cc.themediterraneancaper2-第38节

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andages　on　Pitt's　body；　Jangled　the　change　in　his　pocket　again；　wondered　what　he　would　be　thinking　about　this　time　tomorrow。
　〃OK；　you　win；〃　he　said　wearily。　〃I'll　no　doubt　regret　this　decision　at　my　court…martial。　Its　a　small　satisfaction　to　know　what　I'll　go　out　with　a　blaze　of　headlines。〃
　Pitt　laughed。　〃No　such　luck；　my　friend。　Whatever　happens；　you　merely　ordered　a　routine　hunt　to　collect　marine　specimens　from　a　shelf　under　the　cliffs。　If　we　stumble　into　an　embarrassing　incident；　you　can　say　it　was　by　pure　accident。〃
　〃I　hope　Washington　will　buy　that。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　I　think　we　both　know　Admiral　Sandecker　well　enough　to　be　assured　that　he'll　stand　by　us　regardless　of　the　consequences。〃
　Gunn　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　his　hip　pocket　and　dabbed　at　the　sweat　on　his　face　and　neck。　〃Well；　where　do　we　go　from　here？
　〃Round　up　your　volunteers；〃　Pitt　said　briefly。
　〃Assemble　them　and　the　equipment　on　the　fantail　at　noon。　I'll　explain　their　mission　with　a　few　well　chosen　words　and　then　we'll　go　from　there。〃
　Gunn　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃It's　9：00　now。　I　can　have　them　ready　to　dive　in　fifteen　minutes。　Why　wait　three　hours？〃
　〃I　need　the　extra　time　to　catch　up　on　my　sleep；〃
　Pitt　said　grinning。　〃I　don't　want　to　doze　off　sixty　feet　below　the　surface。〃
　〃That's　not　a　bad　idea；〃　Gunn　said　seriously。
　〃You　look　like　the　morning　after　New　Year's　Eve。〃　He　turned　and　started　through　the　cabin　door；　then　stopped。　〃By　the　way；　do　me　a　favor　and　send　that　girl　ashore　as　soon　as　possible。　I'm　going　to　be　in　enough　hot　water　as　it　is　without　being　accused　of　operating　a　floating　bordello。〃
　〃Not　until　I　return　from　the　dive。　It's　vital　that　she　remain　on　board　where　someone　can　keep　an　eye　on　her。〃
　〃OK　let's　have　it。〃　Gunn　said　quietly　in　a　defeated　tone。　〃You're　holding　out　on　me　again。　Who　is　she？〃
　〃Would　you　believe　von　Till's　niece？〃
　〃Oh　no；〃　Gunn　looked　stricken。　〃That's。　all　I　need。〃
　〃Don't　work　yourself　into　a　coronary；〃　Pitt　said
　softly。　〃Everything　will　work　out。　You　have　my　word　on　it。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　Gunn　sighed。　He　looked　skyward　and　shrugged　in　helpless　despair。　〃Why　me；　God？〃
　Then　he　was　gone。
　Pitt　stared　out　the　empty　doorway　for　a　long　moment　at　the　blue　uneven　sea。　The　radio　operator　was　bent　over　the　big　Bendix　set；　transmitting。　but　Pitt　didn't　hear　him。　He　was　lost　in　the　inner　silence　of　concentration　and　the　silence　that　es　with　the　blistering　heat　and　its　energy　sapping　partner；　humidity。　His　body　Was　numb　…numb　from　too　little　sleep　and　numb　from　too　much　mental　strain。　His　nerves　were　stretched　like　the　support　wires　of　a　suspension　bridge；　if　one　snapped　the　rest　would　part　strand　by　strand　until　the　whole　Structure　swayed　and　dropped　into　oblivion。　Like　a　gambler　who　has　bet　his　last　big　stake　on　a　ten…to…one　horse；　he　felt　his　heart　pound　against　his　rib　cage；　driven　beyond　its　regular　beat　by　the　deep　fear　of　uncertainty。
　〃Excuse　me；　Major。〃　The　radioman's　low；　resonant　voice　seemed　far　away。　〃These　munications　are　for　you。〃
