cc.vixen03-第46部分

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tate　of　stupor　by　frequent　injections　of　a　mild　sedative。　Unfamiliar　faces　appeared　and　reappeared　as　the　hood　was　temporarily　removed；　their　features　floating　in　an　ethereal　haze　before　blackness　closed　in　once　more。
　The　truck　braked　to　a　halt　and　he　heard　muffled　voices。　Then　the　driver　shifted　gears　and　moved　forward；　stopping　again　in　less　than　a　mile。
　Lusana　heard　the　rear　doors　open　and　he　felt　two　pairs　of　hands　pick　him　up　roughly　and　carry　his　numbed　body　up　some　kind　of　ramp。　Strange　sounds　came　out　of　the　darkness。　The　blast　of　a　distant　air　horn。　Metallic　clanging；　as　though　steel　doors　were　being　opened　and　slammed　shut。　He　also　detected　the　smells　of　fresh　paint　and　oil。
　He　was　unceremoniously　dumped　on　another　hard　floor　and　left　there　as　his　bearers　faded　out　of　earshot。　The　next　thing　he　sensed　was　the　rope's　being　cut　from　his　body。　Then　the　hood　was　removed。　The　only　light　came　from　a　small　incandescent　red　bulb　on　one　wall。
　For　nearly　a　full　minute　Lusana　lay　there　motionless　while　the　circula…tion　slowly　awakened　his　agonized　limbs。　He　screwed　up　his　eyes　and　squinted。　It　appeared　to　him　that　he　was　on　the　bridge　of　a　ship。　The　red　glow　from　above　revealed　a　helm　and　large　console　dotted　with　multicolored　lights　that　reflected　off　a　long　row　of　square　windows　embedded　in　three　of　four　gray　walls。
　Above　Lusana；　still　holding　the　hood　in　his　hand；　was　a　huge　mass　of　a　man。　Looking　like　a　distorted　giant；　from　Lusana's　prone　position　on　the　deck；　the　man　stared　down　from　a　kindly　face　and　smiled。　Lusana　was　not　taken　in。　He　well　knew　that　most　hardened　killers　flashed　angelic　expressions　before　slitting　their　victims'　throats。　And　yet　the　face　on　this　man　seemed　strangely　innocent　of　bloodthirsty　intent。　Instead；　he　exuded　a　detached　sort　of　curiosity。
　〃You　are　Hiram　Lusana。〃　The　deep　bass　voice　echoed　against　the　steel　bulkheads。
　〃I　am；〃　Lusana　answered　hoarsely。　His　voice　sounded　odd　to　him。　He　had　not　used　it　in　nearly　four　days。
　〃You　don't　know　how　much　I've　looked　forward　to　meeting　you；〃　the　giant　said。
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃Does　the　name　Fawkes　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　〃Should　it？〃　Lusana　said；　determined　to　resist。
　〃Aye；　it's　a　terrible　thing　when　you　forget　the　names　of　the　people　you've　murdered。〃
　A　realization　mushroomed　within　Lusana。　〃Fawkes　。。。　the　raid　on　the　Fawkes　farm；　in　Natal。〃
　〃My　wife　and　children　cut　down。　My　house　burned。　You　even　slaughtered　my　workers。　Whole　families　with　the　same　skin　as　yours。〃
　〃Fawkes　。　。　。　you're　Fawkes；〃　Lusana　repeated；　his　drugged　mind　fighting　to　grasp　a　bearing。
　〃I'm　satisfied　the　filthy　business　was　done　by　the　AAR；〃　said　Fawkes；　a　subtle　hardening　in　his　voice。　〃They　were　your　men；　you　gave　the　orders。〃
　〃I　was　not　responsible。〃　The　fog　was　lifting　from　Lusana's　head　and　he　was　ing　back　on　balance；　inwardly　at　least。　His　arms　and　legs　would　not　respond　to　mand。　〃I'm　sorry　for　what　happened　to　your　family。　A　tragic　bloodletting　that　had　no　rhyme　or　reason。　But　you　will　have　to　look　elsewhere　to　place　the　blame。　My　men　were　innocent。〃
　〃Aye；　a　denial　was　to　be　expected。〃
