cc.themediterraneancaper2-第2章

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　〃Almost；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃There's　Thasos　dead　ahead。〃
　〃Oh　hell；〃　Giordino　grunted；　then　grinned。　〃I　could　have　slept　another　ten　　minutes。　Why'd　you　wake　me？〃
　〃I　intercepted　a　message　from　Brady　Control　that　said　the　field　was　under　attack　　by　an　unidentified　aircraft〃
　〃You　can't　be　serious；〃　Giordino　said　incredulously。　〃It　must　be　some　kind　of　a　　joke。〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　The　control　operator's　voice　didn't　sound　like　it　was　　faking。'　Pitt　hesitated　and　kept　an　eye　on　the　water　only　fifty　feet　away　as　it　　flashed　under　the　PBY's　hull。　Just　for　practice　he　had　wave…hopped　the　last　two　　hundred　miles；　a　means　of　keeping　his　reflexes　honed　and　sharp。
　〃It　might　be　that　Brady　Control　was　telling　the　truth；〃　said　Giordino；　peering　　through　the　cockpit　windshield。　〃Look　over　there　toward　the　eastern　part　of　the　　island。〃
　Both　men　stared　at　the　approaching　mound　rising　out　of　the　sea。　The　beaches　　bordering　the　surf　were　yellow　and　barren；　but　the　round　sloping　hills　were　　green　with　trees。　The　colors　danced　in　the　heat　waves　and　vividly　contrasted　　against　the　encircling　blue　of　the　Aegean。　On　the　eastern　side　of　Thasos　a　large　　pillar　of　smoke　rose　into　the　windless　sky　and　fanned　a　giant；　spiral…shaped；　black　cloud。　The　PBY's　bow　soared　closer　to　the　island；　and　soon　they　could　　distinguish　the　orange　movement　of　flames　at　the　base　of　the　smoke。
　Pitt　grabbed　the　mike　and　pressed　the　button　on　the　side　of　the　handgrip。　〃Brady　Control；　Brady　Control；　this　is　PBY…086；　over。〃　There　was　no　response。
　Pitt　repeated　the　call　twice　more。
　〃No　answer？〃　queried　Giordino。
　〃Nothing；〃　returned　Pitt。
　〃You　said　an　unidentified　aircraft。　I　take　it；　that　means　one？〃
　〃That's　precisely　what　Brady　Control　said　before　they　went　off　the　air。〃
　〃It　doesn't　make　sense。　Why　would　one　plane　attack　a　United　States　Air　Force　Base？〃
　〃Who　knows；〃　Pitt　said；　easing　the　control　column　back　slightly。　〃Maybe　it's　an　irate　Greek　farmer　who's　tired　of　our　jets　scaring　his　goals。　Anyway。　it　can't　be　a　full…scale　attack；　or　Washington　would　have　notified　us　by　now。　We'll　have　to　wait　and　see〃　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　blinked　away　the　drowsiness。　〃Get　ready；　I'm　going　to　take　her　up；　circle　in　over　those　hills　and　e　down　out　of　the　sun　for　a　closer　look。〃
　〃Take　it　nice　and　easy。〃　Giordino's　eyebrows　came　together　and　he　grinned　a　serious　grin。　〃This　old　bus　is　way　overmatched　if　that's　a　rocket　firing　jet　down　there。〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Pitt　laughed。　〃My　main　goal　in　life　is　to　stay　healthy　as　long　as　possible。〃　He　pushed　the　throttles　forward；　and　the　two　Pratt　&　Whitney　Wasp　engines　increased　their　beat。　His　large；　brown　hands　moved　efficiently；　pulling　back　on　the　control　column；　and　the　plane　aimed　its　flat　snout　at　the　sun。　The　big　Catalina　rose　steadily；　gaining　altitude　by　the　second；　and　circled　above　the　Thasos　mountains　in　the　direction　of　the　growing　smoke　cloud。
　Suddenly；　a　voice　broke　in　over　Pitt's　headset。　The　unexpected　sound　nearly　deafened　his　ears　before　he　could　lower　the　volume…the　same　voice　be　heard　before；　but　stronger　this　time。
　〃This　is　Brady　Control　calling。　We　are　under　attack！　I　repeat；　we　are　under　attack！　e　in　anybody；　please　reply！〃　The　voice　was　near　hysteria。
　Pitt　replied；　〃Brady　Control；　this　is　PBY…086。　Over。〃
　〃Thank　God；　someone　answered；〃　the　voice　gasped。
　〃I　tried　to　raise　you　before；　Brady　Control；　but　you　faded　and　went　off　the　air。〃
　〃I　was　hit　in　the　first　attack；　I。。　。　I　must　have　passed　out　I'm　all　right　now。〃　The　words　sounded　broken；　but　coherent
　〃We're　approximately　ten　miles　west　of　you　at　six　thousand　feet。〃　Pitt　spoke　slowly　and　did　not　repeat　his　position。　〃What　is　your　situation？〃
