cc.vixen03-第4章

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　　〃Which　way？〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃Your　nearest　neighbors。　Where　do　they　live？〃
　〃Down　the　road；　back　toward　town。　First　turnout　to　the　left。〃
　〃What's　their　name？〃
　〃Raferty。　Lee　and　Maxine　Raferty。　He's　a　retired　Navy　man。〃　Loren　took　Pitt's　hand　in　hers　and　pressed　tightly。　〃Why　all　the　questions？〃
　〃Curiosity；　nothing　more。〃　He　lifted　her　hand　and　kissed　it。　〃I'll　see　you　in　time　for　that　fattening　dinner。〃　Then　he　turned　and　began　jogging　down　the　road。
　〃Aren't　you　going　fishing？〃　she　called　after　him。
　〃Always　hated　the　sport。〃
　〃Don't　you　want　the　Jeep？〃
　〃The　nature　hike　was　your　idea；　remember？〃　he　yelled　over　his　shoulder。
　Loren　watched　until　Pitt　disappeared　through　a　clump　of　lodgepole　pines　before　she　shook　her　head　at　the　inprehensible　whims　of　men　and　ran　back　inside　the　cabin　to　escape　the　early…fall　chill。
　Maxine　Raferty　had　the　look　of　the　West　about　her。　She　was　heavyset　and　wore　a　loose　print　dress；　rimless　glasses；　and　a　net　over　her　bluish…silver　hair。　She　sat　bundled　up　on　the　front　porch　of　a　cedar　cabin；　reading　a　paperback　mystery。　Lee　Raferty；　a　string　bean　of　a　man；　was　down　on　his　haunches；　greasing　the　front…axle　bearings　of　a　battered　old　International　flatbed　truck；　when　Pitt　trotted　up　and　greeted　them。
　〃Good　afternoon。〃
　Lee　Raferty　removed　an　unlit；　well…chewed　cigar　stub　from　his　mouth　and　nodded。　〃Hello　there。〃
　〃Nice　day　for　exercise；〃　said　Maxine；　scrutinizing　Pitt　over　the　top　of　？　her　book。　j
　〃The　cool　breeze　helps；〃　said　Pitt。　i
　The　friendliness　was　there　in　their　faces；　but　so　was　the　backcountry　wariness　of　strangers　who　trespassed；　especially　strangers　who　wore　the　look　of　the　city。　Lee　wiped　his　hands　on　a　greasy　rag　and　approached　Pitt。
　〃Can　I　help　you　with　somethin'？〃　〃You　can　if　you're　Lee　and　Maxine　Raferty。〃　That　brought　Maxine　out　of　her　chair。　〃We're　the　Rafertys。〃　〃My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。　I'm　a　guest　of　Loren　Smith；　down　the　road。〃　The　uneasy　expressions　were　replaced　with　broad　smiles。　〃Little　Loren　Smith。　Of　course；〃　Maxine　said；　beaming。　〃We're　all　pretty　proud　of　her　around　these　parts；　what　with　her　representing　us　in　Washington　and　all。〃
　〃I　thought　perhaps　you　might　give　me　some　information　concerning　the　area。〃
　〃Be　glad　to；〃　replied　Lee。
　〃Don't　stand　there　like　a　tree；〃　Maxine　said　to　her　husband。　〃Get　the　man　something　to　drink。　He　looks　thirsty。〃
　〃Sure；　how　about　a　beer？〃
　〃Sounds　good；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling。
　Maxine　opened　the　front　door　and　hustled　Pitt　through。　〃You'll　stay　for　lunch。〃　It　was　more　a　mand　than　a　request　and　Pitt　had　no　out　but　to　shrug　in　acquiescence。
