cc.themediterraneancaper2-第46部分

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　pity　he　wasn't　hung　before　now；　still　it's　better　late　than　never。〃
　Pitt　had　played　his　last　card。　There　was　nothing　left　for　him　but　to　hope；　he　could　stall　no　more。
　〃Well　there　you　have　it。　A　few　facts；　a　few　educated　guesses。　The　story's　a　bit　sketchy　I　admit。　The　Germans　could　only　radio　a　brief　outline　of　the　information　they　had　in　their　files。　The　exact　details　may　never　bee　known。　No　matter；　you're　a　dead　man　Heibert〃
　Von　Till　looked　at　Pitt　in　cold　speculation。　〃Pay　no　attention　to　the　Major；　Darius。　His　whole　make…believe　talk　is　nothing　but　the　clever　stall　of　a　
　desperate　man…〃
　Von　Tin　paused；　listening。　At　first　the　sound　was　faint…it　seemed　like　an　eerie　thumping。　Then　Pitt　recognized　it　as　the　heavy　tread　of　hobnail　boots　moving　closer　along　the　wooden　deck。　The　mist　was　back；　and　its　moist　atmosphere　cloaked　any　shape　or　form；　while　at　the　same　time　it　amplified　the　approaching　footsteps　into　a　kettledrum　beat。　It　sounded　as　though　the　unseen　noisemaker　was　lifting　his　feet　and　dropping　them　with　much　more　force　than　necessary。　Then　a　ghostly　and　faceless　figure；　dressed　in　the　uniform　of　von　Till's　bodyguards；　grew　out　of　the　mist。　Barely　discernible；　the　figure　stopped　several　feet　back　and　clicked　his　heels。
　〃The　Queen　Jocasta　has　dropped　anchor；　sir。〃　The　voice　spoke　in　a　low　guttural　tone。
　〃You　idiot！〃　von　Till　snapped；　angry　at　the　interruption。　〃Return　to　your　post。〃
　〃No　more　delays；〃　Darius　snarled。　〃Just　one　bullet　in　the　Major's　groin　so　he　can　linger　in　agony。〃　The　Luger's　muzzle　fell　to　Pitt's　lower　torso。
　〃Whatever's　fair；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　He　had　a　strange　expressionless　stare　that　was　more　disturbing　to　von　Till　than　any　show　of　fear　ever　could　have　been。
　Von　Till　arched　forward　in　a　curt　precise　bow。
　〃I'm　sorry。　Major；〃　the　old　German　said　slowly　and　very　deliberately。　〃Our　interesting　little　chat　has　e　to　an　end。　Please　forgive　me　if　I　fall　to　provide　the　traditional　blindfold　and　last　cigarette。〃　He　said　nothing　more；　the　evil；　venomous　smirk　on　his　face　spoke　for　him；　and　Pitt　braced　himself　for　the　almost　certain　blast　from　Darius'　gun。
　　18
　A　gun　roared：　not　the　sharp　bark　of　a　Luger；　but　the　heavy；　ear…stunning　roar　of　a　big　bore；　forty…five　Colt　automatic　Darius　shouted　in　pain　as　the　Luger　flew　from　his　hand　into　the　water。　Giordino；　in　a　uniform　at　least　two　sizes　too　large。　nimbly　leaped　off　the　dock　onto　the　sub　deck　and　shoved　the　Colt　into　von　Till's　left　ear。　Then　he　turned　to　admire　his　marksmanship。
　〃Well；　what　do　you　know；　I　even　remembered　to　remove　the　safety。〃
　〃Nice　going〃　Pitt　said。　〃Errol　Flynn　couldn't　have　made　a　more　dramatic　entrance。〃
　Their　faces　confused　and　unprehending；　von　Till　and　Darius　stood　frozen　in　mute　shock。　The　hot　flood　lights　glazed　through　the　mist；　burning　it　away　pletely；　and　the　guards　on　the　ledge　could　see　that　something　totally　unexpected　had　occurred　on　the　sub's　deck。　As　if　drawn　by　one　string；　all　five　men　raised　their　machine　pistols　and　aimed　them　directly　at　Pitt。
