p&c.brimstone-第95部分

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is　backup　weapon　and　handed　it　to　him。　With　a　huge　sense　of　foreboding；　D'Agosta　reluctantly　gave　the　man　his　own　as　well。　
　〃Now　search　them；〃　said　the　count。　
　〃You　first；　Mr。　Pendergast；〃　Fabbri　said　in　a　heavily　accented　voice。　〃Remove　your　jacket　and　your　shirt。　Then　stand　over　there　with　your　arms　up。〃　
　Pendergast　did　as　ordered；　handing　each　article　of　clothing　to　Fabbri。　When　Pendergast　removed　his　shirt；　D'Agosta　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　the　agent　wore　a　chain　around　his　neck；　with　a　small　pendant　attached：　a　strange　design　of　a　lidless　eye　hovering　over　the　image　of　a　phoenix；　rising　from　the　ashes　of　a　fire。　
　One　of　the　peasants　shoved　Pendergast　toward　the　wall。　Fabbri　began　patting　him　down　expertly。　He　quickly　found　a　stiletto。　
　〃There　will　be　lock…picking　tools　as　well；〃　said　the　count。　
　Fabbri　searched　Pendergast's　collar　and　cuffs；　finally　removing　a　small　tool　kit　held　there　with　Velcro。　Other　things　appeared：　a　syringe　and　needle；　some　small　test　tubes。　
　〃You've　got　quite　an　arsenal　tucked　away　in　that　suit　of　yours；〃　Fosco　said。　〃Fabbri；　set　it　all　on　the　table　over　here；　if　you　please。〃　
　Removing　a　stitching　knife；　Fabbri　proceeded　to　cut　open　the　linings　of　Pendergast's　suit；　searching　them　thoroughly。　Out　came　other　items…tweezers；　some　small　folded　packets　of　chemicals…which　the　man　placed　on　the　table。　
　〃His　mouth。　Check　his　mouth。〃　
　The　man　opened　Pendergast's　mouth；　checked　his　teeth；　looked　under　his　tongue。　
　D'Agosta　recoiled　in　horror　at　this　indignity。　With　the　discovery　of　each　additional　tool；　he'd　felt　his　hopes　dim　further。　But　Pendergast　had　a　lot　of　tricks　up　his　sleeve。　He'd　get　them　out　of　this　somehow。　
　Fabbri　directed　Pendergast　to　step　to　one　side　and　bend　his　head　forward　so　he　could　search　his　hair。　Pendergast　plied；　his　arms　still　raised；　positioning　himself　so　he　was　facing　away　from　the　half…circle　of　men　and　the　count；　who　was　examining　the　items　on　the　table　with　murmurs　of　interest。　Now　Fabbri's　back　was　turned　to　D'Agosta；　while　Pendergast　was　facing　him。　And　D'Agosta　was　amazed　at　what　he　saw。　
　He　saw　Pendergast；　moving　his　hands　ever　so　slightly；　extract　a　tiny　piece　of　metal　from　between　the　ring　and　little　fingers　of　his　left　hand。　Somehow　he　had　managed　to　palm　this　at　the　beginning　of　the　search。　
　〃All　right；〃　Fabbri　said。　〃Lower　your　arms　and　step　over　here。〃　
　Pendergast　did　as　directed。　With　a　motion　so　fleeting　D'Agosta　wasn't　even　sure　he'd　seen　it；　Pendergast　tucked　the　piece　of　metal　beneath　Fabbri's　own　jacket　collar…using　the　man　himself　as　a　hiding　place。　
　Next；　Fabbri　examined　Pendergast's　shoes；　cutting　off　the　heels　with　a　knife　and　stabbing　through　the　sole　in　several　places。　This　produced　a　second　lock…picking　set。　He　frowned　and　returned　once　again　to　Pendergast's　suit。　
　At　last；　the　search　was　pleted；　leaving　Pendergast's　clothes　in　tatters。　
　〃Now　the　other　one；〃　said　Fosco。　
　They　repeated　the　same　process　with　D'Agosta；　stripping　him　and　unstitching　everything；　subjecting　him　to　the　same　humiliating　search。　