　The　living　room　of　the　house　had　a　high…beamed　ceiling　with　a　bed…room　loft。　The　decor　was　an　expensive　conglomeration　of　art　deco　furnishings。　Pitt　felt　as　though　he　had　stepped　back　into　the　nineteen　thirties。　Lee　scurried　into　the　kitchen　and　quickly　returned　with　two　opened　beers。　Pitt　couldn't　help　noticing　there　were　no　labels　on　the　bottles。
　〃Hope　you　like　home　brew；〃　said　Lee。　〃Took　me　four　years　to　get　just　the　right　blend　between　too　sweet　and　too　bitter。　Runs　about　eight　percent　alcohol　by　volume。〃
　Pitt　savored　the　taste。　It　was　different　from　what　he　expected。　If　he　hadn't　detected　a　slight　trace　of　yeast；　he　would　have　pronounced　the　taste　fit　for　mercial　sale。
　Maxine　set　the　table　and　waved　for　them　to　e　around。　She　set　out　a　large　bowl　of　potato　salad；　a　pot　of　baked　beans；　and　a　platter　of　thinly　sliced　rounds　of　meat。　Lee　replaced　the　rapidly　emptied　beer　bottles　with　two　fresh　ones　and　started　passing　the　plates。
　The　potato　salad　was　hearty　with　just　the　right　amount　of　tartness。　The　baked　beans　were　thick　with　honey。　Pitt　did　not　recognize　the　meat　or　its　taste；　but　found　it　delicious。　In　spite　of　the　fact　that　he　had　eaten　with　Loren　only　an　hour　before；　the　aroma　of　the　home…cooked　meal　inspired　him　to　put　it　away　like　a　farmhand。
　〃You　folks　lived　here　long？〃　Pitt　asked　between　mouthfuls。
　〃We　used　to　vacation　in　the　Sawatch　as　far　back　as　the　late　fifties；〃　said　Lee。　〃Moved　here　after　I　retired　from　the　Navy。　I　was　a　deep…water　diver。　Got　a　bad　case　of　the　bends　and　took　an　early　discharge。　Let's　see；　that　must　have　been　in　the　summer　of　seventy…one。〃
　〃Seventy；〃　Maxine　said；　correcting　him。
　Lee　Raferty　winked　at　Pitt。　〃Max　never　forgets　anything。〃
　〃Know　of　any　wrecked　aircraft；　say　within　a　ten…mile　radius？〃
　〃I　don't　recollect　any。〃　Lee　looked　at　his　wife。　〃How　'bout　it；　Max？〃
　〃Honest　to　Pete；　Lee；　where's　your　mind？　Don't　you　remember　that　poor　doctor　and　his　family　that　was　all　killed　when　their　plane　crashed　behind　Diamond？　。　。　。　How's　the　beans；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Is　Diamond　a　town　near　here？〃
　〃Used　to　be。　Now　it's　only　a　crossroads　and　a　dude　ranch。〃
　〃I　recall　now；〃　Lee　said；　reaching　for　seconds　on　the　meat。　〃It　was　one　of　them　little　single…engine　jobs。　Burned　to　a　crisp。　Nothin'　left。　Took　the　sheriff's　department　over　a　week　to　identify　the　remains。〃
　〃Happened　in　April　of　seventy…four；〃　Maxine　said。
　〃I'm　interested　in　a　much　larger　plane；〃　Pitt　explained　patiently。　〃An　airliner。　Probably　came　down　thirty　or　forty　years　ago。〃
　Maxine　twisted　her　round　face　and　stared　unseeing　at　the　ceiling。　Finally　she　shook　her　head。　〃No；　can't　say　as　I　ever　heard　of　any　air　disaster　of　that　magnitude。　At　least　not　around　these　parts。〃
　〃Why　do　you　ask；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　Lee　asked。
　〃I　found　some　old　aircraft　parts　in　Miss　Smith's　garage。　Her　father　must　have　put　them　there。　I　thought　perhaps　he　found　them　somewhere　nearby　in　the　mountains。〃
　Charlie　Smith；〃　Maxine　said　wistfully。　〃Godresthis　soul。　Heusedto　dream　up　more　schemes　to　get　rich　than　an　unemployed　embezzler　on　welfare。〃
