cc.themediterraneancaper2-第27部分

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　Pitt　raised　the　board　above　his　head　and；　drawing　on　the　last　of　his　ebbing　strength；　brought　it　down　on　the　back　of　Darius'　neck。
　Pitt　would　never　again　forget　the　shock　of　hopelessness　and　despair　that　flooded　through　his　mind　at　that　moment　as　the　rotted　plank　shattered　with　all　the　harmless　force　of　a　piece　of　peanut　brittle　around　the　giant's　shoulders。　Without　turning；　Darius　let　loose　of　Giordino's　temples；　giving　his　victim　a　brief　respite；　and　struck　Pitt　with　a　sweeping　backhand　blow　that　caught　him　in　the　stomach　and　sent　him　reeling　across　the　room　to　fall　limply　against　the　doorway　and　melt　slowly　down　to　the　floor。

　Somehow；　clutching　the　door　knob；　Pitt　pulled　himself　to　his　feet　and　stood　there　swaying　drunkenly；　conscious　of　nothing；　not　even　the　pain；　the　blood　that　began　to　seep　through　the　bandages　onto　his　shirt；　and　Giordino's　face；　now　turning　blue　under　the　tremendous　hands。　One　more　try；　he　told　himself；　knowing　it　would　be　his　last。　Pitt's　mind　slowed　down。　The　forgotten　words　of　a　marine　drill　sergeant；　he　once　met　in　a　Honolulu。　bar；　returned　and　pounded　into　his　brain。　〃The　biggest；　toughest；　meanest　sonovabitch　in　the　world　will　always　go　down；　and　go　down　fast；　from　a　good　swift　kick　in　the　balls。〃
　Weakly；　he　staggered　behind　the　crouching　Darius；　who　was　too　intent　on　killing　Giordino　to　notice　him。
　Pitt　aimed　and　kicked　Darius　between　the　legs。　His　toe　collided　with　bone　and　something　that　was　rubbery　and　soft。　Darius　released　Giordini's　head　and　threw　his　monstrous　hands　upward；　fingers　clawing　at　the　air。　Then　he　rolled　over　on　his　side；　twisting　about　the　floor　in　silent　agony。
　〃Wele　to　the　land　of　the　walking　dead；〃　Pitt　said；　lifting　Giordino　to　a　sitting　position。
　〃Did　we　win？〃　Giordino　asked　in　a　whisper。
　〃Just　barely。　How's　your　head？〃
　〃I　won't　know　till　I　look　for　it。〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃It's　still　attached　to　your　neck。〃
　Giordino　gently　probed　his　hairline　between　his　fingers。　〃Christ；　my　skull　feels　like　it　has　more　cracks　than　a　broken　windshield。〃
　Pitt　cast　a　wary　look　at　Darius。　The　giant；　ashen　faced　and　breathing　heavily；　'was　stretched　out　full　length　on　the　dusty　floor；　both　hands　clutched　over　his　crotch。
　〃The　party's　over；〃　Pitt　said；　helping　Giordino　to　his　feet。　〃Let's　disappear　before　Frankenstein　recovers。〃
　Suddenly；　the　ominous　click；　the　hollow　thud　of　the　door　flung　open　against　its　stop；　froze　Pitt　and　Giordino　in　their　tracks。　They　had　no　warning；　not　even　a　moment　to　brace　themselves；　nothing　except　the　knowledge　that　time　had　run　out　and　they　could　fight　no　more。
　Then　a　tall；　thin　man　with　large　sad　eyes　sauntered　easily　into　the　room；　one　hand　shoved　casually　into　the　pants　pocket　of　an　expensive　ivy…league　suit。
　He　stared　at　Pitt　pensively　for　a　long　moment　over　the　bowl　of　a　long…stemmed　pipe；　gripped　tenaciously　between　unmonly　even　teeth。　Like　an　account　executive　who　just　stepped　out　of　an　advertising　agency；　he　looked　suave；　neat　and　citified。　His　free　hand；　in　a　practiced　gesture；　reached　up　and　removed　the　pipe。