　〃We　have　no　defense。　All　our　aircraft　were　destroyed　on　the　ground。　The　nearest　interceptor　squadron　is　seven　hundred　miles　away。　They'll　never　get　here　in　time。　Can　you　assist？〃
　Pitt　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side　from　habit。　〃Negative　Brady　Control。　My　top　speed　is　under　one　hundred　ninety　knots　and　I　only　have　a　couple　of　rifles　on　board。　We'd　be　wasting　our　time　engaging　a　jet。〃
　〃Please　assist；〃　the　voice　pleaded。　〃Our　attacker　is　not　a　jet　bomber　but　a　World　War　I　biplane。　I　repeat；　our　attacker　is　a　World　War　I　biplane。　Please　assist。〃
　Pitt　and　Giordino　merely　looked　at　each　other；　dumbfounded。　It　was　a　full　ten　seconds　before　Pitt　could　pull　his　senses　back　into　reign。
　〃Okay；　Brady　Control；　we're　ing　in。　But　you'd　better　know　your　aircraft　identification　or　you're　going　to　make　a　pair　of　little　old　silver…haired　mother　damn　sad　if　my　co…pilot　and　I　buy　the　farm。　Over　and　out。〃　Pitt　turned　to　Giordino　and　spoke　quickly　without　facial　expression　his　tone　confident　and　calculating。　〃Go　aft　and　throw　open　the　side　hatches。　Use　one　of　the　carbines　and　make　like　a　sharpshooter。〃
　〃I　can't　believe　what　I'm　hearing；〃　Giordino　said　stunned。
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　quite　accept　it　either；　but　we've　got　to　give　those　guys　down　there　on　the　ground　a　helping　hand。　Now　hurry　it　up。〃
　〃I'll　do　it；〃　Giordino　muttered。　〃But　I　still　don't　believe　it。〃
　〃Yours　is　not　to　reason　why；　my　friend；〃　Pitt　lightly　punched　Giordino　on　the　arm　and　smiled　briefly。
　〃Good　luck。〃
　〃Save　it　for　yourself；　you　bleed　just　as　easily　as　I　do；〃　Giordino　said　soberly。　Then；　muttering　quietly　under　his　breath；　he　rose　from　the　co…pilot's　seat　and　made　his　way　to　the　ship's　waist。　Once　there　he　pulled　the　thirty　caliber　carbine　from　an　upright　cabinet　and　shoved　a　fifteen　shot　clip　into　the　receiver。　A　blast　of　warm　air　struck　his　face；　filling　the　partment　when　he　opened　the　waist　batches。　He　checked　the　gun　once　more　and　sat　down　to　wait；　his　thoughts　drifting　to　the　big　man　who　was　piloting　the　plane。　Giordino　had　known　Pitt　for　a　long　time。　They'd　played　together　as　boys；　ran　on　the　same　high　school　track　team　and　dated　the　same　girls。　He　knew　Pitt　better　than　any　man　alive；　any　woman　too；　for　that　matter。
　Pitt　was；　in　a　sense；　two　men；　neither　of　them　directly　related　to　the　other。　There　was　the　coldly　efficient　Dirk　Pitt　who　rarely　made　a　mistake；　and　yet　was　humorous；　unpretentious　and　easily　made　friends　with　everyone　who　came　in　contact　with　him；　a　rare　bination。
　Then　there　was　the　other　Pitt；　the　moody　one　the　one　who　often　withdrew　to　himself　for　hours　at　a　time　and　became　remote　and　aloof；　as　though　his　mind　were　constantly　churning　over　some　distant　dream。　There　had　to　be　a　key　that　unlocked　and　opened　the　door　between　the　two　Pitts；　but　Giordino　had　never　found　it。　He　did　know；　however；　that　the　transition　from　one　Dirk　Pitt　to　the　other　took　place　more　frequently　in　the　past　year…　since　Pitt　lost　a　woman　in　the　sea　near　Hawaii；　a　woman　he　had　loved　deeply。
　Giordino　remembered　noticing　Pitt's　eyes　before　ing　back　to　the　main　cabin；　how　the　deep　green　had　transformed　to　a　glinting　brightness　at　the　call　of　　danger。　Giordino　had　never　seen　eyes　quite　like　them。　except　once。　and　he　shuddered　slightly　at　the　recollection　as　he　glanced　at　the　missing　finger　on　his　right　hand。　He　jerked　his　thoughts　back　to　the　reality　of　the　present　and　slid　off　the　safety　catch　on　the　carbine。　Then；　strangely。　he　felt　secure。
