cc.themediterraneancaper2-第6部分

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eauty　and　mystery　of　a　Grecian　statue　　and　would　have　rated　near　perfection　except　for　a　round　pockmark　beside　her　　right　temple。　Ordinarily　the　scar　would　have　been　covered　by　her　shoulder　length　　black　hair　but　she　had　thrown　her　head　back　as　she　watched　the　sunrise　and　the　　ebony　strands　angled　back　behind　her　shoulders；　touching　the　sand　and　revealing　　the　thin　blemish。
　Suddenly　she　turned　and　caught　Pitt's　examining　stare。
　〃You're　supposed　to　be　watching　the　sunrise；〃　she　said　with　a　bemused　smile。
　〃I've　seen　sunrises　before；　but　this　is　the　first　time　I've　ever　e　face　to　　face　with　a　lovely；　genuine　Grecian　Aphrodite。〃　Pitt　could　see　her　dark　brown　　eyes　flashing　with　enjoyment　at　his　pliment。
　〃Thank　you　for　the　flattery；　but　Aphrodite　was　the　Greek　goddess　of　love　and　　beauty；　and　I'm　only　half　Greek。〃
　〃What's　the　other　half？〃
　〃My　father　was　German。〃
　〃in　that　case　I　must　thank　the　gods　that　you　look　after　your　mother's　side。〃
　She　gave　a　pouting　glance。　〃You'd　better　not　let　my　uncle　hear　you　say　that。〃
　〃A　typical　kraut？
　〃Yes；　indeed。　In　fact　he's　why　I　happen　to　be　on　Thasos。〃
　〃Then　he　can't　be　all　bad；〃　Pitt　said；　admiring　her　hazel　eyes。　〃DO　you　live　　with　him？〃
　〃No；　actually　l　was　born　here　but　I　was　raised　in　England。　I　suffered　through　　school　there　and　when　I　was　eighteen　I　fell　in　love　with　a　dashing　motorcar　　salesman　and　married　him。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　car　salesmen　could　be　dashing。〃
　She　ignored　his　sarcastic　remark　and　continued。　〃He　loved　to　race　cars　on　his　　time　off；　and　he　was　good　at　it　too。　He　won　trials　and　hill　climbs　and　sporting　　car　events；〃　She　shrugged　and　began　drawing　circles　in　the　sand　with　her　finger。　Her　voice　became　strange　and　husky。　〃Then　one　weekend　he　was　racing　a　　supercharged　MG。　It　was　raining；　and　he　skidded　off　the　course　and　hit　a　tree。　He　was　dead　before　I　could　reach　his　side。〃
　Pitt　sat　silent　for　a　minute；　staring　at　her　sad　face。　〃How　long　ago？〃　he　asked　　simply。
　〃It's　been　eight　and　a　half　years　now；〃　she　replied　in　a　whisper。
　Pitt　felt　dazed。　Then　anger　set　in。　What　a　waste；　he　thought。　What　a　rotten　　waste　for　a　beautiful　woman　like　her　to　grieve　over　a　dead　man　for　nearly　nine　　years。　The　more　he　thought　about　it　the　angrier　he　became。　He　could　see　tears　　welling　in　her　eyes　as　she　lost　herself　in　the　remembrance；　and　the　sight　　sickened　him。　He　reached；　over　and　gave　her　a　hard　backhand　slap　across　the　　face。
　Her　eyes　jerked　wide；　and　her　whole　body　tensed　from　the　sharp　blow。　It　was　as　　if　she　was　struck　by　a　bullet。　〃Why　did　you　strike　me？〃　she　gasped。
　〃Because　you　needed　it；　needed　it　badly；〃　he　Snapped。　〃That　torch　you　carry　　around　is　as　worn　out　as　an　overcoat。　I'm　surprised　someone　hasn't　taken　you　　over　a　knee　and　spanked　it　off。　So　your　husband　was　dashing。　So　what？　He's　dead　　and　buried；　and　mourning　over　him　for　all　these　years　won't　resurrect　him　from　　the　grave。　Lock　away　his　memory　somewhere　and　f　orget　him。　You're　a　beautiful　　woman…you　don't　belong　chained　to　a　coffin　full　of　bones。　You　belong　to　every　　man　who　turns　and　admires　you　as　you　pass　by　and　who　longs　to　possess　you。〃　Pitt　　could　see　his　words　were　penetrating　her　weak　defenses。　〃Now　you　think　about　it。　It's　your　life。　Don't　throw　it　away　and　play　'Camille'　until　you're　withered　and　　gray。〃
