alistairmaclean.seawitch-第20章

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on't　like　that。　You're　either　up　to　something　we　wouldn't　like；　something　shady　maybe；　or　it's　a　vote　of　no　confidence　in　us。〃
　〃It's　a　personal　and　highly　important　business　call。　I　don't　see　why　you　should　be　privy　to　my　business　affairs。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃I　agree。　But　it　so　happens　that　we　don't　think　it　is　a　business　call；　that　business　would　be　the　last　thing　in　your　mind　right　now。〃　Both　Mitchell　and　Roomer　stood　up。　〃Give　our　regards；　to　the　girls…if　you　ever　find　them。〃
　〃Blackmail！　Damned　blackmail！〃　Lord　Worth　rapidly　weighed　the　importance　of　his　call　to　Corral　pared　to　the　importance　of　having　Mitchell　and　Roomer　around。　It　took　all　of　two　seconds　to　make　up　his　mind；　and　Corral　was　clear　out　of　sight　at　the　wire。　He　was　sure　that　the　two　men　were　bluffing；　but　there　was　no　way　he　could　call　their　bluff；　for　that　was　the　one　sure　way　of　provoking　a　genuine　walkout　Lord　Worth　put　on　his　stony　face。　〃I　suppose　I　have　no　option　other　than　to　accede　to　your　threats。　I　suggest　you　go　and　pack　your　bags　and　I'll　pick　you　up　in　the　Rolls。〃
　Mitchell　said：　〃Packing　will　take　some　time。　I　think　it　would　be　more　polite　if　we　wait　here　until　you're　ready。〃
　Lord　Worth　mentally　gnashed　his　teeth。　〃You　think　I'd　head　for　a　telephone　the　moment　your　backs　are　turned？〃
　Mitchell　smiled；　〃Funny　the　same　thought　should　occur　to　the　three　of　us　at　the　same　instant；　isn't　it？〃
　
　
　Chapter　7
　
　MANDER　Larsen　and　Scoffield　observed　the　approach　of　the　North　Hudson　helicopter　with　surprise　but　without　undue　concern。　Lord　Worth　customarily　gave　advance　warning　of　his　arrival　but　could　occasionally　be　forgetful　on　this　point。　In　any　event　it　was　his　helicopter　and　just　about　his　expected　time　of　arrival。　They　sauntered　across　the　platform　and　arrived　at　the　northeast　helipad　just　as　the　helicopter　touched　down。
　Surprisingly；　no　one　emerged　immediately　from　the　machine。　Larsen　and　Scoffield　looked　at　each　other　in　some　perplexity；　a　perplexity　that　was　considerably　deepened　when　the　disembarkation　door　slid　back　and　Durand　appeared　in　the　doorway　with　a　machine　pistol　cradled　in　his　hands。　Just　behind　him　stood　a　similarly　equipped　henchman。　From　their　shadowed　position　it　was　impossible　for　them　to　be　observed　by　any　of　the　rig　duty　crew。
　Durand　said：　〃Larsen　and　Scoffield？　If　you　are　carrying　weapons；　please　don't　be　so　foolish　as　to　try　to　use　them。〃　The　boarding　steps　swung　down。　〃e　and　join　us。〃
　The　two　men　had　no　option。　Once　aboard；　without　taking　his　eyes　off　them；　Durand　said：　〃Kowenski；　Rindler…see　if　they're　armed。〃
　Both　Larsen　and　Scoffield　carried　automatics　but　seemed　quite　indifferent　to　being　deprived　of　them：　their　attention　was　directed　exclusively　to　the　presence　of　Lord　Worth's　daughters。
　Marina　smiled；　albeit　a　trifle　wanly。　〃We　could　have　met　under　happier　circumstances；　mander。〃
　Larsen　nodded。　〃Your　kidnapers。　This　can　carry　a　death　sentence。〃　He　looked　at　Campbell。　〃Why　did　you　fly　those　criminals　out　here？〃
　〃Because　I　get　very　cowardly　when　I　have　a　pistol　barrel　stuck　in　the　back　of　my　neck　all　the　way　from　takeoff　to　touchdown。〃　Campbell　spoke　with　a　certain　justifiable　bitterness。
　Larsen　looked　at　Melinda。　〃Have　you　been　mistreated　in　any　way？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃And　they　won't　be；〃　Durand　said。　〃Unless；　of　course；　you　refuse　to　do　as　we　tell　you。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃You　close　down　the　Christmas　tree。〃　This　meant　closing　off　all　the　oil　supplies　from　the　ocean　floor。