　Most　likely　bought　them　parts　from　some　surplus　store　in　Denver　so's　he　could　build　another　one　of　his　nonworking　contraptions。〃
　〃I　get　the　impression　Loren's　father　was　a　frustrated　inventor。〃
　〃Poor　old　Charlie　was　that。〃　Lee　laughed。　〃I　remember　the　time　he　tried　to　build　an　automatic　fishing…pole　caster。　Damned　thing　threw　the　lure　everywhere　but　in　the　water。〃
　〃Why　do　you　say　'poor　old　Charlie'？〃
　A　sorrowful　expression　came　over　Maxine's　face。　〃I　guess　because　of　the　horrible　way　he　died。　Didn't　Loren　tell　you　about　it？〃
　〃Only　that　it　was　three　years　ago。〃
　Lee　motioned　to　Pitt's　nearly　empty　bottle。　〃Like　another　beer？〃
　〃No　thanks；　this　is　fine。〃
　〃The　truth　of　the　matter　is；〃　Lee　said；　〃Charlie　blew　up。〃
　〃Blew　up？〃
　〃Dynamite；　I　guess。　Nobody　never　knew　for　sure。　About　all　they　ever　found　they　could　recognize　was　one　boot　and　a　thumb。〃
　〃Sheriff's　report　said　it　was　another　one　of　Charlie's　inventions　gome　wrong；〃　Maxine　added。
　〃I　still　say　bullshit！〃　Lee　grunted。
　〃Shame　on　you。〃　Maxine　shot　her　husband　a　puritanical　stare。
　〃That's　the　way　I　feel　about　it。　Charlie　knew　more　about　explosives　than　any　man　alive。　He　used　to　be　an　Army　demolitions　expert。　Why；　hell；　he　defused　bombs　and　artillery　shells　all　across　Europe　in　World　War　Two。〃
　〃Don't　pay　any　attention　to　him；〃　said　Maxine　haughtily。　〃Lee　has　it　in　his　head　Charlie　was　murdered。　Ridiculous。　Charlie　Smith　didn't　have　an　enemy　in　the　world。　His　death　was　an　accident　pure　and　simple。〃
　〃Everyone's　entitled　to　an　opinion；〃　Lee　said。
　〃Some　dessert；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　asked　Maxine。　〃I　made　some　apple　turn…overs。〃
　〃I　can't　manage　another　bite；　thank　you。〃
　〃And　you；　Lee？〃
　〃I'm　not　hungry　anymore；〃　Raferty　grumbled。
　〃Don't　feel　bad；　Mr。　Raferty；〃　Pitt　said　consolingly。　〃It　seems　my　imagination　got　the　best　of　me　also。　Finding　pieces　of　an　aircraft　in　the　middle　of　the　mountains　。。。　I　naturally　thought　they　came　from　a　crash　site。〃
　〃Men　can　be　such　children　sometimes。〃　Max　gave　Pitt　a　little…girl　smile。　〃I　hope　you　enjoyed　your　lunch。〃
　〃Fit　for　a　gourmet；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃I　should　have　cooked　the　Rocky　Mountain　oysters　a　little　longer；　though。　They　were　a　bit　on　the　rare　side。　Didn't　you　think　so；　Lee？〃
　〃Tasted　okay　to　me。〃
　〃Rocky　Mountain　oysters？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃Yes；　you　know；〃　said　Maxine。　〃The　fried　bull　testicles。〃
　〃You　did　say　'testicles。'　〃
　〃Lee　insists　I　serve　them　at　least　two　times　a　week。〃
　〃Beats　hell　out　of　meat　loaf；〃　Lee　said；　suddenly　laughing。
　〃That's　not　all　it　beats　hell　out　of；〃　Pitt　murmured；　looking　down　at　his　stomach；　wondering　if　the　Rafertys　stocked　Alka…Seltzer；　and　sorry　now　he'd　skipped　the　fishing。
