cc.floodtide-第58节

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　〃I　was　never　more　serious。〃
　〃I　believe　the　admiral　makes　a　good　case；〃　said　Harper。　〃You　and　Qin　Shang　should　meet　face…to…face。〃
　〃Why？　So　he　can　provide　a　first…hand　description　of　me　to　the　next　team　he　sends　out　to　put　me　in　a　cemetery？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Harper　seriously。　〃To　let　Qin　Shang　know　that　despite　his　wealth　and　power　he　can't　outclass　the　United　States　government。　The　man　is　not　infallible。　If　your　appearance　can　shake　him　up；　he　probably　won't　get　the　word　you're　alive　until　you　walk　in　on　him。　The　shock　just　might　make　him　mad　enough　to　make　a　mistake　in　the　future。　And　that's　when　we　step　in。〃
　
　〃In　essence　you　want　me　to　create　a　chink　in　his　armor。〃　Harper　nodded。　〃Exactly。〃
　〃You　realize；　of　course；〃　said　Pitt；　〃that　what　you're　proposing　will　promise　my　further　involvement　in　investigating　his　illegal　activities。〃
　
　〃Think　of　yourself　as　a　distraction；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃The　more　Qin　Shang　concentrates　on　you　as　a　threat　to　his　operations；　the　easier　it　will　be　for　the　INS　and　the　other　intelligence　services　to　nail　him　to　the　cross。〃　〃Distraction　hell。　You　want　a　decoy。〃　Harper　shrugged。　〃A　rose　by　any　other　name。〃　Pitt　made　as　if　to　appear　uneasy　with　the　idea　despite　the　fact　it　intrigued　him。　He　thought　of　the　bodies　strewn　on　the　bottom　of　Orion　Lake；　and　the　anger　rose　inside　him　like　an　uncontrollable　flood。　〃Whatever　it　takes　to　hang　the　murdering　scum。〃
　
　Harper　sighed　in　relief；　but　Sandecker　never　doubted　for　an　instant　that　Pitt　would　acquiesce。　The　admiral　had　never　known
　
　Pitt　to　turn　down　a　challenge；　no　matter　how　impossible。　Some　men　were　indifferent；　impassive。　It　was　difficult　to　tell　what　they　were　thinking。　Not　Pitt。　Sandecker　understood　him　like　no　other　man　except　Al　Giordino。　To　women　he　was　a　mystery；　a　man　they　could　reach　out　and　touch　but　never　restrain。　He　knew　there　were　two　Dirk　Pitts；　one　that　could　be　tender；　considerate　and　humorous；　the　other　cold　and　ruthless　as　a　winter　storm。　Unvaryingly　petent　to　the　point　of　brilliance；　his　perception　of　events　and　people　was　uncanny。　Pitt　never　made　a　conscious　error。　He　had　a　knack　for　doing　the　right　thing　during　incredibly　difficult　circumstances　that　was　almost　inhuman。
　Harper　was　unable　to　read　Pitt。　All　he　saw　was　a　marine　engineer　who　had　unbelievably　killed　two　professional　assassins　who　had　e　to　murder　him。　〃So　you'll　do　it。〃
　〃I'll　meet　Qin　Shang；　but　I　wish　someone　would　tell　me　how　I'm　going　to　crash　his　party　without　an　invitation。〃
　〃It's　all　been　arranged；〃　explained　Harper。　〃A　good　agent　I　always　has　connections　with　the　pany　that　prints　invitations。〃
　〃You　were　pretty　sure　of　yourself。〃
　〃I　admit　I　wasn't；　but　the　admiral　here　assured　me　that　you　never　turned　down　free　drinks　and　food。〃
　Pitt　threw　Sandecker　a　peevish　look。　〃The　admiral　has　mads　victimization　an　art　form。〃
　〃I've　even　taken　the　liberty　of　arranging　an　escort　for　you；〃　Harper　continued。　〃A　most　attractive　lady　who　will　back　you　up　in　case　of　trouble。〃
