cc.themediterraneancaper2-第17章

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　He　shrugged；　smiling　wryly。　〃OK；　I'll　give　it　to　you　from　beginning　to　end；　but　please　feel　free　to　stare　at　me　like　I'm　crazy；　I'll　understand。〃
　In　the　heat　tortured　cabin；　the　steel　walls　almost　too　hot　to　touch；　Pitt　told　his　story。　He　held　nothing　back；　not　even　a　thin　belief　that　Teri　had　somehow　betrayed　him　to　von　Till　Lewis　nodded　thoughtfully　on　occasion　but　made　no　ment；　his　mind　seemed　to　linger　elsewhere；　returning　only　when　Pitt　graphically　described　an　event。　Giordino　paced　the　small　cubicle　unhurriedly；　leaning　slightly　against　the　slow　rolling　of　the　ship。
　When　Pitt　finished；　no　one　spoke。　Ten　seconds　passed；　twenty；　then　thirty。　The　atmosphere　had　turned　humid　from　perspiration　and　rapidly　became　stale　from　cigar　and　cigarette　smoke。
　〃I　know；〃　Pitt　said　a　little　tiredly。　〃It　sounds　like　a　fairy　tale　and　makes　very　little　sense。　But；　that's　exactly　the　way　it　happened；　I　left　nothing　out〃
　〃Daniel　in　the　lion's　den。〃　Lewis　said　flatly；　without　inflection。　〃I　admit；　what　you've　told　us　seems　far　fetched；　but　the　facts　have　a　strange　way　of　bearing　you
　out。〃　He　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　a　hip　pocket　and　dabbed　it　across　his　forehead。　〃You　were　correct　in　predicting　that　the　antique　plane　would　attack　this　ship；　and　you　even　knew　when。〃
　〃Von　Till　supplied　me　with　a　hint。　The　rest　was　conjecture。〃
　〃I　can't　figure　the　weird　set…up；〃　said　Giordino。
　〃Using　an　old　bi…plane　to　shoot　up　the　sea　and　landscape　merely　to　get　rid　of　the　First　Attempt　seems　overly　plicated。〃
　〃Not　really；〃　said　Pitt。　〃It　soon　became　obvious　to　von　Till　that　his　sabotage　attempts　on　the　scientific　operations　of　NUMA's　expedition　were　not　succeeding　according　to　plan。〃
　〃What　crossed　him　up？〃　Giordino　inquired。
　〃Gunn　was　stubborn；〃　Pitt　grinned　evenly。　〃In　spite　of　what　he　thought　were　accidents　and　setbacks　due　to　natural　causes；　he　refused　to　weigh　anchor　and　give　up。〃
　〃Good　for　him；〃　Lewis　grunted；　and　cleared　his　throat　to　speak；　but　Pitt　went　on　unruffled。
　〃Von　Till　had　to　find　another　direction。　Using　the　old　aircraft　was　a　stroke　of　genius。　If　he　had　sent　a　modern　jet　fighter　to　attack　Brady　Field；　all　hell　would　have　broken　out　in　the　form　of　an　international　crisis。　The　Greek　Government；　the　Russians；　the　Arabs；　all　would　have　bee　involved；　and　this　whole　island　would　have　been　teeming　with　military　personnel　on　emergency　alert。　No；　von　Till　was　smart：　the　antique　Albatros　caused　our　government　some　embarrassment　and　cost　the　Air　Force　a　few　million　dollars；　but　spared　everyone　a　diplomatic　mess　and　an　armed　conflict。〃
　〃Very　interesting；　Major。〃　Lewis'　voice　was　flat；　skeptical。　〃Very　interesting。　。　。　and　most　instructional。　But　would　you　mind　answering　a　question　that's　been　nagging　the　back　of　my　mind？〃
