cussler.blueandgold-第31部分

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　〃Every　dealer　has　a　client　list　so　buyers　can　be　quickly　matched　up　to　acquisitions。　You　never　know　when　an　unusual　collectible　will　e　up；　or　how　long　a　dealer　may　be　able　to　keep　the　transaction　exclusive。　I'll　call　a　couple　of　dealers　and　tell　them　I　have　to　unload　the　pistols　in　a　hurry。　I'll　make　it　sound　as　if　I'm　in　desperate　straits。　A　crook　can　never　resist　the　chance　to　cheat　someone。〃
　
　〃What　if　Enrico　has　pistols　like　these？〃
　
　〃They're　relatively　rare。　But　if　he　does　have　copies；　he　might　want　them　for　the　same　reason　I　did；　for　future　trades。　The　main　thing　is　having　the　opportunity　to　talk　to　him。　He'd　still　want　to　see　them；　hold　them　in　his　hands。　It's　a　collector　thing。〃
　
　〃Say　a　dealer　gets　several　anonymous　queries。　How　do　we　know　which　is　Enrico？〃
　
　〃We　know　he　doesn't　e　north　of　the　border。　If　I　am　asked　to　go　to　Mexico　to　make　the　deal；　we'll　know　he's　it。〃
　
　They　returned　the　files　to　Gomez　and　told　him　of　their　plan。
　
　〃Might　work。　Might　not。　It's　dangerous　as　hell。　No　guarantee　he's　going　to　talk；　even　if　you　do　get　to　meet　him。〃
　
　〃We've　considered　that　possibility。〃
　
　Gomez　nodded。　〃Look；　I　hate　to　have　something　happen　to　a　nice　fellow　like　you。　I　can't　protect　you　outright　because　the　Mexicans　are　a　little　sensitive　about　gringo　cops　treading　on　their　territory。　I　can　make　certain　that　if　he　does　kill　you　his　life　won't　be　worth　a　plugged　peso。〃
　
　〃Thanks；　Agent　Gomez。　My　survivors　will　be　reassured。〃
　
　〃Best　I　can　do。　I'll　line　up　a　few　assets。　Let　me　know　when　this　thing　is　happening。〃
　
　They　shook　hands；　and　the　NUMA　men　headed　back　to　the　hotel。　Austin　brought　out　the　dark　brown　wood　case　from　his　duffel　bag；　opened　the　lid；　and　removed　one　of　the　pistols。
　
　〃These　are　almost　identical　to　a　pair　I　have　in　my　collection。　They　were　made　by　a　gunsmith　named　Boutet　about　the　time　of　Napoleon's　Egyptian　campaign。　He　incorporated　the　Sphinx　and　the　Pyramids　into　the　barrel。　These　were　probably　made　for　an　Englishman。〃　He　sighted　at　a　floor　lamp。　〃The　butt　is　cut　round　instead　of　square　like　the　continental　type。　But　the　rifling　is　multigrooved　in　the　French　style。〃　He　replaced　the　pistol　in　its　green　baize。　〃I'd　say　this　is　irresistible　bait　for　any　collector。〃
　
　Austin　consulted　his　list　of　dealers　and　called　around。　He　made　sure　the　dealers　knew　he　was　extremely　interested　in　selling　the　pistols；　even　at　a　loss；　and　that　he　was　leaving　San　Diego　the　next　day。　Austin　believed　the　best　cover　stories　are　at　least　partially　true。　He　said　his　boat　sank　and　he　needed　cash　to　pay　off　his　bills。　Then　he　and　Zavala　went　over　possible　eventualities　and　how　best　to　respond　to　them。
　
　An　hour　after　he　began　putting　feelers　out；　Austin　received　an　excited　call　from　a　particularly　vulpine　dealer　with　a　slightly　shady　reputation。　His　name　was　Latham。
　
　〃I　have　a　potential　client　for　your　pistols；〃　Latham　said　with　excitement。　〃He's　very　interested　and　would　like　to　see　them　as　soon　as　possible。　Can　you　meet　him　in　Tijuana　today？　It's　not　far。〃
　
　Austin　curled　his　thumb　and　forefinger　and　silently　mouthed　a　word。　Bingo。　〃No　problem。　Where　would　he　like　us　to　get　together？〃
　
　The　dealer　told　him　to　park　on　the　U。S。　side　of　the　border　and　walk　across　the　pedestrian　bridge。　The　pistol　case　would　identify　him。　Austin　said　he'd　be　there　in　two　hours　and　hung　up。　Then　he　filled　Zavala　in。
　
　Zavala　said；　〃What　if　he　takes　you　somewhere　we　can't　help　you；　like　one　of　those　ranches　where　he　likes　to　plant　people？〃
　
　〃Then　I'll　keep　the　conversation　on　the　pistols；　and　we'll　go　through　with　the　transaction　if　he's　interested。　At　the　very　least　it　will　give　me　a　chance　to　size　him　up。〃
　
　Austin　immediately　called　Gomez。　The　FBI　agent　said　he'd　assembled　a　team　in　anticipation。　They　would　watch　Austin's　back　but　couldn't　get　too　close　because　Pedralez　would　make　sure　Austin　was　not　followed。　A　few　minutes　later　the　NUMA　men　were　on　the　way　south　again　in　the　borrowed　pickup。　
