alistairmaclean.seawitch-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃There's　that。　There'll　…eAso　be　mines。　Three　piles；　each　halfway　between　a　pair　of　legs。〃
　〃An　underwater　explosion　from　a　mine　wouldn't　damage　the　legs？〃
　〃I　shouldn't　think　so。　We'll　just　have　to　find　out；　won't　we？　Keep　in　constant　half…hourly　touch　with　both　the　Torbetto　and　the　Jupiter。　Keep　the　radar　and　sonar　stations　constantly　manned。　Eternal　vigilance；　if　you　will。　Hell；　mander；　I　don't　have　to　tell　you　what　to　do。〃　He　wrote　some　figures　on　a　piece　of　paper。　〃If　I　do　have　to　go；　contact　this　number　in　Washington。　Tell　them　that　Tm　ing。　Five　hours　or　so。〃
　〃This　is　the　State　Department？〃
　〃Yes。　Tell　them　that　at　least　the　Under　Secretary　must　be　there。　Remind　him；　tactfully；　of　future　campaign　contributions。　Then　contact　my　aircraft　pilot；　Dawson。　Tell　him　to　be　standing　by　with　a　filed　flight　plan　for　Washington。〃
　The　radio　operator　knocked；　entered；　handed　Lord　Worth　a　message　sheet　and　left。　Lord　Worth；　hands　steady　and　face　now　untroubled；　decoded　the　message；　reached　for　the　phone　and　told　Chambers　to　get　to　the　helicopter　at　once。
　He　said　to　the　two　men：　〃A　Russian…built　Cuban　submarine　is　on　its　way　from　Havana。　It's　being　followed　by　a　Russian　guided…missile　destroyer。　Both　are　heading　this　way。〃
　〃A　visit　to　the　State　Department　or　the　Pentagon　would　appear　to　be　indicated；〃　Larsen　said。　〃There　isn't　too　much　we　can　do　about　guided　missiles。　Looks　like　there　might　be　quite　some　activity　hereabouts。　That　makes　five　vessels　arrowing　in　on　us…three　naval　vessels；　the　Jupiter　and　the　Roomer。〃　Larsen　might　have　been　even　more　concerned　had　he　known　that　the　number　of　vessels　was　seven；　not　five：　but；　then；　Larsen　was　not　to　know　that　the　Tiburon　and　the　Starlight　were　heading　that　way　also。
　Lord　Worth　rose。　〃Well；　keep　an　eye　on　the　shop。　Back　this　evening　sometime。　I'll　be　in　frequent　radio　contact。〃
　Lord　Worth　was　to　fly　four　legs　that　day：　by　helicopter　to　the　mainland；　by　his　private　Boeing　to　Washington；　the　return　flight　to　Florida；　and　the　final　leg　by　helicopter　out　to　the　Seawitch。　On　each　of　those　four　legs　something　very　unpleasant　was　going　to　happen…unpleasant　for　Lord　Worth；　that　is。　Fortunately　for　Lord　Worth；　he　was　not　blessed　with　the　alleged　Scottish　second　sight…the　ability　to　look　into　the　future。
　The　first　of　those　unpleasantnesses　happened　when　Lord　Worth　was　en　route　to　the　mainland。　A　large　station　wagon　swept　up　to　the　front　door　of　Lord　Worth's　mansion；　carrying　five　rather　large　men　who　would　have　been　difficult　later　to　identify；　for　aU　five　wore　stocking　masks。　One　of　them　carried　what　appeared　to　be　a　large　coil　of　clothesline　rope；　another　a　roll　of　adhesive　tape。　All　carried　guns。
　MacPherson；　the　elderly　head　gardener；　was　taking　his　customary　prework　dawn　patrol　to　see　what　damage　the　fauna　had　wreaked　on　his　flora　during　the　night；　when　the　men　emerged　from　the　station　wagon。　Even　allowing　for　the　fact　that　shock　had　temporarily　paralyzed　his　vocal　cords；　he　never　had　a　chance。　In　just　over　a　minute；　bound　hand　and　foot　and　with　his　lips　sealed　with　adhesive　tape；　he　had　been　dumped　unceremoniously　into　a　clump　of　bushes。
