cc.iceberg-第35章

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lease　。　。　。　no！　You　can't！〃
　
　Rondheim　kept　the　hand　poised。　〃What　does　he　mean　to　you？〃
　〃Nothing；　but　he　is　a　human　being　and　deserves　better。　You　are　cruel　and　ruthless；　Oskar。　Not　altogether　unbeing　qualities　in　a　man。　But　they　should　be　tempered　with　courage。　Beating　a　defenseless　and　half…dead　man　is　little　different　from　torturing　a　helpless　child。　There　is　no　courage　in　that。　You　disappoint　me。〃
　
　Rondheim's　hand　slowly　dropped。　He　rose；　swaying　tiredly；　and　staggered　to　Kirsti。　Tearing　the　clothing　from　the　upper　part　of　her　body；　he　slapped　her　viciously　across　the　breasts。　〃You　warped　whore；　9　he　grasped。　〃I　warned　you　never　to　interfere。　You　who　have　no　right　to　criticize　me　or　anyone　else。　It's　easy　for　you　to　sit　by　on　your　pretty　ass　and　watch　while　I　do　the　dirty　work。〃
　
　She　lifted　a　hand　to　strike　him；　her　beautiful　features　contorted　in　hatred　and　anger。　He　caught　her　wrist　and　held　it；　twisting　until　she　uttered　a　cry。
　〃The　basic　difference　between　a　man　and　a　woman；　my　dove；　is　physical　strength。〃　He　laughed　at　her　helplessness。　〃You　seem　to　have　forgotten　that。〃
　
　Rondheim　roughly　pushed　her　out　the　door　and　turned　to　the　guards。　〃Throw　that　queer　bastard　in　with　the　others；〃　he　ordered。　〃if　he　is　fortunate　and　opens　his　eyes　once　more；　he　can　have　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　he　died　among　friends。〃
　
　Chapter　16
　
　Somewhere　in　the　black　pit　of　unconsciousness　Pitt　began　to　see　light。　It　was　vague；　dim　like　the　bulb　of　a　flashlight　whose　batteries　were　gasping　out　their　last　breath　of　energy。　He　struggled　toward　it。　Desperately　he　reached　out；　once；　twice；　making　several　agonizing　attempts　to　touch　the　yellow　glow　he　knew　was　his　window　to　the　conscious　world　outside　his　mind。　But　each　time　he　thought　it　was　within　his　grasp；　it　moved　further　away　and　he　knew　he　was　slipping　backward　into　the　void　of　nothingness　once　more。　Dead；　he　thought　vaguely；　I'm　dead。
　
　Then　he　became　aware　of　another　force；　a　sensation　that　shouldn't　have　been　there。　It　was　ing　through　the　void；　being　stronger；　more　intensified　with　each　passing　moment。　Then　he　had　it；　and　he　knew　he　was　still　among　the　living。　Pain；　glorious；　tormenting　pain。　It　burst　upon　him　in　one　crushing；　agonizing　wave；　and　he　moaned。
　〃Oh；　thank　you；　God！　Thank　you　for　bringing　him　back！〃　The　voice；　it　sounded　miles　away。　He　pushed　his　mind　into　second　gear　and　then　it　came　again。
　〃Dirk！　It's　Tidi！〃　There　was　a　second's　silence；　a　second　in　which　Pitt　became　increasingly　aware　of　the　brightening　light　and　the　stinging　smell　of　pure；　fresh　air　and　a　soft　arm　tenderly　cradled　around　his　head。　His　vision　was　blurred　and　distorted；　he　could　vaguely　distinguish　a　dim　form　leaning　over　him。　He　tried　to　speak　but　could　do　no　more　than　groan；　mumble　a　few　incoherent　words　and　stare　at　the　shadowy　figure　above。
　〃It　seems　our　Major　Pitt　is　about　to　be　reborn。〃
　
　Pitt　could　barely　make　out　the　words。　The　voice　wasn't　from　Tidi's　lips；　that　much　he　was　certain；　the　tone　was　too　deep；　too　masculine。
　〃They　worked　him　over　pretty　thoroughly；〃　said　the　unidentified　voice。　〃Better　he'd　died　without　rezonaining　consciousness。　Judging　from　the　looks　of　things；　none　of　us　will　live　to　see…〃
　〃He'll　make　it。〃　It　was　Tidi　again。　〃He's　got　to　he's　just　got　to。　Dirk　is　our　only　hope。〃
　〃Hope　。　。　。　Hope？〃　Pitt　whispered。　〃Dated　a　girl　named　Hope　once。〃
　
　The　agony　in　his　side　stabbed　and　twisted　like　white…hot　iron；　but　strangely　his　face　felt　nothing；　the　tortured　flesh　was　numb。　Then　he　knew　why；　knew　why　he　saw　only　shadows。　His　sight；　or　at　least　thirty　percent　of　it；　returned　as　Tidi　lifted　a　piece　of　thin　damp　fabric；　the　nylon　of　her　pantyhose；　from　his　face。　Pitts　torn　and　swollen　features　felt　nothing　because　Tidi　had　been　constantly　soaking　the　cuts　and　bruises　in　ice　water　from　a　nearby　mud　puddle　to　relieve　the　intense　swelling。
