cc.iceberg-第17章

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　〃At　the　time　I　didn't　really　know。〃　The　vagueness　wasn't　like　Sandecker。　Normally　he　was　as　decisive　and　direct　as　a　bolt　of　lightning…　〃I　suppose　I　didn't　want　the　sons…Of…bitches　responsible　to　have　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　how　successful　they　werl　thought　it　best　to　let　them　wonder。　It's　snatching　at　leaves　in　a　hurricane；　I　admit；　but　it's　just　barely　possible　they　might　make　an　unplanned　move；　a　mistake　that　will　give　us　a　slim　lead　to　their　identity　when　and　if　I　resurrect　the　ghosts　of　Matajic　and　O'Riley。　〃How　did　you　handle　the　search　party？〃
　〃I　notified　all　search　and　rescue　units　in　the　Northern　mand　that　a　valuable　piece　of　equipment　had　fallen　off　of　a　NUMA　research　ship　and　was　floating　around　lost。　I　gave　Out　have　taken　and　waited　for　a　the　course　the　Plane　would　sighting　report。　There　was　none。〃　Sandecker　waved　his　cigar　to　indicate　helplessness。　〃I　also　waited　in　vain　for　the　sighting　of　a　trawler　matching　the　hull　design　of　the　Lax。　It　too　had　evaporated。〃
　〃That's　why　you　were　dead　sure　it　was　the　Lax　under　the　iceberg。〃
　〃Let's　just　say　I　was　eighty　percent　certain；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃I　also　did　a　bit　Of　checking　with　every　port　authority　between　Buenos　Aires　and　Goose　Bay；　Labrador。　Twelve　Ports　recorded　the　entry　and　departure　of　an　Icelandic　fishing　trawler　matching　the　Lax's　altered　superstructure。　For　what　it's　worth；　it　went　under　the　name　of　Surtsey。　Surtsey；　by　the　way；　is　Icelandic　for　'submarine；。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Pitt　groped　for　a　cigarette　and　then　remembered　that　he　was　wearing　a　stranger's　clothes。　〃A　northern　fisherman　would　hardly　troll　so　close　within　territorial　waters。　Working　the　undersea　probe　is　the　only　credible　explanation。〃
　〃It's　as　if　we　were　presented　with　a　pregnant　rabbit；〃　Sandecker　grunted。　〃One　solution　leaves　us　with　a　new　brood　of　unfathomable　puzzles。〃
　〃Are　you　in　contact　with　mander　Koski？〃
　〃Yes。　The　Catawaba　is　standing　by　the　derelict　while　a　team　of　investigators　bs　it　thoroughly。　In　fact；　I　received　a　signal　from　them　just　before　you　struggled　from　bed。　Three　of　the　bodies　were　positively　established　as　Fyrie's　crew。　The　rest　were　too　badly　burned　to　identify。〃
　〃Like　an　Edgar　Allan　Poe　ghost　story。　Fyrie　and　his　people　and　the　Lax　disappear　into　the　sea。　Nearly　a　year　later　the　Lax　turns　up　at　one　of　our　research　stations　with　a　different　crew。　Then　soon　after　that；　the　same　ship　bees　a　burned…out　derelict　in　an　iceberg　with　the　remains　of　Fyrie　and　the　original　crew　on　board。　The　more　I　dwell　on　it；　the　more　I　kick　myself　for　not　catching　that　Air　Force　jet　to　Tyler　Field。〃
　〃You　were　warned。〃
　Pitt　managed　a　sour　grin　as　he　lightly　touched　the　bandage　on　his　head。　〃One　of　these　times　I'm　going　to　volunteer　once　too　often。〃
　〃You're　probably　the　world's　luckiest　bastard；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃Living　through　two　attempts　on　your　life　in　the　same　morning。〃
　〃Which　reminds　me；　how　are　my　two　friendly　POlicemen？〃
　〃Under　interrogation。　But　short　of　Gestapo　torture　methods。　I　seriously　doubt　if　we　even　get　so　much　as　a　name；　rank　and　serial　number　out　of　them。　They　keep　insisting　that　they're　going　to　be　killed　anyway；　so　why　should　they　offer　us　information。〃
　〃Who　is　doing　the　interrogating？〃
　〃National　Intelligence　agents　on　our　airbase　at　Keflavik。　The　Iceland　government　is　cooperating　with　us　every　step　of　the　way…after　all；　Fyrie　was　practically　their　national　hero。　They're　just　as　interested　in　finding　out　what　happened　to　the　probe　and　the　Lax　as　we　are。〃
　