　The　leader　of　the　group；　a　man　by　the　name　of　Durand；　pressed　the　front…door　bell。　Durand；　a　man　who　had　a　powerful　affinity　with　banks　and　who　was　a　three…time　ex…convict；　was　by　definition　a　man　of　dubious　reputation；　a　reputation　confirmed　by　the　fact　that　he　was　a　close　and　longtime　term　associate　of　Cronkite。　Half　a　minute　passed；　then　he　rang　again。　By　and　by　the　door　opened　to　reveal　a　robe…wrapped　Jen…kins；　tousle…haired　and　blinking　the　sleep　from　his　eyes…it　was　still　very　early　in　the　morning。　His　eyes　stopped　blinking　and　opened　wide　when　he　saw　the　pistol　in　Durand's　hand。
　Durand　touched　the　cylinder　screwed　onto　the　muzzle　of　Ms　gun。　As　hooked　a　TV　addict　as　the　next　man；　Jenkins　recognized　a　silencer　when　he　saw　one。
　〃You　know　what　this　is？〃
　A　fully　awake　Jenkins　nodded　silently。
　〃We　don't　want　to　harm　anyone　in　the　house。　Especially；　no　harm　will　e　to　you　if　you　do　what　you　are　told。　Doing　what　you　are　told　includes　not　telling　lies。　Understood？〃
　Jenkins　understood。
　〃How　many　staff　do　you　have　here？〃
　There　was　a　noticeable　quaver　in　Jenkins's　voice。　〃Well；　there's　me…I'm　the　butler…〃
　Durand　was　patient。　〃You　we　can　see。〃
　〃Two　footmen；　a　chauffeur；　a　radio　operator；　a　secretary；　a　cook　and　two　housemaids。　There's　a　cleaning　lady；　but　she　doesn't　e　until　eight。〃
　〃Tape　him；〃　Durand　said。　Jenkins's　lips　were　taped。　〃Sorry　about　that；　but　people　can　be　silly　at　times。　Take　us　to　those　eight　bedrooms。〃
　Jenkins　reluctantly　led　the　way。　Ten　minutes　later；　all　eight　of　the　staff　were　securely　bound　and　silenced。　Durand　said：　〃And　now；　the　two　young　ladies。〃
　Jenkins　led　them　to　a　door。　Durand　picked　out　three　of　his　men　and　said　softly：　〃The　butler　will　take　you　to　the　other　girl。　Check　what　she　packs　and　especially　her　purse。〃
　Durand；　followed　by　his　men；　entered　the　room；　his　gun　in　its　concealed　holster　so　as　not　to　arouse　too　much　alarm。　That　the　bed　was　occupied　was　beyond　doubt；　although　all　that　could　be　seen　was　a　mop　of　black　hair　on　the　pillow。　Durand　said　in　a　conversational　voice：　〃I　think　you　better　get　up；　ma'am。〃　Durand　was　not　normally　given　to　gentleness；　but　he　did　not　want　a　case　of　screaming　hysterics　on　his　hands。
　A　case　of　hysterics　he　did　not　have。　Marina　turned　round　in　bed　and　looked　at　him　with　drowsy　eyes。　The　drowsiness　did　not　last　long。　The　eyes　opened　wide；　either　in　fear　or　shock；　then　returned　to　normal。　She　reached　for　a　robe；　arranged　it　strategically　on　the　bed　cover；　then　sat　bolt　upright；　wrapping　the　robe　round　her。
　〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃　Her　voice　was　not　quite　as　steady　as　she　might　have　wished。
　〃Well；　would　you　look　at　that；　now？〃　Durand　said　admiringly。　〃You'd　think　she　was　used　to　being　kidnaped　every　morning　of　her　life。〃
　〃This　is　a　kidnap？〃
　'Tin　afraid　so。〃　Durand　sounded　genuinely　apologetic。
　〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃
　〃Vacation。　Little　island　hi　the　sun。〃　Durand　smiled。　〃You　won't　be　needing　any　swimsuit　though。　Please　get　up　and　get　dressed。〃
