alistairmaclean.seawitch-第14部分

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n　ringing。　Mitchell　replaced　the　receiver；　then　tried　again　with　the　same　result。　He　finished　his　coffee；　went　across　to　Roomer's　house　and　let　himself　in　with　his　passkey。　He　went　into　the　bedroom　to　find　Roomer　still　asleep。　He　woke　him　up。　Roomer　regarded　him　with　disfavor。
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　waking　up　a　man　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃
　〃It's　not　the　middle　of　the　night。〃　He　pulled　open　the　drapes　and　the　bright　summer　sunlight　flooded　the　room。　〃It's　broad　daylight；　as　you　will　be　able　to　see　when　you　open　your　eyes。〃　'
　〃Your　house　on　fire　or　something；　then？〃
　〃I　wish　it　were　something　as　trivial　as　that。　Fm　worried；　John。　I　woke　up　feeling　bugged　by　something；　and　the　feeling　got　worse　and　worse。　Five　minutes　ago　I　called　up　Lord　Worth's　house。　I　tried　twice。　There　was　no　reply。　Must　have　been　at　least　eight　or　ten　people　in　that　house；　but　there　was　no　reply。〃
　〃What　do　you　think…〃
　〃You're　supposed　to　be　the　man　with　the　intuition。　Get　ready。　Til　go　make　some　coffee。〃
　Long　before　the　coffee　was　ready；　in　fact　less　than　ninety　seconds　later；　Roomer　was　in　the　kitchen。　He　had　of　course　neither　showered　nor　shaved　but　had　had　time　to　run　a　b　through　his　hair。　He　was　looking　the　same　way　the　expressionless　Mitchell　was　feeling。
　〃Never　mind　the　coffee。〃　Roomer　bore　an　almost　savage　expression　on　his　face；　but　Mitchell　knew　that　it　wasn't　directed　at　him。　〃Let's　get　up　to　the　house/'
　They　took　Roomer's　car；　it　was　nearer。
　Mitchell　said：　〃God；　we're　really　bright！　Hit　us　over　the　head　often　enough　and　maybe…just　maybe…we'll　begin　to　see　the　obvious。〃　He　held　on　to　his　seat　as　Roomer；　tires　screeching；　rounded　a　blind　corner。　〃Easy；　boy；　easy。　Too　late　to　lock　the　stable　now。〃
　With　what　was　a　clearly　conscious　effort　of　will；　Roomer　slowed　down。　He　said：　〃Yeah；　we're　real　clever。　Lord　Worth　used　a　threat　of　the　girls'　abduction　as　an　excuse　for　his　actions。　And　you　told　him　to　offer　the　threat　of　the　abduction　as　an　excuse　for　our　being　there　last　night。　And　it　never　occurred　to　either　of　our　staggering　intellects　that　their　kidnaping　would　be　both　logical　and　inevitable。　Worth　wasn't　exaggerating…he　has　enemies；　and　vicious　enemies　who　are　out　to　get　him。　Two　trump　cards…　and　what　trumps！　He's　powerless　now。　He'll　give　away　half　his　money　to　get　them　back。　Just　half。　He'll　use　the　other　half　to　hunt　those　people　down。　Money　can　buy　any　co…operation　in　the　world；　and　the　old　boy　has　all　the　money　in　the　world。〃
　Mitchell　now　seemed　relaxed；　fortable；　even　calm。　He　said：　〃But　we'll　get　to　them　first；　won't　we；　John？〃
　Roomer　stirred　unfortably　in　his　seat　as　they　swung　into　the　mansion's　driveway。　He　said：　'Tm　just　as　sore　as　you　are。　But　I　don't　like　it　when　you　start　talking　that　way。　You　know　that。〃
　〃I'm　expressing　an　intention…or　at　least　a　hope。〃　He　smiled。　〃We'll　see。〃
