cc.iceberg-第41章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Granted　that　courage　is　reduced　by　expenditure。
　
　And　I　agree　that　the　major　has　done　more　than　was　thought　humanly　possible。　God　knows　there　are　few　if　any　of　my　men　who　could　have　pulled　that　rescue　off。〃
　〃It　could　be　we're　arguing　over　nothing；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃Pitt　may　not　be　in　any　condition　to　leave　the　hospital。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　your　fears；　or　should　I　say　your　hopes；　are　groundless。〃　The　bald　man　checked　through　a　brown　folder。　〃I　have　here　a　few　observations　from　my　agents；　who　by　the　way　have　been　guarding　the　major。〃
　
　He　paused；　reading；　then　went　on。　〃Excellent　physique；　constitution　like　a　bull；　unique　rapport　with　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　the　nurses。
　
　Fourteen　hours　of　rest；　intensive　care　and　massive　vitamin　injections　plus　the　finest　muscle　therapy　known　by　the　top　doctors　in　Iceland。　He　has　been　stitched；　massaged　and　taped。　Fortunately；　the　only　major　damage　was　to　his　ribs　and　at　that　the　fractures　were　minor。　All　in　all；　he's　a　sorry　mess；　but　I　can't　be　particular。　I'd　take　him　if　they　were　lowerin　him　into　a　coffin。〃
　
　Sandecker's　face　was　cold　and　blank。　He　turned　as　one　of　the　embassy　secretaries　poked　her　head　around　a　door。
　〃Major　Pitt　is　here；　sir。〃
　
　Sandecker　glared　at　the　fat　man。　Surprise　edged　into　his　voice。　〃You　bastard；　you　knew　all　along　he　would　do　it。〃
　
　The　fat　man　shrugged　and　said　nothing。
　
　Sandecker　stiffened。　His　eyes　looked　resentfully　into　the　fat　man's。　〃Okay；　send　him　in。〃　Pitt　came　through　the　door　and　shut　it　behind　him。
　
　He　moved　stiffly　across　the　room　to　a　vacant　sofa　and　very　slowly　eased　into　the　soft　cushions。　His　entire　face　was　swathed　in　bandages；　only　the　slits　for　his　eyes　and　nose　plus　the　top　opening　for　a　patch　of　black　hair　gave　any　indication　of　life　beneath　the　rolls　of　white　gauze。
　
　Sandecker　tried　to　look　behind　the　bandages。　The　deep　green　eyes　that　were　visible　never　seemed　to　flicker。
　
　Sandecker　sat　down　behind　the　desk　and　clasped　his　hand　behind　his　head。　〃Do　the　doctors　at　the　hospital　know　where　you　are？〃
　
　Pitt　smiled。　〃I　suspect　they'll　wonder　in　another　half　hour。〃
　〃I　believe　you've　met　this　gentleman。〃　Sandecker　motioned　to　the　fat　man。
　〃We've　talked　over　the　telephone；〃　Pitt　answered。
　〃We　haven't　been　formally　introduced　。　。　。　at　least　not　with　proper　names。〃
　
　The　fat　man　walked　quickly　around　the　desk　and　offered　Pitt　his　hand。　〃Kippmann；　Dean　Kippmann。〃
　
　Pitt　took　the　hand。　It　was　a　fooler。　There　was　nothing　weak　and　fat　about　the　grip。　〃Dean　Kippmann；〃　Pitt　repeated。　〃The　chief　of　the　National　Intelligence　Agency。　There's　nothing　like　playing　with　the　big　leaguers。〃
　〃We　deeply　appreciate　your　help；〃　Kippmann　said　warmly。　〃Do　you　feel　up　to　a　little　air　travel？〃
　〃After　Iceland；　a　little　South　American　sun　couldn't　hurt。〃
　〃You'll　enjoy　the　sun　all　right。〃　Kippmann　stroked　the　skin　on　his　head　again。　〃Particularly　the　southern　California　variety。〃
　〃Southern　California？〃
　〃By　four　o'clock　this　afternoon。〃
　〃By　four　o'clock　this　afternoon　〃At　Disneyland。〃
　〃At　Disneyland？〃
　
　Sandecker　said　patiently：　〃I'm　well　aware　that　your　destination　isn't　exactly　what　you　had　in　mind。　But　we　can　do　without　the　echo。〃
　〃With　respects；　sir；　none　of　this　figures。〃
　〃Until　an　hour　ago；　those　were　our　words　precisely；〃　Kippmann　said。
　〃Just　what　have　you　got　in　mind？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃This。〃　Kippmann　pulled　more　papers　from　his　seemingly　bottomless　briefcase　and　studied　them　briefly。