　〃And　if　I　refuse？〃
　〃We'll　dress　you。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　to　get　dressed　with　you　two　watching　me。〃
　Durand　was　soothing。　〃My　friend　will　stand　out　in　the　corridor。　I'll　go　into　the　bathroom　there　and　leave　the　door　open　just　a　crack…not　to　watch　you；　but　to　watch　the　window；　to　make　sure　that　you　don't　leave　by　it。　Call　me　when　you're　ready　and　be　quick　about　it。〃
　She　was　quick　about　it。　She　called　him　within　three　minutes。　Blue　blouse；　blue　slacks　and　her　hair　bed。　Durand　nodded　his　approval。
　〃Pack　a　traveling　bag。　Enough　for　a　few　days。〃
　He　watched　her　while　she　packed。　She　zipped　the　bag　shut　and　picked　up　her　purse。　〃I'm　ready。〃
　He　took　the　purse　from　her；　undid　the　clasp　and　upended　the　contents　on　the　bed。　From　the　jumble　on　the　bed　he　selected　a　small　pearl…handled　pistol；　which　he　slipped　into　his　pocket
　〃Let's　pack　the　purse　again；　shall　we？〃
　Marina　did　so；　her　face　flushed　with　mortification。
　A　somewhat　similar　scene　had　just　taken　place　in　Melinda's　bedroom。
　Twenty…five　minutes　had　elapsed　since　the　arrival　of　Durand　and　his　men　and　their　departure　with　the　two　girls。　No　one　had　been　hurt；　except　in　pride；　and　the　intruders　had　even　been　considerate　to　the　extent　of　seating　Jenkins　in　a　deep　armchair　in　the　front　hall。　Jenkins；　as　he　was　now　securely　bound　hand　and　foot；　did　not　appreciate　this　courtesy　as　much　as　he　might　have　done。
　About　ten　minutes　after　their　departure；　Lord　Worth's　helicopter　touched　down　beside　his　Boeing　in　the　city　airport。　There　were　no　customs；　no　clearance　formalities。　Lord　Worth　had　made　it　plain　some　years　previously　that　he　did　not　much　care　for　that　sort　of　thing；　and　when　Lord　Worth　made　things　plain　they　tended　to　remain　that　way。
　It　was　during　the　second　leg　of　this　flight　that　the　second　unfortunate　occurrence　happened。　Again；　Lord　Worth　was　happily　unaware　of　what　was　taking　place。
　The　Tiburon's　（now　the　Georgia's）　helicopter　had　located　the　Torbello。　The　pilot　reported　that　he　had　sighted　the　vessel　two　minutes　previously　and　gave　her　latitude　and　longitude　as　accurately　as　he　could　judge。　More　importantly；　he　gave　her　course　as　approximately　315　degrees；　which　was　virtually　on　a　collision　course　with　the　Georgia。　They　were　approximately　forty…five　miles　apart。　Cronkite　gave　his　congratulations　to　the　pilot　and　asked　him　to　return　to　the　Georgia。
　On　the　bridge　of　the　Georgia　Cronkite　and　Mulhooney　looked　at　each　other　with　satisfaction。　Between　planning　and　execution　there　often　exists　an　unbridgeable　gap。　In　this　case；　however；　things　appeared　to　be　going　exactly　according　to　plan。
　Cronkite　said　to　Mulhooney：　〃Time；　I　think；　to　change　into　more　respectable　clothes。　And　don't　forget　to　powder　your　nose。〃
　Mulhooney　smiled　and　left　the　bridge。　Cronkite　paused　only　to　give　a　few　instructions　to　the　helmsman；　then　left　the　bridge　also。
　Less　than　an　hour　later　the　Torbello　stood　clear　over　the　horizon。　The　Georgia　headed　straight　for　it；　then　at　about　three　miles　distance　made　a　thirty…degree　alteration　to　starboard；　judged　the　timing　to　a　nicety　and　came　round　in　a　wide　sweeping　tu