　〃What　do　you　intend　to　do　with　me？〃　Lusana　asked；　his　eyes　without　fear。
　Fawkes　looked　out　the　bridge　windows。　It　was　pitch　dark　outside　and　a　light　mist　coated　the　glass。　There　was　a　strange　kind　of　sadness　in　his　eyes。
　He　turned　to　Lusana。　〃We're　going　to　take　a　little　trip；　you　and　I；　a　trip　with　no　return　ticket。〃
　
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　The　taxi　passed　through　a　back　gate　of　the　Washington　National　Airport　at　precisely　nine　thirty　P。M。　and　dropped　Jarvis　behind　a　solitary　hangar　that　sat　on　a　seldom…used　end　of　the　field。　Except　for　a　faint　glow　of　light　through　the　dusty　glass　of　a　side　door；　the　giant　building　seemed　bleak　and　cavernous。　He　pushed　open　the　door　and　was　mildly　surprised　not　to　hear　it　creak。　The　well…oiled　hinges　pivoted　without　a　whisper。
　The　yawning　interior　was　brilliantly　illuminated　by　overhead　fluores…cent　lighting。　A　venerable　old　Ford　trimotor　aircraft　sat　like　a　huge　goose　in　the　center　of　the　concrete　floor；　its　wings　protectively　reaching　out　over　several　antique　automobiles　in　various　stages　of　restoration。　Jarvis　walked　over　to　a　car　that　seemed　no　more　than　a　pile　of　rusted　iron。　A　pair　of　feet　protruded　from　beneath　the　radiator。
　〃You　are　Mr。　Pitt？〃　Jarvis　inquired。
　〃And　you　are　Mr。　Jarvis？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Pitt　rolled　from　under　the　car　and　sat　up。　〃I　see　you　found　my　humble　abode　all　right。〃
　Jarvis　hesitated；　taking　in　Pitt's　greasy　coveralls　and　disheveled　ap…pearance。　〃You　live　here？〃
　〃I　have　an　apartment　upstairs；〃　Pitt　said；　pointing　to　a　glass…enclosed　level　above　the　hangar　floor。
　〃You　have　a　nice　collection；〃　said　Jarvis；　gesturing　at　the　relics。　〃What　is　the　one　over　there　with　the　black　fenders　and　silver　coach　work？〃
　〃A　1936　Maybach…Zeppelin　town　car；〃　Pitt　answered。
　〃And　the　one　you're　working　on？〃
　〃A　1912　Renault　open…drive　landaulette。〃
　〃　Seems　a　bit　the　worse　for　wear；〃　said　Jarvis；　wiping　a　finger　through　a　layer　of　rust。
　Pitt　smiled　patiently。　〃She　doesn't　really　look　all　that　bad　when　you　consider　she's　been　immersed　in　the　sea　for　seventy　years。〃
　Jarvis　understood　immediately。　〃From　the　Titanic1？〃
　〃Yes。　I　was　allowed　to　keep　her　after　the　salvage　project。　Sort　of　a　prize　for　services　rendered；　so　to　speak。〃
　Pitt　led　the　way　up　a　flight　of　stairs　to　his　apartment。　Jarvis　entered　and　his　professional　eye　routinely　traveled　over　the　unusual　furnishings。　The　occupant　was　a　well…traveled　man；　he　surmised；　judging　from　the　nauti…cal　objects　decorating　the　interior。　Copper　divers'　helmets　from　another　age。　Mariners'　passes；　wooden　helms；　ships'　bells；　even　old　nails　and　bottles；　all　neatly　labeled　with　the　names　of　famous　ships　from　which　Pitt　had　salvaged　them。　It　was　like　looking　into　a　museum　of　a　man's　life。
　Jarvis　sank　into　a　leather　sofa　at　Pitt's　invitation。　He　looked　his　host　directly　in　the　eyes。　〃Do　you　know　me；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Yet　you　had　no　qualms　about　seeing　me。〃
　〃Who　can　resist　intrigue？〃　Pitt　said；　grinning。　〃It's　not　every　day　I　find　a　note　on　my　windshield　with　a　phone　number　that　turns　out　to　be　the　National　Security　Agency。〃
　〃You　guessed；　of　course；　that　you　were　being　followed。〃
