cc.iceberg-第20章

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　The　guard　jerked　alive　as　if　he　had　been　kicked；　the　stunned　look　on　his　face　quickly　turning　to　one　of　abject　disgust。　Without　a　word　he　led　them　down　the　pier；　stopping　in　a　hundred　feet　and　pointing　down　at　a　gleaming　thirty…two…foot　Chris　Craft　cruiser。
　
　Pitt　leaped　aboard　and　disappeared　below。　In　a　minute　he　was　back　on　the　pier。　
　〃No；　no；　this　won't　do　at　all。　Too　mundane；　too　ostentatious。　To　create　properly　I　must　have　a　creative　atmosphere。〃　He　looked　accross　the　pier。　〃There；　how　about　that　one？〃
　
　Before　the　guard　could　reply；　Pitt　trotted　the　width　of　the　pier　and　dropped　to　the　deck　of　a　forty…foot　fishing　boat。　He　explored　it　briefly；　then　popped　his　head　through　a　hatchway。
　〃This　is　perfect。　It　has　character；　a　crude　uniqueness。　We'll　take　this　one。〃
　
　The　guard　hesitated　for　a　moment。　Finally；　with　that　twitch　of　the　shoulders　that　indicated　a　shrug；　he　nodded　and　left　them；　walking　along　the　pier　back　to　the　entrance；　throwing　a　backward　look　at　Pitt　every　so　often　and　shaking　his　head。
　
　When　he　was　out　of　earshot。　Tidi　said；　〃Why　this　old　dirty　tub？　Why　not　that　nice　yacht？〃
　〃Dirk　knows　what　he's　doing。〃　Sandecker　set　the　rod　and　tackle　box　down　on　the　worn　deck　planking　and　looked　at　Pitt。　〃Does　it　have　a　fathometer？〃
　〃A　Fleming　six…ten；　the　top　of　the　line。　Extrasensitive　frequencies　for　detecting　fish　at　different　depths。〃
　Pitt　motioned　down　a　narrow　panionway。　〃This　boat　was　a　lucky　choice。　Let　me　show　you　the　engine　room；　Admiral。〃
　〃You　mean　we　ignored　that　beautiful　Chris　Craft　simply　because　it　doesn't　have　a　fathometer？〃　Tidi　asked　disappointingly。
　〃That's　right；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃A　fathometer　is　our　only　hope　of　finding　the　black　plane。〃
　
　Pitt　turned　and　led　Sandecker　through　the　panionway　down　into　the　engine　room。　The　stale　air　and　the　dank　smell　of　oil　and　bilge　immediately　filled　their　nostrils；　making　them　gasp　at　the　drastic　change　from　the　diamond…pure　atmosphere　above。　There　was　another　odor。　Sandecker　looked　at　Pitt　questioningly。
　〃Gas　fumes？〃
　Pitt　nodded。　〃Take　a　look　at　the　engines。〃
　
　A　diesel　engine　is　the　most　efficient　means　of　propelling　a　small　boat；　particularly　a　fishing　boat。　Heavy；　low　revolutions…per…minute；　slow；　but　cheap　to　run　and　reliable；　the　diesel　is　used　in　nearly　every　workboat　on　the　sea　that　doesn't　rely　on　sails　for　power；　that　is；　except　this　boat。　Sitting　side　by　side；　their　propeller　shafts　vanishing　into　the　bilge；　a　pair　of　Sterling　420　h。p。　gas…fed　engines　gleamed　in　the　dim　light　of　the　engine　room　like　sleeping　giants　awaiting　the　starting　switch　to　goad　them　into　thunderous　action'　〃What　in　hell　would　a　scow　like　this　be　doing　with　all　this　power？〃　Sandecker　queried　quietly。
　〃Unless　I　miss　my　guess；〃　Pitt　murmured；　〃the　guard　goofed。〃
　〃Meaning？〃
　〃On　a　shelf　in　the　main　cabin　I　found　a　pennant　with　an　albatross　on　it。〃
　
　Pitt　ran　a　hand　over　one　of　the　Sterling's　intake　manifolds；　it　was　clean　enough　to　pass　a　naval　inspection。
　〃This　boat　belongs　to　Rondheim；　not　Fyrie。〃
　Sandecker　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Miss　Fyrie　instructed　us　to　see　her　dockmaster。　For　some　unknown　reason　he　was　absent；　and　the　pier　was　left　in　charge　of　that　grizzled　character　with　the　tobacco…stained　mustache。　It　makes　one　wonder　if　we　weren't　set　up。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Rondheim　will　undoubtedly　keep　a　tight　eye　on　us；　but　we've　given　him　no　cause　to　be　suspicious　of　our　actions…not　yet；　at　any　rate。　The　guard　made　an　honest　mistake。　Without　special　instructions　he　probably　figured　we　were　given　permission　to　select　any　boat　on　the　pier；　so　he　quite　naturally　showed　us　the　best　of　the　lot　first。　There　was　nothing　in　the　script　that　said　we　would　pick　this　little　gem。〃
