cc.themediterraneancaper2-第33节
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The rising tide was just washing over and erasing the ship's funnel； the funnel marked with the big Minerva 〃M。〃
14
Giordino lay stretched out beside a blue Air Force pickup truck； dead asleep； his head resting on a binocular case and both feet propped carelessly on a large rock。 A trail of ants tramped across his outflung forearm and； ignoring the obstacle in their path； continued their uninterrupted journey toward a small mound of loose dirt。 Pitt looked down smiling。 If there was one thing Giordino could do； and do well； he thought； it was sleeping anywhere at anytime and under any condition。
Pitt shook his fins； letting the salty dampness dribble on Giordino's posed face。 No drowsy babble； no sudden reaction greeted the rude sprinkling。 The only response came from one big brown eye that popped open； gazing straight at Pitt in obvious annoyance。
〃Aha！ Behold！ Our intrepid guardian with the watchful eye！〃 There was no mistaking Pitt's sarcastic tone。 〃I shudder to think of the death toll if you should ever decide to bee a lifeguard。〃
The opposite lid slowly raised like a window shade； revealing the matching eye。 〃Just to set the record straight；〃 Giordino said wearily。 〃These tired old eyes were glued to the night glasses from the time you got into your packing crate to the time you came ashore and started playing in the sand。〃
〃My apologies old friend。〃 Pitt laughed。 〃I suppose that doubting your unflagging vigilance will cost me another drink？〃
〃Two drinks；〃 Giordino murmured slyly。
〃Consider it done。〃
Giordino sat up； blinking in the sun。 He noticed the ants and casually brushed them off his arm。 〃How'd your swim go？'
〃Robert Southey must have had the Queen Arteinisia in mind when he wrote 'No stir in the air； no stir in the sea； the ship was still as she could be。' You might say that I found something by finding nothing〃
〃I don't get it。〃
〃I'll explain later。〃 Pitt lifted the diving gear and loaded it in the truck bed。 〃Any word from Zac？〃
〃Not yet。〃 Giordino trained the binoculars on von Till's villa。 〃He and Zeno took a platoon of the local gendarmerie and staked out von Till's baronial estate。
Darius stayed on the radio at the warehouse； traversing wave lengths in case there was any transmission between the shore and ship。〃
〃Sounds like a thorough effort； but unfortunately a waste of time。〃 Pitt toweled his black hair； then ran a b through it。 〃Where can a man find a drink and a cigarette around here？〃
Giordino nodded toward the truck cab。 〃I can't help you on the drink； but there's a pack of Greek cancer sticks on the front seat〃
Pitt leaned in the truck cab and removed an oval shaped cigarette from a black and gold box of Hellas Specials。 He'd never tried one before and was surprised at the mildness。 After his ordeal of the past two hours； rolled seaweed would have tasted good。
〃Someone kick you in the shins？〃 Giordino asked matter…of…factly。
Pitt exhaled a cloud of smoke and peered down at his leg There was a deep red gash below the right knee and blood was oozing slowly along its entire length。 For two inches in every direction the skin was a colorful bination of green； blue and purple。
〃I had a bit of bad luck； a run in with a bulkhead door。〃
〃I'd better fix that for you。〃 Giordino turned and pulled an Air Force issue first aid kit from the glove partment。 〃A minor operation like this is mere child's play for Doctor Giordino； the world renowned brain surgeon。 I don't mean to brag； but I'm rather good at heart transplants too。〃
Pitt tried to suppress a laugh； but failed。 〃Just make sure you put the gauze on before； not after the tape。〃
Giordino feigned a pained expression。 〃Such a terrible thing to say。〃 The sly look returned。 〃You'll change your tune when you get my bill〃
There was no choice left for Pitt except to shrug in resignation and place his bruised leg in Giordino's hands。 Nothing more was said for the next few minutes。 Pitt sat and absorbed the silence； gazing at the sky…dyed blue water and the shoreline that rested under the white sands of antiquity。。 The narrow beach below the road stretched southward for six miles before it faded into a thin line and disappeared behind the western tip of the island。 There wasn't a soul to be seen anywhere along the surf's edge； the emptiness possessed all the mystic allure and romantic charm so often pictured on South Seas travel posters。 It was indeed a fragment of paradise。