　At　three　o'clock　in　the　morning　Pitt　was　wide　awake。　As　he　lay　in　bed　with　Loren　snuggled　against　him　and　stared　through　the　picture　windows　at　the　silhouetted　mountains；　his　mind　was　throwing　images　inside　his　skull　like　a　kaleidoscope。　The　last　piece　of　what　had　turned　out　to　be　a　perfectly　credible　puzzle　refused　to　fit　in　its　slot。　The　sky　was　beginning　to　lighten　in　the　east　when　Pitt　eased　out　of　bed；　pulled　on　a　pair　of　shorts；　and　quietly　stepped　outside。
　Loren's　old　Jeep　was　sitting　in　the　driveway。　He　reached　in；　took　a　flashlight　from　the　glove　partment；　and　entered　the　garage。　He　pulled　the　drop　cloth　aside　and　studied　the　oxygen　tank。　Its　shape　was　cylindrical；　measuring；　Pitt　guessed；　slightly　more　than　one　yard　in　length　by　eighteen　inches　in　diameter。　Its　surface　was　scratched　and　dented；　but　it　was　the　condition　of　the　fittings　that　attracted　his　interest。　After　several　minutes　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　nose　gear。
　The　twin　wheels　were　joined　by　a　mon　axle　that　was　attached　at　their　hubs　like　the　head　of　a　T　to　the　center　shaft。　The　tires　were　doughnut　shaped　and　their　treads　relatively　unworn。　They　stood　roughly　three　feet　high　and；　amazingly；　still　contained　air。
　The　garage　door　creaked。　Pitt　turned　and　watched　Loren　peek　into　the　darkened　cavern。　Heshinedthelightonher。　She　was　wearing　only　a　blue　nylon　peignoir。　Her　hair　was　tousled　and　her　face　reflected　a　mixture　of　fear　and　uncertainty。
　〃Is　that　you；　Dirk？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　smiling　in　the　dark。　〃It's　your　friendly　mountain　milkman。〃
　She　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief；　came　forward；　and　gripped　his　arm　for　security。　〃A　edian　you're　not。　What　are　you　doing　down　here；　anyway？〃
　〃Something　bugged　me　about　these　things。〃　He　pointed　the　beam　of　light　at　the　aircraft　fragments。　〃Now　I　know　what　it　was。〃
　Loren　stood　and　shivered　in　that　dirty；　dusty　garage　beneath　the　silent　cabin。　〃You're　making　a　big　deal　over　nothing；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　said　it　yourself：　the　Rafertys　had　a　logical　explanation　for　how　this　useless　junk　got　here。　Dad　probably　picked　it　up　at　some　salvage　yard。〃

　'Tm　not　so　sure；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃He　was　always　buying　up　old　scrap；〃　she　argued。　〃Look　around　you；　the　place　is　full　of　his　weird；　half…finished　inventions。〃
　〃Half　finished；　yes。　But　at　least　he　built　something　from　the　other　trash。　The　oxygen　tank　and　the　nose　gear　he　never　touched。　Why？〃
　〃Nothing　mysterious　about　that。　Dad　most　likely　was　killed　before　he　got　around　to　them。〃
　〃Possibly。〃
　〃That's　settled；　then；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃Let's　get　back　to　bed　before　I　freeze　to　death。〃
　〃Sorry；　I'm　not　through　here　yet。〃
　〃What's　left　to　see？〃
　〃Call　it　a　pebble　in　the　shoe　of　logic；〃　he　said。　〃Look　here；　at　the　fittings　on　the　tank。〃
　She　leaned　over　his　shoulder。　〃They're　broken。　What　did　you　ex…pect？〃
　〃If　this　was　removed　from　an　obsolete　aircraft　at　a　salvage　yard；　the　mountin