　〃What　is　it　doing　here？　Rondheim　surely　can't　be　hard　up　for　dock　space。〃
　〃Who　cares；〃　Pitt　said；　a　wide　grin　stretching　his　features。　〃As　long　as　the　keys　are　in　the　ignition；　I　suggest　we　take　it　and　run　before　the　guard　changes　his　mind。〃　The　admiral　needed　no　persuasion。　When　it　came　to　indulging　in　devious　games　to　achieve…in　his　mind…an　honest　purpose；　he　was　sneaky　to　a　fault。
　
　Squaring　his　battered　hat；　he　lost　no　time　in　issuing　the　first　order　of　his　new　mand。
　〃Cast　off　the　lines；　Major。　I'm　anxious　to　see　what　these　Sterlings　can　do。〃
　
　Precisely　one　minute　later；　the　guard　came　running　down　the　pier　waving　his　arms　like　a　crazy　man。　It　was　too　late。　Pitt　stood　on　the　deck　and　waved　back　good　naturedly　as　Sandecker；　happy　as　a　child　with　a　new　toy；　gunned　the　engines　and　steered　the　deceptivelooking　boat　out　into　Reykjavik　harbor。
　
　The　boat　was　named　The　Grimsi；　and　her　tiny　squared　wheelhouse；　perched　just　five　feet　from　the　stern；　made　her　look　as　though　she　rode　in　the　opposite　direction　than　her　builder　had　intended　when　he　laid　her　keel。　She　was　a　very　old　boat…as　old　as　the　antique　pass　mounted　beside　the　helm。　Her　mahogany　deck　planks　were　worn　smooth；　but　still　lay　strong　and　true；　and　smelled　strongly　of　the　sea。　At　the　pier　she　had　looked　an　old　ungainly　bathtub　from　her　broadbeamed；　stubby　shape；　but　when　the　mighty　Sterlings　mumbled　through　their　exhaust；　her　bow　lifted　from　the　water　like　a　sea　gull　soaring　into　the　wind。　She　seemed　to　delight　in　being　carried　along　without　effort　or　trouble　in　a　buoyant　sort　of　way。
　
　Sandecker　eased　the　throttles　back　a　notch　above　idle　and　took　The　Grimsi　on　a　slow；　leisurely　tour　of　Reykjavik　harbor。　The　admiral　might　have　been　standing　on　the　bridge　of　a　battle　cruiser　from　the　regulation　smile　on　his　face。　He　was　back　in　his　element；　and　he　was　enjoying　every　minute　of　it。　To　an　interested　observer　his　passengers　looked　like　ordinary　tourists　on　a　chartered　cruise…Tidi　sunning　herself　and　aiming　a　camera　at　everything　in　sight；　and　Pitt　drawing　furiously　on　a　sketch　pad。　Before　leaving　the　harbor　they　tied　up　at　a　bait　boat　and　purchased　two　buckets　of　herring。
　
　Then；　after　an　animated　conversation　with　the　bait　fishermen；　they　cast　off　and　headed　toward　the　sea。
　
　As　soon　as　they　rounded　a　rocky　point　and　lost　sight　of　the　harbor；　Sandecker　eased　open　the　throttles　and　slowly　pushed　The　Grimsi　to　30　knots。　it　was　a　strange　sight　indeed　to　see　the　ungainly　hull　skipping　over　the　waves　like　a　Gold　Cup　hydroplane。　The　waves　began　to　melt　together　as　The　Grimsi　increased　speed　and　lost　them　behind　her　swirling　wake。　Pitt　found　a　chart　of　the　coast　and　laid　it　on　a　small　shelf　beside　Sandecker。
　〃It's　right　about　here。〃　Pitt　tapped　a　spot　on　the　map　with　a　pencil。　〃Twenty　miles　southeast　of　Keflavik。〃
　Sandecker　nodded。　〃An　hour　and　a　half；　no　more。　Not　the　way　she　moves。　Take　a　look。　The　throttles　are　still　a　good　two　inches　from　their　stops。〃
　〃The　weather　looks　perfect。　I　hope　it　holds。〃
　〃No　clouds　in　any　direction。　It's　usually　calm　around　the　southern　end　of　Iceland　this　time　of　year。　The　worst　we　can　look　forward　to　is　meeting　a　bit　of　fog。　It　usually　rolls　in　during　the　late　afternoon。〃
　
　Pitt　sat　down；　propped　his　feet　on　the　doorway　and　gazed　out　at　the　rocky　coastline。　〃At　least　we　don't　have　to　worry　about　fuel。〃
　〃What　do　the　gauges　read？〃
　〃About　two…thirds　full。〃
　Sandecker's　mind　clicked　like　a　Burroughs　adding　machine。　〃Ample　for　our　purpose。　No　reason　to　conserve；　particularly　since　Rondheim　is　footing　the　bill。〃
　
　With　a　smug；　satisfied　expression　on　his　face；　he　jammed　the　throttles　against　their　stops。
　
