atlantis.found-第119部分

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　　　　　Wittenberg　had　described　Pitt　to　Cunningham；　and　the　mander　had　sought　out　the　man　from　NUMA。　He　approached　and　introduced　himself。　〃Mr。　Pitt；　we've　talked　over　the　radio；　but　haven't　actually　met。　I'm　Evan　Cunningham；　captain　of　the　Tucson。〃
　　　　　〃A　privilege　to　meet　you；　Captain。　Now　I　can　properly　express　my　thanks　for　your　timely　rescue　of　the　Polar　Storm　and　everyone　on　board。〃
　　　　　‘A　lucky　case　of　being　in　the　right　place　at　the　right　time。〃　He　grinned　broadly。　〃Not　every　sub　mander　in　today's　navy　can　say　he　sank　a　U…boat。〃
　　　　　〃Certainly　not　unless　they've　retired　to　a　nursing　home。〃
　　　　　〃Speaking　of　U…boats；　did　you　know　there　are　four　more　docked　in　the　ice　harbor？〃
　　　　　Pitt　nodded。　〃I　took　a　quick　look　at　them　this　morning。　They're　as　pristine　as　the　day　they　came　out　of　the　factory。〃
　　　　　〃My　engine…room　crew　went　on　board　to　study　them。　They　were　mighty　impressed　with　the　high　quality　of　engineering　created　when　their　grandparents　were　still　in　junior　high　school。〃
　　　　　〃To　anyone　born　after　1980；　World　War　Two　must　seem　as　distant　as　the　Civil　War　was　to　our　parents。〃
　　　　　Pitt　excused　himself　as　he　glanced　at　the　passengers　stepping　down　the　boarding　ladder　of　a　Boeing　737　that　had　taxied　up　to　the　hangar。　A　woman　wearing　a　knit　cap　with　red　hair　flowing　from　under　it　like　a　fiery　waterfall　stopped　for　a　moment　and　looked　around　the　hangar；　marveling　at　the　busy　activity。　Then　she　looked　in　his　direction　and　her　face　lit　up。
　　　　　Pitt　began　to　walk　toward　her；　but　was　overtaken　by　Giordino；　who　ran　past　him；　took　Pat　O'Connell　in　his　muscular　arms；　lifted　her　off　the　ground　as　easily　as　if　she　were　a　down　pillow；　and　swung　her　around　in　a　circle。　Then　they　kissed　passionately。
　　　　　Pitt　watched　them；　mystified。　When　Giordino　set　Pat　on　her　feet　again；　she　looked　over　and　waved。　Pitt　kissed　her　lightly　on　one　cheek；　stood　back；　and　said；　〃Have　I　been　missing　something　or　do　you　two　have　a　thing　for　each　other？〃
　　　　　Pat　laughed　gaily。　〃Al　and　I　looked　into　each　other's　eyes　when　we　were　in　Buenos　Aires　and　something　beautiful　happened　between　us。〃
　　　　　He　looked　at　Giordino　dryly。　〃Like　what？〃
　　　　　〃Like　we　fell　in　love。〃
　　　　　Pitt　was　no　longer　mystified。　He　was　dumbfounded。　〃You　fell　in　love？〃
　　　　　Giordino　shrugged　and　smiled。　〃I　can't　explain　it。　I've　never　felt　this　way　before。〃
　　　　　〃Does　this　mean　you're　breaking　up　the　act？〃
　　　　　〃My　friend；　you　and　I　have　been　through　a　lot　together；　more　wild　ventures　than　I　care　to　remember。　It's　a　miracle　we're　still　alive；　and　we　have　more　than　our　share　of　scars　to　prove　it。　We　have　to　face　reality。　We're　not　getting　any　younger。　My　joints　are　beginning　to　creak　when　I　get　up　in　the　morning。　We've　got　to　think　about　slowing　down。〃　He　paused　and　grinned。　〃And　then；　of　course；　there's　Mama　Giordino　to　consider。〃
　　　　　〃You　have　a　mother？〃　asked　Pat；　teasing。
　　　　　〃You　and　Mama　will　get　along　famously；〃　Giordino　said　approvingly。　〃Mama　said　I　can't　remain　a　bachelor　forever　if　I　want　to　give　her　little　Giordinos　to　fatten　with　her　celebrated　lasagna。〃
　　　　　〃We'd　better　hurry。〃　Pat　laughed。　〃At　thirty…five；　I　don't　have　much　time　left　to　produce　a　new　brood。〃
　　　　　〃You　have　Megan；〃　Pitt　said。
　　　　　〃Yes；　and　she　adores　Al。〃
　　　　　Pitt　shook　his　head　in　wonder。　〃Megan　approves　of　this　alien　character？〃
　　　　　〃Why　shouldn't　she？〃　Pat　said。　〃He　saved　her　life。〃
　　　　　Pitt　didn't　mention　that　he　had　a　hand　in　saving　mother　and　daughter；　too。　Nor　did　he　let　on　that　he　had　a　fondness　for　Pat　that　went　beyond　mere　friendship。　〃Well；　I　guess　there's　nothing　left　for　me　to　do　but　give　my　blessing　and　insist　on　being　the　best　man　at　your　wedding。〃
　　　　　Giordino　put　his　arm　around　Pitt's　shoulder　and　said　wistfully；　〃I　can't　think　of　another　mortal　I'd　rather　have　stand　up　for　me。〃
　　　　　〃Have　you　set　a　date？〃
　　　　　〃Not　before　six　months；〃　answered　Pat。　〃Admiral　Sandecker　arranged　for　me　to　direct　the　project　to　decipher　and　translate　the　Amenes　inscriptions　found　in　the　lost　city。　It　will　actually　take　years；　but　I　don't　think　he'll　hold　it　against　me　if　I　go　home　early　for　a　wedding　with　Al。〃
