cc.vixen03-第27部分

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3　was　an　Air　Force　plane　piloted　by　an　Air　Force　crew；　its　flight　orders　could　only　be　authorized　by　an　Air　Force　officer。〃
　〃So　tell　me　something　I　don't　know。〃
　〃Okay；　wiseass；　I　admit　it　threw　me；　too；　particularly　the　part　where　a　search　through　Air　Force　personnel　files　failed　to　find　any　name　that　matched　up　with　the　known　characters　of　our　mystery　officer's　name。　Then　it　occurred　to　me：　'admiral'　is　also　a　seven　letter　word；　and　its　fifth　character　is　also　an　R。〃
　Pitt　felt　as　though　the　reigning　heavyweight　champion　had　suddenly　rammed　a　right　hand　into　his　lower　gut。　〃Admiral〃…the　word　ricocheted　through　his　mind。　Nobody　had　thought　to　consider　that　an　Air　Force　plane　might　have　been　carrying　naval　hardware。　Then　a　sobering　thought　brought　Pitt　back　to　earth。
　〃A　name？〃　he　asked；　almost　afraid　of　the　answer。　〃Were　you　able　to　e　up　with　a　name？〃
　〃All　very　elementary　for　a　prying　mind　like　mine。　The　first　name　was　easy。　Six　letters　with　three　known；　two　blanks　with　LT　followed　by　another　blank　and　then　an　R。　That　gave　me　'Walter。'　Now　es　the　piece　de　resistance：　the　surname。　Four　letters　beginning　with　B　and　ending　with　5。　And；　since　'Bullshit'　didn't　fit　and　I　already　had　the　guy's　rank　and　first　name；　a　puter　search　through　Bureau　files　and　Navy　records　quickly　made　a　match：　'Admiral　Walter　Horatio　Bass。'　〃
　Pitt　probed　further。　〃If　Bass　was　an　admiral　back　in　1954；　he　must　be　either　past　eighty　years　old　or　dead…most　likely　dead。〃
　〃Pessimism　will　get　you　nowhere；〃　said　Buckner。　〃Bass　was　a　whiz　kid。　I　read　his　file。　It's　most　impressive。。　He　got　his　first　star　when　he　was　still　thirty…eight　years　old。　For　a　while　it　looked　like　he　was　headed　for　Naval　Chief　of　Staff。　But　then　he　must　have　pulled　a　no…no　or　mouthed　off　to　a　superior；　because　he　was　suddenly　transferred　and　placed　in　mand　of　a　minor　boondocks　fleet　base　in　the　Indian　Ocean；　which　is　like　being　exiled　to　the　Gobi　Desert　to　an　ambitious　naval　officer。　He　then　retired　in　October　of　1959。　He'll　be　seventy…seven　next　December。〃
　〃Are　you　telling　me　Bass　is　still　around？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃He's　listed　on　the　Navy's　retirement　rolls。〃
　〃How　about　an　address？〃
　〃Bass　owns　and　operates　a　country　inn　just　south　of　Lexington；　Virginia；　called　Anchorage　House。　You　know　the　kind…no　pets　or　kids　allowed。　Fifteen　rooms　plete　with　antique　plumbing　and　four…poster　beds；　all　slept　in　by　George　Washington。〃
　〃Paul；　I　owe　you　one。〃
　〃Care　to　let　me　in　on　it？〃
　〃Too　early。〃
　〃You　sure　it's　not　some　hanky…panky　the　Bureau　should　know　about？〃
　〃It's　not　in　your　jurisdiction。〃
　〃That　figures。〃
　〃Thanks　again。〃
　〃Okay；　buddy。　Write　when　you　find　work。〃
　Pitt　hung　up　the　receiver　and　took　a　slow　breath　and　grinned。　Another　veil　of　the　enigma　had　been　pulled　aside。　He　decided　not　to　contact　Abe　Steiger；　not　just　yet。　He　looked　up　at　Folsom。
　〃Can　you　cover　for　me　over　the　weekend？〃
　Folsom　grinned　back。　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　insinuate　the　boss　isn't　essential　to　the　operation；　but　what　the　hell；　I　think　we　can　muddle　through　the　next　forty…eight　hours　without　your　exalted　presence。　What　you　got　cooking？〃
