alistairmaclean.seawitch-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ay；　you'd　even　let　them　over　the　threshold　of　your　house。　But　they　know…Bentley　told　us　this…that　we　e　across　here　now　and　again；　so　I　suppose　they　figured　you'd　be　less　off　your　guard　with　us。〃
　〃So　Bentley　figures　that　you'd　craftily　wring　some　careless　talk　from　me　without　my　being　aware　that　I　was　talking　carelessly。〃
　〃Something　like　that。〃
　〃But　doesn't　this　put　you　in　a　somewhat　invidious　position？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃But　you're　supposed　to　uphold　the　law；　no？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Mitchell　spoke　with　some　feeling。　〃But　not　organized　law。　Or　have　you　forgotten；　Lord　Worth；　that　we're　a　couple　of　ex…cops　because　we　wouldn't　go　along　with　your　so…called　organized　law？　Our　only　responsibility　is　to　our　clients。〃
　Tm　not　your　client。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Would　you　like　me　to　be　your　client？〃
　Roomer　said：　〃What　on　earth　for？〃
　〃It's　never　something　for　nothing　in　this　world；　John。　Services　have　to　be　rewarded。〃
　〃Failure　of　a　mission。〃　Mitchell　was　on　his　feet。　〃Nice　of　you　to　see　us；　Lord　Worth。〃
　〃I　apologize。〃　Lord　Worth　sounded　genuinely　contrite。　'Tm　afraid　I　rather　stepped　out　of　line　there。〃　He　paused　ruminatively；　then　smiled。　〃Just　trying　to　recall　when　last　I　apologized　to　anybody。　I　seem　to　have　a　short　memory。　BJess　my　lovely　daughters。　Information　for　our　friends　of　the　FBI？　First；　I　received　my　information　in　context　of　several　anonymous　threats…telephone　calls…on　the　lives　of　my　daughters。　A　double…barreled　threat；　if　you　will；　against　the　girls　if　I　didn't　stop　the　flow　of　oil。　As　they　pointed　out；　I　can't　hide　them　forever　and　there's　nothing　one　can　do　against　a　sniper's　bullet…and　if　I　were　too　difficult　they'd　have　the　Seawitch　blown　out　of　the　water。　As　for　my　future　movements；　I'm　going　out　to　the　Seawitch　tomorrow　afternoon　and　will　remain　there　for　twenty…four　hours；　perhaps　forty…eight。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃Any　truth　in　either　of　those　two　statements？〃
　〃Don't　be　preposterous。；　Of　course　not。　I　am　going　out　to　the　rig…but　before　dawn。　I　don't　want　those　beady…eyed　bandits　watching　me　from　the　undergrowth　at　my　heliport　as　I　take　off。〃
　〃You　are　referring　to　the　FBI；　sir？〃
　〃Who　else？　Will　that　do　for　the　moment？〃
　〃Splendidly。〃
　They　walked　back　to　　the　lane　in　silence。
　Roomer　got　in　behind　the　wheel　of　the　car；　Mitchell　beside　him。
　Roomer　said：　〃Well；　well；　well。〃
　〃Well；　as　you　say；　well；　well；　well。　Crafty　old　devil。〃
　Marina's　voice　came　from　the　back。　〃Crafty　he　may　be；　but…〃
　She　broke　off　in　a　gasp　as　Mitchell　whirled　hi　his　seat　and　Roomer　switched　on　his　interior　lights。　The　barrel　of　MitchelFs　。38　was　lined　up　between　her　eyes；　eyes　at　the　moment　wide　with　shock　and　fear。
　Mitchell　said　in　a　soft　voice：　〃Don't　ever　do　that　to　me　again。　Next　time　it　may　be　too　late。〃
　She　licked　her　lips。　She　was　normally　as　high…spirited　and　independent　as　she　was　beautiful；　but　it　is　a　rather　disconcerting　thing　to　look　down　the　muzzle　of　a　pistol　for　the　first　time　in　your　life。　〃I　was　just　going　to　say　that　he　may　be　crafty　but　he's　neither　old　nor　a　devil。　Will　you　please　put　that　gun　away？　You　don't　point　guns　at　people　you　love。〃
　MitchelTs　gun　disappeared。　He　said：　〃You　shouldn't　fall　in　love　with　crazy　young　fools。〃
　〃Or　spies。〃　Roomer　was　looking　at　Melinda。　〃What　are　you　two　doing　here？〃
　Melinda　was　more　posed　than　her　sister。　After　all；　she　hadn't　had　to　look　down　the　barrel　of　a　pistol。　She　said：　〃And　you；　John　Roomer；　are　a　crafty　young　devil。　You're　just　stalling　for　time。〃　Which　was　quite　true。
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　〃It　means　you're　thinking　furiously　of　the　answer　to　the　same　question　we're　about　to　ask　you。　What　are　you　two　doing　here？〃
