cc.themediterraneancaper2-第14部分

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red；　his　eyes　cold　and　steady　with　purpose。　〃The　archives　in　Berlin　and　the　British　Air　Museum　in　London　have　no　information　concerning　the　death　of　Heibert。　All　the　books　I've　studied　on　the　subject　list　him　as　missing　in　a　mysterious　situation　similar　to　the　other　great　aces；　such　as　Albert　Ball　and　Georges　Guynemer。〃
　〃Good　God；〃　snapped　von　Till；　exasperated。　〃The　German　archives　lack　the　facts　because　the　Imperial　High　mand　never　gave　a　damn　about　the　war　in　Macedonia。　And　the　British　would　never　dare　publish　one　word　about　such　an　unchivalrous　deed。　Besides；　Kurt's　plane　was　still　in　the　air　when　they　saw　it　last。　The　British　could　only　assume　their　insidious　plan　was　successful。
　〃No　trace　of　man　or　plane　was　ever　found？〃
　〃Nothing。　Heibert's　brother　searched　for　him　after　the　war；　but　Kurt's　final　resting　place　remains　a　mystery。〃
　〃Was　the　brother　also　a　flyer？〃
　〃No。　I　met　him　on　several　occasions　prior　to　the　Second　World　War。　He　was　a　fleet　officer　in　the　German　navy。〃
　Pitt　fell　silent　Von　Till's　story　was　too　damn　pat；　he　thought　He　had　the　strange　feeling　that　he　was　being　used；　like　a　wooden　decoy　on　a　flight　of　geese。　A　faint　ominous　tingling　stirred　inside　him。　He　heard　a　tapping
　of　high　heels　on　the　floor　and　without　turning　knew　that
　Teri　had　entered　the　room。
　〃Hello　everybody。〃　Her　voice　was　light　and　cheer。
　　　Pitt　swung　around　and　faced　her。　She　was　wearing　a　mini…dress；　designed　like　a　Roman　toga；　that　swirled　about　her　slender　legs。　He　liked　the　color…a　golden　orange　that　plemented　her　ebony　hair。　She　looked　at　Pitt；　her　eyes　immediately　drawn　to　his　uniform。　Her　face　paled　slightly；　and　she　raised　a　hand　to　her　mouth　in　the　same　gesture　he　had　noticed　on　the　beach。　Then　she　smiled　thinly　and　approached；　radiating　a　beautiful　and　sexy　warmth。
　〃Good　evening　gorgeous　creature；〃　Pitt　said　lightly；　taking　her　outstretched　hand　and　kissing　it。
　Teri　flushed；　then　looked　up　at　his　grinning　face。　〃I　was　going　to　thank　you　for　ing；〃　she　said。　〃But　now　that　I've　seen　through　the　naughty　little　trick　You've　played　on　me；　I've　a　good　notion　to　toss　you　out　on　your　bloody。　。
　〃Don't　say　it；〃　Pitt　interrupted。　His　lips　curved　devilishly。　〃I　know　you　won't　believe　me；　but　just　this　afternoon　the　base　mander　took　me　off　the　garbage　truck；　made　me　a　pilot；　and　promoted　me　to　Major。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Shame　on　you。　You　told　me　your　rank　was　under　that　of　a　sergeant。〃
　〃No。　I　only　said　that　I've　never　been　a　sergeant；　and　that's　the　truth。〃
　She　slipped　her　hand　through　Pitt's　arm。　〃Has　Uncle　Bruno　been　boring　you　with　his　flying　tales　of　the　Great　War？〃
　〃Fascinating　me　maybe；　but　not　boring；〃　Pitt　answered。　Her　eyes　looked　scared　behind　her　smile。　He　wondered　what　she　was　thinking。
　Teri　shook　her　head　from　side　to　side。　〃You　men　and　your　war　stories。〃　She　kept　staring　at　Pitt's　uniform　and　insignia　of　rank。　This　didn't　seem　like　the　same　man　she　had　loved　on　the　beach。　This　one　was　much　more　charming　and　sophisticated。　〃You　may　have　Dirk　after　dinner；　Uncle　Bruno；　but　right　now　he's　mine。〃