　〃A　thirty…four…year…old　mystery；〃　said　Pitt。　〃I'm　going　to　dig　out　the　answers　while　relaxing　in　the　peace　and　quiet　of　a　quaint　country　inn。〃
　Folsom　peered　at　him　for　several　seconds；　and　then；　seeing　nothing　behind　Pitt's　green　eyes；　gave　up　and　turned　back　to　the　blackboard。
　
　31
　
　On　the　morning　flight　into　Richmond；　Pitt　looked　like　any　one　of　a　dozen　other　passengers　who　seemed　to　be　dozing。　His　eyes　were　closed；　but　his　mind　was　churning　over　the　enigma　of　the　plane　in　the　lake。　It　was　unlike　the　Air　Force　to　sweep　an　accident　under　the　rug；　he　thought。　Under　normal　circumstances；　a　full…scale　investigation　would　have　been　launched　to　determine　why　the　crew　had　strayed　so　far　off　the　charted　course。　Logical　answers　eluded　him；　and　he　opened　his　eyes　when　the　Eastern　Airlines　jet　touched　down　and　began　taxiing　up　to　the　terminal。
　Pitt　rented　a　car　and　drove　through　the　Virginia　countryside。　The　lovely；　rolling　landscape　imparted　mingled　aromas　of　pine　and　fall　rains。　Just　past　noon　he　turned　off　Interstate　Eighty…one　and　drove　into　Lexington。　Not　pausing　to　enjoy　the　quaint　architecture　of　the　town；　he　angled　south　on　a　narrow　state　highway。　He　soon　came　to　a　sign　pic…turesquely　out　of　place　with　the　rural　surroundings；　designed　with　a　〃。　nautical　anchor　weling　guests　and　pointing　up　a　gravel　road　toward　the　inn。
　There　was　no　one　behind　the　desk　and　Pitt　was　reluctant　to　break　the　silence　in　the　neat　and　meticulously　dusted　lobby。　He　was　about　to　say　the　hell　with　it　and　hit　the　bell　when　a　tall　woman；　almost　as　tall　as　he　in　her　riding　boots；　entered　carrying　a　high…backed　chair。　She　looked　to　be　in　her　early　thirties　and　wore　jeans　and　a　matching　denim　blouse　with　a　red　bandana　tied　over　her　ash…blond　hair。　Her　skin　displayed　almost　no　evidence　of　a　summer　tan　but　had　the　smoothness　of　a　fashion　model's。　Something　about　her　unruffled　expression　at　abruptly　noticing　a　stranger　suggested　to　him　a　woman　who　was　high　bred；　the　kind　who　is　taught　to　act　reserved　under　any　circumstances　short　of　fire　and　earthquake。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said；　setting　the　chair　down　beside　a　beautifully　proportioned　candle　stand。　〃I　didn't　hear　you　drive　up。〃
　〃That's　an　interesting　chair；〃　he　said。　〃Shaker；　isn't　it？〃
　She　looked　at　him　approvingly。　〃Yes；　made　by　Elder　Henry　Blinn；　of　Canterbury。〃
　〃You　have　many　valuable　pieces　here。〃
　〃Admiral　Bass；　the　owner；　〃gets　the　credit　for　what　you　see。〃　She　moved　behind　the　desk。　〃He's　quite　an　authority　on　antique　collecting；　you　know。〃
　〃I　wasn't　aware　of　that。〃
　〃Do　you　wish　a　room？〃
　〃Yes；　for　tonight　only。〃
　〃A　pity　you　can't　stay　longer。　A　local　stock　theater　opens　in　our　barn　the　evening　after　next。〃
　〃I've　a　knack　for　poor　timing；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling。
　Her　return　smile　was　thin　and　formal。　She　spun　the　register　around　for　him　and　he　signed　it。
　〃Room　fourteen。　Up　the　stairs　and　three　doors　to　your　left；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　She　had　read　his　name　upside　down　as　he　signed　it。　〃I'm　Heidi　Milligan。　If　you　need　anything；　just　push　the　buzzer　by　your　door。　I'll　get　the　message　sooner　or　later。　I　hope　you　won't　mind　carrying　your　own　luggage　up。〃