　Sandecker　paused　to　remove　a　small　bit　Of　tobacco　from　his　tongue。　〃If　you're　wondering　why　NUMA　is　mixed　up　in　this　instead　of　sitting　on　the　sidelines　and　cheering　on　the　National　Intelligence　Agency　and　their　army　of　super　spies；　the　answer　is；　or　I　should　say　was；　Hunnewell。　He　corresponded　with　Fyrie's　scientists　for　months；　offering　his　knowledge　toward　the　ultimate　success　of　the　probe。　It　was　Hunnewell　who　was　instrumental　in　the　development　of　celtinium…279。　Only　he　had　a　rough　idea　of　what　the　probe　looked　like；　and　only　he　could　have　safely　disassembled　it。〃
　〃That；　of　course；　explains　why　Hunnewell　had　to　be　the　first　aboard　the　derelict。〃
　〃Yes；　celtinium　in　its　refined　state　is　very　unstable。
　
　Under　the　right　conditions；　it　can　explode　with　a　force　equal　to　a　fifty…ton　phosphate　bomb；　but　with　a　pronounced　characteristic　difference。　Celtinium　fulminates　at　a　very　slow　rate；　burning　everything　in　its　path　to　ashes。　Yet；　unlike　more　mon　explosives；　its　expansion　pressure　is　quite　low；　about　the　same　as　a　sixtymile…an…hour　wind。　It　could　go　off　and　melt　but　not　shatter　a　pane　of　glass。〃
　〃Then　MY　flamethrower　theory　was　a　bust。　It　was　the　probe　that　went　off　and　turned　the　Lax　into　an　instant　pyre。〃
　Sandecker　smiled。　〃You　came　close。〃
　〃But　that　means　the　probe　is　destroyed。〃
　Sandecker　nodded；　his　smile　rapidly　fading。　〃All　of　it；　the　murders；　the　probe；　the　killers'　search　for　undersea　treasure；　it　went　all　for　nothing…a　terrible；　terrible　waste。〃
　〃It's　possible　that　the　organization　behind　this　affair　has　the　design　and　plans　for　the　probe　in　its　possession。〃
　〃It　is　more　than　possible。〃　He　paused；　then　went　on　almost　absently。　〃A　lot　of　good　it　will　do　them。　Hunnewell　was　the　only　person　on　earth　with　the　process　for　celtinium…279。　As　he　often　said；　it　was　basically　so　simple　that　he　kept　it　in　his　head。〃
　〃The　fools；〃　pitt　murmured。　〃They　murdered　their　only　key　to　constructing　a　new　probe。　But　why？　Hunnewell　couldn't　have　been　a　serious　threat　unless　he　found　something　on　the　derelict　that　led　to　the　organization's　paid　mastermind。〃
　〃I　haven't　the　vaguest　idea。〃　Sandecker　shrugged　helplessly。　〃Anymore　than　I　can　guess　who　the　unseen　men　were　who　chipped　the　red　dye　marker　off　the　iceberg。〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew　where　in　the　hell　to　take　the　next　step；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃I've　taken　care　of　that　little　matter　for　you。〃
　Pitt　looked　up　skeptically。　〃I　hope　this　isn't　another　one　of　your　famous　favors。〃
　〃You　said　it　yourself；　you　wanted　to　see　if　Iceland's　women　were　coolly　beautiful。〃
　〃You're　changing　the　subject。〃　Pitt　looked　steadily　at　the　admiral。　〃Here　it　es；　let　me　guess；　You're　going　to　introduce　me　to　a　burly；　steely…eyed　Icelandic　female　government　official　who　is　going　to　make　me　sit　up　half　the　night　going　over　the　same　old　tired　questions　and　answers　that　I've　already　covered。　Sorry；　Admiral；　I'm　not　up　to　it。〃
　
　Sandecker's　eyes　narrowed　and　he　sighed。　〃Suit　yourself。　The　girl　I　have　in　mind　isn't　burly　or　steelyeyed　or　a　government　official；　for　that　matter。　She　happens　to　be　the　loveliest　woman　north　of　the　sixty…fourth　parallel　and；　I　might　add；　the　wealthiest。〃
　〃Oh；　really？〃　Pitt　suddenly　came　alive。　〃What's　her　name？〃
　〃Kirsti；〃　Sandecker　said　with　a　sly　smile。　〃Kirsti　Fyrie；　Kristjan　Fyrie's　twin　sister。〃
　
　Chapter　8
　
　If　Snorri's　Restaurant　in　Reykjavik　could　be　picked　up　and　placed　down　in　any　of　the　epicurean　distinguished　cities　of　the　world；　it　would　be　instantly　greeted　with　respectful　acclaim。　its　one　great　hall；　with　open　kitchen　and　earthen　ovens　only　a　few　feet　from　the　dining　area；　was　designed　in　the　Viking　tradition。　Richly　panneled　walls　and　intricately　carved　doors　and　beams　rovided　the　perfect　atmosphere　for　a　leisurely　yet　elegant　dinner　。　The　menu　selection　was　created　to　reward　even　the　most　picky　gourmet；　and　along　one　entire　wall　stood　a　buffet　table　with　over　two　hundred　different　native　dishes。
　