　Back　in　the　cockpit；　Pitt's　tanned　face　was　a　study　in　masculinity。　He　was　not　　handsome　in　the　movie　star　sense：　far　from　it　Women　rarely；　if　ever；　threw　　themselves　at　him。　They　were　usually　a　little　awed　and　unfortable　in　his　　presence。　They　somehow　sensed　that　he　was　not　a　man　who　catered　to　feminine　　wiles　or　silly　coquettish　games。　He　loved　women's　pany　and　the　feel　of　their　　soft　bodies；　but　he　disliked　the　subterfuge；　the　lies；　and　all　the　other　　ridiculous　little　ploys　it　took　to　seduce　the　average　female。　Not　that　he　lacked　　cleverness　at　getting　a　woman　between　the　sheets；　be　was　an　expert。　But　he　had　　to　force　himself　to　play　the　game。　He　preferred　straightforward　and　honest　　women；　but　there　were　far　too　few　to　be　found。　Pitt　eased　the　control　column　forward；　and　the　PBY　nosed　over　in　a　shallow　dive　　toward　the　inferno　at　Brady　Field。　The　white　altimeter　needles　slowly　swung　　backward　around　the　black　dial；　registering　the　descent。　He　steepened　the　angle；　　and　the　twenty…five　year　old　aircraft　began　to　vibrate。　It　was　not　built　for　　high　speed。　It　was　designed　for　low　speed　reconnaissance；　dependability　and　long　　range；　but　that　was　about　all。
　Pitt　had　requested　the　purchase　of　the　craft　after　he　had　transferred　from　the　　Air　Force　to　the　National　Underwater　Marine　Agency　at　the　request　of　the　Agency　　Director；　Admiral　James　Sandecker。　Pitt　still　retained　his　rank　of　Major　and；　　according　to　the　paperwork；　was　assigned　to　an　indefinite　tour　of　duty　with　　NUMA。　His　title　was　that　of　Surface　Security　Officer；　which　was　nothing　to　him　　but　a　fancy　term　for　trouble　shooter。　Whenever　a　project　ran　into　unknown　　difficulties　or　unscientific　problems；　it　was　Pitt's　job　to　unravel　the　　difficulty　and　get　the　operation　back　on　the　track。　That　was　the　purpose　behind　　his　request　for　the　PBY　Catalina　flying　boat。　Slow　as　it　was；　it　could　　fortably　carry　passengers　and　cargo；　and　what　was　most　important；　land　and　　take　off　in　water；　a　prime　factor　since　nearly　ninety　percent　of　NUMA's　　operations　were　miles　at　sea。
　Suddenly　a　glint　of　color　against　the　black　cloud　caught　Pitt's　attention。　It　　was　a　bright　yellow　plane。　It　banked　sharply；　suggesting　high　maneuverability；　　and　dived　through　the　smoke。　Pitt　slipped　the　throttles　backward　to　reduce　the　　speed　of　his　sharp　angle　of　descent　and　prevent　the　PBY　from　overshooting　his　　strange　adversary。　The　other　plane　materialized　out　of　the　opposite　side　of　the　　smoke　and　could　clearly　be　seen　strafing　Brady　Field。
　〃I'll　be　damned；〃　Pitt　boomed　out　loud。　〃It's　an　old　German　Albatros。〃
　The　Catalina　came　on　straight　from　the　eye　of　the　sun；　and　the　pilot　of　the　　Albatros；　intent　on　the　business　of　destruction；　did　not　see　it。　A　sardonic　grin　　spread　on　Pitt's　face　as　the　fight　drew　near。　He　cursed　the　fact　that　there　were　　no　guns　waiting　for　his　mand　to　spout　from　the　nose　of　the　PBY。　He　applied　　pressure　to　the　rudder　pedals　and　side　slipped　to　give　Giordino　a　better　line　of　　fire。　The　PBY　thundered　in；　still　unnoticed。　Then；　abruptly；　he　could　hear　the　　crack　of　Giordino's　carbine　above　the　roar　of　the　engines。
　They　were　almost　on　top　of　the　Albatros　before　the　leather　helmeted　head　in　the　　open　cockpit　spun　around。　They　were　so　close　Pitt　could　see　the　other　pilot's　　mouth　drop　open　in　shocked　surprise　at　the　sight　of　the　big　flying　boat；　boring　down　from　the　sun…the　hunter　became　the　quarry。　The　pilot　recovered　quickly　and　　the　Albatros　rolled　sharply　away；　but　not　before　Giordino　drilled　it　with　a　　fifteen　shot　clip　from　the　carbine。
　The　grim；　incongruous　drama　in　the　smoke…ridden　sky　over　Brady　Field　reached　a　　new　stage　as　the　World　War　II　flying　boat　squared　off　against　the　World　War　I　fighter　plane。　The　PBY　was　faster；　but　the　Albatros　had　the　advantage　of　two　machine　guns　and　a　vastly　higher　degree　of　maneuverability。　The　Albatros　was　　lesser　known　than　its　famous　counterpart；　the　Fokker；　but　it　was　an　excellent　　fighter　and　the　workhorse　of　the　German　Imperial　Air　Service　from　1916　to　1918。　The　Albatros　twisted；　turned　and　zeroed　in　on　the　PBY's　cockpit。　Pitt　acted　　quickly　and　yanked　the　control