　〃Until　we　were　able　to　question　you　and　the　other　survivors　who　were　physically　up　to　it；　we　had　only　a　sketchy　idea　at　best　as　to　the　purpose　behind　Hermit　Limited。　We　knew　it　existed；　and　we　were　fortunate　to　ferrett　out　a　small　percentage　of　their　business　dealings；　but　their　ultimate　goal；　the　brains；　the　money　behind　the　entire　operation　remained　a　mystery…〃　Pitt　broke　in　guardedly。　〃But　you　had　a　lead。　You　suspected　Dr。　Hunnewell。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you　didn't　tumble　sooner；　Major。　Yes；　the　N。I。A。　was　trailing　Dr。　Hunnewell。　No　concrete　evidence；　of　course。　That's　why　we　set　him　in　the　hope　he　would　lead　us　to　the　men　at　the　top　of　the　organization。〃。
　〃Oh；　God；　it　was　a　setup！〃　It　wasn't　easy　to　bine　a　sour　exclamation　and　an　anguished　moan　in　the　same　breath；　but　Pitt　pulled　it　off。　〃The　whole　goddamned　scene　on　that　iceberg　was　a　setup。〃
　〃Yes；　Hunnewell　came　to　our　attention　when　he　so　thoughtfully　provided　all　the　right　solutions　for　Fyrie　Limited's　undersea　probe；　but　offered　absolutely　nothing　toward　the　efforts　under　development　in　his　own　country。〃
　〃Then　emtombing　the　Lax　was　a　neat　little　piece　of　deception；〃　Pitt　said。　〃That　was　your　drawing　card。
　
　Hunnewell　was　bound　to　e　forward　as　an　investigator　when　the　admiral　here　asked　him　out　of　what　Hunnewell　probably　couldn't　seemed　sheer　coincidence。　。　believe　his　luck。　He　immediately　volunteered；　not　to　see　what　happened　to　his　old　friend　Kristjan　Fyrie…he'd　already　guessed　that…or　to　inspect　the　strange　phenomenon　of　a　ship　locked　in　ice；　but　rather　to　discover　what　had　bee　of　his　precious　undersea　probe。〃
　〃Again；　Yes。　Major。〃
　
　Kippmann　handed　Pitt　several　glossy　photographs。　〃Here　are　pictures　taken　from　the　submarine　that　kept　a　watch　on　the　Lax　for　almost　three　weeks。　They　show　an　unusual　feature　about　the　crew。〃
　
　Pitt　ignored　him；　and　looked　up　at　Sandecker　evenly　and　steadily。　〃The　truth　es　out　at　last。　The　Lax　was　found　by　the　search　fleet　and　then　tailed　until　it　burned。〃
　
　Sandecker　shrugged。　〃Mr。　Kippmann　took　the　trouble　to　notify　me　of　that　interesting　little　fact　only　last　night。〃　The　tight　grin　on　his　griffineke　features　hardly　indicated　friendliness　toward　Kippmann。
　〃Reproach　us　if　you　will；〃　Kippmann　said　seriously；　〃but　it　was　vital　that　you　both　were　kept　on　the　sidelines　as　much　as　possible。　If　Kelly　or　Rondheim　or　Particularly　Hunnewell　had　smelled　your　connection　with　us；　our　whole　operation　would　have　bombed。〃　He　stared　at　Pitt；　his　voice　low。　〃Major；　you　were　simply　to　act　as　pilot　for　Hunnewell　while　he　inspected　the　Lax。　You　then　were　to　fly　him　to　Reykjavik　where　we　would　have　again　taken　over　our　observation　of　his　movements。〃
　〃It　didn't　quite　work　out　that　way；　did　it？〃
　〃We　underestimated　the　other　side；〃　Kippmann　said　candidly。
　
　Pitt　inhaled　on　a　cigarette　and　idly　watched　the　smoke　curl　toward　the　ceilng。　〃You　haven't　explained　how　the　Lax　came　to　be　in　the　iceberg。　Nor　have　you　shed　any　light　on　what　happened　to　the　pirate　crew；　or　given　a　hint　as　to　how　Fyrie　and　his　crew　and　scientists　could　disappear　for　over　a　year　and　then　suddenly　hove　their　charred　bodies　turn　up　on　the　ship　again。〃
　〃The　answer　to　both　questions　is　simple；〃　Kippmann　said。　〃Fyrie's　crew　never　left　the　ship。〃
　
　Sandecker　took　his　hands　from　behind　his　head　and　slowly　leaned　forward；　placing　them　palms　down　on　the　desk　in　front　of　him。　His　eyes　were　rock…hard。　〃Matajic　reported　a　crew　of　Arabs；　not　fair…haired　Scandinavians。〃
　〃That's　true；〃　Kippmann　agreed。　〃I　think　if　you　gentlemen　will　oblige　me　by　glancing　at　these　photographs；　you'll　see　what　I　mean　about　the　crew。〃
　
　He　passed　the　prints　to　Sandecker　and　extra　copies　to　Pitt。　He　then　sat　down　in　a　chair　and　lit　a　cigarette　after　inserting　it　in　a　long　holder。　Kippmann　was　totally　relaxed。　Pitt　…was　beginning　to　think　the　man　would　have　yawned　if　he'd　been　stabbed　in　the　crotch。
　〃Please　note　photo　number　one；〃　Kippmann　said。
