cc.iceberg-第44章

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　I　conned　Kirsti…she　knows　where　the　blueprints　are　hidden。　Boy　something　I　shouldn't　have；　it　gave　me　a　wedge；　to　her。〃
　
　Kippmann　nodded。　〃Now　I　understand。〃　He　sat　on　a　desk　and　toyed　with　a　letter　opener。
　
　I　have　Kelly　and　his　group　in　custody；　I'll　r　to　you　and　Admiral　Sandecker　for　quesgood　enough；〃　Pitt　snapped。　〃If　you　want　my　cooperation　as　an　identifying　witness；　then　promise　me　a　few　minutes　alone　with　Rondheim…And　full　and　plete　custody　of　Kirsti　Fyrie。〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　〃What　does　Rondheim's　future　physical　condition　mean　to　you？〃
　〃If　I　turned　my　back　so　you　could　kick　him　in　the　teeth；　I　couldn't　let　you　have　Kirsti　Fyrie。〃
　〃You　could；〃　Pitt　said　positively。　〃Mostly　because　she　isn't　yours　to　give。　If　you're　lucky；　you　might　pin　an　acplice　charge　on　her。　But　that　might　strain　our　relations　with　Iceland；　in　event　that　wouldn't　make　our　State　Department　exactly　jump　for　joy。〃
　〃You're　wasting　your　breath；〃　Kippmann　said　impatiently。　〃She　will　be　convicted　of　murder　along　with　all　the　rest。〃
　〃Yours　is　not　to　convict；　yours　is　to　apprehend　and　arrest。〃　Kippmann　shook　his　head。　〃You　don't　understand…〃　He　broke　off　as　the　door　opened　wide。　Lazard　stood　framed　in　the　doorway；　his　face　ashen。
　
　Kippmann　stared　at　him　curiously。　〃Dan；　what　is　it？〃　Lazard　wiped　his　brow　and　slumped　into　an　empty　chair。　〃De　Croix　and　Castile　have　suddenly　changed　their　planned　excursion。　They've　shaken　their　escort　and　disappeared　somewhere　in　the　park。　God　only　knows　what　can　happen　before　we　find　them。〃
　
　Frowning；　baffled；　Kippmann's　face　expressed　a　moment　of　utter　unprehension。　〃Christ！〃　he　exploded。　〃How　could　it　happen？　How　could　you　lose　them　with　half　the　federal　agents　in　the　state　guarding　their　party？〃
　〃There　are　twenty　thousand　people　out　there　in　the　park　right　this　minute；〃　Lazard　tone。　〃It　doesn't　take　any　great　magician　to　replace　two　of　them。　feat　of　cleverness　to　Croix　and　Castile　bitched。　He　shrugged　helplessly。　〃Deal　about　our　heavy　security　precautions　from　the　second　they　stepped　through　the　main　gate。　They　went　to　the　john　together　and　gave　us　the　slip　by　ducking　out　a　side　window；　just　like　a　pair　of　kids。〃
　
　Pitt　stood　up。　〃Quickly；　do　you　have　their　tour　and　scheduled　stops？〃
　
　Lazard　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃Yes；　here；　each　amusement　and　exhibit　and　their　time　schedules。〃　He　handed　Pitt　a　Xeroxed　sheet　of　paper。
　
　Pitt　rapidly　glanced　at　the　schedule。　Then　a　slow　grin　cut　his　face　as　he　turned　to　Kippmann。　〃You'd　better　send　me　into　the　game；　coach。〃y　'Major；〃　Kippmann　said　unhappily。　〃I　have　the　feeling　I'm　about　to　be　blackmailed。
　〃As　they　say　during　campus　riots；　why　won't　you　meet　our　demands？〃
　
　The　slump　of　Kippmann's　shoulders　displayed　as　sure　a　sign　of　defeat　as　if　he'd　waved　a　white　flag。　He　stared　at　Pitt。　The　eyes　that　stared　back　were　disconcertingly　steady。
　
　Kippmann　nodded。　〃Rondheim　and　Miss　Fyrie　are　yours…　They're　staying　in　the　Disneyland　Hotel　across　the　street。　Adjoining　rooms；　605　and　607。〃
　〃And　Kelly；　Marks；　Von　Hummel　and　the　rest？〃
　〃They're　all　there…　Hermit　Limited　reserved　the　entire　sixth　floor。〃　Kippmann　rubbed　his　face　unfortably。　〃Just　what　do　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃Rest　easy。　Five　minutes　with　Rondheim。　Then　You　can　have　him。　Kirsti　Fyrie　I　keep。　Call　her　a　little　bonus　from　the　N。I。A。　too。　Kippmann　gave　up　pletely。　〃You　win。　Now　where　are　De　Croix　and　Castile？〃
　〃The　obvious。〃　Pitt　smiled　at　Kippmann　and　Lazard。
　
　The　most　obvious　place　where　any　two　men　who　passed　their　childhood　near　the　Spanish　Main　would　head。〃
　〃God；　you've　hit　it；〃　Lazard　said　almost　bitterly。
　〃The　last　stop　on　the　schedule…The　Pirates　of　the　Caribbean。〃
