cc.iceberg-第34章

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　〃I'll　be　damned　if　you'll　stick　a　needle　in　my　arm；〃　one　of　the　men　in　Pitts　group　exploded。　〃Shoot　me　now　and　get　it　over…〃　His　eyes　went　glassy　as　a　guard's　rifle　butt　caught　him　behind　the　ear　and　he　slumped　to　the　floor。
　〃Let　us　have　no　further　arguments；〃　Rondheim　said　grimly。　He　turned　to　Pitt。　〃e　into　the　next　room；　Major。　In　your　instance；　I　shall　deal　with　you　on　a　personal　basis。〃　He　waved　the　gun　he　had　taken　from　Kirsti　toward　a　doorway。
　
　Rondheim；　followed　by　two　of　his　guards；　escorted　Pitt　along　a　wide　hall；　down　a　circular　flight　of　stairs　into　another　hall；　then　shoved　roughly　through　the　second　of　several　doorways　lining　both　sides　of　the　serond　passageway。　Pitt；　letting　himself　go　loose；　stumbled　awkwardly；　fell　to　the　floor；　then　scanned　the　room。
　
　It　was　an　immense　room；　painted　stark　white；　a　large　pad　lay　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　surrounded　by　an　array　of　body…building　equipment；　brightly　lit　by　long　rows　of　fluorescent　light　fixtures。　The　room　was　a　gymnasium；　better　and　more　expensively　equipped　than　any　Pitt　had　ever　seen。　The　walls　were　decorated　with　at　least　fifty　posters　depicting　the　many　karate；　movements。　Pitt　silently　acknowledged　a　well…conceived　and　laid…out　training　room。
　
　Rondheim　passed　the　small　automatic　to　one　of　the　guards。　〃I　must　leave　you　for　a　moment；　Major；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃Please　make　yourself　fortable　until　I　return。　Perhaps　you　would　care　to　loosen　up　your　muscles。　May　I　suggest　the　parallel　bars。〃　With　that　he；　laughed　loudly　and　left　the　room。
　
　Pitt　stayed　where　he　was　on　the　floor　and　studied　the　two　guards。　One　was　a　tall；　ice…faced　and　hard…eyed　giant　nearly　six　feet　four。　The　dark　hair　circling　his　prematurely　bald　head　made　him　look　like　a　monk；　an　illusion　shattered　by　the　semi…automatic　rifle　cradled　in　a　pair　of　huge；　hairy　hands。　He　returned　Pitts　stare　with　a　look　that　dared　Pitt　to　try　and　escape；　a　possibility　made　one　hundred　percent　hopeless　by　the　second　guard。　He　stood　and　filled　up　the　door　to　the　hallway；　his　shoulders　ing　within　an　inch　of　touching　both　sides　of　the　vertical　framework。　Except　for　a　big；　red　face；　heavily　moustached；　he　could　have　passed　inspection　with　an　army　of　apes。　He　let　his　rifle　hang　loosely　in　a　hand　that　came　nearly　to　his　knees。
　
　Five　minutes　passe…five　minutes　during　which　Pitt　carefully　planned　his　next　move；　five　minutes　in　which　the　guard's　hard　eyes　never　left　him。　Then　suddenly；　the　door　on　the　far　side　of　the　gym　opened　and　Rondheim　walked　in。　He　had　changed　from　his　dinner　jacket　into　the　white；　loose…fitting　attire　of　a　karate　disciple；　clothing　that　Pitt　knew　was　called　a　gi。　Rondheim　stood　there　for　a　moment；　an　assured；　confident　smile　taut　on　his　thin　lips。　Then　he　walked　softly　across　the　floor　on　bare　feet　and　stepped　onto　the　heavy　mat；　facing　Pitt。
　〃Tell　me；　Major。　Are　you　familiar　with　karate　or　Kung…Fu？〃
　
　Pitt　uneasily　eyed　the　narrow　black　belt　that　was　knotted　around　Rondheim's　waist　and　fervently　prayed　that　the　warm　glow　of　the　brandy　would　ease　the　beating　he　felt　certain　was　ing。　He　simply　shook　his　head。
　〃Perhaps　judo？〃
　〃No；　I　abhor　physical　violence。〃
　〃A　pity。　I　had　hoped　for　a　more　worthy　opponent。
　
　But　it　is　no　less　than　I　suspected。〃　He　idly　fingered　the　Japanese　characters　embroidered　on　his　belt　〃I　have　my　doubts　about　your　masculinity；　yet　Kirsti　thinks　you　are　more　manly　than　you　act。　We　shall　soon　see。〃
　