　Pitt　surveyed　the　crowded　dining　hall。　The　tables　were　filled　with　laughing；　talkative　Icelanders　and　their　lovely　women。　He　was　standing　there；　his　eyes　taking　in　the　scene；　his　nostrils　basking　in　the　rich　food　smells　when　the　maitre　d'　came　up　and　spoke　in　Icelandic。　Pitt　shook　his　head　and　pointed　at　Admiral　Sandecker　and　Tidi　Royal　fortably　ensconced　at　a　table　near　the　bar。　He　made　his　way　over　to　them。
　
　Sandecker　waved　Pitt　to　a　chair　opposite　Tidi　and　hailed　a　passing　waiter　in　the　same　motion。　〃You're　ten　minutes　late。〃
　〃Sorry；〃　Pitt　said。　〃I　took　a　walk　in　the　Tjamargardar　gardens　and　did　a　little　sightseeing。〃
　〃Looks　like　you　found　yourself　a　swinging　men's　shop；〃　Tidi　remarked　admiringly。　Her　wise　brown　eyes　roved　over　his　wool　turtleneck　sweater；　belted　corduroy　jacket　and　plaid　slacks。
　〃I　grew　tired　of　wearing　hand…me…downs；〃　he　said；　smiling。
　Sandecker　looked　up　at　the　waiter。　〃Two　more　of　the　same；〃　he　said。　〃What　will　you　have；　Dirk？〃
　〃What　are　you　and　Tidi　drinking？〃
　〃Holland　gin…schnapps　if　you　prefer。　It　seems　to　be　big　with　the　natives。〃
　Pitt　twisted　his　mouth。　〃No；　thanks。　I'll　stick　with　my　old　standby；　Cutty　rocks。〃
　The　waiter　nodded　and　left。
　〃Where　is　this　exciting　creature　I've　heard　so　much　about？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃Miss　Fyrie　should　be　along　any　minute；〃　Sandecker　replied。
　〃Just　before　we　were　attacked；　Hunnewell　said　that　Fyrie's　sister　was　a　missionary　in　New　Guinea。〃
　〃Yes；　little　else　is　known　about　her。　In　fact；　few　people　knew　she　even　existed　until　Fyrie's　will　named　her　sole　beneficiary。　Then　she　appeared　at　Fyrie　Limited　one　day　and　took　the　reins　as　smoothly　as　if　she　had　built　the　empire　herself。　Don't　get　any　ideas　in　that　bedroom　mind　of　yours。　She's　shrewd…just　as　shrewd　as　her　brother　was。〃
　〃Then　why　bother　with　the　introductions。　You　say　hands　off；　yet　I　get　the　distinct　impression　that　I'm　supposed　to　play　Prince　Charming。　Get　cozy；　but　not　too　cozy。　You've　chosen　the　wrong　man；　Admiral。　I'm　the　first　to　admit　my　looks　hardly　put　me　in　the　Rock　Hudson…Paul　Newman　class；　but　I　have　a　nasty　habit　when　it　es　to　pursuing　skirts…I'm　picky。　I'm　not　geared　to　assault　every　girl　that　es　into　sight；　especially　one　who　is　the　spitting　image　of　her　brother。　spent　half　her　life　as　a　missionary；　and　runs　a　giant　corporation　with　a　mace　and　chain。　Sorry；　Admiral；　Miss　Fyrie　hardly　sounds　like　my　type。〃
　〃I　think　it's　disgusting；〃　Tidi　said　disapproving＇　the　eyebrows　arched　above　the　huge　brown　eyes。
　〃NUMA　is　supposed　to　be　dedicated　to　scientific　research　of　the　oceans。　None　of　this　talk　sounds　very　scientific　to　me。〃
　
　Sandecker　threw　her　an　admonishing　stare；　a　facial　display　that　he　was　unquestionably　a　master　at　projecting。　〃Secretaries　should　be　seen　and　not　heard。　Tidi　was　saved　from　fher　reprimand　by　the　timely　arrival　of　the　waiter　with　the　drinks。　He　set　them　on　the　table　with　an　acplished　motion　and　then　left。
　
　Sandecker　watched　until　the　waiter　was　several　tables　away　before　he　turned　back　to　Pitt。
　〃Nearly　forty　percent　of　NUMA's　projects　are　designed　and　planned　around　mining　the　sea　floor。　Russia　leads　us　by　a　wide　margin　in　surface　programs；　the　science　of　her　fishing　fleet　far　surpasses　anything　we've　got。　But　she　lags　badly　in　deep　submersibles…a　damned　vital　piece　of　equipment　for　undersea　mining。　This　is　our　strong　point…　We　want　to　maintain　this　advantage。　Our　Country　has　the　resources；　but　Fyrie　Limited　has　the　technical　knowledge。　With　Kristjan　Fyrie　we　had　a　good；　close　working　association。　No；　now　that　he's　only　a　memory；　I　don't　care　to　see　the　results　of　our　efforts　lost　just　when　our　programs　are　on　the　verge　of　hitting　paydirt。　I've　talked　to　Miss　Fyrie。　All　of　a　sudden　she's　very　nonmittal…says　she　has　decided　to　reevaluate　her　firm's　Programs　with　our　country。　〃You　said　she's　shr