　Roomer　stopped　his　car　in　a　fashion　that　did　little　good　to　Lord　Worth's　immaculately　raked　gravel。　The　first　thing　that　caught　Mitchell's　eye　as　he　left　the　car　was　an　odd　movement　by　the　side　of　the　driveway　hi　a　clump　of　bushes。　He　took　out　his　gun　and　went　to　investigate；　then　put　his　gun　away；　opened　his　clasp　knife　and　sliced　through　MacPherson's　bonds。　The　head　gardener；　after　forty　years　in　Florida；　had　never　lost　a　trace　of　a　very　pronounced　Scottish　accent；　an　accent　that　tended　to　thicken　according　to　the　degree　of　mental　stress　he　was　undergoing。…On　this　occasion；　with　the　adhesive　removed；　his　language　was　wholly　indecipherable…which；　in　view　of　what　he　was　almost　certainly　trying　to　say；　was　probably　just　as　well。
　They　went　through　the　front　doorway。　Jen…kins；　apparently　taking　his　ease　in　a　fortable　armchair；　greeted　them　with　a　baleful　glare。　The　glare　was　in　no　way　intended　for　them；　Jenkins　was　just　in　a　baleful　mood；　a　mood　scarcely　bettered　by　Mitchell's　swift　and　painful　yanking　away　of　the　adhesive　from　his　lips。　Jenkins　took　a　deep　breath；　preparatory　to。　lodging　some　form　of　protest；　but　Mitchell　cut　in　before　he　could　speak。
　〃Where　does　Jim　sleep？〃　Jim　was　the　radio　operator。
　Jenkins　stared　at　him　in　astonishment。　Was　this　the　way　to　greet　a　man　who　had　been　through　a　living　hell…snatched；　one　might　almost　say；　from　the　jaws　of　death？　Where　was　the　sympathy；　the　condolence；　the　anxious　questioning？　Mitchell　put　his　hands　on　his　shoulders　and　shook　him　violently。
　〃Are　you　deaf？　Jim's　room？〃
　Jenkins　looked　at　the　grim　face　less　than　a　foot　from　his　own　and　decided　against　remonstrating。　〃In　back；　first　floor；　first　right。〃
　Mitchell　left。　So；　after　a　second　or　two；　did　Roomer。　Jenkins　called　after　him　in　a　plaintive　voice：　〃You　aren't　leaving　me　too；　Mr。　Roomer？〃
　Roomer　turned　and　said　patiently：　'Tm　going　to　the　kitchen　to　get　a　nice　sharp　carver。　Mr。　Mitchell　has　taken　the　only　knife　we　have　between　us。〃
　Jim　Robertson　was　young；　fresh…faced　and　just　out　of　college；　a　graduate　in　electrical　engineering　in　no　hurry　to　proceed　with　his　profession。　He　sat　on　the　bed　massaging　his　now　unbound　wrists；　wincing　slightly　as　the　circulation　began　to　return。　As　tiers　of　knots；　Durand's　henchmen　had　been　nothing　if　not　enthusiastic。
　Mitchell　said：　〃How　do　you　feel？'*
　〃Mad。〃
　〃I　don't　blame　you。　Are　you　okay　to　operate　your　set？〃
　〃I'm　okay　for　anything　if　it　means　getting　hold　of　those　bastards。〃
　〃That's　the　general　idea。　Did　you　get　a　good　look　at　the　kidnapers？〃
　〃I　can　give　you　a　general　description。〃　He　broke　off　and　stared　at　Mitchell。　〃Kidnapers？〃
　〃Looks　as　though　Lord　Worth's　daughters　have　been　abducted。〃
　〃Holy　Christ！〃　The　assimilation　of　this　news　took　some　little　time。　〃There'll　be　all　hell　to　pay　for　this。〃
　〃It　should　cause　a　considerable　flap。　Do　you　know　where　Marina's　room　is？〃
　'Til　show　you。〃
　Her　room　showed　all　signs　of　a　hasty　and　unpremeditated　departure。　Cupboard　doors　were　open；　drawers　the　same；　and　some　spilled　clothing　lay　on　the　floor；　Mitchell　was　interested　in　none　of　this。　He　quickly　riffled　through　drawers　in　the　room　until　he　found　what　he　had　hoped　to　find…her　States　passport。　He　opened　it　and　it　was　valid。　He　made　a　mental　note　that　she　had　lied　about　her　age…she　was　two　years　older　than　she　claimed　to　be…returned　the　passport　and　hurried　down　to　the　radio　room　with　Robertson；　who　unlocked　the　door　to　let　them　in。　Robertson　looked　questioningly　at　Mitchell。
