alistairmaclean.seawitch-第25章

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　〃If　Kowenski　and　Rindler　hadn't　been　such　damned　lousy　shots；　she'd　be　dead。〃
　〃So　you　let　Michael　loose？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You're　going　to　marry　her？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　you　asked　her？〃
　　〃No。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to。　Sisters　talk。〃
　〃Mike？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　John。　Fm　a　running　coward；　running　scared。〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃He　kills。〃
　〃I've　killed。〃
　〃He'll　kill　again？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃John。〃
　He　reached　out；　took　a　lock　of　her　gleaming　black　hair；　picked　out　a　single　thread。　〃That〃
　〃You　mean？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　have　to　see。〃　She　kicked　off　her　high…heeled　shoes。
　〃So　much　to　learn。　Sit。〃
　She　sat　on　his　bed。　Dr。　Greeitshaw　rolled　his　eyes　heavenward。　She　was　wearing　blue　jeans　and　a　white　blouse。　Roomer　reached　up　and　undid　the　top　button　of　her　blouse。　She　looked　at　him　and　said　nothing。　Roomer　said：　〃You　do　the　rest。　Navy　or　black　jumper。〃
　She　was　back　in　thirty　seconds；　wearing　a　navy　polo…　She　looked　inquiringly　at　Roomer；　who　nodded。　She　left　the　sick　bay。
　In　Lord　Worth's　living　room；　he　and　Mitchell　were　seated　in　adjacent　armchairs。　The　wall…speakers　were　on。　When　Marina　came　in；　Mitchell　waved　her　to　urgent　silence。
　
　Over　the　speakers　Durand's　unmistakable　voice　sounded　testy。　〃All　I　know　is　that　the　deck　lights　went　out　some　minutes　ago　and　then　came　back　on。〃　Marina　glanced　at　Mitchell；　who　nodded。　〃All　the　light　you　need　to　land。〃
　〃Have　you　neutralized　the　radar　scanner　yet？〃
　Marina　had　never　heard　the　voice　before；　but　the　tightening　of　Lord　Worth's　lip　showed　that　Cronkite's　voice　was　no　stranger　to　him。
　〃We　don't　need　to　now。〃
　〃It　was　your　idea。　Do　it。　We'll　leave　in　ten　minutes；　then　about　fifteen　minutes'　flying　time。〃
　〃　'We'll　leave'？　That　mean　you're　ing　too？〃
　〃No。　I've　more　important　things　to　do。〃　There　was　a　click：　Cronkite　had　ceased　to　transmit。
　Lord　Worth　said　uneasily：　〃I　wonder　what　that　devious　devil　means　by　that？〃
　〃We'll　just　have　to　find　out　the　hard　way。〃　Mitchell　looked　at　Marina。　〃Where　are　your　shoes？〃
　She　smiled　sweetly。　〃I'm　a　quick　study。　Shoes　make　too　much　noise　out　on　the　platform。〃
　〃You're　not　going　out　on　any　platform。〃
　〃I　am。　There　are　gaps　in　my　education。　I　want　to　see　how　killers　operate。〃
　Mitchell　said　in　irritation：　〃Fm　not　going　to　kill　anyone。　Go　get　your　bag　packed。　You'll　be　leaving　soon。〃
　〃Fm　not　leaving。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　I　want　to　stay　with　Daddy…and　with　you。　Don't　you　think　that's　natural？〃
　〃You're　leaving　if　I　have　to　tie　you　up。〃
　〃You　can't　tie　my　tongue　up。　Wouldn't　the　law　just　love　to　know　where　the　guns　stolen　from　the　Mississippi　arsenal　are？〃
　Lord　Worth　looked　slightly　stunned。　〃You'd　do　that　to　me？　Your　own　father？〃
　〃You'd　tie　me　up　and　force　me　aboard　that　helicopter？　Your　own　daughter？〃
　〃Talk　about　logic。〃　Mitchell　shook　his　head。　〃Lord　Worth　seems　to　have　fathered　a　nutcase。　If　you　think…〃
　The　wallspeakers　crackled　again。　〃Well；　don't　just　hang　around。　Stop　that　radar。〃
　〃How？〃　It　was　Aaron　and　he　sounded　grieved。　〃Do　you　expect　me　to　climb　that　damned　drilling　rig…〃
　〃Don't　be　stupid。　Go　to　the　radar　room。　There's　a　red　lever　switch　just　above　the　console。　Pull　it　down。〃
　〃That　I　can　do。〃　Aaron　sounded　relieved。　They　heard　the　sound　of　a　door　closing。　Mitchell　kicked　off　his　shoes；　turned　off　the　lights　in　the　living　room　and　eased　the　door　open　a　crack。　Aaron；　his　back　already　to　them；　was　heading　for　the　radar　room。　He　reached　it；　opened　the　door　and　passed　inside。　Mitchell　moved　after　him；　pulling　out　his　silenced　gun　and　holding　it　in　his　left　hand。　A　soft　voice　behind　him　said：　〃I　thought　you　were　right…handed。〃