　〃I'll　be　damned　if　I　do。〃　Larsen's　dark　piratical　face　was　suffused　with　fury。　Here；　Durand　realized；　was　a　man　who；　even　without　arms；　could　be　highly　dangerous。　He　glanced　briefly　at　Rindler；　who　struck　Larsen　on　the　back　of　the　neck　with　his　machine　pistol；　a　blow　calculated　to　daze　but　not　knock　out。　When　Larsen's　head　had　cleared　he　found　that　he　had　handcuffs　and　shackles　around　wrists　and　ankles。　His　attention　then　focused　on　a　pair　of　gleaming　stainless…steel　medical　cutters　of　the　type　favored　by　the　surgical　fraternity　for　snipping　through　ribs。　The　handles　were　in　Durand's　firm　grip：　the　unpleasant　operating　end　was　closed　lightly　round　the　little　finger　of　Melinda's　right　hand。
　Durand　said：　〃Lord　Worth　isn't　going　to　like　you　too　much　for　this；　Larsen。〃
　Larsen；　apparently；　was　of　the　same　opinion。　〃All　right；　take　those　damned　pliers　away　and　get　these　bracelets　off。　I'll　close　down　your　damned　Christmas　tree。〃
　〃And　Fll　e　with　you　just　to　see　that　you　really　do　turn　it　off。　Not　that　I　would　recognize　one　if　I　saw　it；　but　I　do　know　that　there　are　such　things　as　flow　gauges。　Til　be　carrying　a　walkie　talkie　with　me。　Rindler　here　has　another。　FU　keep　in　constant　contact　with　him。　If　anything　should　happen　to　me…〃　Durand　looked　consideringly　at　the　medical　cutters；　then　handed　them　to　Heffer；　the　fifth　man　in　his　team。　He　told　Campbell　to　put　his　arms　behind　his　seat　back　and　handcuffed　his　wrists。
　〃Don't　miss　much；　do　you？〃　Larsen's　voice　was　sour。
　〃You　know　how　it　is。　So　many　villains　around　these　days。　e　on。〃
　The　two　men　walked　across　the　platform　in　the　direction　of　the　drilling　rig。　After　only　a　few　paces　Durand　stopped　and　looked　around　him　admiringly。
　〃Well；　well；　now。　Dual…purpose　antiaircraft　guns。　Piles　of　depth　charges。　You'd　almost　think　you're　prepared　to　withstand　a　siege。　Dear　me；　dear　me。　Federal　offense　you　know。　Lord　Worth；　even　with　the　millions　he　can　pay　for　lawyers；　can　get　at　least　ten　years　in　the　pen　for　this。〃
　〃What're　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Hardly　standard　equipment　aboard　an　oil　rig。　Ill　bet　it　wasn't　here　twenty…four　hours　ago。　Fll　bet　it　was　inside　the　Mississippi　naval　arsenal　that　was　broken　into　last　night。　The　Government　takes　a　dim　view　of　people　who　steal　military　equipment。　And；　of　course；　you　got　to　have　specialists　aboard　who're　skilled　at　handling　stuff　like　that；　and　that's　hardly　part　of　the　basic　training　of　oil…rig　crews。　I　wonder　if　those　crews　are　also　carrying　special　equipment…like；　for　instance；　what　was　stolen　from　a　Florida　arsenal　last　night。　I　mean；　two　unrelated　arsenal　break…ins　in　the　same　night　is　too　much　coincidence。　Twenty　years　in　prison；　with　no　chance　of　parole　for　you　too；　for　aiding　and　abetting。　And　people　call　us　criminals。〃
　Larsen　had　a　few　choice　observations　to　make　in　return；　none　of　which　would　have　received　the　approval　of　even　the　most　tolerant　board　of　censors。
　The　Christmas　tree　was　duly　neutralized。　The　pressure　gauges　registered　zero。　Durand　turned　his　attention　to　the　Roomer；　carrying　out　its　short　and　wearisome　patrol　between　the　rig　and　the　huge　floating　oil　tank。　〃What's　our　friend　up　to？〃
　〃Even　a　landlubber　like　you　ought　to　be　able　to　guess。　He's　patrolling　the　pipeline。〃
　〃What　the　hell　for？　You　could　replace　a　cut　line　in　a　day。　What　would　that　get　anybody？　It's　crazy。〃
　〃You　have　to　use　crazy　methods　to　deal　with　crazy　people。　From　all　accounts；　Lord　Worth's　enemies　should　be　locked　up　for　their　own　good。　For　everybody's　good。〃
　〃Worth's　band　of　cutthroats　aboard　this　rig…　who's　their　leader？〃
　〃Giuseppe　Palermo。〃
　〃That　mobster！　So　the　noble　Lord；　along　with　his　grand　larceny；　is　an　associate　of　convicted　felons。〃
　〃You　know　him；　then？〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Durand　saw　no　point　in　elaborating　upon　the　fact　that　he　and　Palermo　had　spent　two　prison　terms　together。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　him。〃