　The　Grimsi　sat　down　on　her　stern　and　took　off　across　the　blue　wrinkled　sea；　her　bow　splitting　two　giant　sheets　of　spray。　Sandecker's　timing　left　something　to　be　desired。　Tidi　was　cautiously　climbing　the　ladder　from　the　galley；　balancing　a　tray　laden　with　three　cups　of　coffee　when　the　admiral　opened　up　the　Sterlings。　The　sudden　acceleration　caught　her　totally　off　guard　and　the　tray　flew　into　the　air　and　she　vanished　into　the　galley　as　though　jerked　backward　by　an　invisible　hand。　Neither　Pitt　nor　Sandecker　caught　the　vaudevillian　fall。
　
　Thirty　seconds　later　she　reappeared　in　the　wheelhouse；　her　head　thrown　back　in　anger。　her　hair　stringy　with　dampness；　her　blouse　stained　brown　by　coffee。
　〃Admiral　James　Sandecker；〃　she　shouted；　the　highpitched　voice　drowning　out　the　roar　of　the　Sterlings。
　〃When　we　get　back　to　our　hotel；　you　can　just　add　the　cost　of　a　new　blouse　and　a　trip　to　the　hairdresser　on　your　expense　account。〃
　
　Sandecker　and　Pitt　stared　at　Tidi　and　then　at　each　other　in　utter　unprehension。　〃I　could　have　scalded　myself　into　a　hospital；〃　Tidi　continued。　〃If　you　want　me　to　act　as　your　stewardess　on　this　voyage；　I　suggest　you　show　a　little　more　consideration。〃　With　that；　she　whirled　and　disappeared　into　the　galley。
　
　Sandecker's　eyebrows　came　together。　〃What　in　hell　was　that　all　about？〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃Women　rarely　offer　an　explanation。〃
　〃She's　too　young　for　menopause；〃　Sandecker　mumbled。　〃Must　be　on　her　period。〃
　
　Mentally　applauding；　Pitt　said；　〃Either　way；　it's　going　to　cost　you　a　blouse　and　a　'　Tidi's　hairdo。〃
　
　It　took　Tidi　ten　minutes　to　make　another　small　pot　of　coffee。　Considering　the　dip　of　The　Grimsi's　keel　as　it　soared　over　and　smacked　the　crests　of　the　swells；　it　was　a　professional　feat　of　dexterity　that　she　managed　to　climb　into　the　wheelhouse　without　spilling　a　drop　from　the　three　cups　she　clutched　with　dogged　determination。
　
　Pitt　couldn't　help　smiling　as　he　sipped　the　coffee　and　watched　the　indigo　blue　water　pass　under　the　old　boat。
　
　Then　he　thought　of　Hunnewell；　of　Fyrie；　of　Matajic；　of　O'Riley；　and　he　wasn't　smiting　any　longer。
　
　He　still　wasn't　smiling　as　he　watched　the　stylus　the　fathometer's　graph　zigzag　across　the　paper；　measuring　the　sea　floor。　The　bottom　showed　at　one　hundred　and　thirty　feet。　He　wasn't　smiling　now　because　somewhere　down　there　in　the　depths　was　an　airplane　with　a　dead　crew；　and　he　had　to　find　it。　If　luck　played　into　his　hands；　the　fathometer　would　register　an　irregular　hump　on　its　chart。
　
　He　took　his　cross　bearings　on　the　cliffs　and　hoped　for　the　best。
　〃Are　you　sure　of　your　search　pattern？〃　Sandecker　asked。
　〃Twenty　percent　certain；　eighty　percent　guesswork；〃　Pitt　answered。
　〃I　could　have　lowered　the　odds　if　I　had　the　Ulysses　as　a　checkpoint。〃
　〃Sorry；　I　didn't　know　yesterday　what　you　had　in　mind。　My　formal　request　for　salvage　was　acted　upon　only　a　few　hours　after　you　crashed。　The　Air　Force　airsea　rescue　squadron　on　Keflavik　picked　your　craft　out　of　the　surf　with　one　of　their　giant　helicopters。　You　have　to　give　them　credit。　They're　an　efficient　lot。〃
　〃Their　eagerness　is　going　to　cost　us；〃　Pitt　said。
　Sandecker　paused　to　make　a　course　change。　〃Have　you　checked　the　diving　gear？〃
　〃Yes；　it's　all　accounted　for。　Remind　me　to　buy　those　State　Department　people　at　the　consulate　a　drink　when　we　get　back。　Dressing　up　and　playing　bait　fishermen　took　a　bit　of　doing　on　such　short　notice。
　
　To　anyone　gawking　through　a　pair　of　navy　binoculars　it　could　have　only　looked　like　an　innocent　encounter。　The　diving　gear　was　slipped　on　board　so　smoothly　and　inconspicuously　while　you　were　going　through　the　routine　of　bait　buying　that　I　almost　missed　detecting　the　transfer　from　ten　feet　away。〃
　〃I　don't　like　the　action。　Diving　alone　invites　danger；　and　danger　invites　death。　I'll　have　you　know　I'm　no