　〃Keep　your　fingers　off　the　triggers。〃　Giordino's　voice　boomed　against　the　rock　walls　〃Shoot　Major　Pitt　and　I　splatter　your　boss's　brains　half　way　to　Athens。　Shoot　and　you　all　die。　There　are　guns　trained　on　your　hearts…　I'm　not　bluffing。　Look　at　the　tunnel。〃
　If　there　was　one　thing　in　the　cavern　whose　supply　outdistanced　its　necessity；　it　was　the　machine　pistol。　There　were　ten　more　of　them　in　the　bands　of　the　toughest　bunch　of　men　Pitt　had　ever　seen。　They　were　grouped　in　loose　formation　around　the　tunnel　entrance；　four　in　the　prone　position；　three　kneeling　and　three　standing。　Pitt　almost　had　to　look　twice　to　make　them　out　clearly；　their　black　and　brown　camouflaged　field　dress　blended　perfectly　into　the　craggy　shadows。　Only　their　maroon　berets；　the　hallmark　of　an　elite　outfit；　betrayed　their　presence　to　the　casual　eye。
　Giordino　continued：　〃Now　please　turn　your　attention　to　the　submarine　at　my　rear。〃
　It　wasn't　exactly　the　straw　that　broke　the　camel's　back；　but　it　was　the　ugly；　air　cooled　machine　gun；　gripped　by　a　fiendishly　grinning　Colonel　Zeno　on　the　I…Boat's　conning　tower；　that　broke　the　bodyguards'　will　to　fight　Slowly　they　lowered　their　guns　and　raised　their　hands　in　the　air；　all　except　one；　he　hesitated　and　paid　the　price。
　Zeno　fanned　the　trigger　of　his　weapon。　Two　bullets；　no　more。　spat　from　the　air…cooled　barrel　in　one　brief　blast　The　unthinking　unfortunate　guard　slumped　soundlessly　to　the　ground　and　rolled　limply　into　the　water；　staining　the　brilliant　cobalt　blue　with　a　growing　cloud　of　red。
　〃Now　walk；　don't　run　to　the　nearest　exit；〃　Giordino　said　casually；　〃your　hands　clasped　on　your　heads。〃
　Pitt；　the　tired　expression　on　his　face　reflecting　the　gnawing　pain　in　his　leg　said　to　Giordino：　〃You　sliced　your　timing　pretty　thin。〃
　〃The　capital　of　Italy　wasn't　constructed　in　twenty…four　hours；〃　Giordino　paraphrased　pontifically。　〃After　all；　swimming　ashore；　finding　Zacynthus；　Zeno；　and　their　roving　band　of　mandos；　and　then　leading　them　through　that　godawful　labyrinth　on　the　run　wasn't　the　most　leisurely　of　chores。〃
　〃Did　you　have　any　trouble　with　my　directions？〃
　〃No　problem。　The　elevator　shaft　was　right　where　you　said　it'd　be。〃
　Von　Till　moved　close　to　Pitt；　his　eyes　cold　as　ice。　〃Who　told　you　about　the　elevator？〃
　〃No　one；〃　Pitt　replied　tersely。　〃Wandering　through　the　labyrinth；　I　accidentally　took　a　side　corridor　that　ended　at　a　ventilator　shaft。　I　heard　the　sound　of　generators　somewhere　beyond　the　opening。　Their　purpose　came　to　me　when　I　was　sure　of　the　sea　cavern。　Your　villa　sits　on　a　near　vertical　line　above　the　shoreline　cliffs。　An　underground　elevator　had　to　be　the　only　means　of　moving　from　the　villa　to　the　cavern　without　detection。　The　shaft；　the　cavern；　and　passageways　were　a　made　to　order　arrangement　for　smuggling。　courtesy　of　the　Phoenicians　over　two　thousand　years　ago。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Giordino　cut　in。　〃Are　you　suggesting　that　somebody　was　smuggling　out　of　here　before　Christ？〃