　
　Next　to　the　cleverly　engineered　apparitions　in　the　Disneyland　Haunted　House；　The　Pirates　of　the　Caribbean　is　the　most　popular　attraction　in　the　world…famous　park。　Constructed　on　two　underground　levels　that　occupy　nearly　two　acres'。　the　quarter…of…a…mile　boat　ride　carries　awed　passengers　through　a　maze　of　tunnels　and　vast　rooms　decorated　as　roving　pirate　ships　and　pillaged　seaside　towns；　manned　by　almost　a　hundred　lifelike　figures　that　not　only　match　the　best　of　Madame　Tussaud's；　but　who　also　sing；　dance　and　loot。
　
　Pitt　was　the　last　one　up　the　entrance　ramp　to　the　landing　where　the　attendants　assist　the　paying　customers　into　the　boats　at　the　start　of　the　fifteen…minute　excursion。　The　fifty　or　sixty　people　waiting　in　line　waved　to　Pitt　and　made　smiling　remarks　about　his　costume　as　he　made　his　way　behind　Kippmann　and　Lazard。　He　waved　back；　wondering　what　the　expressions　on　their　faces　would　be　if　he　were　to　suddenly　whip　off　his　wolf's　mask　and　display　his　bandaged　face。　He　could　see　at　least　ten　small　children　who　would　never　again　want　the　Three　Little　Pigs　read　at　bedtime。
　
　Lazard　grasped　the　managing　attendant　by　the　arm。　〃Quickly。　you　must　stop　the　boats。〃
　
　The　attendant；　a　blond；　lanky　boy　no　more　than　twenty　years　of　age；　simply　stood　there　in　mute　unprehension。
　
　Lazard；　obviously　a　man　who　disliked　wasted　conversation；　moved　hurriedly　across　the　landing　to　the　controls；　disengaged　the　underwater　traction　chain　that　pulled　the　excursion　boats；　set　the　handbrake　and　turned　to　face　the　stunned　boy　again。
　〃Two　men；　two　men　together；　have　they　taken　the　ride？〃
　〃Don't　know　for　sure；　sir。　There　。　。　。　there's　been　so　many。　I　can't　recall　them　all…〃　Kippmann　stepped　in　front　of　Lazard　and　showed　the　boy　the　photographs　of　Castile　and　De　Croix。　〃Do　you　recognize　these　men？〃
　
　The　boy's　eyes　widened。　〃Yes；　sir；　now　I　remember。〃　Then　a　frown　spread　across　his　youthful　face。
　〃But　they　weren't　alone。　There　were　two　other　men　with　them。〃
　〃Four！〃　Kippmann　shouted；　turning　about　thirty　heads。　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　boy　nodded　his　head　violently。
　〃I'm　positive。　The　boat　holds　eight　people。　The　first　four　seats　held　a　man　and　woman　with　two　kids。　The　men　in　the　photographs　took　the　rear　seats　with　two　other　men。〃
　
　Pitt　arrived　just　then；　his　breath　ing　in　short　pants；　his　hand　clutching　the　handrail　as　he　fought　off　the　pain　and　exhaustion。　〃Was　one　of　them　a　big　guy　with　a　bald　head；　hairy　hands？　A…nd　the　other；　red…faced　with　a　huge　mustache　and　shgulders　like　an　ape？〃
　
　The　boy　stared　dumbly　for　a　moment　at　Pitts　disguise。　Then　his　expression　took　on　a　half　smile　〃You　hit　them　exactly。　A　real　pair。　Like　tough…looking　Mutt　and　Jeff　characters。〃
　
　Pitt　turned　to　Kippmann　and　Lazard。　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　said；　his　voice　slightly　muffled　under　the　rubber　wolf's　head；　〃I　think　we've　just　missed　our　boat。〃
　〃For　God's　sake！〃　Kippmann　murmured　in　exasperation。　〃We　can't　just　stand　here。〃
　〃No。〃　Lazard　shook　his　head。　〃We　can't　do　that。〃
　
　He　nodded　at　the　boy。　〃Call　extension　309。　Tell　whoever　answers　that　Lazard　has　relocated　the　missing　party　in　The　Pirates　of　the　Caribbean。　Tell　them　it's　a　red　situation…the　hunters　are　in　there　too。〃　He　turned　back　to　Kippmann　and　Pitt。　〃The　three　of　us　can　work　along　the　catwalks　and　the　backdrops　until　we　reach　them；　and　only　hope　we're　not　too　late。〃
　〃How　many　boats　ago　did　they　board？〃　Pitt　asked　the　boy。
　
　The　dazed　boy　could　only　stammer。　〃I　。　。　。　〃Ten；　maybe　twelve。　They　should　be　sitting　about　between　the　building　and　…〃
　〃This　way！〃　Lazard　almost　snapped　the　words。
　
　He　disappeared　through　a　doorway　at　the　end　of　the　landing　marked　EMPLOYEES　ONLY。
　