　〃The　county　police　chief。　His　name　is　McGar…rity。　I　don't　want　anyone　else。　Tell　him　you're　speaking　for　Lord　Worth；　That　should　work　wonders。　Then　let　me　take　over。〃
　Roomer　entered　while　Robertson　was　trying　to　make　contact。　〃Seven　more　of　the　staff；　all　suitably　immobilized。　Makes　nine　in　all。　I've　left　Jenkins　to　cut　them　loose。　His　hands　are　shaking　so　bad　he'll　probably　slice　an　artery　or　two；　but　for　me　freeing　elderly　cooks　and　young　housemaids　is　above　and　beyond　the　call　of　duty。〃
　〃They　must　have　been　carrying　a　mile　of　rope；〃　Mitchell　said　absently。　He　was　figuring　out　how　much　not　to　tell　the　police　chief。
　Roomer　nodded　to　the　operator。　〃Who's　he　trying　to　contact？〃
　〃McGarrity。〃
　〃That　hypocritical　old　brown…noser！〃
　〃Most　people　would　regard　that　as　a　charitable　description。　But　he　has　his　uses。〃
　Robertson　looked　up。　〃On　the　line；　Mr。　Mitchell。　That　phone。〃　He　made　discreetly　to　replace　his　own；　but　Roomer　took　it　from　him　and　listened　in。
　〃Chief　McGarrity？〃
　〃Speaking。〃
　〃Please　listen　very　carefully。　This　is　extremely　important　and　urgent；　and　the　biggest　thing　that's　ever　e　your　way。　Are　you　alone？〃
　〃Yes。　I'm　all　alone。〃　McGarrity's　tone　held　an　odd　mixture　of　suspicion　and　aroused　interest。
　〃Nobody　listening　in；　no　recorder？〃
　〃Goddam　it；　no。　Get　to　the　point。〃
　〃We're　speaking　from　Lord　Worth's　house。　You　know　of　him？〃
　〃Don't　be　a　damned　fool。　Who's　'we'？〃
　〃My　name　is　Michael　Mitchell。　My　partner　is　John　Roomer。　We're　licensed　private　investigators。〃
　'Tve　heard　of　you。　You're　the　guys　who　give　the　local　law　so　much　trouble。〃
　〃I'd　put　it　the　other　way　around；　but　that's　beside　the　point。　What　is　to　the　point　is　that　Lord　Worth's　two　daughters　have　been　kidnaped。〃
　〃Merciful　God　in　heaven！〃　There　ensued　what　could　fairly　have　been　described　as　a　stunned　silence　at　the　other　end　of　the　line。
　Roomer　smiled　sardonically　and　covered　the　mouthpiece。　〃Can't　you　see　the　old　phony　grabbing　his　seat；　with　his　eyes　popping　and　big　signs　saying　'Promotion'　flashing　in　front　of　him？〃
　〃Kidnapped；　you　said？〃　McGarrity's　voice　had　suddenly　developed　a　certain　hoarseness。
　〃Kidnapped。　Abducted。　Snatched。〃
　〃Sure　of　this？〃
　〃Sure　as　can　be。　The　girls'　rooms　have　all　the　signs　of　hurried　and　unplanned　departure。　Nine　of　the　staff　were　bound　and　gagged。　What　would　you　conclude　from　that？〃
　〃Kidnap。〃　McGarrity　made　it　sound　as　if　he'd　made　the　discovery　all　by　himself。
　〃Can　you　put　a　block　on　all　escape　routes？　They　haven't　taken　the　girls'　passports；　so　that　rules　out　international　flights。　I　hardly　think　the　kidnapers　would　have　taken　any　mercial　domestic　flight。　Can　you　see　Lord　Worth's　daughters　going　through　any　airline　terminal　without　being　recognized？　I'd　put　a　stop　order　and　guard　at　every　private　airfield　and　helicopter　pad　in　the　southern　part　of　the　state。　And　likewise　at　every　port；　big　and　small；　in　t