　〃You　didn't　do　your　homework；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃If　you'd　read　the　brochure　that　Zeno　handed　out　before　we　started　on　the　tour　of　the　ruins；　you'd　know　that　Thasos　was　originally　settled　by　the　Phoenicians　to　exploit　its　gold　and　silver　deposits。　The　tunnels　and　shaft　are　part　of　an　ancient　mine。　Eventually　it　was　worked　out　and　abandoned。　The　Greeks　discovered　it　a　few　hundred　years　later　and　thought　it　was　some　kind　of　mysterious　labyrinth　built　by　the　Gods。〃
　A　movement　on　the　dock　attracted　Pitt's　attention　and　he　looked　up。
　Zacynthus　appeared　seemingly　out　of　nowhere　and　stood；　staring　down　at　Pitt　for　several　long　moments。　Finally　he　asked：
　〃How's　the　leg？〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃It'll　probably　smart　a　bit　when　the　barometer　drops；　but　it　shouldn't　slow　up　my　sex　life。〃
　〃Colonel　Zeno　sent　two　of　his　men　after　a　stretcher。　They　should　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　'Were　you　able　to　overhear　any　of　our　enlightening　conversation？〃
　Zacynthus　nodded。　〃Every　word。　The　acoustics　in　here　would　do　credit　to　Carnegie　Hall。〃
　〃You'll　never　prove　any　of　it；〃　von　Till　said　in　contempt。　His　lips　curled　in　a　sneer；　but　there　was　a　trace　of　desperation　in　his　eyes。
　〃As　I've　said；〃　Pitt　murmured　tiredly；　〃I　don't　have　to　prove　anything。　At　this　minute；　four　war　criminal　investigators　are　flying　here　from　Germany；　courtesy　of　the　United　States　Air　Force；　who　were　only　too　happy　to　lend　a　helping　hand　after　your　little　shooting　party　at　Brady　Field。　Each　one　of　those　four　men　is　a　specialist。　They　know　every　hidden　identity　trick　in　the　book。　Plastic　surgery；　a　different　voice；　your　advanced　age；　nothing　will　fool　them。　I'm　afraid　it's　the　end　of　the　voyage　for　you；　Admiral。〃
　〃I　am　a　Greek　citizen；〃　von　Till　said　arrogantly。
　'〃They　have　no　legal　right　to　abduct　me　to　Germany。〃
　〃Cut　the　masquerade；〃　Pitt　lashed　back。　〃Von　Till　was　the　Greek　citizen；　not　you。　Colonel　Zeno；　will　you　please　explain　the　facts　of　life　for　the　Admiral。〃
　〃With　pleasure；　Major。〃　Zeno　had　left　the　conning　tower　of　the　Japanese　I…boat　and　was　now　standing　next　to　Zacynthus。　He　grinned　broadly　under　the　big；　flowing　moustache　and　eyed　von　Till　with　piercing　scrutiny。　'We　take　a　dim　view　of　anyone　who　enters　our　country　illegally　and　we　greatly　dislike　playing　host　to　a　wanted　war　criminal。　If　you　are　indeed　Admiral　Erich　Heibert；　as　Major　Pitt　claims；　I　shall　personally　see　to　it　that　you　are　turned　over　to　the　war　criminal　investigators　and　placed　on　the　first　plane　back　to　Germany　and　the　gallows。〃
　〃A　most　appropriate　and　convenient　ending；〃　Zacynthus　said　slowly。　〃It　saves　the　taxpayers　the　expense　of　a　long；　drawn…out　trial　for　narcotics　smuggling。　On　the　other　hand；　we　lose　the　opportunity　to　bag　half　the　illegal　drug　buyers　in　North　America。〃
　〃Aren't　you　forgetting　that　opportunity　makes　the　thief；〃　Pitt　grinned。
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃
　〃Simple　arithmetic；　Zac。　Now　you　know　how　the　heroin　drop　is　made　and　where。　It　would　be　an　easy　matter　to　take　over　the　Queen　Jocasta；　keep　the　crew　Inmunicado；　and　deliver　the　goods　in　person。　I'm　certain　the　proper　authorities　could　hush…up　Heibert's　capture　until　you　can　spring　your　trap　at　the　cannery　in　Galveston。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Zacynthus　said　consideringly；　〃yes　by　god；　it　just　might