　Pitt　reclined　in　a　leather　chair　and　propped　his　feet　on　an　ottoman。　〃Let's　sack　the　wordplay；　Mr。　Jarvis；　and　get　to　the　point。　What's　your　sport？〃
　〃Sport？〃
　〃Your　interest　in　me。〃
　〃Okay；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃Cards　on　the　table。　What　is　the　real　purpose　behind　NUMA's　search　for　a　special　type　of　heavy　naval　shell？〃　〃Sure　you　wouldn't　like　a　drink？〃　Pitt　countered。　〃No　thanks；〃　Jarvis　answered；　appraising　Pitt's　casual　stall。　〃If　you　know　we're　in　the　market；　then　you　know　why。〃　〃Seismological　tests　on　coral　formations？〃　Pitt　nodded。
　Jarvis　stretched　his　arms　out　on　the　sofa's　backrest。　〃When　do　you　have　the　tests　scheduled？〃
　〃The　last　two　weeks　of　March　next　year。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Jarvis　gave　Pitt　a　benign；　fatherly　look　and　then　lunged　for　the　heart。　〃I've　talked　to　four　seismologists；　two　from　your　own　agency。　They　do　not　subscribe　to　your　idea　of　dropping　sixteen…inch　naval　shells　from　an　airplane。　In　fact；　they　found　it　downright　ludicrous。　I　was　also　informed　that　there　are　no　seismographic　tests　scheduled　by　NUMA　in　the　Pacific。　In　short；　Mr。　Pitt；　your　clever　little　dodge　won't　hold　water。〃　Pitt　closed　his　eyes　in　thought。　He　could　lie；　or　simply　offer　no　ment。　No；　he　reasoned；　his　alternatives　had　narrowed　down　to　zero。　There　was　virtually　no　hope　that　he　and　Steiger　and　Sandecker　could　negotiate　a　quick　return　of　the　QD　warheads　from　the　AAR。　They　had　carried　the　search　as　far　as　their　limited　resources　could　take　them。　The　time　had　e；　he　decided；　to　call　in　the　professionals。
　He　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　at　Jarvis。　〃　If　it　were　within　my　power　to　place　in　the　palm　of　your　hand　a　plague　organism　that　could　kill　without　interruption　for　three　hundred　years；　what　would　you　do　with　it？〃
　Pitt's　question　caught　Jarvis　off　guard。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　driving　at。〃
　〃The　question　stands；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Is　it　a　weapon？〃　；　　　　；　Pitt　nodded。
　An　uneasy　feeling　gripped　Jarvis。　〃I　know　of　no　such　weapon。　Chemi…cal　and　biological　arms　were　effectively　and　unconditionally　banned　by　every　member　of　the　United　Nations　ten　years　ago。〃　〃Please　answer　the　question；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Turn　it　over　to　our　government；　I　suppose。〃　〃Are　you　certain　that's　the　correct　course？〃
　〃Good　God；　man；　what　do　you　want？　The　case　is　purely　hypotheti…cal。〃
　〃Such　a　weapon　must　be　destroyed；〃　said　Pitt。　His　green　eyes　seemed　to　burn　into　the　back　of　Jarvis's　brain。
　There　was　a　short　silence。　Then　Jarvis　said；　〃Does　one　truly　exist？〃　〃It　does。〃
　The　pieces　were　falling　into　place；　and　for　the　first　time　in　all　the　years　he　could　remember；　Jarvis　wished　he　hadn't　been　so　damned　efficient。　He　looked　at　Pitt　and　smiled　thinly。
　〃I'll　have　that　drink　now；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃And　then　I　think　you　and　I　should　exchange　some　very　disturbing　news。〃
　It　was　past　midnight　when　Phil　Sawyer　stopped　the　car　in　front　of　Loren's　apartment　building。　He　was　what　most　women　thought　a　hand…some　man；　with　a　solid　face　and　a　neatly　styled　mass　of　prematurely　gray　hair