Pitt noted that the surf was running at two feet with eight second intervals between crests。 The waves broke low and at least one hundred yards out。 Then in a final burst of fury； they surged forward in majestic Spray plumed rows； only to slowly dissolve and die in small eddys at the tideline。 To a swimmer； the conditions were perfect； to a surfer； they were fair； but to a diver； the shallow sandy bottom and the dark blue water spelled barren waste。 For sheer underwater adventure it is the greener； reef strewn waters that attract the diver； for it is there that the beauty of sea life abounds。 Pitt panned his eyes a hundred and eighty degrees and looked to the north。 Here it was a different story。 High craggy cliffs； barren of all vegetation； rose out of the sea； their faces worn and etched by the endless onslaught of the breakers。 Great fallen rocks and yawning fissures bore mute testimony to what old mother nature could do when given the tools of her trade to work with。 There was one particular stretch of rugged cliffline that intrigued Pitt。
Strangely enough； this one sector was not pounded like the others。 The waters below the sheer； straight up and down rock mass were calm and flat； a garden pond bordered on three sides by foaming swirling waters。 For a hundred square yards the sea was green and still； the boiling white ceased to exist It seemed unreal。
Pitt speculated on what wonders a diver might find there。 Only God alone could have observed the ageless formation of the island； the ing and going of the great ice ages； the changing levels of the ancient sea。 Maybe； he thought； just maybe the mountainous breakers carved their fury into the sides of these cliffs； creating an underwater pockmarked surface of sea caves。
〃There you are；〃 Giordino said in a humorous tone。 〃Another triumph for medical science by the great； Giordino。〃 Pitt wasn't fooled for a second by the outward display of exaggerated vanity。 Giordino's ic dialogue was forever used to camouflage his genuine concern for Pitt。 Giordino stood up； running his eyes； over Pitt's body； and shook his head in mild wonder。 〃With all those bandages on your nose； chest and leg you're beginning to look like a spare tire out of a nineteen thirties； depression era ic strip。〃
〃You're right。〃 Pitt took a few steps to relieve increasing stiffness in his leg。 〃I feel more like a bum tire on a tugboat〃
〃Here es Zac；〃 Giordino said pointing。 Pitt twisted and looked in the direction of Giordino's ex tended finger。
The black Mercedes was approaching down a trail from the mountains； pulling a cloud of brown dust behind its rear bumper。 A quarter of a mile away swung onto the paved coastal road； dropping the dust cloud； and soon Pitt could hear the steady purr of the diesel engine above the beat from the surf below。 The car rolled to a stop beside the truck and Zacynthus and Zeno unreeled from the front seat。 They were followed by Darius； who made no attempt to disguise a painful limp。 Zacynthus was dressed in old faded army fatigues； and his eyes were tired and bloodshot He gave the impression of a man who had spent a dismal and sleepless night。 Pitt grinned sympathetically at him。
〃Well Zac； how did it go？ See anything interesting？〃
Zacynthus didn't seem to hear him。 He wearily pulled his pipe from a pocket； filled the bowl and lit it。 Then he sank slowly to the ground； stretching out and leaning on one elbow。
〃The bastards； the dirty cunning bastards；〃 he swore bitterly。 〃We spent the whole night straining our eyes and sneaking around trees and boulders； with mosquitoes attacking us at every turn。 And what did we find？〃 He took a deep breath to answer his own question； but Pitt beat him to it。
〃You found nothing； you saw nothing and you heard nothing。〃
Zacynthus managed a faint smile。 〃Does it show that much？〃
〃It shows；〃 Pitt replied briefly。
〃This whole business is exceedingly exasperating。〃 Zacynthus accented his words by pounding his fist into the soft earth。
〃Exceedingly exasperating？〃 Pitt echoed。 〃Is that the best you can do？〃
Zacynthus sat up and shrugged his shoulders helplessly。 〃I've just about reached the end of my rope。 I feel as though I've just clawed my way up a steep mountain； only to find the peak enshrouded in fog。 Possibly you understand； I don't know； but I've dedicated my life to tracking down scum like von Till。〃 He paused for a moment； then went on very quietly。 〃I've never failed to crack a case。 I can't give up now。 That ship must be stopped； and yet； thanks to our lily white code of justice； it can't be stopped。 God； can you imagine
what will happen if that cargo of heroin reaches the States？〃
〃I've given it some thought。〃
〃Screw your code of justice。〃 Giordino seemed vexed。 〃Let me stick a limpet mine o
