alistairmaclean.seawitch-第18章

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　〃No　more　we　can　do　here；〃　Mitchell　said。　〃We've　already　missed　too　many　appointments　today。　We'll　be　in　touch。〃
　Back　on　the　highway　Roomer　said：　〃How　do　you　think　he'd　do　as　a　dogcatcher？〃
　〃Place　would　be　overrun　by　stray　dogs　in　a　few　months。　How　much　faith　have　you　got　in　this　idea　that　they　might　use　a　helicopter？〃
　〃A　lot。　If　they　just　wanted　to　change　cars　they　wouldn't　have　gone　through　this　elaborate　rigmarole。　They　could　have　parked　their　station　wagon　out　of　sight　almost　anyplace。　By　apparently　going　into　hiding　in　the　swamp　they　wanted　to　make　it　look　as　though　they　were　preparing　to　hole　up　in　there　for　some　time。　They　hadn't　figured　on　our　backing…your　backtracking…up　the　lane。〃
　〃We're　pretty　sure　their　destination　is　the　Seawitch。　We're　pretty　sure　they'll　use　a　helicopter。　Which　helicopter　and　pilot　would　you　use？〃
　
　〃Lord　Worth's。　Not　only　are　his　pilots　almost　certainly　the　only　　ones　who　know　the　exact　co…ordinates　of　the　Seawitch；　but　those　distinctly　marked　North　Hudson　helicopters　are　the　only　ones　that　could　approach　the　Seawitch　without　raising　　　suspicion。〃　　　Roomer　　　reached　　　for　　　the　phone；　fiddled　with　the　wave…band　control　and　raised　Lord　Worth's　house。　〃Jim？〃　〃Go　ahead；　Mr。　Roomer。〃　〃We're　ing　back　there。　Look　for　Lord　Worth's　address　book。　Probably　right　by　you　in　your　radio　room。　Make　us　a　list　of　the　names　and　addresses　of　his　helicopter　pilots。　Is　the　gatekeeper　at　the　heliport　on　the　radio…phone；　too？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Get　that　for　us　too；　please。〃
　〃Roger；〃
　Roomer　　said　　to　Mitchell：　　　〃Still　　think　　we　shouldn't　warn　Larsen　about　our　suspicions？〃
　〃That's　for　sure。〃　Mitchell　was　very　definite。　'The　Seawitch　is　Larsen's　baby；　and　the　kind　of　reception　he'd　prepare　for　them　might　be　a　bit　overenthusiastic。　How'd　you　like　to　explain　to　Lord　Worth　how　e　his　daughters　got　caught　in　the　crossfire？〃
　〃No　way！〃　Roomer　spoke　with　some　feeling。　〃Or　even　explain　to　yourself　how　Melinda　got　shot　through　the　lung？〃
　Roomer　ignored　him。　〃What　if　we're　wrong　about　Worth's　pilots？〃
　Seawitch
　'Then　we　turn　the　whole　thing　over　to　that　ace　detective；　McGarrity。〃　〃So　we'd　better　be　right。〃　They　were　right。　They　were　also　too　late。
　John　Campbell　was　both　an　avid　fisherman　and　an　avid　reader。　He　had　long　since　mastered　the　techniques　of　indulging　his　two　pleasures　simultaneously。　A　creek；　fairly　popular　with　fish；　ran　within　twenty　feet　of　his　back　porch。　Campbell　was　sitting　on　a　canvas　chair；　parasol　over　his　head；　alternating　every　page　with　a　fresh　cast　of　his　line；　when　Durand　and　one　of　his　men；　stocking…masked　and　holding　guns　in　their　hands；　came　into　his　line　of　vision。　Campbell　rose　to　his　feet；　book　still　in　hand。
　〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃
　〃You。　You're　Campbell；　aren't　you？〃
　〃What　if　I　am？〃
　〃Like　you　to　do　a　little　job　for　us。〃
　〃What　job？〃
　〃Fly　a　helicopter　for　us。〃
　〃I'll　be　damned　if　I　will！〃'
　〃So　you　are　Campbell。　e　along。〃
　Following　the　gesturing　of　their　guns；　Campbell　moved　between　the　two　men。　He　was　within　one　foot　of　Durand's　gun　hand　when　he　chopped　the　side　of　his　hand　on　the　wrist　that　held　the　gun。　Durand　grunted　hi　pain；　the　gun　fell　to　the　ground　and　a　second　later　the　two　men　were　locked　together；　wrestling；　kicking　and　punching　with　a　fine　disregard　for　the　rules　of　sport；　altering　position　so　frequently　that　Durand's　henchman　at　first　found　no　opportunity　to　intervene。　But　the　opportunity　came　very　soon。　The　unsportsmanlike　but　effective　use　of　Campbell's　right　　knee　　doubled　　Durand　　over　　in　　gasping　agony；　but　enough　instinct　was　left　him　to　seize　Campbell's　shirt　as　he　fell　over　backward。　This　was　Campbell's　downfall　in　more　ways　than　one；　for　the　back　of　his　head　was　now　nakedly　vulnerable　to　a　swung　automatic。