　〃I　would　leave　you　both　bare；〃　said　the　count；　〃but　the　dungeons　of　this　castle　areso　damp。　I　would　hate　to　see　you　catch　cold。〃　He　nodded　toward　their　clothes。　〃Get　dressed。〃　
　They　did　so。　
　Fabbri　spun　them　around　and　manacled　their　hands　behind　their　backs。〃Andiamoci。〃　
　The　count　turned　and　stepped　out　of　the　apartment。　Fabbri　followed；　then　Pendergast　and　D'Agosta。　The　half　dozen　thugs　brought　up　the　rear。　
　Down　the　circular　staircase　they　went；　out　of　the　keep　and　back　into　the　ancient　rooms　of　the　castle。　The　count　led　the　way　back　to　the　diningsalotto　；　then　through　the　kitchen　and　into　a　large；　drafty　pantry。　An　arched　opening　was　set　into　the　far　wall；　with　a　staircase　descending　out　of　sight。　The　group　descended　this　into　a　deep；　vaulted　tunnel；　its　walls　weeping　moisture　and　encrusted　with　calcite　crystals。　Silently　they　walked　past　storerooms　and　empty　galleries　of　stone。　
　〃Ecco；〃said　the　count；　stopping　before　a　low　doorway。　Fabbri　stopped　in　turn；　and　Pendergast；　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　clumsily　stumbled　into　him　from　behind。　Fabbri　cursed　and　pushed　him　away；　sending　the　agent　sprawling　to　the　stone　floor。　
　〃Get　in；〃　said　the　count。　
　Pendergast　rose　to　his　feet　and　ducked　into　the　tiny　room　beyond　the　doorway。　D'Agosta　followed。　The　iron　door　slammed；　the　metal　key　turned；　and　they　were　in　darkness。　
　The　count's　face　appeared　at　the　small　grating　set　into　the　door。　
　〃You'll　be　secure　here；〃　he　said；　〃while　I　attend　to　a　few　final　details。　And　then　I　will　be　back。　You　see；　I　have　prepared　something　special；　somethingfitting　；　for　you　both。　For　Pendergast；　a　literary　end…something　out　of　Poe；　actually。　And　for　D'Agosta；　murderer　of　my　Pinchetti；　I　will　use　my　microwave　device　one　more　time　before　destroying　it；　and　with　it　the　last　evidence　of　my　involvement　in　this　affair。〃　
　The　face　vanished。　A　moment　later；　the　faint　illumination　of　the　corridor　was　extinguished。　
　D'Agosta　sat　in　the　dark；　listening　to　the　echo　of　retreating　footsteps。　In　a　moment；　all　was　silent　save　for　the　faint　dripping　of　water　and　the　flutter　of　what　D'Agosta　thought　must　be　bats。　
　He　shifted；　pulled　his　torn　clothes　more　tightly　around　him。　Pendergast's　voice　came　to　him　through　the　darkness；　so　low　as　to　be　almost　inaudible。　
　〃I　don't　see　any　reason　to　delay　our　departure。　Do　you？〃　
　〃Was　that　a　lockpick　I　saw　you　hiding　under　Fabbri's　collar？〃　D'Agosta　whispered。　
　〃Of　course。　Most　obliging　of　him　to　carry　it　for　me。　Naturally；　I　stumbled　into　him　just　now　in　order　to　reclaim　it。　And　now　I　have　little　doubt　that　Fabbri　or　one　of　the　others　is　outside；　guarding　us。　Bang　on　the　door；　Vincent；　and　see　if　you　can't　get　a　response　from　him。〃　
　D'Agosta　banged　and　shouted：　〃Hey！　Let　us　out！Let　us　out！　〃　
　The　echoes　slowly　died　away　in　the　corridor　beyond。　
　Pendergast　touched　D'Agosta's　arm　and　whispered　again。　〃Keep　making　noise　while　I　pick　the　lock。〃　
　D'Agosta　shouted；　yelled；　and　swore。　A　minute　later；　Pendergast　touched　his　arm　once　again。　