　〃I'll　manage。　Is　the　admiral　handy？　I'd　like　to　talk　to　him　about　。　。　。　about　antiques。〃
　She　pointed　through　a　double　screen　door　at　the　end　of　the　lobby。　〃You'll　find　him　down　by　the　duck　pond；　clearing　away　lily　pads。〃
　Pitt　nodded　and　headed　in　the　direction　Heidi　Milligan　had　indicated。　The　door　opened　onto　a　footpath　that　meandered　down　a　gently　sloping　hill。　Admiral　Bass　had　wisely　chosen　not　to　landscape　Anchorage　House。　The　surrounding　grounds　had　been　left　to　nature　and　were　covered　with　pines　and　late…blooming　wildflowers。　For　a　moment　Pitt　forgot　his　mission　and　soaked　up　the　scenic　quiet　that　hemmed　in　the　trail　to　the　pond。
　He　found　an　elderly　man；　in　hip　boots　and　brandishing　a　pitchfork；　aggressively　attacking　a　circular　growth　of　water　lilies　about　eight　feet　from　shore。　The　admiral　was　a　big　man　and　he　threw　the　tangled　root　stocks　onto　the　bank　with　the　ease　of　someone　thirty　years　younger。　He　wore　no　hat　under　the　Virginia　sun　and　the　sweat　rolled　free　from　his　bald　head　and　trickled　off　the　ends　of　his　nose　and　chin。
　〃Admiral　Walter　Bass？〃　Pitt　said；　hailing　him。
　The　pitchfork　stopped　in　mid…throw。　〃Yes；　I'm　Walter　Bass。〃
　〃Sir；　my　name　is　Dirk　Pitt；　and　I　wonder　if　I　might　have　a　word　with　you？〃
　〃Sure；　go　right　ahead；〃　said　Bass；　finishing　the　toss。　〃Pardon　me　if　I　keep　after　these　damned　weeds；　but　I　want　to　clear　out　as　much　as　I　can　before　dinner。　If　I　didn't　do　this　at　least　twice　a　week　before　winter；　they'd　choke　off　the　whole　pond　e　spring。〃
　Pitt　stepped　back　as　a　flying　wad　of　tuberous　stems　and　heart…shaped　leaves　splattered　at　his　feet。　To　him；　at　least；　it　was　an　awkward　situa…tion；　and　he　wasn't　sure　how　to　handle　it。　The　admiral's　back　was　to　him；　and　Pitt　hesitated。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　plunged。　〃I'd　like　to　ask　you　several　questions　concerning　an　aircraft　with　the　code　designation　Vixen　03。〃
　Bass　kept　at　his　labor　without　a　pause；　but　the　whitened　knuckles　around　the　handle　of　the　pitchfork　did　not　go　unnoticed　by　Pitt。
　〃Vixen　03；〃　he　said；　and　shrugged。　〃Doesn't　ring　a　bell。　Should　it？〃
　〃It　was　a　Military　Air　Transport　Service　plane　that　vanished　back　in　1954。〃
　〃That　was　a　long　time　ago。〃　Bass　stared　vacantly　at　the　water。　〃No；　I　can't　recall　any　connection　with　a　MATS　aircraft；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Not　surprising；　though。　I　was　a　surface　officer　throughout　my　thirty　years　in　the　Navy。　Heavy　ordnance　was　my　specialty。〃
　〃Do　you　recall　ever　meeting　a　major　in　the　Air　Force　by　the　name　of　Vylander？〃
　〃Vylander？〃　Bass　shook　his　head。　〃Can't　say　as　I　have。〃　Then　he　looked　at　Pitt　speculatively。　〃What　was　your　name　again？　Why　are　you　asking　me　these　questions？〃
　〃My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt；〃　he　said　again。　〃I'm　with　the　National　Under…water　and　Marine　Agency。　I　found　some　old　papers　that　stated　you　were　the　officer　who　authorized　Vixen　03's　flight　orders。〃
　〃There　must　be　a　mistake。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Maybe　the　mystery　will　be　cleared　up　when　the　wreck　of　the　a