　〃Sorry　to　invade　your　privacy；　gentlemen。　I'm　Inspector　Zacynthus。〃
　　12
　　Zacynthus　was　hardly　what　Pitt　had　expected。　There　could　be　no　doubt　about　it；　the　slurred　accent；　the　neatly　styled　hair；　the　casual　introduction：　Zacynthus　was　an　American。
　Ten　seconds；　each　spent　scrutinizing　every　detail　of　Pitt　and　Giordino；　elapsed　before　Zacbynthus　slowly　turned　and　looked　down　at　the　moaning　Darius。　Zacynthus'　face　seemed　glacial　with　elaborate　indifference；　but　the　tone　of　his　voice　betrayed　bewilderment。
　〃Remarkable；　truly　remarkable。　I　didn't　think　it　was　possible。〃　He　looked　at　Pitt　and　Giordino　again；　this　time　with　mixed　doubt　and　admiration　written　in　his　eyes。　〃For　a　highly　trained　professional　to　even　lay　a　hand　on　Darius　is　considered　a　great　acplishment；　but　for　a　pair　of　sad　looking　underdogs　like　you　to　wipe　the　floor　with　him　is　nothing　short　of　miraculous。　Your　names；　my　friends？〃
　A　devilish　glint　flashed　in　Pitt's　green　eyes。　〃My　little　panion　is　David；　and　I'm　Jack　the　Giant　Killer。〃
　Zacynthus　smiled　a　tired　smile。　〃The　day　is　long　and　hot；　and　you've　incapacitated　one　of　my　best　men。　Please　don't　pound　my　misery　with　sick　humor。〃
　〃In　that　case；　Dirk；〃　Giordino　murmured　slyly。　〃Tell　him　the　one　about　the　nymphomaniac　and　the　guitar　player。〃
　〃e　now；〃　Zacynthus　said；　as　if　talking　to　children。　〃I　have　no　time　to　waste　on　such　drivel　information　if　you　please！　We'll　begin　with　your　correct　names。〃
　〃Screw　you；〃　Pitt　snapped　angrily。　〃We　didn't　beg　to　be　dragged　here　by　that　ape　who　calls　himself　Zeno；　and　we　didn't　ask　to　be　pushed　around　by　Earthquake　MaGoon　there　on　the　floor。　We've　done　nothing　illegal　immoral　perhaps；　but　not　illegal。　if　you　hope　to　get　any　answers　from　us；　I　suggest　you　supply　a　few　yourself。〃
　Zacynthus　stared　at　Pitt。　his　lips　pressed　tightly　together。　〃Your　arrogance　aroused　my　professional　curiosity；　he　said　tartly；　During　the　years　since　I　chose　investigation　as　my　life's　work　I've　confronted　scores　of　shrewd　and　dangerous　felons。　A　few　have　spit　in　my　face　and　threatened　revenge；　some　stood　immovable　and　silent；　still　others　begged　on　their　knees　for　mercy。　But　you；　my　bedraggled　friend；　have　to　be　different〃　He　waved　his　pipe　accusingly　at　Pitt。　〃By　God；　it's　classic；　truly　classic。　I　look　forward　to　matching　my　wits　against　yours　at　the　interrogation。〃
　He　broke　off　as　Zeno　stepped　into　the　room。　The　Greek　started　to　say　something；　but　his　mouth　hung　open　and　his　great　moustache　appeared　to　droop　in　astonishment　when　he　spied　Darius；　now　sitting　up　in　a　tight　ball　〃Great　thunderbolts　of　Zeus；　my　inspector；　what　has　happened？〃
　〃You　should　have　warned　Darius　to　be　more　careful。〃
　〃But　I　did　warn　him；〃　Zeno　explained　apologetically。　〃Even　then；　for　Darius　to　be　overpowered；　I　did　not　think　it　possible。〃
　〃My　words　exactly。〃　Zacynthus　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe。　〃See　what　you　can　do　for　our　poor　friend。　I'm　going　to　take　these　men　to　my　office　and　determine　if　they're　as　cunning　with　words　as　they　are　with　their　hands　and　feet。〃