　Pitt　forced　back　the　hate　and　projected　a　quaver　of　fear。　〃Leave　me　alone；　leave　me　alone！〃　His　voice　was　high…pitched　now；　almost　a　screech。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　hurt　me？　I've　done　nothing　to　you。〃　His　mouth　was　working　in　short　jerks　from　a　contorted　face。　〃I　lied　to　you　about　blowing　up　your　boat。　I　never　saw　it　through　the　fog…I　swear。　You　must　believe…〃　The　two　guards　looked　at　each　other　and　exchanged　sickened　expressions；　but　Rondheim's　face　went　far　beyond　mere　revulsion…he　looked　positively　nauseated。
　〃Enough！〃　he　shouted　mandingly。　〃Stop　this　drivel。　I　never　believed　for　a　moment　you　had　the　courage　to　attack　and　destroy　my　boat　and　crew。〃
　
　Pitt　stared　wildly　about　him；　a　look　of　blind　stupid　terror　in　his　eyes　that　might　have　been　painted　there。
　〃You　have　no　reason　to　kill　me。　I'll　tell　no　one　anything。　Please！　You　can　trust　me。〃　He　started　to　move　toward　Rondheim；　his　hands　upturned；　pleading。
　〃Stand　where　you　are！〃
　
　Pitt　froze。　His　planned　act　was　working。　He　could　only　hope　now　that　Rondheim　would　quickly　tire　of　a　victim　who　Put　up　no　defense；　no　resistance　at　all。
　〃A　major　in　the　United　States　Air　Force；〃　Rondheim　grimaced。　〃I'll　wager　you　are　nothing　but　a　spineless　homosexual　who　used　your　father's　influence　to　acquire　rank…the　lowest　form　of　vermin；　living　off　Your　own　excretion。　Soon　you　will　know　what　it　is　to　feel　pain　from　the　hands　and　feet　of　another　man。　A　shame　You　will　not　enjoy　the　time　to　look　back　and　reflect　on；your　most　Punishing　lesson　in　the　art　of　selfdefense。〃　Pitt　stood　there　like　a　panic…frozen　elk　about　to　be　brought　down　by　the　hounds。　He　stood　there　mumbling　incoherently　as　Rondheim　moved　to　the　middle　of　the　mat　and　assumed　one　of　the　many　opening　stances　of　Karate。
　〃No；　wait…〃　Pitt　choked　the；　words　off　in　his　throat；　threw　back　his　head　and　spun　sideways　in　one　convulsive　movement。　He　had　caught　the　tiny　shift　in　Rondheim's　eyes；　the　beginning　of　the　lightning　thrust　as　the　Icelander　came　in　with　a　reverse　punch　that　connected　on　pitt's　cheekbone；　a　half…solid　blow　that　would　have　caused　much　more　damage　than　a　bruised　swelling　if　Pitt　hadn't　rolled　with　the　impact。　He　reeled　back　two　steps　and　stood　there　as　if　stunned；　swaying　dazedly　to　and　fro　as　Rondheim　advanced　slowly；　the　trace　of　a　sadistic　smile　in　the　thin；　chiseled　features。
　
　Pitt　had　made　a　mistake　by　ducking；　had　almost　given　himself　away　by　revealing　his　quick　reflexes。　He　had　to　fight　to　keep　his　mind　turned　on　the　rules。　it　wasn't　easy。　No　normal　man　who　knows　how　to　take　care　of　himself　enjoys　standing　idle　while　being　beaten　to　a　pulp。　He　gritted　his　teeth　and　waited；　holding　his　body　low　to　absorb　the　blows　from　Rondheim's　next　attack。　He　didn't　wait　but　a　few　seconds。
　
　Rondheim　scored　with　a　roundhouse　kick　to　the　head　that　rammed　Pitt　full　in　the　face；　knocking　him　off　the　mat　against　a　row　of　horizontal　exercise　bars　set　into　the　wall。　Pitt　lay　on　the　floor　in　silence；　tasting　the　blood　from　his　crushed　lips　and　feeling　his　loosened　teeth。
　〃e；　e；　Major。〃　Rondheim　spoke　soothingly；　tauntingly。　〃Up　on　your　feet。　The　lesson's　barely　begun。〃
　
　Pitt　pushed　himself　groggily　to　his　feet　and　stumbled　drunkenly　onto　the　mat。　The　urge　to　counterpunch　Rondheim　was　stronger　than　ever　now；　but　he　knew　his　only　course　was　to　play　out　his　role。
　
　Rondheim　lost　no　time　in　working　on　him　again。　A　quick　bination　of　sledgehammer　blows　to　the　head　that　never　seemed　to　end；　followed　by　a　front　kick　to　the　exposed　rib　area；　and　Pitt　felt　rather　than　heard　one　of　his　ribs　snap。　As　if　in　slow　motion；　Pitt　sunk　to　his　knees　and　slowly　slumped　forward　onto　his　face；　so　badly　injured　that　blood　and　vomit　mingled　freely　in　his　mouth　and　flowed　onto　the　mat　in　an　ever…widening　pool。　He　didn't　need　a　mirror　to　know　he　was　being　worked　over　fearfully；　his　face　distorted　in　grotesque　mutilation；　both　eyes　rapidly　closing；　lips　ballooned　in　a　purplish　mass　of　torn　meat；　one　nostril　of　his　nose　split　open。
　