　
　The　mere　fact　that　Pitt　could　see　anything　at　all　through　the　tiny　slits　around　his　bloated　eyes　attested　to　her　successful　efforts。
　
　Pitt　focused　his　eyes　with　difficulty。　Tidi　was　gazing　down　at　him；　her　long　fawn…colored　hair　framing　a　pale　and　anxious　face。　Then　the　other　voice　spoke　and　the　tone　was　no　longer　strange。
　〃Did　you　get　the　license　number　of　the　truck；　Major：　Or　was　it　a　bulldozer　that　mashed　your　already　ugly　profile？〃
　
　Pitt　turned　his　head　and　looked　into　the　smiling；　but　tight…muscled　face　of　Jerome　P。　Lillie。　〃Would　you　believe　a　giant　with　muscles　like　tree　trunks？〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　Lillie　said　expectantly；　〃your　next　words　will　be…if　you　think　I　look　bad；　you　should　see　the　other　guy。〃
　〃You'd　be　disappointed。　I　didn't　lay　so　much　as　a　fingertip　on　him。〃
　〃You　didn't　fight　back？〃
　〃I　didn't　fight　back。〃
　
　Lillie　showed　pure　astonishment。　〃You　stood　there　and　took　。　。　。　took　this　terrible　beating　and　did　nothing？〃
　〃Oh；　will　you　two　shut　up！〃　Tidi's　voice　held　a　mixture　of　irritation　and　distress。　〃If　any　of　us　are　to　survive；　we　must　get　Dirk　on　his　feet。　We　can't　just　sit　here　and　gossip。〃
　
　Pitt　pulled　himself　to　a　sitting　position　and　gazed　in　agony　through　a　red　haze　of　pain　as　his　broken　rib　cried　in　protest。　The　unthinking　sudden　movement　made　his　side　feel　as　if　someone　had　squeezed　his　chest　between　a　giant　pair　of　pliers　and　twisted。　Carefully；　gently；　he　eased　himself　forward　until　he　could　see　around　him。
　
　The　sight　that　met　his　eyes　looked　like　something　out　of　a　nightmare。　For　a　long　moment　he　stared　at　the　unreal　scene　and　then　at　Tidi　and　Lillie；　his　face　a　study　of　bewildered　inprehension。　Then　a　shred　of　understanding　crept　into　his　head　and　with　it　some　certainty　of　where　he　was。　He　reached　out　a　hand　to　steady　himself　and　muttered　to　no　one　in　particular。
　〃My　God；　it's　not　possible。〃
　
　For　maybe　ten　seconds；　maybe　twenty；　in　one　of　those　silences　they　refer　to　as　pregnant；　Pitt　sat　there；　as　still　and　unmoving　as　a　dead　man；　staring　at　the　broken　helicopter　a　scant　ten　yards　away。　The　jagged　remains　of　the　hulk　lay　half　sunk　in　mud　at　the　bottom　of　a　deep　ravine　whose　walls　rose　in　sharp　sloping　angles　to　seemingly　e　together　and　meet　a　hundred　feet　toward　the　Iceland　sky。　He　noted　that　the　shattered　craft　was　large；　probably　one　of　the　Titan　class；　capable　of　carrying　thirty　passengers。　Whatever　colors　or　markings　the　copter　may　have　been　painted　originally；　it　was　impossible　to　recognize　them　now。　Most　of　the　fuselage　back　of　the　cockpit　was　crumpled　like　a　bellows；　the　remaining　framework　a　myriad　of　twisted　metal。
　
　Pitts　first　frightful　impression；　the　one　that　ruled　his　confused　mind；　was　that　no　one　from　the　crash　could　have　survived。　But　there　they　were：　Pitt；　Tidi；　Lillie；　and　scattered　about　the　steep　slopes　of　the　ravine　in　unnatural　pain…contorted　positions；　the　same　group　of　men　who　had　stood　beside　Pitt　in　Rondheim's　trophy　room；　the　same　group　who　had　opposed　F。　James　Kelly　and　Hermit　Limited。
　
　They　all　appeared　to　be　alive；　but　most　were　badly　injured；　the　grotesque　angles　of　their　arms　and　legs　revealed　a　terrible　array　of　smashed　and　broken　bones。
　〃Sorry　to　ask　the　inescapable　question；〃　Pitt　mumbled；　his　voice　hoarse；　though　now　under　control；　〃but　what　in　hell　happened？〃
　〃Not　what　you　think；〃　Lillie　replied。
　〃What　then？　It's　obvious　。　。　。　Rondheim　was　abducting　all　of　us　somewhere　when　the　aircraft　crashed。〃
　〃We　didn't　crash；〃　Lillie　said。　〃the　wreck　has　been　here　for　days；　maybe　even　weeks。〃
　
