cc.iceberg-第14章

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r　a　second　the　touth…looking　brute　with　the　spectacles　sat　there　in　stunned　immobility；　staring　at　Pitt　in　the　doorway。　Then　his　hand　shot　to　his　holster。
　〃Freeze！〃　Pitt　ordered。
　
　The　mand　was　ignored；　and　a　shot　blasted　through　the　small　waiting　room。　There　are　many　who　claim　the　hand　is　quicker　than　the　eye；　but　there　are　few　who　will　take　the　stand　that　the　hand　is　quicker　than　a　speeding　bullet。　The　gun　flew　from　the　bogus　policeman's　hand　as　Pitts　shell　tore　into　the　wooden　grip；　taking　a　thumb　along　with　it。
　
　Never　before　had　Pitt　seen　such　dazed　unprehension　and　shocked　1）。in　the　paid　killer　stared　at　the　bloody　half…inch　stump　where　his　thumb　had　been。　Pitt　made　to　lower　his　gun；　but　raised　and　aimed　it　again　as　he　caught　the　look　on　his　opponent's　face…mouth　tightened　to　a　thin　white　line；　black　hatred　glaring　out　from　the　squinting　eyes　behind　the　glasses。
　〃Shoot　me；　Major；　quickly；　cleanly　here！〃　He　tapped　his　chest　with　his　uninjured　hand。
　〃Well；　well；　so　you　speak　English。　My　pliments；　you　never　gave　me　the　slightest　hint　that　you　understood　any　of　the　conversation。〃
　〃Shoot　me！〃　The　words　seemed　to　echo　in　the　little　room　and　in　Pitts　ears　for　an　interminable　time。
　〃Why　rush　things？　There's　every　possibility　you'll　hang　for　murdering　Sergeant　Amarson　anyway。〃　Pitt　pulled　the　hammer　of　the　revolver　back　for　single…action　g。　〃I　take　it　I'm　safe　in　assuming　you　did　kill　？〃
　〃Yes；　the　sergeant　is　dead。　Now　please　do　the　same　for　me。〃　The　eyes　were　cold；　yet　pleading。
　〃You're　pretty　anxious　to　get　yourself　planted。〃
　Jonsson　looked　but　said　nothing。　Totally　off　balance；　he　struggled　to　graspr　a　new　set　of　circumstances；　a　plete　reversal　of　all　his　previous　values。　As　a　doctor；　he　couldn't　just　stand　there　and　watch　an　injured　man　bleed　profusely　without　aid。
　〃Let　me　take　care　of　the　hand；〃　Jonsson　volunteered。
　〃Stay　behind　me　and　don't　move；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Any　man　who　wants　to　die　is　more　dangerous　than　a　cornered　rat。〃
　〃But　good　Lord；　man；　you　cannot　stand　there　and　gloat　over　his　pain；〃　Jonsson　protested。
　Pitt　ignored　Jonsson。　〃Okay；　four　eyes；　I'll　make　a　deal　with　you。　The　next　bullet　goes　through　your　heart　if　you　tell　me　the　name　of　the　man　who　pays　your　salary。〃
　The　animal…like　eyes　behind　the　glasses　never　left　Pitts　face。　He　shook　his　head　silently　and　said　nothing。
　〃This　isn't　wartime；　friend。　You're　not　betraying　your　god　or　country。　Loyalty　to　an　employer　is　hardly　worth　your　life。〃
　〃You　will　kill　me；　Major。　I　shall　make　you　kill　me。〃　He　advanced　toward　Pitt。
　〃I'll　give　you　credit；〃　Pitt　said。　〃You're　a　persistent　bastard。〃
　
　He　pulled　the　trigger　and　the　revolver　roared　again；　the　。38　bullet　smashing　into　the　burly　character's　left　leg　just　above　the　knee。
　
　Rarely　had　Pitt　seen　such　disbelief　in　a　human　face。　The　paid　killer　slowly　sank　to　the　floor；　his　left　hand　clutching　his　torn　left　leg；　trying　to　stem　the　blood　flow；　his　right　hand　lying　motionless　on　the　tile；　surrounded　by　a　growing　pool　of　red。
　
　It　seems　our　friend　has　nothing　to　say；〃　Pitt　said。
　
　He　pulled　back　the　hammer　to　fire　again。
　〃Please　do　not　kill　him；〃　Jonsson　pleaded。　〃His　life　is　not　worth　the　burden　on　your　soul。　I　beg　you；　Major；　let　me　have　the　gun。　He　can　cause　no　further　harm。〃
　
　Pitt　hesitated　several　moments；　torn　between　passion　and　revenge。　Then；　slowly；　he　handed　the　revolver　to　Jonsson　and　nodded。　Jonsson　took　it　and　put　his　hand　on　Pitts　shoulder　as　if　in　secret　understanding。