　Mitchell　didn't　even　bother　to　curse。　He　said　in　a　resigned　whisper：　〃I　am。〃
　Aaron　was　just　pulling　the　red　lever　when　Mitchell　made　his　soundless　entrance。　He　said：　〃Don't　turn　round。〃
　Aaron　didn't　turn　round。
　〃Clasp　your　hands　behind　your　neck；　then　turn　and　e　over　here。〃
　Aaron　turned。　〃Mitchell！〃
　〃Don't　try　anything　clever。　IVe　already　had　to　kill　three　of　your　friends。　A　fourth　isn't　going　to　give　me　a　sleepless　night。　Stop　right　there　and　turn　round　again。〃
　Aaron　did　as　he　was　told。　Mitchell　withdrew　his　right　hand　from　his　coat　pocket。　The　braided　leather　sap　attached　to　his　wrist　by　a　thong　was　no　more　than　five　inches　long；　but　when　it　struck　Aaron　with　considerable　force　and　accuracy　above　and　behind　the　right　ear　it　was　apparent　that　five　inches　was　quite　long　enough。　Mitchell　caught　him　as　he　fell　and　eased　him　te　the　deck。
　〃Did　you　have　to　do　that…〃　Marina　choked　and　stopped　speaking　involuntarily　as　Mitchell's　hand　clamped　itself　none　too　gently　over　her　mouth。　She　flinched　as　he　shook　the　sap　before　her　eyes。
　〃Keep　your　voice　down。〃　The　whisper　was　intentionally　savage。　He　knelt　over　Aaron；　removed　and　pocketed　his　gun。
　〃Did　you　have　to　do　that？〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃You　could　have　tied　Mm　up　and　gagged　him。〃
　〃When　I　require　advice　from　amateurs　e　right　to　you。　I　haven't　time　for　games。　Hell　just　have　a　half…hour　peaceful　rest；　and　then　all　he'll　need　is　an　aspirin。〃
　〃And　now？〃
　〃Durand。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Fool。〃
　〃I'm　getting　tired　of　people　calling　me　fool。　John　just　called　me　that。　He　also　said　I　was　mentally　retarded　and　an　artificial　pearl。〃
　〃No　shrewder　judge　of　character　than　old　John；〃　Mitchell　said　approvingly。　〃If　Aaron　doesn't　return；　Durand　will　e　looking　for　him。　Then　hell　get　on　the　radiophone　and　stop　the　helicopter　flight〃
　〃Well；　that's　what　you　want；　isn't　it？〃
　〃No。〃
　He　switched　off　the　light　and　walked　away；　Marina　following。　Mitchell　stopped　outside　the　entrance　to　Lord　Worth's　sitting　room。
　〃Get　inside。　You're　both　an　irritation　and　a　liability。　I　can't　function　properly　with　you　around。　Heroines　I　can　do　without。'*
　〃I　promise　you　I　won't　say　a　word。　I　promise…〃
　He　caught　her　by　the　arm　and　thrust　her　forcibly　inside。　Lord　Worth　looked　up　in　mild
　Seawitch
　surprise。　Mitchell　said：　〃I　will　hold　you　personally　responsible；　Lord　Worth；　if　you　let　this　pesky　daughter　of　yours　outside　that　door　again。　Also；　I'm　dimming　the　deck　lights。　Anybody　moving　around　the　platform　will　be　shot。　That's　my　。promise　and　you'd　better　believe　it。　This　is　no　place　for　children　who　want　to　play　games。〃　The　door　closed　behind　him。
　〃Well！〃　Marina　sat　down　and　gripped　her　hands　together。　〃What　kind　of　husband　do　you　think　fie　would　make？〃
　〃A　perfectly　splendid　one；　I　should　imagine。　Look；　my　dear；　one　of　Mitchelts　outstanding　assets　is　a　hair…trigger　reaction。　You　blunt　it。　And　you　know　damn　well　how　he　feels　about　you…　your　presence　just　constitutes　an　additional　worry　at　a　time　when　he　can　least　afford　either。　A　wife　doesn't　acpany　her　husband　down　a　coal　mine　or　on　a　wartime　bombing　mission。　And　Mitchell　is　much　more　of　a　loner　than　such　people　are。〃
　She　attempted　something　between　a　glower　and　a　scowl；　but　her　beautiful　face　really　wasn't　made　for　it；　so　she　settled　for　a　rueful　smile；　rose　and　replenished　his　glass　of　malt　whisky。
　Mitchell　removed　the　gun　and　two　large　keys　from　the　pockets　of　an　unconscious　Durand；　made　his　way　to　the　main　entrance　to　the　oriental　quarters；　opened　the　door　and　switched　on　the　corridor　lights。
　
　''mander　Larsen；〃　he　called　out。　〃Palermo。〃
　Doors　opened　and　the　two　men　were　with　him　in　a　few　seconds。　Larsen　said：　〃Mitchell！　What　the　hell　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃Just　a　harmless　seismologist　taking　a　stroll。〃