　〃It　was　taken　with　a　very　sharp　telephoto　lens　through　a　periscope。　As　you　can　see；　it　clearly　shows　ten　crew　members　going　about　their　duties　on　various　parts　of　the　ship。　There　isn't　a　dark…skinned　man　in　the　bunch。〃
　〃Coincidence；〃　Sandecker　said　guardedly。　〃The　Arabs　Matajic　reported　seeing　might　have　been　below。〃
　〃A　slim　possibility；　Admiral；　providing　we　stopped　at　one　picture。
　
　However；　the　other　photos　were　taken　at　different　times　and　on　different　days。　By　paring　them　all　together；　we　get　a　count　of　approximately　fourteen　men；　not　one　of　Arab　ancestry。　Surely；　gentlemen；　if　there　were　even　one　arab　on　that　ship；　he　would　have　had　to　make　an　appearance　during　a　three…week　period。〃　Kippmann　broke　in　and　tapped　his　cigarette　holder　against　the　rim　of　an　ashtray。　〃Also；　we　have　definitely　identified　the　faces　in　the　photographs　as　the　same　people　who　set　sail　on　the　Lax　shortly　before　it　vanished。〃
　〃And　what　of　Matajic？〃　Sandecker　asked；　probing。　〃He　was　a　top　scientist；　trained　in　accurate　observation。　Surely　he　was　positive　of　what　he　saw'　〃Matajic　saw　men　who　were　made　up　to　look　like　other　nationalities；〃　Kippmann　said。　〃The　crew　should　have　been　masters　at　disguise　by　the　time　he　stumbled　onto　them…remember　they　had　visited　a　number　of　ports。　They　took　no　chances　of　recognition…　It's　only　guesswork；　of　course；　we'll　never　know　for　certain；　but　it's　fairly　safe　to　say　the　crew　caught　O'riley　watching　them　and　slipped　into　their　phony　pose　before　Matajic　came　on　board　for　supper。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Pitt　said　mildly。　〃And　then　what？〃
　〃You　can　guess　the　rest；　if　you　don't　already　know　it。〃　Kippmann　toyed　with　his　cigarette　holder　a　moment　and　then　continued。　〃Somehow；　it's　not　difficult　to　imagine；　the　celtinium…279　ignited　and　transformed　the　Lax　into　a　floating　incinerator。　Our　submarine　could　only　stand　by　and　watch　helplessly…it　happened　so　quickly；　there　were　no　survivors。　Fortunately　the　Navy　had　put　a　fast…thinking　skipper　in　mand　of　the　sub。
　
　A　storm　was　approaching　and　he　knew　it　was　only　a　question　of　time　before　the　red…hot　plates　on　the　Lax's　hull　cooled　and　contracted；　bursting　their　seams　and　letting　the　sea　water　flood　in　and　sink　her；　a　finale　further　speeded　by　the　Force　Eight　storm　building　on　the　horizon。〃
　〃So　he　turned　a　twenty…million…dollar　submarine　into　a　tugboat　and　nudged　the　burning　hulk　against　a　convenient　iceberg　until　it　melted　its　way　inside；。〃　Pitt　sat　there　looking　at　Kippmann；　his　expression　pleasant。
　〃Your　theory　is　quite　correct；　Major；〃　Kippmann　said　thinly〃Not　my　theory。〃　Pitt　smiled。　〃Dr。　Hunnewell's。　It　was　he　who　came　up　with　the　hot　poker　in　ice　proposal。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Kippmann　said；　but　he　didn't。
　〃The　next　question　that　interests　me　directly〃Pitt　hesitated；　mashing　out　his　cigarette…〃is　why　did　you　send　Hunnewell　and　me　chasing　all　over　the　North　Atlantic　hunting　down　a　particular　iceberg　after　you　erased　all　of　its　distinguishable　markings？　Why　did　you　set　Hunnewell　up　to　find　the　Lax　and　then　deliberately　try　to　hide　it？〃
　
　Impassively　Kippmann　stared　at　Pitt。　〃Thanks　to　you；　Major；　my　men　were　forced　to　work　their　asses　off　in　freezing　temperatures；　chipping　the　Coast　Guard's　red　dye　marker　from　the　iceberg　simply　because　you　showed　up　two　days　ahead　of　schedule。〃
　〃You　were　going　over　the　Lax　with　a　fine…toothed　b　and　hadn't　finished　when　Hunnewell　and　I　appeared　on　the　scene。　Is　that　it？〃
　〃Precisely；〃　Kippmann　said。　〃Nobody　expected　you　to　fly　a　helicopter　through　the　aftermath　of　the　season's　worst　storm。〃
　〃Then　your　men　were　there…〃　Pitt　broke　off；　looked　at　Kippmann　for　a　long　speculative　moment；　then　went　on　quietly；　〃Your　agents　were　concealed　on　the　berg　the　entire　time　Hunnewell　and　I　explored　the　Lax。〃
　
　Kippmann　shrugged。　〃You　didn't　give　us　a　chance　to　pull　them　off。〃
　
　Pitt　half　ros