　〃I　am　heartbroken　that　countrymen　of　mine　should　cause　so　much　grief　and　pain　to　so　many；〃　the　doctor　said　with　weariness　in　his　voice。　〃I　will　take　care　of　these　two　and　contact　the　authorities　immediately。　You　go　with　Mundsson　to　Reykjavik　and　rest。　You　have　a　nasty…looking　head　wound；　but　it　won't　prove　serious　unless　You　aggravate　it。　Stay　in　bed　for　at　least　two　days。　That　is　a　direct　order　from　your　doctor。〃
　〃There　appears　to　be　a　slight　obstacle　to　your　prescription。〃　Pitt　smiled　crookedly　and　pointed　through　the　front　doorway。　〃You　were　one　hundred　percent　correct　about　creating　excitement　in　the　village。〃　He　nodded　in　the　direction　of　the　road　where　at　least　twenty　villagers　stood　silently　holding　every　type　of　weapon　from　telescopic　rifles　to　small…bore　shotguns；　all　aimed　steadily　at　the　door　of　Jonsson's　cottage。　Mundsson　was　resting　his　gun　easily　in　the　crook　of　one　arm；　one　foot　solidly　on　the　second　doorstep；　his　son　Biarni　slightly　off　to　one　side　with　an　old　Mauser　bolt…action　rifle。
　
　Pitt　held　both　hands　out　where　they　could　easily　be　seen。　〃I　think　now　is　an　appropriate　time；　Doctor；　to　give　me　a　remendation。　'nese　good　townspeople　aren't　sure　who　plays　the　good　guys　or　the　bad　guys。〃
　
　Jonsson　stepped　past　Pitt　and　spoke　for　several　minutes　in　Icelandic。　When　he　finished；　the　guns　began　to　lower　one　by　one　and　several　of　the　villagers　drifted　toward　their　homes　while　a　few　lingered　on　the　road　to　await　further　developments。　Jonsson　extended　his　hand；　and　Pitt　gripped　it。
　〃I　fervently　hope　you　meet　with　success　in　finding　the　man　responsible　for　the　terrible　number　of　senseless　murders；〃　Jonsson　said。　〃If　you　should　meet　him；　I　fear　for　your　life。　You　are　not　a　killer。　If　you　were；　two　men　would　lie　dead　in　my　home。　Your　concern　for　life；　I　fear；　will　be　your　defeat。　I　beg　you；　my　friend；　do　not　hesitate　when　the　moment　arrives。　God　and　luck　go　with　you。〃
　
　Pitt　threw　a　last　salute　at　Dr。　Jonsson　and　turned　and　stepped　down　the　front　steps　to　the　road。　Bjarni　held　the　passenger　door　of　the　Land　Rover　open　for　him。　The　seat　was　firm　and　the　backrest　stiff；　but　Pitt　could　not　have　cared　less；　his　entire　body　was　numb。　He　sat　there　as　Mundsson　started　the　engine　and　shifted　through　the　gears；　steering　the　truck　over　a　stretch　of　smooth；　narrow　pavement　toward　Reykjavik。　Pitt　could　have　easily　drifted　off　into　a　dead　sleep；　but　somewhere　in　the　deep　recesses　of　his　mind　a　spark　refused　to　go　out。　Something　that　he　saw；　something　that　was　said；　an　undistinguishable　something　refused　to　let　his　mind　slow　down　and　rest。　It　was　like　a　song　he　couldn't　quite　recall　whose　title　was　on　the　tip　of　his　tongue。
　
　Finally；　he　gave　it　up　and　dozed　off。
　
　Chapter　7
　
　Time　after　time；　the　exact　number　became　lost；　Pitt　struggled　up　from　the　bottom　of　the　rolling　surf　and　staggered　onto　the　beach　dragging　Hunnewell。　Time　after　time；　he　bandaged　the　oceanographer's　arm　only　to　slide　into　darkness　again。　Desperately；　every　time　the　event　ran　through　his　brain　like　an　image　from　a　film　projector；　he　tried　to　hang　onto　those　fleeting　moments　of　consciousness；　only　to　lose　out　to　the　inevitable　fact　that　nothing　can　change　the　past。　It　was　a　nightmare；　he　thought　vaguely　as　he　tried　to　tear　himself　away　from　the　bloodstained　beach。　He　gathered　his　strength　and　with　a　mighty　effort　forced　his　eyes　open；　expecting　to　see　an　empty　bedroom。　The　bedroom　was　there　all　right；　but　it　wasn't　empty。
　〃Good　morning；　Dirk；〃　said　a　soft　voice。　〃I'd　almost　lost　hope　that　you　would　ever　wake　up。〃
　
　Pitt　looked　up　into　the　smiling　brown　eyes　of　a　long…bodied　girl　who　sat　on　a　chair　at　the　foot　of　his　bed。　〃The　last　birdie　with　a　Yellow　bill　who　hopped　upon　my　windowsill　didn't　resemble　you　in　the　slightest；〃　he　said。
　