　　　　　〃No；〃　Pitt　said；　trying　to　absorb　the　unexpected　promise　of　Al　being　married。　〃I　don't　guess　he　will。〃
　　　　　Lieutenant　Miles　Jacobs　came　up　and　threw　a　casual　salute。　〃Mr。　Pitt？　Major　Wittenberg　would　like　a　word　with　you。〃
　　　　　〃Where　can　I　find　him？〃
　　　　　〃He　and　General　Guerro　have　set　up　a　mand　post　in　one　of　the　aircraft　maintenance　offices　on　the　far　end　of　the　hangar。〃
　　　　　〃I'm　on　my　way；　thank　you。〃　Pitt　turned　and　looked　at　Giordino。　〃You'd　better　get　Pat　situated　in　one　of　the　empty　storerooms　she　can　use　it　for　living　quarters　and　a　base　for　her　inscription　project。〃　Then　he　turned　and　strode　through　the　turmoil　of　activity　to　the　military　mand　post。
　　　　　Wittenberg　sat　at　his　desk　and　gestured　to　a　chair；　as　Pitt　entered　one　of　the　offices　the　Russians　slaves　had　carved　out　of　the　ice　nearly　six　decades　previously。　A　munications　center　had　been　set　up；　manned　by　two　operators。　The　place　was　a　madhouse；　with　civilians　and　military　personnel　rushing　in　and　out。　General　Guerro　sat　behind　a　large　metal　desk　in　one　corner；　surrounded　by　scientists　who　were　requesting　the　military　rush　in　special　excavation　equipment　so　they　could　begin　removing　the　ice　shroud　from　the　ancient　city。　He　did　not　look　happy　as　he　made　excuses　for　the　delay。
　　　　　〃Have　you　found　the　relics　yet？〃
　　　　　〃We've　been　too　busy　to　search；〃　answered　Wittenberg。　〃I　thought　I'd　pass　the　buck　to　you。　If　you're　successful；　let　me　know　and　I'll　schedule　a　military　transport　to　fly　you　back　to　the　States。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　get　back　to　you　shortly；〃　said　Pitt；　rising　to　his　feet。　〃I　think　I　know　where　the　Wolfs　put　them。〃
　　　　　〃One　more　thing；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Wittenberg　seriously。　〃Do　not　say　anything　to　anyone。　It's　best　the　relics　are　removed　quietly；　before　a　lot　of　crazies　get　wind　of　their　existence　and　move　heaven　and　earth　to　lay　their　hands　on　them。〃
　　　　　〃Why　not　destroy　them　and　be　done　with　it？〃
　　　　　〃Not　our　call。　The　President　personally　ordered　them　brought　to　the　White　House。〃
　　　　　〃I　think　I　understand；〃　Pitt　assured　him。
　　　　　As　he　walked　across　the　hangar　floor；　the　weight　of　his　responsibility　fell　over　him　like　a　black　cloud。　Uneasily；　he　approached　the　Wolfs'　deserted　executive　jet　and　studied　the　mutilated　tail　section　that　he　had　crushed　with　the　Snow　Cruiser；　before　stepping　around　to　the　entrance　door　and　entering　the　darkened　interior。　In　what　little　light　filtered　in　through　the　smashed　opening　and　the　windows；　he　could　discern　an　interior　luxuriously　appointed　with　leather　chairs　and　sofas。　He　pulled　his　flashlight　from　a　pocket　and　swept　its　beam　around　the　cabin。　There　was　a　bar　and　credenza　with　a　large　TV。　The　rear　partment　of　the　cabin　held　a　king…size　bed　in　anticipation　of　its　owner's　getting　a　few　hours'　sleep　while　the　plane　was　in　flight。　The　bathroom　had　goldplated　fixtures　and　a　small　shower。　Forward；　just　behind　the　cockpit；　he　could　see　a　small　galley；　plete　with　oven；　microwave；　sink；　and　cabinets　that　held　crystal　glasses　and　china。
　　　　　His　eyes　fell　on　a　long　box　that　was　tied　to　the　floor　beside　the　bed。　Pitt　knelt　and　ran　his　hands　over　the　surface。　He　tried　to　lift　one　end；　but　found　it　was　made　out　of　bronze　and　extremely　heavy。　There　was　a　brass　plaque　embedded　in　the　lid。　He　shined　the　light　on　the　lettering　and　leaned　closer。　The　inscription　was　in　German；　but　relying　on　the　few　words　he'd　learned；　he　loosely　translated　the　message　as　〃Here　lie　the　treasures　of　the　ages　awaiting　resurrection。〃
　　　　　He　twisted　the　pins　from　their　hasps　and　removed　them。　Then；　taking　a　deep　breath；　he　took　both　hands　and　lifted　the　lid。
　　　　　There　were　four　objects　inside　the　bronze　box；　all　contained　in　leather　cases　and　neatly　wrapped　in　heavy　linen。　He　carefully　opened　the　first　case　and　unwrapped　the　smallest　object。　It　held　a　small　bronze　plaque　with　a　crack　running　through　it。　The　sculptured　front　side　displayed　a　holy　knight　killing　a　dragonlike　monster。　Pitt　would　learn　later　that　it　was　considered　a　sacred　Nazi　relic　because　Hitler　had　had　it　in　a　breast　pocket　of　his　uniform　during　the　assass