　The　talk　was　brief　and　one…sided。　Durand　said：　〃We've　got　Lord　Worth's　daughters　prisoner。　We're　going　to　bring　them　toward　the　living　quarters　here；　but　we　don't　want　you　taking　our　two　aces　away　from　us。　You'll　stay　inside　in　your　quarters。　If　you　don't　you're　gonna　hear　a　lot　of　screaming　and　see　pieces　of　fingers　or　ears　dropped　through　your　windows。　I　hope　you　believe　me。〃
　Palermo　believed　him。　Palermo　had　a　reputation　for　ruthlessness　that　matched　Durand's；　but　it　couldn't　begin　to　match　Durand's　unholy　joy　in　sadism。　Durand　was　perfectly　capable　of　not　only　doing　what　he　threatened　but　of　deriving　immense　satisfaction　in　so　doing。
　Palermo　returned　to　his　Oriental　quarters。　Durand　called　up　Rindler　on　the　walkie…talkie　and　told　them　all　to　e　across；　including　Campbell；　the　pilot。　Campbell　was　tough　and　resourceful　and　it　was　just　possible　that；　by　standing　up；　he　could　slip　his　manacled　arms　over　the　back　of　his　seat；　step　through　them　and　take　off。　Whether　he　would　have　enough　fuel　for　the　return　flight　would　be　a　problem　for　him；　even　though　he　would　almost　certainly　head　not　for　Florida　but　for　the　nearest　spot　on　the　mainland；　which　would　be　due　south　of　New　Orleans。
　As　the　prisoners　and　guards　disembarked　from　the　helicopter　Durand　said：　〃Acmodations？〃
　〃Plenty。　There　are　spare　rooms　in　the　oriental　quarters。　There's　Lord　Worth's　private　suite。〃
　〃Lockups？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？　This　isn't　a　prison。〃
　〃Storerooms？　Ones　that　can　be　locked　from　the　outside？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Durand　looked　at　Larsen　consideringly。　〃You're　being　very　co…operative；　Larsen。　Your　reputation　says　otherwise。〃
　〃Two　minutes'　walk　around　and　you　could　confirm　all　I'm　saying　for　yourself。〃
　〃You'd　like　to　kill　me；　wouldn't　you；　Larsen？〃
　〃When　the　time　is　ripe；　yes。　But　it's　not　yet　ripe。〃
　〃Even　so。〃　Durand　produced　a　pistol。　〃Stay　about　ten　feet　away。　You　might　be　tempted　to　grab　me　and　try　to　make　the　men　let　the　girls　go。　A　tempting　thought；　no？〃
　Larsen　looked　at　him　yearningly　and　said　nothing。
　The　girls；　the　pilots　and　their　four　escorts　arrived。　Durand　said：　〃Well；　now；　we　gotta　find　some　suitable　overnight　acmodation　for　you。〃　He　led　the　way　to　the　first　of　several　storehouses　and　opened　the　door　to　reveal　a　room　packed　roof…high　with　canned　goods。　He　shoved　Campbell　inside；　locked　the　door　and　pocketed　the　key。　The　next　storehouse　contained　coils　of　rope；　a　powerful　smell　of　crude　oil　and　an　active；　scuttling　population　of　those　indestructible　creatures；　cockroaches。　Durand　said　to　the　two　girls：　〃Inside。〃
　The　girls　took　one　shuddering　look；　then　turned　away。　Marina　said：　〃We　will　not　go　inside　that　disgusting　place。〃
　Kowenski　said　in　a　gently　chiding　voice　which　accorded　ill　with　the　Colt　he　held　in　his　hand：　〃Do　you　know　what　this　is？〃　Rindler　had　a　similar　weapon　trained　on　Melinda。
　Both　girls　glanced　briefly　at　each　other　and　then；　in　what　was　obviously　a　prepared　and　rehearsed　movement；　walked　toward　the　men　with　the　guns；　seized　the　barrels　with　their　right　hands　and　hooked　their　right　thumbs　behind　their　trigger　forefingers；　pulling　the　guns　hard　against　themselves。
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃　Durand　was　badly　shaken；　he　had　run　up　against　many　situations　in　his　life；　but　this　one　lay　far　beyond　his　most　remote　conception。　〃You　trying　to　mit　suicide？〃
　Melinda　said：　〃Precisely。〃　Her　eyes　never　left　Rindler's。　〃You're　lower　than　those　horrible　cockroaches　in　there。　You　are　vermin　who　are　trying　to　destroy　our　father。　With　us　dead；　you　won't　have　a　single　card　left　to　play。〃
　〃You're　crazy！　Simple　plain　crazy！〃
　〃Maybe；〃　Marina　said。　〃But　for　crazy　people　our　logic　is　pretty　good。　With　nothing　to　tie　his　hands　you　can　imagine　how　our　father　will　reactespecially　since　he　and　everyone　else　will　believe　that　you　murdered　us。　He　won't　have　to　go　to　the　law；　of　course…you　simply　have　no　idea　what　power　a　few　billion　dollars　can　bring　to　bear。　He'll　destroy　you　and　all　your　people　to