　Von　Till　expertly　clicked　his　heels　and　bowed。　〃As　you　wish　my　dear。　For　the　next　hour　and　a　half；　you　shall　be　our　manding　officer。〃
　She　wrinkled　her　nose　at　von　Till。　〃That's　awfully　decent　of　you；　Uncle；　in　that　case　my　first　order　is　for　both　of　you　to　march　to　the　dinner　table。〃
　Teri　pulled　Pitt　out　to　the　terrace　and　led　him　down　a　sloping　stairway　that　ended　on　a　circular　overhanging　balcony。
　The　view　was　breathtaking。　Far　below　the　villa　the　lights　of　Liminas　were　blinking　on　house　by　house。　And　across　the　sea；　the　early　stars　began　to　poke　their　tips　into　a　spreading　blanket　of　black。　In　the　middle　of　the　balcony；　a　table　was　set　with　service　for　three。　A　large　yellow　globe　containing　six　candles　illuminated　the　setting　and　cast　an　intriguing　glow　over　the　table；　turning　the　silver　dinnerware　to　gold。
　Pitt　eased　Teri's　chair　back　for　her　and　whispered　in　her　ear。　〃You　better　be　careful。　You　know　how　stimulated　I　get　in　romantic　atmosphere。〃
　She　looked　up　at　him　and　her　eyes　smiled。　〃Why　do　you　think　I　planned　it　this　way。〃
　Before　Pitt　could　answer；　von　Till　walked　up　followed　by　the　giant　dog；　and　snapped　his　fingers。　Instantly；　a　young　girl　in　native　Greek　costume　materialized　and　set　down　an　appetizer　of　mixed　cheeses；　olives　and　cucumbers。　Next　came　a　chicken　soup；　flavored　with　lemon　and　egg　yokes。　Then　the　main　course；　baked　oysters　mixed　with　onions　and　minced　nuts。　Von　Till　uncorked　the　wine；…Retsinaa　fine　old　Greek　wine。
　It's　resin　flavor　reminded　Pitt　of　turpentine。　After　the　serving　girl　cleared　the　dishes；　she　brought　a　tray　of　fruit　and　then　poured　the　coffee　made　in　the　Turkish　manner；　the　powdered　beans　settling　like　silt　on　the　bottom　of　the　cup。
　Pitt　forced　down　the　strong　unsweetened　coffee　and　rubbed　knees　with：　Teri。　He　expected　a　girlish　grin　but　instead　she　looked　at　him　with　frightened　eyes。　It　seemed　she　was　trying　to　tell　him　something。
　〃Well。　Major；〃　said　von　Till　〃I　hope　you　enjoyed　our　little　repast。〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　replied　Pitt　〃It　was　excellent。〃
　Von　Till　stared　across　the　table　at　Teri。　His　face　had　set　like　stone；　and　his　voice　turned　to　ice。　〃I　would　like　to　be　alone　with　the　Major　for　a　little　while；　my　dear。　Why　don't　you　wait　in　the　study；　we　will　be　along　shortly。〃
　Teri　acted　surprised。　She　shuddered　faintly；　gripping　the　edge　of　the　table　before　she　answered　him。　〃Please；　Uncle　Bruno；　It's　too　early。　Can't　you　wait　and　have　your　little　talk　with　Dirk　later？〃
　Von　Till　shot　her　a　withering　look。　〃Do　as　your　Uncle　says。　I　have　a　few　important　matters　I　would　like　to　discuss　with　Major　Pitt。　I　am　sure　he　will　not　leave　before　seeing　you。〃
　Pitt　found　himself　being　angry。　Why　the　sudden　family　crisis？　he　wondered。　He　took　a　long　breath；　sensing　something　very　wrong。　An　odd　prickle　crept　up　his　back；　that　old　familiar　feeling　of　danger。　Like　an　old　and　trusted　friend；　it　always　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder　and　warned　him　when　a　nasty　situation　was　brewing。
　Unseen；　Pitt　slipped　a　paring　knife　off　the　plate　of　fruits　and　pushed　it　under　his　pant　leg　and　into　his　sock。