　She　laughed；　so　did　the　brown　eyes。　She　pushed　the　long　strands　of　shining　fawn…colored　hair　behind　her　ears。　Then　she　stood　up　'and　walked　around　to　the　head　of　the　bed　with　a　movement　that　could　best　be　described　as　mercury　flowing　down　a　meandering　glass　tube。　She　wore　a　red　wool　dress　that　clung　to　her　precision…shaped　hour…glass　figure；　the　bern　topping　a　pair　of　neatly　sculptured　knees。　She　wasn't　exactly　beautiful　in　the　exotic　sense　nor　was　she　overly　sexy；　but　she　was　cute…damned　cute…with　a　pert　attractiveness　that　melted　every　man　she　met。
　
　She　touched　the　bandage　on　the　side　of　his　head；　and　the　smile　gave　way　to　a　feminine　look　of　Florence　Nightingale　concern。　〃You've　had　a　nasty　time；　hurt　much？〃
　〃Only　when　I　stand　on　my　head。〃
　
　Pitt　knew　who　she　was。　Her　name　was　Tidi　Royal　and　he　knew　her　reason　for　genuine　anxiety；　he　knew　her　fun　and…games　personality　was　misleading。　She　could　pound　out　one　hundred　and　twenty　words　a　minute　on　a　typewriter　for　eight　hours　without　a　yawn；　and　take　shorthand　a　shade　faster。　The　primary　reasons　why　Admiral　James　Sandecker　hired　her　as　his　private　secretary…or　so　he　steadfastly　claimed。
　
　Pitt　pulled　himself　to　a　sitting　position　and　peeked　under　the　covers　to　see　if　he　was　wearing　anything。　He　was；　just　barely…a　pair　of　boxer　shorts。　〃If　you're　here；　it　could　only　mean　the　admiral　is　close　by。〃
　
　Fifteen　minutes　after　he　got　your　message　over　the　consulates　radio；　we　were　on　a　jet　to　Iceland。　He's　pretty　shaken　about　Dr。　Hunnewell's　death。　Admiral　Sandecker　blames　himself。〃
　〃He's　going　to　have　to　stand　in　line；〃　Pitt　said。　〃I　got　there　first。〃
　〃He　said　you'd　feel　that　way。〃　Tidi　tried　to　speak　lightly　but　it　didn't　quite　e　off。　〃Guilt…ridden　conscience；　probably　trying　to　redo　the　event　in　your　mind。〃
　〃The　admiral's　extrasensory　perception　must　be　working　overtime。〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　mean　the　admiral。〃
　Pitt　frowned　quizzically。
　〃A　Dr。　Jonsson　from　a　little　vilage　to　the　north　called　and　gave　the　consulate　very　explicit　instructions　regarding　your　convalescence。〃
　〃Convalescence；　crap！〃　Pitt　snapped。　〃Which　reminds　me。　What　in　hell　are　you　doing　in　my　bedroom？〃
　She　looked　hurt。　〃I　volunteered。〃
　〃Volunteered？〃
　〃To　sit　with　you　while　you　slept；〃　she　said。　〃Dr。　Jonsson　insisted。　There's　been　a　consulate　staff　member　sitting　in　this　room　every　minute　since　you　closed　your　eyes　last　evening。〃　Our　〃What　time　is　it？　〃A　few　minutes　past　ten…A。m。　I　might　add。〃
　〃God；　I've　wasted　Nearly　fourteen　hours。　What　happened　to　my　clothes？〃
　〃Thrown　out　in　the　trash；　I　should　imagine。　They　weren't　fit　for　rags。　You'll　have　to　borrow　some　from　a　staff　member。〃
　〃In　that　case；　how　about　rounding　up　something　casual　while　I　take　a　quick　shower　and　shave。〃　He　tossed　her　his　bite…is…worse…than…bark　look　and　said；　〃OK；　dearheart；　face　the　wall。〃
　She　remained　facing　the　bed。　〃I've　always　wondered　what　it　would　be　like　to　see　you　wake　up　in　the　morning。〃
　
　He　shrugged　and　threw　back　the　covers。　He　was　halfway　through　the　motion　of　pushing　himself　to　his　feet　when　three　things　happened：　his　eyes　suddenly　saw　three　Tidis；　the　room　swayed　as　though　it　was　made　of　rubber；　and　his　head　began　to　ache　with　the　mother　of　all　aches。
　
　Tidi　stepped　forward　abruptly　and　clutched　his　right　arm；　her　face　reflecting　the　Florence　Nightingale　concern　again。　〃Please；　Dirk；　your　head　isn't　ready　for　your　feet　yet。〃
　〃Nothing；　it's　nothing。　I　stood　up　too　fast。〃　He　made　it　to　his　feet　and　lurched　into　her　arms。　〃You'd　make　a　lousy　nurse；　Tidi。　you　get　too　involved　with　Your　patients。〃
　
　He　held　onto　her　for　several　moments　until　the　triplets　became　one　and　the　bedroom　stood　at　rigid　attention；　only　the　ache　in　his　head　refused　to　diminish。
　〃You're　the　one　Patient　I'd　love　to　get　involved　With；　Dirk。〃　She　held　onto　him　tightly　and　made　no　attempt　to　remove　her　arms。　〃But　you　never　seem　to　entice　me。　You'd　stand　next　to　me　in　an　empty　elevator　an