　Her　face　was　distraught　in　the　morning　sun；　and　her　breath　came　in　sobs。　Pitt　　let　her　cry　for　a　long　time。　When　she　finally　raised　her　head　and　turned　it　　towards　him；　he　could　see　that　her　cheeks　were　streaked　with　tears；　mixed　with　　tiny　grains　of　sand；　clinging　to　the　wetness。　She　looked　up　at　him；　and　he　　caught　the　gleam　in　her　eyes。　They　were　soft　and　scared…looking；　like　a　little　　girl's。'　He　lifted　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。　Her　lips　were　warm　and　moist。
　〃When　was　the　last　time　you　had　a　man？〃　he　whispered　。
　〃Not　since。。　。〃　Her　voice　trailed　away。
　Pitt　took　her　as　the　long　shadows　of　the　rocks　crept　upward　over　the　beach；　　shielding　their　bodies　from　the　sun。　A　flight　of　sandpipers　circled　overhead　and　　descended　upon　the　damp　sand　at　the　water's　edge。　They　scurried　back　and　forth；　　playing　tag　with　the　surf。　Every　so　often　one　of　the　birds　would　cast　a　beady　　eye　at　the　two　lovers　in　the　shade；　staring　for　a　fleeting　instant　before　　returning　to　the　chore　of　stabbing　its　long　curved　beak　in　the　sand　for　food。
　　　The　shadows　shortened　as　the　sun　rose　higher　in　the　sky。　A　fishing　boat　chugged　　by　a　hundred　yards　from　the　end　of　the　rocks。
　The　fishermen；　dropping　their　nets　in　the　water；　were　too　busy　to　notice　　anything　unusual　on　the　shore。　At　last　Pitt　drew　back　and　gazed　down　at　Teri's　　serene　and　smiling　face。
　〃I　don't　know　whether　to　ask　for　your　thanks　or　your　forgiveness；〃　he　said　　softly。
　〃Please　accept　them　both　along　with　my　blessing；〃　she　murmured。
　He　kissed　her　lightly　on　the　eyes。　〃See　what　you've　been　missing　all　these　　years；〃　he　said　grinning。
　〃I　agree。　You've　certainly　shown　me　a　wonderful　antidote　for　my　depression。〃
　〃I　always　prescribe　seduction。　It's　guaranteed　to　cure　any　and　all　rare　maladies　　and　mon　ailments。〃
　〃And　what　is　your　fee；　doctor？〃　she　said；　acpanied　with　a　feminine　giggle。
　〃Consider　it　paid　in　full。〃
　〃You're　not　going　to　get　off　that　easily。　I　must　insist　you　e　to　my　uncle's　　house　for　dinner　tonight。〃
　〃I　shall　consider　it　an　honor；〃　he　said。　〃What　time　and　how　do　I　get　there？〃
　〃I'll　have　my　uncle's　driver　pick　you　up　at　the　entrance　to　Brady　Field　at　6　　o'clock。〃
　Pitt's　eyebrows　raised。　〃What　makes　you　think　I'm　stationed　at　Brady　Field？〃
　〃You're　obviously　an　American　and　that's　where　all　the　Americans　on　the　island　　are。〃　Teri　grasped　his　hand　and　pressed　it　to　her　face。　〃Tell　me　about　　your…self。　What　type　of　job　do　you　perform　in　your　Air　Force？　Do　you　fly？　Are　　you　an　officer？〃
　Pitt　did　his　best　to　look　serious。　〃I'm　the　base　garbage　collector。〃
　Her　eyes　opened　wide　in　surprise。　〃Are　you　really？　You're　much　too　intelligent　　to　be　a　garbage　collector。〃
　She　looked　into　his　strong　tan　face　and　his　intense　green　eyes。　〃Oh　well；　I　　won't　hold　your　occupation　against　you。　Have　you　been　promoted　to　sergeant　yet？'
　〃No。　I've　never　been　a　sergeant〃