　〃But　didn't　you　hear　the　broadcast　warning…　anyone　on　the　platform　will　be　shot　on　sight？〃
　〃That's　past。　One　piece　of　bad　news；　two　of　good。　Bad　news　first　Roomer　and　Miss　Melinda　didn't　hear　the　warning…those　quarters　are　sound…insulated。　So　they　took　a　walk。　Both　were　hurt　badly。　Melinda　has　a　shattered　left　shoulder。　Roomer　was　shot　through　the　neck　and　chest　The　doctor　thinks　the　bullet　is　lodged　against　his　spine。　We've　got　to　get　them　to　the　hospital　and　quick。　Who's　Lord　Worth's　personal　pilot？〃
　〃Chambers；〃　Larsen　said。
　〃Get　one　of　your　men　to　have　him　refuel　his　machine。　Now　the　good　news。　Durand　is　in　the　radio　room；　his　number　two；　guy　named　Aaron；　is　in　the　radar　room。　Both　are　unconscious。〃　He　looked　at　Palermo。　〃When　they　e　to…it'll　be　some　time　yet…can　you　have　them　looked　after　with　loving　care　and　attention？〃
　〃Our　pleasure。〃
　Larsen　said：　〃Durand　had　three　other　men。〃
　〃They're　dead。〃
　〃You？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃We　didn't　hear　any　shooting。〃
　Mitchell　gave　them　a　brief　sight　of　his　silenced　。38。　Larsen　looked　thoughtful。　〃Lord　Worth　has　talked　about　you：　I　used　to　think　he　was　exaggerating。〃
　〃The　other　bit　of　good　news。　Cronkite　is　sending　some　reinforcements　by　helicopter…not　many；　I　believe；　eight　or　nine…and　they　should　be　taking　off　about　now。　A　fifteen…minute　flight；　I　gather；　so　I　think　Cronkite's　boat　is　somewhere　just　below　the　horizon；　below　our　radar　sweep。〃
　Palermo　brightened。　〃We　blast　this　chopper　out　of　the　sky？〃
　〃My　first　thought；　I　must　admit。　But　let's　try　to　play　it　smart　and　put　him　off　his　guard。…Let's　let　them　land；　then　take　them。　We'll　make　their　leader　report　to　Cronkite　that　everything's　okay。〃
　〃What　if　he　won't？　Or　tries　to　warn　him？〃
　〃We'll　write　out　his　script。　If　he　changes　one　word　Fll　shoot　him。　Silencer。　Cronkite　won't　hear　it。〃
　〃He　might　hear　the　guy　scream。〃
　〃When　a　。38　slug　enters　the　base　of　your　skull　and　travels　upward　at　forty…five　degrees；　you　don't　scream　very　much。〃
　〃You　mean　you'd　kill　him？〃　While　not　exactly　incredulous；　Larsen　was　obviously　taken　aback。
　〃Yes。　Then　we'd　line　up　number　two。　We　shouldn't　have　too　much　trouble　with　him。〃
　Larsen　said　with　some　feeling：　〃When　Lord　Worth　talked　about　you　he　didn't　tell　me　the　half　of　it〃
　〃Another　thing。　I　want　that　helicopter。　Well　fake　a　story　that　the　engine　failed　above　the　pad　and　it　crash…landed；　and　will　take　several　hours　to　repair。　It's　always　handy　to　have　another　helicopter　around　but；　more　important；　I　want　to　deprive　Cronkite　of　the　use　of　his。〃　He　looked　at　Palermo。　〃I　take　it　that　the　reception　mittee　can　be　safely　left　in　your　hands？〃
　〃It　sure　can。　Any　suggestions？〃
　〃Well；　I　doubt　that　I　need　to　lecture　an　expert　like　you。〃
　〃You　know　me？〃
　〃I　used　to　be　a　cop。　In　any　case；　the　rig　is　loaded　with　portable　searchlights。　They'll　head　for　the　administration　buildings。　I'd　stay　in　hiding；　switch　off　the　deck　lights　and　then　turn　on　the　searchlights　when　they're；　say；　thirty　yards　away。　They'll　be　blinded　and　won't　be　able　to　see　you。〃
　〃You　can't　count　on　what　nutcases　like　that'll　do。〃
　'Til　bet　you　can。〃　Mitchell　smiled　briefly　at　him；　cop　to　crook。　He　said　to　Larsen：　〃I　have　a　feeling　that　Lord　Worth　would　like　to　confer　with　his　rig　boss。〃
　〃Yes。〃　They　walked　away　as　Palermo　was　already　giving　rapid　instructions　to　his　men。　〃Lord　Worth　know　what　you're　up　to？〃
　
　IT　haven't　had　time。　Anyway；　I　wouldn't　tell　Lord　Worth　how　to　make　a　billion　out　of　oil。〃
　〃Good　point。〃　They　stopped　briefly　by　the　radio　room。　Larsen　gazed　at　the　crumpled　form　of　Durand；　half　in　appreciation；　half　in　regret。　〃What　a　beautiful　sight　Wish　it　had　been　me；　though。〃
　〃I'll　bet　Durand…when　he　wakes　up…doesn't　Plastic　surgeons　e　high。〃
　They　made　their　next　brief　stop　at　the　sick　bay。　Larsen　looked　at　a　still　atose　Melinda　and　a　wide…awake　Roomer　and　his　massive　fists　cl