　The　daggerlike　pain　in　his　chest　and　the　agony　of　his　torn　face　rose　in　giant　waves　and　pounded　him　to　the　verge　of　blackness；　yet　he　was　surprised　to　find　his　mind　was　still　functioning　normally。　Instead　of　allowing　the　painless　oblivion　of　unconsciousness　to　swoop　in；　he　willed　himself　to　fake　it；　setting　his　teeth　against　a　groan　that　would　have　given　his　deception　away。
　
　Rondheim　was　infuriated。　〃I'm　not　through　with　this　slimy　faggot。〃　He　motioned　to　one　of　the　guards。
　〃Revive　him。〃
　
　The　one　with　the　bald　head　walked　to　a　nearby　bathroom；　soaked　a　towel　and　none　too　gently　wiped　the　blood　from　Pitts　face　and　then　pressed　the　now　reddened　cloth　behind　his　neck。　When　Pitt　didn't　respond；　the　guard　left　again　and　returned　with　a　small　vial　of　smellin；…；　salts。
　
　Pitt　coughed　once；　twice；　then　spit　a　gob　of　blood　on　the　guard's　boot；　taking　grim　satisfaction　that　it　was　no　accident。　He　rolled　over　onto　his　side　and　looked　up　at　Rondheim　looming　over　him。
　
　Rondheim　laughed　softly。　〃You　seem　to　have　difficulty　staying　awake　in　class；　Major。　Perhaps　you　are　being　bored。〃　His　voice　suddenly　chilled。　〃Stand　up！　You　have　yet　to　finish　your…ah…course　of　instruction。〃
　〃Course？　Instruction？〃　Pitts　words　came　blurred；　semi…intelligibly　through　his　bloated；　broken　lips。　〃I　don't　get　what　you　mean…〃　Rondheim　answered　by　lifting　his　heel　and　jamming　it　in　Pitts　groin。　Pitts　whole　body　shuddered　and　he　groaned；　the　agony　tearing　him　apart。
　
　Rondheim　spat　on　him。　〃I　said　stand　up！〃
　〃I　。　I　can't。〃
　
　And　then　Rondheim　leaned　down　and　struck　Pitt　with　a　shuto　blow　to　the　back　of　the　neck。　There　was　no　fighting　it；　no　faking　it　this　time：　Pitt　blacked　out　for　real。
　〃Bring　him　around　again！〃　Rondheim　yelled　insanely。　〃I　want　him　on　his　feet。〃
　
　The　guards　stared　unprehendingly；　even　they　were　beginning　to　tire　of　Rondheim's　bloody　game。　But　they　had　little　choice　except　to　work　over　Pitt　like　a　couple　of　trainers　over　a　punchdrunk　boxer　until　he　emitted　the　barest　signs　of　consciousness。　It　didn't　take　a　medical　specialist　to　determine　that　Pitt　could　have　never　stood　unaided。　So　the　guards；　each　with　one　arm；　held　Pitt　up；　his　body　sagging　between　them　with　the　dead　weight　of　a　wet　bag　of　Portland　cement。
　
　Rondheim　pounded　the　defenseless　battered　body　until　his　gi　was　soaked　through　with　sweat；　the　front　splotched　with　blood。
　
　Pitt；　in　those　tortured　moments　between　light　and　darkness；　found　himself　losing　his　grip　of　any　emotion；　of　all　intelligence；　even　the　pain　was　beginning　to　fade　into　one　massive　dull　throb。　Thank　God　for　the　brandy；　he　thought。　He'd　never　have　been　able　to　survive　up　to　this　point；　taking　so　much　brutality　from　Rondheim's　hands　without　reacting；　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　alcohol's　numbing　effects。　Now　he　didn't　need　it。　His　physical　resources　were　nearly　gone；　his　mind　was　slipping　from　control；　losing　contact　with　reality；　and　the　most　terrible　part　was　that　he　could　do　nothing　about　it。
　
　Rondheim　threw　a　particularly　vicious　and　accurately　aimed　kick　to　Pitts　stomach。　As　the　light　passed　from　Pitts　eyes　for　the　sixth　time　and　the　guards　released　their　grip；　letting　his　limp　body　drop　to　the　mat；　the　sadistic　lust　on　Rondheim's　face　slowly　faded。　He　stared　vacantly　at　his　bloody　and　swollen　knuckles；　his　chest　heaving　as　his　breath　came　in　quick　pants　from　the　exertion。　He　dropped　to　his　knees；　grabbed　Pitt　by　the　hair；　turning　the　head　so　that　the　throat　was　exposed；　and　then　he　lifted　his　right　hand；　palm　open；　in　preparation　to　deliver　the　finishing　stroke；　the　coup　de　grdce；　a　killing　judo　chop　that　would　snap　Pitts　head　backward；　breaking　his　neck。
　〃No！〃
　
　Rondheim　kept　the　hand　poised；　and　slowly　turned。　Kirsti　Fyrie　stood　in　the　doorway；　a　look　of　fear　and　horror　on　her　face。　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃please　。　。　。　no！　You　c