cc.iceberg-第49部分

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hey　had　to　die…their　deaths　are　meant　to　be　a　diversion；　to　buy　time　and　to　grab　headlines　and　the　attention　of　world　leaders　while　Hermit　Limited　pulls　off　its　coup　without　international　interference。〃
　
　Pitts　eyes　narrowed。　〃That　doesn't　explain　away　the　sadistic　cruelty。〃
　〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　Lillie　admitted。　〃However；　in　Kelly's　eyes　the　end　justifies　the　means。　A　disappearance　at　sea　was　probably　fed　into　the　puter's　banks　but　undoubtedly　rejected　in　favor　of　a　sounder　plan。〃
　〃Like　producing　the　bodies　at　an　opportune　time。〃
　〃In　a　sense；　yes；〃　Lillie　said　slowly。　〃World　focus　on　a　disappearance　at　sea　would　have　faded　in　a　week　or　ten　days…the　search　would　have　obviously　been　called　off　since　no　one　could　live　long　floating　in　the　frigid　North　Atlantic。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Pitt　nodded。　〃The　vanishing　act　of　the　Lax　was　an　ideal　example。〃
　〃Exactly。　Kelly　and　his　rich　friends　need　all　the　time　they　can　buy　to　bee　entrenched　in　whatever　country　it　is　they　intend　to　take　over。　The　longer　our　State　Department　is　diverted　by　the　loss　of　high…ranking　diplomats；　the　harder　it　will　be　when　they　get　around　to　PUtting　the　screws　on　Hermit　Limited's　operations。〃
　〃This　way；　Kelly　can　have　the　advantage　of　an　extended　search。〃　Pitts　voice　was　quiet　but　positive。　〃And　when　hope　begins　to　grow　dim；　he　can　arrange　for　an　Icelander　to　stumble　accidentally　on　the　crash　site　and　the　bodies。　And　Kelly　can　reap　the　advantage　of　an　extra　two　weeks　while　the　world　mourns　and　government　leaders　are　concentrating　on　speeches　at　the　funeral　processions。〃
　〃Every　alternative　was　neatly　considered。　We　were　all　supposedly　on　a　flight　to　Rondheim's　northern　estate　for　a　day　of　salmon　fishing。　His　group；　the　Hermit　Limited　bunch；　were　going　to　e　on　the　next　flight。　At　least；　that's　the　story　that　will　be　handed　out。〃
　〃What's　to　stop　someone　from　accidentally　discovering　us　at　any　moment？〃　Tidi　asked；　gently　dabbing　a　trickle　of　blood　from　Pitts　swollen　mouth。
　〃It's　fairly　obvious；〃　Pitt　said；　thoughtfully　surveying　the　immediate　surroundings。　〃We　can't　be　Seen　unless　that　someone　is　standing　practically　on　top　of　us。
　
　Add　to　that　the　fact　we're　probably　in　the　most　uninhabited　area　of　Iceland；　and　the　odds　of　being　found　begin　to　stretch　to　infinity。〃
　〃Now　you　can　clearly　see　the　picture；〃　Lillie　said。
　〃The　helicopter　had　to　be　placed　in　the　narrow　confines　of　the　ravine　and　then　destroyed　because　it　could　not　have　been　purposely　crashed　with　any　degree　of　accuracy…a　perfect　undetectable　location。　A　search　plane　directly　overhead　could　have　no　more　than　a　second　to　spot　the　debris；　a　million…to…one　chance　at　best。　The　next　step　was　to　scatter　our　bodies　around　the　area。
　
　Then；　after　two　or　three　weeks　of　deposition；　the　most　a　petent　coroner　could　determine　is　that　some　of　us　died　from　injuries　sustained　from　the　phony　crash　and　the　rest　from　exposure　and　shock。〃
　〃Am　I　the　only　one　who　can　walk？〃　Pitt　asked　harshly。　His　broken　ribs　ached　like　a　thousand　sores；　but　the　hopeful　stares；　the　miserable　bit　of　optimism　in　the　eyes　of　the　men　who　knew　death　was　only　a　few　hours　away；　forced　him　to　ignore　the　pain。
　〃A　few　can　walk；〃　Lillie　answered。　〃But　with　broken　arms；　they'll　never　make　it　to　the　top　of　the　ravine。
　〃Then　I　guess　I'm　elected。〃
　〃You're　elected。〃　Lillie　smiled　faintly。　〃If　it's　any　consolation；　you　have　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　Rondheim　is　up　against　a　tougher　man　than　his　puters　projected。〃
　
　The　encouragement　in　Lillie's　eyes　became　the　extra　impetus　Pitt　needed。　He　rose　unsteadily　to　his　feet　and　looked　down　at　the　figure　lying　stiffly　on　the　ground。
　〃Where　did　Rondheim　bust　you？〃
　〃Both　shoulders　and…I'm　guessing…my　pelvis。〃
　
　Lillie's　tone　was　as　calm　as　if　he　were　describing　the　fractured　surface　of　the　moon。
　〃Kind　of　makes　you　wish　you　were　back　in　St。　Louis　running　the　brewery；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Not　really。　Dear　old　Dad　never　had　much　confidence　in　his　only　son。　If　I　。　。　。　if　I'm　not　alive　and　kicking　when　you　e　back；　tell　him…〃