　〃What　is　it；　sir？〃　It　was　the　first　time　Pitt　had　addressed　Lewis　as　sir；　and　he　found　it　strangely　distasteful。
　〃Just　what　are　these　seagoing　eggheads　looking　for　that　brought　this　rotten　business　down　around　our　heads？〃
　〃A　fish；〃　Pitt　replied　grinning。
　Lewis'　eyes　widened　and　he　almost　dropped　his　cigar　on　his　huge　lap。　〃A　what？〃
　〃A　fish；〃　Pitt　repeated。　〃It's　nick…named　Teaser；　a　rare　species　reported　to　be　a　living　fossil。　Gunn　assures　me　that　landing　one　would　be　the　greatest　scientific　achievement　of　the　decade。〃　Pitt　supposed　wryly　that　he　was　overdoing　it　a　bit；　but　he　was　irritated　by　Lewis'　blustering　pompousness。
　Lewis'　face　was　not　pleasant　as　he　rose　trembling　from　his　chair。　〃You　mean　to　say　that　I　have　fifteen　million　dollars'　worth　of　wrecked　aircraft　scattered　over　a　base　under　my　personal　mand；　my　military　career　all　but　ruined；　and　all　because　of　a　goddamned　fish？〃
　Pitt　tried　his　best　to　look　serious。　〃Yes；　Colonel；　I　guess　you　might　say　that。〃
　A　saddened　look　of　absolute　defeat　gripped　Lewis'　features　as　he　shook　his　head　
　from　side　to　side。　〃My　God；　my　God；　it's　not　fair；　it's　just　not。　。　。〃
　He　was　interrupted　by　a　knock　on　the　metal　door。
　The　cabin　boy　entered；　carrying　a　tray　containing　three　brown　bottles。
　〃Keep　them　ing；〃　Pitt　ordered。　〃And；　keep　them　cold。〃
　〃Yes　sir；〃　the　boy　mumbled。　He　set　the　tray　down　on　the　desk　and　hurried　from　the　cabin。
　Giordino　passed　Lewis　a　beer。　〃Here　Colonel；　drink　up　and　forget　the　damage　to　Brady。　The　taxpayers　will　absorb　the　cost　anyway。〃
　〃In　the　meantime　I'll　probably　suffer　a　coronary；〃
　Lewis　said　gloomily。　He　sat　back　down　in　the　chair；　collapsing　like　a　leaky　inner　tube。
　Pitt　held　up　the　ice　frosted　bottle　and　rolled　its　cold　surface　across　his　forehead。　The　red　and　silver　label　was　stuck　on　crooked。　He　stared　idly　at　the　reversed　printing　that　proudly　proclaimed：　BY　APPOINTMENT　TO　THE　ROYAL　GREEK　COURT。
　〃Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃　Giordino　said　between　gulps。
　Pitt　shrugged；　〃I'm　not　sure　yet。　A　lot　depends　on　what　Gunn　finds　in　the　wreckage　of　the　Albatros。〃
　〃Any　idea？'
　〃None　at　the　moment。〃
　Giordino　mashed　his　cigarette　into　an　ashtray。　〃If　nothing　else；　I'd　say　we're　well　ahead　of　the　game；　especially　pared　to　this　time　yesterday。　Thanks　to　you　our　ghost　from　World　War　I　is　kaput；　and　we　have　a　pretty　good　lead　on　the　instigator　behind　the　attacks。　All　we　have　to　do　now　is　have　the　Greek　authorities　pick　up　von　Till〃
　〃Not　good　enough；〃　Pitt　said　thoughtfully。　〃That
　would　be　the　same　as　a　district　attorney　demanding　the　indictment　of　a　suspect　for　murder　'who　had　no　motive。　No；　there　has　to　be　a　reason；　not　a　valid　one　in　our　eyes　necessarily；　but　still　a　reason　for　all　this　intrigue　and　destruction。〃
　〃Whatever　the　cause；　it　isn't　treasure。〃