　〃A　baby…sitter；〃　Pitt　muttered；　rolling　his　eyes　upward。　〃As　a　matter　of　pure　optimism　I　have　to　ask　if　she's　seen　bat。〃　〃I'm　told　she　shot　down　two　aircraft　and　saved　your　ass　on　the　Orion　River。〃　〃Julia　Lee。〃　〃The　same。〃
　
　Pitt's　lips　stretched　into　a　wide　grin。　〃It　looks　as　if　the　evening　won't　turn　out　to　be　a　bust　after　all。〃
　
　PITT　KNOCKED　ON　THE　DOOR　OF　THE　ADDRESS　GIVEN　HIM　BY　Peter　Harper。　After　a　short　wait；　it　was　opened　by　Julia　Lee。　She　stood　radiant　in　a　white　silk　cashmere　dress　that　came　slightly　below　the　knees　with　open　shoulders　and　back　to　the　curve　above　her　hips　and　was　held　up　by　a　thin　strap　around　the　neck。　Her　black　hair　was　swept　back　in　a　wrapped　ponytail　high　on　the　head　with　spiky　ends。　Her　only　jewelry　was　a　thin　gold　chain　around　her　waist　and　a　gold　cuff　necklace。　Her　legs　were　nude；　her　feet　showing　in　open　gold　shoes。
　
　Her　eyes　widened　and　she　murmured；　〃Dirk；　Dirk　Pitt！〃
　〃Oh；　I　hope　so；〃　he　replied　with　a　devilish　grin。
　After　her　initial　shock　at　seeing　Pitt　standing　there　resplendent　in　a　tuxedo　with　vest　and　gold　watch　chain；　she　recovered　and　threw　herself　against　him；　her　arms　encircling　his　neck。　He　was　so　surprised　he　barely　caught　himself　from　tumbling　over　backward　down　the　steps。　Impetuously；　she　kissed　him　hard　on　the　mouth。　Now　it　was　Pitt's　turn　for　his　eyes　to　widen。　He　had　never　expected　such　a　spontaneous　reception。
　
　〃I　thought　I　was　the　one　who　said　I'd　kiss　you　full　on　the　mouth　when　next　we　meet。〃　Reluctantly；　he　gripped　Julia　by　the　upper　arms　and　gently　eased　her　away。　〃Do　you　greet　all　your　blind　dates　in　that　manner？〃
　Suddenly；　she　cast　her　dove…gray　eyes　to　the　ground　shyly。　〃I　don't　know　what　came　over　me。　Seeing　you　came　as　a　shock。　I　wasn't　told　who　was　escorting　me　to　Qin　Shang's　　party。　Peter　Harper　only　said　he　arranged　for　a　tall；　dark；　hand…　r　some　man　to　act　as　my　backup。〃
　〃The　dirty　sneak　led　me　to　believe　that　you　were　my　backup；　He　should　have　been　a　theatrical　producer。　I'll　bet　he's　drooling　in　anticipation　of　Qin　Shang's　reaction　when　the　two　people　who　queered　his　operation　at　Orion　Lake　walk　in　uninvited　to　j　his　party。〃
　〃I　hope　you're　not　disappointed　at　having　to　escort　me。　I　Under　all　this　makeup；　I　still　look　pretty　awful。〃
　He　gently　lifted　her　chin　until　he　could　look　down　into　her　I　misty　eyes。　He　might　have　said　something　witty　and　clever；　I　but　it　wasn't　the　moment。　〃About　as　disappointed　as　a　man　who　has　discovered　a　diamond　mine。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　you　could　say　nice　things　to　a　girl。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　believe　the　hordes　of　women　my　silver　i　tongue　has　seduced。〃
　〃Liar；〃　she　said　softly　as　her　lips　broke　into　a　smile。
　〃Enough　of　this　endearing　talk；〃　he　said；　releasing　her。　〃We'd　better　get　a　move　on　before　the　food　runs　out。〃

　After　Julia　briefly　returned　inside　the　house　to　find　her　purse　f　and　coat；　Pitt　led　her　to　the　stately　and　majestic　machine　parked　at　the　curb　in　front　of　the　townhouse　where　she　was　staying　　with　an　old　sorority　sister　from　college。　She　stared　in　open　　astonishment　at　the　mammoth　car　with　its　big　chrome　wire　wheels　and　wide　whitewall　tires。