　〃Done。　Now　listen。　The　man　waiting　in　the　dark　no　doubt　has　an　electric　torch；　which　he'll　turn　on　at　the　slightest　indication　of　funny　business。　I'm　going　to　find　him　and　take　care　of　him。　You　keep　making　noise　as　a　diversion；　and　to　cover　any　sounds　of　my　crawling　through　the　dark。〃　
　〃Okay。〃　
　D'Agosta　once　again　took　up　the　cry；　stomping　around　and　demanding　to　be　let　out。　It　was　pitch…black；　and　he　could　see　nothing　of　what　Pendergast　was　doing。　He　yelled　and　yelled。　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　thump　outside；　followed　by　a　thud。　Then　a　beam　of　light　stabbed　through　the　low　opening。　
　〃Excellent　work；　Vincent。〃　
　D'Agosta　ducked　back　out　beneath　the　low　doorway。　There；　about　twenty　feet　away；　was　Fabbri；　facedown　on　the　stone　floor；　arms　flung　wide。　
　〃Are　you　sure　there's　a　way　out　of　this　pile？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃You　heard　the　squeaking　of　bats。　Right？〃　
　〃Right。〃　
　〃There　must　be　a　way　out。〃　
　〃Yeah；　for　a　bat。〃　
　〃Where　bats　fly；　so　shall　we。　But　first　we　must　get　our　hands　on　the　machine。　It's　our　only　real　evidence　against　the　count。〃　
　　　
　81　
　
　They　made　their　way　back　through　the　dark　stonework　of　thestorage　cellars　and　furtively　climbed　the　ancient　stairway　to　the　pantry。　Pendergast　checked　the　room　carefully；　then　motioned　D'Agosta　forward。　Slowly；　they　moved　from　the　pantry　to　the　kitchen：　a　huge　room　with　parallel　tables　of　oiled　pine　and　marble；　and　a　massive　fireplace　replete　with　grills　and　racks。　Cast…iron　cookware　hung　on　great　hooks　and　chains　from　the　ceiling。　No　sounds　issued　from　the　diningsalotto　beyond。　All　appeared　deserted。　
　〃When　Pinketts　retrieved　the　weapon；〃　whispered　Pendergast；　〃he　came　through　this　kitchen；　and　was　gone　no　more　than　a　minute。　It　has　to　be　close。〃　
　〃Why　would　it　still　be　in　the　same　place？〃　
　〃Remember　what　Fosco　said。　He's　planning　to　use　it　once　more…on　you。　Other　than　the　dining　area；　there　are　only　two　ways　out　of　this　room。　The　pantry　we　just　came　through；　andthat　。〃　He　pointed　to　a　door　leading　into　what　looked　like　an　old　meat　locker。　
　At　that　moment；　footsteps　sounded　from　beyond　the　dining　room。　They　flattened　themselves　behind　the　door　of　the　kitchen。　Voices　spoke　in　Italian；　too　indistinct　to　make　out；　but　approaching。　
　〃Let's　keep　looking；〃　Pendergast　said　after　a　moment。　〃Any　moment　now　the　alarm　might　be　raised。〃　
　He　ducked　into　the　meat　locker：　a　cool　stone　room　hung　with　prosciutti　and　salami；　shelves　groaning　under　the　weight　of　massive　wheels　of　aging　cheeses。　Pendergast　shone　Fabbri's　torch　around　the　crowded　space。　There　was　a　gleam　of　aluminum　on　one　of　the　upper　shelves。　
　〃There！〃　D'Agosta　grabbed　the　case。　
　〃Too　bulky；〃　Pendergast　said。　〃Get　rid　of　the　case　and　let's　assemble　the　weapon。〃　
　They　opened　the　case；　and…with　a　little　difficulty…Pendergast　screwed　together　the　various　parts。　He　handed　it　to　D'Agosta；　who　slung　it　over　his　shoulder　by　its　attached　leather　strap。　Then　they　hurried　back　into　the　kitchen。　More　voices；　this　time　from　the　dining　room　itself。　Then　the　hiss　of　a　radio。　A　voice　rasped　out；　loud；　full　of　panic。　
　〃Sono　scappati！〃　
　A　flurry　of　activity；　followed　by　ret