　Teri　looked　at　Pitt；　her　face　paling　〃Please　excuse　me；　Dirk。　I　don't　mean　to　be　a　ninny。〃
　He　smiled。　〃Don't　worry。　I　have　a　weakness　for　pretty　ninnies。〃
　〃You　never　seem　to　fail　to　say　the　right　thing；〃　she　murmured。
　He　squeezed　her　hand。　〃I'll　join　you　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　〃I'll　be　waiting。〃　Suddenly　her　eyes　brimmed　with　tears　and　she　turned　away　and　ran　up　the　stairway。
　〃I　am　sorry　for　speaking　so　harshly　to　Teri；〃　the　old　German　apologized。　〃I　had　to　talk　to　you　privately　and　she　rarely　appreciates　my　desire　to　converse　without　feminine　interruption。　It　is　often　necessary　to　bee　firm　with　women。　Do　you　agree？〃
　Pitt　nodded。　He　could　think　of　nothing　worthwhile　to　say。
　Von　Till　inserted　a　cigarette　in　a　long　ivory　holder　and　lit　it。　〃I　am　extremely　interested　in　hearing　about　the　attack　yesterday　on　Brady　Field。　My　information　from　that　section　of　the　island　tells　me　it　was　a　very　old　and　unknown　type　of　airplane　that　struck　your　facility。〃
　〃Old　maybe；〃　said　Pitt；　〃but　not　unknown。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　you　have　determined　the　make　of
　airplane？〃
　Pitt　studied　von　Till's　face。　Silently　be　dawdled　with　a　fork；　then　slowly　laid　it　back　on　the　tablecloth。　〃The　aircraft　was　positively　identified　as　an　Albatros
　〃And　the　pilot？〃　The　words　came　slowly　from　Von　Till's　tight　mouth。　〃Do　you　know　the　Identity　of　the　pilot？〃
　〃Not　yet；　but　we　will　shortly。〃
　〃You　seem　confident　of　an　early　capture。〃
　Pitt　took　his　time　about　answering。　He　slowly　and　methodically　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Why　not。　It　shouldn't　be　difficult　to　trace　a　sixty　year　old　yellow　antique　aircraft　to　its　owner。〃
　A　smug　grin　crossed　von　Till's　face。　〃Macedonian　Greece　is　an　area　of　rugged　terrain　and　desolate　countryside。　There　are　many　thousands　of　square　miles　of　mountains；　valleys　and　eroded　plains　where　even　one　of　your　monstrous　jet　bombers　could　be　hidden　and　never　detected。〃
　Pitt　grinned　back。　〃Who　said　anything　about　searching　mountains　or　valleys？〃
　'Where　else　would　you　look？〃
　〃In　the　sea；〃　Pitt　said　pointing　at　the　black　water
　far　below。　〃Probably　in　the　same　spot　where　Kurt　Heibert　crashed　back　in　1918。〃
　Von　Till　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Are　you　asking　me　to　believe　in　ghosts？〃
　Pitt　grinned。　〃When　we　were　little　boys　we　believed　in　Santa　Claus。　And　when　we　became　big　boys　we　believed　in　virgins。　Why　not　add　ghosts　to　the　list　also？〃
　〃No　thank　you；　Major。　I　find　cold　facts　and　figures　superior　to　superstition。〃
　Pitt's　voice　was　even　and　distinct。　〃That　leaves　us　with　another　avenue　to　explore。〃
　Von　Till　sat　erect；　his　eyes　squinting　at　Pitt。
　〃What　if　Kurt　Heibert　is　still　alive？〃
　Von　Till's　mouth　dropped　open。　Then　he　caught　himself　and　exhaled　a　cloud　of　cigarette　smoke。　〃That's　ridiculous。　If　Kurt　were　still　alive　he　would　be　over　seventy　years　old。　Look　at　me；　Major。　I　was　born　in　1899。　Do　you　think　a　man　of　my　age　could　fly　an　open　cockpit　plane；　not　to　mention　attacking　an　air　field？　No；　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃The　facts　are　on　your　side；　of　course；〃　said　Pitt。　He　paused　a　moment；　running　his　long　fingers　through　his　hair。