alistairmaclean.seawitch-第24节
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sts； seismologists… it's all the same to us； we know nothing about geology or seismology。 All we need are business suits； horn…rimmed glasses…for the studious look…and briefcases。〃 He paused。 〃And we'll also need a doctor； with full medical kit and a large supply of bandages。〃
〃A doctor？〃
〃For extracting bullets； sewing up gunshot wounds。 Or are you naive enough to believe that no shot will be fired in anger aboard the witch？〃
〃I abhor violence。〃
〃Sure。 That's why you sent twenty heavily armed thugs out to the Seawitch during the night？ Fine； so you abhor violence。 Others wele it。 Can you find us a doctor？〃
〃Dozens of them。 The average doctor hereabouts rates his scanning of X…rays a very poor second to the scanning of his bank balances。 I know the man。 Greenshaw。 After seven years in Vietnam； he should fill your bill。〃
Roomer said： 〃And ask him to bring along two spare white hospital coats。〃 〃Why？〃 Mitchell said。 〃Want to look scientific； don't you？〃 Lord Worth picked up the phone； made the arrangements； replaced the instrument and said： 〃You must excuse me。 I have some private calls to make from the radio room。〃 Lord Worth's sole reason for returning to his house was to contact his inside man； Corral； and have him； without incriminating himself； inform Benson； who had hosted the Lake Tahoe meeting； that the government intended to blast out of the water any foreign naval ships that approached the Seawitch。 An exaggeration but； Lord Worth thought； a pardonable one。 Despite the secretary's promise； Lord Worth placed more faith in his direct approach。
Mitchell said： 〃Which one of us do you want to go with you？〃
〃What do you mean？ 'Private；' I said。〃 His face darkened in anger。 〃Am I to be ordered around in my own house； supervised as if I'm an irresponsible child？〃
〃You behaved responsibly last night？ Look； Lord Worth； if you don't want either of us around； then it's obvious you want to say something that you don't want us to hear。〃 Mitchell gave him a speculative look。 〃I don't like that。 You're either up to something we wouldn't like； something shady maybe； or it's a vote of no confidence in us。〃
〃It's a personal and highly important business call。 I don't see why you should be privy to my business affairs。〃
Roomer said： 〃I agree。 But it so happens that we don't think it is a business call； that business would be the last thing in your mind right now。〃 Both Mitchell and Roomer stood up。 〃Give our regards； to the girls…if you ever find them。〃
〃Blackmail！ Damned blackmail！〃 Lord Worth rapidly weighed the importance of his call to Corral pared to the importance of having Mitchell and Roomer around。 It took all of two seconds to make up his mind； and Corral was clear out of sight at the wire。 He was sure that the two men were bluffing； but there was no way he could call their bluff； for that was the one sure way of provoking a genuine walkout Lord Worth put on his stony face。 〃I suppose I have no option other than to accede to your threats。 I suggest you go and pack your bags and I'll pick you up in the Rolls。〃
Mitchell said： 〃Packing will take some time。 I think it would be more polite if we wait here until you're ready。〃
Lord Worth mentally gnashed his teeth。 〃You think I'd head for a telephone the moment your backs are turned？〃
Mitchell smiled； 〃Funny the same thought should occur to the three of us at the same instant； isn't it？〃
Chapter 7
MANDER Larsen and Scoffield observed the approach of the North Hudson helicopter with surprise but without undue concern。 Lord Worth customarily gave advance warning of his arrival but could occasionally be forgetful on this point。 In any event it was his helicopter and just about his expected time of arrival。 They sauntered across the platform and arrived at the northeast helipad just as the helicopter touched down。
Surprisingly； no one emerged immediately from the machine。 Larsen and Scoffield looked at each other in some perplexity； a perplexity that was considerably deepened when the disembarkation door slid back and Durand appeared in the doorway with a machine pistol cradled in his hands。 Just behind him stood a similarly equipped henchman。 From their shadowed position it was impossible for them to be observed by any of the rig duty crew。
Durand said： 〃Larsen and Scoffield？ If you are carrying weapons； please don't be so foolish as to try to use them。〃 The boarding steps swung down。 〃e and join us。〃
The two men had no option。 Once aboard； without taking his eyes off them； Durand said： 〃Kowenski； Rindler…see if they're armed。〃