　〃Good　Lord！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃What　kind　of　a　car　are　we　I　going　in？〃
　〃A　nineteen…twenty…nine　Duesenberg；〃　answered　Pitt；　〃Since　we've　been　ordered　to　crash　a　party　thrown　by　one　of　the　world's　richest　men；　I　thought　it　only　fitting　and　proper　that　　we　arrive　in　style。〃
　〃I've　never　ridden　in　a　car　this　grand；〃　said　Julia　admiringly　　as　she　slid　onto　the　soft　tan　leather　seat。　She　marveled　at　the　hood　that　seemed　to　stretch　halfway　down　the　block　as　Pitt　　closed　the　door　and　came　around　behind　the　big　steering　wheel；　　〃I've　never　heard　of　a　Duesenberg。〃
　
　〃The　Model　J　Duesenbergs　were　the　finest　examples　of　American　automating；〃　Pitt　explained。　〃Manufactured　from　nineteen…twenty…eight　until　nineteen…thirty…six；　they　were　considered　by　many　automobile　connoisseurs　as　the　handsomest　cars　ever　built。　Only　about　four　hundred　eighty　chassis　and　engines　came　out　of　the　factory　and　were　sent　to　the　most　esteemed　coachmakers　in　the　country　who　produced　magnificent　designs。　This　car　was　custom…bodied　by　the　Walter　M。　Murphy　pany　in　Pasadena；　California；　and　styled　as　a　convertible　sedan。　Not　cheap；　they　sold　as　high　as　twenty　thousand　dollars　when　the　Ford　Model　A　sold　for　around　four　hundred。　They　were　owned　by　the　wealthy　celebrities　of　their　day；　particularly　the　Hollywood　crowd；　who　bought　Duesenbergs　as　a　show　of　pride　and　prestige。　If　you　drove　a　Duesy；　you　had　made　it　big…time。〃
　〃She's　beautiful；〃　said　Julia；　admiring　the　artistically　flowing　lines。　〃She　must　be　fast。〃
　〃The　engine　was　an　outgrowth　of　the　Duesenberg　racing　engines。　A　straight　eight…cylinder　engine　displacing　four　hundred　twenty　cubic　inches；　it　produced　two　hundred　sixty…five　horsepower　when　most　engines　at　the　time　put　out　less　than　seventy。　Although　this　engine　doesn't　have　the　supercharger　that　was　installed　on　later　models；　I　made　a　few　modifications　when　I　restored　the　car。　Under　the　right　conditions　she　could　touch　one　hundred　forty　miles　an　hour。〃
　
　〃I'll　take　your　word　for　it　without　a　demonstration。〃
　〃A　pity　we　can't　drive　with　the　top　down；　but　it's　a　cool　night　and　I　put　it　up　to　protect　milady's　hair。〃
　〃A　woman　loves　a　considerate　man。〃
　〃I　always　aim　to　please。〃
　She　looked　at　the　flat　windshield　and　noticed　a　small　hole　in　one　corner　of　the　glass　with　tiny　cracks　spreading　from　it。　〃Is　that　a　bullet　hole？〃
　〃A　souvenir　from　a　couple　of　Qin　Shang's　flunkies。〃
　〃He　sent　men　to　kill　you？〃　asked　Julia；　staring　in　fascination　at　the　hole。　〃Where　did　this　take　place？〃
　〃They　dropped　by　the　aircraft　hangar　where　I　live　earlier　in　the　evening；〃　Pitt　answered　impassively。
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃They　weren't　the　least　bit　sociable；　so　I　sent　them　on　their　way。〃
　Pitt　hit　the　starter　and　the　big　engine　turned　over　with　a　soft　purr　before　the　eight　cylinders　fired　and　broadcast　a　mellow　roar　through　the　big　exhaust　pipe。　The　low　gears　gave　out　a　muted　whir　as　Pitt　shifted　through　the　sequence　from　first　to　third。　The　great　luxury　car　that　has　never　been　surpassed　rolled　through　the　streets　of　Washington；　regal　and　majestic。
　
　Julia　decided　it　was　hopeless　to　pry