　Zavala　left　Austin　off　on　the　American　side　and　drove　into　Mexico。　Austin　waited　twenty　minutes；　then　walked　across　the　bridge；　the　pistol　case　tucked　under　his　arm。　He'd　hardly　gotten　off　the　bridge　when　a　portly　middle…aged　man　in　a　cheap　suit　approached　him。　〃Meester　Austeen？〃　he　said。　〃Yes；　that's　my　name。〃
　
　The　man　produced　a　federal　police　badge。　〃Police　escort　for　you　and　your　valuables；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　〃Courtesy　of　the　chief。　Lotsa　bad　people　in　Tijuana。〃
　
　He　led　the　way　to　a　dark　blue　sedan　and　held　the　back　door　open。　Austin　got　in　first；　making　a　quick　sweep　of　the　parking　lot　with　his　eyes。　Zavala　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Austin　would　have　been　disappointed　if　Zavala　were　too　conspicuous；　but　he　would　have　felt　better　knowing　that　his　back　was　being　watched。
　
　The　car　plunged　into　the　Tijuana　traffic；　winding　its　way　through　a　bewildering　warren　of　slums。　While　the　driver　was　leering　at　a　young　woman　crossing　the　street；　Austin　checked　the　rear。　The　only　vehicle　behind　them　was　a　battered　old　yellow　cab。
　
　The　police　car　stopped　in　front　of　a　windowless　cantina　whose　pockmarked　stucco　exterior　of　seasick　green　looked　as　if　it　had　been　used　for　target　practice　by　an　AIC…47。　The　old　cab　went　speeding　by。　Austin　got　out　and　stood　next　to　a　rusty　Corona　beer　sign；　wondering　if　he　was　expected　to　go　inside　the　cantina　and　whether　it　would　be　a　good　idea。　A　gunmetal…gray　Mercedes　came　around　the　corner　and　halted　at　the　curb。　A　tough…looking　young　man　wearing　a　chauffeur's　cap　got　out　and　wordlessly　held　the　door　open。　Austin　got　in；　and　they　were　off。
　
　The　car　left　the　slums　and　drove　into　a　middle…class　neighborhood；　stopping　in　front　of　an　outdoor　cafe。　Another　young　Mexican　opened　the　door　and　escorted　Austin　to　a　table　where　a　man　was　sitting　by　himself。
　
　The　man　extended　his　hand　and　smiled　broadly。　〃Please　sit　down；　Mr。　Austin；〃　he　said。　〃My　name　is　Enrico　Pedralez。〃
　
　Austin　wondered　at　the　banality　of　evil；　how　even　a　monster　could　look　so　ordinary。　Enrico　was　in　his　fifties；　Austin　guessed。　
　He　was　casually　dressed　in　tan　cotton　slacks　and　a　white　short　sleeved　shirt。　He　could　have　passed　for　any　of　the　merchants　who　sold　sombreros　and　blankets　in　the　tourist　shops。　He　had　black　hair　and　a　mustache　that　looked　dyed　and　wore　a　great　deal　of　gold　in　the　form　of　rings；　wristlets；　and　a　chain。
　
　A　waiter　delivered　two　tall　glasses　of　cold　fruit　juice。　Austin　sipped　his　drink　and　glanced　around。　Eight　swarthy　men　sat　two　at　each　table。　The　men　were　not　talking　to　each　other。　They　made　a　pretense　of　not　looking　at　Austin；　but　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　caught　quick　glances　in　his　direction。　Mr。　Pedralez　might　be　a　bit　cocky　about　appearing　in　public；　but　he　took　no　chances。
　
　〃Thank　you　very　much　for　ing　to　see　me　on　such　short　notice；　ML　Austin。　I　hope　it　was　no　trouble。〃　He　spoke　English　with　a　slight　accent。
　
　〃Not　at　all。　I　was　pleased　to　be　put　in　touch　with　a　potential　buyer　so　quickly。　I'm　leaving　San　Diego　tomorrow。〃
　
　〃Senor　Latham　said　you　were　involved　in　the　boat　race。〃
　
　〃I　was　one　of　the　losers；　unfortunately。　My　boat　sank。〃
　
　〃A　pity；〃　Pedralez　said。　He　removed　his　sunglasses；　his　small　greedy　eyes　moving　to　the　pistol　case。　He　rubbed　his　hands　briskly　together　in　anticipation。　〃May　I　see　them？〃
　
　〃Of　course。〃　Austin　unsnapped　the　clasp　on　the　box　and　opened　the　cover。
　
　'~h；　truly　magnificent；〃　Pedralez　said　with　the　eagerness　of　a　true　connoisseur。　He　took　a　pistol　out　and　sighted　it　at　one　of　the　men　at　a　nearby　table。　The　man　smiled　nervously。　Then　the　drug　lord　ran　his　finger　over　the　oiled　barrel。　〃Boutet。　Made　in　the　English　style；　for　a　wealthy　lord；　no　doubt。〃
　
　〃That　was　my　assessment　as　well。〃
　
　〃The　workmanship　is　excellent；　as　I　would　expect。〃　He　care　fully　placed　the　pistol　back　in　its　case　and　sighed　theatrically。　〃Unfortunately　I　have　a　similar　pair。〃
　
　〃Oh。　Well。〃　Austin　made　a　show　of　trying　to　hide　his　disappointment。　As　Austin　went　to　close　the　case；　Pedralez　put　his　hand　on　his。　
　
　　〃Perhaps　we　can　still　do　business。　I　would　like　to　present　these　as　a　gift　to　a　close　friend。　Have　you　thought　of　a　pri