　The　man　who　had　felled　Campbell　now　pulled　him　clear；　allowing　Durand　to　climb　painfully　to　his　feet；　although　still　bent　over　at　an　angle　of　forty…five　degrees。　He　pulled　off　his　stocking　mask　as　if　to　try　to　get　more　air　to　breathe。　Durand　was　Latin　American；　with　a　pale　coffee…colored　face；　　thick　black　curling　hair　and　a　pencil…line　mustache；　he　might　even　qualify　as　handsome　when　the　twisted　lines　of　agony　ceased　to　contort　his　face。　He　straightened　inch　by　inch　and　finally　obtained　a　modicum　of　breath…　enough；　at　least；　to　allow　him　to　announce　what　he　would　like　to　do　with　Campbell。
　〃Some　other　time；　Mr。　Durand。　He　can't　very　well　fly　a　chopper　from　a　hospital　bed。〃
　Durand　painfully　acknowledged　the　truth　of　this。　〃I　hope　you　didn't　hit　nun　too　hard。〃　〃Just　a　tap。〃　〃Tie　　　him；　　　tape　　him　　　and　　blindfold　　　him。〃
　
　Durand　was　now　a　scarce　twenty　degrees　off　the　vertical。　His　helper　left　for　the　car　and　returned　hi　moments　with　cord；　tape　and　blindfold。　Three　minutes　later　they　were　on　then1　way；　with　a　rug…covered　and　still　unconscious　Campbell　on　the　floor　at　the　back。　Resting　fortably　on　the　rug　were　Durand's　feet…he　still　didn't　feel　quite　up　to　driving。　Both　men　had　then*　masks　off　now…even　in　the　free…wheeling　state　of　Florida　men　driving　with　stocking　masks　on　were　likely　to　draw　more　than　passing　attention。
　Mitchell　glanced　briefly　at　the　list　of　names　and　addresses　Robertson　had　given　them。　〃Fine。　But　what　are　these　checks　opposite　five　of　the　names？〃
　Robertson　sounded　apologetic。　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind…I　don't　want　to　butt　in…but　I　took　the　liberty　of　phoning　those　gentlemen　to　see　if　they　would　be　at　home　when　you　came　around。　I　assumed　you'd　be　seeing　them　because　you　asked　for　the　addresses。〃
　Mitchell　looked　at　Roomer。　〃Why　the　hell　didn't　you　think　of　that？〃
　Roomer　bestowed　a　cold　glance　on　him　and　said　to　Robertson：　〃Maybe　I　should　have　you　as　a　partner。　What　did　you　find　out？〃
　〃One　pilot　is　standing　by　at　the　airport。　Four　of　the　others　are　at　home。　The　one　whose　name　I　haven't　checked…John　Campbell…isn't　home。
　
　I　asked　one　of　the　other　pilots　about　this　and　he　seemed　a　bit　surprised。　Said　that　Campbell　usually　spends　his　afternoons　fishing　outside　the　back　of　his　house。　He's　a　bachelor　and　lives　in　a　pretty　isolated　place。〃
　〃It　figures；〃　Roomer　said。　〃A　bachelor　in　isolation。　The　kidnapers　seem　to　have　an　excellent　intelligence　system。　The　fact　that　he　doesn't　answer　the　phone　may　mean　nothing…he　could　have　gone　for　a　walk；　shopping；　visiting　friends。　On　the　other…　hand…〃
　〃Yes。　Especially　on　the　other　hand。〃　Mitchell　turned　to　leave；　then　said　to　Robertson：　〃Does　the　gatekeeper　have　a　listed　phone　number　as　well　as　the　radiophone？〃
　〃I've　typed　it　on　that　list。〃
　〃Maybe　we　should　both　have　you　as　a　partner。〃
　Mitchell　and　Roomer　stood　on　Campbell's　back　lawn　and　surveyed　the　scene　unemotionally。　The　canvas　chair；　on　its　side；　had　a　broken　leg。　The　parasol　was　upturned　on　the　grass；　over　an　opened　book。　The　fishing　rod　was　in　the　water　up　to　its　handle　and　would　have　floated　away　had　not　the　reel　snagged　on　a　shrub　root　Roomer　retrieved　the　rod　while　Mitchell　hurried　through　the　back　doorway…the　back　door　was　wide　open；　as　was　the　front。　He　dialed　a　phone　number；　and　got　an　answer　on　the　first　ring。
　〃Lord　Worth's　heliport。　Gorrie　here。〃
　〃My　name's　Mitchell。　You　have　a　police　guard？〃
　〃Mr。　Mitchell？　You　Lord　Worth's　friend？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Sergeant　Roper　is　here。〃
　〃That　all？　Let　me　speak　to　him。〃　There　was　hardly　a　pause　before　Roper　came　on　the　phone。
　〃Mike？　Nice　to　hear　from　you　again。〃