　Pitt　stared　at　Giordino。　〃I'd　forgotten　to　ask。　Did　Admiral　Sandecker　send　a　reply　to　your　message？〃
　Giordino　dropped　an　emptied　bottle　in　a　wastebasket。　〃It　came　through　this　morning；　just　before　the　Colonel　and　I　left　Brady　Field　for　the　First　Attempt。〃　He　paused；　gazing　up　at　a　fly　walking　across　the　ceiling；　Then　he　belched。
　〃Well？〃　Pitt　grunted　impatiently。
　〃The　Admiral　had　a　crew　of　ten　men　pour　through　the　national　Archives　on　a　crash　research　program。　When　they　were　finished　they　all　agreed　on　the　same　conclusion：　there　is　no　recorded　document　anywhere　that　indicates　shipwrecked　treasure　near　the　Thasos　coastline。〃
　〃Cargos；　could　any　of　the　recorded　wrecked　vessels　have　carried　valuable　cargo？〃
　〃Nothing　worth　mentioning；〃　Giordino　pulled　a　slip　of　paper　from　his　breast　pocket。　〃The　Admiral's　secretary　dictated　over　the　radio　the　names　of　all　the　ships　that　were　lost　on　or　around　Thasos　in　the　last　two　hundred　years。　The　list　isn't　impressive。〃
　Pitt　wiped　the　salty　sting　of　sweat　from　his　eyes。　〃Let's　have　a　sample。〃
　Giordino　set　the　list　on　his　knees　and　began　reading　aloud　in　a　rapid　monotone。　〃Mistral；　French　frigate；　sunk　1753。　Clara　G。；　British　coal　collier；　sunk　1856。　Admiral　DeFosse；　French　ironclad；　sunk　1872。　Scyla；　Italian　brig；　sunk　1876。　Daphne。　British　gunboat。　。
　〃Skip　to　1915；〃　Pitt　interrupted。
　〃H。M。S。　Forshire；　British　cruiser；　sunk　by　German　shore　batteries　on　the　mainland；　1915。　Von　Schroder；　German　destroyer；　sunk　by　British　warship；　1916。　U…19；　German　submarine；　sunk　by　British　aircraft；　1918。〃
　〃No　need　to　continue；〃　Pitt　said　yawning。　〃Most　of　the　lost　wrecks　on　your　list　were　warships。　The　chances　are　slim　that　one　of　them　might　have　carried　a　king's　ransom　in　gold。〃
　Giordino　nodded。　〃As　the　boys　in　Washington　said；　'no　recorded　documents　of　sunken　treasure'。〃
　The　talk　over　treasure　brought　an　alert　gleam　in　Lewis'　eyes。　〃What　about　ancient　Greek　or　Roman　vessels？〃　Most　records　wouldn't　go　back　that　far。〃
　〃That's　true；〃　said　Giordino。　〃But；　as　Dirk　previously　pointed　out；　Thasos　is　a　long　way　off　the　beaten'　shipping　paths。　The　same　holds　true　for　the　trade　routes　of　antiquity。〃
　〃But　if　there　is　a　fortune　under　our　feet；〃　Lewis　persisted；　〃and　von　Till　found　it；　he'd　most　certainly　keep　it　a　secret。〃
　〃'There's　no　law　against　finding　sunken　treasure。〃
　Giordino　exhaled　two　streams　of　smoke　through　his　nose。　〃Why　bother　to　hide　it？〃
　〃Greed；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Insane　greed；　wanting　one　hundred　percent；　refusing　to　share　with　others　or　having　to　pay　the　government　under　which　the　riches　were　found　any　taxes　or　assessments。〃
　〃Considering　the　huge　cut　most　governments　demand；〃　Lewis　said　angrily；　〃I　can't　say　as　I'd　blame　von　Till　for　keeping　the　discovery　a　secret。〃
　The　cabin　boy　came　and　went；　Leaving　three　more