　〃That's　none　of　your　business。〃　Roomer's　normally　soft…spoken　voice　was　unaccustomedly　and　deliberately　harsh。
　There　was　a　silence　from　the　back　seat；　both　girls　realizing　that　there　was　more　to　the　men　than　they　had　thought；　and　the　gap　between　their　social　and　professional　lives　wider　than　they　had　thought。
　Mitchell　sighed。　〃Let's　cool　it；　John。　An　ungrateful　child　is　sharper　than　a　serpent's　tooth。〃
　〃Jesus！〃　Roomer　shook　his　head。　〃You　can　say　that　again。〃　He　hadn't　the　faintest　idea　what　Mitchell　was　talking　about。
　Mitchell　said：　〃Why　don't　you　go　to　your　father　and　ask　him？　I'm　sure　he'll　tell　you…　along　with　the　roughest　chewing…out　you've　ever　had　for　interfering　in　his　private　business。〃　He　got　out；　opened　the　rear　door；　waited　until　the　sisters　got　out；　closed　the　rear　door；　said　'Goodnight'　and　returned　to　his　seat；　leaving　the　girls　standing　uncertainly　at　the　side　of　the　road。
　Roomer　drove　off。　He　said：　〃Very　masterful；　though　I　didn't　like　our　doing　it。　God　knows；　they　meant　no　harm。　In　any　case；　it　may　stand　us　in　good　stead　in　the　future。〃
　〃It'll　stand　us　in　even　better　stead　if　we　get　to　the　phone　booth　right　around　the　corner　as　soon　as　we　can。〃
　They　reached　the　booth　in　fifteen　seconds；　and　one　minute　later　Mitchell　emerged　from　it。　As　he　took　his　seat　Roomer　said：　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃
　〃Sorry；　private　matter。〃　Mitchell　handed　Roomer　a　piece　of　paper。　Roomer　switched　on　the　overhead　light。　On　the　paper　Mitchell　had　scrawled：　〃This　car　bugged？〃
　Roomer　said：　〃Okay　by　me。〃　They　drove　home　in　silence。　Standing　in　his　carport　Roomer　said：　〃What　makes　you　think　my　car's　bugged？〃
　〃Nothing。　How　far　do　you　trust　Bentley？〃
　〃You　know　how　far。　But　he…or　one　of　his　men…wouldn't　have　had　time。〃
　〃Five　seconds　isn't　a　long　time。　That's　all　the　tune　it　takes　to　attach　a　magnetic　clamp。〃
　They　searched　the　car；　then　Mitchelts。　Both　were　clean。　In　Mitchell's　kitchen　Roomer　said：　〃Your　phone　call？〃
　'The　old　boy；　of　course。　I　got　to　him　before　the　girls　did。　Told　him　what　had　happened　and　that　he　was　to　tell　them　he'd　received　threats　against　their　lives；　that　he　knew　the　source；　that　he　didn't　trust　the　local　law　and　so　had　sent　for　us　to　deal　with　the　matter。　Caught　on　at　once。　Also　to　give　them　hell　for　interfering。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃He'll　convince　them。〃
　〃More　importantly；　did　he　convince　you？〃
　〃No。　He　thinks　fast　on　his　feet　and　lies　even　　faster。　He　wanted　to　find　out　how　seriously　he　would　be　taken　in　the　case　of　a　real　emergency。　He　now　has　the　preliminary　evidence　that　he　is　being　taken　seriously。　You　have　to　hand　it　to　him…as　devious　as　they　e。　I　suppose　we　tell　Bentley　exactly　what　he　told　us　to　tell　him？〃
　〃What　else？〃
　〃Do　you　believe　what　he　told　us？〃
　〃That　he　has　his　own　private　intelligence　corps？　I　wouldn't　question　it　for　a　moment。　That　he's　going　out　to　the　Seawitch？　I　believe　that；　too。　I'm　not　so　sure　about　his　timing；　though。　We're　to　tell　Bentley　that　he's　leaving　in　the　afternoon。　He　told　us　he's　leaving　about　dawn。　If　he　can　lie　to　Bentley　he　can　lie　to　us。　I　don't　know　why　he　should　think　it　necessary　to　lie　to　us；　probably　just　his　second　nature。　I　think　he's　going　to　leave　much　sooner　than　that。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃Me；　too；　I'm　afraid。　If　I　intended　to　be　up　at　dawn's　early　light　I'd　be　in　bed　by　now　or　heading　that　way。　He　showed　no　sign　of　going　to　bed；　so　I　conclude　he　has　no　intention　of　going　to　bed；　because　it　wouldn't　be　worth　his　while。〃　He　paused。　〃So。　A　double　stake…out？〃
　〃I　thought　so。　Up　by　Lord　Worth's　house　and　down　by　his　heliport。　You　for　the　heliport；　me　for　the　tail　job？〃
　〃What　else？〃　Mitchell　was　possessed　of　phenomenal　night…sight。　Except　on　the　very　blackest　of　nights　he　could　drive　without　any　lights　at　all。