　〃Listen；　Sergeant；　this　is　urgent。　I'm　speaking　from　the　house　of　John　Campbell；　one　of　Lord　Worth's　pilots。　He　has　been　forcibly　abducted；　almost　certainly　by　some　of　the　kidnapers　of　Lord　Worth's　daughters。　I　have　every　reason　to　believe…no　tune　for　explanations　now…that　they're　heading　in　your　direction　with　the　intention　of　hijacking　one　of　Lord　Worth's　helicopters　and　forcing　Campbell　to　fly　it。　There'll　be　two　of　them　at　least；　maybe　three；　armed　and　dangerous。　I　suggest　you　call　up　reinforcements　immediately。　If　we　get　them　we'll　break　them…　at　least　Roomer　and　I　will；　you　can't；　you're　a　law　officer　and　your　hands　are　tied…and　we'll　find　where　the　girls　are　and　get　them　back；〃
　〃Reinforcements　ing　up。　Then　I'll　look　the　other　way。〃
　Mitchell　hung　up。　Roomer　was　by　his　side。　Roomer　said：　〃You　prepared　to　go　as　far　as　back…room　persuasion　to　get　the　information　we　want？〃
　Mitchell　looked　at　him　bleakly。　〃I　look　forward　to　it。　Don't　you？〃
　〃No。　But　Til　go　along　with　you。〃　Once　again　Mitchell　and　Roomer　had　guessed　correctly。　And　once　again　they　were　too　late。
　Mitchell　had　driven　to　Lord　Worth's　heliport　with　a　minimum　regard　for　traffic　and　speed　regulations；　and　now；　having　arrived　there；　he　realized　bitterly　that　his　haste　had　been　wholly　unnecessary。
　Five　men　greeted　their　arrival；　although　it　was　hardly　a　cheerful　meeting：　Gorrie；　the　gateman；　and　four　policemen。　Gome　and　Sergeant　Roper　were　tenderly　massaging　their　wrists。　Mitchell　looked　at　Roper。
　〃Don't　tell　me。〃　Mitchell　sounded　weary。　〃They　jumped　you　before　the　reinforcements　were　to　hand。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Roper's　face　was　dark　with　anger。　〃I　know　it　sounds　like　the　old　lame　excuse；　but　we　never　had　a　chance。　This　car　es　along　and　stops　outside　the　gatehouse；　right　here。　The　driver…he　was　alone　in　the　car…seemed　to　be　having　a　sneezing　fit　and　was　holding　a　big　wad　of　Kleenex　to　his　face。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃So　you　wouldn't　recognize　him　again？〃
　〃Exactly。　Well；　we　were　watching　this　dude　when　a　voice　from　the　back…the　back　window　was　open…told　us　to　freeze。　I　didn't　even　have　my　hand　on　my　gun。　We　froze。　Then　he　told　me　to　drop　my　gun。　Well；　this　guy　was　no　more　than
　Seawlteh
　five　feet　away　。　。　；　I　dropped　my　gun。　Dead　heroes　are　no　good　to　anyone。　Then　he　told　us　to　turn　around。　He　was　wearing　a　stocking　mask。　Then　the　driver　came　and　tied　our　wrists　behind　our　backs。　When　we　turned　around　he　was　wearing　a　stocking　mask　too。〃
　〃Then　they　tied　your　feet　and　tied　you　together　so　that　you　wouldn't　have　any　funny　ideas　about　using　a　telephone？〃
　〃That's　how　it　was。　But　they　weren't　worried　about　the　phones。　They　cut　the　lines　before　they　took　off。〃
　〃They　took　off　immediately？〃
　Gome　said：　〃No。　Five　minutes　later。　The　pilots　always　radio…file　a　flight　plan　before　take…off。　I　suppose　these　guys　forced　Campbell　to　do　the　same。　To　make　it　look　kosher。〃
　Mitchell　shrugged　his　indifference。　〃Means　nothing。　You　can　file　a　flight　plan　to　anyplace。　Doesn't　mean　you　have　to　keep　it。　How　about　fuel…for　the　helicopters；　I　mean？〃
　〃Fuel's　always　kept　topped　up。　My　job。　Lord　Worth's　orders。〃
　〃What　direction　did　they　go？〃
　'Thataway。〃　Gorrie　indicated　with　an　outstretched　arm。
　〃Well；　the　birds　have　flown。　Might　as　well　be　on　our　way。〃
　〃Just　like　that？〃　Roper　registered　surprise。
　〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do　that　the　police　can't？〃
　　〃Well；　for　starters；　we　could　call　in　the　Air　Force。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃They　could　force　it　down。〃
　Mitchell　sighed。　〃There's　a　great　deal　of　crap　being　talked　about　forcing　planes　down。　What　if　they　refuse　to　be　forced　down？〃
　〃Then　shoot　it　down。〃
　〃With　Lord　Worth's　daughters　aboard？　Lord　Worth　wouldn't　be　very　pleased。　Neither　would　you。　Think　of　all　the　cops　that　would　be　out　of　a　job。〃
　〃Lord　Worth's　daughters！〃
　〃It's　all　this　routine　police　work；〃　Roomer　said。　〃Atrophies　the　brain。　Who　the　hell　do　you　think　that　helico