cc.themediterraneancaper2-第24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！


axes　or　assessments。〃
　〃Considering　the　huge　cut　most　governments　demand；〃　Lewis　said　angrily；　〃I　can't　say　as　I'd　blame　von　Till　for　keeping　the　discovery　a　secret。〃
　The　cabin　boy　came　and　went；　Leaving　three　more
　bottles　of　beer。　Giordino　downed　his　'with　one　tilt　of　the　head　and　then　dropped　the　empty　bottle　beside　its　mate
　in　the　wastebasket　〃'This　whole　game　is　like　a　bad　deal；〃　he　plained。　〃I　don't　like　it。〃
　〃I　don't　like　it　either；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　〃Every　logical　avenue　winds　up　in　a　cul…de…sac。　Even　this　talk　about　treasure　is　meaningless。　I　tried　to　bait　von　Till　into　admitting　he　was　after　treasure；　but　the　wily　old　bastard　offered　no　indication　of　interest。　He's　trying　to　hide　something；　but　it's　not　sunken　gold　bullion　or　lost　diamonds。〃　He　broke　off　and　pointed　out　a　porthole　across　the　sea　where　Thasos　slept　under　the　rising　heat　waves。　〃The　solution　lies　elsewhere；　either　near　the　island；　or　on　it；　or　maybe；　both。　We'll　soon　know　more　when　Gunn　raises　the　Albatros　and　its　occupant。〃
　Giordino；　both　hands　clasped　behind　his　head；　leaned　his　chair　back　on　two　legs。　〃By　all　rights；　we　could　leave　now　and　be　back　in　Washington　this　time　tomorrow。　Since　the　mysterious　renegade　plane　is　destroyed；　and　we　know　who　instigated　the　accidents　on　board　the　First　Attempt；　things　should　settle　back　to　normal。　I　see　no　reason　why　we　can't　pack　up　and　head　for　home。〃　He　threw　Lewis　an　indifferent　look。　〃I'm　certain　the　Colonel　can　handle　any　further　emergencies　that　might　crop　up　on　Brady　Field。〃
　〃You　can't　leave　now！〃　Lewis　was　sweating　heavily；　his　breath　in　gasps；　barely　controlling　his　temper。　〃I'll　contact　Admiral　Sandecker　and　have。　。　。　〃
　〃Don't　worry；　Colonel；〃　Gunn　interrupted　from　the　doorway。　He　had　pushed　the　cabin　door　open　silently　and　now　stood　leaning　against　the　bulkhead。
　〃Major　Pitt　and　Captain　Giordino　won't　be　leaving　Thasos　just　yet。〃
　Pitt　looked　up　quickly；　expectantly。　There　was　no　elated　expression　on　Gunn's　face；　it　merely　reflected　a　mixture　of　blank　nothingness　and　dejection。　It　was　the　face　of　a　man　who　ceased　to　care。　The　small　bone　structure　showed　through　the　shoulders；　drooped　from　exhaustion；　and　the　skin　glistened　with　drops　of　salt　water　that　dung　to　the　body　hair　in　tiny　droplets。　He　wore　nothing　but　the　ever　present　horn…rimmed　glasses　and　a：
　European　style　black　bikini　that　did　little　to　enhance　the　slender　frame　it　covered。　Four　straight　hours　of　diving　had　left　Gunn　exhausted；　every　bone；　every　muscle　begging　for　relief。
　〃Sorry　Sir；〃　Gunn　mumbled　softly。　〃Bad　news　I'm　afraid？
　〃For　God's　sake；　Rudi；〃　Pitt　asked；　〃What　is　it？　Weren't　you　able　to　raise　the　plane　and　recover　the　pilot's　body？〃
　〃Gunn　shrugged　his　thin　shoulders。　〃Neither。〃
　〃As　bad　as　that？〃　Pitt　queried；　voice　and　face　deadly　serious。
　〃Worse；〃　Gunn　replied　grimly。
　〃Let's　have　it。〃
　For　almost　thirty　seconds；　Gunn　remained　silent　The　others　in　the　cabin　could　hear　the　faint　creaking　noises　of　the　ship；　rolling　in　the　gentle　swells　of　the　Mediterranean；　and　see　the　tightening　of　Gunn's　mouth。
　〃Believe　me；　we　tried；〃　Gunn　said　wearily。　〃We　used　every　underwater　search　trick　in　the　book；　but　we；　couldn't　locate　the　wreck。〃　He　gestured　helplessly　with　his　bands。　〃It　was　gone；　vanished；　God　knows　where。〃'
　　10
　〃The　Thasians　were　great　lovers　of　the　theatre；　considering　it　a　vital　part　of　their　education；　and　everyone；　including　the　town　beggar；　was　encouraged　to　e。　In　the　ancient　city　of　Thasos；　during　the　premieres　of　new　dramas　from　the　mainland；　all　shops　were　closed；　all　business　ceased　and　prisoners　were　released　from　jail　Even　the　city's　whores；　barred　from　most　public　events；　were　allowed　to　practice　their　trade　in　the　shrubbery　by　the　theatre　gateways　without　fear　of　legal　harassment。〃
　The　swarthy　Greek　National　Tourist　Organization　guide　paused　his　spiel；　curling　his　lip　in　a　pleased　grin　at　the　horrified　expressions　on　the　faces　of　the　female　tourists。　It　was　always　the　same；　he　thought　The　women　whispering　in　put…on　embarrassment　while　the　men；　draped　in　Bermuda　shorts　and　festooned　with　light　meters　and　cameras；　guffawed　and　poked　each　other's　ribs　in　unison　with　know…it…all　winks。