　〃After　what　they　did　here；　do　you　think　it　wise；　my　inspector；　to　be　alone　with　them？〃
　〃I　think　they　realize　they　have　nothing　to　gain　by　further　physical　activity。〃　Zacynthus　threw　Pitt　and　Giordino　a　bantering　smile。　〃Just　to　be　on　the　safe　side；　Zeno；　handcuff　the　little　one's　right　wrist　to　this　clever　devil's　left　ankle。　Not　a　foolproof　restraint　method；　by　any　means；　but　at　least　it　will　make　resistance　somewhat　inconvenient。〃
　Quickly　Zeno　pulled　a　pair　of　chromium　plated　handcuffs　from　a　clip　on　his　belt；　unsnapped　the　ratchets　and　secured　them　into　place；　leaving　Giordino　in　an　awkward　stooped　position。
　Pitt　glanced　up　through　the　hole　in　the　roof　at　the　evening　sky。　It　was　darkening　by　the　moment　as　the　sunlight　began　to　retreat。　His　back　still　ached；　but　he　felt　grateful　that　it　was　Giordino；　and　not　he；　who　was　bent　double。　He　flexed　his　shoulders；　wincing　at　the　pain　that　erupted　from　every　square　inch　of　his　torso；　then　he　looked　back　at　Zacynthus。
　〃What　have　you　done　with　Teri？〃　ho　asked　quietly。
　〃She's　quite　safe；〃　Zacynthus　replied。　〃As　soon　as　I　can　verify　her　claim　of　being　von　Till's　niece；　I　shall　release　her。〃
　〃What　about　us？〃　Giordino's　voice　reached　up。
　〃In　due　time；〃　Zacynthus　said　curtly；　motioning　to　the　doorway。　〃After　you；　gentlemen。〃
　Two　minutes　later；　with　Giordino　clumsily　shuffling　beside　Pitt；　they　entered　Zacynthus'　office。　It　was　a　small　room　but　efficiently　furnished；　plete　with　detailed　aerial　photographs　of　Thasos　tacked　to　the　walls；　three　telephones；　and　a　short…wave　radio；　conveniently　placed　on　a　table　directly　behind　an　old　scratched　and　battered　desk。　Pitt　looked　around　surprised。　The　whole　set…up　was　too　neat；　too　professional。　Quickly　he　decided　that　his　best　hope　still　lay　in　a　crude　show　of　hostility。
　〃This　looks　more　like　the　mand　headquarters　of　a　general　than　the　office　of　a　two…bit　police　inspector。〃
　〃You　and　your　friend　are　brave　men；〃　Zacynthus　said　wearily。　〃Your　acts　have　proved　it。　But　it's　stupid　of　you　to　continue　the　role　of　an　oaf。　Though；　I　admit；　you　do　it　very　well。〃　He　walked　around　the　desk　and　sat　down　in　an　obviously　unoiled　swivel　chair。　〃This　time　the　truth。　Your　names　please？〃
　Pitt　paused　before　replying。　He　was　puzzled　and　angry　at　the　same　time。　The　strange；　off…beat　operation　of　his　captors　puzzled　him。
　There　was　a　curious　feeling；　almost　a　cold　certainty　in　his　subconscious　mind　that　he　had　nothing　to　fear。　These　people　did　not　fit　his　conception　of　run…of…the…mill　Greek　policemen。　And　if　they　were　on　von　Till's　payroll；　why　were　they　so　dead…set　on　merely　obtaining　his　and　Giordino's　names；　unless；　perhaps；　the　cats　were　toying　with　the　mice。
　〃Well？〃　Zacynthus'　voice　hardened　to　a　sharp　edge。
　Pitt　pulled　himself　erect；　and　took　a　gamble。
　〃Pitt；　Dirk　Pitt；　Director　of　Special　Projects；　United　States　National　Underwater　Marine　Agency。
　And　the　gentleman　on　my　left　is　Albert　Giordino；　my　Assistant　Director。〃
　〃Most　certainly；　and　I'm　the　Prime　Minister　of…〃
　Zacynthus　broke　off　in　midsentence：　his　eyebrows　rose　sharply；　and　he　leaned　across　the　desk；　gazing　directly　into　P