
　〃No；　no；〃　pleaded　Pitt；　a　forced　tremor　in　his　voice。
　〃We're　only　two　lonely　seamen　on　shore　leave　in　a　strange　land　having　a　bit　of　fun。〃　He　winked　and　grinned　a　knowing　grin。　〃You　understand。〃
　〃Yes；　I　understand　perfectly。〃　The　gun　remained　level　and　steady　as　a　rock。　〃That　is　why　you　are　under　arrest。〃
　Pitt　could　feel　a　knot　deep　down　under　in　his　stomach；　the　dry；　sandy　taste　of　defeat　in　his　mouth。　God；　this　was　a　worse　set…back　than　he　had　feared：　it　could　be　the　end　of　everything　a　trial　and　then　expulsion　from　the　country。　He　kept　the　stupid。　insipid　expression　on　his　face。　Then　he　stepped　forward　from　the　gate；　making　an　imploring　gesture　with　his　hands。
　〃You　must　believe　me。　We　haven't　kidnapped　anybody。　Look；〃　he　said　pointing　to　Teri's　upended　and　naked　bottom。　〃This　woman　is　nothing　but　a　village　whore　we　found　wallowing　in　a　pig　sty　of　a　taverna。　She　told　us　to　take　the　tour　of　the　ruins；　promising　to　meet　us　at　the　amphitheatre。〃
　The　guide　looked　amused。　He　reached　out　with　his　free　hand　and　fingered　the　material　of　Teri's　negligee；　than　ran　his　finger　tips　lightly　over　her　smooth；　rounded　mounds；　triggering　a　spasm　of　thrashing　legs　and　feet。
　〃Tell　me；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃How　much　did　she　charge？〃
　〃At　first　she　asked　two　drachmas；〃　said　Pitt　sullenly。　〃But　after　the　fun　and　games　she　tried　to　hold　us　up　for　twenty　drachmas。　We；　of　course；　refused　to　pay。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　the　guide　replied　dully。
　〃He　speaks　the　truth；〃　burst　Giordino；　the　words　rushed　as　if　he　couldn't　get　them　out　fast　enough。　〃This　dirty　tramp　is　the　thief；　not　us。〃
　〃A　masterly　performance；〃　said　the　guide。　〃A　pity　it　is　wasted　on　such　a　small　audience。　We　Greeks　may　lead　simple；　mundane　lives　pared　to　you　of　more　sophisticated　countries；　but　we　do　not　possess　simple　minds。〃　He　gestured　the　gun　toward　Teri。　〃This　girl　is　no　cheap　prostitute。　Expensive　maybe；　but　not　cheap。　Her　skin　also　makes　you　out　a　liar；　it's　far　too　white。
　Our　island　girls　are　famous　for　their　rich；　dark　texture
　and　full　hips。　Hers　are　much　too　narrow。〃
　Pitt　said　nothing。　He　watched　the　guide　carefully；　Waiting　for　an　opening。　Any　movement　on　his　part；　he　knew；　would　trigger　Giordino　into　instantaneous　action。　The　Greek　looked　a　dangerous　man；　cunning　and　alert；　but　there　was　no　hint　of　sadistic　antagonism　that　Pitt　could　see　in　the　dark；　sun　wrinkled　features。　The　guide
　beckoned　to　Giordino。
　〃Release　the　girl；　let　us　have　a　look　at　her　other　end。〃
　Giordino；　without　taking　his　eyes　off　Pitt；　slowly　dropped　Teri；　letting　her　slide　down　his　shoulder　to　the　ground。　She　stood　drunkenly　for　a　moment；　unsure　of　her　balance；　arms　upraised　in　their　trapped　position；　and　swaying　like　a　giant　tulip　in　the　wind　until　Giordino　untied　the　knotted　negligee　above　her　head。　As　soon　as　she　was　free；　Teri　tore　the　gag　from　her　mouth　and　stared　at　Giordino　with　white　hot　hatred　in　her　eyes。
　〃You　bloody；　rotten　bastard；〃　she　screamed。
　〃What's　the　meaning　of　this？〃
　〃It　wasn't　my　idea；　sweetheart；〃　said　Giordino；　his　eyebrows　arching　slyly。　〃Talk　to　your　friend　over　there。〃　He　jerked　his　thumb　towards　Pitt。
　Her　head　spun　in　Pitt's　direction；　and　she　opened　her　mouth　to　say　something；　but　choked　off　the　words　with　a　gasp。　The　big　hazel　eyes　reflected　astonishment　for　an　instant；　then　they　changed　with　blinking　speed　to　icy　coldness；　then　to　a　glowing　twinkle　of　warmth。　She　threw　her　arms　about　Pitt　and　kissed　him　fervently；　too　fervently；　he　thought；　under　the　circumstances。
　〃Dirk；　it　really　is　you；〃　she　sobbed。　〃Back　there　in　the　darkness；　your　voice　。　。　。　I　couldn't　be　sure。　I　thought　you　were。　。　。　I　thought　I'd　never　see　you　again。〃
　〃It　seems；〃　he　said　grinning；　〃our　meetings　are　a　never…ending；　constant　source　of　surprise。
　〃Uncle　Bruno　said　。you　wouldn't　call　me；　ever。〃
　〃Don't　believe　all　you　hear　from　an　uncle。〃
　Teri　discovered　the　bandage　on　his　nose　and　gently　touched　it。　〃You've　been　hurt。〃　Her　voice　held　a　blend　of　concern　and　distress。　〃Did　Uncle　Bruno　do　that？　Did　he　threaten　you？〃
　〃No；　I　was　climbing　some　stairs　and　tripped　and　fell；〃　he　said；　slightly　distorting　the　truth。　〃That's　all　there　was　to　it。〃
　〃What　is　this　all　about？〃　the　guide　asked　in　exasperation。　His　gun　hand　was　beginning　to　droop。　〃Will　the　young　lady　please　be　so　kind　as　to　tell　her　name？〃
　〃I　am　the　niece　of　Bruno　von　Till；〃　she　said　testily。　〃And　I　don't　see　how　that　concerns　you。〃
　There　was　a　sharp　exclamation　from　the　Greek　and　he　took　a　couple　of　steps　forward；　studying　Teri's　face　closely。　For　almost　half　a　minute　he　stared　at　her；　then　slowly；　with　deliberate　ease；　raised　the　gun　level　again；　still　pointing　at　Pitt。　Once；　twice　he　tugged　at　his　moustache；　nodding　in　thoughtful　perplexity。
　〃You　may　speak　the　truth；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Then　again　you　may　be　lying　to　protect　these　two　unpleasant　looking　scum。〃
　〃Your　ridiculous　insinuations　are　of　no　importance　to　me；〃　Teri　thrust　out　her　chin；　matching　its　protruding　uplift　with　her　breasts。　〃I　demand　you　put　down　that　hideous　gun　and　leave　us　alone。　My　uncle　has　great　influence　with　the　island　authorities。　One