　〃Read　him　the　riot　act　yourself。　Besides；　my　heart　wouldn't　be　in　it。〃　Pitt　had　to　fight　to　keep　his　voice　from　faltering。　'I　never　liked　Lillie　beer　anyway。〃
　
　He　turned　away　and　knelt　over　Tidi。
　〃Where　did　they　hurt　you；　dearheart？〃
　〃My　ankles　are　a　little　off　center。〃　She　smiled　gamely。　〃Nothing　serious。　I'm　just　lucky；　I　guess。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Pitt　said。　〃You　wouldn't　be　lying　here　if　it　wasn't　for　my　bungling。〃
　
　She　took　his　hand　and　squeezed　it。　〃It's　more　exciting　than　taking　dictation　and　typing　the　admiral's　letters。〃
　
　Pitt　bent　over　and　lifted　her　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　tenderly　a　few　feet　and　laid　her　beside　Lillie。
　〃Here's　your　big　chance；　you　little　gold　digger。　A　real　live　millionaire。　And　for　the　next　few　hours　he's　a　captive　audience。　Mr。　Jerome　P。　Lillie；　may　I　present　Miss　Tidi　Royal；　the　darling　of　the　National　Underwater　Marine　Agency。　May　you　both　live　happily　ever　after。〃
　
　Pitt　kissed　her　lightly　on　the　forehead；　stumbled　awkwardly　once　more　to　his　feet　and　walked　unsteadily　over　the　water…soaked　ground　to　the　old　man　he　knew　simply　as　Sam。　He　thought　of　the　distinguished　manner；　the　warm；　piercing　eyes　he　had　seen　in　the　trophy　room　as　he　stared　down　and　saw　the　legs；　twisted　outwards　like　the　crooked　branches　of　an　oak　tree；　the　blue　eyes　dulled　by　pain；　and　he　forced　himself　to　smile　a　confident；　hopeful　smile。
　〃Hang　in　there；　Sam。〃　Pitt　leaned　over　and　gently　grasped　the　old　man's　shoulder。　〃I'll　be　back　with　the　prettiest　nurse　in　Iceland　before；　lunchtime。〃
　
　Sam's　lips　gave　the　barest　hint　of　a　grin。　〃To　a　man　my　age；　a　cigar　would　prove　much　more　practical。〃
　〃A　cigar　it　is。〃
　
　Pitt　leaned　over　and　shook　Sam's　hand。　The　blue　eyes　suddenly　came　to　life　and　the　old　man　raised　up；　griPPing　Pitts　outstretched　hand　with　an　intensity　that　Pitt　didn't　think　was　possible；　and　the　lines　of　the　tired；　drawn　face　lightened　into　determined　hardness。
　〃He　must　be　stopped；　Major　Pitt。〃　The　voice　was　low；　almost　an　insistent　whisper。　〃James　must　not　be　allowed　to　go　through　with　this　terrible　thing。　His　purpose　glories　in　goodness；　but　the　people　he　has　surrounded　himself　with；　glory　only　in　greed　and　power。〃
　
　Pitt　only　nodded　without　speaking。
　〃I　forgive　James　for　what　he　has　done。〃　Sam　was　talking；　almost　rambling　to　himself。　〃Tell　him　his　brother　forgives…〃
　〃My　God！〃　Pitts　shock　showed　in　his　face。
　〃You're　brothers？〃
　〃Yes；　James　is　my　younger　brother。　I　remained　in　the　background　these　many　years；　handling　the　financial　details　and　problems　that　plague　a　giant　multinational　corporation。　James；　a　master　at　wheeling　and　dealing；　enjoyed　the　center　of　attraction。　Until　now；　we　were　a　pretty　successful　bination。〃　Sam　Kelly　bowed　his　head　in　a　barely　perceptible　sign　of　farewell。
　〃God　bring　you　luck。〃　And　then　a　smile　slowly　stretched　across　his　face。　〃Don't　forget　my　cigar。〃
　〃You　can　count　on　it；〃　Pitt　murmured。　He　turned　away；　his　mind　swirling　with　conflicting　images　and　emotions；　then　slowly　clearing　and　settling　on　one　permanent　irresistible　purpose　that　held　his　mental　processes　in　a　viselike　grip。　The　driving　force；　the　hatred　that　had　been　smoldering　within　him　since　Rondheim　lashed　out　with　the　first　crippling　blow；　now　exploded　into　an　intense　burning　flame　that　consumed　his　mind　to　the　expulsion　of　all　else；　but　then　his　thoughts　were　pulled　back　to　reality　by　the　low　voice　of　the　Russian　diplomat；　Tamareztov。
　〃The　heart　of　a　good　munist　goes　with　you；　Major　Pitt。〃
　
　Pitt　barely　paused　to　reply。　〃I'm　honored。　It's　not　often　a　munist　has　to　rely　on　a　capitalist　to　save　his　life。〃
　〃It　is　not　an　easy　pill　to　swallow。〃
　
　Pitt　stopped　and　looked　down　at　Tamareztov　in　slow　speculation；　noting　the　arms　lying　limply　on　the　ground；　the　unnatural　angle　of　the　left　leg。　Then　his　face　softened。
　〃If　you　promise　not　to　hold　any　party　indoctrination　lectures　while　I'm　gone；　I'll　bring　you　back　a　bottle　of　vodka。〃；　Tamareztov　stared　back　at　Pitt　curiously。　〃A　display　of　Yankee　humor；　Major？　But　I　think　you　really　mean　what　you　say　about　the　vodka。〃
　
　A　grin　touched　the　corners　of　Pitts　lips。　〃Don't　misread　my　intentions。　Since　I'm　alrea