　bottles　of　beer。　Giordino　downed　his　'with　one　tilt　of　the　head　and　then　dropped　the　empty　bottle　beside　its　mate
　in　the　wastebasket　〃'This　whole　game　is　like　a　bad　deal；〃　he　plained。　〃I　don't　like　it。〃
　〃I　don't　like　it　either；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　〃Every　logical　avenue　winds　up　in　a　cul…de…sac。　Even　this　talk　about　treasure　is　meaningless。　I　tried　to　bait　von　Till　into　admitting　he　was　after　treasure；　but　the　wily　old　bastard　offered　no　indication　of　interest。　He's　trying　to　hide　something；　but　it's　not　sunken　gold　bullion　or　lost　diamonds。〃　He　broke　off　and　pointed　out　a　porthole　across　the　sea　where　Thasos　slept　under　the　rising　heat　waves。　〃The　solution　lies　elsewhere；　either　near　the　island；　or　on　it；　or　maybe；　both。　We'll　soon　know　more　when　Gunn　raises　the　Albatros　and　its　occupant。〃
　Giordino；　both　hands　clasped　behind　his　head；　leaned　his　chair　back　on　two　legs。　〃By　all　rights；　we　could　leave　now　and　be　back　in　Washington　this　time　tomorrow。　Since　the　mysterious　renegade　plane　is　destroyed；　and　we　know　who　instigated　the　accidents　on　board　the　First　Attempt；　things　should　settle　back　to　normal。　I　see　no　reason　why　we　can't　pack　up　and　head　for　home。〃　He　threw　Lewis　an　indifferent　look。　〃I'm　certain　the　Colonel　can　handle　any　further　emergencies　that　might　crop　up　on　Brady　Field。〃
　〃You　can't　leave　now！〃　Lewis　was　sweating　heavily；　his　breath　in　gasps；　barely　controlling　his　temper。　〃I'll　contact　Admiral　Sandecker　and　have。　。　。　〃
　〃Don't　worry；　Colonel；〃　Gunn　interrupted　from　the　doorway。　He　had　pushed　the　cabin　door　open　silently　and　now　stood　leaning　against　the　bulkhead。
　〃Major　Pitt　and　Captain　Giordino　won't　be　leaving　Thasos　just　yet。〃
　Pitt　looked　up　quickly；　expectantly。　There　was　no　elated　expression　on　Gunn's　face；　it　merely　reflected　a　mixture　of　blank　nothingness　and　dejection。　It　was　the　face　of　a　man　who　ceased　to　care。　The　small　bone　structure　showed　through　the　shoulders；　drooped　from　exhaustion；　and　the　skin　glistened　with　drops　of　salt　water　that　dung　to　the　body　hair　in　tiny　droplets。　He　wore　nothing　but　the　ever　present　horn…rimmed　glasses　and　a：
　European　style　black　bikini　that　did　little　to　enhance　the　slender　frame　it　covered。　Four　straight　hours　of　diving　had　left　Gunn　exhausted；　every　bone；　every　muscle　begging　for　relief。
　〃Sorry　Sir；〃　Gunn　mumbled　softly。　〃Bad　news　I'm　afraid？
　〃For　God's　sake；　Rudi；〃　Pitt　asked；　〃What　is　it？　Weren't　you　able　to　raise　the　plane　and　recover　the　pilot's　body？〃
　〃Gunn　shrugged　his　thin　shoulders。　〃Neither。〃
　〃As　bad　as　that？〃　Pitt　queried；　voice　and　face　deadly　serious。
　〃Worse；〃　Gunn　replied　grimly。
　〃Let's　have　it。〃
　For　almost　thirty　seconds；　Gunn　remained　silent　The　others　in　the　cabin　could　hear　the　faint　creaking　noises　of　the　ship；　rolling　in　the　gentle　swells　of　the　Mediterranean；　and　see　the　tightening　of　Gunn's　mouth。
　〃Believe　me；　we　tried；〃