Both Larsen and Scoffield carried automatics but seemed quite indifferent to being deprived of them： their attention was directed exclusively to the presence of Lord Worth's daughters。
Marina smiled； albeit a trifle wanly。 〃We could have met under happier circumstances； mander。〃
Larsen nodded。 〃Your kidnapers。 This can carry a death sentence。〃 He looked at Campbell。 〃Why did you fly those criminals out here？〃
〃Because I get very cowardly when I have a pistol barrel stuck in the back of my neck all the way from takeoff to touchdown。〃 Campbell spoke with a certain justifiable bitterness。
Larsen looked at Melinda。 〃Have you been mistreated in any way？〃
〃No。〃
〃And they won't be；〃 Durand said。 〃Unless； of course； you refuse to do as we tell you。〃
〃What does that mean？〃
〃You close down the Christmas tree。〃 This meant closing off all the oil supplies from the ocean floor。
〃I'll be damned if I do。〃 Larsen's dark piratical face was suffused with fury。 Here； Durand realized； was a man who； even without arms； could be highly dangerous。 He glanced briefly at Rindler； who struck Larsen on the back of the neck with his machine pistol； a blow calculated to daze but not knock out。 When Larsen's head had cleared he found that he had handcuffs and shackles around wrists and ankles。 His attention then focused on a pair of gleaming stainless…steel medical cutters of the type favored by the surgical fraternity for snipping through ribs。 The handles were in Durand's firm grip： the unpleasant operating end was closed lightly round the little finger of Melinda's right hand。
Durand said： 〃Lord Worth isn't going to like you too much for this； Larsen。〃
Larsen； apparently； was of the same opinion。 〃All right； take those damned pliers away and get these bracelets off。 I'll close down your damned Christmas tree。〃
〃And Fll e with you just to see that you really do turn it off。 Not that I would recognize one if I saw it； but I do know that there are such things as flow gauges。 Til be carrying a walkie talkie with me。 Rindler here has another。 FU keep in constant contact with him。 If anything should happen to me…〃 Durand looked consideringly at the medical cutters； then handed them to Heffer； the fifth man in his team。 He told Campbell to put his arms behind his seat back and handcuffed his wrists。
〃Don't miss much； do you？〃 Larsen's voice was sour。
〃You know how it is。 So many villains around these days。 e on。〃
The two men walked across the platform in the direction of the drilling rig。 After only a few paces Durand stopped and looked around him admiringly。
〃Well； well； now。 Dual…purpose antiaircraft guns。 Piles of depth charges。 You'd almost think you're prepared to withstand a siege。 Dear me； dear me。 Federal offense you know。 Lord Worth； even with the millions he can pay for lawyers； can get at least ten years in the pen for this。〃
〃What're you talking about？〃
〃Hardly standard equipment aboard an oil rig。 Ill bet it wasn't here twenty…four hours ago。 Fll bet it was inside the Mississippi naval arsenal that was broken into last night。 The Government takes a dim view of people who steal military equipment。 And； of course； you got to have specialists aboard who're skilled at handling stuff like that； and that's hardly part of the basic training of oil…rig crews。 I wonder if those crews are also carrying special equipment…like； for instance； what was stolen from a Florida arsenal last night。 I mean； two unrelated arsenal break…ins in the same night is too much coincidence。 Twenty years in prison； with no chance of parole for you too； for aiding and abetting。 And people call us criminals。〃
Larsen had a few choice observations to make in return； none of which would have received the approval of even the most tolerant board of censors。
The Christmas tree was duly neutralized。 The pressure gauges registered zero。 Durand turned his attention to the Roomer； carrying out its short and wearisome patrol between the rig and the huge floating oil tank。 〃What's our friend up to？〃
〃Even a landlubber like you ought to be able to guess。 He's patrolling the pipeline。〃
〃What the hell for？ You could replace a cut line in a day。 What would that get anybody？ It's crazy。〃
〃You have to use crazy methods to deal with crazy people。 From all accounts； Lord Worth's enemies should be locked up for their own good。 For everybody's good。〃
〃Worth's band of cutthroats aboard this rig… who's their leader？〃
〃Giuseppe Palermo。〃
〃That mobster！ So the noble Lord； along with his grand larceny； is an associate of convicted felons。〃
〃You know him； then？〃
〃Yeah。〃 Durand saw no p