　The　guide　twisted　the　end　of　his　magnificent　moustache　and　studied　his　group　more　closely。　There　was　the　usual　sprinkling　of　fat　retired　businessmen　and　their　fat　wives；　viewing　the　ruins；　not　for　historical　interest　but　rather　to　impress　their　friends　and　neighbors　at　home。　His　eyes　wandered　over　four　young　school　teachers　from　Alhambra；　California。　Three　were　plain　looking；　wore　glasses　and　giggled　constantly。　It　was　the　fourth　girl　who　attracted　his　attention。　Excellent　possibilities。　Large　protruding　breasts；　red　hair；　long　legs…　like　most　Americans…and　quite　shapely。　The　kind　of　eyes　that　flirt　and　suggest　better　things　to　e。　Later　tonight　he　would　invite　her　on　a　private　moonlight　tour　of　the　ruins。
　The　guide　pulled　at　the　lapels　of　a　tight　jacket　and　tucked　the　bottom　neatly　under　a　bright　red　cummerbund。
　Slowly；　with　a　professional　kind　of　carelessness；　he　turned　his　gaze　toward　the　rear　of　the　little　crowd；　stopping　it　uneasily　on　two　men　who　leaned　indifferently　against　a　fallen　column。　A　tougher；　more　battered　and　villainous　pair　of　hard　cases　he　had　never　seen。　The　short　one　with　the　puffed　out　chest；　obviously　an　Italian；　looked　more　like　an　ape　than　a　man。　The　taller　brute　with　the　piercing　green　eyes；　carried　himself　with　an　air　of　sureness　and　sophistication；　yet　there　was　an　aura　about　him　that　advertised　〃Caution：　highly　dangerous。〃　The　guide　twisted　his　moustache　again。　German　most　likely。　Must　love　to　fight　judging　from　the　bandages　on　the　nose　and　hands。　Strange；　most　strange；　the　guide　mused。　Why　would　those　two　take　a　dull　tour　of　old　ruins？　Probably　a　pair　of　sailors　who　jumped　ship。　Yes；　that　must　be　it；　he　suggested　to　himself　smugly。
　〃This　theatre　was　excavated　in　1952；〃　the　guide　went　on；　flashing　a　set　of　bright　teeth。　〃So　buried　under　centuries　of　silt　washed　off　the　mountain　that　it　took　two　years　to　reveal　it　all。　Please　notice　the　geometric　mosaic　of　the　orchestra　floor。　It　was　fashioned　from　naturally　colored　pebbles　and　signed　Coenus　Set　It。〃　He　hesitated　a　moment；　letting　his　flock　of　excursionists　study　the　floral　design　of　the　worn　and　faded　files。
　〃Now；　if　you　will　follow　me　up　the　stairway　to　your　left；　we　will　take　a　short　walk　over　the　next　mound　to　the　Shrine　of　Poseidon。〃
　Pitt；　playing　the　part　of　a　tired　and　worn…out　sightseer；　feigned　exhaustion　and　sat　down　on　the　steps；　watching　the　rest　of　the　tour　climb　the　granite　stairway　until　their　heads　disappeared　beyond　the　top。　Four…thirty；　his　watch　read。　Four…thirty。　Exactly　three　hours　since　he　and　Giordino　left　the　First　Attempt　and　casually　strolled　into　Liminas；　joining　the　guided　tour　of　the　ancient　ruins。　Now　he　and　Giordino。。　。　the　little　Captain　was　impatiently　pacing　the　stone　floor　beside　him；　clutching　a　small　flight　bag。　。　。　waited　a　few　more　minutes；　making　absolutely　sure　the　tour　was　continuing　without　them。　Satisfied　that　they　weren't　missed；　he　silently　motioned　to　Giordino　and　pointed　toward　the　stage　entrance　of　the　amphitheatre。
　For　the　hundredth　time；　Pitt　tugged　at　the　irritating　chest　bandage；　thought　about　the　ship's　doctor　and　grinned　in　self　amusement。　Permission　to　leave　the　ship　and　return　to　von　Till's　villa　had　been　firmly　denied　by　the　bearded　doctor；　and　by　Gunn　too。　But　when　Pitt　insisted　that；　if　necessary；　he　was　ready　to　fight　the　entire　ship's　crew　and　swim　back　to　Liminas；　the　old　physician　had　thrown　up　his　hands　in　defeat　and　stormed　from　the　cabin。　So　far；　paying　for　the　wine　while　killing　time　in　a　small　taverna；　waiting　for　the　sightseeing　trip　to　begin；　was　his　only　contribution　to　the　backdoor　reconnaissance　of　the　villa。　It　was　Giordino　who　had　cursed　and　sweated　over　the　huge　lump　of　rust　attached　to　the　dory's　propeller　shaft；　trying　to　crank　it　to　life。　And　it　was　Giordino　who　nursed　the　weather…beaten　derelict　back　to　the　harbor　at　Liminas。　Fortunately　the　old　boat　had　not　been　missed。　。　。　no　irate　owner　or　local　police　officer　waited　on　the　beach　to　punish　the　yankee　pirates　for　boat　theft。　To　tie　the　dory　up　to　its　original