　Suddenly　a　bright　flash　in　the　rocks　about　two　hundred　feet　away　caught　Pitt's　　attention。　A　shiny　object　reflected　the　sun's　rays　for　a　brief　instant　He　　watched　the　area　where　the　glint　had　shown　but　could　detect　no　further　flash　or　　movement。
　Teri　felt　him　tense。　〃Is　something　the　matter？〃　she　asked。
　〃No；　nothing；〃　Pitt　lied。　〃I　thought　I　saw　something　floating　in　the　water；　but　　it's　disappeared　now。　He　looked　at　her　upraised　face；　and　his　eyes　turned　　devilish。　〃Well　I'd　better　be　getting　back　to　the　base；　I've　got　a　lot　of　　garbage　to　collect〃
　〃I　should　return　also。　My　uncle　will　probably　wonder　what　happened　to　me。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　him？〃
　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　she　laughed。　She　stood　up　and　brushed　the　sand　from　her　body　　and　adjusted　the　bikini。
　Pitt　smiled；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃Why　is　it　women　always　seem　so　shy　and　demure　　before　they've　been　laid　yet　so　sparkling　and　carefree　after？〃
　She　shrugged　lightheartedly。　〃I　guess　it's　because　sex　releases　all　our　　frustrations　and　makes　us　feel　earthy。〃　Her　brown　eyes　flashed　with　intensity。　〃You　see；　we　women　have　animal　instincts　too。〃
　Pitt　playfully　slapped　her　on　the　buttocks。　〃e　on；　I'll　walk　you　home。〃
　〃You've　got　a　long　walk。　My　uncle's　villa　is　in　the　mountains　behind　Liminas。〃
　〃Where　are　the　mountains　and　where　is　Liminas？〃
　〃Liminas　is　a　small　village　about　six　miles　up　the　road；〃　she　said　pointing　　north。　〃But　I　don't　understand　what　you　mean　by　asking　about　the　mountains？　Her　　pointing　hand　swung　toward　the　inland　slopes　a　mile　behind　the　road。　〃What　do　　you　call　those？〃
　〃In　California；　where　I　e　from；　we　call　anything　under　three　thousand　feet　of　　　elevation　hills。〃
　〃You　Yanks　are　always　bragging。〃
　〃It's　a　great　American　pastime。〃
　They　leisurely　walked　up　the　path　from　the　cove。
　On　the　shoulder；　off　to　one　side　of　the　blacktop；　sat　a　sporty　little　open…top　　Mini…Cooper。　The　British　racing　green　paint　on　the　tiny　car　was　barely　visible　　beneath　an　outer　coating　of　Thasas　dust
　〃How　do　you　like　my　smashing　Grand　Prix　racing　car？〃　Teri　asked　proudly。　Pitt　laughed；　not　so　much　at　her　exaggerated　statement　but　rather　the　British　　use　of　the　word　smashing　in　reference　to　a　car。　〃By　jove；　that's　a　bit　of　all　　right；〃　he　said；　mimicking　her　native　terminology。　〃Is　it　yours？〃
　〃Yes；　I　purchased　it　new　in　London　just　last　month　and　drove　it　all　the　way　from　　Le　Havre。〃
　〃How　long　will　you　be　staying　with　your　uncle？
　〃I　took　a　three　month　holiday　so　I'll　be　here　at　least　another　six　weeks。　Then　　I'm　going　to　return　home　by　boat。　The　drive　across　the　continent　was　fun　but　far　　too　tiring。〃
　Pitt　opened　the　door　for　her；　and　she　slid　behind　the　steering　wheel。　She　groped　　under　the　front　seat　for　a　moment　and　pulled　out　a　set　of　keys。　She　inserted　one　　in　the　ignition　and　started　the　engine。　The　exhaust　coughed　once　and　then　　blasted　forth　with　a　nasty　little　growl。
　He　leaned　on　the　dusty　door　and　lightly　kissed　her。
　〃I　hope　your　uncle　won't　be　waiting　for　me　with　a　shotgun。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　he'll