　Pitt　said　nothing。　He　merely　extended　his　hand　and　took　the　messages。
　〃The　one　from　Munich　came　in　at　6：00。〃　The　black　man's　tone　was　hesitating　and　unsteady。　〃It　was　followed　at　7：00　by　two　transmissions　from　Berlin。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Pitt　murmured　woodenly。　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃This　last　one；　sir；　it's　。　。　。　well　It's　really　weird。
　No　call　sign。　no　repeat；　no　sign　off；　just　the　message。〃
　Pitt　stared　down　'at　the　top　paper。　A　grim　smile　slowly　moved　his　lips。
　'Major　Dirk　Pitt；　NUMA　ship　First　Attempt。　One　hour　down；　nine　to　go。　H。Z。'
　〃Any。。。　any　reply；　Major？〃　the　voice　stammered　unevenly。
　Suddenly　Pitt　became　aware　of　the　sickly　expression　on　the　radio　operator's　face。　〃You　feel　all　tight？〃
　〃To　tell　the　truth；　Major。　no。　Ever　since　breakfast　I've　had　the　worst　case　of　bowel　drizzlies　in　my　life；　and　I've　barfed　twice。〃
　Pitt　could　not　help　grinning　〃pliments　of　the　ship's　cook。　Is　that　it？〃
　The　radioman　shook　his　head　and　rubbed　his　eyes　in　one　easy　movement。　〃Can't　be。　Cocky's　the　greatest…strictly　gourmetsville　Nah；　it's　probably　the　local　version　of　the　flu。　Could　even　be　a　skunky　bottle　of　beer　or　something。〃
　〃Stay　with　it；〃　Pitt　said。　〃We　need　a　good　man　on　the　radio　for　the　next　twenty…four　hours。〃
　〃You　can　count　on　me。〃　The　radioman　forced　a　faint　smile。　〃Besides；　that　chick　you　brought　on　board　has　been　clucking　over　me　like　a　mother　hen。　With　that　kind　of　attention；　how　much　could　I　suffer？〃
　Pitt　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃You　must　see　something　in　her　I　don't〃
　〃She's　not　bad。　Not　my　usual　fancy；　but　not　bad。
　Anyway；　she's　been　bringing　tea　all　morning…a　regular　Florence　Nightingale。〃
　The　young　black　suddenly　broke　off。　His　eyes　went　wide　and　he　threw　a　hand　to　his　mouth。　Then　he　jumped　to　his　feet；　knocking　over　the　chair；　ran　outside　and　hung　like　a　dead　man　over　the　railing。　Animal…like　grunts　carried　back　into　the　cabin；　acpanied　by　low；　agonizing　moans。
　Pitt　walked　out　and　lightly　patted　the　ailing　radioman　on　the　back。
　〃I　need　you　by　the　radio　my　friend。　Hang　in　there　while　I　send　for　the　ship's　doctor。〃
　The　radioman　slowly　nodded　his　head　and　said　nothing　Then　Pitt　turned　and　left；　making　sure　he　walked　upwind。
　After　a　few　minutes　spent　looking　for　the　ship's　physician　and　asking　him　to　look　in　on　the　radio　operator；　Pitt　entered　Gunn's　cabin　and　found　it　dark；　the　curtains　drawn。　Cool　air　flowed　from　the　ventilator；　giving　the　steel　cubicle　a　fortable；　inviting　atmosphere；　a　vast　improvement　over　the　intolerable　heat　of　yesterday。　In　the　dim　light　he　made　out　Teri　sitting　on　the　desk。　Her　chin　was　resting　on　a　drawn　up　knee。　She　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled。
　〃What　kept　you？〃
　〃Business；〃　he　replied。
　〃Monkey　business　I'll　bet。〃　Her　face　bore　a　distinct　feminine　pout。　〃Where　is　the　big　adventure　you　promised　me？　Everytime　I　turn　around　you've　disappeared。〃
　〃When　duty　calls；　dearheart；　I　must　answer。〃　Pitt　straddled　a　chair　and　leaned　over　the　backrest。　〃A　very　intriguing　bit　of　apparel　you're　wearing。　Where　did　you　get　it？〃