　As　they　moved　into　the　blackness　that　cloaked　the　mechanical　workings　of　the　pirates；　the　sound　of　voices　from　the　passengers　of　the　stalled　boats　could　be　beard　murmuring　throughout　the　cavernous　amusement　ride。
　
　Castile　and　De　Croix；　as　well　as　their　assassins；　Pitt　reflected；　could　have　little　suspicion　as　to　the　delay；　but　even　so；　it　didn't　seem　to　matter：　there　was　every　possibility　that　Kelly's　and　Rondheim's　scheme　had　already　been　carried　out。　He　fought　off　the　ache　in　his　chest　and　followed　the　squat；　dim　form　of　Kippmann　past　a　storyland　setting　of　five　pirates　burying　a　treasure　chest。　The　figures　seemed　so　lifelike　it　was　difficult　for　Pitt　to　believe　they　were　only　electronically　controlled　mannequins。　He　was　so　engrossed　in　the　simulated　reality　of　the　scene　that　he　rammed　into　Kippmann；　who　had　stopped　abruptly。
　〃Easy；　easy；〃　Kippmann　protested。
　
　Lazard　motioned　to　them　to　stay　where　they　were　as　he　moved　catlike　along　a　narrow　corridor　and　leaned　over　the　railing　of　a　workman's　gallery　running　over　the　canal　that　supported　the　boats。　Then　he　waved　Pitt　and　Kippmann　forward。
　〃We　got　lucky　for　a　change；〃　he　said。　〃Take　a　look。〃　Pitt；　his　eyes　not　yet　accustomed　to　the　dark；　stared　below　at　a　sight　that　never　was…a　wild　fantasy　night　scene　containing　a　band　of　at　least　thirty　pirates　burning　and　looting　what　seemed　to　be　a　replica　of　a　miniature　Port　Royal　or　Panama　City。　Flames　were　shooting　out　of　several　buildings。　while　silhouettes　of　laughing　buccaneers　chased　screaming　make…believe　girls　around　and　around　the　back…lighted　windows。
　
　Boisterous　singing　was　reverberating　out　of　hidden　speakers；　giving　the　illusion　that　rape　and　pillage　were　merely　good　clean　fun。
　
　The　canal　the　boats　circuited　through　cut　between　the　town　buildings；　lifting　the　viewers'　eyes　from　a　pair　of　pirates　trying　vainly　to　get　a　mule　to　pull　a　wagonload　of　their　loot　on　the　left　to　a　trio　of　their　shipmates　drinking　on　a　pile　of　wildly　swaying　wine　barrels　on　the　right。　But　it　was　the　center　of　the　canal　that　drew　Pitts　attention。　There　in　a　boat　almost　directly　under　a　bridge　that　ran　over　the　water　were　Castile　and　De　C…roix；　happily　pointing　out　details　of　the　wondrous　scene　like　two　schoolboys　playing　hookey　at　a　Friday　matinee。　And；　sitting　ominously　like　disinterested　statues　on　the　seat　directly　in　back　of　the　South　American　Presidents；　Pitt　could　make　out　the　two　men　who　had　held　his　arms　while　Rondheim　bad　battered　him　to　a　pulp　only　two　days　before　in　Reykjavik。
　
　Pitt　glanced　at　the　luminous　dial　of　the　orange　faced　Doxa　watch　on　his　wrist。　Stan　an　hour　and　twenty　minutes　before　Kelly's　countdown。　Too　early；　far　too　early；　yet　there　were　two　of　Rondheim's　killers　sitting　not　three　feet　from　their　intended　victims。　A　very　large　Piece　was　missing　from　the　puzzle。　He　had　no　doubt　that　Kelly　told　the　truth　about　his　timetable　and　that　Rondheim　would　stick　to　it。　But　would　he？
　
　If　Rondheim　meant　to　take　over　Hermit　Limited；　it　stood　to　reason　that　he　just　might　make　a　change　in　plans。
　
　This　is　your　show；　Dan。〃　Kippmann　spoke　softly　to　the　security　director。　〃How　do　we　take　them？〃
　〃No　guns；〃　Lazard　said。　〃The　last　thing　we　want　is　a　stray　shot　killing　a　child。〃
　〃Maybe　we'd　better　wait　for　reinforcements；〃　Kippmann　said。
　〃No　time；〃　Lazard　said。　〃We've　kept　the　boats　stopped　too　long　already。　Everyone　is　starting　to　get　edgy；　including　those　two　characters　in　back　of　Castile　and　De　Croix。〃
　〃Then　we'll　have　to　take　a　risk。〃　Kippmann　wiped　a　handkerchief　across　his　damp　brow。　〃Get　the　boats　moving　again。　Then　as　soon　as　the　one　with　our　friends　begins　to　cross　under　the　bridge；　we'll　take　them。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Lazard　agreed。　〃The　bridge　will　give　us　cover　to　close　within　fifteen　feet。　I'll　work　around　and　e　out　of　that　doorway　under　the　gunshop　sign。
　
　Kippmann。　yo