　'Til　hole　up　behind　the　west　spinney。　You　know　it？〃
　〃I　know　it。　How　about　you　feeding　the　story　to　Bentley　while　I　make　a　couple　of　thermoses　of　coffee　and　some　sandwiches？〃
　〃Fine。〃　Roomer　reached　for　the　phone；　then　paused。　〃Listen；　why　are　we　doing　all　this？　We　don't　owe　the　FBI　anything。　We　have　no　authority　from　anyone　to　do　anything。　You　said　it　yourself：　we　and　organized　law　walk　in　different　directions。　I　don't　feel　I'm　under　any　obligation　to　save　my　country　from　a　nonexistent　threat。　We've　got　no　client；　no　mission；　no　prospect　of　fees。　Why　should　we　care　if　Lord　Worth　sticks　his　head　into　a　noose？〃
　Mitchell　paused　in　slicing　bread。　〃As　far　as　your　last　question　is　concerned；　why　don't　you　call　up　Melinda　and　ask　her？〃
　Roomer　gave　him　a　long；　quizzical　look；　sighed　and　reached　for　the　telephone。
　
　
　Chapter　3
　
　COFFIELD　had　been　wrong　in　his　guess。　Lord　Worth　was　possessed　of　no　private　arsenal。　But　the　United　States　armed　services　were；　and　in　their　dozens；　at　that。
　The　two　break…ins　were　acplished　with　the　professional　expertise　born　of　a　long　and　arduous　practice　that　precluded　any　possibility　of　mistakes。　The　targets　in　both　cases　were　government　arsenals；　one　army　and　one　naval。　Both；　naturally；　were　manned　by　round…the…clock　guards；　none　of　whom　was　killed　or　even　injured　if　one　were　to　disregard　the　cranial　contusions…and　those　were　few…caused　by　sandbagging　and　sapping：　Lord　Worth　had　been　very　explicit　on　the　use　of　minimal　violence。
　Giuseppe　Palermo；　who　looked　and　dressed　like　a　successful　Wall　Street　broker；　had　the　more　difficult　task　of　the　two；　although；　as　a　man　who　held　the　Mafia　in　tolerant　contempt；　he　regarded　the　exercise　as　almost　childishly　easy。　Acpanied　by　nine　almost　equally　respectable　men…sartorially　respectable；　that　is…three　of　whom　were　dressed　as　army　majors；　he　arrived　at　the　Florida　arms　depot　at　fifteen　minutes　to　midnight。　The　six　young　guards；　none　of　whom　had　even　seen　or　heard　a　shot　fired　in　anger；　were　at　their　drowsiest　and　expecting　nothing　but　their　midnight　reliefs。　Only　two　were　really　fully　awake…the　other　four　had　dozed　away…and　those　two；　responding　to　a　heavy　and　peremptory　hammering　on　the　main　entrance　door；　were　disturbed；　not　to　say　highly　alarmed；　by　the　appearance　of　three　army　officers　who　announced　that　they　were　making　a　snap　inspection　to　test　security　and　alertness。　Five　minutes　later　all　six　were　bound　and　gagged…two　of　them　uncon…cious　and　due　to　wake　up　with　very　sore　heads　because　of　their　misguided　attempts　to　put　up　a　show　of　resistance…and　safely　locked　up　in　one　of　the　many　so…called　secure　rooms　in　the　depot。
　During　this　period　and　the　next　twenty　minutes；　one　of　Palermo's　men；　an　electronics　expert　called　Jamieson；　made　a　thorough　search　for　all　the　external　alarm　signals　to　both　the　police　and　nearest　military　HQ。　He　either　bypassed　or　disconnected　them　all。
　It　was　when　he　was　engaged　in　this　that　the　relief　guards；　almost　as　drowsy　as　those　whom　they　had　been　expecting　to　find；　made　their　appearance　and　were　highly　disconcerted　to　find　themselves　looking　at　the　muzzles　of　three　machine　carbines。　Within　minutes；　securely　bound　but　not　gagged；　they　had　joined　the　previous　guards；　whose　gags　were　now　removed。　They　could　now　shout　until　doomsday；　as　the　nearest　habitation　was　more　than　a　mile　away：　the　temporary　gagging　of　the　first　six　guards　had　been　merely　for　the　purpose　of　preventing　their　warning　off　their　reliefs。
　Palermo　now　had　almost　eight　hours　before　the　break…in　could　be　discovered。
　He　sent　one　of　his　men；　Watkins；　to　bring　round　to　the　front　the　concealed　minibus　in　which　they　had　arrived。　All　of　them；　Watkins　excepted；　changed　from　their　conservative　clothing　and　military　uniforms　into　rough　workclothes；　which　resulted　in　rather　remarkable　changes　in　their　appearance　and　character。