　〃Nothing　to　it　really…〃
　〃I　can　see　that〃
　She　smiled　at　his　remark　and　went　on。　〃I　simply　snipped　out　a　pattern　from　some　pillow　ticking。　The　halter　is　tied　in　the　back　with　a　bow　and　the　pants　are　knotted　on　each　side。　See！〃　She　stood　and　undid　the　knot　over　her　left　hip；　letting　the　diminutive　cloth　dangle　teasingly。
　〃Very；　very　clever。　What　do　you　do　for　an　encore？〃
　〃How　much　is　it　worth　to　you？〃　she　asked　seductively。
　〃How　about　an　old　Milwaukee　streetcar　token？〃
　〃You're　impossible；〃　she　pouted。　〃I'm　beginning　to　think　you're　daft。〃
　He　had　to　force　his　eyes　to　ignore　her　body。　〃Right　now　I've　got　some　details　that　need　clearing　up。〃
　She　stared　at　him　blankly　for　a　few　seconds；　started　to　say　something；　then　thought　better　of　it；　his　face　was　unsmiling　and　serious。　She　shrugged；　slowly　retied　the　bikini　and　settled　into　a　vacant　chair。
　〃You're　acting　terribly　mysterious。〃
　〃I'll　revert　to　my　old　sweet；　lovable　self　after　you've　answered　a　few　simple　questions。〃
　She　scratched　at　an　imaginary　itch　above　her　left　breast。　〃Ask　away　then。〃
　〃Question　number　one：　what　do　you　know　about　your　uncle's　smuggling　operations？〃
　Her　eyes　went　wide。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about〃
　〃I　think　you　do。〃
　〃You're　insane；〃　she　said；　glaring　at　him。　〃Uncle　Bruno　owns　a　steamship　line。　Why　should　a　man　of　his　wealth　and　social　standing　stoop　to　petty　smuggling？〃
　〃Nothing　he　does　can　be　considered　petty；〃　Pitt　said。　He　paused　a　moment　monitoring　her　expression；　and　then　continued。　〃Question　number　two：　before　you　came　to　Thasos；　when　was　the　last　time　you　saw　von　Till？〃
　Not　since　I　was　a　little　girl；〃　she　answered　vaguely。　〃My　mum　and　dad　were　drowned　when　their　sailboat　overturned　in　a　sudden　storm　off　the　Isle　of　Man。　Uncle　Bruno　was　with　them　at　the　time。　So　was　I。　He　saved　my　life。　Since　that　awful　accident　he　has　been　very　good　to　me；　the　best　boarding　schools；　money　when　I　needed　it。　He　always　remembers　my　birthday。〃
　〃Yes；　he's　all　heart；〃　Pitt　said　sarcastically。　〃Isn't　he　a　bit　old　to　be　your　uncle？〃
　〃Actually；　he　was　my　grandmother's　brother。〃
　〃Question　three：　how　e　you　never　paid　him　a　visit　before　now？〃
　〃Whenever　I　wrote　and　begged　him　to　let　me　e　to　Thasos；　he　always　wrote　back　and　said　he　was　too　busy；　involved　with　some　vast　shipping　transaction　or　something。〃　She　giggled　softly。　〃I　fooled　him　this　time　though。　I　simply　popped　in　and　surprised　him。〃
　〃What　do　you　know　about　his　past？〃
　〃Nothing　really。　He　talks　very　little　about　himself。　But　I　do　know　he's　not　a　smuggler。〃
　〃You　beloved　uncle　is　the　worst　scum　that　a　mother　ever　dropped。〃　Pitt's　voice　was　tired。　He　didn't　want　to　hurt　her；　but　he　was　certain　she　was　lying。
　〃God　only　knows　how　many　rotting　corpses　owe　their　present　condition　to　him；　hundreds；　thousands　more　likely。　And　you're　in　it　with　him　right　up　to　your　lovely　little　neck。　Every　rotten　dollar　you've　spent　in　the　last　twenty　years　was　soaked　in　blood。　In　some　cases　with　the　blood　of；　and　yes　tears；　especially　tears；　of　innocent　children。　Young　girls　who　were　stolen　from　their　parents　arms　and　who　finished　their　adolescence　on　a　filthy；　lice　ridden　pile　of　straw　in　a　North