　Pitt　stared　incredulously　at　Lillie；　who　seemed　to　be　lying　fortably　on　the　damp　ground；　oblivious　of　the　wetness　soaking　through　his　clothing。　〃You'd　better　fill　me　in。　What　happened　to　these　people？　How　did　you　e　to　be　here？　Everything。〃
　〃Not　too　much　to　my　story；〃　Lillie　said　quietly。
　〃Rondheim's　men　caught　me　snooping　around　the　Albatross　docks。　Before　I　had　a　chance　to　uncover　anything；　they　hustled　me　off　to　Rondheim's　house　and　threw　me　in　with　these　other　gentlemen。〃
　
　Pitt　made　a　move　toward　Lillie。　〃You're　in　pretty　rough　shape。　Let's　have　a　look。〃
　
　Impatiently　Lillie　waved　him　back。
　〃Hear　me　out。　Then　get　the　hell　away　from　here　and　get　help。　No　one　is　in　immediate　danger　of　dying　from　their　injuries…Rondheim　saw　to　that。　Our　primary　peril　is　exposure。　The　temperature　is　under　forty　degrees　now。　in　another　few　hours　it　Will　be　freezing。
　
　After　that；　the　cold　and　the　shock　will　take　the　first　of　us。　By　morning　there　will　be　nothing　in　this　goddamn　ravine　but　frozen　bodies。〃
　〃Rondheim　saw　to　that？　I'm　afraid…〃
　〃You　don't　get　it〃　You're　slow　on　the　trigger；　Major　Pitt。　It's　obvious；　the　carnage　you　see　here　was　never　caused　by　accident。　Immediately　after　our　sadistic　friend　Rondheim　beat　you　to　a　pulp；　we　were　each　given　a　heavy　dose　of　Nembutal　and　then；　very　coldly　and　methodically；　he　and　his　men　took　us　one　at　a　time　and　fractured　whatever　bones　they　thought　were　necessary　to　make　it　appear　as　though　we　were　all　injured　in　the　crash　of　the　helicopter。〃
　
　Pitt　stared　at　Lillie　but　said　nothing。　Totally　off　balance；　his　mind　was　in　a　whirlpool　of　disbelief；　his　thought　desperately　seeking　to　sort　out　a　set　of　circumstances　that　defied　prehension。　The　way　he　felt；　he　would　have　been　prepared　to　believe　anything；　but　Lillie's　words　were　too　macabre；　too　monstrous　to　consider。
　〃My　God；　it's　not　possible。〃　Pitt　screwed　his　eyes　shut　and　shook　his　head　in　slow　frustration。　〃It　has　to　be　some　kind　of　insane　nightmare。〃
　〃Nothing　insane　about　the　reason；〃　Lillie　assured　him。　〃There　is　a　method　to　Kelly's　and　Rondheim's　madness。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　sure？〃
　〃I'm　sure…I　was　the　last　one　they　put　under　the　drug…I　overheard　Kelly　explaining　to　Sir　Eric　Marks　how　this　whole　unreal　tragedy　was　conceived　by　Hermit　Limited's　puters。〃
　〃But　for　what　purpose？　Why　the　savagery？　Kelly　could　have　simply　put　us　on　another　aircraft　and　dropped　it　over　the　ocean　without　a　trace；　with　no　chance　for　survivors。〃
　〃puters　are　a　hard　lot　they　only　deal　in　cold　facts；〃　Lillie　murmured　wearily。　〃To　their　respective　governments；　the　men　suffering　around　us　are　important　figures。　You　were　at　Rondheim's　little　party。　You　heard　Kelly　explain　why　they　had　to　die…their　deaths　are　meant　to　be　a　diversion；　to　buy　time　and　to　grab　headlines　and　the　attention　of　world　leaders　while　Hermit　Limited　pulls　off　its　coup　without　international　interference。〃
　
　Pitts　eyes　narrowed。　〃That　doesn't　explain　away　the　sadistic　cruelty。〃
　〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　Lillie　admitted。　〃However；　in　Kelly's　eyes　the　end　justifies　the　means。　A　disappearance　at　sea　was　probably　fed　into　the　puter's　banks　but　undoubtedly　rejected　in　favor　of　a　sounder　plan。〃
　〃Like　producing　the　bodies　at　an　opportune　time。〃
　〃In　a　sense；　yes；〃　Lillie　said　slowly。　〃World　focus　on　a　disappearance　at　sea　would　have　faded　in　a　week　or　ten　days…the　search　would　have　obviously　been　called　off　since　no　one　could　live　long　floating　in　the　frigid　North　Atlantic。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Pitt　nodded。　〃The　vanishing　act　of　the　Lax　was　an　ideal　example。〃
　〃Exactly。　Kelly　and　his　rich　friends　need　all　the　time　they　can　buy　to　bee　entrenched　in　whatever　country　it　is　they　intend　to　take　over。　The　longer　our　State　Department　is　diverted　by　the　loss　of　high…ranking　diplomats；　the　harder　it　will　be　when　they　get　a